Everything She Wants

For many of us, the recent events and times have prompted greater reflection and deeper introspection. And journaling can be cathartic and a constructive way to process both our positive and negative thoughts and feelings, and to remember that we can still find hope and joy in the midst of of pain and sorrow.   Another helpful tool to unplug and turn inward during this unpredictable period when days and weeks have often become a blur (and we've spent way too much time glued to our computers and tech devices) is to map out daily appointments and personal and professional goals.  So this holiday season, treat yourself and a loved one to a gift that will keep on giving -- a personalized devotional journal and a planner that promotes self-care. Paper Sunday You won’t find a more personalized Christian scripture journal or agenda anywhere else, except at Paper Sunday. Every single page will have your name or the name of the person you are giving it to. It’s the perfect gift for newlywed

What to Send Up When It Goes Down , an interactive play written by Aleshea Harris and directed by Whitney White taps into the gravity of the racially polarized times we're living in.  If Public Enemy's woke  anthem, "Fight the Power," were a theatrical work, this would be it.   Cast member Denise Manning./Photo by Donna Ward   Presented by BAM and Playwrights Horizons in association with The Movement Theatre Company through July 11 th at BAM Fisher (321 Ashland Place, $25) , I attended a performance of  What to Send Up When It Goes Down  and a week later I'm still reeling. The evening began with a pre-show lobby experience, an installation of photographs of men, women and children who mercilessly and senselessly lost their lives to anti-Black violence, including Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland and Freddie Gray.  From the outside of the BAM building some of the portraits of Black lives lost are illuminated like saints in stained

As soon as  you wake up, it's easy for your mind to get cluttered with thoughts of the mountain of tasks in front of you -- work deadlines, bills that need to be paid, helping the kids with their homework, and household chores like grocery shopping, doing laundry, cooking and cleaning the house.   It can be overwhelming. To help quiet what is called "the monkey mind"in meditation (a term that refers to being unsettled, restless or confused), Everything She Wants was gifted The Good Morning Journal: 5-Minute Guided Reflections to Start Your Day with Inspiration, Purpose and a Plan  (Molly Burford, $14.99). Each day is a blank slate—a gift that we choose how to use. You can begin each day with clarity, purpose, and inspiration with  The Good Morning Journal . This beautifully packaged, easy-to-use guided journal is filled with quick, thoughtful prompts that help you recognize what you want to accomplish—and why—and create a simple plan to achieve your goals. You’ll also fi

I'm not a wig girl.  But during the pandemic, I wasn't able to get my twist extensions redone as often as I like.  So I started to consider wearing a wig as a manageable protective style option and an easy way to change up my 'do and look polished during  Zoom calls .  As a wig novice, however, I  didn't  know where to start. A nd  the curly synthetic wig I purchased on Amazon was not  entirely t he natural looking vibe I was going for. So  Everything  She Wants enlisted Mayvenn wig expert Schae Graham to offer six easy steps for installing a lace front wig , which she says offers versatility -- from wavy to  straight and from long to short -- without damaging your hair.   Checking the Unit:  First, examine the wig to make sure that all combs and straps are in the correct place. Prepping Your Hair:  Creating the right foundation is important! Make sure that your hair is braided down, or in some form of braids or twists. This ensures that your wig will lay as flat as p

It's a myth that African Americans and other people of color can't get skin cancer. The truth is that s kin cancers, including melanoma, affect Black and Hispanic people at a disproportionately deadly rate when compared to white people. So if you see something suspicious like  a new, unusual growth or a change in an existing mole anywhere on your body , schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or dermatologist right away. Here are some key facts: An average five-year melanoma survival rate is only 67 percent in Black people versus 92 percent in white people. Late-stage melanoma diagnoses are more common in Hispanic and Black patients than in non-Hispanic white patients. When skin cancer is found in Black and Hispanic people, they tend to be diagnosed at a later stage and, as a result, have a worse prognosis. MedStar Health shares the following information to debunk common misconceptions around skin cancer and melanoma:    MYTH: SKIN CANCER ONLY AFFECTS FAIR SK

Remember clothing?  As much as we love our athleisure, we can still recall what it was like to wake up and put on something other than hoodies, T-shirts, joggers and leggings. And now that coronavirus vaccines are available and we're resuming some sort of normalcy, we look forward to traveling again and meeting up with fellow vaccinated family and friends for brunch and outdoor fun (still wearing masks and socially distancing in public spaces). We also look forward to refreshing our wardrobe.  But if you want to make room for new garments, it's time to declutter and find a new home for the clothes, shoes and accessories you haven't worn in a season. Donating to a thrift store or charitable organization is always a good option.  For certain items in new or nearly new condition, however, you can also earn some cash by selling them at a consignment shop.   Here are several e-commerce and retail consignment shops we love: thredUp  makes cleaning out your closet easy.  Simply re