Healthy Habits You Can Incorporate Into Your Family’s Schedule

Creating healthy habits for your family and sticking to them can be challenging, especially when you all have busy schedules. The good news is there are some quick and easy ways to work better choices into your routines. Reducing stress, eating healthy, getting enough rest, and making time for physical activity are a few of the best changes you can make, but the key is to make sure your entire family will get the benefit. Today, Fromgirltogirl has a few tips on how to change your lifestyle for the better and get your family on a healthy track:

Start at Home

When it comes to helping your family feel good, there is no better place to start than at home. Our environment plays such a big role in our physical and mental health that it is crucial to assess those surroundings and make sure they’re in good shape. Removing clutter, organizing pantries and closets, letting in fresh air, and creating a peaceful spot for quiet meditation time. You can change your home for the better. Taking steps to ensure that your home is calm and clean can go a long way toward reducing stress and other negative feelings for your family members.

Alleviate Work Stress

Most of us experience stress at work; make changes to your home to combat half the problem. Fortunately, there are several simple things you can do to keep stress at bay during the workday, especially if you or your spouse work from home. Start by setting up a clean, organized office space that provides the right tools and equipment for your needs, and add live plants for a little mental health boost. It’s also important to make sure you get up and move around during the day rather than sticking to the desk since sedentary jobs can lead to physical health issues. Set up a schedule for the workday that will allow you to stay organized and on task even when life throws you a curveball.

Make Mealtime Family Time

With a busy family schedule, it may not be possible for everyone to sit down for dinner together every night, even if you work from home. However, you can make the most of those nights when you are together by involving the kids in the process of food preparation. Young people get several advantages from working in the kitchen, which are amplified when spending time with their parents. As a parent, you can use that time to talk about their day or make plans for the weekend. Think of healthy meals for the week and include the entire family in the planning process.

Pursue Your Educational and Vocational Goals

One of the best things you can do for yourself – not to mention model positive behavior for your family – is pursue your dreams. Is there a business you’ve always wanted to start or an educational goal you’ve been putting off? If you have a passion for helping others, for instance, going back to school for a degree in nursing is a great way to start. And thanks to the flexibility of online learning, you can work at your own pace, without needing to take time off to focus on your studies.

Take Up a Hobby Together

Whether you and your loved ones discover a passion for cooking and baking or you want to do something more active, enjoying a hobby together can bring you closer while boosting your overall well being. You might ride bikes, play a sport, make art, or get into gaming. You can even take a local class together or learn more about a common interest through a how-to activity. Most hobbies can help us reduce stress and anxiety, and some can also help us stay fit, making them perfect for family-sized fun.

Fromgirltogirl (FG2G) is a healthy lifestyle consultant and trusted news source for audiences of all ages. To learn more about the FG2G community, explore our website, services and use the hashtag #FG2G on social media.

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Reproductive Rights and Roe v. Wade – An Overview

Uterus | Women's Rights
Reproductive Justice is one of the hot topics of 2022, with this as the biggest question:

How could rejection of reproductive rights by the Supreme Court hurt women – particularly Black women and other marginalized groups?

How Overturning Roe v. Wade May Impact U.S. Citizens
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to announce its decision this summer on Dobbs v. Jackson, a case based on an extreme new law in Mississippi that directly challenges Roe v. Wade.

A leaked draft of the Supreme Court’s decision indicates the court is poised to overturn the 50-year precedent of Roe v. Wade and strip women of their constitutional right to make reproductive health care decisions for themselves – including abortion.

Currently abortion is still legal but if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, it will end the constitutional right to abortion and allow states nationwide to ban abortion. If it happens, it will be the most consequential case on abortion in generations.

Overview
There is no path for the Supreme Court to uphold Mississippi’s ban without overturning Roe.

Mississippi directly asked the Court to overturn the landmark abortion rights case.

8 in 10 Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade.

Why?

Many Americans believe a woman can never be equal to a man if she is denied the basic right to make decisions for herself or her family.

In America, a solid human rights foundation is critical to sustaining our democracy. The basic human rights of women in America are threatened if the Supreme Court ultimately overturns Roe v. Wade.

In the land of the free and home of the brave, the right to control and make decisions about our own bodies is fundamental to our freedom and rights as citizens in our democracy. This is the very essence of our freedom as Americans.

Each of us has our own unique circumstances. Women should have the right to make both personal and private decisions they feel are best for them.

It’s no secret that women, including Black women, have fought and died for the freedom to control our bodies – Slavery. Segregation. And even the Supreme Court.

As a woman, I have experienced times when my body has been treated as property and moments where I was lowered to second class citizenship in both personal and professional environments.

Women should be trusted with their freedom

I respect birthing people and a woman’s right to abortion, even when I pray to have a child of my own. Single and married women should have the freedom to exercise their right to abortion.

The Dobbs v. Jackson case is part of a coordinated series of attacks on abortion access and women’s reproductive rights by anti-choice groups.

Over 500 new restrictions on abortion access have been introduced in state legislatures across the country in 2022 and considered extreme new laws to a variety of Americans, including criminalization of women and doctors, outlawing of abortion by state, the shutdown of clinics, and restricting access based on income level or defining the medical procedures available to those in need.

If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, 28 states are expected to move quickly to ban abortion.

13 states have “trigger bans” already in place, which would ban abortion automatically. 

56% of Black people in America live in the south and many of the new laws rolling back abortion rights disproportionately impact Black women.

Just the Facts
The United States has the second-highest maternal death rate among developed countries, and Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women.

Forcing women to carry unwanted pregnancies can have deadly consequences, particularly for Black women.

There is an unmistakable overlap in the states where these new laws are being introduced and passed.  Black women are facing the reality of having their reproductive rights stolen at a time when their right to vote, equal opportunities in education and employment, and equal pay to white counterparts are being chipped away and undermined at the local, state, and federal levels.

Access to the full spectrum of reproductive and sexual health care, including abortion is critical to the black community and overall birthing people.

Not only should these groups be able to decide whether or not to continue a pregnancy, but they should also have access to the care and resources required for health, wellness, and safety.

All birthing people, regardless of income or location, should be able to access the pregnancy care they choose, free from coercion or shame in their community.

What can you do to help?

Leverage collective power to organize, mobilize ,and vote in upcoming Federal, State, and Local elections.

The majority (80%) of Black people believe abortion should remain legal and women should be able to get safe abortions.

In a recent national poll of Black women voters, 85% of Black women say that making sure women do not lose the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions is a top concern.

64% of Black women who self-identify as religious (attend religious service at least once a week, believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. 

Three-quarters (76%) of Black people agree that health insurance should cover abortion care.

91% of Black people say that a woman’s ability to control whether or when she has children is an important part of financial stability for herself and her family.

74% of Black voters believe abortion is an important voting issue.

79% of Black voters oppose their state passing new laws that severely restrict abortion.

Almost 7 in 10 Black voters (69%) would not vote for a candidate that would overturn Roe. 

Here is How Overturning Roe V. Wade could impact the midterms.

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A People’s Journey: Welcome to the National Museum of African American History & Culture

Some day if I’m blessed to see old age I can tell the youngins this: We went to see the @nmaahc opening ceremony and our first black President of the United States with his black First Lady @__flotus__ Michelle #Obama spoke at the dedication on September 24, 2016. And if I am able by then… We are going to that museum from top to bottom. The resilience in itself is a remarkable story. Shout out to @howard1867 students as well as the black men who took off of work for the million man march. If you can’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. #Freedom #Equality #apeoplesjourney #fg2g #blacklivesmatter #blackandproud #nmaahc #stopracism #stopseparatism #civilrights #humanrights #blackhistory #millionmanmarch #howarduniversity #hu #howard #blackfeminism #Roots

A photo posted by Fromgirltogirl.com (@fromgirltogirl) on

Last Saturday, September 24, the National Museum of African American History & Culture ( NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C. opened its doors to the public and Fromgirltogirl attend the opening ceremony. For those of you who did not get to see the museum first-hand, EarthCam is proud to have been selected to document the newest museum on the National Mall and released this time-lapse movie showcasing construction progress from May 2012 to September 2016. The NMAAHC is the Smithsonian Institute’s 19th museum and the HD imagery from the EarthCam construction camera highlights the beauty of the Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup vision.

About the NMAAHC

The NMAAHC is a 400,000-square-foot museum with nearly 3,500 artifacts in its exhibition galleries, an education center, a reflecting pool at the south entry and many more unique features. The grand opening weekend included festivals, artistic performances and a special dedication ceremony where President Barack Obama cut the ribbon. You can watch President Obama’s speech below:

To celebrate the opening of this significant museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with EarthCam’s time-lapse movie for the National Museum of African American History & Culture, watch the video below:

Video is “Courtesy of EarthCam” www.earthcam.net

Want to learn more? Check out this Sunday Morning edition with Quincy Jones:

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Find a cure for Leukemia & the miracle of God

Charisma Bush

Leukemia is a blood cancer that hinders the body’s ability to fight cancer. Some leukemias are slow-growing while others are aggressive. God willing, someday there will be a cure for not only Leukemia but all cancers. My cousin Charisma has been battling Leukemia for a long time coming and now God has given her rest and she won the battle by being in the presence of the Lord. Learn about the treatments scientists are looking into to find a cure for Leukemia. Right now there is no effective cure and many patients pass away if the first line of treatments fail with cancer returning.

Find a cure for Leukemia
Until we meet again. Love you always Charisma.

The Homecoming of Charisma

The Hebrew word shava means to cry out loud, to shout to #God as#Jesus did on the cross but the Bible reminds us time after time to not hold on to the pains and sorrows of this life. Instead, God promises to bring us up out of the grave and into the morning where sickness, pain, sorrow and death no longer exist. But where is this day? They say luwn the Hebrew word for only a stop over. It’s only a stop over. This indescribable joy is only a stop over.

My beloved cousin Charisma has made a fine service to the Lord as a child of God, a loyal #wife, loving #mother, grand-daughter, daughter, sister and cousin. Our#Leukemia Warrior, #Lupus advocate and everything else in between is someone who made this life journey all the more meaningful. And just like all the women in our family, never afraid to speak her mind or fight for what’s dear to her — #family. Every person who has ever been healed or lived on Earth has died. Even #Lazarus, the soul Jesus raised from the dead, died again. One of the hardest lessons we learn in life is that God doesn’t promise that our present bodies, whatever their condition, will stay healthy or last forever.

Instead, the Lord our savior promises us something more glorious and precious: a new body, like our present one, but also different, a body made for #eternity, for#paradise. This human body is like an earthly tent we live in and take down — when the Lord calls us home we die and leave these bodies made from dust in exchange for our home in #heaven, an eternal body made for us by God and not by human hands. My cousin #Charisma is a Fashionista and on this day, God gave her rest from illness and put on her heavenly body like new clothing. It’s not that she wanted to die. None of us want to die, but to slip into her new body so that the dying body will be swallowed by everlasting life is a day we all pray for in our hour of need. So we hold tight to 2 #Corinthians 5:1-4 , pray for my cousins soul, pray God for the strength for our entire family and all the lives that my cousin has touched.

Team Bush Family - Charisma Bush
God bless and protect the faithful of the Lord.

Words of encouragement to baby Eliana

I know you’re not old enough to read, write or understand Eliana but I want you to know your mama loves you with all her soul. Eliana, your mother will look over you through all the days of your life and meet us all again when the Lord makes it so. Your mama has prayed for you since she was a little girl. Charisma always wanted a little family of her own and the Lord saw that she see that day. You are our family’s miracle baby and always will be. You’ve given us all hope and joy even before your first breath of air and you look just like your mama, grand mama and aunt. And even the days of your Mom’s last human form, your mother was alert of her love and care for you even through sickness. I can’t tell you what tomorrow brings but I can tell you, you come from love and a place of #faith. Know that the Lord, your mom and family will be here with love no matter what days come ahead. 

Thank you Lord for the gift of Charisma

Charisma, I thank the Lord for the privilege of having a soul like you for a cousin, crossing paths with me in this lifetime for both the laughs, tears and even a cold, wet morning to see the first black President of the United States. My heart feels heavy from what ifs, but my soul feels comfort in the way you lived this life for#God and family. I believe in #heaven and the greatest miracle of God. I know with God there’s no such thing as an unhappy ending because the Lord makes all miracles possible. Everlasting better days are ahead with the Lord. I find comfort that loved ones that have crossed over before you will greet you in #paradise and never again will tears run down your eyes or feel pain and anguish. When it’s my time to come to the Lord, I pray you, Anthony and each one of our beloved family find ourselves in the Lord’s Kingdom, greeting with open arms. In the Lord I pray, amen, amen. You can leave a note to the family here.

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ABC introduces Blackish: What is Blackish?

A day ago I was reviewing the Fall TV show lineup, including one of my favorite TV shows Scandal ( starring Kerry Washington). Another show also caught my eye because of it’s name Blackish. What is Blackish? It’s a new sitcom coming to ABC.

Blackish is about a Black man named Andre Johnson. Johnson questions whether he is raising his Black family the right way. Johnson has achieved the American Dream – great job, beautiful wife, wonderful children and owns a spacious colonial home in the suburbs, but there’s something missing.

He feels that his Black family doesn’t know much about their history, their culture. It is something that many Black families in America experience. There’s an idea that too much success in mainstream society can make us forget where we come from and make us neglect family roots.

Is it true that success in America can bring too much assimilation to minority groups? Is being Black in America not enough to be successful? Do Black families have to go to extremes to be fully accepted into mainstream society?

Watch the official trailer of Blackish now:

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Black History Month: Let’s Social Share YOUR HISTORY

Black History achievements
What’s your history? Share!

Black Empowerment

So I came across the post above on Facebook. I thought it was pretty cool that the post highlights the accomplishments of a Black man striving for greatness in the now.

In fact, for Black History month I think Black people on Facebook should share their achievements and dreams on social media such as Facebook. It’s a great way to teach not only the overall community about Black History but also  inspire Black youth to strive for greatness.

Share you greatness on Fromgirltogirl’s Facebook page by sending us a brief note about you and a picture. We will put it on our blog ( with consent from you) all Black History month.

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Trayvon Martin vs. Black on Black Crime: What is the victimization of black communities?

 

Picture by MillionHoodies a movement for justice formed by Daniel Maree ( posters coming soon).

By Briana Booker

For those trying to connect the topic Black on Black violence as a reason for people to not voice their thoughts on the killing of black teen Trayvon Martin, I urge you to sit back and give thought on the reasons why black on black violence occurs and why Trayvon Martin got confronted by George Zimmerman for looking suspicious because he was a black young man. I occasionally check my Facebook feed to see discussion on social and cultural issues. Daniel Maree, political activist/human rights activist, status caught my eye. His status had the following remarks:

People love to talk about black on black crime as if it’s Trayvon Martin vs. Black on Black Crime. As if we have to pick between the two. Ok. Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about drugs and guns in our inner cities. Let’s talk about how they got there. Let’s talk about Ronald Reagan. Let’s talk about Iran Contra. Let’s talk about poverty. Let’s talk about the victimization of black communities.

These black talking heads should be ashamed of themselves for not making that point. Let’s be honest about the crises that exist in our communities. Let’s not just use them as excuses for not finding justice for Trayvon. #GetSerious #Millionhoodies


I feel passionate about the matter as well. I thank Daniel Maree for speaking up about this matter. It’s time for ‪America‬ to have discussions on the tough topics. ‪Drugs‬ & ‪guns‬ didn’t come to ‪inner cities‬ simply from people in ‪‎poverty‬ being there. Drugs and guns come from people in ‪positions of power‬ whom profit off of the poorest of the poor. The ‪‎education system has failed to teach people why these problems exist or people have failed to listen. Perhaps it’s both.

Poverty isn’t about people ” just not trying hard enough.” Anyone that truly believes that really needs to find sources that teach them why society is the way it is. When people are willing to visit the communities that have been forgotten, that is when we can find solutions together. To empathize with those that suffer, you need the will power to ask tough questions and get out of your comfort zone. We can’t wait for people in positions of power to correct a system that wasn’t made for everyone to succeed or have a good quality of life. We need to set up real ‪family values , we need effective ‪‎business plans, and we need more ‪‎community unity. It’s time to wake up and ‪‎do something. For more of my outlooks on racial issues in America, subscribe to the blog and Like me on Facebook .

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Simplify Everything: How to achieve happiness


Illustration of Jay Bee by Victor Ramos.
Illustration of Jay Bee by Victor Ramos.

It’s official. My brother JB has joined the blogger world. What’s his blog? It’s called Simplify Everything. On the blog JB will take a complex idea, event, situation, anything and present it more simply.
Check out his articles today! Expect big things from him.
While I asked my brother about his new blog, I also asked about his thoughts on the Trayvon Martin case. If you all are not aware, my brother is a black young man. A smart, intelligent and friendly black man. Yes, black men with those traits exist.
Here’s what he had to say:

It’s different in Maryland. Florida is different – their gun laws and laws in general. As a woman, you wouldn’t be seen as a threat. This society has always viewed black men as dangerous, giving them the burden of proving otherwise ( Black men and to some degree Hispanic men now). Asian men aren’t really viewed as physical threat or dangerous. It’s all cultural/social/racial/regional/historical.

My question to all is when will it change? Leave a comment for me on your thoughts or Like us on Facebook.

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Baltimore Violence: Gimme Shelter

By Briana Booker



I was born & raised in Baltimore City. People keep asking me what are my thoughts about the gang related outbreak of violence in Baltimore.

I figured there was no better way to go about the answer than my beloved blog.

The wave of violence in Baltimore city is no secret. Black people…White people…the rich…the poor are all concerned.

There have been at least 40 people shot in Baltimore and it’s only the middle of July.

The cops promise citizens that the police force will step up enforcement to protect neighborhoods, but it doesn’t mean much to the people of Baltimore.

The Black Guerrilla family prison gang is retaliating for the Federal government cracking down on their operations.

If you are not familiar with the Black Guerrilla family prison gang, they originated in California prison systems by the Black Panther member George Jackson during the late 1960’s.

The gang ideology focused on Marxist/Maoist/ Leninist philosophies. The primary goal of the Black Guerrilla gang was to eradicate racism, dignify prison life and eventually overthrow the government.

Those that join the Black Guerrilla have a life pledge of allegiance, loyalty to the prison gang.

In a city like Baltimore, the life pledge of loyalty is a major threat to the safety of the community. The streets of Baltimore filled with fatherless homes, low-income families and under-educated citizens.

People in the city either fear the gang, look up to the gang, are part of the gang or never heard of the gang.

The Black Guerrilla has strong ties to street gangs. Right now, an order is placed to kill gang members faulted for the Federal crackdown.

From there, it’s expected that the gangs will go on killing sprees throughout Baltimore city…for the innocent in the community. No one is safe.

This is not the end of the violence – extortion, contract assaults, murder, drug wars ( predominately heroin and marijuana), and human trafficking will all be on the rise. It’s not just a Baltimore concern. It’s a nationwide concern. An International concern.

What do we do about the wave of violence in Baltimore?

The cops want people to speak up in the community, but no one wants to do that. Some of the cops are in on the gang life. One tip could mean you or someone in your family might be dead the next day.

I have spent a great deal of my life in Baltimore. And trust me, it’s been a place I’ve tried to get away from all of my life. I don’t see much opportunity here…especially for people of color that started from the bottom.

The solution I see happening for Baltimore is to bring back the days of community self-empowerment. Where are the Malcolm X leaders? Where are the Martin Luther Kings?

I have always wondered where Black people would be today, if those two men came together to start an uniformed movement to allow Black people to prosper as a whole.

When Black communities gain some level of prosperity in the poorest cities in America…that would honestly be the day Gangs will no longer have the ‘Almighty’ power they have in the community.

It takes people standing up against fear and community division to take on the Gangs of Baltimore and the nation. Gangs divide the community. Gangs take in those that feel they have no home, no love.

This city needs more love, more educated people and more give a fuck.

If I could think of one song to show the wave of violence in Baltimore,it would be the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter.

“The storm[ gang] is threatening my very life today. If I don’t get some shelter, Lord I’m gonna fade away…It’s just a shot away.”


Let’s start today to educate ourselves on the need to work together for our community financial empowerment, spiritual empowerment, political empowerment, and social empowerment.

Take power away from the gangs.

What do you think will reduce the violence in Baltimore city? Leave a comment.


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Bedroom Interior Design Ideas

So I’ve been told I look like a Black version of late actress Audrey Hepburn. I officially have an obsession with her fashion statements and charm!

So much to consider a bedroom interior design with her all over! Who wouldn’t fall asleep to a room covered with Audrey Hepburn and movie quotes from classic films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

I am in love with this bedroom interior design in every way. It just has a charm too.

I don’t know what I’ll do when I get married. But maybe there are bad ass bedroom themes for couples.

Do you have any suggestions?

Here’s my Breakfast at Tiffany’s inspired bedroom.

Suddenly you’re afraid & you don’t know what you’re afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling? …Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany’s. Calms me right down. The quietness and proud look of it. Nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real place that’d make me feel like Tiffany’s, then – then I’d buy some furniture and give that cat a name! #BreakfastAtTiffanys #AudreyHepburn

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