October Staff Faves
Happy Halloween to all our Susty Baddies! We hope that you had a killer weekend filled with all things spooky, witchy, magical, and mystical. We here at Sustainable Baddie want to end October with a quick look into what the SB team has been loving this month. Although most of this month’s favs aren’t spooky or sinister, they definitely are susty! We have tons of recommendations for skin care, reading material, foodie favs, and so much more! You can even use these suggestions as inspo for your holiday gift lists too! Check out what's bringing us joy, making us laugh, making us cry, and everything in between.
Natasha:
Credit: New York Times
Tokischa - This month, Natasha has been entranced with Dominican rapper, Tokischa. Tokischa makes killer music that blends rap, hip hop and urbano energy. Listening to her music is perfect for solo dance parties and group dance parties alike. If you need some hype-up music, Tokischa’s sex positive attitude and liberated energy will give you an extra boost of sexy, sustsy, confidence. I mean, don’t just take our word for it, just listen to Natasha’s rave review: “she’s so nasty 😩 I’m in love with her.” Natasha recommends listening to her new song Delincuente or watching her Tiny Desk Concert for the full Tokischa experience!
Credit: NYLON
Notes on Shapeshifting by Gabi Abrao - if you love poetry as much as Natasha, then you need to check out Gabi Abrao. Natasha writes poetry herself, so we definitely trust her opinion when it comes to poetry recs. Notes on Shapeshifting explores themes like change, the physical / material, and the relationship between the earth and our own bodies. What makes this book top tier for Natasha? She loves anyone who writes about being naked in nature. Sounds pretty susty to me!
Credit: Columbia Pictures
Hot Girl/Mental Health Walks - Natasha, like many of us, is not vibing with the colder weather and darker days. How is she coping with the onset of seasonal affective disorder around this time? Walks, walks, and more walks! Whether it's a hot girl walk, a mental health walk, or literally just a loop around the block, getting outside and moving her body is one of Natasha’s saving graces this time of year. So throw on your hats and scarves, and get moving!
Aparna:
Credit: Green Hand Bookshop
Audre Lorde - Sister Outsider - Aparna recently got a copy of Audre Lorde’s book Sister Outsider, and it seems to have entered her life at the ideal time. Aparna is loving the entire book of essays, but she is feeling most impacted by “Poetry is Not A Luxury.” It’s certainly the black queer manifesto on art we baddies need going into a season of hibernation (and hopefully artistic expression). Definitely snag a copy of this as you prep yourself for snuggling-up-with-a-book szn.
Credit: L.A. Burdick
L.A. Burdick - Halloween is all about the spook and the scare, but we cannot forget about candy this time of year. Aparna is a self-identified chocolate enthusiast. However, her lack of a sweet tooth makes finding the right chocolate a little bit harder. When the weather gets colder, and chocolate bevs take over the world of hot drinks, Aparna is reaching for L.A. Burdick’s hot chocolate. If you are also a chocolate lover, L.A. Burdick’s has a range that goes from dark and rich to sweet and milky. Even better? They are stocked on vegan and dairy free options too!
Credit: Audible
Kimberley Wilson - How to Build a Healthy Brain - Back on the S.A.D. train, Aparna has been exploring how food impacts our mental health. She is currently loving Dr. Kimberley Wilson’s How to Build a Healthy Brain. This book dives into the relationship between nutrition and taking care of our mental health. As S.A.D. sets in and emotions get wonky, this book is a great tool for getting your brain back on track. It is heavy on science, so if that's not your thing, be aware! If you love science or learning new things, Aparna explains that this text is “transformative in explaining how depression works in our brains and bodies, and how we can make lifestyle changes in order to work with our brains.”
Zibby:
Funky Rugs - After moving into a new apartment this fall, I have had home decor on top of my mind for weeks. I love to bring color, textures, patterns into my spaces to bring in fun energy, and recently I have found myself in deep dives into the rug world of the internet. I am an avid follower of @_homedreaming for all things home inspo, and recently I have been obsessed with the brand that basically curates my ‘gram, Tarta Gelatina. They have tons of fun home decor pieces, but their rugs are front and center. The quirky styles, colors, and unique patterns bring my little colorful heart so much joy. In other rug news, Ur Fancy Shop, a new store in Brooklyn, sells tons of amazing handmade rugs and other adorable home decor that I am already completely obsessed with.
Tattoos & other things to alter my entire look – as we head into winter, one way that I always deal with the cold is by making drastic changes to my look. Two years ago I decided to dye my hair pink around November, and last year I shaved the entire sides of my head. This year I decided to do something a bit milder (or so I thought) and get a tattoo from a brooklyn based artist @Pantano__. I was so obsessed with my new little piece that it sent me into a chaotic spiral; not too long after, I decided to bleach my brows. The look was heavily inspired by my fav youtuber, Jenny Bourn. Am I rocking this look as much as she is? Up for debate. Do I feel energized, refreshed, and inspired stepping into winter? You betcha!
Credit: The Coolector
Space Shoes – A few months ago I was watching a youtube video from LindseyRem on her take on fashion trends of 2022. In the video she referred to Solomons sneakers as “futuristic jelly sneakers,” and ever since I heard her say that, I have been calling these types of sneakers my “space shoes.” And I am simply in love. I walk to work every day, and having a good pair of shoes for my urban hikes is essential. These Solomon “space shoes,” offer support on my walks, and they are allowing me to tap into a gorp-core style that I have been waiting to experiment with. I love pairing this super athletic style with fun pieces like long skirts and patterned pants to add a little something different!
Jazmine:
Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask: We are no stranger to skincare, especially when it comes to winter skincare routines. Whether you deal with dry skin, oily skin, combination, or a mysterious 4th option (aka most of us), we all have a skincare routine. Jazmine’s routine lately has included this amazing purifying mask from the Body Shop. For Jaz, this is the product that makes the difference and is 100% worth the investment. She likes to apply it as needed, whenever things start to feel a lil’ funky!
Jazmine’s special hydration smoothie™: If you are anything like us, then you know that when it gets colder, it can be extra hard to get your daily dose of hydration in! Jaz is a hydration queen, and her secret is this smoothie! She whips this concoction up on the daily – follow along very closely.
“There are no measurements, as I prefer to go off vibes, but I add spinach/kale, frozen blueberries, frozen peaches, chia seeds, fresh ginger, lemon juice, and a lil bit if honey, then I use one part coconut water (I prefer Harmless Harvest) and one part water! The coconut water is what helps retain the hydration because of the electrolytes in it. And it’s SOOO GOOD!”
Tyler McGillivary wiggly tote bag: Jazmine has had this bag since 2020, but didn’t start falling in love until this month! The fun color and funky shape is simply the best way to elevate any outfit that she works. Even in this Tik Tok, you can see how Jazmine’s classic “running errands” ‘fit gets an immediate lift from this funky accessory! And this is a good reminder that sometimes the pieces taking up space in your closet just need a little refresh or a second trial run before you decide to swap them out for something new! NOTE: unfortunately, this item has sold out, but look here for a similar item!