29 Rooms

Last Thursday I went to 29Rooms. 29Rooms is an experience curated by Refinery29. It is an imaginative and interactive funhouse of style, culture, & technology, brought to life by a group of global artists and visionaries across mediums, and powered by you. This year’s theme is Turn It Into Art.

29Rooms began in 2015 during New York Fashion Week to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Refinery29. After its success, 29Rooms continued celebrating its third installation in New York earlier this year before bringing the unforgettable experience out to Los Angeles. 29Rooms Los Angeles is going on December 7-10 and December 14-17. The exhibit invites you to come create, play & explore a multi-sensory playground, where you will celebrate the transformative power of creativity. See below to see the photos of me making my way through each of the 29 individually curated rooms that are packed with magic and brimming with inspiration.

Below are my favorite rooms!

Room 22- The Future is Female

Room 23- Here to Create

Room 21- What's your Frequency?

She “Wanna” Vacay in Cabo

I was hell-bent on going on more international trip before the year ended, and I made it happen. My last trip of the year was to Cabo, Mexico and it was everything I needed to recharge and refocus to end the year strong.

When I vacation, I am usually the person with daily schedules curated however, this time I didn't plan a thing. Beyond the flight and lodging situation, I just went to Cabo with an open mind and need to relax and have fun. Honestly, I may have to start traveling more like that! This was one of my most relaxing trips.

My friends and I stayed in an AirBnB that was 20 miles from the airport, a few steps away from the beach, and less then 4 miles from downtown. People who visit Cabo usually stay in a resort however, AirBnB was a more cost effective option for me. The AirBnB was new, had a roof top pool, amazing view, and near all the resorts so it was easy to catch a taxi. 

Day 1 we rented a small private boat, sipped champagne, ate snacks, swam in the ocean, and danced our lives away. We originally were going to pay for a boat cruise but met someone who gave us a great deal on a private boat. BEST THING EVER!!! 

Day 2 we were able finesse a cabana on a resort, so we laid out on the beach and ate and drank all day. Oh, and I got confused for Tiffany Haddish and people asked if I could take pictures their kids.

Day 2.5 more beach! 

Day 3 relaxed on the AirBnB roof top pool and watched the sunset. 

Day 4, more beach and a really sketchy massage!

What's Underneath?

So while I am a lover of makeup, I love what’s underneath even more. Often times I have to take a break from makeup and appreciate the skin the good lord has blessed me with. 

I don’t by any means have perfect skin but I’ve learned what works for me and what brings out my natural glow.  Below are a few products that I use ritually and that I’d love for you to try out if possible.

Face

1. Manuka Honey Walnut Scrub - $16.99

2.  Mask of Magnimity - $14.95

3.  Zen Charcoal - $12.99 

4.  African Black Soap - $10

5.  Argan Oil Primer - $7.73

6. Witch Hazel - $9.64

https://www.lushusa.com/face/masks/mask-of-magnaminty/02129.html 

Body  

1.  Soapy Faith - $6

2.  African Black Soap - $5

3.  Vanity Wash - $10

4.  Vanity Oil - $10

5.  Coco Nut Oil - $9.95

https://www.etsy.com/listing/278175052/gentleness-clear-and-white-handcraftedhttps://www.etsy.com/listing/278175052/gentleness-clear-and-white-handcrafted 

http://thevanityshop.bigcartel.com/product/purchase-individual-vanity-box-items-here 

You’re Worth More than Gold

Melanin is $353 per gram. Gold is priced at $40.78 per gram. Let that sink in, you’re worth more than gold. 

And if you have been living under a rock and are not familiar with the term melanin, here you go... Melanin is a broad term for a group of natural pigments found in most organisms.  Melanin is produced within the skin in cells called melanocytes and it is the main determinant of the skin color of darker-skinned humans.

Melanin is Ubiquitous in every entity on Planet Earth that has hue/color. Melanin is the source of what gives color to skin, hair, eyes, plants, oil, animals, volcano's everything imaginable that is creative and colorful. Melanin is 100% activated through sun contact with Black/Indigenous Peoples.  Melanin has become a proud statement in the black community over the last few years, as we are now more than ever embracing our culture , colour and hair and it brings my heart great joy to see black women embracing their blackness, natural hair, distinctive features and beautiful brown bodies!

For so long society has conditioned us to be ashamed of many of our distinct feautures and this is reclaiming our power. I personally thank Yah that I wasn’t one of those women who ever equated beauty with skin tone. My mother, my grandmother, and other women around me growing up where all very proud of their darker complexions and taught me to love my own and I want to encourage you to do the same. 

It was so disheartening growing up and not seeing accurate representation of darker complected girls in the media. It was even more disturbing to hear the statement, “you are cute for a dark skin girl”, from black boys growing up. However, we are living in different times now. While our melanin, high cheek bones, big lips, and curvy features where once mocked they are now being imitated, so don’t ever let anyone black, white, or other ashame you for looking like your natural self. 

As mentioned above the very thing that illuminates and gives our skin its tone is worth more than gold. There are black markets and shady shit going on like the kidnapping of our women and girls to procure this melanin magic. Your worth more than gold baby, protect it and embrace it daily!!!