Serena Williams, Standing Your Ground & The State of Emotions at Work

You've all heard about, read about it, and definitely need to continue talking about it. This past Saturday, Serena Williams was issued point deductions and had an entire game cut during the women's singles final of this year's U.S. Open. She voiced her opinion about it, as she should, and it didn't end there. 

Serena was then hit with a $17,000 fine for code violations. Tournament referee, Brian Earley, ruled that she would be fined $10,000 for verbal abuse, $4,000 for a coaching violation, and $3,000 for racket abuse. The "verbal abuse" that we speak of here is when Serena addressed the referee, stood her ground, and defended both her longstanding tennis career and work ethic. She's Serena Williams, she doesn't have to cheat. 

The rest of us may not be killing it on the tennis court, but we face the same struggle of showing our emotions at work. Why is it that when a woman voices her frustrations, it's quick to be labeled as a meltdown or tantrum? Why are we labeled as hysterical for voicing our opinion when something is wrong? As a result of Saturday's events, the tennis sport has been targeted for sexism and handling violations between male and female players differently. A good example comes from early last month when French tennis player Benoit Paire smashed three rackets on the court, and was charged a fine of $16,500 as a result. 

The issue here isn't hidden by any means; it's loud and clear as a matter of fact. Serena Williams was punished for voicing her opinion while doing her job, and it's something that every woman faces every day. Sure, we're not getting hit with fines for thousands of dollars, but we can face penalties, ridicule, and even termination for simply stating what's on our minds.

This is something that all women are all too familiar with, but for black women especially, it's nothing new. The way Serena Williams was treated during another huge moment of her career, just proves how hard it is to be a black woman at work. Black women often internally police themselves in the workplace in every way from their appearance, to the way they approach the situations brought in front of them. And you know what? It's not okay. Neither are the descriptions of Williams' behavior on the court. She's been labeled as angry, having an outburst, a furious rant, and everything in between because she defended herself. As she put it, having to go through this experience just sets a terrible example for the next person who wants to express their emotions. We highly recommend watching her post-event press conference here.

The bottom line is that none of us should be punished for stating the facts, saying them loudly, and with whatever emotion is instilled in our voices. The conversation hasn't stopped yet, and it shouldn't stop until we all stop punishing women for saying what they need to say. 

We also can't fail to note that her opponent, Naomi Osaka, did not get to properly enjoy her big moment among the chaos. She's the first Japanese citizen (editor’s note: her father is Haitian) to win a Grand Slam singles tournament, and that's a milestone that should be celebrated, and not overshadowed by what others are describing as a tirade or a meltdown. Just as the New York Times  put it, it was memorable but for all of the wrong reasons. 

By: Andrea Navarro

Here are some of our favorite pieces that hit the matter right on its head. 

Mashable provided a breakdown of how the entire situation went down on the court. 

Refinery29 called it what it is: sexism. 

The HuffingtonPost, highlighted Serena's poise once her opponent, Naomi Osaka became visibly upset at the crowd's reaction to her big win. 

Male tennis players came to Williams' defense, including James Blake, who admitted to saying a lot worse on the court and never being penalized for it. 

Forbes explained the power of speaking up, in honor of Saturday's events. 

The HuffingtonPost also highlighted what some of tennis's meltdowns actually looked like.

Brit+Co. called out the fact that Williams' treatment was both racist and sexist.

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How Designer and Entrepreneur Erin Condren Stays Motivated

By: Erin Condren

Motivation is always the first step towards reaching any goal. To me, motivation is about deciding and believing that I can accomplish what I set my mind to. It’s something that’s always been important to me; you’ll see the phrase “create.motivate.inspire” across my entire collection. I design products to be agents of motivation and inspiration. Whether it’s an uplifting quote posted on my Instagram on Monday morning as part of our #motivationalmonday series, a pop of an unexpected, happy color or a structured product design that helps add function to daily life, I seek to motivate others. 
 
But how do I motivate myself, and furthermore stay motivated, which is often half the battle? I’ve identified several tips and tricks thatI’ve noticed work for me and keep me energized and excited!

Make a List of Action Steps

Does it surprise anyone that make a list is my number one tip!? It’s no secret I’m a lover of lists, and it’s so important to make one that will continue to motivate you. Set actionable & reachable “action steps” that you can work towards to reach your goal! 

Celebrate the Small Milestones

Part of why it’s important to make these action steps is so you can celebrate it! It’s important to take the time to recognize how hard you’re working and acknowledge those little victories. 

Visualize your goal

I’m a visual person, so I’ve found that it’s important to actually create or find visual representations of the goal I’m envisioning. This can be anything, from the house you’re saving up to buy or the children you’re working hard to support. It always helps to see a reminder of why you’re hustling.

Don’t Be Afraid to Make an Adjustment

One of my dad’s favorite sayings growing up was “make an adjustment!” This phrase has turned into a personal mantra for me as I navigate the many different curveballs life has thrown at me. While sticking to your goal and staying motivated and on track is important, don’t be afraid to make an adjustment and rearrange your priorities if you have to! 

Schedule “Pick-Me-Ups” as Needed

It’s important to recognize that you will have down days and moments where you feel discouraged or like staying motivated is just not feasible. Plan ahead for these moments so you can cut them off at the pass. I like to pre-schedule things like a mother-daughter movie date or catching up with a friend to help ground me and remind me of what’s important. Hiding little notes of encouragement is also a fun tip!

Stay Organized

This one seems obvious, but make sure that you’re properly organized and set up to make your goals a reality. I like adding weekly check-in times in my LifePlanner™ so that each Monday I already have some time set aside to focus in on my goals and motivate myself by looking back at how far I’ve come.  

Consistency is Key!

Don’t vacillate week to week! Keep on the same pace and stay consistent with the steps you’re taking. Soon, you’ll develop habits and staying motivated will be second nature!

I’m so dedicated to staying motivated that I’ve recently been working on an upcoming product launch that’s all about setting goals (more on that soon!) I can’t wait to release it and hopefully help others like me stay on track to becoming their best selves! 

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Top LA Recruiters Dish 8 Interview Mistakes to Avoid

"Grandma Dawn is turning 89 this year and still comes to the office every day," says Natalie Levine over coffee (mine) and mint lemonade (hers).  She can't drink caffeine after 2pm, "or she'll be up all night," explains her sister Emily.  

The referenced "office" is Century City-based Career Group Companies, a staffing firm specializing in full-time and temporary placement of administrative staff for today's leading companies. Founded in 1981 by the sisters' then 25-year-old mother, Susan Levine, it remains a family run business. 

Emily serves as Vice President, Natalie as Senior Account Manager, and dad, Michael Levine is CEO. Grandma Dawn, "in her Chanel and Etro," is an office staple. 

 "Our mom was a pioneer of the boutique staffing firm," says Natalie, "when staffing was all about making the deal, instead of the people side of the business."

It's this hands-on people-centric approach that propels Career Groups clients' businesses forward and makes a difference in applicant's lives. The company now employs approximately 150 people with offices in LA, New York, Redwood Shores, San Francisco, and Connecticut.

Candidates come to Career Group Companies by appointment only and leading companies rely on the CGC to deliver top notch direct hire and freelance/temp candidates for their open jobs. "We are essentially job match makers," they explain. "We grant candidates access to exclusive companies, and we serve as their counselors along the way. We are there for every step of the process, from assisting with their resumes, interview tips, delivering the offer, and more." 

Jobs are their job. And we make jobs are our business. 

So for the graduating class of 2018, who better to ask the the do's and don'ts of the interviewing process? According to Emily and Natalie here are 8 common mistakes you should avoid:  

1. NOT WRITING A THANK YOU NOTE 

Or not proofreading a thank you note. This is a chance to show off your writing skills, so a typo in a follow-up letter is most definitely a red flag. It’s important to thank the interviewer for their time. Hiring managers want to move forward with candidates who leave a positive impression and have good manners!

2. NOT ASKING QUESTIONS AT THE END OF AN INTERVIEW 

Even if an interviewer is extremely thorough during the meeting, it’s always important to convey interest and come prepared with questions. A lot of applicants don’t realize that they should ask questions.

3. NOT BLOCKING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA

Most companies are checking Instagram, Facebook, Google searches, IMDB, and more. You shouldn't have anything (public) on the internet that you wouldn’t want HR at a company to see before even meeting you. First impressions cannot be taken back and it’s important to remember that companies are concerned with their own reputation, and want to bring people into their companies that are aware of their presence.

4. DON'T LIE ON YOUR RESUME

If you didn’t receive a college degree, do not put that you graduated! Fact check your GPA. Triple check your dates of employment. Candidates will lose offers at the end of an interview process if a background check exposes falsifications on the resume or application. Honesty is the best policy here, always.

5. DON'T INFLATE YOUR PREVIOUS SALARY 

Be accurate about your previous salary. Don’t inflate your previous salary to get a higher offer. Companies will pull w2s to verify earnings more often than not. If you didn't make the dollars, it doesn't make sense to pretend you did. 

Job Application Tip: "Don’t inflate your previous salary to get a higher offer."

Tweet this. 

6. NEVER BE LATE. EVER.

Being on time means being 10 minutes early. You need to allot time for parking problems, traffic, and any to other unforeseen circumstances. There is no excuse to be late to an interview because it shows a lack of foresight and consideration that you will likewise bring to the position. 

7. LEAVE THE COFFEE IN THE CAR

Don’t bring a beverage to the meeting (it's too casual), don’t chew gum, don’t have your cell phone out or on, and make sure you aren’t wearing a lot of cologne or perfume. 

8. DON'T FORGET TO DO YOUR RESEARCH 

Do your homework on the company you are interviewing for! That goes for the person you are interviewing with as well. 

To be considered by Career Group send your resume to their website directly! You can apply to jobs on: www.careergroupinc.com, www.fourthfloorfashion.com, or www.syndicatebleu.com, and your resume will be routed directly to a recruiter. 

And be sure to check back for more from Natalie, Emily, and to hear about their soon-to-be launched startup, Work Grades, that's set to deliver "unparalleled transparency to the employment sector by taking the guesswork out of references." 

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The Self-Care Sunday Essentials To Try Today

This post is in partnership with BIC® Soleil® Balance® razors. 

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a wave of self-care enthusiasts on social media contributing to the #SelfcareSunday movement. Whether it’s in the form of avocado toast, a special facial, a drive down PCH with the windows down, self-care can take place in so many different forms.

BIC® Soleil® Balance® razor knows the importance of taking those me-time moments – even if it’s just a fresh, smooth shave and a soak in the tub. In a recent survey, BIC® Soleil® razors found that 88% of women shave for themselves, not anyone else. Talk about self-care!

“I’m always striving to be my best self, so I knew I wanted to work on a campaign that encouraged other women to embrace their best selves too, even if it’s doing something as simple as shaving. I'm always wearing dresses in the summer months and even in the winter, I really like to be clean shaven for those winter workouts as I’m prepping for summer clothes. Just throwing on cozy sweatpants feels better with smooth legs, you know? ‘Why I Shave’ is all about embracing the tools to help us all feel more comfortable and confident in our own skin,” said Jessica Sturdy of Bows and Sequins.

So what does it really mean? We should each take some time to define self-care for ourselves, because who else really knows better than you what your body and mind need in order to be 100%?

Here at C&C, our brains are working overtime every day and when we finally get some time to ourselves, we love to join in on the self-care Sunday fun - because what is better than taking some me-time? Read below to hear how our team defines self-care and what we do to recharge.

How the C&C Team Defines Self-Care

A perfect self-care Sunday for me involves some Pinot Noir, a bubble bath, smooth, shaved legs and re-runs of my favorite show. After a long week of work and tons of Insta-notifications, nothing feels better than chilling in bed after a good soak with smooth legs and a great glass of wine.- Tyeal,  Marketing Coordinator

Getting yourself a hotel robe is everything! Along with some eucalyptus scents for your room to unwind.- Andrea, Digital Editor

Lavender bubble bath with lots of candles, putting on comfy PJs - cause what's better than soft sweatpants on freshly shaved legs. Add in my pup and it’s a perfect night.- Natty, Graphic Designer

I live for my Sundays at home. Cleaning house, cuddling cats + prepping my mind for the week is mandatory + everyone in my life knows that. I try to plan out outfits for the week + note any out-of-office events, dinners or work events that are coming up.- Heather, Marketing Director

We wanted to hear what our Create & Cultivate community defines self-care too, so we asked the creative and ambitious ladies in our Facebook group for their perfect self-care day and here’s what they had to say:

Alberthe K. B.: My self-care takes usually 1 of 3 forms—I love to get long walks in around my neighborhood at the start of the day, away from my daughter & husband so I can collect my thoughts & go into the day with more ease... I like to end my day with some music or an audiobook while having tea or wine (some days call for a lil alcohol lol) to decompress... and the third isn’t daily, but more of a weekly & it’s taking time to do a face mask & caffeine body scrub after a long bath, all followed by sinking into the sofa with my shows that I’m either catching up on or rewatching

Aleia W.: Self-care for me has turned into making my own self-care products - massage oil candles, body oils, and bath salts and settling in for a long bath using all the products until I get wrinkly. And then it's time for a little journaling (and if Sunday) filling out my planner with the upcoming events for the week!

Taylor M.: For me, self-care is all about listening to yourself and responding in the most loving way possible. It looks different depending on the day. Most Sunday nights, I stop looking at my phone and computer and take a warm bath with a good book before bed. It helps me transition from weekend to work week with ease.

Rosie C.: For me, a true self-care Sunday includes a lot of things, but most importantly, cooking. It has become essential to cook during my self-care days because it reminds me that when I approach food as a means to nourish and fuel my body, and when I remind myself that my body always has a need to nourished and fueled, I have a healthier relationship not only with food but with my outlook on the capabilities of my mind, body and spirit.

BIC® Soleil® Balance® razor invites you to take some me-time this Sunday. What do you do for a perfect self-care Sunday? Let us know in the comments!

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Bring On the Weekend: 3 Cocktails Recipes We Love!

Jessica Bornder Photography

 

Create & Cultivate conferences are such an adrenaline rush that we almost forget that we end up putting in between 70-80 hours of work!  That feeling tends to fade a week later which is why we're sharing three tasty Crown Royal cocktail recipes for all the ladies out there that need to kickback and unwind this weekend. Drink up the deliciousness, below! 

TGIF, ladies! 

 

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WHISKY GAL

Crown Royal Deluxe

Simple Syrup

Lime

Muddled blueberries

Served on ice

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Meagan Shuptar

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SUMMER IN THE WINDY CITY

Crown Royal Regal Apple

Fresh Lemon Juice

Ginger Ale

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VANILLA MULE

Crown Royal Vanilla Flavored Whiskey

Fresh Lime Juice

Ginger Beer

Bitters

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This post is brought to you by our Create & Cultivate Chicago partner, Crown Royal. 

Do you have a favorite unwind cocktail? Share the name & recipe below! 

This is What a Typical Day Really Looks Like for an Editor-in-Chief

Kate Ward is the current Editor-in-Chief of BDG Media (Bustle, Romper, Elite Daily, The Zoe Report), the former Executive Editor of Hollywood.com, a former editor and writer for 'Entertainment Weekly' and EW.com, and a member of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Media. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Ward — whose work has also appeared in 'Glamour' magazine — loves talking about nutgrafs and hates exclamation points, despite using them on a regular basis. Specializing in reality TV, ’90s nostalgia, and bad movies, Ward is likely the oldest person to attend "American Idols LIVE!" every year with her mom.

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5 a.m.: I wake up in a panicked state after dreaming that I forgot to study for my physics final. After about five seconds, I remind myself that a) I am no longer in college, and b) I would never put myself through physics again. I attempt to fall asleep again, but my brain rejects it, deciding to one-up an anxiety dream with actual anxiety. How will I get everything done today? How will I be the leader my team needs? I calm myself down when I remember that I’m surrounded by an incredibly smart team of women who continue to work hard every day to bring women’s voices to the forefront and to help and inspire those around them — including me. This thought allows my anxiety to shift from the years ahead to the hours ahead to the present challenge: my 5-mile daily run.

7:30 a.m.: Literally dripping in sweat, I head to the shower, then blow dry my hair and attempt a hair hack my Zoe Report co-worker taught me. Confident in my execution skills, I assume I’ll walk out of my apartment looking like Gisele. Instead, the look is more '80s metal, but I decide nostalgia is in anyway. On the way out the door, I scroll through some Instagram Stories from co-workers, one of which happens to be about perception, beauty, and our collective struggle as women to accept our bodies in a world constantly trying to make us smaller. I realize I needed that reminder to be kind to myself.

8:00 a.m.: I actually get a seat on the subway (the benefit of living off the local line in Brooklyn) and spend my commute reading a book about 19th-century shipwrecks because it somehow feels better to read about a disaster that’s in the past. My office is on 24th Street, but I get out at 14th Street, partly to breathe some extra fresh air and look at pies at the farmer’s market, but mostly to get in some extra steps.

9:00 a.m.: The fresh air was nice, but to be honest (and cheesy) stepping into Bustle’s offices is really what gets me going. For the last five years, the best part of my day has been being able to walk into a workplace with this team, and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to say that. I open up a recent email from a co-worker detailing plans for Bustle’s Rule Breakers digital issue. Impressed by the team's creativity, I dive in to make sure the Issue is moving along and hitting all the notes we’re aiming for. I continue to furiously go through my inbox until it reaches zero, save for the one unopened email about my upcoming vacation, which I haven’t touched since mid-June and probably won’t touch until September.  

11:00 a.m.: Meetings. Meetings, meetings, meetings. So many meetings my Google Calendar is needing a vacation. But I actually enjoy them. They keep me close to the teams from all our sites and various departments, and there’s nothing more satisfying than working with our editors and creatives to come up with innovative ways to grow our four brands. During one meeting, we dream up a particularly great idea for IGTV. Maybe we’ll order Taco Bell to celebrate. During another with executives, I showcase a new, strategic organizational chart featuring a brand-new Editorial department that will help us manage mergers and acquisitions better. The presentation goes over well. Maybe we'll order more Taco Bell to celebrate.

2:00 p.m.: Just another mid-afternoon: We find out we just locked in the cover star for our next digital issue, and — holy celebrities! — one of the Bachelor men is in the office for an interview and photo shoot. Our Bookings Manager asks if I want to meet him, and I say yes, but then find myself in a meeting during the time he’s in. Typical.  

5:00 p.m.: I do some last-minute Google Analytics data collecting for our new Bustle UK team (spoiler alert: everyone loves Meghan Markle), and catch up with Bustle, Elite Daily, and Romper’s Instagram Stories series. Even though the series launched a few weeks ago, I continue to laugh at the name of Elite Daily’s IG stories series, Blend & Snap. I laugh even more scrolling through Bustle’s meme-heavy feed. Looking at our Instagram follower count, I take a minute to remember that we started five years ago with just a few editors (and zero followers) in a Brooklyn townhouse, and now, over 80 million people are following what we're producing every day. Sometimes I have to remember to enjoy it all. What I never forget is that none of this would be possible without our team of editors, which now 90+ strong.

6:00 p.m.: I begin to head home, texting my husband about what to get for dinner. Of the two of us, he’s the chef. I once made penne à la vodka and failed to burn off the vodka. (I kind of liked it, though?)

7:00 p.m.: Home! First order of business: Remove pants. Second order of business: Inbox zero. Third order of business: Stare at a wall for five minutes.

8:00 p.m.: My husband is also from the start-up world, so, when he arrives, we spend 30 minutes problem solving for one another and strategizing for the day ahead. It’s a lot of thinking, so we adequately dull our brains for an hour with a new episode of Big Brother and then spend 30 minutes strategizing on behalf of the house guests. We talk about how far we’d make it on the show, which inevitably turns into a conversation of how long we’d last on Naked and Afraid. I estimate I’d last all 21 days, then declare our 73-degree apartment freezing and unlivable.

10:00 p.m.: Time for bed. I plan to really get eight hours of sleep tonight. It’s time to plug in my phone.

11:00 p.m.: [Scrolling through Instagram, scrolling through Instagram, check email one more time, scrolling through Instagram, check out Tumblr quickly to see if anything is happening in the Big Brother house, scrolling through Instagram…]

11:30 p.m.: I somehow end up on the “list of unusual deaths” Wikipedia page. I take that as a sign to officially shut down. I close my eyes and start to dream away.

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Free Download: Discover Your Purpose In 4 Steps

“Not all those who wander are lost”... the ones that aren’t lost trust themselves to find their way! 

Every now and then, we can feel like we aren't achieving our potential our have gotten off the path from our initial life goals, but once we take notice that's we're off track, that's where we can take action and make a change for the better. 

Take it from our good friend Maxie McCoy who's established her purpose in her career, and is all about helping others discover it as well. This week, she's helping you find yourself with a free workbook download that will help you plan out dreams and aspirations and help you act on them in 4 steps.

Enter your name and email below to get access to download it now! 

The Healthy Drink You Should Be Sipping At Your Desk

Courtney Steeves

Just like all of you, we know how important office snacks are. In the midst of emails, calls, meetings, and being busy overall, we need something to refuel us and help us power through the day. That 3 pm slump? Yup. That’s not fun for anyone.

And because we love to always throw some logic your way. Here are some facts about taking a break in the middle of your workday to enjoy a little something extra after being at your desk all day.

• Snacks bring teams together! A quick snack break can encourage bonding among colleagues.

• You and your team will be more focused and productive for the rest of the day.

• Breaks are essential for mental clarity, and sipping on a healthy beverage is never a bad idea.

• Having healthy snacks available makes employees feel valued and appreciated.

• Healthier options can decrease the amount of sick days team members take.

We’ve been highlighting some of our favorite snack options here at C&C, and the team is already a big fan of Health-Ade kombucha and sip on them almost daily.

Alexis Jade Kaiser

“Because not all kombucha is created equal.”

What if we told you that your midday pick-me-up can also help your gut and overall health as you sit at your desk? Well, you better believe us. A lot of us gravitate towards snacks that sound great but aren’t always necessarily great for us. That’s where our favorite bubbly beverage comes in to add some fizz, a little bit of sweetness, and a dose of healthy probiotics all around.

Detoxification, energy enhancement, and an immune system boost are just a few benefits of the bubbly probiotic tea. Our healthy snack of the moment is Health-Ade kombucha, which creates some of the best-tasting kombuchas around, with fun, refreshing flavors and Instagrammable packaging to match.

So, why is it so good? Well, Health-Ade brews their kombucha 100% the old-fashioned way, in small 2.5-gallon glass jars to prevent plastic and metal leaching. And those quirky, delicious flavors such as Jalapeño-Kiwi-Cucumber? They’re always flavored with fresh ingredients, including cold-pressed juice from organic produce. Our guts are already happier just thinking about it.

As a team, we’re all about convenience and Health-Ade has made an effort to make employees everywhere happier and healthier with the in-office “kegs”. That’s right, you can easily have kombucha on tap and grab some whenever you’re in the mood for a glass.

Alexis Jade Kaiser

For those regular kombucha sippers out there, this is great news because it removes having to purchase your own bottles from the equation! Plus, it’s a great way to experiment with some new flavors that weren’t already on your radar.

Not sure how to get it? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered in that department as well. If you’re interested in getting Health-Ade on tap for you and your coworkers, get in contact with their team to coordinate further.

Happy sipping!

What’s your favorite healthy snack to have at work? Let us know in the comments below!

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Jennifer Hudson's Best Quotes from C&C Chicago 2018

You've seen her on your TVs, the big screen, heard her albums, her judge's seat on The Voice, and if you were at C&C Chicago this past Saturday, you heard her keynote conversation there. Jennifer Hudson is a multi-faceted powerhouse and we had no doubt that she'd have some killer knowledge to share with our audience. In one big room full of entrepreneurial, creative, badass women, J.Hud ignited the fire in our bellies with her real-talk advice on business, personal growth, and more. Ahead, her best quotes from the night.

“If it’s not worth working hard for, it’s not worth it at all.”

“I don’t do a single thing for money. Everything I do is because I love it.”

“There’s no set formula for success. Success to me is what you love and what YOU value.”

“You can have all the talent in the world, but you need to have a business sense too.”

“If you don’t like something, just change it! You have the power to do that.”

“I always say: I can show you, better than I can tell you.”

“I want my legacy to be for people to see me as a human being and see my heart.”

 

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How to Have the Perfect Staycation When You Need a Break from Reality

By: Tia Johnson

One of many saying my Pop-Pop bestowed onto me was, “It’s not where you’re going. It’s where you’re at.” In other words, focus on where you are and what you can do right now as opposed to constantly wishing to be somewhere else and not living in the moment. It’s okay to be present and just because you’re not where you want to be doesn’t mean you can’t make the experience enjoyable. That’s the mindset I want to focus on here. Let’s pull together some resources to make an epic stay-cation!

Below are seven cool ways you can enjoy the rest of your summer sans hopping on a plane to an all-inclusive resort. 

Continue Doing What You Love

Whether it’s a dance or wine party, continue to do what makes you happy. A reason why Summer vacation is such a big deal is due to the memories that are created. Don’t stop doing what ignites your creativity and your soul. Remember, you make the vacation. The vacation doesn’t make you.

Throw A Movie Marathon Party

Take a weekend to watch all of the Harry Potter movies. For the weekend party, make HP themed food and drinks, decorate with the HP props, invite a few of your gals over for HP trivia, make HP themed gift bags, go all out! Do one marathon a month and have it at another girlfriend’s house each time if possible.

Have an At-Home Spa Day

This can be done by yourself or with a group. Buy spa items, such as candles, facial masks, rose water sprays, rose quartz face rollers, robes, slippers, face towels, and basins to soak your feet in. Also, purchase rose gold themed champagne glasses, a few bottles of prosecco and a gallon of orange juice to make mimosas. Turn off your phones, spend the day in the bathrobes, soak your feet in the basin filled with warm water and peppermint Epsom salt, and play Words Against Humanity or 20 questions. Afterward, use the rose quartz face roller and spray rose water on your face and neck. Don’t forget to create a playlist! 

Attend Local Events

Google “Things to do in X city” or “Things to do in X city this weekend. During the Summer, there are many free concerts, festivals, or movies at the park. You can also have a picnic at a park. Some paid events in your city may include Dîner en Blanc, the all-white party held at a public location but the location is kept secret until the day of the event!

Stay At A Local Hotel Or B&B

Let someone cater to you by spending a weekend at a nice hotel where you can sleep in, order food, try their amenities, and recenter yourself.

Go For A Three-Hour Cruise

Wear your little black dress, leave your worries at home, and dance the night away for three hours. The three-hour cruises usually include a nice buffet, a fun DJ, and a positive atmosphere. You can take your drink to the deck and stare at the night sky while you feel the cool breezes from the river brush against your face. 

Do That Thing You Have Been Putting Off

How cool would it be if you can say, “I finish writing that book” or “I started my blog and I already have 10 posts live on the website!” Finally accomplishing that thing you have been putting of is so satisfying that FOMO won’t be a factor for you. 

BONUS: Create a scrapbook documenting all the things you have done this Summer. This will serve as a kind reminder that you don’t have to go far to have a good time!

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Based in Philadelphia, Tia Johnson is a spiritual lifestyle entrepreneur, an international speaker, Amazon best-selling author, podcaster, blogger, and creator of The Spiritual Lifestyle Collective. Through spiritual teachings and healing, such as chakra and Reiki, she helps her clients to pinpoint the limiting beliefs that prevent them from living a phenomenal life they love, to heal emotional setbacks, and to create strategic plans to execute proactive actions on a personal or entrepreneurial level. 

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How to Go on Vacation with $1,000 or Less

By: Tia Johnson

I have learned over the years that you don’t have to spend large sums of money to go on vacation and have a lovely time. Whenever I see a person win a prize vacation for a total value of $5,000, I would become confused. Several questions come to mind: Why does that vacation have to cost $5,000? Does it include food and drinks? What about an excursion or a tour? I believe that’s one of the main reasons why some people think they can’t go on a nice vacation unless they save their money for at least year or make considerable sacrifices to afford a vacation. Let’s look at seven creative ways you can go on a vacation for a $1,000 or less. 

Think of a Cost-Effective Plan

Having a game plan for how you will make the most of your vacation will save you from rushing to travel on holiday weekends or other popular travel periods, which can lead to overspending. Your game plan can consist of beach hopping with friends. For example, several weekends can be dedicated to going to the beach. You can stay at a house or an apartment via Airbnb, buy food that’s easy to cook, such as burgers and vegetables you can grill, and split the cost with your friends or whoever you're traveling with.

Look for Combo Deals

Groupon, Expedia, and Gate1Travel have getaways with hotel and airfare (and sometimes an excursion) included at various price points. Some trips (hotel + air) are as low as $499 when you travel with a friend. Other trips are for all-inclusive resorts where you don’t have to pay for food and drinks because it’s included in the price. However, you can go to a local market to buy food so you won’t eat out as much or you can pack your snacks in your checked bag.

Go on a Road Trip

My friends and I are going on a road trip from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Ottawa, Canada. We will split the cost of gas and we buy food for the journey. We rented a house through Airbnb that cost $97.62 per person. Based on our last road trip to Canada, the price of gas will be around $14/person and the price of food will vary. Think about where you can split the costs.

Book in Advance & Leave on a Thursday

Companies like Amtrak have deals where you can purchase tickets for cheap if you purchase it weeks in advance and preferably on an “off day” like a Tuesday or Thursday. Peak days are Fridays and Mondays because most people depart on Fridays and return on Mondays. 

Repurpose Your Wardrobe

Going on vacation usually means a trip to your favorite clothing store to buy a few articles of clothing. However, why not repurpose what you have? Below are several ways you can repurpose your clothes:

• Create your own distress jeans look by cutting and ripping your jeans. 

• Cut your jeans and make them shorts.

• Tie the bottom of your shirt into a knot on the side on in the back.

• Cut off the sleeves of a shirt.

• Make a crop top shirt by cutting your shirt in the area just above your navel.

BONUS: If you are a blogger who has been consistent with posting good content and can provide a media page, you can ask a hotel representative if they are willing to collaborate with you. The collaboration will consist of you offering to write a blog post and an Instagram post about the hotel and, in return, you receive a complimentary stay. 

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Based in Philadelphia, Tia Johnson is a spiritual lifestyle entrepreneur, an international speaker, Amazon best-selling author, podcaster, blogger, and creator of The Spiritual Lifestyle Collective. Through spiritual teachings and healing, such as chakra and Reiki, she helps her clients to pinpoint the limiting beliefs that prevent them from living a phenomenal life they love, to heal emotional setbacks, and to create strategic plans to execute proactive actions on a personal or entrepreneurial level.

How This Brand is Using Science to Solve Everyday Hair Problems

Most things we’ve learned about our hair came from watching our mom's hair care routine or maybe even stealing our older sisters products. When we think about hairspiration, iconic ladies from television come to mind. One example is the girls from Friends–Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe. Let’s be honest, the Rachel haircut practically took over the 90s. Or what about Topanga’s hair from Boy Meets World? Where do we even start? The shine, the volume, the bangs. Goals.

What does it take to get these looks? Maybe it was the hairspray; maybe it was the blow dryer. We may never know. What we do know is that there are a few myths most of us believe about our hair that just aren’t true. We’re shedding light on 3 of these myths with the help of our friends behind the Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer.

Great innovators solve the problems that others tend to ignore. That is why Dyson has re-invented the hair dryer to solve common problems men and women face on a daily basis (i.e., slow dry time, loud noises, heavy machines, extreme heat, etc.).

After four years, $71 million invested, 600 prototypes and 1,010 miles of hair tested, the Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer has revolutionized the beauty industry. With a motor that spins six times faster than a formula one race car and a microprocessor that prevents extreme heat damage, this hair dryer is a real game changer.

Topanga may not have had a Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer, but she definitely didn’t wash with cold water either.

Myth 1: Cold Water Does Not Make Hair Shiny

There is a common misconception that rinsing hair in cold water makes it shine. The key to shiny hair is to protect it from extreme heat damage. Healthy hair reflects more light than damaged hair. That’s why Dyson engineered intelligent heat control–a microprocessor measures the temperature 20 times per second to help protect against extreme heat damage and to preserve natural shine.

Myth 2: Higher Wattage Does Not Equal More Power

Higher hair dryer wattage means more power–fact or fiction? Fiction. It's a myth that higher wattage means more airflow. The Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer has Air Multiplier technology which converts high-pressure air into a high-velocity jet. The result is fast, powerful airflow at just 1600 watts.

Myth 3: You Cannot Reverse Hair Damage. But You Can Prevent It.

Next, the Dyson team set out to answer the question: can you reverse hair damage with serums and treatments? They found that hair treatments can improve the look of your hair, but cannot repair the underlying hair damage. When hair is exposed to extreme heat, small pores from within the strands scatter light and make hair look dull. When hair is healthy, the inner cortex remains intact, and light reflects in a single direction, making hair look shiny.

What have you learned about your hair recently? Let us know in the comments!

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Serena & Lily's CEO Shares How Women Can Stay Confident at Work

Photos: Instagram/@serenaandlily

Here at C&C, we're fortunate enough to chat with women at the top of their careers all of the time. Our most recent interview features Lori Greeley, CEO of Serena & Lily, who's killing it in the design space at the moment. 

You've likely seen Serena & Lily designs and stores that offer a breezy California approach to potential customers. But what does it take to take a brand forward and be at the head of one of today's most popular lifestyle destinations? That's where Lori's expertise comes in. 

Just like a lot of us, she ended up switching her major and dove head-first into an industry where more women should, in fact, be at the top. We chatted about switching your career path, being a female CEO, diversity in the workplace, and so much more. 

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Create & Cultivate: Where did you go to college and what did you study?

Lori Greeley: Bucknell University where I studied Psychology (after realizing that Biology/Pre-Med was clearly not my calling).

You’ve spent your career in the fashion and retailing businesses, and have taken some really big brands to the next level. Did you always want to work in corporate retail or was your journey unexpected? 

I did not have a grand plan to work in retail. I think like many of my peers, it was an obvious contingency plan. I had worked in stores or as a waitress all through high school and college and always had an interest in fashion (I have vivid memories of favorite outfits from age 3). After graduating with a liberal arts degree, career options were obviously pretty uncertain. I ended up being recruited into an executive training program at a regional department store and my career in retail began. I quickly discovered that being a department store merchant was uninteresting to me. The role was much more focused on negotiating good deals than having a strong influence over the product offering or customer experience. I was uninspired in this environment even though I had moved quickly through the training program. Fortunately, I was recommended to a store business in Ohio by a very nice woman in the market which ultimately lead to my long career at Victoria’s Secret. I joined VS only a few years after it had been acquired by Les Wexner of Limited Brands and stayed on that journey for 20 years, playing several roles from associate buyer to CEO. At VS my role evolved from retailer to a focus on brand building where we embraced the concept of “a brand is a story well told.” To deliver on this concept it’s important to understand your customer as a best friend. Knowing your customer informs decisions from product design to pricing, to brand voice. To wrap this question up, it was a journey, not a plan. A combination of being competitive and unafraid of taking risks has made my journey a successful one.

You also serve on the Board of Directors for other businesses. Do you feel that more women are being welcomed into those positions or is there still work to get done?

I’m lucky to serve on boards that are very gender balanced. I am also fortunate to serve with men and women with diverse work experience, age, and ethnicity. There has been progress made in the last few years to recruit more women to boards, but we’re a long way from parity. Honestly, the only way the pace of the progress will improve is with a strong commitment to change led by chairmen and male directors. The positive impact to business results has been documented for years with indisputable facts, and yet the change is slow. 

"There has been progress made in the last few years to recruit more women to boards, but we’re a long way from parity."

What is the best part about being a female CEO? 

It’s hard to pinpoint what’s unique about being a female CEO (since I’ve never been a male CEO). What I love about the position is that you’re able to create an environment where people can be at their best. I believe in encouraging people to take risks and step out of their comfort zone. Some of the people I’ve had the most pleasure of working with were not considered obvious future leaders early in their careers. I love scouting talent and seeing people develop into high impact players and being able to recognize that contribution with life-changing promotions. 

What is the most challenging part about being a female CEO?

There has been much written about the topic of work-life balance, especially when it comes to juggling motherhood and a career. I am fortunate enough to be married to a wonderful man who was willing to pursue a career with a more flexible work day than mine and who was always happy to share the responsibilities of parenting with me. Admittedly, if I had to do it over, I would have been more present for my daughter’s school events earlier in life (simply because they grow up so fast). Thankfully, this helped me to discover that modeling a healthy work-life balance as a CEO by being transparent about leaving the office to attend a tennis match or a concert made my team feel more comfortable leaving the office for important personal commitments. Technology has also made it so much easier to flex between work and home responsibilities.

"Every role has the opportunity to contribute to the business’s success in very tangible ways."

What’s the best thing about working at Serena and Lily?

At the risk of sounding sappy, I love so many things about leading the next chapter of the Serena & Lily brand. I spent my career prior to S&L in lingerie, but my passion was always home. I also love the beach so an interior design brand that’s inspired by coastal living is a dream come true. My husband and I were born and raised in the northeast so having the opportunity to live in Marin and explore Northern California has also been really inspiring. And last, but certainly not least, are my colleagues at S&L. We are a very small team and we all wear many hats. This creates an environment where every role has the opportunity to contribute to the business’s success in very tangible ways.

At our Create & Cultivate conferences, we meet so many young women who want to work their way up the corporate ladder. Is there any advice you can give to young women to help them remain confident in the workforce and have their voices heard? 

This is such a good question. I believe strongly in having a lean organization that allows for young women to have meaty roles early in their careers. Who you work for also really matters - if you don’t aspire to have your boss’s role in the future or you don’t admire their leadership style, don’t waste too much time on their team. That said, you can learn a lot from poor leadership. Some of the things that shaped my leadership style most were experiences where my boss behaved in a manner that I vowed never to mimic.  Ultimately, I would advise women to not wait to be invited to speak up. Ask questions you truly do not know the answers to, not just the ones where you are simply hoping to showcase your brilliance. When in a meeting - soak it up and remain mentally engaged even if you’re not in a position to speak or actively participate. Use these opportunities to build muscle by “testing” yourself in the early years before you’re the one in the position of accountability.

What is one thing you wish you knew in your 20s that you now know today? 

I honestly like the way I “played” my 20’s. In hindsight, I might have had loftier career aspirations earlier, but the truth is that I was never shy about putting my opinions on the table and challenging the status quo. When possible, perform at the next level before being recognized with a formal promotion. 

How do you stay inspired to continuously lead a team and brand successfully?

Customer feedback, beautiful products, colleague relationships (surrounding yourself with people who give you energy), and one of the great things about being a retailer is the daily report card you get from your customers in the form of sales. 

Is there any exciting Serena and Lily news that you can share with us today? 

We are very excited to continue to introduce new people to our brand through our catalogs, digital advertising, social media and the opening of more design shops in inspiring neighborhoods across the country. The design shops will offer guests the chance to work one-on-one with expert design advisors to explore styling options and bring their vision to life. As you may know, we opened our newest design shop in Lincoln Park earlier this year and are looking forward to the addition of beautiful new locations in Pacific Palisades and Dallas. Our collection also continues to expand to encourage more creativity in our customers with the depth of our new assortment. We have some exciting new bedding collections and are introducing an entirely new nursery collection in a few weeks… the first major introduction in over 10 years. We designed the collection to be sophisticated with the same quality and design details that we include in all our products for the home.

Don't forget to stop by the Serena & Lily Lake Michigan-inspired experience at Create & Cultivate Chicago!

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How to Start Your Mornings Off on the Right Foot with One Simple Trick

Dirty Penguin

Having our morning cup of coffee is a pivotal moment for starting our day on the right foot. But a rushed morning just makes the rest of the feel like an avalanche of crazy.

We’re firm believers that you should wake up feeling like your best self in order to kill it at work every day. Rather than rushing to get ready in the AM and running to check your email inbox, make it a point to take some time for you, clear your mind, and get right on track.

Have you ever thought about what you typically do while your coffee is brewing?

While it may not be the longest amount of time, those few minutes can be used for the greater good. We’ve teamed up with our friends at Stumptown Coffee for a list of activities that you can accomplish while brewing your morning cup of Joe to help get your mind right for the workday ahead. Pop some coffee into your drip brewer or French press and try one of the following activities.

Write a List of Affirmations

Jotting down a few positive affirmations is a great form of practicing self-love, and it’s simple enough to do while waiting for your coffee. If you’re in a funk, or just need a better start to your day before work, remind yourself of the things that bring you happiness and that you’re grateful for. Check out some examples targeted towards confidence and success below.

• I am so grateful for my life.

• I feel happy and enthusiastic about my life

• I will be successful in all of my endeavors

• I am confident in my future

Make Your Day’s To-Do List

The team here at C&C lives and breathes by to-do lists. Seriously, we use them for everything and don’t know how we would accomplish any of our tasks without them. As you wait for your morning coffee, take a minute to jot down all of your tasks that must be accomplished for that day. You can write down everything from the day’s list of meetings and calls to your own personal assignments and errands. It’s a great idea to use the notes section on your mobile phone during this short amount of time if you don’t have a pen and paper lying around for you to physically write everything down.

List One Thing You’re Grateful for That Day

If you’re not into the idea of executing a full list of positive affirmations, you can always take the time to think of one thing you’re grateful for that day. Believe it or not, this can change every day depending on certain circumstances or events occurring throughout your life. This could be anything as big as your overall health or something as small as the delicious cup of coffee you’re about to drink.

P.S. we have a special offer for all of our C&C Chicago attendees! Stumptown is offering a gift to anyone who’s in Chi-town during the weekend. Swing by their Chicago cafe with your Create & Cultivate conference pass for a FREE cold brew or coffee to enjoy between August 24th - August 26th!

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Chicago

311 N. Morgan Street

Chicago, IL 60607

Open 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day

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11 Words To Eliminate from Your Vocabulary ASAP

Photo credit: Smith House Photography

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Are you currently trying to lose weight, quit smoking, get more sleep or attain some other life-improvement goal? Do you find yourself saying any of these words to yourself? Which ones do you find yourself saying most often? What are you doing to counteract that negative effects? Have you noticed positive results from your positive thinking?

Here are 11 to eliminate from your vocab. Start with this weekend... see if it transfers into the week. 

Thank us later.

#11 BUSY 

Think you’re too busy to go to the gym or spend more time with your kids? Think again. If you tell yourself, ‘I’m too busy to do it because...’ you’ll always make yourself right, says author and personal development coach Noah St. John. “But you’re making excuses for yourself,” he says. “How much longer are you going to listen?” Figure out what your excuses are (like being too busy), and then start asking yourself the right kind of leading questions. Instead of “Why am I so busy?” ask yourself, “Why do I have so much time to do what I need to do?” St. John suggests. Even though you won’t feel like you have a lot of time at first, asking the question will lead your brain to seek the answer. The answer might be, “Because I have good time-management skills” or “Because I eliminated something nonessential from my schedule and replaced it with something more important.” Keep asking those types of “afformation questions,” and you’ll surprise yourself with the answers.

#10 NEVER 

The old adage “never say never” is especially true when it comes to meeting your goals because it’s a toxic word that will sabotage your progress. “When you are trying to lose weight, for example, if your automatic thoughts are saying, ‘I’m never going to reach to my goal weight,’ and those are the words circling in your head, it will be almost impossible to lose weight because you’ve already set yourself up for failure,” says clinical psychologist Kate Cummins. Sure, it may take you a while to reach your goal weight, quit smoking or reach whatever personal development goal you’ve set for yourself, but it will happen with patience and persistence. “Instead of focusing on this negative self-talk, remember to tell yourself positive things,” Cummins says. “Write loving notes to yourself on your mirror like, ‘Hey there, healthy and slender woman,’ or ‘You got this—keep up the good work!’”

#9 SHOULD 

“Saying ‘I should’ve gone for a run’ makes you feel guilty for not going on your run,” says life coach and author Belinda Anderson. “Instead, say ‘I intend to go for a run’ or ‘I choose not to go for a run today.’” The latter options are more empowering and give you back the decision-making authority. The word “should,” on the other hand, makes whatever task you feel like you should do seem tedious or undesirable. When you tell yourself that you’re choosing to do something—whether that’s going to the gym, quitting smoking, going to bed earlier or spending more of your time volunteering—your mind automatically reframes the task as something that you want to do, rather than something you’re forcing yourself to do. So replace “should” with words like “choose,” “intend,” “desire,” “want” or “could.”

#8 STUPID 

Just as you want to avoid calling yourself (or anyone else) a failure, you really should avoid negative adjectives in general. “The mind is a heat-seeking missile—it will move rapidly in the direction you point it,” says personal and career coach Beverly Flaxington. “If your thoughts and beliefs are constantly negative, then failure is what you’ll get. You want to think, self-talk and out-loud talk only about what you want. Drop the negative viewpoints entirely. They are destructive.” So if you find yourself fixating on what you perceive as your negative aspects, choose to intentionally turn your thoughts around to focus on your strengths and abilities. Instead of saying, “I haven’t quit smoking yet; I’m so stupid,” tell yourself, “I am strong for making the decision to quit smoking.”

#7 TOMORROW 

If you keep pushing things off until some distant tomorrow, you’ll never get them done. The common trap is to say, “Oh well, I didn’t eat well today, so my diet starts tomorrow.” But that allows you to keep delaying and to never really start. Instead, pick a concrete and realistic start date and stick to it. “Keep yourself accountable. If you don’t do it tomorrow, when will you do it?” says author and personal development coach Noah St. John. More than just a start date, though, you need to have a reason to keep you motivated. “You need to have a ‘why to,’ not just a ‘how to,’” says St. John. So whether that’s losing weight to lower your blood pressure and risk of diabetes or to quit smoking so you can set a good example for your kids or get fit so you can feel great in your bathing suit next summer, pick a reason and remind yourself of it daily.

#6 LUCKY 

Sure, some days you might feel lucky—and that’s great! But you should never use luck as an excuse for why you can’t do something or to discredit someone else’s accomplishments by saying they’re lucky. “There is such a thing as luck,” says author and personal development coach Noah St. John, “but you need to marry luck with hard work.” A quote (erroneously attributed to Thomas Jefferson) states, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” St. John also warns against the temptation to compare your life to the lives of people you follow on social media. So while you’re envying someone’s abs or arms, don’t tell yourself that they’re just lucky, remind yourself that they had to work hard to achieve the body they have and that if you work hard, you can achieve your goals as well.

#5 FAILURE 

Calling yourself a failure is a surefire way to ensure that you fail in whatever you do. In that sense, you are your own self-fulfilling prophecy. “You want to be the most positive coach to yourself that you can possibly be,” says Kate Cummins, Los Angeles-based licensed clinical psychologist. “So by doing that you take ‘I’m no good’ and change it into ‘I am good, and I’m going to do this’; or ‘I’m a failure’ into ‘I have failed in the past, but I have also won, and I will win this time.’” But, at the same time, you don’t want to lie to yourself. “Make sure you leave room for disappointment,” Cummins says. “If your expectations are perfection, you are setting yourself up for failure. Forgive yourself, be patient with change and give yourself room to grow.”

#4 CAN'T/WON'T

Saying things like “I can’t eat that pizza” and “I won’t lose weight if I don’t work out” is actually working against you. “When you are trying to make change happen, stay away from negative language,” says personal and career coach Beverly Flaxington. “It is important to fill the mind with the positive ‘what do you want’ ideas and not confuse it with negative terms. The mind will drop the ‘can’t’ or ‘won’t’ and will focus on what you do not want to do.” Plus, many times those can’t and won’t statements simply aren’t true. Instead, focus on what you can and will do. Tell yourself things like “I can have one cheat meal a week,” “I have plenty of healthy and delicious snacks to keep me full” or “I will lose weight because I’m sticking to my workout routine.” The one exception to this, of course, is actual physical limitations. If you truly can’t eat something because of food sensitivities or do something in the gym because of an injury or physical handicap, your mind may naturally remind you as a protection mechanism. Still, it’s important to focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t.

#3 TOO MUCH/NOT ENOUGH 

It’s easy to think that we’re either too much of the wrong thing or not enough of the right thing. But that just reinforces the embedded presupposition factor of the brain, says Noah St. John, author of “Book of Afformations” and founder of SuccessClinic.com. “If you ask yourself, ‘Why am I not enough?’ your brain naturally starts to search for the answer, acting like a computer or Internet search. You find whatever you’re searching for.” Rather than presupposing you’re not good enough, St. John recommends “afformations” (no, that’s not a typo), which reframe your questions to lead your mind to search for better answers and avoid the endless repetition of the commonly prescribed “affirmations.” In this case, try asking yourself “Why am I enough?” You’ll set your brain on the right path and you’ll be delightfully surprised with what your mind can come up with. To paraphrase Henry Ford: “Whether you think you’re wrong or you’re right, you are.”

#2 JUST/ONLY

How many times have you caught yourself saying, “I only ran three miles today,” or “I'm just emailing you to let you know...” or “I just did a yoga DVD” (as opposed to an intense gym session)? It’s time to put a stop to that. “Avoid thinking of any day as test of your character,” says Emily Balcetis, associate professor of psychology at New York University. “Whether you run three miles or only three blocks, today is not a statement about you as a person.” Instead, take every day as a chance to progress a little bit further. “People who approach challenges and goals with a growth mindset rather than as a test of their fixed nature don’t see setbacks as failures but as opportunities to develop skills and learn better habits,” she says. So even if you didn’t run as far as you wanted to on a given day, tell yourself that, regardless of how many miles you logged, any run is better than no run and that you were able to make time in your busy schedule to do something good for yourself.

#1 FAT/UGLY 

Women may be notoriously guilty of saying, “I look fat today,” and it’s human nature to be self-deprecating. But in order to form a better (not to mention more accurate) self-image, it’s important to get rid of negative adjectives. “You don’t want to associate with negative terms,” says Beverly Flaxington, author of “Self-Talk for a Calmer You" and The Human Behavior Coach. “Catch yourself using self-defeating talk and make a conscious choice to change the talk. Instead of ‘fat’ you are ‘getting healthier,’ instead of ‘ugly’ you are ‘beautiful in my own way.’ You may not believe these things if you use overly positive language, so I advocate for using something more neutral to replace negative terms.”

What words do you say instead? Share your thoughts, questions and suggestions in the comments section below.

The original version of this post appeared on LIVESTRONG.com

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The Best Time of the Week to Apply For Jobs

photo credit: Becki Smith/Smith House Photography 

There is a lot of speculation regarding the best time of the week to apply for jobs, and some data to back it up, but the truth is that there are a lot of factors that go into good timing.

You’ll always be among many applicants, but try to apply outside of the application rush

It’s important to remember that when you apply online, you’re one of hundreds of applicants, so it’s ideal to apply at a time when your resume might be among a smaller bunch of applicants. Most people apply to jobs when they have free time, so often people submit a job applications on the weekend. Since most companies are closed on the weekend, resumes and applications pile up, which makes it harder to get through and more likely that your application will get passed over. Applying on the weekend won’t make or break your application, however if you can avoid it, you should.

Opt for a time when someone will see your application come through

Coming from experience working in a recruiting office, if your application happens to come through as someone is sitting at the computer sorting through the applications, your resume is very likely to get viewed. This doesn’t guarantee anything, but if someone does see your application come through, you’ll make more of an impact than if your resume was one of a hundred sitting in a pile from the weekend.

Try to apply at a time when people might be going over the resumes. For example, 10 am on a weekday, once people have settled into the office and don’t have any afternoon exhaustion. 

If you’re applying via an internal referral or a connection, apply on their time

If you’re sending your resume to a friend or connection to be submitted, the timing on their end won’t matter much, but make sure you’re providing your information to them upon their request. If someone asks you to provide your information to them by a certain date or time, make sure you get everything to them either prior to or at that time. Don’t be late.

GlassDoor estimates that being referred by someone at the company boosts your chance of successfully landing a job as high as nearly 7%. If someone has been kind enough to improve your chances of landing a job, make sure you work with their desired timeline. They may ask you to get it to them by a certain point so they can optimize your chances of success, or maybe they want to review your resume to give you pointers. Whatever your reasoning is, don’t question it and ensure that you get everything to them when they want it.

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Ultimately, the best time of the week to apply for jobs depends on many different factors such as employee engagement, and number of applicants. While there are times that are more optimal than others to apply, there is not one perfect time that will give you a higher chance of success. The bottom line is that your resume has to be great to make you stand out. You can use these tactics to give your resume a higher chance of success, but at the end of the day, your application should speak for itself regardless of when you apply.

A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your resume, style, and boost your confidence.

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How to Create a Zen Meditation Space and Improve Your Career at the Same Time)

I’m not going to lie — the first time I tried to meditate, I felt utterly ridiculous. I’d read about all of the benefits and how it was going to be “completely life-changing,” but for the most part, I just sat there with my eyes closed and worried I was doing it wrong. 

No one bothered to tell me that there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to meditation. You can’t just plop down on a pillow and become a master in 15 minutes. Like so many things in life, it takes practice. However, once I got the hang of it, I found it to be just as cathartic as all the meditation and yoga blogs had promised. 

The benefits of meditation most often touted are lowered blood pressure, more restful sleep, and stress relief. For this anxiety-ridden writer, it was the promise of reduced stress that really called to me. I hoped that by lowering my stress levels I could find a bit of peace in life — but I never expected it to have the impact it did on my career.

Meditation & Your Career

Even people that absolutely love their jobs are subject to work-related stress. And since stress can have a serious effect on our mental and physical health, it’s important we find healthy ways to deal with it. One of those ways is meditation.

When we’re under physical or mental pressure, our bodies release stress hormones (e.g. cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine) and go into “fight or flight” mode. However, researchers from the Benson-Henry Institute found that practicing meditation causes what they call the “relaxation response” — this is effectively the opposite of “fight or flight.” Their studies have revealed that the relaxation response not only lessens stress and anxiety, it also positively affects heart rate, blood pressure, and brain activity.

Being able to tap into meditation exercises in the office can reduce stress, help you to make better decisions, enhance your creativity, and boost your concentration. What’s more, it can give you the perspective you need to deal with workplace anxiety. 

One of the nicest things about meditation is that it can be practiced almost anywhere — I’ve done it in my car and even at my desk. All it takes is five to 10 minutes of meditation during your lunch break to release tension and get some clarity. That said if you really want to make the most of your meditation, practicing for 30 minutes to an hour every day is better — especially if you have a dedicated space at home to do it in. 

Designing a Summer Meditation Space at Home

While an indoor meditation space is awesome for year-round use, an outdoor area can really shake things up (in a good way!) Summer mornings and evenings are the perfect time to get outside and meditate. There’s something so soothing about meditating when surrounded by nature. You can feel the breeze on your skin, hear the birds in the trees, and smell the sweet summer air. It’s heavenly.

Here are the fundamentals you’ll need to create a zen summer meditation space:

Privacy

It’s difficult to meditate when you feel exposed. Create a feeling of safety and security with fencing, hedges, trees, trellises, umbrellas, folding screens, or hanging tapestries.

Flora, Stone, & Water

When creating a meditation area, it’s important to incorporate the elements. 

• Even though you’re already outdoors, you’ll still want to add some greenery into your space. Use your senses as a guide when choosing plants — look for pleasing textures, brightly colored flowers, and calming fragrances. 
• Stone will add to the strength and stability of your space. Use flat stones, river rock, bricks, and pavers to build an altar, labyrinth, or rock sculptures. 
• A recirculating patio fountain will not only bring water into your outdoor haven but also produce a marvelous sound to train your focus to while meditating. 

Comfort

A truly refreshing meditation session will call for a certain amount of comfort. Fashion a comfy spot to meditate by layering outdoor rugs, cushions, and throw blankets. To help beat the heat (and avoid a sunburn), tie fabric to trees or structures to create a shaded cover. 

Lighting & Decor

Minimalism is the best approach when it comes to decorating your meditation area — you don’t want it to be overly cluttered and distracting. The trick is to select decor that fills you with a sense of serenity and tranquility. Popular items include meditation beads, crystals, bells, singing bowls, wind chimes, and affirmation stones. Light your space with candles, fairy lights, decorative lanterns, or a fire pit. 

Conclusion

Your summer meditation space can be as small or as large as you’d like. Personally, I prefer a cozy nook to a large, open space, but it’s all about personal preference. Choose a space that brings you peace and turn it into a meditation haven.

Spend at least 20 minutes each day meditating outside. Close your eyes, follow your breathing, and practice visualization. You can do this before work, after work, or both. The more you practice meditation, the more you’ll see the benefits. So grab a cushion, go outside, and get your summer meditation on—you’ll be feeling happy and centered in no time!

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Liz Greene is a feminist, makeup enthusiast, and anxiety-ridden realist from the beautiful city of trees, Boise, Idaho. When she’s not writing, she enjoys eating fancy cheeses, fantasizing about what life would be like if she had an Iron Man suit, and re-watching Venture Bros. episodes for the 100th time. You can follow her latest cosmetic misadventures on her blog, Three Broke Bunnies  or follow her on Twitter @LizVGreene

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6 Things You've Never Done to Save Time, But Should

Young professionals are busy. Between work, friends and finding time for self-care, it feels like there’s little left in the day for anything else. Worse, there are probably dozens of things you’re doing that are zapping the little time you do have—and you don’t even realize you’re doing it. The good news is there are many ways to take that time back, but you’ve probably never tried them before. Stop dealing with this time-crunched life. Try these ideas instead.

Find Someone on TaskRabbit

If you’ve never used TaskRabbit to outsource time-consuming to-do list items, now is the time to try. While the service is most commonly known for tasks like delivering food or drink items to your house or finding affordable handyman services, you can use it for just about any task you can think of.

PureWow suggests “Taskers,” as they’re called, can do all the following:

● Put together your Ikea furniture
● Wait in line at a restaurant
● Nitty-gritty wedding planning details
● Deliver flowers
● Hand-write thank you notes
● Help hang your gallery wall
● Re-organize your closet
● Cook a week’s worth of meals
● Bartend your next BBQ
● Plan your next vacation

And that’s just a short list. The best part, all of these tasks cost anywhere from $19 to $40 per hour. For those of us that are more time-crunched than we’d like to believe, these services would make a huge dent in time spent during the day.

Track Your Time

If you keep feeling like you’re running out of time—at work, at home, wherever—it’s time to start tracking what you’re doing, and how long it’s taking. There are dozens of free time trackers available, including RescueTime, Toggle, and iTrackMyTime. All you have to do is fill it in with the tasks you do most often and then start the clock when you do.

At the end of the week or month, look through your time tracker to see where you’ve spent the most time. You may be shocked to see you spent four hours watching T.V. every night, but can’t seem to find time to read more. Suddenly, you’ve found your time-saver: watch less T.V. or read for 30 minutes before you flick it on to wind down at night.

Pick Up the Phone

Texting, emailing and in-app messaging is convenient when you’re having a casual
conversation. When it comes to making plans, however, nothing beats a traditional phone call to save time. Instead of going back and forth on details, or waiting for a response on a timely question, you can hash it out right then and there.

Video calling makes this even more fun—so next time you’re making plans, pick up the phone, hop on a video call and plan it out together. Paired with a glass of wine, it will feel like you’re planning in the same room together.

Use Wash and Fold Service

Laundry is a necessary evil. According to CD One Price Cleaners, it’s also a time consuming one. They found that it takes 100 minutes to do a single load of laundry—and no, that doesn’t count folding it too. Don’t let this chore take up any more of your free time. Instead, use a wash and fold service once a week, and look for one that offers same-day pick- up. If you live in a major metropolitan area, this will be easy to find, as most cleaners now offer this service. Then, just drop your clothes off before work and pick them up on your way home. Now you have the whole night to enjoy, whether you want to curl up on the couch or head out
with friends.

Make Idle Time Productive Time

While it’s nice to have downtime, if you often have unoccupied time during the day—think: traveling on public transportation, standing in line at the grocery store, waiting at the doctor’s office—rethink how you use it. By being more productive during this otherwise unused time, you free up space later in the day to do other things that are important to you.

In these moments, focus on small tasks like, texting your mom back or reading through a long email from your boss. Anything that you’d normally put off for days at a time, but that can be done quickly with your phone.

If you know you’ll have idle time on your hands that week or the next day, make a short list of things you can get done. When the time comes, open your to-do list and knock them off.

Stop Your Social Media Scrolling

How often do you turn to your phone to scroll while a page is loading (I’ve already done it three times while writing this article!) and then you stay on it for another 5 minutes because you get sucked in. This is a tough item to add to your time tracking because it’s often in short spurts, but those can add up quickly.

To get your scroll habit under control, and stop wasting time, check out AntiSocial. This app tracks your phone usage and lets you know how you compare to others. You’ll also get a usage score and tips for reducing how often you reach for your phone. You may find you’re spending way more time on your phone than you think, but the data may be enough to help you cut down, saving a little (or a lot of) time each day.

Save Time Once and For All

Get your time-wasting habits and chores under control. Use TaskRabbit to outsource waiting for a table at your new favorite restaurant. Drop your clothes off at the wash and fold when you know you have a busy week ahead. Pick up the phone to make plans instead of texting. All these tasks are simple, yet hugely helpful when it comes to saving time. Better yet: use the time tracker so you can see the progress for yourself.

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Jessica Thiefels has been writing for more than 10 years and is currently a full-time writer, content marketing consultant and business owner. She’s been featured in Forbes and Business Insider and has written for Manta, StartupNation, Glassdoor, Lifehack and more. Follow her on Twitter @Jlsander07 and connect LinkedIn.

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6 Career-Driven Books That Will Inspire You to be Your Best Self

We all need a good read every now and then, and here at C&C we’re always looking for new material. A good book is so much more than an interesting plot, climax, and conclusion. A good read must inspire us to live a happier and fuller life, and in our case encourage us to go after our dream jobs and career paths.

Our current reading list for the month of August is full of career-driven reads with no BS advice and stories that we can all benefit from. And let’s face it, we all need a light kick in the ass from time to time.

Jot down this list, and get to some more summer reading.  

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

The show creator and producer explains how her career changed once she started saying yes. She gets real about everything from avoiding public appearances to suffering panic attacks before some of her interviews. We wouldn’t expect this from a female powerhouse, but that’s exactly the point. She made a promise to herself and for a year she vowed to say yes to everything that scared her.

Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht

Aliza is the voice behind the famed Twitter account, @DKNYPRGirl. Although she left her post at the fashion house, and the Twitter account is no more, she mastered the art of social media when you’re at the prime of your career. Her tongue-in-cheek humor and real-talk advice make readers feel like they’re listening to the wiser big sister they never had.

Like She Owns the Place by Cara Alwill Leyba

Is there a weight on your shoulders that’s getting in the way of your confidence? Then this one’s for you. Cara dives into accepting every single part of ourselves whether it be failures, wrinkles, or straight-up f*ck ups. Her book will get you to find that unshakeable confidence you’ve been looking for in order to live your best life. 

You’re Not Lost by Maxie McCoy

Maxie has had enough of hearing women say, “I’m so lost”. Let’s face it, we’re all guilty of saying those three darn little words. Her compelling guide helps readers get to the root of their self-doubt, and shine the light on small, yet impactful decisions that will make you stop feeling "lost" after all. 

Radical Candor by Kim Scott 

Kim focuses puts the focus on bosses in her book. After her careers at Google and Apple, she developed a class on how to be the best boss possible, also titled Radical Candor. As a voice respected by CEOs, Kim provides honest guidance on what it really takes to effectively lead others. The idea of Radical Candor is that in order to be a good boss, you have to care personally while challenging directly. Kim shows readers how to build better relationships at work and fulfill their responsibilities of being a leader.

WorkParty by Jaclyn Johnson (Available August 21st)

Our very own Jaclyn Johnson lets it all out in WorkParty. Jaclyn shares how she turned distrust into determination, frustration into fuel, and heartache into hard work—and how you can, too. It’s your no BS guide to building your own career, your empire, and the best future for you.

By: Andrea Navarro

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Time-Saving Wedding Planning Tips That Won't Get In The Way Of Your Work

Planning a wedding is one of the most stressful things a couple will go through. After all, it is the biggest day of your lives and requires a lot of time, energy, effort, and attention to detail. Our millennial generation is busier than ever and it can be overwhelming to think about how to squeeze in wedding planning after your #JustSaidYes moment. If nuptials are in your future, we've compiled a list of time-saving hacks that will have you crying tears of happiness versus tears of stress. We teamed up with our friends at WeddingWire to identify time-saving wedding planning tips to help take the weight off your shoulders.

Own the Process - Create a Checklist

You need a clear roadmap of what needs to be done by when. The best way to prioritize your obligations is to create a to-do list that will help you stay on track. From our experience, a written list isn’t going to cut it.  Our favorite tool is WeddingWire’s Wedding Checklist which is accessible from anywhere (cell phones, tablet, laptops!).  This means you’ll be able to track your progress and cross items off from anywhere you feel like planning.

Use Recommended Vendors

You wouldn’t go to a restaurant without looking at their reviews before booking, why would you do any different with your wedding vendors? Check out the reviews from other couples who have worked with your favorite vendors and set-up in-person meetings or phone calls to make sure it’s a good fit for you and your fiance.

Organize your Outreach

Once you’ve done your vendor research, this is where the need of organization comes into play. Since you’ll probably be using email a great deal during this process, your wedding-related emails will likely get mixed up with your personal email, becoming a confusing and disorganized experience for everyone. By using the WeddingWire Vendor Manager, it will track whether you’ve favorited, contacted, or booked a vendor - keeping everything in one place.  

Hire A Wedding Planner

A seasoned wedding planning professional will make the planning process smoother since they know the ins and outs of everything involved in a wedding. If you have the budget, you might as well let someone else take care of all the details.

Make ONE Mood Board And Only One

As much as you love your bridal Pinterest boards, we recommend combining everything into one. Slow your roll on continuously looking for inspiration and define your wedding aesthetic. Coming up with a cohesive theme early on in the process will help you clearly communicate your vision to your vendors.  A wedding planner or venue can't work with messy direction, and it'll make the planning process a nightmare if you can't agree on anything.

Don’t DIY

If you've dreamed of making items for your own wedding, but just don't have the time to do so, it's time to accept that this isn't the best idea. DIY projects take up a lot of time, and if you have other things to tend to why put unnecessary stress on yourself? It's not worth it, and a professional can bring all of your creative visions to life. Just trust them!

Have A Small Guest List

Okay, so this can get tricky. If you have a big family and can't scale down on your wedding guest list, consider making your bridal party smaller. On the other hand, if you can make your guest list a bit smaller, then that'll make your life easier. The fewer guests to worry about, the better. You don't have to invite everyone you know, and not all of your friends have to be in your wedding.

Divide Wedding Planning Tasks

If you're hiring a wedding planner and still have tasks that anyone in your bridal party can handle, then delegate those ASAP. If you're not hiring a wedding planner, then ask everyone you know to step up to the plate and pitch in to help where they can. Dividing these tasks early on will determine who does what and avoid any mishaps along the way. You'll also know who to turn to for questions on those delegated areas.

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WeddingWire, Inc. is the trusted global online marketplace, connecting consumers with local wedding professionals and a suite of comprehensive tools that make wedding planning easier. Operating within a $200 billion industry, WeddingWire helps 13 million couples every month find the right team of wedding professionals to personalize and pull off their special day.  Consumers around the world are able to read more than 5 million vendor reviews and search, compare and book from a directory of over 500,000 vendors local to them. Founded in 2007, the WeddingWire portfolio serves couples and wedding professionals across 15 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Visit WeddingWire online at WeddingWire.com and follow on social media at Facebook.com/WeddingWire and @WeddingWire on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
 

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