October 2022 Teen Brown Sugar Box Mini Magazine

INSIDE

EDITION RoomRefresh

Your bedroom is your sanctuary! It’s where you dream up the most incredible manifestations of your life and the place where you are your most authentic self. Your room should reflect your personality. It’s a mirror into your deepest thoughts, and a launchpad to make your wishes come true. It doesn’t matter if you’re hosting a slumber party or having friends over to study – your living space should always be on point!

The Room Refresh Edition of the Brown Sugar Box is filled with extra special décor and tips for helping you stay organized throughout the year. Revive your space and bring out the very best in you. It’s time to awaken the interior designer in you lil’ sis!

MELANIN MAGIC THROW PILLOW (1 OF 3)

It’s giving carefree vibes! Match your room aesthetic with your fluffy Melanin Magic Throw Pillow then rest your head after a long day of conjuring up brilliant ideas. You’ll receive 1 of 3 styles: Blossoming Beauty, What About Your Friends, or Indigo Beauty.

SOFT LIFE FLEECE BLANKET (1 OF 3)

Cozy up to this super comfy fleece blanket as a reminder to go at your own pace. The soft life is a sweet destination. Take your time. You’ll receive 1 of 3 styles: Blossoming Beauty, What About Your Friends, or Indigo Beauty.

SWEET SLUMBER 2-PIECE PAJAMA SET (1 OF 2)

You have the power to change the world. Your talents are most effective when you have a full tank of energy. Adequate sleep is the cheat code.

Rest up, my dear, and stay fly in your new PJ set while you catch these Z’s! You’ll receive 1 of 2 styles: Girl Boss in The Making or Music To Her Ears.

SWEET SLUMBER SATIN SLEEP MASK (1 OF 2)

Satin eye masks come with beaucoup benefits!

On those late nights when you're finally hitting the sack after cramming for a test, or when you've stayed up past your bedtime scrolling on Tik Tok, your sleep mask will help keep your eyes hydrated while you sleep to prevent bags and dark circles. You’ll receive 1 of 2 styles: Girl Boss or Music To Her Ears.

CULTURE

CONFIDENCE SOUL

3 PACK EARRING SET

This exclusive bling bling drip is a calling card for Brown Sugar Babes worldwide. Your culture, confidence, and soul will always set you apart from the rest of the crowd. Wear it well!

Free Mind

BY TIFFANY STEWART

Whew, baby! It feels like the Earth is spinning extra fast and mercury with her micro braids is always in retrograde! Unfortunately, we can’t snap our fingers like Thanos to quickly change these things, but we can find ways to make our daily routine more productive and find our inner zen.

Power of Visuals

There’s a reason why Instagram is one of the most popular apps ever. We live in an extremely visual world. Adding a whiteboard to your personal space is a game changer. Having your to-do list written out to see over and over truly helps you stay on track. Plus, the satisfaction of crossing out a finished task comes close to none.

Music Therapy

Trust me when I say, the right tunes will really get your mind right. The same way you make a playlist for the gym or bops for your TGIF mood, the perfect tunes for those productive moments is equally important.

Set the Scene

We associate certain moods with certain smells, so find the perfect candle for you and keep it close by. Also, invest in some LED lights to elevate the mood in your room. We enjoy our space more when it smells good and looks better.

Distraction Free

Say it with me, lil’ sis, D-N-D! Our smartphones have created this magical feature for us to silence the noise in exchange for some me time. The next time you need to focus, leave your phone in another room if you can! Remember to unplug every now and then, even if it’s just for a few moments.

Reset & Recharge

Sleep is so essential to the soul, and it’s time we admit it. The most successful people prioritize sleep because the brain is a muscle that needs its rest as well. We were not designed to go long hours without rest, so make sure you’re scheduling time for a power nap or even meditation to reset and recharge when needed.

YOU NEED YOUR Z's

LET IT Glow

BY GIRL TYLER

BY SAEEDA RUFFIN

Sleep is a funny thing. Get too little, and you’ll probably feel tired. Get too much, and you may still feel tired. We all know that getting enough sleep is absolutely necessary, but how do you figure out just how much you need? For teenagers, it’s recommended you get 8-10 hours of sleep per day. For some of you, that probably sounds like a lot! Well, in all honesty, it’s not. Getting the right amount of sleep may help your body function at optimal levels. Don’t you want to be great? Of course, you do! Now that you know how much sleep is recommended, how do you get it? Here are some tips to help your body and mind chill, so you can get the rest you need to be your absolute best:

Disconnect

Try to turn your notifications off so you can relax. Constantly getting notified is super distracting and will keep you on high alert. You can't rest like that. Unless it’s an emergency, that stuff will be waiting for you AFTER you get your sleep.

Get Shady but Keep Your Cool

Close the blinds or get some of those blackout curtains and turn out the lights. Dark

environments are perfect for getting your z’s. Light may cause too much stimulation, and you don’t want that when you’re trying to rest. Of course, you’ll have your Sweet Slumber Satin Sleep Mask to block out light. Also, most people sleep best in cooler environments, so, you may need to turn that thermostat down or put the fan on to keep things cool.

Regular Smegular is Best

You probably don’t want to hear this, but it is better for you to go to bed around the same time…every night! That includes weekends.

Having a scheduled sleep time is essential to your overall health. Sleeping too long on weekends may disrupt your body’s natural sleep rhythm. Also, keep naps to 15-20 minutes max, and don’t take them too late in the day.

Young queens need their z’s to be their best selves, so chillax and refresh your mind and body. Get your rest and you will consistently be on your A-game. The greatness that follows will be totally worth it!

The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding any dietary or lifestyle modifications.

On a scale of 1-10, 1 being an episode of Hoarders and 10 being borderline obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), how clean is your bedroom?

If you're leaning on 11, you should probably relax, but for my #1 girlies, it's time for a much-needed purge.

Release the clutter in your room and Let It Glow Boo!

Believe it or not, a messy living space can create unnecessary stress and anxiety. If you've seen the show Hoarders, you know mental health is often a topic of conversation. As the year winds down, you have lots of things on your mind, like exams, final grades, and how fly you plan to look in your Thanksgiving pictures on social. Set aside intentional time to sort through the clutter. Depending on the size of your mess, it can take an hour, or a week, to get organized.

Create three distinct piles: I'm keeping this. Donations. Trash it. Before you get rid of anything, get permission from your parents to sort through the pile. What appears to be trash may very well be a childhood relic you'll want to hold on to forever or pass down to your own kids.

You should immediately purge clothes you haven't worn in more than two years. Try a clothing swap with your friends or donate gently used items to a shelter. (This will free up space in your closet for more Izzy & Liv tees, duh!) Toss any expired makeup and beauty products. Outdated skin products can cause bacteria to build up, eventually leading to an acne breakout. Powder and liquid foundation should be discarded after 12 months. Mascara can go after 90 days. Also, let go of lingering perfume bottles with a little more than a drop left. You were done with it a while ago, lil sis.

Other items needing a trip to the trash bin:

• Dry nail polish

• Spare change (cash it in)

• Unimportant documents and receipts (Ask your parents first -- it could be important)

• Random water bottles

• Dirty masks

• Old markers and school supplies

• Broken jewelry

For the sentimental items you simply can't bear to part with, scrap together a few bucks from the spare change you found in your room and purchase storage bins.

The Fresh It Up 5

BY SAEEDA RUFFIN

One of the most satisfying things in life is having a fresh, clean room. Whether you wake up in it after a peaceful night of sleep or step into it after a long day of life, a clean room hits just right every single time, and, as mothers all around the globe say, “It ain’t gonna clean itself!” You’re at the age when it’s up to you to get and keep your room in a queen-like, livable condition. You deserve to live in a clean and comfortable environment. Believe it or not, getting your room fresh is not as hard as you might think, lil’ sis. Just make the Fresh It Up 5 a daily do-it, and you’re going to be living, sleeping, and chillin’ as you should.

1. Destroy Dust Bunnies

Dust makes everything look sad and tired. Use an old pair of socks to clean your blinds and other fragile or hard to reach items. Then, use a pillowcase to get the dust off your ceiling fan by placing each blade inside and wiping them down, catching the dust inside the pillowcase. Also, wipe down baseboards with dryer sheets. They will get the dust off and make your space smell fabulous!

2. Ditch the Junk

Get rid of anything you REALLY don’t need. Clutter will make your room feel all stuffed up and it will take more work to keep it all straight. If you haven’t used it in like a year, donate it!

3. Add happiness to Your Space

Your room will always feel fresh when you have things you love in it. Plants are an awesome room addition because they purify the air, add color, give you something to nurture/love, and bring life to your room. Put up a new pic or framed sayings that inspire you or make you want

to be in your space. Don’t forget the fragrance! A good, clean smelling room will always feel fresh!

4. Handle Trash with the Quickness

Trash will overtake you and your room before you know it! As soon as you use something or something is no longer good, throw it out, and dump your trashcan frequently. Try not to wait until things get crazy up in there.

5. Make sure there’s a place for EVERYTHING

Everything! Use storage solutions to keep things in their proper place. Don’t forget a place to keep things away from prying eyes. When everything has a “home”, you can clean your room super-fast because you know where things belong. That makes life so much simpler!

Your room should reflect you. It should be a sanctuary where you find peace, comfort, and happiness. You’ll be able to enjoy your space and make sure it stays fresh and clean for a young queen like you!

Teen Beauties

KEEP IT CLEAN Playlist

BY GIRL TYLER

Black women, since the beginning of time, have turned to music to help them power through weekend cleaning. It’s a rite of passage for Black kids to witness and participate. Now is your time. Very few people enjoy cleaning, but a solid playlist can ease the task as you invite happy feelings to get the job done. The Keep It Clean Playlist is a chill mix of songs that will keep you motivated as you breeze through your chores. The best cleaning playlists should have one of two things: bops or vibes. This one has both. So, pull your hair back, throw on some sweats, and do a little dance while you tidy up. When you’re done, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and be ready to relax.

Sitting Up In My Room by Brandy Energy by Beyoncé ft. BEAM Don’t Waste My Time by Usher ft. Ella Mai Fantasy by Mariah Carey Teenage Love Affair by Alicia Keys

Just a Friend 2002 by Mario

First Class by Jack Harlow Mi Gente (Remix) by J Balvin & Willy William ft. Beyoncé

In Your Eyes by The Weeknd ft. Doja Cat Up at Night by Kehlani ft. Justin Bieber Blinding Lights by The Weeknd I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston Time Machine by Willow 17 by Pink Sweat$

Say So by Doja Cat Jump by Ciara ft. Coast Contra So Fresh, So Clean by Outkast