Club Letter No. 2

Find our weekly club playlist at the end of the Club Letter xx

WE’VE BEEN THINKING…

Picture this: You’re scrolling on your timeline and everything you see from a women-focused media publication is about a trend, a celebrity you don’t necessarily want to hear about, or the newest beauty tool or makeup brand, and you end up having to carefully curate your own sources for all the things that you want to read and hear about. At the same time, you are an artist or creator and it seems like unless you put excessive amounts of time and energy into going viral on Tik Tok or Instagram, publications and culture-driven media could not care less. This is just a little bit of the frustration that fueled us, in the beginning, to get excited about the idea of starting an independent publication that sets out to address these issues. Once we got our wheels turning, frustration was overtaken by absolute enjoyment and encouragement in the idea of creating something that could be a positive response to some of these struggles.

We knew it was a tall order to try to cover all the many areas that impact our lives and ignite our passions. We’ll be honest with you, after the first issue, we stepped back and thought jeez, how are we going to keep up? And by the way, you’re dealing with two founders who are attempting to unlearn perfectionist tendencies and realizing the power in vulnerability. That said, we had gotten so caught up in trying to make everything perfect, that we managed to get caught up in the very ideas that we wanted to push back against: the keeping up. The following thought was: It’s always about keeping up with this or that, heaven forbid we didn’t keep up with everything. And that’s when it clicked, that our sweet spot might be in slowing down. We have enough fast. Whether we’re talking about the speed at which we scroll through our feed, form opinions, grab breakfast, order a product and have it show up on our porch, multitask without even thinking about it, or the way that fastness is in a symbiotic relationship with the nature of our society through fast trend and news cycles, fashion, technology, and changes in our environment that impact our lives. Not all of these things are inherently bad (fast fashion is bad), but in a world that spins so quickly around us, slowing down could be considered a rebellion of the best variety. So, we invite you to rebel. Slowing down does not mean sacrificing ferocity or urgency. It just means walking your own golden brick road (Wizard of Oz references will always be peppered in here at The Ozuree) and looking at things more thoughtfully and intentionally, rather than chasing a carrot down someone else’s path.

The main update: As far as our Club Letter sections go, we will still have our minds in all of those same areas, and then some, but we are taking the pressure off of keeping up with the latest and instead choosing to provide less in “news” and more high-quality original content in the form of blogs, mini thought pieces around stories and concepts, our art and others’, various series for learning, as well as interviews, all with links and external information and sources strategically placed where they aren’t overwhelming. We’re still all about staying engaged, just reimagining how we accomplish that.

Our brand name comes from the idea that there is space between the “prairie,” the life we have, and “Oz,” where we want to go, where we are learning, exploring, making friends, and enjoying the journey along the way. We want to put that old-school blog energy back into the mainstream by empowering the stories everywhere from the prairie to Oz. There is magic in both the ordinary and the extraordinary. And we’re setting out to find and treasure it.

We wanted this update to be the main focus of this week’s Club Letter, but we curated some things below for you that we hope you enjoy. Please know we are profoundly thankful that you are supporting us as we figure out how to channel a lifetime's worth of passion into a brand and its various ventures. We can’t wait for what’s down the road for this community.

We encourage you to choose the “read online” option in the corner and leave us a comment to let us know what you think of these changes and what you’re looking forward to from The Ozuree!

HEAD IN THE SKY

New Moon: We’re talking lunar cycles, although if you want to talk about the movie, we’re down for that, too. February’s new moon in Aquarius will occur tomorrow, the 9th at about 5 pm.

Whether you’re into astrology or not, a new moon is a great symbol of the cyclical nature of reality. We are always positioned somewhere between the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. If you are into astrology, we recommend this article to catch a glimpse of what this particular new moon has in store for your sign. (I find this fascinating, so stay tuned for a blog on Crosslyn’s thoughts on astrology which might also include a rant on why we shame women for finding validity and/or taking harmless pleasure in it).

THE NATURAL WORLD

On my last visit to New York, I picked up Ken Keffer’s Earth Almanac from the Museum of Natural History’s bookstore. I figured I needed something to show for my efforts aside from the photo I took at the entrance that looked like Rexy from Night at the Museum. That said, it has been one of my favorite purchases because I have been able to micro-dose some science into my daily routine. The book shares daily inspiration and 365 facts about the earth and the many creatures and interesting natural occurrences it is home to. Today’s topic is Witch Hazel, which is a plant native to North America and often used in folk medicine. It also makes a great addition to your natural and affordable skincare cabinet. -CR

ELECTION YEAR THINGS: THE PRIMARIES

We encourage you to check your states’ dates for deadlines such as those for requesting a mail-in ballot and early voting. Headcount.org is a great place to easily access this information.

Hey Texans👋🏻 The deadline to request a ballot for voting by mail is 2/23, and early voting for the presidential primary election begins 2/20 and ends 3/1. Election day is 3/5.

While we constantly have all kinds of information thrown at us, it is not always what we need to make the most informed decisions. I found it incredibly helpful to use vote411’s tool to learn more about the candidates and what’s on the ballot for this election. I would encourage you to do the same. Our votes are powerful, and we need to show up and use them when it matters most.

FUN DAYS

It’s National Kite Flying Day. The origin of kites can be traced back over 2,000 years to ancient China. Legend has it that around 200 BCE, a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to prevent it from blowing away in the wind. Inspired by the sight of a soaring bird, he attached a bamboo frame and silk fabric to the string, creating what is believed to be one of the earliest prototypes of a kite.

Tomorrow is National Pizza Day and National Bagel and Lox Day... I think that covers my menu for Friday. If you’ve never had a bagel and lox, you’re missing out big time. It is our go-to almost every time we are grabbing breakfast/brunch in a new city. But, you don’t need to go anywhere but to the market to whip one up. Recipe

LEARN & EXPLORE WITH US

DID YOU KNOW?

What time do you go to sleep? 10:06 was the average bedtime last month for those between the ages of 18 and 34, according to the WSJ. I don’t know about you, but I would have been considered a night owl outlier in that data set.

Texas is not a huge fan of… a lot of books. When it comes to book banning, Texas comes in second only to Florida with a whopping 625 books banned during the last school year. According to PEN America, 41 percent of banned books nationwide address issues of race and racism. Our challenge to you is to take a look at the list compiled by PEN America and add some to your TBR pile. We agree with Stephen King when he told kids, “If they ban a book in your school, haul your ass to the nearest bookstore or library ASAP and find out what they don't want you to read.” It works for adults, too.

OUR PICKS THIS WEEK

MOVIE: My Cousin Vinny

TRY: Hibiscus tea

ARTIST: Kara Walker

BUSINESS: Askanya Cholocates

ESSAY: by Olivia Zhang 

GOOD NEWS: Plastic bag bans work

RECIPE: Kale and Chickpea Stew (I added a bit of cashew cream and it was chef’s kiss)

This word is very on brand with “Ozuree.” We like to think of it as staying grounded in our reality as we indulge in the reveries that help us envision where we desire to go.

HALL OF GREATS

One thing we know we want to make time for each week is learning about women who did not take up adequate (or any?) space in our history books. We couldn’t choose one, so this week we are highlighting two incredible women and their stories.

JOSEPHINE BAKER: Where to start with this woman… I guess we could start by mentioning that she was a WWII spy who fought against the Nazi regime. This is in addition to being a world-renowned performer and activist. She could have written the rulebook on using your platform for a cause. She would refuse to play shows to segregated audiences, often forcing the owner of a club or establishment to integrate for her shows. She was one of the few women to speak at the March on Washington in 1963, saying: "You know, friends, that I do not lie to you when I tell you I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more. But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad.” What an icon. Keep reading about her.

GWENDOLYN BROOKS: If you follow our social media, you might have seen a post about Gwendolyn Brooks, one of the most gifted and influential poets of the 20th century. She paved the way for those who would follow in her footsteps by receiving honors that had never been given to black Americans before (including but not limited to a Pulitzer). She wrote over 20 books, taught, and was highly regarded during her lifetime as well as after. What I love about studying the lives of gifted writers is that they have the privilege of leaving behind not only their list of great accomplishments but also a body of work that is timeless in its ability to find a home in the hearts and minds of new audiences as time passes. I, personally, love reading but espeicllay watching or listening to interviews of people I admire, because it is a great way to see someone’s mind at work and soak up lessons from their knowledge as well as observe the interactions between humans in the art of conversation. I highly recommend watching the interview, below.

A poem: Read this (very short, but powerful) poem she wrote, called We Real Cool

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xx C&C