Category: Lifestyle

Home Decor /

Wake Up Your Sleepy Space With These Home Refresh Ideas: Style + Life + Fashion Featured

Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:

Whether you’ve outgrown your current decor or your new space doesn’t feel quite like home, it might be time for a refresh. And while there’s no doubt that expanding your art collection or adding new house plants can be a breath of fresh air for your home, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

Maybe you've outgrown your current decor, or you’ve just moved into a new house or apartment and it doesn’t feel quite like home yet. Either way, it might be time to refresh your space.
Wake Up Your Sleepy Space With These Home Refresh Ideas

That’s why Redfin reached out to us and other experts from Vancouver, BC all the way to Boston, for our best advice on making your home feel refreshed and elevated. So if you need a little extra guidance or you’re just looking for interior design inspiration, check out our best recommendations for refreshing your home.

Read the full article here: Wake Up Your Sleepy Space With These Home Refresh Ideas | Redfin

Celebrity /

Real Housewife of NJ Dolores Catania Inspires RTA Outdoor Living’s Next Outdoor Kitchen

Dolores Catania has made a name for herself as one of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” on Bravo TV.  Now, her vision is coming to backyards across the country, as her unique outdoor kitchen concept was selected by the public as the winner of RTA Outdoor Living’s (RTAOutdoorLiving.com) “Choose Our Next Design” contest.

Catania’s “Cubed Outdoor Kitchen” beat out designs from Mike Pyle, host of HGTV’s Inside Out, and Kevin Lenhart, Design Director at Yardzen, the leading online landscape design and build platform. The new design will be available for purchase at RTAOutdoorLiving.com starting in 2023.

“I am so excited my square design won! It really is perfect,” said Dolores Catania. “I can cook and watch my family enjoy the food at the same time. And now, I’m so happy this design will help more families make beautiful memories together.”

Right off the bat… You’ll notice how unique this layout is. It’s not a straight, L shape, U shape, or even a galley style island. It’s a spacious square! There’s a reason behind this design twist, too. Dolores Catania loves to have Sunday dinners with her family, and the square outdoor kitchen brings the idea of a large, indoor dining room table outside. What better way to host than to have the entire family seated on the island?

As for the appliances in Dolores’ design, first, you’ll find the massive 42” Coyote grill! There’s plenty of space for grilling fish, burgers, or other preferred proteins. Underneath, you’ll see there’s a warming drawer. This feature is excellent if you frequently host large gatherings! However, Dolores’ favorite feature is the Coyote power burner, so she can cook everything outside… most importantly, her “Sunday sauce.”

ABOUT RTA OUTDOOR LIVING
RTA (ready-to-assemble) Outdoor Living was born from a desire to empower homeowners to create ideal outdoor spaces that encourage gathering and human connection. Our outdoor living features, manufactured in the heartland of America—Cambridge City, Indiana—achieve this purpose. At its core, RTA’s product line is a simplified alternative to outdoor masonry. Through this approach, we avoid the high costs associated with building outdoor kitchens from scratch. Our easy-to-install options make the luxury of an outdoor grill island attainable to everyone.  More information is at RTAOutdoorLiving.com

Celebrity /

Former First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Book

Former first lady Michelle Obama, whose memoir “Becoming” became a global bestseller, is releasing a new book.

The book, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Certain Times,” will include lessons the former first lady says she has learned on “change, challenge and power” and overcoming obstacles in uncertain times.

“Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles—the earned wisdom that helps her continue to ‘become,'” the book’s publisher, Penguin Random House, said Thursday in a statement announcing the book.

“She details her most valuable practices, like ‘starting kind,’ ‘going high,’ and assembling a ‘kitchen table’ of trusted friends and mentors,” the statement continued. “With trademark humor, candor, and compassion, she also explores issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, encouraging readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and live with boldness.”

Obama’s book will be published on Nov. 15, 2022, in 14 languages and 27 countries around the world, according to Penguin Random House.

In her previous book, “Becoming,” Obama, a mother of two, detailed her journey from growing up on the South Side of Chicago to becoming First Lady of the United States.

The memoir sold more than 17 million copies around the globe, according to Penguin Random House, and its accompanying audiobook won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album.

“Becoming” also turned into not just a bestselling book but a world tour for Obama, whose book tour consisted of stops in major arenas around the globe during which the former first lady was interviewed by high-profile people including Sarah Jessica Parker, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah Winfrey.

Credit ABC News//Good Morning America

Birmingham /

Mastercard Supports Black-Owned Businesses During World Games

Mastercard commemorates The World Games by supporting Black-owned small businesses in the Magic City! The initiative will kick off the high-level, diverse, and spectacular sports competition beginning July 7 through 17th.

Birmingham is proud to be one of seven cities participating in Mastercard’s In Solidarity initiative, a 500 million dollar commitment to closing Black Americans’ racial wealth and opportunity gap across America. In partnership with the Birmingham Business Resource Center (BBRC), Mastercard is launching the Birmingham Loyalty Campaign, offering a 20% rebate on qualifying purchases at Black-owned businesses during The World Games! Mastercard made the announcement at a press conference Thursday in Kelly Ingram Park with special guests Mayor Woodfin, Bob Dickerson of the BBRC, and Arian Simone, founder of The Fearless Fund, the first venture capital fund built by women of color. The conference celebrated Mastercard’s commitment to the city while highlighting two local, women-owned, Black-owned businesses, including one that will be featured at the Civil Rights District Marketplace. The five-day festival hosted by the BBRC, and in partnership with Mastercard, will showcase Black-owned businesses, entertainers, interactives, and artisans at Birmingham’s historic Kelly Ingram Park beginning July 8.

The Civil Rights District Marketplace is in collaboration with the World Of Opportunity Vendor Program, a division of The World Games 2022 Birmingham. “Where do I begin. I am so excited that Mastercard has intentionally found a way to support our local minority businesses and their cardholders through the Loyalty Program. In both the Merchant Market and The Civil Rights District Market, a win-win opportunity has been designed for the business and consumer. Not every company will really be as bold or as courageous as they are being to encourage people to buy from Black businesses. It means a lot when you can see that someone believes in you. Mastercard is showing they believe in Black businesses and in Birmingham”, said Kathy Boswell, Executive Vice President of Community and Volunteer Engagement at The World Games 2022 Birmingham.

“As I’ve said before, these businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and they deserve the support of the city they make investments in,” said Mayor Woodfin. “That’s why I’m proud of this genuine partnership with Mastercard. This effort encourages Birmingham residents and visitors to support our Black-owned businesses by shopping local.”

“We have been able to have a 3rd marketplace for The World Games in the Civil Rights District, right here on this hallowed ground! That’s important because, as the mayor talked about, supporting Black-owned businesses means paving a way and opening a door for opportunities,” said Salah Goss with Mastercard. Goss says the marketplace provided a space for businesses who couldn’t get into The World Games marketplace to benefit from the economic windfall.

In addition to the 20% cashback initiative Mastercard has issued, the company partnered with The Fearless Fund to present a check of $10,000 to Bernadine Birdsong, owner of Michael’s Steak and Seafood in Birmingham.

“Over 50% of Black businesses had to close their doors during the pandemic,” said Arian Simone, CEO & Founder of The Fearless Fund. “Now, we are facing the global, macro-economic climate of high-interest rates, inflation at an all-time high, and supply chain issues, where now people of color are being hit again. So, it is an honor to stand here today to present a $10,000 grant to Bernadine Birdsong of Michael’s Steak and Seafood! This is our way of saying we see you, we honor you, and keep going!”

Birdsong accepted the check with tears of joy in her eyes, thanking Mastercard and the Fearless Fund for this opportunity to overcome what Birdsong considers a dark time in the world for the restaurant industry.

To see a list of participating businesses in Mastercard’s Loyalty Program, along with the terms and conditions, please visit: mastercard.com/birmingham.

Birmingham Business Resource Center assists entrepreneurs in every stage of business development. Through an array of technical assistance activities, including one-on-one coaching, the BBRC focuses on helping businesses scale for growth. Services include providing resources to build capacity, attain new customers, and access capital. Emphasis is placed on economic empowerment and supporting historically underserved businesses through diverse supplier opportunities.

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships, and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

 

ABC /

GMA3: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW’ HEADS TO NEW ORLEANS 

To kick off this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola®, ABC News’ “GMA3: What You Need to Know” co-anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes and ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jen Ashton will host a special broadcast originating from the heart of New Orleans at Brennan’s in the French Quarter.  

 

On Thursday, June 30, the “GMA3” team will be live from “The Big Easy” to kick off the festival, which ends on Sunday, July 3. Drawing more than 500,000 attendees annually over the holiday weekend, ESSENCE Fest is one of the largest festivals in the country. 

 

As DJ D-Nice spins throughout the show, Robach, Holmes, and Dr. Ashton will interview actress Marsai Martin and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and look at the hottest fashion trends to expect at this year’s festival with ESSENCE beauty and fashion editor Blake Newby. The show will also give viewers a look back at the history and beginnings of ESSENCE Fest and detail how it became the massive celebration of Black culture it is today with ESSENCE CEO Caroline Wanga. 

 

“GMA3” executive producer Catherine McKenzie said, “After these last few years, as cities are opening their doors to embrace tourists, we are excited to take the show on the road and capture the joy throughout ESSENCE Fest and New Orleans. We hope this coverage will shine a light on this important celebration and help grow appreciation for the amazing contributions of Black culture to American society.” 

 

“As the nation’s largest festival by per day attendance, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture is the crown jewel of celebrating Blackness, which fuels commerce, capital, and capacity that garners true economic impact for our global community,” said Wanga. “We are excited to return to New Orleans live and thrilled that there are options for virtual participation, that our full diasporic family, through our unapologetic “It’s The Black Joy for Me” manifesto, is happy to share with GMA3.” 

 

In addition, this year, The Walt Disney Company is the exclusive entertainment sponsor for ESSENCE Fest, bringing talent, exclusive screenings and experiences from across the Company’s iconic brands and touchpoints, including ABC, ABC News, Disney Branded Television, Disney Cruise Line, Disney+, Disney Studios Content, Disney Television Studios, Disneyland Resort, ESPN, Freeform, FX, Hulu, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, Onyx Collective, Pixar and Walt Disney World Resort. Specific programming, experiences and talent appearances will be announced next week. For more information about Essence Fest, click here. 

 

Follow “GMA3” and the journey to ESSENCE Fest on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. For more information, attendees can download the ESSENCE app or join virtually on Essencefestival.com.  

 

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Essence Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand’s multi-platform presence in/ publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

 

Birmingham /

First African American Sponsor of a Vulcan Statue

Selena Rodgers Dickerson makes history as the first African American sponsor of an iconic Vulcan statue. Rodgers Dickerson’s statue is the 15th edition of the Vulcan on Parade project, a community art project in which miniature replicas of Vulcan are displayed throughout the city of Birmingham for public enjoyment.

Painted by local artist Erica Chisolm, the i3 Academy-hosted statue is named “S.O.A.R,” an acronym used to encourage students to be Safe, on task, go Above and beyond, and be Respectful. The statue will remind i3 Academy students of the endless possibilities awaiting them. The statue was erected in front of the school last month. “I wanted this statue to be something that students of i3 Academy would see every day that they could carry with them. When times get tough, this is a symbol that represents us as people and our community here in Birmingham. That was my vision for this statue.” Selena Rodgers Dickerson, President, SARCOR Rodgers Dickerson has a long-standing relationship with both the Vulcan Park Foundation and the i3 Academy as she sits on both boards and has a daughter currently enrolled in the academy.

She serves as the President and CEO of SARCOR, a women-owned small business enterprise that provides innovative solutions to the challenging projects of its private, corporate, and municipal clients. Selena R. Dickerson is the president of SARCOR, LLC, located in Birmingham, Alabama.

She strives to educate others on how to become successful business owners. Her mission is to utilize her expertise to leverage strategic solution-based diverse, equitable, and inclusive initiatives through business endeavors, philanthropy, integrity, and spirituality.

Beauty /

Luster Premium White’s Pearl Infused Pro Light Dental Whitening System: Unboxing Video

Luster Premium White’s Pearl Infused Pro Light Dental Whitening System works up to 7X faster than all major whitening kits! With three easy steps, you get visibly whiter teeth in just 30 minutes and 6 shades whiter in 3 days! By using both light and heat, the patented Xenon teeth whitening light is proven more effective and quicker than other teeth whitening LED light systems. Developed by dentists, this kit includes: Pro Light, Serum, Rinse, and Pearl Infused Mint Whitening Toothpaste.

Reveal your brightest smile, cleanest teeth, and happiest gums NATURALLY with GuruNanda. Their NEW dentist-recommended Oxyburst Whitening Mouthwash is a patented formula that truly does do it all – freshens breath, supports tooth and gum health, and gets teeth their brightest white, all within seconds. The cutting edge of oral care and beauty, this patented mouthwash contains two components: a proprietary blend of seven 100% pure and natural essential oils for whole mouth health and fresher breath, and oxygen-powered whitening ingredients. Together, they gently remove stains, create fresh breath, and support stronger teeth and gums. No other mouthwash whitens teeth better or faster while seamlessly integrating the natural healing of Ayurveda and state-of-the-art Western medical technology to help you reveal your most dazzling smile.

Teeth Whitening System Unboxing Video

@kwest1908

For tea & coffee lovers. ☕️ #whiteningteeth #teethwhitening #teethwhiteningkit #unboxing #unboxingvideo #birminghamalabama #fy #fyp #fypシ

♬ Elevator Music – Bohoman
Lifestyle /

Getting the Right Diagnostic Medical Supplies

One of the many important areas to consider when you work in the medical profession is ensuring that you have an appropriate number of supplies and the right supplies for getting a diagnosis. This means you’ll need to purchase from legitimate, reputed suppliers and ensure your diagnostic gear is of world-class quality. With this in mind, consider the following information on getting proper diagnostic supplies and why doing so is absolutely crucial.

Featured Photo from Scary Mommy

Quality

When you work in medicine, giving patients the correct diagnosis is quite possibly one of the most important parts of your job. To do this correctly, you need to ensure you have all the diagnostic supplies for any possible diagnosis. If you find this difficult or don’t know where to look, there are various websites that sell a variety of medical diagnostic machines to suit every diagnosis there is.

Of course, you need to ensure the machines you buy are of good quality and that they will provide an accurate diagnosis, as giving a patient the wrong diagnosis could be catastrophic – not only for them but also for you and the reputation of either the medical practice or hospital that you work at.

Therefore, to avoid medical mishaps with low-quality supplies and equipment, it is always important you do plenty of checks on the website you are buying the equipment from and on the equipment itself to ensure you are getting the best quality for your money and your patients.

Variety

It’s also important to ensure the site you are ordering from has a wide array of products. This doesn’t just include the type of products you want to order but also the various brands you have to choose from. Most trustworthy medical supply sites will give a number of different kinds of products for you to choose from and should have every single medical item you could ever need, more or less.

Also, within the scope of available products of the same nature, there should additionally be plenty of individual brands for you to choose from so you can compare them against one another, such as based on their price or what other customers have to say. If the website doesn’t offer you variety, it’s best to shop elsewhere.

Not only does a website offering a wide choice of products and brands mean you can compare them against one another, but it also means you can try out all the many brands and models to see what works best for you and your patients.

In addition, there may also be a chance that a diagnostic tool may work better for some patients than others, so having this variety means you can overcome the potential issue of certain goods being ill-suited to certain patients, as well as use trial and error to find the best products.

Labeling and Information

You must also double-check what purpose each product is for and that they have all been labeled correctly. This, again, is why you should use a reputable site, as they will mark the products accurately, but if you go through a sketchy website, they may not label the products correctly or may even put labels on the wrong products – which could be catastrophic for both you and your patients.

Ultimately, making sure that the website you are using for your medical supplies has a wide range of product and brand choices, is legitimate, and that the supplies themselves are genuine and properly labeled is crucial – because it will save you so much hassle, time, and money in the long run, in addition to potential medical disasters.

Lifestyle /

Make Your Home A Sanctuary

Graduation season and Father’s Day are approaching and below are three great gift ideas that are perfect for the home:

COVE HANGER-This patented Cove Hanger (launched April 11th) was designed by Jessica Davidoff when she became a mom and her wardrobe got longer-and her closet shrank! Longer garments take up twice the space (top and bottom). Traditional hangers cause wrinkling, collection of floor dust/pet hair and can snag clothes touching the lower rack! The hanger’s ground-breaking patented top locking feature secures the bottom half of the garment-place over and through the hanger then lock-a hanger for TRAVEL too! This unisex hanger accommodates all longer garments: suites/jackets/coats, trench coats, maxi/midi dresses, kaftans, skirts, jumpsuits and wedding/evening gowns. Made of recycled plastic and has an anti-slip velvet base. There is a scented ribbon with their custom fragrance, Morgan Park-a modern take on sachet fragrance for clothes that is also available. Both products are the first of many to come from Cove! Available: https://www.createyourcove.com

THE MAGIC WEIGHTED BLANKET–This comforting weighted blanket has been fondly referred to as “the blanket that hugs you back” and is the original “OG” of weighted blankets. Invented by a father, driving his young daughter who was playing in the back when she put a “beanie baby” toy on his shoulder and it felt surprisingly very comforting. He had an epiphany-what would a whole “beanie” blanket feel like? He came home told his wife and she made a prototype in 1998! Since then, research shows that weighted blankets bring down anxiety among other benefits. Manufactured solely in the USA, comes in a variety of the softest material coupled with the glass beads sewn into the blanket make this the best blanket on the market. What a perfect gift to give to anyone who suffers from anxiety or stress? It has been shown to also comfort people with autism or who suffer from PTSD. Available: www.magicweightedblanket.com

LumiCharge II Smart(est) Lamp-Rarely does one find a functional desk lamp that is design friendly in a home office, kitchen, bedroom, study or at the office! The LumiCharge II is it! Designed by an engineer whose desk was always cluttered. Between his phone charger, lamp base, clock, he needed actual room to work! So he designed a SLEEK and SOPHISTICATED smart lamp that looks good anywhere! LumiCharge dimmable LED desk lamp features include: charging station, Qi 10W fast wireless charger, a universal phone dock, motion sensor, aesthetically pleasing for both home & office décor, full calendar display with date, time, temperature settings, dimmable display backlight, multiple brightness level (remembers last setting) and “new” UV and ANTI-MICROBIAL paint coating to reduce the growth of germs on the surface! LumiCharge also has a T2W model with a bluetooth speaker.

Birmingham /

 HOPE OF ALABAMA: OFFICIAL THEME SONG OF 2022 WORLD GAMES

Hope of Alabama Song

At a time when global unity is needed more than ever, The Music of The World Games shares a theme song to encapsulate the strength and power of a moment where athletes, teams, coaches, entertainers and fans from all different walks of life and cultures will come together with Birmingham, AL’s presentation of the The World Games 2022. Available everywhere today, “Hope Of Alabama” is a star-studded collaboration that merges genres and generations. 

 

The track will serve as the official theme song of The World Games 2022 and feature some of Alabama’s most iconic musical stars, including Randy Owen of the Group ALABAMA; Hip-Hop Artist Yung Bleu, country stars Sara Evans and Jamey Johnson, Stellar Awards Gospel Artist of the Year Pastor Mike Jr., NBC’s The Voice top contestants Worth the Wait, Rolling Stones’ keyboardist Chuck Leavell, American Idol winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks, American Idol runner-up Bo Bice, Motown Legend Martha Reeves, and the Legendary Blind Boys of Alabama, with the combined youth and adult choirs of the World Games 2022. 

 

Produced by World Games Artistic Director Dr. Henry Panion III and penned by Alabama’s Randy Owen, his daughter Allison Owen, and Panion, “Hope of Alabama” brings a fresh voice to the world from a community that has experienced its share of trials, hardship, and tribulations. Yet, through its music, represented here by the broad range of artists from the world of rock, country, R&B, gospel, and hip-hop, the message of “Hope of Alabama” is one of eternal unity and love to the world, especially in these troubled times. As athletes from across the globe descend on Birmingham, Alabama for the World Games this Summer, these Alabamians send them back to their homelands with more than just medals, but with this message: “Hope of Alabama is the hope for all the world. Every man can hold on, every woman, boy, and girl. It is the dawn of the new day, when love is what we bring. Ev’rybody sing, sing, sing!“

 

Listen/save the track here: https://smarturl.it/z14iin

 

As the first global event of 2022, there’s never been a more immediate call for global strength and togetherness. The World Games 2022 will kick off on July 7th at Protective Stadium with Unlocking The Magic: Celebrating The Power of The One. The evening will be a colorful celebration of sport and Birmingham history. Presented by Alabama Power, the presentation will feature live entertainment, special effects, honorable dignitaries and a parade of athletes representing more than 100 countries. Produced by Birmingham-based LRY Media Group, the Opening Ceremony will celebrate Birmingham’s past, present and future. Spoken word artist, musician, educator, and Birmingham native, Sharrif Simmons will be delivering a poem in the Opening Ceremonies. On July 17th at Protective Stadium, the grand finale of The World Games 2022 – One World-One People: Celebrating Legacy, Achievement & Unity – will commemorate The Games with incredible performances and the opportunity for athletes, fans and volunteers to bid farewell to Birmingham. Presented by Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, the final presentation will include the ceremonial passing of The World Games flag to representatives of the 2025 host city: Chengdu, China.

 

About The World Games:

The World Games is an extraordinary, international sports event held every four years, in the year following each Summer Olympic Games. Staged over 11 days, The Games represents the pinnacle of competition for 3,600 of the world’s best athletes in 30+ unique, multi-disciplinary sports. The World Games generates worldwide exposure for participating sports and provides a highly visible stage on which athletes from more than 100 countries compete for gold. More than 600 medals will be awarded to the competing athletes, including 200 gold medals for the ultimate champions in each discipline.

 

The World Games is led by the International World Games Association (IWGA), a non-profit organization that is composed of 37 International Sports Federations and recognized by The International Olympic Committee (IOC).

 

Follow The World Games here:

Website: theworldgames.org

Facebook: facebook.com/iwga.theworldgames

Instagram: instagram.com/theworldgames

Twitter: twitter.com/theWorldGames

Hashtag: #RoadtoBHM #TWG2022

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Digital press kit:
https://shorefire.com/roster/music-of-the-world-games 

 

For more information on Music of The World Games contact, Shore Fire Media:

Matt Hanks | mhanks@shorefire.com

Jaclyn D. Carter | jcarter@shorefire.com 

Andrea Evenson | aevenson@shorefire.com 

Jennifer Valentin | jvalentin@shorefire.com