#cardy's sugar bowl

[leviabeat]

Rob and Jerry Only at Cardy's Sugar Bowl

Via Rob on Instagram

[megamindsecretlair]

Wait For You

Pairing: Big Stunna x Black!Fem!/ Plus Size reader

Warnings: 18+, Minors DNI, You are in charge of your own reading experience. Intentional use of AAVE. Smutm fluff, use of pet names, cursing, fingering, (female receiving) , established relationship, all consensual.

Summary: Daylight savings really kicked your ass. Getting home, Stunna has surprised you with breakfast for dinner and knows exactly what to do to make your night better.

Word Count: 2,092k

A/N: Enjoy another self-indulgent fic. After the BS I just witnessed with Watchman, I had to cleanse my brain with something cute and fluffy. Please, please consider commenting and reblogging to help support writers! And please put ages in bios! Or get blockt!

Taglist: @planetblaque @blackerthings @melaninpov @browngirldominion @we-outsiiiide @thecookiebratz @iv0rysoap @notapradagurl7 @sevikasblackgf @miyuhpapayuh @xo-goldengirl @kindofaintrovert @flydotty @judymfmoody @slippinninque @soufcakmistress @henneseyhoe @westside-rot @twocentuar @blackpinup22 @babybratzmaraj @theyscreamsannii @kiabialia @thedonsfactory @prettyisasprettydoes1306 @nworbaij @hopefulromantic1 @lesbiantreehugger @longpause-awkwardsmile @badassdoll @kholdkill @cardi-bre91 @jay-mach @sageispunk @ciaqui @yourofficialgal

Moodboard by the amazing @planetblaque , I love you so much 🥹

As soon as you closed the door behind you, you deflated against the door. Your shoulders sagged and your face dropped to its natural resting state. This daylight savings kicked your natural Black ass but you couldn’t let anyone see you deflate. You had to walk with your shoulders back, with a smile on your face so that you weren’t “threatening”. 

Fuck, you were tired of pretending. Your purse slid off of your shoulders just as the smell of pancakes hit your nose. You inhaled and heaved a sigh, like pushing the day off of your shoulders now that you were home and safe. Safe to be you, the real you.

“Baby?” You called out. You toed off your heels, sighing once more at the cool wood under your bare feet.

Stunna appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, towel slung over his wide shoulder and an apron around his slim waist. He smiled when he saw you, holding a mixing bowl and whisk. 

“I lost track of time. I thought I’d have these ready by the time you got home,” he said.

You threw your purse onto the couch and walked over to him, looking into the bowl. “I would’ve gotten dinner started,” you said. You pecked him on the cheek. Well, he had to lean down for you to do so and it was adorable every time he made the concession for you. 

“I heard how tired you were on the phone,” he said. 

Your heart swelled with love, so thick it made your heart beat double time to keep up. “What am I gon’ do with you?” You asked softly. 

Stunna’s eyes softened and he winked at you. “Why don’t you get out of them clothes. By the time you’re done I should be wrapping up,” he said. He kissed your temple and gestured for you to do as he said. 

“Yes, Sir,” you said, a playful grin hovering on your lips. He gave you a warning look, to not test him. But he only looked more adorable and you were getting a sugar high just being next to him.

You went to your room and shed off your clothes. Shed off the day and the bullshit from work. You hopped in the shower, letting the flaming hot water relax your muscles. You washed up quickly and got out, toweling yourself dry. Took your time with your smell goods. You threw on one of Stunna’s old navy T-shirts and nothing else, not trying to be bothered. 

You padded back into the kitchen just as Stunna flipped a pancake onto a waiting stack. Steam rose from the fluffy pancakes and your mouth watered. He smiled at you and gestured for you to sit, so you did. He took off the apron, back to his gray sweatpants and plum colored shirt.

“What you been up to all day?” You asked.

“Did your honey-do,” he said and chuckled. He loved calling it that, though it was him putting most of the items on it. In between running his empire, he was often home alone and able to pay more attention to things that needed fixing. He wasn’t that handy yet, but he was getting there. 

He brought the stack of pancakes over to you, plus some type of apple butter he found at the store that made you want to marry it. It was smooth and spread perfectly, melting into the bread and infusing it with even more deliciousness. You vowed to learn his secret one day.

He forked over two pancakes for you and four for himself. You got to work cutting it into squares, wiggling in your seat. Stunna chuckled and shook his head. “Tell me about work, baby,” he said. 

You told him. There wasn’t much to tell that you didn’t already recap during your afternoon break. You needed those little fifteen minutes to hear his voice. Sometimes, when you had a really shitty day, you paid particular attention to how he pronounced words. How his mouth moved and tongue rolled to make sounds that any human being could. But none did it like Stunna.

You were addicted to this man. And you weren’t trying to go to rehab. 

He listened to you recount the rest of your day. There was nothing particularly wrong about it. You were just a chronically sleepy baby forced to put on your big girl pants and go to work. You were meant to frolic around in a field, collecting berries, or weaving baskets. None of this daily grind bullshit. 

Stunna listened like it was the first time hearing it. He responded just like any of your friends would. Gasping and shaking his head, offering his two cents where it was warranted. You liked that you could gossip to him and he didn’t pretend to not be interested. He loved the office tea as much as you did.

As you spoke, you dug into his delicious food. It managed to be the right kind of fluffy, the kind that seemed to disappear as soon as it hit your tongue. You made sure to drizzle it with the proper amount of syrup, exactly to your liking. 

Before long, you were yawning and trying to keep up with the conversation. Spring Forward always seemed to attack you personally. Like something was altered in the makeup of your body with the seasonal change. You hated it. Your equilibrium was off. 

Stunna kissed your cheek and collected your plate. You knew better than to argue with the man in his dojo. The kitchen was sacred. Or he was king and the kitchen his castle. Whatever metaphor you settled on suited Stunna just fine. The point was, he was in charge and there was no way you were touching a shiny dish while he was around.

You suspected that he really just had an order to things and didn’t want you to disturb his flow. That was okay. 

Stunna hummed while he washed dishes and you took a moment to watch his broad shoulders work. The muscles in his arms jumping. The way his head tilted to the side sometimes while he focused in on wiping the plates and forks clean. He put the rest of the butter in the fridge and then grabbed your hand.

You smiled at him as he pulled you into a standing position. You whined a bit, feeling like a real baby. You didn’t even want to move. “Just to the bedroom and then you’re free to turn into a potato,” he said. 

“Fine,” you grumbled. He led you into the bedroom and closed the door. He turned on the TV and then discarded his sweats and shirt, leaving him in his briefs that clung to a gorgeous ass and muscular thighs. 

You hummed in appreciation, biting your lip as you watched him move. He grinned, showing off that perfect smile of his. You could live a thousand lifetimes with him and never get sick of appreciating his body. Appreciating him. He was just goodness through and through, until Big Stunna had to come out and be ruthless in the streets.

You were a little nervous to tell him, but that was when you were most attracted to him. When he got that serious look in his eye and handled business like a man. Wasn’t nothing sexier than a man you couldn’t tell what to do. 

He turned on the TV, shaking his head at your obvious ogling. He turned it to one of your favorite mindless programs. One of those shows that you could watch over and over and never get sick of. 

He got into bed first, scooting over to the middle and patted his thighs. “You know you don’t have to,” you said. Today had been shitty, but you knew how he got when he tackled the honey-do. He went after it like everything else he did, with a single minded focus that bordered on obsession. 

“Get yo sexy ass over here, girl,” he said.

You grinned. You didn’t have to be told twice. You hopped into bed on your stomach, sliding your legs over his and scooting backwards until your ass was high in the air in front of his face. You two adjusted yourselves, scooting and moving until you fit better against each other.

He turned the TV higher and handed you a pillow so that you could squish it under your chest. He had a light smattering of hair on his legs and you reached over to kiss his calf. 

“Thank you, baby,” he said. 

His hands moved to the back of your thighs, rubbing deep circles that brought moans to your lips. Your body relaxed inch by inch, melting into his strong, capable hands. Weariness leached out of your bones the more he rubbed on you, hands moving down to your calves.

“Ouuee,” you moaned, as his fingers hit a sensitive spot.

“Can’t be moaning like that,” he said, his slow drawl making you shiver. 

“Why not?” You asked, sleepily. 

“Gon’ fuck around and get this dick. But I know you tired.” It was almost worth it trying to wrestle up the energy to hop on his dick just because you never wanted to go a day without being filled up with him. 

But you didn’t have the energy to keep up with him tonight. One day, you’d have to look up how to increase your stamina that did not involve running. It was the exercise that most worked for your body type and it was the bane of your existence. 

He moved his big hands to your ass and that’s when you really moaned. He worked out kinks you didn’t know were there. You knew you needed to move more often at work, but when you were in the zone, you ignored everything else. Including bodily signals to take breaks and handle business. 

“Ouue, shit,” you moaned. His thumb pressed in one area that was like hitting the jackpot. Your eyes lazily rolled towards the back of your head as he worked out the knot. 

The more his hands moved, the wetter you got. You couldn’t help it. The minute he smiled in your direction, you were wet and willing for whatever he decided to dish out. But it wasn’t really about the sex. It was just him.

He had a type of natural charisma that could sell ice to a polar bear and make it think it got off with a deal. It was intoxicating watching him turn that charm on you with a simple act like making you breakfast for dinner. 

His fingers moved inward, circling just outside of your dripping entrance. “Hm, getting a little excited over here,” he said.

“A little,” you purred. 

“Mhm, I’ll take care of that,” he said. He swiped his fingers through your wetness, continuing to play with you while you watched TV with him. You both talked about the show, arguing the cases for your favorite characters.

He thought you were tripping to like the villain on the show. You thought he was nuts for not liking the villain. Like…how could he not? 

He argued his point of view, listing reasons why the villain was supposed to remain bad and not worthy of love. He continued to play with your pussy, pushing a finger inside of you. You gasped and groaned as he pumped his finger.

You still tried to make him see your side, your point, but hell, when he cheated like that you couldn’t form words. So you simply watched the moving pictures and stopped trying to fight your consciousness. You let it drift away. You let it drift away with Stunna’s fingers pumping into you and then moving out to play with your clit.

You hissed as he made contact, tracing tight little circles that drew whimpering cries from you. You only grew wetter, soaking his fingers without him being inside. 

The orgasm rolled through you gently, like the first break of dawn after a long night. That first crack of light rose over the horizon just as your orgasm rose over you in undulating waves. Your tender moans filled the room as you shook and throbbed. 

Sleep pulled at you as Stunna withdrew his fingers. The wet smacks of his lips as he licked his fingers made your pussy throb. Sleep fought harder. You relented, falling asleep to the feel of Stunna’s hands returning to your ass to work out a few more kinks and his sweet words of love filling your ears.

The end.

There's more Stunna to go around! The Secret Big Stunna Files

[hrny-song-tournament]

Paste Magazine apparently made a list of the 50 Sexiest Songs of All Time, those should get a vote here I think! I just submitted what *I* listen to when I’m in the mood, but we deserve to honor the horny girls of the 50s too!!

I hear you anon, so here's the list:

50. “Too Much Love,” LCD Soundsystem (2006)

49. “Do You Remember The First Time?,” Pulp (1994)

48. “Stir It Up,” Bob Marley (1973)

47. “Your Legs Grow,” Nada Surf (2005)

46. “66,” Afghan Whigs (1998)

45. “Fever,” Peggy Lee (1958)

44. “I Hate The Way You Love,” The Kills (2005)

43. “Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic (2021)

42. “Sex With Me,” Rihanna (2016)

41. “Maybe I’m Amazed,” Paul McCartney (1970)

40. “Let’s Spend The Night Together,” The Rolling Stones (1967)

39. “You Really Got Me,” The Kinks (1964)

38. “Crimson and Clover,” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (1982)

37. “Everybody Here Wants You,” Jeff Buckley (1998)

36. “Electric Feel,” MGMT (2007)

35. “Moments In Love,” The Art of Noise (1983)

34. “Turn Me On,” Norah Jones (2003)

33. “Pony,” Ginuwine (1996)

32. “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” Aretha Franklin (1967)

31. “Let’s Stay Together,” Al Green (1972)

30. “Criminal,” Fiona Apple (1997)

29. “Fade Into You,” Mazzy Star (1994)

28. “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” The National (2010)

27. “Crazy Love,” Van Morrison (1970)

26. “Kiss,” Prince (1986)

25. “Bang a Gong (Get It On),” T. Rex (1971)

24. “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl,” Nina Simone (1967)

23. “Night Moves,” Bob Seger (1976)

22. “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” Etta James (1961)

21. “Tom Cat,” Muddy Waters (1968)

20. “Adorn,” Miguel (2012)

19. “When a Man Loves a Woman,” Percy Sledge (1966)

18. “Voodoo Chile,” The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)

17. “WAP,” Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion (2020)

16. “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” D’Angelo (2000)

15. “That’s Where It’s At,” Sam Cooke (1964)

14. “These Arms of Mine,” Otis Redding (1962)

13. “Whole Lotta Love,” Led Zeppelin (1969)

12. “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” Roberta Flack (1975)

11. “Tonight’s The Night,” Solomon Burke (1965)

10. “Je T’aime…Moi Non Plus,” Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin (1969)

9. “Love Serenade,” Barry White (1975)

8. “Love and Happiness,” Al Green (1972)

7. “Love to Love You Baby,” Donna Summer (1975)

6. “Use Me,” Bill Withers (1972)

5. “Wicked Game,” Chris Isaak (1989)

4. “Tell Me Something Good,” Rufus and Chaka Khan (1974)

3. “Darling Nikki,” Prince (1984)

2. “I’m On Fire,” Bruce Springsteen (1985)

1. “Let’s Get It On,” Marvin Gaye (1973)

[compo67]

🤷‍♀️💖 and 🎥 for Strong Coffee Served Here, Back Pocket, MPM and/or Like Everything I ever Lost?

Hellooooo anon! Thank you for the ask. :D

🤷‍♀️What's a fic you didn't expect to be popular, but really took off?

Hands down, it is "Just Them." This 2,600 word fic has 50,500 hits! Holy crap! It's one of my most read fics ever. I got the idea from a SPN kink meme prompt. I miss going there and fishing for ideas.

💖 Which of your fics is your pride and joy?

Oh gosh, that's like asking me to pick a favorite child. I think... for right now, my pride and joy is Minutes Past Midnight. I think I did something way different and pulled it off. :)

🎥 Pick a fic and I'll tell you the song I imagine playing during its movie trailer.

Strong Coffee Served Here: "Speaking of the Devil" by Blue Water Highway or "Pot Kettle Black" by Tilly and the Wall

Back Pocket: "Hold My Hand" by LeeHi and "Cigarettes on Patios" by BabyJake, 24kGoldn

MPM: "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl" by Nina Simone or "Send the Sun" by Nikki Lane

Like Everything: "Supernatural" by Transviolet or "WAP" by Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion

Gosh, I haven't thought about Strong Coffee in a while! I might just have to reread that. :D

[lookingdevilish]

[vroomian]

I’m trying to sleep but my brain is just fruit salad by Tom cardy on a loop. I close my eyes and I hear ‘everybody wants to hear you talk/when you rock a glass bowl and a big fat fork’ and ‘fruit/ really good to eat/ natural sugar make it taste so sweet’

[sensei-aishitemasu]

2020 Black-Owned Gift Guide!

2020 Black-Owned Gift Guide!

It’s that time again! Our SIXTH ANNUAL BLACK-OWNED GIFT GUIDE IS HERE!!!! This Black Friday, try and support a Black-owned business for all your gift-giving needs. For last years gift guide, click here. For the 2018 gift guide, click here. For the 2017 gift guide, click here. For the 2016 gift guide, click here. For the 2015 gift guide, click here.

Similar to previous lists, I kept every individual item listed under $100! Click on the links to be taken to the websites in order to peruse more yourselves: all businesses listed are Black-owned, and many are run by Black women, Black Americans specifically, manufactured here in the United States, and/or sustainably and ethically sourced with philanthropic causes attached to sales! Check them out. 

In addition, this year there are THREE NEW CATEGORIES! Check out items for the ‘Goth/Kawaii,’ for your ‘Activist Bae,’ and for the ‘Esoteric’ down below.

[As always, this guide has been split into categories to make it easier to get through, but feel free to mix and match for the person in your life that fits all of (or none of!) these categories!]

For the Homebody:

Lettie Gooch Small Safety Matches, $18 Lettie Gooch Amber & Moss Soy Candle, $20 Lettie Gooch White Concrete White Tea & Ginger Candle, $28 Lettie Gooch Planetarium Throw Blanket, $68 Lettie Gooch Soleil Throw Blanket, $68

Debra Cartwright ‘Bike’ Watercolor Print, $38 Debra Cartwright ‘Aura’ Watercolor Print, $87 Debra Cartwright ‘Astro Millennial Ladies in Quarantine’ Coloring Book, $5

Harlem Candle Company ‘Brownstone’ Luxury Candle, $45 Harlem Candle Company ‘Lenox’ Luxury Room Spray, $30 Harlem Candle Company ‘Langston’ Luxury Room Spray, $30

Jungalow Genie Vase, $89 Jungalow Handwoven Peach Planter, $49 Jungalow Azul Face Pillow by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $89 Jungalow Soft Mint Pillow, $89 Jungalow Aja Wallpaper in Green by Justina Blakeney, $5 (per sheet) Jungalow Tigris Wallpaper in Onyx by Justina Blakeney, $5 (per sheet) Jungalow Cream Looped Wool Rug, $99.00 Jungalow Silvia Teal & Berry Rug by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $69.00 Jungalow Striped Orange Outdoor Rug, $59.00 Jungalow Reindeer Games Hook Pillow by Justina Blakeney, $60.00 Jungalow Peace Vase by Justina Blakeney, $68.00 

Kashmir Viii ‘S is for Soul’ Print, $35-$45 

Galerie LA Rooted Incense Holder, $45

Duchess365 358 Art Print, $23.99 

Jeff Manning Art ‘Aplomb’ Art Print, $45 Jeff Manning Art ‘Pacific’ Art Print, $30

Kicky Mats ‘Get Naked’ Bath Mat, $30 Kicky Mats ‘Did You Wash Your Hands?’ Doormat, $50 Kicky Mats ‘Go Away, Come Back With Wine’ Doormat, $50 Kicky Mats ‘Did You Call First?’ Doormat, $50

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Tobacco + Patchouli Gold Travel Tin, $11 228 Grant Street Candle Co. Wild Blackberry + Absinthe Amber Jar, $21 228 Grant Street Candle Co. Oakmoss + Amber Apothecary Jar, $32

Shea Makery Strawberry Cheesecake Signature Candle, $40 Shea Makery Cinna-Bowl Signature Candle, $40

The Silver Room Cider and Cedar Leaf Candle, $34 The Silver Room Rose Water & Tea Leaves Diffuser, $28 The Silver Room Minnie Ripperton - Les Fleur Vinyl, $26

Rituals + Ceremony Anonomy Sculptures, $79 Rituals + Ceremony USB Travel Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser, $25

Handcrafted Ceramic Watering Cans, $64

Fill More Waste Less Natural Loofah Sponge, $2.50 Fill More Waste Less Food Huggers, $12. 99 

Ment Nelson Backwoods Baptism Print, $50 Ment Nelson Old Sheldon Print, $40

Quarantine Games!

Trading Races, $19.99

Winsults, $25

Cards For All People - Black Card Revoked (First Edition), $17.99

Trap Wars - The Urban Game Night Experience, $22.99

Lyrically Correct 90's & 2000's Hip Hop/R&B Edition, $24.99

Black Wall Street - The Black History Board Game, $49.99

Pull Your Card Music Trivia: Hip Hop Edition, $14.99

Spill It Card Game, $23

'Verified' A Party Game for Social Media Lovers (Original Edition), $19.99

For the Foodie:

Kashmir Viii ‘The Black Power’ Mixtape Coasters, $40 Kashmir Viii ‘Reclaim It’ Mug, $16 Kashmir Viii ‘I Slay.’ Clutch, $45 

Galerie LA Peak and Valley Balance Blend, $30 

‘The Cooking Gene,’ by Michael W. Twitty, $28.99 

‘From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes From the Boss Dog’s Kitchen’ by Snoop Dogg, $24.95 

Essie Spice Signature Sauce Collection, $42 

‘Your Guide to Tasteful Manners’ with Love Cork Screw, $19.95 

‘Deliciously Vegan’ Cookbook by The Chic Natural, $28.95 

EAT Apron, $30

Midnight Reflections Crowned White Ceramic Mug, $19.99

The Spice Suite Utensils + Oven Mitts, $50 The Spice Suite ‘The Little Black Spice Book’ (E-book), $30

Rituals + Ceremony Circle Mug, $40 Rituals + Ceremony Agate 6pc Plate Set, $24

Blk + Grn Stainless Steel Tea Ball Infuser, $4

Fill More Waste Less Reusable Tea Strainer, $14.99

Good Thoughts Tea Co. Tea Spoon Set, $12

KazvareMadeIt Personalised Alphabet Mug Tile Print, $20.99 KazvareMadeIt Banananana Cushion, $55.80

Addie Rawr ‘Addie's Cocktail Collection’ (Cards & Prints), $3.75

For the Beauty Guru:

Lettie Gooch Blends Perfume: Earth, $30 Lettie Gooch Bloom Perfume Blend No. 586, $48 

Galerie LA Hand Sanitizer, $10 Galerie LA Cream Cleanser, $16 Galerie LA Citrine Sea Tropical Exfoliator, $18 Galerie LA Botanica Rose Roller, $14 Galerie LA Botanica Lavender Roller, $14 Galerie LA Aurora Superfood Elixer (Face Serum), $27 Galerie LA Jade Eye Mask, $44 Galerie LA Rose Quartz Facial Roller, $28.00 

Shea Makery Scar Healing Serum, $23 Shea Makery Cinnamon Bun Body Butter, $25 Shea Makery Glazed Donut Body Butter, $25 Shea Makery Milk + Honey + Syrup Bubble Bath, $22 Shea Makery Honeycomb Bath Set, $16

The Lip Bar Cheek and Eye Palette, $15  The Lip Bar ‘Goddess’ Lipgloss, $14 The Lip Bar ‘Bawse Lady’ Liquid Matte Lipstick, $13  The Lip Bar ‘4:00 Stuntin' Fast Face Kit,’ $99 The Lip Bar Limited Edition Easy Holiday Glam Collection, $25  The Lip Bar ‘Lip Bar Littles,’ $18.99 The Lip Bar Minimalist Lovers Bundle, $36

Auda B. Beauty Soy Polish Remover, $26 

Breukelen Polished ‘Paid and Full,’ $11 Breukelen Polished ‘Get Me Right’ Treatment Set, $25

Beauty Bakerie ‘Milk & Honey’ Highlighting Brush, $18 Beauty Bakerie ‘Coffee and Cocoa’ Bronzer Palette, $38 Beauty Bakerie ‘Black Egg-cellence’ Beauty Sponges, $18  Beauty Bakerie ‘Sugar Cookies’ Palette, $28 Beauty Bakerie ‘The Butter’ Hydrasilk Primer, $24

Mented Mini Brush Trio, $10 Mented Everyday Eyeshadow Palette, $28 Mented Brush Collection, $45 Mented Holiday Faves Trio, $50

Blac Minerals Highlight Bundle, $32 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Oil, $30  Danessa Myricks Waterproof Cream Palettes, $36 Danessa Myricks Luxe Cream Palettes ‘The Nudist,’ $44

Pear Nova ‘Holiday Essentials’ Nail Set, $90 

Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Voodoo, $18  Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Midnight Cowboy, $18 Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Black Orpheus, $18 Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Scarab, $18

Hunny Bunny Cuticle Cream, $4.50 Hunny Bunny Grapefruit Sugar Scrub, $20

Taupe Coat in Good Fortune, $11

More Brands To Try:

People of Color Beauty

Mischo Beauty

Suite Eleven

Brown Butter Beauty

Beija Flor Naturals

Plain Jane Beauty

Ancient Cosmetics

Hue Noir

Lotus Moon Skincare

For the Fashion Conscious:

Merit ‘Fate’ Bucket Hat, $20

Chris Cardi Signature TwistDYE Tee, $33

Lettie Gooch Black Mineral Washed Jacquard Leggings, $68 Lettie Gooch ‘Smiling On The Inside’ Mask, $28

Kashmir Viii Face Masks, $16 Kashmir Viii ‘Around The Way Girl’ Clutch, $45-$60

Galerie LA Hemp Tie Button Down Sage, $90 Galerie LA Gratia Jumpsuit Tumeric, $100 Galerie LA Red Zipper Wallet, $45 Galerie LA Dopp Kitt (Makeup Bag) in Navy, $40 Galerie LA Lunar Star Earrings, $100 Galerie LA Meria Sunglasses Coral Pink, $75 Galerie LA Oda Ring, $45 Galerie LA Sabbath Cocoon Tunic, $85

Tree Fairfax Keychain, $22.50 Tree Fairfax Lois Belt, $45

LoveCortnie Polka Dot Leather Key Chain Clasps, $15 LoveCortnie Small Leather Tassel, $17 LoveCortnie ‘Color Me’ Coin Purse, $30 LoveCortnie Envelope Card Holder (Black & White), $32

Rue 107 ‘Toni’ Bikini in XOXO Print, $98 Rue 107 Signature Pencil Skirt in XOXO Print, $68 Rue 107 Tied Cropped Tank in XOXO Print, $48 Rue 107 Tied Cropped Tank in Vintage Rose Print, $48 Rue 107 Signature Pencil Skirt in Vintage Rose Print, $68

Grant Blvd ‘Sustainable Shit Only’ Fanny Pack, $26

Ebony and Green Mindfulness Earrings, $10

For the Bookworm:

‘Daymares’ by Kenya Moss-Dyme, $12.99

‘Hood Feminism’ by Mikki Kendall, $26

‘The Source of Self-Regard’ by Toni Morrison, $28.95

‘Tar Baby’ by Toni Morrison, $15

‘The Beautiful Ones’ by Prince, $30

‘In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage’ by Alan Schroeder, $12.95

‘The Street: A Novel’ by Ann Petry, $15.99

‘Chasing Down a Dream: A Blessings Novel’ by Beverly Jenkins, $14.99

‘Rebel (Women Who Dare)’ by Beverly Jenkins, $5.98

‘Night Song’ by Beverly Jenkins, $8.99

‘Tempest’ by Beverly Jenkins, $5.98

‘Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy’ by Maggie Anderson, $17

Rayo and Honey ‘Books Change Your Mind’ Pennant, $75

Jungalow Face Bookend Vase by Justina Blakeney, $98

Midnight Reflections Black Nerd Tote Bag, $18.99

Addie Rawr Book Club Dolls Stickers (Die Cut Stickers), $9.50

For the Kids:

Jungalow Leela Terracotta Rug by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $89.00 Jungalow Pink Looped Wool Rug, $99.00

Galerie LA Kids Face Mask, $25

Duchess365 237 Canvas Print, $98.99 Duchess365 231 Tote Bag, $24.99 Duchess365 279 Art Print, $23.99 Duchess365 241 Framed Art Print, $47.99

Shea Makery PB & J Soap, $10 Shea Makery ‘Save A Life’ Mini Assorted Hand Soaps (Set of 12), $5

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, $16.99

‘Clean Getaway’ by Nic Stone, $16.99

‘Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid’ by Mikaela Ulmer, $16.19

ABC Me Flashcards, $20

IkdKids Rag Doll, $40

KaAn’s ‘Living The Dream’ Denim Jacket, $40

Yinibini Baby Badminton Playing Octopus Tee, $23 Yinibini Baby Fox Pullover Sweatshirt Jogger Set, $41 Yinibini Baby ROAR Lion Hooded Pullover, $45 Yinibini Narwhal Toy, $28

For the Masculine:

ALWD Signature DC PROPER Sweatshirt, $40

Chris Cardi ‘Bastards’ Tee, $30.03

Merit Flannel Shirt (Green), $65

Kashmir Viii ‘Everybody Eats, B,’ Tee, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘The Knockout’ Tee, $45

Galerie LA ‘Mister’ T-Shirt, $45

Jeff Manning Art ‘Overflow’ Art Print, $30 Jeff Manning Art ‘The Golden Age’ Art Print, $45 Jeff Manning Art ‘Overflowed Emotions’ Art Print, $50

Levi Fisher Beard Bundle, $39.99

Scotch Porter Face Care Collection, $28.99 Scotch Porter Journal, $9.99

Shea Makery Beard Oil, $15

Enbois Matte Lava Rock Bracelet, $40 Enbois Benji Matte Sunglasses, $45 Enbois Bracelets Collection - Cocoa, $50

The Silver Room Tourer Backpack, $95

Urban Profile Black Panther Shirt, $24.99

Solo Noir Starter Kit, $28.99

Bevel Shave Starter Bundle, $89.95 Bevel Skin Starter Set, $61.95

For the Tech Savvy:

Enbois iPhone Case, $12 Enbois Power Bank, $15 Enbois Grip Socket, $4

Chic Geeks Brown Faux Crocodile iPad Case, $75 Chic Geeks Brown Snakeskin iPad Case, $75 Chic Geeks Emerald Faux Crocodile iPhone Case, $50 Chic Geeks Grey Marble MacBook Case, $80 Chic Geeks Black Faux Crocodile iPad Case, $75

Khristian A. Howell Cava Melon Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99 Khristian A. Howell Cava Black Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99

NSPRE ‘Inferno’ Bluetooth Sunglasses, $71.99 NSPRE Micro SD Card (128GB), $21.98 NSPRE ‘The Ombres’ Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses, $59.99  NSPRE ‘The Solars’ Bluetooth BlueTech Glasses, $59.99

For the Goth/Kawaii:

VickiBeWicked Vinyl Sticker Heart Drippy Mushroom, Laptop Decal, $4 VickiBeWicked Rainbow Unicorn, Black Girl Magic Laptop Sleeve, $30.99 VickiBeWicked AfroGirls Masked Up Laptop Sleeve, $30.99 VickiBeWicked Pastel Horn Face Resin Keychain, $12.99 VickiBeWicked Red and White Splatter Skull Dangle Earrings, $7.50

Kashmir Viii ‘The KeKe’ Print, $35-$60

Adorned by Chi ‘Goth Club Presidenct’ Unisex Raglan T-Shirt, $34.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Pro Black’ Unisex Raglan T-Shirt, $34.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Pretty Girls Like Anime’ T-Shirt, $32.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Awkward’ Iron-On Patch, $11.99 Adorned by Chi ‘I Need My Space’ Hard Enamel Pin, $12.99

The Colour Polka Dot iPhone XS ‘Creepy Cute’ Rainbow Phone Case, $40 The Colour Polka Dot ‘Creepy Cute’ Spoopy Ornaments, $12 The Colour Polka Dot ‘Kawaii Cute’ Face Mask Case, $16

Embrii Shop Blush Pink Laptop Sleeve, $36

Gothic Lamb Anti Social Goth Club Tee, $28 Gothic Lamb ‘FedUp’ Tee, $24 Gothic Lamb ‘Make America Goth Again’ Tee, $28 Gothic Lamb ‘Melanin Manson’ Tee, $24

For the Esoteric:

Behati Life Third Eye Vision And Prophetic Dreams Intention Oil, $22 Behati Life New Moon Bath Soak Herbal Mix, $22 Behati Life Lunar Goddess Moon Magick Intention Oil, $22

Lettie Gooch Ecuadorian Palo Santo Quartz Crystal Bundle, $18

Jungalow Chaya Wallpaper in Amethyst by Justina Blakeney, $5

The Silver Room White Sage Bundle, $6

Grandma Baby's Black Gold Lenormand Tarot Deck, $44

Pretty Spirits ‘The Truth’ Decks, $50

The Afro Tarot, $88

The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers by Tayannah Lee McQuillar, $18.66

‘Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money and Success’ by Tayannah Lee McQuillar, $11.99

Rituals + Ceremony Palo Santo Pack, $7 Rituals + Ceremony Empowered Vibes Ceramic Incense Holder, $10 Rituals + Ceremony Adinkra Intention Candles, $23 Rituals + Ceremony Cleanse and Protect Ritual Kit, $34 Rituals + Ceremony Crystal Candles, $22 Rituals + Ceremony Crystal Bliss: Attract Love, Feed Your Spirit, Manifest Your Dreams Book, $14.99

Ebony and Green Raw Clear Quartz Earrings, $15

For Your Activist Bae:

Kashmir Viii ‘Kash’s Bacon Shack’ Clutch, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘Copy and Paste’ Tee, $45 Kasmir Viii ‘We Did It First’ Stickers, $5.25-$20 Kashmir Viii ‘Reclaim It’ Clock, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘The Black Family’ Tee, $45

Jeff Manning Art ‘MLK’ Art Print, $35 Jeff Manning Art ‘We Shall Prevail’ Art Print, $45

‘The Spook Who Sat By The Door’ by Sam Greenlee, $21.99 ‘The Black Panthers Speak,’ $20 The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975, $22.95 A Beautiful Ghetto by Devin Allen, $26.95 ‘Are Prisons Obsolete?’ by Angela Davis, $15.95

Angela Davis T-Shirt, $25

Legendary Rootz ‘Black Girls Are The Purest Form of Art’ Tee, $25

Alex Carter ‘BLACK BUSINESS OWNERSHIP’ Tee, $50

Rayo and Honey ‘Much To Be Done & Undone’ Pennant, $75 Rayo and Honey ‘Black Lives Matter’ Pennant, $75 Rayo and Honey ‘Joy Is An Act Of Resistance’ Tote Bag, $65

‘They Carried Us: The Social Impact of Philadelphia’s Black Women Leaders’ by Allener M. Baker-Rogers & Fasaha M. Traylor, $ 28.99

Midnight Reflections Black Radical Woman Tank, $25.00

The Colour Polka Dot ‘Fuck Racism’ Resin Heart Keychain, $8

Rituals + Ceremony Be The Change Scented Candle, $24

Grant Blvd ‘Disrupter’ Tee, $30 Grant Blvd ‘End Cash Bail’ Hoodie, $54 

Cards, Notebooks and Wrapping Paper + Holiday Ornaments:

VickiBeWicked ‘Skull Santa’ and Candy Cane Greeting Cards, $2

Harlem Candle Company Set of 10 Vintage Nightclub Greeting Cards, $30

Kashmir Viii ‘Nina En Printemps’ (Nina Simone) Notebook, $14 Kashmir Viii ‘Boo Yow!’ Notebook, $14

Midnight Reflections Wrapping Paper 3-pack, $26.97

Midnight Reflections Claus Ceramic Ornaments, $15.99

Midnight Reflections Emoji Black Santa Christmas Stockings, $24.99

Bylianarae Note Cards, $15

KazvareMadeIt Rap Lines Inspirational Coloring Book, $18.20 KazvareMadeIt Lemonade Notebook, $18.20 KazvareMadeIt Fried Egg Wallpaper, $4.88 KazvareMadeIt Diamond Retro Wrapping Paper, $4.88

Khristian A. Howell ‘Speak To Me’ Wallpaper, $12 (sample pack) Khristian A. Howell ‘Palm Springs’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Sonar’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Twinkle’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Ansley Park’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Rosy’ Holiday Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Long Weekend’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Bonjour’ Card Set (10 pk), $18

GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ HOHOHO Gift Wrap, $7.50 GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ Do Not Open Gift Wrap, $7.50 GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ Candy Canes and Trees Gift Wrap, $7.50

Addie Rawr 2021 Planners (Preorder), $30 Addie Rawr The Great Gratitude Journal, $20 Addie Rawr The Great Gratitude Journal, $20

[tabloidtoc]

Life & Style, February 10

Cover: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle love their new lives 

Page 1: Photo Flash -- Morning madness with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West and kids North and Saint and Chicago and Psalm 

Page 2: Contents 

Page 4: The Top 10 Zendaya Looks 

Page 6: Twinning! Olivia Wilde vs.Natalie Portman, Dua Lipa vs. Sofia Richie 

Page 7: Idina Menzel vs. Kate Walsh, Eva Longoria vs. Hannah Brown 

Page 8: Jessica Simpson -- how motherhood saved me 

Page 9: Beyonce has a personal doorman who opens all doors for her even inside her own house, Throwback -- Matt Bomer, Biggest Spenders of the Week -- Cardi B and Offset, Drake, Zayn Malik, Rita Ora 

Page 10: Jennifer Lopez and Shakira were bitter rival during the Super Bowl halftime show because Jennifer sees herself as the bigger star and hates the thought of Shakira stealing her thunder, since severing ties with BFF Jordyn Woods and boyfriend Travis Scott Kylie Jenner’s inner circle has been growing smaller by the day 

Page 12: Rihanna’s rebound romance with A$AP Rocky 

Page 13: Rebel Wilson has been hitting the gym six days a week and has lost 70 pounds or more, The Bachelor Pete Weber might be falling hard for Victoria Fuller but a source close to the front-runner claims she’s hiding a shady past, VIP Style -- Nicole Kidman (pictured), D’Arcy Carden, Adam Driver and Billy Porter (pictured), Karlie Kloss, Conor McGregor (pictured), Hailey Baldwin, Will Ferrell, James Van Der Beek (pictured) 

Page 14: The Week in Photos -- Pink and Carey Hart and kids Willow and Jameson at Disneyland 

Page 15: Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon at the Producers Guild Awards, Celine Dion 

Page 16: Jennie Garth, Stephen Colbert, Dan and Eugene Levy 

Page 18: DJ Pauly D at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel’s Sugar Factory in Tampa, Kaia Gerber hit the catwalk in Chanel and Givenchy during Paris Fashion Week 

Page 19: Josh Gad and Kristen Bell, Jason Biggs and sons Sid and Lazlo 

Page 22: Gigi Hadid blew kisses to fans outside her Paris hotel, Rami Malek and Lucy Boynton, Jimmy Fallon and Kate Upton and Ken Jeong 

Page 23: Aubrey Plaza on Ellen DeGeneres 

Page 24: Stars Behaving Badly -- Selena Gomez gave Rami Malek bunny ears while posing with Robert Downey Jr. at the premiere of Dolittle, Tom Hardy picking his nose on the set of Fonzo in New Orleans, Jerry O’Connell hopped into bed without pajama bottoms with Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa 

Page 26: Say What?! Cardi B, Ryan Reynolds, James Corden, Scarlett Johansson, Jamie Foxx 

Page 28: Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall  secretly married 

Page 29: Halsey and Evan Peters heating up 

Page 30: Cover Story -- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle happier than ever 

Page 34: After Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s recent PDA Angelina Jolie plots financial and emotional revenge 

Page 36: Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson eloping and her family’s not invited 

Page 38: Varsity Blues bombshell -- an explosive documentary about the college admission scam shed new light on the scandal that continues to rock Hollywood 

Page 42: Who Lives Here? Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick 

Page 44: Entertainment 

Page 45: Star Review -- Andrew Rannells, As Seen On-Screen -- Selena Gomez’s Miu Miu’s Faille Cady dress that she wore on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 

Page 48: Style Special -- Fashion Favorites -- SAG Awards -- Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Turner 

Page 49: Lupita Nyong’o, Jennifer Garner, Charlize Theron 

Page 50: Beauty Crush -- Margot Robbie at the SAG Awards by her makeup artist Pati Dubroff 

Page 52: Diva or Down-to-Earth? Diva Kit Harington, down-to-earth Mark Zuckerberg shopping for bargains, down-to-earth Vanessa Hudgens takes out the trash 

Page 54: Social Stars Posts of the Week -- Kim Kardashian, Kevin Hart with wife Eniko and kids Heaven and Hendrix and Kenzo, Robert Downey Jr. and Jimmy Fallon, Kerry Washington 

Page 55: David Beckham and kids and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer and her baby boy Oliver, Jennifer Lopez and twins Max and Emme 

Page 56: Horoscope -- Aquarius Amal Clooney, They’re Not Together But They Should Be -- Sagittarius Brad Pitt and Leo Charlize Theron 

Page 58: Made Ya Look -- Kaia Gerber poses for Louis Vuitton in Miami 

Page 60: What I’m Into -- Kyle Cooke 

[cxhnow]

R&B duo (and real-life sisters) Chloe and Halle Bailey have unparalleled talent and an unbreakable bond. With a “sexy, darker” new sound and exciting solo projects on the way, the multihyphenates are all grown up and ready for their second act — both together and on their own. "You. Look. Stunning!" Halle Bailey watches as her older sister Chloe poses in a faux-leather Nanushka trench coat against a vibrant background of red and pink, Kelis's album Tasty blaring through the studio. Halle's eyes dart between the shots popping up on the monitor and the real-life vision that is 21-year-old Chloe, who smirks at her sister's instructions to "slay" and "work" as they echo in the cavernous studio. Chloe returns the favor when it's 19-year-old Halle's moment in front of the lens; being photographed separately is a rare occurrence for the pair. Chloe cheers Halle on as the latter poses in a houndstooth Area dress, nipped at the waist with a patent leather belt, and matching knee-high boots: "That's gorgeous! You're beautiful." When Chloe and Halle arrive at Milk Studios in Hollywood for our cover shoot on Oct. 29, the energy is celebratory; they are fresh from the set of the Freeform series Grown-ish. Chloe and Halle graduated from recurring roles on the Black-ish spinoff to series regulars for season two, playing college students and track star twins Jazz and Sky Forster. They — along with cast members Yara Shahidi, Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, and Luka Sabbat — just wrapped filming on the third season, which premieres Jan. 16. The next installment of the show promises an unplanned pregnancy, an acting debut from Kylie Jenner's former BFF Jordyn Woods, and a much-appreciated homage to Beyoncé's 2018 Homecoming performance. It's also a busy time for Chloe x Halle's music: in 2019 they dropped two singles, "Who Knew" and "Thinkin Bout Me," and are putting the finishing touches on their highly anticipated second studio album, Ungodly Hour, which drops this year. They are buzzing while talking about their new, more mature sound. "It's more grown; it's sexy, it's darker," Halle tells me. She and her sister showed up in laid-back looks before undergoing superhero-style transformations in a curtained-off section of the studio, where they snacked on chips and guacamole and drank green juice while trying on dozens of potential designer outfits. They are sweet and petite, and during a break from the photo shoot, they sit side by side on a velvet ottoman across from me. Both are wearing curve-hugging dresses by Dion Lee and have traded their matching Alevì Milano heels for slippers and slides. Chloe and Halle are defining themselves individually even more than before, and their style is part of that. Throughout the day, Halle will rock playfully sexy ensembles (my personal favorite is a Carrie Bradshaw-esque Maison Margiela button-down shirt cinched with a Zana Bayne belt). Chloe's outfits are equally grown-up and sexy, but with an edgy sophistication — she will channel Olivia Pope, smizing in a camel-colored Fendi trench coat and graphic Sophia Webster heels. Their looks will always complement each other but still reflect the woman wearing them. Their eyes are wide, their mocha skin glistening, braids cascading down their backs. The mood feels highly melanated and highly favored. Chloe and Halle's connection goes beyond the typical sibling bond — they are collaborators, costars, and best friends. It's what makes the stakes of this next stage of their career, as they explore a more adult sound and divergent career opportunities of their own, so high. To see them posing together is like watching a delicately choreographed dance. It's as if they each instinctively know which way the other is about to lean her arm or turn her head and will shift congruously. Between shots, Chloe and Halle smooth each other's braids, bump shoulders to the bass of "Milkshake," or talk in hushed tones. Chloe is the textbook older sister and ultimate hype girl ("The angel that's always in my ear," Halle tells me). "We'll always squeeze each other's hands or look in each other's eyes and crack a joke," Chloe says, admitting that they both sometimes feel anxious while posing on the red carpet or for photo shoots like this one. I recognize their subtle movements, exchanged glances, and seemingly secret language; it reminds me of the way that my sister and I — and sisters everywhere, really — exist in our own universe. Chloe and Halle spent their childhood in Atlanta before moving to LA, where they reside today with their parents Courtney and Doug and their 14-year-old brother, Branson ("We're the Three Musketeers," Chloe says). In 2011, they launched their YouTube channel with an impressive cover of Beyoncé's "Best Thing I Never Had." Wearing matching red tank tops and bouncy braided bobs, they showed off melodies reminiscent of vocalists well beyond their years (Chloe was 13, Halle just 11). They would go on to cover hits from John Legend, Alicia Keys, Lorde, and Rihanna. In 2015, their rendition of Beyoncé's "Pretty Hurts" got the attention of Bey herself, and she signed the duo to her Parkwood Entertainment management company. And, as they tell me, being the protégés of a megastar like Beyoncé is a masterclass in ambition. "She's a boss and she takes care of her own," Chloe says. "She's independent and knows what she wants, and she's not afraid to articulate that." They employ their mentor's take-charge attitude by trusting their instincts when making tough career choices. "That's what we truly admire about Beyoncé . . . she's allowed us to grow in our own right, and as much as she is vocal, she lets us fly on our own." Up until now, Chloe x Halle's sound has been bright, ethereal R&B soul; they released their debut EP Sugar Symphony in 2016, followed by a critically praised mixtape, The Two of Us. Their 2018 album The Kids Are Alright — with jazz-inflected trap-pop songs like "Happy Without Me," "Everywhere," and the Grown-ish theme song "Grown" — showcased their angelic harmonies, earning them Grammy nominations for best new artist and best urban contemporary album. They solidified their place in history with a chill-inducing performance of "America the Beautiful" at the 2019 Super Bowl. But with age comes experience and, yes, growth. The new Chloe x Halle era will reflect their sisterhood and the kind of women they aspire to be: powerful, strong, and effortlessly sexy. "We're not little kids anymore," Chloe tells me. Their sound has evolved from light and airy soul-pop into "edgier, grittier" R&B, like something you'd want to hear during an episode of Euphoria. They teased new music during an "electric, intense, and fun" performance at The Forum in LA late last year. "We played two new songs; 'Do It' — that's one of our favorites — and 'Rest of Your Life,'" Halle tells me during a phone conversation after the shoot. She describes both tracks as being high energy with party vibes. While Ungodly Hour will be a clear departure, the sisters seem to be more musically aligned than ever. Chloe and Halle say there's no formula to their music-making process. "We feel like that takes away any creativity," Chloe explains. They went delightfully old school for brainstorming sessions, filling two or three poster boards with magazine cutouts representing what the new project should feel like. Before creating music, they keep things breezy by having "tea time and girl chat" and narrowing down the themes they want to write about. "I'll make a beat and Halle will hear some really sick melodies and go on the mic and record them," Chloe says. "I'll lay some melodies down and splice [them] together, and then we do lyrics, but we never force it." Halle nods. "It's much like throwing paint on a wall and seeing what happens, and that's the beauty of it." When I ask how they landed on the album title Ungodly Hour, Halle tells me that it came from a single studio session with English electro artists Disclosure. "They are two brothers, and they're literally like mirrors of us," Halle says of duo Howard and Guy Lawrence, who they worked with on the up-tempo title track. "[Ungodly hour] was a phrase for that riff. We kind of spoke it into existence, you could say," Chloe continues. She reveals that one of their early mood boards included the phrase "The Trouble With Angels" (possibly a nod to the 1966 religious comedy starring Hayley Mills?), and notes how exciting it's been to tie those themes together. I spent hours holed up in my childhood bedroom plastering editorial images on any available surface, so it's nice to hear that some methods will never go out of style. But let's not get it twisted: Chloe and Halle aren't two girls making cute collages — they're artists with a precise vision and the talent to execute it. Their technique is free-flowing, but there's a keen attention to detail that influences those working with them. Singer-songwriter Victoria Monét, who helped pen chart-toppers for Fifth Harmony and Ariana Grande, collaborated with Chloe and Halle on Ungodly Hour. She confirmed my theory that they are Black girl magic personified. "I really admire their spirit," Monét said over email. "They feel amazing to be around, and their voices represent that." "They're so hands-on with everything, from melodies to lyrics and production," Nija Charles said over email. The 22-year-old songwriting phenom produced hits for Cardi B and Summer Walker and worked on the sisters' sensual kiss-off "Forgive Me." "Watching them work always makes me go back home and want to perfect my craft." Hands-on is certainly one way to describe the sisters, who play a role in writing, arranging, producing, and playing instruments on nearly all of their own music. What does it mean to two young, gifted, and Black businesswomen to have so much creative control of their work? "Since we were young, our parents instilled in us the power to do things on our own, and not rely on people if [we're] just as capable," Halle says. This encouragement is what motivated them to learn instruments and produce their own music as preteens. Although extraordinary on their own, Chloe and Halle are quick to praise those who have inspired them along the way. I can tell they harbor a deep sense of sisterhood within their own circle, a tight-knit group of family and close friends with the occasional superstar thrown in. It's galvanizing for them to see other young stars doing equally amazing things. "I stan over Zendaya. I love her, and Normani," Chloe says, beaming. "There are so many amazing women right now, and I'm just happy to be a part of this generation with them." Halle agrees, shouting out Grown-ish castmates Yara Shahidi, Francia Raisa, and Emily Arlook as women who uplift them when they're low. The feeling is mutual for 19-year-old Shahidi, who told me being part of Chloe and Halle's atmosphere is "truly a gift." "We share successes, challenges, frustrations, everything!" Shahidi said in an email. "I define sisterhood as an eternal bond with your best friend," Halle tells me. "I'm so fortunate that I get to do this with my sister every day." She looks up to Chloe more than anyone else; after all, as an older sibling, there's a responsibility (and sometimes pressure) to protect, guide, and set a good example. But Chloe is just as heart-eyed about Halle and lights up when talking about her. "Forget all the business stuff and the music and acting; this is my best friend," she says. "Whenever we're apart for 15 minutes, we're like, 'I miss you!' We're texting each other, FaceTiming. I love this one." I make a mental note to respond to unread texts from my sister. "You'll need each other one day" is something I heard a lot growing up, especially when being reprimanded for terrorizing my younger sister. And it occurs to me that Halle and Chloe might need each other even more this year. In 2020, they are each embarking on big solo projects: Chloe in the supernatural thriller The Georgetown Project, her first major movie role as an adult, and Halle as Ariel in the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. For Chloe, a self-professed scaredy cat, working on the "sophisticated horror film" with the likes of Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, Samantha Mathis, and David Hyde Pierce has been a real game changer. "When I got the script, I fell in love with it. I was like, 'I have to do this,'" Chloe tells me. The movie follows a troubled actor (Crowe) who unravels while filming a thriller, and Chloe plays an actress cast alongside him in the project. She learned a lot about herself during the production process, but more importantly, she conquered her fear of scary movies. "I know how it works behind the scenes, so now when a scary movie trailer comes on, I don't close my eyes." When the topic turns to The Little Mermaid, Halle's enthusiasm is palpable. "It's so overwhelming, and beautiful, and breathtaking. I'm like, 'Wow, am I really doing this?'" she tells me. When I ask what she hopes to bring to such an iconic character, Halle takes a beat. "Freshness," she says. "Just being authentically me. It's amazing that the directors have been so forward in asking me to show my true self . . . that's been a really fun growing experience." Halle also tells me that she's most looking forward to the music ("Of course!"), and reveals that the movie will feature classics like "Part of Your World" and new songs written by composer Alan Menken, who scored the 1989 animated film. "I've been a fan of The Little Mermaid since I was 5, so those new songs are very exciting to me, as well as the old," Halle says. "That's probably like, ding, ding, ding! My number one." Halle's history-making casting news was announced in July 2019 and marked a major win for diversified representation, but drew criticism from those who don't think a Black woman should play a fictional sea creature. The defense came swiftly: Little Mermaid director Rob Marshall and Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel, showed support, as did Beyhive members worldwide. After spending a day in her presence, I can corroborate that Halle — with her doe eyes, dulcet-tone voice, and winsome charm — was born to play the role. I ask how she approaches the downsides that can come with celebrity. "It's beautiful that people are tuning in to our lives and that they love what we're doing, and I just think of them as friends," she says, unfazed. Chloe's older-sister senses are tingling. She sits up a little straighter. "You know when certain apps crash?" I do; a Twitter blackout is secretly one of my favorite things. "Who are you without these things, without your followers? You realize that you can't rely on outside validation for who you are as a human being. If I think I'm amazing, then I'm amazing." The sisters have flourished in the industry as Chloe x Halle the duo, two halves of a preternaturally talented whole. They appear at events together, maintain joint social media accounts, and don’t have separate Wikipedia pages (though that’s certainly going to change). They’re a dream team, navigating fame by leaning on each other. Working separately allows them to stretch as individuals, but as their careers evolve, it’s inevitable that their relationship will, too. Chloe seems genuinely joyful watching Halle grow into her own. “I see it happening right before my eyes and it makes me really happy,” she says. But those feelings of pride haven't come without a bit of loneliness, too — especially as Chloe films her first solo project. "In the beginning I was really, really sad," she tells me. There have been plenty of tears and, according to Chloe, plenty of text messages, too. "[Halle] texts all the time; daytime, all the time," Chloe laughs. "To have someone who's always in your corner encouraging you, and making you feel better when you're down . . . it's just such a good feeling. I'm just happy to have her as my partner in crime in life." Naturally, it’s also been “a little scary” for Halle, who admits that she’s been clinging to her sister over the years. Just as Chloe is the consummate firstborn, Halle fits snugly into her role as little sis, always looking to her “safety blanket.” She tells me that visiting Chloe on the set of The Georgetown Project gave her a new perspective. "I was just so proud of her, because you always want to see your beautiful sister succeed," Halle says. "We always do those monumental things together, so when I was able to be on the outside and look in, it was really cool." Ultimately Halle realized that — like gluing magazine cutouts to poster boards — some things don’t have to change: “Regardless of if I'm branching out, she's always going to be there. That bond and our sisterhood will never go away.” Though some things may be mapped out — production schedules, release dates, fishtail fittings — so much more lies ahead for Chloe and Halle. I ask where they see each other in five years. Halle springs up; she sees Chloe with every award in the book. “She’s going to flourish. What do you call it? EGOTs?” Chloe’s five-year vision includes even more plastered photos, but this time they’re of Halle, and they’re on giant billboards across the world. “I’ll be hearing her voice [singing] while walking down the street like, ‘Who is that? Oh yeah, that's my sister. I know her. You don't,’” she says. The three of us laugh, but their predictions aren’t out of the realm of possibility. Their Grown-ish costars agree: actor Trevor Jackson tells me he hopes to see them collecting armfuls of trophies and “truly dominating the world.” Shahidi insists Chloe and Halle’s hard work knows no bounds and remembers them simultaneously filming season one of Grown-ish and mixing their debut album, The Kids Are Alright. “The sky is not even the limit,” she cosigned. Chloe and Halle have more to shoot before the sun sets in smoky LA. It's been a long day, but their energy is still straight-up sparkly. We wrap up our conversation, exchanging thank yous before they disappear to the wardrobe area. They'll model more effortlessly sexy pieces from Nina Ricci and Fendi, cheerleading each other during lighting changes and eye shadow touch-ups, before the day gives way to night. As the sky changes, so does the vibe. Chloe is jetting off to North Carolina to film tomorrow morning without her sister, and they seem to be soaking up this moment in time. Things are coming to a close both on set and in their lives, chapters ending and new ones beginning. But no matter what comes next — together or separately, making music or making moves — Chloe and Halle will keep throwing paint at the wall and seeing what beautiful things come out of it. There's no magic formula. It's just what we sisters do. ★

More Photos

[bohrapbois]

Pancake Day

Happy Pancake Day! A glorious day also known as Shrove Tuesday and adapted into modern tradition. Although originally, people began the week by doing lent, and pancakes were an easy way of using some perishables, most people just eat pancakes and continue with whatever bad habits they’ve fallen into to!

Ben Hardy and Joe Mazzello, as typical me, could be read as friendship of relationship. Pure fluff. 

“All we hear is-” stomp stomp “-radio gaga-” stomp stomp “-radio goo goo”.

It wasn’t unusual for the cast members to be blasting Queen songs at some ungodly hour, or it wasn’t unusual to hear them sing along out of tune. But what was unusual, at least for Joe, was that Ben was standing in his apartment, the kitchen a mess, and only wearing underwear and an apron.

“What the fuck, dude?” Joe grumbled, turning the portable speaker down as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, “it’s like, 4 o’clock in the morning?”

It was actually closer to five.

“Happy Pancake Day!” Ben spun around, a plate full of misshapen and oddly coloured pancakes in his hands. He seemed excited but also sleep deprived, going by the bags under his eyes and messy curls.

“What?” Joe blinked, taking another look around his partially wrecked kitchen. A few cupboards seemed to have been emptied on Ben’s search for utensils and ingredients, which were now also dusting the countertops and egg shells left all over the place.

“Pancake day. The best non-holiday holiday that there is!” Ben placed the plate on the kitchen island, and turned to bury his face in the fridge, looking for toppings. He reemerged with blueberries, strawberries, whipped cream and lemon curd.

“Firstly, your wrong - Halloween is the best non-holiday holiday, and secondly, what the fuck is pancake day?”

“Pancake day is exactly what it sounds like,” turning again, Ben marched around the kitchen as if he owned the place. “It’s a day that you get to eat pancakes all day and no one can call you fat”. The englishman half climbed onto the counter to reach the top cupboard, pulling out jam, nutella, maple syrup and lemon juice, and a quick pit-stop to grab the sugar before returning with the goods. Next were the plates. He laid them out in front of a still confused Mazzello and grabbed the cutlery.

“Although that sounds great,” accepting his fate, Joe pulled out the bar stool and sat, watching as Ben turned off the hobs and throwing the used pans and bowls in the sink to wash later, “I can’t have dairy, remember?”

“Mnhm”. Seeming as there were no bar stools his side, Ben jumped up onto the counter, sitting in a dusting of flour but not seeming to care, “that’s why I made them with oat milk”.

“You - what?” Joe looked at the offered food, and didn’t notice anything different than your usual pancake you see. Usually, dairy-free pancakes look odd and are clearly an imposter. “How?”

“My brother prefers oat milk,” Ben grabbed a few pancakes from the top of the pile, opening the container of blueberries and putting a handful on top. Then, maple syrup and a little whipped cream (a guilty pleasure of Joes), “so my mum has a family recipe she adapted over time, and I picked up on it,” he shrugged, nuding the plate still piled high with pancakes towards Joe.

Following the blond’s lead, Joe grabbed a few, smearing some nutella and a squirt of whipped cream, and together they took a bite of their pancakes. Joe moaned, near orgasmic, at the taste bursting across his mouth. Ben grinned, licking the whipped cream off of his lips before taking another mouthful. He watched Joe’s expression of pure joy as the older man seemed to wholeheartedly enjoy the impromptu, somewhat early breakfast. “Like them?”

“Like them? Fuck, Ben, I may need to marry you so you make me more of them!” Joe laughed, grabbing a few more off of the plate. Ben laughed, rolling his eyes before smearing some lemon curd (don’t judge) onto his pancake.

“Gwil may protest to that, as may your other man,” Ben teased, a pointed look towards Ben Cardy standing limply in the living room.

“Fuck Gwil, he has his girl,” Joe glanced over his shoulder, “and anyway, don’t think Ben Cardy would complain too much”.

The two chuckled, and continued to tease each other as they worked through the mountain of food Ben had prepared as New York continued it’s hectic pace below them.

“Although you may have converted me to this glorious pancake day,” Joe grabbed the plates, placing them in the sink. He looked at the load for a moment, before shrugging and turning away. Later him problem. “I may have to convert you to Mardi Gras”.

“What the fuck is Mardi Gras?”

@benhardy-1​ GET YO SELF SOME PANCAKES

[missy-looloo]

Eating Honey Nuts Cheerios, 2% Milk, splash of sugar and sliced banana cereal smacking like a motherfkr #🤦🏽‍♀️ . . Done ate the whole bowl while making this post. Hold on brb you already know I finna drink the milk .... . . This one set right here, all me 🤩 !! I love love love this look. Dress and boots is my surrender 🙌🏽 ... . @iamcardib giving “I’m Different” 💚 . . #lovethis #lookoftheday #thisallme #photooftheday #outfitoftheday #cardib #cardi #babykulturemom #bestfemalerapper #hardworker #funnyasf #sheneverswitchedup #ilovethischick and honestly I don’t even know her music like that 🤫 #music #rapper #femalerappers #missyloo #locoloo #pisces #sexy 🦋 (at Cardí by me) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ghXTqgZa_/?igshid=1h5afwhoi1k3u

[sensei-aishitemasu]

2019 Black-Owned Gift Guide!

It’s that time again! This Black Friday, try and support a Black-owned business for all your gift-giving needs. For last years gift guide, click here. For the 2017 gift guide, here. For the 2016 gift guide, click here. For the 2015 gift guide, click here. (This is the FIFTH annual gift guide! Time flies!) 

Similar to 2018, I kept every individual item listed under $100! Click on the links to be taken to the websites in order to peruse more yourselves. Every item and brand has been hand selected and curated. Sustainability has been increasingly on my mind, especially when it comes to fashion; as such, several brands on this list are ethically and sustainably sourced. Several also include donations from your purchase being made to philanthropic causes. 

[And as always, this guide has been split into categories to make it easier to get through, but feel free to mix and match for the person in your life that fits all of (or none of!) these categories!]

Gift Guide 2019 Items

For the Homebody:

eLo ‘Gloria’ Cotton Spray, $30

Shea Shea Bakery Candy Cane Candle, $22

Shea Shea Bakery Coffe Mug Candle, $12

Shea Shea Bakery Bowl of O’s Signature Candle, $20 

Shea Shea Bakery Milk & Cookies Bath Set, $16

Shea Shea Bakery Bath Whip - Confetti Cake, $12

Shea Shea Bakery Honey Bear Bubble Bath, $6

Shea Shea Bakery Milk Mates - Salts + Bubble Bath, $16

Shea Shea Bakery Milk + Honey + Syrup Bubble Bath Set, $22

Shea Shea Bakery Cast Iron Skillet Wax Burner, $22

Shea Shea Bakery Sweet Mini-Melt Cinnamon Bun Wax, $10

Shea Shea Bakery Sweet Mini-Melt Peanut Butter Cups, $10

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Amber + Sandalwood Apothecary Jar, $30 (pictured)

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Oakmoss + Amber Jar, $20

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Botanical Garden Gold Travel Tin, $10 

Kicky Mats ‘Don’t Bother, We’re Broke’ Doormat, $50 (pictured)

Jeffrey Manning “You Are” Art Print, $55

Jeffrey Manning “Mellow Bliss” Art Print, $40

Duchess 365 ‘When I Get Home’ Art Print, $23.99 (pictured)

Tactile Matter ‘Safe Space’ Art Print, $45 (pictured)

Tactile Matter ‘Peaches & Coffee’ Art Print, $45

Galerie.la Small Market Basket, $28

Galerie.la Botanica Medium Candle Harvest, $24

Galerie.la Relaxation Rituals Box, $44.95

Galerie.la Botanica Large Candle Nirvana, $32

Galerie.la Rooted Incense Holder In Gray, $68

Galeria.la Calma Herbal Salt Soaks, $20

‘Hypnotic’ Quilt Set by Justina Blakeney, $100 (pictured)

Brass Bette Planter by Justina Blakeney, $ 75

Ida Mirror by Justina Blakeney, $70

Kahelo Black and Gray Rug by Justina Blakeney, $89

Kashmir.VIII ‘The Party’ Pillow, $50 (pictured)

Cards For All People “Angry Moms” Card Game, $17.99

Cards For All People “Black Card Revoked” Card Game, $17.99 (pictured)

Trading Races Card Game, $24.99 (pictured)

Winsults Card Game, $25 (pictured)

For the Foodie:

Zach & Zoe Wildflower Honey, $12  Zach & Zoe Wildflower Honey - Lavender, $15

Zach & Zoe Wildflower Honey - Raspberry, $15 (pictured)

Zach & Zoe Honey with Ginger Root, $15

Soul Fit Grill Assorted Spices, $55.99 (pictured)

Raw Cells Mind Fudge, $15 (pictured)

Raw Cells Calm Cookie, $8

Raw Cells Brain Brownie, $5

Raw Cells Bliss Bar, $7 (pictured)

Chris Cardi ‘H Street’ Apron, $25.03

Cultured Kombucha ‘Flight Glass’ Set of 4, $35 (pictured)

Cultured Kombucha ‘Cultured’ Tote, $15 (pictured)

Kashmir.VIII ‘Ms. Hill’ Mug, $16

Kashmir.VIII ‘Easin’ Mug, $16

Kashmir.VIII ‘We Did It First’ Mug, $16 (pictured)

Kashmir.VIII ‘The Black Power Mixtape’ Coaster Sets, $35 (pictured)

Botanicals on Blush Kitchen Tea Towels by Justina Blakeney, $28 (pictured)

‘B. Smith Cooks Southern-Style’ by B. Smith, $29.99

For the Beauty Guru:

Oui The People ‘The Single’ Rose Gold Single-Blade Razor, $75 (pictured)

Oui The People ‘Sugarcoat’ Shave Gel-To-Milk, $64 (pictured)

Galerie.la Rose Quartz Facial Roller, $28

Galerie.la Jade Mask, $42

Galerie.la Base Coat Nail Polish Vault, $20

Galerie.la Base Coat Nail Polish The Simon Collective, $20

Galerie.la ‘The Makeup Bag’ (Navy), $59

Galerie.la ‘The Makeup Bag’ (Yellow), $59

Galerie.la Mermaid Milk Superfood Moisturizer, $42

Shea Shea Bakery Buttered Pound Cake Body Mist, $5 (pictured)

Shea Shea Bakery Glazed Donut Body Butter, $25

Shea Shea Bakery Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser, $15

Shea Shea Bakery Antibacterial Apple Cider Toner, $6

Shea Shea Bakery Almond Milk + Chocolate Peppermint Moisturizer, $6

Shea Shea Bakery Scar Healing Serum, $23

Shea Shea Bakery Gentle Foaming Cleanser, $8

Shea Shea Bakery Chocolate Coffee Bean Scrub, $12

Shea Shea Bakery Rose Garden Soap Bar, $5 (pictured)

Monie Squared Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Soap, $8

Monie Squared Brown Sugar Fig Goat Milk Soap, $7

Monie Squared Warm Vanilla Sugar Goat Milk Soap, $7

Monie Squared Leave-In Detangling Conditioner in Blood Orange, $16

Camille Rose Naturals Algae Renew Deep Conditioner, $20

Camille Rose Youth Burst Anti-Aging Night Time Elixir, $18 (pictured)

Camille Rose Seedless Skin Pore-Perfecting Facial Exfoliator, $19

Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade, $13.99

Oyin Handmade Boing! All-In-One Coil Styler, $14.99

Oyin Handmade No Ash At All Lotion, $9.99

Hunny Bunny Boutique Hunny Lavender Face Bar, $9

Hunny Bunny Boutique Rose Clay Facial Mask, $8

Bejia Flor Naturals Acai Mango Lotion, $22

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Seven’ Aromatherapy Roller, $18

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Mellow’ Aromatherapy Roller, $18

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Faith’ Aromatherapy Roller, $18

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Tisane’ Body + Bath Oil, $25

Jade & Fox Co. Liquid Gold Facial Cleanser, $15 (pictured)

Jade & Fox Co. Neptune Hyaluronic Face Mist, $15

Jade & Fox Co. Flower Power Toner, $18 (pictured)

Jade & Fox Co. Fineapple Face Mask, $22

Jade & Fox Co. Maui Wowie Serum, $17 (pictured)

Jade & Fox Co. Angel Eyes Under Eye Cream, $24

Jade & Fox Co. Crushed Velvet Butter, $26

Jade & Fox Co. Honeysuckle Spray, $14

Jade & Fox Co. Lust Oil, $15

Jade & Fox Co. Crush Body Oil, $17

Jade & Fox Co. Vixen Oil, $15

Jade & Fox Co. ‘Show Girl’ Body Oil, $17

Jade & Fox Co. Siren Highlighter, $18 (pictured)

Makeup/Beauty/Hair Brands:

Plain Jane Beauty (pictured)

Mented Cosmetics (pictured) 

Beauty Bakerie 

Bovanti Cosmetics 

Colour U Cosmetics

Hue Noir 

Gold Label Cosmetics 

Lamik Beauty

Lip Addyct 

Magnolia Makeup 

Lotus Moon Skincare

The Lip Bar (pictured)

Ginger + Liz Nail Polish

Foxie Cosmetics

Blac Minerals Cosmetics (pictured)

Danessa Lyrics Beauty

Lena Lashes

AJ Crimson Beauty

KSquared Nail Paint

Kinky Curly Yaki

Heat Free Hair Movement

Big Chop Hair

Princess Hair Shop

Haute Kinky Hair

Private Stock Kair

Catface Hair

Mischo Beauty (pictured)

Brown Butter Beauty (pictured)

Her Muse Studio

Elo Lipcare (pictured)

Glam Goth Beauty (pictured)

For The Fashion Conscious:

Galerie.la Abbot Corduroy Knit Robe Berry, $98

Galerie.la Denim Crop Bra, $35

Galerie.la Golden Organic Cotton Crop Bra, $35 (pictured)

Galerie.la Recycled Cotton Baby Tee Black, $39

Galerie.la Alicia Crossbody Brown Bag, $85 (pictured)

Galerie.la Stacking Rings Brass, $25 (pictured)

Galerie.la Diamond Stacking Ring, $25

Galerie.la Petite Arch Earrings Brass, $34

Galerie.la Thelma Top Mauve, $48

Galerie.la Silver Hashtag Earrings, $58

Galerie.la Cascade Dress Charcoal, $59

Galerie.la Petra Jumpsuit Charcoal, $65 (pictured)

Galerie.la Sabbath Cocoon Tunic, $98

Galerie.la Flap Wallet Mustard, $79

Galerie.la Zipper Wallet Blush, $69

Glam Goth ‘Goon’ Beanie (red), $25

Glam Goth ‘Goon’ Beanie (black), $25

Glam Goth ‘Goth’ Cap, $30 (pictured)

Glam Goth ‘The Young Angel’ T-Shirt, $20

Instant Vintage - Azul by Giancarlo Bolero, $55

Instant Vintage - Merlot Veiled Hat, $30

Instant Vintage - Turquoise Velvet Bow with Headband, $45

Instant Vintage - Sweetheart Floral Dress, $48 (pictured)

Sir and Madame Striped Wool Split Back Shirt, $75

Sir and Madame Logo T-Shirt, $40

Sir and Madame 'Madame’ Cropped Tank, $28

Sir and Madame 70′s Script T-Shirt, $45

Sir and Madame “A Better Tomorrow” T-Shirt, $40

Sir and Madame Red Wing Engineer Boot, $75

Sir and Madame Jungle Camo Woven Shirt, $45

A Life Well Dressed ‘Artsy’ Statement Cap, $16 (pictured)

A Life Well Dressed ‘Create’ Statement T-Shirt, $20

Gregory Sylvia ‘Farrah’ Watch, $95

Gregory Sylvia ‘Chandler’ Watch, $78 (pictured)

Gregory Sylvia ‘Rosen’ Watch, $105 (slightly over budget but a beautiful watch!)

Gregory Sylvia ‘Crimson Crave’ Wallet, $69

Tree Fairfax Lois Belt, $40

Tree Fairfax Distressed Wrap Clutch/Wallet, $54

Chris Cardi ‘H St. Nostalgia’ Tee, $30.03

Chris Cardi ‘Bastards’ Tee, $30.03

Sole Rebels ‘The Surge’ Shoe, $90

Sole Rebels ‘The Exodus Ahhh’ Shoe, $100

Sole Rebels ‘The StepUP’ Shoe, $95

Sole Rebels ‘The Exodus RIFF’ Shoe, $100 (pictured)

Sole Rebels ‘TooTOOS Holees’ Shoe, $85

Enbois ‘Jafari’ Watch (Zebra), $85

For the Bookworm:

‘The Water Dancer’ by Ta-Nehisi Coates, $28 (pictured)

‘Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland, $18.99 (pictured)

‘Black Talk: Words and Phrases from the Hood to the Amen Corner’ by Geneva Smitherman, $6.38 (pictured)

‘Talkin and Testifyin: The Language of Black America’ by Geneva Smitherman, $7.77 (pictured)

‘White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue ... and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation’ by Lauren Michele Jackson, $23.49

‘Mules and Men’ by Zora Neale Hurston, $15.99 (pictured)

‘The Black Book’ edited by Toni Morrison, $35

‘Bloodchild and Other Stories’ by Octavia Butler, $14

‘Rebel’ by Beverly Jenkins, $7.99

‘B. Smith: Rituals & Celebrations’ by B. Smith, $35 (pictured)

Rayo & Honey ‘Eat Words, Drink Stars’ Pin, $12 (pictured)

Rayo & Honey ‘Read More, Writer Better’ Banner, $50 (pictured)

Rayo & Honey ‘Books Change Your Mind’ Banner, $55

Rayo & Honey ‘Hundreds of Books Under My Skin’ Bookmark, $8 (pictured)

For the Kids:

Yinibini Baby ‘Trunk of Hearts’ Elephant One-Piece, $29.50

Yinibini Baby ‘My Neighborhood in DC’ Tee, $26.00 (pictured)

Jade & Fox Co. Fantasy Body Lotion for Babies, $16

Duchess365 Framed Art Print [Ladybug], $57.99

Duchess365 Throw Pillow [Lollipop], $29.99 (pictured)

Duchess365 Framed Art Pillow, $47.99 (pictured)

Herbaceutikals Talc Free Baby Organic Baby Powder, $14.25 (pictured)

‘Party, A Mystery’ by Jamaica Kincaid, $17.95 (pictured)

‘The Last Last-Day-of-Summer’ by Lamar Giles, $8.49

‘Puppy Truck’ by Brian Pinkney, $11.38 (pictured)

‘Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten)’ by Laura Veirs, $17.99

‘Little Melba and Her Big Trombone’ by Katheryn Russell-Brown, $18.95 (pictured)

Vee + Co. Apothecary ‘Mamatoto’ Aromatherapy Roller, $12

KaAn’s Designs ‘Living The Dream’ Denim Jacket, $40 (pictured)

Sir & Madame ‘Sir’ Kids Pullover, $55

Amina Abdul Jillil Kids Velvet Sneaker, $89 (pictured)

For the Masculine:

Gregory Sylvia ‘Durham’ Watch, $78 (pictured)

Gregory Sylvia ‘Grayson’ Watch, $95

Gregory Sylvia ‘Fullerton’ Watch, $95.00

A Life Well Dressed ‘Create’ Sweater, $34

A Life Well Dressed ‘District of Champions’ Sweater, $48

Sir & Madame Scratch Goods Beard Oil, $24 (pictured)

Sir & Madame ‘Sir’ Shirt (Blue), $40 (pictured)

Sir & Madame ‘Sir Shirt (Orange), $40

Sir & Madame Classic Logo Beanie (Gray), $40

Sir & Madame Classic Logo Beanie (Orange), $40 (pictured)

Sir & Madame ‘Sir’ Long Sleeve Black Shirt, $55

Sir & Madame ‘Sir’ Lapel Pin, $10

Instant Vintage - Pink and Blue Plaid Pants, $50 (pictured)

Instant Vintage - Camel Leather Blazer, $90

Instant Vintage - Tan Trench Coat, $60

Enbois ‘The Weekend’ Bag, $60 (pictured)

Enbois ‘Cocoa Collection’ Bracelets, $50 (pictured)

Enbois ‘Garvey’ Watch (Black), $70 (pictured)

Vee + Co. Beard Mist, $12

Vee + Co. Beard Oil, $20

Vee + Co. Beard Wash Shampoo + Conditioner, $18

Mr. Blackmans Bergamot & Spice Beard Balm, $11.99

Scotch Porter Nourish & Repair Hair Conditioner, $24.99

Scotch Porter Hydrating Hair Wash, $24.99

Scotch Porter Charcoal & Licorice Moisture Defend Face Lotion, $19.99

Levi Fisher Balm Diggity Softening Beard Butter, $12.99

Levi Fisher Smooth Operator Detangling & Conditioning Beard Serum, $9.99

Levi Fisher Go Tea Herbal Grooming Spray for Short Hair and Beards, $9.99

Sole Rebels ‘exodus Traveller ‘Shoes, $100

Sole Rebels ‘stepUP Ed. 2′ Shoes, $95 (pictured)

Sole Rebels ‘the SURGE any’ Shoes, $90

For The Technologically Savvy:

Enbois Case iPhone 7/7plus/8/8plus/iPhone X/iPhone XS/iPhone XR, $12 (pictured)

Enbois Walnut Case iPhone 6/7/8, $8

Enbois Rosewood Case iPhone 6/7/8, $8

Enbois Power Bank, $15 (pictured)

Enbois Grip Socket, $3 (pictured)

Embrii Shop Iridescent Macbook Case, $49

Embrii Shop Matte Gold Messenger Laptop Sleeve, $39

Embrii Shop Champagne Gold Glitter Macbook Case, $49

Embrii Shop Emerald Tartan MacBook Case, $49

Chic Geeks Black Faux Crocodile MacBook Case, $78

Chic Geeks Emerald Faux Crocodile MacBook Case, $78

Chic Geeks Grey Marble MacBook Case, $68 (pictured)

Chic Geeks Rose Gold Keyboard Cover, $12 (pictured)

Chic Geeks Space Gray Ombre Keyboard Cover, $12

Chic Geeks Emerald Faux Crocodile iPad Case, $78 (pictured)

Chic Geeks Unicorn Sparkle iPad Case, $68 (pictured)

Chic Geeks Emerald Glitter MacBook Case, $58

Chic Geeks Black Marble MacBook Case, $68

Chic Geeks Gray Marble iPad Case, $58

Puku G8 Earphones, $29 (pictured)

Khristian A. Howell Fig Life Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99 (pictured)

Khristian A. Howell Deuces Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99

Khristian A. Howell Buffalo Plaid Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99

Cards, Stationery and Gift Wrap:

Greentop Gifts Clarence Claus Candy Canes & Trees Gift Wrap, $7.50 (pictured)

Greentop Gifts Clarence Claus ‘HOHOHO’ Gift Wrap, $7.50 (pictured)

Greentop Gifts Clarence Claus Close Up Gift Wrap, $7.50 

Greentop Gifts Clarence Claus Gift Bag, $4.50

Sweet Potato Paper Red Plaid Gift Wrap, $9.95

Sweet Potato Paper Yellow Triangles Gift Wrap, $9.95

Sweet Potato Paper ‘Can Swim’ Gift Wrap, $9.95 (pictured)

Sweet Potato Paper ‘No Worries’ Notecards, $10.50

Sweet Potato Paper ‘Sunny Thanks’ Thank You Cards, $1.25 per card 

Sweet Potato Paper ‘Audio Thanks’ Thank You Cards, $1.25 per card (pictured)

Sweet Potato Paper Blotting Paper, $1.25 per sheet 

The DynaSmiles Stationery & Gifts Assorted Christmas Cards Bundle, $28

The DynaSmiles "Fro La La" 4x6 Sticker Sheet, $3.50 (pictured)

The DynaSmiles "Santa's Beard" Christmas Collectible Mug, $20 (pictured)

Addie Rawr ‘A Room Full of Dolls’ Adult Coloring Book, $15

Addie Rawr Fall Dolls Stickers (Die Cut & Sticker Sheets), $6.50

Midnight Reflections Melanin Prima Ballerina Ceramic Ornaments, $15.99 (pictured)

Midnight Reflections Kwanzaa Wrapping Paper Kit, $15.99

Midnight Reflections Black Santa Gift Bag Kit, $18.99

Midnight Reflections Black Angel Wrapping Paper Kit, $8.99 (pictured)

Midnight Reflections Black Santa with Snow Flakes Wrapping Paper Kit, $8.99 

Khristian A. Howell Rosey Holiday Gift Wrap, $8.99

Khristian A. Howell Rosy Twinkle Gift Wrap, $8.99

Khristian A. Howell Ansley Park Gift Wrap, $8.99

Kashmir.VIII ‘Maya’ Notebook, $11 (pictured)

Kashmir.VIII ‘The Marathon Continues’ Sticker, $9-$20

[savetopnow]

2018-04-06 22 MUSIC now

MUSIC

Brooklyn Vegan

Black N' Blue Bowl 2018 lineup (Madball, Agnostic Front, Judge, Incendiary, more)

What's going on Friday?

stream Cardi B's debut album (ft. Chance the Rapper, SZA, YG, Migos & more)

Sufjan, Courtney Barnett, Stephen Malkmus, Father John Misty & more appearing on NPR's 'Live from Here'

tours announced: The Breeders, Cozz, Cloakroom, Kississippi, more

Consquence of Sound

Drake is releasing a new single “tomorrow night”

Sudan Archives announces Sink EP, shares “Nont For Sale”: Stream

Justin Bieber and Jay Electronica unite on “Hard 2 Face Reality”: Stream

Eels release new album, The Deconstruction: Stream

Unknown Mortal Orchestra share new album, Sex & Food: Stream

Fact Magazine

Actress collaborates with London Contemporary Orchestra on new album LAGEOS

Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata has died aged 82

Equiknoxx and Swing Ting team up on ‘Jump To The Bar’

Fourth World pioneer Jon Hassell to release first new album in nine years, Listening To Pictures

7 must-hear mixes from March 2018: “Folk club” hybrids and 24 hours of Gqom Oh!

Fluxblog

Took Time Like Duck Confit

Talk About The Findings

Hohner Eko Taktron Arp

One Two Let Me Go

Shower Me In Symphonies

Idolator

John Legend & BloodPop’s “A Good Night” Is A Disco-Tinged Love Song

New Music From Miley Cyrus, Pink & More On Elton John Tribute Album ‘Revamp’

Dua Lipa Shines On Calvin Harris’ Club-Conquering “One Kiss”

Poo Bear Recruits Justin Bieber & Jay Electronica For “Hard 2 Face Reality”

Shawn Mendes Opens Up About Working With Teddy Geiger On ‘Beats 1’

Listen to This

Demilich - The Planet that Once Used to Absorb Flesh in Order to Achieve Divinity and Immortality (Suffocated to the Flesh that it Desired...) [Death Metal] (1993)

Blood Command - Cult Drugs [deathpop] (2017)

[Discussion] 11 Overlooked Artists

Gurrumul - Djolin [Orchestral, Indigenous Australian vocals](2018)

Jack Stauber - My Plea [Synth-Pop] (2017)

Popjustice

New Music Friday: Sugar & Spice and other things nice

New Music Good Friday: Post Precious! Dragonette! CHVRCHES!

NONONO’s new one is v excellent and here’s the video

New Music Friday: all hail Let’s Eat Grandma’s miniature pop symphony

Paloma Faith’s branded content is better than your branded content

Reddit Music

The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side [Indie Pop]

Need a list of songs where people yell "Luda!" and then Ludacris joins in. Very important.

Nada Surf -- Popular [Alt Rock]

The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams [80's Light Rock]

Grimes - Kill V. Maim [Indie-pop/Electronic]

Rolling Stone

Watch Noel Gallagher's Retro 'She Taught Me How to Fly' Video

Johnny Marr: How Trump, Brexit Inspired Political New Album 'Call The Comet'

Tool's 'Undertow': 10 Things You Didn't Know

Poo Bear Talks New Justin Bieber Collaboration, Star-Studded Solo Album

Arctic Monkeys Detail New Album 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino'

Slipped Disc

When Muti and Abbado were kings in London

The Carnegie Hall minimalism ‘riot’

The Brit who put Vancouver on the musical map

Dallas Opera names new boss

Just in: Woman conductor to lead Nobel ceremony

Spotify Blog

The Weeknd Drops Two New Music Videos Only on Spotify

Taylor Swift’s New Delicate Video Only on Spotify

Spotify Expands Secret Genius With the Launch of Studios

Spotify and Genius Team Up to Launch Déjà Vu Podcast, Hosted by Stereo Williams

Spotify Celebrates Black History Year-Round with Launch of Black History Is Happening Now

We Are the Music Makers

Help me buy an USB Soundcard for my Windows setup!

Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC dropped by the office to deliver a copy of his latest record and check out our Direct-To-Vinyl programs

What is the best DAW for what I want to do

/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers Friday Feedback Thread

Detailed step sequencer plugin

[earpeeler]

Dark Ride Films – I REMEMBER HALLOWEEN – Benson – Cardy’s Sugar Bowl – Lodi,NJ A Halloween Flashback with Benson from Cardy's Sugar Bowl in Lodi,NJ.

[kansascityhappenings]

Google unveils top searches of 2019

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NEW YORK — In 2019, people across the country turned to Google for all the answers. Now, Google has unveiled its 2019 Year In Search, a look at the top trending searches of the year.

From the viral sensation of Lil Nas X’s song “Old Town Road” to Billy Porter’s extravagant red carpet ensembles, the year’s most popular searches have been laid out for all to see, giving us a glimpse of what America really wants to know.

The list includes everything from news and entertainment to the classic, “What is…” query.

As a farewell to the 2010’s the search engine has also provided insights into trending searches across the decade.

Remember the “Pants on the Ground” song? Yeah, neither did we until we saw it on the list.

Below, we’ve laid out the top ten overall searches of the year to refresh your memory, as well as every category in Google’s Year In Search.

1. Disney Plus

The hottest streaming service of the year claimed the top spot in Google searches this year. The concept is by no means revolutionary, but its almost never-ending list of nostalgic and new titles appeals to many.

And don’t forget, Disney Plus gave us the give that keeps on giving — Baby Yoda from “The Mandalorian.”

2. Cameron Boyce

The sudden death of the 20-year-old actor Cameron Boyce struck a chord with many searchers this year.

Boyce was found unresponsive in his California home on July 6. An autopsy confirmed he died in his sleep after a seizure related to epilepsy.

He starred in the Disney Channel show “Jessie” from 2011 to 2015. He also appeared in “Mirrors,” “Eagle Eye” with Shia LaBeouf and “Grown Ups” with Adam Sandler, and in the Disney Channel’s “Descendants.”

3. Nipsey Hussle

Influential rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in front of his clothing store May 31, sending waves of shock through the rap community.

The rapper had founded his own record label, All Money In, in 2010, according to IMDB. He had also worked with dozens of successful artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Drake, YG, Ty Dolla Sign, Meek Mill and Young Thug.

4. Hurricane Dorian

It’s been a whirlwind year for extreme weather, and Hurricane Dorian was no exception. The storm slammed the Bahamas, United States and Canada in September, killing at least 30 people in the Bahamas.

Numerous cities up the coast declared states of emergency and issued mandatory evacuations as hurricane-force winds battered the coast. The storm left extensive damage in many places, especially the Bahamas.

5. Antonio Brown

The former NFL player was released from the New England Patriots following accusations by two women of sexual misconduct, including rape. Brown denies the allegations.

The Patriots were the third team to let go of Brown in 2019. Days after being released, he said on Twitter that he “will not be playing in the NFL anymore.”

6. Luke Perry

Former “Beverly Hills 90210” star Luke Perry died March 4 after suffering a massive stroke.

Perry was launched into fame as the wildly popular character Dylan McKay. He also had roles in the hit television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Riverdale,” and appeared in the Quentin Tarantino film, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” which premiered after his death.

7. ‘Avengers: Endgame’

The Disney and Marvel film shot past “Avatar” to become the highest-grossing film ever. The film, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, made more than $2.789 billion worldwide by the end of July.

8. ‘Game of Thrones’

HBO’s “Game of Thrones” released its final season, sending fans into a downward spiral of unmet expectations and withdrawal. Many felt the storylines were rushed and sloppy, while others were just going through it without their beloved show.

9. iPhone 11

iPhone dropped their iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, outfitted with updated cameras and flashy new colors, leaving users to decide whether or not they would upgrade for the minor new features it offers.

10. Jussie Smollett

The “Empire” actor became embroiled in controversy after the actor reported a hate crime attack in January which investigators later concluded had been a false claim meant to boost his public profile.

The City of Chicago later filed a lawsuit against him, seeking to recover more than $130,000 to cover police overtime during the investigation.

That’s the end of our crash course on 2019’s top searches, but take a look at the rest of Google’s trending searches by category below.

News

1. Hurricane Dorian

2. Notre Dame Cathedral

3. Women’s World Cup

4. Area 51 raid

5. Copa America

6. El Paso shooting

7. Sri Lanka

8. Government shutdown

9. Equifax data breach settlement

10. California earthquake

People

1. Antonio Brown

2. Jussie Smollett

3. James Charles

4. Kevin Hart

5. R. Kelly

6. 21 Savage

7. Lori Loughlin

8. Jordyn Woods

9. Bryce Harper

10. Robert Kraft

Actors

1. Jussie Smollett

2. Kevin Hart

3. Lori Loughlin

4. Felicity Huffman

5. Keanu Reeves

6. Rami Malek

7. Joaquin Phoenix

8. Kate Beckinsale

9. Halle Bailey

10. Maisie Williams

Athletes

1. Antonio Brown

2. Bryce Harper

3. David Ortiz

4. Andrew Luck

5. Myles Garrett

6. Megan Rapinoe

7. Russell Westbrook

8. Zion Williamson

9. Melvin Gordon

10. Alex Morgan

Diets

1. Intermittent fasting diet

2. Dr. Sebi diet

3. Noom diet

4. 1200 calories diet

5. Keto ultra diet

6. Golo diet

7. Dubrow diet

8. Sirtfood diet

9. No carbs no sugar diet

10. Endomorph diet

Home Styles

1. Farmhouse style

2. Colonial house style

3. Cape Cod house style

4. Spanish style house

5. Art deco style

6. Japanese style house

7. Craftsman style home

8. Transitional style

9. Prairie style homes

10. Modern style homes

Outfit Ideas

1. EGirl outfit

2. Eboy outfit

3. Soft girl outfit

4. Biker shorts outfit

5. VSCO girl outfit

6. Dickies outfit

7. White jeans outfit

8. Fila outfit

9. Champion outfit

10. Leather pants outfit

Fashion Styles

1. Camp style

2. Egirl style

3. Eboy style

4. Steampunk style

5. Harajuku Style

6. Preppy style

7. Yankii style

8. Vintage style

9. VSCO girl style

10. Emo style

Recipes

1. Shepherds pie recipe

2. Chicken parmigiana recipe

3. Ham glaze recipe

4. Charoset recipe

5. Snickerdoodle cookies recipe

6. Chaffle recipe

7. Chicken cacciatore recipe

8. Popeyes chicken sandwich recipe

9. Tater tot casserole recipe

10. King cake recipe

Trip to…

1. Trip to Maldives

2. Trip to Japan

3. Trip to Bora Bora

4. Trip to Vegas

5. Trip to Mexico

6. Trip to Alaska

7. Trip to New Orleans

8. Trip to California

9. Trip to New York

10. Trip to Costa Rica

Movies

1. “Avengers Endgame”

2. “Captain Marvel”

3. “Joker”

4. “Toy Story 4”

5. “Lion King”

6. “It Chapter Two”

7. “Frozen 2”

8. “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood”

9. “Midsommar”

10. “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”

Passing

1. Cameron Boyce

2. Nipsey Hussle

3. Luke Perry

4. Jeffrey Epstein

5. Tyler Skaggs

6. Beth Chapman

7. John Witherspoon

8. John Singleton

9. Eddie Money

10. Elijah Cummings

Weddings

1. Miranda Lambert wedding

2. Jennifer Lawrence wedding

3. Justin Bieber wedding

4. Miley Cyrus wedding

5. Chiquis Rivera wedding

6. Chris Pratt wedding

7. Joe Jonas wedding

8. Elvis Duran wedding

9. Zoë Kravitz wedding

10. Jake Paul Tana Mongeau wedding

Musicians and Bands

1. R. Kelly

2. 21 Savage

3. Billie Eilish

4. Lil Nas X

5. A$AP Rocky

6. Mötley Crüe

7. Lizzo

8. Gladys Knight

9. Tekashi 69

10. Joy Villa

Professional Sports Scores

1. Washington Nationals

2. Boston Bruins

3. St. Louis Cardinals

4. Dallas Cowboys

5. St. Louis Blues

6. Milwaukee Bucks

7. Chicago Bears

8. Minnesota Twins

9. Toronto Raptors

10. Tampa Bay Rays

Songs

1. “Old Town Road”

2. “7 Rings”

3. “Shallow”

4. “Sunflower”

5. “Truth Hurts”

6. “Lose You To Love Me”

7. “Sicko Mode”

8. “thank u, next”

9. “Act Up”

10. “Bury a Friend”

TV Shows

1. “Game of Thrones”

2. “Stranger Things”

3. “When They See Us”

4. “Chernobyl”

5. “The Mandalorian”

6. “The Umbrella Academy”

7. “Euphoria”

8. “Dead to Me”

9. “Surviving R. Kelly”

10. “The Boys”

People of the Red Carpet

1. Billy Porter red carpet

2. Cardi B red carpet

3. Lady Gaga red carpet

4. Amy Schumer husband red carpet

5. Jenny McCarthy red carpet

6. BTS Grammy red carpet

7. Caitlyn Jenner red carpet

8. Richard Madden Golden Globes red carpet

9. Brie Larson red carpet

10. Brienne of Tarth red carpet

What is…?

1. What is area 51

2. What is a vsco girl

3. What is momo

4. What is a boomer

5. What is quid pro quo

6. What is camp fashion

7. What is disney plus

8. What is bird box about

9. What is a mandalorian

10. What is brexit

Where is…?

1. Where is Sri Lanka

2. Where is the Super Bowl this year

3. Where is Area 51

4. Where is 21 Savage from

5. Where is the hurricane now

6. Where is Xur

7. Where is Clemson football team from

8. Where is Gonzaga University located

9. Where is Stranger Things filmed

10. Where is Pebble Beach Golf Course

Babies

1. Baby Yoda

2. Baby Shark

3. Royal baby

4. Kim Kardashian Kanye West baby

5. Cardi B baby

6. Trey Songz baby

7. Andy Cohen baby

8. Shawn Johnson baby

9. Amy Schumer baby

10. Hoda Kotb baby

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/12/12/google-unveils-top-searches-of-2019/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/12/12/google-unveils-top-searches-of-2019/

[aphrorose]

Somebody Pray For Me Ch.3

A week passed before I ran into Erik again. It was one of the most gray weeks of my life with Jarvis giving me confused looks as my mood went downhill fast. I had nightmares every night that I wished I couldn’t remember in the morning. Dragging myself from the bed, I looked in the mirror at my vanity and cringed at the face that looked back. The bags on my eyes were big enough for me to go on a month long vacation. ‘Get it together girl” I scolded myself mentally. I tilted my head up and really evaluated myself for the first time in a long time. My eyes are small and my cheeks are round, but overall I have a nice looking face My nose was wide and the tip pointed just a bit,but it looked just like my momma’s.  I smile at my reflection and head to the shower in better spirits. Going to the radio on my bedside table I turn on Feeling Myself  and dance around waiting for the shower to heat up. Jumping in I take my Warm Vanilla Sugar body wash and go to town washing every part of me. Singing loudly as Nicki’s voice gives me life. The song goes off and Cardi B comes on making smile wider. I could already tell this was going to be a better day than I had in a long while. When I step out of the shower my curls were popping and my skin was glowing. Finishing up my moisturizing routine with someCocoa Butter and body spray. I was proud of the effort I put in myself. I dressed in my cute yellow sweater dress and flats. Jarvis” mouth fell open when I skipped my way down the stairs and I knew I had to apologize to my big brother for putting him through my crappy attitude. 

“Hey J.” I say as enthusiastic as possible. His eyebrows raised incredulously at the question. 

“Hey Alaina wassup?” He said in an unsure voice and I just sighed as tears sprang in my eyes.

“I am so sorry for how I’ve been acting lately J. I’m tryna be better,but just give me some time okay?”

I hoped he understood that I was broken and I was gonna start trying to fix myself. I’d be damned if I ran another person away with my issues.

“Hey you know I’m not good with all this emotional shit.” That had me rolling. I knew it was the best reassurance I was gonna get. Grabbing an apple I ran out the door and headed to school. The day passed by in a blur as I was beginning to realize I was waiting for Erik to make his grand entrance. When he didn’t show I tried to keep my focus on the lesson,but I couldn’t seem to control the thoughts swirling in my head. When the final bell rang I trudged through the halls to my locker, my eyes widened when I caught sight of it and more importantly the person cleaning it off. He was wearing grey sweatpants and a black tee with his infamous Jordans. I walked right up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. His body jerked before he realized who I was then he stiffened in my arms and I immediately knew I was in for a battle with this apology. 

“So what you just gone hug a nigga after ignoring him for a week?”

 There was anger in his voice,but underneath the anger was hurt. He would never admit it,but it was there clear as day and it broke my heart. This was the same nigga that came to my hospital room and told me exactly how he felt about the situation. I swallowed trying to clear the lump out of my throat.

“I'm sorry,” I mumble pathetically.

“What was that babygirl?”he said smirking down at me.

“I’m sorry nigga” I said with more attitude in my voice, 

“There you go with that damn attitude that’s gonna get you in trouble,”

Instead of gracing him with a response I look back at my locker with the word whore written in red paint all over the front. I shook my head at the foolishness .I held my hand out for one of the washcloths he was holding. He handed it to me kissing his teeth.

“Imma find out who did this and it’s gon be a wrap for them.” he said with an edge I never heard in his voice before. I smiled up at him.

”Aww look at you protecting my honor and shit.” 

He growled at that. “Don’t make me spank your little ass Alaina.” 

My eyes widened as my face heated up. What was wrong with me? I should not like the sound of that as much as I did. We finished up in silence. Making our way to my house in comfortable silence I was once again swallowed up by my thoughts. ‘It's too early to be feeling these things Alaina.’ The nasty voice in my head shouts making my heart hurt. Blinking away the tears I move slightly away from Erik, he immediately grabs my hand stopping me.

“Alaina you gotta stop pulling away from me.” he said in a low voice.

 I look directly into his beautiful brown eyes for the first time and everything slides into place. I reach up and touch his face.

“I’m sorry.” I whisper for hopefully the last time today.

 He didn’t say anything else,but pulled me along by my hand to the house.

“Go and do your homework I’ll make us a snack.” 

He was watching me steadily awaiting my response. Knowing better than to tell him I wasn’t hungry I just nodded my head and went into my room. When he surfaced with two sandwiches and a bowl of Doritos I held back my grimace and smiled thanking him for the food. I turned over and continued with my homework when suddenly a hand landed on my back and I was turned over.

“Why you ain’t eating this good ass food I just slaved over the stove for?”

I quirked an eyebrow at him

“Nigga you just made sandwiches calm the fuck down.”

“That ain’t no answer Alaina and you know it.”

I sighed knowing he wasn’t gonna leave it alone and I was in for an argument. I just wasn’t feeling it. I picked up a single dorito and popped it in my mouth. Erik was staring at my mouth as I chewed and swallowed.

“Happy now?” I say sarcastically..

“No I’m not. You on some other shit if you think this is what you need to do. Why are you doing this to yourself? Can’t you see how crazy this makes me?” He burst from the bed and started pacing the room.

 I felt my hackles raise at his accusatory tone. What did he know? Last time I checked he was not my daddy and had no control over me whatsoever. I took a deep breath counting down from ten so as to not knock this nigga upside the head. “Erik I am fine, I know what I’m doing.” I said in my most ‘I need you to calm the fuck down’ voice. He whirled around stalking toward me with a look I’ve never seen on his face before. It scared me a little, it was too intense too soon. When he just stood there looking at me I felt my face heat up and tears spring into my eyes. Is this when he tells me he finally sees what I’m trying to fix and agrees that I need to lose the weight to be pretty? When a single tear rolls down my face he raises his hand to wipe away the tear noticing the way I automatically flinch away from his hand.  His voice was soft when he said that he was just assessing how much he had to fix before he got to work. I just looked at  him confused, but relieved he wasn’t going to leave me at least for now. He reached for my hand and lead me back to my bed deftly resuming the homework we were given.

It wasn’t hard to settle into a routine with him coming over to my house and doing homework all the while throwing little flirts at each other.It was nothing more than innocent banter  between friends. There was no way a guy like him could like a girl like me. Everytime I brought that fact up his eyes would go cold and he would go extremely quiet until I changed the subject. After a while I stopped asking .He didn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon and despite myself I was more than happy to let him stay.