Recommended Reading | Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown

Rhythm & Muse, by India Hill Brown is described as "Cinderella meets Cyrano" in this pitch-perfect YA rom-com that is a celebration of Black joy, first crushes, and putting your heart on the line for love.

When a daydreamer falls for someone, it happens first in his head. Then, unfolds in a perfectly synchronized rhythm, if timed correctly. The only downside to this proverbial falling, is that the daydreamer may trip and fall with nothing substantial to catch him, if he doesn't wake up from his daydream. That's been the case for me and many other daydreamers I know. And I'm pretty sure Darren, our MC, can attest to this.

Rhythm and Muse by India Hill Brown introduces us to high-school overall good kid, Darren. Darren checks all the good-guy boxes and never colors outsides the lines. He thinks before he speaks or reacts, and often overthinks so much, he misses the opportunity to take action. But the thought of trying on a "love thang" with his crush Dillie D has him stepping outside his comfort zone in ways he wouldn't have imagined before.

Meet Delia, aka Dillie D, according to her podcast listeners. Delia is a free-spirited young woman who knows what she wants and doesn't hold her tongue when it comes to expressing those wants. She hosts a podcasts most teens & college students in the local area tune into each week without fail. But one thing that seems to elude her is that connection from a special someone, since her boyfriend broke her heart last year. Pouring all her time and energy into her podcast proves to be quite the distraction until she has the bright idea to run a contest for her listeners to find the perfect jingle for her show. This contest brings our MC Darren and Delia together in a serendipitous way that I'm gonna spare you the details for, because I need you to go read this for yourself! Will Darren be able to get out of his head long enough to get the girl of his dreams? Will he seize the opportunities laid before him to be recognized for his talent? 👀

I won't overshare here, but I will share one of my "musings" from Rhythm and Muse I wrote in my while reading: Beautiful things can happen when you get out of your head to enjoy the rhythm of the present moment around you every now and again. ❤ This quote personally conveys the message I received from this book, and I am grateful for the reminder.

I rated this one 4 stars only because teenage angst stresses me out sometimes. I think Darren being in his head so much affected his connections tremendously, and it started to wear on me a bit. I wish I could have seen his relationships develop more organically, outside of his thoughts & fantasies. Overall, I enjoyed the read and hope you check it out as well.

Major thanks to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the eARC!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

WILL YOU BE READING RHYTHM & MUSE?

WHAT'S THE LAST YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE YOU READ? 

FOLLOW ME ON: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TIKTOK | BLOGLOVIN'

Teenage Dream | A Playlist

The late 90s and early 2000s were an interesting time to be a teenager. Well at least for me, it was. This time, for me, was a culmination of trying on different personas, trying to figure out which one felt more comfortable-- switching hairstyles, accessories, and sometimes even peer groups, trying to find my way. The slightest newfound emotion would take over me in waves. Heartbreaks felt like the end of the world. The ending of friendships were (and still are) more heart-wrenching than break-ups. But finding new friends that shared similar interests and getting into my first choice school seemed to make things infinitely better, for the time back then. Ah, to be young. 

I've been reminiscing on teenage years a lot recently, especially with my daughter graduating high school and entering college this year.  Watching her navigate the high school/college transition, friendships, relationships, developing a school/work balance, and managing newfound emotions had me one part nervous, two parts nostalgic, and one part empathetic, to say the least. And while we are so very different, our glaring similarities show up almost every day, it seems.

In many ways, watching my children grow up reminds me of how much growing up I've done as their mother. I was practically a kid myself, learning how to properly care for them and nurture them the best way I knew how. Seeing them as human beings with their own unique personalities, perspectives, and attitudes towards certain things has taught me to parent them with grace. It wasn't that long ago that I was processing internal battles and braving the world as a misunderstood teen in similar ways. Paying attention to the way in which they define themselves takes me down memory lane quite a bit these days. So much so, that I've started making playlists to create a bit of a timestamp of what my teenage years felt like for me.

If you've been here for a while, you already know how much music colors everything I do. I have a playlist for every vibe, mood, experience, memory, and feeling, no matter how fleeting. Reminiscing on simpler times is no different. So for today's playlist, I'd like to share the musical time machine I hopped into, titled "Teenage Dream."

30" BUSS DOWN | FEATURING WOWANGEL HD LACE WIGS

If you're like me and love a good wig, you'll want to read all about this high-quality, HD Lace Frontal Wig I've been wearing as a protective style lately. While this post is a paid partnership with WOWANGEL Wigs, all thoughts and opinions about the hair + experience are my own. To read more about my disclosure policy, click here.

It's no secret that we love a high-quality wig around here. Since growing out my natural tapered cut, I've been wearing braids and wigs to protect my natural hair from the elements. And as much as I love wearing lace front wigs, all of them are not created equally. Some don't have the parting space I need. Others don't have the density to rock the full look I usually go for. And I'm not always able to find a nice, HD lace that melts perfectly around my hairline with minimal effort. However, after rocking high-quality HD Lace Wigs from the likes of WOWANGEL Wigs, I have become hooked! Read below the jump to learn more about my experience with the latest 30-inch Buss Down I've been wearing lately.

Summertime in The Country | 90s Kid Edition

I miss summertime in the country as a kid.

Grandma's sun tea was always the right amount of syrupy-sweet. All the movies on G5-20 pulled in from that giant satellite were the best. We could play outside even after the street light came on because we were with family & didn't have school. We'd be outside from sun up to sun down, & didn't care about smelling like "outside," nor did we ever get too tired for hide-and-go-seek. And mamas always said yes when we asked to go stay with our cousins in "The Hill."

I loved the sleepovers. Even brought church clothes with me when I stayed on weekends. Went to church even though we stayed up all night & I'm fighting sleep while Reverend Peterson's heavy preaching got the entire congregation "hoopin' & shoutin'." We made it through the sermons unscathed. May have even caught the Holy Ghost ourselves a few times. And I even promised mama I wouldn't get my church dress dirty. Though I rarely made good on that promise once church was over & I hit grandma's backyard (where those bitter, dark berries I secretly indulged in hid).

But anyways, you know the type of broken promise I speak of. Like when summer ends & your cousins have to leave "the country" to go back home, promising to keep in touch with you via the landline. Perhaps those weathered scraps of paper with our phone numbers delicately scribbled on them got lost in the backseats of Cadillacs & Buicks. Months pass. Seasons change. But best believe, once summer hits-- we'll be back outside again racing by foot "in the net" like we never lost touch. And I'll always be that country girl that gets excited about a race.

[used this pic with these words because I totally just stole this from one of my cousins on FB. Thanks for sharing this, Consuela. And yooo, we look cute, Callie! And yes, that's Jj on the accidental photo-bomb. The family reunion brought back memories.❤]

When you think about your favorite summers as a child, what comes to mind?

Recommended Reading | Sisterhood Heals by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

Sisterhood Heals, by creator of #TherapyforBlackGirls Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D, is a beautiful testament to the power of sisterhood and what it means to Black Women. 

Publish Date: June 25, 2023

There is beauty, power, love, joy, and safety in the kinship we share. This book explores the various ways in which this community acts as a safe space and healing balm for us. It also illustrates how sisterhood is a means of survival for us all, as well. Covering topics such as cultivating friendships, finding our "place"  & "holding space" in groups, seeking community, and navigating the life stages of our friendship circles, reading Sisterhood Heals feels like listening to a good girlfriend. It is insightful, relatable, and lists reflections at the end of each chapter that readers can apply to their own lives. 

It would be love if all my sisters and those who love + support us check out Sisterhood Heals. Buy a copy for someone, even. This book is a celebration & poignant reminder that we are out here supporting each other, loving on each other, and making the world go round in the process. It also serves as a toolkit for optimum community within our own respective groups. Sisterhood Heals is an absolute must-read for me! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for the eBook! 

Have you read Sisterhood Heals yet?

If not, will you be adding it to your reading list? 

Sunday Nite at Dre's | A Playlist

It's a chill Sunday after dark, and the rain seems to have settled in for the night. The house is quiet, with the exception of my pacing back and forth, setting up the boys' things they need for school tomorrow. Everyone's left to their own devices, which is a plus for me. I can get so much done within the stillness. Sounds from someone's YouTube plays in the distance. Someone else's South Park reruns mutter every now and again in the background. And occasionally, I can hear my dog, Rocko, whimper for attention from his pillow in the center of the living room. It's during these times that I like to put a smooth tune or two on to match my productivity. Sure, I want to get all the things done, as I plan for the week on Sunday nights. But I want something nice and easy to listen to. I love when it's something I can move to, but it has to be something that keeps me vibing and getting things done at a steady pace. Tonight, I chose G-funk, y'all.

Like me and my two sides, G-funk seems like a bit of a dichotomy. On the one hand, you have your hardcore gangsta rap lyrics. On the other, you have this gangsta music laced with your favorite funk tune samples from the 70's. It's a genre I love to wrap myself up in when I want a little something different from my usual jazz and soul Sunday spins. And since I have a playlist or two queued up on my Spotify, I thought I'd share one here tonight with you guys! 

QUEUE THE "Sunday Nite at Dre's" PLAYLIST:  This is for those nights when you wanna vibe to some smooth 70's funk, but the "G" in you wants a little something heavier. Click the image above to open the playlist up in a new window.

  

  

Loving these Spotify playlists? Let me know in the comments if you want more here on the blog. And be sure to give me a follow if you're on Spotify, too. I love making mixtapes and sharing music with my good boos over there.

ARE YOU A G-FUNK FAN?

WHAT ARE YOU VIBING TO TONIGHT?

Five Ways to Read More for Less

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive commission if you make a purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. To read more about my disclosure policy, click here.

 

If you've been here for a while, you already know about my love of books. In fact, if you've been here since the beginning, you'll know that I used to maintain a book blog as well. So, knowing that I've been obsessed with books for my entire life will come as no surprise to you. The constant urge to purchase the latest release and the perpetual salivating over pretty book covers has plagued me for years. I'm definitely that reader that daydreams about subplots and colorful characters before I even crack open the hardcover.

I've also spread this love of reading on to my children and they have their own favorites to contend with: comics, graphic novels, manga, young adult fiction, science fiction, poetry, you name it. And with everyone loving to read, the amount we spend on books would get out of hand at times. Over time, I have found ways to remedy breaking our book budget. So, I've decided to share here some affordable ways to read more books if you can relate to any of the above. Also, if reading more is a goal you've created for yourself this year, here are some cost-effective ways to get more reading in!

IN MY BAG | NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss

If you are a beauty lover like myself, I'm sure you've had your share of  NYX Cosmetics filling your makeup bag. Over the years, beauty brand NYX Cosmetics has been a staple in my beauty arsenal. Their primers, lipsticks, eyeliners, lipliners, brow pens, and blushes have been automatic repurchases, as I've been so pleased with the quality and affordability of theses items. And as much as I've gushed over said products in the past, nothing has quite compared to my love of the NYX Butter Gloss. Any gloss girlie can tell you-- NYX Butter Gloss was, is, and will always be THAT GIRL.

THE HYPE | NYX BUTTER GLOSS

Deemed "America's #1 Lip Gloss" on the NYX Cosmetics website, Butter Gloss is a fan favorite for good reason. With 29 shades of creamy gloss, there's a color (or 3) for everyone. Each gloss gives sheer to medium coverage, with the exception of the clear gloss. And the best thing about them? They glide on beautifully, giving your lips just the desired amount of shine WITHOUT the stickiness. I don't know about anyone else, but for me, a tacky lip gloss can ruin an entire lip look. But not Butter Gloss. She plays well alone or layered with other lip products, such as liners and lipsticks. 

While talking about these glosses with a friend the other day, I was asked which were my favorites among the bunch. So, I decided to share my top three here with you guys as well. I've bought so many different shades of NYX Butter Gloss over the years. However, three in particular are always found IN MULTIPLES in my makeup bag, in my purse, and on my vanity. ENTER: Tiramisu, Praline, and Ginger Snap.

Blossom Into The Feminine | A Playlist

What does basking in your femininity mean to you?

To me, this means embracing the qualities that make me who I am as a woman-- my softness, my sensuality, my ability to nurture and create from the most sacred spaces within me. And since learning to fully embrace my femininity years ago, I"ve felt an ease in my mind + body like never before. I welcome change with less resistance. I don't let the thoughts and opinions of others affect me as much. I am more accepting of who I am in totality. I welcome and embrace the genuine love around me. I feel blessed and grateful to return the love, in a genuine way. And I honor my sensuality, allowing myself to fully enjoy the things that make me feel pleasure.

As with anything I do, I've created a playlist featuring many songs that put me in a state of flow, when it comes to my femininity. Songs that feel good when I sing the lyrics. Songs that sound good sliding through my speakers on quiet nights alone. Songs that remind me that I am a soft, gentle being that allows herself to give and receive pleasure.

Oh, For The Love of Plants

After the pandemic, I became fascinated with plants. I won't say fascinated. It was borderline obsession and indescribable wonder. I had seen so many beautiful plants pop up on my social media timelines and was in awe of how many of my cyber friends had developed these green thumbs. A green thumb was seemingly something I was missing from my toolkit, as I had managed to kill every plant I had acquired after my father's death in 2010. My then apartment sagged with wilted greenery engulfing my living room and one thing I just couldn't manage to nurture to health-- those damned plants. I had this habit of purchasing flowers from the local grocery store each week, and while they were a beautiful sight sitting on my small dining room table, they could not rival strong towering leaves of flourishing plants, in my mind. I was no stranger to them, as my Grandma Lou had a sunroom with the most beautiful, healthy plants you ever wanted to see growing up against its walls. That room was full of grandma's love and care. And she she did not play with my siblings and I when it came to "disturbing" them. I didn't want to keep accumulating flowers just to throw them out each week. I wanted to nurture some beautiful greens to life, too. 

Five Ways The Comparison Trap is Killing Your Self-Esteem

I've often heard the phrase "comparison is the thief of joy." And boy, does it ring true! How many times have you witnessed the act of comparison literally steal your joy right from up under your nose?

Ever found yourself mindlessly scrolling social media and came across someone in your feed doing something amazing? Perhaps they just got a promotion or landed the job of their dreams. Maybe they just purchased a brand new car or home.  They could have even started that business they've been working towards for quite some time. And while we feel pride and offer heartfelt congratulations when our closest friends accomplish goals, oftentimes, it causes us to reflect on our own lives. 

Whether it's associates, sworn enemies, or strangers we've only connected with online, we can undoubtedly find ourselves comparing our paths to others. And with the constant access to other people's presumably perfect lives unfolding daily on our social media scroll, it's hard not to. However, if you make a habit of doing this too often, you may have fallen into the comparison trap. This never-ending loop of negative thinking will delay any real progress towards your own personal goals and ruin your self-esteem in the process, if you're not careful. 

In this post we will discuss the ways in which the comparison trap is killing your self-esteem and how to reverse it!

Dre Writes | Grandma's Sunroom

Being in grandma’s sunroom has always been cathartic for me. At an early age, it was this nearly forbidden place she entered each morning, drawing the curtains and watering the vast array of plants with limbs encasing the entire room. My brother almost got in trouble for knocking over grandma’s plants in there one day, but of course, I took the blame. We'd both learn that day that grandma did not tolerate any "horse play" in that sunroom, and her swift punishment would be the teacher. Those lessons, thankfully, were few and far-in-between. I adored my grandmother and wouldn't dare do anything to fall from her grace-- or lose access to that majestic sunroom.

 

Late at night, grandma would seek solace in that room, pulling the chair from under her sewing machine to create something new and beautiful with her hands. Humming along to some unknown song, Grandma transformed linens and lace as she pat her foot on the pedal. I was as quiet as can be, watching from the kitchen entrance, as grandma drifted off into her own world. 

I snuck away to the sunroom in the afternoons while my aunt was in class, thumbing through her English textbooks and records scattered by grandma’s desk. It wasn’t long before I was sitting at the desk completing assignments, too. Grandma never scolded me. I just heard her tell someone on the phone that I was so smart, I was doing Teeny Gal’s (as she affectionately called my aunt) homework. This affirmed me, taking to writing at that desk every chance I got. 

Before long, some of the plants were replaced with more seating space. Grandma always hosted holidays at her house and tables with pie, cakes, and savory dishes soon filled that sunroom. More grandchildren came and the sunroom eventually filled with cabbage patch dolls, books, tonka trucks, and skateboards. The occasional plant adorned the writing desk by the door. Flowers were eventually transported just outside to the front porch. Nonetheless, I’d catch grandma standing at the kitchen entrance of the sunroom in awe, smiling at nothing but the mass of race cars scattered on her shaggy, seafoam-colored rug. She’d dry her hands on her apron and just look around at it all, saying nothing. Gone were the days when she scolded us for not cleaning up our toys. 

Several years passed and the sunroom I once knew became a makeshift bedroom for me and my two children, complete with a tv set, DVD player, and couch that converted to a bed at night. By this point, grandma’s house was a refuge for us after a bad break-up. Grandma was no longer making grandbabies breakfast at the crack of dawn, but was instead sleeping in until nearly 11 AM, slowly dragging herself and her bedroom slippers from her quarters as my cousin Andrea pleaded with her to come and eat. Grandma’s smile would come and go, but her words were less frequent. Her stories from “way back when” were still intact, but she’d began to mistake my young daughter for me. Her place at the dinner table was made by someone else. Her and granddaddy patiently waited at the table while my sister and I served “not quite grandma’s” fried chicken and mac & cheese. And while she usually objected, my sister and I cleared the table and washed the dishes grandma never allowed us to touch before. 

Now that grandma and grandpa are both gone, I miss so many things about them. How grandma made breakfast in the morning, watched the stories at 1PM (with the illustrious John Black, need I say more), kept me and all my siblings in line with only a few words and powerful stares, how she had dinner on the table at the same time every night, and how her and grandpa called me smart when I got the answers right on Jeopardy. But one thing I didn’t notice until I was watering my own plants this morning, was how grandma’s own personal sunroom transformed into a “safe haven” of sorts for all her grandchildren right up under my nose. She gave us everything and kept nothing to herself. Not even her space. Nor her precious memories. 

photos by kate darmody for unsplash

FOLLOW ME ON: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TIKTOK | BLOGLOVIN'

Recommended Reading | Jonah's Gourd Vine

 What's the last book you read that took you to a different time and place?

Reading Jonah's Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston a few months back transported me to the deep south via 1920-something, thanks to Zora Neale Hurston and her way with vivid imagery + colorful dialect.

While breezing through Jonah's Gourd Vine, I met this super charming preacher named John Pearson who just couldn't seem to leave the ladies alone, much to his wife Lucy's chagrin. Due to his chasing and constant running, I was introduced to so many interesting characters from "over the creek" and miles between Alabama and Florida. And every time I thought John was gonna chill out & get his (I promised not to curse while discussing this book) fool self together, he came with more foolishness. This man was the busiest guy I've met through typed pages in a minute!

Without giving too much away, I just wanted to share that I enjoyed this book so much. Zora Neale Hurston is a gem and no personal library is complete without her work. I made a vow at the beginning of the year to read more from her, so I decided to start with her first published book. If reading about the lives of beautifully flawed black folks in the deep south is your bag (as it def is mine), I recommend that you give Jonah's Gourd Vine a read. I hope you laugh, gasp, and shake your head as much as I did while reading it, too.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have you read Jonah's Gourd Vine yet? 

What's your favorite Zora Neale Hurston book?

#SoDreDoesVinyl | Shea Butter Baby by Ari Lennox

Shea Butter Baby celebrated a 4-year anniversary yesterday, but I'll admit it's always been in my rotation since it dropped. We love all things Ari around here, so you know her studio debut album will always get preferential treatment on the spins. 

Vibing with this album always feels like I'm in a cotton candy daydream sequence, draped in pink cashmere, sipping chardonnay in a cloud of spice-tinged smoke. I'm in my own private lounge, and Miss Ari enters stage left, adorned in a white mink fur and endless pearls. She croons the blues front & center, yet her tone seems to fill the room from a faraway place. Her smooth, sticky-sweet voice envelops the space much like the imaginary smoke I'm surrounded by. And as moments pass, Ari sings on about the loneliness that settles in like an uninvited guest once the excitement of buying her new apartment wears off. Even if I don't feel like what she's singing in the moment, I FEEL what she's singing, all the time, if that makes sense. As I've told y'all before--- Ari can sing about bathwater and I'd be with it. But anyways...

My favorites from Shea Butter Baby are "Broke," "Up Late," "I Been," and "Whipped Cream" (if you know me, you know that "Whipped Cream" had a hold on me in 2019 😩). I sometimes add "Pop" to the list, depending on who I'm talking to. Either way, this album rides ALL THE WAY THROUGH for me and I never tire of it. 

Are you an Ari Lennox fan? 

What are your favorite songs from her? 

And do you love Shea Butter Baby as much as I do?

Becoming | A Playlist

There is something about the arrival of springtime that makes me feel so hopeful. At peace. Anticipating new and joyous experiences on the horizon. But not in an anxious way. In more of a calming way. A way that feels pleasant to ease into. 

So far, this season has given me a sense of renewal. I have officially shed the practices of withdrawal and isolation I so heavily rely on in the winter. I am reminded that, while winter may call for hibernation and stillness, spring requires coming into the light. 

During this time, I find myself preparing for newness. I'm cleaning out my closets (both literally and figuratively). I'm re-evaluating current creative projects to determine what works and what doesn't. I'm spring cleaning the entire house and ridding the spaces of things that no longer serve my family.  I welcome my evolution and resurgence with new tea blends, vibrant colors in my wardrobe & cosmetics, and music that waters me. 

While funk and hip-hop will always blast in my speakers, springtime vibes lean on the smooth, calming, and relaxing spectrum of things. When getting my mind, body, and spirit in tune with the changes taking place around me and within me, I need my music to reflect that same sentiment. 

QUEUE THE "becoming" PLAYLIST:  This is for those moments before we start our day and feel most alive. We welcome the warmth and brightness of the sun. We thank God for life, breath, grace and opportunity. And we anticipate the beauty that will unfold as the day emerges. Each song on this list serves as a reminder of that beauty. Click the image above to open the playlist up in a new window.

  

  

Loving these Spotify playlists? Let me know in the comments if you want more here on the blog. And be sure to give me a follow if you're on Spotify, too. I love making mixtapes and sharing music with my good boos over there.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SPRING?

WHAT'S ON YOUR CURRENT PLAYLIST?

Rayan Lawrence Dishes on His Role of "K-9" in Season 2 Of Starz Hit Show BMF

If one keeps his ears open to the entertainment streets, he is aware of the popularity Starz Hit Show BMF has reached since its debut in September 2021. For those who aren’t, BMF is a Starz crime drama inspired by the true story of two brothers who form a criminal empire in southwest Detroit during the 1980s. Each week, viewers see the lengths “Big Meech” and “Southwest T” go to in order to make their street dreams come true. In the second season, fans of BMF witness these two connect with a major player in Detroit: a notorious drug dealer from Brewster Projects. 

Enter Rayan Lawrence, the man behind the merciless character viewers have come to know and fear, K-9.

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle | 5 Reasons Why Prince Is BookBae

"Don't ever think I fell for you or fell over you. I didn't fall in love, I rose in it. I saw you and made up my mind. My mind. And I made up my mind to follow you too." -Toni Morrison (as recited by Dani in Love Radio)

5 Reasons Why Prince Is Bookbae:

💜 He's a dope DJ who has a way with words. If he isn't saying all the right things, he's spinning all the right songs 🎶 Plus, he has that "radio voice" thing going for him.

💜 Dude doesn't mind taking down braids his first time coming over. I mean, I have to be pretty open to let someone see me with my hair looking crazy. But all that would probably subside the moment babe comes through with the scissors and rat-tail comb 🤷🏾‍♀️

💜 Prince loves the kids (and he's always looking out for family). Imagining him agonizing over countless bookshelves at the library for books his baby brother would appreciate really made me swoon. And don't get me started on how attentive he was with his mother.

💜 He was so patient, understanding, and in touch with his feelings. Just dig how he communicates with his friends and family. And peep how he gives advice on his radio segment with such care + consideration. We'll also say he fares well in situations most of us would seriously get "caught up" in. Very admirable.

💜 He really pays attention to detail. The way Prince planned that scavenger hunt around the bookstore within the spaces + pages of Dani's favorite authors (yes, he included my fav 3) was the cutest. Can we say "rizz?" (My teens would be mortified to see me saying that 😂)

Prince aka DJ LoveJones and Dani had the cutest lil vibe going. And I enjoyed getting wrapped up in it a few months back.

Have you read Love Radio yet?

And while we're at it, what's your favorite romance movie from the 90s/2000s? 

Lipstick Love | The Lip Bar Matte Lip in Rich Auntie

When is the last time you've worn a lipstick that made you feel like "the one" when you stepped out with it perfectly applied on your lips? I mean, when you look in your bathroom mirror, you feel confident giving yourself that last once-over? And as you go on about your day, you notice others are admiring your brilliant smile as well? Some may even stop you to ask you the name of the lipstick you're rocking. I don't know about you, but I love when someone asks me about lipsticks. Especially if it stands out as much as Rich Auntie from The Lip Bar.

If you didn't know, let me be the one to tell you: Rich Auntie is THAT GIRL. I usually go for nudes and chocolates for everyday wear, but there's something about Rich Auntie that makes me want to grab for her and rock her fearlessly every day. I don't know if it's the shade or the feeling she gives when I put her on, but I love it, either way! She has been holding a secured spot on my makeup vanity for months and now that she's BACK IN STOCK, I need to purchase a few more! Peep the details below to learn why I'm so obsessed with her after the jump.