*Spoilers ahead*
All good things must come to an end, and that especially rings true for season two of Harlemwhich had more twists and turns than a roller coaster. To celebrate the jaw-dropping finale of Prime Video's hot new series, xoNecole set up shop right in the heart of NYC for a star-studded watch party we'll never forget.
xoHarlem Official Watch Party with Prime Videowww.youtube.com
xoNecole was joined by a room full of New York City's most influential guests. Tastemakers and media alike came through for a grown and sexy evening at the famous Ginny's Supper Club restaurant for an exclusive screening of Harlem season two finale episodes "Fall Back To Rumspringa Forward" and "Joy Joy Joy Joy." Host and journalist Kéla Walker was our MC for the night, which kicked off with some delicious soul food complements of GrubHub, some tasty Harlem-themed cocktails, and a dance party that was too lit to quit. New York City's own DJ Red Corvette had the entire function lit with her playlist combining nostalgic jams and TikTok-beloved bangers. A time was had! After all, what's a party without a swag surf moment?
And how could we forget to mention the cherry on top...a front stage moment with Harlem creator Tracy Oliver, along with the cast: Meagan Good, Tyler Lepley, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandai, and Jerrie Johnson! The cast hopped on stage following the suspenseful finale to talk about what each character represents, why highlighting Black joy on TV is so monumental, and what could be in store for season three.
Tracy Oliver on highlighting Black joy within Harlem's finale episode:
"We intentionally decided to go against the tendency to revel in Black pain and struggle. There's a lot of that in Hollywood. Even though we go through challenging moments [on the show] there's a lot of love, laughter, sisterhood, and romance we wanted to explore. In the pandemic, we wanted to be escapist, fun, and deliberately joyful. We wanted this season to be that. As you all saw, they're all figuring it out or on the path to figuring it out."
Jerrie Johnson on playing characters that get to be flawed:
"I think it's essential, especially in this place where we're seeing more Black art, but we're also not seeing it because of [things like] shadow banning on Instagram. We're always working off of Black work but we're not always seeing Black art. It starts with the person at the top recognizing that there we want to see real Black people. It's not about casting the person with the most followers, or who's been in the most [projects]. This season was great because we got to catch some of the joy that we get to experience with each other all the time."
Tyler Lepley On Camille and Ian not working out:
"In this life, the way I see it, you either chase the life you want or settle for the life you get. The thing I love about Ian is that he has this juxtaposition. He's in love with Camille, but he's also in love with his passion and what he wants to do. She wants to [live a child-free life] and he honors that. But he's also got to honor himself. I feel like it's a situation where they're both in tune with where they're going, even if it's leading them away from each other."
Shoniqua Shandai on her character Angie finding love:
"The turning point for Angie was going back home. She had to be reminded of where she came from and of her value. She had to be reminded that what she sees does not reflect who she is inside. [It came from] tapping back into her inner source and getting that encouragement from her family. Sometimes you can lose yourself in the industry of artistry. It's very easy to become what you think everybody wants or become hardened from all the rejections. Having someone that reminds you of who you are and getting tapped into why you were inspired in the first place is what gave her that vulnerability to accept love."
Grace Byers on Quinn choosing herself over her dream guy:
"For Quinn, it's really been an identity discovery journey for her. [In] season 1, she's trying to come out from under her mother's wings. She's trying to discover who she is outside of her family, and trying all these different careers. In season 2, she's venturing out in her relationships, trying different people and things, and then she finds out she's dealing with depression. I commend Quinn on the bravery to say, 'Hold up, stop. When the thing that I wanted on paper and in my heart appears before me, but I am not ready, I am mature enough and brave enough to say not yet. Because if I do, this might be the circumstance.' Camille and Ian discovered that in the relationship. Quinn discovered that before the relationship. There's commendability in all of these characters for saying, 'I have to be true to myself, even if that means walking away from you.'"
xoNecole Hosts The Finale Watch Party Of 'Harlem'www.xonecole.com
Harlem Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video now!
Why can’t (more) singles just be single and be okay with that? Good Lord. Why does there need to be some sort of relational play-on-words to make it sound like we’re with someone — even if we’re not?
Now masturdating? Even though it’s not even close to being a “real” word, it’s something that also brought a laugh outta me — although it was then followed by a genuine smile. The laugh because I almost immediately caught the play-on-words. The smile was due to the intention behind it all.
If you’re not familiar with what masturdating is and you’re curious about why you should even care, take a few moments to at least skim through what it’s about and why I think participating, as a single person, is a pretty cool (and effective) concept.
@knotlukas Masturdate: a date w oneself
What’s Masturdating All About?
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Masturdating. Okay, so let the word marinate for just a moment. What does it sound like? Yeah…exactly. And since a huge part of masturbation centers around self-pleasure, it’s cool to explore how “self-dating” could produce similar (as far as pleasure is concerned in a broader sense) results. Because masturdating is all about spending quality time with yourself, pampering yourself, treating yourself— and yes, taking yourself out on dates.
Any of you who may think that masturdating is a consolation prize — and a pitiful one at that — for not being able to go out with another human being or get that dream $200 first date that social media was all in a tizzy about last year (bookmark that) — personally, I think that you’re the demographic who needs to try out masturdating first and the most. Why? Off top, I’ll share my three good reasons.
3 Reasons To Strongly Consider Masturdating
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1. It’s an intimate way to get to know yourself better. I’ve been working with couples for a pretty long time at this point and if there’s a pattern that I see arise, OFTEN, it’s that two people are oftentimes so busy trying to “find their person” that they didn’t even know who they were. As a direct result, they found themselves in a relationship with someone who only complemented the “kiddie pool version” of who they were.
That’s why it can be so beneficial to spend time getting to know yourself on the “deep end” of things: what makes you tick, what your passions are, what you want most out of life, what are your interests beyond obvious things — and masturdating can help you to discover all of this. Whether it’s traveling alone or taking out a weekend to drink some wine and journal, the more you get to know yourself, the clearer you’ll be about who complements you on a romantic and friendship level.
2. It will definitely help to boost your confidence levels. I guess since I’m an ambivert, I don’t really get why people freak out at the mere thought of going to a restaurant or movie alone. Personally, I think it requires a helluva lot more energy and gumption to wait around and plan stuff with other people (#Elmoshrug). However, whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, there’s no way around the fact that the more comfortable you get with doing things alone, the more your confidence levels will increase — no, soar — because of it.
One article that I read on the topic said that doing things alone can make you more creative, improve your mental health, and help you to be totally okay with being alone (so that you’re not “needy” for other people’s attention). A psychotherapist from a New York Times article on the benefits of spending time alone said, “Getting better at identifying moments when we need solitude to recharge and reflect can help us better handle negative emotions and experiences, like stress and burnout.” And when you’re able to stare negativity in its face without flinching, how could that not make you bolder, more self-secure, and hopeful about your life?
3. It will teach you to value your time more effectively. In every facet of your world, you’re gonna operate from a healthier place if you’re operating from a “full cup” rather than an empty one. When it comes to this topic, think about it — if you’re constantly waiting on someone to call you to go out or wishing for a dream date with some guy, all you’re doing is wasting precious time that you could be spending taking a cooking class or hell, hiring a chef to make you dinner at your own home.
Indeed, waiting has two sides to it: when it’s in the form of patience, it is indeed a virtue, yet when it’s wrapped up in the notion that you’re not really living life unless you have an audience…it is totally working against you. Choose wisely.
10 Solo Date Ideas To Help You To “Master” Masturdating
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So, what if you’re someone who has either never considered actually masturdating before or you don’t really know what to do beyond dinner and the movies? Here are a few ideas to consider:
1. Attend a workshop or masterclass that you’re interested in. If there’s something that you’ve always wanted to learn, sign up for a workshop or masterclass. The cool thing about this option is there are probably some in your city, as well as some that you can find online (like here) that are convenient and affordable.
2. Binge-read at a local coffee shop. Aside from their coziness and oftentimes inviting scents, I once read that a lot of us gravitate to coffee shops because we can be around people without having to actually socialize with them. So, if you want to “hang out” while still being able to enjoy a bit of solitude, take a book that you’ve been trying to finish to a local coffee shop, order your favorite latte, and sit in a big-ass comfy chair. Usually, you can sit there for hours, and the staff will be just fine with it (another bonus).
3. Have a spa day in the next town. You can never go wrong with a spa day. And while going with a friend can be fun, sometimes there’s too much talking transpiring to be able to fully chill out and relax. So, go off of the grid, get a change of scenery, and hit up a spa in the next city (or town). There are lots of studies out here supporting that day trips or “daycations” can actually be really good for your long-term health and well-being.
4. See a community play. Some of the best solo dates that I’ve ever been on consisted of taking in some of the local arts in my city. What’s really cool about this particular option is, oftentimes, they are extremely inexpensive, if not totally free of charge (in exchange for making a donation or putting money into a tip jar).
5. Plan a trip. Whenever people say something along the lines of, “If you don’t expect anything, you won’t be disappointed,” I know that they low-key have some (additional) healing to do from past disappointments. There’s simply too much intel out here to support that anticipation (of good stuff) makes us more motivated and optimistic, keeps our dopamine levels up, and makes life more exciting overall.
Since traveling alone is more cost-effective, gives you the freedom to do whatever you want (when you want), and increases the possibility of meeting new people and having new experiences on your journey — why not devote a day this weekend to planning a solo trip? All the way around, it’s good for you.
6. Try your hand at your own “$200 date.” Uh-huh. Roll your eyes if you want to, but it’s real easy to talk left about how a man should be able to just drop $200 like it’s nothing…until you actually try to do it. So yes, while taking yourself out on this type of date could serve as a bit of a reality check, it can also “scratch the itch” of waiting on some dude to do it for you. It’s also way less emotionally draining because, at least when you’re taking your own self out, it’s guaranteed that you’ll enjoy the company…right?
7. DIY some pampering. When you get a chance, check out “5 Reasons You Should Unapologetically Pamper Yourself,” “Want To Love On Yourself? Try These 10 Things At Home.,” “I’ve Got Some Ways For You To Start Pampering Your Soul,” and “When's The Last Time You Actually Pampered Your Vagina?” The bottom line here is pampering is all about, not mere self-maintenance; it’s all about treating yourself to levels of EXTREME SELF-INDULGENCE. So, if nothing else tickles your fancy on this list, at least consider doing that, chile.
8. Feed your creativity. Something that I used to be really good at is art. That said, one of my goddaughters is insanely talented, so she has reminded me to tap back into it. Also, a big part of what got me into the writing world is poetry; I actually used to be a house poet at a local spot. Sometimes, my best quality time moments with myself have been revisiting these creative sides of me — and this is definitely easier to do (and enjoy) alone.
9. Try some stargazing. When’s the last time you took a blanket into your backyard, laid down on it, and just stared at the stars for hours on end? While some say that stargazing can teach you to be mindful, others say that being in that form of nature reduces stress, while others believe that looking up at the universe at night can increase your attention span. All solid reasons to give it a shot, if you ask me.
10. DO. ABSOLUTELY. NOTHING. Let me tell you something that nobody will ever be able to make me feel bad about: doing absolutely nothing. I’ve got data to back me up. Good Housekeeping shares that doing nothing can help you decide how you want to respond or react to certain things. I like howThe Guardian says that taking this approach helps you to regain control of what you give your attention to.
TIME magazine says that it can ultimately make you more productive.BBC offers up that it can help you tap into your ingenuity.Henry Ford Health says that it can make you kinder and a better problem-solver. So, if you want to invest in yourself, do nothing sometimes.
Closing Thoughts from the Lovely Javicia Leslie
While some of y'all may know Javicia Leslie from being the former Batwoman, I discovered her back in the day from the indie series Chef Julian (and yes, "Julian" was right to say that "Mo" looks like Tatyana Ali...the real ones know). Sometimes I'll hop on her IG to see what she's got going on and this story popped up within a few hours of me penning this...so, I took it as hella confirmation.
TREAT YO SELF. WAIT FOR NO ONE.
WAIT FOR NO ONE. TREAT YO SELF.
RINSE AND REPEAT.
_____
Sooo…what kind of masturdating plans do you have for this coming weekend? While going out with others has its perks, hanging out with yourself has a ton of ‘em too. Enjoy!
No…for real. ENJOY!
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