Trinette Collier Greene

Q: I was recently asked if I was a ‘sugar daddy’ and would I consider being one. I am shocked because I am a man who is seeking a good woman, not a perfect woman but a good person, who I would love to take care of if we get married. Is this the new norm?

Signed: E.C.~ Shocked & Confused

A: I am sorry that you experienced that line of questioning. Unfortunately, there are some women who are NOT looking for loving, healthy, caring, and Godly relationships. They are seeking men who can take care of them financially without being committed. Sadly, this has become the norm among many women. I’ve learned over time that women who approach men in this manner tend to have been in toxic relationships prior, most commonly involving financial losses. However, there are some women who’ve been taught to have men take care of them.

I can’t tell you how to avoid those types of women but I can tell you that there are great women who are wanting the same thing as you. Don’t get discouraged because NOT all women have that same motive. There are MANY who have a desire to be in a respectable, loving, caring and Godly relationship. With these traits, they will know that you will be capable of taking care of them in all areas including financially.

Until next time, laugh, love and live life!

Love,
AunT


Trinette Collier Greene is a Certified Relationship Stylist and Contributing Writer.

Submit your relationship questions to AskAunT@gmail.com

        Trinette Collier Greene

Q: Should your spouse know how much money you have saved or have?

Signed: I.J.~Wife In Training

A: Good question and commonly asked among couples. I remember during my first marriage, I was given the advice from seasoned women to always keep me a hidden stash. I was told to never let my husband know about extra money I received. I actively listened and followed this advice because I knew they were speaking from prior experience. I never saw any harm in doing so but I also felt like there was no honesty in our finances. However, reality hit me with unforeseen divorce and I was left with nothing. This came from improper and ungodly financial planning.

As I approached my second marriage, we attended marital counseling and one of the topics was finances. During our sessions, I spoke of my previous advice and my thoughts. I shared with my husband that I was afraid of being broke and disappointed financially as I was in my previous marriage so I had serious issues with letting him know my financial status. I did learn that this wasn’t a team effort and wasn’t healthy if we were building together. There is nothing wrong with you having your own savings for yourself. I would suggest that you both create a healthy and balanced financial plan that includes your tithes, financial goals, savings, retirement, his/her accounts, joint household account, etc…This will also help build the trust and financial insecurities in your marriage.

A few tips on moving forward:

1. Pray and seek a financial planner. Make sure that the financial planner understands your spiritual giving as well
2. Work together and list your goals for your household
3. Don’t compare your savings/finances with anyone else
4. Be honest as you talk about finances and prior experiences

I pray financial blessings!

Until next time, laugh, love, and live life!

Love,
AunT

Trinette Collier Greene is a Certified Relationship Stylist and Contributing Writer

Submit your relationship questions to AskAunT@gmail.com

Model P31 Moms by Bridget McCray

Broken

Imagine a world where there were no more broken children…a world in which no child ever had to endure the pain of his parents going through a divorce, never felt she had to question if she did something to make Daddy or Mommy go away, or experienced the feeling of “betraying” one parent because of having to live with the other.

Imagine a time in which there were no more broken children…a time when children were in an environment where there was transparency about both the joys the and challenges of relationships and were not “doomed” to repeat the mistakes of their parents without knowingly doing so.

Imagine a place where there were no more broken children…a place where before they existed, their parents came together in marriage only after much prayer, observation, and deep conversation, asking the hard questions about family history regarding relationships, finances, and other things, in an effort to avoid any destructive patterns that may have previously existed, in order to ensure a different and better future for generations to come.

Imagine…

Bridget McCray

Author and 2018 International Book Awards Finalist (Health: General category), H.E.A.L.T.H.: It’s Not Rocket Science (My Journey to a Healthier Me)

Available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats!

http://a.co/6QWpcgO

For speaking engagements, please contact Bridget through her website at www.bridgetmccray.com

Bridget McCray

Contributing Writer

Theo's Sports Corner by Theo Abbott

The Washington Capitals Win their first Stanley Cup

In my last blog, I wrote to stay tuned to see if the Capitals could win the Stanley Cup Finals.  Well after years of frustration the Caps broke thru and won the Cup.  The Caps Superstar Alex Ovechkin finally lifted the Stanley Cup and shed the label of being the best player in hockey who had never won a championship.  Across their 43 seasons of team existence, the Caps dabbled inconsistent and effective hockey that even when they made the playoffs always ended in postseason failure.  However, this year was different.  The Caps beat the upstart Vegas Golden Knights in five games to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.  The Caps won four consecutive games over the Knights after losing a heartbreaking match in game one.

The party then started for the Caps when the final buzzer sounded in Las Vegas and the team bench emptied and swarmed goalie Braden Holtby, who provided the iconic moment of the finals late in game two by saving a sure goal that could have changed the direction of the series.  After leaving the arena, the Caps took the celebration to the famous Hakassan nightclub inside the MGM Grand Hotel where they consumed $100,000 worth of champagne, beer, and liquor, hung out with world famous DJ Tiesto, and drank alcohol poured into the top of the Stanley Cup.  The next day the Caps traveled back to DC where they partied for a week straight.  They took the Stanley Cup on a tour throughout the DC area to various nightclubs, lounges, restaurants, bars, and other establishments.  It all capped off at an amazing downtown DC championship parade and rally for the team and fans.  DC was so excited that the Caps brought a championship to the City after so many sports disappointments.

The aftermath of the Caps championship celebration was bittersweet as head coach Barry Trotz abruptly stepped down after he and the team could not agree to terms on a new contract.  The New York Islanders quickly hired Trotz giving him a two million dollar pay raise.  The Caps now turn to Todd Reirden as head coach after promoting him from within the organization.  Reirden has been an assistant coach with the Caps since 2014.  The team hopes he can continue the success of Trotz.  This year was an amazing ride for the Caps.  The only thing that could top it is if the team won back to back Stanley Cups next year. We will see what happens in the meantime the Caps and their fans can continue their chant all off season, “We Won the Cup!”

Theo Abbott

Contributing Writer

Divine Wellness by Traci A. Fonville

Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health. -Dalai Lama

Happy Summer everyone! It’s been such a long Spring, that we probably thought the summer would never get here! Living on the east coast I can say that not knowing when the sun was going to show up and stay was a little disappointing. But finally, I think we are in for a nice relaxing warm summer season.

I’d like to get back to our list of my top ten essential oils to have in your home. So let’s discuss lavender essential oil which is also known as the oil of communications and calm. If you remember from our first oil that we discussed, essential oils are volatile liquids originating from the bark, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruit of plants…nature’s gifts of the earth. These raw materials are either cold pressed or distilled through very tedious and meticulous processes which result in the essential oils that we use today. Lavender essential oil, one of my very favorite oils, is derived from the flower of this light airy plant, and the oil is extracted through steam distillation. Let’s take a look at what this oil can be used for and how it can support you.

Lavender can be used:

Ø  NEAT – which means that the oil can be applied to the skin without dilution.

Ø  AROMATICALLY – place one or two drops in a diffuser with water to take advantage of the scent in your home, creating a relaxed environment.

Ø  INTERNALLY – place 1-2 drops under the tongue or in a capsule for internal use. Lavender can also be used in beverages and to flavor your food when cooking. (*Not all essential oils can be used internally. Please read labels very carefully before ingesting.)

As one of the most widely used and popular essential oils, it has a laundry list of uses and benefits. It’s been said, when in doubt use lavender! Here we have just a short list of the top properties of this important oil:

Ø  Sedative

Ø  Astringent

Ø  Antidepressant

Ø  Relaxing

Ø  Soothing

Ø  Antibacterial

Ø  Antihistamine

Even more impressive than its properties are the ways you can use this oil to benefit you and your family. Lavender can support the following:

Ø  Sleep problems

Ø  Stress

Ø  Headaches

Ø  Sunburns

Ø  Allergies

Ø  Cuts

Ø  Bug Bites

Ø  Emotional Balance

How much do I love lavender? So much that I use it every day, especially at night to create a calm environment to help unwind from a busy day. This oil is a necessity and I cannot imagine living without it! Like to know how you can use lavender essential oil in your home? For more information on the many ways, you can use lavender essential oil, email me at iaffirmwellness@gmail.com with your questions or follow me on Instagram @iaffirmwellness. Until next time!

Traci A. Fonville is a certified holistic health coach, a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a registered yoga teacher. She is the owner of I Affirm Wellness, which specializes in health coaching and beginner yoga classes. As a Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA Essential Oils, Traci educates on proper usage and benefits. Follow Traci on Instagram and Facebook @iaffirmwellness. Log onto her website for health and wellness products at www.mydoterra.com/iaffirmwellness.

Traci A. Fonville

Contributing Writer