As this year comes to a close, #TeamBlackLove is sharing our favorite holiday memories, preparing for a restful break, and ending 2021 with gratitude for each and every one of you! Whether you’ve engaged with our social media content across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, watched Black Love Doc on OWN, caught up on the Black Love Summit on YouTube, listened to our podcasts, downloaded the Black Love+ App, or stayed up to date with our stories on staging-blacklove.kinsta.cloud — we want to say THANK YOU. Your support is how we can continue to tell stories about Black love in every way. 

Now here’s your chance to get to know more about our stories, who we are, and our favorite holiday memories with our families. Feel free to share with us, too! Let us know yours in the comments. 

Our Favorite Holiday Memories 

Codie Elaine Oliver aka The Black Santa Baddie
Co-Founder

Favorite holiday memory: Traveling home to my Mother’s house in Texas for our annual holiday party. Even in college, I would come from Howard and it meant so much to me. With the pandemic last year we weren’t able to have the party but I’m looking forward to my boys experiencing the holiday magic with my family this year.

David Wasicki aka Santa King
General Manager

Favorite holiday memory: Sharing my daughter’s first Christmas a few years ago. Even though she was just under one year, seeing her crawling with her “eyes all aglow” from the tree lights and decorations had me excited to see her through the years as she matures and understands the magic of the holiday season over time.

Yasmine Jameelah aka The Holiday Hottie
Lead Assignment Editor 

Favorite holiday memory: Picking out my first Christmas tree on my own with my mom. Growing up, I begged her for a real tree, but she said they were fire hazards lol so finally, we came to a compromise. One year, she took me to Big Kmart and I found the most beautiful pre-lit tree that looked real! It always made me so happy to see how shocked people were when they visited that it was artificial. That tree lasted us for over a decade. Lighting it every year always brought me so much joy. 

Brielle Bryson aka The Yuletide Gamer
Digital Asset Manager 

Favorite holiday memory: The birth of my baby brother on Christmas Day. It was the best gift ever, nothing can top that!

Krystal Hill aka The Colorful Caroler
Podcast Producer 

Favorite holiday memory: My Christmas memory was with my grandmother. Every year around Christmas time she would drive me around the valley to look at Christmas lights and she would tell stories about the various places she lived and worked and that woman was a solid storyteller. 

Jenelle Randall aka The Obama Mama
Executive Assistant

Favorite holiday memory: The Christmas I got the Barbie Dreamhouse and Barbie Corvette (I’m the only child, don’t judge me lol.)

Jessica Jordan aka The Christmas Queen
Accountant Executive 

Favorite holiday memory: My Christmas memory was with my grandmother. Every year around Christmas time she would drive me around the valley to look at Christmas lights and she would tell stories about the various places she lived and worked and that woman was a solid storyteller. 

Starline Hodge aka The Menorah Mami
Digital Editor 

Favorite holiday memory: My mom used to work as an activities director for a nursing home in Miami, FL. When I was a child, I would go to work with her every Christmas. We would pass out presents and sing songs to the elderly residents whose families couldn’t make it to visit them. I remember how fun it was to talk to them and brighten up their day. I’d always get a butterscotch candy or two.

Elaine Combs aka The Festive Bestie
Social Media Manager 

Favorite holiday memory: When my aunt taught my cousins and I how to make her famous homemade gingerbread cookies. We decorated them and had a contest, and our family voted on the best taste and design. 

Karina DesRoses aka ½ of the Tinsel Twins
Social Media Strategist

Favorite holiday memory: When I was a freshman in high school and all of my dad’s side of the family gathered at my grandparent’s house for Christmas. I was finally old enough to hang out with my aunties in the kitchen. I was invited to help out with the cooking and got to be in on the family gossip! It felt like a rite of passage. 

Kyle Matthew Del Fierro aka ½ of the Tinsel Twins
Social Media Strategist 

Favorite holiday memory: Playing “Manito Manita” with my full extended family. It’s a Filipino gift exchange tradition similar to Secret Santa, where you dance around in a circle holding your gift while singing the “Manito Manita” song until you eventually hand it to the recipient of the gift as the song ends.