Life Update: On Grief, Change, and New Beginnings

orange flowers in a white vase
Back in Bloom

You know that saying we plan, God laughs? The past 6+ months have never made this more apparent. We make all these plans and the universes comes in and laughs in our face. Life was going really well, and then it started beating my ass. Last October I went to my first concert in over a year. If you know me, you know how much I love music, and going to concerts was one of the things I missed most during the pandemic. I felt happy, and free, and alive. There’s nothing better than being in a room full of people who like the same artist, enjoying the music, and singing at the top of our lungs.

Things felt good, like they were getting back to normal. I was in a good place, personally and professionally. About a week later, my grandmother died. It absolutely destroyed me. Grief is a powerful emotion, and one I’m all too familiar with. I’ve had to bury alot of people I love over the years. My daddy, my grandaddy, friends, and mentors as well. Losing my granny was different. If you ever had the pleasure of meeting my grandmother, then you know she was a force. A Southern matriarch, the epitome of grace and strength. We had made plans for Thanksgiving the week before, then she was gone.

The next several weeks felt like a blur. I was going through the motions, consumed by my grief. Trying to make the best of it. It didn’t get any easier. Those weeks turned into months, and before I knew it what would have been her 81st birthday was here. I dreamed about her that night, and while she didn’t talk in that dream. She found away to let me know that she was okay. I don’t always believe in signs, but I felt that was her way of telling me she didn’t want me to be sad anymore. I took that to heart, and it helped shake me out of what felt like a never ending funk.

Alot has changed in the last few months. I accepted my dream job, I cut some toxic people out of my life. I’ve stopped questioning whether I deserve the good things that are happening and the contentment and lightness I feel. I’m taking more risks. I’m embracing the changes and accepting that it isn’t a fleeting moment. I knew I had to come back here. I missed this space, and I felt guilty for how long I had left it untouched. I won’t make any promises, but I am committed to showing up for you.

If you’ve stuck around this long I appreciate you, and I hope you join me in this season of life.

Kandy’s Corner 9.20.21

I;m ready when you are fall.

Fall is upon us friends and I for one can’t wait for the leaves to turn and the temperature to drop. I’m ready for a change of seasons and a transition into a new time. My birthday is this week, and the older I get the more reflective I am around this time. I want to say thank you for all the kind words on my last post. I feel blessed and grateful that I can call you my friends and we can gather in this place. I’ve put together a few links for you to ease into the weak and into autumn!

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Kandy’s Corner 8.27.21

The last 18 months have tested me. My patience, my ability to give grace, my sanity. The frustration, the grief, the anger of feeling robbed of a year of my life. The lack of empathy, the apathy, the denial that we seem to be right back where we started. The realization that covid isn’t going anywhere, this is the new normal, and figuring out how I navigate it.

I started seeing a therapist again for the first time in almost 10 years and let me tell you it has been a journey. I’ve been reliving trauma, dealing with grief, determining how the events of my life have shaped me and the path that I’ve been on. It’s led to significant self-reflection on my part. I’ve been thinking about why I created this space and where I’m going from here.

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Kandy’s Corner 2.22.21

Friends we are ( thankfully) finally coming out of a deep freeze. We’ve had some form of ice and snow on the ground here in Louisville for the better part of 2 weeks and frankly, I’m over it. I’ve mentioned this before but I grew up in Memphis, where 40 degrees is about as cold as it gets in winter. A couple of inches of snow will shut the city down. I’ve lived here for over 10 years and I’m still adjusting.

I’ve been watching everything unfold in Texas and the rest of the south with a heavy heart and an empathetic mind. As a southern ex-pat living a little too far North, I never experienced a real winter until I moved here. They don’t have salt trucks or plows in the south. Winter clothes are the same as summer clothes. Back home, I’ve worn t-shirts on Christmas day because it was 75 degrees. I say all this to say it’s hard to prepare for something that literally never happens. I mean would you expect people in LA to have snow plows? I wouldn’t.

I hope if nothing else the events of the past year have taught us all to extend more grace to others as our circumstances can change at a moments notice. Luckily spring is upon us, hopefully sooner rather than later. Here’s some reads to kick off the week after the jump!

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Kandy’s Corner 1.16.21

Stop and smell the roses.

What a week. I feel like I’ve said that alot over the last year. Part of me feels like I’m not fully processing everything that’s happening. Part of me just feels comfortably numb . We’ve normalized this mess we’re in, and as I feel like it’s going to get much worse before it gets better. One thing I have pledged to do is give myself grace, and I hope you do the same. It’s been way too long since we’ve done one of these. I’m hoping I can provide a fun distraction even if its only for a few minutes. Read more after the jump!

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KANDY’S CORNER 8.9.20

Happy Sunday friends! I’m hoping this week is good to you. It was a little rough for me last week as I wasn’t feeling well, but I’m on the mend. I got some good news, and I also started a re-watch of one of my favorite shows The Vampire Diaries. I’m team Damon BTW.

Just in case you missed it I covered the #NSALE all last week. I’ve got you covered for activewear, loungewear, capsule piece, and beauty! Cardmember access started Aug 4th for Icons, 7th for Ambassador, 10th for Influencer, and 13th for Insider. The sale opens up to everyone on Aug 19th and runs until Aug 30th. Weekend reads after the jump!

This is a really good article on digital blackface. We talk about cultural appropriation, but there isn’t enough said about how the technology and social media have attributed to this.

A love letter from black women to Meg Thee Stallion. We love you sis.

I have no idea if football is happening this fall. Regardless, I will be indulging in all of my favorite game day foods nachos. These chipotle chicken nachos are the perfect game day food.

This jacket is number one on my wishlist for the #NSALE.

This cherry swirl bread is next on my list of baking projects. It’s the perfect breakfast food or mid-afternoon pick me up!

Interesting article on the concept of a “forever home“. I go back in forth on whether home ownership is something I really want, and this is a refreshing perspective.

This is the only hand cream you will ever need.

Accounts of how the coronavirus has impacted 6 different jobless workers on 6 different salaries.

KANDY’S CORNER 8.1.20

New month, new goals.

When I realize it’s August and I can shop again.

Hey friends! I hope you’ve had a good week. It’s August so that means I can shop again. If you’re unfamiliar with my No Buy challenge, you can read about why I started it. I’ve been cooking alot this week, as well as rewatching E.R. Basketball restarted, and I’m looking forward to seeing my Grizzlies play. Weekend reads after the jump!

John Lewis was laid to rest this week, and he wrote this opt ed to be shared the day of his funeral. His words moved me, and his belief in our ability to change this country give me hope.

The U.S. birth rate is falling steadily, and this article sheds light on a generation of women who don’t want to be mother’s.

I made this one pan chicken and rice dish for dinner a few nights ago, and it was delicious. It’s perfect for any easy weeknight meal.

This article perfectly sums up my feelings about the lack of media coverage and public support Megan Thee Stallion has received in the aftermath of her shooting.

This might just be the best pair of jeans I’ve ever owned. Seriously.

I found the perfect small batch brownie recipe. Fudgey, rich, and delicious, I’ve already made them twice this week.

Deftones White Pony turned 20 this year, and I enjoyed learning the backstory about how this album defined the band.

For the first time since the magazine’s inception, Oprah did not appear on this month’s cover of O. Instead, Breonna Taylor appears on the cover, and Oprah reminds us that we can not be silent when it comes to the death of black women.

What have y’all been up to this week? Leave me a comment so we can chat!

KANDY’S CORNER 7.26.20

Hey y’all! I’ve been a bit quiet the last week but I’m ready to jump back in. I was feeling a bit stuck honestly. Dealing with some personal issues, hitting a wall with workouts, being in a creative rut etc. So I took a step back, re-evaluated, and gave myself grace to work through my issues.

We’re living in precarious times, and I often feel like there is too much emphasis placed on pretending like everything is normal. NOTHING IS NORMAL RIGHT NOW. I think 2020 has made alot of people take off the rose colored glasses they normally look through. My hope is that we’re able to bring about lasting impactful change. Weekend reads after the jump!

Matisse Thybulle has been vlogging his experience in the NBA bubble and it is the purest thing I’ve seen in a long time.

Clueless turned 25 last week, and this is an excellent write up about the film’s origins and impact.

AOC buried Yoho in her speech this week, and she’s the leader women and little girls need representing us.

This lemon chicken recipe is on my menu this week!

Food blogger Deb Perelman sheds light on the conundrum many parents are facing this fall in terms of child care and unpaid labor.

Going to make this lemonade while peaches are still in season.

The Nordstrom anniversary sale starts soon, and you can preview some of the items here. The sale starts for cardholders on August 13th, and the general public August 19th.

That’s all this week folks! Let me know what you’ve been up to in the comments.

KANDY’S CORNER 7.18.20

We made it to another weekend. The air feels very heavy, and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t been sitting in waves of sadness the past few days with all the loss. I wept last night when I learned of John Lewis’s death. It felt too close, and I am both angered and eternally grateful that he fought for our freedoms until his last day. He told us not to despair, and to get in trouble, good trouble. I find comfort in his optimism and determination. With that being said I hope you can find some comfort and joy in the things I share today.

First things first, we honor an ancestor Rest in Power, Congressman Lewis.

Kelly Preston passed away this week from cancer, and I’ll always remember her as she was in this video. Radiant and full of life. R.I.P.

A fitting tribute to another beautiful soul gone to soon R.I.P. Naya Rivera.

The complete oral history of a Memphis rap anthem.

The Coronavirus epidemic from the viewpoint of a billionaire. If this doesn’t show you how out of touch rich people are, I don’t know what will.

A new show with Memphis roots, haven’t watched it yet but it is definitely on my radar. P-Valley tells the story from the woman’s point of view, and aims to destigmatize the lives of strippers.

A Caesar salad with two of my favorite things, steak and shrimp!

Stumbled across this article today about Black Preps. Really interesting take. Black people set the standard of cool, and Ivy league prep is no exception.

I’ve decided since I’ll probably be stuck in the house for the rest of year I need to up my loungewear game. These pajama shorts are on my list for when my no buy is over.

That’s it for this week folks! Let me know what you’ve been into and how you’ve been taking care of yourself this week.

KANDY’S CORNER 7.11.20

Cheers to the weekend y’all! I’m starting a new blog series , Kandy’s Corner, where I share a weekend roundup of my favorite things from the interwebs. These have always been some of my favorite posts to read, so I figured they would become posts I love to write. Keep reading to see what’s caught my eye this week.

Macy’s is running a killer sale on Staub cookware, and I ordered a couple of these beauties for my collection.

My next baking project are these kolaches from Food & Wine. I’ve never tried them before but they look delicious and it’s cherry season.

Read this article about black women working in media. It was eye-opening and incredibly sad at the same time. I was a COMM major in college and dreamed of working for one of these big media companies. The reality is, either they don’t hire black women or do they do and put them through hell.

I’m on the hunt for new activewear, and these shorts might be the move. Come back in stock soon please.

True story: I read every Baby-Sitters Club book as a kid and went through a phase where every time we went to the video store I rented the movie. The Netflix reboot dropped last week, and judging by the trailer I’m in for a treat.

The summer sangria I made for the 4th of July.

A little summer nostalgia for my fellow 90’s kids.

My favorite band released an acoustic quarantine version of their song Agoraphobia. Very fitting considering the times.

How was your week? Anything exciting happening this weekend? Let me know in the comments!