SPROUTS!!!

I love to sprout! I love sprouting! OOOOOOWEEEEE! Ain't nothin' like it :)

But seriously, I truly enjoy sprouting, especially mung beans and lentils. I started sprouting earlier this year. My first sprouts were lentils. The process was very simple, and they sprouted without any effort. I started sprouting because I enjoy eating beans but they usually cause me a lot of discomfort.

I started some research on sprouting after I talked to my mail carrier, Jean the mean mail carrying Machine. He told me that sprouting beans unlocks their nutritional potential and it helps break down the enzymes that cause stomach discomfort and help make the beans easier to digest. I found out that Jean knew exactly what he was talking about.

The sprouted beans didn't cause me any discomfort and I found several recipes that I could use to help ease me into the raw food life. Sprouted Lentils and Mung beans can be eaten "raw," and they taste phenomenal!

How to sprout: I use a very simple technique for sprouting. I add the beans to the jar, soak 8-12 hours or overnight, rinse daily, and allow to "air dry" between rinses. I bought the jars in the picture from Hobby Lobby at 50% off and I got my cheese cloth from the Dollar Tree. I used gallon jugs of spring water or distilled water from Wal-Mart for rinsing and soaking the beans. These jars can hold up to 24 oz. When you start to sprout, remember SPROUTS GROW! Even though these jars are large, I only add 2 oz or 1/4 cup of beans, lentils, legumes etc to the jar.

I cover the lentils with water and soak 8-10 hours, rinse, and allow them to sit in an open are of my kitchen so that they do not get over heated and turn rancid during the sprouting process. I rinse them in clean, fresh water every day and watch the sprouts begin to grow. Since I'm contending with Alabama heat and humidity, my sprouts usually sprout within 48 hours of soaking! I follow the same process with black beans, kidney beans, red beans and other large beans; however, I soak them 12-24 hours. The rest of the process is the same. These are not special seeds or beans. I get them from my local Wal-Mart and Publix. Try your hand at sprouting, and tell me how you like it.

My Naturally Curly Hair Journey

My hair now

My hair is naturally curly and wavy. I made the decision to start getting relaxers in the 5th grade, approximately the year 2001. I begged my mom to let me relax my hair so I could "fit in" and play like the other kids. It's a little hard to run and play with a press and curl in Alabama heat and humidity. My mom finally agreed and my hair shrank from a thick, curly, soft mass to a thin, soft, greasy mess! I continued to relax my hair for about 3 years. Around the summer before eighth grade, I made the decision to stop getting my hair relaxed. This was around 2004.

I didn't know how to go natural and nobody else was doing it at the time. I was a pioneer and I didn't even know it! I did a lot of braid outs before I knew they had a name, but I straightened my hair almost everyday! I didn't even know that heat damage was a thing. My original transition did not include a big chop. I just trimmed my ends and gradually grew my relaxed hair out. By the time I figured out what heat damage was, my hair was a dry thinning mess!!

Freshman Big Chop

My freshman year of college, I big chopped. I went from collar bone/shoulder length hair to about an inch and a half of hair! At first I was in shock, but it grew on me. I fell in love with my short hair. My hair grew fast and got thicker. It has never been quite as thick as it was in child hood due to several determining factors: stress, nutrition, proper care, etc.

During my junior year of college, I gave birth to my handsome baby boy, and for the first time, my hair was as thick, long, and luscious. I had probably reached bra strap length or longer! I was excited, but with a newborn, my hair care regimen was pitiful to say the least. A few months after my son was born, I found out his father was cheating on me while I was pregnant. I was beyond devastated. So, I decided that I needed to transform myself. Big chop number two came about.

Post-partum big chop

I cut about six inches off (to this day I don't know why I cut my hair and kept that relationship)!!! My hair continued to grow, but my stress levels were extremely high. Between having a small child, undergrad, and a long distance relationship, I struggled to manage everything going on in my life.

Then in August of 2013, after leaving my son's father/fiancee, I colored my hair. It was a huge decision because I used a permanent color. I knew that moisturizing was my new best friend, but I was still under tremendous stress. The color caused my hair to become thin and brittle. There is a very visible difference between my virgin hair and my color treated ends! I've had to trim and clip fairy knots and tangles from wearing my hair out too often, from not properly securing it at night before bed, and from several bouts of improper moisturization.

My hair now

Pictured to the left is my hair now. I am working very hard now to remember to properly moisturize my hair, twist or braid before bed, eat healthy, drink water, exercise, and take my multivitamin supplement. I started taking It Works! Hair, Skin, and Nails supplements mid-September, and I truly can say that those supplements are the best that I've ever used! They taste great and they have 5,000 units of Biotin! For more details on the Hair, Skin, and Nails supplements, visit http://shantawilkerson.sharewraps.com or the Beautiful Outside website. My journey has been long and filled with ups and downs, but I am very happy with my hair today! I love the me I see when I look into the mirror, and that's what it's all about!

Blessed Body Brand

Did you know that Prosperity Legacy, LLC also has all natural personal care products? Well, now you know! Blessed Body Brand is our very own handcrafted, skin loving, hair cherishing line of all natural personal care products! We offer a range of products including soaps, lip balms, body butters, and more! Pictured above is our Bedtime Bliss soap. It is a 100% extra virgin olive oil soap made with chamomile tea and lavender essential oil.

You can purchase your handcrafted goodies online at our Soap Guild Store: Blessed Body Marketplace or in person at the Sunshine This & That shop at 2212 Ross Clark Circle Suite 3 next door to south-side K-Mart. Look for the antique china cabinet!

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence. Two words that strike fear into the hearts of many survivors and victims are domestic violence or domestic abuse. Domestic abuse/violence occurs when you as an individual feel threatened, demeaned, or neglected by a person that you love in your home or who holds an unnecessary amount of power over your thoughts. Sometimes it can feel like domestic terrorism. Ex: Your husband/wife yells at and demeans you in private. They tell you that you're worthless and no one else will ever want you. They tell you all of your flaws with in depth descriptions, and never praise you for anything that you do, but to everyone else, he/she is an amazing person. They cheat. They lie. They don't provide physically, monetarily, or emotionally. You can't talk to them about anything. You edit your words before they come out of your mouth. You can't exist without their permission.

Domestic violence/abuse doesn't usually start at the beginning of a relationship, not outright. It usually begins with verbal abuse, snide comments, pitying the abuser, and manipulation. The abuser has to break the victim down and create a space inside of him/her that only they can fill. This normally occurs because of the abuser's own insecurities in themselves. The abuse builds. The occurrences increase. If you have a friend or family member that pays attention, like I did, by now they've picked up on these tendencies. It doesn't take long if you are outside and you care. Your family member or friend know what the abuser is about. They'll try to tell you to leave, but you're in a mental and emotional stronghold.

You don't think that you can leave, but THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU MUST STAY AND ACCEPT THE ABUSE! I repeat THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU MUST STAY AND ACCEPT THE ABUSE! If there are children involved, THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU MUST STAY AND ACCEPT THE ABUSE. If you are not the breadwinner, THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU MUST STAY AND ACCEPT THE ABUSE. If you have no family where you live, THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU MUST STAY AND ACCEPT THE ABUSE. If you think you have to save him/her, you can't. Stop trying. If your love was enough, you wouldn't be in this situation. THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU MUST STAY AND ACCEPT THE ABUSE. You can leave any time you want because you are worth more. You deserve more, and you should allow yourself to demand more! Never let another person's insecurities keep you from loving yourself!!

If you are the friend or family member of a domestic abuse/violence victim, do  not tell them to leave! DO NOT TELL THEM TO LEAVE! Some abusers will coerce the victim to stay with them and cut you off if you tell the victim to leave or the victim will cut you off for being unsupportive of the greatest love of his/her life. This is the last thing that you need to happen. You can support the victim by listening, praying, and just being there. Let them know that no matter what they decide, they will always have you. It is not an easy task. My sister was ready to come put me in a straight jacket and haul me out of my relationship by force, but she just listened and advised. It took me five years and nine months to leave. I made the decision to leave three separate times, but I didn't know about 211. He doesn't know to this day that I packed mine and my sons bags three separate times to leave, but I finally go tout before things got decidedly physical.

To the families:

• Ask questions without judgement or condemnation. Ex: What do you want for yourself? How does abuser fit into that picture? Is he/she supportive of your efforts? Does he/she make you feel valuable and loved?
• Pray, meditate, fast, or consult the universe, whatever you do.
• Tell thme that THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION IN WHICH THEY MUST STAY AND ACCEPT THE ABUSE, but do not demand that they leave.
• Remind them to dial 211 if they need help. This is the United Way helpline. They'll connect them to the right shelter or organization to get them safely out of the situation.

To the victims:

• THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU MUST STAY AND ACCEPT THE ABUSE.
• Dial 211 for help. If you are placed in shelter housing, they will give you all the tools that you need to get on your feet. They assist you with finding a job, housing, pressing charges or getting protection orders, and counseling. They can also assist with child support and relocating you to another city or state or back to your family.
• Don't cut off your family and friends. They love and value you more than you do right now. They just don't want to come to your funeral.
• Be mindful not to fall into another abusive relationship. Take time to rediscover yourself, and love yourself so much that a (wo)man will be forced to meet your love minimum in order to be with you.

These are my thoughts based on my experiences, and it is important to note that I did not list an exhaustive list of scenarios or  outcomes, but the most obvious and terrifying consequences are death to the victim and psychological damage to the children if any are involved. Please seek counsel if you are in an abusive or toxic relationship, and get out if you can while you can before it ends without your input.

Entrepreneurship is...

An entrepreneur, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, is one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. I take that definition and add one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise, devotes countless hours of life in research and development before any profits emerge, one who sacrifices time with family and friends, one who is laughed at and questioned for his or her unexplainable passion for a vision that no one else can see, one who is consumed with their success and the success of those that they love, one who is incapable of being happy or successful living the normal mundane life that comes with a predictable and steady paycheck, but who is determined to see a thing through to the end and reap the rewards and benefits of his or her dedication and hard work in all of its various forms.

Becoming an entrepreneur is not for everyone. Some people just have brilliant ideas, and that's ok. That's why partnerships exist. Some people have brilliant ideas and courage to take on impossible tasks and only accept victory. You have to be slightly insane to make this work because it will not be easy. There are many roads to entrepreneurship, but from what I've seen and heard, the journey's are very similar. My road to entrepreneurship started as a child. I've always done things my own way. I've always been a "boss" or bossy according to my brothers.

It wasn't difficult for me to get tired of the rat trap and tap out! I started my first job at Hungry Howies on October 2, 2007, and the last day that I worked for someone else's establishment was June 26, 2014 when I finalized my documents to become my own Independent Business Owner with Arise Virtual Solutions. I've held positions in four companies: Hungry Howies, Bojangles, Office Max, various schools and departments of UAB, H&R Block, and Marathon Solutions Group, LLC. My employment at Office Max is what truly showed me that I was not built for traditional employment! The hours were decent, but the pay was ridiculous and the demands were very high.

As an entrepreneur, you'll discover that you work the hardest when you work for yourself, but the pay and benefits are much better. I remember the day I made my first sale. I felt like I had made a million dollars even though the sale itself was less than $20 bucks. As I continue to build this company and build my brand image, I only hope to bring my passion and my vision along every step of the way and never forget my humble beginnings because that is my true entrepreneurial vision of success.

Education is Empowerment!

I graduated in December of 2013 with my Bachelors of Science of Finance. It is my firm belief that education is the key to a happy and successful life, formal and informal. If we educate the people, we can empower the nation. This is why we will be offering tutoring and mentorship services to underserved school districts in the Dothan area in the coming months. There has been a severe disconnect in minority communities between education and success. What are our priorities?
I am a single mother of a three year old little boy, and he loves to read and create. I, and my mother, have been observing him since he was born and noting his characteristics. We know that he is gifted, but when it's time to sit down and learn, he is not very good at it. He struggles sit sit still and learn; however, I know how to teach him because I have been paying attention. As parents, it is our job to know how to teach our own children, but many of us are busy trying to feed, clothe, and shelter our children. By the end of the day, we are thankful for the learning institutions for taking on some of the burden and teaching them and making sure that they learn the basics!

This is where we fail. It is not the school's responsibility to teach our children how to be successful. The schools are designed to teach everyone the same things: math, science, history, English grammar and composition, a foreign language, and economics (if you're lucky) so that they can go out into the world and work. They do not teach ethics, morality, entrepreneurship, and individual thinking. These ideas are learned at home with mom and dad.

We can not rely on schools to teach our children everything. Educating our children needs to be our top priority! Our future is in their hands, and if these recent ice water, fire, sleep, etc challenges that I keep viewing are any indication... WE ARE DOOMED!! We need communities and families to step in and teach from the elder generations on down. There are too many hoods and not enough neighborhoods (let that sink in).

VISION

I started this year in a dark place mentally and emotionally. Life was not going where I wanted it to. I had to move in with my mom. I didn't have a bed. All of my possessions were stuffed in boxes in the den, and I was empty. One day, I sat down and thought about it. I hated where I was... HATED IT! I knew if I stayed in that mental space I would be miserable and everyone around me would be miserable too! I decided then to create a vision. I chose to create my vision around my business and my son (my personal life was not even a thought at the time) and remember why I started this company in the first place.

I had been going through a lot trying to define my businesses and my dreams over the last 18 months. I went through a spot of hell last year with my ex-fiancee and father of my child and it really ripped me a part. My business was the last piece of me to survive that relationship. I had to pull myself together the best I could to finish undergrad and raise our son, so it is necessary that this business not only survives, but that it thrives and changes lives and lives beyond me!!!

From that moment, I made my vision (a successful lasting legacy for my son, my niece, and my family) the focal point of my life. I'd be lying if I said that it just happens and everyday is full of passion and happiness, but I have a vision of where I want my life to be. My vision is expanding and growing daily. Parts of the vision are being realized in ways that I never dreamed possible, and it's all because I decided to not only change my focal point but to create my focal point.