Live Loud: Quarantine Realizations & Discoveries

Dear Pennies & Pens, 

As you all know, I’ve been on a break since April. This break has truly been life changing!!! I feel like a completely different person. Like I feel so much more positive and uplifted. I don’t complain as much as I used to, I am more grateful and less tolerant of nonsense. 

But it took some realizations and discoveries to get to this point. Some of the realizations were about me, some about people in my life while the discoveries include various different things I have purchased. I decided to take this break to reassess my life, what I want and how I’m going to get it. I also needed some serious self-care. I had been neglecting myself for too long. 

So what have I realized and discovered? Let me break this done into list format so it’s easier to digest. 

1. I am okay being alone: When quarantine first started, I convinced myself that I felt lonely and was sad that I don’t have a man or any kids. Now, I’ve realized that I’m okay being alone. I enjoy my own company because I know how to make my own fun and I don’t need anyone or anything to feel good about myself. So really, I was letting what society and other people think I should have make me think that I wanted those things. Don’t get it twisted I wouldn’t mind being married to Michael B. Jordan or John David Washington and carrying their children BUT I’m okay with the fact that I’m not. 
2. I like my space: So I had always known that I like my space but I didn’t realize how much until quarantine. I don’t like to be around people all the time. It irritates me. If and when I do get married, I will have Hers & His bathrooms and we’ll have designated areas in the house for me, my husband and the kids. 
3. I don’t like or miss social media: Omg wow, I literally cannot emphasize this realization enough. I DO NOT LIKE OR MISS SOCIAL MEDIA. FUCK SOCIAL MEDIA. I’ve uploaded like 2 Tik Toks since I started my break and every time I do, people think I’m back. I’ve been posting content occasionally because I am eventually going to relaunch ISLP so I have to keep my brand and name relevant. But that doesn’t mean that I’m back on social media. Which leads me to my next point. 
4. People don’t watch, read or listen to shit you say on social media: So as I mentioned, my break started in April and I didn’t post for the next two months. Then I finally do a post in June to officially announce the break and then here comes everyone commenting welcome back. And I’m just like…lol, people don’t watch, read or listen to shit you say on social media. It’s almost sad how basic people are. If you go to my Instagram and watch that video or read the caption, I clearly state that I’m just announcing my break. So I’m just so lost as to why I got those reactions. 
5. I’m only doing check in posts: Since all it takes to engage people and make them think you’re active on social media is a 60 second Tik Tok video or a Instagram feed post with no caption or hashtags, I’m only doing check in posts on social media. Meaning I’m hitting social media like Beyonce. I will post what the fuck I want to post when the fuck I want to post it. Fuck all those tips, tricks and rules. 
6. You can be basic on social media: Bruh I used to drive myself crazy shooting photos & videos, writing captions, etc for social media. But my last few posts have either no caption or a basic caption with no hashtags and the photo/video is basic at best. Yet that shit got engagement. So since people are basic on social media, I don’t have to try that hard. Great, stress over. 
7. America is awful: So during a global health pandemic and economic downturn, America has shown how not great it never was. Our government can’t decide how to handle this crisis, who to give funding to, and we certainly aren’t united. I cannot believe that during these times, I have to stress about how I’m going to pay my bills when I supposedly live in the richest country in the world. Like Kirk and the Family said: “Tell me where is the American Dream when only 1% knows what it means to really be okay?” 
8. Beyonce` is the Queen of Femme Pop: More on this later. 
9. Move in silence: Don’t tell everyone what you’re doing. Just do it. Move in silence. 

Now it’s time to talk about my discoveries. I discovered some dope ass shit during quarantine, Pennies & Pens. So get ready for the goodies. 

1. How to clean & declutter: So before quarantine, I used to travel and work all the time so I was never home. Also, I’ve moved around alot so over the past few years, I’ve amassed quite a bit of stuff. But since quarantine started, I have discovered how to clean and declutter. I’ve been working on my closet, kitchen, living room, and bathroom to get rid of things I don’t need or want. This discovery has definitely helped cleanse my energy because now I can actually find things and don’t have so much junk. 
2. Decorate your living space: Decorating your living space makes you feel sooo good! Just doing simple things like buying a new shower curtain and bath mats can transform your space. It makes everything look put together which makes it more inviting and livable. Now that I’ve started decorating, I love being home!!! My apartment truly feels like home so I never want to leave. 
3. Organic + High End Bedding and Bath: A few months ago, right as quarantine was starting, I decided to take a leap of faith and purchase a new mattress, sheets, duvet, towels, etc. I was suffering from serious sleep issues and it was throwing off my energy. I knew that I wanted to make my home fully vegan, organic and sustainable so I took time to research different brands and products before making any purchases. I am pleased to say I have discovered some seriously dope brands! 
   1. Brentwood Home – I have their Crystal Cove mattress which is a Vegan mattress and the matching pillows – I sleep so good in that bed it should be a crime. Although I use the pillows for lounging and not sleep I do adore them. 
   2. Boll & Branch – – I have a towel set and bath sheet set, percale sheets, a King pillow and King pillowcases. I absolutely love Boll & Branch!!! Their towels and sheets are seriously life changing. I take the longest showers and baths now, like my water bill is outrageous and I can’t even be mad because I know it’s my fault. Those towels are just so soft, it’s completely upgraded my bathroom experience. Every shower or bath is like a visit to the spa. I dig the percale sheets because I sleep hot and these sheets are soft and cool. I used to sweat like crazy and now I don’t because of these cool sheets. I also like my King pillow, it’s comfy and soft, I have the down alternative pillow.
   3. Undercover – this is a brand from the UK, I have two of their duvet covers. I dig Undercover because they’re the only brand I’ve seen selling duvet covers in non-traditional colors and designs. Plus their products are very well made and the fabric is so soft! 
   4. Fine Bedding – another brand from the UK, Fine Bedding makes duvets, pillows, etc. I have two of their duvets and they’re are sooo fabulous! Literally so soft and fluffy. The ones I have are made of recycled materials which just makes them even doper. 
   5. Tuft & Needle. I have one of their duvet covers and it is so soft and cool. Tuft & Needle is also very affordable so you can get organic products for a great price. 
4. Underprotection: So I technically discovered lingerie and Underprotection before quarantine but since quarantine started, it has become my main obsession. Underprotection is a Danish brand that creates vegan and sustainable lingerie. Although not all of their pieces are vegan, the majority of them are. And trust me, Pennies & Pens, their pieces are flyy!!! The fabric is always fabulous and the construction is always amazing. I have idk how many pieces from Underprotection. I have body suits, bras, bralettes and panties. And I’m eyeing idk how many pieces from their summer sale and new collection. 

5. CBD: So I’ve been a THC consumer for years now but I only recently discovered CBD. CBD is short for cannabidiol and it comes from the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. CBD helps you achieve homeostasis or balance. You can take CBD oil, gummies, capsules, or you can use CBD bath bombs. CBD can be used to help with sleep, stress, anxiety, relaxation and more.

I love Infinite CBD – I discovered this brand while in Denver last year. Their products are absolutely amazing! I tried the CBD Dropper and the CBD gummies. The dropper was perfect for helping me relax — it also kept me in a good mood. Like since I ran out, I’ve noticed that I’m not as balanced and calm. Pretty crazy that my body already loves CBD after one purchase! I take the gummies during the day to help boost my energy. I took one yesterday and I instantly felt boosted. It did take about 2 weeks for me to really feel the benefits of CBD but once I did, I was in my happy place. So I just placed two more orders with Infinite so I never have to leave my happy place again. 

To wrap up this long post, quarantine has been really good for me. I am in a much better place now than I was 4 months ago. So I’m keeping this trend alive for as long as I can. Once again, I’m still on a break but will pop in every now and then when I have something to say. 

And there it is. de la Pen…All Pen Everything. With us, keeping real never goes wrong.