n e w s l e t t e r

Big Girl Angst

(Part 1 of a 4 part series on self-esteem)

september 2008
“I get so mad at myself sometime
because I hear people say ‘oh I The quotes on the left are from a friend and beloved
got big after I had a baby’ or ‘I reader. I had no idea she felt like this. As we went
was on [medication]’. All I can do back and forth, exchanging messages, e-mails,
is say ‘I'm fat because I ate, slept empathy and tears, I was moved to a point where all
and became lazy’. I was
I wanted to do was take away her pain. As bad as I
depressed about my weight and I
would diet and exercise but wanted to hug her and tell her that she IS beautiful
results didn't come as fast as I and that she IS a phenomenal woman and that her
wanted so I would get lazy again, smile always makes me smile...I didn't. I knew the
eat and then gain more weight.” wall of low self-esteem would not allow my
compliments entry into her spirit. And how, you may
ask, can I be so sure that she would not hear me?
Simple. Because she and I are one and the same.

“I don't want to meet anyone (Consider this my confession. Consider this my redemption.)
new. I don’t want to deal with
guys period. I question why they
like me, why would you want to It doesn't matter if the whole world loves you, if the
talk to me? There [are] so many best man in the world loves you, if your children,
other pretty, smaller girls out family and friends love you... NONE of this matters if,
there. And if I don't love myself
at the core, you don't totally, 100% love yourself.
how can I expect anyone else to
love me? That's not only with And while I can't expect to wave a magic wand, type
guys but with my friends too. I a few words and make everyone's (alleged)
would look at my friends and… inadequacies go away, I do expect to bring at least
most of them are smaller than one nugget, one iota of a piece of inspiration /
me and I just be like why do I
enlightenment / encouragement to help you on your
have to be the big one with bad
skin?” journey to being all that God has destined you to be.

From now until December, the next 4 editions of

StarChild are going to focus on self-esteem and
“…I never had someone to … self-love. These works are going to be a
understand where I was coming collaborative effort, so we are eager to hear from
from or knew how it felt to be a you...your stories, your successes, your thoughts,
big girl with a pretty face and not your words. There is therapy in sharing your
like it. I have a few big friends and
they "act" like it's okay with them
story…we encourage you to take a seat on the
to be big so they be like you StarChild couch.
better embrace it big is beautiful .
I'm like ‘No. To me, big and fat
equals ugliness.” I don’t care how In the meantime and in-between time, read and be
many people tell me you are so blessed!
pretty to be a big girl or you wear
your weight well... It's like, why
can't I just be pretty?”
Cover photo: “Parts of Me Are Excellent” by PAPARAZZA
 Our readers weigh in on what

“Belief and confidence in yourself. Loving you for you. Being your own best friend.”
- Kimberly

“Everything that makes you, you! From your physical

appearance to your mental state of mind.” – Helaynia

“A combination of how you view/feel about

yourself and how that affects what you do.”
- Walida Extremities
An external view is often
misleading.
“Confident, independent, and happy with It is in the mirror that the picture
me!” - Robee is most revealed.
A reflection reverses and enhances
those things we see with the naked eye.
And brings truth, clarity and enlightenment.
“Having the highest regard for yourself
Those things and people who seem
physically, mentally, spiritually & “all put together”
emotionally. Some call it conceit - I call Cast an opposite view.
it SELF LOVE!” -Niyoki The mirror shows the actualities of life.
The unfulfilled dreams,
the fears of failure - - or success.
“The evaluation of oneself…How they And the fear of alienation.
feel about themselves. What they feel Yet life rewards us through
this process by the allowing of
they are worth and what they think they constant
can accomplish.” - Leslie Renewals, re-evaluations, and
survival through each mis-
step.
-Kenike © 2003
“Knowing your own worth regardless of situations,
circumstances or the opinions of others.” – Chanelle

“If you're comfortable in your own skin and understand the words from the
"Serenity Prayer” (my dad [instilled] this in my head growing up, and I still recite
it to this day) GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I
CANNOT CHANGE THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN AND
THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.” – Danyalle
P •h •o •t • o • g • r • a • p • h • y

Tamecika Travalta
Independent Beauty Consultant
4699 NW 46th Avenue
Ocala, FL 34482
734.730.4049 Cell Phone
[email protected]
www.marykay.com/tamecika_travalta
Part I - SUCCULENT SEPTEMBER
H.A.P.P.Y. Quick Tips
“ANALYZE THIS” by 1st Lady Gadget
by 1st Lady Gadget
Dress Seductively, Be Flirtatious, Illuminate yourself,
Live in the moment, Touch & Pleasure yourself, try Aural
Aphrodisiacs & an Intimate Shave…you’ll love the
coolness & the great Finale of the adventure…
Let’s journey back in time before the hymen wall
was torn down by a few what’s his names. Clear your
mind & ease back into your elementary classroom to
the scene of the famous note passed around
class……..Do you like me? Check YES or NO? This “Most people are
is where it all began. about as happy as
they make up their
Those of us who haven’t experienced low self-esteem minds to be.”
can’t truthfully say we know what individuals with low - Abraham Lincoln
self-esteem are going through; such as the
uncertainty, the pain or the aggravation. Self-respect
is confidence in your own merit as an individual
person. Self-esteem is “how much a person likes,
accepts, and respects himself overall as a person”. A
wise person once said: “The difference between the
impossible & the possible lies in a person’s
determination.”
Analyze yourself.
The first step, at the very least is to write down your
strengths & weaknesses. Do you feel powerless? Do
you feel that others don’t value you? Are you easily
influenced by others? Do you become defensive and
easily frustrated & blame others for your own
shortcomings? Do you act independently? Assume My Pick for Self Esteem
responsibility? Are you proud of your
accomplishments? Do you approach new challenges song of the month:
with enthusiasm? Do you tolerate frustration well? Fine by Mary J. Blige
Are you capable of influencing others? Do you prefer
the lights off? Are you comfortable in the skin you are
in? Do you settle for less? “I like what I see when I’m looking
Whether you realize it or not, inner beauty radiates
at me-When I’m walking past the
outward. When you feel good about yourself, your mirror-No stress through the night,
lover will feel good about you, too. Take this at a time in my life-Ain’t worried
opportunity to make a fresh start to reveal your full
power & revel in it! Sexy is as Sexy does! Start about if you feel it-Got my head on
today by attending my Succulent Soiree on straight, I got my mind right -I aint
September 28th. Cum let me help you “UnLeash
Your Inner Being!” For more details please visit
gonna let you kill it-Aint worried
www.HouseofTrueBlue.com or call 877-69-PLZ-ME. about you and what you gonna
do-I’m a lady so I must stay
Stay tuned for next months segment…………. classy-Got to keep it hot, keep it
Part II -Oralicious October
“Cumming Out of your Shell”
together-If I want to get better…
SAVE THE DATE:
See I wouldn’t change my life, my
10/31 What’s your FETISH costume party. life’s just…..FINE”
A is for Aleeyah, who wears thick garish make-up to (try) and cover up imperfect skin.

B is for Bianca, the half black/half Latina living in a black neighborhood, who all the guys want to impregnate because
she got that good hair.

C is for Constance who met her last 4 dates from off the Internet.

D is for Constance’s friend, Dartrell, who is pregnant by a guy she met on MySpace.

E is for Ebonique, who has 4 children all with different daddies, and has never been married.

F is for Falani who turns her nose up at Ebonique. Falani also has 4 children...all by the same man…who just recently
divorced her.

G is for Gina, the peroxide blond, blue contact wearing, Chinese girl who was adopted by a white family and never truly
fit in…

H is for Heaven, who knows she has low self-esteem, admits it, and learns to work around it in creative ways

I is for Idris (formerly known as Ieesha), who after a failed marriage and a couple of kids “realized” she was homosexual.

J is for Jamie, who, everytime she enters into a conversation, she somehow manages to draw the conversation back to
herself.

K is for Kendreea, who tries to hide her low self-esteem beneath an off-putting personality designed to keep people at
bay, lest they be exposed to her softer side.

L is for Lyric, with the jacked up grille who rarely smiles.

M is for Marcia, who continues to relax her hair despite the damaging effects.

N is for Nakee, who can only nervously at best look another person directly in the eye.

O is for Olanda, who stays with the man who verbally and physically abuses her.

P is for Paige, who overspends on her child to perpetrate the notion that they are well off.

Q is for the Queen Mother who always comes through when Paige overspends on her child, under the guise that she is
being a good mother and not an enabler.

R is for Renea, who had bad body odor.

S is for Sybil, who never lost the baby weight.

T is for Terris, who’s motivation is to make her parents love her as much as her more successful sibling.

U is for Uvi, who contracted AIDS because she was afraid to tell a man to wear a condom.

V is for Vonde, who was sexually molested as a child by someone she knew and trusted.

W is for Wanda, the wife who’s womb can’t hold a baby.

X is for Xi, the creative soul who uses her poetry and songs to mask the true depth of her pain.

Y is for Yondola of Yondola and Yuliisa. Yuliisa is the pretty twin, Yondola though, not so much.

Z is for Zyon, who laughed when most of the above women reminded her of people she knew…but saw herself in none.
B.da © 2007
Study Links Bipolar Disorder cut & pasted
with Older Fathers
By L. TANNER

According to one of the largest studies linking mental No Longer Just an Excuse…
illness with advanced paternal age, children born to
older fathers face a greater chance of developing
bipolar disorder. How to Tell if You are
Previous research has connected schizophrenia and
Truly Big-Boned
autism with older dads, and a Danish study published It’s common knowledge that body-
last year added bipolar disorder to the list. The new
study, conducted in Sweden, strengthens the evidence.
frame sizes differ, but big or
The leading theory is that older men's sperm may be heavier skeletons don’t make their
more likely to develop mutations. owners overweight or even appear
that way. If you’re fed up with
Researchers analyzed Swedish national registry data
from more than 80,000 people, including 13,428 with using big bones as an excuse and
bipolar disorder. The risks started increasing for want to know, seriously, what type
father’s around age 40 but were strongest among those of body frame you have, there is a
55 and older. Children born to these dads were 37
percent more likely to develop bipolar disorder than way to tell if you indeed have “big
those born to men in their 20s. The age of the mothers bones”. Here’s how:
didn't appear to be much of a factor.
Have someone else – not you –
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings, from measure your wrist with a cloth
deep depression to manic highs. It affects more than 5
million Americans. Lifetime risks for it have been
tape measure. At this spot on your
estimated at roughly 1 percent to 4 percent. frame, muscles and fat won’t
interfere.
The findings "reinforce the notion that there's a strong
biological component to [bipolar disorder]," said Dr. If you are a man taller than 5 feet
Harold Pincus, vice chair of psychiatry at Columbia 5, and your wrist measures more
University. And although the results aren't definitive, if
the link does prove to be real, Pincus noted that still than 7.5 inches, you have big
means most people with older fathers won't ever get bones. For women taller than 5
bipolar disorder. feet 5, the figure is 6.5 inches.
“The study results shouldn't discourage older men from Women between 5 feet 2 and 5
fathering children,” said Emma Frans, the lead author. feet 5 have big bones if their wrists
She said the results suggest that similar mechanisms measure more than 6.25 inches.
might contribute to risks for bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia and autism. Each of these disorders is
For women less than 5 feet 2, that
thought to have many causes including biologic and figure is 5.75 inches.
outside factors.
If you try this, e-mail us at
[email protected] and let us
know how you ‘measured up’. ☺
 A computer
generated photo
of what Michael
Halle Berry’s daughter, Nahla Jackson might
have looked like
today…

Awww..Chris Noth and his son, Orion

cut & pasted

Celebrity Edition
Jill Marie Jones

J.Hud

D-Nice and Malinda Williams – just

married! CONGRATS!
Thoughts of a Fat Girl
Unrecognizable
Disguisable
No one seems to know me
Been celibate for 8 months now
Seems nobody wants me
Self esteem at an all time low
People see that and it sucks
I’m tired of being that girl you know
That’s cute from the neck up
Supposed to be on a diet
But I don’t want to do right
Eat fast food almost every day
Then wonder why my clothes fit so tight
Got surgery in mind to correct my problem
Maybe that will soothe me
But even in that I’m scared to death
Not to die, but that they won’t approve me
I keep thinking that surgery will change my life
If I said that “I didn’t” I’d be lying
To jack a line from a 50 cent song
I’m a get thin… or die trying
I’m tired of being a fat girl
I’m tired of shopping at Lane Bryant
I’m tired of the same Ashley Stewart gear
I’m tired of feeling like a giant
I’m ready for change
I want to embrace life
I’m ready to set the real me free
I’m ready for change to manifest in my life
I just hope that change is ready for me…
© 2008 NTAGABTF
 The countdown begins…
begins…
(One woman shares her personal weight loss journey)
It's the eve of my operation and I have created a new word:
SNERVOUS. It sums up how I am feeling right now; both scared
and nervous.

I am 48 hours away from the surgery I have been waiting almost

3 years to have. I am scheduled to undergo Roux-N-Y Gastric
Bypass this coming Wednesday. This is not the lap band surgery
where I can change my mind or make adjustments, this is the real
deal - - cut the stomach, make it smaller, reattach it, lose weight.
I know, I made it sound kind of simple, but that is the nuts and
bolts of it. I guess I can use this SNERVOUS energy I have to
give a little background as to how I got here...

From as far back as I can remember, I've never been skinny. I

always managed to carry a little extra meat on my bones. I
remember back when I was a child, one of my nicknames was
Piggy. I also had an uncle who would greet me by saying "that
MUST be jelly, cause jam don't shake like that!".

Even as a teen I was aware of my extra baggage. Looking back

though, I'm shocked to think that was what I called fat. Now I
would donate a pinky toe to be the size I was then!

I'd be lying if I said that my eating habits have always been the To: My Child
best. They haven't. But I'd also be lying not to throw in that I
have been on steroid-ish medication and have also had a baby. I From: Your Mom
think all three of these are factors that have landed me here.
RE: The Carnival
For 3 years I was in a weight loss program that would eventually
allow me to be approved for surgery. However, the ironic thing
is that the the program required me to lose weight BEFORE I told you that mommy didn't have
getting the surgery. (Duh! If I could successfully do that, do ya'
think I'd be campaigning to be operated on? Not!) tickets to ride on the rides with you.
I've told a few close friends and family about my procedure. 97% The truth was that I was afraid I
have been EXTREMELY supportive. The 3% who refuse to see
the validity in what I am about to do trip me out. They tell me
wouldn't fit.
things like: "all you have to do is work out and eat right" or
“you’re doing it the easy way” or "you should do it the natural
way" or "that's so vain of you to do something like that. It's Next year though? IT'S ON!
cosmetic surgery". The only reason their comments didn't phase
me much is because NONE of the people who are saying this
have EVER been overweight a DAY in their life so they can't
even BEGIN to fathom the bullsh*t which is obesity.

Trust me. I hate that it had to come to this... that I'm so d*mn fat
I need to have surgery to get myself together. But you know
what? In my book, the end justifies the means. I compare this
procedure to bankruptcy, for real.... it's a legal and ethical way to
begin to wipe the slate clean from mistakes and missteps I took in
the past. Only difference is we’re talking weight instead of
money. Some people go through a bankruptcy, only to have to
file again later in life for making the same bad choices. And from
what I hear there are people who have had this surgery and
STILL wind up right back in obesity-ville.

I am not only hoping, but I am PLANNING so that I may be

successful in this quest. And B.da’s been kind enough to let me
use some space in StarChild to vent, educate others and above all
keep me sane and focused and accountable as I go on this
journey.

I'm bracing myself for success!

Pray with me and for me….
NTAGABTF
i am at a point in my life right now where i
desire to be made over
kinda like the way jenny jones used to do it,
but not merely for appearances
i need a new freshness to come over me like a
 
cool breeze after a warm summer rain
i miss the way things were when i was a kid... 

footloose and fancy free, but not longing for
them to return because i’ve grown so much
i'd rather move on to something else though i
know it will only hold me just that much
longer
i am ever changing - yet predictable
ever evolving - but unchanged
never consistent - yet the same
you can catch me one day - and i will evade
you the next
and i love my life to be like that
that way no one can take me for granted and i
am always reinventing myself wish i could
get on a plane and go far away and just stay
there for a while
not to run from any impending threats
just for the fun of it because my life is getting
slightly too stagnant for me
not ready to settle
just want to be free…

-FREE © 2008
www.myspace.com/channelgirl5
 The more you can boost your self esteem, the greater your chances are of achieving success.
Using self esteem quotes as well as engaging in other self esteem activities will help you to become
more of who you truly are. With that being said, here is your homework:

Pick a quote, cut it out or write it down,

carry it with you and pull it out from time to time
to keep you focused on the valuable person you are.

To wish you were "I never loved another The way you treat
someone else, is to waste person the way I loved yourself sets the
the person you are. myself." standard for others.
Anonymous Mae West Dr Sonya Friedman

Never be bullied into silence. Never Aerodynamically the bumblebee Instead of thinking about
allow yourself to be made a shouldn't be able to fly, but the what you're missing, try
victim. Accept no one's definition bumblebee doesn't know that so it
thinking about what you have
of your life; define yourself. goes on flying anyway.
that everyone else is missing.
Harvey Fienstein Mary Kay Ash
Anonymous

Even if you haven’t encountered great You don't have to be Attempt easy tasks as if they
success yet, there is no reason you can’t were difficult, and difficult as
bluff a little and act like you have. great to start, but you if they were easy; in the one case
Confidence is a magnet in the best sense
of the word. It will draw people to you have to start to be great. that confidence may not fall
and make your daily life.. and theirs.. a asleep, in the other that it may
lot more pleasant. Donald Trump Zig Ziglar not be dismayed.
Baltasar Gracian
Reader Question of the Month Answer(s) of the Month
Last month we asked our readers the
following question:

Lately my husband has What term do you use

been asking me to be to describe your
more adventurous in the ethnicity / race, and
bedroom. He wants me why?
to do things that I have
Here is what a few of our readers had to say….
no desire to do…and
consider to be a turn off. “White I guess that I was just raised saying
it that way and its easy and straight to the
I’ve always heard it said point Im part# Polish Irish German and who
knows what else but I know nothing of those
that what a man doesn’t heritages so I dont overly claim to be them

get at home, he will get How about this Im of Jesus race ☺

somewhere else. I don’t

want to turn him down
and yet I DO NOT want “Im of mixed heritage so I really dont like
being boxed in as one thing or another Of
to do the things he is course if I am checking a box on a form I
check the black box but I like to think
asking me to do. I’m that one raceone heritage does not alone
define me”
torn and do not know
what to do. HELP!?
“7If I’m filling out a form- I leave it
blank if it is optional Most times I go
ahead and check my true race… I am proud
of being an African American Woman and
what it stands for”

“I’m BLACK!
BLACK Dang all that African American
If you have something
valuable to say, by all stuff I’M not from Africa I feel like those
means, BE HEARD! E-mail who immigrate to the US FROM Africa are true
your responses to African-Americans But me? I’m Black With a
capital B!”
Please send your responses to our new e-mail address:
[email protected]
and your comments may be
[email protected]
used in a future issue.
To: Whom it May Concern
As I sit and think of all I want to say, I hope it doesn’t come off as me
complaining in any kind of way. Because it’s not your fault you see. I’m this way
because of ME. They say if God wanted us to all look the same, the world as we know
it would be so lame. And that may be the case indeed, but why oh why God did it have
to be me?
I know you’re wondering what could it be, for me to be asking God why
me. Am I sick, on my deathbed, did God just take away my one and only friend? In a
sense that all may be true. You see, I lost ME and I’m sad and blue.
You can say it’s okay to be big today in the USA. But since I’m one that
is not quite fit, I know that’s a bunch of bullsh*t! Everywhere you turn there’s another
lesson to learn about how to stay fit so you can be a hit. Or what about that group of
snickering chicks because my clothes don’t say Ms. It? What about the guy who says
his love’s true? I question is there an ulterior motive… I wish I knew. Does he love me
for me or because he wants to try a big girl which, to him, is something new?
Then underlies the jealousy in me, ‘cause my friends are a lot smaller than
me and all you can say to me is you’re big but you’re very pretty. That right there
messes with my mentality.
I walk around with a charade on my face but deep inside I’m praying to
God to take the weight away. It’s not as easy as it may seem, dieting and exercising and
no pounds off. That right there plays with your heart. You tried and tried but to no
avail; now you’re defeated and back at start. So go ahead and call me lazy, so be it, but
then again how dare you sit and ridicule me. You feel I took the easy way out by having
that surgery. Although you see what the weight has done to me physically, I can’t begin
to explain how messed up I am emotionally.
When I look at me I see that which definitely say’s ugly. My family and
friends try to encourage me but I’m just a big girl that happens to be pretty. I don’t
want to hear ‘even though you’re big you have a pretty face’ cause in my book that’s
more of a disgrace. My sister is smaller than me, but no one ever says to her you’re
pretty to be skinny.
So I’ll leave you with this, consider it my ending; I may be pretty but in
this society no matter what you say my weight will always define me.

Sincerely,
A Big Girl, Pretty Face
To All My Full Figured Sistas:
Sistas:

Why do I love you? Is it your persona, your swagger, your walk,

your face, your grace when you enter a place? Your smile, your
style, makes me watch you all the while… I ponder how I can be
your all and one day father your child.
Is it your personality, born in insecurity, yet strong enough to
blossom and become this beautiful social butterfly landing on
Victoria scented family oriented flowers and tasting of the
sweetest good hearted liquor with a twist of self confidence?
Is it because you once thought yourself not worthy, but now
realizing that you are more loved than you ever knew, and more
wanted than that thin girl next to you?
Is it because you have that lil’ somethin’ extra that more men
than a lil’ bit like alot of? Those ample breasts, hips, lips, behind,
curves that almost cross the line between being eye catching and
outrageous. It's almost become contagious how many men want
more of what they love to hold on to, be next to, breathe into…
I'm so into how you treat me and adore me; how black love is
supposed to be, and I will never make you feel like you are
anything less than the best wet dream I ever fell asleep to.
As I lie here next to you I wonder how it came to be, that you and
I so naturally, are meant to be, like leaf and tree. I'll fall to your
foot and kiss it softly because my queen, you know how to love
your man and make him feel just like a king.
Even though we are not perfect you accept my mysteries, and
love yourself, and your home, and your kids, and your man, like
no skinny chick could ever envision making love to her husband
under the most fulfilling of circumstances.
Chances are we can make this last forever if you truly accept who
you are and give your beautiful self to me.

Peace and Luv Y’all

Ya Boy "3000"
© 2008

www.myspace.com/BIGBUSH3000
 Is Your Hut on Fire?
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small,
uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him,
and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed
forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little
hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to
store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging
for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke
rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened - everything was
lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you
do this to me?" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was
awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the
island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was
here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad.

But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the
midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the
ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
 Pasta-Less Lasagna
(because carbs are not your friend!)

1 Yellow Onion, diced

2 cloves Garlic, minced
1/2 pound ground turkey sausage (could also use ground turkey)
3 cups Marinara Sauce (or Spaghetti Sauce)

1 cup Ricotta Cheese

1 Egg, beaten
1 Tablespoon Parsley, Chopped
1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1 cup Shredded Italian Blend Cheese (Mozzarella, Parmesan, etc.)
4 Zucchini or Summer Squash, sliced lengthwise

Slice the Zucchini and Summer Squash lengthwise and grill on the BBQ or George Foreman
grill. Set aside.
Put meat into frying pan and cook for 2 minutes, or until most of the meat is brown. Add
onion and garlic and cook until meat is no longer pink. Add 1 cup of marinara/spaghetti sauce
and warm through. Set aside.
Mix ricotta, 1 egg, parsley, and Italian seasoning together. Set aside.
Layer 1/2 zucchini and squash into baking dish. Spoon 1/2 of meat mixture next, spreading
evenly over the zucchini. Pour 1 cup of marinara/spaghetti sauce over meat (this makes it
really saucy!). Spoon 1/2 Ricotta mixture on top. Sprinkle 1/2 the Italian Blend Cheese.
Repeat. Bake for 55 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serve and enjoy!

StarChild Jello Shots
What You’ll Need:
1 box of Jell-o gelatin (we like: mixed fruit, strawberry, cherry, or raspberry)
½ cup boiling water
½ cup ice-cold water
1½ cup of Silver Patron or flavored vodka (we like: Raspberry, cherry, strawberry)
1 medium size mixing bowl
Package of disposable shot glasses

DIRECTIONS:
Pour powdered gelatin into mixing bowl
Pour ½ cup boiling water slowly into bowl with gelatin, stirring slowly as you pour
Stir until the gelatin is pretty well dissolved
Stir ½ cup of ice-cold water into the bowl, stirring some more
Pour liquor into mixture, stirring as you pour
Set out shot glasses on a tray, baking dish or large plate
Pour the jello mixture into the shot glasses and then place in the fridge to chill for
about an hour*
Serve and enjoy!
*If time is of the essence and you can’t wait an hour, shots may be placed in the
freezer for approximately 10-15 minutes

Frozen Cherricane
2 cups SKYY Infusions Cherry Vodka
1 cup of Midori
1 can of frozen orange juice
1/2 can of frozen pineapple juice
2 cups of cranberry juice
2 scoops of ice cubes
Toothpicks (optional)
Maraschino Cherries (optional)

Load all ingredients into blender, starting with ice cubes first.
Blend until all ingredients are mixed and crushed and have a slushy
consistency.
Pour into glass and garnish with 2 cherries on a toothpick (placed
on the rim)
Serve and enjoy!
 His hello was the end of her endings,
Her laugh was their first step down the aisle.
His hand would be hers to hold forever,
His forever was as simple as her smile.
He said she was what was missing.
She said she instantly knew.
She was a question to be answered.
And his answer was “I do.”
- S.A.T.C.

P•h•o•t•o•g•r•a•p•h•y
 StarChild is nationwide and the mailing list keeps growing!
For advertising opportunities or to be added to the mailing list,
contact us at [email protected].

Special thanks go out to my girl holding it down in the south,

Suga, our newest StarChild staffer and Innovations Manager,
Walida B., The McEastland Family for your prayers, creativity ,
ingenuity and constant support, Chanelle for continuing to come
through with some BRILLIANT ideas, my guy 3000 for loving us
as we are and everyone who indulges me this passion to keep
StarChild going and growing. Much love for now and for always!

This issue is dedicated to Dorion,

who always made me feel
beautiful. (R.I.P.)

p.s. Eargasms will be back next month!