Hello again! It’s hard to believe that 2020 is halfway over. I know this year has been a wild ride already, but just think of the back half of the year as a blank canvas. We never could have predicted we’d be living through a global pandemic, the largest Civil Rights Movement since the 1960s, and navigating the politics and all that comes with an election year. There’s a lot going on and if you are not okay…that’s okay. It’s important to recognize the need to rest, recharge, and take care of yourself too amidst the chaos.
I thought it would be fun to do a quick rundown of some of my recent favorite things. This list is very random and ranges from beauty to books to racial justice resources with some Netflix sprinkled in between. My hope is you might find something helpful or find feedback on a product or book you’ve been meaning to check out. Enjoy!
A few good favorites, from beauty to books
Summer Skincare Favorites From Beautycounter
The perk of endlessly working from home and never leaving the house? Make-up free, skincare heavy days! This summer I’ve traded foundation for serums and daily moisturizers and my skin is forever thankful. A favorite of mine recently is the All Bright C Serum from Beautycounter. It’s glow in a bottle, seriously!
Anti-Racism Reading and Educating
I have been intentional about seeking out anti-racism reading materials, e-courses, and other ways to continue my education in being an ally. Here are a few favorite resources:
Rachel Cargle’s 30 Day, “Do the Work” Course: a free e-course on how to become a better ally to the black community, and black women specifically
Anti-Racism Daily: a daily newsletter focusing on a different topic to help educate, spread awareness, and provide anti-racism resources daily
White Fragility: This book written by anti-racist educator Robin DiAngelo unpacks the term white fragility. DiAngelo helps explain why racism and the concept of race are uncomfortable for White people to discuss, she also educates on why racism is more present than white people realize and it is as simple as good vs bad people. If you are white, or non-person of color and you’ve ever thought “I’m not racist,” or talk of race makes you the slightest bit squirmish, I highly suggest picking this one up, it was very eye opening.
The Color of Compromise: A book and video series by Jemar Tisby, a Christian historian. Tisby leads you from slavery, the Civil War, Civil Rights Movement, and present-day and provides insight into how the Church has been complicit in racism and oppression. Tisby also provides a path forward, for how Christians can work to reconcile.
The Big Flower Fight – Netflix
Ever just need to throw something on the TV and not have to think about what you’re watching? I’ve had a lot of those days lately, and The Big Flower Fight on Netflix is the perfect (and pretty) escape.
At-home manis with Olive & June
I used to loathe doing my nails at home, but being forced to do so made me seek out a solution, alas Olive & June – thank you for making my at-home manis easy, long-lasting, and fun! I have the Everything Box, which comes with everything you need to do an at-home manicure. The Poppy grip handle makes it so easy to paint your own nails, and the cuticle oil is a lifesaver!
Getting involved with “politics”
I used to be one to keep most of my opinions to myself, but now it’s no longer a “politics” issue, it’s a life issue and I knew I needed to do more. So, I started by signing up with Vote Save America. With VSA you can adopt a state and join in at home volunteer opportunities to help swing voters in these critical states. I’ve also gotten involved with some local activist organizations and am helping to distribute and fill out postcards for campaigns that are working to elect a more progressive ballot. My point here is, don’t think that “politics,” isn’t for you and you shouldn’t care. And, it’s easy to get involved right from home! I knew virtually nothing about this work, but I jumped right in and it feels great to know I can make a difference.
Supporting Black-Owned Bookshops
As I look for new books on whether to educate myself or fiction read for leisure, I have been shopping from black-owned indi bookshops. This is a great list of black-owned bookshops whom you can order online!
That’s a wrap (for now)! I hope you’ve enjoyed this random list of favorites I’m digging lately. If you have tried any of these or plan to, I’d love to hear what you think!
