Pretty Busy Weekly, 06.15.20

I didn’t write a weekly post last week, because last week was about learning, unlearning, reflection and action planning. For me, as an educator, I spent most of the last two weeks listening to my students and my colleagues about where we need to implement changes in our communities, and starting that work. And truthfully, it has been powerful on a spiritual and an intellectual level.

I’ve been working through a couple of texts and podcast, but am working with sustainability and longevity in mind by trying to shift my lens in all aspects of my life. It’s been humbling, and it’s also been rewarding to see the changes that are being made with this work on so many levels.

I hope we never go back to “normal.” I hope we consider to see the needs of Black people put in the forefront, and for White and non-Black people of color to develop more critical consciousness of the systems in which we all participate, from my role as a public educator, to my love of beauty and fashion that I showcase on this blog. I think we are starting to understand how every system is impacting the racism in our world.

Chris and I decided to move down to our family home on the shore this week, and stay out here for a little bit to be able to have some space and fresh air. A change of scenery has been nice, and so has the fresh ocean air- my favorite place besides Brooklyn.

I wanted to recap the some of the things that I have been inspired by over the last few weeks, including some new voices and products I am engaging with.

I’m really interested in watching fashion and beauty brands are being transparent about the work that they need to do in regards to diversity. I am following @pullupforchange to see the brands that are coming forward daily to show where they stand and where they hope to go so I can guide my own consumerism.

I did a bit of an Instagram reflection, and took stock of who I was following and what voices were missing. I want to be more critical of the voices of I am following, and what they offer to my perspective. A couple of new voices that I am following:

• @allthehealthythings for all things whole and balanced in nutrition- her feed is gorgeous, and is leaving me in a perpetual state of hunger. I can’t wait to try some of her recipes, especially since I am now at the shore with access to a grill. First up, her chicken enchilada skillet.
• @_happygocurly_ for some perspective and authenticity- I really love the way she engages with her platform, and keeps it real to herself while talking with her audience on stories. Her style is sporty, casual and budget-balanced, and her knowledge as a certified nurse midwife in her weekly Wednesday conversations shed light on issues of access in healthcare.
• @fitfatandallthat for her balance of activism and fashion- I often look for influencers that have bodies that look like my own, and I love her style, commentary and overall aesthetic, in combination with using her platform to discuss White privilege and oppression of female bodies. Her photo captions are everything.
• @graceatwood for taking ownership of her privilege and platform as a White woman influencer. She is doing the work in a non-performative way, while also highlighting Black brands and showing her accountability journey as she learns. I also ended up buying this LuvScrub on her recommendation, and am very much looking forward to getting it this week.

A big part of my days right now is exercise, and as you know, I love my Peloton workouts. This week, the programming was incredible, with our Black leaders highlighting the work that needs to be done in their instruction. Tunde’s Speak Up ride, Alex Toussaint and Tunde’s Black History Month ride, and Ally Love’s Feel Good Ride were physically and emotionally challenging for me this week.

I finally finished a book this week- The Knockout Queen– which I highlighted in my Spring Reads. My take on this one was completely wrong, but I did really love it. It’s much less teenage romance then I understood, instead, highlighting the bond and love between two teenagers who feel like they are living life alone on the outside. Definitely recommend.

My favorite recipe of the week would definitely be this spicy bulgogi chicken with garlic butter corn. Did I think I would like the addition of corn with these Korean flavors? No, but I really loved it, and it’s a great dish for summer’s corn season. I couldn’t find gochujang, so I subbed Thai Kitchens red chili paste. She also made a homemade goldfish recipe which I am tempted to try, because, why not?

If you’re looking for summer vibes in your meal prep for this week, definitely check out this recipe from one of my absolute favorites for paleo fish tacos– yum. Instead of a beer batter, she makes it using Topo Chico, which is a delicacy in and of itself. I am very desperate to try this one out ASAP.

I also decided to finally dive into the Tula skincare line this week, because the idea of a cooling eye balm just sounded so wonderful after weeks of an eye spasm that won’t go away with all of this screen time and allergies. I bought this and really do like it so far, as well as these face masks which I am looking forward to try tonight for a little me-time.

I’ll be patiently awaiting some online shopping orders from this week, including a new pair of bike shorts from Everlane. If you haven’t tried their perform leggings, you are seriously missing out. These are the same fabric, and I got them in this gorgeous copper color. I wear a size large.

And I’m looking forward to a couple of new picks from Aerie, including this bikini I featured in my Memorial Day shopping, as well as these cute floral summer shorts.

Also, if you didn’t shop this amazing sale from TATCHA, check out my Skincare Series to understand why I am so pumped for mine to arrive this week. This is probably my favorite skincare line, and this deal is basically getting three products for free. If you’re on a budget, this is a great way to try TATCHA, because you can put these products on easy pay and pay as you use them over the course of a few months.

This week will be a pretty busy one for sure, with lots of graduate work on the agenda for me. I hope you continue to learn and be inspired, and are reminded that this moment in our history is not only now, but a movement that needs to continue on. Take care of yourselves as you stay pretty busy this week!