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Thank you I want to send a special thank you to everyone who has stood by me with this magazine. A special thank you to my person of the month who said yes without even asking what the section was. My business of the month which was sent to me by my blog buddy who is starting her own online magazine http://www.theeducatorsroom.com/ . All of my tweeting buddies I can’t even begin to name you all and I won’t even try. I have some tweeps who rt every word of the day, they tweet all my newsletters out, give me encouraging words, keeps up with me with articles and people to put in the magazine. I am forever grateful. To my contributors: A special thanks to you. From the bottom of my heart I thank you this magazine would not be able to come together without you. I know I am difficult and I can be a pain but you have stood by me through it all and that means the world to me. Finally to my mother who passed away in December of 2007 You made sure I went to school to learn so that I could be better than you. You were only strict on me when it came to education and I although I did not understand at the time I now understand why. For those days you struggled out of bed to make sure I went to the library so I could read. For the time you sacrificed working over time so that you could be there to take me to classes and pick me up. For the times you did without me even asking. This magazine is what I have been waiting my whole life to do and I am sorry it took so long to finally come together. I hope you can read it in heaven and tell everyone this is for the people like us. Our stories, our lives, our struggle, our pain.
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Contributors Editor in chief – Kita Bryant Hometown: Charleston, SC Now Living: Atlanta, GA Occupation: Domestic Engineer One word to describe you: Blunt Hobby: Reading, writing, playing basketball, cooking Lifestyle contributor: Shemeek Babbs Hometown: Atlanta, GA Occupation: Mother, Accessory Designer One word to describe you: Hustler Hobby: Reading, self improvement, spending time with my kids, designing hair bows Website: http://minidivabowtique.etsy.com Public Relations – Kymberly Glass Hometown: Birmingham, Al ; residing in Atlanta Occupation: Makeup Artist One word to describe you: Geek Hobby: blogging, sewing, gadgetry, writing Website: http://chicestgeek.com/ Photographer— Lashawn Wiltz Hometown: Washington DC Now living: Atlanta, GA Occupation: Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery and Wanna be photographer in my spare time.( what spare time?) One Word to describe you: Honest Hobby: reading, writing and taking photos Website: http://photography.chroniclesofpookahsmom.com Food Contributor – C. Haynes Hometown: West Covina, CA - now residing in North Little Rock, AR Occupation: Civilian Administrative Assistant for the Army National Guard One word to describe you: Ambitious Hobbies: Reading, poetry, horseback riding, traveling Website: http://enhanceme2.blogspot.com
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About KoKoa Kokoa is pronounced (Ko Ko Ah) and it is derived from Japan not to be confused with cocoa or anything of that nature. Kokoa means love of the heart, mind, and spirit. This magazine is about life, about real life that regular people live. No celebrities, no high priced fashions, no fancy foods, and nothing that represents the rich and famous. I want this magazine to represent my life and the lives of people who live just like me. People who struggle, who go through more downs than ups, and people who live in hopes that things will get better. I will have real topics that will be discussed, real fashion that are affordable, real food that can be pronounced, and real life as we live it. I hope you are enjoying your life and living with all of your heart, mind, and spirit.
Contacting KoKoa Magazine Contact: biztalkwithk@gmail.com Website: www.kokoamag.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KokoaMagazine Twitter: https://twitter.com/KoKoaMagazine 5
Editors Thoughts
Welcome to the first edition of KoKoa where the focus is back to school. I am an 80’s baby and I remember I hated that my summers were over and I had to go back to school. The only thing I was happy about was seeing my friends and being glad that I get to move up to another grade level that made me feel closer to being grown. Now that I am grown I find myself back in school because let us face it we will always be students in this world we call life. Are you a student of life? What have you learned lately? Kita Bryant
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Sherri Jefferson Website: www.inspireandeducate.com BTR: www.blogtalkradio.com/inspireandeducate
The College Years: Parental Involvement Continues How many of us, as parents, have a hard time cutting the apron strings? How many of us want to help our children every step of the way? How many of us want to prevent our children from making any mistakes? How many of us know that we have to let our children grow? We all want the best for our children and that definitely does not change when they head off to college. The question becomes how we transform our role when they begin this new phase of their life? We can no longer be that cautious parent we were when they were in middle school and definitely not that overprotective parent we were when they were in high school. We have to let them go, grow and experience life. The transformation is simple if it is executed correctly. As a college administrator I have witnessed this transformation having positive and negative effects on the student. The parent cannot take a hands-off approach when their child leaves for college. You still must be actively involved in your child’s well being and overall college experience. I find that this approach has the most positive effect on the success of the child. Studies also show that students welcome parental involvement while in college. Some parents don’t understand the transformation and that causes it to get a little messy.
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The transformation is a process and you have to understand a few key components. I have created a short checklist.
Know your child Realize that you are not going to be there to monitor every move Understand that this is another opportunity for your child to grow
You may be thinking how simple but you will never realize how many people mess it up. When I say know your child I am saying if your child is quiet and an introvert your child may not question the instructor when something may not be quite right with a grade or test. Your child may not ask for help when it is needed. These things will cause your child to become discouraged and may even drop out of school. If you know your child this will allow you to help them navigate through the process. You may have monitored your child closely at home but you will not be able to do that at college. I think it is counterproductive to do so. I have learned that this behavior may cause your child to be unsuccessful and in some cases rebel. However, I strongly encourage parents to be actively involved in their child’s grades and whereabouts. You can do this without being overbearing. Active involvement is getting your child’s user id and password to access grades and other important information.
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Active involvement means meeting your child’s “new” friends. It is always a good practice for parents to visit the campus from time to time. You will never know how much your presence will impact your child’s success. You don’t need to become an additional roommate but as I stated before, you definitely do not want to take a hands-off approach. College is an awesome growth mechanism for your child. You have to let them grow. Change is inevitable, growth is optional. Whether your child decided to go to college on his own or with your prodding; change is going to happen. What we need to ensure is that there is a growth opportunity in everything. If you decide that you are going to do everything for your child then you are not allowing them the growth opportunity that they will need to succeed in life after college. As a parent of a child going to college I use every opportunity to let him do things on his own. Will I be there when he can’t figure something out; of course but I want him to try. I know the college process because of my experience but I still let him find things out on his own. I let him ask the questions and this will help him learn and grow. College is an exciting time for both the child and the parent. It can also be a very rewarding experience. We have to relax and realize that we have raised responsible young people but we also have to realize that they are not quite adults and still need our guidance.
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Sherri Jefferson Website: www.inspireandeducate.com BTR: www.blogtalkradio.com/inspireandeducate College Freshman: A World of Uncertainty and Opportunities
College is an exciting time filled with anxiety, apprehension and doubt. You have to approach this next stage in your life as an adventure because it is full of uncertainty and opportunities. I don’t know many people who have looked at college life as adventurous but that is exactly how you should approach it. Is it going to be challenging; you bet but you need to tackle each challenge and keep going. You may have setbacks but use them as a learning experience. College is what you make it. You have the key. You are on your own; at least that is probably the way you see it and you are partly right but don’t alienate your parents and your friends back home because you will still need their guidance and encouragement. This new life away from home and friends comes with many emotions but you must channel all of this in a positive way. Sure you may be homesick and that’s understandable but don’t let it last long. You have to delve into you school work and other activities to keep you engaged and aid in your learning. I do advise not to over exert yourself the first year because this is a huge transition and you have to focus on your primary goal: A College Degree.
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You will make new friends on this journey but make sure you attract individuals that are focused and driven because you can help each other when college life gets hectic; because it will. There will be days when you don’t feel like doing that report and your parent is not there to make you do it. This is where responsibility kicks in and encouraging friends. True friends are a great asset in college and you can create lasting relationships after college. College is full of uncertainty but so is life and all you can do is prepare yourself so when uncertainty knocks or doubt kicks in your door you are ready and you can persevere. Opportunities abound-I encourage students to join clubs and/or organizations but join because that is what you want to do. Don’t ever join a club or organization to “fit in”. Many of them demand a lot of your time so you have to be committed. I have worked with many college students over the years and what discourages me the most is the missed opportunities. They come to college with high hopes and get sidetracked by “fake” friends and outside forces that they have no control over. When things like this happen they miss a lot of opportunities because they are not prepared. They are not prepared mentally, academically and socially. They didn’t pull on their resources at home or at school. When life started coming after them they folded. That caused them not be ready when someone wanted to recommend them for a scholarship or an internship. It caused them not to be ready when a team was put together to work on the homecoming committee. There are so many opportunities in college that will prepare you for life after college but don’t miss out by making bad choices and not using your resources.
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Secrets to staying cute in school…. By Shemeek Babbs The fantastic thing about things today is that almost EVERYTHING comes in travel size. You can carry almost anything that you need to keep your appearance up in a small travel bag and keep it in your back-pack, purse, or locker. At anytime during the day if you feel the need to freshen up your appearance you will have everything that you need at your finger tips. Of course while you are in school your main focus should be on getting your work done, but keeping yourself looking descent is not a bad thing. Keep these few things handy in your travel bag: compact mirror, comb/ brush set, hand moisturizer, sanitizer, lip balm/gloss, tooth brush & paste. These essentials will help you throughout the day without taking up much space. And to look refreshed daily you must get a full night of rest, so try going to bed at a decent hour. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin looking refreshed and nourished.
What’s in your beauty bag that’s different and unique let’s discuss on twitter using hashtag #beautybagkokoa.
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The art of Nails by Shemeek Babbs
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Drug store beauty finds by Angela Oliver Getting prepared to send your children back to school can be really expensive. You have to pay for supplies, clothes, shoes, etc. However you still want to look and feel good about yourself. Often people think they need to spend a bundle on beauty products so they can look good. I am here to give you a list of my drug store makeup must haves. These products are great for adults and teenagers. The cost will not break your bank and if you don’t like what you have purchased it does not cost a fortune. *** Did you know you can return beauty products just keep the receipt and original packaging!!! Elf eye shadow primer is only $1 and is the key to long lasting eye shadow. This product can be found at any Target.
Wet n Wild’s eye shadow palettes…LOVE LOVE LOVE these palettes. They are very inexpensive and even come with directions on where to apply each color. These products are ALWAYS on sale at any of your local drugstores. The palettes are great for beginners and experienced makeup lovers. The colors give a great pay off and last all day! Especially if you use your Elf primer. For as low as $2.99 - $6.99 at any drug store
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Maybeline Lash Discovery is a great mascara for your lower lashes. The wand is small which makes it to apply without making a mess. I also cheat and use this on my upper lashes. $7.29 at any drug store.
Wet n Wild Megablast nail polish! The brush is nice and wide. With no base or top coat it last for a week. With a base and top coat it can last up to two weeks. $1.99 at any drug store.
Baby wipes‌I use these to remove my makeup before I wash my face. I know it seems like more work but I can’t stand all that makeup on my face cloth
I hope you enjoyed my top five drug store finds! 19
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School fashion for all ages
When going back to school the young ladies want to be a diva, the young men want to be cool, and the women want to be stylish. The adult male going back to school wants to be done with school so he can move on with his career. Welcome to their fashion world.
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Name: Trinity One word to describe you:
Diva What do you want to be when you grow up:
Singer Hobbies: Shopping and Travel-
ing
What she’s wearing Shirt ~ Target ~ 9.99 Shorts ~ JcPenny ~ 12.99 Sneaker Boots ~ Justice ~ 12.99 Lunch Bag ~ Target ~ 5.99 22
Name: Dman One word to describe you: Cool What do you want to be when you grow up: Some-
one that makes money Hobbies: Playing
video games and hanging with friends
What he’s wearing Cherokee Shirt ~ Target 12.99 Guess Shirt ~ Burlington 9.99 Cargo Pants ~ Unica 10.00 Watch ~Kmart 4.99 23
Angelique Dozier One word to describe you: Creative Occupation: Owner of Creative Artistry By Angelique Dozier Hobbies: Singer, Helping others, Writing Contact info: AngeliqueD2002@hotmail.com
What she has on Skirt~ Lane Bryant 49.99 Top ~ Macys Style & Co. 29.99 Belt~ H & M 8.90 Accessories~ Ashley Stewart $10 for the necklaces , $14.50 earrings, and bracelet $10
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Shirt ~ K&G 25.00 Pants~TJmaxx 16.99 Belt ~ Marshalls’s 9.99
Name: Kreg Simpson One word to describe you: Confident Occupation: Cosmetic Supervisor at fortune 100 company Hobbies: Shopping, relaxing, sports, working out and gaming and hanging with my wife and son.
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Jazzing up your back to school looks By Shavon Morris Born and raised in Alabama, I am a country girl with international style. Realizing that fashion is where I can truly express my creativity and talents, I started SoBamaBell Styling in February 2012. Since then I have gained experience through working with artists and designers in the Atlanta area. I truly believe that fashion is the best outlet to express ones self. Some of my upcoming ventures will include adding being a radio personality to my accomplishments, as well as working towards my very own custom tee shirt line. Hey now! It’s that time again. That’s right, back to school but going back to school doesn’t have to be a drag. Use your fashion to express your swag. I know nowadays uniforms are required for high school and even some colleges and universities as well. This doesn’t mean that you can’t add a little flare to make it your own. Take your basic blue uniform, you could jazz it up with a red necklace, a pair of gold hoop earrings, and a gold/red bangles. And for the college gals and gents not in uniform you know what to say….turn up! Listen, you don’t have to spend an extreme amount to look good. For my ladies, adding a few accessories to your favorite jeans and tanks will do the tirck. I know no one wants to walk around campus all day in 4 inch heels, so pull out the flats and flip flops miss thang! By simply adding a wide belt to your waist, and yes those 4 inch heels, you can take your from classroom to party. Don’t worry….I didn’t forget my guys, this is where you have the upper hand on the ladies. Take a simple plain fitted white tee shirt and pair with a super hot varsity cut sweater. Next add a pair of straight leg or skinny jeans and a pair of fly high tops, and you are good to go for any scene. And remember….express yourself!
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Person of the month
Name: Erica Alcox Occupation: CEO/Founder Geechie Gurl Inc One word to describe you: Driven Hobbies: cooking, travelling, movies, crafts, reading, word games One thing you have learned in life: Faith and fear cannot coexist and 99% of what we fear does not even exist outside of our minds so by default faith allows you to do things you once believed unimaginable! Website: www.geechiegurl.org Company Mission Statement: to provide individuals and organizations with assistance that allows for the strengthening of families and communities.
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1. Why did you want to create your organization? Its something that I've always done naturally so it just made sense to create a way to make efforts more efficient. To tie in embracing my culture and heritage allowed for me to pay respect to my ancestors who made ultimate sacrifices so that I could be whatever i chose to be. 2. What are some of the main goals for the organization? The main goals are to provide resources that are truly needed for people to reach a specific goal that builds and strengthens family life and supports educational/career goals. We also aim to restore collaboration within the community through networking opportunities that include hands on exercises that help jumpstart the actions needed for continued teamwork. 3. In what ways have this organization’s products and services been most successful over the years? Geechie Gurl Inc has helped keep a young man enrolled in college by raising over $1000 in less than 24 hrs using social media alone. We're most proud of a young lady being impacted just enough from 1 of our workshops that she changed her mind about quitting school. That was and still is very humbling and keeps me as a founder grounded and all things in perspective. 4. What is your background and how did you progress to your present position? I have a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences with a Nutrition background as well as Masters of Arts in School Administration. I would like to think being a public school teacher on the middle and high school level for 14 years and 17 days is the BEST training for anything relating to being a public servant and being able to build a relationship with several communities. 5. Do you face opposition? In addition, how do you deal with them? I've been laughed at, mocked, even ostracized by people most would label as "professional". I'm not sure if enough confetti even exists for me to throw in the air because I've learned to count it ALL joy. Being able to identify dreamkillers is quite similar to finally finding what was causing that smell in the car...something fell out of a grocery bag, tried to hide but couldn't hide for long. You found it and you get to toss it while enjoying fresher air. I use the opposition as motivation and as a sign that I'm on the right track.
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6. How does your company differ from other organizations? Geechie Gurl Inc strives to find those small unknown groups or the not so popular students who are making an honest effort to improve their situation but just need that extra help. We want to be one of the influences on someone restoring their hope and giving it one more try. We are very action oriented and focus on doing what needs to be done instead of wondering if it can be done. 7. How has your organization adjusted to the down economy? Quite simple...FAITH and I'm very serious when I say that. When you are doing work of this nature, God better be your guiding strength. We've been blessed to be surrounded by people who support our mission and we respect that they chose to do so. We are very transparent with how donations are being used. Social media makes this easier for us to do 8. What are some future goals? I would love to see Geechie Gurl expand and become a household name when talking about guaranteed results as well as an inspiration for people to follow through with their dreams. I am in the brainstorming stage now for logistics for summits, conferences, and more seminars with resources that are EFFECTIVE and relevant for participants. Also there's plans for a venture that involves education in a very unconventional setup...that's all I can say right now:-) 9. If you could change one thing about this company what would it be? Being that hindsight will forever be 20/20, I wish i had my board of directors 2 years ago. A dependable support system that believes in your vision AND dedicates their action to help ensure the success of every task is priceless and vital for the survival of a nonprofit. I talk to at least 1 of my board members everyday to keep creative juices flowing and positive vibes going. Also, If I could travel around the country doing workshops with school teachers and administrators on how to build a school culture, that would be phenomenal! 10. What advice would you give to someone who may want to start a non-profit organization? Understand, respect, and never forget that you are a servant affecting the outcome of people's life. Alot of hard work will be done and theres alot of work that will always need to be done so sometimes it may feel like youre not getting anywhere but the small completed tasks have removed a huge obstacle for someone. Learn from mistakes, celebrate successes big and small. Be clear in what your mission is in order to communicate your vision to others. Get rid of doubt and fear because there is no room for it and remove people, things, and situations that endanger your positive state of mind. Make sure you absolutely love and believe in what you do so that when the rough days come you still want to stick with it. Be honest with your supporters and those you are assisting. Build a brand that is respected and stay true to it.
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Name: Brittany Yates Occupation: Founder/CEO of Endless Dreams Foundation, Inc. One word to describe you: Determined Hobbies: writing, helping others, and event planning One thing you have learned in life: Never give up no matter how hard the situation might be. You’re going through it because you were made to push through it. Website: www.endlessdreamsfoundation.org Company Mission Statement: Our mission is to encourage the youth to set, pursue, and complete their goals. We seek to empower, motivate, and impact youth, in order to build a stronger community, as well as strive to build life time relationships within the community. 31
1. Why
did you want to create your organization?
I created this business because I know that no matter where you come from, how much money you have, or how much money your don’t have that still does not mean you are aware of what you want to do in life. 2. What are some of the main goals for the organization? The main goal of Endless Dreams Foundation, Inc. is to encourage youth to set, pursue, and complete their goals. We push youth to go fourth with higher education and to live out their dreams by living by three words: Dedication. Determination. Discipline. 3. In what ways have this organization’s products and services been most successful over the years? We are a fairly new organization and thus far we’ve been most successful at our virtual mentoring program (high school edition) and the College Care Package Program. We decided to have our mentoring program virtual due to the fact that we have so many volunteers who want to participate but aren’t necessarily in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. I’ve received numerous messages from the mentors and mentees thanking me for this program. Our College Care Package program also comes with a mentor, this is also virtual. This program is strictly for college students. We send college students the essential supplies they need to be successful in school. A few items include, paper, notebooks, pens, highlighters, etc. 4. What is your background and how did you progress to your present position? My very first job was as a teacher’s assistant at a preschool. I found my love for working with youth there. From there I help many leadership positions including the coordinator for an after school program. Assisting students with their homework, activities, and personal issues I figured why not start something of my own. 5. Do you face opposition? In addition, how do you deal with them? Absolutely, there is always going to be people in this world who disagree with what you’re doing or doubt you. Being that I am 22 years old there are so many people who suggest I spend my times doing other things besides helping the community. I don’t let things like that bother me, I take negatives and turn them into positives.
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6. How does your company differ from other organizations? Endless Dreams Foundation, Inc. differs from other organizations because we do not exclude youth who come from middle and upper class families. We focus on assisting youth pursue their goals and I believe a persons economic status has nothing to do with not knowing what you want to be or where you want to be in life. 7. How has your organization adjusted to the down economy? Adjusting to the down economy hasn’t affected this organization because we are fairly new, therefore we haven’t experience this economy in great standing. However, I we are experiencing getting more donations from small businesses rather than larger businesses. 8. What are some future goals? Some of our future goals are to become the number one source for goal completion and to provide continuous workshops for those who are aspiring entrepreneurs. Another goal of ours is to touch the lives of as many youth as possible. By the end of 2012 we would like to have Endless Dreams Foundation in four states. 9. If you could change one thing about this company what would it be? The only thing that I would change is not having an office space right now. The reason being, we have individuals who want to volunteer to assist us with administrative duties but we do not have the office space to house them. Also, it would be easier to have workshops, seminars, programs etc. if we had our own office space. However, we are getting there! 10. What advice would you give to someone who may want to start a non-profit organization? I would say do your research. Starting a business with no knowledge is not a good thing. Know who you are trying to reach, why you are trying to reach them, what programs you want to offer, etc. If a nonprofit is your business of choice, know that it is a lot of hard work. Contact Info Twitter: @NoEnd2Dreaming Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ endlessdreamsfoundationinc Website: http://endlessdreamsfoundation.org
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Lifestyle: Cute ideas for back to school
Organization desk for any age going back to school $159 Cute idea your school books with a pocket for pencils and notes. Prices depend on material
Cute purse idea to have something different for the first day of school. $20 for all materials not including the actual book.
Great idea to make the most out of composition notebooks
Back to school pencil cases that you can design and sew to match your book bag. Price depends on material.
Cute goodie to put in school bag or lunch box to say I love you. Less than $20 to make
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Lifestyle: Parenting Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? By Inyeda White website: http://thiscooknmom.blogspot.com
Summer is almost over and instead of wondering, if my child is ready for kindergarten, I can not help but think; yes, my child is past ready for kindergarten, she should be going to first grade. Yes, I am on of those parents who thinks all of her children are pure geniuses despite possible deficiencies in mental, emotional, social, or language areas. But is my child ready for the first grade? Is she even truly ready for kindergarten? Yes, she can count to 100 and beyond, do simple math, spell, write, and recite our address and phone number, but does she really get it? I have come to learn that children can take in information and recite at lightening speeds, but it does not mean that they are fully aware, that they comprehend completely. If my child took a basic test to skip kindergarten and advance to first grade, I do believe she would pass. Would a one time test accurately result all the skills she needs? Will it show that she is ready mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially as well as academically? I rather her master one concept then have a beginner’s grasp, which is limited, at several different concepts at this point her educational journey. Truth is, my child is going to kindergarten and that is where she belongs. She will be able to master what she already knows and we can expand on new lessons at home. I am not telling you to take a back seat as an advocate in your child’s education, but to evaluate your child’s readiness for knowledge. Forget the book smarts. Here are some basic skills your child should have before entering kindergarten: Does your child speak clearly? Can your child communicate his/her needs and wants openly? Does your child respect those in authority and not just you? Does your child play in a group well? Can your child follow instructions in a sequence? Can your child share, take turns, and wait in line? Is your child fully potty trained? Can your child calm his/herself down? Can your child dress his/herself? Is your child able to pay attention? 37
Lifestyle: Technology By D. Allen Top 6 Android Apps to help you with back to school I know everyone has an iPhone but there are still a few of us who have still operate on the Android system. Adults and kids normally can’t live without their cell so while in school you want to make sure you have the best apps to get you through your day. I will list the top 6 that helps me in school because as a working adult going back to school I need something to stay on top of my game. Here are some of the apps I use…. 1. Evernote: This is a great app to use to jot down notes. My wife uses it as her grocery list and I use it to help me study. I can bookmark websites for classes and take notes. I can also snap pictures and save them to evernote under that category. I like that I can use evernote on my phone and on my computer and everything syncs into one spot. You can also use it to jot down an idea for your blog or business as you think of it. That way you can keep it all in once place and be able to add or subtract. It’s basically a notebook on the go. 2. In school we are always trying to make money or have a side hustle with this side hustle we want to be able to make sure we don’t run out of business cards. The CamCard business card reader is spot on for making sure you keep in contact with all of your contacts. With technology moving at such a fast pace we want something that is on the go without carrying a bunch of cards with us. This app helps organize and keep contacts all in your phone. They have the free version and the paid one I recommend the paid one if you have a big business it’s worth the price. In plain English it’s a business card reader on the go. 3. Smart Tools: These days I am over math although I am pretty decent in adding and subtracting. When it comes to doing angles and lengths I am so lost and this is coming for a 30 something year old. Math is not my best subject so I when my cousin asked me to help with his math homework the other day I had to download this app it worked great and I was able to help him….did I mention he was in elementary school. I see they are starting with angles at an early age. Get the app to help with your kids homework it works wonders for those geometry problems.
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4. With me working and going to school I don’t get a chance to catch up on the news of the day. I like to make sure I stay aware of what’s going on in and around the world. One of my favorite apps is Pulse. It’s an app that collects all my favorite news articles to read later and I can share on facebook and twitter. Sometimes I don’t get internet in the school buildings but that’s okay I can still read my favorite stories offline. I can add it to my evernote reader and I can also compile my favorites into my reader. On the go news will make sure you don’t miss out on anything.
5. WakeVoice: I am a morning person but my wife is not. I like that this app you can record your own personal message to get you up in the morning. I heard my wife talking to it one morning and I was looking at her crazy not realizing she was talking to the phone. You can tell the phone to cut off without pressing any buttons with a simple word or phrase that you create. I was able to re program her phone and woke her up one morning with my voice I saw the crack of a smile she let it stay on there for a whole week *winning* This is a great app for those who need help waking up in the morning.
6. iTriage: WebMD meets the android system. We all get sick and when you first come to college especially in a new city you want to make sure you know where the nearest clinics or hospitals are at. With this app you can find common ailments that can be answered, a nurse hotline that answers questions, and best of all you can find out the wait time for some local hospitals near you. I try not to go into the ER unless I have too and with this app I don’t have to go at a peak time. Now if you are literally dying then go to the ER and do not use this app if you feel something is terribly wrong get a real doctors opinion. This app is useful for small twinges and also to look up things while you are bored just to stay on top of your health.
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Lifestyle: Love and relationship by Mimi Scarlett
Name: Mimi Scarlett Hometown: Washington, DC Occupation: Entreprenuer/ SAHM One word to describe you: Adaptable Hobby: Blogging, spending time with my family and friends Website: www.lipglossandbinky.com and www.divinitee.com
“Mimi, I have a friend that wants to talk to you. Can I give him your number?� This question was posed to me by a college friend in April of 1998 while sitting on the steps of McGuinn Hall, a female dormitory at Florida A&M University. I was slightly aware of the friend she was speaking of and advised her it was okay to pass on my information not thinking by the longest shot that 16 years later we would be married with kids!!
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Adrian and I officially became a couple in the summer of 1998. We were sophomores in college, we were in love. My mother wasn’t fond of how serious we were. Of course at the time I didn’t understand, but then things started to unravel. I think he was looking for a “wifey” to hold down the homefront while he was out enjoying his early adulthood, but little did he know I wanted to run the streets as well and enjoy my college years. I didn’t want to be home cooking dinner while he was out with his friends. I wanted to enjoy my friends as well. The novelty eventually wore off, and I think it sunk in by the next summer that we were indeed a little too young to be so involved with each other and we decided to break up the following summer. I was devastated, but I remember him saying to me, “If it’s meant to be, it will be.” We went our separate ways for nearly 3 years. He went on to father a child with another woman while I lived it up. I went to school, worked, and partied. I worked hard and played harder. I took time to live alone and really get a great understanding and focus on where I was headed and what I wanted in life. Oddly enough we went to college in a small town and very rarely saw one another during our time apart. We had mutual friends and we would pass messages between them and I would always tell people that I still loved him as a friend and wished him luck in his new relationship and when I said so I came from a genuine place.
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Then destiny seemed to show up. For nearly 3 years I never saw him and then the summer of 2002 it seemed like everywhere I went I saw him. The grocery store, the auto parts store, the financial aid line. It was crazy! We were cordial and then I got a phone call from a mutual friend that he was no longer with his daughter’s mother and wanted to see if I was receptive to us maybe getting back together. Although I had fleeting thoughts I knew I didn’t want to deal with the drama that often comes with dating a man with a child, but after all those years he still had a special place in my heart so I took a chance and told that person to have him ask me himself, and he did. Let him tell it, the clues were there; I was just playing hard to get, as if!!! The rest is pretty much history. We got back together in January of 2003. We have had some bumps and bruises along the way but I am convinced our years of friendship are what enabled us to stay afloat during the rough times. Post graduation we lived in Charlotte, NC and moved to Atlanta, GA in 2004. We got married and had our first child in 2005. We settled into our new life together as husband and wife and decided to work through some important things such as finances, successfully blending our family, and me grieving the loss of my mother before deciding to have more children. In 2009 we decided it was time to expand our roster and in May of 2010 we welcomed our baby girl into the family. Will there be more children? I say yes, he says no! We’ll see.
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Inspiration Where do you find inspiration? By Kita Bryant Do you find inspiration in a song? Is it a quote? Is it from a person? I find my biggest inspirations from songs. I can hear a song and the words will speak to me. One of my favorite songs that I am listening too right now that gives me my inspiration is I was here by Beyonce. This song touches me because I want to leave something for people to remember me by. People who die these days I always ask what did they do? Did they fulfill their purpose? If they died doing something meaningful then they have lived. They have done their best and brought someone happiness and at the end of the day they lived a full life so we have nothing to be sad about. This song moves me and makes me want to do something worth doing. Not to show off or be better than anyone I just want to change a life, leave a legacy for my children, and do something that inspires someone else. I have seen people waste their life not because they don’t have talent or because they can’t do something it’s because they have no inspiration. Inspiration in the dictionary is defined as the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative. I want to leave my footprints in the sand without any regrets. I look at my life of a few decades and I feel I have not done everything I have wanted to do. I have not shined to the best of my ability I have not lived. As I embark on my Journey into my 30’s I want to make this decade the best. I want to make sure I was among the living and I have done everything I have always wanted to do. Inspire someone in your life even if it’s a joke, a story, something grandma may have said, a business, or a hobby. Do something in your life not only for yourself but for others. People are watching you and they see you and sometimes we inspire more than we know. “If you only do what you know you can do- you never do very much.” ~ Tom Krause Do more with your life, do things that you never thought you could do.
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It’s all about food: Packing kids a lunch for back to school by K. Bryant
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What’s for dinner? By C. Haynes Shrimp and spinach baked pasta Ingredients 1 pound fresh medium sized shrimp 2 cups of fresh spinach 1 pound Penne (pasta) Ÿ cup of chopped onion 1 16 oz pack shredded cheddar cheese 1 can evaporated milk 1 tbspn sour cream 4 tbspn butter Creole seasoning Peel, devine and wash shrimp Cut shrimp in half
Chop the fresh spinach leaves.
Sautee shrimp and chopped onion in 1 tbsp. butter Lightly season shrimp with creole seasoning. Cook on low heat until shrimp turn pink. You do not want to over cook the shrimp.
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Sautee the spinach in 1 tbspn butter (I used 2 cups. However, this amount can be determined based on how much spinach you would like in your pasta. Remember, the spinach will cook down once you sautee them.)
Boil your penne. Cook for approximately 11 minutes. You do not want to over cook the penne. Drain and rinse with warm water.
Mix ½ cup evaporated milk, 2 tbspn butter, 1 tbspn sour cream and 1/3 cup cheese in a pot on stove. Cook on low heat and continue to stir. Remove onces cheese has melted.
In a caserole baking dish, add your penne. Make sure you lightly season with creole seasoning. Add the shrimp and spinach. Pour the evaporated milk mixture evenly over the penne and shrimp. Mix in caserole dish. (You may need to add more evaporated milk at this point.) Cover the entire dish with the remaining bag of shredded cheese.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes.
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http://www.astepaheadpreschool.org/ Director: Shayla Barnes
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1. What is your background and how did you pro-
gress to your present position? I am a previous center director for a corporate learning center where I was responsible for over 150 students and a staff of over 30 teachers, cooks, and van/bus drivers. I have a B.A. degree in Child Development with a minor in Social Welfare and Pan African Studies. I recently completed my masters degree in Early Childhood Studies. I am currently working toward my Ed.S. degree in Education.
2. What made you want to open up a preschool? My family and I moved here
from California late 2006. My intentions were to transfer with my company as a center director here but there were no centers near our home that I felt comfortable with taking over. At the time my oldest daughter was 2 years old. As I also searched for a preschool program for her I was disappointed with my options. I decided to step out on faith and open my own in home preschool (I always had dreams of opening my own center).
3. What makes your school different from the rest? I am a parent first. I try to
approach each situation, options offered to parents and changes within the school with my parent hat on. I never want to be disconnected from that aspect of my business. In addition, I run my in home preschool in a very professional manner. I've taken from the corporate side of my experience what I liked and what seemed to work and have applied it to my business. Along with that customer service is key. I like to make sure my customers are happy, and ever so often I like to show them how much they are appreciated. All these things and more are what makes me stand out from the other in home preschools.
4. What was you ultimate goal when you decided to
open your business and has that goal changed? My ultimate goal was to provide quality preschool, prekindergarten curriculum along with quality care for children ages 2 and up. My goal has remained the same but as times have changed I've seen the need for quality child care and schooling in the younger years grow. Many public school districts aren't able to offer prekindergarten to all students in the area who are of age to receive it. Many parents are turning to private options such as my school so that their children aren't behind when they start public school.
5. Do you spend more time working in your business than you did when you
were employed by someone else? I definitely spend more time working on my own business than I did when I was employed by any other company. As a center director you were expected to work 60 hours per week no matter what. I hated devoting so much time to someone else's dream. I was always tired and felt unappreciated. Working for my own business is totally different. On a easy day I put in 12 hours and sometimes up to 16 hours. Although the hours are greater the benefits out last the time. Not to mention, when its something you enjoy you never feel like its work! 49
6. How
has your organization adjusted to the down economy? My preschool has bounced back pretty well. When we first opened we instantly filled our enrollment spots and had a waiting list. We began to feel the hit of the economy in the summer of 2010. We went from a fully enrolled school to one full time student and 1 part time student. Majority of my preschool families had been hit hard by the economy change. Some lost jobs, others lost homes and many ended up leaving our community as a result of it all. It was quite a sad time for us. Aside from the financial lost, many of my students and families become a major part of our family. It was hard to see so many people you care for go through a hard time and eventually not be able to see them at all. 7. If you could change one thing about this company what would it be? I would love to expand my preschool to a small facility outside of my home. I wouldn't exceed enrollment past 20 students as I love the small school/community feel. 8. What advice would you give to someone who wanted to own their own business? Step out on faith and do it! The task will not be easy and many people will tell you no, or not support you but if you trust in God and are willing to do the work its possible! Be prepared to put in the work and the rest will come. 9. How do you think your business will change in 10 years? I believe my business will have grown. I would eventually like to expand the A Step Ahead Preschool title into a A Step Ahead brand. I would like to offer consulting for others looking to open their own in home preschool and offer an agency of tutoring services where college students offer tutoring to middle and high school students at their home. I have many ideas for the brand, I'm just waiting for the right time to execute them all.
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Everything you’ve ever experienced, Everything you’ve ever tasted and Everything you’ve ever loved is found at home. Experience family, friends, and love once again in the debut novel Everything I Miss At Home by CL Alexander. You can order online at barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com
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Your Health: Dealing with Alzheimer by Kita Bryant
Do you know someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer/Dementia? If so join the discussion on twitter so we can help each other understand the how and the why. #alzheimerskokoa *Note– I am not a doctor these are my opinions and real life facts from what I have personally seen of the disease that my grandmother died with*
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My grandmother was my heart she loved the outside and could cook her behind off. I remember her always telling me stories and always having breakfast ready for me. My mother worked so my grandmother helped in raising me. At the age of around 12 my grandmother, who was probably in her early 60’s at the time, started to do a lot of things that were unlike her. For example she would leave the water running in the sink, or call me by my mothers name. She seemed to forget a lot of simple things. Now at the time I was just thinking this may be old age and I sure hope I don’t forget things when I hit 60. My mother never noticed anything either. When I would mention that grandma did something odd she would just say oh she is just up in age. When we really realized that my grandma had Alzheimer’s disease it was too late someone that we trusted came in and discovered she was losing her memory and wiped thousands of dollars out of her account. We were not able to recoup anything because my grandma had signed things and at that time we had no proof she had dementia. After we got her checked out and diagnosed properly she went from just doing odd things to literally not being able to function on her own. It changed our whole lives because someone had to be with my grandma 24 hours a day. She could not be left alone at all. There are many warnings that lead to Alzheimer a few that were told to us are
Loss of Memory ~ My grandmother didn’t know which child was which. She knew her kids name but she would call my mother my aunts name. She started to forget the days of the week and she didn’t remember her own name at times
Problems with speaking or writing ~ My grandmother stopped writing in her bible and that was unheard of she always wrote in that bible. She also stopped speaking all together for about a month straight.
Poor Judgment ~ Now we all make poor judgment but if I ask you for 50 dollars and you give me 500 dollars that’s way beyond poor judgment. My grandmother lost her life savings because someone latched on to her poor judgment.
Changes in mood and personality ~ I knew something was up when she started liking my grandpa again…..they had been divorced for over 10 years and she detested him.
All in all we did not see the signs early enough and we wished that we did. We could have stepped in sooner and saved her some money. When you have a loved one who has Alzheimer’s you have to make sure they get around the clock care. My mother gave that care to my grandma because we could not afford a senior citizen home for her. We had to invest in babysitters that were cheaper that could relieve my mom throughout the week. The disease itself doesn’t kill you but because the person can’t tell you if they are in pain or having any illness then that may cause a problem that may lead to death or severe sickness. There are many things you can do to avoid getting this disease but it’s one of those things that you just never know. My advice would be to keep your mind young, stay healthy, and live while you can.
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The Funnies back to school edition
The truth about teaching Teaching is something not everyone can do . It should include more than books and papers and glue. Topics should include bathroom, crying, and cold classrooms. Instead they include reading, math and the lunch menu. By A. Carter (8 years old)
Teacher: This paper needs more words added to it. Re submit the paper tomorrow and add more. Student: *goes home and changes font size to 14 instead of 11* Student: *giving the teacher the paper* How does this look Teacher: Much better great job. *blank stare*
Teacher: The equation says I have 1 bottle in one hand and I have 2 bottles in my other hand. How many bottles do I have all together Student: Is this a math problem or a drinking problem Teacher: It’s a math problem now what’s the answer Student: Counseling cause that’s a lot of bottles to bring to school.
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Readers Corner "Not your typical happily ever after...but happy nonetheless" By Shanay Lowe Once upon a time, there was this beautiful girl. Across town from her lived this handsome boy. On the first day of high school during an ongoing orientation speech, his handsome eyes locked with her beautiful ones from across the room-straight through the crowd as if they were the only two beings in the room. From that moment on they became inseparable. They were voted cutest couple, prom king & queen, and even got accepted to the same Ivy league college. After graduation they moved from their small town outside of Chicago and moved into their first apartment together in the big apple. The handsome boy was now a handsome young man and she was now a beautiful young lady-more in love with one another than the day they met. One warm spring night, about a week before college graduation he popped the question. Four months later they had a beautiful fall wedding in the park and after a year of blissful marriage they gave birth to their first child. When others look at this couple walking down the street, they say to themselves "I want that." The thing is, this relationship is about as realistic as your chances of winning the lottery-not that finding true love is slim to none-just the circumstances of finding it in that manner and even more difficult-holding on to it, would more than likely happen drastically different. Unfortunately due to the over-exposure of romantic comedies and fairy tales, many women tend to have this idea of love locked in the back of their minds. Many times we are so focused on getting to the happily ever after ending that we may over look our prince charming because he is not in the proper attire that we were anticipating and are not even fully focused on the journey itself that leads to the happy ending. Hopefully you have figured out by now that the above story is fiction-told to illustrate a point of misconstrued values of love. The story that I am about to share however is very real and almost overly relatable to many women. It was Maya Johnson's first year of college at Valdosta State University in the fall of 2004. She saw Devon Foster during her first day of one of the three classes that they shared. At this particular point in time he didn't quite fit the tall dark and handsome description due to his recent football team initiation in which all of his facial hair-everything from the hair on his head to the hair across his brows were shaved off. The girls weren't exactly flocking around him as often as normal but that's what separates the pigeons from the doves; out of every other fully haired guy around her, Devon was the one that still caught Maya's eye. She held onto this crush for a few months, covertly admiring "Pretty Eyes" Devon from a distance. After a few months of innocent and casual conversation, they came to the understanding that there was an attraction that they could not fight, but due to circumstances including Maya's hometown boyfriend and Devon's baby-mama waiting for him back in Atlanta, they agreed to keep their relationship light and fun and become "Cut buddies" or more commonly known as "Friends with benefits." This was their little secret that not even their closest friends new of. About midway through their freshman year they temporarily stopped their agreement when Devon had his second child with another girl. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't the child bearing that got to Maya, but physically seeing him openly interact with another girl in public. This is when she first realized she really had feelings for Devon but of course couldn't let him know that because she was suppose to be the "cool home-girl" not the "jealous girlfriend."
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By Sophomore year Maya had broken up with her hometown boyfriend. And although the sexual arrangement was at a halt with Devon, their friendship seemed to have grown stronger than ever. They were both seeing other people but that special fire between the two of them never burnt out. Maya had a new boyfriend by her Junior year, but it was apparent that this guy was no good for her and he only proved the odds against him right when he got sent away to jail. Naturally Devon came to her emotional and physical rescue and extended his shoulder out for her to lean on during her emotional time of need-which eventually opened the door back up to their original arrangement. However, the stakes were raised in the arrangement this time around. Devon moved to a small town away outside of Fort Valley but Maya was right beside him visiting him every chance she got. She even temporarily stayed with Devon over one summer while she was getting her housing situation taken care of. At this point in their relationship, it was so open that they had each other for physical comfort whenever desired, but there were times when Maya wasn't the lady of his bed and a guest star filled her role for the evening; and she volunteered her space to accommodate his sexual requests without question. Naturally that situation only lasted so long...Maya and Devon spent their last intimate night together before her boyfriend came home from jail after being away for nearly a year. It was this night in question that changed the entire course of Maya and Devon's relationship. They all went out to a night club to celebrate her boyfriend's homecoming, but Devon hardly expected the homecoming hit of pain and jealousy that hit him that night when he saw Maya and her boyfriend walking hand in hand past him that night. Something clicked in his head and he told Maya that he needed to talk to her the following night. When she arrived and they spoke, he told her as calmly as possible that he could not be her friend anymore-he couldn't handle seeing her in the arms of another guy. Maya took the opportunity to also speak up and let him know that she didn't like seeing him with other girls either. No ultimatum were demanded, but after years of tip toeing around the idea of an actual relationship, some decisions were made-they were either to move forward together or let one another go. They both had plans on returning to Atlanta after graduation, but the expectations of Devon from his family were in complete contrast to the plans he was making for himself and Maya. His family wanted him to do the "right thing" and be with the mother of his first child despite the fact that they were never together when she conceived nor wanted to be. Devon decided to take control of his life and called his baby-mama and let her know that he was returning to Atlanta, he would take care of his child, but he would not be with her because he was in love with someone else. Maya immediately broke ties with her jailbird boyfriend without hesitation. After four years of an on-again-off-again affair, they found themselves right where they knew they were suppose to be all along: Together. They returned to Atlanta in 2008 and had to start their lives from scratch. After finding and finally getting comfortable in a small but cozy one bedroom apartment together in the city, their lives took a sharp U turn. Devon ended up getting sent away to jail the day before Thanksgiving for a period of time for an open warrant that he had out for his arrest. Maya had to temporarily stay with his mother while he was incarcerated due to financial matters, but Bonnie wrote and talked to her Clyde every other night. On one particular night when Maya came home from work, Devon's mother was beyond anxious to have Maya read a letter that came from Devon. Maya didn't see anything of significance about the situation as she had regularly received and written letters to Devon so she
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significance about the situation as she had regularly received and written letters to Devon so she was a bit bewildered on why his mother was so excited for her to read this one-and in front of her. So as Maya got settled and finally began to read the letter, his mother brings out a video camera when she got to the end of the letter, looking through the lense with her joyful and hopeful eyes awaiting Maya's response. The letter was signed, Your Fiance' and under the P.S. asked Yes or No? Devon's mother instructed her to look under her bedroom mattress where she found a diamond engagement ring. The answer was naturally yes. Today, 25 year old Maya is a bartender in Atlanta and about 7 months away from motherhood. 26 year old Devon is a sales manager, and the two of them are planning their wedding that they plan to have within the next year-as soon as their first child together is born. Within the next 5 years they are working toward owning their first and own home together, Devon plans to open his own barbershop, and they plan to continue to grow as a couple and family. As dramatic as some of this may have sounded, it is unfortunately much more realistic than the first story. It is not impossible, but EXTREMELY rare to find a high school sweetheart and/or college love and just stay together for years at a time with not hardships within the relationship. Real love is the farthest thing from a fairy tale. Real love takes patience, time, struggle and commitment to persevere. One thing that Maya says she carries with her everyday after coming so far within her relationship with Devon is "I think people need to find a friend within their lover. If you really truly love someone and you know that they're there for you and you're there for them...DON'T GIVE UP. And you can't be scared to struggle with your man if you really love him; despite everything-even your own standards sometimes-because you're not always gonna meet a guy when he's on his feet, but if you're willing to grow, then its more than worth it."
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Credits Most pictures from: Google Images http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?&ex=2&qu=school http://www.rgbstock.com/images/school/6 http://www.stockfreeimages.com/2328063/Back-toschool.html#.T_sxnfXW9oU All pictures have the image link embedded into the picture for where each picture came from. http://polyvore.com
Fashion photos done by Lashawn Wiltz http://photography.chroniclesofpookahsmom.com Styling for the fashion section by K. Wilson Food photos done by C. Haynes Cover Photo picture taken by K. Bryant and layout done by Kymberly “TheChicestGeek� Glass Fashion photos for article done by Shavon Michelle Morris All information about contributors are in the contributors section on page 4
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Back to School Shopping
Don’t wait until August to start getting your back to school supplies!! Normally right after July 4th these items will go on sale. You can stock up and then not have to buy supplies through the year. And why not buy a few winter clothes now??? All of the stores have their winter clothes for DIRT CHEAP right now. You will also get great sales for summer clothes closer to the end of the year. Buy those items in October/November and hold on to them for the next year. SAVE SAVE SAVE!!! At least try to take advantage of the tax-free weekends this year. Here is the list of participating states.
Alabama- August 3-5, 2012 Arkansas-August 4-5, 2012 Florida- August 3-5, 2012 Iowa- August 3-4, 2012 Louisiana- August 3-4, 2012 Maryland- August 12-18, 2012 Mississippi- July 27-28, 2012 North Carolina- August 3-5, 2012 South Carolina- August 3-5, 2012 Tennessee- August 3-5, 2012 Texas- August 17-19, 2012 Virginia- August 3-5, 2012 HAPPY SHOPPING! DCSquared
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