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Health & Fitness, MSM Online, Sponsored, Tech

‘Pillow Talk’ With Sleeping Expert Dr. Adam Zuber

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A good night sleep is essential to health. So what to blame, if you are not getting the satisfying great rest you deserve? If we believe the latest wave of commercials and articles on that topic: Blame it on your pillow! Sadly the pillow industry is a jungle full of false claims that often shatters the consumers’ high hopes. We sat down with top board certified neurologist and sleeping expert Dr. Adam Zuber.   MSM: Finding the right pillow seems to be a big deal these days … Does the right pillow really make such a big difference? AZ: The right pillow makes all the difference in the world, as sleeping is the major part of our life and is where our mind, body and soul rests and recuperates. Without the right pillow one can have restless sleep, restless sleep makes us cranky, less productive and ineffective during the day.  People who snore are restless sleepers no matter how much time they spend in bed, their sleep is non restorative.  Pillows are what make sleep better and the proper positioning provides optimal sleeping position. MSM: Can the wrong pillow cause harm? AZ: For the longest time we used to have thin one inch high pillows, as once seen in President Lincoln’s bedroom in the White house.  Then once we got TV and computers in our bedrooms pillows turned from two to four to king size and extra puffed pillows, but these are effective only to use for leaning on and watching TV, using computers and facetiming not particularly for sleep.  The wrong pillow can cause you to snore, aggravate sleep apnea, cause neck pain, make headaches worse, make your blood pressure high, increase chances of stroke and heart attack and complications of pregnancy.  Wrong pillows can lead you to have crooked faces and wrinkle and age faster. MSM: Is that why so many people feel compelled to invent a new one? AZ: The pillows in the market have not been working and we as humans have been making use of whats available.  None of the pillows have had any medically proven science behind them. Till this point, pillows have only been there for us to lean on and provide a soft place to rest our head but not provide all the benefits that the Sona Pillow® Classic and the Sona Pillow® O model provide.  The first time a pillow was shown to be beneficial for us was when I invented and propagated the Sona Pillow® which uses Sona Positioning® and prevents snoring and sleep apnea.  Since then a lot of pillows have made claims but with no real credible science behind it.       MSM: You are a top neurologist and sleep expert, what made you invent your own pillow?  AZ: As a fellowship trained Board Certified Neurologist and Sleep Specialist working at Neurology Associates of Scottsdale Arizona my expertise and experience in the field lead me to design the Super pillow the only pillow to be ever approved by the FDA for use in snoring and sleep apnea and proven medically effective for the same.  After the ongoing success of the Sona Pillow® I designed the remarkable Sona Pillows® which are perfectly comfortable and instantly effective and usable.  I am the director of multiple sleep labs and I saw first hand the struggles of people suffering from poor sleep, lack of sleep, sleep apnea, stroke, heart diseases and snoring.  I did sleep studies everyday to check what was wrong with people while sleeping and frequently started them on the horrid CPAP.  I wanted to make a pillow that not only helped peoples sleep issues but had multiple other benefits.  The Sona Pillow® Classic and Sona Pillow® O model helps with side sleeping, wrinkle prevention, consolidating sleep, neck pain, snoring and having restful sleep.     MSM: What sets it apart from the competition? What are the benefits? Both the Pillows, the Sona Pillow® Classic and the Sona Pillow® O model, are unique, patented and contain breakthrough technology which remarkably improve sleep. I feel this needs to be shouted from the top of the highest mountain to get the word out there about these revolutionary pillows.  These pillows position the user in a side sleeping position with the head facing downwards, this is a trademarked position used only by these pillows. This patented position moves the jaw forward because of gravity, as you are using the pillow on your side with the head in a downwards facing inclined position thus preventing the jaw from moving backwards and avoiding the obstruction of the throat that causes snoring, sleep apnea and related consequences. The Sona Pillow® was made specifically to deal with sleep apnea, snoring and the sleep disturbances that happen when one is sleeping.  The Sona Pillow® Classic consists of a triangular top for placing the head on either inclined side and moves the jaw forward.  The lower part of the inclines has recess for your arms to extend easily under your head.  This not only helps you to sleep better and prevent snoring and sleep apnea but also avoids the arm from falling asleep under your head.  The pillow is high grade cotton with polyfiberfill and both the pillow and the case is washable, hypoallergenic and mold resistant. The Sona Pillow® O model, is the updated iteration of the Sona Pillow® and is circular in shape with a mushroom top and a raised base.  The pillow is instantly comfortable and can be used on your side or on your back.  This pillow has all the benefits of the Sona Pillow® and more.  The pillow is made of specialized memory foam with a patented shape and cover which prevents wrinkles and creases on the face, this is the only pillow which prevents wrinkles and is an age defying pillow. This is achieved because normal pillows have covers which crease and leaves marks on the users face, also the fillings of crushed memory foam and lumpy materials cause the creases on users faces. This is prevented by using the patented Sona Pillow® O model. This pillow also has

Fashion, Health & Fitness, MSM Online, Sponsored

Multitasking Sportswear? Yes Please!

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Active wear has become every wear. It is often stylish enough to make it by the velvet rope and if you are serious about working out and looking great, you have plenty of options that slim you down or keep you dry or simply support your exercises.  One of the new gurus in the active wear arena is Nathalie de Champlain, Founder of Caliloko. She made the sought after ingredient “compression” her main focus while injecting a high dosage of fashionista in her designs. Since she also knows a lot about fitness and nutrition, we felt compelled to direct some personal questions her way. MSM: As a trendsetter in the active wear business, what do you see as the main trends for the coming season? NDC: Since I am a competitive squash player, high-performance fitness athlete, entrepreneur and busy mom of two sons, I know how important fitness, style and comfort are to me – and I’m certain for all who include fitness into their daily routines.   As the fitness, health and wellness trend is increasingly becoming a key part of many people’s lives, wearing compression technology clothing to prevent injuries and reduce soreness is now added to the shopping list. However, technical wear has to be stylish, durable and very comfortable. The coming season will continue to see new lightweight textures and fabrics as well as a lot of matching sets of long tights, capris and shorts with tank tops and sports bras. Tones are more neutral. Women will continue to wear their leggings with hoodies and post-workout lightweight layers. MSM: In a booming but highly competitive active wear market, you saw a niche … tell us what you saw. NDC: Over the past couple of years, after testing compression wear during competitions, long runs, recovery (including while sleeping) after a race or even when we travelled long distances, my husband and I realized that compression clothing helped us recover much faster, reduce soreness and prevent injuries. However, the products available then in the highly technical active wear market were not fashionable and not always comfortable. I saw a unique opportunity to make technical more fashionable clothes by creating a premium range of high quality products — helping to boost performance and prevent muscle injury all while looking amazing. MSM: What sets your brand apart from the others ? NDC: Caliloko is different in many ways. We are technical with a fashion twist. It sets us apart.  Our designs are nothing like what we see out there. We bring the compression wear industry to a new level of experience and a more prominent part of people’s wardrobes. We use body mapping to guide the technical drawings and created patterns and textures that are unique to our brand. We sculpt the body and bring health benefits, with fabrics that are breathable, moisture wicking and anti-bacterial with UPF 50+ sun protection.  MSM: For those who just decided to get fit and dress the part, what work out routine and matching outfits do you recommend to get “started” ? NDC: Fitness is so important for everyone so I recommend for newbies to start slow and gradually incorporate a fitness element as part of a weekly routine. Add fitness in your agenda and stick to it, treat it like a client meeting or an important presentation. I also recommend buddy training. It is way more motivating, fun and consistent. Caliloko is dress ready. You can wear our active tights under gym pants or as a single layer to tackle your leg day or any of your fitness activities such as jogging, running, cross fit training. Should you choose yoga, a long walk or spinning, our recovery long tights are perfect for you. You can also use them for your post-training recovery and some people even sleep in them to reduce soreness the next day. You look good on the street and in bed! MSM: What’s your personal work-out routine? NDC: As fitness and squash are part of my life, they allow me to channel my energy, and feel more balanced as a mother and business woman. I have built in strength, cardio and core training in my schedule and mix it with squash drills and matches. My husband is also very involved into fitness as an amateur triathlete and Ironman. We use compression daily and it allows us to get going and enjoy our high intensity workout routines. He even uses our recovery long tights through the night after a long distance run or bike ride. Since we travel a lot, we also use our long tights on planes and when we need to stand on our feet for many hours. It helps to avoid swollen muscles and reduces soreness. MSM: Any diet secrets to boost the work out results? NDC: We love to eat healthy at home. It is a way of life and it has become even more important when 10 years ago, we learned that my husband’s cholesterol level was too high. As the main cook of the house, I then started to control what we ate; avoiding processed food and red meat. I started to prioritize super foods, fish, grains, fruits and vegetables in our diet. Since then, my husband’s cholesterol level is under control and actually way under the harmful levels. And as part of our fitness, we regularly make our fresh juices (using a juicer) and smoothies especially within 20 minutes after a workout where your body absorbs fuels in the most optimal way. What boosts our workout results is the combination of our healthy eating habits, combined with proper hydration and enough hours of sleep.  For more information on Caliloko and their products, visit them today at www.Caliloko.com [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10429″]

AroundTown, MSM Online

Were To Be On The 4th of July? ?? We’ve Got You Covered

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Photo courtesy of NikonMiami.com Thinking of where to celebrate the birthday of American Independence?  Look no further. Here’s our list of places to go for food, fun, sun and of course great party’s and spectacular fireworks displays.  KEY BISCAYNE 4TH OF JULY PARADE The 59th Annual parade takes place on Wednesday July 4th at 11am. Between Harbor Drive to West Enid Drive running along Crandon Blvd. Bring your friends and family and enjoy the fun. Then make your way to the Kiwanis Picnic on the Village Green. The fireworks display with start  at 9pm.  4TH OF JULY EVE WITH ¡SUÉNALO! AT THE WYNWOOD YARD BBQ, Beer, Cocktails, Dancing to your hearts content, The Wynwood Yard will celebrate Independence Day with Miami’s very own Latin Rock Band, ¡Suéno!  RSVP HERE OCEAN DRIVE FIREWORKS DISPLAY There’s no shortage of delicious food and drinks at the many restaurants and cafe’s that line Ocean Drive. Enjoy the afternoon with dinner and drinks on one of the most admired Drives in the world. Take your position between 5th and 15th street for a spectacular fireworks show starting at 9pm.  CITY OF AVENTURA ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Grab your blankets, bring your family and Enjoy the fireworks set for 9pm. Find your spot along East and West Country Club Drives.  4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN CORAL GABLES AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL Don’t miss this free event located at the Biltmore Hotel at 1200 Anastasia Avenue in Coral Gables Fl. Special concert by the Greater Miami Symphonic Band. There will be concessions and a spectacular fireworks display. The fun starts at 5pm. The live concert begins at 7pm and the fireworks display set for 9pm. AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY BASH AT BAYFRONT PARK Free Admission sponsored by Budweiser. Family Fun Zone opens at 3pm, Budweiser Beer Garden and live music begins at  2pm, the Fireworks Display starts at 9pm. Bring the family and enjoy the day. CITY OF HIALEAH’S ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Come and join the fun at Milander Park located at 4700 Palm Avenue. Celebrate this Independence Day with live music, delicious food, fun and games for the family and a spectacular fireworks and laser light show. The gates to the Ted Hendricks Stadium opens at 5pm. CITY OF DORAL FIREWORKS 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION The celebration starts at 4pm ending with a spectacular fireworks show at 9pm. Located at Doral Central Park, bring the family to enjoy music from live entertainment, food and refreshments from a variety of vendors. Arrive early and enjoy the evening with fireworks set to display at 9:20pm. 

Interviews, MSM Online, News & Entertainment, Showbiz

Martha MacCallum – Live From The Sunshine State

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Martha MacCallum – Exclusive Interview  By Nadja Atwal Martha MacCallum is one of those people that generates an “insta-like” reaction. The successful host of the Fox News show ‘The Story’ continues to receive praise from the media and her audience both for her interview style that has always successfully thrived for an objective delivery and classy debate of the latest news. The gorgeous anchor with those famous light blonde tresses (no wonder she told ALLURE magazine she never even considered changing her hair color) began her career as a reporter for Corporate Finance Magazine and held a variety of positions including with NBC and CNBC before she signed with the No 1 cable News Station Fox News.   In 1997 and 2003, MacCallum was the recipient of the American Women in Radio and Television award for her reporting and  in 2017, she landed on Variety’s New York Power List. On Thursday, June 28th, the busy power woman and her colleague, Fox News anchor Bret Baier will co-moderate a Republican gubernatorial primary debate in Orlando live from the Gaylord Palms Resort in front of a live audience. We took the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with Martha.    Not only have you established yourself as a powerhouse on primetime, but you are one of the few political TV show hosts who has not stirred up controversy. Is it because you try not to weigh in too heavily with your personal opinion or what is your recipe ?    My recipe is news and doing great coverage every night. Honestly, I am not a person who believes what I do is about me. It’s not about me. It’s about the viewers, the audience, and the country. I’m an arbiter of the news that’s coming across my desk every day and there are times when I reveal a little bit about how I feel about something, but I have a pretty good barometer for where that line is and I really try not to cross it. I’m really thrilled that the show is doing so well, but the recipe is always evolving!   Whenever I spent time at the Fox News building in NY in my capacity as a political commentator, I had a fantastic  experience  –  only meeting the nicest people. I perceived the place instantly as an environment where true friendships can be initiated and manifest. Then again as a host you must also feel that conflicting vibe of in-house competition. Tell us a bit about your experience and how you’ve navigated through it all over the years.   I think that we have very healthy competition here. We all want our show to be number one – we certainly want all of our shows to be in the top 10 in which we’re thankful to say that we have a tremendous record of success. The bar is very high for all of us and I think that we compete first against the other networks, and then second against each other in terms of wanting to have the best show. I think anybody whose successful in life has that attitude. That being said, we also are friends and we develop close friendships over the years. I’m just reminded of this weekend I went to Charles Krauthammer’s funeral and saw so many close friends from this environment and people who appreciated Charles and will miss him so much. Being there reminded me of what’s really important in life and that is friendships, people and the way you treat each other. I think that that’s something that’s really important to all of us.    This Thursday you will  host a Republican gubernatorial primary debate in Orlando. Again you were paired with Bret Baier for this live event. What makes you two a great  team?   We love working together. I think we complement each other really well. Bret obviously does a fantastic job and is based in Washington and has a great pulse for politics. I’ve covered politics my entire career as well and this is really a dream job for me. This is something I’ve always wanted to do. So when I sit in that chair and moderate debates I walk in there with my homework done because I absolutely love the whole process of writing, refining and debating the questions with our team. It is truly a dream come true for me and I love working with Bret. Bret is one of the best people that you will meet in this business and as long as we work together – that’s a great place for me to be.    After hosting debates like this where the audience has access to you, what are the most frequent questions you are getting from audience members once the show is over?   I can honestly say that they tell us to keep up the good work. They are incredibly encouraging. Sometimes you’ll hear someone who is a fan, isn’t a fan – I like to talk to people on all sides of the fence. I think it’s what makes life interesting and we just love their input and I love doing it in front of a crowd. The energy in the room is really palpable and it fuels the energy on stage. When we walk out and when we look at everybody and they’re so excited to be there it’s just so different for us because I’m used to working on a quiet set with a bunch of people. Being in front of a live audience just adds that extra energy and excitement to the night.   You are also devoting a substantial amount of time to charities, tell us a bit about the projects you currently support with great passion and why?   I’ve long been involved with The Inner City Scholarship Fund / Be a Student’s Friend program in New York and New Jersey. I believe that the Catholic schools in both states provide an amazing opportunity for inner city kids to be taught in an environment that’s safe and gives them a place to grow and thrive, and

LIFESTYLE, MSM Online, Traveler

Sweet Escape Pick : Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club, Bermuda

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By Nadja Atwal Bermuda is the oldest self-governing British Overseas territory, yet all you need to know is that is has dreamy beaches, lovely locals and short direct flights. The New Yorkers made it a favorite sweet escape many moons ago, but hey, they need the great beaches while sticking to their their “time is money” mantra  (New Yorkers reach Bermuda in just 2hours). Now for us sun-and-beach  spoiled Miami folks, one may wonder why should we bother to hop over there? The answer is: cause it’s different, cause it’s charming, cause it’s inspiring, cause it’s relaxing, cause it’s genuine, cause it’s not cheap but delivers a lot bang for your hard earned buck. It’s simply heavenly. I loved my trip so much that I created a collage from my best photos I took there and printed it on canvas. The piece of personal art filled with vivid memories  prominently hangs in our beach themed bedroom.   The Hamilton Princess is Grand Dame of Bermuda hotels with a very long, impressive list of events and guest. Queens and kings resided here and we too felt like royalty the minute we checked in. Gorgeous, art-filled interior is paired with a staff that shines with genuine warm smiles and the willingness to help you any way they possibly can. We recommend getting one of the rooms with a private patio that leads you to the (very) green lawn with a picturesque Marina front.  My two young sons would run out every morning and enjoy the thick juicy grass under their feet… The older one would pick flowers for me –  a habit I had to put to an end abruptly. After a family breakfast on our patio – we variated between ordering room service and items we bought at the supermarket around the corner  –  we would take a quick dip in the refreshing infinity pool, then I would throw in a gym visit or a round of tennis, get dressed, pack the beach bag and swing by the wonderful hotel boutique that will seduce anyone into wearing Bermudas and straw hats. Then we would get on the hotel shuttle to the beach. Usually the word “ beach shuttle” creates no excitement on my end, but as I got on that cute little bus with the fellow hotel guests, I decided to simply focus on the views I could gather along the way. I was not disappointed. I saw a love fest of colors, unique architecture, an abundance of gorgeous flowers and trees and beach views that I had never even dreamt about. As a result I would look forward to this shuttle ride every day. Our private beach was simply…well, heavenly,… only this Man-O-War warning sign at the entrance dampened my enthusiasm for a minute. But those unfriendly jellyfish don’t show up that often and thankfully I came with my Sea Safe lotion (a sun protection that causes jellyfish to really dislike you and turn the other way). The sand was as they say…fine and pink….and never too hot. I walked barefoot to my lounge chair…taking my time, since my feet were happy. Once I settled in, I could not wait to get into the water though. The sea was clear and very salty – and… full of life! Little fish were my steady companion. 20 feet into the very shallow water hammocks awaited us with a new form of relaxation experience. Just dreamy…. and fun too, when you play the game ‘who throws whom out of the hammock first into the water.’ The kids appreciate the little pirate themed playground on the beach as well. I loved it because it meant they could stay occupied by themselves in a fun, safe environment. This year the hotel launched it’s own kids club that provides tons of safe entertainment.   As for my own entertainment, I  would take one of those surf boards with a paddle attached and paddle around getting lost in this perfect scenery that almost seemed too good to be real. Or I would snorkel around gazing at the sea life. Then I’d pick one of the hammocks on the beach, listen to my favorite tune while tackling the latest novel by Paulo Coelho.   On top of that, great food was delivered  (I kept re-ordering the tasty chicken sandwich with Aioli and the tacos)  ….The atmosphere was peaceful and exuded total relaxation.   When the last shuttle bus arrived to pick us up, I left eager for more. It was a perfect day and turned into the perfect stay.    See you again soon, Princess ! www.thehamiltonprincess.com

Culinary, MSM Online

Where to go on Fathers Day? Here’s Our Top 5

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Need some last minute ideas on where to take Dad? We combed through all the wonderful restaurants in Miami and the surrounding area and were floored by the amount of exciting options. Our editor board had a hard time narrowing down a long list of fabulous places, but here are our Top 5 for this years Father’s Day…   1.) The Forge Some sayings are indeed true like “Quality prevails”. The Forge is a perfect example of this. Opened more than four decades ago, it has never ceased to amaze its guests – and not just the Steak lovers. For Father’s Day, The Forge is bedazzling our taste buttons with a special tomahawk steak and lobster tail combo. “Yummy” doesn’t even cut it…. 2.) The Wharf The Wharf lights up Brickell with a setting unlike any other in South Florida. The 30,000 sq. ft. open-air special event space welcomes patrons looking to please their palates with some of the most delectable libations and culinary creations in town. Miami’s most sought-after food trucks are on a regular rotation to satisfy eager palates, a rotation of highly acclaimed chefs hosting one-night special engagements curated to please the foodie community and a fish market & raw bar by local seafood favorite Garcia’s. Join for a special Father’s Day celebration with great music and the best of food.     3.) Ferraro’s Kitchen Restaurant & Wine Bar The winner of the 2017 Diner’s choice awards is not just taking you on a spectacular journey through Italy with their delicious plates for the special occasion. For Father’s Day they give Dad a gift card and a complimentary glass of Prosecco. Like!   4.) Billy’s Stone Crab Get out of town (but not too far)! Miami’s neighborly friend Hollywood is always worth a ‘sweet escape’. When it comes to a combination of spectacular food and great views, if you haven’t visited it, now is the perfect time. Obviously there must be a good reason why people from all over the USA call in for shipments for these delicious crabs. It is one of those few foods that requires you to literally get “cracking”  and tastes best with little to nothing added, although the mustard dressing at Billy’s is the best you can ask for. Their staff likes the dish best with just a squeeze of lemon. Sit back, relax, watch the boats passing by and amp up on some tasty protein.   5) Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink says it’s “a vibrant neighborhood bistro built on seasonal ingredients and warm, hospitality”  and we could not agree more. Some seek it out for the fantastic raw bar with the best oysters, some navigate straight to the pizza oven to have their pizza with a local farm egg on top. It is all so delicious and never a dull moment. We predict Dad will love it.

Fashion, MSM Online, Shows & Events

Miami Fashion Week Recap

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Day 3 – Master Class Programming, Runway Shows and Antonio Banderas Benefit Gala Photo Credit: Lukebeyond Day three of Miami Fashion Week (MIAFW) continued with the educational series of Miami Fashion Week Summit hosted by internationally recognized model Valeria Mazza. Opening the floor was Dr. Carmen Hijosa, founder and CEO of Piñatex, who spoke on sustainable materials, followed by Juan Pedro Moreno, president of Accenture, commenting on the impact of digital, and concluded with Francois Van Den Abeele, founder of Sea2see, explaining on sea waste disrupting fashion. Back at the Ice Palace Film Studios, over 600 guests were in attendance leaving standing-room only for the runway presentations by Benito Santos and Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada. Renowned Mexican fashion designer, Benito Santos, opened the night with looks inspired by Greek mythology. Ready-to-wear resort wear with gold accents and gladiator sandals, the exclusive collection reflected ancient beauty. Noble Spanish designer Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada followed with her models bouncing with energy, blowing kisses and getting cheeky on the runway. With the brand’s signature fun-loving style, the exclusive resort collection unleashed a rainbow-spanning palette that was smacked with stripes, hearts and patterns. The evening concluded with MIAFW Honorary President Antonio Banderas Benefit Gala, with all proceeds supporting Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation and Fundación Lágrimas y Favores. The annual black-tie event featured sit-down dinner, live entertainment and live auction. For the first time in its history, Roberto Cavalli unveiled a special curated luxury collection at the gala to an audience of A-list celebrities, global influencers and fashion leaders. The collection embodied a modern design of beauty and sensuality with a fresh perspective on glamour. Featuring 25 looks from the brand’s collection, the Roberto Cavalli team donated an evening gown of the SS 2005 Roberto Cavalli Collection to the live auction. VIPS in attendance included: · Antonio Banderas (MIAFW Honorary President) · Julio Iranzo (MIAFW CEO) · Carlos A. Giménez (Mayor of Miami-Dade County) · Valeria Mazza (Fashion Model and Entrepreneur) · Nieves Álvarez (Spanish Model and Television Presenter) · Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada (Fashion Designer) · Ángel Sánchez (Fashion Designer) · Rene Ruiz (Fashion Designer) · Ugo Colombo (Real Estate Developer) Looking forward, day four will include exclusive runway shows by Colombia’s acclaimed designers Daniella Batlle, Carolina Estefan and Lina Cantillo, as well renowned Spanish designer Custo Barcelona.    

Business, Financial, MSM Online

Armando Soto on How To Make It In Miami & Live the American Dream

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By Nadja Atwal / Photography by Alessandra Fiorini Sometimes we just need an inspirational story that reassures us that the American dream is still alive. We would rather work smart than too hard, since in the end we work in order to live and – especially in a place like Miami that needs to be enjoyed all year around. Armando Soto shows us that is no problem at all and we do not have to wait until we qualify for a senior pass to get there. The 32 year old investment banker and start-up-company genius left his home country of Guatemala at age 15 to live with his American mother. He struggled with learning English and getting into college he became a plumber by trade. After refusing to let go of his dream of working in the business world he would read the Wall Street Journal out loud in front of a camera and play back the tape to improve his pronunciations; signed up for college at age 24 at The City University of New York and  jumped into the finance industry. Today he handles billionaire clients and has transacted over 500 million in Leveraged Buy Outs. He currently finances and restructures client investments while building new companies like kids build sandcastles in Miami beach. A frequent guest commentator on national business TV shows, he recently started to make waves across the country as a motivational speaker in front of large audiences especially young people turning up in great numbers to hear his speeches in search of smart guidance with both IQ and EQ. NA: Your story is fascinating and unique and attracts thousands of people to events when you appear as a motivational speaker. Tell us about your early years when you arrived in the US? AS: The early years were very difficult, simply because I was starting my sophomore year in a suburban high school in the middle of nowhere New Jersey. Between the language barrier and the culture shock, school was difficult and making friends in a new country was not simple either. I was bullied by many people including my mother’s brother in law. I remember an instance where I was helping him take out a bag full of garbage and he said to me “practice your new profession”. I could not believe my ears but in hindsight I believe many people discriminate or are racist because they feel threatened in one way or another. I was fortunate enough to have my neighbor Louie who had moved into town from Brooklyn; he was new in school as well so we became good friends and his size deterred many people from bullying me in my junior year. I learned a lot from him in regards to becoming more confident and not taking any abuse from people. Academically with English as a second language it was very tough for me. I was able to learn to speak English fluently by the time I graduated High School and my prospects looked a bit dim for college. I didn’t get accepted into any Universities so I turned to the plumbing trade and went through a four year program. By the time I graduated from Plumbing school I realized it was not my passion at least I learned trigonometry in-depth. NA: Did you have anything like a big American dream? AS: As a child I would watch the movie Trading Places with Eddie Murphy. I asked my father what the World Trade Center was and why the buildings in New York City were so tall. He would tell me all the big business in the world happened there. As a child I would day dream about walking in the streets of New York and working in the trading pits, there was something about the motion creating emotion.  When I moved to the United States I mentioned my dreams to friends and they would laugh at me. NA: How did the switch happen from plumbing business to the finance world? AS: When I was 22 years old I realized being an engineer by trade was not my passion and I felt that I had an untapped potential. The construction markets were starting to show signs of distress right before the great recession. I asked Phillip, a family friend who is a very successful investment banker for a dinner meeting and after eight months of coordinating with his assistant he had some time to meet with me. I had three hours to absorb as much information about investment banking as possible and I told him my plan of going back to school to break into finance. After looking back and thinking about our meeting, I really got key parts of “the recipe” that night. I started commuting to CUNY from New Jersey. It was a rough start but mentally, there was nothing that would stop me and this was just the start of climbing a mountain that would only get steeper with time. NA: Why did you decide not to finish university? AS: I began to look at everything from a finance perspective and I did not have enough money to finish school without falling very deep into debt. I was offered a great job opportunity in finance and asked my Economics professor for advice on whether to take the offer or continue school. He said to me “opportunity knocks…” I answered “once” and he said “well there you go, I wish you the best of luck. Although it seems like you don’t need it”.  I base my decisions based on facts but that day it was based on intuition. NA: Tell us how exactly how you managed to lose your Spanish accent and what motivated you to do this? AS: I used a camera to record myself reading the Wall Street Journal and played the tape back to focus on my mispronunciation. Practice certainly helps. In business being clear and concise when you speak is one of the most important qualities you need to have. The motivator was to fit into America, I came to this country and from day one I

Beauty, MSM Online

“Beachwear and Beachbody “ By Nadja Atwal

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 Our former cover star Monica Hansen tells us her tips to navigate through this summer in shape and in style. The former top model has become THE new star of swimwear design again. Sports Illustrated chose several of her designs for their new Swimsuit Issue. NA: What are the must haves this summer for making a big splash on the beach or by the pool? MH: My Must Haves this summer for making a big splash at the beach or the pool are: Dr. Garth Fisher’s new sunscreen product DocBlock, Evian water spray mist bottle,  Virgin Coconut oil for hair and skin, Beach towel by Mayde towels in Australia, and of course some of our favorite swimsuit items from our collection. NA: You are a designer but still have your supermodel figure and pose in top magazines. Please share some workout and diet tips so we all can look a bit better this summer. MH: To stay in shape my tips are to obviously stick to a healthy diet with smaller sized portions, but since we all want to enjoy a bigger meal, sometimes, I strongly advice  to eat any heavier foods earlier in the day. Keep it light in the evenings! I eat a lot of salads and fish, although I do occasionally eat chicken or steak, and yes,  I try to drink a lot of water. As far as exercise goes, I do some light weight training and cardio at the gym but the thing I really focus on is mega pilates 3 to 4 times per week. It’s a game changer. NA: Your favorite drink while being cool by the pool? MH: My favorite poolside drink is a cool refreshing mojito NA: Your favorite hang out in Miami for beach and pool time? MH: When I am in Miami my favorite places to hang out for beach and pool time are the Edition Hotel, the Faena and the Hyde Beach Club at the SLS South Beach NA: What skin care do you like for both skin protection in the sun and aftercare? MH: For protecting my skin when I go out in the sun I love Dr Garth Fisher’s new sunscreen called DocBlock.  And for post-sun aftercare I like products by Dr. Obagi. NA: Where and when can the Miami crowd see your designs in action next ? MH: We will be showing our collection in a runway show at the Funkshion main tent as well as in the Cabana Trade Show.  Swim week is the biggest swimwear trade show/convention in the world and will take place this year from July 12-16th in South Beach Miami. So see you then!

Business, MSM Online

Miami Is Keeping Business Hot – But What About The Risks?

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By Nadja Atwal/Photos by Aubrey Chandler Entrepreneurs are tastemakers of lifestyle and Tastemakers are entrepreneurs of lifestyle. Successful entrepreneurs typically influence quality, quantity, choice, and what is generally considered acceptable. Likewise tastemakers of lifestyle recreate the experiences of the rich and famous influence dictating quality, quantity, choice, and what is acceptable, in fashion, style, and popular trend behavior. There are great similarities between entrepreneurs and tastemakers. One could easily say that entrepreneurs are tastemakers of lifestyle and tastemakers are entrepreneurs of lifestyle. Each spends a lot of time on how to influence behavior. Some succeed. Some fail. So what drives success? What causes failure? What are the major differences between the entrepreneur and the tastemaker that dictate success or failure? In the investment community, the best risk management strategy usually wins. Risk is a good indicator for success vs. failure, because risk is a possibility that will have an effect on every outcome. Some stakeholders take risk it into account when measuring success. Most do not. Risk is the potential of losing or gaining. In today’s volatile marketplaces like entertainment, tech, oil, or crypto, having a risk management strategy will certainly gain an edge over the competition. The journey to success relies upon the plan set forth to achieve success as well as how one effectively measures the planned journey along the way. “Entrepreneurial success can be and should be a measurable calculation for the most part,” says Hasaan Austin from BSEP+, one of the nations top risk managers who sees an increased demand especially in Miami. “Yes. There are some intangibles. Very often a successful entrepreneur’s primary objective is to attract capital. Even if not to accept capital but to operate in a best practices fashion to meet capital requirements. This is measurable. Meeting basic capital requirements says to the marketplace that one is navigating and decision-making effectively. The business systems puts in place to affect margin, debt service, and risk will guide decision-making on a path to meeting requirements.” Entrepreneurs like tastemakers also draw upon inherent traits for decision-making like talent, feelings, experience, and intuition. However investor demands for risk management often limit how much unquantifiable decision-making takes place. Investors require more calculated result driven decisions. Yet a healthy combination of both type of decision-making can serve well if one can demonstrate high performance over time. Nevertheless quality risk management will help you keep score on your journey to success and help you triumph. Tastemakers generally apply more inherent decision-making traits as influencers, like celebrity, vibe, buzz, gut feelings, and social sentiment. These traits are often unquantifiable but have great inherent business value that can influence outcomes. When you combine these traits with risk management measurables, this can create a great tastemaker lifestyle venture, which will yield better results. Tastemakers should be more vested in their influence, why not? Tastemakers are often unknowingly stimulating business ecosystems. Tastemakers dictate the movement of capital, resources, and job creation simply by creating a demand. Tastemakers shift consumer-spending behavior, influencing choice, price points and more. What makes Miami special in this context? Hasaan Austin sees the evidence speaking for itself: “Miami is a top tastemaker destination. People come from all around the world to experience the tastemaker lifestyles of the rich and famous in Miami. When Rene Ruiz, Miami Fashion Designer extraordinaire, fits Deborah Norville for The Oscars Red Carpet, all the sentiments of Miami being the next big fashion city starts to reign true. Or when Thirstin Howl the 3rd talks about being “Fresh Dressed,” it becomes a LoLife movement in Miami and around the world. Or when DJ Irie, DJ of the Miami Heat says, “Some of my favorites include Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami,” people’s choices change. These influencer choices can shift economies. As tastemakers become more vested stakeholders and incorporate more corporate structures and risk management strategies into their ventures, they become more entrepreneur-like, right? The line between entrepreneur and tastemaker is blurring more everyday as best practices are put into place. As stakeholders, downside risk should be a primary focus in measuring outcomes. Whether you’re using the Balance Sheet Enhancement Platform to protect your principal and hedge against downside risk in your investment portfolio or enhance your entrepreneur undertaking with a credit enhancement to attract capital, you should have an effective risk management strategy in place”. Sound advice. Entrepreneurs and tastemakers are stakeholders that operate in the same box seeking maximum return on investment from their efforts. What separates one from the other is generally who applies more measurable business fundamentals to quantify success. Success can be measured many ways. Most rely on the X’s and O’s written on the chalkboard. Some rely upon talent, instinct, or a combination of each. Nonetheless the measurement will always be how close was your “planned” strategy to your “actual” outcome?

Business, MSM Online

My Miami – with Jamie Colby of Fox Business Network’s primetime reality series Strange Inheritance

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By Nadja Atwal Popular Fox News anchor Jamie Colby may be one of the smartest ladies on TV. The stunning blonde with the infectious smile was a practicing attorney before she entered the world of TV and is currently licensed in California, New York, Florida AND the District of Columbia. If that was not enough she is also an accountant, a mortgage broker, and a real estate broker. Her smarts showed early on when she got admitted to the University of Miami International School of Business at age 14! Currently the diverse media pro who has an extensive journalistic background with networks like CNN, CBS and FOX (among others) is hosting Fox Business Network’s primetime reality series Strange Inheritance. But her busy business schedule never keeps her from enjoying one of her favorite places: MIAMI. We were curious about all the details…. 1.) When in Miami you may catch me at….the Palm Court in the Design District, listening to the Miami Symphony or enjoying irresistible food and live music at Estefan Kitchen!    2.) The biggest misconception about Miami is…that it lacks culture and is just a retirement locale or party town. I always make time to check out the art scene in Wynwood, the Bass museum, Faena Art and try to score tickets to the now famed Art Basel. I’ve watched the art scene take off in my hometown since before Basel started in Miami. You can literally attend something incredible every night!   3.) The last restaurant I enjoyed in Miami was….that’s an easy one. Joe’s!!! Steve Sawitz is the world’s greatest host and I can never go enough for stone crabs and all the sides! You are making me hungry!   4.) What surprised me about Miami was…that I ended up living there! My folks were both native New Yorkers but when they uprooted my brother retired Dade County Circuit Judge Jonathan Colby and I to move to Miami, they did us the greatest favor!   5.) Best reason to return to Miami aside from the weather? The people! I have a ton of childhood, college (Go Canes!) and law school friends in town but wherever you go in town, there’s a colorful crowd that’s ethnically diverse and I think that’s what makes Miami so special. I wish more people would check out how far Miami has come in its beauty, entertainment, art and hospitality. Growing up one of my funniest memories was my best friend Stephanie Koretzsky who was a hotel operator at the National Hotel owned at the time by her dad Murray. These were the days when you had wires you plugged into the switchboard to connect calls (think Lily Tomlin and one ringy dingy). Every time I drive down Ocean Drive which looks nothing like it did then, I think about how funny Stephanie sounded – just a kid playing a hilarious hotel operator. The shopping keeps me coming back too. I love the Webster, En Avance and a trip to Bal Harbor with lunch at Carpaccio of course!   6.) First time I became really curious about Miami was …right now! I just can’t even imagine what it will be like in 10 years. Construction is booming, people are investing and the art scene that I am so passionate about is literally on fire! How exciting for all of us who love Miami so much.   7. ) 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 am such a big fan of Steve Sawitz and Joe’s Stone Crab’s, after all he is a childhood friend, that after I went into labor with my son and was warned no meals before delivery, I made a stop at Joe’s take out on the way to Mount Sinai Hospital down the street and had a feast of claws, coleslaw and hash browns! My delivery room nurse was clearly not pleased so after my son Gregory arrived, I sent the whole labor and delivery staff a take away Joe’s meal they’d never forget.

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