Hey friend!
Last month was a very busy time for me. Lots of family emergencies, caregiver duties, and just doing my best to be a functioning adult. It was a tough time, but I got through it with the help of friends and ice cream. Shoutout to Jeni’s in Carytown! Y’all really do come in clutch!
Thankfully, my responsibilities didn’t take up all of my time. One day, I went for a walk in Church Hill just to kill time, and I stumbled upon a little 6-woman-owned shop called Kind Hearted Goods. They are located next to Proper Pie Co. on Broad Street, and as soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a nice lady and a cute pug. While the lady (I wish I knew her name) was giving me the background on the store and how each owner focuses on a different aspect of social good, the cute pug was warming up to me and letting me know she runs things.
They sell items like notebooks, socks, planners, birthday cards, postcards, candles, bags, and much more. I didn’t get to go downstairs and look around, but there is much more there than what I saw. So, the next time I’m in that area, I’ll go downstairs and see what I can buy. And if you find yourself in Church Hill one day, I think you should check it out. It is totally worth it, and everyone should support women-owned businesses that aren’t just looking to make a quick buck, but also do good in society.
After walking around Church Hill for about half an hour, I finally met up with a friend and had dinner at Liberty Public House, which is decked out in all the queer shit. It’s right on 25th Street, so you can’t miss it. There’s usually a bunch of people there, and the food is really good. This is a business I consider queer-friendly and maybe even BIPOC-friendly.
The very next day, I got up, squirted shampoo in my eye (OUCH!), cried for a few minutes, then went to the 6th Annual Black Expo. And guys, I didn’t even know that this was a thing, but luckily this popped up on a feed or something, and I was like, “Huh! I should go!” And so glad I did!
Check-in was easy enough. However, the lady at the check-in table was not paying attention and tried to give me a rinky-dink wristband when I should’ve gotten the supporter wristband. Yeah, I gave a couple bucks to the cause, so gimme the correct band, ma’am! Then, I stood in line to get a cranberry and vodka and a bottle of water when I saw Lamman Rucker surrounded by a bunch of women. Go figure! But when I finally made it up to the bar, the nice bartender told me I needed a ticket. A little annoying since there were no signs and no one to tell me that beforehand, but I went to another table, flashed my ID, and got my ticket for my alcohol.
Once I hydrated and took several sips of the liquor, I was off to the races. There were so many vendors! Desserts, wine, body oils, hair care products, books, and more—it was all there. I got the chance to meet some really nice people and buy some really good stuff. Did I spend more than I wanted? Hmm! We won’t talk about that.
Collage of the items I bought, the hair demo I saw, and a nice photo with the best-selling author Kiki Swinson (top right) after she signed 2 copies for me. 😄
I got some body oil that I absolutely love called Fade to Pink Martini. The scent is nice and subtle, and it’s something I could definitely wear every day. It’s probably my favorite thing from the expo so far. And the vendor was super awesome.
Shortly after visiting that vendor, I met a couple selling oils, cleansers, and other stuff. I opted for just the cleanser, but she added the serum for free at checkout, which was super sweet of her!
Then, I came across Kiki Swinson’s table and immediately recognized the name. There were 3 people behind the table, and I said, “I know this author! My sister and mom love her! They’ve got a bunch of her books!” And the lady in the middle said, “Oh yeah? That’s me!” I was gagged because she’s a pretty prolific writer and quite popular. Then she told me about her books and pointed out the new one she had just released. I told her I’d have to think about it because I didn’t know which books my mom had.
“If you buy this book,” she pointed to the new release, How I Became Wifey, “I’ll throw this one in for free.” Then she pointed to Where There’s Smoke.
SOLD! I bought the new release and got the other book for free. Then she asked who she should make the book out to. Aahhh! I told her to my mom, and this would be a very good birthday gift, considering her birthday is coming up. “Ah! So I need to write “Happy birthday,” so she signed it “Happy birthday, Mom.” 😁
After that awesome experience, I walked around a little more in search of food, but I didn’t see any. Tsk tsk! So, I made my way to the exit. Needless to say, I had a fantastic time at the expo, and I’ll definitely go back next year. Hopefully, they’ll have food there next time and not just dessert, though.
In other news
So, I’ve got a blog post coming out soon on Monday, September 7th. Keep your eyes peeled for that. Then I’ll have a podcast episode coming out the following day, Tuesday, September 8th. Of course, there will be a newsletter letting you know when I’ve dropped the blog post and podcast episode, so don’t worry. You’ll get your reminder.
I’m also looking into some events and shenanigans to get into this month, so if you know of anything happening, let me know. I’d love to check it out if I have the chance to do so. I’m aware that Pride Week is right around the corner. I’ll definitely try to attend one of those events.
September is going to be a busy month, not just for me but for my family as well. I’m gonna be hella tired after all of the blogging, podcasting, socializing, and whatever else I’m going to be doing this month. Therefore, after September 30th, I’m going to take a break. That’s right! I typically take a break for the entire month of October to recharge, celebrate my birthday, and just be a bum. Haha! So, don’t expect any posts, episodes, newsletters, or anything of that kind next month because there won’t be any.
Thank you, guys, for being so supportive and understanding! Until next time … peace, love, and happiness! ☮️🖤😄
