9 Signs He Might Be The One
There's nothing like that interesting space in a relationship where you could see yourself falling for a guy.
On one hand, it's an exciting time – butterflies and ice cream dates make it easy to envision the relationship going places. And on the other, we are a little nervous about the investment. What if he turns out like the others? What if it doesn't work out? Is he really the one?
Here's a checklist that can help you determine whether your latest love interest is Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now.
1.He Claims You
In a world where long-term situationships are common place, it's refreshing when a man is clear about being in a committed relationship with you.
If he doesn't hesitate to introduce you as the one, there's a good chance he's invested in making it work.
Pay attention to whether he brags about you to friends, family, and coworkers. A genuine, "I've heard so much about you," is always a good sign.
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Featured image by Shutterstock
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Kandice Guice is a lifestyle and beauty writer who doubles as an attorney and entrepreneur. She prides herself on helping multidimensional women discover personal and professional fulfillment by encouraging them to live with ambition, sass, and a whole lot of pizzazz. When Kandice isn't closing corporate transactions or writing blog posts, she is usually cheering on her husband as a football coach or looking for new travel adventures with friends and family. Check her out at kandiceguice.com and follow her on all things social @kandiceguice.
The Reality Of Living With Severe Asthma – As Told by 2 Women On Their Disease Journey
This post is in partnership with Amgen.
The seemingly simple task of taking a breath is something most of us don’t think twice about. But for people who live with severe asthma, breathing does not always come easily. Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition that inflames and narrows the airways in the lungs, affects millions of people worldwide – 5-10% of which live with severe asthma. Severe asthma is a chronic and lifelong condition that is unpredictable and can be difficult to manage. Though often invisible to the rest of the world, severe asthma is a not-so-silent companion for those who live with it, often interrupting schedules and impacting day-to-day life.
Among the many individuals who battle severe asthma, Black women face a unique set of challenges. It's not uncommon for us to go years without a proper diagnosis, and finding the right treatment often requires some trial and error. Thankfully, all hope is not lost for those who may be fighting to get their severe asthma under control. We spoke with Juanita Brown Ingram, Esq. and Jania Watson, two inspiring Black women who have been living with severe asthma and have found strength, resilience, and a sense of purpose in their journeys.
Juanita Brown Ingram, Esq.
Juanita Ingram has a resume that would make anyone’s jaw drop. On top of being recently crowned Mrs. Universe, she’s also an accomplished attorney, filmmaker, and philanthropist. From the outside, it seems there’s nothing this talented woman won’t try, and likely succeed at. In her everyday life, however, Juanita exercises a lot more caution. From a young age, Juanita has struggled with severe asthma. Her symptoms were always exacerbated by common illnesses like a cold or flu. “I've heard these stories of my breathing struggles, but I remember distinctly when I was younger not being able to breathe every time I got a virus,” says Ingram. “I remember missing a lot of school and crying a lot because asthma is painful. I [was taken] to see my doctor often if I got sick with anything so I was hypervigilant as a child, and I still am.”
Today, Juanita says her symptoms are best managed when she’s working closely with her care team, avoiding getting sick and staying ahead of any symptoms. Ingram said she’s been blessed with skilled doctors who are just as vigilant of her symptoms as she is. While competing in the Mrs. Universe competition, Juanita took extra care to stay clear of other competitors to ensure she didn’t catch a cold or virus that would trigger her severe asthma. “I would stand off to the side and sometimes that could be taken as ‘oh, she thinks she's better than everybody else.’ But if I get sick during a pageant, I'm done. I had to compete with that in mind because my sickness doesn't look like everybody else's sickness.”
Even when her symptoms are under control, living with severe asthma still presents challenges. Juanita relies on her strong support system to overcome the hurdles caused by a lack of understanding from the public, “I think that there's a lot of lack of awareness about how serious severe asthma is. I would [also] tell women to advocate and to trust their intuition and not to allow someone to dismiss what you're experiencing.”
Jania Watson
Jania, a content creator from Atlanta, Georgia, has been living with severe asthma for many years. Thanks to early testing by asthma specialists, Jania was diagnosed with severe asthma as a child after experiencing frequent flare-ups and challenges in her day-to-day life. “I specifically remember, I was starting school, and we were moving into a new house. One of the triggers for me and my younger sister at the time were certain types of carpets. We had just moved into this new house and within weeks of us being there, my parents literally had to pay for all new carpet in the house.”
As Jania grew older, she was suffering from fewer flare-ups and thought her asthma was well under control. However, a trip back to her doctor during high school revealed that her severe asthma was affecting her more than she realized. “That was the first time in a long time I had to do a breathing test,” she describes. “The doctor had me take a deep breath in and blow into a machine to test my breathing. They told me to blow as hard as I could. And I was doing it. I was giving everything I got. [My dad and the doctor] were looking at me like ‘girl, stop playing.’ And at that point [it confirmed] I still have severe asthma because I've given it all I got. It doesn't really go away, but I just learned how to help manage it better.”
Jania recognizes that people who aren’t living with asthma, may not understand the disease and mistake it for something less serious. Or there could be others who think their symptoms are minor, and not worth bringing up. So, for Jania, communicating with others about her diagnosis is key. “Having severe asthma [flare-ups] in some cases looks very similar to being out of shape,” she said. “But this is a chronic illness that I was born with. This is just something that I live with that I've been dealing with. And I think it's important for people to know because that determines the next steps. [They might ask] ‘Do you need a bottle of water, or do you need an inhaler? Do you need to take a break, or do we need to take you to the hospital?’ So, I think letting the people around you know what's going on, just in case anything were to happen plays a lot into it as well.”
Like Juanita, Jania’s journey has been marked by ups and downs, but she remains an unwavering advocate for asthma awareness and support within the Black community. She hopes that her story can be an inspiration to other women with asthma who may not yet have their symptoms under control. “There's still life to be lived outside of having severe asthma. It is always going to be there, but it's not meant to stop you from living your life. That’s why learning how to manage it and also having that support system around you, is so important.”
By sharing their journeys, Juanita and Jania hope to encourage others to embrace their conditions, obtain a proper management plan from a doctor or asthma specialist like a pulmonologist or allergist, and contribute to the improvement of asthma awareness and support, not only within the Black community, but for all individuals living with severe asthma.
Read more stories from others like Juanita and Jania on Amgen.com, or visit Uncontrolled Asthma In Black Women | BREAK THE CYCLE to find support and resources.
Style Inspo Alert: How Sasha Obama Slays The Earthy Black Girl Aesthetic
The fashion world can be a quick turn with an endless carousel of “trends,” often leaving many to feel more branded than personal when discussing their style. And that’s why many of us love nothing more than a person rooted in their own individual style, such as Sasha Obama - a recent graduate of USC and former President Obama’s youngest daughter.
Famously private and often captured with their famous parents, Sasha and Malia have made a name for themselves on the style streets, respective of each other. The less preppy of the stylish duo, Sasha Obama, is blazing a style run for the president of the earthy girl aesthetic. She’s been a pioneer for Gen Z since 2009 as the first white house resident to be born in the 21st century.
This trend is reminiscent of its 70s counterpart, but the girls are elevating it with a modern twist.
An Earthy Girl in a 21st Century World
@thewomanwhosingsnpaints Who else? #sashaobama #earthyblackgirl #bohofashion
Let’s take a step back and reevaluate what it means to be an earthy girl of the 21st century. This aesthetic relies on other sensory cues than just visual ones; it’s embodied in each of the five senses. It sounds like birds singing a sweet melody on a dewy morning, a soft vocal against an ascending guitar string, or the innocent whisper of ancient trees swishing in the wind. It feels like digging your toes in the fresh white sand, a ray of sunshine on your face during a dark day, or the comfortable cocoon of self-love. It smells of vanilla oils and dimly lit candles in the distance, everything wonderful that Mother Nature has to offer. This aesthetic is more than a trend on an app; it’s a lifestyle, hun.
Although there are strong elements of softness throughout the earthy girl aesthetic, it is as far from quiet luxury as possible. An ode to ease, sensibility, and mother nature are the key components in mastering this trend. Oh, and jewelry. A plethora of mixed metals and succulent gems, to be exact. The more, the better. It’s less seasonal and more intentional, incorporating more textures, prints, and layers than other style genres.
While this often gets confused with “boho chic,” taking a closer glance at the origins of the lifestyle will point out the key differences. Boho chic was founded as a counterculture following the French Revolution, whereas this style stands alone. It’s more concentrated on incorporating certain tones, hues, and fabrics to create a soft but grounded life. This style embraces form-fitting silhouettes as opposed to the key element of boho chic, the lampshade tunic.
If you find yourself wanting to tap into your inner earthy girl this season or simply want to incorporate more earthy elements into your everyday wardrobe, keep reading.
It's Giving Body: Form-Fitting Silhouettes
If the earth girl style aesthetic is nothing else, it’s going to exude sex appeal due to its founding principle of a romance with mother nature.
By reaching for form-fitting fabrics with hints of lace, fringe, or any sort of light texture, one is easily and infinitely closer to mastering this style.
Mid-to-Low Rise Pants
It’s time to retire those high-rise and opt for something with a looser fit, like mid or low-rise trousers. Even though it’s a comeback trend for Gen Z, this is a staple item for a tried and true earthy girl. The lady-like drape of the trousers is a strong element represented in all aspects of the aesthetic.
Maxi-Length
@michelleobamaofficialfp #foryoupage #Ijustlove#sasha_obama #bohochicstyle #abeautifulandsimplequeen #inherownskin #barackobama #everybodylovesmichelleobama #tiktokusa #jamaicantiker #smarttiktoks
Floor-sweeping skirts and dresses can be a noticeable way to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe. If approached correctly, this length can be sensual and alluring, especially when accompanied by an above-the-knee split or delicate cropped top.
Oversized and Open Layers
For any colder climates, additional layers are needed, but that doesn’t mean the rules are neglected. If denim suffices, opt for an oversized version to accentuate the form-fitting pieces. If you need something warmer, any oversized knitted or wool item would add the cuddliest bow to your perfect outfit.
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Featured image by Barack Obama/Instagram