Shannon Hammer — The Positive Portions Food & Fitness Journal

Overweight since childhood, Shannon Hammer spent most of her life unsuccessfully attempting to lose weight and keep it off by following endless diets, joining numerous gyms and health clubs, and ingesting shakes, pills, teas, and supplements, all promising to melt off pounds. Sadly, Hammer’s efforts turned out to be ineffective (and expensive) solutions that led her not to permanent slimness but to the “yo‐yo” pattern of losing and gaining large amounts of weight in short periods of time. Eventually, Hammer’s weight crept up until it reached her top weight of 230 pounds.

Desperate, in 2003 Hammer picked up a new tool—a food and fitness journal. Every morning she began planning out and writing down her daily meal plan. This gave her the structure she needed to make good food choices and the accountability to stick to her plan. Hammer learned portion control by weighing and measuring her food on a kitchen scale to ensure she was eating the proper amounts. She learned how to identify healthy portion sizes, which eliminated overeating at restaurants.

Along with physical benefits, using a food and fitness journal also brought Hammer emotional and behavioral benefits. Having a written down plan allowed her to curb impulsive eating, which then helped her identify underlying emotions that drove her to food, such as stress, anger, and fatigue. She was then able to replace mindless, impulsive eating with healthy behaviors such as exercise, meditation, and calling supportive friends and family members. After three years, Hammer lost her excess weight and gained physical fitness, high‐self‐esteem, and healthy ways of coping. Using her wealth of first‐hand experience, Hammer wrote The Positive Portions Food & Fitness Journal to be more than just a diet diary or exercise log—she wrote it to be a support group in a book. Along with allowing users to document their daily calories, fat, protein, carbs, and activity levels, The Positive Portions Food & Fitness Journal also contains a six month collection of inspirational daily readings.

Shannon Hammer currently lives in Redondo Beach, California, with her husband Mark Christopher (MC) Hammer. She continues to write down her food to this day. The Positive Portions Food & Fitness Journal can be ordered from www.positiveportions.com.

Glenn Sakamoto — Liquid Salt Magazine

A passion for surfing led Glenn Sakamoto to create the online magazine Liquid Salt. Its tagline reads: “Profiles of the people who make art, culture + lifestyle of surfing.” Glenn is an example of someone who saw a void and wanted fill it.

“There were many surf blogs out there on the Web, but none of them fit my idea of what a surfing magazine should look and feel like,” Glenn explained. “Many of them felt ‘too insider’ while others targeted 15 year olds bent on spending their allowance on day-glo trunks.”

Glenn wanted to “create a place that shared ‘the stoke’ of surfing by profiling the many talented people who share the joy of the ocean and how that translates into their everyday lives—all in a simple interview format.”

Although Liquid Salt is only six months old, it has generated considerable buzz and attention both in the surfing community and the community at-large. Attracting thousands of readers each month, the publication now has an international staff that pinpoints unique personalities who have an interesting story to tell. Liquid Salt's popularity is also attracting the eyes of clothing companies such as Patagonia.

“Liquid Salt has been fulfilling on so many levels. It shares the beauty of the sport, gives us the opportunity to promote those who might otherwise not have an outlet, and it’s just plain fun to do—kind of like surfing.”

Find out more at their website: www.liquidsaltmag.com or find them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/liquidsalt

Rita Shuster — Animal Scouts

I have always been an animal lover. I brought home strays, read animal books, and even took some classes in veterinary technology. However, I graduated from UCLA with a degree in social sciences. When my own children began to show their interest in animals, I realized there was a need in our community for a program like Animal Scouts.
 
Animal Scouts™ is designed to support animal education in children. There are so many children who love animals and are interested in animal careers, yet very few affordable programs exist to support those interests.

I founded Animal Scouts in 2009 because I was looking for a program to support my kids' interest in animals. We had been to local aquariums, crowded pony rides, and knew the zoo inside and out. But our excursions were usually lacking some type of hands-on experience. In addition, we often had lingering questions about animal care and animal careers. Animal Scouts seeks to fill this void by offering unique animal experiences that educate and inspire.

Find out more about Animal Scouts here: www.animalscouts.com

Elizabeth Hamilton - Best Ever YOU

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, mother, wife, author, volunteer, entrepreneur, marketing & public relations expert and Founder/CEO of Best Ever YOU. This mom of four boys under age 15 and is also the founder of Maine Cookie Company, a Television Producer/On-Air Personality and Children’s book author.

Socially marketed, Best Ever YOU is a multi-media company that features at least 3 women monthly who own businesses, products or have a personal story of inspiration to tell. The website also has over 30 advisors on the site who offer expert advice to readers. The company has launched into many new media directions including television. Best Ever You produces and airs 4 minute segments on Better Homes and Garden’s “Better” TV show on WPXT-Maine and will soon have a 30 minute TV show.

Still, the most important role is Elizabeth’s life is that of being a mom of four boys under age 14 and wife to Peter. Through her 10 years as a work-from-home mom she knows exactly what women go through to stay in touch with the world outside. Her children are all involved in school, sports and activities and this alone could be a full-time job! It is an ambitious family for sure. Their youngest son Quaid Guarino was just featured in many newspapers and television stations for his role with LEGO, and the entire family was the featured family in the Maine Turnpike Authority’s EZ-Pass Commercials and ads.

In 2009, Elizabeth’s children’s book series was launched by Bryson Taylor Publishing. “Blueberry – A Cat’s Eye View of Maine” is the first in the series that vow to teach kids about geography “one cat and one state at a time.” Elizabeth is also former child actor/model and has been featured in TV commercials and appeared on billboards and magazines, including "Teen", Happy Joes, Skate Ranch, Ing’s Skating Palace, The Maine Turnpike, Snap Fitness, Hurley Travel, Medic Alert and more. She was Miss Iowa Teen in 1988 and Mrs Maine USA in 2006. Most recently, Elizabeth played Suzanne in the movie “Influenced.”

In 2004 the family moved from Truckee, California (Lake Tahoe) to Falmouth, Maine. In 2006, she worked as a reporter at WGME-TV and she entered the Mrs. Maine USA pageant and won. The process opened the doors and foundation for Best Ever YOU to come to life. Since 2006, Elizabeth has received over 150,000 emails from women and men around the country. She quickly discovered a number of people were following her story and dreams. However, Elizabeth began to see a need for women to have a place where many aspects of life's issues were covered, thus Best Ever YOU was born. Now in 2010, Best Ever YOU has grown into an international multi-media company with only more Best Ever to follow in the years to come.

Brendan and Molly Parnell — ShutterBuddy™

With the holidays approaching, Brendan Parnell was anxious to get a picture of 5-week old Audrey underneath the Christmas tree. His mother-in-law had mentioned this idea about thousand times, and he was feeling some pressure to get the perfect shot. Audrey, however, was tired and uncooperative. Like a typical newborn, she was not terribly concerned with photography and would not look at the camera.

As the short window between eating and sleeping began to close, Brendan had an “ah-ha” moment. Without a word, he ran into the other room (leaving his wife, Molly, slightly confused and irritated at his disappearance). Within minutes he was back with a piece of blank paper folded into a cone and taped to the camera. On the inside of this paper he had drawn a spiral with thick black magic marker...and magic was what seemed to happen next! At only five weeks old, Audrey was absolutely captivated by the image. She looked right into the lens of the camera, allowing for the perfect shot.

After many hours at the sewing machine and a few design changes later, Brendan and Molly created ShutterBuddy™ (www.shutter-buddy.com),  a revolutionary new product that uses the science of infant vision development and pattern recognition to capture and hold a baby’s attention in order to get a great picture every time. It’s lightweight, easy to use and portable.

Cindy Barnhart — Festival Dance & Performing Arts Association

Cindy Barnhart is the executive director of Festival Dance and Performing Arts Association, an energetic not-for-profit organization that nurtures the art of dance. Cindy is passionate about dance in all forms, and her passion began when she took her first ballet class as a 4 year old, from none other than Festival Dance! She believes that dance cultivated her sense of humor, creativity, and ability to walk in high heels. She has the distinct pleasure of managing an excellent group of dance instructors at Festival Dance Academy, and hopes to provide dancers with the grace and confidence to achieve their dreams.

In addition to the dance academy in residence at the University of Idaho the largest amount of Cindy’s time is spent contracting with world-class performance groups, sponsoring all aspects of the event including advertising and subscriptions, ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and collaborations with like-minded arts organizations.  The “Great Performances Series” has four internationally acclaimed shows a season.
The world class performance series and the dance academy are two parts of a four-fold achievement program to support the art of dance.  Education and outreach for the Inland Northwest area include free performances (Youthreach) for grades 3-6 for eighteen communities in north central Idaho and eastern Washington, as well as an ongoing collaboration with schools (Discover Dance) that provide instructors to teach dance during Physical Education classes.

With Cindy Barnhart at the helm, Festival Dance reaches 15,000 people annually, has expanded to Lewis Clark State College, and has renewed its status as a source of community pride while enriching the lives of people on the Palouse.

Cindy believes her success is attributed to an innate curiosity of all things, a sense of humor, a willingness to look silly at times, a persistent positive attitude, a polite interest in people, and clean hair.  

Cindy has a supportive husband and a young daughter that is enjoying many dance classes and performances, and the 9-year-old has quite the autograph collection of nationally and internationally recognized professional dancers! Cindy would like to hear from you about creative arts projects with long-term impact that provide value to individuals, corporations, or large constituencies, or if you just want to chat. 208-883-DANS (3267)  or Cindy@festivaldance.org  (festivaldance.org)

Annette Frey — Biscuits by Lambchop

Annette Frey is the proud founder and Chief Canine Confectioner of Biscuits by Lambchop, providing sensible treats for the sensitive dog.  

Whether we are rewarding good behavior or teaching our dog new tricks, treats are a staple in every pet owner’s household.  But what happens if your dog is allergic to every treat on the market, leaving you with no edible reward options? Annette Frey was out of luck after her dog Lambchop developed a myriad of medical issues, including kidney disease, and was placed on strict dietary guidelines. With nothing to reward her dog but a “good boy” and a pat on the head, Annette took to the kitchen, testing hundreds of combinations with Lambchop serving as the “official taste-tester”. She finally developed a recipe free of gluten, wheat, eggs and dairy (all common canine allergens), while limiting fat, sodium and phosphorus (to support Lambchop’s kidneys and pancreas conditions) and, most importantly, remaining delicious.

Annette and Lambchop happily shared the biscuits with family, friends and neighbors. When those dogs suffering with food allergies digested their treats extraordinarily well, the business idea was sparked  -- but  it wasn’t until Lambchop’s passing that Annette was inspired to carry on his legacy by launching her own dog treat line, Biscuits by Lambchop, and sharing his special treats with dogs everywhere.

Boasting nutritional and tasty ingredients such as bananas, shredded coconut, coconut oil, and vanilla extract, customers can feel confident that what they are feeding their pet is good enough to eat themselves – in fact Lambchop’s vet often did! Annette also launched the Starlets line of treats, inspired by her newest canine and Chief Cookie Officer Starlet, featuring a delicious blend of apple, cinnamon and honey. Find her great products here: biscuitsbylambchop

Tod & Jennifer Owsley — Zephyr Tents

The occasion of a friend’s East Coast wedding introduced Tod and Jennifer Owsley to a brand new style of tent, both elegant and unique and perfect for sophisticated events and weddings.

Creatively designed by New England craftsman and accomplished sail maker, Steve Sperry, these tents are set apart from the ordinary. The Sperry tents are built with stylish nautical flair, hand-sewn panels of waterproof sailcloth, stainless steel grommets, and tent lines with rigging cleats. The wooden support poles are reminiscent of a ship’s mast and are hand cut at the Sperry sawmill. Tod and Jennifer immediately began to acquaint West Coast consumers with this striking alternative; a tent beautiful on the inside.

Upon graduation from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Management, Jennifer Owsley moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in the events industry at the acclaimed Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. The company’s fast paced atmosphere as a high-end, full service caterer provided a fabulous working environment during the five years she handled event production and sales. Jennifer now uses these skills consulting to wedding planners and caterers.

As General Manager of Best Beverage Catering in San Francisco through the mid 90’s, Tod Owsley coordinated such major hospitality events as the Super Bowl 1998 in San Diego, San Francisco’s Black and White Ball, and the Major League Baseball World Series Hospitality Village 1998. Subsequently, Tod became director for City Access Providers, a nationwide corporate concierge.

After more than 20 years in the San Francisco Bay area, the Owsleys expertise and professional guidance in the special events industry have brought high degrees of satisfaction and pleasure to their clients.

In addition to servicing the entire West Coast with their unique tents, Zephyr Tents also designs and manufactures their own custom line of furnishings. These include Early American wood farm tables and coordinating benches as well as a custom Early American wood bar for rental. Zephyr Tents is looking to give the wedding and events world a new look that will stand the test of time. Visit our website for elegant and unique ideas for your next event. Find out more about Zephyr Tents here.

Debbie Zinman and Alison Smith — EchoAge

After picking up their children from yet another birthday party, two busy moms got to talking about presents, parties and plastic. They knew there had to be a better way. Little did they know, their growing desire for a meaningful solution, could actually spark a movement.

After countless meetings in the school playground, in the parking lot and even the planetarium, it became clear - their desire to improve the world, along side their children, was actually possible. Time starved, sleep deprived and energized for change, they set out to create ECHOage.com – a ONE Gift, ONE Cause, solution to the current trend in birthday party madness. With their combined backgrounds in teaching, design, marketing and motherhood, they believed they could give children a hands-on opportunity to do something for the planet, their peers and even their parents! Without borders and without waste, these two mothers discovered that by actually doing less, children can easily give back so much more.

EchoAge follows a "ONE Gift, ONE Cause" philosophy that pools together funds customarily spent on birthday presents. Half the total goes to one memorable gift for the child and the other half is donated to one charity of the child's choice (such as Nourish America, EarthCorps, Feed The Hungry. No need for guests to shop, wrap a gift, drive around or even pick up the phone. EchoAge arranges everything from the hip, paperless invites to the RSVP's, etc.

Already, over 50,000 meals have been fed to hungry families, kids with cancer are going to camp, green spaces are being created, carbon emissions of 40, 000 trips to the toy store have been averted, and wrapping from 40,000 gifts has been saved because children are choosing to use their birthday to make a difference in the world. ECHOage.com. Where Children Celebrate Giving

Julie Grim — Paint Tails

Although Julie Grim works for a large pharmaceutical company as a specialty sales manager, painting is her passion.

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1992 with a Bachelors Degree in Zoology, Julie began dabbling in different art schools in the evenings. In 2002, she began pursuing her studies more seriously and continues to attend many workshops around the country learning from many different nationally recognized artists. Two years ago she traveled to the French Countryside to paint in the Loire Valley studying Plein Aire painting with impressionist Gay Faulkenberry. She lived in a castle and painted outside everyday. It was the trip of a lifetime! She enjoys the intense outdoor elements of fleeting light and shadows that easily translate into an impression of nature onto canvas, dancing in light and kissed by strokes of color.  

Julie really loves to paint dogs. “Painting their eyes is the most fun,” she says. “There is happiness, sadness, and mischievousness in every animals eyes.” She finds herself smiling and giggling while painting them. She paints from photos, and finds that the best paintings come from photos that have a good contrast of warm light and cool shadows on the pet.  

Not surprising, she paints a lot of deceased dogs. Owners want to capture their pet’s personality in a fun yet sacred way, and her paintings seem to offer that. All she needs is a good photo.  

Julie paints at her home in Keller with her husband Rob, who built her studio, her 13 year old son Garrett, who is great at helping figure out and solve problems in the paintings, and of course, her Jack Russell Terrier, Sally.

Her work is currently featured at www.juliegrim.com, JH Interiors in Colleyville, TX, Elite Suites in Southlake, TX, and City Pet Supply in Dallas, TX.