As we enter into the Holiday season and celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to bring attention to this beautiful time of the year, and to focus on what it truly means to be thankful. To be thankful for what we have been given, and to live in America, a country where we are free and have certain liberties.

 

In today’s society, I feel we get caught up in wanting more – wanting to be more successful, wealthier, prettier, smarter, and stronger. We always want more. There is nothing wrong with wanting more and wanting to be better, but it becomes detrimental when that is all we focus on. We tend to forget the important things in life, and forget how blessed we are.

 

I have seen firsthand people who have nothing, and yet they still have joy in their hearts and are thankful for the simplest of things. A few years ago I had the opportunity to travel to the beautiful country of South Africa. Going on a mission trip to Africa was always a dream of mine and something I was passionate about doing. I went through an organization called Global Expeditions, and it was my junior year of college at Texas State University during my Christmas and New Years Break. I flew out of Houston and met my team in Washington D.C. and we flew to Johannesburg, South Africa. I was there for two weeks.

 

We went into the impoverished squatter camp communities of Kya Sands and Diepsloot. While there, my team and I were able to share our Christian faith, pray with the people, bring water, and help with daily tasks needing to be done. We saw how another part of the world lived. Dirt roads and dirt floors with tiny houses made of cardboard, mud, and wood. It was humbling and heartbreaking. I saw people who had nothing, but were grateful. They were thankful for a hug, a helping hand, water, and shelter. I remember the tears, the smells, the sounds, and the hearts of people I met.

We were able to love on the children and adults, sing songs and dance. We volunteered with Impact Africa and helped with their Impact Kids program. It is a non profitorganization that provides quality Christian education to underprivileged and at risk children who are in preschool. The organization also has an Impact Baby Rescue program. This program rescues babies that are abandoned when moms are unable to care for their child.

 

On my flight home I remember thinking about all I had experienced and seen. My eyes were open to a whole new meaning of life and a new perspective of being thankful for what I had – to live life with joy, abandonment of fear, and to thank God for all that he has given me.

 

After getting back to the States I decided to sponsor a little girl’s education through Impact Africa. She lived in KyaSands, one of the villages I visited, and her name is Ayanda. Being able to sponsor her while back in the States was very meaningful to me. I recently started sponsoring a little girl named Amanda from Guatemala through the organization, Food For The Hungry. I am passionate about child sponsorship because I have seen the places and the children who are positively effected by child sponsorship organizations in the world. My friend and role model, Joanne King Herring says, “help people help themselves”, to teach, uplift and encourage others to be the best they can be. Nelson Mandela once said, “education is the most important weapon in which to change the world”, aside from love.

 

I went to South Africa in hopes of changing lives and helping others; however, it was my life and my heart that was changed. This Thanksgiving I want to encourage everyone to be thankful for what you have. Be thankful that you have a roof over your head, food, clean water, and healthcare. Be thankful for your home, your education, and your job. Be thankful for your family, friends, and loved ones. Be thankful for this one precious life that you have and never forget how very blessed you are.

 

If you would like to sponsor a child’s education or provide food for a child in need, please contact me and I can recommend incredible organizations through which to do so.

This article is also seen in and written for Bay Area Houston Magazine 2018 November issue.

What are your dreams and goals? Why?

The “why” to these answers are far more important. “Why” is what drives and motivates you. The dreams and goals you have would mean nothing if you didn’t know why you wanted to pursue them. Every decision you will ever make is fueled by a “why”.

Life is a journey. During your pursuits and adventures in life, you sometimes tend to forget why you started something in the first place. The journey can be exhausting, heartbreaking, and confusing when you loose sight of “why.” I have experienced this firsthand and had to pause, refocus and refresh, and really concentrate on my “why” along the road to following my dreams.

On a side note, I believe sometimes God allows you to break in order to build you back up stronger than before. Personally, in these moments when I have been so weak, I have seen His power and grace revealed. When I let go and look towards Him, He picks me up right where I am and brings me to a better place. Afterwards I am stronger, wiser, more refined, and have a clearer meaning of my purpose and my “why”.

“Do everything with passion and authenticity”, says Ana Barron, Co-owner of SWEAT 1000 Houston. SWEAT is the 1st studio in the United States of its kind. The gym is based on a concept originated from Cape Town, South Africa. Husband and wife, Jordan Strouse and Ana Barron are the proud owners of SWEAT 1000 Houston.

Ana fell in love with fitness while living in South Africa. “It was a way for me to improve myself, and it helped me develop a healthy lifestyle. It has now become more than that. I enjoy inspiring others to live a better and healthy lifestyle and create a healthy environment.”

In 2015, Jordan and Ana meet the founders of SWEAT 1000 in South Africa, Paul and Andrew Rothschild. Jordan and Ana decided to partner with them and bring the concept to Houston, Texas. “SWEAT is a high intensity interval training workout session using treadmills as the base workout, and integrating components of functional training, core stability, and athletic training.” Sweat is a fun and healthy place to workout and achieve goals, and you can burn up to 1,000 calories in one workout class. It is very high energy and Jordan and Ana typically play EDM, hip hop, and Latin music; Ana loves to incorporate her Hispanic culture into her workout classes. In the future the couple plan to grow and expand to new locations in Houston and beyond.

Fitness and working out reminds me a lot about life. It you want to see results, you have to stay positive, motivated, and consistent. When it gets hard, you have to remember why you started, tell yourself to keep going and push through. You may be sore the next day, but eventually the soreness leaves and you become stronger.

Ana’s advice is to, “believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams. Whatever goal it may be, there is no magic pill, you have to work really hard and stay very consistent.”

When life gets tough, pick yourself up and keep going. It may not get easier, but you will get stronger. You have to remember your passion and your purpose everyday, and never forget your “why”.

http://www.bayareahoustonmag.com/current-issues/

https://www.sweat1000.com/studios/usa/

The Pregnancy Resource Center East presents the annual Tee Up Fore Life Golf Tournament. If you love golf, you don’t want to miss this!

The event will be at Stonebridge at Newport in Crosby, Texas, on Saturday September 8, 2018.

Also, there are wonderful sponsorship opportunities available! If you are passionate about supporting the Pregnancy Resource Center or want to advertise for your business please see details below or contact Paula at (281)-427-2273.

#golftournament #houston #golf #pregnancyresourcecenter #teeupforelife

Come join myself and the rest of the Bay Area’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, Thursday Sept. 6 at Sundance Grill II! All proceeds benefiting The American Diabetes Association.

This event will feature the Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, and live music from The Mechanix. Tickets are $35 and space is limited. For tickets email TheAListbyAnge@gmail.com.

Presented by Bay Area Houston Magazine.

#bayareahoustonmagazine #sweetheartsauction #bayarea

Empowerment starts within yourself. When you fully believe you are worthy, and focus your thoughts on positivity, expectancy, and thankfulness, is when happiness and success is unmeasurable. The mind is a powerful tool and contributes to your overall well-being. It is the influencer of achieving goals in life, especially relating to your health and fitness, beauty routine, education, and business profession. When you believe there are no limits to your abilities and potential, is when you will start to succeed. (With of course hard work, persistence, and dedication).

Jessica Hatch, the CEO and Founder of Infinity Diagnostics Center, proves one can be beautiful, smart, and successful. She also lives by the quote, “the body can achieve what the mind believes.”

Photography by: Neil Jou

With a Bachelors degree in Kinesiology, and minor in Health from Sam Houston State University, Jessica moved to Los Angeles and started working in the health care industry. She recruited radiologists for a company in 2009, while following her dreams in the modeling and acting scene.

As she gained experience in the health care industry, she realized she had a nitch communicating with doctors, understanding their needs, and navigating and helping them grow their practices.

“I am very business minded and growth is always the goal”, explains Jessica.

Knowing there would always be a space for her in the health care industry, she decided to move back to Houston, Texas and open up her own business. She opened Infinity Diagnostics LLC in 2012, now known as Infinity Centers United LLC. The business is a company that contracts with imaging centers, hospitals, and surgery centers, providing them management services to help streamline patient referrals. Specifically focusing on MRI’s, Interventional Pain procedures, Stem Cell Injections, Sleep Studies, and various other surgical procedures that range from Spine, Bariatric, Orthopedic, and even ENT surgery. After many years of growing and contracting this business out she decided to open up her very own brick and mortar, in which she was able to encompass a large amount of these services under her own roof. This facility is known as Infinity Diagnostics Center.

The former model, athlete, health care expert, and business women is no stranger to the beauty industry.

Wanting to keep her passions in her forefront, this powerhouse woman decided to take on a new professional venture into the health and beauty world. She recently opened up a new business within her facility called, Infinity Med Spa.

“Finding ways to grow in the ever evolving health care world while helping others achieve their health and beauty goals,” is her mission with Infinity Med Spa.

The Med Spa provides clients with a variety of cosmetic injections and dermal fillers, including Botox and Juvederm; along with offering Microneedling with PRP, Massage Therapy, and Stem Cell Injections. Infinity Med Spa also introduces the first Sculpt Pod to Houston. This new technology is for weight loss and skin tightening. The treatment consists of painless 15 minute sessions that expand over the course of a few weeks.

“I love helping people achieve their beauty goals. We’re all perfect in our own unique ways because God made us this way. But I think allowing yourself to enhance what God gave you can help increase your confidence.”

Along with helping people achieve their beauty and health goals, Jessica also loves to give back to the community and help others. She created a Nonprofit organization called the Hatching For Health Foundation. One of the main goals of Hatching for Health is to strive to create awareness and find cures for children with various diseases, disabilities, and disorders. She is also in the process of co-producing her TV show, Hatching For Health, with a local Houston Network.

There is beauty in giving back, beauty in empowering others and yourself, and there is beauty shown from that of a kind heart and strong mind.

Never underestimate yourself, you can achieve anything in this world. Always concentrate your mind on things that encourage and inspire you, bring you happiness, and feed your soul. Your mind directs your steps, and your steps determine your success.

Stayed tuned on Beauty with Blaine for more information and upcoming announcements. You can check out Jessica’s YouTube channel, Hatching for Health, and follow her on social media platforms.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUykE2XJkEd2IfMh3NQFKVg

Be sure to check out Infinity Diagnostics Center and her brand new Infinity Med Spa located at 3310 Edloe Street Houston, TX, 77027.

Www.infinitycentersunited.com

“New Beginnings” article can be seen online at http://www.bayareahoustonmag.com or in print copies distributed all over the Bay Area.

Featuring Throwing Copper Organic Tanning Salon.

Www.throwingcopperhouston.com

JOIN MICHELLE HAMMONS FOR G.L.A.M. GIRLS NIGHT OUT!

Michelle Hammons, also known as Beauty Life Coach, www.beautylifecoach.com is all about empowering women to know their worth, purpose, and identity in an innovative way through beauty, fashion, and lifestyle.

Michelle incorporates make up, hair tips, and tutorials and includes fashion and style advice for every body type. She has created an environment where women are equipped and feel inspired, beautiful, loved, and perfect just as they are. Michelle continues to inspire and elevate women, and she hopes to see all at her newest creation… GLAM Girls Night Out!

Michelle is bridging the gap between her modeling, life coaching, and affinity for community and family to create an experience for women to Gather, Laugh, Take Action and Be Motivated (G.L.A.M.). She truly believes that everything we overcome is not for ourselves but for the benefit of others and that is why she is passionate about bringing light, life, and hope everywhere she goes.

Michelle believes that with fierce determination, passion, and a fixed focus “we can and will accomplish our dreams.” As a Certified Life Coach and former model, she uses her charm and expertise to create strategic workshops, seminars, classes … and now her 8-city tour, G.L.A.M. Girls Night Out, www.GlamGirlsNightOut.com, which will allow women to realign with their calling and destiny through teaching them the power of community over comparison/competition. She is creating a community that allows women the opportunity to connect with likeminded ladies that will help propel them forward, all while feeling and looking phenomenal.

Michelle is passionate about infusing beauty, fashion, wellness, and lifestyle together to empower women to know their worth, purpose, and identity. Inspiring them to break free from complacency to make their dreams and goals a reality.

Together is always better and empowered women, empower others!

ABOUT G.L.A.M. Girls Night Out:

G.L.A.M. Girls Night Out, www.GlamGirlsNightOut.com, is an event specifically designed for women to realign with their calling and destiny. The event is for women entrepreneurs, moms, bloggers, and any #bossbabe who wants to get together in networking and energizing fun to support each other in business and friendship.

Ladies will have the opportunity to shop our exclusive vendors, snag an amazing swag bag, meet with our VIP Speakers, take unforgettable picture on our red carpet, learn about the latest fashion trends while relaxing and enjoying the fashion show, indulge in tasty light bites, coffee and juice bar, and gain a strategic tool set that will empower them to  make strides in their lives.

The event will take place at Noah’s Event Venue on MAY 17th, in Sugar Land, TX — 6:00 – 9:30 PM.

**Also, at each of the events we will be giving 10% back to charities that help battered women, sex trafficking victims, foster to adopt children and orphans.

We hope you join us!! To purchase tickets, please visit: Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/glam-girls-night-out-sugar-land-tickets-43689933768.