IS THAT VON COOKING

A Must Try!!!

IS THAT VON COOKING?

Dip into some #African Cuisine with this dish called

#Shakshuka

. #Shakshuka is a delicious combination of #eggs, #tomatoes, and #spices popular across the Middle East and North Africa. Shakshuka comes in many shapes and sizes. The dish is likely of #Tunisian or #Yemini origin, and the name is thought to originate from either #Arabic or Amazigh (Berber) for “mixture.” . It’s a must that you find create this wonderful tasting dish. #isthatvoncooking #chefvon #icancook #blackchef #tasty

SHAKSHUKA

BODY DIVERSITY IN FASHION

Looking retrospectively at 2017 the industry cited important shifts across the diversity spectrum and for the year that was, racial diversity came out the winner with 32.5% of the top international publications featuring people of colour, a 3.5% increase over 2017. (The fashion spot)

Body diversity saw a marginal increase from the previous year and it’s greatest triumph the inclusion of 90 ‘plus size’ models on the runways for Spring Fashion Week in New York. The real figures though revealing that the 90 who walked, represented less than 4% of the 2601 runway appearances in total. Not quite as impressive, but yes still an important step in the right direction.

The least exciting number for body diversity was it’s representation across the top international publications with just 1% of plus size models featured, showing a marginal increase on 2016’s 0.9%. That number equates to just 8 covers out of 679 belonging to a model, size 12 or over.

These numbers are significant because they tell a story and part of that narrative is that the real work on the inclusion of diverse representation within the fashion industry has only just begun with much work needing to be done if we want to see this small yet meaningful increasing advancing to normal.

The Fashion Law cited the Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan in stating,

“We need to get to a point at which inclusiveness feels organic. And IS organic. That we get to a point where the shows feel like they are speaking to the wide range of consumers, but without turning the runway into some kind of human assembly line in which one-of-each is the standard.”

As consumers, we look to the industry to lead the change, but are our expectations a little misplaced? Is it only the responsibility of the ‘giants’?

I have been recently challenged myself with this question; not that of the importance of diversity in body image because I am 100% behind that, but found myself wrestling with how this belief shows up in my own life and in my work as a fashion stylist.

The catalyst, a newly launched swimwear label I was introduced to, Harmony Swim. This is a brand that not only speaks the message of beauty at every size, but also demonstrates the heart of their message visually in the upfront marketing of their brand, and that, is unfortunately rare.

So the question remains. How authentic is our support of body diversity in our everyday? Do we genuinely back the message or are we simply giving it lip service? How do we really feel about cellulite on the runway, in our magazines and instagram feeds? Are we comfortable with that? And if the answer is yes, how are we personally promoting that message?

And to the high street and mainstream fashion brands, the brands that the vast majority of us are wearing; size ranges might well be available from a size 4 to a 16, but how many of them are using size 16 models to front campaigns?

The requirement doesn’t just rest on the shoulders of Vogue or Harpers Bazaar, or even New York Fashion Week. It has to become ingrained in our personal value system as individuals, as consumers, as fashion retailers, and as designers, stylists, photographers, and hair and make up artists, creative directors and influencers. And yes, Vogue.

My feeling is that it’s going to take a shift from ‘the one’ to fuel and support the work that is being done at the top.

The truth is the platform for body diversity is emerging even if the stats look small and new opportunities are starting to develop but this mountain is a long way from being conquered and until we start to consider our individual role in the game, 1% just might remain 1%.

Let’s be the game changers. #isupportbodydiversity allmyfriendsaremodels.com

LUXURY BEDROOMS ONLY FIT FOR A QUEEN

For some of us, relaxation is something different than sleeping.

Think of people with creative types of escapism, such as painting, or dancing to their favorite song, and you will easily guess what your bedroom needs.

Bedrooms are cut to respond to such expectations, even if this means painting them with bold orange and audacious green, or bringing in some textures that make you feel energized and alive. The choice is up to you. Located in Thousand Oaks California PC: VON DONALD 40 LOCATION: NASHVILLE TN

Understanding the Connection Between PTSD and Nightmares

Experiencing or witnessing upsetting events can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that affects 7.7 million American adults. The disorder can cause people to feel anxious and afraid, leading to flashbacks and nightmares. In fact, up to 96 percent of people with PTSD have these upsetting dreams. Fortunately, there are several approaches to treating PTSD-related nightmares. If you or someone you love is dealing with PTSD, read on to understand how it impacts sleep, and available treatment options.

The Nightmare Connection For people with PTSD, nightmares aren’t just generic scary dreams—they generally revolve around the person’s traumatic experience, forcing survivors to relive the pain on a regular basis. Someone who witnessed a shooting, for example, may find that the event replays in his or her nightmares.

For some people, nightmares start soon after the traumatic event; others may go years before having their first bad dream. The nightmares typically occur earlier in the night, and people may react physically to them, thrashing around in their sleep or shouting.

What You Can Do PTSD treatment can help lower the frequency of trauma-related nightmares. There are several approaches to treatment, and the optimal strategy varies from person to person. It may involve types of cognitive therapy, meditation, medication, and more.

If the nightmares don’t stop after PTSD treatment, imagery rehearsal therapy may help. This technique involves having people who are experiencing nightmares recall their bad dream and come up with a new ending while they are awake so that it no longer upsets them. They then “rehearse” the new ending over and over in their mind, with the goal of it carrying over the next time the nightmare occurs, eventually reducing the frequency of the upsetting dream.

Medication is rarely prescribed for PTSD-related nightmares, but if nothing else is working—or if the nightmares are severe—talk to your doctor. Research shows that certain drugs, such as sympatholytic medication used to treat high blood pressure, may help. Remember, while PTSD is serious, many people are successfully treated and go on to live full, happy lives. Sleep.org

How to exercise dispite your busy schedule? As a busy person, you’re always looking for ways to be more efficient and more productive. There’s not enough time in the day to get everything done that you’d like, which means you have to make sacrifices. Much of the time, that means exercise hits the chopping block.

That’s unfortunate, because when you’re missing out on exercise, you can’t be your best self. Exercise is a crucial element of maintaining a healthy personal and professional life. When you exercise, oxygen and nutrients are delivered to your cardiovascular system, helping it to work more efficiently, giving you more energy to go about the rest of your day. Exercise has also been shown to cause the hippocampus to grow, improving your memory and brain functionality. The best benefit, however, is the simple reduction of stress. Aerobic exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones while stimulating endorphins to elevate your mood.

The benefits are numerous and can make a huge difference in your life. So how do you get them while maintaining your productivity? One of the easiest ways to get your exercise during the work day is to bike to and from work. Not only will you get the exercise you need but you can also bypass rush hour traffic while getting some much needed fresh air. Of course, remember to wear a helmet, bring a lock, and have a light on your bike for riding at night

You’ve got 30 minutes to an hour built into your workday for lunch but how long does it take to eat? After (or before) you’ve had your lunch, you can easily use that extra time to squeeze in a bit of low impact or high intensity training. Whether it’s a little yoga, working with resistance bands, or something more aggressive like TRX suspension training.

Rather than collapsing after a long day, you can give yourself a quick energy boost for the evening by taking a short run when you get home. It can be a great way to unwind with music on your arm as you run and get centered after work. If you’re up to it, you can even track your progress and keep trying to improve over time.

THE ANSWER TO ENDING SCHOOL VIOLENCE

THE ANSWER TO ENDING SCHOOL SHOOTINGS With the increasing school shootings coupled with fatalities, there has been increasing talk of the need for gun control. At the time of this article, the United States has reached a count of 23 reported school shootings for 2018 with the last one reported for May 25, 2018 in Noblesville, Indiana at Noblesville West Middle School. As our society searches for an answer to ending these tragedies (and whether gun control is the answer), it’s important to look at when these occurrences began. The infamous Columbine shootings of 1999 have been credited with influencing subsequent school shootings. However, the massacre that inspired the making of movies as well as songs about one of the victims, Cassie Bernall, was not the first school shooting or school massacre. The New York Times probably reported the first campus massacre that took place on August 1, 1966 in AUSTIN, Texas. A 25-year-old engineering student, Charles Whitman, carried an arsenal of weapons to the top of the 27-story tower on the University of Texas campus and shot 12 people to death and wounded approximately 33 others before the police killed him. He was stated to be an ex-Marine. It might be of some significance to know that he left notes after he murdered his mother and wife (one with each of their bodies). These murders preceded his massacre on the college campus. These notes indicated he had questions about his mental state. A quote of interest from those letters is, “I imagine it appears that I brutally killed both of my loved ones. I was only trying to do a quick thorough job...If my life insurance policy is valid please pay off my debts...donate the rest anonymously to a mental health foundation. Maybe research can prevent further tragedies of this type...” He requested that an autopsy be performed on his body after his death for any abnormalities.

Findings also show that there was a report of a massacre that took place in 1976. The California State University, Fullerton massacre resulted in seven deaths and two injuries.

Most people may not realize that the United States has a long history of reported school shootings dating back to the 1800s and the occurrences weren’t so infrequent as some might think. Some incidents resulted in deaths, while some only resulted in injuries. In other cases, there were no tragedies. It’s interesting to note that with recent discussions regarding arming teachers or other school officials, some of the murders in early history were committed by school personnel. One such example took place on February 6, 1864. The Ashland Times reported that George W. Longfelt, the school teacher of the Pyfer’s School House, near Ashland County in Ohio, shot and killed a student, Alfred Desem, at the school house and escaped. At the time of the report there was no information given for the cause of the murder.

There have been reported cases of self-defense claims by school officials. The Los Angeles Herald reported an account that took place on September 11, 1909 in Gravette, Arkansas, at the edge of McDonald County, Missouri. A. T. Kelly reportedly killed his student, John Bufram, at Bear Hollow School. Claims were made that Butram announced that school would not be in session that day to other students, but Kelly insisted that school would continue as usual. During the discussion Butram pulled a knife and reportedly injured two teachers; Kelly shot him. Kelly surrendered to authorities. Another self-defense incident took place in 1918 at a dormitory in Jefferson City, MO. However, this tragedy took place between two school officials who were arguing over which dishes to use for a social (see The Kansas City Sun, Volume 10, Number 32).

Some children have always managed to have access to a gun. There are repeated cases in early history where students were playing with a gun and it accidently fired or another student purposely brought a gun to school and murdered another because they were arguing over a girl. Bullying has also been the cause for school shootings. The Richmond, Virginia Daily Dispatch reported that on January 21, 1860, a son of Colonel Elijah Sebree, of Todd County, Kentucky, was killed by another student at a school house in Trenton, TN. Some boys made another student believe that son Sebree was threatening him and intended to kill him; it was a joke. However, the other student didn’t know it was a joke. This day the assumed victimized student took possession of a gun, walked up to Sebree in the schoolhouse and shot him.

It’s been stated that the Columbine shootings redefined the actions that took place April 20, 1999 as more than a statement of revenge. It was stated to be a means of protest for bullying, intimidation, social isolation, and public rituals of humiliation. Perhaps perpetrators in subsequent school shootings romanticized the 1999 mission. Findings show that the school shootings that occur today due to tempers, accidents, mental illness, revenge, and other reasons known and unknown, are a repeat of what has occurred for centuries. Perhaps Columbine has just brought all 21st century school shootings to the forefront regardless of the weight of their tragedies because of our increase in knowledge—more media, internet, and smart phones. With all this knowledge we are still divided on the answer to ending the school tragedies. Researched and written by: Charlotte R. Beard Writing Services by Char

Kick off 2020 by getting outdoors and enjoying state parks

For many people, modern life means spending more time indoors. In fact, Americans spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This has had numerous direct and indirect health impacts, from respiratory issues due to poor indoor air quality to reduced physical activity due to an indoor sedentary lifestyle. People of all ages are starting to make a change, embracing the outdoors for all the benefits it can provide to their mental and physical health. Since there are opportunities for getting outdoors nearby wherever you live or travel, there’s no better time to commit to getting outside than in 2020. First Day Hikes A new year offers 365 days of opportunity, and what better way to start your outdoor goals than with First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day at a state park near you? State parks in all 50 states are offering free, guided First Day Hikes run by outdoor experts who want to help you explore the best the park has to offer. Visit stateparks.org to find a local participating park and enjoy New Year’s Day making memories outdoors while exercising and connecting with nature. The distance and rigor vary depending on the park and the program, but all hikes have one goal: to create a fun experience for the whole family while fostering an appreciation for the outdoors. Explore local treasures year-round It’s easy to take for granted what’s in your own backyard, and state parks are a reminder of the beauty of the different seasons while offering ample amenities that make exploration easy any time of year. Once you visit, you’ll want to return again and again to cherish the scenery and create many more memories with your family. Whether it’s a family picnic, a guided group hike, bird watching, rock climbing or simply a calm walk listening to the sounds of nature, there are many activities to explore at state parks. Check out the month’s park programs run by knowledgeable state park staff and volunteers to see what may be of interest to you and your family. Discover different parks throughout the U.S. In the United States there are 6,792 state park areas comprising 18,694,570 acres. These parks offer 14,672 trails over 52,603 miles total length - that’s more than twice around the Earth at the equator! Whether you’re exploring your local park or looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors while traveling, there’s a state park nearby that is sure to bring the wonder of nature to your family.

Forget Blue Whale Challenge, cyber bullying is more common danger for your kid

Tanya grew up in a Mumbai suburb, like any normal teenager. Unknown to her, a classmate from a previous school had started collecting information and pictures of her since they were 12. The information was then used to make a fake Facebook page, and was shown as if Tanya had posted them herself. Tanya had read about cyber bullying, but had never expected herself to be a victim. She found out about the fake page only through her friends.

Even though the bullying seemed benign in the beginning, soon schoolmates started sending her crude messages and she became isolated from her friends circle. She withdrew to herself, rarely going out, and became depressed. The bullying then got so bad that she had to go for counseling and change schools to start afresh.

Having grown up around gadgets, children rely heavily on them to carry out everyday tasks.

They also form their social persona around social media and depend on thes ..

In an Ipsos survey in 2014, India topped the list of 254 countries for cyber bullying. 32% of parents surveyed in India said their children experienced cyber bullying, followed by Brazil (20%), Saudi Arabia (18%), Canada (18%) and the United States (15%). Parents in India also reported the greatest intensity of cyber bullying. 13% said a child in their home experiences cyber bullying on a regular basis, followed by 10% in Brazil, 5% in the United States and 5% in Argentina.

The frequency of cyber bullying in India was found to be higher than in the U.S. (15% of children), U.K. (11% of children) and France (5% of children). According to a Microsoft study of online bullying among youth 8-17 years old, children in India reported the third highest online bullying rate among the 25 countries surveyed. Credit: economictimes.indiatimes.com