I don’t remember every word; it’s been scrubbed, but I remember the tone. Grief. Disappointment. A belief that I had forfeited something sacred. There was talk of God. Of waiting. Of a husband I had not yet met.

I read it on the couch of my childhood playroom, an oddly theatrical setting for my transformation from adolescent innocence into something far more complicated.

The truth is, I lost my virginity in an extremely sweet way. To my high school boyfriend. The boy I believed I would follow to college and marry. I thought I had found the loophole: if I was going to marry him anyway, what was the harm?

But I was raised in the Bible Belt, where sex was never framed as something to enjoy. It was a moral crossroad. A test. A risk. A fall from grace.

The message in sex ed was clear: sex was tied to being a good wife. It was about good vs. evil, heaven vs. hell, how not to contract diseases, and above all, not getting pregnant and dying. 

Pleasure was never part of the curriculum.

Looking back, I realize my father wasnt inventing those fears, he was inheriting them. He was a product of the same environment. He was reacting the only way he knew how: by mourning the loss of the “little girl” he was raising.

In Dante’s Inferno, the poet travels through nine circles of hell, each one representing a different form of sin. I often think about my sexual awakening the same way, not because sex is sinful, but because of how it was framed for me.

My own inferno has levels.

The First Circle: Innocence Framed as Virtue

In Dante, the first circle is Limbo, the place of the unbaptized. Not punished, but not free.

This was my adolescence.

Virginity equated with moral superiority. Purity as identity. The idea that restraint made you worthy.

In my artwork, I depict a little version of myself on a period pad that serves as a boat, sailing through rough waters. I spy an island of solace in the form of The Care and Keeping of You, my first remembered resource for understanding puberty and sex.

Even then, knowledge felt like contraband.

The Second Circle: Fear 

Then came fear: pregnancy, disease, social exile, family disappointment.

Sex education in the South is rarely about anatomy; it is about consequence. It is Mean Girls logic: “If you have sex, you will get pregnant and die.” It is the morality of heaven vs. hell folded into health class.

Desire existed, but it was wrapped in dread.

The Third Circle: Guilt

Post losing my virginity, the guilt lingered around like a dark cloud above me.

Not because the experience was wrong, it was anything but that. It was love. It was tender. It was mutual. It was spontaneity wrapped in desire.

But I was robbed of sitting in its bliss for long. I had internalized the belief that what I had done was dirty. That even if there were no earthly consequences, there would be moral ones waiting for me on judegment day.

A feeling I have worked hard to untangle to this day.

The Fourth Circle: Disillusionment

Life, as it does, did not pan out in either my or my father’s favor. The high school boyfriend did not become my husband, scrapping any attempt at retroactively baptizing my first time through a sacred narrative.

If sex is only justified inside marriage, and marriage did not materialize, what does that make you?

This is where many women stay suspended in the limbo between desire and doctrine.

Purgatory: Curiosity

Recently, I had the pleasure of hearing Gillian Anderson speak about women, pleasure, and her drink G spot. Anderson also wrote a book, ‘Want‘, a collection of 175 anonymous letters curated from over a thousand submissions asking women about their greatest sexual fantasies.

In my manifestation journal, I have written about my own greatest sexual fantasy, which feels extremely vanilla in comparison with the entries Want.

Which made me wonder: what would my fantasy be if I had been raised to see sex as joyful instead of dangerous?

How many of our desires are shaped not by who we truly are, but by who we were told to be?

A friend recently told me she had never had an orgasm, not alone, or with a partner. My first reaction was shock, then empathy, then understanding.

There are levels to this liberation. Some of us were given maps. Others were given warnings.

Paradise: Agency

If Dante’s journey ends in Paradise, mine ends in the agency.

Sex is not a test. It is not a moral referendum, and it is certainly not proof of goodness or corruption.

It is a language. A practice. A relationship between youself and your body.

Liberation, for me, has meant exploring my body and understanding it, using it as the tool it was created to be: a source of connection and bliss.

The female orgasm is not scandalous. It is a biological release of stress, a boost of mood, a recalibration of the nervous system. It is a loving practice you can gift yourself that costs nothing.

I have not abandoned my upbringing entirely. I have interrogated it. I have seperated inherited fear from embodied truth.

The circles of hell were never about sin.

They were about distance from love.

The closer I move toward understanding my own desire, without shame and without archaic fear, the more I feel like I am emerging from the inferno.

Not because I have completely conquered it.

But because I have stopped believing that my desire belongs there.

The post sexual liberation? appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

We started at the Maria Theresien Platz market and then puresed around the city until we ended up at the Wiener Christkindlmarkt. I would do two days at the Wiener Christkindlmarkt as there is alot to see, try, and do. There is no price to enter these markets but small added costs to ride the ferris wheel etc.

• Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Rathausplatz) – the big one in the center of town, ice skating, ferries wheel, merry go round, gets very crowded but you must not miss it, its the main event.

• Maria Theresien- Platz – really gorgeous setting, sandwhiched between the Kunsthistorisches art museum and the Naturhistorisches natural history museum.

• Stephansplat – gorgeous market located right outside of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, if you are able to get there for the first day of the markets you will be able to see the first lighting of the Christmas lights around the city.

• Altes AKH – a true local market, not packed and extremly cute.

• Belvedere Palace has a small market worth checking out while seeing The Kiss, gorgeous place for photos.

The post Vienna at Christmas appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

27 feels like reclaiming the parts of myself I set aside — the things I loved before embarrassment convinced me otherwise.

Case in point: Blogging

I have been journaling since I can remember, but in 2015, I shared publishing on Emotional Shawty 901. Named for my Memphis (901) roots and my then 16-year-old teen angst, it became the home for my early voice: opinion pieces, lookbooks, food reviews, and even a guest post from my high school boyfriend (which he in turn sneakily deleted after he broke up with me).

Every year, I have journaled the number of things I learned that mathed my age.

This year, I want to write to my younger self – responding directly to what 18-year-old me wrote about the 17 lessons she thought were Absolute Truth.

Much of which I still agree with!

1. BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND

   • 17-year-old me was certainly thinking: 1e come in this world alone and we die alone, so it’s imperative to get really comfortable in your own skin while on this planet. Poetic, dark, and correct. 27-year-old me still has room for improvement in this area. Even though I am comfortable dining alone, I still wince at the idea.

2. TRY THINGS AT LEAST ONCE – it’s okay if you never ever want to do it again

   • Better to answer the what-if than to look back in agony forever.

3. DAIRY IS THE WORST

   • Lactose-intolerant propaganda was all the rage during this time. I still vibe with alternative milks, but I’m really vibing with A2 dairy right now. Alec’s ice cream has the proper, whole-dairy, straight-from-the-cow ice cream consistency without the inevitable tummy ache. I genuinely want to invest in the A2 dairy industry.

4. Boys will come and go, but you remain, stay true to yourself

   • no truer words have been said.

5. You never learn how to cherish someone until they’re gone.

   • yeah

6. It’s okay to form relationships with people outside of your friend group.

   • You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with, your friends should have diverse backrounds and experiences that is the true way to lead a full life.

7. Writing everynight is theraputic

   • Yes, but with the disclaimer of only going through old Journal entries when you have the emotional bandwidth

8. WHEN YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD

   • You can dress up Free City and Aviator Nation sweats, I stand by this.

9. Take time out everyday to take care of your mental health

   • yeah……

10. No matter how much you dislike your family they are the only ones truly looking out for you

    • In high school, I beefed hard with my entire family. At 27, I hold true the understanding that: it is all our first time on Earth. This grace has transformed all of my relationships.

11. Dancing once a day is good for the soul

    • I need to bring this back. Dance yourself clean.

12. PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE…in everyway posible, you may just surprise youself

    • I cannot think of a time in the past 27 years in which I regretted putting myself out there. Awkward as fuck, yes, and sometimes nothing came of it. Still, I have always gained either confidence or connection, and that’s an ample tradeoff for a small moment of uncomfrotability.

13. You are very afraid of rejection but try to be as open to it as you can

    • This fear now has a name: rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD). Getting diagnosed with ADHD in college gave me so much context to my emotional world. Sharing about my mental health is a challenge I want to step into this year.

14. ALL ADVENTOROUS WOMEN DO

    • okay she was obviously watching Girls season 1.

15. BE NICE TO EVERYONE…..espically those that are the rudest to you

    • Still trying to practice this to this day.

16. HOW YOU LOVE YOUSELF IS HOW YOU TREAT OTHERS TO LOVE YOU

    • This one hit harder the older I have gotten. If you accept crumbs, you will be served crumbs. I can be a big lover girl and still have self-respect. The true power comes in being fierce with your time and energy: the strongest currencies.

17. Life does not stop for you or anyone else no matter how much that may hurt.

    • Still true, but now I see the optimism in it: life is constantly moving, which means you can move to. You’re not trapped in the version of yourself someone else or your own false beliefs created for you. Every day is a chance to step out of the matrix of yourself.

I’m excited for 27 it feels less like reinventing and more like returning — to softness, to creativity, to the weird little things that used to make you feel alive before you were aware of an audience.

The post 27 Things I Learned at 27 appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

1. Sunlight

Real or artifical

Get up and get some sun — Whether that be from the actual sun or rays from a

Get up and get some sun – whether that’s from the actual sun or the rays from a SAD lamp. I just ordered one for the London winter because the sun seldomly makes an appearance.

2. Hydrate

common sense

3. Supplement

honestly when I’m not feeling my best the last thing I want to do is make a healthy meal so supplementing is very important during this season.

VITAMIN D

If you’re going to take anything, let it be this! Activates serotonin, which helps regulate your mood.

fish oil

Omega-3s support brain function & have antidepressant effects.

MAGNESIUM

calms the nervous system by promoting GABA, which reduces anxiety/depression

4. eat

Greens: Potassium, Omega 3, Vitamin B*, Magnesium*

Fatty fish (salmon/tuna): Omega 3

Chocolate: Serotonin*

Nuts: Omega 3, Magnesium

Citrus & Berries: Vitamin D*

5. rest = medicine

The whole point of fall/winter is to slow down; to go against that is to go against your body and the world’s natural rhythm. So get cozy and quiet.

6. phone a friend

I believe we’ve lost touch with the benefits of community — of genuinely leaning on one another.

But confiding in someone breaks those false beliefs. It fosters kinship, softens the edges of isolation, and reminds you that you don’t have to carry everything on your own.

We’ve been conditioned to believe there is valor in the solo struggle: 

in self-containment, 

self-soothing, 

self everything.

But confiding in someone breaks those false beliefs. It fosters kinship, softens the edges of isolation, and reminds you that you don’t have to carry everything on your own.

7. slow movement

Trust me I know this is the last you want to do….but movement does WONDERS for seratonin creation

Know that just like the seasons change

This too will pass

you will bloom again!

Mini Glossary

Neurotransmitter – the brain’s chemical messengers that influenence mood and energy.

GABA – a calming neurotransmitter that helps quiet anxious thoughts.

SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) – a seasonal dip in mood triggered by changes in light.

Seratonin– the “feel good” chemical that helps stabilize mood. 

Neurotransmitter – the brain’s chemical messengers that influenence mood and energy.

Vitamin B – a group of vitamins that support energy, mood, and nervous system balance

Vitamin D – the sunshine vitamin; helps regulatr serotonin and boost emotional well-being

The post Hot Girls Get: Seasonally Depressed appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

As a heterosexual woman, most of my life is shaped and commodified by the male gaze. I can remember the first time I ever thought about how the other sex perceived me. I was in fourth grade, and my all-girls school was having an event with the all-boys school down the road. Up until this point, I had not really spent time with the opposite sex aside from family, and siblings of my friends, as I have a female-dominated household and went to a single sex school.

My life had been exempt from the woes of the male gaze until I saw Alex Wolf. Justin Bieber was all the rage at the time. I remember screaming at my dad that my friends and I needed to see JB in concert on his debut My World tour, with one stipulation: I had to sit in a box (sorry, Dad). Alex had the signature JB swoosh, and with one gaze in his direction, my thoughts flooded with questions on what he thought about me. Not only what he thought about me but for the first time, I had thought about how I was being compared in his eyes to my friends.

This here is the double-edged sword of the male gaze, not only does it affect your relationship with yourself but your relationship with those around you. It’s primal almost a darwinistic suvival of the fittest to see if the guy you fancy will choose you above the rest, even if the rest are your best friends.

In college, we would have these big dinners at this restaurant called Sushi Hana, a shitty Japanese restaurant that served questionable fish in landlocked Colorado. We found refuge in Hana through afternoons of eating white rice mixed with eel sauce and spicy mayo, and 20-person+ sake bombs nights where no one knows how the check got paid.

Sophomore year had just started, and I lived legitimately a one-minute walk from Hana, where we were having our inaugural big group dinner. At the end of the table, I was chatting it up with Jimmy, a cute boy who lived in the frat across from my sorority. The night was written in the stars. I would definitely be going home with this Kappa Sig cutie; I knew it, and everyone at the table knew it. This was until a “sister” of mine swooped in on him post-dinner on the group walk to the Mansions. I remember being upset, not understanding why a friend would go after a guy everyone knew I was into.

After that night, I looked at this “sister” differently, but realized I was just another in a long chain of girls she’d snatched boys from—and I felt bad for her. She derived her self-worth not from her own amazing qualities or her friendships, but through the boys she met—whether organically or “taken” from her friends.

I am 26 now and obviously far from the adolescent minds of college-aged women, but this, I have to say, does not make me immune to women stuck in the male gaze matrix.

Moving to London this year, I immediately became close to a girl who was a couple of years older than me in college. I felt safe and familiar with her – we were from the same place and had many people in common. A great companion to discover this new city together.

It wasn’t until, like déjà vu, we were at a group dinner with the same setup as Sushi Hana – she and I on opposite sides of the table, and me chatting it up with a cutie. We were clearly into each other; I was getting winks from the table and questions from his friend like, “Are you into him?” Then she swoops in, coming down to where we’re sitting, and wedges herself between us—#1 red flag. The next course comes out, and she leaves. I think nothing of it until she returns post-course and sits between us again— #2 red flag. She then hijacks the conversation, turning it all towards herself, and then does the most elementary flirt move in the book: she puts on his glasses—#3 read flag.

When the next course arrives, she doesn’t move. Instead, she slides my plate and silverware towards herself, looks at me, and casually says I could “just eat something else from the table.” It was a small remark, but it landed heavily. That’s the thing about microaggressions, they’re quiet reminders of who’s allowed to take up space, and who’s expected to shrink. She used the language of politeness to conceal privilege beneath it – expecting me to fall into submission, to shut up and eat.

Instead of causing a scene, I leaned in and whispered, asking her what she was doing and to please return to her seat. Not only was it rude to switch places at a set dinner, but I told her I was trying to get to know this guy. She looked at me as if I had said something insane, feigned an excuse, and returned to her seat.

I wish that the story ended here and that she respected my obvious dibs and wing-womaned me into oblivion. Instead, she continued to corner and kiss him after we left dinner for dancing. I wish that she had apologized for breaking the unspoken girl code to me, but instead she said she didn’t understand why I was upset, as since “it wasn’t like he was my boyfriend or anything.”

The issue with being friends with women who derive all their confidence from male perception is that they are not a safe space for other women. When you’re fucked over by a friend via a guy, it’s never about the guy; it’s about the prioritization of the male gaze over the sanctity of female friendship.

The post Is Your Best Friend Stuck in the Male Gaze Matrix? appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

 MONTHLY BLISS. The B.L.I.S.S stands for:

B – Books (for reading recommendations and literary discussions)

L – Lifestyle (for wellness, cooking, and self-care)

I – Iona (I will share an antidote of how the last month went for me)

S – Skincare (for skincare tips and beauty)

S – Savor (for delicious recipes and cooking inspiration)

B- TELL ME LIES- I mean this kinda counts as a book recommendation because the TV series is based off novel of the same name by Carola Loving. This book needs to be required watching for every girl before she starts her freshman year of college. Everyone is going to meet a Stephen their freshman year. While tv Stephen is an extremely dramatized version of what your freshman year crush will put you through, it is all the same. He will gaslight and confuse you in ways you didn’t know existed. I speak from experience, I was traumatized by my own Stephen.

Overall, I believe ‘Tell Me Lies is a very accurate portrayal of college. In more ways than the extremely hard mental navigation of college boys.

L- Underconsumption

lets talk about this another time.

I- SKO BUFFS!

This past month flew by for me. I both loved it, but I’m also envious of the time I feel I wasted. On the bright side, I’m feeling much more confident in my teaching abilities. I’m realizing that part of being an instructor (or any type of teacher, really) requires an almost alter ego. My chosen alter ego is full of confidence—something I’m constantly working on. She has high energy, believes in herself, and you can really hear the bravado in her voice. I’ve been channeling her every morning for the past two months, and I can honestly say she’s starting to rub off on me.

A big highlight of this month was going back to CU Boulder for homecoming. I find myself envious of my past self. I mean, she had it good—living within walking distance of all her best friends in one of the best towns in America. (And I’m not just making that up—Boulder has been named one of the best places to live in the U.S. for years.)

Anyway, I had the best weekend with the best group of people. It’s much easier to look back at college with rose-colored glasses now that I’m farther removed from it. At the time, there were moments when it felt as if we were all engrossed in trench warfare. But this weekend…it changed everything. Maybe it is the Coach Prime effect? I mean can we talk about that game!!! I also saw more black people in Boulder this past weekend than I saw in my entire 3.5 years. It was so good that I started wondering, why did we ever leave?

I told my dad I wanted to go back every year for Homecoming now and he said “How about we not be one of those people….”

S- Skincare Simplified

Less is more, always remember that when it comes to skincare. Also it matters less what goop you’re putting on your face and much more what you’re putting in your body.

My skincare favs rn are sunscreen (using Le Roche posey rn because I ran out of Elta MD), 1 liter of water when you wake up, sun when available

My everyday skincare/makeup routine rn is sunscreen, Anastasia brow freeze or if I’m in a rush Anastasia brow gel, and Charlotte Tilbury pinkgasm. Charlotte, please change your applicators, because this highlight/blush combo is perfect. It gives the best natural glowy finish as if you’re not wearing makeup, you just have a glow.

Soft Services Buffing bar– This product is just amazing. I’ve tried a lot of exfoliators, and nothing compares to this. I love that it’s in a bar form because you can control the exfoliating intensity. I can really feel the micro-crystals working into my skin, and I’ve actually seen results—something I didn’t experience with pricier exfoliators. Oh, and you get two!

S- I haven’t been cooking for anything other than true sustenance this past month but Anya and Tessa introduced me to Spam Musubi and I’m still dreaming of it. I asked Anya what Spam is made of, and she said, “Honestly, probably nothing good.” And you know what? It tastes so delicious. Sometimes, the less you know, the better.

honorable mention: Moo Deng and her mother- just the dopamine this world needed.

The post Monthly Bliss: college boys, alter egos, & Moo Deng appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

1. The Black Girls Guide to Financial Freedom – Paris Woods

A great introductory guide to finance. I wish I had read this in college! (feeling a bit behind) This was a great start to my years goal of becoming more financially literate.

2. Eileen – Otessa Moshfegh

I knew this book was going to be a weird one because I have read Moshfegh before. I found the story to be good but the ending was a bit lackluster considering the build up.

3. Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts

Top five favorite books of all time. The type of book you read slow because you want to savor it. A true sensory delight, I really felt as if I were in Bombay with the protagonist. I clung to every everyword.

4. The Courage to be Disliked – Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

I have so many thoughts on the topic of Adlerian psychology focused on in this book. Overall, I found the topics to be very beneficial and positive. I certainly want to revisit later to further ingrain these principles in my brain.

5. Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver

I saw this novel on my best friend Beshy’s bookshelf. She has great taste so I knew I had to read. A unique page turner about growing up in the Appalachian Mountain region. I couldn’t put it down.

6. To Paradise – Hanya Yanagihara

700 pages, man I dont know how Yanagihara does it. A bit boring at times, I mean it took me two years to read. It was worth it in the end. Such a gorgeous story that frightened me at times because its social discourse is so on the nose. I’m just in awe of Yanagihara’s imagination.

7. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams

A boy I had a crush on told me this was his favorite book. So I read it. It’s not bad but it’s not great. It just didn’t hold my interest. My friend Tessa loves this book though! So to each their own

8. The Killer Across The Table – Mark Olshaker & John e. Douglas

Not for the faint of heart. I read this book because of the Netflix show ‘Mindhunter.’ Extremely graphic as the subject detail isn’t the most pleasant. A fascinating page turner nonetheless.

9. The Whole Story – John Mackey

I love Whole Foods. I could peruse the aisles for hours. I consider it a safe space. So while shopping there I grabbed a copy of Mackey, the founder of WF autobiography. I love learning about how people became successful. A great podcast on success is: ‘How I Built This’ by Guy Raz. Mackey’s story is inspiring but was a little too long for my taste.

10. Be Ready When Luck Happens – Ina Garten

My favorite memories with my Grandmother Bunny are watching Ina on the Food Network. To me, Ina is the epitome of elegance and class. I have looked up to her most of my life. This autobiography was such a treat. I loved learning more about Ina, Jeffery, and her journey to our televisions. A story about following your wildest dreams.

11. From Here to the Great Unknown – Lisa Marie Presley & Riley Keough

Nothing to say but wow! I could practically taste this book, as much of it is set in my hometown. Keough did an exceptional job outlining her family’s story. Listen to the audiobook its incredibly powerful!

12. The Master Margarita – Mikhail Bulgakov

I love Russian literature. It all started in Ms. Rubin’s English class my senior year of high school. When she had us read ‘Crime and Punishment’ by Dostoevsky. A boy I have a crush on recommended I read this novel and I loved it. It is whimsical and playful. Not was you expect from Russian literature but very enjoyable.

13. The Virgin Suicides – Jeffrey Eugenides

Honestly I had no business watching this movie so young. Directed by the brilliant Sofia Coppola, this move changed my pre-teen brain. It’s honestly probably the reason I was so angsty as a teen. While i had no reason for my angst, the Lisbon girls certainly did. I loved the book just as much as I love the movie. It gave much more insight into the girls and the boys that loved them. Stellar adaptation Stella.

14. Small Things Like These – Claire Keegan

Towards the end of the year I became hyperfixated with Irish history. Specifically, The Troubles. I devoured all the YouTube videos and movies on the subject. Movies such as ‘In the Name of the Father’ have stuck with me to this day. It’s a part of history many do not know about. This book while short packs a punch, it’s haunting without revealing too much. I can’t believe it’s based on true events.

15. Astrology for the Aquarian Age – Alexandra Mark

I found this book while celebrating my parents garage. I have always been into astrology, mainly because my mom has always been. Whenever I make a new connection her first question is: “What is their star sign?” Influential people have been using astrology throughout history. To predict the best times for their dreams etc. This book came out in 1970 yet still gives many practical tools to understand yourself and others, like your crushes chart

Reading is hot!

Download Libby and read for free. All you need is a library card!

The post The 15 Books I Read Last Year appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row – Anthony Ray Hinton

I couldn’t recommend this book enough…it changed my life. You will have so much reverence and gratitude for your life when you finish.

Giovanni’s Room – James Baldwin

A beautiful Baldwin classic. A tale of an American man in Paris who gets wrapped up in the life of an Italian bartender, Giovanni. A fast paced and emotional read.

Relational Intelligence: The People Skills You Need for the Life of Purpose You Want – Dr. Dharius Daniels

One of my mom’s picks she cannot stop talking about! ‘This book gives you the tools you need to define, discern, align, assess, and activate your relationships to unlock your greatest potential.’

The Warmth of Other Suns – Isabel Wilkerson

This book chronicles an important black historical event The Great Migration – ‘the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life.’ Wilkerson personifies this historical event by taking us through three unique individuals experiences.

The post BHM REQUIRED READING appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

MOONLIGHT

Directed by Barry Jenkins 

This film is more than growing up poor, black, and gay. It is more than drug abuse, mass incarceration, and school violence. Moonlight is a personal film and a social document of the harsh Black American reality, masked by beautiful light, music and color. 

13th

Directed by Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay’s storytelling and unflinching examination of the current day mass incarceration of Black Americans, makes this documentary an essential and thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of race and justice and how it ties back to the Thirteenth Amendment. 

Manohla Dargis, from the New York Times, aptly describes it as a cinematic call to conscience, laying bare the soul of the nation and challenging viewers to reconsider their understanding of these deeply ingrained societal issues.

Get Out

Directed by Jordan Peele 

“Get Out” is one of my favorite films that exposes the reality that Black Americans can never breathe easy—a political statement hidden in a survival thriller. Jordan Peele uses jump-scare tactics and satire to prove a new way that white people have found to keep the institution of slavery alive. It’s a thought-provoking thriller with lots to say, a classic. 

Black Panther

Directed by Ryan Coogler

“Black Panther” holds immense cultural significance as one of the first black superheroes in a blockbuster film, breaking barriers for representation in one of the largest and highest-grossing franchises, Marvel. For non-white audiences, the struggle for representation is challenging, making this movie a pivotal moment in cinema. Beyond its superhero façade, “Black Panther” is a poignant exploration of the black experience in America, Africa, and the world, tackling modern-day issues that affect the black community. The film’s success, evident in its record-breaking box office numbers, goes beyond mere cinematic achievements. It catalyzed a dialogue on the lack of relatable characters for marginalized communities. It altered the perspective of future generations of black children, offering them a positive and empowering representation onscreen.

The post BHM REQUIRED WATCHING appeared first on Everything in Moderation.

Welcome to my new series MONTHLY BLISS. The B.L.I.S.S stands for:

B – Books (for reading recommendations and literary discussions)

L – Lifestyle (for wellness, cooking, and self-care)

I – Iona (I will share an antidote of how the last month went for me)

S – Skincare (for skincare tips and beauty)

S – Savor (for delicious recipes and cooking inspiration)

BOOKS

This year, I am taking my financial literacy seriously. So what better book to start the year off with than “The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom” by Paris Woods? The topic of finance is extremely daunting to me, but this book made it digestible. Woods explains a myriad of topics (401ks, buying a car, loans, etc.) through her own personal anecdotes. Her personal trials and tribulations made me feel less alone in my financial ignorance because it can be learned! If you are like me and need a great introduction to the world of finance, this is the book for you!

LIFESTYLE

Coconut Oil/Tea Tree Oil: I’m really into my teeth right now. You could say I’m in my tooth fairy era. So the first thing I am including in this category is oil pulling. I am going to be real with you oil pulling really grossed me out, I simply do not like the texture or taste of coconut oil, and could not get myself to complete the full fifteen minutes you are supposed to swish. That all changed when my friend Rodney told me to try putting two dots of tea tree oil on my spoon. This not only makes the taste a bit better but Tea tree oil has many of benefits. Use unrefined virgin coconut oil for swishing, always swish in the morning on an empty stomach for 15 minutes.

Benefits of Oil Pulling/Tea Tree Oil:

• reduces bacteria

• keeps gums healthy

• benefits your gut health as the mouth and gut are connected

• keeps your breath fresh

• tea tree oil us a natural antiseptic that combats bacteria and viruses in the mouth.

Rainbow Mushroom 11:11 and Lion’s Mane: I love these because I can really feel the effect and they are so easy to incorporate in your everyday. I used to take lion’s mane powder, but I found it impractical for my everyday routine. You can throw these in anything you drink throughout the day, as they have no taste. Lion’s mane is great for my cognitive function and eliminating my brain fog. 11:11 acts as a multivitamin and is packed with 11 different mushrooms that benefit your immune system and mind.

Copper Tongue Scraper: When I was in yoga teacher training we did a series of cleansing exercises called kriyas (I can talk about this another time), and one of them was tongue scraping (Jihva Dhauti). We were told to always use one made of copper because it is naturally antibacterial and provides enzymes needed for the health of our mouths. If you can’t get your hands on a copper tongue scraper I also have a stainless steel one which is just as good!

Iona

First as a note of self to whomever is reading this: do not get you wisdom teeth out when you are 25. Please get them out earlier because the earlier the easier.

I was frightened to get mine out and honestly rightfully so because I am still feeling the effects to this day. The hardest part of all of this is feeling out of control. Control is something I am always trying to work on and it’s comical I started off this year so out of control (aka my biggest fear). I thought I was going to get a ton of work done while I was recovering but I instead was in so much pain I didn’t have much time for anything.

I have learned from this whole ordeal how much my health means to me, I want to make sure I make it a priority this year.

SKINCARE

Westman Atlier’s Liquid Super Loaded All-Over Illuminator Drops with Vitamin C: I cannot live without this, I love the way it makes my skin look. I don’t dislike the Drunk Elephant drops but these are just on another level, I truly look sun kissed & they have Vitamin C! I am so excited to wear this all summer.

Living Libations Best Skin Ever – Sea buckthorn: If you get anything from this list let it be this. I have wanted to try Living Libations for some time now, and it did not disappoint. This cleanser is amazing because it not only cleanses your face but it also moisturizes it. In the morning I will use this on its own because it takes the place of my moisturizer but it’s just one product. I love it, you should go get it!

Nars Afterglow Liquid Blush- In high school, I was a big Nars orgasm blush girl so when I learned they recently made a liquid version I had to jump on it. This color is just gorgeous and has stood the test of time for a reason.

SAVOR

Petit Pot Chocolate- So, we earlier talked about how I got my wisdom teeth out, which means the majority of Jan was spent basically eating baby food. I have always seen Petit Pots in the grocery store, and bought them for a post surgery treat. I ate like three a day. I love both flavors but the chocolate is so reminiscent of the chocolate pudding I ate as a child. I am now desperately in search for the pistachio flavor.

Ghee- I love ghee, it was on sale at Whole Foods and I stocked up because it is a little on pricer side. In India ghee is apart of Ayurveda, meaning it is used as medicine. Ghee also has a super high smoke point so I am excited to use it in a ton of different recipes.

I hope you all enjoyed! I am excited to share even more in the next months!

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