It’s been awhile since we last spoke, and I hope you missed me in your inbox the way I missed you. This week, I’m excited to release a fun little project that I started - five questions with my friends.
I have some really cool, smart, and creative friends who have cool ventures like newsletters, creative projects, and small businesses. Being that I have this newsletter, I wanted to use this space as a platform to highlight some of the things they have going on.
First up is my friend Alisa. I met Alisa many years ago at one of my first jobs post college. We were on the Communications team together, and I always thought she was so cool - she was the first person I had seen with a French press at their desk, and she always wore cool lipstick. She helped me become a better writer (I was good for a comma splice - still sometimes because I technically talk in run on sentences) and taught me how to create newsletters (helpful shere apparently).
She launched her brand VLY GRL a few years ago (the pin above is one of her designs), and has now taken the brand further with the launch of a zine series and more. Read more about her below, and find ways to connect with her + check out VLY GRL!
If you really can’t bear being in the position you’re in, really plan your future out. Figure out what job/career you want. Make a vision board. Research the hell out of every variable. Research the hell out of every variable. Calculate your monthly expenses, figure out how long it will take to get you there, and make the time to do the work. Stick with it, and don't be afraid to fail or make mistakes.
It's a huge investment and it's a lot of hard work, but your happiness is totally worth it. Just be smart about it.
Things I listened to:
I’ve been slowly getting back into my podcast routine and as of late two of my favorites have been Babyface’s episode on The Questlove Supreme podcast, and Kevin Hart’s interview with Oprah on Super Soul Conversations. I loved hearing about Babyface’s journey, touring with Luther Vandross, and why Brandy is one of his favorite singers to work with.
Am I the only one puzzled by Alicia Keys’ new song “Perfect Way to Die?”
I can’t get over how good John Legend’s new album Bigger Love is but it’s so good. He’s been one of my favorites for a while but this album just feels good from the “The Next Episode” sampled “Actions”all the way to the Jhene featured “U Move, I Move.” GOLD STAR FOR JOHN!
Loving the new albums Women in Music Pt. III from my favorite sister trio Haim, and What’s Your Pleasure from Jessie Ware. It seems like they both took forever to release a new album - and I’m hype for both. I LOVE the booty call anthem “3 am” on the Haim album - they call it this not me. Also, I love the feeling I get from Jessie’s album. This album gives me all the Vanity, Girl 6 vibes I need. I feel like I need on Spandex Biker Shorts and need to do isolations with my body the way they used to do on Soul Train or in the Do The Right Thing intro like Rosie Perez.
Love the new Lianne La Havas baby EP Weird Fishes. Her new album is less than a month away - and I can’t wait. I’ll spare you my story about hanging out with her one time during Afropunk weekend, but will say, I can’t wait for her album and her digital concert.
Since Lianne is releasing a new album, I’m still blowing a flag in the air for a new Corinne Bailey Rae album by February 2021. THANK YOU, BLESS ME.
Also, if you’re in the mood for a playlist, I’ve been updating my Summer Vibes playlist. Follow it!
Things I Watched:
This will be kind of short but here are a few things that I watched that I suggest you tune into: the new season of The Chi - it’s already pulling at my heart, Taste the Nation with Padama Lakshmi, and I May Destroy You on HBO.
I watched this video about the new email tool HEY, and got an account. I wish I could have got Erin but I guess my name is simple.
Things I Read:
Speaking of the show “I May Destroy You” here’s an interesting article about the show.
Did you know there was a planner community or sub-culture as I like to call it? Well, I didn’t and I feel left out because I’ve definitely been making it rain on them for decades. Well one of the leaders of the planner community, Erin Condren, has been canceled. Read about why she was canceled: hint racially insensitive and sis can’t read the room or apparently social media. You can watch this too - this girl does pretty interesting videos.
Interesting read on the economic insecurity of black women being the breadwinner and how Insecure let black women let their hair just do its thing - still be gone CONDOLA in these parts.
Joy to the world. The barbershops are back open.
Sometimes I talk about Lebron James. Typically though this only happens when he is playing The Warriors. He travels a lot, but I guess it doesn’t matter now that he has a hefty, hefty bag (I laughed - get it travel, and travel in basketball? I used to be a rapper, come back for my mixtape at some point). Really excited to see how this plays out and I want to work for the media company.
I found this article to be super interesting on what being a plant parent means for latinx millennials. It says that it isn’t about privilege or aesthetics, it’s about identity and necessity.
While we can’t stop the pollution from trains, planes, and cars in our [urban] neighborhoods, we can take small steps like growing plants in our yards and homes.
That’s it for this week. I’m going to channel my inner Beyonce and be great, beautiful, always find my light, and always be on beat.