Bria B.

The world wants us to hate each other so bad. I’m not going for it.

I wanted to tell my neighbors that I’m here as a support system while the world is in chaos, but I was afraid I would come off as cringey or like I was pandering.

With encouragement from friends, I decided that I would rather be potentially annoying than heartless so I decided to write them a note and give their kids a sweet treat.

There are a lot of ways to show your support for community and distain for disunity and violence. The best way to fight hate is with love for your neighbor (literally).

Just moved to the Twin Cities? Or maybe you’ve been here a while and still feel like the only one in the room. In this mini series, I’m sharing real resources to help you thrive here!

🎉 Ep. 15: I’m sick of going out to eat, what else can I go?

Everybody has been talking about Wicked, but what y’all need to be watching is THE WIZ! You have a chance to see at theatre this week, and it’s definitely a must see! I don’t cultivate my artistic side enough, and seeing a broadway show was such a fun experience to switch things up. It was BLACK and beautiful! Everybody sang DOWNNN, and they incorporated so many genres from classic broadway, to gospel, to New Orleans bounce to Afro beats!

The kicker is, the show is only playing at the Orphejum theater THIS WEEK, so use the link in my bio to get discount tickets before it’s too late! Thank you for bringing this AMAZING experience to the Twin Cities!

Just moved to the Twin Cities? Or maybe you’ve been here a while and still feel like the only one in the room. In this mini series, I’m sharing real resources to help you thrive

🎉 Ep. 13: Girl, who does your hair?

The first thing I did when I moved to Minnesota was find an apartment, the second thing I did was secure a stylist. I literally was on a plane, flying back to Minnesota for the first time ever & I sat next to a black woman. Before our flight landed, I nervously asked her if she lived in Minnesota, and if so who does her hair. By the grace of God, she directed me to the place worked, and I’ve been locked in with her ever since.

Admittedly, after my first visit with , I went through bit of trial and error with other stylists in the area just to test the waters. In the end, I realized NOBODY DOES IT LIKE WHITNEY & I vowed to never switch up on her.

She is professional, talented, and so kind. Every time I leave her chair I feel like a new woman! If you just moved to the twin cities and are looking for a stylist, book with my girllllll ❤️❤️❤️

I am SO PROUD of my friend for opening up a beautiful Pilates studio in downtown Minneapolis. The building is stunning, the decor is on point, and the classes will really get the body right 🥵 you need to follow .pilates if you aren’t already!!!

Jaqui is one of a few friends that I have in Minneapolis that have created sustainable, revenue generating businesses in the twin cities. To be VERY CLEAR, my friends are bosses. They are driven, determined, and smart, but I also think being in Minneapolis gives business owners - especially black ones - a leg up.

There are opportunities, resources, and connections here that sweeten the pot… but on top of that, there is SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY for a black owned business to thrive because we are lacking so much.

If you are considering opening a business and you live in the twin cities… it’s time to stop procrastinating and make it happen. If not now then when? If not you, then WHO? If you want to survive the twin cities, lean in and take advantage of the opportunities!!!

I feel like when I first moved out here, the 2 questions I asked the most were:

1.) who does your hair?
2.) what church you go to?

LOL but forreal. I made my first real friends after a party. I saw these two girls dressed super cute and they sat next to me while we waited for our husbands to get the car. I sparked a conversation by complimenting their outfits, and as the conversation flowed, I eventually I asked them what church they went to. They told me, and invited me to come the next Sunday.

I ended up going, saw them there, we went to brunch after and the rest was history. From there our friendship bloomed along with more brunches, dinners, baby showers, birthday parties, and so much more. I even met up with of the ladies in another state after she moved.

is a wonderful church and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a LOT of my friends go there. If you are looking for community, try visiting my church this Sunday! I can save you a seat next to me! ❤️

I didn’t make my first “real” friend in Minneapolis until about 6 months after I moved here. For this first few months I felt so lonely. I just wanted ONE GOOD girlfriend to grab drinks with or go shopping with.

I remember going out to some club with my husband some time in November, and he was like “alright, you need to go find a friend. Start talking to people” 🤣🤣 that’s exactly what I did. It’s crazy because I still talk to a few people I met that night almost 7 years later.

If you want to survive the twin cities, you have to make it a POINT to get out and meet people. It’s just just going to happen. You gotta make it happen. You can do this!!!!

Them: Minnesota isn’t racist at all
Me: *Gets called the N-Word in the Cub Foods Parking Lot*

Its funny but it’s not funny lol

My husband and I were adamant about living on the north side of Minneapolis. One of our first Realtors was doing everything in her power to convince us to move somewhere else - somewhere with a better reputation - but we were like no. Keep looking over north.

Despite what people have to say about the north side of Minneapolis, I’ve grown to love and appreciate my side of town. My neighbors come in all different shades, and I have yet to have a Karen experience with someone who lives on my block 🤣

As I continue to build on this series “how to survive Minnesota” I think it’s important for you to know what I value, what I prioritize, how my perspective about this city has been shaped. That foundation is built on the north side!

What do you think are other major differences in between living in the south vs the north?

1.) “coats” in the south are VERY DIFFERENT from “coats” in the north
2.) wearing shoes inside is very normal down south. I actually used to get in trouble for always having my shoes off when I was growing up. Up north, I think you take your shoes off in the winter bc of snow and salt, but you end up taking them off all year just because you get used to it.
3.) in the south, a box of chicken was a staple. Daddy gets the breast, mama liked the wings/thighs, and the kids got drumsticks. Up north, we have wings GALORE, but a box of chicken is not something I stumble accross often
4.) same with fish fillets. In Louisiana, you can go almost anywhere and find a fish fillet - the only place I can get them now is Angeleas
5.) if you move to MN from the south, it is VERY LIKELY that most of your friends will not be Minnesota natives. Don’t be shocked by that. It’s just easier to vibe with other transplants.

Send this to someone you know visiting or MOVING to the Midwest soon!