The month of May was designated Mental Health Awareness Month as a way to bring awareness to the way mental health can have an effect on all of us. It’s important for people to be educated on mental health to reduce the stigma surrounding it, and make people feel open to talking about what they’re going through. 

It’s easy to put our health on the back burner when life gets overwhelming with work, family, finances, and all our responsibilities. But no matter how hectic our lives get, taking care of our mental health should always be a priority. Life's many stressors can exhaust us, so making time to take care of ourselves is a necessity. Even small things in our everyday life can significantly improve our well-being. 

CULTUREHYPE’S FAVORITE MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICES

• Here are some of the CultureHype Team’s favorite mental health practices: 

  • Walking outside

  • Practicing gratitude

  • Listening to Taylor Swift or Lana Del Rey

  • Disconnecting from technology 

  • Going to a workout class

  • Ice cream with friends 

  • Yoga 

  • Connecting with friends and family 

  • Meditation 

Mental Health Resources 

1. 24-hour Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) 

2. Foundation 45 : For Foundation 45, the mission is simple – to serve the Dallas/Fort Worth creative community by providing free top-tier mental health and recovery services while working to destigmatize the conversation around mental health.

3. Texas 211: This information helpline helps people get connected to a wide range of health and human services, simply dial 211

4. Mental Health America Resources

As May vastly approaches, it’s time to celebrate the women in our lives with Mother’s Day. On Sunday, May 14, we will be rolling out the red carpet and making this holiday even better than last year. From activities to brunch spots to sending love from Dallas, TeamHype has curated the ultimate guide for your celebration. Whether she is a Dallas Foodie or a loyal Katy Trail enthusiast, we’ve compiled ideas for all types of motherly figures this season!

GIFTS SHE'LL LOVE

• Sonoma Bathrobe by Serena & Lily 

• Local hand-crafted pieces by Mosaic Makers Collective

• Highway Vodka: As a hemp-based vodka, this is the perfect gift for the entertainer and bartender mom. Distilled in Houston, they offer an upscale, health-focus perspective to cocktails 

• Kendra Scott Jewelry

• Drybar Double Shot Roll Brush

• Bath Salts, Body Lotion, and Candles by White Rock Soap Gallery 

• Personalized Succulent Plants - Jade & Clover (Deep Ellum)

• Milk Chocolate, always a must

• Gift Card ideas: Herb’s House, La La Land, Riviera Spa, DryBar Zara, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Trader Joes

THE FLOWER SHOP

• Gloria’s Flowers - W. Davis St

• Dirt Flowers - Bishop Arts

• Dr. Delphinium - Lovers Lane

• All Occasions Dallas - Oak Lawn Ave 

• Sunshine Flowers- Knox/Henderson

THINGS TO DO

• Cooking Class at Sur La Table: Learn to master French Macarons with their morning baking class or stay for dinner to master Garden-Fresh Italian

• Dallas Museum of Art: Visit latest exhibits and explore the art-filled past together

• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: Stroll through the gardens with live performance in the Pavilion by Rebecca Cordes (12-2pm) and a Mother’s Day Market (10am-3pm) 

• Walk around Bishop Arts District: Check out local small businesses, street performances, and the weekend market

• White Rock Lake Picnic

• Dallas Farmers Market: Every Saturday and Sunday, local vendors fill the streets of Downtown Dallas to offer a special array of handcrafted and seasonal items

• NorthPark Center

• Brunch Brunch Brunch

• Afternoon Tea at Heirloom Haul or the French Room at the Adolphus 

• Katy Trail Walk

• Klyde Warren Park: Beyond enjoying the fresh air and food trucks, there will be a variety of fitness classes available all day. This includes Tai Chi, Meditation, Yoga, and Barre. Stop by later in the day for a special ballet performance at 3 p.m. and a fountain show at 7 p.m.

• Gardening: For moms that love to get active in the backyard, pick up supplies at the local garden center and enjoy an afternoon in the planters

• Spa Day: from massages to facials, this is always a mom’s dream to decompress for the day

• Workout Class: Pilates Methodology, Class Studios, Barry's Bootcamp, and more

Brunch destinations

• Sadelle’s - Highland Park Village 

• Bistro 31 - Highland Park Village

• Beverly’s - Knox/Henderson

• Knox Bistro - Knox/Henderson 

• Origin Kitchen - Knox/Henderson 

• Toulouse - Knox/Henderson

• RH Rooftop - Knox/Henderson 

• The Rustic - Uptown

• Dream Cafe - Mockingbird

• Rye - Greenville

• The Henry - Downtown

• Saint Ann - Harwood District

• Paradiso - Bishop Arts

• Pangea - Garland

Brunching is a sport in Dallas, and there are endless hidden gems and local favorites to choose from!

SENDING LOVE FROM DALLAS

• Handwritten Card in the Mail 

• Flower Delivery

• Cheryl’s Cookies: Shipping nationwide, there are various Mother’s Day gift basket options and designs to choose from!

• Tiff’s Treats - Delivering hot cookies and desserts to your doorstep, this is a delicious place to order. Now partnering with Kendra Scott, delivery bundles are available with exclusive jewelry as well.

Spring is finally doing its thing!! From closet cleanouts to tulip fields, we are so excited to jump into the new season. There are so many things to do in the DFW area, and TeamHype has curated the ultimate guide for you. Check out below for our springtime essential activities:

IN FULL BLOOM

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: Tulips and bluebonnets are in full bloom, and the Arboretum is a great spot to soak in the season. On the water of White Rock Lake, this is a spot offering a secret garden within the Dallas region.   

Texas Tulips: This has to be one of our favorite spots, where fields and fields of tulips lay for your picking. The city of Pilot Point welcomes visitors every spring to pick their own tulips and celebrate the season in full bloom. A must-have visit, open until the beginning of April!

Tulips season is in full swing, purchase tickets to the Dallas Arboretum here! 

OUT AND ABOUT

• Visiting Dallas Museum of Art: Check out here their latest and upcoming exhibits. Be sure to stop by their latest exhibition, “Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools.”

• Picnics: From secluded parks to skyline spots, we love taking a meal outside with a blanket and friends. 

• Dallas Farmers Market: Every Saturday and Sunday, local vendors fill the streets of Downtown Dallas to offer a special array of handcrafted and seasonal items. For more information, click here.

• Deep Ellum Outdoor Market: Every Saturday in March from 12 to 6 pm, local vendors host a special opportunity for visitors to shop locally! Come find some of your favorite one-of-a-kind pieces. 

• Outdoor patio lounging: Catching up with friends or enjoying the weather over a cocktail!

• Patio/Rooftop lounges and restaurants: Sky Blossom, Happiest Hour, the Woolworth, Vidorra, Catbird, Trinity Groves, the Rustic, Sundown at Granada, and much more!!  

GET MOVING

• Walk on the Katy Trail: Stop by Katy Trail Ice House after and treat yourself!   

• Pickleball at Cole Park in Uptown

• Klyde Warren Park: From soccer matches to live performances, the park is full of opportunities to get moving in the heart of Dallas  

• Trolley Rides: With stops across Uptown and Downtown, this is a fun chance to explore the city, free of charge.

• Deep Ellum Party Bike: Rent a party bike with friends and explore the Deep Ellum District, at every stop of the way!

As the holiday season goes into full swing, we’re so excited to create our wish lists and gift lists for our friends and family. There are so many local shops in the DFW area that make the perfect gifts. Here are some of our favorite local businesses to shop this gift giving season:

Stash Cashmere

Transforming second-hand designer cashmere sweaters into colorful masterpieces, Stash Cashmere is an arising closet essential. The brand handpaints and screen prints onto cashmere to create custom and vibrant pieces. The perfect gift for her. 

Shop these custom, one-of-a-kind pieces on their website stashcashmere.com!

Mosaic makers collective

Located in the Bishop Arts District, Mosaic Makers showcases female-designed products including apparel, accessories, gifts, jewelry, and much more. This all-female retail collective embodies our local talent and the Dallas community. The best spot for finding your hidden holiday gems.  

Our top picks include the Be Kind Print, DIY 24-Day Tea Advent Calendar and so much more. Shop them all here!

Deep Ellum small businesses

• Jade & Clover: This plant shop leaves a special touch for home decor and unique gifts. Their Plant Bar allows you to build your own creation as both a gift and/or an experience! 

• Flea Style: This marketplace sells artisanal and vintage clothing, jewelry, and home decor. Each piece is handcrafted and designed to leave closets with a special Dallas touch!

• Add Vintage: This cozy vintage shop has curated a variety of classic band tees and other vintage apparel. The aesthetic that honors the past while gifting closets a story in itself.

• Mozzarella Co.: The Mozzarella Company, a small artisanal cheese factory, is every cheese lover’s fantasy. Offering classes, tastings, cookbooks, and cheese baskets, they invite individuals to spend the holidays with them.

• Deep Vellum Books: As an independent, indie bookstore, Deep Vellum books has a wide collection of novels, poetry, and so much more. Come find their latest gems on the corner of Commerce and Walton.

• Archer Paper Goods: Specializing in paper goods, Archer’s offers charming cards, stationary, candles, and other small gifts. It is full of fun and essential items you didn’t know you needed!

roma osowo

As a Dallas-based abstract artist, Roma Osowo has recently partnered with Target to offer her latest art collection. Each piece is filled with vibrancy and joy to brighten up any home, while offering a variety of other creations on her website!

We can’t wait to see all the hidden gems you explore and gift this holiday season. Happy holidays & happy shopping!

Baby, it's cold outside! We've compiled a list of warm, cozy & comforting things to do around DFW this weekend. We've even included some ideas for our homebodies out there. Whether you want to snuggle up to a fireplace & enjoy dinner, partake in a festive, holiday-inspired outdoor activity or cozy up on your couch and binge Netflix, we’ve got all your weekend suggestions here!

Feeling Festive?

Drive-thru & Outdoor Activities

• Christmas Lights, Chocolates & Sips Tour - $47+ per person - Park Cities

• Dallas Zoo Lights - $65 per car - South Dallas

• Gift of Lights - $30+ per car - Texas Motor Speedway

• Holiday Lights Trolley Ride - $20 per person - Highland Park

• Luminova - $30+ per person - Arlington

• Prairie Lights - $30 per car - Grand Prairie

• Radiance Christmas - $35 per car - Frisco, Decatur & Weatherford

• Rooftop Cinema Club - East Dallas

• Sweet Tooth Motel - Allen

• SNOWDAY Dallas - $22 per person - The Galleria

• The Magic of Lights - $26+ per car - Little Elm

The Dallas Zoo takes on a COVID-safe approach to their classic Zoo Lights. Drive through the zoo and enjoy animal sightseeing & amazing lights!

Public Displays & Spaces

• AT&T Discovery District - Downtown Dallas

• Highland Park Village - Highland Park

• Hotel Crescent Court - Uptown

• Knox District - Knox Henderson

• Klyde Warren Park - Downtown Dallas

• Legacy West - Plano

• Old Town Grapevine - Grapevine

• The Arboretum - Forest Hills

• The Adolphus - Downtown Dallas

• The Gaylord’s Lone Star Christmas - Grapevine

• The Plaza at Preston Center - University Park

• The Star - Frisco

• Vitruvian Park - Addison

• West Village - Uptown

The Adolphus Hotel is a Dallas staple. Make reservations for holiday tea or drop in to marvel at the beautiful holiday decor!

Decked Out Restaurants

• Campo Verde - Arlington

• Catbird - Downtown Dallas

• Eno’s - Bishop Arts, home of the “Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal” mural

• St. Henry Winter Wonderland - Uptown

• Hudson House - University Park

• Leela’s Wine Bar - Lower Greenville

• Paradiso - Bishop Arts

• Sippin’ Santa - Uptown

• Yellow Rosa - Deep Ellum

This light mural is another Dallas speciality. Selfies are encouraged!

Cozy Restaurants

Some even have fireplaces!

• Bowen House - Uptown

• Botanist - Bishop Arts

• Skellig - Knox Henderson

• Fount Board & Table - Uptown

• Rise No. 1 - Lovers

• Townhearth - Design District

• Merchant House - Oak Lawn

Botanist in Bishop Arts is serving us all the cozy Christmas vibes.

stay home, stay warm

• Binge holiday movies on Netflix - Holidate, Christmas Inheritance, Operation Christmas Drop, The Christmas Prince & The Princess Switch are some of our favs!

• Read a good book (check out our Amber’s Book Club blog posts for recommendations!).

• Make cookies, hot chocolate bombs or any other festive food or drink item.

• Start (and possibly finish) a puzzle.

In a Holidaze is probably the most popular holiday book this season! A very fun, cute & entertaining read.

Happy weekending!

Introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about you & how you connected with Amber & CultureHype.

Hi! i'm molly Mathias & I own Magic Hour & Go Easy both in Bishop Arts! I opened Magic Hour almost 3 years ago after seeing vintage furniture for years & wanted to expand to handmade goods. Go Easy just opened a few weeks ago after my desire to provide more self care for people during the pandemic! I had followed Amber & CultureHype for years & finally introduced myself after moving Magic Hour to Bishop Arts & needing some help on promoting & getting the word out about the big move and new store.

What is currently bringing you joy and why?

My bathtub! I have never before been a big bath person but now I have a whole routine with candles & Netflix & CBD bath soaks. It has become a really nice relaxing time for me to decompress after a long day.

My daily meditations! I am a big believer in meditation & have been focusing on it a lot more lately.

My pets! I live alone & it has been a little more lonely during the pandemic so I've really focused on giving my pets the most & best cuddles.

Any kind of crafting! It seems like people have really stepped up their craft game during the pandemic & iI have LOVED watching everyone getting crafty.

How did you discover your thing that's bringing you joy? Was there something or someone that inspired you?

The pandemic has been ROUGH on me as a small business owner & just a person! I went through a bad break-up right as it was starting so I spent the first few months really focusing on myself & learning different ways to practice self-care. I am a go go go go go go person so when everything got shut down I really had to look for things at home & within myself to provide joy & comfort.

How has your thing or things impacted your daily life or just your life in general?

I suffer from anxiety & panic attacks. My new routines have definitely helped me calm down and focus in moments that I am experiencing extreme anxiety. I've def put more time into myself even as my business picks back up again because of the positive effects I've had.

I am so excited to share my last book club picks of 2020 with you! This book club has been such a fun way to connect & engage with one another amidst the pandemic. My love for reading has grown so much over the last few months & I can’t wait to continue doing this in 2021. I hope you enjoy these four novels!

The woman in the window by a.j. finn

WARNING: do not read at night & if you’re alone! This novel is easily one of my favorite thrillers. It’s about a woman named Anna Fox who lives alone in her New York City home. Because she is unable to venture outside, she spends most of her time drinking wine, watching movies, reminiscing on better days & occasionally spying on her neighbors. A new family moves in across the way from Anna, the Russells; a mother, father & teenage son. They seem perfectly normal until one night Anna gazes out the window & sees something she wasn’t supposed to, leaving her world crumbling & shocking secrets surfacing.

Throughout this novel you’ll find yourself contemplating what’s real, what’s imagined, who is in danger & who is in control. The pages will fly through your fingers & I bet you find yourself sitting on the very edge of your seat. This diabolical, intense thriller is full of things that are not what they seem…

the seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkins reid

If you’re looking for an entertaining, Hollywood glam novel with many many layers, this is for you!

Aging & reclusive Hollywood movie star Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous & scandalous life. When she chooses a relatively unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, everyone in the journalism community is shocked. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly living her best life. Her husband David has left her & her career has plateaued. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to elevate her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn tells her story from the very beginning; from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave acting in the late 1980s & of course the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds—revealing a ruthless dedication to success, an unexpected bond & a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s in tragic & irrevocable ways.

I devoured this book in one day it was so good! I loved how real & raw the story line was. Evelyn is a complex character & I couldn’t stop reading until I learned everything about her.

home body by rupi kaur

Rupi Kaur constantly embraces growth in her work & in home body she walks readers through a reflective & intimate journey visiting the past, the present & the potential future of the self. home body is a collection of raw, honest & emotional conversations reminding readers to fill up on love, acceptance, community, family & to embrace change, especially during the pandemic. Illustrated by the author, themes of nature & nurture, darkness & light & rejection & acceptance are seen throughout the collection of poems.

This collection really hit home for me. We’ve all struggled in our own ways during this pandemic & most of us don’t really know how to articulate how we’re feeling or don’t want to talk about our struggles & seem insensitive to others. Rupi Kaur does an amazing job of verbalizing all the emotions felt across the world.

Here is an excerpt from the collection:

i dive into the well of my body
and end up in another world
everything i need
already exists in me
there’s no need
to look anywhere else
– home

in a holidaze by christina lauren

This is the quintessential holiday romance novel!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her job & has just made a romantic error of epic & embarrassing proportions.

However worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she & her family have spent every holiday since she was born. Mentally breaking down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae asks the universe to show her something that will make her happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech & metal collides & everything goes black. When Mae awakes, she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of this really weird time loop & finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

This novel is so light, fun & flirty & it will make you believe in the power of wishes & the magic of the holiday season!

That’s all for this final month of 2020. I’ll catch all you bookies in the new year! A few of my pre-pandemic book club friends have reached out about doing a safe, socially-distanced club in the spring. We’ll be posting a call for books & date options to meet in Feb. of 2021 very soon, so keep an eye out & join me!

-Amber

Today is #SmallBusinessSaturday!

COVID-19 has taken a toll on everyone, but the virus has especially ravaged small businesses. We've curated a holiday gift guide made entirely of small businesses all across Texas. Shop small & shop local this holiday season!

gifts for her

Home

• Kush Candle from Read Between the Lines

• Self-curated plant from Jade & Clover

• Candles & other aromatics from Jackson Vaughn

• Botanical coasters from Pita’s Planters

These handmade coasters from Pita’s Planters use real pressed flowers that have been carefully preserved in resin. They come with a beautiful gold leaf outline & feature a wide variety of flowers.

Bath & Body

• CBD bath, body & aroma products from Go Easy

• Body butter from Hiatus

• Homemade hand salve from The Bohemian Shepherdess

Kitchen

• Small batch ceramic wares from The Coy Collection

• Cutting board, cheese boards & serving trays from MJ Wood Co.

• Chocolates from CocoAndré Chocolatier

• Champagne & wine from Neighborhood Cellar

Self-care

• Essential oils from Abundantly Aromatic

• An array of skin care, facial masks & other self-care products from The Greenway Shop

• Sexual wellness, pipes & other self-care items from Go Easy

Essential oils from Abundantly Aromatic will help you relax, relieve stress & sleep better!

Clothing & Accessories

• Women’s apparel & accessories from Home on Bishop

• Handmade custom beaded jewelry from shopbeadbabe on Etsy

Miscellaneous

• Custom flower arrangement from DIRT Flowers

gifts for him

Home

• Hand-crafted, wooden sculptures by Brad Oldham Sculpture

Bath & Body

• Texas Ranger Solid Cologne from Dallas Soap Company

Kitchen

• Teabags with tea leaves grown in Texas from Catspring Yaupon

• Personalized whiskey & scotch glasses from sellers on Etsy

• Wagyu Tomahawk two-pack from Bone-In Butcher Shop

This mouth-watering Tomahawk steak from Bone-In Butcher Shop is perfect for the meat lover in your family.

Self-care

• Hand repair cream from Fete-ish

• Water-based pomade from Fly Barbershop

Clothing & Accessories

• Leather wallet from Byndr

• Ethically & sustainably made ties & pocket squares from Kathrine Zeren

• Premium dress socks from Southern Scholar

• Premium men’s watches from Jack Mason

Southern Scholar is a Dallas-based premium dress sock company specializing in fun colors & patterns!

Miscellaneous

• Cigars & cigar accessories from Cigar Art

Happy #SmallBusinessSaturday & happy shopping!

Another busy, work-filled & maybe even stressful week has come & gone. Wind down this weekend by shopping local retailers, enjoying satiating cuisine at local restaurants & maybe even getting in the holiday spirit! These are our recommendations for a relaxing, entertaining & safe weekend in our lovely city of Dallas.

To-go & pop up restaurants

• Vantina & Ese Pollo by Desert Racer

• Ritas & Queso by Nonna

• TLC Kitchen

• Thunderbird Pies by Cane Rosso & Zoli’s

• Pizza Leila by Sloan’s Corner

• Sassetta by Commissary

• Sweetbasil Thai Kitchen by Meatballs Kitchen

• It’s Just Wings by Chili’s

• Sandoitchi

• Seven Works Secret Kitchen by Republic Texas Tavern

• My One Kitchen by Al Biernat’s

• Down Home by Town Hearth

• Bresnan Bread & Pastry

Sweetbasil Thai Kitchen is serving up handmade noodles, curries & flavorful dishes like tom yum soup & pineapple fried rice.

Thanksgiving dining in Dallas

• Yardbird Southern Bar & Table

• Fireside Pies

• Jasper’s

• Asian Mint

• Jimmy’s Food Store

• Ten50 BBQ

• Refined Hospitality

• Eatzi’s

This Thanksgiving Take & Bake option from Refined Hospitality is the perfect way to make your holiday effortless but still delicious!

Shop small retail

• Go Easy Shop

• Mod & Jo

• Deep Ellum Trading Company

• Jade & Clover

• Dallas Farmers Market

• We Are 1976

• The DIME Store

• Emeralds to Coconuts

The DIME Store stocks handmade items from over 50 Denton artisans & makers.

Holiday cheer

• Holiday Tea

• Elf Trivia on Trinity Cider’s Patio

• Deck the Plaza Drive-Thru Celebration

• Lights at Legacy Drive-Thru Experience

• CHEER! A Holiday Art Experience at The Joule

Holiday tea at the French Room in the Adolphus Hotel is a staple. Make your reservation ASAP!

We hope you have a fun, joy-filled & safe weekend!

I’m back with a few more book picks, this time with a fun twist! If you are interested in a digital, or socially-distanced book club, I’d love to hear from you! Comment on our Instagram (@culture_hype) or email me at amber@culture-hype.com. Can’t wait to read with you all!

My three picks for this month are very timely given the presidential election & other things happening around the world. These novels discuss topics such as immigration, family, violence & societal issues like masculinity. I definitely learned a thing or two & I hope you do as well!

American Dirt by Jeanine cummins

This particular novel has quite a bit of controversy surrounding it, so of course I decided to see what all the hype is about. This book details the life of Lydia Quixano Pérez. Lydia is an upper-class Mexican woman living in Acapulco, Mexico. She is married to a journalist, Sebastián Pérez Delgado, who has devoted his career to publishing riveting cartel exposés. When hit men from a notable cartel murders Lydia’s husband & sixteen other family members because of a piece her husband wrote & published, she & her son, Luca, hastily join a migrant caravan to make their way toward el Norte to seek safety. Cummins’ novel is definitely a moving, eye-opening account detailing the sufferings of real people. Cummins gives a representation of men, women & children behind the crisis at the border stories that flood the media today. At times this book is tough to read, but overall I recommend!

patsy by nicole dennis-benn

In this novel, Nicole Dennis-Benn intimately engages with the choices women make with a kind of structured grace. The main character, Patsy, is 28 when readers meet her in the year 1998. At this point in time, she is living in Jamaica with her mom, Mama G, & her daughter, Tru. While she truly loves her mother & daughter, Patsy yearns for a life that goes beyond the traditional roles of motherhood & living a life at home - & she knows just how to achieve her aspired life. As the beginning of the novel unravels, we see Patsy approaching the American Embassy, hoping to be reunited with her best friend & lover, Cicely, in New York City. Patsy is granted a travel visa, ultimately leaving her daughter & mother behind & battles internally with her decision.

Despite her internal struggle of leaving her daughter behind, Patsy knows the United States will grant her the freedoms unwelcome back in Jamaica. Readers then begin to realize what’s happening - Patsy plans to overstay her visa, remain undocumented & attempt to handle the consequences of that decision. Dennis-Benn dives deep into the themes of gender, sexuality, motherhood, freedom, colorism & classism & the way these aspects compare in Jamaica & the United States.

The love of men by liz plank

This nonfiction book focuses on an investigation into masculinity & provides steps on how to be a man in the modern day while exploring how being a man has evolved over time. Masculinity is something that has been both rewarded & sanctioned into certain characteristics & behaviors. Boys are taught it isn’t ‘manly’ to cry or show sensitivity, playing with dolls is just for girls & the color pink isn’t masculine, among many other things. Boys and young men are taught that their masculinity must always be proven & showing. Men must always be the sole provider, the romantic pursuer.

In this book, author Liz Plank offers insight into masculinity & how men & women alike can do something about their preconceived notions. This book definitely ignites the conversation on men’s issues in society & how we can break away from traditional gender roles & discourses.

Happy reading!

-Amber

Introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about you & how you connected with Amber & CultureHype.

My name is Hailey Good & I am a singer/songwriter from Dallas, TX. I started singing when I was basically able to talk & I currently make music with my boyfriend/producer/sound engineer Bradley Rudolph.

I got connected with Amber & CultureHype through a post I saw her tagged in on Instagram. It was a fellow (amazing) musician, M3CCA. I looked her up, liked what I saw & messaged her through the CultureHype website.

What is currently bringing you joy & why?

I try to find joy through the little things each day, but one of the most recent things is my new kitten I got! Her name is Scout & she is the most cuddly kitten in the whole world & I love her so much. She climbs up my leg while I work from home & I feel so loved.

My cat, Kitty (it's a real name I promise!) & my dog, Olive also bring me so much joy & I just love all animals in general!

I've picked up film photography recently because a friend of mine gave me a Nikon FM2 last year & like everyone else, I have had nothing but time to learn & have fun with it. 

 I've also really been enjoying the creative process for my new single (Single Title TBD), from the harmonies all the way to the visuals & music video. It's such a different vibe that Brad & I have created & we are super excited to showcase it to the world!

How did you discover your thing that is bringing you joy? Was there something or someone that inspired you?

My little neighbor kids were playing & found Scout & brought her to us one day to see if we would keep her & it was love at first sight!

As I mentioned before, a friend who is a great photographer (@thflwrgrl) gave me the camera and it was so sweet. She was the one who inspired me & told me if I wanted to really learn photography to learn the basics with analog photography first to make me better.

As far as the single, Brad produced the composition first & after I listened to it, the vulnerability in it inspired me so much that I cried when I heard it & I immediately wrote to it. We've really taken our time with it though & we’re still recording in the harmonies, so I can't wait to see what the ending product sounds like!

How has your thing impacted your daily life or just your life in general?

Analog photography has grown my patience because you have to manually get the exposure correct & sometimes it can get difficult but I love forgetting what I took & then having the film processed & getting happy all over again weeks later. Cutting the film & getting everything scanned in is really meditative.

As much as I am excited about the new single, I am kind of stressed because I am a perfectionist, but thankfully I have God & I have Brad & all of my friends & family's support! 

Putting your mind to something/getting it done & mixing that with something you absolutely love is the best feeling in the world.  

In need of something to do this weekend but don’t have any ideas? We’ve got you covered!

Sip in the city, or indulge in fantastic cuisine, from restaurants across Dallas-Fort Worth.These restaurants are crafting amazing, Instagram worthy aperol spritzers & mouth-watering menu items you will not be able to resist!

• Gemelle - Fort Worth

• The Charles - Design District

• Beverley’s - Oak Lawn

• Il Bracco - Preston Center

• Desert Racer - Lower Greenville

• Revelers Hall - Bishop Arts

• Shoals - Deep Ellum

• Paradiso - Bishop Arts

• Tiny Victories - Oak Cliff

Aperol spritz beverage at Paradiso in Bishop Arts. Pair with one of the restaurant’s many pizza or pasta dishes for a European feel!

In desperate need of some girl time? Grad your friends & head to one of these super fun places & maybe even have a drink or two!

• Smoky Rose - White Rock Lake

• Leela’s Wine Bar - Lower Greenville

• Jaxon Beer Garden - Downtown Dallas

• Alice - East Dallas

• XOXO - East Dallas

• Lounge 31 - Highland Park Village

XOXO serving us all the Elle Woods vibes! This dining room + lounge is saturated with shades of pink & perfectly Instagrammable. The simple, yet satiating menu & endless champagne will guarantee you & your pals a fantastic night.

Fall is the perfect season to grab your boo for a date night! With the weather finally cooling down, there are several outdoor, COVID-friendly date spots in Dallas-Fort Worth. Or there’s nothing better than a bar with a crackling fire to sit by with a cozy vibe that makes you feel all warm & fuzzy inside.

Outdoor:

• Dallas Arboretum

• Jasper’s Backyard Cinema

• Klyde Warren Park

Bars & Restaurants:

• Bowen House - Uptown

• Botanist - Bishop Arts

• Skellig - Knox Henderson

• Fount Board & Table - Uptown

• Merchant House - Oak Lawn

• Ruins - Deep Ellum

Klyde Warren Park is home to TONS of outdoor events, including movies, exercise classes, food trucks & more!

…& don’t forget to mark your calendar for these upcoming, Halloween-themed events!

• The Haunting of Jasper’s Uptown

• Haunted Tall Tales at Reunion Tower

• Hallo-weekend at The Rustic

• Brains & Baking

• Trick or Treat on Lowest Greenville

• A Gothic Affair at Lorenzo Hotel

When the pandemic hit back in March, I remember how hard it was to assess my friends & their moods. I have friends in many different places & stages of their lives, so their reactions to what was happening were all over the place. That being said, it took quite some time for the roller coaster of emotions to really set in. It’s safe to say that all of my close friends have gone through extreme highs & lows, with the initial Zoom happy hour overload then to “please leave me alone in my COVID depression” phase.

If there’s one thing that has made me really happy, I’ve noticed that a solid handful of friends have gone further into their existing craft or taken up new projects. With many of us going through phases of unemployment or partial employment, these breaks of work have forced us to try new things or get better at something we once left unfinished after a trip to Michael’s. I wanted to share a few people who I really admire & some of the things they have been working on to keep themselves sane.

Okay, let’s dive in!

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Laura Grasso, Slingin’ Threads at Rad Radish Vintage

If you love vintage, you should peep Laura’s new shop! She decided to take her passion for fashion digital & I’m here for it. She’s got some killer taste. Shop Rad Radish Vintage on IG here.

Abbey Brown, Illustrating Feels

I love Abbey’s drawings because they are so relatable! She’s made some quarantine depictions that are so on point, I could cry. Check out all of Abbey’s work on IG here.

Perla Hernandez, Designing Cool Sh*t at Venus Pearl

Perla makes really rad design work & recently started her own brand called Venus Pearl. If you need a logo, a funky digital artwork, or Harry Styles stickers, she’s your girl. Check out all of Perla’s design work on IG here.

Katie Cooke, Embroidery Wizard

Katie has been diving further into the art of embroidery (with a touch of angst - I LOVE) during quarantine and I’m obsessed. Can we all agree that she needs her own shop? She doesn’t post too much about her projects, but if you want to add her (because she's awesome) or DM her about embroidery or art things, you can find her here.

Sloan Eveningstar, Renovating an RV

My friend Sloan has had a goal of purchasing her own RV for a long time & finally saved enough cash money to purchase this beaut. I’m a bit jealous but newly inspired to live the life of a hippie nomad. Follow her renovation journey on IG stories here.

Amber LaFrance, Makin’ Jewels at Bead Babe

In the thick of quarantine, Amber took her love for jewelry to the next level. I remember when she started really getting into it & it was intense. She turned COVID cabin fever into a new side hustle for herself & I’m here for it. I had a few convos with her about how the pandemic has brought us back to things from our childhood. The 90’s nostalgia in these designs are so comforting & I think that’s something we all need right now! You can shop her new goodies on Etsy here & IG here.

If you are a creative badass or know others with pandemic stories to be shared, please send them my way! I don’t think this COVID hellscape is going anywhere soon, so I think a little creative joy will help us all stay sane.

I would also like to say, it’s okay if you’ve been a useless oaf for the last few months. You’re not required to do anything if you feel like complete & utter sh*t.

If you’re struggling to feel inspired or need to talk about the state of the world, feel free to slide into my DMs. You’re not alone!

XO @wendyingeneral

Like many of us during quarantine, I reignited my love for reading & have absolutely enjoyed exploring different writers, genres & themes! Each month I hope to share a few of my favorites with you. Whether you are an experienced bookie or a new reader, I hope you find the coziest spot in your space, grab a book, settle in & read with me!

My first pick is Julia Alvarez’s “Afterlife.” This novel will, without a doubt, pull on your heartstrings as it explores themes of complex familial devotion, tragedy, crisis & the struggle to maintain hope, compassion & love when everything seems to be going to sh*t. The narrator, Antonia Vega, is a widow who lost her husband in a car accident. The novel opens up with Antonia’s struggle to, “…comprehend how someone she loved…can be nothing but dust / unread emails, fragments, unpaid bills, memories.” In an attempt to navigate retirement & the death of her husband, Antonia takes up poetry citation to try & find purpose in her new, seemingly empty life. As her birthday approaches, Antonia is still drowning with grief & does not want to celebrate. Until, that is, her three sisters - Tilly, Izzy & Mona - show up and stir the pot, causing gripping drama & introducing complex familial dynamics.

Antonia & the inner workings of her family drama cast no shadow on Mario, an undocumented immigrant working at the farm next door. Mario’s girlfriend, Estela, is traveling north from Mexico with the help of a coyote who demands a financial price neither her nor Mario can provide. Antonia has the means to help, she just isn’t sure if she should involve herself. Through this moral dilemma, Antonia & readers analyze who we consider to be our neighbor & worthy of our help.

In “Afterlife,” Alvarez explores the complex workings of moral dilemmas & private decisions that mirror the workings of today’s society, which is inherently structured to oppress minorities & people of color.

My second pick is Brit Bennett’s novel “The Vanishing Half.” This novel is a multigenerational family tale that discusses issues such as racial identity, bigotry & the keeping of secrets. Covering almost half a century (the 1940s to the 1990s), the novel follows twin sisters Desiree & Stella Vignes. The two were raised in Mallard, Louisiana, a fictional small town founded by their great-great-great grandfather as a place for light-skinned blacks such as he. Bennett describes Mallard, “…like a cup of coffee steadily diluted with cream.” The twins themselves have cream-colored skin, wavy hair & hazel eyes. But just because the twins & their family are fair-skinned does not mean they are free from racism. Desiree and Stella’s father was lynched by a gang of white men & their mother cleans for rich, white families in a neighboring town. Similarly, being light-skinned will not save Desiree & Stella from similar acts of racial violence & injustice. At 16, the twins ran away to New Orleans, but as time goes on, “…their lives split as evenly as their shared egg.”

Looking beyond the themes of race, “The Vanishing Half” explores how someone’s past can shape their decisions & desires, & navigates why people feel compelled to live a life completely separate from their upbringing.

Lastly, for a refreshing, light-hearted rom-com, I recommend reading “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by Talia Hibbert. WARNING: steam alert! This story is witty, fun & utterly hilarious. Chloe is a woman tired of being boring, so she recruits her super sexy neighbor to help her experience new things. Chloe is chronically ill & after almost dying, she constructs a list of seven items to help her “get a life.” These seven items? Move out of her family’s mansion, enjoy a drunken night out, ride a motorcycle, go camping, have meaningless but enjoyable sex, travel the world & do something…bad.

However, for Chloe, it’s not easy letting loose, hence her need for a teacher, aka her sexy neighbor Redford ‘Red’ Morgan. Red is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle & copious amounts of sex appeal. He’s also an artist, but he never shows his work. The only reason Chloe knows he’s an artist by night is because she spies on him - just a wee bit. When she seeks Red’s help in her mission to get a life, she learns things about him she never would’ve just by the occasional spy sesh…like what he’s really hiding behind his rough exterior.

I loved Chloe’s feisty, independent nature & her ability to navigate through her fears while also tackling tough issues like chronic pain and insecurity.

That’s all for this month. Thank you for reading with me!

Here at CultureHype, we love celebrating little victories & anything that brings us joy. We created the “What’s Bringing Me Joy” series to bring you items we really love in hopes to inspire you to revel in the little things that make you smile from ear to ear. Whether you are looking for a new book to read, TV show to binge on the weekend or a new hobby, we guarantee you will find inspiration here! As a diverse staff, our team has interests spanning far and wide from veganism to sustainable fashion to music and much much more.

This is your reminder to do what makes YOU happy. In this time of uncertainty, the one thing you can rely on is yourself, so you might as well find time to do the things you enjoy!

Amber: Nail art inspo! I’m trying new things & learning how to paint my nails/do nail art with my left hand. I obsessively read Who What Wear UK & have been loving all of the new quarantine nail art inspo they post! Another great account I follow for colorful, quirky fashion inspo & nail art ideas is Marianne Theodorsen - she is the queen of color.

Wendy: Spending time with my weenie dog, reading, listening to music & celebrating my friends and their newfound creative projects!

Perla: Supporting vintage & sustainable shops! I’ve been trying to be more conscious about my consumerism. Finding shops that focus on vintage items & shops that ensure ethical production (slow fashion) items.

Kathryn: A print of London that I just ordered! It brings me joy since I can’t travel there right now. London is special to me because I studied abroad there in college & reminds me of such good memories. I ordered the prints from Paper and Cities.

Sola: Slight plug for the Instagram page my closest friends & I started during quarantine. @elucidate.co has brought me a lot of joy because of the content we’re putting out & the feedback I’ve been getting from the people I love. 

Avery: Listening to podcasts. My favorites are career-focused & crime podcasts! I’m loving playing around with nail art too!

Janae: New roller blades that my two best friends surprised me with for my birthday (they spent five hours spray painting them for me). We are all planning to go to a park & skate together!! 

Victoria: Rewatching early 2000’s TV shows like The O.C., Laguna Beach & One Tree Hill (been feeling super nostalgic lately). Also, I interned for the Cowboys last year so I’m super excited that NFL season is back!!

Paige: Checking out books from my local library (the Millennium series has single handedly pulled me from my reading slump), rewatching Game of Thrones with my boyfriend & making pumpkin lattes with my new Nespresso machine!

What’s bringing YOU joy?

With the cluster that is 2020, I think most of us are looking for ways to find self care without endangering our loved ones or starting a social media war with our friends & family over COVID best practices. On my end, I have been quarantined down in Austin for a few months and decided to *safely* plot a weekend trip out to West Texas for a needed mental break and creative escape.

I would like to note that I did my best to document everything I did, but dropped the ball on some of the super fun things, because I was genuinely enjoying myself. I’ll do my best to cover all the bases, but hey, I think that’s a lesson in having a good time, right?

The Digs: Casa Blanca

After searching through many teeny artist lofts and sketchy shacks, I landed on this charming old house. I can’t say enough good things about this gem. 100 years old and cute as f*ck, Casa Blanca is filled with old art books, a charming front porch, and close to the Marfa main square. Thumbs way up for this house! One thing to note: the house did not have AC, so I would recommend going in the Fall or planning on not sleeping.

I’m all about eye candy, so I loved the assortment of art, books, funky cups, and the fact that it all looked to be assorted in such a quirky way on purpose. I aspire to be someone who can have an accidentally cute cabinet of cluttered teacups someday.

Exploring Marfa, pandemic style.

If you’ve been to Marfa before, you know that it operates on a schedule of its own. It’s very small and many of the stores operate on certain days. I did some research beforehand about what would be open, but even then, figured that it may have scarce offerings.

On the first night, I popped over to Hotel Paisano in the main town square and ate at Jett’s Grill. It’s hard to miss with its iconic, retro sign. My favorite part about the meal was running into a friend from elementary school. It was actually WILD. I kinda love that about West Texas. You drive six hours and run into someone you know when you least expect it.

For breakfast, Marfa Burrito became a quick staple, with classic “super tacos” for an easy $7. At the shop, the walls are adorned with photos of Anthony Bourdain, Matthew McConaughey and other iconic guests in a festive frame wall that suits the space perfectly.

***Highly recommend if you’re hungover***

If you need a good drink or a terrible beer, Lost Horse Saloon is the best spot. It also might be the only spot.

Shopping

I will say there were some super cute stores open in Marfa. I visited The Marfa Store, which had a lot of artsy tees, art books, jewelry, and fun gifts. I genuinely regret not buying any sh*t from there. Marfa Store guy, if you ever read this, I regret not buying things from your store!

Esperanza Vintage is a cute (and tiny) hut of a store on the main drag of Marfa and I found a festive, embroidered top there. I was asked to take a photo in it, so below is some awkward evidence of that shopping venture!

Wrong Marfa is a hip store near Hotel Paisano that has rad art prints, jewelry, cards, and art books that no one can afford. I wanted an art book about mid-century homes, but I needed a sugar daddy to afford it. All of that being said, I felt really cool being there and the shop owner had on glasses that reminded me of Iris Apfel.

I’d say my favorite store was RABA MARFA. It is so finely curated that I wanted to pass out. Real talk though, I could drop some $$$$ in there. They have a solid vintage selection (tees are a bit pricey) and nice lineup of borderline odd perfumes that would make one smell like a badass/rare bitch.

Art!

I wasn’t sure if the Chinati Foundation would be a thing during COVID, but the walking tour was open with masks, which was a happy surprise! If you haven’t done this yet or have it on your list, def do it when in Marfa. It’s one of my favorite things for sure.

***Bring water***

Alpine, Big Bend, Terlingua & Marathon

When you run out of things to do in Marfa, head on out to Alpine, Big Bend, Terlingua, Marathon, and the rest of the small towns for some incredible scenery. I spent a day exploring Big Bend area and Lajitas, which was rad. Highlight of that day was sneaking into an RV park pool. I think going into this trip, I was trying to find as many pool options as possible because I knew it was going to be so hot and I was afraid I might die.

I loved this whole driving trip because many parts of Texas can feel very monotonous, flat, and dull. West Texas feels like an alien planet at times. It’s so cool to see elevation, different plants, and other ways of living that are so unique.

Terlingua is a weird little town with art galleries, funky houses, and structures built into a side of a mountain. I stopped in Terlingua Ghost Town at an art gallery/rock shop and it was such a different physical landscape than anything I’d ever seen before.

On the last night in town, I headed to the Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas. I had read about the hotel and was glad to be able to check it out. It was hands down the best food I had and an overall gorgeous setup. Best part, they let me go check out the pool while we waited for dinner, which I loved. If you get the chance to go, 100% do it!

Most importantly, if you decide to travel during COVID, be a good person & wear your mask! <3

XO @wendyingeneral