Read More »

Hey Everyone! 

It's Jen Lezan here at Halfstack! I am so excited to share what we were up to today! We just finished up our Summer 2013 shoot! We sailed away on a magical ride of fashion in Monroe Harbor in downtown Chicago! Here's a sneak below! Please visit us on facebook HERE to view the entire behind the scenes album! 

We can't wait to share our final editorial with you all! Special shout out to Laura Lopez from PickAPose Photography, our MUA Annie & the lovely Rachael Hammon from The Paraders!

Read More »

We've all had those moments where we are completely engrossed in whatever task that daunts us in which we are suddenly overwhelmed with the craving for something sweet.  For me, it usually happens when I'm fully decked in pajamas and 35 minutes in to watching one of my guilty pleasure, trash television shows.  Without fail, no makeup on, pajamas and all, a late night grocery store run shortly ensues.  Don't judge me!  Dark Chocolate and The Real Housewives are my vices!  What are yours?! 

Quite honestly, in my 30 years of existence, I've only ever encountered two people who didn't enjoy eating sweets.  I called them communists to their faces.  There really is no other explanation.  Point blank, chocolate is just one of those things that puts a smile on everyone's face.  And Kathy Wiley of Poco Dolce knows exactly that!  

Owner and founder of Poco Dolce, Kathy Wiley has spent the last ten years building her business and perfecting her craft of supplying the country with the most delicious of hand-crafted confections.  From sea salt caramel, to peanut brittle, to bittersweet chocolate bars, and even toffee, there is no shortage of goodies to help fulfill that sweet tooth.  

Toffee Squares

Having spent most of her adult and career life in the tech professional world; Kathy had always had a desire and a longing to work for herself and own her own business.  She dabbled in a few ideas here and there before finally saying to herself "it's now or never."  She quit her job and took what little savings she had and hasn't looked back since.  

Using all natural ingredients and absolutely no genetically modified substances or ingredients, Poco Dolce prides itself on providing their customers with only the finest of sweets while helping to sustain the community by using locally grown ingredients as much as possible.  Using salts, chiles, and herbs in many of her creations, Kathy has coined the phrase "The Savory Side of Sweet" as being her company's motto.  With each piece of candy, you'll find distinct, bold, and strong flavors that are sure to make your taste buds dance!  

Chocolate Bars

Poco Dolce, Italian for 'little sweet,' brings you the best in savory and tasty treats.  With 70% of business being in wholesale, you can be sure to find these treats all over California and across the country.  But don't wait until you happen to spot the Poco Dolce name while shopping around your local store... satisfy that sweet tooth today by stopping in to visit Kathy or by ordering online! 

Celebrating it's 10 year anniversary this year, Poco Dolce is thriving and has broken record sales since opening it's doors in 2003.  Keep your eyes on this little business because it's sure to do big things in the future!  

Follow Poco Dolce on Facebook and on Twitter. 

Poco Dolce

2419 3rd St.

San Francisco, CA  94107

(415)255-1443

Read More »

Hey Halfstack readers! 

It's Danielle here, your resident Beauty Editor in the halfstack Digital Print Edition! I know you don't always see my words on the blog pages, but I wanted to stop by with a fun little teaser! This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Makeup Show right here in Chicago at the Beverly Center! It was a great opportunity to meet and and greet some wonderful industry pros and check out great product that I can't wait to share with you over the year!

In addition I had the opportunity to interview a legendary name in the industry! Ever wanted to find out how to get started as a makeup artist?  Find out in the upcoming issue where I had the pleasure of interviewing Merrell Hollis, award winning celebrity makeup artist (Wendy Williams go to guy!). 

So, please be sure to check out the summer issue's beauty section as it will be jam packed full with great information for the ladies and gentlemen of Chicago! 

Talk soon!

Danielle Pulak

Read More »

Ever heard of the K-9 Comfort Dogs?  An organization that has made national headlines,  they have recently been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News Chicago, and WGN.  So who or what is this organization that seems to leave an imprint everywhere it goes?

Brought to you by Lutheran Church Charities and headquartered out of Addison, IL; the mission of the K-9 Comfort Dogs is to bring a calming influence to people by allowing them to open up their hearts and recieve help for what is affecting them through the love and comfort of a dog.  It may not seem like much, but the K-9 Comfort dogs travel all over the country to interact with people from churches, schools, nursing homes, hospitals and those who've been affected by disaster situations.   And this simple gesture of being able to spend a few moments with a furry golden retriever when faced with the cruel realities of life is enough to bring smiles to the faces of people of all ages. 

With over 60 dogs, only the calmest and docile of pups make the cut to become a K-9 Comfort Dog and their handlers work vigorously to ensure these animals uphold the name of the organization that everyone wants to be a part of.  When the Newton,  Connecticut shootings took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School, these adorable pups and their handlers brought some peace to all those children and families who saw first-hand how cruel the world can be.  

Shortly after the Boston Bombings,  once again these precious animals hit the road to visit with all the victims at their hospital besides.   In the wake of the tornadoes that destroyed much of an Oklahoma town just a few weeks ago,  Lutheran Church Charities didn't hesitate to send the K-9 Comfort Dog's to Moore in order to bring some normalcy to those affected by the destruction in a way that only a loving dog can.  There is no restraint on the lengths these animals will go to, to bring peace and serenity to those who need it.

These animals and their handlers are making such an impression and doing so much good in the simplest of ways,  that it makes everyone want to give back.  Who knew that such a simple concept could leave such a lasting impression in the hearts of so many. 

To learn how to be a part of the organization - to volunteer,  or to donate to this cause - please visit their website online here.   And also be sure to check them out on Facebook. 

**Thank you to Lutheran Church Charities for providing the images.**

Read More »

Hello Halfstackers.  As promised, today’s blog will provide some helpful hints on how to achieve that summer body we all long for as the warmer weather and vacation season approaches.  In case you missed last week’s blog, which talked about how to eat better, you can catch up here. 

Be mindful that I’m not providing you with the end all – be all – sure fire method for achieving a supreme level of fitness; but a guideline of tips and tools that you should begin to implement in your already existing fitness routine.  I am no expert in the field of fitness, but I do my best to seek out the best information I can for you guys! 

That being said, what is the number one thing that highly discourages us on a regular basis in terms of how we feel about ourselves?  Our weight!  That pesky number is what – more often than not – drives us to want to lose weight.  Take me for example.  I don’t consider myself overweight by any stretch of the imagination.  I work out pretty regularly and while there is definite room for improvement , I don’t hate myself when I look in the mirror.  But the second I step on that scale,  I’m suddenly flooded with feelings of sadness & guilt over the way I eat, how often I work out, and what can I change in my overall routine to make that number go down.   

My first piece of advice is to throw away the scale!  Out of sight – Out of mind!  Media and society has taught us that to be beautiful or attractive you have to fit within this mold of having a certain body type, wearing your hair a certain way, wearing a specific trend of clothing – “What I wouldn’t give to look like a Victoria Secret model.”  Let’s be real.  Look around you.  When you are out shopping, at a restaurant, or having a cocktail with friends, do the people you see in your everyday routines ever look like VS models?  Maybe one in about fifty, but not very often.  Feeling beautiful, attractive and sexy isn’t necessarily found in wearing a size zero and quite frankly, unless you are 15 years old, it’s likely not very healthy.  So – back to this scale thing.  The reason I say throw away the scale is because that number is rarely indicative of your true level of health.  There are many different factors that go in to determining what each person needs to work on individually to achieve the kind of body they want…  The number that your scale spits out at you everyday, should be the least of your worries.  In the simplest of terms, if you compare two people of the same height but one weighs 120 pounds and the second weighs 140 pounds, doesn’t mean that the person weighing in at 120 pounds is healthier, sexier or more attractive. 

So here is where things get weird.  I don’t know about you, but when I think of the best approach to achieve a lean, sexy body the first thing that comes to mind is “I’ll just start running.”  Because again, as the media has portrayed for years and years, cardio is the best way to lose weight.  And in the minds of A LOT of people, including myself – CARDIO = RUNNING.  For years and years I’ve been  spending my time at the gym running on a treadmill for 50-60 minutes and then calling it a day.  I still don’t have a six pack.  I still hate wearing tank tops because I’m unhappy with my arms.  I still wish my butt was a bit more firm.  The number on the scale may say I’m skinny but when I stand in front of the mirror after my daily shower, I still see all these problem areas that just aren’t changing.  The word cardio does not mean “run yourself into the ground.”  It means – to exert cardiovascular excitement to the heart.  In Laymans terms – make your heart beat faster with a purpose.  That being said, the best way to achieve that hot body you’ve always wanted is to put together a muscle building program that multitasks the muscular and cardiovascular systems making for an effective workout.  Huh? What does the mean?!  Think circuit training or crossfit where you are incorporating weight training with full body movements for a full body workout. 

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, because I was just as devastated when I found out that I’m going about it all wrong.  Not to mention the wear and tear on the joints that comes from running alone.  Don’t get me wrong, running isn’t all bad.  But it’s the way you incorporate it into your fitness regimen that will reap the best results.  Here’s an easy way to look at it.  When you look at an image of a long distance runner as compared to a sprinter, who in your opinion looks healthier?  The point is that running isn’t bad but it’s most effective when incorporated as interval training.  Because – and here’s a fact for you to mull over – within the first 5-10 minutes of a long distance run (depending on your fitness level), you are burning the optimal amount of fat.  Short bouts of sprints maintain a high energy that is optimal in fat burning, all while having the same qualities of intense weight lifting, aiding in the building and strengthening of our muscles.   Another perfect example is when you are at the gym, where are the people that have the kind of body you want?  Those who spend their time running on a treadmill for an hour  or those who are weight training?  More often than not, it’s those people who are over by the weights. 

Long story short, there are many ways in which to achieve the kind of body you want – some more effective than others.  But my point in all of this is to bring awareness to one of the biggest misconceptions in the fitness industry and that is that running will solve all your fitness blunders!  Taking into account what we talked about last week, nutrition is also a key factor.  But if you are eating the right kinds of foods and working out in a way that will burn the most fat in the shortest amount of time, all while building muscle; you’ll have that sexy beach body in no time.

I leave you with one final thought – You burn an additional 50 calories per hour of doing nothing for every 1 pound of muscle gained!  So pick up those weights and get moving! 

Thank you to Dre Williams over at Moc Crossfit for providing a ton of valuable information on this topic, including the very effective images!  

Read More »