November 2022 Brown Sugar Magazine

INSIDE THE

Cozy ,Comfy , Cool Edition

We're in the fourth quarter of the year, which means looming deadlines, number crunching, quotas to meet, and an extensive to-do list with personal tasks demanding your attention. Don't let yourself feel trapped by the daily demands of an unhealthy work-life balance. This time of year is your moment to exit the hamster wheel and reevaluate how you wish to close out 2022. You have a choice, give in to the pressure or hit a reset. Don’t wait until the new year for a fresh start. Pencil in relaxation ASAP. Your comfort is non-negotiable. Beyoncé has a song on her new album "Renaissance" titled "Cozy." The queen's anthem is a reminder to be comfortable in YOUR skin. In this month’s Cozy, Comfy, Cool edition of your Brown Sugar magazine, we dive into the fall foliage to reinforce end-of-year positive feels and stylishly versatile looks. Lighten your load and leap into this month like a pile of colorful leaves, carefree and peaceful.

LINED BONNET + SWEET

SATIN SLEEP MASK $35 (1 OF 4)

A satin bonnet is your greatest weapon from the friction of your pillow, reducing frizz and breakage whether you're asleep or awake. Be cute and get your beauty rest all at once with a matching sleep mask. They both have a soft satin feel giving you a luxurious way to fall asleep. Perfect for travel, restless sleepers, and prevent ing dry eyes and frizzy tresses while you rest. You’ll receive 1 of 4 styles: Afro Flower Child, Acrobatic Goddess, Moonlight Queen, or Botanical Feathers Queen.

SWEET DREAMS SATIN-

DREAMS

MELANIN DRIP THROW PILLOW COVER SET OF 2 $40 (1 OF 5)

Give your couch or bed a pop of color courtesy of Black girl luxury. Minimalist or bohemian, this throw pillow is 18” X 18” with a zip closure and works for any living space. The fabric is smooth and gentle yet firm enough to support you with one side featuring a luxurious satin-lined texture. You’ll receive 1 of 5 styles: Beautiful Serenity, In Her Mind, Mother Earth Goddess, Fly Girl Roots, or Brown Sugar Divas.

MELANIN DRIP FLEECE BLANKET $50 (1 OF 5)

Baby, it’s cold outside! Snuggle up to this soft, breathable blanket. The warm fleece is light weight and measures 50” X 60” to keep you warm without the bulkiness of a heavy blanket. You'll receive 1 of 5 styles Diva Pop Art, Beautiful Goddess, Bloomin' Queens, Sassy Fro' Queens, or She's A Work of Art.

COZY GIRL ALL OVER PULLOVER SWEATSHIRT $45 (1 OF 5)

Fall is the queen of fashion versatility, and sweatshirt season is here. You’ll receive 1 of 5 styles: Queen Flawless Melanin, It’s The Melanin for Me, beautiful Queen Things, Culture Confidence Soul (Blue), or In Her Mind.

EMBRACE THE COZY SEASON

BY TIFFANY STEWART

MANY GOOD THINGS COME

WITH THE COLDER MONTHS, but one of the not so good things is seasonal depression. Seasonal Depression (SAD) tends to get brushed aside as simply being a case of the “winter blues,” but it’s high time we recognized that it’s more than that – and it’s more common than you might think. When it feels like the funk has an unbreakable hold on you, remember these approaches to help keep your mood and motivation steady until spring.

Find Balance

It’s easy to want to iso late during the colder months simply because you don’t want to go outside. The trick is to find the balance between me time and we time. Take the time to turn inward and nest while things are on the slower side. Don’t forget to lean on your village.

Stay Social Join an in-person book club or a virtual net working group to keep yourself connected with others – on your own terms.

Stick to a Schedule

Feeling sluggish and fatigued when it’s cold er is also common. It’s important to not only stick to a regular sched ule but also to remain healthy and active

Create New Hobbies

Now is the perfect time to start a new hobby. Try a cooking class or a new gym to keep yourself mentally and physically occupied.

Get Your Vitamin D

If you aren’t already doing so, incorpo rate vitamin D into your diet. Not getting enough exposure to sunlight is a common cause of the winter blues and it affects not only the vibrancy of your skin but your overall mood.

Develop a Bedtime Routine

Last, but not least, since it gets darker earlier, it is important to develop a bedtime routine. When you follow a routine every night, the brain thinks of those activities as preparation for sleep. These simple methods are just a few ways to embrace a cozy and relaxing winter without SAD energy.

HOW THESE WOMEN ON THE MOVE ARE

REDEFINING THE SOFT LIFE

BY GIRL TYLER

Welcome to the "soft life." You've probably seen it making its rounds on social media all year long. The phrase is a desired destination met with resistance and often ridicule. Nonetheless, there is a movement of women arriving there every day. The soft life is more than a social media hashtag; it's a way of life. The era of girl bosses and hustlers had a good run. Bare minimum babes, luxury queens, and damselin-distress girlies are having a moment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to a soft life.

A few months ago, I felt frustrated about a work project. I silenced all noti fications and then closed my laptop. Finally, a moment to breathe, then I picked up my phone and tweeted, "This strong Black wom an thing was very cute. We had a good run, but I now aspire to be a lady of leisure. I am looking for a soft place to land." I soon received THOUSANDS of mixed reactions. Some comments were very mean, while others presented the most loving solidarity between men and women. The "soft life" had made its rounds online before my tweet. Shoutout to the person that coined the phrase.

My proverbial "soft place to land" represented a space where I can be my whole self without feeling under a constant microscope. Many of us often feel as though we are put in posi tions to fail with a lack of resources leaving us to crash and burn from the very begin ning. On this day, I realized that life is not hard, people make it hard. I need grace and unique challenges to grow me, not impossi ble scenarios without a chance to thrive.

You can have it all without feeling hazed by the people, places, and spaces you occupy. Call it a vanity phrase or an unattainable object of our desire, but one thing I know for sure, a new day is here. The soft life is personal. You’ll never find one way to define it. I reached out to a few women from various backgrounds to get their take on what the term "soft life" means to them.

“The soft life to me means ease and spa

ciousness. It’s rejecting the hustle and grind because I never really gained anything from it except fibroids. I took a sabbatical this sum mer. I work four hours a day. I don’t hesitate to jump in an Uber if public transportation ain’t acting right. Coming from where I’m from, living the soft life is healing for my soul.” -Ariane Hunter, Author, Founder, Career & Workplace Consultant

“My definition of a soft life is knowing that I don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s ok to be vulnerable and allow myself to lean on others when I don’t have the strength to stand on my own.”

-Dominque Grisby, Senior Consultant

“The soft life. I definitely wouldn't describe my life as soft. In fact, I have no desire to have one. I've been hearing women talk about wanting or having a soft life and for those who want it, I want that for them. But the soft life isn't a life I envision for myself. I want to create a dope life on my own terms and it's nothing soft about that.“

-Ashley Cobb, Sex Writer

"A soft life is really about having a tribe of people that love and protect you at all costs. It's like having this barrier around you that's never going to let you give up or truly fail in anything you aspire to do. I'm never a fan of the Black strong woman trope. It doesn't serve us or define us. We shouldn't have to suffer to come out better on the other side. A soft life is about having the opportunity to have a good life without our pain being required to overcome. Having a soft life is the result of knowing you deserve love and being able to give that same love in return."

Must Have Cozy Home Essentials

BY TIFFANY STEWART

‘Tis the season that many of us hibernate inside, waiting for warmer temps to arrive. If the plan is to spend more time inside, it’s important to make your house a home with these cozy home essentials.

Flowers & Plants

Any living element in your home automati cally contributes to its cozy vibe. Don’t worry, if you’re not a natural plant mama, choose plants that thrive in low light or even good-quality faux plants. Fresh flowers may seem like a splurge, but they can last a long time if you change the water and trim the stems periodical ly. Divide your plants and flowers into several vases around the house.

Textured Blankets & Pillows

Nothing says warm and cozy like a few decorative pillows, especially if they have a matching throw blanket. You can place

pillows on the couch, bench, chair, or even in a basket to give any room an extra pop. Swap out your usual pillow covers for more simple designs, fall colors, or even cozy textures like faux fur. Pull out your thick throw blankets and place them at the end of your bed or fold them over the back of an accent chair to elevate the space with texture and comfort.

Books

If you know, you know; there are some books for reading, some for collect ing and some that are for both. If you’re a devoted bookworm, you have a collection of books that fit into each category. Take those precious gems out of their storage boxes and use them to decorate throughout your home. Whether you add a few to the coffee table or build a book pedestal for decora tive objects, they add per sonality and style to your space, without spending an extra dime.

STAY WARM, BE COOL

BY TIFFANY STEWART

It’s the time of the year when we must accept the fact that cooler days are among us, sis. Sadly, this also means it’s time to put away our favorite lightweight pieces and pull out those thicker fits. Here are a few secrets to staying warm while

A Cozy Sweatshirt

Your favorite sweatshirt is just one pair of sleek pants away from being considered “chic.” Whether you dress it up or down, a cozy sweatshirt is always a necessity this time of year. Add some accessories or layer our Queenin’ Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt with a collared shirt for a clean posh look.

Accessories Galore

One of the most fun things about colder weather is the number of accessories you can play with. A good colorful scarf for those windy days and a pair of textable leather gloves are must-haves for your collection. We’re all about that cozy, comfy lifestyle! Our Satin Lined Beanies and Satin Headwrap Scarves were made to protect your crown, and our Queen Confidence 3-Pack Socks were made especially to protect your toes.

Winterize Your Color Palette

We fully understand the urge to commit to the all-black wardrobe lifestyle once summer is done. It’s easy, simple, and we admit, forever stylish; however, just because winter is dark and gloomy, it doesn’t mean you and your clothing must be. Our Phenomenal Woman Button Up Tunic Blouse is perfect for adding a pop of color to your wardrobe.

Izzy

&

WINNER

Congratulations to our WINNER! Christie T. was randomly selected from sharing Brown Sugar love on social media to WIN her FREE box.

Thank you to everyone who shared! Stay in it to win it and don’t forget to share this box using hashtags #brownsugarbox #izzyandliv for your chance to win next month’s giveaway.

SOFT JAZZPlaylist

Cozy up to the smoothest playlist of the year. Jazz is just what the doctor ordered—less stress and more ease. Let the unpredictability of the instruments handle the chaos. Let simplicity flow and allow yourself to be swept away by the seductive sounds. Each track conveys a soulful indulgence of rhythmic improvisation, melodic mystique, and high-vibrational storytelling—no skips here, it’s straight smooth sailing from start to finish. With jazz, the timing is always perfect. The lush vocals are the ideal soundtrack to relax to during a hot bath, while cleaning, or simply while existing. Unwind with a fall odyssey of mellow sounds of the past and present as you listen to the Soft Jazz Playlist.

BY GIRL TYLER

Autumn in New York by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Moon Song by Cécile McLorin Salvant

Forbidden Fruit by Kandace Springs

Tenderly by Sarah Vaughan

The Last Goodbye by Nicholas Payton

Trust by Roy Hargrove

Again Never by Branford Marsalis Quartet and Terence Blanchard

Make It Last by Catherine Russell

Isadora by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

When There's Love Around by Kiefer

Here's That Rainy Day by Gene Ammons

There is a Place (It's Not Here) by Chelsea Carmichael

Stardust by Samara Joy

Twice by Robert Glasper

Love Tastes Like Strawberries by Somi and Gregory Porter

Agape by Nicholas Britell

Night Mist by Nancy Wilson

Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All the Time) by Betty Carter

Dinner For One Please, James by Eartha Kitt

Moon Turns

Holiday

Frequently asked questions

1

Can I change my size preference for future boxes?

Yes, you can do so inside your Brown Sugar Box account on izzyandliv.com, or you can email us at support@izzyandliv.com to update your preferences for you.

2

When will I be billed for next month’s box?

You will be rebilled on the 1st of the month for the next box. You will not be billed for the next box until after the box from the current month has been shipped/delivered.

3 What is your cancellation policy?

Your subscription can be cancelled at any time in your Brown Sugar Box Account Settings at izzyandliv.com.

If you’ve already been billed for the next box (1st of month), your cancellation will take effect the next billing cycle. To cancel your subscription, login to your account and click on the Subscription tab, then click “edit” next to your subscription. You can also email us to request that we cancel for you.

4

Can I exchange or return items in my box?

We cannot accept returns at this time for Brown Sugar Box items, but we welcome your feedback to improve. Email us at support@ izzyandliv.com to share your thoughts. We value your feedback and our mission is to ensure every Brown Sugar Box is worth your while! Your feedback will help us to make sure we make this box amazing and valuable as it can be. As far as the item(s), you can always gift them to a friend, coworker, or family member- these items make GREAT gifts!

5

Can I skip a month without cancelling?

Yes, you can skip a future month delivery and not be billed for it, without having to cancel your entire subscription. Once logged into your Brown Sugar Box account at izzyandliv.com, you will need to open the “Delivery Schedule” tab. There you will see all upcoming deliveries for your subscription. To skip a delivery you just need to click “Skip” to the right of each relevant delivery. This will only skip that one delivery. To skip multiple deliveries you will need to click “Skip” next to each relevant one. Alternatively, you can email to have us skip deliveries for you.

6

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videos with you?

Yes! We live for customer feedback & reviews!

Just post your pics, or videos on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, or YouTube, and hashtag #brownsugarbox or #izzyandliv or tag us @izzyandliv. You can also leave a photo review on the Brown Sugar Subscription page! If you make a blog post email us with the link. If your social media is private we will not be able to see your post, so feel free to email us to let us know where to check it out!

7

Something went wrong with my order/ delivery what should I do?

Should you have an issue with your box items (damage, received wrong size, etc) you must notify us at support@izzyandliv.com, with photo(s), within 7 days of receipt of your package. After 7 days, we will not be able to process requests related to this month’s box. If your box was returned due to consumer error, please reach out to customer service for reshipment at an additional cost.

8

I have feedback or questions, who do I contact?

We can be reached at support@izzyandliv.com