Pretty Busy Weekly, 07.06.20

It’s been pretty quiet over here for the last week- Chris and I headed out to the shore kind of indefinitely for the summer. I took some real time off from doing pretty much anything other than reading, and spending time with family, and it has been relaxing and necessary. Here’s what’s been keeping me not so busy this last week…

Chris and I have become addicted to The Chef Show on Netflix. We have always loved cooking shows, but John Favreau and Chef Roy Choi, who made the movie, Chef, have teamed up to the dive deeper into the technical skills and necessary passion for cooking like a chef. Highly recommend you start with the Wolfgang Puck episode- you’ll likely leave wanting a French omelet and a good steak.

I’ve decided I hate the label, “book club.” But last week, I started my summer reading circles with my colleagues- one of which I am hosting- to work through some anti-racist literature about education. We are reading Pushout and Teaching Community. Both were super fulfilling, and left me feeling so much gratitude for the community I work in. I highly recommend trying to find a group to read and discuss anti-racist literature with to help build perspective, accountability, and community. This is an important piece of the work you can do from anywhere over Zoom.

I also spent some time reading fiction, and read two great beach reads last week. I have loved Jasmine Guillory’s books for a while, but if you’re looking to bring some diversity to the rom-com genre, I recommend diving into one of her books. She is a Black author, and I loved her most recent book- Party of Two– about a Black lawyer who falls for a white politician.

Another pick for beach reads would be, One To Watch. This one is the story of a plus-size blogger who takes on the challenge of finding genuine love in the superficial world of reality television. She essentially becomes the bachelorette, faces a ton of fat-shaming and public criticism, and figures out what’s really preventing her from her own happiness. I thought it was a tad long, but ultimately, I thought it was a good read that goes beyond the superficial realm of the regular rom-com fiction world.

I recently saw that Grace Atwood (one of the white bloggers who I think is doing a better job with transparency and continued anti-racist work on her platform) talked about a a daily anti-racism newsletter she subscribed to. I decided to subscribe, and I have been grateful for the daily reminders and knowledge that this newsletter provides for sustaining the work of understanding systemic racism and dismantling white supremacy. You can also donate to the author to keep her community and work going.

I took a lot of long walks this past week to get my exercise in (kind of sad without my Peloton, tbh, but I know there’s probably a couple of you rolling your eyes at this), and got the chance to catch up on some podcasts. I loved this episode of Bad on Paper– they talk to Black creative influencer, Ayana Lage, about the racism and anti-racist work happening on social media, the surge in her following over the last month, and how she believes white people can authentically engage with Black creators online.

After sweating pretty profusely in my masks over the last week, I am finally experiencing some of that beautiful breakout rash around my mouth. So I wanted to try out a new mask that might absorb the moisture of sweat and spit (yum) better. I ordered a couple of these masks made out of a swimsuit material for Chris and I, and am currently coveting this silk mask that comes with filters. Who would have thought 2020 would be about safety and fashion?

Last week I talked about an order I placed to try some Briogeo hair products- a Black-owned hair care company. Well, I tried the Farewell Frizz heat protectant cream, and WOW I am impressed. Not only did it give a smooth and soft finish without that product-y feeling, but it actually prevented my hair from frizzing in the summer humidity after I blew it out this weekend. Highly recommend.

A friend convinced me to try to the SKIMS wireless bandeau bra. I ordered it in nude, and it’s coming this week hopefully, so I will keep you posted. She said great things, and I was shocked by the number of insanely positive reviews from larger chested women. I’ll give it a go and let you know. Also went on the waitlist for this loungewear, because I just love the vibe of the shorts for summer sleeping.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a quick and simple delicious summer dish, you have to try this cucumber, watermelon and feta salad. It took no time at all to make, and has only a few ingredients, but packs a lot of flavor. We added fresh mint from our garden instead of basil, as well as a touch of honey. Definitely makes a great side dish for some grilled chicken, cheeseburgers, or something with more Mediterranean flavors.

Hope you are all staying safe and hydrated as we enter July. I can’t believe it’s been four months since I started working from home. I’ve gained a lot of perspective over the last few weeks, and I’m looking forward to sharing and growing with you all. Stay pretty busy!