Southern Sweets 2018 Summer Issue by Southern Sweets Magazine

SOUTHERN SWEETS A HOME AND LIFESTYLE DIGITAL INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

AFFORDABLE VACATIONS Getaway Budgets for Solo Trips Couples and the Entire Family

BREAKING GROUND

Building Journey of the Roney Farmhouse

SUMMER'S NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY GUIDE BEACH BODY RECIPES ISSUE 03

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JULY 2018

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FEATURING VELVET KAKE LLC

what's inside? 4 Breaking Ground

14 Explore Summer Escapes

Home security tips and smart home technologies

16 Feature Spotlight: Velvet Kake LLC

3 From the Editors 8 A Kids DIY Bathroom Makeover 11 Summer's Home Security Tips 13 Summer Patio Prep Outdoor Styling for the Backyard Summer Retreat 17 Summer's Neighborhood Block Party Guide A Backyard Celebration 19 Beach Body Recipes 21 Our Turn 2Care Raising Awareness and Connecting Millennial Family Caregivers 27 Ask Southern Sweets

Raising awareness and connecting millennial family caregivers

From the Editors

Hi again! Whew, we made it! Summer is officially here and I can’t wait for these long summer nights, wind down Jazz Wednesdays, road trips, and dives in the cool summer waters. How about you? On July 17, 2017, we released the first issue of Southern Sweets and here we are almost a year later just as excited and full of hope as we were with that very first issue. Thank you to all of our subscribers, social media followers, family, and friends for your continued support. This magazine is nothing without you guys and we both want to express our sincere gratitude. Thank you for a wonderful first year and we hope you continue to follow us for many more years to come. Hope you all enjoy this month’s issue and have a safe, fun, and enjoyable summer!

KOYA TYSON AND MICHELLE GOWDY CREATORS | WRITERS | EDITORS OF SOUTHERN SWEETS MAGAZINE

EDITORS NOTE '

BREAKING GROUND BY KORI RONEY

We live in what I like to call “The HGTV era.” A glorious time where Joanna Gaines is more popular than the Kardashians, shiplap is sexy, and the average Joe gains the confidence to take on rehabbing a broken down farmhouse.

BREAKING GROUND

We broke ground on our home; lovingly named “The Roney Farmhouse” back in April and I have to tell you, for a couple of former bartenders, we never dreamed we would be on the verge of building our own home from the ground up. How did we get here? Would our marriage survive this? Would we stay on budget? Would I get my double ovens? These were just a few of the questions I found myself asking, as my husband, Paul and I, sat on our back porch a year ago. We had been looking at houses for a couple of months and kept running up against the same problems. The houses were too expensive, the property was in the middle of a flood plain, or we were right on top of the neighbors. Building was not part of our vocabulary, even

The Roney Farmhouse

though Paul was doing it for a living for going on 4 years. He came home that day, caked in drywall, but beaming with pride as he showed me pictures of the house they were working on. Like anyone these days, I had just finished an episode of Fixer Upper and I just blurted out “we could do that.” Also, like anyone these days that has ever watched an episode, I really thought we COULD do it. He was a builder after all and I hadn’t screwed up the decorating of our current home too much. We had done minor projects on the home pretty much since the first week we started dating. After my proclamation, my handsome husband looked at me with his blue eyes and told me I was crazy. But after a few

moments…and a few bourbons, we found ourselves in a deep conversation about the pros and cons of building a home. And like all good ideas with the foundation of good bourbon and two people in love, we turned a thought into a reality. That could go either way really, but for us, a lot of big life decisions have involved a bottle of the good stuff. I wish that I could tell you that it was smooth sailing from that point, but then I would be flat out lying to you and myself. And what is a relationship if not solely based on trust? It’s been hard. I can count one thing that has been easy about this build: the plans. A gift from my best friend’s mother. Everything from finding land in the up and coming and oh so charming town of Ball Ground, the loan, the

BREAKING GROUND

the permits…all difficult! For someone that doesn’t have a construction background, the biggest lesson I’m continuing to learn is tempering my expectations. Chip and Joanna never fully prepared me to have a (still to this day) fight with my husband over a metal roof because I desperately want one and we can’t afford it. Don’t get me wrong. Tackling this house build is destined to be one of the most rewarding accomplishments in my life. As much as the construction (math) side is straight up my husband’s alley, the inside is where I get to stretch my creative muscles. The real task for me has been the struggle to create a home with all of my favorite farmhouse touches, without it getting too kitschy. I want shiplap and I want wrought iron door knobs, but where do you draw the line? Does a giant Magnolia Market Laundry sign make me want to do laundry even more? (Probably not). How much black and white is too much black and white? And at what point does all black and white tip dangerously toward a Kardashian’s modern monochrome style? It’s these ridiculous decisions that make a house so incredibly personal. And sure, there are days that I feel weird spending my lunch breaks going over toilet paper holders, but then I think about how lucky I am that I get to be a part of every minute decision down to those blessed toilet paper holders. While we have been digging, pouring concrete, and watching the farmhouse slowly emerge from the Georgia clay, I have been tucking away all of my design ideas like some sort of fixer upper squirrel. You can

expect to see the typical craftsman style door and the board and batten shutters with a great front porch that our rocking chairs will be. However, you’ll also see a Tiffany blue porch ceiling, a nod to Charleston’s traditions of keeping out the bad spirits (or “Haints”) and also to ward off the mosquitos. There will be shiplap, because…why not? And there will be double ovens, because if there is one thing that brings me immense happiness, it is baking. I feel like the best way to talk about building a home is to take all of the lessons that I have learned and impart what little wisdom I have on the subject to those that wish to take this journey (thus far): Ask a LOT of questions. There are no dumb questions when it comes to getting things right. Paul does this on the regular, so when he starts to rattle off a million things peppered with construction jargon, it’s like listening to a redneck speak French. Learning is our best tool. Knowing everything that is happening as the home begins taking shape is so important. Have a budget. Ok, anyone that has ever planned a wedding before knows about this one. Except, there is no wiggle room for the videographer. For a building loan, your budget needs to be iron clad. Make a list of your wants (and be prepared to make some compromises on about a third of them). Pick your nonnegotiables carefully.

Make decisions based not on fad, but on functionality and things that will stand the test of time. Shiplap a couple of accent walls, sure. Install an all glass garage door in your family room, AWESOME, but not super functional. Create an idea binder or Pinterest board full of inspiration. When I planned weddings, I used to tell brides to do this for two straight weeks before I met with them. Same applies here. Pin to your heart’s content! Then, organize them by room and start cutting out the extra fat. Research. Whether it comes to the lenders or the builders, make sure that you are shopping around and asking for references. Look at some of their work if you can and don’t just pick the first person out the gate. Be patient and prepared. Building is a waiting game. Sometimes you might be ready to move onto the next step, but you have to wait a week for a crew to do your siding, or your build gets backed up because of rain. And remember to be ready for when those guys show up. Have all of your supplies ordered and delivered so that the process can be as smooth as possible.

BREAKING GROUND

I look forward to sharing this adventure with you as we get further into our build. I am particularly excited to show you all of the personal touches I have planned. From the reclaimed wood over our kitchen island to the custom master closets with the sliding barn doors (and maybe even a custom shower for the dogs). You’ll just have to wait and see!

f o e r o m e y Se e n r u o j e ! g th o l b y m on BREAKING GROUND

A Kids DIY Bathroom Makeover By Michelle Gowdy

For the first two and a half years in our home, one bathroom has particularly received a lack of TLC and attention – the kids' hall bathroom. It had been painted a dark golden color which made the small space feel even more confined and dark. Not very inviting to say the least. There was a huge water leak stain and various other unknown marks on the ceiling (gross). Even the door was uneven and dragged across the floor making it difficult for my, then three year old, opening and closing the door on her own. And the house being now 12 years old, it still had those dated orangey oak cabinets and pinkish beige tile flooring. Just a mess! It wasn't until recently getting a new roof when they addressed some of our interior spaces, including this hall bathroom, and gave it life again. Now I was ready to show it some love.

A KIDS DIY BATHROOM MAKEOVER

THE DIY PROCESS

...

I searched online for quite awhile drafting my Pinterest board for what I liked for the kids bathroom. I was looking for something that looked more modern, fresh, kid-friendly, bright, and fun. I knew we weren't doing a full renovation (new bathtub/shower stall, cabinets, etc.) at the moment so I had to work with what I had and all within my budget.

My inspiration pic!

STO NINGTO N GRAY One of my favorite color grays is Benjamin Moore's Stonington Gray HC-170. That is our base color used throughout our house in our foyer, hallways, loft, and now the kids' bathroom. This was a perfect selection, because it's light and airy and it definitely brightened the space in a windowless room.

Before

C O UNTERTO P MAK EO VER The bathroom countertop was a dark, black and gray tone laminate that added to the room's darkness. I wanted a fresh and bright look and it doesn't get much brighter than white. Although I have a four and seven year old, I wasn't afraid of choosing that color, despite the potential cleanup I'd have several times a day. For one, I like creating rooms that are timeless and grow with the individual(s). They will not be four and seven forever, nor will I be repainting year after year to transform kiddie bath to preteen and so on. How it looks and functions today will work just as well for several years to come, so no major changes needed. Works for me! I painted over the existing countertop using Sherwin Williams in Extra White in semi-gloss. Next step, I applied polyurethane, however, it was an oil-based polyurethane. BIG mistake! Was in such a hurry to paint the polyurethane to seal the paint, I didn't even check or see that I bought oil based instead of water based. My white countertop turned yellow within 48 hours and another trip to Lowe's Home Improvement was due. More time and money spent. Lessons learned: pay attention to the details; read all instructions before applying; and take your time.

A KIDS DIY BATHROOM MAKEOVER

THE DIY PROCESS

...

REFO RM DATED C AB INETS I'm still in the process of painting over all the orange oak cabinets throughout the house and this room was no exception. Thankfully, I had quite a bit of leftover paint I'd been using for other projects, so I just used what I had ($ savings!), which was the Sherwin Williams Extra White in semigloss.

UPDATE FLO O RING After the countertop and cabinets were painted, then I painted the tile floor to a dark gray color. Again, I reused leftover paint I already had been using for other cabinets. It was Benjamin Moore in Iron Mountain in semigloss. I also applied a clear polyurethane top coating to seal the paint. The hardest decision here was determining whether to paint over the grout lines or allow the grout lines to show. Both can be done beautifully, but I chose to paint over them and I'm glad I did.

After

DO O R TRIMMING Prior to sealing the floors, everytime anyone would close the bathroom door, it dragged across the floor, chipping away at my paint each time. That for sure would be a no go. We actually had to take the door down and have a couple bottom inches sawed off so that the door could properly close. Once rehung, I painted a fresh coat of white paint to the front and back door, so even that now looks brand new.

AC C ESSO RIZE Once the major paint jobs were completed, the real fun could begin. Shopping for accessories! This would be relatively low budget, because not much was needed or that would be very costly. I bought a new shower rod and shower curtain, soap dispenser, bath rug, and replaced the standard towel bar holder to hooks so both kids could hang towels and other items as needed. Since the space was for the kids, I wanted them to get in on the action too. I bought two black picture frames from IKEA and had the kids draw several pictures for me to have hung on the wall for artwork. Each month, the kids pick out new drawings from their collection and we switch out the artwork, so it's now become a fun and creative space for them to enjoy as much as I do.

A KIDS DIY BATHROOM MAKEOVER

| Â

SUMMER'S HOME SECURITY TIPS By Michelle Gowdy

Summer's here and it's time to play, but don't forget, while you're away, that's when the crooks like to play too. It’s all too easy to get swept up in the excitement, hussle and bussle of summer. Most kids are out of school, there’s summer camps, vacations, family reunions, social events, weddings, and so much more that takes our time and attention away from home. What we don’t want to do, is make ourselves too vulnerable and an easy target for criminals to spot and strike while we’re away and living our best lives. We work hard and there’s nothing wrong with taking some time to enjoy life and time with the people that matter most to us. So we thought it’s a good idea to share a refresher “Things to Do/Not to Do” security list to consider as you’re prepping for your next getaway. These are certainly not all, but some of the best tips from experts, on how to protect your family and home while away for the summer. And it all starts by thinking like a burglar and objectively looking at your home. Do us a favor. After reading this article, take some time walking around your home and configure your security plan before your next outing. SUMMER S HOME SECURITY TIPS '

Get to Know Your Neighbors: Look out for one another. Join your neighborhood watch, report suscipious behavior or unfamiliar vehicles scouting the area. If away for long periods, have a neighbor park their car in your driveway to look like someone's home. Use Your Alarm System: So many people have an alarm monitoring system, but never

actually set the alarm while whereabouts and vacation away. Consider wireless and plans. automated security apps to Doors, Windows, & Locks: remotely monitor and control Opening windows for the doors, windows, and lights. summer breezes is wonderful, Manage Deliveries: Cancel or but don't forget to lock them pause newspaper and mail back and properly secure all deliveries. If you can't, have a doors before leaving. friend pick up those items so Exterior Landscape: Trim or there's no obvious pileup. remove any trees and shrubs Social Media Be careful what that block the view of windows and when you post. Think and doors. That actually helps twice about posting your screen the burglars.

Secured Smart Home 2018

Netatmo An outdoor security camera that detects people, cars, and animals. Other product services of the line include an indoor security camera, a smart home detector, and an indoor sound siren.

Nest

August Smart Lock

A complete new security system connecting the home at your fingertips. Control thermastat temperatures, view whose at the front door, monitor interior and exterior cameras, and get smoke detection and CO alerts.

Compatible with Siri and the Nest, retrofits to existing deadbolts, and can be controlled remotely with your phone.

D-Link D-Link Wi-Fi Water Sensor is rated one of the top smart flood sensors for your home. Operates without batteries as a wall plug-in and connects via Wi-Fi to your phone to alert you of water problems.

SUMMER S HOME SECURITY TIPS '

LATTICE

Semi privacy décor panels adding shade and style -

FERNS

Lush full greenery adding elegance and beauty to any room .

TABLE DECOR

Drink serving tray for those scorching sunny days .

OUTDOOR RUG

In one word versatility A color and personality pop of style :

SUMMER PATIO PREP Outdoor Styling for the Backyard Summer Retreat By Michelle Gowdy

CHAISE LOUNGE

Relax by the pool soak in the sun or curl up with a good book ,

Every inch of my home is important to me. Every inch is an opportunity to reflect your personality, creativity, and your style. Those opportunities don't just stop at the back door, they go beyond. Summer time is the perfect season to extend the space of your home to incorporate your backyard and patio areas. It's where most people like to entertain, kick off their shoes, and relax in the season. Here are a couple style and accessory tips to try for your outdoor spaces.

click above to Shop the Look! SUMMER PATIO PREP

EXPLORE SUMMER ESCAPES FOR INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY

BYÂ KOYA TYSON

School is out. The weather is nice. The days are longer. It’s summertime!!!!! It’s time to plan your family vacation, solo trip, girls/guys trip, baecation, whatever you want to call it. It’s time to catch flights!!!!! Regardless of the type of trip you’re planning, here are a few budget friendly destinations to consider. Greece (Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete) Depending on where you live, a flight to Greece can be costly, but with enough planning you can easily catch a flight deal for under $600 roundtrip. I recommend flying into Athens, Greece and spending a few days sightseeing there. While in Athens, you can purchase one of the tourist packages that include multiple attractions for less than $100 per person. These packages can be used over the course of a few days so don’t feel pressured to try to see everything at once. The food in Athens is delicious and CHEAP!!!! You can get a gyro with your choice of meat and fries for $2!!!!!!! A lot of the restaurants offer a carafe of house wine for only $6. That’s dinner and drinks for two for $10. If you’re able to have an extended vacation, take a flight to one or more of the nearby islands (Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, etc.). These flights can be as cheap as $35 roundtrip. If you can find a flight deal for Greece, I highly recommend spending some time there. Gatlinburg, Tennessee Gatlinburg, Tennessee is the perfect relaxing getaway. It’s located in eastern Tennessee in the Great Smokey Mountains. This is the perfect place for a winter vacation, but it’s even better during the summer. Since peak season is during the colder months, lodging is usually discounted during the warmer months of the year. Obviously, skiing will not be on the list of things to do, but there are still lots of places of interest. There are three waterparks in the area: Wild Bear Falls Waterpark, Dollywood’s Splash Country Waterpark, and Ober Gatlinburg. Dollywood and Ober Gatlinburg both are theme parks that offer activities other than water activities. There’s also something for those interested in outdoor adventures: live music, brewery and winery tours….the list really is endless. Gatlinburg, Tennessee is perfect for groups of varying ages and interests, families, friends, couples, and even solo travel. Cruises When it comes to budget friendly vacations, a cruise is at the top of the list. If you live near a port city, you should take at least one cruise a year. Cruises can last anywhere from two days to three months. Cruises are perfect because you pay one small price and it includes your lodging, food, and activities while on the ship. The longer the cruise the more stops you make, so you’re not forced to go to only one destination. When booking a cruise, be sure to check American Airlines and Delta cruise vacations. It’s likely that they’ll have a special with free cabin upgrades, gratuities, and even room credits.

EXPLORE SUMMER ESCAPES

Budget Friendly Travel Tips Get a credit with travel perks - If you have a preferred airline or hotel, consider getting a credit card with them and utilize the benefits they offer. This could include free checked bags, companion tickets, and reward points. This could save you tons of money when traveling with a group or family. Join loyalty programs - Be sure to join all of the hotel, airline, and car rental loyalty programs. As you travel more, your status with them will increase and with higher status comes better perks. These perks can include free nights/rentals, upgrades, discounts, and much more. Link loyalty program accounts - Many loyalty programs have partnerships with other programs so you can earn even more rewards points. Be sure to link your accounts and register for these promotions to maximize your point accumulation.

Plan early - Planning early can allow you to shop around and catch awesome deals. There are those rare cases where last minute bookings lead to added discounts, but it's usually the same discount that you could have gotten if you booked early. Set flight alerts - Use apps like Google Flights and Hopper to set flight alerts. When prices change on the flight you're eyeing, they'll send you a notification letting you know. My all time favorite is Scott's Cheap Flights. You create an account selecting your departure airports and Scott will send you emails alerting you of all the flight deals from that airport. There is a free option and a pay option. I highly recommend the pay option. You'll get a lot of emails, but I guarantee you'll save more than the annual fee.

EXPLORE SUMMER ESCAPES

SUMMER'S NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY GUIDE

A Backyard Celebration by Koya Tyson

With school out and longer days, Summer is the perfect time to take the kids outside and mingle with your neighbors. Outdoor games, finger foods, and a cold beverage is the perfect ice breaker to get the neighbors outside to laugh and play. The next page highlights a few tips on executing a stress free event.

SUMMER S NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY GUIDE '

GAMES Kids are so easy to entertain outside. Give them some chalk to make sidewalk masterpieces or bubbles and water balloons to keep them busy for a few hours. For the adults, consider games like horseshoe, cornhole, ladder toss, or something simple like a football to toss or soccer ball to kick around.

FOOD A potluck is the easiest way to provide food at a block party. Request that each person or family bring a dish to share. Have tables setup for everyone to sit their dishes. The organizer should provide plates, cups, and utensils. Bring extra serving utensils because people tend to forget those. For those who live in an apartment community or HOA community, reach out to the community vendors and see if they are willing to sponsor the food for your event.

WE HELP YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED IN LIFE.

DRINKS Reach out to a 2-3 people and have them bring the drinks and ice for the event. Get a large cooler or even one of those large Rubbermaid storage container to use as the cooler for the drinks. Be sure to have bottled water on hand to combat the heat and prevent any heat strokes.

SUMMER S NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY GUIDE '

Beach Body Recipes by Koya Tyson

PASTA

PRIMAVERA

Ingredients

1 zucchini, sliced 1 squash, sliced 1/2 onion, chopped 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 2 cups spinach or kale 1/2 Parmesan cheese (optional) 3 TBSP Pesto (optional) 1 TBSP minced garlic 2 TBSP Olive Oil 1 TBSP unsalted butter 1 lb noodles or zoodles, cooked salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a skillet, heat olive oil and butter until the butter is melted. Add onions and garlic to skillet. Sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add zucchini and squash. Season vegetable mixture with pesto, salt, and pepper. When zucchini and squash is cooked, add tomatoes, noodles, and Parmesan cheese. For a low carb option, use zoodles instead of pasta noodles. Cook until tomatoes are warm.

d a o l n w o D ! s e p reci BEACH BODY RECIPES

ST ROA

CCO BRO

AND N E IZZA ICK P H I C L O OCCO R PEST B ED T S A RO

Ingredients

Fresh broccoli crowns, chopped

Roasted broccoli

Minced garlic

Pesto chicken, cut into chunks

Salt

Whole Wheat Pita

Black Pepper

Onions

Olive Oil (I use 1-2 tablespoons per broccoli

Tomato Paste (2 teaspoons per pita)

crown)

Cooking spray Pesto Chicken

Directions

Roasted Broccoli

Chop broccoli into small florets. You can use

Shredded Cheese

the steams if you like. Toss broccoli in olive oil, salt, black pepper and minced garlic to

Directions

taste. I like to mix everything up in a Ziploc

Slice pita in half horizontally to make 2 pita

bag. It makes it easier to make sure all the

circles. Spray both sides of pita with

florets are covered but a bowl works just as

cooking spray. Toast lightly in a skillet. After

fine. Place mixture on a cookie sheet and

pita is cooked, sautĂŠ onions in skillet. Add

bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20

chicken, broccoli and tomato paste to

minutes.

skillet. Mix thoroughly for about 2 minutes or until paste starts to darken. To assemble, place the broccoli chicken mixture on the

ACK

N BEA

A LS

Ingredients

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies 1 can corn kernels, drained 1 lime, juiced 1 TBSP cumin 1 TBSP minced garlic

pitas. Then top with cheese. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

T PES

CK CHI

Ingredients

Boneless, skinless chicken breast Pesto Salt and pepper

cilantro, chopped salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven. Lightly season the chicken with Directions

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate for an hour or longer. Serve.

the salt and pepper. Coat the chicken with the pesto. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.

BEACH BODY RECIPES

OUR TURN 2 CARE

Raising Awareness and Connecting Millennial Family Caregivers By Aisha Adkins

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These words are most commonly associated with old age and are conditions few people think about when they envision their own future. Dementia, “a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interview with daily life,” is an umbrella term for devastating brain diseases like the most commonly known, Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite the fact that very few people talk about it, dementia is the 6th leading cause of death in the State of Georgia and the 5th leading cause of death in the United States, with 3,714 deaths in 2016. There are approximately 5.7 million people currently living with a dementia disease; this number is expected to nearly triple by 2050, according to the Alzheimer's Association in 2018. With monthly specialized nursing home costs upwards of $7,000, and SSI funds quickly diminishing, many Baby Boomers are relying on their kids to care for them.

UM R AT UDRI NC 2 | C A2R4E NOO

Aisha Adkins

When I graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2009 with a bachelor’s of science degree in sociology/social services, my future was uncertain, but I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to help people. During my years in college, I volunteered at a couple of nursing homes throughout Statesboro and my interest piqued by an End of Life unit in my Practice Skills course. But, like a lot of people, I had my heart set on helping at risk youth. Unfortunately, my scholastic interests, volunteer experiences, or hopes for the future were of little relevance, as I graduated at the height of the Great Recession. Life after college consisted of temps job and contract work in a variety of fields. I was a Millennial statistic, living at home with my parents just like “15% of 25- to 35-year-old[s],” (according to 2016 data from Pew Research Center). In 2011, with my dreams of helping youth still very much alive, I took a job with a major healthcare organization here in Atlanta. Unfortunately, while settling into my new entry level position at work, I was also experiencing a tremendous transformation at home. It was at this time that my mother began exhibiting the behavioral changes and memory loss often associated with degenerative brain disease. As my mother underwent the diagnostic process at early treatment at the same healthcare

organization for which I worked, I found myself overwhelmed and conflicted. As the severity of my mother’s symptoms increased and treatment being trial and error, it became increasingly clear that something would need to change. My mother could no longer be left home alone and I could not successfully fulfill my responsibilities at work. Confusion and paranoia made it unsafe for my mother to be alone for hours at a time, and several late arrivals to work placed my new job in jeopardy. My father (who is my mother’s high school sweetheart and spouse of 42 years) and I talked and decided that it would be best for me to resign my position so that he could retain employment and health insurance. In 2013, I became my mother’s full-time caregiver. As I navigated the healthcare and caregiving system, the absence of diverse representation was painfully obvious. The online and in-person support groups and related caregiving content overwhelmingly caters to caregivers who are 65 and older. There is often very little representation of people of color, different faiths, or members of the LGBTQ community. If these environments are not inclusive, it can intensify the isolation and loneliness that often accompanies caregiving.

OUR TURN 2 CARE

Caregiving, while often rewarding, also comes

vision for OT2C is to gain 501(c)3 nonprofit status,

with unique challenges. Many caregivers are

offer in-person meet-ups around the metro

unable to work outside of the home and find it

Atlanta area, develop an app to connect young

difficult to maintain social relationships. I began

adult family caregivers, and continue to raise

writing about my caregiving experience as a

awareness for this often overlooked community.

freelancer in 2015 when I shared my story with

We would also love to offer scholarships to young

The Black Expat. In 2017, I had the privilege of

caregivers whose higher education goals were

attending the BlogHer conference with the

delayed or placed on hold in order to care for an

founder of The Black Expat. During that

ailing loved one.

conference, I attended a breakout session on caregiving, where I was inspired by the amazing

If you are interested in donating your time,

panelists to turn my experiences and

services, or expertise to help us grow and expand,

observations into an opportunity to educate and

we would love to hear from you. You can reach us

inspire others.

at hello@ourturn2care.com.

One week later, I came up with the idea for Our Turn 2 Care (OT2C), a new platform connecting millennial caregivers to the information, resources, and each other. The platform is currently focused on dementia caregivers in the metro Atlanta area. As the founder of OT2C, I am eager to recruit the brightest minds in healthcare and technology in order to expand our scope and reach. Our Turn 2 Care includes a growing resource library, but we don’t want to stop there. Our

Website: OurTurn2Care.com Facebook: Facebook.com/OurTurn2Care Instagram: @OurTurn2Care Twitter: @OurTurn2Care LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/company/our-turn-2-care/ OUR TURN 2 CARE

Feature Spotlight

Velvet Kake LLC

Caramel cupcakes topped with caramel popcorn

Velvet Kake LLC

When You Think Velvet Think Delicious ,

Kenya Pickens, an Atlanta native, self-motivated, and hard-working entrepreneur, owns the newest neighborhood baketique serving coffee, cakes, bread pudding, fried pies, cinnamon rolls, and much, much more! Owner of Velvet Kake LLC & Key Event CaTering, Kenya absolutely loves what she does & loves doing it for people. So much so, that she's willing to travel state to state delivering her finest delectable treats or to cater events. Now residing in Birmingham, Alabama, Velvet Kake LLC's brand new brick-and-mortar baketique store just had its soft opening June 4. The grand opening is slated for August 4. There's just no signs of Kenya slowing down anytime soon. Here's what we learned about the Atlanta bred, "shake and bake" business woman when we met up. FEATURE SPOTLIGHT

Strawberry Shortcake Parfait

Five Minutes with Velvet Kake LLC

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SS: So how did you find your passion for baking? Velvet Kake LLC: It came to me later on in my career. I didn’t like baking at first. I attended culinary art school and had to take a semester of pastry arts and said to myself, “ Thank you Father I did not choose baking as my major.” Funny because that following year, I ended up working at a bakery. Then after that following year, I decided that I wanted to do this for myself. But the passion still wasn’t there. It came years later when I became good at designing cakes. I was really impressed with my work. SS: Where does your inspiration come from? Velvet Kake LLC: My inspiration comes from my customers who love what I do and it comes from myself. SS: How do you deal with the competitive market of other bakeries or catering companies? Velvet Kake LLC: I do not let the competition discourage me, but I allow it to encourage me. I praise them for their good work and in turn it comes back to me. SS: What are your words of advice for someone entering into the culinary field? Velvet Kake LLC: My advice would be to never step on anyone’s toes, stay in your lane, and that it’s alright to give a little advice to help others in your field. SS: Do you have a favorite dessert to make? Velvet Kake LLC: My favorite dessert to make is the banana pudding cake and the key lime pie. FEATURE SPOTLIGHT

SS: What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working? Velvet Kake LLC: My favorite thing to do when I’m not working is to hang out with my little man (my son) and go to Gatlinburg, TN for vacation.

Graduation Cap cake

SS: Where do you see yourself as a business woman in 3-5 years? Velvet Kake LLC: I see myself relaxing lol (I wish). I see myself still doing pastry: distribution center or another bakery? That I don’t know yet. SS: If you weren’t in this particular line of work, what would you be doing? Velvet Kake LLC: I would be in the medical field, either a doctor or a nurse.

Use your spirit of discernment when it comes to business "

Mini Mouse birthday cake

SS: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you or would be surprised to know? Velvet Kake LLC: That I don’t eat cake!! Lol. The only time I eat cake is when it’s a birthday party or wedding. SS: What has been one of your biggest obstacle to overcome in the business and what did you learn from it? Velvet Kake LLC: Dealing with an unhappy customer that would not stop at anything to see me out of business. I really had to learn that I was not going to make everyone happy, even if I tried. Always stick to my policy, no means no. Also, some customers are not worth the headache. Use your spirit of discernment when it comes to business.

Paw Patrol birthday cake

Order a slice of deliciousness today! Visit Velvetkakellc.com Email: Velvetcakes.kp@gmail.com

FEATURE SPOTLIGHT

Ask s t e e w S n r e h t Sou

How do you utilize the computer nook in the kitchen when you don’t use it as intended? Koya: If you have a computer nook in your kitchen, but have no intentions of using it as such, a cute and very useful alternative is to use it as a coffee or tea bar. You can get containers or a tiered shelf to store your coffee stirs, Keurig pods, tea bags, and other morning drink necessities. An outlet is usually in this area so you can store your coffee maker there also. Store your mugs and travel mugs on a shelf and you'll have a one stop shop to get your morning off to the perfect start. What are some storage options for a galley kitchen? Koya: Nothing pleases me more than a well organized kitchen. I'm a huge fan of baskets, buckets, and canisters. I recently discovered stackable canisters which I use to store all of my dry goods. They are clear, airtight, and stackable which saves more space than traditional canisters. Another great space saver is tiered racks. Tiered racks allows you to store things vertically.

We asked and you all gave us some of your burning interior design questions, how-to DIY processes, and quirky "about us" questions you wanted us to answer. So here goes...

Michelle: A popular and functional style for additional storage is to purchase or build floating shelves. There are a variety of shelf style options, but they

How do you cover the side glass panels at the front door? Michelle: Single door with sidelights is a very common design choice for front entrance appeal. I have them too in my house and a couple options come to mind. I chose to install sidelight curtains to mine. I bought the rods from Bed, Bath, and Beyond and my mini curtains from JCPenney. It's been three years and they've been holding up great. Another option is to install faux wood blinds or ODL Cordless Add on Enclosed Door Horizontal Blinds (my personal fav). Allows for complete privacy, with the option of letting the sun in from time to time and no tangling cords. ASK SOUTHERN SWEETS

all allow you to utilize more space vertically. It's a great way to showcase any hand-crafted trinkets, beautiful dishes and glassware, your seasonings and spices, cookbooks, you name it. I am attempting to paint my living room. What is the most efficient and quickest way to do it? By the way, I have a 12 foot wall on 2 sides. Koya: In my personal opinion, the most important part of painting is the prep process. I give myself at least one day to prep the area before painting. This makes the actual painting process much easier. Clear out as much furniture as possible. Clean the baseboards and apply painters tape. Also apply painters tape to the ceiling. Cover the floors and any furniture in the room with drop cloths or plastic Pick one central area in the room as your headquarter with your paint, brushes, and rollers. Setup your ladder as well. Since you have such high ceilings, look into getting a roller with an extension pole. The next day, you can get started with the actual painting. I like to start with the trim and baseboards. To prevent paint from bleeding under the painters tape, apply a thin layer of paint onto the edge of the painters tape and wall. This will seal the tape. Once the edges are complete, you can begin use the roller to get the wall surfaces. To ensure that you get an even layer of paint on the wall, when you apply paint to your roller, paint a W shape in a 3 by 3 foot area and then work your way back across the W with vertical rolls to spread the remaining paint on the roller. Continue painting until the wall is covered. Allow the paint to dry about 2 hours before applying a second coat if needed. To minimize the number of coats needed, I purchase paints with primer.

"To prevent paint from bleeding under the painters tape, apply a thin layer of paint onto the edge of the painters tape and wall."

Have a question you want to ask us? Post your questions using #asksouthernsweets on our Instagram and Facebook pages and it may be featured in our next issue.

ASK SOUTHERN SWEETS

“IF BAKING IS ANY LABOR AT ALL, IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE. A LOVE THAT GETS PASSED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.” Regina Brett American author inspirational speaker and newspaper columnist ,

SOUTHERN SWEETS

Creative Directors: Koya Tyson / Michelle Gowdy Editors in Chief: Koya Tyson / Michelle Gowdy Photographer: Taij Harris Contributing Writers: Kori Roney, Aisha Adkins Photo Credits: Kori Roney, Ashley Chupp Photography, the Nest, techcrunch.com, thegadgetflow.com

ISSUE 03

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JULY 2018