Take What You Want (Except For My Closet) But Leave My Candles & Plants
As a fairly new plant mom, I’ve come to realize that few things in the world bring me as much joy as my candles and my plants. Now, I know the title of this piece says “except for my closet”, and that’s because my clothes and shoes are the greatest expressions of my spirit and […]
It’s Women’s Month Every Month So Let’s Celebrate Us Everyday: Starting With My Mom
With all the talk of Women’s History month, I’m constantly being reminded that Black women make the world go ‘round. Whether in the world of politics or entertainment, we hold on down for us and, meanwhile, everyone else gets to reap the benefits. Black women are Women’s History in all that we’ve endured and accomplished. And I can’t […]
Here’s How Putting Myself First & Being Present Helped Me “Reclaim” My Sexuality
Nine months prior to turning 28, I was living with my cousin-roommate in the Bay Area and working for a healthcare agency in a role that was slowly, but surely, draining my soul. It had been three years since I graduated from grad school and, while I was grateful for this new set of circumstances, […]
Is It a Connection…or Is It Co-Dependency? How I Learned To Foster Healthy Romantic Boundaries
So much of what we think we know about love and relationships is a blend of what we grew up seeing and hearing. Whether we want a fairytale ending or something a little less orthodox, it’s what we’ve observed that informs our wants and needs. I grew up watching my parents love each other through […]
How My Bedroom Became My Sanctuary
My obsession with decor began when I was a little girl growing up in my parent’s house and helping my mom re-arrange furniture every other weekend. At the time, I wasn’t very fond of the activity; but the more I did it, the better of an eye I developed for it. Soon it was no […]
Tina Turner’s Freedom Of Expression Taught Me And The Black Women In My Life To Be Unapologetic
So I was scrolling through my Twitter feed — as I typically do when I wake up in the morning — and I came across an update in my notifications. “Tina Turner among artists being considered for induction into the Rock & Roll hall of Fame”. I was flabbergasted. I couldn’t even take the moment in because, in my mind, […]
Where I’m Going First When Outside Opens Back Up
The first time that I ever traveled was for my second grade class trip to Sacramento, CA. I remember getting to the airport and feeling so tiny standing near baggage claim — but also extremely curious about everything around me. Around that time is also when I first started to notice the excitement my Dad felt whenever […]
An Ode To My Pisces-ness: How My Zodiac Sign Taught Me To No Longer Be Ashamed Of My Sensitivity
Between Co-Star and Cafe Astrology, I’ve learned so much about zodiac signs over the past year. I’ve always been curious about astrology particularly when I’d hear people regularly discussing the signs. But it was around the end of elementary school and the beginning of junior high when I first began hearing people say things like “well, I’m (this […]
Consent: Why We Need It & Why Asking For It Needs To Be Normalized
If this is one of the first times that you’re reading the phrase “normalize consent”, then it may sound like a foreign concept. “Normalizing” something requires that we think about it often, talk about it openly and do it every chance that we get. “Consent” requires us to consider permissions, what’s legal vs. illegal and, […]
Social Media, Sexual Content & What the “Crackdown” Is Getting Wrong, According To Black Women
Social media is cracking down on sexual content, again, leaving sex educators and sex workers out in the cold.