Hi there!
This is long overdue, I think it’s been about a month since the last newsletter? So much in the world is happening that I honestly have just been feeling overwhelmed. I didn’t start feeling like myself again until maybe the end of last week. I was already struggling to find some normalcy within this pandemic and still being out of work and then the killing of George Floyd happened and the anger I felt and tears I have shed over him and his life and also over every single one of my fellow black brothers and sisters who’s life was untimely taken due to racism/police brutality. There has been a lot of crying over these past few weeks guys. I had to stop watching the news because I would just ball my eyes out. I think the best thing to come from all of this injustice has been the protesting. I am beyond proud that so many people from all walks of life especially white people have been hitting the pavement to march for black lives and equality. I am so proud of my friends who have protested. I haven’t had the chance to yet and I am really bothered by that fact but I also know that my support isn’t only determined by how many protest I attend. I have donated to a few organizations and will continue to as much as I can.
I am a black women in this country, this is a fight I fight everyday. When you are black you are constantly reminded that you are black. I have had my fair share of light skin/mixed girl privilege which I am aware of but lets not get it twisted I am a black women and I am so proud of that fact and would never not want to be black. But to be honest there was a time when I couldn’t say that confidently. I grew up in mostly white areas and went to predominately white schools my whole life. I used to try to fit in with them or hide my blackness around them, dismiss it a little. I think also with being younger your identity is so shaky already, or at least mine was and it really wasn’t until I became more confident in who I am as a person that I also became confident in my blackness regardless of who I was around. I sometimes still get anxiety walking into a place and seeing I am the only person of color. Or even with living in a mostly white area and apartment building and sometimes getting awkward glances from my neighbors. I notice everything to a fault at times. I have had to develop a tough skin over the years to not be enormously affected by it on a daily but some days it’s hard no matter what. Hopefully things really are starting to change in this crazy crazy world, I am hopeful.
Candles Make me Happy
I have always loved candles especially scented ones and I have come across a select few scented candles that I would deem amazing and would buy regularly.
Meyer’s Clean Day Basil scented soy candle is one of em! You’re welcome.
I used to go to brunch like every other Sunday with friends at my go to spot Barbrix in Silver Lake. Barbrix is like a dream come true to be honest, at the time they had bottomless mimosas for a whopping 8 bucks, like what?? …in LA?? It was like going to Disneyland for me and my friends. Of course with drinking comes peeing and so after about 2 or 3 mimosas in I would scurry to the restroom and as soon as the door opened this intoxicating scent would greet me. I would sit tipsily on the toilet basking in the smell from the candle that was burning on a little table in front of me. I am pretty sure that after my first time going to Barbrix is when I jotted down the candles info but I never went online to buy it for some unknown reason and eventually forgot about it altogether. It wasn’t until recently (two weeks ago) while shopping at Whole Foods that I saw the candle! I immediately tossed it in my basket and lit it as soon as I got home and I have now stocked up completely and there is one burning pretty much at all times.
It makes me feel like I am at brunch on a beautiful day in LA.