November Recap and Favorites

I made some changes during the month of November, one of which includes my hair. I got my first curl cut or curly cut, whichever term you want to use to describe it. I’m pretty excited about it and I did a quick video about it on my channel and a more detailed video will come on the Wednesday coming up.

I don’t know what it was, but something about the last half of November spurred me to get some things in my life together personally and professionally. I think a part of it was just accepting that I want to wear many hats and I will wear them in the best way possible.

I finished the first season of my podcast, Most Fashionable Crime, which you should listen to if you haven’t already. I am so proud of myself for actualizing this idea. It was received well and I can’t wait to produce more things — all the things actually.

If you have read my other recaps, you will see that this recap has a lot more entertainment factors listed. I have really been trying to slow down and live in the present. There has been so many movies, TV shows, music, and books that I have missed out on enjoying. I decided to set more time aside for just unwinding and doing pretty much nothing. I am trying to find the balance of working to achieve the life I want, but not always being “on my grind” or “hustling'“ because I hate those terms and I want to live more leisurely.

Because I read so many books for my podcast and for fashion research, I decided I just need to get into audiobooks. The Audiobook I listened to this month is Jessica Simpson’s memoir, “Open Book”. This was a pretty interesting read. I liked how open Jessica was about not being the most successful popstar among the likes of Britney Spears, but how she learned well into adulthood how to be comfortable in her career which is very successful.

Favorite Music:

I haven’t listened to a bunch of new music, but I have been listening to India Shawn’s latest EP, “Before We Go.” She is such a great artist and her music is truly enjoyable. One of my favorite songs on the album is Don’t Play With My Heart, but I have to throw Cali Love in there too.

Of course I listened to Adele’s new album. While I don’t relate to it, it’s a great album. I got pinches of Motown, Solange, Amy Winehouse, and Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell while listening to this album. I believe my favorite on the album is the closer, “Love Is A Game.”

Next up is Beyoncé’s “Be Alive” for the King Richard soundtrack. That song is both cinematic and musical perfection. She and Dixson did what had to be done on that song. It is truly beautiful.

Favorite Movies:

Shoutout to HBOMax, I don’t have an account, but somebody does (and I don’t give out their password.)

I watched Dune and I fell back in love with my desire to pursue in costume design. Costume design is one of the reasons why I even watched to study fashion design and I have dabbled in it ever since I was in a play in high school. I personally loved the work that Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan did for the movie. It reminded me of when I went to see Black Panther twice in theaters mainly because I loved the costume design (by Oscar-winner Ruth E. Carter) so much.

King Richard was nicely done. I wish there we saw more beads, but it felt like a lead-up to more movies about the Venus Williams and Serena Williams. It was nice to sit and watch that with family. I enjoyed the focus being on Richard Williams and Venus Williams as well because they truly laid the foundation for Serena to become the GOAT. Where would be if we had fathers or figures in our lives to push us to excel in that way? Who knows, but you can tell both Venus and Serena highly respect their father.

Favorite TV Shows:

Of course Insecure is on the list. This show has been with me since I was in college and I am so grateful for and inspired by Issa Rae. Seeing her growth from the Awkward Black Girl YouTube series to the paths she creates for herself and others in the entertainment industry is truly amazing. This final season has been a joy to watch because life really is not cut and dry. There are plenty of grey areas and we are constantly making decisions, thinking about “what-if”, pondering our past, all the while trying to plan some semblance of the future.

The Sex Lives of College Girls is another HBO Original. Fortunately, I watched most of the episodes before ever seeing the trailer. If you come across the trailer, don’t watch it, it pretty spoils a good chunk of the series. I think some of the writing on the show is not accurate to what an 18-year-old college student would say, but overall I get a good chuckle from it and will be staying the course.

My plan for December is to just slow down and live in the present as I mentioned earlier. I have been running myself ragged trying to do it all and it’s not enjoyable nor is it allowing me to be my most creative. I am been spending less time online and just sitting on my couch enjoying a movie or switching up my workouts. I even switched up my YouTube channel to have more “life” content which I am surprised has been well-received.

I am finally doing research and development for my own fashion label that will be presented. I always do research and development, but I didn’t really have a direction I was going it. It was a bit all over the place which can be fun. I am going to start on costume design mini projects and hopefully partner with local theaters to volunteer my services or just apprentice and learn more about the field.

I feel like the last month of the year is when people try to push to hit every goal they haven’t accomplished yet, but I think it’s the perfect time to unwind and just relax. Save your energy for the next year and be happy to have gotten here.