Urban living magazine

Urban LIVIN’

For the urban home and lifestyle

A Glowing Report

On Lighting Solutions

From the

WHITE HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE with Urban Flair

SO FRESH and SO GREEN Getting To The

Art Of The Matter

LIVIN’

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Table of Contents

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INSIDE

Editor Page

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Urban Food

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Urban Must Have

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Urban Elements Lighting

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Whaite House

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Our Web

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Urban LIVIN’

Creating New Dreams

Question:

Are we making our lives everything we want them to be? With the fast-paced lives we live, sometimes we forget to pursue our dreams...we just let each day go by not really noticing how quickly time is passing us by. I say it’s time for a new year and perhaps new dreams.

If you haven’t taken the time to live out those old dreams, it’s ok…maybe it’s time for new dreams. When I felt I needed to make some changes, I started with a clean slate and began to create new dreams. One of new my dreams was to create this publication, Urban Livin’ Home, and it’s been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I wanted to offer my readers choices when it came to their home life. My second new dream was to have a home that’s a peaceful sanctuary - a place where time seems to stand still when I enter it. I wanted a home filled with the scent of lovely flowers and candles – a place enveloped in lush silks and velvets. I believe that when you click your heels three times (and work hard) dreams can come true.

And speaking of dreams, hold your horses…you haven’t seen nothin’, yet! If you don’t already know her, allow me to introduce you to Ms. Joli Burrell. When it comes to following dreams and pursuing passions, that’s just what this girl about town is doing.

By deciding what’s important to her, and doing what she loves, she’s living life to the fullest. As a child she enjoyed riding horses with her stepmother and today she has a beautiful farm of her own just outside of Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. After visiting her farm, we headed back to the city and stepped into her beautiful Gold Coast home in Chicago. Check out her town and country life in the Urban Digs section of this month’s issue.

Simply marvelous…

In this issue you’ll also recognize another name that’s become very familiar to us: Tavis, Tavis, Tavis. What more can I say? He’s got things locked and sealed! It was such a pleasure to sit down

with Tavis Smiley and discuss his new book, What I Know for Sure.

In it he writes about the importance of family and home and why the two are so closely linked in his life.

Ok, wait; I am not done yet.

Skinny Cooks Can’t Be Trusted at least according to actress and author, Mo’Nique, they can’t…and that just happens to be the title of her new cookbook. This New York Times bestselling author, along with Sherri McGee McCovey and TV One’s Top Chef, G. Garvin, has us kicking off our shoes and getting down to some real home cooking.

Check out her fab-u-lous recipe for lamb chops in Urban Delights. It will have your mouth watering for more.

Several months ago I had the honor of meeting a true artist.

Her name is Mrs. Susan Williams, and after sitting down and talking with her and her husband, Dr. Alonzo Williams, I knew at that moment I had been let in on a wonderful secret. I knew then I was in the company of an artist whose work would outlive our time. I felt truly honored and blessed to have had them both enter my life. Once you’ve seen her work and read her story, you, too will begin to feel what I felt the first time I encountered her gift.

Ok, I’ll let you go so you can get to turning the pages and enjoying this issue.

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Editor

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And remember as always:

It’s not just everyday living...it’s Urban Livin’.

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LIVIN’

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Food

Skinny

Profiles in Turquoise

A versatile piece that looks spectacular as a simple vase with dried flowers or filled with sand and shells.

8 inch - 24.99 12 inch - 34.99

bedtimecomfort.com

From the cover of Essence, to the stage at the Apollo, from reruns of her hit television show The Parkers, to her line of clothing and her reality show, Mo’Nique exults in the joys of being a large woman.

Here she explores the great love of her life—food.

Always one for producing excellence in her diverse activities, Mo’Nique collaborated on this effort with the producer of Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance, (airs on Oxygen network), journalist, television writer and producer, Sherri McGhee-McCovey; along with recipe consultant, G. Garvin.

What you will not find included in the pages of Skinny Cooks Can’t Be Trusted, is any reference for calorie counting or dieting. Single-handedly, Mo’Nique has made America sit up and take notice of this fine, fabulous and unapologetically “fluffy” sister from Baltimore, Maryland who understands and encourages others to enjoy life to the fullest.

Included are strategies such as “gather everything in one place so you don’t wear yourself out runnin around the kitchen’ and my personal favorite: ”what to wear if you gonna go there” because, she explains, “If done right, good food can lead to good lovin’.”

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ersatility is the key to the success for actress, comedienne and New York Times best selling author, Mo’Nique. Just in time for the holidays and Christmas/ Kwanzaa gift giving, Mo’Nique comes out with her second book, Skinny Cooks Can’t Be Trusted by Mo’Nique; with Sherry McGhee McCovey.

Doing what she does best, that is, finding humor in everyday activities, Mo’Nique has crafted a cook book to have you laughing all the way to the breakfast, lunch and dinner table. Having achieved household name status due primarily to her role as Nikki Parker on her sitcom “The Parkers;” and currently on her reality program, “Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance, Mo’Nique encourages cooks to be more concerned with presentation and taste of food rather than calorie counting.

Beginning with the book’s table of contents which introduces menus for every occasion with titles such as: “The Man Catcher,” “The Morning After Breakfast,” “Romantic Rendezvous for Two,” “The I’ve Never Been Good At Saying I’m Sorry Meal,” and my personal favorite, “The Baby, You Gotta Go.” In between recipes, she shares personal anecdotes about her amazing accomplishments, her loves, her children and her family. There is a segment that also includes “comfort foods,” which include such delicacies as shepherd’s pie, meat loaf, fried pork chops, and chicken and dumplings.

With photos of food, family and friends, this cook book can make you feel you have Mo’Nique right next to you helping you prepare your meal.

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LIVIN’

jcpenney.com

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Urban

Sea Glass Hurricane Lanterns

Pillow, 18 x 18 - 79.99 Neckroll, 7 x 14 - 79.99 Boudoir, 12 x 30 - 111.99 Bolster, 14 x 32 x 3 - 121.99

Cooks Can’t BE TRUSTED!

By Vanessa F, Church

Must haves

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Exquisite Bronze Chandelier With its brilliant crystal beads and drops and antique scroll iron design, this chandelier will be noticed time and time again! - $1,298.00

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Antiqued Silvery Peacock Mirror A peacock’s showy plumage served as the inspiration for the design that frames this mirror.

38 x 38 - $295.00

horchow.com

lay lagrace.com

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Elements Lighting

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LIGHT STUFF

For those who work from home, fluorescent lights are great for cutting down on glare and keeping your mind focused on the task at hand.

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their best, our homes should reveal our creative personalities. Each room should be a refl ection of our age, gender, and individual taste. That might mean bold, contemporary trends in an open, free-fl owing space, or soft, warm colors in a cozy atmosphere of traditional elegance.

No matter what efforts we make to control the mood of a room through its décor, lighting can be used to complement the look.

Clear, bright lighting usually works best in common rooms used for entertaining larger groups of people. A study or reading room may also call for bright light, however, it should be focused on specifi c areas such a desk top or corner where someone is likely to be seated for reading. Using white paint and positioning furniture away from the walls helps to eliminate dark shadows and makes the room look more unified. In some cases, brighter lights can be strategically placed in corners to highlight one of the room’s main features. For example, using beams of light (such as from track lights) to shine on a piano will leave the rest of the room in shadow and give a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere that’s ideal for listening to music. You can also use directional lighting to separate spaces in a larger room, making it feel like two separate areas.

Subdued lighting always work well for romance and can be easily achieved by adding a dimmer switch to existing light sources. Perhaps it’s the power of suggestion, but low light sometimes implies that soon there will be no light... foreshadowing romance. Soft lights also help the body prepare for bed time. An absence of light causes the body to produce certain chemicals

that deactivate an excited mind. That’s why lamps are the preferred type of lighting in bedrooms. Since most come equipped with a three-way light bulb socket, the amount of light they cast can be easily regulated with the flick of switch.

Low light levels will also help nurture a homey feeling, as will candlelight or a fireside glow. The dancing flames cast moving shadows that calm stress and bring peace-ofmind.

Carefully-chosen scented candles provide an additional treat to the senses, and are a sure-cure for tension caused by a hard day at work. For those who work from home, fluorescent lights are great for cutting down on glare and keeping your mind focused on the task at hand. They also save on energy. The more thought you put into lighting a room, the more likely it is that you will be successful in achieving your desired effect. Just think of the brilliant morning sun as a wake-me-up splash, the setting sun for serene relaxation, and cloudy days for a more pensive tone. Take your clues from Mother Nature. She is the master of lighting techniques, and it’s easy to follow her lead for setting the mood in your home.

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Decor

1 The White House

Style

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n case you haven’t heard, a new family has taken up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in our nation’s capital, and the members of that family have brought with them a message of change. Although the moving vans are gone and all of the boxes have been unpacked, the vestiges of past regimes are still present.

However, they are now being presided over by tenants the likes of which the nation has never seen.

The White House has long been a symbol of the great American heritage, and has served as a welcoming destination for visiting dignitaries, tourists and school

children on field trips for over two hundred years. Countless visitors have flocked to D.C. to admire its stately interior. It took a battalion of carpenters, masons and various craftspeople (some free and others enslaved) eight years to construct this pristine, columned mansion. Since its completion, it has provided a backdrop of elegance and charm for America’s first families. Along with these new arrivals comes a renewed interest in the activity taking place inside the White House and the impression they will leave when they’re gone. As with past inhabitants, the current family will have the opportunity to make certain changes to their personal living quarters and decorate

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Decor

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Urban LIVIN’

them in a style that best suits their particular taste - while keeping in mind that the White House is an ever-evolving showcase with strong links to America’s past. The décor is steeped in tradition and leans heavily on the refined elegance of its historical furnishings, so any changes will be made with special attention given to its venerable past.

Achieving this look is not as difficult (or costly) as you may think. In fact, with a reasonable budget, some selective shopping and a little bit of good, old-fashioned elbow grease, it is possible to bring a bit of the White House to your house. Whether your goal is to create an exquisitely cozy reading nook in your bedroom or living room, or transform your dining room into a place to host your version of a state dinner, the classic trappings of a traditional interior can be pulled together rather easily.

It is important to keep in mind that the size of your space is not the determining factor for giving your home the presidential treatment. It’s all about selecting the right pieces of furniture, fabrics and finishes. If your budget doesn’t permit purchasing highend antiques, good reproductions can work just as well. You may even be lucky enough to find a few choice pieces in your parents’ (or grandparents’) attic or basement. Some pieces may call for a little tender loving care, such as refinishing the wood or replacing the hardware, and some may even call for reupholstering - but keep in mind that if someone is giving you the furniture, restoring it will be cheaper than going out and buying it.

Search for pieces that are well-made and designed with traditional lines. Those made of wood should have a rich, lustrous finish with artfully-carved legs and arms, and the upholstery fabrics should have a luxurious look and feel. Silky brocades, sumptuous velvets and woven damask make the best choices for adding an air of elegance to this setting. Don’t forget that if your budget is limited, you may be able to find great deals on the remnant tables at your local fabric stores. Even if you don’t find enough material to cover an entire sofa or chair, you can still find pieces large enough for seat cushions or throw pillows. Be creative! Remember it’s all about bringing a “taste” of the White House to your home.

Since many of the older, nicer hotels are decorated

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Urban LIVIN’

Decor

in a traditional style, hotel furniture liquidation outlets offer a wide range of options for pulling your presidential pad together. Most of the pieces found there are well-made because they are built for public use, and since most of the best hotels redecorate on a somewhat regular basis, much of the furniture is still in very good condition when it arrives at the liquidation centers. Some of the key items to look for are desks, armoires, side tables and chest of drawers.

The best deals go fast, so you may have to check back from time to time as new shipments come in. Your diligence

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ornate holders add to the stately ambiance and fit perfectly in this setting.

Choose only your favorite items for display and be sure to keep them spaced throughout the room - you don’t want to create tabletop clutter. If decorating a dining room, now is the time to make use of your best china and flatware.

Linen tablecloths and napkins are a must along with heavier weight, traditionallydesigned silverware.

A complete silver tea service (perhaps another family hand-me-down) will look grand when regally displayed on a sideboard along with a pair of silver candelabras. (And it will be well worth the time and effort it takes to clean them.)

Remember; there’s no rule that says you can’t dine in a formally-appointed room, even if you are only eating a sandwich and chips.

Achieving this look is not as difficult (or costly) as you may think. In fact, with a reasonable budget, some selective shopping and a little bit of good, old-fashioned elbow grease, it is possible to bring a bit of the White House to your house. Whether your goal is to create an exquisitely cozy reading nook in your bedroom or living room, or transform your dining room into a place to host your version of a state dinner, the classic trappings of a traditional interior can be pulled together rather easily.

Ultimately, White House style is about paying tribute to the past while meshing it with today’s way of living. When choosing this theme as the inspiration for decorating your home, don’t forget to include reminders of your personal heritage. Family photos and artwork reflecting your ancestry should be integrated into the overall look.

These thoughtful touches will help you embrace this style as your own.

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Urban LIVIN’

A: Trenton Buffet Lamp • • • • • •

Stately round columns 2-way switch Cast risers ensure perfect fit Shade sold separately Buffet Lamp Base: 5” diam., 30”H Shown in antique silver plate with an ivory silk shade.

Restoration Hardware - $59.99

B: YELLOW daffodils VASE • Product Code:17322 • 10 stems of stunning yellow dafidols • Picked at the peak of perfection from select floral farms • Shipped fresh overnight • A classic glass vase • Vase measures 7.5”H x 4”D. 1-800-FLOWERS - $49.99 C: enamel jeweled frames • Mystic (left) Holds a 3.5’’ x 5’’ photo • Trieste (center) Holds a 3’’ x 3’’ photo • Tortoise (right) Holds a 5’’ x 7’’ photo • Each sold separately Z-Gallerie - $24.95 - 36.95

D: Carlyle Round Lamp Table • • • • • •

Dignified and decorous Brushed copper finished hardware Features distinctively tall legs Cathedral primavera veneers 2 center drawers 29”W x 28”H

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could pay off with a sizable discount on a good quality find.

After you’ve found and placed the larger pieces of furniture in your space, the next step in completing your White House look is to select the right accessories. Don’t forget; it’s all about evoking a sense of history in a classically elegant environment. If rugs are being used, they should be plush oriental or Aubusson (tapestry-like) styles.

Paintings and photographs should be displayed in rich wood or gilded frames.

Rooms with this type of décor are great for displaying family heirlooms and hardback books. Fresh flowers in crystal or porcelain vases and tall candles in

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Macy’s Furniture Store - $399.99

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