
The All-Natural PMS Subscription Box Femly Is Helping Women Find Joy In Their Periods

Moment of truth: I had never heard of Femly Box, and haven't had any prior knowledge that monthly subscription boxes for a woman's time of the month was a thing.
I have had a mostly love relationship with my period for much of my life. Unlike most women who had to succumb to the pain of sometimes debilitating menstrual cramps and mood swings – I felt I was off on my own private hormonal island, where none of the negative side effects of periods could touch me. Well, aside from the occasional jawline breakout or two. That was of course until I hit adulthood.
I don't have full blown cramps, but I definitely see why most women teeter onto the hate side of the relationship spectrum when it comes to their periods. The overall feeling of uncleanliness, fatigue, mood swings, and some slight cramps have made their appearance and have shown me that they are here to stay. The swift turn made me almost turn my back on the fond way I used to view my periods, that was until I realized the power in acceptance. I could look at this repeating occurrence as a nuisance, or I could grow to love it and view it as this empowering act.
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Femly Box is all about helping women tap into that feeling. You are woman, you roar. So why not feel good or be in awe of the extraordinary things your body is capable of? Including bleeding for 3-7 days as your body sheds its uterine lining. Do you hear that? That's magical af. More importantly, with the help of Femly Box, you can have the tools you need to honor your cycle in a way that promotes a healthy and organic alternative to self-care while on your period. I was thrilled to receive my box and open it to find all-natural organic sweet treats, tampons, and pads, as well face masks among the items that screamed the feel good/look good mantra.
The Femly Box is the brainchild of 27-year-old Arion Long who graduated with a degree in Marketing & Consumer Science – a degree that she does not credit her success to that credential. "My grandma is to blame for that, she adopted myself and six siblings all while touring the world with her singing group. She's always pushed us to be whoever we want, and shut sh*t down (exactly in those words)," she says. Above all else, Long believes her life purpose is serving others.
The entrepreneur and self-care advocate answered a few questions for xoNecole exclusively in regards to her business, its purpose, and why she's all about women embracing and having “awesome" periods in an all-natural way with Femly Box.
What inspired you to start your Femly Box business?
I suffered from irregular cycles and cramping for over a year before finding out that I suffered from ovarian cysts and a cervical tumor. It wasn't until then that I researched the ingredients in products found in stores and was shocked to find that everything I suffered from was linked with products that myself, and women everywhere use on a monthly basis! The dangers of chemicals and the fact that none of my local stores carried healthier options was the push to launch our period service-I specifically went for a super affordable price!
As a woman, how do you feel about periods? How do you want other women to feel about their periods?
I think periods are the most beautiful pain-in-the-butt reminder that we're strong. It's almost like a monthly text saying "Heyyyy, you're baby free"...with a little bit of detox since your body is renewing itself and purging toxins. I want other women to embrace it. Your time of the month is a week of renewal and we deliver a comfy "monthly gift" to help you slay your period! We are all about inclusivity and offer gender neutral options for our LGBQT family since periods can be especially triggering!
Why is it so important to subscribe to this service?
Our period products are 100% chemical free and 100% cotton while other products have known links to heavy bleeding, fibroids, cramps and even cancer!
What are some things that we can find in our Femly Box?
Femly delivers a custom mix of period products, snacks, body care, cramp relief and even lifestyle products! Thus far we've included body scrubs, face masks, makeup brushes...#unameit. Your period SHOULD be awesome!
Femly
What was the process of starting this business? What was it like in its earlier days? How has it evolved since then?
Starting Femly was the most demand and rewarding thing I've ever done. In the beginning, it was a struggle because I was recovering from surgery to address my tumor but I surrounded myself with great people who believed in me. We're still in our "early stage" despite gaining funding, national press etc...we shipped our first box September 2016, though my work ethic is relentless. Right now, we're expected to reach over 121,000 in the next few years!
What makes your box different from other simliar models on the market?
We're different because we are the only black-owned feminine care service. We're also the only service that exclusively uses 100% cotton products and caters to your period week by including a bunch of surprises.
What's next for Femly Box?
Femly Box will continue to grow and become a National/International game-changer and we have plans for opening up shop in three cities on the East Coast. I will continue to empower, advocate and build a platform that serves others.
Find out more information and sign up for your monthly Femly Box subscription here.
Keep up-to-date with Femly @femlybox. Find Arion @arionexclusive.
Featured image by Getty Images
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Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
'Leave Quicker': Keri Hilson Opens Up About Learning When To Walk Away In Love
What you might call Black love goals, Keri Hilson is kindly saying, “Nah.”
In a recent appearance on Cam Newton’s Funky Friday podcast, the We Need to Talk: Love singer opened up about a past relationship that once had the public rooting for her and former NBA star Serge Ibaka. According to Cam, the pair looked “immaculate” together. Keri agreed, admitting, “We looked good.” But her demeanor made it clear that everything that looks good isn't always a good look for you.
That was all but confirmed when Cam asked what the relationship taught her. Keri sighed deeply before replying, “Whew. Leave quicker.”
It was the kind of answer that doesn’t need to be packaged to be received, just raw truth from someone who’s done the work. “Ten months in, I should have [left],” she continued. “But I was believing. I was wanting to not believe [the signs].”
Keri revealed to Cam that despite their efforts to repair the relationship at the time, including couples counseling, individual therapy, and even sitting with Serge’s pastor, it just wasn’t meant to be. A large part of that, she said, was the seven-year age gap. “He was [in his] mid-twenties,” she said, attributing a lot of their misalignment to his youth and the temptations that came with fame, money, and status.
“There were happenings,” she shared, choosing her words carefully. “He deserved to live that… I want what you want. I don’t want anything different. So if I would’ve told him how to love me better, it would’ve denied him the experience of being ‘the man’ in the world.”
But she also made it clear that just because you understand someone’s path doesn’t mean you have to ride it out with them. Instead, you can practice compassionate detachment like our girl Keri. “You can have what you want, but you may not have me and that.”
When Cam jokingly questioned what if there was a reality where a man wanted to have both “you and a dab of that,” Keri didn’t hesitate with her stance: “No,” adding, “I can remove myself and [then you] have it. Enjoy it.” Sis said what she said.
Still, she shared that they dated for a couple of years and remain cool to this day. For Keri, being on good terms with an ex isn’t a sign of weakness; it's a reflection of where she is in her healing. In a time when blocking an ex is often seen as the ultimate sign of growth, Keri offers an alternate route: one where healing looks like resolution, not resentment. “I think because I have such a disgust for ugliness in my life. Like, I don't do well without peace between me and everyone in my life. Like, I really try to resolve issues,” she explained to Cam.
Adding, “I think that's what makes things difficult when you're like sweeping things under the rug or harboring ill feelings towards someone. When you're healed, when you've done your work, you can speak to anybody when you've healed from things. I think maybe that's the bottom line.”
Watch Keri's appearance on Funky Friday in full here.
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Featured image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images