Me! newsletter fall2015

ME! ME! is a trademark of Hampton Publishing House, LLC. ME! is a newsletter that encourages YOU to be yourself. It is time that you show the world who you really are by being who you were intended to be. Who am I? I’m ME! That’s all I need to be.

Hampton Publishing House, LLC’s focus is to assist authors with publishing material that engages the community and provides knowledge of many societal matters. The company creates material that coincides with real life experiences and gives creative inspiration to those who are motivated by literature; whether it is written, spoken, or visual interpretations of text. It is the hope of the company to increase awareness and maintain open lines of communication by receiving manuscripts that relate to the following areas: friendships, marriage, domestic violence, depression, how-toinformation, social ills, and other subjects that will allow readers to understand the moralities of the subject matter.

Words of a genius “Just Bee Yourself” -Genie from Aladdin

In This Issue

Distributed to over 5,000 readers

i This issue contains information about being living a natural lifestyle though mind, body, spirit, and hair. Start living a naturally good life today.

~ Start making your mark.

Our writers welcome you to experience ME! Newsletter. Write our staff, provide us with your stories, and tell us how you overcame adversity in being who you were intended to be by living in your purpose.

Melica Niccole, Editor-in-Chief Author of All in Together Girls, Poetic Outlets, My Poetic Soul Unleashed, and Dead Wrong

Follow Melica on: @MelicaNiccole (Twitter), Melica Niccole (Google+), Melica Niccole (Instagram)

Rock Your Natural!

Hello ME! Readers This quarterly newsletter will be focused on natural hair and transitioning from a chemical style to a natural one. We will tell you about natural styles you can rock, events we have attended, and display comparative list of transitioning and not transitioning. As for me, I transitioned in 2009. I had always wanted to go natural, but never had the courage to do so. My courage finally came one day when I went cold turkey and stopped getting a perm. It was very challenging at first, especially because I had two textures in my head; one texture took very well to natural products, while the other one did not. This displays some challenges in going natural that will be discussed below. ~The only thing you can do is be you; people will either love it or hate it.

Either way, you are being true to yourself.

So love yourself, appreciate what you have, and transform opinions -Melica Niccole

Rock Your Natural!

Natural Girls Rock!

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Pros and Cons of Transitioning

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Fall 2015 Edition

ME! Natural Girls Rock! (Article found on NaturalGirl2.blogspot.com)

By Melica Niccole Naturalista, Author, Poet, Creative Enthusiast, and Employment and Supported Education Specialist This past July, I had the opportunity to attend the Living No Lye Tour NYC. The event was absolutely amazing. Essence Magazine was there, along with a lot of well-known bloggers and YouTubers. In being a naturalista for over six years now, I was not 100% sure of my hair type. I had tested out different products as some natural books had stated I should do. I expected I was a 4 C based on information I read and comparing my hair to the information on different websites. What I did know was that my hair tended to like some moisturizers, it dried very quickly, and it worked well with some products compared to others. I also knew that Co-washing was definitely for me, especially in the warmer months.

At the event, Audrey Davis-Sivasothy briefly discussed people's hair porosity being either low, high or in the middle. More details about this was presented by Sister Scientist who gave further details. She even showed a simple experiment to determine your hair porosity, which was to soak a piece of your hair in water for about two to four minutes. In some of the characteristics she stated about low porosity hair, I suspected this was my hair type. I tried this experiment at home and found out that I did have low porosity hair. Sister Scientist also discussed finding out how dense your hair was by comparing it to a piece of thread. If your hair is the same thickness of the thread, then you have medium or normal size; however if it is thicker, then you have very thick hair.

MoKnowsHair did her thang when it came to showing the audience a great style they can do on their hair. She talked about three strand twists, which can be a little difficult to do at first, but she seemed to know all the ins and outs about it. I could definitely relate to Mo in being a Midwest gal who had recently moved to a big city (New Jersey). I laughed as she discussed garbage disposals in Midwest because I too was accustomed to them. Maria Antoinette slayed the hair game with her natural clip on hairpieces. She took a very ordinary hair style and turned it into perfection. Both of her subjects' hair looked beautiful.

In having V.I.P status, I was provided with a goodie bag full of things I will definitely use. I also made my rounds to various tables and picked up a couple of things. I will definitely use all my products, which consisted of a microfiber towel, The Science of Black Hair, dietary supplements, curl and styling cocktail, conditioner, earrings, and adjustable hair bands.

Click picture to check us out on Essence.com

Pros and Cons of Transitioning Below you will find our pros and cons list of going natural. Going natural is definitely not easy. We thought we would provide you with the positive and negative things associated with going natural. This way you can decided whether or not it is for you.

Pros Natural hair Meet up Day Living No Lye Tour: NYC (List continued on the next page)

Silk and satin pillows Global epidemic in natural hair care Hampton Publishing House, LLC Š 2015 5

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Fall 2015 Edition

ME! Natural hair swag Videos to assist you on your journey No more lye on your hair

Decrease use of heat on your hair Hair grows faster Features in magazines and blogs

Cons Two different textures Hair does not cooperate No more small tooth combs Hair takes longer to do Uncute stage

Getting ready takes longer Bad hair days Hair style depends on weather Heat tends to shrivel the hair up in the summer Unfamiliar with how to do natural hair

Addressing Misconceptions about the Hijab (Islamic Head-Scarf)

By Mona Mostafa Employment Specialist and Islamic Instructor I've gotten many different reactions about my Islamic head-scarf from people who don't know what it is or understand it. I've gotten looks of curiosity, stares of fear, or just simply people telling me how "cool" my hijab looks. Occasionally, I get someone who isn't afraid to ask, "What's that thing on your head called?" And then ask me why I wear it. Believe it or not, I actually like when people ask me about it because I'd rather them learn the truth about it then believe whatever the media has to say about it. That's why I decided to write this article. I wanted to address the common misconceptions people have about it and elaborate more on what it is and why women like myself wear it.

So first things first. The correct term for the "headscarf" in Arabic is hijab. The reason why Muslim women wear it is because God asks us in our Holy book (Quran) to cover our hair and our body shapes to be modest in front of the opposite gender. We don't wear it because we're oppressed or because it was forced on us by our father, husband, or brother. Although that may be the case in some families, it is definitely not the norm. As women in Islam, we are obligated to wear the hijab once we hit puberty but generally, the girl decides when she wants to wear it or if she wants to wear it at all. If a girl feels she isn't ready to wear it, she may not do so right away, because it's a commitment and once you wear it, you really shouldn't take it off.

So here's what I mean: When you wear the hijab, you are required to wear it all the time when you're out in public and around men who aren't part of your direct family. Any girl that wears a hijab is allowed to show her hair in front of her father, brother, or uncles because she can't marry them. Once she is married, she also isn't required to wear it in front of her husband. Some people think that once the Muslim woman is married, she can remove her hijab in public, but that isn't the case. She's still required to wear it out, but not in front of her husband or direct family. Some people like to refer to it as "VIP" status for her husband because he gets to see what other men can't.

Modesty isn't just an obligation for women. In Islam, both men and women are required to be modest and to cover parts of the body that could be attractive to the opposite gender. So along with covering our hair, we are to cover our bodies as well as wear clothing that is long and not form-fitting. The hijab keeps us from being valued for our looks or our body shapes and allows us to be valued for our personality, character, morals and intellect. It isn't oppression, its liberation. Wearing the hijab is a choice that we make for ourselves.

When I decided to wear my hijab, it was the summer before my freshman year in high school. My parents were originally ambivalent about it because they thought I was too young and thought I wasn't "ready". I felt that I was ready, so I made the decision to wear it on my own and they supported me with it. Another question I often get about my hijab is whether or not I have to wear it all the time. So at home, in front of my family, I don't wear it. And when I get married, I won't have to wear it in front of my husband. I don't have to wear it in front of women and I don't wear it when I'm at Hampton Publishing House, LLC Š 2015 5 Visit us at HamptonPublishingHouse.com

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Fall 2015 Edition

ME! all girl parties like bridal showers or certain baby showers. I don't sleep or shower with it, nor do I wear the same one every single day (I've gotten those questions too). I have dozens of different colors and patterns that I wear depending on my outfit. Even though we cover the majority of our bodies, generally everything except our hands and face, many hijabi girls are still very fashionable and make their outfit work with it.

I'm not going to say that wearing a hijab is easiest thing in the world because it isn't, but at the same time, I never regret making the decision to wear it. It’s become a part of how I am. It represents my religion, my beliefs, and my morals. I love the concept of modesty and having a man be attracted to you because of your mind instead of your body. I don't feel restricted when I wear it, I feel free. It’s the best decision I have ever made in my life and I couldn't be happier with it.

Crochet with Braids

By T. Ayan Nelson, Employment Specialist and Family Crochet braids are back and right on time. I could not be happier that today's natural and relaxed sisters can utilize this personal favorite look from my youth. Not only is it fairly easy to install but, it is versatile and can give our tresses a break from daily styling. As I pursed social media and saw all of the styles that women were creating using the crochet technique, I couldn't help but take a trip down memory lane of my past crocheted braids. Right before I installed a set of crocheted Senegalese twists in my hair, I briefly pondered whether we were living in some parallel universe that was somehow both twenty years ahead itself and twenty years behind itself. If you pay attention to fashion, you might know exactly what I mean. This industry appears to be very cyclical. I have witnessed styles repeat with high predictability. Of course, design tweaks are added to make it unique to that given period, but strong identifiers remain the same. For Instance, when I was in high school, we were influenced by the seventies and the 2000's were reminiscent of the eighties. It is only natural that we revisit the glorious nineties.

Just a few years ago, "Poetic Justice" and "Brandy" braids re-emerged as a favorite low maintenance hair style predominately worn by black women. Although braids are a favorite style, getting them can be very time consuming.

Installation can take up to an entire day in some cases. Then one day, some angelic being introduced crocheting hair as a time saving measure to getting braids. I remember seeing Brandy Norwood giving an interview, talking about the style and I thought to myself, I have to try it. So I purchased a crochet tool and a few packs of the curly kanekalon hair and with Janet Jackson from the Velvet Rope album as my muse, I crocheted a huge curly fro. It's been almost twenty years since then and I am ecstatic that the style is hot once again.

An appropriate quote describing my sentiments is from Savannah played by Whitney Houston in the movie Waiting to Exhale; “I still look good". A more current quote would be from Nicki Minaj and Beyonce "I'm feeling myself, I'm feeling myself."

If you want to rock crochet styles, consider crocheting them yourself. If you know how to corn row your hair, you may find this style very easy. Check out this YouTube video for instructions.

Knotless Crochet Braids Installation ||

||

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Fall 2015 Edition

ME! All inTogether Girls (Article found on Melicaniccolesrealmofcreativity.blogspot.com)

ADC Kid and Ferry Ave Branch Library Presents Children Book Fun Shop in Camden, New Jersey Earlier this month, Melica Niccole participated in an event developed by ADC Kid and Ferry Ave Branch Library. The event was a Children Book Fun Shop for individuals between the ages of 5 to 12. The fun shop was amazing. ADC Kid is a "company dedicated to the advancement of empowering and enlightening though literacy, fitness, and animation. Much of the company's strategic focus was displayed at the fun shop. The kids danced, listened, sang, drew, and socialized. Teenagers and adults also participated in the event. The children were so full of life and had no worries.

It was a delight working with ADC Kid. Stay tuned for future events with author Melica Niccole.

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1st Best Poet of ME! Newsletter Thanking MrRiza71 for participating in the “Best Poet of ME! Newsletter” contest last year. He retained the title for one year. This edition will feature his last poem as holding the title. Please feel free to follow him, purchase his book, and support his writing efforts. Writing a book is the easy part. Now let’s see if we can continue to support his poetic efforts. Tweet him to find out ways to buy his books.

Handle with Care It was a beautiful day...With a touch of gray I have my headphones on and I'm listening to my morning motivation (Poem continued on next page)

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Fall 2015 Edition

ME! (Poem continued from other page)

A station with unlimited play as I observe a woman walking my way She looked real nice and wasn't doing too much I admired her natural beauty with a hint of blush The scent of her perfume evoked the memories of a crush I had in eighth grade She never knew, but it was my favorite class I had the best seat...next to her in science class The time went fast, now I'm all grown up…

A grown man daydreaming I'm out of this world All from a female that I don't even know I snapped out of my daze to find her observing me The expression on her face was one of hopelessness and regret She reached into her bag and as she did a few words exited her mouth The tears began to saturate her shirt and I wondered why her tears were running from such a beautiful face They dived off her chin looking to take a trip down south Her hand was shaking as she removed it from the bag I observed something black and ripped to pieces It appeared to be held together with duct tape, glue, chewing gum, staples, string, safety pins, and band aids I've decided to give this heart to you A voice told me that you would understand Aren't you the one who is working to restore the integrity of man?

He has broken my heart on several occasions So I'm at the point where I don't care My hair has fallen out and I've lost a lot of weight My desire was for unconditional love.....He wanted to sell weight ....While another wanted to father numerous kids I also had a man who was serving a bid My heart was hid for such a long time Please handle with care as you work with my mess The test I've failed so many times I hope the voice is right and you can restore my heart I'm like a car with no ignition....the scarecrow with no heart I held it in my hand and it looked like a preschool project from when I was small The love you desire won't come from me…You can only get that from the one capable of loving unconditionally I'm all cried out too So I reached into my jacket and handed her a heart that could pose as a twin Love is gentle... love is kind…I'll handle your heart with care, but please consider doing the same with mine Please handle with care (heart surgery in progress)

Looking for the Next “Best Poet of ME! Newsletter” We are looking for the next, “Best Poet of ME! Newsletter.” This is an opportunity for poets to send us your best poem with hopes of being chosen as the winner. In choosing the best poem, the following is being considered: Content, relatability of the material, and poem coincided with material that is featured in ME! Newsletter. If you are interested, tweet Melica Niccole with the hashtag #BestPoetofMENewsletter. The chosen poet will retain Best Poet of ME! Newsletter for one year. You have until December 31, 2015 to respond with your interest in the contest. Much success.

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Fall 2015 Edition

ME! Motivational Videos Eric Thomas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJWIRyUAur8 Focus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jHeqfZO69o Rise and Grind- Greatest Motivational Video

“A” Game? – Eric Thomas (Click video to play)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFGWnqNf6t0 Never Give Up

Ashton Kutchen https://youtu.be/FNXwKGZHmDc Opportunity, Sexy, and Living Life- Advice to Success https://youtu.be/gidGP7NDLX4 Advice on being successful

Powerful Beyond Measure- Lebron (Click video to play)

Motivation Videos https://youtu.be/wq-gba5nMrc Bill Gates’ Top 10 Rules for Success https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiJ7VGkANs4 Claim Your Dream-Denzel Washington

Lebron Discovers the Secret to Success (Click video to play)

https://youtu.be/8GSxOreKXQc Best Motivational Video- Speeches Compilation Long Part 3

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Fall 2015 Edition

ME!

Brooklyn Book Festival

Baltimore Book Festival

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Friday, September 25 – 27, 2015

Collingswood Book Festival

Independent Author Book Expo

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Positivity’s Corner How do we uplift each other, when we are living in a time where it seems to be ok to “Go ham” on people “Just because?”

Every now and then, things are miscommunicated on Google+, taken out of context on Instagram, and overanalyzed on Twitter. Sometimes people are so quick to react or respond to a tweet that they miss the whole concept of the conversation. Well, where there’s a will, there’s a way. We must start by smiling and being kind to one another. We must refrain from judging others just because there are differences or things are misunderstood. We must learn to ask questions to the things we do not know. Respecting each other for our thoughts, actions, and mindset is also a way. We also must learn to listen. We spend some much time talking that we fail to listen to the other person talking. A conversation involves two or more parties. So let’s think before we speak and choose to “Go happy” instead of “ham” on people.

Author Spotlight Shape Up Sisters! by Linda Fondren is a great book that includes her methods of assisting her hometown (Vicksburg, Mississippi) in losing 15,000 lbs in 17 weeks. It is also somewhat of a transformation story of Linda's challenging past, which equates to a prosperous future.

The book is very well thought out from the chapter about "Mother Wit" to the chapters that include healthy recipes, a behavior contract, and pictures of how to complete certain exercises. Some of the great things about the book is how she emphasizes a lifestyle change over dieting. Changing the way you eat is very key in managing your health successfully, especially as you become an older adult. She discusses starting out workout regimens at a slow pace and gradually building your way up to working out for 30 minutes a day, five times a week.

Thank you for supporting ME! Until the next Edition

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Fall 2015 Edition