THE ART OF THE SNACK

COLLARD WRAP TACOS WITH CITRUS SLAW

From Love and Lemons

Some may feel that this is a taco, but we also think of it as a great wrap that you can enjoy your favorite proteins with an array of veggies that will make lunch a little more exciting!

INGREDIENTS

6 to 8 medium collard leaves
2 cups shredded red cabbage
2 small oranges, segmented, plus remaining juice
2 scallions, chopped
juice and zest of 1 lime, plus lime wedges for serving
sea salt
cooked protein of choice* (see note below)
1 avocado, cubed
chopped cilantro

Creamy Chipotle Sunflower Sauce:

1¼ cups sunflower seeds
1 cup water
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon sea salt
chipotle paste or powder, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the chipotle sun cheese: In a blender, puree the sunflower seeds, water, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and chipotle paste or powder. Taste and adjust seasonings. Chill until ready to use.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the shredded cabbage, orange segments, any juice you can squeeze out of remaining orange rinds, scallions, lime juice, lime zest, and a few generous pinches of salt. Chill for at least 10 minutes, or until ready to use. Taste and adjust seasonings just before you serve.

3. Prepare a medium pot of salted boiling water and a large bowl of ice water. 

Dip the collard leaves one at a time into the boiling water for 10 to 20 seconds until they turn bright green. Remove and immediately immerse into the ice water to cool for about 15 seconds. Place on papers towels to dry. Repeat with the remaining collard leaves. Before assembling, trim off the coarse part of the stem.

4. Assemble the wraps with the protein of your choice, the cabbage slaw, avocado and cilantro. Serve with the chipotle sun cheese and additional lime wedges.

NOTES

If you use tempeh, use the cooking method from this recipe.

If you use tofu, use the cooking method from this recipe.

If you use fish, drizzle tilapia with olive oil, a pinch of paprika, salt and pepper, and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 8 minutes, or until it flakes with a fork.

SMASHED CHICKPEA SALAD SANDWICH

From Vanilla and Bean

This is a great go to sandwich to enjoy that's filled with veggies, proteins and has a great tangy taste.

INGREDIENTS

For the Salad

1 Can Chickpeas drained and rinsed (aka Garbanzo) (425g)
1/4 C + 1 tbs Dill Pickles finely chopped (55g )
1/4 C Purple Onion finely chopped (about 1/2 an onion) (36g)
2 tbs Just Mayo or Vegenaise 28g
2 1/2 tsp Stone Ground Mustard 15g
1 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar 6g
1/4 tsp + 1/8 Sea Salt 2g
2 tsp Dill Weed fresh-chopped
1/8 tsp Turmeric optional for color and health!
8-10 grinds of fresh Black Pepper

For the Sandwich (options):

Multigrain Bread or Optional Gluten Free Bread
Sprouts
Kale
Shredded Carrots
Lettuce
Tomatoes

DIRECTIONS

1. Using a potato masher, rough-mash the chickpeas until most are smashed, but there are still some whole chickpeas left. Add the pickles, onion, Vegenaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, dill, optional turmeric and black pepper. Mix well. Taste for seasoning adjustment.

2. Store in a covered container for up to two days. Delicious alone or piled high on multigrain with accompanying veggies.

GREEN GODDESS SANDWICHES

From The Bojon Gourmet

Your greens were never this zippy! 

INGREDIENTS

Green Goddess Mayonnaise (makes enough for 4-6 sandwiches):

1/3 cup packed basil leaves
1/3 cup packed tarragon leaves
1/3 cup packed chopped chives
2 medium-large garlic cloves
2 anchovy fillets
zest and juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup good mayonnaise (such as Spectrum’s olive oil mayonnaise)

Pickled Spring Onions (makes enough for 4 - 6 sandwiches):

2 spring onions, bulb thinly sliced
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns, lightly crushed

Per Sandwich:

2 slices pan bread (something with a neutral flavor)
1/2 a small, ripe avocado, sliced
2 fat slices fresh mozzarella
1 medium-sized green zebra tomato (or other heirloom tomato), sliced
a few thin slices cucumber
several slices pickled onion
a handful of sprouts (such as broccoli sprouts), rinsed and dried
a couple of small lettuce leaves (butter or romaine), rinsed and dried

DIRECTIONS

Make the Mayonnaise:

In the bowl of a food processor, combine all ingredients except for the lemon juice (i.e., the basil, tarragon, chives, garlic, anchovies, lemon zest, salt, and mayonnaise) in the bowl of a food processor. Puree smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Blend in the lemon juice. Chill until needed.

Pickle the Onions:

In a medium-sized jar, combine the onions slices, vinegar, sugar, salt, and peppercorns. Put the lid on the jar and let sit for at least 10 minutes, shaking a few times to dissolve the salt and sugar. Use immediately or refrigerate until needed, up to 1 week.

Assemble the Sandwiches:

Toast the bread and spread both slices with a thick layer of the mayonnaise. Top with the avocado, mozzarella, tomato, cucumber, pickled onion, sprouts, and lettuce. Sandwich with the other slice of bread and press down gently. Optionally wrap the sandwich in parchment or secure with two toothpicks, and slice in half with a sharp serrated bread knife or chef’s knife.

BINGELY BOOKS

HOW TO MURDER YOUR LIFE
Cat Marnell
Simon and Schuster

Life is what you make of it - but then again it's about the lessons that you learn along the way as you create your world. Set in the world of the publishing industry, How to Murder Your Life is a candid memoir of Sex, Drugs, and climbing the ladder of the beauty industry within the coveted halls of some of the most iconic magazines. 

We follow Cat from her early days of creating zines and falling in love with magazines, rockers and more. In addition, she unabashadly shares her early spiral which led to boarding schools, medication, her determination to focus and eventually leaving school to come to NYC.

Cat continued to balance her wild lifestyle while also being committed to being a Beauty Editor. Throughout the novel, Cat's world comes into contact with Nev from Catfish, some of the most prominant beauty and editors in chief and more! 

Publishing history is woven throughout her memoir as it follows the rise of online, the need to maintain traditional magazines and the realization of the merger of old and new media together. Whether we follow Cat in the crazy nightlife scene, through the halls of Glamour, Lucky, Vice, xo Jane, or at her lowest points battling her addictions - we realize that Cat is a fighter who owns who she is and her desire to make a better place for herself. 

VERA BRADLEY FLORAL PATTERNS COLORING BOOK
Design Originals

You need a moment to collect your thoughts or simply to enjoy a mental vacation! Coloring is one of the perfect ways to escape! Vera Bradley, who is known for their print filled accessories and lifestyle wear has the perfect compliment for your coloring pencils. 

With a collection of books that offer an array of patterns, you will have a plenty of options for escapism. We suggest having a few at the ready on your coffee table, night stand or bookshelf for ongoing inspiration.

SQUEEZE LIFE
Karliin Brooks
Skyhorse Publishing

Spring is the perfect time to look back at what you've been doing to get summer ready! Squeeze Life, with a foreword by Russell Simmons, includes an  array of food, smoothie and juice recipes. With 150 available in this book, there are plenty of option to bring in positive nutrients into your body! There are even recipes for 3 Day Cleanses which is another great way to detox your body and to get it to where you want it to be.

Karliin Brooks' book is not only colorful but ensures that you are able to look your best at any age! 

WE ARE SPORTSCENTER

We grew up watching ESPN to catch highlights of our favorite games and to see what was going on in the world of sports. Without a doubt, SportsCenter is the essential destination to stay in the loop on whatever games are taking place in the world. Regardless of the time slot that you're viewing it on, it's the anchors that become extensions of your sports action, friends and family. 

There's always something amazing going on in the world of sports; however, we were pumped to head to the headquarters of ESPN during the NFL's Free Agency and right before Selection Sunday of March Madness! Being in the midst of the energy, history, bumping into sports analysts, former coaches and more was definitely exhilarating and a lot of fun!

We are thrilled to profile and share the journey of these anchorwomen of SportsCenter, from what stations they came through, what their timeslot of SportsCenter is like, how they feel the state of women in sports/sports media is and how they balance life. We enjoyed shooting, styling and chatting with them in their world (at work, working out and outside of work) and sharing it with their fans! 

Although we didn't talk to all of the anchorwomen of SportsCenter, we enjoyed walking in the shoes of Sarina Morales, Toni Collins, and Dianna Russini - three women who lead busy lives covering up to the minute stories, prepping before they are on air and living their lives.

ANCHORWOMAN | SARINA MORALES

SPORTSCENTER @ 7AM

ATHLEISURE MAG: We see you on SportsCenter and everyone has a story of how they got to this point, can you tell us where you're from, what college you went to, what stations you came through and whether these jobs were in sports coverage or other areas?

SARINA MORALES: I’m from the Bronx, New York. Woot woot! I went to Syracuse University. Whose house? Newhouse. As for my job path, that’s a good question. I don’t even know how to answer this because mine was definitely the road less traveled. When I started at ESPN someone was like 'Oh, where did you come from?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I’m from New York City.’ And they were like, ‘No, what station did you work at?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I came from National Geographic.’  They were just like, ‘Oh … OK.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, what’s the big deal?’ But I had never progressed on the so-called natural track.

A little background: I practically moved to London after graduation because it was 2008, the market crashed and I couldn’t get a job. When I came back to New York, I applied to be Nike's field reporter. It was a new position where I would get to interview all of their Nike athletes. Ethically, traditionally, you didn’t take these jobs as a journalist. But I understood what Nike was trying to achieve, being that they’re pretty innovative and creative with the way that they approach commercials and their technology and whatnot; this was a brand actually allowing a reporter to get inside access and create content.

I worked for Nike for a little over a year. And then after Nike I applied to News Channel 12 in the Bronx thinking. 'All right, here is my moment. I'm going to get a reporting gig and start my career in journalism.' And apparently that Nike job hurt me in a sense. They thought it was branded. They were like, ‘Well, you’ve interviewed all these celebrities, why would you want to work in local television?’ I was like, 'because I want to grow my work as a reporter and I want to start my career in sports.’ They said no and I ended up working at an investment bank to pay the bills.

The path from there was disjointed: Sideline reporter for Verizon Fios on the side, covering high school basketball in Staten Island. Then TruTV as a digital coordinator where I worked on shows like ‘Impractical Jokers,’ which was super fun, but I had limited job growth.

A year after working at TruTV, I came to a crossroads where I had an offer from CNN’s new morning show as a production assistant and an offer from National Geographic Channel as a social media coordinator at the same time. It was a risk for me to turn down the CNN job, because again, since graduating from Syracuse, all I wanted to do was to be a sports reporter, and yet, something in my gut told me to take the job with Nat Geo. So I moved to Washington D.C. 

At the time, the VP who oversaw the marketing department said to me, ‘Listen, I know you want to work in sports, I know you want to be a sports reporter and be on TV, but I think you can find some fulfillment in this position. If you can work in sports in this job, do it. If you can do so some on-camera work and do interviews, then do it.’ So I did just that. I would tweet from the Nat Geo Wild account on Sundays like, ‘All right, the Chicago Bears aren’t playing all that well, but we’ve got real bears playing really well on Nat Geo Wild.’ 

I looked at the job so differently. I was helping grow the social media accounts for their Sunday programming.

In the year and a half I was with them, I was promoted from a temporary, to full-time social media coordinator, and ended up being a manager of the social media accounts at Nat Geo. I worked on the Nat Geo ‘90s special, I grew their Facebook page on Nat Geo Wild from 300,000 followers to 6 million in just over a year that I was there.

I was just so fully involved in the social media job at Nat Geo that people were like, ‘Let’s give Sarina some opportunities to host the talent show. Let’s give Sarina the opportunity to be the face of this ‘Explorers’ contest.’ And it was that contest that caught the eye of Rob King at SportsCenter at ESPN. He brought me in for an interview. He saw that video I did for Nat Geo because I uploaded it to YouTube.

And ESPN, what great timing, kind of saw that I had some value with my background in social media, my background in journalism and my background in sports that that would be a really good combination to come and work at ESPN.

So, no stations, just a lot of random jobs that kind of made me a good fit for ESPN.

AM: Were you an athlete in college and if so - what sport?

SM: So, I never made it to the collegiate level playing softball or baseball or volleyball - I played those throughout highschool. But I did play baseball in the Bronx for 10 years growing up. From age 7 to 17, I played. You know, at first it’s cute, right? There’s a little girl playing and there might be a few sprinkled around the league out of an 8-10 team league. There were fewer and fewer of them as I got older. By the time I was 14 there were two and they were both on the same team – it was me and this other girl. And then 15, 16, 17 I was on my own. I played in a league outside of my highschool.

I thought I was going to play college softball until I popped my hamstring my junior year, which is usually when athletes get recruited to go to college. I practiced with the baseball team at DeWitt Clinton High School my junior and senior years. So I was practicing with the baseball team, playing on the softball team. I came back and I had a really strong senior year playing softball, so I got looked at by other colleges, but no D-1 schools. At that point, I realized that if an injury like this can come pretty easily and take me out for a season, then I really need to focus on academics. So no, I never played college-level softball, but my dream before really focusing on journalism was to become the first female to play for the Yankees. I was going to take Bernie Williams’ spot in centerfield for the Yankees. It didn’t happen, so I went to Newhouse instead.

AM: When did you first realize that you loved sports and how did you know that that would be a career for you?

SM: The first time I realized I loved sports was – I can’t remember the precise day – I guess I was 5- or 6-years old and I was watching Saturday morning cartoons with my father. I was sitting on the couch with him. Usually, my mom would kick me off the couch and have me go play Legos or whatever after Saturday morning cartoons were done because she didn’t want us watching TV all day. My dad would stay though, because on weekends they would have afternoon Yankee games – Saturday or Sunday 1 o’clock games. So one day, I sat next to him and stayed. I was like, ‘I’m not going to move. I’m going to see what’s going on. I’m going to sit on the couch with Pa.' It was good family time, so maybe my mom decided to not kick me off the couch. Once I realized I what I had achieved, I was like, ‘All right. I beat the system. This is good.’ The wise 5-6 year old in me hung out watching baseball with him, and naturally, I just started asking questions. The inquisitive mind wanted to know: ‘What’s that white thing called?’ And he’s like, ‘That’s a base.’ And I was like, ‘What does that do?’ And he was like, ‘Look at this 5-year old child asking random questions.’ I was like, ‘Who is No. 23?’ He goes, ‘Oh, that’s Don Mattingly!'

I asked him enough questions and I beat the system to where on weekends I was always sitting down after cartoons and watching afternoon Yankees games with my dad.  So it was great that after a couple of summers my dad was like, ‘Maybe I should put my daughter on a team.’ 

I caught this one ball that was hit to me one game and I earned my spot in leftfield for the first baseball team I played for. We won the championship my first year playing baseball for the Marlins. It was the best feeling to win and to beat everyone and know we were the best team. The best feeling was the smell of the grass, dirtying my white pants and putting stirrups on and kind of started to learn superstitions. I had to have my stirrups washed with my socks laid out before the game a certain way. My dad would buy me new cleats almost every season and I had to have my batting glove on one hand and not the other. It was the best feeling in the world to have that ball, catch it where the glimpse of sun would hit it as it falls into your leather glove. It’s just the best feeling. And that awesome summer breeze and the ice cream truck music would play and people would be shouting different things. You’d see people peeking through the metal fence to watch at Harris Field in the Bronx. I just fell in love with it. There’s nothing better than the noises and the smells and when that ball connects with that bat and the timing is just right, when you’re using aluminum bats, that clink is both scary and then exciting. Because it's like, OK, you're either running to catch that ball in the outfield and diving to make the best catch ever or you’re the one making that contact and you know it’s going to drop in the perfect spot and you’re going to get to second base. So, I knew by 6- 7-years old that I wanted to be in sports somehow.

The career was going to be, Bernie Williams, see you later: Here comes Morales, starting center field for the Yankees. I still didn’t decide on a walk-up song or anything.

AM: Even in 2017 we still focus on women in media - especially in sports and how we continue to break barriers - where are we in our journey as a collective?

SM: I think we’re in the middle somewhere. The norm is now a woman is allowed to be on TV and talk about sports. And that is something that is becoming more normal. But it's all forward-facing jobs. I’m just seeing at ESPN us getting female producers. It is becoming normal to see two female anchors hosting SportsCenter together. Forget what tweets they’re going to receive and the criticism that they’re getting, it is something at least more normal and accepted. It’s funny, a friend of mine said the other day that we had hyped up a lot having four females on ‘Around the Horn’ for the first time ever this year, in 2017. And we hyped it up. It’s a big deal. And it is. It’s a huge deal to have four females being guests on Around the Horn. But we are in 2017. So we’re definitely not to the point where it’s normal to have that, which is absolutely ridiculous with the amount of females covering sports now. Forward-facing talent, we’re getting there. I don’t think we’re anywhere close to equality in terms of  
we're still going to see all the criticism.
We’re still going to get more comments about our looks than about what we're actually saying an the words that we use. I don’t think you really hear a lot of women doing play-by-play.

The producers, people who are making business decisions and higher up producers making larger content decisions, I don’t think there’s been a lot of opportunity for women there. And until there is someone that breaks that mold, the first person that does it is going to have the most difficult time. I'm so impressed by someone like Linda Cohn or Chris McKendry or Robin Roberts, Hannah Storm and Suzy Kolber - these women were pioneers. It's just so difficult, I can’t even imagine. But they made it so that it is normal for me to be on SportsCenter. Which is crazy. It’s just the generation before. So, I would say we’re in the middle if not lower middle. Low meaning we haven’t gotten anywhere and high meaning this is the best and it’s equal all around. So we’re not there yet. We’ve made improvements, but women in sports media are far from the norm.

AM: Who were your mentors that assisted you in getting to where you are today? 

SM: I would say I have two mentors, now three. But my first was Harold Tamara. I interned for him while I was at Syracuse. Harold did not go to Syracuse, but I worked with him in digital media one summer when I was in school and he was so supportive as a mentor because he pushed me to think critically. He was the one who told me to get on Twitter. He was like, ‘If you want to do storytelling, then here’s another vehicle for you to do storytelling.’ He put me on to do interviews for different digital projects that he was working on and he just took chances on me. He showed me so much respect and taught me to think in unconventional ways. He pushed me to go study abroad. He pushed me to think critically, to think ethically. And so, Harold long term is still a mentor to me today. He’s helped me when I think about stories. He’s helped me when I did an interview with Laurie Hernandez recently. He talked me through the piece that I wrote for The Undefeated.

Another mentor is Hayes Tauber who was one of the people that hired me at National Geographic. He said, ‘Take the job at National Geographic. Be the social media coordinator here and then move up and make the space that you need and make the job that you need it to be so that you feel fulfilled and we can help you grow personally.’ And right now, Adnan Virk who is on ESPN is another mentor to me. He’s the one who has kind of made sure that I’m meeting with the right people at ESPN. He’s being critical of my work and giving me support when he thinks I've done well and talks me through questions that I’ve had being new in the journalism space – or I should say ‘conventional’ journalism space – because I when I look back at my work, I’ve been practicing certain aspects of journalism this whole time. It just wasn’t conventional. He’s been very supportive here at ESPN.

It’s funny that it’s been three men who have made the most impact but I’ve said this many times before, I think women can’t be their own cheerleaders because we’re fighting for our own selves to make space. I can say that Linda Cohn has certainly been a mentor to me in giving me advice here and there, but for long-term purposes it’s been three different men and again, that’s critical because those are the
guys who can speak up for women because they have a voice that women don’t have still.

AM: SportsCenter is such an iconic show - tell us about what you do, your time slot and what's a day like on an off the set?

SM: My job for the last year at ESPN has been co-hosting on SportsCenter A.M. with Kevin Negandhi, Jay Harris, Jaymee Sire and the newest and very valued member, Randy Scott.  So there are five of us on the show. It's been a year now, or just over a year, of being a part of that show and working with great producers like Mark Eiseman; Heath Henry – he’s the CP of the show; Scott Clark helped us launch the show.

It was the first time we ever did such an early SportsCenter. It will be part of SportsCenter and ESPN history and that is such a big deal. So, every day I wake up at 3 o’clock in the morning. I get ready and I’m in to work between 4 and 4:30 in the morning and I’m looking at the rundowns. It’s a three-hour show, so there’s a lot of stuff that needs to get in there, but we get to digest and break down the bigger stories in sports, which is great.

Plus, we’re the first SportsCenter that people are waking up to. We used to just re-air Stan Verrett and Neil Everett overnight until the 9 a.m. SportsCenter, so this is great that we’re starting at 7 a.m. I go through the rundown when I arrive and see all the stories that we’re going to talk about. I’ll write in leads to video. I’ll do some extra research for some of my shot sheets that I’ll use to talk through highlights. If there are things that aren’t in there, this is the time before the show to question it. Like, ‘Hey, overnight I saw X, Y, Z …’ There was a day that Simone Manuel became the First African American female swimmer to win a gold medal in swimming at the Olympics. To me that was a huge deal. Yet her story wasn’t in the top of the show and I felt strongly about her being on the top of the show so that was something that we had a discussion about after she won. Michael Phelps had also won his Xth gold medal, but at the time I thought that was really important, her making history. There was a time when you had segregated pools, now you have this woman, the first black woman to win a gold medal for team U.S.A. in the Olympics. I felt like that was so important and needed to be in the top of the show because, again, as SportsCenter, as the first show in the morning, we set the tone for everyone else in sports that day and to have that understanding  is important. We have to really hold ourselves accountable to set the tone for the rest of the sports day. So, it's a great position to be in. I suggested the story, we got that in. So that is the first part of the day. From 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. it's working on the show and executing all of that on the show. After that, we have a post-show meeting. I might have some meetings that will take me to maybe noon and then I’ll go home and take care of my personal life and naps and start my work day, again, at 6 o’clock, 7 o’clock at night where I regroup with the producers on a big e-mail chain about who is going to be on our show the next day. I put on the TV, I watch SportsCenter or I put on whatever game I want to watch and take some notes. I go on the internet and see what stories are growing. And then whoever is our guest that day, I’ll put together some questions for them. So we start the production process overnight and we have a great overnight crew that also puts in stories. They’re watching games for us if we’re not up to watch them. So the workday is broken into two parts. It’s a long day and it takes a lot of work, but because we have such a great crew and everyone is working and putting into the show, it kind of makes you feel like the work that you do matters.

AM: How do you juggle your personal life against the demands of ever changing news?

SM: It’s super difficult to juggle the two and I’m really bad at juggling, so there’s that. It’s really about the people that you keep around you. So luckily for me, Jaymee Sire being on the show with me is one my first friends that I had at ESPN. ESPN is such a huge company. There’s about 4,000 people just on the Bristol campus alone so being where you’re working, a lot of people just end up being friends with people at work. And at that point, there’s an understanding of, ‘Sarina is getting up to work at 3 in the morning, she can’t go have dinner with us.’ That’s a basic understanding. Dating is very difficult. I think that finding someone who works in sports and understands sports has been extremely valuable to me and also we can talk about everything.

Dating someone who understands my job and the demands has made it a lot easier because if that wasn’t the case, I’d be pretty miserable. My family, my mother has been super supportive. She’ll watch the show from her phone. My boyfriend wakes up every morning to watch the show and watch it with me, almost. As he wakes up, he watches it and gives me feedback on things throughout the three hours. If he sees something that he thinks works for the show, he’ll send it to me overnight. So having someone who knows the workload, who understands the sports world, who understands my job makes it a lot easier to then fit in those personal spots in the rest of my life. It’s so much more clear and easy. And again, having Jaymee, who is one of my closest friends here and at ESPN, to work with her Monday through Friday, to have our dinners on Wednesday nights, once a week we meet up and just kind of hash out and relax and the understanding of, ‘Hey, let’s have dinner at 4 o’clock,’ is not an odd thing to request because we’re both on the same schedule. So it’s really about the people that you keep in your life and those people have been very, very, very supportive. I couldn’t do all of these things without supportive people. That has made my life so much better and made my career and my career growth stronger in a lot of ways because I’ve had people who are strong for me when I can’t be.

AM: Who are your favorite teams?

SM: Oh, easy. The Yankees, Bronx Bombers, let’s go, pinstripes. The Knicks, which has been tough over the years but I always brag about the ‘90s Knicks with Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason (R.I.P. to Anthony Mason) and Ewing and Starks, that team, what the Knicks did for me was just taught me to just be such a hustler and to work hard. Just that mentality of New York. And the Yankees have always been an example of how to win. Being a kid and a Yankees fan, it taught me the winning mentality of you can be down in the ninth inning and win the World Series if you have Mariano Rivera pitching for you. So I learned a winning mentality from the Yankees. The hustler in me is definitely from the New York Knicks.

And the Giants, they’re just a stress factor, but it makes the football season really interesting. And obviously, clearly, probably the most influential team in my later years is the Syracuse basketball team. My eyes were drawn after the 2003 NCAA championship that they won. I applied to Syracuse in 2003 and it was apparently the hardest year to get into Syracuse, the year that I got in, because everyone applied and everyone wanted to go to Syracuse after winning a basketball title. So that was huge for me. Syracuse Basketball, another stress in my life, but for the better and going to the Final Four last year was such a great experience. Syracuse basketball keeps me busy all year round.

AM: March Madness is here - what's that like and how does it affect your normal day to day as you head into the office?

SM: March Madness is the greatest thing that’s ever touched the world of sports, besides the Yankees. I love March. It’s my favorite month. It’s one of those things where you just never know what’s going to happen. The games are exciting. I love watching these Cinderella teams trying to make their way to the second rounds, to the Sweet 16, to the Elite Eight. And it’s one-game elimination. It’s a genius, genius way to get basketball fans excited. The Thursdays and Fridays that they have all the games, that weekend, it’s great to work at ESPN, because I usually would have to take off from work for those days to watch all those games and now everybody has got a TV at their desk. You can just watch these games and it’s been so great to work at ESPN where everyone will have their TVs on. Everyone will watch them around lunchtime in the cafeteria so it’s like a joint force of excitement. People are all watching like, ‘Oh! Put on this one! This game is crazy! Oh, this one is close!’ There’s always a buzzer beater. There’s always one where it’s like, ‘How did this one happen?’ I had Michigan State last year going to the Final Four and with them losing in the first round, it made me feel a lot better about life because even though my bracket was messed up, then Syracuse had a shot of actually making it to the Final Four. So, it’s just so great. It makes my job more interesting and I’m very grateful to have the job because I get to watch sports and this is like the best time of the year to watch sports.

I actually went down to Brooklyn to take over the Syracuse social media accounts for the ACC Tournament. So here’s an example of this time of year making my job a little stressful. I went on SportsCenter that morning at the normal time, so got in at 4-4:30, did the show, left at 10 a.m. and drove over two hours to Brooklyn to watch Syracuse play Miami and I did a Syracuse Athletics Snapchat takeover, being the super fan that I am. I got to take in the game and be a storyteller again and that was a cool perspective, because I was able to panic for my team as well as show what panic looked on other fans’ faces as well. And then after the game, I had an even longer drive back to Connecticut to do the show the next day, I mean, I worked a very, very long 16-hour day to take in college hoops, but it’s so worth it. To be there live, that was a close game Syracuse had against Miami. We lost, but seeing Jim Boeheim at the press conference after the game and hearing typical Jim Boeheim comments, it was all great, it was all worth it. And it was fun to be able to do storytelling again via Snapchat.

AM: For this feature, we included Dianna and Toni - how much, if at all do you cross paths in terms of being on set, working on projects etc?

SM: Dianna works in the evenings, and Toni works on the shows right after I do. So it’s sort of like me and then Toni and then Dianna as far as like the timeslots. So because of that, I don’t have opportunities to work with them directly on any specific projects, but it is nice that we can throw support at each other. I tossed to a great piece that Toni Collins worked on just the other day, with the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team and how important that team is to the community and raising money and just the community feeling good about themselves as something that gives the community hope. After the show she walked past me in the hallway and said, ‘Hey, thanks for promoting my piece.’ I was like, ‘Absolutely.’ Again, we don’t get to work on projects necessarily, but we can support each other, because it’s a rolling day. At least we have it spread out. It’s not like they threw all the women together in one time of the day. We’re spread out so we can take the day and support each other throughout a 24-hour period.

AM: During our shoot, we shot you guys working out - tell us about your workout routine and how you stay fit? What are 3 exercises that we should do for tones arms, abs and legs? 

SM: It’s difficult for me to work out with these hours because I used to wake up and work out first thing in the morning. But because the sun isn’t out, I don’t run outside before work. So after work I’ll usually try to get in a run. Especially during spring and summer, I’ll run outside. I did two half marathons last year. I can’t even count anymore, how many half-marathons I’ve run. I ran the New York City Marathon I think four years ago. So, running is my escape and it kind of fills  the competitive void that I have, that I used to satiate playing baseball. Running for me has been a great sport that I’ve found that I can work on individually. I’m trying to pick up golf and I’ve been doing a lot of yoga in the early evenings. So I say a mixture of yoga and running have been my two things that I do to keep in shape and to keep mentally healthy as well. I think those two sports are good for both. I also go to the batting cages, too. You can find me in New Britain hitting 80mph balls on a good day.
 

Three things that I do: For legs, I would start with any squat. I’m big on squats. So, jumping squats or something with a weight, holding a dumbbell and doing a squat. Sitting in a chair position I think is great. Or any kind of jumping in general I’m big on for your legs, because it also exhausts the rest of your body. You’re getting your heart rate up. Another all-body workout is jumping rope. I’ll even do it in front of the TV in my apartment while I’m watching a game.

For abs, I do an elevated crunch. So I just balance myself on either a Bosu ball or a place where I need to keep my balance and then do a crunch that way. I think planks are great for that as well and a lot of workouts that I do for my legs and my arms also I use my core to keep myself balanced. So if I do a squat on a Bosu ball, then I’m also working on my core in that way. So I think a lot of the workouts that I do are core focused, even if I’m not doing a crunch of some sort. I also think yoga is really good for my core as well.

For my arms, I’ll do pushups on a Bosu ball. Those are great. Or with a medicine ball, doing one-handed pushups. They’re awesome. Again, I think they help the core a lot.

AM: Who do you like to listen to when you work out vs when you're out and about?

SM: When I work out, I usually try to listen to – depending on the run I do – it might be something really calm like Coldplay or it might be something really high energy, like we’re going Jay-Z or we’re going home. But it depends on the day and the mood I’m in. If I’m out and about, if I’m driving on a long road trip or something, I usually try to put on a podcast. I know a lot of people listen to podcasts when they work out. I have a hard time doing it because I just want to kind of zone out and hyper focus on my breathing. But I do love to put some really good high-energy music on when I’m using weights. If I go for a long run or in yoga, obviously, I’ll do something that’s a little more mellow so I’ll zone out. There’s been a couple races, like I’ve done four-mile races, where I’ve literally played the same song on repeat the whole time just to help me reset and go back into this zone of hyper focus. Music is very helpful for me when I work out, so if anyone has new music to send me, I’ll gladly accept.

AM: You're always on the move, what do you eat for great energy to keep you going and what do you love to splurge on?

SM: The secret to success is overnight oats. It’s awesome and for me is also good because I’m allergic to wheat. So I get gluten-free oats and again, because I’m so tired in the mornings when I wake up, the most I can do is make my coffee. So I don’t really want to think about making anything else or preparing in the morning. So with overnight oats I'll get some gluten-free oatmeal and I’ll pour in either soy milk or coconut milk, rice milk, really any type of milk that you want to use, and pour that in with the oats and put some honey, cinnamon, some nutmeg and some vanilla for taste and I'll let that sit overnight in my fridge, and in the morning if I have some raspberries or blueberries I’ll throw that on top and put it in a mason jar and just put the cap on it and take it with me and eat it when I get to work. So that’s a very easy breakfast. It’s filling, it’s healthy, I’ll put some chia seeds or flax seeds in the overnight oats as well, and it tastes good. I’ll eat that a lot in the morning and that kind of gets me through the show at least. Because I’m up and I forget to eat sometimes. I’m waking up at 3 o’clock in the morning and I’m working until 10. That’s 7-8 hours and you’re eating one meal. So for me, that’s super helpful because it’s filling and I try to start my appetite as soon as possible so I can get into a routine of not eating too late or overeating at one part of the day. So I would say that’s the key.

My splurge? Definitely French fries. I have a major problem with French fries. They’re the best thing that man has created. And I’m not using a hyperbole statement here. French fries are amazing. All of them. You got the steak fries that are great. Curly fries – shoutout to the curly fries that were big in the ‘90s. I love sweet potato fries. Who doesn’t want a sweet potato with a nice garlic aioli? Fries are great. They’re really great. A salted potato? You can’t go wrong.

AM: We see you on air - what would you say your style is on set versus when you're out and about with friends?

SM: Style on air, I try to keep it classy, San Diego. I try and also have my unique spin to my clothing. So I love jumpsuits.  It’s freezing in studio, nobody knows this because people seem so warm on air, but we are freezing in studio. Some of the guys don’t get cold the way women do. So, I try and wear pants a lot, which apparently is very unique for people who watch television and are used to seeing women wearing dresses – just check my @ mentions. So I try to change it up and wear more pants. Pocket Square Fridays are my favorite days, not just because it’s Friday but I get to wear a suit and kind of add my own personal touch with the pocket square which I also don't think you see on TV too much.

But, you know, it’s just as classy as possible. I don’t try to distract the audience by what I’m wearing versus what I’m saying. I wear a lot of black but I know I need to wear more color. And then off camera, the first thing I thought about is my camo T-shirt. There’s this one camo T-shirt that I bought at a London thrift shop when I lived there in 2008 or ’09 and I still have that shirt almost 10 years later. It’s like one of my favorite shirts. But like a camo T-shirt, some jeans and a pair of really cool kicks, that’s like a classic put-together outfit for me. A lot of black but there’s always a splash of color. There’s some pop of color that I’ll add to my outfit. But I try to keep it classic because it’s easy. When you think of the super geniuses of the world, like a Steve Jobs, he always just wore the same T-shirt and jeans. He didn’t really think too hard about what he was wearing. So I think for me that I try to get clothes where I can just take one thing, put it with another thing and they always go together no matter what two things you grab from your closet.

AM: Being able to be on ESPN's campus, we have some favorite places that allow you to truly take in sports history, where or what are your favorite spots? 

SM: I think the newsroom is cool, seeing where stories break. I was sitting in the newsroom when Tom Brady’s Deflategate suspension was upheld and the newsroom went crazy. I think I heard one person scream. So to think about all the news stories that have gone through that newsroom over the years in Building 4, that to me is super cool. ESPN has with its reputation that if a big story breaks, people are putting on ESPN. Just the way that they’ll put on a CNN or an ABC or NBC, ESPN is the place to get breaking news in sports. So I think that’s really cool to walk into the newsroom sometimes and see all the different anchors and knowing that I'm part of this history. That’s a really good, cool feeling.

AM: What's your favorite story that you worked on?

SM: I guess my story with Laurie Hernandez, which is more recent. There’s a couple reasons why that’s my favorite. One, my favorite thing to do is interviewing. I love it. I enjoy being an anchor on the morning shows but I just really love sitting with someone and doing an interview and doing the work behind an interview – the research and trying to think of questions they might not have been asked. Or the way I deliver the question – whether I take a pause or I add a joke, or what’s the question that’s going to get them to be like, ‘Ah, yeah, I never thought about that,’ or to get a different answer. That’s a cool puzzle to solve as a reporter.

I had an opportunity to interview Laurie Hernandez right after her Olympic run down in Brazil and the success that she had. She was a success story out of New Jersey, she was a Latina. I felt like I could relate to. So I got to do a sit-down interview with her and her mom and her dad for a feature for One Nación, the special that we had on ESPN. It was her family story and the pride and the support that was poured into this young woman, this athlete. It really made an impact the way that you see these athletes as singular magical creatures, like superheroes. But the superhero can't be super without the support and I talked about that with her family. Her mom and dad put all their energy towards her because that was what they saw – she had a special gift. And her brother and her sister, the modesty and the lack of jealousy or anything on her family’s part to see how much she wanted to be an Olympian was inspiring. What an impressive thing.

To be an Olympian, to be a great athlete, to be these superheroes that we see in sports, that we idolize, there’s so much happening behind that one person. You can’t be that person without the support group. So for me, that was a really powerful story because that family didn’t come from money, that family’s superpower was the love that they had for Laurie and to see that firsthand was powerful for me because I felt like in some ways me becoming a SportsCenter anchor was the result of all of the love that my family had given to me.

The second part of why this is my favorite thing I’ve worked on is because I got to do a writing component that came to me during the interview and it was based on a question that I had put together from observations that I had made with Gabby Douglas and some of the racist comments and critical comments fans and media made towards Gabby when it came to her being a black female athlete and her hair and the way that she carried herself, or for not smiling. So I asked Laurie about the criticism that Gabby got and her observations there and how that impacted her as a teammate and did she also receive criticism in a similar way being the only Latina that was on that Olympic team. And she said to me that people were critical of her because she didn’t speak Spanish and they said she was a ‘fake’ Puerto Rican. And to me, that again touched something, a personal spot for me because I didn’t grow up speaking Spanish – except with my grandparents. My  dad was made fun of when he moved from Puerto Rico to New York City, because he couldn’t speak English. So the first thing that my dad did was to make sure that I spoke English so that I wouldn’t be made fun of. Which is pretty sad when you think about it, right? Couldn’t we be bilingual? I would probably be way more bilingual had my dad taught me the language that he knew first, but he was made fun of as a kid. 

For me, I still identify as being Latina. I still identify with Colombians and with Puerto Ricans. My family culture and traditions are something that’s really important to me and that make me feel safe. A good plate of Titi Glady’s rice and beans and pasteles is the most comforting meal I could have. So for her to be criticized for being a fake Puerto Rican when I myself am not necessarily fluent, it hurt me. So I was able to pitch this idea as Laurie being a fake Puerto Rican to The Undefeated and I had a writing component to the interview, which I thought was great. So to be able to stretch my skillset a little more and do a longer form writing piece was challenging but something that now I want to do more of because I was able to do that with the Laurie Hernandez interview.

AM: Do you do any charities/philanthropy?

SM: I donate a lot of clothes – except for the camouflage T-shirt that I have – but I donate.  Also, I volunteer myself to speak to students on a regular basis, which I kind of forget that I do because it happens so frequently. Some student will say, ‘Hey, can I send you an e-mail?’ or, ‘Can I call you to ask you questions about your career?’ This probably happens now once a week where I’ll gladly take 30 minutes to an hour out of my day to talk to a student if it's going to help them with their career and give them some insight to the business. I speak to Syracuse students.  I’m going to probably two or three career days in the Bronx this year and I also read to younger students recently for National Reading Day at a local school in Bristol. And then Habitat for Humanity, I volunteered with that group to help Katrina victims when I was a student at Syracuse. So I’ve continued to work with that group. I donate money to Planned Parenthood. Also, the Red Cross, during Hurricane Sandy, that was something I was part of with that group to help people that didn’t have electricity or food nearby, I brought food to those communities in Brooklyn who were hit hard by the hurricane. I’ve continued to work with the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity since those two tragedies.

AM: Please share anything that you feel you'd like to share!

SM: Sports is life. In sports, it’s a team effort. And if you don’t play on a team, you’re still part of a community. Even when I’m running by myself, I feel like I’m part of a running community. When I run past someone on a trail, I wave to them because I can relate to a community of other people who are running. The real ‘runner’s hi.’ So there’s that. And on teams, you obviously have community. Looking at the way that sports and outside influences like politics have all sort of intersected, it makes you think about the American dream where we’re supposed to have this idea where you make it on your own. I think that if you look at what sports tells us and shows us, clearly the most successful people don’t do anything on their own.

And when you look at women in this industry, you can’t do it on your own. When you look at winning a World Series or an NBA title or anything, you can’t do it on your own and I think that's a really strong lesson that sports has taught me.

As strong as you can be mentally,  the strength that comes to you, whether it’s an opposing team or to fight the institutionalized barriers that are set in place, whether you’re a minority or a woman or whatever it is that keeps you from getting a job or something, if you look at the foundation of sports, it’s about community and being supported, and we need to think about that when we look at other facets of the world.

I also think sports teaches us that while in the outside world we’re supposed to be so good with multi-tasking, if you focused on one thing you would do more justice to that one thing and do better in the bigger picture if you were able to do one thing really great. So, again, hyper focus with sports, you can’t play the field and you can’t hit at the same time. I think that there are a lot of lessons that we can apply in our daily lives and we can learn from any game, whether it be football or baseball or basketball or track or whatever.

The ideas of community, of work ethic, of leadership, of support, of being mentally and physically healthy and challenging yourself to what’s the next thing – setting goals. I think people don’t take sports so seriously, but if you look at the power that sports gives us as something to cheer for, even if you don’t play it, it gives communities hope that they can be supported by this team. There are heroes created. I don’t think athletes think enough about the impact that they create on their communities and how important that is because you give hope to the next generation. I think sports, and covering it, has been a real blessing because the foundation, the fundamentals of what any sport is, Sports are really the fundamentals that we should be applying to our daily lives.

ANCHORWOMAN TONI COLLINS

SPORTSCENTER @ 11AM

AM: We see you on SportsCenter and everyone has a story of how they got to this point, can you tell us where you're from, what college you went to, what stations you came through and whether these jobs were in sports coverage or other areas?

TONI COLLINS: So it's been a quick journey, but a fun one so far and God willing a long one! I went to the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. I played soccer there, majored in Media Communications with a minor in Sports Management. After college I found it hard to get a job so I interned at Univision in Miami, where I did everything from interning with their special events departments that mainly includes their TV Specials. But it wasn’t fancy haha, it was printing papers, umbrella holding for stars, getting coffee, transcribing interviews. Then I got moved to the networks magazine show Primer Impacto as an intern… and their reality show Nuestra Belleza Latina followed. I was there for about six months because I had applied at a sports radio station in Tampa and got the job! I was a board operator for almost 6 months. I had an opportunity to cover the Superbowl that year in Tampa, as well as the local Pro and college sports.

In the meantime I made a fake demo with several stand ups and sent it to several stations. Mcallen, TX local Univision and Fox station hired me off that! So I packed my bags, not knowing anyone and moved to Mcallen. I was there for 2 ½ years. I couldn’t have asked for a better first market. I covered it all! From Drug busts, murders, immigration stories, daily border stories, weather, sports. I reported for both the local Univision show at 5pm and 10 and the Fox newscast at 9. I also became the anchor for Fox toward the latter part of my time there.  While in Mcallen, an opening for Univisions' local Dallas sports anchor opened. I auditioned and was hired by Martha Katan.

That was by far also the best year of my life. 2011. Dallas Mavericks went to the NBA Finals and won it! In baseball the Rangers went to the World Series, and even though we lost, it was an unforgettable journey to cover the team and the local beat in the DFW area.
 
During that year, Univision Network launched their sports network and allowed local anchors to audition. I did and got that job. We launched the sports network and I was there for about a year. Then ESPN, my dream, called me to audition. I didn’t do so well the first time, but they gave me hope. At my second audition months later, they told me I could have potential in English, mind you my whole career for the most part has been reporting, anchoring and writing in Spanish. It was an opportunity I could not pass up so I said yes and came aboard on the digital side of ESPN. After 2 years I was “called up” as I like to see it hehe to do updates on the TV side. It’s been a year, but every day I keep learning and trying to get better and do well in English with the opportunities that come my way.
 
AM: Were you an athlete in college and if so - what sport?

TC: I was! I played soccer all my life. Had the chance to play for the Mexican Women’s National team U19  and for my college Mount Union.

AM: When did you first realize that you loved sports and how did you know that that would be a career for you?
 

TC: From the first day I played soccer. Probably when I was 10. It’s a feeling I can’t describe when it's you and the soccer ball and you can create opportunities, score, or hear the cheers and especially make my parents proud. Career wise, I knew I wanted it from way way back. I grew up in a newsroom. My mom is an anchor and reporter and my childhood was in a newsroom or in the field with her because she couldn't find a sitter so I tagged along. You know when people say, "Oh I want to be a vet or a doctor or a policeman!" … I never had those thoughts, I have never had any other desire then to be a reporter. I saw how amazing my mom was at telling stories while growing up and what a difference one can make telling a story, it’s all I want to do and get better at that as I continue to grow with ESPN.

AM: Even in 2017 we still focus on women in media - especially in sports and how we continue to break barriers - where are we in our journey as a collective, in your opinion?

TC: I think we are making great strides! And one day, it won’t be a story or a headline. Just normal. Linda Cohn told me once, just look at everything in a positive light. It may not be perfect, it may not be fair, but its up to you to see it in a positive light and focus on that and how one handles the reality and how one can help the journey moving forward in a positive way.

AM: Who were your mentors that assisted you in getting to where you are today?

TC: I have so many in front and behind the camera. ESPN anchor/reporter Claudia Trejos. She became my mentor and friend when we worked at Univision Sports and now we are together again at ESPN…She is amazing! One of the most respected sportscasters in sports TV. Jack Obringer, he’s one of my bosses. The man is honest and bless his heart because he has to deal with me haha, but in all honesty his constant feedback from my segments, shows, and stories here at ESPN help me grow, learn, and put perspective about where I am and where I need to be to succeed.  My mother. No words will describe how much I look up to her as a professional. She is unbelievable. To this day, I don't know how she did it! She was able to raise my sister and I, be a mother, be a  professional, a wife, and a fighter.

AM: SportsCenter is such an iconic show - tell us about what you do, your time slot and what's a day like on and off the set.

TC:  Yeah! I do updates for the SportsCenter show Coast to Coast from 11-Noon. I also am a reporter for both ESPN in English and ESPNDeportes. A typical day starts at 6:30 and ends around 3pm. However, so many things pop up such as meetings or if I’m working on a story and we voice and edit etc. Also I do some of the Voice Overs for the Sports Center out of LA so squeeze recording those during the week. I have so much fun reading those haha “SportsCenter brought to you by…”

AM: How do you juggle your personal life (dating/marriage, friends, family and personal time) against the demands of ever changing news?

TC: Well if we are honest. It’s tough. Dating is non existent haha and its ok! It’s a blessing in disguise right now as I’m trying to grow and learn the most I can. If I'm not at work, I’m with my girlfriends from here at ESPN, Griselda Ramirez and Alexis Nunes or my friend from back in the day in Mcallen, TX who lives in NYC a drive away, Janice Perez. That’s on weekends, but they are the balance I need from work, thank God for them!

Family wise it’s tough, but thankfully my mom being in the same field understands I can’t make it for holidays or birthdays etc. I try to go home every 5 months or she tries to come up, but she’s also so busy!
 

AM: We know you love Barcelona for soccer, who are your other favorite teams?

TC: Barcelona for life because of my father. He was from Cataluña and loved Barcelona, he passed away a couple of years ago so Barca means so much more than just a team. I do love the Steelers, Texas Rangers, Club Leon from Liga MX .. For hockey I’m totally on the band wagon and I’ll admit it, but I’m a Maple Leafs fan! I’m Mexican American and their star rookie Auston Matthews is as well. I find it so freaking awesome he is dominating a sport not really associated with Mexico. It’s so cool to see how all the sacrifices he and his family have gone through are paying off! 

AM: For this feature, we included you, Dianna, and Sarina - how much, if at all do you cross paths in terms of being on set, working on projects etc?

TC: I get to see Sarina more because we cross paths when I go in for makeup. She is typically done with her show and I’m just heading in. Dianna, I  always catch her doing her thing on SportsCenter! I wish we got to spend more time together, but given our schedules its so hard! So when we do have the time it’s always a blast! Like this one! It was so much fun to spend time, laugh and catch up!
 
AM: During our shoot, we shot you guys working out - tell us about your workout routine and how you stay fit? What are 3 exercises that we should do for toned arms, abs and legs?

TC: Oh man I’m so bad on my own I have help form a trainer. Nate Pagan. Bless his heart too because he’s got quite the task! Hahaha For legs, squats and deadlifts are a must. For abs, we religiously do hollow holds and planks, and for arms, simple and to the point…. bicep curls and tricep extensions.
 
AM: What do you like to listen to when you work out vs when you're out and about?

TC: When I work out, I love to listen to fun, fast paced music. When I’m out believe it or not. Spanish and country music is a must! I’m a Latina country girl for sure! haha

AM: You're always on the move, what do you eat for great energy to keep you going and what do you love to splurge on?

TC: I always have a Quest Bar or a bag 

AM: You're always on the move, what do you eat for great energy to keep you going and what do you love to splurge on?

TC: I always have a Quest Bar or a bag of almonds on me. I tend to go to the cafeteria too to see if they have snacks or a piece of fruit. I am Latina therefore I love carbs haha, love love love bread, so combine that with my love for Italian food and I splurge on pizza! Give me pizza and I will love you forever!
 
AM: We see you on air - what would you say your style is on set versus when you're out and about with friends?

TC: Off camera I’m very chill. Steelers/Rangers/Mavs/Barcelona cute shirts and jeans. Love my Adidas sneakers too. When I'm on air, I tend to do a ton of dresses. It’s really hard for me with style because I’m such a tomboy. I really count on my mom still to help me out. She has such style! Its amazing and love what she picks out for me. But yeah I live in dresses and heels on tv and off tv sneakers tshirts and jeans.
 
AM: What's your favorite story that you worked on?

TC: So far it has to be the one I just finished in the Dominican Republic called Striking Out Poverty. Water is the primary need of the poorest communities in the most rural areas of the Dominican Republic. Growing up in the small modest town of Villa Mella, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gregory Polanco is well aware of what the needs are in his home country. Polanco is one of 40 Major League Baseball players who have partnered with “Striking Out Poverty,” a campaign launched by the organization “Food for the Hungry” to raise nearly a million dollars to help nine of the poorest communities in the Dominican.
 

ANCHORWOMAN DIANNA RUSSINI

SPORTSCENTER @ 7pm or 9pm

AM: We see you on SportsCenter and everyone has a story of how they got to this point, can you tell us where you're from, what college you went to, what stations you came through and whether these jobs were in sports coverage or other areas?

DIANNA RUSSINI: I was born in the Bronx, New York, but eventually moved to New Jersey. I attended Northern Valley Regional at Old Tappan. I was a 4 sport athlete in high school, a decent one. I played soccer, basketball, softball and eventually ran track. My goal was to play Division One soccer. Not one school was interested. So I had a coach reach out to George Mason University to get me a tryout.  They agreed because I think they felt bad. I walked on and made the team, barely. The head coach kept me, but at the end of the season he said, "I’m just going to let you know that I am going to cut you in the fall. You’re not good, you’re too little, too skinny – you don’t have enough muscle or skills.” So I said, coach give me one more spring season before the fall season and let me try out again. That spring I gained thirty pounds of muscle and was the leading scorer on our team. That fall, I made the team and eventually earned a scholarship. It was an incredible experience. I really had no business being on that field playing with some of the most elite players that I have ever played with in my life! They’re all still my friends to this day and we all joke about how bad I was, but they were the reason I was able to rise above and push myself.  They all believed in me.

While I was in college, 9/11 happened. I was a freshman and I had only been at George Mason University, which is in Fairfax, Virginia, for about a month. My father was in Tower 1 that morning. He got out – which was a blessing. But, he drove down to Virginia to take me out of school immediately. Because at that point he was going through a lot of different emotions and I’m sure that one of them was,  let me get my family all together. So he took me out of school and we sat and watched the news for hours and hours and hours – just like many New Yorkers did. 

Everyone has stories from that day. My University  was 5 miles from the Pentagon – which was another target. It was just bad timing. I still reflect on that day and it was the worst day of my life. But I feel blessed that the people who I love were able to get out. It was a moment that I realized when I was watching the news that I had had an interest in being a journalist. I knew I liked something about reporting, but I didn’t know what it was. At that time, I was 18 or 19 and I wasn’t too sure. Then after 9/11, I knew that that was exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a local news reporter and to be like those brave reporters who were down there reporting and being a messenger to the people. Those men and women were so important that day!

The next summer, my father suggested I get an internship at Channel Seven Eyewitness New in Manhatttan. Well, I put in for an internship and you know how it goes in NYC. Everyone applies to them because here are 1,000 schools. I drove up from school after practice and I was the last one to get an interview. The assistant news director Bill McFarland who wound up giving me the internship, told me that it was because I asked great questions. I’ll never forget when they called me to tell that I got it. I knew that once I got the internship at Channel 7, because we know how good of a station that is, that everything was going to come together. They supplied me with everything I needed to become a journalist.

come together. They supplied me with everything I needed to become a journalist.

From there, I did sideline reporting in college and I had to put together a tape. Mine was awful, but this little station called News 12 hired me in Westchester County, New York. I worked there and broke a couple of crime stories. The News Director at WNBC in New York heard about me through the grapevine and inquired. I met him for dinner, we talked about my process, and my goals to be a NYC local news reporter and he said, "how would you feel if I could make your dreams come true right now?" So at the age of 24, he hired me as the youngest General Assignment Reporter in NYC – which was so cool!  A few months later, he was let go as the news director as were many of the people he hired. That’s when our sports anchor Bruce Beck suggested I get into sports. So I packed my bags and moved to Seattle, Washington and got a job there. From there I moved back to the East Coast and I went to the NBC affiliate in Connecticut and was a Sports Anchor and news reporter. While I was there the News Director from the Washington D.C.’s NBC affiliate was driving through CT, got tired, got a hotel room, flipped the news on and I was anchoring. The next day, he called my boss and said, can we hire her as a sports anchor in DC. It was good timing. WRC NBC Washington is one of the most respected local news stations in the country. I went there and a few years later, ESPN approached me about working as a SportsCenter anchor and I took the job!

AM: Even in 2017 we still focus on women in media - especially in sports and how we continue to break barriers - where are we in our journey in your opinion?

DR: We’re a little better – not great. I think the thought is, there are so many women on television or writing for newspapers/blogs in sports, it must be an even playing field now. It's not.

The respect that women receive in sports has improved in some areas, but we still have a long way to go. Here’s a concrete example. 

Two weeks ago I was in Indianapolis at the NFL combine (a place where future NFL players work out in front of coaches, owners etc). Reporters have the opportunity to get out there as well to meet with all the people that  are in the league. It’s an invaluable environment to get quality facetime with decision makers. There’s one or two steakhouses everyone hangs out in after dinner. It’s incredible, you can be standing next to Jerry Jones and Bill Belichick at the same time if you are there at the right time. One morning, I ran into a NFL head coach walking by Starbucks.  He said, "I heard you were at the steakhouse last night until 1am." I said, "yes I was, why is that an issue?" He said, "you know as a woman, it looks really bad to be out past midnight with men in the NFL." I responded with “What do you mean. Everybody is out – what are you talking about there were 100 people in there.” He said “you don’t want people assuming that you’re doing anything unprofessional. Being out late could be dangerous.” 

I could feel my face turning bright red, I was infuriated. What does staying out late have to do with being unprofessional? Dangerous? Is there a rule that networking has a curfew? I quipped back at him “because I’m a woman, I have to go home while my male competitors get the opportunity to hang out and network because they are men? Why don’t they go home! They get a few more hours in front of the coaches because they’re men? That makes zero sense to me.”

He felt bad and apologized while adding, "you always want people to respect your credibility and you never want them to think that you're getting stories any other way." Which I said, "if that is what people want to believe, that’s their problem – not mine!" Here we are in March 2017 and there are still these issues for women. I don’t blame him – it’s just part of the culture. When Adam Schefter or Chris Mortensen break a story nobody questions how they collected the information, but every time a women breaks news in sports, it’s always “what did she do to get that” and it’s unfair to women who are doing it the right way. So when you ask me to reflect on the barriers, my response is there’s still a thick one between men and women.
 
AM: Who were your mentors that assisted you in getting you to where you are today?

DR: That is probably the most important part of my journey! You are not able to be successful in this industry without great people around you. I’m really lucky because because I have many mentors for different reasons, but my family is the reason I have been
able accomplish many of my goals. I have two very different parents. My father is very cerebral, thinks things through. I then have my mother, who is a spitfire, competitive, and filled with love and personality. They have kept me grounded and focused every single
time I take another jump to another station or another level in this business. My brother and sister are both married and I have in-laws and my entire family is all-in on my career. They don't miss a SportsCenter, they watch every single show. My brother in-law follows me on Twitter to see what I am talking about and they call and text me. In terms of me, where I’m at in my career, I keep pushing it harder because if I don’t reach the goal or get to where I want to go to – I have these amazing people that I can fall back on – my family. 

AM: SportsCenter is such an iconic show - tell us about what you do, your time slot and what's a day like on and off the set?

DR: I anchor SportsCenter during the evening hours. Sometimes the 7 pm SportsCenter or the 9 pm. Those shows have tons of highlights and most games are going on during those hours. It’s our job to update the viewer when they come over to us. Most of the time, my highlights aren’t even done yet because the game isn’t done yet! So I will just give you an update on here what’s happening in the 3rd quarter for Knicks/Bucks – here’s the score and here’s what happened. So it moves – it’s the fastest moving show at ESPN. This requires you to be organized, prepared and requires you to have a free spirit. You have to be ok that it’s not going to be perfect.

Off the air, I get in hours before and I start researching the game and thinking about what the storylines are for the games going on. I work with an amazing team on how to best prepare and give the best information to the viewer for when they tune in. I'm usually on for a minimum of 2 hours and for a maximum of 4. It's a lot of live television. It kicks your butt and it makes you really good!

AM: How do you juggle your personal life (dating/marriage, friends, family and personal time) against the demands of ever changing news?

DR: Ah that’s so cute, you think I have a personal life. Just kidding. It’s a work in progress for me. My family is all in New Jersey still so I try to see them once every two weeks. I also have a great group of friends back home that keep me sane. They keep my life balanced and healthy. Also when I started at ESPN, I was introduced to another ESPN host, Cassidy Hubbarth and we became really good friends immediately. When we hang out, we talk work for 30 minutes and we’ll say, “hey I caught you last night you need to do this” or “hey I saw you last night on the sidelines at the Rockets game – I loved your interview.” It’s great to get feedback from someone I respect, but also trust. We do everything we possibly can to keep things positive and to not talk negatively about anything at ESPN. That’s really important to our friendship, being positive.

From there, we’re just Cassidy and Dianna. We text all day and both worship Jennifer Lopez. For us she embodies what we want to be: classy, powerful, successful, and cool.  When we are actually in the same city at the same time, we go out to dinner or just walk around Manhattan. I’m a better sports anchor because I met Cassidy. She also reminds me that I’m not defined by this business. It’s ok to love it and be passionate about my work – but there is also more to life. She’s a big reason why I am so happy at ESPN.

AM: Who are your favorite teams?

DR: Ok this is the worst part! I’m a die hard NY Jets fan, I'm proud to be a New York Yankees fan, I'm a Knicks Fan, and Islanders fan. I'm a new Portland Timbers fan and I'd say for women's basketball I’m a Seattle Storm fan because I love Sue Bird.  

I anchor SportsCenter during the evening hours. Sometimes the 7pm SportsCenter or the 9pm. It's our job to update the viewer when they come over to us - it's the fastest moving show at ESPN.

AM: March Madness is here - what's that like and how does it affect your normal day to day as you head into the office?

DR: This time of year makes all the hard times being a sports anchor worth it. The environment in the newsroom, on set – the energy at this time of year is at the highest! Mostly because every one has a school that has a hand in the game and you want to cheer for it. It’s a great way to show that sports is a great way to unite people. I get more excited to go to work and sometimes I don’t want to anchor because I want to watch the games! That’s always a hard thing for me, but it’s so much fun and it never gets old. It’s something you look forward to every year. I can’t wait for it to start!
 

AM: For this feature, we included you, Toni, and Sarina - how much, if at all do you cross paths in terms of being on set, working on projects etc?

DR: Not at all. That was the first time that I had seen Toni in months. Toni and Sarina are morning people and I’m a night time anchor. When Toni is getting ready for bed I’m on TV so we don’t get to see each other and so I have to make an effort when I want to see the morning people and so do they. We all get along really well and I have to say that as much as it is competitive and we want to be the best and do whatever it takes, the women of ESPN do a really good job of supporting each other and understanding that there is room for everybody. 

There is an understanding where we need to stick together as we’re not where we need to be. 

AM: During our shoot, we shot you guys working out - tell us about how you stay fit? What exercises should we do for toned arms, abs and legs?

DR: I am a big body sculpting person! I hate running – if you told me I had to run for 5 mins, I would leave the shoot – that’s how much I hate cardio! I have figured out for my body type that I have a lot of energy and I’m intense. So body sculpting is the best avenue for me. When I was in Washington DC, I did pilates reformer every single day – 7 days a week for 3 months and then it was 2-3 times a week for the rest of the year. It changed my body completely and ended up toning my body. It elongated my body, I felt taller and leaner. If there was one workout that works for me that I would share with your readers, it's Pilates Reformer – you should try and it’s addictive.

I try, because I’m so busy, to take opportunities to work in little things during my day. For example, I have to walk from the newsroom to the cafeteria – there are these long hallways and I look crazy and I don’t care sometimes – I will do lunges there, when I walk to the car in the grocery store because I won’t get a  chance to go. For me my lower body is something that I am always working on and it’s the weaker part of my body. For my upper body, my favorite workout is to row.  My back is so much stronger. As for butt workout, besides the lunges – my go to is to get down on all fours and to do the raises.

AM: I do them all the time!

DR: They’re great right? Do you want to know who taught me to work out?  My mom as she would do the raises in the kitchen when she cooked! She'd lift her leg when she was flipping pancakes.

AM: As soon as I saw you do the lifts in our shoot, it brought me back to when I was little, when I would “workout” with her and she did those! I knew your mom taught you that retro move!

DR: It’s SO retro and I’m so glad you called me out on that!

AM: What is on your playlist? 

DR: I love Beyonce – you can put any song on and I feel like I’m going to take on the world. I don’t know what it is about her music but it gets me all the time. I love The Weekend. Anything poppy will get me going. Sia songs - “The Greatest.” I listen to this as I drive into work and I’m like, “I’m going to rule the world,” anything that fires me up, high energy with great beats. I’m a big podcast person. When I’m really zoned in at work, I’m a firm believer in keeping the process going during my day. This means, I anchor at night, I wake up, get coffee, and I go to the gym and I keep the process going by listening to sports in my ear while I work out. To add balance to my life. I listen to podcasts that are not sport specific too so I know what's going on in the arts, the economy, politics, pop culture etc.

AM: You're always on the move, what do you eat for great energy?

DR: Oh wow, you’re right food is really important and I am really lucky that ESPN has a great cafeteria. I’m a big grilled vegetable/grilled salmon person. When I first started, I ate a hamburger every single day. One day, the chef said to me, young lady have you ever thought about grilled salmon? I was like why and he said, I don’t know all this beef it may not be very good for you. I had never had it before but he said I bet you’re going to love this and I did. He changed my whole diet and so now I do grilled salmon and broccoli everyday and it’s delicious. I’m a big coffee person and I have learned through friends and my mom that if there’s one key to success when it comes to diet and exercise, it’s water! Water changes your life. If there is any take away from talking to me its this DRINK WATER! I see a difference in my skin, my body, my mind - everything changes. 

AM: What would you say your style is on air versus when you're out with friends?

DR: SO my style on set is categorized as sassy fun professional sporty. I don’t want to ever distract from what I am discussing so I keep it very plain. You’re dressing yourself 5 times a week and its hard to get it right all the time! The key to TV is to wear something that doesn’t distract. Simple solid colors, dresses are always a go to for me.

AM: Being able to be on ESPN's campus, we have some favorite places! Where or what are your favorite spots?

DR: My favorite places – the makeup room, because the women we have on our staff are incredible. They are so talented and supportive and sometimes you just need a second to breathe! That room is just the place. Those women who I now call friends should charge for therapy! It's where most women feel comfortable and you can let your hair down. I love my coffee so Starbucks is my place and the baristas are my best friends at ESPN. I'm always rushing and on the phone and they know what I like! In the summer time, especially in CT, one of my favorite things to do is to walk from the newsroom to the cafeteria when the sun is starting to set and I love to look around and remind myself that I work at the worldwide leader. It’s the best way to recharge myself and to remind myself that this is a lucky break that I got and it’s up to me to make it into something. 

AM: What's your favorite story that you worked on?

DR: My favorite interview that I have been able to be a part of – Kelsey Plum, a women’s college basketball player. She broke the record for most points scored in a career. I got to interview her after she did it! Her grace, humility and awareness of the moment inspired me. I also had the chance to have lunch/dinner with Josh Norman and D'Angelo Hall from the Redskins on camera. They were so open and honest.

AM: Do you give you time to charities?

DR: Yes! So it’s not really charity but giving of time - I really enjoy speaking to students and to women in the work-
force, sports or not. I make a point to volunteer my time to schools in NJ. I visit my little sister’s classroom twice a year. It's the most rewarding and fulfilling that that I have participated in my life. Every one always thanks me so much when I come to their classroom or convention, and I’m always like no, no thank you! I do feel tht you have to pay it forward and share the message.  I like to share the message of mistakes that I have made and I’m comfortable with that. I'm saying that I'm a mess, but a mess on a mission.

Read more from the March Issue and read We Are SportsCenter in mag

BINGELY STREAMING

NCAA MARCH MADNESS
TBS, CBS, TNT, TRU TV
Mar. 14th - Apr. 3rd
 

There are a number of games throughout the year that are key but when it comes to basketball, the NCAA's March Madness is a must series of games to watch! From conference games leading up to The Big Dance, Selection Sunday and more - it's a number of weeks that are bound to be filled with anxiety as we watch teams advance on their journey.

As we're all glued to our screens to watch our teams, alma mater's, friends and more play throughout the tournament to see who takes it all - you'll need to check when and where your team is airing on TBS, CBS, TNT and Tru TV! 

Whether you watch it at home, your favorite sports bar or your phone - there are a number of ways to stay connected so that you can check in on how your brackets are fairing as 36 teams continue to crown one winner for the Men's Division I! Find out how you can download apps to watch and get behind the scenes info on the team that you're rooting for! It's all about staying connected from mid-March until early April!

Whoever you root for (or change due to your team not advancing), it's weeks filled with good vibrations, frothy beverages and of course bragging rights!
 

BETTER CALL SAUL
SEASON 2
Netflix; Mar. 27th

AMC's Breaking Bad is still one of our favorite series and after watching it, we wondered about some of our favorite characters. Thankfully, Better Call Saul (the pre-quel) is streaming this month for its 2nd season to tell us more about this lawyer and how he came to be the go to man in the AMC show! This month, season 2 continues with our favorite lawyer who doesn't quite work in a conventional manner.

The spinoff includes even more characters that are back showing how Jimmy became Saul Goodman.

GRACE AND FRANKIE
Netflix Original Series; Mar. 24th

Our favorite sister friends, Grace and Frankie are back for season 3 in Netflix's Original show that showcases how families change and stay together to still remind us how connected we are! We all know of couple friendships that are connected due to a connection that exists with one member of each couple, but when the husbands of Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) marry one another after being law partners for over 20  years - things change! Season 1 found the women grappling with their new lives and seeing the marriage of their husbands (Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston), the next season focused on the continued bond of these women and their families. Lily began working on creating a lubrication line which ended up not moving forward. Towards the end of the season, Grace (former cosmetic mogul) suggests that they create a vibrator line for women that have arthritis. The season ended with the two embarking on starting this new business together. 

Season 3 continues with growing their friendship while also starting their new business. Expect a focus on health and aging through a number of the jokes offered as the two (and their families) navigate their lives! Regardless, it's a solid show that we hope to see a lot more of as they are considering more seasons to run through the year!

Read more from the March Issue and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | HUMMING PUPPY; SYDNEY + MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

When taking a class at Humming Puppy, one of the first things you will notice is that the room quite literally 'Hum's'... and this is by no means an accident! The yoga space or ‘shala’ is injected with a combination of frequencies to enhance and deepen your experience. More specifically they use a combination of 7.83hz and 40hz. Being submerged in these frequencies helps you to naturally produce matching frequencies through a process of entrainment. At 7.83hz, otherwise known as the Schumann Resonance, the frequency of the earth itself and helps to 'ground' you through your practice. 40hz is specifically associated with ‘Gamma’ brainwave activity, integral for achieving states of peak performance.

Humming Puppy's founders are Jackie Alexander and Chris Koch, partners in both life and business.

Jackie managed dental practices and was led by her passion for yoga. She enrolled in yoga teacher training with the goal to open her own studio. 

In Jan 2014, Chris' company, 1Form.com which was formed with his best mate was bought by the ASX listed REA group. 1Form was launched in their living room and became Australia’s leading online tenancy application platform serving over 3 million tenants (and still growing) - more than  85% of the Australian real estate market. 

The pair conceived Humming Puppy over a Valentines Day dinner in 2013 and are passionate about sharing the gifts of yoga globally.

Humming Puppy has two studios, one in Melbourne and one in Sydney.

Melbourne is the original Humming Puppy and opened just over two years ago in Prahran, this area is the most populated area for yoga studios in the world with 40 studios located in a 4km radius!

The second Humming Puppy was opened in April 2016 and is located in Redfern in Sydney. It has always been their vision to open a third studio in New York!

At Humming Puppy, it is preferred for students to travel light and leave feeling even lighter. All yoga equipment is provided and bathrooms are fully stocked with everything you need: shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, hair dryers, straighteners, shower caps, hair ties and shower towels. Complimentary tea, coconut water and filtered water is provided in lounge areas for students.

There are five different styles of classes. Mellow Hum is a super chill class that includes gentle slow flows, restorative or Yin inspired postures dependent on the time of day. It's a slow paced, low intensity class that allows space and time to cultivate awareness and reflection. This is great for beginners to start their journey or students wanting to create inner stillness and a calm meditative state of mind.

Unified Hum is a medium intensity class that allows students to link breath to movement to calm the mind and strengthen the body. It's great for beginners wanting to mindfully progress their practice with a focus on alignment and for advanced students wanting to move at a steady pace.
 
Dynamic Hum is a high intensity class that can include stronger, longer holds, Vinyasa flows and advanced postures that will energize and challenge your practice. It is recommended that you feel competent  in a Unified Hum class prior to attending a Dynamic Hum.

Advanced Dynamic Hum is a high intensity class that is challenging but is delivered in a fun and interactive way as you build towards a peak pose. These classes have an emphasis on building physical strength and endurance and incorporates arm balances and inversions. 

It is recommended to practice regularly for at least 6 months in a Dynamic Hum class prior to attending.

Deepen your Hum is the studio's version of a workshop. Classes can be low, medium to high intensity dependent on the theme of the class and are open to all levels of students from beginners to advanced practitioners. Each month, the theme of our Deepen class changes with each week progressing from the previous. Classes are designed for those students wanting to deepen their yoga experience and knowledge and allow for interaction and engagement between the teacher and the student. Please refer to our timetable for monthly themes.

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HUMMING PUPPY
 

2/22 Cecil Place Prahran Victoria  3181 Melbourne, Australia

Levels 1 & 2/146 Abercrombie St Redfern New South Wales 2016 Sydney, Australia

Read more from the March Issue of Athleisure Mag and Humming Puppy in Athleisure List in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | THE YOGA COLLECTIVE

The Yoga Collective is a group of teachers who are setting out to change the world by teaching a creative arts class, be it yoga, pilates, dance or other forms of exercise as well as workshops, meditations and health and wellness classes. They come to the Yoga Collective so they can teach in a relaxing atmosphere and exercise their creativity.

Jen Whinnen, Director and Founder of Three Sisters Yoga School created the space with her business partner in 2011. Jen teaches yoga all over the country and helps yogis become yoga teachers. She created the space to give teachers in NYC a studio so they can begin their classes without needing to be hired by a studio. Jen handed the studio over to some of her students. 

Nicole D'Angelo registered for Three Sisters Teacher Training in the summer of 2014, took over the studio in 2015 with fellow yogis, and is now the sole owner. 

The Yoga Collective NYC is currently in Chelsea, Manhattan at 135 W 29th St Rm 603 10001. 
 

The studio is fully stocked so someone brand new to yoga can enjoy the mats and all yoga props free of charge. Filtered water is provided and they ask for a small donation. The Yoga Collective NYC is free of plastic in the studio so people fill up their water bottles. Plant-based snacks are provided for some of the bigger classes and workshops and kale chips, energy bars and refreshing drinks. For summer classes, there is an air conditioner as well as a ceiling fan and various lighting.  

Keep an eye out, as TYC bags recently sold out; however, they are looking to expand their assortment later this year.

There are many kinds of classes at TYC.

The teachers teach everything from power to restorative yoga, martial arts and fitness classes and yoga nidra meditations. Some of our yoga classes are on-going and others are one or two time classes. Many of the classes can help you get in shape while also helping you to calm down and find inner peace. 

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THE YOGA COLLECTIVE

135 W 29th St Rm #603 NY, NY 10001
 

Read more from the March Issue and read The Yoga Collective in Athleisure List in mag

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

Making sure that your skin glows and that you look radiant, we have a few must haves that you should use when you're looking to be at your best whether you're lounging or going out and about!

KOSAS COSMETICS

AURAGLOW

DOVE

KNEIPP

| KOSAS COSMETICS in Electra | AURAGLOW Deluxe Home Whitening System | DOVE Shower Foam | KNEIPP Sugar Body Scrub |

Read more from the March Issue and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.

WHEN STARS ALIGN

The Spring issue is here, and with that comes the Spring Equinox, warmer temperatures and the next season of ABC's Dancing With the Stars! This star studded show includes our cover girl dancer/choreographer Lindsay Arnold who is paired with 2 time World Series winner, MLB Cubs' catcher - David Ross! Of course, we talked with her in the days leading up to season 24 to talk about what we can expect, her background as a dancer and how she keeps it all balanced!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have seen you on  DWTS and are excited to see you on the upcoming season this month! Tell us about your journey in dance and how it led to being on DWTS?

LINDSAY ARNOLD: My mom put me in dance class when I was 5 years old and I immediately fell in love! I started competing when I was about 8 years old and that's when my parents and my coaches realized that this was something I should really pursue. 

Ever since I can remember, dance has been a part of my life and it has been such a family building activity! I am the oldest of 4 girls and we all dance. My parents who are not dancers opened a dance studio for us to train at, so that we could have a very family inclusive environment. Right after I graduated high school I auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance and made it to the top 20. Competing on that show and making it to the top 8 really boosted my confidence as a dancer and made me realize that I could truly do anything I set my mind to! Not long after I finished SYTYCD I got a call from DWTS asking to be a professional on their show which was an easy yes for me!! I had watched DWTS since season 1 and had always dreamed to be on the show so I was extremely grateful and felt so blessed to have been given the opportunity. 

AM: Last year, we interviewed fellow DWTS dancer, Kym Johnson, about how she stays in great shape. What are your workouts like outside of dancing and what dances do you do to stay in shape? How is this different when you're working on DWTS?

LA: My favorite workout to do outside of dance is pilates. I have been doing pilates since high school and have found that it helps so much with not just strengthening muscles, but lengthening them as well, which is important as a dancer! The best dances to stay in shape are the faster paced upbeat ones. Jive is always a dance that gets me sweating and my heart rate pumping! 
 

AM: Who have been some of your favorite partners that you have danced with on the show?

LA: I honestly do not have a favorite partner because each one of them has been a completely different and amazing experience. Alek Skarlatos had zero dance experience and also had zero experience in the celebrity world. He was someone who was basically thrown into the spotlight and had a lot of things happening around him that he was not used to! It was a great learning experience for me to not only teach him how to dance, but help him cope with and learn how to handle the different social and business situations that would come his way. Wanyá Morris was one of my faves because he was so much fun and was an extremely great dancer! When I danced with him there were times when I felt like I was dancing with another professional dancer, which is exciting as a pro because it means you have done a great job at teaching. Calvin Johnson was my favorite because it was so rewarding as a teacher to watch him progress every single time and see the hard work pay off. Not only did he improve and become a great dancer, but he truly is one of the nicest, most humble, and all around incredible people I have ever met. 
 
AM: What is currently on your playlist when you're hitting the studio to dance?

LA: I love country music and find myself rocking out to Maren Morris lately. She has such a sass to her and I love listening to her lyrics, they have such a good story to them. 

AM: What athleisure wear brands do you enjoy wearing?
 
LA: Lululemon, Body Love Athletica and Fabletics 

AM: What style of dance would you say is your favorite?

LA: This answer changes daily.. honestly depends on my mood! If I am feeling happy and energetic, then jive or cha cha. If I am feeling a little feisty or upset paso doble or tango. That's the best thing about dance, it is that you truly can express your feelings through movement and it's such a great release! 
 
AM: Tell us about this season's DWTS' partner - David Ross - what's he like to work with and how is he different from other partners that you had on the show?

LA: David and I have only been working together for a couple weeks now, but it's crazy how quickly we established such an amazing friendship. He is such a down to earth and genuine guy and we get along so well! He works so hard and truly wants to do well in this competition, which is all I could ask for as a teacher. It's funny and I tell him this all the time, but he reminds me of my dad in so many ways they have very similar personalities and I love that about him makes me feel like I'm with family.

AM: If you could choose your next DWTS partner, who would you like to be paired with?
 
LA: I have always wanted Channing Tatum to be on the show. Step Up was one of my favorite dance movies growing up and he has some serious moves in that movie! Not to mention that he is extremely attractive, that always helps ;) 

AM: What's an average week like when you're on DWTS as there is so much going on with choreography, dancing, planning costumes and more!

LA: The weeks can get pretty crazy as there is so much going on and so many things that need to get done! I'm gonna give you a little schedule of what a week looks like starting with Tuesday because that's the first day of rehearsal for the week. 

Tuesday: I will get my music and dance style for the week and start to choreograph the routine on my own. David and I will rehearse 4-6 hours and I will teach him most of the choreography (typically 75 percent of routine). 

Wednesday: I will continue to finish choreographing dance on my time and also talk to our wardrobe department and production designer to discuss costuming and also staging (props, lighting, stage orientation, etc). David and I will rehearse 4-6 hours and I will try to finish teaching him the rest of the choreography. 

Thursday, Friday, Saturday: David will do rehearsal 4-6 hours on each of these days working on finishing up any choreography, and then perfecting the dance and working on details. 

Sunday: David and I will go to the set at CBS studios and have our camera blocking. This is the time where they will work out all of the camera angles that will be used to shoot our performance and also give David and I time on stage to practice. Each couple usually gets 25 minutes on stage for camera blocking and then we will have a wardrobe fitting. We will rehearse 3-4 hours after camera blocking then go to bed to get ready for show day! 

Monday: SHOW DAY. Call time is 7 am and i go straight to hair and makeup for about 3 hours then I have a short 15 minute practice on stage with David then we have a full dress rehearsal 1:30-3:30 and live show 5-7. 
 

AM: What are your power foods when you need a lot of energy?
 
LA: I try to always have healthy snacks with me during rehearsal because I definitely need to be eating throughout or else I lose energy. I love bananas, almonds, avocados, and if I have time to prepare before I leave for work, grilled chicken is always something that will give me some energy. 

AM: What's next for you or where should we keep our eyes out for you?

LA:  I am enjoying my time on DWTS right now but I am extremely excited to see what the future holds for me. I have danced my entire life and absolutely love it, but am definitely interested in venturing out to other areas of the entertainment industry. Modeling, acting, singing are all areas I am interested in and hopefully you will see me involved in those things very soon. 

AM: What are you excited about for this season of DWTS?

LA: I am so excited to see the improvement in my partner David. He definitely came in to this competition with no dance experience It's only been a couple of weeks and I have already seen him improve so much. My favorite part about this job is watching someone step out of their comfort zone and succeed in something they never thought they could do! I don't care if they are the best dancer in the world I just want to see them gaining confidence in themselves and trying something new. 

AM: When you're in the midst of the madness of DWTS, how do you take some downtime to check in with yourself and after the season has ended, what do you do for me time?

LA: The biggest support in my life that helps me stay grounded and stay true to who I am is my husband Sam. He is the best remedy for a stressful day and always knows how to help me relax. Family time is truly the best thing in my life and is something that I am so grateful for. After the season has ended I love to go back to my hometown, Provo Utah, and get up into the mountains somewhere where it's quiet and peaceful and spend time with my husband. We love camping, hiking, fishing, anything outdoors.

Read more from the March Issue and see When Stars Align in mag.

SPRING MUST HAVES

Spring 2017 is underway which means we have a few items that we suggest for you to pop into your wardrobe, beauty routine, devices and of course for your nutrition!

| NUDWEAR  Olivia Backless Bra | REVABLEND Non-Electric Portable Blender | JIMMY CHOO L'eau | WELL - KEPT Screen Cleansing Towelettes|  NUGG BEAUTY Lip Mask | GOOD ZEBRA Spirit Animal Cookies in Chai, Lemon and Vanilla | L'OREAL Hydra Genius Liquid Care | MADALYNNE Nina Halter Bralette in Black |    

Read miore from the March Issue and see Spring Must Haves in mag.

ARE YOU DATING A NARCISSIST

With more and more people turning to dating apps and websites to meet people, we see a relatable pattern. You see someone’s photo. You’re attracted. You read their profile or brief description of who they claim to be. You reach out. You exchange emails. You text. Maybe you’ll speak briefly and then, you meet. You’re hitting it off. Things seem great. However, it seems almost too good to be true. Is it?
 
According to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, narcissists are everywhere and in varying degrees. She explains that the current “swipe right” dating culture only feeds their agenda, it’s important to understand who they are and how to spot them.

WHAT IS NARCISSISM?

Many mental health specialists agree that narcissism is basically an individual who has an excessive interest or admiration of a false self they created to cope with early hurts as children. “Narcissists are disconnected from their true selves and are constantly working to appear better than others. They have an idealized self-image and are in love with that image which hides their true wounded self,” says Hafeez.
 
Dr. Hafeez shares some “red flag” characteristics of narcissists along with tips and insights that can spare many people the heartache and mental anguish that comes with dating a narcissist.

1. Narcissists are off the charts charming. 

They are incredibly upbeat and bombard you with compliments. Immediately you are captivated by them and their focus on you. They have quick wit, can read people and know what to say to make them feel good. “Narcissists are great at building rapport quickly; however, they are doing so to serve themselves first and foremost. In other words, they feed off the attention, admiration and validation of others so they charm with an agenda,” cautions Dr. Hafeez.
 
2. In their mind, it's really all about them. 

The interesting thing about the narcissist is that they make it seem as if they are interested in you however they will always turn the conversation and back to them. “These are not team players. They look to their partner to be the source of their happiness and much of that happiness comes from getting approval or even sympathy,” explains Dr. Hafeez. “Early on in their childhoods the narcissist didn’t get the nurturing they needed to feel secure. They were neglected or made to feel as if they were bad, so they spend their time and energy showing how great they are,” she adds.

3. Rules don’t apply to the entitled narcissist.

They’re most likely to have a handicap tag hanging from the rearview mirror of their Porsche. When asked about the handicapped tag they'll launch into a descriptive, detailed 20-minute story about how they injured their knee, entitling them to the handicapped tag. They want to gain your sympathy. Other rule breaking behaviors, disobeying traffic laws, parking illegally in front of places leaving you waiting as they quickly "run in," cutting lines, and even stealing. “They truly believe the world revolves around them and expect others to cater to their needs. This is due to needs being unmet earlier in life,” says Dr. Hafeez.

4. They disrespect boundaries. 

Be mindful of your boundaries! Narcissists will do things like invade your physical space, borrow or take belongings or even money without returning or repayment. They break promises without remorse and may even blame the victim. “Protecting your boundaries is incredibly important when dealing with a narcissist. When over stepping is permitted, it leads to codependence and a lost sense of self,” warns Dr. Hafeez.

5. They look great on the surface.

Their desire to impress others may lead them to a lot of time and money on their physical appearance. They are all about status and achievement. They’ll brag about their education, their possessions, who they know, their accomplishments and typically, it’s exaggerated. “This again stems from the desire of approval. They care what others think of them so much that they use people and situations to fuel the false self they created,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

6. They’ll disappear like a ghost and you’ll feel discarded.

Narcissists will put you on a pedestal as they complement and charm you. You will feel incredibly special, caught up on their intent gaze upon you. However, once they see you’re just as interested in your own well-being, that you’re protective of your boundaries, that you have other interests and put them in their place; they swiftly move on. When they see you won’t allow manipulation, they disappear and will be incredibly cold. They may even give the silent treatment and blame you. 

7. Their past relationships are all drama.

They will make it seem like their exes were all crazy, will share horror stories and make you feel as if you are the best thing they found. They paint themselves as the victim and may add that their ex still wants them. “Pay very close attention to how the person speaks about their past relationships,” advises Dr. Haffeez. “Narcissists typically won’t keep answers brief, positive and forward moving when it comes to past relationships,” she adds.
 
About the Doctor:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. 
 
Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr. Oz.

Connect with Dr Sanam Hafeez PsyD via twitter @comprehendMind or her site. 
 

Read more from the March Issue and see Are You Dating a Narcissist in mag.

HIS SPRING EQUINOX

Obviously, the Spring has us all feeling a certain kind of way with changing temperatures, longer days and more. That's more time to take your workouts outside, run errands without worrying about the weather and eating outdoors. We sat down with menswear designer, Stan Cheung to talk about his line EYSOM, how he became a designer and how he will enjoy the upcoming Spring Equinox.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your background and how you came to being a designer.

STAN CHEUNG: It wasn’t a conventional route. I began my career in Los Angeles, working in the executive buying program for May Department Store. Up till then, the experiences I had at the entertainment studios didn’t ignite my passions, so my mentor – who was the Dean of the Business School at USC – recommended that I pursue retail. He was right. It clicked. I fell in love with buying menswear. Back then there was a lot of autonomy in this role. You could take risks. You could be creative with buying assortments. But my experiences were cut short when Federated merged with May, and so my life took a turn and I moved to New York to work on private brands for Macys. 

New York City is where I really learned about the design world. My buying experiences in L.A. were a good fit for brand strategies in my new role. I quickly transitioned into product development after Macys saw my talent in this area. 

Working on multiple Macys’ brands led me to source factories all over the world, collaborate with them to create collections that resonated across Men’s, RTW and Children’s. I became fascinated in thinking, not only about fashion, but also about the white space and what would appeal to each brand’s end consumer.

Everyone knows New York is fast paced, which I loved. What I loved less were the long and weary winters. I longed for the L.A. sun. I came back to So Cal to take a role as creative director in the fast-fashion business. I led a design team that created collections for many of the largest U.S. retailers. In the business world of Juniors, you’re bound to create collections non-stop, and at some point you eventually burn out. That’s what happened to me. 

I took a short sabbatical to re-center. I spent a lot of time working on myself, both spiritually and physically, lots of meditation and workouts. Unable to find the right gym clothes, I decided to make them myself. With luck and good timing, I got a push through the Axe/Esquire Mentorship, and so EYSOM was born. 

AM: Tell us about EYSOM.

SC: EYSOM is truly a concept and collection that’s been brewing in my thoughts for over a decade. I’ve always been a workout fanatic. I take as much pride in my workout clothes as my “work” clothes. I found it so perplexing why it’s always so difficult to find great gym shorts. Men can find great jeans, fitted blazers, and the best dress shirts with much less effort. Why don’t the same rules apply to workout clothes?

EYSOM stands for “Exercise Your State of Mind”. The name itself is really about the journey to find balance between the body and the brain. In the logo, we used the M for Mind to reflect the sign of the heartbeat to show this connection as a symbol of feeling good — inside and out. Wellness today includes physical and spiritual wellness — we are much more conscious today of this wholeness feeling. We want integrity and totality in all that we do. 

The company really started from this emotion of wanting to offer men some thing better and different. I wanted to use really beautiful, yet technically functional fabrics. I wanted to create a line that was tailored, sporty and elegant at the same time. EYSOM is all about effortless designs that make you feel good when you put them on.
 

AM: How did it feel to have John Legend pick your brand to be included in the Axe Collective and what is the nature of this partnership?

SC: I was so honored. He’s such an amazing talent. In addition to being a style icon, he’s just an overall good guy. It was fantastic to have him be so into the brand. This encouragement gave me the extra energy to go after my vision. Had it not been for the Axe Collective, ESYOM would not have started when it did, and be where it is today.

AM: Presenting at NYFW Men’s must have been a great experience, tell us what it was like.

SC: It was such an amazing experience – it was so fast, but at that point in time, it was incredible to see the collection all come together. Now onto my third collection, it’s nice to see how the brand has evolved, but stayed true to that initial concept.

AM: You currently sell at Equinox, what's next for EYSOM?

SC: Equinox has been such a natural and organic fit. They’ve been hugely supportive of EYSOM. It has been an amazing way to expose their clients to the brand. Next for EYSOM, we are looking to organically expand in markets where there’s most interest – Europe and Asia. 

Also, I am starting to explore categories that people have been asking for. We have been asked since day one to add swimwear, including by Esquire Fashion Director Nick Sullivan. During the time the product has been in Equinox, we’ve also had a lot of requests to create a women’s line.

AM: What are the trends in menswear for this spring/summer that we can find in your line?

SC: EYSOM is always about being effortless and stylish all day, and year-round. You’ll notice our introduction into camouflage, which is a trend across all activewear, but we’ve taken a much more designer approach by playing with our signature print in a range of more sophisticated colors including sage green, brilliant navy, and red.

With the activewear trend, we also have our assortment of joggers and sweatshirts. 

AM: What are your favorite pieces in the EYSOM collection and where would we find you wearing them?

SC: Living in LA, you’ll find me wearing EYSOM about 90% of my life! I love the training shorts, because they have a tailored elegant feel that allows me to wear them in and out of the gym. I’m obsessed with the tops – usually in black, because the fabric is amazingly soft and you kind of don’t want to ever take it off.

AM: Where do you workout and what are your three favorite places to eat in NYC?

SC: I work out at Equinox obviously, but I’m also a regular at Barry’s Bootcamp because I love running. When I’m in NYC, I prefer running outdoors on the WSH or Central Park and just zoning out for miles at a time. 

I am a big food lover, especially in NYC. I think the right balance of a great workout is that you can enjoy and indulge in some great meals. My consistent go-to places would be Morimoto for sushi and Balthazar after working out in Soho. Indochine is my classic staple.

AM: With the Spring Equinox and having 12 hours of sun, how are you going to take advantage of the day?

SC: I’m obsessed with being outdoors, so I always take advantage of the LA sunshine. Hiking Runyon Canyon in the morning, enjoying the beaches of Malibu and Laguna, and of course, dining al fresco whenever I can. My favorite is The Beverly Hills Hotel or the garden at Pailhouse.

AM: What Axe Collection items are a part of your rotation?

SC: The Axe Gold Signature dry spray and skin hydrator body wash. 

Axe Gold Signature Dry Spray

Axe Gold Skin Hydrator Body Wash

Read more from the March Issue and read His Spring Equinox in mag.

BEYOND BALTHAZAR

Many of us have our favorite restaurants that we frequent. Maybe it's by our jobs, a workout studio or just a place that feels like home. You know the staff, menus, other regulars and more - but how much of an insider are you? At Balthazar, by Reggie Nadelson, looks at one of NYC's iconic restaurants in every way possible by breaking down who has been a part of its success, the staff that keeps it running smoothly, the patrons that visit and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: The book has a number of notables that have been at Balthazar: those in the literary, acting, publishing, and culinary communities. Although you are referencing them in terms of their visits to Balthazar, it's also a reflection of a who's who in your network! In reading this book, you're also sharing who you interact with, we'd welcome an invite to your dinner party anytime. Please tell us about your background as the diversity of characters shared in this book seem to represent people you have encountered during your day-to-day or through your work as a writer. What is your background as we know that you are a writer as well as someone who has eaten at a number of restaurants - tell us more. 

AUTHOR REGGIE NADELSON

REGGIE NADELSON: I think you’ll see in the book that many of the famous people are not necessarily my friends. I do have friends who are writers and actors, but most of my friends are lawyers, doctors, editors, house-painters, teachers, not necessarily famous; just fun. I grew up in Greenwich Village in a pretty free-wheeling world. It was the 1960s and 70s, and by the nature of the time and place, there was a lot of diversity. 

I’ve been a journalist all my adult life, have worked in London and New York, for magazines such as Departures and Conde Nast Traveller UK, as well as newspapers like the Independent and the Financial Times.

I’ve written a series of mysteries featuring Artie Cohen, a New York Cop, which have been published in New York, London and translated into a dozen other languages.

I’ve travelled a lot, including to Russia, Iran, across Europe and to South America., as well as across the USA.

AM: You have eaten at so many places, why did you decide to write a book about Balthazar as opposed to another restaurant in Keith McNally's portfolio or another restaurant group?

RN: The answer to this question is the book itself. I think you’ll find the first chapter really does it best. It has long been my neighborhood place, where friends and family hang out.

AM: There are a number of anthems/themes that run throughout the book - resilience (what it means in the restaurant industry, a retail establishment in the tough NYC market, and what it means in a 9/11 - post/9/11 world), the importance and necessity of immigrants, change and adaptation, the importance of being a brand that moves into a culture and how those who are at the helm continue to manage this, honoring the past (old NY vs new), and the global perspective (how Balthazar embodies a french style while being in the bustling center of the world) - were these intentional elements that you planned to weave in the book as this is very relevant in today's world and really makes you think of the intricate fabric that we live in.  

RN: Of course they were intentional elements. I’m glad it works for you.

AM: What do you think is next for Balthazar?
 
RN: Another twenty years, I hope.

AM: You share the many faces of Balthazar in terms of the interactions that you have had with the staff and identifying those relationships that are real versus those that exist during your meal - who has become a part of your personal network from the Balthazar world where you have a relationship with outside of the restaurant's world?

RN: James Weichert, who was the morning manager, has become one of my best friends, though he has moved on to real estate development.

AM: Your commitment to writing this book was so integral to making it a phenomenal read. When you went to the oysters farm (do you like them more now), meat processing plant, winery and received your potatoes - which of these trips were your favorite and those most insightful? 

RN: Gosh, I can’t really say. I enjoyed them all so much in various ways.

AM: Soho is just as much of a character as the restaurant and we've seen the changes that have come over this area - what do you think is next for this neighborhood?

RN: If I knew, I’d buy real estate and get rich. Hard to say. More shopping. More tourists?

AM: Do you think with the unique characteristics that make Balthazar what it is - that there will be the "next Balthazar"?

RN: For me, if something is unique, it is unique. There will certainly be another special restaurant, a place that stands out. But not a Balthazar.

AM: What's next for you - what are you working on and/or what's the next book of yours we should be reading?

RN: I’m working on a documentary about ELLA FITZGERALD for her 100th birthday, which is this year.

But you can always ready my mysteries, all available on Amazon under my name.

AM: We enjoyed reading the shifts of how Balthazar evolves from day to night and the characters that move about - what is your favorite time of day there?

RN: I like the very early morning when almost no one is there, and if I’m up, very late at night at the bar.

AM: In a general week, how many times would we see you at Balthazar?

RN: In a normal week, a couple of times at breakfast, maybe once each at dinner and weekend brunch

CHEF SHANE MCBRIDE

AM: What are your top 5 restaurants in NYC?

RN: Augustine, Aquagrill, Pig Bleecker, Café Cluny, Blue Ribbon Sushi

AM: What is your perfect meal at Balthazar for breakfast vs lunch vs dinner?

RN: Lunch: cheeseburger with raw onions and frites.

Dinner: cevice to start, Steak frites or skate, then banana ricotta tart for desert.  

AM: Who are your favorite people you interviewed for this book?

RN: It would be like choosing your favorite child, but Chef Shane McBride, and Chef Eric Ripert were fun.

AM: Will you write another book of this nature - if so what and do you plan on writing another about Balthazar?

RN: I just don't know.

AM: You span the 20 years of Balthazar while being extremely current to as late as last year, how long did it take for you to research and write this?

RN: In a sense, twenty years. In actual terms of writing, about two.

AM: When you're not eating at fabulous iconic places, what's a general NY day like for you?

RN: Up around 7, out to grab a coffee, back to do some writing, out to Fanelli’s, our local bar for a late breakfast/early lunch/ back to writing or doing interviews. Maybe a pilates class. Always a long walk.

Out to the movies, occasionally the theater, or a jazz club or concert with boyfriend/friends. Or out to eat with friends, or friends over to eat here.

I always read for a couple of hours be-fore bed, usually a novel.

Favorites: Pride and Prejudice, Age of Innocence, Anna Karenina, Midnight’s Children, Portnoy’s Complaint, The Yiddish Policeman’s Union…too many to name.

Interior pictures courtesy of Peter Nelson and book cover by Simon & Schuster

Read more from the Mar Issue and read Beyond Balthazar in mag.

A CHAT WITH DESIGNER LAUREL BERMAN OF BLACK HALO

Black Halo recently had a party last month in Soho to showcase the 10th Anniversary of their Jackie O collection which is a nod to one of our most classic first ladies. The line has been a favorite of many for years as the person wearing it always looks put together, on trend and of course - classic. We took some time to talk with the founder and designer, Laurel Berman to find out more about the line, the importance of the Jackie O Dress and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was your background in terms of fashion and what brought you to creating Black Halo?

LAUREL BERMAN: I have always been interested in pursuing a career in fashion, and I ended up attending the San Francisco Academy of Fashion. Black Halo was born in 2002, when separates to wear with denim was the look of the moment in LA, and shortly after we launched the Jackie which in a way transformed the way women dressed. Things took off from there!

AM: Who is the Black Halo girl?

LB: The Black Halo Girl is constantly on-the-go. She is a hardworking professional, but also has an active social life. The Black Halo woman needs a wardrobe that will take her seamlessly from her desk to dinner, and from the boardroom to the bar.  Her style demonstrates on the outside how beautiful she is on the inside.   

AM: Black Halo's Jackie dresses, pantsuits etc allow women to be sophisticated, classy and put together without worrying about adjusting their outfits. What was the thought process behind the creation of this line and why has it maintained its iconic place in a number of women's closets regardless of being a celebrity or not?

LB: My signature look used to be a high-waisted pencil skirt, with a silk blouse tucked in. Whenever I sat down,  the blouse would come untucked, so I decided I would just sew these two pieces together, and that evolved into the Jackie O Dress. 

The dress has taken on so many forms over the last decade -  jumpsuits, mini, ¾ sleeve – that it has become a staple for any aspect of a woman’s life.  The Jackie O is the epitome of chic, one-piece dressing, which is why once a woman tries it on, she keeps going back.

AM: In addition to the Jackie O portions of the line, you have a number of dresses that are essential day dresses, cocktail dresses etc - how do you go about finding the perfect name that embodies the dress?

LB: I draw my name inspiration from so many different places – sometimes even from members of the Black Halo team!  

AM: Where do you find inspiration in terms of creating the pieces that incorporate the line?

LB:  I am continually inspired by strong, confident and ambitious women that I meet everyday in LA or during my travels. Especially today, it’s important for the multi-tasking woman to feel both empowered and feminine in her clothes, whether she is in the office or in the privacy of her home. Each piece I create is comfortable, yet structured with an impeccable fit, and naturally exudes confidence when worn. 
 
AM: Tell us about the Jackie O Anniversary and why you wanted to create an Anniversary Party celebrating the 10 years of the collection?

LB:  I decided that I wanted to design a limited edition capsule collection to celebrate a decade of style with 'Jackie' and the many incarnations Jackie has taken, but with a different take on a true retrospective, something freshhence the all-white color palette and the new fabrications.

As for the launch event – this is such a huge moment for both me personally and the Black Halo brand, that I really wanted to do something extra special.  And who doesn’t love a chic cocktail party? 

AM:  What's next for Black Halo?

LB: Jackie will always be a staple of the Black Halo brand – in the next ten years, I hope to see her evolve even further.  Hopefully, we will be having another interview for her 20th anniversary!

I want the Black Halo brand to continue dressing women in clothes that make them feel empowered, gorgeous, and liberated - that is what's most important to me and if we are still doing that in ten years, I am content.

AM: As a busy woman who designs and runs Black Halo, how do you take time for yourself?

LB: I can’t live without yoga, wherever I am – it keeps me sane, and I love acupuncture. I also like to treat myself to a nice dinner, somewhere like Osteria La Buca or Officine Berra.   

AM: What are 3 go to dresses that women should include in their wardrobes as an essential element to their style?

LB: A woman should always have a power office dress that she exudes confidence in, a chic and sexy cocktail dress for a big meeting or presentation, and a staple evening gown.  A great jumpsuit never hurts either!
 

Read more from the March Issue and Read A Chat with Designer Laurel Berman of Black Halo in mag.

TENNIS PACKAGE | THE CHATEAU AT LAKE LA QUINTA

The Chateau at Lake La Quinta is gearing up for tennis season and wants to ensure that you connect with your inner athlete with this hotel’s new Grand Slam tennis package which is available April 3rd - September 15th of this year. This active getaway includes lake-view accommodations, spa treatments (couples massage) and private tennis lessons for 2 (including equipment) at nearby Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a world-class facility home to the BNP Paribas Open and other major tournaments. Of course, when you're not training like an athlete, guests can take in the elegant lake view accommodations in either a guestroom or a Bungalow.

As the first and only waterfront hotel in greater Palm Springs which is nestled in the Coachella Valley, The Chateau at Lake La Quinta is a tranquil and unexpected desert retreat for couples, families and friends. The  new Grand Slam package takes guests beyond the hotel hideaway to experience La Quinta’s world-class sporting facilities set against the dramatic desert landscape.

In addition to this package, guests can explore five PGA golf courses, boating, hiking, horseback riding, hot air balloon tours, fishing and mountain biking. The Living Desert, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park are also within reach.

ATHLEISURE MAG| MAR 2017

We're so excited for the March Issue of Athleisure Mag which has a number of amazing women from our cover girl, ABC's Dancing with the Stars' choreographer/dancer Lindsay Arnold who just danced with her partner MLB Cubs' 2 Time World Series Catcher, David Ross to an amazing profile of the anchorwomen of ESPN's SportsCenter (in addition to our Q&A about what they do, how they got to the network, and more - we also did an editorial shoot with them on campus to showcase them at work, working out, and going out), Black Halo's Lauren Berman, Axe Collective's menswear designer Stan Cheung of EYSOM which was selected by John Legend to be include within this group of designers, and an interview with the Co-Founder of Delicacies Jewelry whose Chef's Table curator is Andrew Zimmern. From the culinary world, our contributor takes a look at Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free issues, Dr Sanam Hafees PsyD shares how to know whether you're dating a narcissist and of course we have our features including Athleisure Beauty, Athleisure List, The Art of the Snack and more!

Read the March Issue

MASERATI 2017 GLOBAL POLO TOUR

The second leg of the Maserati 2017 global Polo Tour, held at the Desert Palm Polo Club from 11 - 17 March 2017,  concluded with Team Abu Dhabi winning the Maserati Dubai Polo Trophy by an outstanding score of 7 to 4 over Team AES International.

Six polo teams, featuring talented professional and amateur players from United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and Argentina produced competitive yet entertaining polo. Ali Saeed Juma Albwardy, UAE President of the Polo Association and Founder of Desert Palm Polo Club was among the celebrities, VIPs and special guests that enjoyed the special finale.

Team Abu Dhabi with Captain Faris Al Yabhouni (UAE, Handicap 0), Kian Hall (UK, Handicap 2), Yousef Bin Desmal (UAE, Handicap 0) and Alfredo Capella (Argentina, Handicap 8) won the tournament in a thrilling finale against Team AES International with the end result of 7 to 4. Team Ghantoot won the Subsidiary Trophy.

In addition to the horsepower on the field, guests enjoyed Maserati horsepower from the entire model range that was on display, which included the latest addition to the Maserati family, the Levante SUV, as well as the flagship Quattroporte, the executive sedan Ghibli and the sporty GranTurismo and GranCabrio models.

Enrico Roselli, CEO of La Martina Europe, said: "As for every leg of the tournament, we are thrilled to take part to a one of a kind sports event that celebrates our roots and enhances every time our partnership with Maserati.”

The official polo shirt worn by the Maserati Team on the field is a product of the partnership between La Martina and Maserati.
 

The Dubai leg of the Maserati Polo Tour saw the official launch of the first of the four “Maserati Polo Tour Special Edition” polo shirts created by La Martina for Maserati as a tribute to each tournament. The “Maserati Dubai Polo Trophy Special Edition Polo Shirt” is made of pure cotton and featuring exclusive detail of the shiny metallic Dubai map print on the back, the shirt comes in black with contrasting details in silver and bright blue. The shirt is now available in La Martina stores across the UAE and on the La Martina online store.

Following St. Moritz and Dubai, the third installment of the Maserati Polo Tour 2017 will take place in the UK in June.

BINGELY BOOKS

THE HOUSEKEEPER
Suellen Dainty
Simon and Schuster

When Anne Morgan's successful boyfriend - who's also her boss - leaves her for another woman, Anne finds herself in need of a new job and a place to recover. Meanwhile, her celebrity idol, Emma Helmsley (England’s answer to Martha Stewart), is in need of a housekeeper, an opportunity which seems too good to be true.

Through her books, website, and blog, Emma Helmsley advises her devoted followers on how to live a balanced life in a hectic world. Her husband, Rob, is a high profile academic, and her children, Jake and Lily, are well-adjusted teenagers. On the surface, they are the perfect family. But Anne soon finds herself intimately ensconced in the Helmsley’s dirty laundry, literally and figuratively. The Housekeeper shows that underneath the dust, grime, and whimsical clutter, everyone has a secret to hide and Anne’s own disturbing past threatens to unhinge everything.
 

MOST DANGEROUS PLACE
James Grippando
Harper Collins

Defending a woman accused of murdering the man who sexually assaulted her, Miami lawyer Jack Swyteck must uncover where the truth lies between innocence, vengeance, and justice in this tale of suspense - based on shocking true-life events - from the New York Times.  

According to the FBI, the most dangerous place for a woman between the ages of twenty and thirty is in a relationship with a man. Those statistics become all too personal when Jack Swyteck takes on a new client tied to his past.

Most Dangerous Place begins at the airport, where Jack is waiting to meet his old high school buddy, Keith Ingraham, a high-powered banker based in Hong Kong, coming to Miami for his young daughter’s surgery. But their long-awaited reunion is abruptly derailed when the police arrest Keith’s wife, Isabelle, in the terminal, accusing her of conspiring to kill the man who raped her in college. Jack quickly agrees to represent Isa, but soon discovers that to see justice done, he must separate truth from lies—an undertaking that proves more complicated than the seasoned attorney expects.

Inspired by an actual case involving a victim of sexual assault sent to prison for the death of her attacker, James Grippando’s twisty thriller brilliantly explores the fine line between victim and perpetrator, innocence and guilt, and cold-blooded revenge and rightful retribution.

HIDDEN FOLKS
App Store

Hidden Folks combines 'Where's Waldo' for adults, interactivity, and handdrawn characters for a fun game that will become yur ultimate binge!

Read more from the Feb Issue and see Feb's Bingely Books in mag

BINGELY STREAMING

THE FOUNTAIN
Hulu

If you lived forever, what would you do and what would life mean to you? The Fountain follows Tom Creo (Hugh Jackman) who struggles with mortality as he continuously researches medical breakthroughs that will save the life of his cancer-stricken wife, Izzi (Rachel Weisz). The film spans 1,000 years and blends elements of fantasy, history, spirituality, and science fiction. 

Three storylines are woven in the film where Jackman and Weisz play different sets of characters. These sets include:  a modern-day scientist and his cancer-stricken wife, a conquistador and his queen, and a traveler immersed in a spiritual journey who hallucinates his lost love. 

Between match cuts and recurring visual motifs—viewers see the themes of love and mortality. The sets of characters are separated by five centuries each. In addition, the story is told nonlinearly.
 

Z: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING
Amazon Prime

An American period drama television series is based on Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler. This series which is created for Amazon Studios, looks at the fictionalized life of American socialite Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (Christina Ricci) in the 1920's. She is a free spirit who knows that she is meant for more. The brilliant Southern Belle would become the original flapper and icon of the wild, carefree, flamboyant Jazz Age.

During it's first season Z: The Beginning of Everything, highlights the passionate highs and lows that came together with her love affair of F. Scott Fitzgerald (David Hoflin) who (at that time) is an unpublished writer. The series looks at the iconic era, wild parties and the music, as well the struggles, adultery, dark secrets and dashed dreams. 

GIRLFRIEND'S DAY
Netflix

Girlfriend's Day is a Netflix Original Movie that focuses on Ray Wentworth (Bob Odenirk - who is also the co-writer for this movie; Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) who was the king of the greeting cards industry and is now a down-on-his-luck card writer. As he works to get back to the feelings that made him the "Bill Shakespeare of romance cards," he becomes ensnared int a web of murder and deceit as other writers angle to create the must have card for a newly made holiday.

If work stress wasn't enough, he's equally as down due to his wife (Grace & Frankie's

June Diane Raphael) left him for the successful cartoonist behind the Optimistic Owl (Conan‘s Andy Richter). With so much at stake with his wife, job an even his apartment - the newly created holiday by the California govenor makes his friends, strangers and more to urge him to submit entires. But with nothing to say he remembers the advice of his professional forefather, Orwell Taft (Larry Fessenden): “Never write for anyone, always write for someone.” 

He finds a new muse and begins to move forward only to find himself in the middle of a murder and all that is involved. 
 

Read more from the Feb Issue and Bingely Streaming in mag

STATEMENT BOUND | A CONVERSATION WITH SPRAYGROUND'S DAVID BEN DAVID

Whether it's via Instagram or candid shots in your favorite weeklies, you have seen athletes, celebs, their children, entertainers and more rocking backpacks that are designed at another level (bold graphics, wings, fun fabrications)! From backpacks, accessories, and apparel - this pop art is a coveted favorite that has become a collectible by those in the know.  Known as Sprayground, its founder and designer, David Ben David aka DBD, has taken his love for traveling, surfing and skating to build his empire on bags that allow you to keep it moving! With a background that also embraces the street art scene - he continues to challenge himself with new designs that have added to the cult phenomenon of the brand! 

As we transition into Spring, designers are already seasons ahead in terms of design, shooting project and being inspired. We took some time to chat with DBD to find out more about the brand, celebrities who have embraced his collections, his collaborations and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your background and how you came up with Sprayground?

DAVID BEN DAVID: I love to travel with bags, from surfing to skating when I was a little kid, I always had bags. But I always had a black bag, so boring and generic, right? So then the idea came to me: let’s spice up this category. There was an opportunity there. I just created one bag, the Hello My Name Is bag, because I was from the whole street art scene, where that sticker is very iconic in my world. So I put it on a bag and it sold out very quickly. I was freaking out, because I was, like, am I going to be a one-hit wonder? I had to challenge myself. So I came up with the Money Stacks bag, [which] was better than the Hello My Name Is bag and everyone–every celebrity, athlete, musician–wore that bag. And ever since then we’re getting a lot of traction. We are now sold in over 80 countries.
 
AM: What is the Sprayground aesthetic/lifestyle?
 
DBD: The Sprayground aesthetic/lifestyle can be categorized as being one of ambition and drive. It's comprised of luxury and the jet setter life, always on the move, all the while maintaining a certain level of style that can only be achieved through our unique designs and silhouettes.

AM: Why do you think a number of celebrities and entertainers are drawn to this brand?
 
DBD: Artistic, different, they appreciate the edgy designs and lifestyle. Bold, you feel empowered when you put on Sprayground.
 
AM: Who is the Sprayground guy and girl?
 
DBD: Sprayground's demographic is so vast as we have kids from ages 12-16 to adults and celebrities like Chris Brown, Odell Beckham Jr and Spike Lee wearing our bags.

I would say our core demo is 17-30, currently skewed male, however; our female demographic is expanding drastically, especially since we launched a female oriented capsule for our 2016 Back to School Collection in early June and will continue to launch female oriented capsules called “The Duchess” collection.

Sprayground’s guy and girl is alternative, edgy, collective, fun and fashionable.
 

AM: In addition to your core line, you have a number of collaborations or special collections - what have been some of your favorites and what should we keep an eye for out this Spring and Summer?
 
DBD: Spongebob was a cool story. The actual creator of Spongebob approved the designs himself, which they never approve anything. We have a Simpsons collaboration launching that the creator of Simspons approved those designs as well. Keep an eye out for more exciting collaborations coming this Back to School season!

AM: What are your personal favorites in your lines?
 
DBD: Each bag I create is like a new baby... I love them all.. I created them.
 
AM: Who would you love to see wearing Sprayground that has yet to rock it?

DBD: Happy seeing “people," all people are celebrities under God’s eyes.

AM: Where do you find inspiration when you are thinking of the next season or campaign?
 

DBD: Living in this creative and vibrant city, New York. Also, traveling. In each season, every piece tells a different story. Our collections play and have multiple different themes. Every campaign has energy and color. We cater to everyone. 

AM: In your personal time, where can we find you brunching, going to happy hour and working out?
 

DBD: 4 thinks I like: Family, Traveling, G-d and creating.

AM: When you're not designing where or what can we find you doing?

DBD: I'm always in a state of creating...building a brand is like fighting a battle..the second u stop, the next brand can advance.. it's about always being new, innovative and building and motivating a team around you.
 

| PHOTOS COURTESY Sprayground | Odell Beckham Jr; NFL Giants | Young Thug; Rapper | Ruby Rose; DJ, Actress, Model, Recording Actress, TV Presenter, Former MTV VJ | Chris Brown |

Read more from the Feb Issue and see Statement Bound, A Conversation with Sprayground's David Ben David in mag.

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

This month has been unpredictable with warm days that danced from Spring to Summer and reminders that Winter is still here with a lot of snow! Regardless, our skin needs love and these K-Beauty brands (and those that are inspired by their trends) are a must to get our skin nourished and summer ready!

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL

BOSCIA

BONIVIVANT @ MEMEBOX

KNC BEAUTY

| TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL Egg Cream  Face Mask | BOSCIA Sake Balm | BONVIVANT @ MEMEBOX Botanical Mellow Clay Mask | KNC BEAUTY All Natural Collegen Infused Lip Mask |

Read more from the Feb Issue and see Athleisure Beauty's feature in mag.