Insider: ‘Rise and Shine’ (PG. 38)

From calligraphy, to pottery, to cooking, to gardening, we explore creative activities for Naples’ locals to start the New Year off on the right artistic foot.

Insider: ‘Freeze Frame’ (PG. 40)

Today’s technology for phones, device accessories, and apps is catapulting portrait photos to a whole new level of artistic expression and glamour. Checkout a Roundup of digital tools to amp up your selfie aesthetic.

For more writing samples, please visit my Portfolio Section below.

This weekend in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit conference—one of the produce industry’s largest and most influential gatherings. Imagine: major players and executives from every segment of the global fresh produce and floral supply chain all on the same trade-show floor.

The experience provides face time with existing customers, negotiations for significant deals, and a venue where new brands are exposed to influential people.

It’s also where veteran-trade magazine PRODUCE BUSINESS launches one of its largest issues of the year. I’m proud to share an article I wrote for this October edition, which showcases what’s new in the fresh-cut salad category. If you are an attendee, be sure to stop by booth #3000 to pick up a copy and say hello to the magazine’s staff!

From new branding, to umami flavor profiles, to aquaponics, these brands are meeting consumers’ demands head-on and raising the industry’s standards.

Thanks to the following companies (listed alphabetically) for your inspiring innovations:

Apio

BragaFresh/Josieʻs Organics

Dole

Earthbound Farm

Fresh Express

Gotham Greens

Mann Packing

San Miguel Produce

Tessemae’s

Urban Organics

The flavor characteristics of teas—woodsy, sweet, astringent or perfumed—add depth to sweet and savory dishes that no other ingredient can rival. Many nutritionists, dietitians, and chefs are invigorating taste experiences by using teas as an ingredient for cooking and baking.

Health Infusion

According to various university studies, phytochemicals in tea (such as flavonoids) may protect against bone loss; the polyphenol in green tea has anticancer properties; black tea help decrease risk of cardiovascular disease; and herbal teas (made from an infusion of dried fruits, flowers, herbs, and spices) serve fragrant-enticing, therapeutic functions.

Home Brew

Alana Sugar is a certified nutritionist and a dietary consultant with Whole Foods Market, and she suggests the following cooking method: Grind tea leaves in a spice or coffee grinder, or a pepper mill; add to spices and herbs to grained tea, and use as a rub for meats or tofu.

Amy Myrdal Miller, MS, RDN, FAND, says, “Green tea has a subtle ocean flavor, and can be combined with panko bread crumbs to coat fish for baking. One of my favorite ways to use tea is to add some deeply steeped Earl Grey to chocolate ganache mixture for cakes and handmade truffles.”

She adds, “I’m seeing chefs use tea in marinades and brining liquid for meat. I’ve also seen chefs use loose tea to smoke meat and poultry.”

Smoke Effect

While smoking may be a refined cooking technique, there is an array of applications. A critical factor is using true harvested teas. Fruity-flavored or artificial-flavored teas will throw off the taste of the smoked food, explains M. Jill Overdorf, a Los Angeles-based corporate chef who specializes in national executive-level culinary training. She suggests: slightly moistening dark tea leaves (such as Lapsang Souchong) and smoking it with red meat. Vegans can enjoy with Brussels sprouts as the protein replacement.

The smoking process can be used outdoors with a traditional smoker or indoors by placing the moisten tea leaves at the bottom of a wok; add a wire rack that fits inside the wok; and put your meat/protein on the rack; cover with the lid for a few minutes on medium heat.

Sweetea Pie

For those home cooks with a sweet tooth, loose tea can also be steeped in dairy (such as creams, butter, and milk), and then used to bake desserts. Since Florida-inspired cuisine doesn’t warrant a rich, heavy dining experience, using a chai tea for crème brulee, flan, or pudding gives the “rich unctuousness when we think of winter flavors, but without the heaviness,” says Chef Overdorf.

Aslin Castrodad, Florida’s regional coffee and tea coordinator for Whole Foods Market, suggests adding a steeped vanilla rooibos tea with honey to a butter mixture, and then using it as a sweet spread for bread or pastries.

Chef Asif Syed of Naples, FL-based 21 Spices restaurant took this pairing of tea and butter to an award-winning level by using an Indian chai tea in a butter sauce for his Grilled Sweet Water Prawns dish, which won the Tampa Bay International Curry Festival.

Anyone who has dined at 21 Spices knows Chef Syed’s appreciate for cured leaves by the restaurant’s tea wall and its blends with Indian cuisine. “I’ve used Darjeeling tea in a reduction sauce for grilled salmon, a raspberry herbal tea for ice-cream pops, and green-tea infused yellow tail snapper with pine nut pilaf and Brussels sprouts,” he explains.

De-lite Guests

Pairing Florida citrus with a green or white tea by poaching overnight in cold liquid, creates a stellar brunch appetizer when you brulee or broil with a little sugar atop the fruit. “That’s a great way to impress guests with a flavor they won’t necessarily be able to identify,” says Overdorf. “You can actually reduce the amounts of sugar and salt within a recipe by cooking with tea since its natural complexity adds to flavor.”

*Writer’s Note: Portions of this article were published in the May 2017 issue of Naples Illustrated magazine. See Portfolio section for clip.

Harley LoBasso, senior hair colorist and creative director for color at Delray Beach, FL-based Hair by Scott & Co. has been caring for my hair for nearly 10 years. I say “caring” because she treats my locks with utmost respect when properly lifting, darkening, shading, highlighting, painting, you name the process, and we’ve tried it—within my conservative limitations.

LoBasso’s personal and professional aesthetic is edgy yet polished; her work is a refined art that has purpose and intent. She has a way of translating those editorial and high-fashion looks into wearable and complementary personal statements for her clients.

I have thick, long, unruly, dark brown, hair. While I maintain the same haircut, crafted by Hair by Scott’s Mariko Long, I feel color is where I can play and experiment. I always have my go-to celeb hair crushes (Eva Mendes/@evamendes and Penelope Cruz/@penelopecruzoficial) saved to my phone for inspiration, but LoBasso taught me to think seasonally about color pallets; consider art or pieces of clothing when finding a particular shade of red or hues of gold.

On the day of my appointment, I show her pictures I collected during the past four months, and we discuss the emotion, attitude or imagery the look will exude. I love that we get to geek out and examine hair color in this way. For the times where I’m at a loss or feeling uninspired, LoBasso always has options and opinions for what will look stunning and for what I will love.

The Boca Beauty Academy grad also studied fashion design at Miami International University of Art & Design, and she says her education helped shape her aesthetic.

“Inspiration [for me] really does come from everywhere,” she says. “Fashion and hair are coming together, and I feel people are really respecting hair as an art form. I think it really started [to be taken seriously] with the Ombre. The Ombre allows clients an outlet for creativity.”

Despite trends, LoBasso believes it’s the colorist responsibility to go with what works for the individual—no matter how desperately a client wants the look/color of a celebrity or a trend. “I don’t care how great the aesthetic, if the look is not right for the person’s skin tone, or if they won’t keep up with the cut, then it won’t be a proper representation of the individual or the look.”

She takes a candid approach to working with her clients when deciding on a color service. “There were times in my career when I know my response might hurt people’s feelings, but once people see I’m being genuinely honest, and they know I’m speaking from the heart, then I take comfort and peace in knowing that I’m being honest with myself and the client [about the results].”

Her work turns heads in everyday life and on an international stage. Since 2013, LoBasso placed in the Top 5 for the United States in Goldwell’s Color Zoom hair competition. In 2015, she won gold for Best Creative Colorist out of 2,500 competitors across 32 countries. The competition, hosted by the color brand (established nearly 70 years ago), follows a theme. LoBasso won for the Rebel theme. Entrants have three hours to recreate the art originally submitted for the contest.

LoBasso along with two other female winners—a record for the competition—(Corinne Brown (USA) Global Winner Partner Category and Natalie Cara Jones (UK) Global Winner New Talent Category) were faced with creating the 2017 theme and establishing six key looks. In October 2016, the 2017 Color Zoom Collection: In Flux Theme (#feeltheflux) was unveiled to the public in Stockholm, Germany.

The recognition was reported by Modern Salon magazine Estetica magazine—making the cover and featured story in both publications.

“In my opinion, what gave my submission such a distinctive look was because it was the first Goldwell entry that was super aggressive,” explains LoBasso. “It was a representation for me going all in.

“The goal is to have the look be editorial; it has to speak to the levels of Vogue or W Magazine. You want that aesthetic respect. Edgy with sophistication.”

She explains the look is half the battle. It’s crucial to have the perfect model. “Finding a model is seeing the potential of what they can become. When you’re looking for your canvas, you want a model who understands the look and still feels like themselves, because that will come across in photography.”

She serendipitously found her model at a rock concert for the band Brand New.

“I worked with the same statuesque model for three years, and for 2015, I knew I needed a different look. I wanted to find the person who will wear the look I’m envisioning.”

LoBasso says the Goldwell-collaborative experience was amazing from start to finish. “They have you meet with fashion houses and a trend forecasting company. The concepts are drawn from what the fashion industry is putting out, so everyone is speaking the same language for hair, makeup, etc.

“We were all in awe of the experience we were going through, that it became a great sisterhood—that sounds cheesy, but we worked together to channel each of our creativity, so you want to have respective disagreements and not have the process get stifled by egos.”

She believes the same is true when coaching her own apprentices at Hair by Scott. LoBasso works with her training staff on more than technique—customer service, formulations, and moral support are paramount.

“Wherever you are starting from, whatever you believe in, and whatever your goals are, when you find something you love, then stick with it,” she says. “If you know what you want and love, then during the hard times, there is more clarity on how to deal with it or where to go to move forward.”

In this next installment for the South Florida Women’s Profile Series, I interviewed Shanon Irish, coordinating producer for “Inside the HEAT” —a 30-minute, documentary/biography-style television show on the Miami Heat basketball players.

The show profiles players and who they are off the court, where they’re from, their journey getting to the NBA, and their aspirations as basketball players. Irish is responsible for producing the show, which airs every three weeks during basketball season.

“I set up the scheduling with all our players and hosts, and I also create content for the show,” explains Irish. “We have four segment producers to edit the material, and once we review it for final cut, then we send it to Sun Sports to air on television.”

Irish received her bachelor of science degree in media production from Florida State University in 2004. Upon graduating, she walked into her dream job editing all of ESPN’s live shows (such as “SportsCenter” and “ESPN News”). As much as she loved the experience, she realized something was missing—her family. As a daughter, sister, and aunt, Irish longed for closer family ties and moved back to South Florida in search for another job opportunity. Her work garnered the respect of colleagues from ESPN, and she was recommended for position with “Inside the HEAT.”

“You can’t orchestrate that,” she told Gabrielle Bill of Career & the City about her choice to make the move. “It was really special and fortunate. I could have been unemployed for a long time.”

A little more than 10 years later, she is successful, happy, facing challenges head on every day, and is still being recognized for her passion and skill for production—yes, that’s Irish with five Emmy Awards.

“It is a very special honor that means the world to me. It’s the highest recognition we can get for our show. I’ve never actually seen them all together, because I gave my first one to my parents; I gave one to my aunt; and I have three at home, which is still amazing, but it was definitely a surreal moment to see them together [for this photo].”

She also has two championship rings, because Owner of the Miami Heat Micky Arison “believes everyone contributes and we create for the overall [working] environment, so it’s an honor to receive them to show appreciation by this sports organization,” says Irish about Arison’s decision to give rings to all Heat staffers.

“The Miami Heat is one of the best sports organization—especially in South Florida, and I believe this is true from being in the industry for a while and because our owner treats us with the utmost respect; he really takes care of us and recognizes our work.”

I asked Irish to give us a behind-the-scenes vantage point for her job and her creative process.

BeautyLens: What are some rewarding aspects of your job?

Shanon Irish: One player said, ‘That’s the best show anyone has ever done on me,’ and another player’s mom personally thanked us for documenting her son’s life in a unique way. Those kinds of comments are flattering. We gather everything we need to tell a player’s story, and this show goes beyond sound and visual … it’s photos with players, high school video footage, etc. It’s not a news piece. It’s almost like a keepsake for the players.

BL: How do you conceptualize these shows in order to make each one different?

SI: In the summertime, we will meet and collaborate as a unit and brainstorm concepts until we come up with a ‘wish list,’ and we present this list to our PR department. Then they give a yay or nay. If yay, then they will run it [concept] by the player for a green light. Every question we want to ask is done prior to the show in pre-production.

Everyone on our show has a voice—and an important voice—no idea is a bad idea. Even if we can’t do it the way it was envisioned, the complete product is always something to be proud of.

BL: Is there any part of the process that’s creatively restrictive or inhibiting?

SI: For the most part, we have a lot of creative freedom, because we do lots of research to figure out the best angle. We want Heat fans to know who the players are and where they come from, and the players are typically on board with the creative aspects or pieces that are ‘a little outside the box.’

With this creative freedom, it makes every day different and every season different. The ideas from the producer meetings morph into refined products. Sometimes we have logistic issues that change the concept; for example, not being able to film at a certain location because of weather.

Every day is a grind, but we are all a family and cherish each other, and that makes for a positive environment—that’s very satisfying. With my job, I love that every day I get to be creative and challenged. It takes away the staleness.

BL: In the male-dominant world of sports entertainment, do you feel like there is a prominent female voice and presence?

SI: The sports industry as a whole is male dominant, but there’s definitely been a shift.

The Miami Heat is very progressive as an organization. I think the production departments are stronger in female presence. The staff for “Inside the HEAT” is mostly women.

BL: How do you maintain a work/life balance?

SI: I’m fortunate that my position now allows for a regular schedule. The one thing I’m mindful of is workload management. I keep reminding myself that the work will be there tomorrow. That helps me personally, because I could stay late every day at work. There’s always so much to do; but at the end of the day, I put it down and step away from it—sometimes in order to have a fresh look at it. It’s not always easy, but it’s a process I still am getting used to after all these years.

BL: What’s next for your career?

SI: I just want to be the best at what I’m doing. I don’t necessarily want to start my own thing, or be at a different sports team, I just want to be creative and be the best version of me. There’s always another way to make myself better and grow with my job. Most importantly,

I am enjoying the space that I’m in, which is really loving my job and trying to work toward being a better version of me. Whether that’s being a better manager or coming up with versatile ideas, that’s what I strive for. I don’t have an answer for 10 years from now, because I haven’t allowed myself to think that way. I’m good. I’m happy.

In the New York Times article, “Together, at Home and at Work,” the author and monthly columnist of This Life, Bruce Feiler, provides businesses advice for couples who are working together and/or running a business together.

He notes: “Glenn Muske, a professor at North Dakota State University, has studied couples who start businesses together. He calls them “co-preneurs,” and said his research found that two-thirds of businesses in the United States are family-owned, and a third of those are run by couples.”

The Boston Globe’s correspondent, Ami Albernaz, sites in her article, “Couples Who Work Together May Work Better”: “Research over the years has shown that satisfaction at home and work are linked: When people are happier at home, they tend to be more productive at work, and vice versa. People who perceive balance between their work and family roles generally do better in both domains than people who do not.”

Musical icon and self-proclaimed “bad feminist” Madonna recently had this to say in her Woman of the Year acceptance speech at the 2016 Billboard Women in Music ceremony: 

“There are some very good men worth backing, but not because they are men, but because they’re worthy.”

Whether you are a female choosing a career as a “Solopreneur” or to collaborate with your partner on a venture, there is an innate chemistry that balances the yin and yang of the female to male ratio.

Ashley Rudnick, 33, is President and VIP Director of Boca VIPediatrics, and is one half of a power couple that works together in business, life, marriage and parenting. Her husband, Chad Rudnick is the Founder and lead Physician for the couple’s concierge pediatric practice in Boca Raton, FL.

The Germ of an Idea

The concept spawned from a desire for Chad to have a more personalized relationship with his patients and Ashley’s love for Disney as well as the feeling the theme park evokes with every visit.

“I love being at Disney, it puts me in the best mood; everyone there is in the best mood—it’s a world that didn’t seem like you would feel ‘at work,’” she explains about her love for the brand and her desire to work for it.

The Musical Theater major graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and auditioned her way to great roles under the Walt Disney World umbrella, which included a one-woman show called The Perfectly Princess Tea party and classics like Beauty and the Beast.

Eventually she became a part of The Disney Event Group and performed as well as conceptualized themed events for weddings, corporate events, and banquets. During her seven-year tenure, she learned and honed her marketing skills from one of the best brands in the world.

Ashley met her husband while living in Central Florida. Dr. Chad Rudnick, MD, FAAP is now a board-certified pediatrician and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL), graduating with honors and attended medical school at the University of South Florida College of Medicine (Tampa, FL). The couple moved to Miami for Chad’s residency at the Miami Children’s Hospital.

“During his residency, he would see around 50 patients per day,” says Ashley. “He would come home and complain, ‘I’m always behind schedule; patients have to wait sometimes an hour to see me. …’ He also had experience working with a couple concierge doctors, and he much preferred that vibe and way of treatment—essentially being able to take the red tape out of medicine and turn it into a service platform, which is my forte. We brainstormed for a way to make a pediatric office that mimicked the experience of Disney World. We collaborated from there and hashed out ideas, and made it happen.”

Ashley says the goal of the company’s concept was to provide parents and their children with an experience for each visit, and to remove the negative stigmas that come with going to the doctor. “We like to say we offer small-town service with modern medicine.”

Behind the Marketing Savvy

BocaVIPediatrics takes concierge medicine to the next level with its on-call service and its unparalleled use of technology. So much so, local news featured the practice multiple times for being what Ashley coined “a pediatric smart office,” and the first of its kind in South Florida.

Ashley handles all aspects of creative marketing, outreach, and public relations, as well as manages the practice. Her creativity and marketing talent gained her recognition as the recipient of the 2016 “Top Woman in the Business of Concierge Medicine” by Concierge Medicine Today (a private medical news and information organization).

At the start, the technology component wasn’t a primary focus. “We were impressed with all the innovations from around the world, and all the med-tech products in development that many doctors wouldn’t necessarily jump on using these devices because of red tape with insurance companies or the monetary investment or doctors,” she says. “We’re Millennials, we love technology, and if there is a chance to use it and see how it works, we are open to that.”

Ashley says there was a couple of companies they were able to serendipitously connect with that revolutionized their business. The two devices creating the business shift were the virtual stethoscope and digital otoscope.

“We don’t work for insurance companies, we work for our patients,” she says. With devices like the CliniCloud thermometer and stethoscope, in addition to OTO Home’s otoscope, members of BocaVIPediatrics can use these technologies to work directly with their pediatrician to receive a convenient and accurate diagnosis.

“If it’s midnight and the child is crying uncontrollably, the parent can use these devices to check the ear or heartrate and send the recordings to Chad to review, and he can make the diagnosis. That’s a story our clients will tell forever.”

When considering these new devices and patient-care formats, Ashley recalls a TED Talks with author/marketer Seth Godin: “How to Get Your Ideas Spread.” “It discussed the remarkability factor. What makes people remark? When I think about what we do, I think is this or how is this remarkable?

“The house calls, for example, that’s something very few practices do these days. Whether you’re a mom or not, that element about our practice is remarkable—it’s a talking piece for conversation. Sometimes, we’ll test an idea out on Facebook and see what the reactions and shares are to get a consensus if people will gravitate toward it.”

Another aspect Boca VIPediatrics excels at is personal service and interaction with the community.

“We take the assembly-line feel out of pediatric care, and we do that by knowing each individual child and what they’re into; so, for example, we’ll have a certain toy or movie playing when they come for a visit.

“We do registry reviews, which is unique, because I don’t think a lot of other pediatric offices have time for it.”

Ashley also developed a program called Mommy Recommended, Pediatrician Approved. Since the childcare and toy industry is ever-changing, a new parent can quickly become inundated. Ashley finds a way to cut through the clutter to single out products or parenting methods that gain notoriety. As a couple, Chad and Ashley give the Mommy perspective and the Pediatrician perspective through Facebook Live events and blog posts.

“Chad will logically think about the safety first and the science behind a product, and as a mom, I think about practicality and style, so we’re able to offer advice that speaks to both sides.”

Care doesn’t stop at the toddler age, Boca VIPediatrics also has a Collegiate Care division of the practice, so if you have kid(s) away at college or straddling the transitional lifestyle from being at home to living on their own, “they can be a virtual member of our practice where they can text their doctor and have the relationship with their pediatrician and not be intimidated to communicate about medical concerns or questions.”

For those newborn patients and young children, the pediatric smart practice offers something remarkable for any child. Featured segments with CBS and NBC local news affiliates covered the use of the office’s virtual reality gear to transport young patients to an adventure while getting their vaccines.

“Other tactics [we use] are bubbles for toddlers, but for the older kids (ages 6 and up) they don’t want bubbles; they want something cooler,” says Ashley.

Work-Life Balance

When it comes to her own child’s interests, 3-year-old Aria is just as precocious and science-minded as her parents.

“I talk to her like a friend and not a child,” says Ashley. “She’s an only child, right now, so she’s a little adult. She loves Disney princesses and we love to do stuff as a family … going to the park or fun family stuff we can do as a trio. If we’re at a farmers market on a weekend, and we get a call to go into the office, she enjoys playing and hanging with us.”

Make no mistake, when it comes to juggling aspects of her life, Ashley has a clear starting point. “First and foremost, I’m a mom … a mom and a wife. I think as long as I keep that in check, then I’m good.”

Every Saturday night, Ashley and Chad make a point to have date night. “Even if we have nothing to do, we still have a babysitter, and we go get dinner together or watch a movie. Even when things get out of wack, we know we can look forward to Saturday night.”

The same understanding goes for when the couple is out for date night and a baby is born. “We just move our dinner to the hospital cafeteria—we actually did that before—and that’s okay. I knew what I signed up for when we got married, and as long as we continuously make time for each other and our family, then it works.”

I met Jessica Garcia, owner and designer of Ola Feroz Swimwear, for Sunday brunch at Kapow Noodle Bar in Boca Raton’s swanky Mizner Park. (Yes, the Asian-fusion gastropub does brunch—particularly hearty omelets exceedingly well.)

Sitting relaxed with her hair pulled back in a high pony tail flowing with legitimate beachy waves, her look is simplistic yet striking. Her full lips are painted with her own color-concoction made of a bright coral and deep red from Sephora Collection lipsticks.

She wears Illesteva’s Malpensa IV black sunglasses, a white tank from Express, and Baggie-ripped One Teaspoon jeans.

As she sips her Bloody Mary, we discuss the evolution of her luxury swimwear, its local roots, and Venezuelan influence. Her handmade suits are feminine and functional for the avid salt-life worshiper, yet sexy for the elite sunbather.

The brand’s aesthetic evokes imagery of a female emerging from the ocean and being struck by a wave as she approaches land. The name itself, Ola Feroz, which translates to Fierce Wave in Spanish, demonstrates the tenacity behind the brand and its creator.

“Ever since I was little, growing up in Venezuela, I envied the beautiful, petite girls there,” says the American-born designer about her childhood living in the South American country with her father’s side of the family. “The beaches, the islands and the people in Venezuela are some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

Garcia has definitely seen her share of landscapes between living and visiting places like, Taiwan, Bali, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Costa Rica—where she began her early days as a self-taught bikini maker.

“I took an old pair of sweatpants and made my first bikini,” she says laughing. With encouragement from her husband, Javier Garcia, and her family, she worked on her sewing machine for nine hours a day while her husband was on work visa in Cost Rica. Using her one straight-stitch machine, some thread, elastic, lycra, construction paper (for pattern making), and hours of frustration along with trial and error, Ola Feroz Swimwear was born.

The Garcias lived in San Jose, and made the trek to the outskirts of Costa Rica’s beaches on the weekends. They brought bikinis on make-shift displays and sold them to tourist and locals for $25 a piece. “It got to a point where that money would pay for our fun weekends in Costa at the beach.”

Before their time in Costa Rica ended, Garcia hosted a bikini party for friends and made close to $3,000. She immediately recognized the opportunity to expand and had a vision for her return to the States.

Her clientele list grew from Facebook posts and an email list. “I would have customers actually come to my parent’s house [in Lake Worth] to buy and try bikinis,” admits Garcia.

The Social Media and newsletter marketing efforts, grew to an online store, which grew to a boutique on the border of Downtown Boca Raton edging Palmetto and A1A. The clientele not only increased with numbers, but expanded through location. “We have customers from all over the world,” she says, “for example, Australia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Canada.

Celebrity clientele is also in the mix—including fashion models, socialites, YouTube stars and the infamous Kardashians. Kourtney and model Isabela Rangel Grutman were photographed together in the Bahamas this July sporting the Cata Bikini in the Azul Marino color and Araya One Piece in the Playa Pui Pui print.

Elayna of the ocean-trotting Australian couple Elayna and Riley from YouTube’s “Sailing La Vagabonde” channel is flaunting Cipara Set in the Palmera color.

The exotic names of these limited-edition suits that change with each season are named after beaches, places or phrases from Venezuela. Just one of many attributes that differentiates Garcia’s creations.

“The elastic we use is a rubber elastic, and industry standard is using a knit elastic,” explains Garcia. “Knit elastic doesn’t give the same fit and warps over time. Rubber doesn’t, which gives durability and longevity, but it does cost more.

“With the way we sew our pieces, we use a minimal amount of four layers to cut to maintain the characteristics of each pattern. We’re streamlining at a small level. We pin and sew each piece one by one.”

Part of the brand’s novelty is each collection is limited and dictated by the season. “We typically have seven solids and four print styles in each collection. It’s exclusive to own one of our suits. We have a loyal fan base that appreciates our styles and prints.”

Garcia says she still gets lots of requests for padding in the tops. Her philosophy is: padding isn’t everything that has to do with intimate wear for women. “I feel it’s comfortable and natural-looking to not have padding. Yes, people feel more comfortable with it [padding], because they’re not so exposed, but you’re already wearing a bikini, so embrace it. Don’t be worried about being nippily or having your boobs pushed up.

“Our suits are comfortable, natural-feeling and -looking. Our tops are similar to how a bralette would look and feel. Our tops are supportive, because they’re triple-lined, and we’re not trying to compete with so many other brands using padding and underwire. Our niche is not full coverage for bottoms, and we stick to providing that cheeky look since not many brands focus on that aspect.”

When it comes to shopping experience, “Our primary focus in sales is education,” says Garcia. “We make a point to let customers know all product is made in the store’s backroom. We can ship and make things to your liking. We explain and show them how the suit should be worn and fit correctly in addition to how to care and wash them.”

Garcia keeps her own shopping preferences in mind when designing. “I love brands that have their own culture and history, social responsibility and ethics. I like things that are made well and economical. When I buy stuff, I’m big with product descriptions and size charts. I love online shopping, fabric composition and care instructions, and I like products online that have lots of pictures. That’s how I shop, and that’s the experience I want for my customers.”

When it comes to fabrics, colors and designs, “I fall back on what’s comfortable,” she says. “Less is more. I never want someone to say, ‘What was I thinking when I bought this suit?’ Fashion and trends change so quickly—that’s why I like timeless looks, and I’m willing to pay the money for those items. I figure out how often I’ll use or wear something to justify the cost.”

PRICING

“We sell everything separate—even though we promote material as sets.”

Price scale: $140 – $240 for full set.

WHERE TO EXPERIENCE OLA FEROZ SWIMWEAR

Boutique

805 E Palmetto Park Road

Boca Raton, FL 33432

561.331.1805

• Fashion Shows at W Hotel at Fort Lauderdale
• Style Saves Swim Charity Events
• Local Movember Events
• Miami Swim Week
• Popups
• The Girl & The Water.com
• Bask Boutique – Dallas, TX

I’m not a political person, but I’m about to say something “political.”

The results of last week’s presidential election are still on my mind and upsetting. Not because of policies, laws, political party … but for what the, now, President-elect represents.

I’m just going to come out and say it—I was excited to live during a time when there was the first female president. All the b.s. aside, I thought that’s where our country was headed.

With diversely cast TV shows making ratings history, such as This is Us, Modern Family, and The Walking Dead; or salacious female comics (Amy Schumer); equal-pay-rights actresses (JLaw); JLo, for that matter—a triple-threat Latina with a clothing brand, endorsements, entertainment mogul … the list of female empowerment continues.

This election left me losing hope and deflated. I’m still waiting for when I can return to Facebook and not be inundated with creditable media posting protest videos and commentary on articles as to why we are all going to hell in a handbasket.

Like the multi-talented entrepreneur, Terri Trespicio, said yesterday in her newsletter
(“I didn’t know if I should write to you yet”):

“I haven’t written to you since the world exploded last week. Part of me felt like I should say something. And part of me thought I should just shut the F up. …

I’m not going to give you a speech. … There are plenty of petitions to sign and calls to make, and you know as well as I do where to find that info. … Here are a few other things that help me deal.”

Trespicio gave three great suggestions on how to assimilate to the “new world,” and you should check out her talks and writing if you are looking to laugh and be inspired any day of the week.

I, too, choose to focus my pessimistic energy into a good/positive/brightside editorial piece. Something to celebrate—thus the South Florida Women’s Profile Series. Think Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letter without all the awkward oversharing. Even though there is totally a time, a place and an audience for it—this isn’t it.

(Sidenote: If Dunham/Schumer-style is in your wheelhouse, then you must check out Marci Robin’s written word. She’s Executive Editor, xoVain and Senior Editor, xoJane. Her wit, intelligence, and humor complement her unique voice and writing style.)

This profile series highlights the women I’ve come to know and admire in South Florida for their talent, passion, vision and accomplishments.

Leaps and bounds are made every day by smart, talented and driven females. From all walks of life, beliefs, political viewpoints, personalities, whatever category you choose in whatever aspect of life, the “ladies who lunch” today break the mold.

Here is who I have on deck for the next few posts (listed alphabetically by first name):

Business Owner – Ashley Rudnick, president of Boca VIPediatrics (a concierge pediatric practice). She parlayed her 10-year experience as a performer for Walt Disney World into a marketing and business career for her husband’s pediatric practice.

Entertainment – Chloe Dolandis, singer, songwriter, voiceover artist, and all-out musical vixen. The darling of South Florida’s musical scene, her musical style blends jazz, pop and soul.

Beauty – Harley Lobasso, colorist at Hair by Scott and Co. A true visionary that fuses artistic inspiration with tonal shades of hair color. She won first place in Goldwell’s 2015 Color Zoom international competition and is now part of a global team to establish the color trends for the upcoming year.

Fashion – Jessica Garcia, designer and owner of Ola Feroz Swimwear. Her handmade suits are feminine and functional for the avid salt-life worshiper, yet sexy for the elite sunbather.

Sports – Shanon Irish, video producer/editor for Inside the Heat. She is part of the Emmy award-winning production team for the television show covering Miami Heat basketball.

I hope you enjoy learning about these women and derive inspiration from their energy. This is much a cathartic exercise for me as it is a promotion for these women, their work and contributions to—not just South Florida—the world.

As a snack, the berries are rich in carbohydrates, amino acids, and vitamins. When used topically, they protect skin and moisturize in various ways. Native to Asia for centuries, sea buckthorn berry has since gained popularity in North America for a little over a decade, and the beauty industry has taken notice.

REN, Fresh, and Kiehl’s are some of the heavy hitter-brands that use sea buckthorn berry as an active ingredient in specific products.

REN’s Calendula and Arctic Berry Ultra Calm Cleansing Milk–for Sensitive Skin ($32.00) uses the berry in this cleanser to “preserve moisture levels” on the face.

Fresh’s Anise Day Serum ($85.00) includes the berry to boost the benefits of Vitamins A, C, E on the face.

Kiehl’s Imperial Body Balm ($42.00) focuses on the anti-oxidant protection from the berry, and repairs cell damage due to environmental factors.

Have you tried a skincare product with sea buckthorn berry? Do you use sea buckthorn berries in any recipes? If so, tell me about them–leave a comment with all the juicy details.

Advertisements for “Organic Tanning” practically hit me in the face at every turn as I walked around a popular shopping area in Downtown Delray Beach, Florida. Really, organic tanning–yes, such a thing does exist. These tanning salons were strictly referring to the products they use for spray tans–not the beds.

Traditional tanning solutions contain dyes, oils, alcohols, and perfumes (which tend to exacerbate that predisposed heinous smell).  Companies like Decleor and Chocolate Sun have paved the way for formulations that use 100% organic ingredients. To do so, they don’t over process Dihydroxyacetone (DHA, or glycerone).

DHA is the primary active ingredient used in self-tanners, and derived from sugar beets or sugar cane. Some are even derived from vegetables. When blended with various herbs, vitamins, and botanicals you can get a range of tones from tanning solutions. Add essential oils and you don’t have that pungent odor–letting everyone know you paid for your glow.