I hate attending fashion networking events.  I also really hate being out on an overcast day in New York for any reason, but there I was on a cold Sunday afternoon pushing through anxiety and self-doubt to attend yet another networking event put on by yet another collective aimed at connecting Black people in fashion.  I find this to be a very noble cause btw, but at some point you find yourself just going through the motions without much payoff.  It’s like slipping back into sex with an ex.  It may or may not get you somewhere, but you do it anyway, and kind of regret it afterwards.  Am I the only one?  Fine.

Someone asked me a little over a month ago how you know the difference between being sad and being depressed.  I can’t speak for anyone else, but when I’m sad, I know the exact reason for it, and there are usually pretty clear steps I can and am able to take to soothe myself in a reasonable amount of time.  Depression on the other hand, is like being held hostage inside my own body.  I am aware of everything going on around me, but I can’t connect to anything, or anyone, and I can’t find the energy or motivation to move, mentally or physically.  I’m sad for reasons that lie deep beneath the surface of the superficial inconveniences that life tends to present.  It’s like being in a sunken place of my own creation.  Last year I was more depressed than I realized.  I was on auto pilot for much of the year, just going through the motions of my obligations, until one day I just shut down. I couldn’t get out of bed for days, except to shower and eat.  And eat I did.

Photo: Freeform

I know I know, I’m late to this party.  In my defense, there’s a lot of good tv to watch right now.  But anyway, I finally got to catch up on the first three episodes of Grown-ish and I’m in love.  First with the diverse, intersectional characters.  Second, with the fashions.  Third with the writing.  Actually, the writing and the fashions are tied for me.

DISCLAIMER: This post is not to convince you to try Whole30, but to find something that you can realistically do to make better choices with how you eat, and how you take care of your body.  Now, I have to tell you that I have tried multiple meal plans, diets, calorie counting, meal replacements, etc. and none of them proved to be sustainable given what I know about myself.  This is what I found that worked for me, and I encourage you to find what works for you.

Let’s begin.

Photo: Netflix

We are smack dab in the middle of a resurgence of great Black film and television, and thank God btw.  Once the itch for more Black stories was scratched with shows like Blackish and movies like Get Out and Girls Trip, we continued to thirst for more.  So, it only made sense for a reboot of a Spike Lee joint to come forth in this era.  The highly anticipated reboot of She’s Gotta Have It (originally released as a film in 1986) premiered on Netflix as a ten part series on Thursday.  I watched the original for a refresher, and binged the ten episodes over the holiday break, and well, I have many thoughts.  Let’s jump right in, shall we?

Hello readers. Here’s your new weekly list of cool things I’ve run across in the media this week. Read on for more of what I’m reading, coveting, watching, and learning.

On Thursday, Scandal made its highly anticipated return for its final season, and it did not disappoint.  My initial joy was over the fact that Olivia got rid of those Shirley Temple curls from last season.  I mean, how is it even possible to take a threat to your life seriously when the person making the threat looks like she’s going to make an Easter speech circa 1992?  Following that revelation, I found a hero in Olivia Pope.

Between working for the man, witnessing the world fall into chaos, and still trying to be an all around bad bitch, I have been rather overwhelmed.  As a result, I have been taking quite a few mental health days.  As per yooj, fashion (and my new therapist) is what is getting me through these rough days.  Namely the fashions of Daenerys Targaryen.

I want Anastasia Beverly Hills to create pamphlets detailing their eyebrow products.  That way when I see people with over-plucked, thin eyebrows I can hand them one, and ask, “Have you heard the good news?”  I just want them to know there’s a much better life for them than the one they’re leading.

We all love Insecure.  The brilliance of the show lies in its simplicity and relate-ability.  There are no calculating, masterminds with exorbitant wealth, and “loose morals.”  It’s just some young Black people trying to figure shit out.  For that reason, Insecure inspires diverse conversations.  I can always count on having A1 convos about dating, work, Black culture, etc.  Following Sunday’s episode, a friend text me and asked, “WHERE ARE THE CONDOMS?!”  Good.  Freaking.  Question.  We have yet to see any hint of protection during any of the sex scenes on the show.  Even with the anonymous neighbor whom I don’t ever recall seeing before.  This morning I woke up to a text from another friend with the link to an article over at Very Smart Brothas asking the same damn question!

I watch a lot of television, and I’m no cinephile, but I’ve seen my fair share of movies, and I must say on screen sex has always been weird to me.  It has always looked insanely unrealistic, and, dare I say it, nasty.  Here are some things I just don’t get.