Gucci goes bland

"You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated." -Maya Angelou

Fashion: Bright. Bold. Fierce color palettes. That’s usually what comes to mind when you think of high-end fashion brands like Gucci or Saint Laurent. But the new “in” on fashion has flipped the script on our regularly scheduled programming and gone the other direction towards bland fashion.

Yep, that’s right. Blandification is here

But don’t confuse bland with drab. These cuts and looks in fashion make it easier to have a wardrobe to grab and toss on to have everything match and look well without too much thought.

The reason behind the shift? Some speculate it’s the economy and to give the looks that go down the runway a better chance of making it to market and easier to justify the purchase.

Makes sense.

Education: School-aged kids who lived through COVID lost a lot of education time and catching up hasn’t exactly been easy or done. However, the Cicero School District 99 in Illinois came up with a game plan to help kids catch up without it being overwhelming or time-consuming.

Before the pandemic, student performance in the district had been declining in reading and math. The impact of remote learning during the pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, with significant drops in students meeting state standards.

Research indicated substantial learning loss in both reading and math. So the school added 30 minutes of reading or math instruction to the school day, which amounts to about three extra weeks of school per year.

On top of that, and, with the support of the school board and teachers' union, negotiated a new contract to extend the school day. Teachers received a 10% raise and a one-time $5,000 bonus for this school year, paid for with COVID relief funds. The extension of the school day was well-received by families and helps working parents manage after-school care for their kids.

All and all, a great solution to a tough situation. However, kids may beg to differ. They can thank their teachers later 😅

Beauty: What’s better than a glow-up? How about a glow-up with the help of sustainable beauty products?

🥳 Yeah that sounds good to us too. Clean and sustainable beauty products are nothing new, but it is trending. Clean beauty initially focused on products free from harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

Over half of beauty and personal care products in the U.S. are now paraben-free, and truly clean products, free from a broader range of harmful ingredients, have seen significant sales growth.

However, the clean beauty trend is transitioning to a stronger emphasis on sustainability. Consumers are increasingly interested in beauty products with environmental benefits, such as vegan, cruelty-free, reusable packaging, and plastic-free options.

The most sought-after attributes in beauty products include natural ingredients, environmental respect, and reusable and recyclable packaging, especially amongst Gen Z consumers.

Look great and save the environment at the same time.

Investments Worth Watching 

Advances in technology have done a lot of good in our modern times including doing great things. The company, Delee, strides in the area of tech and early cancer spotting and treatment.

This female-founded company raised $2.4 million in funding to make its medical tech a reality.

💪 What they do: A medical device company that specializes in early cancer diagnosis & treatment monitoring.

📍 Location: San Fransico, CA
📅 Founded: 2016

🤑 Funding: $2.4 million

Get Rec’d

Mansfield Park

Here’s an oldie but goodie just in time to read for the holiday season. Jane Austen’s stories have captured the hearts of many women with Pride and Prejudice usually taking the number one spot.

Mansfield Park follows the story of Fanny Price. While this is a love story, it’s also a tale of a woman who has every reason to do only as she is told but instead stands her ground against those who would pressure her against her better judgment to a match that she knows isn’t right.

This book made it onto Oprah’s list of books all women must read for a reason. Want to turn it up a notch? Try listening to it on audiobook.

😋 MMM, Yummy!

Yep, it’s finally feeling cold out and it’s getting darker earlier and earlier. We all want yummy fall food to keep us warm and full on these cold autumn nights and who can blame you? Here are some recipes that are sure to please the palette.

• Chili Verde with Sausage and Pumpkin

• Steakhouse Pasta

• Chili Cheese Stuffed Sweet Potato

• Grilled Cheese with Apple and Bacon