February went so fast, as it always does. Last month was full of a lot of stress, but a lot of inspiration as well. On the downside, I had a really hard time apartment searching and still haven’t found anything. On the upside, it was Black History Month and there were so many magical things happening around me that I couldn’t help but remain positive. If you haven’t seen my January Favorites + Reflection then check it out! Let me know if you have questions about any products I’ve used, any movies I’ve seen, etc.
FEBRUARY FAVORITES:
Beauty products: I am forever obsessed with my “Trophy Wife” highlighter from Fenty Beauty. I wear it every time I do a full face of makeup. And I rocked a red lip a few times this month with Fenty Beauty’s “Uncensored” stunna lip paint. The days when I wasn’t quite in the mood for a bold red, I opted for a light pink — my Nicki Minaj x MAC Cosmetics lipstick in “Nicki’s Nude.” Also, since it’s still cold and flu season, I’ve been using my “Beautiful Day” pocket hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works nonstop!
Movies: BLACK PANTHER!!! Go see it if you haven’t, seriously! I also saw The Greatest Showman, which was more amazing than I expected, and Lady Bird, which was also brilliant. Shout out to my Movie Pass!
TV Shows: This month I binge watched Sailor Moon on Hulu! It totally brought me back to my childhood. I watched the dub version of seasons one and two.
Book: Maya Angelou: Her Phenomenal Life & Poetic Journey by Editors of Essence Magazine — This book was a quick read with a lot of photos and it was organized very beautifully. It was a nice overview of Dr. Angelou and her legacy. I’ve loved Maya Angelou every since my mom read me a poem by her when I was a little girl in elementary school. Maya was the first woman poet I was exposed to and the first black poet I was exposed to. I’ve always loved her work and she has inspired my passion for writing. This book was the perfect choice for Black History Month.
Song: “All The Stars” by Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA from the Black Panther Soundtrack
Places: This month was pretty chill for me, but I did get some really good drinks and food at Harlem Tavern, Slate Lounge (where my girls and I did Friends trivia night for Galentine’s Day!), and Karizma Hookah Lounge.
FEBRUARY REFLECTION:
Although I had a challenging month apartment hunting and I’m still unsure what my next move will be career wise, I tried my best to remain positive. Since it was Black History Month, I was happy to see so many stories circulating about empowering people, especially women, of color. I was reminded this month that there are so many others who have overcome MUCH more difficult situations than the one I’m currently in.
I was also reminded that there is no age limit to success. Sometimes I feel like I’m running out of time to be successful. I feel like I need that dream job and that dream apartment right this second, but that’s just not how life works. Going into the rest of March and the rest of 2018, I will do my best to remain patient and remember that God’s plan for me is in full swing, even if I don’t see the big picture yet.
Also, I was featured in Marie Claire, thanks to my talented friend, Brianna Moné! How cool is that!? Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
FEBRUARY SNAPCHATS:
BLACK HISTORY MONTH:
In honor of Black History Month, I decided last year that I would do my best to publish pieces that promote and highlight amazing people in the black community. I am so happy that I was able to contribute to NYLON’s “Unapologetic” series last year and this year I wrote some pretty cool pieces for CafeMom. I’m going to share links below of pieces I’ve written throughout my writing career that celebrate black creatives and their accomplishments, so please feel free to check them out and share any feedback!
50 Inspiring Quotes From Famous Black Women to Celebrate Black History Month, CafeMom, Feb. 2018
The Debate Over Meghan Markle’s ‘Blackness’ Proves Racism Comes From All Sides When You’re Biracial, CafeMom, Dec. 2017
Rihanna Is Taking Over The Beauty World, UTIOM, Oct. 2017
This Size-Inclusive Brand Reimagines Cartoon Characters for Women of Color, CafeMom, Aug. 2017
Aaliyah’s Iconic 90s Fashion Helped Shape My Style Today, UTIOM, Aug. 2017
These Gay Dads Just Made History With Their New Fashion Campaign, CafeMom, Aug. 2017
This Woman Epically Schooled the Troll Who Tried to Shame Natural Hair With an Amazing New Challenge, CafeMom, July 2017
15 Reasons You & Your Ladies Need a Girls’ Trip ASAP, CafeMom, July 2017
Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts Brings Yoga To The Youth In Marginalized Communities, NYLON, Feb. 2017
Wendy Lopez And Jessica Jones Want To Welcome You To Healthy Food Heaven, NYLON, Feb. 2017
42 Black Designers That Your Wardrobe Needs Right Now, NYLON, Feb. 2017
Jasmine Harris Is Sending Pro-Black Beauty Boxes To A Doorstep Near You, NYLON, Feb. 2017
20 Black Bloggers You Need To Follow, NYLON, Feb. 2017
30 Black-Owned Beauty Brands You Need, NYLON, Feb. 2017
14 Black-Owned Businesses And Services You Need To Support, NYLON, Feb. 2017
Former EMU student wins dream job as TV20 Detroit host, The Eastern Echo, Jan. 2016
Q&A with Kenan Thompson: He could be a guest lecturer on campus, The Eastern Echo, Sept. 2015
EMU alum opens local clothing boutique, The Eastern Echo, Sept. 2015
Jermaine Dickerson’s artwork inspired by superheroes, The Eastern Echo, March 2015
Black Homecoming kicks off Oct. 3, The Eastern Echo, Sept. 2012
These are projects I’ve had the privilege of being featured in:
What You’ll Never Understand About Being Biracial, Marie Claire, written by Brianna Moné, Feb. 2018
Black women who love ‘Hocus Pocus’ become the Sanderson sisters, Revelist, written by Mary Anderson, Oct. 2017
Natural Hair Holiday Looks (video), Revelist, Dec. 2017
As always, I appreciate all of your support!
xoxo, Kayla
