Cincy Soul Weekend

It has been an action packed weekend for both me and Cincinnati. I gave two tours at Findlay Market and volunteered at the local information table for the American Queen Steamboat Convention at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza at Carew Tower. In between, I managed to squeeze in some time to enjoy what is now Cincy Soul Weekend. Cincinnati has been hosting the Cincinnati Music Festival for over 50 years and for the first time, added the Cincy Soul celebrations in and around Fountain Square. Strange enough, about 99% of those attending were out of towners. For the weekend, it was foodie paradise, concerts, and fashion show all rolled into one big party.

P.S. and BTW, there is very robust black history about Fountain Square that I posted in an earlier post.

To put some hype in our Monday, check out the scenes, sounds, and tastes from this past weekend.  New love, new mercies to a new week!

The two Rev Lynches

Grippo wings, jalapeno coleslaw, and sweet potato pie, Southern Grace

Cincinnati's Favorite Aunt

On and off, I have been hearing good buzz about this pillar of the community named Aunt Flora's. She has been around for exactly 20 years this year, but I haven't had an opportunity to taste and see what she is all about, so I squeezed in some time to attend her grand reopening at Findlay Market Friday morning. Born Katrina Mincey, she started at a Findlay Market stall back in the early 2000s and has been known nationally for her unique touch on Southern comfort food, particularly her fruit cobblers. When I tasted both her berry and peach cobblers, I can tell that this is nothing but Cincinnati and her love for this crown jewel.

Ceremonial cutting of the cobbler

Aunt Flora and Martha Stewart

Aunt Flora and Oprah Winfrey-apologies for the glare!

Though her cobblers are her signature, Aunt Flora also does casseroles, cakes, BBQ sauce, and coffee. It was the latter that inspired me to create a DIY coffee body scrub.

Coffee body scrub

Most of America needs that quintessential jolt in the AM, but what very few people know is that coffee treatments are a beauty trend that is hot and happening right now. If you want a bit more boost in your morning, take a gander at the skin benefits coffee has to offer. Hemp oil is slowly becoming the one and done go to for organic health and beauty. And now, for the scrub.

3 tbsp Aunt Flora's Gourmet Coffee

3 tbsp organic hemp oil-Manitoba Harvest is a good one to use

Mix both ingredients until the mixture has a near paste consistency. That's it!

This is a great exfoliate for face, body, and lips and can be applied in the shower!

For a more affordable substitute for hemp oil, olive oil and coconut oil are also good ones to use.

Every skin type is different, so essential oils are an awesome way to enhance your scrub according to your skin care needs. For me, I have added lavender and tea tree oil as I have oily and acne prone skin.

Cincinnati's favorite aunt-and now, My favorite aunt-is back, and she is here to stay!

Local Beauty in a Nutshell

From left to right: Ultimate Detox activated charcoal and clay facial mask, Queen City Alchemy; rose water, Bee Haven Blueberry Blossom honey, Findlay Market; Dee Dee's Rise and Grind body scrub*, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Lemon and rose water toner, night cream and Environmental Defense Day cream, Onederings Lavender Farm, and lavender lip balm, Onederings Lavender Farm, Findlay Market. Not shown: Lavender Vitamin C Hydrating serum, Onederings Lavender Farm, Findlay Market.

Since I launched this blog, I have been giving my take on Cincinnati's black history and culture, linking some of our iconic landmarks to our black history. Today, I wanted to be lighthearted and share something a little personal.

Summer is upon us, and I have been scaling back on my makeup routine and focused more on skincare. As with oily and acne prone skin like mine and at my age, skincare becomes more important than ever. That being said, I am going to show you my keys to great year round skin.

Ingredients:

Facial Mask

Ultimate Detox facial mask, Queen City Alchemy, 1 tsp
rose water, 1 tsp
honey, 2-3 drops
squeeze of lemon juice from fresh lemons


Directions

1. Wash and exfoliate face with the coffee scrub, using gentle circular motions.

1. Combine all ingredients until the mixture forms paste like consistency.

2. Spread mixture onto clean face and allow to dry for 15-20 mins.

3. Remove mask with facial cloth or rinse with cool water as cool water tightens pores.

Toner

4. Mix equal parts rose water,witch hazel, and filtered water in travel size spray bottle.

5. Apply to clean face to remove any traces of the mask remaining.



6. Apply vitamin C hydrating serum to wherever you feel you need the most. I apply this on my t-       zone, under eyes, and dark spots. Leave on for about 30 mins. and apply either day or night cream to skin. You can also leave the serum on overnight for best results.

 7. For nourished lips, I once again applied coffee scrub to my lips, rinsed and applied lavender lip   balm.

Final thoughts:

I have included lavender in my regular beauty care as lavender has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It is very calming, and people use lavender in forms such as room deodorizer and as linen spray.

Honey also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and is sweeter that refined sugar.

Best of all, many of these products were produced locally!!!

 *-African American owned business