issue #82 - the one with a light at the end of the tunnel

I’m thrilled to be turning over this week’s newsletter to Julia (who you may know as @smarterinasec). Take it away, Julia!

COVID-19 is still here. It's been an incredibly tough year for everyone psychologically, financially, socially...the descriptors go on. But as 2020 comes to a close, please remember to wear a mask, stay socially distant, and keep washing your hands. (My hand washing ritual is 20 seconds scrubbing with Mrs. Meyer's Peppermint Soap, followed by the Amber Vanilla Shea Butter from Black-owned brand Hanahana Beauty).

Throughout 2020, the headlines have been dominated by doom and gloom. However, let's not forget the positive things that happened this week. The Pfizer  vaccine is slated for FDA approval ASAP. Black TikTok creators in Atlanta are closing the influencer pay gap by securing brand deals and investor funding at lightning speed. Taylor Swift dropped her surprise album 'Evermore.' A COVID survivor in NYC wrote personal thank you notes to all 116 hospital team members who cared for him during his stay. And so many more...

I hope you all have a relaxing and happy weekend. I would love to hear from you re: any & all thoughts on this newsletter—DM me on Instagram @smarterinasec!

Stay safe,Julia

P.S. In the spirit of transparency, I'm not making any money on the discount codes I share below. I genuinely LOVE the products (and the small businesses!) I mentioned, and reached out to them directly to secure you a discount.

What we read this week

Julia

• Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor - I've always been a mouth breather. The habit is annoying, unsexy, and prevents me from ever making friends on planes (because of my ear-shattering snoring). But until recently, I didn't realize how damaging it was to my long-term health. Through research-backed case studies, BREATH illuminates the science of proper mouth breathing—and what happens when we do it wrong (drooping facial structures, frequent colds, chronic fatigue...and more). The book finally pushed me to change my behavior, which I talk more about on my feed (along with some embarrassing mouth-breathing proof).

• Pretty Things by Janelle Brown - Like Hitha, I gravitate towards thrillers with a familiar plot—a rich main character, a deviant husband / boyfriend, and a loyal friend waiting to help. Pretty Things fits the bill—it's about a monied Instagram influencer who tries to escape her dark family history...but can't. The perfect escapist book, I read it over four nights in the bath. And I hope you do too!

• Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller - Relationships are hard—especially during a pandemic. In 2020, I took a deliberate pause from dating—and committed to reading a ton of dating & relationship books to become a better partner. Whether you're single or in a relationship, Attached is a must-read to figure out your personal attachment style, implement strategies to cope, and how to communicate it to your partner.

Qudsiya

• Girl, Woman, Other weaves together the stories of 12 women across multiple generations in England. I loved this book because it amplifies the voices of Black British women, a community that is grossly under-represented in art and fiction. The characters are rich in their diversity, and the author, Bernardine Evaristo, creates an elegant and powerful tapestry of the ties that bind their unique experiences.

Kate

• White Tears / Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color by Ruby Hamad. This book specifically focuses on how White feminism has been historically and currently weaponized to uphold White supremacy. This book was unflinching, insightful, and nuanced - a necessary read.

Shibani

• Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade: I love stories where ordinary people enter into relationships with celebrities, and this book perfectly fits that description. It's also the perfect body-positive message when there's a whole lot of "new year new you" going around.

The Top 5

1. Kicked From The Curb In Alabama (The New York Times Opinion)

2. Trump Lost, But My Brother’s Still In A Far-Right Militia (The Cut)

3. ‘Tiny Pretty Things’ Is About To Be The Netflix Show Everyone Is Talking About- Here’s What We Know (PureWow)

4. How to Evaluate COVID-19 News without Freaking Out (Scientific American)

5. The parental burnout crisis has reached a tipping point (Vox)

The Catch Up

Monday (curated by Qudsiya Naqui)

• Kicked From The Curb In Alabama (The New York Times Opinion)

• ‘Is Anybody In There?’ Life On The Inside As A Locked-In Patient (The Guardian)

• Forced Intimacy: An Ableist Norm (Leaving Evidence)

• When The World Shut Down, They Saw It Open (The New York Times)

• Police Killings: The Price Of Being Disabled And Black In America (The Guardian)

Tuesday (curated by Kate Slater)

• Trump Lost, But My Brother’s Still In A Far-Right Militia (The Cut)

• Affirmative Actions Shouldn’t Be About Diversity (The Atlantic)

• “Why Isn’t Quawan Charles Trending?” :Another Grave Injustice In The Handling Of Black Bodies (Ms. Magazine)

• Youth Voter Turnout Was High In 2020, But Youth Organizing Is The Big Story (Teen Vogue)

• There Is Nothin Fragile About Racism (Education Week)

Wednesday (curated by Shibani Faehnle)

• ‘Tiny Pretty Things’ Is About To Be The Netflix Show Everyone Is Talking About- Here’s What We Know (Pure Wow)

• A Brief Guide To Letting Black Entrepreneurs Be Entrepreneurs (Entrepreneur)

• Japanese Curry: A Curious Journey Of Colonization And Globalization (Diaspora)

• Nadiya Hussein Isn’t Trying To Blend Into The Food World Anymore: “Why Not Just Create Space?” (Salon)

• The Great Dispersion (No Mercy/ No Malice)

Thursday

• How to Evaluate COVID-19 News without Freaking Out (Scientific American)

• Suspected Chinese spy targeted California politicians (Axios)

• A tale of 3 hysterectomies (Evil Witches)

• ‘I’ve had a lot of Harveys in my life’: Meet the female construction company owner who demolished the Weinstein Company’s old office (Fortune)

• How Do We Find Joy Again? (Marie Claire)

Friday

• The parental burnout crisis has reached a tipping point (Vox)

• Op-ed: I helped put Brandon Bernard on federal death row. I now think he should live. (Indy Star)

• The Mom Does It (Culture Study)

• U.S. home prices march upward (Axios)

• The Power of Dancing it Out (Shondaland)

Things we love this week

Julia

• Legally Addictive Foods Cookie Variety Pack - This company makes the incredible cookie / cracker you've probably had at some point—saltines layered with toffee and chocolate. I was hooked to them as a kid—but Legally Addictive's unique flavors make them even better. They top their treats with cinnamon, sprinkles, candy canes, & more (their Everything But the Bagel variety is actually my favorite). A small, female-owned business, get 10% off any Legally Addictive flavor with the code CRACKERS.

• Travertine Spa Collection's Steam Shower Eucalyptus Spray - This product is truly the perfect antidote to pandemic (and holiday) madness. I spray two pumps in the base of my shower every day and within seconds, my 5-minute shower between Zooms is transformed into a spa retreat. A small, Black-owned business, get 20% off any Travertine product with the code SMARTER20 (until December 23).

• Goodnight Zoom - Goodnight Moon was a childhood classic. But now, the staple is reinvented as a hilarious pandemic parody. I don't have kids, but recently bought it for a pregnant friend—and considered keeping it for myself because it was just that funny! Could even be a gag gift for adults to commemorate this wild, wild time.

• Legally Addictive Foods Cookie Variety Pack - This company makes the incredible cookie / cracker you've probably had at some point—saltines layered with toffee and chocolate. I was hooked to them as a kid—but Legally Addictive's unique flavors make them even better. They top their treats with cinnamon, sprinkles, candy canes, & more (their Everything But the Bagel variety is actually my favorite). A small, female-owned business, get 10% off any Legally Addictive Flavor with the code CRACKERS.

Qudsiya 

• A pandemic-induced dive into the click hole uncovered this amazing tribute to George Harrison, featuring Tom Petty, Prince, and others playing "As My Guitar Gently Weeps." The Prince guitar solo is everything. I can't believe I lived my life without experiencing this video until now.

Kate

• I'm just going to describe a particular ethos, if that's okay. Full-body sweatsuit from Target; homemade pizza; a glass of cheap wine straight from the box; wrapped in a quilt my mom made for me; moisturizing my pterodactyl feet with Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar body lotion. This, my friends, is bliss.

Shibani

• I am OBSESSED with scented candles - I light one as I sit down to work, and it gives me something delightful to look forward to every morning. Some of my favorites are woman-owned small business brands like 1820 Candle Co, Marie Hunter (Black-owned), and BIJOU candles (LGBT+ owned).

Take care of yourself and your loved ones, wash your hands, wear a mask, and please share #5SmartReads if you’re enjoying them!