Revia Issue #6

polish-american magazine #6, decemBer 2014reviamagazine.comTina Janczura daSilvalivinG tHe cosmopolitan liFe

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I don’t know if it was just in myneighborhood, but I started noticingChristmas lights appearing shortlyafter the Halloween decorationsstarted coming down. It seemed abit early to me, but I finally camearound and started getting intothe Christmas spirit shortly afterThanksgiving time.As my family was wrapping upThanksgiving dinner, the eveningconversations started to shifttowards plans for Christmas Eve andChristmas Day. Since my motheris the matriarch of the family (verytypical in Polish families), this wasa no-brainer for her. After finalizinglogistics, we started reminiscingabout our youth and the traditionsthat we follow to this day. Sincecustoms are typically passed downto us by our parents, I started toask my mother about certain onesin our family, and whether were weomitting any. I finally put all of thesethoughts into action with someinternet researching and yieldedsome incredible results. In mysearching of different traditions, Ifound this to be a great opportunityto provide non-Poles with a glimpseof what we Poles actually do on the24th of December. We have a varietycompiled together on pages 30-31.While many of you are still outgrabbing those last minute gifts,we have some exciting news toannounce. As of January 1st we willbe offering subscriptions with homeand office delivery. The subscriptionwill be free, and we only charge fordelivery. You can sign up online atwww.REVIAMAG.com or contact usdirectly at 847-559-1515.With all of that said and done, Ihope everyone has a safe holidayseason and a Happy New Year!kaRL WRobELGEnERaL ManaGERAs we step out of 2014 and wanderinto the wonders of 2015, I encourageyou join me in a moment of reflection.Think about the goals you setthis year. What did it take to get youto move forward with them? It allstarts with a thought and instinct thatconnects to us, deep within. For onereason or another, an idea pops intoour heads and leads us to a directionof improvement. Support from familyand friends can be motivating, andproject management tools may enforcediscipline. Whatever gets you throughit, the end feeling of completing a goalis powerful. It’s palpable in your chest,gut, and mind. There’s a secure, knowingvoice that speaks to us from ourcore, saying, “I did it!”At times, it can be a graceful processof baby steps. Yet, often times wehave to barrel through procrastinationand convince ourselves that it’s trulyworth the effort. Hurdles and excusesseem to appear out of thin air, and endlessdistractions keep us away fromthe big picture. For many of us, fear isan inevitable obstacle that paralyzesthe mind and prevents us from reachingour greatness. It consumes ourconfidence and places us into a stateof doubt. The “what if’s” pour in, and asheer lack of effort cements into ourdaily routines. We all face a fear, andsometimes we fear success.In 2015, I welcome you to shareyour stories with us. Let us know whatyour dreams were in 2014 and howyou realized them. Likewise, we wantto hear what roadblocks you encountered.How can we help you make thisa powerful year? We’re here to supportyou with content to keep you motivatedand stay on track.This year, remember to stop andfeel those butterflies from when youpushed through a fear to reach a goal,and don’t forget to listen to that voicein your core that says, “I can do it!”Trust yourself.Cheers!anIa JabLonoWSkIEdIToRIaL dIRECToR122606 --- Contributors08 --- compassion Fashion cocktails09 --- Charity4LIFE Happy Hour10 --- Who’s Who12 --- “The Immortal Zoo"12 --- Gift from the Heart Foundation annual party13 --- F.a.M.E. Fashion14 --- new Year’s eve sylwester chicago16 --- Polish Entrepreneur17 --- polish Film Festival in america (pFFa)18 --- FGa – Sonali Patel20 --- tina Janczura dasilva25 --- dr. knows best26 --- Holiday Homeostasis Handbook28 --- Facts about Christmas Traditions in Poland30 --- a Wigilia Wish For my children32 --- Zdrowie na talerzu34 --- Holiday Gift Guide36 --- beauty Tips by anna38 --- ask anita28364revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

C o n n e C t I n G C o M M U n I t I e s . r e M e M B e r I n G r o o t s .WanT To REad MoRE REVIa? HaVE IT dELIVEREd RIGHT To YoUR HoME oR oFFICE!Get a Full Year oF issues For Free and paY onlY $ 19 95 per Year For deliverYrevia magazine is produced as a monthly periodical catering to young, assimilatedPolish-american professionals in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. REVIa is one ofthe only Polish themed publications where the majority of content is in English, allowingfor an unparalleled opportunity to remain part of the community for assimilated Poles.revia magazine offers readers the absolute best in Polish culture, lifestyle andcommunity living that Chicago has to offer. We target both the Polish community thatwants to connect with the american culture, and the american community that desiresto better connect with Poles.revia magazine is building a bridge and closing a generational gap to unite ourcommunity!Get the inside scoop on:• Culture• Events• Interviews• Fashion• Film• Music• Health• Love• Food• and much more!GIVE THE GIFT oF CULTIVaTInG CULTURE siGn up For our FamilY & Friends packaGeWitH 3 suBscriptions, and receive tHe 4 tH suBscription Free!visit WWW.reviamaG.com to siGn up todaY, or call us at: (847) 559-1515

ContrIBUtorsAnIA sZyMAnskAAnia Szymanska was born in a Poland and has residedin Chicago for over 12 years. Ania enjoys childrenof all ages, loves dogs and is extremely passionateabout helping others. Ania recently completed hermake-up artistry certification and now works with avariety of clients ranging from local college studentsto aspiring actors and singers. As a makeup professional, Ania has the opportunityto put a confident smile on many of her clients faces – simply put, Ania trulyenjoys what she does and is enthusiastic about expanding her opportunities.DIAnA eVA LeBIeCkIDiana is very active in Polish and Non-Polish eventsin Chicago, while working full time and also gettingher MBA at Kellogg @ Northwestern. Like manyyoung Poles born in Chicago to Polish immigrants,she attended Polish Saturday school all through herchildhood and was active in Polish Clubs in highschool and college. She enjoys meeting new people, volunteering and exploringall Chicago has to offer. In addition she is on the Junior Board of Gift From theHeart Foundation (Dar Serca) and is always looking for new volunteers to helpplan more events for this great charity. Diana@darserca.orgMICHAeL FeLInskIMichael hails from Poland's magical city of Krakow, andhas emigrated to Chicago in the mid 90's with part of hisfamily. His love of science, dragons, castles and travelshas motivated him to return to his hometown to acquirea medical degree, and currently he is undertaking anacute medicine residency as a senior doctor in sunnyUK. With aim of acquiring an MBA with a focus on medical leadership, he plans onhelping tackle global health issues from the top-down in the future.AnItA CHIPALATwo of my passions in life are helping people with theirlove life and writing. With my advice column, “Ask Anita,”I get to combine the two! As a dating & relationshipexpert, I’m on a mission to prove that happy and satisfyingrelationships are possible. I’m a Licensed Marriage &Family Therapist and hold a Master’s in Marital & FamilyTherapy from the University of San Diego. I founded Relationship Reality 312, Inc., and Iwork with clients both internationally and in my Chicago downtown office.MArtA PAtLAnThe first American born in her family, Marta’s parentscame to the US over 30 years ago. She grew up inChicago in a typical Polish household and attended Polishschool where she learned to read and write. She mether husband, a Mexican-American, with a similar familyimmigration story and together they have three smallchildren, ages 5, 3, and 1. A life-long learner, Marta has a love for writing as well as aninterest in sharing stories with other moms about running a home, being a full-timeprofessional, and keeping Polish traditions alive (with a twist!) for the next generation.MILA sAMokHInAMila Samokhina is becoming one of Chicago's mosttalked about Photo Artists. Mila’s photography styleis in high demand throughout Chicago’s leadingpublications and beyond. Her work is published in localmagazines such as TWC, CS, Russian Chicago, Statusand Modern Luxury, and can also be found in ChicagoTribune, Reklama and The Huffington Post. Mila is a strong believer in giving backand has donated her artwork and time for many charitable organizations includingfundraisers for The Joffrey Ballet, Raven Theater East Stage, PAWS, Bear NecessitiesPediatric Cancer Foundation, among many others.MArtA ZAWADZkAActivist, Editor and Writer. Originally from Poland, she is wellknown amongst the Polish community for her dedicationand action for those in need. Marta is a very motivated,outgoing, highly imaginative, and a very resourcefulindividual whose goal is to positively change other’s lives.For the past four years she has been helping women withher motivational group “Success in a Skirt”, where she helps women achieve their goalsand pursue their dreams. Marta loves vegetarian cooking and traveling.LeAnDro MULetLeandro Mulet was born in Cuba and at age nineteen hemoved to the United States. Mulet is a fashion designercurrently based in Chicago. His designs have managedto catch the attention not only from models and fashionproducers, but also from photographers desiring to usehis editorial ensembles for photoshoots. With his fashionexpertise and good styling, Leandro has dressed many local celebrities from Miamito Chicago.3100 DUNDEE ROAD, SUITE 406, NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS 60062TEL: 847-559-1515, FAX: 847-272-6701E-MAIL: INFO@REVIAMAGAZINE.COM | WWW.REVIAMAGAZINE.COMRevia Magazine is not responsible for display advertisement, advertising articles and their contents.Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.Copyright 2014 © Chicago Review Inc. all Rights Reserved6revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

#6, 2014 reviamagazine.com revia 7

e v e n t sCompassion,Fashion &CocktailsChicagoans immersed themselves in culinarydelight and artistic flair earlier this fall. Morethan 500 affluent professionals, entrepreneurs,media, sports and entertainment personascame together for Compassion, Fashion &Cocktails 2014, a charity event celebratingfashion and philanthropy that will raise moneyand awareness for the charities Stop Traffick,"Supporting victims of human trafficking", andGaples Institute for Integrative Cardiology,"Advancing Natural Options for OptimalHealth".The event was held at The Godfrey HotelChicago | I|O Urban Roofscape, 127 W. HuronSt. at LaSalle St., Chicago, IL. Not only didguests mingle with the who’s who of Chicago,they were also able to enjoy great cocktailsand a fashion show. Svedka hosted a privatecocktail reception, followed by the runwayfashion show, by Eskell. Light hors d’oeuvreswere provided throughout the event along witha silent auction and a raffle. Gift bags weredistributed to the first 100 guests.Compassion, Fashion & Cocktails 2014was presented by Moxie Strategies, LLC(Vanessa Garippo, Lema Khorshid, Anna MariaViti-Welch, and Sam Yanover) and raised over$20,000 for their featured charities.8 revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

Charity4LIFEHappy HourCharity4LIFE's mission is to put street kids on thepath to success by empowering them to overcomethe barriers of street life. On Tuesday, November18th, the young-professional group was at Celeste(111 W Hubbard St) in River North. Nearly 150attendees came together with guest host MelissaDondalski from The Long Group, which recentlyaligned with @properties, the #1 independentbrokerage in Illinois and #1 real estate firm inChicago. From 6-9pm, Chicagoans committed tomaking a difference, raising nearly $3,500. 100%of all proceeds will go directly to helping childrenin Nicaragua, Haiti and Colombia. Charity4LifeFounder Jeannette Pawula left shortly after theevent to meet with new strategic partners ArtemisiaFundacion and ID Social on the development ofa new project in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Nextmonth’s Charity4Life Happy Hour Fundraiser willtake place at SHAY on Tuesday, December 16.PHoToS bY RoCkIn RaY PHoToGRaPHY#6, 2014 reviamagazine.com revia 9

e v e n t sWho’s Who Eventat VertigoThis months most anticipated event featured someof Chicago's finest industry leaders who werehonored during the annual Who's Who In ChicagoBash at Vertigo Sky Lounge! Every month ahandful of individuals are nominated as influentialindustry leaders who are driven towards change.This month Chicago nominated up and comingActor/Model Nick Bravo, Paris Nightclub exclusivepromoter Scotty Rosenmutter, Rockit RanchProductions’ Phil Niewinski, along with a myriad ofothers. The evening was sponsored by Old ForesterWhiskey Bar and was organized by founder AutumnPippenburg and event coordinator Ryan Checchi.Music was provided courtesy of acclaimed ChicagoD.J. RockCity who helped guests celebrate theirsuccess and hard work with some awesome music.Best,nICk bRaVoaCToR/ModEL @ PaIGE ModEL & TaLEnT aGEnCYPHoToS bY RoCkIn RaY PHoToGRaPHY10 revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

NORTHSHORE MEDICAL CENTERYOUR MEDICOS, SCYOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE WITH THEEMBARRASSMENT OF VARICOSE VEINS ANYMORE!NORTHSHORE MEDICAL CENTER CAN HELPBEFOREAFTERNorthshore Medical Center uses thelatest ultra-modern laser technology.Do your legs feel tired, have cramps,burning, itching sensation, or do youhave bruising on your legs? if so youshould immediately call our officeDr. Eugene Chiu MD can help. Dr Chiu isan experienced cardiologist with over 30 years ofexperience as a Board Certified Cardiologist.Dr Chiuis a member of the American College of Phlebology,Member of the American College of Physicians, Will-Grundy Medical Society, Illinois State Medical Society,American Medical Association, and the AmericanCollege of Cardiology.Dr. Thomas Heggen MD is a DiplomatAmerican Board of Ob-Gyn, Cosmetic Surgeon and aSpecialist in invasive procedures.Over half a millionpeople have alreadyhad successful EVLAprocedures!YOU’LL BE BACK ON YOUR FEET WITHIN THE SAME DAY!Call and make an appointment now847-850-5882888-963-9968 TOLL FREE1300 BUSCH PARKWAY,BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089Open 7 days a week(weekends by appointment only)Most types of insuranceand Medicare is acceptedwww.yourmedicos.comwww.illinoislaserveintreatment.com

e v e n t s“The Immortal Zoo"Living in Chicago has manyadvantages when it comes to art. Irecently came across Firecat ProjectsGallery, a small gallery space whereup-and-coming artists can showcasetheir outstanding creations andbecome known to the public.This time it was Jessica Joslin'sturn to showcase her one-of-a-kindcreations to Chicago's art junkies.The exhibition titled, “The ImmortalZoo", was not only whimsical but alsoprovided visitors with a dark, romanticand goth-glamour atmosphere.Each sculpture was a mix of realanimal bones and found objects(usually pieces of antique metals)fashioned into fantastical creatures.The inspiring characters invokeda sense of both horror and humor.If Tim Burton and Jim Henson hadever had the chance to collaborate,I imagine it would be similar to theImmortal Zoo. The exhibition alsodemonstrated uniqueness and beautywith masterpieces crafted by skilledhands and an imaginative mind. I lookforward to Joslin's next exhibit and itspromise of a trip to a different realm,where fantastic creatures smile fromthe dark corners of a room.By Leandro MuletJESSICa JoSLIn( WWW.JESSICaJoSLIn.CoM ).PHoToGRaPHY bY:CHRISToPHER MIkoS.Gift from the HeartGift from the Heart Foundation (Dar Serca) celebrated its 5th annual Junior Boardparty at the Trendy EPIC bar in Chicago’s River North on November 8th. The eventhad the trendiest yet most altruistic young professionals helping support thecharity which helps critically ill children receive lifesaving medical treatments.The party included an open bar, tasty appetizers and had a deck of cards, a cashraffle and fantastic raffle prizes ranging from Bears tickets to boat cruise dinnersand much more. To learn more about the foundation, visit darserca.org– DIANAEVA LEBIECKI12 revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

F.A.M.E. Fashionat Bridgeport Art CenterOn Friday November 21, 2014 TheStatus Group held a dynamic runwayfashion show and special tributeto the arts. Status and prominenceawaited guests as they entered thehistoric 1911 building that is currentlyhome to the Bridgeport Art Center, aunique venue that defines raw urbanelegance. The art center’s architecturalelements include timber construction,exposed brick and soaring ceilings.In the past 5 years, The BridgeportArt Center has hosted countlessspecial events, including PresidentBarack Obama’s birthday celebration.The beautiful décor is the perfectcompliment to The Status Groupevents that attract followers who aresophisticated, stylish, energetic, andsocial jet setters. Attendees at thisevent witnessed 50 beautiful modelswalking the runway, showcasingunique garments from Chicago's topdesigners, as well as live art exhibits,and surprises. Infusing elements ofeverything precious and valuable tothe arts, this was truly a destination tobe seen in the scene!Many attendees joined in toauction off couture fashion and artpieces to benefit Project Onward, aNon-for Profit Organization at theBridgeport Art Center for Artists withDisabilities. Amazing and inspiringart was made special thanks to allour sponsors: El Solazo & Patron'sHacienda for providing delicious foodfor our guests to enjoy. Also a specialthanks to Crafthouse for pouringsome amazing cocktails throughoutthe night and a shout-out to Moderefor the great gift bags and last but notleast Realty of Chicago for sponsoringthe event. Also a special thanks toBridgeport Art Center for providingthe establishment and ProjectOnward for letting us contribute andbring awareness to this amazingcause. These local artists may behandicapped, but certainly there is nocap on their creative abilities.As always, this Status Group Inc.premier event would not be possiblewithout everyone coming together tomake the night a huge success! Wewant to thank Gsb Men's Couture forpartnering up with us on this event,John Hill & Sherrie Gearheart for doingan amazing job of hosting and to allof the unique and talented models,designers, hair stylists, mua artists,performers, photographers, artists,medias and staff members that madethis night possible!PHoToS bYRoCkIn RaY PHoToGRaPHY#6, 2014 reviamagazine.com revia 13

With the holidays around the corner, youmay be wondering where to celebrateNew Year’s Eve. The Chicago areahas so manyoptions, and it’snot always easyto make a decision between attendinga traditional banquet hall party, anightclub, or a hotel event. So why notattend an event that offers the BEST of allthree? Sylwester Chicago by LYVE Groupoffers an upscale four-course dinner,premium open bar, luxurious décor, plussounds provided by Chicago’s best knownDJs in multiple rooms – each with adifferent and unique theme. This eventprides itself as being truly one-of-a-kind.Sylwester Chicago is produced by ErikKwiek of LYVE Group, also known to clubmusic enthusiasts as “Erik K”. With 15years of DJ-ing in all the major clubs inChicago, and opening for several worldrenowned DJs, Erik is no stranger toChicago’s nightlife scene. Erik also DJ’sat one of Chicago’s top spots, Cuvee, aswell as hosting his own radio mix show onDance Factory 92.7FM. Outside of being a DJ, Erik keeps verybusy in the world of advertising as a senior art director at one ofChicago’s top digital agencies and has previously worked for oneof the world’s biggest advertising firms in the world, FCB. Withhis skills honed on advertising and his nightlife expertise incheck, Erik decided to merge his talents to produce a luxuriousand unique NYE event with the help of his good friend Gabrieland his sister Oliwia. The often sold-outevent has proven to be a huge successand last year the NYE party moved to amuch bigger upscale venue, the MeridianBanquets in Rolling Meadows, hostingover 800 guests in three rooms, and 10DJs; the event sold out yet again.This year, Sylwester Chicago isreturning to Meridian Banquets and willbe BIGGER and BETTER than ever! Threeelegant ballrooms (Diamond, Gold andVelvet) will entertain up to 900 guestswith different types of music, includingstate-of-the-art sound and lighting, andlavish décor. There will be an interactivemidnight countdown on LED video wallswith a mega balloon drop, plus somespecial extra surprises. The intimateVelvet room will have a nightclub vibewith V.I.P. sections, bottle service, an icemartini bar and delicious D'Oeuvres. TheDiamond and Gold ballrooms will featurea premium four-course dinner, 6 houropen bar, and much much more!The headliner of the event will be Chicago’s very own Mixin’Marc from B96, along with Tina Fei, Andre Solaris, KBEEntertainment, and more.For details and tickets, please visit SYLWESTERCHICAGO.com14revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

p o l i s h e n t r e p r e n e u r seve przadkakids’ education and wellbeing.Making sure that families havethe right protection when adisaster strikes is my passion.Very often I see the result ofmany unforeseen tragedies.Knowing that many of thesecan be aided by being providedfinancial protection gives megreat motivation to make this apossibility for everyone.I realize that everyone’ssituation is different and notone person’s experience is thesame. All of our clients aretreated individually and wemake sure that everyone is freeto make their own educateddecisions. We do not pushour customers into somethingthey are not comfortable withor that is not right for them. Iam extremely happy that mypassion and belief in doingthe right thing has allowed myagency to grow steadily so fastand I know we couldn’t haveachieved everything without thewonderful referrals from ourclients and other professionalswho trust us to take care of theirclients. To state it simply, ourfocus is always on the good ofthe customer and their family.Here are a the top 3questions that frequently comeup with our customers:WHat is tHe Best andmost aFFordaBle WaYand benefits while living likedisability, chronic illness andterminal illness protection.We try to come up with a planthat combines it all to offer thebiggest benefit at a comfortablepremium level. Having the rightplan in place definitely helpseveryone sleep better at nightand helps avoid the unnecessarytragedy of financial ruin on topof an unimaginable personalloss.WHat can i do to loWer mYauto & Home premiums?Believe it or not, these daysthere are many more factorsbeing considered when pricingauto and homeowners insurancethan ever before. Some of thefactors taken into accountare: location, age, drivingrecord, but also your financialresponsibility, type of a vehicleand of course your insurancelimits and deductibles. To keepthe cost down it’s best to try notto file too many claims, keepyour driving record clean andcombine your auto, home andlife insurance for maximumsavings!HoW lonG do mY accidentsstaY on mY record?You have to realize that eachclaim reported to your insurancecompany, no matter how smallin nature, is on your record forMy name is Eve and Iam a Chicago-basedInsurance Advisorfor almost 20 years. For 15of those years I managed aState Farm Agency where Igained most of my experience,during which I also finished myBachelor’s Degree in BusinessManagement. Four years ago Irealized I have many customerslooking for a wider array ofinsurance choices, but whostill want to stick with reliablecompanies. Having access tothis knowledge, I decided totake a risk and follow my dreamof being a business owner andto do just this I opened upmy own agency. I built a localcommunity-oriented businessthat helps our diverse customersbuild the best suited insuranceplans with “A” rated insurancecompanies. Our company offersall lines of insurance: AUTO,HOME, BUSINESS, LIFEand HEALTH as well as manyRetirement Plans without therisk of investments.I spent most of my lifein the Chicago Area andam deeply engaged in thelocal community throughvolunteering, networking andattending fundraisers thathelp those in need. I am amother of 2 wonderful boysand am extensively involvedin their schools and activities.As a family we love to travel,play sports, learn differentlanguages and how to playdifferent instruments. I believeit is very important to build theright future for our youngergeneration and so I spend allof my free time focusing on myto protect mY FamilY’sFuture in case sometHinGuneXpected Happens tome?Here we can start with thesimplest and least expensive planwhich is a Term Life InsurancePolicy. The cost could be as lowas $10 for a $100,000 policy.This choice gives a simple benefitwith no cash accumulationoptions, but it is always there intime of need. I always advise myclients that having something isbetter than nothing. Aside fromthat, we have Life Insuranceplans that offer guaranteedbenefits for the rest of your lifeincluding a growing cash value5 years. Some companies onlymay check 3 but most of thereliable companies do look back5 years.Overall, I am extremelyhappy to help our customersmake the right choices that fittheir needs and to help themfind a plan and a company tosuit their unique situation.For more information, pleasecall our office or stop by for anassessment of your insuranceneeds.EVE PRZadkaELITE InSURanCE and FInanCIaLSERVICES, InC.EVE@ELITEInSURanCEnoW.CoMWWW.ELITEInSURanCEnoW.CoM16revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

Ask an AttorneyMy name is Lucas Fuksa and I am an attorney engaged primarily in the practice of business law,construction law, real estate transactions, and commercial litigation. I co-founded Fuksa Khorshid, LLC in late2006, a boutique law firm located in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. I served as president of the PolishAmerican Chamber of Commerce for four years. Through the PACC, I have been a part of many initiatives focusedon promoting the interests of the Polish-American business community. In late 2012, I co-founded a politicalaction committee, the Polish American Leadership Political Action Committee (PAL-PAC), whose main focus isto address political issues that are important to the Polish-American community, engage the Polish-Americancommunity in the political process, and elect candidates that will best serve the needs of Polish Americans.Q: I write blog posts as part of my job. I wantto submit some of my blog posts to a magazinefor publication. Can I?A: The answer to this question depends onwhether you are an employee or an independentcontractor. If you are an employee, thenthrough the work made for hire doctrine, youremployer will own the copyright in any workyou produce. If you are an independent contractor,you will own the work unless youragreement with the company explicitly statesotherwise. The difference between employeesand independent contractors is the “right ofcontrol.” Generally, if the employer creates along-term or permanent relationship, dictatesyour working hours and location, providesyou the tools you are use (like a computer or asoftware license) for the performance of yourjob and otherwise exercises discretion overhow you do your work, you are likely an employee.Independent contractors, on the otherhand, are free to complete a job with their owntools, set their own schedules, and work on anirregular basis for more than one employer atonce. Freelancers, for instance, are generallyindependent contractors. Accordingly, it isimportant that you ask your employer to issueyou some kind of written agreement that yousign before beginning work; at the very least,this can help you determine whether you ownyour written work or not.Q: I was hired to perform work on the constructionof a house but failed to record aclaim for mechanics lien, have I lost my abilityto recover money for the work performed?A: You may have limited your legal options,but you almost certainly haven’t lost all yourrights. For one thing, you can always sue theparty with whom you contracted to performthe work for a breach of contract. If you contracteddirectly with the property’s owner, youwould be suing them. If you contracted witha general contractor, as a subcontractor, youwould sue the GC. In both cases, your ability torecover would depend on the strength of yourcase (whether you performed the work properly,whether remedial work was necessary,etc.). There is nothing wrong with suing forbreach of contract, and most commercial disputesare founded on that exact legal theory.Regarding mechanics liens, you must file yourclaim for lien within four months of finishingyour work to have a lien that is not subordinateto other lien holders such as a mortgage.Therefore, if four months have not yet passed,file your lien. However, even if four monthshave passed, you still may utilize a mechanicslien to recover against the homeowner. Forexample, if the house you performed workon does not have a mortgage on it, your lienwould still be valid against the homeownereven if it was filed after four months.Q: I have a contract that hasn’t been paid. CanI recover interest in addition to the amountowed under the contract?A: Yes, Illinois law allows for prejudgment interestto be applied to money owed under anywritten instrument at a rate of 5% per year.Accordingly, if you are owed $10,000 under acontract, you may recover $500 for each yearthe amount is not paid.LUCAS FUKSA#6, 2014 reviamagazine.com revia17

drinks & dialoguewith sonali patelBy ania Jablonowskirecently, I had thepleasure of meetingSonali Patel, a youngand ambitious entrepreneurwith a strong educationalbackground in IT. During acharity event sponsored byFirst Generation American,Sonali’s father, Nick Patel,brought her over to our tableand let us know that hisbeautiful daughter is in factfirst generation American.If you have ever drivendown a local highway inChicago, or any major streetin the suburbs for that matter,you have without a doubtpassed by one of Nick’s LA Tanlocations. This iconic franchiseis the product of Nick Patel’smotivation to create a betterlife for his family in the UnitedStates. Sonali, founder of FlirtyYoga, credits her ambition toher family’s story and notesthat she has “big shoes to fill.”It’s no surprise that Sonali issuch a go-getter.Sonali begins her firstgeneration American storywith her father’s experience.“My dad came from India withhis older brother, at 16 whilehis older brother was 18. Theyworked at Dunkin Donuts anda news press company at first,and then after saving somemoney he opened his firstvideo store. His competitionright across the street had3,000 videos while he onlyhad 300, but he worked hard,long hours and finally savedenough money to open up 60– 70 stores. I remember mydad told me about the name,BP Video, when he first cameup with it. He wrote VP Videobecause of his grandfather,and he wrote a letter andmailed it to him, taking apicture of the video storebehind, saying ‘This is namedafter you.’”After several successfulyears in the video business,SonaLI and nICk PaTELNick realized that technologywas changing and video storeswere becoming obsolete. Hechanged his career path andentered the tanning business,creating the recognizable chainof LA Tan.Sonali describes her father’shome country. “In India theylived in Gujarati, a state, andinside the state there are smallcities, and there is a smallvillage where they’re from. Allthe streets are cobble stone.When I go there, I like walkingbarefoot sometimes – it’s likehome. Everyone knows eachother in the whole village.”Her father visited to Indiaafter paving his path inAmerica. Sonali says, “He wentback for his older brother’swedding. Then my grandpatold him, ‘There is this girl,she is from a good family,’ andthen they met and got married,because he had to listen to hisdad. So he got married in 1981and moved the family here.”Sonali was born in theChicagoland area and movedto the suburbs during herearly years. “We spoke Gujrati,which is our native language,and English was spoken when Iwent to preschool. As my sisterwent to preschool, she wouldcome back home from schooland would speak English, andI was learningfrom her. She wasactually in ESL atfirst,” says Sonali.The Patel familylived togetherwith Sonali’sgrandparents,which sheemphasizes iswhy she is sofortunate to carryon a strong culturalbackground. “My grandparentshad a big influence on me,growing up with them and stillliving with them right now,because we had to speak inGudrathi with them. Whenwe are young, my grandpahad us write five sentences inGudrathi and then read fivesentences to him, and then sayour 40 prayers that we know.”During grammar school,Sonali didn’t have many Indianfriends, though she kept strongties to her culture throughher family. It wasn’t until herjunior year of high school thatshe joined the Indo-Pac Club.She says, “It was traditionaldancing. We had a show everyyear and we would performBollywood, fan-dancing, andskits wearing our Indianclothes. We would be showingour fashion.”In addition to her interestin traditional Indian dancing,Sonali has had a lifelongexperience in yoga and ahealthy lifestyle. “My grandpaactually does yoga, I used to sitwith him when I was youngerand if I woke up early one dayon a Saturday or Sunday, I’djust sit with him and do yoga.Now he’s 74 and walks fourmiles every day; there’s nota day he forgets, even if it’sraining he’ll take an umbrella,or if it’s snowing he’ll go nomatter what. He is so healthy.He’s the reason we bring allorganic food in the house,healthy eating. He’ll bring allthese herbal, natural thingsfrom India. We’re so used toFIRST GENERATION AMERICANYou know whatit’s like to growup with multiplelanguagesin the house,eat differentfood than yourAmerican friends,celebrate certain traditions that areliterally foreign to your peers, and have tobreak down your name syllable by syllable.For first generation Americans, the art ofbalancing two cultures is a unique, yetfundamentally similar experience, and itshapes us in a very significant way.We are on a mission to document thesestories.eating at home and mom andmy grandma cook all the time.When I was younger they didnot allow any outside foods.So if we wanted pizza, he’dsay, ‘No, make it at home withwheat.’”She continues, “That’s whatwe learned from him, thespiritual aspect of it and thehealthy energy and the positiveenergy from healthy eatingand working out. Doing yogaand then being all calm, andmeditation – that’s what mydad always says, you have to becalm all the time.”This positive influence fromher grandfather, along withthe “big shoes to fill” from herfather’s business endeavorshave inspired Sonali to starther own company, Flirty Yoga.Flirty Yoga is a brand ofdesigner yoga pants that aremade in the USA. Foundedin December 2012, Sonalicreated the pants to fulfill hercustomer’s everyday passions,whether that be yoga, running,lifting, or even groceryshopping, and she quicklygained popularity withinthe athletic-wear market.Flirty Yoga aims to bridgecomfort and beauty all thewhile maintaining the originalfocus: an athletic life thatreaches beyond the gym. Theline also features beautifullyembellished designer art, andcan be worn at any time of dayfor a flirty, chic look.To purchase a pair of FlirtyYoga designer pants, visitwww.flirtyyoga.avanzar.in18revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

our CLientsQ: What is a GooGLe trusted aGenCy?A: A Google Trusted Agency, like LCP360,has received the training and certificationnecessary to create BusinessView Tours for companies across NorthAmerica. Google’s accreditationallow LCP360 to connect directly withbusinesses, perform photo shoots, andpublish images to Google.Q: Why do i need a GooGLe BusinessVieW?A: Businesses which participate in theprogram will gain prominence on GoogleSearches, Google Places and GoogleMaps. LCP360 generates an “in house”experience with customers by creatingVirtual Tours and HDR photography accessiblefrom any stationary computeror handheld device.Q: Where do i exPerienCe the 360VirtuaL tours?A: Google Virtual Tours are accessibledirectly from Google Searches, GoogleMap Searches, and Google Places Pages.Google hosts and maintains the tourfor businesses at no cost, which in turnallows business owners to embed thetour on their website as well as socialnetworking sites like Facebook.Q: hoW WiLL a 360 VirtuaL tour heLPmy Business?A: The tour is coupled with your GooglePlaces Pages which will boost your localrankings and prominence on searches.Potential customers can gain an understandingof your venue and offeringsprior to setting foot inside of your business.Google is the number one searchengine in the world accessible from everydevice. We ensure that business getthe prominence and exposure necessaryto drive people to your door.Q: What kind of industries does LCP360 Work With?A: We work with an array of clients including: Commercial and Multi-family Real Estate (JonesLang Lasalle, Lincoln Properties), Retail (Starbucks), Healthcare (HCA, Advocate Medical), Entertainment,and Industrial. We cater to all project sizes, from large campuses to small businesses.Be sure to check out our portfolio online at www.LCP360.com. With basic packages starting at$500 there is no other marketing initiative that is a impactful or cost effective.LCP360 is Google’s largest photographyagency specializing in large-scaleprojects. We have evolved to becomea one-stop shop for clients looking forProfessional Photography, Aerial Photography,3D Renderings, Animations,and Custom Virtual Tour Services. Asa Google Trusted Agency, we providecertified expertise to connect customersto your business.LCP3609701 W. Higgins RoadSTE 840Rosemont, IL 60018877.658.0433www.LCP360.com

AS THE VICE PRESIDENT ANDDIRECTOR OF EXTERNALCOMMUNICATIONS AT LEO BURNETT,TINA JANCZURA DASILVA IS ANEXPERT IN TAKING A MESSAGE ANDCOMMUNICATING IT ACCORDINGLYTO HER RESPECTIVE AUDIENCE. THISIS NOT JUST A TALENT THAT SHEPICKED UP DURING HER SCHOOLINGAT VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY ANDCAMBRIDGE; IT HAS BEEN INGRAINEDIN HER PSYCHE SINCE EARLYCHILDHOOD.By: ania Jablonowski‘Hi, this is Tina Janczura. Yes, it’s aC-Z. The C is silent.’ I didn’t even getto what I was trying to sell them. Sowhat I started doing, and actually,it’s working really well, is I havethe phonetic spelling of my namein my email signature stamp.” Tinabelieves that her ethnic name alsoacts as a door opener by catalyzingconversations about cultural valuesand traditions with people aroundthe world. She even communicateswith Leo Burnett’s Warsaw office byspeaking and writing in Polish. Sheadmits, “I do call my Mom or Dad,earlY liFeTina and her brother Tom Janczuraare first generation Americans whoseparents came to the US from Bielsko-Biała, Poland in their early twenties.Though their parents lived near eachother in their homeland, they met inChicago and “came here with a blankcanvas,” she says, admiring the factthat her family was able to start a newlife with a new environment, culture,and of course – language.Mr. and Mrs. Janczura were proudof their Polish heritage and made surethat their children grew up with astrong cultural experience, submergedin their roots, while adapting to theStates. Growing up, Tina and Tomwould travel to Poland for the summereach year, and like many of us “firstgens” they attended Polish school onSaturdays. Although Tina and herbrother were not actively involvedin Polish clubs or organizationsgrowing up, she believes that theyhad a parallel cosmopolitan culturedlife. “I became very inquisitive andwas taught to figure out the ‘why’ ofeverything. I didn’t recognize thatbeing first generation Polish-Americanwas a massive asset for me until laterin life,” she says.Tina’s inspiration to learn morestems from her parents’ hard workand determination. In 1981, Mr.and Mrs. Janczura started R&J CNCWorks, Inc., a quality manufacturingand machining company in FranklinPark. They happily employed Tinawhen she turned 16, and she laughsthat her dad was “the toughest boss”she ever had. He handed her a bigbook of clients that he wanted towork for, and Tina got her first tasteof marketing and sales by cold callingprospects. “I never felt like I couldn’tsucceed as a woman,” she says.Found in translationWith a highly successful career at LeoBurnett, Tina explains that she hasbeen primed for this role her entirelife. “I’ve been a spokesperson sinceI was a kid. I would take messages,interpret them, flip them to anotherlanguage, and carry them through.”She spoke Polish at home with herfamily, English with her friends andclassmates, and translated from onelanguage to the other. This camenaturally to Tina. She recalls, “It wasjust something we would do and noteven think about it. Looking back,it was a great experience. I feel somuch more prepared in what I do fora living.”Tina underlines that her Polishbackground helps her connectwith Leo Burnett employees andclients all over the world. The globaladvertising agency is headquarteredin Chicago and has about 9,000employees in 86 offices worldwide.“My job is to protect and promotethe Leo Burnett brand in the USand globally. I am taking the mostimportant stories from the agencyand sharing them externally,whether it’s through media relations,speaking engagements and or clientcommunications. I have served as acommunication liaison, a reputationmanager, throughout my entire life.As a child, I knew what my parentswere trying to say, and I was ableto take a deep breath, understand,and convey their messages to puttheir best foot forward. I becamea mouthpiece, translating ideas orlanguage,” she says.When working with Leo Burnett’sglobal offices or clients, Tina is ableto embrace her culture in a waythat first generation Americans canappreciate. “You have 15 seconds tosell your story because everyone isso busy, and they’re writing stories.They’re on deadlines. My 15-secondsales pitch was explaining how tosay my name. I would call and say,I BECAMEVERYINQUISITIVEAND WASTAUGHT TOFIGURE OUTTHE ‘WHY’ OFEVERYTHING.I DIDN’TRECOGNIZETHAT BEINGFIRSTGENERATIONPOLISH-AMERICANWAS AMASSIVEASSET FORME UNTILLATER IN LIFEand ask, ‘Can you just make sure I’msaying this right?’”Harvesting global relationshipsthroughout the company plays abig role in Tina’s position. “It’s partof my job to know a lot of peopleand understand, and help withtheir brands. We are encouraged tocollaborate in that way, and havecreativity without borders. Regardlessof geographical area, we have teamsthat can collaborate across the worldon one idea. The insight has to beculturally fluid. If a campaign doesn’tspeak to you, wherever you are, wearen’t doing something right.”cultural connectionA few years ago, Tina met JarosławZiębiński, CEO of Leo Burnett AsiaPacific, during the AdvertisingFestival of Creativity in Cannes,#6, 2014 reviamagazine.com revia21

France. She says though her role wasAssociate Director at the time, shehad no problem talking to one of thecompany’s top leaders because oftheir Polish connection. “I walked upto him and started speaking Polish.He said, ‘Wait, aren’t you fromChicago?’ and I explained that myfamily is from Poland. We bonded,talked about Poland, culture, food,and family. Now, when Jarek comesto our office in Chicago, I try to stopby Bacik Deli to stock up on all of ourPolish delicacies, since he and hisfamily live in Singapore.”Tina and Jarek’s Polish connectionat Leo Burnett began to growover the years. He said to Tina, “Iwonder how many Poles there arein the Chicago office? We should geteveryone together.” In 2013, Tinarecruited about six employees atthe Leo Burnett Holiday Breakfastto join them for what would be thefirst-ever “Unofficial” Polish ClubHoliday Luncheon. They dined at aPolish restaurant in the suburbs ofChicago, chatting about the rise ofPoland, the economic state, their ownlives and how different it is beingPolish in various countries. “Peoplewere feeling passionate about theirnationality. We are a global company,we hire from all over, and we placepeople in different countries. Weembrace cultural diversity. How greatis it that a man from Warsaw nowoversees Asia Pacific for Leo Burnett?ADAM ANDI HAVE ANENTHUSIASMFOR GLOBALTRAVEL ANDDIFFERENTCULTURESAND WEWANT TOSHARE THATWITH OURBABY. YOUBETTERBELIEVE THISBABY WILLBE SPEAKINGPOLISH ANDPORTUGUESEONE DAYTo share that with our Polish Club isa special thing,” says Tina.REVIA Magazine was honoredto join the 2nd Annual “Unofficial”Polish Club Holiday Luncheon atBohemian House on December 4,2014. This year, the group expandedto approximately fifteen Leo Burnettemployees, ranging from brand-newinterns, to a special visit from CEOof Leo Burnett Worldwide, TomBernardin. Invitations were extendedvia email, word of mouth, and simplyasking, “Are you Polish?”Chef Jimmy Papadopoulos createdan original menu of Bohemianinspiredfare with influences fromthe Czech Republic, Germany andAustria. The menu included potatopancakes, bacon buns, cauliflowersalad, beef pierogi, braisedmushroom barley, pork schnitzel,and chicken paprikash. Dessertfeatured coffee and doughnuts, alongwith cheese kolaczki. The culinaryexperience was reminiscent of visitingfamily back in Poland: jaws droppingand eyes wide open in awe of thesheer amount of food. Likewise,it would certainly not be a Polishcelebration without a few rounds ofBelvedere Vodka shots, smooth andserved at room temperature.During the feast, we learnedabout the different backgrounds ofeach employee. Natalia Kowaleczko,Design Director at Leo Burnetthails from Szczecin and startedher artistic journey in music. Afterfinishing primary school, she focusedon English as a major during highschool, then began exploring artclasses and joining art societiesduring college. Natalia still deeplyconnects to her musical roots andexplains, “I love playing classicalpiano. I play Chopin all the time; it isthe most intimate connection for me.”Megan Berger interns at Leo Burnettand has only been with the companyfor a month and a half. Prior tostarting her new position, Meganbackpacked throughout Europe andSoutheast Asia. She visited Poland forthe first time, to explore where herfather’s family came from. She says,“Being a third generation Americanof Polish and Irish descent, it wasimportant for me to learn about myculture. Seeing Warsaw, Krakow andWroclaw was great, it is so beautifulthere.” Tom Bernardin also relatedto the immigrant experience whenhis family moved to Italy for severalyears. “Our son was very young,and we enrolled him in Montessorischool. He learned the language soquickly, as many children do, and werelied on him to be our translator inthe beginning. We would shop or goto a restaurant, and he would easilyconverse with the staff,” he shared.supportinG tHe polisHcommunitY“I like to give back to the Polishbusiness community, so I surroundmyself with Polish experts. Theirwork ethic is amazing, craftsmanshipis top notch, and there is always adedication to customer service. Iwould love to get Poles more investedin the business community, asmentors. Everyone needs a mentorin the advertising and businesscommunity,” says Tina.on a personal noteIn addition to her PR career, Tina isan avid photographer. “Photographywas a passion that my parents and Ishared growing up and still do today.What’s beautiful about photographyis that regardless of your culture ornationality, images speak a universallanguage.”Earlier this year, Tina married herhusband Adam DaSilva in Chicago’sunique venue, Architectural Artifacts.Culture was an important aspect tothe couple’s wedding day, as Adam’sfamily is primarily Brazilian, andTina wanted some Polish flare to thecelebration as well. “We had Góraledancers, and then we did the Samba!”Tina and Adam are expecting theirfirst born in February 2015. Whilethey are patiently waiting to find outthe gender when the baby arrives, Tinasays, “You better believe this baby willbe speaking Polish and Portugueseone day.” They plan to pass down theirfamily traditions and give their child acosmopolitan upbringing. “Adam andI have an enthusiasm for global traveland different cultures and we want toshare that with our baby.”22 revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

#6, 2014 reviamagazine.com revia23

l a m o d etHe HoLIDAy WArDroBeBy leandro muletWinter has returned, and with it,Holiday celebrations. This isthe time of year for loved ones,parties and special events. What better wayto celebrate this year, than to do it withstyle.Every gathering is an opportunity to befashionable and look your best. Hoursbefore an event are usually spent staringinto your closet with one thought on yourmind, “What am I going to wear?” This isnot a time to panic though. Here are someexamples of outfits that will help get youthrough the holiday season.dinner WitH Your siGniFicantotHer:This is a great opportunity to slideon that dress you’ve been saving for aspecial occasion. Select a design that willaccentuate your natural waist, just aboveknee length. It will not only make you looktaller, sophisticated, but also sexy.private Gala:A wonderful night where you can beglamorous and yet, not overdressed. Thisis the event were a floor length skirt anda lace top will bring you an effortlesselegance. For a touch of drama, a croppedjacket on contrasting color can be added toyour ensemble.dinner WitH FamilY:Just because it is your family, doesn’tmean you can’t look beautiful while beingcomfortable. This is a night for drinks,dancing and laughing. You want to looksexy and classy, while maintaining a levelof comfort. A pair of high-rise pants witha silk blouse is a quick step to achievecomfortable fashion.neW Year’s eve:Time to celebrate the end AND thebeginning all in one night. Make the nightmemorable with the perfect outfit. Takethe opportunity to be ravishing. A dresshat will contour your silhouette is neededfor this occasion. Break the rules and bethe one not wearing black. It’s a happycelebration, so why not start the New Yearwith a colorful statement?dESIGnS: leandro mulet.ModEL: sHerri GearHeart.PHoToGRaPHY: derek tokarzeWski.HaIRSTYLIST: amBrocio duranMakEUP aRTIST: aBraHam Garcia24 revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

Dr. knoWs Bestdr. Joanna sluskY attended Northwestern University, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from theIllinois College of Optometry. Her academic merits include the Tomb and Key Honor Fraternity, and Beta SigmaKappa International Honor Society academic honor recognition.In addition to providing comprehensive eye examinations, Dr. Slusky has a special interest in pediatricvision care, and the management of the anterior (front) segment of adult eyes. Ocular allergy, dry eye, andspecialty contact lens care are the emphasis of her vision and ocular health care in our community. Dr. Joannahas been recognized by the leaders of the contact lens industry for her recommendations for the best visioncare options for her patients."With dedication, dignity, and knowledge, I look forward to serving you and your family's vision care needs asyour eye care specialist. You are more than a patient in our practice; you are part of our family." –Dr. Joanna Slusky, O.D.mYtH: an eye examination is necessaryonly if you’re having problems.Fact: Everyone should get annual eyeexams, regardless of age and whether ornot you are having any noticeable signsof problems. Children should be tested atbirth, at 6 months, at 3 years, and thenevery year thereafter to ensure properocular and visual development. If a childneeds glasses and is not wearing them priorto being 6 years old, their brain may neverdevelop the proper neurological connectionsand he/she may never be able to see 20/20as an adult! For adults, the frequencydepends on the doctor’s recommendationand may be every 1 year or more oftendepending on your ocular and systemichealth, how you use your eyes on dailybasis, as well as whether you wear glasses orcontacts.mYtH: starring at the computer all day willruin my eyes.Fact: When you stare at anything foran extended period of time, you tend toblink less. This will cause dryness andeye strain, which over time can reducethe strength of your focusing system andlead to a worsening of your prescription.I recommended for you to take regularbreaks and frequently glance away from thecomputer when working for an extendedamount of time. Follow the 20-20-20 rule:Every 20 minutes, look at an object at least20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds.mYtH: using glasses or contacts willweaken my eyesight and make me foreverdependent on them.Fact: Glasses and contact lenses correctblurry vision. You may want to wear themmore often in order to see things morecomfortably and without squinting, howeverthey are not changing your eyes or makingthem dependent. You are just getting usedto seeing things more clearly. Your lensprescription, however, may change overtime because of age or eye diseases.mYtH: once i get lasik, i will not need togo to the eye doctor anymore.Fact: While your vision may be 20/20 orbetter following your LASIK procedure, it isstill important to visit an optometrist oncea year for a routine checkup to maintain thehealth of your eyes. In addition to assessingeyesight and prescribing eye glasses orcontacts, optometrists are trained tolook for eye diseases and conditions thatcan threaten vision and overall health,including cataracts, glaucoma, maculardegeneration and others. Serious eyediseases, such as glaucoma, often have nosymptoms at all until permanent vision lossoccurs. A yearly visit to your eye doctor isyour best defense against possible futuredebilitating eye diseases—whether you havehad LASIK or not.Management of: Anterior Segment of Adult Eyes Ocular Allergy Dry Eye Specialty Contact Lenses Pediatric Vision CareWELLNESS EXAM+ DILATIONINCLUDES PHOTOS OF INSIDE &FRONT OF EYE$79CONTACT LENSEXAMWELLNESS + DILATION +CONTACTS$149$209 VALUE$279 VALUENOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2014 NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2014We accept most vision and medical insurance!HalstedEye Boutique2852 N. Halsted St.Chicago, IL 60657Tel: 773-549-1111www.DrJoannaSlusky.com

HolidayHomeostasisHandbookBy Michael J FelinskiWith the Holiday season fast approaching, a fortunatenumber of us saturate this festive month byrehearsing Christmas carols, orchestrating familyplans, picking out the perfect presents and makingsound personal resolutions for the year just aroundthe bend. It truly can be a magical time, but with thejoyous rush comes a yearly disproportion of selfneglect, worriment and unhealthy eating, which forsome commenced as early as Thanksgiving.We stretch ourselves thin, hopingto manage the plethora ofplans we've made, and too oftenwe are left juggling so many things thatunhealthy stress becomes as inevitable asit is unwanted. Whether one has too manypresents on their list to purchase, or toolittle greenback to procure any, the stressfulmonth of December is generally filledwith work deadlines, end-of-year reports,heightened expectations, severe weather,poor dieting and many other individualfactors. The elements are often enoughto disrupt hardened work-out routines,and with the general tendency to be moresedentary over this month, they combineto statistically derailing 30%-50% ofAmerican's diets. All of the aforementionedcan quite unsuspectingly snowball into aphysical state drastically more susceptibleto carelessness, anxiety, depression andseasonal infections.Voltaire once uttered that “commonsense is not so common,” which resonatesvociferously amidst a busy holiday seasonduring which it is generally sidelinedunintentionally, or too often overlookedaltogether. I wish not to delve on the colloquialcommon sense; such as dressingappropriately, sleeping enough, stayingactive and avoiding sick contacts throughoutthe days, but rather explore and sharesome observations and fresh tips for thisupcoming holiday season:1. Ground-rules are a must in yourkitchen, especially if brimming with avariety of cooks and customs. Rememberthat food can be contaminated atany stage duringits production,processing, storage,preparation andcooking. Relentlesslystress howimperative awareness regarding handwashing, cross-contamination andworktop tidiness is. Keep children whoare ill, or recently have had diarrhea/vomiting out of the kitchen at all costs.2. Cook your meats, fish and birds properly,and avoid washing them beforehand.A staggering 17% of Americans donot know when their Turkey is done. Ifyou are new to holiday cooking, followthe labeled instructions meticulouslyand ensure that the thickest part of thebird (between the breast and the thigh)reaches at least 160°F for two minutes.3. Danger zone is the temperature range(40°F – 140°F) at which food-bournepathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter,Clostridium and Vibrioflourish, and needs to be veraciouslyavoided. The CDC reports that 128,000hospitalizations, and an unfortunate3000+ deaths occur each year fromthese unwanted party crashers. Remembernot to overfill your festive fridge,as there needs to be adequate space forcool air to effectively circulate.4. Rapeseed oil is a fantastic cooking substitute.Not only is it a healthy source ofmonounsaturated and polyunsaturatedfats, but it also has less saturated fatthan any other oil and ten times theomega-3 composition of olive oil.5. Mood fluctuates routinely throughoutthe year, but during a time where wescrupulously accommodate everyoneelse, we are extra susceptible to forgettingabout ourselves and experiencingthe resulting loneliness and lackof fulfillment. The barrage of positivefamily oriented holiday media irks usto question our own relationships, andeven though the holidays initially havea protective effect to certain types ofpsychopathology, there is a rebound40% increase in suicide rates during themonth of January, as one Danish studyreports. It is good practice to preemptivelyacknowledge your state of mind,set realistic goals, and to reach out ifyou feel a crisis is on the horizon.6. Naps should be a common holiday retreat.If getting things done is stressingyou out, a NASA study, in which pilotstook 26 minute naps during their stressfulworkdays, revealed a subsequent34% increase in productivity.7. Treats during an exhausting shoppingexcursion often take on the formof readily available coffees, hot chocolatesand cakes, which on average adda whopping bolus of 1000+ calories. Bemindful of this, and have healthy snackson hand.8. Giggle often and set aside time to enjoyholiday movies. A recent Indiana StateUniversity study published that frequentlaughter is responsible for a 40% boostin immunity.9. Nuts are a staple of sharing snack platters.This year include Brazil nuts, fourof which per day are enough to satisfythe daily requirement of selenium,which helps fight heart disease, prematureaging and cancer.10. Candles flicker in most holiday homes.Soy based candles are a great substituteto typical paraffin wax ones, which releasealmost as many toxins as cigarettesmoke.With those things in mind, I wish you alla fabulous, relaxed and love-filled holidayseason. Take care of yourselves, and thosearound you!26revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

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noW i knoW tHat everYone Has tHeir oWn variants oF polisHcHristmas traditions, But as i sat doWn to Work on our HolidaYissue, i FiGured it Would Be Fun For our non- polisH readers totake an insider’s look BeHind tHe curtain and see WHat eXactlYWe poles do For cHristmas. tHere are diFFerent variations oFHolidaY traditions, dependinG on tHe reGion in poland, But Hereare a FeW Basics tHat i came across (some i didn't even knoWeXisted until i started doinG mY researcH).some interestinG Facts aBoutcHristmasTRadITIonS In PoLandLets get started with the greeting:How to say “Merry Christmas”: WesołychŚwiąt (ve–SO–wih shvyont) Christmas celebrations start in Poland onthe night of Christmas Eve (24th December,Wigilia in Polish). Families sit at the Christmas table assoon as they spot the first star in the wintersky. It is typically the children's mainduty on Christmas Eve to spot the starthat proclaims the official beginning ofChristmas! Christmas culinary traditions differdepending on the region, but in almost everyPolish house you are bound to have friedcarp on the table. The fish can be bought liveor already prepared for cooking. In manyPolish homes, live carp swims in the bath fora couple of days before being served at theChristmas table. There is a superstition that if you put thecarp’s scale in your wallet, you will be luckyand rich in the forthcoming year. It’s important to serve exactly 12dishes on your Christmas tablesignifyingthe number of Apostles.It is believed that you should trythem all; otherwise, per the superstition,the next year food will be less abundant. Many Poles believe “Jaka Wigilia, takicały rok”, meaning that the forthcoming yearis reflected on how you spend ChristmasEve, so if you are happy that day, the nextyear will be happy too. If you argue withyour loved ones, you should expect thefollowing year to be the just the same, etc… It’s customary to leave one empty seatwith a set of plates and cutlery for anerrant wanderer who might knock on yourdoor and need something warm to eat. OnChristmas Eve you shouldn’t refuse anythingto the ones who might need your help. Before you start your Christmassupper, Polish people share Christmaswafers (opłatek) and wishes for peace andprosperity are exchanged. Opłatek is a white,thin as paper wafer made of flour and water.You can buy it at a local church for a smalldonation for the poor. Even the pets andfarm animals are given a piece of opłatekand legend has it that if animals eat opłatekon Christmas Eve, they will be able to speakin human voices at midnight. Among the 12 Christmas dishes you willalways find some soup (the majority ofPolish families eat soup every day). Its kinddepends on the region but the most popularones are: beetroot soup (barszcz) with“uszka” (a kind of ravioli), forest mushroomsoup and fish or almond soup.28 revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

Other traditional dishes include:sauerkraut with forest mushrooms,sauerkraut with peas, pierogi (stuffeddumplings) with sauerkraut, jellied fish,kutia (wheatberry, poppy seed honey andnuts), herring in oil, moczka (gingerbread,beer, raisins and nuts) and makówki (poppyseed, honey and nuts). Poles rarely drink alcohol with theirChristmas supper. Instead, it is customary todrink compote made of dried fruit (such asprunes, apricots, pears etc.). After dinner it’s the present time! Adultsgive each other gifts (or put them directlyunder the Christmas tree) and children,who have been waiting what seems like aneternity for the parents to finish eating findtheir presents hidden under the tree. The Santa Claus figure is COMPLETELYdifferent in Poland. According to the Polishtradition, St. Nickolas (św. Mikołaj), whois dressed us as a bishop, rather than thestandard red coat and bearded fat man,comes on 6th December. On ChristmasEve, it’s the Baby Jesus, Starman, Star oran Angel who brings the gifts. This variesgreatly on the region of Poland. In many Polish homes (especially in thecountryside) it is customary to put somehay underneath the table cloth. After thefood, you would draw a hay-stalk each. Agreen one would symbolize fortune in theforthcoming year, a yellow one means nomajor change, a broken blade brings badluck and a bent one means health problems. Apart from the Christmas tree, a commondecorative object in Polish houses andchurches is the nativity scene (szopka). Themost distinctive and decorative nativityscenes in Poland are found in Kraków. Thebiggest clockwork nativity scene in Europe,built inside a church, is located in Katowice(Panewniki). After the Christmas feast, many Polishhomes are filled with Christmas carols.Polish Christmas carols are rather seriousand religious, not the kind of cheerful onesyou are likely to hear in America. The best way to burn heavy Christmasfood is to go for a walk. The more religiousPoles attend the Midnight Mass (Pasterka) Christmas Day (called the First Holidayand the Second Holiday respectively) is thetime to visit other relatives, eat the leftoversfrom the Christmas supper, sing carols andplay with your gifts.bY: kaRL WRobELSoURCE: anIa MoCHnaCka(HITCHHIkERSHandbook.CoM)#6, 2014 reviamagazine.com revia29

z d r o w i e n a t a l e r z uRYba Po GRECkURyba po grecku to bardzo popularnaw Polsce potrawa z ryb zapiekanychw jarzynach, która wspanialesmakuje serwowana na zimno, jak ina ciepło. Wbrew nazwie ma niewielewspólnego z Grecją. Uwaga: szybko znikaze stołu!My przygotowaliśmy przepis natę potrawę od pani Magdy Gessler,popularnej restauratorki.Magda Gessler radzi, jak zrobićpyszną rybę po grecku, która zachwycidomowników!Jak przYGotoWaĆ:Rybę kroimy na kawałki, posypujemysolą i pieprzem, panierujemy w mące ismażymy aż się zarumieni. W większymgarnku smażymy cebulę, gdy ona zmiękniedodajemy pokrojoną w paski marchewkę,seler i pietruszkę, dusimy. Gdy wszystkozmięknie dodajemy szczyptę soli, pieprzui kuminy. Potem dodajemy pokrojonącukinię, paprykę i bakłażana i znowudusimy.Przygotowanie sosu do ryby: Obrane ipokrojone pomidory gotujemy z winem ikolendrą.Sos dodajemy do podduszonychwarzyw i zalewamy całością rybę.Tak przygotowaną rybę należy piec wnagrzanym piekarniku przez około 20minut.SmacznegoM.d.czeGo potrzeBuJemY:• 1 kg fileta z dorsza• 2 kg pomidorów• 1 kg pieczonej papryki czerwonej• 0,5 kg marchewki• 0,5 kg selera• 1 kg cebuli• 1 kg cytryny• wino białe niesłodkie• cukinia• bakłażan• mąka do panierowania ryby• sól, pieprz, kumin, kolendraWIGILIJnY baRSZCZPoznajcie ten prosty przepis nabarszcz czerwony – pyszną izdrową zupę, która jest niezbędnana wigilijnym stole. Podawać ją możeciez białą fasolą – wówczas danie będzieciekawsze.WiGiliJnY Barszcz maGdY Gessler• buraki 1 kg• czosnek 4-5 ząbków• grzyby suszone 2-3• wywar warzywny 3l• winne jabłko 1• zakwas z burakówObrane, starte na tarce buraki, grzybkizalać zimną wodą (lub wywarem)i gotować na średnim ogniu półgodziny. Przecedzić.Doprowadzić dowrzenia, zmniejszyćogień, dodać zakwas,przekrojoną wpoprzek główkęczosnku, jabłkopokrojone naćwiartki, sól, pieprz.Nie gotować!Ogrzewać jeszcze 10-15 minut.M.d.32revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

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g i f t g u i d e$49under $100$50Illinois Map CufflinksJoJo & sophianArs DigitalWorld LipPencil Coffret$225$149Michael kors Mavis Python PatternembossedLeather sandal$100-$250LG tone Infinim(Hbs-900)$549$500Hero4 Blacksamsung Galaxy tab® s,10.5" 16GB, Dazzling White$500-$999$5500Bentley Handbag –the Continental$1099this year send a trunk Clubspirit Fitness ellipticaltrainer – Xe195$1000& upDreamGiftthis year send a trunk Clubgift card. every time he getsa compliment on his clothes,he'll have you to thank. expertstyle Advice. no-Hasslereturns. Quality Clothing.Mailed Gift Card. Digital GiftCard. www.trunkclub.com$2499Apple MacBook Prowith retina display$1000GREAT GIFT FOR EVERYONE: montHlY suBscription For reviasHare tHe GiFt oF Great readinG! suBscriBe to our Home deliverY FOR LESS THAN $20 PER YEAR!visit: WWW.reviamaG.com34 revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

m a k e u pHoLIdaYMakEUPTIPSWorried HoW to Get tHe perFect HolidaY makeup?no need to WorrY, it's easier tHan You tHink. Herei'll sHare mY verY Best HolidaY makeup tips. Findout HoW to Get tHe perFect smokeY eYe, HoW to addsHimmer to Your eYes and Face and WHY You sHouldplaY up Your eYes or Your moutH, But never BotH.By ania szymanskaFirst let's start WitH Your outFit...Watch what you're wearing. Be carefulnot to match your makeup to your outfit.According to Allure Magazine, "matchymatchyis tacky". If you're dressed to thenines, your face should be low drama,says makeup artist Jemma Kid in Allure.If you have a sparkly dress, don'tapply sparkly makeup. Instead, stickwith smokey eye. If you are wearingbold prints or color, keep your makeupneutral.add sHimmerShimmer adds drama to your look. Youcan get shimmery eyes in several ways:• Try a shimmery cream or buy a powdershimmer and mix the shadow with water.The water will help create a densemetallic pigment that's not too soft.Some shadows are barely there, butyou want your shadow to have heft.• Apply shimmery shadow on your lidjust above the iris in your eye and onthe inner corner of the eye. This willopen up the eye lighten up what is usuallydark area of the lid, and helps eyeslook amazing in photos.• If you do go with the shimmery eye,don't go overboard with the shimmerelsewhere on your face. Apply shimmerto no more than 2 places. For example,shimmer your eyelids and your cheekbonesbut don't also add a batch ofshimmer to your décolletage.• Other spots to shimmer: Add a shimmeryhighlighter to the cheeks, thenose and above each eye. You can putshimmery powder on your decolletageand on the cheeks. Shimmery lips arealso hot. Just don't go overboard.eXFoliate First, it's an instantcompleXion liFterThe secret to a gorgeous face isn't in themakeup. It's actually in a clean, fresh face.To ensure you don't have an ashen complexion,dry skin or flaky skin, exfoliate your facebefore applying makeup.Exfoliation also allows your moisturizer,foundation, and blush go on more smoothly.You can make a simple scrub using oliveoil and brown sugar or simply add half ateaspoon of sugar to your cleanser and scrubit into your face. Rinse with a washcloth,which also acts as a natural scrub.Exfoliate lips by applying Vaseline andusing an old toothbrush to "scrub" off thedead skin in a circular motion.HiGHliGHter sHould Be Your BestFriendHighlighting pens are a staple in any makeupartist's makeup bag and I never go out atnight without applying Yves Saint Laurent'sTouche Eclat. Highlighters act as a brightener.Skin becomes luminous and dewy.Here's how to apply: Put your chin toyour chest and look into a mirror. Swipe aline of highlighter on the shadows, usuallyunder the eye, along the nose, under thechin. I also apply a line above each brow topull my face up. Blend the lines in by dabbingwith your middle finger.cHoose to plaY up eitHer tHe moutHor tHe eYesWhen choosing holiday makeup, decide ifyou're going to play up your eyes or yourmouth. Never do a dark, smokey eye and ared lip, unless you are performing burlesque.Choose one or the other. If you emphasizeboth, you'll risk looking like a clown. If youdo a bright lip, keep the face light and useonly mascara and a light shadow on lids.On your lips, try both lipstick and gloss.First apply liner all over lips, dot lipstickwith your finger and follow with a light (notheavy) gloss.If you opt for a dark, smokey eye, lightenup lips with a light, sheer lipstick.keep Your lipstick From FadinGTo get your lipstick from wearing off too fast,line lips first in a similar shade of lip linerthen fill in with the lipstick. Set with powder,then apply another layer on top. This willhelp keep lipstick in place as the night goeson. Remember to keep the rest of your faceminimal with mascara and powder.tHe mani/pediYou may be tempted to get fake nails for theholiday party, but don't. Short rounded nailsare more chic, look clean and are elegant. Optfor a deep, dark trendy color (dark purplesare hot for winter) or go light. If it's NewYears, add a coat of sparkly polish over a finger.And don't forget your feet. Even if yourtoes are hidden from view, you'll feel moreput together if you have manicured feet.keep makeup in placeThe secret to keeping eyeshadow in place forhours is an eye base. I love Urban Decay'sEyeshadow Primer Potion . To keep makeupfresh, try makeup artist Mally Roncal'ssecret: she keeps cotton swabs rolled ineyeshadow in a cigarette case to apply laterafter her shadow starts to lose its oomph.To keep makeup in place, consider a primer.Apply to face before foundation. And don'tskip the foundation if you also use powderand blush. Foundation actually helps keeppowders in place.HappY HolidaYs dolls!36revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

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a s k a n i t aTwo of my passions in life are helpingpeople with their love life and writing.With my advice column, “ask anita, ”Iget to combine the two! as a dating &relationship expert, I’m on a missionto prove that happy and satisfyingrelationships are possible. I’m aLicensed Marriage & Family Therapistand hold a Master’s in Marital & FamilyTherapy from the University of Sandiego. I founded Relationship Reality312, Inc., and I work with clients bothinternationally and in my Chicagodowntown office. any questions youhave about dating, relationships andmarriage, please email me directly atanita@relationshipreality312.com.I look forward to hearing from you!Hi Anita,I met a guy online and am stuck in atext-lationship. He texts me asking mehow my weekend was or how my weekis going. I have long text conversationswith him but he never makes any realplans to meet me. How do I get him toask me out? It’s been 10 days!EdytaHi Edyta,I can imagine your frustration! Textingwithout any intention of meeting upin person is becoming more and morecommon. It’s definitely a frequentfrustration of my clients. Sometimes whena text-lationship lasts for weeks, and adate actually happens, the date is awkwardbecause people have already gotten thebasics out of the way. And with textingyou can’t fall back on body language or thesenses, making you miss out on importantaspects of chemistry and attraction.People engage in text-lationships for avariety of reasons – they’re bored, lookingfor a distraction, playing the field, shy, orfeel safer behind a screen versus meetingin person (the rejection is less personal).Whatever the reason, you shouldn’t wasteany more time if you’re looking to seriouslydate someone.I typically talk with my clients about a fewoptions to get him to ask for a real date. Youcan pull back with your responses – texthim less frequently or keep them shorter. Bydoing this, you won’t enable his behavior byresponding and engaging with him via texts!And I hope that you’re still going online andmessaging other men. Don’t wait aroundfor this guy to ask you out when you can bemaking better connections with others whowouldn’t hesitate to meet you in person.You can also tell him that you’re notinterested in being text buddies. You cankeep it light and text him, “I’m not a goodpen pal,” “I like saving the good stuff for inperson,” “I show, not tell” or “That’s a greatstory to tell you in person.” Or if you prefer,you can be serious and text something like,“I don’t like texting this much before I meetwith a guy.” Regardless of the approach,make it clear to him that you prefer meetingin person over long text conversations.If he doesn’t get the hint, you can ask himout yourself. Some women don’t want tocome across as the pursuer, but if you askhim to get together, there’ll be no doubt ofhis interest based on whether he followsthrough or not. If he doesn’t make any plans,then he wouldn’t have anyway. Hit deleteand move on to someone worth your time.Dear Anita,One of my friends broke up withher ex-boyfriend about a yearago. Since then I’ve run into hima few times because we still havemutual friends. The chemistryI feel for him gets more intenseevery time we see each other. Thelast time I saw him, he asked meout. I want to date him to see ifwe could take this somewhere,but I don’t know if I should sincehe’s my friend’s ex. I haven’tbrought it up to her yet but Ithink this guy and I have a goodchance. Do I tell her or should Ijust go out with him to see if weeven make it?AgnesDear Agnes,If you date him and don’t tell yourfriend, but she finds out later, shecould feel betrayed. It’s better to beopen with her about your feelingsfor her ex. Be prepared and tell herwhy, out of all the men you coulddate, you want to date her ex. Helpher to understand your perspectiveand reassure her that you don’twant it to negatively impact yourfriendship.You may be surprised and actuallyget her approval to date him! Shecould be ok with it because of thelength of time that has passed sincethe breakup. Also, what did yourfriend think of the relationship? Wasshe in love with him and thought hewas the man of her dreams, or didshe keep him around because shewas lonely or just wanted to have aboyfriend? Did she give it a fair shotand came to the understanding thatthey weren’t right for each other, andshe wants him to be happy, even ifit is with you? You may be worryingfor nothing, since variables like thesecould potentially make your friend beok with you dating the ex.If you choose not to talk to herfirst, or you date him even thoughshe disapproves, you need to askyourself if you are willing to lose thefriendship over it. Your friend mayfeel betrayed and hurt and will nolonger want to be friends with you –is this a risk that you are willing totake? And since you still have mutualfriends, could you possibly lose someof those friends too? Think about thepotential consequences before youmake your move.38 revia reviamagazine.com #6, 2014

ALWAYS TELL HER SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.Peter D. Geldner, MD• U.S. News & World Report Top Doctor, 2011• Castle Connolly America’s Top Plastic Surgeons, 2008-13680 North Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1325, Chicago908 North Elm Street, Suite 314, Hinsdale312.981.4440 | www.MyGeldnerCenter.com