10 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2017 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2017 11 JOIN OUR FAMILY! GoodLifeFamily has opportunities for tenured account executives and student writers. For more information, emailTricia@goodlifefamilymag.com. Contributors - Sheryl THE GOOD PEOPLE at goodLIFEfamily PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sheryl Lilly Pidgeon Sheryl@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.476.8131 EDITORIAL TEAM TriciaWhite ManagingEditor Tricia@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.725.1981 Elle Parks FashionEditor Elle@goodlifefamilymag.com Rick Seaney TravelEditor Rick.Seaney@farecompare.com COPY EDITORS Tracy Graivier Bell Senior Copy Editor Logan Blakely Audra Glidewell Copy Editors WRITERS Lisa Beach Karyn Brodsky Melissa Chaiken Kristin Cicciarelli Blake Heckel Melanie Hess Dawn Bluemel Oldfield Lindsey Pidgeon Deb Silverthorn AliciaWanek ADVERTISING TEAM Amy Lendl Advertising Manager Advertising@goodlifefamilymag.com Melinda Bogoslavsky AdvertisingAccountExecutive Melinda@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.264.0975 Lizabeth DeBoe AdvertisingAccountExecutive Lizabeth@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.727.9986 Mendy Lea AdvertisingAccountExecutive Mendy@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.228.5052 Beverly Parkhurst Moss AdvertisingAccountExecutive Beverly@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.226.6541 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Melton jennifer@goodlifefamilymag.com PRODUCTIONTEAM Savannah Peer DigitalContentandSocialMediaManager SavannahPeer@goodlifefamilymag.com Jaxie Pidgeon MarketingAssistant Bill Brock Videographer Bill@whiterockfilms.com GOOD LIFE FAMILY 3308 PRESTON ROAD, STE 350 PMB #113 PLANO, TX 75093 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com LIVE. LEARN. LAUGH. VROOM! REPEAT. Colin Smith Estate Law Expert Colin Smith obtained a computer science degree from the University of Texas and worked as a software consultant for tenyearsbeforereturningtotheclassroom on nights and weekends, earning his law degree from SMU in 2010. Colin finds that helpingfamiliesplanfor thefutureismost rewarding and focuses his legal career on estate and business planning, especially living trusts. Colin is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, and the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association. In his free time, he enjoys golfing with his children, leading a Cub Scout den, at- tending University of Texas football and Texas Ranger games, andwoodworking. Rebecca Baker TheJimUtleyFoundation Dr. Dean Beckloff PediatricTherapist Dr. Kwabena Blankson AdolescentMedicinePhysician Nishima Chudasama ProgramDirector,NestFoundation Dr. Sandy Gluckman FunctionalBehavior&HealthSpecialist Vanita Halliburton FounderandPresident, TheGrantHalliburtonFoundation Donald Hooton, Jr. EducationPrograms TheTaylorHootonFoundation Anne Hudson DisabilityHiringSpecialist,LaunchAbility Dr. Cary A. Israel PresidentEmeritusofCollinCollege William McLaughlin PISDHumanResourcesDirector Whitney Rosenbalm RichlandCollege&CollegiateHighSchool Charmaine Solomon Co-Founder, MyPossibilities Libby Spears Filmmaker,ChildAdvocate Dr. Susan Sugerman AdolescentMedicinePhysician KellyWaterman AdvocateforKidswithSpecialNeeds Dean Beckloff, PhD Family Counseling Specialist Dr.BeckloffmaintainsanactivecounselingpracticeinDallas, specializing in treatment for children’s issues and families going through divorce. Dr. Beckloff has extensive experience, including teaching, working as a school coun- selor, providing teacher training, and working at the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas. He is also active in his community, working with child-focused community groups; his desire is to see kids and families thrive despite the stressors of life. ABOUT US There are two things parents hope to give their children: roots and wings. But it’s often hard to know if the decisions we’re making are the right ones, especially when the world is changing so quickly. GoodLifeFamily is a resource for parents with kids tweens to twenties. Extensive and insightful content addresses the daily joys and struggles of finding a balance between kids and parents while keeping ourselves sane in the process. You’ll meet inspiring women and men who have stared down life’s challenges, survived, and now are willing to share their journey with you. GoodLifeFamilyis committed to making a difference in the lives of our families, friends and communities as the go-to source. We’re living, we’re learning, and most important, we’re laughing.We hope you will too. CONTACT US SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE: GoodLifeFamilyMag.com/subscribe ADVERTISE: Advertising@goodlifefamilymag.com SUBMIT EDITORIAL IDEAS: Tricia@goodlifefamilymag.com Dr. Kwabena Blankson Adolescent Medicine Physician A graduate of Harvard College and theYale School of Medicine, Kwabena “Bobo” Blankson is a pediatrician with subspecialty training in Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Bobo is passionate about teen and young adult healthandhasbeenfeaturedonNYTimes. com, HuffingtonPost.com, CNN.com, Time.com, Forbes.com, CBSnews.com and more. In his spare time, he writes middle-grade/young adult novels and is a medical consultant with GoodThinkInc, a positive psychology consulting firm. goodPOINT Pedal To The Metal Taylor Nipp Financial and Investment Strategist TaylorisaSeniorWealthManagerwithSFMGWealthAdvisors. He enjoys the financial puzzle that each client presents and being the client’s own“professional wor- rier.” He has served as an outreach and client-based counselor for Red to Black, a volunteer student program focused on providing free financial education and assistance to students. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA)aswellasamemberoftheBoardof DirectorsandDirectorofAlliedProfessionalsfortheDFWchap- ter of FPA. He is also a member of the Dallas Estate Planning Council(DEPC). Chris Older Presiding Judge of Counsel, ONDA Law Judge Chris Oldner is Of Counsel in the Family Law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, assisting clients facing life-changing legal matters including divorce, child custody, pa- rental rights, and property division. He served three terms as the presid- ing judge of the 416th District Court in Collin County. He is also the former presiding judge of Collin County Court at Law 5. Dr. Melanie Ross Mills As a certified and licensedTemperamentTherapist, Dr. Mela- nieRossMillsisgiftedatinstigatingpurposefuldialogueand honestself-reflectionontopicsoffriend- ship, parenting, and marriage during her one-on-one sessions and through her Life Bonds™ Book Series. She was recently honored with the Women of ExcellenceAward,andshehasbeenseen or quoted in television programs and otherpublicationsnationwide,including serving as a FOX News Radio Relationship Expert. She received her degree in Applied Learning and Development from the University ofTexas at Austin. Dr. Mills resides in Dallas with her husband Michael and teenage son. 2017 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Tierney McClellanThompson, PhD Educational Diagnostician Tierney McClellanThompson has worked with students with specific learning disabilities and ADHD for 20 years. She earned her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and her Masters and Ph.D. from the University of North Texas. Since then she has been teaching, tutoring, and evaluating students from ages 3 to 25. Her passion is helping students learn how to learn and empowering them to reach their true potential. Tavis Piattoly Educator,Taylor Hooton Foundation Tavis Piattoly is the Education Program Manager for the Taylor Hooton Foundation where he has the opportunity to speak to high schools, colleges, and at Major League Ballparks on the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs and dietary supplements. He also serves as a Sports Dietitian and Nutrition Consul- tant for several institutions, including the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine and is the co-founder and Director of Sports Nutrition Education for My Sports Dietitian. Piattoly graduated from Louisiana State University with a Master of Science in Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition andDietetics.HeisaregisteredandlicensedDietitian,bring- ing over 15 years of experience as a Sports Dietitian to his many roles. goodPEOPLE Ihave two gears: full speed and speeding. I don’t dally in neutral. So 19 years ago when I started my family, it wasn’t that unusual (at least to me) that I had three children in four years. Just prior to my marriage I sold my ad agency to tackle motherhood at full speed, and it’s been full throttle ever since. Play groups, Mommy & Me, PTA, lunches at school, sports games, family dinners, class projects, doctoring, birthday parties, tucking in. The BEST JOB EVER. But I don’t have to tell you that because if you’re a GLF reader you already know. So when we decided to name this edition of GLF, “CHILL OUT.” I had to chuckle a bit. More than just offering ideas on where to go to keep cool in DFW, we’re also sharing expert advice on how to emotionally keep cool, cool off, and “chill." Turns out that as hard as it is to escape the Texas heat, chilling out mentally is often far more difficult. Life is tricky that way. It moves slow when you are pregnant, on the StairMaster or waiting for water to boil, but otherwise it’s like a speeding train. I often have to remind myself to stop long enough to be in the moment. Four years ago, when I dreamed up Good Life Family, I dove in, 100%, no doubts. It’s been challenging to navigate THE BEST JOB EVER with the second best job ever, but perhaps my devotion to our readers has helped me be a better mom. I learn something new every day that I get to share with my kids while I share it with you. The advice from our experts also helps me find the balance between protecting my kids and letting them fly as they transition into young independent adults. I think GLF resonates with our readers, and as a result, we receive lots of positive feedback about the content we offer on our pages. We work long hours at full speed (of course!), often sacrificing time with our own families to ensure we deliver important, educational, and inspiring stories that will impact the lives of families for the better. So please keep the feedback coming. We want to be your go- to resource. We want to support you along your parenting journey. Being a parent is easy. Parenting is non-stop. Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. - Theodore Roosevelt Elle Parks Photographer and Stylist Elle Parks is a commercial photographer/stylist and designer basedinDallas. Herworkhasappeared in national and local publications including Vogue, Texas Monthly and D Magazine. Her background is in the fashion industry, with her experience in places like NewYork and Milan, it al- lowshertodesigneachshootasunique as her clients. Olivia Oldner Student, 8th Grade Olivia, age 13, will be attending Imagine International Acade- myofNorthTexasinthefallfor8thgrade.Shehastwopetcats, Rufus and Princess. Outside of school, Olivia participates in swim team, Na- tional Charity League, and Girl Scouts. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories, draw, and go to the mall. Her favorite thing to do with her father is go to Six Flags OverTexas.