moraya-ugwu---mastering-progress

Holiday Gift Guide 2023

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 22:07:58 GMT

Its that time of year when you have to find the perfect gift for your loved ones and we are here to help! Over the next 4 days we will be sharing our gift guides for this holiday season.

Just click on anything below and it will take you right to purchase it!

Gifts for Her

Under $100

Under $200

Under $300

$249.95 - Le Creuset Dutch Oven

French Toast

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 02:11:59 GMT

Here is an easy and quick recipe for the perfect centerpiece for your Sunday brunch. You can make this with any bread but I prefer a brioche or a challah for the best results.

What you need:

1 loaf of challah or bread of your choosing
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/4 cup of milk of your choosing
2 large eggs

How you need to do it:

Mix all of your wet ingredients in a bowl.
Slice your loaf of bread into slightly thick pieces.
Melt butter in a pan.
Dip bread into your wet mixture on both sides then place into your hot pan of butter.
Cook on both sides until they are golden brown.
Serve with whip cream, syrup and fresh fruits.

Volcano Shrimp

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:42:30 GMT

Shrimp is my all-time favorite seafood and will always be. This dish made me fall in love with it even more. The spice and the tang make it the perfect summer dish.

What You Need (I measured by the heart):

a couple of pounds of shrimp (depending on how many people you are cooking for)
parsley
garlic powder
onion powder
salt
pepper
flour
buffalo sauce
rice vinegar
canola oil
2-3 eggs
2 tsp. butter
hot chilli pepper flakes
rice

How to Do It:

Start cooking your rice so that by the time your shrimp is done your rice will be done too.
In a small bowl whisk the eggs and sprinkle in salt and pepper, this is your wet batter.
In a plastic bag pour in flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, this is your dry batter.
Pour oil into a saucepan and put on medium to high heat.
Pour your wet batter over the shrimp then pour your shrimp into the dry batter bag.
Shake that bag like there is no tomorrow and make sure all of your shrimps are covered.
In a small saucepan add the rice vinegar, buffalo sauce, butter, parsley and hot pepper flakes and let it simmer.
Once your oil in the big saucepan is hot place shrimp into the pan one at a time and watch them sizzle.
Flip your shrimp once they turn golden brown on one side.
Once the shrimp is done cooking place them on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
After 5 minutes transfer the shrimp to a bowl and pour the sauce over the shrimp and toss them until every single one of them is covered.
Plate your rice and shrimp and add some fresh parsley on top.

Tips:

Get the frozen shrimp and defrost it overnight, makes life simpler.
cut your butter up into small pieces.
add cornstarch to your dry mix to give it a little extra crunch.

Simple Chicken Salad

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 12:11:08 GMT

Chicken Salad is a good lunch idea all year around but there is just somethign about the summer that makes me crave them even more! Here I share with you my quick and easy chicken salad and how to make the best chicken you have had in your life!

What You need:

chicken breast (however much you want to cook)
garlic powder
onion powder
Salt
Pepper
Grey Poupon Mustard
Mayo
Celery
Salt
olive oil
minced garlic (its ok to buy it pre minced)

How to Do it:

Chop your celery into little bite size pieces or keep them as big as you like. We always love a fresh crunch during the summer.
Season your chicken heavily with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder. Every inch of it should be covered, do not be shy.
In a saucepan drizzle the olive oil and let it cook for a few minutes or until it begins to pop a little bit and add your minced garlic.
Once everything is pooping add your seasoned chicken to the pan. Cook on both sides until they are a golden brown.
Once the chicken is cooked through place on a paper towel and let it cool and drain all the extra oil out.
Once the chicken is cool place the pieces into a bowl and use two forks to shred it up into little pieces.
Add your celery, mayo, grey poupon some salt and pepper and wala you are all done!

Tips:

add pickle juice to the last step. That is it just add pickle juice and you will thank me later.

The Perfect Fudgy Brownie

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 12:21:06 GMT

I hate chocolate. I do not like chocolate cake I'm not the biggest fan of chocolate bars but when it comes to a good fudgy brownie I am all for it. This past weekend I tried my hand at a very simple recipe that only took 45 minutes to complete and everyone has loved them!

What you need:

13x9 inch pan
1 cup unsalted butter
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups of granulated sugar
3/4 cups 100% cocoa powder
1/2tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flower

How to do it:

Preheat the oven to 350.
Melt butter.
In a large bowl mix together butter and cocoa powder.
Mix in the sugar, salt, and vanilla (it will look grainy don't worry).
Mix in the eggs one at a time (here it should smooth out)
Mix in the flour.
Spread the mixture into greased pan.
Bake for 20 minutes or until no mixture comes of a fork when you stick it into the pan.
Let the brownies sit for another 20 minutes and then cute and serve.

Tips:

melt the butter in a pan on low heat for some reason it tastes better than nuking it in the microwave.
use butter to grease the pan instead of a spray it works just as effectively and keeps the brownies from tasting fake.
Ghirardelli has the best cocoa powder and keeps from making the brownies too sweet.
when your cutting the brownies use a hot knife so that it does not stick to the brownies and you have a cleaner cut.

Sesamae Isabel

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 12:45:22 GMT

We here at Mastering Progress love everything to do with Mental Health Advocacy so ofcourse we had to share the story of Sesamae Isabel a powerful advocate in herself!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

Hey I'm Sesamae, I love movies, music, spending time with my family and traveling. Wow sounds like a dating profile (insert laugh here.) I'm a freelancer who works hard to bring awareness to Mental health in my work and writing. When I was 13 I started a charity event call Santa's little helpers that ran till 2019. When I was 16 I started an organization called She of Strength that focused on empowering young women by shinning light on powerful women. That ran till 2020. From the age of 16 I have been a professional speaker on Young Women's mental health. Speaking at conferences, panels, seminars, and conventions. I have been working in the film industry since I was 15 years old. Acting and working behind the scenes. My goal is too continue in that industry and making mental health a common theme in my work.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My biggest passions in life are Mental health advocacy, young women's advocacy and Film making. As freelancer I love to work for projects I feel cover my passions. Weather it is working on a short film written and directed by women, to working on film highlighting mental health. I have been privileged to have worked on some amazing projects that do so. At age 16 I worked on a short that was an all female crew. That's when I knew this was passion. I hope further in my career to direct and write films that draw light to the struggles of mental health especially as a young women. Use a platform to inform.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

I was diagnosed with Depression, Severe anxiety, PTSD at 15 years old and recently diagnosed with a panic disorder. All though I have grown and learned a lot about how to handle it I still learn everyday. It's a struggle. I go to therapy every other week. I believe everyone should see a therapist. I know unfortunately that not all can and that I have the privilege to be able to.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

Let me tell you, I wish I was. I have the attention span of a 4 year old. With a creative mind I'm always thinking and getting distracted. It takes a lot of reminders to stay focused.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

To stop people pleasing! Live for yourself, find yourself. It's totally okay to be "selfish" in your 20s.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

If one day my work touches people's lives in some why I would feel as though I was successful.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

I just want to life easier for whoever comes after mine. In anyway I can.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

When I was 16 years old I was the recipient of The YWCA Women of Distinction award. At the time I was youngest to receive this award. I had made a speech at the event pointing out there was little young women in the room. The following year the YWCA started "The Legacy Scholarship" in my honor to get more young women involved and at the event. So that they could feel empowered and be connected with powerful women.

If you want to see more and continue to follow along for Sesamae's journey here is where you can connect:

Instagram: @thatgirlses

Boston Food Guide

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 11:59:47 GMT

Ever since I moved to Boston 4 years ago I have been amazed by all the delicious restaurants hidden around the city. Now I get a chance to share some with you and let you know which ones are worth all the hype and which ones are not!

Marissa Szabo

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 11:56:47 GMT

I worked with Marissa a few years ago in the restaurant industry and we have been able to keep in touch through the powers of social media. Now she has started her own physical health business and I am so excited to share more about it and her story!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am a certified nutrition coach, certified health coach, and fitness instructor and I own a business called Well & Simple. I provide individual nutrition coaching services as well as corporate wellness programming.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

I am dedicated to taking an anti-diet, size-inclusive approach to nutrition coaching. Having done diets, developed disordered eating habits because of them, and spent much of my life hating my body, it's critical to me that I help my clients avoid experiencing that. I help them transform their relationship with food so that it's no longer a source of stress and anxiety and they can nourish themselves and find the balance that works best for them. I also work to help them see how amazing their bodies are regardless of their size of shape.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Intentional movement is very important in my stress management, whether it's lifting weights or running. I also make it a point to get outside as much as I can every day. Boundaries are also very important for my mental health so I make sure not to overbook myself and take time for rest.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

I wish I could say I have a system for this but I don't! I'm a chronic list maker and if it isn't on my Google calendar, it doesn't exist. That's about it!

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

In your early 20s it's important to learn how to say "no" and to figure out your boundaries and enforce them, especially in work life. Once those boundaries are violated, it's so hard to re-establish them. I think it's also important to learn and accept that we are supposed to come in different shapes and sizes and it's detrimental to our mental and physical health to try to force our bodies to fit into a mold they were ever meant to fit.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

Financial prosperity is lovely but, to me, it's not worth it if I'm miserable. So, to me, success and prosperity have to include feeling fulfilled and happy with what I'm doing.

Are there any decisions you regret making in your life?

I regret never having taken my semester abroad in college. I was just so shy back then and in hindsight I think I really missed out on an important experience/opportunity. I still have yet to travel outside the US!

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

Starting my business. If you had asked me 10 years ago if I would ever do that, I would have said no way, that I didn't have what it takes. Here I am now 5 years in business! It took a lot of pushing through fear and discomfort, problem solving, and overcoming challenges, but it's been so worth it.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

I would say my sense of humor and my ability to think outside the box to find solutions.

Want to get more of Marissa and "Well and Simple" follow her below:

Email: wellandsimplehealth@gmail.com

Instagram: @marissa.e.szabo

Facebook: Marissa Szabo (Well and Simple)

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marissaszabo

North Shore Food Guide

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 12:39:41 GMT

Being a North Shore girl for the past 4 years I think it is about time to start exploring more restaurants in the area. As always I am giving my honest and utmost unfiltered reviews about all the best spots to eat in North Shore Massachusetts.

Nikki Gal

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 11:00:01 GMT

I slid into Nikki's DMS a few weeks ago and I am so glad I did. We are both in our young 20's living in Boston running our own businesses, host of our own podcasts and advocates of mental health! It's a match made in heaven! I am so excited tobe sharing her story today and I can't wait for you to learn more about her as well!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

Hi! My name is Nikki Gal. I am a public speaker, podcast host, and women’s mental health advocate. In 2021 my podcast, Raw Talk with Nikki Gal was created to help others not feel so ashamed of struggles, journeys, or life paths. If you went through it, or are going through it, WE as women are not alone. Raw Talk with Nikki Gal is a place where ALL women can unapologetically express themselves, get into the details of the “taboo” and/or “stigmata”, while sharing raw and real experiences within their own lives UNAPOLOGETICALLY. Raw Talk with Nikki Gal this past year has launched on over 5 listening platforms worldwide resulting in publishing over 120 interviews hitting listeners from over 40 countries.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

Understanding myself. The journey and passion of understanding myself naturally inspires me to help other women find and understand themselves, too. As a woman myself I have been judged, I have been labeled, and I have been muted. That’s part of being a woman. I want to break that. Break that feeling of judgement, break that feeling of labels, break that feeling of being muted among us women.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Mental and physical health go hand in hand, it’s important each week to take time out for both. I learned through the years that it’s not so much what you do to help your mental/physical health, but rather how you feel. No need to go to an upscale gym to work out, or get a peel facial at a top rated spa. It’s what’s most convenient for you. From my own personal experience, doing yoga on my bedroom floor is what keeps me grounded and levelheaded, along with doing DIY facial peel tutorials I find last minute on YouTube. It’s all about finding your safe place and embracing what truly makes you FEEL yourself. Take breaks, and manifest in those breaks. They are worth it.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears so many hats in their life?

Finding a balance. Organization has always been top priority to me, so getting on a steady schedule is a lifesaver. Never spread yourself too thin, and value your OWN time. Set boundaries and goals for yourself, but never reach the point of overworking yourself- it’s not worth it and I can speak off personal experience. I have found it extremely crucial in all dynamics of my life to take breaks when necessary. Your body will thank you.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty’s to learn?

Things take time. Many people including myself once thought that when you start living in your 20s, everything will magically fall into place. Your career, your personal life, your mental health will be set. But, no. Everything is a process and takes time. We need to learn to accept things not working out and things not going our way. Put our egos aside for a minute, and breathe! Things will work out in the end and what belongs to you will find you. Trust the process!

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

The state of being and feeling motivated. Remember that success is never unreachable. Feeling content yet inspired with your every day work is what defines success to me. The feeling of never wanting to stop, and the feeling of infinite drive.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

My greatest accomplishment within my advocacy work is the messages and emails I receive. Women reaching out to me telling me that I have helped them rediscover themselves/their lives is not only the greatest feeling, but also my ultimate accomplishment. It’s an overwhelming and beautiful feeling when someone tells you you’ve changed their life for the better. And that’s the magic that I want to see more of a focus in our world. WE NEED MORE OF THAT MAGIC.

I f you were given three things to make you happy for the rest of your life what would they be?

A canvas, some paint, and a paintbrush. As a lover of art and full time artist alongside my advocacy work, painting is such a mental release for me. And the act and process of mental release is what is REAL. Manifest in it!

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

The legacy of never being afraid to be unapologetically yourself. Own yourself; the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, and the RAW. Raw Talk has really become a diary for women and myself to share the non-filtered and the bare truth. Know your truth and create yourself. There’s only one you in this world, so make the BEST OF IT.

If you want to get more of Nikki Gal follow her below:

Website: See Thru Nikki

Instagram: @rawtalkwithnikkigal and @seethrunikki

South Shore Food Guide

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 18:14:07 GMT

This Food Guide is a collection of my brutally honest reviews of places I have eaten and am planning on eating in the South Shore of Massachusetts. So follow along as I give you the inside scoop on where to spend all your money when it comes to everything food! You can also follow along on my food journey on TikTok @moraya.ugwu

Product Review: Glowish - Multidew

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 02:52:05 GMT

As a twenty something year old woman of color I am always on the search for natural looking clean makeup and I believe I hit the jack pot with this one!

I absolutely hate putting too much on my face. I am always touching it and most nights if I am wearing making up I will forget to take it off. I usually only put on concealer and focus on the eyes when it comes to my make up and nothing else. I decided though sometimes I need a little more coverage especially in front of the camera at events or when Im filming the podcast so I opted to try the new Glowish line from Huda Beauty.

My Honest review is...

I love it. It is so light and refreshing and contains nutrients to help nourish your skin while you are wearing it. The product gives you a natural radiance and matched my darker skin tone really well. It provided full coverage and did not move a smidge for the 6 hours I was wearing it. My pictures looked amazing and I felt good about myself and that is what is most important when it comes to make up.

For anyone looking for a new foundation/ tinted moisturizer I would definitely purchase your shade of Multidew.

Check out my review and swatching on our Instagram @mastering.progress

As always keep thriving.

Nathan Foley

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:51:56 GMT

Nathan Foley. The second cousin I get to highlight on Mastering Progress and the cousin who has always encourage me in my art and creativity. Nathan is a guitar prodigy and has blessed this world with his talent of musicality and insight into how we hear the world around us. Here is his story:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am a Christian, a husband, an artist, an entrepreneur, and a guitar player.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My biggest passion in life is my faith in Jesus, this informs the kind of vibration I intend on sending out into the world, it needs to be something that impacts the human existence in a relevant and necessary way.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Going outside, exercising, relaxing, reading, deeply studying the things I'm interested in, and appreciating the time that I have on this earthly plane.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

I immediately put everything I agree to into the calendar app and in general develop a system that is easily repeatable. I like to put things in the same place as much as possible if you dig what I mean.

What are some things you think are important for people in there early twenty's to learn?

Save for short term, save for long term, health insurance is dope, there's nothing wrong with having a full time job while you build your business up. Stay out of the streets if you are able. Keep your head down and make your moves without needing the approval of others.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

Success to me is being able to express yourself accurately and in a way that others are able to understand. Prosperity to me is having food and shelter.

If you were given three things to make you happy for the rest of your life what would they be?

The Holy Bible, my beautiful wife Sheila, and several guitars.

How would you rank the following three: family, career, love life?

Love life, family, career

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

If you're not the smartest, you've got to at least work the hardest.

If you want to learn more about Nathan and listen to his music you can check him out here:

Instragram: @foleythefunkylibrarian

TikTok: @foleythefunkylibrarian

Audius: Nathanfoley

As always keep thriving!

Surviving Tax Season!

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:13:45 GMT

As a twenty something year old myself I know how stressful and hectic tax season can be! I have filed by myself for the past four years and it does not seem to get any easier, so I thought I would give you some tips to soften the blow just a little bit. I am not a tax expert nor am I a lawyer so everything I am sharing here is based upon my experience and my experiences only.

DO THEM NOW.

The quicker you get them done the more time you have to fix any corrections before that April 15th deadline. Also the quicker you have the money in your bank account if you are getting any money returned to you. It gives you more time to have someone look over them instead of rushing at the last minute. It's just better to not be stressed and not have that date looming over you for the next few weeks.

Keep all of your tax documents in one safe place.

The most important thing to do when you receive anything from the IRS or your job in regards to your taxes are keep them safe. If you misplace one paper it can throw your whole return off and then you have to wait even longer to receive a replacement. I know not all of us are organized and clean but this is one of those things you need to be organized and clean about!

Do not forget any donations you made during the year.

Donations are a great way to bring the money you may owe to the government down a bit. Now I am not saying just go donate a bunch of money so that you can have a deduction on your taxes. But I am saying is if you have causes you care deeply about definitely look for ways you can donate to them during the year and keep track of it because then you can make a deduction on your taxes!

Use TurboTax.

TurboTax has been my Holy Grail for tax season for the past four years. It walks you through everything for free and tries to help you understand what information is needed and how it affects your return! Literally I tell everyone to use it and I am not even getting paid to say it!

If you have any other tips and tricks that could help others out please leave it in the comments below and as always keep thriving!

Danielrobert.

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:29:09 GMT

Danielrobert. an artist sharing his story and why music is so important to him.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

My names Daniel Lynch , aka danielrobert. I've been making music for almost 6 years and released a project this year called "denialbro." Check it out.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

Self Expression. Making music has been the best way for me to express myself in positive and not so positive ways , but i guess that's the art. Sometimes the "bad" expressions in my music make me feel like I can breathe again after recording , it may be released to the public and it may not, in my opinion it's healthy just getting it out.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Finding balance between work and time for myself.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

Making time for me. It's not selfish , it's essential.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

Balance.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

Happiness.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

No regret. When my times up I will have done everything I wanted to do.

Are there any decisions you regret making in your life?

No, I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't make bad decisions and learn from them. Bad decisions aren't ones you regret if you learn from them, and i most definitely have. To sum it up everything happens for a reason.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

Pride. It's in the question but it's so important in my opinion. Believe in yourself and go with your gut, you and I won't please everybody but we need to be okay with that.

I f you want to listen to Danielrobert's music and keep up with any of his new projects follow him on his socials:

Instagram: @danielrobert.

Soundcloud: @danielrobert

As always, keep thriving!

Dawns Here Fitness

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 12:15:03 GMT

Going to the gym should not be something you dread and are "forcing" yourself to do. It should be something that brings you happiness and something you should look forward to, creating a healthier you. That is what it is all about when it comes to Dawns Here Fitness so ofcourse we had to share the wonderful story behind it all!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am a highly motivated energetic imperfect human that loves to empower others but mostly woman. Empower them to want to be stronger not smaller. Want to be strong in their bodies and take up space. Teach them the barbell the weight floor has room for them and then show them how bad ass they are. No matter what experience you have we can help you have a kick ass workout. Learn the proper way to lift engage your core keep all your movement safe efficient and effective. It started with one client in my back yard and has turned into the most amazing thing I have ever created next to my children. The community that has formed inside of the space I provide I cant take all the credit for. What I can't take credit for is providing a space for them to be unjudged and so they are less likening to compare and judge the next. We are learning how to become strong woman both alpha an non. We can show our masculine side and feminine side. We use the weights as a form of therapy. As the root that connects us all here. As maybe the starting point to opening that door to healing. Shift in dialogue and mindset and to being the truest you!

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My biggest passion in life is to help as many women as I can feel strong in their bodies love their bodies and move forever. Incorporate this into my work by ensuring that all things that are brought to my community through my platforms programs and studio have this benefit in mind aid this benefit make what we're doing here better funner safer all while evolving with movement exercise science and my clients.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

I take care of my mental health by seeing my therapist regularly meditation when I'm in season of doing it consistently. journaling dancing working out consistently working through difficult conversations. Taking care of my physical looks very similar I try to eat the rainbow I try to eat enough every day I try to work out consistently I try to recover just as much sleeping resting foam rolling stretching seeing my my chiropractor dancing yoga.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

That's a great question. I'm not sure that I always am organized but I use a hand written agenda for the business and I use my phone calendar for personal if it's a big big personal all right on my written agenda check personal sometimes this is a great method of keeping them separate and sometimes it bites me in the ass because they don't overlap. I have an amazing assistant best friend janel so I haven't figured out how to put her on payroll but she keeps me organized my bookkeeper and friends are right I keeps my financials organized. And my stuff certainly helps me stay on point with classes programming and scheduling so it's definitely not a job that I can do on my own my husband helps me with the family it takes a village I'm working on being better and I'm actually looking for a business boss babe mentor for this exact reason so I can become working smarter not harder and more efficient.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

In your early 20s it's funny to think I'm old enough to think back to that age. I would say you need to know that you don't know it all yet but because you feel like you do it gives you that courage and that Drive and the willingness to steadfast towards any goal any challenge and I encourage you to keep that but I also encourage you to keep an open mind when someone does challenge you or your expertise in some thing and collect collect all the experiences lessons that you learn hardships you go through and certainly collect all the achievements that you will have between then and on the journey of life to where you are going. I think it's important for them to know and learn is that they need to learn themselves I need to really deep dive into talking to them self working on the dialogue in their head do that now so you don't have to do it in your late 30s in your 40s and find yourself and reinvent yourself then find yourself now believe in yourself now be content with yourself now but strive to better your best to work harder than you ever have but also to enjoy and be happy in between.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

Success and prosperity and my life looks like being able to drop and pick my kids up from school. It looks like creating my own schedule around my clients and my community that I want to impact. It looks like loving going to work every day enjoying so much what I do but I strive to be better and are always curious and thirsty to learn and evolve with my industry or against it to ask questions about it to challenge it. Providing a space for like-minded people can come and prosper here and shine their light here so that we can grow our like-minded goals visions and philosophies. I can provide a place where others like my team can thrive. Prosperity looks like making the most of all that I have and I have a lot two beautiful kids a husband that loves me a home to keep us warm business where I can make an impact and shine in the world all changing the generation cycles with my children and showing them a new way. Showing them this exact thing that happiness and prosperity comes in the forms of love art enjoyment hard work toward something that you love all enjoying the people you love most around you. While living in your truth. Being seen for who you are and being loved for it.

If you were given three things to make you happy for the rest of your life what would they be?

Three things that would make me happy in life would be health for myself and family. Access to the best and most colorful foods and always have a community that I attract who needs me and who I need.

Are there any decisions you regret making in your life?

There are definitely decisions that I regret however I wouldn't change them because I learned lessons from them and they gave me experiences that I brought into the future so that I can make better decisions in the future with no regrets.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

The legacy that I want to leave as a legacy where the weight floor or physical movement can open up the doors to loving yourself more within your ears loving yourself more in the physical and loving yourself so much that you wanna better your Health move forever safely efficiently being strongest self you can. I also want my legacy to breed people like myself into leadership roles whether that be my team my children are those watching if I can show you that it can be done by being the true with you and helping others be stronger not smaller than the truest form of them self that's the ripple effect of the legacy I would love to see.

If you want to learn more about Dawn and Dawns Here Fitness follow her on Instagram @dawns_here or on tiktok @dawnveras!

My Letter for 2022

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 14:00:06 GMT

I ended 2021 with a letter to close it out so it only seems fitting that our first post of 2022 would be a letter to welcome the new year!

Dear 2022,

I don't think we started off on the right foot especially since we started with me in bed feeling as if I were dying from Covid. We also started by cancelling my first ever event being hosted by my own company. But I guess all is well that ends well and we still have 11 more months to go.

My plans for the next 11 months are to make myself so happy and proud I won't know what happened. I have been holding back in every aspect of my life listening to everyone else who thinks they know what is best for me, When in reality they just don't. I want to make this the year that I actually enjoy myself and do things for myself. I started taking myself out on dinner dates and reading more and setting those boundaries to create a work life balance.

This is my year and every year after is going to be my year and I could really care less what anyone else has to say.

Cheers to 2022!

My Letter to 2021

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 22:00:02 GMT

Dear 2021,

Thank you for teaching me how strong I am. You through me in the gutter once again with all the emotional drama and physical pain and manipulation I had to endure. With all of the friends I realized I had to loose to become my best self and the boundaries I had to set to make sure I was happy.

Thank you for showing me at the end of the day I truly am all that I have because everyone will make decisions in their best interest and I need to start doing this for myself. No one else will fight for me like I can and will fight for me.

Thank you for showing me the people who have caring and supportive hearts and who do not want anything but to make the world a better place.

Thank you for making me stronger and more independent than ever before and for bringing more peace. Even though it may not be much but it is a lot more than I have had before!

Thank you 2021 and let's go 2022!

- Moraya

New York City: Christmas Edition

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 04:30:16 GMT

New York at Christmas time is like no other around the world and here is the top 4 suggestions for the 2022 season!

The Color Factory

T op of the Rock

Shopping at Saks 5th Avenue and the Angels

The Coach Chalets at Rockafeller Center

Austen Tosone

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 22:00:03 GMT

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Letters to my Mother

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 22:26:47 GMT

7/13/2017

Dear Mom,

What were you thinking when you found out you were pregnant with me?

Why didn’t you use protection or have an abortion?

Why couldn’t you keep me?

Why did you have an affair?

Do any of my siblings know about me?

Who is my father?

Why did you choose him?

Did you love him?

Were you a good mother?

Did you have more kids after me?

Do you think about me at all?

Moraya

Incognito the Podcast

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 22:00:03 GMT

Over the quarantine I connected with Daysha the creator of Incognito the podcast and was lucky enough to be a guest! She launched season three of the podcast a few weeks ago and here is her story.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I like to identify myself as a ocean child, I love learning, expanding and growing. I just like moving within a flow recently and I fucking love it.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

I don't ! I love writing and my dream is to be a author but I'm really trying to get back in touch with it.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

I prioritize the things that grounds me. Finding time to read, making sure my body gets some kind of movement or flow. Cooking! I love cooking.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

I write things down and I create goals for myself, If I have a big task I space it out in sections and tackle each section separately. That's how my brain makes sense of things.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

The best gift you could give yourself is to heal you body and do your shadow work. See the light in yourself and the world will see it to. I'm only 24 and I'm still learning!

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

I'm still figuring it out..... my life is in a pretty interesting transition right now but I like the flow of things and where I'm currently at.

If you were given three things to make you happy for the rest of your life what would they be?

Three things.... hmmm. A garden, books and a small home that gives me a view worth waking up for!

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

That I was free flowing, passionate and kind. Most importantly that I walked light on such a hard world.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

Taking the time to heal my inner child, taking back control of my mind and body.

23 Lessons from Year 22

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:16:25 GMT

Year 22 was a crazy one and here is what I learned!

Be your own bestfriend!
Just start. You can't know if your going to fail if you never try in the first place.
Family is found all the time and does not always come from being born into one!
You can only control your own feelings and actions and no one else's so stop stressing over everyone else's decisions.
Have enough self love to remove yourself from situations that are disrespectful to you and your morals. You don't need to stay somewhere where your not.
We never know when our life is going to end so make every moment count!
Pain can always be turned into something positive even if it takes a year to process it!
Faith is one of the hardest things to keep but when you do it is the most rewarding.
There should not be any if ands or buts when it comes to your mental health it comes first!
Find out what success means to you and chase after it like there is no tomorrow!

Emily Chandra

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 22:00:02 GMT

Emily danced into my life 2 months ago along with the community she has created at Seacoast Stillettos and here is her story!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

My name is Emily Chandra and I am the owner and founder of Seacoast Stilettos! Seacoast Stilettos is a community where we hold empowering dance classes with a focus on inclusion, confidence building and liberation through movement. I started holding sensual movement and heels dance classes shortly after the Me Too Movement. After surviving an abusive relationship I needed a way to feel safe once again in my body. Turns out, we all long for safety and expression and these classes started to blow up! We now offer dance classes daily from heels to hip hop, contemporary to cardio and everything in between. With a diverse staff and community that represents all bodies, backgrounds and walks of life- Seacoast Stilettos has become a Movement!

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

I have many passions and I think they all show up in what I do. Social Justice, Dance & Creativity, Spirituality and Community just to name a few.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Dance and (hot) Yoga is my magic formula. I love to break up the routine with some of our cardio classes like Werq, and weightlifting sometimes!

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

Delegate, delegate, delegate! This is such a new concept for me. But I cannot take on all of this by myself while remaining true and grounded in what I am meant to do in the world if I'm overwhelmed. I recently have asked for help with project management, marketing, have hired an assistant for check in, and have help with out Tik Tok account! Ask for help. It doesn't make you any less of a CEO (or boss bitch!), in fact, it accelerates that process.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

To get excited (not dread) your 30's- because they are amazing. Also to be okay with not having everything figured out. Follow where the happiness is, that will take you where you need to be. Anddd all the earth shattering events you may be experiencing are going to shape you into an incredibly inspiring and bad ass human being.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

Freedom, Love & Joy. In business, in personal, in body, in mind, in soul.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

The idea...whether it takes place in a space I've created or not- but the idea that dance can be something beyond just the steps. That we can transcend the harm and oppression that has been passed down and fight for one another's rights to feel safe, supported and celebrated. Beyond the walls of a dance studio, but for life.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

Founding Seacoast Stilettos!

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

Work ethic, Groundedness, Empathy.

Here are ways you can connect with Emily and the Seacoast community!

Email : info@seacoaststilletos.com

Instagram: @emily_chandra & @seacoaststillettos

TikTok: @seacoaststillettos

Raffi Dilone

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 22:23:06 GMT

Raffi is not only one of the nicest people I have met but a talentaed artist who is taking over the music world by storm!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

My name is Rafael David Dilone III. I was born 3 months early and since I was a kid I was told I was a miracle baby.I have always known I was different. I am a very outgoing and heartwarming person. I started making music back in 2018 but I've always had a passion for music and how it made me feel. It gave me a way to express myself in a way I was comfortable with . My music is basically whatever emotion I am feeling matched with lyrics taking you through a story. No one is alone in this thing called "Life" My music is a way to be free and express yourself in anyway you feel.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My Biggest passion is Music & Progession . Its crazy for me because I listen to music everyday and I also make music everyday so 24/7 I aam exploring new music and creating my own music in a different way. Seeing progress both in the music I make and the music I listen to I crave because its always changing and there are always new opportunities its a never ending rollercoaster.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Mental and Physical Health are important for me based on having mental illness and how I see things differently than others. For both I workout everyday. For mental I try to focus where my feet are and realize their are alot of things I cannot control. For physical I do yoga and also meditate which helps clear my mental. The biggest thing to take away from those is being aware of both of those things and reprogramming your brain to the things that will help you progess.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

First off I just focus on Today and only Today. Tomorrow is tomorrow and yesterday was yesterday. Sometimes I even take it minute by minute or even hour by hour so I stay focused on my goal. I try to focus on the things I can control and let things that are out of my control and move on. I've been focused on putting my energy into things that i know will make me feel better and be better. It isn't easy but setting boundaries are a big thing in this.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

Learn to deal with your emotions and become aware what your emotions are telling you so you can learn to control them. / Inventing in your future is important that can meaning saving money to investing in stocks. / Never loose that little kid inside!

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

I define success and prosperity as a state that you are in total peace and freedom. Having zero stress of finances.Being able to live the life you dream of. I am already succeeding because I have found peace and live a life you cant imagine. This question is hard for me because I see both of those things as a mindset and how you live your life and that is different for everyone. A successful day for me is being 1% better than yesterday!

If you were given three things to make you happy for the rest of your life what would they be?

PEACE HAPPINESS AND LOVE.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

I want to leave behind a message that you are not alone in this world and you can accomplish any dream you put your mind to and that life is good!

Are there any decisions you regret making in your life?

NO. This is because all of those decisions/situations have happened in my life to help me become the person I am today. I needed to learn life lessons to succed and move forward with my goals. Anything positive/negative is all apart of the journey enjoy it!

Here are ways you can connect with Raffi and listen to his music:

Instagram: @farraf543
Twitter: @RafaelDilone16

Living with ADHD

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 23:00:02 GMT

ADHD has become overglorified in our current generation and is believed to be all about fidgeting.

As a person who has lived with this disorder for the past 23 years I know this is not true. I have thoughts flying through my head at 100mph which leads to frustration because I can't focus on just one thought. This can lead to word vomit when I want to share those thoughts with others. Eventually this frustration leads to anger directed at no other than myself and then the cycle begins again. I subconsciously have a tendency to be playing with my braids or tapping my fingers on the table as if I were playing the piano, something on me always needs to be moving.

Most people who are living with ADHD are prescribed adderall to help control their fidgeting and focusing their thoughts. I was given a different route. Instead of having a pill I had Mozart. At a young age my mind was trained to listen to classical music and after 2 minutes my focus was on whatever was in front of me. I had been trained in classical music on the piano and spent 2 hours on the weekend in a room by myself with headphones blasting the classical greats! Now as an adult I put on my classical music playlist and get my work or personal projects done. I have also learned that exercise helps to keep my mind focused for a good hour and stops the fidgeting for two. Do I believe this would work for everyone, probably not. But since I started so young it worked for me! You have to find what works for you.

Outspeak Marketing

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 16:04:01 GMT

Two can be better than one and when it comes to Outspeak Marketing it definitely is! Here is our interview Fatima and Anna the founders and power duo behind it all!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

Fatima and Anna: We are rising seniors at William & Mary studying marketing. Fatima is originally from Nicaragua and Anna is from North Carolina.

Outspeak Marketing: W e are a social media marketing agency on a mission to launch and empower female entrepreneurs through creative strategies, authentic social media, and personalized branding.

When thinking about the meaning of Outspeak, we realized that part of our truth was to uplift women while helping them and their business succeed.

The following are the different services we offer to our female small business owner clientele:

Social media management, where we completely manage an account so the client can focus on running the parts of their business they love
Branding and design services such as websites, brochures, business cards, and so on, and
Branding workshops and courses on the importance of personal branding and best practices for social media

Outspeak has only been alive and running for a year as of this month after an exciting journey.

If you want more information on what we do and our services in specifics, visit our website OutspeakMarketing.com for more information.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

Prior to starting Outspeak, we both had engaged in various political movements, networks, events, and organizations with the purpose of advancing women’s rights; therefore, female empowerment is a cause that is very dear to our heart. The Outspeak brand is an embodiment of each of us individually and together, as two female, creatives. With that, the creating our name (which entrepreneurs know is the MOST difficult “getting started” step) was a reflection of our shared experience. As two women who often are called “outspoken” in a negative way for our passion perceived as brashness in personal to professional to classroom settings, we wanted to reclaim this word.

We created the word Outspeak as an active form of the word “outspoken” — so you choose to outspeak, rather than be called outspoken. Almost all of our clients who were drawn to us are women who left their established industry, whether that was corporate america or a big retailer, to start out on their own because they knew they could do it better. It’s these stories of outspokenness that couldn't be silence that continue to drive our brand today.

When thinking about the meaning of the word outspeak, which we gave the definition “to speak your truth boldly,” we realized that part of our truth was to uplift women and help them/their businesses succeed. It became clear to us pretty soon that zeroing in on that female-centric purpose made the most sense.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Fatima: I like to spend time doing things that make me happy and relaxed. During the week I like to journal and just write down everything that is on my mind. During the weekends I prioritize sleep, reading, creative hobbies, and spending time with family.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

Fatima: I like to reserve time in my mornings to plan out my day and prioritize my agenda. I do this by writing out lists and setting realistic goals for the day- for my lists I like to use Trello on my computer or phone. I also make sure to create “business hours” for myself to balance my life as an entrepreneur and also as a student, friend, and active community member. This way, I prevent burnout and create a healthy boundary between work and school.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

That we learn by taking risks. We don’t have to have everything figure out or be perfect at something- we just have to take risks, try new things, be open to failure, and learn along the way. We are never too young to go after our dream, in fact, there will never be a perfect timing, so why not in your twenties? Our society creates expectations as to where we should be in our lives, careers, education, etc… but we can create our own paths.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

For me success is doing something that I love and that is meaningful to me, while having time to pursue my passions, spend time with friends and family, and travel! Prosperity is to be in a constant state of growth and learning.

Follow them here and learn more about their services:

Instagram: @fatima_jerezm and @anna_conger @outspeakmarketing
Email: fatima@outspeakmarketing.com and anna@outspeakmarketing.com
Website: outspeakmarketing.com

Party Culture

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 21:00:02 GMT

Life was hard so I drank Harder.

For a couple of months last year my life revolved around drinking and partying and having sex.

I wanted to be numb and not feel anything anymore and I did not care how it was affecting my body. I wasn't eating I just wanted to be surrounded by nothingness and just have body around me.

The party scene is made to seem so enticing especially to young 20 year olds. It seems like such a good time and everyone is out and acting crazy and so you should too. But after a while it gets tiring, your body breaks down and your mental health just get worse. At this point in my life I plan my nights out months in advance. I give myself one night a weak to drink more and spend money on alcohol. The rest I try to do experiences that will make my life fuller and doing things that actually interest me.

It is ok not to be apart of the "party" crowd. It is ok to have self control. It is better to spend your early 20's building a foundation for the rest of your life and do things to build your character and your bank account!

TV Review: My Unorthodox Life

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:00:02 GMT

As an avid watcher of reality tv I just had to watch this new show on Netflix and here are my thoughts:

First things first, Julia Haart is a boss ass bitch who proved to me you can take over the world at any age! As the CEO of one of the biggest modeling agency's in the world her schedule is jammed packed and reminds me so much of myself and where I want to be in a few years. She travels the world and as she calls it "disrupting the modeling world" one step at a time. She has a true work ethic that every entrepreneur she be striving for. Not only does the show share the business side of her life but her personal life too. She has 4 kids who were all raised in the Orthodox Jewish community. The show follows their journey through slowly removing themselves from that community and learning how to make it in the modern world. I loved the show and truly recommend everyone to check it out!

Hannah Ashton

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 21:00:02 GMT

I had the pleasure of e-meeting Hannah through our work with the Female Quotient and have been inspired by this entrepreneur since day one! As the creator of the Dream Achieve workbook Hannah has inspired so many of us to take control of our lives and to keep it organized!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am a 21-year-old college student studying Entreprenuership at Belmont University! I started my first YouTube channel at age 10 and have been uploading ever since. I now create weekly lifestyle, college, and entreprenuership related videos on my channel Hannah Ashton. Two years ago, I created my first product: The Dream Achieve Workbook which is a 6-month undated goal setting planner. I love being able to create content and products to inspire young women to chase after their dreams no matter their age!

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

Helping young ladies realize their full potential and love their life! I got into self-development young and absolutely love the life I was able to create for myself starting in high school. I show how it's possible through my content and give women the tools to set goals, prioritize self-care, and achieve their dreams through my business.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

I really try to have a consistent workout schedule (working out 4-5x a week and moving my body even just a little every day). I also strive to have a well balanced diet. For me this means eating pretty healthy meals throughout my work week but making sure I am enjoying all the "fun" foods in life too! I am notorious for splurging on icecream multiple times a weekend in the summer. I find that eating healthy makes me feel good physically but enjoying all my favorite foods makes me feel good mentally! I also try to have time off my phone every day. I love just hanging with friends, my boyfriend, or family and reminding myself there is more to life than work and social media!

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

Of course, I use my planner! I like to write everything I have to do each day down on my to-do list then I time-block my day to make sure I can get enough done while also making time for self-care and rest.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

I think everyone is always striving to find work-life balance but it is so important! I know learning to unplug and avoid burnout is super important for me and my Gen Z friends. We are so used to always being "on" and having everything at our fingertips that I think it is important for our generation to learn to unplug and slow down too!

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

I want to of course be content and fulfilled in my work and in my relationships. I also view success as having a positive effect on the world around me and I want to do that through continuing to uplift and help young women achieve their dreams!

If you were given three things to make you happy for the rest of your life what would they be?

My Bible, a camera, and coffee!

How would you rank the following three: family, career, love life?

Ah this is SUCH a hard question! I am in a serious relationship right now but before my relationship, love life was definitely at the bottom. Since I am in my early 20's and I know that now is my best time to focus on my career, I would rank it career, then family and love life tied for second.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

Hard-working, thoughtful, and positive !

Here are ways you can connect with Hannah on the Web and beyond:

Dream Achieve Workbook: https://shophannahashton.com/

Instagram: @misshannahashton

TikTok: @misshannahashton

Email: hannahashtonyt@gmail.com

Money Tips

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 20:01:52 GMT

As a 22-year-old who just started her corporate job money is a constant topic. I am not a pro yet but have figured out a few things to help my bank account out!

50 -30 – 20: If you have note heard of this rule then I have no idea where you have been. I believe it to be one of the best things to ever cross my Instagram feed. This rule states that with every paycheck you receive you should use 50% of it for your needs, such as bills rent, food toiletries. 30% for wants like a new fall wardrobe which I am in dire need of. Then the 20% should be heading straight to your savings account. This way you don’t spend to much or too little on each category and you can save up for those bigger purchases down the line.
Invest: There is so many options and ways to invest so there is no excuse not to! I am lucky that my job has created a Fidelity account for me where they take money out of each paycheck and add it to an investing account for me. I also have an account with Robinhood where I get to choose where my money goes and I try to put in around $50 every month. You can check out there websites below and open an account yourself!
Have more than one stream of Income: Always try to have at least two streams of income. This provides you wiht more financial security and helps when random big bills arise in life. It also helps with the process of saving so that you can add to your bank times two!

Depression, Adjustment Disorder

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 00:00:02 GMT

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Depression

I was diagnosed with depression when I was 18. If we are going to be honest though I should have been diagnosed way before that. I truly believe I have been depressed most of my life. I was always told its just your circumstances and the depression would go away eventually. Well, my life circumstances have been ever changing and the depression never left.

It wasn’t until about two months ago when I was going through test in the ER that they found out my brain literally does not make enough serotonin. A normal brain contains 50mg – 200 mg and my brain produce 18mg. Way below the normal level so no wonder I am depressed. My super depressing life circumstances and no happy neurons in my brain just meant it was harder for me to be truly happy.

Adjustment Disorder

Around two years ago I was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. This disorder has everything to do with the circumstances I grew up with and continue to go through. This explains why I can never sleep and am always so restless. Also why I get scared all the time because I always think someone is out to get me because in the past they have lol. For this they gave me anxiety medicine to help calm me down but instead puts me right to sleep so I stopped using it. Instead I try to find ways to focus on my breathing and keeping myself centered so that when somebody taps me on the shoulder I’m not freaked out and jump up out of fright.

With both mental health illnesses life can get pretty dark and lonely and down right seem as though it’s not worth it. I am still trying to find the best ways to manage all the darkness circling around in my mind and the anti-depressants have helped a little bit but not enough. Now I’m working on removing myself from toxic situations and people and doing things that make me happy.

The important thing to know is that if you struggle with these illnesses you are not alone. A lot of people do not even want to acknowledge the fact that they are depressed and need help or their culture frowns upon it. It’s ok. There are people here to help or just to listen and we at Mastering Progress want you to know that there are supports systems out there for you. We have included websites below where you can do more of your own research and figure out communities and systems that will best support you!

Travel Tips

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 00:01:26 GMT

As a girl who loves to travel here are some tips I have learned over the past few years to make the travel easier for you!

Carry on's all the way: Try to fit everything in to two bags that you can take on the plane especially if your traveling for less than 5 days. It makes leaving the airport quicker and helps lessen the over packing in all of us.
Book you flight three months in Advance : The earlier the better because one or two months before the prices tend to be unreasonable.
Book a dinner reservation for each night your away: That frees up your day to find cute little place to nibble and then spend the big bucks at night and go to sleep with a full stomach. It helps you to have a little structure but also freedom!

Product Review: Pacifica Skincare

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 01:05:24 GMT

I started adding Pacifica’s skincare line to my routine and can’t get enough. So far I have added their eye cream and their glow serum and here is what it has done.

Eye Cream

I didn’t start using eye cream until a month ago and or Collagen products either. I am sure all of you have seen the whole new fad on TikTok and Instagram all about the benefits of collagen. It helps to keep your skintight and looking young and build a healthy barrier around it! Ofcourse I had to find the perfect product that would help me with all these things and that’s when the Pacifica eye collagen cream fell into my lap. I have been putting it on at night religiously and just started adding it to my morning routine! It has helped so far with lightening my dark circles by a degree. I will say I have not seen a change yet in my under-eye elasticity yet, but I want to give it a year and I will get back to you guys on whether it has improved.

Serum

Everyone should have a vitamin C serum in their morning and night routine. We all want glowing healthy-looking skin and vitamin C helps you get there. So for my morning routine I use Pacifica’s Glow Baby Glow serum and it I tend to put it all over and then concentrate on the high points of my face. The serum helps my skin feel refreshed and light and has helped lightened my dark spots and acne scars. The Ultimate life saver.

Needless to say I will be checking out more of their products very soon.

Interracial Relationships

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 00:00:02 GMT

I have been attracted to the white male species since I could remember. My family told me growing up that I was going to marry out of my race and I never doubted them for a second and I still don’t. Simply put that is what I am attracted too, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. With there are a few things I have been told while being in my interracial relationships that I believe need to be address and shut down ASAP!

“You need a black man in your life”: First, I don’t need any man in my life besides Jesus. Second what is a black man going to give me that a white man can’t. Last time I checked they have the same anatomy and no matter what color skin I chose they would have to be hardworking and driven like me soon. Also, I have enough black men in my life my dad my uncles my brother and my cousins. So, I don’t see the need.
“You are going against your upbringing” – You must be mistaken because I was raised in a town where my family and I were one of the three black families in the town. I really did not start going to a diverse school until the middle of 7th grade and the second half of high school. (I went to an all-girls catholic school the first two years of high school which meant my male interactions were the all-boys catholic school down the street). So, my upbringing was predominately white thank you very much. And no that does not mean I am out of touch because this 4C hair certainly does not take care of itself!
“You guys are going to have such cute babies” – Hold on a minute who told you I was going to have a child with this boy. Last time I checked a child was no where on our radar and I have to be financially stable before that even enters the chat. I will not be raising a child that I can not provide for. Also I will not be having a child of my own because I have some crazy genes and my body can not handle it and nor will I be paying someone else to go through that pain. Second of all knowing the child is mixed doesn’t automatically make the child cute. I have seen some pretty ugly mixed babies so do not go assuming.

At the end of the day who I choose to date and what my preference is, is my choice and no one else’s. I like what I like and that’s that so save your snarky comments to yourself!

RR: Trifecta

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:02:00 GMT

You know when girl’s night rolls around and nowhere know where to go and yet you want to go everywhere. That was the situation for my friends and I a couple of weeks ago until one of them suggested we go to Trifecta a new bar at the bottom of the four seasons hotel. Well, here is my official restaurant review of the new “hip” place in Boston!

Trifecta

1 Dalton Street Boston MA 02115

(617) 377-4888

https://www.fourseasons.com/onedalton/dining/lounges/trifecta/

3 stars

Location/Decor

The pictures do fool you a little bit into thinking the space is a bit bigger than it is. But the pictures do not fool you in concerns to how beautiful and stunning the place is. There is a huge chandelier and big comfy sits for guest to enjoy. The bar is beautifully decorated in gold and marble and low lighting to really set an ambiance of luxury! It was stunning and gave me ideas for my dream home bar!

The Food

There were many options from seafood including salmon and lobster rolls and to be honest that is all I can remember about the food menu. Nothing super notable and when the server showed us the portions sizes for everything I was simply not impressed. In the end we decided to go with the classic charcuterie board and you really can’t go wrong with that. Like the other food options the portions were abnormally small but the cheese choices were delicious, and the fresh fruit and grain crackers were a perfect touch.

The Drink

I loved the creativity they had with their drink menu. All the cocktails were named after landmarks and Boston history. I chose the arabesque which was made in honor of the arts district and the Boston Opera House and the amount of creativity sprouting from Boston’s residents. It contains champagne, gin, and crème de Pamplemousses italic us. It was strong and superb. Fresh and airy just like watching a ballerina float across the stage it even helped to have the single flower petal dancing on top!

Overall Experience

With all this location is an Instagrammers dream. The food and drinks are very Instagram able and would make anyone’s feed super colorful. But there was nothing that really is making me want to go back. The experience wasn’t anything exciting and the food was below par, and the drink was great, but I can easily have my bar back in my hometown make it for me. So, go for the pictures but nothing else.

Dani Bishop

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 00:57:23 GMT

I met Dani through a mutual friend and have been amazed ever since of her skills when it came to cosmetology! Here is a little more information about her:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I'm Danielle, I'm born and raised in Minnesota and moved to Florida in 2019. I'm a certified makeup artist, licensed nail technician, and soon to be a cosmetologist.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My biggest passion in life is inspiring people and making every client in my chair feel more beautiful than when they walked in. When you know you look good, you feel good.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

I take care of my mental health by spending time outside by going to the beach or on walks. I also draw and paint a lot, listen to music and hang out with my friends. I take care of my physical health by going to the gym at least 2-3 times a week, eat all the nutrients that our bodies needs and getting outside a lot.

H ow do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

When everything is organized, I feel good. I have a planner and a notebook, writing new things about each client I have and trying to get to know them. With everything else, simple things like making your bed and doing the dishes everyday make me feel better about my day.

What ar e some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

I am 20 years old myself, but things I've learned is that do what makes you happy. Do what you think will benefit your future. Things you do now, will effect your future later.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

I define success and prosperity as reaching my goals in life, inspiring people and making people feel comfortable and beautiful in their own way.

How would you rank the following three: family, career, love life?

1. Family 2. Career 3. Love life

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

My greatest accomplishment to date would be me moving to Florida and starting to live my best life and making my dreams come true.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

The characteristics and traits I have that I'm proud I have are I'm caring, ambitious and hard working.

You can follow Dani along on her socials below:

Instagram: @dani.bishop

TikTok: @dani.bishop01

Bella Fletcher

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 21:27:58 GMT

As a mental health advocate herself who better to have featured on Mastering Progress than Bella Fletcher!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

My name is Bella and I am very passionate about mental health. I am a social work major at Simmons University hoping to study macro social work. What I really want to do it make a system where everyone can get access to not just mental health treatment but everything surrounding it like having home, going to programs, having food and water, etc.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

Like I said before, my biggest passion is mental health. I try to promote mental health content on my social platforms. I have an instagram called: @bellafletcher7 where I talk about my own story and also post resources. On my main Instagram I post a lot more social justice things and other mental health resources. You can check my highlights if you ever need anything.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

I try exercise at least 3 times a week but also listen to my body when it wants a break. I read books because that takes my mind off of things for a bit. I also meditate which has helped a lot.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

I have to write down on multiple papers on what I am doing. So I have my phone calendar, my week calendar, and then my month calendar. This helps me keep track of everything.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

Take time for yourself! I never used to do that in highschool. I was always out in about which led to a lot of build up of emotions which led to not so fun aftermath. When I started going to therapy I learned you need to take time for yourself whether that mean saying no to a certain event or even incorporating something to yourself for 10 minutes a day. It helps a lot.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

I don't like thinking success as an ending point because I always want to be doing something in my life. So I guess for me success is when I have reached one of my goals and it's time to make a new one!.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

I am a very loyal person which makes sense because I am a leo! If you are one of my friends or family I am very loyal and will always be there for you. I also am a very passionate person (another leo trait). When I am interested in something there is no stopping me on learning more about it.

Continue to follow Belles journey along here:

Instagram: @anfletcher

Facebook: Bella Fletcher

Entrepreneurship in a Nutshell

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:29:11 GMT

Here are the top 3 things every entrepreneur should know as they start their business.

1. Just jump right in.

Whenever I talk to an entrepreneur who has been in the field longer than me, they all say the same thing, Jump right into it! It is better to learn as you go than to regret not taking that leap of faith in yourself. I know most of us are scared of failure and see it as something very detrimental, but I think it is one of the best things that can happen in life. You learn so much more from failure than you do from success. You learn what not to do or how not to do it. You learn what your strengths and what your weaknesses are, and you learn how to handle being disappointed. All of these are vital lessons to living a full life.

2. Things take time.

Just because your product is out there does not mean that it will become an instant success. Success takes times and resources and getting your product into every nook and cranny that you possibly can! Good for you for taking that first step and leap of faith and now the even harder work comes in. You might not even see your first “profitable month” until 2 years later but if your persistent and consistent the results will follow.

3.Believe in your goals and dreams when no one else will.

It can feel very lonely at times when delving into your personal endeavors. Your closest friends and family wont even acknowledge your business and are not supportive. That’s why it is important for you to believe in what you’re doing and have the passion for it because at the end of the day all you have is yourself.

Top 25: TV Shows

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:20:39 GMT

With all the time we have spent at home and on the move its important to find some good shows here are our reccomendations!

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Aiida

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 22:12:03 GMT

Over the past two years we have been so happy to be in the prescence of the wonderful singer and song writer Aiida for the Girl Up Gala in Boston! Know we are so happy to share her wonderful light with the MP comunity!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

My name is Aiida,I'm an artist and songwriter from Oslo, Norway, study at Berklee College of music and love turtles<3

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My biggest passion in life, is making people feel less lonely through the waves of life through music. So I always try to stay as honest as possible in my songs.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Work out (a little), go for walks, listen to music I like and surround myself with loving and sincere people.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

Hahaha! I'm still working on that! But I try to make lists of things I need to get done, projects, and get enough sleep!

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

1. Don't be so hard on yourself!!! 2. Try to stay present. 3. Explore new things!

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

Making music and playing music I enjoy with people I love, and still making ends meet<3 But also constantly growing as human.

Follow Aiida along on her music journey here:

Instagram: @aiida_ii

TikTok: @aiida_ii_

As always keep thriving!

Top 25: Music

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 22:11:48 GMT

Starting this new series and sharing the top 25 things our CEO enjoys. This week the topic is music and with the festivals beggining again the music world is starting to thrive again! Needless to say there is one artist who runs all through out our top 25 and we want to see if you agree!

IDGAF - Dua Lipa
CROWN - Chika
Physical - Dua Lipa
Ultralight Beam - Kanye West
Blow Your Mind - Dua Lipa
Too Good at Goodbyes - Sam Smith
Slide - Calvin Harris
Best Part - Daniel Caesar
Molly - Lil Dicky
Kill the Lights - Jess Glyne
Be Alright - Ariana Grande
Sunday Candy - Donnie Trumpet and The Social Expereiment
Don't Start Now - Dua Lipa
Levitating - Dua Lipa
Pretty Please - Dua Lipa
Hotter than Hell - Dua Lipa
Wanna Be Happy? - Kirk Franklin
The Way - Ariana Grande and Mac Miller
Thinking 'Bout You - Dua Lipa
needy - Ariana Grande
Un Dia - J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Tainy
Break the Silence - Francois Mulder
Praying - Kesha
Finish Line/ Drown - Chance the Rapper
All Falls Down - Kanye West

Toxic Relationships

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:00:02 GMT

Weather it be a a romantic relationship, a family member or friend toxicity can grow and ruin the whole thing! But knowing how to spot the toxicity and nip it in the bud is important. So here are some steps on getting out of that type of situation.

First acknowledge that there is something toxic growing.
Look at yourself and figure out how your contributing to the toxicity.
Begin the inner work to better yourself and make your self stronger.
If the other person is willing have a conversation and put everything on the table establishing what needs to be fixed and worked on for the relationship to continue.
If they do not want to change or believe there is nothing to change then it s time to set some boundaries, ie. cutting them off for a certain amount of time, blocking them from being able to contact you etc.
If they don't change after that then well its good bye forever

We here at MP hope that all of you can get out of your toxic relationships and as always keep thriving!

Maria Thompson

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 23:51:55 GMT

All we can say is Maria Thomson has been inspiring us since day one! And of course we can not forget about our favorite doodle, Leo!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am currently finishing my prerequisites online and hoping to apply to nursing school within the year! Due to a number of chronic illnesses, I am not able to work and go to school at the same time, but definitely look forward to working as a nurse in the future.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My biggest passion is helping advocate for others. I have done this through political activism, protests, organizing a hospital prom and helping people learn and become connected in the service dog world.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

The truth is I don't. Obviously this is a major problem and one that I am actively working on. I think the key to taking care of ones self is making sure to take even those small moments for yourself. I have started try different meditation apps, as well as listening to audiobooks and podcasts. I have also been trying to have a daily routine.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

I don't! Therefore I'm always stressed, late and lost! However I am more on top of it than I give myself or my google calendar credit for.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

I think it's important for people to learn how to connect with others and not to just be out for themselves. Especially after these last 8 years, the climate in our country has changed drastically for the worst. As this happens we are becoming more hostile to each other instead of coming together in a time of weakness.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

The hardest part about being chronically ill is that success has to be measured differently. I haven't been able to work like many of my peers, I haven't yet graduated from college and for the most part haven't had any huge accomplishments. This makes can be extremely hard at times. It feels like the whole world is moving on without you. Success for me can be as simple as getting out of bed in the morning. It also can be new tasks I have trained my service dog or a hike I accomplished. While many will have bigger successes on the daily, don't forget to count the small ones too.

If you were given three things to make you happy for the rest of your life what would they be?

Family, friends and my doodle, Leo.

Are there any decisions you regret making in your life?

Of course! I wouldn't be human if I didn't have regrets. No one is perfect.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

I pride myself in being honest, loyal and genuine.

You can follow Maria and Leo and learn more about their story at:

Instagram: @leoservicedoodle

The Break up Not "To-Do" List

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 00:04:34 GMT

Right before covid I went through one of the most heart-breaking moments of my life. My boyfriend of then 2 and half years told me he didn’t want to be with me anymore and he was moving on with his life. At that point in time my life had basically surrounded him, I believed we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. With my world crumbling down I didn’t know how to behave or who to really turn to. So here is how not to act after a super big break up and maybe you can learn from my mistakes!

DO NOT get black out drunk at a fancy bar. I feel as though going out to drink is very normal after a breakup. But what I did was not acceptable. I was invited to one of the top clubs in Boston with my friend and some girls I had never even met before. So of course, I had to get dressed up in my skintight dress like the boss I am and was ready for a good fun night out. Let’s just say one drink turned into 15 and me waking up on a coach in a house that I couldn’t recognize (now it’s the house of one of my close friends lol). Through the rest of the next day, I pieced together that I got into a VIP section made out with an old rich dude the bottle girl kept handing me drinks and I through up in the uber on the way home. This is a day I like to forget and needless to say did not make me feel any better about the breakup.

DO NOT eat your feelings. I have this bad habit of when I am sad or depressed, I eat until throw up or go into a food coma. Let just say there were many days and nights where I only left my bedroom to go to the kitchen and grab a pile of food and returned to my fetal position. In those two weeks I gained 15 pounds and became very sluggish and disliked every inch of my body. Even though I was trying to convince myself that I was not destroying my body and I slowly was. Last time I checked just because someone is a jerk doesn’t mean I should be hurting myself even more!

DO NOT tell everyone your business. One of the most important things I have learned in my life is that not everyone is your friend. There are people in this world who love to see you going through a hard time just so they can get all the information and share with everyone else how terrible your doing. It’s no one else business what happened besides you and that person in the relationship and if the other person wants to share and spread lies about you that’s their prerogative. You get the chance to keep the things you want private and share your truth when your ready!

Break ups are tough and can change a life drastically but lets try to make it change for the better!

As always remember to keep thriving!

Joss Richards

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 13:00:03 GMT

I virtually met Joss two months ago when she reached out to me about becoming a mentor for her new platform called Margot community and since then I have been in awe of everything she has done! She has been a true inspiration for me in my entrepreneurial journey and I am honored to have her highlighted on Mastering Progress.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am an Emmy Award winning Producer who is originally from Toronto, ON. I currently reside in Los Angeles and have been working in the entertainment television and digital media industry for the past 10 years. I have been fortunate enough to work at companies like Netflix, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Walt Disney Company creating digital content and managing their content strategy. I have always wanted to work in the media vertical; however in early 2021 I pivoted into the entrepreneurial world when I realized that there was a gap in women's access to mentorship and that a lot of women still struggle with asking to be compensated for their time and knowledge. It was then that I created Margot.

Margot is an inclusive online network redefining mentorship. Margot helps women and gender-marginalized individuals of all ages find mentors, provide virtual 1:1 time with them, and the first platform to normalize women being compensated for their knowledge. We currently have 150+ mentors across various leadership levels and industries such as STEM, Medicine, Business & Finance, Publishing, Education, Health & Wellness, Beauty & Fashion, and Film & Television, and more.

In addition to advocating for women being paid, Margot provides a Give Back Program; which provides free mentorship to girls and women in communities with socio economic barriers.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My biggest passion is to create. I have always been a creator and to be able to incorporate that into my work means the world. Earlier in my career I would create content and that was fulfilling because that's what I always wanted to do growing up. Now, I have created an entire community focused on empowering women. No matter what mundane task I have in my day to day, I know that it all leads to a bigger purpose and a larger creation.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Lately, it's been incredibly hard because starting a new business takes countless hours of work. I've been balancing two full-time job all while trying to spend time with my family. Physically, I always try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day. If I'm not well-rested I won't be able to properly function. I try (though not successfully) to have a healthy diet, and that's something I'm actively working on being better at. Mentally I always schedule time to not work. I know that sounds a little ridiculous, but if I don't schedule that time to step away from my phone or laptop, I will be working nonstop.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

My calendar! I have a digital calendar and also an agenda where I write all my meetings and to-do items for the day. I would be absolutely lost if I didn't have my calendar.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

I th ink it's important for people in their early twenties to do everything and everything they can handle. When I was in my early twenties I worked really hard, networked, and tried a bunch of side projects. Everything is at our fingertips and we have no excuses to do and create the things we want to. Learn how to build relationships with people, because you'll realize a well-rounded network is so important. Also test out wearing all the hats you can, this is the best way to learn your strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, have fun with it! You'll be working your whole life so enjoy it.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

I used to think success was a job title and a salary. Don't get me wrong those things are incredibly important and all worth working for, but those things wouldn't mean as much to me if I didn't have family, friends, and health to celebrate it. At this point in my life, having a career and a job that I truly love and one where I'm not overworked and having a family I love and have time for is success.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

I want to be able to look back at my life and say "wow, I did all those things". I want women of color specifically to look at what I've built and see that they can do that to, because I didn't have anyone that looked like me I could admire.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

I act on impulse. It's a strength and a weakness honestly, but I pride myself on having it because if I have an idea I go with it and figure the rest out later. I guess some could call that courageous as well. The reason I pride myself on having it is because if I waited until things were perfect I would not have the life I do now.

If you want to learn more about Joss and follow her along in her work here are her social handles:

Website: margotcommunity.com

Personal Instagram: @joss.richard

Margot's Instagram: @margotcommunity

Summer Reading List

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 00:05:53 GMT

With all of this warm weather and beach time I have my list of books ready to enjoy this summer! Here they are:

Crab Cake Recipe

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 12:00:04 GMT

These are some of the best crab cakes I have ever had!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Tips and Tricks:

3 Things I Learned from Graduating in a Pandemic

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 02:24:09 GMT

My college experience is officially over and it ended with a bang! Through all the chaos I learned quite a few things and thought I would share that knowledge with you!

1. Keep Pushing Forward.

Many times during this past year I wanted to just quit and give up. BY being at home I realized there were so many other things I could be doing with my life that would make me happier and help my life and others lives better. But thankfully I had people in my corner to keep me going and told me I made it this far and could not quite.

2. The day is all about you!

There will be alot of people in life who like to make your day about them and you have to set the boundaries to not let that happen. These people can be family and friends and yet your are the one who put in all the hard work and not them and it is okay to remind them of it!

3. Be Thankful!

The four years of college go by so fast that you can forget to cherish those moments on your big day. I know for me I was ready to just plow through and get ready for my big girl job which started 3 days later. But i reminded myself that it was a huge accomplishment that I needed t take a second and look back and acknowledge everything I had gone through and accomplished.

Chloe Miller

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Mon, 31 May 2021 13:00:04 GMT

I met Chloe Miller through the Campus Trendsetters Program and was instantly taken away with how kind and genuine she was and her perfectly aesthetic Instagram and website. I hope after reading this you fall in love with her as much as I have!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am a beauty, lifestyle, and fashion blogger based in LA. I am a student at the University of Southern California (USC) and have been a content creator for 3 years now on Instagram (@chloetessmiller), and have my site (bychloetess.com) where I publish fashion and beauty content and sell my presets. I also recently launched a course called "Micro-Influencing 101" where I teach aspiring micro-influencers about my journey and how to foster an online community with high audience engagement.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incoroporate this into your work?

I am super passionate about women's issues and feel it is important for us to look at the influencer industry as something that is legitimate and professional. Oftentimes the industry is not given the respect it deserves because it is one of few billion dollar female-led industries.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

NAPS. And say no to things you don't feel like doing!

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

Planners and making a timed schedule/blocked schedule of each day. Setting small goals for the day or week to hopefully achieve larger goals in the future.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

You are only in competition with yourself! Imposter syndrome is so real but you are capable and impressive when you work to better yourself from yesterday. The success of anyone you're comparing yourself to does not matter.

What do you define success and prospertiy as in your life?

Being excited and grateful for tomorrow :)

How would you rank the following three: family, career, love life?

family, love life, career

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

someone who is kind and helpful to others. someone who doesn't back down from my beliefs and passions, but is open to learning and changing perspective.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

loyalty, empathy, passion

You can learn more about Chloe and follow her at these social handles below:

Instagram: @chloetessmiller

TikTok: @chloetessmiller

Product Review: Acaia Your Boobies

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 26 May 2021 13:00:06 GMT

Here is my first review of a product I found on tiktok.

Our Honest Review:

To be completely honest I have nothing bad to say about this product!

Its amazing it works and it smells absolutely delicious.

With that being said as with any product you need to be consistent with its usage. I found it works best right after the shower when your still a little damp. After a week of using it religiously my boobs felt amazing, smooth and firmer! I also love the fact that it's a clean product. Good for you and Good for the earth!

I will definitely be trying the other products from this company and letting you know if the others are worth it!

Where you can try it out for yourself (just click on the website of your choosing) :

Truly Website

Ulta Beauty

Restaurant Review: Crudo

Wed, 26 May 2021 13:00:06 GMT

I am a sucker for a good sushi place and Crudo in the North End of Boston did not dissapoint!

Crudo

4.5 Stars

78 Salem St., Boston MA, 02113

(617)- 367-6500

https://crudoboston.com/

I am very vocal about my love for food. I will eat almost anything under the sun from cuisines around the world. Although I was introduced to a lot of Italian/French and African dishes growing up my parents steered away from Japenese ones. But as I grew, I came to realize I love love love sushi! The first place I ate out at when I came to college was Basho which is right down the street from Simmons. I even had my boyfriend fall in love with sushi at Basho! But I was ready to experience a new place and I had been told about an “amazing” place in the North End called Crudo.

Location/Decor

On September 8th, my boyfriend and I were heading into the city for a Red Sox and it was the perfect time to try out Crudo! We took the commuter rail to North Station and to the North End. Luckily we were able to use our phones to find Crudo because it was hidden on one of the windy cobbly streets of the North End. We were welcomed into the establishment by a young host who we later found out was the bartender and our server. Crudo has two floors and since we did not come at a busy time we stayed on the first floor which consisted of bar seating and a few smaller tables for groups of two to enjoy their meals. The decor gave the restaurant a more modern vibe with glossy wood table tops and silver buttons on the barstools and of course they had two tvs featuring the Patriots and Celtics, because it wouldn't be a true Boston restaurant with out one team on the big screens.

The Food

To put it simply: the food was amazing! First we ordered some calamari which is one of my favorite seafood dishes. I was very much surprised when they brought the dish to the table. It was presented in a big bowl with some cilantro and lemon on top and it was so much. My boyfriend and I were both hungry and we can both eat alot but we couldn’t finish it. The rings were big and delicious. Nice and crispy on the outside with tender meat on the inside. As we were half way through, our appetizer our sushi came out. The plating of our rolls was gorgeous, the chef had made the ginger into a flower and each roll was displayed in a different way. We bought three rolls in total, an Idaho roll, spicy tuna roll and the basic California roll. My favorite was the Spicy Tuna Roll, I love it when my food has a little kick to it and this roll definitely did. Instead of drizzling the spicy mayo on top like numerous other sushi places do they somehow put it inside the roll! The sauce was spread out more evenly for each piece and it really blended better that way with the fish and cucumber. My boyfriend's favorite roll was the Idaho roll which is made with sweet potato, tempura and an eel sauce on top! I personally do not prefer tempura in my sushi because the after texture just irks me and the after taste is not that great. Of Course, we both enjoyed the California roll. I mean if your a sushi place and you don’t have a good California roll are you really that good?

My only critique would be that the service was kind of slow. I believe this was due to their being only one chef and one man on the floor who was the bartender,server and host rolled all into one since it was a “down time”. They probably should of had one more person helping in the front of house just so he didn't have to do it all by himself.

Crudo is definitely a “special occasion”/ “treat yourself” type of restaurant. The pricing as with all sushi is moderately expensive. But with all the fresh fish and vegetables the price is worth it.

Overall I loved my experience at Crudo and I'm definitely planning on going back many more times in the future. If you love sushi and a good atmosphere definitely try it out!

Skin Care Routine

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 26 May 2021 13:00:02 GMT

I did not start getting into skincare until college. I was breaking out alot and had numerous acne scars across my forehead. Fr the past year I have been adding to both my morning and night routine and my skin has never looked better! Just a friendly reminder everybody's skin is different and so parts of my routine might work for you while others don't, so don't be afraid to mix and match!
Let me know what your favorite skincare products are and maybe I will try them out!

Morning Routine

Cleanse

Cerave - Foaming Facial Cleanser

Tone: This has been a life changing step for me! My skin tone has evened out and helped heal my acne scars!

Heritage Store - Rosewater Toner

Serums

The Ordinary - Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Pacifica - Glow Baby Booster Serum glycolic acid + vitamin C

Moisturize: Find one with SPF especially as summer starts to roll in you want to protect your skin at all cost.

Aveeno - Positively Radiant daily moisturizer + sunscreen

Night Routine

My night routine tends to be a little more extensive because I want to make sure I clean off all the dirt from the day and help my skin rejuvinate for the next day!

Double Cleanse: I learned this tip from Huda Beauty. Double cleansing helps you get into every nook and cranny and really give you a clean slate

Wishful - Clean Genie Cleaning Butter
Cerave - Foaming Facial Cleanser

Exfoliate: Do not exfoliate more than 3 times a week we don't want to peel off all the layers of your wonderful skin!

Wishful - Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub

Masks: These depend on how my skin is feeling and how much water I have been drinking but I like to use one every couple of days.

Formula 10.0.6: Draw it All Out, Get Your Glow On, Sea Side Glow
Mary Kay: Clear Proof deep cleansing charcoal mask
The Ordinary: AHA 30% + BHA 2%

Tone

Heritage Store: Rosewater Toner

Serums:

Glow Recipe: Pineapple -C bright Serum

Moisturize:

Aveeno - Positively Radiant intensive Night cream

My Mental Health Journey Pt. 3

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Fri, 21 May 2021 13:00:02 GMT

Trigger Warning
Sexual Assualt

Everyone says college was the best four year of their life and honestly I would definitely agree but most likely for a different reason.

In August of 2017 my family and I drove up from New Jersey to Fenway Boston for Move in day at Simmons UNiversity. We brought all my stuff up to my dorm and attended the speech from the president and then my family left. I did not hear from them until I was trying to come home for thanksgiving and then Christmas and then not at all for the next three years. I would reach out for birthdays and holidays and was told I was no longer a part of the family and to leave my parents alone. When I tried to reach out I would be yelled at about how I was ruining my life and how I was being selfish and making stupid decisions and was stupid. It was their way or the highway. But in my mind how could I leave a wonderful opportunity in Boston, my tuition was covered, I was working with amazing companies and was working on starting my own career. I was speaking at events and hosting my own events and building a community in Boston all by myself. All of these good things were happening to me and I was growing but it didn’t feel the best because I was continuously being put down by people who were supposed to be my biggest support.

Within the first month of coming to college I was sexually assaulted in my dorm room. He snuck into the building. He wouldn't let me leave my room. He left bruises around my neck. Luckily I had friends who cared and saved me from the situation and then eventually campus police who filed a restraining order on him.

By November of 2017 I had another big issue. My physical health. I was in and out of the hospital for 3 days with none of the doctors being able to figure out why I was bleeding nonstop and in SO much pain. Thankfully on the fourth day after switching hospitals Brigham and Womens was able to diagnose me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. This meant I had to go on Birth control instantly and take it continuously because my body couldn't handle having periods. Finding this out and what it meant for my health in the long run was scary, especially dealing with it by myself and not having access to my health insurance from my parents.

More recently I was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder along with having anxiety and depression. To show how terrible my depression is a normal person's serotonin level ranges from 50mg - 250mg in their brains. Mine is at 18mg. Way below the base level and yet most people would never know this. But because of this I decided to go on an antidepressant, not only were the circumstances in my life hurting me mentally but my brain is just not working completely. I had been fighting it for so long but I needed to take full control of my life for once.

Although these are not the only things that have affected my mental health in college and beyond these have been a hue factor. I am thankful though that I have found a team of people who I can now call my family who have supported me and gotten me through all of these tough times. I have been able to find a therapist and doctors who are about helping me become the healthier version of me. With each day comes new challenges but with each new day I am learning and improving and sharing so others can learn and grow to!

As always remember to continue to Learn Grow and Prosper!

The Perfect Smore's Cookie

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Mon, 17 May 2021 14:37:25 GMT

Summer is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with a little twist on the perfect summer treat!

Ingredients:

graham crackers
your favorite chocolate bar (I chose Hershey's)
marshmellos
chocolate chip cookie dough

Instructions:

Place graham crackers on baking sheet.
Layer pieces of the chocolate bar on top of the graham crackers
Place marshmello on top on chocolate.
Place chocolate chip cookie dough on top of everything.
Bake at 350 degrees for 14 minutes or until the cookie is a light golden brown.

Tips:

go with the cinnamon graham crackers if you want to add a little more flavor to the cookie
use jumbo marshmellos instead of mini ones, it prevents them from rolling around on the baking sheet.
if you use the pre-maid cookie dough that are in squares, squish two of the squares together, one is just not enough!

My Mental Health Journey pt. 2

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 12 May 2021 02:57:10 GMT

Trigger Warning

Here is an overview of my childhood - late teens

Physical abuse. Mental Abuse. Self Harm. Psychiatric Ward. Depression. Anxiety. Rape.

All of these things affect millions of people on a daily basis. All of these things affected me on a daily basis through my childhood. I would like to establish the fact that I was not a perfect child and lied and stole and cheated and was very manipulative. With that being said what was done to me in response to this was not appropriate or legal.

At the foundation of my crippling mental health issues is my adoption at 3 months old. I knew that my “forever parents” loved me and they took very good care of me but there was always a disconnect when it came to an emotional and mental level. I of course would always want to know about my biological family and my parents seemed to continue to take offense to that. They had been trying to have their own child for a while and two years after adopting me they finally had their own son which they spoiled consistently. Because of both of these dynamics in our relationships things were very taught. They were very strict with me and would beat me everyday for years whether it be with a belt or they would cut me with a knife they would always tell me, “you deserved it”.

You would think they would be happy when I started inflicting the pain on myself for them. When highschool rolled around I was accustomed to being hurt with words or with an object that it seemed only fitting to continue the tradition. I began cutting myself or punching and intentionally hurting myself whenever I did something wrong or not to their standards. I was depressed and lonely and couldn't go a day without panic attacks. With all of this I had no one to talk to. My parents favorite line was “no one cares about your feelings, get the work done”. No one else in my family believed me when I said they were abusive and I was being mistreated and when the school or my friends parents got involved somehow the discussion would be put down and never brought up again. They brought me to a counselor which they knew would always side with them and who eventually told them to bring me to a psych ward where I was for a week as they lied to everyone, even family about where I was.

I was sexually assaulted by my best friend.

Through all of this I laughed, I smiled and made other people's lives easier. I made it through 12 years by smiling and laughing. Then I went to college.

My Mental Health Journey pt. 1

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 04 May 2021 20:33:41 GMT

Part 1

Mental Health.

Something that affects people on a daily basis whether they want it to or not. Something that can change a person’s life and perspective within seconds. Since being in college my knowledge of my own mental health escalated very quickly once I decided to take it more seriously.

Two years ago I was diagnosed with depression, an anxiety disorder and an adjustment disorder. On the one hand I was very happy to hear the diagnosis because it explained so much as to why I reacted to situations differently and why I couldn't seem to stay happy for more than a couple hours. But on the other hand I was frightened I had no idea that all of this could be going on in my brain and couldn’t comprehend why this was happening to me. All I could hear was my father calling me crazy and someone who needed serious help and feeling as though he was right.

Thanks to Covid I have been able to come to terms with these new findings and start taking my mental health more seriously. I finally started taking medication to help with my depression three months ago along with continuously talking to a counselor and psychologist. I have started to put my needs and wants more than others and have taken more days to just rest and focus on me.

In this series I am going to share my mental health through 3 stages of my life and different circumstances that have brought this about and how I continue to grow on this journey!

Journal Entry: 10/17/2019

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 02:24:53 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

"I would really like life to work out for just once. I am at the point where death seems like the most viable option. I don't really have any friends. I am just jealous of all of them and everything they do with their lives. There are some people I want to be friends with but they are super full of themselves and only see themselves as “helping other people” when instead they are just bragging about everything they have and all that bullshit. I hate that I have no motivation to do anything, I want to exercise to get back into the habit of running and doing track workouts but instead I just pile my face with candy and junk food and I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror because I just see the gaining of weight. I honestly just feel so alone in this world, my parents don't care about me whatsoever they stopped helping a while ago. The only reason they fed and housed me was it keep their appearances up. I mean you can't complain about not having enough money and yet you can pay for my brother’s school tuition and buy hist “necessities” and new clothing all the time and give him an allowance on top of that and be fine. Not only that they both have new places in two different states with no signs of moving back in together and I am pretty sure my dad sees no reason to go down and visit my mom anymore since my brother is in college. Like do they even talk to each other besides when it comes to money and buying new things? It just seems like a loveless marriage to me. Kinda just piontless.

You should just be used to being lied to and used and not really important in other people's lives. There is not one person in my life who I can say has not tried to use me or mistreated me in any capacity. Everyone has lied to me and everyone has either abused me mentally or physically. At this point I’m just tired. Just really tired."

Hamburger Bowl Recipe

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 16:06:43 GMT

I love to snack... like alot. That means I miss out on alot of important meals because I'm to full on my snacks. This meal is the perfect combination it has protein and vegetables and are the perfect size, you can eat one or three and feel full! Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Ingredients:

2 pounds of hamburger meat
1 teaspoon of Garlic powder
4 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups of cheddar cheese
Chopped bacon
Vegetable of your choice
Ranch
Salt and pepper for seasoning

Materials:

Cupcake pan
Mixing bowl

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the meat, Worcestershire sauce and salt, pepper and garlic powder to make a sticky concoction.
While letting the meat sit for a second, saute your vegetable of choice! I went with red peppers.
Make a ball of and stuff it into a cupcake mold and form it to the sides of the mold. Making a cup shape!
Fill each cup with your cheese, vegetable and some bacon! I decided to put some cheese on the bottom , then sprinkled in the bacon and peppers and then made sure to top it off with alot of cheese! (I love cheese)
Bake your bowls for 30 minutes or until the meat is cooked through and the cheese is bubbling on top!
Add the ranch as a garnish/ dipping sauce!

Quinoa Patties

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 03:56:17 GMT

This is one of my favorite vegetarian recipes from. Quinoa is a great source of protein and fiber which provides you with a lot of energy. Another great thing about this recipe is that it goes great with any dressing, I highly recommend a greek tzatziki sauce!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa, at room temperature
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh chives
1 yellow or white onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup bread crumbs, plus more if needed
Water, if needed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Materials:

Big mixing bowl
Wooden spoon
Cookie tray
Frying pan

Instructions:

Cook quinoa (check packaging for specific instructions)

Let the quinoa cool, I tend to put it on a cookie sheet and place it in the freezer or fridge for 15-20 minutes.

Mix quinoa with eggs and salt until completely combined.

Add cheese, garlic, chives and onions and bread crumbs, at this point the mixture should start being clumpy.

Let sit for a few minutes so everything sticks together..

Take a spoon and form 1 inch patties with your hands.

Once you have created all of your patties add oil to the frying pan and cook until both sides are a golden brown or until as crispy as you desire!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Crispy Chicken Tenders

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 03:33:33 GMT

These will literally be the best chicken tenders you have ever made. I made these chicken tenders for the first time in April for Easter and it was the only thing on the table I didn’t get the chance to eat! It’s a weekly thing for me to make now and keeps everyone satisfied. Since I make this for dinner all the time now I have learned from some tips and tricks for the best product. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

Recipe:

Letters to my Mother

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 03:05:08 GMT

7/10/2017

Dear Mom,

I honestly have hated you for the longest time. I don’t understand and may never understand why you had to give me up. I know I was an affair baby and supposedly you were a very pretty woman, I mean how else could you be a little hoe. I really wish I could understand or know what was going on in your mind and life when you found out about me. I want to be able to say thank you for bringing me into this world but I am not at that point in my life where I can. I know you wanted the best for me and yes I experienced so much as a child. I danced, played the piano, skied, rode horses, spent nights in New York City seeing plays on Broadway- off Broadway, the Met, sat on the steps at the MoMA. vacationed in Martha’s Vineyard, Fire Island, Nigeria, Florida. But even with all of that something was always missing and that was a mother's love, your love. A child and her biological mother have a connection and a special love, it’s inevitable but you cut that off without even giving me a chance. Why couldn't you give me a chance. I promise no matter what she says I am not that evil an dI do have feelings no matter how many times I push them away because of how many times I have been hurt.

Moraya

The "Best Diet"

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 03:05:04 GMT

The word diet has been a word to bring me such turmoil since a young age and that is why this research article was so important to me. Hope it helps you with your own journey on finding your best diet!

The word diet is woven throughout modern day society and has become a pillar within the lives of many with the growth of social influence. Diets are glamorized by advertising the potential of “looking like a model” and losing weight fast. These fad diets claim there are healthy and will change everyone's lives. But when you delve deeper into the nutritional facts and long term results the conclusion is the same, there is no “best diet” for everyone. Popular “fad” diets such as South Beach and Keto all have their flaws that do not meet all the nutrients a body needs to thoroughly survive. Everyone needs to be comfortable choosing foods based on what they want and their health restrictions. A diet should not be set by society but rather by what your body needs and what makes you happy.

One of the largest fad diets in the world is the South Beach Diet. I remember hearing about the South Beach Diet on the radio and on tv ads and I continue to see posts on Instagram from celebrities such as Savannah Christley promoting it’s “wonderful” results. From the outside the South Beach diet looks amazing, their website claims you receive a balanced nutrition plan that helps you lose weight fast, “South Beach Diet plans include the right mix of the right nutrients, so you can lose weight without hunger.” (South Beach Diet,2019). There are three diet plans a customer can choose from with the prices ranging from $289 per month to $360. All of these plans are advertised as being high in protein and low in sugar and carbohydrates which in turn will help the customer burn fat. The website also claims boldly and proudly that you will “lose up to 7 pounds in 7 days” while eating six small delicious meals a day.

This diet was introduced 30 years ago by Doctor Agaston who had very good intentions with his creation. “ He wanted to create a diet that allowed overweight, diabetic and prediabetic individuals to easily lose weight” (Spritzler, 2017). He based his diet off of the Atkins diet which he viewed as containing too much saturated fats. So in turn he made his diet “rich in low-glycemic index carbs, lean proteins and unsaturated fats” (Spritzler, 2017). Doctor Agaston found the diet to be successful when he and his patients tested it which made him believe it would be great for everyone. But as we all know, just because something works for one person doesn't mean it will work for everyone. As I did more research more of the ugly truths about this diet surfaced.

One of the biggest downfalls of this diet is the high risk of ketosis. During the first phase of the diet you’re expected to lose up to 13 pounds (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017) which is a rapid amount of weight loss in a two week period. The doctor recommended amount is about two pounds per week which is what happens during phase two, but losing that much weight in the first two weeks can be detrimental to your health. When you lose weight that quickly instead of burning down the fat you are reducing your water weight and lean tissue which is needed for your body to function properly. Also by not eating enough carbs you can put your body into a state of ketosis, ”Ketosis occurs when you don’t have enough sugar (glucose) for energy, so your body breaks down stored fat, causing ketones to build up in your body. Side effects from ketosis can include nausea, headaches, mental fatigue and bad breath, and sometimes dehydration and dizziness.” (Mayo Clinic,2017) Other side effects of this diet include constipation, halitosis and possible hair loss.

Another danger from partaking in the South Beach diet is the risk of heart disease in customers. “...three small European studies showed some association, leading to an extensive cohort study of more than 43,000 Swedish women monitored for 15 years.15 This found that for every 10% decrease in carbohydrate intake or increase in protein intake, the risk of cardiovascular disease increased by 5%, which was statistically significant.” (O’Mathuana and Feeney, 2012). Even though Dr. Agatson was trying to help heart health he created a diet that could in the long run make the heart weak. In low carb diets a lot of nutrients that come from consuming many different fruits and vegetables are removed from one's diet and no longer help maintain the heart functions. You even miss out on heart healthy nutrients when you eat less whole grains, carbohydrates and fats. Many of the consumers of this diet are not aware of these negative side effects.

A new addition to the South Beach diet are the “keto-friendly” options. The keto diet has been taking over social media more recently, with celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian promoting it and companies being created surrounding this diet. I love watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians because it keeps me entertained but I know that many of the things they do are not conventional, such as the Keto diet. I even was apart of the company called ItWorks for a day until I realised it was one big pyramid scheme but in that one day I was given “free” samples of their Total Keto Line products. I tried their ItWorks Ketones beverage powder which claims to “ help keep you body energized, fat-burning mode so you reach peak performance” but what it actually does is induce vomiting (itWorks, 2019). The keto diet is another low carb diet but is even lower in the carb intake than the south beach diet with a limit of 35 grams of carbs a day (Ruscigno,2018). The rest of the calories come from a high intake of fats. The purpose of this diet is to eliminate your need for carbohydrates to energize you and instead replace it with fats. During this process your body will start using the fats you eat as the main source of energy along with the fat already stored in your body which will result in weight loss. The keto diet restrains people from eating pasta, bread, most fruits and starchy vegetables, beans and sugar but requires them to load up on meat, avocados, full fat dairy products, nuts, leafy green vegetables and oils (Ruscigno,2018).

Once again the keto diet was created with good intentions but has grown into something hazardous also. The purpose of this diet was to help children with epilepsy by restricting the brains access to glucose which would help in the prevention of seizures. But as a person voluntarily choosing to consume more fat than carbs you are permitting your body to be more prone to chronic diseases. The increase in fat intake affects your vascular system by clogging more blood vessels, “a 50 percent increase in artery-clogging low-density lipids and triglycerides, effects that can last for a year after stopping the diet.” (Chodosh & Malderelli, 2018) The word flu should not be associated with any things in concerns to food. And yet during the keto diet people go through the “keto flu”. This is the period of time when people do not eat anything to assimilate the body to create energy off of its own fat. They experience “ dry mouth, increased hunger and excessive urination” (Ruscigno,2018). I personally view all these negative side effects as a risk as not worth my time and energy on a weight loss journey.

As you can see these “fad diets” may help you lose weight quickly but there are many ways they can be detrimental to your overall health and well being. This is why I say the best “diet” anyone can have is no diet at all. Rather everyone should create their own food plan that keeps them happy and is tailored to their specific health restrictions and needs, “ Diet recommendations should be individualized and take account of total calorie consumption, exercise, and availability of personal support.” (O’Mathuna & Feeney, 2012) . There are healthy ways to lose weight naturally and at a healthy pace that won’t ruin your body and mental health in the meantime. In the words of the infamous actor Jameela Jamil a prominent body image activist, “Mute the words''diet” detox ``` slim ``` slimming ``` skinny ``and” fat ``` lbs ``` kilos ``` weight loss `` and''melt `` for a few days if you want to avoid the onslaught of women being bombarded with the unregulated diet/detox products and eating disorder rhetoric” (Jamil,2019).

The word diet has been an integral part of my vocabulary since I was young. Although my parents grew up in different communities and cultures they always seemed to agree that I was either too fat or not eating enough. This in turn has made my relationship with food and the word diet a never ending struggle. Although they kept the house fully stocked with food and drinks and my brother and I could never say we went a day hungry, they did have a weird obsession with monitoring my food intake starting at the age of six. I can remember me having to ask for food/snacks whenever I wanted it where as my brother could open up our snack closet and eat whenever he desired, “because he was a boy”. I always needed to be in some physical activity so as to prevent me from getting to “big” it even got to the point in High School where I was competing on two track teams and on the dance team. My mom would switch us from vegetarian diets to no red meat diets to only vegetables and proteins. None of these lasted very long because my father swore on the importance of meat and loved pasta so of course those things were always brought back into our kitchen. Even though I have not lived with my family in close to three years diet is a constant topic whenever we interact. Whenever we facetime my father loves to tell me “you don't look good you getting too fat”. And then he delves in to me needing to work out and make healthier choices. I continue to have the mental battle going back and forth from restricting my food intake because I am too fat or eating all that I want because I deserve to be happy.

Currently I am still trying to navigate my battle with food consumption. In the past few years I was diagnosed with quite a few health problems such as PCOS and endometriosis and anemia. All of these health concerns can make everyday life a struggle, especially when you are non stop bleeding for two weeks straight and the hospitals can't figure out how to help you or how to stop the bleeding and the pain. With this continuous loss of blood I loose alot of iron along with it, so I must ensure my diet contains a high dosage of iron. This mineral is found in two forms, heme iron in meat and fish and nonheme iron found in vegetables. “Heme iron is better absorbed by the body than nonheme iron,''which means consumption of meats and fish is vital to my health (Cleveland, 2017). Through research I have learned that due to having PCOS I am more at risk of getting diabetes, “more than 50 percent of people with PCOS develop diabetes or prediabetes before the age of 40” (Dresden,2018). I am also at a higher risk of strokes and heart attacks due to this syndrome. This means I have to be aware of my insulin levels and make sure I am eating a lot of heart healthy foods. Some of these foods are:

natural, unprocessed foods
high-fiber foods
fatty fish, including salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel
kale, spinach, and other dark, leafy greens
dark red fruits, such as red grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries
broccoli and cauliflower
dried beans, lentils, and other legumes
healthful fats, such as olive oil, as well as avocados and coconuts
nuts, including pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios
dark chocolate in moderation
spices, such as turmeric and cinnamon

(Dresden,2018)

Luckily for me, I eat all of these foods but am allergic to kale and coconuts! I know this list seems super healthy and strict but it is what I need to keep me healthy. I definitely do not stick to this list because I love my Chick-Fil-A and pizza but I try to stay on the healthier side so I don’t risk dying. I also like this list of food because it really only restricts me from eating a lot of chemicals that will harm my health anyway but is filled with food from all five major eating groups and I even get to add a little spice into it too!

Many other people in my life had to make lifestyle changes to due to their medical needs. My cousin is lactose intolerant which means he can not consume dairy. Even though he can not have cheese he still eats his pizza with dominoes without the cheese on top but with plenty of meat. A close friend of mine has severe celiac disease, this means she her body can not digest the compound called gluten which is found in many wheat and barley products. She has to sustain a very clean diet and eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and make sure all of her food is not made in factories containing other gluten products. This has limited her in many ways but has also helped her find new ways to enjoy food! Everyone needs a little more or a little less when it comes to certain foods and that is the only time people should prevent themselves from eating all the nutrients needed to function.

The word diet is negative and makes people's lives miserable. When a person believes they will only be happy when they lose weight and that they need to follow one of these fad diets, such as South Beach or Keto, to look prettier it breaks away at them mentally and physically. Even though society says you are only acceptable if you are on a diet and stick thin, we need to break that stigma. These diets have proven to be detrimental to people’s health and in the end make them miserable. We need more public figures like Jameel Jamil who are going to stand up for people, especially females, and say its ok to eat what you want and not be a certain size. When it comes to food everyone should be content with what they are eating and it should support them and make them the healthiest possible person they can be!

References

Chodosh, S., & Maldarelli, C. (2018). Food Fatale. Popular Science, 290(5), 72–77. Retrieved fromhttps://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=132463015&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Dresden, D. (2018, September 6). "What to eat if you have PCOS." Medical News Today. Retrieved October 7, 2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323002.php.

How Does the South Beach Diet Work? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.southbeachdiet.com/how-it-works/index.jsp.

Cleveland Clinic (2017).Iron-rich Foods and Anemia Management and Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14621-iron-rich-foods-and-anemia/management-and-treatment.

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Poem: Remembering

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 02:46:38 GMT

Trigger Warning: I wrote this as I was working on healing from being physically abused a couple of years ago.

Remembering is the most painful thing

How can you not remember something that left scars

How can you say let the past go, when it doesn’t seem to apply to you

Remembering is worse than these scars, because these scars fade away

But these memories are like a movie on replay

Every single day

Why I Created Mastering Progress

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 21:09:48 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

For 21 years I have been living in a whirlwind of pain. Some of it self inflicted, some of it due to mental disabilities and some of it laid on me from people in my life. After a while I began to pent up all this pain and it would manifest itself in forms of aggression and deliberate disobedience to anyone in authority and as I grew older I would target the pain towards people I loved and even myself.

Although I was constantly having a battle within myself, I always had the urge to help other people and make others happy. I was always the friend who loved to listen to others' problems and issues and try to give advice. That’s why at the end of my high school career I was feeling a pull towards creating something that could help others and create a support system in which they knew they were not the only ones going through these issues. Half the stories I heard I could relate to on so many levels. But I couldn't figure out how I wanted to approach operationalizing this burning feeling.

Fast forward to Junior year of college when I met my wonderful friend Annie Harriman the founder and CEO of OneBiteGlutenFree. She had just launched her business during our sophomore year and I was so inspired. I got to see first hand how she was turning what some may see as only a setback into something positive and enriching for others globally! Annie was the reason why I said it's time to make my own website.

So for the next few months I planned a lot and collaborated with a bunch of amazing people on interviews and articles and photoshoots. I pulled together journal entries and some creative writing pieces so that I could share my experiences with my audience authentically and straight from the heart! I did have a lot of back and forth with myself on whether or not I could even produce a great website and if I deserved to be creating it.

It has been a long time coming but I am proud to say I did it! Mastering Progress has come to fruition and I have big plans on growing this platform and myself. I hope all of you enjoy this journey as much as I will and that we can all grow together!

As always, keep thriving!

~ Moraya Ugwu

Maria Thompson

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:41:36 GMT

I was lucky enough to meet and befreind Maria and her wonderful puppy Leo last year. The whole time I have know her I have always been in awe of her strength and perseverance through all of her life experiences. I hope you enjoy reading about Maria’s life as much as I have enjoyed being apart of it!

Please explain your medical diagnosis and how you came to find out about it?

I have a number of really complex medical conditions. Most of which actually make the rare disease list and many don’t know about. I was mostly healthy through my childhood .... lots of sports injuries, minor stomach issues but healthy. However the summer of 2017 that all changed. I woke up one morning with mono for the second time. After that I had major stomach issues, wasn’t able to eat, started having heart rate and blood pressure issues and much more. After seeing drs all over the country I was diagnosed with; gastroparesis which means my stomach doesn’t empty properly, ehlors danlose ( a genetic connective tissue disorder), mast cell activation system ( pretty much my body is allergic to everything including itself) and pots syndrome ( which affects how your blood moves in the body and make the heart beat faster than necessary due to positional changes). All of these diagnoses have multiple symptoms that go with it that which Makes getting diagnosed difficult. Many doctors are dismissive especially ER doctors. This leads to major medical trauma and medical PTSD.

Why did you choose to get a service dog?

I originally wanted to get an emotional support animal that could come to college with me to ease the pain for being so far from home. However, as I got sicker he started doing some natural alerts. So we got him evaluated by a behavioral specialist. He passed with flying colors and we started the process of making him a service dog. He is a multipurpose service dog, but mostly medical alert.

What are some of the challenges you face training a service dog?

It’s definitely been a hard process. I feel like I bang my head against the wall a lot, but it is by far the most rewarding processes.

I think the hardest part is that people don’t understand he is mine and think I am training him for someone else which leads to them asking a lot of weird questions.

What/ who has been your best support system through the past few years?

My Mom is by far my biggest support system. She is always there for me no matter what. It’s supper hard to keep friends when you are chronically ill.

What are some of the positive experiences you have had on your journey?

I think the people I have met along the way that are going through the same things. It’s been great to get to help and mentor people.

What has been the hardest thing to overcome in your journey?

Not having friends to be around.

Tell us about the prom you hosted last year and do you plan on making it annual? Do you plan on hosting other events in 2020?

I hosted a hospital prom to bring to get her the chronically ill teen and young adult community. The biggest reason was because being chronically ill can be so incredibly isolating and you can miss many of the major life moments that so many take for granted. Yes I hope to host another one in the future! We just got a children’s hospital and they had reached out about hoping to collaborate in the future.

Any last comments:

I am working hard to advocate for the service dog community and change the opinions of people working in the medical field. I am hopefully pave the way for medical employees with service dogs.

Forms of Contact:

Email: m.l.thomson99@gmail.com

Instagram: @leoservicedoodle

CorinneTeans

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:41:34 GMT

My wonderful cousin has created a business based in her faith and her love for natural healing. Here is her story behind CorinneTeans and make sure you buy some after reading about it!

"CorinneTeaNs LLC was created to provide effective and tasty herbal blends for health and wellness. I named this company after myself, Corinne, with a reference to the book in the Bible, Corinthians. I realized that I had not yet seen a Christian-based tea business, and had my own difficulties finding the teas I wanted for different occasions. As a lover of teas, I have generated a growing repertoire of herbal blends for a variety of specific experiences, from an Openness and Awareness blend to a Joint and Muscle Pain herbal blend. The ultimate goals of CorinneTeaNs LLC are to provide people with all-natural wellness options and to help build awareness of the efficacy and utility of herbs for healing. As a physician scientist in training, I desire to see a shift in the use of natural medicines in clinical practice, as opposed to the prescription of synthesized medications. I hope to use this business as a catalyst to initiate meticulous and thorough research into the utility of herbal blends for health and wellness.

Thus far, CorinneTeaNs blends have provided a wonderful avenue for the education and expansion of natural means for healing. All CorinneTeaNs teas are 100% biodegradable, made with organic ingredients when available, and packaged in all-natural tea bags that do not contain plastic. You can access more information about CorinneTeaNs as well as an outline and description of all available herbal blends at corinneteans.etsy.com. For updates on sales and information about various herbs, follow @corinneteans on Instagram and Facebook."

One-Bite Gluten Free

masteringprogress@gmail.com (Moraya Ugwu) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:41:32 GMT

I met Annie Harriman my sophmore year of college and she has been a role model and confidant since then. She has been one of my main support systems in creating Mastering Progress and I was so excited to have the opportunity to learn more about her platform, OneBiteGlutenFree.

Share with us your diagnosis story:

When I was a junior in high school, I got really sick. Prior to this, I was in fantastic shape and had just finished my first ride with the Pan-Mass Challenge. I went from working out every single day to unable to do anything, at all, even go to school. I eventually found out I had mono and was sick for months. I kept going back to the doctor because my body wouldn’t heal, and they kept telling me it was just a post-viral syndrome. When I finally convinced my doctor to test me for lupus, the blood test came back positive. After three years, dozens of visits with specialists, a couple ambulance rides, and plenty of missed school, I was finally diagnosed with celiac disease.

What is the most annoying thing you have endured with celiac disease?

People who don’t take it seriously or equate it to a “diet” that I choose.

What is the most common misconception about being gluten-free?/ What would you like people to know about celiac disease?

The most common misconception about being gluten-free is that it’s a choice. Gluten-free diets have been on the rise in recent years, which is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it creates more options and companies capitalize on the market for gluten-free options. On the other, it makes people take it less seriously in restaurants, etc - for every person with celiac disease there are several who are gluten-free by choice, and restaurants start to take it less seriously.

What inspired you to create One Bite Gluten-Free?

I’ve always loved to write, and have always thought about starting a blog, but never thought I had much to write about. After meeting my boyfriend, I became particularly inspired to start a blog - as a sort of side hustle, but also a place to educate others and share my story. We had talked about it for a while, but never did anything with it. On a trip to San Diego, my boyfriend and I came up with the name, came home, bought the domain, and the rest is history!

What are your future plans with One Bite Gluten-Free?

Hopefully, a podcast in the near future! I have tons of future plans for OBGF, which include everything from educating restaurants, to a podcast… to bigger businesses down the line. Can’t share too much! ;)

How do you plan and further grow and be a positive influence on the gluten-free community?

Breaking into spaces where people hang out - for example, the podcast space. It’s huge right now, and its the one platform where you don’t require your audience’s complete attention. I plan on releasing other educational products in the near future, to make a difference in the restaurant business and the problems there are with how celiac disease is perceived.

What are some things you are passionate about besides being a resource to the celiac community?

Health in general! If you scroll through my Instagram page, you see a whole lot of junk food, but that’s not an accurate perception of my life. While I love finding the best gluten-free restaurants, my day to day diet is wayyy more plant-based and balanced than nachos and fried foods (lol!). I love spin, cycling, yoga, music… travel, podcasts, reading, writing - I have lots of passions!

Any last comments:

Thank you Mastering Progress for interviewing me - looking forward to lots of great content:)

Forms of Contact:

Check out my blog: onebiteglutenfree.com , and instagram: onebiteglutenfree

With specific inquiries or questions, annie@onebitegf.com

D Athletics

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 15:54:04 GMT

Here is what Devin Pimenta, my personal trainer has to say about health and fitness:

"Many people believe fitness is just a physical activity that you have to go and do at the gym. However, it is more than just that. You are challenging both your body and mind when exercising. Fitness is physically and mentally beneficial to our overall health, it helps to keep our joints and muscles strong, as well as keeping our minds clear by reducing stress. Exercising has shown to aid in reducing anxiety and depression, in addition to assisting with aging. The most common reason more people say they can’t go to the gym is because “they don’t have enough time”, in reality everyone has the time. Working out doesn’t need to be long or complicated, 30 minutes a day and it doesn’t need to be at the gym. Whether its before work or school, lunch, or at night it's crucial to incorporate exercise into your daily life. No weights or machines needed. There are so many ways to build a better you, it is one of the reasons I fell in love with training, by helping people grow. At D Athletics we build programs around each and every person to ensure that every goal is achieved and within that goal a new one created. So really ask yourself the question, what's stopping you from making your health goals a reality?"

If you want Devin to train you and give you some tips and trick on how to stay healthy and fit check him out on Instagram @dev_pimenta or email him at D.athletics19@gmail.com!