Fr om TheEdi t or HeyBeaut i f ul ! Leo’ Seas oni si nf ul lef f ect — GangGang—I t ’ smyBi r t hdayand Ihaves omucht obegr at ef ulf or .Ir ecent l y par t i ci pat ed i nCi ar a’ s#Level UpChal l engeand wentvi r al ,dr opped aHOTvi deof ormys ong‘ ComeThr u’ and s i gned 3 new Br and Ambas s adorcont r act s .God i sgood and l i f ei samazi ng,buti fyou’ ve been f ol l owi ng usf ora whi l e,you may know t hatourl i f e has n’ tal waysbeen asabundantasi ti snow.I r ememberbei nghomel es s , car l es sanddepr es s ed. Thatper i odofmyl i f ewasadi r ectr eflect i onofmyi nner t ur moi l .Iwashi di ng,l i vi ngl i f ef orot herpeopl e,val ui ngt hei ropi ni onsovermyownaut hent i ci t y.OnceI t ookof fmymas ksands t ar t edl i vi nganaut hent i cl i f e,t hi ngsi mmedi at el ychangedandwewantt ohel p anyonewhomi ghtbei nas i mi l arboat . Thi smont h’ sf ocusi sonbei ngaut hent i cal l yyou. Weal lwearmas ks i nhopesofhi di ngouri ns ecur i t i esand f ear s ,buti t ’ st i met ot aket hem of fguys .Thewor l di swai t i ngon yourgr eat nes s , s t ops hor tchangi ngusandgi veust hegoods ! ! ! Themomentyouchoos el ovi ngyour s el fover ever yt hi ngel s e, t heuni ver s ewi l lunf ol dbef or eyou. Yourhear t sdes i r eswi l lchas eyoudownandl i f ewi l lbe br i ght er .Soundsgoodr i ght ?I fyouri nt er es t edi nmaki ngaf ew changes ,wehavel ot sofs ucces ss t or i esi n t hes e pages … Check t hem outand t el lushow you f eel ,we l ove hear i ng f r om you and wel come your f eedbackvi as ubmi s s i ons @BTFLmag. com
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MahoganyManna A Ki t chenThatCar es… Rober tJ acks on and Cr ys t alCol ber tmeti nt he90’ s andf or medanunbr eakabl ebond. I nJ ul yof2017, t he bes tf r i endsmar r i edands t ar t edacat er i ngcompany, Mahogany Manna U. E. C. ( Ul t i mat el y Exqui s i t e Cui s i ne) , aneverevol vi ng, f as tpacedf oods er vi cehub. I nt heSpr i ngof2018t heybegan l aunchi ngpop up s hops i n t he DMV s howcas i ng del ect abl e meal s cr eat ed i nt hei rcommer ci alki t chen i nt hehear tof Bal t i mor eMD. I nr es pons et ot he cul i nar yand s oci et alcl i mat ei n Bal t i mor e,MahoganyMannaof f er smor et hanj us ta meal .They pr ovi de a f ul l r ange ( of f s i t e) cat er i ng s er vi ce f orcl i ent s ,capabl e ofs er vi ng 1500 peopl e. Ot hers er vi cesi ncl ude,mealpr ep f orexcl us i ve and cel ebr i t ycl i ent s ,weddi ng and par t ypl anni ng,‘ Heat andSer ve’( amealpr eps er vi cef orf ami l i es ) ,Si pand Saut é( cooki ngpar t y) , cooki ngcl as s esandavar i et yof pr oduct sf or s al e,i ncl udi ng s al ad dr es s i ng,bbq s auce,par f ai tdes s er t s and cooki ng appar el .Thei r mealpr epsar ecur at edt ofiteachcus t omer suni que t as t esand af f or dst hem t heoppor t uni t yt of ocuson
ot her as pect s of t hei rl i ves t hat r equi r es t hei r at t ent i on. I naddi t i ont ot hei rcul i nar yar t i s t r y, Rober t and Cr ys t alhaves t ar t ed MahoganyMannaCar es ,a nonpr ofitor gani zat i on whos e mi s s i on i st o hous e, t r ai n,and hel p empl oy t hos e who ar en’ t eas i l y empl oyabl e.Theyar ewor ki ngonapar t ner s hi p wi t h t he Depar t ment ofSoci alSer vi ces ,t he Amer i can Cul i nar yFeder at i on and HUD ( Hous i ng and Ur ban Devel opment )t o hel p pr ovi de l ow i ncome f ami l y’ s wi t ht he s t abi l i t y needed t o have a meani ngf ul i mpactont hecommuni t y. Rober tandCr ys t alar er edi r ect i ngt hedynami coft he f ood s er vi cei ndus t r ywi t ht hei rundeni abl epas s i on f orfinecui s i ne,t hei rhear tf ort hel es sf or t unat eand s upr eme at t ent i on t o TRUE cus t omers er vi ce.They cr eat e ext r aor di nar y event st hat pr ovi de exqui s i t e di s hes t ot hei rgues t s ,t he mi s s i on i st o have an as t oni s hi ng i mpact on ever yone t hey come i n cont actwi t h,andi ts howsi nt hecr eat i vi t ydi s pl ayed att hei revent s . Vi s i tmahoganymannauec. com t ol ear n mor eabout t hei rcus t om meal sandevent s .
THEPOW EROF AUTHENTI CI TY SARAH HAMEL-SMI TH @THECURVYTRI NI
Al lofushave mas kst hatwe weari n or dert o fiti n. Somet i mes t hes e mas ks become ext r emel y bur dens omeandover whel mi ng. Publ i cr el at i onsi sal laboutt hei mage.Aspr act i t i oner s we have t os t r at egi cal l yand cons ci ent i ous l ycr af tt he i mage oft he bus i nes st hr ough t he publ i cat i ons we pr oduce,t heevent swehos tandt hewaywer epr es ent t hebr and.Iwor ked f oral ar gecor por at i on f ors ever al year s ,and down t ot he end Ir eached a poi ntwher e t hat cor por at e per s ona Idevel oped over t he year s s i mpl y became t oo much. I became r es ent f ul of cons t ant l yhavi ngt owat chmyback, becar ef ulofwhat Is ai dandhavi ngt obecons t ant l yconcer nedwi t hwhat ot her swer et hi nki ngofme. Ihadt owat chwhatIwor e, how l oudIl aughedands omet i mesevenhadt oexpl ai n awayt hepeopl eIs poket o. When Il ef t ,Ideci ded t hatIwant ed t o be abl et o expr es smys el ff r eel ywi t hmynextbodyofwor k. It hi nk t hati swhatweal ll ongf ordeepdown,t obel ovedand appr eci at ed f orbei ng ourgenui ne s el ves .I tbecomes ver y depr es s i ng over t i me havi ng t o pr et end and f ear i ngbei ngj udgedands hamedbypeopl ewel ookup t oandwhos eopi ni onsmat t ert ous . I ti sawf ult o have t os t i fle yourt r ue f eel i ngsabouta pr oj ectt hati si mpor t antt oyoubecaus eyouar eaf r ai d t o out s hi ne orof f end a cowor ker .I ti seas yt ol os e your s el fwhenyouar econs t ant l yt r yi ngt opl eas eot her peopl e. If eell i keweal lhaveal otmor et ocont r i but et o t he wor l d when we ar e br ave enough t ot r ul y be unapol oget i cal l yhones taboutourf eel i ngsanddes i r es . Ther ei sabeaut i f ull i ghtt hats hi neswi t hi neachust hat i scons t ant l ybeggi ng t o be l etout .The cal lt os hi ne comesi ns ubt l eways ;al ongi ngt omakeahobbyaf ul l t i mej ob,adaydr eam t ot r avelt o af or ei gn pl aceora vi s i on ofbei ng i nal ovi ng and happy r el at i ons hi p s ur r ounded bypeopl ewhoadmi r eand appr eci at eus . Somet i mesi ti sadeep year ni ng t o hel p ani mal s ,t he envi r onment ,chi l dr en ors omet hi ng el s et hatwe ar e pas s i onat eabout .Somet i mesi ti sauns hakabl eur get o s t ar t a bus i nes s when we have no i dea wher et he moneywi l lcomef r om and wear eal r eadyl i vi ngwhat s eems t o ever yone on t he out s i de, ext r emel y comf or t abl el i ves .Of t en,we ar es ot er r i fied ofl et t i ng ot her sdown,wei gnor et hatcal lt oourowndet r i ment ands nuf foutt hati nnerl i ghtbecaus ewear eaf r ai dt hat ot her swi l lnotbeabl et ohandl ei t sbr i ght nes s .
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I ti sdi cul tt oat t r actourhear t sdes i r eswhen wear e notopenandhones taboutwhatwewantandt heki nd ofl i f ewel ongt ol i ve.Whenwear ehones t ,t hepeopl e, j obsandl i vest hatar enol ongeri nal i gnmentwi t hour s pi r i tf al laway and cr eat er oom f ornew t hi ngs t o appear . Af t erImadet hedeci s i ont ol eavemycor por at ej ob,al l s or t s ofmagi calpeopl e and oppor t uni t i es began t o appear .Idi s cover ed a pas s i on f ormodel i ng,wor ki ng wi t hbr andsandwr i t i ngt ohel pempowerot her st ol ove t hems el ves and f ol l ow t hei r hear t s .Ihave f ound a medi um t oexpr es st hi sover whel mi ngi nnat ecr eat i vi t y t hatIhavebeen s uppr es s i ng f ors omanyyear soutof deep f ear .Thr ough model i ng,wr i t i ng and bl oggi ng I have di s cover ed a pl at f or m wher e Ican ear n money f ol l owi ngmypas s i on. Mycur r entgoali st o becomeaf ul lt i mepl uss i zeFI T model ,bl oggerand wr i t erl i vi ngand wor ki ngf ul lt i me i n mys oulci t yofManhat t an.Each dayIcomecl os er and cl os ert omani f es t i ngt hi sdr eam.I thast r ul ybeen ani ncr edi bl ej our ney.Mybr aver yt ol eavewhatwasno l ongers er vi ng me hasopened up an ent i r e wor l d of oppor t uni t i es wher e Ican add val ue t os oci et y and makeagr eatl i vi ngbei ngmys el fanddoi ngwor kt hatI l ove.Iknow i nmys oult hatonedayIwi l lwakeupand di s covert hatt hewor kIdoi spl ay,Iam s ur r oundedby peopl e who appr eci at e my t al ent , cr eat i vi t y and per s pect i veandIam maki ngmor emoneyt hanIcoul d haveeveri magi ned. Li s t en t ot hatl i t t l e voi ce i n yourhear tt hati scal l i ng. Takeyourt i meand doi ts mar t l y,butpl eas el eavet he j ob orr el at i ons hi pt hati sno l ongers er vi ng you.Be br aveenought obeyouraut hent i cwonder f uls el fandI pr omi s eyou, magi cwi l lhappen. Bef or eyouknow i tyou wi l lbel i vi ngt hel i f eofyourdr eams . Vi si t www. t hecur vyt r i ni . com f or r egul ar doses of St yl e,I nspi r at i onandEmpower ment .
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BTFL t o me i s , bol d, t enaci ous , fier y, l ongevi t y.As ever ambi t i ous f or ces t o be r eckoned wi t h,we as a col l ect i ve car r ya t or ch.Though i ti sheavyand s cor chi ng,we car r yi tt os hi nebutagl i mmerofl i ghtont he di m par t sofs oci et y. Bol dnes scanbes eenasei t heranadmi r abl e oran of f put t i ng t r ai t .Thi sdi chot omyonl y val i dat est hatwehavet heopt i ont ochoos e bet ween t he t wo. Let us deci de t o be admi r abl e; us i ng our bol dnes st o s peak confident l yon ourbel i ef s .Letuss t and out s t r i ki ngl yandgr acef ul l y. Wear ebol dandyou know youl ovei t . Tobet enaci ousi st obei mmovabl e;nei t her s wayed norcaj ol ed t o do whatwe ar en' t i ncl i ned t o do.Addi ng t o t he bol dnes s , movi ngout s i deoft hebox,s i des t eppi ngt he negat i ve f or ms ofmani pul at i on t hatpus h emot i onst of eelonewayoranot her . Wehol d s t r ong t ot he l of t y yetat t ai nabl e hopesof col l ect i vebeaut y.When wecan al lagr eet o findandbewhatbes ts ui t sourownr eal i t i es . Cons i dert heabovet r ai t sbal l edupt i ght l yi n a flami ng s pher e flyi ng t hr ough gal axi es neverdi mmi ng. I fyouar es oi ncl i nedt ocar r y on exi s t i ng bol dl y, t enaci ous l y, and cont i nuous l y you wi l lundoubt edl ys par ka fir ei n one orpos s i bl yaf ew peopl e who deci det odot hes ame.Soonenoughdr oves ofs t el l arpeopl ewi l lbemoved t ol i veBTFL l i vesandt hatgl i mmerofl i ghtf r om t hefir s t t or ch ( your l i ght ) wi l ls hi ne al lover and beaut ywi l lr emai n.
Beaut i f ul l y Aut hent i c -
byAmberDavi s
BTFL t o me i s , bol d, t enaci ous , fier y, l ongevi t y.As ever ambi t i ous f or ces t o be r eckoned wi t h,we as a col l ect i ve car r ya t or ch.Though i ti sheavyand s cor chi ng,we car r yi tt os hi nebutagl i mmerofl i ghtont he di m par t sofs oci et y. Bol dnes scanbes eenasei t heranadmi r abl e oran of f put t i ng t r ai t .Thi sdi chot omyonl y val i dat est hatwehavet heopt i ont ochoos e bet ween t he t wo. Let us deci de t o be admi r abl e; us i ng our bol dnes st o s peak confident l yon ourbel i ef s .Letuss t and out s t r i ki ngl yandgr acef ul l y. Wear ebol dandyou know youl ovei t . Tobet enaci ousi st obei mmovabl e;nei t her s wayed norcaj ol ed t o do whatwe ar en' t i ncl i ned t o do.Addi ng t o t he bol dnes s , movi ngout s i deoft hebox,s i des t eppi ngt he negat i ve f or ms ofmani pul at i on t hatpus h emot i onst of eelonewayoranot her . Wehol d s t r ong t ot he l of t y yetat t ai nabl e hopesof col l ect i vebeaut y.When wecan al lagr eet o findandbewhatbes ts ui t sourownr eal i t i es . Cons i dert heabovet r ai t sbal l edupt i ght l yi n a flami ng s pher e flyi ng t hr ough gal axi es neverdi mmi ng. I fyouar es oi ncl i nedt ocar r y on exi s t i ng bol dl y, t enaci ous l y, and cont i nuous l y you wi l lundoubt edl ys par ka fir ei n one orpos s i bl yaf ew peopl e who deci det odot hes ame.Soonenoughdr oves ofs t el l arpeopl ewi l lbemoved t ol i veBTFL l i vesandt hatgl i mmerofl i ghtf r om t hefir s t t or ch ( your l i ght ) wi l ls hi ne al lover and beaut ywi l lr emai n.
Beaut i f ul l y Aut hent i c -
byAmberDavi s