In this episode, I'm sharing my first observations in 2020. Show me what you're working on by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter.

2:30 - #1: People think about you for three seconds...then they move on. 4:30 - #2: Just because you 'can' doesn't mean you *have* to. 6:45 - #3: Reading and curiosity will last a lifetime. 9:20 - #4: You have food at home. Act like it. 12:00 - #5: Audit your time (and be realistic about it!) I'm inspired by tip to entrepreneur, influencer and investor @Patricia Bright who guest-starred on Bri Books season 5 episode 1 "Heart and Hustle."

Happy 2020! Thanks for joining me for briCember--we recorded 17 podcast episodes in 31days and crossed the 10,500+ downloads milestone!

Here's what I know to be true in 2020 and beyond: 1." Travel while you have the light." That means don't let knowledge go wasted, and make the most of everything being illuminated. 2. "Don't waste brainpower on perfect." Don't waste your brain's muscle on limiting beliefs about what we're capable of creating! 3. "You get one body." One. Take care of it accordingly!

Show me your goals by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter.

Feeling nostalgic? Watch these black-and-white movies in your cozy socks with a cup of hot chocolate. Here are the5 black-and-white movies from the first 100 years of cinema that you should experience this holiday season.

1. Mildred Pierce, 1945

   1. 'Mildred Pierce' is a 1945 crime-drama film starring Joan Crawford in the Oscar-winning title role. The style in this movie is UNREAL, and I love that the Max Factor makeup creator worked exclusively with Joan Crawford on this film—such a cool piece of film and makeup history.

2. All About Eve, 1950

   1. 'All About Eve' stars Bette Davis. The director and screenplay creator is Joseph Mankiewicz. Bette plays a stage actress named Margot who is slowly but surely being edged out by her protegee, Eve. The monologues! The hairstyles! The shade!

3. A Raisin in the Sun, 1961

   1. 'A Raising in the Sun' is the film starring Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil and Diana Sands following the Younger clan in Chicago as they navigate their future as a family unit and as individuals. 'Based on the play by Lorraine Hansberry, the scoring in this film accents the theatric foundation of the story.

4. Madame Bovary, 1949

   1. Based on the controversial 1856 novel 'Madame Bovary' by French author Gustave Flaubert, the 1949 adaptation challenged public 'morality' and the Motion Picture Production Code fought to censor the film.

Show me what you're watching by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter.

Before you re-watch 'The Office' or 'Scandal' from the beginning for the 10th time, check out these Netflix hits before everybody else.

1. If you liked 'The Crown,' you'll love 'The Last Czars' - Costume drama meets historical documentary in this 6-part show.

2. If you liked 'Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat', you'll love 'The Taco Chronicles' - A Netflix original that profiles tacos and culinary culture around Mexico.

3. If you liked 'Parasite,' you'll love 'Burning' - Investigate what it means to burn for acceptance with this mind-bending thriller-drama.

4. If you liked 'You',' you'll love 'Romance is a Bonus Book' - I'll admit, 'Romance is a Bonus Book' is a 180-degree change from 'You,' but once you're thoroughly sketched out by Joe Goldberg, run to Dan-i for bubbly, sweet notions of unrequited love.

5. If you liked 'Marriage Story,' you'll love 'Take This Waltz' - This film is cringe-y, sexy, and touches perfectly on the universal fear of commitment and unfulfillment.

Show me what you're watching by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter.

Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean your green thumb has to wither up and die. Turn your nurturing and love inward with these houseplants that will keep your urban jungle growing even in the depths of winter. If you want more gardening inspo, check out this episode recorded with gardener and creator ABeautifulNestTV all about the book "The Garden in Every Sense and Season" by Tovah Martin.

@BriBooksPod's Houseplants in @TheBriGarden

1. Pilea peperomioides - The pilea peperoioides has circle-shaped leaves and prefers well-draining soil and partial light.

2. Indoor herb like basil or cilantro - I repotted and over-wintered the basil and cilantro growing in the garden. Choose an herb you love and plant it on your kitchen windowsill for an instant injection of freshness.

3. Small parlor palm - Preferring 55-70 degrees, moist soil and filtered sunlight, the small parlor palm adds density to any indoor garden. The mini-trees create a faux forest look.

4. Pothos - Pothos is arguably the easiest of all houseplants to grow and the most recognizable houseplant. It does well in rooms like offices, dorm rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens (yes, it even grows under fluorescent lighting). Pothos tend to vine, so I love to use them to take up area and create a living web of plants.

5. Philodendron - Philodendron plants like bright, indirect sunlight, and regular fertilization to grow into its best self.

   Show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter.

How many times have you gone into a wine shop, perused bottles and labels with glazed-over eyes, and left unfulfilled and over budget? Here are four categories I consider when planning what wine to bring to an event, serve to guests, or buy for myself:

Brionna's @BriBooksPod Wine Menu Tips

1. Bubbles or no? (shoutout to Sarita of The Swirl Suite podcast for always encouraging bubbles to kick off the night)
2. Learn the rules, then break them. I choose wines based on my own flavor principle: the lighter the flesh, the lighter the wine. Hence white wine with fish and creamy pasta dishes, red wines with tomato dishes and red meats, and Rosé flows best with vegetables. From there, I forget everything I know and opt for a left-of-center pick such as Pinot Gris in place of a classic white wine or an orange wine in lieu of Rosé.
3. Pick up a wildcard--perhaps a liquor--that you can use to create quick cocktails
4. Think about analogous and complementary flavors relative to the meal

Brionna's @BriBooksPod Wine Menu Recommendations

1. Bubbles recommendation: Vigneto Luciano Saetti Rosso Viola Lambrusco Salamino, 2018 ($20-$23), available at Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits in Brooklyn
2. Meal pairing recommendation: Meinklang "Mulatschak" Weisser Pino Gris ($17-$20), available at Simple Syrup
3. Easy, delicious red to compliment every dish recommendation: Adega de Penalva Idigena Branco, Dao ($13-$15), available at Simple Syrup
4. Wildcard: Letherbee Charred Oak Absinthe Brun ($38-$40), available at Simple Syrup

Show me what you're sipping on by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter.

Want to plan a weekender getaway but don't know where to start? Here are the fool-proof steps I took to explore Ithaca, New York along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail in the Finger Lakes, NY region.

To accompany this episode, I've produced an IGTV video on @bribookspod and @brionnajay Instagram accounts sharing my recommendations for Ithaca, NY.

@BriBooksPod Tips for Planning the Perfect Weekend Getaway

1. Choose how far you're willing to travel

2. Choose where you want to be vis-a-vis the 'action'

3. Choose a destination with a unique natural history, culinary tradition, art scene, etc.

4. Bonus: Visit a museum and support local artists at a market while traveling

Where to visit in Ithaca, New York

RESTAURANTS:

• Just A Taste Wine Bar and Tapas

• Waffle Frolic

• Maxie's Supper Club and Oyster Bar

EXPERIENCES

• Ithaca Farmers Market

• Fall Creek Gorge

• Wineries

  • Americana Winery

• The sunset over Cayuga Lake!

Show me your holiday photos by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter.

On today's episode, I'm sharing my travel dream list for 2020 and beyond. As I reflect on 2019, I realize that international travel was (welcomely) replaced by domestic adventure this year. I left the country only once(to attend the Myleik Teele MTY Retreat in May, here's a link to the podcast all about the retreat!). In the spirit of adventure, here's a peek at my personal worldwide bucket list. Show me yours by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter.

1. Korea
2. Costa Rica
3. Puerto Rico
4. Uruguay/ Chile/ Peru
5. Mexico
6. Senegal
7. Morocco
8. Zanzibar
9. Portugal
10. Bordeaux
11. Ghana

Let's raise a glass to those restaurant trips that leave us wanting more. When dining out, these are the tips that’ll ensure you always have the best experience possible.

1. Sit at the bar, it's like being at the theater 
2. Research the menu and specials on the restaurant site and Instagram 
3. Read the menu, and ask questions
4. Go for the gold standard 
5. Pre-dine and pre-game your dinner

Two restaurants I mention in this episode: 

1. Endswell, a French-American Bistro in Brooklyn, New York
2. Lowerline, a Cajun restaurant and oyster bar in Brooklyn, New York

What are your restaurant hacks? Show me by using #bribooks on Instagram when you're out dining next time, and check out bribookspod.com and join the newsletter for more restaurant tips and recommendations. 

It's time for the Sephora VIB Sale--everyone gets $15 off $75 until 12/17, and VIB Insiders earn $20 of $75, and VIB Rouge members earn $25 off $75. Here's what I'd stock up on if I were you: 

MAKEUP

1. Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer natural skin perfector SPF 30 in shade Mocha, $47
2. Ilia limitless lash mascara, $28
3. Sephora cream lip stain 01 Rouge, $14
4. YSL Rouge Volupte shine lipstick, $38

SKINCARE

1. Caudalie Premier Cru Ultimate Anti-Aging Trio, $99

FRAGRANCE

1. Maison Margiela “Replica” (I recommend “Lipstick On,” “Whispers in the Library”), $126
2. Clean Reserve, “Solar Bloom” $98

GIFT SETS 

1. Clean Reserve giftset $48
2. Maison Margiela giftset $68

TRIAL SIZES 

1. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Treatment, $24