What does IWSN and GYPO really mean? Pg. 23
Let’s face it in cyberspace you can change your looks, profession, color, age and sex.
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Kids and Money Pg. 15
Take the Palace Living Style Quiz
Pg. 20 Pg. 10
November/December 2012
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Located in Milwaukee, Caterina’s Ristorante has been family owned and operated since 1982. Featuring original Italian family recipes, the menu is extensive and includes delicious and unique entrees from pasta to seafood, veal to steak. All entrees are made fresh to order and the portions are very generous. You’ll start off with a complimentary antipasto appetizer tray which includes fresh mortadella, salami and pepperoni meats, fontina and aged provolone cheeses, and our special home-made Sicilian olive salad. All menu items are of the finest quality; Dinner items include bread, homemade soup of the day or salad and a side of pasta or potato. No a la carte
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By Dracy Lockett
Queen Esther’s Beauty Regimen Before spas and masseuses looking beautiful has always been apart of our culture. To prepare yourself for your King let’s take a look at what I believe to be Queen Esther’s beauty regimen.
ties also make it ideal for the treatment of acne. Unfortunately, myrrh oil is not used often in skin care products today because it can be somewhat expensive. 2. Make Your Own Myrrh Oil Facial Treatment
You can make your own myrrh oil facial moisturizer by adding one part myrrh oil to five parts jojoba, olive or vitaOil of Myrrh min E oil. Apply the oil Hadassah (The Hebrew name for Esther) is an twice per day exquisite blend of oils made for those who to damp skin have chosen to prepare themselves for the after washing King. Esther was purified in myrrh the face. Let (representing death to the flesh) for six it soak in bemonths. After this, she was prepared in frafore applying grant oils and cosmetics. This imagery clearly makeup. establishes that in order for the fragrance and beauty of our own unique anointing to be released, we must fully yield ourselves to Yeshua. As the Bride of Yeshua, we are to be 3. Add Myrrh Oil to Bath united with our Bridegroom King in the likeness of His death and His resurrection. With the weight of this in mind, this blend was com- Add a few drops of myrrh oil to a warm bath posed with a significant amount of myrrh, and for a relaxing, fragrant treat that will help your skin all over. This is especially useful if you then incorporated all the other oils into it to have any minor scrapes or sores. represent the multifaceted anointing of His Bride. 4. Myrrh Oil Body Moisturizer 1. Myrrh Oil for Skin Care Add some myrrh oil to a base of sunflower or coconut oil and rub it all over your body after a According to the biblical text in the book of shower or bath to rejuvenate, heal and invigoEsther, half of the time that the girls spent in the harem prior to being taken before the king rate your skin. was spent receiving skin care treatments with myrrh oil. What do we know about this ancient skin care product? Myrrh oil has been used for thousands of years for its healing, rejuvenating and antiseptic qualities. It is thought to remove toxins, restore proper moisture balance and plump up dry, wrinkling skin. Its anti-inflammatory proper-
Advertise with IGB for rates contact us at 414.461.8667
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Advertise with……..
Inside God’s Best We Look Forward To Seeing You Inside For rates call 414.461.8667
A Note from the Editor
IGB Contents Let’s Break Bread Man of Valor Financial Planning The Truth About Relationships Palace Living Featured Article - The Secret Lives of Teens’
Thank you for taking the time to go in6 side God’s best. I pray that you find something inside that will uplift and inspire you. 10 As we approach the end of the year are 15 you on target for whatever goal you have set for yourself? 17 Remember you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s 19 holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out 23 of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NLT
Kingdom Reads
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Temple Upkeep
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Making A Joyful Noise
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Visit them in Mayfair Mall
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Putting your BEST foot forward One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is seeing a man with bad shoes! Shoes that are dirty, run-over, cheap and out dated don’t make a great first impression. Here are a few tips in helping you put your BEST foot forward.
Emergency Measures and LongTerm Care for Shoes Shoe trees: Shoe trees are crucial. They allow your recently worn shoes to contract and dry out to their ideal shape — but only if you choose the less decorative unvarnished ones. Varnished trees look posh, but they don't properly draw moisture — i.e., sweat — out of the leather. Top marks go to unfinished cedar models with a split toe and a fully shaped heel: These ensure the closest possible fit between shoe and tree. Also, there's no need to own a pair of trees for each pair of shoes. The vital time for using them is the hour or two after you have removed the shoes from your feet. After that, the shoes will have returned to their natural architecture and the trees can be removed.
heel your shoes as you did in repurchasing them. And to prevent permanent damage (or, at least, the outrageous repair costs), have all work done before it's absolutely necessary. Suede: Suede shoes are in a category of their own, since you cannot polish away any scuff marks. Use a suede eraser (basically a brick of crumbly rubber) to rub away small blemishes. Then use a suede brush to restore the nap, or fuzz, of the leather. Wet shoes: Stuff soaking-wet shoes with newspaper and dry them away from direct heat. Direct heat can dry the leather too fast, causing it to crack — and once that happens, nothing can save your shoes. Salt stains: The traditional remedy for road-salt stains is a little vinegar and water, applied sparingly. What to Do When You're Soaking Wet: You were caught in a downpour on your way home from work. Act fast and do as follows. Stuff your shoes with crumpled-up newspaper and dry slowly, away from direct heat. Before they're entirely dry, insert cedar shoe trees to make sure they dry out evenly and maintain their shape.
What to Do About Smelly Shoes: Repair work: Invest as much care in choosing a cobbler to resole or rePrevention: Wash your feet more 10
often and wash your socks even more often, and don't wear the same pair of shoes every day. (Ideally, have three interchangeable pairs of dress shoes.) Also, try inserting unvarnished cedar shoe trees into justremoved shoes. They'll absorb perspiration, deodorize the shoes, and straighten them out after daily wear. Cure: Change your insoles, or better, take your shoes to a cobbler to have the insoles replaced. How to Polish a Shoe: 1. Wipe your shoes down with a damp cloth to remove superficial dirt and stains. 2. Wet the welt brush and scrub out the entire welt strip. 3. If the shoes need it, apply soleedge dressing — carefully. If you get it on the uppers, it will stain them permanently. Let edge dressing dry before going any further. 4. Apply polish, using a circular rubbing motion. You don't need to slather it on. You don't need to be gentle. And the more you rub, the better. Let the polish dry. It should take about five minutes. 5. Buff the entire shoe with a polishing brush. For extra gleam, hold the shoe between your knees and buff the toe vigorously with a lint-free cloth.
brush, may be easier to use, but they won't give you the same shine.) And you don't need every color under the sun. Black, of course; a chestnut or darker brown; and something middling or neutral for lightcolored shoes. Welt brush: Looks like a toothbrush (and you can use one in its place). It's designed to get the grit out of the welt, the seam where the shoe's upper joins the sole. You'd be amazed how much dirt gets in there. Polishing cloth: In lint-free cotton or linen. Use the same one for putting on the polish that you use for buffing, regardless of the color you're using. And hang on to it: The longer you use the same cloth, the more it becomes suffused with rich oils and dyes. Polishing brush: To get the high shine out of the shoe once you've got all that wax into the leather. Horsehair is recommended. Sole dressing: The edge of the sole takes a scuffing from doorjambs and sidewalks. Restore the pristine look of your shoes with an edge dressing, applied with a small craft brush or a cotton swab.
How to Whiten Your Shoes: Polishing: The Materials: You'll need the right tools — just a few, but each with a crucial purpose. Canvas sneaker: The 50/50 mixture of water and Shoe polish: Kiwi wax-based polish lemon juice works for canvas, too, but for more serious stains, mix a tais as good a brand as any other. blespoon of baking soda with a touch (Cream polishes, applied with a 11
of water and rub the sticky paste onto the offending spots. Wipe dry. Or try a whitening polish like Hollywood Sani-White.
send my keyboard straight to the tech graveyard. Then, I tried makeup remover wipes bad idea. They work on your face, but make keys sticky.
Leather shoe: For lighter scuff marks, lightly rub a pencil eraser against the area. Still dirty? Hollywood Sani-White and similar polishes work, too. But if the shoes were never white to begin with, try slapping on a fresh coat of matte white latex paint.
Then, I got lucky and the real solution—WellKept Screen Cleaning Towelettes—magically arrived on my desk. These little swipes are like a car wash for your keyboard. Every! Mark! Gone! My keyboard was like new! They come 15 to a pack, so it’ll last a while if you swipe once a week like I do.
But aside from keeping your computer clean, anti-bacterial wipes like Well-Kept can come Shoes as Investments: in handy for other electronics: Research shows Cheap shoes are a false bargain. that your cell phone can be seriously germThey're made of glue, rubber, and ridden: according to a recent study, 1 in 6 low-grade leather, which often bears phones is contaminated with fecal matter that scars from shrubs, trees, and barbed could contain E. coli. And…uh…this is a gadget that’s always near your face. It’s no wire (the normal hazards of bovine wonder that cell phones can cause acne around life), and which is rejected out of hand by reputable shoemakers. Good your chin and mouth. So start swiping those suckers! (Eye glass wearers, the wipes clean shoes begin with great leather, pelenses, too). riod. Be prepared to pay for it. Of course, once you have invested your hard-earned cash in a quality pair, you're going to want to hang on to them. Put a little time and effort into looking after them and they'll last longer than any three pairs of cheap clodhoppers.
Clean Your Screen(s)! I don’t know about you, but when my office is tidy and orderly, I’m a lean, mean, working machine. But lately, my daily balsamic vinai- Well-Kept Screen Cleaning Towelettes are $4.99 at staywellkept.com grette-dressed salad has been taking a toll on my bright white keyboard. I thought about cleaning it with Windex (what, you’ve never seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding?!), but then realized the blue liquid would 12
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Since 2006, World Outreach & Bible Training Center has partnered with area businesses and community in their fight to end hunger in the United States. World Outreach & Bible Training Center donates millions of pounds of food each year, providing thousands of meals to families in need. The Summer and Fall Milwaukee Give is a yearly opportunity to feed, and clothe over 1500 families during the Summer and Thanksgiving Holiday season. Beyond providing families with food boxes and support, we have teamed up with The City of Milwaukee Health Department, and Columbia St. Mary's Hospital to provide immunization, health screening and resource information for improved health free! World Outreach & Bible Training Center has made over $115,000 commitment through 2015 to poverty and hunger relief efforts in the U.S. in order to support the record 1 in 6 Americans who do not know where their next meal is coming from. As hunger relief is now an integral part of the organization. On November 17th, 2012, World Outreach & Bible Training Center, Mr. Bob's Under The Bridge, COA, and New Creation Church Ministries has teamed up to provide a hand up to over 1,000 Milwaukee residence and homeless this holiday season. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Help Support The Fall Milwaukee Give!!! To donate call 414-962-0600
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gent, but equally the ‘because I said so’ clause has little educational merit. Before long your child will have a basic understanding of money. When this happens you may wish to start explaining the bigger picture. You might consider showing children how the whole family benefits from money via a visit to the supermarket. Once there pick out two A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s chil- similar products, perhaps a well known brand dren….Proverbs 13:22 NKJV and a supermarket’s own label and allow the child to make the choice. If they choose the It is a widely held belief that the earlier chilsupermarket’s own brand, allow them to make dren learn a foreign language, the quicker they a further purchase with the saved money. This will be able to pick it up and achieve fluency. might be a useful starting point for a discusThe same is also true when it comes to teach- sion about value vs. price. ing children about money and developing financial fluency. Teaching children from an Consider also the type of signals about money early age how to save and budget in a fun and that your child picks up upon. You may feel educational way can lay the foundations for it's important to let your child know family sound money management later in life. money matters are private, and not for discussion outside the home. If however, as parents A University of Minnesota study indicates that you talk in hushed tones over bills and bank with as little as 10 hours of financial education, statements, your child may deduce that fiteachers and parents can positively affect chil- nances are something to be secretive and furdren’s future saving and spending habits. tive about. Similarly, if they pick up some A good place to start teaching children about stress and anxiety over money, this too is a money is by demonstrating that money is used value that can be carried forward into adult in exchange for goods and services, showing life. them that in making their own purchases they are in fact trading with the shop owner and re- 7 tips to help teach children about money ceiving the product in exchange. As an example, next time you are shopping, try to have the 1) Fun, fun, Fun - make a game of both saving exact change for the product and give it to your and spending. If only spending money is fun child. Let your child hand over the money to then they will not associate any pleasure with the cashier and after you have left the shop, saving. have a chat about how the money paid for the item. 2) Routines - When they receive money as presents or from the tooth fairy establish a routine, It is important to always approach teaching like putting some or all of it in their piggy children about money with openness and hon- bank or savings account. They will most likely esty, giving a constant and clear message. Ex- take these traditions forward into their own plain to them why they can or cannot have cer- families. tain items they wish to buy. You can’t always say yes to a request for money and if it has to be a no, it does few favors being over indul15
3) Once they learn how money works, children often display an instinctive conservatism - Instant gratification aside, once they learn they can buy things they want with money - e.g., candy, toys - many children will begin hoarding every nickel they can get their hands on. How this urge is channeled can determine what kind of financial manager your child will be as an adult. 4) Seeds planted early bear fruit later - It's important to work on your child's financial awareness early on, for once they're teenagers, they are less likely to heed your sage advice. Besides, they're busy doing other things - like spending money. 5) Consequences - When your children ask for something, rather than say no. Ask them if they would like to buy it from their own money and explain what the consequences are. You may find that they are more reluctant to spend their own money than they are yours! 6) Praise, praise, praise - We may learn by our mistakes but by praising we reinforce positive behavior and will encourage children to do the right thing out of choice ‘because it feels good’. This can be applied to saving, spending wisely and giving to charity. 7) Spend and save - when your children are receiving pocket money, teach them to save either some or all of it. It is always a good idea to let them spend a little however, as this encourages a work-like mind which will set them in good stead later in life.
For more information please visit us at http://exclusiveevents.webs.com
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"emergency" (mother hospitalized, surgery needed) suddenly arises and they ask for Is online dating for you? money. Or they say they want to meet you, but need money to apply for a VISA In a world of social media where we gotten to come see you. Little does the victim so use to not having a conversation face know that he's talking to professional con to face can the same be true for dating? artists and has likely been communicating Let’s face it in cyberspace you can change with another man, not a woman! The your looks, profession, color, age and sex. scams can get quite complex, including men hiring a girl to call you and pose as Searching for romance over the Internet your online love interest. has become more and more popular over the years. Online dating is nearly a billion You can avoid being a victim of online redollar industry. But what is online dating lationship scams by taking note of these and is it right for you? warning signs: With sites like eHarmony, BlackPeopleMeet.com, Match.com, ChristianMingle.com and for those over 50 OurTime.com The list goes on and on.
Being Asked for Money This is the most telltale sign of a scam. No matter what you think or what other people might say, it just isn’t a normal behavior to ask for money if you've never met someWe often hear horror stories about online one in person. Scammers are quite creadating but are there any REAL love stotive – they will ask you to help with airfare ries? so they can come and visit, cash a check, help out with an emergency for you to You may say I don’t do the bar/club scene send a money order and so on. Some will or my job keeps me so busy I don’t even ask for money fairly quick and others will have time to meet for a cup of coffee. So I show patience while trying to build a relacreated a profile, uploaded a picture and tionship with you, getting you to fall for the threw caution to the wind. But before you imaginary person in the profile they set up. meet Mr. or Mrs. Right there are few things that you should be aware of. Fake Pictures Some scammers will cut or scan photos Every day, scammers target hundreds of from magazines. Trust your instincts. If online daters, and many have fallen prey you feel the photo is suspicious, chances to scams that cost online daters, on aver- are it’s probably a fake. But that's not alage, of more than $3,000. They do it by ways the case, as many scammers will posing as women overseas and send you actually steal someone else's photo and a note through an online dating service. post it. Photos are usually of a very beautiThey pretend to be interested in you and ful woman. Don't fall for it. provide their "email address" so that you can continue communicating offline. Unwillingness to Share Information The person you are talking to showers you Scammers use email to try and build an with attention and he seems to be overly online relationship with you and they even- interested in everything about you, yet tually profess their love. Once you do too, the scam kicks into high gear. An 17
doesn’t share a lot of information about themselves. If they are avoiding your questions like a seasoned politician, then run. Besides looking out for red flags you can take other measures to further protect yourself: 1) Be the one always initiating communication via online dating services. 2) Guard your privacy. 3) Communicate with people locally, not overseas. 4) Trust your gut instinct from the start. 5) Never reply to communications from someone who sends you a note and immediately includes their email address for you to continue the communication.
and she’d end up alone. Joining eHarmony, which matches couples based on a detailed personality questionnaire, says Anna, “was my backup in case I didn’t meet anyone the ‘regular’ way.” It took six months of being matched with other eHarmony members before she met Sam. “His profile struck a chord—he was very spiritual, for one thing, which was important to me.” Those other matches had interested her, but fizzled once they got past initial communication. Not so with Sam—whom she agreed to make a date with after six weeks of emails and hour-long phone calls. The reality rattled her. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is a real man, not just an email!’” Panicked, she put the brakes on. For all of a week! Six months later, Anna and Sam were engaged; they got married in April 2010.
Lesson learned: Keep expectations low; it can take a while to find a match. Even with a system like eHarmony, whose deMany people have fallen prey to online re- tailed matching process saved her from lationship scams. In one case, two men “kissing a lot of frogs,” you still have to feel showed up at the same airport to meet a that chemistry. girl from overseas that they had sent money to for her "flight". Both were left holding flowers at the airport staring at each other. They had apparently been duped by the same scammer While it is true that there are many people who find life partners over the Internet, it is best to always be on your guard when using online dating services. Don't get scammed! So before you upload and send your profile dater beware! Cyberspace love story….. A divorced mother, Anna, 46, looked into the future and saw a time when her kids wouldn’t need her around quite as much—
“Searching for romance over the Internet has become more and more popular over the years’. 18
by Lisa J. Hightire
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PALACE LIVING
PALACE LIVING
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d) rock
alace Living only takes place when you realize who you are and surround yourself with those things that most emphatically express your style. And don’t be afraid to remain true to yourself! 1 Peter 2:9 says, “You are (of) a holy generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people that you should show forth the praise of Him, who has brought you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” You are royalty; if you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior—the King of Kings an Lord of Lords—you are a member of the royal family! Did you realize you are a child of The King? Now that you know, rise to the occasion in every area of your life!
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hen it comes to the place you call home -your palace, is it well appointed, clean, fresh smelling and well maintained? These characteristics are those expected of and associated with those who understand their station in society. Expression of impeccable taste starts with procuring only the very best you find affordable—we're talking about mind set here, which frames state of mind. After all, debt isn’t at all chic! Rich interiors exude high style, fashioned with luxurious fabrics, mood enhancing color, well crafted furniture, impressionable floor coverings, and the air of distinction. To create such ambiance, start with the an examination of what makes you—you and what creates the atmosphere you want to become your signature. Take this simple personal style quiz to gain greater insight to your inner designer. Relax, I know I said it’s a quiz, but hardly a test! This very non scientific method of information gathering is a fun way to get you thinking about what motivates you, why you make some of the purchases you do and how to pare down your lifestyle preferences so that you are making your house a palatial home. Palace Living Personal Style Quiz 1. When it comes to color, you prefer a) earth tones b) jewel tones c) pastels d) bold tones 2. Your music favorites include a) country b) classical c) jazz
3. On a first date, you’d order a) Steak and potatoes b) Foie gras c) Pasta primavera d) Shish kebobs 4. Your jewelry is a) Turquoise b) Diamond c) Pearls d) Platinum 5. Your DVD collection displays a) Hang em’ High b) Les Miserables c) Sense and Sensibility d) The God Father 6. Your dream vacation a) Grand Canyon b) Scotland c) Paris d) Las Vegas 7. Dream Career a) Ranch owner b) Professor c) Romance novelist d) Fortune 500 Executive 8. Your artist is a) Walt Whitman b) Monet c) the kiss d) Picasso 9. Hobby a) Word working b) Antiquing c) Jewelry making d) Art collecting 10. Fashion style a) vests, cowboy boots, jeans b) cashmere, silk, twin sets c) lace, floral prints, pearls d) contrasting colors, gold, scarves 11. In my refrigerator right now are a) barbecue sauce, onions, beef b) brie, lemon curd, pate’ c) strawberries, cream, quiche d) spinach, garlic, pine nuts
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Results: Match the majority of your answers with the results below. If you answered mostly A’s, B’s, C’s or D’s, your decorating style is: A’s country B’s traditional C’s shabby chic D’s contemporary If you answered proportionately between two styles, that’s and indication that you favor more than one decorating style. Mixing styles tastefully can be challenging, but not impossible. Experiment, choose what you like and make it stylish. Decorating follows the old axiom ’less is more’. Avoid clutter—even eclectic design has order to it. You don’t need ‘a lot’ to make a big statement. Go for quality, uniqueness, and timeless design instead. Your signature style is sure announce itself.
Style by Design Elements of Country Style are earth tone colors, plaid and floral prints, animal motifs, wicker, dried herbs and flowers, rustic accessories, a warm, welcoming atmosphere, folk art, light and unfinished woods and wrought iron to name a few.
new. Shabby chic design hallmarks vintage appeal with romance at its core. Aged patinas, hanging candelabras, and weathered window frames and moldings are the stuff of this nostalgic style. Elements of Contemporary style embrace uncluttered, light-filled spaces, open floor plans, minimal furnishings, and slick finishes. Two different approaches to this style are popular: dramatic in a subtle manner and a ’stop the traffic’ type of decorating, enlivened with vibrant color.
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he clean lines of contemporary design define the high and dramatic ambiance the furniture, bold color pallet and understated furnishings have to offer. Keep in mind while in search of or refining the interior decorating style of your palace, other design options prevail: modern, post modern, art deco, retro and neo-classic come immediately to mind.
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lements of Traditional Style include jewel tones—burgundy, gold, navy, emerald, dark, rich wood finishes, large scale prints from chintz to toile uncluttered surfaces, elegant and sophisticated furnishings, symmetry, chaise lounges, wing chairs, and an air of formality. Fabrics: velvets, silks, satins, brocades, tapestries, opulent and refined atmosphere, draperies heavy with tassel tiebacks, ornate carvings, elaborate frames, crystal chandeliers, understated elegance with grand style of eras gone by.
modern
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art deco
egin collecting photos of the design elements you find yourself drawn to again and again. Collect fabric swatches, paint cards and anything else that inspires you. Lay them out in a lements of Shabby Chic style are pastel colors, muted and faded too, a light, breezy, note book and take it with you when you research or shop for home furnishings. This personalized airy, romantic atmosphere, casual comfort, informal. Furniture is overstuffed, slip covered and com- journal will help you stay on track when making purchase decisions. fortable. Emphasis on meshing the old with the
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Regardless your personal interior design preferences, bless others by sharing it with style. For the Bible tells you to be given to hospitality. May the Lord God Almighty bless your going out and coming in.
At Bliss™ we help make wedding day dreams come true by designing exceptional wedding events.
Article contributed by Lisa J. Hightire of Bliss wedding consulting and design firm.
For more information contact Lisa at 414-365-6379
It's your wedding. Make it a Blissful Day!
BLISS Lisa H. Hightire, owner of Bliss™ wedding consulting and design firm brings to her business venture over a decade of event planning experience. She has been the women's ministry Chairperson of one of Milwaukee's largest and fastest grown ministries for more than ten years and is former co-owner of The Catering Company, a family owned enterprise. Both opportunities honed Lisa's skills for event planning, customer service and designing customer specific affairs. "My business philosophy is, "Excellence in customer service is synonymous with 'business' and well worth mastering." Bliss™ offers its clients the assurance of business acumen, industry innovation, unique, creative design and superior customer service. Whether the wedding fete is extravagant or quaint, Bliss™ takes pride in designing unique bridal experiences that enchant a lifetime. Bliss™ extends to its clients various bridal services from the Platinum and Diamond series to the Gold and Silver packages as well as exclusive design services. With Bliss™, the sky's the limit! Each bride and groom is honored as unique and treated with the respect they deserve. Your wedding day dreams are the focus of the planning process and Bliss™ is pleased to deliver on their promise. We listen, advise, plan and execute - in that order. If you want innovative, customer specific wedding design and elite service, you will want to engage Bliss™. With finesse, Bliss™ executes the details regarding your nuptials so that you can enjoy the progression of events and savor the most important day of your lives together. Dreams of 'I Do" come true, with Bliss™. Bliss™ is proud to present our latest innovation, "BridesMade™, our premier wedding etiquette suite of services which include the elegance of Afternoon Tea. We also design wedding print media and guest gifts. 22
What Do You Really Know About Your Teens’ Online Lives?
since 2008. • More than half (53%) of kids say that they typically view and download media online.
Have you ever wondered what your teen really does when you’re not around? What are they really doing in their room when you sent them there for breaking curfew or getting bad grades on their report card? What do all those text abbreviations really mean?
Parental influence
Today’s young people are “digital natives” who grew up with the Internet and use it more skillfully and comfortably than many adults— for communication, education, and entertainment. However, their high level of online participation also opens them up to potential dangers, such as cyber bullying, personal information sharing, and online threats. It’s important for you to understand the potential benefits and risks of your kids’ online lives, so we can nurture the positive aspects, such as increased communication skills and online learning, while minimizing risks General online use and attitudes
Given the amount of time kids spend online, how much are you involved in their online habits? Parents try to stay informed about their kids’ online lives, but they more closely monitor younger children. Here’s what else we found: • Nearly all kids (91%) say that their parents trust them to do what’s right online. However, 56% say that their parents know some of what they do online, but not everything, and a quarter (26%) report that their parents don’t have time to check up on what they do online. • About a third (32%) say that they don’t tell their parents what they are doing online, and would change their behavior if they knew their parents were watching (31%).
• Even though parents are less likely to monitor their children’s behavior as they get older, young people are more inclined to hide what they do online from their parents as they get older. By the time they reach the ages of 16 or • Half of kids surveyed say that they have been 17, 56% of teens hide their online activities. using the Internet for five years or more, and 58% consider themselves heavy users who ac- • The most common ways that kids hide their cess the Internet six or seven days a week. online activities from their parents are by mini• Communicating and downloading content are mizing the browser history (21%). Interesttwo primary uses of the Internet by young peoingly, girls are more likely to engage in the ple, but education also plays an important role. first two activities than boys. Nearly 80% say they use the Web to do reToday’s youth are online pros who know how to navigate through content, play games, and use communication services. Here’s a picture of their general online usage:
search for school assignments. • Parents should note that about one third of • Gaming is also a popular activity, with 61% of kids saying they play games online, includ- young people say that they “often” or “always” hide their online activities. ing multiplayer online games. Social networking is a fast-growing online activity. 81% of 16- to 17-year-olds report having at least one social networking account; this number has grown significantly 23
We can safely assume that kids will continue to spend a large amount of time online and that Despite the fact that there is roughly the same new technologies, such as location-based serlevel of online danger today as in 2008, most (95%) kids who participated in the survey are vices, will give them even greater opportuniconfident in their ability to stay safe online, yet ties to share personal information about themour report shows that they still engage in risky selves. You should try to make sure you have behaviors. Here are some of the areas where very clear conversations with your children we saw red flags: about the kind of information that is safe to • Although teens are heavy Internet users, it’s share and whom they should share it with. It’s still surprising that 27% say that they have ac- also critical that your kids understand that the cidentally infected their home computer with a information they put online could be there forvirus or other malware, and 14% say that they ever. Before posting sensitive information, shared their passwords with friends. they need to ask themselves whether they would want their grandmother or a future em• Perhaps because girls tend to communicate ployer to see it because there’s no guarantee more, they are more likely to engage in risky that “deleted” online content is permanently behaviors such as chatting with people they deleted. don’t know in the offline world (25% girls overall and 43% among 16- to 17-year-olds). Girls also report higher frequencies of being harassed and bullied online than boys. Risky online behavior
Almost a third (29%) of teens have downloaded a program without their parents’ knowledge and 16- to 17-year-old boys (45%) are most likely to download programs without parental knowledge, or those of x-rated content. •
While more than half (52%) of young people say they know someone who has experienced cyber bullying, only 29% say they have experienced it themselves. •
• However, one in four kids (25%) report that they wouldn’t know what to do if they were bullied or harassed online. Conclusion Kids today are living rich, active online lives that come with many benefits and some drawbacks, such as cyber bullying, predators, malware, and oversharing of information. That’s why it’s important for you to talk to your kids about potential dangers and how to avoid them. 24
Top 50 Internet Acronyms Parents Need to Know: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
8 - Oral sex 1337 - Elite -or- leet -or- L337 143 - I love you 182 - I hate you 1174 - Nude club 420 - Marijuana 459 - I love you ADR - Address AEAP - As Early As Possible ALAP - As Late As Possible ASL - Age/Sex/Location CD9 - Code 9 - it means parents
38. 39. 40. 41.
pron - porn Q2C - Quick To Cum RU/18 - Are You Over 18? RUMORF - Are You Male OR Female?
42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
RUH - Are You Horny? S2R - Send To Receive SorG - Straight or Gay TDTM - Talk Dirty To Me WTF - What The F*** WUF - Where You From WYCM - Will You Call Me? WYRN - What's Your Real Name? zerg - To gang up on someone
are around C-P - Sleepy F2F - Face-to-Face GNOC - Get Naked On Cam GYPO - Get Your Pants Off HAK - Hugs And Kisses ILU - I Love You IWSN - I Want Sex Now J/O - Jerking Off KOTL - Kiss On The Lips KFY -or- K4Y - Kiss For You KPC - Keeping Parents Clueless LMIRL - Let's Meet In Real Life MOOS - Member Of The Opposite Sex MOSS - Member(s) Of The Same Sex MorF - Male or Female MOS - Mom Over Shoulder MPFB - My Personal F*** Buddy NALOPKT - Not A Lot Of People Know That NIFOC - Nude In Front Of The Com puter NMU - Not Much, You? P911 - Parent Alert PAL - Parents Are Listening PAW - Parents Are Watching PIR - Parent In Room POS - Parent Over Shoulder -orPiece Of Sh** 25
This book was created to teach others how to create an Inspiration Board. There are many tips & tricks, but there was no method out there that said, ‘use this format”; and so this book was born! “5 Steps to Maximizing Your Client’s Vision! For Weddings & Events” will explain several methods and give you step-by-step instructions on how to use each one. I hope you enjoy and are inspired!
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Exceptional Me by Anissa Perkins How can I become exceptional? If I were to change my… tighten my… flatten my…(fill in the blank), I would look exceptional. Many of us often ponder these things, wondering what about ourselves, physically, we would change if we could, to be considered exceptional. Unfortunately, the standard of measure often used as a gauge, is an artificial one, created by a vain and unrealistic media. We’re comparing ourselves to men and women, without considering their access to chefs, personal trainers, personal shoppers, and an endless budget to support their image. You will notice I didn’t reference their genetic background. I believe in faith, individuals can make definitive, permanent changes to their diet and lifestyle, and significantly reduce if not completely eliminate their potential for developing the health conditions of their parents and grandparents that are plaguing our county today. Many times what is hereditary is the sedentary lifestyle, the poor eating habits, the unhealthy (although delicious) recipes passed down through generations.
According to Wikipedia.org, Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy. At severely high pressures, defined as mean arterial pressures 50% or more above average, a personal can expect to live no more than a few years unless appropriately treated. In 2005, Medical News Today, reported that nationally heart disease was the #1 cause of death in the U.S. claiming more than 40% of nearly 2.4 million Americans who die. Now we have a target to focus our energies; an area desperately in need of improvement. The road to healthy blood pressure doesn’t have to be a difficult one. If your physician or health care provider has told you that you have hypertension, or that you are pre-hypertensive, it’s time to be an exception to what is fast becoming the norm in America as it relates to high blood pressure.
“Oh, if I could get my arms to look like… my abs to Try some of these lifestyle modifications: (Under the look like… my derriere to look like… I would be ok, supervision of the physician) No, I’d be better than okay, I’d be exceptional.” I Samuel 16:7….. The Lord does not look at the things Losing weight (if you are overweight or obese), man looks at, Man looks at the outward appearance, but Stop smoking, the Lord looks at the heart. (NIV) I am encouraging eve Eating a healthy diet (more fruits, vegetable, low fat ryone to use that approach as a starting place, at it relates to physical fitness and nutrition. What do I need to dairy products, less saturated and total fat), do to improve my “internal” health. Reducing the amount of sodium in your diet to 2,300 milligrams (about 1 teaspoon of salt) a day or less, The U.S. National Library of Medicine, and the National Getting regular aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking Institutes of Health defines blood pressure as, “The at least 30 minutes a day, several days a week) force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps out blood If you are currently on medication, as prescribed by your into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when physician, do not discontinue those medications, until your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called sys- released by your physician to do so. These simple tolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, changes in your daily life will improve your blood presyour blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure. “ sure and reduce your likelihood of developing other Your blood pressure reading uses these two numbers, heart related illnesses. the systolic and diastolic pressures. Usually they are written one above or before the other. A reading of As we assess ourselves, and focus on areas in our life, where we desire to be exceptional, let’s not look at ourselves as man does, and look at the external. Let’s be 120/80 or lower is normal blood pressure more like God, and focus inward; I Corinthians 15:46, 140/90 or higher is high blood pressure “What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.” 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number is pre-hypertension 27
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If you have a need in your life take it to Jesus. If you need healing, a breakthrough, deliverance take it to Jesus. Most importantly if you need salvation Jesus is just a prayer away. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior simply pray this prayer: Father in the name of Jesus I know that I’m a sinner and I’m lost without you. I believe in my heart that Jesus died on the cross and on the third day was raised again. So I accept you today to be the Lord of my life. Satan you no longer have any legal rights to anything about me. As of this moment I belong to Jesus Christ and I’m off limits to you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen! It’s that simple and if you believe in your heart the prayer you just prayed you are now saved!
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