At some point during the Safe Journey Retreat, I jokingly referred to myself as a retired influencer. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, they became real, and the more I said them, the more right it felt. I have been thinking about whether continuing to blog, create digital content, and work with brands was right for me since 2021, but it took over a year to finally come to terms with the end of what has been a large piece of my life for the past decade. Here are four reasons why I stopped being an influencer after 12.5 years and building a six-figure brand. I Could No Longer Balance A ..read more

This post is sponsored by AstraZeneca.  One of my favorite history of race and medicine books is How Cancer Crossed the Color Line, by Keith Wailoo. I remember reading it in graduate school and loved the way that it reframed our contemporary discussion of cancer disparities in a historical context. Wailoo’s book examines how beliefs about race become embedded into cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research, and how those beliefs have changed over time.  Aside from the academic contributions, one of the reasons I like that book so much is that it helps explain why cancer seems to impac ..read more

I’ve had sisterlocks for a few weeks now and am officially obsessed! I was getting so many questions about them that I decided to dust off the blog’s cobwebs and put together a quick Q&A to house all the questions in one place. I’ll keep this updated as more and more questions come up! Sisterlocks vs. Loose Natural Hair Q&A Wait, what are sisterlocks?! Sisterlocks are a form of microlocs — very small locs (smaller than the width of a pencil) in comparison to regular dreadlocks. Sisterlocks are a trademarked technique of installing locs with a special grid parting pattern using a spe ..read more

Last week I featured Black-owned beauty and skincare brands on the blog in honor of Black History Month. I’ve really leaned into home decor and interior design over the past few years, and I have been intentional about making sure that I have at least one Black-owned or Black-designed piece of furniture, art, or decor in every single room in my home. This week, I want to share with y’all some of my favorite Black-owned home decor brands. From paint, plants, furniture makers and artists, to wallpaper and accessory sellers, there is something for everyone on this list. Keep scrolling to read abo ..read more

In 2020, I made a commitment to actively support Black-owned businesses, and since then I have come across SO MANY incredible Black owned beauty brands. Rather than being stingy with all my discoveries, I’m sharing them with you! This year, the theme for Black History Month is Black Health and Wellness, and I definitely consider my skincare and beauty routines as an integral part of my self-care and wellness. From deep conditioning my hair to massaging serums into my skin and even experimenting with fun nail designs, my investment in Black-owned beauty is an investment in my own health and wel ..read more

It brought me so much joy that when I shared on Instagram that I was teaching a class this semester at Notre Dame on the history of race and racism in science, so many people asked if they could tune in to one of my lectures or access my syllabus. Like many of you, I wasn’t taught about the ways in which scientific knowledge was used to create, reinforce, and further ideas about race in high school, and barely covered the topic in college. It was not until I started graduate school that I began to learn about how race has been embedded in modern science and medicine, and once I read one book ..read more

I have been working regularly with brands in a paid capacity since 2014, long before the term “influencer” was used to describe creators who mobilized social media and digital platforms for marketing. Since then, I’ve collaborated with over 200 brands, ranging from large Fortune 500 companies to small businesses that sadly no longer exist. Over the last eight years, with increasing opportunities, more visibility, and exponentially more professional and life responsibilities, I have had to be more intentional and selective about the brand partnerships to which I agree. Whether you’re planning t ..read more

Aside from our home, one of the most expensive things I own is my college degree Idk about you but when upon every graduation there’s always an option to have your degree framed by the university but it always costs damn near as much as a course credit. So if you’re anything like me, your degrees have been sitting in storage (in my case, at my parent’s house) for months, maybe even years. Well it’s time to show them off, cuz you earned them! Whether you’re a fresh graduate or you finished school decades ago, here are some stylish and affordable ways to display your degrees. Acrylic Clear Float ..read more

I am so excited to finally share my home office decor in our new home in Indiana. If y’all read my blog post on how I plan and design interior spaces then you understand my thought process. For my home office, I wanted it to be a place that would spark creativity as well as feel cosy and homely. I also wanted to incorporate black owned decor pieces- y’all know I’m all about supporting anything black owned! As for the general aesthetics of the room, I went for a chic, minimal, white-COME ON neutrals! And some gold decor pieces to tie everything together! Every interior space I’ve created starts ..read more

Rather than having a list of goals or resolutions for each year, I prefer to have a guiding word, mantra, or scripture to shape my thinking for each year. Last year, my word was focus. I wanted to focus on two things: work that directly aligns with God’s purpose for me and creating time to spend with my family, friends, and myself. I’ve got to admit, I lost focus towards the end of the year as I was struggling to balance my post-doc, marriage, motherhood, Cohort Sistas, my business, and maintaining my new home. By October, I was more stressed than I’ve ever been. I remember one day when I was ..read more