Church Girl CEO Magazine Fall Issue

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN MINISTRY AND BUSINESS

FALL 2022

MAGAZINE

Church Girl CEO

DR. LEAH VANTERPOOL

IN THIS ISSUE DR. LEAH VANTERPOOL, APOSTLE & PROPHET TO NATIONS KENYA MISSION TRIP PHOTO MEMORIES FALL BEAUTY TIPS, RECIPES, AND MORE!

LEADERS IN MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT KAREN MALONE AND THERESA CRITCHLOW

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CONTRIBUTORS CEO/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DEBORAH FRANKLIN SENIOR EDITOR JC GARDNER Check Out Our Cover Queen: Dr. Leah Vanterpool by Deborah Franklin Apostle & Prophet to Nations Leaders in Ministry Spotlight: Karen Malone Theresa Critchlow

Featured Columnists •

A Drink From The Well Spiritual Corner: Debrayta Salley

•

Confessions of a Foodie: JC Gardner

•

Travel & Tourism: Tracy Shorter

•

Beauty and Fashion: Nichelle Johnson, Kolor Beauty

•

Soul Focused: Latanya Henry-Smith, Ph.D., LSSP

Special Feature: •

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Don’t forget to view photo memories of our mission trip to Kenya

A Letter from the Editor-in-Chief Deborah Franklin Hey Y’all, it's exciting times here at Church Girl CEO Magazine. We are anticipating great things for the future of our staff and readers. God is truly up to something. I hope you can feel it because I know I do. We have been experiencing so many blessings. Yes, there have been some obstacles but overall, we have made it.

What we deemed as the Caleb Mission to Kenya was a great success. The people were amazing, the food was awesome, and the weather was remarkable. But, by His grace, we were able to share the Word of God and feed over 500 families in Nairobi and Kitale. To be immersed into the culture was such a joy, and it felt like being home. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures that we included from the orphanages, women’s outreach, church service, and safari. Now you know your girl was living her best life on safari up close with the wildlife.

This trip triggered something in me that I never thought existed. I have a new project that I’m working on that I can’t wait to share with the readers. This project could be the change that we have been looking for to increase in multiple areas so that we may be able to serve the people in a greater capacity. I’m seeing manifestations of the prophetic words that have been spoken over my life.

Now our Cover Girl Prophetess Dr. Leah Vanterpool is nothing but the truth in ministry and business. I met her during a prophetic crusade, and I’ll never forget the word she spoke to me: “You will be a leader in ministry; you don’t want it because you have seen the ugly side of it, but God is going to use you.” I was floored, in disbelief.

Now it’s several years later and it is coming to pass.

May God’s mercy and grace be upon you now and always.

Deborah Franklin

Yours in Christ,

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Discerning When to Fall Back Ecclesiastes 3; Jeremiah 29:11

By Debrayta D. Salley

The term “Fall Back” is generally defined as “to move or turn back. To retreat. To become less involved.”

On the evening of Saturday, November 6, 2022, our clocks will “Fall Back” one hour and we will gain an extra hour of sleep, along with more daylight hours during the winter mornings. The seasonal definition of the word is the opposite of what happens to our clocks. If you’re like me, I’ve often found myself asking “So do we gain or lose an extra hour of sleep each time” as if it has changed over the years. I mean, we can always benefit from having an extra hour in our day, right?!?!? (Smile.)

The unknown can be intimidating but Fret Not! Do Not Fear! When you Fall Back this time, just like a bow and arrow or a sling shot, the fuel that’s behind your stance is going to push and spring you forward. Fall Back! It’s preparation for what’s to come.

Let’s chat about the Blessing of “Falling Back” in the literal sense of the phrase. Has the Holy Spirit ever prompted you to fall back from something or someone? You may not have understood the “why” at that moment and even hesitated to obey, but once you came to yourself and “fell back,” you discovered what God already knew. Your obedience may have kept you from falling into a pit, painful situation, or missing the path of provision that God had already plowed specifically for you. The conclusion of the matter is that taking that step back worked for your good and in most cases, exceeded your level of expectation, right?

Debrayta D. Salley aka “Dee” Life Mentor Coach is the Founder of Debrayta Salley Enterprises where she writes to “Empower Paths, Support Growth and Inspire Change.”

She Blogs and serves as a Certified, Transformational Life Coach. She has also written multiple books, blogs, and magazine articles. Dee seeks to empower and support others in gracefully journeying through the various seasons of life.

Let me encourage you. This is your answered prayer and confirmation. That prompting you have been sensing to stop one thing and start another, take what you’ve been doing and go another route, or just pause for a season is the Holy Spirit redirecting and repositioning you.

Subscribe to her Blog: www.deelifmentor.com Various Opportunities to Stay Connected: https://linktr.ee/DebraytaDSalley Email: debraytasalleyenterprises@gmail.com.

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Confessions of a Foodie Trimmings and Fixings…BRING it on!

By JC Gardner shocked. There was nothing left! Another time, I had two different kinds of mac ‘n cheese – the regular kind and then seafood mac ‘n cheese, to the family’s delight. I never really reveal my “secret dishes” until it’s time to unveil the feast. I do have some surprises in the works for this year as well.

Why not break away from tradition and add

a lil twist to your holiday feasts?

Be adventurous! Here are some ideas to spice up your holidays: • Add a little bourbon to those sweet potatoes.

When September arrives, I know that Thanksgiving is close behind. It is one of the biggest meal celebrations of the year. I often have a house full of people, but of course, the pandemic slowed that down quite a bit; however, the year of 2022 is making a comeback with family gatherings. I wish I could say I was going to be walking around in a hazmat suit, face mask, and checking temperatures at the door, but the only temperature I’m going to be checking is of that turkey in the oven (smile!)

•

Put some oysters in your stuffing.

•

Fry up a turkey instead of baking it.

• Create a salad bar, where guests can build their own salad.

• Create a sweet potato bar, with the honey, brown sugar, white sugar, whipped butter, toasted pecans, and marshmallows as optional toppings!

• Have Thanksgiving “pregame” hour with lite appetizers (Yes, you can do appetizers, just don’t overdo it.)

For the past few years, I try something new instead of the traditional Thanksgiving staples. I remember when my family saw delicious oxtails in the crockpot, and they were both jubilant and

• Have a signature drink – with or without alcohol.

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• Make fancy place settings, with names, napkin rings and charger plates. Design a fancy menu.

•

to honor their memory.

Are you a vegetarian or vegan? Let us know how you celebrate the holidays with some of your favorite recipes! Email jc@blossomlitservices.com

Have a chocolate or candy table.

• Play games – for example, as guests arrive, give them a clothespin. Anyone who says buzz words like turkey, holiday, food, full, hungry…and so on gets theirs taken away. At the end, whoever has the most clothespins wins a prize.

JC Gardner is an award-winning, bestselling author, speaker, writing coach, poet and ghostwriter. Helping aspiring authors bring their projects to life through her writing coaching program is a blessing and a gift. For literary services, please visit www.blossomlitservices.com.

This is just a small sample of how your holiday can be lit! May your upcoming events be a wonderful and safe gathering of friends, family and loved ones. Don’t forget to make a place at the table for those who are no longer with you; it’s a great way

For speaking engagements, E-mail: jc@blossomlitservices.com.

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Fall Into It! Beauty Evolution Beauty by Kolor Beauty – Nichelle Johnson eyes. With that being said, I am totally obsessed with CHANEL’s Sublimage eye cream, Sublimage La Crème Yeux - $260. This eye cream does it all! It addresses dark circles, fine lines and has antiaging benefits.

One big fact about the secret of Sublimage is that it is created with a main ingredient that comes from Madagascar called Vanilla Plantifolia PFA. The eye cream has been proven to successfully address the dark shadowing under the eye area. This is good news for those whose livelihoods force you to be on the computer eight or more hours a day.

I am as equally committed to the aging process of my over face, neck and décolleté. Although CHANEL has a cream from this line that targets the décolleté and body, I have always used my face cream to address my décolleté as well. It is of equal concern. For this, I enjoy the luxury experience of the Sublimage La Crème Ultimate Skin Regeneration - $420. Sublimage is CHANEL’s luxury line and it is certainly the luxury experience without fail.

Everyone knows that 365 days of the year I am a complete loyalist when it comes to Estee’ Lauder’s golden liquid in a bottle Advanced Night Repair - $110. I am a serum junky and will remain one to the grave. I personally know that serums are the insurance to achieve correction to skin concerns paired with an antiaging cream to seal

Hello Autumn Beauties! Fall is full of warm colors everywhere we look! The leaves are beginning to change colors and in some areas, they are even shedding from the trees. It is now time to switch things up as we honor the seasons changing. Our beauty regimens will become a little more intense and our color stories will begin to look like a mild metamorphosis. The bright pinks and corals are taking a back seat to the warm nudes and autumn hues. It gives me warm feelings and thoughts of being in New York City while taking in theater on Broadway and dinner on a cool day. But, before I even consider New York in the fall, I must shift my focus immediately to the intentional maintenance of perfect skin. Just like summer, underestimating the affects that fall and winter have on the skin can dramatically alter how you fall in love with every seasonal trend. So then, let’s focus on skin!

My personal three staple skin items I will focus on to start off the change in season will be the eyes and face. As you know, I am a huge lash girl, so to prepare myself for my favorite beauty addiction, I focus hard on the overall health and appearance of my

NOIR ALLURE

LE GEL SOURCILS

Mascara

Longwear Eyebrow Gel

$42

$32

Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex $110.00 8

the deal for visible results. Advanced Night Repair (ANR) has two technologies: it restores the skin cell pattern and removes the debris from skin cells, both of which when damaged leaves a dull and aged look to the skin. The great thing is you can integrate this serum with other brand’s skin care.

My final thing for this article and the eyes is definition of the eye, because sometimes it only takes a small effort to feel confident in your appearance. But mostly because eyes are the first area to show aggressive signs of aging. Having said that, brows, lashes and eyeliner can make a huge difference in achieving a perfect, natural defining look.

STYLO SOURCILS WATERPROOF Defining Longwear Eyebrow Pencil $33

Remember that brows shape the eyes that shape the face. Your brow determines how approachable you are, so remember when trying to keep up with the trends you must choose a shape that best showcases you. CHANEL STYLO SOURCILS WATERPROOF Defining Longwear Eyebrow Pencil - $33 is perfect to achieving perfection to your desired look; it comes in more than 5 colors. It is easy to maneuver and has an angled tip.

My second thing for the brows is LE GEL SOURCILS Longwear Eyebrow Gel - $32. It is great if you have unruly brows or you love your natural brow but need some control. It comes in transparent and more.

SUBLIMAGE LA CRÈME YEUX Ultimate Regeneration Eye Cream $260

And my last two final things are CHANEL LE LINER DE CHANEL Liquid Eyeliner High Precision Longwear - $35 and the new mascara NOIR ALLURE Mascara - $42. The liquid eyeliner is a dunk shot and period!! The definition and precision is 100. If you are looking for the false eyelash without having to apply false eyelashes, I PROMISE you the NOIR ALLURE will be your best friend. It not only separates every lash, but it brings the lashes to a whole other awakening, giving you a full voluptuous, dreamy look. I am in LOVE. Well that’s it for now Ladies. Stay tuned for the HOLIDAY Edition to see what trinkets should be under your holiday tree!

SUBLIMAGE LA CRÈME Ultimate Skin Regeneration $420

Get into the Autumn Vibes!!!

See you for the Holidays!!!

Your beauty editor, Nichelle Johnson

Nichelle has over 25 years of experience in the makeup industry. She has worked with some of the top cosmetic lines such as MAC, Estee Lauder, Fashion Fair and Benefits Cosmetics. She is currently freelancing as an Estee Lauder Expert throughout the MD, DC, VA, & DE Corridor where she teaches women skin care and makeup daily routine techniques.

LE LINER DE CHANEL Liquid Eyeliner High Precision Longwear $35 9

Stop, Smell, and Invigorate

By Latanya Henry-Smith, PhD, LSSP try include: •

Rose (Of Course)

•

Lavender

•

Sweet Orange

•

Clary Sage

There are three ways I recommend enjoying these scents. 1) Mix the essential oil with a carrier oil such as jojoba, olive, or grapeseed to make a body oil. Massage oil into the skin. Avoid putting unmixed essentials directly on your skin to prevent irritation. 2) Use an essential oil inhaler (aroma stick), which is a covered wick that absorbs the oil. The cover keeps in the smell until ready for use. 3) Use aromatherapy accessories such as bracelets, necklaces, etc. made of absorbent materials to which As the school year has begun and the holidays are rolling in, we are all really busy doing life. We are trying to make ends meet with the ever-increasing cost of goods and services. We are running here,

the oil is applied.

So go ahead, take a moment to relax, and smell the roses.

there, and everywhere, and it’s all becoming overwhelming. We need a break but there is no time. There is too much to do, too many people

Latanya Henry-Smith, PhD, LSSP

depending on us. Honestly, we all need to STOP and take a minute to smell the roses. Oh, I know it is cliché, but it is true.

Founder, Sapphire Emerald Solutions & Associates sapphireemeraldsolutions.com

Taking a moment to smell the roses (coffee, baked goods, etc.) is a quick and easy way to bring calm to our hectic lives. “Smell” is a powerful sense that is often overlooked. The sense of smell can conjure wonderful memories and relax our souls. We all have that one scent that brings us pleasant memories. For me it’s sweet potato pies baking; that smell brings happy holiday memories. For you, it may be your grandmother’s perfume or the salty scent of the ocean.

Dr. Latanya Henry-Smith is a Licensed Specialist in Using smell to bring healing is called aromatherapy. It works because when we smell something, that scent immediately goes to the emotional center of our brains called the amygdala. That scent often becomes tied to the emotion we felt when we first experienced that smell, which also explains why certain smells trigger particular feelings.

Taking the time to smell the roses can be easily achieved using essential oils. The most common way people use essential oils is to diffuse them throughout their homes or office. However, I do not recommend that, especially in common areas, because they can trigger respiratory issues. Instead, I recommend using a personal approach.

Purchase an essential oil that is soothing to you. Some calming oils to 10

School Psychology who provides psychoeducational assessments, counseling, and consultations in Texas public schools. Her passion is to bring healing to children and their families as they navigate through school and life.

Kenya Mission Trip Photo Memories

Sharing mindset techniques with the ladies and blessing them food and toiletries.

Bishop Dickson Omukosi welcomed us, L-R: Dr. Keba Richmond Green, Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Massey Bridges and Deborah Franklin.

Food distribution of rice and beans.

Food distribution of rice and beans.

The U.S. team connects with our Kenyan Team in Nairobi.

Team visiting a paper hut with Bishop Omukosi

Food purchased for distribution at orphanage.

Church Girl CEO receiving a certificate from Dagoretti Corner Childcare, an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Dr. Leah Vanterpool Apostle & Prophet to Nations Leadership Coaching and Financial Management

By Deborah Franklin Dr. Leah’s experience spans over twenty-nine years

in your ministry and business?

and she has progressively evolved and launched several ministries globally. She is a trailblazer,

Dr. Leah:

catalyst,

much you can do and plan to do.

influencer,

transformational

leader,

Managing finances assists with how Without

presiding apostle, dean, and astute business and

knowing your financial health, you could make

financial professional.

decisions that will not be supported for long term.

Her

ministry

has

crossed

denominational

boundaries, and traditional limitations. She is an uncompromising apostolic prophetic oracle

DF: What are some of the biggest challenges in your business and how do you overcome them?

for Jesus Christ.

Dr. Leah:

Time. I find myself

Church Girl CEO Magazine is so glad

juggling time to meet the

she took the time to share with us

needs.

words

of

wisdom

about

business and finance.

DF: How does walking in the office of a prophet align

DF:

What motivated

you

to

start

with your career choice?

your Dr. Leah:

business?

Walking in the

office of the apostle aligns Dr. Leah:

Flexibility

with my career choice

of time and latitude

because the apostolic is

to level my skillset

not a function just for the

for the need I was

church. The apostle is a

seeing

strategist,

in

the

implements

processes, is a tactician,

marketplace.

and brings order (principles) in DF:

Why

is

financial

organization a key element

areas that are out of order.

DF: What advice would you give someone who

Dr. Leah: My experience in both the marketplace

wanted be in the financial sector?

and ministry spans over thirty years. I have a weekly radio and television broadcast: "Kingdom

Dr. Leah: Many think the financial sector is about

Empowerment." YouTube channel is Dr. Leah

being a mathematician, however, the finance and

Vanterpool.

accounting sector is more about the application of theory. The same numbers with various theory applications can have a different impact.

DF: What upcoming projects are you working on now for us to get involved in?

Dr. Leah:

The 5Fold Leadership Institute - New

school year is starting this month for all those who want to learn more about their purpose. The fivefold are not titles but graces of functionality which extends in all areas of life including the marketplace.

Dr. Leah has earned a Master’s in ministry and Doctorate of Divinity from Andersonville Seminary and honorary Doctorates in Theology, and Divinity from other institutions. She also holds several degrees in the accounting and finance field. She has been featured in Majesty Magazine, Sheen Magazine, and South Africa’s – God’s Leading Women Publication twice.

Vanterpool Consulting, LLC - We are accepting new business and corporate clients for interim CFO and Budgeting projects.

Dr. Leah Speaks - My leadership coaching program is available to both men and women who wants to sharpen the leader within.

She is also the recipient of the 2016 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Who’s Who in the World. Currently, she hosts weekly the Kingdom Empowerment Radio and The Kingdom Empowerment television show on the UA Network that reaches over 20 million viewers globally.

DF: What does "Church Girl CEO' mean to you?

Dr. Leah: It means that the mountain of influence (business/economics, education, and religion) I am called to influence, I have been given the grace, posture and position to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. DF: Any additional information you would like to share?

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Karen Malone: Rehab Your Life Nothing Can Stop God’s Promises

By Deborah Franklin Even though this sister-in-Christ had a medical setback, she managed to thrive in spite of her circumstances through determination and resilience proving that with God, all things are possible.

DF: What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

Karen: I don't think that I ever really intended to be an entrepreneur, however, I knew that I wanted to be the one at the head of the conference table telling others what to do and accomplish goals and objectives that are important to me. Working for someone else, you don't get to push your own narrative. So, it made sense for me to start a non-profit that supports a cause that I am passionate about and to have a team that can help me to reach those goals and objectives.

business?

Karen: Educate yourself about what aspects of " running a business" are really of interest to you. A lot of people want to be the face of the brand but don't want to actually run the business.

In the beginning, you will often wear all the hats until you can afford to hire someone to do it for you. But even then, you still need to be aware of what they are doing and be able to do it for yourself in case of an emergency situation. Entrepreneurs will often mess things up in the beginning because of their lack of knowledge so get as much education and support as you can on how to run your business.

DF: If you could have lunch with anyone present or past, who would it be and why?

DF: Tell me about one challenge and what you did to overcome it?

Karen: A major challenge that I experienced in 2021 was that I was in the middle of writing an anthology book with a group of individuals where we shared our experiences with COVID-19 and I had a heart attack! Everyone was depending on me to be able to continue facilitating the process to meet the deadline date that was set for the book launch. Of course, this was something that was unexpected and completely out of my control, so I had to focus on what I could control, which was rehabilitating myself as quickly as possible.

So, I had my laptop brought up to the hospital so that I could work. I reached out to everyone to let them know that I was ok and that we would still meet the deadline. I held virtual meetings in my hospital room and moved the project forward. I was in the hospital for 45 days, and the book launched right on time 2 weeks after I was discharged from the hospital!

The title of the anthology is ""Nothing Can Stop the Promises of God, Not Even COVID-19!"" So of course, I had to push to make it happen and God was faithful to help me reach that goal!

DF: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start a

Karen: I would love to have lunch with Oprah Winfrey. I believe that there is so much that I can learn from her about running a large-scale organization as an African American woman and about developing a team that sticks with you over time.

DF: Do you have any upcoming events and how can our readers contact you for more information?

Karen: The Renewed Vision Conference is Saturday, October 15, 2022, from 10am - 2pm. It's a virtual event and and registration is on our website:

www.rehabyourlife.org/annual-conference.

DF: What does it mean to be Church Girl CEO? Karen: It's a great opportunity to be featured in Church Girl CEO Magazine because I feel that many of the readers can resonate with our services. We provide rehabilitation counseling and support to individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. We believe that our mission is God-led and can be of great service to your readership.

Reach out to Karen: rehabyourlife2@gmail.com

Theresa Crichlow Honey, How Sweet It Is!

By Deborah Franklin Honey chile, who knew you could have honey that tastes like pie filling? Theresa stepped out on faith and found out just how sweet it is being your own boss!

DF: What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

Theresa: I am a Womanpreneur and founder of BeeLoved, LLC, known as the honey bakery and swee-tea cafe. I thrived during a pandemic with a God-given vision. In a short amount of time, she has accomplished so much like running a small business. Although I come from humble beginnings, I never let my circumstances slow me down. It only motivated me and encouraged me to strive for more. I’m working towards my business becoming a global franchise and a household name. I believe her hard work and diligence will push me to become a mentor in the business sector as well. I turned my last $201.49 into a family-owned business.

What inspired me to become an entrepreneur was identifying a need and constantly innovating. By recognizing that I can incorporate organic eatable flowers, spices, and fruits into honey that taste like pie filling without using sugar is Ahhh-Mazing. It’s an honor to be a part of the few businesses who were able to tap into an underserved honey market.

DF: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start a business?

Theresa: My No. 1 piece of advice to other entrepreneurs is to go after your vision and dreams instead of just thinking about them. I recommend starting with something small, write the vision and make it plain, make a to-do list or an inspiration board. God’s Word directs us to think and plan. The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). Putting your vision or dreams down on paper is the first step toward making them a reality.

I’m someone who always has more ideas than I have time for, so I think that is part of my creative brain which is always at work. I think it’s important to pursue things you enjoy, be an inspiration for others in the field you are in and are good at, but also you have to look for whether there is a need. I believe I found a niche in BeeLoved, the specialty honey business and I decided to take advantage of it. I also enjoy being my own boss and being as creative as I want. I didn’t stop there either; I found more ways to diversify my business, including making fresh jam, syrup, pet paw and nose healing balm infused with honey (safe for licking), basic candles, and creative tea product line.

DF: If you could have lunch with anyone present or past, who would it be and why?

Theresa: If I could have lunch with anyone, it would be Ashley Rouse, Founder and CEO of Trade Street Jam Co., a jam kitchen based in Brooklyn, NY. Her story inspired me as a woman and black-owned business and a trained chef who loves to be innovative with flavors.

DF: Tell me about one challenge and what you did to overcome it?

Theresa: One challenge I had in the first few months was to establish a solid online presence. It’s not enough to rely on wordof-mouth and the quality of my honey products to get new customers, as amazing as it may be. Instead, things like social media accounts and websites are crucial. Maintaining my social media and web presence can feel like a little challenging at times but there are countless online tools that help me save time and focus on what’s important -- the actual business.

I like how she transformed raw fruits into something totally different while maintaining their essential taste. I find most jams too sweet; but like Ashley Rouse, I like to work with the essence of the produce itself and maintain the pureness of honey and mix fruits with other organic ingredients. What I like about how Ashley Rouse prepares her jams is that she really pulls out the complexity of a variety, whether it’s the plum rose jam, smoked 17

peach, or blueberry jam, and let its uniqueness, natural subtleties and bright flavors shine.

one-of-a-kind engagement, healthy brunch and health and wellness resources.

I would like to glean from Ashley Rouse in both her chef capacity and as a business owner.

DF: What does it mean to be Church Girl CEO? Theresa: Being a Church Girl CEO is to glorify God. My heart rests in being a help to humanity whether in work, word, scribe or deed; it's all unto the glory of God.

DF: Do you have any upcoming events and how can our readers contact you for more information?

For additional information follow BeeLoved on Instagram @BeeLovedNYC or visit us at www.bee-loved.us to check out the various honey and tea product lines and keep an eye out for what new honey and tea products may be added next.

Theresa: BeeLoved, LLC and World Wide Hugs, Inc., is diligently working on community-based events for the entire family throughout New York City, as God expands our territory. We offer 18

What’s In Your Car? Items to Never Leave Home Without!

By Tracy Shorter Across the country, millions of people hit the roads to travel every day. The reason for these trips range from fun and exciting adventures to another city or the everyday trips to work and social events. Preparing for every car experience can save you time, money, and frustrations. Today, I would like to share with you seven (7) necessary items that will make the everyday car experience enjoyable.

1.

Smartphone- We all have them and spending too much time on them can be a distraction. However, a smartphone serves many purposes when traveling. The ability to call for help in the event of accident or emergency keeps you from looking for the dreaded not-so-easy to find payphone. Plus, smartphones today have maps and GPS features that are handy when traveling to unfamiliar places.

for a small cooler with ice and bottles of water.

6.

Tissues/Wet Wipes- these come in handy in the event of runny noses or messy hands. Another plus -- if you must make a bathroom stop, tissue can be valuable to carry along as this has been known to be missing in some cases.

2.

Phone Charger and Mount- The smartphone can only be used if it has significant power, and this power is limited without a phone charger. Now, for many years I would take my home charger with me as I traveled, but this is the best way to wear out the cord, lose it, or simply forget to bring it along when you leave home.

Having a designated car charger eliminates this and keeps your phone charged and ready to go. If you have multiple people traveling in your vehicle, but sure to opt for a power cord that can charge multiple devices at the same time. The car mount importance is that it is a safer way to view your phone when engaging the maps or phone call feature. Whenever you engage with your phone, it should be through a hands-free method.

7.

Umbrella- Weather can be unpredictable and when a passing rain shower occurs, you will be happy that you add this little buddy to your vehicle. There are many options in umbrellas; my suggestion is to put a small travel size option under the seat of your car.

Bonus tip: Paperwork- Be sure you have all state required paperwork in the glove compartment. This includes car registration, insurance cards, and the vehicle handbook. Traveling without these documents could result in fines and unnecessary questions. Plus, our vehicle handbook provides those ABC answers to questions that we may have about the vehicle.

3.

Small Trash Can- Telling your kids to keep their room clean but allowing the car to be a hot mess sends mixed messages.

Having an actual small trash can in the car may not be feasible due to limited space, so the next best thing and most economical is to carry small trash bags in the car. As you travel for the day, you can place all trash in the bag and dispose of the bag at the end of the day or at your next fuel stop.

If you are interested in additional travel tips or want to share the necessary items you must have in the car, then join our private Facebook group called Adventures with Shorter Route Travel. I look forward to connecting with you.

4.

Snacks- Pre-purchasing car snacks will save you time and money; it can also keep you focused on making healthier choices.

Some great car snacks are protein bars, peanut butter crackers, popcorn, nuts or fruit.

Contact Information: Tracy Shorter Shorter Route Travel Phone: 205.329.4117 Email: tracy@shorterroutetravel.net Facebook: @adventureswithshorterroutetravel

5.

Water Bottle vs. Bottles of water- Using a water bottle is a great way to stay hydrated and better for the planet. A good water bottle can keep drinks cooler for hours, reducing the need 19

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