We invite EVERYONE to come out to cheer these beautiful inside & out girls on the runway and see all of the newest BYOU ‘Be Your Own You’ empowered apparel for girls! We’ll have lots of giveaways too! Please join us! Directions for the Denver County Fair at the National Western Complex are below.

Here are the modeling details:  Due to the overwhelming response, to be able to be a model in the fashion show, you MUST be able to attend BOTH the Wednesday evening training/rehearsal from 6:30-8:00 PM and be at the show location on Thursday from 3:00-7:00 PM. Not all girls attending the Wednesday audition will be able to model in Thursday’s show (unless you are already scheduled be to a model) but ALL girls attending will receive runway training, a FREE one-month membership in the BYOU Be Your Own You Team Esteem Empowerment Program, and will be kept on file for future modeling opportunities.

Wed, July 27, 6:30-8:00 PM: Audition/Training/Rehearsal

LOCATION: BYOU Be Your Own You Store, 6770 S. Dawson Circle, Suite 800, Centennial, CO 80112; (303) 400-8888

Directions: From Arapahoe Road, take Jordan Rd SOUTH; make first LEFT on to S. Dawson Center, building will be on your LEFT in the Arapahoe Center building; BYOU Store will be around the other side facing Arapahoe Road (you can see the store when you are on Arapahoe between Parker Rd. & Jordan Rd)

Please bring: Paper & pen/pencil, BYOU shirt if you have one

Thursday, July 28, 3:00-7:00 PM: Fitting/Rehearsal/Fashion Show

LOCATION: Denver County Fair- The Fair is located at the National Western Complex, (I-70 to Brighton Blvd Exit –just east of I-25 - MAP) 4655 Humboldt St. Denver, CO 80216. Go to Gate 1 on the North side of the Hall.  After you park at the Fair, please go to front door of the Expo Hall and check in at the window labeled Presenters.  You will receive your pass into the Fair and directions to your stage.  Upon your arrival at the Fashion Pavilion, please check in with Aimee Newman with BYOU ‘Be Your Own You.’ Each model is allowed to bring 1-2 adults with her (and siblings); other guests coming to watch the 6 PM show must pay fair entrance fee (General admission-$10. Youth (5-12) $5. Children 4 and under, free.

Schedule:

3:00 -5:00 PM: Fitting, Rehearsal & Hair Styled by Sweet & Sassy – please come with clean hair

5:00-5:45 PM: Final Rehearsal on Stage

6:00 -7:00 PM: Fashion Show!

7:00-9:00 PM: Informal Modeling (Optional – we’d love to have some girls stay after to informally model at our booth!)

Please bring:

1.       Denim jeans and/or shorts (no cut offs or ultra-short shorts!)

2.       Black pants/leggings/skirts

3.       Black shoes/sandals (no flip flops or high heels!)

4.       Fun accessories or things that allow you to ‘be your own you’

5.       Water, snacks, and/or sack dinner

6.       A great attitude! This is going to be great fun!

We look forward to seeing you!!

"It's What's Inside That Counts" - Beauty's Secret (Heartlight Girls Book 1)

Recently I had an opportunity to spend some extended quality time with my mom. She lives in another state so it was a special treat for both of us.  What I most enjoyed was seeing the shift that had taken place within her, a new peacefulness I had not seen before. Challenged by many years of anxiety and emotional pain due to a lifetime of low self-worth, she had lived in two worlds – the world she presented externally and the other she lived internally. Now, through a gradual evolution of self, it seems these two worlds have merged, offering her much-welcome congruency and peace…and for that, I could not be happier.

And so I wonder, what could her life have been like had she found this peace earlier? Or what would her life be like next week or next year if she had never found it? And what would my childhood have been like had she had this stronger sense of self that she could’ve role modeled to her children?

My own journey of self-love and respect didn’t begin until my late 30’s, and was (unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective!) self-taught through challenges and life-threatening experiences (to hear more of this journey, watch my video HERE). My mission, and what I feel is my purpose in life, is fueled by the passion to help as many girls as possible to have healthier and less dramatic ways to learn to love and respect themselves – including helping mothers who can then themselves be happy, balanced, and emotionally-healthy role models for their daughters.

So on this upcoming holiday where we honor our ever-important and deserving mothers, I urge every mother to also honor herself, and not just on Mother’s Day, but every day – and in doing so, you will also teach your daughter a very important life lesson. As mothers, we want the best for our family, of course; yet that is often translated into giving so much of ourselves that who we are and what we need gets neglected. We feel overwhelmed, our issues remain unresolved, we struggle with our own feelings of disconnect and inadequacy, and very often, at some point we don’t even recognize ourselves anymore. How can we be good for our family if we are not good for ourselves?

Know what’s important to you. Check in. Find ways you can find yourself. Ask for help. And take time to ask yourself the important questions (those are not the “What shall I make for dinner” questions), and then be sure to listen for the answers. My daughter has accepted the fact that her mommy needs “quiet time” even when she’d much rather prefer me to be attentive to her. Any guilt I have about doing this is alleviated when I remind myself how important this is, for by taking care of me helps me to be a healthier caretaker and role model for her.

This Mother’s Day, I send my love, appreciation, blessings, and utmost respect to all mothers -and to my own special mom, know how proud I am of you and how much I will always love you.

Denver-area Moms! Celebrate Mother’s Day with a special girl(s) in your life! Join us Saturday, May 7, from 1:30-4:30 pm at the Brown Palace for a “Mommy & Me Tea: A Mother/Daughter Self-Esteem Experience!” CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

We are looking for participants to feature in a few videos we are filming which will share the challenges girls face today with self-esteem. This can be your opportunity to help others, and have fun getting some national exposure! On-camera interviews will take place in the Denver area June 17-19. Here’s what we are looking for:

1. Heartlight Girls/Teens - Girls ages 7 & over and teens who are familiar with the “Heartlight” concept (meaning you’ve read Beauty’s Secret: A Girl’s Discovery of Inner Beauty and/or you’ve attended a Heartlight Girls program) and can speak about shining your light bright – as well as how/where you feel challenged sometimes in doing so. Parents of these girls to be interviewed as well if possible.

2. Girls who are experiencing issues, such as bullying, low self-esteem & low self-worth, body image issues, friendship problems, eating disorders, self-injurious behavior, suicide thoughts or attempts, etc. Extreme cases can be filmed with your identity hidden if preferred.

3. Parents concerned with what their daughters & other girls are facing today, i.e. bullying, unhealthy media, negative role models, peer pressure, etc.

4. Elementary/Middle School Counselors, Principals, Teachers – who can speak about the increase, drama, and dangers of bullying and other girl issues in their schools and in schools today

5. Doctors, Psychologists, Therapists – who work with girls/women and can speak about the dangers of low self-esteem

6. Are you a girl, or do you know one, who is doing amazing and powerful things that will inspire others? We’d love to interview and feature you!

If you, or someone you know, fits one of these categories, is in the Denver area, and can film a brief interview, please email me ASAP at debragano@aol.com. Please let me know your name, email, phone number, category you fit into, age (girls/teens only), and the topic or issue you would like to discuss. Also…for the girls/teens/parents segment, please let me know if you are available Saturday, June 19, between 2-5 pm. We will be doing much of this segment during and following the Mile Hi Children’s Festival which takes place from 10-3 pm that day at Mile Hi Church, 9077 W. Alameda Ave. Lakewood, CO 80226. It’s a fun festival so you can come out early and join the activities – I’ll be there autographing and having a great PRE-SALE SPECIAL on my next book, Star’s Attraction: A Girl’s Discovery of Inner Power!

Interviews with school educators, professionals, and girls with difficult issues will be filmed privately, most likely on Thursday, June 17 or Friday, June 18, your location or ours (TBD when setting up interview).

This truly is an exciting project and we’d love to involve you! Please email me soon if you’re interested in participating. And stay posted, I’ll fill you in more on things soon. If you’re not already connecting with me on my Facebook Fan Page, you’ll want to, as info/news/opportunities, etc. get posted on there almost daily! Here’s the link to “Like”:

  www.Facebook.com/HeartlightGirls 

(For Twitter fans: www.Twitter.com/HeartlightGirls)

This past year, YAL organized a Student Short Story Writing Competition titled, “Making the World a Better Place,” in which fourth and fifth grade students of the Cherry Creek School District in the Denver area were invited to submit a short story or artwork expressing this inspiring theme.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the publication of the Young Authors League book, Making the World a Better Place: Student Stories about Making a Difference!

Please be sure to leave a comment below, love to hear from you!!!

Last summer, YAL finalists, parents, and teachers, were brought together for a writing workshop conducted by Debra Gano, author Penny Holguin, and editor Faye Quam Heimerl. The goal of the workshop was to fine-tune the stories and give writing tips to the students prior to submitting their final entries. “The enthusiasm for writing from these students is amazing…and their passion for the theme is so inspiring!” says Gano, author of the award-winning children’s book series, the Heartlight Girls. “You can’t believe some of the great topics!”

CONGRATULATIONS STORY & ART WINNERS!

Buffalo Trail Elementary School

STORY: Elizabeth Berrington

ART: Lindsay Stolting, Sarah Nicholas, Natalie Schauls, Matison Music, Bailey Mattice, Ashley Dale, Maddie Martinez, Bridget Mann, Elizabeth Berrington, Sonoma Olson, Olivia Pare

Canyon Creek Elementary School

STORY: Emily Eads

ART: Jessica Tan

Challenge School

STORY: Stephanie Bang, Calista Bowen, Tessakiree Garber, Jewell Humphrey

ART: Kathleen Sullivan, Kai Smith

Cimarron Elementary School

STORY: Duaa Qamar

Coyote Hills Elementary School

STORY: Makenzie Hendon, Jessica Kantra, Jaime Paterson

Dry Creek Elementary School

STORY: Avery Blackman, Edwin Bosch, Morgan Jenney, Hailey Natvig, Arianne Pusey, Kayla Rondinelli, Emily Webb, Madison Weber

ART: Hailey Natvig, Kira Kirkendell, Kayla Rondinelli

Heritage Elementary School

STORY & ART: Libby Geraghty

Indian Ridge Elementary School

STORY: Sophie Goodwin

ART: Cole Johnson

Peakview Elementary School

STORY: Jane Higa, Lizzie Hoelscher

Sagebrush Elementary School

STORY: Leah Gibson, Josiah Kim, Alyssa King, Samuel Roces

Sunrise Elementary School

STORY: Raeshonique Luarks

ART: Taylor Pinson

Village East Elementary School

STORY: Helen Lee, Tanzilla Purnota, Gavin Woldu

Please leave a comment below,

we would love to hear from you!

This past year, YAL organized a Student Short Story Writing Competition titled, “Making the World a Better Place,” in which fourth and fifth grade students of the Cherry Creek School District in the Denver area were invited to submit a short story or artwork expressing this inspiring theme.

It is with great pleasure that I announce the publication of the Young Authors League book, Making the World a Better Place: Student Stories about Making a Difference!

From Fearless Foam-Fighters to an argument between a fork and a spoon, and from the Get Things Done Girls to the power of a smile, this is a delightful collection of inspiring short stories and artwork by the students themselves. Experience the insights, as well as the talents, of these amazing students, and find out for yourself how to make the world a better place…you may be inspired to do the same!

Purchase your copy now for $14.00.  All proceeds from the sale of this book benefit the CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation to continue developing and implementing literacy programs for students which bring out their potential and build their excitement for reading and writing.

For a list of winners, participating schools, comments, and information on upcoming YAL events, please visit http://debragano.com/young-authors-league1/.

Join us on EARTH DAY, APRIL 22, from 4-8 pm as we launch Making the World a Better Place at Barnes & Noble in Southlands Mall, Aurora, Colorado! Click HERE for more information!