Couture Living Volume 2 Issue 1 by Couture Living Magazine

The Lovely Valenese B! The Beauty Bar: Natural State of Being Fashion Fit: Middle America... The Fashion Mecca ??

Volume 2, Issue 1 | January/February 2012 |

Mature Money: Smart Tips to Avoid Identity Theftâ&#x20AC;?

www,couturelivingmagazine.com

Discover the Content Features

12 Cover: The Lovely Valenese B! Valenese Brewington:

Cover Credits:

Photographer, Andrea Smith, Studio 57 Photography. Hair/ Make up Artist, Keondra Atwater Wardrobe Provided & Styled by Yours In Fashion Stylist, DaNisha Greene

Special Thanks: Nina Pak Nina Pak Arts www.ninapak.com

Lenny White Pride Photography www.pridephotography.com Freddie Kelvin www.freddiesfotosforever.com

Volume 2 Issue 1 January/February 2012

Founders’s Thoughts 4 Let’s Talk

Be Encouraged 9 Divne Living 11 Get Empowered 15 Young & Gifted

Lifestyle Design

18 The Beauty Bar 20 Fashion Fit 22 Scene in Fashion 24 Take Flight 25 Palate Teaser 26 Mature Money 27 Health First, Self First 28 Socially Living

Founder and Editorial Director Joi McCreary joimccreary@couturelivingmagazine.com Finance Director Lisa Gilliard

Managing Copy Editor Janice Howard

lgilliard@couturelivingmagazine.com

jhoward@couturelivingmagazine.com

Youth Advancement Director

Spiritual Director Pastor Patsy Martin

Tiffany Lockridge

tlockridge@couturelivingmagazine.com

Fashion Image Director Danisha Greene

dgreene@couturelivingmagazine.com

pmartin@couturelivingmagazine.com

Travel & Entertainment Director Nichole Williamson nwilliamson@couturelivingmagazine.com

Senior Executive Assistant TaMeca Joshua

tjoshua@couturelivingmagazine.com

Empowerment Initiative Director RoShanda Johnson rjohnson@couturelivingmagazine.com

Health & Wellness Director Saundra Adcock

sadcock@couturelivingmagazine.com

Creative Beauty Director Keondra Atwater

katwater@couturelivingmagazine.com

Marketing & Media Department General Information info@couturelivingmagazine.com Advertising ads@couturelivingmagazine.com Press & Media media@couturelivingmagazine.com Submissions & Nominations submissions@couturelivingmagazine.com Contributor Information contribute@couturelivingmagazine.com

Creative Production Department Photographer Andrea Smith Studio 57 Photography www.studio57photos.com Hair/Make up Artist Ms. Keondra Renee 317-427-3482 mskeondraatwater@gmail.com Wardrobe Stylist Danisha Greene Yours In Fashion www.yoursinfashion.com

Let’s Talk It’s a New Day! It’s a new day, a new dawn, a new year for Couture Living Magazine! Welcome to year number TWO! We are so excited to bring in another year with our readers! The last year was awesome! We experienced some amazing growth together! We shared some remarkable stories, you’ve seen some changes in us, and watched our vision grow into reality. Now, here we are, Volume 2 Issue 1. Wow! Being an Editorial Director of a publication isn’t an easy task. It comes with a lot of challenges and requirements, dedication and hard work, but it is all worth it. So much more was accomplished over the last year. It has led me to continue the vision and keep moving forward. Many people are touched and that is what Couture Living is about. We are about “The Art of Living Couture,” but we are also concerned with touching lives, making an impact on those in the community, inspiring others, and creating opportunities. This is essential to help make a well desired and needed change in our community, society, and world today. So let’s do it! Continue to inspire, continue to dream, and continue to work hard, stay motivated and NEVER GIVE UP! We can do it! If I did, I know you can, so let’s get this year off the right way with new beginnings of 2012! Let’s go!

As always I leave you with this…

Always Remember. .......... “Beauty has no boundaries, Self-Love has no limits and Fashion is forever! Be the Best of the best, the greatest of the greats, be confident and build a legacy of which you will be proud!”

Divinely Determined, Joi McCreary Founder & Editorial Director

Live your life couture with

Uniquely Customized Handcrafted Jewelry and Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion

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We are pleased to introduce to you Couture Giving Incorporated, a developing nonprofit organization that will be assisting the local Indianapolis, Indiana community. Our Mission: Dedicated to making a difference in the community by helping those in need. Striving to give people the opportunity to take back control of their lives by assisting those whom are affected by Multiple Sclerosis. Our Vision: To serve and assist families or individuals in need, who are directly affected by Multiple Sclerosis. Giving back to our community through an array of programs our organization provides. The programs are operable and possible through our sponsorships, fundraising, and donors. Our Values: To have the trust of our donors through honesty, integrity, and commitment to our mission and vision. Respecting each individual we serve and our donors with privacy and security. Pursuing excellence, through the power of empowerment.

BID for a Cause! Silent Auction Couture Giving has launched our first annual silent auction entitled “Bid for a Cause” where the proceeds from this event will support our medical, housing and educational scholarship programs and help us reach our financial goals. So what do we need from you? Spread The Word… Donate an item for our Silent Auction… Give From Your Heart … And Continue to Be One of a Kind By Design… What Items are we looking for to Auction? • Children and Family Donations • Personal Service Donations • Retail Donations • Home Décor and Service Donations • Vacation and Travel Donations • Creative and Artistic Donations How it works? We are holding an ongoing silent auction. We will make each item look exquisite and sell the item. Each item donated will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. All proceeds will go towards Couture Giving’s programs. Your donations are greatly appreciated and will definitely be a major attribute to our success with this fundraiser! For more information about our Silent Auction please contact us at couturegiivnginc@gmail.com or visit our website at www. couturegivinginc.webs.com

Pastor Patsy and Minister Odis Martin Invite you to come worship with the congregation of

1005 W. 27th St. Indianapolis, IN 46208 Service Time: 9 a.m. every Sunday. Word of Life is a non-denominational place of worship, “Where the healing presence of God’s love flows freely.” Through evangelism, people are brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Through discipleship, they are taught how to live according to God’s Word; which in turn results in spiritual growth, victorious living, and communit impact. Through prayer, they are taught to overcome the plots, snares and strategies of the enemy. Through God-centered activities, they are taught to have fun and enjoy being Christianity. The anointed Praise and Worship team saturates the atmosphere with the presence of God. No matter who you are or where you come from, we are confident you will enjoy the service. If you are searching for a place to worship, please join us at Word of Life this Sunday or visit the website at

www.wordoflifeindy.org.

Divine Living New Season

Author Pastor Patsy Martin, Spiritual Director

Decorations have been taken down. The New Year is here. Life has taken on a whole new meaning. Goals have been set and plans have been made to make 2012 a great year! In the midst of it all, it’s hard not to look back on past defeats or victories. It’s evaluation time. Even if we experienced a few challenges last year, we must remain thankful and focused on the new opportunities to have victory in every area of life. Seasons bring forth change not only in the weather, but also in life. In your planning for 2012, don’t forget to put God in the equation, for with Him all things are possible. As we begin the New Year, we can’t help but notice seasonal changes. Fall changed the color of the leaves indicating a season of change is getting ready to take place. The winter cold dries up the trees and the fallen leaves (things) are no longer visible. Spring showers and storms help us to focus on old things passing away and new things ahead. Summer fun in the sun is a season of relaxation and comfort; a season of taking off winter clothes and dressing to stay cool in the heat. Then it starts all over again. No matter what season of life you are in your marriage or relationship, with your children or your health, or on your job, I challenge you to memorize and stand on the following scriptures and you will have victory. Proverbs 3:5-7 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Psalm 37:4-6 states, “Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way (thoughts) to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” The songwriter wrote: It’s a new season, it’s a new day, a fresh anointing is coming your way…it’s a season Sometimes, we forget that each day is a second chance offered to us because of the great mercy of God. As He is a God of second chances, we can choose to live with thankfulness, for His mercy and Grace. We can also have confidence in His faithful care and with the hope that He is with us forever. Photograph by Nicole Daniellle Photography

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TODAY For more information about advertising or supporting Couture Living please submit an information request to ads@couturelivingmagazine.com or info@couturelivingmagazine.com

Get Empowered Author: RoShanda Johnson

Often times we get into this mode: we wake up, get the kids ready for school, get ourselves ready for work, go to work, come home, make dinner, go to church for Bible study, come home, go to bed, and then wake up and do it all over again tomorrow. It’s time to kick the habit of ignoring “YOU”. We all have busy lives, the everyday hustle and bustle, but at some point we always forget to take time for ourselves. By the end of the week and for some of us by the end of the day, we are reading to snap. It’s time to take some time and have some “YOU” time. No phones, no kids, no husband, no Facebook. This needs to be time where you can sit back and pamper you for a change. I was reading an article on kicking bad habits. They had 4 pointers that I think could be very useful, but I added few tips of my own. 1. Quit feeding the bad habit – Stop neglecting yourself, YOU matter. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time out for you Stop, Relate, and Release. 2. Replace it with a good habit - Set a goal for yourself! I’m going to take this much time on this day and this will be MY time. 3. Press past the initial pain and discomfort – Most, if not all of us have people who depend heavily on us. Because of this, we feel if we don’t take care of everything, all of the time, right away, things will fall apart. STOP IT!!!! It’s going to get some getting used to, but you can do it. That thing will be there when you get back to it. 4. Make a “no exceptions” policy - This is where we all fall a little short, because we set our time and then “something important” comes up. Things will come up, but it’s up to you to determine what is worth YOUR time at that point. Stick to the plan because making exceptions is like taking a space shuttle back to Earth; you need another enormous amount of power to lift it off again.

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The Lovely Valenese B! G

etting to know the lovely Valenese Brewington was truly an honor. As an Entertainer (Model, Hostess, Actress, TV Personality) and Entrepreneur, she has blossomed and is continuously pushing to become better at her craft. Following her favorite quote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In order to get something that you never had, you have to do somethings that you have never done,â&#x20AC;? she has taken risks and some have paid off. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the story of Valenese B. I have been modeling professionally since September of 2010; however, I began in 2000. Since September 2010, I have been in a multitude of shows in Indianapolis as well as having the opportunity to walk in New York Fashion Week Spring 2012 for three different designers. I have worked behind the scenes as well as a correspondent, an office manager for a media company, and as a booking agent for a photographer. I worked as a production manager for an online and print magazine, and now I am an Advertisement & Media specialist for another online magazine.

Author: CLM Editorial Team

My mother used to be a local model in Kenosha, WI. I wanted to be one just like her. When I was in school at the age of 17, I signed with my first agency in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was so excited and couldn’t wait for my face to be all over the world. The agency, from what I found out through a lot of research, was unfortunately not a legitimate organization. They wanted me to pay $1,500.00 for a portfolio. At that time I came up with $250.00 through family and friends who invested the money in me. I decided to cancel the contract and had the money returned. After that experience, I left the entertainment and fashion industry with a bitter taste in my mouth. I still wanted to be an entertainer, but I was discouraged being in the Midwest because ten years ago there really wasn’t a market for this field. In high school I took Radio and Television Production and LOVED IT! I knew I was made to be heard and seen by the world. After high school, I was going to go to college for Broadcasting, yet it was a lot easier said than done. I was 18 with a two year old and a shaky support system. After I had my second child at 20, I just knew life was about to be different. I had the man I loved and at that time wanted to marry and have more children with, been on my current job for almost a year, had a house, two cars, a van, and life. That was, to me, the best it could be. I soon realized what we want and what we need can be two totally different things.

After a two and a half year relationship with my daughter’s father, we ended our relationship and I was back to being a single mom now with two children, no education, and no career. I decided to go back to medical/dental office administration. I thought I wanted to go to school for nursing and began pursuing that career. Even though I am a people person and nursing is the type of job where you won’t have the same day twice, I knew it wasn’t what I really wanted to do, but I knew it would be a guaranteed job and I would make a lot of money. I never wanted to be in a situation where I had to depend on a man in order to have what my children and I needed. In the spring of 2010, I found out I was pregnant with twins. Shortly after finding out I was pregnant, I began to bleed. I went to the doctor’s office almost daily to try and figure out what was wrong with me. The doctor said it wasn’t a big deal and everything looked fine. Knowing my body, I knew something wasn’t right and I should not be bleeding the way I was. In July 2010, I went to have an ultrasound and the technician advised me Twin A didn’t have much fluid around them and probably wouldn’t make it. Since I was a high risk I had to go back to the doctor the next day. At this appointment, the doctor informed me she saw Twin A, but there was no fluid around it and there was no heartbeat. A part of me died when I heard that news and saw the baby was no longer moving.

I had been in labor for three days and was unaware of it. On the fourth day, I was at home using the restroom and sneezed. Twin A was forced out of me and hanging by the umbilical cord. I called out to my cousin who I was staying with at the time and they called the ambulance. When the medics got there, to add insult to injury they taped the dead fetus to my leg and rushed me to the hospital. I stayed at the hospital for five days and each day I just wanted to die. Depression had taken over my whole being and I felt I had no reason to live. It seemed as though I had failed at everything I tried to do in life and what was the point of continuing to live. While still in the hospital the doctors advised me Twin B was also dying and the only way they would be able to do anything is if the baby died, I contracted some kind of infection, or if I had an abortion. I was in no shape mentally or physically to go through delivering another dead child, risk my life to wait and see if I was going to get an infection, and I didn’t really want to have an abortion. After talking to my close friends and family I decided to get the abortion. It was one of the most heartbreaking and painful experiences I have ever been through. After my six week checkup I hit the ground running with my modeling career. Through that entire trauma, I chose to keep pushing through life.

Photography: Andrea Smith, Studio 57 Photography. Styling/Wardrobe : DaNisha Greene, Yours In Fashion, Hairstylist/MUA: Keondra Atwater.

My good friend DaNisha Greene was doing her first show and advised me that the other designers needed another model to walk for them. I ended up walking for all three designers. After that, I just kept pushing and kept doing as many shows as I could with whomever I could. I always say everything happens for a reason and I feel the reason I went through what I did was to show me my life was not over, I was not a failure, and I could still be who I wanted to be! It was a horrible experience to go through and it hurts me every time I think or talk about it, but it was a major eye opener to me. I have no plans on stopping anytime soon. I became the person I am today by going through a lot of troubling experiences, some of which I brought upon myself, and others that were just meant to happen. Even in my darkest days and my hardest times, I knew I was destined to be great. Even though I’ve always wanted to act, model, be a radio personality, and have my own business, it is as if this career chose me. I walked away from the whole entertainment/fashion industry when I was about 17 years old and at 26 it entered my life again and said you are going to be all you wanted and be great at it!! When I was younger, I wanted to be in the field of entertainment because I knew I could change lives, encourage others, and empower people especially women. That is still true today. There are a few mentors and people I look up to who inspire me. People like Oprah (of course) and a lot of other African Americans who changed the game with their hard work, dedication, and ability to bounce back from being abused whether it was physically, mentally, or emotionally are definitely inspirational to me. I look up to a lot of business women/men here in Indianapolis such as: Nikki Blaine, Shauna Burnett, DaNisha Greene, Keondra Atwater, Kaliko Caldwell, Tommy Smalls, Don Diego, Joi McCreary, Jasmine N. Perry, Dlang Ferguson, Bryant Hendrix, Anj Blanchard, Anthony Scott, Rebecca Rivers, and Angel Hicks.

I look up to these individuals because they are all like me in a sense. I feel here in Indianapolis they are unsung, some of the best in the industry and they are overlooked, under booked, and a lot people know them, but they don’t “know” them. They have been through hell and back to be the best at what they do. They are all artists who don’t give up due to life hardships and that motivates me to continue to do what I do. I have sat and talked to all of them and they have given me advice, listened to my story, and gave me theirs in return. When you are around such talented and motivated people you have two choices, soak up as much of them as you can or get away from them fast! I chose to soak it up and due to their motivation, inspiration, and the networking opportunities, I reached deep within and developed my company . I am motivated to continue forward for my children, my family, and the people in life, who are in my shoes, once were in my shoes, or will be in my shoes. So many people have dreams and either don’t have the support system they need to fulfill those dreams or they don’t have the resources to assist them in getting where they need to be. My goal is to motivate, encourage, and inspire all the people who were told they couldn’t do whatever their dreams are, that they were too small, too big, too black, too light, too outspoken, and too quiet. I feel like if I went through the fire and made it through ANYBODY can!

Photography: Andrea Smith, Studio 57 Photography. Styling/Wardrobe : DaNisha Greene, Yours In Fashion, Hairstylist/MUA: Keondra Atwater.

Young & Gifted ur Author: Tiffany Jones- Lockridge yo er v o The discovery of you is a journey that only you can take. You must y c Dis urne take it alone and no one can tell you how long it will take to arrive. This Jo will be the most personal thing you will ever do, but during this journey you will learn to love yourself genuinely and will never compromise it. Some have experienced difficult times throughout their lives. Many have overcome those challenges that may have caused some traumatic affects on their lives. Whether it was teenage pregnancy, abortion, abuse, or addiction, whatever it was, it’s in your past. It is no longer going to determine your future. There are many individuals who walk around this earth still angry at someone who has done something hurtful to them. Because of that anger, they are unable to properly function in relationships, be productive parents, and are unable to live the life God intended for them. If you looked at your life, would this apply to you? Knowing who you are will require some soul searching. This doesn’t mean just within yourself, but also within your family history. Some don’t know why they are angry, bitter, unhealthy etc. Look back and begin your genealogical GPS. Use it to search and find the meanings behind what most families deal with. Those things are called generational curses. Throughout history many experience things such as high blood pressure, diabetes etc. When we go to the doctor they ask us about our family medical history. Why? Because things are passed from one generation to another. This also applies to hatred, unhappiness, unworthiness and many other dysfunctional thoughts that are toxic to our daily living.

At some point begin to search for the things we want to change, but you can’t do that until you search back in your past. Break the curse that has paralyzed you from becoming the beacon of light. It is then when you will begin to live! • Check your friends - Find friends with the solution, not the ones that share your problems. • Find a mentor or pastor - discussing your issues with someone unbiased will assist in making your journey easier. • Baggage - remove things that are toxic from your personal life, draining relationships will hold up your process. Don’t be afraid to let go!

• •

Meditation, finding something like meditation, exercise, or prayer will assist in helping to find a calm median to think clearly. Believe in yourself!

Soul Purpose is a different kind of company. It is a company that embraces all that is deep and rich in life. A sense of calm. Days filled with gratitude. Nights filled with comfort and bliss. Beauty in your heart... in your skin... in your hair... in your relationships. Sounds and images that lift the spirit and put new rhythm into your step.

Journey your Senses

http://joiofsoulpurpose.soulpurpose.net

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel like shopping? Would you like to reinvent your look? Do you have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? Yours In Fashion Consultant DaNisha Greene Wardrobe Stylist and Fashion Consultant will teach you to re-shop your closet. Fashion Shows, Photo Shoots, Fashion Editorials, Music Videos, Production & More.

Yours In Fashion Consultant DaNisha Greene is ready to style for you. Email: danishagreene@yoursinfashion.comor go to www.YoursInFashion.comto view & book.

The Beauty Bar Author: Keondra Atwater

Natural State of Being

A woman’s hair care journey is one of many. We as women experience a multitude of hair do’s and don’ts which, in the end, can produce a life lesson. For me, like millions of others, that life lesson is the infamous “Big Chop” i.e. shedding all traces of chemically relaxed hair. Personally, going natural was merely my attempt at achieving healthy hair. For years I would misuse and abuse my hair with chemicals and weave. You name it, I’ve done it. As a cosmetology student, I am a walking advertisement so I decided the best way to educate my clients on healthy hair was by first demonstrating I could care for my own. It’s been one year and six months since I “BC’d” and I must say, in the beginning it was a continuous struggle because I knew nothing about manipulating natural hair. Through product knowledge, YouTube, and self education I have learned what products do and don’t work for my natural tresses. I now stand proud and can honestly say going natural is the best choice I could have made for my hair.

Model Nedege Lauren, Make Up by Cindy Wu, Hair by Dreamloka, Jewelry by Jocelyn Harris of Syn Original Designs

Whatever the reason, good or bad, natural hair is an undeniable trend so many are giving in to. For some, adjusting to natural hair can be difficult because it takes time and dedication, but once the commitment is made one can see how freeing having natural hair can be. Learning your hair type and texture is one of the most important elements in not only natural hair, but hair care in itself. Having a daily routine is important because leaving the hair untamed in any state can be damaging. To sum it up natural hair provides an endless amount of possibilities. Remember, no matter the look, hair type or texture, hair must be hydrated and maintained daily. Photos courtesy of Nina Pak of Nina Pak Arts

The Beauty Bar

Model Shazmin Hussein, Make up by Lydia Yapp, Clothing designer: Temna Fialka

Five Quick tips: 1. Stay away from shampoos, conditioners, and styling products which have sulfates and silicones (Sulfates strip the hair’s natural oils, causing dryness. Silicones coat hair, causing product build up that blocks moisture.) 2. Wash hair at least once a week or “co-wash” (use conditioner instead of shampoo to cleanse the hair without striping its natural oils) 3. Combs that are too small for your hair texture pull hair out and place stress on strands, which may cause breakage. 4. When using heat apply a heat protectant or serum to prevent heat damage 5. I recommend trimming the ends at least once a month. Spilt ends are caused when the cortex (inside of the hair) splits at the ends and continues up the hair shaft.

Fashion Fit With all the fabulousness coming out of the Midwest you would think it is fashion’s new mecca. I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s definitely cultivating a new face for fashion. Whenever you think of the Midwest you definitely don’t think of high fashion, but there’s more than corn, Levi’s, factories, and farms in the Midwest. Recently I have toured several different fashion weeks such as Nashville Fashion Week and St. Louis Fashion Week, was invited to Chicago’s Fashion week, but couldn’t make it because I was working during Midwest Fashion Week, and saw awesome pictures from Cincinnati’s Fashion Week which seemed fab. I get invited to tons of fashion shows and I love participating, producing, but most of all just enjoying what everyone has to offer. Recently, I produced a big show for Fisk University’s Homecoming, Dapper Dons & Silk Chiffons, where I was able to work with professionals, Fisk alumni, and students. I love to show aspiring entrepreneurs the possible magnitude their brand can reach. The student designers in the show at Fisk were Liberated Life, which is made up of a duo from Fisk and Tennessee State University, Matthew Simmons and John Donaldson. The art of EMJ who is Eric Jenkins, a Fisk alumni specializing in high fashion and couture, hand crafted bow ties. Another Fisk Alumni was Ty Garth of Ollie Life Clothing which actually is not just a clothing line, but a lifestyle that consists of programs to help motivate, encourage, and mentor young men currently in middle-school to become college graduates. I’meby JThomas is the clothing line by Alabama A & M graduate Jeanette Thomas, who I met when she applied to be a part of the Indiana Black Expo (IBE) fashion show. She knows how to dress the curvy girl and impeccably might I add. I was truly impressed by her tailoring, colorful prints and the fit on various shapes and sizes. Every look that came down the runway someone wanted or purchased. She had some separates that could be more casual or dressed up with accessories and shoes and then she had rompers, dresses, and an all-black couture dress that was to die for.

Photography courtesy of Lenny White of Pride Photography

Author: Yours In Fashion DaNi-

Middle America... The Fashion

Photos courtesy of Freddie Kelvin www.freddiesfotosforever.com

Fashion Fit Last, but certainly not least there was Fisk Alumni Shiquina Andrews of Charismatic Creations who showed a more flirty side of her creativity. Not lacking in color, creativity, or cut, her pieces were definitely most flattering for real women with lovely lady lumps. Most women, including myself who either embrace their curves or want to lose them desire a flawless look in the meantime. Having sexy, youthful, and flattering clothes is definitely a priority. The Saturday after Thanksgiving I was invited to a Parallel fashion show that benefited restoring the arts in Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS). The show had a fashion friend of mine, Madame Couture, showcasing her spring 2012 line, and a new comer Kasha which put a spin on clothing Christians could wear. Nothing was revealing, but to the naked eye I would never have guessed she was targeting Christians. With all of the prints, styles, and choices in colors, whatever stereotypes you had about what Christians wear, she changed all preconceived notions. There was also a very unique line from Jealousy Jane Coutureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spring 2012 line. Over the past weekend I was invited to an annual AIDS Awareness benefit fashion show which featured designer Deidra Coleman. This was my first time being introduced to Ms. Coleman and I was very impressed with her eveningwear. The pieces were rich in color, with enough glitz and glamour for any red carpet or special occasion, and definitely well-tailored. Midwest Fashion Week has aligned itself with the National Down Syndrome Foundation and proceeds from specific events benefit that organization while at the same time continuing to promote designers and boutiques in the Indy and Midwest area. Some of my favorite designers who showed were Marlene Couture and her gypsy inspired spring 2012 collection, Amy Kirchen, Melissa Tabor, and Nataliya Kitic. I also adored the Fashionjenn Handbags designer Jennifer Brickel-Brazys spring 2012 collection which was amazing to say the least. With the Super Bowl coming up in February and being hosted in Indianapolis this year the Midwest has a lot to prove and provide for fashion lovers. I will be working on some promotional fashion events for the Super Bowl with Midwest Fashion and I know tons of fashionistas will be looking to see what Middle America has to say.

Scene In Fashion

On the Scene: Yours In Fashion, DaNisha Greene

Photography provided by Lenny White of Pride Photography

The Fashion Mecca

Scene In Fashion

Take Flight

Author: CLM Editorial Team

Have you always thought about traveling, but just don’t think you have the time to make the arrangements? Do you really want to take the family somewhere special, but don’t know where to go? Are you thinking of a get-away for a very special occasion and just don’t want to do the online research? Do you sometimes wish you knew who to turn to for the travel questions that you have? Have you often thought Travel Agents/Agencies are a thing of the past? If any of these thoughts have gone through your mind: Here are the Top 10 Reasons to use a Travel Agent/Travel Professional: 1. Convenient One-Stop Shopping - Travel Agents can handle every aspect of your trip from lodging, ground transportation, activities, tours, and much more! 2. Consumer Advocate - If you should have a problem during your trip, travel agents can act on your behalf to see that proper resolutions are made. 3. Expert Guidance - Travel Agents are experts in helping travelers get where they need to go and in helping to create possibilities most people never would have dreamed were possible. 4. Save Time - Avoid the headaches and let the Travel Agents call around and do all the time consuming work of planning a complex itinerary. 5. Choice - Travel Agents offer you an array of options and price quotes from a variety of travel suppliers, giving you the upper hand when making your final travel decisions. 6. Less Stress - Planning a trip can be stressful. There are so many options and details to worry about. Travel Agents do the work, resulting in less stress for you. 7. Updated Information - Travel Agents are constantly communicating with the travel community, thus giving you the most up to date info on airline regulations, hotels, car rentals, cruise ships, travel visas, and other travel services to consider when planning your trip. 8. Customer Service - Travel Agents offer that “personal touch” to your travel planning experience - offering help and advice a website cannot provide! 9. Travel Documentation - Travel Agents can help you prepare and organize any necessary documents you may need in order to travel outside of the country. They can direct you to your local passport office and they know where you need a visa, as well as any other documentation needed. 10. Travel Expertise - Many Travel Agents are considered experts in the area you are traveling to and have probably been to your chosen destination. They attend a variety of seminars and classes to prepare themselves for your travel requests. If you have questions and would like to talk with a Travel Professional, Please feel free to con-

Palate Teasers

Seafood Appetizer Trio

Seafood Savories Ingredients 1 1/2 cups frozen cooked crabmeat, thawed, or one package (8 oz.) imition crabmeat, chopped 4 asparagus spears, steamed, cut diagonally into 3/8-inch pieces 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon chili sauce 2 teaspoons lemon juice Carr’s® Table Water® Crackers

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Directions 1. In medium bowl toss together crabmeat, asparagus, mayonnaise, chili sauce, and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 2. Serve on crackers. Garnish as desired. Hickory Tuna Ball Ingredients 1 pouch (4.5 oz) StarKist Tuna Creations®, Hickory Smoked 1 package (8 oz.) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon dried minced onion 1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili powder (to taste) 1/4 cup chopped pecans 20 Table crackers Directions 1. Mix together tuna, cream cheese, onions, and chili powder until well blended. 2. Roll into a ball and roll in chopped pecans. 3. Wrap in wax paper and chill. This is best made the night before serving so the flavors have a chance to blend together. 4. Serve with crackers. Cold Smoked Salmon Spread Ingredients 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened* 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill 4 ounces smoked salmon, flaked 2 tablespoons capers Your choice of Table crackers Directions 1. In small mixing bowl beat cream cheese on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Add chives, lemon juice and dill. Beat until combined. Stir in salmon and capers. 2. Refrigerate at least 2 hours to blend flavors. Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers.

Imagine your recipe or culinary business featured here! Submit your recipe, your contact information, nutritional information, picture of you and dish and it may be selected to be featured in our Palate Teasers! Send to contribute@couturelivingmagazine.com

Mature Money

Author Lisa Gilliard, M.B.A., M.A.

Smart Tips to Avoid Identity Theftâ&#x20AC;? A new year can bring a number of new problems including identity theft. Identity theft has become an epidemic affecting more than 10 million people nationwide. Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a statistic. Everyone must purchase a shredder. Shredders used to be designated for accounting firms and businesses, but now more than ever shredders are needed for home use. By shredding documents that include banking information, social security numbers, and other private matters you will lower the potential for such information to be compromised. Other documents lying around that can be properly shredded include: tax documents, credit card offers, canceled checks, expired credit cards and photo identification, and pay check stubs. Tax Returns: A general rule of thumb is to keep copies of your tax returns for a minimum of three years in the event of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit. If you feel the need to hold on to your tax return or tax documents longer than three years, remember to keep them in a secure place such as a locked file cabinet. Credit Card Offers: Many consumers receive a multitude of credit card offers stating you have been PRE-APPROVED for a line of credit up to an undisclosed amount. Some of us look at the offer with sheer amazement and think this must have been mailed to the wrong address. Others look over the ad, check the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), look at the terms and agreement, and consider it in its entirety. The majority of us glance at the ad, place it into our junk mail pile, and discard it. As unlikely as it may seem, there are individuals who will prowl through trash to look for personal information. Remember to keep this information as secure as possible by placing it into the shredder. Canceled Checks: A canceled check has your active routing number and account number to your banking institution, as well as your personal identification information at the top. A thief can use this information to purchase items online. Keep in mind that all it will take is a click of the mouse. Expired credit cards and photo identification: Remember to shred all expired photo identification cards (ID) and credit card information to avoid someone renewing your personal information as their own. Pay check stubs: Keep all paycheck stubs together in a safe and secure file cabinet. Remember, criminals can use your personal identification and other information on your pay stub to assume a new identity. Although there is no solid way to avoid identity theft, these helpful tips will assist you in lessening the potential threat.

Health First, Self First

Author: CLM Editorial Team

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We as women wear a number of hats. We can be wife, mother, daughter, sister, treasured confidante, dependable chauffeur, valued employee, dedicated church member, and contributing society member. We are everything to everyone and with all of our caretaking, we usually tend to forget to care for ourselves. One area we must do better is our health. When viewing the WomenHeart website (www.womenheart.org), I was struck by the stories of women and the signs they overlooked. Women do not normally have the same symptoms as men to indicate they are having a heart attack. If you experience any of the following, do not just ignore it, seek medical attention quickly. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much better to have a physician tell you everything is fine, than to do nothing resulting in serious heart damage or worse, loss of life. 1. Feeling as though you have indigestion, stomach or abdominal pain 2. Chest pain 3. Pressure, tightness, squeezing in the chest area which lasts more than a few minutes or is repetitive 4. Sweating, paleness, heart fluttering, and/or vomiting 5. Pain in the arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, upper back, and/or breast 6. Numbness or tingling in the arm 7. Dizziness, nausea, feeling faint 8. Unexplained anxiety, fatigue, or weakness especially with exertion

Socially Living Let’s talk entertaining for 2012. As the economy makes changes for the better, more people want to continue being social with friends and family, yet stay within their budgets. Thus, we look at entertaining at home. Here are a few helpful tips on how to live socially and not break the bank: 1.

Don’t invite more people than you can comfortably afford to feed. Consider having a theme to your gathering, for instance Italian night, and inviting your guests to bring a dish or drink that coincides with the theme. This also makes for great conversation and possibly exchanging of recipes.

2. If you are planning to serve drinks, liquor can be expensive. Consider the crowd you are inviting then determine the type of drinks to be served. Beer and wine might be a great choice for some crowds or Cocktails may be a better selection for another. If cocktails is what you choose, try multiplying a single classic cocktail recipe by 10 (try Harvey Wallbangers, Sangrias, and Margaritas), mix them up in pitchers, and label each one — then all you have to do is set out an ice bucket and tell guests to help themselves. This also keeps you from being behind the bar all night. To make it fun and more cost effective for you, invite your guests to bring their favorite cocktail ingredients and show the other guests how delicious their recipe is (you could even make a contest out of it – best mixologist - for added fun and excitement). 3. Who says Movie Night at home can’t be fun, exciting and a cost saver? We all love the latest new flicks, but don’t always want to pay the big box office prices. Why not invite friends and family to watch a newly released DVD (or Blu-ray) movie or TV shows in a comfortable environment? To make this night special, all you need is comfortable seating, and plenty of it, your movies or TV shows ready for viewing on a large enough screen everyone can view, and POPCORN – lots of it!! A movie without popcorn is like a day without sunshine. This is a cost saving way to feed your guests. To make it interesting, let your guests customize their corn with a popcorn bar. Pop a few bags of plain popcorn, and set out various accompaniments like the standard melted butter and salt. Then display dishes or shakers of savory popcorn seasonings such as sour cream and onion, ranch, or white cheddar salts. Grated Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and freshly chopped herbs add an offbeat, homemade touch. Now that’s Living Social. If you want more tips on entertaining without breaking the bank, email nwilliamson@couture-

Want us to list your event! Please contact Nicci Williamson our Travel and Entertainment Director at nwilliamson@couturelivingmagazines.com for more information.

Socially Living Metropolitian Picks

1. Aspen, Colorado 2. Paris, France 3. Hayman Island, Australia 4. Guangxi Province, China 5. San Jose, Costa Rica 6. Santorini, Greece 7. Venice, Italy 8. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 9. San Diego, California 10. Prague, Czech Republic Some of these places are good for shopping, others are good for the historical content, and some are just because they are beautiful and simply FAB!!! 1.

We have our selected favorites but we want to know yours! No matter what city, country, or state ... we want you to share the enjoyment and help us spread the word about Send us your input on the lounges, clubs, restaurants, historical places you enjoy or frequent! Email us your review today! It may end up on our top 10!

Looking Forward Well, we’ve started our second year! So let’s go! 2012 is going to be a great year! Let’s march forward into the great things in store for us all! Last year flew by, as does many years, in our past, so let’s make the best of this year. Be productive, be inspired, be innovative, and be creative! This is a time to stand out and make a statement. Do something positive with your talents, goals, and dreams. Make it a continuous goal to have a positive impact as we journey through 2012!

What’s to come?

Bi-monthly Issues! You now get 6 issues instead of 4! Globally thinking! Look out for our Digital Application for your iPad, Android, Blackberry, or other Smartphone! Spring Social Reception… Celebrating our 1 year Anniversary! Check our website for details!

We’ve Found the MEN! Coming Next Issue...Couture Living Couturier Til’ next time….. Live your life couture! “Be One of a Kind, By Design!”

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