Mother's Day Issue

W a y T o PLa r e n t ifeStyle Exclusive!

Mother's Day Issue

Ch-Hara Pearson Beating The Odds, Starting A New Journey

Surviving Infant Loss Tiffany Harvey

Sparkle Bass Mompreneur Building Her Empire

Destined Shades Of Purpose Empowering young girls for tomorrow

VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2 • MAY 2019

Domestic Abuse What You Can Do and How To Get Help USD 6.99

TABLE OF CONTENTS WTP LIFESTYLE 04 Community NonProfit Spotlight

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07 I Want That Old Thang Back 10 End The Cycle 16 Still Standing 23 Getting Thrifty with E 31 Embracing MotherHood 37 Mother's Day Everyday 38 Mompreneur Advice 44 Parenting Tips

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45 Remembering A Friend/CoWorker

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Our Staff.

Editor in Chief Blaine Way Senior Staff Writer Desmonae Flowers Staff Writer Candance Dantley Staff Writer Erica Lorraine Staff Writer Mashonda Waddell Staff Writer Marsha Donaldson Staff Writer Dr.Bracely

Contributing Writer : Ms.Money Contributing Writer : Aja Edwards

WTP LifeStyle

t i f o r p n o N y t i n u m m o C t h g i l t o p S

Making A Difference One Day At A Time.

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Contessa Drayton DESTINED SHADES OF PURPOSE BY: MASHONDA WADDELL

There are those who wish that the world was a better place, and there are those who take the initiative to make it a better place. One of those individuals putting in the work to change the world happens to be the founder of Destined Shades of Purpose, Contessa Drayton. Destined Shades of purpose was established in 2014, when Contessa Drayton heard the calling of God to mentor and dedicate her life to young girls. There were many challenges she faced and overcame while growing up in a single parent home with her mother. She experienced being bullied in grade school, developed low self-esteem, and depression to name a few. Contessa realized that her life was not meant to wallow in or settle in the past with pain and shame but to heal properly and give back to those in need, in her case it would be the youth by inspiring them to see it’s not the struggle that defines you, but your personal response and life’s mission to produce social change in the life of someone else.

Destined Shades of Purpose is a FaithBased mentorship program currently serving young girls ages of 6-18 years old in the Greater North and Charleston Region. Our services provide monthly group mentoring sessions Every 2nd Thursdays of Each Month, Community Outreach, Social/Partnered Events, Group Fundraising, and Educational Tours. Our program mission is to provide mentorship, support, and activities for young girls as they become young women. What differentiates their program from others would be their value system to demonstrate for young girls the power to walk in integrity, good character, and a life of service to others that today's generation is currently missing in the world today.

What is the most touching moment that you have experienced since starting this group? There have been many touching moments that I’ve experienced since starting my non-profit, ranging from hearing a parent share that our program has been an answer to their prayer for their child to moments when a mentee can share a tool or lesson she’s learned in our session and apply it to real life situations. For example, it could be reciting her personal mantra (words of affirmation) on a depressing day or showing a heart of compassion for someone that may need a helping hand in school or within their path.

What are some of the challenges that you have faced with your nonprofit? What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own nonprofit organization?

Challenges that I’ve faced with my non-profit would be working through the learning curves of what it takes to run an organization. It takes more than passion to succeed; it also requires a desire to grow as an individual and professional to train and hone skills that are necessary to lead your team and organization effectively. My advice to anyone desiring to start a non-profit would be do your research first, take your faith steps and just begin the journey and as you move forward the layers will unfold. There is greatness and power in the gifts that you possess as an individual that are worthy to bring to the table within your community and world, that they need to experience and be apart of. As you grow and evolve the right team of individuals will come alongside to add value and expand the possibilities of your program’s influence and social impact.

How can our readers support your organization? Readers can support Destined Shades of Purpose by connecting with us at our Website: www.destinedshadesofpurpose.org, or by sharing with other parents that may have daughters, loved ones, or friends in search for quality mentorship from professional, trained mentors that will lead their girls to become the best versions of themselves. Support can also be through the forms of becoming a volunteer or program partner with a donation any size to aide in the mission for our program to continue reaching our young people and community. We are a local 501 (C) 3 Charitable Organization, all donations are tax deductible. Like us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and program upcoming events.

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More Information On How To Support DSP: Parents can go onto their Website: www.destinedshadesofpurpose.org Click the Join Us Tab and Download Application or Contact Us at 843-868-1852 We are local 501 (C) 3 Charitable Organization, all donations are tax deductible. Like us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and program upcoming events.

Destined Shades Of Purpose

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I WANT THAT OLD THANG BACK BY: MASHONDA WADDELL I grew up in an era where a man got a good woman and he did everything to keep her. I witnessed date nights with no phones, just two individuals enjoying each other’s company. I’m not talking about a Netflix and chill either. Time was spent getting to know all the important things that one needed to know about the other before proceeding forward with the relationship. Men and woman pushed each other to become a better person, because they knew they would both reap the benefits of the other being successful. Love wasn’t just a word, but it was action shown by the way their eyes lit up when they looked at each other. Love felt like butterflies dancing in one’s stomach when they held their significant other’s hand. It consisted of repeated goodbyes because they didn’t want the conversation to end. It was demonstrated by the way that couples constantly found new ways to love each other instead of finding a new person to love.

The man served as the woman’s protector and she knew that as long as she had him she had nothing to fear. The woman served as the man’s nurturer and made sure that all his needs were taken care of because she knew the he was working just as hard to serve her needs. Men and women dated for the sole purpose of marriage and not just companionship. Men weren’t ashamed to show the world that they were in love and woman didn’t hide the that they were in love due to possible embarrassment. People were happier to say that they had someone that truly loved them instead of constantly claiming the hashtag #single every time something didn’t go their way in the relationship.

Love was pure and innocent, uplifting, comforting, and everlasting.

Somewhere along the way it changed and became full of secrets, lies, and constant goodbyes. Men would rather start over a million times than to spend an hour trying to fix the relationship issues that they faced. Dates now consist of hooking up in the house and having a movie watch you instead of watching a movie together. When the bumping and grinding isn’t taking place each person has their heads buried in their phone screens catching up on what other people are doing, or even worse looking for their next hookup. Maybe if they had taken the time to get to know each other, the conversation would flow and they could begin to relate on an emotional level. Maybe then they could learn to love each other the way they love the attention that they get from Facebook and Instagram likes. Maybe then they would push each other to their greatest potential instead of competing with each other for the spotlight. Maybe then they would love and give freely to their partner without the fear of building them up just for the next person to reap the benefits.

Love shouldn’t be defined by a constant fear of getting hurt or playing games to see who can hurt each other the worst.

Love definitely shouldn't be one-sided where only one person is doing the giving, compromising, and showing appreciation. Relationships require teamwork, which means both people working together for a common cause. No matter who you’re with if you don’t see your partner as your teammate your relationship is headed for disaster.

Relationships are hard work but with the right one, they are worth it. There will be good days and bad days but if done the right way, and with the application of understanding and commitment the rewards will be transcendent.

For those of you who have had the opportunity to experience such a wonderful thing I must say that you are very lucky. To love and to receive the same love in return is nothing short of a blessing. Continue to cherish your love and set an example for others of what true selfless love looks like. You are paving the way for your children and grandchildren to receive this same type of love. Believe me once you witness this type of love you won’t settle for anything less than it. Let your children know that the partner that they choose says a lot about how much they love themselves. If one loves themselves, they won’t accept anyone treating them any less than what they know that they deserve. It’s time to start idolizing real love and healthy families and stop giving so much attention to the toxic relationships that we see on reality shows. Continue to do your part and hold on to your better-half. Treat them like the prize that they are and I know they will continue to do the same for you. Like my grandpa would say “Show these youngsters how it should be done.”

For the rest of you, I challenge you to bring that old school love back. Let’s love the hell out of one another. Breathe life into your relationship through gaining an understanding of your partner.

Learn what they like and dislike, who they look up to, their strengths and fears, insecurities, and their family history. Learn their weaknesses and help them improve on those weaknesses.

Stop using those weaknesses to tear them down. Try asking how their day was before you ask what they are cooking for dinner. Show your appreciation through gestures instead of expensive gifts. Learn everything that you need to know about them before marrying them. Date, laugh, and compromise more!

Prep Time : 5-8min Cook TIme: 20min Total Time:28min Servings: 12

Ingredients: 1 box red velvet cake mix, prepared according to package instructions 15 oz cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups cream cheese frosting

Directions: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, prepare the red velvet cake batter.

In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla, stirring until there are no lumps.

Divide the batter evenly among a lined muffin tin, filling halfway.

Spoon some of the cream cheese mixture onto the batter.

Top with remaining batter, filling about ž of the way up.

Bake for 20 minutes, then cool.

Pipe the cream cheese frosting onto each cupcake, then top with red velvet crumbs.

Recipe from Tasty.com

https://tasty.co/recipe/red-velvet-cheesecake-box-cupcakes

END THE CYCLE

By : Mashonda Waddell There’s a girl out there somewhere that is struggling to make ends meet. She’s a mother, a student, and an employee. She faithfully attends church and prays to God for her breakthrough.

She’s constantly uplifting others and helping them in their times of need, while never taking handouts from anyone else. She always finds a way to make it through any situation that she is faced with. Lately things have been changing for her. Her patience is running thin and she’s starting to feel like things will never look up for her. She knows that she can’t give up because she has someone looking up to her, but she can’t help but find herself falling into a deep state of depression. She no longer finds enjoyment in the things that she once did, and she avoids being around her close friends and family.

Though her body isn’t physically harmed she has committed suicide of her soul. She’s given up, but what she doesn’t realize is that things are about to take a drastic change for her good.

That girl was me 5 years ago, after leaving a very abusive relationship where I experienced mental and physical abuse. I was screaming for help on the inside but refused to go around those that loved me, in fear that they might actually answer my call for help. That answer would be preceded by questions that I wasn’t ready to answer. I had hidden the abuse for so long in order to protect him and out of embarrassment for myself. I had spoken so highly of him and I would brag about him to anyone that would listen. Let’s not forget all the bruises I was constantly hiding in order to cover up the fact that he was beating the snot out of me. When someone would see the bruises, I would lie and makeup some story about me being clumsy and running into something. I felt the need to protect his image and didn’t wanted anyone talking bad about him. How would I go back and tell them that they were all lies? How dumb would I look? Why is love so blind?

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I endured the abuse for 3 years before I finally decided to leave him. I remember that night like it was yesterday. I knew in my mind that he had jumped on me for the LAST time. I followed the advice of someone that I referred to as a friend, I fought back and left. The breakup was horrible, and in the end, he ended up looking like the victim. Everyone was giving their opinion of what happened, and he was sending me messages calling me all kinds of things. He even had me questioning myself, wondering if maybe I was wrong. Maybe I made him hit me. Maybe I shouldn't have talked back. Maybe just maybe I shouldn't have gotten mad when he cheated. I mean people make mistakes, right? They were all mistakes....at least that’s what he led me to believe. After 3 years of defending my offender, here I was after finally breaking away from him, continuing to defend him. Even when I thought I was in control and no longer bound to this abusive lifestyle, I was still a prisoner to it. Then I found myself fighting for my image instead of my freedom. I cared about what others thought, and I had to let them know what really happened.

Eventually I decided to leave it alone and let people think what they wanted to about me.

I stayed away from social media for years and began to work on me. After leaving the relationship I realized that I hadn’t did anything to make myself happy in a long time. I realized that years before I had stopped living my life for me and started living solely for him and our relationship. I didn’t see myself as an individual but solely as his partner and to exist without him seemed surreal, but now I was finally walking in my purpose and becoming a woman that I was proud of. I’m not saying that I am perfect, because like any victim I went back a few times before enough was enough. I never moved back into the house but sometimes co-parenting lead to small flings but they never lasted long. It only took a few of those flings to realize that he didn’t deserve any part of me. I knew in my heart that I could never give him the complete control of me that he had once had. I never again allowed myself to lose sight of who I was. I worked profusely on improving me, which consisted of getting my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, finding a job, building back my relationships with my family and friends, and being the best mother that I could be to my sweet baby girl. I can honestly say that nobody but God got me through this difficult time in my life. By leaning and depending on God I was able to start fresh and build a foundation where I was able to support my daughter and myself.

My weight came back, and my hair grew (yes, the saying is true).

Overall I found myself again and I can honestly say that for the first time in three years I was happy.

To leave this relationship was one of the hardest things that I had ever had to do, but it was also one of the smartest things that I have ever done in my life. After leaving it became so much easier for me to walk away from things that didn’t add value to my life. I had more confidence in myself and I was a much better mother, friend, sister, and daughter than I was before. I healed myself so that I didn’t bleed on others. So, ladies just know that uncomfortable feeling that you are feeling right now only means that it’s time for you to take action. It’s time to let it all go and give yourself a chance to live again. Work on yourself! Rebuild those broken relationships with friends and family! Take all the energy that you once put in that dead relationship and put it into reaching your goals. It’s going to hurt and it will take time, but the longer you wait to make a change, the longer before you receive your new beginning.

END THE CYCLE WTP LIFESTYLE

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Building, maintaining, and strengthening your credit!

1. Do your research on what credit is, what it is based on, and what you can do in order to keep it strong.

2. Go to all 3 Agencies (Transunion, Experian, & Equifax) to view your credit report 3.Check your credit report to remove and dispute any wrong or erroneous information (You would not believe how many credit reports are wrong and people consumers don’t know it) 4.Start or continue paying all bills on time (late payments hurt) 5. Start to reduce all credit cards and lines of credit below 30% (this means pay them down!)

6.Look to possibly increase the limit on existing credit cards (this doesn’t mean to spend more once an increase is granted!)

7. Keep your old credit cards (if possible), make sure to pay down according to 30% rule (closing old cards could hurt your credit age)

8. For late payments that have reported already call the company to plead for a Goodwill Adjustment to remove the late payment mark

9. For collection companies that are reporting negatively call and ask to “Pay to Delete” 10. Use monitoring apps like Credit Karma or Credit Sesame to get real time credit alerts (good to easily detect credit fraud) 11. Begin to Learn the difference between your FICO Score and your Vantage Score

WTP LIFESTYLE

The last thing to remember is that this is not an overnight magical process. This process takes work, patience, and diligence. However, when you see how much progress you make you will learn to value your credit in the future.

Transparent moment: My credit when I first started college and working in my first Corporate America job was high 700s, but before I knew it my credit fell to the mid-500s and I felt really discouraged.

However, I didn’t quit, I researched, I applied what I learned and I let time take its beautiful gruesome course. I am grateful for that journey though, because now being back where I originally was in my credit it gave me a drive to never let it get back that low.

When you work hard for something you value it so much more, so don’t look for easy overnight fixes.

Roll up your sleeves and get to work and let’s get your credit on track! You can do this and you will be grateful you did. Who knew the power of 3 digits that could determine what you drive, where you live and even where you work. It’s time to take control of your credit and not let it control your life!

THREE MEAT CALZONES K E E P

I N

C O O L

Prep Time: 1 Hr 15 min

A R E A

•

Ingredients: Dough

Cook Time: 33 min Total Time: 1 hr 48 min Servings: 4

● ● ● ●

¾ cup of warm water Instant yeast packet ¼ oz 1 ½ teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon olive oil

Filling ● ● ● ● ● ●

1 pack hormel pepperoni 6 oz ½ pound italian sausage 4 strips thick cut brown sugar bacon 1 cup minced mushrooms 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella 1 large brown egg

Directions Pour warm water, instant yeast packet, flour and salt in mixing bowl. Mix with electronic mixer or spatula until dough forms a ball.

After dough has risen cut into quarters, lightly flour clean surface and roll dough into ½ cm thick.

Lightly flour clean surface for knead for 1-2 minutes shape into a ball.

Drizzle olive oil at the bottom of a large bowl, add the dough turn over to coat the dough cover and let rest for an hour.

Spread tablespoons of sauce over half of each dough round leaving ½ inch from the border. Top with ¼ cup italian sausage and mushroom mixture, ¼ cup bacon, 6 pepperoni, 3 oz of mozzarella cheese.

Preheat oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

While dough is rising cook sausage in a medium non stick pan until brown,5-6 minutes, add mushrooms, salt and pepper. Remove from heat allow to cool.

Place strips of bacon on baking sheet with drainage pan to remove excess grease 6-7 minutes. Allow to cool and chop into bits for easier placement in calzone.

Lightly beat egg with a pinch of salt in seperate bowl. Brush egg wash on the border of dough, fold dough in half to close bringing edges together. Start at one end fold dough over itself making a twist to ensure sauce and toppings are sealed inside.

Transfer all calzones to baking sheet. Brush with egg wash slit a score at the top to let out steam.

Bake for 15-17 minutes, let cool for 4 minutes and serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

Still Standing....

BY: AJA EDWARDS

I remember the exact feeling, the exact day, the approximate time…..I told you I was pregnant. Our relationship was rocky.

I prayed and prayed for the courage to tell you the secret I was hiding for so long. I suffered so much emotionally until I couldn’t anymore. Our relationship was already rocky, and the fear of losing the one I thought was my soulmate, kept me trapped in my own mind. To make it as brief as possible, once I told my son’s father I was pregnant, our relationship plummeted to a place far beyond restoration. He began to intentionally hurt me (mentally) and because I wasn’t completely true with him, I felt I deserved it. We continued on, me with the thought of hopefully one day becoming a family, and him I’ll assume because of comfort & what was offered. I didn’t feel the need to be respected and therefore he didn’t feel the need to respect me. It took a toll on me…...I gave birth to my beautiful little boy in January.

To make it as brief as possible, once I told my son’s father I was pregnant, our relationship plummeted to a place far beyond restoration. He began to intentionally hurt me (mentally) and because I wasn’t completely true with him, I felt I deserved it. We continued on, me with the thought of hopefully one day becoming a family, and him I’ll assume because of comfort & what was offered. I didn’t feel the need to be respected and therefore he didn’t feel the need to respect me. It took a toll on me…...I gave birth to my beautiful little boy in January. To give you a mental idea of how much stress I was under, I’m 5’7 and at a healthy weight I am about 145. Full term with my son up until giving birth, I was 111 pounds. It wasn’t an easy first 6 months for the both of us. Our son wasn’t released from the hospital until the next season. I blamed myself and I went into a deep depression that lasted well until we (my daughter, son and I) moved to Vegas. I was struggling. I had my friends (and my amazing grandmother and my aunt) but it was unfair to ask them to assist me while still growing and figuring out their own lives. My mom was willing to support me until I got on my feet but I had so many demons I was scared to face. They showed on me, my appearance, my household, and the people I chose to be around. An obvious sign was the way I still battled with thinking I was unworthy of proper love.

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Fast forward to two years in Vegas, the day of my son’s party. It was the last $130.00 in my account. His dad came out to attend the party….I called him because he stayed at my mother’s house and the call goes to voicemail (I’m crying as I write this, ahh). I try again and again….he’s on a plane back to Connecticut with our son and once he touched down, he files for full custody. My world comes crashing down. My sole purpose in life, the only reason I still felt like I had to get up every day was because of my kids. Now I have to fight for mine. I felt defeated but still had to get up because my daughter still needed me. It wasn’t easy. My heart became cold, I was angry, I hated life, and lost a relationship with my mother. I didn’t trust my sister, didn’t have my father, couldn’t tell my brother, and I had just ended a relationship with one of my now closest friends

FAST FORWARD: IT GETS BETTER! I am a spiritual person, I pray often, I write often, and through self-reflection I knew that I had to make a change. I started to ask God for understanding rather than revenge. I even started to rationalize why this needed to happen. A month before my son’s dad came to Vegas, he was probably feeling just like me, if not worse! He lost the woman that created him and the father figure that raised him. I took myself out of the situation and started to understand his motives, and knew at the time (his only son) was all he had. He needed Hayden to restore his faith. God did that I had to trust that. He didn’t get full custody if you’re wondering (lol). This was also what I felt was a wakeup call for me. I needed to break down to rebuild. I had to find my worth. I had to find myself!

I had to learn how to love, how to forgive, how to trust the process, accept my faults, and find my strength and walk in my purpose. In that purpose here I am .....

Still Standing!

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Surviving The Storm By: Mashonda Waddell

An angel in the book of life wrote down my baby’s birth. Then whispered as she closed the book, “too beautiful for earth”.

– Unknown “The baby didn’t make it……” Those words would continue to replay in her head over and over again, accompanied by a sharp stabbing pain to her heart. She had no idea how she would move on from this, or if she would even be able to move on from it. So many thoughts ran through her head. To lose a child before ever seeing them smile, before ever hearing them cry, before ever getting to hold them in your arms is a pain like no other. Unfortunately, this is a pain that many women have experienced. It’s a heartbreak that takes a lifetime to recover from. It’s a void in these mother’s hearts that can never be filled. However, being able to tell their story is one of the ways that these women heal. To carry their child’s name on and keep their spirit alive means the world to them. This is one of the reasons that Tiffany was so happy to share her story with us.

Tiffany and James have been together since high school and they married in summer 2014. In early 2017, after trying to conceive for years, they received the news that they were going to be parents. They were ecstatic! They would finally have the family that they had always dreamed of…the family that they had longed for, for so long. Tiffany’s pregnancy was perfect, with no complications or sickness. With every doctor's visit it became more real, that they were actually going to be parents.

September 30, 2017 would be their baby shower, and then in just a few more weeks they would be holding baby Jayce in their arms. Feelings of excitement and joy filled their bodies. But on the night of September 29, 2017 those feelings turned into hurt, confusion, and hopelessness. Tiffany went into the hospital with pain, which she thought might have been contractions. She thought baby Jayce was making an early entrance, maybe he wanted to attend the baby shower too. However, that wasn’t the case and upon arrival at the hospital she was told that baby Jayce’s heart beat could not be found.

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Soon Tiffany's doctor arrived and confirmed the inevitable.

Her baby had passed away and instead of having a baby shower she would be having a memorial for her sweet baby boy. She couldn’t even focus on the fact that her life was now in danger. The doctors stated that she was bleeding internally and it was too dangerous to do a C-section until the bleeding was controlled. It was two days before the doctors were able to do a C-section on her. Those two days seemed like eternity for her and her mind was racing with thoughts.

When she was finally able to hold him in her arms it was the most bittersweet moment ever. There he was, her angel with his head of thick black hair and perfectly shaped lips.

Goodbye was so hard but she knew that he was at peace. Of course that didn’t stop the aching of her heart or the numbness throughout her body, but she knew that she would one day understand why she had to leave the hospital that day without her precious baby boy.

The actual event of losing Jayce was far from the end of she and James’ despair. The months following were really hard for them. Jayce’s room continued to stay set up with the beautiful colors of blue and gray. The pain in their hearts sharpened with every day that they had to go on knowing that Jayce wasn’t with them. They had plenty of support and were continuously surrounded by friends and family, but they couldn’t help but feel alone. The house that should’ve been filled with loud infant cries throughout the day and night was quiet and the crib across the hall was empty. They were able to get through each day by praying together. While infant loss puts a strain on most relationships, it only brought them closer together. They leaned on each other and were each other’s biggest supporters for the months following Jayce’s loss.

After a year of healing from losing baby Jayce they were blessed with the news that they would be receiving another blessing. This pregnancy was very different from the first one, it was filled with lots of anxiety and doubts. It was so hard to be happy with the idea of another heartache lingering in the back of their minds.

Luckily this story had a very happy ending and on March 22, 2019 the two were blessed with their beautiful baby girl Nyla Renae Harvey.

Finally their world was complete! Tiffany describes her first moment with baby Nyla with these words, “Holding Nyla for the first time was the best feeling I’ve ever experienced in life. When she gazed in my eyes all I could do is thank God for giving me this gift that I will cherish forever.” They call her their rainbow baby. A rainbow baby is a baby born after a loss or a miscarriage. She was definitely the rainbow after their storm, and she restored their hope. Nyla is already full of personality and smiles.

She has stolen the hearts of everyone that she has come in contact with. You can see the gratitude in her parent’s eyes when they speak about her. For them this a beginning to the most beautiful chapter of their lives. Tiffany’s prayer is that every angel mom holds on to their faith while preparing for their promise from God to be fulfilled. She wants them all to know that there is rainbow that will follow their storm.

This was an amazing story from a woman of great strength and faith, and we are so lucky that she was able to bless us with her story. There are so many mothers dealing with and healing from the loss of their precious baby(ies), but I encourage each of you not to give up. I know right now it may be hard to continue to look for the light at the end of the tunnel, but is there. Feelings of hopelessness and abandonment by God may plague your mind but know God has not forgotten about you. Know that he’s going to show up and bless you in a way that you have never imagined.

This may be through conception or adoption, but either way it will be a blessing. Your rainbow baby will never replace the baby or babies that you have lost, but the ability to hug on them while you remember your angel baby will feel like the conformation that you have longed for for so long. We never know how God is going to use us to help someone else. Our struggles can be used to manifest the love and support that someone else needs. Tiffany is now able to be that voice for angel moms and she plans to continue to support other moms as they deal with their loss(es).

Welcome Baby Nylah!

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Getting Thrifty with E Hello ladies! This month’s Thrifty find includes four lipsticks that are beautiful for spring. Of course MAC, and Dior are wonderful brands, but why pay more if you don’t have to? These four Thrifty finds are less in price, but not quality! I’m here to help you break necks, and not the bank! These hues are beautiful on every skin tone, and lip shape. Let’s get Thrifty!

When I think of spring, I think of vibrant pinks, warm plums, and sexy nudes. These four lippies exude just that!

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Milani VS Dior My first pick is a sweet plum color called “Obsession,” from one of my favorite brands, Milani. This matte lip crème applies so smooth, and dries soft to touch. There is nothing worst then when a matte lipstick dries hard, and cracks every time you speak (Ugh!). This lipstick feels like velvet, and gives your lips a nice sexy pout. Okay, let’s get into the Breakdown! This lipstick is very similar to the Dior Addict Lacquer Stick, in the color Dark Berry. Both lipsticks dry smooth, and feel flawless on your lips. What’s the difference?

The price of course! Milani’s lip crème is $8.99 while Dior’s is $37.00. https://www.milanicosmetics.com/products/amo re-matte-lip-creme?variant=47968488655

Wet N’ Wild VS MAC Nudes are necessary for any season, and not the nudes you have to get naked for! Wet N’ Wild has the perfect nude lipstick that will compliment any skin tone. This shade is called “Bare it All.” Breakdown- It is not matte, but applies nice and thick like one. There is a hint of gloss that gives it a nice shiny look. I purchase these at least three at a time, so that I don’t run out, because they are just that great! MAC “Kinda Sexy” is identical to “Bare it All,” and I actually like them both equally, except for the PRICE! Wet N’ Wild’s “Bare it All” is a whopping $2.69! Most of us spend more on lunch daily. MAC’s “Kinda Sexy” is $18.50. https://www.wetnwildbeauty.com/lips/megalastlip-color.html

Maybelline VS Lime Crime This vibrant pink from Maybelline is a Spring must-have. Maybelline has been around for forever, and with lipsticks like their SuperStay Matte Liquid Lipstick, I can see why! This color of pink, just like its name, has a romantic feel, and look. It’s a very feminine color that would make any outfit pop, and sure to make you stand out. So let’s break, break, break, it on downnnn! Lime crime has the most beautiful hues, but at $20.49, I’m going to be singing “Maybe she’s born with it, or maybe it’s Maybelline!” This same hue can be all yours for $9.49. They both apply the same, and have the same wear times. I actually like Maybelline’s liquid lipstick more because it did not crease as much as Lime Crime’s does. https://www.maybelline.com/lipmakeup/lipstick/superstay-matte-ink-liquidlipstick/romantic

NYX VS YSL

Fuchsia is such a beautiful spring color, and “Prague” by NYX, is the perfect blend of purple and pink. The pigmentation in this lipstick is very high, and you don’t have to apply much to see the shade. It applies so smooth, with a mousse like texture that feels nice against the skin. Breakdown- One thing I love most about this lippie, is that is has a nice sweet scent to it that is not overwhelming. With a price of $6.50 it’s totally worth a try! YSL’s Fuchsia InTimeTrue Fuchsia is just as great, but is a lip stain.

Both colors dry, and last even after eating chicken wings, salad, and wine (Miracle)!

YSL’s Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain retails for $37.00. https://www.nyxcosmetics.com/soft-matte-lipcream/NYX_007.html

As a single mom, I’m constantly looking for great deals, and alternatives to upscale brands. I love a great sale, and live for bargain deals. These Thrifty finds will keep you looking pretty, and not penniless (Oh-Kay)! And the beauty of it all, is that no one will know which lipstick brand you’re actually wearing. Pucker Up! WTP LIFESTYLE

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Mis Quince Años ISLA RIVERA 5 o'clock in the afternoon, at the hermosa palaces, brown street, vista, ca 92083

I've learned the hard way self care is mandatory.

Also shutting down and making time for your family. It’s no good to help outside the home and your own is in shambles.

CH-Hara Pearson FOUNDER, SCARS INC

Superwoman is not just a myth she is the embodiment of Ch-Hara J. Pearson. Ch-Hara J Pearson is a native of Jersey City, NJ currently residing in Fayetteville, NC. She’s a wife, mother of four, a graduate of North Carolina Central University, Certified Credit Repair Specialist & Owner of NuEra Credit Solutions LLC and Customer Service Advocate at Blue Cross NC. With all of life’s responsibilities, her passion is bringing awareness and helping others through her non-profit organization S.C.A.R.S. Inc. (Survivors Connecting And Restoring Self). Her love to connect with others and especially empower women has to lead her to accept the Presidency of ACHI Women Supporting Women Fayetteville Chapter.

WTP LIFESTYLE COVER STORY

"One Must Start their own healing journey first " After being a victim of domestic violence, seeking help was not an easy feat, those whom she’d contacted had never been through abuse and lacked knowledge, empathy, and understanding. S.C.A.R.S. is an organization that offers mentoring, educational seminars, emergency shelter and "love" packages which contain everyday essentials for men, women, and children. Most victims leave with nothing but the clothes they have on their back, the “love” packages consist of toothpaste, gift cards, deodorant, sanitary napkins, diapers, wipes and other essentials many take for granted. Once an individual is connected with S.C.A.R.S., they not only receive emergency services but they are connected with counselors, permanent housing resources, jobs, and credit repair. Ch-Hara not only has high hopes for S.C.A.R.S. but is dedicated to those that come through her door. Their healing and understanding of what happened to them is necessary to ensure that their trauma doesn’t define them or the rest of their lives.

As a generational survivor of Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse, her life mission is to make sure survivors have accessibility to the treatment, counseling, and care to heal from their trauma. At a young age, she witnessed abuse but she was never allowed to speak out about it. In July 2011, Ch-Hara had her final straw, her significant other decided to point a gun to her head and pulled the trigger, she promised herself if she made it out alive she would never look back. She didn’t want her kids to think this was love and realized she had to love herself first. Her kids seeing her in a casket at the age of 5 and 4 was enough for her to walk away, moving out of Raleigh to start over. Ch-Hara made the decision that the cycle had to end with not only her but for her kids too. They needed love and support if this ever happened to them, and the confidence to speak out.

I was able to snag a little of Ch-Hara’s time to ask her questions about S.C.A.R.S. and her journey getting here: Did you ever think when you started your journey with S.C.A.R.S. that you couldn't do it and did you have setbacks?

I was scared to start it not knowing I was doing the work anyway. I unknowingly was advocating and helping others transition from trauma to triumph. There were several financial and medical roadblocks as I battle with endometriosis and adenomyosis daily. Some Days I can hardly walk and in constant pain but the passion pushes me to do what I can within my means. When I wanted to give up there would always be a call, positive word or situation that reminded me why I started.

How did you get through your domestic violence situation?

What kept you going?

July 2011 when he decided to point the gun to my head and pull the trigger I promised myself if I made it out alive I would never look back. I didn’t want my kids to think this was love and realized I had to love myself first. My kids seeing me in a casket at the age of 5 and 4 was enough for me to walk away, move out of Raleigh and start over.

What advice would you give to other advocates that want to help in such matters that people go through every day but don't have the confidence and support to face?

One MUST start their own healing journey first. What we do often may trigger you so you need to know how to recognize and handle them when they happen. Once you’ve begun working on self you will be more of an asset to others. The best thing I did was connect with other survivors, volunteering for local shelters and programs. You can often be trained or certified for free by simply volunteering. You get to connect with like-minded individuals and build long-lasting relationships. The strengths inside you, you just haven’t tapped into it. Always remember “it’s okay to not be okay, it’s not okay to stay that way”!

Would you advise all victims of domestic violence to get counseling?

I would definitely recommend they at least try it. It took me five tries before finding my current therapist. TraumaFocused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is the avenue I went to. Some of my survivor sisters have done meditation, support groups, and so much more. Everyone’s different so I would say don’t limit yourself to just one try and see where your heart leads you.

WTP LIFESTYLE COVER STORY

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Fayetteville Observer 40 Under 40 CH-HARA PEARSON AWARDS INCLUDE: ACHI Magazine Editors Choice 2017 ACHI Magazines Servant Leadership 2018 Woman of Strength 2018 Fayetteville Observer 40 Under 40 Community Leadership 2019 Institute of Community Leadership 2019 Graduate Citizens Academy 2018 and 2019

For More Information: S.C.A.R.S. Inc scarsinc.org Call: (984)-37S-CARS (377-2277)

Scars Inc

Embracing MotherhoodÂ

& Preserving Self By: Candance Dantley

You saw two blue lines on a pregnancy test, your doctor confirmed that the test was indeed correct, and you’ve seen what looks like a jellybean on a sonogram. Congratulations, you’re pregnant! After nine months of taking those awfully large prenatal vitamins and watching your body transform beyond your wildest imagination, you are now holding your beautiful baby!

As you carefully adjust the car seat straps for your baby’s first ride home, it suddenly hits you, “I’m a mom!”. It’s just the beginning of you making adjustments for this miracle that you created. Adapting to motherhood while continuing to work, maintaining relationships, and preserving the essence of who you were before motherhood can seem impossible. However, it can be achieved if you make a conscience effort to find balance.

First Days at Home with Baby Your first days at home as a new mom can be overwhelming and exhausting to say the least. You have a new little person to take care of while caring for yourself in a way that you may not be used too. You just delivered a baby, whether vaginally or via C-section, a few days ago and your body is going through a process to heal and restore itself. You are now waking up about every 2 hours for feedings and diaper changes and your usual 6 to 8 hours of sleep has vanished. Your first days at home after delivery is the time for your village to help you with things like laundry, preparing meals, cleaning and maybe even keeping an eye on the baby while you rest. You may not be accustomed to asking others for help and you may even think it’s a sign of being incapable of caring for your child. Contrary to your thoughts, having a supportive village will provide some sense of normalcy in regards to having the time to take a shower, eat, groom yourself, or sleep for a few hours. This will help lighten the feelings of being overwhelmed and exhausted. All villagers that visit you in the first days at home are not there to support you on your new journey. Some of your friends and family members who want to see “the new baby” will come sit on your couch for hours, about nothing but themselves, and even ask for your help or advice. They can’t see the look of sleep deprivation on your face because they are busy spilling their guts about their own troubles. Although it may be tempting, a few days after delivery is not the time for you to save the day for family and friends. You simply don’t have the resources. Complications or obstacles that require your immediate response may present for you or your baby in the first days at home. Unsupportive, self-serving visits will drain you of the energy you need as a new mom and even put you at risk for postpartum depression.

I’m Happy to Be a Mom, But Why Do I Feel This Way? Postpartum depression is a very real experience for new mothers or any mother who has recently delivered a baby. I, a strong mom and doctor, experienced postpartum depression. When my second child was 3 months old, I was starting to get the hang of juggling my pumping schedule at work, managing chiropractic patients, and caring for 2 children and a husband. I was my feeling pretty good about myself as I portrayed the quintessential “superwoman” who could balance work and home life! Without any warning or reason, my supervisor called me into his office and cautiously laid me off from my dream job. I felt like I had been exposed to kryptonite and the feelings of hopelessness as a mother and as a woman begin to invade every crevice of my mind. With positive thinking, I believed I could will myself into a better mindset and feel strong again. I’m superwoman, right? However, the unrelenting negative feelings did not leave me. When I talked with my doctor and my husband began to pray and meditate, so I could find relief. Having physical, mental and spiritual support ushered me into a place of relief, hope, and peace.

According to the Office on Women’s Health, postpartum depression is a serious mental illness in which a mom has feelings of sadness and emptiness, has a disconnection between herself and her baby, and/or has no interest in caring for herself or her newborn. It should not be mistaken for “baby blues”. “Baby blues” is feeling sad or down for 2 to 3 days after your baby is born and the feelings subside with 3 to 5 days. However, if those feelings persist for 2 weeks or more, this is postpartum depression. If you experience this, you should visit your healthcare provider to be tested for postpartum depression.

Self-care The moment you deliver your newborn, more than likely, your primary focus is caring for the needs of your baby.

However, learning to care for yourself while you care for your baby is the key to adapting to motherhood. Motherhood is for a lifetime therefore, it’s imperative that you give yourself the care that you need. If you master this in the early stages of motherhood, it will allow you to provide your child with the love and support they need to thrive. If getting a mani-pedi was a way you relaxed and managed stress before your little one, continue to do so! If you never took the time to decompress and relax, motherhood is a great time to start. You will experience what I call “mom guilt” when you decide to do something for yourself. You will think to yourself, “I could be doing laundry, cooking or doing something for my family instead of having a girls’ night out.” Don’t skip out on the things that give you happiness and that are a part of what makes you, you! You should schedule time for yourself along with doctor’s appointments, feedings and anything else that’s important. It’s crucial to take care of your physical, mental and spiritual health so, there’s no need to feel guilty about doing so! Your little one is depending on you and deserves the best that you can give.

You and Motherhood Were Meant to Be As soon as you laid eyes on the positive pregnancy test, the sonogram, and the face of your sweet little angel, your baby became the most important thing in your life. In the same moment, you became the most vital thing to your baby. The most valuable thing you can give your baby is a mother who is happy, healthy and emotionally present.

You may feel like you’ve gotten off to a rough start because your birth plan or breastfeeding didn’t go as you planned.

You may feel like you are not getting the hang of this motherhood thing at all. Don’t worry. You were chosen to gifted with this uniquely beautiful task called motherhood. Calling upon your village to help as you adjust will make all the difference. In the beginning, we all have doubts in our motherly capabilities. However, one thing is certain. You will be written down in history with all of the greats who are called, “Mom”. I know that you were made for this and you will find your balance in motherhood. It was meant to be.

MKNJ Cosmetics

N I A

Lewis MKNJ Cosmetics

MomPreNeur Mrs. Nia Lewis never thought the day would come that she be a Mompreneur. Sixteen years ago she was a teen mom, high school dropout and depressed about the direction her life was taking at that time. On July 24, 2002 she gave birth to her first daughter. Becoming a mother ignited something within her that motivated her to push forward. Fast forward almost 17 years later, she is married with two daughters and telling her story in hopes of inspiring others to never give up on their dreams. She went from seventeen and pregnant to learning and continuing to teach her daughters how to build wealth, with help from their village (family and friends).

Mrs. Nia Lewis started a MKNJ Cosmetics a mommy and me cosmetic line. Let’s see how she is teaching both of her girls about entrepreneurship, and how important it is to create generational wealth.

How did you come up with the name of your company?

MKNJ Cosmetics is named after my daughters and I. It was formerly known as Sisters Cosmetics by Kendall and Nyla J. In January, 2019, I decided to join them make it a mommy and me cosmetic line. My daughters cater to the teens and pre-teens and I cater to adult women.

What made you decide to enter the cosmetic industry?

Well, I have always been into cosmetics. My sister was a cosmetologist, and I loved playing in my Mom’s makeup when I was a kid. Also, during my husbands time in the military we live in Guam. During that time I had a friend who created makeup in her home. I was curious about what she was doing. She shared that she created lipstick and other makeup, sold it to other military wives, and sometimes did events on the weekend. She was gracious enough to teach me how to do it. Now I have been creating cosmetic products for about 6 or 7 years.

Add a little bit of body text

What was your motivation to take this from a hobby to a profession?

For me, it is about generational wealth. I wanted to leave a legacy for my children. I find that oftentimes we do not do this for our children. I wanted to leave my children with something they can always use.

The actual goal is to open up a beauty bar.

So, tell me about your new book? I collaborated with 11 other women to tell our individualized stories about how we balance being mompreneurs. I had my first daughter at the age of 17, so for my chapter I focused on going from a teen mom to becoming a mompreneur. We each provided our different perspectives of our journeys. Our book launch will be on May 18th in Missouri. I’m very excited! From here I plan on writing my own book.

Are there any words of encouragement that you would like to share with our readers before we close? Yes. Dream big! Never give up! Do not let others dim your light because you are the light. I would like to encourage other women to keep going. Whatever vision that you have write it down and watch it manifest. It will come to light.

Believe in yourself, pray about it, and know that it will happen.

Lastly, I want to encourage moms and dads to make sure they listen to their kids when they come up with creative ideas. Sit them down and guide them into writing down their plan. You would be surprised how interested they are to learn how to take their business ideas from a thought, to actually making money.

MKNJ Cosmetics mknjcosmetics@gmail.com

love, peace, and joy FROM

THE

FITZGERALDS

Mother's Day Everyday BY: ERICA LORRAINE Mom, When I look back over my 33 years of life, one thing is certain, you were always there. Mother’s Day is every day. Through my successes, and failures, you never let me face them alone, but you stood with me, cheering me on, and also encouraging me.

Now that I’m a mother, I realize the sacrifices you made to attend my school activities, late nights spent cleaning, and preparing for the next day, and the endless prayers prayed on my behalf. What would a day consist of without you? It wouldn’t. Mother’s Day is every day. Holidays and birthdays were special because of you.

You knew all of the right gifts to buy, and yet still taught me how material things were not important. You showed me what it meant to be a lady, and helped me to be a confident woman. When I experienced one of the most difficult times in my life, my divorce, you were there to keep me together. When I wanted to break down, you held me up, you helped me to survive.

Mother’s Day is every day. The moments of laughter we share are never forgotten, nor did the tears shed. When you lost your mother this year, you still were the backbone for our family. You were able to send Grandma away in the most beautiful way, and with so much grace, I can only aspire to be like you! You shed your tears privately, so that we could shed ours publicly, you are so strong!

Mother’s Day is every day. You are a loving Grandma, like the ones you read about in story books! Always nice, and so loving.

Our children are blessed to have you. I see a lot of you in me, and I am so thankful. You have showed me what it means to be compassionate, and also how to stand-up for myself. Times when I know I disappointed you, your love never ceased. I know what real love is because of you. You introduced me to Christ, and showed me how to pray. I never realized how important this would be to me in my daily adult life.

When I know bad things should’ve happened, I realize it was your prayers that kept me. You have prayed for me when I could not pray for myself. Every day is Mother’s Day. Why is every day Mother’s Day? Because there is not one single day that you have not been there for me. One day out of the year is simply not enough time to explain how much you mean to me. While you are still with me, I want to show you how much I love and appreciate you. I don’t know where or who I would be without you. You are my best friend, someone who I can depend on, and I appreciate you. A mother’s work is never done, and she is the heart of the family, keeping everyone together, steady, and strong.

Mother’s Day, and every day we celebrate you, our beautiful queen. Thank you mom for all that you have done, and all that you continue to do, a rare gem indeed.

I love you, Erica

r u e n e r MomP

ADVICE! Dionne Selby What does being a Mompreneur mean to you?

Being a momprenuer means to me that I am setting a good example for my daughters to live outside the box. I want them to know that if they hard hard they can accomplish anything they dream. I hope to inspire them to always believe in themselves and to never let others define them but instead define themselves. Keep God first in all they do and live out their purpose.

Jen Feister What advice can you give to another mother wanting to pursue her own business?

Its all about accepting the fact there will be no balance. Take help when it's offered, don't try to control every single little details. You have to let the feeling of needing to be in control 24/7 go, immediately. Otherwise you will overwhelm yourself and it will affect all areas of your life, including business, which feeds your children

Are there any tools that you would like to recommend to other mompreneurs?

Yes!!

1.Pray over it!

2.Research 3.Know your “Why” 4.Make sure you are passionate about your “Why” 5. Networking is your best friend. Networking was not initially easy for me because I am an introvert, but this is an important part of the process. Networking is how I was able to get my first speaking engagement.

Nia Lewis

What does being a Mompreneur mean to you?

Being a mompreneur means working hard at my craft and building business while being the best mom I can be. That usually means I find ways to involve my children in my craft.

Savy Chic Sparkle Bass What keeps you motivated through the ups and downs of business? It's not always perfect, but my goals and the legacy I want for my kids keep me motivated. During the down times just take that moment, have a drink or something, get back up, and keep going.

Lynnie Wright What advice would you give to another mother, wanting to start their own business? I would tell to get clear understanding of what it is she would like to do. Do not overthink it. Just go for it! Life will balance out. Remember gaining understanding enhances your faith and game plan. Overthinking enhances fear and procrastination. Do it Boo, you got this!

WTP LIFESTYLE

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Sparkle Bass

MOMPRENEUR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

XII Enterprise, LLC

By Dr.Bracely

WTP LIFESTYLE

Sparkle W. Bass is a wife, mother of four, and the President and Operating Manager at XII Enterprise, LLC, a logistics and transportation company located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

She is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she received a BS in Electronic, Computer and Information Technology. In 2012, she received her MBA from Kaplan University.

Sparkle worked with industry leading technology companies in the field of project management, but always knew she wanted to start her own business. After working in project management industry for a few years, she decided it was time for her to become a Mompreneur.

In 2014, Sparkle founded XII Enterprise, LLC, a transportation and logistic company. Since that time, XII Enterprise has grown from operating one truck to fifteen trucks throughout the United States. Sparkle allowed WTP to get a glimpse of her Mompreneur world.

PAGE 39

How did you come up with your business name? My husband and I were both born in December, so it was something that represented the both of us.

Where there some moments, especially in the beginning, where you thought this could fail?

Mrs. Sparkle Bass: Everytime I get an invoice for maintenance, YES, I say this to myself. In trucking maintenance is our second largest bill, and of course fuel is the first. The cost of fixing trucks is very expensive So everytime one of the trucks go down and  I see the maintenance bill, I have this thought.

What was your initial motivation to start a transportation and logistics business?

I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur. My parents were also entrepreneurs, so I have never had the mindset of being an employee. When I met my husband he was a Truck Driver, so all of the pieces fell in place. I was already an interior design consultant, but was wanting to start a moving company as well. So I was able to ask him questions about his trucking experiences, and he shared his interest in wanting to own his own truck. My ambition in wanting on to start a business, and his ambition on wanting his on truck was a perfect match.

"I create balance by prioritizing everything based on urgency. I also have a great staff."S P A R K L E B A S S

What is it like to be a business owner, wife, and mother given that all can be very challenging and rewarding. We are a blended family with four children ranging from 6 - 12yrs old. Only trucker wives will understand when I say I am married, but by myself. I am responsible for the day to day activities when it comes to our household because my husband is always on the road. He is here for emotional support. When I am frustrated, he is the listening ear with a brighter perspective on how to manage the challenges. So for me it is has been like an emotional rollercoaster.

WTP LIFESTYLE

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Is the trucking business an expensive startup process?

Yes, it is a very expensive startup. This is not the type of business you can start with a couple of hundred dollars. The trucking and transportation business is the total opposite.

You need a couple of thousands of dollars to get started.

You also need decent credit to get your truck. No one will give you a $100,000.00 asset with poor credit. Also, the trucking and transportation industry is also federally regulated which means it is a lot of different licensure you need to get started. The biggest thing is liability insurance. You need a million dollars liability insurance, and I am not talking general liability insurance Transportation industry liability insurance is different and costly. The down payments are like 20%, and can cost about $10,000.00 just to get started on your down payment depending on the types of trucks you have.

Considering the cost, how did you financially prepare to start this business? My husband and I are a fan of the baby steps, so we got him a better job driving trucks. Most drivers get paid per mile. To increase his income we got a him a job getting paid a percentage of what the truck made so that he will get a bigger chunk of the money. This is how we started saving.

I am an analyzer and techie by career. Having this background in technology has enhanced my analytical and research skills, so I research everything. I do not go into anything blined. I researched the cost of a truck. That was my past time. My husband knows trucks, so we tag team. I use his expertise. He knows trucks and I do the research. He tells me the best type of truck, and I research to see the most cost effective way we can purchase the truck. Once we found the company we wanted to purchase the truck from they had to determine if could get approved. Once approved we had to pay a $8000.00 downpayment. We had to save for that, but you can’t just save for $8000. We had to have insurance and money in saving for maintenance. So we set a goal to save $15,000.00. We used $8000 to purchase the truck, $2000 for the insurance, and the remaining for maintenance issues.

How do you balance work, selfcare and motherhood? I create balance by prioritizing everything based on urgency. I also have great staff. I do high level overview. My husband is very involved with the day to day because we have a fleet of ten. My full time job is laid back. I pretty much know what I have to do anywhere from two to three weeks in advance. For my personal clients, I generally do not allow booking more than 48hrs in advance, so I know my schedule. I also keep a tight calender. For example, Tuesdays and Fridays are the days I spend with my kids. When my husband comes home on the weekend its family time. We do not do any work during that time.

Sometimes I have weekends where I am by myself. During this time I doing absolutely nothing, but relax and maybe catch up on my favorite t.v. shows.. A lot of times as women we get so caught up in the hussle we forget to take care of ourselves. There was time when I was wrapped up in the hussle, and I neglected my needs. We shouldn’t just work hard and not enjoy the fruits of your labor. I decided I would start taking days for myself. There are times when I may have to adjust my schedule, but I try not to allow things to interfere with my “me time” unless it is necessary.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

If you are a mother or parent out there who has a business or have questions about starting a business, we offer mentoring, coaching, workshops, and one-to-one consultations.The first 1hr consultation is free. We are the plug for helping you have a successful business.

For More Information about Consulting Services: @XIIEnterprise consulting@enterprise.com

FIVE STAR Rated On

AÂ BOOK EVERY FAMILY CAN RELATE TOO www.Way2parentshop.com

Parenting Survival Tips: 1. Consistency 2. Self Care 3. It's ok to walk away

IN MEMORY OF

Sierra Tillman

NOMADIC

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