By A.Evans
http://twitter.com/AdotEVANS
While browsing through the latest Vibe Magazine, which featured one of the hottest new couples Christina Milian and The Dream. I started to reflect on past relationships and how they lead us to our current ones. We all have been through it, you're in a relationship, things are going swell and then boom red flags everywhere. With this piece I just would like to ponder around the things that help and hurt a relationship, when does the relationship reach its peak and can the relationship itself
be a hidden agenda for the future?
What Helps & What Hurts?
No two relationships are ever the same, certain methods and tactics that help one relationship can destroy another. Prime examples Will Smith and Jada vs Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. I wonder what takes place in Will and Jada's relationship that enables them to last while a couple like Ben and Jennifer can fall apart? Some relationships require the glitz and glam of a scene from Casino, while simplicity is key in others. Personally I have experienced situations where the more of a jerk I am the more the person is drawn to me, however, there have also been scenarios where I put my ego to the side, let down the walls, put in the security code and spoil her and it's like I'm dating a female Hitler. This makes me wonder what shapes a relationship? What causes relationships to reach a peak, What causes them to last, When does doing the right thing become a problem and doing the wrong thing become a benefit? Is communication or lack thereof the most important factor to having a successful relationship? What if you do communicate but are still misunderstood? What happens when the things that used to work, no longer do? When do you walk away even if you both wanted it to work?
Who's Next?
You ever find yourself asking "I wonder how long this is gonna last?" I mean it seems nowadays we all tend to go through relationships like a 25 cent bag of potato chips a few good bites and it's all over. Is it possible that one relationship can be preparation for someone else? Maybe the purpose of one relationship ending is to learn from it, grow and have an even better one than before. Perhaps Christina had to be cheated on by Nick to end up with The Dream who adores her. Perhaps Rihanna's next man will be perfect for her. Who knows, all I know is relationships come and go so enjoy them while they last and if you're lucky it won't ever end.
Marketing Buzz of the Week
By Max Rivers
http://www.Twitter.Com/MaxRivers
LOCAL CHILDREN'S PAVILION OFFERS A NEW LOOK AND A NEW LIFESTYLE
Owner creates an greener approach to fashion for kiddies
Atlanta is proud to welcome GROW; a children's pavilion housing an emporium of services dedicated to the fundamental element of childhood. Growing!
Nestled in the quaint yet metro-urban neighborhood of Glenwood Park, GROW will offer half-day nursery, group activities and birthday parties. The grand opening for this breath of fresh air will be August 1, 2009 from 10-2pm at 928-A Garrett Street, Atlanta, GA 30316.
The Glenwood Park community supports the idea as a strategy to open parents' minds to a new alternative for busy mom's (and dad's) lifestyles. Once you enter, you think you have stepped in to a small garden in the middle of the city as large flowers and butterflies encompass the space like a scene from Alice in Wonderland. GROW's space is filled with play groups, story time, finger painting and plans for a host innovative offerings in to the future.
"As a mom, I want all kids to have fun but offer a place for them to truly blossom," said Tiffany Rock, owner and creator of GROW. Rock plans on having a drop-in service, so busy parents can tend to work or social events, while their kids interact and play in colorful rooms. It will be a one stop location for many of the things that have traditionally taken parents all over town. Strategically located in a re-developed area of the city, GROW's target location is laden with young and modern parents that prefer urban in town appeal but require solutions to the needs of their growing families. Whether your baby needs a new pair of shoes or you just want time to yourself GROW is the solution to all your "growing pains". Stay at home moms will find the space captivating since they don't have to shop in the hustle and bustle of a mall. This gives children a chance to interact with their peers in a safe and fun environment.
"With this new shop, we will enhance not only the shopping experience but a mother and child's entire day," said Rock. "The important parts of a child's life are when they are growing. GROW is not just another Atlanta upscale boutique but also a socially enriched one-stop shop.
The Grub Report
By Ronnell Rock
Restaurant of the Month
Doll's Soul Kitchen
624 Southside Commercial Parkway
Jonesboro, GA 30236
This restaurant has been getting pub in the Think Group Media network for a couple of weeks. It's brand new, in our neighborhood, and owned by one of our homies. There it is the disclaimer.
Showing support was a strong motive for stopping by but my culinary curiosity was what pushed me to load up the kids on a Sunday afternoon and take the trek down to Jonesboro to see what all the fuss is about.
In route, I had to remind myself not to get too excited. In my three years living in Atlanta, I'd been disappointed on more than one occasion by the lack of quality soul food.
Luckily Southside Commercial Parkway was on the GPS, because this spot could easily get lost in the combustion of Tara Blvd. If you're from Jonesboro, you can find Dolls in the same plaza as the Howard Johnson, and Mr. Clean Car Wash. Outside of the city made famous by Gone With The Wind, you should take the Tara Blvd exit, pass Hooters make a U-turn and open the windows. Before you get to the door, you can smell the aromatic combustion of barbecue sauce, mac and cheese and traditional southern sides.
The sound of the fans blowing, soft leather booths and plastic covered tables stir up memories of grandma's kitchen. It's obvious this is a family restaurant. Everyone from the take out cashier, to the wait staff, and kitchen crew shares a noticeable resemblance to the restaurant's namesake Mrs. Doll.
I was immediately put at ease by the welcoming environment and preceded to a table to begin my analysis of the menu.
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Doll's Soul Kitchen offered most of the traditional soul food items, fried chicken, fish, and oxtails (Sunday only) with choices of collards, mac & cheese, yams, green beans, corn on the cob, lima beans, yellow rice, cornbread dressing, etc.
I ordered from the kids menu for my kids and figured the Soul Kitchen Combo, collards and much would provide me with a fine sampling of a variety of menu items.
Noticing my food jacking by my kids, one of the owners came out and offered to fix me a sampling of some of the other items. I selected ribs (crazy!), green beans (awesome!), and yams and scarfed them down as if it would be my last supper.
I cleaned the last bone just as my phone was ringing. It was another buddy who was supposed to meet for dinner and couldn't swing by. That was fine; I figured I can at least grab another few pieces of fried tilapia, some German Chocolate cake and another half rack with the money I was going to spend on him.
My review of Doll's? I'm back here again being treated like a food critic and writing this review ;-)
Follow Doll's weekly dinner specials on www.Twitter.com/Dollsoulkitchen
Real Talk: Dying Flower
By Cedric D. Shine
http://twitter.com/NativeNotes
You ever notice the beauty of a flower in bloom. It's comparable to a bald eagle when it spreads its wings and soars through the sky, its destination unknown to the naked eye. I think flowers have the same energy as they are maturing into their most beautiful state.
Just think of a full grown flower and how pretty its petals are, how soft they feel, the sweet scent that attracts the world. Think about a flower in bloom, it can be one of the most magnificent sights for one to see.
Well you nurture the flower, but you cannot prevent its death. Some live longer than others; some are prettier than others. They all give off different scents and attract different people.
The saddest thing in the world is to watch a flower that you planted wither away right before your eyes. You slowly watch those petals turn hard and change colors. Some crinkle, the magnificent smell that was once a delight to your nose is no more. The petals begin to fall off the stem right before your very eyes.
For some reason you thought this flower was different, you thought this
flower would live forever because you were so nurturing towards it. But as the saying goes "all things must conclude", so here you are!
If you could be a piece on the chessboard what piece would you be? A man asked me this once, well I'll rephrase it, if you could be any flower in the flower bed which would you choose. At first I said I'd be the gardener because then I would control the garden.
Well after a few of life's experiences I too know the beauty of the garden but I have learned the pain as well. A gardener has a green thumb and handles every aspect of his craft with care, of course he learns from his mistakes but often at the expense of his own garden. Sadly he has to watch each and every one of his masterpieces pass on. How painful a job to nurture something and then have to be the one who watched it die and be forced to put it to rest, mentally!
However maybe the individual flower is not the main focus and we have placed too much emphasis on the single flower. Life is a garden; there are roses, lilies, begonias, impatience, and tons of other assortments. The roses may be your love life while the sunflowers may be your family, everything is held in moderation. The roses will bloom again, fear not while one flower is dying you must work to replenish that flower but be careful not to neglect the whole garden, for the garden represents the overall beauty, the roses are just an aspect.
La Familia: LOVE IS A DECISION
By Shelli Tinae Price
http://twitter.com/ShelliTinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
I had the pleasure of being a bride's maid over the weekend for my dear friend Marisa. Congratulations to her and her new hubby!
The minister performing the ceremony said something that really hit a nerve. To paraphrase he said, love is more than a feeling, love is a decision. You have to decide to love someone; you have to decide to make it work; you have to decide to get through the hard times...together. The feeling will get you nowhere without the mutual understanding and decision to make it work. Often we forget to nurture the decisions we've made - and in doing so we relinquish control over the things we truly desire. I believe love is a birth right - we are all love beings, but only we can decide to reach the depths of loves treasures. So yes, love is a decision and a discipline we should honor and cherish every moment.
To listen to a podcast go http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ellableu/2009/07/08/Straight-Talk-with-Ella-Bleu
Artist On the rise: Danica The Morning Star
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
BORN OCTOBER 26TH IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, DANICA THE MORNING STAR BEGAN DISPLAYING HER SCORPION-LIKE PASSION FOR THE ARTS AS A YOUNG GIRL. HER IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES DURING FAMILY GATHERINGS LED TO A LIFE-LONG DESIRE TO ENTERTAIN. AT TWELVE YEARS OLD, DANICA SHOWED A UNIQUE INTEREST IN JAZZ AND BEGAN VOCAL LESSONS. UNLIKE MANY OF HER PEERS, DANICA KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED OUT OF LIFE AND SHE WAS ALREADY WORKING HARD TO ACHIEVE IT
HER FIRST MAJOR OPPORTUNITY CAME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SINGING BACKGROUND FOR VANESSA WILLAMS ON DAVID FOSTERS NBC CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. IN A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAMS, SHE ENCOURAGED DANICA TO PURSUE HER PASSIONS AND GET HER EDUCATION. DANICA FOLLOWED HER ADVICE AND ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOCUSING HER EDUCATION ON THEATER AND CINEMA. DANICA MADE HER TELEVISION ACTING DEBUT AS A GUEST STAR ON THE WB NETWORKS MULTI-SEASON SHOW "SISTER, SISTER" ALONG SIDE TIA AND TAMARA MOWRY. SHE HAS MADE HER FILM DEBUT IN THE MOVIE "WALK HARD" DIRECTED BY JAKE KASDAN AND PRODUCED BY JUDD APATOW ALSO CO WRITING THE SONG "HARD" FOR THE FILM. SHE HAS ALSO WORKED ON TRACKS WITH MAJOR HIP HOP ARTISTS SUCH AS ALOE BLACC,OL DIRTY BASTARD, THA ALKAHOLIKS, AND IS CURRENTLY ON YUKMOUTH'S "MILLION DOLLAR MOUTH PIECE".
DANICA HAS ALSO WRITTEN AND DEVELOPED SONGS IN COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS PRODUCERS. HER UP AND COMING R&B/ HIP HOP ALBUM "THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE LOVE~LY" PRODUCED ENTIRELY BY BOSS BEATS (WHO YOU CAN FIND ON TIMBALAND'S SHOCK VALUE) WAS WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY DANICA ROZELLE, TELLS OF HER STRUGGLES WITH LOVE AND LIFE, AND EXPOSES HER DEEPEST EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS OF DANICA ALL GROWN UP. SHE ALSO PRODUCED THE VIDEO FOR HER SINGLE FABULOUSITY WHICH YOU CAN FIND ONLINE ON YOUTUBE AT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR2RiUJn2H4 . HER MUSICAL WRITING TALENTS HAVE LED HER TO PLACEMENTS ON TELEVISION AND FILM, "THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER" AND THE NEW FILM "THE MESSENGER" WITH WOODY HARELSON. DANICA'S TREMENDOUS SKILL IN CREATING CAPTIVATING MUSIC IS A TALENT BEYOND HER AGE, BUT IS DEFINITELY INDICATIVE OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUTS INTO HER LOVE OF MUSIC AND LIFE.
For more information and bookings visit www.myspace.com/stardanica
Purchase Danica's Album at www.itunes.com/danicathemorningstar
DON'T MISS OUT DOWNLOAD MY BEST I EVER HAD DRAKE DUET http://www.sendspace.com/file/min2dm
New Music Release
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qokc7k
Upcoming Events
Presidente Beer Club Promotions Tampa June-Aug, 2009
McCafe Experience Aug 7, 2009 Wash DC
Fashion 40 "Photo Shoot" Party Aug 7 ,2009
New York, New York
Sol Fusion Presented by Coors Aug 22, 2009
Atlanta, GA
McCafe Experience Sept 4, 2009 New York, NY
Southern Heritage Classic Sept 12, 2009 Memphis, TN
Atlanta Football Classic Sept 26, 2009
McCafe Experience Oct 2, 2009 St. Louis, MO
Magic City Classic Oct 31, 2009 Birmingham, AL
Trina Album Release Tour 2009 GLOBAL
Brand Ambassador Resumes Accepted at www.Thinkgroupmedia.com
Don't Waste Ink...Think
Sincerely,
Steve Canal
CEO
Think Group Media, Inc.
www.ThinkGroupMedia.com
