The Terrace Oaks Care and Rehabilitation Center has a list of beautiful residents!  But during a recent Valentine’s Day Celebration, two very special people took front and center and were crowned King and Queen.
The King is Mr. Gerald Caldwell and the Queen is Mrs. Rosa Turner. Both blushed and shouted praises of how grateful they were to receive the honor. The award is one that rivals a homecoming crowning as the fellow residents select the honorees.
“We love our residents and we love doing things to make them smile. It’s great to see them take pride in themselves and get all dressed up for our parties. They enjoy the fellowship, food and fun. It warmed my heart to see the King get as red as a raspberry when his name was called and I’m not sure if the queen has stopped shouting and praising the Lord, even as of yet,” said Katina Mitchell, activity   coordinator.
“The staff at Terrace Oaks does a great job for their residents. You could see the excitement and love that they have for the people.  The residents were all excited to see us come in as their guest and were quick to boast of their accomplishments. I talked with one gentleman who was Resident of the Month. He said that it meant that the people around here thought something of him. I think that it is wonderful that the staff does special things to uplift them. They need to keep their heads and hearts held high. I am so glad that I was invited to be a part of the ceremony,” said Andrew Bennett, Assistant Tax Assessor.
The Valentine’s program is a nine year tradition at Terrace Oaks. The runner-ups were presented with flowers and the winners with flowers, crowns and sash by Andrew Bennett.

  (NAPSA) – Motherhood is a great joy, but caring for a child brings many tough choices and decisions that can lead to stress and feelings of mommy guilt. One of the largest stressors many new moms have to deal with is attempting to re-enter the workforce. According to a recent survey conducted online by Harris Interactive, 75 percent of new moms return to work post-baby. Moms re-entering the workforce face a variety of obstacles and pressure including balancing fulfilling duties at home and performing in the workplace.
Michelle LaRowe, a return-to-work expert and the author of “Working Mom’s 411,” shares tips and tricks to help every busy mom ease back into working.
If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else. Set your alarm 15 minutes before everyone else’s to have your coffee in peace. If you can’t hit the gym, take a brisk walk during your lunch break. If you aren’t meeting your needs, you won’t be able to meet the needs of others.
Guilt is mommyversal. Whether you are a working mom, stay-at-home mom or work-from-home mom, guilt is mommyversal. Just because you feel guilty doesn’t mean you are. If you’ve made the right choice for your family, do yourself and your baby a favor – let go of the guilt.
A momtourage is a necessity. Now is the time to find out who and what can make your life easier (especially child care you can trust). Whether outsourcing the pet walking or ordering groceries online, find dependable ways to give yourself more time in your day to spend with your family.
According to the survey, 42 percent of new moms who plan to return to work are worried about feeding their child. A great way to alleviate this stress is to formulate a feeding plan. Some moms also find that substituting or supplementing breast milk with infant formula can make the transition into a working mom much easier.
If you decide to choose that route, be smart about it. In the case of baby formula, skimping on price does not mean skimping on quality. The FDA strictly regulates infant formula to keep babies safe. Moms can rest assured knowing that store brand formulas, like Walmart’s Parent’s Choice Infant Formula, have to meet strict FDA guidelines and regulations.
Parent’s Choice and other store brand formulas can cost up to half of what brand-name formulas cost and are nutritionally comparable. This switch alone can save moms up to $600 a year and maybe even pay for some of that momtourage!
Visit www.parentschoiceformula.com and www.storebrandformula.com for more information.

 “Congrats goes out to Lesley V. Hall Jr. for scoring a 20 on his ACT. Lesley is a 7th grade student at Cornerstone Schools of Alabama. I love you and am so proud to have you as a grandson.

LOVE, your Grandmother, Marilyn Stoves

   Although the economy is showing slight signs of improvement, the overall job outlook for many underemployed and unemployed workers, including graduating college students, appears to be sluggish. There is still a vast pool of educated, experienced and talented people looking for new employment opportunities. The Community Economic Empowerment Service is announcing its 6th ANNUAL FREE JOB PREPARATION SEMINAR to assist individuals with interviewing skills and resume preparation whether it is for pursuing higher education, entering or reentering the job market, or seeking a job promotion. Please spread the word!
WHEN: Saturday, March 15, 2014
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
WHO: Everyone in metropolitan Birmingham and surrounding areas is
invited.
WHERE:    The Campus of The Guiding Light Church
1800 John Rogers Drive
Birmingham, AL 35210
WHAT:    A team of Human Resource professionals from several major
Birmingham corporations will facilitate workshops on:
•    What a good resume should reveal about you
•    How to have a successful interview
•    The Do’s and Don’ts of dressing for job interviews

   In Alabama, 12 percent of high school students report being harmed by a dating partner. Another startling fact is that 1 out of 4 teen girls and 1 out of 6 teen boys become victims of sexual assault before they reach adulthood. Experience shows that the relationships people form in their teenage years greatly influence the relationships they form as adults. Understanding that prevention is a key to breaking the cycle of domestic violence, the YWCA Central Alabama’s Healthy Relationships program focuses on building solid relationships at an early age. 
 Championed by AmeriCorps members Katie Reed and Jessica Altice, the YWCA’s Healthy Relationships outreach is a division of the YWCA’s Domestic Violence Services Department and is grateful to have AmeriCorps members join in on the cause of educating youth. In 2014 alone, the program has already presented in several area schools to approximately 665 students. These schools include Rudd Junior High, Hayes Middle, Ashville Middle and Hueytown Junior High, as well as an all boys mentoring group at UAB. The AmeriCorps members engage students in conversations about the differences in healthy and unhealthy relationships, the warning signs of abusive relationships, how to help friends who are being abused and ways to protect oneself from sexual assault.
 “One of my favorite activities that we do with students is our Refuse Abuse Red Flags. We have students write on paper flags why they refuse to abuse or refuse to be abused, and the schools usually display their work,” said AmeriCorps member Katie Reed. For example, one student wrote “I don’t want to physically or emotionally hurt someone I love and care for. I refuse to abuse because I’m better than that.”  Another wrote “I refuse to be abused because I know I deserve to be loved and protected instead of abused. I know my worth.”  AmeriCorps member Katie Reed also noted that the flags are special to her because they demonstrate that the students are able to personalize the information they discuss.
Completing the Healthy Relationships team, traveling to schools helping educate students is AmeriCorps member Jessica Altice. Jessica says she believes her time spent in the schools this year has been extremely beneficial to the students. “Our main focus is discussing the aspects of healthy and abusive relationships, but we also teach them skills that will help them throughout their lives. We teach them about empathy, respect, acceptance and being good friends. These life lessons not only help them be better boyfriends and girlfriends, but they also teach them to be better people, said Jessica.
Knowing the importance of education, and being an example through their AmeriCorps service is a part of what Katie and Jessica do daily. They hope their message will help change, and save lives. During the month of February the Refuse Abuse Red Flags were replaced with paper hearts, and many were displayed in the YWCA’s lobby to inspire and encourage others. This idea allowed AmeriCorps members Katie Reed and Jessica Altice to take the message of Healthy Relationships from the classroom to the real world.

ATLANTA – The title of Speed Cutting Champion at this year’s Bronner Brothers International Hair Show, conducted this past weekend from February 22-25, was brought back to Birmingham.
Birmingham Cosmetologist Rashaundra “Shaunny” Curry, a stylist at J’Los Salon on Birmingham’s South Side, was named from amongst 14 other stylists from across the country as Speed Cutting Champion.
Curry said each contestant was given 30 minutes to perform a “precision style and cut”  with an interesting challenge introduced at the last minute. “We were told just before the contest began that we wouldn’t be allowed to use our flat irons or hair fixatives like sprays and oils, which we normally use when styling a client.” “The judges told us just before the contest began to put them (styling irons and fixatives) all away – which made the contest quite a challenge,” she said.
Carlos Gardner, co-owner of J’Los  Salon where Curry works, said Curry bringing the Speed Cutting Title back to Birmingham is a win for the city in hair circles; particularly where the beauty industry is concerned. “Many people don’t think of Birmingham where the hair and beauty industry is concerned.”
“Most people think of big cities like New York and Los Angeles when it comes to the top hair stylists. Shaunny bringing the Speed Cutting Title back to Birmingham puts the city on the map within the hair industry.”
Curry is no stranger to winning competitions at the Bronner Bros International Hair show, now in its 65th year and the country’s largest event amongst African American Hair Professionals – which is attended by hair stylists, product suppliers and manufacturers from around the world.
In 2012 Curry placed 2nd in the Fantasy competition where contestants are expected to create conceptual, futuristic hairstyles before a panel of judges. In 2011 she placed 2nd in the Rising Star competition where judges recognize the talents of up and coming hair stylists from across the country.
A 2012 Graduate of the Southeastern School of Cosmetology in Birmingham, Curry said hairstyling is in her blood. She says her aunt Eunice Johnson – who ran a salon in Birmingham, where she would babysit Curry as a youngster – gave her a chair in the salon when she was 15. “Back then you didn’t have to be licensed to be a natural hair stylist. So my aunt let me begin servicing clients. I feel like I was born in the business”, she said.
Curry was awarded a Trophy and $1000 cash prize for winning the Speed Cutting title.
“It feels great to be named the 2014 Speed Cutting Champion at this year’s hair show, which was the first year that the Speed Cutting competition was featured.  When I heard them call my name as this year’s champion I was in shock”, she said.