BEAUTY + WELLNESS
BEAUTY + WELLNESS
JULY 2020
JULY 2020
Magazine
Contents
Lifestyle
Beauty
Wellness
Fashion
Food
Business
Learn more about the Unforgivingly Pur. Story
Discover Music, Herbs & Expand Your Mind With
Activities
How Much Does Fashion Play a Role In Our Lives?
A Necessity, Find Summer Ready Recipes
Amazing Women And Powerhouses Doing Great
Things For Our Community
Skin Care + Hair Care + Tips
Lifestyle
Tune in to the weekly
podcast on spotify, &
Itunes, or find your
copy on Amazon
To Hear More of This Story
Nobody tells you how to survive after a piece of you has died
cause they dont know what to say
How do you tell somebody to smile through the heartbreak
How do you tell somebody to breathe through the storm
How do you tell somebody that their mind wont betray them
This guilt
This guilt was a rotten stench I couldn't wait to get rid of
Yet I accepted at the same time
Comfortably
Guilt encompassed me
Shame startled me
Diaster, disappointment and disgrace became me until it didnt
stink no more
I survived
I survived
The traumas, dramas and death of my spirit
Lay broken like childhood dreams
Adolescence stolen
Yet I fought to survive
I fought to be free
My son saved me
Love kept us together
Faith pulled us furthur
Memories of your hugs & smooth dances
Pranced east to west
Your body begged for rest
The stillness of your air as I held you
Your last breath blew against my heartBlue sky above
You sleep peacefully
And I wished it were me instead
But I survived
Why
Why is a question I cannot get the answer to
I dont even want the answer to tell you the truth
I just want him
My son
My life
My best friend
My identity
I want it back
Without him who am I?
With every moment of happiness
I witness the emotional change inside
It's exhausting
Being happy without him doesnt seem fair
Doesnt seem like it should be
Not with me
See
We made a promise to live life to the fullest
He fulfilled his purpose and moved on past me and left me full of
jealousy that he was too good for this earth
I've searched for earthly treasures
They seem to change as often as Canadian weather
Fleeting
Leaving me empty
I feel invisible in a crowd
Laughter sometimes feels way too loud
My bed is more than jus a home,
It's where I belong as I contemplate life
Why is it that colors fade as time goes on?
Cola
God, help me
God lent me my son
Let me be a part of his light
It beamed so so bright
I was blinded and forgot that he was on loan
Now hes gone home
And I want him back
A fruit of my womb
An inheritance of smiles
Lessons of gratitude
Rewarded by his attitude
I wanna be mad and rude
Yet I stay silent
I lack understanding so I'm praying for peace
I need a new lease on life if I'm gonna keep pushing
Pushing my feelings aside & inside
Cause a color collide
Giving root to a periodic pain
That hits me like waves
Rough ocean type
That bury me
Water in my nose
I cant breath
These waves seem taller than me, 5'3
I'm drowning in feelings and stages,
Trapped in emotional cages
Mentally stewing
Numbingly alive
The size of the lies I tell myself keep growin
I say I'm ok
I say dont be happy
They say Keep smiling
I think Sadness is life
You say Act normal
I say Keep it together
To get her wisdom is to breathe honesty
It's ok not to be ok
Some moments will knock me right out
Getting up before the bell is all that counts
Learning to walk on water
Is the gift God is giving me as a replacement for the sadness
Emotionally bleeding
Plauged by memories
Takin up rent for free
It's a poison I will no longer drink
If I could just push through and touch
I knocked, He opened
I cried, He listened
A witness to my pain
My father's changing the game
Breath deeply
I am no longer the same
I'm breaking up with unforgiveness and shame
Partnering with forgiveness, love, acceptance & balanced sleep
Must quench the search for my existence
I exist for a reason
I'm still living through the seasons
Cola
My reason to live is to love in spite of my
situation
Despite what life continues to challenge me
with
I am not only surviving
I am thriving
Unconditional love is freeing me
Freeing my mind
Forcing me to ask myself questions
Who do I have left to give to?
What is my reason to live?
Where can I be the most impactful?
Why am I so passionate?
When it's my time to go, will I be ready?
How can I live forever?
Today
I decided to live
Washed my face, walked out the door and felt
taller
Today
I decided to Love again
Cause Love runs so much deeper than the grave
I am no longer a slave
To guilt
Survivour's Guilt
Cola
Strolling through
city streets
Don't leave home without protection
Beauty
w w w . u n f o r g i v i n g l y p u r . c o m
So, if you grew up anything like me then skincare
wasn’t really anything more than, “Yuh wash yuh face ah
mawnin?” Translation: “Did you wash your face this
morning?” And that was pretty much left up to your own
interpretation of “wash”. That could be the splash of water
used mainly to get the sleep out of your eye and the trail
of drool of your cheek. Or if soap was actually involved,
then it was whatever bar soap is near-by just to get the
job done quickly. Don’t forget the moisturizer of choice
was either Vaseline or “white cream” aka hydrocortisone
which (for those who don’t know) is a prescribed steroid
cream that everyone had laying around (usually one
prescription that everyone shared) and used for pretty
much any skin issue. It wasn’t until in later teen years did I
purchase an actual cleanser and moisturizer from
Shopper’s Drug Mart but still had no sense of routine and
wondered why I wasn’t getting desired results. Crazy
right!
Ok so let’s fast forward to when I finally came
to my senses and decided to get a routine going…which
was only about 2 years ago. Disclaimer: if you are just
getting into skincare, it can be super overwhelming, and
everyone with a 12-step routine thinks they are a
specialist. Anyways, one night as I deep dived into
YouTube University I stumbled across a video from Nay
aka @labeautyologist that changed the whole game!
She is a professional aesthetician out in L.A. who created
the #60SecondRule as a proven method to cleansing your
face for best results. She explains in the video that all you
need is your fingers + time… simple as that! No expensive
devices, no brushes, no over complicated techniques. It’s
the warmth from your fingers that helps the product
penetrate the skin and the time allows for the amazing
active ingredients in your products to work before you wash
it down the sink. We sometimes spend so much money on
these products to work miracles only to give them 20
secs max. to work their magic. Since I’ve added this 1
simple technique to my routine it has made all the
difference. I used to be plagued by blackheads on my
cheeks and small bumps on my forehead that have now
disappeared. I used to think that I needed the fancy
brushes and ultrasonic whatever to get the results I was
looking for… not anymore.
BEAUTY SIMPLIFIED
Glowing Skin In A Few Easy Steps
It's Here
Photography done by Motion 6ix media.
101
Contrary to popular belief, skincare doesn’t have to or need to be complicated for you
to have clear skin. With all the different trends and products in the market today, it’s
easy to get overwhelmed. So, let’s break this down.
We are exposed to pollution, dirt, dust, oil and
sweat throughout the day. It's important to cleanse
your face at least once a day preferably at night to
allow your skin to breathe.
Don’t: Use bar soaps (yes, including African Black
Soap) because their pH is too high to maintain
healthy skin barrier which can cause dull, dry, irritated
skin overtime.
Do: Get a cleanser that is gentle and pH balanced. If
it has active ingredients like fruit acids (AHAs) then
you will get gentle exfoliation while you cleanse,
great for glowing, even skin tones.
*Skincare products are usually pH balanced (between 4.5-
7) but you can buy pH strips to test your own products if
you're unsure.
Hydration is crucial for healthy skin, periodt. A toner
will hydrate skin and allow for deeper absorption of
active ingredients.
Don’t: Skip this step.
Do: Throw away all toners with alcohol or witch
hazel. Both can lead to increased oil production,
acne, and inflammation.
Do: Get you a hydrating toner that is more than just
rose water (sorry, not sorry). A proper hydrating
toner has water + humectants (ingredients that bind
water to skin). Ingredients like glycerin, aloe, urea
and hyaluronic acid etc. will draw water into the skin
and hold it there keeping skin hydrated and looking
plump.
Bonus: Quinoa protein has exceptional hydrating and skin
repairing properties; find this key ingredient in
Unforgivingly Pur.’s Toner.
Toner
Face scrub
The first step to clear skin
Vital step that most ignore
If you have skin then this is a must
Skin cells are always dying, shedding
and clogging pores. A scrub allows for
you to remove the top layer of dead
cells to reveal smooth, fresh looking
skin.
Don’t: Use St. Ives Apricot scrub!!! Oh,
and don’t scrub every day.
Do: Exfoliate at least once a week.
Twice if you have facial hair to keep
the hair follicle clear and reduce
ingrown hair bumps.
Moisturize
The Cherry on top
Whether you prefer to use a moisturizer
or a face oil, the purpose of this step is
to lock in all that delicious hydration into
your skin and allow your natural glow to
shine.
Don’t: Skip this step because you think
your skin is too oily or apply directly to
dry skin.
Do: Find a moisturizer that is right for
your skin type and use toner to dampen
skin before application.
Click each box to learn more about Unforgivingly Pur.'s skincare line.
Cleanser
C U R L S
A N D
C O N F I D E N C E
3 Q U I C K H A I R C A R E T I P S
Let's talk hair care with Christina Piazza
CEO of Curls & Confidence
urls and Confidence is an indie beauty brand
boutique selling natural hair products for curly hair
Canadians. They launched in 2016 as a subscription box
featuring new brands and introducing them to the
Canadian curly market and later began to sell the brands
they had once featured on their on-line store making
them their Canadian distributor. We sat down with
Christina Piazza to learn more about her inspiration and
hair care, of course.
What is something that has inspired you lately?
I get inspired by almost everything, from my morning
prayer to my nightly rollerblade session. I've learned to
constantly be around people and things that bring me joy
and feed my soul. Most of my inspiration comes from the
books I read, most recently 'Dare to Lead' by Brene
Brown, heartwarming and challenging calling on us to face
adversity, to get back up after falling down and continue
to rise above our fears and our critiques. It's important to
block out and remove anyone or anything that tells you,
you can't, some lead with fear, others lead with faith, I
chose faith every time.
My fellow entrepreneurs are part of my inspiration, since
my own entrepreneurial journey, I've learned you either fly
with the eagles or cluck like chickens. Flying solo is hard,
but finding your tribe of like-minded friends who will
support your early bed-time and early mornings, your
crazy new venture, encourage you to not give up after
stumbling- that is imperative for your success. In short,
constantly being around those that inspire you and always
find little ways to keep inspiring yourself. You have to be
your own biggest fan.
C
What do you love about your business?
What I love most about my business is being able to
serve our clients and also the personal growth from
building a business. I thought I was whole and
complete when I started, I had something to
contribute. While embracing the journey I also
realized I had holes and insecurities, I had to take a
good look at myself on a holistic scale. "How can I get
better?" I love my business but in order to grow you
also have to improve, my business challenged my
identity, my communication style, my mindset, my
relationship with money, it was a full transformation.
There are times when I would get overwhelmed and I
would say to myself "Who told you you could do
this?", that's the voice of fear and insecurity creeping
in. Then I would hear a client review, or a client would
call me ecstatic about their order, someone would
post about their box or the results from the products,
or just reach out to say "I see you and the work you
do". Then I just say " That is why you do what you do"
and keep pushing forward. That is what I love about
my business, its never easy but it is always worth it.
What are 3 quick hair care tips?
1. Always always use a detangling brush when your
washing with conditioner, applying a mask, & using
your leave in. Invest in a brush that glides through
your hair with ease.
2. Always apply product on wet/damp hair. Not only
is this how you trap moisture in but it's always how to
get the most out of your products.
3. Apply oils on the scalp and the hair often.
Incorporating oils into your hair routine and on a daily
basis makes growing & caring for your hair faster and
effortless.
Wellness
For my sister and I, our wellness journey really
started in 2014 when Kay Kay (Cola’s son) got
diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I mean
we’ve always had our #selfcare days, but they were
always quite sporadic. When his body started
failing, we really started to research natural ways to
build him up and help alleviate some of his
discomforts.
Through this journey we’ve learned to identify the
various things and activities that positively affect our
wellness. Outside of using natural products that just make
you feel like you are the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge), what
else could we do to boost our sense of overall well-being
every day. Between the both of us there’s about 6 things
that we intentionally do that makes all the difference.
There are so many health benefits
to drinking both smoothies and
herbal teas. It's such a great and
delicious way to introduce many
vitamins, minerals, and nutrients
into your body without all the pills.
S M O O T H I E S / H E R B A L T E A S
We love our diffuser! For those who don’t
know, it’s a machine that uses water as a
means of infusing your air with essential
oils. We usually have our diffuser running
during our morning meetings or anytime we
are in the office and it’s an honest reminder to
breathe.
D I F F U S E R
6 wellness things we
intentionally do.
Music has always been a large part of
our lives from both of us being trained in
classical piano as children, to Cola
completing a university degree in the
same subject. We use music to express
ourselves and have a soundtrack for
every moment.
M U S I C
If you meet us or have met us, then you
know that we love to laugh. We truly
love watching comedy movies and then
quoting some of our favs at the most
random of times. The key to
youthfulness (outside of Unforgivingly
Pur.’s products) is laughter... Periodt!
L A U G H
Who doesn’t love a little get away
every now and again? Whether it
be a planned vacation or a
spontaneous road trip, we love
the adventure and remain open to
new experiences as a part of our
well-being.
T R A V E L
D A I L Y W E L L N E S S
There’s something magical about taking
a walk under a sunset. We get an
overwhelming sense of gratitude as we
watch the sky change colours right
before our eyes and we can just enjoy.
S U N S E T W A L K S
Click above for curated Spotify Playlist
n a t u r a l H e a l i n g a t h o m e .
This herb is a very aromatic tropical grass. It is known by many different names like
fever grass, barbed wire grass, and Malabar grass just to name a few. It is often grown
for culinary purposes as it adds a fresh lemony flavour to any dish but also has a vast
number of medicinal benefits.
Add 1 tsp to 1 1/2 tbs of dried lemongrass to a pot of water
Bring to a gentle boil.
Once it's come to a gentle boil turn the stove off, strain and add sweetner if you choose.
You can drink your infusion 1-3 times a day. Lemongrass is safe for everyone to ingest.
It's not recommended to drink more than 1L a day because an excess can cause
stomach pain or digestive problems.
Dosage:
The most common way to use lemongrass is to make a tea or infusion.
To make a moderate to strong infusion:
1.
2.
3.
*To be honest, I don't really measure, I use the ancestor technique which is when you pour until you feel
it's enough. And if it reaches a rolling boil it will start to lose all the medicinal properties*
Medicinal benefits include:
·Digestive aid. Helps with gas, cramps and
irritation.
·Reduces fever
·Bug repellant
·Anti-oxidant. Promotes anti-ageing,
·Anti-inflammatory
·Protects the liver
·Can lower blood pressure
·Has calming effects
Can be used to relieve morning sickness
Lemongrass is my favourite herb! I love the taste and scent. It always
lifts my spirits and I hope it will do the same for you
-Cheneka Brown @melaninraven
We caught up with Cheneka Brown to ask about what's in the future and what she's
inspired by and this is what she had to say:
Hi Peeps,
I’m a student of the art form know as herbalism. I use my knowledge and gifts that
nature provides to help inspire others to take a more holistic and hands-on approach
to Healing and self- understanding. My sister and I will soon be launching an
apothecary + botanica, where we’ll sell herbal oils, remedies and much more.
As of lately I’ve been very inspired by my ancestors. Learning more about who they
were and where they lived. One thing I love about my business is the knowledge
that it provides to me and so many others.
Follow me on social media at: @melaninraven and @3wyldravens for more herb
highlights.
End the stigma. Reach out.
Experts believe we think somewhere between 60,000 and 80,000 thoughts per day.
That averages out to 2,500 to 3,300 per hour.
Be Kind To Your Mind
Creative Writing Prompt
You traveled to _______________ (Country) and
met someone who sells ______________. What
happens next? What type of adventure do you go
on? Click Below
Wellness Word Search
Click above to play online.
Wellness Colouring Page
Print out or click link to colour online:
http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/flower-
mandala-77?colore=online
HAVE YOU RELAXED AT
THE WELLNESS SPACE?
Ask about our signature hand massage
MAGIC OF
MUSIC
Music + Mental health. Do you
understand the healing
properties that music holds and
how it’s harmonies and rhythms
set the stage for emotional
healing? When I went through
my darkest periods it was
music + God that lifted me up
and held me together.
Music has sound waves that
speak when no words can
come out. It is international and
influential, so when you find
artists who understands you,
explore the depths of their
artistry.
An artist who understands that
is De’rn from Aesteic Nieche.
He’s a Mississauga based
artist, entrepreneur and youth
worker, who’s pathway to
artistry has been filled with ups,
downs, curves and mental
health breakdowns but De’rn
continues to share his vision to
never give up.
Cola: Hey De’rn, so we’ve had
conversations about how music
and art collides and how we
intertwine our influences with
our daily lives; my question to
you is who are your influences?
De'rn: Growing up I struggled
with identity and figuring out
who I was as a man, so I turned
to music. My influences are
Jean M. Basquiat, Biggie
Smalls, Tupac, Nipsey Hussle,
& Jay-Z to name a few. I
appreciate them for the way
they laid out a blueprint for
artists alike to utilize their
monies for investing in their
artistry within urban culture.
Something that stuck with me
from Nipsey Hussle is “...just
stick to the script, believe and
have overwhelming confidence.
Be your own biggest fan, your
own biggest believer, and put it
on your back and carry the
weight.”
Cola: Definitely some notable
influences. Our black leaders are
much more impactful than we give
them credit for at times. I always
feel like when God gives us a
platform it is to teach, speak out
and inspire. With everything going
on what has inspired you lately and
what do you love about being an
artist?
De'rn: Funny you mention God
because as a youth I've been to
church but still had so many
questions. To be honest, there is a
mix of a lot of things that inspire
me. I like seeing young artist
emerge and I love the fact that
Toronto and various GTA cities are
picking up the artist mantle. That is
definitely opening new doors that
have never been open before and
what I love about being an artist is
that I love that I can be creative and
express what I am feeling through
the art.
Cola: Speaking about feeling
through art, what genre of music do
you produce?
De'rn: I’m strictly in the Rap game
right now, but not the same type of
rap you hear today. I am talking Bar
Rap; Rap ish that makes sense and
can be relatable. Not what you see
coming out the city right now, but
who knows I may even dabble in
R&B too.
Cola: Ok, ok, I hear you. Rap
definitely has a vibe to it for sure.
So where can we hear your music
and what do you have coming up?
De'rn: Well off the top, I got a music
video coming out in August about a
break up that I experienced and
what happened during the in
between parts of the break up. I
really want to touch on the mental
health aspect of it for both the man
and the woman. We all know that
rap is poetic story telling with a beat
and as an artist I want to do the
same, but I was never in a trap
house making deals or bussing a
gun like what is glorified in today's
industry. I want to create music for
my generation.
...just stick to the script, believe,
and have overwhelming
confidence. Be your own biggest
fan, your own biggest believer,
and put it on your back and carry
the weight.
- Nipsey Hussle
@de_rnmusic
@Niceeh_studios
https://m.soundcloud.com
/de_rn
Follow De'rn on social media:
I had the most magical day
My smile bigger than I've felt capable
My heart leaks with the ability to be happy
I feel at peace
I am one with love swirling in yellow clouds and
orange raindrops
Rain drops down my face
Tears fall onto my written affirmations
Mixing, smearing and staining my positivity
This weird feelin inside has me floating in a
puddle of sadness
I cant explain it but I am extremely sad
I feel bad
Wishing I could be somewhere else, sunsoaked and
sun bathed,
Wishing I could be someone else, tight waist
instagram worthy
Clear minded
Without pills
Yet I feel confused and lost
Can you help me?
Do you have the time?
No hand extended
So I extended my own hand but I still feel
like im slippin
Running out of excuses I mean reasons
Leaving meaningful situationships
Ships sailed abandoning me with mounting
problems and enemies
I ignore everything in order to keep smiling
Life
Is
Good
Glad to be alive and smiling once more
For good this time
I should be grateful for everything I have
so many don't even have a quarter of what I do
Do you know how blessed you are?
Just
Keep
Smiling
Fear overtakes bulldozing my happy thoughts
I'm not ungrateful I promise
I'm
Just
Scared
I hate this feeling
I dont feel like I deserve happiness
With up comes down
With happy comes overwhleming sad
I'm so good I attract the bad
I have so much love
Hate is like a magnet
My sweet smelling fragrance and light
Are tryna be snuffed out by dark
Like how farts are invisible
So has this pain permeated
Internal battles but I'm finally breaking
through
Breaking up with an old wine skin
Embracing new
I had the most magical day today
Cola
Ys Falls, Jamaica
Fashion
Clothes & Confidence
I have such a hunger for fashion, design and beautiful garments but to be honest I haven’t
always felt comfortable sharing that love. As someone who has been “plus size”-I really dislike
that term, my whole life I have always struggled to find cute stylish clothes in my size. I’m so
happy those days are long behind me, at least when it comes to the states…Canada has some
catching up to do. I typically make a trip once a season to buffalo to pick up affordable items
that I’m at least guaranteed the rest of the Toronto plus community isn’t already wearing.
When it came to the style of clothes I wore, that was a whole otha situation. I was a tomboy
for the longest time but my style has since evolved. I think now I prefer dressy clothes cause
honestly I’ve never been a t-shirt person. I hated how chubby my arms looked so I was the girl
who wore long sleeve shirts in summer and convinced everyone I wasn’t dying of heat cause it
made me “look” slimmer. It amazes me how I never passed out. Out of all styles casual clothes
have been my biggest struggle like jeans and a shirt look sooooo cute on my homegirl..on me?
Frumpy.
Throughout growing up though I’ve always had people compliment me on being so confident
when truth is my insides never always felt that way. I know I’m not alone but ladies, we are so
beautiful. This is why fashion was and is so important to me. My clothes definitely add to how
I feel about myself, especially if I own something that is local, hand made or unique. Yes I’ve
now grown to love myself despite the clothes but the right outfit will have me feeling like a new
chick. Life lesson: Confidence comes in different sizes and attitudes just have to find what fits
and rocky it out to its fullest authenticity. Take a look at some of my favorite outfits for summer
and for special occasions.
For this first issue we caught up with Stefanny Kerr who owns a t-shirt line called Inspiré
par dieu (Inspired by God). I know, I know what I said about t-shirts but she’s the first
person to make me feel comfortable and confident rocking a tshirt-flaws and all. Her line is
not just another name or graphic but it’s deeper, there’s meaning behind what she does and
why she does it and I for one could use jus a lil more inspiration in my life.
So tell us more about your brand ?
At Inspiré par Dieu (Inspired By God), we create French and bilingual content, to bring
attention to how good God is! On YouTube, you can find weekly videos, vlogs, prayers,
songs and studies. On Instagram, little snippets from videos and words of encouragement
are shared to build up the faith of young Christian believers.
Ok that’s great, so what is the meaning behind Inspiré par dieu ?
"Have you ever looked in the mirror and asked yourself: "Is this it?" "Is there more to life?"
Well, if you have, you're not alone. We all have an incredible desire to live full and
extraordinary lives. And, because our creator knew this, He designed and envisioned a
perfect plan for each of us. It is His inspired plan for our lives. The answers you seek are
found by spending time in His presence- He will tell you what your life looks like Inspired
by God. Once you know what that means for you, be sure to walk in it! After all, it was
likely a journey to get to this place, be proud to tell the world you are inspired by God.
That gives me so much hope at a time when things feel so dark. Speaking of feeling
dark, what is something that has inspired you lately?
Something that has inspired me lately is nature. Particularly during this period, where
many are being asked to stay inside, "stay home", and are unable to go out as they
normally would... being able to take a walk in nature has been nothing short of
THERAPEUTIC! #Grateful!
Nature has been therapeutic for me as well but I’m curious where did the idea for the
t-shirts come from?
Shanel Cooper-Sykes! Lol it was during her money month, do you remember? I had
previously thought of having t-shirts but then she challenged us to create an
additional stream of income that would generate $1000 in the next month. I thought
this was perfect. I sat down and got my ideas together and have been sharing my t-
shirts ever since.
I do remember money month, I believe it was October 2018 and I had stated that I
was going to give my car away, which people thought I was completely insane for.
That moment of stepping out in faith was so necessary and this year 2020 it became
reality and I actually gave my car away. It was such a blessing and a priceless moment
and one I hope to do over and over again in the future. Now for my favorite question
to ask other entrepreneurs what do you love about your business?
I love the ability to share God's goodness with people all around the world! From
Canada to the United States, to Africa, this business gives me the opportunity to speak
of what God is doing and saying and THAT is everything to me! That’s amazing,
connecting with people worldwide is a whole otha experience once we step out of our
own boxes.
Well I’m so excited to show everyone your amazing t-shirts and all the cute ways they
can be styled. Be sure to check her out on Youtube and Ig @ Inspire par Dieu. I
absolutely love that her shirts come in both French and English, (being bilingual I got
mine in French) Ya’ll be sure to connect with her to purchase a t-shirt and tell us
what’s your favorite design?
Continued
Rochelle & Cola
Ceo's of Unofriginvly Pur. Inc.
Food
For the love of food! My sister and I are a whole gourmet meal.
Between my cheffin skills and her baking abilities we take
satisfaction to a new level. In January we decided to embark on
a new journey. Forever searching for the perfect balance with
our wellness we decided to tackle a new lifestyle. To start we
went without meat, then missed shrimp and fried fish so much
we added it back in. Now we dabble with other meats but our
main focus has been drinking daily smoothies and increasing
our vegetable and probiotic intake. Currently we are both doing
cleanses-more on that in the next issue but we've always
wanted to share our recipes for others to try. I mean shoot, I've
been cooking since age10 and neva had an ex complain in fact,
no matter how things ended; the one thing they had to admit is
my cooking was next level. Ok enough about that, my sister and
I have cooked our favorite dishes for this summer and want you
to try them along with us. We even reached out to our favorite
chef to give y'all some interesting choices, cause honestly food
should never be boring. Live a little, eat till you're full.
#gratitude.
SNACKS &
SOCIAL JUSTICE
T H I S J U S T I N . . .
A business that is not just good for you but good for
the community too.
Cooking and healthy eating has been an eye opener on this wellness journey,
yet one of the most annoying parts has been trying to figure out what snacks to
eat. When I get hungry do I grab a bag of chips? Cookies? Carrot sticks? How
does this all work? In stores they have those grab and go snacks but they either
don’t have something I like or they look half dead. If I’m going to commit to eating
what’s good for my body I would at least like to have some varieties that I like that
are fresh, quick and a no brainer. Is that too much to ask? Maybe not, cause I got
the pleasure of speaking with Susanna King, the owner of Snackables. Snackables
has a range of curated healthy snack boxes that are perfect for home, gym,
events and anything that’ll make eating healthy more convenient for you. Enjoy
this black girl magic and let’s dig into more of what Snackables is all about.
Cola: Hey Susanna, so tell me more about your delicious menu and what we can
expect?
Susanna: Well on our menu we have 3 main options: Snackbox, Chips & Dip and
Energy Bites. They consists of crackers, fruits, hummus, pretzels, nuts, seeds,
veggies and cheese. Our snack boxes are great for people who are on the go,
who need snacks for work, or who are looking for healthy fast food. We have a 5
box minimum for each type of box, (Example 5 of the hummus delight.) and offer
pick up from paintbox downtown every Wednesday or Friday. We’re hoping to be
able to offer delivery by end of summer.
Cola: Man I can’t wait to get my boxes, those options sound so delicious and I
absolutely love what you are offering food wise, but I also understand you had a
social economic offering as well, could you elaborate please?
Susanna: Yes I can. Snackables is about quality fresh snacks yes but my goal is
also to be able to provide employment opportunities for young people as they
leave the criminal justice system. There’s obviously a correlation between
employment and crime and I just want to do my part in giving people a second
chance to make a difference in their lives. Youth continue to be criminalized and
denied work even after they leave which repeats a vicious cycle. I want to
establish the foundation of snackables first and then be able to start hiring.
Cola: That’s actually such a dope idea but not everyone can put action to such a
big plan so I gotta ask, what do you love about business?
"Snackables is about quality fresh snacks yes, but my
goal is also to be able to provide employment
opportunities for young people as they leave the
criminal justice system."
-Susanna King, Founder of Snackables
Where wellness meets
Youth Justice
Susanna: One of the biggest things I love is that this will
one day provide opportunity for others and give them a
second chance. I want that when people think of my
business they automatically see it as positive, as helpful,
as something they love supporting. My goal has never
been about money, it has always been about creating
employment opportunities. I want this to be so
successful and I need others to help lift it up.
Cola: That’s so inspiring, which leads to my final
question for you, what is something that has inspired
you lately?
Susanna: Inspired me? I’d have to say community! and I
say that because this is the first time I’ve witnessed in
my generation black people coming together and really
building each other up. It’s inspiring to me because I can
see that as a community we are really promoting each
other in ways we haven’t before. We are pushing our
dollars, spending money with each other, standing up for
each other and in a loving way. This is something that is
allowing me to build up the confidence that my
community will always support me.
For anyone looking to support and purchase they can
send an email to snackables.services@gmail.com
1 medium sized ripe plantain
1 medium sized onion
4 garlic pegs
2 portobello mushrooms
2 green onions
Half yellow pepper
1 can black beans
Corn tortillas
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 tablespoon chili powder
Salt and pepper
Taco "Meat":
Chop up plantain, green onions, onions, garlic, mushroom and yellow pepper. Add 4
tablespoon coconut oil (or cooking oil of choice) to medium sized frying pan or skillet.
On medium low heat add onions, plantain, garlic, and green onion to pan and sauté
until plantain is soft or onion is translucent. Add 1 tsp thyme & 1 tsp ground mustard
and stir.
Next, add black beans and season with salt n black pepper to taste.
Cook for another 3 mins
Finally add yellow pepper and mushroom to pan. Add 1 tsp smoked paprika and 2
tablespoon chili powder. Continue mixing for another 2 mins then turn off the stove,
cover and let sit for 5 mins.
Warm corn tortillas and add toppings as desired.
BLACK BEAN
PLANTAIN TACOS
Homemade Guacamole
3 ripe avocados
2 Garlic pegs
1/2 medium onion
2 green onions
Half tomato
3 sun-dried tomatoes
1/8 cup olive oil
Add ingredients into blender. Pulse to desired
texture. (5-6 times for medium texture)
Add Seasoning if desired:
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp Frank's red hot (hot sauce)
Salt and pepper to taste
Homemade Garlic Aioli
7 garlic pegs
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 cup mayo
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp thyme
Salt to taste
Blend until smooth. Great dip
for veggies, chips, on sandwiches
etc.
Made with Broccoli micro-greens and Lactose free cheese. To make vegan omit cheese or use vegan alternative.
Spinach + arugula
Half apple peeled and chopped
Quarter yellow pepper
1 Small cucumber
Handful of Salted almonds
5 pieces sun-dried tomato chopped small
Half carrot peeled
2 green onion
Black pepper
Rinse all vegetables with water + lemon juice
Chop all toppings small
Toss together in salad bow
BEET ROOT
LEMONADE
Summer
drink
2020
Refreshing
&
Nutritious
How to make:
2 beets
6 lemons
6 cups water
2 cups brown sugar
Fresh Mint leaves
If using a juicer:
Juice lemon & beets together, pour into pitcher. Add
water and sugar, then stir. Garnish with mint leaves.
Serve over ice or chilled.
If using a blender:
Wash, peel & chop beets; place into blender. Add juice
from 6 lemons and 2 cups of water to blend. Pour into
pitcher, add remaining water and sugar. Stir. Strain if
necessary. Garnish with mint. Serve over ice or chilled.
Businesss
Work out Stink Free
Photography done by Motion 6ix Media.
My name is Kebrina Morgan (she/her/they). I'm the mother of an amazing 10yr old small human, a published
author, an entrepreneur since 2012 when I started my own business backed by 10+ years of marketing
experience. I'm the C.E.O and your personal Social Media Concierge at K' Media. We’re an all round social media
marketing company helping female identified entrepreneurs connect with their Tribe (Target Audience) while
growing an ecommerce business.We help you Master Your Quarter by setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, reaching/
connecting with yourtribe, Mastering your Finances, creating content that converts to sales, or simply identifying
the major WHY in your business.
I love meeting new people because you never know who you'll meet. A trailblazer and definitely someone who is
changing the world, is Kebrina Morgan. One business at a time she is masterfully creating opportunities for other
business to grow, be seen & increase profits. We caught up with her and asked her to introduce herself to y'all
Hey Kebrina, tell us more about yourself
Yassss, goal setting an alla dat stuff I need but rarely do. Everything you've accomplished thus far is amazing!
so I have to ask, what do you love about you business? & What inspires you lately?
What inspires me?Female entrepreneurs who face all the odds and beat most of them, who are counted out by
everyone but inexplicably find the strength to get up EVERYTIME and say, “I’m not giving up on myself. I don’t
know how but I WILL get it don’t.” Female Resiliency inspires me
What do I love about my business? A lot actually. The fact that I created a vehicle to assist female entrepreneurs
plan out and actually do the work to have a successful business quarter. I also love when the clients start seeing the
results of what solid planning and following through can do.
This soooo inspiring for me, I often feel counted out and like a misfit, but the fact that there are people out there
who genuinely care makes me feel like I can conquer the world. If you've been seeing our social media lately just
know it has been K' media who has breathed life into our brand and allowed us to stress less knowing we can
focus on other parts of the business. You can find her on ig@ kapostrophemedia
Hey Cola, I launched Malcolm's Choice to make it easy for everyone to buy black. After searching for a Black home
inspector online to no avail, I knew that any products and/or services could be found Black-owned, but how? That's
when Malcolm's Choice was born. To date, we have built a local Black-owned business directory and have lofty plans to
achieve our vision to make more Black-owned brands household names. Malcolm’s Choice is championing the
procurement of Black-owned products and services, and our success will directly impact the social and economic well-
being of Black communities across Canada.
New to our network is Jodi-Ann from Malcom's Choice. We've seen the brand on instagram but we've finally gotten to
connect and it's been an absolute pleasure. We love brands that are truly out here tryna see others win and we had to
know more.
Hey Jodi-ann tell us more about Malcom's Choice
This is incredibly dope, in the last few weeks, I've been seeing a lot more black directories being made but y'all did it
before it was a trend so hand claps for you. It's so important for us to support our own and build back out black wall
street. Part of our goal is to also work within our community for services that we need. Everyone I have been speaking
to lately has been inspiring me to do better, what has been inspiring you lately?
I've recently found inspiration from the community. I feel a new sense of togetherness and the genuine desire to see
communal growth and success. Even while building relationships virtually, I have huge supporters from people I have
never even met. and vice versa. It's great!
Who wouldn't love black owned? We're a whole otha level of magic* Y'all can find Macolm's choice at
@malcolmschoice on all platforms. Go go go support amazing black business cause every bit helps.
Some of my newest and more rewarding friendships have been virtual, it's like a new way of connecting and one of
my favorites especially given how far out I currently live from Toronto-(courtice) Being this far is great for business
in terms of it being quiet, and having great nature scenes. I love building this business from home. What about you?
What do you love about your business?
I love learning about dope Black businesses that are doing great things right here in the GTA. Since starting
Malcolm's Choice, ya girls skin is glowing, hair is growing and my overall well being has increased. I love supporting
the community and look to replace the products I use on a regular basis with Black-based brands.
unforgivingly
Website: Unforgivinglypur.com
Instagram/Facebook: unforgivinglypur
Email: info@unforgivinglypur.com
purmagazine@unforgivinglypur.com
I've heard stories that the straighter my weave
The more I should believe that success would be inevitable
Incredible
Because the style of my hair could not even compare to the fact that my
skin is still
black
Backing me into the deep corners and shadows of my history
If i even tried to solve the mystery of kinky hair the only results i
would find is that God truly made us a special kind of people
Not special as in better
Or superior
That's not the message we want to be teaching the next generation
But this newest population needs to understand the powerful detonation
resonating in solidarity instead of separation
Especially if the nation adopts a notion of criticism and discrimination
Lets increase our community support
Supporting one another
Like sista and brotha
raising our voices to the sky
Hi
my name is cola and
I
am
just like my hair
Funky and free
Sometimes wild like a tree
I may braid it to tame it
Shave it
Color it
Wave it or shape it
Its beauty knows no bounds
My beauty had to re learn the sounds of love
An emotion that now makes me proud of this creation from the creator up
above
Love
My soul urges and searches the highs and lows
To give love
To get love
To show love
To know love
Cause to know love is to know peace
But when there's no love there's no peace
Piecing together my comprehension I've heard mention that we've been
crafted with a purpose and released to a destiny filled with choices and
opportunities greater than any style that our hairs could be
See no matta what the world throws at me
I'm ready
Whether we become
bus drivers
Inventors
Teachers
Doctors
Or preachers
Our ability to succeed
Should never exceed
Our appreciation
That we are free
Like John 8:36
Free to forgive and be forgiven
I feel the rhythms of change
Salut to our hair
I've developed a beautifully Multifaceted
Love affair
I declare that we are royalty
COLA
Magazine
