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MSM Online

MSM Online, Traveler

Viva Italia! Miami Fashion Influencer Karen Huggins and her dog Teddy ? explores Italy ??

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My husband and I along with our Teddy ? spent fifteen days admiring the beauty of Italy experiencing different places including Lake Como, Venice, Sardinia and Milan. It gives me great pleasure to share with MSM’s reader’s my experiences and photos along the way ??? Our first stop was Lake Como, one of the most picturesque places in Italy with Victorian Gardens and lake shore romantic restaurants. I felt like part of a painting. Amazing place to relax and enjoy local food at many restaurants and farms. Next stop, Venice. This was our first time in this romantic city and it did not disappoint. It is incredible when you see that the streets are canals. Taking a gondola ride and getting lost in the little alleys is a MUST. After a romantic visit to Venice, Sardinia (Costa Smeralda, North of the island) was the next stop. Sardinia is known for beautiful beaches, exclusive hotels, celebrities and shopping for the best in fashion brands; The Island blends the sophistication of Italy and beach lifestyle. The landscape is exotic with wild vegetation. It is paradise! I really recommend renting a boat for a day and enjoy ing the beaches that can only be accessed by boat. The last place we visited was Milan. It is a small city where streets are like fashion runways. If you love Fashion this is the place! Amazing Designer boutiques and beautiful places to have coffee and dinner. A couple of pictures of the trip and outfits … Follow me on Instagram!  @karenhuggins_blog  

Culinary, Culture, MSM Online

Hasta La Pasta: Where to Carb Up on National Pasta Day

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National Pasta Day on Thursday October 17 is fast approaching. Here’s 5 of South Florida’s finest for you to consider in celebration of the day!! Boia De Boia De, the funky new restaurant hidden in the upper Buena Vista neighborhood, is a pasta haven serving a selection of standout dishes such as Parpadelle Alla Lepre ($22) created with rabbit sugo, rosemary and fresh tomatoes; Ricotta Gnocci ($17) – fresh gnocchi served with a house-made cherry pomodoro sauce; Sweet Corn Agnolotti ($19) a creamy pasta with sweet corn, lobster mushrooms, and thyme; and traditional Ravioli ($21) – fresh raviolis with speck, mascarpone, cherry pomodoro, and Stracciatella. Boia De is located at 5205 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami. Telephone (305) 967-8866; www.boiaderestaurant.com.   Image:  (courtesy of David Bley)   Burlock Coast Indulge this National Pasta Day at seaside eatery, Burlock Coast. Created specifically for the pasta day, chef de cuisine Brooke Mallory has whipped up a Pappardelle Pasta with Lemon Ricotta, Roasted Mushroom, Butternut Squash and Truffle Oil. Priced at only $15, the pasta will be offered during dinner starting at 5PM. Burlock Coast is located at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale at 1 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard. Telephone (954) 302-6460; www.burlockcoast.com Images:  (photo credit: Burlock Coast)   CORSAIR kitchen & bar  The casually chic restaurant located off the golf course at JW Marriot Miami Turnberry offers two must-have pastas including Shellfish Pasta ($28) with house-made tagliatelle, mussels, clams, shrimp, tomato, white wine, butter, shaved parmesan; Rigatoni and Meatball ($24) with large chunks of Wagyu beef, veal, shaved parmesan and served with a side of delicious garlic bread soaking up all the sauce. These tasty pasta dishes are available on the dinner menu at CORSAIR kitchen & bar located at 19999 W Country Club Drive, Aventura. Hours of operation and reservations at www.jw.turnberry.com. Image:  (courtesy of CORSAIR kitchen & bar)    Gianni’s at The Villa Casa Casuarina Ball out on National Pasta Day with the lavish White Truffle Tagliolini ($90) available at Gianni’s at The Former Versace Mansion. The rich pasta dish is made fresh in-house and served in a cream and parmesan sauce with a generous serving of seasonal white truffles shaved tableside. Gianni’s is open from lunch from 12PM – 4:30PM and dinner from 6PM –11PM. The Villa is located at 1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. For reservations, visit www.vmmiamibeach.com or call 786-485-2200. Image:  (courtesy of Gianni’s) Scarpetta by Scott Conant Scarpetta by Scott Conant at the legendary Fontainebleau Miami Beach serves rustic, yet refined Italian cuisine and specialize in homemade pastas. For National Pasta Day, you’ll want to indulge in the iconic Tomato & Basil Spaghetti ($23) – this simple yet delectable dish is made by gently peeling and seeding perfectly ripe tomatoes and then cooking them in olive oil with garlic, crushed red pepper, and basil. Another favorite at Scarpetta is the Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli ($26) made with Marsala reduction. For more information about Scarpetta by Scott Conant and to view menus please visit https://www.fontainebleau.com/dining. For reservations call 305-674-4660. Fontainebleau Miami Beach is located at 4441 Collins Avenue. Image: (courtesy of Fontainebleau Miami Beach)

MSM Online

My Miami features Weronika Rogowska

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By Nadja Atwal Weronika Rogowska is in high demand in Miami. The Polish born model finds herself more and more away from her base in New York and more and more on the Miami beaches shooting for brands and magazines worldwide. Currently she is bedazzling us in the Australian Maxim issue.. But Rogowska – who is often compared to fellow Polish born model star Joanna Krupa, is not just a a gorgeous girl who is taking the model world by storm, she is also an academic. After finishing her master in psychology she found herself drawn to the craft of helping and inspiring others. She even created a website for that matter where she posts articles about life, business and relationships. This lead to her getting requested as both a motivational speaker and life coach – also in Miami. Her favorite quote is one she created herself “Be the light that helps others see.” Given her foreign background and unique professional diversity that swing between photo shoots and psychology, we were keen on her take on Miami… When in Miami… you can catch me at Nobu Hotel. I always stay there. Enjoying the classy beach club, organic cafe and having Nobu restaurant right there all this means you never need to leave! The biggest misconception about Miami is… that it is just a fast growing, international tourists mecca. That could lead one to believe that it’s a very one-dimensional town without much depth. Which is very wrong. Stay open minded! It’s not just a vacation destination. Miami has a lot to offer when it comes to art, fashion, food and nature. Each time I visit I discover something new. Since I’m an art fan I frequent the galleries quite often. The last restaurant I enjoyed was…. Hakkasan at the Fontaine Bleau Hotel . The San Pei Chicken Clay pot is one of their big hits…as is the lobster. Every dish is delicious and the interior is spectacular. Sleek, modern , yet cozy. What surprised you most about Miami was… Villa Vizcaya. A little Venice in Miami. It has a very European classy feel to it. Beautiful view and gorgeous Italian architecture. Miami has some history that I wasn’t aware of! Best reason to return to Miami aside from the weather? Definitely stone crab season. No wonder the wealthy New Yorkers get them shipped to their homes now from places like Joe’s Stone Crab. They are so delicious. Then of course Art Basel is a must visit with a growing international scene. I also recommend spending New Years Eve in Miami – again, here the Nobu is a great option. I had a wonderful time here last NYE. The first time I became curious about Miami… was of course when I watched Miami Vice while still living in Poland, where the show was a big hit and made us all sigh and ready to pack our bags to visit Miami. Anything special about your personal connection to Miami you can share? Well, I made my first trip with my boyfriend to Miami. It was the beginning of our love. We are still happy together. So Miami brought me luck!

Cover Stories, Fashion, MSM Online, Swimwear

Miami Swim Week Preview

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Cover by Richard Guaty Swim Week 2019 is arriving and not just the fashion shows but also the public Paraiso events are always a highlight.  Here are the dates worth saving. Public Paraiso Events Saturday, July 13th The Paraiso Bungalow, the oceanfront pop-up shop at Collins Park, featuring Resortwear, Beauty, Jewelry and Accessories by: Aloha Collection, Chopard, Olivela and Tropic of C. Hours: 11:00 am  – 8:00 pm Thursday, July 11th – Sunday, July 14th • Culinary Experience by Brad Kilgore on the terrace of the Paraiso Bungalow. Hours: Thursday & Friday 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm / Saturday 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm / Sunday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm Saturday, July 13th Beauty + The Beat Sunset Soiree| Brickell City Centre, 4:30 – 7:00 PM |public event, RSVP required Sunday, July 14th  Maaji Takes Over The Streets at Brickell City Centre Fashion Show| Brickell City Centre, 8:30 PM MSM’s Fashion correspondent Karen Huggins chatted with Paraiso founder Aleksandar Stojanovic about what to expect from this year’s Swim Week. Swim Week has become bigger, better and  simply more interesting each year. Mind giving us a few hints for 2019? We’ll have exciting spaces, like multi level tents on the beach where we offer anything from panel discussions to yoga classes to dinners, brunches and after parties for the shows. In addition we take over some hotels where we’ll have shows, like at the Setai, the Delanos and the W.   So lot’s of different venues. Fantastic. What unique features is Miami bringing to the table asa fashion metropole? Well, it’s the crossroad between North and South America, plus many Europeans frequent Miami. Then given that Miami has a summer that pretty much lasts 365 days, swimwear is the dress code here. A lot designers do not just show their collections here at the shows and trade shows but also stay afterwards to shoot their ad campaigns in Miami. This is something that not too many cities can offer.   How many visitors do you expect this year? Somewhere 25.000 to 30.000 people.   Impressive. Will the public also be able to enjoy Swim Week? Yes, we offer a certain amount of seats at shows to the public, so this way they can very much engage. And since we have so many different locations in order to underscore that every designer is unique, every show is very different from the other which makes the whole experience even more exciting.   The press must love it, too…Oh yes, we have media outlets from around the world covering Swim Week, including Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Russia, Europe, South America… you name it. Like the public the media too appreciates that you have highly diverse shows, you have trade shows, you have outstanding events …there is really something for everybody. From our Editor In Chief, Nadja Atwal… Talk about exciting! As for exciting shows to see, it is safe to say that like last year, Monica Hansen Beachwear will be one of the top show highlights during this Swim Week. Within only 3 years Monica Hansen Beachwear has become an international top-selling swimwear brand, beloved by both the critical fashion media and celebrity world. The success of the brand, founded by Top model Monica Hansen, involves 3 remarkable factors: First there is Monica Hansen’s detailed knowledge of swimwear from her time as a top swimwear model gracing hundreds of magazine covers. Secondly the handcrafted unique cuts combined with Made-in-Italy quality and last but not least the fact that top global media outlets – from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to Vogue – instantly recognized that these bikinis and swimsuits create an outstanding look on every woman who wants to flaunt her curves and welcomes getting (positive) attention for that matter. In 2018 Monica delivered her highly praised show at the Miami Swim Week where she herself graced the catwalk in one of her designs; which resulted not just in a wave of international sales and media coverage but an explosion of instagram posts with Hollywood stars and international supermodels posing in Monica’s designs. Her pieces don’t just look fabulous, they each tell a little story and enable women to show a different side of them whenever they feel like it. And although the swimwear market is so highly competitive, Monica’s designs dominated this years Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Almost 70% of all the featured swimwear is by Monica Hansen Beachwear! Naturally we felt Monica was the expert to ask about the new trends. “For the current season we are seeing a lot of neon and also animal prints” Monica told us. “There is a 1990’s influence with high cut legs on a lot of the bottoms and a focus on sports bras and one piece suits showing a lot of underboob. There is also the use of plastic clips or buckles as trims.” But what is the one trend we all should embrace? “Animal prints are the big trend, so it’s not surprising that our most popular suit for this current season is the Leopard One Piece Bardot swimsuit. For next season I forsee a continuation of animal prints and early 1990’s inspiration along the lines of Versace with the Victorian prints. Also popular will be some new colors like neon mint green and coral. ” With all this we can not wait for Swim Week 2019 to start. Stay tuned for our continued coverage including all the highlights from Monica’s show on July 13th. Monica Hansen Miami Swim Week 2018 / Monica Hansen Beachwear

Events, Luxury, MSM Online

A Look Back At Miami Fashion Week

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  By Karen Huggins Miami has become the capital of Latin America and  Miami Fashion Week has shown us why. Five days full of fashion, Latin American designers and colorful collections. The first day we started with the press conference at the Kimpton EPIC Miami and a Kick Off party at Saks Fifth Avenue Brickell where fashionistas, fashion lovers, celebrities and influencers, gathered to preview beautiful pieces of different designers. Guests enjoyed music, cocktails and bites from Casa Tua. The second day, the show begins! We started early in the morning with the MIAFW summit “Sustainability & Technology”. This is one of my favorite topics in fashion, all the trends and new projects of different brands to make the fashion industry a sustainable industry. In the afternoon, Rene Ruiz opened the fashion week shows at Ice Palace Film Studios with the launch of his new brand: Rene by RR, a younger line that goes from day to evening. The following show, Agatha Ruiz de La Prada; a funny, colorful and playful collection. First row with Spanish celebrities such as Amaia Salamanca, Nieves Alvarez, and Antonio Banderas…. Third day of Miami Fashion Week, beautiful shows from Daniella Batlle, Herminas Reea and Vero Diaz. I loved the top designer of Haute Couture dresses, Herminas Reea collection; the dresses with sumptuous fabric choices and accessories for their hair were gorgeous.  After the runways, The MIAFW Benefit Gala was celebrated at Faena Forum in South Beach. Antonio Banderas hosted the event and the Colombian singer Juanes had the crowd dancing. On Saturday, the Influencers brunch took place at Seaspice Restaurant. A morning full of Mimosas and fashion. At 3:00 PM the shows started with Dash, then Miami Fashion Institute, Glory ANG and Fernando Alberto. Miami Fashion Week closed the last day with Jenny Polanco, Arcadio Diaz, Jacqueline Then and Gianinna Azar runway. Gianinna’s collection was amazing with chic looks for day and night. After the shows, the closing party began at Ice Palace Film Studios. A beautiful week that highlighted the importance Miami is gaining every year in Fashion.

Cover Stories, Fashion, MSM Online

7 Influencers That RULE Miami

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Photography by 313 Films ? @313_Films / Makeup by Daria Marchik @MakeupbyDariia   Miami is progressively making its name in the Fashion Industry.  The Fashion scene has rapidly evolved and continues to do so on a daily basis.    The City is host to several annual fashion and trade show events such as Apparel Textile Sourcing Miami (ATS), Miami Fashion Week (MIAFW) & Miami Swim Week. These events bring together designers, producers, buyers & trade professionals from all around the world, not to mention the thousands of attendees that flock Miami to take part in these events.    There are several epicenters within the city that are helping fuel Miami’s Fashion growth. Places such as Shops at Merrick Park, Brickell City Center, Miami Design District, Wynwood, Aventura Mall & The Shops at Bal Harbor just to name a few.   But aside from the significant events & stylish epicenters, Miami has influencers that are continuously spreading the word on the latest trends and happenings in their own unique way. These influencers are making a difference and contributing to the growth of Miami’s Fashion Scene.   MSM met up with seven influencers that Rule Miami in the world of fashion. Hope you get to see & meet some of these amazing women around town at the upcoming events !     Annie of TheFashionPoet & AnnieTheAlchemist  is a fashion, travel and beauty expert and journalist who has been coined as one of the pioneers of Miami’s fashion blogging community. Accolades: This young entrepreneur was voted Miami’s Top Fashion Blog by The New Times and recently was awarded Best Fashion Content Creator Award at the Hispanicize x Telemundo Awards. Her work has been featured in glossies such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, The New York Times, Life, Refinery 29 and more.  She was the first blogger in Miami to score a major campaign with fashion brand Coach where she produced and starred in a 1 minute commercial for them. Savvy and creative, Vazquez  has gone on to work for several other brands as a spokesperson, model and consultant. Some of these top tier brands include Mercedes Benz USA, Bailey’s, Peroni, Tresmme, Victoria Secret Pink, 7 for All ManKind, Forever 21, H&M, Express, Macy’s, Express, Bloomingdales, TMobile and Sprint. Innovator: Vazquez has produced several events to unify the city’s fashion community. These include setting up educational fashion panels at Soho House, putting together the city’s first “Fashion Blogger’s Night Out at Neiman Marcus and launching the first blogger based event at Miami Swim Week Lounge called “Escape Miami”. Additionally, she cofounded Miami’s first fashion blogger networking event called “Fashion Bloggers Do It Better 1& 2” and to give back to her community, “Fashion for a Cause Campaign to raise funds for breast cancer. Plus, Google asked her to create the first ever Miami Fashion Blogger Page which has over 300K followers. On Camera: Always with her finger on the city’s pulse, Vazquez is often featured on several networks such as NBC, Fox, CBS producing fashion and lifestyle segments. as well as online for Nylon Magazine. At Mercedes Benz Swim Week, she served as ambassador and interviewed celebrities, designers, and guests. Aside from modeling in commercials, Vazquez also believes in the power of film. She produced the first ever fashion blogging documentary called Blogging Behind the Seams” to showcase how the industry works.  Teacher:  One thing Vazquez is passionate about is teaching others. She is often asked to lead fashion blogging and styling workshops at universities like Nova, University of Miami, and The Art Institute as well as for major corporations like Crystal Line Cruises and Soho House. Designer: “Lil Miss Miami” is her first jewelry line to pay homage to the city she grew up in. After a year of research, Vazquez decided to team up with a local jewelry maker and create her first ever capsule collection which has already been featured on the runway of Mercedes Benz Swim Week and was carried at over 9 boutiques in Miami and online. Today, she has her own wellness brand called AnnietheAlcemist.com which consists of positive tees, crystal kits, affirmations, and more.  Follow her on Instagram ? @TheFashionPoet @AnnieTheAlchemist  Karen Huggins is a Venezuelan fashion & travel influencer, stylist, designer and personal shopper based in Miami who spends as much time as possible on her greatest passion: traveling and exploring new things. What she loves most are the people she meets and the way every place expresses fashion. “It’s about getting out of your comfort zone and enjoy the great adventure that life is”. Karen was born in Venezuela, she studied International Foreign Affairs, and she has been living abroad since October 2007, taking a piece of every place in her heart: from Barcelona the beautiful multicultural philosophy, from Madrid the joy, from Argentina the passion, from Miami the sunshine state of mind and from Venezuela the Latin flavor. Karen has collaborated with many brands ranging from high street to high fashion, such as Fendi, Miu Miu, The Outnet by Net-A-Porter, Ann Taylor, Ritz Carlton, Victoria’s Secret, Eggie to name a few. Fashion is her passion and she loves to share her style, travel tips and insights around the world “fashion is for everyone and most importantly, style is all about being effortless chic”. Traveling around the world with her partners in crime David and Teddy (husband and a little mini toy poodle dog), Karen creates visual stories for fashion, beauty and travel inspiring multifaceted and cosmopolitan women with styles that take you from the office to happy hour to date night; sharing her passion for lifestyle and wanderlust with her followers around the world. Follow her on Instagram ? @karenhuggins_blog Erin Nicole is a local fashion blogger and the creator of Erin Nicole TV on YouTube. She started her channel in 2014 while working as the CHANEL Beauty Business Manager in Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, she worked in broadcasting as a local News Anchor in New Orleans, Louisiana which prompted her to pursue her passion for fashion and beauty. Three years ago, she moved to Miami and immediately fell in love with the unique culture and spirit of south Florida. Her blog and YouTube channel are dedicated to luxury

Beauty, Cover Stories, MSM Online

Mosh – The Art of Seduction

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  By Nadja Atwal / Glam and Photographed by Troy Jensen @itstroyjensen Around 10 years ago there was a shift in the modeling world. Instead of being eager to fill their model books with high fashion editorials, smart models hired a publicist and focused on building their name. Men’s magazines favored the commercial looking beauty over the skinny catwalk models and eventually no industry could resist that trend. In the recent years another model sector started to boom. Some call it retro modeling, others simply ‘alternative’. Gorgeous girls that flaunt their curves with stunning dresses and make up that remind us  Hollywood’s best days with Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth or Jean Harlow. Brands like Stop Staring!  or Pinup Girl Clothing became trendsetters with the revival of the 40s and 50s dresses.  And again the high fashion world had not choice but to adapt and embrace. One model that has emerged as the new superstar in this new glamorous movement is a stunning talent – and she simply goes by the name MOSH . The petite blonde bombshell bedazzles the masses with her looks, personality and contortion talent. After seeing her latest fashion shoot in the new Harpers Bazaar Mexico issue and all her mind blowing shots on her Instagram, we reached out to Mosh to ask her if she wanted to be our new cover star. Not only was she happy to accommodate, but also chatted with us a bit about, well, just read on … It’s always interesting to find out how it all started, which stepping stone became a turning point in one’s career. In your case it was …? The Model Mayhem website where models took matters into their own hands and networked directly with photographers and expanded their diversity of work. It was a new and unique platform that enabled me to take my career to another level.   Beauty with brains…. Yet especially at that time society didn’t believe much in that concept. The general judgement was and often still is “ If you have the beauty, you can not possibly have the brains”… Still they had to acknowledge female  tycoons like Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, beautiful smart women who built impressive empires.    I’m sure they weren’t exactly friends, right? (laughs) Oh they were the most bitter rivals – even though they never met. One would  hire the staff member  the other had  just fired. I read a great book about their relationship called “ War Pain” .   Sounds “lovely”… Shows that it was pre #MeeToo movement. Well it’s easy to help someone much weaker than you , but strong women looking out for strong women, that’s still a challenge for many today. But #MeToo has indeed united us in a way though that we do not accept anymore when people in power feel they have the upper hand and can use in any way they desire. Those times are over. Next chapter in the book about women must be about us getting generally better at helping each other instead of tearing each other down.   Very true. Well, we love strong women here at Miami Shoot Magazine – and especially multitalented ones! Since you don’t just pose but entertain, what does a show with Mosh look like? You feel like you are diving into different eras via my costumes … Then of course I use my background as a competitive gymnast for the contortion aspect of my show.   So the perfect body with the perfect costumes with the perfect moves and poses. Just divine! Now we women all look at your photos in those high end magazines or instagram and we sigh: “how does she get hair to be like this …? What does she use to make her skin so flawless?”  We need some details here, please. Surely there are some products I recommend. I  use Guerlain lipsticks for their outstanding colors and texture, the jet-black eyeliner, brow pencils from Clinique and to get that matte, even look, I swear by the powder from Caron Paris. When it comes to hair I love how W8less hairspray delivers this combination of a fine mist and strong hold. If you want to try the platin blond look like me, give Phyto shampoo ‘for grey, white and platinblond hair’ a shot. It’s fantastic. But most importantly: you gotta decide to unleash your creativity. Enjoy! Instagram: Officiallymosh / Glam and Photos by Troy Jensen @itstroyjensen    GET THE COVER LOOK:   LE TEINT ULTRA TENUE Ultrawear Flawless Foundation  in Rose Beige   LE CORRECTEUR DE CHANEL Longwear Colour Corrector in Correcteur Rose   LE SIGNE DU LION Illuminating Powder   POUDRE UNIVERSELLE LIBRE Natural Finish Loose Powder in Clair Translucent 1   JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in Rose Glacier   Brows: Dior’s Dior Backstage Brow Palette in Light Palette- Diorshow Brow Styler in 001 Universal Brown, DIORSHOW BOLD BROW Instant volumizing brow mascara in 011 Light.    On Eyes: Jouer Cosmetic’s Jet-Set Eye Bundle includes Essential Jet-Set Matte Eyeshadow Palette   Kitten Liner Liquid Eyeliner    Faux Lashes by Feather Lashes in Style Luna.  Mascara: Dior Diorshow Black Out in 099 Kohl Black.   On lips: Troy Jensen “Starlet Muse” Lipstick Collection. Mosh is wearing “Siren” With Angel Lipgloss on top. Both available at Three Custom.       

Health & Fitness, MSM Online, Uncategorized

Do it like Michael Phelps – Detox your mind

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By Nadja Atwal Many people all over the world were stunned when Olympian swimmer super star Michael Phelps opened up about his experience with anxiety and depression and how therapy saved his life. It showed that even those who seem to have it all can reach a stage where they feel absolutely hopeless and fearful. Phelps described his alarming experience like this: “I questioned whether I wanted to be alive anymore. I realized I am the strongest person I know, but I felt like the weakest”. Not surprisingly his project Talkspace (check www.talkspace.com and their instagram @talkspace) – an app that connects people with licensed therapists –  is a massive success due to high demand. It is great news that people now dare to look inwards more and tackle their issues. We have been so consumed with physical fitness and looking great especially in a city like Miami, but we’ve grossly neglected the well-being of our mind. More celebrities are talking openly now about their past and present mental health challenges and events that may have caused them. The #MeToo movement certainly helped many to open up about their life-altering events. The average Joe and Jane feels encouraged to share their own issues with friends & family and yes, a therapist. But how can we act more preventative and improve our mental and emotional well-being so that we may avoid stages of severe depression or anxiety? Some mental diagnosis are beyond our control – but what about those circumstances where we could actively help to make ourselves feel better? If we can feel physically so much better after a few days of juicing, is there such thing as a little mental detox? A quick fix that makes us feel rejuvenated, more optimistic, balanced, and just simply better? A new trend from Europe attempts to deliver a solution and many who tried it call it a game changer. Joachim Kaeser, famous for his many inventions and treatments on the physical and mental well-being front, developed a so-called “re-setting” that helps us to rid ourselves from emotional and mental baggage that weighs us down. Having gone through the diagnosis ‘cancer’ twice!, Kaeser knows what sincere physical and mental challenges look like. “ I was my own test subject on both fronts”, says Kaeser – who resides mainly in Germany and Switzerland but sees clients from all over the world and who is planning to open an office in Brickell next year. When asked about how to best explain his Re-setting method, Kaeser refers to our every day PC: “Just imagine a virus scanner on your PC. It scans for viruses that you do not see, but which hinder the perfect functioning of your programs on your PC – often without you knowing it. You too accumulate ‘viruses’ in the form of negative feelings such as disappointment, anger, anxiety – just to name a few. They develop their own activity deep in your subconscious mind and work against you and your life, often without you realizing it.  My mission was to develop a method that activated your own inner scanner for the purpose of detecting your unconscious and conscious issues – from the past to the present; issues that weigh you down and weaken you and can cause anything from mild stress to sincere burnout, fears, phobias, anxiety attacks or depression. While real psycho therapy is usually sought out when the issues already make us feel mentally and emotionally ill, I wanted to tackle the problems before we enter such a severe stage. A reliable prevention method with and immediate improvement effect”. Many of his clients come to Kaeser with the so called burn-out syndrome which is surging also among very young people – especially in the finance world. “The increasing private and professional demands, the permanent availability and the individual setbacks that life experience brings to each of us all, that paired with the demand for mental stability is the basis for whether a person gets a burnout or not”. “The development of a burnout is always the same. The soul suffers, the mind imperceptibly changes its world of thought and in the end the body is going on ‘protest’ mode and malfunctions. So it’s a chain reaction within our mind soul and body in a spiral of excessive demands. The result is helplessness and futility, which results in an inner and outer foreclosure. In my practice, I had people who could not even pronounce their name due to the burnout. As an expert in burnout with specialized training, I then started to use my Re-Setting method for prevention. Why? Because it makes you enormously resilient. The same way you boost your immune system to increase it’s resistance to a cold or flu. The effect: Your inner and also external constraints dissolve. You get a tremendous natural inner strength and energy. You feel like nothing and nobody can stop you. You become stronger  – inside and out. Another common experience many of us have had or can relate to is being frustrated over attracting the same bad situations – and people!  No one wants to become damaged goods. So freeing ourselves from mental and emotional excess baggage that makes us go in circles is obviously something that can only help” says Kaeser.  As a result, Kaeser’s clientele is as diverse as our world itself. “It’s the soccer pro , the stay at home mom or dad, the stockbroker, the salesman, the student, the CEO. What they all have in common is the desire to improve their quality of life and the belief that they themselves may hold the key to it. “I’m just providing the tools” says Kaeser. He has often been called the Success Doc and eventually accepted the compliment and turned it into his job description. “More profound than hiring a life coach but less intense than therapy. And for all us who seek instant gratification, there is good news: you do one session and instantly feel better. Clients describe it as a mix of feeling lighter and freer” says Kaeser.  I guess all of us could use a little mental detoxing that feels like an internal spring cleaning. But no matter what path you choose for improving your mental health: get healthy,

Arts, Culture, MSM Online

My Miami – Sarah Raskey

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  Interviewed by Nadja Atwal In a world full of overhyped and underdelivering artists, Sarah Raskey stands out with a rare combination of jaw-dropping creative skills, academic accomplishments, commercial success, praise by critics, plus – last but not least – remarkable grace and beauty combined with an adorable personality. She is a visionary artist, a licensed clinical professional psychotherapist, certified art therapist and a former graduate art therapy/psychology professor at both the school of the Art Institute of Chicago and DePaul University. You find her art at her own Sarah Raskey Fine Art Gallery in West Loop, Chicago where she exhibits her work exclusively. Sarah is also the co-founder/owner of Open Avenue Therapy, a Chicago-based private psychotherapy practice since 2008. She has exhibited nationally and internationally since 2000 and had created a prolific volume of work in both residential and commercial settings. Some of her notable works: She has several pieces at the Kimpton Hotel Allegro in Chicago which includes an 8’ x 6’ three-dimensional self portrait adorned with vintage jewelry, as well as 90’ of custom carpeting. Within the last years she has also created an illuminated 16’ x11’ custom art wall for MB Steak restaurant located in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. Miami has a special place in her life: Sarah is the resident artist at Loews Miami Beach Hotel where she has designed and created a number of pieces including a 36’ curved and illuminated sculpture wall encrusted with natural crystals, custom carpeting throughout all of the hallway corridors and textile headboard walls in all of the 750+ guest rooms. If you can’t see it in person, at least follow her on Instagram and expect your eyes to open wide and your heart to skip a beat… Obviously we could not wait to learn about Sarah’s take on Miami… When in Miami you may catch me at… Definitely checking out a variety of new places that may have popped up in town since my last stay; but also revisiting my absolute favorites – Loews Miami Beach Hotel and Wynwood Walls are a must for me. And while I hate to…I have to give a stock tourist answer as well :I always try to carve out adequate beach time. There is no denying how brutal Chicago winters can be and Miami sun is the perfect antidote. The biggest misconception about Miami is… I think the biggest misconception about Miami is that its “best” offering is its postcard worthy beaches. I have found that there is so much more that Miami has offer. I love all of Miami’s art deco eye candy and iconic structures. It isn’t hard to peek around and find that this city has so many layers and is quite saturated with hidden gems and lots of soul. The last restaurant I enjoyed in Miami was… Byblos! Being a vegetarian it is a favorite of mine. It is this gorgeous Eastern Mediterranean restaurant with delicious vegetarian options, ambient atmosphere and these days even a swanky late night lounge. What surprised me about Miami was… Initially I found myself surprised by how art-centric the city is and how much it embraces the value of art and artists. Miami plays host to some of the most renown art happenings in the world including Art Basel and is home to a diverse and rich art culture such as the ever-evolving Wynwood Art District and Little Havana. Best reason to return to Miami aside from the weather? I am drawn to Miami’s colorful and full spectrum of nightlife and happenings and Miami’s overall “come as you are” vibe which makes it easy to just dive in and become immersed in the fabric of the community and culture. One of my very favorite things to do while visiting Miami is to listen to the spectrum of live music it has to offer and indulge in the electrifying vocals. Miami is brimming with unique spots to catch great live performances and some of my favorite spots showcase flamenco dancers. Its a specific kind of vibrance and one worth seeking out. First time I became really curious about Miami was… I came to visit Miami for the first time when I was 20 years old. Ironically, I stayed at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, and I will never forget just how special it all felt. I couldn’t put my finger on it then. But years later, I see exactly why Miami felt so special and why it will always have a place in my heart not only for my artwork but for my experiences. What happens in Miami stays in Miami…and our magazine. Any secret or funny moment you ‘d like to share about you and this city? I’ve had no shortage of epic or comedic moments in Miami, and I should probably only say that much! But what I can say, is that in my experience, what happens in Miami actually does not stay in Miami! I have serendipitously met some of the most incredible people in Miami over the years who I would consider dear friends still to this day. So while the details of our adventures may stay in Miami, the friendships have followed me home and I am grateful for that.    

LIFESTYLE, Living, MSM Online

Strategies For Real Self-Improvement

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It’s not easy to break with bad habits that keep us from being a better version of ourselves. Are there some concrete steps we can take ? Rabbi Cheryl and Andrew Jacobs are highly praised experts when it comes to teaching simple but effective methods of self-improvement. Naturally it all starts with self-awareness…..     Have you ever gone through a day and when it’s time to go to bed, you stop and ask yourself, ‘where did the day go and what did I do with myself?’ If so, then you’re not alone. Millions of people get up in the morning and continue through their day without ever pausing to appreciate the blessings in their lives; without seeing the beauty of the world around them; without stopping to take a slow deep breath. We become so programmed that we become aware of only two times during the day – when we smack our alarms early in the morning and when we fall into our beds at night. That is when we acknowledge our exhaustion and the reality that the next day will bring the same exact thing. But rarely do we take the time to look around us and see our true selves, and how we fit into the larger world around us. In other words, it’s time to become enlightened and self-aware.   What is “Self-Awareness” and Does it Matter? Our prejudices, biases, hurts from the past, and misconceptions effect our perception and our self-awareness. We’re driven by habit and polluted by our past experiences. It’s very challenging to strip all of that away and perceive the world in an untainted and accurate way. It can take a lifetime to reach a high level of enlightenment. It’s not necessary to live alone in a cave or become a religious individual to reach a higher level of awareness. All that’s really required is to pay attention and observe your thoughts.   There are many advantages to being self-aware: 1 It’s impossible to feel jealous, offended, or have other negative emotions if you’re self-aware. When you’re in tune with yourself, it’s obvious how un-aware others are. You’re much more likely to feel pity when someone acts or speaks against you than to feel hurt. 2 You no longer feel the need to impress anyone else. You’ll no longer chase after achievements or possessions for the purpose of showing off. You’ll be free to pursue your true passions without regard for the opinions of others. 3 Simple things become much more enjoyable. Eating an orange or going for a walk can be as satisfying as driving a Ferrari. The most successful person isn’t the one that has the most. It’s the person that’s happiest and most satisfied with what they already have. Awareness has a lot to offer. But how does one become more aware? It’s quite simple, yet arduous. Avoid the mistake of thinking that mental exercise doesn’t require effort. Becoming enlightened is challenging in the same way eating only one potato chip is challenging.   Try these strategies on your journey to enlightenment: 1 Meditation is the primary tool to reach enlightenment. Buy a book or join a local group to learn how to meditate. Meditation isn’t complicated, but it must be done with a high level of expertise in order to get the most out of it. 2 Pay attention. Notice your thoughts and feelings as they arise. If you’re sitting in traffic, annoyed that you’re going to be late for work, notice the feelings and consider the origin. What are you feeling? Why? Are your feelings helping in any way? Have you always responded this way in similar situations? Would a child respond the same way? 3 Play the role of the observer. It’s not enough to pay attention. Strive to be objective and non-judgmental in your observations. Imagine you’re a stranger observing the situation with nothing to gain or lose. Be dispassionate. Notice the rise and fall of your emotions without getting involved. Be a scientist. 4 Be patient. Becoming enlightened is like training for the Olympics. It can take years to develop the conditioning and expertise. Enjoy the fact that you’re making small amounts of progress each day. It takes time. 5 Let go of the past. If you’re still upset that your dad walked out on the family when you were six, you’re not enlightened. Being dispassionate about negative experiences from the past are half of the challenge to enlightenment. Let them go. Self-awareness isn’t just for spiritual, off-the-grid folks. Self-awareness is a worthy goal for any human being. Enlightenment is hard work, but the benefits are considerable. You’ll no longer have to be controlled by your emotions or feel the need to impress anyone. You can enjoy a freedom that you’ve never felt before – and it feels great! About Cheryl and Andrew Jacobs: Rabbi Cheryl Jacobs Background: Cheryl is passionate about helping others on their journey towards spiritual fulfilment. Having spent many years on her own spiritual journey, Cheryl majored in Religious Studies at Hobart William Smith Colleges. She received a Master’s of Divinity from Yale University and her Rabbinic Ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary. Cheryl is a Rabbis Without Borders Fellow. She is committed to empowering and enabling others to discover their best selves and is dedicated to investing in and caring about all individuals without judgment. Her goal is to always strive to understand her fellow spiritual seekers in order to provide what they want and need, while making them feel comfortable, connected and fulfilled. Cheryl makes herself available to anyone seeking spiritual guidance and direction. She is an incredible teacher and pastoral counselor. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to have had her officiate at a lifecycle event can tell you how very special she is. Cheryl and her husband, Andrew, are the parents of Abigail and Jonah. Rabbi Andrew Jacobs Background: Andrew is honored to serve as the Rabbi of Ramat Shalom Synagogue in Plantation, Florida. He has been with Ramat Shalom for 13 years and is blessed to be part of

Health & Fitness, Health & Fitness, MSM Online

Hypothyroidism – a dangerous epidemic among women

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  Hypothyroidism & Women by Nadja Atwal There are frequent neurologic conditions associated with an under-active thyroid – our recurring guest author , top neurologist Dr.Adam Zuber, explains the commonly encountered symptoms.  Dr. Adam Zuber: The thyroid gland is located below the Adam’s apple in the throat.  Hypothyroidism is a decreased function of the Thyroid gland and affects women quite differently than it does men. A lot of times the diagnosis is often made only when a blood test is done routinely for other conditions or as part of her medical checkup. Normally hypothyroidism begins slowly and presents with weight gain, and lack of energy. Frequently women will notice that their hair changes in texture, becomes thin, dry and breaks easily, dry or yellowish skin, brittle nails, slow body movements, feeling cold and inability to get warm, occasionally constipation may be noted.  Also associated with hypothyroidism is difficulty sleeping and sleep apnea. Memory problems may be seen including dementia, lack of concentration and depression.  Frequently one develops hypothyroidism due to unknown causes but it may be autoimmune like in Hashimotos disease or with a goiter enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck.  A lot of times it is related to body habitus as your body is just not able to produce enough thyroid hormone for one’s body size due to weight gain or during pregnancy. Neuropathies are common conditions associated with hypothyroidism, even when treated.  Within ten year’s women who have been under treatment for hypothyroidism frequently develop nerve disease, called neuropathy. This is quite similar to diabetic neuropathy. The symptoms associated with neuropathy are numbness, tingling, burning and pinprick sensation of the feet, some people may also encounter unsteadiness and difficulty maintaining their balance. Also frequently associated with hypothyroidism is restless leg syndrome which is a state of persistent restlessness in the feet and legs.  The person suffering from restless leg syndrome cannot sit still and have to move around constantly to settle the sensation in their feet and legs. Other conditions that may be associated with hypothyroidism is periodic limb movements of sleep which is a jerky movement that happens during sleep every 90 seconds. This can cause disruption in sleep and non-restorative sleep. Other neurologic conditions commonly associated are increased frequency of problems of nerves that can be easily compressed. These are carpal tunnel effecting the wrist with pain and numbness of the hands, tarsal tunnel of the feet with numbness and pain in the bottom of the foot and occasionally lateral meralgia paresthetica with pain and burning sensation of the lateral thighs. NA: Hypothyroidism is treated with oral thyroid supplements and can be managed by your primary physician and may need consultation with an endocrinologist for further correction. It is Dr. Zuber from Neurology Associates of Scottsdale Arizona recommendation that women should get checked for thyroid dysfunction annually as part of their routine physicals and be treated adequately if needed as consequences of untreated hypothyroidism are serious.

Fashion, MSM Online, Shows & Events

MONICA HANSEN BEACHWEAR MAKES RUNWAY DEBUT AT PARAISO FASHION FAIR

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Monica Hansen Beachwear was the first brand to officially kick off the runways at the Paraiso Fashion Fair at Collins Park. This was Monica Hansen’s runway debut as a designer, sponsored by Dr. Garth Fisher Beauty DocBlock Sunscreen. Additional sponsors included Icelandic Glacial Water, ShoeDazzle, and Absurda Eyewear. “I was so honored to have shared my 2019 collection during Swim Week for the first time. The inspiration for this collection comes from the 80s and 90s – it’s a very sporty collection but also elegant. I’m so excited to see where the brand goes further from here,” Hansen said. It was not just Monica Hansen’s designs and gorgeous models that made waves. The former Miss Norway who graced countless magazine covers as a model before she ascended to the Designer Olymp stunned the audience when she appeared on stage wearing one of her own bikini designs flaunting a perfect supermodel figure and simply looking flawless. 

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