Boss bitch music is therapeutic af. Sometimes you gotta remind yourself you’re that bitch.
— Thicki Minaj 💋 (@astoldbyMIKA) May 17, 2019
When Beyonce dropped Lemonade, we took a step back to reclaim our power in relationships. When Cardi B dropped “Bodak Yellow”, we got in our bag and made money moves. We couldn’t decide if we were having City Girls or a Hot Girl Summer. Moral of the story, every woman should have a boss bitch playlist and that isn’t up for debate.
Let me just preface this by saying this is not intended to offend any brand, spokesperson or concerning party that has been a part of this whole “inclusivity” wave in the beauty industry. I appreciate all of the relationships that I have fostered with brands as a writer and I’m genuinely always excited to see representation put at the forefront of the beauty industry. However, with inclusivity being “trendy”, now is a better time than ever to ask if it’s genuine or just a quick way for brands to gain some extra cash by tapping into a forgotten but admired demographic. (more…)
Like most people who have seemingly become Kombucha connoisseurs overnight, I never heard of Kombucha until mid-2018. I first noticed people drinking in the break room on the days I freelanced inside of Ulta. Then I noticed some of my favorite influencers like aunty Jackie Aina raving about the benefits and putting us on to the popping flavors. I didn’t want to be that girl that followed everything her favorite influencers did but I couldn’t escape Kombucha so I caved.
Though Kombucha may be very new to many of us, it’s actually an ancient Chinese remedy once used to ward off ailments such as arthritis and cancer. Simple put, it’s a fermented tea that is packed with probiotics (healthy bacteria or microorganisms) that our bodies need and can benefit from. Fermentation is the same process used to make beer and wine. You usually find little sentiments at the bottom of Kombucha which is normal however Kombucha is carbonated so you should ever shake it. Additionally, due to the nature of Kombucha most of them need to be drank within 7 days of opening.
Kombucha comes in many different flavors, ranging from spicy cayenne ginger to sweet mango. Because Kombucha is fermented like beer and wine, it does have a small alcohol content, usually less than 0.5% of alcohol. If you happen to come across a Kombucha that has a higher alcohol content you’l probably have to show some ID. Also, it’s carbonated like a soda but not as bubbly in my opinion.
Kombucha is most loved for being packed with probiotics (the healthy bacteria we were talking about), similar to that found in pickles, some cheeses and even sauerkraut. Probiotics are key to helping with digestive health and have even been said to help aid skin, depression and heart health.
To be completely candid with you, my digestive system sucks. Some months I’m regular and other months it seems like my food just sits on my stomach and doesn’t go anywhere. That was actually the reason why I gave up meat and went pescatarian for a few months. This has always been struggle of mine and I’ve been determined to find a solution. A probiotic drink seemed like it couldn’t hurt(it didn’t). Between drinking more water and Kombucha, over the past couple of months I have seen improvement in my digestive system, mainly my regularity if you know what I mean.
Another, confession I LOVE soda. I know I shouldn’t but it’s so addictive. After the summer with all the brunch and happy hour invites, I got hooked on soda for the millionth time. Kombucha has help me cut the craving because it is carbonated and sweet however it’s actually good for me (as far as I know). Anytime I think about running to the corner store to get a soda I take a sip of Kombucha instead. For the reason alone, my house will never be without Kombucha (or carbonated water for that matter).
Absolutely. Even if you don’t have many digestive issues it’s much better to drink than soda or sugary juices. At least try it to form your own opinion on it. I will admit it is an acquired taste and you should never smell it before drinking. It kind of smells like apple cider vinegar (also fermented) if you’re curious.
Let me be the first to tell you (if you haven’t been told already.) Kombucha can be quite expensive. Depending on where you purchase it, a bottle can cost you anywhere from $2.49 to upward $5. If I had to take a wild guess, I’d say I’ve probably tried about 12-15 different Kombucha flavors amongst 5 or so brands. Here’s a quick list of some of my favorites that I tried thus far. Prices vary based on store on location.
Of all the Kombucha’s I’ve tasted this one is the sweetest and almost tastes like a natural mango soda. I wonder if it has as much probiotics as other ones with a stronger Kombucha taste?
This is one of the most popular brands and flavors of Kombucha. It tastes like a light crisp apple cider.
This one is an acquired taste for sure but if you like ginger you’ll like this.
This one is a bit more tart then sweet but I like.
Compared to the first time I ever shopped with Fashion Nova, the company has become progressively worse in quality and customer service.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjDwEynDNw6/
Terrible customer service, slow shipping and a sh*tty return policy (a.k.a. no return policy) is what made me decide to no longer shop at Fashion Nova.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqNWxn-Fl5g/
If there’s one thing that I love more than cute affordable clothes it’s Cardi B. When the Cardi B x Fashion Nova collection dropped on November 15th I made sure I stayed up to purchase. The collection sold out quickly but I was ecstatic that I at least got 4 cute pieces that I really loved.
Amazing right? Not quite. When I received my package I was shocked to see that only one item was in the package. I was one of many people who ordered items from the Cardi collection who DID NOT receive more or one of the items that they ordered.
Considering this was a big launch and a megastar like Cardi B’s name was attached to it Fashion Nova did issue refunds for unreceived items instead of the usual store credit. Also, the company was allegedly moving warehouses at the time which somehow effected inventory counts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR1C_JgjzjE
The brand is the fastest growing and most searched clothing brand as of 2018. They have leveraged social media and to advertise their products to consumers who they could give af less about. It’s very obvious that the brand is more focused on the influencers who get paid to advertise their clothing rather than the everyday people who spend their hard earned money to shop with them. Whether these influencers want to believe it or not, they are the middlemen for helping Fashion Nova scam consumers.
I am not longer shopping with Fashion Nova because I’m not in the business giving my coins to places that don’t value me. If I can give up going to non-black owned nail salons (if you know you know) then not shopping at Fashion Nova will be a piece of cake. I’ve had much better experiences with their competitors who seem to still value paying customers.
Ever since I could remember, Halloween has always been a favorite “holiday” of mine. I was always told that I was a character so it’s no surprise that dressing up for Halloween would be something that I enjoy wholeheartedly. Plenty of candy, halloween makeup and a chance to live vicariously through whoever I feel like channeling are just some of my favorite things about Halloween. The downside? Paying for Halloween costumes that I will never wear again.
