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by Dr. W. John Bull, Jr, John Bull Center for Plastic Surgery Q. I’ve heard great things about a New Body Contour with VASER LipoSelection. Do you offer this? A. Yes! It’s called Clear and Brilliant Laser Resurfacing. Clear and Brilliant Laser Resurfacing is a new skin care offering at the John Bull Center for Cosmetic Surgery. It is the new fast and affordable approach to laser enhancement. Are you using retinols, serums, and sunscreen? Do you get facials, microdermabrasion, or chemical peels? Are you starting to notice fine lines and wrinkles and a change in skin texture? Does your skin look dull? If you have not yet explored the world of skin care and you are starting to see early signs of aging, then Clear and Brilliant is the treatment for you. It is safe for all skin types and anyone who wants to address unwanted early signs of aging. It will improve the tone and texture of your skin. It will minimize pore size, and enhance firmness and elasticity. It will leave your skin glowing! The treatment is fast, gentle, and very comfortable. There is no downtime and the post care is simple. The results can last for months, but regular treatments every four to six weeks can continue to improve your skin. Clear and Brilliant is very affordable and can address all your skin concerns in one treatment. The most common areas treated are the face, neck, chest, and hands. Clear and Brilliant is the next step in your skin care regimen! Call our office for special pricing or to schedule a complimentary consultation. Take care of the skin you love! ask an expert Dr. W. John Bull, Jr. is double board certified in both general surgery and plastic surgery, and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Bull’s Naperville practice, DuPage Plastic Surgery, specializes in both non-surgical and surgical treatment of the face, breast and body. Call (630) 717-6000, or email us at contact@dupageplastics.com, dupageplastics.com facebook #January2015 #LocalIndustryExperts #glancermagazine

by Dr. David Newkirk, D.D.S., Naperville Cosmetic Dentistry Q. My front teeth were chipped. I asked my dentist to smooth them down so that they would be straight and even. Now I feel like they are too “short” and I am having trouble with certain letter sounds. Can this be fixed? A. It absolutely can be fixed. When I evaluate the aesthetics of a smile, I begin my analysis with the two central incisors. I keep these questions in mind: Can the patient say words that start with “s”, “f” and “v” properly? Can they close their lips around the teeth naturally? Are the central incisors in the correct horizontal and vertical position? Are the central incisors the correct proportion? Proportion, position and function of the central incisors is very specific to the individual patient and these teeth need to be customized accordingly. The picture below is an example of a patient who had recently been restored by another dentist. This patient came to me with the very same question that you have asked. The central incisors had been restored with incorrect proportion and position. The patient’s biggest complaint was the aesthetics and her inability to enunciate words that begin and end with the letter “s”. Having your teeth that were worn or chipped or “smoothed” down can cause the same problem. I always evaluate the size of the incisors before placing a final restoration. There are formulas that I can use to determine exactly how long a tooth should be for proper form and function. This particular patient had been restored to a very unnatural shade of white and opaqueness that did not compliment her natural skin tone. In addition to correcting form, we restored her to a more natural, more flattering tooth shade that blended with her own skin tone. The final result was correct form and natural beauty. Most people would agree that a beautiful smile is an asset. Your smile speaks volumes. It can tell others who are and what you are feeling. A beautiful smile conveys warmth and caring. Until you smile your eyes are the most dominant feature in your face. When a smile is revealed it becomes the most dominant feature. The most important part of a smile is the central incisors or two front teeth. The central incisors have the ability to make or break a smile. What most people do not realize is that the central incisors are also critical for speech and lip closure paths. By concentrating on the function of the centrals, natural aesthetics will always follow. You can see that the smile that functions properly is also more attractive. ask an expert Dr. Newkirk graduated from Loyola Dental School in 1993. He lectures nationally and internationally including Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. He has received numerous awards for excellence in dentistry and has been named one of the top educators in dentistry by Dentistry Today magazine. He has practiced dentistry in Naperville for the last twenty years and lives in the community with his wife and two daughters. While Dr. Newkirk is a general dentist, he has also chosen to pursue additional education in cosmetic dentistry and treatments of problems associated with the jaw joint and bite-related issues. Website: www.napervillecosmeticdentistry.com facebook #January2015 #LocalIndustryExperts #glancermagazine

by Pamela Hunter, Integrative Health Coach, Joyful Healing Oils Q. Have you declared your intentions for the New Year? A. The new year is here and resolutions get made out of habit, but often we find that these firm decisions to do or not to do bog us down. Let’s retrain our thinking and take some time to get clear with ourselves and what we really want to change by declaring our new year intentions rather than resolutions. Look at the Circle of Life and find the areas needing change in this new year: spirituality, creativity, finances, career, education, health, physical activity, home cooking, home environment, relationships, social life, and joy. When you are clear with what you want, write your declarations on a piece of paper, setting your intentions for that area of your life. An example, looking at health: I am aware of what I put in my body daily. I am making healthy choices with every meal. We keep our declared intentions in a place where we can revisit, refine, and speak them. Set aside time each day to sit with your declarations for change and repeat them like a mantra. This lets the universe know you are ready for change and making the effort. Be open to see the change taking place and look for signs and opportunities that come. Be the change you wish to see in the world. ~Gandhi Be patient with this process and allow growth through change. As we change, the world changes with us. Happy New Year! ask an expert Pamela Hunter is an integrative health coach, certified clinical aromatherapist, yoga teacher (14+ yrs), and platinum - Young Living Essential Oils. Her Joyful Healing Oils team educates people on how to bring wellness, purpose, and abundance into their lives. Contact: (630) 248-6575 pamela.hunter@me.com. www.joyfulhealingoils.com facebook #January2015 #LocalIndustryExperts #glancermagazine #pamelahunter

by Dan Firks, Real Estate Broker at RE/Max Enterprises Q. What can be expected of real estate in 2015? A. Every year the market changes – sometimes drastically and sometimes minutely – for either better or worse. This year, 2015 is expected to change for the better in favor of home buyers. Zillow, a leading online real estate database company, makes annual predictions of what trends can be expected for each upcoming year. This year, 2015 is expected to be an ideal year for home buyers - particularly first-time home buyers in the greater Chicagoland area (Chicago ranks number 3 on their list). Zillow’s predictions suggest that young home buyers will have their best shot at finding a home and that first-time buyers who previously put off purchasing a home will now have breakthrough year. Zillow also predicts that buyers will have more negotiating power this year. The combination of increased inventory, rising rents vs a level for-sale market, and millennials previously postponing purchasing who are now in the market, gives buyers more overall negotiating power when making a purchase decision. Zillow predicts that the best markets for first-time home buyers in 2015 are: 1. Atlanta, GA 2. Las Vegas, NV 3. Chicago, IL 4. Hartford, CT 5. Pittsburgh, PA Zillow overall housing predictions for 2015 are: 1. U.S. rents will outpace home values 2. Builders will construct more, less expensive homes 3. Millennials will overtake Generations X as the largest group of home buyers 4. Home buyers will have more negotiating power If you’re a first-time home buyer, or maybe even a seasoned owner or investor, 2015 is expected to be a great year to consider a new home purchase in the greater Chicagoland area. If you’re a soon-to-be first-time home owner, Chicagoland and the Chicago suburbs are littered with affordable entry-level homes with strong home-value growth. If you’re a seasoned owner or investor, you could consider an entry-level home purchase to flip or use as a rental property. Each individual is ready for purchase at their own time, but if you’re credit, financial condition and life situation allow for a purchase, 2015 is an ideal year. ask an expert Dan Firks specializes in real estate for Chicago’s western suburbs & won READER’s CHOICE for 2014. As a Naperville resident and Realtor, he has been named a “5-Star Real Estate Agent” by Chicago Magazine, Zillow, and is the #1 Real Estate Broker at RE/Max Enterprises. See Dan’s reviews on Zillow @ www.zillow.com/profile/ danfirks. Have a question or want a free market analysis? Contact Dan at (630) 637-9009 or dan@danfirks.com. View homes today at www.DanFirks.com facebook twitter #January2015 #LocalIndustryExperts #glancermagazine

by Mia Tischer, Executive Director/Owner of LearningRx Q. If many learning difficulties can be overcome by training cognitive skills, why isn’t it done in school? A. Building cognitive skills is not an academic subject, such as biology or algebra. You cannot lecture about how to have better auditory processing (the key skill required for good reading) and have it improve. It must be trained and practiced in order to develop. This is similar to practicing to learn to play the piano or hit a golf ball. If practiced, it improves. Because this requires one-on-one training and is not academic, it is not easily adaptable to the classroom. With specialized attention and training, weak skills can be identified and trained to become strong, allowing faster, easier learning. My daughter does poorly on tests even though she studies very hard. Why does this happen? One of the most important underlying skills responsible for this is long-term memory. Children who struggle with this will have trouble remembering information for tests, math facts, sight words, and procedures for how to do things. They may not remember assignments, to bring home things they need for homework, or to turn in completed assignments. This is a skill that we can measure to determine how strong it is and it can be trained to make it stronger. ask an expert Mia Tischer is the executive director/owner of LearningRx Naperville. LearningRx-Naperville brain training center provides cognitive skills training that empowers anyone of any age to learn faster and easier. Tutoring and other programs reinforce "WHAT" students must learn (information). LearningRx-Naperville brain training center identifies and strengthens the skills behind "HOW" students learn. Please call (630) 470-9631 or visit www.learningrx.com/chicago-naperville. facebook twitter #January2015 #LocalIndustryExperts #glancermagazine #MiaTischler

by Eric D. Bruss, APLD, Owner of Bruss Landscaping Q. Thanks to the early freeze and light snow, we never got our fall cleanup completed. Will everything be OK? A. This has been a common concern recently. We too had a very hard time completing our fall cleanups this season. In general you need not be overly concerned for your landscape due to excessive leaf cover in bed areas. Lawn areas will pose a slightly different concern depending on the upcoming winter. If we have extensive snow cover with fluctuating temperatures, then lawn areas will be more prone to snow mold with a heavy leaf layer. Unfortunately, at this point you will need to just wait it out and see what Mother Nature brings. The key will be to make sure you do a good thorough spring cleanup next year, and try to do it as early as possible. If areas of your lawn are damaged from snow mold, rake the areas to remove the grayish-brown surface layer. Typically these areas will green up with early season grass growth. Areas that fail to green up by early May have deeper damage and will require an over-seeding to help them recover. As to your plantings, they are naturally accustomed to leaf debris around their root zones during the winter months. This layer will actually provide an insulating buffer that benefits the root zone in times of deep freeze. It is again important, however, to do a good cleanup in the spring as leaf build-up in your landscape beds then can cause crown rot to certain species of plant material. ask an expert Eric D. Bruss, APLD is the owner of Bruss Landscaping, Inc. Bruss landscaping has been providing high quality landscape design and installation services to the area since 1952. Please contact Bruss Landscaping at (630) 665-1600, www.bruss landscaping.com, or visit our display gardens at 1607 E. Roosevelt Road in Wheaton. facebook twitter #January2015 #LocalIndustryExperts #glancermagazine

by Kristen Kucharski WATCH THE INTERVIEW: http://youtu.be/o6CL4arqM34 Anderson’s Bookshop hosted a very personal book signing with legendary Grammy-nominated singer, drummer, and percussionist Sheila “E” Escovedo where she very candidly spoke with fans about her powerful memoir, “The Beat of My Own Drum”. The book takes readers through a fascinating journey from Sheila E.’s very first band to her tours with Marvin Gaye, George Duke, Lionel Ritchie, and Prince, to the launch of her own solo career. But it’s also a heartbreaking and ultimately redemptive look how music can save a person’s life. Although “family” was her protagonist in the book, as she always had them by her side, even for her biggest performances and music videos; "family" was also her antagonist, as she endured unbearable abuse at the hands of several cousins when she was child. Sheila holds steadfast that family will always be the most important thing in her life. “They are important to who I am as an artist and my music, and the person I have become,” she says. Her unwavering respect for her parents influenced career decisions such as refusing to say the “F” word while recording a song with Prince, staying away from a life of drugs and sex, and ensuring to always give back to those less fortunate than herself. “I saw people in my dad’s band strung out on drugs and that frightened me,” she shared. “I just thought - that’s not the way to live a life.” Her parents, who she likens to Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, provided a home of love rooted by a strong conviction in God. “My parents always said, ‘just because we don’t have, doesn’t mean we can’t give; we can give from our hearts, it doesn’t cost anything’.” Sheila’s memoir shares the inner details of her life on the road during her music career, including all “the money and belongings and applause”, but it also discloses how her glamorous life made her demanding, depressed and surprisingly, in debt; and how her biggest regret was not graduating high school. “Education is the biggest tool that we can have in pursuing our career,” she says. “That’s the mistake that I made and learned from.” After 40 years in the business, she is just learning to read music now amongst many other things on her bucket list which include acting, performing on Broadway, and opening a second club, all the while knowing that God may have a different plan for her. Q & A INTERVIEW In your book "family" is your "protagonist" as in always having them by your side even for your biggest performances and music videos; yet, "family" is also your "antagonist" as in your cousins taking advantage of you when you were a young child....when you think of the word "family" what immediate words come to your mind? Love – always, no matter what. Unconditional love. Family means everything to me. They are important to my life, they are important to who I am as an artist and my music, and the person I have become. After reading your book.....I love your mom, even though I've never met her. I love the overall respect you have for your parents...even to the point of telling Prince you didn't want to sing the F word because your mother would have a fit. When parents these days struggle so much with disrespectful children, how did your parents earn your never ending respect? I respect my parents, I always have. My parents are people who are not only my parents but my best friends, but I still have that respect level. There were times when - of course - I’m not an angel; I wasn’t good all of the time. I turned out okay. There were times when I was bad, absolutely. Some lessons learned very quickly - Not to disrespect my family, my parents. The thing is that there were decisions that I had made during my musical career that I think weren’t great decisions, but they were things I wanted to do, and they allowed me to go through the process, like saying to your children, ‘don’t put your hand on the fire because it’s going to burn’, but we do it anyway. Because we have to experience what that really means in order to figure out not do it anymore – sometimes that happens. So there were some things, but it didn’t matter - they still loved me and cared for me and were still very supportive. We all went through a process of things together and it takes communication with parents and children to keep that bond and that respect. When the communication breaks down that’s when you end up hiding things, when you can’t talk to your parents, or the parents can’t talk to their children, and then there’s no respect. I’ve always had communication and a bond with my parents. Although your dad was an extraordinary musician he struggled to pay the bills while you were growing up....Even in the most financially difficult times, your moms and pops never gave up on their belief that God would provide. Somehow through situations that tear most families apart, yours gained strength. How did their faith become so deeply rooted? Moms and Pops have always said there are always people that are less fortunate than us. We are rich in who we are as people, even though financially in what we have is not rich, but that’s okay. There were times when literally my mom, if we didn’t have milk, she would use water in our cereal. If we didn’t have cereal, she would use bread and milk, it didn’t matter; most of the time we ate rice and beans because it was cheap. No matter what we had, we always gave back to the community. My parents always said, there are people less fortunate, let’s go back and give back to the community anyway – just because we don’t have, doesn’t mean we can’t give. We can give from our hearts, it doesn’t cost anything. So that was always the way we grew up – knowing that God would provide. What we don’t see right here on the table – because we don’t see it, doesn’t mean we can’t get it. He always provides for us and if we know that, then that allows us to walk freely in faith instead of walking in stress. We are too blessed to be stressed. It’s easy to say that, but you really have to walk in that. You really have to believe that. You have to really know it. We all go through things. In the hardest times, the really bad times, you want to call on God and go “Why, why…., but at the end of the day, you look back and go, ‘of course, He took care of us’. He always does. Although you played with some incredible musician like Carlos Santana, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, George Duke, Ringo Starr, Elton John...... It appears Prince is to credit for Shelia E. becoming a household name? Why do you think he was so humble in his involvement in co-producing, co-writing, and performing your entire first album which reached #28 on the pop chart, was nominated for a Grammy, and went gold? I did play with many people when I first met Prince and I turned around to introduce myself to him and he said to me, ‘I already know who you are, I’m a huge fan of yours’. He had been following my career for a while – I was playing with George Duke at the time and doing a lot of television appearances. When we finally got together to do my record, he had reached a level of popularity that was greater than mine and he was in a position to say, ‘hey, I’m signing other artists, I would love to have you on my roster of artists, and I can help you - if you have any songs, we can do them together’. And that’s exactly what we did, we got in the studio and the record was done in about a week. He was in a place of really giving back to a lot of other artists and wanting to get out their great music and be able to write with other people he hadn’t written with. It was an opportunity for him as well. Prince was enamored with you and taught you the ins and outs of the business. I was heartbroken when I read the part about you coming home from the Purple Rain tour in debt.... Why don't you think he protected you from his management team and your increasing expenses? Interesting enough, we both had the same management, so that was a conflict of interest anyway. He didn’t really show me all the business, my dad did, all the people that I had performed with, like George Duke. They showed me the business. Even Lionel Richie – he said ‘make sure’ – and I didn’t listen. Yes, Prince should have said something as well, but he was actually defending his team to say they didn’t do anything wrong and I said, ‘Yes they did’. When I did get my team together, I said, ‘Let’s audit them and find out because this is not right’. There were some mistakes in their calculations and they were double charging me for things, which was even worse. Up until I did that, they hadn’t actually known that the person who was taking care of their finances had actually stolen millions from Prince as well. So I knew in my heart something was wrong and pursued it, and we went up against the wall that was built so we wouldn’t do it, but we did it anyway, and it was good. Most musicians dream of being famous with all "the money and belongings and applause".....you had it, but said it made you demanding, depressed, and surprisingly in debt. If you could redo your musical career…..and you had to choose a path – would you pick playing in your dad's band and simply having enough to pay the bills, or choose the glamorous life with all its ups and downs? I wouldn’t change any of it because there was a reason for me to go through and experience what I did. I can never take back what had happened, but where I’ve gotten because of that, is well worth the light at the end of the tunnel. Through all of that…I wouldn’t change a thing. You mention one of your biggest regrets was not finishing high school with a traditional graduation ceremony....what advice do you have for teens of today regarding education while pursuing a passion? Absolutely education is the biggest tool that we can have in pursuing our career. That’s the mistake that I made and learned from…reading the fine print and realizing this is my career. I love music but the business part of it is what we are really not taught, and that part is the most important part of having a successful career. Make sure you know the business end and make sure you get a team of people that are really helping you. Not just, ‘hey, I’ll take care of the bills’, but actually teaching you to learn on your own - so if you have to do it - you know what’s going on; mentoring you along the way. It’s really important to stay in school. You're an incredible musician but reiterated many times throughout your book that you don't know how to read music.... you play by ear....did you ever learn to read music? I’m teaching myself now. Is that one of your bucket list items? Yes. I did go back to school a couple times – college – even though I didn’t graduate; they let me take some courses anyway so I could take classes for music. But every time I took classes, I got called away on tour and leave. So even right now, on my iPad, I can show you, there are like five apps that I’m teaching myself how to read music. When we watch E! entertainment shows that share the life of a celebrity, especially musicians, the story always seem to include the high and appreciation of young success, then a life of drugs and sex, then finally a road to recovery. Your story is different...how did you stay clear of the life of drugs and sex in the midst of your career? My mom and dad wore platforms and bell bottoms, leather pants, suede – they were hip! They were amazing. It was that era of Woodstock and all that. I was afraid of it. I saw people in my dad’s band strung out on drugs and because I saw that, I was afraid of it. I think that frightened me that I didn’t want to do that, I didn’t want to be that. It killed my uncle, it killed many of our friends, and I just thought, ‘that’s not the way to live a life – dependent on a substance’. And I think the part about sex - well I have two parents that married first then had me and my other two brothers and sisters, and that’s what I always wanted – to be married first, then have a family. I wanted to find someone that I really loved to start a family with. When I saw others sleeping with whomever – I thought, how can you just sleep with someone and you don’t love them. That didn’t make sense to me. I know that might be old school but that’s how I feel. You pursued your passion......what's left on your bucket list? There are pages. My bucket is pages. It’s a book. You are currently working on learning to read music and I know you want to be an actress. I want to do a movie. This book will become a movie. Just recently, I wanted to open up another club. I have a club now in Los Angeles, but I’m opening my second club. I’d love to do a play on Broadway. I heard that’s a lot of work. There are many things I want to do. I can make my bucket list and there’s something you think you want to do and then God opens this door over here, that you had no idea was open, and you go, ‘Oh my God, I never thought of that’. And then you go this way and it allows you to go somewhere else. I do my book and then He does His. What up and coming musicians of today do you think will be legends and stand the test of time? Wow, wow – let’s try Bruno Mars. I think he’s incredible. He’s a pretty incredible guy and we sat down and had a heart to heart. I really want him to win. I want him to sustain. I want him to realize that him being so young - I was there – I know what he’s going through and it’s just like saying, ‘man, please don’t put your hand on the fire – just don’t, just don’t, it’s not worth it’. So I wish the best for him. I told him, ‘We are praying for you’. There are a lot of people we pray for. We have teams of Prayer Warriors that we have and we get a list of more people that we pray for. I told him, ‘You are on our list and I just want you to know that we are praying for you’. There's an immediate opening for a drummer at the 10:15am service at Alleluia! Lutheran Church in Naperville .....interested? Ooohhhh – I’ll come back and play. I promise. I’m going to come back and play. What are your seven nicknames? Sheila, Cho, Lila, Cho Cho San, Sheilarita, Aunti Cho, Nina, Ni, there’s more….. #SheliaE #glancermagazine

by Kristen Kucharski Glancer Magazine Junior Reporters first met and interviewed actress, model, singer, dancer, author, and Disney Channel star, Bella Thorne at Naperville’s Last Fling back in 2011 and they were excited to meet up with her again at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville to learn more about AUTUMN FALLS – Thorne’s newly released book by Random House Children’s Books. The book, which is about a real girl trying to find her inner strength and be the best she can be, mixed with a hint of magic and mystery and a steady stream of boys, gossip, and I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened fun, is inspired by actual events from Thorne’s own personal life. AUTUMN FALLS is very relatable for a group of tween girls like Glancer’s Junior Reporters who, like the main character, Autumn Falls, are still trying to figure out how they fit into life. At 14 years old, the main character Autumn will grow and develop throughout the planned trilogy series. “I picked that age because that’s when things really started to click for me; that’s when I really began to understand myself,” Thorne says. “When I was 14, I was trying to be someone else and trying to impress people and make other people happy before myself, and I really had to grow up and realize that you have to make yourself happy too.” Growing up with dyslexia, reading and writing have not always been easy for Thorne and she admits to being very nervous about writing a book but, “I wanted to show kids that if I’m dyslexic and I can write a book series, then I’m no different than you guys; so if I can do it, you surely can,” she shares. “When I do essays in school, even though it’s tough for me, I actually LOVE writing them; I have a very imaginative personality.” The 17-year old’s future plans include going to college to pursue writing and/or directing one day, and she hopes readers will learn from her books that when one door closes, another one opens. “When my father died, the only way I could look at it was realizing that there must be a reason that he passed away,” Thorne shares. “Maybe that I’ll become a stronger person; that I’ll be able to do many more things in my life - with a heart of gold - because I’ve been through so much.” Watch the Complete Interview Here http://youtu.be/y_Gn2xRJ_Ac “LIKE” Glancer Magazine’s facebook Page & Follow Us On Twitter for Event Photos and More #glancermagazine #KristenKucharski

by Kristen Kucharski The Next Sweetest Thing Following in the footsteps of where One Direction began their journey to fame, Sweet Suspense, composed of Celine Polenghi (17), Summer Reign (18), and Millie Thrasher (15), were formed on the U.S. edition of The X Factor's third season. Kelly Rowland called them “sensational" and Simon Cowell crowed "these gals are already stars!” In pursuit of making their dreams come true, Sweety High, which is a revolutionary social media platform, signed Sweet Suspense to a management deal and produced their first single and music video for their new original holiday song “Just Another Night.” The group is also signed to Jason Derulo's Future History label and will also be working on a scripted television series. In addition, Sweet Suspense requested an interview with Glancer Magazine’s Junior Reporters while in town to perform at Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Parade with Radio Disney where they stole the show. Sweet Suspense is set to release more original music in 2015 and are currently spreading their incredible harmonies far and wide. Follow their journey @SweetSuspense. #sweetsuspense #KristenKucharski #glancermagazine

by Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark Photos by Lynn Logan & Mike Mantucca Unless Otherwise Submitted And the 15 Fascinating Faces of the Year Are..... Congratulations to our 15 Fascinating Faces for the Year of 2014! Though we received many inspiring and heartening stories about fascinating west suburban residents, we could only choose a few to feature in this year’s annual issue. Those who were chosen will uplift you during this holiday season, sharing their joys, triumphs, and inspirational messages. Click here to meet them. Jerome F. “JR” McBride Jr. – Glen Ellyn September 3, 1967 – October 24, 2014 Dedicated husband, father and public servant, JR McBride was no ordinary man. Becky, his wife, and JR lived in Glen Ellyn for 20 years and have five children, Lauren, Abigail, Molly, Sara, and Marty. JR was a man of many hats. He worked as an insurance broker at his family’s company, McBride Insurance Agency. He also represented county board district 4 for eight consecutive years, taking a personal responsibility for his community. McBride was also involved in several organizations and raised thousands of dollars for area non-profit organizations, including Misericordia Heart of Mercy in Chicago. “JR inspired people through his willingness to get involved, taking personal responsibility for the public welfare, and also by taking social engagements and morphing them into fundraising opportunities,” says William, JR’s brother. JR survived four invasive brain surgeries, with numerous tumors resected and removed, chemo, and radiation treatments, but through all this he still remained dedicated to his family, first and foremost, and his work for the community. A warrior in his own right, one of his favorite quotes was “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway” (John Wayne). His favorite pastime involved bantering with his kids and he is described by his brother William as “one of the luckiest guys around when Becky said ‘yes’ to a date with him.” “Becky knew him in his soul and they loved each other immeasurably, inspiring love in those around them,” William also shares. He also loved to share experiences with everyone he could, always ready to make a new friend, and worked hard to maintain all those friendships. After all, in his own words, when he knew where his journey was heading, “It’s about quality, not quantity.” JR lost his courageous battle before publication of this article, on October 24. God Love Ya…Jerry “JR” McBride. Dr. Terri Lightbody – Wheaton A doctor of audiology and a private practice owner, Dr. Terri Lightbody believes in the importance of community service to help others. Her business, Hearing Specialists of DuPage in Naperville, keeps her busy, but she somehow finds the time to volunteer for the community. “I’ve been involved with the Wheaton Lions Club for 10 years, serving as president for two terms and also serving on the board and with various committees my entire tenure,” Dr. Terri says. She’s lived in the Wheaton area for 24 years and she and her husband, Scott, have two children, Gabe and Lauren, both of whom attend Wheaton-Warrenville South High School. Not only does she volunteer for the Wheaton Lions Club, but she also works with local government agencies to provide low-cost care to low-income families in the community. She’s part of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers for the Wheaton Park District, her church, and also with Tiger Paws at Wheaton-Warrenville South. Because of her commitment and service to the Wheaton community, Dr. Terri was awarded the 2014 Star Award, during the Taste of Wheaton. “I was completely surprised and amazed to be recognized for working in the community and doing something which gives me great joy,” she confesses. Dr. Terri loves being a part of the community and knows how special it really is. “I hope that people can see that even with a busy schedule, it’s good to give back and get involved,” she says. Kristen Wade – Sugar Grove Lieutenant/paramedic Kristen Wade has been with the Sugar Grove Fire Protection District (SGFPD) for eight and a half years. She is also a peer fitness trainer (PFT) and the fitness coordinator for the department. Kristen and husband Al, who is also a lieutenant/paramedic for the St. Charles Fire Department, have been married for eight years and have lived in the Sugar Grove area since 2007. When it comes to being a firefighter, Kristen’s favorite part is “coming to work and not knowing what the day is going to bring. When you’re faced with the unknown you have to be ready for anything.” Kristen helped to organize the Sugar Grove Fire Fighters’ Local 4748 Fall Fire 5k for the third consecutive year. “FF Kevin Schramm pitched the idea to our Local in 2012 and asked me to organize it with my background and connections in the running community,” Kristen says. The second year they had 10 more runners and this year was pretty much status quo. “We’re hoping that next year we can really rally the community behind the run,” Kristen adds. Not only is Kristen an important part of the SGFPD, but she and her husband are also avid triathletes and endurance athletes and are triathlon coaches. “I’ve run 20 marathons, some of which are ultras – anything over 26.2 miles--and I just completed my third Ironman Triathlon. As for being a female firefighter, Kristen says as a woman in this field of work, “You are ALWAYS going to be a trailblazer until it’s 50/50.” Dayell Houzenga – Carol Stream Dayell Houzenga has been in the special recreation field for 11 years and is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist. She uses this extensive experience in the field to shape the position she has at the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) as outreach manager. “The goal of outreach is to connect with families whose needs are currently underserved, such as those with Aspergers and populations that are more difficult to serve, such as the early childhood and Hispanic communities,” Dayell explains. Her day-to-day activities include speaking with new families interested in WDSRA programs, explaining the registration process and helping them fill out the forms they need to get started, learning more about each person’s particular abilities in order to have the appropriate staff available for their participation in programs, and helping those who sign up find programs that will fit their interest and ability levels. Besides the day-to-day activities, you can also find Dayell out and about, speaking to groups and organizations. “The goal of speaking to parent groups, schools, disability organizations, etc., is to educate people about WDSRA services and also to find out what families are looking for from WDSRA,” she shares. With Dayell’s experience she’s been able to see what happens when, for whatever reason, someone has an unsuccessful experience with a recreational outlet. She uses this knowledge to create an environment at WDSRA where everyone has a successful experience. “I’ve been lucky enough to see how finding the right programs and groups can change lives!” she enthuses. Danielle Tufano - Aurora You may have heard this lady on the radio a time or two. Danielle Tufano co-hosts the “Mackay in the Morning” show with Scott Mackay on 95.9 the River (WERV-FM). “I’ve known Scott for nearly nine years so when we were paired on the air together earlier in the year, listeners were immediately able to hear our friendship come across on the air,” she shares. Danielle recently took over as the River’s program director and is in charge of everything that goes over the air, including music, on-air execution of station promotions, and all of the on-air personalities. Danielle, currently living in Aurora, commits a significant amount of time to volunteering in the area. She teamed up with Matt Chicola from Loaves & Fishes Community Services, and they are leading the Young Community Action Network (YCAN), a group of young professionals coming together to have fun while also doing good things in the community. “We have a wonderful committee and started some exciting things in the works, including group volunteer events, a Food Truck Fest, and an 80s Party!” she enthuses. Danielle also sits on the board of directors for the Naperville Jaycees, and volunteers much of her free time with them. “Joining the Naperville Jaycees is one of the best decisions I’ve made because I’m having a blast while making a positive impact on the community,” she says. Looking back on 2014, Danielle is “completely overwhelmed with some of the great things I’ve been lucky enough to experience.” Collin Kozola – Naperville Recent Waubonsie High School graduate (May 2014) Collin Kozola is an amazing artist/songwriter and is now on tour with Teen Nation. Teen Nation comprises a group of talented young artists who perform in schools across America showcasing an anti-bullying message. These young artists promote a “Stand and Defend” campaign to young adults, instilling purpose and confidence. Collin, when not on tour, lives in Naperville with parents Steve and Linda and has three siblings, Jessica, Steven, and Karissa. Collin spends much of his weekends in concert with today’s very best artists, all with Teen Nation. He recently released his first single, “Forever with You,” debuting on Australian radio stations across Sydney and Melbourne. “Forever with You” hit the Top 3 for the month of June. Collin has even started to draw in a substantial fan base all throughout America. “A couple of years ago I started posting videos of myself singing on YouTube, and I started to get fans,” Collin shares. “I always wanted to have a name for my fans and then one day I got a comment from a fan saying ‘I love you so much, I’m now a Kozolie,’ and since then the name has stuck.” Collin’s goals for the future are to one day have his own concert tour, and to be playing his own music. His parents are also his biggest fans. “We are extremely proud of him,” they say. “He loves and respects all his fans and we know one day people will say he came from Naperville, Illinois!” Mike DeMeritt – Glen Ellyn Mike DeMeritt first became involved with DuPage PADS, an interim housing program, back in 2008. He started out as a volunteer working on the program’s Run 4 Home 5k and 10k run/walk event, but ended up contributing so much more. Mike has spent all 53 years of his life in the western suburbs! He is a regional sales consultant and registered financial representative for Invesco PowerShares. Powershares became involved as a Run 4 Home sponsor and selected Mike to represent the company on the race committee. He met Mary Schulte, race director, who inspired Mike to become more involved with PADS. “As my belief in the mission of ending homelessness grew, I was inspired to commit to my own fundraising event,” Mike shares. His first idea was to sleep in a tent in his backyard for 100 days through winter and ask 100 sponsors for a dollar per night each, totaling $10,000. “As it turns out, my family and neighbors were not too comfortable with my scheme,” he says. Instead he used the same idea and substituted 100 miles of trail running for 100 nights in a tent. He has done the trail-running fundraising event for the past four years, but in 2014, because of a knee injury, he lifted 100 tons in eight hours to raise $10,000, but this time $1 per ton per sponsor. “The lifts were accomplished through Olympic-style dead lifts, front squats, clean-and-jerks, back squats, and also pull-ups,” he states. He exceeded his goal of $10,000 and raised $11,366. Louise Coffman – Sugar Grove Louise Coffman and husband Jerry have lived in Sugar Grove for the past 15 years. For the past seven years, she’s been a volunteer for Sugar Grove’s Corn Boil. This year she took on the role of president of the Corn Boil. “The best part of my new position is that I’ll be getting the message out about what Corn Boil really DOES,” she shares. “We are completely volunteer-run and after we’ve paid our bills and set aside funds for next year, we give our profits back to the community!” The past two years, the Corn Boil has been able to donate nearly $30,000 to various organizations in and around Sugar Grove. Besides her involvement with the Corn Boil, she’s also part of the Sugar Grove Library Board as an unpaid trustee. In addition to her role as board treasurer, she’s taken on responsibility for the library grounds. She’s raised money and awareness for causes like breast cancer and domestic violence prevention and is involved with another fundraiser for past library director Beverly Hughes, who’s fighting brain cancer. Her inspiration for generously donating her time came during a very hard time in her life. “Five years ago and all within a few months’ time my friend lost her daughter to domestic violence, I lost my oldest friend to breast cancer, and a dear relative to suicide,” she reflects. “Those events made me realize all that I have in my life and I decided to dedicate my time and energy to helping others.” Kori Boe – Naperville Junior Kori Boe doesn’t just love being a cheerleader, she’s passionate about every aspect of it! She’s part of Indiana University’s cheerleading program and has had the honor of cheering for Indiana University’s football team, women’s volleyball team, and both men and women’s basketball teams. Kori grew up in Naperville with mom Kathy, dad Kim, and brother Mitchell – who is committed to play baseball at the collegiate level at University of Iowa. She also has three adorable pets--dogs Gunnar and Susie and kitty Guinness. Alongside cheering for other university teams, Kori has been able to compete with a cheer team that has won three consecutive national championships. “My cheerleading career has been an unbelievable experience,” Kori enthuses. “It’s an absolute honor to be part of Indiana University’s cheerleading program.” While competing at a collegiate national championship is an unsurpassed feeling, it’s not her favorite part. “My team is my favorite part of IU cheerleading,” she says. “Not only have I made lifelong friendships, but I get to work with amazing women who all share a common goal.” The IU cheerleading team will be competing to defend their title this January and Kori knows that everyone will be “working hard every practice for the competition, just as they work hard to do their very best on the sidelines, cheering on the other IU teams.” In addition to her cheering career at IU, Kori is majoring in both sports communication and broadcasting, hoping to one day work for the Big Ten. Linda Radtke – St. Charles Linda Radtke is a self-described housewife and gym-rat, and is “always chasing weeds or dust.” She’s fascinating for so many reasons, one of which is her dedication to the Geneva Garden Club. Linda and husband Donald have two kids, Heather and Tim. Before settling down in St. Charles in 1992, the couple moved around and lived in 15 different houses in six different states. The Geneva Garden Club has been around for 75+ years, 20 of which Linda has been a member. In order to recognize outstanding women in the club, Linda came up with an award to honor a member each and every year. This is known as the Geneva Garden Club Gratitude Award. Along with the recognition, the recipient of this award also chooses a book to be donated by the club to the Geneva Library. “We have some amazing ladies in our club and I thought this would be a nice way to honor them and also ramp up the horticultural section of the library,” Linda adds. Luckily, this good deed came back around, and Linda was honored with the annual Geneva Garden Club Gratitude Award this year! Linda is also a walking, breathing, and living miracle! The survivor of three different cancers, two of which were diagnosed at the same time, she inspires many with her strength and perseverance. “These cancers are so deadly, but I survived and I’ve been a survivor since 2000,” Linda shares. “I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring…but today…I’m good!” Andrew Van Gorp – Glen Ellyn Andrew Van Gorp was born between the east and west branches of the DuPage River at the heart of the county, in Glen Ellyn. “I’m very thankful to have been raised here,” he adds. Andrew is all about helping the environment and works for Casella Resource Solutions, a company specializing in recycling and environmental services. As a sustainable community development major at Northland College, Andrew was encouraged to go back to his hometown, where he could be most effective with his endeavors. This resonated with him and he decided to apply as a volunteer and was appointed as environmental commissioner in Glen Ellyn. Not only does he volunteer for the community, but he’s always juggling a few projects, one in particular that holds a special place in his heart. Andrew created a video about DuPage rivers. “The goal with the project was not only to create an inspirational video about the health of DuPage waterways, but to connect families to their local waterways,” he explains. To do this, nine families volunteered to have their portraits taken standing in the waters of DuPage closest to their homes. “It was a spiritual experience,” he shares. Andrew also makes his own sustainable homemade gifts and T-shirts. One of his most recent projects is a basket he’s woven out of invasive species. “It’s a creative way to expand the use of these invasive species, thus reducing their numbers, giving our native plants a chance to bloom, grow, and not go extinct.” Truc-Dao Pham “Dao” – Oswego As if high school isn’t enough of a change, imagine starting high school in a different country, where the language spoken isn’t one you completely understand. That is the journey Truc-Dao Pham undertook this year when she and her mother moved from Vietnam to Illinois in an effort to be reunited with Dao’s grandparents. “I cried the first week of school because I had no friends and did not understand anything that people around me were trying to tell me,” Dao explains. “I felt homesick and alone and did not want to go to school after the first week, but my aunt encouraged me to not give up on learning.” Dao, 15 and a freshman at Oswego East High School, kept moving forward and a week later met another Vietnamese student, a sophomore at Oswego East and they became fast friends, making the transition much easier. Culturally, the United States is much different compared to Vietnam, especially in terms of what is expected at school. “U.S. students can color their hair, and dress however they want,” Dao shares. “In Vietnam we are not allowed to come to school that way.” As for subjects at school, Dao loves math because “it requires very little English!” While she’s still struggling with the English language, she hopes to be able to speak and understand English much better by next year. Dao is also looking forward to making new friends and learning more about Homecoming at her school and participating in fun Homecoming activities her sophomore year. Trisha Prabhu – Naperville Fourteen-year-old Trisha Prabhu is a freshman at Neuqua Valley High School. She’s lived in Naperville for 13 years with parents Bhanu and Neel Prabhu. Prabhu recently participated in Google Science Fair 2014, where teens ages 13-18 work on projects that have the potential to change the world. Prabhu was selected as one of the top 15 global finalists this year for her product, Rethink, an effective way to stop cyberbullying. Prabhu came up with the idea for Rethink back in 2013 after reading the story of a Florida girl who had committed suicide due to repeated cyberbullying. “This story had a profound impact on me,” she shares. “I was heartbroken to realize that a girl younger than me had been pushed to suicide and I knew I had to do something.” She decided to study the topic and used the Naperville Public Library as a big resource. Prabhu credits the friendly staff, administrators, and patrons in helping her with her project. To develop Rethink, Prabhu studied the science behind cyberbullying and was fascinated by the inner workings of the brain. While she didn’t win the grand prize, “I sure won the hearts of all the judges and the audience, receiving a special mention during the award ceremony,” she says. Prabhu has big plans for Rethink and is working towards rolling it out to the community. Her school is adopting Rethink as a slogan to stop cyberbullying and is joining forces with professors to bring more awareness to the cyberbullying issues. Dan Dolan-Laughlin – Wheaton What was supposed to be a few days of life turned into a second chance for Dan Dolan-Laughlin. “Through the miracle of organ donation, transplantation, and the Gift of Hope Program, I was gifted a pair of healthy lungs and life,” Dan shares of his experience. “I was prepared to die and just as quickly and miraculously, I became prepared to live.” Dan and his wife, Susan, have lived in Wheaton since the mid-80s. The couple has two daughters and two sons, and have five grandchildren in total. In efforts to give back, after his double lung transplant, Dan began working with the American Lung Association in Chicago. Dan also became acutely aware of his new lungs’ sensitivity to air quality and because of this became involved in the ALA’s Healthy Air campaign. “Dan quickly became one of our most important volunteers and his story is prominently featured on our website,” according to Mike Kolleng, manager of the Healthy Air campaign. In 2013, Dan was invited to the White House to be recognized by their Champions of Change Initiative. Dan received the Champions of Change Award for his work in the field of environmental and public health, and he was the only recipient of the award in this category who was not a scientist or medical professional. Dan has remained humble throughout it all. “I do feel that I am inspired by most people I meet,” Dan shares. “Everyone has something to give, and those who do inspire me greatly.” Dr. Joshua Lederman – Oswego Living in the Oswegoland region for most of his life, Dr. Joshua Lederman not only works in Oswego but volunteers in the area as well. He’s a chiropractic physician at Carson Chiropractic and works with the Oswego Rotary Club, spearheading their annual “Coats for Kendall” winter clothing drive. “We gather coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens from members of the community,” he says. “Once collected, the Rotary Club of Oswego distributes the winter outerwear to the Kendall County Food Pantry, Hesed House, the Wayside Cross, Mutual Ground, Salvation Army, and any other agencies that are in need.” It’s an easy process for community members to donate to “Coats for Kendall.” There are collection boxes found at every school within the Oswego Community Unit School District 308, and other public collection sites include Keith’s Car Care, Oswego Park District, Carson Chiropractic, AutoSmart, and the Oswego Village Hall. “Typically there are about 3,000 coats collected, but we’ll take as many coats as we can gather,” Dr. Lederman explains. Dr. Lederman is also involved in the Oswegoland Optimist Club, who aim to aid families and youth in the community through fundraising events. He also volunteers as a chiropractic physician at CommunityHealth in West Town Chicago. “My grandfather, Sam Lederman, who was an important financial contributor to the development of CommunityHealth, got me involved with them,” he says. When he has free time, he spends it with his wife, Ashley, and enjoys staying active and watching football -“I’m a dedicated Chicago Bears fan!” BONUS FEATURE! Christina Schutz – Darien You won’t find a 28-year-old who’s more fun to hang out with than Christina Schutz! Not only does she love to shop and go bowling, but Schutz is a standout athlete, playing volleyball for the Illinois team in the Special Olympics this year. Schutz has lived in Darien for the past 23 years and is a 2007 graduate of Downers Grove South High School. Her parents, Carol and Mike, and brother, Brian, have been cheering her on for years as she’s participated in volleyball. Christina has been playing volleyball with Seaspar, a special recreation association by the Illinois Association of Park Districts, in Downers Grove for the past 11 years. She was beyond surprised and excited to be chosen to participate in this year’s Olympics. The training was tough, but she would give anything to go back and compete again. “Training can be very tiring,” Christina explains. “We get to do a lot of different drills with the trainer in order to be ready for competition.” The training and long hours absolutely paid off. Illinois’ volleyball team took first place this year in the competition! “It felt great to take home the gold,” Christina enthuses. “When I arrived home and got off the plane there were so many people waiting and cheering and congratulating us!” For inspiration, Schutz definitely gives credit to her number-one fan: “The person who inspires me most is my mom. She’s very helpful when I need her and always has great advice to share.”

by Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark Photos by Lynn Logan & Mike Mantucca Unless Otherwise Submitted Introducing 5 Fascinating Kids of the Year..... Congratulations to our 15 Fascinating Faces for the Year of 2014! Though we received many inspiring and heartening stories about fascinating west suburban residents, we could only choose a few to feature in this year’s annual issue. Those who were chosen will uplift you during this holiday season, sharing their joys, triumphs, and inspirational messages. Click here to meet them. LiveWire What started out as music lessons at Hix Bros. Music in Aurora and Batavia progressed to an amazing rock band for the four members of LiveWire. Nikko Viejon, Danny Cappelli, Alex Cappelli, and Cohen Bessler formed the band three years ago this past November. “We are all passionate about playing music, and have found inspiration in each other, and other musicians,” Alex shares. LiveWire plays songs by classic rock artists and also donates and plays for several charities. The group writes original music as well and has recently released two singles on iTunes called But U Did and Crushed. For more information go to: www.WeAreLiveWire.com. Ava Morse Ava Morse has been singing and acting since she was 5. This holiday season she’ll be playing the role of Emily Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theater, but her professional career doesn’t stop there! She’s made several TV appearances, including a recurring role in NBC’s Chicago PD. This past summer, Ava won the 13-year-and-under division of Singing at the Fling at Naperville’s Last Fling. One of her favorite characters to play was Mollie in Annie, “because she was really sassy and sneaky,” Ava shares. Her current goal is to play the title role in the Broadway national tour of Matilda. Griffin Murphy Twelve-year-old Griffin Murphy has wanted to act since starting voice lessons at Stacey De and Company over two years ago. Not only has he excelled in his music, but has proved his acting chops in several performances as well. In 2010, Griffin performed in his first play, Aladdin, with Stacey De and Company. He’s played several key characters in his school’s plays and has participated in numerous BAM Theater kids’ workshops over the past few summers as well. For future plans, Griffin hopes to professionally sing and act, but as a backup plan, he’d like to become a doctor! Camille Paddock Being bullied and tortured for nearly five years because of an auto-immune disease called alopecia was the worst thing 16-year-old Camille Paddock has ever endured. Feelings of worthlessness and depression enveloped Camille to the point of almost giving up. With the help of her family Camille bounced back stronger than ever, and started Cam’s Dare to Be Different – speaking out to schools, kids, parents, and administrators on the adverse effects of bullying. This year she was crowned Miss Teen Illinois International and is currently writing a book, due next year, on her experiences with bullying. Her personal motto - “Never, EVER, give up.” Haleigh Bruckner Haleigh Bruckner has loved football since the fourth grade – when she first saw her younger brother Connor playing for Saint Raphael’s football league. “Playing such a fun and physical sport just got my adrenaline going and I knew right then I wanted to get in on the action,” she says. Now 15 and a sophomore at Neuqua High, Haleigh plays end on the defensive line for Neuqua and credits her family and teammates for support and acceptance as she’s taken on such a male-dominated sport. “I love football with all my heart and it definitely is my greatest passion,” she enthuses.

by Tiffany Schultz Everything I Ever Needed to Know....I Learned from Buddy The Elf Recently my husband and I went away with a few couples. Now I know these couples pretty well--we’ve all been friends for a number of years--but admittedly, I don’t know everything about them. So as we were sitting down to dinner one night, I asked everyone what their favorite movie was. “Pirates of the Caribbean!” “Grease!” “When Harry Met Sally!” After we discussed the merits of our favorites and had some good laughs, we moved on to appetizers and other topics of conversation. However, a few moments later somebody yelled “Elf!!!” Needless to say, the entire table erupted! That little movie even sparked conversation that went beyond our dinner, as evidenced by the fact that one of my friends greeted me the next morning at breakfast, after a late night and wearing what could only be described as a “scowl” on my face, by saying, “I just like to smile…smiling’s my favorite!” So as I was sitting down to write this month’s column, I couldn’t help but think of Buddy the Elf and the joy he has brought me many times over. And magically I started to feel the holiday spirit…and well, general merriment…seeping into my soul. Sound corny? I bet Buddy wouldn’t think so. It was then, and only then, that I realized…everything I’ve ever needed to know, I learned from Buddy the Elf. • Be yourself - even when you’re not quite sure where you fit in. Buddy was human but was raised by elves – ummmm, AWK-WARD! So when you are at that Christmas party, where you know no one but your spouse, or you’re the newest employee at the company luncheon, think about how Buddy must have felt…and then smile. (Why? Have you been paying attention? Smiling was Buddy’s favorite. Go ahead – try it. I know the whole walking on the moon thing was big and all, but when one person smiles it truly is one small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind!) • If you can’t find joy in your own life, find a revolving door and go crazy for a few minutes. The lesson is: be whimsical sometimes, have fun, stop for a moment to enjoy the dizzy. • Live with a sense of wonder. I really think that is the biggest problem with becoming an adult – we all become so gosh darn cynical! Go ahead, try to give a raccoon a hug, push all the elevator buttons…get as excited about your in-laws coming to town as your kids do about Santa (ok, admittedly I may have crossed a line here). • Try something new. A new lipstick color, or go ice skating with your kids. Better yet, go home tonight and put all of that left-over-from-Halloween candy corn on your spaghetti. I definitely see smile-making potential here! • Do things with gusto! It doesn’t matter if that’s a snowball fight, decorating for Christmas, or belching – put your heart and soul into it and just do it! • And finally, don’t give up. Don’t give up on whatever it is that is hard for you right now. Buddy never gave up and he was handsomely rewarded, and you will be, too. And if you aren’t, there are worse things – you could smell like beef and cheese. about the writer Tiffany Schultz resides in Sugar Grove with her husband, two kids and Shih Tzu. While seeking balance between her dueling roles as wife, mother, daughter, friend and professional, Tiffany spends as much time as possible daydreaming on her screen porch. She also enjoys cooking, traveling and yoga and hopes to one day learn Italian and make the perfect crème brulee. #glancermagazine #tiffanyschultz