focus november 2014 – food + charity issue

THE

FOOD +CHARITY

ISSUE

NOVEMBER 2014focusmag.us

$4.95

S T Y L E F O O D K I D S A R T P E R F O R M A N C E F I T N E S S E V E N T S

‘FED UP’ FILM PRODUCER

LAURIE DAVIDINSPIRING WOMEN

CATT SADLER &LINDA RENDLEMAN

C O M M U N I T Y P O W E R E D

BEVERLY HILLS | BRENTWOOD | WEST HOLLYWOOD | SANTA MONICA

A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE WITH

SUZANNE SOMERS

‘SUITS’ ACTRESS AND FOODIE

MEGHAN MARKLE

VICTORIA TENNANTTHE ACTRESS SHARES HER MOTHER’S LEGACY

MAKING AMARK HALLMARK CHANNEL’S HOME & FAMILY HOST

MARK STEINES

DID YOU KNOW…?Important Curb Appeal Tips for The Sale of Your Home:Well-Designed Landscaping can add 7-14% to your home’s valueWashing a House can add $10,000 to $15,000 to the sale price…

New Carpet may make a $10,000 difference in the sale price”A New Front Door can increase the value…by 3x!

(Door Emporium)

…CALL ME TO DISCUSS!

LISA MANSFIELDRealtor, NRT’s Top 1,000 Sales Associates

310.481.4313lisa.mansfield@sothebyshomes.comwww.lisamansfield.com

BRENTWOOD BROKERAGE | 11911 SAN VICENTE BLVD SUITE 200 | LOS ANGELES | CA 90049

“I have managed over 300 real estate agents… there is no other person I can think of from my twenty plus years of hiring, teaching and mentoring who has had such a productive career. She is an exceptional professional. Her cooperative spirit, her compassion for the well-being of all, and her flexible style make her unique. Lisa is destined for significant accomplishments in work and beyond.”– Marco R.

TESTIMONIAL

WHAT’S NEW...!

Contact me to hear about my upcoming listings! – Lisa

Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.

Top 2%

of Sales Associates Nationwide

DIRECT: 310.481.4313 LISA MANSFIELD CELL: 310.993.2303

1433 Barry Ave. #105 *For Sale!!! 1270 Granville Ave #2 *For Sale!!!11363 Waterford St. *For Sale!!!11351 Albata St. *In Escrow!!! 1114 S. Alfred St. *In Escrow!!! 5951 Canterbury Dr. #16 *In Escrow!!! 2451 Cloverfield Blvd. *Just Sold!!!11374 Homedale St. *Just Sold!!! 2160 Century Pk.E. #1010 *Just Sold!!! 11350 Joffre St. *For Lease!!! 1905 Livonia Ave. *For Lease!!!

FOR SALE!!! FOR SALE!!! FOR SALE!!!

11363 Waterford St. Brentwood3 Beds+2 Baths New Gourmet Kitchen!WaterfordStreet.com Asking Price: $1,379,000

Focus TV

Learning From the Home & Family Show.Mark Steines talks about his own family and what he has learned from hosting the show.

Women Like UsCatt Sadler and Linda Rendleman are on a mission to empower women, through the Women Like Us Foundation.

Moving PicturesFilm maker, Sally Colon-Petree documented an emotional trip to Kenya.

For Mum, With LoveVictoria Tennant discovered her mother’s treasure trove of old photos and wrote a book about her extraordinary life.

The Perfect Strawberry ShortcakeSix foodies discuss their favorite food related experiences.

Children of The WorldErica Lippy travelled to the Philippines to see a child whose life she hopes to change.

Nature’s Kitchen Catherine An is inspired by her mother to create Tiato –a market garden restaurant.

Sexy SommelierReality show star Kristen Williams is also a wine buff, and can slice the top of a champagne bottle with a saber.

A Soup CleanseA new range of sweet and savory soups for enjoying as meals or as a cleanse.

Yoga In The ParkWomen Like Us Foundation raising awareness with their bi-monthly yoga in the park.

Sing For The VoicelessBobby Kimball of Toto fame, Spencer Davis, Ellis Hall and others, get together to raise awareness for rescue dogs.

The Hamptons in LAPartners Trust and Shain Development showcase their project home in the Palisades with a White Party.

focusmag.us/tvText focus to 313131 to watch any video

Taste of ItalyActor Louis Lombardi, from the Sopranos and 24, does a cooking demo.

Vegas in HollywoodVegas showman, Matt Goss, in Hollywood for one night to raise awareness for children’s charity, Both Ends Burning.

A Fine Wine Opening night at Heritage Fine Wines in Beverly Hills.

Fast Focus and Eggplant ParmigianaQ&A with actress Sandra Taylor as she prepares her favorite eggplant parmigiana for us.

4 FOCUS | NOVEMBER 2014

CONTRIBUTORS

Wendy Brokaw Kretchmer Wendy is an editorial producer at CNN but considers her most important job to be raising her 2 girls. Her rare spare time is spent on a multitude of passions including fundraising, cancer awareness, fitness, and her guilty pleasure –Pinterest.

Ashley DanielsTV host and on-air personality, Ashley excels at celebrity interviews for Westside TV and Focus magazine.ashleydaniels.info

Kristen Williams Kristen Williams is the Sexy Sommelier and member of the Dating Naked cast on VH1. The Sexy Sommelier is a website and video log on everything about wine.kristenwilliamsonline.com VinowithKristen.com

Morgan MatthewsAn actress, model and TV host. Morgan is currently co-hosting Wheel of Fortune’s traveling show The Wheelmobile and is the host for AXN Avenue, a weekly broadcast show in Japan. Follow her: Instagram @ morgan matthewsofficial Twitter @morgan6786

Marlyn DiazMarlyn Diaz, an integrative nutritionist, speaker and age-defying healthy lifestyle expert, helps her clients eat better and age younger!

holisticnutritionista.com@marlynwellness

Jill ParkerJill is an Executive Recruiter within the Pharmaceutical Industry and a Certified Health Coach as well. Her true passion is Health and Wellness with a mission to make a dent in the US Health Crisis. Jill’s most favorite role is being a mom to her 3 beautiful children and puppy. [email protected]

Danielle Cuccio Danielle is a celebrity private yoga instructor, and offers private yoga sessions customized to your individual needs.Cuccio Yoga Somatology Private Yoga • Retreats • Workshopscucciosomatology.com

Tanya MemmeTanya enjoys inspiring others to make a house a home, through her DIY projects – exploring the latest trends in home fashions and sharing the hottest products for the home. She hosted two Emmy-nominated TV shows for 13 seasons.tanyamemme.com

Louis LombardiBest known for playing ‘Edgar Stiles’ in Fox’s ‘24’ and FBI Agent ‘Skip Lipari’ in ‘The Sopranos,’ Louis is going back to his Italian roots and has launched his own gourmet Italian food line, Lombardi’s – pastas, sauces and olive oils imported from Italy.louislombardi.comlombardisfoods.com

Pia ArtesonaPia can be found guiding Recovery Yoga and Vinyasa Flow at Bhakti Yoga Shala and Naam Yoga in Santa Monica, Sattva Yoga LA in Brentwood, and Liberation Yoga in Los Angeles. She also offers private yoga sessions.piaartesona.com

Sally Colon-PetreeActress, singer and TV host, Sally and her husband, Stephen, started a production company called Dream On Productions. Her documentary ‘Women Like Us’ is set to be released in Spring 2015. dreamonprod.com

Erica LippyErica is a professional Fit Model with a background in Fashion Design. She involves herself in charities and supports other passionate people in their own interests. Life philosophy: Do good, Be good and the world will be good to you. yourfitmodel.com

Sandra LuesseSandra is quickly becoming one of LA’s hottest DJs amongst Hollywood’s nightlife. Sandra mixes house music with a spice of Latin flair while featuring bold vocals from all over the globe. Sandra co-founded Expats in LA, a club that gets together with like-minded expats who are pursuing their dreams in LA.sandraluesse.com

Jordyn GoodmanJordyn’s goal is to educate a younger generation to embrace health and wellness through a natural approach. You can listen to Empowered with Jordyn Goodman every Tuesday night at 7pm PST on LA TALK RADIO.latalkradio.com

Sophie JaffeA certified Raw Food Nutritionist and Chef. She’s a member of the Yoga Alliance as an advanced teacher, and is a certified personal trainer. She became dissatisfied with the “one size fits all” model of detox regimens and created her own company Philosophie. thephilosophie.com

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

I’m continually surprised by the stories we hear in the process of producing the magazine. For every piece of bad news, someone is doing something good to improve the lives of others to balance that effect. Actions from which they expect nothing in return.

What started out as a food themed issue, quickly turned into a more meaningful issue about giving, and helping others. Many of the stories we heard involved empowering women or helping less fortunate people across the world, or simply drawing attention to things we can do to change our own lives.

I always blamed my apathy on the fact that no single person can change the world but I’m beginning to change my mind.

I hope that when you read some of the stories in this month’s magazine, you realize that individuals can start movements. We have already seen that with climate change and tobacco use. I think whatever cause you find yourself supporting, do it wholeheartedly and in the knowledge that you are making a change for the better.

Mark CastellinoEditor

Write:149 South Barrington Place #178, Los Angeles CA 90049

Email:[email protected]

Shoot us a Photo:[email protected]

CONTACT US

Community powered.

Editor in ChiefMark CastellinoT: 310 869 [email protected]

Managing EditorsAndrew [email protected]

Jenna [email protected]

Staff WritersCody BrooksFelicia Waldman

Copyright 2014 by Focus Media Agency. Focus (ISSN 2328-1359) is published 10 times per year. Please do not to reproduce any of the content without permission.

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ISSUE 14Cover Photo: Dana Adams

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OPEN NOWShop Onlinefocusmag.us/boutique

We’re building an online marketplace to showcase the designs – fashion, jewelry, ceramics etc. – of our Los Angeles community. Have your story featured in the magazine and sell your designs online, with same day local delivery.

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HARD WEARGiovanni DeSimone brings a masculine vintage edge to his burgeoning brand Johnny Hardware. He was inspired to start his line while creating retail display fixtures. Today, Johnny Hardware is a lifestyle brand inspired by the use of vintage elements, signature detailing and Old World craftsmanship.

JOHNNY HARDWAREjohnnyhardware.com

Jewelry as ArtThe Eriness Diamond Tear Drop Daisy Chain is an elegant but chic hand-piece that embraces femininity and beauty. Using handcrafted techniques along with 14K materials, this pave diamond daisy chain transforms a simple bracelet into a fashionable statement. Eriness artwear adds a dash of glamor to our everyday outfits.

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Favorite things we have seen this month...

Doggie HaloI was stunned to find out how many dogs are abandoned or put down because they go blind. It no longer has to be painful for the dogs and their owners, as I have a great solution to help this transition. Today, Muffin’s Halo for blind dogs, which is handcrafted in the USA, is now on the market and blind dogs all over the world are wearing our halos!

Silvie Bordeauxmuffinshalo.com

tea-toxTSW Tea-tox consists of blends of powerful ingredients that work together to reset the body’s digestive track, so that it can optimally absorb nutrients from the foods we eat and provide us with good energy. Each tea blend is made with the best natural ingredients, fruits, berries, flowers and herbs, to promote good health and weight loss.

The Skinny Waystheskinnyways.com

FRAGRANT CANDLE “I have crafted these special candles from pure organic coconut oil that burn clean and provide beautiful light. Each subtle scent was developed to gently enhance your home and your mood. Every candle is hand poured and packaged with a poem written by my grandmother. I hope you love each one as much as I have enjoyed creating them for you.”

Andrea Schroderandreaschroder.com

TRENDING | 10/2014


Krome Body tattoos are unique metallic body accessories that accent any look or style. With a new take on temporary

tattoos, make your skin the star of your look by wearing Krome Body glowing accents. Add character to any outfit, shimmer at the beach, shine. Making a statement has never been so effortless, with simple application, these body accessories highlight the skin for that notice me style!kromebody.com@kromebody

The Philosophie superfood powders are blends of the very best plant-based materials on earth. Superfoods are

vitamin and mineral-dense substances prized for their unique nutrient profiles and ability to activate the body’s natural potential for cleansing, repairing, and rebuilding. Much of the food we eat today has lost its original nourishing power due to mineral depletion in the soil and other consequences of mass production. Philosophie founder Sophie Jaffe crafted these powders to return the supercharged magic of nature’s best medicines to your diet and your every thirsty cell. By combining these potent ingredients in a synergistic way, she has created a product line that delivers the absolutely best healing action. thephilosophie.com@philosophiemama

Pizzscotti is owned and operated by Kim and Alina, two female police officers. We have put our passion into this business and created recipes specializing in modern renditions of classic Italian Pizzelle and Biscotti.

Pizzscotti is all natural, preservative free, and hand-made in our commercial kitchen located in Northridge, California. Our motto “Dangerously Good Gourmet Pizzelle and Biscotti” reflects the flavor and flair of our unique and addictive offerings. Pizzscotti goes above and beyond the call of duty with the notion of protect and SERVE to delicious heights. pizzscotti.com@pizzscotti

Whether you “soup” by cleansing or enjoy their soups as a family meal, snack, starter course, or refreshing beverage, they are all an optimal way to ensure the benefits of consuming whole fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Soupure is committed to keeping the fibrous flesh, seeds, rind, and pulp for the most authentic collection of diverse and intact nutrients your body can actually recognize.

By curating the best professional culinary talent guided by expert nutritional advisers, Soupure have achieved an array of taste profiles that are familiar yet pleasingly unexpected. Countless hours have been devoted to shape the savory and the sweet, layer complexity, fine tune texture, and tirelessly explore the merits of every power food.soupure.com@soupure

PIZZSCOTTI

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FOCUS FINDS | 11/2014

focusmag.us 9

KABAKERY

Jordan Moore and Mandi Kreisher formed their partnership in early 2014 and have been baking, laughing and taste “testing” ever since. Call Me Cookie has grown to include a milk and cookie

package and two additional flavors: the perfect oatmeal raisin cookie and the perfect peanut butter cookie. All of their cookies come individually wrapped, and they can also make custom labels for that special day. Call Me Cookie is all NATURAL (no preservatives or additives) and will always stay that way. Email Jordan and Mandi with any special requests or accommodations at [email protected]. callmecookie.net@callmecookiela

“The Kabakery is me messing around in my kitchen for eight hours at a time to formulate the perfect bite. It’s me living in a tiny apartment in Montmartre writing a paper on -------- while only thinking about croissants. It’s that endless opportunity for macarons only Paris has to offer. It’s the cooking class in the third that taught me the difference between French and Italian merengue techniques. And it made all the difference.”@thekabakery

BestFiletMignon.com sells the finest tasting USDA Prime Filet Mignon cut from cattle that are grass fed and have NEVER EVER been given hormones or antibiotics. We ship fresh,

never frozen, via FedEx overnight at no extra charge. Packaging is elegant and ideal for client gifts. We invite you to try it for yourself, first.bestfiletmignon.com@thebeststeaks

White Oak offers the world a carefully hand-crafted superior vodka that embodies the spirit “This is Living”. Formulated within a region of the world known for its precise attention to detail and steep history as leaders of artisanal craftsmanship, White Oak Vodka represents elegance, strength, and infinite presence.whiteoakvodka.com@whiteoakvodka

A team of real-life photographers on a mission to push the photo booth concept forward, re-imagined the old-school photo booth into a miniature photography studio for events. Their photographic expertise, high style, and innovative spirit created a modern photo booth rental, complete with a professional DSLR camera, elegant lighting, and intelligent technology. From beautiful images to branding and social media, Capture POD is a genius idea for weddings, celebrations, corporate events, and marketing campaigns.capturepod.com@capturepod

WHITE OAK VODKA

CALL ME COOKIE

BEST FILET MIGNON

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9021OH CUPCAKES

SKINNY GENIUS

DJ KATXX

After working her way up the corporate ladder and looking for a fun, creative outlet, Jenna Madacy James discovered that the road to enlightenment is paved in…frosting. Cupcake frosting to be exact. Jenna, a single mom and native Californian, started baking as a lark and found that she was good at it. very good at it. Jenna has taken inspiration from numerous sources and found a way to put her own stamp on the humble, common cupcake.9021oh.com@9021oh_cupcakes

We all know eating healthy is a must, but life is too short for bland, boring bites. It’s time to kick those empty calories, annoying cravings, and carb comas to the curb with Skinny Genius.

Skinny Genius products are cleverly handcrafted with the highest quality, organic ingredients. They don’t waste time with foolishness like gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, artificial preservatives, or junk of any kind. The recipes SKINNY – clean, lean, and simple - but the flavor profiles are crazy complex. And the results? GENIUS.skinnygenius.com@skinnygeniusla

Famed New York-to-LA transplant and underground DJ, KatXX, began her career in 2005 as DJ Cat NYC.Her career consists of milestone after milestone, with residencies in LA and NYC’s most infamous venues to collaborations with the industry’s most influential tastemakers including Felix da Housecat.

In 2013, KatXX established LOVE F.A.M.E records, with a mission to represent “electronica from a female perspective”.

F.A.M.E. stands for fashion, art, music, entertainment and indicates the ever growing female influence over the media and art industries, and the subsequent rise to the throne of female artists.katxx.com@kattxxmusic

GO RAWGo Raw’s products are always made from organic, top-grade ingredients. They are, and will always be, vegan, gluten free, nut free and minimally processed. The ingredients and stock are refrigerated, even though it’s not absolutely necessary. They control their own processing and packing so that they have complete control of every product from when the ingredients enter our plant to when they leave as Go Raw products.goraw.com@goraw

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focusmag.us 11

5 Reasons Why You Should Switch To Alkaline WaterFrom Brande Roderick – Alkaline 88 water celebrity-spokesperson 1. Enhances Immune System. Ever since I started drinking Alkaline88, I haven’t gotten sick. I travel by plane close to three times per month, and before I was drinking Alkaline88, I would always get sick from someone on the plane. Now I don’t have to worry about it. 2. Better Hydration. Because Alkaline88 goes directly to the cells, it’s more hydrating than regular water. In turn, it makes my skin less dry, which also helps with wrinkles. 3. Detoxifies. Alkaline88 detoxifies the body by flushing out the acidic toxins we get in this world, whether it’s from food, smog or stress. 4. Powerful Antioxidant. Because we are overloaded with an environment that creates so many toxins, we have an overabundance of bad free radicals. Alkaline88 is a powerful antioxidant that helps rid us of those horrible aging free radicals. 5. Energizes. Since I’ve been drinking the water, I have more energy and feel less sluggish. By eliminating the toxins in my body and adding the oxygen to my cells directly, I feel invigorated.

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1. 1 page spread in Focus magazine2. 4 hour studio recording time3. Free guitar lesson with George Pajon, Jr. from

Black Eyed Peas 4. $100 giftcard from Republique restaurant 5. 1 free escrow New Millennium Escrow on a

refinance $700 value 6. Supper Club 7. Listing from Smith & Ken Real Estate in Sherman

Oaks – 0% commission fee for seller side 8. Heather Benjamin Jewerly9. Vincent Velasquez – Houston Astro’s autographed

baseball / bat jersey 10. Bar Stools ( four valued at $250 each ) $1,000 –

Matthews Manufacture 11. Organizing tutor kit 12. Murad (gift basket with beauty products) 13. 3 private yoga sessions with Rony Ghoraishy14. J’Adore Salon in Beverly Hills – Haircut and blow

dry 15. 3 Airfit aerial yoga class – 1 month passes valued

at $175 each16. Shutters hotel 17. Golden Monkey Acupuncture – Valued at $100 18. A gift certificate from JUICE19. Faith & Flower Gift Card20. Donut Snob – gift cards for 3 dozen donuts 21. Miracle Noodle gift basket22. The Beverly Hilton – 1 night stay at the home of

the Golden Globes and the most “iconic hotel in Beverly Hills”

23. Your Heart is In your Hands – 1 hand Analysis session by Linda Salazar, relationship coach Valued at $250.

24. Skinny Girls Tea – gift basket 25. Firm Body Evolution – 1 training session with

Jessica Caforio and 10-12-13 method session with an infrared suana

26. 9021oh! Cupcakes & Cakery27. Instagram@capturepod 28. Personal training with Jessica – WEHO pilates or yoga

FEATURED AUCTION ITEMS10/28/2014

Focus Magazine and Women Like Us Foundation sincerely thank all of our wonderful friends who donated goods and services to our Woman to Woman event.



BLOG SPOTLIGHT | THETIG/MEGHAN MARKLE

MEGHAN MARKLEthetig.com

How did you become involved in acting?I grew up in LA and my dad was the lighting director for a show called “Married with Children” - so every day after school I would go to set, and I think that’s where my comfort level in that environment began. I didn’t intend to be an actress - I went to Northwestern University as an English major but quickly changed to a double major in Theater and International Relations. It really wasn’t until after working for the US Embassy abroad and coming home for the holiday that a friend from college gave a manager a student film I did - he watched it and called me, telling me he thought I should stay home and give acting a shot. I did, and I was so grateful.

Congratulations on starting the 4th season of Suits. Tell us about your evolving role.We are currently filming season 4 of Suits, though we were just picked up for season 5 which will begin airing next June (after the back half of season 4 airs in February 2015). Rachel is such a great character to play because she started off rather stand-offish and mostly anchored to this cat and mouse game with her love interest, Mike Ross. As the seasons have evolved, Rachel has really grown- showing her vulnerability, her layers of intelligence and drive in trying to become a lawyer, and the softness we see in her with her family. Her life outside of the firm is as interesting to me as her role in the office. Gabriel is currently making his directorial debut on this episode, so we are all having so much fun.

You’re noted as being interested in international diplomacy. The world needs diplomats, now more than ever. What’s your interest in mediation?I majored in International Relations and worked for the US Embassy in Buenos Aires. I am now working closely with UN Women on their gender equality campaign, He for She, and am very proud to stay actively involved not just in politics but in social issues that I think need more attention.

What are you passions, and how do you relax in-between filming?I absolutely love to cook and to try new restaurants - I was just writing about it on The TIG the other day that I will always be a better cook than baker because the technicalities and exactness of baking is not part of my DNA. I have included a couple links to recipes I made and shared on The TIG, which should give a good sense of what I like to dig in to. When I have a bit more time off, I am generally on a plane chasing a life of wanderlust. Travel is one of the most important things in my life.

Which are you favorite foods and restaurants?I love clean fresh ingredients with bright flavors - so the whole fish (in whatever iteration) Suzanne Goin makes it is usually right up my alley - be it flecked with pomegranate seeds or bursting with citrus. Growing up in LA, I was so lucky to try endless flavor profiles and go with my parents to Thai Town for amazing mee krob or chicken satay, and then to Little Tokyo for sushi and the Westside for amazing ghormeh sabzi. But with all of that said, nothing does it for me like a taco. Good god, what are they so good??

You recently did the ALS Ice Bucket challenge. How did that come about? Rory McIlroy and I are friends and when he nominated me I told him I couldn’t do the challenge because I was traveling and in NY. He let me know he was also in NY and that he could do the video with me - we had a blast and shot it on the roof of my best friend’s apartment. It is so important to raise awareness for ALS,and the buzz our video generated hopefully helped make that happen.

What are your plans for the future?I hope to be doing Suits for a few more seasons, to continue to grow The TIG as it is my passion project and I do the writing and bulk of the photography, and to do some more film roles in my hiatus - we get four months off between scenes so I am looking to sink my teeth into a juicy role that’s very different from thecharacter I play on Suits.

Favorite TV Show Homeland

Favorite BookThe Four Agreements

Favorite DesignerElie Saab

Women You Admire MostThe ones who love being a woman and relish being a lady

focusmag.us 13

VICTORIA TENNANT | 11/2014

Victoria Tennant sat teary eyed on the floor of her home office, as she sorted through boxes upon boxes of her mother’s belongings, soon after her death in 2008. She of course knew all about her mother’s life and career as one

of the most celebrated and glamorous ballerinas in the world. But as she sat amidst the piles of photographs, letters and artifacts, she was both awed and bewildered by the bounty of memorabilia before her. She knew that she needed to put it all together somehow, at least for her family and their future families, to have as an incredible memoir, of a woman they all loved and admired so much. What she didn’t expect, was to become an ‘accidental author’ as she now refers to herself. What she started there on the floor that day, turned into something bigger than she could have ever imagined. Her meticulous sorting and organizing of each and every item, researching and identifying faces, dates, places, costumes, hairstyles, and ballet performances, would become a beautiful book of photographs and stories too good not to share with the world.

Irina Baronova’s life story is a riveting tale of a young girl and her family, fleeing St. Petersburg during the Russian Revolution, poor and struggling. Who at just the age of 12 was discovered by the legendary choreographer George Balanchine, becoming one of his ‘Baby Ballerinas” in 1932, and an instant star of the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo. It is a story of the pioneering ballerinas who brought ballet to America, as told through Irina’s personal photographs of the dancers and performances. It is written with love, from the letters saved over time by both mother and daughter, as well as excerpts from an oral history from Irina Baronova herself. Ms. Tennant graciously shared her own fascinating stories of her mother’s life, and the making of a book she could only wish to share with her today.

VICTORIA TENNANT: The book is a hybrid. It’s a photography book, but it’s also a memoir of a great artist, a Russian ballerina, and it’s a ballet history. It gives the chronology of the ballets, and it gives portraits of the choreographers, and it talks about how the work process is done. And I hope that I managed to make it understandable and interesting to someone who doesn’t know anything about ballet, and doesn’t maybe even care particularly about ballet but is interested in an interesting life, and, you know, how great artists become great artists. How anyone who’s really good at what they do becomes good at the personal sacrifices, and the learning, and how you develop your natural ability. And there are these staggering photographs! Not just the sort of professional photographs of, you know, dancers in their costumes and things, but these incredible images that the dancers took of each other, when they were on the beach, or when they were rehearsing, or in the wings. These completely candid, private, family album, on- the-scene photographs, of the inside view, of this extraordinary company, and as well as the Ballets Russe, my mother was one of the founding ballerinas of what is now American ballet theater, one of

the great great ballet companies.One of the things that I found in the boxes when I tipped everything out on the floor, I found this old faded silk pouch with a little zip at the top. And I thought, what is this? And I pried open the zip with difficulty, and inside, were a pair of toe shoes [gasps]. And I just choked up, I thought, oh my God, it’s my mother’s toe shoes! And I just sort of shlumped to the floor, and I got these toe shoes out, and in my mother’s handwriting in one was her name that she’d written, “Irina Baronova”. And in the other she’d written, “My last performance”. And I just sat there and wept. And then, by chance, we were going to St. Petersburg on holiday, and the Vaganova Ballet Academy is the great training academy where all the great dancers from St. Petersburg were trained. I mean Baryshnikov, Nureyev, Nijinsky, Fokine, I mean everybody. So I google them online and I see that

they have a museum, and I saw a glass case with a starburst display of ballerina toe shoes, and I thought, “Mum’s toe shoes!” She never got to dance in St. Petersburg, but I could take her toe shoes there. I emailed them and I immediately got a response from the director of the academy and they said, “Yes, we’d love the toe shoes.” So when we went to St. Petersburg, I took my mother’s toe shoes with me, and we went to the academy and the museum and we were shown around, and I gave them my mum’s

toe shoes. A very important part of her, went home.So it’s a story of loss, it’s a story of searching for your home

again, of finding your home, finding her home in a ballet company, because her real home had vanished and been stolen from her, and of finding a place for herself in the world. I think it’s a very moving human story, it happens to be about a ballerina, but it’s a very moving human story.

victoriatennant.net Watch the entire video interview with Victoria Tennant at focusmag.us/tv/victoriatennant.

For Mum, With LoveActress Victoria Tennant shares her personal journey of writing her mother’s memoir, “Irina Baronova and the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo”BY FELICIA WALDMAN

Text focus to 313131 to watch the entire interview.

Below left: Victoria Tennant holds her mother’s toe shoes, as she donates them to the Vagonova Ballet Academy Museum, St. Petersburg.

Below right: Irina Baranova rehearses. Photo: Jacobs Pillow Archives, Hans Knopf


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focusmag.us 15

Skin Deep

We all learned from an early age, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” I tell this to my own children and I mean it....well, usually! I have a few exceptions. For instance, if I’m taking a workout class, I want the instructor to have a smoking body. This will motivate me and give me something to which I can aspire.

I feel the same way about skin care. If I am seeing a dermatologist or aesthetician, they better have great skin or why should I trust them? So, I knew I was in great hands when I went to get a “Power Peel” from Tricia Dikes of O’donna Skin in Beverly Hills. Her skin was more than flawless, it was glowing! Although this Power Peel was rumored to hurt, I said to myself, “Sign me up if my skin will look like hers.” And, P.S., this is coming from the girl who doesn’t like pain! Let’s just say, this quick 30-minute Power Peel hurt so good!!

She began by steaming my face with vitamins and enzymes and did a few extractions to clean out my pores. Next she applied a scrub that she said would feel like shards of glass. When I asked exactly what it was, she replied, “Do you really want to know? It might freak you out?” Hell yes, I wanted to know. Okay, are you sitting down for this one? She was applying LIVE sea urchins to my face! There was nothing I could do, as there was no turning back. Tricia discovered these live sea urchins from a chemist in Europe 16 years ago. He was using them to try to eat away at a certain type of skin cancer (which was not successful). He found that it was, however, great for eating away at the bad bacteria in the skin which caused breakouts and discoloration. So, for 10 bizarre minutes, I held still while the live sea urchins did their job on my face. She then removed them and applied oxygen with vitamins followed by 2 different types of acids, one to brighten, the other for anti-aging. I’m not going to lie, the acid burns, but within minutes, the sting dissipates.

The final step was applying her Power Peel which stays on for 8+ hours to be washed off at home. I left her office with no obvious discomfort or redness on my face. By day 2, my face looked slightly sunburn, but in a good way! By day three, the magic began, and my face started to peel! The dead skin peeled off so easily, and I am thrilled with the results. I can’t wait to go back and spend more time with my new sea urchin friends!!

WK: Who needs a Power Peel?TD: The client who benefits from this peel would be everyone! This is a great treatment for all skin types. This treatment is safe for all colors of skin from very fair to dark.

WK: How often should someone come in for this treatment and what skin issues can it help?TD: A client may come twice a month, once a month or once every 3 months. This really depends on why we are treating the skin. This treatment is for acne and pore reduction, hyper-pigmentation/ malasma (brown spots and/or uneven skin tone), and for anti-aging to firm and tighten the skin.

WK: What should your clients expect after only one treatment?TD: Most clients will have a 70% change in their skin after their first session from clearing of acne, to tighter, firmer skin, to noticeably less discoloration.

WK: What products do you use for the aftercare?TD: These products are formulated for each individuals skin needs. Before a new client leaves my office, I always mix a cleanser, scrub, moisturizer, sunblock, acid pads, eye cream, and 2 different serums for them to take home and use for 7-10 days after their treatment. I do suggest that the client puts aside other products they were previously using and only use these for the week after their treatment as they work great following their visit to me.

WK: What is the cost of a Power Peel treatment?TD: $200 - But this treatment can be covered through insurance if the patient has acne, rosacea, or malasma. Dr. David Amron is the dermatologist who oversees my clients who choose to go through their insurance.

Expert aesthetician, Tricia Dikes dispenses skin care treatments in Beverly Hills, and Wendy Brokaw Kretchmer is in for a surprise.BY WENDY BROKAW KRETCHMER

Q&A with Tricia Dikes:

O’donna SkinBeverly Hills310 400-2734 by appointmentodonnaskin.com

SKIN DEEP | 11/2014


LIKE MOTHER

LIKE DAUGHTER

Mother, Linda Rendleman and daughter, Catt Sadler, work together to empower women all over the world.

Most days you will find Catt Sadler, host of E! News, looking impeccably stylish, devoting long hours here in LA and

often traveling around the world, gathering and reporting the latest Hollywood news. When you meet Catt you soon begin to realize that this is simply only one of her passions, and it has some stiff competition. This is clearly a woman who has her priorities in order; her two young boys, husband, and family, put the real twinkle in her eyes. Between family life and life at E!, her plate is full, her cup runneth over. However, there is one thing outside of work and family that inspires her and changes her life in ways she could never imagine; something she now embraces wholeheartedly and happily carves out space for.

Catt and her lovely mom, Linda Rendleman are the co-founders of Women Like Us Foundation. WLUF supports women around the globe who seek to make the world a better place. They help victims of female genital mutilation at a women’s center in Africa, by raising funds, sending supplies, and visiting them and helping them in person.

Through their “One Girl at a Time” program, they mentor teen girls to help them become educated, self-confident women who not only learn to be an active part of our world, but also understand the importance of giving back. WLUF hosts humanitarian trips each year to many countries such as Africa, Costa Rica, and Uganda. Linda’s passion for WLUF is infectious. Listening to her soft voice share beautiful stories of how WLUF has made a difference in so many women’s lives, and how they are able to actually see the results of their donations and efforts, makes you want to sign up to travel with her on their next humanitarian mission! WLUF has helped so many and yet Linda and Catt wish they could save the entire world. Personally, their work has touched them so deeply. They filmed their journey to Kenya, along with their inspiring work both here in the U.S. and Costa Rica, and this compelling footage is now being produced into a documentary by Sally Colon-Petree of Dream On Productions, due out in 2015. Ashley Daniels sat down with the dynamic mother-daughter team and was overwhelmingly inspired by their passionate stories of Women Like Us.

FOCUS: Linda, before starting your foundation, you were a single mother and a cancer survivor. Despite these challenges, giving back now seems ingrained in your everyday life...

LINDA RENDLEMAN: Well yes, giving back is totally in my everyday life that’s for sure. We have all been affected by cancer, I’m not the only one that’s gone down that road but something happens

BY FELICIA WALDMAN and ASHLEY DANIELS

focusmag.us 17

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER | 11/2014

when you hear that in your life. For me, it was ‘wait! wait wait! I have things to do – I haven’t written my book yet, I haven’t made a difference in the world like I want, and you know...my kids!” So you become a little panicky, not a little, for pete’s sake it’s cancer! But yeah, it’s really made a difference for me and as so many people say, the things that really matter take on a WHOLE new meaning. You really do realize that, how am I living my life, what do I want to leave behind, and truly Women Like Us Foundation is my legacy and I’m real happy about that. I always knew that I wanted to give back to the world, and I really wanted to particularly support women.

FOCUS: Catt, it is so special that you work closely with your mom for such a wonderful cause. You must love it, because you are kind of busy in your daily life as a mom and host of E! News, and yet you still find the time?

CATT SADLER: [smiling] Mildly busy! But I have to say, just hearing Mom talk about what propelled her into doing the foundation at all, Mother has always been a beacon of strength, and she’s always been an inspiration to me personally. She always exuded such confidence and such drive and she was always just a force of nature. A single mother for most of our lives, she was always this light, and this exception to any other woman I’d ever known. She was always telling me – you can do anything, you can be anything – and that is everything who I am today. And yes, the foundation is really really thriving right now. It’s just amazing to be so intimately involved with it, to literally travel the globe. We went to Kenya this summer for an absolutely life changing experience, but even then, in Africa, in the dirt, around the Maasai, around those less privileged, from afar to just watch Mom do what she does, it’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. And I’m inspired, and I think everyone who comes in contact with this organization in particular, leaves….changed.

LINDA: When we were in Kenya we were supporting our women life causes, and that was certainly Kim DeWitt, who is in our documentary. She founded a home for girls who are victims of female genital mutilation. And we all learned so much being there and seeing the girls. Catt did laundry with them, in the river in buckets. They get their water from the river, they showed us

how they bake their bread, and I think the most touching thing for me was when we saw their rooms. Because their rooms were just like any girl’s you’d see in the world. I often say that our stories are singular. In other words, our stories are different, but our passions as women are shared. And it really is true. There is a sisterhood of women around the world, and these young girls are becoming, what I like to say, women like us. And we want to help bring them along so that they can speak their voice, and they can have positive change and make an impact on the world.

CATT: I think that’s the thing that one of the takeaways, again from that trip and from doing charity work like this – we’re all winning, it’s such a reward.

LINDA: Oh my, yes.

CATT: We are teaching them and we are, hopefully, bringing them resources they don’t have, and we are opening up their eyes in a way that maybe they otherwise wouldn’t have. But we all were so fulfilled by the entire experience. I left there with just this real sense of hope because I was inspired, I mean look at what they are up against, look at the challenges they face every day. Look at the hardships they have been through – this horrific female genital mutilation – and still...they want to get their education, they want opportunity, they want to be put in front and – they want to take over the world! And they do it with this spirit of such strength. I took home a wooden carved Masaai woman and I stare at it every day in my house. I look at it because it’s like, “Really? We got problems here in Western culture? Like, oh yeah, oh darn, my fake lash fell off today you know during my show..” Or whatever. And

“Really? We got problems here in Western culture? Like, oh yeah, oh darn, my fake lash fell off today


Moving Pictures

A year after arriving in LA from Chicago, Sally landed a role in the dark comedy “Eight Heads in A Duffel Bag”, starring Joe Pesci & David Spade; followed by several guest starring roles on network television shows like “Friends”, “Suddenly Susan”, “Family Matters” and “Young and the Restless”, and several National commercials, as well as landing a coveted spot on the cover of “Woman’s World” magazine.

She was also part of a Latin girl group before moving into producing and hosting TV. She interviewed well known artists and showcased their latest music videos. As the show expanded, Sally was recruited by Grace Hill Media and travelled the country, eventually interviewing major movie stars such as Robert Duval, Jaime Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Cuba Gooding Jr, Beyonce Knowles, James Caan, Will Ferrell, etc. “Action House TV” quickly became the largest inspirational music video show in the country, potentially viewed in more than 250 million homes each week, which consequently led Sally to wining 2 Telly awards for her work as producer and host of the show.

In 2004, Sally and her husband, Stephen, started a production company called Dream On Productions. Her documentary ‘Women Like Us’ is set to be released in Spring 2015.

Why this documentary now, and what is it about?What prompted the documentary was that my mom died in 2014 and she always instilled in me the concept of giving back. There were a lot of things mom wanted to, but didn’t get done, and I said, I am not going repeat that outcome. What could have been tragic, and really knock me down, actually inspired me to do things I wanted to do – including a documentary.

At that time, I was working with the Women Like Us Foundation and they invited me on a trip to Kenya. I had the idea to do a documentary on all the great work the foundation is doing. Catt Sadler, the E! News host, is an award-winning journalist and she came with us, and agreed to be the narrator for the documentary.

As a group of 17 women and teen girls, our journey took us over dirt roads, past elephants, cheetahs and elephants, through beautiful forests and breathtaking plains. And we bonded as women, as we heard the stories of their dreams for a better world. We began to understand that we really all have the same goals, the same dreams, the same drives. We realized more than ever, that our passions are shared. It’s simply our stories that are singular.

I look to that like the reminder every day through this Women Like Us experience, that is my strength. Let’s bring it back, because if these girls can do it the way they’re doing it, with a smile on their face, and holding tight to their dreams, then we can do it too. So again, the rewards are endless. It’s just as special as it sounds. It really is.

LINDA: Yeah, it’s fabulous. When I started the Foundation I wanted to help everyone. And you know you can’t help the entire world. But you can pick the things that you can help, and you don’t go one time, you go back again, and again, and again. And you build it. And that’s really what we’re about, so it’s sustainability. We can all make a difference. And my favorite quote, that I live my life by, is, “When I get to the end of my life, I not only want to live the length of it, I want to live the width of it as well.”

womenlikeusfoundation.org

Actress, singer, TV host and film maker Sally Colon-Petree travelled to Africa with the Women Like Us Foundation and documented their story.BY MARK CASTELLINO

Text focus to 313131 to watch the entire interview.focusmag.us/tv/womenlikeus

LIKE MOTHER LIKE DAUGHTER | Felicia Waldman and Ashley Daniels

focusmag.us 19

TENDERFEET SCHOOLFirst, Mama Margaret of Tenderfeet School, who visited us at our hotel to tell us of her perseverance and determination to educate children and give them the opportunity to leave the slums of Kibera and find a better world for themselves and their families. We weren’t able to see the children, as the Somali terrorists were on our route to her school, and we decided for safety reasons we shouldn’t go. We brought underwear, school supplies and toothbrushes for the children.

OLMALAIKA HOMEThen on to the Olmalaika Home where we met beautiful teen girls who are victims of FGM (female genital mutiliation) we walked to the river to help them carry water, we helped them bake their bread and wash their clothes in buckets and we sang and danced with them joyfully, as we bonded as only women can.The Olmalaika Home received donations from our volunteers of toothbrushes, sack packs and school supplies donated from Office Depot Foundation and underwear.

N. A. NOEL PRESCHOOLNext the N. A. Noel Preschool where we met 250 beautiful children who couldn’t stop touching and hugging us, and us them. We played sports, worked on art projects and brought musical instruments for fun. The school supplies we left behind, the shoes, the generator, the funds for a latrine and a truck only begin to help touch the lives of these many children, about 40 of which are affected with HIV.Art supplies, musical instruments, school supplies from Office Depot Foundation and toothbrushes were donated to the children.

VICTORIOUS TEENSAnd finally, we traveled many hours to reach the Victorious Teens near Lake Nakuru. These teens were waiting for us. They had never met Americans. They prepared a program of informational speaking from the teachers and dancing and celebration from the students. Eventually the groups of teens broke off in circles to talk and share with our teen girls from the United States. The language was a barrier, but the hearts were certainly connected. Along with school supplies and more sack packs, the needs here were sanitary pads for the teen girls. This way they won’t miss 5-6 days of school each month which is a reason many drop out eventually. They simply get too far behind. These women, these hearts, these connections will not be lost. Women Like Us believes in sustainability and support, not simply a one time

connection and then on to other things. We’ve adopted all three of these Kenya programs. We’re spreading the word about your work, Kim DeWitt of Olmalaika Home, Nancy Noel and Mrs. Tom of N. A. Noel Preschool and Beth Wacera of Victorious Teens. We won’t forget you. We’ll be back.

I have one cool story from the trip. I wanted to get some political figures in the movie from Kenya. We happened to be staying in a lodge where they only had 18 rooms and our group took all the rooms up. When we got back one day from our daily outing, we saw a silver bullet helicopter in front of the hotel and wondered who was visiting the hotel. It turns out it was the former prime minister of Kenya and his wife. They said the former prime minister wanted to stay the night and the hotel asked us to give up one of our rooms. We said yeah, for sure.

We saw them at dinner that night and I decided to be bold and I introduced myself and asked if she would like to have a glass of wine with us and she said “why not?” She asked what we were doing there and I told her about the documentary and I asked if she would participate. And to my surprise, she said that she was leaving the next morning, but if we can have our cameras at her room at 7am, she would love to do it. I said to the group “I could not have planned this that well”The next morning Catt did an amazing interview with her and as we were leaving, I invited her to the premiere in LA in March of 2015 and she said that with enough notice, she would love to attend.

How do you think people are going to be affected by the documentary?What motivated me was to let women know, whoever they are, that they can do something and that if we all do a little bit of something, we can accomplish a lot together as women”

So I want to inspire women to watch the documentary and say to themselves and ask “what can I do” and not look away at things that are happening in their neighborhood and say someone else will take of that. I want them to say, no, “I am going to take care of it”

We expect the documentary to premiere in March of 2015 and if anyone would like to participate with the project, we would greatly appreciate any and all help and they can contact me directly at dreamonprod.com

@SallyColonMgmt

“Its just amazing what the Women Like Us Foundation is doing, and for me to have the ability to shed light on what they are doing, is an honor”

Text focus to 313131 to watch this interview.focusmag.us/tv/sallycolonpetree

The documentary Women Like Us will be released in early 2015.

MOVING PICTURES | 11/2014


COOKIN’ MY WAY THROUGH LIFE | Jordyn Goodman

Talking to Suzanne Somers about food and a healthy lifestyle.

FOOD THROUGH LIFEMy life and upbringing were pretty normal, as one would expect. I grew up in a family where we would sit down to eat dinner together, practically every night. Food has always been a big thing in my family. Being from the Midwest, we pretty much ate everything and anything. When my family came to Los Angeles from Chicago, my grandma decided to come too, and she moved in with us. You can imagine what a treat it was to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner cooked by your grandma everyday. Our house was always full of people – friends just hoping they would walk in while she was whipping up something spectacular, and most of the time she was. There’s an extra special magic in the cooking of grandmas. I don’t know what chemical reaction causes the ingredients to become something new, elevating them above anything you could ever find in a restaurant. It’s like a familiar voice or a perfume that takes you to a very particular place in your mind. A place that makes you feel safe and loved. My grandmas food, did not lack fat, or sugar, or carbs. It was just good old comfort food. Whether it was her tuna, soups, casseroles, or cakes, it was

literally impossible to turn them down. My grandma passed away two years ago, and in my kitchen sits her little recipe box. This little box has more meaning to me than anything else I inherited from her. It’s a part of my childhood, a link to my past, present, and future. Although through life, I have learned how important it is to eat healthy, I do believe in moderation. The recipes in this box and the meals I grew up on, are ones I hope to share with my children someday.

FOOD THROUGH LOVEA huge part of dating and falling in love has to do with food. You share a new experience with someone. It’s so exciting to be able to travel with someone you care about, eating at different restaurants, trying new foods for the first time together. Laughing and connecting over a great meal and a fabulous bottle of wine is a part of dating that I absolutely love. A few months ago I went on a date to Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes. We ate at a restaurant named, Mar’sel. Having been our first time there we were immediately mesmerized and excited about the ambiance of the resort. Sitting at Mar’sel we ate amazing organic fish and steak, along with vegetables grown locally at the resort.

The freshness of the food along with the stunning ocean view at sunset connected us in a new way. I will remember that date forever, probably the best I’ve ever been on, and he knows it. Trying new restaurants is always great but there’s something primal and pure about the act of feeding another person. It’s a gift of life and of self, an art delivered directly from the soul of another person. It’s a part of that person brought to life in the form of nourishment that feeds you in body and mind. I’m always a little insecure the first time I cook for someone, but I truly believe it’s a way of showing you care. As I learn to cook, I love to collect my own “magic” habits, a certain spice that goes well here or there. I suppose I am learning to foster my voice. I try to cook a few times a week when I’m not traveling, and I’ve learned there are so many amazing meals that don’t require a ton of prep time. For me, cooking is a way to express my love for the person or people I’m cooking for.

FOOD THROUGH LOSSLosing my dad to cancer last year definitely made me stop and think about my own health. Most of you know, I’ve had the privilege to work for Suzanne Somers for the past 8 years. Watching her write her books on health and wellness inspired me to dramatically change my lifestyle. She’s taught me that food is the fuel of the body. I sat down with Suzanne to discuss her healthy lifestyle.

You cook real food with organic ingredients...SS: Always

Why is eating organic so important?SS: The better question is ‘why wouldn’t you eat organic”? The idea that we’ve accepted eating food that has been sprayed with poison, or genetically modified to remove most of the nutrition is ludicrous. Food is the ‘fuel’ of the body. Why put inferior, contaminated ‘fuel’ into your great machine?

You love to support local farms but you also have your own organic garden. Why it is so important to you?SS: The joy of keeping an eye on a certain vegetable in your own organic garden, like a cauliflower or broccoli , anticipating that it will be ready tomorrow or the next day, then picking it, bringing it to the kitchen and eating it that day, perfectly fresh, is incomparable. You can feel the ‘aliveness’ and the taste is completely different from vegetables that have been sitting around in transit to the grocery store. Once you have this experience you will become addicted. The nutrient count of organic fresh-picked food is much higher and you have the peace of mind that the soil and water used on your food is pure because you are in control of it.

Cookin’ My Way through Life, Love, and Loss BY JORDYN ASHLEY GOODMAN

focusmag.us 21

Food

Jordyn Ashley Goodmanlatalkradio.com

Many young women are consumed with weight, and are constantly dieting. You stress that our cells need fat, and you always cook with real butter. Why?SS: the anti- butter campaign is a crock! What a big fat lie they told us. Cholesterol is an integral and important part of our physiology. It is responsible for cell health. Every cell in our body requires protein, FAT (cholesterol) and carbohydrates (dark leafy green vegetables). The low fat campaign started when President Eisenhower had a heart attack in the 50’s and then Senator George McGovern did a flawed study concluding fat as the enemy and they decided that everyone should eat a low-fat, high-carb diet.. so we did…we switched from butter to margarine (all chemicals) we stopped eating quality grass-fed protein and as a result we became sicker and fatter. But even today, the low fat myth is so ingrained

that even though the stats are out, people still can’t accept the ‘butter is good’ paradigm. Instead we eat sugar,

pasta, and chemicals and that is why the obesity problem is out of control.

You’ve really taught me that food is the fuel of our body. How do you take care of yourself with what you eat?SS: Everything I eat, I ask myself; ‘is this moving me toward great health or away from it’? This doesn’t mean I eat hay and grass. You should come to my house, I pan fry my grass fed steaks, and top them off with a little pat of butter to melt into the hot juices, we have amazing vegetable dishes like whole steamed cauliflower with a lemon-butter, fried browned garlic, lemon, and seas salt sauce, it is to die for. (actually you will LIVE eating like this). I drink a glass of green juice every morning, a result of putting all the fresh green vegetables including fresh turmeric, ginger, and garlic from the Farmers market from what seems like a mountain of vegetables to end up with a Kerr jar full of rich green vegetable juice essence. You can feel the enzymes as you drink it. I also take 4 spoons of organic virgin coconut oil daily (spread throughout the

day) to heal and clean and keep my intestines working well. Fat by the way is also brain food, (not processed, fast foods or trans-fats) but real healthy fats. The brain is 65% fat and it requires fat (cholesterol) to operate at maximum. So does the heart for that matter, which will surprise most people. In other words we’ve had it wrong. My next book will explain all of this in detail.

You’ve taught me that all the spices and herbs on my spice rack can do more than add a little extra kick to your meals — they can rev up your metabolism and improve your health at the same time. What are some of your favorite spices and herbs to cook with that not only help our food taste great, but also help detoxify our body at the same time?SS: nature is awesome and in its wisdom, Nature has provided for us delicious flavorings that just happen to also be anti-oxidants: turmeric, fresh thyme, Rosemary, tarragon, sage, garlic, ginger, parsley, oregano, cumin, and so many others. Why do we care about anti-oxidants? Because (in Suzanne Speak) antioxidants ‘eat’ free-radicals. We are all taking in free-radicals constantly, so antioxidants are like little ninja warriors ka-pow’ing the free radicals out of existence. The less free radical damage you have in your body, the healthier you will be.

Your latest cookbook the Sexy Forever Recipe Bible is a compilation of your Somercize library of cookbooks with some great updates based on current science and newer discoveries related to losing weight and staying healthy. What are your favorite recipes in the book?SS: Favorite? Hmmm…cauliflower soup with crispy fried shallots, a drizzle of white truffle oil and a dollop of crème fraiche on top has to be at the top of my list. The purpose of Sexy Forever was to explain to my readers that so much of why you can’t lose weight is because of your toxic burden. The more chemicals and toxins you take in and allow yourself to be exposed to the more fat you

will need to store it. That’s how it works; the more toxins, the more fat you need for storage. Eating organic healthy foods laden with flavor will actually lower your toxic burden while you lose weight. For my 30th birthday you cooked the most delicious meal I’ve ever had. It started with the most luscious heirloom tomato and burrata salad which was followed by organic baby lamb chops and gluten free pasta with pesto and pine nuts. I’m still talking about that lunch to this day! SS: Thank you, It was fun cooking for you and the girls. The perfect most incredible pesto recipe is in this book (sexy Forever Recipe Bible). There is no recipe for pasta that is better (she says modestly) haha, and in the summer when my basil is growing like crazy I make vats of pesto.

For your birthday I marinated your lamb chops for two days (even an hour is sufficient), in olive oil, lots of chopped garlic, fresh rosemary, fresh cracked pepper, some fresh tarragon. Slice the chops thin; if they are loin chops have your butcher slice them in half. The secret to a great lamb chop is to cook hot and fast in a little of the reserve marinade. If the chop is too thick it will dry out by the time are finished. I quickly sear each side till brown and crusty (a minute or two) and then I turn each chop on the fatty side to get the fat crispy and yummy like lamb bacon! I made you Andean Dream gluten free spaghetti, cooked al dente’ and tossed the cooked, drained, rinsed, pasta two heaping large spoonful’s of your pesto ( I like to reserve a few tablespoons of hot pasta water to add to the pesto mixture). Toss in a little butter (about a spoonful) to the hot mixture, check for taste for salt and cracked pepper, add a hot red pepper flakes for a little kick, and serve right away with grated Parmesan and pan toasted and salted pine nuts.

Enjoy…Suzanne

Now that’s some Food For Thought!The Suzanne Somers Recipe Bible can be found at suzannesomers.com

Photo: C

indy G

old

...antioxidants are like little ninja warriors ka-pow’ing the free radicals out of existence. The less free radical damage you have in your body, the healthier you will be.


A GOOD GUYs | 11/2014

Not everyone who is skinny is healthy. While the primary reason that people

choose to lose weight is to look better, it can often be for health reasons. It is entirely possible to ruin your health in order to drop pounds to improve your appearance. Many methods of weight loss can be unhealthy and even harmful. Sustainable weight loss requires a lifestyle change that cannot be achieved by just following a commercial diet and watching the numbers on a scale.

My journey began in 7th grade when my first boyfriend said that I looked “heavy.” As a 13 year-old, that was absolutely devastating. That moment marked the beginning of my own constant “diet” struggles. I have since tried nearly every weight-loss program available. I have read an abundance of self-help and diet books. While I was always able to follow a plan to the letter, without cheating, my results did not help my feelings of anxiousness, deprivation, unhappiness and stress. This was certainly not a way to live. I remained a yo-yo dieter for 34 years – until now.

Helping people has always been an important part of my life so it seemed only natural for me to become a Health Coach. As a certified Health Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (“IIN”), I am now part of a wonderful movement seeking to improve the U.S. Health Crisis. IIN is the world’s largest school of nutrition whose mission is “to play a crucial role in improving health and happiness, and through that process, create a ripple effect that transforms the world.” I have learned from IIN that our “primary food” refers to external factors that affect our eating habits (i.e., healthy relationships, exercise, career, spirituality). These things “feed us, but don’t come on a plate.” What we eat is actually secondary to these factors.

Through my years of research and interest in nutrition, I have learned so much and love

A Good GuyLOUIS LOMBARDIBest known for playing the unconventional hero and fan favorite ‘Edgar Stiles’ in Fox’s Emmy Award winning show ‘24’ and FBI Agent ‘Skip Lipari’ in the highly acclaimed HBO series ‘The Sopranos,’ Louis Lombardi is going back to his Italian roots and is launching his own gourmet Italian food line, Lombardi’s, consisting of pastas, sauces, olive oils and olives imported directly from Italy.

Born in the Bronx, NY, Louis learned how to cook by growing up surrounded by a strong household of Italian women including his mother, grandmother, and aunts. For Louis and his family, cooking is not just about eating food, it’s about passion. Through his Italian upbringing and love of cooking, he believes that the strength of food is in the camaraderie, sitting around the dinner table, and sharing stories about your day. As a father to a young daughter, he wanted to continue that tradition of bringing families back to the dinner table which influenced his decision to share his family’s recipes and Italian cooking secrets with his new gourmet food line. Lombardi’s emphasizes quality ingredients, easy preparation, and a means of reconnecting families at the dinner table, as opposed to the quick drive-thru’s that have become a staple of feeding America’s busy families today.louislombardi.com lombardisfoods.com

Eat...Live...LifeBY JILL PARKER

focusmag.us 23

Who: Kristen Williams, the Sexy Sommelier and member of the Dating Naked cast on VH1. The Sexy Sommelier is a website and video log on everything about wine. Making wine super simple for everyone! I want to be the “Rachel Ray” of wine to make wine simple for everyone. No stuck up snobbishness here. You can find tips on pairing wine with food, date night ideas, great wine bars around town, reviews on different wines and fun facts about wine I like to call “Corkers”.

Why a sommelier? I’ve always had a passion for wine. I really wanted to know more about wine, what food it pairs well with and basically be able to explain what I liked about each wine. I received my sommelier license from The United States Sommelier Association after attending their school and passing the national exam.

Favorite places to get wine LA: Some of my favorite places for wine are Heritage Wine bar in Beverly Hills (all French wines), V Wine bar in West Hollywood (boutique California wines), Four Seasons Windows Lounge and AOC on 3rd St in West Hollywood (great wine list and food)

Favorite food to pair with your favorite wine: I love a good juicy steak! Especially a bone in filet mignon with a nice Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

Favorite dessert with an after dinner wine: Creme brûlée with a chilled glass of Sauternes, a sweet white wine from Bordeaux but not as sweet as some California wines, or anything chocolate goes well with a tawny port!

Favorite place to buy wine: One of my favorite place to buy wine is Wally’s Wine & Spirits on Westwood Blvd. wallywine.com Wally’s has a huge selection of wines. They have tastings every Saturday, wine dinners and they hold special champagne tasting events!

Most quirky talent: I have my own Laguiole Champagne saber and really enjoy chopping the tops off of champagne bottles! The idea of using a sword to open a bottle of champagne came from the Napoleonic era. As the story goes Napoleon believed one should never

go without champagne. If a bottle could not be opened, he would order one of his soldiers to use the blunt edge of their sword to cut off the top of the bottle, hence the art of sabering!

Wine Selection: Schug Carneros Estate Winery produces some of the best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays – the cool, marine climate makes a perfect area to grow the delicate Pinot Noir grapes. The 2011 is a “Global Pinot Noir Masters” winner. Bright, ruby color with rich spiced berries, ripe cherry, cranberry, a little smokey, a little peppery with some nice earth notes make this a very well balanced pinot! Great to pair with grilled fish, chicken or barbecued meats. $20-30 a bottle. schugwinery.com

KristenWilliamsonline.com VinowithKristen.com

HAPPY HOURFood

Jill Parkersoulfusionllc.com

sharing my healthy tips. My favorites are:

Don’t step on the scale daily. Take the pressure off the number on the scale by tracking your measurements instead.

More H2O! Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water - add some fresh strawberries, kiwi, lime, mint or lemon, a natural energizer.

Kick that chemical caffeine to the curb! Try naturally occurring caffeine instead. My favorite naturally occurring caffeine product is Yerba Mate, which can be found in most markets in loose or tea bag form. It contains powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to balance your mood, stimulate focus and clarity, increase your basal metabolic rate, which helps burn fat, and more.

Always carry healthy snacks. Keep a handful of raw almonds or walnuts, raw vegetables or a piece of fruit with you.

Try to eat every 3-4 hours. This will keep your blood sugar steady throughout the day so you don’t feel hungry.

Today’s world presents many challenges when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. There is a worldwide epidemic of obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Our foods are covered with pesticides, herbicides and other toxins. During my constant struggle with a healthy lifestyle because of these challenges I discovered a fantastic health and wellness company.

This company, that I have partnered with, offers natural food products and supplements that contain everything the body needs to function optimally. They specialize in cutting-edge nutrition and anti-aging technology that has transformed the lives of people of all ages, including children. These products, combined with our own food choices, have changed not only my life, but also those of my friends, family and millions of others.

Utilizing my education from IIN and along with this company, I am poised to help people achieve and maintain their personal health goals. I have programs that are tailored to meet each person’s individual needs.

Now we can all remove the word “diet” from our lives and develop a healthy relationship with food, which is free of obsession and guilt.

...In Health and Happiness…

If you are interested in a free Health History or want a simple, healthy alternative to achieve and maintain your health goals, please contact Jill for a free consultation at [email protected].

WITH KRISTEN WILLIAMS

Text focus to 313131 to watch this interview.focusmag.us/tv/kristenschampagne


MARK STEINESA Day in the Life

MARK STEINES | Dana Adams and Ashley Daniels

A Photoseries by Dana Adams

Interview by Ashley Daniels

With his easy going manner and laid back charm, Mark Steines would seem the perfect choice for a TV host. Well, that’s exactly what he has excelled at for the last 20 years. He left Entertainment Tonight in 2012, and these days he co-hosts the Hallmark Channel’s, Home & Family. It’s a good natured daily show that takes in all aspects of lifestyle. The set is a traditional house built on the Universal studio lot, complete with bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and a pumpkin garden.

“It’s a different direction from what I was doing at Entertainment Tonight. A lot of that was escapist television. Here, we are dealing with what families have to deal with every day. This for me has been like going back to college. Except, I’m getting a Masters degree in living. I’m learning how

Home &Family

Text focus to 313131 to watch this interviewfocusmag.us/tv/marksteines

focusmag.us 25

11am - Rehearsals with the show’s guests and presenters in the garden and outside the house.

to be a better father, cook, gardener and interior decorator. If I get married again, I will have a better relationship. Coming here I learn so much – and then I go home and share it with my kids.”

Father of two boys, Steines tries to make their upbringing different from the way he grew up. “I try to give my kids a reason for doing things when they ask ‘why’, instead of just saying ‘because I said so.’ I want them to be prepared for when I’m not around – to learn to cook and fold clothes.”

Less known from his TV career, is that Mark Steines is also an accomplished photographer. He travelled to Sierra Leone and took 10,000 photos in 10 days. He documented his journey in a book, See The Light: A Passage to Sierra Leone.

“My theory is to donate your time in whatever passion you have, to bless others.”

Mark Steines, 50, was born in Iowa and graduated with a degree in Radio and Television from University of Northern Iowa. He is a 3

1pm – On Air for a live taping of the show for Hallmark Channel

times Emmy winner for news broadcasting and was voted sexiest man of 2004. He loves racing and he competed four times at the pro-celebrity Long Beach Grand Prix.

The story goes that in 1988 just after Top Gun came out, he was in New Orleans and someone mistook him for Tom Cruise. You can see why. Entertainment Tonight got wind of Tom Cruise making a movie in New Orleans and rushed a crew down there. When they realized their error, they decided to stay anyway and do a profile on Steines. He says, within a week he had 3 job offers.

We’re not sure if it works in reverse but you get the impression that after 2 decades, Steines has made his mark in the entertainment industry.

His simpler mission as single parent now, is to be a good father and to raise his sons to be independent thinkers.

@MarkSteinesmarksteines.com

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Sandra Taylor

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Sandra Taylor Makes Eggplant ParmigianaText focus to 313131 to watch the video.focusmag.us/tv/sandrataylor

Favorite Restaurant Madeo

Favorite RoleSuki Sanchez in The Princess Diaries

Favorite TV Show American Idol

Favorite Movie Elf

Favorite Actor Robert Downey Jr.

Favorite Actress Patricia Arquette

Favorite Gift Anything Chanel

Favorite Fashion Designer Alexander McQueen

Favorite Recording ArtistJewel

Favorite Photo Shoot Francesco Scavullo

Favorite Hotel Beverly Hills Hotel

Favorite Store Neiman Marcus

Most Expensive Shoes Giuseppe Zanotti Swavorski

Most Influence on my Life Gary Marshall

fastfocusName: Sandra TaylorProfession: Mother, Actress, Model, Spokesperson

Currently ReadingA Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

Dream Role To play opposite Robert Downey Jr.

Latest Movie When The Game Stands Tall (2014)

Best Known RolesThe Princess Diaries and Under Siege 2

Favorite App Waze

Favorite Shoes Pink Patent Leather Christian Louboutin

SANDRA TAYLOR | 11/2014


FOOD + MOODFOOD + MOOD | Danielle Cuccio

1. Food is fuel. Just like a car stops when it is out of gas, we too need our fuel to keep going. The fix: Aim to eat every 4 hours to avoid mood swings and to maintain energy.2. Happy gut, happy you! Take a probiotic daily. Probiotics balance out bacteria in your gut. The brain and the gastrointestinal system are intimately connected so it also has an affect on your mood.The fix: Take a high-quality probiotic supplement. Probiotics have been known to potentially help relieve anxiety!3. Avoid OvereatingOvereating makes us feel lethargic, dull and makes our digestive system go into overdrive, leaving us with not a whole lot of energy for anything else.The fix: Don’t overeat! Eat slowly and you’ll notice you’re full sooner. (Hint hint: Thanksgiving!)4. Avoid Oily FoodsChips and foods that are high in saturated fat instantly make us feel sluggish because...they are harder to digest!The fix: Avoid these foods and follow a well-balanced diet rich in protein, moderate in carbohydrates and low in fat since. This could generally improve mood and energy levels. (*Fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and legumes).5. Chocolate, Anyone?Yes, you can eat chocolate! Dark Chocolate targets that feel-good feelin’. Dark Chocolate can increase serotonin levels in the brain, a mood altering chemical.

Yoga has been a huge part of being connected to how I feel on a day to day basis. I start to notice when I’m tired, confused or tense much quicker than I did before. So I guess you can say, “that high” you get from practicing yoga and eating well is pretty amazing and once you start doing otherwise, you definitely notice a difference! Happy eating everyone!

Your mood isn’t always something you connect to the food you eat, but it is rather important to start paying attention to...

It is a fact that the mind and the body are interconnected. What we eat, not only influences our physical well being, but also how we feel emotionally.

When you are anxious, you often don’t have an appetite. When you go through a break up, you want to eat a whole pint of ice cream. Emotions and food have a bond we can’t ignore.

We all want to feel light, energetic and enthusiastic pretty much 100% of the time. There is no better feeling!

Yoga has helped me notice how I feel throughout the day. I say that without sounding super “Yogi Zen Master”. No no, I am far from that! It is really quite simple. I breathe, I slow down, I start to notice thoughts and feelings in my body that I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. The food I eat plays a huge role in this. Every day I make sure to eat foods that make me feel my best so I can give my yoga clients my energy, time and 100% attention.

BY DANIELLE CUCCIOPhoto: Kimberly Geneviéve

About the author: Danielle Cuccio is a Private Yoga Instructor in LA and Health Blogger for TheBeautyBlender.com. Danielle teaches group Yoga and Yoga Booty Ballet at Swerve Studio in West Hollywood. To learn more healthy habits to add to your life, take Private Yoga Lessons with Danielle at your home or in her private Beverly Hills studio, visit CuccioSomatology.comE-mail: [email protected] T: (323) 863-5041 Instagram: @daniellecuccio

focusmag.us 31

Through the practice of yoga on the mat, we learn to listen to the body by paying close attention to where we are physically, mentally, and emotionally. We realize what our limitations and strengths are. We use the physical practice of yoga as a healthy add-on to a daily routine.To bring what we learn on the mat into the

kitchen can be challenging. Although, when we consciously make better eating habits part of our routine, it becomes pretty simple. Especially if we consider how eating the right foods at the right time plays an important role in maintaining a lifestyle that truly benefits our vitality.

In the same way we pay attention to the self when moving through asanas on the mat, we can also learn to pay attention to our daily food choices based on our individual needs, the time of day, and even the time of year. Tuning into the way we eat helps us understand what types of food make us feel foggy, sluggish, and depleted or what foods enhance clarity, energy, and nourishment. In becoming more aware of how food works for us, we can be more committed to using food for healing and sustenance.

“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need”

- Ayurvedic Proverb The basic needs of an individual’s health and diet vary just

as much as the body types you see in a yoga class. Where you are in your life from day to day and year to year also plays an important role in what foods work best for you. In my own experience, I’ve noticed that the foods I could consume 10 years ago are definitely not the foods that work for me now.

Optimal food choices can be informed by your natural state, which remains stable during your lifetime (blood-type, height, eye color are only some examples). One’s current state of balance, which can change minute–to minute and year-to-year, is also an important barometer. This sort of information can be acquired through visiting someone who specializes in ayurveda, Chinese medicine, or homeopathy.

Your values and beliefs are what will ultimately inspire you to make food an instrument that enhances your lifestyle for the long term. In deciding how to best fuel the body, one also decides how to best honor and cherish life in general. No one else can make that choice for you except you. Pia Artesona teaches privately and can be found guiding Recovery Yoga and Vinyasa Flow at Bhakti Yoga Shala in Santa Monica or Liberation Yoga, Aura Yoga, and Easton Gym in West HollywoodFor more info visit www.piaartesona.com or instagram @stepbystepyogawithpia

Yoga Off The MatHealth

Fed UpPROFILE

Environmental activist, Laurie David is helping to educate us on the food we eat. Her new movie Fed Up is a Top 10 download on iTunes – and her cookbooks, advocating a return to family dinners, is creating quite a stir too.

How would you describe yourself? I live in a lot of different worlds and I have a lot of passions. They are all connected. I feel really strongly about fairness. Things that I advocate for are based on my belief that it’s not a level playing field. I feel driven to try to fix that.

How did you get involved in this? Was there a catalyst?I was a talent manager, worked on the David Letterman Show and then

I went into developing comedies for Fox. I always loved the entertainment business.

I think the lightbulb moment happened once I became a mom. Once I became a mom I looked at the world a little differently. I had a big Momma Bear complex and I saw lots of dangers out there.

I remember the environmental thing started with me pushing a stroller down the road and seeing every second car was an SUV and I said, wait, where did these huge cars come from – and what are they doing to the environment? I started looking into it and I learned about global warming. I think my real social consciousness got ignited when I had two daughters and I felt responsible for them.

Was food production the next natural cause for you after global warming?I think it is a natural transition because every issue crosses the dinner plate. If you have consciousness about the planet and what we are doing to it, you ultimately have to examine what we are eating and how it is produced. The incredible thing about food is that there is something we can do about it that is powerful. You could eat less meat. You can go antibiotic free, you can grow food yourself and you cook at home. There are so many choices you can make – you can buy local. I had some lightbulb moments at my own dinner table. I realized the importance of sitting down

Photo: Fab

rice Henssens

BY MARK CASTELLINO


LAURIE DAVID | Mark Castellino

and having dinner as a family and how few people were doing that anymore. I was raised in a family that insisted you came to dinner, unless you had a doctor’s note. You were expected to be there, and dinner lasted 45 minutes to an hour. That became a priority for me when raising my kids. It’s so much easier for everyone to grow up in their own silence but every night Monday to Friday my family knew they had to be at their table. And to this day, my children at college do that with their friends.

There is a list of 50 things that you can do if you take time to have dinner together. This is the time when you pass on your values. This is how you teach language skills. This is how they learn resilience and family history.

One of the things we are fighting with is decades of marketing and advertising that cooking is not fun and that you want to get out of the kitchen – or that it takes to long. And all of these things are myths. We have to get back to the table. And the irony of it is, that it is joyful to light a candle and to cook a recipe and to sit down and eat it and laugh. We have to get back to it.

What do you say when people say they have no time to cook. I know I’m guilty of that.You can cook quickly. On the days you have more time, that’s the day to prep. It takes no time to make a pot of quinoa. And you keep that in the fridge. It doesn’t take long to scramble some eggs and add some broccoli to it. It doesn’t take that long to bake a sweet potato. It’s just being prepared and having the ingredients.

Let’s examine the amount of time we are spending on email and Instagram and Facebook. And this is the crux of it. What are our priorities? Isn’t it to have healthy kids and healthy bodies? That has to be our priority because without health we have nothing. We have to shift our gears, figure what our values are and put them into action.

How do you help kids from becoming picky eaters?Involving kids in the process of making dinner will make them better eaters. That’s number one. There’s no question about it. They’ll try things they’ll eat more. But I’ll say this about parenting today. I can not remember a time when kids had more say over what they ate, than today. And it’s gotten out of control. Kids aren’t supposed to like things. And that’s why you have to take control. It takes 10 times eating something to develop a taste for it but we give up after the second tasting. We say, oh she won’t eat this or she wont eat that and then it all becomes self fulfilling. You stop making those things, they stop tasting them and next thing you know, you have a picky eater. We have to make sure of what we are enforcing and reinforcing at the dinner table. Here’s the thing – does your child decide what time they go to sleep at night? It’s our job to continually present to them great tasting food, and to get them to love it.

There’s a lot of pressure from the big food companies to push kids into eating more sugar. Tell us your views on that.The same thing happened with tobacco companies. We know these products are unhealthy and we know they lead to obesity and diabetes. And yet we are still sitting back and allowing these

companies to harm children. It’s absolutely outrageous. How is it a level playing field? A kid’s favorite athlete or musician is advertising a can of soda. Or the Girl Scouts, which is a trusted institution, have their logo on a sugary chocolate drink. I don’t understand why this country is not up in arms about this. Because we are seeing the results of this; 1 in 3 kids is obese and we are seeing skyrocketing disease rates. Care costs are going to bury this country.

I think there is a food movement happening in this country but it needs to get some serious gas in it because very soon children are going to have a shorter lifespan than their parents and that is a sober, sober thought.

What is your movie about?It’s an important movie for anybody who eats food. It basically follows 3 kids who are struggling with varying degrees of being overweight, and what they are up against. And it traces back to the beginning. What has happened to our food to make people sick, and what is the government and food industry’s involvement in this? We came up with some really compelling answers.

What will it take for things to change?I think it will change. You see the girl scouts putting their logo on a 12 teaspoons of sugar, chocolate drink. That’s more sugar than a child should have in 4 days. We should say enough is enough. That’s outrageous. I think things will change I think in the next 10 years we will look at soda and sugary drinks in the same way that we looked at tobacco. Look at places like Mexico, which has a sugar tax on soda now. And soda sales are going down every single day. I think people are getting more educated, and it’s a great opportunity for healthy products to grow. Any one person can put pressure on the market by not buying this stuff. The other side of this is that those products are addictive. They are formulated to addict you. So if you bring them in the house, it’s like having alcohol around if you are an alcoholic. We have to start voting with our wallets and not buy these products anymore.

The food companies aren’t going to be leading the change unless the marketplace demands it. You have to complain about candy by the checkout and you have to work at making the food at your school sugar free.

What are your plans for the future Laurie?I don’t know what the future will bring. I’m a believer that when one door closes another one opens. I’m focused on growing food and saving the seeds. I have a farm on the East coast and I grow vegetables, like sweet potatoes, and I give them to the local schools and the food pantry.

lauriedavid.com

focusmag.us 33

Children of the World

What made you decide to become a sponsor with Children International?I had been looking to build a relationship with a child, and to help them in pursuing their dreams. Fortunately, I was told about Children International from a personal experience and by someone who has knowledge of what they do. Children International provides 83% of the money contributed to the actual cause. They have also been in business for more than 75 years. I found those to be very important factors.

How did you pick the children you sponsor?On their website, they have a database of children from 2-17yrs, from countries all around the world. I had in mind that I wanted a child from Columbia. Reason being, I love the culture, I’m a salsa dancer, and I love latin music and I wanted to embrace even more of the culture. It was important to me to be able to develop a relationship with the child. I wanted an age old enough to communicate with her. So I found my girl. Her gentle smile captured me. Also I loved that she enjoyed singing and dancing as her hobbies. Though I didn’t stop there, I wanted to sponsor another one in a location I wanted to visit. I choose the Philippines. Once again I found a girl that captured me. With each profile they provide details on how much the family earns, their siblings, do they have fresh water, go to school, what they sleep on and so forth. All of which helps you understand their needs.

You went to the other side of the world to visit your child after only sponsoring her for several months?Yes, and I have to say it was one of the best experiences of my life. I feel very blessed that I had the ability to do so. I wanted a full day with her so I arrived very early in the morning and flew out the next early morning. I wanted to see everything first hand. Children International was so gracious in accommodating me and made my experience incredible. It completely filled my heart to meet her mom, and also the staff at Children International. I could see how much it meant to my sponsor child, Nicole and her mother. Her mother seemed lost for words and I could see how grateful she was. About 800 sponsors a year visit their sponsored children. It is the most rewarding thing we can do for them and ourselves.

Could you tell us about your experience?When I arrived at Children International the whole staff warmly welcomed me. There I met Nicole and her mom. We went over the visit and their guidelines. One of my requests was to view the community center so that I could see what

Nicole is provided. I met the staff and I was shown what the children have access to. I was able to see a boy writing a letter to his sponsor while I was there. Then we went to lunch at Jolliblee – it is their Philippines fast food chain. From there we were taken to visit Nicole’s home. I watched as we drove through their village on unpaved dirt roads. The people seemed just to be present, with not much purpose. Kids and dogs wandered the streets. It was unlike anything I have seen first hand.

I was introduced to the whole family. Their home was a shack, very small. Their sleeping area was closed off from the living area with a curtain. There was a child sized bed that slept all three children. In front, would lay the parents on the floor with blankets. They did have running water, though it was from a faucet with no filtration. Their surroundings overlooked the next family’s home, clothing hung from the wires. It was an eye-opener to see and experience.

I wanted to enjoy the day with Nicole and do something fun. We went to Ocean Park in Manila, an ocean aquarium. We saw shows, different ocean life, and even did the fish foot bath. Nicole and her mom were smiling the whole time. I was filled with complete happiness to be a part of this with them. I asked what gift I could get Nicole and also something for the family. Nicole wanted clothes and her Mom wanted groceries for the family. That told me a lot about their situation, knowing generally that an 8yr old would want toys. Every place we had been throughout the day was new for them. Her mother, 38, has never left her area, never been to a mall, a grocery store, or been able to enter Ocean Park since there

Left: Nicole’s bed which she shares with her 2 siblings. Center: The kitchen Right: with Nicole and her mom at Ocean Park.

Culture

Wanting to help children in need, Erica Lippy travelled to the Philippines and came face to face with the child whose life she is changing for the better.BY SANDRA LUESSE


CHILDREN OF THE WORLD | Erica Lippy

What appealed to you about becoming an aid worker?First, I realized that I wanted to be doing work that was giving back or making a positive change. Second, I’ve always loved traveling and seeing the world. I like the sense of adventure and discovery.

What are the differences between your day to day life in LA and the one in Darfur? Leaving LA for Sudan is often a mix of excitement and sadness. I try to stay balanced by eating well and working out. I maintain certain routines that are important to me, like running and yoga and taking time to stay in touch with people at home. Sometimes the transition between the two can be quite taxing though – just things like food and the weather can be a lot to adapt to. Sudan is extremely hot and dry. On top of that, it’s a very conservative Muslim country under Sharia law, so I have to be fully covered up. Days like that I really miss Venice beach.

What programs are you working on?I currently oversee 3 different nutrition projects and have a team of about 20 staff. Darfur is such a complex situation – there has been a civil war for over 10 years so some areas are still in the ‘emergency phase’ while others are in ‘recovery’. One project identifies and treats malnutrition in children under five. Another project is focused on education of mothers in order to prevent malnutrition – some of the behaviors might seem really basic, like hand washing at proper

is an admission fee. At the grocery store her mom took a basket, though I wanted her to grab a cart. I told her please go pick anything you need. She bought canned food, boxed milk, rice. This is what she is familiar with. I tried to help and welcome her to buy more. I believe she was intimidated and shy to buy much.

At the end of our visit we exchanged hugs. My heart was full. I couldn’t have asked for a better visit and to know where my money is going. Truly I know I am making a difference and Children International is helping achieve that.

Why would you suggest others to go with Children International?Children International has a long history in helping children become self reliant adults. Their approach is successful and continues to advance. I know that my small contribution is making a difference in that child’s life. The children have a chance at a better future and the ability to battle their poverty.

What does the money you contribute monthly go to?My monthly $28 gives the child access to their community centers, which provide full-time doctors and dentists, pharmacies, library, computer labs, playgrounds, school supplies or uniforms if needed. CI provides resources, programs and services that help reduce the burden of poverty on impoverished children and youth. Sponsorship provides important assistance and services like medical and dental care, educational support, and access to youth programs that help young people learn life and leadership skills. In addition, as children establish skills, they give back by teaching the younger children.

Do you communicate with your child?CI makes it easy for you to email your child and send photos. The best part though, is the kids send an actual letter through the mail. It’s like receiving a gift every time you open your mailbox. One of my children writes English and the other in Spanish. They are so well spoken, grateful, proud, and happy children. I’m impressed and touched every time. One time my child from the Philippines wrote me about school. She wrote, I promise I will try harder this year. I just melted. Keeping communication and encouraging them is very important.

I am truly grateful and humbled by my experience. I hope sharing my story and visit has in turn also inspired you. I believe each and everyone of us can make a difference in this world. I feel blessed to be able to provide a small donation monthly to help Nicole and Nelly. I hope you too will consider sponsoring a child of your own. Developing a relationship with him or her and giving them a chance to break out of their poverty. It was the best decision I could make.

children.org

Every 3 to 4 months, Mascha Davis leaves her husband and home in LA for her job as a humanitarian aid worker in Darfur, Africa.

Erica Lippyyourfitmodel.com

Text focus to 313131 to watch the video.focusmag.us/tv/ericalippy

focusmag.us 35

Culture

Photos: A

ndrew

Slough

times or exclusive breastfeeding, but these are the things, that, if done properly, can make the difference between life and death.

Are you ever worried for your safety in Africa?Yes! The things I worry about the most are getting into a car accident or getting sick. Of course, there is the risk of kidnapping in Darfur. Because of this, I always travel with armed escorts when going on field visits or I travel by helicopter when heading to an area not accessible by road (due to safety). You are always on guard and alert – that in itself can become quite stressful. I’ve been sick a few times (I got typhoid fever at the beginning of 2014) and I fear for my life pretty much every time I get on the road.

How has doing this changed your perception of the world? One of the ways is that I feel an extraordinary sense of gratitude for the life I lead and the opportunities I have. Leaving the comfort and security of home makes you realize how much we take for granted. Hot showers, clean water, not fearing getting sick, clean air, being able to walk outside or go hiking… things that seem simple yet I’ve come to treasure them. It has also caused me to question why there is so much inequality, and in particular when it comes to women. What can I do to influence this? How can I change it? There aren’t any easy answers, but asking the questions is a start. I’ve also learned that life is too short, and too precious, to spend doing something you don’t love.

Have you learned the intricacies of African cooking and food? I love trying new food. That’s one of my favorite things about traveling. In most parts of Africa, people eat food that is local and seasonal, because that is what’s available and affordable. It’s often

minimally processed, if at all, so that’s a huge thing we can take away. I love exploring local fruit and vegetable stands and cooking healthy meals with new foods I find. Sometimes it’s just a simple fruit salad but with delicious, local fruits. The food is heavily influenced by both African and Middle Eastern dishes – I love the hummus, flat breads, various side dishes like the kidney bean and chickpea stew called ‘ful’ as well as salads. I was once offered goat liver, which is quite healthy but I had a hard time eating it!

What things do you miss most when you are there?I miss my husband when we’re apart, and our loft by the beach. I miss the food – I’m obsessed with kale salads and fresh blueberries and you can’t get either of those in Sudan. I’m also unfortunately addicted to really good coffee so I end up carrying half a suitcase of Intelligentsia coffee with me when I leave LA. Of course I miss my girl friends but we have Skype to stay in touch. I crave the feel of the sand at the beach and the smell of the ocean…

What are your future plans? I don’t know yet what exactly I’ll do in the future but I believe in following your heart before anything else. My passion is humanitarian aid work but I’m also working on figuring out how to integrate that in a way that feeds my creative side. I love writing, fashion and travel. I’d love to collaborate with a fashion brand that is enthusiastic about improving the quality of life for women in the developing world. I’m also working on a book about my life and experiences.

Mascha Davisinternationaldietitian.wordpress.com

LOS A

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ELES TO D

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Music & Theater

Write A Review.Email [email protected] with your suggestion for a show you would like to review for us, and we will give you more details.

Jeff Bridges 1 November, 8pmJeff Bridges, while best known as an actor and producer, has an ace up his sleeve in that he is also an accomplished Country/Americana musician. Though music has long been a passion for Bridges, it was his role as Otis “Bad” Blake” in the 2009 film Crazy Heart (for which Bridges won the Academy Award for Best Actor) that really brought his musical talents to the forefront. Most recently, he released an album produced by T-Bone Burnett. His memorable film performances include the cult classic The Big Lebowski, as well as Fearless, Iron Man, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Jagged Edge, Against All Odds, The Fisher King, Tucker, Seabiscuit, Arlington Road, Tron and Tron: Legacy. Currently, Bridges co-stars with Meryl Streep in the hit movie The Giver. Doors 6pm. Show 8:00pm.Tickets: $48/$78 Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd, CA 90211 T: 323-655-0111 canyonclub.net

King Lear4-16 November, 7.30pmDirect from the UK, Shakespeare’s ultimate tragedy comes to The Broad Stage in a high-octane whirl of love and deceit, delivered with a thrilling physicality. Best known for his role on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Joseph Marcell (King Lear) is joined onstage by a powerhouse cast for one of the deepest artistic explorations of the human condition. Produced by the brilliant and daring Shakespeare’s Globe, this King Lear will leave you breathless with its style, wit, and gusto.The Broad Stage, 1310 11th Street Santa Monica, CA 90401T: 310 434 3200 thebroadstage.com

Baryshnikov: The Old Woman14 November, 8pmLegendary theater maker Robert Wilson’s The Old Woman, based on a story by Russian author Daniil Kharms. A brilliant, slyly political story written in the 1930s, The Old Woman stars Mikhail Baryshnikov and film star Willem Dafoe. $59 - $149Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr, CA 90095 T: 310 825-4401cap.ucla.edu

Dick Cavett6 November, 7:30PM Writers Bloc presents a conversation with Dick Cavett moderated by comedian Paula Poundstone. Dick Cavett is widely regarded as one of the foremost interviewers of our time, having appeared as a talk show host on American broadcast television since the 1960s. Wallis Annenberg Center, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd.Beverly Hills, CA 90210thewallis.org

UnCabaret - ‘Noir-vember’21 November, 8pm Join Beth Lapides and her band of UnCabaret comedians Rebecca Corry (Last Comic Standing), the Sklar Brothers (ESPN’s Cheap Seats), and Stephen Kramer Glickman (Big Time Rush) for a noir-ish comedy event. Presented lounge-style, with cocktails and snacks. Tickets $15Skirball Center, 2701 Sepulveda Blvd, CA 90095 T: 310 440-4500skirball.org

Photo: E

llie Kurttz

Photo: D

ustin Cohen

Photo: Terry K

eefe

focusmag.us 37

Current Exhibitions

Culture

Light & Noir23 October 2014 – 1 March 2015The exhibition highlights the émigré actors, directors, writers, and composers who were refugees from Nazi persecution in Europe—focusing on their subsequent contributions to American cinema and culture.

Film directors from German-speaking countries—such luminaries as Henry Koster, Fritz Lang, Otto Preminger, Billy Wilder, and Fred Zinnemann—made their way to California via Berlin, Paris, and London, and shaped the look of Hollywood’s “Golden Age.” Already established émigrés, such as the director Ernst Lubitsch, the actress Marlene Dietrich, and the agent Paul Kohner, helped the new exiles and émigrés find their path in Hollywood.

Different genres in which the European émigrés were especially productive, such as the exile film, the anti-Nazi film, film noir, and comedy, are highlighted. These include such classics as Ninotchka (1939), Sunset Boulevard (1950), and Casablanca (1942). On view are costumes worn by Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Marlene Dietrich, and Joan Crawford, as well as one of Billy Wilder’s Academy Awards, Ernst Lubitsch’s twenty-five year anniversary album, the Max Factor Scroll of Fame, and furniture from the set of Rick’s Café in Casablanca. Skirball 2701 Sepulveda Blvd. CA 90049 T: 310 440-4500skirball.org

Day To Night: Stephen WilkesStephen Wilkes’ newest body of work, entitled Day to Night, captures epic cityscapes with fleeting moments throughout the day and night. Wilkes photographs from one camera angle continuously for up to 15 hours. A select group of images are then electronically blended into one photograph. Peter Fetterman Gallery2525 Michigan Avenue Gallery A1Santa Monica, CA 90404T . 310 453 6463peterfetterman.com

Hello Kitty RetrospectiveUntil April 2015As part of Hello Kitty’s 40th Anniversary celebration, the adorably cute character will be celebrated in numerous ways, including a birthday party, Hello Kitty Con and her first-ever museum retrospective at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM). The exhibition includes an extensive product survey, with rare and unique items from the Sanrio archives, alongside a selection of innovative contemporary artworks inspired by Hello Kitty and her world.Japanese American National Museum. 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012. janm.org

Gary Baseman

Photo: P

hotofest

Sunset Blvd. (1950). Photographer Glen E. Richardson.

Spectacular RubensSunday, November 16, 3-5 pm The Getty will host a Neighbor’s Event, a wine & cheese reception for the viewing of the Spectacular Rubens, The Triumph of The Eucharist.Getty Center 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049T (310) 440-7300 getty.edu


BERWICK BUDDIESPreschool is a pretty big deal for most parents in Los Angeles. There are even books and classes you can take, just to cope with the panic

of finding the right one! For whatever reason, I always knew that we would find the perfect place for our kids, without putting our family through that pressure.

As luck would have it, when we moved into

Brentwood Glen a few years ago, our neighbors raved about a school called Berwick Buddies that was just a few blocks away. After 14 years of teaching preschool, Karyn Saffro founded Berwick Buddies in 2008. It’s a Reggio inspired curriculum that focuses on hands-on play and learning experiences. Because of the small class size – each child receives a lot of one on one attention from the teachers. It is definitely an environment where kids thrive. Between the fun toys, books, art projects, field trips, experiments, and hands on cooking – there is never a dull moment. And on top of all that – the school has been in the top 10 preschools in LA on

Red Tricycle 3 years in a row!

Our daughter, Olive, absolutely loves it there. I think most of that has to do with how wonderful Karyn and the school is. We have watched her blossom over the last year and we are so thankful that we found this neighborhood gem.

CahniclesThe Adventures of the Cahn Family

Kim Cahn left her television producer job to be a full time mom to Olive (4) and Buster (1). She writes about their family activities on her blog andrewjr.comWatch this space for Kim Cahn’s family adventure next month!

Childrens BooksChosen by VERONICA MAJD

Where is Baby’s Pumpkin? by Karen KatzAges Babies and Toddlers Baby is on a mission to find her trick-or-treat pumpkin. The book contains flaps which you can lift to assist Baby in finding the pumpkin around her house. This adorable board book is perfect to read to your baby or toddler and develop his or her pre-reading and concept skills.

Jungle Halloween by Maryann Cocca-LefflerAges 2-4Welcome to the jungle, Halloween style! This story is about jungle animals- including a elephant, crocodile and zebra- who prepare to celebrate Halloween. The rhyming verses tell how the animals decorate, dress up and partake in night festivities in order to have a fun and Happy Halloween! The story stays away from horror Halloween themes which can easily scare preschoolers.

Creepy Carrots!by Aaron ReynoldsAges 4-8Jasper Rabbit loves carrots! He always goes to Crackenhopper Field to look for nicely thick and crisp carrots to pick and eat. Until one day, as he goes to the field, he realizes its no longer him looking for the carrots, but the carrots are looking for him! Are creepy carrots really coming after him, or is it just his imagination? Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Collected from American Folkloreby Alvin SchwartzAges 9 and UpThe first book of Schwartz’s scary book series, before “More Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark” and “Scary Stories 3”. The book provides a collection of creepy and ghostly American folklore stories. Perfect to read out-loud in the dark with a group of your friends and family either on Halloween night or around a campfire.

Veronica Majd is the children’s librarian at Donald Bruce Kaufman - Brentwood Branch. For comments, suggestions, questions or follow-ups, please email her at [email protected]

Mmm, apple tasting day.

Let’s see, what can we build with this?

Smile please. Class of 2014.

Yee hah! Western Week.

For more information on Berwick Buddieshttp://berwickbuddies.com T: 310 472-0144

focusmag.us 39

Kids

Incredible memories are created with my daughter every time we do a DIY or craft together. This one was one of the most special. It only took one afternoon to make, but the memories will last a lifetime…

Heres how the image is created:

Find a large flat cement area that is somewhat and doesn’t have any shadows reflecting on it. A shaded area is best so the time of day is important.

Draw out your balloons! I found that using my finger to smooth the chalk over the bumps in the cement works really well. When you draw the strings, its best to create a kink in them, with the ends all floating in the same direction. Its to create the feeling of the wind blowing the balloons into the air!

Once this is done, have your child lay on the ground off center with their hand reaching up to the kink in the strings. make the hair and clothing look like they are flying! Once you have the look you want, take your ladder and position it as straight above the scene as you can. Then click away! Try a few different positions, lift the legs, or head or one arm… see what looks best! Laugh, have fun and create!

In this photo, Ava is laying with her leg in the air having a blast with us and playing in our imaginary world.

PRESTO! The 3D Fantasy Photo comes to life! I also added a fun affect with an app I have called Photo Studio. It looks like a professional photographer took this photo right?

TOOLS NEEDED:Multi colored chalkLadderCamera or an IPhone1 floppy stuffed animal (optional)A very cool kid or two

Tanya’s Tips3D Fairytale Photos you can do with your kids and family!

Tanya Memmetanyamemme.com

Dr. G Shares How to Get the Behavior You WantA Guide to Raising Respectful, Responsible, and Resilient Kids

Deborah Gilboa, aka Dr. G, knows that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to parenting, which is why she empowers parents with the knowledge and tools to

best support their own child’s development at every age.

Straightforward, realistic, and written with humor that any parent will appreciate, Get the Behavior You Want…Without Being the Parent You Hate! (Demos Health), will have parents everywhere trying her easy-to-implement actions steps for some of the most common parenting concerns, including:

• Teaching the difference between wants and needs

• Why you should stop trying to make your kids happy

• Managing your child’s relationships at school with friends and adults

• Why you should say no to your kids

• How to get kids to take risks and move outside their comfort zone

• When to get involved and when to step back from your kid’s problems

Deborah Gilboa, MD, aka “Dr.G,” is a family physician, mom of 4, international speaker, author, and TV personality. She is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a regular guest on CBS’s Pittsburgh Today Live, ABC’s Windy City Live, and WQED’s iQ SmartParent. She contributes to Huffington Post Parents, Everyday Health, Your Teen magazine, Parents magazine, and MSNBC.com. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AskDoctorG.com

DIY WITH TANYA MEMME


NATURE’S KITCHEN | Tiato

Nature’s KitchenIt is a part of the Crustacean Group

which owns Crustacean, Beverly Hills – Tiato in Santa Monica, is a

labor of love created by Catherine An.

The An family of 5 sisters, inspired by their mother Helene, run their expanding group of restaurants in various roles.

Tiato, which is named after a type of mint, was conceived from the ground up by Catherine An. The food is Vietnamese Californian.

It is a market garden restaurant where the ingredients are part of the lush, exterior greenery. The herbs in the outside courtyard are used in the dishes they cook.

The interior is an architectural delight of concrete and repurposed wood, with a high,

geometric patterned ceiling. “It was designed with a raw sensibility in mind, so anyone can come in and dress it up.”

The menu is rich in antioxidants and immune boosting ingredients. There’s a market area, where you can buy food to takeout, a salad bar and a juice bar. It is open from 8am to 5pm serving breakfast and lunch. Evenings and weekends, Tiato hosts events – everything ranging from corporate presentations to wedding receptions.

Text focus to 313131 to watch the interview.focusmag.us/tv/tiato

Catherine An

Tiato2700 Colorado Blvd.Santa Monica, CA 90404T: 310 866 5228tiato.com @tiatosm

focusmag.us 41

Food TalkSix foodies talk about their views on food and their favorite restaurants. The video we recorded of the event can be see at focusmag.us/tv/foodtalk. Here’s a brief taster...

Sophie JaffeActress and Entrepreneur“Most of my recipes you make in 5-10 minutes, and most of the time I have a baby on my hip while I’m doing it.”Favorite Restaurants: MAKE - Matthew KenneyKatana

Louis LombardiActor“I make 100 different kinds of pizza – from Southern fried chicken pizza, with the white gravy you put on biscuits...”

“I love cooking for hours. I like cleaning too.”Favorite Restaurants: Stella BarraStella Rossa

Sally Colon-PetreeFilmmaker“My favorite dessert is the strawberry shortcake at the Horseless Carriage Restaurant, (Galpin Ford). Have you eaten at a car dealership before?”Favorite Restaurants: Giardano’s Pizza (Chicago)MofongosPortos

Morgan MatthewsTV Host“I like finding healthy alternatives to (what I call) sinful dishes...”

Favorite Restaurants: Real Food DailyCafé Gratitude Sun Café

Marlyn DiazNutritionist“Cooking is a family affair. We all have to get back into the kitchen. My 11yr old is making omelets and steaks...”Favorite Restaurant: Gracias Madre

Kristen WilliamsSommelier and Actress“Most memorable dish is the spoonful of caviar with some kind of cream that you get at Per Se in New York.”Favorite Restaurants: Nobu MalibuThe Nice GuySLS Bazaar

Text focus to 313131 to watch this discussion.focusmag.us/tv/foodtalk

FOOD TALK | 11/2014


HAPPENINGS | 11/2014

580 WHITE PARTY

HERITAGE WINES OPENING

Happenings

9 October, 2014 9400 S Santa Monica Blvd

The opening of Heritage Fine Wines. Jordane Andrieu owner and third generation wine maker, hosted the grand opening and tasting.

26 September580 Chautauqua Road, Pacific Palisades

Partners Trust teamed up to celebrate and to showcase the stunning house that Shain Development painstakingly built over 2 years. Maserati, Moet & Chandon and Patron were prominent sponsors. Photos: Brant Brogan Photography

Text focus to 313131 to watch this video.focusmag.us/heritagewines

Text focus to 313131 to watch this video.focusmag.us/tv/hamptonsinla

focusmag.us 43

BOTH ENDS BURNING

15 October, 2014W Hollywood

Philanthropist and host, Grace Lazenby, brings Caesars Palace headliner, Matt Goss and his Las Vegas show, to Hollywood for one night in support of children’s charity Both Ends Burning.

Both Ends Burning works to protect and advocate for the rights of orphaned children. We seek to eliminate the institutionalization of children and the devastating effects that result. Simply stated, we believe every child has the right to a permanent loving family.

HAPPENINGS | 11/2014

Text focus to 313131 to watch this video.focusmag.us/tv/bothendsburning


Charity Events

GET LUCKY FOR LUPUS LA

18 September Avalon, Hollywood.

The 6th Annual Get Lucky for Lupus LA celebrity poker tournament and party. Nick Cannon was honored with the Ace Award and over $125,000 was raised for lupus research.

WLUF YOGA BENEFIT

21 September Douglas Park, Santa Monica

The third YOGA-4-Charity event where funds were raised to help support the Women Like Us documentary, which will be released Spring 2015.Rony, a yoga teacher at Corepower Yoga, held a fun, 60 minute donation-based vinyasa flow class.

CHARITY EVENTS | 11/2014

focusmag.us 45

DOG ADOPTION | 11/2014

SNICKERSMale 3 months old

Chihuahua

Attacked by the family dog, he

needed stitches on his face, head and back. He is healing

with the rescue.

BRIGITTEFemale 1yr old

Maltese Shi Tzu mix

She was rescued from Downey

Shelter.

PORSCHAFemale 4 yr old Poodle

Two compressing discs made her back legs paralyzed but Porscha is getting homeopathic and physical therapy. Now she gets around great with the new wheelchair for her hind legs. Porscha has

a Facebook page – Porscha Diva on Wheels

These cute dogs were rescued from area shelters and are in need of love, hugs, and a HOME! Focus Magazine , together with Saving K9 Lives Plus, will proudly donate the full adoption fee paid by anyone choosing to add one of these adorable pets to their family, enabling this amazing organization to rescue another dog. With your help we can save twice the number of dogs on this page! As an added bonus, Focus magazine will feature your new, precious family member in an upcoming issue.

savingk9livesplus.org

HARLEYMale 8 months old

Poodle

Has two fractures in the back of his skull.

He is undergoing homeopathic therapy and physical therapy.

Rescue these wonderful dogs today with Focus Magazine’s pledge to #payitforwardFind out more from: Jackie Goodman [email protected]

Read each dog’s story at focusmag.us/focuscares

DUKEMale 1yr old

Maltese

Bonded to Duchess.

DUCHESSFemale 1yr old

Maltese

Bonded to Duke. Duchess has puppies.

Both need to be adopted together.

MAMMA MIAFemale 1 yr old

Havanese Terrier

Gave birth to 7 puppies.

15lbs.

Dogs In Need of A Home

9/13/14Sing For The VoicelessFocus Magazine was thrilled

to help sponsor Saving K9 Lives Plus successful annual fundraiser. It was a wonderful evening with live performances by Bobby Kimball of Toto, Spencer Davis, Ellis Hall, and more. Congratulations to Saving K9 Lives Plus owners Jasmin and Bobby Kimball for your continuing efforts to save as many dogs as possible from euthanasia in animal shelters.

THANK YOU Randy Jackson Jr! Michael Jackson’s nephew, and his wife Jessica with “Belle Noire”, their new rescue from Saving K9 Lives Plus. In adopting this dog they agreed to neuter their own dog, a morkie named “Saint”, to keep with the policy of Saving K9 Lives Plus, regarding required Spay/Neuter of all pets in the home. We hope everyone follows their example.

Top left: Jasmin and Bobby Kimball with Porscha. Right: Bobby Kimball of Toto in concert. Bottom: Ellis Hall and Bobby Kimball


FEBRUARY 2014

Archives

AUGUST 2014

INSTAGRAM COMPETITIONPost to Instagram your most inventive pic, with the magazine in view and a great caption, and tag it with #lovefocus. Or send it to [email protected]

The winner will get $300 worth of vouchers – to spend at Eden by Eden Sassoon, Pilates Platinum, Pressed Juicery and SoulCycle.

APRIL 2014MAY 2014

ARCHIVES | 11/2014

JUNE 2014

focusmag.us/online-issue

DECEMBER 2013 AUGUST 2013OCTOBER 2013NOVEMBER 2013

OCTOBER 2014

I believe in collaborating with my clients to provide them with honest advice rooted with integrity. Financial West Group helps me to do just that. I chose FWG when I became an independent advisor because they understand my clients’ needs,

they understand my practice and together we are committed and aligned to serve my clients’ best interests.

FWG has kept me up-to-date with technology and advised me on the best transparent practices leaving me free to service as well as take care of my clients. Before working independently, I felt my clients’ interests were second or third to the firm’s fiduciary responsibility to maximize shareholder value. These large broker dealers advocate propriety managed accounts to insure the firm collects the recurring high management fees hoping to meet analysts magical earnings expectations; never the individual investor ‘s best interest in mind. I believe investors deserve better and I will partner with you to create a relationship defined by your investment goals and preferences.

What differentiates you from other Financial Professionals?Having worked in this business for nearly 20 years; beginning with my first custodial trading account in the 10th grade, I have a passion for understanding the truth behind making money in the capital markets. I avoid all the near term headlines, avoid listening to analysts working their firms’ positions, avoid near term market gyrations to focus on finding opportunities, investments to help my clients reach their goals. Having worked as an institutional trader I obtained a deep understanding of investment opportunities in these inefficient capital markets.

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Perspective of the Markets?Low yields both taxable and tax free, global complexity, interest rates at zero with possible near term upside, and longer life spans with extended retirement needs pose long-term challenges to our investors. I believe successful portfolios are based upon a risk analysis foundation. Risk analysis not associated with traditional benchmark metrics but rather risks in relation to each investment across an individual’s portfolio. It’s time for a more disciplined, thoughtful approach in balancing risk and reward. I’m empowered with my support from FWG to provide traditional and nontraditional investment ideas to create asset allocated portfolios which meet my clients’ unique investment profile.

Your investment approach?Generally speaking, I use a bottom up fundamental analysis combined with technical analysis to discover opportunities in the equity markets. My goal is to listen, understand and learn all about my client’s needs and investment profile in order to formulate a portfolio such that my clients are comfortable with the risk and understand the objective of each individual investment. I hope to provide each unique client with an asset allocated portfolio to help them reach their financial goals, while providing accountable and reliable customer service.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

For over 25 years, Financial West Group (FWG) has provided superior service to investors and committed to deliver an exceptional client experience.

Ali Rad, [email protected] T: (310)954-8354

11755 Wilshire Blvd. #1650, Los Angeles, CA. 90025 Securities offered through Financial West Group, member FINRA/SIPC.

Ali Rad, Financial Advisor

focus november 2014 – food + charity issue

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