Author’s Book Signing and Networking Event

Treasure’s Banquet Hall is inviting Authors of all genres to participate in this great opportunity to share published and upcoming work.

The event takes place Friday August 22, 2014,
 2pm – 8pm

At Treasure’s Banquet Hall

5549 Germantown Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19144

This event is free to the public. 
Author’s fee is $15 for table. 

For information, contact:

Dayna Cherry

267-601-6094

Or

Daniel Ramsey

267-241-5695

Oh Woman! How Great Is Thy Faith! Let it Be as Thou Willl!!!

This Post is Inspired by The Canaanite Woman in Mathew 15:

This scripture was never one of my favorites.  I would get defensive about
 it because Jesus called the woman a dog; unfit for even crumbs from the
Master's table.  But this past weekend I attended a Camp Meeting service
 a the SDA Allegheny East Conference in Pine Forge, PA.  The guest
speaker was Admiral Barry Black.  Now, I had not been to camp meeting
 there in about 6 years, but when I heard that Barry Black was speaking,
 I put on my hat and went to hear him speak.  I was not disappointed.

READ MORE...

How to ruin your credit score

Warren Buffet once said, "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." The same could be said of good credit. It isn't built overnight or by accident. Most Americans with stellar credit scores have exercised financial discipline for years. That's why lenders are willing to offer them mortgages and car loans at favorable interest rates.
And like a good reputation, a strong credit score can be easily ruined. Here's how to devastate your credit score in four simple steps.

• Max out your credit cards and don't make required payments. About 35% of your FICO score — the number between 300 and 850 (worst to best) that most lenders use when deciding whether to extend credit — comes from your payment history. Paying late or paying less than required minimums can wreak havoc on your FICO score and may signal to lenders that you're overextended.

• Co-sign on an irresponsible friend's loan. There's a reason why your pal needs a co-signer — he or she is perceived as a high credit risk. If your friend defaults on the loan, you're responsible for the unpaid balance. As Shakespeare said, "Loan oft loses both itself and friend." And remember this: if you co-sign for a loan, the status of the loan will appear on your credit report.

• Close credit card accounts in quick succession. Shutting down a credit card or line of credit account may adversely affect your debt-to-utilization ratio (how much you owe in relation to your credit limits). As this ratio climbs, your credit score will tend to sink. Say, for example, you have three credit cards and each has a $1,000 limit. You carry a balance of $500 on one of those accounts. That's a debt ratio of $500 to $3,000 or about 17%. If you close one of the accounts, the ratio will jump to 25% ($500/$2,000). Though you haven't accumulated more debt, your credit score may be hurt.

• Default on your installment loan or home mortgage. This is another sure-fire way to trash your credit score. A home foreclosure, for example, may cause your FICO score to plunge by 200 points or more. And because most negative information stays on your credit report for seven years (ten years for a bankruptcy), lenders may be reluctant to offer you money for a very long time.

aconner@atconnercpa.com

Mary Jane's Closet presents TheMeltingPotArtExpo2: a white & gold affair at Blackeye Soup Studios.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact:

Jasmine Anderson

Mary Jane's Closet

ShopMaryJanesCloset.com
M.JanesCloset@gmail.com

Kourtney Fullard

267-439-6291

Kendall Hayes

267-593-7604

TO: City Editors, Education Editors, Photo Editors, Broadcast Assignment Editors and News Directors.

WHAT: Mary Jane's Closet presents TheMeltingPotArtExpo2: a white & gold affair at Blackeye Soup Studios. The night will be filled with some of Philly's best artists, who may not have otherwise been given the chance to display their talent.

Philadelphia, PA, May 30, 2014 –

A showcase that will display all mediums of art, including fashion designs, artwork and performances.   Artists include Jamir Linder, All Day J and Nebulus Flair, whose artwork will be on display. There will also be a variety of performers, ranging from poetry/spoken word to rap. A few performers from the first Melting Pot Art Expo will be returning, such as poet/writer Kourtney Naomi, singer Parker and rapper Cloudy. There will also be a performance by Brooklyn, NY rapper, E. Nigma.

“We are happy to host this event at our venue” said BlackEye Soup owner, Joshua Black.  “Our mission is to inspire and encourage the youth in their artistic ventures.”

In between performances there will be fashion scenes; designers include ZombieFlyd, CMTA and of course, Mary Jane's Closet. There will be a special fashion scene displaying designs from the brand called Distorted Love. The brand's founder, Jhamiel Anthony Robinson, recently passed away. To celebrate Jhamiel, a friend of his, rapper Calogero, will be performing a song while models display his designs.

Best dressed male and female will be acknowledged and rewarded during the show. There will be multiple prizes raffled off. After the show is over, guests will have time to eat, drink, mingle, network and take photos. Each guest in attendance will receive a gift bag before leaving the venue. There will also be the opportunity to purchase some MJC gear, including the newly featured Young, Talented & Broke tees, handmade flower headbands and sunglasses!

WHO:

• Jasmine Anderson

• Kourtney Fullard

• Joshua Black

WHEN:                 Friday, May 30, 2014

                                7:00pm

WHERE:              Blackeye Soup Studios

                                6143 Germantown Ave

                                Philadelphia, PA 19144

Feed Your Hair From Within

Guest Post from Aginah Shabazz

Your hair is fed by your blood stream.  The health of your hair and scalp depends to a great degree on the quality of your blood just as your general health depends on the quality of your blood.  The quality of your blood, which feeds your hair, depends on nutrition.  If your diet does not contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals, proteins, and amino acids, then your blood will be deficient in all important nutrients and cannot supply them to your hair.

If your hair is falling out or your experiencing baldness, you would be wise to get immediate attention.  Usually, hair loss caused by severe conditions is sometimes temporary, and when the condition is cleared up, the hair will resume it's normal growth. 

However, the greatest majority of all hair loss in men are so called male-pattern baldness and in women "female pattern".  In these instances, baldness is caused, as Dr, Mikus would say, by impaired blood circulation to the hair follicles, prolonged mental stress, affected by the influence of male hormone on the galea {causes it to thicken} or by impaired blood circulation caused by nutrition,  or may be  affected by the constriction of the blood vessels{cause by smoking} in the scalp, also emotional stress.

Finger Massage:

Place both hands firmly on your head and without moving the fingers or palms, push the whole scalp in circular movements for a few seconds... then place the fingers or palms in a new position repeat until you cover the whole scalp including the forehead, temples and neck...

Brushing

Use a fine brush of fine quality, natural bristle, brush hair for 3-5 minutes morning and evening.  Alternate up and down strokes.  Regular brushing improves the quality of your hair and helps to prevent baldness.  Brushing deep-massages the scalp and cleanse the surface of dirt, dead skin and stale oils.  It also helps the sebaceous glands to release their secretions and stimulate their normal activity.  And don't be afraid to brush thinking you will pull out too many hairs.  If the hair is loosely attached in its cuticle that will come off in brushing- then it would be of no benefit to keep it there.  The sooner it comes out the better...The emptied hair follicle stimulated by vigorous brushing and the flow of new blood, will soon start growing new hair.

Shampooing

I do not advise using detergent shampoos or hot water.  For your last rinse mix a 1 oz of  Bragg's apple cider vinegar to 5 oz a of warm water as your final rinse.  Or use Aginah's Herbal Hair Products.  

Suggested Herbs & Amino Acids{free form}

L-Tyrosine 500mg

L-Cysteine

Fish Oil 1000mg

Nettles

Horsetail

Cascara Sagrada

Kelp

Yellow Dock

Garlic w/Cayenne

Take your natural hormone herb daily

As Dr. Mikus would say, hair growth is a very slow process especially new growth.  Be consistent and patient.  Follow the suggested treatments conscientiously and you can expect to be richly rewarded for your efforts.Keep me posted on your monthly results.  Should you need my assistance please don't hesitate to email aginahhair@aol.com    

Stay Calm!  

Follow these steps when shutting down a business

Business owners may decide to shut down their operations for a variety of reasons. Some struggle for years before admitting that their particular market is drying up or the company's products lack sufficient customer appeal. Others manage strong businesses, but no longer feel motivated to continue pouring energy into the enterprise. Still others may find that partnerships have grown sour or personal crises have unavoidably encroached on their time and resources.
Regardless of the reason for shutting down a business, owners should follow a systematic dissolution strategy whenever possible. Such a plan should include the following steps:

• Vote to close the business. Of course, a sole proprietor may only need to consult with a spouse or trusted advisor. With a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company, more than one business associate must agree to the dissolution. Organizational documents or a state's business statutes often mandate the level of agreement required (a simple majority or two-third's majority, for example), so you'll want to consult applicable rules.

• File a final tax return. Even if the business only operated for a portion of the year, you'll need to notify the IRS that the company's annual tax return is its last one.

• Fill out dissolution paperwork. Let your state and local governments know that the company is ceasing operations. The forms you need should be posted on your secretary of state's website. Especially when a partnership or corporation is dissolved, formal filings should prevent future confusion about ownership and liabilities.

• Cancel licenses, permits, and insurance policies. Most businesses are required to obtain city, county, and/or state licenses to operate. Those governments should be notified of the dissolution. Insurance brokers as well should be told to cancel business liability, health care, and other company policies.

• Notify interested parties. At some point you'll want to inform lenders, suppliers, service providers, and customers. Lenders will be eager to find out how you plan to repay loans. Suppliers will want to know when to make final deliveries. Utility companies will need to know when to turn out the lights and shut off the water. Customers, too, should be given plenty of notice about final orders and ongoing projects.

• Get expert advice. Closing down a business can be a stressful and fragile process. Many things can go awry, so seeking help from competent professionals — attorneys, accountants, bankers, and others — can keep the process moving in the right direction.

aconner@atconnercpa.com

Understanding the basics of reverse mortgages

Because many retirees are house-rich and cash-poor, financial gurus have developed a method for tapping into some of that bottled-up wealth: the reverse mortgage. As the name suggests, a reverse mortgage generates payments from a lender to a homeowner — the opposite of a standard mortgage. By providing access to home equity, reverse mortgages enable cash-strapped seniors to retain their property, subsidize their income, make home improvements, even cover unexpected medical expenses. Furthermore, money received from a reverse mortgage isn't taxable and doesn't negatively affect a retiree's social security or Medicare benefits.

For several years the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has offered a popular reverse mortgage called the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or HECM. To qualify under that program, you must be at least 62 years of age and hold title to your home free and clear (or be able to pay off the mortgage balance with proceeds from the reverse mortgage). In addition, you must demonstrate the financial wherewithal to cover ongoing utility costs, maintenance, property taxes, and hazard insurance. You'll be required to live in the home as a primary residence (although some types of reverse mortgages allow you to live in a nursing home or other medical facility for up to 12 consecutive months before the loan must be repaid). As with other types of mortgages, lenders charge origination and closing fees. Ongoing costs such as mortgage insurance premiums and servicing fees may be part of the bargain as well.
Before you sign on the dotted line, consider the following:

• You're taking out a loan. A reverse mortgage is an obligation that must be repaid when the borrower moves out permanently, the house is sold, or the borrower dies.

• Read loan documents carefully. Payment amounts, interest rates (fixed or variable), loan length, line of credit availability, events that trigger foreclosure proceedings — all of these variables should be clearly delineated in the mortgage documents.

• Expect your total debt to increase. Interest on a reverse mortgage is generally charged against and added to the outstanding loan balance on a monthly basis.

Although a reverse mortgage may provide a welcome source of cash, such a commitment shouldn't be undertaken lightly. Shop around, and beware of pushy sales people who love to bundle additional products — risky investments, annuities, insurance — along with their reverse mortgage offerings.

aconner@atconnercpa.com