24Apr
From Ghost Town to Glow Up: Rekindling My Love for Local Gems and Inner Growth in 2024
Ok, I’ll be frank. Popping on and off the internet is nothing new for me.
01Sep
A new age for Books on Tap
Coronavirus has put a damper on many activities that we hold dear this summer, but
31Jul
Self-care: You know you need it too
When I was going through my rebrand, I realized how much I really loved naturally made beauty and skincare products. That passion eventually radiated out to wanting to be more conscious of how I was impacting my self-care, my community and the environment as a whole. I knew I wouldn’t always do this perfectly, but I was eager to support small and local businesses and businesses that resonated with my ethos and pursuit to be a more conscious, holistic, and intentional consumer. And it’s for all of these reasons that made attending the soft opening of Almeda, Taochemy, and Hand & Land, located in the Gillham Plaza, so easy.
Coupled with, you know, a global pandemic, civil unrest, massive layoffs, and the steady atrophy the economy, I felt long overdue for some pampering and I bet it’s safe to say that you haven’t really been taking that great of care of yourself either. But, at least after reading this, you’ll have some ideas on where to go to get yourself right.
12Jun
Local Spoils for your Fur-children
You love your pets. Of course you do. If they walk funny for two paces, you’ve already called the Vet to make an appointment, you go absolutely overboard on the food you buy (only the best for your little prince/princess), and you consistently allow them to break rules you’ve set like, “you’re not allowed on the couch” and “you can only come on the bed if you’re invited.”
I get it. Your dogs are the real masters of the house. Mine are too, but despite my efforts to shop mostly local, I often neglect shopping local for the poochies. In an effort to rectify this, I have put together a list of products made especially for your pups (sorry cat lovers).
03Apr
Book Review: Hurt People
The COVID-19 pandemic for all the fear it brings, has also given many of us some much needed time; to concentrate on hobbies or projects that have fallen to the wayside. I was finally able to finish “Hurt People” and it seems that I finished it at just the right time; as the overarching theme seems to fit perfectly with what we are dealing with right now.
So what does a coming of age tale about two brothers who meet a man who is not what he seems while growing up in Leavenworth, KS have to do with COVID-19? Well initially nothing.
20Mar
Why Now is the BEST Time to Shop Local
In the words of Deon Cole, “Welp!” Covid-19 is stateside, more importantly, it has hit the Midwest and forced all bars, restaurants, and local shops to either close for an indeterminate amount of time or restrict business to curbside pick up. Larger corporations are likely feeling the blow in a society where people are being temporarily laid off; but those that are feeling the impact of this change the most are small business owners.
I’ve seen so many posts of small business owners struggling; some of them posting GoFundMe pages in addition to transitioning sales to either an online or Instagram format. And While all of this is heartbreaking to hear and even write, there is a pivotal opportunity for all of us to “flatten the curve” that is effecting the small businesses and owners we have come to know and love: transition to shopping mostly or only local.
06Mar
Indie Bookstores: the rebirth of Print?
I love reading. It’s in part, how I ended up as an English major. My dad instilled the virtues of reading within my sister and I from a very young age. From reading bedtime bible stories to Curious George to Miss Spider books. I loved the time my dad and I shared at exploring new worlds together. As I got older, my dad and I would spend hours either at the library or at Waldenbooks inside Metro North Mall (if any of you remember that little slice of nostalgia). I consumed books as if my life depended on it and that didn’t really change until I got to college.
During my college career, I noticed there was a bit of a shift in how I looked at reading, I was an English major and I was in love with being an English major. But the problem with taking four English classes a semester is…that you’re taking four English classes in a semester. I was still enjoying what I was reading, but by the time I had graduated, I realized that I had no desire to read at all. I guess you could say I went through an academic burn out.
About a year ago, that itch to read came back. I just woke up one day hungry to read. Perhaps, you could say it was a slow shift in mindset that did it or you could say it was just a feeling. Either way, I was ready to dive into a book, seek inspiration and explore new worlds and realities. But I didn’t just want a book, I wanted a book. One that I could physically hold in my hand and feel the slight roughness of the page brush against my fingertips; and, of course, release that familiar book-y musk that has come to remind me of my childhood.
21Feb
My Skincare Routine
Despite the old adage that “black don’t crack”, black does still age and a high performing skincare regain is important to maintaining the acid mantle of your skin, regardless of your skin color.
Late last year, I attended a skincare 101 class, hosted by The Soap Bar and taught by Elevate Esthetics owner, Sara Rieman. While I was already privy to a lot of the higher points–physical vs chemical exfoliants, the skin mantle, the importance of moisturizing–I still walked away realizing there were a few key things that were missing in my skincare routine.
Back when I was an earlier 20 something, I was able to get away with just washing my face, occasionally exfoliating, applying my prescribed acne medication and a little bit of moisturizer. Then, sometime in the last year, I noticed that my skin wasn’t getting enough moisture, to the point that I was able to literally pull pieces of skin off my face. Gross, I know, but this discovery combined with what I learned in the Skincare 101 class, made me wonder if I was missing a toner and oil-based cleanser.
With the addition of a new cleanser, toner, and a few product switches, I believe I have created the perfect, mostly local skincare regimen.
07Feb
Chocolate: A Girl’s REAL Best Friend
Diamonds? Nah. We all know the song made popular by Marilyn Monroe telling us that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but I think we all know the truth: Chocolate is a girl’s real best friend. It’s good for break ups when all your friends are out happily eating dinner with their significant others, it’s the perfect aphrodisiac when you are wanting to get busy, it’s also there for you when Mother Flow comes out to play. Chocolates are versatile and is usually included in every girl’s valentines day gift. Whether you bought it for yourself or not, you’re probably eating chocolate on the day of “corporate love” as I heard someone on a podcast say.
And sure, we’ve all had the chocolate routlette boxes from the store, but is that really what you want? Roulette chocolate? I don’t think so. You want delicious, fresh, interesting, unique chocolate. And lucky for you there are plenty of chocolatiers in the KC area that have created some of the most delectable, whimsical chocolates that won’t leave you shell shocked because you got the “coconut one”.
24Jan
Healthy(ish) Snacks to help Satisfy
National Snack month is coming up soon. And next month as we celebrate love in the way of consuming pounds of chocolate, ice cream or both, I thought it would be a good idea to suggest a few healthier snacking options. If you are an office dweller, you know the struggle of mindless eating. I am constantly snacking while I’m at work. And it’s because of my “munchy” ways that I usually try to go for something healthy. And of course, in the spirit of trying to contribute more to the local economy, I managed to find a few healthy snacks made right here in Kansas City.