CEOMOM Holiday 2020

Holiday 2020

UNMASKED 8 LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM 2020

DR. YETUNDE A. OMEDE USING EDUCATION TO FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: BUY SMALL & BLACK OWNED

TANSY MCNULTY

ON WHY SHE FOUNDED 1 MILLION MADLY MOTIVATED MOMS

OCTAVIA WHITLOWE

ON HELPING WOMEN FEEL POWERFUL & BEAUTIFUL

mixiavenue.com

CONTENTS 05 FROM THE EDITOR What a year we've had. We've been tested and tried as individuals, as a nation and as a world. We've learned so much, and now we must move forward to 2021.

08 4 STYLE TIPS TO SAVE MONEY ON WINTER CLOTHING Jonah Levine, Creative Director, TheDressWarehouse.com, gives style tips.

10 A WOMAN'S VOICE Meet the 6 moms we love to follow. These women are fashionistas, thought leaders, innovators and more. Meet Anna Lozano and Lindy Sood of Love Powered Co.

58 FACING HOW WE FEEL IN 2020 Melinda Crowder Dunbar, owner of Crowder Counseling PLLC, shares strategies to help you navigate the chaos of 2020.

44 MEET OCTAVIA

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WHAT. A. YEAR. Editor-in-Chief Vonna Matthews

Contributing Designer Photo Editor Cover Photography Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Writer Contributing Writer

Taly Melo Krystal Jackson Steven Hill Photography Ariel Views Photography Tommy T Photography Octavia Whitlowe Jonah Levine Melinda Dunbar

Editorial Office Little Elm, Texas 75068 +1-972-302-9150 | info@ceomommagazine.com CEOMOM Magazine is published by For Her Media Little Elm, Texas 75068 | +1-972-302-9150 www.ceomommagazine.com

Editor's Note What a year! It has almost come to an end, and I can't say I'm sad about it. Though it has been quite a ride, we have learned so much about ourselves, what we can handle, how much we need, and the importance of working together.

In the chaos of it all, we have had different experiences. For some, this has been the hardest times of their lives. For others, it has been a year of growth and reinvention. No matter your experience, you have been impacted by the uncertainty of the year.

For CEOMOM Magazine, 2020 has been a year of reimagining and adjustments. Most of the year was about moving with constant twists and turns. For me personally, 2020 has been a test of resilience and fortitude. There were times when I just needed a PAUSE, a moment to reflect on it all, and determine how to move forward. I learned that if you want to survive, you have to be innovative, and constantly aware of your environment and how it impacts you.

No matter how your year began and has evolved, I am hoping you have an incredible holiday season, and just celebrate that in the chaos of it all, you made it. With the year we've had, that's something to celebrate.

Vonna Matthews EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Unmasked 8 Lessons

We Learned from 2020

By Vonna Matthews

Behind the mask, we are learning so much about who we are, what we can handle, and what makes us powerful and resilient.

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She pulls up to the grocery store to pick up a few items she forgot with her last grocery delivery order. She gets out of the car as she has done so many times before, and proceeds to grab a cart that has been left in the parking lot. As she approaches the automatic doors to enter the store, she is met with a sign that reads, “A face mask is required to enter.”

Realizing she left her face mask in the car, she reluctantly turns around to head back to the car.

This is our new normal. We can no longer interact with others, host in-person events, or perform simple tasks like shopping for groceries, without wearing a face mask. We must now hide behind the veil, cover our faces and keep our distance from those around us.

We are confined to isolation, limited to virtual communication, forced to rearrange the way we engage.

We have reached a new level of self-discovery, not only pertaining to our individual beings, but to the world around us, from our communities, to our neighborhoods, to our nation. Behind the mask, we are learning so much about who we are, what we can handle, and what makes us powerful and resilient. We are learning about the effectiveness or lack thereof of our infrastructures from our school systems to our local governments. We have been forced to look at every part of who we are, and take the necessary steps to realize change.

We can no longer hide behind our daily routines, or the facades that have come to define who we are and how we interact with others. We must face truth, shift our understanding of what’s real and change our perspectives on success.

Although our new normal requires us to wear a face mask everywhere we go, it’s the need for the face mask that has forced us to unmask a new truth, a truth that will ensure that our lives will never be the same.

Here are eight lessons we’ve learned from the chaos of 2020.

We don’t need what (or as much as) we thought we needed to be okay. We can survive, and even thrive, with less.

Innovation is a key component to business survival during a crisis.

Our educational system is not as strong as it should be and must adopt innovative teaching methods that go beyond the use of technology.

Our kids are more resilient than we realized.

However, focusing on their mental health is a vital part of parenting.

We must be prepared to handle a crisis personally and professionally.

We are individuals who come together to make a whole, therefore we must consider others when making decisions that impact us all. We can only survive this pandemic by working together.

We have to stop picking political leaders based on our individual needs. Focus on doing the most good for the most people.

The fight for social justice is not political.

Racism is alive and well. It’s going to take more than the people who are directly impacted to destroy this ugly beast. We need allies and people who are anti-racist standing on the front lines. Black people standing alone will not end police brutality or systemic racism.

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HAUTE MOMMA

4 Style Tips To Save Money On Winter Clothing By: Jonah Levine, Creative Director of TheDressWarehouse

When it comes to winter fashion, layering is the new darling.

The cold season offers a world of opportunities to play around with textures, layers, patterns, and colors. You can mix and match for a playful, whimsical appearance or tone it down for an elegant, minimalistic ambiance. Layering allows you to reimagine your existing wardrobe and use what you already have to revamp your style while saving money. Here are some style tips to follow to make sure you are radiant in your unique layering fashion.

Go for Monochrome But Mix the Texture In the world of CEO attires, black and grey are kings and monochrome rules. However, dressing from head-to-toe in one color is rarely flattering or elegant. In order to pull this off, you need to play around with different shades of grey. If you are only going for black, you must use the power of different textures to your advantage. Layering with unlike fabrics will add depth and dimension to your clothes and accentuate the look. Winter lends itself to layering with heavy and soft textures. For instance, you can blend wool with silk or cotton with leather.

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Use Your Jackets and Blazers as a Middle Layer Contrary to what you might expect, layering does not determine which of your clothes should be a top or a middle layer. Make the difference, and give your existing attires a completely new look using your jackets and leather blazers as a middle layer. As long as they are not too thick, you could use such clothing and layer it with a heavier set coat on top.

And voila! You have entirely reimagined your look and saved money while doing it!

How About Some Double Knits?

When the weather gets chilly, double knits can serve a dual function: keeping you warm and layering in style. Explore your knits selection and mix and match for different styles.

Create unique looks without spending a dime. Choose the same colors in various shades and match a shorter, lighter knit with a longer, heavier one. Alternatively, match patterns or mix textures for a unique style. Always ensure that at least one of your knits is light; otherwise, you run the risk of hiding your figure and looking too bulky and unattractive.

Embrace The Beauty Of Pashminas Stay warm in style with an oversized pashmina to create the illusion of layering. Use a brightly colored one in the vibrant Moroccan style and add a bold touch to your otherwise monochromatic look. Use these contrasts in colors to add some pizzazz to your already existing wardrobe. No need to spend money, just reimagine your pashminas and your oversized scarves. Drape them around your shoulders, or let them hang loose. Whatever you choose, it is definitely a style tip worth trying.

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A Woman's Voice

MOMS WE LOVE TO FOLLOW

These moms are fashionistas, trailblazers, thought leaders, educators and entrepreneurs. Their content and information empowers and equips women across the globe. We are inspired by their brands and their missions.

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CHRISTIAN MAXWELL @ S I M P L Y C H R I S T I A N M A X W E L L

Photo Credit: Studio Maxwell

Tell us about Studio Maxwell. What are your signature services?

Our signature service is our Strategic Email Marketing Management Service. This service is so key for each of the clients we serve. With it and through it we have scaled numerous beauty brands without having to make massive investments in paid advertising or influencers to yield results.

Describe the Studio Maxwell client.

The Studio Maxwell client is committed to her brand and committed to making factual decisions for her company in order to foster true growth and expansion. We love supporting passionate founders who are growth minded and willing to invest in strategies that truly move the needle instead of being easily swayed by activities that promise

quick results. We specialize in sustainable results so we appreciate clients who take time to understand core strategies and chart aggressive paths toward success bolstered by our strategic support.

How did your career as a marketing mastermind begin?

My career as a marketing mastermind started in college when I went natural. That simple decision caused me to learn key tasks over 10 years ago. I taught myself how to build wordpress.org websites, learned social media marketing, video editing, YouTube and more, all because I wanted to learn about my natural hair and then share what I learned with other women.

That single decision birthed the modern day version of who I am today. Still hungry for knowledge, still hungry to share journeys, educate women and foster community for the brands we support.

As a part of your Beauty Brand CEO Mastermind, you teach entrepreneurs how to scale their businesses. What is one of the biggest mistakes brands make when trying to scale their businesses?

Photo Credit: Studio Maxwell

One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling their brands is not investing in the fundamentals. Don’t skip email list building, commit to it from DAY ONE. Also stay away from products that have lofty claims associated with their effectiveness. This is dangerous and can lead to scary lawsuits down the line if they are not substantiated by validated research.

With so many new things happening at Studio Maxwell, what’s next for the company?

Studio Maxwell is expanding its email marketing services to more industries outside of just beauty. The strategies we employ are tried and true so we look forward to supporting more and more women focused businesses across the US. We also have allocated over six figures to content creators across the US by partnering the brands we represent with deserving creators. We want to amplify the work of creators even more in 2021 so our talent marketing and influencer marketing department will be expanding substantially.

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"One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling their brands is not investing in the fundamentals. Don’t skip email list building, commit to it from DAY ONE." WHY WE LOVE TO FOLLOW @SIMPLYCHRISTIANMAXWELL THE TRUE DEFINITION OF A MASTERMIND IS ONE WHO EMPOWERS OTHERS TO BE GREAT. THAT IS WHAT STUDIO MAXWELL STRIVES TO DO FOR THEIR CLIENTS AND PARTNERS. LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.STUDIOMAXWELL.CO/.

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ANNA LOZANO & LINDY SOOD @ L O V E P O W E R E D C O

Photo Credit: Love Powered Co.

Tell us about Love Powered Co. What are your products and services? What is your company mission?

Our mission at Love Powered Co. is to empower the next generation of mindful leaders, through the POWER of I AM. To fuel them with positive self-talk, confidence, self-love, and self-worth. To empower them, so they may take the torch, lead with love, and light the way for others.

I AM affirmations for kids, teens and women available at: lovepoweredco.com.

What inspired you to create Love Powered Co? November 2016, Lindy and I were having a playdate watching our kids run around. We looked at each other and said: “imagine our beautiful clean slate children growing up with a foundation of self-love, mindfulness, affirmations... imagine they didn’t have to do the personal development work in their 30’s and 40’s but it was something they grew up with!!

WOW!” We started researching affirmation cards for kids, and what we envisioned in our mind didn’t exist - so we decided to create it!

What role do personal affirmations play in mental health?

Did you know that an estimated 31% of all adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their life? (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2020). Although we (Anna & Lindy) came to find and practice affirmations in different ways, the transformative benefits we gained from this powerful practice was the same.

I, Lindy, was diagnosed with Panic Disorder in my 20's. Although it crippled me at the time, I knew that my life was not going to be controlled by my anxiety. I needed to find solutions. Becoming aware of, and learning how to understand my inner mean girl, without giving her power, and learning the art and skill of positive self-talk through affirmation, changed everything.

Through a dedicated affirmation and self-love journey, my anxiety began to subside. We both feel affirmations play a huge role in mental health, and are a non negotiable in our daily mindfulness practice.

going! We have loads of reviews on our website and in our DM’s, and witnessing how people are using the affirmations in their homes as a dose of positivity, or when their little is going through a particular situation like bullying, truly is beyond words. We are so grateful!

You have so many amazing products. What are your favorite Love Powered Co. items? Why are these so special to you?

Love Powered Littles, affirmations for kids, are so near and dear to our hearts. This is the first product we ever created and our kids have been raised on these affirmations! So special for both of us!

What ’s next for Love Powered Co? OPRAH! Well, at least this is what we are manifesting! We are launching 3 mini decks for Kids in collaboration with Indigo and these new mini box sets are prompts teaching kids the power of Gratitude, Mindfulness and encouraging deeper Connection between child and caregiver! They are now available online!

Love Powered Co. impacts so many women and girls around the world. What are the most common messages/testimonials you hear from women and girls who use your products?

Being a start-up, especially during a pandemic, is straight up difficult. Our customer testimonialsis are the fuel that keeps us

Photo Credit: Love Powered Co.

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“...imagine our beautiful clean slate children growing up with a foundation of self-love, mindfulness, affirmations..."

WHY WE LOVE TO FOLLOW @LOVEPOWEREDCO

ANNA AND LINDY ARE TEACHING US TO REALIZE OUR OWN POWER THROUGH AFFIRMATIONS THAT ARE BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED AND EMPOWERING WITH EVERY WORD. LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.LOVEPOWEREDCO.COM/.

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POLISHED EXISTS to gather young professional women to navigate career and explore faith. www.polishedonline.org

JENNIFER JEANPIERRE MAULL @ J E N J E A N P I E R R E

Photo Credit: Jen Jean Pierre

What inspired you to become a lifestyle blogger? How did you get started?

The reason I wanted to start was personal. I wanted my chance to be in the fashion industry. As a Haitian girl, the options for "acceptable" careers are limited. I wanted to major in fashion, but it was considered frivolous so this was my way to go after my passion without it being my source of income. I also did not have a ton of friends in DC and I used my blog as a journal of sorts to just talk about my day and connect with others.

How would you describe your style?

Ah my style! I am a chameleon of sorts. I love playing with clothes but I am pretty basic. If I had to use specific words, it would be tomboy chic fierceness. I would rather rock a phenomenal tuxedo than a dress. Even for my wedding, I wanted a jumpsuit with a train but that did not happen. For me, it is all about great fitting clothes that look and feel great.

I am not one to wear something solely for the trend if I don't feel my best in it. I always say inhale fashion, exhale style. If I had to choose pieces I could wear all the time-- band tee,

turtleneck, leather jacket, wide-leg pant, leather pants, thighhigh boots, a rib-knit dress, a pair of stilettos, and a bad ass hat, preferably wide brim. I love to elevate my looks with accessories. As I have gotten older (and had Teagan), I don't wear as many chunky necklaces as previously (she will choke me with them) but I still live for statement earrings and hats, hats, hats!!!!

What has being a lifestyle blogger taught you about yourself?

I love this question and I actually did a blog post about how my blog continues to save my life. Being a blogger reiterated to me that I have never been a follower even when I was deep in insecurity and doubt about who I was. In my community (Haitian), positive public perception is everything and me just being me and telling mostly it all, was very taboo. This blog has shown me that authenticity truly reigns with me and that no matter what, I am always true to myself and what I believe in.

Through all the controversies and issues with bloggers, I am happy that I have always been seen as authentic and relatable, and that makes me extremely proud. Before being transparent was the "trend", I was doing it because telling my story is important. I made sure to always speak on what was happening in my life no matter how great or ugly because that was MUCH easier than faking the funk or distraction. Being a blogger has shown me that I am infinitely strong and there is NOTHING I cannot do if I put my mind to it.

You are a new mom and have been candid about some of your challenges with pregnancy and mom guilt. Describe your experience with motherhood in five words. What has surprised you most about being a mother with a career?

Oh wow! Motherhood- wow, wow, wow. In 5 words: Unrelenting, Magnificent, Teacher, Magic, and Exhausting.

My pregnancy was really hard due to my illness and I hated every single minute of it. I had no attachment to my baby and I counted down the days till she would come out. I was deathly sick and had so much rage from the physical ailments. But nowTeagan is everything and more. Our attachment is like nothing other and although I am tired and often overwhelmed, I would not change it for the world. My biggest lesson I learned from a dear friend Janelle is to submit to your child and I swear that has been a gamechanger for me and her. Being a mom with a career (I have 3 jobs) requires a lot of sacrifices and a lot of asking for help. It has taught me to not fight the process and incorporate her in my work. It has made me smarter in how I work and how I plan my day. It has also given me even more purpose to keep pushing even when it may be hard. That was the most surprising.

I became laser-focused on what I want and how I am going to get it. After this pregnancy, I am even more relentless and there is no stopping me. I will give my daughter the world while being very active in her world. In the end, no job is more important than being present for Teagan.

My blog tells my story and I am so proud for Teagan to one day read it.

Photo Credit: Jen Jean Pierre

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JENNIFER JEAN-PIERRE MAULL "I am proud that my blog has helped others seek therapy, has stopped others from committing suicide, has helped women feel great about themselves regardless of their figure, and has inspired others to just go for it. I plan to continue inspiring women and men of ALL ages that being yourself is the most stylish. I love performing and I love being on a larger platform to help others. I do want to be more front and center-- maybe speaking engagements, talk shows, etc."

Photo Credit: Jen Jean Pierre

"I made sure to always speak on what was happening in my life no matter how great or ugly because that was MUCH easier than faking the funk or distraction."

WHY WE LOVE TO FOLLOW @JENJEANPIERRE

JENNIFER HAS MASTERED THE ART OF COMBINING STYLE AND FASHION WITH CANDOR AND TRANSPARENCY. SHE REVEALS HER TRUTH IN A WAY THAT IS RELATABLE AND TRANSFORMATIVE. LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.JENJEANPIERRE.COM/.

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ENESHA HILL @ B E H I N D T H E M O M M Y

Photo Credit: Ariel Views Photography

What is Behind the Mommy? What are your products and services?

Behind the Mommy is a Mommy-oriented business where we give you the behind the scenes for everything Mommy, from the good, the bad, to the dirty diaper.

Products and services we offer currently are our annual Mommy Empowerment Brunch, where we have a panel of Moms to celebrate Motherhood, encourage each other, and have retail vendors present for a fun shopping experience. At

At our last brunch held in 2019, our guest speaker was Toya Bush-Harris from Bravo’s Married to Medicine. Due to Covid-19, we were unable to host this year, but we are in the planning phase to host in 2021. On IGTV we post a segment titled Mommy Minute Mondays. This is where I give advice, pointers, or encouragement to Moms to start their week off.

Episode titles are created based on experiences that I come across as a Mom that I share with the audience. Plus we have breastfeeding webinars.

What are the biggest challenges moms face when breastfeeding?

I believe the biggest challenges that Moms face when breastfeeding are: anxiety, commitment, and the fear of returning to work and not being able to continue feeding as they did while at home.

With anxiety, Moms, especially new moms, can create selfdoubt before they even give birth. Will I be able to supply milk for my child, will it be enough, will they latch properly, are common questions that arise and can build unnecessary anxiety.

Commitment is probably the biggest challenge that Moms face when breastfeeding. I don’t believe Moms truly realize the commitment that is required when breastfeeding, it is literally another job. There is the frequency of pumping/nursing, watching what you eat, staying hydrated, amongst many other things to consider.

Then there’s the challenge of returning to work. Anxiety can easily build up when there’s a shift in your schedule such as going back to work, which could potentially interfere with your supply. You're wondering if you made the right decision with outside care for your child, is going back to work a good idea now; will I be able to pump enough milk for my child while I’m away from him? Concerns like the ones previously mentioned

Photo Credit: Ariel Views Photography

can create challenges for Moms returning back to work when it comes to breastfeeding.

Behind the Mommy hosted a Breastfeeding Secrets Webinar to help mothers increase their milk supply. Please share some of your breastfeeding secrets.

Some breastfeeding secrets to share with you are: you should remain committed throughout to have a successful breastfeeding experience, stay hydrated, do your best to eliminate stress and anxiety, and your breast will produce based on the need you show them. For more in-depth secrets and to find out an item that Moms purchase that is very common during breastfeeding but in actuality affects your supply drastically, make sure you sign up for our Breastfeeding Secrets Webinar on January 17th from the link in our bio on Instagram.

You often talk about the “realness” of motherhood. Describe your approach to motherhood in five words.

My approach to the “realness” of motherhood is: be present, only you know what’s truly best for you and yours regardless of what others may say (stop comparing), you can never say I love you enough, Mom guilt is real but give yourself some grace, find support or a Mom tribe to assist with managing Motherhood-we all can’t wear capes all the time.

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ENESHA HILL "What’s next for Behind the Mommy is a t-shirt company named, Melanin Milk Maker, which is set to launch on our 2nd anniversary on January 9th of next year. Continuing collaborations with other Moms to share their expertise with our audience, and co-authoring a book that is set to launch on January 1st of next year."

Photo Credit: Ariel Views Photography

"...Mom guilt is real but give yourself some grace, find support or a Mom tribe to assist with managing Motherhood-we all can’t wear capes all the time."

WHY WE LOVE TO FOLLOW @BEHINDTHEMOMMY

BEHIND THE MOMMY PRESENTS PRACTICAL TIPS AND RELATABLE ADVICE AS THEY RELATE TO MOTHERHOOD, SPECIFICALLY BREASTFEEDING.

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KAI PETTY @ F I F T H A N D W E L S H I R E

Photo Credit: Jendayi Asha Creative

Congratulations on the launch of Fifth & Welshire! Tell us about this new contemporary bridalwear brand. Describe the brand’s signature style/look.

Fifth & Welshire is a bridalwear brand created to transcend bridal norms. Our pieces are specially designed for the bride who wants to look and feel incredible during each pre and post wedding celebratory event, the city hall bride, or the modern woman ready to recommit herself to the love of her CEOMOM | 26

life. Our garments are multifaceted pieces that can be reworn for other special life moments.

Our approach to bridal is always clean and modern. We don’t produce overly embellished garments or bespoke wedding gowns. We design garments that are meant to withstand the test of both time and trends.

Describe the Fifth & Welshire bride.

The Fifth & Welshire bride is the cool girl with her feet planted firmly on the ground. She is in her 30’s to early 40’s and extremely stylish. She has an affinity for contemporary art and modern décor. She loves trying new things and traveling just as much as she loves staying in and reading a good book. She is making a name for herself in the corporate world and believes in timeless style over trends. She is not the ball gown girl. She opts for timeless silhouettes and minimal details.

What inspired you to create Fifth & Welshire?

I realized there was space in the market for a new take on bridal fashion after planning my own wedding ten years ago. It was so hard to find something to wear to all of the different wedding events that was chic enough for the occasion but also transcended it. I didn’t want to just buy a dress that happened to be white and wear it to my bridal shower. I also didn’t want to spend a ton of money on a garment that I would only wear one time.

What has been the most challenging part of launching a fashion brand? What lessons have you learned that will help other moms who are launching their own fashion line?

The most challenging part of launching the brand has been access to industry mentors for guidance. It is so necessary.

Launching a fashion brand is expensive. Having experienced mentors is vital to navigating the many steps and milestones of launching a brand.

Photo Credit: Antwon Maxwell Photography

There are three major things that I think a mom looking to launch a line should focus on. Money, Mentorship, and Business.

Money is key. The fashion industry is not like most other industries where you put something out, make money, and then use that money to make the next thing. In fashion, you are developing two to three collections before you see a return from the first one in most cases. The name of the game is always “on to the next”. That can be a deal breaker if you don’t have the capital to support it.

Mentorship is necessary. The fashion industry is very difficult to navigate independently. It is very important to have an industry veteran in your corner that can help guide you and potentially prevent you from making mistakes that can waste money or slow down the process. There are so many steps that can make or break your launch if you miss them. There are parts of the process that are not even a thought if you haven’t experienced it firsthand.

Business savviness is vital. To be honest, the design and creativity aspect of launching a line represents a very small percentage of the process. The majority of my time is spent on finances, marketing, production management, and logistics. I recommend anyone looking to get into this business to take a few business courses prior to or during the process.

KAI PETTY "My personal style is reflected in every collection. I live by the “less is more� philosophy. I have never been one to follow trends. I have clothing in my closet that I have had and worn for years. The older I get, I am gravitating more towards dressing for comfort but it is still stylish. I am the Fifth & Welshire woman in so many ways. When I sketch I not only sketch for my target audience, but for myself. I would wear every piece in the collection."

Photo Credit: Jendayi Asha Creative

"The Fifth & Welshire bride is the cool girl with her feet planted firmly on the ground. She is in her 30’s to early 40’s and extremely stylish."

WHY WE LOVE TO FOLLOW @5THANDWELSHIRE SHE HAS IMPECCABLE TASTE AND HAS CREATED A BRAND THAT EMPOWERS A BRIDE TO EMBRACE HER UNIQUE BEAUTY ON ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF HER LIFE. LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.FIFTHANDWELSHIRE.COM/.

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African Inspired Fashion Line Launches Just In Time For The Holiday

Founded by Fatim Sylla

Photo Credit: KIROS Images

siranisfashion.com/ CEOMOM | 30

Photo Credit: Libarty Studios

Sirani's Fashion Based in Toronto, Canada, Sirani's Fashion was established in 2017 by Fatim Sylla.

Fatim Sylla traces her love for African fashion back to her childhood when she used to vacation on the Ivory Coast. With the expansion of Africa globally, Fatim Sylla saw an opportunity to bring a part of her culture to Toronto by designing her own collection inspired by African prints and occidental designs.

From then, Fatim Sylla started her journey collaborating with tailors in Africa and Toronto to bring the first Sirani's Fashion collection to life.

Sirani's Fashion's mission is to bring African fashion into every home in Canada and beyond. With a worldwide customer base, Fatim continues to expand her product offering.

Sirani's Fashion core values are: Authenticity: Staying true to African fashion Versatility: Collection that offers diverse styling options for diverse styling needs Diversity: From casual to high fashion offerings

Photo Credit: Libarty Studios CEOMOM | 32

Photo Credit: Libarty Studios

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT A highly sought speaker and force for inspiration, Cheryl Roseborough is the founder and CEO of Self Esteem Elevated (S.E.E.), and the founder and chief strategic officer of Blyss Agency. She is a renowned, gifted teacher/trainer on inner healing, self-esteem, and self-worth. Challenges that Cheryl has encountered have spurred her to become the focused yet compassionate leader she is today. Her healing techniques have helped uplift, encourage, and elevate men and women around the world. Cheryl’s motto is "Do You and Do You Well." Cheryl earned degrees in advertising and history from the University of Oklahoma. She also received a Master’s Degree in Theology at SMU. Pre-order her debut book today!

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TWELVE 12 MINISTRIES PRESENTS

TWELVE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 12 Ways to Experience and Share Hope & God’s Love through Twelve 12 Ministries This Holiday Season

TWELVE12MINISTRIES.ORG

TANSY MCNULTY ON WHY SHE FOUNDED 1 MILLION MADLY MOTIVATED MOMS As a mother of two young Black boys, Tansy McNulty knows firsthand the anxiety and fear that come with being a Black mother. After becoming pregnant with her first son and hearing about the police shootings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and Ronnie Shumpert, McNulty created 1 Million Madly Motivated Moms (1M4) to end police brutality and fight for social justice.

McNulty spoke to CEOMOM Magazine about her mission to impact legislation centered around the criminal justice system, the 2021 launch of the ally branch of 1M4, and the role education plays in eliminating social injustice.

Tell us about 1 Million Madly Motivated Moms. What does the organization do? What is your mission?

1 Million Madly Motivated Moms (1M4) is a tribe of Black Moms working collectively to end police brutality through advocating for legislative policy, financial assistance to impacted families, and encouraging our children with interest in criminal justice and politics.

1M4 actively seeks out legislative policies that will reduce police officer use of force and hold officers accountable for unjust actions.

We share these policies with our members, allies, and social media audience. Additionally 1M4 financially and emotionally supports families impacted by police violence. This violence includes loss of life, brutality, and misconduct that leads to wrongful incarceration.

Our mission is to live in a nation where police brutality is part of our past and not a constant worry for generations to come. We envision a future where all communities are safe and have trusted relationships with public safety stewards.

Photo Credit: Shots by Dre

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We envision a future where all communities are safe and have trusted relationships with public safety stewards.

What was the turning point that inspired you to start 1M4?

I prayed and fasted about my life’s purpose for years, however it was not until I became pregnant with my first son, that the solution of 1M4 was revealed to me. One of the most memorable moments was when my husband and I returned from our babymoon trip to Bermuda in July 2016. We were disconnected from social media while away and returned to the states learning of the murders of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and Ronnie Shumpert. All three Black men were killed by three different police departments in a short span of time. I was crushed and concerned for the Black son that I was carrying.

educating ourselves on the laws that protect police officers, mainly qualified immunity, and how those protections endanger marginalized communities. Every two weeks 1M4 hosts private “Sista Checkin� programs that have two purposes 1) inform Black women of the inequalities in the criminal justice system 2) remind Black women to protect their mental health given the heaviest of our mission and the added stress of the pandemic.

This year we have hosted special guests including families impacted by police violence, a public defender, a prosecutor, a therapist, a Black police officer, and others.

Each guest has shared with us what they have experienced directly in this space and how we can assist in creating safer communities.

My social media timeline, excluding my Black friends, was widely silent on these tragedies. The silence was so loud. I knew then that we as Black mothers had to unite and birth our own solution, both literally and figuratively. Out of that heartbreak, 1M4 was born.

We also hosted public information sessions with Vanessa Potkin, Director of Post-Conviction Litigation for the Innocence Project and Monteria Robinson, mother of Jamarion Robinson, a victim of police brutality.

Describe some of the work you are doing to eliminate police brutality. What are some of your events, programs and initiatives?

Education, education, education. The bulk of this work is

We partnered with other faith based organizations to host a discussion about the importance of the Census and how Census data directly impacts resources and political representation for the Black community.

Photo Credit: Shots by Dre

Photo Credit: LaLa Photography

It all starts with education.

Connect with local organizations that share valuable insight into policing legislature and criminal justice transformation.

Start with listening. Then research, get involved and raise kind hearted children who care for others. Do not let fear of the unknown hold you back. Just start. We are here to help. I am here to help.

Learn more about 1M4 and connect with their cause at https://www.1m4.org/.

Photo Credit: JCPenney Portraits

Follow 1M4 on social media @weare1m4.

How can moms get involved with 1M4?

Black Mothers and Mother Figures (ie aunties, Godmothers, etc) are encouraged to join 1M4 through our website at www.1M4.org.

They are then given access to our exclusive membership community where knowledge is shared and strategy is developed.

Allies to our mission are welcome to donate or purchase 1M4 merchandise through our website and stay connected to our work through the social media platforms @weare1M4.

We will be launching an ally branch of 1M4 in Spring 2021, and we are so excited to continue the education and share with those who see the value in an equitable justice system. We understand the uncertainty of our allies, those who want to help but do not know how best to do so. We are here to provide help with having difficult conversations with their network, and nurture the raising of socially conscious children. As allies, they too have given birth to solutions.

Other than joining 1M4, what can moms do to fight against police brutality and racial injustice? Where should they start?

It all starts with education. Connect with local organizations that share valuable insight into policing legislature and criminal justice transformation. There are a number of organizations on our website which are wonderful sources of credible information.

It’s also helpful to tune into virtual panels on these topics and safely attend in person protests. It is always best to listen to those closest to an issue. They are usually the most informed on the topic yet not often enough the individuals with the resources to resolve the issue.

Photo Credit: McConnell Air Force Base squadron photo

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Photos Provided by: Noelle Randall

NOELLE RANDALL HELPING WOMEN BUILD WEALTH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Noelle Randall helps women realize financial freedom and build wealth through real estate investing. This full-time real estate investor and veteran entrepreneur is the founder of the Women Who Win in Real Estate Coaching Program, providing training and workshops on how to start a real estate investing business from scratch.

CEOMOM Magazine spoke with Randall about the misconceptions surrounding real estate investing, how to build business credit, and tips for creating multiple streams of income.

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Who is Noelle Randall? What do you do?

Noelle Randall has been a thriving entrepreneur for over 20 years. She is a successful real estate entrepreneur, renowned children’s author, mentor, and speaker. Her real estate experience has been instrumental in her personal success, as well as, the success she has developed for the countless professionals in her network throughout the United States.

Through your Real Estate Mastery Course and other programs you teach people how to build wealth through real estate investing. What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about real estate investing?

Biggest Misconcepions 1. Real estate investing is hard and rejection is inevitable.

2. You need money to invest in real estate.

3. You need to be rich/millionaire to start investing in real estate.

"AS A SOLE PROPRIETOR, I RECOMMEND STARTING AN LLC, SCORP, OR INCORPORATED BUSINESS."

What are the main types of real estate investments?

Wholesaling 1. Pre-Foreclosures or Foreclosures 2. Properties in Probate

Vacation/Rental Properties 1. AirBnB Business

Fix & Flip 1. Property Acquisition

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→ Renovation → Resale

You teach entrepreneurs how to build business credit. What are the must-haves to building business credit? How do you get started, especially if you are a sole proprietor?

Building Business Credit Needs: 1. A legitimate business - registered with your respective Secretary of State 2. A Tax EIN 3. Business Checking account a. As a sole proprietor, I recommend starting an LLC, Scorp, or Incorporated business. It helps to separate your personal credit and your business credit as they are based on different criteria to gain equity.

You help your clients create wealth through multiple streams of income. What income streams can we create during the holidays as we prepare for the new year?

Great ways to generate income during the holidays 1. Starting an Online Business 2. Investing in Real Estate - Matching a Seller and a Buyer (Wholesaling) 3. Real Estate Crowd-Funding - TruCrowd

LEARN MORE ABOUT NOELLE RANDALL AT HTTPS://NOELLERANDALL.COM.

Happy NEW YEAR AS WE LOOK BACK AT 2020, CEOMOM MAGAZINE WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE BEST IN 2021.

HERE'S TO A NEW YEAR.

Photo Credit: Steven Hill Photography

THE BEAUTY MAVEN

OCTAVIA WHITLOWE

ON HELPING WOMEN FEEL POWERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL

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Photo Credit: Steven Hill Photography

You’ve seen her photography on the covers, and inside the pages of our very own CEOMOM Magazine, Living Magazine and more. She has photographed the elite of Dallas, and continues to be the go to artist for makeup and beauty.

Octavia Whitlowe, founder of For Beauty Sake, has transformed a career in event planning into a thriving photography and makeup artistry business. Her faith and confidence that life has more to offer have elevated her as a woman who not only makes other women look and feel beautiful, but empowers them to go after what they want.

CEOMOM Magazine spoke to this highly sought after photographer about her incredible growth during the pandemic, her makeup tips for the holiday, and where she sees For Beauty Sake in five years.

Who is Octavia Whitlowe?

Octavia Whitlowe is a woman of God, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a businesswoman, a photographer, a makeup artist, an esthetician, an event planner and a travel agent… all in that order. I am a woman who now knows what I want. I got married very young and had my children very early. I had no clue what I could do and prayed everyday for God to show me. I raised my three daughters and then said, “OK, now it is my turn to start walking in my purpose. God, what is it?”

Once I understood my purpose, I began to fully walk in it and pray to God to make me the woman he wants me to teach other women to be. It took a long time to be who I am, and I am here.

How did your life’s journey lead you to a career in beauty and photography?

I have always been interested in photography. Photos have always been important to me. When I was doing event planning, I would sell the client on how important pictures are because these are memories you will have forever. I never thought I would be a makeup artist. It is surprising to me actually. My passion and purpose is to elevate women and to show them their beauty. It just so happened, it started with makeup. I kept praying and asking God to give me more, and I would joke around saying, “I am about to be a photographer” because I would take beautiful pictures of my makeup work using just my iPhone. This is proof that your words are powerful, and what you speak will manifest. When I asked God for more, he gave me the camera.

You’ve quoted that you like to help “the everyday woman” see her glam. Why is helping women look and feel beautiful so important to you?

It is important to me because I want women to know it is ok to dress up, wear makeup and do their hair to feel beautiful.

We, as women, sometimes downplay ourselves for everyone else because we care what they think. I used to be the same way. I have so many women who come for consultations and say, “Oh, I want to get my makeup done but my husband doesn't like it so I don't want to do much.” I always say, forget what other people don't like. What do you want? When you start feeling good about yourself, everyone else will fall in line. Women, we have to stop doing what everyone else wants us to do and start doing what we want, to give the world our 100%. And when you look good, you feel good, then you do good.

What are your makeup must haves for accentuating your eyes?

Must haves for eye makeup will be any dark shadow to contour your eyes. This is imperative for anyone with hooded eyes. A dark shadow will create a crease in the eyes and it will help the color you use on the lid of the eyes pop more. If you like a natural eye but still want a pop, my go to is any Stila liquid eye shadow. They come in many different colors, and it is easy for anyone to use.

You have experienced incredible growth in the middle of a pandemic. What has been the key to your business surviving the current economic crisis?

I believe my faith in God during this time has grown my business. I simply trust God to provide me with ideas and the ability to execute what he has said I can do. I market myself as much as I possibly can. I want you all to see what God has anointed me to do and I continue to pray that I can be better than I was before. I believe in myself and I am focused on what God has for me. I do not stop wanting more so I keep working harder everyday. That is the key. Faith and work.

Where do you see For Beauty Sake in five years?

In five years, I will own several photography studios, a full beauty spa, and For Beauty Sake products selling out in department stores.

To learn more about Octavia Whitlowe and For Beauty Sake, visit https://www.forbeautysake.com.

For Beauty Sake

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My passion and purpose is to elevate women and to show them their beauty. It just so happened it started with makeup.

Photo Credit: Steven Hill Photography

Octavia's Top 3 Makeup Tips for the Holidays Wear your lashes whether it be a strip or lash extensions.

Find the perfect concealer that matches your skin tone to cover up dark areas anywhere on your face. This will make you appear to have flawless skin.

You need a brown lip liner with a nude gloss.

These 3 tips will have you looking fresh faced but slightly made up.

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Photo Credit: Tommy T Photography

DR. YETUNDE A. OMEDE

USING EDUCATION TO FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

Dr. Yetunde A. Omede is a woman of purpose. Wisdom, light and power are reflected in everything she does. Dr. Omede is a mother, wife, professor, policy advisor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, leader, global speaker and four-time author. As a woman of many hats, she is not afraid to use her platforms and positions to fight for causes that impact us all, such as social justice and human rights. “Everything that I do is connected together by the central mission of creating impact.”

CEOMOM Magazine spoke to this Professor of Global Affairs and Politics about her work to address social injustice and human rights violations globally, her latest books, and the importance of having vision for your life.

Tell us about your background and how life led you to become an author, entrepreneur, speaker, professor and philanthropist.

I have always had, and still have, a big vision for my life. Since I was a little girl, I have seen myself in the spaces that I currently occupy. I’ve always said that whatever I do and whatever position I am in, the goal is to have a positive impact. I’ve had mentors and champions who have made great impressions on my life and helped me along the path. My life is a reflection of my authentic self and desires.

At 33 years old, I look back at certain points in my life and stand at awe at how much has happened. I have been blessed to meet, work for and collaborate with heads of states, and travel around the world speaking on global human rights issues, good governance, women and girl development and ethical leadership; my organization has trained hundreds of young women and girls in leadership competencies.

I remember being the youngest in my cohort when doing my Ph.D in Global Affairs at Rutgers University. I had just finished my Master's studying Global Affairs and International Law at 22, and became engaged to my husband. I remember fondly talking to an older student and her telling me that the journey was arduous and that life happens along the way. I thought to myself,“ Well, I’ve been working at a lightning speed so I should be able to push through.” Life indeed happened. I got married two years later, had my first child who is now 7 years old and my second who is 4 years old, all while trying to balance my career, build a business, and juggle my own expectations of being a mom and a wife. I would complete my Ph.D about seven years later at age 29, crossing the stage on my daughter's first birthday. I’ve learned that our journeys are unique, and life happens and unfolds as God directs it. I’ve slowly emerged to become the woman that I am now.

You have used your platform to speak against police brutality and social injustice both in the United States and Africa. You recently did an interview where you stated that law enforcement does not have a true understanding of the law and human rights. Why do you think law enforcement lacks understanding of basic human rights? What can be done to change that?

The overall requirements to become a police officer should be higher, there should be intensive training on emotional

intelligence and community policing. Historically, we have seen that black and brown people have been disproportionately affected by police brutality and unjust sentencing. In addition, we are seeing more instances due to video recordings of some law enforcement officers infringing, and at times, denying human and constitutional rights of civilians. We need to take a deeper look at systemic racism and discrimination, the psychology of power and authority, and the role of community policing and response.

I understand that the role of law enforcement is extremely tasking and dangerous. Many of them put their lives on the line to ensure we are safe, however that should not deter public officials, everyday citizens and police from working together to create a more equitable, well-trained and upstanding law enforcement community.

For those who don’t know, tell us about the #EndSARS movement, and what is happening to protestors against police brutality in Nigeria, Africa. What can Americans do to help?

Nigerian youths have been protesting in the streets throughout the country against police brutality. They have endured disproportionate amounts of harassment, extortion, and unconstitutional physical violence and detainment. Many of these brazen acts done by the Nigerian police force and a tactical unit called SARS have gone unchecked. These protests are a culmination of years of frustration, loss of innocent lives and systemic corruption.

Nigerian youths peacefully marched throughout Nigeria to #EndSARS. SARS refers to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a police unit that has been the target of nationwide protests demanding an end to police brutality. Weeks after the protests began on October 20th, Nigerian armed forces opened fire on peaceful protestors resulting in global outcry and admonishment. Since then the Nigerian army, police apparatus, and the government have denied their involvement in the massacre and have taken many lengths to cover up the number of casualties.

The case of Nigeria is not peculiar, as we are currently in a global crisis of police brutality. These experiences happening all over the world are not happening in silos, and what we can all do is speak up, use our platforms to share pertinent information, and exchange best practices with one another on how to address this issue on a policy and social front.

You recently released your book, BALANCE . What is the book about? What inspired you to write BALANCE? People often ask me, “How do you balance it all?” I’ve even reflected on if I was out of balance. Was I focusing on my career at times more than my marriage? Did I put my kids ahead of my own self-care instead of prioritizing the two?

These questions never escaped me, and I realized everything boiled down to balance. My success is directly impacted by what I prioritize, and so is my failure. No matter the stage, your geographic location, religion, culture, age or sex, we are all

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Issue 27 | 234

Photo Credit: Tommy T Photography

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I’VE ARE AND I’VE THE

LEARNED THAT OUR JOURNEYS UNIQUE, AND LIFE HAPPENS UNFOLDS AS GOD DIRECTS IT. SLOWLY EMERGED TO BECOME WOMAN THAT I AM NOW.

Photos Provided By: Dr. Yetunde A. Omede

trying to prioritize the things that matter the most, but we seemingly can't escape the feeling that somewhere, somehow, we fall short. This book provides more clarity and guidance on how to find balance in your own lives, all while staying true to who you are and holding onto your dreams.

In addition, a new edition has been released this December 2020 which is a quote and affirmation book titled, The Balance Guide: Quotes and Affirmations on Living a Balanced Life. The sole purpose is to be a companion in your never-ending refueling of motivation and understanding. Quotes and affirmations help to re-energize, restore, and most importantly guide us to a better version of ourselves.

What do you hope women take away from your book?

I want women and even men to ask themselves, “How do I see balance? How do I experience it? Is balance real? Is it fleeting?”

There is so much to unpack about this word "balance," and the book unpacks it all. There are so many self-help books that talk about finding success, living a life of gratitude, money management and positive thinking, but it seems to me that none really fill the void of finding balance.

I want women to do the inner work and to ask themselves what they have neglected in order to appease something else. I want them to define balance for themselves. To me, balance is being present in all the areas of my life that I deem important. Balance is putting one’s best self forward in every aspect. Most importantly, balance is a deliberate act to skillfully prioritize and embrace all the areas of your life that are part of your identity and make you

unique. The key here is asking yourself, what is part of my identity?

What defines me? Is it my career, being a woman, a friend, mother, aunt, entrepreneur, sister, or __________? Or all the above? How do I see myself? How do I see balance? Am I in alignment or out of balance? We need to start having these conversations and assessing how the roots manifest in our lives.

Congratulations on being named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent Global Top 100 Under 40. What does an award like this mean to you?

Thank you, it's a blessing and an honor to be recognized for your work and contributions in your field. There is still more to do, but I am thankful for this award, and hope to continue making a positive impact.

What do you want your legacy to be for your children? What legacy do you want them to create for their children?

I want my children to be confident in themselves and know that staying true to your dreams, living a life of integrity and service is how you impact the world. I want my legacy to be that I lived my life true to myself, filled with love and light, and I used every talent, skill, knowledge and platform divinely given to me to make the world a better place. I just pray that they are happy and fulfilled and create a life that they are proud of. I consider myself a lighthouse and I hope my children discover their light and shine in it brightly.

To learn more about Dr. Yetunde A. Omede and to get your copy of Balance , visit https://www.dryetunde.com.

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MY KINDNESS CALENDAR

Photo Credit: Michele Crockett Photography

"Our beautiful tradition has become a beautiful business that so many families can enjoy."

Maran Stern-Kubista created My Kindness Advent Calendar to provide families with products and resources that make it easy and fun to focus on social-emotional skill building through the acts of giving and being kind. Her mission is to empower kids to adopt acts of kindness as a way of life. “Our products help kids build skills like resilience, selfconfidence, empathy, gratitude and kindness in an engaging and interactive way.”

CEOMOM Magazine interviewed Stern-Kubista about the importance of equipping kids to be active givers, how My Kindness Calendar has impacted her family, and her new My Mindset Magnets.

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What inspired you to create My Kindness Calendar?

Growing up, holidays were always some of my favourite times of the year. So many wonderful childhood memories were created from the traditions we enjoyed as a family. When I became a mother, bringing these family traditions into my home was important to me, as was beginning new traditions that my kids would cherish as I do. When my daughter was 3 and December rolled around, I noticed a gap in the way we prepared for the holidays. We had beautiful traditions around food, music, crafting and of course gifts, all of which she could enjoy and take part in, even at her young age.

And while we adults made charitable donations during the holiday season, as my family had done growing up, there was no tangible way that my young daughter could participate in these traditions of giving. By the age of 3, she had already mastered the

Photo Credit: Anchor Studio

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Photo Credit: Michele Crockett Photography

idea of getting, so it was important for me to balance that idea with the concept of giving, as well as the larger meaning of the holidays.

So that year, a new family tradition was born as we made our first “My Kindness Calendar”.

With construction paper and painter's tape, we mounted a tree on the wall surrounded by kind ideas, each accompanied by a simple picture so she could recognize the idea, without yet being able to read the words. As with a traditional advent calendar, we would use the calendar daily in December, but instead of getting a toy or candy, she would choose an act of kindness we would do together.

Sometimes she would even come up with her own ideas. It was something we looked forward to each day, and gave me an easy and accessible way to start important conversations about helping others, and being kind. The experience was so wonderful for my family, and the feedback from family and friends was overwhelmingly positive. So many friends wanted to do a Kindness Advent Calendar on their own, but just didn’t have the time or energy to make one. The more I looked into it, I found there really was nothing like this available for parents - a tool to actively engage kids and support parents in practicing kindness, which is why I decided to create it!

How has the giving aspect of My Kindness Calendar impacted your own family?

By the time my kids (now 7 and 4) were 3, they were both regularly doing nice things and saying "here's an act of kindness for you!"

Just having them familiar with the language of "an act of kindness" and understanding the impact of doing something nice for someone else is really meaningful. By focusing on giving over the holidays, through My Kindness Advent Calendar, it has set the stage for giving and kindness to be a part of our daily conversation and dialogue. Not that we are doing acts of kindness every day, but the fact that they recognize what an act of kindness is, how it makes someone feel (and how it makes them feel to do it in the first place!) and why it is important to do, is a win for me. The model of the Advent Calendar - doing an act of kindness every day - uses repetition and consistency, so that after 25 days, acting with kindness is normalized and becomes not so much of an exceptional task, but a habit and way of thinking and being that carries through throughout the year. This is the biggest difference that this tradition has made for us - opening the door to an ongoing conversation around kindness and helping to instill foundational values around kindness and the kind of people we want to show up as, in the world every day.

Our Advent Calendars are premium-quality, reusable wall calendars that inspire families to practice kindness together.

They're made in North America and I donate 5% of profits annually to charity. Our beautiful tradition has become a beautiful business that so many families can enjoy. It's so humbling.

Other than the concept of giving, what do you hope children learn from My Kindness Calendar?

I hope my kids, though this experience, learn about their own personal power to make change. It is confidence building when a child can take ownership over a task or idea, and bring it through to

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completion. Because the kids are choosing what they want to do every day - not being told what to do- it shows kids that their ideas matter and are valuable and worthwhile. Keeping a visual record of their accomplishments on the wall with the calendar, kids are reminded of their achievements and have something to show off to family and friends. This all helps to build their confidence and help them realize that their ideas are important, and that even in small ways, they can make a difference. I hope it helps them to build empathy, understanding other people's perspectives and how we can affect other people through our actions. And also gratitude, I want to help my kids be grateful for the things they have and for the opportunity to make a difference in the world for others.

You recently created My Mindset Magnets. Tell us about those and what inspired you to create them.

COVID has put so many more "what ifs'' and unpredictability into all of our lives. And as a true Atype personality who loves lists, a plan and a sense of stability, uncertainty isn't the best ingredient for a calm, happy day. All of a sudden, I found myself worrying more about the future, trying to control every outcome, and second-guessing decisions. To send kids to school? To not send kids to school? To sanitize my groceries and mail... or not? Decisions the big ones and also the seemingly small - all of a sudden became weighty and anxiety-inducing.

I felt myself needing certain reminders that I haven't needed as much before. I can do hard things. I can make positive choices. I am trying my best. I am raising resilient kids. As parents, we are there to tell these things to our children and teach them to be able to tell themselves the same empowering words.

But who's there to remind us to do the same thing when we need to change our inner monologue? So I created this tool to make it easy, consistent and fun for both my kids and me to build this practice and positive mindset.

Like My Kindness Calendar, I wanted to create something that was child-driven. Kids are not told what to say - instead they are encouraged and empowered to use their own creativity and choose the words that resonate with them on any given day.

My Mindset Magnets is a set of over 200 inspiring magnetic words (colour coded by nouns, verb, adjectives etc. to help build literacy skills along with the social-emotional skills) which allow kids and parents to create positive statements every day as they reach for a snack in the fridge. Easily and conveniently putting things in writing and keeping them visible as a consistent reminder to keep that positive mindset makes it simple to practice building these daily affirmations.

To learn more about My Kindness Calendar, visit https://mykindnesscalendar.com.

Photo Credit: Jenny Diaz Photography

Facing How We Feel in 2020 By: Melinda Crowder Dunbar, LPC

A global pandemic, racial unrest, economic turmoil, job losses, social isolation, and school closures have undoubtedly disrupted our lives and our sense of normalcy.

The events of 2020 have escalated our stress levels so high that many of us continue to experience mental and emotional fatigue. Such occurrences can be traumatizing and overwhelming. Fear of addressing unpleasant emotions appears to be ubiquitous across the globe. To cope well with these outside pressures of work, education, and health, we must stay focused. Now more than ever, our fight for mental and emotional well-being is pertinent. We can no longer remain in denial, suppress our emotions, or hide behind distractions to ward off pain. The longer we deny our reality, the longer we suffer. Let’s be proactive as we head into the new year and choose to face and honor how we feel. Our lives depend on it.

Melinda Crowder Dunbar is a Licensed Professional Counselor, owner of Crowder Counseling PLLC based in Dallas, TX. Melinda provides therapy to individuals, couples, and families. She graduated from Texas A&M in Commerce, TX in 2013 and gained more than six years of clinical experience before opening her private practice in January 2019. Since then, she has enjoyed the many benefits of running a counseling practice, especially watching her clients grow mentally and emotionally over time. As an emerging leader in the field, Melinda has given presentations on anxiety, depression, and other mental health topics in schools, non-profits, and other organizations within her community. Melinda also shares her mental health expertise on the CEOMOM Podcast as a co-host alongside Vonna Matthews, Editor-in-Chief of CEOMOM Magazine.

The 8 tips and strategies on page 59 will guide you on how to navigate the pressures and demands of the outside world:

Learn more about Melinda Crowder https://www.crowdercounseling.com/.

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Dunbar

at

Path to Mental Health

Melinda Crowder Dunbar gives you 8 tips and strategies to help you navigate your mental health in 2020 and beyond.

01

Perform 2-3 minute “emotional check-ins” at least twice a day. Set a timer on your phone to give full attention to notice how you feel.

02

Practice diaphragmatic breathing. Try the 3-2-4 technique. Inhale through your nose as you count to three. Hold your breath for two counts. Then, exhale completely through your mouth as you count to four. Deep breathing helps to bring your mind to the present.

03

Allow the emotional or energetic release to pass through your body. This may come in the form of tears, a racing heart, or a wave of strong emotions.

04

Jot down your thoughts. Ask yourself if these thoughts are helpful or harmful. Don't allow harmful thoughts to go un-checked.

05 06 07 08

Take a brain break. Reduce exposure to social media and other news outlets.

It's unnecessary and counterproductive to know everything that is going on in the world at all times.

Connect with family and friends (virtually, if necessary). We need the benefits that healthy relationships bring. Continue to cultivate your relationships, making the necessary adjustments.

Stay active. Exercise and stretching can help relieve tension and stress.

Develop a routine that works for you to maintain consistency.

Seek professional help. There are many benefits to therapy that can enhance your life.

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VALERIE THOMAS Mom Turns Love for Children's Fashion Into Luxury Clothing Brand for Kids

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Photo Credit: Drico Lamar

Valerie Thomas is the CEO and founder of Clay Luxury Kids, a wife, a mother, and a veteran of the U.S Army, where she served 13 years and a tour to Afghanistan. Aside from her military obligations, Valerie found time to focus on her passion, creating the luxury fashion brand for kids, Clay Luxury Kids.

Inspired by her two sons, Thomas set out to create a clothing brand that is as much

about the experience as it is about the fashion. This luxury store owner is growing her brand as an upcoming fashion and shoe designer.

CEOMOM Magazine interviewed Thomas about what makes Clay Luxury Kids unique, the New York debut of her couture collection, and how to survive an economic crisis.

The thing that separates Clay Luxury Kids from other stores is we focus on an experience versus a sale!

Tell us about Clay Luxury Kids ATL. Describe your store’s signature style.

Clay Luxury Kids is located in Luxury Mall Phipps Plaza located in Atlanta. We are the house of many elite and luxury children's brands from all over the world, and the only place where you can purchase Clay brand, a gender neutral and seasonless luxury brand. Our in store experience is unmatched from our white glove door greeters, beverage serve and pour complimentary service, to the education of each of our brands upon our customers’ purchases.

What inspired you to open Clay Luxury Kids ATL? Both my sons, Caden 10 years old, and Clayton 4 years old, are my inspirations and reasoning for designing and opening Clay Luxury Kids.

What separates you from other kid luxury clothing stores?

The thing that separates Clay Luxury Kids from other stores is we focus on an experience versus a sale! We feel an experience will not only have a larger impact on our returning customers, but also gives customers something to talk about. We are not your typical kids retail store.

What are some of your favorite items from your current collection?

February 2021, Clay will be launching its couture collection premiering at New York Fashion Week.

My favorite part of this collection is the outerwear pieces. They are definitely super unique, fashion forward and stylish.

Photo Credit: Drico Lamar

Both my sons, Caden 10 years old, and Clayton 4 years old, are my inspirations and reasoning for designing and opening Clay Luxury Kids.

Photo Credit: Drico Lamar

Photo Credit: Drico Lamar

Your business continues to grow. What are your top three tips for entrepreneurs to survive an economic crisis?

My top three tips for entrepreneurs to survive an economic crisis are: Pray for the best, but always prepare for the worstmentally, financially and physically. This mindset will allow you to overcome battles that come with being an entrepreneur, as well as stay ahead of the curve.

Keep your personal and business credit in check. In a time like an economic crisis when spending liquid cash is not the smartest decision, utilizing business credit with low bearing interest rates are more logical.

Stay creative, and still produce great content and marketing strategies that allow you to adjust to current changes in the economy. Think outside the box, plan and execute.

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What advice do you have for a mom who wants to open her own clothing store?

1. Do lots of research.

2. Know the age ranges that will be your focus.

3. Know your target market.

4. Invest in different types of marketing such as neighborhood marketing.

5. Prepare your body and health to take on the challenges of pursuing and being successful in the children's clothing store industry.

To learn more about Valerie Thomas and Clay Luxury Kids, visit https://www.claybibsandbooties.com.

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KAY COLA ORGANIGROWHAIRCO.COM Photo Credit: Jessy J Photo

What inspired you to create OrganiGrow?

My daughter inspired OrganiGrow because she inspired me to wear my own natural hair while teaching her to embrace and love hers.

What is your winter skin care regimen?

In the winter I tend to use our OrganiGlow night cream because it’s heavier and the butters can seal and lock in moisture. I have to be more mindful to keep up my water intake because it’s easy to drink water when it’s very hot, but it’s more challenging to remember to drink water when it’s cold outside.

What makes OrganiGrowHairCo different from other natural hair care brands?

OrganiGrow is different from other hair care brands all around from its intention and inception to how we treat our customers to our formulas. Our intention in creating the brand is as pure and non-toxic as our formula.

Kay Cola

Natural Beauty

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GROW DIAMOND BUNDLE (MEDIUM POROSITY) Recommended for medium porosity wavy, curly, kinky, coily hair. Repair, grow, protect, cleanse, condition, nourish and style with this all inclusive bundle.

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"My daughter inspired OrganiGrow because she inspired me to wear my own natural hair while teaching her to embrace and love hers."

ANTI-AGING BUNDLE Our Anti-Aging Bundle is great for keeping your face timeless all day with an amazing day and night regimen. This bundle has been known to help smooth wrinkles, fade dark spots, and moisturize your skin. Our Ultra Hydro Night Cream evens out skin tone to reveal a clearer, brighter complexion while helping prevent future pigmentation. As a bonus, we have included our Ultra Healing Eye Cream containing Hyaluronic Acid, which is known for its ability to reduce wrinkles and dark circles. This combination of "age defying� products is for anyone looking to hydrate while aiding their skin with intense antioxidants that produce smooth and glowing results!

Photo Credit: OrganiCo

TIFFANY STATEN Photo Credit: Kendra Knight

THE LONDON GRANT All London Grant products are made from mindfully sourced pure, plantbased, organic ingredients, and delivered in eco-conscious packaging.

No synthetic fragrances, silicons, or mineral oil.

What makes London Grant stand out from other body care brands?

Unlike other body care brands, I’ve developed the London Grant collection to be completely versatile with multiple uses for everyone in your home, especially those with sensitive or dry skin, stretch marks, psoriasis, eczema, scars, etc.

The Minimalist Collection is our lineup of staple body care products butters, oils and scrubs. I created all

the products in this collection with the inspiration of “less is more.” I have intentionally developed each formula to include meaningful and effective ingredients to help with a multitude of challenges.

Each product is clean, cruelty-free and fragrance free. Each features hidden talents that support you from head to toe. For example, our Honey Coco Body Polish is awesome as a gentle scalp scrub, with Raw Honey acting as a hydrating and skininfusing mask.

Tiffany Staten

Chai Spiced Latte Body Polish CEOMOM HOLIDAY GUIDE | 73

LONDONGRANT.COM CEOMOM HOLIDAY GUIDE | 74

Cocoa & Jojoba BODY SOUFFLE

Photo Credit: Laura Grace Sears

ARMCANDYTEXAS.COM CEOMOM HOLIDAY GUIDE | 76

Photo Credit: Trejon D. Williams Photography:

What inspired you to turn your love for jewelry making into Arm Candy?

It started with my then 9 year-old son. He wanted to make little plastic bracelets to make money one summer. After he got bored, I took over the business and started sourcing natural gemstones and other high quality materials to create beautiful bracelets.

Over the years, Arm Candy has expanded to earrings and necklaces.

How would you describe your design style?

My design style is boho chic. The use of exotic woods and gemstones demonstrate a cool boho style.

MAYA WILLIAMS

What are your favorite Arm Candy pieces?

My favorite pieces are the meditation Malas and the lava stone bracelets. Both are very stylish, yet functional.

Describe your design process from idea to execution.

The collections I create usually come to me in a dream and are also inspired by places to which I've traveled- the colors, the feel, style, etc. Once I have the idea for collection designs, I find just the right stones and materials to create them. I always make sure that each collection can be paired with another collection.

Customers like to put together sets, so the earring collection must be able to go with the bracelets. Same for necklaces.

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AMYHOLLY.COM

Photo Credit: Octavia Whitlowe

"I beam with bliss whenever I am stopped by women on the street, or at the airport, or at the local grocery store, and on Martha’s Vineyard, who tell me that they love my beautiful caftans. They often ask where they can purchase them. " Story of Amy Holly ... “Holly” was the nickname of my phenomenal grandmother who battled leukemia, and who raised me and taught me how to sew on my hand as a child. She was a business woman, mother of nine, and an innovator beyond her time. She would make and wear ‘house dresses, glamorous caftans and comfortable mumu’s to entertain and host at her house parties. I loved watching her glide among the crowd of guests and friends in sheer admiration and amazement!

Also, I love wearing caftans and resort wear is my jam when I host small gatherings, to large wine festivals to strolling through Whole Foods or picking up my daughter in school carpool. They are like the go to chic Garanimals for busy moms, like myself. Yet the Amy Holly Resort Collection speaks to cool boho minimalists, to the preppy Nantucket gray lady summers, to the glamorous red carpet celebrities, and to the St. Barts yacht partygoers.

When I think about “Holly” the first words that pop in your head are “fun and freedom”... I believe that’s how life is supposed to be.

A “Holly” is also a play on words of Hollywood, fun festivities, and fabulously long vacations called holidays. I want clothing that makes women feel free to just, BE! When you adorn an “Amy Holly,” it can feel like a Hollyday, everyday! #BEHolly

Amy Hampton CEOMOM HOLIDAY GUIDE | 82

AMY HAMPTON

Photo Credit: Sivan Miller Photographer

KIDRAQ.COM What are your most popular designs?

My most popular designs are the matching styles with the “Mommy and Me” and “Daddy and Me” concepts.

What can we expect from future collections?

KidRaq will continue to evolve with trending silhouettes and powerful affirmations. Also, we’re very much attuned to our customers. So count on the brand to be responsive to the customers’ feedback in the creative process for the next collection.

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What inspired you to start KidRaq? Beyoncé and her daughter inspired me to create KidRaq. As Beyoncé’s stylist, I had pulled some cool eyewear for her. Well, as fate would have it, she loved them, and so did Blue, her oldest daughter. The sunglasses looked really cute on her, but they were too big, of course. It occurred to me that Beyoncé and Blue would look really cool in matching styles, so I contacted the designer to get a pair for Blue. I’m sure you can imagine my disappointment when the designer said it would take 3 or 4 months to make them. It was then, I decided that I could do it myself. I had a hunch that it was a niche that needed to be filled. And, that was the primary seed of my inspiration, in addition to my son's constant request for eyewear to match my select style.

Raquel Smith

Photo Credit: Drea Nicole Photography

The KidRaq brand was created by a woman of color who also happens to be a single mom. To my knowledge, no other children’s eyewear brand can make that claim. That’s why it’s important that KidRaq empowers children and families.

As a single mom who has learned a few things about turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones, I believe that I have a moral and ethical responsibility to do what I can to support others. I routinely volunteer to work with youth and families. I believe strongly in mentorship, and because of that, I’m always looking to give young people an opportunity to develop their talent and skills by working with the brand.

KiidRaq also offers cool silhouettes in fun colors and matching styles for kids and their parents, each with an affirmation engraved in the temple as a permanent reminder to be your best self.

KidRaq Empowers Children

Photo Credit: Tolliver Boyz Photography

CEOMOM HOLIDAY GUIDE | 87

WHATLITTLEWONDER.COM What inspired you to start What Little Wonder?

My son was the true inspiration behind the shop. After becoming a mom, I realized how challenging it was to find apparel and little essentials in colors that weren’t so “loud” and “baby-like”. I wanted to offer moms products that were both aesthetically pleasing while still being functional. I also enjoyed shopping small and wanted to find a way to bring those brands and products to more moms that were looking for modern, trendy items.

How do you select the brands you carry?

Most of the brands we carry, I stumble across while browsing on Instagram or Google.

However I have a general idea of the types of products I’m looking for, and I intentionally seek out small and independent brands.

Personally, I’m a very picky shopper, so I’m extremely selective – focusing on the details and the quality.

Sarah McNamee Photo Credit: KaLee Kilgrow & Lily Jieru Muir

Crib Sheets

Blankets

Onesies

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NATURALICIOUS.NET

GWEN JIMMERE

Photo Credit: Sylvia Jarrus

CEOMOM HOLIDAY GUIDE | 91

What are your Naturalicious must-haves for the winter season?

My top winter must-haves are the Naturalicious Step 2: Moisture Infusion Styling Creme and Step 3: Divine Shine Moisture Love & Frizz Fighter. The air is exceptionally dry in winter months, in most environments, which wreaks havoc on our hair. It makes hair drier, and more prone to brittleness and breakage. Using these two products daily keeps hair hydrated and breakage free while full of shine and volume.

What are your signature products?

My signature products are all in the Naturalicious Hello Gorgeous System. It's 3 easy-to-use, plantbased products that deliver the results of 12 products! Better hair in half the time. It's literally my favorite thing!

What inspired you to create the Naturalicious brand?

I started in my kitchen with $32 in the bank. I was a newly single mother to my then-2-year-old son, recently divorced from an emotionally and physically abusive marriage. At the time, I was having an extremely hard time finding hair care products that worked great for my coily hair, were vegan, and didn't force me to spend hours managing my hair. As a new mom with no help, I needed to look and feel great about myself and my beauty, but I couldn't afford to spend a ton of time doing my hair. I couldn't find a solution to my problem, so I created it. They say "the struggle is real" when it comes to managing textured hair, so I created the first patented system that makes it effortless, giving our customers better hair in half the time.

CEOMOM HOLIDAY GUIDE | 93

COCOANDEVE.COM

Coco & Eve Bounce Body Masque $39.90 About the product: Rich in antioxidants and natural enzymes this body masque sculpts and tones skin giving it a natural glow with less stretchmarks and cellulite in just minutes.

Reduces stretchmarks and cellulite.

Great for the booty, belly, underboob and thighs.

Volcanic clay absorbs excess oils for less body spots and redness.

Smooths and softens for a plumper booty with more bounce.

Green coffee extract increases circulation, stimulates and firms skin.

Heaven-scent Dragonfruit and Lychee fragrance

Editor's Pick Spoil yourself with the Coco & Eve Bounce Body Masque. It gives you a spa like experience, leaving your skin smooth with a subtle afterglow. Your skin feels refreshed and rejuvenated. We also love that Coco & Eve is a vegan beauty brand.

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