CROWNED Issue 1 by Girls of Royalty

A MAGAZINE FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN

ISSUE 1

EDITOR BRITT DIOR LAYOUT DESIGN GENESIS DORSEY CROWNED WRITERS BRITT DIOR GENESIS DORSEY DENIECCEE PETTAWAY BRIE ELISE KEISHA RHINES RAE BURNEY FEATURED WRITER TIE STREET PRESS RELEASE FROM RAVEN ROBINSON PR2POLITICS CROWNED MAGAZINE IS AN EXTENSION OF GIRLS OF ROYALTY VISIT US GIRLSOFROYALTY.COM/CROWNED

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A source for women containing articles surrounding various topics Topics include but are not limited to: Spirituality, Fashion & Style, Beauty, Health & Wellness, Relationships, Lifestyle & Home Decor, and much more.

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S U B M I T T H E F O L L O W I N G A R T I C L E ( U P T O 2 , 0 0 0 W O R D S ) 2 . A U T H O R P H O T O 3 . S M A L L A U T H O R B I O 4 . S O C I A L M E D I A L I N K S F E AT U R E

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S U B M I T T H E F O L L O W I N G S U B M I T A D S PA C E ( F U L L / H A L F PA G E ) * * M U S T B E C H R I S T I A N O W N E D * *

L E T ' S T H E W O R D / PAG E 1 1 9 3 S I G N S G OD I S T E S T I N G YOU by KE IS H A R H IN E S

12 P RAY UNTI L S O M E T H I N G H A P P ENS by D E N IE CCE E P E T TAWAY

13 KE E PIN G IT R E AL by G E N E S IS D OR S E Y

FASHION/STYLE / PAGE 18 16 M US T H AV E S F ROM : AS OS by CROWN E D

17 E D UC AT E D QUE E N S by B R IE E L IS E

B E AU T Y 21 DRIVE IN NEUTRAL by CROWN E D

R E A D R ELATI ONS H IPS / PAGE 24 23 DAT I N G 101 by R AE B UR N E Y

24 WAIT IN G F OR T H E R IG H T ON E by B R IT T D IOR

26 E M B R ACE L IF E by T IE S T R E E T

LIFESTYLE 31 B ROOKLY N + JAZ Z by R AV E N ROB IN S ON

32 B E AUT I F UL BOOKS by CROWN E D

NEW FEATURED WRITER: BRITT DIOR BRITTDIOR.COM

NEW FEATURED WRITER: TIE STREET ABOUT.ME/TIE

If Britt Dior isn’t anything else she is a transparent believer who acts unapologetic as she follows God’s plan for her life. Britt is a native of South Florida, but a lover of traveling, spending time with people, writing, playing with her adorable dog, eating good food, and doing yoga.

Tie Street is a lover of life that has decided to fully embrace the opportunities God has for her. She enjoys speaking life into women, and writing about life lessons. She loves to listen to music, read books, and shop.

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COMING TO DELAWARE P U R C H A S E

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We have a set goal to win 77 women in 2015 as a network. This means we need at least 77 women in our network to take a challenge and start talking to other women about Jesus Christ. We will teach and equip you to do this. Our network will be going and vending at many events (including secular) to spread the Gospel. We are letting go of fear. How can you win your friends that already know Christ? They don’t need to be saved! It’s the woman who works next to you each day and complains about her life because she is empty inside. It’s the grandmother that lives next to you or across from your apartment or home that is looking to other things to fulfill her. It’s the girl who attends the same school as you who is searching for love in all the wrong places.

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T h e n J e s u s d e c l a r e d , " I a m b r e a d o f l i f e . W h o e v e r c o m e m e w i l l n e v e r g o h u n g r y, a w h o e v e r b e l i e v e s i n m e w i n e v e r b e t h i r s t y. J O H N

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If you are struggling with anything in life right now, take a step back and try to see if God is testing you. The teacher is always quiet when you are taking a test. God is there, He promised to never leave us or forsake us; and He has never left my side. HOLD ON! Pray and praise when it seems like nothing in your life is going right. If you need patience, strength and/or wisdom, pray for it earnestly but be prepared for the test(s) He will send your way. And, when it seems like the Enemy is fighting you the hardest, put on your shouting shoes because your Hallejuah Breakthrough is right around the corner. When it seems like nothing is coming together how it should. I have recently made a major transition in my life. The weeks leading up to my move to Houston, Texas it really seemed like anything that could go wrong, DID! To me, it seemed as if I had a permanent, front row seat on an emotional rollercoaster for two weeks straight. I was like, “God, you allowed me to get this amazing job and here we are days away before I move and everything is falling apart.” I kept running to people to help me solve my issues with my car, apartment and other things and all along God was asking me, “Why are you not running to me to fix your problems?” I always, like all of us, go immediately into panic mode when something does not go right; God is normally the last person I think to call on. When God sees you depending on humans to solve of your issues, He will make His presence known and allow things to happen until your focus is back on Him. Pass the test. When you pray for wisdom, strength and/or patience. I was told recently that you should never pray for patience or strength because God will immediately

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begin to test you. Although that is very true, I still don’t think you should tell people not to pray for things they desire. One of my prayers lately has been for more patience, strength and wisdom- I mean who doesn't need those things? In a perfect world, we would love to picture God gliding through the skies with a plethora of patience, strength, wisdom (and whatever else you may be praying for) but it doesn't happen that way. If you want patience, be prepared for a situation to present itself to see if you can endure the rain without griping or if you will be still and quiet. If you are praying for strength, be prepared for a big blow in your life to present itself to see if you will buckle to your knees and tap out or if you will stand tall and bold believing your Maker will see you through the storm. If you are praying for wisdom, please expect that ole Devil to plant crazy seeds in your mind to see if you will fall for his tricks or plead the blood over life and speak the Word forth. Pass the test(s). When you are on the brink of a breakthrough. When the Enemy knows you are about to walk into your season…he panics. I imagine he said to himself, “Oh lawd, God is about to let Keisha get this job and move to Houston. There are going to be people that will come to know God and see that He can do above and beyond in a sinners’ life. She will tell her story that will save women from making the same mistakes she made. Let me stop her!” And….he tried it But, when you are called-when God has predestined you, there is NO devil in hell that can stop God’s plan for your life, none! I have heard the saying so many times, “Things always get worse before they get better!” I believe that to be true! HOLD ON!

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The apostle Paul talked about pressing “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). When we “press” against something we push. We are requesting for it to budge, for it to move. And when it moves, its present state of being changes. As followers of Christ, we “push” (for the better, and sometimes the worse) towards many things. We “push” when we are asking God to move in our favor and we “push” unbeknownst to us when you utter negativities as well. Therefore, we must ALWAYS be mindful of what we are “pressing” against. What are we “pressing” against though? Sometimes we “press” against the things that have been said about us. We even “press” against the things that have been said TO us! We “press” against depression, family curses and even fleshly desires. And when we “press” with all of our might, we “press” with the expectation that, again, whatever it is we are wanting to change does so. But do you know that whatever it is you are battling is not in the flesh? This thing is so much bigger than you, do you understand that? Do you TRULY understand that this is a spiritual battle and the family curses, the depression, suppression and oppression has nothing to do with you as a person? God has placed you here for a particular purpose. Do you REALLY understand that you have to “PUSH” your way through, not just for you, but for all of those that will come after you? The devil DOES NOT want you to have the victory. But who is he? YOU are the child of THE KING! YOU, my dear sister are ROYALTY! Satan may have spent years pushing you back but “PRESS” on my sister! Oh yes! A change is about to come! You are pregnant with purpose, and your purpose MUST be fulfilled as what God has birthed inside of you, only YOU can do! Keep “PUSHING” and don’t give up! “But its hard,” you say. And its supposed to be. The Word of God never said it would be easy, but it will definitely be worth it. The blessings at the end of your pregnancy will not only bring peace and happiness, but your ETERNAL riches….my God! When you give birth to that VERY thing God has instilled inside of you, know that your entire life will change...marriages and family matters, your job, your church, even your relationship with God! Every area of your life will change, in the natural and the supernatural. Do not give up my sister. The battle you fight is not yours. The people of Jericho were tired. Jacob was tired, I’m sure even Jesus was tired! But they all had a purpose! Imagine if they had given up?! Stay the course sister! And PUSH!

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I've seen many things across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram that just had me shaking my head. So basically, I've seen a lot of people stepping on their soap box and claiming that they are "keeping it real". Well, they are not. I've come to realize that people love to vent. Who doesn't ? We all need to get our feelings out & scream to the sky sometimes. However, not everyone should have a front row seat to your feelings & thoughts. Lately, many people have been giving out VIP passes to complete strangers. Many times you even give front row seats to your own family members that may not have your best interest in mind. We know that we can't trust everybody. Look at Jesus. His own disciple Judas betrayed him. However, Jesus didn't talk about him in spite. What about Joseph & his brothers ? His brothers sold him into slavery after almost contemplating murdering him. What about David & Saul ? Saul despised David yet David still served Saul because he respected his authority. I've always wondered what God was thinking when I went on all those vents & tangents in the past. I wanted to call everybody out and make them look like fools. I was walking in hurt.You can't tell when people walk in hurt because they immediately jump to offend someone else instead of looking at their own hearts. God was probably shaking his head. The way God sees us is amazing. He sees us as his child. He loves us unconditionally. When we act out of God's character, I don't think God is mad at us. I just think that he expects more from us. I believe that he desires for us to see people just like he 13

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D O R S E Y does. When we lash out, we are speaking more about our character than the other person we are trying to defame. We have to make sure that we are always displaying the character of God. Now I'm not saying that we act like we're perfect and that we don't have feelings or hurt. What I'm saying is that we must learn how to deal with many of these things behind closed doors. Everyone isn't entitled to your "behind-the-scenes" drama. Many of us are broken & God desires to heal our hurts. We've been hurt by friends, family, and strangers. Instead of asking God to heal those scars, we scream out to the world in pain and end up causing ourselves more grief and distress. Making choices based off of your emotions are never a good thing. We do things "in the heat of the moment" or we "get caught up". Working on things behind closed doors can be tough at times because sometimes we want people to sympathize with us. We desire to talk about our problems with many people. However, talking about your problems to those who don't love you will create an even bigger problem. I like to think of it like a cut. When you are hurt and you have a cut, you clean the wound and you cover it with a band-aid. Do you leave it exposed to the air ? No. Why ? You don't want to expose it to bacteria which will create an infection and worsen your cut. The cut needs time to heal and that involves keeping it away from outside sources. If you're going through a rough patch in life, keep yourself covered under God.

This is why we all need to have discernment. We need to have wisdom. We need to know that everything shouldn't be for public display and that somethings should just be between my God & I. Let's stop lashing out & calling people out directly or indirectly. We have to get back to walking in love. If you know that people stabbed you in the back, ask God to heal that pain and keep it moving. I know that it's easier said than done. However, God is always by our side to help us through every trial and experience. We have to start trusting God. We claim that we love him and he loves us but when things happen, we can't swallow our own advice and wisdom that we give to others. This is something that I'm learning to do myself. How can you tell others to forgive but can't forgive those that hurt you ? How can you speak on grace but the moment someone does something to you, you flip out in rage ? We claim that others judge but we spend the same amount of time judging them right back ? The way that God treats us is the way we should treat others. So let's challenge ourselves to live ABOVE our emotions and our flesh. Stop putting on a One-man show & put God back in the spotlight. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:13 KJV If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,”Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t

keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 The Message “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your Godcreated selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up.You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Matthew 5:43-48 Message The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 NIV But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:23 NKJV

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FASHION/STYLE

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” PROVERBS 31:25

asos MUST HAVES FROM

1 PLEDGE POINTED HEELS $83 2 LONG SLEEVE MIDI SKATER DRESS IN C HEC K PRINT PLUS SIZE $52 3 CLOSET FULL SATIN DEBUTANTE SKIRT $100 4 ASOS LEATHER SHOPPER BAG WITH SKINNY STRAPS $59

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JANEE BOYD e d u c a t e d q u e e n s . c o m F O L L O W O N I G @ e d u c a t e d q u e e n s

They become royalty –not because they deserved it anymore than any other creature - but because they were the “Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve”. They became Kings and Queens because they were descendants of the first man and woman created by God. In the Bible, we’re told that “Jesus Christ… washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us KINGS and priests unto God and his Father...” Revelation 1:5-6 (KJV) 1 Peter 2:9 it says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness in to his wonderful light”. I ran into a wonderful company called: Educated Queens after searching the hashtag #QUEEN on instagram. I absolutely LOVE the message and am an advocate for empowering my fellow sisters. The owner of this company is named Janee. Janee born June 5, 1990 to Lenora and Dwight Boyd. Graduate of Tennessee State where she majored in Fashion Merchandising with a concentration in family consumer science . Janee has always had a passion for helping people and fashion. Let’s jump into the interview!

Why did you start Educated Queens? I started my company because I noticed that many women were losing respect for others and themselves. To some of them, it was more important to be a "bad b***h" rather than a Queen. I'm using Educated Queens to spread a positive message to women around the world. Being an Educated Queen is not just about having degree, it's about women empowerment and knowing your worth. I want women to realize that we are royalty. What is a QUEEN to you? To me being a Queen means to respect yourself and others, and knowing your self worth. Being a Queen, you must be willing to become a leader and uplift others. It's about having a beautiful soul and always being humble. A Queen is always loving, kind, full wisdom and understanding. Most importantly, remains strong and positive.

Who inspires you to be a QUEEN and why? My mother is a two time breast cancer survivor, and she is one of the strongest women I know. I know I would not be the woman( Queen) I am today if it wasn't for her. I would also like to give credit to my dad he taught me to always make sure a guy respects me. I'm truly blessed to have amazing parents. God hand picked them for me. What advice can you give to young women, who are trying to reach their goals? My advice for women trying to go after their goals is just do it. God gives everyone a divine purpose. Always do what you love and what your heart desires. Don't waste your life doing things you hate everyday. Follow your passion! What is your favorite quote, that you live your life by? My quote : "Think like a Queen, a Queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness."

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N E U T R A L I S T H E T R E N D W E A R E F O L L O W I N G . I T ' S T I M E T O D R I V E I N N E U T R A L ! H E R E A R E O U R L AT E S T F I N D S F R O M N O R D S T R O M .

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RELATIONSHIPS

“A c c o r d i n g t o t h e B i b l e , t h e m a r r i a g e a c t i s m o r e t h a n a p h y s i c a l a c t . I t i s a n a c t o f s h a r i n g . I t i s a n a c t o f c o m m u n i o n . I t i s a n a c t o f t o t a l s e l f - g i v i n g w h e r e i n t h e h u s b a n d g i v e s h i m s e l f c o m p l e t e l y t o t h e w i f e , a n d t h e w i f e g i v e s h e r s e l f t o t h e h u s b a n d i n s u c h a w a y t h a t t h e t w o a c t u a l l y b e c o m e o n e f l e s h . ” WAY N E

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Dating can already be tough but let's add dating (courting) God's way. When we think of our list of qualifications we think of tall, intelligent, caring and so forth. But we never really consult The Father on our eternal needs that our human companion can provide. After consultation with him God will take our general considerations in mind. So here are a few things to keep in mind. 1. Establish and maintain deal breakers. Never go back on intolerable things. If you can't stand the smell of smoke don't accept his nicotine habit just because he's yummy. 2. Be equally yoked. Ok so we know iron sharpens iron, but at the same time if you are on your face before Christ daily yet he is on his feet at the club every weekend, he is not your Adam. 3. Listen to the Holy Ghost. If you do not feel great or quickened (as we learned a few weeks ago in bible study) he possibly is not your Adam. Knowing your mate is an instantaneous feeling, it's innate. If your spirit is unsettled and you have to talk yourself into it then he is not it. 4. No fear, all purpose. Love is all in, casting aside vulnerability.You have to allow your mate inside your heart.You also have to ask for what you want and be able to accept what you get. Love is dying to yourself even when your mate is still incapable of doing so.

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5. Patience. It is not easy to bear all. So do not rush anything. Greatness takes time. Now for some sensible, easier tips 1. Clean yourself up, women are the man's crown and glory. No man wants a tarnished crown. Put on makeup, and put some curls in that hair. Hygiene is everything. 2. Go out and enjoy life, you will never meet your mate inside the house. 3. Be yourself, you don't want him to fall in love with a facade. 4. Pray for him starting now. Though you may not know him yet, you don't know what challenges or temptations he is facing. Help him out, pray for him. 5. Do not wait for him. Go about your ministry (we all have one, public or private) and when you are most busy he will appear. God we thank you for carving us from the rib of our soulmate. We pray that we are fulfilling purposeful and meaningful relationships that glorify you and not ourselves. We want to love like you, undying and keeping no score of wrong doings. 1 Corinthians 13.

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Sometimes I get impatient waiting for God. If it doesn’t happen in my own timing, like Sarah, I want to take things into my own hands. I call it “helping God out”. Clearly if his promises haven’t come to pass by now then he must be waiting on me to make my move. Right? Has to be… that’s the only logical reason for why my promise from God hasn’t arrived at my door step with a pink ribbon on it. My name isn’t Sarah and I sure don’t have a husband named Abraham. In fact, I don’t even have a boyfriend let alone a husband. It doesn’t matter if your name is Sarah or not because in some way, shape, or form we are all like her. If you’re a bible reader then you know that in the book of Genesis you will find the story of Sarah and Abraham. They were old and without children but God had promised them a child. Sarah grew impatient and sent her husband to have sex with their slave Hagar. Hagar had a son and named him Ishmael. In short, God came back and said the child they were promised would come from Sarah’s womb. Sarah eventually did have a child and his name was Isaac. Isaac was the child that God initially promised Sarah and Abraham. As much of a blessing as Ishmael was, he was the result of what not waiting on God looks like. Let’s talk about relationships… Many of you may be like me and have a goal to one day get married. Maybe you’re even halfway sure that marriage is on the list of things that God has for you too. I say halfway sure because if it hasn’t happened yet or you haven’t met the right one then you may be questioning if God truly does have it for you. I personally know this struggle all too well. The goal is to wait for Isaac. Isaac is the husband that God had promised and it would be an insult to God to marry anyone but the one he made for us.

The test comes in the waiting… because waiting can be (in the flesh) lonely sometimes. Ishmael is coming. More than likely you’ve met Ishmael, fooled around with Ishmael, and hopefully broken up with Ishmael. If you haven’t it’s not too late. The troubling side to Ishmael is that sometimes more Ishmaels follow. It’s like they send a smoke signal saying “Hey she’s dating Ishmael, go get her.” Sometimes I look at the list of men that are interested in me and I just say “God they are all wrong.” Moments like this can be so disappointing sometimes. Especially, when the people around you seemed to have met their Isaacs and are on the verge of living happily ever after. However Sweet Love, I encourage you to keep waiting. It’s imperative that you hold on to God promises and ask him for a spirit of discernment. Ask him to show you who he has for you and to do all but paint them red if they are not for you. In this season of waiting you must do one thing. Trust God. Trusting God shows God that he can trust you. It says that you are willing to wait for God to move and you won’t get in the way of your blessing. It’s so easy for us to get in God’s way in an attempt to help him out but God does not need your help. If he can breathe life into you every single morning then he sure can bring you a husband. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been waiting on Isaac, he will come. When he does it will be perfect timing. My prayer for you is that you focus on God. Seriously! Just focus on God. In focusing on God you will find that others things just fall into place. I’m definitely not saying that if you focus on God then BOOM!, your Isaac will appear. Sadly, that’s not exactly realistic. What I am saying, however, is that when you’re focused on God and his business for you then you don’t have time to be worrying about the things that aren’t happening. Then you can truly let God be God without your interference. So my sweet, beautiful, and kind woman, let God continue to make you into the kind of woman that will wait for, but more importantly recognize Isaac. I promise the right one will ALWAYS be worth it.

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2015 is here and I refuse to make any resolutions that revolve around my being single. Ladies, we are too intelligent, important, and purpose filled to focus on our lack of a boyfriend, fiancé, husband, or some romantic relationship. This year I am declaring realistic goals and I suggest you ladies do the same. I vow to know myself better and enjoy life. I’m going to LEAP (not just look) at opportunities and keep pushing even if I’m told no!! In the bible it gives examples of how women were busy when men pursued them so why should I spend time making a resolution for regarding a romantic relationship? I am going to spend my singleness being slightly selfish and enjoy my life. This year is a big milestone for me because I am turning 30!! I want to make a statement by exploring life without fear. So Ladies please join me in stepping outside the box, rejecting the lies of society about “biological clocks and needing a man.”

Here is my list so far…

Try some new restaurants or foods Some of the best food I have had came from trying a new place or a new style of food. Engage in new things, open your horizons and expand your palate.

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Read a book once a month for my leisure when was the last time you read something for yourself that had nothing to do with work or school? Let a book take you away to another place, influence your next adventure, or drive you to your next goal. Being healthy For me this means, eating more green vegetables, drinking more water, and finding an exercise class that I love. For you it could mean getting your annual checkups, monitoring your caffeine intake, looking into acupuncture, or trying yoga. Make sure you take care of yourself. Find a nonprofit

These organizations typically have great causes and need help to stay running. What better way to give of your time, money and talent than to help an organization with a cause that you believe in??

Travel! I live in Houston, TX. Texas is one of the largest states and Houston is one of the largest cities. There are so many unexplored gems right in our own backyards. I will explore local attractions in the city and travel throughout the state on a regular basis. Explore your hometown, your state or the surrounding states. Do mini trips and “staycations” on the weekends or holidays! (Don’t sleep on the groupon and living social deals)

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Take inventory of your gifts and talents God made each one of us unique and that includes our gifts. Think about all your organic gifts & learned talents and put them to use because they have a purpose just like you do. If you aren’t sure of them, ask close friends and family what you are good at.You can always improve on some, help others with them, and possibly start a business with these gifts and talents. Reduce debt and save money If you don’t have any debt, keep up the good work. Make sure you have a savings account, retirement account and a responsible credit history. If you’re like most of us and have debt of some sort (student loans, credit card debt, etc), it’s okay. Begin with a plan. Get your annual free credit report, check out Dave Ramsey books, and seek advice from a nonprofit credit counseling agency or a licensed financial planner. I’m saving money based on the weekly deposit suggestion for a year. Week 1 save $1, week 2 save $2, etc until I reach week 52 save $52! It may not seem like a lot but if you create a savings plan and stick to it, not only will you have extra cash you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you made a plan and stuck to it! Create a wardrobe worth keeping I don’t know about you, but I love stores like Forever 21, H&M, and others because I can get trendy items for less; however, every woman needs classic pieces that never go out of style. Classic pieces are different for everyone so find out what works for you and your shape. Make sure you have a few pieces in your wardrobe that you know will last for years to come and will always look great!

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Embrace and encourage your friends

I want everyone in my life to be winning and happy. Happiness is defined differently for different people sometimes a hug, compliment, or just a good ear is all that’s needed. When I am in the presence of my friends I will put my phone down and not pick it up because we all need good conversation without distractions. Pay attention to what’s going on with the people you love and talk to them about it, it shows that you care and allows you to speak into their lives. Dive deeper into your relationship with God When I look back over the past few years, I see all that God has done for me and through me and I want to keep pushing so I encourage you ladies to dive deeper and let him to continue his work in you.

Honestly, I am not sure how much of this list will get accomplished in 2015 because life does happen but I will jump outside of the box and enjoy life. It’s possible that why I am embracing and loving life, my future husband finds me but that’s not my goal just a great bonus. While living life to the fullest I might even blog about my adventures so I can remember all the beautiful moments and lessons learned. Ladies, I hope that you all love the life you’ve been given and not let it be about needing or finding a man. Remember to dream, believe, create, and succeed.

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January 3, 2015- Brooklyn, New York - On December 31st Hundreds of New Yorkers came together for the 3rd Annual Holiday Jazz Vespers at the Emmanuel Baptist Church. This event featured the profound Antonio Hart and The Queens College Jazz Ensemble. Recognized as one of the most talented instrumentalists of his generation, members of Emmanuel Baptist Church and the Brooklyn Jazz community were excited to have Mr. Hart. He has played with some of the greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Hargrove and Nancy Wilson to name a few. The Queens College Jazz Ensemble consists of current Jazz Masters candidates from the Aaron Copland School of Music. The Jazz program at Queens College was started in the early eighties by NEA Jazz Master, Professor Jimmy Heath. At present their program has students enrolled from countries all over the world, including The USA, China, Japan, Korea, Israel,Venezuela, and Russia. The Jazz Vespers series allows attendees the opportunity to “Experience the Presence of God Through the Sounds of Jazz.” The series was founded to give Jazz lovers in Brooklyn and throughout New York City the opportunity to praise God and enjoy a variety of jazz selections from top tier musicians. ”Simply put, Jazz is the musical incense that collects and carries the prayers of a people,” stated Reverend Anthony L. Trufant, Senior Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church. With a wonderfully eclectic mix of jazz musicians, mind-blowing acoustics, and spirit-filled music that will touch your soul, the Jazz Vespers service is not to be missed.

Emmanuel Baptist Church is located at 279 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. For more information on the Jazz Vespers, go to http://ebcconnects.com/jazzvespers/ or call (718) 622-1107.

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