NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 VOL. 3 NO. 3
No Madam President
Editor-in-Chief, Annette Johnson Design Director, Joey Shepherd Page Layout and Design, Kiryl Lysenka Design Assistant, Nairobi Guillory Online Editor, Bianca Nelson Travel Editor, Peggy Hattendorf Financial Editor, Deborah Hightower Social Media Director, Tamara King Editorial Assistant, Iman Combs Sales Manager, Mary Taylor Special Projects Manager, Veronique Thomas Contributors: Jenny Abouobaia Destini Billins Harmoni Brangman Jazmine Calhoun Allyn Evans Danielle Glosson Darren Howard Sara Jackson Mona King-Austin Meleena Murray Callie Riggle Tommeka Semien Skylar Watson Cover photo: Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images Customer Service For subscription service or change of address, including email, contact info@hersmagazine.net or write to P.O. Box 1071, Atlanta, GA 30301 Hers (ISSN 2372-3785) is published six times per year by Allwrite Communications, 50 Hurt Plaza SE Atlanta, GA 30303 404-221-0703
Nov/Dec
CONTENTS F E AT U R E S
32 Miranda’s New Rite of Passage: Beauty Entrepreneur
Model and actress Africa Miranda introduces the first product in her beauty line
8 November is National Healthy Skin Month
This season brings skin challenges and significance
52
Bobbie Thomas Offers Makeup Application Innovations Today Show host makes applying makeup simple as 1, 2, 3
14 Give the Gift of Beauty 12 How to Cure Illiteracy Possible solutions for those challenged in literacy.
40 It’s Not That Deep
A guy shares the things women make too much fuss over
45 The Truth About Marriage Explains who “they” are and why they’re not important to your relationship
51 Try These Stocking Stuffers Run out of ideas for small gifts? Try these…
These are great beauty items that women may love to receive or give
46 Review: Mulan Beauty
An evaluation of the Mulan V Beauty Pro Hair Care product line
48 Fall-Winter Fashions
You may need these looks in your life this winter
50 Review: Seedy Organic Snacks
Eating “seedy” snacks can help with the calories but offend the taste buds. We share our favs.
32 7 album releases left to look forward to in 2016 Make sure to check out the upcoming albums by critically acclaimed artists, ranging from Susan Boyle to Bruno Mars.
36 Tis the Season to Experience the Arts
10
4 Basic Exercises Women Should Include on Leg Day These are four workouts that are musts when working on your lower body
‘Tis the season to attend one of the many upcoming shows all across the country that will premiere this holiday season.
24 No Madam President
After one of the greatest political upsets, review this timeline of what would have been America’s first female president
58 Where to Go to Celebrate an Old-Fashioned Christmas From Texas to Tripoli, these destinations reign in fun and nostalgia
64 Travel Apps Worth Noting Don’t travel without your ID or maybe these apps
12 Tis the Season to Count Your Coins
In a season when more means more, we learn how to give as much with less money
16 Beyond Bad Hair Day
47 Keep Your Friends Close and Investors Closer
18 ‘Again,’ the Beginning of the End
56 Gadgets for Girls
How to put an end to self-criticism.
This one word defined the candidacy of Donald Trump and perhaps the undoing of women and minorities
hers-magazine.com
Here are a few key steps to maintain and separating personal and business relationships.
From wearable technology that tracks fitness to electric eye massagers, you can see, hear and feel a little different with these gadgets
55 The Coined Celebration A look at how life is constantly changing you for the better.
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazin e |
5
6 ISSUES FOR
JUST $9.95
F E AT U R E S • H E A R T • F L AVO R • H E A LT H L E S S O N S • W O R K • P L AY W W W. H E R S - M A G A Z I N E . C O M 6
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com
Editor’s Letter When this magazine was launched in 2014, we never thought about the defining moments in history that women would claim over the next two years. For instance, that same year, General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, had the first female at its helm, CEO and Chairwoman Mary Barra. No other moment, however, can eclipse the historic nomination of the first woman to be a major political party’s nominee for U.S. president. Although she ultimately lost to Republican candidate Donald Trump, she will forever be an example for other women who aspire to somehow affect change in the world. To that distinction, we have provided a detailed timeline of Hillary Clinton’s life and career. If we missed or have mistaken anything, be sure to reach out to us. This issue, as you will see, is also steeped in discussion about beauty ideals and products. Longtime beauty aficionados like Today Show’s
hers-magazine.com
Bobbie Thomas and model Africa Miranda have launched their own products based on what they feel is missing in the market. We, likewise, think you’ll find these products beneficial. Pay special attention to the many holiday tips, especially counting your coins. Remember, you can always give Hers magazine as a special but inexpensive gift. Just click on the Subscription tab on our website. We’d also like to invite you to “Hers Day” on Dec. 1, 2016, in Atlanta, Ga. You can get more details on our site by simply clicking on the News tab. Happy Holidays! Annette R. Johnson
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazi n e |
7
+ HER BEAUTY
BEST BEAUTY GIFTS for the
HOLIDAY
SEASON
The best Christmas gifts for her are things that make her feel or look more beautiful. These are just a few suggestions that you can give and maybe even ask to receive.
14
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com
+ HER BEAUTY
hers-magazine.com
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazi n e |
15
+ H E R S O C I A L C O M M E N TA RY
BY ANNETTE JOHNSON
WHAT ‘AGAI
MEANS FOR AND MINOR 18
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com
+ H E R S O C I A L C O M M E N TA RY
IN,’
R WOMEN RITIES hers-magazine.com
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazi n e |
19
Hillary Clinton A Timeline of Almost
50 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IMAN COMBS
H
er bid to become the first female president of the United States ended unexpectedly on November 8, 2016, but Hillary Clinton’s legacy of public service and commitment to social justice can never be diminished. At 14 years old, then Hillary Rodham went with a church youth group to Chicago to hear Rev. Martin Luther King. Hillary’s minister, Don Jones, took her and others backstage to meet Rev. King. “Because of [Dr. King], after 219
24
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
years and 43 presidents who were all white men, the next generation will take for granted that a woman or an African American can be President of the United State of America,” she said recalling their meeting. What has Hillary achieved in her 45 years public service life since that moment? Here is a summary since graduating from Wellesley College, when an excerpt from her graduation commencement address and picture were published in Life magazine.
hers-magazine.com
+ H E R F E AT U R E
LAW STUDENT (Yale, 1969): - She began an internship at the Children’s Defense Fund, alongside its founder Marian Wright Edelman, during the summer of 1970. Edelman became her mentor and inspiration for Hillary’s career path in helping poor and disadvantaged children. - She began working in the Yale New Haven Hospital to develop procedures to handle suspected child abuse cases. - She got so involved in children’s issues that she actually took an extra year in law school working at the child studies center to learn what more could be done to improve the lives and the futures of poor children. - In the summer of 1972, she went to Dothan, Alabama, to visit one of those segregated academies that then enrolled over half-a-million white kids in the South. The only way the economics worked is if they claimed federal tax exemptions to which they were not legally entitled. She got sent there to prove they weren’t. - Then she went down to south Texas, where she worked with union leader Franklin Garcia to register MexicanAmerican voters. - In her last year in law school, Hillary went to South Carolina to see why so many young African-American teenagers were being jailed with adults in men’s prisons. Her report helped to change the law. - After Yale, Hillary moved to Massachusetts to keep working on children’s issues. This time, she was trying to figure out why so many kids counted in the Census weren’t enrolled in school. She did research about families with disabled children and filed a report that ultimately helped influence Congress to adopt the proposition that children with disabilities, physical or otherwise, should have equal access to public education hers-magazine.com
ARKANSAS (1975) - She started the first legal aid clinic in northwest Arkansas, providing legal aid services to poor people who couldn’t pay for them. - She joined the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi. Soon after, she started a group called the Arkansas Advocates for Families and Children. - In 1979, just after Bill became governor, Hillary chair a rural health committee to help expand health care to isolated farm and mountain areas. They recommended to do that partly by deploying trained nurse practitioners in places with no doctors to provide primary care they were
trained to provide. It was a big deal then, highly controversial and very important. - In 1983, Hillary chaired a committee to recommend new education standards for Arkansas in response to a court order to equalize school funding based on a report by a national expert that said Arkansas’ “woefully underfunded schools were the worst in America.” Nine years later, just before Bill Clinton took office as president, the same expert said that Arkansas was one of the two most improved states in America. - Hillary got the Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazi n e |
25
“ALL SHE NEEDS IS A LITTLE SUPPORT” We need more than just flowers and a card on Mother’s Day. We need your support year-round! Have a project that never quite got off the ground due to lack of funding? Fund Her Projects (FHP) is an innovative funding platform just for women. FHP is not your typical crowdfunding site, as it allows members to promote a well-intentioned cause and request needed items within the community.
WHY FUNDHERPROJECTS.COM? • We Understand and Value You
WE EVEN SUPPORT NEEDS THAT HELP YOU SUPPORT THOSE PEOPLE AND IDEALS YOU HOLD DEAR BY OFFERING:
• We Are Community Who Cares About Your Success
• Rewards-Based Crowdfunding • Support for Meaningful Causes
• We Support Your Campaign from Start to Finish
• Virtual Baby Showers for Mothers without Means • Back-to-School Gift Registry
VISIT WWW.FUNDHERPROJECTS.COM
28
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com
+ H E R F E AT U R E
Miranda’s New Rite of Passage:
Beauty Entrepreneur BY DESTINI BILLINS
Africa Miranda has made a name for herself as a model, actress, spokesperson, host, speaker, blogger, social media guru, and a hair and beauty icon. She’s done it all, heightening her fame in 2013 on the short-lived reality series The New Atlanta. The newest addition to her credits is “entrepreneur.” A natural beauty from Montgomery, Alabama, Miranda is releasing a facial elixir as the first product in her new beauty line, Beauty by Africa Miranda, in November 2016. She took a moment out of her busy schedule to catch up with Hers magazine, telling us about her upcoming plans and looking back on this year’s accomplishments. 30
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com
+ HER MUSIC
album releases left to look forward to in 2016 The year is coming to a close, but new music is still on the horizon. Check out these new releases before closing your 2016 collection. TORI RIGGLE
Emeli Sandé, Long Live the Angels
Alicia Keys, HERE
Susan Boyle, A Wonderful World
Keys released her last album, “Girl on Fire,” four years ago, but the soulful star has been busy ever since. She may have just returned to the spotlight this year, but she returns home to her Brooklyn roots on her new album HERE, set to release Nov. 4. The R&B singer took to Twitter to promote HERE’s singles “In Common,” “Blended Family (What You Do for Love)” featuring A$AP Rocky and “Holy War.” She rewarded a few of her most loyal followers on Oct. 29 with a direct message revealing the full track list. Keys told fans what to expect from her newest record during a TODAY show appearance in September. “This album is so much about life. It’s about New York City. It’s aggressive. It’s raw. It’s me being my most truthful…my most honest,” Keys explains.
British singer Susan Boyle caught the world’s attention when her audition video for Britain’s “Got Talent” went viral in 2009, gaining over 200 million views. She stunned the judges, the audience and the world with her rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Miserables. Boyle has even more treats for listeners on her seventh studio album in seven years. A Wonderful World features a virtual duet with legendary Nat King Cole on “When I Fall in Love.” Boyle is the first British artist ever granted this privilege. She says, “It’s a real honor, seven years on I still get to surprise people.” The album features a wide variety of genres, from children’s classics like “When You Wish Upon A Star” to Madonna’s late-80s hit “Like a Prayer.”
Sandé skyrocketed from obscurity to fame when her 2012 single “Next to Me” rose to No. 25 on the Billboard charts. The soul pop singer decided to take a break from the music scene following her sudden success, but she comes back this fall to deliver her most genuine music yet. “This entire album is about me not holding back and not censoring myself,” the Scottish artist said in a statement. “Hurts,” the record’s first single, explores all the changes Sandé endured since her first album, namely a divorce and a new record label. “‘Hurts’ explores assertiveness,” Sandé says in an interview with Fader in September. After her announcement of the “Hurts” release on Twitter, Sandé fan and pop star Katy Perry tweeted, “I am ready to lose it and then recover!!! Bring the truth!” The album has spiritual and gospel influences, but focuses on being in tune with your sensuality and inner voice.
Release Date: Nov. 4, 2016/ RCA Records
Release Date Nov. 4, 2016/ SYCO/ Columbia Records
Release Date: Nov. 11, 2016/ Virgin Records Ltd
32
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com
+ HER MUSIC
4 New Holiday Releases To Remember This December
Grab your holiday cheer and get your hands on these new seasonal releases. Prepare to fall in love with new favorites and reminisce with old classics. TORI RIGGLE
Pentatonix, A Pentatonix Christmas The Grammy Award-winning acapella group is best known for winning NBC’s third season of The Sing-Off in 2011, but soon they may be known for their breathtaking arrangements of holiday classics. Pentatonix’s holiday albums have cumulatively sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States, and 34
the group’s holiday videos on YouTube have over 340 million views. The members of the acapella sensation are currently on the last leg of their 2016 Pentatonix World Tour, supporting the self-titled album released in October 2015. A Pentatonix Christmas, the group’s third holiday album, has 11 tracks, including two originals. In an
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
interview with Entertainment Tonight, PTX member Scott Hoying talked about the group’s newest release, saying, “I’m very proud of this one, especially a couple of the tracks are my favorite Christmas music we’ve ever made.” Release Date: Oct. 21, 2016/ RCA Records hers-magazine.com
+ H E R R E L AT I O N S H I P
SOMETIMES… IT’S NOT THAT
DEEP BY DARREN HOWARD
I
know, I know. He left the toilet seat up again. You just slipped, fell and sank right into that cold porcelain bowl. It’s not a good feeling being so close to toilet water and all. Really, it’s awkward. You feel embarrassed in a room by yourself. After you’re all cleaned up and flustered, you remind him, yet again, to put the toilet seat down. How forcefully you say it is directly determined by how many times you’ve had to repeat yourself. Your man, in all his
40
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
wisdom, unwittingly sets off your fuse with three simple words: “Just look down.” Now, before we get to the *bleep*show that is guaranteed to ensue, let’s look at this from the bigger picture; Relationships are riddled with arguments. Sometimes, arguments between couples get started over concepts shallower than, well, a toilet bowl. To prevent these small squabbles from turning into all out gender warfare, I’ll give you some advice in quirky list format.
hers-magazine.com
+ H E R R E L AT I O N S H I P S
Here are 10 common disputes that just aren’t that deep. From here, we can pick up right where we left off with our first dispute:
1. Leaving the toilet seat up Now before you tell him about himself and the many ways that he isn’t anything related to the confines of your toilet, think about it this way: We have to look down when we drain our proverbial snakes. He’s saying this because it’s second nature to him. Should he listen to you and at least try to remember? Yes. Should you also at least look before you sit so that cold, forbidden water doesn’t get in there? Yes. Should you two be arguing in the middle of the night over commodes and excrement? No, because it’s not that deep.
2. Begging for Nudes Now, as a straight man, I can say there are few things better than the pleasant surprise of getting an unsolicited nude from your woman. But there’s nothing more high school than begging for them. Ladies, you know where I’m going. You think he’s cool, probably one of your guy friends or associates that you’re not really even into. Or, best-case scenario, he’s someone you think you might be into and
hers-magazine.com
you hope that he’s into you. You’re texting every day, and on the seventh day (an sometimes even earlier than that) you casually mention you’re about to take a shower and that you’ll text him later. You decline, either respectfully or otherwise, and the conversation is dropped for a few days until he tries again the following week. Or, maybe you’re one of the lucky girls that receives a direct message from some random stranger that just says: “Nudes?” What’s sad is that several women will relate to either one or both of those stories. What’s sadder still is I was like that myself when I was 14 and didn’t know the difference between intercourse and intermission. What’s the most pathetic, though, is that grown men still do this. Fellas, it’s not that deep. She said no, it’s time to move on.
3. Not texting/calling back This one will be short and sweet. When we (speaking for men) don’t remember to call or text you back, it’s not because we don’t like you or like talking to you. We could just be caught up doing something else. And no, not caught up texting some other broad. More like watching TV, trying to find our phone (I lose mine all the time), using the bathroom (and putting the toilet seat down when we remember to), or really we just forgot. It slipped our minds. We didn’t forget about you, love. Just like when you forget to text back when you’re caught up talking on the phone to your home girls, or watching anything from Game of Thrones to The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Or even playing some Facebook Farm game and forgetting to text back. We know you didn’t forget about us. Things happen, just call us again, or send a second text. It’s not that deep sweetheart.
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazi n e |
41
MULAN V
+ H E R R E L AT I O N S H I P
A New Beauty on the Rise HAIR
MULAN V HAIR COLLECTION
LASHES MULAN V LASH COLLECTION Rising hip hop star from Los Angeles California Mulan V, has captivated social media with her new music and her all natural beauty line, Mulan V Beauty Inc. This beauty collection features amazing products from luxurious hair extensions, to cosmetics and hair care products for all women around the world! With her loyal V Doll following, she has been able to take the Internet by storm as well as building an audience that appreciates her brand all around the world. From music concerts promoting her upcoming songs, to beauty shows such as the Bronner Brothers Hair Show in Atlanta, Georgia this woman does
GET THIS LOOK! “KHLOE� Jumpsuit
www.fashionnova.com
it all! A musician with an entrepreneurial spirit and an ambition to motivate all women to be whoever they want to be!
WWW.MULANVBEAUTY.COM 44
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com
+ H E R R E L AT I O N S H I P S
Finally, the Truth about BY SKYLAR WATSON
“Marriage is hard,” they say. “You have to constantly work at marriage,” they say. “A marriage is a lifetime commitment,” they say. In the words of The Breakfast Club radio personality Angela Yee, “Who is they?” “They” only make thinly veiled references as to what marriage is, but no one ever tells the unadulterated truth. “They” didn’t tell me that some days I would not like my husband, which led me to question if I made the right decision to get married. “They” didn’t tell me that I would have to yell at my husband every week to put the toilet seat down. “They” didn’t tell me I would have to smile through all my husband’s exaggerated stories a thousand times whenever company comes over. And “they” most certainly did not tell me that the men who open car doors; make sure their wives don’t pump gas after dark; and are all-around stable providers disappeared with my father’s generation. I am not saying that I do not like being married or that it doesn’t have its benefits, but what I am saying is that I wish I had a more realistic view of marriage so I would’ve known what I was getting myself into. Most little girls are spoon-fed this fantasy of a big, glamorous wedding while topping it off with a house on a hill and a white picket fence. As hard as marriage is, I definitely don’t think it’s something you should wish or dream about your whole life or think that becoming someone’s wife is a “status” symbol. I was recently asked what sustains my marriage. Besides all the typical stuff like love, commitment, etc., what makes me want to stay married is the ability to completely be myself. Understand that marriage is not a place where you get to hide; it’s a situation where you should be completely free. My husband has always accepted who I am as a person and never tried to change me. I’m a free spirit who doesn’t like to conform to traditional norms, so as one can imagine,
hers-magazine.com
I’d never thought I would get married. However, I did know that if I were to, as Jay-Z eloquently put it, “jump out the window,” my husband would have to accept my whimsical ways. Marriage is too hard without having to worry about trying to change to please your partner. What makes marriage worth it? The consistency. I know that if I am having a bad day, my husband is only a phone call away. He always has my back and is extremely supportive. I once described marriage as having your own hype man, 24/7 because that is what it feels like. My intention is not to paint a gloomy picture of marriage, but a realistic one. Marriage is the intertwining of two separate lives becoming one, so of course, there will be some bumps in road. Marriage is one of those situations that you cannot fully understand unless you are in it, and by then, you’re in too deep. You have no way to prepare for what’s to come. I always tell my friends, “Marriage is the best and worst thing you can ever do in your life.” You have your good days and bad days just like any other situation. On the bad days, I am comforted by thought that “trouble don’t last always,” and we may be in a bad space now, but tomorrow is a brand new day of second chances. I have found that what helps keep a marriage successful are the usual suspects: trust, communication, loyalty, and excitement. Marriage is not for the faint of heart. It is hard as hell and cannot be perfected, but it is totally worth it. Marriage is a wonderful, frustrating enigma of paradoxes, so proceed with caution because only the strong will survive.
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazi n e |
45
+ H E R F E AT U R E
52
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com
+ H E R F E AT U R E
Beauty: Bobbie’s Innovations in
MAKE-UP WITHOUT THE MESS UP BY MONA AUSTIN
Today Show beauty and style expert Bobbie Thomas was enjoying a girl’s night at home in New York when her bestie, Andrea DeVos Abraham, asked for makeup tips. Knowing every woman wants a simplified beauty routine, Thomas didn’t just toss information at her friend, she organized her make up palettes for ease of use and created a step-by-step numbered system for applying it. This “problem-solving” process became the template that sparked a partnership for the development of their very own make up company, Woosh! Beauty. The company does not only offer cosmetics, but also it has developed innovative tools to apply the makeup. Since entering the market a year ago, Woosh has already garnered recognition. In fact, the v-shaped corner brush that allows the user to accurately apply liner and eye shadow sold out within 10 minutes when it was first launched on HSN. The mess-catching eye stencil is also a nifty development, which is a guide for applying eyeliner and cat eyes, as well as catching debris from shadows. Thomas said that after years of hearing consumer complaints, she knew what they really needed was more
hers-magazine.com
help understanding how to use the products. Thus, the goal became to help consumers achieve the look they could get from a pro on their own. “I noticed that a lot of brands, while they had great products, they really didn’t do enough of holding your hand when it came to getting that kind of help. It’s like getting your hair done at the salon is an amazing experience. It looks great, but when you go to recreate that style at home, there’s the challenge. So when it came to makeup, that was an area I felt could be better served.” Woosh’s unique handwritten instructions give the products a personal feel, and the most inexperienced users can get a boost of confidence. The simplified beauty system also provides another surprise: empowering messages. On the inside of the step-by-step “Fold Out Face” palette, the first thing you’ll see is the definition of “pro-girl,” a woman who supports other women instead of competing with them. Woosh! Beauty is available exclusively on HSN.
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazi n e |
53
+ HER GADGETS
GADGETS FOR
GIRLS BY IMAN COMBS
With 2016 coming to a close, and Christmas fast approaching, it’s about that time that we start looking for gifts, whether it be for our friends, or suggestions for our friends to get for us. These are some of the five hottest gadgets out this year:
Breo iSee 4 ($149) It’s been a long week, month, and year, and we are all deserving of a little pampering and relaxation. One of the best ways to achieve that at-home selfindulgence would be to sit back, relax, and let an electric eye massager do its magic. The Brew 56
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
iSee 4 is a wireless massager that has a variety of different vibration speeds, peaceful music, and even a massage feature that focusses on the pressure points. Even better, it comes with a travel case for you to take on a plane ride or to work for a midday break. hers-magazine.com
+ HER TRAVEL
WHERE TO GO TO CELEBRATE AN OLD-FASHIONED
CHRISTMAS BY PEGGY HATTENDORF
What images come to mind when you envision an oldfashioned Christmas? • • • • •
Christmas trees with handmade ornaments Popcorn garlands for the tree Gingerbread house Sugar cookies in holiday designs Nativity scenes
Well, if you want to preserve a traditional holiday but in a novel place, these destinations are filled with holiday charm and old-fashioned traditions that deliver the spirit of this festive season. 58
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
How could it get more festive than in a town called Santa Claus? www.santaclausind.org. This small Indiana village calls itself “America’s Christmas Hometown” and holds a Christmas celebration the first three weekends (Friday through Sunday) in December. Here’s a sampling of fun things for the whole family: •
Listen to the story of Santa Claus and chat with an Elf on the North Pole Network as you wander through Santa Claus Museum & Village.
•
Kids can write a letter to Santa and mail it at the original and one-and-only Santa Claus Post Office. While there, request a Santa Claus Station Christmas postmark for your holiday mail.
•
Spend time during the day at Santa’s Candy Castle and return in the evening to roast chestnuts at an oldfashioned campfire.
•
Shop for unique holiday gifts at The Santa Claus Christmas Store, the Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop and the gift shops inside the town’s famous attractions. Browse the displays of homemade crafts and specialty foods available for purchase at the Santa Claus Arts & Crafts Show.
•
Watch the kids enjoy face painting and view Sheri’s holiday themed chainsaw wood carving demonstrations.
•
Other festivities include the Santa Claus Land of Lights – Family Christmas Light Adventure and the magical story of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, just a short distance away at Lake Rudolph. hers-magazine.com
+ HER GADGETS
FIVE ESSENTIAL
APPS FOR TRAVEL BY PEGGY HATTENDORF
Besides the obvious, what else should you take on your upcoming trip? These handy (and free) apps, will make your travel experience a lot easier, especially in a foreign country. Maps.me http://maps.me. This app gives you a map of any country – any place from large metropolitan cities to small remote villages. And it can do this without an internet connection as long as you download the maps ahead of time. The speed is fast, the zoom capabilities are good and it conveys detailed information. It is available for iPhone, Blackberry and other Android platforms. Periscope http://periscope.tv. Through the use of live video, you can stream exciting happenings of your travel experiences to family and friends from your camera phone. The company calls it “Discovering the world through someone else’s eyes.” It is owned by Twitter and is available for iPhone and Android platforms. XE Currency App http://xe.com. This app uses live proprietary exchange rates and historical charts providing 64
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
you with up-to-date currency exchange rates to help you know the cost of your purchases or services. It will store the latest updated rates in the event you are without an internet connection. It’s a free app and available for most platforms. Google Translate http://translate.google.com. This app can instantly translate words, phrases, web pages and voice translations from English to over 100 other languages. It is a free service. It now works offline on iPhones. Android users can now translate within an app. Yandex.Translate http://yandex.translate.com. This app has the benefit of being able to be used offline or when no internet connection is available. Offline it can translate text from photos – free offline dictionary and translator. It offers free online translation from any pair of 80+ languages.
hers-magazine.com
6 ISSUES FOR
JUST $9.95
F E AT U R E S • H E A R T • F L AVO R • H E A LT H L E S S O N S • W O R K • P L AY W W W. H E R S - M A G A Z I N E . C O M hers-magazine.com
| N ovem ber/D ec em ber 2 0 1 6 | H ER S Ma gazi n e |
65
Something to write with, on, about, and We provide extensive editorial services from inception to production to marketing. We don’t let writers just publish anything because we care about your success.
Expert Author Services www.e-allwrite.com 66
| HERS M a gazine | Novemb er/ Dec emb er 20 1 6 |
hers-magazine.com