USE CODE ALLDAY TO SAVE 15% ON YOUR SANTE GRACE PURCHASE

Today's episode brought to you by my 2021 Black Owned Business Gift Guide!

November's Black Owned Business of the Month is Black owned plus size clothing brand, Sante Grace! I chatted with owner and designer, Tracy Christian, about the challenges she has overcome since launching Sante Grace last year at the height of the pandemic and how she basically created her own blueprint for quality, designer-inspired plus size clothing. FULL SHOWNOTES HERE

As you'll hear Tracy mention, one of the biggest pitfalls of the fashion industry is that it is inherently designed to make women feel less than, as if there's some part of their body that they need to fix in order to be able to rock the latest trend. But one of the amazing things that sets Sante Grace apart, is that Tracy creates beautiful clothing to make you feel good RIGHT NOW, not after Spanx, and not 5-10 pounds from now. I was so inspired by my chat with Tracy and I know you will be too. Enjoy!

DISCLOSURE: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post contains affiliate links from which I earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, when you make a purchase. Read more about it HERE.

• What inspired Tracy to create and launch Sante Grace
• Challenges she has faced since launching her brand
• The lack of quality, sustainable clothing options for plus size women
• Tracy's passion for creating clothing that flatters and inspires rather than "just fits"
• Day in the life of a clothing designer
• Why she's committed to paying her contractors a fair wage
• Tracy's tips for updating your plus size wardrobe
• Top picks from Sante Grace (shop below)

Tracy's Picks

The Muse Silk Kaftan

Haute Carine Pussybow Silk Chiffon Top

Something The Lord Made Two Piece Terry Cloth Set

USE CODE ALLDAY TO SAVE 15% ON YOUR SANTE GRACE PURCHASE

You may already by familiar with Tracy Christian. Based in Los Angles, California, she runs a successful licensed talent agent, TCA Mgmt, and her past clients include Octavia Spencer, Mo'Nique, and E

Today's chat with Bianca Hughes is near and dear to my heart. If you're on my email list or you follow me on social, we've discussed the importance of honoring ourselves and who we are OUTSIDE of being mothers. I recently began that journey for myself, and it has definitely made me a more present and relaxed mother and partner. Embracing and celebrating all of the parts that make up who you are is the perfect example of authentic living.

If you're someone who struggles with living authentically and you want to find your true self, I encourage you to have a listen! Bianca breaks down her work as an authenticity coach (yes, she offers virtual sessions!) and gives pointers to start your journey of living authentically and overcoming perfectionism. FULL SHOWNOTES HERE

• What is an authenticity coach?
• The importance of overcoming perfectionism and embracing authentic living
• Dealing with unrealistic expectations as women and mothers
• The effects of intergenerational trauma and post traumatic slave syndrome on Black mothers
• Taking time, as a society, for self-reflection and personal development
• Bianca's four tips for authentic living
• Bianca's 2 minute body scan exercise
• Why it's important to PUT YOURSELF FIRST
• Why meditation is important and how it helps
• Bianca's practice in Dunwoody, GA

• 21 Insights For Authentic Living, by Cherlene Wilson

• Living Against The Grain: How To Make Decisions That Lead To Authentic Life, by Tim Muldoon

Bianca Hughes is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Authenticity Coach and the owner of Authentically Be You Counseling. She specializes in helping women who are struggling with overcoming perfectionism and who want to embrace authentic living.

Bianca actually began her personal journey with authenticity very early on. Growing up in London with Caribbean roots, Bianca prided herself on her raw honesty until she began to realize it was always more judgmental and directed at other people rather than herself. She began the work of recognizing her strengths and areas of improvement, and embracing her true authentic self.

Today, Bianca Hughes helps her patients in therapy and through her work as an authenticity coach.

www.AuthenticallyBeYou.com

I recently wrote about how applying the concepts that Bianca and I discussed in this interview have helped me be a better mom. If this is something you struggle with as well, check it out!

All things lifestyle & family, plus tons of Black owned business features and round-ups!

Today's episode is a good one, ya'll! My guest, Shala Thomas, is a medical communication specialist, so she knows a thing or two about reliable sources. In this episode, we discuss everything from how to advocate for yourself with your doctor to the vaccine trials and how to determine an online source's credibility. Shala had some really good insight on how the trials went down and the safeguards put in place to help protect the general public, so I'm especially excited for you to listen. FULL SHOWNOTES HERE

We actually taped this episode earlier this year, but a lot of the topics (vaccine hesitancy & the Black community's mistrust for doctors in general) are still incredibly relevant today. I originally wanted to do what I could to share reliable information and help people advocate for themselves with their doctors and I think, even today, our chat will go a long way in doing that. Anyway, take a listen, and as always, come find me on Instagram to share your thoughts!

• Shala's receipts (her background in oncology research and her journey to becoming a medical communication specialist)
• Shala's commitment to mentoring current students in the medical writing field
• Black community: working through our distrust for the medical community as a whole
• How to advocate for yourself with your doctor (what to research, what questions to ask, etc.)
• Shala's thoughts on Tuskegee and how today's clinical trials differ from that experience
• Reliable sources: how to find them and how to determine the credibility of an online source
• Shala's upcoming Clinical Blueprint project to help regular people understand scientific terms and make informed healthcare decisions

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Shala Thomas is a medical communications specialist with a PhD in Oncology. We go into the details of what that actually means, but, in a nutshell, Shala helps write up the articles and reports you see in esteemed medical journals like the New England Journal of Medicine. As one of the few Black women in her chosen field, Shala's definitely the person to speak with about reliable medical sources, and of course, the kind of tricky relationship some Black folks have with healthcare professionals. Shala shared a lot of thoughtful insight in this episode, so it's a good one to listen to and share with anyone who wants to know more about advocating for themselves with their doctors.

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Instagram @curating.stories

www.CuratingStories.com

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All things lifestyle & family, plus tons of Black owned business features and round-ups! www.AllDayBritney.com

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