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Volume I | Issue Number III

COEUS CONTENTS September 2012

ART

21 | AEROSOL WARFARE

Houston Graffiti from the walkways and street signs to art galleries and private collections.

BEAUTY & HAIR 23 | NATURAL HAIR: LIFE AFTER THE

“BIG CHOP”! Natural Hair: Life After the “Big Chop”! Hair stylist Judy Williams debuts her healthy hair column.

COMMUNITY

26 | JUSTINA PAGE: CIRCLE OF FIRE

Burn survivor Justina Page’s inspiring story of survival and transformation through her book Circle ofFire.

FOOD

60 |SIMPLIFY YOUR MEALS

Getting on board the health wagon and gaining success VEGETARIAN: ANOTHER HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE A close look at the Vegan Lifestyle, its benefits and everything you need to know

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september 2012 | coeus

FASHION

32 | SSEKO DESIGNS

How shoes helped a village of young girls with little hope to become confident women of the future.

38 | HALF UNITED

Brother and sister duo Christian and Carmin Black set out to “End World Hunger”.

42 | MEN’S FASHION

Bowties and suspenders snap back into style.

FEATURES

59 | OVERCOMING ME

A young man’s struggle with his weight, self loathing, and his sexuality.

66 | GOOD GIRL SEEKS BAD BOY

Why do good girls fall for bad boys?

FITNESS & HEALTH

54 | FAT LOSS MYTHS

LIFESTYLE & TRAVEL

62 | DESTINATION: PUERTO RICO

Escape the Houston weather to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico

Editor in Chief Regina Moretto Creative Director Marisha Garris Director of Operations Patterson Nguyen Marketing and Advertising Roshard Marshall Graphic Design Josh James Alvarez Ricky Fowler Charlie Quinsaat Melissa Jackson Beauty Editor Jenni Reed Copy Editor Clemer Holmes Fashion Department Travis Young Derrian Singletary Music Department Christian Birdwell Technology Department Christian Birdwell Hunter Cherry Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Interest Department Hunter Cherry Photography Interns Julissa Maldonado Kela Jones Contributing Writers Alicia Brownell Chris Cummings Paulette Pradia Zachary Devon Young Amber Neal Judy Williams Artur Zermanov COEUS MAGAZINE

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From the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief September has arrived with fall weather in tow; the crisp clean air, the crunch of dry leaves, and who am I kidding…it’s Houston and it’s still just as hot as any other summer day! Regardless of the current weather situation I have always loved fall. My childhood memories of fall include the excitement of going back to school, football season (Go Texans!), and the homemade soup my mother would prepare on the weekends. Those days may be gone but I’ll never forget the feeling of “Fall”. We don’t have to have fall weather just to enjoy its fashions. Houstonians are some of the most adaptable people on earth. We adapt to weather, we adapt to traffic and construction, we adapt to new cultures and their foods; we are forever adapting and our versatility and fluidity make us so uniquely awesome. Our desire to continue to improve and grow as a city and as Houstonians is one of the major reasons why I started COEUS Magazine. The September Issue of COEUS Magazine is a compilation of Fashion, Entertainment, and Lifestyle articles that reflect Houston’s talent and potential. In addition, we include articles about people nationally and internationally that are working to create a positive impact on society through fashion or entertainment mediums. While working to create this issue I felt an overwhelming sense of privilege…there are amazing men and women featured on the following pages and I had the great opportunity to work with them, tell there story, and be a part of their impact. I am inspired to continue pushing for greatness with COEUS Magazine. I hope to continue to deliver to you strong editorial content on the topics you are interested in and continue to provide a high quality magazine for Houston and it’s surround areas. Enjoy! Regina C. S. Moretto Editor-in-Chief COEUS Magazine

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EDITOR’S SHOE STYLE

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By: Regina Moretto

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EXCLUSIVE

Fashion and Furs www.myspace.com/exclusivefashion4real

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BELLA HARRIS After launching her debut capsule collection; Designs by Bella: Vintage Lollipops x Magazzini Del Sale, her art was featured in Society6, Artflakes, Fashion Envi, and 24blogazine.

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St. Louis native, Bella Harris, granddaughter to award-winning artist, Frances Harris, is a self-taught artist whose first experience with the paintbrush came when she realized Turpentine wasn’t her Grandmother’s favorite perfume. In October of 2010, her personal journey into the realms of illustration, painting, and the dynamics of mixed media experimentation began. Through continuous reflection, the results of her work emphasize a perpetual foundation of raw human emotion and the lines that balance an edifying belonging to one’s self. Capsule Collection/Writing/Art: After launching her debut capsule collection; Designs by Bella: Vintage Lollipops x Magazzini Del Sale, her art was featured in Society6, Artflakes, Fashion Envi, and 24blogazine.

BELLA HARRIS

Bella Harris is also an author of Children’s/YA Fiction and a freelance writer. She received Honorable Mentions in the 77th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition in the Children’s/Young Adult Fiction category, 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition for poetry, an Editor’s Choice Award for outstanding artistry by a poet, and was selected as one of fourteen applicants to attend author, Simon Van Booy’s writing workshop. Her creative works have also appeared in her own weekly editorial column for g adflydreams.com, pocketchange.become.com, Bedtime Stories, Mississippi Crow Magazine (four issues), Network Magazine (two issues), Cornerstone Newspaper (Fashion Columnist), PaperDolls Magazine (three issues), Estella’s Revenge, and other print and online media. Vintage Lollipops Feature/Press/Publications: She has been featured in Elle Spain, Jeffreycampbell.com, NYLON, envishoes.com, DISfunkshion Magazine, lemndrop.com, Lucky Magazine, China Shopping Magazine of Beijing, Chicisimo, Blue Onion Marketplace, Stolen Thunder, Smashion, and The Skinny. Bella has worked with clients such as designer, Karen Brat for K. Brat, Red Light Public Relations for Little Rooms Cryptid Collection, Ozone Designs, Amanda Deer Jewelry and Design, Abazias Diamonds, ShadesDaddy.com, The Leather Satchel Co, Period Media GLEAM Body Radiance by Melanie Mills, makeup artist for Dancing with the Stars, Copper Etiquette, Max Steiner Designs, We Love Colors, Alex and Vina, Glamorous Republik, Misikko, illia, Coupon Mountain, RUYA, Shabby Apple, Fake Tattoos, CSN Stores, Stop Staring, zagg.com, and Lingerie Please.

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Tiffany Kowalski P H O T O G R A P H Y

info@tiffanykowalski.com | 832-297-2340 COEUS MAGAZINE

AEROSOL W A R F A R E G

raffiti. It seems to be everywhere, from walkways to street signs and apparently galleries. To say graffiti was an art was a stretch for me two years ago, but after meeting GONZO247 as well as participating in his graffiti art class, I was amazed. GONZO247 is a graffiti artist who grew up in Houston in 2nd ward. He is very established with awards under his belt as well as his gallery where he not only showcases his artwork, but many others as well. He teaches classes to show others how to draw graffiti as well as takes part in events across Texas. I recently interviewed this talent and he gave me a new outlook upon not only art, but inspired me to pursue my own talents.

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M: Tell me about yourself. G: I am a full time artist, a husband, a cofounder and artist of Aerosol Warfare.

M: Tell me the concept behind your tag name? G: Gonzo came to me as a nickname in junior high. The definition of Gonzo really explains me.

M: Explain about your “video magazine”. G: Before Aerosol Warfare, we were an underground production crew. We would film ourselves painting for personal entertainment. I would edit the videos with my friend Merge360 and send them to friends in other cities. Eventually a New York graffiti writer told me to sell the videos. I started receiving videos in return. Aerosol Warfare was the title of the video magazine. It would show all the elements of the Hip-Hop culture such as bboys, MC’s, graffiti artists, etc. As the videos got more and more bigger, we decided to change the name to Aerosol Warfare.

M: So what does “Gonzo” mean? G: You’ll have to find out. *Smiles

M: What do you like best about your job? G: Every day it is different, a new creative day.

M: How did you get started with graffiti? G: Well, I was an artistic kid with no direction. When rap started to become prominent, I identified with the subculture, and saw the background art, and was drawn to it.

M: What artists have you featured in your gallery? G: Aerosol Warfare has featured local, national, and international artists as well as and coming to well established.

M: Where did you grow up? G: I grew up along the East side of town in 2nd ward.

M: So was graffiti always your passion? G: Art was always my passion. I did not know what I would do for a profession until my senior year, but a motivational speaker asked me “What is the one thing that you love so much you’ll do for free?” M: When did you start thinking about creating a gallery and when did you start it? G: I started hanging out with my friends who had a warehouse space. We would paint the walls, canvases. Basically, we created a gallery space in a non-gallery space and we had parties in these spaces. In 2004 we set up this official space. M: Have you done any work with charities? G: Yes, I do Art for the Heart and DiverseWorks as well as art fundraisers and personal causes.

M: Street art education? Can you expand on that? G: my wife, who was not a teacher, but a driving force to start a class, developed this program. She told me “You should teach a class”. My first class was three years ago and I felt rewarded. M: What events do you mainly participate in? G: I participate in exhibitions and I do it 4 times a year. M: Who is your clientele? G: My more famous clients are Guda Guda, Paul Wall, Limp Bizkit. I worked on a mural for the Houston Public Library for the underground parking garage. All of it was custom work. M: Where do you mainly practice graffiti now? G: Usually in my studio, but I like to visit the “Wall of Fame”. Houston and this studio is my home.

Humble, inspiring, and full of talent are the words I would describe this man. He has done so much to help the community and help others get their foot in the art world. Being able to visit him was a great experience. Check more of his work at http://www.aerosolwarfare.com/

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Life After

The Big Chop! Judy Williams formerly of Oakland, California is a licensed cosmetologist and hairstylist since 1985. Judy has worked in salons from California, New York, Maryland, DC, Atlanta, to Texas. She currently lives and works in Missouri City (Houston), Texas. You have decided relaxers aren’t for you. Ok? Now what? Natural hair is a whole other life; remember why you ever started relaxing your hair? It’s going to take time, some getting used to, and a lot of patience! The main thing natural or any textured (ethnic) hair needs is moisture! The type of moisture will be determined by your hair type. Your hair can have TOO much moisture and become limp and weighed down; so knowing your hair is crucial. You’ll spend a lot of money trying to find that “it” product and some days you will have a love/hate relationship with your hair. I am neither team natural hair nor relaxed hair, I am team healthy hair! I have seen natural hair that is in worse condition than it was when it was relaxed so natural doesn’t mean your hair is automatically and miraculously healed! When consulting with new clients that want to “go natural” my first question is “why?” The answers usually vary “I don’t know” is the most popular. So I decided to keep this article fair and ask a couple of “Naturalistas”! My sisters! I knew they would keep it real!

You may also want to consider your natural items at home, such as olive oil, coconut oil and vegetable glycerin which is a great sealant. Natural hair LOVES “water” which is much different than the customary stay away from the water when you have a relaxer way of thinking. You want to add water moister and seal with oils like those mentioned above.

Also you will want to use “sulfate” and “paraben free” shampoos because these chemicals affect the hair’s curl pattern. It is highly recommended that you do a process called “co-wash” which is to wash with a conditioner rather than shampoo, “ says Fo’Relly of 2NaturalSistahs on Youtube. She has spent the last year and a half searching and researching products that work after her hairstylist of many years moved. After “As it relates to natural hair, some products for natu- going through the trauma of searching for a new stylist and seeing the damage that developed, she decided to ral hair and moisture I would recommend: face natural head on and to document their journey. Shea Moisture line available at Target and Walgreens. Natural is not a fad,” says Fo’Relly, “it’s a state of mind. There is a confidence that comes with being natural Cantu has a really good line as well, also available at you gain a whole new self awareness.” Target and Walgreens. In addition to products, I know one of the tools Fo’Relly swears by is the “Huetiful Hair Steamer.” COEUS MAGAZINE

Prefinity Artistry Tips On Being

Pretty Forever by Paulette Prevost

Photographer: Gabrielle Martin Models: Sarah Atallah, Wings Models Cincinnati and Naomi Byrd, Heyman Talent Makeup: Chenese Bean Hair: Elizabeth Carter

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STEP 1

Cleanse. In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need. This is great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing. Never wash your face with hot or cold water. Simple is key here. You need to find a good facial cleanser that your skin responds well to and stick with it. You can find a good cleanser at your local drugstore. Why spend $40 on a fancy wash. Oh, and avoid using bar soaps; they tend to dry out the skin. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin. Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing at night should do you. If you have dry skin, consider a cold cream like Pond’s. Simply apply cream and then wipe off, no water needed. You’ll also want to take off your makeup with a gentle makeup remover. We covered this in the last issue (DECEMBER 2011)

STEP 2

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, scrubs, chemical peels, and retinoids. Microdermabrasion works by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. The microdermabrasion process is a scientific method, using fine, inert (micro) crystals to progressively abrade the skin’s surface. The treatment takes about 30-40 minutes and produces satisfying results. Usually it takes a few treatments to reach the desired results and they are performed every two weeks. Scrubs have been a longtime secret to healthy skin of most women. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good. St Ives Apricot Scrub is an oldie but a goody.

STEP 3

Moisturize! Moisturizing is a basic law of beauty that everyone, no matter her skin type, should follow. Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from moisturizers. (The only exception would be someone with severe acne). Why you ask? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin. When your skin is tight, it’s crying out for moisture. Your skin loves water just as much as you do. It needs something to help hydrate and replenish itself after a long day out in the elements. Sometimes we avoid moisturizing our skin because of how it makes our skin feel after applying it. Simple tip, if it doesn’t feel right then switch your moisturizer! Here is an easy way to pick a moisturizer: Dry skin should use a cream moisturizer at least twice a day. Combination to oily skin can use a water based moisturizer or a light weight moisturizer. WARNING: Using the wrong moisturizer and cleansing routine can clog pores and clogged pores equals: BREAKOUTS!

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STEP 4

Protect. The number 1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it’s important to use sunscreen from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days. Nowadays lots of makeup products come with some form of sun block or UV protection. Read the labels and get to know which one works with your skin. Pretty Simple, huh? Yeah, I thought so too. P.S. You can find tips for making your own tinted moisturizer with your favorite daily liquid foundation here: http://prettytemptingmakeup.blogspot.com/)

CIRCLE OF FIRE

Everyone has a story; some are funny, some are sad, and some are private. Most stories chronicle past events, things that we did or that were done to us. It takes a special person to decide to change their story, and to start a new chapter.

Justina Page is not only purposely writing new chapters in her own life, she’s helping others find their way to a new and better chapter as well.

Justina is the Executive Director of the Amos House of Faith, a non-profit that provides support for burn survivors in addition to educating the general public of Houston and the surrounding areas. The organization is named in honor of Amos. The infant twin son Justina lost in the house fire that devastated her family in 1999. Justina and Amos’ twin brother, Benjamin, were badly injured in that fire. Her husband, James, and their four other sons were thankfully not burned as badly, but the loss would affect each family member in some way. She recalls the immensely difficult journey in her book, “ The Circle of Fire”, which was published earlier last year. We met up with Justina at the Houston location of Shriner’s Hospital for Children, in the Texas Medical Center. She is a member of the hospital’s SOAR (Survivor Offering Assistance Recovery) group and has spoken to patients at the Galveston location about the therapeutic effects of writing a book. Jo Ann Zuniga, the Director of Public Relations for Shriner’s in Houston and Galveston, told us of what a great asset Justina has been to their hospital system and to the burn community as a whole.

JUSTINA

PAGE “My heart is really in this”

In her extensive volunteer work in the burn community, which spans local and national outlets, Justina had many tell her how helpful the sharing of her story was and that she should “just write a book.” Coupled with the fact that she was reminded of a promise she’d made to her boys shortly after the fire (telling them that she would write a book and “be able to let them know more” of what they didn’t quite understand at their young ages). Justina has penned an honest and moving story. The book offers inspiration, encouragement, and a map out of grief of any kind. Justina shares the reality of the wide range of emotions and experiences after a tragedy and helps validate all of the emotions as relevant. She even helps caretakers, family, and friends have a better understanding of what their loved ones really need in a difficult time, beyond the feel-good fluff we are all taught to say. For burn survivors especially, her addressing social re-entry of an obviously different physical appearance after burn trauma is valuable insight. It is real experience in dealing with people who stare, or worse... the people who are afraid to look and instead pretend they don’t see you at all.

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It is insight like this that has “The Circle of Fire” being considered for use in University-level curriculums. The fact that the book’s proceeds are directly benefitting the Amos House of Faith is just further evidence of Justina’s overwjelming dedication. “My heart is really in this,” Justina said, “I had so much love and support.” She details how writing the book, speaking and volunteering are all part of her way of passing some of that “love” onto others. Her concern is for those who may not have the strong support system she did. Even with her strong willed personality, her support system and her faith.. the journal was painful and demanding. Justina’s passion is being there for those who desperately need it; she knows what they are experiencing. In the book and in person, if you get the pleasure, she tells you about her family members who flew down from all over the country. Some arrived while Justina laidn in a coma in the hospital, but her knowing they came gave her strength in her recovery. She beams with pride and love when talking about her church family, especially her Pastor and his wife who gave her a house to live in after her family’s house was destroyed in the fire. Her faith in God is also a big role in her stroy; she offers prayers and conversations with him throughout the book. As for her husband James, “I couldn’t do it without him,” she said. You can tell they are partners in everything: the journey, the passion and the giving. Justina says the biggest challenge in front of her now is getting exposure. “Getting people to know does take some money,” she said. It is important to her that people “know what is going on, what we need, and how you can help.” “The Circle of Fire” is certainly a step in the right direction in that regard. Ultimately, Justina hopes to open a family room, giving burn survivor’s families a place to stay when home too far from the medical center (where most patients of serious burns are treated). She told us the story of the wife and daughter of a burn victim who had burns over 90% of his body. “They didn’t want to leave him, so they spent the year on hospital couches.” It is front line observations like this that make Justina not just an advocate, but a champion. From fire safety and prevention, to help burn survivors, training for volunteers and support for everyone in between, Justina is a force. COEUS MAGAZINE

Photographer: Austin Goswick Wardrobe Designer: Andre San Redou Hair & Make Up: Austin Jenni Reed Photographer: Goswick Wardrobe Designer: Andre San Smith Redou Model: Em Hair & Make Up: Jenni Reed Model: Em Smith

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SSEKO DESIGNS Empowering Women Through Fashion, Education, & Commaraderie

Sseko Designs, founded in 2009, uses ethical business practices to empower women and lift entire communities. We invited these up-and-comers for an interview COEUS MAGAZINE

When was Sseko founded? 2009 What inspired you to start a company of this nature? What Sseko has become is somewhat of an accidental result of blind determination. While living in Uganda (I moved there to pursue journalism) I met a group of incredibly talented and ambitious young women who needed economic opportunity in order to continue on to university and pursue their dreams. I knew I was in a certain place in certain time and that the story of these women would become a part of my story. I couldn’t have cared how that took shape. Almost everything about Sseko was born from necessity.

“Our HOPE is simply to give them the opportunity toa SUCCEED”

We needed to generate income. We had to do something that 18 year old girls could be a part of for a season and then move on to pursue their goals. We had to create something out of the limited materials available in the East African region. After several other ideas (including a chicken farm!) I was reminded of a pair of funky, strappy sandals I had made a few years earlier. I spent a few weeks scouring the country for the materials we needed and trying to learn everything I could about making footwear. I hired three young women and several weeks later, under a mango tree, a sandal company in East Africa was born! What is the Sseko philosophy? The short version: Make beautiful things to provide employment and scholarship opportunities to women pursuing their dreams and overcoming poverty. We believe passionately in three things: 1. Women hold up half the sky; empowering and educating women across the globe is an integral part to creating a more just and peaceful world and alleviating extreme poverty. 2. Business can and will change the world. We occupy a unique space as a for-profit company that meets social needs traditionally addressed by NGOs, while also building industry and maintaining competitiveness with the traditional for-profit sector. (As we both occupy the “do good” footwear space, we are often compared to TOMS. We differ from the ‘Buy One Give One’ model, however, in that we leverage consumerism to build sustainable industry, employment and educational opportunities that we believe will have a greater long-term impact on alleviating poverty.) 3. All humans desire and deserve dignity, respect and the freedom to dream. We strive to create a space at Sseko that provides every employee, partner and beneficiary with respect and dignity. We hope to challenge and equip every Sseko family member to become the best they can be and dream big. We especially believe this of our Ugandan friends. The often-told story of Africa is one wrought with devastation, war, poverty and disease. And while these things exist, it is also a place full of so much joy, success and progress. That is the story we want to tell. Our women are incredibly talented, driven and bright. Our hope is simply to give them the opportunity to succeed.

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How exactly, does your company help young women in Uganda pursue a college/university education? We make high quality products designed for the mainstream Western market while providing employment opportunities that will allow high-potential female students to generate income during their academic break and continue on to university. Sseko employees will also have access to professional and personal finance training, career mentoring and health care. Using local resources, Sseko aims to build industry in the East African region while also providing services to a highly vulnerable population through job creation and training. During the nine months that each university-bound woman works for Sseko, she will earn enough income to finance the first year of college tuition and will be eligible for a scholarship that will match up to 100% of her income savings. I believe your company is very noble. It is very rare that a company is founded on the premise of helping empower it’s employees through education versus a solely profitable ambition. How exactly do you plan to sustain this program after the first graduates move on to their respective jobs in the future? Great question. Our solution: For every university –bound woman we employ, we employ two women who are full-time, year-round employees. Every year we hire a new class of women and it is our veteran team that keeps the wheels turning during the time of hiring and training our newest class. Our veteran team consists of everyone from our cooks to sandal makers to managers. It is important to us to build a company that is sustainable and will continue to meet needs year after year and building an excellent full-time staff that we hope will be with us for a long time is part of how we do that.

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Do you plan to take the successful formula you started in Uganda and possibly expand to other developing countries? There may be some dreaming and scheming going on regarding just that…<smile> On your website you mentioned, “We are excited to be a part of a growing movement the uses “patient capital” to combine philanthropy and traditional business models to change the world.” Have you noticed a large majority of your consumers are socially aware consumers that purposely seek out brands with a social conscience or do you find that your consumers become more aware through purchasing your product? It depends what market we’re in. A lot of our online customers are intentionally seeking out ethically-made products or they hear about us from their communities who care about ethical fashion and find us through their existing passion. Our typical customer who walks into a boutique (the majority of our boutiques are mainstream fashion boutiques and don’t have an ethical or cause-based retail space) is often trying on or purchasing the sandal when our retail partners share the story behind the sandals with them. We LOVE being able to provide a reasonably-priced, high-quality product to our friends who care about where their things are made. But we also love introducing folks to the concept of ethical fashion and proving that you don’t have to sacrifice on style or comfort to make an impact with your purchases. 34

What can consumers do to become more involved in bringing awareness to your company and its socially proactive initiative? Wear Ssekos. Tell your friends. So much of our growth has come from our incredible customers who tell everyone about their sandals! So many of our retail partners have come from customers insisting that their favorite stores start to carry our brand. And the majority of Sseko-wearers find out about us in the first place through wordof-mouth. We LOVE when are fans help us spread the word; that is really why we can continue to do what we do. For those who love sandals AND parties, we have a “party in a box” option where women can get together and go in on a group order. We deliver a box full of goodies and the hostess gets to share the Sseko mission with her friends. (And get free shipping! And 10% off!) We also often have internship and job opportunities coming up, which is of course, the ultimate way to get involved. We’re building an incredible COEUS MAGAZINE

team of passionate, intelligent and creative folks both here in the US and Uganda, which has been such a dream. Are there any other organizations that your company supports? Not formally. But we love collaborating with other ethical brands. And in Uganda we’ve partnered with other programs on the ground. For instance, we work with a wonderful organization called the Kwagala Project that does rehabilitation work with women coming out of the commercial sex industry. When they graduate from the program, they need a way to support themselves and their families in a way that is safe and dignified. And that is where Sseko comes in! Several of our veteran team members have come to Sseko through this program. We love working with organizations that do incredible work, but might be lacking an incoming generating component to provide sustainable and dignified jobs. How are the young women selected for em35

ployment and participation in the program? For our university-bound program, we do an application and interview process where we try to identify the women who are most likely to really succeed in university and beyond, but also have the greatest need for tuition assistance. Is there a set number of young women who are selected each year to enter the program? Yes. But every year that number grows! What are the ages of most of the girls there? Our university-bound women typically range from 18-22. Our veteran team ranges from anywhere to 18-65! Our veteran team is comprised of women from all walks of life. From grandmothers to young women, we love the diversity it brings to our workshop! How are they trained to make the shoe soles and ribbons? Quality is incredibly important to us and every woman that joins the team goes through an intensive training process. Each team has a leader that really focuses on teaching our new team members everything they need to know about how to make top-notch products. We have really high expectations for our team and we find that these partners can rise to the challenge! Do the girls live at home still or do they live on a campus provided by the company? Our university-bound woman come from all over the country and many of their families live up to 14 hours away. So our university bound women all live together on their own. We joke that it is the Sseko Sorority house. They stay just about a quarter mile from our workshop. Talk about a dream commute! Our veteran women come from all over to work each day; most live in or around the city. Who came up with the design of the shoe you currently use? Yours truly. An accidental shoe designer. I’m learning as I go. From journalist to designer, I’m doing a little bit of reverse engineering over here. Although, we recently hired on our first ever product COEUS MAGAZINE

designer who is in Uganda full time. She is amazing and I ADORE having her on the team! Having another eye and design-opinion has been just dreamy. How do you all come up with the unique methods of tying? Will you be introducing new tying methods in the future? We’re always coming up with new ties! Honestly, a majority of the most popular ties have been designed by our customers. We’re always getting photos or videos from super creative Sseko lovers who are AMAZING at styling their Ssekos! We love sharing their creations with the rest of the Sseko-wearers who need a little inspiration. Will you be introducing any new products in the future or will you stick with just the shoes? We introduced a line of clutches this past holiday season. They were such a hit we sold out in a FLASH and we’re working hard on our new clutch collection now. Stay tuned! Where do you see Sseko Designs in 5-10 years? The hope is that we’ll continue to grow our production, employment capacity and impact in Uganda with Sseko sandals and begin to replicate the model, working with other communities of women all across the globe making additional products. As they say in Uganda, “Slowly, slowly” but we’re dreaming BIG BIG! Do you think more business will develop a social conscience in the future? Absolutely. We have so much hope that more and more consumers will continue to demand transparency and accountability from the companies they support with their everyday purchases. As technology and communication continues to grow, the world is becoming a smaller place. As we connect consumers to producers, we start to see one another as human. Our greatest hope is that the more we can make those “human connections” the more dignity, respect and compassion will drive our consumer decisions. I really appreciate you taking the time out to answer these questions and allowing us to write a feature on Sseko Designs! 36

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What inspired you to start HALFUNITED?

Answered by Co-Founder/Creative Director

CHRISTIANby:BLACK Regina Moretto

Carmin and I have always loved fashion. Growing up, a motto our mother would tell us was “Pain is beauty”. Ha ha. Our mother is an interior designer and had previously worked for companies like Gucci and Prada. On the flip side, our father was a minister while Carmin and I were growing up so helping people was always #1. Before HALF UNITED I attempted to start a tee shirt line but had no idea how difficult it actually was. At the same time Carmin was interning with TOMS Shoes. When Carmin returned from the road with TOMS we decided that we would pursue creating a fashion company that helped the world. We saw that there was a need to help the hungry so that’s what we did. What does “HALFUNITED” mean? How did you come up with that name? At HALF UNITED we give away HALF of our profits to feed kids in need and we do that by UNITING with our supporters to make the change.

HALFUNITED F i g ht i ng

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Gl ob a l

Hu nger

How did you start this company with only $200? My sister and I had very little money. We have never taken an investor or a loan. We literally started HALF UNITED with the money we had in our pockets. When we began we didn’t really know what we wanted to be. All we knew was that we wanted to feed people in need every time we sold a product. In the beginning we were purchasing things from the dollar store and painting on them and selling them at art festivalsthings like mugs and kitchen towels. Ha ha. But people were buying these things! What we really wanted was to be an apparel company so slowly saving up from the sales of these TERRIBLE products we were able to start painting on tees and make make-shift necklaces. Our next step was getting tees screen printed then Carmin, my sister, came up with the fighting hunger bullet necklace which has been our staple piece since. What were some of the difficulties you experienced with starting a new business? The obvious problem was and is income. Working full time on something that you’re not making money doing. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep our team motivated having to work for free but the truth that with every product we sell someone in a much worse situation than us is being helped keeps us going! Another is working with your sibling. It’s been quiet a journey working with my sister! We had many fights but, along with that memories that I wouldn’t change for the world. Who helps keep HALFUNITED going? Our core staff is made up of 3. Carmin Black: Founder. I am always impressed with Carmin’s work ethic. She is really the driving force behind HALF UNITED. She’s a talker and I’m thankful for that because I’m not. She is always reaching out and meeting important people and is really great at making decisions. Carmin’s fashion sense has been vital to HALF’s success as well. Mostly everything you see in terms of accessories and women’s apparel was dreamt up by Carmin. What countries are supported through your initiative? USA, Liberia, Africa, Fiji and Cambodia.

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Myself: Christian Black: Creative Director at HALF UNITED. I do all of our graphic design and maintenance of halfunited.com. I also maintain our social media accounts and blogs. My #1 passion here is t-shirt design--an area where I am ever growing. Everything I do is really a learning process and I’d like to think I’m getting better as I go along. Sarah Brown, HALF Operations: Sarah is a list maker. When it comes to events, budgets or traveling, Sarah is #1. Sarah really keeps Carmin and I inline and keeps the office moving forward. Sarah has a long history in business where as Carmin and I don’t. Sarah is very hard working and very wise and is a vital part of HALF. We also have an amazing team of Interns: Kate is very hard working- always willing to go the extra mile and do whatever we ask of her. Allie has a heart for helping people and is our lead giving intern. Always comes into the office with a smile on her face. Mike is our lead accounting intern. Mike has been a VERY important part of the team and is a very hard worker. Rane came along with Mike as an accounting intern and has done an amazing job. He is a very positive person and very hard worker. Caitlin has been a trooper when it comes to making bullet necklaces and being somewhat of a jack of all trades. 39

Do you use recycled materials or would ever consider using recycled materials? All of the bullets used in our Fighting Hunger Bullet Necklaces are recycled from practice shooting ranges. We love the idea of using recycled products. In the future we would certainly like for recycled items to be a staple of HALF UNITED. What organizations do you work with? We work with Feast Down East and The Food Corps here in the US, the More Than Me Foundation in Liberia, The Northern Christian Training Centre in Fiji and Empowerment Advocates Int. in Cambodia. So, you use a tracking system to account for each product sold. Can you explain in more detail how the tracking system works? From every item we sell we take 50% off the profits and put it into a feeding account that we then distribute evenly between the 4 countries that we feed. We have a killer intern team of accountants that really make sure that with every item we sell we are setting aside 50% of the profits. That is #1 for HALF UNITED. Who are your main supporters? North Carolina as a whole has really gotten behind us. Young, Socially conscious consumers- fashion minded people. What types of people generally purchase your product? People between the ages of 18-34 typically purchase our products. Socially Conscious people like our products and what we’re about. Our audience somewhat reflects what our staff enjoys. Things like surfing, skateboarding, music, fashion.

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Do you believe the success of your company is directly linked with people’s innate desire to help those that are less fortunate? I certainly have established more of a faith in humanity from seeing the hearts of people not only from our online sales but by meeting our supporters at events we attend- peoples true passion and enjoyment for what we are doing here at HALF UNITED. Are your pieces carried in stores or you only available online? We’re available both online and in retail stores in 18 States. You can see every retail store we’re in at http://halfunited.com/ stay-connected/retailers/ What incentives do you offer your customers to get active and help the fight against hunger? When you’re wearing a FIGHTING HUNGER Bullet Necklace or a HALF UNITED t-shirt you’re a part of a team. You become a part of the HALF UNITED family of world changers and Hunger Fighters. The cool thing about our necklace is that the bullet is a bold statement. It encourages fruitful conversation and demands an explanation. Once you start explaining what it is, that it is a symbol that represents fighting hunger, it increases awareness of the world hunger epidemic and encourages change. How many children are fed through your efforts? To date over 55,400.

What other ways are you helping to end hunger besides selling the apparel? The sale of our products is what allows us to feed the needy. We are constantly looking for new ways to feed people and get involved. We have a presence at local schools where we plant gardens that teach kids about healthy eating- we are locally turning excess food from grocery stores into 3 course meals- weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeding school kids and encouraging education in Liberia- weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re providing an income to Cambodian children and providing gardening supplies and healthy foods to an orphanage in Fiji. What can we expect in the future from HALF UNITED? We have some big things in store that we cannot release yet- plans that could possibly change our lives and those we feed forever! We are working on expanding our necklace line- designing a spring line of HALF UNITED clothingyou can find us this year at the Warped Tour and possibly a few more things involving music that are in the works Do you have a blog/any other social networking sites? You can follow our journal at halfunited.tumblr.com. We love twitter and instagram: both usernames arehalfunited and of course on facebook.com/halfunited How would one donate to your organization? You can donate at www.halfunited.com/donate

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Bow Ties & Suspenders:

SNAPPING BACK IN-STYLE By: Zachary Devon Young

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For over 100 years, suspenders have been in and out of men’s fashion trends. In today’s fashion trends, we are seeing numerous retro influences reinvented by some of today’s top designers. From black tie to casual wear, suspenders are snapping back into the fashion scene. DOs for Suspenders: 1.Straps thin to medium size. You don’t want to give off the appearance of the “Larry King” look unless you are in your late 80s. 2.Simple Design. Although it is nice to have designs, keep it classy and explore more in the texture area versus making yourself look like a child’s coloring book. 3.Pair then with pants or tie. When picking out your trousers or tie, make sure they agree with your suspenders. For a more casual look, try them with a collared shirt and some nice dark jeans or khakis. DON’Ts for Suspenders: 1. Belts Unless you want to look like you put everything on you could find in your closet, avoid the belt with your suspenders. Remember, the suspenders are a substitute to the belt to keep your pants up; it is not just a fashion item. 2. Pleated Pants Skip the urge to step into a pair of pleated pants. Although it looked great for your grandfather back in the 50s, let’s agree to retire that and go for a cleaner look with no pleats. 3. Oversized shirt Let’s not let your shirt be the center of attention. Fitted shirts are always a must when wearing your straps. Keep them tight enough to contour to your body and the shirt fitted enough to not bunch up. Bow ties as of late are making a more noticeable climb onto the fashion scene. Bow ties became a trending topic adorned by Chris Brown in one of the most memorable news interviews in pop culture (see #ChrisBrownsBowtie). Wearing a bow tie should bring style and class to your wardrobe. In lieu of the clip on bow ties, here’s how to make tying a bow tie easy.

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White Lace Top w/Blue Belt: Peep Studio Blue Jean Cotton/Spandex Shorts: Accecante Pearl String Necklace and Bracelets: Charlotte Russe Sunglasses: Banana Republic

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SWEET OCEAN DREAMS

Osborne Beach - Ventura, CA Photographer: Joe Goger - www.joegoger.com Model: Aja Warren - Aston Models - www.astonmodels.com Hair Stylist: Esme Enriquez Makeup Artist: Chris Lombardo - www.chrislombardomakeup.com Wardrobe: Aja Warren

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Blue Sailor Jumpsuit: Cartonnier Cream Boho Sandal Wedges: Jessica Simpson

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Whimsical Flowing Cream Dress: Nataya Greek Goddess Gold Flats: Guess

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Fluffy Blue Icing Wrap: Sterling Styles White Bikini: Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret COEUS MAGAZINE

Mel’s Meals Opens in Round Rock to Feed Growing Healthy Addiction SAVE THE DATE Mel’s Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting April 25th 4pm-6pm with food samples, Chaos Cocktails and music by Daniel Park.

After 15 years in the restaurant industry, Melissa Sterns felt the Austin area was starving for healthy alternatives to over sized, over-processed everyday food offerings. So Mel’s Meals – convenient, ready-to-go meals and snacks that can be picked up or delivered – stepped in to fill the void. The portion-controlled, delicious cuisine has become so popular, that a third loctation just opened to meet growing demand in the Round Rock area. COEUS MAGAZINE

“We create natural, delicious food that is convenient and affordable. It’s an uncomplicated approach” 52

Mel’s Meals consists of a collaborative team and the group helps each client with their personal goals through providing fitness and nutrition expertise alongside a healthy, affordable eating plan. “We create natural, delicious food that is convenient and affordable. It’s an uncomplicated approach” says Stern. “By opening the location in Round Rock we have a great opportunity to make our food and lifestyle philosophy accessible to a whole new group.”

Visit Mel’s Meals in Round Rock

Downtown: 1208 N. IH 35, Suite W 706 N. Lamar Blvd Lakeway: 2422 RR 620 South, Suite A-114.

RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/412162712131001/

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Fat Loss: Facts and Myths

here are tons of diets, fad cleansers, tips and secrets that allude to quick weight loss. In truth, fat loss requires healthy diet/eating habits and exercise. There is no quick fix. Let’s take a closer look at some facts and myths about losing weight and reducing body fat.

Eat a majority of your carbohydrate Your metabolism is really what intake before exercising or before you controls how much weight you start to rest for the night. are going to lose. You really need to eat the right foods, in the right Myth #2: Fat is bad for you. This portion to properly lose weight. is half true, half false. Your body If you are not feeding your body needs fats for protection of nerves, organs, and your brain. Fat surrounds correctly it will not respond to your organs and nerves and this is a losing weight permanently. healthy fat to have.

Myth #1: In order to lose weight you need to cut out most, if not all carbs from your diet. This is the furthest thing from the truth. Granted, yes if you do cut carbs from your diet and stick mainly to eating protein you will lose weight at first.

Permanent weight loss is going to be a mixture of 3 things: Eating healthy, weight/resistance training, and cardio. If you eat sensibly and exercise 3-5 times a week, you can transform your body permanently. These fad diets and supplements such as HCG only offer quick temporary weight loss. If you lose weight and want to keep it off, it needs to be a lifestyle, it is something you do every day.

There is no secret to permanent The bad fat is called white adipose weight loss. If you want to lose The number one topic I hear about tissue, Google it. This is the excess stored fat. The fat we don’t want cov- weight and keep it off you have on a daily basis is “carbs”! Good? got to work for it. ering our bodies. Bad? Believe it or not, there are actually healthy fats for you to eat. All healthy fats come from plant oils, nuts, and fish. These sources give you the poly-unsaturated and mono-unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats are the healthy fats. Eat more of these and less saturated and trans fats. For you men, it is ok to get some trans fat from red meat as this actually helps to boost However, this is not a permanent testosterone levels. Your daily intake solution to fat loss. In fact, your body needs the carbs to use as fuel of fat should be anywhere between 20-30% for a healthy level. for exercise. Your body also uses carbs for daily bodily functions and depriving your body of these much Myth #3: It’s ALL about calories. needed carbs will throw your body Theoretically this is true. Basically one pound of fat equals 3500 calories. off balance. The problem is not If your body burns 3500 more calories carbs itself, the problem is what than it intakes in a week, theoretically kind of carbs and when are you you will lose one pound of fat. This eating them. Fruits, vegetables, is true. But it is also much more than and whole grains; these are the just the calories, it is about the type kind of carbs you want to eat. of food you put in your belly. Processed sugars or white bread With just the calorie theory, you could are the types of carbs that spike your blood sugar and typically stay possibly lose weight going on a donut diet, eat only one donut a day and in your body to be stored as fat. your calorie balance is in the negative. Another thing to consider is eating This might work for a week, maybe carbs at the right time of day. Eat- two. When your body is not receiving the proper nutrients your body sysing carbs right before bed is not a good idea since tems begin to work improperly, this includes your metabolism. your body is resting and those carbs can turn into fat.

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Once again don’t get me wrong here, I am NOT saying don’t ever treat yourself to pizza, ice cream, beer or whatever you like, but make it that, a treat. Do not over do it, do it in moderation.

Fat Loss

Chris Cummins

Facts and Myths COEUS MAGAZINE

Simplify Your Meals

Clemer Holmes More, and more people daily are getting on board the health wagon and gaining success. However, there are still those who have not quite found their niche in getting off the couch and taking control of what they put in their mouths. We all need to get the feeling of “I want to be healthy”. Believe me I know it is not easy, as I too am working on a healthier me. You just need to take one step in the right direction. Believe that you can make a difference in your own life and pump yourself up, after all you know yourself better than anyone else. You don’t have to give up all the foods you eat because you decide to eat more healthy foods. Maybe a smaller portion of the foods you really like to eat for about a week or more, until you decide it’s a good fit. Then maybe the next week get off the couch and walk down to the corner. Changing your food choices and adding exercise to your routine will help reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and depression. Learning new habits will help you gain confidence in yourself and your abilities. Once you get started things will begin to happen faster than you thought. Don’t worry about counting calories right away, after all if you are eating smaller portions you are eating less than you were. At this point you may want to add more water, but be careful, add maybe 1/2 to 1 glass every day until your body has adjusted to the fact that you are doing something good for your system and you are truly serious about what you are doing and it will balance out. Remember that you did not get to the unhealthy state you may be in overnight and it will take some time and effort on your part to reach your goal. Therefore, you must see yourself as a very important person worth the effort. Don’t give up if you don’t stick to the plan one day. We all go through this in the beginning, just get back on board the next day and continue patting yourself on the back. Tell yourself you can and will do this. The goal is within your reach. Below is a dinner meal that anyone can enjoy and feel good!

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Miss Teas

Lemon Himalayan Chicken Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 1/2 pounds chicken drumsticks, or thighs, 1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt 1/2 Cayenne Pepper 3 to 4 carrots, sliced 1 inch thick 3 to 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 purple onion chopped fine 3 to 4 New potatoes diced 1/3 cup cider vinegar 1 can Cream of chicken Soup, 1 can water 3 tablespoons chopped celery

Directions Preheat the oven to 350째. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Season the chicken thighs with Himalayan salt, cayenne pepper and add them to the skillet. Cook over moderately high heat, in batches if necessary, turning once, until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Spoon off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat in the casserole. Add the carrots, garlic, new potatoes and cook over low heat until crisp-tender, 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Add the cream of chicken soup and 1 can of hot water, bring to a boil. Place chicken back in skillet add celery cover with foil or lid move to oven. Let cook for 45 to 50 minutes. Turn chicken once after 30 minutes in the oven. Let continue cooking until done. Serve over Brown rice or noodles, with a salad.

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Teas

Twisted Lemon Salad Ingredients

1/4 cup lemon juice Cut about 2 to 3 thin slivers of the lemon skin 1 cup mild olive oil 1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1 tsp. honey 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 small red onions finely chopped thinly sliced 12 oz. baby spinach, washed and dried 3/4 lb. feta cheese, crumbled coarsely 1 cup Kalamata olives

Directions Prepare the lemon vinaigrette, combine the 1/4 cup lemon juice and add the lemon skin slivers in a small saucepan. Bring to a quick boil and remove from heat. Steep about 10 minutes, strain into a mixing bowl, discard solids. Add the remaining ingredients to the strained liquid and whisk together. To prepare the salad, marinate the onions in 1/4 cup of the lemon vinaigrette for about 15 minutes to soften them. Tear spinach leaves into small pieces if large leaves are present. If the spinach leaves are large, tear them into smaller pieces. To serve, toss the onions, and greens, with the vinaigrette in a large salad bowl. Distribute the salad on salad plates and sprinkle with the feta and olives.

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OVER COMING

ME Written by: Artur Zermanov

rowing up in an extended family isn’t always the easiest. Being one of the younger children in a large family, you are destined to be picked on. I would consider my childhood a difficult growing and learning experience. I can recall being five years old and helping in the kitchen. I remember setting the dinner table for everyone to eat. I also remember going to bed hungry most of the time because of all the unwanted criticism I would get from people living with me. “Are you going to eat that? It’ll only make you fatter.” I heard this often as a child. I developed a major complex and was scared to eat in front of people for most of my life. It was a daily routine to be picked on; called “ugly”, “fat”, and “stupid”. It isn’t always easy for me even to this day now to take compliments from people I don’t know, and even harder for me to take compliments from those who do know me. When you grow up constantly hearing a variety of negative things about yourself, you tend to believe them, and the good qualities about you are over shadowed and seem to be something of fiction. I was constantly being picked apart by family and their friends, it brought smiles to their faces to see me cower and cry. I would always compare myself to everyone I saw. I would look in the mirror and make myself believe that what I was looking at was ugly. I walked with my head facing downward and purposely wore oversized hoodies to keep people from looking at my body. Due to the constant abuse, in my early teen years I sought an escape… an outlet, a way to drown out the voices that seemed to haunt me daily. As cliché as it sounds, I resorted to alcohol and drugs. I lived in an apartment on the ground floor so sneaking out wasn’t hard. At the time, I was living in north Houston and had made friends with the “right” kind of people providing me easy access to any substance at fifteen. COEUS MAGAZINE

Eventually, I became numb and immune to the “raw pain” I once felt. I felt as if I hit a stalemate, a plateau and I wasn’t moving forward. I felt ice cold on the inside and became antisocial and hid from my friends and family. I still felt ugly. The voices never left, I wanted desperately to feel special. What better way to feel special than to give yourself to someone intimately. I’ll spare the details but will say, sex shouldn’t end nor begin with you crying. One day after my senior year of high school, I woke up and I ran to the bathroom and did the thing that I feared the most. I looked in the mirror. I looked at brown eyes and black hair. I looked at my straight smile and clear olive skin. I looked at my thick eye brows and full lips. I looked in the mirror. I thought to myself, how stupid have you been to let someone else tell you how to feel. How stupid of you to let someone make you feel opposite of what you are. I even verbally/emotionally abused those who I felt were weaker than me at some point to bring satisfaction to my shallow point in life. Words may not break bones like sticks and stones do, but they can cause more damage than you could ever imagine. I listened to everyone but those who mattered to me. I should have said thank you to a compliment instead of blush and run. I should have smiled while I walked instead of looking at my feet. Looking at one’s reflection isn’t the easiest things for everyone. I had to look hard at myself and drown out the voices that told me I was inferior, the voices that told me if I ate it would only add to my “fat” body. I had to believe in me. I had to be bold and brave to muster the courage that I always had in my heart. It’s been a few years since that day at eighteen and I have had more experiences between then. I left out a great deal of detail but I figured I would keep that for another story. I know that to live with yourself sometimes is the hardest thing to do. You can smile and lie to the world, but when you look in that mirror, the truth is revealed. For those of you who read this, please take is amongst yourself to look in the mirror once a day and tell yourself how incredible you are. 59

Vegetarian:

Another Healthy Alternative

Have you ever felt tired after eating a meal mainly consistent of meat? Have you ever wanted to lead a healthier lifestyle? Have you ever thought about going vegetarian? This is the article for you. Becoming vegetarian provides many health benefits if done correctly. You can look forward to lowering your risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure, controlling diabetes, preventing cancer, eliminating toxins from the body, easier digestion and improvement of overall health. A vegetarian lifestyle has dated back to the Ancient Greeks, but the movement did not gain interest in the West until the mid 1800’s. Some famous vegetarians of the past include Susan B. Anthony, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo Da Vinci. Modern day vegetarians of note are Pamela Anderson, Alicia Silverstone, and Leona Lewis. So what is a “vegetarian”? Vegetarian has many variations but the most common involves cutting out all meats such as chicken, beef, pork, and fish. An alternative version to strict vegetarianism is the pescetarian where one cuts out chicken beef and pork but keeps fish in the diet. Vegan is the most drastic; it involves cutting out all animal products completely such as milk, eggs, and cheese. So why does one “go veg”? Some do it for the health benefits, while others apply the diet for animal rights. For whatever reason you decide to try a vegetarian lifestyle, there are some things you need to know.

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Most exclaim “Where will I get my protein?” Protein is an essential part of any diet but even the Federal Food and Drug Administration tells people not to count on protein as a major source of energy, contrary to the American lifestyle. Where DO you get protein on a vegetarian diet? Protein is in most foods other than meat, such as legumes, spinach, bananas, and tofu. Tofu has more protein per gram than meat and does not have the scary “heart disease” syndrome haunting the mind. As with most diets, it is not just what you decide to cut out, but what you replace the meat with. A balanced diet of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, along with fruits and vegetables will help you maintain a healthy metabolism and a smooth transition to the vegetarian lifestyle. For carbohydrates, oatmeal, whole wheat breads and pastas, and quinoa meet the criteria as well as most fruits and vegetables. Natural fats that are actually “good” for you include avocados, nuts, natural oils like olive oil, and seeds. As for protein, you can try tofu-based products, beans and legumes, and spinach. When craving sweets and desserts there are a lot of options for vegetarians. Toffuti Cuties Ice Cream sandwich bars are a big hit. H-E-B has a great selection of vegetarian food items. A good part of being vegetarian is not only the health benefits but, the creative recipes and the assurance of knowing that what you are putting into your body is actually good for you. Some great websites to check out if you are considering going vegetarian: www.Chooseveg.com www.vegetariantimes.com www.exploreveg.org You can also get a free starter kit at: http://features.peta.org/VegetarianStarterKit/index.asp

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Puerto Rico The Island of COEUS VACATION DESTINATION

Enchantment Photography By: Nino Batista

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he beautiful island of Puerto Rico located in the Carribean east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. The largest city and capital is San Juan. With a balmy tropical climate year round, Puerto Rico is an ideal vacation destination for COEUS readers to escape their weather woes.

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Puerto Rico offers more than beautiful sandy beaches. Hundreds of waterfalls and fountains decorate the island of enchantment. “El Yunque” rainforest boasts the largest of Puerto Rico’s waterfalls. It requires a bit of a hike but the refreshing swim afterwards is worth the journey.

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One of the most famous tourist sites of Puerto Rico is El Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, commonly referred to as “El Morro”. El Morro took over 200 years to build and stood as a fortress against foreign enemies in the “New World”.

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why do

good girls fall for bad boys?

Amber Neal

Have you ever wondered why women love bad boys? What’s so appealing about a “bad boy? Is the rebellious, brash, cockiness a turn-on? He definitely colors outside of the lines. He is normally way over the edge, bordering on rude and doesn’t seem to give a damn about anyone but himself - what exactly do women see in a guy like that? Why do the “bad boys” always seem to get the ladies? Some people would say, women that like “Bad Boys” just have Daddy issues; but some women I know are rebels also and would be bored out of their minds with a regular guy. Let’s talk about the ladies that otherwise live a normal life inside the lines. I have always believed that people want what they can’t have; whether its entrance to a VIP place, the latest designer fashions, the nicest car, biggest home and the “Bad Boy” that they can’t tame! Bad boys just simply don’t give a damn. You can take it or leave it. That’s one reason why they fare well with women. If a woman says no, who cares? They move on to the next one, and they do it with the same verve and maverick attitude as they did the last one. Bad boys don’t care if he is your Mr. Right or your Mr. Right now or if he is either. That’s indifference.

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omen don’t dig men that are pushovers. I once heard a woman say, “I can’t stand a man that I can manipulate or control, but let me find a man like that; (manipulative and controlling) and I fall in love.” Contrary to the belief women like men they can read and men that provide them with a sense of security, women actually LOVE to guess! It is challenging for them, and it is one of the elements of the bad boy that keeps them coming back for more! Essentially the confident, cocky bad boy image rubs off a little bit on her - and she laps it up! These rebel men are always testing the boundaries and pushing the envelope when it comes to their life - and women can’t get enough of it. They find it intriguing. And when you put exciting and adventurous beside the other rebellious traits, it sends women into a tizzy. Confidence is downright sexy! They wouldn’t be able to pull off half of the antics they do if they weren’t brimming with confidence. Bad boys aren’t just confident around their friends, either - their cavalier attitude is in everything they do; from the way they dress to the way they approach you! The combination of confidence with a take it or leave mentality makes the talking part to women almost a given - considering the woman’s interest has already been sparked. Talking with them is just the part that reels them in and the bad boy knows how to tell her just what she wants to hear. If they weren’t confident, rebels would not be the chick magnets they are. Instead of indifferent, they would be self-conscious and non-committal (how many women have you passed up because you didn’t think you were good enough?) - You see, rebels don’t care. Rising to the challenge, living the wild side of life, being something more than conservative, and keeping her guessing about you - and her - it’s an explosive combination! Bad boys are often rugged and in-control. Most women I know want a man that makes her feel safe. Bad Boys aren’t scared to look someone in the eye, and stand up for what they believe in and believe it or not, they do still know how to treat a lady but sure as hell won’t let someone else disrespect his woman! Rebels know how to talk to women because they are all of the above. Confidence followed up with indifference, sprinkled with a little bit of mystery, intrigue and excitement is what attracts most women to start. That gets you the ‘in’ to talk with them - they’re interested, now you have to show them what you’ve got. Figuring those things out is the trick. Bad boys use their conversational skills to keep a woman interested and wanting more - and you can too. Ask yourself, “when was the last time I took a walk on the wild side?” If you are asking yourself that question, then you obviously aren’t a rebel and if you want more attention from the ladies, maybe take a few of these tips and learn to color outside of the lines occasionally!

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