My Universe: Yaminah Mayo

Writer, model and blogger Yaminah, also known as Spicy Mayo, keeps it real, staying true to her vision in all she does. Her deep love for style and the arts encouraged a move to NYC, and since then she's been writing, modeling and blogging about life in the big apple. Come along and find out what turns this thought leader on, it's her universe, we're just living in it.

MY THREADS 

Jeans Vintage High Rise Levi’s 

T-shirt Uniqlo Crewnecks

Socks Out from Under, Happy Socks, Uniqlo 3-Pack (Black)

Shoes Small white heel, penny loafers, Nike Aqua Rifts 

Day bag Vintage Coach bucket bag 

Jewelry Depends on the outfit but typically, small gold and silver hoops and my gold chains 

Fabric Silk 

Color Terracotta, kelly green

Workout wear Girlfriend Collective leggings and Paloma Bra 

Designers Spring: William Okpo Summer: Nikki Chasin Fall: Rachel Comey Winter: Entireworld sweatsuits 

Stores Lit Bar, Sincerely Tommy, Opening Ceremony (R.I.P) 

Online shopping site ASOS, TheRealReal, eBay 

Swimwear Zaful, Saltwater Collective 

Style Icon Maybe not style but I love the easeful nature of Zoe Kravitz and Kelis’ style. I’m focusing on clothes that make me comfortable and happy. 

 

MY BAG OF TRICKS

Sign Cancer Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Libra Rising 

Workout Quarantine biking and walking Pre-Rona: High-Intensity Interval/Strength Training 

Studio/teacher Trainer Douglass Knox (@rbcfitnesstherapy) 

Morning rituals Smoothie, emails, oatmeal, emails, bike ride, shower

Evening rituals Dishes, wash face, tea or snack, bed 

Astrologer Amber Finney @amberthealchemist

Shower or bath Shower 

Extrovert or introvert Ambivert. I’m extroverted where I’m comfortable. 

DIY Mask Rhassoul Clay + yogurt with Aztec clay, turmeric and water 

Stress management techniques Avoidance (not the healthiest), sleep, journaling, therapy, working out 

Who is your get out of jail call? My mom. 

 

MY PANTRY

Tea or tonic drink Yerba Maté tea or Golde Turmeric Latte w/ coconut milk and honey.

Wellness idol @sdirshe + @foodheaven

What’s always in your fridge Coconut water, buttermilk, frozen bananas, frozen ginger, baby kale, romaine, miso, sweet chili sauce, chicken thighs, frozen brown rice, salmon, avocado

Go-to dinner recipe Tequila lime chicken thighs, red beans and rice

Go-to dinner party recipe Cast iron pizza and a nicely dressed salad

Snack Chips and guacamole, Kettle corn chips

Drink Grapefruit seltzer water, watermelon juice, tequila, whiskey-ginger beer

Grocery store Trader Joe’s!

Favorite flavors Citrus, Lychee, Miso

Cookbooks Essense Brings You Great Food (Jonell Nash), Ways to Cook Vegetarian (Cooking Light), Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (Sami Nosrat)



MY MEDICINE CABINET 

Toothpaste Trader Joe’s Peppermint Toothpaste 

Soap Dr. Bronner’s Citrus mixed with Dr. Bronner’s Eucalyptus. Heaven! 

Lip Hanahana Beauty Lip Balm. So luxurious. So affordable.

Hair stylist 90% of the time me, but Char at H2 Salon in Brooklyn trims my hair. 

Shampoo/ Conditioner  Pattern, Dr. Bronner’s, TJ’s Tea Tree Tingle shampoo and Pattern, TJ’s Tea Tree Tingle conditioner 

Cleanser Chagrin Valley Carrot Honey soap

Serum Versed Found the Light Vitamin C Powder/Vital C Vitamin C serum 

Moisturizer Indie Lee Oil free moisturizer mixed with squalane oil 

Mask YTTP Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial 

Beauty tool Green tea ice cubes or cold jade roller/spoons 

Makeup E.L.F. eyebrow pencil and Glossier Lash Slick, that’s all you need. Maybe a NYX colored eye pencil on a day that needs some “razzle dazzle”. 

 

MY DIGS 

Where do you live Up, Up, Up, Uptown, NYC 

Artists Carrie Mae Weems, Emma Amos, Cassi Namoda, Jordan Casteel, Tschabalala Self. I could go on... 

Piece of art in your home I’m painting a self portrait so mine! (lol) 

Museum Studio Museum of Harlem and ICA 

Local restaurant Beastro and RokC

Best cup of coffee/tea in your town Chamomile lavender or Yerba Maté tea from my kitchen!

Pottery Most of my planters

Favorite piece of furniture My green velvet chair in the living room. 

Furniture store or designer Coming Soon, CB2, flea markets and vintage websites 

Minimalist or maximalist Intimate maximalism 

Hotel Chateau Maumont, Claremont Club & Spa

Dream dinner party guests Rodeo Caledonia, Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, Lisa Nicole Carson, Sister Souljah, Phyllis Hyman 

Most used kitchen gadget Kitchen-Aid mixer, NutriNinja Blender 

What do you collect Museum postcards 

 

LIGHT MY FIRE 

Who or what inspires you Black women/femme artists. 

Quote "I'm comfortably asocial - a hermit in the middle of a large city, a pessimist if I'm not careful, a feminist, a black, a former Baptist, an oil-and-water combination of ambition, laziness, insecurity, certainty and drive." –Octavia Butler 

Beach Hanover Beach in Miami 

Charity SPRMKT  

Favorite place in the world Mexico City and The Bay Area (Home) 

Films Love Jones, The Associate, Clueless

Favorite albums Aaliyah (Aaliyah), CTRL (SZA), When I Get Home (Solange), Velvet Rope/All for You (Janet Jackson), They Say I’m Different (Betty Davis), Love Jones soundtrack 

Books What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day (Pearl Cleage), Sula (Toni Morrison), If Beale Street Could Talk (James Baldwin) 

Photography or coffee table book Lorna Simpson Collages, We Wanted a Revolution exhibition books, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 

Who would you want to be for a day Frasier or Niles Crane (lol)

Inner age It volleys between 22 and 47

Song in your head at the moment Dragonball Durag (Thundercat)

Magazine The Gentlewoman, Apartamento, GrlSquash 

 

WIRED 

Apps Instagram, Giphy, Spotify, 

Phone iPhone 11 

Phone case Cheapy periwinkle blue case 

Website NYTimes Cooking, Into The Gloss, various blogs (including my own– Spicy Mayo) Podcasts Serial Killers, You’re Wrong About, Crimetown, The Happiness Lab, Man in the Window...basically, anything from the L.A. Times or Wondery. 

Favorite Instagram @kiacooks, @lifewithjrdn, @beerbottles_chainsaws, @ihartericka, @darian, @theglogoddess, @unfriendlyblackfoodie– most of this list is made up of my friends but they’re all so creative, funny, and doing exciting things that inspire me. 

News source Black Twitter and Robin Givhan’s Washington Post column 


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