Bri Books

Time to stock your autumn skincare essentials! In this episode, I'm sharing my 7-step AM and PM skincare routines. These are the products I'm relying on to help me transition from sun-drenched summer days to chilly autumn nights. Tell me, what skincare hidden gem has stolen your heart this autumn? 💄

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 autumn skincare you're loving by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for top shelfie tours, DIY beauty hacks, and skincare secrets.

AM ROUTINE

1. Foaming cleanser: Sisley Paris Radiance Foaming Cream makeup remover, $120 2. Toner: Witch hazel or Heritage Store rose water, $9 at Target 3. Serum: Earth to Skin Manuka Honey All-Over Serum, $9 at Walmart 4. Vitamin C: Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Vitamin C Serum, $110 5. Moisturizer: Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Soft Cream, $45.50 on sale right now! (as of October 6, 2020) 6. Oil: The Mara Beauty Universal Face Oil, $72 7. Sunscreen: Black Girl Sunscreen, $19 at Blackgirlsunscreen.com. PS, read my article all about BlackGirlSunscreen on Glamour.com

PM ROUTINE

1. Double cleanse: Caralista Unoil Double Cleanse Elixir, $65
2. Cleanser: Holifrog Shasta AHA Refining Acid Wash, $38
3. Dermarolling: Jenny Patinkin Rose on Rose Derma Roller, $75
4. Serum: Rodial Beauty CBD Sleep Drops Serum, $105
5. Oil: Mara Beauty Algae Retinol Evening Primrose Green Tea - Face Oil, $120

Thank you for listening! If you're new to the show, share it with your group chat, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what autumn skincare you're loving by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for top shelfie tours, DIY beauty hacks, and skincare secrets.

I recently celebrated 100 episodes of this podcast, and while reflecting I realized there were 10 major life lessons I've discovered along the way. Please tell me what you'd like to hear by leaving a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud. Show me your latest read by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

1. 3:00 - Lesson #1: You'd be surprised how much you can accomplish in a day
2. 4:30 - Lesson #2: Use momentum to propel yourself from moment to moment
3. 5:30 - Lesson #3: Success is in a hurry, so drive the speed limit
4. 6:00 - Lesson #4: You have everything you need to succeed, right now
5. 7:50 - Lesson #5: Find the fastest rabbits and run with them
6. 9:20 - Lesson #6: Be a fan! It costs you nothing to be kind
7. 10:30 - Lesson #7: Replace envy and jealousy with study
8. 12:15 - Lesson #8: Write what you know
9. 13:30 - Lesson #9: If you can do it all day, you can do it right now
10. 14:30 - Lesson #10: Break it down and make it plain

Let's talk about quarantine wine: How to shop for wine during quarantine, and the 6 wines and spirits you need to keep stocked at all times. 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.

During COVID-19, my wine budget has definitely...ballooned. I'm learning more about natural wines via my favorite local wine shop Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits in Brooklyn, NY, my go-to for wine delivery and pickup.

But first, I'm sharing 3 wine buying tips for how to buy wine during COVID-19.

4:20 - #1: Get to know your local wine and spirits community on Instagram. It's one of the fastest ways to find out what's new, hours of operation, and other vital information. Now more than ever, so many wine stores need to maintain that human connection—part of the magic of wine shopping is wandering the aisles and getting recommendations in real-time. That's not always possible right now, so people who work in the liquor industry are turning to social media tools to get the word out about what's happening, what's new, and how customers can connect directly with the source.

• 5:53 - #2: Pick a budget and do not budge it. Calculate the average price per bottle that you're willing to pay. For me, I try to keep my purchases at $12-$15 a bottle. Setting a budget is crucial to keeping you from spending hundreds a month on wine.
• 8:00 - Tip #3: 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're eating.
• 9:30 - BREAK
• 9:45 - Let's chat about the 6 wine essentials you need to have during quarantine!
• 9:45 - #1: Bubbles. I'd recommend Lambrusco wine, an Italian style of sparkling red wine. The Lambrusco I've been drinking since the holidays is Vigneron Saetti Lambrusco Salamino 2019 ($22) from Vigneto Saetti Vineyards. The wine is imported by Bowler Wines. I pick it up and get delivery from Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits.
• 12:40 - #2: Red wine. You can really take on flavors around the world with red wines. Pick a red wine that's dependable, drinkable and can last a few days. A few grapes like montepulciano lasts long. I can get 2,3, 4, nights out of a bottle without having to worry about it getting sour. I recommend montepulciano grapes. I love Cirelli Montepulciano 2018 ($18). It comes to us from Azienda Argicola Cirelli run by Francesco and Michela Cirelli. this wine pairs with dinners that are slow-cooked. If you're easing into your stews, soups and cornbreads, this wine is a wonderful choice. It's imported by Zev Rovine Selections, and you can buy it from Simple Syrup here.
• 15:00 - #3: Rose wine. I want us to get into Cirelli "Wines of Anarchy" Rosato. This wine is part of Azienda Argicola Cirelli, and it'll take you from summer to fall effortlessly. Imported by Zev Rovine Selections, think of this Rosato as the spunky younger cousin of your traditional rose. Rosato has a lot of rightness and pepperiness in it.
• 17:15 - #4: Experimental white wine. I want us to dig into pinot gris, a white wine with a grey-blue fruity tint to it. The one I've been enjoying during quarantine is Michel Nartz Alsace pinot gris 2018 ($20). Michel Nartz is a family winery established in the picturesque village of Dambach-la-Ville, in Alsace. Imported by Communal Brands, the entire winemaking process is now in the hands of Michel's daughter Laurance Nartz. If in the NYC area, you can pick it up from Simple Syrup Wine & Spirits here.
• 19:15: #5 - Select an old-time or new favorite! Whatever you remember tasting ocne but want to try again, this is where you have permission to say I love Mas Théo "Le P'tit Gaby" 2018 ($15) from Mas Theo vineyard in Rhone France, imported by T. Edwards. This wine has a bumpy, grippy finish--you'll feel a bit of a hold on your tongue as the flavor develops/ unwraps on the palette. Pick it up from Simple Syrup Wine & Spirits here.
• 22:00 - #6: Liquor! Grab a spirit and mixer and make the party happen for yourself. I'm loving Letherbee Distillers Charred Oaks Absinthe Brun ($39.) It's a white absinthe, it reminds me of Moulin Rouge just because there's an otherworldly brightness and herbaceousness to it that you can't place. It's aged for 6 months in a full sized charred oak cask. Grab it from Simple Syrup here.

Happy 100th Episode of Bri Books: What's Next?!

It's so surreal to be bringing you episode 100 of Bri Books podcast. Whether you've been here since Day One or you're brand new, I'd love to hear your voice. Please tell me what you'd like to hear by leaving a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud. Show me your latest read by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

In this episode, I'm sharing the Bri Books origin story, changes to the Bri Books vision, and so much more. Thank you for giving me the honor of executive producing 100 episodes, I can't wait to give you the next 100.

• 4:00 - Reflections on 100 episodes of Bri Books
• 4:45 - What's changed the most about Bri Books and where I want us to go in the future
• 9:00 - How Bri Books has evolved over 100 episodes and the future of advertisers/ sponsors on Bri Books.
• 13:00 - Bri Books podcast's origin story
• 17:15 - What's in store for the future of Bri Books--but we need YOU! Leave a review of Bri Books with the name of a book, author, or subject you'd like to me cover, and I'll make it happen.

In this episode, I'm teaching you how to bullet journal like a boss. My bullet journaling strategy is easily customizable to fit whatever you need to focus on. If you've been meaning to start journaling, now's definitely the time. 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.

2:00 - What is a bullet journal?

3:00 - How to create your bullet journal index

3:30 - How to set up your bullet journal categories and prepare yourself for success

5:20 - How your daily logs and weekly spreads will propel your goal-setting in your bullet journal

7:15 - How to pull your bullet journal strategy together from the ground up.

My preferred bullet journal is Leuchtturm1917 from Paper Source.

This episode was a WHIRLWIND! Let's review "Insecure" season 4 finale: Lowkey Lost. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We'll discuss the episode's overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I'm going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on "Insecure" reigned supreme?

• 0:30 - 22:30 - "Insecure" season 4 episode 10 recap

• 23:00 - Episode and character analysis (Andrew! Molly! Issa! Condola! Lawrence! Tiffany! WTF?!)
• 25:50 - #OOTN: Molly's MONSE Resort 2019 statement coat
• 27:30 - Song of the night: "Fair Chance" by Thundercat feat. Ty Dolla $ign and Lil B
• 28:30 - My #BriBooks recommendation for Issa and Molly

Thank you so much for joining me for this recap series for "Insecure" season 4!

Let's review season 4 episode 9 of HBO's "Insecure": Lowkey Trying. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We'll discuss the episode's overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I'm going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on "Insecure" reigned supreme?

• 0:30 - 17:00 - "Insecure" season 4 episode 9 recap

• 17:15 - Song of the night: "The World We Created' by Giveon
• 18:00 - Episode and character analysis
• 19:00 - #OOTN: In this epsiode, every character rocked their signature lewks. Molly's lewks had Big Kahlana Barfield Brown Energy!
• 20:20 - My #BriBooks recommendation for Issa and Molly: "Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close" (July 2020) by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, hosts of the "Call Your Girlfriend" podcast

Let's review season 4 episode 8 of HBO's "Insecure": Lowkey Happy. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We'll discuss the episode's overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I'm going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on "Insecure" reigned supreme?

• 0:30 - 11:30 - "Insecure" season 4 episode 8 recap

• 11:45 - Episode and character analysis

• 12:30 - My #BriBooks recommendation for Issa

• 13:45 - Song of the night: "Out Of Your League" by Blood Orange ft. Steve Lacy

• 15:30 - #OOTN: Issa's red lazer cut-out blazer, designed by LVMH Prize 2019 finalist and South African designer Thebe Magugu. Much love to "Insecure" costume designer Shiona Turini for expertly constructing Issa's vulnerable-yet-in-control look for the evening, from head to toe!

Let's review season 4 episode 7 of HBO's "Insecure": Lowkey Trippin. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We'll discuss the episode's overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I'm going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on "Insecure" reigned supreme?

• 0:30 - 11:30 - "Insecure" season 4 episode 7 recap

• 11:45 - Episode and character analysis (we're looking at you, Molly!)

• 13:45 - #OOTN: Molly's Opening Ceremony cardigan sweater-dress and boots designed by MCM Global Creative Partner Misa Hylton

• 14:30 - My #BriBooks recommendation: "Drop the Ball: Achieving More By Doing Less" by Tiffany Dufu. Here's the episode of Bri Books I recorded with Tiffany herself, all about the best takeaways and life lessons from her fantastic book.

• 18:10 - Song of the night: "Como Si Na" by Melli

EPISODES AND BOOKS MENTIONED

"Drop the Ball: Achieving More By Doing Less" by Tiffany Dufu. Here's the episode of Bri Books I recorded with Tiffany herself, all about the best takeaways and life lessons from her fantastic book.

Let's review season 4 episode 6 of HBO's "Insecure": Lowkey Done. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We'll discuss the episode's overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I'm going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on "Insecure" reigned supreme?

• 0:30 - 11:0 - "Insecure" season 4 episode 6 recap

• 11:30 - Episode and character analysis (we're looking at you, Issa!)

• 13:10 - My #BriBooks recommendation: "What I Know For Sure" by Oprah Winfrey. Here's an episode of Bri Books I recorded all about the best takeaways and life lessons from Winfrey's collection of essays.

• 15:00 - Song of the night: "Paid in Full" by BOSCO

• 15:52 - #OOTN: Issa's Telfar bag, by black fashion designer Telfar Clemens, a black fashion designer you need to know!

EPISODES MENTIONED

"7 Things Brionna Knows for Sure (a la Oprah Winfrey). Here's an episode of Bri Books I recorded all about the best takeaways and life lessons from Winfrey's collection of essays.