30 AFFIRMATIONS FOR THE MONTH AHEAD
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This month holds a special place in our hearts. first Brown Sugar Box! YSpring signals growth and a symbolic shedding of the past as we blossom on our journey to renewed culture, confidence, and soul. Our founder and CEO, Nicole Brown, launched the Brown Sugar Box six years ago to uplift Black women to their highest selves through specially curated items, for us and by us. April 2023 marks the sixth anniversary of the first boxes ever shipped. Time flies when you’re on a mission to amplify Black girl visibility! Each year gets sweeter, and our love for this community grows stronger. Thank you for rocking with us! You’re holding a true labor of love. The Brown Sugar Box is more than an extension of Izzy & Liv, it’s a celebration of you.
& WIN! GO TO: IZZYANDLIV.COM/BLACKGIRLWINNING
Realness is a dying breed. You’re 100% made of Black girl excellence! Queens recognize queens. As a Brown Sugar Babe, you have the power uplift and empower your fellow queens with your unapologetic confidence and unbreakable spirit.
Your new relaxed tee is more than just a piece of clothing - it’s a statement. Whether you’re running errands or just lounging at home, let this tee be a reminder of your inherent strength, beauty, and worth.
Strut your stuff in this relaxed tee and represent the Brown Sugar Babe tribe.
For Brown Sugar OGs, you may remember that our very first box included Bubblicious gum. We’re throwing it back to the early days with a
Afro Allure Wall Tapestry (1 of 2) - $30
If these walls could talk, they’d say you’re a work of art! The colorful, crisp wall tapestry design brightens up any space. The fabric is lightweight, durable, and wrinkle free. Excellent for wall hangings, tablecloths, or other decorations. You’ll get one of two designs: Lady of Range or Mane Xpression.
Beautiful, Bold & Zen Tank Top - $25 Comfy tank tops rule spring and summer. This breathable, versatile workout / on-the-go tank is brown sugar approved. Featuring a stunning and colorful design and a flattering cutto the fiture, with a nice flowy silhouette. embrace your unique identity and heritage, and let this tank be a proud symbol of your strength, beauty, and individuality.
Beauty Beat 7-Piece
Premium Brush Set
w/Case (1 of 3) - $35
Create a flawless look with all the essentials. Great for beginners or makeup pros. Gentle on sensitive skin. The case is excellent for travel and effortless organization. You’ll get one of three sets that include a navy, gold, or brown pouch.
Nite & Day Brown Sugar Glossin’ Duos - 3-Tube Set (6 Glosses) $32
Gloss or matte? Decisions, decisions. You don’t have to pick! Go from day to night with a few swipes. This set includes three individual duos that include lipstick and lip gloss. story, and this necklace is the perfect storyteller. Adjust the length to your preference, choose your side, and walk around feeling fly.
by Girl Tyler
Tis the season to start going out more and wearing less. Is your wardrobe ready for warm weather? Kudos to the girlies who stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready. As for the rest of us desperately needing a wardrobe revamp, this is our time to freshen up the closet. Change is good! Your unique style evolves as your attitude and perspective on life shifts. Experts recommend assessing your closet when seasons change, or every 90 days, by ditching outdated or ill-fitting clothing and adding new pieces to the collection. You can update your style on a budget by swapping with friends or thrifting (don’t knock it until you try it!). Start with a theme (or multiple themes) that spell out your personal style and build your wardrobe accordingly. Here are 5 effortless ways to elevate your style game:
Keyshia Cole said it best, “Let it go.” Unless it carries sentimental value, you should only hang on to clothing you have worn for two years. If you haven’t touched an item in two years, do you really love it? What are you holding on to? These dust collectors are taking up valuable real estate in your closet. Do a size check and try on any item you feel iffy about. Then, decide. Can you honestly commit to wearing it by 12/31? If the answer is no, donate, sell, or trash it. Dedicate a few hours on a light day in your schedule to set your closet straight.
Wear what you want to wear, but never, ever let them pigeon-hole you into being who they want you to be. Every Phenomenal Woman has her own flare. You may go from sporting an Izzy and Liv Brown Sugar Babe Barcode T-Shirt with a pencil skirt one day, to rocking a poncho with boots the next. That’s your style and it’s all good! Move through your day feeling self-assured of your choices and remember that your look is ALL YOU!
Style is just as much about a feeling as it is a look. Take inventory of how you feel while wearing certain items and colors. The pieces that make you feel more confident should be your motivation for future purchases. Go with styles that make you feel unstoppable. Let go of any clothing that is baggy or constricting.
Sometimes you don’t need a new article of clothing; instead, you need new accessories to make your existing pieces pop. Elevate your wardrobe with budget-friendly handbags, belts, earrings, shoes, etc. to match your style theme.
Don’t chase trends; seek out feel-good content. Never feel boxed in again. Follow fashion experts who focus on your body type and match your personality. These pros know their stuff and spend their days happily educating others on personal style. Learn how to wear one piece in multiple ways to maximize its use in your closet.
by Girl Tyler
I’m currently binging (and highly recommend) Beef on Netflix, starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun. Beef is about the lengths two strangers will go to enact revenge after a road rage incident. Through a series of anger-induced bizarre events, I watched in awe, curious if anyone would stop, take a deep breath, and refocus on the bright spots in life. The series is a comedy that has heartfelt moments that show how bad days can eventually turn into a bad life, for you and those around you, if left unchecked.
It’s like that sometimes. We often allow a series of unfortunate events to overshadow the good. Problems are inevitable in this life, but attitude is optional. That’s where positive affirmations come in. These statements are vital when we’re faced with life’s most frustrating curveballs. It take consistent practice to keep your thoughts I check to maintain a state of peace. While therapy and community are critical when battling mental health challenges, positive affirmations can elevate your mental state when you need a quick pick me up. Your mood goes where your energy flows.
1. My heart is open to receiving all the goodness this world offers.
2. I am in alignment with my passion and purpose.
3. Rest is an act of resistance.
4. My peace is non-negotiable.
5. Everything is working out in my favor.
6. I will trust my intuition.
7. I honor my body with rest, boundaries, and joy.
8. Rush nothing. One day at a time.
9. Asking for help is not a weakness.
10. I am worthy of my heart’s desires.
11. I will feed my faith and starve my fears.
12. I create space for my doubts and leave room to grow between the gaps.
13. I will win.
14. I light up every room I enter.
15. My joy cannot be contained.
16. I belong here. This world is a better place because of me.
17. I will find the courage to say what matters most, even if my voice trembles.
18. Sometimes, the best response is no response whatsoever.
19. I am divinely protected.
20. The perception of others does not define my life.
21. Some days, I may fall short of greatness, but my intentions flow from a sacred space.
22. I am human. My mistakes do not define me.
23. I am beauty. I am love. I matter.
24. I will not be defeated by rejections or heartbreak. My life is still good.
25. I am healing and learning to forgive myself for my shortcomings.
26. I will focus on the things within my control and leave the rest to the universe.
27. I did my best today, and that’s all that matters. Tomorrow will be better.
28. My inner child needs love too. I will nourish her with a renewed sense of wonder and grace.
29. I invite greatness into my life.
30. Disagreements happen, but my perspective matters.
LSU Tigers player Angel Reese is no stranger to critics. After her team defeated Iowa in the Women’s NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the 20-yearold told reporters, “All year, I was critiqued about who I was. I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit in the box that you all want me to be in.”
Of course, athletes are often held to unfair standards for their behavior on and off the court. Based on the social media discourse on her game conduct and subsequent interviews, Reese received more backlash and support than her peers. A grown man referred to her as a “classless piece of s**t” among a sea of other expletives from internet thugs. For Black girls, we’re judged according to another set of rules that are often threatening, dehumanizing, and belittling.
You may remember the 95th
Academy Awards ceremony. Earlier this year, all eyes were on Angela Bassett. Would she finally win her long overdue Oscar for her role in Wakanda Forever? The award went to Jamie Lee Curtis for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once. You could see the hurt in Angela’s eyes. Disappointment is a natural human response. So why is it that social media went into a frenzy criticizing Angela for not appearing to cheer for her peer in the category? There is no proof that she *didn’t* clap, the camera only showed her briefly, but the crusade of Black girl critics spent days writing hot takes and lackluster commentary about Angela’s perceived lack of humility. The tea is, Angela isn’t the only nominee seen not clapping for Jamie. She just bore the burden of public criticism.
Why are we expected to perform for their comfort? Angela Bassett and Angel Reese are but two
examples on the world stage. The rest of us lead everyday lives and are (still) fighting the same battle. “We’re tired” is an understatement. There are plenty of studies detailing the discrimination from our outward appearance to the policing of our emotions. Respectability politics be damned. We’re seeing a new renaissance of young women and girls speaking out against racism and misogyny.
You don’t have to settle for marginalization at work or in
your personal relationships. Document everything. Bring receipts. Speak up, even when you feel unsupported. Above all, know when it is time to walk. Sometimes we are presented with issues that disrupt our very foundation, but sometimes disruptions can lead us to the path we were supposed to be on all along.
Izzy & Liv customers truly are THE BEST! We have LOVED seeing your posts sharing your boxes each month over the years. Here are a few highlights from the last 6 years!
You deserve a BREAK! A break from monotony, a break from routine, and a break from anything weighing you down. If you have the freedom and flexibility to take an adult spring break, run for it! For those of us that can’t take a trip until the summer, you can always turn up at home or during a local staycation. The Spring Break Mix playlist is a collection of dope, new(ish) tracks from today’s artists. Vibe out while you’re relaxing, doing some much needed spring cleaning, or packing up the kids for their spring break! This playlist has a few bops to also keep you pumped if you’re getting summertime fine at the gym.
• Pick Up Your Feelings” by Jazmine Sullivan
• Out of Sight by Summer Walker ft. Tyler, The Creator
• You For Me by Normani
• We Made It by H.E.R.
• Kill Bill by SZA
• ICU by Coco Jones
• Waste My Time by Ari Lennox
• Temporary by 6LACK ft. Don Toliver
• Cuff It (Wetter Remix) by Beyoncé
• Wait for U by Future ft. Tems and Drake
• Just Wanna Rock by Lil Uzi Vert
• Sorry Not Sorry by Tyler, The Creator
• Bad Habit by Steve Lacy
• Blackout by Joyner Lucas ft. Future
• Red Ruby Da Sleeze by Nicki Minaj
• Greatness by Quavo
• Told Ya by Chlöe ft. Missy Elliott
• Pretty Girls Walk by Big Boss Vette
• In Ha Mood by Ice Spice
• Players by Coi Leray
• Stay by Rihanna ft. The Weeknd
• Redemption by Teyana Taylor
• Girl Like Me by Jazmine Sullivan ft. H.E.R.
• Deserve Me by Summer Walker, Kali Uchis
• Da Girls Ciara
• Break My Soul Beyonce
• Woman Doja Cat
• Free Mind Tems
• Pressure Ari Lennox
• Have Mercy Chloe
• Good Morning Gorgeous Mary J Blige
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1 Can I change my size preference for future boxes?
Yes, you can do so inside your Brown Sugar Box account on izzyandliv. com, or you can email us at support@izzyandliv.com to update your preferences for you.
2
When will I be billed for next month’s box?
You will be rebilled on the 1st of the month for the next box. So you will be billed for the October box on the 1st of October; for the November box on the 1st of October and so on... You will not be billed for the next box until after the box from the current month has been shipped/delivered.
3
What is your cancellation policy?
Your subscription can be cancelled at any time in your Brown Sugar Box Account Settings at izzyandliv.com. If you’ve already been billed for the next box (1st of the month), your cancellation will take affect the next billing cycle. To cancel your subscription, login to your account and click on the Subscription tab, then click “edit” next to your subscription. You can also email us to request that we cancel for you.
4
Can I exchange or return items in my box? We cannot accept returns at this time for Brown Sugar Box items, but we welcome your feedback to improve. Email us at support@ izzyandliv.com to share your thoughts. We value your feedback and our mission is to make every Brown Sugar Box more than worth your while! Your feedback will help us to make sure we make this box amazing and valuable as it can be. As far as the item(s), you can always gift them to a friend, coworker, or family member- these items make GREAT gifts!
5 Can I skip a month without cancelling?
Yes, you can skip a future month delivery and not be billed for it, without having to cancel your entire subscription. Once logged into your Brown Sugar Box account at izzyandliv. com, you will need to open the “Delivery Schedule” tab. There you will see all upcoming deliveries for your subscription. To skip a delivery you just need to click “Skip” to the right of each relevant delivery. This will only skip that one delivery. To skip multiple deliveries you will need to click “Skip” next to each relevant one. Alternatively, you can email to have us skip deliveries for you.
6 How can I share photos or unboxing videos with you?
Yes! We live for customer feedback & reviews! Just post your pics or video on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube etc. and hashtag #brownsugarbox, #izzyandliv and @izzyandliv. You can also leave a photo review on the Brown Sugar Subscription page! If you make a blog post email us with the link. If your social media is private we will not be able to see your post, so feel free to email us to let us know where to check it out!
7 Something went wrong with my order/ delivery what should I do?
Should you have an issue with your box items (damage, received wrong size, etc) you must notify us at support@izzyandliv. com, with photo(s), within 7 days of receipt of your package. After 7 days, we will not be able to process requests related to this month’s box. If your box was returned due to consumer error, please reach out to customer service for reshipment at an additional cost.
8 I have feedback or questions, who do I contact?
We can be reached at support@izzyandliv.com
