THE TEE

THETEE.ca is a hub for the modern woman looking for a perspective guide. Those with a hunger for meaningful inspirations, intellectual pursuits and, of course, the fun stuff too - art, style, and beauty.

[theteeca]

ALTERNITY: The local alternate reality escape

What exactly is Alternity, you ask? (Good question!)

Alternity is a holistic café/elixir bar, and a conscious event space, created by the owners of Alternative Thinking. Both spaces were designed to provide a welcoming  enviroment to those who are searching for a little more depth into the worlds of holistic health and sacred knowledge.

Alternity however, is like no other space in Toronto as it hosts the most epic events/classes such as: kemetic yoga, conscious spoken word, bioenergetics and homemade DIY kombucha workshops. It’s basically a hub for folks that are ready to do some exploring into the worlds of the unknown. Not to mention the delicious menu of elixirs they have just waiting to be devoured and if I may, I suggest you start with the kava colada.  Doesn't it sound dreamy?

In addition to those delicious elixirs, there is also a selection of mouth-watering vegan desserts on deck, there's a new surprise every day. Seriously! Have you ever tried a vegan lavender infused or matcha flavoured cheesecake? If not, this is exactly where you’ll find it. Don't forget to top it off with one (or more) of the chocolate turmeric energy balls.

The wonderful thing about Alternity is that you don’t even have to be a member to enjoy their psychedelic environment, but being a member does get you an epic all access pass to majority of their events, classes and workshops. It is completely worth it if you’re working on your process of self-evolution! In short, if you haven’t made your way over to 236 Christie street just yet, you probably should get to stepping.

Those guilty-free vegan desserts sell out pretty dang fast ;)

 Written by: Samira Maharaj

[theteeca]

Holistic Skincare Routine

 After working in the beauty industry for almost a decade - I’ve never come across a client that would not mind waking up daily with blemish-free, radiant and healthy skin.

I’ve got good news and I’ve got some hard news.

Good news: I will help you achieve that healthy complexion we all wish for.

 Hard news: There is no lazy approach. You must abide by the golden rule:

“You must commit to taking care of your skin.”

Everyone has their ideal preferences and different skin types. Pay attention to your skin’s needs and the ingredients in your skincare products. In order to figure out what works best for you – I suggest starting with a holistic approach using only natural preservative—free products and experiment.

Here are a few steps to help you achieve a healthy skin care routine which will result in a well-nourished + glowy complexion:

CLEANSE NIGHTLY

Your skin is your largest organ. In addition to cleaning your face in the AM, cleansing your skin thoroughly at night will remove the entire gunk your skin has absorbed throughout the day. I am loyal to RUCHY ROSEMARY + MINT oil cleanser - it always keeps my skin in check.

EXFOLIATE

The older you get, the slower your skin renews itself. Exfoliating your skin routinely helps speed up skin cells renewal. I exfoliate gently with SUKIN SUPER GREENS – DETOXIFYING FACIAL SCRUB at least 2x a week.

MASK

Pamper your skin by treating it to a detoxifying mask at least 3x a month. I am in love with the PROVINCE APOTHECARY - DETOXIFYING + CLARIFYING CLAY MASK (but sometime I cheat on Province Apothecary with my 2nd mask bae) & HARLOW SKIN CO. CLEANSE + EXFOLIATE MASK (keyword: Exfoliate) – I mix these powder masks with organic royal jelly honey.

Apply. Sip on some tea. Watch some Netflix. Rinse off. NEXT!

TONE

Toning is usually a pointless step, UNLESS you are using the Flora Face Potion Treasure by HARLOW SKIN CO. This floral water blended with pure petal infusion oils boosts hydration into your skin while enhancing your complexion. Most toners include alcohol - It is self-explanatory that alcohol dries out your skin, therefore AVOID those type of toners at all cost.

MOISTURIZE

I swore to my naturopathic expert awhile back that I would only moisturize my skin with essential oils - my favorite moisturizers are the SUKIN CERTIFIED ORGANIC ROSEHIP OIL mixed with a few drops of the COVERFX RADIANCE CUSTOM INFUSION DROPS. Rose petals have skin healing properties that help with cell renewal, it becomes pure magick in combination with Vitamin C and Lemongrass oil.

YES! I used the “O” word - Oil is GOOD for your skin. Sebum production has absolutely NOTHING to do with what is applied onto your skin. I personally have a combination to oily skin type, most oily in the t-zone area. If I were to generously apply mattifying moisturizers all over my face, it would dry out my skin and dull my complexion. Our skin constantly pleads with us not to waste our $$$ on “oil-free” and “pore-minimizing” moisturizers. 

Repeat after me, "WE WANT RADIANCE!!!"

BE KIND AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER 

Lemon - Cucumber infused water is my favorite, it recharges your electrolytes and flushes out all of the toxins in your body. Being kind to others brings you good karma. Both of these combined leads to the blessing of a more radiant skin.

 If you have any questions, comment below or email me [email protected]

Make sure to #Thankmelater ;)

 Written by:

Temi

[theteeca]

Web-Series Collection: SERIES-LY PODCAST

 My love for black web series is no secret to anyone. Upon discovering the Awkward Black Girl series, I dove into the web series world and never looked back. I loved seeing black men and women casted in normal roles unlike the usual stereotypical roles that we are casted in on primetime television.

My addiction to web series gladly led me to the ladies of Series-ly podcast - a weekly podcast dedicated to recapping and reviewing a variety of black web series. This podcast has gained some popularity under the one year mark. Series-ly was started by Brittney and Mary who saw a need for a podcast to inform the masses about the amazing world of black web series.

I recently got the opportunity to chat with the amazing Series-ly duo

Here is what my my favourite web series lovers had to share with us about their world:

What led to the creation of the series-ly podcast?

Brittany : I've always wanted to start a podcast but I didn't know what I wanted it to be about. I thought about a relationship podcast or a girls talk podcast but I knew I wanted something different that hasn't been done before. One day I just went up to Mary and said "so I was thinking, hear me out, since we're always sharing notes about web series and we always tell each other about new shows and we're hilarious, we should start a podcast talking about web series" and she immediately was down!

Series-ly is a very fitting and catchy name for this podcast, what was the process of choosing this title?

Mary  : We were brainstorming ideas for the name and we definitely wanted something that was a play on words and catchy. I remember we kept saying the word seriously because each idea was so bad and we kept saying "girl seriously". So I went to the board and said what about "series-ly". Brittany was just like yeah let's do that.

The both of you mentioned that the first web series you watched was the Awkward Black Girl series. Numerous of web series have launched since, why wait until 2016 to create your podcast?

Brittany  : We always had a love for webseries however for me, my love for podcast didn't start until last year so the idea to merge the two worlds didn't really come to mind until last year.

Did you expect Series-ly to have accumulated such a growing online presence and fan base this quickly?

Mary  : Absolutely not! I had no faith in us at all lol. Like NONE. I knew we are funny women and I love that we get to talk about something we really enjoy. We crack jokes but we also have deep conversations about what these shows, so I think people enjoy that balance. I remember we had compiled a list of short-term and long-term goals and we pretty much completed all of them within like 3 months. I'm incredibly grateful for our listeners and all the people that have supported us and want to see us grow and I'm excited for what's next to come.  We still can't believe when people tweet us or email us or even come up to us telling us how much they love our show, it's unreal.

How do you ladies select the shows you choose to watch and review?

Mary  : A lot goes into account when we are deciding on a show. We look into the storyline, the acting and the production of the series that we choose to recap. We have standards so if all 3 are not impressive then we can't get into the show and give the recap our all. We started off doing shows that we were huge fans of and we talked about it all the time off air. But now we are covering shows that were recommended to us by listeners or the creators contact us to cover their shows.

What is the ultimate goal for Series-ly?

Brittany : Our goal with Series-ly is we want to connect the audience to the creators. We want to be the voice of the web series world. There are not a lot of outlets solely focused on web series, so we just really want to continue to create conversations and highlight all of these amazing shows out there. We eventually want to be the main outlet, where web series fans can get all of their information. We plan on doing much more than our podcast such as starting our YouTube channel and blog.

Name your Top 4 favorite web series:

Mary : Of course Awkward Black Girl but that's a given so I'll say...

 1.     That Guy

2.     Beyond Complicated

3.     Close Friends

4.     Drama Queenz

Brittany : Yes, ABG is a given, so that would have to be my bonus...

1.     First

2.     Close Friends

3.     Tough Love

4.     Beyond Complicated

Do you feel there was demand for a podcast specifically dedicated to black web series?

Brittany  : Yes, there are a ton of black web series that don't get any recognition and a lot of them are really really good. We get to tell people about these shows. I love that we spark conversations about what we picked up on in an episode or how we interpreted something and love to hear ideas from other people that love to watch web series as much as us. Since we started this podcast, we've had creators literally thank us for creating our platform and it's great to hear that because like we said before we really want to be that voice for these web series. We love when we have actors or the creators come in and tell their stories, so we shine and they shine. Black people are just shining, shining, shining, shining yea, All of us winning

What do you like most about black web series?

Mary  : Black web series are real, authentic and unapologetic, I love them because they tell it like it is and you can always relate to them. Even if you don't necessarily see yourself in the characters, you know someone that reminds you of the characters. Sometimes I think web series content is better than what is on TV, especially when it comes to black representation. We're more than the typecasts or stereotypes you see on television and I love that black online content creators are able to show people that.

Which character from which web series would you want to brunch and sip mimosas with?

Mary : Deon from That Guy. That's my best friend in my head. I feel like we would be talk about people, eat and drink the entire time. Plus I would like her to give me tips on how to be snatched like her cause her body is amazing.

Brittany : My first choice was Deon as well ... but I would have brunch with Jordan from Tough Love, she is so hilarious. I love her sassy attitude.  I think she would tell me exactly how it is and give me advice on guys (maybe not the best advice) but definitely some good pointers on being bold.

 It was lovely chatting with these ladies and getting to know them. You can listen to their Series-ly podcast on Itunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher & the Indie Creative Network.

 Don't forget to follow them on Twitter @Series-ly.

  Written by:

CheWayne Symoane

[theteeca]

Stir fry Recipes: Sweet and Spicy Chicken

 Sweet and Spicy Chicken Stir Fry

If you are a sucker for quick + easy recipes like me, then my series of stir fry recipes will be perfect for you. This particular one will satisfy your craving for something sugary but spicy at the same time. Fit-Fam approved!

Ingredients

●     5 Boneless chicken thighs

●     1/4 cup Honey

●     5 Small assorted sweet peppers

●     1/2 Sliced onion

●     3 tbsp Soy sauce

●     2 tsps Pepper flakes

●     1 tbsp Brown sugar

●     3 tbsp Sea salt

●     2 tbsp Rice vinegar

●     3 tsp Olive oil for heating

 Servings for 4 people

Instructions

1.   Cut your chicken thigh into bite-size chunks

2.   Using a wok pan, heat the oil

3.   Stir in the onion slices on medium heat for 2 minutes

4.   Add the chicken chunks and stir with the onions for 6 minutes

5.   Add soy sauce, brown sugar, sea salt, pepper flakes, and sweet peppers. Leave to cook on medium heat for three minutes You do not want the peppers to become soggy

6.   Add the honey and and rice vinegar. Allow to simmer on low heat for 3 minutes

7.   Serve with a starch of choice. I chose rice and fried sweet plantains because you can never fail with those choices.

Find me on Instagram (@bitesbyrenny) if you have questions.

 Deliciously yours,

Chef Renny

[theteeca]

TiKA + DESIIRE w/ Casey MQ

TiKA is an artist, creator, cultural producer, TV/Online personality, activist, and advocate for the empowerment of female artists and creators. TiKA makes an impression on everyone she encounters and her joy is infectious. Now TiKA’s love and passion for culture and music has led to the release of her first EP “Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid.” With features in Complex, Afropunk, The Fader, CBC, The Source, among others, TiKA is receiving critical acclaim for her voice, her energy, her love. Her music. TiKA’s debut full album + short film will be released in Summer of 2017. Aptly titled “Anywhere But Here,” it serves as a brilliant indication of her unique voice, as well as her distinctive resonance and personality as a developed artist. Completely produced by recent Redbull Montreal graduate + 23 year old multi-instrumentalist & musical phenomenon Casey MQ, the album is an 80’s inspired synth pop sound. “No matter what I am going through, I always want to convey love + light in my music. My lyrics are dark because my reality has been dark. My sound stays in the light. I want people to know that the light is always attainable.”  The vulnerable 8-track album is more of a score, with Casey MQ providing a rollercoaster ride of sounds cleverly mixed with TiKA’s raspy emotional vocals.

2017 will see the relaunch of the artistic side of TiKA.

Purchase your tickets here 2017 will see the relaunch of the artistic side of TiKA.

[theteeca]

BIG CHUNES: FIYAHHH TING?

Music is LIFE.

Creating playlists is a hobby.

I am definitely "that friend" that won't shut about the new artist they just discovered...I will also play my favorite tracks over and over until you love it as much as I do. (Giving my AUX cord privileges can be risky.)

I felt the need to share my current music taste with you all. Expect more of these personalized curated playlists from our team. 

Steep some Lemon Ginger tea  to sip on while you take a listen. What better way to start off spring?

Thank me later!

Temi Marie

[theteeca]

A Review of Yaa Gyasi's "Homegoing"

I was utterly unprepared for Homegoing.

For the most part, I’ve sworn off of slave narratives in entertainment. There’s so much more to black people and the black experience than oppression, pain, and trauma and I think it’s high time Hollywood and print media gets woke to that—but I digress. With trepidation, I dove into Homegoing. And I’m so glad that I did.

The story begins in 17th-century Ghana with Effia, whose beauty attracts the attention of James Collins, a British slave trader. They eventually marry, and Effia relocates with James to his home at Cape Coast Castle. There, she discovers that hell lies just a few floors beneath their marital bed. Slaves are held captive in the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle, waiting to be transported to America. Among them is Esi, Effia’s half-sister whose existence she knows nothing about.  And so the novel unfolds, jumping perspectives from Effia to Esi, from Ghana to the deep South, and spanning across decades and centuries. Their descendants pick up the narrative, each illustrating the best and worst of human nature, the pain of love and loss, the complexities of race relations, the reality of generational trauma, and the ways we are shaped by family. 

As you can probably tell, I can’t say enough about this book. A novel that confronts the role of Africans in the enslavement of their own people will be uncomfortable. It will break your heart. It will challenge you. Homegoing does all of the above with a delivery that is beautiful, nuanced, refreshing, and signals the arrival of the stunning literary force that is author Yaa Gyasi.

This is a novel that will haunt you in the best possible way.

Read Homegoing and be changed.

  Written by Leandra Grant

[theteeca]

New Year. Better Diet?

Hey there beautiful!

Welcome to 2017.

Following the tradition of setting new goals with the start of a new year, I am sure you also have whipped out your diary to write down all the wonderful adventures you’d like to go on this year.

Well, if you’re like me, then you have written down: better health and diet.

I know. I see your side eye. Easier written than done, right?

   Well I have some tips below to help make it easier to BE done:

1. Do not try to radically change your diet OVERNIGHT: Change never happens quickly, so don’t go trying an extreme diet lifestyle like veganism or vegetarianism – you’d just set yourself up to fail. You want a diet that you actually love. So…. If you love your meats, stay in that relationship girl!

2. At the start of each week, make a meal prep plan: I have to admit that meal prepping is super hard! So instead of taking on such a huge task, at the start of each week just simply write down the meals you would like to have for each day. Then, you can prepare each meal in batches throughout the week.

3. Drink mostly water. Water is bae. Get an app that reminds you to drink water every 2 hours. Your skin will thank you.

4. Find your healthy staple foods: When people want to “change” their eating habits, they end up trying to ingest a long list of foods that they have learned are healthy. The problem with that strategy is that you end up being overwhelmed and run the risk of returning back to your old, less healthy diet. So, explore some delicious healthy food options and identify your favorite foods and continuously stock up on them every time you go grocery shopping.

For example, some of the staple healthy options that HAVE to be in my kitchen on the regular are frozen strawberries, bananas, frozen okra, frozen spinach, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and fresh tomatoes.

5. Get rid of terrible snacks (but save just a little bit for times when you crave them badly  ). Snacking is probably the biggest impediment to staying on a healthy eating track. You start with a chip and end up consuming 3 bags! Get rid of that stash you have, and start forcing yourself to snack on nuts and/or fruits.

6. Finally, treat yourself sometimes. Ice cream is wonderful. A warm and soft brownie is heavenly. Why would anyone who loves you tell you to never eat them? Because I clearly love you, I am telling that you should not cut these treats from your life, but rather treat them for what they are – TREATS! (All pun intended). This means that you should not be regularly ingesting them; rather, allow yourself a treat when you feel like you should be rewarded. Save them for special occasions, so that you don’t feel guilty after your naughty indulgence.

Changing your diet is not always easy, but it can help your hair grow and your skin glow. It will take time, but these steps can help make it easier to achieve it. Stick with your favorite chef and I will be sharing some healthy, delicious recipes.

Good luck to you girl!

 Renny

[theteeca]

NEW YEAR. NEW HABITS?

New year. New opportunities to become a better "YOU"! 

The point and reason of a new year is not to forget everything you have experienced and learned during the previous year. I believe one cannot make any lifestyle changes or improvements without being aware of one's flaws and accepting them first. 

 I am sure we all have an individual take on what a new Georgian calendar year means to them. I personally view a new year as an opportunity to regain strength, learn the lesson at hand, and become wiser as a result of it.

As a woman in this day and age, everyone expect us to continously give. Following the fact that we are selflessly giving ourselves more than we can afford to, we often become hesitant about being selfish in order to nourish our strength. To top it all off, we are our own biggest critic, and to be quite frank with you all, this habit really grinds my gear.

I often ponder to myself "why is it such a complex task to be nice to ourselves?"

Boy oh boy! Society has seriousy f**ked us up. 

The inner critic in us all never completely disappears, but we can take the steps to strengthen the emotional growth we yearn for with empathy rather than judgment.

The next time you find yourself lost in the sauce of self-criticism, please try to consciously stop being cruel to yourself and cultivate kindness.

Practice self- care rather than numbing the growth you need. Treat yourself.  

The kinder we are to ourselves, the more we will actually have to give to the world.

 Please join me in making 2017 the year that we take an unanimously pledge to be kinder to ourselves.

 TheTee.ca contributors and myself decided to share our personal lessons and motivational tidbits to assist you with getting into the right mindset for 2017.

Never forget that you are not alone.

(Click the photos below to enlarge)

 “We cannot change anything unless we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.” -Carl Jung

  With love,

 Temi Marie

[theteeca]

Where are all my #EarthProtectors at?

This past weekend in Toronto, my family and I marched in solidarity with thousands of others against the North Dakota Access Pipeline. The massive human rights issue that is once again discouraging and abusing the rights of our very own indigenous peoples, but it is SO MUCH MORE than that.  

This is a fight that has been brewing for a long time.

A fight our souls have been aching and waiting for – a fight for our collective consciousness to be lifted, for our Mother Earth to gain back her respect and gratitude for the life she provides us all.   

 We all share and watch the video clips and cheer on our brave #waterprotectors south of the border, we post and agree about how “Water is Life” and “Love Water Not Oil”. But are you really understanding what this fight really consists of? This is so much more than ONE pipeline, or the contamination of one water source.  WATER IS LIFE. You, who reads this, was born from water inside your mother’s womb, the food you had for lunch today came from the womb of mother earth, grown from the water inside her veins.

 Life is unsustainable in all aspects if we simply do not have water to grow from.  So your posts on facebook just simply are not enough anymore.

This is why I chose to march – and why we all need to start marching in unity with one another.

  I will not stand for corporate elitists to disrespect my brothers and sisters who are protecting the very planet that gave me life.  I will not allow pipeline after pipeline to destroy our ecosystems and our Mother Earth, I will not allow our clean water to be poisoned and destroyed for the very sake of my child and his future children.  

This is so much more than an indigenous issue, this is a HUMANITY issue and if you speak to any one of them they will tell you they are praying and standing up for all of humanity and our children’s children.  So why are we not all standing with them?

 Written by:

Taylor-Marie Cameron

[theteeca]

Goddess Tribe: Candi Janoki

A carefree black goddess with an open third-eye chakra.

  Candi Janoki is an unapologetically black millennial. As an entrepreneur, she can be found making wigs, designing jewelry, snapping her day away and sharing her spiritual gift as a tarot reader.

Candi is the woman behind JanokiTarot, a spirituality-based business that services clients with personal readings and metaphysical insights. I began following her work on social media a few years ago during her 'naturalista' journey. It has been incisive to witness how her spiritual journey has grown. I grew very interested in picking a tarot reader's brain - Check out my quick chat with Candi below: 

 ●  Do you remember the first time you recieved your very own tarot car reading?

Yes, I received my first tarot reading during a time where I was feeling very low and depressed. I needed answers and some type of spiritual guidance. Unfortunately my tarot reader only wanted money from me. She said that I had “an evil spirit following me” and that it would take $3000 to perform a ritual to cleanse myself of this. Of course, I gave her the side eye and found the nearest exit. She gave me a positive reading but the request of the large fee amount just did not sit well with me. I never really trusted most tarot readers after that.

●  How did it make you feel?

I felt like she was just trying to take advantage of me.

●  When did you conduct your first tarot reading?

I did my first reading on myself. I would only practice on myself. I actually bought a deck just to be a personal deck for me to gain clarity and to learn more about the meaning of the tarot. And from there it kind of turned into a daily practice that then grew into my own business of enlightening people and bringing clarity and empowerment.

●  Most people are very skeptical about tarot card readings, do find clients hesitant about receiving a reading from you?

I don’t blame people for being skeptical. I say trust your gut when going to a tarot reader, if it doesn’t feel right, don’t proceed. I have never had anyone come to me with any skepticism but I always prove them wrong if they secretly didn’t believe.

●  How would you describe what your clients feel after receiving one of your readings?

One word: EMPOWERED.

●  Since you also practice crystal healing, which crystal or stone would you recommend to a beginner?

It depends on the person and their own unique frequency. Each crystal has its own healing properties. So it depends on the person.

●  I originally started following you for your natural hair journey videos, and then you ventured into other entrepreneurial business, you do tarot now, but what is next?

I really can’t say, I know that I want to be successful enough to where I can support my family and live a comfortable lifestyle. I want to leave a positive mark on society and help people remember their power and who they truly are, which a spiritual being having a human experience.

●  What is your ultimate goal in life, what would you need to accomplish in order to feel like you made it?

My ultimate goal is peace and happiness. And I mean that on every level, spiritually, emotionally, financially, and I want to make sure that I am being as genuine as possible with everyone that I meet. I feel as though I am there.

●  What advice would you give yourself before you embarked your insightful spiritual journey?

Be you unapologetically. Life is an experience not a destination, you never stop growing and you never stop learning. The possibilities are endless and surround yourself with people that genuinely love and care for you.

  Candi Janoki is a entrepreneur that simply embodies black girl magic.

If you are interested in booking a reading with her, you can contact her via email:

[email protected] or [email protected]

  Written by:

CheWayne Symoane

[theteeca]

A Review of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah

  “Dear Non-American Black:”

I have a confession.

 I didn’t want to like Americanah.

At one point, my mother actually offered to purchase it for me, and I declined. I declined a book! That’s like, against my religion. But the book (and its author) was getting so much hype, constantly sold out in bookstores, the darling of every bookclub, and getting rave reviews from publications all over the world—so the belligerent part of me decided I wasn’t going to read it. And on the off chance that I did, I wasn’t going to like it.

So of course, I read it. And I kept my promise to myself. I didn’t like it.

I loved it.

 The story centres around Ifemelu and Obinze, childhood sweethearts in Nigeria who find themselves on opposite ends of the world in adulthood. Ifemelu moves to New York and discovers that the American dream is just that: a dream. Meanwhile, Obinze finds himself an undocumented immigrant in London, a turn of events that will inadvertently make his fortune. The narrative bounces around between past and present, between New York, London, and Nigeria, between Ifemelu and Obinze. Along the way, Ifemelu offers observances on being black in America from the perspective of a black non-American. They are sometimes sad, sometimes hilarious, and always insightful:

“If you’re telling a non-black person about something racist that happened to you, make sure you are not bitter. Don’t complain. Be forgiving. If possible, make it funny. Most of all, do not be angry. Black people are not supposed to be angry about racism. Otherwise you get no sympathy.” 

Ifemelu and Obinze navigate their new realities, each resorting to desperate measures to survive, each finding unexpected success, and every day, facing new challenges. When Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, they are thrown back into the same orbit and encounter the toughest challenge of all: each other.

I loved every moment of reading this book. I experienced every emotion with the characters, and with the current racial climate, Ifemelu’s observances were particularly impactful.

At the end, I only have one regret regarding Americanah:

Why didn’t I let my mom buy it for me sooner? 

  Written by: Leandra Grant

[theteeca]

Professional skincare 101: Green Peel

If you're obsessed with achieving healthy skin like I am, you may have heard of the Green Peel. 

Not familiar with peels and their purpose? Let me give you the short version. 

   Chemical Peels 101:

 Chemical Peels are used to treat a substantial number of skin woes. To name a few, uneven skin, hyper-pigmentation, discoloration, enlarged pores, lines/wrinkles, and clogged follicles/pores!   EXFOLIATION is major KEY, chemical peels dissolve the bonds that hold the top layer of skin cells, causing them to gently detach from the surface, as a result the older - we'll call it "shell"- is gently removed usually in a "peeling" or "shedding", "flaking" manner, hence the name. After this stage concludes and "shell" is completely peeled, your healthy radiant skin underneath will now be revealed.

If you already incorporate REGULAR exfoliation into your skincare routine, this is a miraculous process that you've witnessed on your skin. Chemical peel is only more concentrated and as a result, several times more enhanced. Which explains why it is such a popular professional treatment that is available in spas and highly demanded in beauty retail stores. 

Bottom Line: When you do a peel it's like pressing a "reset" button, it WILL DELIVER results!

   The real scoop on the Green Peel:

 The Green Peel experience - rather than being comprised of traditional chemical exfoliants - consists of FINELY PULVERIZED HERBS. These herbs were meticulously selected to enhance the health of your skin. They promote HEALING, RADIANCE,  ANTI-INFLAMMATORY and PURIFYING properties. The concentrated herbs remains in the skin long after the treatment has ended - up to three days!  (Just typing this excites me!)

Dr. Christine Schremmek's Green Peel is available in different strengths in order to tailor to individual needs. This process is usually MOST BENEFICIAL in a series of applications and, as a professional, I always make sure to convey this to my clients.

Investing in your skin's health takes commitment and when PROPERLY done the reward is beautiful skin!

If you have any skincare-related QUESTIONS, please leave them in the comments section.

Interested in booking a Green Peel treatment? Contact me at [email protected]

   Written by Charise Wynter

[theteeca]

Do I have to come home?

I seem to have lost my return ticket, so...

I guess that answers that question.

 *goes back to writing Master's Research Paper*

  All copyrights belong to respective owners, all photos belong to THE TEE and Tal.

Stealing is not cool.

[theteeca]

Freedom! Where are you?

 Here we are again, another day, another hashtag.

 Victims becoming hashtags are relatively new, but black lives (men & women) being taken is unfortunately not new. The idea that black lives hold a lesser value is blatantly engraved in American history. Every few months on social media networks, a video clip of another unjustly death of a black person goes viral. Once again the value of black lives must be reiterated.

While scrolling through Facebook over the past month, reading about Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, I avoided watching the videos.

I couldn’t watch another video of a black life being taken for little to no reason, however, I eventually gave in. As I watched the video, my heart broke into shattering pieces all over again, the horrible pattern of police brutality against the black Americans continues. These videos started differently, but they all ended the same. I was hurt and sickened, but I certainly was not shocked.  It is no longer shocking to hear about another case of police brutality ending in a murder of a black civilian. I have become numb, our community has become numb.

 Three years later after the #BlackLivesMatter movement was created and a year later after #SayHerName was created, and we are still waiting, explaining and protesting.

 Still waiting for police officers to be held accountable for the unnecessary deaths that they are responsible for. Still awaiting for non-aggressive altercations with police officers to be deescalated in the right manner and not end with murder. Still explaining that #BlackLivesMatter is not anti-white or anti-cop, but pro-black and pro-equality.

Decades after the civil rights movement, we are still protesting to be seen as  more than just a target. We are still fighting for our voice to be heard because unlike black parents, white parents do not need to have a conversation with their children about racism and its damaging effects for having  darker skin. The conversation that will discuss how the intimidation of having darker complexion may lead to them being harmed. White parents do not have to prep their children with a survival guide on being black.

 It is 2016. Why does my skin tone still depict how you treat me? Why does my complexion measure my value?

 The only way to help make progress is for the black community and allies to continue the conversation and not let our voices be silenced. Educate these ignorant folks, and enlighten them so they know they we are not their enemy. We do not want war, we do not want color blindness, we want you to see our color and have that not depict how you treat us.  

Stay strong and do not let them break you.

  Freedom! Freedom! Where are you? Cause I need freedom too!

-Beyonce

   Written by: CheWayne Symoane

[theteeca]

Journey to ShondaLand: A Review of Shonda Rhimes’ "Year of Yes"

Shonda Rhimes’ Year of Yes is not the kind of book I usually read.

In fact, it’s the type of book I go out of my way to avoid. I’ve never been one for self-help and wellness literature. I hear titles likeThe Secret, or Awaken the Giant Within, or The Power of Now and I’m likely to back away from you frantically, hands pressed over my ears and humming at the top of my lungs. So when this book was released in 2015, it started an internal war. To one part of me, the title might as well have been New Age Hippie Gobbledegook. On the other hand, this is Shonda Rhimes. The writer who brought us Crossroads and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. The writer who brought us Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder. 

Hello, she writes. I’m old, and I like to lie.

Okay, Shonda. I’m in.

Year of Yes is not a revolutionary concept. We really do stand in our own way more than any obstacles that the universe throws at us, and Shonda’s Year of Yes was about her getting out of her own way. She  takes us on the journey with her, from the days she spent playing with canned vegetables in her pantry, to the day she gave the graduation speech at her alma mater, to the day she said no to the man she could have married. I’m making it sound like a memoir, but it’s really not. It’s more like the director’s commentary of Shonda’s life, with her voice leaping off the page and into our ears like that of an old friend sharing an anecdote over a glass of wine and a bowl of popcorn. That’s what really sets this book apart.

Shonda is a storyteller by trade, and she reminds us of that with every aside, every account, every gleeful reference to one of her hit shows. She is painfully real and honest about her flaws, but also unabashedly celebrates her triumphs (something she learned to say yes to).

She talks about being black. About being a woman. About being a mother. About being a writer.

I learned a lot about Shonda, but I also learned a lot about myself. This book is for anyone who, like me, has scoffed at self-help in the past. For anyone who’s ever wondered what if I… For anyone who’s ever wanted to be a gladiator, to stand in the sun, to dance it out with their person. I think I’ll start my own Year of Yes—I don’t know where it might take me, but I’m definitely packing this book for the ride.

But first, I’ve got an episode of Scandal to finish.

Come on y’all. Priorities. 

[theteeca]

A Review of Warsan Shire’s "Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth"

"Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth" is without a doubt one of the most uncomfortable things I’ve read in a long time. It is also one of the most beautiful, visceral, thought-provoking things I’ve read ever.

There are twenty-seven pages’ worth of poetry in this collection. Some are just two lines long, none greater than a few paragraphs. It is bound by paper that looks and feels like cork. It is a flimsy little volume, and I’ve been terrified for its welfare as I’ve been carrying it around these last few weeks, wondering how it would stand up to the million other things I shove into my bag on a daily basis. But like the women whose stories unfold through every line and stanza, this collection proved resilient and even as I write this, I look at it in wonder. I can’t believe how much I’ve been affected by this little book that I found purely by chance while scrolling through my Instagram feed.

Warsan Shire is the poet who gave life to Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth. Kenyan-born, of Somali parentage and raised in London, the twenty-seven-year-old poet was first embraced on social media, excerpts from her poems oft-quoted on Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter. Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth was first published in 2011, followed by Her Blue Body in 2015.

Ms. Shire was appointed the first Young Poet Laureate of London in 2014, and most recently, her work served as the backdrop poetry framing Beyonce’s visual album Lemonade.

I knew none of this while reading this chapbook (definition: a small paperback booklet, typically containing poems or fiction—thanks, Google!). I didn’t know what to expect as I examined the strange illustration that serves as it cover. I don’t want to give too much away in this review as I believe that Ms. Shire’s work is best experienced this way— as a blank slate, letting her words write themselves into your mind and memory.

I will tell you that this is some pretty heavy stuff: war, sexual violence, abuse, religion. But there is also beauty, love, and family. Ms. Shire’s voice truly shines in the juxtaposition of ugliness described in such gorgeous language.

Like I said, I don’t want to say too much; but I will leave you with this excerpt:

 Your grandfather’s hands were brown.

Your grandmother kissed each knuckle,

Circled an island into his palm and told him

Which parts they would share, which part they would leave alone

She wet a finger to draw where the ocean would be

On his wrist, kissed him there

Named the ocean after herself.

You can follow Warsan Shire on Twitter @warsan_shire, and on Instagram @wu_shire.

Her first full poetry collection, Extreme Girlhood is scheduled for release later this year.

 Review written by Leandra Grant