Post election thoughts and how I am moving forward.

Last week, I took the week to re-group my thoughts and feelings and looked at ways to navigate my space in continuing my blog during the Christmas season.

I am going to level with you.

To sell anyone anything on this blog right now (in new content) feels odd and leaves me feeling kind of gross.

I sifted through the news and the facts of what actually was being presented, all while consulting my marketing and communications background.

Marketing Nikita says to pull the planned content and re-strategize — even take time off.

It’s not the right time to bury my head in the sand, the snow, or any sense of cloud of delusion.

Pulling the content that I had planned pre-election seems like the best idea.

I even grappled with the idea of not posting anything until the new year.

Sometimes your ability to live with your actions is more important than trying to cash in on the Christmas season (if you can help it)!

Professional influencers (I am not a professional influencer) who are keeping it moving likely have a lot to lose if they do not keep to their normal strategies.

Everyone is hurting right now.

Following my Gut

I know how people love to say facts over feelings.

Here are the facts.

My own facts.

Anytime I have seen anyone (American-based) market their space as if we didn’t just collectively vote to end democracy and side with a treasonous president-elect — I view your brand with a cerebral and self-righteous ick.

Maybe that is their coping mechanism to not address it.

I just know that I would never want the support of anyone who supports the idea of fascism, racism, or elitism.

For me, it just makes me feel gross.

That is my right.

I have mostly blocked accounts that give off white supremacy vibes, indifference vibes and just have overall sinister vibes.

Grappling with trying to post as usual and my throat and stomach wanting to dislodge the contents that are lodged deep within my bowels has been an experience.

It just makes me sick. Literally.

That much is out of my control.

There is not enough ginger and mint tea to keep my nausea down at this point.

How I View Shopping – Post-Election Thoughts

Preparing myself for the historical accuracy of events means understanding that this is not the best time to spend.

Bezos and Buffet want cash (the biggest hint that things may go south is really all the proof I need).

I am not going to play economist on my blog, but if you voted for Donald Trump, it is very likely that you don’t understand economics at all or, at the very least, do not care.

Like many, I do hope that his supporters get the four years that they deserve (hoping that they also understand that they may have installed a man trying to play dictator).

Good luck to us all!

Really!

Now is Not Really a Great Time to Spend

If you can, save.

Live like you will be fine with less.

Practice makes perfect.

My new motto is “Live, laugh, save.”

Very cutesy.

Purposefully demure.

What You Can Expect to See from the Blog

I still have a style guide that is two months late that needs to be posted for leopard print pants (as mentioned in my ‘Finding Style after 30’ YT video a month ago).

Posting fashion edits of holiday looks will also likely be done. I just may try to link less. Idk. Let me know your thoughts.

That should be up either this week or next.

There may be a few weeks with nothing.

I have to honor the times as I see fit.

In terms of the holiday season, I have posted what I feel covers all the bases.

I may feel differently in a few weeks, even next week…. But right now, it still feels too soon.

There will be many who engage with their audiences with their normal programming.

I can promise you, you won’t miss me.

There will always be someone making new content that hits the mark for you, but right now — it likely won’t be me!

I hope everyone has a great holiday season and that you all take care.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

xx,

Nikita

(these are opinions expressed by myself and are not affiliated with any other organizations or affiliations.)

The post Post-Election Thoughts, No Spend Christmas & More! appeared first on Bella Kate 22.

Alone for the holidays?

I made a similar blog post back in 2020, and it’s time for an updated version.

We are post-pandemic and I think the good thing about that is that there is more awareness about spending the holidays alone.

Can I be honest with you?

I love spending the holidays alone.

Truly. Bliss.

However, that is not my reality every year, but I do try to spend at least one holiday alone a year.

Even if you’re not happy to spend the holidays alone, you can try to make the most of your situation.

The key is to acknowledge your feelings, sit with your feelings, validate your feelings, and navigate those feelings.

Step 1: Acknowledge What You Love About the Holiday You’re Spending Alone

It could be that your family makes a certain dish that always makes the holiday feel special.

Try making it for yourself.

You can make the normal serving and freeze the rest, or you can try to make a single serving of your favorite dish.

Step 2: Make Plans

Waking up on a holiday with a game plan is key.

It’s important to make plans with yourself.

Making plans with yourself is such a game-changer.

As someone who used to be a chronic people pleaser and a bit co-dependent, nothing freaked me out more than doing things by myself.

Now I love it.

No one will flake out on you except you in this situation.

You’re not depending on anyone to show up or even be in a good mood.

These plans involve you and only you.

Do something you love.

Take yourself to the movies, to a nice wine bar, out to dinner, or go shopping.

Plan your perfect date and take yourself.

Go grocery shopping and plan a day of cooking.

Listen to your favorite song on repeat. Who’s going to stop you? Exactly!

Sleep in.

Enter Your Do Not Disturb Season

Put your phone on Do Not Disturb.

This means you delete all social apps until after the holiday.

Who wants to be reminded of the holiday festivities you’re actively not participating in?

Exactly.

Keep Pinterest up.

Re-pin to your heart’s content. Pinterest is the only form of healthy social media. I am convinced.

Plan for Your Future

While everyone is spending time with people they may or may not like — you get to spend time in your own space, with your own energy and your own thoughts.

This can sound scary to some.

To you? Heaven.

This is the perfect time to organize your life, create dreams, make plans, and get ahead on projects if that is what you like to do for fun.

Host Your Own Dinner

Host a dinner yourself.

You can invite friends over if they also don’t have holiday plans.

Have everyone bring one dish and BYOB.

Play games and chill out together.

Know What You Want – Alone for the Holidays

Knowing what you want will help you navigate this season of your life.

If someone finds out you are spending the holidays alone and invites you over, do you want to accept the invitation?

Personally, the FOMO of being home while being out is sometimes too great.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to keep to your plans.

You aren’t broken for wanting to spend the holidays alone.

At least I don’t think you are.

Make a Month of Plans

I think this is a great way to celebrate a holiday by yourself.

If you can find an events social calendar, schedule in dates with friends or your SO, and by the time the holiday rolls around, you have fully done all the holiday things, with the day of the actual holiday to yourself.

Also, bliss.

Be Flexible

Plans can change.

Know your limits.

Maybe you do go to a dinner, but after an hour or two, you decide you want to leave.

You can do that.

Always have an escape plan.

Let the host know that you will drop by for a little bit.

Do what feels right to you and communicate it.

I hope this helps ease you into this perspective change.

Spending holidays alone can indeed be very fun. It can also bring up other feelings.

It’s okay to feel both.

On the other side of it, you’ll realize you’re one tough cookie.

Cozy Items for a Solo Holiday

Here are the items that I think make for a great solo holiday!

Enjoy!

Nothing says cozy nights in like a quilted throw.

Drink from a fancy water glass during your solo holiday.

Set the mood with a candle that reminds you “you’re the best.”

Eat from the best plates you own.

Create with legos

Create an epic movie night with a projector.

Pick up a hobby.

Invest in a pair of day-side pajamas.

xx,

Nikita

You May Also Like: Alone on Thanksgiving? 7 Tips….

The post Alone for the Holidays? Let’s Make Sure You’re Having the Best Holiday Ever! appeared first on Bella Kate 22.

The black girl follow train on TikTok was a monumental moment for black women, who have been told that they are in competition with one another throughout a very oppressive and false narrative.

What the black girl follow train did, was disprove that theory hands down.

In a movement that messed heavily with the TikTok algorithm, we saw that black women remain an innovative blueprint and want to see each other win.

The black girl follow train was started after one user, @craftyheauxx decided to call out an ask amongst black women TikTok users. A follow for a follow specifically catered to black women.

A love letter from one black women to another.

From trending audio, to following one another, conversations began to be had around race, and specifically about being a black woman in a world that is not made for black women.

Outrage Over Solidarity – Black Girl Follow Train on TikTok

As is commonplace in a world where white supremacy lives……

An outcry of women began. Their complaint? This trend had to be racist if all women were not being centered.

Gaslighting black women into oblivion and asking why it “wasn’t for all women.”

(Black people cannot be racist– as this article helps to explain. )

Knowing full well how history works, how free information is in today’s world, and how racism holds its grip on how much black women can advance in the world……(TikTok suppresses views of black creators while bumping others who are copying black content creators).

Black women needed a safe place to reach out to one another, and a lot of racist TikTok users didn’t like it.

Decentering White Supremacy

During the black girl follow train, a lot of conversations were about black women who were not seeing other black women on their timelines.

This trend was helping black women find black women in real time.

It was a trend where black women could find black women creators, or businesses and support them.

So much talent and views were being held hostage by the TikTok algorithm, and this was the black women’s attempt for equality and a true online community.

How White Women Creatives Used the Black Girl Follow Train

Some white women joined in solidarity with black women, asking other “yt women” to please stop centering themselves and to educate themselves as to why this was happening.

Others started using trending black musicians in their TikToks, to piggyback off of black culture and their perceived trend narrative, in an attempt to make sure they were still getting views.

But through it all, what we really saw was a lie closing in on itself.

The false narrative about black women who don’t support one another- turned out to be a bold-faced lie.

A rebirth of our authentic championing nature was lit aflame, and it was truly amazing.

During this particular Valentine’s Day, we are reminded that black women love and support black women, and no, you don’t have to like it.

My Personal Experience

I found the black girl follow train to be really inspiring.

It couldn’t have happened at a better time in my life, to be honest.

That past weekend I realized just how badly I needed more black friends– and how difficult that is for me because of where I live.

The black population is like 2% where I live, and most of my friends are white and talk openly with me as if I were not black (not all my white friends do this), which tell me a few things.

One, I am a person people feel safe with, but they haven’t learned how to fully engage with their black friends in a way where the conversations feel safe for all parties.

Two, they don’t realize how they can come off when engaging with a person who experiences oppression.

These are not bad people, but it’s also my right to experience safe spaces in friendships, and having black women around me makes me feel a lot safer and understood.

Most of my experiences regarding race has meant that I have to self-validate.

I have also found that most (not all) white people I am around do not feel inclined to speak up amid racist conversations and microaggressions, which is unfortunate.

As a black woman, we take it on the chin (to survive), so it was nice to have a space to talk about it openly and validate one another.

Being a black woman is to constantly be in a state of fight or flight, and that is without the everyday trauma of just existing like a human does, humaning.

The black girl follow train was much appreciated, and I am grateful I got to experience it.

What a time to be alive.

xx

The post The Black Girl Follow Train on TikTok | Let’s Talk appeared first on Bella Kate 22.

Beating the January blues is either a win or a struggle or a defeat.

Whatever side of January you are on, please understand that life will always have ebbs and flows.

In this blog post I think it could be really beneficial to map out some ideas and strategies that I have found helpful over the years.

Plan Your Best Life

I have a few blog posts about New Years and setting goals.

After a lot of trial and error in life and with 30-plus years of living under my belt, I really feel like I have a few things figured out– also realizing that I don’t know everything (going with the flow is key).

The first thing is to plan because planning for your best life gets you excited.

I love to plan in a brain dump session and then scale it down into measurable steps.

Every goal you set will require a different version of you, an evolved version, a healed version and a wiser version.

I cannot tell you the best course of action because you and I are all in different seasons of life.

Take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.

Try Dry January at Least Once if You Can

I cannot remember if it was in 2018 or 2019 that I participated in dry January…. but I loved it.

Even if you do not drink often, it really is a great way to tune into what coping mechanisms in place.

Reengaging in a post party month can be kind of hard.

You’re not surrounded by friends, family, and holiday festivities anymore, and life can get pretty mundane again if you let it.

For the most part, the decorations are down, and it feels like you have more clear space around you, which can feel off-putting for certain people.

Clearing your head without a vice is a tricky thing to do for some, and I think everyone should try it.

What did I learn?

I had a clearer head, dealt with hard emotions without an added buffer of numbing, and slept so much better.

I learned that I have a better headspace and am less anxious and depressed when I do not have a drink.

Today, I am not one-hundred percent alcohol free, but I do drink a lot less.

I don’t believe in diet culture or being black and white about good and bad foods and drinks.

Cutting things out fully is not a healthy thing for my entire headspace.

I just take note of how things react to my body and mind, and I make healthier decisions based on that.

This method I use takes a lot of work and not everyone can take this approach which I understand.

You have to do what is best for you and your health.

Notes of not drinking?

I sleep better and I don’t think about having a drink after a stressful day.

Cutting back on drinking (as in once or twice every few months) has allowed me to go back to my old coping mechanism, which was working out instead of a night cap.

But I am only able to know this because I dabbled in a sober January all of those years ago, which is why I encourage trying it for yourself.

When you get out of step with your routine and what was your normal it can actually feel confusing to lead yourself back to it.

Continue Cute Christmas Activities- January Blues Edition

Decorating a gingerbread house in January? Yes please.

Watch another Christmas movie? Why not?

Snow activities for days? Sign me up.

If continuing the joy of the holiday gets you through this month……please do it.

Throw Things Out

Clean.

Declutter.

Redecorate.

Donate.

Repeat.

Take Stock of Your Relationships

Who are you hanging out with?

Are these quality people for your life and your life direction??

Surround yourself with people who love you want to see you win.

Anything else is too dangerous to keep around.

That’s it.

Those are my tips in conquering January blues, which I feel can spread into February. So, just ease into these next few months.

We’ve been through a lot in the past decade, and even in the past three yeas.

xx

The post Beating January Blues – How to Reset in the New Year appeared first on Bella Kate 22.

Helping refugees is a global responsibility.

As a society and as citizens we have a duty to take care of one another.

I mentioned in my last DIY blog post that Alika Ogorchukwu, who was a member of society in Italy, was also murdered in broad daylight.

Alika, like so many people who flee from other countries to seek refuge was always going to be an outsider in Italy.

Like anyone who moves to a new country, there is always a divide that can be bridged.

How can we help others who do not come from similar places?

Helping Refugees-We Have to Question Ourselves

Asking ourselves why we limit kindness to certain types of people and why are great questions to ask ourselves.

We can start questioning our presumptions about others and turning them upside down.

Do you want to hold onto it, or do you want to let it go and grow into a better version of yourself?

Knowing that these questions that we ask ourselves may make us feel sick, vulnerable and ashamed.

We still have to ask ourselves uncomfortable questions.

The antiracist work that many people spoke of in 2020 still needs to be done.

We Need to Learn About the Refugee Crisis

Sometimes I think that learning is a hands-on experience.

Other times I think that if an experience is shown through art that lessons can also be learned.

A great film that talks about the refugee crisis is a film called The Flood.

It follows a few refugee stories, but the main storyline is that of Haile.

It follows him through his journey of escaping his country of origin and the chances he has to take to survive.

The Flood is a film that is well written and believable.

It echoes in subconscious elements and surprises while also showing the reality and monotony of everyday life.

It’s not a film that is offering you the chance to escape into contentment and happiness.

The film asks you to sit with new information, perspectives, and discontent.

It offers an honest perspective on what refugee camps look like and how hard it is to come into a new country, let alone be allowed refuge.

If you’re looking for a new film to watch this weekend, The Flood is an amazing one.

Some reviews of the film are troublesome and lack the depth that the film is portraying.

I think you should watch it for yourself and come to your own conclusion.

Get Involved Where you Can

If you can donate to places like UNICEF or the IRC, that is encouraged.

Locally, many local communities are getting involved.

Where I live, we have Feast World Kitchen.

Feast World Kitchen is a restaurant that consists of “immigrants and former refugees in the Spokane community.” – Feast World Kitchen

They offer people the chance to engage in the community, while also offering the community to engage back.

It’s a beautiful thing.

What will you do to help the refugee crisis?

Let me know in the comments.

-Nikita

The post Helping Refugees Through Crisis & How to Help appeared first on Bella Kate 22.

Five Things The Pandemic Taught Me

Five things the pandemic taught me —

I am a fully VACCINATED HUMAN, and as someone who can now interact with people who are also vaccinated; it got me thinking about the things I was expecting and things I was not expecting.

Freedom from the pandemmy had me in my introspection space and speaking with friends and family face to face had us talking about the realities about the pandemic………

What I learned was that everyone’s experience was different, but some similarities spilled out for us all, and I want to share what I learned about myself during this global MESS.

1. Learning My Food Prep Preferences

I learned that I prefer my home cooked meals to ordering takeout.

This surprised me.

Prior to the pandemic, I did not really eat out a ton and I really did not think twice about it, as the options are mostly always healthier and cheaper when you cook at home; the pandemic revealed something to me that I had not thought of before……

Let me preface–

I actually live in a really amazing foodie city and everything you eat here if it is local, is pretty amazing and everything is mid-range in price, so it’s delicious and affordable and you always get a really lovely dine-in experience.

That being said–

I have to say that ordering UBER EATS once or twice a week in the first few months of the pandemic, had me BURNT out.

Supporting Local

Ordering out was something we were encouraged to do to support local businesses and it also helped to save my sanity (not gonna lie).

It was also very odd, because on the one hand —

Turns out, it was really kind of emotionally taxing to plan my meals at times and at other times it was enjoyable to just say, “I don’t have to cook four meals for the week” because LEFTOVERS.

But, on the other hand —

The food never tasted as AMAZING as when you sit across from the people you love and care about.

Talking about the day to day over a cold cocktail.

This new experience (take-out in the new world) was not as satisfying and I learned to pour into my cookbooks more.

I learned to improvise meals more and become more flexible around food and less rigid……

Eating out is still something that is enjoyable, but takeout, I found less exciting in the end.

Who would have guessed it? Not me.

2. I Learned The Art Of Doing Nothing

The pandemic allowed me to do NOTHING for the longest period of time in my life.

For a time, I did NOTHING.

Initially the shock of doing nothing creeped me out a bit because my entire life I have always been doing something.

I was raised to be thoughtful and productive.

Growing up, our summers were always filled with structure, downtime and education.

We had morning homeschool during summer vacations; I did sports camps, bible camps, read books, wrote book reports and science experiments were encouraged……..

Even if we were on summer vacation, we took field trips and our parents let us go wild after the structured part of the day was over (we actually had a lot of fun during our summers).

When you have been brought up with a structured life, you also find it difficult to do nothing, because people who have structured lives want to be responsible citizens who contribute, and I had always worked since I was like ten (babysitting, working in high school (to buy my own extras that I wanted, not needed).

I have always been working, learning or both.

This was the first time in my life where I just did nothing and it was oddly therapeutic after the initial shock wore off.  

Scary? Yes.

Therapeutic? Also, yes.

3. I Learned To Listen To My Needs First

How much of our lives are spent serving other people’s agenda’s and making sure other people’s needs are met before our own?

It is understandable that parents cannot always relate to this, because your kids’ needs must come before your own; but I don’t have kids (yet) and this time allowed me to deeply get to know myself and the parts of myself that remained present, but were somehow being neglected because life happens, and sometimes you lose important parts of yourself by trying to be things for other people.

Learning to listen to my needs was a long process and did not happen just because of the pandemic, but it was the final stages of clearing some stuff that I had been dealing with for a few years.

Which, heck yes.

We love healing.

4. Learning My Triggers

I learned to be more compassionate towards myself and others.

During my late twenties I went through some things that left me feeling very angry and judgmental.

Realizing my anger and judgement was a reactive coping mechanism I had implemented towards understanding my own boundaries, was a light bulb moment for me.

I used to think (and sometimes I still do) that if I told people what I saw that they were doing (dissecting their motives), it would let them know that I knew they could NOT pull one over on me.

It started slowly (with me speaking up toward behavior I deemed an issue) and it started to pour out like gasoline (it was not cute).

Accountability

This was not a behavior that I liked in myself and also this behavior didn’t feel like it belonged to me……. it didn’t feel like it was a real part of who I actually was.

Starting to differentiate a trigger and a reaction vs who I actually was, was crucial.

I started to understand that my triggers were being lit up and I was reacting instead of understanding.

It is still a process, but I have learned a lot about what is mine and what is the other person’s.

This allowed me to became more vulnerable with myself and more forgiving with myself and with others.

A few years ago, vulnerability was not something I could fathom…….

I loved to be vulnerable with my people. But that is only who deserves it.

Knowing Who Deserves Your Vulnerability

Being vulnerable with people who I thought had my back had actually gotten me in a pretty awful situations.

(This is that part where I state that I recognized my responsibility in putting myself in a bad situation).

As a result, I viewed vulnerability as a weakness.

Not understanding that my vulnerability and the true essence of who I am was my strength.

It was the very thing that a certain situation was trying to take out of me.

I did not let that situation win.

(Please Note: Vulnerability is to be used in safe spaces or within the context that an individual feels free and safe to share. Vulnerability is a beautiful thing if it’s being used healthfully. It is not a beautiful thing if it is being used to manipulate, control or coerce another individual. )

For example: My writing this blog post helps me feel free and empowered with my life and my choices and my vulnerability and I feel safe in sharing these aspects on this platform.

5. I Became Selective With My Company

I became more selective with whom I was keeping company with.

We change everyday —

As a result, we learn about ourselves and the pandemic showed us a lot about what no longer resonated with us in our lives.  

There is no lie told in the phrase that” you become like the five people you surround yourself with” the most.

After this realization, I started to select my company more wisely.

Questions I ask myself, that have helped me when associating with people……..

-How do I feel around this person?

-Am I allowed to be myself, or are they secretly rolling their eyes at me when they think I am not looking?

-How do they speak about themselves?

-How do they speak about others?

-Are they a safe person?

-What are their goals and aspirations?

-How do I make them feel when they are around me?

-Am I being good listener and visa versa?

Knowing that neither of us will get it perfectly down, but it’s a safe relationship/friendship to be in.

Conclusion – Five Things the Pandemic Taught Me

Thus concludes the five things I have learned during the pandemic.

I have found it helpful to realize that at this time, we are all trying to do our best as we re-enter the world after covid.

We may experience a range of emotions throughout this time and those emotions/feelings are valid.

If you do experience them, that you allow yourself to sit with them.

Sitting with our emotions helps us get in tune with ourselves.

Emotions are messy —

Truly, most o the time they don’t always make sense.

Instead of avoiding them I hope you embrace them.

Find a safe space for yourself to unpack all that this year and last year has brought to us all.

What has the pandemic taught you?

Let me know in the comments.

As always,

Talk to you soon.

-Nikita

The post Five Things The Pandemic Taught Me appeared first on Bella Kate 22.

Black Content Creators You Should Know.

Black History Month

Welcome to Black History Month —

Historically, it is only 28 days (29 on a leap year, very generous); where people can take the time to learn about black history, oppression, white privilege and reflect on how they benefit from privilege or how they are unfortunately being oppressed.

Black history is taught in schools in America (I can only speak to America), but not to the extent that one knows what they know now (thanks to the education happening online); taking the time to go outside of ones norm or ones comfort zone can often lead to learning something new.

Things like “Black Wallstreet” were never mentioned in my education growing up, and if you ask more seasoned adults, they too (very likely), have no idea that Black Wallstreet ever existed.

This month, streaming services (think Netflix and Amazon Prime) likely have a Black History section dedicated to offering documentaries, movies and lending support to Black History Month……..but…

HowDo We Step Up?

What can we do as a collective, to better ensure Black History is taught in America and in a way that makes white Americans cognizant of their participation in oppressive practices, while recognizing their privilege and also allowing the black community to be aware of their ancestors plight, within their own current every day struggles; so that together they can GAP the divide in a healthy way moving forward?

Ignoring history does not erase history, but ignoring history allows history to repeat itself (not the exact quote, but a summary from memory).

I don’t know about you, but growing up and even in college as an undergrad, I found history in and of itself to be very fascinating.

 Understanding tools for better educating ourselves is our own responsibility and never the responsibility of a marginalized group, as their voices are usually still being ignored.

Talking About Race

When an issue is being brought up to the public (about race or oppression), it is often an echo out of the mouth of an “ally” that was originally spoken by a person being oppressed, until the issue is even taken seriously (kind of giving the message that the oppressed persons view point isn’t valid until someone else speaks on it….which is CRINGE AF, invalidating and also used as a tactic of abuse; only this gets turned towards the marginalized communities, not just one person)……  

Benefiting from privilege can be admitting that you feel (let me list the ways); “Too uncomfortable to take a side.“ Too afraid of having those tough conversations. “Too afraid of being too controversial.”

Instead of speaking out against injustices, you may decide that it is safer and in your best interest to stay silent and “say nothing” (which is how the Nazis took over Germany……it happened because a lot of “nice” and “silent” people were “too afraid to say or do anything”, until it was too late).

Black Content Amplification In Business Models

If you have a blog or run a business in any capacity, it usually can be advised to take cues from Corporate America and to stand for something or look foolish years later admitting you were wrong to sit in silence in the first place ( I am sure we will all be guilty of missing the mark at some point, no point in beating yourself up about it……but changing the behavior helps)…..(Do you see how the NFL is echoing Colin Kaepernick’s message after firing him……for essentially what they are trying to rebrand their message to be in 2021….).

2020, NFL’s current stance (linked in the article below).

2019, NFL & Kaepernick A Timeline

2016, Kaepernick and the NFL disagreement with his social justice stance begins

Something to ponder.

Does your business have equal opportunities for all?

How does your business partner with causes and local businesses that your company believes in?

Do you advertise content that reflects social changes that reflect the times?

Times are changing and most business models that are thriving are changing with the times.

People want authenticity —

In today’s society — they want to know what they are buying and who they are buying from (and corporations noticed).

Black Content Creators

To celebrate Black History Month, I will be sharing 5 Black Content Creators who you should get to know.

Not all of these black content creators speak up on black issues and that is their right. Just because you follow a black content creator……

This does not mean that a black content creator is supposed to educate you for free.

Taking time out of their business day to educate someone on the very real oppression they face daily.

Because I am bi-racial, I come from a place of privilege that is rooted in colorism.

To combat that —

I will practice what I preach as an ally and talk about controversial and uncomfortable topics from time to time (and I will always have room to grow and improve and show up in new ways).

This blog is for others to consume —

But ultimately, it is a space that I create and I curate and it needs to be as authentically aligned to who I am in the world,.

As well as reflect who I am on-line.

I need to feel free to speak on injustices and issues as I see fit in my business model.

Who Is Your Clientele?

Note: Asking yourself what kind of clientele you want and if you really want racists as a type of clientele base, helping you to paying your bills……. is always a great question to ask yourself.

Who do you want consuming your content? Content for everyone, sure, but at what cost?…… There never need be a surprise from your audience when you stand up for what you believe in, as your audience should know what you and your company stand for.

You set the tone for your audience with your mission statement (this can be a private mission statement you set for yourself and perhaps publicly for your company if you feel inclined to do so), and in that mission statement you can try your best to show up every day in your truth and authenticity…..

Knowing that you won’t always get it right, but you show up and you try anyways.

See Tips to handle racists in the work place below.

So, without further introduction…… I would like to invite you to meet Five Content Creators this Black History Month, that are listed in no particular order.

I do hope that you check them out and give them a follow or subscribe to their channels, e-mail lists, blogs….(the whole thing). I will try to post their accounts so you can see what all the hype is about.

Kameron Monet

First up, is Kameron Monet, a licensed attorney who is also an influencer and content creator.

Kameron offers content that is helpful to content creators and influencers —

While talking about real life events and offering tips about the legal comings and goings of what it actually takes to play the legal game in the midst of influencing.

We stan.

Patricia Bright

Second up, Patricia Bright, whose channel ‘Patricia Bright’ is going to make your day amazing….. because she is probably one of the funniest content creators I have seen (Her IG stories are always fun and funny), plus she talks money moves on her other channel “The Break.” You can find her blog with her links to socials here https://patriciabright.co.uk/.

Patrica Bright’s The Break

Karen Brit Chick

Next is Karen Brit Chick, who is also the founder of the blog wheredidyougetthat.com and creator of next level curation vlogs, as well as her own fashion series, “What Everyone is Wearing.”

You will love her candid approach to how she styles certain pieces and how she’s always down to take you along on the journey of home décor and fashion in all of its nuances.

In fact, I would say she embraces the every day fashion journey, while sampling things for everyone at every price point. She has very thoughtful content and I love it. Follow her on IG at https://www.instagram.com/karenbritchick/.

Next, we move to fashion bloggers who are mostly on Instagram and not on YouTube.

Slip Into Style

Slip into Style is a Paris based fashion blogger who plays in pops of color and lets her imagination run wild with slouchy sets, paired with heels and dressed up lounge wear against classic pieces, as well as structured garments. It’s a must see.

Aida AKA Basics Touch

Finally, we close the blog with Aida, aka “basicstouch” on Instagram. Her style focuses on “minimalism and vintage,” as listed in her Instagram bio, with gorgeous Parisian backdrops to tell her photographic stories which she shares with her thousands of Instagram followers.

All of these ladies are individualistic to their content creation scape and an inspiration to all who follow their pages.

I hope this blog post finds you well and in an optimistic state of mind; in that we can absolutely show up in ways that help shape the world we want to see.

Acting from your internal truths and compass, to stand up when you see injustice, to be brave and know that standing for something means you won’t fall for just anything, and that outside approval is NOT NEEDED.

As always,

Talk to you soon.

-Nikita

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