DECEMBER 2011
Click here to view past publications online
‘Eat Good’ with Kingston Kitchen p.11
Join our group on Facebook
Click here to follow us on Twitter
Clothes Encounter p. 5
Top Holiday Makeup Looks p.7 Board Level and Beyond p.9
Editor’s Note
Christmas is a time of joy and giving, a time for family and friends to get together and celebrate not only the birth of Christ, but the spirit of love. Of course, it also involves a lot of eating, and you can kick off your feast at Kingston Kitchen on Sunday, December 18. Here we bring you the story of how this novel idea was born with the founders Jacqui Sinclair, Leisha Wong and Melanie Miller. We have some traditional Jamaican recipes for you to try as well, but just in case you’re tempted to overdo it, we have a guide to eating healthy during the holiday season. And what would Christmas be without parties and get-togethers? Check out some hot fashions from the KERRY manwomanhome ‘Clothes Encounter’ for inspiration and our top makeup looks for the season. We also marked World AIDS Day on December1, and Your Style encourages all women – and men – to get tested, know your status and stay HIV-free. Happy Holidays from the Your Style team to you and yours!
Live. Love. Laugh a Lot.
Quote of The Week
“Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
Free, Not Single This Christmas p.16 Great Gift Ideas for Adults p.17 Kid ‘N’ Play JA’s Holiday Gift Guide p.18 Christmas Recipes p. 21 Eat Well and Be Good: How to NOT Overdo It at the Dinner Table this Holiday Season p. 22 Do Something to Prevent HIV p. 23 I Should’ve Known Better p. 24 On the Pulse: News and Culture p.25 Conversation Piece p.26 Postcard From... France p.27
Calvin Coolidge 3
Fashion
Clothes Encounter Kerry-Ann Clarke, owner of Kerry manwomanhome, is flanked by designers Meghan Fabulous (left) and Korto Momolu (right).
K
ingston’s fashionistas came out in droves for a trunk show dubbed A Clothes Encounter: The Ultimate Shopping Experience at Kerry manwomanhome, featuring Project Runway alum Korto Momolu and Los Angeles favourite, Meghan Fabulous. The designers brought racks of gorgeous, funky clothes and lots of accessories to entice the women who poured into the store throughout the day. The already stylish boutique was further beautified by stunning floral arrangements by Tai Flora, but the main attractions were the designers’ wares. Korto Momolu is known for her bold, eye-catching designs, perfect for the woman who loves being the centre of attention. The Liberian native showed a range of dresses, from flowing, colourful wraps to curve-hugging, sparkly LBDs. Standout pieces included champagne column dresses perfect for pairing with her funky, handcrafted statement jewellery and a printed wrap dress just right for a day at the beach or dressed up for a night on the town with leggings and killer heels. Korto also displayed her line of genuine leather bags, scented candles and personalised stationery – great gift ideas for the holiday season. “I’ve done everything but shoes, but I’m working on that. I’m trying to find the right people to work with,” she shared.
Korto Momolu shows off items from her jewellery collection.
Tiffany Edwards displays her ‘Swizz Beads’ jewellery line
Meghan Fabulous shows off her colourful dresses.
Los Angeles native Meghan Fabulous showed a range of items from her eclectic fall/winter line. Pieces ranged from resort wear to evening dresses, just in time for the Christmas party season. Dresses and tops featured bold colours, prints and lots of embellishments. “My pieces are for the modern woman who is sexy and confident. This is my third time showing in Jamaica, so I have some experience with what they like,” Meghan said. She also showed items from her jewellery line, including chunky cocktail rings and religion-inspired necklaces. Also on show was Swizz Beads, a line of bead jewellery – bracelets and rosaries – by Tiffany Evans, known for Jawels, her collection of bedazzled dental ‘grills’. The line, launched three months ago, features semi-precious stones like amethyst and tiger’s eye, which are noted for their healing properties. “I show here at Kerry manwomanhome and at hotels like Half Moon and Jamaica Inn,” Tiffany said. “The line has been well-received. The colours are very popular.”
Ivy DaShield rom ‘Team Korto’ wears one of the designer’s signature wrap dresses.
www.ezineslimited.com
Your Style eZine
5
Fashion
www.ezineslimited.com
Your Style eZine
6
Beauty
top I
Holiday Makeup Looks
t’s the holiday season and that means lots of events to attend, from the office party to outings with friends to Christmas dinner and of course, New Year’s Eve affairs. Put your best face forward with these:
Tarte Emphas-Eyes Amazonian Clay
NARS Arabian Nights Trio Eyeshadow
MAC Perpetual Flame
Revlon Orange Flip
Mirabella UltraShine Lip Gloss BOLD LIPS Forget the nude gloss – evenings call for bold, bright lips, so break out the sheer reds, pinks and berries. For extra wattage, Wende Zomnir, founder of Urban Decay, suggests layering gloss over lipstick. “It’s very sensual, and beautiful, and instantly dresses your look up.”
Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Liners BRIGHT EYES Colours are big this season, so if you’re looking for a change from the smoky eye, experiment with bright, highly-pigmented, cream shadows. A tip: Dot on the center of your eyelid and blend outwards and up into the crease. It can be tricky to do bright lips and eyes, but try a coordinating shadow and liner, or just swipe a bold neon eyeliner.
LASH OUT Up the glam factor with individual lashes or a full strip cut into quarters or halves, says Zormir.. “You can keep your regular makeup on but add some va-voom with the lashes,” says Wende. That, plus a swipe of lipstick, is “a good way to go from office to corporate cocktail party.”
Shu Uemura Dazzling Black Diamante Fantasy Eyelashes
Sephora Individual False Eyelashes www.ezineslimited.com
Your Style eZine
7
Beauty
Clinique Blush – Pronto Pink
Clarins Passion Face Palette
Milani Baked Metallic Eyeshadow: Fusion
L’Oréal Metallic Eyeshadow Duo: Gilded
NARS Bronzing Powder: Casino
PRECIOUS METALS Make your eyes pop with glittery metallic shadows in gold, silver and bronze. Celebrity makeup trick: use a combo of gold and silver in the inner corners of your eyes to make eyes appear larger.
NAIL IT While bright and bold are the buzzwords for lips and eyes this season, nail colours are decidedly understated – earthy blues and greens, taupes, nudes and ombre styles are all the rage. Of course, reds are never out of style and, on the bright side, orangey reds put a modern spin on the old classic.
GET CHEEKY When it comes to blush, pink is the hot colour du jure. There is a hue to fit everyone, from bright pinks for light skin tones to russets for darker tones. If pink is not your thing, you can’t go wrong with bronzer – coppery tones for darker skin, more peachy hues for lighter skin tones.
OPI Nail Lacquer in San-Tantonio Essie nail polish in Clambake
www.ezineslimited.com
Your Style eZine
8
Career
Board LeveL and
Beyond
A
s we wind down 2011 and begin making plans for the new year, many of us will also be evaluating our careers: Did we achieve all we had set out to do at the beginning of this year? Are we on track for bigger opportunities in 2012, perhaps even the chance to join the company’s board of directors? Last week, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Joseph Matalon, called for a more meaningful role in corporate governance for Jamaica’s women. In March this year, Matalon challenged the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) to add gender to its reporting requirements for listed companies, both on the main and the junior exchanges. He cited research undertaken by the Women’s Resource Outreach Centre (WROC) in 2007, which showed that while Jamaican women have made significant strides in educational and professional development, their participation on boards had only risen by two per cent on private sector boards between 1998 and 2007, compared to four per cent on public sector boards. Matalon called these statistics “shocking”, noting that Jamaica’s women have more than distinguished themselves in educational and professional achievements and many have built the kind of reputation that should automatically qualify them for board membership. However, he added: “...like other women around the world, they remain at a competitive disadvantage with men because those of us men who are making board appointments, tend to look at candidates within our own personal and professional networks.” Herein lies the issue – women have not yet mastered the art of creating a solid business network.
www.ezineslimited.com
As we have shared on previous occasions, it is not enough to be qualified for the position you want to attain. Sometimes it’s not only what you know or what you can do, but who knows you and knows your skills and abilities that can help you get a rung higher on the corporate ladder. Being appointed to the board of directors for a company is a major step, which often comes closer to the end of one’s career. This means that over the years, you would have had to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities, problem solving skills, expertise in your area as well as a sound understanding of how businesses work – and make contacts with the right people. Whether you are at the beginning of your career or have attained several years’ worth of experience, you should lay the foundation that will make you a bankable choice for board membership:
Network:
It cannot be overstated – get to know other players in your profession and parallel occupations, especially those in positions above you. More importantly, get them to know you and your skills and talents.
Be a leader in your field: Whether you’re an accountant, marketer or human resource officer, always strive to be the go-to person in your department. You might not be in a supervisory or managerial position just yet, but you should always demonstrate leadership qualities like proactivity and selfmotivation, and let your work stand out. Build from the ground up: Identify opportunities to join the boards of charitable foundations, community organisations or schools. Many schools and smaller organisations are in need of quality leadership, and you will benefit by developing the capacity necessary to be part of a company’s board of directors in the future.
Your Style eZine
9
Cover Story
Eat Good ‘
with
A
’
kingston kitchen
ny cook worth her salt will tell you that the secret to creating the perfect dish is having the right ingredients in precise balance, with a dash of creativity and flair – and careful preparation, of course. When the dish includes the combined expertise of Le Cordon Bleu-trained former diplomat Jacqui ‘Juicy Chef ’ Sinclair, event planning maven Melanie Miller and food writer Leisha Wong, it is bound to be delicious.
by Tracey-Ann Wisdom Photographs by Warren Buckle
The ‘Kitchenettes’: (l-r) Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and former diplomat Jacqui Sinclair, event planning maven Melanie Miller and food writer Leisha Wong
Cover Story
“
A lot of Jamaicans don’t realise there are small batch producers who create such amazing food items, such as chutneys, jams, sausages, cheeses.
The three friends came together in August to concoct Kingston Kitchen, a food market with a difference. “I had read something in the New York Times about outdoor food markets and I said to Jacqui that’s fantastic. Why can’t we do something like this here? So we said, yeah, let’s really do it. We met and we just kind of brainstormed that day and Kingston Kitchen was born. We had the food part covered but we wouldn’t have a clue how to actually put the event together, so we called [Melanie],” Wong explained. Jamaicans know their markets, from the historic ‘Corrie’ in the heart of Downtown Kingston to the Linstead Market of folksong fame. Many a Saturday has been spent bargaining over ground provisions, vegetables, seasonings and meats. These things are now available in supermarkets, but nothing quite equates to that market tradition. Sinclair, Miller and Wong, who have playfully dubbed themselves the ‘Kitchenettes’, are putting a fresh, new spin on this tradition, creating a space for local small batch food producers to reach a wider customer base. “Kingston Kitchen encompasses [both] the food aspect and the local aspect. That’s very important. A lot of Jamaicans don’t realise there are small batch producers who create such amazing food items, such as chutneys, jams, sausages, cheeses,” Sinclair stated. “A lot of people don’t know that we have www.ezineslimited.com
”
real artisanal cheeses here. They see the foreign stuff in the supermarket but our goat’s cheese is amazing, for example.” Kingston Kitchen is the perfect combination of the three Kitchenettes’ talents: Sinclair is the Cordon Bleu-certified ‘Juicy Chef ’, food stylist, writer and recipe developer; Wong is a journalist who has spent the last five years writing about food, first for the Jamaica Observer, then as editor of Skywritings magazine and now as a freelancer, contributing to Maco and Kuya magazines; Miller is an event producer, interior designer and stylist who has been involved with the South Beach Food Festival since 2001. Sinclair and Wong are both British – Jamaican while Miller, who graduated from Florida International University, is Jamaican “born and raised.” With their backgrounds, the women bring a cosmopolitan edge to the local scene. “Typically on a Sunday, there’s nothing to do. Leisha and I are coming from a picnic culture in the UK. We’re very green park-oriented, but it was bloody cold. So when you can have that nice weather and be in the grass, it was such a big thing for us,” Sinclair pointed out. “We wanted to bring to Jamaica a taste of what we’ve enjoyed and grown up with overseas and we’re like, why can’t we do this in Jamaica? We have the perfect weather, perfect island and we thought Hope Gardens has been underutilised and this is the perfect place; it’s accessible to everyone, so it speaks for itself.” Your Style eZine 12
Cover Story
Added Miller: “There are a lot of Jamaicans who will see a certain type of restaurant and just be intimidated, like, ‘I wouldn’t go there. I can’t afford it.’ So we’re trying to have people come here and give everybody a positive experience without being in a restaurant. Just taste the food and give the producers a chance to get more customers, get the average person who wouldn’t come to the restaurant.” Kingston Kitchen will be divided into two main sections: the emporium, where the small batch producers will display and sell their products and an outdoor food court, where larger institutions and chefs who will prepare and sell food. “It’s a traditional walk-through market kind of feel,” Wong explained. Another component of Kingston Kitchen will be a food bank to assist residents of nearby communities and children’s homes. “I think we’re from a culture where we have so many things coming out of the ground that people don’t have access to, not everyone,” said Miller. “We eat well, so we want to give everybody the opportunity to eat well. What we’re trying to do is see if our visitors will, on a certain day, contribute something. We’re going to have a day where we just go to a certain area and have a day out just feeding [people], whether it’s a soup kitchen or canned goods. That’s our way of giving back.” The name aside, Kingston Kitchen will not only be about food. The women want to create a fun-filled atmosphere for families to come out and enjoy themselves together. There will be activities for children, who will have acres of space to run and play, plus live music and entertainment. Patrons can also get www.ezineslimited.com
copies of Kingston Kitchen Magazine, which will be distributed free of cost. “The magazine really is just about what’s going on in Jamaica food-wise. It will have recipes and stuff, ideas on hosting and entertaining,” Sinclair said. “We’re going to speak to some of Jamaica’s food bloggers. There are so many food bloggers and I don’t think they are out there enough, so we’re going to have a promotion with them about what’s going on in the Jamaican food industry.” As members of the team behind the Jamaica Observer Food Awards, the Kitchenettes have all played a part in helping to expand the local industry. “There are a lot more options now, a lot more choices than when I moved back five years ago,” Wong stated. “There are a lot of different foods, fairs and festivals. Food is getting there, getting the prominence it deserves, especially in Jamaica. Jamaica’s food heritage is so strong and really worth being highlighted.” Your Style eZine 13
Cover Story “I remember when I started [my column] four years ago, people were like, ‘Where are the rice and peas recipes?’ ‘Where’s the jerk chicken?’” Sinclair added. “I’d respond, ‘You guys don’t understand how lucky you are [with] the fruits and the vegetables here.’ When I lived in Paris, one mango would be five euros. That’s five hundred dollars. And it was like stringy mangoes. When I came here, I was like a kid in a candy store! I think now, people are [getting it]. When I started, I would get the odd email; now… I average over 200 a week. And I thank the Food Network and the Cooking Channel, people are really into those shows, so they want that same thing here, so the creativity factor has just gone upwards.” “Now instead of just pork chops, it’s pork chops with sautéed june plum and then you go somewhere else and you have tamarind chicken whatever, so they’re taking what we have and ‘tunning it up’, and that’s good,” Miller chimed in. As the local food industry continues to open up, Sinclair, Miller and Wong envision the day when Jamaican dishes will be mentioned in the same breath as French, Italian and Chinese as ‘world cuisine’. “We’ve created something unique based on
our cultural mix and our colonial heritage and all the people that came here. I mean, ackee and saltfish, that is very Jamaican. Even oxtails, something people used to throw away, we created a great stew from that. You know how much for oxtail now in a top restaurant abroad?” Sinclair noted. “And you see Savoy magazine doing a feature on Jamaican food. You also have international chefs coming or you can see them borrowing from Jamaican techniques, and you see nice Jamaican restaurants opening in London – dine in, because Leisha can tell you, it used to be just takeout. Now you can sit down, fine dining.” Although the event is named Kingston Kitchen, it will not be limited to the capital city – the ladies are planning to take the event to Montego Bay and Mandeville as well. “It’s a culinary lifestyle brand. I want it to be like a landmark in Jamaica’s entertainment scene as well. It’s for everybody,” Jacqui explained. “I want when people see Kingston Kitchen, it’s this inclusivity, everybody is welcome to eat good food and everybody is comfortable and I want people to experiment, that’s what this is about. Be proud of what’s out there. It’s from your own people. Our logo is a dutch pot, so you can see we’re very, very proud of our Jamaican roots.”
Scenes from the Kingston Kitchen media launch at the Spanish Court Hotel on December 8.
www.ezineslimited.com
Your Style eZine 14
Relationships
Free, Not Single THIS CHRISTMAS
you are free to plan it exactly the way you want without taking into consideration another person’s expectations for the year. You are in charge! Don’t allow your family members and friends to ‘pressure’ you with the idea that you’re alone and it’s time that you find someone to share your life with. There is nothing worse than rushing into a relationship you don’t want simply because you feel pressured. Take your time. There are so many different demands during the Christmas season, but look at your free status as an opportunity to do exactly what you want, when you want and how you want.
S
top right there. Don’t even think about it. Start cancelling the invitations to the pity party and step away from the Kleenex! So what if it’s Christmas and you don’t have a significant other to ‘share’ it with? How about spending it with yourself ? Aren’t you more significant than any other? This Christmas, think about the fact that you are ‘free’ and not single. Single means you are currently not in a romantic relationship, but is usually associated with words such as lonely, alone and companionless. Free, on the other hand, provides a more positive spin, because people who consider themselves free aren’t necessarily lonely. They are perfectly OK with their status and use that freedom to do things that bring enjoyment to them. Christmastime is no different. It’s a season for family, but it also a time to do some personal introspection and decide on how you want to move into the New Year. What’s exciting is that
www.ezineslimited.com
Think about it like this. When you’re free you don’t have to force yourself to attend awkward family dinners. If you were in a relationship, the holidays would probably include either meeting his family for the first time, or splitting the time between his and yours. There’s nothing wrong with that, but free people don’t have to endure that extra stress and awkwardness. You are free to decide to have dinner with your family, or make your own Christmas feast. It’s entirely up to you. You can even decide to spend the holiday in another country or sleep in late on Christmas day. It’s also a time for parties, and since you don’t need a date to have a good time, call up your other free friends and have a blast celebrating you and the freedom to do exactly what you want. If you’re free, and especially if you don’t have kids, you have a wealth of options open to you. This is the time to do exactly what you want. Spend on yourself, treat yourself and love yourself. The Christmas season is usually a very busy time, but it doesn’t have to be too time-consuming if you plan it right. Ensure that during the break from work, you put aside some time for yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but the true quality of a free person is learning to spend time loving and appreciating your own company.
Your Style eZine
16
Family
Great Gift Ideas for Adults Men
CITIZEN ECO-DRIVE WATCH Classic and stylish, the Citizen Eco-Drive Stiletto is also environmentally friendly, fuelled by any light source.
STANLEY TOOL KIT Stanley is the benchmark in hand tools, so give your Sir Fix-a-Lot the ultimate gift.
COLOGNE As debonair and timeless as the classic tuxedo, Black by Kenneth Cole is the perfect gift to bring out his inner James Bond.
Women
SPA GIFT CERTIFICATE The perfect gift doesn’t have to be something tangible. How about some pampering and relaxation at her favourite spa?
www.ezineslimited.com
SPORTS JERSEY The NBA season is back on Christmas day and if that wasn’t a big enough gift, why not get him his favourite player’s jersey as well? And if basketball is not his thing, the NFL and EUFA leagues are in full swing.
JEWELLERY Give your favourite girl a little ‘bling’ to rival the sparkle of the Christmas lights – or just to light up her eyes..
PERFUME Spice up your holiday party outfits with Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue, the perfect balance between casual and formal, youthful and sophisticated – or make it your signature scent.
SHOES Women and shoes have a special, almost indefinable relationship, and you can never go wrong with Tory Burch ballet flats. The metallic hue is perfect for the holiday season.
Your Style eZine
17
Family
kid ‘n’ pLay Ja’s
Holiday Gift Guide
Making your list and checking it twice? Need a little help finding your way through the overwhelming number of toys available? We’ve done the ‘heavy-lifting’, scoured the ‘top toys’ lists, checked the reviews, done our own kids-tests and have come up with a great list of engaging and fun toys your kids will be happy to see under the tree come Christmas morning.
INFANT - 2 YEARS PLAYSKOOL POPPIN’ PARK ELEFUN BUSY BALL POPPER This toy offers 10 fun tunes for children to listen and dance to while the blue elephant blows balls out of his trunk. You never know where the balls are going to go. Play is exciting, engaging and, most of all, fun! Great colours and the popping balls help with hand-eye coordination and manual motor skills. Elefun’s baby-friendly design also encourages young children to reach, grab, and crawl. PICTURE BOOKS A Book for Baby and Trixie Triangle. From Jamaican children’s author Kellie Magnus and illustrator Michael Robinson, these thick cardboard books are perfect for little hands to grasp and enjoy. The bright colours and rhyming stories keep young children stimulated and engaged. A Book for Baby and Trixie Triangle will form the Ministry of Education’s Book Start Jamaica Programme.
www.ezineslimited.com
2-4 YEARS LET’S ROCK ELMO (3+) He is back and he is rockin’ with six songs and a microphone, tambourine and drums. The adorable plush character sings and plays instruments and allows kids to play and sing with him. The toy becomes interactive when kids pick up the instruments. As they play these instruments, Elmo recognizes the songs and sings or plays along. LEAPPAD EXPLORER LEARNING TABLET (4+) Technology is reaching out to young learners with this tablet especially designed for young children 4-9 years old. It features over 100 learning games to help develop their creative side with a built-in camera and video recorder, and then share it with the world. It offers downloadable apps that encourage reading, fun, and creativity. It has a touch screen for easy access as well as elements that come to life when the tablet is shaken to create motion based fun. Your Style eZine
18
Family
5-7 YEARS BEYBLADE METAL FUSION (5+) BeyBlades are the Y2K version of spinning tops with a little more technology than we knew. They can all be customized with different performance tips, and attack modes to make them unique. They are pitted against each other and the last one spinning in the ring is the winner. If you are looking to get your kids off the video games for a while, these high action tops can produce a lot of indoor fun.
10+ YEARS KINECT SPORTS If you have an XBox Kinect, then don’t overlook this title. Bowling, Football, Track and Field, Boxing, Volleyball and Table Tennis games for the XBox Kinect. These superb videogaming sports games will entertain (and exercise) players for hours.
SPOT IT! (6+) There is always one, and only one, matching symbol between ANY 2 CARDS in this game. Spot it and you win! Spot it! develops visual perception and matching skills. It supports quick mental processing and sharpens cognitive skills in a fun atmosphere.
SNAP CIRCUITS Give your child an exciting, hands-on introduction to electronics with Elenco Electronics Snap Circuits. This kit contains real circuit components that snap together to create working electronic circuits and devices. This set offers do-it-yourself projects that will give your child an entertaining, concrete education on how electronics work.
7-10 YEARS RORY STORY CUBES (8+) Get unplugged from all of your electrical gadgets for a while. This game reinforces creativity and imagination, artistic expression, and language and vocabulary development. Just roll the dice and let the pictures spark your imagination and start spinning a tale. NINTENDO 3DS (8+) Technology and entertainment are at their best with the newest Nintendo hand held system. Download music, movies and games for hours of fun. It is equipped with cuttingedge hardware that lets you see and do things like you have never been able to do before. No special glasses are needed to get the 3D effects and application downloads are easy and free. (Not recommended for children under 8 years old because of the effects of the 3D on the eyes.)
www.ezineslimited.com
Renee Lindo is the owner of Kid ‘N’ Play JA, the go-to location for “everything kids” in Jamaica. Renee recently launched an on-line toy store, Kid N Play JA Toy Box specializing in fun, educational and engaging toys. Facebook and Twitter Your Style eZine
19
Food
Contributed by Shari Vanhorne
Christmas Recipes
christmas Fruit cake 8 oz. butter 8 oz. sugar 2 tablespoon browning (or caramelized sugar) 6 oz. or 1.5 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice 1 teaspoon vanilla Finely grated rind of 1 lime/ lemon 4 eggs 1 cup wine 1 lb raisins 4 oz. mixed peel 4 oz. cherries 1/2 lb prunes (chopped) t Soak fruits in wine for at least 3 weeks, or boil them in the wine. t Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour round cake pan. t Cream butter, sugar and browning. t Beat eggs and wine together. Add egg mixture to creamed butter mixture and blend well. t Strain and add fruits. Gradually mix dry ingredients to batter and fold together. t Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
country ham with sorreL gLaze 6 pounds bone-in ham 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup honey 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/2 cup of sorrel juice t Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. t Place ham on a rack in a foil-lined roasting pan. Bake rounded side up for one hour. t In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix all ingredients together. Stir until it forms a nice thick glaze. t Rub on half of the glaze and bake for 30 minutes more. Flip the ham over and rub on remaining glaze and bake for 1 hour more. Remove from oven and allow the ham to rest for at least 30 minutes before serving.
1 pound sorrel 1/2 cup ginger 2 quarts water sugar wine (optional) 8-12 pimento grains t Wash sorrel thoroughly, using the fingers to lift it from the water. t Put into container. t Scrape and wash ginger. Grate and add to the sorrel. Add pimento grains. t Boil water and pour over sorrel. Allow to stand 4-6 hours. Strain. t Sweeten and add rum to taste. Add optional wine. t Serve with ice cubes.
8 egg yolks 8 egg whites 6 tablespoons sugar 1/2 nutmeg, grated 1/3 pint white rum 1 cup brandy 3 pints milk
egg nogg www.ezineslimited.com
sorreL
t Take the yolks of eight eggs and six table-spoonsful of pulverized sugar and beat them to the consistency of cream; to this, add half a nutmeg, grated and beat well together, then mix one third of a pint of Jamaican rum and a wine glass of brandy or Madeira wine. t Have ready the whites of the eggs beaten to a stiff froth, and beat them into the above mixture. t When this is done, stir in three pints of milk. No heat is used. Your Style eZine
21
Food
Eat Well and Be Good: how to not overdo it at the dinner taBLe this hoLiday season
moderate activity in to balance out your increased food intake. Make it fun: plan outdoor games and activities with your family and friends.
I
t’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! The temperature has dropped and the ‘Christmas breeze’ has us reaching for our sweaters; the carols and special holiday songs are in heavy rotation on the radio and most of us are already planning our menus for Christmas dinner. Yes, Christmastime is a season of joy and giving – and with all the parties and dinners, complete with calorie-heavy traditional foods, a season of excess. It’s almost impossible not to gain weight during the holidays. Many of us are reunited with family members and friends we haven’t seen in ages and in the warm glow of the season, we let our guards down and feast, convincing ourselves that we will work off the extra pounds in the new year. In fact, getting (back) in shape is at the top of our resolutions list! Nutritionist Donovan Grant of DGs Nutrition and Wellness Centre noted that the feasting usually begins from mid-December and goes up to New Year’s Day. “People tend to put on about three to five pounds during the holiday season – if they really go bad,” he said. But can you avoid overdoing it during the holidays? Yes, you can! “Eat smart. Most of the functions are at specific times – evening parties and night dinners, so reduce your food intake during the course of the day so most of your calories come from the dinner,” Grant said. Here are some other tips: t GET ACTIVE. Just the thought of exercising during Christmastime can give you the blues, but you should definitely get some www.ezineslimited.com
t DON’T SKIP MEALS. Worried about the calorie-fest that is your grandmother’s Christmas dinner so you’re thinking of skipping lunch? This can actually cause you to overeat. “We don’t advise that. The advice is to eat smaller things, not to leave your stomach empty,” Grant said. If you have an evening or night function to attend, snack on fruits, salads or nuts during the day to keep your stomach happy and your energy up. t DON’T DRINK YOUR CALORIES. Alcoholic beverages, especially fancy cocktails, contain lots of empty calories. “There is also the temptation to drink more – sorrel, which contains a lot of sugar,” Grant said. The sweet treats all around encourages drinking: “You eat a piece of cake and you need something to wash it down with, so you have it with some orange juice.” It might not be ‘sexy’, but water is always your best bet. t COOK HEALTHY. Whether you’re in charge of Christmas dinner or just bringing a dish to the party, consider these tips: t BAKE OR BROIL meats instead of frying. t MAKE MINI-DESSERTS. Christmas fruitcake is a must at any Jamaican holiday dinner, but why not try cupcakes or mini-cupcakes? You still get to indulge your sweet tooth. t SERVE ON SMALLER PLATES. The less food on your plate, the less you eat. t GO GREEN. The fibre in vegetables and fruits helps to keep you full, preventing you from reaching for that extra piece of cake. You can also include vegetarian/vegan dishes for diversity. Your Style eZine
22
World AIDS Day
by Keresa Arnold
Do Something
TO PREVENT HIV
World AIDS Day has come and gone, but what are you doing to increase awareness, reduce stigma and discrimination and decrease the number of infections? UNAIDS estimates that 34 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2010 and 2.7 million people were infected in that year. In Jamaica, an estimated 32,000 persons are living with HIV. The Caribbean is second to Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of prevalence rate, at one per cent, with an estimated 240,000 persons living with HIV. What that means is that based on the population size of countries in the region, the rate of infection is significantly high. Interestingly, 53 per cent of persons living with HIV in the Caribbean are women. According to UNAIDS, unprotected sex between men and women − especially paid sex − is thought to be the main mode of transmission.
W
ould you have sex with someone you know to be HIV positive? That was the gist of a question that someone on my Twitter timeline asked. The responses were quite interesting. Many persons expressed that they wouldn’t because that was akin to deliberately asking to become HIV positive too. It got me thinking. Here we have so many persons saying they wouldn’t have sex with someone they know to be HIV positive, yet there are many who willingly have unprotected sex with individuals whose status they don’t know. Isn’t that also highly risky? Isn’t it better to know than not know?
www.ezineslimited.com
How much do you know about HIV and what are you doing to educate those around you? HIV reduction isn’t the sole responsibility of the government through public education campaigns. It is the responsibility of every citizen to exercise wisdom in the privacy of their bedroom. One way to do this is to educate yourself and your partner about HIV infection and prevention. Do you always demand that your partner use a condom? When was the last time you got an HIV test? What about your partner? There is a lot that you can do. Dedicate your Facebook status once a week to provide HIV-related information to those on your friends list, or share your knowledge in your office among your co-workers, during your get-togethers with friends or mention it during your everyday conversations. You’ll be surprised at the number of persons who don’t have correct information about how HIV is transmitted. HIV doesn’t have to be an epidemic and you can’t tell if someone is living with HIV by simply looking at them. That’s a myth that has contributed to the spread of HIV, which is why so many persons need to be educated. If you haven’t been doing anything that can help to get to zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths, then start doing something now!
Your Style eZine
23
World AIDS Day
by Keresa Arnold
‘I Should Have KNOWN BETTER’
Rose*, a former nurse and caregiver, contracted HIV from her partner in 2000. Here is her story:
I
got a call at work – the Blood Bank asked me to get in touch with them. I had donated blood for someone who was in an accident. I was nervous and started panicking. I had to ask a friend to accompany me. I got HIV from my partner. He wasn’t sick or anything that I knew of, it was just something sudden. At that time, he was away for four months and I had to wait until he came back. It wasn’t something I could tell him over the phone, and it was killing me. When he came home, I told him that same night and told him he had to get a test. He wasn’t angry or upset. He was calm. I was angry with myself because I should have been more careful. I was a nurse, caregiver and counselor. I worked with people living with HV and AIDS. With all of their experiences – being burned out of their homes, stoned, run out of their communities – I just kept it a secret between us. It took years for my family to know. I didn’t tell them because it wouldn’t have been easy for them or for me. It was only when he started to deteriorate and my sister asked me if he was HIV positive and I didn’t answer, so she just assumed. I really wasn’t comfortable discussing it, especially since they were asking me about it and not him. I wanted to maintain his confidentiality. I didn’t want to burden anybody with that. It’s something most persons don’t know how to deal with.
ing. They shunned him and he started to fret and isolate himself. He went and terminated his services at work. It really affected his mind. He begged God to take him because he was suffering too much. I was his only support, but it was like a downhill road. He decided that he wanted to die. People were asking about me as well, but I tried to endure it for his sake. I decided to leave Jamaica. I couldn’t deal with the discrimination anymore. I knew I couldn’t stay there any longer. I was falling apart. I’ve been living overseas now for two months. I’m just staying with some friends now. They are supportive. Discrimination needs to stop, discrimination against people as a whole. I read in the local papers on World AIDS Day about people still being discriminated against and it brought tears to my eyes. This is the 21st century and looking back over the years from when I started working in the field, so many people have been killed, run out of their homes, their families rejected them and it’s still going on at this present time? HIV isn’t something I would want for even my worst enemy. For us to get to zero new infections, zero deaths, we have to stop discriminating and support people. The fear makes so many people not tell their partners. They go underground and that’s how HIV continues to spread. Discrimination needs to stop now, and the homophobia needs to stop as well. I believe in safe sex 100 per cent. Even persons who aren’t HIV positive need to use protection. I preach it to people: know your status, know your partner’s status. That’s the only way we can get to zero.
His mother accused me of killing him. She and some of his other relatives knew. We tried to keep it as quiet as possible, but people in the community found out and started discriminatwww.ezineslimited.com
Your Style eZine
23
News & Culture
by Keresa Arnold
FemaleAchievements in 2011
Tawakul Karman, one of the 2011 Nobel Laureates
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchne
WOMEN RESHAPING GLOBAL POLITICS In Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was re-elected as the country’s president after a landslide victory. De Kirchner focused on human rights violations and made Argentina the first Latin American country to sanction same sex marriages. Not too far away in Brazil, another female president, Dilma Rousseff, has made it a priority to reduce corruption, dismissing five cabinet members and helping to introduce the Freedom to Information Act. In August, 44-year-old Yingluck Shinawatra became the first female prime minister of Thailand. Finland, Costa Rica, Australia, Iceland and Liberia also have female heads of government and Rwanda is the only country in the world that has proportionately more women in parliament. Here in Jamaica, 15 women were among those who sought nomination for Election Day. JAMAICAN IS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF ESSENCE MAGAZINE In March of this year, Jamaican-born Constance White was named editor-in-chief of Essence, the most popular magazine for black women in the US. White has a distinguished 20-year career in the magazine and fashion industries. The Meadowbrook High School alum formerly worked as eBay’s style director, brand consultant and spokesperson and is also the author of Stylenoir, a guidebook about black fashion. OPRAH BECOMES SECOND AFRICANAMERICAN WOMAN TO OWN NETWORK In 2011, Oprah Winfrey cancelled her namesake cable talk show after 25 years and launched out on her OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). She became the second African-American woman to head a network. Winfrey is the network’s chief executive officer, chief creative officer and chairman. In 2011, she was named Forbes’ 14th most powerful woman in the world. THREE WOMEN WIN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Three women recently accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for their www.ezineslimited.com
Thai President Yingluck Shinawatra:
Essence Editor-in-Chief Constance White
work in peacekeeping and speaking out against injustices. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia and Africa’s first democratically-elected female president, Liberian Leymah Gbowee, women’s rights campaigner and Tawakkul Karman, who was significant in the protest movement in Yemen, shared the prize. Notably, Karman became the first Arab woman to win the prize and the youngest peace laureate ever at 32. The Nobel Prize has been awarded 44 times to women between 1901 and 2011.
Culture AT THE MOVIES NEW YEAR’S EVE If you’re a lover of romantic comedies, this is definitely a must-see. The film shows how the lives of several individuals are intertwined over the course of New Years Eve, and features a star-studded cast including Halle Berry, Katherine Heigl, Robert De Niro, Ashton Kutcher and others. NATIONAL PANTOMIME ANANSI AND GOAT HEAD SOUP Keep the Boxing Day tradition of going to pantomime alive and see Anansi and Goat Head Soup. The Little Theatre Movement’s National Pantomime will be celebrating its 70 anniversary with a tribute to theatre legend Ranny Williams. Anansi and Goat Head Soup is written by Barbara Gloudon, directed by Bobby Clarke, and features Ray Jarrett, Faith Bucknor, Doreen King, Cadine Hall and Kevin Halstead in the lead roles. WHERE TO GO FIREWORKS ON THE WATERFRONT There’s nothing like a traditional Jamaican activity to warm the heart, forcing you to appreciate how blessed we are as a country. Featuring live entertainment and explosive fireworks, the event is held on New Year’s Eve and usually sees thousands gathering at the Kingston Harbour waterfront to usher in the new year. Your Style eZine
24
News & Culture
by Keresa Arnold
why do women
Still Get ‘Light’ Portfolios? In many countries across the world, women have been leaders in crucial areas. I’m not saying it should be so in Jamaica simply because that’s the case in other countries, but many a court case has been won on precedence, because it provides an example of something that was successfully done before. Condaleeza Rice is the former Secretary of State in the United States and another woman, Hilary Clinton, now holds that position. Even closer to home, Kamla Persad-Bissessar was elected Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.
Lisa Hanna, Opposition Spokesperson on Youth and Culture
D
During the youth election debate on Saturday, I noticed many persons commenting on Lisa Hanna’s attractiveness. Many said the Member of Parliament for South East St. Ann could get votes solely on her looks. To them, she could be a good replacement for Portia Simpson-Miller as leader of the People’s National Party. Maybe all that was said in jest, I don’t know, but it speaks to a deeper issue and could possibly help to explain why women often get the ‘light’ portfolios in our parliamentary system. For years, women have been proving themselves capable of leading organisations and making important decisions. The affairs of the country should be no different. It is often said that beside every successful man is a good woman calling the shots. Isn’t it time that women move out of the shadow of their male counterparts and be made to hold important positions within our country?
www.ezineslimited.com
Here in Jamaica, we have undoubtedly made some strides that should be acknowledged. Under the Bruce Golding administration, Dorothy Lightbourne was named Minister of Justice and for a short time before that, opposition leader Portia Simpson-Miller acceded to the office of Prime Minister. Also, in the midst of the current election campaigns are a number of women in both major political parties. The question is, will we see a female being named minister of one of the less traditionally ‘female’ ministries and will we get a female Prime Minister? Since independence, no woman has been named Minister of Finance, National Security or Industry and Commerce. In the current cabinet, only two positions are held by women. Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange is the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture and Shahine Robinson was recently appointed Minister of Transport and Works. Is this because of a shortage of women in politics? In recent times, many persons have been calling for greater inclusion of women. In an October article in The Gleaner, Dr. Leith Dunn, a senior lecturer in the Institute of Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies, was noted as saying that women were grossly underrepresented in parliament: women make up 13.3 per cent of the 60-seat Parliament and 11 per cent of the 20-member Cabinet and 14.3 per cent of the 21 seats in the Senate. This is despite the fact that the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) requires that all signatory countries have a minimum 40 per cent of women in the highest legislative council. Will Jamaica ever get to that point? Only time will tell.
Your Style eZine
25
News & Culture
Local Creativity
unearthed this christmas
Clutch by Alia Michele Ready-to-bake items by Nyamist.
Soaps by Ital Blends Wire sculpture by Charl Baker Shoppers at Conversation Piece.
O
ne small room at the Spanish Court Hotel and a carefully curated handful of artists made for a unique shopping event as Conversation Pieces held the first of its quarterly retail events on December 11 and 12. The brainchild of Aiesha Panton of pussbackfoot and Stephanie Campbell of Halfway Tree Roots, Conversation Pieces made sound use of their collective address books and was also well promoted online with its own ‘Look Book’ and via social media. Exhibitors varied from fashion designer Alia Michele Orane to baker Sarah Hsai Hall, aka food blogger Nyamist and photographer Sabriya Simon. “We’ve always loved art and design and we’ve constantly been looking for things that are probing the edge – not just for design but for functionality also. Last year we thought we’d look for
www.ezineslimited.com
people locally and dreamed of having an event where artists could get exposure but also sales, and Christmas was a good time to start,” explained Campbell. She reported good sales and when Your Style visited on Sunday, the team was busy interacting with patrons and bagging purchases. Campbell promised that future events will maintain an integrity of having just a few artists and not having their work crowded out by imported or less unique goods. If you missed the event but are still interested in the featured artists and their work, email the Convsersation Piece team atevents@conversationpiecejm.com or stay in touch via Twitter and Facebook. They also have a website.
Your Style eZine
26
Travel
Contributed by Jodia Grant
postcard from...
France I
studied Spanish and French at the University of the West Indies, Mona and upon completing my BA, I wanted to continue learning French and be immersed in the culture. I’ve lived in three different ‘départments’: Martinique, French Guiana and now Brittany, each being as much a part of France as Paris is, and it’s been a truly enriching cultural experience for me. A little geography/ history lesson: Brittany is the English name for ‘Bretagne’, a former kingdom and now administrative region in the northwest of France. I spent nine months in Martinique and fell in love with that island. I’ve been back since, but only in transit. I spent the better part of the following two years in French Guiana. I went thinking that I could easily travel to the surrounding countries, but I was in for a disappointment. It was either too expensive (via aeroplane) or too far (by road). I landed in Brittany eighteen months ago to work on my Masters in Linguistics and Didactics of Languages. The thing most people don’t know is that I pay one-tenth of what I’d pay in Jamaica. I work part time at the University of Rennes 1 and, until a short while ago, at a business school, and then I was offered a job in a private school. At this very moment, I’m wrapping up and marking papers from all three jobs. Not so much fun, this marking papers business. It’s been a real challenge to balance work and my studies, but I don’t complain because I know how lucky I am to even find one job with the recession still going on and the reduction of the number of teachers in France. The best thing about living in France is summertime and being close enough to visit other countries. You wait all year through the less-than-agreeable weather and when summer comes, it’s ‘la folie’. There is a transformation – people are happier and they travel around a lot. The second best thing is just discovering different things about the culture. The worst thing for me, although a bit cliché, is the weather and being away from my family and friends, having all these great ex-
www.ezineslimited.com
Château de Brest, Brittany
With my favourite French writer, Marguerite Abouet (left), at a book signing.
periences without them. I’d complain some more about the weather, but it’s a part of the package. I love Rennes. I love the open spaces, the medieval architecture and the cinemas, to name a few. But it’s no Jamaica! It’s different, it’s French, but since Christmas is my preferred season and I’ve spent so many Christmases away, I’d come home in a heartbeat if I could. Jamaica has it locked, hands down. Here, City Hall puts up tonnes of Christmas lights on the streets. It’s really nice, but what I want more than anything is to hear Christmas carols blaring from speakers on the street corners. That won’t happen here. It’s quiet and orderly. Rarely do you hear people honking their horns. It’s so ridiculously quiet sometimes. I can’t wait to come back to Jamaica and I’ll be back soon. I need some good food!
Your Style eZine
26
Š 2011 eZines Limited. All Rights Reserved