Let's Catch Up: Quarantine Season, 'Black Is King' & Taking Social Media Breaks
Who would have thought so much could have taken place in one of the seemingly longest years on record? Well, hallelu, October is on its way, giving us only three remaining months of 2020's funny actin' ways (which, we all know is a means for celebration in and of itself). The Happy Hour trio is now a duo! The ladies of the xoNecole Happy Hour Podcast's Season 2, Sheriden Chanel and Amer Woods, join together to catch up on the latest and greatest of what all has gone down since the pandemic made the podcast's second season go AWOL, and it's all good conversation, y'all.
So, grab your drinks and press play. This episode is one for the books.
Be sure to subscribe and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Episode Show Notes:
Catching up on what's worth watching:
- Euphoria | Great, underrated acting, memorable scenes, and our good sis, Zendaya needing. her. flowers. now.
- P-Valley | stage play past, humanizing stripper culture, and Uncle Clifford
- Moesha | the show needed Kim, the end!
- Sister, Sister | Ray (the dad) vs. Moesha dad, funny episodes, and actual life lessons
- The Game | Janay vs. Melanie, Derwin being trash, and Drew Sidora: is she to blame?
- The Chi | Lena Waithe themes, Keisha's tough season, current event themes, the boys growing, and crying on the finale.
- Insecure | Molly vs. Issa, growing out of friendships, relationship dynamics, relating to the show, and....Lawrence. *side eye*
- I May Destroy You | heavy themes, true story background
- Black Is King | Beyonce was everything, per usual.
Catching up on Coronavirus:
- We're handling it terribly
- We're unprepared, there's no sense of community
- Karens and Kens racial aggression
- Too much information at one time
Catching up on being social:
- Taking social media breaks
- Twitter is male: did we know this?
- Everyone is trying to go viral
- Too many opinions everywhere
- And the importance of listening to what the pandemic is telling you
"There's some bliss in naivety. I told myself last year that 2020 was a harvesting year, so I feel like I should listen to what the pandemic was telling me." - Sheriden Chanel
Catching up with politics:
- Will Trump pull it off again? Historically, the answer is "yes"
- Please don't vote on Election Day; pre-plan!
Catching up with Sheriden:
- Brought on Will Packer Media's staff, with benefits, yall!
- She's enjoying manifestation
- She's streamlined a complicated writer's processes for the site
- Sis has been visiting her international boo bae #hayyy
- And intentionally taking a self-care day, setting boundaries
Catching up with Amer:
- Her son's school is doing virtual learning, but she's back to teaching basic schooling habits
- She's finding her own self-habits, gyming more, reserving weekends for self, and has created a skincare routine.
- Oh, and sis has been cutting her own hair!
Topics To Think About:
- Has anyone experienced friends that enter relationships and desert the friendship?
- Are people only dating during the pandemic because they're bored?
- Did the pandemic kill casual sex?
- Are men really equipped for threesomes? #hellnah
- How can we keep up with the rest of 2020?
Name Shout-Outs:
- Katori Hall (Show Runner, Playwright of P-Valley)
- Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You)
- Zerina Akers (Chloe x Halle, Black Is King stylist)
Resources Mentioned:
- hux.com (housekeeper site)
- HelloFresh
- Hope House
Leave us a voice message on xohappyhour.com to share your story with us or ask a question for a chance to be featured on the show!
Listen to "The Catch Up"
Featured image by Mecca Gamble
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
How This New Bond Repair Line Transformed One Mother's Postpartum Shedding Into The Ultimate Curl Comeback
This article is in partnership with SheaMoisture
For Crystal Obasanya, her wash day woes came shortly after her son did. The beauty and lifestyle content creator had been natural for years, but during postpartum, she quickly learned about one reality many mothers can relate to experiencing: postpartum hair loss. “Sis had thinning hair. Sis had split ends,” she shared about her hair changes in a Reel via xoNecole.
Over a year into her postpartum journey, Crystal explained she also had dry, brittle hair, noting that keeping it hydrated before pregnancy had already been “a task.” The 4C natural recalled going from thick hair during pregnancy to a thin hairline due to postpartum shedding as “devastating.” When it came to strengthening and revitalizing her hair, the new SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection was just the thing she needed to elevate her damaged coils to revive and thrive status and get them poppin' again.
SheaMoisture is providing us with the cheat code for transforming dry and damaged strands into thriving and deeply nourished crowns. By unveiling their 4-step hair system, the SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection is equipping you with the tools to reverse signs of hair damage caused by protective styling, heat, and color and is uniquely formulated for Type 3 and 4 hair textures.
The haircare system revives damaged natural hair by repairing and rebuilding broken hair bonds through a game-changing combination of HydroPlex Technology and AminoBlend Complex, a unique blend of fortifying amino acids formulated specifically for curly and coily hair. Scientifically proven to reduce breakage by 84% and make your hair six times stronger (vs. non-conditioning shampoo), the collection infuses your hair with the nourishment it craves and the strength it deserves.
All five products of the SheaMoisture Bond Collection are infused with natural strengthening ingredients like Amla Oil and fair-trade shea butter. The collection consists of the 4-step breakage-fighting Bond Repair system, as well as the Bonding Oil.
“When trying it out, I quickly noticed that my hair felt revived and renewed, and my curls were so hydrated,” Crystal said while using the Amla-infused Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner. “I also felt my hair strands were stronger.” So much so that the influencer felt brave enough to get her hair braided shortly thereafter. “I can definitely say that I will be keeping it in my hair wash routine,” she added in the caption of her Reel about her positive experience using the products.
SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection is making bond-building a key player in your wash day routines and the purveyor of life for thirsty manes. Because who doesn't want stronger, shinier, happier hair?
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The Bond Repair Collection Shampoo is the first step in the 4-step Bond Repair system, all of which are powered by the uniquely formulated AminoBlend, and HydroPlex, SheaMoisture’s technology that rebuilds hair strength at its core.
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Tailored to repair styling damage, this creamy conditioner locks in 12x more moisture than standard non-conditioning shampoos, boosting damaged hair strength by 1.5x with significantly less breakage. The creamy SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Conditioner deeply hydrates, enhances manageability, and leaves your hair looking healthier and shinier.
Step Three: Bond Repair Collection Masque
This Ultra Moisturizing reparative masque is a moisture-rich game-changer for those dealing with the aftermath of hair damage caused by styling. The SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Masque delivers 13 times more moisture compared to non-conditioning shampoos, ensuring your hair feels nourished and soft. Designed to repair and rejuvenate, this masque significantly strengthens damaged hair — making it twice as strong while reducing breakage.
Step Four: Bond Repair Collection Leave-In Conditioner
Elevate your curl game with SheaMoisture’s Bond Repair Collection Leave-In Conditioner. Lightweight and hydrating, the Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner provides 12x more moisture than non-conditioning shampoos and tames frizz with 24-hour humidity control. Designed to define curls and coils, the leave-in conditioner enhances softness and shine allowing you to detangle effortlessly.
Bonding Oil
The SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Bonding Oil is a multitasking all-in-one formula that acts as a heat protectant and provides the hair with moisture, strength, shine, damage protection, and intense nourishment. This lightweight oil not only offers 24-hour frizz and humidity control but also fortifies your tresses, making them up to 5 times stronger with significantly less breakage.
Featured image courtesy
In today’s economy, we’re always looking for ways to stretch every dollar. However, the allure of new gadgets, trendy clothes, and the latest dining spots can often lead to impulsive spending. An iced latte here and an Uber Eats delivery there, topped off by a spontaneous online order can add up over time.
For those seeking to curb frivolous expenses and adopt a more mindful approach to their finances, participating in a no-spend month could be the solution to gaining control over their spending.
What is the No-Spend Challenge?
The no-spend challenge is a personal finance exercise where individuals commit to not spending money on non-essential items for a specific period. This could mean cutting off a subscription service, limiting your nights out for drinks, pulling back on online shopping, and holding off on big, spontaneous purchases to see how much you’d save over the month. The challenge encourages participants to evaluate their spending habits, identify areas of unnecessary expenditure, and redirect their financial focus toward savings and debt reduction.
This spending requires one to differentiate between needs and wants, with the base necessities being food, transportation, housing, essential bills, and medical/mental health expenses.
Preparing for a No-Spend Challenge
When embarking on a no-spend month, proper preparation is key to ensure you make the most out of the experience.
Financial expert and founder of The Frugal Feminista, Kara Stephens, says that having a compelling “why” can serve as a motivator to endure the ups and downs of the challenge, especially if it's your first time. “Have a clear idea of what your goals and outcomes are for the challenge. Do you want to be grateful for what you have? Do you want to save a certain amount of money?” she tells xoNecole. “Know what's going to be your ‘after-no-spend challenge' sustainability plan because we're hoping that your habits and your perspective on spending are changing and that you find a way to make that a part of your life after the challenge.”
One of the initial catalysts for the recent popularity of the no-spend challenge is to combat “revenge spending.” This spending habit, triggered by the “life is short” reality of the pandemic, has caused many of us to want to make up for lost time or missed experiences, which can lead to reckless financial decisions and jeopardize future stability.
Because of this, Stephen advises us to reframe our thinking around revenge spending to avoid putting our financial future at risk.
“Try and shift your perspective on revenge spending and say, yes, I want to live my best life, but how can I spend it responsibly?” she says. “How can I revenge spend on a budget? How can I remove the idea of revenge spending from my lexicon and just live well and plan systematically so it doesn't take away from my future financial goals?”
Benefits of A No-Spend Month
Taking part in a no-spend month has a number of benefits, one of which is the self-awareness and gratitude you gain by cutting out non-essential purchases. “You’re more financially self-aware because you're only thinking about what you deem as essentials,” Stephens says. “It can also make you more resourceful because you have to use what you have in your home, rather than going out and shopping.”
Those who take part in the challenge often find they become more intentional with their purchases, distinguishing between what they truly need and what they can do without. The money saved over this course of time can then be redirected towards paying off debt, building an emergency fund, or being put into a sinking fund.
Due to the rigid nature of the challenge, Stephens says that it’s important to have a sustainable framework to follow the no-spend challenge to avoid reverting to old habits. “It can be like "yo-yo dieting,” she explains. “If you were very strict for a certain period, but didn’t create any type of habit or change of mind to continue with it, you could resort back to revenge spending, ironically.”
Things to Keep In Mind
While it may seem like just another financial trend, taking part in a no-spend month can provide precious data about not just how much money you spend but also your mindset and relationship around money. You can observe how your feelings about money change and highlight areas of improvement. Alternatively, you can even start a sinking fund that allows you to put money aside for large purchases or personal experiences.
Ultimately, it’s not that spending money is bad, it’s about how you approach spending in a responsible way that ensures your financial security and success in the long run.
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Featured image by Evgeniia Siiankovskaia/Getty Images