Bri Books

Welcome to Bri Books, and Happy Mother's Day to the matriarchs out there. I'm excited to share this episode because I want to honor my own mother, Michele Jimerson, who passed away February 13, 2024. I have so much gratitude and humility for my mother, her story and her life. I spent Mother's Day Weekend, the second since my mother's death, at a retreat in Morristown, NJ hosted by Arthouse2b, a multidisciplinary group of artists cultivating Catholic arts renewal in NYC. Their aim is to restore culture through restoring the heart of the artist.. The retreat was centered on the hart of christ, and it came down to: God is made to endure your suffering. He specializes in broken hearts. that's where He shines. One poignant point that struck me during the retreat, was then when I'm rebellious in my thoughts and not using my creative energy the way God has set aside for me to use it, it grieves Him. i think of all the times as a kid when I'd grieve my mother over silly things—but she never stopped loving me. Why would she?  The same grievouos disappointment your own mother feels, mirrors what God feels. And as much as that disappointment is compounded, so is the generosity of spirit that comes with vulnerability before the Lord. With me experiencing so much gratitude for my own mother and her story, this point felt especially powerful to me. When I mention the way my mom passed way, it feels like a plot in a novel, or something I'm revealing for a sick shock value. The truth is, Michele Jimerson died in a hit and run accident on February 13, 2024. It occurred as she was crossing the street using her wheelchair, feet from her front door, en route back from a doctor's appointment. She was hit by two cars. Neither car stopped, and the case remains unsolved today.  As I reflect on this truth in the wake of Mother's Day, what impacts me the most about the way my mother's life ended, is that I'm neither angry nor sad. As we do our due diligence with lawyers to get answers, more than anything, I just feel deeply grievous for the people who struck her and didn't stop. yes, they created a pain by not stopping, but they also compounded their own pain. I can't imagine how that feels. That pain doesn't belong to me. I feel the shocks and aftereffects of it, but it's not mine. And my vulnerability is what is most valuable to both God and myself. I was so grateful to be surrounded by Arthouse2b members, artists, playwrights, founders, etc. I felt very much like my mother's presence walked the retreat halls and gardens with me.  In the next episode, I'll share the poem I authored while on the retreat, and share more reflections on approaching spring in the wake of grief. Somethin'gs growing. :) With that, thank you for listening to Bri Books. I'd love to hear your favorite stories of your mothers. Leave them in the comments on @BrionnaJay on Instagram, and in the Spotify comment. You can always find Bri Books on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and at bribookspod.com. Thank you again Arthouse2b! 

The Garden in Every Sense and Season Today's “Bri Books”  is a conversation with ABeautifulNestTV creator Sandria Kendrick, inspired by the book “The Garden in Every Sense and Season” by Tovah Martin. Sandria is the creator behind the “ABeautifulNestTV” platform on YouTube, and on social media. In this episode, Sandria shares her story of homesteading with her family in Georgia, and how her love for the soil runs through her veins. In this episode, we're discussing our garden struggles, how you can inject green into your life this year.  Show Notes 3:30: Sandria's gardening story, and how she built a small homestead garden for her family + Brionna recommends “The Market Gardener” by Jean-Martin Fortier.  5:00: Sandria's gardening challenges and how she overcame them. 9:00 – How book is divided: Each of the four seasons are represented, with each individual season's different sensational gifts–sights, sounds, touches, tastes, scents– woven into a story that explores the ever-evolving garden 12:15: How city folks can inject some gardening into their lives: "Bring the green inside!" Overwintering plants (repotting and growing indoors), growing lettuce, succulents and aloe, indoors are great ways to keep the green inside, even after it all falls away outside. Using blooming branches—flowers that grow on a branch-- or cuttings from evergreen or fir trees can invite nature indoors. 16:00: The story behind Sandria's Heirloom Acres Seed Store 19:00 – Fruit and veggie varieites to grow, according to Sandria 22:15 - Sandria's Bri Books recommendations: “The Flower Workshop” by Ariella Chezar, “Easy Green Living” by Renee Loux,  “The Green Beauty Guide” by Julie Gabriel. You can find Sandria on YouTube, on  Heirloom Acres Seed Store, blog, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube. If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets.

Welcome to Bri Books! On today's episode, we're talking about falling in love with the garden this spring, first-time gardening secrets, and how to get kids excited about gardening. Almost everyday, Carla of @gardenplot.57 treats us to vibrant photos of her cut flower garden, homemade skincare products, and dozens of veggies she's growing in her backyard garden in Cornwall, England. In this episode, Carla gives tips on how to start (and maintain) a garden in a small space, and shares tips on DIY gardening projects we can do right now to get a jump on the season. Carla and I bonded over the amazing book “Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers: Designing Gorgeous Arrangements for Every Season” by Erin Benzakein, an amazing resource that'll inspire you to step up your flower arranging (and flower growing) game. Carla also shares the secret to getting kids interested in gardening and how to lure them away from the XBox and towards the garden box.   Carla's guide to gardening in a small space:  1. Utilize your patio by planting pots with salad greens, herbs, and dwarf tomatoes.  2. Go high! Make use of vertical space by creating vertical planters. Archways and trellises allow you to grow “up,” and make use of tiny amounts of space for things like beans, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes.   More gardening resources recommended by Carla and Brionna: Huw Richards YouTube channel and book, “Grow Food for Free” Sandria of A Beautiful Nest Misilla of Learn to Grow Adam Yn Yr Ardd, a wildly talented Welsh gardener   If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets.

How to Get Started in the Garden Feat. Misilla + How to Engage Kids in Gardening Welcome back to Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets. In today's episode, we're talking about all things organic gardening, and how to grow your own food with Misilla of 'Learn to Grow.' Whether you're starting your own garden or you haven't given it much thought, after this episode you'll be yearning to get your hands on some seeds. Misilla is the host of 'Learn to Grow,' a channel on YouTube with over 114,000 subscribers. She's a crafty mom of 4 living and working in the Pacific Northwest. Her videos and social posts consist of garden how-to's, growing hacks,  healthy living ideas, science experiments, DIY projects, and gardening inspo. Misilla's family has been growing food and farming for generations. She's passionate about inspiring others to grow their own food, and she's passionate about getting kids involved in the garden.  Follow Misilla on Instagram @learntogrow    

Garden-Fresh Cooking: How Infuse Healthy Harvest Foods Into Your Daily Diet Welcome back to Bri Books! Today, we're talking all things garden-fresh cooking with one of my favorite gardening creators, Sandria Kendrick of ‘A Beautiful Nest TV' on YouTube and Instagram. Sandria's content is all about growing confidence in the garden, building strong relationships, growing as a family, and teaching people to love the soil. In this episode, we dig into the cookbook ‘Rodale's Gaden Fresh Cooking' by Judith Benn Hurley and how to choose the best crops to grow in your garden. Sandria reveals what she's learned about herself by getting ‘in the weeds,' and she shares the recipes she finds herself returning to again and again. 1:40 - All about @abeautifulnestTV and how Sandria infuses love, authenticity and beauty into everything she does. 9:18 - Sandria's soil story and her family's long lineage of farming and gardening, why Sandria decided to set down roots in the Georgia countryside, and Sandria and her husband planned their garden. 13:45 - Brionna's grandmother story and how Brionna grew to love gardening, and how grandmothers inspire us to pass on traditions for generations. 16:10 - The crops Sandria didn't expect to love, the easiest for you to grow, and how Sandria's cooking style has changed since growing her own food. 26:40 - Sandria on Rodale's 'Garden-Fresh Cooking' book by Judith Benn Hurley: I've been reading Rodale's Organic Life for a long time, and I really enjoy it. I love that they have so many different topics for you to dig into--food, gardening, lifestyle. Everything's right there for you. It's a great site. If you're reading the recipe book, I know that's amazing.” 27:25  - Sandria's #BriBooks: “  Lemony Snicket” with her sons, “Better Homes and Gardens,” “Georgia Gardens.” Find Sandria  on YouTube @abeautifulnestTV, on Instagram @abeautifunlest, Facebook @ABeautifulNest, and Twitter @abeautifulnest. Follow theBriGarden on Instagram, listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and show me your garden by using #bribooks on Instagram.

Welcome to Bri Books! Getting started in the garden can be tough, but there's one thing that'll make your gardening journey more productive: companion planting!  In this episode, I'm sharing 6 companion planting hacks you need to know if you want to grow strong. Companion Planting for Beginners 1:11: What is companion planting? Companion planting is when two or more plants are grown near each other to benefit one or both of the plants. It's a tried-and-tested, ancient way to reduce pests, attract pollinators, and boost growth. I'm sharing a few common examples, although there are dozens.  2:00 - Basil and tomatoes: Basil plants deter moths which lay tomato hornworms, while simultaneously attracting bees (which help improve tomato polination.) 3:00 - Peppers: Peppers are excellent companions to carrots, tomatoes, and onions.  3:30 - Tomatoes: Tomatoes love peppers, bush beans, and basil 5:15 - Dill and flowers: Dill attracts ladybugs, which eat small garden pests like aphids and spider mites, while flowers attract pollinators to help with the job.  6:00 - Sunflowers and pole beans, cucumbers: Sunflowers provide support for climbing plants and shade for crops (like beans and cucumbers!), making it the perfect vertical companion planting garden.  7:00 - Lettuce: Lettuce helps tenderize radishes, and radishes deter cucumber bettles. Grow these two fast-growing crops together for delicious home-grown salads.  Follow theBriGarden on Instagram, listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and show me your garden by using #bribooks on Instagram.  

Welcome to Bri Books! Embarking on the journey of creating your garden is thrilling, but can also be filled with challenges. In this episode, I'm revealing the 10 most beginner-friendly garden fruits and veggies to grow, along with 3 garden-starting basics you need to know.  3 Garden-Starting Basics 1:20 - Don't try to grow the grocery store! It's easy to overwhelm yourself when you're beginning your garden journey. Instead, focus on growing the herbs, veggies, and fruits that you enjoy. Grow your garden through the lens of the crops you look forward to eating and cooking with.  2:45 - Keep pollinators top of mind! Growing a mix of flowers, herbs, and veggies helps the overall pollinator ecosystem. When in doubt, throw some flower seeds out!  3:20 - Get to know your land! Monitor and notice the amount of light your garden gets throughout the day, and keep track of soil conditions--what happens to the area during heavy rains? Intense heat? Does it have any shade. cover? You want your garden to be built in a sunny, well-draining area with nutrient-rich soil.  10 Beginner-Friendly Crops 4:15 - Salad greens, kale, and spinach: Starting your garden journey with green leafys is rewarding because they grow relatively quickly (seed to salad in 21-30 days).  5:00 - Cucumbers: Cucumbers can go from seed to salad in about 40-45 days. Cucumbers love cool weather, making them perfect for late spring. Pro tip: Trellis your cucumbers up the stems/ stalks of your sunflower plants!  5:50 - Zuchinni: Zuchinni thrives in the garden. Zuchinni plants grow wide and large, and the leaves arebeautiful and luscious, providing excellent shade for smaller plants. Zuchinni are tastiest when younger, so picking zucchini after about a week of growth helps to encourage more growth.  6:50 - Tomatoes: I recommend growing at least two varieites of tomatoes in your garden: one snacking tomato (sun gold, cherry tomatoes, etc), and one recipe tomato (Moneymaker, Beefsteak, Black Krim, etc.) 7:30 - Beans or Peas: Peas and beans are great beginner-friendly and kid-friendly crops in the garden. Kids love to watch the pods form! They thrive during spring and summer, and well into fall. 8:40 - Peppers: For beginners, growing peppers is a great idea. Focus on compact peppers like thai chili peppers, shishito peppers, and gochu peppers. These grow in compact bushes and keep producing until the end of season.  9:30 - Potatoes: The more you ignore potatoes, the more they love you. Potatoes grow well in solitude--once you plant them, leave them alone until the potato plant dies back, signaling that it's time to harvest the tubers underground. For first-time gardeners, growing potatoes in a milk crate or felt container is easiest. 10:35 - Herbs: Focus on growing the herbs you like to eat at home (like basil, rosemary, mint, lemon balm). Herbs are a great great starting point if you're beginning your gardening journey and you're endeavoring to include more flavor in your daily meals. 11:15 - Flowers: Flowers are a necessary (and often overlooked) part of the garden. Flowers like marigonlds, zinnia, calendula, cosmos, and nastirtium are beginner-friendly, thanks to their low-maintenance nature and ability to attract pollinators.  12:00 - Strawberries: Strawberries grow very well in containers, making them perfect for any and all gardens. Whether it's in a hanging pot, a raised bed, or a felt container, strawberries are low-maintenance and high-yield.  12:30 - Radishes: Radishes can be sown as soon as early spring breaks through.  They go from seed to salad in about 21-30 days, a fastgrowing and nutrient-dense crop that helps kick off the season. Follow theBriGarden on Instagram, listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and show me your garden by using #bribooks on Instagram.  

Welcome to Bri Books, and Happy Earth Week! Today, I'm sharing the tips first-time gardeners need to know: how to start a vegetable garden, raised bed garden, herb garden, or kitchen garden without breaking the bank. These easy gardening tips and gardening hacks that'll make your life easier. Follow theBriGarden on Instagram, listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and show me your garden by using #bribooks on Instagram.   1:30 - #1: Identify your USDA hardiness zone. The Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. It's divided into 10-degree zones based on the average annual minimum winter temperature. According to the stats for Bri Books and the top markets that listen to the podcast, here's a cheat sheet for hardiness zones: NYC is zone 7, Chicago is zones 5 and 6, OKC is zone 7a, Philadelphia is 7a and 7b, LA is zone 9 and zone 10, Detroit is zone 6, and Houston is zone 9.  3:10 - #2: Find your sunspots. Here's how to identify North, South, East, and West: First, point your left arm towards the sun in the morning. Now, take your right hand and point it toward the west (stretch arms like you're giving a hug.) You're now facing south, and your back is facing north. 5:23 - #3: Find out your last frost date. It's important to know is how many weeks you have until your frost date is upon you. Find the frost dates at almanac.com, and then count backward how many weeks you have remaining until that day to calculate the number of weeks you have left in your traditional summer-autumn season. In NYC, our last spring frost was April 4 and our first fall frost is November 13, meaning NYC has 222 growing days in the year. 6:45 - #4: Select good soil, seeds, and supplies. I recommend beginning with a seedling mix like Black Gold from Sun Gro, or Epsoma Seed Starting Potting Mix. My favorite seed company is Botanical Interests, a company I've been celebrating for over 5 years now. The second resource I love for seeds is CaliKim Garden and Home. She has a great selection mix. A lof the mixes are good if you want to place one order and get a half dozen crops at your doorstep. Furthermore, Kitazawa Seeds is excellent for Asian heirlooms.  I'd also recommend Uncle Jim's Worm Farm! They sell all the worms that are great for composting and adding overall health to your garden. 9:15 - #5: Pick the best short-term and long-term containers for your plants. Keep vertical growing in mind when it comes to space. Listen to a recent episode of Bri Books about 8 garden-starting hacks for details on how to begin seeds on your window sill in an egg carton or fruit carton.   Follow theBriGarden on Instagram, listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and show me your garden by using #bribooks on Instagram.

Welcome back to Bri Books. In this episode, I'm sharing my garden starter hacks, including a gardening method I created myself! This method has taken my gardening and succession planting to the next level when it comes to growing my own food. I call this my "theBriGarden Breakfast Gardening Method." I created and coined it myself for @theBriGarden. It revolves around repurposing food waste to create a food bounty. Who would've thought breakfast is so ripe for gardening!? Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets. If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're sipping by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets. 8 Garden-Starting Hacks to Get You Growing in 2024 1:45 - Hack #1: Reuse egg water! Hard-bouled eggs release a trace amount of calcium into the water, and calcium is a mineral all plants need. It's a great idea to use hard-boiled egg water for your plants. Plants can benefit from calcium boost in hard-boiled egg water 2:45 - Hack #2: Eggshell planters! If you take your eggshells and break out the top, leaving ¾ of eggshell intact, that's a great container for starting seeds. You can begin so many seeds in eggshells, which are rich in calcium. Using eggshells whole can help recycle your breakfast food scraps. 3:40 - Hack #3: Eggshell fertilizer! Crushed eggshells are a great way to inject calcium into your garden and help deter slugs and garden pests. I created a fun TikTok of how to use eggshells in your garden. 4:10 - Hack #4: Coffee! Put your used coffee grounds in the soil to boost nitrogen in the soil and provide an acidity boost. It's the next best thing to organic fertilizer. Make sure you grind it up very fine so that the plants can receive the nutrients. 4:55 - Hack #5: Sprinkle of cinnamon! Cinnamon helps to fight off bacteria and fungus that causes damping, a disease that waterlogs the stem of the plant and stalls out the seedlings before they can grow. Cinnamon helps to deter this disease, so add a tiny pinch to your potting soil to keep your seedlings growing strong. 5:30- Hack #6: Egg cartons! Use egg cartons as seed starters to start seeds indoors on a regular basis. If a dozen eggs run out in 2 weeks in your house, that's enough time to get another succession planting round going in that empty carton without having to buy any supplies. Fill the empty eggshells with soil, plant a seed inside it, and place the seeded eggshell the egg carton on a window sill. 6:30 - Hack #7: Fruit boxes! Containers that your produce comes in is great to reuse as transplant containers. Before the seeds go into container gardens or into the ground, use these fruit boxes to help your plants mature is a great way to make your morning fruit snacking pay off. 7:15 - Hack #8: Coffee filters! Re-use coffee filters to line the bottoms of your pots and containers. Voila, leak-free gardening! Want to see the garden in action? Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets for first-time growers. Leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets.

Welcome to Bri Books! Today, we're dissecting 5 ingenious wedding trends of 2024 that you're bound to see everywhere. Listen to the most recent episode, “Top 5 Bridal Trends of 2024: Part One” for even more inspiration. This episode is about wedding industry-wide trends, and what you can expect in 2024. Whether you're the guest, the host, or one of the intended, these wedding trends will get your juices flowing. We did all the things for the bride last time, so now let's take it to everyone else. Here are a few quick trends that are taking over the wedding industry.  Micro-weddings: This trend has been years in the making (predated the pandemic), and it's only going stronger in 2024. Some folks pack out cathedrals, others love a chic, curated courthouse affair. Micro-weddings often look like elopement or private civil ceremonies, followed by modest dinners.  Micro-weddings are growing not just as a result of rising prices of weddings, but as a throwback to more intimate nuptial affairs. Long cakes: Viva la long cake! In the early January NYT article, "These Wedding Cakes Are Going to Great Lengths", the wedding cake of Rachel Karten (founder of Link in Bio) was featured—a massive, multi-color, multi-foot long slab of deliciousness.  Daytrip weddings: I personally love this concept. If you're in a particularly scenic state or country, consider a daytrip wedding, especially if it's a day-long or one night overnight affair. If you're getting married in a small ceremony or privately, consider doing a daytrip to a gorgeous farm, setting, etc. to exchange vows. Intimate dinner party weddings and afterparties:  After the altar is the afterparty! More and more, couples are opting for a debaucherous, energy-fueled afterparty to keep the vibes going. Renting out a chic hotel bar or even a restaurant can deliver the after party vibes. Bonus points if there's a kitschy element like takeout  food, nostalgic small bites, etc. feel free to be lo-fi and grungy.  I think an intimate dinner party can bring an air of casualness to wedding festivities. It's also easier to get around and see all of your friends/ do the general socializing at a dinner party vs a more formal seated dinner.   Off-season travel: Paging Portugal! You may see more off-season and left-of-center wedding destinations crop up in your invites. Portugal is well known, also consider Chile, parts of Mexico (San Miguel de Allende), Ecuador, Portugal, Costa Rica, Belize, and other less-traveled destinations.

Welcome to Bri Books and happy Valentine's Day. In honor of the day of love (self love, familial love, etc), I want to bring a quick beauty-focused episode about my favorite skincare, makeup and beauty picks to help you practice the art of self-love 24/7. I'll jump right in. Lush Valentine's Day Collection. Once again, as always, Lush has pulled out the stops when it comes to Valentine's Day. I think Lush is the perfect 'To me, from me' gift. Love can be friendship and laughter and wild nights and quiet mornings. Lush is all about celebrating all the loves in your life and finding ways to celebrate them. The brand has several V-Day specific gifts, but I want to talk about my favorites: The Flower Bombshell, Love Letter Bath Bomb, Sex Bomb Bath Bomb gift set, and the Strawberry Heart soap. If you want something luxe feeling and special, Lush is the way. The flower bombshell gives the most romantic rose scented soak ever. Flower petals float atop shimmering pink waters, and rose absolute and lemon oil create a cheerful, rose scent that'll sweep you off your feet. It's a truly dcadent bathing experience, and the best part is, you can save half of it for another day. Bakeup Makeup Beauty Palettes for Valentine's Day inspired color. For the color fanatics, the gotta-catch-em-all types, this one's for you. Save $20 and get all four Palm Palettes (pastels, primaries, neons and neutrals)! Each Palm Palette features eight buttery, buildable shades that can be mixed and matched for endless looks. From Monday morning to Saturday night, any occasion and every emotion. This kit will truly unleash your creativity. Curated by Jo Baker from the most loved neutral palettes of the last 20 years, Desert Road Trip contains eight everyday, essential neutrals.  The bold Micro Palm Palette primaries represent foundational colors, empowering you to express your primary emotions. Nakery Beauty Skin Repair Double Retinol and Collagen Face and Body Treatment.   Super, concentrated yet gentle, 2 fast-acting retinols unite to firm & reduce wrinkles from head to toe. A revolutionary innovation in anti-aging!  Encapsulated retinol targets fine lines + wrinkles over time while fast-acting retinoids, boosted with collagen peptides, instantly penetrate the skin for skin repair and immediate wrinkle-fighting action  Counteracts skin aging + UV damage and improves cell renewal process  Controlled, constant release delivery system allows for no redness, no irritations, no flakiness, no dry-feeling or down time between uses   Multi-tasking: face + body, gentle enough for daily use. Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Micro Serum and Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil. I love this serum and the luxurious, soothing facial oil. The serum phase delivers skin-quenching actives whilst the oil phase has rich soothing properties. Enriched with a unique Red Algae, clinically proven* to deliver 3x more hydration than Hyaluronic Acid, and antioxidant Rose Centifolia extract, to support and strengthen the skin's barrier. Plumps, firms, and smooths fine lines and wrinkles. The exceptionally lightweight facial oil formula is infused with precious English Rose Oleo Extract and a blend of hydrating marine actives. This anti-aging oil helps to soften the look of lines and wrinkles and leaves the skin looking more youthful. Nourishing oils of Sweet Almond, Jojoba, and Coconut provide a lightweight base easily absorbed by the skin for a radiant and dewy fresh complexion. Be Delicious DKNY Orchard Street. This is an excellently romantic fragrance, inspired by the energy of the Lower East Side. Floral, fruity, lady apple and jasmine scents combine with cedar wood to create an unforgettably luxe fragrance. Real Techniques Pastel Pop Collection. The Real Techniques Pastel Pop Plumped Up Base Set features 3 dense face brushes and a makeup spatula to conceal, cover, and brighten for your dreamiest complexion yet. The makeup brush kit includes the 098 Small Conceal Brush, 099 Expert Edge Brush, 100 Soft Accent Brush, and a Makeup Spatula. These makeup brushes work best with liquid and cream foundation, concealer, highlighter, and blush for a bright, skin-like finish. The makeup spatula helps you spread foundation and color correctors into a thin layer for an even finish. Shani Darden Moisture Plumping Serum. A silky, non-sticky serum powered by snow mushroom and glycerin to effectively attract, retain & replenish moisture for instant and continuous plumping hydration. Unlike other serums that hydrate only temporarily, our high-performance formula floods skin in long-lasting hydration. A breakthrough blend of visibly plumping pentavitin, water-binding snow mushroom and glycerin, moisture-replenishing panthenol, seamlessly melts into skin to reveal plump and bouncy, dewy skin.  Snow Mushroom & Glycerin provide instant moisture and long-term hydration. Baebody Gummy Collagen Vitamins. These 60 citrus-flavored gummies provide you with the building blocks of your body. Perfect for strong bones, skin, muscles, ligaments and more. Can be supplemented with collagen moisturizer, collagen cleanser, and collagen teas for your inner and outer beauty Beia Beauty Lavender Lust candle and Intimacy Serum. For anytime moisture, wherever you need it most, Body & Intimacy Serum was formulated for all-purpose pleasure—anywhere. Made with sustainably sourced ingredients—like squalane, coconut oil, and green tea—this luxurious serum naturally rejuvenates your skin and body to enhance your everyday skincare routine and intimate moments alike. Featuring sleek glass packaging with eco-conscious, refillable packaging, this serum was made for the nightstand—not the back of the drawer.

Welcome to Bri Books! This week is all about trends. We're a few weeks into 2024 and I'm getting cozy in the new year. This week, we'll be discussing trends of all kinds: from bridal and wedding to Pinterest Predictions, Beauty trends, fashion trends, and tech/ media trends.  I attended the Anthropologie Weddings x Pinterest Trends pop-up last week in NYC to explore the future of bridal. The pop-up was in partnership with AnthroLiving and Terrain, and they leveraged Pinterest Predicts trends to highlight the best of 2024 wedding trends. I left feeling very inspired about the emerging bridal trends on Pinterest, and enjoyed getting a glimpse into the future of bridal design, decor, and lifestyle.  The Anthropologie Weddings team revealed three major trends that are predicted to dominate the wedding world in 2024--Groovy Nuptuals, Bow Stacking, and Western Gothic--complete with interactive sessions and consultations. Each trend included a deep dive into the world of retro-inspired wedding, the art of bow-stacking and imaginative ways to bring rugged, moody hues into your world. I especially loved that the pop-up had ideas and styles for later to save via Pinterest QR codes.  In addition to Groovy Nuptuals, Bow Stacking, and Western Gothic, here are a few bridal trends that'll be all over the place in 2024 and beyond.  Audacious bows and gentle floral appliques: This bridal season, it's all about the bow. They're everywhere from hair accessories to wedding gowns. Floral appliques are an excellent way to personalize a veil or a dress. The great thing about both floral appliques and bows is they can be show-stopping or as subtle as you'd like. From the brand Amsale, the orchid dress boasts an oversized 3D flower and stem. Similarly, the Nori dress by Amsale is a take on a one-shoulder bow in satin. The Rin gown dress captures a taffeta ruched bodice tulle ball gown with  an arched neckline, low back, and gentle orchid-ish bow at the back. I think the best place for a floral applique is on a veil, and Amsale has an excellent long veil cape with floral appliques. Similarly, the Antonia silk dress with a big back bow is playful yet romantic.  90s nods: Paging '90s supermodels! Imagine columns of white silk with slight crewnecks, thin straps and backless seduction. I love this style and I'm happy it's coming back. Brands like Jane Booke, Jenny Yoo and Amsale have mastered this. The Jane Booke brand is absolutely flawless for all things 90s, especially the brand's signature low back slip dresses. The  Amsale Embry dress captures the magic. Italian crepe satin gowns will be big in 2024, and the 90s Emery supermodel style dress from Jenny Yoo ticks all of the bridal boxes.  Removable capes and sleeves: Capes are glamorously feminine and also mysterious, and they're the perfect statement piece for any gown, especially when intricately detailed (helloooo bows and floral appliques!)  I love how romantic a cape is. The Hayworth cape from Jenny Yoo with blooming floral embroidery is one of my favorites, as it adds a little glamor to the gown. I especially love Jenny's Jewel cape, with dramatic puff sleeves and ruffle. It adds whimsy and romance and drama, like you're a fresh marshmallow.  A cute little shrug adds a dramatic layer to create a unique look. Pair organiza puff sleeves with any stunning base dress for a completely different look. Organza is light as air and looks so extravagant, especially on brown skin. The dramatic puff sleeve and ruffle lend a bit of whimsy and romance to this dramatic silhouette Unique veils: I have loved Halfpenny London for years and years. The Periwinkle veil is super voluminous, airy, and drape-y.  "The Jubilee ethereal tulle cape is hand beaded with subtly shimmering sequins and beads arranged in intricate rose motifs which grow organically from the choker neck, over the shoulders, then fade throughout the extra-long train. The necktie has added length for extra drama and can be tied in an epic bow, or flow freely down the body."  Gloves: Gloves that are delicate, barely-there, tulle help to juxtapose your dress. Love to style gloves with base dresses for the ultimate city look, or layer with more dramatic pieces to make a dramatic statement. The Violeta gloves from Alexandra Grecco are also fabulous. Brands and Links Mentioned Anthropologie Weddings: Groovy Nuptuals trend, Bow Stacking trend, Western Gothic trend Audacious bows and gentle floral appliques trend: Amsale bridal brand: The Amsale orchid dress, Nori dress, Rin gown, Antonia silk dress 90s nods trend: Jane Booke, Jenny Yoo and Amsale, Amsale Embry dress, Jenny Yoo Emery  supermodel style dress Removable capes and sleeves trend: The Hayworth cape from Jenny Yoo, Jewel Unique veils trend: Halfpenny London and the Periwinkle veil, the  Jubilee ethereal tulle cape  Gloves trend: Violeta gloves from Alexandra Grecco 

Welcome back to Glow Up Goals Week on Bri Books! Today we're doing a deep dive into the world of bullet journaling: What it is, what it solves, and how to get started. I'll be sharing the steps you want to follow in order to turn any notebook into a bullet journal, and how to optimize your life using bullet journal strategies like daily and weekly logs.   What is Bullet Journaling? What's the Difference Between a Bullet Journal and a Regular Notebook? A bullet journal, in essence, is a notebook with bulleted on-page dots and an accompanying system of organizing your world. Your bullet journal index, weekly spread, and daily logs are the foundations of a successful bullet journaling strategy.  Your bullet journal weekly spread is where you map out your week ahead, and supplement with categories you want to focus on. Often, when you search bullet journaling on YouTube and Instagram, you're met with highly-designed, washi-tape wrapped notebooks. What's important to remember is that you want your bullet journal format to be flexible, fast, and fit to your focus.  How to Start Bullet Journaling Create an Index. It's the Table of Contents of your bullet journal, where you write down page numbers and their corresponding sections.  Write a prayer, a grounding thought, or, 3-5 simple joys in life. Write down three peaceful thoughts and joys you find. I find that it's helpful to have something grounding and centering at the top of my journal, to put myself into perspective. Categories. This is where you break down and compartmentalize your priorities for this notebook. Your bullet journal categories will organically start to build up as you journal more regularly. Use your categories to keep you honest and mindful of the tasks, projects, and priorities you avoid.  Logs and Calendar.  The daily log/  weekly spread is where you outline the state of your union: I begin with a breakdown of the categories we mentioned: personal, financial, spiritual, etc. On a weekly basis, it's important that you keep yourself honest and review your logs. Notice what tasks roll from week to week. Notice what categories get neglected and moved back week to week.  Create Your Spread. A spread is a few pages devoted to a certain project or time period. For example, each week I create a 2-page spread, and write down what's on my calendar along with a little checklist built on tasks pulled from the….CATEGORIES LIST! The daily and weekly spread keeps me honest.  Links to My Favorite Bullet Journaling Resources: The IGTV about setting up your bujo is live on @bribookspod Leuchtturm1917 from Paper Source BeRooted journal Episode: How to Bullet Journal Like a Pro Episode: Bullet Journaling 101 with Bri Book

Welcome to Bri Books! Today, I'm sharing the 6 steps to more intentional goal-setting (and goal-keeping!) Consider this your guide to healthy and effective goals. Goalsetting is a healthy practice, but it can be hard to find the best strategy that empowers you to execute your goals. 6 Steps to More Intentional Goals Be compassionately realistic about where you are. Be specific about your “why'“: Drill down on precisely what you want to achieve. When you spend time understanding the “why” that drives your actions, it's easier to avoid distractions and focus on pursuing your goal. Remember, you don't have to achieve all of your goals at once. You can always iterate as you accomplish. Be intentional about how you're going to get there: Break your goals down into smaller goals you can accomplish daily. Focus on continuation and consistency, and remember, getting to your destination will require several steps steps. You don't simply arrive at a destination immediately—you get their mile by mile. Be SMART in your goal-setting: Your goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. The more specific you can be with your goal, the higher the chance you'll complete it. Write your goals down: When you write your goals down, they become real and tangible instead of a vague idea that resides only in your mind. Once you've written your goals down, keep them somewhere visible. This tactic reminds you to keep working on your goals daily. As you're writing down your goals, use a positive tone so you stay excited about completing them Evaluate and iterate: Always, always, always take time to evaluate your successes, identify your growth areas, and iterate on how you're feeling. Accomplishing your goals should be fun, not draining.   Thank you for listening to this episode of Bri Books! What are your goals for 2024? Let me know on Instagram! ! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're reading by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.    

Welcome to Bri Books! In this episode, I'm covering how to start a manifestation journal, and sharing my favorite manifestation journaling tips. Consider this your guide to manifestation journaling and morning pages. This episode will be a crash course on what exactly manifestation journaling is, where to start with manifestation journaling, scripting, and how to make manifestation journaling less overwhelming. 2:00 - What Exactly Is a Manifestation Journal: How to Start Manifestation Journaling A manifestation journal is an excellent way to describe your life story the way you want to manifest your dream life. The process of manifestation journaling not only forces you to organize your thoughts and establish paths to your dreams, but also sparks motivation to go after them.  3:00: What's the Goal of Manifestation Journaling? The goal of manifestation journaling is to create new neural networks and belief systems. By writing each goal and each experience in the present tense to convince your mind into thinking it's already a reality. This primes your subconscious mind to be able to make the changes to achieve your goal while helping you shift self-identity. Remember, the goal here is to bring something into reality by establishing expectations. 4:00: Where to Start with Manifestation Journaling Use a Pen and Paper: Avoid digital versions of manifestation journals at the beginning of your journey, because you want to give the time and energy with pen and paper to unlock your desires. You want your manifestation journal to feel almost ritualistic: something you look forward to.  Define Your Vision: Take a look at your current reality and identify what areas you'd like to improve. I'd say stick to 2 clear visions for 90 days, to avoid completely overhauling your life. Examples of vision areas include professional life, personal/ spiritual growth, physical health, relationships, financial health, creativity, fun/ adventure.  Align Your Emotional State With Your Vision: Cultivate the emotions associated with the reality you're working to manifest. How does it feel to achieve this goal? Match how you feel to what you want. Don't wait until you've achieved everything on the list to feel happiness. When you act as if you already have achieved your goals, your reality will shift to match your emotional state.  Set a Purpose for Your Vision: This will be your North Star on days when you feel unmotivated. A clear purpose will fuel you to move forward. Having a strong ‘why' will drive you to make the changes you need to materialize your goals. 7:00: Manifestation Journal Prompts What does my highest version of reality look like? What would make me fulfilled and satisfied from the inside out in this area? What do I want this area to look like in 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years? What value will this manifestation bring to my life? What am I working towards and why? What's the value behind this goal? What are my motivations behind this vision 9:00: How to Make Manifestation Journaling Less Overwhelming Combine manifestation journaling with something you love like morning coffee or tea. Morning pages help to make it a daily ritual you look forward to. Be as consistent as possible. Journal at the same time every day (after showering, before bed, upon waking). Be present as you write: feel the emotions of achieving your goals, feel the formation of your new intentions, feel your visions come to life. Put away distractions and give writing your full attention. Remember, the greatest emotion you can cultivate to manifest your goals is gratitude. Gratitude is the state of receiving. When you feel gratitude for what you want before you have it, you naturally attract it into your life.  13:00: How to Use Scripting in Your Manifestation Journaling Scripting involves going into detail on the thing you're working to manifest and what it feels like to receive it. Live in the end.. The 3D just needs a little time to catch up--give it a push. Write affirmations at the end of the script, and write as if you're currently recapping your present moment. LINKS: My favorite journal for manifestation journaling is from stationary brand BeRooted (Target, $13).   Thank you for listening to this episode of Bri Books! What are you manifesting? Let me know on Instagram! ! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Welcome to Bri Books! Today I'm sharing my 8 tips and strategies for reading more books in 2024. Listen for reading hacks and tricks that'll help you make a daily habit of reading more books. 8 Ways to Read (A Lot) More Books in 2024 1:30: Reframe your take on reading: Reframing isn't about tricking yourself into doing tasks, but reframing the nature of the task to wake own the dread and avoidance around them. So when it comes to reading, instead of, “I have to finish these pages,” refreame it as, “I get to expand my consciousness and knowledge. I get to work my muscle of curiosity.” Just this simple act of reframing alone can make it easier for you to get started with reading consistently. 2:54: Set quarterly reading themes: Set quarterly reading themes, or "read with the seasons." Give each season a genre or theme, and focus on reading books within that realm. 4:10: Set clear monthly reading goals: This part is important. Is your goal to finish 1 book a month? 2 books? More? Have a clear monthly reading objective, so you'll know when you've ‘accomplished' your goal.  5:00 Set a daily page count: This is the most important part of the plan to stick to your reading objectives. Set a daily page count! I recommend starting with 10 or 20 pages daily, and working your way up. A quick hack: If your goal is to read a book a week, divide the pages by 7. Boom. That's your daily page count.  5:45: Create a Goodreads or Pinterest for your TBR pile: It's self-explainatory. If you're visual, create a Pinterest board to keep track of your upcoming reads. If you like running lists, make a Goodreads account. This is a great way to stay accountable for your TBR pile without letting any books slip through the cracks. 6:45: Keep a book/ reading journal: If you enjoy journaling, try keeping a book journal. I like to use Goodreads and the Bri Books podcast as a book journal of sorts.  7:22: Choose books that activate your left brain, right brain, and a wildcard pick: : Your brain will crave diversity, so as part of your reading strategy, I recommend having 1 left-brain, 1 right-brain, and 1 wildcard pick.  9:00: Attend monthly literary or book club gathering:  Look up bookstores near you, follow them on social, and join the email newsletters. Find one monthly literary gathering, whether it's a book club or an author talk or a Q&A. Anything! This is an excellent way to literally get out of the house and enjoy something literary with others.  EPISODES MENTIONED 8 Books to Read in 2024 6 Best Books of 2023, According to Bri Books Thank you for listening to this episode of Bri Books! Let what you're reading, and listen to recent episodes about building (and keeping) your reading practice below. What are you reading? Let me know on Instagram! ! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.    

Welcome to Bri Books! From sexy fiction to fascinating history, here's a look at what I'm reading in 2024. For a book lover, the new year is the definition of a blank slate. The books of 2024 offer escapes of all kinds. Below, I'vm nominating 8 books I can't wait to read in January and February. In this episode, I'm rounding up 8 titles I can't wait to read. 1:05: ‘From Slave Cabins to the White House: Homemade Citizenship in African American Culture' by Koritha Mitchell. I'm a cottagecore princess, and I wanted to get to the roots of domesticity in the US. In high school I was obsessed with domestic/ Victorian values during the Industrial Revolution, and noticed the glaring absence of free Black American women from this history. But that doesn't mean we weren't there. In the book, Koritha Mitchell analyzes canonical texts by and about African American women to lay bare the hostility these women face as they invest in traditional domesticity. Tracing how African Americans define and redefine success in a nation determined to deprive them of it, Mitchell plumbs the works of Frances Harper, Zora Neale Hurston, Lorraine Hansberry, Toni Morrison, Michelle Obama, and others. These artists honor black homes from slavery and post-emancipation through the Civil Rights era to "post-racial" America. Mitchell follows black families asserting their citizenship in domestic settings while the larger society and culture marginalize and attack them, not because they are deviants or failures but because they meet American standards. ‘From Slave Cabins to the White House' illuminates the links between African American women's homemaking and citizenship in history and across literature. 4:15: ‘The Temp Economy: From Kelly Girls to Permatemps in Postwar America' by Erin Hatton. Everyone knows that work in America is not what it used to be. Layoffs, outsourcing, contingent work, disappearing career ladders—these are the new workplace realities for an increasing number of people. But why? In ‘The Temp Economy,' Erin Hatton takes one of the best-known icons of the new economy—the temp industry—and finds that it is more than just a symbol of this degradation of work. Succinct, highly readable, and drawn from a vast historical record of industry documents, ‘The Temp Economy' is a one-stop resource for anyone interested in the temp industry or the degradation of work in postwar America. 6:50: ‘New York, New York, New York: Four Decades of Success, Excess, and Transformation' by Thomas Dyja. A lively, immersive history by an award-winning urbanist of New York City's transformation, and the lessons it offers for the city's future. Dyja's sweeping account of this metamorphosis shows it wasn't the work of a single policy, mastermind, or economic theory, nor was it a morality tale of gentrification or crime. Instead, three New Yorks evolved. Dyja weaves New Yorkers famous, infamous, and unknown—Yuppies, hipsters, tech nerds, and artists; community organizers and the immigrants who made this a truly global place—into a narrative of a city creating ways of life that would ultimately change cities everywhere. 9:12: ‘Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion' by music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy was released in October of 2023. A cinematic narrative of glamour, grit, luxury, and luck, ‘Fashion Killa' draws on exclusive interviews with the leaders of the fashion world to tell the story of the hip-hop artists, designers, stylists, and unsung heroes who fought the power and reinvented style around the world over the last fifty years. In the book, Krishnamurthy explores the connections between the DIY hip-hop scene and the exclusive upper-echelons of high fashion. She discusses the sociopolitical forces that defined fashion and tracks the influence of music and streetwear on the most exclusive (and exclusionary) luxury brands. At the intersection of cultural commentary and oral history, ‘Fashion Killa' commemorates the contributions of hip-hop to music, fashion, and our culture at large. 11:10: ‘Prayer and Our Bodies' by Flora Slosson Wuellner. Written in 1987, this book explores the very real relationship that exists between the bodily self and the spiritual self. Readers will heighten their awareness of the interactions among body, mind, and spirit. If you're someone who struggles to appreciate your body, this book is an important touchstone toward healing our relationships with ourselves and others. It talks about how prayer isn't just what we say, but how we live our lives. Flora Slosson Wuellner, a retired ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, is well known throughout the United States and Europe for her writings and retreat leadership that focus on the inner healing that God freely offers through Christ. She has written 14 books on inner healing and renewal. 12:36: ‘You Learn By Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life' by Eleanor Roosevelt. This wise and intimate book on how to get the most of out life was gifted to me by a lovely friend named Carrie. At the age of seventy-six, Roosevelt penned this simple guide to living a fuller life—a powerful volume of enduring commonsense ideas and heartfelt values. Offering her own philosophy on living, she takes readers on a path to compassion, confidence, maturity, civic stewardship, and more. 14:30: ‘The Pillow Book' by Sei Shonagon. Written by 10th century court gentlewoman Sei Shonagon, ostensibly for her own amusement, ‘The Pillow Book' offers a fascinating exploration of life among the nobility at the height of the Heian period, describing the exquisite pleasures of a confined world in which poetry, love, fashion, and whim dominated, while harsh reality was kept firmly at a distance. Moving elegantly across a wide range of themes including nature, society, and her own flirtations, Sei Shonagon provides a witty and intimate window on a woman's life at court in classical Japan. 16:30: ‘Homebodies' by Tembe Denton-Hurst is already a fantastic read. An insightful, propulsive, and deeply sexy debut novel about a young Black writer whose world is turned upside down when she loses her coveted job in media and pens a searing manifesto about racism in the industry. A meditation on identity, self-worth and the toll of corporate racism, Homebodies is a portrait of modern Black womanhood with a protagonist you won't soon forget.

Welcome to Bri Books! This week, as we'll be delving into all things literary, starting with a review of the 6 best books I read in 2023.  'The War Before: The True Life Story of Becoming A Black Panther, Keeping the Faith in Prison & Fighting for Those Left Behind' by Safiya Bukhari. This book was probably my most valuable and important read of 2023. It's the true-life story of Safiya Bukhari, and it catalogues her lifelong commitment as an advocate for the rights of the oppressed. Following her journey from middle-class student to Black Panter to political prisoner, her wiritings provide an intimate view of a woman wrestling with the issues of her time, including the legacy of the Panthers, misogyny in the movement, her decision to convert to Islandm, the incarceration of outspoken radicals around the world, her passion for family, and how the struggles of social justice movements have paved the way for the progress of today.  ‘Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection, and Guidance' by Kelly McDaniel. This book came recommended by Myleik Teele, founder of Curlbox and host behind Myleik Teele My Taught You podcast. It's truly a life-changing and life-saving book. It comes with countless insights on so many things. Having parts of this book hit home has been enlightening and healing at a whole new level. With ‘Mother Hunger', McDaniel helps women break the cycle of destructive behavior by taking a fresh look at childhood trauma and its lasting impact. McDaniel is the first clinician to identify Mother Hunger, which demystifies the search for love and provides the compass that each woman needs to end the struggle with achy, lonely emptiness, and come home to herself. 'The Yoga Almanac: 52 Practices and Rituals to Stay Grounded Through the Astrological Seasons,' by Lisette Cherreson and Andrea Rice. Sequenced by the astrological calendar, The Yoga Almanac is a practical guide to help you reintegrate with recurring cosmic rhythms, and invite the sacred into your life through learning, movement, breath, and ritual. Featuring 52 seasonally-themed chapters, the Almanac is a comprehensive jumping off point to deepen your relationship to yoga—and to yourself. ‘Forbidden Fairways: African Americans and the Game of Golf' by Calvin H. Sinnette.: The emergence of Tiger Woods on the international golf scene brought the world's attention to the African American experience in golf. But before Tiger, names like Ted Rhodes, Bill Spiller, Ann Gregory, and so many others remained in relative obscurity without being given the chance to compete. ‘Forbidden Fairways' is not just a history of the African Americans who have been playing golf for over 200 years but a tribute to them as well. ‘Spare' by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Spare. Spare! WHAT can I even SAY about the book that kicked off 2023? For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief. From losing his mother, Princess Diana, as a tween to joining the British Army before meeting Meghan Markle his future wife, Harry spared nothing and no one in ‘Spare.' ‘Slow Living: The Secrets to Slowing Down and Noticing the Simple Joys Anywhere' by Helena Woods. This is a fantastic book that breaks down how to inject more calmness, stillness, and intentionality into your daily life. A must for 2024 and beyond!    

Welcome to 2024 from Bri @ Bri Books podcast! In complete transparency: today is January 15, so consider this amongst the last of your New Year greetings. I'm so thrilled to welcome 2024—there's something about the future of the written word and storytelling that's igniting me at the moment. In the new year, I want to focus on building and maintaining a daily reading practice, and new ways to expand the Bri Books format beyond podcasting (hellloooo, YouTube?!) Furthermore, I'll be incorporating guests into the podcast format this year—get ready to hear some vibrant new voices! In January, I'll be dropping episodes of Bri Books every weekday. Starting in February, we'll move to a 2x/ weekly cadence. New to Bri Books? Below, I've shared a list of essential episodes from the archives. Consider this your Bri Books Greatest Hits playlist. Welcome to 2024 with Bri Books! Xox -Bri Bri Books Greatest Hits "Heart and Hustle" featuring Patricia Bright "Garden Fresh Cooking" featuring Sandria of @ABeautifulNestTV How to Fall in Love with Gardening this Spring featuring Carla of @GardenPlot.57 Building a Diverse Personal Library featuirng Liana Rodriguez Everything You Need to Know About Austrian Wine How to Curate a Wine Menu or Wine Haul Clean Girl Aesthetic Beauty Essentials 

Welcome to Bri Books! Ready to get into wine? These 8 books all about the magical world of vino can help. In this episode, I'm sharing the top 8 books for wine lovers (and beginners). Consider this the ultimate wine lover's reading list. ‘Volcanoes and Wine: From Pompeii to Napa' by Charles Frankel. This book was probably one of my favorite wine-related reads of 2023. In ‘Volcanoes and Wine,' geologist Charles Frankel introduces us to the volcanoes that are among the most dramatic and ideal landscapes for wine making. From California to the Canary Islands and beyond, Frankel gives an in-depth account of famous volcanoes and the wines that spring from their soils. He details each volcano's most famous eruptions, the grapes that grow in its soils, and the people who make their homes on its slopes. This illuminating guide will be indispensable for wine lovers looking to learn more about volcanic terroirs. ($18) University of Chicago Press, Amazon) ‘The Wine Savant: A Guide to the New Wine Culture' by Michael Steinberger. ‘The Wine Savant' is a punchy, educational, and downright entertaining introduction to all things wine culture. This book is valuable for wine drinkers and oenophiles alike. From three-buck Chuck to priceless Bourdeauxs, this book gives the inside scoop on the key concerns facing a new generation of wine lovers.($10) (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, WW Norton, Abe Books, Penguin Random House Canada) ‘Enoteca: Delicious Recipes in the Italian Wine Bar Tradition' by Joyce Goldstein. Renowned chef, author, and teacher Joyce Goldstein explores the origins of enoteca culture and cuisine in Italy, one mouthwatering recipe at a time. With sumptuous color photography throughout, this cookbook expertly pairs classic Italian fare with equally delicious wines, enabling anyone to recreate the enoteca experience at home. ($6) Amazon ‘Fire + Wine: 75 Smoke-Infused Recipes from the Grill with Perfect Wine Pairings' by Mary Cressler and Sean Martin. Consider this book your one-stop guide for elevationg your BBQ game and wine knowledge simultaneously. With 75 recipes that pair smoky goodness from the grill with the wines of the Pacific Northwest, this book is the perfect marriage of pitmaster expertise and sommelier sensibilities. With recipes that celebrate smoked and grilled food (and the wines that pair best with them), this wine-meets-cookbook ticks all the boxes. ($20) (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Penguin Random House, Target, Abe Books) ‘Movers and Shakers: Advice from the Women Changing the Alcohol Industry' by Hope Ewing. This book is a collection of industry advice and tips, beverage history lessons, and feminist takes on the professional challenges faced by women in the alcohol industry. Hope Ewing dissects how women are paving the way and creating a more inclusive and sustainable world full of delicious drinks. A veteran bartender, Ewing had grown impatient with the surprisingly outdated perceptions of women in the alcohol industry. Entrepreneurial and ambitious, often the first in their fields, the women she knew in the business were leaders, mentors, and trailblazers. In ‘Movers and Shakers', Ewing seeks out the ambitious, entrepreneurial women business leaders, mentors, and trailblazers, and shares their stories with us (along with invaluable advice and insights into a wildly and rapidly evolving industry. ($17) (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Thriftbooks) ‘VineMeUp: An Activity Book Celebrating The Melanated Wine Enthusiast' by Sarita Cheaves. – Created shortly after the beginning of the pandemic lockdown, Sarita Cheaves channeled her wine knowledge and her love for all things quirky and quizzical into this brilliant and delightful activity book. This book is a compilation of her experience in the wine industry and her commitment to uplifting Black and brown wine experts, influencers, and thought leaders alike ($6) Amazon, ($25) Vinemeupdc.com Natural Wine for the People: Natural Wine for the People: What It Is, Where to Find It, How to Love It' by Alice Feiring. This book is the perfect compact illustrated guide to the emerging and enormously popular world of natural wine, a style that focuses on minimal intervention, lack of additives, and organic/ biodynamic growing methods. In ‘Natural Wine for the People,' James Beard Award-winner Alice Feiring sets the record straight, offering an accessible guide filled with easy definitions, tips and tricks for sourcing the best wines, whimsical illustrations, a definitive list to the must-know producers and bottlings, and an appendix with the best shops and restaurants specializing in natural wine across the country, making this the must-buy and must-gift wine book of the year. ($18) - Penguin Random House, Amazon, Kitchen Arts & Letters ‘99 Bottles: A Black Sheep's Guide to Life-Changing Wines' by Andre Mack. In this entertaining, informative, and thoroughly unconventional wine guide, award-winning sommelier, winemaker, and wine educator André Mack presents listeners with the 99 bottles that have most impacted his life. Instead of just pairing wines with foods, Mack pairs practical information with personal stories, offering up recommendations alongside reflections on being one of the only African-Americans to ever work at the top level of the American wine industry. ($15-$25) (Amazon, Thrift Books, OKSomm, Abrams Books, Bookshop.org)  If you're new to the show (and loving it!), leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify! Please tell me what you're drinking to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.   Wine Week Episodes Austrian Wine 101 Orange Wine 101 5 Wine-Shopping Hacks 3 Secrets for Selecting the Perfect Wine, Every Time Swiss Wine: Your Ultimate Guide

Welcome to Bri Books! Our Wine Week series on the podcast has made me tipsy. As I burrow deeper into the wine world, I feel like every day I find a new grape, region, or literally hectare that I didn't know existed before. Wine is like traveling the world in a glass. Today's episode is all about the magical world of Swiss wine. In this episode, I'm sharing the best Swiss wines worth your money (and where to buy/ taste them), and revealing a bit about the history and significance of Swiss wine. The Swiss like to keep secrets. Of the 1.07 million hectolitres of wine produced in Switzerland each year, 98% is consumed within the country. Nonetheless, Swiss wines have become an open secret in the wine world. With six wine-growing regions and over 250 grapes being cultivated, Switzerland boasts an enormous variety of different terroirs. Today, there are six winemaking regions across Switzerland — Geneva, Three Lakes, German Switzerland, Ticino, Vaud, and Valais. In 2024, I want to sample the variety of St. Gallen wines in the Rhine valley and Lake Zurich regions; explore the vineyards of Geneva via TukTuk; take a luxurious bike ride through the Ticino region; and visit the Carnotzet of the Hotel de Ville in Lausanne where I can immerse myself in Lausanne's vineyard history. I want to indulge in Zurich's wine at vineyards, wine bars, and the Expovina Wine Fair. I sincerely see Switzerland in my future! All About Chasselas Grape: The Workhorse of Swiss Wine Chasselas is an indigenous Swiss white grape variety. A white grape grown all over the world, Chasselas grape is called Fendant in Switzerland and is the most widely planted variety in the country. Chasselas is a soft, often herbaceous wine, often consumed over pots of fondue and trays of raclette. Lightly spritzy, chalky, with hints of Swiss meadow herbs and a tart palate, this grape is like a breath of fresh air. Swiss Wines Worth Tasting Robin de Vignes, Vilette 2022 (Chasselas, Lavaux AOC): This wine is 100% Chasselas grape variety, and boasts a rich aroma of citrus and apple. The mineralogy is out of this world! This is the perfect wine for an early spring or early summer dinner party. Dôle des Monts Red, Gilliard 2020 (Valais AOC, Pinot Noir/Gamay): Consider this the perfect Swiss red wine for easy drinking. With elegant flavors of Gamay and Pinot Noir grapes, this full-bodied yet lightweight wine is superbly blended with harmonious tannins. It's perfect for pairing with red and white meat, as well as hard and soft cheeses. The deep ruby red hue gives way to a lightly fragranced wine with hints of ripe fruits. Weingut Fromm 2018 Pinot Noir Village (Pinot Noir, Graubunden): This is another excellent ‘everyday' wine from Switzerland. The grapes for Village are spontaneously fermented in open oak vats with 2 weeks of maceration. This light and cherry-driven Pinot Noir has slight acidity, and I love the muted flavors of black cherry and blackberries. The wine has an earthy texture with a slight touch of spice, but retains smooth, balanced tannins. Highly recommend! Caves du Paradis: Avalanche Fendant 2022, (Valais): This is a truly magical Swiss wine. The lemon flavors on the palette give way to delightful minimality and hints of nuttiness on the finish. I love this wine as an aperitif, or as a perfect mate for a fish course. The flavors also compliment Swiss culinary staples: raclette and fondue. I can't wait to crack open a bottle during the vernal equinox. My Favorite Spot for All Things Swiss Wine: The Lavaux Wine Bar in NYC The Lavaux Wine Bar was founded by three Swiss culinary and wine afficionados who wanted to bring the warmth, hospitality, and time-honored wine traditions of Switzerland to NYC. The name, 'The Lavaux Wine Bar,' pays tribute to the vineyards of Lavaux, Switzerland. It's my go-to spot for all things Swiss: food, cheese, and, of course, wine. I recommend a Swiss wine flight at The Lavaux, located at 630 Hudson Street in New York, NY. If you're new to the show (and loving it!), leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify! Please tell me what you're drinking to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Wines Mentioned Robin de Vignes, Vilette 2022 (Chasselas, Lavaux AOC) Dôle des Monts Red, Gilliard 2020 (Valais AOC, Pinot Noir/Gamay) Weingut Fromm 2018 Pinot Noir Village (Pinot Noir, Graubunden) Caves du Paradis: Avalanche Fendant 2022, (Valais): Wine Week Episodes Austrian Wine 101 Orange Wine 101 5 Wine-Shopping Hacks 3 Secrets for Selecting the Perfect Wine, Every Time

Welcome to Bri Books! With the holiday season in full swing and 2024 on our doorstep, I'm sharing the 9 best gifts for the wine-lover in your life (or for yourself—I won't tell!) If you're searching for a unique gift for wine-lovers, look no further. In this episode, I'm breaking down the best go-to gift ideas for oenophiles. Spoiler alert: none of these is a bottle of wine. Shocker! Here are the silly, practical, and downright delightful gifts that any Bourdeaux babe or Chardonnay-sipper on your list and in your life. Instead of buying another bottle of vino, consider these cool and unique wine gifts for wine-lovers. Consider this your go-to wine gift guide for the 2023 holidays and 2024: Argaux “Year of Firsts” Wine Gift Box: This brilliant collection of wine gift boxes are curated to celebrate the birth of a new baby ($85), wedding anniversary,($150-$400), or an engagement ($100-$200). This genius (and thoughtful) gift is a reminder that every milestone matters, and it's the perfect gift to remind the wine lover in your life to savor life's moments, both big and small. The wines are hand-selected by Argaux's team of sommeliers, and the gift sets are customizable. Vinebox 12 Nights of Wine ($150): This exclusive wine sampling set is perfect for wine snobs and beginners alike. The 'Holi-Day collection features 6 reds, 5 whites and 1 rose. the T'was the Night collection boasts 7 reds, 4 whites, and 1 rose—perfect for kicking back by the fire (or by the television.) With a new wine to sip each night, this gift will keep your oenophile entertained for at least a fortnight. Win-win! Recanter Wine Breather Decanter ($50): A unique sommelier-style decanter that grates, serves, and rebottles unfinished wine, this gorgeously designed decanter is the perfect centerpiece for any wine obsessive's table. It's easy to use, cleaning is a breeze, and the stainless steel and silicone topper allows you to flip and secure the decanter onto the wine bottle and rebottle any unfinished wine—without a spill! Stemless Aerating Glasses ($50): The aesthetically-oriented wine lover on your list will swoon over these stemless aerating glasses. Simply pour your wine into the central cell, and watch it cascade into the glass, instantly releasing the wine's full bouquet of flavors and aroma. Bathtime wine holder ($38): Because bath time is a ritual! The casual wine-lover on your list (with a sense of humor) will be tickled by this artfully designed wine holder. It easily suctions to the tub or shower wall, making it perfect for sipping whilst sudsing. Wine glass baseball cap ($18): Looking for a wearable wine-related gift? Look no further than this painfully chic wine glass dad hat/ baseball cap. The wine glass decal will draw smiles from across the room, and will shield you from that post-hangover sunshine. ‘The World in a Wineglass' by Ray Isle book ($17): Drawing on his deep knowledge and genuine appreciation for winemaking, Ray Isle takes us on a tour of hundreds of independently owned wineries around thew orld—from France to Oregon to Chile and beyond. The bibliophile on your list will be thrilled with this gift, which brilliantly destigmatizes the world of wine while injecting a bit of wanderlust. Wine puzzle ($38): Step into a daydreamy, imaginative world of puzzling with this 1,000-piece set inspired by red, white, and rose wine. Bonus points if you help the recipient put it together over, you guessed it, a bottle of wine. Wine bottle candle ($75): Okay, okay, I actually really want this for myself! This realistic wine bottle-shaped candle is a complete showstopper. At once romantic and deeply practical (who doesn't love a candlelit meal?), the hostess on your list will love this cheeky gift.  

Get to Know Austrian Wine: Your Ultimate Guide to Austrian Red and Orange Wines Welcome to Bri Books! Today, I'm talking about one of my favorite parts of the world for wine: Austria. Austria is often considered to be one of Europe's best-kept wine secrets, with a wealth of indigenous grapes and top-tier wineries, producers, and vineyards. It wasn't until I fell in love with the wines of Burgenland that I got a better sense of the versatility of Austrian soil and grapes, courtesy the brilliant Christian Zechmeister, the Managing Director of Wein Burgenland.  In October, I was fortunate enough to be invited to a presentation of an in-depth seminar hosted by Wein Burgenland with the best examples of Austria's premium indigenous red grape variety, Blaufränkisch, from Burgenland, which is Austria's most easterly wine growing area. Thank you to Constance Chamberlain of Wine & Co, Wines of Austria, and Wein Burgenland for an unforgettable afternoon. Brionna's Favorite Wines of Austria: Blaufränkisch Edition Burgenland Pick #1: Erich Sattler St. Laurent 2020. St. Laurent is Austria's finicky, delicate red wine grape, a little like Pinot Noir, and it's one of the 3 indigenous grape varieties of Blaufränkisch.  This one took our breath away with its pretty blackberry color, fruity berry notes, and mineral flavors. It's full bodied and balanced with a taste of cherries, cedar, light acidity, and a smooth finish. (Price: Avg. $25/ bottle) Burgenland Pick #2: Judith Beck Blaufränkisch 2021. This very young, fruity and balanced wine was much lighter than I expected, and it's definitely perfect for vegetable dishes. Blaufränkisch by Judith Beck is a fun, playful, simple red wine made in Burgenland with Blaufränkisch grapes. You can think of this as the perfect pizza wine. It has aromas of cherry, red currant and blackberry with mild tannins and medium acidity. It's imported by Zev Rovine Selections in NYC, and it's an absolute smash.  (Price: Avg. $25/ bottle) Burgenland Pick #3: Markus Altenburger Blaufränkisch vom Kalk 2020. The Altenburger family has farmed land in and around Jois since the 16th century, and the Blaufränkisch Vom Kalk is down-to-earth: bright with hints of black cherry in the nose and mineral nuances throughout. It's the perfect wine to keep on hand for solo dinner nights and dinner parties alike. You'll want to drink it with friends…but you'll also want a store of bottles at home for personal enjoyment. Trust me. (Price: Avg. $15-$20/ bottle) Bri's Favorite Burgenland Pick: Meinklang 2020 Blaufränkisch! I've been drinking Burgenland Blaufränkisch since before I even knew what it was! First at Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits from 2019 to 2021, then I went deeper at Orange Glou wine shop starting in about 2021. The Meinklang family are essentially farmers who happen to make delicious wine. Imported by Zev Rovine Selections in NYC, this is the quintessential Blaufränkisch Austrian wine experience. (Price: Avg. $20-$25/ bottle) Brionna's Favorite Wines of Austria: Orange Wine Edition Heinrich Grau Freyheit: Graue Freyheit is an absolute delight from Heinrich, who is another top producer based in the vibrant region of Burgenland, Austria. This Graue Freyheit is a blend of 35% Weissburgunder, 30% Grauburgunder, 30% Chardonnay and 5% Neuburger. Delicious and surprising, I recommend this orange for your next big holiday party. (Avg. Price: $50/ bottle) Weingut Pittnauer ‘Perfect Day': Grown in Burgenland and imported by Savio Soares Collections, Perfect Day is 54% Muskat Ottonel, 29% Sauvignon blanc, 8% Chardonnay, 4% Gelber Muskateller, 5% Traminer. The flavor is crisp texture and fresh with mineral elements. The cloudy orange color is so charming, and the intense floral bouquet in the nose is enticing (especially the orange blossom, rose, and peachy notes). (Avg. Price: $35/ bottle) Fidesser Orbis, Weingut Rudolf Fidesser: Weingut Rudolf Fidesser is a certified Biodynamic estate winery in Platt in the western part of the Weinviertel region of Austria. This orange has a gentle aroma of peach and orange zest, and it's slightly tart on the palate with a juicy stone fruit finish. Fidesser Orbis Orange is a very fun wine to drink, thanks to its cloudy, aromatic and smoky nature, and delivers a smooth, flavorful finish and aftertaste. (Avg. Price: $30/ bottle) Weingut Schmelzer - Simple and poignant, the Schlicht und ergreifend Sämling Orange 2017 is a deeply complex orange wine with earthy hints of smoke, Tonka beans, mango, and peaches. peaches and mangoes with a hint of Tonka bean. This is truly a one-of-a-kind wine, created by genius and innovative winemakers Georg and Georg. (Avg. Price: $25/ bottle)   If you're new to the show (and loving it!), leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify! Please tell me what you're drinking to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.   Wines Mentioned Erich Sattler St. Laurent 2020 Judith Beck Blaufränkisch 2021 Markus Altenburger Blaufränkisch vom Kalk 2020 Meinklang 2020 Blaufränkisch Heinrich Grau Freyheit Weingut Pittnauer ‘Perfect Day' Fidesser Orbis, Weingut Rudolf Fidesser Weingut Schmelzer Constance Chamberlain of Wine & Co Wines of Austria  Wein Burgenland

We're continuing Wine Week on Bri Books! I started the week with episodes about how to select the perfect wine and my wine-shopping hacks, and now we're delving deep into the specific wines and regions. My love for orange wine led me to an NYC wine shop called Orange Glou in 2019, shortly after the shop opened. It's a store dedicated 100% to orange wine! This past November, Orange Glou hosted their second-ever orange wine fair, and it was a roaring success. Hosted at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Orange Glou's founders Doreen Winkler and Jack Won really knocked it out of the park and managed to secure nearly 5 dozen winemakers and importers. It was a veritable who's who of the orange wine world.  A few facts about orange wine: Orange wine is a type of skin contact wine, made from white grapes that macerate on the skin. It's not wine made from citrus oranges!  Orange wine was invented in the Republic of Georgia thousands of years ago and was reintroduced to the rest of the world 40 years ago by 2 Italians, Gravner and Radikon, who wanted to explore this winemaking style. Today there are 1,000+ wine producers and wineries that make orange wine along with other styles they're producing.  I find orange wine to be fascinating because of the geographical differences in the wines. From South Australia to South Africa, Austria to Alsace, Georgia to Germany, the varieties of white grapes put on display in orange wine are divine.   In this episode, I'm sharing a few of my favorite orange wine importers and orange wines.  5:00: D-I Wine (Alsace): D-I Wine is a natural wine import and distribution powerhouse. I met the founder Brett Taylor (for the second year in a row!), and spent too long gushing over his selection. D-I wine takes a truly DIY approach to natural wine. Their portfolio is stocked with natural and low-intervention wines. They're all about deep partnership with producers who understand and respect tradition. The true gem on the D-I Wine team is George Kalligeros, a wine Somm with a diverse background in the wine industry. He has experience as a portfolio manager, sommelier, and is knowledgable about wine-making. He's currently serving as the portfolio manager of D-I Wine, and in this role, he curates and manages the wine selection for the company, focusing on French natural wines. His expertise expands to Paris, the Rhone, and beyond. One of my favorite selections  from D-I Wine is Domaine Brand's Tout Terriblement wine from Alsace, France. A 100% Gewurztraminer, this full-bodied wine has a fresh, yellow and orange-fruit flavor with a hint of sweet lychee.  8:25: Donkey and Goat Winery (California): I'll admit it: the name of this winery pulled me right away. But this winemaker/ proprietor/ hose cleaner Jared Brandt and his tasty drinks charmed me. Based in Berkeley, CA, ared and his co-founder Tracey Rogers founded Donkey and Goat Winery in 2004 in San Francisco after studying the art of crafting natural wines in the Rhone Valley. I tasted the Elen Ridge Vineyard Stone Crusher orange wine made from the Roussanne varietal. It was rich, well structured and the tannins revealed a fresh finish. Donkey and Goat also have a testing room in Berkeley, so I'd say they're probably one of the coolest natural wine operations in the Bay.  10:10: 8000 Vintage Selections (Georgia): The 8000 Vintage Selections table was the party epicenter of the orange wine fair. The team from 8000 Vintage Selections had over a half dozen producers at the ready, with at least a dozen or so bottles to taste from. The founder and CEO Shalva Tevdoradze was an absolute beast. The 8000 Vintage Selections collection is almost exclusively Georgian wines. Winemaking in Georgia dates back at least 8,000 years. Early Georgians made wine at least 6,000 BC when they discovered that grape juice could be turned into wine after being buried in qvevris underground. Kveri is an egg-shaped earthenware vessel made for making, aging and storing wine. It's the oldest way of making wine. This experience completely cemented in me the need to visit Georgia to explore viticulture for myself. Two Georgian winemakers caught my attention: Nikalas Marani and Vellino Wines.  Nikalas Marani: We tasted the Nikalas Marani Rkatsiteli 2020 vintage from a small-scale winemaker with over 100 years of family legacy. Winemaker Zurab Mgvdliashvili's grandfather was a small-scale wine cultivator in the 1920s, during the peak of the Soviet Union. When Zurab Mgvdliashvili took over the property in 2005, he restored everything, and as a tribute to his grandfather kept the old name Nikala's Marani. I'd describe the Nikalas Marani Rkatsiteli 2020 vintage as tropical and balanced with pronounced tannins and fruity aromas of peach, forest honey, and yellow dried fruit.  Vellino Wines: Vellino was founded in 2015 to continue a family business of winemaking. The 26-year-old winemaker makes wines from Kakhetian grape varieties, utilizing knowledge passed down by family and fellow winemakers. I tasted the Kisi 2020 vintage, and the Rkatsiteli 2020 vintage. Beka Jimsheladze did an excellent job with this wine. I can imagine this amber colored wine being perfect with fish, veggies, chicken and cheeses, thanks to its gentle, refreshing notes of citrus. The best part: Vellino Wines in Georgia offers tours! Wines Mentioned: Orange Glou orange wine shop in NYC  D-I Wine (Alsace), Domaine Brand's Tout Terriblement wine  Donkey and Goat Winery (California), Elen Ridge Vineyard Stone Crusher orange wine  8000 Vintage Selections (Georgia), Nikalas Marani Rkatsiteli 2020 and Vellino Wines Kisi 2020 If you're new to the show (and loving it!), leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify! Please tell me what you're drinking to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. 

The holiday party season is in full-swing—don't be shocked if you find yourself popping by wine shops frequently during this time of year! I designed this episode to teach you how to shop for wine very quickly, and how to make buying wine an enjoyable and effortless experience. 1:30: Check your local wine shops and follow them on Instagram + join their newsletters: If your local wine shop has TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook Groups, Instagram accounts, or newsletters, get plugged in there, so you're the first to know about any new opportunities to buy or taste excellent wines. Getting to know your wine and spirits community on Instagram is the fastest way to know what's new in-store, hours of operations, and find out when they're holding tastings. Part of the magic of wine shopping is wandering the aisles and getting recommendations in real-time, so get chatty with the staff!   3:00: #2: Take a photo of your favorite bottle labels and file them away. I love to make Pinterest Pins or add them to Instagram Stories highlights for my own reference makes shopping for wine feel like I'm consulting my own personal wine library.  4:15: #3: Pick a budget and don't budge it! Decide on your maximum spending and your expectations before you enter the wine shop. My personal wine shop rule of thumb when shopping for wine: 3 or 4 bottles for $50. This budgetig rule allows me to try different bottles at various price points without breaking the bank. Alternatively, you can calculate the average price per bottle that you're willing to pay. For me, I try to keep my purchases at $12-$15 per bottle.  6:45: #3: Consider what you'll be eating, when you're buying. If your weekly dinner menu consists of pasta, keep red wine on deck. If you eat poultry, veggies or fish, keep a neutral collection of wines like rose, pinot gris, and reds. Thinking about meal prep when buying wine is a great way to make sure you're buying wine that you'll drink and that goes with what you are eating. Bonus: This allows you to budget for wine in a natural and effortless way!  7:45: #4: Pick up a liter of wine in a varietal of your choice for top-value by both flavor and price! For example, I enjoy hearty winter foods that call for red wine. I recommend the Hand Work Tempranillo wine from Spain, imported by T. Edward Wines—it's round and flavorful with a wooden, deep berry flavor. The flavor improves throughout the week, and it's perfect for splashing into any pot roasts. I picked up the Hand Work 2021 Tempranillo from Kings County Wines in Brooklyn, NY.  9:30: #5: Ask for and taste what's new. Remember—wine is seasonal, just like food. When you pop into wine shops, it can be tempting to select the old reliable favorites every time. Every once in a while, challenge yourself by asking the wine shop team if they have any recommendations, any sleeper hits, or interesting bottles. Attending in-store tastings is a great way to experience and taste what's new, and get to know the new distributors and winemakers that are entering the store. HACK: Join wine shop newsletters to be the first to know of any tastings!  To recap the 5 Wine-Shopping Hacks You Need to Know:  Follow your local wine shops on social media and join their email newsletters.  Take a photo of the wine labels you enjoy, and file them away in your phone Pick a phone and don't budge it Consider what you'll be eating wile drinking the wine, and shop accordingly Ask for and taste what's new—wine is seasonal, just like food   I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please show me what you're drinking to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. 

Welcome to Wine Week on Bri Books! Today I'm sharing with you my 3 can't-fail secrets for selecting the perfect wine, everytime. Whether you're making a wine menu for holiday festivities or you're selecting wine for the table whilst out to dinner, these 3 tips will make you an instant Sommolier.  2:20: #1: Start and end with bubbles! In my humble opinion, bubbles are a must for any summer gathering. Served chilled, it's a decadent way to greet your fête's first arrivals and toast the end of the evening. I learned this trick from Sarita Cheaves, author of the VineMeUp Wine Activity Book and host behind the Swirl Suite podcast. For a wintertime bubble, I'd recommend  Vigneron Luciano Saetti Rosso Viola Lambrusco Salamino, 2018 ($21), or the Opera Lambrusco di Modena. Lambrusco paired with capapes or passed hor'dourves is a great way to set the tone for the evening. PS, if you're based in New York, shop Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits for your holiday libations! I love the team there, and I've been a fan since 2019. This 2020 Premier Cru from Chablis, sourced from Kings County Wines, one of my newer wine finds and obsessions in Brooklyn, is an insanely delicious chardonnay that could substitute nicely for bubbles.  5:00: #2: Learn the rules, then break them! When I say this, I'm referring to choosing wine based on my own flavor principle: the lighter the flesh, the lighter the wine. Hence I opt for white wine with fish and creamy pasta dishes, red wines with tomato dishes and red meats, and rosé flows best with vegetables. From there, I forget everything I know and opt for a left-of-center pick such as Meinklang “Mulatschak” Weisser Pino Gris ($20), or an orange wine. I frequent Orange Glou in New York, NY for my orange wines of choice, namely Cantina Marilina's ‘Sikele' 2022 ($24).  7:00: #3: Indulge in a wildcard liquor for quick cocktails! Wine is fine, but liquor is quicker! This summer, try to keep an interesting, wildcard liquor or spirit on hand for last-minute cocktail requests or simply to switch things up in the heat of the night. I recommend Letherbee Charred Oak Absinthe Brun ($38-$40), or Method Spirits Vermouth.    I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.   

Today I'm sharing everything you need for the perfect Clean Girl Aesthetic autumn beauty look. It's mid-November, and my beauty closet has done its semi-annual turnover. I've put away the summer/ early autumn products and I've pulled out my heavy-duty autumn-winter winners. This episode will be breaking down my ‘autumn face,' including a few new picks and my heavy-hitters. We'll start with skincare and move through to fragrance. 1:45 - #1: Marianella Royal Kalahari Face Serum with Baobab and Mongongo Oil ($68). This face oil is perfect to use after washing your face. It has 12 beneficial nutrients, and the Baobab oil helps to nourish and strengthen the skin while reducing inflammation. This is probably the most regal-feeling and regal-smelling face serum that I own. 2:50 - #2: Fenty Skin Hydravisor Mineral SPF 30 Moisturizer ($39). Hydravisor is my favorite sunscreen to put on under makeup in the autumn/winter. It gives shine without looking greasy, and it's the perfect everyday autumn sunscreen--remember, you should be wearing SPF year-round!  3:45 - #3: Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer ($47). Laura Mercier's silicone-free primer has an amazing blurring effect for a matte-yet-hydrated look. It's the perfect matte protection for those short winter nights. 4:30 - #4: Urban Decay Concealer in shade 70 NN Deep Neutral ($33). This is one of the all-stars in my autumn clean girl beauty aesthetic routine. The concealer comes with a buffing brush on one end of the applicator, allowing you to get an even, airbrushed effect. This multi-use concealer and color corrector gives the skin a natural matte finish for up to 24 hours.  5:55 - #5: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Beautiful Skin Foundation in shade 16 Cool ($49) - This is one of the most hydrating and long-lasting foundations I've used in a long time. It gives the perfect healthy-looking glow and a brighter, smoother complexion. Because it has hyaluronic acid, it aids in brightening the skin and creating a more even complexion. 6:55 - #6: Urban Decay Hydramaniac Blush ($22) - This blush is juicy-fresh! It gives the perfect hydrated, dewy sheen, which is my favorite clean girl aesthetic during the winter. It's a vegan formula with marula oil. I love the shade Unhinged, which has a rosy, plum tone.  8:00 - #7: Jones Road Mascara ($31) - Jones Road Beauty is a newer discovery for me. It's a great brand for everyday makeup bag essentials. The Jones Road mascara is plumping and volumizing, perfect for highlighting your natural lashes.  9:15 - #8: Fenty Beauty Double Cheek'd Cream Blush Duo ($24) - This cheek blush duo in hues Peony Dropper and Mali Boo are perfect for a subtle, glowy, warm autumnal clean girl aesthetic beauty look. It adds the perfect level of shine and light shimmer to my cheeks, it's one of the best cream blushes, and the shades pair well with deep brown skin. 10:20 - #9: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Balayage Brow ($28) - This double-ended brow pen helps me sculpt and fill in my eyebrow hairs for natural-looking, flawless eyebrows that stay in place all day long. I love that it's a two-in-one tool, making it easier than ever for me to maintain a low-maintenance brow routine.  11:15 - #10: Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray ($36) - The UD All-Nighter Setting Spray boosts the makeup vibrancy without adding shine, and it keeps my skin super fresh-feeling. No cracking or flaking makeup here! If you plan to wear a full-face of makeup, you need this setting spray.  12:00 - #11: SuperMush Daily Energy Mouth Spray ($21.60) and Daily Chill Mouth Spray ($21.60). Think of SuperMush as the perfect marriage of superfoods, mushrooms, and inside-out beauty. Mushrooms are super nutrient-dense, are known to positively impact our overall immune system, and encourage healthy gut flora.  14:00 - #12: TOCCA Fragrance Wardrobe ($68) - This luxury discovery set is housed in a precious tin case, and features TOCCA's 9 top-selling scents in travel-friendly fragrance sprays. The scents in this set are so luxurious. My favorite scent is the Gia with peppercorn, tangerine and rose. These fragrances always instantly make you want to be on vacation.  I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  Products Mentioned Marianella Royal Kalahari Face Serum with Baobab and Mongongo Oil ($68) Fenty Skin Hydravisor Mineral SPF 30 Moisturizer ($39) Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer ($47) Urban Decay Concealer in shade 70 NN Deep Neutral ($33) Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Beautiful Skin Foundation in shade 16 Cool ($49) Urban Decay Hydramaniac Blush ($22) Jones Road Mascara ($31) Fenty Beauty Double Cheek'd Cream Blush Duo ($24) Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Balayage Brow ($28) Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray ($36) SuperMush Daily Energy Mouth Spray ($21.60) and Daily Chill Mouth Spray ($21.60) TOCCA Fragrance Wardrobe ($68)  

Today on Bri Books,  I'm sharing a, deep-dive on a beauty brand (and homeopathic powerhouse) I know and love: The Organic Pharmacy, and the 7 best products worth your money.  I'm excited to continue our National Skin Health Month storytelling as part of KnowVember, wherein I'm challenging myself to record and publish a podcast episode every day in November.  1:45 - The Organic Pharmacy was founded in 2002 in London. The founder, Margot Marrone, is a pharmacist and homeopath. She co-founded the company as a way to evangelize her holistic approach to health and beauty. To me, The Organic Pharmacy products bookend my at-home spa days. The brand is deeply rooted in Margot's knowledge of organic ingredients, nature, and the link between the body and mind. I'm sharing the best toner, serums, masks and dietary supplements from the brand--consider this your 101 class on all things The Organic Pharmacy. You can find The Organic Pharmacy at theorganicpharmacy.com, Skinstore, Dermstore, Bloomingdales and more. 4:25 - The Organic Pharmacy Herbal Toner ($65): This super-soothing toner rehydrates the skin. The blend of aloe, green tea and chammomile help to soothe and rebalance the skin. This toner is wonderful after a shower, and sinks into the skin beautifully.  5:22 - Antioxidant Face Gel/ Face Serum ($110): This is a very antioxidant rich product. With ginseng, carrot, rosehip and Gotu Kola, it's impossible not to be transported to an apothecary in your mind whilst using this serum. It delivers dewy, locked-in moisture.  6:30 - Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($68): This light, easily absorbed formula quenches thirsty skin and locks in moisture. I apply a full dropper of this serum to my face and neck after cleansing and toning my skin.  7:30 - Stabilized Vitamin C Corrective Mask ($65), Retinol Corrective Mask ($65), and Four Acid Peel Corrective Mask ($50).  The Stabilized Vitamin C Corrective Mask ($65) is probably my favorite vitamin C mask of all time. It's packed with stabilised, super potent (yet gentle) antioxidant Vitamin C to deliver brighter, firmer, smoother skin that glows. The Retinol Corrective Mask ($65) is an incredible nighttime treatment. This mask is perfect for reversing the day's damage caused by the sun and pollutants. The encapsulated retinol doesn't irritate even the most sensitive skin, and the witch hazel soothese the skin.  The Four Acid Peel Corrective Mask ($50) is a gentle yet powerful gelly mask that renews and brightens the skin by gently polisihing away dead skin cells. With citric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and tartaric acid inside, this product transformed my dull complexion overnight. It's packed with plant-derived acids from lemon, pineapple, passionfruit and grape. If you need to exfoliate and decongest your skin, this super smooth mask is perfect for you.  11:20 - Immune Boost Kit ($142):I take the Immune Boost Day and Immune Boost Night daily--it's the perfect duo to keep my immune system in tip-top condition. The Immune Boost Night helps me get a good night's sleep and the Immune Boost Day helps me fight off colds.   I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  Products Mentioned The Organic Pharmacy Herbal Toner ($65) Antioxidant Face Gel/ Face Serum ($110) Hyaluroniic Acid Serum ($68) Stabilized Vitamin C Corrective Mask ($65) Retinol Corrective Mask ($65) Four Acid Peel Corrective Mask ($50) Immune Boost Kit ($142)

Yes, I try and test a lot of products. But there are some brands in particular that have been knocking it out of the park. I have seven brands, ranging from drugstores to luxury beauty, that I want to introduce you to.  1:25: #1: Neuma - Neuma focuses not just on your natural hair texture as it is, but the hair you want to have. It's a sustainable, high-performance haircare range. They recently underwent a full brand refresh and re-introduction. I was lucky enough to attend a launch breakfast with Neuma, and ever since then, I've been adding these new products to my routine. My favorite products: Neuma NeuVolume Styling Spray ($32), which I've been using for months now as a styling product. If you have natural or curly hair and you want your hair to have volume on demand, this is a great product. It's the perfect fix-all for volume. The Neuma NeuStyling Air-Dry Shaper ($32) adds body and shine for easy, everyday air-dry styles.  5:10: #2: Kerastase Paris - You've probably stumbled upon this brand in a hair salon. The brand's Nutriative range is designed for dry hair, and it's infused with plant-based proteins that help the hair maintain moisture. I love this range for blowouts/ heat protection. The Karatese Paris Nutritive Nectar Thermatique ($24) is great for medium-thick dry hair. After washing my hair and drying it, I add a few drops of this product. If your'e planning a heat-basd style and want to protect your hair, this is perfect for you. Secondly, the Karatese Paris Plant-Based Beautifying Detangling Blowdry Mist ($40) is closer to a traditional heat protectant, and is a valuable part of your leave-in haircare routine. It's also a great detangler! If you're doing a lightweight heat-based style and want more protection, both  of these products should be on your bathroom counter.  8:25: #3: OGEE - OGEE is a luxury clean beauty brand, with excellent ingredients throughout. The brand is nontoxic, cruelty-free, and truly beyond ‘clean beauty.' I like it because the makeup products almost feel like skin care products. The skincare product I love is the OGEE Elixir Nautral Retinol with 2% Bacuchoil ($88).  If you listened to arecent episode of Bri Books, you'll know I shared some retinol and Bacuchoil based picks. Here's a link for where to listen. The OGEE Golden Contour Collection ($136) is a collection of supernatural, ethereal, and warm contour shades that'll add definition and warmth to the face. My favorite shade is TOPAZ, a rosy-peach, and it looks excellent on the apples of the cheeks and all over the face.  12:00: #4: La Roche Posay - This brand has been a Bri Books mainstay for a long time. I want to shout out the Niacinimide 10 Serum ($39) and the Effaclar Salycilic Acid Serum ($39). The Effaclar Salyscilc Acid Serum is a super lightweight acid/ treatment serum that helps tp orevent new breakouts. It's great as an overall face treatment, and perfect for clearing up active breakouts. The Niacinimide 10 Serum helps to balance out the skintone, and its' great for all skin (especially sensitive skin!)  14:40: #5: Flexitol - If your skin gets dry during the winter, the Eczema Dermitisis Cream and Hand Cream ($16)  are perfect for you. Scent-free, these intensive moisturizers are perfect for hard-worked hands. 17:00: #6: Nabilah K - Activated Charcoal Fask Mask ($20) is the absolute darling of my collection. A super luxurious, natural and clean beauty brand, so many of the ingredients in Nabila Ki's range are derived directly from nature with lots of essential oils, etc. Bonus: the brand carries a lot of travel-sized products, perfect for the beauty lover on the go. If you're on the hunt for a super luxe yet affordable lifestyle brand to fall in love with, I recommend Nabila K!  19:30: #7: Paula's Choice - This brand is known the world over for its effective yet affordable products. Paula's Choice products are essentially divided into five categories: Cleanse, Tone, Exfoliate, Treat and Moisturize. My two favorites are part of the Treat phase (Phyotestrogen Renewal Serum), and the Exfoliate phase (2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $28)). The Phytoestrogen Renweal Serum helps to smoothe the look of my skin, and the BHA 2% Liquid Exfoliant is my go-to nightime treatment for revealing brighter, fresher skin.    I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  Products Mentioned NeumaNeuVolume Styling Spray with Coconut Oil and Avocado Oil ($32 Neuma NeuStyling Air-Dry Shaper ($32) Karatese Paris Nutritive Nectar Thermatique ($24)  Karatese Paris Plant-Based Beautifying Detangling Blowdry Mist ($40) OGEE Elixir Nautral Retinol with 2% Bacuchoil ($88) OGEE Golden Contour Collection ($136)   Niacinimide 10 Serum ($39)   Eczema Dermitisis Cream and Hand Cream ($16) Nabila K. Activated Charcoal Fask Mask ($20) Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant with Salycilic Acid ($28) Paula's Choice Phytoestrogen Elasticity Renewal Serum ($39)  

Happy Healthy Skin Month! The sun's UV rays don't slow down just because it's winter. Wearing SPF should be part of our daily skincare routines, but it's easy to let this practice lapse during the colder months. In the past, I've recorded an episode about the best SPFs for dark skin, and I wrote an article on Glamour.com about the best SPFs for dark skin according to gorgeous girls. In this episode, I'm reviewing and recapping the best SPFs of 2023 that are perfect for year-round use. 1:45: Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Glow SPF30 Spray ($15.99) and Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Pop Lip Gloss ($10.99) - BGSS launched the SPF 30 spray-on sunscreen, and it's without a doubt their most wearable, lightweight sunscreen yet. Packed with jojoba oil, avocado oil, vitamin E, and glycerin, this lightweight spray protects all skin tones with a radiant glow for on-the-go. 3:30: Bondi Sands Sport SPFSunscreen Lotion 50 ($13.99) - This sunscreen stood out for me, because of its high protection, reef-friendly formulation, and non-greasy formulation. This is the perfect all-around sunscreen--I basically use it as a full-body moisturizer in the summer and autumn months. 5:35: Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50 ($55.00) - This invisible, weightless, scentless primer is packed with SPF 50 and hyaluronic acid to deliver a hydrated all-over primed canvas glow along with SPF protection. If SPF is part of your skincare routine, this primer creates a flawless invisible base that allows for perfect makeup application.  7:20: L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Invisible UV Fluid ($14.00) - This is the perfect, essential skin-protecting final step as part of your skincare routine. With antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin E, it does a great job removing the appearance of dark spots and fighting sun damage.  9:15: Bloomeffects Tulip Dew Sunscreen SPF 50 Serum ($65.00) - This ultra lightweight, hydrating 100% mineral SPF is the first ever tulip-based sunscreen. The formulation is silky smooth and it goes on with the perfect milky, silky smooth texture. 11:15: BIO Heal Panthenol SPF 50 Sun Cream ($28.00) - The perfect mild sun cream for daily use, BIO Heal's Panthenol SPF protects and soothes the skin irritated by UV rays and reinforces the skin's barrier. It's super quick absorbing and doesn't leave behind a trace of white residue or a sticky feel. If you have acne prone or oily skin, you'll be pleasantly surprised as this product doesn't cause irritation. The best part? It blends seamlessly under a full face of makeup.   I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  Products Mentioned Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Glow SPF30 Spray ($15.99) and Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Pop Lip Gloss ($10.99) Bondi Sands Sport SPFSunscreen Lotion 50 ($13.99) Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50 ($55.00)  L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Invisible UV Fluid ($14.00) Bloomeffects Tulip Dew Sunscreen SPF 50 Serum ($65.00) BIO Heal Panthenol SPF 50 Sun Cream ($28.00)

Welcome back to Bri Books! Today I'm sharing with you everything you need in your autumn weekend getaway bag. November is National Skin Health Month, which makes this week perfect for me to bring to you the best picks for your autumn vacation toiletry bag. We're a couple of weeks away from the autumn-winter holiday season kicking off in earnest. Whether you have family trips, baecations, or a 96 hour jaunt, this episode is breaking down what you need to take with you. Here are 9 products across skincare and lifestyle (spoiler alert: books!) that I recommend you have in your getaway bag.  2:00: #1: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($68) and Elemis Pro-Collagen Glow Boost Exfoliator ($78) - I love this cleanser for any and all travel. It's perfect for double-cleansing, and feels super luxe to use after traveling all day long. This cleansing product is the essential first step in my daily skincare ritual. 100% mineral oil-free, this cleanser is perfect for effortlessly removing long-wear makeup, daily grime and surface pollutants, and it delivers a deep cleanse to my skin. I follow up the Cleansing Balm with the Elemis Glow Boost Exfoliator, a super gentle physical exfoliation that sweeps away dead skin cells with skin-softening oils like Elderberry and Starflower. 5:15: #2: Saje Natural Wellness Calm-O-Mile Gel Cleanser ($24) - This cleanser is made for sensitive skin, and it's packed with excellent botanicals like ho wood, blue chamomile, and aloe vera. It has a gentle herbal aroma but doesn't cause skin irritation. When I'm getting away, you want to trust that you'll be able to thoroughly cleanse your skin. There's something comforting to me about using my favorite cleanser when I'm away from home--it's like an instant shot of comfort.  7:00: #3: Bloomeffects Tulip Dew Cream ($49) -  This lightweight cream is perfect for travel, especially for the dry airplane air. It's like a buoyant, bouncy, luxurious gel-cream hybrid. I love to add a touch of the Dew Cream to my foundation or concealer to give my skin an all-over gentle glow.  9:00: #4: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced ($185) - This is a next-generation treatment! This corrective cream is amazing and has been clinically proven to improve visible attributes associated with skin aging. This corrective cream is formulated to strengthen your skin at all stages. With wild fruit flavonoids, Glycyrrhetinic acid, and niacinamide, this treatment helps protect against free radical damage and enhances the skin's natural radiance. I also love the A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Eye ($116) which is formulated to combat crow's feet and natural signs of aging around the eye.  12:20: #5: Maelove Fade Away Brightening Serum ($40) - This serum is excellent for fighting hyperpigmentation. It's formulated with Kojic acid which is great for reducing the appearance of dark spots. The hyaluronic acid and botanical extracts in this product make it feel super luxe and hydrating on the skin. Having a brightening serum is a great way to supercharge your skincare routine overall. I love using it in the mornings--apply a full dropper to the face and massage into the skin. If you're going away for a weekender, make sure to bring this with you! 14:00: #6: Lush Cosmetics Mask of Magnaminty ($33) - this minty, tingly face and body mask is intensely cleansing without being abrasive. The kaolin clay and peppermint oil rid your pores of debris, and the ground aduki beads exfoliate dry skin. I love this for a deep-clean feeling when I'm out of town. There's nothing as luxe as applying a clay mask, posting up in a hotel room bed, and flipping through a good book. 16:00: #7: Byredo Mixed Emotions Eau de Parfum ($205) - This fragrance is described as a parfum designed to reflect the tumultuous nature of our time. MOOD! The top notes are black currant and mate. The middle notes are violet leaves and ceylon black tea, and the base note is papyrus and birchwood. I love the woody, herbaceous sweetness of this fragrance. It's the perfect everyday autumn signature fragrance. If you're going on a getaway and want to leave a sultry scent in your wake, this is the fragrance for you. 19:15: #8: “The War Before: The True Life Story of Becoming a Black Panther, Keeping the Faith in Prison, and Fighting for Those Left Behind” by Safiyah Bukhari. This inspiring and harrowing memoir from legendary activist and political prisoner Safiya Bukhari reminds us of the sheer joy that comes from resisting civic wrongs. This book is genuinely life-changing and it catalogs what it was like for Black Panthers who were on the ground working as part of revolutionary movements during the upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s.  21:30: #9: “Slow Living: The Secrets to Slowing Down and Noticing the Simple Joys Anywhere” by Helena Woods. This is the perfect book to take with you on a getaway, because it encourages you to reach within yourself, slow down, and embrace simple living and mindfulness for peace-induced days. I'm obsessed with finding quiet moments that bring simple joys to my life, and this book comes equipped with countless tips, tricks, hacks and recommendations for how to create routines that enrich your mind and feed your soul.    I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  Products Mentioned Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($68) and Elemis Pro-Collagen Glow Boost Exfoliator ($78) Saje Natural Wellness Calm-O-Mile Gel Cleanser ($24) Bloomeffects Tulip Dew Cream ($49) SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced ($185) A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Eye ($116) Maelove Fade Away Brightening Serum ($40) Byredo Mixed Emotions Eau de Parfum ($205) Lush Cosmetics Mask of Magnaminty ($33)  “The War Before: The True Life Story of Becoming a Black Panther, Keeping the Faith in Prison, and Fighting for Those Left Behind” by Safiyah Bukhari “Slow Living: The Secrets to Slowing Down and Noticing the Simple Joys Anywhere” by Helena Woods  

Welcome back! As you know, I'm endeavoring to produce a podcast episode daily for the month. For the first week, I'm focusing on skincare because November is National Healthy Skin Month. The goal is to use November to pay attention to your skin, learn about skin care, and adopt habits that can lead to a lifetime of healthier hair, skin and nails.  I want to discuss one of the best platforms/ publications/ outlets for all things beauty and skincare--that's Allure! I used to work at Conde Nast where I lead social for Glamour magazine, and desk was a few rows away from the Allure editorial team. Shoutout to Jessica Cruel, the EIC of Allure! I've been obsessed with her since I used to bump into her in the halls. I'm so impressed at the volume of work that Jess and her team put out, in addition to the quality and caliber of work. The Allure Best of Beauty Award winners were recently revealed, and suffice it to say, Allure is responsible for a large number of the products on my shelves. I want to share 5 of my favorite year-round picks that I discovered through Allure.com, the Allure Store, Allure editors, and the magazine when it was in print.  3:10: #1 - Sunday Riley Power of 3 Kit - $275: Good Genes Lactic Acid serum, A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum, and CEO 15% Vitamin C Serum. I discovered this set in 2022 through the Allure Store in NYC. What I love: Each of these serums focuses on a target area of the skin, and they're perfect to use together. In the AM, I recommend the Vitamin C Serum with a touch of face oil + SPF. At night, I recommend the A+ High Dose Retinoid serum after cleansing the skin. When used as part of a holistic daytime/ nightime serum, this entire set is incredibly effective. Read Deanna Pai's 2017 Allure article about Sunday Riley to understand what all the fuss is about.  5:50: #2 - Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum: $89: This serum is one of my favorite Korean beauty (K-Beauty) products. I've been using it for a year after repurchasing it based on reviews on Allure.com and trying it out in the Allure Beauty store. This serum is basically a primer for the canvas that is your face. It's formulated with precious ginseng and helps to strengthen the skin carrier while being the first step post-cleanse. When I'm doing my routine, I'll often start out with my Sulwhasoo as the base for my beauty ritual. I gently pat the serum into my skin, let it absorb, and then layer on any additional serums or elixirs.  8:00: #3 - Instytutum RetinOil - $139: This Retinol-based oil is complete with Retinol, algae, and bakuchiol to help retain moisture and even out the skin tone. Bakuchoil does a great job of improving skin firmness and boosting elistaticity. I like to use this product as part of my nighttime skincare routine, because Retinol and Retinoid can slightly irritate sensitive skin, and I wouldn't recommend going out in the sun without proper SPF protection. I love to put a few drops of this oil on my clean skin in the evenings. If having more flawless, even skin is your priority and you're OK going to sleep looking like a honey-baked ham, I'd absolutely recommend adding this to cart. 10:42 - #4: UrbanSkinRX Advanced Even Tone Day & Night Treatment - $58: This is my hyperpigmentation hero! I first found the brand via the goodie bag from Myleik Teele's 2018 retreat. The Advanced Even Tone Day & Night Treatment is an intensive formula with the perfect combination of exfoliating and dark spot-defending ingredients. With 5% Niacinamide, 2% Kojic Acid and 1% Bakuchiol, these ingredients improve the look of stubborn dark spots and  smooth rough texture and visibly reduce the signs of aging skin. And it's gentle enough to use twice a day, so you can target dark spots day and night! 13:15 - #5: Isa Lazo Facial Oil - $137: This luxe facial oil is formulated with soothing raspberry seed oil, and vitamins E and A. Concentrated with antioxidants, this lightweight oil improves hydration and promotes a radiant overall glow. I find this to be a supremely healing oil that's perfect for sensitive skin. I apply a few drops to my face and neck in the morning and evening, and mix a few drops with my moisturizer and foundation for the perfect lightweight dewy coverage.    I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  Products Mentioned: Sunday Riley Power of 3 Kit - $275 Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum: $89:   Instytutum RetinOil - $139 UrbanSkinRX Advanced Even Tone Day & Night Treatment - $58 Isa Lazo Facial Oil - $137  

Welcome to November with Bri Books! For this entire month, I'm focused on delivering a podcast a day--unedited. It's been months since my last podcast recording. 2023 has been an absolute blur. As I kick off my goal of recording and releasing an episode everyday this month, I want to start off with softness. We're talking about how to go softly into the end of the year. If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  1:15 - It's peak autumn. We're staring down the barrel of the last 6-8 weeks of the year. When we reflect, it can be easy to remember the failures before the successes. This episode is about going softly into the end of the year.  1:50 - Time is soup. If you're finding yourself approaching the holiday season with a sense of emptiness or loneliness, that's normal. I want to remind you-every day is a new year. You can begin again. Wake up again. Try again. Here area a few ways I like to reset my mind and go softly into the new year 3:00 - #1: Reflection from a place of gentleness and softness, not what you haven't done. When I look at 2023, I think a lot of ‘didn't,' instead of what I ‘did' do. Look very kindly on what you did accomplish this year. 4:00 - #2: Look at where you were two years ago. There's a trending audio that says, you're living your answered prayers. Odds are, something you have achieved now is something you used to dream about, and then you look up and you're living it! You definitely have things to be proud of.  6:00 - #3: Write down a note to self about what you want to feel and see for the rest of the year. Write yourself a short note or a letter. Write to your younger self. Imagine an 8-year-old you, reading about your present-day accomplishments. When the end of year starts to creep around and the language we use can become very reactive, it can feel negative.  7:00 - Change your language around beginnings and endings. I was listening to The Mindset Mentor with Rob Dial, and he called into focus that very often, with our words we aren't affirming our responsibilities. Instead of framing things as “I have to do ___,” reposition your responsibilities as “I GET to ____.” By changing our language, we're able to reposition ourselves to affirm gratitude. Also, it helps us realize what's dragging us down. That simple communication change and affirmation towards what's a privilege to do vs a responsibility, it's one of the best ways I know that helps me to do a soft reset. It's not just a to-do list, it's a list of things I get to do!  10:23 - #4: Identify the output you want, and go towards it. Myleik Teele recently dropped a podcast episode wherein she made the point that trying on the life you want is FREE. I feel Myliek spoke directly to me with that episode! Just because you don't have the down payment for an $18 million estate in Connecticut doesn't mean you can't still go to the open house on that $18 million estate in Connecticut! Make a day of it! Try on the life you want! If the output you want is: to become more comfortable in new spaces, then try those spaces on! You're designing your life. If you were to buy a custom-made coat or suit, you'd try on multiple versions beforehand, right? This is a very similar practice to identifying your output and going towards it. A simple way of doing this is going to a bookstore, popping by the New Releases and magazine rack, and pulling a few titles. See what you gravitate towards. When you have an output and you know what you're going towards, it makes the input and the creation a little easier. It's the end of the year, so go gently towards this. But now is a powerful time because you can use the shorter days and the earlier mornings to feel out how you want your 2024 to be. This isn't about making a list and having quarterly goals. It's about trying it on, seeing if it feels good to you, and going softly as we round the corner in 2023 I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Welcome back to Bri Books! This podcast episode is part 2 of our discussion all about transitioning from winter to spring (listen to part one here), and the products I recommend for jumpstarting your spring beauty routine. We're talking everything from serums to supplements and everything in between as I share my go-to's for the months ahead.  1:00 - Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum: If you know Bri Books, you know I love Merit Beauty. I just included Merit's gloss in a recent episode about my favorite winter beauty picks. The Merit Instant Glow Serum is excellent for creating a well-moisturized base for any makeup or skincare look. The serum has 2% niacinamide, which helps brighten the skin and smooth the texture, which is so important for spring. ($38) - Available at Meritbeauty.com, Sephora. 3:00 - The Face Shop: TFS is one of the brands I most clearly associate with in springtime. Whenever I reevaluate my routine, I look to include more clean, vegan, and eco-friendly products, which always leads me to TFS.  5:00 - Kiehl's Ultrapure High Potency Serums - Kiehl's re-released an exciting line of products made with 10 ingredients or less. Any of these new serums are great for starting your spring skincare routine, especially the 5% niacinamide and 9.8% glycolic serum. Ultra Pure 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum ($26) and Ultra Pure 5% Niacinamide Acid Serum ($26) are two of my favorites 6:20 - Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment - As the spring comes in, now's the time to restore, soften and nourish lips, body, etc. Enjoying this creamsicle-inspired lip treatment is the perfect final touch in the evening or first swipe in the morning. Available at Sephora for $22.  8:05 - CALPAK medium clear cosmetic case in lavender - I'd say CALPAK is one of my favorite brands for all things luggage and travel essentials for spring! The new cosmetic cases from CALPAK are the perfect size to pack all of your products for the weekend or next vacation. The most recent drop includes colors like emerald, lavender, and deep sea. the cult-followed clear cosmetic case recently launched in size medium which is great if you need to grab and go. Available for $85.  9:18 - Eastpak Tecum backpack - This road-ready bag is great for a daily commute or weekend vacation. The newly-launched Tecum backpack is perfect for laptops and cameras, and it helps with the ultimate organization. and will give you one less thing to worry about during your spring travels.    EPISODES MENTIONED Merit Beauty lipgloss review on an episode about favorite winter beauty products Brionna's Glamour.com article reviewing Merit Beauty   PRODUCTS Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum ($38) - Available at Meritbeauty.com, Sephora. The Face Shop Kiehls: Ultra Pure 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum ($26), Ultra Pure 5% Niacinamide Acid Serum ($26),   Ultra Pure High-Potency 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid  Serum ($26) Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment ($22 at Sephora, $22 online) CALPAK medium clear cosmetic case in lavender ($85) Eastpak Tecum backpack ($110)

Welcome to Bri Books! This podcast episode is all about transitioning from winter to spring, and the products I recommend for jumpstarting your spring beauty routine. We're talking everything from serums to supplements and everything in between as I share my go-to's for the months ahead.  1:00 - Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Pop sunglass for lips - Formulated with SPF50, jojoba oil, and hyaluronic acid, this lipgloss will be my saving grace during the warmer spring days when the sun is starting to reach its full strength. Available for: $8.99 at BGSS or Ulta Beauty. 2:35 - Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream - Inspired by the Magic Cream face moisturizer, this body cream perfect for moisturizing your skin as the spring sun starts to warm up. I love the smooth, gentle, and non-greasy formulation. Available for $65 at the Charlotte Tilbury site. 4:10 - Elemis Pro-Collagen Skin Future Supplements - The Elemis is formulated to improve the hydration, firmness, and elasticity of the skin. I love Elemis because they're always rolling out the latest and greatest in skincare and wellness. Available for $99 on Elemis.com. 6:45 - La Roche Posay 10% Pure Niacinimide Serum. It helps to clear discoloration and balances the skin tone.  Available for $39.99 on the La Roche Posay site, CVS, and Ulta.  9:00 - Bloomeffects Tulip Nectar Skin Repair Body Balm - To me, this product is one of the ways I like to usher in the return of springtime. I love the fact that it doesn't have a deep fragrance, making it perfect for nourishing even the most sensitive of skin. Available for $47 online and at Credo Beauty. 11:05 - Revolution Beauty - Revolution Beauty has been a mainstay in the UK, but they're just starting to crack the US market. I was invited to discover the brand at their first NYC launch event ever! I had my makeup done by Nadia Tayeh, who is known for her glam aesthetic. I was able to meet Sarah Stanford, the US President for Revolution Beauty. Sarah's beyond knowledgeable about the nuances between the US and UK markets, and she's hungry to dig into all things American beauty culture. I was also able to testdrive the 5D Whip Lift Mascara and the new Filtr Concealer. Available online, at Target, and Ulta. PRODUCTS MENTIONED Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Pop SPF50 Lipgloss Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream Elemis Pro Collagen Skin Future Supplements La Roche Posay 10% Niacinimide Serum Bloomeffects Tulip Nectar Skin Repair Balm Revolution Beauty 5D Whip Lift Mascara and Filtr Concealer EPISODES MENTIONED Episode where I featured La Roche Posay's top-selling picks My Favorite La Roche Posay sunscreens and serums   What is your favorite spring-ready beauty pick? Let me know on Instagram! ! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Looking for a signature scent? Bri Books has you covered. There's a lot of power in a signature scent--consider it the beauty counterpart to personal style. It can take a while to find a scent that resonates with you, so in honor of National Fragrance Day, I'm sharing my 10 top perfumes and fragrances for 2023 and beyond. These picks definitely deserve a spot on your signature scent wishlist.  PRODUCTS MENTIONED Clive Christian: 1872 Feminine, $595 REPLICA, Maison Margiela: On a Date, $125 Moodeaux: Worthy, $135 bundle Robert Piguet: Fracas Eau de Parfum ($185), Casbah ($215) Lush Cosmetics: Rose Jam Perfume ($22) Lake and Skye: 11:11 ($98) Boy Smells: Hinoki Fantome ($98) Amouage: Escape Discovery Set ($46) Frederic Malle: Portrait of a Lady by Dominique Ropion ($295) Tocca Eau de Parfum: Florence ($80) EPISODES MENTIONED 1. 5 Winter Skincare and Beauty Essentials (Clive Christian Art Deco Blonde Amber fragrance review at the 11:00 mark)   I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  What is your signature fragrance? Let me know on Instagram!   

Welcome to Bri Books! February is in the rearview, and we're entering what I like to call the ‘winter fake-out period.' There's no predicting if we'll have a mild entree into spring or if the snow will come at last. In this episode, I want to share the beauty essentials that have gotten me through from holidays, to deep winter, to now. This winter, I focused my beauty routine on clean, restorative, hydrating, natural, moisturizing, and ‘fatty' products--I simply wanted my skin to hibernate for the season, and these are the products that made it possible. 2:20 - Soho Skin Travel dopp kit:  I reviewed it on a podcast episode about my summer travel-worthy skincare picks. I want to call out the lightweight serum. All winter long when I was traveling, this lightweight concentrate held my skin down, thanks to the super moisturizing niacinamide, pepetites and white bark extract.   3:40 - All things Charlotte Tilbury. In the winter, I reach for the Nudegasm face palette, Super Nudes lipstick, or the Matte Revolution lipsticks.  In the winter, my makeup typically consists of concealer, bronz-y pink makeup, lipgloss and mascara. The bronze shades in the Nudegasm face palette provides a dynamic range of colors. Charlotte's Beautiful Skin foundation  in shade 15 is the perfect liquid medium coverage foundation you can pop on and not have to worry about a thing. 6:00 - Merit Beauty Flush Balm in shade of soft berry- I always use it on the eyes, lips and cheeks. I also love the Shade Slick, which is a tinted lip oil that's infused with rosehip oil and shea butter. The hue I've been going for this winter is Cara Cara, a soft red orange. During the day I go for the shade Pink Beet, a cool pink shade for a little gloss on the lips. If i want to be sexy i go for Merit Beauty Shade Slick tinted lip oil in deep brown hue Falcon, which is close to my skin tone.  7:15 - Mara Beauty. If you're new to the brand, the founder Alison McNamara has a fascinating background. In her past life, she was a TV host, producer, beauty journalist and editor. She even studied journalism and political science at the Sorbonne! There's something called ‘portfolio career' about Alison's story. The two products I used up this winter are Universal Face Oil, and Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face Oil. After I wash my face and spray heritage rose water, I'll put on the face oil. It's important to me that my skin is protected. At night after I wash my face and have my pampering shower and bath, I'll go in with Algae Retinol and Face Oil. 11:00 - Clive Christian Art Deco Blonde Amber fragrance which was part of the Noble Collection. This is the scent that defined my winter. The scent is opulent and decadent with notes of smokey blonde tobacco. It feels embracing, cocooning and warm and nurturing of a scent while also being alluring, I couldn't recommend the Clive Christian fragrances enough!    What products defined your winter? Let me know on Instagram!    PRODUCTS MENTIONED Brionna's full review of Soho Skin products SohoSkin products Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm face palette, Super Nudes lipstick,  Matte Revolution lipsticks, Charlotte's Beautiful Skin foundation  in shade 15 Merit Beauty Flush Balm in shade ‘Soft Berry', Merit Shade Slick in color ‘Cara Cara' Mara Beauty Universal Face Oil, Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face Oil Clive Christian Art Deco Blonde Amber fragrance  

Brace yourselves: the 2022 Cyber Week beauty deals are coming. Here's my curated list of the best brands products to buy during Cyber Week 2022. These are the picks I've been loving (and lusting after) all year, and with up to 50% off full-price items, now's the time to pounce Last year, I recorded a Bri Books episode about what to buy during Sephora's annual December VIB sale, and wanted to share a Cyber Monday-ready curated list. Here's what I'd stock up on if I were you: Caudalie - Cyber Week is here at Caudalie with up to 50% off select products.  I'd stock up on the Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Solution Set which comes with the Vinoperfect Essence, Vinoperfect Serum, and Vinoperfect Eye Cream. Merit Beauty - Merit's offering 20% off sitewide, free shipping over $40, free signature bag with every first-time purchase, and free returns.  I recommend the La Fete Holiday Essentials. Bread Beauty Supply - 25% off site wide, free full-size Macadamia oil (for hair and body) with purchase. I recommend the deep-conditioning hair mask. Fenty Beauty - 25% off sitewide, up to 60% off select products, free cross-body bag with $125 purchase, free 3-piece set with $100+ order. I recommend the Glossy Posse vol. 5 set of three full-size flip glosses. La Roche Posay - 25% off all orders, free shipping on orders $65+, Up to 25% off order via newsletter. I recommend the Effaclar Acne Treatment System, a 3-step system with Gel Cleaner, Clarifying Solution, Effaclar Duo Bloomeffects - 30% off sitewide through 11/27, + free cleansing jelly with order over $80, 35% off sitewide from 11/28-11/29. I recommend  the Royal Tulip Polish. Augustinus Bader - Augustinus Bader is offering double points on all purchases this choliday season. I recommend the Winter Recovery Set, developed to deliver deep hydration and skin barrier protection. The kit comes with the Serum Nomad, the Eye Cream Nomad, the Rich Cream, and Lip Balm. Share your Black Friday picks with me at @bribookspod on Instagram!

Welcome back to Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  It's July, and we are approaching high summer! I kicked off the season with a travel “bang”—a work trip to Johannesburg, South Africa for 9 days, during which I put my international skincare routine to the test. In this episode, I'm walking you through my 9 summer skincare essentials, AKA my summer skincare ‘empties.' Listen to my recent episode about your 6 Travel Essentials for a Summer Holiday! 1:40 - Paula's Choice Omega + Complex Cleansing Balm (Sephora, Paula's Choice) - This luxe cleansing balm melts away everything from sunscreen to makeup as the lather transforms from an opaque liquid into a soapy, oily balm. This  Paula's Choice cleanser got me through my travels in Johannesburg, and I love that it leaves my skin clean without feeling stripped. Trust me, when you're traveling, this is the cleanser you'll want by your side to help you wash the day away. 3:45 - Farmacy Sweet Apple Meltaway Makeup Cleansing Balm  (Sephora, Farmacy) - I love to use this cleansing balm in the mornings while in the shower. It gently melts away makeup (especially eye makeup) and helps to remove excess oil from the skin. I like to use this on dry skin and slowly add water to build up the lather.  5:15 - Caudalie Beauty Elixir (Sephora, Caudalie)- Caudalie Beauty Elixir has been part of my holy grail travel kit for years, and it's a definitive summer travel essential. The 50 mL bottle of this stuff is perfect for travel, as it's below TSA carry-on liquid limits, and no inflight experience is complete without a super hydrating and luxe misting moment.  I sometimes pair it with The Heritage Store rosewater, which is another year-round staple and summer travel favorite for infusing instant moisture into the skin. 6:15 - Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Face Lifting Soft Cream (Sephora, Caudalie) - I love traveling with the Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Soft Cream as my decadent, almost pillowy moisturizer of choice. Airplanes dry my skin out desperately, and I find my skin can get easily irritated if not moisturized properly. when I travel, I try to keep the Reservatrol Lift Soft Cream in my handbag. It's packed with ingredients like reservatrol and hyaluronic acid, which leave the skin feeling soft and deeply moisturized. 8:00 - Saje Natural Wellness Calm-o-Mile Face Oil - This winner from Saje is formulated for people with sensitive skin. Blended with blue chamomile, evening primrose, and camellia. I always feel like I'm doing a face-plant into a meadow of medicinal flowers every time I apply this product, which is why I run out so quickly. I use it as the final step in my skincare routine when traveling. The blue chamomile reduces the appearance of dryness, and primrose is high in omega-6 fatty acids. When used as part of my nighttime treatment, Calm-o-Mile leaves my face feeling lush the next morning! 9:30 - Pura d'Or Rosehip Seed Oil -  I use organic oils to moisturize my skin after bathing. I love to use Pura d'or Rosehip Seed Oil, as rosehip oil helps to rejuvenate dry skin and improve moisture. Rosehip seed oil restores PH balance to soothe skin and also helps with scalp health. If you want your skin to be moisturized but not oily-slick, Pura d'Or's rosehip seed oil is for you. 11:05 - Lush Cosmetics Ro's Argan Body Conditioner - This body conditioner is scented with argan oil, rose absolute, and cupachu butter. I add a dollop of Ro's Argan to a few drops of the reship seed oil, mix, and apply it to my skin after showering.  12:15 - Bonus: Lush Posh Chocolate body wash - This is the perfect pampering post-travel shower companion. How can you feel tired after showering and emerging smelling like chocolate?! This body wash is a great product to use when you're back on your home turf following an adventurous travel season. 13:37 - Bonus: The travel Dopp kit from Soho Skin - This Dopp kit comes with a cleanser, face cream, renewal serum, eye balm, lip cream, shaving gel, and more! It's definitely the travelers' skincare essential, inspired by the global Soho House community. The products are exclusive to Soho House bedrooms around the world, but I got my hands on a kit and tried it on while on longhair flights between New York City and South Africa. The face cream, shaving gel, lip balm, and eye balm were the stand-out products, and the chic Dopp kit case is perfect for catching all of your skincare needs.  When you travel, what are your essentials? is there a lip balm you can't leave the zip code without? Show me on Instagram at Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Welcome back to Bri Books! If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.   Summer is in full swing, and travel is ON. IIn this episode, 'm sharing my key carry-on essentials-- matter your destination, these carry-on travel winners will be everything you need for road trips, staycations, long weekends, and more! 1:13 - Calpak Packing Cubes 5-Piece Set - This 5-piece travel cube set is essential for staying organized and keeping track of your items during a trip. I use this set for shoe storage, important document storage, outfit storage, and so much more. I even use a separate cube for technology pieces—chargers, cords, external hard drives, etc. These travel packing cubes help you visualize where your items are, so you don't have to go ripping through your bag in search of a small item. 2:02 - Saint James Breton Striped Shirt - The Minquiers striped shirt is lightweight, versatile, and embodies the ideal French vacay state of mind. I love this top because it's a masculine fit in the waist and hips, but the full-length sleeves make it feel perfect for travel. It's very chic and pairs perfectly with shorts, straight-leg denim, skirts, anything! It's great to pack in your carry-on bag for whatever the days (and nights!) throw your way. 3:00 - Cadence Capsules - The Cadence travel toiletry capsules are  100% TSA compliant, leak-proof and non-absorbent containers. They can hold everything from skincare to makeup, from medicine to accessories. These capsules let you bring your personal essentials on the go with you, effortlessly. They're magnetic, meaning you can line them up and put them on a countertop. I use the Cadence capsules to store things like serums, vitamins, earrings, and critical medications whilst traveling. 4:05 - Saje Natural Wellness Pocket Farmacy Oil Blend Kit - This is a collection of 5 relieving oil roll-ons of the best-smelling scents including Peppermint Halo, Fortify, Gutzy, Stress Release, and Pain Release. When I'm traveling in TSA queues, it can be stressful. So I just apply a swipe of one of my Pocket Farmacy faves to my head and a swipe inside my face mask for an instant spa moment. I keep these oil blends in my carry-on at all times for my travels for an instant, natural relief. 5:30 - Snacks! Bring your own snacks! Don't get caught paying $9 for pretzels and $14 for a dry sandwich at the airport. Make sure you have snacks as part of your travel on essentials because hanger and planes don't mix. 6:00 - A book and a journal - Make sure you have at least one book or magazine in your carry-on at all times. Travel with a book you'll actually WANT to read.  Leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Links to Products Mentioned Calpak Packing Cubes 5 Piece Set Saint James Breton Striped Shirt Cadence Capsules Saje Natural Wellness Pocket Farmacy Oil Blend Kit

In today's episode, I'm sharing with you 5 ways to create the perfect relaxing bath. On these cold winter nights, there's nothing I want more than to slip into a sea of bubbles and bath salts. I wanted to record this podcast episode to share with you some of my favorite bubble bath products, and my bathtime practices that pick up steam over the winter months.  2:00 - #1: Bath salts! Adding bath salts means I'm able to give my muscles a bit of a break and refresh. My favorite bath salt brand is Kneipp, especially the Kneipp Goodbye Stress Rosemary and Mint Mineral Bath Salt is one of my all-time favorites for everyday use. It's an incredible blend of essential oils and helps to clear your mind and quiet overactive thoughts. 4:00 - #2: Bath bombs from Lush Cosmetics, especially Rose Jam, which is perfect for sensitive skin. It includes rose oil, rose absolute, lemon oil, geranium oil, and shea butter. My second favorite bath bomb from Lush is the Lemon Crumble bubbleroon which has an uplifting citrus-y scent and is packed with fair-trade cocoa butter, Sicilian lemon oil, and a shea butter center that conditions and softens dry skin.  7:00 - #3: The ‘Be Well' set from Thirteen Lune comes with a candle, bath/body oil, and a luxe bath salt. I use the full set to create the ultimate pampering experience through this edit of products. As part of the set, you get a Satya + Sage meditation candle infused with amber and clove. It also comes with the Senteurs du' Orient bath salts and the Elixa Bath + Body serum. The body serum leaves behind a luscious, dewy texture without feeling greasy on the skin. Thirteen Lune is an eCommerce destination designed to inspire the discovery of beauty brands created by Black and brown founders. They do a great job giving each brand a platform to engage a wider audience, and I adore the company so much. 9:40 - #4: Babo Botanicals 3-in-1 Eucalyptus Remedy bubble bath! I keep a family-size bottle of this stuff in my bathroom at all times. It does triple duty as a bubble bath, body wash, AND shampoo. Babo has a lot of fragrance-free products, which are perfect for children with sensitive skin. The eucalypics remedy helps to soothe and calm my skin. For everyday comfort, the Babo Botanicals Eucalyptus Remedy is something I can't imagine going without. 11:25 - #5: Alaffia Everyday Shea Bubble Bath! It serves ups a creamy, moisturizing bath full of bubbles. Founded in 2003, Alaffia continues to redefine hte natural products industry through its values in beauty, empowerment, and equality. The brand boasts dozens of products from body washes to cleaners, lotions for babies, calming balms, everything. In 2018, Alaffia increased access to its products by adding 2,500 stores nationwide. I like to buy my Alaffia via the Allure Store in New York City.  LINKS TO PRODUCTS AND EPISODES MENTIONED: Bri Books episode: How to Create a Relaxation Routine at Home Kneipp Goodbye Stress Rosemary and Mint Mineral Bath Salt Lush Cosmetics Rose Jam bubbleroon Lush Cosmetics Lemon Crumble bubbleroon Thirteen Lune ‘Be Well' Set Babo Botanicals 3-in-1 Eucalyptus Remedy bubble bath Alaffia Everyday Shea Bubble Bath  The Allure Store in New York City 

Happy 2022 from Brionna at Bri Books! In this episode, I'll be sharing a few uplifting tips that'll help you upgrade your wellness routine this year. I want to use this episode to bring optimism and hope to you as you build out your wellness routine for the months and years to come.  SHOW NOTES 2:15 - #1: Self-care activities! I take my self-care very seriously (here's a link to an episode about how to create a relaxation routine!) Self-care isn't limited to skincare masks and bubble baths. In my opinion, self-care activities include moments spent on things like daily prayer and meditation, journaling, massage, acupuncture, and other soothing practices--anything that helps to connect you to your internal self.    3:40 - #2: Sleep care! Raise your hand if you've fallen asleep with your personal tech within reach at least once this week. As you know, this isn't the best thing for our bodies--you don't want to see bright lights right before bed. Creating (and sticking to!) A sleep care routine is a great way to upgrade your wellness practice. Removing as many stimuli as possible, as early in the night as possible, you're able to maintain a sleep routine and sleep more soundly, increasing the likelihood of waking up refreshed. Another option: reading a lighthearted book before bed and building bedtime rituals like closing your window shades, lighting a bedside candle, brewing a cup of tea, or misting a pillow or your room with your favorite aromatherapy spray.   6:15 - #3: Build a consistent workout routine that boosts confidence! By reframing your workout practice with the intention of being confident, you're more likely to be consistent with your progress. My favorite fitness queens are Yoga with Adrienne, Move with Nicole, and Body Fit by Amy 7:45 - These are the products I've been introducing into my wellness routine  7:55 -  Cheeribundi, an all-natural tart cherry juice. Cherries are one of the most antioxidant-rich superfoods, and they're scientifically proven to reduce muscle soreness, increase recovery, and reduce inflammation. I love to have my Cheeribundi drinks after an exercise session to aid with muscle repair. I also pour a few ounces of Cheeribundi into my protein shakes--the tart cherry adds sweetness and cuts down on me having sugar cravings in the early afternoon and diluting the cherry juice with water keeps my hydration interesting. Cheeribundi goes a long way in keeping your body strong, taste buds satisfied, and workouts even more effective.  9:35 - SuperMush is a functional mushroom spray you spritz into your mouth and onto your tongue. In history, For thousands of years, people around the world ate fungi daily. Nowadays you're lucky to find them in your salad. Mushrooms promote healthy gut flora and are vital in our health. Supermush spray is the most immediate and effective way to get a mushroom supplement into your system. I spray it on my tongue after breakfast or when I wake up. The brand is gorgeous---inspired by the culture and music of the 60s and 70s, each spray is a high potency, easy to use, and delicious. If you're dipping your toe into the world of mushrooms, SuperMushis is a fantastic starting point so you can't go wrong. 12:00 - Goli Nutrition Apple Cider Vinegar and Ashwagandha gummies! I've been taking these gummies for a couple of weeks now. Apple cider vinegar is excellent for cellular function, and ashwagandha root is known to promote calmness and reduce stress.    13:30 - #4: Creating a meal plan and hydration plan! I can't tell you what to eat, but planning what to eat makes life a lot less stressful. I like to plan my meals for 2-3 days at a time so that at all times I know what I'm having for the next two lunches, dinners, and breakfasts. I'm able to shop at the farmer's market with these meals in mind. In terms of a hydration plan, I recommend you grab a 64 oz jug, 32 oz jug, or 16 oz glass jar, determine how much water you'll drink each hour, up to 64 oz in the day. Finishing one glass of water after the next creates a feedback loop of completion and consistency, inspiring you to finish the next.    15:30 - #5: Daily dance! Acupuncture and wellness practitioner Jessica Parks of 'Growing Space' recommended the practice of indulging in a carefree 3 minutes of dancing at least once a day. It's a fun way to inject joy and a playful attitude into the day as early as possible. You can find more about Jessica Parks here.  How are you updating your routine in the new year? Share it with me on Instagram at @bribookspod.  PRODUCTS MENTIONED: How to create relaxation routine Yoga with Adrienne Move with Nicole Body Fit by Amy Cheeribundi SuperMush Goli Ashwaganda gummies Acupuncture and wellness practitioner Jessica Parks of 'Growing Space' in Brooklyn, NY

Transitioning to Natural Hair: 9 Things I Wish I Knew Before Transitioning to Natural Hair I'm recording this episode inspired by an article I wrote at Glamour.com about transitioning to natural hair. In this episode, I'm sharing the 9 things I wish I knew before transitioning to the natural hair world. 0:45 - My natural hair origin story 2:00 - Tip #1: Be patient and kind with yourself--and your hair, and make sure you're in a good headspace before starting your hair routine.  3:15 - Tip #2: You still need regular trims. “It's really important to cut your split ends on a regular basis, especially in the first few years,” says Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, the stylist behind Kerry Washington's immaculate curls. 4:15 - Tip #3: You don't have to big chop if you don't want to. It's up to you which road you take, as long as you keep your new growth deeply moisturized. Remember, if you choose to transition your hair, your strands will essentially be two different textures. Opt for protein-rich and moisture-packed hair treatments. 5:05 - Tip #4: The right tools will make all the difference. Detangling brushes! Wide-tooth combs! Silk bonnets! You're not imagining things—your bathroom counter space is shrinking. Arming yourself with the best tools possible at the onset will save you headaches (literally—good headbands are a must) down the line. 6:00 - Tip #5: Experiment with protective styles--carefully. Aim for your at-home protective styles to last a week and for professional-grade wig or braid installations to last about three months at most. “It can be tempting to play with your hairline while it's in a protective style, so choose one where there's flexibility at the crown and your edges," Sturdivant-Drew says. 7:25 - Tip #6: Try to limit heat styling as much as possible. If you do prefer to wear straight styles on your natural-hair journey—I mean, I get it; having two totally different textures in your hair isn't an easy transition!—you'll need a flatiron that does as little heat damage as possible. I tried the Dyson Corale and can confirm the hype is real and well-deserved, 8:00 - Tip #7: Deep condition weekly. Natural hair requires a lot of extra TLC, and the best way to baby it is to give it lots (and lots) of moisture. To help your deep-conditioning mask work overtime, Sturdivant-Drew recommends putting it on roots to ends and sitting under a heating cap for at least 20 minutes. Doing this once a week will help moisturize, strengthen, and hydrate your curls 9:00 - Tip #8: Consider holding off on color until your transition is done. Sturdivant-Drew warns that keeping up a new hair color and a new natural-hair routine simultaneously can be expensive. “Maintaining color requires a whole other set of hair care and upkeep," she says. "You want to make sure you get to a good place with your natural hair before adding color.”  9:45 - Tip #9: When in doubt, simplify. On the days when my hair journey feels like more of a slug than a full-blown adventure, I like to take a deep breath and go back to basics. Two universally flattering and fool-proof styles I swear by? A simple middle part paired with a low chignon or a ponytail hair extension clip-in.

Welcome to the Bri Books ‘Career Crash Course' mini-series! I'm sharing all the tips needed to help recent grads navigate the confusing yet exciting ‘real world' after college. Join me as I discuss career topics that most students don't learn in college--like how to actually land a job--and go deep on lessons learned from my own career across tech, social media, and journalism. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com. In this episode, we sit down with Amelia Duffy, a junior and Research Associate attending the School of Information at the University of Michigan School of Information. Amelia and Brionna chat about how to leverage interests and hobbies in order to build a portfolio career for yourself postgrad, and the power of having multiple interests when it comes to the working world. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com, and follow @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter. SHOW NOTES 0:00-2:20 - Intro 2:45 - Meet Amelia Duffy, a junior at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, class of 2023.  4:00 - Amelia walks us through her thought process surrounding selecting courses, and how she's using her college courses to help her make a more informed decision about her career path.  7:00 - “When you stop trying to force something on yourself, what you're meant to do will come naturally.” - Brionna Jimerson  8:20 - Brionna's podcast recommendation, “Side Hustle Pro” podcast by Nicaila Matthews Okome, a University of Michigan Ross School of Business graduate who pivoted her entrepreneurial passions into a full-grown career.  12:00 - On moving from company to company: “One of the things I've been trying to avoid is feeling pigeonholed into one space. It's nice to hear about someone who has comfortably switched between roles and companies.” 13:00 - Brionna's advice on how to switch jobs as a recent grad: “Once you're on the boat, you can always change decks.” Find a company that has other business arms that interest you, where you can expand and grow into. Set up informational interviews with people who have the skillsets you're trying to develop.” 20:30 - Amelia's career advice: “You want to go into a career that goes on your strengths instead of one that just makes money, because 1.) You'll enjoy it because it'll come easier to you and 2.) You'll constantly be trying to catch up because the career won't ride on your strengths but will ride on the strengths of others.  22:30 - What Amelia wishes she knew about the job search and wants undergraduates to know now: “You don't need a big name company right out of college. You can grow so much more in other areas of companies. Not every single person in the US from the top college is competing for the same jobs. Take a step back. You have to understand you can grow in other places.” 26:00 - How to pursue interests and extracurriculars as part of your career DNA 29:00 - Brionna's #BriBooks recommendations for Amelia: “Data Science from Scratch: The First Principles of Python” published by O'Reilly, and “Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence” by Vicky Robin and Joe Dominguez. 

SECRETS TO FINDING A JOB AS A RECENT GRAD Welcome to the Bri Books ‘Career Crash Course' mini-series! I'm sharing all the tips needed to help recent grads navigate the confusing yet exciting ‘real world' after college. Join me as I discuss career topics that most students don't learn in college--like how to actually land a job--and go deep on lessons learned from my own career across tech, social media, and journalism. In this episode, we sit down with Ameenah Rashid, an Associate Analyst at eCommerce startup Profitero, and Tufts class of 2021. Ameenah and Brionna chat about navigating post-grad life and how to make those first crucial career decisions after college. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com, and follow @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter.    SHOW NOTES 2:45 - Meet Ameenah Rashid, 21, Associate Analyst at Profitero, an eCommerce startup in Boston. Here's the story of how Ameenah navigated those first decisions post-college by leaning on her interdisciplinary interests.  3:45 - How Ameenah spent almost the entirety of her senior year of college applying for jobs, ranging from analyst to finance to tech roles. Now that she has some stability, she's ready to think about the next steps and play her cards more wisely. She'd been on the job search treadmill for a year, and now that she has a chance to stop, she's working on being intentional about the next phase of her career.  5:20 - On the importance of cultivating interests outside of work. “I've always been left-brained and right-brained in my professional interests and hobbies. Career-wise, I've done a lot of marketing because there are so many marketing positions. I've done marketing, strategy, social media, some consulting, digital work, and I currently work as an analyst. My current role as an analyst is more technical than any role I've had before, so I'm leaning into that side of things.” 6:30 - Why it's important to focus on getting the skill sets you need in order to set yourself up for success, and how to mine your own life's experiences for ways you can incorporate your own knowledge into your professional life. “In my undergrad life, I'm proud of exploring internships in a diverse range of industries--from engineering education to the Olympics to marketing the editorial--it's taught me that it doesn't matter if you don't know everything about the experience. You can pick things up on the fly.  9:30 - The dangers of trying to put yourself into a ‘box' professionally, and how to leverage your college activities as part of your job search process   16:00 - How Ameenah is making the most of her first job post-college, and Ameenah's advice for soon-to-be graduates/ what she wishes she knew six months ago. . "The whole time I was applying for jobs I was irrationally stressed when in reality if I didn't have a job it'd be fine."  18:00 - Brionna's #Bribooks read: “Consumed” by Aja Barber 20:00 - Brionna's #Bribooks recommendation for Ameenah: “Your Money Life: Your 20s” by Peter Dunn. 

It's finally fall! Time to bring out your inner cozy girl and build your relaxation routine. In this episode, I'm sharing my relaxation rituals and tips on how to build a routine of your own, along with my go-to relaxation techniques for stress management. What's a Relaxation and Stress Management Routine? Your relaxation routine is whatever you want it to be. Maybe it's an hour per day spent in your own company or a weekend per month off the grid. Basically, whatever helps you turn off one part of your mind and dial into another, that's the cornerstone of your relaxation practice. Here are 5 ways to build a relaxation routine all your own: 2:25 - Be intentional and selfish about your energy and routine. Plan for it! Take a moment and look ahead on your calendar to set aside dedicated time to practice your relaxation routine. By being selfish with your energy and being intentional about taking your relaxation routine seriously, it's easier to get back on the horse if you fall off. 3:35 - Romanticize your own life and make a date with yourself. It doesn't have to be anything intense, but get serious about blocking off time that says ‘Date Night with Me.' During this time, do whatever you want! Romanticize your own life! Time spent in your own company is never time wasted. 5:05 - The ultimate relaxation cheat code: Indulge the five senses. That means do something that honors your sense of touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing. For my relaxation routine, I'll choose an activity that honors each of those scents and dedicate a half hour to each one. 9:19 - Focus on little luxurious moments. This concept was introduced to me by Lydia Elise Milen-Gordon, an outstanding creator and businesswoman I've been following for years. Recently, Lydia's been delving more into internal happiness and how everyone's definition of luxury is different. For me, luxury is going out into my garden in the mornings and seeing new tomatoes, planting seeds, hearing church bells, adding essential oil mist to my freshly-laundered clothes—those are my favorite luxurious moments. Empowering yourself with luxurious moments is crucial to a relaxation routine. Luxury is quality time, not quality things, and a relaxation routine that reflects that doesn't cost a thing. 11:50 - Create before you consume!! This is a doozy. When I focus on creating before I consume, I notice the anxiety I have around creating was a result of consuming. By creating before consuming you're able to focus where you want your attention to go when you're relaxing. It's all about creating what you want to SEE in the world, before allowing yourself to be sucked in BY the world. What do you do to relax? Sho w me your relaxation routine on Instagram at @Bribookspod and tag me!

Today, I'm sharing my ultimate fall refresh essentials--everything you need to start the cozy season off right. Any change in the seasons and calendar is an opportunity to reset, reflect and refresh and get into the coziest, comfiest fall state of mind. Let me know what your autumn refresh routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen! 1:37 - #1: A notebook! Every autumn, I go to Paper Source and Barnes and Noble to scour the Leuchtturm1917 notebooks, which come in every hue under the sun. I love the bullet journaling approach (here's an episode of Bri Books about how to start bullet journaling!) I'm starting your fall reset with a notebook because you have to know where you want to go to get to where you want to be. Having a designated place to dump thoughts, plans and problems alleviate mental clutter. (Here's a link to my favorite Leuchturn1917 notebook.) 3:20 - #2: New tote bag! The CALPAK Haven laptop tote has taken the place of my everyday canvas bag. Inside the CALPAK tote is a removable laptop compartment. My favorite function? The slit in the back AKA the ‘luggage pass-through,' so you can slip through your carry-on luggage handle. This is the bag that'll define my fall ‘on-the-go' look. (Here's a link) 5:40 - #3: Bluetooth earbuds! The ones I've been using all summer and will use into winter are the Jaybird Vista 2 wireless sports earbuds. They're designed for athletes--think runners, rock-climbers--who need reliable earbuds with strong sound performance. They hold a charge for about 24 hours, and the case itself is a charging port. Here's a link to where to grab the Jaybird Vista 2 wireless sports earbuds, a definitive fall essential that you'll use year-round. 8:20 - #4: Kitchen essentials! Namely the Balmuda kettle and toaster. When the temperatures cool down, I get excited to make hot beverages around the clock and roast vegetables 24/7. In this respect, the Balmuda kettle and toaster have become a non-negotiable. All of their products are designed with a minimalist aesthetic to be beautiful and functional. From the kettle's painted stainless steel to the ergonomic handle, using the Balmuda kettle is a downright pleasure. You can use the toaster for roasting veggies, warming bread, baking cookies, steaming fish, warming up leftovers, roasting veggies--basically anything. If it's time for you to make an investment in your kitchen appliances as the cozy season creeps up, the Balmuda kettle and toaster deserve a spot on your list and kitchen counter. Here's a link to purchase the Balmuda kettle and toaster.  12:15 - #5: Tea and cider! Now is the perfect time to add tea and cider to your beverage collection. You can make apple cider slushies, cocktails, etc. at home to give a seasonal refresh to your beverage collection. My favorite autumnal teas are Traditional Medicinals and TeaPigs.  15:00 - #6: Handcream! Two hand creams I've been loving: Caudalie Nail and Hand Repair and Avya Nourishing Hand Treatment. I've been using Caudalie Nail Repair for five years now, and I buy a new tube each autumn. Rich in shea butter, avocado butter, polyphenols, the touch is so hydrating. If you prefer a rich hand cream that doesn't leave a greasy film, this is the one. Here's a link to purchase the Caudalie hand cream. Up next: the Avya Nourishing Hand Treatment. Avya nourishing hand treatment is rooted in ayurvedic medicine and has hyaluronic acid that helps hydrate and protects the dry chapped skin of your hands. The best part: the founder of Avya Skincare originally created the product as a face cream. Here's a link to where to pick up the Avya hand treatment. 17:23 - #7: Aromatherapy tools! When you think of autumn, certain scents come to mind: pumpkin, dried leaves, apples, rain, mulled cider. Take that exact same energy, bottle it up, and you have Aromatherapy Associates' atomizer diffuser. The atomizer is a waterless and portable diffuser, meaning you can carry it with you from room to room. Aromatherapy Associates is one of my favorite British brands, well-known in the wellness space for their innovative approach to aromatherapy.  The diffuser disperses a microfine mist directly from the essential oil bottle. And  since there is no water, it is easy to move around without the need to clean between uses. The ‘Deep Relax' essential oil blend and the ‘Breathe' pure essential oil blend are my absolute favorites for everyday use. Don't overlook the power of scent in creating a space that feels warm to you. Here's a link to where to purchase Aromatherapy Associates' atomizer.  20:30: #8: A staycation! This autumn, hop on the highway and get out of dodge. Choose an easy location (no more than 150 miles away) and treat yourself to a long weekend trip. One of my favorites is going to the Catskills in New York state, especially the town of Kingston, New York. I find that the autumnal bliss I crave can be found 100 miles outside of New York City. Stone Ridge Orchard, a fantastic local orchard, grows everything from apples to pears in the autumn, and the pumpkin patches are plentiful. I highly recommend a trip to Kingston Wine Company in downtown Kingston, and a lazy afternoon spent popping into and out of vintage shops blows away the end-of-summer blues. Wherever you are in the country, find the hidden gems of your region or hometown to remind you that magic is all around--and you don't have to pay thousands of dollars to be inspired and reinvigorated.   OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED AND PRODUCTS MENTIONED Bri Books: How to Get Started Bullet-Journaling Leuchtturm1917 notebooks CALPAK Haven laptop tote Jaybird Vista 2 wireless sports earbuds Balmuda kettle and toaster Traditional Medicinals and TeaPigs teas   Caudalie Nail and Hand Repair and Avya Nourishing Hand Treatment  Aromatherapy Associates' atomizer diffuser Staycation to the Catskills in New York state, especially the town of Kingston, New York

Welcome to Bri Books! Today I'm sharing the 7 best sunscreens for dark skin. It's the dog days of summer: when temperatures start to soar around sunrise. I'm somewhat on the sunscreen beat, you could say, thanks to my writing about SPFs at Glamour.com. My stories include a review of Black Girl Sunscreen and ‘11 Women of Color on the Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin.'   1:30: The fact is, anyone, no matter skin tone, can get sunburned. Repeated unprotected sun exposure can cause skin damage, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. It's no secret that historically the beauty industry hasn't made slathering up with SPF an enjoyable experience--far too many formulations aren't made to blend in on dark skin. I'm sharing with you my holy grail picks that don't leave a greasy residue or ashy tone behind. 2:55: #1: Black Girl Sunscreen's founder, Shontay Lundy, was having a beach day in Miami and had a hard time finding a sunscreen that didn't leave residue on her skin. At that moment, BGSS was born as a solution for Black women looking to protect their skin. Since they've, they've expanded nationally to Target stores and secured a $1M investment recently. One of my favorite things about BGSS is that it absorbs quickly and is a great base for makeup. I can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to sweat without worrying if sunscreen is leaving streaks down my face. BGSS is available at Target for $15.99.  4:20 #2: La Roche Posay SPF 100 Anthelios Face and Body sunscreen: This is a sunscreen I reach for whenever I'm on a beach or outdoors all day. At SPF 100, it's great for children and adults with sun-sensitive skin. It melts right into the skin and is great if you need to be confident in your SPF protection if you're hiking, walking, or at the beach. I recommend it for part of your year-round SPF collection. La Roche Posay SPF 100 is available online for $25.00.  5:36: #3: Peter Thomas Roth Max Matte SPF 45: This mattifying shine control sunscreen feels so luxurious. I love the weightless, sheer finish it gives. The texture feels like any other moisturizer, but with the protection of sunscreen. Pro tip: Use this SPF to create your dream tinted moisturizer: I recommend applying a few drops of liquid foundation into the SPF. Also, this sunscreen is phenomenal for the decolletage, and for building the habit of applying sunscreen to the neck, collar, top of the chest, and other areas that are prone to burning. Peter Thomas Roth Max Matte SPF 45 is available for $34 at Sephora. 7:25 #4: La Roche Posay AOX SPF Serum: This has become my favorite SPF serum because it reminds me of the importance of wearing sunscreen year-round. During winter, when we don't have to worry about sweat, we have to stay vigilant about wearing sunscreen. It's lightweight enough to be worn alone, with a moisturizer, or under makeup.  La Roche Posay AOX SPF Serum is available for $42.50. 8:20: #5: Bask Suncare SPF 30: This sunscreen feels good and does good at the same time. Bask Suncare partners with the Sun Protection Foundation to increase access to sunscreen. This reef-safe SPF is free of oxybenzone, parabens, sulfates, and irritants, and I feel the light vanilla and coconut scent gives a childhood memory of days and nights spent outside. Bask Suncare SPF 30 is available for $28 at Basksuncare.com 9:40 #6: Sol de Janerio Bum Bum Sol Oil SPF30: This super luxe feeling and smelling oil formula combines reef-safe SPF30 and skin smoothers like capucha butter and acai oil. It's infused with Sol de Janeiro's iconic fragrance, and it's one of the sunscreens I reach for if I'm having a long day in the sand or a sweaty day in NYC. After showering, I'll throw this oil on my body and go about my day. The scent has peachy-tropical notes with hints of coconut vanilla. It truly smells like summer. Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Sol Oil SPF30 is available for $38. 11:20 #7: Farmacy Green Defense Mineral Sunscreen: This zinc oxide mineral sunscreen sits on the skin surface to reflect damaging UVA and UVB rays. This is a great SPF pick if you want to dip your toe into the world of mineral sunscreens. I put it on the areas that are underlooked and prone to burning, like the back of my legs, the inside of my arms, etc. It's definitely the SPF I'll be using this fall and winter to remind me that if the sun's up, the sunscreen's gotta go on. Farmacy Green Defense Mineral Sunscreen is available at Sephora for $36.    ARTICLES MENTIONED 11 Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin Black Girl Sunscreen Review SPF GRAPHICS/ INSTAGRAM POSTS 6 Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin IG Reels  3 Beach-Perfect Sunscreens for Your Next Beach Day

Welcome to Bri Books! Today we're jumping into the best new makeup products to buy at Sephora! Listen to part one here, “The 6 Best New Skincare Products at Sephora.”  1:25: #1: Merit Beauty, a luxury clean, minimalist beauty brand, just launched at Clean at Sephora! I was able to test out Merit products while at Glamour.com (here's a link to my Glamour.com article reviewing the Merit Minimalist Makeup kit) Their seven-piece collection is a curated chorus of everyday products, including foundation sticks, eyebrow gel, mascara, lip slicks, cheek tint, a makeup brush, and highlighter. I think Merit's products are perfect for what I call a ‘Zoom beat,' and they're perfect to just grab and apply during the summer months. My favorite shade slick in shade Sangria looks phenomenal on deep dark skin, along with the Day Glow highlighter! The Merit Beauty Day Glow highlighter is $30 at Sephora.  4:40: #2: Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm Palette: Finally, a Charlotte Tilbury palette that works flawlessly on my deep brown skin! I've been waiting for this palette all summer--it's a four-color quad with shades from soft champagne to luxe chocolate that give a luxe, marbled, old Hollywood glow. Launching at Sephora on August 26, this palette will become your go-to for all of your late summer, early fall, and even winter (!!!) beauty looks. Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm Palette is available on CharlotteTilbury.com and at Sephora.com on August 26. Bonus: The Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love lip and cheek tint in ‘Love Chain,' gives the prettiest cherry glow and instantly brightens up my makeup look. Tinted Love is available at Sephora for $34.  8:33: #3: Bite Beauty Changemaker Supercharged Micellear Foundation: I love that this foundation is water-lightweight, and gives perfect light to medium coverage. It's perfect for the humid summer months when you can't be bothered with a full face of makeup. I like to apply this foundation with a touch of sunscreen or moisturizer to create a tinted moisturizer that stands up to summer sweat. Bite Beauty Changemaker Supercharged Micellear Foundation is available at Sephora for $44. 10:15: #4: Fenty Skin Buff Ryder Exfoliating Body Scrub: Robyn Fenty has done it again! The Fenty Skin Buff Ryder Exfoliating Body Scrub is a gentle, tropical-inspired scrub packed with super-fine sand, sugar, and nourishing oils. I love to apply this scrub in the shower, rub it into my skin, and then let the water rinse the excess scrub away.  Fenty Skin Buff Ryder Exfoliating Body Scrub is available at Sephora for $32. 12:15: #5: Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash: Kosas understands that only focusing on the skin on your face does a disservice to the rest of your body. This daily exfoliating cleanser helps to unclog pores, visibly smooth the texture of the skin, and fight body skin blemishes. It's gentle enough for everyday use and leaves my skin feeling brand-new.  Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash is available at Sephora for $18.  Let me know what your skincare routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen!

Welcome to Bri Books! Today I'm sharing with you the best new products at Sephora--this summer's best new Sephora launches that are worth your time, energy, and coin. My intention is to inspire your fall beauty routine, so I'm breaking it down into the best skin care products at Sephora, the best makeup products at Sephora, and the best new body care products at Sephora. I've included links to all the products in the show notes and on bribookspod.com! 1:55: #1: Augustinus Bader Rich Cream: Originally released in 2018, the Rich Cream quickly attained unprecedented status among the skincare elite. I was able to review The Cream as part of a beauty story for Glamour.com. After that experience, I got the hype! For the 2021 update, Prof. Bader and his researchers returned to the lab to create a new version that focuses on cellular renewal. Since I've been using the original The Cream for a year, after trying out the updated formulation, I did notice a visible reduction in the pollution and clogged pores I had. I love to use The Cream as the highlight of my nighttime routine. It includes TFC8, which is known to reduce hyperpigmentation in the skin. The Rich Cream with TFC8 retails at $170 at Sephora, and you can pick up a half ounce bottle for $85 at Sephora. 4:45 #2: Saint Jane Hydrating Petal Cream: I've been quietly obsessing over Saint Jane all summer and spring, and the brand has finally launched in Sephora! The Hydrating Petal Cream is an all-day moisturizer with hibiscus peptides and floral essences (a cottagecore skincare dream) including antioxidant-rich magnolia and honeysuckle. Inspired by how  flower petals maintain luxurious hydration, the Saint Jane founder developed this incredible product that helps to reduce stress in the skin. The best part? It doubles as a post-sun treatment with soothing active ingredients that calm sun-sensitive skin. Saint Jane Hydrating Petal Cream is $68 at Sephora.  8:00: #3: Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment: Another new to Sephora launch, this Tatcha treatment began as a personal formulation request from Vicky Tsai, founder of Tatcha, who dealt with eczema and flare-ups over the last year and wanted to create something to soothe her own skin. If you're dealing with regular skin inflammation, the Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum is for you. I love how this product rebalances my skin at night and helps it regenerate itself while I sleep. After a long night (or early morning), I reach for this treatment to get rid of any irritation. It exceeded my expectations, and I think it's a great pick for acne-prone skin. The Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment is available for $88 at Sephora. 10:30: Quick Break 10:50:  #4: Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Mask: This clay-based skin mask is great for combating oily skin in the summer months. It delivers a chill and purifies the skin, similar in effect to the Nordic cold cleanse tradition of jumping into chilly water. It's perfect for skincare Sundays and hot summer days alike. Here's a link to an Instagram Reels I created all about the Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge mask, which is available at Sephora for $38.  13:30: #5: Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Night Acid: Packed with lemon enzyme, aloe juice, AHAs and PHAs, this night acid is the perfect one-and-done acid product for your skincare routine. It just launched in Sephora on July 26, inspired by Ole Henriksen's spa heritage. This product feels custard-like, the lemony sugar scent is divine at the end of a long day. Dewtopia is the perfect balance of exfoliating and nourishing components. Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Night Acid is available at Sephora for $55.  16:30: #6: Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel: This epic vitamin C-based peel is formulated with spirulina, a blue-green algae known for its antioxidant properties. I use it as a resurfacing peel to help reduce hyperpigmentation and was blown away at how gentle this peel is. If the words ‘peel', ‘correcting,' and ‘brightening' conjure up thoughts of burning skin, fear not, this is by far the most gentle, non-irritating peel I've ever used. There's a tingle--so you know it's working--but it quickly vanishes. Pro tip: Pick up Algenist's Vitamin C Brightening Serum for double protection. When used together, I saw results within a week, and members of my family who also tested the product reported noticing a more even complexion and skin texture after a week of regular use. Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel is available at Sephora for $85, and the Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Serum is $72.    Let me know what your skincare routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen!    Products Mentioned at Sephora: Augustinus Bader Rich Cream: $85 or $170  Saint Jane Hydrating Petal Cream: $68 Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment: $88 Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Mask: $38  Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Night Acid: $55 Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel: $85  Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Serum: $72 Articles Mentioned: Glamour.com: Best Augustinus Bader Products Worth Your Money   MORE SKINCARE-FOCUSED BRI BOOKS EPISODES What to Buy at Sephora During The VIB Sale 5 Best Beauty and Skincare Books for Beginners AM & PM Skincare Routine: Early Autumn Edition Makeup Bag Highlights and Fenty Beauty Mascara Hot Take  

Today we're talking with wine and food creator/ enthusiast Sarita Chaves. If you're all about your wine, spirits, and food, you need to meet Sarita. She's a DC native with a love for food, wine and city living. Sarita's the founder of the Swirl Suite podcast, a cohort of Black women who work in the wine and spirits industry. She created her blog ‘Vinemeup' in 2013 after years of working at a local winery in Maryland and highlighting unique wines on social media. Currently, she cooks and creates wine pairings in her own kitchen which you can watch play out on her Instagram and on her Instagram Stories.    In this episode, Sarita teaches us how to pair the wines with the seasons, shares her own history and journey through the wine industry, and reveals to us the striking similarities between winemaking and farming.   PS: The Vinemeup Activity Book is almost here! For those that desire to celebrate  Blacks in Wine in a most creative way. Whether you are a seasoned oenophile or someone who is still learning what makes a wine wonderful,  the VINEMEUP Activity Book is an entertaining and satisfying experience that compliments wine-sipping. Click here to sign up for updates about the book launch!   SHOW NOTES:   4:10 - Sarita's wine career story 8:05 - What makes Maryland wine so special and the magic of Maryland soil: “I think Maryland wine is a Cinderella story.” 10:15 - The parallels between winemaking and farming: “Winemakers are studied farmers.”  11:15 - How Sarita uses wine to elevate her homecooking and to freshen up her everyday meals: “After watching my mom, I started to cook with her, and when I lived on my own, it cranked up a bit. Cooking has always been my thing, but the wine took it up a notch. There are things I've experienced foodwise with wine that I've never experienced in my life. I've never sat on a hill atop a vineyard, eating duckbreast and drinking zinfandel until I became a wineblogger. That's when I started to pay attention to chefs on TV--what they're using, their techniques, etc.” 14:00 - How to travel the world through a bottle of wine: “Find a really good wine shop, and get to know someone who works there, and get on the email list! Follow them on Instagram! Join a wine club!”  16:00 - Shoutout to our fave wine stores: Simple Syrup in Brooklyn, and Wardman Wines in DC (where wine author Julia Coney reigns!) 26:00 - How to transition your wine palette throughout the seasons 29:30 - The best wine to drink during each season 30:00 - 37:00 - Gardening talk: The best things to grow in each season!     Follow the Swirl Suite on Instagram