October 2020 Teen Brown Sugar Box Mini Magazine

OCTOBER 2020

WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF VIRAL DANCE QUEEN

YUNG BBQ

4 Books to Add to Your Collection

Stylish Bedroom Decor for the Fall

The

Queens Only

CRAZY, COZY, & COOL Edition

Crazy, Cozy & Cool TikTok and SnapChat are getting all of your attention since the world seems to be cancelled. But, we want to give you something to look forward to as the weather starts to cool down and school gets into full swing. Being home on Friday Nights may seem a little different these days, and you’ll have to get together with family and close friends to watch a few movies this year.

Even as you explore new ways to connect with your BFFs, you have to feel comfortable doing YOU. In this Crazy, Cozy and Cool Home Edition of your Brown Sugar Box, we’re giving you a few cute items to help you feel even more Crazy, Cozy, and Cool. We want you to feel CRAZY confident about your academics, super COZY as you study, and fashionably COOL on your Zoom classes. This year may be unique, but you’ve got this! Everything you need to make it through the Fall months are coming your way in your Izzy & Liv Brown Sugar box.

On Fleek Plush Blanket (1 of 4) Stay “on fleek” with this cute, super soft blanket. Wrap up in this blanket for your Facetime moments with your friends. Keep it cute every single day. Size: 50"x60". Available in 4 design patterns: Brown Sugar Supreme, Strike a Pose, Bold & Chic, and Glam Goddesses.

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Brown Sugar 2pc Throw Pillows Covers (1 of 4) Add some style and color to your already super cute room with these Throw Pillow Covers. Relax in your confidence with these pretty brown sugar girl patterns.

Size: 18"x18". Available in 4 designs: Strike a Pose, Bold & Chic, Brown Sugar Supreme, and Glam Goddesses.

Unapologetic Purple Tee The perfect short sleeve fit for a lazy day at home.

Slip on your favorite leggings and cute Izzy & Liv socks with your Unapologetic Tee to make being home look even better.

Shower in Style Teen Towel (1 of 2) Brown girls shower in style. After a long day of virtual learning or studying your textbooks, make shower time the most relaxing part of the day. Use this extra-large towel for your own special bath routine (and keep this one away from your siblings...it’s just for you). Available in 2 designs: Brown Girls or Melanin Love.

Easy Listenin’ Earbuds (1 of 3) Turn the music up (or down) with the Easy Listenin’ Earbuds. You’re going to be TikTok’ing while it’s cool outside, so why not do it with cordless, bluetooth earbuds. Take a moment to turn on some great music and dance it out after sitting in class all day. Available in Green, Coral and Blue.

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Stylish Bedroom Decor for the Fall

By Girl Tyler

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N

ew seasons are all about change.

Come fall, you can always expect leaves to change colors, a dip in temperatures, cute boot season, and a national pumpkin spice frenzy!

As the world around you evolves, you deserve a change of scenery. Start with your bedroom!

Here are a few items that will help give your sleeping palace a fresh face for the fall.

String Lights

Your favorite social media stars always seem to get the light exactly right on their photos and in videos. Awaken your bedroom with colored lights to match your mood. Remote controlled or strobe, you decide! Ask an adult for permission to string them around the ceiling. You can even try hanging them around a full-length wall mirror.

Pull Up a Chair

Wall Art

Think of your wall as a personal museum dedicated to your personality. Showcase your favorite things with vintage movie and album posters or vinyl decals (the kind that won’t leave permanent residue!). You can also hang frameless wall photos to show off your favorite moments with the people you cherish the most.

Cozy is the goal! When you’re winding down from a busy day, pull up a comfy thinking chair. Who said bean bag chairs are old school? They’re like a second bed only smaller and they fit the shape of your body. Use the bean bag chair or an oversized backrest pillow as a gaming, reading, or homework spot. No room for a new chair? No sweat! Another option is to relax in your bed surrounded by accent or faux-fur pillows.

Essential Oil Diffuser

In recent years, essential oil diffusers have become super popular as a way to replace dry, stuffy air with soothing fragrances. There are countless designs to choose from, including diffusers with color changing LED lights, stardust glass, wood grain finish or even a himalayan salt lamp.

Opt for neutral or warm autumn colors (golden brown, reds with orange undertones, emerald, teal, etc.)

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Books to Add to Your Collection

By Girl Tyler

Have you binged your favorite TV shows and films on Netflix?

Are your fingers tired of mindlessly scrolling Instagram and TikTok? Why not disconnect for a bit and stretch your imagination into another realm courtesy of a good book? There are endless titles, fiction and nonfiction, dedicated to the exploration of Black brilliance. We picked four coming-of-age best sellers with rave reviews to add to your at-home or digital collection. Journey into a new, yet familiar world courtesy of Black girl protagonists who push boundaries by challenging the status quo. Happy reading!

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This Is My America

by Kim Johnson Every week, seventeen-year-old Tracy Beaumont writes letters to Innocence X, asking the organization to help her father, an innocent Black man on death row. After seven years, Tracy is running out of time – her dad has only 267 days left. Then the unthinkable happens. The police arrive in the night and Tracy’s older brother, Jamal, goes from being a bright, promising track star to a “thug” on the run, accused of killing a white girl. Determined to save her brother, Tracy investigates what really happened between Jamal and Angela down at the Pike. Will Tracy and her family survive the uncovering of their Texas town’s racist history and the ghosts that still haunt the present?

The Skin I’m In

by Sharon G. Flake Maleeka suffers every day from the taunts of the kids in her class. If they’re not ridiculing her about her homemade clothes, it’s her dark, black skin, or even the fact that she gets grades. When a new teacher, whose face is blotched with a startling white patch, starts at their school, Maleeka is certain there’s bound to be trouble for her too, but the new teacher’s attitude surprises her.

Miss Saunders loves the skin she’s in.

Can Maleeka learn to do the same?

Piecing Me Together

by Renée Watson

A Song Below Water

by Bethany C. Morrow In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers. Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, literally pitted against demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate the perils of their junior year of high school.

Everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation. At the worst possible moment, Tavia accidentally reveals her magical voice, and soon, nothing in Portland seems safe. Tavia and Effie’s unbreakable sisterhood proves to be the strongest magic of all, but will it save them from drowning?

Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she is ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way, and she does.

She accepted a scholarship to a mostly white private school and even welcomed Saturday morning test prep opportunities. The problem is some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Jade knows that’s really for black girls from “bad” neighborhoods. Maxine, her collegegraduate mentor, is a black woman who wants to help, but that doesn’t mean she understands Jade. Are there things Jade can show these successful women about the real world, including how to make a real difference in people’s lives?

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This is where Izzy & Liv teens deserve all the shine!

We absolutely adore seeing you beautiful, brilliant Queens showing off your new boxes.

Here are a few snapshots from August 2020:

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Our Brown Sugar Teens are THE BEST! We LOVE all the pictures you shared of them and their boxes!

Congratulations to last box’s WINNER! Ru’Hama Pilot was randomly selected from everyone who shared their last box on social media to WIN her next box FREE. Thank you to everyone who shared! We appreciate you! Don’t forget to share this winter box using the hashtags #IzzyandLiv #BrownSugarBoxTeens and tag @izzyandliv for your chance to win next month’s giveaway.

E We Can’t Get

nough of

Viral Dance Queen

Yung BBQ

By Girl Tyler

L

aughter is a pathway to healing and who couldn’t use an extra dose in 2020?

With TikTok and Instagram Reels, dope content creators are using their platforms to tell incredible stories through short-form videos.

There’s one young lady killing the game that we can’t get enough of — Alexis Feacher aka Yung BBQ is the IG comedienne we didn’t know we needed.

Known to bust a move in the middle of the street while wearing a wild outfit, Yung BBQ has danced her way into the hearts of millions.

She’s accumulated 1.2 million followers on IG and counting. With every viral video, her presence and positive influence just keeps on growing. Yung BBQ is far from random though.

By the way, BBQ stands for “Beautiful Black Queen” and she’s been dancing practically her entire life. This St. Petersburg, FL native has even captured the attention of A-List Black girl celebs like Teyana Taylor, Janet Jackson, and SZA. Yung BBQ is known to pay homage to iconic queens in music and TV. She’s recreated iconic music videos like The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliott and What’s Love Got to Do with It by Tina Turner. She wows her fans and flaunts her extraordinary editing skills by doubling as twins like Tia and Tamera from the hit 90’s sitcom Sister, Sister and by appearing as her own version of the cast from 2000s-era sitcom, Girlfriends.

Search #bbqswerve on Insta to see a collection of her wildest moves and dance challenges from her fans. This 21-year-old recreation queen is well on her way to becoming a leading lady.

Yung BBQ is the definition of quality content and we love to see it!

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Q

ueens recognize queens.

Period! Confidence is contagious and when you see another Black girl winning, it’s a victory for us all.

Self-doubt and frustration can get to the best of us, but with a positive outlook and a LIT playlist, you can turn anything around.

The Queens Only playlist is stacked with fierce Black queens who mean business. These artists consistently unleash their inner warrior on every track and encourage all of us to boss up. These songs are a declaration of love, strength, and femininity. Glow on young queen!

By Girl Tyler

• Unstoppable

by Koryn Hawthorne • Q.U.E.E.N. by Janelle Monáe and Erykah Badu • Coffee by Kelly Rowland • Chocolate by Kiana Ledé ft. Ari Lennox • Sometimes by H.E.R. • Doo Wop (That Thing)

by Lauryn Hill • Good as Hell by Lizzo • So Good by Destiny’s Child • Flawless by Beyoncé feat.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie • Forgive Me by Chloe x Halle • Underdog by Alicia Keys • Comfortable by H.E.R. • Sittin’ Up in My Room by Brandy • Lost One by Jazmine Sullivan • Work It by Missy Elliott • Black Mermaid by Esthero • Tempo by Lizzo ft. Missy Elliott • What About Your Friends by TLC • Made It by Teyana Taylor • Change Your Life by Kehlani

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Magical Black Gir ls You could be a star in our next Brown Sugar Box Teens magazine!

Share your pictures and videos on social media with the hashtag #IzzyandLiv #BrownSugarBoxTeens and tag us @IzzyandLiv