ARRAY February Issue 2021 by Fox Printing and Digital Publishing

LOST! Amy the Alpaca Text “Amy” to 28748

ARRAYNC.com

â&#x20AC;˘ Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note

ARRAY Magazine

February 2021

enjoy sharing the difference between connotative and denotative meanings with my students. Denotative meanings are derived from the dictionary. Connotative meanings are derived from the heart. For example, according to MerriamWebster, the denotative definition of love is: 1) strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties; 2) affection and tenderness felt by lovers, and 3) warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion. However, the connotative meaning of love could be: 1) God, 2) Mom, 3) Dad, 4) children, 5) baking, 6) giving, 7) helping, etc. As you ponder your own connotative definition of love, we at ARRAY want you to remember that you are loved, and we care about you enough to give you our very best each month.

Johnnerlyn Johnson, Editor Publisher AnneMarie Ziegler annemarie@arraync.com Chief Operations Officer & Events Angie Lyle Angie@ArrayNC.com Editor Johnnerlyn Johnson

Stephanie Stewart Art Director Kylen Dooley Photography Science of Life Photography Charles Mardre Website Designer Gerson Ivan Malca Burneo

Sales Jill Charles ARRAYdio Podcast jill.array.sales@gmail.com Director and Host Caroline Schafer Writers ARRAYdio@ Amy Garner gmail.com Keith Sykes

6 As Eye See It: Love yourself 8 Health: Making Smart Breakfast Choices

11 Feature Article: Renee Muffet Follow us on our social media!

Disclaimer Please note that the inclusion of stories and articles in any publication owned by ARRAY Publishing & Marketing, LLC does not imply endorsement of products or people. The views of the authors are presented for information and entertainment only, and may not necessarily reflect the views of ARRAY Publishing & Marketing, LLC. Specifically, ARRAY Publishing & Marketing, LLC in no way endorses any claim associated with health and/or well-being with respect to any particular person. We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. We will not be held responsible or liable directly or indirectly for any loss or damage that is caused or alleged to have been caused in connection with the use of, or reliance on, any content in this magazine. ARRAY Publishing & Marketing, LLC reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing that does not meet ARRAY Publishing & Marketing, LLC standards. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. ARRAY Publishing & Marketing, LLC assumes no responsibility for information, products, services or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Any and all material, excluding paid advertisements, will be published at the discretion of ARRAY Publishing & Marketing, LLC. ARRAY Publishing & Marketing, LLC is not responsible for translations of this publication.

ARRAYNC.com

If You Don’t Do Anything Else… Love Yourself Written By Keith Sykes

elf-Love. Noun. “A regard for one’s own well-being and happiness (chiefly considered as a desirable rather than narcissistic characteristic).” (OED, n.3.d.). It’s safe to say that many of us would welcome love if it found us because, let’s face it, not many of us want to live a life without it. The internet and social media have made it increasingly challenging to compete with the pressures of body image, the perfect relationship, or what society’s idea of success is. Just log on at any given moment, and your news feed is bombarded with filtered photographs, overly stated confessions of love, and several self-employed

ARRAYNC.com

entrepreneurs telling you to “level up.” We often neglect ourselves, or we lose sight of what is important while trying to keep up with the way the world navigates through life. The secret to selflove isn’t to give up on showing love, it’s to start spending more time loving yourself. It’s to make loving yourself just as important as showing love, if not more. When it comes to loving ourselves, we must start with being brave enough to take the mask off and be comfortable with the person we are underneath. I’m willing to bet that there are at least two or three people who you have never seen outside of a filtered photo or without makeup. Society has many of us fooled into thinking that our natural self is not enough. Be vulnerable enough to accept your true self. Embrace your flaws and realize that they are what makes you unique. Don’t get me wrong; there is

nothing wrong with giving yourself the VIP treatment every now and then. Just be sure to let the “real you” come out and play from time to time. Self-love is key to mental health and well-being. It’s especially important if you are a workaholic. We have managed to normalize working ourselves beyond the breaking point. It has become a badge of honor to some, to sleep less than 5 hours a day. Our definition of success has become skewed and somehow, we have placed a negative connotation on self-love. We all have enough love inside of us to love ourselves without taking it away from others. There are many ways to practice self-love. There is no right or wrong way to do it if you prioritize yourself and it makes you happy. You can read a book, control the media you consume, journal, go for a walk in nature, or learn to say “no,” just to name a few. Self-love is synonymous

with selfcare and unfortunately the concept is foreign to many. Many have expressed a sense of guilt when taking time for themselves and are envious of those who are able to spoil themselves without a second thought. As the new year is underway, it is imperative that we normalize selflove. Take time out to pamper yourself. Schedule time for yourself as you would for any other appointment. Write it on your calendar and make it a priority so that you don’t allow anything else to cause you to cancel it. And before you know it, you will become a pro at loving yourself. ~A~

Keith Sykes, native of New Orleans, LA is a freelance writer with ARRAY. For more information on Keith Sykes visit the ARRAYNC website.

ARRAYNC.com

â&#x20AC;¢ Health

ARRAYNC.com

feel like God has laid this on my heart. This is my passion. Knowing that you have saved a life is a joyous feeling that you cannot explain unless you have been in that situation. These animals are helpless. This is the hardest job I have ever done, it is heartbreaking… and the most rewarding too.” Renee is the Vice President of The Pet Angel Fund and works alongside Michelle Leigh Hariff to provide outreach and rescue to animals in Cumberland and surrounding

ARRAYNC.com

counties. Renee is from Dublin, population 338, which is also known as the Peanut Capital of North Carolina. “I grew up on a farm. We had tons of animals, everything from ducks, pigs and horses, to chickens and goats. I always helped my grandparents take care of them. I guess that is where I got my love for animals from.” Renee began fostering for a rescue out of Raleigh in 2015. After several years of this with various groups and friends,

Renee Muffett is focused. Period.

Help animals. Period. Written by Amy Garner Photography by Through the Looking Glass Studio LLC Renee decided that outreach frees us up to be involved in a was more of her niche. She lot of different things without linked up with getting involved Michelle, and in rescue, the two started which can be tag-teaming a slow process Michelle’s Pet and a long Angel Fund commitment. - a non-profit There are a ton organization. of local rescues Outreach can be now, and we different things are able to meet based on need or a need that crisis. It could those agencies look like emergency assistance cannot,” shared Renee. “We with a medical emergency for support the local rescues and a beloved fur baby. Outreach share the common goal to could be pet food, a doghouse, provide assistance to animals in hay, or fence repairs. “Outreach need.”

ARRAYNC.com

In 2019, the Pet Angel Fund helped 100 animals and donated $18,000 toward care. COVID-19 managed to find its way into the pet world, creating unexpected hardships. Numbers spiked in 2020 to assisting 170 animals and contributing $40,000 in aid. “We have helped dogs, horses, pigs, roosters, cats, opossums; you name it. If it needed a home or help, we would try to do that”, explained Renee. “We have been very fortunate to partner with several area veterinarians and multiple other agencies in Cumberland County.” The Pet Angel Fund Board meets weekly to plan fundraisers and determine priority cases. They field over 25 emails per day from Fayetteville-area people requesting assistance. They also

ARRAYNC.com

get referrals from veterinarians. COVID-19, again, has made things tougher. “We are not able to actually get out and meet with people the way we want to, to provide that hands-on help, “explained Michelle. “We have to find other ways to connect with folks.” The Pet Angel Fund also hosts bimonthly online auctions of various donated items. All proceeds from the auctions go to assist animals in need, primarily with medical expenses. “A lot of our cases are emergency cases. We help with the major stuff that comes from accidents or abuse.” What is next? “We are working on a mobile unit and hope to launch that as soon as we can do that safely,” said Renee. The Pet Angel Fund will also

be partnering with other rescue organizations and doing bigger fundraisers and adoption events. This work can be consuming and exhausting. “I can never make plans. Ever. This is a 24/7 commitment. Thank goodness my family is involved, so we can spend time together.” Renee giggled before sharing, “On my wedding day last October, I went and rescued a dog instead of getting my hair

and makeup done. All the magic still happened, but that dog was going to get helped no matter what. I am pretty proud that I was still on time to the ceremony.” “This is a part of my lifestyle; we get up and we rescue dogs. We get paid, not with money, but with joy in our hearts.” If you are interested in participating in an online auction to benefit the Pet Angel Fund, follow

ARRAYNC.com

the Facebook page: Auction for Pet Angel Fund. Donations to the auction, and otherwise, are always welcome and tax deductible. Every dollar helps and will be applied to help animals. Period. ~A~ Amy Garner, native of Charleston, SC, is a freelance writer with ARRAY. For more information on Amy Garner visit the ARRAYNC website.

Love Wins Written by Amy Garner Love is keeping your word, showing up, Sitting in stillness or holding a trembling hand. It is listening and responding or just the listening part. It is telling the truth, No matter what happens on the other side of the telling. It is forgiving and compromising and standing up for yourself And others. It is simple. It is complicated. It is serving a hot meal, a cold drink, a moment of shared laughter. Love is nesting another person, or even better, yourself.... Or even better-better, Another person and yourself, Into the palm of your hand and leaving it open, Resisting the urge to close, to clinch. Love is Loving with an open palm.

Pinwheels Popping Up Soon! Pinwheels for April Child Abuse Prevention Month To order your Pinwheel Kit or for more information, please visit CACFayNC.org

ARRAYNC.com

â&#x20AC;¢ Recipe

ARRAYNC.com

Herbs You Can Grow in a Small Indoor Space

JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN’T EXERCISE YOUR GREEN THUMB. THERE ARE A WIDE VARIETY OF HERBS YOU CAN GROW ON A WINDOWSILL INDOORS. AND BECAUSE YOU ARE GROWING THESE HERBS INSIDE,YOU CAN TRUST THAT THEY’RE CLEAN FOR ANY REC-IPES YOU’D LIKE TO THROW THEM IN.YOU CAN GROW ANY OF THE FOLLOWING COMMON, DELICIOUS HERBS INSIDE YOUR HOME TO ADD FRESH SPICE TO YOUR KITCHEN.

1. Parsley Growing parsley indoors is incredibly easy. You can get parsley seeds or a seedling at your local gardening store. If you are growing parsley by seed, be sure to germinate the seed prior to inserting it in the soil. Parsley is fairly easy to grow. Keep the soil gently moist as the roots don’t appreciate being over watered. You may need to

ARRAYNC.com

add nutrients once or twice per month. If you notice your parsley looking yellow, it is time to add nutrients to the soil. 2. Basil Basil is a delicious herb you can utilize in any Italian cooking. Similar to parsley, basil will not appreciate being over watered, so the key to good basil is a pot and soil that drains well. Basil likes a lot of sun so place it in a window

with direct sunlight. Make sure the soil you use to grow basil is nutrient-dense. 3. Sage Sage is a plant that doesn’t mind indoor air, even if it gets a bit dry. Rather than growing sage from a seed indoors, it may be easier to use a cutting of an outdoor sage plant and bring it inside. Grab a seedling from a local nursery and set the plant in a sunny window. Be careful not to add too many nutrients to sage as doing so may dampen the flavor. Sage doesn’t require too much nutrition and does well in sandy soil. 4. Mint Mint makes an excellent additive to water or cocktails. Mint will do best in temperatures that stay

above sixty degrees so as long as you don’t keep your house too cold, it will do well inside. Make sure it sits in a window that gets plenty of sun and don’t over water it. The soil should be moist but never drenched. 5. Rosemary Rosemary can do well indoors but before you bring it inside, you should acclimate the plant to less light. Every day, let your rosemary sit outdoors for less and less time. Take a few hours of sunlight away every day until it is only sitting outside for an hour or two. Your rosemary may suffer if you shock it by bringing it from the outside to the indoors with no acclimation. Once it’s inside, provide rosemary with plenty of sunlight. ~A~

ARRAYNC.com

• Poem

Dear Black Women Written by Isaiah Ellsberry

Dear Black Women... I am sorry for failing you From absent-minded fathers Lacking finances, time, or emotion; From previous ex-lovers Who only wanted your body And disregarded your heart, And emotions, From the family members that Innocence and peace of mind was broken, From the black boy that laughed in class When your darker complexion was noticed. I am sorry. Hell. We are sorry as men. Dear Black Women... A boy can never do the work of a man, So why give him another chance To break your heart? Girl, it’s not fair that the real men In your life must watch and observe As a boy precisely destroys this woman’s worth. But when and if a real man catches your heart, It is now his responsibility to repair everything That the last tore apart. How is this fair?

ARRAYNC.com

Exchanging his blind trust for Your guarded investments Because your anticipation of “Girl, he gon’ hurt me just like the rest…,” Is inevitable. Please understand. My heart breaks just as easily As a drop of a wine glass. Just as your heart is as fragile, As an elder woman’s hands. I get it. Two wrongs have never made a right. But, maybe, the cracked corners of my puzzle piece Fits yours just right. Dear Black Women... Why allow this guy To keep you on the side As if you are worth nothing more Than a $5 box from Popeyes? We all down for mashed potatoes And Cajun fries When you know all he wants is Your breast and what’s in between those thighs.

Why? My comprehension runs thin When you cater to a boy But Friend zone a man Please help me understand This constant sequence you’re trapped in. There are men who could love you from sunups to sundowns Respect you from the bottom of your toes to the tip of your crown, But I cannot make you find worth within your own skin Dear Black Women... Love your black men. I say, “Love your black men.” Because we are conditioned to respect And admire all that you are From the curls in your hair To the attitude from your lips Even all ways the down to the curves on your hips. Girl, love your black man because he is conditioned from birth to love every part of you, But are you conditioned for his love and vulnerable attitude? Know that society has taught him To disregard emotion And shelter his insecurities Without regard or notice, He battles social norms And pressure from his peers Encouraging him that relationships and intimacy Are things of his ancestors’ years. He endures your heartbreak

Just as you receive it Because improper investments Always leave you mistreated, So love that black man And Not that black boy Because that black man has loved you from the shadows Through sickness & in health. Women, that black man even loved you When you didn’t love yourself, So if he feels comfortable enough To be vulnerable with you, Comfort him with peace Not words of ridicule. Speak words of kindness and diction that is good Because your tongue plants seeds for his manhood, So love that black man Because the world you live in won’t, And the last thing he needs Is the woman of his dreams Crushing his hopes Especially if his hope lies within you, so Dear Black Women, Love that black man From the strength in his voice To the error in his ways All the way down To the hurt in his pain. Love that black man Because, in return, he will love you. ~A~

ARRAYNC.com

• An Array of Weddings

Planning your wedding during Covid 19

Wedding Alternatives

Written by Stephanie Stewart

he term Happy New Year certainly takes on a new meaning in 2021! Thousands of couples,

ARRAYNC.com

wedding vendors, family, and friends alike are more than happy to leave 2020 and all its craziness (including canceled, rescheduled, or otherwise ruined wedding plans) in the past! Venues are slowly starting to reopen and (hopefully) make their way back to full capacity in the near future. Wedding vendors (like myself) are happy to begin working with couples again in hopes of picking up where we left off with planning the perfect NC wedding! As mentioned in my last article in the “Array of Weddings” section, there are many factors to take into consideration when planning your wedding during COVID-19. And while there

seems to be a (faint) light at the end of the tunnel, since no one knows how long it will take for things to get back to normal, considering a “wedding alternative” may still be the best route for couples who simply don’t want to put it off any longer. Many of my clients have opted for smaller, more intimate wedding celebrations and are simply postponing their bigger reception for later in the year (or in 2022) when sanctions are lifted and it’s safe to gather again. So what are the options available to couples who want to get hitched during COVID-19? Depending on how “socially distant” you want your wedding to be, there are several options

ARRAYNC.com

available! Completely Virtual Wedding â&#x20AC;&#x201C; For the first time in history (as far as I know), couples can now get married virtually! All you need are two willing (and ideally in love), partners and an officiant to make it happen! You will still need a marriage license from the clerk, and you will still have to do all the legal filings to make it legit. This may be the safest way to socially distance for your COVID-19 wedding, and you can even invite as many guests as you want thanks to Zoom! Make it special and have a first dance after

ARRAYNC.com

your nuptials and toast with your virtual guest! Elopement / Intimate Wedding You may be surprised to find out Harnett and Cumberland County have plenty of options for elopements and intimate weddings. Fayetteville Rose Garden (at Fayetteville Tech) is a great outdoor (and cheap) option. All you need is an officiant and your guests! Make a day out of it by having dinner afterwards with your guests at one of the downtown Fayetteville restaurants and book a suite for your honeymoon night!

If you want to save big, consider a backyard wedding - simple and sweet... Invite a few friends over, book a local officiant, and fire up the grill! Whatever you decide, just remember to think outside the box when it comes to considering wedding alternatives! At the end of the day, one thing that COVID-19 has taught us is to remember whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really important - being with the ones we love! ~A~

Stephanie Stewart, wedding officiant & planner, is a freelance writer with ARRAY. For more information on Stephanie Stewart visit the ARRAYNC website.

5 Things I love Written by Caroline Schafer 1. Disney 2. My family (including pets!) 3. Authenticity 4. Going on adventures 5. Cooking (which also means I love eating)

ARRAYNC.com