Meet Dahshanae, Singer, Songwriter, and Producer

Dahshanae Denise Jones, known as Dahshanae,is a singer, songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer from Chicago. Check out her latest song, "Sashay," on SoundCloud.

Dahshanae is currently managing her little brother's career as a upcoming rapper. He has a project coming out in June called G.A.S. Her oldest brother is also a rapper named Tazzie H, and he and Chewy Bandzz just came out with a song called "Rock," which is also on SoundCloud right now and doing amazing. Dahshanae was the director and shot the video for this song.

You can keep up with Dahshnae on Twitter as well as Instagram. Her website is at www.Dahshanae.com.

1. How did your career as a singer/songwriter get started, and would you tell us a little bit more about your family members being involved in music as well?

I've always had a passion for music since I was little. My entire family is like a boombox. When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I started a singing group with my two cousins and we called ourselves The Talented Angels. We were like the young Destiny's Child, and I was Beyonce lol. We used to perform for family functions, and then we evolved to talent shows and competitions. I would always choreograph our dances and write our songs, if we weren't performing someone else's. It was nothing but great times.

As of now, I am a solo artist, of course and that venture is always exciting working on my projects and working with my brothers, Tazzie H and Kaza Block, who are both amazing upcoming artists.

2. What was your process like in producing your latest project, the "98:An Imperfect Masterpiece" EP?

Now that was an amazing experience I will never forget! I always knew that when I put out my first big project, I wanted to produce it myself, and that's exactly what I did. Every aspect of that project came from a soft spot in my heart for 90's music, and I love how everything came together. My whole thing was, this era of music is nothing compared to the 90's era, and one of my favorite things about music from that time was the pureness and how it made you feel. It made you feel things you didn't know you could, and I just wish we could bring back that aspect of music we so desperately need in this generation.

3. How have people been responding so far to your new single, "Sashay"?

I've been getting a lot of feedback and positive vibes so far! I hope that more people listen to it and love it as much as I do.

4. Who do you look to in the industry--are there people you see as reference points for your own work?

I look up to strong woman in the industry who continues to make the impossible possible. I love to listen to artist like Beyonce, of course, but I love Janet Jackson, Erukah Badu, Jill Scott, Amy Winehouse, Kehlani, and the list goes on. I also look up women outside of music like Taraji P. Henson, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Monique, Viola Davis, and the list goes on again. I like to take from those amazing women when it comes to patience, creativity, and confidence.

5. What are you working on now, and what projects are coming up for you over the next year?

I'm literally the multitasking queen right now lol. I'm of course working on my music. I'm working on a few special projects that will be released this year. I also recently came out with my official merchandise, which is on my website right now. I'm working on some modeling and acting projects, and I'm in the process of writing books and so much much.

I am also working with my two brothers. Tazzie H and Chewy Bandzz just came out with a hot song called "Rock" on SoundCloud. I shot the video for the track and their working on a dope project for July. My younger brother, Kaza Block, is also releasing a dope project for June called "G.A.S". Right know, we're all just non-stop working and can't wait for everyone to see what we're made of.

Thanks, Dahshanae!

Introducing Dental Professionals, Dental Care in Chicago

If you're in the Chicago area and looking for a dentist, Dental Professionals can help you find a Chicago dentist as they maintain a busy practice with dentists and scheduling to meet the needs of a variety of patients.

Dental Professionals has a history of over 80 years behind their practice. And they are always reevaluating their work and looking for ways to improve, like adding new technology and participating in advanced training classes.

The dentists with Dental Professionals provide the full range of dental services. For starters, they offer complete general dentistry and preventative care, from cleanings to restorative work. They do advanced treatment for bridges, crowns, periodontal issues, etc. They do dental implants. You can also find a range of cosmetic dental services, as well as teeth whitening. And they do oral surgery, TMJ treatment, and treatment for sleep-related dental issues like sleep apnea.

Part of the idea behind Dental Professionals is to offer the full slate of specialty services so that patients don't need to visit a different clinic when they need specialized work, with state-of-the-art digital dentistry, including "crowns in a day." There are currently six dentists in the practice, and their website gives full biographical information about their years of experience.

Introducing Casa Couture Furniture Designs

Based in Chicago but selling its wares online to shoppers everywhere, Casa Couture Furniture Designs is a store that specializes in furniture pieces which are created from redesigned antiques. The founder and creator of Casa Couture is Julie Gathman who hand-selects antique pieces from markets and other locations around the midwest, and then she redesigns the pieces to create unique items.

If you are looking for one of a kind furniture, check out Casa Couture. I enjoyed the before and after page on the shop's website to get an inside perspective on how Julie creates her pieces. Many of the creations have a light-hearted feel and would definitely enliven a room! I found many brightly colored pieces which maintain the lines of the original piece while infusing it with new life.

To keep up with the latest pieces in the shop and to read more about Julie's creative process, follow Casa Couture on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr.

Introducing the Blog of Ann C Logue

Annie Logue is a longtime Chicago resident who writes about a variety of topics but with a particular emphasis on money. Not only is she a writer, but she is also a consulting analyst who lectures on finance at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She's written four books in the popular "Dummies" series of nonfiction/how-to books, most recently Emerging Markets for Dummies.

Annie's blog covers a lot of different subjects and is a well-written and thoughtful series of posts. She describes the blog as "[exploring] money and culture all over the world." There are posts on frugality and ways to save money, socially responsible investing and business practices, and the growth of financial markets on an international level.

The blog is timely and relevant--for example, a recent series of posts looks at the Hobby Lobby case, and another post addresses "the quasi-public nature" of pro sports (think about cities paying for stadiums, etc!). I'm definitely a layperson when it comes to financial topics, but I found the writing to be accessible and clear--no difficult jargon, etc. Really the blog is a nice starting point for readers who want to read an informed perspective on a wide range of issues relating to finance.

I think the best thing about Annie's blog is that it's a good example of how a blog really can catch the reader's interest and make you want to read more of the author's work. I know that after reading her blog, I feel inspired to check out Annie's books as a very readable and useful introduction to some financial topics I'd like to learn more about.

Meet Sheri Meshal, Novelist

Sheri Meshal spent most of her childhood on an old farm in Iowa. A minimalist, Sheri currently lives in Chicago sans furniture with her dog, Kylee and her roommate and fellow writer, Mack Oliver. When she isn't writing, she's traveling and spending time with her nieces and nephews every chance she gets. Chokecherry is her second book.

Learn more about Chokecherry on Sheri's website, and by watching the book trailer below.

Sheri also visited this blog in December of 2012 following the release of her first book, Swallowtail.

1. I remember the story of your first book's journey to publication. What was different in your experience of seeing your second book to publication?

There's such a massive learning curve when you become an indie author, but I have to admit the second time around was easier. I felt more comfortable and confident in my marketing endeavors, along with shooting the cover and all that. It felt good, right.

2. The main character of Chokecherry is a writer: what do you have in common with your protagonist, and where do your lives diverge?

So funny you should ask! I love what I often refer to as "deliciously flawed characters." I wanted explore writing about a truly broken protagonist mending herself. Dana is about as broken and flawed as they come, so much so, some readers have a hard time relating to her. Luckily they all love Stu so much that they cut Dana some slack. Anyway, imagine my horror when readers and fellow writers began asking how much of Dana was me and telling me how they could see me in Dana--yikes! It was daunting at times writing in first-person, but Dana is a fictional character.

I said before, though, I suppose there's probably a little of me in all of my characters, even the dogs. I will admit I do write myself well, but not the way Dana does. When I can devote six or eight straight hours to a chapter, I feel my life comes back into balance. I've never spent any time in a psych ward. I do love me a good farm, though.

3. How important is setting (from Queens to rural Iowa) in your book?

I love writing about places I know well. I've never been to Queens, but Chokecherry is a real place, our old family farm from my childhood. Today it looks nothing like I remember. Sadly, it's completely unrecognizable. It was a lot of fun putting everything back the way I liked it and then some. I feel like writing about places I know well gives me so many layers to work with, which allows me to bring much more detail to the setting and really breathe life into it.

4. Do you believe that writing--and other art forms--can save us in the face of personal crisis?

I do believe writing can save us. I've written myself into a much better state of mind many times. I will say journaling doesn't always do that for me, but writing fiction does. I suppose that's where the healing element of Chokecherry began. I thought it would be so neat to have somewhere to go to reconnect with nature, art, words, animals, and music to help heal one's heart after a tragedy. Such places probably exist, but it seems like such a luxury that I could only imagine it as something magical like Chokecherry.

5. How do you balance your day job with your writing life?

I don't do a very good job of balancing my day jobs with my writing life. I worked ten hours marketing at the dental office yesterday and fourteen hours driving the limo today. I was too tired to write, even when I found little pockets of time. It's weeks like these when I worry I may never get to write full time. I'm a pretty positive person, but the indie market has become so saturated; my experience launching Chokecherry has been completely different from Swallowtail. Both were really well-received, but there are just too many books out there now. I had to laugh when another writer quoted the old Pogo cartoon, "I have been to the mountaintop and seen the enemy. It's us." It's true to a degree. Many of us became fed up with the big six publishing houses taking years to make decisions, so we took matters into our own hands... millions and millions of us. Amazon doesn't take books off the shelves like brick and mortar stores do. All those indie books--the good, the bad and the ugly--are there forever. Readers are drowning in them. I just have to keep writing. I've tried not writing. I never last very long.

I recently had a great visit with author, Beth Hoffman. She's the neatest person. We're both farm girls who'd written stories about healing farms, so we had a lot to talk about. I confided that I wish I had more patience in my writing, but I always feel I rush too much. Her response? "Don't you think that's probably because you're working two jobs while writing novels?" I had to laugh. It was like I'd been struck in the head with a bolt of lightning. I can't believe that never occurred to me. Yet I fantasize all the time about taking a month off of work just to write, so some part of me must know how much better my writing could be if I just had more time. I always say my writing is nowhere in the ballpark of where I want it to be. Then again, it might be at the hotdog stand, but I need it on the pitcher's mound before I leave this world. I'm determined to find more time to write. That's the only way it's ever going to get there.

I've got to say, my readers really keep me going. I am constantly blown away by the fantastic things readers have to say about my books. For the first year, most of my reviews brought me to tears.

Thanks, Sheri!

Meet Caroline Olah of LittleViper.com

Caroline Olah is the creator and designer of the Little Viper. She designed the bracelet from scratch, working diligently for over a year to bring her sketches and ideas to fruition. Caroline is a NW Indiana/Chicagoland native where the Little Viper is assembled, packaged, and shipped from. The Little Viper does business with end users and distributors/retailers all over the United States. You can find out more about the Little Viper at www.LittleViper.com and on YouTube.

1. How did you come up with the idea for the Little Viper?

I have two daughters, ages 15 and 12. Dropping them off at the local mall isn't the same as when I was their age. There's always the risk of danger, so I would give them a small can of pepper spray. However, the cans on the market are ones you have to hold in your hand. Inevitably, they would have to put them in their purse or sweatshirt pocket--thus, if someone attacked them out of nowhere, they wouldn't be able to even use them! Pepper spray on the market (before the Little Viper) was only a viable option if you had it in your hand and were ready with it.

Thus, I decided to design a pepper spray bracelet. I wanted something that also looked fashionable so people would enjoy wearing it while it served a dual purpose of function and fashion. Furthermore, I knew that most pepper spray products on the market are cumbersome, resulting in many people not wanting to carry them. The Little Viper is something that can be worn anywhere at any time, without anyone even knowing you're carrying pepper spray. Think about it: would you ever bring a small can of pepper spray on a blind date or while shopping at the mall and keep it in your hand the entire time "just in case"? Probably not. But now, you can wear this adjustable fashion bracelet and nobody will know you're carrying pepper spray--truly, "ready at a moment's notice." The Little Viper is a self-defense item that is aimed at allowing the victim just a little bit of time to escape, alert others to help, and give the victim a "chance" to get out of the situation unharmed. It's intended to be that "extra help" you need when danger arrives.

2. Could you tell us a little more about the design: how did you make it easy to use yet also difficult to discharge accidentally?

I took over a year designing it and ensuring it was a quality product. I tested different materials along the way until I was sure that silicone would offer the best functionality and fit. The bracelet is silicone and adjustable as well. I designed it to fit "most" wrist sizes with 3 button snap lengths. It houses a small pepper spray canister that has to be firmly pressed on both sides. It's very easy to use but very difficult to be discharged accidentally since you need your fingers (or something else) pressing both sides at the same time. Unlike most pepper sprays on the market today, you aim the Little Viper at your target and press the sides--that's all there is to it. No switches to disengage, no extra buttons to press. Likewise, the silicone bracelet is both fashionable and comfortable for everyday use and also water resistant for joggers, hikers, and other sports enthusiasts who may sweat while participating in their adventures.

3. What's the actual size of the product, and do people who see it generally just think it's a fashion bracelet?

The bracelet is "one size fits most" and is 8.5" long. It has three buttons so you can adjust it according to your wrist size. It weighs just 1 ounce and contains 3-6 bursts of pepper spray. When people see it, they have NO idea it is a pepper spray/self-defense bracelet. You can't see the pepper spray; there's no indication of it anywhere visible to the normal user.

4. What feedback have you received from people who have tried the product?

So far, the feedback has been nothing but great. We've had many people buy more than one, usually for their sisters and even daughters. We had one customer buy one for everyone in his family--and he also had a daughter in college whom he asked me to ship it to directly. Our Facebook page has had some great comments from customers and even Amazon has one or two 5-star reviews as of today, and we just launched the product in July.

5. Why is pepper spray a good option for self-defense for both men and women, in your opinion?

Pepper spray is an excellent self-defense product. It is used by nearly every law enforcement agency throughout the country. It is non-lethal and extremely effective when sprayed in the facial area and eyes. It puts a safe distance between you and an attacker and gives you plenty of time to escape and seek help. Most people don't want to have to carry a handgun around for self-defense because of the possible danger involved. However, they are very open to carrying pepper spray since they know they won't accidentally shoot themselves, a loved one, or a stranger and risk killing them. Since it is non-lethal, people are also more likely to use it instantly without hesitation. Acting quickly can often avoid serious injuries and save lives.

Pepper spray's active ingredient is oleoresin capsicum (OC), which is derived from Cayenne peppers, some of the hottest peppers in the world. Contact with eyes, nose, throat, and lungs cause immediate dilation of the capillaries and will create an intense burning sensation. However, pepper spray will cause no lasting after affects. Because pepper spray is an inflammatory agent and not an irritant, it is effective on those who feel no pain such as those under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Thanks, Caroline!

The Standardized Testing Blues and The Chicago School Reviews

You find a lot of blues songs on YouTube, and you find a lot of videos related to education. But how often do you find a blues song about standardized testing? Oh, and better yet--how about a blues song sung by a dog named Hoover? Well, the creative minds at The Chicago School Reviews have put together a video called "The Standardized Testing Blues."

The Chicago School Reviews is a website owned and operated by Samantha Carter, a parent in Chicago with a keen interest in education. Her website emphasizes the important role of teachers as leaders in education. As the above video suggests, The Chicago School Reviews approaches its subject matter with a good dose of humor.

In addition to inviting interested readers to join the conversation on her blog, Samantha Carter is also looking for educators who wish to contribute guest posts. Oh, and for more on standardized testing, check out this previous post on Carter's blog about alternatives to standardized testing, such as portfolios.

Meet Laurie Cohen, Entrepreneur

Wife, mom, grandma, and entrepreneur, Laurie Cohen is the party-planning expert behind the Celebrationz4U family of websites: Birthday Party Kidz, Halloween Kidz, and For Bride and Baby. For craft ideas, party planning tips, deals on party supplies, recipes, and more, follow Laurie on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

1. Would you describe the Celebrationz4U network of websites and what the sites offer to readers?

In 2007, taking the cue from some of my friends and reaching back to find something I knew and could share, I developed my first website, ForBrideAndBaby.com. Within the pages of the site you will find some of the most unique ideas for weddings and babies that the web has to offer. With the success of For Bride and Baby, I felt the desire to expand my business to include a websites where my current--and hopefully, new!--subscribers can find all the information necessary to throw fabulous children's birthday parties, and I started BirthdayPartyKidz.com. In 2010, after seven grandchildren, I decided to start HalloweenKidz.com as a place to find Halloween costumes to match any theme, as well as fun costumes and accessories for kids to use year-round while playing dress-up.

2. How did you first become interested in the party supplies / party planning business?

I have been an entrepreneur for over 30 years. Twenty years ago, I was the owner of the Northbrook, Illinois-based Kreative Kids and Parties, Inc. where I taught music and imagination classes to local children ages two through five. I also created a music and imagination class that I performed at children’s birthday parties. Kids and their moms still run up to me on the street and tell me I sang at their parties or at their children's parties!

From those parties came a personalized entertainment service selecting and contracting over fifty entertainers for parties. Several years later, I opened a complete party goods store providing the party goods and goody bags for children's parties--and favors and centerpieces for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other parties. Now on its third owner, Kreative Parties is still a prominent business in the Northern Chicago suburbs.

3. What are some of your personal favorite ideas for party themes?

I have three daughters, so I'm partial to princess parties. Little girls love to dress up as princesses and invite their friends to court. The classic princesses like Cinderella are still popular. Princess party supplies are abundant and you'll find everything from tiaras to thank you notes for all the princess parties. Now that I have three grandsons, I get to see some boys birthday party themes like the Avengers, Batman, Spiderman, trucks, and tractors. I'm not sure that I have a favorite!

I also love Halloween parties. They can be made colorful and fun without being scary, and who doesn't like candy?

4. What do you think are the special touches that make a good party into a great party?

That's an easy one! Planning for every detail of the party is vital. I've created a birthday party checklist to eliminate forgetting anything; the checklist is available at BirthdayPartyKidz.com. There's also a bridal shower checklist and Planning a Baby Shower Ebook available on ForBrideandBaby.com.

The best parties have contingency plans and a complete schedule of activities from the time the guests arrive until you hand them a party favor. For kids' birthday parties, I always recommend getting some extra help. For less than you think, you can have your babysitter or a local college student or high schooler come and help with the kids and the serving. It's a lifesaver.

In planning parties with my own kids, we always started with a theme. It was often a decision based on many days of serious discussions between my daughters--who had minds of their own--and me, wanting to make them very happy.

5. Do you have advice for ways to find bargains and keep costs down when it comes to buying party supplies?

My number one tip is that you have an at-home birthday party. It's warm and fuzzy, and even with a professional clown or magician, it costs less than the local "in" place. At-home parties are also perfect for bridal showers, baby showers, and most any celebration. Once again, with the money you save in hosting your party at home, you can always spend just a little extra and hire some outside help.

Thanks, Laurie!

Meet Nourhy of NowStudio

Nourhy has been in the holistic field for over 13 years and her mission is to help find healing through relaxation. She practices massage and other healing arts at NowStudio in Chicago.

1. How did you decide on the name NowStudio for your business?

I actually had a hard time thinking of a name, but my first private office was on Webster Avenue, so I thought an acroynm "Nourhy On Webster" would be fun. But really it started making a lot of sense as I want people to feel "present" in the moment when they are with me in the studio, so it's really an appropriate name. NowStudio is about being and feeling "here" in the moment.

2. Would you describe how your own experiences as a patient/client inform your practice as a massage therapist and holistic care professional?

Everything that I learned as a patient helps me be a better practitioner. So many little things I learned that I try to tell other people to help them so they can avoid difficulties if they have to deal with doctors and other health practitioners who have never had any of their own health issues. Most people when they go to a doctor never think of questioning as to why they need to take a certain drug or do certain tests. I learned to ask questions, and I learned to say no to most drugs if I learned that the side effects might outweigh any benefits or that I might get better benefits if I did more natural therapies. You just really need to take control of your own health issues and be proactive instead of depending on other people. I try to be sensitive of those things and be gentle and encourage my clients by teaching them what I've learned.

3. How do you assist individual clients in finding the specific therapies that might be most helpful to them?

Everybody is so different, and sometimes a client might come in thinking they want reflexology, but I might wind up doing Craniosacral Therapy instead because of their issues they mentioned. I can usually tell after a brief conversation what might be the best course of action to do. Sometimes, it not even physical: it might wind up being a more talkative session, more intuitive guidance, but I always want people to leave feeling well cared for, no matter what we do.

4. What makes NowStudio a unique experience in terms of the setting as well as the services you offer?

NowStudio is unique as a setting because it's not a sterile clinical environment nor a store front. It looks like a home, it's filled with art and cozy furniture, and I have a beautiful treatment room in which I've painted the walls to look like a birch forest. I wanted to be a space that I love to come to work because I spend so much time. I love decorating and people love all the little things too. Also, working for myself allows me to bring my dog Bk to work with me. I think he brings a lot of healing energy into the room, and many people love animals.

5. For people who are new to alternative therapies (and perhaps massage, too!), what do you recommend they do if they want to start integrating new techniques/treatments for healing into their lives?

I think it's important for them to be open to trying and to really give it a chance. Read about it, use their intuition about the person or place they want to go, talk to the person on the phone if they are completely new to trying a therapy to get an idea if it would be a good match, and be open when they go to really listen to what the therapist has to tell them. What's the point of going if you're afraid? Many people try things because they heard it was good but were too afraid like getting acupunture. If you really hate needles, then that's not going to work for you. You have to find something that you feel could work. Like reflexology is good for people who are afraid of needles because like acupuncture it deals with the meridans. CranioSacral Therapy is more gentle then the cracking that a chiropractor might do so that might be good for a person who needs a gentle touch. It's also about finding the right therapists, too; just because someone does the work doesn't mean they are good for you. Call them and talk to them and again use your intuition about seeing if they are a good match for you. Again, the most important thing is to be open about trying something because if you really want healing in your life, you have to want it wholeheartedly. Healing can not happen if you're not ready.

Thanks, Nourhy!