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DEVOTIONAL 76 BROKEN CRAYONS STILL COLOR Author and Founder of Broken Crayons Still Color, Toni Collier delivers a message of hope and healing beyond brokenness.
ON THE COVER 18 SIMONE I. SMITH:
The word ICON has multiple meanings. In this issue, you will learn why our beautiful cover feature embodies the definition of that word.
MIND, BODY, SPIRIT 54 MANNA FOR THE MIND
Tari Cox, MA - “What Didn’t You Say?” The Omniscience of God and an Unpopular Face of Shame.
FOOD & TRAVEL
58 SPIRIT
60 SHOP, PREP, DINE
Marquita Moore - Year of the Soul A soliloquy on being fully present and aware while allowing the Holy Spirit to awaken you.
Not only do we have a savory dish to share, but you will also learn more about KitchenCray, one of the DMV’s palate pleasing hot spots.
56 QUI 2 HEALTH
62 ADVERTORIAL
Quianna Lashea - Where Do I Start? Our fitness contributor shares how new fitness goals don’t only start in the gym.
Dream Hollywood, superb amenities, delicious food, and the backdrop for this issue’s cover shoot with Simone I. Smith.
68 THE MORNING AFTER
Our team shares their personal experiences with the host hotel, Dream Hollywood.
STYLE & GRACE 70 BEAUTY
LeAnne Dlamini - Our first international contributor from South Africa will bring us beauty tips and tricks all year. But First, Skincare …
72 DESIGN
Tamara Bradshaw - We couldn’t be more thrilled to have expert design pointers from Tamara. This issue, she’s sharing how to Refresh Your Home for the New Year.
74 THRIFTING Ty Harper - If you have seen her
work, you know Ty can make anything picture perfect. This year we’re going to learn how to thrift with one of the best in the game.
64 Romans 8:28
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A SPECIAL CONVERSATION WITH MONYETTA SHAW- CARTER
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The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. MATTHEW 6:9-13
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EDITOR'SLETTER
ear Readers,
I still stand here in amazement, marveling at what God has done with His magazine. At first, I believed He called me to create just a pamphlet, a small leaflet-type of medium. Never have I been so thrilled to be incorrect. We are beginning 2022 with The Iconic Issue and Mrs. Simone I. Smith. The word “Icon” has many definitions, but the one that stands out to me is this: a person or thing that is highly revered. All things are a matter of perspective, right? When I think about what’s Mind Blowing about our cover feature, it’s what lies within her that is so reverenceworthy … her unwavering faith! As you flip through these pages, you'll learn more about how she became who God prepared her to be, and you’ll understand why she reflects such a beautiful representation of an “Iconic Woman.” We also had a conversation with Monyetta Shaw-Carter. The grace in which she moved through life’s challenges led her right to her happily-ever-after. In addition to the powerhouse Women of God already mentioned, God continues to Blow my Mind! He has brought us five women who are on fire for Him and are bringing their gifts to MB Mag to bless you! Please help me welcome Toni Emehel, Marquita Smith, Ty Harper, Tamara Bradshaw, and our first international contributor, LeAnne Dlamini. To round it off, Toni Collier bestows us with a devotion that will bless your soul. As I write this, knowing all that God has done and catching a glimpse of what He’s doing in 2022 already has me filled with so much excitement and expectancy! I pray you are blessed and encouraged as you turn each page and take in the message of love that God has allowed us to prepare for you.
20 BE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL @THEMBMAG
y c a t xo,S
STACY SORRELL-MOORE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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THE GIRLFRIEND'S CORNER
by APRIL DANIELS photography by ROBIN V. styling by JOYCE SHEFFIELD
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CATEGORY
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if...
If you’re anything like me, at the start of a new year I find I want to hit the reset button in areas of my life, tossing old ways from the previous year that wore me down, rebooting many tried and true habits, and grasping onto the possibilities of the new. And if that’s not enough to focus on in the beginning of 2022, I think we all have reached our limit on experiencing the effects of COVID-19: all the traces of uncertainty, new variants, sickness, and untimely loss. As much as I’d like to say “throw away the entire year,” I myself even have to pause in making that statement because God can use it all. Let’s face it: all of us have taken a moment to question out loud, what the heck is going on? From the concern and worry alone, many have derailed from their faith or become comfortable snuggling with doubt as the colder season moves in. So many layers can easily attach itself to us, perhaps tipping the scale to a wavering faith, distant goals, and slept on dreams.
But throwing in the towel at the sight of uncertainty or curling up in a corner to watch your purpose die because the plan took a hard left is never an option. The thing about strength is you don’t know how strong you are until you have to use it, so this exact place is where you use everything you have to cancel out the lies about the power of God’s purpose He placed in you. We don’t get to choose the plan, but we do get to choose to be obedient to the promise. What am I saying? Girl! Get up every day you can, ready for action! Show up daily, even if you have to do it scared because His Word doesn’t return void. Every day I tell myself I have an empire to build, and if it takes me brick by brick to do it, that’s what I will be committed to. It’s a new year and, yeah, maybe things have been altered in some way. But don’t be that one who needs to see proof before you believe He will meet you in the middle of whatever you are experiencing. Even with the setbacks, God will fulfill the purpose He placed in you because He gave it to you. I’m going to keep it a buck. I have some pretty big dreams left in me that I will not give up on, regardless of what my past reflects. Nor am I going to allow the experience to swallow up time and occupy space, making it harder to become the best version of myself. Stay the course and become more intentional with what you choose to believe instead of what the circumstance reflects.
Timely revelations required me to adopt a specific mindset, not to embrace the idea of a vibrant future but to embrace it with expectancy.
But most of us know in those moments of uncertainty and shaky faith that the enemy thrives to get in there and occupy any space that allows him to drive fear and doubt further into the equation, losing any sight of victory and inching up the worry factor. Listen, let me be the first to say with the traumatic loss I experienced in 2019, followed by the past two years, I definitely had moments where I thought I lost it all. Because what was staring back at me was the evidence from reality that pulled the plug on everything I had planned. Yet, at times I was crazy enough to believe that more blessings lay in store for me instead of believing the lies of the devil. However, timely revelations required me to adopt a specific mindset, not only to embrace the idea of a vibrant future but to embrace it with expectancy. You know the times when God decides to stretch you to a new level without notice while, at the same time, you’ve lost your ability to wrap your head around what to do next. It’s an unsettling feeling when the life scenario staring at you doesn’t reflect the type of promise you once knew well, and at that point the enemy feels he has the advantage of robbing you of that same hopeful promise.
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The sweetest revenge on the lies of the enemy is choosing to show up ready! In the times of uncertainty, disappointment, and delay, result to the Word, worship, and surrounding yourself with people who look like where you want to be. Not the things or people who will make you sink deeper into disbelief. The thing about purpose is it doesn’t go away, but I do believe we can take a few unnecessary turns when we aren’t aligned with the Word. But even with that, God loves us so much He can still use it all. So, look chick! Don’t let the clutter, chaos, or disruptions we are experiencing be the bible you read from. You are so valuable to the body of Christ, and that empire I talked about for myself ... girl, He has one for you, too. So, keep building, and I’ll see you at the top!
CATEGORY
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I.Smith
BREATH & BONES
Bossing up in the New Year with wisdom and life-changing revelation from the original “Around the Way Girl.” authored by TONI E. EMEHEL photography by ROBIN V. styling by JOYCE SHEFFIELD
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A CONVERSATION WITH
Monyetta Shaw-Carter: Being Sifted Through the Fingers of Time
MB Magazine would like to bestow its well wishes and heartfelt congratulations to the now Mrs. Monyetta Shaw-Carter and her newly wedded husband, Mr. Heath Carter! The power couple joined in holy matrimony at the Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta, in November 2021. As founder of The Evan Grace Group, Monyetta is an entrepreneur, author, and actress, known for her roles alongside Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac in the movie Soul Men (2008); VH1 Reality Series Atlanta’s Exes; movie thriller Alexander (2020); and upcoming movie release I Wish I Never Met You (2022). To understand the glory behind Monyetta’s story, one would have to understand the relevance of the sifting process that prepared her for this moment. by TONI E. EMEHEL photography in order by JUSTIN CHRISTOPHER JONES, TAVIA WHITLOWE and CHARLTON INIJE 42 MIND BLOWING MAGAZINE
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Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5
CATEGORY
ERICA DIAS ERICA DIAS
NOVEMBER
Erica's Table of 20
Erica Dias created and has hosted this event since 2015. Erica is a Publicist and serial entrepreneur. She is the Founder of The B Firm PR LLC and the author of Faith It Until You Make It, a book full of inspirational quotes that are bound to give you the pick me up you need to inspire you on a daily basis.
ERICA’S TABLE OF 20 is an intimate dining experience for women and men to connect, engage, inspire, and impact. In November, Erica hosted her 41st Table of 20 experience alongside 20 special guests.
THE SELECTED HONOREES shared their experiences, successes, and failures during their journey in pursuit of their dreams.
plus!
Guests exposed their passions, triumphs, and challenges in an effort to motivate, educate, and inspire others to be dreamers that execute.
THANK YOU Erica for allowing us to be a part of this fabulous event! We look forward to another one!
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CATEGORY
g n i n r o The M r Afte
MAIN BAR AREA
EDITOR'S PICKS
The MB Magazine team has been blessed to stay in gorgeous locations for all their cover shoots. Now, it's a tradition to give a review of the properties, the staff, and a full recap of their experience! Maybe your property will be next to Blow their Minds! Welcome to "The Morning After"
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I heard so many amazing things about Dream Hollywood from The MB Mag team before I even stepped foot into this beautiful hotel. I joined the team a couple of days later and I was more than impressed by how they went above and beyond to make special accommodations for each and every one of us. The entire team hit the ground running from the time of check-in and “The Dream Staff,” as I liked to call them, was right there with us, gracefully granting all of our lastminute requests. Yes, this was a business trip,; however, we were still able to find the time to relax and appreciate the lovely amenities while we worked. Whenever I return to the LA area, IN-SUITE BATHROOM I can’t imagine staying anywhere else!
-Stacy
TRAVEL The Dream Hollywood hotel was an awesome space for both personal use and business. The Guest House Suite was immaculate! The versatile interior design allowed my team and I to work efficiently to style Mrs. Simone I. Smith, all while still having ample space to conduct our photoshoot effortlessly. My King suite was cozy and also served as a perfect fitting space for our cover guest as well. I would recommend this beautiful hotel any time.
-Joyce
As a photographer, I thought Dream Hollywood was perfect for me to shoot. There were so many different areas to capture and nothing looked the same. The decor was absolutely amazing! Every shot gave something different from one side of the space to the next. The hallways, the bathrooms, the guest rooms, the way light entered each space, the rooftop … everything was on point. Photographers - this hotel is an experience!
-Robin V.
"How often do you get to exchange your office desk and chair for beautiful outdoor marble bar views, or plush couches in an open-air hotel lobby!”
DINING AREA
Although my stay at Dream Hollywood for this shoot was truly amazing, it was definitely the rooftop that gave me the sunny California vibes. When I wasn’t working, I was being kissed by the sun at the pool or indulging at The Highlight Room even while being on a strict cleanse. I was pleasantly surprised by the chef's ability to create an excellent dish with the three things I was able to eat during that time. Not to mention, my happy ending of sitting in the direct sunlight picking from the most exotic tray of fruit. It’s the little things for me!
-April
Though my time at Dream Hollywood was all work, the environment in which I got to do the majority of my work felt like playtime. Yes, the food was great and the bed was comfy… but how often do you get to exchange your office desk and chair for beautiful outdoor marble bar views, or plush couches in an open-air hotel lobby! The versatility of my office for the week was unmatched. During the day, I was able to plug in, literally, wherever I chose to work. When the work extended into the evening hours, the atmosphere’s lighting and music shift still allowed for my creativity to flow and it was the perfect backdrop for our meetings!
-Denise
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Prayer of salvation Father, I admit that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I turn from my former life and believe that inviting Jesus Christ into my heart and my life that I am now born again. I want to trust Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do Your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer for the first time, scan the code for a special message from our family.
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But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15
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