UNWRAPPED - The Valentine Edition 2018

Vol 1 Issue 2

February 2018

EAT CAKE this Valentine's

FAB FIND S

Love Songs through the decades

Great

Guys it's all about the ring

we

places to go on a date Play Our Love Game

M E E T

O U R

offer some options

S M A R T

&

S E X Y

L O V E

C R U S H E S

U N W R A P P E D

THE VALENTINE EDITION

2018 EDITORIAL Dale Forde Andrea King Cynthia Nelson PHOTOGRAPHY Charles Phillips COORDINATOR Shomari Harrison

Dale Forde

Andrea King

Cynthia Nelson

Shomari Harrison

Dale Forde is a Media Consultant with several years experience in print, broadcast and social media. She is currently half of the PR, Media and Event Planning company DAMARQ Communiqué.

Andrea King is a former journalist and

now head of the Cultural Industries Development Authority (CIDA). She lives by the laws of Ma’at which coalesce into truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality and justice.

Cynthia Nelson is a journalist,

cookbook author, lecturer, photographer. She writes about food and life in the Caribbean. Her interest is in food and how it shapes our identity.

Established 2015 We Produce/Print: Logos, Business Cards, Flyers, Posters, Letterheads, Envelopes, Complimentary Slips, Invoice & Receipt Books, Banners, Feathers, Signs, Portfolios, Letters, Resumes, Company Forms, Labels. Booklets, Brochures, Book Covers, DVD Covers, Media/Press Kits. Tickets, Invitations, Guest lists, Mail Merges.

We are here to serve YOU!

Contact us today 246-824-1529 unwrapped

Shomari Harrison is an entrepreneur unwrapped246

with culinary skills and experience in event planning. He hails from the editor@flipthescript246.com beautiful parish of St. Philip where he served as Parish Ambassador in 2013. He www.flipthescript246.com continues to work tirelessly in that Cover image compliments Cooke's Finest community.

E d i t o r ' s

N o t e

There's still a lot of debate on the origin of Valentine's Day and the real meaning behind it. We know it is not a Christian holiday and some balk at the commercialism that comes with February 14.

It is clear the day will remain on the calendar for some time to come and while it may be eagerly anticipated by women it is dreaded by men.

So, in this first Valentine edition of UNWRAPPED and following quickly on the heels of our Christmas edition, we offer suggestions that will give you a different kind of Valentine day or night. For while the yuletide season was about gifts we want the month of love to be about experiences.

We want you to create memories and set the tone for what we hope would be a long and happy relationship, a continued long and happy relationship or at least a bonded friendship.

Memories are made with fun, good company, good music and good food.

Turn off your mobile and be present in the moment. If you are on a date really listen to the person who is sitting across from you who took the time to dress and show up to spend an afternoon or an evening with you.

The year is still young, the possibilities for love are endless but maybe to find the love of your life you need to become the love of your life.

In other words this Valentine's spending time with yourself, overcoming personal fears and doubts, finding your purpose or living your purpose are first steps towards self love.

And that we know is the greatest love of all.

dale Dale Forde Editor

CONTENTS Love songs of the '70's, '80's, '90's and the 2000's We share our list of memorable R&B songs to sing along to, dance to and even to make babies to

The best Bajan love songs These are the standards for the season of love

A rose by any other colour Roses are beautiful and one of the most popular gifts for Valentine's but did you know that different colour roses mean different things?

Great ideas for a date Whoever said Barbados is boring? We have ideas for a first, second or third date

Fab Finds Great places to get a treat or sit and have a meal

Choosing the right ring You have decided to ask the question but what about the ring? Worry not, we have some suggestions

Things to do in February From movies to TV Shows see what we are watching, waiting on and absolutely gorging on

See who we are crushing on They are the new kind of sexy

Game night for couples Fun games couples can play with other couples

The Secret to Good Love Andrea Kings tells us it starts with love of self

Eat in We have recipes for fabulous meals you can prepare for an intimate breakfast or dinner

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these isÂ

Everyday is a day of love, not only on February 14.

AS LOVE MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE

so to do love songs

these are a few of our favourites over the decades we hope you like them to

LOVE SONGS

THE

ROBERTA FLACK

1970's

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (1972) was originally a folk song, written in 1957 by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger; MacCull was was still married and Seeger was his lover.

AL Green Let's Stay Together (1971) was released as a single, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 16 weeks and was ranked one of greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

donna summer Love to Love You Baby (1975) was full of erotic moans and groans; when recording it Summer was in complete darkness laying on the studio floor, imagining she was in sexual ecstasy; the final recording was 16 minutes and contained 23 'orgasms'.

whitney houston Saving All My Love For You (1985) won Whitney her first Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Her mom Cissy did not like the song because it was about a love affair with a married man, but Whitney confessed that at the time she was with a married man. It was orginally sung by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.

THE 1980's

ANITA BAKER Sweet Love (1986) won Anita her first two Grammy Awards. She is regarded as one of the most popular singers of soulful, romantic ballads during the period of contemporary R&B in the '80s. At one time she was dropped by her label because she didn't have 'star' potential. She quit singing to be a law firm secretary.

Lionel Richie & Diana Ross Endless Love (1981), named after a film of the same name starring Brooke Shields won an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination. It was written by Lionel and quickly put together to meet scheduling for the movie. It is about two people who proclaim their love for each other. Diana left Motown Records two months before "Endless Love" was released, it was her last No. 1 hit in the US.

mariah carey A Vision of Love, (1990) was the debut single for Mariah; it won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in '91. Some say the song is about her and God, others believe it is about her and a lover, she said it is about both. She wrote the song about troubles she had in her life because she has black and white parentage.

THE 1990's

SADE No Ordinary Love (1992) was one of the tracks featured in the movie 'Indecent Proposal' and speaks to an unusual and unlikely romance. Sade was born Helen Folasade Adu in Nigeria to a black father and a white mother.

boyz ii men I'll Make Love to You (1994), written by Babyface, sat at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks and won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The song was a follow up to 'End of the Road' and nearly did not make it on the album; BIIM fans consider it a babymaking anthem.

K-Ci & JoJo All My Life (1998) sampled Paul Anka's 1983 hit, "Hold Me 'Til the Mornin' Comes". It sat on the top of the Billboard Top 100 for three weeks and is the duo's most successful song; JoJo's daughter was the inspiration for it. "All My Life" was nominated for Best R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 1999 Grammy Awards.

alicia keys Fallin' (2001) is one of the best selling singles of that year, it won three Grammys and was nominated for Record of the Year, it is about the ins and outs of relationships and samples the early James Brown hit, "It's a Man's World."

THE 2000's

Bruno mars Just The Way You Are (2010) was co-written by Bruno and took him several months to write. He said it is about getting ready to fall in love. It is one of the best selling digital tunes of all time. He is one of the world's youngest Elvis impersonators, born Peter Gene Hernandez.

JOHN LEGEND All of Me (2013) is dedicated to John's wife Chrissy Teigen and was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, It was the third best selling song of 2014. John is touted as a child prodigy having started playing the piano at seven years old in church; he was taught by his grandmother. He has a social conscience supporting several charities.

sam smith Stay With Me (2014) is Sam's debut single, it is pitched as a gospel-inspired ballad which details the protagonist pleading with his one-night stand not to leave him. It is his most successful single to date. Though it sounds like a choir backing Sam, it is actually his vocals layered over 20 times. Sam is gay and thanked the man who broke his heart and led him to write the song that got him four Grammys.

IN BARBADOS WE HAVE OUR OWN LOVE SONGS FROM OUR GREATEST ARTISTES

here are some oldies and goodies reminisce or get familiar

wendy alleyne This Bajan Songstress has a string of hits that to her fans and true music lovers still sound fresh and hold a ton of memories. We couldn't choose among 'He's So Fine', 'Stand By Love,' 'Midnight Blue' and 'I Have A Thing About You,' we pick all.

12 BAJAN

LOVE SONGS

CARLYN leacock The Clock is one of Carlyn's best known songs. She pleads to her lover not to leave her as time quickly approaches for him to do so. This implies that the two maybe in an extramarital affair ; we also never get tired of hearing 'Love and a Song,' great vocals and arrangement.

rudy boyce Oh, the voice of Rudy Boyce, rich, warm, velvety and baritone. His music is a Bajan standard and should be in the vault of every collector of good music, period.

'Let's Make Love One More Time With Feeling,' 'Flamingo' and his cover of 'Red Red Wine' will set the mood for any romantic evening, so get the wine and the glasses.

jackie opel Jackie Opel was a popular singer with a rich, powerful voice with a high, octave range. His real name was Dalton Sinclair Bishop and he is the originator of Spouge. Our favourite is 'You Gotta Cry."

12 BAJAN

LOVE SONGS

Sheryl hackett Her smile was just as beautiful as her voice and our most loved tune from the late vocalist is 'Beautiful and Unspoilt.' When you hear it for the first time it sounds like she is singing about a love interest but it is really about her homeland Barbados; she is captivated by it. Coming in a close second is her cover of 'You Light Up My Life,'

richard stoute He is a legend on the Barbadian entertainment scene, his Richard Stoute Teen Talent competition has been an incubator for several local artistes. We love his smooth vocals and well-crafted showmanship, for the month of love our pick is 'Best Part of My Day' but why choose, we also like 'Any Day Now' and 'Vehicle.'

BLUE RHYTHM COMBO The group was started in 1959/1960 with a strong instrumental core of drums, keyboards, base and guitar. The group played mostly funk, calypso and spouge at all the top hotels and nightclubs across the island and abroad; we are loving 'Knock on Wood' sung by Tony Grazette.

shirley stewart 'Walk Away From Love' is Shirley's biggest hit, selling over 300 000 copies across the Caribbean and the world. It was written in the late 1970's after his heart was broken and he was moving to the US. The former lead singer with the Escorts International performed the song in Barbados recently to an overwhelming response.

Hal Linton/Bobby Saint ''Southern Hospitality' is our pick from this crooner whose sound has echoes of Marvin Gaye, Maxwell, D'Angelo and Prince. His take on neo-soul helped him to snag a record deal with Universal Motown. Before that we fell in love with his local and regional hit 'Cardiac Arrest'.' The singer/songwriter/producer changed his name to Bobby Saint as he took his career to the next level focusing more on writing than performing. We look forward to seeing him on stage soon.

12 BAJAN

LOVE SONGS

Marissa Lindsay 'I Want You To Want Me' is one of our favourite singles from her 2009 Album Deeper; Marissa's voice reminds us of some of the new age soul divas but listen past that and her sound is richer, more from the soul than the heart like Billie and Ella.

12 BAJAN

LOVE SONGS

arturo tappin & carol george

'Light My Fire' sung by Carol George with Arturo Tappin on saxophone. We could not find an image of the beautiful Carol but the blend of her sultry voice and Arturo' s sax is unforgettable.

Mark lord 'I Hear A Love Song,' Mark has one of the more distinctive voices in Barbados, clear, rich and hits you in the chest; some say his voice reminds them of that of World Calypso King Sparrow. This song is a given for our Valentine's playlist, in fact for any time of the year.

Support Barbadian music, your support helps the artistes, the industry and the country.

Flowers & Colours Have MeaningsÂ

Be sure to pick the right ones

RED ROSES One of the most universal of all symbols, the red rose represents romance and true love; it is also a symbol of beauty and perfection.

WHITE ROSES White roses were a symbol for true love, the white rose is a traditional wedding flower, representing unity, virtue, and the pureness of a new love. White roses are also associated with honor and reverence.

pink ROSES Pink carries with it the connotation of grace and elegance, as well as sweetness and poetic romance. Light pink roses are associated with gentleness and admiration, and can also be used as an expression of sympathy.

lavender ROSES Shades of lavender roses suggest an air of regal majesty and splendor. In addition to love at first sight, and the feelings of mystery and enhancement, a gift of lavender roses can communicate your feelings of awe.

YELLOW ROSES Friendship, Joy, Get Well.

Yellow roses send a message of appreciation and platonic love; the color represents feelings of joy and delight.

orange ROSES Orange roses are seen as a bridge between friendship symbolized by yellow roses and love represented by red roses. They can be an expression of fascination, or a gift to say 'I'm proud of you.'

When ordering flowers do not wait until the last minute and don't think that roses are your only option. Ladies, some guys like to receive flowers to and you can buy flowers for yourself, sending them to yourself, no, that would be a little desperate.

Lilies, Daisies, Sunflowers

where to take her?

WE HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR YOU

Take a Tasty Chocolate Factory Tour - Agapey This is an interactive guided tour where you get an opportunity to taste dark chocolate made with Barbadian Plantation Reserve cane sugar, you also learn about Chocolate Origins & and the Rare Bean to Bar Process. The chocolate is made fresh daily.

See underground Barbados by tram for an hour, BDS$50 per person for nationals with ID, opened daily, call 417-3700, www.harrisonscave.com

Located in St. Thomas

HARRISON'S CAVE

Located on Hinks Street, Bridgetown make your reservations on line at www.agapey.com, USD$20 per person, it is a working factory so there are specific guidelines to be followed.

Barbados Wildlife Reserve Farley Hill, St. Peter

Image totallybarbados.com

Opened daily from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, BDS$30 per person Go at 2:00 pm when the animals are being fed, it is the most adorable thing to see, especially when the baby monkeys are around; also see peacocks, parrots, snakes, a Mara.

Catamaran Cruise

Image Trip Advisor

Sail down the west coast on a 60 ft cat, snorkel, swim, drinks and lunch included; or try a sunset cruise, inquire about availability. There are several cats to choose from including Tiami at 436-0900 or Cool Runnings at 4360911; usually board and disembark in Bridgetown.

Take her to the skies Barbados Light Aeroplane Club 231-0569

This is an image of a Cessna, not one at the club .

Call to book a half-hour or one hour plane ride around the island on a CESSNA or the Microlite. Take aerial shots and see Barbados from all angles. Meet local pilots and watch aircraft land up close. The Club House is opened for lunch Thursday to Sunday from 1:00 pm.

Horse and Carriage Ride

Image from the Dream Buggies' Face Book page

A romantic ride on a horse drawn carriage with a costumed driver who also acts as a tour guide.

Ride around the Historic Garrison Savannah contact Dream Buggies 287-2445

where to take him?

WE HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR YOU

Kendal Sporting

Paint Ball, Archery, Fishing, more than enough fun for both of you

Kendal Sporting has all the paintball action you and your guy could want. All you need is a desire to have fun, they supply the paintball markers, paint balls, safety equipment (face, head, chest & back) and the referees. If paint ball is not his thing the Bow Benders Archery Club has made Kendal Sporting their home, and have added archery to the Sport Shooting options that Kendal Sporting can offer its members or visitors, he can also try fishing.

Carrington, St. Philip, 437-5306

Atlantis Submarines Barbados Tours Submarine Night Dive Experience another side of Barbados’ night life in a very unique manner aboard Atlantis Submarine. The use of high powered spot lights on the submarine present a very different view of the coral reef.

Check availability 436-8929

Laser Tag 421-3333

THE BARBADOS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX bookings@barbadosentertainmentcomplex.com Warrens Industrial Park Warrens St Michael

This is a tag game played with guns which fire infrared beams. Let him show his battlefield prowess in the 2200 sq. ft.

LaserSight laser tag arena.

A real-life Call of Duty experience. Physical endurance, tactical smarts ... he'll need them all.

Spa Treatment just for him Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa Choose from several packages

Maynards St. Peter 422-5026

This is an image of a typical laser arena and not the arena at the complex.

Image owned by Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa

Includes a Hot Mud and Salt Scrub Massage, the perfect treatment to help remove the grit and grime, followed by a relaxing yet energizing body massage which will then stimulate circulation and help to relax muscle tension. His treatment is finished off with the Custom Marine Skin Therapy facial designed specially with him in mind.

He'll Love It!

Take him off road It's the Ultimate Experience Located at Brighton St. George Opened daily from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm except Monday 231-0101 Image from the Face Book page of Off Road Fury

Please observe all safety protocols

Make a donation in his nameÂ

 These are just a few suggestions, there are several other charitable organisations which would welcome a donation and are just as deserving.

The Barbados Cancer Society Collymore Rock Rd St. Michael 246-436-8888 info@barbadoscancersociety.com www.barbadoscancersociety.com Cancer Support Services Arborside Belmont Rd St Michael Barbados 228-7081, 426-4770 Diabetes Association of Barbados "Jessamine Cot", Cnr. Jessamine Avenue Beckles Road, St. Michael 427-9338, 437-2285, dab40a@gmail.com Precious Touch Foundation Inc P O Box 814 Bridgetown Barbados Tel: 246-230-3402 www.precioustouchfoundation.org

FAB FINDS

APPROVED

Catch 22 Sunset Point Salmond St. Lucy

622-1825

Magnificent cliff top location near Archer’s Bay in the north west, superb views come as standard! The kitchen matches the seaside vibe with a menu of dishes ranging from fresh Lobster, Lionfish, Ceviche and Conch to local favourites like pudding and souse and pickled sea cat (octopus).

Open Tues - Sun 10 am- 6 pm.

The food is great, the prices are wallet friendly and the view is amazing.

This is a must-do.

Appetisers Sandwiches, Salads Sides

Come in,

WE’RE

OPEN

FAB FINDS

RTIC Melt

APPROVED

Fresh, exotic, local and international flavours of delicious, homemade ice cream and waffles.

They carry a unique range of gourmet products in their ice cream parlours at Montrose, Christ Church and the Beach House St. James.

Try nutmeg, strawberry or mango passion

432-1528

SURFER'S CAFE Breakfast, Lunch Dinner, Coffee and Drinks

420-9283 Surfer's Cafe is laid back with a rustic charm, located opposite Massy Supermarket on the western edge of Oistins.

Come in,

WE’RE

OPEN

COUPLES NEED OTHER

COUPLES

WHY

Having good Friends makes life so much easier It is pretty common place for newly weds nowadays to say that they have married their best friend. While that maybe true, the day to day challenges of daily living including balancing careers, finances and children can quickly make your spouse your only friend.

That's why experts are saying that it maybe healthy for couples to befriend other couples, in fact some maintain it may be one of the keys to a long and healthy marriage.

Research indicates that couples who share friends are usually happier because they socialise with them and get involved in wholesome, meaningful and enjoyable activities. This sets up a social network that the couple is fully integrated into which in turn strengthens their relationship.

Couples can offer support to each other in several ways from baby sitting, to being a sounding board for each other but one of the best ways for couples to interact is to have fun, Family life can be busy so couples can plan to meet up at least once a month for game night, or Sunday mornings for brunch, they can plan holidays together or even travel together.

As in all friendships the common thread has to be respect for each other and each other's boundaries. In this edition we have suggestions for some activities couples can participate in.

GET YOUR LOVE GAME ON: partner up and play for fun Topics are under several categories including the Animal Kingdom, Barbadian Expressions, Proverbs, The Bible and Valentine's Day. Here are some interesting questions: "Which animals make love by throwing darts into each other's bodies? "The answers are in the back of the book, it is "Snails."

Here's another: "What is meant by "the monkey in the hammock?"

For that answer you have to get the book.

Have date night at your house and invite other couples to play, there are several topics to choose from; the hosts manage the game, one asks the questions and the other has to be the timekeeper (allotted time for an answer is five seconds) and scorer. If there is a tie continue asking questions until a winner is declared. Get a copy of the book from the author G. Addinton Forde, contact him at 423-8490. It's fun and you are guaranteed to learn something new that will bring some spice to your marriage.

Take up Dancing It's been proven, couples who dance together stay together and they lose weight to.

It is estimated that one hour of ballroom dancing burns between 250 - 400 calories and hour, just as much as a brisk half hour walk.

jahbulani ballroom dance club Harbour Road, Princess Alice Highway (next to the Port main gate), Bridgetown, Barbados 231-4712

GENESIS DANCE STUDIO 228-0404/233-8197

concordia dance group 428-5095/234-2870 These are just suggestions they are several other reputable dance studios on the island.

Dancing is also romantic, couples are close together, touching and looking into each other's eyes; dancing can also put you in a sexy mood with all that twirling, dipping and romantic music.

Dancing is a skill that couples can learn together and show off every opportunity they get.

Take a hike Literally Boot Up Hiking is a good cardio work out and it is a way to enjoy the out doors, couples can start with a trail they are comfortable with and move towards one that is more demanding. It is safer to hike in group than alone. Hiking is also good for team building. Hike Barbados offers 2, 4, 5 or 8 mile hikes, contact them at 230-4818 or 228-3331.

...or a bike

Mountain Bike Barbados This is another way to see outdoors Barbados and get healthy in the process.

Image from the Face Book page of Mountain Bike Barbados

Contact them at 826-BIKE (2453)

S M A R T

&

T A L E N T E D

a r e

t h e

n e w

S E X Y

Age: 25Â Interests: Education, Work/Career, Charity, Health & Fitness, & Performing Arts

LLOYD BARKER

Looking for in a Date: I am looking for a lady who is kindhearted, ambitious, educated, full of light and positivity with a good sense of humor.

A Jamaican by birth Lloyd has lived in the Cayman Islands, Canada and now the United Kingdom. Always in the pursuit of excellence he credits hard work, discipline and determination for his success. He intends to practice law and have his own firm.

In 2014 he won the Cayman Island's Proud of the Them award, the top award there for leadership and excellence in academics. A year later the Barbados Consulate in the Cayman Island made him their choice for Man of the Year.

An international scholarship helped him to study at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada where he enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Law and a minor in Communication Studies; scholarships helped him to continue studying at the institution. During the first two years of the programme he was on the Dean's List and in the 'Good Standing Reviews,' the highest reviews one can receive from Carleton.

Now he is continuing his education at the University of Law in the UK.Lloyd loves music and he writes poetry as well, having performed on several stages while at home in the Cayman Islands.

Lloyd says his mother is his biggest supporter and his inspiration.

Lloyd says his mother is his biggest supporter and his inspiration.Â

Age: 25 Interests: When I have down time from music I relax by playing football. I also own a printing business and I spend time marketing my music and that business as well.

Looking for in a date: Funny, not too talkative, humble, have their own voice and opinion and respectful.

SHAQUILLE LAYNE

Soca is his first love

This rising soca artiste had one of the biggest hits for Crop Over 2017. At every fete the ladies, including Rihanna, knew the words to the selfpenned Collateral.

And it seems it is also getting traction for Carnival 2018 in Trinidad and Tobago.

This Compliance and Research Assistant at the Barbados Stock Exchange is a former Mr. Lodge, the 2012 University of the West Indies (UWI) Calypso Monarch, and holder of the award for Best New Artist at the 2014 Barbados Music Awards.

In that year he also made it to the Party Monarch Finals with Release.

This Compliance and Research Assistant at the Barbados Stock Exchange is a former Mr. Lodge, the 2012 University of the West Indies (UWI) Calypso Monarch, and holder of the award for Best New Artist at the 2014 Barbados Music Awards. In that year he also made it to the Party Monarch Finals with Release.

A UWI graduate with a degree in Marketing and Management he is a native of the parish of St. Michael and a resident in the parish of St. Philip.

As humble as he is talented Shaq never really planned on having a career in music and believes that it was music that chose him; soca is his first love.

We are crushing on his dedication and committment to his craft.

Will How will you ask the question ? she say yes?

So many questions and you really only want one answer from her. Yes. You've thought about it, but have you bought the ring?

Choosing a ring for the woman you want to be your wife can be overwhelming, there are so many designs and colours. We have some suggestions.

The most common and classic ring setting is called a prong setting. A prong is a little metal claw that grips the diamond tightly, holding it in place.

Solitaire in a prong setting

Halo setting

Halo setting in pink gold

Channel setting

Flush setting

Most prong settings feature either four or six prongs; with the former you can see more of the diamond, but the latter is more secure. A benefit of this setting is that there is a minimum presence of metal, so that there’s more diamond to see and more light that can pass through the diamond, thus adding to its brilliance.

The cons are that it can snag on clothing, furniture and other materials, especially if high-set; it may loosen with wear, get it checked very two years to make sure the stone is still secure.

A halo setting can be a way to save money on a smaller-carat diamond while not sacrificing the overall appearance of the ring. In addition, adding a halo of colored gemstones or setting the halo diamonds with a different color metal can make for a contrast in colors.

A halo setting boosts the appearance of a smaller carat center diamond; enhances overall sparkle due to surrounding stones; securely holds and protects the center stone; supports and complements a variety of diamond shapes; contrast can be built with a halo of colored metal or gemstones.

The draw backs are that the tiny side stones may become loose and resizing can be difficult depending on the number of side stones that line the band

The best way to clean an engagement ring is to make a solution with warm water (almost hot) and dish washing soap. Soak the ring for about 20 to 40 minutes, gently brush with a very soft toothbrush, and then rinse under warm running water. If needed, repeat. You can clean a ring as much as once or twice a week.

The channel setting is a secure way to set smaller diamonds in a row into the band of the ring.

The diamonds, or other gemstones, are set closely together into the grooves of the channel and decorate the sides of the band or the entire band. This setting is also popular for wedding bands or stackable rings that feature only smaller stones and no center stone.

Since there are no prongs, this setting is also a good option for a snag-free and secure design.

The benefits are that a channel setting securely holds the diamond and protects it from outside forces; it enhances the ring’s sparkle with side stones along the band; achieves a sharp design without losing stability; unlikely to snag on clothing and other materials.

The drawbacks are that the setting tends to require more time and effort with cleaning because dirt can become trapped in the channels; it can be challenging to repair and resize due to numerous channels and it is also possible the channels will become bent or misaligned, or that the side stones will loosen during the repair process; it may hide diamonds slightly more than prong settings

Know your Gold Gold is is associated with wealth, grandeur, and prosperity, as well as sparkle, glitz, and glamour.

Rose Gold is a gold and copper alloy widely used for specialized jewelry. It is also known as pink gold and red gold.

Getting the ring right.

An engagement ring is as much a fashion statement as it is a declaration of your love.

A flush setting, also known as a gypsy setting, sets the diamond into a drilled hole in the band of the ring so that the ring sits “flush” with the band of the ring.

Then the jeweler hammers the metal around the diamond to hold it in place. Because the jeweler must hammer in this piece of metal to hold the stone in place, this setting is not suitable for softer stones, which could crack in the process.

This type of setting is a popular choice for wedding bands, especially men’s wedding bands, as the diamond sits securely in the band of the ring and is therefore highly protected from chipping or falling out.

A flush setting affords active wearers the highest security, especially to those who work with their hands; offers a sleek, polished, simple look; delivers peace of mind, knowing the stone is highly unlikely to loosen or fall out; provides significant protection to diamonds and other stones; highly functional and practical.

The drawbacks are that it reduces visibility of the stone; limits the amount of light that passes through the stone, decreasing brilliance and fire; less likely to catch someone’s immediate attention.

This information was taken from the website The Diamond Pro, please follow the link below for more. https://www.diamonds.pro/education/engagement-ringstyles/

White gold is associated with purity and is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal, usually nickel, manganese or palladium.

Like yellow gold, the purity of white gold is given in carats.

Pure gold is slightly reddish yellow in color.

This is how February is set up

John Yarde

Whether you have a date or not support this year's edition of Love, Poetry and Song on Saturday, February 17 at the Drill Hall Beach Range, St. Ann’s Fort, The Garrison. It starts at 6.00 p.m.

Performers include Daniel Lashley, Wesley Morris, John Yarde, Akeem Chandler Prescod, Daveny Ellis, DJ Simmons, Empress Zingha, Gigi Farier, Anderson Blood Armstrong, Mikey, Adrian Clarke, Red Plastic Bag and Biggie Irie; tickets are in the box offices.

Don’t forget to bring two or more nonperishable food items and or toiletries.

Support a good cause and have fun doing it!

Show Your Love Organised by the Government Information Service (BGIS) to raise funds and to collect non-perishable food items and toiletries for the HIV Food Bank.

Love Poetry and Song is also used to sensitise the public about HIV and AIDS, as well as sexually transmitted infections.

What We're Binging On Our Must Have Guilty Pleasures Nola Darling is a 27 year old struggling artist living in Brooklyn. Not only is she struggling to pay her rent, she is struggling to find her voice through her art and she seems to be struggling to find her place in the world as well.

Oh, yes, Nola is having sex with three men all of different ages, backgrounds and experiences but with the common goal of wanting to possess her; something she fiercely resists. When she goes on a penis cleanse in a bid to ground herself she goes back to her old lover Opal, a single mother of one.

She's Gotta Have It (SGHI) currently on Netflix is a remake of the 1986 movie by Spike Lee. When it was first released then it was a featurelength film shot in black and white and on a small budget.

It earned positive reviews and launched Lee's career. The current version is a series starring the beautiful DeWanda Wise.

When she is assaulted late one night coming home from visiting a friend she takes her power back by pasting posters around the city boldly proclaiming that women should not be known by any other name than their own. A bold and powerful stance against a common perception that a man can just grab hold a woman whenever he wants, even if she is a stranger in the street, as Nola's attacker did.

At times SGHI feels disjointed, wandering, chaotic and pretentious. One minute Nola is strong and confident, the other insecure and anxious. Sometimes she seems like a little girl playing grown up and that is exactly what coming into womanhood feels like. When it comes to her men we want her to hurry up and pick one already. But then we like that she can have all three. We are rooting for Mars.

Sonequa MartinGreen was Sasha on the Walking Dead series

Star Trek Discovery Sonequa Martin-Green stars as Michael Burnham, a science specialist on the USS Discovery. Set roughly ten years before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series, the show sees the united Klingon houses in a war with the United Federation of Planets that involves the crew of the USS Discovery.

Burnham is the badass human raised as Vulcan and the adopted sister of Spock. When her family was killed by Klingons, Spock's father Sparek who was an ambassador and his human wife Amanda raised Michael.

On the Starship Discovery one of Michael's colleagues Saru, the first of a new Star Trek species known as Kelpiens described her as one of the smartest officers he ever met and also one of the most dangerous.

During the first season we watched Michael move from brilliant anthropologist to mutineer then to saviour and all that is between. We binge on Star Trek Discovery on Netflix.

Black Lightning The husband and wife team of Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil are part of the creative team bringing the show to the small screen.

See below a partial review from Zeitgeist Entertainment Magazine read the entire review here http://www.zgemag.com/black-lightning-s01e01recap/.

2018 is definitely the year of the Black superhero. Not only are we getting Black Panther in February and the second season of Marvel/Netflix’s Luke Cage sometime this year, but just before they arrive we also have what is poised to be the next big superhero TV series: Black Lightning.

And just in one episode it has proved that it is far better than all of its other DC/CW shows. Here’s hoping that it doesn’t suffer their fate and get progressively worse over a very short period of time. This show is almost too good and too sophisticated to be on The CW.

What We're Waiting For Releasing on February 16 Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman in the lead role. It is the most recent installment from Marvel.

After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to Wakanda. But when two enemies conspire to bring down the kingdom he teams up as the Black Panther, with CIA agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje (the all-female special forces of Wakanda who serve as T'Challa's bodyguards) to prevent a world war.

Lupita Nyong'o

Forrest Whitaker

Look out for Lupita Nyong'o as T'Challa's former lover and an Angela Bassett undercover operative of the Dora Milaje, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, T'Challa's mother and Queen Mother of Wakanda and Forrest Whittaker as Zuri, an elder statesman in Wakanda, and the keeper of the Heart-Shaped Herb which T'Challa eats, which, in addition to his mystical connection with the Wakandan Panther God, grants him super human powers including strength, agility, speed, reflexes, stamina, and healing.

Natalie Portman

Tessa Thompson Based on a novel by Jeff Vandermeer of the same name the movie has been described as haunting and compelling. According to www.collider.com the story follows the expedition of four women who are sent into the mysterious “Area X”, a portion of land in the United States that has been secretly quarantined due to abnormal activity. They are the twelfth expedition sent into Area X on behalf of the mysterious Southern Reach organization. The second expedition ended in mass suicide, the third in a hail of gunfire as the members turned on one another, and the eleventh expedition returned as shells of their former selves, all dying of cancer shortly after coming back. We are watching rising star Tessa Thompson who has had roles in Thor: Ragnarok, Westworld, Creed and Dear White People. Annihilation releases February 23.

What We Want To See Again Green Days by the River is the film adaptation of the classic novel of the same name written by Michael Anthony in 1967. This film, written by Dawn Cumberbatch and directed by Michael Mooleedhar, is the coming of age story following the timid Shellie Lammy, called Shell, from the coastal village of Mayaro.

Screenshot from the ‘Green Days by the River’ trailer.

Pictured: Anand Lawkaran as Mr. Gidharee and Sudai Tafari as Shell.

immediately felt nostalgia for a time I myself have never experienced. I didn’t feel like I was merely looking at the past; I was immersed within it. The locations, art direction and costuming really worked together to create authentic imagery that really forced you to feel immersed in the 1954 setting.

Having an ailing father, he decides to forgo attending school to find employment. It is with this that he becomes close to his neighbor – the man with the long, sharp, cutlass at his waist and three massive Tobago dogs – Mr. Gidharee, who lets Shell take home fruits from his land for his family. This man is also the father of the dougla “jane” that Shell has had his eye on since he moved, Rosalie. It is through him that Shell becomes close to her all while Mr. Gidharee is quite fond of Review written by Romario Hunte of Zeitgeist Entertainment Magazine Shell. However, complications arise Click on the link below and read the full when Shell is introduced to another review “jane” from Sangre Grande who he also http://www.zgemag.com/green-days-bytakes a liking to. Here is where the core the-river-film-review/ conflict is created.

by Andrea King Self-love.

What really is it?

GREATEST LOVE OF ALL

We’re taught “love your neighbor as yourself” from the time we can think; but the first part of that maxim is usually given more privilege than the latter.

Read this again: love your neighbor as you LOVE YOURSELF. What does that really mean?

It does NOT mean that you are narcissistic to care as much for yourself as you care for others or someone else.

'Love You'

It DOES mean that you must care about yourself enough to stop doing things that are detrimental to you.

It does mean that you must think so highly of yourself, that you are the first to forgive yourself for any of your mistakes.

Model: Celine Forte Makeup: Eyedemtity Red Dress: Attitude Boutique

Photog: Kevon Delaney

'Not everyone will see your worth'

Model: Celine Forte Makeup: Eyedentity Red Dress: Attitude Boutique Photog: Kevon Delaney

It means that you recognise that not everyone will see your worth and honour it, and that recognition has no power over you because you love your self enough.

Self love has to be total. It is not to be confused with selfishness.

Are you really being self-less when you resent it when someone who asks for your help and you feel you cannot say no to them, especially when it means denying yourself? Who really benefits in that situation?

Who is hurting most when you cannot say no, and your continuous giving of yourself wears you down? Who is hurting most when you constantly give in to unreasonable requests, especially when you chide yourself for giving in and then feel guilty afterwards? Who hurts most when you give so much of yourself that you are too tired to event eat?

This is now an era of much sharing various messages on social media platforms about self-love. It’s time to really internalise those messages, and embody them, live them.

Love your Self!

Chocolate-chip Pancakes & Sautéed Bananas

Yield: 8 - 9

INGREDIENTS For pancakes:

©Cynthia Nelson|www.tasteslikehome.org

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

• 2 cups all purpose flour • 3 teaspoons baking powder • 3 tablespoons white sugar • A pinch salt • A pinch ground cinnamon • 2 eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten • 1 ½ cups whole milk (substitute with water) • 4 heaped tablespoons chocolate chips (semi-sweet or regular) • Canola oil • Maple or your preferred syrup for pancakes, or honey For sautéed bananas:

• Wire/cooling rack • 10 x 3-inch square pieces of greaseproof/wax paper • Non-stick pan or flat iron griddle such as a tawah

• 3 ripe bananas peeled and sliced into ½ inch rounds • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 4 teaspoons canola or any neutral tasting oil

DIRECTIONS For pancakes: 1. Add flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cinnamon to a bowl and mix together.

2. Add eggs and milk to make a batter of dropping consistency (you may need more or less milk/water depending on your location). The batter should not be thin or watery.

3. Cover batter and let rest for at least ½ hour. The longer it rests, the higher the pancakes will rise.

4. Fold in chocolate chips just before cooking pancakes.

5. Add a few drops of oil to a non-stick pan and swirl. Heat on medium heat. If using a tawah or griddle, heat up pan first then brush with oil.

6. Pour or ladle 1/3 cup of batter in/on to pan and swirl with the back of a spoon.

Spread batter to about 4 inches in circle. Let cook until bubbles or holes start to form. Flip pancakes (do not slam down) and continue cooking until it comes away easily from the pan. Do not press down on pancake while it is cooking.

7. Remove cooked pancake and place on wire rack or paper towel. Repeat until all the batter is used up. Insert a piece of wax paper between each pancake when it is done cooking to avoiding steaming and sticking (this is when you are stacking the pancakes).

8. Pancakes can be kept warm in a 200 degrees F oven while you continue making the others.

For sautéed bananas: 1. Add butter and oil to a pan and place on medium heat to melt. When the froth from the butter subsides, add the bananas to the pan, spread them into a single layer, you want each piece to make contact with the pan (cook in batches if your pan is small). Let cook for 1 minute or until it starts to caramelize a little. Flip, cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

2. Spoon over pancakes, drizzle with syrup or honey and serve.

Pasta with Beef Short Ribs Yield: Serves 3 - 4

©Cynthia Nelson|www.tasteslikehome.org

INGREDIENTS 2 pounds beef short ribs Salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil 5 cups water or vegetable stock 1 pound pasta (rigatoni, penne) ½ cup chopped parsley 1 chilli/hot pepper, sliced thinly (optional) Extra Virgin Olive oil (optional)

DIRECTIONS 1. Season meat with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Add 1 tablespoon oil to a heavy-bottomed pot and heat until smoking hot. Add short ribs and brown meat all over (work in batches if your pot is small).

3. Add 5 cups of water/stock to meat in the pot; scrape the bottom of the pot to release the stuck bits; cover pot and bring to a boil.

4. Bring the pot to a roaring boil then reduce heat to low/simmer and cook for 2 hours or until the meat is tender and almost falling off the bone.

5. Remove cooked meat from liquid and take out as much fat from the liquid as you can. Turn the heat to high and let the liquid cook until the sauce has thickened. As the sauce is reducing, shred the meat and set aside.

6. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt to taste when the water comes to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions or to your likeness.

7. Add shredded meat back to thickened sauce and toss to coat the meat thoroughly. Add drained pasta to sauce with meat and toss to coat thoroughly with meat with sauce; cook together on low heat for 2 minutes.

8. Add parsley and chilli/pepper and with Extra virgin olive oil (if using) and toss to mix.

9. Serve immediately.

NOTES • If using a pressure cooker, add 4 cups of water after browning meat and pressure for 35 minutes on medium heat and then continue with recipe.

Time begins at the first whistle.

• Top is grated or shredded Parmesan (if you have).

INGREDIENTS Watermelon juice (see notes) • Moscato wine (white or pink) DIRECTIONS 1. Add equal amounts of juice and wine to a large pitcher, stir and refrigerate until very cold.

NOTES

©Cynthia Nelson|www.tasteslikehome.org

Watermelon Moscato Wine Cooler

• To make watermelon juice – remove rind and seeds of watermelon and chop into large chunks; puree in a blender, until smooth. Pass through a sieve for a smooth juice.

• The quantity for mixing is only a suggestion, add more or less of either ingredient to suit your taste.

• To make the ice with frozen mint – add washed mint leaves to ice trays, fill the trays with water and freeze hard. To serve – plop into drink just before serving.