I Don’t Want No Scrubs…But This One…

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How cute!

How cute!

I love the business of reviewing products from companies built and owned by people that look like me. I don’t remember how I happened upon Aurelia Zierre on Instagram but I followed the page because it was a company that made and sold body goods and is owned by a woman that looked like. I’ve been wanting to exfoliate ever since my sistar Victoria told me she did, her skin is the clearest, buttery soft proof. I guess I was waiting on this heaven sent…

So, how did I get this cute, little package at my doorstep? Well, I reached out to the owner Aurelia via an Instagram comment….I know, I know. Totally “unprofessional”, right?

WRONG! I got her attention and immediately followed up with a well-written email. By the way, the owner was incredibly prompt, professional and punctual when we corresponded.  I chose to review the French Lavender body scrub and ended up with more goodies than I bargained for. I received my package in the mail within four days through USPS. Enclosed was my sample of French Lavender body scrub from Aurelia Zierre and a bite of soap from the company’s skincare partner, Soap by Yiaya. Stay tuned for my review of Yiaya’s product next week.

Important Information:

 

How much does it cost?:

What is it?: Handmade, all natural exfoliating skin scrub.

What’s in it?: Whole Lavender, Vitamin E Oil, Himalayan Pink Salt, Olive Oil, Lavender Oil, Aloe Vera Gel.

Claim: Exfoliates and rejuvenates skin.

How do you use it?: Removing the product from the plastic bag it came in, I distributed the product on to my hands; then massaged the product all over my freshly washed body to D’Angelo. I was careful to avoid my yoni and my nipple piercings…sometimes TMI will save your life, LOL. By the end of Untitled (How Does It Feel), I was well loved and proceeded to rinse the product from my body with warm water.

How long does it last?: All scrubs are made from all natural ingredients so no preservatives are used. Store in a cool dry place with a temperature not exceeding 72 degrees. Refrigerate after two months or in general to expand life of scrub. Avoid excess water exposure.

Key Characteristics: All natural, handmade, black owned and woman owned and operated business

Final Thoughts:
I’m a sucker for handwritten anything. It’s the poet in me. The notes left by Aurelia were absolutely precious and so endearing. They got me excited to use the products because of that extra care taken in sitting down and composing a special message tailored to me. I used my sample-sized scrub (about 0.5 ounces) in the shower. The texture was grainy and all ingredients are clearly recognizable to the naked eye. The subtle scent pleasantly lingered on my skin well after my shower. I was smooth to the touch, well moisturized, and had an enhanced natural glow as well as improved mood. Definitely recommend this scrub to anyone after a long day or having trouble sleeping. Buy the 8 oz. jar! You do not want to run out. I’m excited to try the other scrubs from this company.

Keep up with Aurelia Zierre: Store | Instagram | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Untitled (How Does It Feel)…To Be Featured

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Your work speaks to people but getting published speaks for you. You’ve been featured…now what? By the way, the title of this blog post came about because  I couldn’t think of a catchy title BUT I was listening to D’Angelo and you can’t go wrong with D’Angelo. Ask the parents of any 90s baby.

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Put it on your resume: Being published on a blog is a great way to show people that you should be taken seriously because someone has featured your work and praised it…someone other than your mom. Sorry, mom. This counts as experience and exposure. Your work was studied, critiqued and then chosen amongst so many others. Celebrate that! Blogs are viewed worldwide in a matter of minutes depending on the flow of traffic that day. Like I mentioned in “Occupation: Professional Creative”, getting published is your shadow, it follows you everywhere you go and never leaves you. Influential people you meet are able to view your work after meeting you, it’s how they’ll jog their memory.

Be shameless (well, like me): Promote your work on your social networks. Show your followers, the individuals that consume your art, that you are being proactive and productive in regards to your artistic career. They want to see what else you’re doing besides creating. With this being said, DO NOT spam your timelines and newsfeeds with links. That is the quickest way to be muted or unfollowed altogether. It’s annoying. Tweet, post and tumble in moderation. Be considerate of the patience of your audience, posting the link should remind them to check it out when they have time not avoid you completely.

Open your mouth: Tell everyone about your feature. Your mom, dad, grandparents, boss. Be proud of this accomplishment, especially if you’ve been featured more than once. This is a sign that this blog or website has taken an interest in you and your brand. Keep in close contact for possible collaborations in the future.

Say thank you: Yes, do it. It means alot and your mother raised you right. Send the blogger or website a personalized note or email expressing your appreciation. Thank them for the opportunity, exposure and support. Close the message with upcoming projects that suit the content climate.

Connecting the Dots with Charlie Shae

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Charlie Shae, a twenty something from Philly, is on

point….literally! This pointillism powerhouse is amazing.

She and her artwork represent life and all its perspectives.

Connect the dots with Charlie on Instagram and Twitter.

All artwork is available for purchase,

just shoot Charlie at artbycshae@gmail.com.

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Young, Creative & Unemployed: What or who is the inspiration behind your art?

Charlie Shae: Everything. Time. Space. Silence. The screams. Experiences of my own and people around me. Life, in general.

YCU: What is your creative process like?

CS: I zone out. I put music on, grab a bag of Doritos (I am slightly addicted), and I go. Inspiration hits me so randomly. Sometimes, I go weeks without drawing or painting.

YCU: What was your journey to becoming a creative like?

CS: I had always been creative but it was difficult as I became an adult to really display it. My parents were not supportive of me taking art at Temple University, so I put my creative juices in fashion for fun and ended up hating the whole design process. I completely stopped creating for years until I finished school and then I was like now what. In 2013, I started painting around July/August and started portraits around April of last year. I vowed to never let anything take me anyway from art again.

YCU: In what ways are you consciously bringing goodness into your life and how can the average person incorporate these practices into their own life?

CS: I am big on the practice of meditating and the benefits it can bring to your wellbeing. I meditate when life is good and when it is stressful. I am also a strong believer in being positive even in bad situations. What you put into the universe is what you get out.

YCU: What effect do you want your art to have on the world? What does it say about you?

CS: I want to create art that everyone, regardless of background, can relate to. I want to stir up emotions, create controversy and give a sense of escaping. Art is another form of communication. It connects people.

I think my art expresses my outlook on life and how open minded I am to different perspectives.

YCU: In a world full of distractions how do you stay focused and disciplined while nurturing your craft?

CS: I make it a part of my everyday life. My schedule is pretty much centered around art between school and work. I try to learn a new technique every month, and I, at least, draw something everyday.

YCU: Any last words for the folks reading?

CS: Life is all about finding yourself, embarking on a journey and giving love. My journey is an artistic one that is allowing me to discover new people, places and passions. Find yours and live.

Why I’m Not Trending

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I know this is random but here are some things I’ve gathered from your ‘favorite people’ on social media. I may be bitter but damn it, at least I’m honest.

Perception: The very idea social media is based off of. You show what you want people to see and know how you’d like to show it. (Read: the grass isn’t greener on the other side and the “flowers” are decorated weeds)

Success: Just like the real world, this small larger world of the Internet is run off of success (and subsequently failure as well). Nobody wants to hear about your struggle or your story until you’ve closed the chapter on it. Consumers (because that’s what your followers essentially are) don’t want  to wait around and actually grow with you. They want to see success and something to aspire to . Nobody aspires to see progress, just success. With progress comes error, setbacks, and mistakes. Success is the polished ideal we crave.

Expertise: To become an expert, just do something alot. Take amazing, artistic pictures and post them on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. Cryptic, overused caption about positivity, “your journey”, or “the light” completely optional. Be all about that thing. No formal education or certifications required.

Popularity. You never get away from it in the real world and it’s magnified here. People flock to what’s socially acceptable. Everything positive is an inspiration and aspiration. Everything that ain’t this, ain’t shit. We all spout the same views on points of interest yet the pretty avis with the recycled opinions get the retweets and likes. By the way, when did “your truth” become fact to a whole demographic? How does that work, exactly??

 

Writer Crush Wednesday: Sade Harrison

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Sade Harrison is a native from Augusta, Georgia. Studying Criminal Justice at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, she plans on using her degree to aid people of color and to speak light into dark places. She has been a writer most of her life, but only recently has she chosen to spread her words to other people. She has goals to become a published author, but as of now she enjoys spreading her work through her website (adivinity.blogspot.com). She wants those around her to experience a peaceful, yet strong moment when reading her poetry.

Blog | Twitter | Instagram

Young, Creative and Unemployed: How do you navigate writer’s block?

Sade Harrison: I meditate through it, I search my emotions. Sometimes I take it as a hint from the universe that something is changing within me, and that I should be patient with myself, my craft, my writing.

YCU: How important are words to you?

SH: Words form everything. Words draft emotions. I am made of nothing but words put into actions.

 YCU: Your poems focus on motifs of love, loss and redemption. What attracted you to that form of poetry?

SH: I write about what I know best, honestly. I have been hurt, to the point where I didn’t think I would make it through healing. I write with the words that I am connected with.

YCU: How have you defined your voice as a writer?

SH: Oh gosh, this is a hard one. I would say that my poems are a mixture of softness and harshness. You can always sense the moment of hope in my words, the moment of hurt. Every poem has an underlying, “you’re going to make it out of this alive.”

YCU: What does your writing space look like?  How do you make it personal?

SH: An absolute mess! No, really, I don’t have a designated space, it’s really where it hits me. In a way, I’m not just a writer, I feel as though the words are transmitted through me. All of my school notebooks have scribbles of poetry in them. Sometimes I write at work.

 YCU: How long have you been sharing your words with an audience? Why do you choose to do so?

SH: For about a year now. I choose to do so, because reading other people’s poetry helped me through the hardest times of my life. I think that is what I want most, to help people through their tough moments and shine light on them in their happy moments.

YCU: What is some advice you’d like to share with new writers?

SH: Make your craft, your craft. Speak your truth and only the truth that YOU know.

YCU: You’re one of my writer crushes. Who are some of yours?

SH: Nayyirah Waheed, Dae Lee, Maya Angelou.