A Woman’s Worth | Nov & Dec 2011

November/ December 2011

For the enchanting, exuberant, enterprising, extraordinary, empowered Caribbean woman.

A Woman’s Worth First lady of the United States Virgin Islands, Cecile de Jongh on Having it all, Hillary Clinton and Women running the world.

Yes we are beautiful Shades of black

e-power your life!

Christmas around the Caribbean

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To sit or not to sit‌ You decide!

Available exclusively at

Tonique Williams Darling Highway Nassau, Bahamas 242 356 7502 Like Us On:

November/ December 2011

For the enchanting, exuberant, enterprising, extraordinary, empowered Caribbean woman.

On the cover

FEATURES

November/ December 2011

21 Women Speak Power

For the enchanting, exuberant, enterprising, extraordinary, empowered Caribbean woman.

Answers to questions about money, our health, our relationships, our workplaces?

A Woman’s Worth First lady of the United States Virgin Islands, Cecile de Jongh on Having it all, Hillary Clinton and Women running the world.

Yes we are beautiful Shades of black E power your life!

Christmas around the Caribbean

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A Woman’s Worth The First Lady of the US Virgin Islands on women’s leadership, balancing family and professional life and setting the best example for the next generation of Caribbean women

36 Shades of Black

Is a brown paperbag still a measuring stick for the acceptable black woman

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How Deep is our Beauty?

Cherrylee Pinder on what defines beauty in Caribbean women.

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e-bazaar

Shop the wonders of the Caribbean

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I n si d e t h is issue

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58

F eatures

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Who is the Caribbean Woman?

Is there one word or phrase that can truly define this mystifying creature.

1 5 A Letter to my Daughter 17 To my Grandaughters 19 Who is the Caribbean Woman 22 How Deep is our Beauty?

26 Putting Your Financial House In Order 28 Self Love 32 Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone 40 Cecile de Jongh 46 Virgin Islands Fashion Week 50 Beauty & the Beast 58 The Prickle Patch 60 Baskets of Love 64 The Women’s Empowerment Summit

d e part m e n ts From Portia 14 e-power your life 21 e-bazaar 33 Quiet Moments 44

e-joy 53 e-life 61 Events Calendar 66

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For the enchanting, exuberant, enterprising, extraordinary, empowered Caribbean woman.

CEO and Editorial Director Portia Harrigan

Writers

Photographers

Production

Elizabeth Levy (Jamaica)

Sabriya Simon (Jamaica)

Inderia Saunders (Bahamas)

Jonathan Forbes (Bahamas)

Adriana Naylor Graphic Design

Kaletha Henry (BVI)

Todd Vansickle (BVI)

Chrystall Kanyuck (BVI)

Anya Brewley (BVI) Richard Georges (BVI) Khari Adams (BVI)

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Books Editor Omonike Robinson-Pickering

November is diabetes awareness month Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death across the Caribbean region. Let’s do something about it!

Get tested! Eat Right!

Follow your doctor’s orders!

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www.ewomanmagazine.com

Live | On Line | In Print For the enchanting, exuberant, enterprising, extraordinary, empowered Caribbean woman.

What’s it like to be 30, educated and single in the Caribbean Is getting your holy on interfering with your love life?

e- Power your life

Doing what makes you happy

The most informative magazine for the enchanting, exuberant, enterprising,extraordinary,empowered Caribbean woman

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Contributors Dr. Shakima Vanterpool Subhadra Bowman Cherylee Pinder Onika Pascal Judy Haycraft Tanya MCcartney Web Editor Rahel Worede Sales Portia Davis-Harrigan (Bahamas) Email:info@ewomanmagazine.com Rebecca Essumang (British Virgin Islands) Tel: 284 343 6895 • email:ressumang@ewomanmagazine.com Subhadra Bowman (Jamaica) Tel: 876 276 9642 • email:subhadra@ewomanmagazine.com Mindy Jordan (St. Lucia) Tel:758 451 2662/758 721 2662 • email:mjordan@ewomanmagazine.com Rebecca Essumang (U.S. Virgin Islands) Tel: 284 343 6895 • email:ressumang@ewomanmagazine.com Publisher Oyster Publications Chairman Russell Harrigan General enquiries to info@ewomanmagazine.com Registered Offices P.O. Box SB50961 | Nassau | N.P. | Bahamas P.O. Box 3369 | Road Town | Tortola | British Virgin Islands P.O. Box 6347, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands

www.ewomanmagazine.com Bahamas | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Jamaica | St. Lucia | United States Virgin Islands

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Camps & Retreats

adventurecamp Boys wanna have fun too! The e camp offers two great weeks of roaring excitement, sailing, hiking, cooking, scooter building, splish/splash, the e-boys files, etiquette, bb-que and more explosive fun.

The best summer camp ever—two weeks of great fun; sailing, cooking, hiking, splish/splash, the e-girls files, etiquette, garden party and more fun stuff.

Monday July 23rd to Friday August 03rd, 2012

Monday July 09th to Friday July 20th, 2012

At the e camp, Villa FlamboyantWindy Hill, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

At the e camp, Villa FlamboyantWindy Hill, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Space limited to 25 boys, ages 9-12

Space limited to 25 girls, ages 9-12

$495.00pp—register early to reserve your space and your e-boys t-shirt.

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retreat Do you find yourself wishing you had more time in your days and in your nights, time for yourself, time to catch your breath on all the things you meant to do for you, but don’t? If so, come join us at the inaugural e Woman Retreat at Little Dix Bay Resort on Virgin Gorda in the beautiful British Virgin Islands. This weekend is just the antidote you need to put your life back on track.

Bring your friends and meet some new ones, as you have the experience of a lifetime; yoga, tennis, wine tasting, scrumptious meals, garden tours, hiking, cooking demonstrations, inspirational notes and just pure relaxation. Explore yourself anew, learn to relax and live your best life. Leave invigorated, renewed and refreshed.

Friday June 29th to Monday July 02, 2012 Space is limited to 30 persons only. $1,500.00pp all inclusive

How magine, I arrived at my home in the British Virgin Islands on June 24th, just longing for a long, lazy summer. I’d been with three of my four daughters at home in the Bahamas since August of 2010. I did a lot in ten months. I had put the girls through an entire school year without incident, rising at 5:30 each morning and on the road by 6:30am in order to beat the early Nassau traffic, heading right back home to work on the first Women’s Empowerment Summit Bahamas. A week after the event however, (held at the Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort on April 27th), I suffered a broken blood vessel as a result of accelerated blood pressure (stress related). The doctor advised that I’d missed a stroke by a mere thread. By June then, I was totally exhausted; my body run down and my brain hard on empty.

But somehow, on June 24th, I had an epiphany.

All of a sudden, I needed to do something new; I needed to offer more around the WES. I thought it would be great to create a whole range of programs around the major event; and these programs; I thought, needed a publication to tie them all together, to keep the major event relevant throughout the down time. I felt, it would be beautiful to start a women’s magazine for the Caribbean Region, a different kind of publication; something special, inspirational, informative, amazing.

My assistant thought I’d gone completely mad. Some people thought maybe I had suffered a stroke, from which I had not yet recovered. “A magazine; In this economy?”

Impossible! “There are already women’s magazines out there”, I was told. On the other hand however, there were many who thought it was an idea whose time had come. I thought, if I 14

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could endure the raising of four female human beings, with a vastness in age, ranging from 6 to 22, all of different character, different hang ups and, multiple demands, habits and emotional dispositions, then surely, I could pull the stars from the heavens, I could sit on the crest of the moon, I could float across the skies. Indeed if I could raise four female human beings, I could surely produce a woman’s magazine in this challenging environment. After all, I’d produced a business magazine for four years. So now, I introduce you to e Woman Magazine, a bi-monthly publication, projecting the other image of the Caribbean Woman.

We have assembled an amazing team of writers, photographers and designers and forged relationships with contributors from around the region. We’ve all worked hard to bring you a beautiful inaugural issue of e Woman, with every article written with you in mind.

“Your Financial House”, to help you sort through the mind boggling maze of this peculiar economy (page 26 ) and tips to get you on the road to a healthier lifestyle and better quality of life (page 30). We sat down with the First lady of the United States Virgin Islands, Mrs. Cecile de Jongh to discuss the role of the woman in the modern Caribbean society (Page 40) We also explore the beauty of Christmas throughout the islands, our wonderful treats and amazing festivals.

E Woman Magazine is for and about the Caribbean woman we rarely hear from, the woman we rarely see. This magazine is for and about the extraordinary, exuberant, enterprising, empowered Caribbean woman; the woman who seeks value in all that she does; the woman who seeks tirelessly to bring value to the lives of others.  e-Woman Magazine

A Letter To My Daughter, 14 November 2005, Olivia C. Saunders

Everything seems so overwhelming.

There are pressures from this way, from that way, from over there, from right here. It seems that life is dishing out too much for you to swallow. You are crossed between what you want to do; what you would like to do; what your friends want you to do; what your family expects you to do, and what everyone is planning for you.

The questions you ask yourself are, “Why isn’t life simpler?” “Why doesn’t everyone back off?” Or at least, “Why don’t they plan something for me that is right for me?”

There are people who don’t know you; who do not know what you are capable of, but they too want to tell you what you can, cannot, should, should not, and what will, and what will not be for you.

You are exhausted from working to achieve your goals daughter and you have been working very hard. You are feeling that you are nowhere. You are feeling that what you have done so far in your life is nothing. You are feeling that there is no meaningful future. You are asking, “Why am I here?”

“Why have so many challenges and uncertainties been placed before me?”

I am so very proud of you because you are asking these questions. I am proud of you

because you know deep down inside that there are great things waiting for you to embrace. I am proud of you because you have not settled on where you are. I am proud because you have realized that there is much more for you to see, to hear, to smell, to touch, to be. There was a time though when I was concerned, as I expect, every mother is concerned about her children.

I was concerned; I still am concerned, but I am not afraid for you. I am not afraid that you will make the wrong decision. I am not afraid that you will select the wrong path.

I am not afraid that you will falter.

From our conversations I can tell that you know there is something so much more profound than the plans your friends, family and everyone else have for you. It is something that you can’t put your finger on.

It is something you can’t see right now and neither can you explain it right now. But you know you are headed for it. The how, the when, and the what are still hazy, yet you can feel it deep within yourself.

You feel the nudge. You are being nudged ever so quietly, ever so gently towards it.

This is hard. This is confusing because there are so many voices screaming loudly directing

and commanding you to do this, to do that, to go there, to stay here, to do it this way, to do it that way, to just do it their way.

My daughter, in this time when you feel ensnared by the pressures coming from every direction, you have asked me to tell you what to do. You tell me that your mind is clogged. You don’t know what to do.

Daughter, because I know who you are, because from the day you were born I recognized your ‘special-ness’, my advice to you is to listen to the still, quiet voice that is nudging you from within. This is your voice gently and softly giving you your plans. It is your voice telling you what is right for you; telling you where you should go; telling you how you should proceed. This silent voice is you. Listen to you. Trust you.

I will always be available to lend a hand and support you in your endeavours but who knows you better than You? Who has been with you every moment of every day of every year? Who has experienced your joys, your pains, your loves, your angers, your frustrations, your disappointments, and your triumphs? It is You. It is God. Listen to You. Listen to God. Trust You. Trust God.  e woman magazine

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To My Grandaughters July 4, 2011

By M. Evans I have chosen to write this essay to my granddaughters rather than my daughters simply because my two beautiful daughters are now at the half century age and beyond and what I have to say, I am afraid, is too late for them. Besides, I think it far more important and urgent that I share my thoughts with the ones who are just beginning to produce children of their own.

I have been blessed by God to have been around for the past 72 years and have seen the world around me revolving in a way which frightens me. We now live in an “instant” age. An age where children are growing up “instantly.” An age in which Christian morals and values have been tossed out the window as we do with a banana peel. An age where there no longer seems to be a period of childhood innocence and I ask myself “is this good or is this bad?” Is it right to force ripe a fruit? I have done that in my lifetime and did not really like the taste – that

natural sweetness was not there – the pleasure gained from eating a ripe fruit was lost. Pardon me for using such a metaphor but I hope you understand.

You see, I am concerned that you, my darlings, have not been prepared for the onslaught of the enemy of our souls and because you are not prepared, how can you raise your children to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves?” Don’t be afraid, there is hope – there is always hope, as long as you have the desire to do the right thing. So bear with me as I share with you, from my heart, and from my own experience of raising your mothers, what I have learned over the years.

Teach them to love God and not to be ashamed or afraid to own him and teach them to know his word which will guide them and their children through life.

Be a parent first and a friend secondly.

Teach them that the true values of life do not consist of material things but rather

such virtues as good character, compassion for others, humility, integrity, honesty.

Love your children enough to discipline them when they need it.

Teach them to love their country and to contribute to its well being.

Teach them to work hard for what they want and not be dependent on others .

Teach them to be individuals who can think for themselves and not be led astray.

These are some of the things my mother taught me and I am eternally grateful to God for giving me such a wonderful person. The woman I am today is mostly due to the fact that my mother invested time in me. She sacrificed her own ambitions in order to teach me the value of a human being. That, my dear granddaughters, is one of the most important lessons of life which will serve you well throughout your lifetime – it will determine the quality of your lives.  e woman magazine

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Who is the

Caribbean Woman?

The complexity of the Caribbean woman, indeed an enigma, defies the concept of a single story.

Often defined as loud mouthed, broad hips, big lips, baby making machine, the descendant of slaves, a sex object; she is rather the woman of many faces, the woman of many cultures, the woman of many colours, originating from Africa, China, India, the Americas; she is the woman who’s come to call the Caribbean home, whether Trinidad in the south or the Bahamas in the north. She is the woman who held it together when the men left to work abroad, the woman who raised generations of successful, productive citizens.

The Caribbean woman is the teacher, the fruit vendor, the doctor. She is the cook, the lawyer, the artisan, the politician, the publisher, the photographer, the model. She is the woman who knows no boundaries.

The Caribbean woman is innovative; she truly knows how to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. She looks great on a dime. She gives her whole self to others, she loves unconditionally, she is committed to family. Who is the Caribbean woman? She is a stalwart, she is a champion, she is a chameleon.

There is no one word or phrase that clearly defines the Caribbean woman, so special and so varied.

The Caribbean woman is an enigma – undefined! 

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The Women’s Empowerment Summit returns to the Bahamas -October 18th & 19th, 2012 Join us and some of the most amazing presenters and performers from around the region and the world for two of the

Empowerment greatest days of your life.

WOMEN’S

SUMMIT

EMPOWERING, EDUCATING, INSPIRING

www.womensesummit.com Like Us On Facebook

power

Women Speak Power!

What are the answers to our questions about money, our health, our relationships, our workplaces? What are the answers that are specific to our environment, especially in these economically and socially challenging times. “eWoman” has brought together some of the greatest Caribbean minds to share their insight on some of these burning issues. Read on and e-power your life.

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Ask Cherrylee

Cherrylee Pinder

Yes We Are Beautiful

t

he evidence is all around. You only have to look at the bowed heads, slumped shoulders and bent backs.

It’s obvious that we still don’t get “it”. Why don’t we realize as Caribbean women how beautiful we are?!

“It”, is that we don’t have to be this way. We were not meant to be this way. Defeated!

Depressed! Despondent! Regardless of the shade of our mocha, ebony, or mangoskinned hues, we are some beautiful women. Beauty comes at so many levels, because not only are we gorgeous to look at, we descend from a strong lineage of women who knew what it was to stand alone or partner with her mate to raise centered children.

Women who knew that their beauty was not merely skin deep. We possess the type of beauty that symbolizes grace, endurance and the kind of fierceness that will look hardship (this economy is nothing new!) in its eye and say, “what you got?”

This holiday season will be hard for many, due to job loss and a soft economy, that makes job security a relic. There will be many who will spend more than they have all because they don’t know that they are “good enough” already. There’s no need for all the stuff! Sista, I’m not just talking about makeup, because who loves powder and lipstick more than me. I’m not just talk-

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How deep is our beauty?

Deep enough that it doesn’t live on people’s opinion or a need to keep up with the Jones’. ing about the trappings (did someone say Coach?!). I’m talking about all the “stuff” that we use to fill ourselves up on. Not only do we not need it, but quite frankly it is crippling us.

So how then do you approach this season? Honey; as a beautiful woman and enjoy it! Enjoy time with friends and family playing games. Host a potluck instead of throwing the huge fete you are known for. Give a tin of cookies instead of your usual “fabulous” gifts or gift cards.

Purchase blank cards or make them and

send personal sentiments instead of gold embossed cards that can break the bank.

Give yourself permission to change the status quo and redefine what the holidays will mean for you and your family. My friends will still love me when I gift chocolate bars with gold ribbon and a little note. I’m courageous enough to do it and so are you! If they raise their brows, then I know I’m not in the right circle (another conversation at another time!)

How deep is our beauty? Deep enough that it doesn’t live on people’s opinion or a need to keep up with the Jones’. This season will pass before we can wink and we shouldn’t be depressed in the spring when the credit card bill comes. Make this your best holiday season ever. Not only will we get through it, but we will realize that we didn’t need money to have a good time. We didn’t need to anymore than you are to feel loved, appreciated and whole. So I’ll shout it from the mountain top, “YES, WE ARE BEAUTIFUL!” Act like it and if still in doubt, ask somebody.  Cherrylee is a motivational speaker, human resource trainer and counselor who resides in Nassau, Bahamas. She can be contacted at cherryleepinder@coralwave.com

power

Women in general tend to leave themselves for last and this is particularly so for Caribbean women, but there is nothing more important than your health.

Just ask Dr. Vanterpool Question: I know that I have to do pap smears yearly to check for cervical cancer but it’s so intrusive. For 3 years in a row nothing was found and I’ve been in a monogamous relationship for 9 years, so why should I have to continue doing pap smears?

Dr. V: The Pap smear is used as a screening tool to detect early changes on the cervix.

Early detection helps to identify your potential risk for cervical cancer which is caused by a sexually transmitted virus known as HPV (human papilloma virus).

The length of time between early cervical changes and full-blown cancer could be as long as 10 years.

It’s important to note that many sexually active women have encountered HPV in there lifetime. In younger women the immune system fights the virus and it goes away spontaneously, however in older women the cervical changes are more likely to persist and progress to cancer. This screening test gives you the opportunity to eliminate this risk.

Now that you know the importance of screening, let me bring you up to date.

According to the newest recommendation for pap smears (ACOG pap smear guidelines, 2011), you should have a pap smear once every 2 years if you’re ages 21-30 years. If you’re 30 years or older and have had 3 consecutive normal smears, then you should screen once every 3 years. The exception is that if you have conditions such as diabetes, HIV, taking forms of steroids long term, or smoking. If you fall into any of these categories, an annual check-up is a must.

You’ve done a great job keeping up with your screening so far. The bottom line is “prevention is better than cure”.

Question: I’m 31 and was recently diagnosed with diabetes. I reduced the amount of rice, bread and sugar in my diet but my sugars are still out of control. What else should I do?

Dr. V: A great combination is exercise, diet and prescribed medication. It is also important to control your weight. In diabetes, your body either does not produce or does not respond to insulin, which is produced by your pancreas. Exercise increases the body’s demand for energy which is satisfied by the release of glucose from the liver and increase in the muscles’ sensitivity to insulin and thus absorption of glucose into the muscles. This response subsequently lowers the blood sugar. Exercise will also help you to lose weight. The increased amounts of fat cells in individuals who are overweight or obese are not very sensitive to insulin. By losing weight i.e. body fat content, you will increase your likelihood of better glucose control. So brisk walking or aerobics for at least 30 minutes three times per week will do you well.

In terms of diet, you don’t have to deprive yourself of all starches, just make healthy choices. For instance wheat and whole bread limited to 2 slices, and complex starches e woman magazine

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“There is nothing more important than your health”

previous history of clots and known liver problems. Cigarette smoking is also an issue.

Relationship status: in any relationship relatively new or extramarital relationship, barrier methods are first line. The condom is the only method that protects against sexually transmitted infections – exceptions are herpes and genital warts.

Pregnancy. Are you in a relationship where an accidental pregnancy is welcomed or would pregnancy be devastating? Answering this question will help you decide on the injection, the coil (which are more long term and low maintenance) versus the pill (requiring more commitment and discipline).

Birth control should not be a haphazard decision but rather it should be a well-reasoned choice to discuss with your partner and doctor.

Question: Is it true that Caribbean women are highly susceptible to contracting HIV/AIDS through heterosexual sex? If so, how do I know that my partner is HIV positive and how do I protect myself? like brown or long grain rice and ground provisions, such as yams and edoes.

The gel that pulls it all together is compliance with medications. You should do fasting and pre-meal glucose checks at home and make a note of it in a diary. This you can take to your doctor so that any adjustment of your medication is sufficient to optimize your glucose control.

Question: I’m 25 and in a sexually active relationship. I’m seriously thinking about starting birth control. What factors should I consider?

Dr. V: It’s really great that you considered starting birth control.

There are many factors involved in your decision but the top three are: your health and lifestyle, the status of your relationship and when or whether you plan to become pregnant. And, let me add that there are many different types of birth control, for example the pill, injection, coil, condoms, etc.

Health and lifestyle: Birth controls like the pill can improve your skin and lessen acne, help monthly PMS and regulate your periods. However the pill may predispose you to blood clots in the legs and commonly, weight gain. Certain health situations may potentiate the side effects so, be sure to alert your doctor about current medications,

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Dr. V: First let me just mention that1% of adults in the Caribbean have HIV/AIDS, making this region second only to Sub-Saharan Africa. In the Caribbean, young women are twice as likely to contract HIV via heterosexual sex than young men (UNAIDS, 2010). Some studies propose that the female susceptibility is due to the cyclical hormonal changes, delicate vaginal flora and genital anatomy. In the Caribbean, we have additional factors such as the assumed role of the woman as the caretaker who often times depend on the male breadwinner; husbands or consorts who are sometimes knowingly promiscuous.

Even though the independent, educated woman is becoming more popular, it is still a norm to be submissive. It is also less likely for most women to insist and enforce the use of condoms in their relationships.

Another very important element that increases female susceptibility worldwide is the MSM (men who sleep with men). HIV had no phenotype so the only way to know if anyone is HIV positive is thro ugh HIV testing. Many women are afraid to ask their partner what’s their status but, it’s a very fair question.

In any situation where you are unclear about your partner or your own status, condoms are 99.9% effective against contracting HIV and most other STIs. The key in any sexual relationship is to talk about it.  Dr. Shakima Vanterpool, a native of the British Virgin Islands is currently based at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas. Forward all questions for Dr. Vanterpool to info@ewomanmagazine.com.

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Putting Your

Financial House In Order

By Tanya McCartney

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It is not easy, trying to juggle so many financial obligations in a floundering economy, but Tanya McCartney offers some sound advice on managing with what you have.

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We are all at our wits end, trying to figure out just how to make sense of our finances. The global recession has tested the soundness of economies all around the world.

Caribbean small island developing states have weathered the shocks of Tanya McCartney economic vulnerability but it remains a challenge for us all. Our dependence on tourism, financial services and agriculture in the region has meant that we have been hit quite hard with job losses and shortened work weeks.

Many of us, having been educated abroad and exposed to the “city life” have adopted the extravagances associated with developed countries. We overextend ourselves to live lavish lifestyles to impress people who really do not care about us. But, there is an opportunity for us to step back and reassess our value system and determine what is really important. Have we strayed so far away, that we no longer know how to hang our baskets so that we can reach them?

It is imperative that we as professional women, wives, mothers and mentors to younger women and girls make prudent decisions as it relates to our financial well being. We must send the right messages. We pay so much attention to climbing the corporate ladder but neglect our financial well being. There can be no real quality of life if we fail to manage our financial resources.

We need to take a common sense approach to our financial responsibilities.

Common Sense Checks

•D istinguish between needs and wants •S treamline your lifestyle •C reate a financial strategy for surviving

tough economic conditions

•D evelop a healthy support team •E njoy a healthy banking relationship •F ocus on Savings & Investments •K now the Mortgage Basics

What prudent measures can you take?

1. Continuously assess our life styles Is this a prudent time for spending?

Is this the right time to start or expand a business?

Is this the right time to invest in a home?

Do you have sufficient savings?

2. Streamline Our Lifestyle Eliminate unnecessary expenses

responsibilities. As wives, mothers and executives it is not enough to build only a professional network. We should build partnerships that can sustain us if we face financial challenges.

Who are some of these partners?

Reduce energy/fuel consumption.

Family Members

What interests do you have that can generate income?

Your Banker

Accountant

3. Focus on Developing a Savings Plan and Stick to a Budget: A healthy savings plan is critical. We should save some of our income each month, no matter how small the amount. Start small, watch it grow and then add a little more. A budget is very important. Savings should be in your budget! You are then able to manage income and expenses and see exactly where your money is going.

Lawyer

Barriers to Savings

There are a few barriers to savings that we all have the tendency of falling victim to:

Credit Cards

Money spent with a credit card is still money spent. You are going to have to pay for that purchase with actual income eventually. Avoid Impulsive purchases!

Impatience

Set financial goals and separate needs from wants. You may not be able to buy the home now, but can save up towards it for the future.

Lack of adjustments

As your income/expenses change, adjust your budget to reflect these changes. Sometimes you have to down size your life. When you make more money, save more money!

Vacations

Insurance Provider

People You Trust

Focus on Savings & Investments

Savings is the starting point for

Certificates of deposit &

Government Stocks

Mutual Funds

Real Estate

Stocks & Bonds

Your Own Business

Know the Mortgage Basics

Investments. You can turn your savings into investments: Savings accounts

The greatest investment that the average person is likely to make is in a home. There are some basics that we should all be aware of: As a first step, always meet with a Mortgage Specialist to determine how much you can borrow before you fall in love with the dream castle on the ridge!

Analyze Closing Costs - where the source of funds will be derived?

Incorporate your vacation plans into your budget (very important). Can you really afford to take a vacation every year? Does it make sense to borrow to take a vacation?

Increase the frequency the mortgage is paid. As opposed to paying monthly, pay weekly and make principal payments. You could save thousands!

Importance of a Healthy Support Team

There is no doubt that these are financially challenging times, but whether or not you survive, depends on how serious you are about taking charge of your finances. 

Our Caribbean heritage is one coloured by the tapestry of the ever present extended family.

There was always someone that you could turn to when there was a need. Today such a net is even more important as working mothers strive to meet the demands of their corporate

Tanya is Managing Director of RBC FINCO in the Bahamas. Send your questions for Tanya to info@ewom anmagazine.com e woman magazine

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power

Onika Pascal

Onika Pascal on self love and understanding the law of attraction

No one has ever been able to say with true conviction, that life is easy. And no one has ever been able to say with surety that, love, and the act of loving is easy. But we live and we love, despite the challenges.

A very close friend of mine and I were having a conversation recently. We were discussing how tired and fed-up we were of being hurt by the ones we love. And in between our silent pause, my friend asked, “Why can’t we get the love we’re looking for?” And I didn’t have an answer.

I just knew that we both love hard, and we both love strong, but can’t seem to get it in return.

Love! It’s an intangible affection that sustains us. If we breathe, we love! We all love something or someone, and when we do, we do it wholeheartedly. We painstakingly give our all to that someone or something that we have deemed deserving of our love. And just as such, have deemed ourselves deserving of that love being reciprocated. And contrary to the euphoric satisfaction we attain from loving and being in love, we’re not at all safe in love.

Somewhere in the impressionable stages of our young lives, we learned that love is fulfilled by another person. It could have stemmed from our parents’ marriage, or from the stories we read of Cinderella and her fellow sister princesses. They all, at the end, found a handsome prince to whisk them off their feet, marry them and tell them how beautiful they were. But the back story of each tale was a poorly mistreated girl, who loved herself despite the hate of her evil family, or some wicked witch.

We’ve all been hurt, degraded, disappointed, and have been distraught due to love, or the lack of it.

But despite the tragedies, we continue to seek it, for some inexplicable reason. We have allowed it to be the factor that makes us whole. And, it almost seems that without it, we don’t exist.

Love! What is it? It’s that emotion, that coddling sentiment, that gift from God that no one has truly ever been able to master. Yet, it’s the gift, the sentiment and the emotion we all want in our lives consistently and mostly from others.

And when we aren’t loved in return by that special person or persons we’ve appointed as our love providers, we fall apart.

What if we were to eliminate outside sources? No lover. No best friend. No spouse. No pet. Then what? Would love exist in our consciousness?

Would it exist within us? Do we practice self love?

If that same desire for love from an outside source lived within us, we’d understand that we ARE whole. But so many of us fail to proclaim self love that we don’t even know how to embrace it and be good to ourselves. Self love is most times an unpracticed affection.

The conversation between my friend and I carried on, and our resolution was that, maybe we weren’t loving ourselves enough. And in our exchange of thoughts my friend responded, “I’m going to love myself and I don’t care who thinks it’s selfish”.

After her comment, I thought to myself that it’s never selfish to love yourself. Somehow when it’s time to turn love inward, it’s perceived as selfish. In my eyes selfish is good in the right framework. It’s good when it’s building your immune system to promote your self esteem.

It’s good when it helps you to build self confidence, sustaining you when you’ve been hurt.

If we don’t love ourselves first, we will always find ourselves searching for someone else to complete us. We all have reasons for not loving ourselves enough. Be it that we don’t like our bodies, we feel we’re not pretty enough, or someone has told us we’re not pretty enough. Whatever it is, that we have experienced, the duty is still ours to claim love for ourselves first and completely.

There will always be opposition in our lives.

Challenges that we will have to overcome, and the only way to get through these challenges is to love ourselves enough to want to pick up and start again.

Show the world that we believe in ourselves. The way we treat ourselves, will be replicated in the way others treat us. We will attract the people and things that will enhance that beauty within, not complete it. “The only thing fulfilling, trusting and guaranteed is what we give to ourselves.” This was the last thing I told my friend in our conversation, and they’re words that I believe in wholly.

Tell yourself everyday that you love you. Admit your faults, embrace them, and fix them. It’s ok to remind yourself daily. But along with telling yourself, you have to believe it. It’s your duty and obligation, not someone else’s. If you have the ability to go above and beyond for others, believe in yourself enough to know that you can do the same for yourself. Go ahead, try it!

You’re worth it! 

Onika has authored two published collections of poetry under the pen name Onika Pascal. Her first published book of poetry entitled, “Collections of a See Through Soul-Portraits,” debuted in 2008, and “Collections of a See Through Soul – Bardvillian Symphonies” debuted in 2009. She is a Trinidadian, currently residing in the USA. 28

e woman magazine

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e woman magazine

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Enough Excuses!

Get Fit Now

By Lisa Adamson

Lisa’s boot camp on getting into tip top shape and feeling totally beautiful.

We all want to achieve a certain image, whether it is to drive a nice car or own a wonderful wardrobe, but do those things make you feel better or do they simply mask your true feelings about yourself?

A nice wardrobe or fancy cars are all a part of that outward appearance. We live in a society of pressures; one that places greater value on what you own, rather than who you are as an individual. But are you truly as well internally as you appear externally? Does an outward image of well being reflect how healthy you really are?

How often will you actually think about what’s going on inside you? You are happy to spend $250.00 on a great pair of shoes, but will complain profusely about a doctor’s bill or for that matter, delay a doctor’s visit.

Ultimately though, if you continue to deny your inner self the doctor’s charges can begin to add up.

Can those charges be avoided or at least minimized though? Yes they can!

Health and happiness begin from within. “You are what you eat and what you think.” The supermarket experience today is much better than it was 10 or 15 years ago. There’s a much better selection of fruits, vegetables and healthy cereals. But once again, too often you choose to focus on shoes or a new skirt instead of spending a little more to get good quality, healthy foods. Once in the supermarket, you look for the cheapest of foods and the quickest to prepare. Have you ever looked at the food labels on food pack-

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ages? Do you know how to read a food label?

Do you know how much fat or sugar is in your cereal per serving or how large a serving size actually is? Or do you buy it because it’s cheap? I am speaking to you—yes you.

You stop at the fast food joint for a $10 “family size meal” Have you any idea what ingredients go into making the “family size meal”?

Eventually that designer skirt you bought 6 months ago starts to feel a little tight, right?

So you buy another one but in a slightly bigger size and the cycle starts all over again.

So how do you break the cycle and start looking and feeling great? There’s only one solution and its diet and exercise. Forget all the quick fixes like diet pills and crash diets.

They don’t work! If a diet pill really worked do you think 50% of Americans would still be overweight?

I hear you say, “ but I am busy” “I do not have time”. Yes you do, everyone does. If President Obama or Oprah Winfrey can exercise and find the time with their busy schedules then surely you can too! Is your lifestyle as demanding as the President of the United States? Thought not…it’s making the time and prioritizing.

I have been working in the health and fitness industry for almost 20 years. I have been overweight, I have had two children and I run two businesses. I have heard all the excuses in the book about not having time to exercise or buy the healthiest of foods or have breakfast. You get invited out for dinner, so the exercise goes out the door, because dinner is at 7pm. Why can’t you get to the gym and do 25 minutes of exercise before

hand? Because you tell yourself you do not have time!

How much of what I am saying rings true?

Find an exercise program, one that you like and fits your lifestyle, one that excites you!

Hire a personal trainer to get you going, buddy up with a friend to share the cost and to make sure that you both turn up and then do not let each other down. Start with one hour twice a week. Two hours, that is all.

Ask the trainer to give you exercises that you can do on your own at home or at the gym.

“Forget all the quick fixes

like diet pills and crash diets.

They don’t work!”

Make notes of how you feel after your workout. You’ll feel great and have more energy.

You’ll start to feel so good when you take a look in that mirror and see a new, more confident you. You’ll walk taller and your self esteem will shine through.

With the exercise comes the diet; they go hand in hand. But who wants to diet? You do not have to totally deprive yourself of food; only take away the foods that you know are unhealthy. Watch portion control, use smaller plates. Spend one evening on the weekend cooking and preparing for the upcoming week. Make a food menu for your family. Buy only the ingredients for each meal you will cook and prepare for and do not buy unnecessary foods. If you know what meal is for that night, there is no stress to go out and buy a fast food dinner.

When in debt, pay it back! If you went out for dinner and ate or drank too much, get to the gym the next day, exercise and pay that over indulgence debt back.

Don’t make excuses. Make healthy choices.

Health equals happiness and happiness equals feeling beautiful on the inside and it shines through to the outside.  Lisa Adamson is a co-Owner of Sensus Health Club in the British Virgin Islands. She is a certified instructor in Spin, Pilates, Zumba, Body Pump, Aerobics and Step and is a certified personal trainer with AAAI, AFAA and Nautilus. Lisa is married with 2 children and has lived in the BVI for nearly 20 years.

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Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone, if You Want To Achieve Something Great!

I ran my first half marathon for a dare when I was 22 and had just started my first job in London working for a large recruitment company. At school I wasn’t particularly athletic and generally managed to fall over just at that critical moment in a race. So, I was very happy when I completed that first challenge, still in one piece and high on natural endorphins. I was hooked.

The next few years I ran around Dublin, London and New York. It wasn’t just the sights of these incredible cities that left me in awe – what really stuck with me was the power of the human spirit. Whether that was conveyed through the thousands of people who came out in the cold and rain to cheer and high five us or the other runners some of whom were physically impaired and still completed the full distance.

Those memories have stayed with me especially when the going gets tough.

So whilst I am not advocating that long distance running is for all, for me it certainly gave me more than sore shins, a medal and a free t-shirt. I had stepped well and truly outside of my comfort zone and did what I thought I was not humanly capable of doing. Running that first marathon made me realize that so much of what I thought I couldn’t achieve was in my head. Sure, I stuck fairly religiously to a training plan and I had days where I really had to force myself out of the door but that generally comes with any form of accomplishment.

We sometimes wonder why we are not moving forward in our lives, whether that is professionally or personally, but too often we have some loose goals, without any kind of roadmap as to how to get there. The truth is, we need that map and we need to know that there are going to be days where we feel defeated, or that we are not making progress fast enough and that sacrifices have to be made. However, once you make that comitment there is every chance that success will follow.

In the field of Human Resource Management, we talk a lot about setting SMART goals (ie. Specific- Measurable-Attainable-Realistic-

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Timely). Sometimes we fail to achieve our goals because we haven’t set them using these guidelines. However, there is an upside. A few years ago and with a much smaller field of competitors, I started competing in Triathlons. In 2010 I won second place in the BVI (British Virgin Islands) National Sprint Triathlon. Now the fact that there were only 2 females competing did not deter me and my fellow prize winner from being entered to take part in the Central American and Caribbean games last year. We were there representing the BVI triathlon team. We arrived in Puerto Rico and were asked if we were the coaches (we were quite a bit older than the

‘

Some of the world’s most successful people overcame many hurdles on their path to success.

’

rest of the field). The experience was short-lived – we failed to meet the transitions times and were pulled out after the swimming leg. We were naturally disappointed not to have finished the course, but we did see the brighter side: we were given an opportunity to interact and learn from some of the best talent in the field. Furthermore, we hoped that our experience would encourage other, younger athletes back in our home country to pursue their dreams.

Some of the world’s most successful people overcame many hurdles on their path to success. Richard Branson, the global entrepreneur and BVI part time resident is a perfect example.

He owns a string of successful businesses, Virgin Airlines being the most famous. We forget the ones that he sold or that didn’t make it or his failed attempt to cross the Atlantic in a Hot Air Balloon. Most people recognise “Sunflowers”

Judy Haycraft shares her insight on what it takes to achieve success.

by Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most well known artists in history. Most of us don’t know that he produced many more paintings that never saw the light of day. The fact is that these men kept going in spite of their setbacks.

Next year I am off to “just do it” again at the Disney marathon in Florida. A group of us will be dressed up in costumes and running for Hands on Volunteers, the grass roots charity formed by a few determined and committed volunteers in Tortola, BVI. They also had a dream that they followed and went on to achieve incredible results for a group of children orphaned by Haiti’s earthquake.

We all have it within us to achieve something great; we have to be determined, to just get out and do it!  Judy Haycraft is the Managing Director of Ballast & Capel Ltd, a consulting firm based in the British Virgin Islands that specializes in Organizational and Human Capital Development Strategies.

Email questions to: judy@ballastandcapel.com Website: www.ballastandcapel.com

bazaar

Shopping for the holidays

Each beautiful item on these pages is made with love, by beautiful people of the Caribbean.

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bazaar

This is true Caribbean style--Pout from the Alvania Saphora collection by Anina Banks, available at aninabanks.com

Holiday drinking made beautifulblown recycled glass-glasses, from the greenvi glass studio collection at www.greenvi.org

Add colour to your world with this recycled, blown glass fish, from the greenvi glass studio, available at www.greenvi.org

This beautiful glass bowl and plate are made from blown, recycled glass by greenvi glass studio, available at www.greenvi.org

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One of a kind beauty-Andros from the Bahamar tile series by Anina Banks, available at aninabanks.com

Custom design– Consuela, by Teri Monique Hand painted designs available at www.

PaintWithTexture.com

Bronze it up with these hand painted shoes by Teri Monique– available exclusively at www.

PaintWithTexture.com

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Get your natural on– Bay Bean Seed earrings from the Darcy Antonia Collection, available at darcyantonia@yahoo.com

Be the talk of the party– Valerie by Teri Monique Hand painted designs available at www.

PaintWithTexture.com

A beauty to behold–

By Teri Monique-hand painted designs available at www.PaintWithTexture.com

These funky earrings are sure to impress– Orchid leaf seeds and coral chunks from the Darcy Antonia Collection, available at darcyantonia@yahoo.com e woman magazine

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The Beautiful Shades of Black

By Inderia Saunders

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n a changing world where beauty is found in all shapes and forms, there are still people who question whether the various shades of Black are beautiful. eWoman’s Inderia Saunders explores this further.

movements that inspired many black women to retire the straightening comb in hopes of getting “whiter” hair and gave many the encouragement needed to trash skin lightening creams.

Black is hard to define. In people of African descent, the shades are innumerable, the hues and shades can vary from crème to cocoa, from mango to burnt sienna. And, in all its shades and tones, black is a sight to behold, a movement to feel. Black is soulful and beautiful. With style and grace that’s so smooth and rhythmic it’s been hailed en vogue by many.

Kanazawa’s scientific report was quite reminiscent to the old Western sentiment that black people were somehow less attractive than white people - a once dominant viewpoint that contributed to decades of internal racism and self-hatred among people of color. The article was taken down soon thereafter, yet it still haunts many to know that doubt still lingers over the beauty of black women and, by extension, thebeauty of the spirit that accompanies the pigment.

Take a look at the new Miss Universe Leila Lopes. The 25-year-old beauty queen – and we do mean beauty – hails from Angola, with cocoa skin so vibrant it lit up the stage, captivated the crowd and won the favor of the judges at this year’s pageant.

That somehow one person could feel so strongly about black women’s inferior looks that he could literally pass by countless beautiful black females on the streets and black models gracing high fashion magazines around the world. They are models such as Sudanese top model Alek Wek, who has strutted down runways in Paris, Milan and New York for some of the most elite designers – all of them confident in her striking beauty’s ability to complement their designs.It seemed as if even in this day and age, the highly educated psychologist was the only person who had never heard the saying “the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.”

Still, it’s no secret that this embracing attitude towards people of color has not always been the case, a situation 34-year-old Ann Eloise says is especially true within the black community itself. That’s both in the West Indies and the United States. The St. Lucian descendant remembers a time in elementary and high school when boys often passed up her darker, deep brown complexion for the lighter skinned girls in her class. Those times when she did receive a compliment, it was delivered in the kind of Eloise said it’s been her experience that attitudes towards black women and backhanded way that could crush an adolescent girl’s budding confidence, darker skinned women in particular, will only change with exposure and inbefore it even had time to bloom.“They would say I was very cute - for a teraction. It’s something she found out for herself when she went to college dark skinned girl,” Eloise recalls. “I hated that. It was pure hell back then and interacted with other dark skinned women who were confident and because black was considered ugly.”Even now, the memories still shake the comfortable in the skin they were born in. There, she learned that her past now successful Information experiences at school were going Technology specialist. And there “They would say I was very cute - for a dark skinned girl,” to be left just there –in the past.“In are countless stories like Ann’s college, I embraced my complexEloise recalls. “I hated that. It was pure hell within the black community, ion as I was exposed to more peoback then because black was considered ugly.” told over the years in an effort ple that looked like me,” she adds. to help change the way black They were educated and well women in general are viewed and treated. Stories like hers and the effects traveled. They were women who took the time out to get to know me and on a person’s self esteem have gone a long way in recent years in altering taught me how to love me.” the once prevailing attitudes of many black people in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, that led to a brown paper bag being introduced as a measuring stick for “ With a renewed sense of self, Eloise says she was able to set higher standards for herself in dating – an issue that, for many darker skinned women, is acceptable” black. And, arguably, things are changing – or so we thought. sometimes difficult even in adulthood, as scars from childhood hurts carry It came as a shock to many this year when Psychology Today published an well into the future. Many times, their problems had less to do with the men article titled “Why Are Black Women Less Physically Attractive Than Other themselves, and more to do with the beauty products that were available to Women?” The piece, written by evolutionary psychologist Dr. Satoshi black women. Makeup that was made for very light skinned black women, Kanazawa, rated black women – inclusive of globally accepted beauties like if not Caucasian women all together. The limited shades available to black Tyra Banks, Halle Berry and Naomi Campbell – as less attractive than white, women, who range from very light to dark brown in complexion, only exacAsian and Native American women. His argument? “Black women on erbated the problems women had at the time with living in darker skin. average are much heavier than nonblack women,” said an excerpt from his Eloise, for one, is happy to see more companies embrace product lines that report, published in May 2011. “However, this is not the reason black are directed to women of color, with offerings appropriate for all skin tones. women are less physically attractive than nonblack women . . . the only thing It’s a shift that came about as more globally recognized black beauty icons I can think of that might potentially explain the lower average level of forced a shift in the way cosmetic lines looked at black women as customers. physical attractiveness among black women is testosterone. . . women with higher levels of testosterone also have more masculine features and are “We have a variety of makeup that we can actually match to our skin now,” therefore less physically attractive. The race differences in the level of she laughs. “And I know how to apply makeup to my skin now. I didn’t testosterone can therefore potentially explain why black women are less know that back in high school.”It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the difference in her came about, but she notes that almost immediately once entering physically attractive than women of other races.” college, men would respond to her differently as she became more confident Kanazawa, an academic at the London School of Economics, went on to note in her beauty, makeup or no makeup.“I embraced my skin,” says Eloise. as “interesting” that “even though black women are objectively less physi“And all of a sudden, the first thing that guys would compliment me on was cally attractive than other women, black women (and men) subjectively my complexion.” consider themselves to be far more physically attractive than others.”This article - published in the name of science - sent shockwaves around the Experiences like hers have sparked many campaigns over the last two world and evoked cries of overt racism and outrage from both black and decades to change the way black women view themselves. Recently, the white people alike. It went against decades of work to reinforce black pride Proctor and Gamble Personal Care Company launched the successful My in those same features that made black women stand out. It also countered Black is Beautiful campaign in celebration of the beauty of all black women. e woman magazine

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At the same time, the initiative encourages black women and girls to come up with their own definition of beauty and promote their own standards.

The manufacturer of black beauty products is hoping to inspire future generations to adopt a new mindset in how they view themselves and hopefully help with a more positive portrayal of black women in mainstream culture.

For men like Clinton Jackson, will do nothing to change the way black women are viewed. Jackson, whose roots stem deep into Jamaica, says he never needed the media to tell him that black women were beautiful, but instead, could always see it for himself. It surrounded him, from his mother at home to his classmates.

“Before high school, there was a big preference for light skinned over dark skinned and it seemed if you were darker skinned, you had to look exceptionally good to get any type of play, even for men,” explains the 6”3, dark skinned man. “But I always thought there wasn’t much that a dark skinned lady needed to do otherwise; that there was something natural and original about a person with dark skinned tone. They don’t have to put on all this makeup and eye shadow or any of that stuff. They are just nice the way they are.”

For Jackson – who is rather vocal about his dating preference for darker skinned females – the attraction to black women had more to do with the history. He said he often noticed that some people of a lighter complexion – pressured by an unaccepting black community - would sometimes act a certain way to affirm their “blackness”, something that made him uncomfortable at times. As he saw it, at least with a darker skinned person, proving what everyone could already see wasn’t going to be an issue.

“To be honest and not to make an assumption for all black women, a lot of times there is a certain strength that comes along with being a black woman,” he says. “It’s dealing with black men, dealing with our kids and our problems. She is trying to be that for us . . . be our own personal fan base and to know that you’re dealing with a person who sometimes looks at life a certain way.

“But I also see strength in a darker skinned woman because I know that nine times out of ten, she has encountered someone who has issues with her skin tone or that her hair has not been as long as someone wanted it to be or a certain texture that they think is beautiful. But, she works with what she has and does it well…if you like it then cool, she’ll thank you and keep on keeping on, if you don’t like it she’ll tell you to keep it moving easily.”

It’s that very boldness that makes him smile when he sees a black woman pass by, with a certain stride in her glide and pep in her step. Indeed, black women of all tones have been known to possess a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ that has attracted not only black men to their side, but men of all races.“It’s great to be black,” says Eloise. “I don’t look my age or as old as some of my counterparts (of other races) do.“But I truly love my skin, the way it feels.

I love my complexion and the way colors look on me. I love my body. I love me, faults and all.”

If there has been one thing to come out of Kanazawa’s statements, it’s to show that black women continue to be challenged with defending themselves against stereotypes and – like they have in the past – black women have proven they can rise above it.

Defining exactly how beautiful black is may be a task in of itself, with views and intensity varying depending on the taste. Still, there are some things that can’t be denied: Black cannot hide, it cannot be dimmed, it cannot be watered down, no matter the shade. 

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IN STYLE

. Make

I

t’s that time of year again. You’ve been planning this Christmas party since you moved into your new home five years ago. You create the guest list and then.... blank. You do not know where else to start. What should you serve, how should you decorate, what dishes should you use?

Ahhhhggggg! You want to cancel once again, but this time your husband’s already invited his pals from the office. You’re trapped; or are you?

Christmas for some is supposed to be the most enjoyable time of the year, friends, family and colleagues all come to visit and you want to make them as comfortable as possible, keeping them entertained and well fed. Here are just a few tips to help you finally throw the party of a lifetime, without breaking a sweat or the bank.

The Plan Four weeks out . Develop the concept for your party- theme, decorations, service, etc

. Decide who you are inviting and send the invitations out

Three weeks out .

Decide on your menu—keep it simple .

Determine whether the ingredients for your menu items are readily available

You may choose to prepare some of the items yourself and have some of them catered or you may be able to buy some items already prepared from your local supermarket

.

Check on all of your service pieces to ensure that you have all that you need, also ensure that you have enough seating for your guests.

.

E

nlist the help of a few friends or family members

Two weeks out . Now

you can start working on the finer details for your big event

space for storage and placement of service items

. Do your house cleaning and decoration . It’s time to shop-now is the time to do your major/final shopping for the event

One day out .

Begin your preparations . Prepare as many of your

food items as possible at this point. You can fully prepare and refrigerate some items and some items can be prepared up to a point and completed on the day of the party.

.

Cut flowers from your garden.

There are gorgeous flowers growing in just about every Caribbean front yard. These give that added personal touch.

.

Get as much done on this day as possible in

order to allow yourself a nice relaxed pace on the day of the event.

.

Finalise your menu and decorations .

Create your music playlist

Party Day

Place all of your orders and start the shopping process mainly for non-perishable items

. This is when it should all come together . It’s time to grab your help and complete

Four days out

Now the preparations really begin

. Prepare

service pieces, such as glasses, platters and serving utensils

It’s time to party

meals, get the tables done, put beverages on ice

.

Be sure to pace your day so that you are ready to greet your guests when they arrive.

e-Joy!

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A Woman’s Worth

By Chrystall Kanyuck

First Lady of the US Virgin Islands on women’s leadership, balancing family and professional life and setting the best example for the next generation of Caribbean women.

L

ike many West Indian women, Cecile de Jongh was shaped by a combination of modern education and Caribbean tradition. The sixthgeneration Virgin Islander and mother of three has been at the forefront of a trend of women rising through the ranks in business and society, and she’s hoping that she and her husband, Governor John de Jongh, set an example that her children and others can aspire to.

“I am not saying anyone is perfect, least of all me” Mrs. de Jongh said, “But if a young woman was to look at me, she’d see that before the marriage and the children happened, I got an education. My husband and I are trying to teach that all the stuff comes, but it’s really important to get an education; to know yourself.”

For Mrs. de Jongh, education started at the dinner table.

“Our tradition was that you couldn’t come to the dinner table without a word. You had to say the word, give the etymology and use it in a sentence,” she said. Her father, a physician in St. Croix, knew the word requirement would help his two daughters and four sons build their vocabulary so they would do well on pre-college exams. He may or may not have intended to teach his children what Mrs. de Jongh considers one of her most valuable skills to this very day: verbal expression.

“You were not allowed to answer the question ‘how was your day?’ with ‘fine.’ Or ‘what did you do today?’

‘Nothing.’ You had to expound on it and everybody had to contribute,” she said. “I really learned how to converse. There was always an issue of the day [and] you had to get your voice heard.

The pressure to be heard, especially as a shy youngster, instilled in Mrs. de Jongh a sense of the value of her ideas, and gave her plenty of practice expressing them.

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As an adult, the ability and confidence to share her opinions was one of the things that set Mrs. de Jongh on the path to professional success in the male-dominated field of banking.

She recalled one evaluation session with a male supervisor and a female peer when the supervisor confirmed that he appreciated hearing from subordinates who disagreed with him.

“I enjoy the engagement of someone saying ‘I think you’re wrong and here’s why,’” she remembers him saying, recalling how he appreciated that she gave as good as she got. It was something Mrs. de Jongh had expected without thinking about it, but for another woman in the office, it was an “A-ha” moment. “I think that was enlightening for her. She thought [to disagree] would be seen as rude,” Mrs. de Jongh said.

Of course, keeping the balance between being able to disagree with a superior and still being polite can be a challenge.

“It’s a fine line, being very assertive, very strong, but not being seen as a, you know,” Mrs. de Jongh said. When women lead as bullies, they probably will be seen as a “you know”, but she thinks women have an advantage in their leadership style compared to men.

“It’s common for women to want people to understand where they went wrong and where they went right, and get into the reasons, where I think men are more likely to just say, ‘You got it wrong,’” Mrs. de Jongh said. “As a woman, you just don’t want the mistake repeated again, or you do want the success repeated again, so let’s understand why this was a success or let’s understand why this was a failure.”

And where some male superiors have seemed to derive their authority from intimidation, “women aren’t as threatened by appearing as peers rather than ‘the boss,’ even when giving criticism.

“There’s a way to say those things and still give the person respect, giving the person dignity,” Mrs. de Jongh said.

That was a lesson that Mrs. de Jongh had reiterated for the colleague as a young manager. Her own supervisor was particularly disparaging at the time, and though she didn’t like it directed at her, Mrs. de Jongh took a similar tone with another woman at the bank who was her subordinate. But the other woman called Mrs. de Jongh out.

“She basically said to me, ‘you’re being very rude.’ I thought, you know what, you’re right, I am. And that’s not me,” she said.

Particularly as a West Indian woman brought

up to say “good morning” and “good afternoon,” being called rude was something of a slap.

“I was really disappointed in myself,” she said. “I thought, ‘you don’t have to talk to people like that. It’s not a sign of power; it’s just a sign of trying to be domineering which is not the same thing.’”

She realized she couldn’t manage that way, especially knowing that her subordinates were bound to model whatever leadership style she used.

“I don’t want people to fear me; I want them to respect me. It’s something that I’ve tried to do ever since,” Mrs. de Jongh said.

But for Mrs. de Jongh, the biggest challenge on the job was not about managing people, it was about managing time. As she rose through the ranks in commercial lending and financial services, she thought she would be able to put in shorter hours at the office, but that wasn’t the case. She found that she would drop the children off at school and then not see them again until 8 o’clock many nights.

“It felt like school was centered around parents who didn’t work, and work was always centered around people who didn’t have children,” Mrs. de Jongh said.

“I missed a lot of Christmas pageants.”

“It’s common for women to want people to understand where they went wrong and where they went right, and get into the reasons, where I think men are more likely to just say, ‘ You got it wrong.’”

She admits that, at times, there was a need for her to be twice as good as her male counterparts for her to be considered just as smart as they were. That approach sometimes saw her as the first one to enter the office at 6 a.m. and the last one to leave at night.

But when her children, J.P., 22, Rene, 20, and Julian, 14, were much younger, it was a conversation with Rene that pushed her to scale back her work schedule.

“The key was my daughter asking me if I could, at least one day a week, pick her up from school,” Mrs. de Jongh said. It was then that she decided she was willing to take a pay cut if it meant she got more time with her family. “I didn’t want to go through having them go off to college and never having made it to the play or the presentation,” she said.

Now that her children are older, Mrs. de Jongh’s parenting is more about career and romantic advice than pageants and sporting

events. She advises her oldest son, who has also decided to pursue a career in banking, to do what she did: work as hard as possible before starting a family. “When you have a family, you really start to feel guilty about not spending the time that it takes,” she said. It’s the same advice she said she would give to any aspiring professional.

Assessing how life might be different as her children come into adulthood, Mrs. de Jongh said she hopes to see women continue their rise not just in the business world, but politics as well. She feels that women have the potential to change politics.

An extraordinary example of females in government, Mrs. de Jongh said, is Rwanda. Although the country’s head of state is a man, most of the other elected officials there are women. The difference in style has helped Rwanda make great strides.

“Rather than going to war, let’s talk about our differences and see what we can do,” continued on next page e woman magazine

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Mrs. de Jongh said. She said she particularly admires Rwandan first lady, Janet Kagame, who swayed her husband President Paul Kagame to bring together both sides of a bitter tribal dispute in one government.

That message played a large part in Mrs. de Jongh -along with co-founder Shaun Pennington - starting the Rwanda Project USVI, non-profit organization that raises funds to take Virgin Islands high school students to Rwanda every two years to educate and connect them to life in a country that has been devastated by genocide and disease.

The project first began in 2008 when a group of high school students wanted to explore ways to visit Rwanda in order to meet a 9-year-old girl they had sponsored and helped send to school.

These 11 students enlisted the help of de Jongh and their community and were able to travel to the war ravaged country and experience everyday life there. The initiative has piqued the interest of many in the local student body and the number of participants grew in 2010. The program is expected to be just as successful in 2012, during their third trip to the country that is still trying to mend the hurts of the past.

“I think [Kagame] is a great role model,” said Mrs. de Jongh. “The way that she leads . . .she was able to bring people in who were killing others and say the only way we’re going to get past this, is if we start to work together and trust each other.

“I know that came from her more so than her husband. Thinking: we’re only going to get to the next level together rather than trying to do to them what they did to us.”Other female leaders she admires, is the first female Secretary of State in the U.S. Madeline Albright and the current Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

The first lady notes that it is not always easy on public officials in general and particularly female, but admires the smart leaders who do rise to the occasion, even in the face of adversity.

“I think we have the opportunity to change the world, and certainly to change the region. The Caribbean has a lot to offer and having female leadership would be a really positive thing.”

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“Perhaps the only way it’s going to change is if women accept women,” Mrs. de Jongh said.

“There are more of us than there are men and if more women accepted women, I think that Hilary Clinton would be president today.

“Why I supported Barack Obama rather than Hilary Clinton [had] less to do with her being a woman than how I felt about her [and] I think that was the case for a lot of women.

“I was trying to figure out whether it was something where I really didn’t want a woman to lead the country, [but] I don’t have any issues with it at all. I would love to see a female in government here.”

Mrs. de Jongh takes a group of children from the United States Virgin Islands to Rwanda every two years for community service.

Still, she admits that maybe - in some sort of strange way – women are harder on other women because they expect females to be stronger than men in many instances. For example, Mrs. de Jongh says women exhibit that upper hand in multi-tasking better than men and remembers her days when she would grocery shop, take care of a baby and talk on the phone all at the same time.

Men, on the other hand, take their duties one task at a time.

It’s a case of men being from Mars and women coming from Venus, though she concedes that men are often times less critical of women.“When Bill Clinton was in trouble, I remember talking to my mother and she was like ‘that girl was just such a hussy’ and I asked what about him?” She said. “She was sort of . . . ‘if she didn’t go after him…what is he supposed to do? You know how those women always go after married men’ “It was interesting to hear that point of view.

I couldn’t convince her. I love Bill Clinton to death, but he had to accept equal responsibility too.”

Her statements come during a period where many cheating scandals have been uncovered involving men in the public eye. Mrs. De Jongh says her husband likes to refer to it as women just being smarter than men, but she counters it’s more that women are not likely to do in the dark what they would be afraid to come out in the light, while men are likely to think that no one will ever find out.

“Some men have this God complex,” she explained. “They think everybody loves me, no one is going to find out.

“It takes a certain mentality that you’re in a cocoon and no one can touch you and women think less that way.”

Looking at the trends in education, with women enrolling in and graduating from colleges and universities in greater numbers than men in many developed countries, Mrs. de Jongh anticipates there will be even more women in positions of leadership in the near future.

Making those kinds of strides is something she looks forward to. The savvy businesswoman encourages equal opportunity for everyone

and is happy to close the chapters on a time in life when women were not always able to follow their heart or dreams.

“It disturbs me when I hear people saying ‘I want my country back to what it was’ and they’re talking about a time when the country wasn’t nice to people of color,” said Mrs. de Jongh. “It was also a time when women were not treated as equals. Why would you want to go back to that?

considered a man’s duty. Her husband’s response? It’s easy to write a check. Her response? A trusty tool kit that she handles with ease.

Always being self sufficient is a piece of advice she gives even in a society where an increasing number of women make more money than the men in their lives.

“I don’t get that thinking and I’m hoping that’s not a majority of the people ....because that wasn’t such a great time.”

The philosophy that she got from her father of women having beauty, brains and brawns is one that she thinks will help women advance into more influential positions all over the world.

She also thinks that women have to be prepared for the shift in equality when it happens. For example, she explains how she is the one in her marriage who is sometimes better equipped to take care of a task traditionally

“I think we have the opportunity to change the world, and certainly to change the region,” said Mrs. de Jongh. “The Caribbean has a lot to offer and having female leadership would be a really positive thing.” 

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Quiet

moments

The so many wonderfully written Caribbean titles

often go unnoticed by the wider world and for that matter, sometimes hardly see the light of day even in the region. We would like to share some of these amazing works with you and hope that through our e-reviews, you find some quiet time to enjoy them too. Some are available via your e readers, and some you’ll have to literally launch a hunt for, but they will all be worth the effort, we promise.

These first three, are a few of Omo’s favourites and one not so favourite.

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Quiet

moments

Just An Affair

by Eugenia O’Neal

As a Trini/British Virgin Islands belonger now living, working and growing in the British Virgin Islands, I was excited at the prospect of reading a book that was not only authored by a BV Islander but actually set in the BVI. I was not at all disappointed, as Eugenia O’Neal succeeded in taking what could perhaps be considered a predictable romantic storyline, replete with a married ex-lover, amnesia and a handsome, rich, single suitor and refreshed it by infusing the narrative with historical information about the BVI, as well as colourful descriptions of the BVIs natural beauty and some of its more popular tourist attractions. I found myself nodding at many junctures in recognition of a well-known restaurant or an ofttravelled route. I was also drawn-in by the relevant portrayals of the challenges of being in love and the sometimes inevitable hurt that ensues and appreciated that such emotions are not restricted to women in the Caribbean. Caryl was from the United States of America but as her character was developed in the book, I was easily able to identify with her as a young lawyer bruised by the unpredictability of life.

The Manley Memoirs

by Beverly Manley The title of this book, coupled with the fact that it is written by the fourth of Michael Manley’s five wives, is enough to entice any prospective reader with the hope of learning the gory details of a Prime Minister’s love affair gone sour.

Surprisingly, there is much more to digest than the initial lure. This memoir edifies the reader with painstaking detail and attention given to the history of Jamaican politics and the undeniable impact it has had on Jamaica’s present economic situation. It also explores the crassness of the light-skinned vs. dark-skinned debate that still plagues Jamaica and the wider Caribbean today and the impact of the style and level of intimacy used by parents on their children’s development. Although Beverly’s musings begin slowly and are sometimes uncomfortably personal, the drive to know what happened between her and Mr. Manley will propel you through the pages and to the end of this autobiography with a deeper yearning to know more about the issues highlighted than of the personal lives of the Manleys.

Lucy

by Jamaica Kincaid It would be a farce to describe this as one of Kincaid’s books which I enjoyed. It rambled on with the tenacity of oil and water but I plodded through with the determination of getting to the point where I could get the point. If it were not for the blurb on the back cover, I would be none-the-wiser as to what Lucy was about.

What I am sure of, is that Lucy was very confused and only seemed to gain clarity after she left the job which took her to the United States of America and became roommates with her pseudo best friend. Anything more than that would be speculation on my part but perhaps that’s why you should read it to form your own opinion.

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We are travelling around the region, covering all of the fashion week events.

First stop, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.

Caribbean models strut their stuff in wispy blouses and dress shorts, quilted dresses and pencil pants.

Dana Church-Brown Baltimore, Maryland

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Judith Rawlins, Brown Sugar -Â St. Kitts

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Kola Zubair, Kozby World - Nigeria

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Kola Zubair, Kozby World - Nigeria

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Omonike’s Story

by Kaletha Henry

“Getting cancer, I feel, is the best thing that could’ve happened to me spiritually ”~ Omonike Robinson-Pickering The first loc fell out while Omonike Robinson-Pickering was in the middle of twirling it around her fingers. Like many women, she toyed with her hair – and loved it. She twisted the coils and embraced their natural texture. Inch-by-inch, they became a part of her identity and through each nurturing touch a deeper affinity for them developed.

Having watched them grow over the years, she couldn’t wait for the day when they reached the middle of her back. Yet, her locs would never achieve that length. Over the course of a few days, one fallen loc led to three and then five and her hair just kept getting more and more sparse. “I would touch my hair and it would just literally shed,” said Omonike.

Eventually, her thick forest of hair became less dense and the telltale signs of hair loss became more pronounced.

Secretly, she had hoped and assumed that her diagnosis would miraculously somehow preclude her from losing her mane. But, the day arrived and a decision was made. Omonike took hold of her situation and with her mother by her side, chopped her locs to the root, and allowed the barber to shave the rest. “It was painful losing my hair. I cried, but there was no point longing for it and wishing that I had it; it was done,” she said in her melodic Trinidadian accent.

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“I remind myself that I’m powerful, smart, sexy, and super-duper amazing,”

Making the bold move brought a little peace; however, at 26-years-old she was still a young woman who needed to maintain a sense of glamour and flair. So she decided to wear a wig, but quickly realised that being bald allowed people to focus more on her face and surprisingly, it made her feel sexier. “If in your nakedness people can still see your beauty, that’s amazing,” she exclaimed.

An examination leads to a re-examination of life

In the Fall of 2007, Omonike discovered a lump under her left arm. Doctors conducted a biopsy and while in the middle of studying for her law degree, she received the life-altering news: results showed her tissue was malignant, that she had breast cancer. “Even after I had my surgery, I had barely given much thought to the possibility of that diagnosis but I was not at all fazed. I think he (the doctor) was surprised by my calm reaction. Maybe I was shocked, stunned – I don’t know, but I heard what he said and resolved that come what may I would deal with it because, as a praying woman, I know that God is always with me,” she wrote in her journal.

Although she kept her calm, the news was hard for her loved ones to swallow. “My mom was devastated,” she said.

According to Omonike she handled her diagnosis with a lot of grace and dignity. The eye-opening experience has made her realise that life is short and everything will not be lived in perfection.

You have the power to define your own pretty

“Beauty comes from within just like happiness. It’s in the eye of the beholder,” Omonike said. “That saying is cliché, but true.

Everything is beautiful it just depends on how you see it.”

The Caribbean is filled with beautiful women.

No one can rightfully dispute that notion. What they may try to defend is their perspective on what they consider beautiful and why.

Omonike believes perceptions of beauty have a lot to do with the way people are raised and in the manner they’re exposed to other cultures, races and ethnicities. Growing up in Trinidad and the British Virgin Islands her image of beauty is not as skewed as the perceptions held by many others in the Caribbean region. “I find that in Trinidad there’s such a mingling of different races that beauty cannot be defined by colour, hair texture or ethnicity.

In Guyana, there’s a large Indian and African mix. There is also a lot of diversity in Jamaica.

There are still some stereotypes that complexion is important, that lighter is better, but I don’t believe skin colour is important. The Caribbean is such a callaloo,” she said.

Highs, lows and moments in between

There is an ugly side to cancer that many people are apprehensive to share, but Omonike is an open book. The invasive chemicals and medications used to rid her body of cancer cells also killed some of her healthy cells as evidenced by the loss of most of her body hair and all of her pubic hair, but the moment she

began to feel most unattractive was when her eyelashes and eyebrows began to disappear.

“Chemotherapy strips you to the core,” Omonike said. But, through solace from an extensive network of family and friends, a remarkably candid sense of humour has blossomed.

“When my hair started growing back, I felt it was such a pain because I then had to use hair remover again,” she said with a big grin.

“I grew accustomed to not having hair.”

Aside from hair loss, a separate challenge has been rapid weight gain – a side effect from medication, which has been hard for her to control.

Her treatments also have the ability to affect fertility and cause damage to her reproductive organs. As a result, she has been taking medicine to suppress her ovaries and will continue taking it for two more years at which time she will have to be further evaluated. In the meantime, her physicians have stated their instructions. “I’ve been asked to kindly refrain from “attempting” to have children [until then],” Omonike said.

An attorney excelling professionally

If Omonike sees it, she goes after it. As the daughter of the former High Commissioner to Ottawa, Camille Robinson-Regis, she never allowed her circumstances to incapacitate her or prevent her from becoming a commercial lawyer. After years of hard work and stellar grades she completed her studies and earned an Honours Degree in Law from the University of the West Indies and a Legal Education Certificate with Honours from the Hugh Wooding Law

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School in Trinidad. In 2009 she became an Associate at Walkers, a leading offshore law firm. Based in the British Virgin Islands, she practices in a wide range of finance, general corporate and commercial matters.

As she continues her corporate climb, Omonike credits her mother for being the dynamic role model who taught her the meaning of discipline. “My mom is a hardworking former minister, phenomenal wife, a gracious ambassador and an exemplary mother,” she said, adding that because of her mother’s example she feels she can do anything.

If discouragement tries to surface, Omonike nips it in the bud.

“I remind myself that I’m powerful, smart, sexy, and super-duper amazing,” she said with a big friendly smile.

Omonike’s father, Dr. Kedrick Pickering – a well-know obstetrician/ gynecologist, and politician in the British Virgin Islands brought balance to his daughter’s well-rounded upbringing; he demonstrated the importance of ambition and determination. “My father is a selfmade man who taught me to work hard and not allow circumstances to determine my future,’ she said.

A new comfort zone and perspective

Three years after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Omonike lives in tranquility and seclusion, nestled by the beauty of nature.

From her verandah you can view the ocean’s intense sapphire waves crashing into the rocks and between thickets of lush greenery, the sandy shoreline of the Caribbean Sea. Her home is her sanctuary and after an arduous journey she has been able to find clarity through faith and prayer. “Getting cancer, I feel, is the best thing that could have happened to me spiritually,” she said.

“It’s made me see how God’s been present and worked in every aspect of my life during the treatment.”

Omonike doesn’t consider herself a health advocate, but she is a messenger who wants other young women to know that they are not immune to getting the disease and if it happens, “Know that you’re not alone and that you’re feelings aren’t unique,” she said.

“Surround yourself with positive people.”

To encourage more lively and pertinent discussions on breast cancer in younger women, she has spoken publicly about her experience; she’s been featured in the media, addressed audiences and participated in breast cancer awareness projects.

As she strives to inspire other people, she’s also fulfilling her dreams and aspirations by purchasing land on one of Tortola’s most beautiful mountainsides, making a name for herself professionally, and preparing herself for a life partner. “I want to love and be loved in return and I want that crazy love,” she beamed.  52

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joy

Sugar Spice and all things nice

In the Caribbean, it used to be customary for young girls to learn to make all of the sugar treats! We don’t all get around to making them that much anymore, but we sure do love them still and they are in special abundance at Christmas time.

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Dried fruit, Rum, Brandy, Wine and lots of spice make this Black Cake a special Christmas item. It is most common in Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and the Virgin Islands. It is very dense, but delicious and served in slivers.

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Guava tarts are always delicious, but at Christmas time they just seem to take on a special identity. These are usually shipped from the Virgin Islands to all parts of the United States as part of “the� Christmas package.

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Benne (sesame), coconut, peanut, milk, sugar cakes.

These little morsels have always been a staple in Caribbean life, though with the flood of American candies, only adults who can reminisce on childhood experiences seem to gravitate toward them.

And, even then there is still never enough.

This beautiful wine red beverage is derived from the sepal flowers of the sorrel plant.

It is fruity and fragrant and is especially good the longer it is allowed to steep in the refrigerator. For a really beautiful flavour, add a couple shots of good rum before serving.

Sorrel makes Christmas real in places like Trinidad and Jamaica.

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Coconut tarts are common throughout the region, though there are different ways of making them. In the Bahamas, the crust is thick and more like cake and in the Virgin Islands, it depends on who makes them. The crust can be like cake or it can be more like a pie crust. Some people make them like hot pocket, thick, sugary coconut, spiced just right and enveloped in a nice flaky pastry.

Guavaberry Wine— or Guavaberry Liqueur is one of those special things that you don’t necessarily find every Christmas, but when you do it is a true delight. The fruit is not so readily available anymore, so any one serving this at a Christmas party is the subject of much envy.

Guavaberry liqueur is also delicious served over ice cream.

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Recipes Sorrel Drink Ingredients: For 10 servings: 8 ounces dried sorrel 12 whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks

The peel of one orange 1 ½ cups of granulated sugar 10-12 cups of sugar

Directions: Bring 10 cups of water to a boil then add remaining ingredients, stirring continuously for approximately one minute.

Cool and cover with foil or plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature to steep for 2 hours or overnight. For a richer flavour, allow to steep for up to two days.

Taste for strength and sweetness. If it is too potent, add water or if too tart add more sugar. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve into a jar and refrigerate. NB. The longer sorrel is refrigerated, the greater the flavour. A ¼ cup of rum and ½ teas of cinnamon may also be added for a more grown up flavour.

Guavaberry Liqueur Ingredients: For 24 servings: 1 lb yellow guavaberries 1 lb red guavaberries 1 lb prunes 1 lb raisins

½ lb fresh ginger 1 lb brown sugar 3 vanilla beans 3 cinnamon sticks 2 (750ml) bottles of rum

Directions: Rinse berries well. Clean by popping and removing seeds.

Rinse seeds, strain and save liquid. Put seedless berries into a large pot, but reserve ½-cup yellow and ½-cup red berries for later use.

Add liquid saved from rinsing seeds into the pot and add brown sugar.

Boil mixture until berries are soft. The juice should be a medium syrup consistency or sticky when cool. Mash or grind berries that were saved and mix with strongest old rum available. To the cooled mixture, add remaining ingredients. Pour into bottles, cork and wire down securely. Store in a dark place for several months. When guavaberry liqueur is fully ripened (the taste will tell), strain and re-bottle for use.

Coconut Sugar Cakes Ingredients: 4 Cups Granulated Sugar ½ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 Cup water 1 tsp. Almond extract 4 Cups grated coconut (brown parts Food colouring (optional) removed) Directions: Boil sugar and water to form a light syrup. When bubbles the size of small pearls appear, add grated coconut and cream of tartar When the coconut mixture comes away clean from the sides of the pan, remove from the heat and beat with a a spoon for 3-5 minutes Add almond extract and food colouring if desired.

Drop by spoon on a greased cookie tray. Allow to harden completely.

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Marlene’s Black Cake Ingredients-Fruit Mixture: 3 lbs. dark raisins 3 lbs. pitted prunes 2 lbs. currants 1 lb. mixed candied peel 1 lb. glazed cherrie

½ cup dark molasses 1 bottle dark rum 1 1/2 bottles brandy 1 bottle guava berry liqueur (or Concord grape wine)

Grind the raisins, prunes and candied peel in the food processor, adding some of the rum and brandy while processing (this helps to get the liquor flavor into the fruit when you are in a hurry to bake the cake). Also, save the half bottle of brandy for pouring on the cakes while they are still piping hot. Place the ground fruit in a large stainless steel or china or glass container. Cut the cherries in two and add to the ground fruit along with the currants. Add the molasses, liqueur or wine and any more rum which may be left in the bottle. Let soak either overnight or as long as you wish.

For the batter: ½ lb. butter ½ lb. Crisco shortening 2 cups dark brown sugar ½ cup dark brown sugar for burning to add as colouring (or you may use a tablespoon of store bought browning) 8 eggs 5 cups flour

1 tsp. each baking powder and baking soda 2 tbsp. almond essence 2 tbsp. vanilla essence 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 tsp. ground mace 1 tsp. ground clove 1 tsp. cardamom 1 lb. ground walnuts

Cream fats with sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time and beat well. Sift all dry ingredients together and add alternately to the creamed mixture with a little rum or brandy. Add the colouring and the nuts. Mix in all of the fruit.

The batter should not be too stiff and not too runny either. If it is too stiff, you may add a little water to get it to the right consistency.

Pour into 3 ten inch pans which have been greased and lined with either brown or wax paper. Bake at 250 degrees for about 2 to three hours, depending on the thickness of the cakes.

Wet with brandy as soon as they come out of the oven, while they are still piping hot and you won’t need to wet them again. When they are completely cooled, wrap in saran wrap first and then in foil and they will keep for months.

Brown Sugar Fudge Ingredients 2 cups brown sugar ¾ cup evaporated milk 1 tbsp butter 1 tsp vanilla Directions Combine sugar and milk and cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until soft ball stage (small amounts of mixture dropped into cold water forms a ball) Remove from heat; add butter and cool Add vanilla; beat vigorously for about 5 minutes or more until mixture is thick and no longer glossy.

Pour into a greased dish and spread evenly Cool until firm and cut into squares

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The leading Home DĂŠcor Store in the Bahamas turns 10 and Fabulous

By Inderia Saunders Tranquility envelops you. Like a warm blanket on a cold night, it’s all encompassing, shutting out the busy traffic sounds of the outside world and tucking you into its cozy corner. The space is breathtakingly inviting, just the kind of spot to lay your head down for one of those decadent mid-day naps one always dreams of. Oddly enough, its location in an active retail zone is far from sleepy. Yet, somehow, it manages to be snuggly - quite a contradiction to its name: The Prickle Patch.Indeed, the retail design store has made waves over the past ten years with up market Bahamians, a group that clamoured for

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decorating options more directly tailored to their lifestyles. And in 2001 - like Cinderella’s fairy godmother – owner, Agnes Kemp came forward and fulfilled that desire and created what is arguably Nassau’s most reputable home decor store, with an equally catching signature. “She decided this was the perfect name . . . an unusual name to capture her customers the same way her distinctive items and designs do,” Manager Kiteshla Bonaby explained. “She envisioned someone walking through a prickle patch; realizing that it is almost impossible for one to escape without getting a prickle on ones clothing.” “The simple fact is that, one cannot leave the store with empty hands. Something will capture you.”It’s a tried and true method that was first tested 10 years earlier by a curious Kemp, who wanted to both whet the appetite for such a store and gauge the response.

Having an effortless knack of arranging simple flowers into awe inspiring pieces, she would host groups of well placed society women in home shows featuring her floral creations.

It was at these preferred social events that Kemp – the sole proprietor - realized there was an absence of any real high quality, exclusive décor stores in the city. So, with the seed of a possibly fruitful business venture now planted and no guarantee of success, she went ahead with this concept store, now known throughout the islands.At that time, the Prickle Patch - like many other great business ventures – had to start out taking baby steps, eventually picking up stride as its reputation grew. “The store was a huge success from day one,” Bonaby said.

“From the very beginning, we have carried unique, quality pieces that are desired by the Bahamian of discriminating taste. We have since gained a reputation as Nassau’s premier home décor store.”

A brief glance inside reveals carefully placed flowers everywhere, with scents of lavender, plumeria and pomegranate tantalizing upon entrance. Plush furniture sets adorn the corners of the rooms in posh colors and luxurious fabrics, as artfully placed paintings evoke

Manager Kiteshla Bonaby

images of dream homes and quality lifestyles.

There’s a plethora of home décor items throughout the first floor of the store. And, there is more upstairs – elegant furniture pieces that stroke the heart’s desire in a variety of tastes and styles.It’s a long way from when the store first opened its grand doors a decade earlier, as a smaller, starter boutique not even a mile away from its new location on the Tonique Williams-Darling highway.

Bonaby hints at the growth, saying “we initially featured more silk floral pieces along with décor accents and Christmas ornaments.”

Then, the store was particularly known for having a firm hold on the niche Christmas market in the country, attracting hundreds of customers during the season. It’s a trend that continues during the month of December, with customers still storming throughout the store for those special decorations that make the time so special. Gradually, the other items were introduced in the store: the fresh floral and home scents, furniture sets and accent pieces and its latest addition - the clothing boutique.Tucked away upstairs – in a cozy little room of its own – are racks of the trendiest clothing. It’s diversification that – coincidentally – came during a recession that saw many cut back on luxury items as the cost of living

spiked.The addition of a clothing department in the store can go a long way in drawing customers to one place for multiple shopping experiences – as good a way to ride the recession as any.“Every business has been affected in some way by the economic decline,” Bonaby said. “This has encouraged us to operate differently and focus on our strengths, [which are] great products and great customer service.”She maintains its been their driving force during the economic downturn that saw many like businesses crumble.“We have heard customers speak of “peace” and “tranquility” when they walk through our doors,” Bonaby said. “This is what they seek to achieve at home. They don’t mind spending a few dollars for that retreat away from the harsh realities of life.”

There are now designs to grow the number of patrons in upcoming years, with expansions to other islands in The Bahamas now being explored. While a timeline has yet to be decided, the move will answer calls for more businesses to consider markets outside of main cities like Nassau. They are areas starved for quality retailers that offer those one-of-a-kind pieces that the Prickle Patch is now known for.

Kemp is also now considering a bigger move to countries in the Caribbean, a move set to take the brand of the store to another level, though an announcement on exact locations will come at a much later date.“We are continuing to review the market,” said Bonaby. “We believe that our brand is a moderately high end one whereby we can meet the customers need for decorating at any level. Hence our slogan: “the home décor store for every occasion.”And with ten years under its belt, the slogan is more of a commitment for the store and its employees.

The theory has proven quite practical for the boutique in recent years, which boasts the customer base and shopper numbers to prove it. Over the years, Bonaby says there have been thousands of customers that have passed through its doors. She is quick to add that they all left with a “prickle” from the Patch. 

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Baskets of Love In December of 2010, the Women’s Empowerment Summit launched “Baskets of Love” on Tortola, British Virgin Islands, a project geared toward making the Christmas season more enjoyable for the elderly who have either been neglected by their loved ones or who simply do not have anyone to bestow upon them the smallest of gifts and kindness.

With the help of our friends and community partners, we were able to assemble baskets and deliver them to several homes, sing songs of Christmas cheer and make these folks feel special.

At a time when we can all become totally consumed with ourselves and our own relatively small problems, we invite you to take a moment this season to share an act of kindness with a neighbour or a friend. If you are unable to give a basket, give what you can. If you are able, start a “Baskets of Love” program wherever you are. You may choose a school in the Bahamas, a hospital in St. Lucia, a small community in Jamaica, a group of elderly folks in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Whatever you decide, do it with love. 

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ART EXHIBITION

life

The Public Treasury Art Program (PTAP) of the Bahamas launches an all female art exhibition, showcasing the work of 25 very talented women. This inaugural launch, organised by women for women is a true celebration of the Bahamian female spirit.

Bahama Mama One of the biggest developments in the Bahamian female artists’ movement began with a concept that had absolutely nothing to do with women. Not one woman at all.

And, that was the genesis behind the Public Treasury Art Program’s inaugural art exhibition, Bahama Mama, featuring 25 female artists from throughout the country.

The seed for the five-month exhibition was planted in 2008, when the “Artists of The Bahamas” film was released, exploring the lives of local artists who contributed to the art movement in The Bahamas. It was an elaborate 90-minute film that honored the talents of many and gave deserving attention to the artists involved.

There was only one problem with that documentary: The absence of artists with a feminine touch. Literally!

“When I heard that, I was taken aback,” says exhibition Curator and participant Keisha Oliver. “It was an all male art exhibition really, but it was supposed to be for all artists in The Bahamas.”

The idea of what that meant for female artists and their works was just too much to bear for Oliver. And when the opportunity came in the manner of launching PTAP‘s new art initiative, meant to diplay the works of various forms of art, Oliver and a team of other integral players jumped at the opportunity to kick this exhibition off with a feminine flare. The show features not only works from visual artists but literary artists as well. eWoman shares with you four of the many talented artists and their works that are a part of this inaugural launch. Here are our Baha Mamas. e woman magazine

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Dede Brown — artist “To date, these are my strongest portraits.” Brown was inspired by Ms. Bernice ‘Nicey’ Elizabeth Brown, a housekeeper of 20 years who gave birth to more than 10 children, having outlived all but three of them.Through a combination of India ink and acrylic, she spent four to six hours on each piece, bringing her subject to life in her art in an impactful way. It was worth it, says Brown, because Ms. Nicey epitomizes “that good ole Bahamian woman.

Sacha Hadland — photographer “I stay away from digital manipulation. I want to master the craft.”Capturing the beauty of everyday life in her photography, Hadland calls herself more of a street photographer. The use of natural lighting weighs heavily on her work, as she tries to photograph those special moments. Her piece “In Bloom” captures Hadland’s eight-month pregnant friend reflecting on pending motherhood.

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Keisha Oliver — freelance designer “I don’t really brand myself as an artist. I say I dabble in the arts.”

Transforming a space like the one PTAP pulled off could cost anywhere in the hundreds of thousands. Oliver is happy to be a part of a cause that helps both defray the cost of decorating the new government building as well as give local artists a place to show their work.

Her exhibition piece is a tribute to musician and junkanoo queen Maureen Duvalier.

Apryl Burrows — fashion designer “I am inspired by everything from underwater gardens to architecture and social issues. I find inspiration sometimes in a person; in their story.”Burrows wants her fashion art to tell a story. Stories about women, or a woman who is the bedrock of the family. A devoted mother, grandmother, aunt; a Christian woman who draws strength from worshiping at church and from her fellow “sisters” adorned in their white ensembles as an outward sign of their dedication to the church and the community. She wants viewers of her artwork to think of the women in their own lives that continue to put on their ‘armor’ and stand in the gap for them. It’s all an effort to help that lady be more appreciated.

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The Women’s Empowerment Summit, Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort, April 27th, 2011

Lisa Nichols

Inderia Saunders interviews Hon. Paula Cox, Premier of Bermuda

U.S. Ambassador, Hon. Nicole Avant with student guests

U.S. Ambassador Hon. Nicole Avant

Deana Feaste, Lisa Nichols

Tada

Left to Right: Mavis Collie, Tracey Thompson, Jacinta Higgs, Lisa Nichols, Olivia Saunders, Portia Harrigan, Tania Dixon, Lowena West

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Portia Harrigan

Left to Right: Desiree Roberts, Portia Harrigan, Lisa Nichols, Rahel Worede, Lowena West

Left to Right: Hon. Jacinta Higgs,Bahamas, Portia Harrigan, Students from Acklins, Bahamas

Left to Right: Cherrylee Pinder, Dr. Tracey Thompson, Portia Harrigan, Monique Hinsey, Hon. Allison Maynard Gibson, Dorcas Cox

Desiree Roberts Hon. Paula Cox, Premier of Bermuda

Left to Right: Vernice Walkine, Yvette Ingraham, Deborah Bartlette, Felicity Ingraham

Nikita Shiel-Rolle, Summit Awardee

Hon. Loretta ButlerTurner, Bahamas

Portia Harrigan, Hon. Paula Cox, Premier of Bermuda

Left to Right: Kirk Johnson, Desiree Roberts, Kevin Harris, Sean Innis

Summit Attendees

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jo Crebbin / Shutterstock.com

jo Crebbin / Shutterstock.com

November 2011 through February 2012 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC)

November 20 to December 17, Rodney Bay Marina, St. Lucia

Christmas on Main Street

December, 02nd through December 03rd, 2011, Main St., Tortola, BVI

The Christmas Festival at the Prickle Patch

December 03rd, 2011, Tonique Williams-Darling Highway, Nassau, Bahamas

National Day - Festival of Lights December 13 , St. Lucia

Boxing Day Junkanoo

December 26th, 2011, Bay Street, Nassau , Bahamas

New Year’s Junkanoo

January 02nd, 2012, Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas

St. Croix Christmas Festival

December 29th, 2011 to January 08th, 2012, Fredericksted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival January 26th, 2012 to January 28, 2012 Montego Bay Greenfield Stadium, Trelawny

Carnival

February 20th through 21st, 2012, Trinidad and Tobago

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Beauty undefined Available exclusively at

Tonique Williams Darling Highway Nassau, Bahamas 242 356 7502 Like Us On:

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