Holl & Lane, Issue 2 option.pdf

HOLLANDLANEISSUE TWO | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015A MOTHER’S DISAPPEARANCESEARCHING FOR MOM 14 YEARS LATERBUYING & RENOVATING10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT RENOVATIONI AM A FORMER BEAUTY QUEENGO INSIDE THE PAGEANT WORLDBEAUTY TIPS FROM A FACIALISTLEARN TO PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARDHoll & Lane, Issue 2 1

CONTENTEDITOR’S NOTETEAM OBSESSIONSENTERTAINMENTSTYLE / BEAUTYINTERIORSBUSINESSFOOD & FITNESSDO IT YOURSELFLIFE STORIESFAMILYTRAVELCREDITS5691421405172768710411022 66 88COVER STORIES16 BEAUTY TIPS FROM A FACIALISTLearn to put your best face forward with thesetips from a professional facialist34 BUYING & RENOVATING10 things you need to know before renovatingyour first home81 I AM A FORMER BEAUTY QUEENGo behind the scenes of pageant life & discoverwhat the beauty queens are really like84 A MOTHER’S DISAPPEARANCEOne woman takes us inside her life searchingfor her mother2 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

FEATURESENTERTAINMENT10 Book Reviews12 10 Songs To Get You Focused13 5 Movies On Personal EvolutionSTYLE / BEAUTY15 Drugstore Beauty Buys16 Beauty Tips From A Facialist18 3 Girls, One Trend20 Product SpotlightINTERIORS22 Kids Room Inspiration32 Coffee Table Roundup34 Buying & Renovating39 #HollAndLaneRoomsBUSINESS41 Small Business: Spruce Rd.46 Noteworthy47 Launching A Brand: Jewelry Heist50 Career Profile: Licensed PsychologistFOOD & FITNESS52 My Fitness Journey54 5 Reasons To Get A Massage56 Workout Spotlight58 Food Guilt No More62 Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl64 Watermelon Avocado Salad66 Traditions: Macaroni Pie68 Vegan Cupcakes70 Chocolate Strawberry CupsDO IT YOURSELF73 Skyline Doormat74 Decorative Dishes75 Burlap WreathLIFE STORIES77 The Girl Next Door78 Living With Misophonia81 I Am A Former Beauty Queen84 A Mother’s Disappearance86 What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?FAMILY88 Being a Parent of Multiples91 Straight From Their Mouths92 Being a Mom: A Photo Diary98 Camera Mama100 Free Family ActivitiesTRAVEL105 Where Would You Travel?108 Instagrammable: Harlingen, TX34Holl & Lane, Issue 2 3

HOLLANDLANEISSUE TWO | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015Editor In ChiefSARAH HARTLEYeditor@hollandlanemag.comEditorial AssistantsKIMIKO SASOAIRE PLICHTASocial Media CoordinatorsJESS DOWNEYMIA SUTTONEMILY CULLENAdvertising ExecutiveMEGAN DECKERIf you’re interested in contributing to our next issue, visit www.hollandlanemag.comInterested in advertising with us? Email editor@hollandlanemag.com for our media kit.For subsciptions, log on to www.hollandlanemag.comS T M L4 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

obsessionsSee somethingyou love? Click itto shop!NIVEA IN-SHOWER LOTION, $6I love soft skin and this stuff is amazing.I use it on it’s own to save a littletime with my routine or if I’m too lazyto put on lotion. Or sometimes I useit and then still use regular lotion tomake my skin extra soft. It’s the bestand smells so nice.Jess, Social Media CoordinatorBARE MINERALS COMPLEXION RES-CUE, $27This stuff is amazing - it’s light weight,super hydrating, and has built in SPF.It gives you a nice dewy glow and isperfect for ladies who just want a touchof coverage.Kimiko, Editorial AssistantH&L TObsesWe admit it, we get obsessed, tcurrent favoriteLEAVE YOUR MARKBY ALIZA LICHT, $17Right now I’m totally obsessedwith this book!Aire, Editorial Assistant6 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

obsessionsSHEAMOISTURE RAW SHEA BUTTER BARSOAP, $9It’s made with natural/organic ingredients,smells yummy, leaves my skin nice andsmooth and most importantly the brand iscruelty free!Megan, Advertising Executiveeamsionsoo. Here’s a roundup of ourobsessions.TYME HAIR STRAIGHTENER,$190It straightens and curls at thesame time. I need that in mylife. I have naturally curly hairand when I straighten it, it justkind of hangs there. So then Ihave to go back and try to usemy curling iron to give it somewave/body. Ain't nobody gottime for that.Mia, Social Media CoordinatorGAPBODY PULLOVER BRA, $20Since moving from the corporate world toworking from home, my work attire haschanged quite a bit: it went from city-suitableto cute & comfortable. This bra is notonly incredibly comfortable (it’s not supertight like a sports bra), it fits well undermost t-shirts and tank tops.Emily, Social Media Coordinatorproduced by SARAH HARTLEYHoll & Lane, Issue 2 7

SUBSCRIBEAND GET EACH NEW ISSUE RIGHT IN YOUR INBOXClick to subscribeto Holl & Lane!8 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

Knowing yourself is thebeginning of all wisdom.- AristotleHoll & Lane, Issue 2 9

entertainmentON OUR BOOKSHELFwords by AMY COOKTHE CURRENT: Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica KnollAni is the woman we all hope to be. Working for a woman’s magazine in New York, a wardrobeto make an A-list celebrity jealous, and a fiancé with family money and All-Americangood looks, Ani seems to have it all. She is aloof but seems to have a vulnerability all womencan relate to when marrying up and trying to lose those last few pounds for the final weddinggown fitting. The story goes back and forth to shed light into her formative years at an elitehigh school where she is known as TifAni, a transfer student trying to find where she fits inamongst the cliques. A horrible incident at a party one evening reveals the reason for Ani’shard exterior and the new identity she has created for herself. When a tragedy takes place atthe school, TifAni finds herself at the center of an investigation that proves she may not havebeen as innocent as originally portrayed. Filled with rich character descriptions and writtenwith a distinct prose, Luckiest Girl Alive will keep you guessing until the very end. Bonus?Reese Witherspoon’s company has picked it up for production to begin.Our Rating: 4/510 Holl & Lane, Issue 2THE CLASSIC: Jane Eyre by Charlotte BronteIt seems like authors never get tired of orphaned children and Jane Eyre sets the tone formaking the reader sympathetic to the title character before the first chapter comes to a close.Young Jane Eyre is entrusted to the care of her aunt and uncle upon her parents’ death. Theloving uncle dies leaving Jane to fend for herself against a cruel aunt and spiteful cousinswhom she cannot seem to measure up to. When it is finally determined that the burden ofthis niece is too much, she is sent to a school for girls to finish her upbringing. She has manylessons in finishing school but the toughest one comes in the form of her best friend dying dueto an illness that sweeps the school. Thus ends part one and the end of her childlike outlookon life.Part two begins with her teaching at the school and finally looking for a job to be a privategoverness. When she finds the perfect job caring for a darling young girl entrusted to a fatherfigure, she takes on the job with efficiency and gusto. However, when she meets the masterof the house, she quickly establishes a crush which blossoms into much more as everypage turns. Love never comes easily and Jane Eyre is no exception. When she learns herbetrothed’s secret just moments before they are man and wife she has to make the ultimatedecision; honorably leave with her dignity or risk everything in the name of love.Our Rating: 3.5/5

entertainmentSee somethingyou love? Click itto shop!THE NON-FICTION: On The Outside Looking Indian by Rupinder GillHave you ever opened a book and started laughing out loud the moment you turn the firstpage? That is what happened reading this memoir. Rupinder grew up in Canada to Indianparents who wanted the opportunities Canada offered without indulging their children in anyof the rights of passage most children are entitled to. Upon turning 30, she decides shewants to go back in time and get a do-over for all of the activities she never had a chance toexperience when she was growing up under the rules (and fears) of her parents. She takeslessons: tennis, tap, and swimming; looks into getting a dog, and plans a trip to Disney World.Rupinder is forthcoming about her faults and strengths while offering insight into what it is liketo be the child of immigrants afraid of this country filled with notions that are a nonfactor intheir homeland of India. Absolutely hysterical and full of priceless references all 80’s and 90’sbabies will immediately recognize, this book can be enjoyed by anyone who wishes they hada chance to turn back the clock and take the chances they missed during their first childhood.Our Rating: 5/5THE CHILDREN’S: Thank You, Grandpa by Lynn PlourdeThis book is beautifully written. A young girl takes walks with her grandfather starting as atoddler. When they come across a dead grasshopper the little girl wants to know what theyshould do. Grandpa shows her the importance of thanking the creature and saying goodbye.They continue this ritual on their walks throughout the early years of the girl’s life. (You knowwhere this is headed, right?) So one day grandpa is unable to continue on the walks and thegirl takes a walk to say her own thank you and goodbye to the man that taught her how toappreciate life in the face of death. With illustrations by Jason Cockcroft created in the impressionisticstyle made famous by artists like Claude Monet, the photos lead you to an etherealplace that seems destined for saying goodbyes. Bring the tissues. Thank You, Grandpa is anexcellent book for explaining the importance of how to say goodbye to a loved one.Our Rating: 5/5Holl & Lane, Issue 2 11

entertainmentTen Songs ToGET YOU FOCUSEDHave a big project to take care of? Micah suggests turning on these tunes and gettingdown to the task at hand!words by MICAH CHAPLINDisappearGabe Dixon BandCitySara BareillesEverything Will Be AlrightMatt WertzChamomile and CoffeeNathan AngeloGotta Figure This OutErin McCarleyTenerife SeaEd SheeranSimple LifeTyrone WellsRight On TimeTony LuccaA Life That’s GoodLennon & MaisyAll We AreMatt Nathanson12 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

entertainmentFRIED GREEN TOMATOESEvelyn meets Ninny at a time when she needed afriend to help her find her way. Through hearing thestories of Idgie and Ruth’s adventures, Evelyn findsthe strength to reclaim her life and become the womanthat is deep within her.12IN HER SHOESAfter being kicked to the curb by her sister, Maggie, a self-centeredparty girl, shows up on the doorstep of her long lost grandmother,Ella. Maggie is given an ultimatum to stay while earningher keep or to leave empty handed. Throwing herself into the retirementhome community, Maggie learns what is truly importantin life and is able to unmask her own insecurities.CAKEClaire is living with chronic pain due to a personal tragedy. AfterNina, a woman in her support group, takes her own life, Clairebecomes fascinated with her life. By inserting herself into Nina’sfamily, Claire begins to open up to the possibility of lifewithout pain.3Five MoviesON PERSONAL EVOLUTIONWe naturally go through periods of change as we get older. Let these movies keep you company if you’regoing through your own journey.words by ERICA MUSYT4ABOUT A BOYWill is a wealthy, child-free, thirty-something who makes upan imaginary son to pick up women at single parent meetings.Through one of his dates, Will meets a 12 year old boy, Marcus,who is having a tough go of life. They become friends, and as Willteaches Marcus how to be one of the cool kids, Marcus helps Willto finally grow up.THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEYWhen an Indian family opens up a new restaurant one hundred feetfrom Madam Mallory’s celebrated establishment, she is presentedwith competition for the first time in many years. One young Indianchef expresses interest in being taught by Madame Mallory and shedecides to take him under her wing. Through teaching him, Mallory’seyes are opened to a whole new world of food, life, and love that shenever knew existed.5Holl & Lane, Issue 2 13

The most courageousact is still to think foryourself. Aloud.- Coco Chanel14 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

style & beautyMAYBELLINE COLORTATTOO EYESHADOW, $7This extremely pigmentedeyeshadow doesn’tcrease throughout theday and it’s also greatto use as an eyeshadowbase!NYX COSMETICS COLLEC-TION NOIR LIQUID BLACKLINER, $6With a very thin brush,application is a breezewith this liner. The liner islong lasting and the coloris amazing!DRUGSTORE BEAUTY BUYSThere’s no need to spend your whole paycheck on makeup. Simply head to your nearest drugstore forthese products that rival the higher end products at a fraction of the price.words by CARA ZAMORSKINYC WATERPROOF EYELINER, $4This eyeliner glides smoothly onto theskin, won’t smudge over time, andlasts all day on the water line.L’OREAL TRUE MATCH CONCEALER, $8With a wide variety of shades to choosefrom, this concealer doesn’t sink intofine lines over time like some others.RIMMEL LONDON FIX &PERFECT PRIMER, $11The primer that lasts allday without drying outskin also makes makeupapplication flawless. Plusit perfectly camoflaugesimperfections.See somethingyou love? Click itto shop!Holl & Lane, Issue 2 15

style & beautySkincare TipsFrom A FacialistEva Kerschbaumer is a former Hungarian model and Master Esthetician who cameto the USA from Budapest in 1996 and opened ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincarein Pittsburgh in 2002. Today she gives us ten tips to have healthier, more beautifulskin.words & images by EVA KERSCHBAUMER1. Know your skin. We are all different. Becauseof this, each of our skin is unique and requiresunique care. If you do not take the time to knowthe unique details of your skin (dry, oily, sensitive,reacts to certain foods, breaks out easily, burnseasily, thin, bruises easily, heals slowly, ingrownhair, etc. etc) then how can you expect anyone oranything to really provide any real health benefits?2. Know your ingredients. Look at the label andread the ingredients. Look for sodium hyaluronicacid. Look for peptides. Look for ascorbic acid (VitaminC), stay away from mineral oils, stay awayfrom PEGs, stay away from sulfates, stay awayfrom “fragrance” and synthetic dyes (FD&C Blue,etc). And understand that essential oils can havebenefits but may also cause an allergic reactionfor some users.3. Plan your attack. Pollution, sun, dirt, water, textiles,deodorant, makeup, food - the average womancomes into contact with over 180 different (potentiallytoxic) chemicals BEFORE they even walkout of the house. Don’t get distracted by the latestnew youth cream. Identify your issue(s) and thenseek out a licensed professional to assist you infinding a solution to that issue - and don’t stop untilthat specific issue is solved.4. What is in your medication?Even one pillcan have a huge impacton your body chemistryand has the potentialto cause skin issues. Ifyou are aware of whatyour medicine can do(both prescription andOTC medications) thenyou can understand thepotential impact theywill have on your outward appearance. The bestthing to do is to seek out a licensed professionaland ask lots of questions.5. Use a humidifier. Dry sinuses, itchy skin, dryeyes, chapped lips - humidifiers can help alleviateissues that might be caused by dry indoor air regardlessof the season. It is important to constantlyclean your humidifier and to keep the humidity levelbetween 35 - 50 percent, since anything above50% could encourage the growth of mold spores,bacteria, dust mites and more. Another benefit isthat a good, clean humidifier can help keep yournasal passages lubricated, which can help speedup the healing process when you are feeling underthe weather. And for those with dry skin, in themorning you will notice that your face, hands andlips look and feel more supple.6. Hot and cold. Hot/cold bathing process (switchingquickly from hot to cold) acts as a kind of exercisethat helps the skin properly remove toxinsand helps the body regulate itself. When the bodyis subjected to hot temperatures, the flow of circulationgoes outward toward the skin. Under coldtemperatures, the flow of circulation is directed inwardtowards the internal organs. Alternating betweenhot and cold allows the circulation to movein and out like a wave, increasingthe rate of detoxification,helping to reducecongestion and helping tomove more nutrients to variousparts of the body. It isimportant to always beginwith hot and end with cold,increasing the level of heatand cold as much you cantolerate and repeat the procedureseven times.16 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

style & beauty7. See a professional. There is a reason that everystate requires estheticians to go to school andpass a test demonstrating that they have a workingknowledge of proper skincare. And the bestestheticians engage in constant training in order tounderstand the always evolving product offeringsand new technology. Find an honest, knowledgeable,licensed professional and spend your moneysmarter.8. Use protection. The sun is a constant. Even in thewinter or on a cloudy day, it is still there showeringus in UV radiation. USE A SUNSCREEN all thetime, everyday and protect yourself. Remember tocheck the label for the “active ingredient”. If yousee anything other than titanium dioxide or zincoxide listed as a sunscreen, put that item downand find something else. Another item of note, ifthe SPF number on the label is greater than 50,it is just a marketing gimmick as the FDA recentlychanged their rules for sunscreens - which areregulated as a drug in the USA. Reapply often.9. Exfoliate your whole body. How often do youreally get a chance to clean your back? Or in betweenyour toes, or behind your knees, or yourbehind? With the help of a good exfoliating scrub,you can properly clean these hard-to-reach places.Incorporating a professional massage intoyour exfoliation treatment can provide additionalhealth benefits. Doing so will allow your skin tobreathe easier and will result in you feeling fresherand more invigorated.10. Diet. What you put in your body eventually is goingto show up on your skin. I always begin a professionalfacial treatment by asking my client whatthey eat on a regular basis (if your professionaldoesn’t, find a new one) and have often been ableto help people clear up their chronic skin issuesby adjusting their diets. Dairy products, processedfoods and above all, sugars, can have a dramaticallynegative impact on the quality and appearanceof your skin. If you are really interested inhaving better looking, healthier skin - stop eatingany and all sugar of any kind.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 17

style & beautyFALL TRENThis fall, designers have taken a bold approach to fall fashion. Neon, typically reserved for tyour local stores. Here, three bloggerwords & images by KIMIKO SASO, JAKimiko SasoBlogger at Slice of HeavenNeon can be tricky at any size, but using itin a subtle and playful manner, like this skirt,allows you to try a new trend with a piece thatyou will be able to wear again. Pairing it withshades of black, some studded heels, anda neutral bag, brings everything together sothat the neon stands out but isn't too loud.YOU CAN WEAR NEON, TOO!$28ILY Couture$36Soludos$50Michael Kors$10Cejon AccessoriesSee somethingyou love? Click itto shop!18 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

D:NEONhe bright summer months, was popular on runways and will soon be popping up in all ofs show us how they wear the trend.style & beautyYE GIPSON, BERTY MORALESJaye GipsonBlogger at CurvatudeMy style is pretty eclectic and very mood based. So Ican go from very classic to really trendy on any givenday. I love neon and I chose this dress and bag combobecause they are just so fun and perfect for a sunnyday.Berty MoralesBlogger at Mad For Fashion For LessFashion, when you are over the age of 30, can alwaysbe hit or miss. I always want to make sure that my looksare age appropriate. The best way to make a statementwith this all black look, is by adding a pop of color in mybest Neon “leopard” print top!Holl & Lane, Issue 2 19

style & beautyPRODUCT SPOTLIGHT:DR. JART+ PREMIUM BEAUTY BALMBeauty lover Ivy O shares one of her favorite new products for healthy, glowing skin that allows you to hit thesnooze button for some extra zzz’s.words & images by IVY OBeauty standards differ from culture to culture. I saythis because as a Canadian-born Asian, the beautystandard of having porcelain white skin is somethingthat I was taught to revere from a young age by myVietnamese-born mother and grandmother. Havinggrown up in North America and being exposed toWestern standards, though, I also know that summeris just about the time of year that women are thirstingfor some extra vitamin D in order to get that covetedgolden, glowy, sun-kissed tan.Whether you like to tan or not (I find myself in the lattercamp), one beauty standard I believe all womenshould work toward having is healthy skin. This can beachieved by a must-have product that I have been usingsince being first introduced to it when I was living inHong Kong about three years ago: Dr. Jart+ PremiumBeauty Balm with SPF 45.Why do I love it? It’s a ONE-STOP SHOP kind of product.I am not a fan of foundation, especially when wornduring the hot and humid summer months. This,coupled with my need for sunscreen, finds me overwhelmedwhen having to slap on 2-3 different productson my face during my morning routine. Not onlydoes Dr. Jart+ Beauty Balm with SPF 45 cut my routinedown tremendously, but in one single application withthis great, light-weight formula, I’ve got my sunscreen(hello, SPF!), my moisturizer (bye-bye, pesky dry skin),and decent coverage/tint giving me that ever-covetedWestern standardised “glow” that is much more safelyachieved than having an actual date with the sun.While I admire the many make-up artists and beauticians’tutorials and #motd instagrams/tweets that Isee featuring contouring tricks (I have yet to figure thisout, let alone master it), great primer and pore-minimizingproducts, I cannot rave enough about Dr. Jart+Premium Beauty Balm with SPF 45 as it really doeseverything that you need it to do to maintain healthy,moisturized, and protected skin that not only gives younatural-looking coverage, but also allows you to havethose extra few minutes of beauty sleep that we allcrave in the morning.Next time you hit your local cosmetics store, headdown to the skincare aisle to get your hands on thisbeauty must-have for your make-up bag. Your skin willthank you for it!20 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

We can change our ownlife and ultimately changethe world.- Kristi BowmanHoll & Lane, Issue 2 21

KIDS ROOMINSPIRATIONAre you looking for inspiration for vibrant, engaging and FUN rooms thatyour children will WANT to spend time in? Look no further than these tworooms Laura Penley designed for her sons.words & images by LAURA PENLEY22 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

interiorsHoll & Lane, Issue 2 23

24 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

interiorsIam a lover of white, pretty spaces,fashion and photography.I've always been a very visualperson with a passion for designand actually designed officespace for my former employersprior to staying home with mykids. When we purchased our condoseven years ago, I was excited to havethe opportunity to turn raw space into adream that I would be able to call home.When we became pregnant, I couldn'twait to get started on transforming ourguest bedroom into a space for a littleone to love. And since that first nursery,I've now designed a toddler room andanother nursery and get excited whenI think about the possibilities for our futurehome and children's future rooms.Designing spaces is probably the onething that I do for me that gets me moreexcited than anything else, even photography.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 25

SEBASTIAN’S ROOMI wanted to re-use the furniture that we purchased forour first child and I'm a big lover of white, so I knewthat I wanted something white and bright, but that wasabout all I knew. I'm a total DIYer and love designingspaces, but this one had me stumped for quite a while.With my first child, his room was easy. I just designeda space that felt like the baby that I was carrying and Inailed it. It was a nerdy baby room and he came out alittle smarty pants who was instantly very drawn to everyaspect of his room. I was having trouble connectingwith ideas for my youngest though. I spent monthscombing through websites trying to find inspiration forthis nursery and then I found the Minakani Labs Animalwallpaper and had to have it; it spoke to me instantlyand I knew at that moment that I was carrying alittle adventurer so I wanted that incorporated into theroom as well. The only problem was that I couldn't figureout how to get my hands on the wallpaper. At thispoint, I was seven months pregnant and needed to getthis room done. There wasn't time to spend waiting tohear back from the company who was non-responsiveto my many messages, so I scaled a picture of thewallpaper to my wall in Photoshop making the repeatand cuts as I wanted them and leaving room at the topfor the nail and string lettering. I printed it on 8.5 x 11paper and went to work chalking the image onto mywall and then finally, painting. All in, the crib wall tookme about 80 hours, including the lettering and I'd do itall over again in a heartbeat!The wall is certainly my favorite part, but I also put a lotinto all of the little details as well. The activity space isa fairly new addition to the room. I had the items for itfor a while, with the intention of turning this wall into afun space, but I was using this white wall with a frameon it to take monthly photos of Sebastian for the firstyear of his life with his stats chalked onto the chalkboardpaint that filled the frame, so after his 12-monthphoto, I was ready to get started on it. He is just now,at almost 18-months, starting to enjoy and use it butI suspect that his use will continue to increase as hegets older. The behind the door space in many roomsgoes unused, but it doesn't have to. I've used thatspace creatively in both of my little guys' rooms andfeel that it helps tie the whole of the room togetherbetter. Another thing I have done in both rooms behindthe doors is use photo ledges. In Sebastian'sit's as a chalk/paint/magnet tray, but I also used themopposite his crib to display books. I am a huge fan ofusing photo ledges to display books. Children loveto see the books and it's a great way to fill the spaceusing book-covers to make collages that add anotherelement of art to a room.26 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

Holl & Lane, Issue 2 27

interiorsGABRIEL’S ROOMGabriel's nursery was actually in the same room asSebastian's and his current room was formerly our office/guestbedroom. Gabriel is a very sensitive child,so I didn't want to change the room that he had alwaysknown, but instead create a new room for him, involvinghim in the process, and gradually moving some ofthe larger staple pieces that he loved so much fromhis nursery into the new room to make it feel just ascomfortable. Once the abacus that hung above hiscrib was moved, he decided that he was ready to givethis new space a try. Respecting him and involvinghim in the process just seemed critical to me. As withSebastian's space and with Gabriel's nursery beforethat, I wanted to give him a fun room that felt good tobe in. Again, with white furniture and pops of color.This room is a little harder to work with because of thestructural support beam that breaks up the south wallso I had to really give the planning of this space somethought. My husband's server resided in this room(our former office) and since we were turning it into abedroom, there would be no place for his server anylonger, so I asked him if we could give it to our thenvery computer savvy 2-year-old. Since they don't reallymake desks for kids this size, I had a wall-mountdesk made for him to fill the smaller of the two nookscreated by the support beam. Instead of painting thatbeam the same color as the wall, it seemed to makesense to make it stand out as something cool, so Iput the chalkboard paint on it, a wall easel and somephoto ledges to use as chalk/paint trays. We love thatwall and use it all the time. He does math problemsthere, practices his spelling/writing and creates masterpiecesregularly. So I'd encourage others who havea problem spot in a room to think of how to use thatto make something fun out of it. As an office/guestbedroom that beam made me cringe, but I love it inthis space.Sebastian's wall was a labor of love, but I have to say,Gabriel's yellow wall was as well. As I said before, Iam a DIYer and when I purchased the Inhabit Livingwall flats, I was certain that I could do this myself. Ittook me forever! I didn't keep track of the hours, butit definitely took me longer than Sebastian's wall did.Glueing the tiles up was a nightmare, and then muddingthe seams and sanding the tiny grooves gentlyso as not to tear up the paper tiles (heavy paper, butpaper nonetheless). There were several tears shedwhile working on this wall, and once I finished thesanding, there was much relief, but I quickly found outthat painting it sure wasn't easy either. It was one ofthose "I'm happy I did it but will never do it again" kindof experiences. I think it's worth the headache of wallpapering,painting a mural or hanging wall flats to giveyour children an interesting wall in their room.28 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

interiorsHoll & Lane, Issue 2 29

30 Holl & Lane, Issue 2interiors

interiors“We all needa little bit ofspace that isours, just ours; aspace that makesus feel good.”My goal in designing their spaceshas been to make their roomsclean yet fun and as colorful aspossible while also incorporatingtheir interests and personality intothe space. My kiddos love beingin their rooms because it’s not justa place to sleep. We all need alittle bit of space that is ours, justours; a space that makes us feelgood. Growing up, I wanted topaint Disney characters on all ofmy walls and thankfully my momlet me. She understood the importanceof letting me make thespace mine. With my oldest, Ihave asked for his input on variousthings in his room and includedhim in on all of the planning because I want him to feel like he is a big part of the process as well. This issomething I will continue to do. Any change I make, I run by him first. When we eventually move, both of myboys will once again be included in the process and consulted with on the design of their spaces.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 31

interiorsOne KingsLane, $99COFFEE TABLEROUNDUPA coffee table can make or break a space. From thestorage options, to the comfort level, picking a coffeetable is important. These options, all under $125will make your living room chic and clutter free.Casa,$34produced by SARAH HARTLEYWayfair,$85Dot & Bo,$115One KingsLane, $99See somethingyou love? Click itto shop!Wayfair,$11432 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

CONTRIBUTEWE ALL HAVE A STORY TO TELL.LET US SHARE YOURS.Apply to be acontributor forour next issue!Holl & Lane, Issue 2 33

10 Things No One Told Me AboutBUYING & RENOVATINGIf you’ve just bought your very own fixer-upper and areplanning to renovate, check out these tips first fromAdaena Tray who turned her home into the cutest cottagewe’ve ever seen!words & images by ADAENA TRAYBEFORE34 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

interiorsAs a longtime design and architecture nerd, my bucketlist has always included “buy and renovate an oldhouse.” So when it came time to purchase a home ofour own, my husband Chris and I threw ourselves intothe real estate search with gusto. One day while browsingthe listings, we found an adorable blue cottage inthe city. “I think it might need a little work, “ Chris said.We bought the century-old, three-bedroom, one-bathabode in early 2012. And work it needed, indeed. Armedwith a to-do list that included both necessary repairsand cosmetic upgrades, we set out on a full-house remodel.That we had embarked on such a large-scaleproject with no discernable skill set or experience wasterrifying. I’ll never forget the day I stared at our guttedkitchen, crying that we had gotten ourselves in overour heads. We spent ten stressful months completingthe work on our Itty Bitty Kitty Cottage, then threw a bighousewarming party to celebrate.Along the way, we learned so much about buying, budgeting,renovating, and working with contractors. Mostof our knowledge, unfortunately, was gleaned from ourmistakes. If you are a renovation virgin contemplatinga fixer-upper, have I got some tips for you!BEFOREAFTERBEFOREAFTERHoll & Lane, Issue 2 35

interiorsBEFOREAFTER1. I always thought people who renovated homes wereblessed with a boatload of spare cash. Not the case,my friends. There are so many loan products outthere to help ease the financial burden. We endedup taking out a 203K loan, which rolls the cost of renovationsright into your mortgage over the next 15 or30 years. Your best bet would be to speak with yourbroker about lending options that work best for you.2. Set a realistic budget. I know, I know. You’ve probablyheard this a million times before – and that’s becausethe advice is so pertinent. You’ll want to get atrusted professional contractor (more on that later) toprovide an estimate on the cost of the remodel. Wehad a contractor walk through our house and tell uswhat needed fixed to meet codes and safety regulations.Then we shared with him our vision for the “pretty”stuff such as new flooring and recessed lighting.He gave us an overall budget for the remodel. Do notbe shocked, as we were, if the price of the renovationsexceed the purchase price of the house itself. You’regetting a fully updated, customized home that will likelycost a lot less than finished homes in the area.3. Establish your priorities and spending limitations.You’ll want to identify ahead of time whetheryou are a laminate lady or a granite gal. Decide whatis most important to you and what is of low significance.Disregard what you see on design shows – thisis about your budget and lifestyle. For us, we knewthat high-end appliances were a must, but that swankykitchen cabinetry was not. We were willing to spend alot on landscaping, but not on lighting fixtures.4. Keep in mind that once you start modernizingone thing, the thing next to it might look dated andyou’ll be tempted to renovate it too. Either resist thetemptation or plan for the domino effect ahead of time.We had intended to only make a few minor changesin the bathroom, but once the cast iron tub got refinishedin a bright white color, suddenly our toilet andour sink looked dingy. We ended up replacing almosteverything.5. Build at least a 10 to 20 percent cushion forthose unexpected repairs. I cannot say this enough.As the layers of a home are peeled away, more andmore issues are apt to be discovered. Our sewageline busted mid-renovation (and true to Murphy’s Law,happened the morning we were departing for vacation).To replace the line, our contractor had to tear upour front porch and dig underground. It was a costlyrepair, but thankfully we had a contingency set asidefor such surprises.6. As with your budget, you’ll want to give yourselfa realistic timeline for completing the work. To getahead of schedule, go through that Pinterest board forinspiration, select your materials and have your measurementsready to go. No matter how prepared youare though, renovations can be wildly unpredictable.Unknown issues might crop up, so you’ll want to giveyourself a couple weeks or months wiggle room dependingon the scope of the project. We thought thatour house would be done in time for our May move-indate. The last of the work actually wrapped up a fullfour months later in September. We lived without akitchen for a good portion of that time. Thank goodnessfor Chipotle.7. Decide if you want to stay in your home or offsitewhen renovations are being completed. If youlive in your home, you will encounter plenty of messesand inconveniences. As for the perks, you will only bepaying for, commuting to and maintaining one residence.We chose to rent another dwelling while werenovated. Originally we wanted to move into our newhouse and do the work little by little. Then a family36 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

interiorsBEFOREAFTERBEFOREAFTERHoll & Lane, Issue 2 37

interiorsmember offered some sage advice: “Do all the renovationsup front. If you don’t, you’ll learn to live with thespace and the work will never get done.” For us all-ornothingtypes, this approach made the most sense.8. You’ll want to make sure you hire the right contractorfor the job. Do your homework ahead of time.Ask around for contractor recommendations, sign upfor Angie’s list and check references. While we tackleda lot of the work ourselves, we hired a generalcontractor for the skilled labor, including roof repairs,replacing old wiring and replumbing the first floor.We met the contractor through our landlord and heseemed like a cool guy. Except that cool guy walkedout on the job! We had to live through one of thosecontractor horror stories you hear about on TV. Learnfrom our mistake: do your research. (I should add thatthe second contractor we hired came highly recommendedand did awesome work.)9. Even if you have all the do-it-yourself spirit inthe world, some things are best left to the pros. Inmany cases, city codes dictate that work must be performedby a licensed contractor. Make a list of whatyou will take care of yourself and what you will farmout to the experts. Embarrassingly, I overestimated myaptitudes one time; I thought I could handle doing a bitof electrical work by following a library book and someYou Tube tutorials. We were literally left in the dark fora week after my wiring snafu. Other projects - suchas painting and priming, landscaping, deck staining,and carpet-removing, - naturally lent themselves toDIY, though admittedly these were some of the moretime-consuming, labor-intensive jobs.10. Invest some time in documenting the renovations.I wish that I had taken more pictures of ourhome before we got started. In some rooms, we hadthe wallpaper half torn down before I rememberedto break out my camera. When I did take a photo, itwas usually only one or two poorly-lit, faraway shotsof each room, rather than several and from varyingangles. Now I can barely remember what our homelooked like prior to all the changes. Trust me, you’regoing to want those photos so you can puff up yourchest at the end of a long rehab and say, “We’ve comea long way, baby!”38 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

interiors@thepinkofperfection @betsygettis @quichemeesh @sawissinger#HollAndLaneRoomsWe asked you to share YOUR favorite rooms with us on Instagram.These left us with major room envy.produced by SARAH HARTLEY@burtsbrisplease@kristinforsythe@josie1057@ericaellen12@whatyou_make_itFollow us on Instagram to join in our challenges for a chance to be featured in our next issue!@HollAndLaneMagHoll & Lane, Issue 2 39

There is nothing likereturning to a place thatremains unchanged tofind the ways in which youyourself have altered.- Nelson Mandela40 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

Spruce RdA boutique branding business, Spruce Rd. focuses on telling yourcompany story through beautiful graphic design. Here, owner JamieStarcevich, gives us an inside glimpse into her business.produced by SARAH HARTLEYTell us about Spruce Rd. What do you specialize in?I am the blogger and brand identity designer behindSpruce Rd., an independently run boutique designstudio! I love working with small businesses developingtheir brand into something that is unique to them,and takes them to the next level. Branding is my absolutefavorite part of the process, I love starting fresh! Ispecialize in crafting brand identities that are uniqueto my client. I love getting to the heart of the brand,and understanding the vision behind the business.Where did the name Spruce Rd. come from?The idea behind the name Spruce Rd. is that whencollaborating with businesses, we journey together todevelop a solution that freshens up their visual identity.Spruce: Neat, smart, stylish, dapper. To freshen upappearances.Road: The journey from the old to the new.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 41

usinessHow long have you been running yourown business? What was the processlike to start it?I started Spruce Rd. full time in Januaryof 2015, so I’ve been in business forabout seven months! The process hasbeen both challenging and very excitingat the same time. A lot of work goesinto starting your own business, and thetoughest part for me was putting myselfout there and trying to attract my idealclients. I haven’t done anything like thatbefore when I was working as a designerfor other businesses, so it definitelypushed me and stretched my limits. Ilearned that I love dreaming up creativebusiness strategies, and have enjoyedthe freedom to pursue them.What is the trickiest part about beingyour own boss? What has been yourmost rewarding moment so far?The trickiest part has been to not be soharsh on myself. It is tough to drum upbusiness when first starting an endeavor,and I’ve learned to be patient, andthink with the long-game in mind. Thatmay mean that the first few monthshave inconsistent income, but that isokay.I’ve learned to be patient in the types ofclients + projects I take on. I have hadto say “no” to a few potential clients,as I knew they weren’t in line with thevision behind my studio. This was notan easy decision… especially when IJUST started my business! I think it isimportant to have a clear vision + intentionbehind my business, so I can dictatethe direction I go, rather than allowothers to passively influence me.How do you keep yourself on trackand accountable while working fromhome? Any organizational tips thathave helped you?This has been tough! Honestly, the thingthat has helped me the most is to getout of the house, and work from a localcoffee shop or library. I get distracted athome too easily, so I make an effort tomeet other designers in the area for acoffee shop date! I also have learnedthat I focus a lot better when listening toinstrumental music.I use Todoist to schedule out my weeks.This app has helped me stay on track,and set goals + milestones to hit for myblog, client work, and side projects. Ilove staying organized, so this hasn’tbeen a barrier for my business yet :).42 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

usinessHoll & Lane, Issue 2 43

usinessWhere do you gather inspiration? What is your designprocess like?As cliche as it sounds, inspiration comes from everywhere!Pinterest, of course, is a great place for inspiration.I find such unique + dynamic color palettes fromthere. I also love working form inspiring places withamazing interiors + architecture. I have a few local coffeeshops that always get me inspired, as well as beautifullibraries. Even when I am not working from my computer,I gain inspiration from pattern designs (especially fromAnthropologie!), landscape architecture, or even cleverbusiness strategies. Really, the possibilities are endless!For my branding projects, I always start the project withpencil and paper. I find that list making helps to get thecreative juices flowing. I write down any ideas for a designdirection, concepts or words that capture the moodI am going for. I keep my sketches pretty loose, and loveusing semi-transparent paper for rough ideas. It helpsme loosen up, and not feel restricted by the permanentnature of a bound sketchbook. I’ve learned that if I startwith the computer, I miss out on developing a uniqueconcept for the client. Once I’ve finished sketching, I takeit to the computer and always design in black & whiteto start. I remove all distractions of color, textures andgraphics, and focus on the type + mark.How do you cure designer's block?Fortunately, I always feel energized + inspired to design!I am so passionate about this field, that I haven’t reallystruggled much with designer’s block. I think what helpsme is that I have a healthy balance of work + personallife. I take breaks. I spend time with my husband +friends. I go outside, even if it is 100 degrees in Texas!The key to not feeling stuck is to not over-work yourself.I can’t tell you how many times I have woken up in themorning with a creative idea, or out to dinner, and theconcept comes to me. When I relax, and don’t force it,inspiration will come.If I struggle just sitting down and starting the work, I makemyself leave my desk and work from somewhere else.Sometimes it is just about placing yourself in a differentenvironment to get the creative juices flowing.What 3 things do you wish you had known beforestarting your own business?1. Embrace new ideas: When I first started my business,I was so focused on a very specific vision for mydesign studio. Overall, that vision has not changed, it hasjust expanded and gained new facets. Early on, I realizedthat it is okay if my business looks differently thanothers, in fact that is even better! I love brainstormingcreative business ideas, and am glad that I have pursuedsome of them. I wish I knew from the very beginning,even before I launched and was just preparing for theleap, that it is okay to embrace these different ideas. Pursuethem, and they will attract readers + clients that areinterested in your creative ideas! One of these ideas wasmy concept for Lunch + Learn, a monthly gathering forcreative entrepreneurs to learn tips + tricks in a practicalway. I host these webinar workshops, sometimes with44 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

usiness“This is the modern age of business, andyou have the freedom to embrace that”fellow creatives, to share my secrets in design + entrepreneurship.I have LOVED the community, and am soglad I embraced this different idea!2. Invest in my blog: I learned within just a few monthsof launching my business, that I needed to invest in myblog. My blog is how my ideal clients find me, and howI have been able to collaborate with fellow designers. Itreally has been the best marketing tool for my business,and has also been so fun to work on! Recently, I realizedthe power of an email newsletter, and strategies of howto capture those emails from your blog readers in a naturalway. I wish I had started implementing those conceptsfrom day one! You live and learn.3. Breathe… you will be okay: Lastly, I would want toreassure my past self that everything is going to be okay.Breathe, and take it in. Yes, my monthly income will besporadic and not consistent, but that is okay. Think withthe long-game in mind, and set short-term milestones tohelp me get to that point.Where do you see Spruce Rd. in the future?I ask myself this question frequently! I have a lot of BIGgoals for Spruce Rd., that I am excited to share about inthe next few years. Right now, I am focusing on teachingan e-course all about creating share-worthy designfor your blog, that drives traffic from Pinterest. I am SOpassionate about this course, and am excited to launchit in the fall! I will be teaching my step-by-step process tocreating a brand style guide for your blog, that attractspeople to your site that eventually will purchase services,products or resources from you. I’m sharing my tips ontypography, color palettes, illustrations for blog posts orinfo graphics, etc. I can’t wait to see what my studentscome up with!This is an exciting next step for Spruce Rd., and somethingthat I love pursuing. I have really enjoyed testingthe waters through teaching in my Lunch + Learn liveworkshops, and can’t wait to enable other bloggers tostart getting their blog noticed online.What advice do you have for others who are lookingto start their own business?I would highly recommend really honing in on your visionbehind your brand. Why do you want to start a business?Be really honest with yourself, and make sure you are upfor the challenge. Though blogs and entrepreneurs maymake it seem smooth online, it can often be a rocky pathto go down. If you don’t have a strong vision behind ourbrand, and long-term goals in mind, than it might not beworth it.Have fun with the process, and allow yourself to be creativewith your business! It doesn’t have to be structuredthe same way other businesses are. This is the modernage of business, and you have the freedom to embracethat. I love that I get clients from Pinterest… it just tellsyou that business is different these days, and can be afun outlet as well!Holl & Lane, Issue 2 45

usinessSee somethingyou love? Click itto shop!Kate Spade,$14Amazon, 3Pack, $16NoteworthyLooking for a new notebook to keep track of all of your dreams,wishes, and to-do lists? Look no further than these noteworthynotebooks with snazzy covers that are sure to inspire your next bigidea or help you tackle that never ending to-do list.One KingsLane, $14produced by SARAH HARTLEYBloomingdales,$10Nordstrom,$15Shopbop,$10Dot and Bo,$1546 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

LAUNCHING A BRANDbuinessMarianna Palazzolo shares her tips and tricks behind launching a brand and how she created Jewelry Heist to fill a muchneeded void.words & images by MARIANNA PALAZZOLOYou hear it all the time: “Do what youlove.” It sounds simple enough and yethow many people can actually visualizedoing what they love for a living?It all seems rather abstract doesn’t it?How do you even begin to narrow down all the thingsyou love to find a potential career path? Well, as oddas this may sound, I’ve found that the best way tofigure out what I LOVED was to listen to the peoplearound me. Is there something that you often receivecompliments for? For me, compliments always centeraround the jewelry I wear. It took longer than it shouldhave to realize that there might just be somethingthere.Somehow when I put on a piece of jewelry, I gain instantconfidence. It doesn’t even matter how expensivethe item is. There is likely some psychologicalreasoning behind this, but as humans have beenadorning themselves with jewelry for millennia, I liketo think that I’m not the only one that has experiencedthis phenomenon. Jewelry is often that finishing touchon an outfit and that one little thing about you that othersnotice. It has always fascinated me.I created Jewelry Heist (JH) out of a personal need.I was searching for a website that would show me allthe current fashion jewelry trends, from multiple designers,and highlight pieces that actually fit my budget.Not only that, I wanted timely information & adviceon everything from purchasing tips, to jewelry careand storage. No such website seemed to exist – so Idecided to build it.Starting from scratch on a project can be both exhilaratingand horrifying. There is so much possibility andyet so much potential for error. The first thing to dowith any idea is verify that it makes sense. I immediatelystarted running the idea by close friends, colleaguesand most importantly – people in other agebrackets. Every woman I spoke to seemed to understandthe struggle. Too many options and not enoughhelp making that final purchasing decision. I heard thesame view over and over “I try to stay current. Wearclothes and accessories that are in fashion. I can figureout the clothes but when it comes to fashion jewelryI just don’t know what’s worth buying.” Talking tothese women not only reaffirmed that there was interestin a potential website but also gave me a muchbetter sense of the demographic of women who wouldmost likely use JH.I knew the name of the website was going to be thekey to growth. AsI wasn’t actuallyplanning to sellany jewelry, butrather steal thebest looks fromother BrandsI wanted thename of the siteto reflect that.That’s when theterm “JewelryHeist” got stuckin my head. Itdidn’t matterhow many othernames I brain-Holl & Lane, Issue 2 47

usinessstormed, this one lodged into my mind. It was intriguing.A bit sexy. What woman hasn’t daydreamt aboutwalking into a jewelry store, sweeping a whole counterfull of baubles into her purse and then running off?The name just fit so I ran with it.Before I did anything else, I secured the website domainand social media handles. Then it was time tostart planning the layout and content of the website.The old saying “You can have everything you want,just not all at once” came to mind immediately. I feltmyself getting overwhelmed trying to plan too manyelements at once. That’s when I realized that the bestcourse of action would be to think in phases. Writingout a launch plan for Phase 1 took no time at all and itgave me the confidence I needed to hit Publish. JewelryHeist is now live and kicking. With each passingweek it seems to improve. There’s still a long way togo before Phase 2 kicks in but I’m confident that I havethe support I need to get there.MARIANNA’S TIPS FOR DEVELOPING A BRAND1. Survey the people around you to verify that theproduct/service you are offering is somethingpeople actually want and/or need.2. Choose a name that resonates with people.Make sure it’s easy to spell & pronounce. Youwant people to feel confident talking about yourBrand without struggling to say your name outloud.3. Know who your target audience is. Womanbetween the ages of 20-40 is not a target audience.Narrow it down. Then narrow it downfurther.4. Consider a test run. I was very nervous aboutlaunching Jewelry Heist so I decided to do a“soft launch”. I put together a panel of reviewers,set the site to live-mode, only gave the urlto my panel and gathered feedback for a whopping4 weeks.5. Be consistent: With your product, your messagingand your customer service. Every time youintroduce a new element into the mix ask yourselfif it’s consistent with your current branding.You can check out Jewelry Heist by logging on tohttp://www.jewelry-heist.com48 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

NETWORKWE WANT TO TALK TO YOU.S T M LHoll & Lane, Issue 2 49

usinessCareer Profile:CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST& EPIDEMIOLOGISTMeet Ellen Beckjord, a Clinical Psychologist and Epidemiologistwho spends her time promoting programs to educate thepopulation on chronic disease avoidance and management,with a specific focus on cancer prevention.mobile application that could use machine learning to makereal-time predictions about when people would violate healthbehavior change goals, I was looking for a high-frequencynegative health behavior, like smoking. Smoking also continuesto be an enormous public health problem; 18 percentof American adults still smoke!You are the Director of Population Health Program Designand Engagement Optimization at the University ofPittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health Plan, what exactlydoes this mean?The UPMC Health Plan has multiple efforts in place to helpindividuals live as healthy and well as possible. My work atthe Plan is split between both helping the Plan improve existingand develop new programs aimed at either preventingchronic disease or helping people who have a chronic disease,like diabetes, manage it as successfully as possibleand encouraging our members to make use of the healthpromoting programs that we offer.What type of schooling have you completed?The skills that I use on a daily basis come from my training inbehavioral science (my PhD is in clinical psychology); epidemiology(I have my Masters in Public Health); and consumerhealth informatics (I did a post-doctoral fellowship in informaticsat the National Cancer Institute).What roles have you held on your way to your currentposition?After finishing my training I spent a wonderful three years asa behavioral scientist at RAND Corporation. I loved that joband love RAND, but really wanted to have a specific clinicalfocus to my work. So I moved to the University of Pittsburgh,where I was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry,working at the Hillman Cancer Center. I spent about20 percent of my time seeing patients as a psychologist andthe rest of my time engaged in research. In February 2015I transitioned to the Health Plan, because the position theywere offering was an excellent opportunity to do my work onhealth behavior change in a more applied setting.You have a focus on cancer prevention specifically inregards to smoking cessation, why did you choose thatfocus?There is a lot of local expertise in Pittsburgh in smoking cessation,and given that this work was focused on building a50 Holl & Lane, Issue 2You have previous experience in clinical trials. Can youtell us about those?The largest clinical trial I worked on was a study looking attwo different types of support group interventions for womenwith breast cancer – one was focused on skill buildingto manage stress, and the other was focused on emotionalexpression. Additionally, we enrolled women in these groupseither close to their time of diagnosis or around the timetheir treatment ended. The different approaches had theirstrengths and weaknesses, but in general, both approacheswere helpful.What do your work days look like?I’m a morning person so I like to get in an hour or two ofwork before the day really begins. This is also the best timefor me to write, so I try to make progress on writing projectsbetween 5 and 7 am each day. I drive my daughter to schoola few days each week so I’m usually in my office by 9 am.I almost always have a meeting or two during the day, but Ireally love that my work is rarely done in isolation – I work asa part of many different teams. Most days I finish by about4:30 pm, and do my best to pick my daughter up from herafter school program before 5:30 pm.What has been the most rewarding part of your career?Being a part of people’s lives as they navigate a cancer diagnosisand cancer treatment has been an enormous privilege.The courage and grace I’ve been a witness to havebeen tremendous.What do you forsee in the future for cancer prevention?New cancer screening techniques will be introduced that willallow us to detect cancer earlier – we’re seeing this now withlung cancer screening, which was just approved for somecurrent and former smokers by the US Preventive ServicesTask Force. Hopefully we’ll see the development of screeningtests for some of our most deadly cancers, like pancreaticand ovarian. And I imagine that as people end up payingmore out of their own pockets for their health care that morepeople will adopt preventive health behaviors that will lead tobetter cancer prevention.produced by SARAH HARTLEY

I love to see a young girlgo out and grab the worldby the lapels. Life’s a bitch.You’ve got to go out andkick ass.- Maya AngelouHoll & Lane, Issue 2 51

food & fitnessMYFITNESSJOURNEYGetting addicted to a gym routine can feel like a real rush, buthard to keep up. Chelsea Oliver shares her weight loss journey,her tips for losing weight the healthy way, and how it haschanged her life - for the better!words & images by CHELSEA OLIVERThere is a strange feeling that comesover a person when they are on aweight loss journey. It has nothing to dowith how much they have lost, or howdifferent their clothes feel. Very little ofthis feeling even has to do with the factthat now everyone in their life has noticed what hardwork they put in to look this way. The feeling goessomething like, "this is great, but how much farthercan I go?"That is where I am right now. To be honest, I did notplan to become addicted to working out or eatinghealthy. I just planned on going to the gym, doing whatI knew and hoping to feel better. But when I walkedinto the local Snap Fitness and met the trainer, Mike,there was no turning back. There was no doing thishalfway. The minute he told me I would be good at lifting,I wanted to know how good I could be, how muchI could lift and now, how much more can I lift.People start losing weight and going to the gym forvarious reasons. My very truthful answer to why I startedis because I felt horrible. I rarely did any exercisemore than yoga or walking and while I thought I waseating healthy, I was really just eating what we aretold is good for us, which isn't always the best option.I give the credit of losing my first 20 pounds simply toactually eating right and shocking my body by addinglifting to my daily schedule.If you do not know me personally, then you might notknow how confident I have always been. I did not startlosing weight for anyone but myself. My health wason the line and I needed to change because of it. Variousweight-related health issues run in my family andI started to see their symptoms creeping into my lifeand knew I needed to change what I was doing so Idid not have to be a victim of those symptoms. And forthe most part, all of those symptoms have gone away.If you give your body what it needs, it will reward you.Everyone's journey is different. Everyone gains andloses weight as their body allows and there is no magicremedy for how you can lose weight. But gettinghealthy and living a lifestyle that will lengthen youryears is what is important. You have to find that balancefor yourself and work for the goals you create.52 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

How you want to feel should always be based on goals youcreate yourself. Do this for you. It's your body and your life, treatit like you love it.For me, it has been six months since I started and I am downabout forty pounds. My well curated closet has been replacedby mostly gym clothes and I only buy other clothes as I needthem because every couple weeks I don't fit into them anyway.But I'm committed. This is now what I want. I want to lift heavier,run faster. There has been an overwhelming support systemaround me through this journey, but as the world of social mediagoes, every nice comment has a mean counterpart. But youhave to keep pushing through those.I am doing this for me. My health. And while so many peoplehave told me that I'm full of crap and I just want to look hot, letme tell you…I was hot before I started. Now, I won't lie and tellyou that I don't like the added perk of now looking even bettertoo, but I did not start this just to get skinny. My trainer, Mike,who has become my best friend, asked me from the beginningwhy I wanted to do this and it has always been for health. Iremember him staring at me after I said that because he waswaiting for me to add to my answer and followed up by tellingme that most 20-somethings start because of more vain reasons.But I attribute my success and continued drive to having arealistic goal and that being my motivation from the beginning.Find that reason for yourself. Find your support system and stickto your goals. This is not an easy journey. It is not something thateveryone can do or even begin, but you can if you have realisticexpectations. My journey is not complete. I am standing in theplace where I need to know how much more I can do. My bodywants to run farther and faster than I have let it so far. It wantsto do heavier lifts and see how much it can stand. The past sixmonths have been great, but how much farther can I go?CHELSEA’S REAL TIPS FOR LOSING WEIGHTACTUALLY EAT RIGHTWhat we are told is healthy and what is actually goodfor us are two different things. Learn to read nutritionlabels. Don’t assume something is good for you becauseit’s in the latest diet craze or so and so said itwas healthy. Look at the label, know what you areeating. For starters, cut out all unnecessary sugarsand do not eat any bread, potatoes and/or pasta.Knowing what to eat is the hardest part, but it’s themost important and makes all the difference.LIFT WEIGHTSSeriously, why isn’t everyone lifting weights? Ladies,it will not make you look like a man. You do not havethe testosterone in your body that it takes to bulk uplike a guy does. Women who look like that, take supplementsto do so. Lifting burns calories longer thancardio does, so lift weights. Heavy weights. If youdon’t know where to start, ask someone who lifts tohelp you. People who lift, love lifting and I’m surewould love to give some pointers.MAKE YOUR CARDIO WORTH ITSpending endless hours on the treadmill or ellipticalis getting you nowhere. High intensity interval trainingis the body’s best friend. Alternate between short,intense cardio and then a short rest period. For example:run as fast as you possibly can for a minuteand then walk for a minute and alternate between thetwo speeds for twenty minutes. This increases yourbody’s ability to burn fat.STOP MAKING EXCUSESIf you have physical limitations, then sure, you mightnot be able to do as much, but you can do something.The biggest excuse is not having time and honestly,that is the biggest lie. Make time for it. If you want results,stop wishing it would happen and go out thereand make them happen. Take a moment and thinkof the most important thing that you have going onin your life. Now, imagine if you used the excuse of“I don’t have time to do that” for one day with thatthing. That would be awful, even if it was just for oneday. I bet that you would start figuring out where inyour day you could fit in that thing as long as it meantthat you wouldn’t have to go without it the next day.That’s how you need to look at exercise. Find a wayto make it fit in your schedule.DO IT FOR YOUNo one else is going to reap the benefits of you livinga healthy lifestyle. Your partner might like the wayyou look and your kids will like how you have moreenergy to play with them, but you are the one it willeffect the most. You are the motivator, the decidingfactor. If you don’t do it, you’re only hurting yourself.Be your own motivation and reap those benefits.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 53

food & fitnessFive Reasons ToGET THAT MASSAGEwords by JESSICA CHARLENEMany of us find ourselves living on a budget. That budget may be large or small, but we take into considerationwhat we earn, subtract our monthly expenses and decide whether to spend or save the rest. When money istight, we tend to focus on purchases that we deem “necessary,” which is why when many of us pass a sign forour local massage studio, we keep on walking.But what if you had a really great reason to stop? No, you don’t need a massage to survive. But whilemassage is a luxury, it is also an amazing tool for improving the health of your body and mind. So before youtalk yourself out of that hour-long deep tissue, here are five reasons to invest in your health through a personalpampering session.1) TO CHILL OUTWhile many of us say that we taketime out of our day to relax, chancesare that “relaxation” ends up beingthe hour we sit down with a glass ofwine and repeatedly get interruptedby email alerts or curious toddlers.And failing to get your “me” time canlead to physical stress symptomslike high levels of irritability, problemsdigesting, and drastic fluctuationsin weight. Massage is proven tohelp individuals relax, and has beennoted to help with both anxiety anddepression.2) TO HEALWhether you have an active career,consider yourself an athlete,or sometimes underestimatehow heavy your groceries will be,massage can help your body healfrom injury and even provide naturalpainkillers. As your therapistworks, they are releasing yourbody’s endorphins, which helpfight pain without a single pill.Massage has also been provento help heal scar tissue, improvecirculation, and fight postoperativeswelling.3) TO FIGHT THAT HEADACHESpending extended amountsof time staring at our computer,cell phone, tablet, and televisionscreens can really mess with ourheads, prompting painful headachesthat can completely derailus from our productivity. During amassage session, you experienceboth increased blood flow and improvedcirculation, which can helprelieve your headache and helpprevent new ones from hitting youin the future.4) TO BOOST IMMUNITYIf you’re someone who likes to popVitamin C when you’re feeling underthe weather, you may want toadd massage to your preventativecare routine. Not only does it reducestress, which can wear downour body’s immunity, but it booststhe cells needed to fight off infectionand bacteria.5) TO REST EASYMassage can make it easier tofall asleep because it fights someof the common causes of insomnia,including back pain, racingthoughts, and frequent waking.In turn, a good night’s sleep doesmore good for your body thaneven the most delicious superfruit.If your budget has a bit of wiggleroom, remember that by investingin your health, you help presentthe best version of yourself to family,friends, and co-workers.Sources: AMTAMassage.org, MassageTherapy.com,Medicinet.com, MassageEnvy.com,Excedrin.com.54 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

Holl & Lane, Issue 2 55

food & fitnessLet’s GetSPINNING!Indoor cycling classes are perfect for toning your legs and raising yourheart rate. Stationary bikes take you thorugh a vigorous workout thatmake you feel like you’re on a tough mountain terrain. Hear from AlyssaBurlakoff, 22, about why it’s so powerful.produced by SARAH HARTLEYWhat exactly is Spin? How long have you beenteaching?Spin is like outdoor biking, but it's indoors on stationarybikes. It's lead by an instructor who works the classwith certain climbs, sprints, and fun music to help motivatethe class and put everyone in their spinning zone!I’ve been teaching for two years.What made you decide to become a spin instructor?I became a spin instructor to help others be the bestversion of themselves. I want to help motivate, inspire,and strengthen others so they can feel confident,strong, and healthy. It takes a lot of courage to get on aspin bike, it's not easy and it takes a lot of work to pushthrough the class, so I want to help them get through itstronger than when they began.What was the process like to become an instructor?The process was an intense 10 hour training to learnhow to teach, how to understand the three positions,the resistance, cadence, and more. Once I passed thetraining and took the exam, I started team teachingand subbing where I work now at Shoreline Fitness inConnecticut so I could start my journey as a fitness instructor.I still do continuing education classes to staycertified and to learn how to grow as an instructor.What type of workout can someone expect fromtheir first Spin class?They should expect a high intensity class with a varietyof seated and out of the seat climbs, sprints, jumps, endurancetraining, and interval training. So basically…they should expect to SWEAT!!56 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

food & fitnessWhat is your favorite thing about being a Spin instructor?There are so many reasons why I love being a Spininstructor! Spin is my baby, the first thing I ever gotcertified in. I can't think of JUST one reason, but if Ihad to pick it would be knowing that I have a job whereI can help others step out of their comfort zone andbetter themselves in the process. That is really what it'sall about. Motivating others to push themselves to thebest of their abilities.Aside from Spin, what are three tips that you havefor getting and staying in shape?Three tips would be to change up your workouts asoften as you can. A shock to your body brings a ton ofchange! Eat a variety of healthy fats, carbohydrates,and proteins, but also indulge. Life it too short to putin all that hard work to never enjoy that favorite flavorof ice cream or that favorite pizza we all love so much!It's all about finding a healthy BALANCE! Last but notleast, the third tip would be to keep a positive mindset.Only you can achieve the results that you want,so wake up every morning feeling positive and you willcontinue to stay in shape and reach your goals.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 57

food & fitnessFoodMoodGirlIn “Food Guilt No More”, author Lindsey Smith wants us allto enjoy our food and eliminate the guilt we feel from someof our most tempting vices. Read her inspiration behind thebook, how she achieved her own version of success, and abouther secret future as a rap artist!produced by AIRE PLICHTA58 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

food & fitnessYour given name may beLindsey Smith, but mostpeople know you as the"Food Mood Girl". Can you tell us about the journeythat brought you to this name?Well, seeing as Lindsey Smith is probably one of themost common names in America (I personally knowtwo other Lindsey Smiths), I wanted to differentiatemyself.With that said, when I decided to become a healthcoach, I really wanted to brand myself in a unique waythat was memorable, fun and fit the things I wantedto talk about, which just so happened to be food andmood.I was at a retreat in Costa Rica with over 50 otherhealth coaches and it was then that the name “FoodMood Girl” was born. To me, it really symbolizes everythingI am about: health, happiness, self-love, positiveattitude, self-respect, kindness and fun.Knowing where you started, to what do you attributeto your current success?I always like to start by saying that “success” is trulya personal term. To me, success is freedom and service.I love helping people and inspiring others so forme, success is having the freedom and flexibility in mybusiness and life to do just that.I think a big part of my success is embracing simplicity.When I first started my business, I was willing todo whatever it took to be able to have that freedom. Idowngraded my cable, sold stuff I didn’t need and gotrid of extra luxuries at the time. I became a consciousshopper and consumer. This mindfulness helped mewith my personal life and also my business life.Simplicity allowed me to expand my creativity and feeltrue joy in what I am doing rather than the pressure ofneeding to make money. By relieving the pressure, itactually HELPED me make a great income because Ihave been in the flow of what I am passionate about.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 59

food & fitnessIn your latest book "Food Guilt No More" you walkreaders through the program that worked for youwhile providing mood-boosting and guilt-free recipesand the space for the reader to reflect on howthey feel about food. Why was this so importantto you?Being in the nutrition world, there is a lot of judgmentand criticism that comes with it from both outsidersand colleagues. I remember being at a dinner withabout 30 health coaches and we had the choice out ofa salad or creamy tomato soup for a starter. On thatparticular day, I wanted soup. I ordered and lookedaround to see that I was literally the only one that orderedthe soup and I got some judgmental looks toboot.On the flip side, many times I would visit family, friendsor even acquaintances and they find out what I dofor a living, they would either feel like I was going tojudge them the entire time so they pre-apologize forwhat they are eating; or they would flip it and judgeeverything I was eating. I remember I had a cupcakeat my sister’s wedding and someone said, “Oh I amsurprised you’re eating that.”I just realized how much dissatisfaction and judgmentwe have toward food and I really wanted to tackle thisissue head-on in a big way because there is somenoise about it, but not enough!What do you hope people just discovering foodguilt for the first time take away from your book?My goal is that people can find true love, joy and appreciationfor food by releasing the guilt and shameonce and for all.Oh, and if they want that cupcake, brownie, pizza,you name the vice, to eat it and feel really damn goodabout it.What's your favorite guilt-free recipe either in thebook or in general?My favorite recipe in the book is probably the almondbutter tartlets. They are heavenly.And last but not least, I heard you are known to doraps about healthy eating? Any chances you'll beputting out an album?This is probably one of my favorite interview questions,ever!Yes—the infamous raps! Actually, because of populardemand, I think I am going to record and mix a singlebased on the book and do a proper music video toaccompany. Because really, you only live once!60 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

food & fitnessSTRAIGHT FROM FOOD MOOD GIRLCHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BITESEnjoy the bites without the guilt.words & images by LINDSEY SMITHINGREDIENTS:½ cup of almond butter1/3 cup of raw or honey or maple syrup1 cup almond or cashew flour¼ cup of chocolate chipsMakes 12 cookiesINSTRUCTIONS:1. Combine the almond butter and honey or maple syrup. Add the nut flour and mix until a ball of doughforms. Add the chocolate chips.2. Roll into bite-size balls and freeze for 30 minutes.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 61

62 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

food & fitnessDRAGONFRUITSMOOTHIEBOWLwords & images by ABBEY RODRIGUEZSMOOTHIE INGREDIENTS:1 dragon fruit (pitaya)1/2 cup pineapple1/2 cup blueberries2 bananas1 tbsp lemon waterTOPPING INGREDIENTS:1/2 kiwi, peeled and sliced1/2 banana, peeled and sliced1/2 mango, peeled and sliced1/4 dragon fruit, peeled and sliced1/4 cup blueberries1/4 cup granola1 tbsp shredded coconutINSTRUCTIONS:1. Cut the dragon fruit in half and scoop out of skin. Place in a blender or food processor with the pineapple,blueberries, bananas and water. Mix well until pureed and smooth. Place in the freezer to chill for 10-15minutes.2. While the smoothie puree is chilling, cut up and measure out all the toppings.3. Pour the dragon fruit smoothie into a bowl. Gently add on the toppings and enjoy!Holl & Lane, Issue 2 63

food & fitnessWATERMELON & AWITH SWEET BALSAwords & images bySWEET BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE INGREDIENTS:1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil1/4 cup balsamic vinegar1 small clove of garlic, minced2 tbsp of coconut sugar (may substitute with brown sugar)SALAD INGREDIENTS:Your favourite salad greensChopped watermelon cubes1 avocado, chopped into cubesChopped pecans, or other nuts64 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

food & fitnessVOCADO SALADMIC VINAIGRETTEKELLY AGNEWINSTRUCTIONS FOR VINAIGRETTE:1. Combine your olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, garlic and sugar in a sealed container. Shake until it is wellmixed.2. Prepare your salad: Combine your washed salad greens, watermelon and avocado. Top your salad withchopped pecans or your favorite chopped nuts.3. Drizzle the vinaigrette on your salad mix and enjoy the taste of summer!*For the dressing, it is recommended to only make what you will use. Since this recipe uses fresh garlic, itreduces the lifespan of the dressing and it’s best to use it all right away.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 65

66 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

food & fitnessTRADITIONSMACARONI PIEwords & images by KIMIKO SASOWhen I was growing up, every family gathering on my Mum’s side would include gooey Macaroni Pie. If we werehaving a party, you can bet this dish, among other West Indian favorites like Stewed Chicken, were likely to beserved with a healthy dose of Trinidadian love. It is so much better than your typical Mac ‘n’ Cheese and is sosimple to make even the most amateur of cooks can pull it off. This can be served as a main dish or as a side,but the most important ingredient is love.COOK TIME:45 minutes – 1 hourINGREDIENTS:3 cups of dry elbow macaroni2 eggs1 can of evaporated milk3 tbsp of water1 bag of shredded cheese (choose something flavorful like medium cheddar)1 tbsp of butter (for the baking dish)Salt and pepper to tasteINSTRUCTIONS:1. Preheat your oven to 350*F. Take a 13 x 9 rectangular baking dish and coat in butter so that the noodles willnot stick during baking.2. Boil your elbow macaroni in a large pot of water until firm but cooked. Drain and set aside to cool slightly3. In the meantime, in a large measuring cup, pour in the can of evaporated milk, two eggs, the water, salt, andpepper. Beat together until the egg is fully incorporated.4. In your prepared baking dish, alternate layers of noodles and cheese until the dish is about ¾ full. Add extracheese to the very top layer. Take your milk and egg mixture and pour evenly over the entire dish. You shouldsee the liquid come to about half way up the noodles.5. Bake your Macaroni Pie in the oven for about 45 minutes OR until cheese is golden and bubbly and a skewercomes out clean6. Cool for about 5-10 minutes then serve and enjoy!NOTE: If you find you need a bit more milk mixture, try adding 1 egg to half a can of evaporated milk with salt,pepper, and 1½ tbsp of water. Proportions are important to make this dish bake properly.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 67

food & fitnessVEGAN CUPCAKEwords & images by TATIANA MIKAHLOV68 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

food & fitnessCUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:1 cup flour2 tsp baking powder1/3 cup sugar1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil3/4 cup almond milk1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar1 1/2 tsp vanillaa pinch of saltFROSTING INGREDIENTS:1 cup raw cashews1/4 cup almond milk2 tbsp maple syrup2 tbsp coconut oil (melted and cooled)1 tsp vanilla2 tsp lemon juice2 tbsp beet juice1/2 tsp saltINSTRUCTIONS FOR CUPCAKES:1. Pre-heat oven to 365 degrees.2. Butter or line a pan with 10 cupcake liners.3. Mix almond milk and apple cider vinegar in a bowl and let sit for fiveto ten minutes to allow for it to curdle.4. Add flour, baking powder, sugar and salt to the bowl of a mixer fittedwith a whisk. Mix on low speed to combine. Now add the remainingingredients and beat on medium speed until the mixture is smooth.5. Fill the cupcake liners a quarter of the way full with batter and bake for20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comesout clean.6. Remove cupcakes from pan and allow them to cool completely beforefrosting.SINSTRUCTIONS FOR FROSTING:1. Start out by rinsing the cashews and placing them in a bowl with water.Soak them for at least a half hour or up to two hours. Once youare ready to make the frosting drain and rinse the nuts again.2. Next wash and peel two beets. Grate both into a bowl. Use yourhands or some cheesecloth to strain the liquid from the grated beets.3. Begin by adding the ingredients, with the exception of the beet juice,to a blender (add all the liquid ingredients first and cashews last).Start the blender on low and gradually increase the speed. If you’rehaving trouble getting the mixture to blend you can add a tablespoonor two of almond milk. Blend until very smooth. Once you are happywith the consistency begin adding the beet juice. Use as much or aslittle as you would like depending on the color that you are looking for.Allow the frosting to cool in the fridge for a half hour as that will helpit become more firm and easier to work with.4. Frost the cooled cupcakes and top with sprinkles of choice!Holl & Lane, Issue 2 69

food & fitness70 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

food & fitnessCHOCOLATESTRAWBERRY CUPSwords & images by SHUANG SHANCOOK TIME:15 minutes + 1 hour refrigerationINGREDIENTS:100g of 70% Dark Chocolate (2 parts)50g of White Chocolate (1 part)1/4 cup of cream (1 part)2 tbsp of coco powder (to thicken if needed)8 strawberries (can substitute to any berry or fruit of your choice)Makes 4 servingsINSTRUCTIONS:1. Break chocolates in pieces and place in heat resistant bowl withcream.2. Bring a half filled small pot of water to boil and place bowl of chocolateon top (Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch theboiling water, or else the chocolate will burn).3. Stir until melted smoothly, if consistency is not as thick as desiredadd in tablespoons of coco powder, if chocolate is too thick, add inmore cream.4. Once smooth, turn off heat.5. Wash and thinly slice strawberries, place half at the bottom of 4glasses.6. Spoon in chocolate to cover strawberries.7. Place other half of sliced strawberries on top of chocolate.8. Chill for at least one hour in fridge.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 71

What holds most peopleback isn’t the quality oftheir ideas, but their lackof faith in themselves. Youhave to live your life as ifyou are already where youwant to be.- Russell Simmons72 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

DIYSKYLINE DOORMATShow your city pride and welcome your friends into your home with an awesome DIY skyline doormat! Withan inexpensive doormat, homemade stencils, and outdoor paint, you can personalize your front door to fityou and your home!words & images by SARAH WISSINGERYOU WILL NEED:• Plain doormat• Porch paint or outdoor furniturepaint• Paintbrush• Cardboard• Pencil• Box cutter• Masking tape• Printer/paper (optional)INSTRUCTIONS:1. Create your cardboard stencil. Either draw your design freehand, orprint a design you can trace (our skyline was drawn freehand, but theletters were printed and traced.) Cut out the stencil with a box cutter.2. Line up the stencil on your doormat and secure with masking tape.3. Lay down a drop cloth or craft paper to catch any drops of paint. Paintaround your stencil with your paintbrush. After the first coat has fullydried, add a second coat. Allow the paint to fully dry for 24 hours beforeusing the doormat.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 73

do it yourselfDIYDECORATIVEDISHESNeed a place to stash your baubles andbling? Grab your favorite paper and makethese easy, yet beautiful, decorative dishesfor all your jewelry (and loose end) needs.words & images by JESS DOWNEYYOU WILL NEED:• Tissue paper• Ceramic dishes• Mod Podge• Sponge brush• Scissors• High Gloss SealerINSTRUCTIONS:1. Using a pencil, trace the shape of yourdish on tissue paper. Cut out shape.2. Apply a layer of Mod Podge to dish.3. Place paper on Mod Podge. Be carefulas it will instantly stick to the Mod Podgeand tissue paper rips easily. Smooth outthe paper as much as you can with yourfinger.4. Apply another layer of Mod Podge overtissue paper and let dry. It will likely looklike a big gooey mess, but don’t worry. Itdoesn’t dry like that.5. Spray high gloss sealer all over dish andlet dry for 24 hours.NOTE: You can create a fun and differentlook with different patterns of tissue paper bylayering the styles in between layers of ModPodge.74 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

do it yourselfDIYBURLAP WREATHLooking for a quick, inexpensive, and cute way to update yourhome each season? Try this easy to customize Burlap Wreath- you’re less than $15 and 20 minutes away from fabulouslyrustic decor.words & images by KELLY SPINNERYOU WILL NEED:• 30 ft (10yd) of burlap*• 12 inch wire wreath form• Embellishments (flowers, leaves, wooden letters, etc.)• Hot glue gun* For this project, burlap that was 5.5 inches in width was usedINSTRUCTIONS:1. First, secure the burlap to the wire wreath form. Fold the tip of the burlap into a point and weave it betweenthe wire form, going over one space, and under the next. You can tie it to the inner wire, or just it leave alone.2. As you continue to weave the burlap over and under, pull up on the “over” pieces to form bubbles with theburlap. Push the “bubbles” together as you make your way around the form.3. When you have made it all the way around, you can either fold the remaining burlap in the woven motion, oryou can tie this end as well.4. Next, add embellishments. This where you can personalize this wreath to make it your own. Use a woodenletter for your last name. Add flowers for whatever season. Add a bow. For this particular project, a woodenletter was painted with white acrylic paint and then glued on along with the fall flowers.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 75

If you don’t go after whatyou want, you’ll never haveit. If you don’t ask, the answeris always no. If youdon’t step forward, you’realways in the same place.- Nora Roberts76 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

life storiesTHE GIRLNEXT DOORproduced by SARAH HARTLEYName and Age:Ashlee Gadd, 29Occupation:Founder / Managing Editor / Writer for Coffee +Crumbs; photographerWhat did you want to be when you grew up?An actress, which is nothing short of hilarious and terrifyingnow.If you could travel anywhere in the world, wherewould it be?I would really love to eat my way through Italy. I’mpretty sure I could survive on pizza, fresh pasta, andgelato for the rest of my life if I had to.What is your morning routine like?My baby usually wakes up sometime between 5-6am.I nurse him and can usually get him back to sleep foranother hour or so. By 7:00am, we’ve all set up campin the living room: baby on the floor with a basket oftoys, toddler on the couch with a cup of Cheerios,me sitting right beside him sipping coffee and checkinge-mail on my phone while we all watch CuriousGeorge. We typically start our day around 8am, onceI’ve had a substantial amount of coffee and can properlyfunction.Do you have any hobbies?With a toddler and infant under my care, I don’t havea ton of extra time for hobbies right now, but I loveyoga, pilates, reading, baking, and binge watching justabout anything on Netflix.Are you a cat or dog person?Neither; two kids is enough for our house right now!Do you know how much poop I already have to dealwith? Ha.If you could only eat one food for the rest of yourlife, what would it be?It’s probably a tie between pizza and Chipotle burritobowls.If you were stranded on an island, what three itemswould you want with you?Sunscreen, my Bible, a water-purifying system.What has been your proudest moment in your life?When I first launched Coffee + Crumbs, I had prettylow expectations. I thought it would take us a reallylong time to build a following, and to get our name outthere. Three of our posts went viral right away, and wehad 2.8 million pageviews in the first eight weeks. Iremember going out to dinner with my husband to celebrate,just sitting across from him in awe and excitement.Everything happened so fast and organically; itwas surreal!Holl & Lane, Issue 2 77

life storiesLIVING WITH MISOPHONIAEvery little sound driving you crazy? You may be living with misophonia.Rachael shares her story and how she copes.words by RACHAEL GARLING“Oh my god, make her stop typing!”“Stop shoving popcorn in your mouth!”“Who is whistling and why are they whistling?”“Ice is not for chomping!”“Where are my headphones? I need them NOW!”These are thoughts that have all enteredmy mind. In fact, they enter it on a dailybasis. Each one is different but they’reall negative responses to the soundsaround me. I live with Misophonia andI hate every single minute of it.What is Misophonia you ask? Well, simply put, it canbe described as a neurological disorder for the hatredof sound. Some refer to it as “sound rage.” Someoneliving with Misophonia hears a certain sound (i.e.trigger) and immediately has an anxious, disgusted orrage filled response. These sounds can be soft, loud,or as common as birds chirping. My brain processestrigger sounds as “danger” and I have an immediatereaction. I either have a fight or flight response. If Ifight, I usually tell the offending person to stop makingthe noise. If I have a flight response I either: leavethe room, mimic what the person is doing, listen toheadphones for white noise, or cry. More often thannot I have a flight response. It’s very rare for me toask someone to stop what they’re doing. Misophoniacompletely ruined a relationship for me; almost everysound he made became a trigger. He was a very niceguy, just really noisy.It is said that Misophonia is hereditary; my mom andmy grandma both have it. I haven’t always had it butI do remember the first time I was triggered. It wasall downhill from there. I was 19 years old and wasworking in a telecommunications call center. One dayall I could hear was the sound of fake nails typing ona keyboard of someone ten feet from me. I couldn’tfocus for the rest of the day; I kept listening to her typeand got angrier as the minutes went on. It obviouslywasn’t her fault for the way I was feeling and I didn’tunderstand why I was so angry. I do not clearly rememberwhen my other triggers started. Maybe that’sa good thing.Triggers are different for everyone, what may botherme may not bother others. A few of my triggers are:people typing on keyboards, fake nails on keyboards,chewing popcorn, chomping chips, and chewing ice. Ihave a laundry list of triggers but these are the onesI encounter the most. I have to wear headphones atwork and listen to music because of the constant typingaround me. I cannot go to movies for fear thatsomeone will eat their popcorn loudly and it will ruinthe movie. I cannot go to Mexican restaurants be-78 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

life storiescause I will end up glaring at everyone eating theirtortilla chips and salsa. If anyone chews ice aroundme, I immediately get a headache.If companies create radio or TV ads that use food ordrink sounds that trigger me, I will refuse to buy theirproducts. Do you know those Kit Kat commercials?I hate them. Philips 66 used the sound of someoneeating chips and filling up a soda in the same commercial.Not only do I change the radio when I hear it,I also do not stop at a Philips 66. These things seemsilly and they are (I cannot deny that) but my reactionis something I cannot control. I have had people tellme to “get over it” but, unfortunately, it’s not that easy.I cannot truly relax when I am at work or in a socialsituation because I am anticipating the next trigger.When it happens I have to find out who is creating it,where it’s coming from and then I question why it’seven happening. I lose all focus on what I’m doing,tune into those sounds and fill with rage. I have trieddesensitizing myself to the noise but I ended up cryingfrom all the adrenaline. I’d rather be in seclusion becauseit’s just easier than dealing with the anticipation.I feel crazy telling others about it for fear that they willmock me and not understand. I feel crazy even writingthis article but I hope that it opens other’s eyes. Thisdisorder is not made up; it is real and serious. If youhaven’t lived with it, it’s hard to understand. It’s evenharder to understand when someone in your ownhouse has it. I thought my mom was being rude whenI was a teenager as she sternly told me to stop typingon our keyboard. It was just her fight response; shedidn’t know any other way to handle it.The exact cause of Misophonia is unknown and it cannotbe classified in the current Psychology DSM-IV asit does not fit. There are also no known cures availableas it is still being researched. There are a limitedamount of articles available that discuss treatmentsbut they just lessen the severity. So I have been learninghow to cope on my own through white noise andtalking about it.I learned that a couple of coworkers have Misophoniaand it helps to talk to them when I’m being triggered. Itmakes me feel better because they sympathize. Havinga support system (even though it’s small) reallyhelps. One thing to remember is that if you’re livingwith Misophonia, you are not alone even though itmight feel that way. You’re not crazy either, I promise.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 79

ADVERTISESHOW OFF YOUR PRODUCTS TO OUR READERS.Click to learn moreabout advertisingwith us!80 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

LIFE OF A FORMERBEAUTY QUEENlife storiesBeauty pagaents get a bad wrap. And beauty queens? Even worse. Kristin takes us inside the intriguing worldand tells us what it’s really like- sustaining on chicken breasts and all.words & images by KRISTIN FORSYTHEIHAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE. I’m a hasbeen“beauty queen”. I never considered myselfone though. After all, beauty queens aretall with flawless skin, legs a mile long, giganticsmiles and perfect speaking skills. I alwaysfelt like I had none of those attributes. I’veeven had people act surprised when they find out thatI competed in pageants. More than once I’ve heardthe phrase “You compete(ed) in pageants?? Kristin winning You don’t theMiss Americanseem like the type!” I never quite knew how to takeDream title.that exclamation. Were they saying I wasn’t prettyenough, tall enough, thin enough? The list goes onand on. Competing in pageants was never somethingthat I broadcasted to people for that exact reason, italways seemed like they wouldn’t understand. I rarelybring up my pageant days but if someone asks meabout them I’m more than happy to talk about my experiencesand try to dispel some of the stereotypesthat run rampant about the industry. When I begancompeting I believed many of the stereotypes as wellbut found out that most of them are untrue or it takesa lot of work to get where one is, for example I alwaysjust assumed that pageant girls were naturally fit andtan, with perfect hair and wardrobes. It didn’t take melong to realize that all that comes with plenty of hardwork and sacrifice.contestant in my age division) and I won. So far I hadno clue what it took to really be successful in the pageantworld. That wake up call came the following yearwhen I entered the Miss Ohio USA pageant.The Miss Ohio USA pageant is part of the Miss USAsystem. The winner of the pageant goes on to rep-The first pageant I competed in was a small fair queencontest in my hometown. I had never really eventhought about doing a pageant before that but thisone seemed like it could be fun, and I was a senior inhigh school and wouldn’t be eligible once I graduated.I thought it would be a one and done kind of thing. Idon’t think I even really prepared for the pageant. Iwore a dress I had worn for homecoming a few yearsprior, slapped on very little makeup and was just myself.I had a blast meeting the judges for the privateinterview and even though I was terrified of doing ashort speech onstage the adrenaline rush was addicting.To my complete surprise, I placed second runnerup! I was hooked. My first thought after the pageantwas “I want to do that again!” I went on to enter anothervery small pageant (there was only one otherHoll & Lane, Issue 2 81

life storiesresent Ohio in the Miss USA pageant. Pretty seriousstuff for pageant girls! I entered that pageant with verylittle preparation, an interview outfit from the localmall, a dress that could pass for a bridesmaid’s, andvery little knowledge of how to style my hair or applymakeup but thinking that I had a shot at the title. Hownaive I was!The first time the contestants get to see each other inperson is during registration on the first night of pageantweekend. When I walked into registration at theRadisson in Columbus I felt like a fish out of water.These girls were insanely beautiful with gorgeous outfitstailored to fit perfectly and they were all so sweet!Registration is a contestant’s first chance to make agreat impression on not only pageant staff but othercontestants. Competing in pageants is 90% mental. Ifyou walk into a pageant function as a contestant andsee other girls that look great, have gorgeous outfitsand carry themselves with confidence your own moraledrops like a boulder thrown off a cliff. Clueless asto the mental game of pageantry, I came to registrationin jeans and a button down. My morale continuedto drop throughout the weekend as I discovered thatcontestants had heavily beaded gowns that cost thousandsof dollars, swimsuits made especially for stagecompetition and coaches to perfect their presentation.“Coaches??? For a pageant???” I thought the ideawas insane. Looking back years later, my biggestregret of my pageant career was not hiring a coachsooner. I hired a wonderful coach for my last pageantand was amazed at the difference in how I preparedand competed.Despite realizing that I didn’t have a snowball’schance in hell of winning the Miss Ohio USA title, Ihad a great time competing, staying up half the nighttalking to my roommate and learning more about thepageant world. I went on to compete two more timesin that pageant and never placed. I had a great timeevery year, learned more about myself and how toprepare for a pageant, gained valuable interview skillsand loved cheering on the Ohio representative whilewatching Miss USA on television.One of the most important areas of competition is theprivate interview with a panel of judges. It’s just youin a chair facing a table of 3-7 judges. They can askyou anything from “If you were a car, what kind of carwould you be?” (yes, I’ve been asked that) to questionsabout foreign policy and current events. They also askquestions from your contestant bio that you submit priorto the pageant. This is where you list your hobbies,career goals and interesting tidbits about yourself. Itcan be terrifying. In the beginning, I thought I had tobe someone I’m not, or give the judges answers theywould want to hear. Once I hired a pageant coach thatall changed. My coach had been a previous Mrs. OhioAmerica and was a genius at really picking your brainto find things that are interesting about you that youmight otherwise overlook. For example, I love photog-82 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

life storiesraphy and one of my favorite subjects is old forgottencemeteries. There’s no way I would’ve put that onmy bio but my coach convinced me to do otherwise.It paid off because it was something different, and ithelped me stand out from other contestants.Physical fitness is also a huge part of pageant competition.I took for granted that the contestants werejust naturally tall, in great shape, tan, and knew howto walk and pose to show off how fabulous they were.Nope. There’s a hell of a lot of work that goes intothose few short minutes on stage. As I said before,pageants are 90% mental. It takes discipline to dragyour ass out of bed at 4 or 5 a.m. to get a workout inbefore work or school. Then come home after a longday and do it again. Some girls work out twice a dayas the pageant gets closer to try to “lean out” as muchas possible. And pageant girls naturally have 6 packabs? Ha. Those babies were built in the kitchen. Eggwhites, grilled chicken breast, tons of veggies and gallonsof water built those washboard abs. Taking yourown food to social functions and saying no to alcoholand Doritos built those abs. Running and weight liftingwere my go to workouts before a pageant. Alternatingthree days of running and three days of weightshelped me build the best body I’ve ever had. All thathard work paid off when I won the fitness award atmy last pageant. That would not have happened withoutmental and physical discipline and a coach thatshowed me that if you pose a certain way your shoulderslook wider which in turn makes your waist looksmaller. It’s all about smoke and mirrors! Not tall likea glamazon model? There’s 5 inch platform heels forthat! Pale from all that time spent in the gym? Spraytans are your friend. Some girls even have makeupartists paint abs on them for the swimsuit competition.Seventeen years and more than twelve pageants later(having lost way more crowns than I won) I wouldn’tchange my experiences for anything. My fellow pageantgirls are an amazing group of fun-loving, driven,goal oriented go-getters that make the world a betterplace. Some people think that pageant contestantsare shallow airheads and catty bitches. I’ve never ranacross either one in my pageant career but even thebest of us can get a little crabby when we’ve been eatingchicken breasts and working out six days a weekfor months.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 83

A MOTHER’SDISAPPEARANCEFourteen years ago, her mother disappeared without a trace. She still doesn’t have answers.words by ANONYMOUS* Names have been removed from this story as it is still an open case.When I was fifteen, my life changed completely. Mywhole world was turned upside down. I remember thisday like it happened yesterday. It’s funny, becausemost times I can’t even remember what I wore the daybefore. This day, however, is so fresh in my mind. Ithink about it quite often. May 25, 2001, my motherwas taken from me. Lets start at the beginning.May 25, 2001 was the last day of my sophomore yearof high school. I lived in a small town where everyoneknew everyone else. On this day, we got out of schoolearly and my mom picked me up instead of havingme take the bus home. A friend of mine also rodehome with us. After dropping my friend off at home,we stopped by the grocery store (which was locatedin town, whereas our house was about twenty minutesoutside of town). After grabbing her groceries, mymom went to the checkout line. While in line, I noticedmy mom’s ex-boyfriend walked in the store. This wasodd for a couple of reasons:He didn’t live in the same town as us and also mymom had been having troubles with him not leavingher alone.I mentioned to her that he was in the store. She finishedpaying and grabbed the grocery bags.When we got outside, I noticed that his car was parkeddirectly across from ours. I knew he did this purposely.While my mom was loading the groceries into our car,he came out of the store and began talking to her. Mycar was originally a gift from him and was still registeredin his name. He asked her if she wanted to goto the auto shop to check on my car with him. Sheagreed, but told him that she had to take me and thegroceries home first. He left and headed out of towntoward our house. We were on our way to our houseten minutes later.We arrived at our house, but her ex-boyfriend wasn’tthere. I remember thinking that was weird, becausehe left in plenty of time to get there before we did. Weunloaded the groceries and I went to my room. A whilelater, my mom came in to my room and told me thatthey were leaving. I told her I loved her. That was thelast time I ever saw her.84 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

life storiesAn hour later, a friend of mine came to our house fora sleepover. Shortly before she arrived, my mom’sex-boyfriend called asking if my mom was there. I toldhim no, that I thought she was with him. He explainedthat he had dropped her off at the end of our drivewayabout an hour earlier. He then said he had just made itinto town and noticed that my mom had forgotten herpurse in his car. These things threw up red flags to meimmediately. I knew something was wrong. It did nottake an hour to get from our house to town and mymom would never forget her purse anywhere!answer most of them. I was too scared. I couldn’t rememberwhat she was wearing. I didn’t know wherethey went after the auto shop. I didn’t have any answersfor them.The next week seemed so surreal to me. We put “Missing”posters up around town. I never in my life thoughtI would be putting up missing posters for someoneI knew, especially not my own mom. That part wasprobably that most heartbreaking part. Knowing thatthis was all that I had left…a poster saying she wasmissing.It’s been fourteen yearssince I last saw mymom. Fourteen yearssince she disappeard.We don’t have answers.We don’t know what happenedto her. But, we arefairly confident that herex-boyfriend had somethingto do with her disappearance.After she disappeared,my family andI found out that he hadbeen abusing her andthat he had previouslyraped her. We also foundout that he had told people(after their breakup)that if he couldn’t haveher, no one could.I asked him why it had taken him so long to get intotown after dropping her off. He told me there was a caraccident. When my friend arrived for the sleepover, Iasked her if there was an accident (as they would’vedriven the same roads) and she said no. Another redflag.At this point, I notified my boyfriend’s mother that mymom was missing. I said it as a joke, but I knew deepdown that something had happened to her. My boyfriend’smom told me to call her first thing in the morningif my mom hadn’t come home by then.Early the next morning, I woke up hoping that my momhad come home late the night before. But, she hadn’t.She wasn’t in the house. I called my boyfriend’s momand let her know and she immediately called the police.I remember when the police arrived, it was just myfriend and I at home. I was fifteen and terrified. Theystarted asking me questions and I honestly couldn’tI believe, with my whole heart, that he killed her. I don’tthink he wanted to live without her, so he took her fromeveryone. The one thing, the only thing, that I want isto know what happened to her. I want closure. I wantpeace. The hardest part is not knowing what happenedto my mom. Also, knowing that he is out therein this world walking around a free man scares me everysingle day. I really hope we get answers someday.This situation has made me an advocate against domesticviolence. Had I known my mother was beingabused and raped prior to her disappearance, I wouldhave urged her to seek help. I really want to help otherpeople in these situations so no other families have togo through what my family is going through.As of 2013, there were 133,539 missing persons ages21 and older. 52,342 of these are women.**Source: FBI National Crime Information CenterHoll & Lane, Issue 2 85

life storiesWhat Would You Tell Your Younger Self?It always gets better so stop dwelling on the negativesomany more positive things are in the future!Danielle J.Speak up, take over, don’t let anyone control yourlife. Be happy and let your children be your wholeworld.Donna R.Travel, see & live other cultures, be a friend and amentor.Audrey M.Make self-care and fitness a priority!Mia S.Figure out how to have my beautiful girls and not livethe life of a woman of the 50's.Kay S.It’s okay to be a little selfish and do stuff thatmakes you happy every once in a while.Kris B.86 Holl & Lane, Issue 2Chill out. It's not the end of the world.Kirsty B.Be kind. Popularity stops at high school and theoddballs are the most interesting people you willever meet.Amy C.It all works out in the end.Rachel P.Your mom is right. No, don't date that boy. Drinkmore water. Love yourself more.Helen P.Don't take out student loans! Find another way to payfor college.Stephanie L.Save money... Start a savings account and retirementplan as soon as you get a job.Marie G.produced by SARAH HARTLEY

If we all did the things weare capable of, we wouldastound ourselves.- Thomas EdisonHoll & Lane, Issue 2 87

familyBEING A PARENT OFMULTIPLESwords & images by HEATHER WILSONBeing a parent is hard enough. But when the doctor tells you there is more than one baby in your belly?That’s a recipe for exponential chaos.88 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

familyEvery mom knows that her little indulgencescome at a price. How many times haveyou taken your time in the shower only todiscover a disaster when you came outof the bathroom? I’m sure you’ve seenthe YouTube video of the kids who coveredthe entire living room in flour while their motherused the bathroom. Kids seem to wait for the rightmoment to strike. Well, one morning, I was indulgingin my own little escape to Storybook, thanks to Hulu.I heard laughter and assumed all was well. Noise isgood; it’s the silent moments that lead us to fearfullywonder what is going on in the other room. But as thestory unfolded on screen, once upon a time, anotherstory was developing in the bathroom down the hall,and the laughter was getting louder… exponentiallylouder.Everything about my life during the past four yearscould be perfectly described as exponential. When Iwas first pregnant with the boys, I was exponentiallyexhausted. My midsection expanded so quickly,I looked full term at just 26 weeks. I can’t even tellyou how many times I would hear, “any day now?”followed by their shocked and pitied expression whenI told them when I was due. There were more ultrasounds,more frequent checkups, bigger aches andpains, higher numbers on the scale, and much largermaternity clothes hanging in my closet. Near the endof my pregnancy with the twins, I remember sitting inmy OB’s office and talking over labor and delivery. Heasked me if I had any help arranged for after the babieswere born. “Not much,” I replied. He looked atme, concerned, and said, “You do realize, having twobabies will not just be double the work; it will be exponential.”Most people do assume that twins are doublethe work, but my doctor was right. Twins are nothingshort of exponentially more of everything!October 11th was the day our lives changed forever. Iwas induced on a Monday morning after spending thewhole weekend walking around, hoping to go into labornaturally. I was 39 weeks pregnant exactly, whichsurprised everyone since the average twin pregnancylasts about 35 weeks. I delivered in the O.R. justin case we needed to do a cesarean. As it turns out,I was able to deliver both of them vaginally. Jameswas born first and Luke was born just 21 minutes after.They were so tiny! They weighed 6 lbs 7 oz and 5 lbs11oz, respectively. James sounded like a little babygoat when he first cried!Life with newborn twins was so exhausting. I felt like Iwas going crazy! The sleep deprivation caused morethan one mishap. One night, one of the boys was crying,so I scooped him up and nursed him in bed. Hefell back asleep so I put him back in the co-sleepernext to his brother. About 20 minutes later, in a fog,I heard crying again. So I blindly scooped up a babyand latched him on. About 20 minutes after puttinghim back in the co-sleeper, I heard more crying. Out ofexasperation I cried, “didn’t I already feed you?” Thenit dawned on me, I had just nursed the same babytwice, and it was the hungry one that was now crying.It’s a miracle we made it through those nights.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 89

familySometimes I wonder how I ever got through that firstyear. Most days, I just didn’t think about it; I was onauto-pilot. With three under three, I didn’t have timeto think about how hard it was, I just did it. It’s onlyin retrospect that I can really grasp how challengingit was. There were times when the crying really gotto me, to the point where I would startle in the middleof the night, thinking I heard a crying baby, but theywere both asleep. Oh the crying! I often describedit to friends as a cacophony of sound! One time, mytwo-year-old Grace declared, “I can’t talk! It’s too loudin here.” We were all a little overwhelmed. To cope, Iwould often just throw them all in the van and drivearound endlessly, because it was the only escape.One thing is for sure, I could not have survived the firstyear without the help of my husband. He took over thecooking, cleaning, laundry and everything in between.He took care of Grace during the night when I wasconstantly tending to the boys. I wish I could say thatwe had a lot of other regular help, but it was hard tocome by. It’s also hard to ask for when you know howmuch work it will be.The second year of the twins’ life was the hardest. Asthe boys got older, it became even harder to find help.Any interest people had in helping while they weresweet little infants seemed to wane as the boys enteredtoddlerhood and their independence and needsgrew. We also moved out of our small 2 bedroomhome into an old farm house in town that needed aton of work. All the while, the kids kept getting sick,passing various illnesses back and forth, and landingus in the hospital twice in a five month period.In the midst of all the difficulty, however, there wasgrace, and there still is. As exponential as the hardparts of raising twins are, so are the good parts. A twinmama is never lacking hugs and kisses. Morning andpost-nap cuddles are my favorite quiet moments withthe boys. I love the stillness, the sleepy hugs and timeto reflect and appreciate all that they are. They fill myarms at night while I sing their favorite bedtime song,Twinkle Twinkle, which they affectionately refer to as“mommy star” because they want me to sing it to them.And as overwhelming as the crying might be, hearingall the laughter is equally heartwarming, healing myweariness. When they laugh together, it is impossiblycute, and they can get each other laughing harderthan anyone else can. Watching them play togethernicely or show compassion to each other when one ishurting is enough to make me forget the bickering andtantrums, at least momentarily.Which brings me back to my story: as I made my waytowards the laughter coming from the bathroom, I trulywanted to believe it was that healing kind of laughter,completely innocent and non-destructive. I couldhear splashing as I walked around the corner intothe bathroom. My two beautiful boys had armfuls oftowels, shirts and at least a few pairs of underwear,completely soaked in toilet water. They were carryingthese sopping piles of wet, disgusting clothing andplopping them into the bathtub, only to return themback to the toilet, and into the bathtub again. All thewhile, they were laughing hysterically and creating ahuge puddle of toilet water on the floor. What a mess!I’m sure it won’t be the last. As I look toward the futurewith these silly boys, I try to imagine what it will belike to teach two teenagers how to drive, send two ofmy children off to college the same year, or suddenlyfind myself an empty nester as they become adultsand start their own families. It’s hard to picture, butone thing I know, even when my arms are no longerfull, my heart will remain overflowing… and I’ll be ableto watch my favorite show without worrying about abathroom disaster.90 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

familyWhen our oldest daughterwas 3, we were getting readyto go to bed and part of herroutine is going potty beforebed. She was on the toiletand said to my husband andI, 'I don't have a tail, Mommy.Daddy does but I don't.- Andrea N.When driving past our local quarry (that stinks all thetime), my daughter said it stunk like a boy toot toot (fart)!I have no idea where she pulled that from! - Jennifer L.My 4 year old will tell peopleshe got her red, curlyhair from the milkman!!- Amelia B.I said to my son, "I love you to the moon and back." Hethen said, "I love you to Target and back." - Lauren S.When my son was 3 his preschoolteacher said his 'Incredibles'underwear were coolduring a class trip to the restroom.He replied "they aren'tincredible, they're just okay".- Heather S.STRAIGHT FROM THEIR MOUTHSWhat is the funniest thing your kid has said?Join the fun by telling us on Twitter : @HollAndLaneMagThe other day we were inthe car and with the mostsincere voice my son says,"Mama when I get biggerI am not going to sing Jesussongs. I like Jesussongs, but I really want tosing Rock and Roll. Okay?"- Crystal H.In the same day Gwen has said "it's goingto be a nice day with no bad guys!"and then when asked what she thoughtwas in a jar of jelly (she is 4 and knowswhat jelly is) she replied "blood."- Sarah R."Mom look it's the President!"as a tall black man in a suitwalks out of the elevator...- Heather R.I like to use my belly buttonas a purse to hold peanuts.- Lisa K.produced by SARAH HARTLEYHoll & Lane, Issue 2 91

BEING A MOM: A PHOTO DIARYThe ordinary, everyday moments of motherhood can become repetitive and mundane. But Sarah takes outher camera to capture these moments and honor the details of her life with her husband and four sons.words & images by SARAH HARTIwasn't even sure I wanted children. Now, atthe age of 35, I'm a mother to four boys agessix and under and all I can think about is addinganother sweet babe to our family. Funnyhow that happens, huh? It turns out I love everythingabout motherhood, even the not soglamorous parts. I love the overwhelming feeling oflove when a newborn is placed on your chest for thefirst time. I love their little grunts while nursing in themiddle of the night. I love watching them take theirfirst steps. I love watching them develop relationshipswith each other that will last a lifetime. This wholemotherhood gig is pretty intoxicating.About two years ago, when my third son was still ababy, I panicked because I realized I was starting toforget little things about our daily life like the way mysecond son used to carry the entire contents of hisroom around the house with him or the way my firstson used to fall asleep in the hallway while boycottingnap time. As silly as those things may sound, thoseare the important things to me. Real life. So I made itmy mission to document our day to day happenings sothat I could have a photo journal to look back on. I'venever been a fan of posed pictures because I'm moreinterested in seeing what happened before and afteryou made them stop and say "cheese!". I like to actas a fly on the wall and just observe them being, snappingaway as they play outside or eat their breakfast.These are the things I want to remember.Like the day Henry, 3 years old, woke up and decidedCheerios were the best breakfast ever. He nowasks for them every morning, then immediately asksfor whatever everyone else is having as well. It’s alsonot every morning that my husband is able to enjoybreakfast with everyone, so this was a special momentin that regard as well. Father and son, just enjoyingsome cereal. I like to imagine what this scene will looklike twenty years down the road.92 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

familyGideon, 15 months,is such a naturelover. He runs tothe door anytimehe hears it openand tries to sneakoutside. Lately,he's been makinga beeline to theswing at the back ofthe yard. He lovesdigging in the dirt,putting rocks in hismouth and pushingthe wagon aroundthe yard. The multiplemosquito bitesall over this chubbythighs are a testamentto just howsweet this boy is.Silas, 4 years old,has always beenthe most interestedin music out ofall the boys. Eachnight after dinner wehave dance partiesto shake out all thesillies. If he’s notDJ-ing on the computer(“You MakeMy Dreams” byHall & Oates is hisfavorite right nowbecause they sangit in school), he’sbusting a move andshaking his booty,making everyoneelse join in on thefun. He certainlydances like no oneis watching, and Ilove that about him.

familyThis is Jackson, 6years old, the dayafter his last day ofkindergarten. Beingthe emotional boythat he is, he criedwhen I picked himup on that last daybecause he alreadymissed his teacherand friends. But onthis day, it seemedas though he wasgetting used to theidea of not goingto school everyday.We spent the morningon the patio justchatting and makingplans for the summer.It’s mind-blowingwhen you beginto have more adultlikeconversationswith your children.As often as the boysmay bicker and fightover toys, they alsolove each other tothe moon and back.Splashing in thebathtub togetheris always fun, butI’m afraid we mightneed a bigger tubso that all four ofthem can fit at thesame time. Thelook of joy on Jackson’sface whiletalking to Gideon inthis picture makesmy heart melt. I reallydo believe theywill forever be bestbuds and have eachother’s backs. All ofthem.

familyIt’s rare to haveone-on-one timewith any of theboys, but I’m tryingto carve that timeout because I knowhow important it isfor them. On thisparticular day Henrywoke up earlyfrom his nap, sowe went outside toblow bubbles andplay with sidewalkchalk while Jacksonwas at school andthe other two boyswere still snoozing.The sound he madewhen he tried toblow a bubble waspriceless - more ofa “fffffffffffff” than actualblowing - but hesucceeded every sooften, exclaiming “Idid it! I did it! Yook,Mommy! I did it!”The boys alwaysseem to end uphalf dressed bythe end of the day,running around thebackyard or housepants-less or shirtless.On this nightI decided to treatthem to some icecream cones afterdinner to celebratesummer. And boydid they celebrate,covering themselvesfrom headto toe in stickinessfrom dripping icecream. Let ‘s justsay that baths werenot skipped.

familySpeaking of summer,our backyard inthe summer is prettymagical for us.It’s lush and green,and we recentlystrung some lightsto add a soft glow toour evenings spentoutside. I hope theboys will foreverhold fond memoriesof these summernights spent exploring,relaxing, makings’mores and justenjoying each other.I’m waiting forthe lightning bugs tomake their appearanceso we can collecta few in masonjars.Not only is Gideona nature lover,but he has reachedthe stage where hewants to get intoeverything he’s notsupposed to. He realizedhe can climbon things, especiallythe couch, and he’sconstantly makingmy heart skip abeat by almost fallingoff things. OfficialDanger BabyStage. I’ll take himoff the couch, but heimmediately climbsright back up to runacross it and flopdown, giggling theentire time.

familyThis was my attempt at a posed picture. I tried to get all four of them to sit on the bench, but those "cheese!"shots I took didn't turn out nearly as well as this one that really shows them in all their glory. The side conversationbetween Henry and Gideon, Silas running off and Jackson being silly. These perfectly imperfect momentsare the ones I want to hold on to. My boys just being boys. They're my heart, my whole world and myreason for being. I love them to the moon and back.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 97

familyCAMERA MAMAFrom Instagram to an entire online community, Rebecca Franson, AKA Camera Mama, shares how she inspireda community of mothers to share tips and tricks on photographing their children.produced by SARAH HARTLEYinstagram images courtesy of:@callred25 (left), @samscrazylife (right)Name and Age:Rebecca Malouf Franson, 37You recently started an Instagram account andwebsite called Camera Mama. Tell us what it is allabout.My @camera_mama Instagram account is where Ishare photos that inspire me and tips that other usersshare by tagging their photos with #cameramama15or #cammama15 One of my followers @bellakeelsaid it best: "The perfect combination of beautiful images& wonderful little tips."Why did you start the site?I started this site as a place to share tips and ideasabout photographing our own children with other parentsno matter how simple their camera may be. Thequality of photos you can capture these days with acell phone are amazing! I also started this site to helpme take more pictures of my own kids...as I got busierwith my photography business (Merrakai.com) I realizedI was taking less photos of my own children whichis at the heart of why I love photography in the firstplace!Why do you think it’s important to capture thesemoments?I think capturing snippets of my childrens' childhoodhelps me to find more joy in motherhood. It helps mefocus on the good things.What are your hopes for Camera Mama in the future?I have started a website (CamMama.com) to go alongwith the Instagram account and in the future I plan toadd more content on a regular basis that summarizeswhat is happening over on the Instagram account. Ihave also launched the #GetIn52 Challenge wherepeople are challenged to take at least one photo aweek with them in it!98 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

familyWhat are the 5 best tips you’ve learned from thecommunity so far?1. Attitude: Put the memories and the moments first,not the pictures. The genuine moments really shinethrough!2. Apps: There are some great apps out there to helpmake our pictures shine! VSCO, Snapseed, Mextures,nSquares, & Diana App are some that have poppedup in our Instagram discussions!3. Gadgets: I have now purchased a remote triggerfor my big camera, an underwater case for my iphone,and an octopus tripod for my iphone thanks to tipsfrom the Camera Mama community!4. Community: There are some really, really awesomeand nice women all over this globe who loveto share their beautiful photos and photo tips. I haveloved making friends on Instagram through this community!5. Perspective: Get down low, get up high, hang backand wait, run up ahead, and hop in the picture yourself!instagram image courtesy of:@3littlechiefsHoll & Lane, Issue 2 99

FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIESHave you run out of ideas for fun things to do with your kids for the rest of the summer? Give these freefamily activities a try.words & images by MEGAN LOEKS100 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

familyAIRPORT LOOKOUTMany airports have lookout areas for families to sitand watch airplanes come and go. Enjoy a beautifulsummer sunrise and/or sunset while watching theplanes take off.HIKINGHiking is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy all the beautythat mother nature has to offer. Pack some drinksand light snacks before heading out on a nearby trail.PLAYGROUNDMost towns have playgrounds for children to enjoy.Some even offer a splash pad for those hot summerdays. It’s also a great place for children to interact withone another.LIBRARYWith the summer season comes rainy days. The publiclibrary is a perfect place to visit when the weatherturns. Many libraries have children’s areas filled withsensory bins and other learning activities.Holl & Lane, Issue 2 101

familyBEACHThe beach is a summer given and definite hot spot.Not only is it a great place to simply go for a swim, buta perfect place to build sand castles or fly a kite.SIDEWALK CHALK ART PROJECTSometimes the best summer activities are right aroundyour home. Get out the chalk and have your childrentrace themselves, draw race car tracks to race theircars on or play hopscotch.BIKE RIDEFamily bike rides can be a wonderful family activityin the summer. Take a bike ride around the neighborhoodor maybe even a local bike trail.SCAVENGER HUNTCreating a list of things to search for outside can be aneducational way to get children engaged. Your scavengerhunt list could consist of finding things such asdifferent types of leaves, pinecones, flowers, and soforth.PICNICPlan a picnic! Pack a basket full of food and drinks andhead to a local park or even your backyard. Sit underthe shade of a tree with your family and enjoy a mealoutside.CAR WASHHave a family car wash on a sunny, summer day. Thisis a win-win for both parents and children because thecars get cleaned and the kids get to play with the hose.102 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

familyHoll & Lane, Issue 2 103

It doesn’t matter whoyou are, or where youcame from. The abilityto triumph begins withyou. Always.- Oprah Winfrey104 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

travelYOU TELL US:IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE?Your Top Five Ideal Destinations1. Italy2. Ireland3. Greece4. Spain5. Scotlandproduced by SARAH HARTLEYHoll & Lane, Issue 2 105

One of many murals in thedowntown Harlingen area. Harlingenis a small town. It is partof what people know in SouthTexas as "The Rio Grande Valley." Major Surrounding areasinclude; McAllen, San Benitoand Brownsville and of courseSouth Padre Island.106 Holl & Lane, Issue 2The MostInstagrammablePlaces NearHARLINGEN, TEXAS

travelFamous Jackson Street in thedowntown area. Every firstSaturday of the month theyclose these streets down forwhat they call "market days"- small businesses aroundthe area set up shop to selltheir items and there is food,music and fun for the wholefamily!words & images by ZAIDA ORTEGAHoll & Lane, Issue 2 107

travelThe view from the top of thePort Isabel lighthouse.This is the famous lighthouse in Port Isabel, TX.This is a popular place tovisit and a must stop on theway to or from the beach.You get a beautiful view ofthe island from the top.108 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

travelOne of the popular camping groundson South Padre Island - KOA campinggrounds.Beautiful treasures foundon South Padre Island.Every Friday night during thesummer on South Padre Islandthey put on a fireworks show!Holl & Lane, Issue 2 109

See you inOctober!CONTRIBUTORSThese ladies are the talent behind these pages and the magazine would be nothing without their stories.Amy Cookhttps://www.facebook.com/amysusancookMicah Chaplinhttp://unabashedly--me.blogspot.com/Erica Musythttp://www.lookingtothestars.com/Cara Zamorskihttp://fashionswain.com/Eva Kerschbaumerhttp://www.esspa.com/Jaye Gipsonhttp://www.curvatude.com/Kimiko Sasohttp://sliceofheavenloft.blogspot.com/Berty Moraleshttps://www.facebook.com/MadForFashionForLessIvy Ohttp://findingtheglitter.blogspot.ca/Laura Penleyhttps://instagram.com/lauraslensonlife/Adaena TrayJamie Starcevichhttp://www.sprucerd.com/Marianna Palazzolohttp://www.jewelry-heist.com/Ellen Beckjordhttp://www.twitter.com/ebeckjordChelsea Oliverhttp://chelsandthecity.blogspot.com/Jessica Brownhttp://www.jcharlenecopywriting.co/Alyssa Burlakoffhttps://twitter.com/AlyssaBurlakoff110 Holl & Lane, Issue 2

Photo CreditsPage 8, Eddie StigsonPage 9, Death to StockPage 10, Anna HamiltonPage 12, Stelios KazaziasPage 14, Demetrius WashingtonPage 21, T. CudPage 33, Brittney BorowskiPage 40, Thomas RichterPage 49, Das SashaPage 51, Jonathan NiederhofferPage 72, Death to StockPage 76, Ananda Escudero GomesPage 78, Maria Victoria Heredia ReyesPage 80, Nathan BoadlePage 84, Thomas BraultPage 87, Nicole EliasonPage 91, Danielle MacInnesPage 104, Ricky PaulusPage 110, Death to StockBack Cover, Ananda Escudero GomesLindsey Smithhttp://foodmoodgirl.com/Abbey Rodriguezhttp://www.thebutterhalf.com/Kelly Agnewhttp://www.knowingkelly.com/Tatiana Mikhailovnahttp://flora-and-fauna-blog.blogspot.com/Shaung Shanwww.theteleporta.comSarah Wissingerhttp://www.thesurznickcommonroom.com/Jessica Downeyhttp://www.chaoticandcollected.com/Kelly Spinnerhttps://www.pinterest.com/kspinner424/Ashlee Gaddhttp://www.coffeeandcrumbs.net/Rachael Garlinghttp://simplychic.me/Kristin Forsythehttps://instagram.com/kristinforsythe/Heather Wilsonhttps://instagram.com/twinshenanigansSarah Harthttps://instagram.com/sarah.hart3Rebecca Fransonhttps://instagram.com/camera_mama/Megan Loekshttps://www.facebook.com/megloeksphotographyZaida Ortegahttps://instagram.com/mamawithacamera

READ OUR PREVIOUS ISSUES:WWW.HOLLANDLANEMAG.COM/READS T M L