Why You Deserve a Spring Break
Why is it just for kids?
An unbothered, sweet week of silence. Or raucous good time in Tulum. However you choose to take a break, is fine by us-- as long as you take it.
According to a recent Gallup poll only six in 10 Americans took a vacation in 2017. The same poll claimed, “Employers might do well to examine how to encourage vacation time in a way that benefits their workforce's engagement as well as their employees' overall well-being, including such radical policies as having no vacation policies at all.”
Which brings us to-- SPRING BREAK. Why do we lose that precious time known as spring break as adults? Sure, there are emails to be answered and dial-in conference calls to be managed, but it’s vital that you take a brain break.
Studies have shown that the respite effects of a vacation can increase productivity, concentration, and creativity, by as much as 80 percent. There are even companies offering bonuses to employees who use their vacation days. (Sounds like a dream, right?)
And when you’re on said break, you need some sweet footwear. Here are some of our favorite ADULT SPRING BREAK options from Dolce Vita.
A white boot is very of-the-moment. And there is something super romantic about this embellished western-style bootie. Bonus: it looks great with a cold one in hand.
An update on the wedge, that can easily transition from day-to-night. This is what we call a perfect packer. Wear it to the beach. Wear it to cocktails. There is nothing that the DANE can’t do. (Sort of like you. Hello multi-tasker.)
We love a little lace-up sandal in caramel that elongates your leg. (Too bad it can’t elongate your vacation.) But, hey, with a little R&R you’ll go back to work looking to the future.
This is the essential summer sandal. Which means, your feet can be on vacation, even if you aren’t. (But please, as previously stated, take a break!)
And finally, what’s spring break without a slide? Like the embellished Celita in blue, which has the has the ideal amount of edge for everyday wear. Even when you’re back at your desk.
Have spring break plans? Share in the comments below. It just might encourage someone else to take a break too!
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Heading to the Desert? Here’s What You Need to Pack
Say see-ya to your packing struggles.
If you’re busy pondering that decade-old question-- what do I wear to the desert, ponder no more.
In partnership with BGBGeneration, we’ve rounded up the dream desert essentials that will seamlessly transition from pool party to polo field, day to night, and so much more.
Cotton Eyelet Ruffle-Hem Romper:
Part flirty, part fun, this cotton eyelet romper is the easiest way to do pretty, without having to worry about looking too plain. Dance the night away to Beyoncé in this sweet number.
Sunprint Floral Asymmetrical Maxi Dress:
Romance this trend with a floral dress that’s sure to beat the desert heat and bring the fashion heat. It’s easy and breezy, with a party slit in the front. Ideal for keeping it casual and sweet.
Sleeveless Cutout Denim Jumpsuit:
Look effortlessly cool in this one piece denim jumpsuit, that’s a cutout above the rest. It’s modern, functional and fashionable. What’s not to love?
Striped Tie-Shoulder Culotte Jumpsuit:
Are you spotting the trend of clutch one-pieces? It’s for keeping everything super simple, while still totally on trend. With chic spaghetti straps and a color palette that feels more south of France than Coachella Valley, you’ll be a crowd standout.
Grommet Saddle Bag:
Give your outfit a touch of tassel with this Grommet Saddle Bag, the perfect size for carrying essentials only. You’re going to want to dance after-all.
Whipstitched Floppy Hat:
You don’t have to rock a dad hat to keep the sun off of your face. Opt instead for a floppy hat that elevates your outfit, without looking that you rummaged through dad’s storage bin.
Floral Star Choker:
If you’re ready to say buh-bye to a flower crown (they can cause quite the headache after eight plus hours) a star choker is a perfect replacement. It’s not too fussy, but accessorizes any outfit with the right amount of chic.
Meet Me Backstage Tee:
And because denim shorts are a staple at any summer festival, you need a tee that says you’re going places-- like backstage.
Pro tip: Take 25% off all regular price items on www.bcbgeneration.com from 4/9 – 4/17
with the code: CREATE25
What else are you planning to pack? We recommend SPF. Share your essentials below!
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Tips and Tricks to Avoid ALLERGY FACE®
Because spring is just beginning.
This post is sponsored by ZYRTEC®
Watery eyes, red nose and puffiness… the dreaded beauty challenges that often come with seasonal allergies. Or, as ZYRTEC® coined it: ALLERGY FACE®!
It’s not a good look.
But what happens when you’re prone to the dreaded ALLERGY FACE® and you have to show up at *gasp* an outdoor event?
It’s an allergy-prone woman’s nightmare. Especially for those of us at Create & Cultivate – Half of our events are outdoors. And if you’re anything like our founder, and CEO, whose allergies can run amuck during the Spring, you know how stressful it can be to keep allergies at bay. Not anymore!
Here are some tips and tricks for making sure you can face the world (and outdoor events) this spring.
Spring into action
Did you know there are only 92 days of the spring season? Which means, when you need relief, you need it fast. If you know you’re heading to an outdoor event where your allergies are likely to act up (i.e. cue the puffiness and watery eyes) you should absolutely prepare in advance.
“The last thing I need when I’m on stage is to be sneezing or have puffiness. I make sure to take ZYRTEC® the week leading up to any event. It’s a product that starts working hard at hour one and works twice as hard when you take it again the next day, which is an absolute must to prep for any last minute snafooz or sneezes,” shares C&C founder Jaclyn Johnson. “In addition, following some of my favorite beauty tips for combatting ALLERGY FACE® helps me look amazing so I can put my best face forward at any outdoor events this spring!”
ALLERGY FACE® See Ya Later
Go ahead and stop and smell the roses because celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg offered a few beauty tricks and tips for dealing with allergy-related beauty challenges. (Uh-huh that puffiness and red nose we mentioned. You’re not Rudolph after all. Cute as he may be.)
To combat a red nose, Jamie says, “Use a green-tinted concealer to help cancel out redness. Apply a full-coverage foundation all over the face followed by a translucent powder to help set the foundation and keep it lasting.”
If watery eyes are your issue, the makeup artist, who works with celebs like Jordana Brewster, advises that, “A bold, glossy lip is a great way to distract from watery eyes, especially when you don’t feel like wearing a lot of makeup.”
Also, a cooling moisturizer can help rid your face of puffiness. When you’re back at home, don’t use something that can make it worse. “Make sure makeup removing wipes are marked gentle and for sensitive skin or you’ll run the risk of worsening redness from ALLERGY FACE®,” shares Jamie.
However you swing it, spring is coming. So it’s best to prepare!
Do you have allergies? Sound off in the comments below on what beauty tips you follow to combat ALLERGY FACE®
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These Women Keep Us Smiling on a Daily Basis
A catalyst for happiness.
A catalyst for happiness.
Naomi Hirabayshi and Marah Lidey co-founders and co-CEOs of Shine met while working at DoSomething.Org. Spurned perhaps by the company name as well as a mutual desire to “provide an accessible solution to wellbeing," the duo developed a daily text messaging service to address our shadowy negative thoughts. Instead of letting them lurk in the dark corners, Naomi and Marah wanted to normalize the struggle, the day-to-day hustle of life.
With a background in advertising, where she “built an understanding of the value of an impression” and “how much people will pay for exposure,” Naomi was able to convert that information while at DoSomething. Calling it “the most formative step” in her career, prior to starting Shine, Naomi built “an expertise in the power of messaging to reach people around issues they care about.” As the Director of Mobile Products & Messaging at the company, Marah likewise lead a team to create engaging digital experiences to encourage young people to make an impact on their community. She also oversaw and lead the creation of the organization’s mobile apps.
Naomi says, “In our friendship we were able to process work and life goals together because of the shared trust, admiration, and accessibility. What’s amazing is that our dynamic was both the catalyst for the product, and our dynamic was also the perfect breeding ground to become co-founders.”
Shine became the way for the the co-founders to scale the support they offered each other through a product. It also became a way to provide an accessible solution for wellbeing services.
At the beginning of this year Marah and Naomi launched a new campaign, called #ResolutionRealTalk. In celebration of the New Year, #ResolutionRealTalk works to remind people to practice self-compassion around 2017 goals. The co-CEOs explain that 80% of New Year resolutions fail by the second week of February. Self-compassion is one of the primary ways to stay on track. “Our goals often aren’t sustainable,” explains Marah. “Change is hard overnight, and when we set unrealistic, binary milestones for ourselves and subsequently struggle to reach them in a short timeframe, we crash and burn.” With a record number of millennial women leaving their jobs, Naomi and Marah want to prevent the work-and-burn crisis that is affecting their generation.
“The things that are the hardest are hard, because they’re worth it.”
Tweet this.
Along this journey Naomi says her kindness was often perceived as weakness, but knows that often “the things that are the hardest are hard, because they’re worth it.” Acknowledging that Mindy Kaling's message of ‘Why not me?', really resonated with her, "as a woman, a woman of color, and an entrepreneur.”
In their personal lives most everything is currently taking a backseat to Shine. With the goal of making their messaging service “the largest platform for millennials and well-being,” they admit to being “all in on Shine.”
With 93% of users reporting that they are more confident and have seen an uptick in daily happiness and mental health, the future looks brights (and female) with Shine.
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How One Company Went Wild With Their Workspace
It's doggone awesome.
The Mine, an online home furnishings retailer owned by Lowe’s, recently completed a rebrand for their online storefront and that meant their headquarters needed an update as well. Studies show that the environment in which you work and live can affect your attitude and focus. Since The Mine is located in drizzly Seattle they needed an extra boost of energy in their offices to keep creativity and productivity at the forefront of each day.
The Mine enlisted their own interior design team to redesign every nook and cranny and their unique take on conference rooms will make you want to schedule a few extra meetings just to hang out in them! They decided to go bold here and be inspired by the tropics! We asked the designer below for her inspiration behind the room.
“The wallpaper is energizing and the decorative items allow The Mine team to experience our online offerings up close. Our goal is to provide all of our spaces with an individual story or theme to showcase even more of our amazing collections.” – Ellen Morrow, Interior Designer of The Mine
“Inspired by the outdoors, our Green House conference space serves as one of our biggest meeting spots and makes those in the room feel refreshed and happy.” – Hayley Francis, Trend Manager of The Mine
The Green House is filled with shades of green, warm wood tones and textured materials like rattan, cotton and concrete. The mixing and matching of textures makes for a playful look that can inspire even the bluest of Monday’s! It’s no surprise that the company dog, Finn, is digging the new style.
- Fern Hanging Basket | 2. Rattan Mini Pendant | 3. Palm Leaf Wallpaper | 4. Bell Jar | 5. Office Chair | 6. Marble Dining Table | 7. Lala Stool | 8. Hanging Chair | 9. Fern and Moss Basket | 10. Lancashire Bookcase | 11. Bette Decorative Planter | 12. Gray Chalcedony Trio
If you want to add some wild décor to your workspace shop the look here!
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Links From Our Group Chat: Teens Take Control, Herstory + It's Oscar Sunday!
We know you're on your couch.
It's the Oscars! But if you're not a fan of award shows, check out some of the links we texted each other back and forth this week.
Good eats and good biz. GrubHub Maps women-led restaurants.
15 trailblazers on what history books will say about women’s activism in 2018. It's called Herstory.
Teenage strategy sessions are leading the movement against gun violence.
Colleges won't punish suspended students. Here's why.
There are 500 + women running for office in 2018. Huzzah!
Sugar & Cloth knows how to throw a great party. (Plus she's be hanging with us at our Create & Cultivate Austin popup.)
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6 Times it's Actually OK to Send Nudes to a Coworker
Hear us out.
We’re talking the Love Me Nudes Natural Edition palette from Nudestix. It’s a six-piece lip kit for kissable, nude to bold lips in a limited-edition Nude(art)ist tin, and perfect to take you (or your co-worker’s) office lewk from day-to-night.
The Love Me Nudes box is everything you need—from nude to bold shades with the smoothest formulas—for all-day wear on lips (and cheeks, too). The set features two new hand-blended Gel Color Lip + Cheek Balms in shades Ally and Tay Tay, eponymously named after sisters and NUDESTIX co-founders Ally and Taylor Frankel.
Co-founder Taylor recently spoke at Create & Cultivate Los Angeles, talking with the crowd about what it means to be a young founder in the billion dollar beauty biz and why Nudestix is primed for success. Particularly, because they know that beauty is on the inside, which includes the inner-workings of their company.
With every purchase of the Love Me Nudes set, NUDESTIX is donating a portion of their sales to the Love is Louder project, created in collaboration with actress Brittany Snow and the JED Foundation. NUDESTIX proudly supports Love is Louder because its message of love and support is parallel to their own. They believe that everyone is beautiful, and that we should embrace our imperfections because that’s what makes us unique.
Hello. We 100% agree.
"Our Love Me Nudes for lips are so fun and easy. You have every shade to mix and match any look—and you can pop the tin in your bag to-go,” explain Ally and Taylor.
Those shades include: Ally, Tay Tay, Mystic, Rose, Retro, and Purity.
I.e. the six times it’s OK to send nudes to a coworker.
Which shade is your fave? Share in the comments below!
4 Beauty Bloggers Share What Beauty Means to Them
It's a big B word.
What does beauty mean to you? It's personal, we get it, but it's a topic of note lately and one we'll be chatting about at C&CLA this Saturday.
As such, we had the most brilliant brunch with Clinique to kick off #CreateCultivateLA and it was a blast! Moisture surge was a hit! Millennial pink was the color. Beauty was the topic of discussion.
Destiney aka: Mom Crush Monday told us that Moms all around the world epitomize beauty to her. We asked her and Denise Vasi how they are teaching their daughters about beauty.
Destiney says, "Moms just radiate so much light and beauty to me. I teach my daughter about beauty through affirmations. We talk about being beautiful from the inside out."
Denise Vasi shared that when teaching her daughter about beauty, "The most important thing I want her to know is that beauty starts from the inside and whatever natural state she's in at any moment, that is when she's the most beautiful."
Specs and Blazers aka: Nike shared with us that she feels the most beautiful, "when I'm creating and writing for my blog."
Sazan says her two-month-old daughter epitomizes beauty to her, "because she's perfect!" We believe it.
Melissa Alatorre's definition of true beauty is, "Being confident in who you are and being yourself and never changing because you are unique and beautiful just the way you are."
Sophie Elkus and Simply Bianca Alexa both say their mothers define beauty for them. Sophie loves that her mom is caring and cooks for her. Moms are the best.
Bianca shared that her mother and grandmother epitomize beauty for her, "because they're such strong and powerful women and ever since I was little they've taught me to be comfortable in my own skin and to love who I am."
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How To Remember To Eat Lunch At Work
What? I have to eat too?
The week of C&C is a crazy, wild ride.
And we’re all along for it, but sometimes we forget to eat.
Which, everyone, including your mom, knows is vital to your overall well-being, brain health, and sanity.
Drink water. Eat food. It shouldn’t be that hard, but it is. Your adrenaline takes over. And in the midst you forget to feed yourself.
Here are some reasons why that’s a horrible idea.
SKIPPING LUNCH SLOWS YOUR METABOLISM
Also, it slows down your ability to quickly process information. What you want to do when you hear your stomach rumble, is answer the call. Sometimes that means opening up the little “Postmates” app on your phone .
SERIOUSLY, TAKE YOUR LUNCH BREAK.
Disconnecting from work mid-day can actually GIVE you an energy boost and make everything run more smoothly. When it comes to event production, there are so many tiny balls in the air and skipping lunch ensures that some of those balls will drop. Our Senior Event Producer, Adri Contreras, knows that ordering lunch is key, especially when it comes to long grueling days onsite. But who has time for that?! (Not us.)
Luckily, Postmates stepped up and sent the crew a healthy spread from Kye’s. It’s a health-focused eatery with a ton of options-- from organic gluten-free wraps and vegan yummies for the plant-based eaters on our team, it filled our team up, without leaving them sluggish. Which, says Adri, is exactly what we need during the day.
SMART WORKERS MANAGE THEIR WORK/FOOD ENVIRONMENT
Like we’ve said, don’t work so hard that your plate is full but your stomach is empty.
If you want to work smart, you have to be smart. That means powering up on healthy options.
Luckily, Postmates delivers anything from anywhere. And on the days you know will be insane you can even schedule your wrap delivery ahead of time. That’s like the grown-up version of packing your lunch. #SorryNotSorryMom.
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4 Quick Ways to Upgrade Your Work Look
Brrr-ing. That’s our mix of brr and boring. How we feel about our winter wardrobe.
Brrr-ing. That’s our mix of brr and boring, and TBH it’s how we’re feeling about our winter wardrobe right about. Layers are chic and all, but we’re ready to bring our outfit vibes out of hibernation. Because look, winter will be over before you know it and we need a few looks to match our spring feeeel-ings. Everything's coming up!
Yes. We’ve collectively made it through the long chilly haul. But if you’re like us, and wondering how to upgrade your winter/spring transition, without making a major dent in your paycheck, we’ve got tons of great ideas.
EAR BLING.
Throwing on a pair of earrings to match your top can make a huge difference for your look. Bright earrings are also a great distraction to a not-so-glamorous hair day. What goes better with an Excel spreadsheet than a bold earring? Nothing.
JUST SAY NO TO COMPUTER BAGS.
Leave the plain colors for your tech. Carrying a bold bag that demands attention is a surefire way to upgrade a casually chic office look. Besides, you don’t need to lug your laptop to lunch. Leave it on your desk and bring one of the above instead.
GET IN CHARACTER.
It’s still a little frosty outside, so layering your outfit with mix matching textures adds some character to your look. Some of our office favorites are denim paired with linen or cotton.
BOLD NATION.
Color blocking or just throwing on some bold patterns is one of the simplest ways to spice up outfit for the day. Just grab a simple colored top and pair it with a bold printed bottom and you got it girl!
All products featured can be found on YOOX
What are your favorites ways to rock your look at work? Share below!
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Win A Home Office Makeover From Urban Outfitters Home!
New year, new workspace.
Be honest-- how many empty drinks are on your desk right now? We'll go first. Five. It's shameful, we know and we're guessing you're in the same boat. Who isn't?
But a cluttered desk is a cluttered headspace-- even science says so.
We've been talking about getting your grid right for years. But how can you expect to have a tight IG game, if your work space is a mess. Or uninspiring?
The space around you matters. And new year means new desk space.
If you have old useless paperwork lying around your table, or you just need to freshen up your desk with new supplies, we've got you. In partnership with Urban Outfitters Home we're gifting away $1,500 to one lucky winner who needs a desktop makeover. Or under. Your desk, your preference. We don’t know if you’ve seen Urban Outfitters UO Home assortment, but it’s our go-to for cute but affordable ways to freshen up your home and office space.
Not only will cleaning up your physical desktop help you stay organized, but it will also give you a much needed sense of hommme.
Want in?
ENTER TO WIN A $1,500 Urban Outfitters Home GIFT CARD
*By entering to win, you are opting in for emails from Create & Cultivate and our partners. You will always have the option to opt out.
How to Handle Yourself at Work Drinks
Calm down, this is still business.
It’s finally happened.
You’ve been asked to WORK DRINKS. (#workparty.) After weeks of back and forth and fiddling with your schedules to make it work, the day has arrived. If you’re a little nervous, you’re not alone. First work drinks can feel like a super awkward odd first date. Are we friends...are we acquaintances...are you a spy and have plans to tell my boss everything I say? You never know.
So, what does it mean? What can you talk about? You’re still working, but it doesn’t have to be so buttoned up. This isn’t a conference call-- and there’s no hold music (prayer hands). To help you prepare we hit up our friends at Diageo to suss out some appropriate work drink convo starters. Think of these as your cue cards to success.
HUMANIZE YOURSELF
Hey you, yes you. You’re a human. Not a robot behind a computer with super emailing skills. Many of us have only every connected over email. Don’t start the convo off digging into proposals or ROIs. Talk shop… about yourself. You don’t need to over-divulge. Your new acquaintance is not your new therapist. Rather, talk about something you’ve done recently that has nothing to do with work. For instance, a book you read. An article that you enjoyed. “Did you happen to see that piece on The Cut…?” It’s a super easy, informal way to start that makes all parties feel at ease. If the answer is yes, bond over the content. If the answer is no, fill them in and see what they think.
ASK THEM ABOUT THEMSELVES
Once you’ve broken the ice with a little cocktail, ask how they got started in their current position. It’s a great way to get to know about their past and their work history, without flat-out asking about their day-to-day. While they’re talking about their past, present, and future, figure out a way you can help them out… if it makes sense. One of the best ways to make a good impression during a work drink meet up is to find common ground and goals. For instance, you might have someone you can introduce them to who can help them out. Maybe their company is looking for a new web designer and you happen to know the perfect person. Allow the convo about work to flow naturally, and you might end up being able to help them (and your friend) out. It’s a win-win.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
You don’t want to order #thesame. You want to show that you make your own decisions and are self-sufficient, that includes your cocktails. It’s the little things. Do your research before going out
to drinks so that you can make an educated decision and order your cocktail confidentially.
Some great cocktail choices include: the Crown Royal Old Fashioned, Crown Royal Vanilla and Hard Soda or Crownberry.
THEN BE DIRECT
Once you’ve done them a mini favor, bring up how you can better serve each other. If it’s going well and this is someone you can see yourself working with, don’t be afraid to put that on the table with a simple, “We should figure out how we can work together.” You’ll be able to read their vibe if they want to work with you as well. There’s no reason to side-step around the ask, whether it’s for your full time job or a side-hustle you’re working on, be direct.
Take charge.
And remember: Even if your boss or drinks-mate orders another cocktail, only ordering one shows self-discipline and maturity so make sure you sip slowly and drink plenty of water. If you do however, want to go home a make yourself a celebratory ‘job well done’ drink, we’ve got a couple of recipes (below) for you. Cheers to that!
Vanilla Mule
•1.5 oz. Crown Royal Vanilla
•2 oz. Ginger
•1 oz. Soda
•Lime
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a copper mug and garnish with a lime.
CHEERS! 🥂
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Links From Our Group Chat: Uma Thurman, Mid-Life Crises & Mid-Terms
Oh yea, and it's the Super Bowl.
Welcome to the first February Sunday of 2018. What are you up to? Have a spare hour to catch-up on some news and goofies around the web?
We got you while you wait for the Super Bowl.
Women set to run in 2018. Hey-yo.
Are you having a mid-life crisis in your thirties too? Yah. We aren't either.
Do you know about the banana trick at the market?
Why getting in "proposal shape" is a problem.
February horoscopes! What's in your future?
This is why Uma Thurman is angry.
What are you reading? Share in the comments below so we can all get smarter.
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7 Beauty Bloggers Dish How to Deal with Winter Skin
Plus a BTS peek at our CCxClinique brunch.
It’s winter, which means, snowy banks, cute puffy jackets, and dry skin. It’s the only season that has a skin issue named after it: winter skin.
It affects us all. Luckily, there's Clinique, founded by a dermatologist and a Vogue editor, their products are tried, true, and trusted.
So, at our CC x Clinique Brunch in Chicago, a snowy city where the ladies know a thing or two about keeping their faces bright and dewy, we asked brunchees their go-to tricks from keeping their skin bright during the drier months of the year.
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Photos by Jennifer Claire Photography
Monique, founder of Ambitious Kitchen
“My winter skin trick is to mix rosehip seed oil with almond moisturizes day and night."
Carleigh Thomas, founder of the Carleigh Thomas Blog
“My go-to for any beauty recommendation is the Skinny Confidential.” Ah. Shoutout to Lauryn Evarts who yes, always has the dewiest most beautiful skin.
Anna Jane Wisniewski, founder of See (Anna) Jane
“The first and most useful winter beauty tip I ever received, is to use toner. It is highly underrated.”
Natalie Craig, founder of Natalie in the City
“Currently I’m using the Moisture Surge and Sonic Cleanser from Clinique.” No wonder she’s so glowy.
Johanna Grange, founder 101 Things I Love
“My favorite winter skin care tip-- this is one that my grandmother taught me. I use olive oil as a facial moisturizer. I also have three Clinique favorites, the under-eye cream, the toner, which I can’t live without, and sometimes I steal my husband’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.
She also tested out Clinique’s Moisture Surge, perfect for wintertime. Formulated in '80s, Moisture Surge just got an update. “The moisture surge is not oily and absorbs super fast,” she says, “which is key for oily skin.
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Helen Berkun, founder Helen Berkun
“My best tip for winter skin is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. And if you drink wine, follow it up with water. And I always looked to my mama who looks phenomenal. She’s 65 and looks 50. She told me to always wash my face before bed because if you don’t it’s the same thing as not drinking water for 24-hours."
Ali Stone, founder Those White Walls
"Exfoliate often and don’t forget to moisturize your neck." Got it!
Do you have tips! Share below!
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4 Creative Ways to Announce Your New Engagement
Make it pop.
Are you one of the 40 percent of people that get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day? The holiday months are some of the most popular when it comes to love.
It makes sense after all. Family and fun, eggnog. Mistletoe… the New Year’s Eve capital K Kiss. There’s a lot of smoochin’ going on lately. And we love it. So does Simon G Jewelry, the leader in engagement rings and bling. But announcing your love to the world can feel more overwhelming than the wedding. How do you make sure your announcement is equal parts sweet and creative?
Here are some ideas!
MAKE IT COLORFUL
The recently engaged blogger Color Me Courtney wanted an IG announcement that popped as much as her ring. (#SimonGSparkles.)A couple balloons, a bright pink monochrome, and the #onbendedknee Boyz to Men style swagger from her now fiancé, it was picture perfect. It didn’t hurt that she was rocking a gorgeous yellow diamond stunner.
IT SHOULD BE OUT OF THIS WORLD
This couple took their proposal to the moon and back. To recreate this amazing announcement, find yourself a creative partner and get to work. No one said marriage is easy, but this couple has the moon (and likely the world) on a string.
SMILE BIG.
OK. Maybe it’s not the most creative but you don’t have to have a paint war engagement photoshoot (yes, those exist) to show your true happiness. Sometimes the best thing you can do is smile big and flash a little ring.
And look, it’s not only about the proposal. You have to pop the question to your best gals as well, so why not make it ‘grammable with bridesmaid proposal cards from Etsy! We love the scratch off "Will you be my Bridesmaid" cards.
Have other creative ways to announce? Let us know below!
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10 Page-Turning Books We're Loving Right Now
New year, new shelfie.
If you want #shelfie goals, you need some good stacks (of books) to line them with. Luckily, female authors are busting out badass books in droves. Get your hands and eyes on these!! We have.
1. The Vanity Fair Diaries by Tina Brown
Meryl Streep sped through this book and we know why. The Vanity Fair Diaries is the story of an Englishwoman barely out of her twenties who arrives in New York City with a dream. That woman is Tina Brown, who, between the years of 1979 to 2001 she was the editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker. Lucky for readers, during her eight year magical ride as editor-in-chief at Vanity Fair, she kept a daily diary. Today they provide an incendiary portrait of the flash and dash and power brokering of the Excessive Eighties in New York and Hollywood.
2. Women at Work Interviews from the Paris Review
Women at Work, the first anthology from the Paris Review Editions imprint, features interviews with Margaret Atwood, Simone de Beauvoir, Elizabeth Bishop, Joan Didion, Isak Dinesen, Hilary Mantel, Toni Morrison, Jan Morris, Grace Paley, Dorothy Parker, Claudia Rankine, and Marguerite Yourcenar. Intimate, deep, full of surprises, these classic interviews will be a source of inspiration and instruction to writers, students, and anyone else who cares about the creative process, or about the specific challenges faced by creative women.
Enough said. Speaking of Joan... She's always going to make our list.
3. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
An oldie but a goodie. Didion deals with the death of her husband and daughter in this tearful tale of the year following their deaths. And for anyone who hasn't checked out the Didion Doc on Netflix yet, we've found your Saturday night.
4. Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
The New York Times Best Seller is on top of her craft in this novel that explores the whole range of human emotion through the intimate dramas of people struggling to understand themselves and others.
Plus, it's about feuding sisters. Little dramatic reading never hurt anyone's imagination.
5. I've Got This Round: More Tales of Debauchery by Mamrie Hart
One of our fave funny women, Mamrie Hart is releasing her second book this Feb! In I've Got This Round, readers will find the same shameless honesty and I'll-try-anything-once spirit they loved in Hart’s New York Times bestseller You Deserve a Drink. Mamrie doubles down on her strong female friendships, her willingness to engage in shenanigans, and her inimitable candor, taking the reader along for a wild and unforgettable journey through adulting.
6. Rookie on Love edited by Tavi Gevinson
A single-subject anthology about the heart's most powerful emotion, edited by Rookie's EIC Tavi Gevinson. Featuring exclusive, never-before-seen essays, poems, comics, and interviews from contributors like Jenny Zhang, Emma Straub, Hilton Als, Janet Mock, John Green, Rainbow Rowell & Gabourey Sidibe.
7. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Winner of a National Book Award for Fiction, Jesmyn's beautiful and haunting novel is about three generations and the ghosts that haunt them. It tells the story of Jojo, a young black Mississippi boy raised by his grandparents, who is forced to become a man far before he should because his mother is a drug addict, his father is in jail, and his baby sister needs a guardian.
8. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
In her 7 essays that punctuate exactly what you feel when getting mansplained, Rebecca takes men to task. Two of the book’s most powerful essays (“Men Explain Things To Me” and “#YesAllWomen”) are exactly what you need to read. Traditional gender roles? Nah fam.
9. It's Messy: On Boys, Boobs, and Badass Women by Amanda de Cadenet
In this deeply personal collection of essays, creator of the The Conversation Amanda de Cadenet shares the hard-won advice and practical insights she’s gained through her experiences as businesswoman, friend, wife, and mother. Part manual, part manifesto, this intimate, hilarious, and insightful collection of essays challenges stereotypes and social norms, and examines the universal experiences relevant to women today.
Take it from her-- we certainly have.
10. Her Bodies and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Our first pick this January for our Book Club! To kick it off this January we are starting Carmen Maria Machado's “Her Body and Other Parties," the author's debut book of short stories. A finalist for the National Book Award, the eight fables are a startling and at times unsettling cross between feminist fiction, as the stories deal with worlds in which women literally and metaphorically fade away, and science fiction
What are you reading on? Share below!
right and cover photo credit: Adenorah
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Read Up: Create & Cultivate Book Club Launches with "Her Body and Other Parties"
Eyes on the page.
We're kicking off the new year with a new (old) habit: reading. Good old fashioned page-turning. Every month we'll be picking a new book to read and share across our social channels. We'll be chatting about it in our Facebook Group. We'll be commenting here. It will be positively delightful. The more you read, the more you know.
To kick it off this January we are starting Carmen Maria Machado's “Her Body and Other Parties," the author's debut book of short stories.
A finalist for the National Book Award, the eight fables are a startling and at times unsettling cross between feminist fiction, as the stories deal with worlds in which women literally and metaphorically fade away, and science fiction. While unconnected most of the stories feature queer women. The first fable, "The Husband Stitch," will leave you scrambling to understanding and dying to read more.
By refusing to subscribe to one literary genre, Machado is begging us to ask for more.
Here are some prompt questions to answer as you read:
What do you think Machado's writing is saying about the current state of women in the world?
How do women in Machado's book take up space, both literally and figuratively?
How do you see yourself in the stories?
Which tale most resonates with you and why?
What urban legends do the individual stories remind you of? How have they made you rethink your relationship to those legends?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Exclusive! BTS at the Create & Cultivate x Google Store Dinner
Fun, fashion, and the season's best gifts.
What the best time of the year?
The holidays, obviously.
That was certainly the vibe at our holiday party with Google Store Tuesday night at NeueHouse in Los Angeles. So we’re throwing it to last night’s “bests.”
From Nicolette Mason toasting to her exciting new line Premme, to Whitney Leigh Morris chatting about renovations on her Tiny Canal Cottage, everyone was in the mood to chat and be merry. We had some laughs as well.
Sarah Dubbeldam, founder of Darling Magazine, actress Arielle Vandenberg, and Caroline Lee, founder at Woodnote Photography, gathered around the Google Daydream View to experience the world of virtual reality. While Bianca Alexa, doodled on the Google Pixelbook.
There were laughs and good vibes all around, while notable attendees Whitney Port and Arielle Vandenberg dished on their tips and tricks for holiday shopping. @Arielle said, "I love giving gifts. It's probably my favorite thing ever." Adding "I'm a practical giver. I only give things I know someone will use. Like a salt shaker."
The actress and IG star may have been kidding, but we’re into practicality. (We’re busy women, ya know?) Especially the practical help that the Google Home Mini offers. Want to know what traffic is like by the mall where you do all your holiday shopping? Just ask, “Hey Google, what’s the traffic like near The Grove?”
Whitney Port dressed up for one of the first times since becoming a new mom. The "I Love My Baby, But" star put on her Miu Miu shoes-- "they're surprisingly comfortable!" she said.
Jaclyn Johnson, founder of Create & Cultivate addressed the crowd, telling them that holiday season surrounded by her favorite women is something she looks forward to every year.
"It is an honor to have each and every one of you here tonight," she said, "and I am so excited for you guys to experience the joys of Google Store. This has been a partnership of which we are extremely proud. Be sure to follow @madebygoogle."
Suruchi Shukla, Head of Global Marketing, Google Store, likewise raised a glass and toasted to the table. “I want to welcome all of you to this wonderful dinner organized by Jaclyn, and team,” she shared. “This is a great opportunity for us, at Google, to introduce our new line of products to you and have you experience them and my hope is that you fall in love with these products as much as we have and tell your friends and family about them. So many are geared toward making your lives easier. As busy, working women we know how important this is. The Google Home Mini we’re gifting to you acts like a mini assistant.”
There were cheers from the table.
Click through the gallery below to enjoy an exclusive BTS look at our holiday dinner with Google Store.
And for any last minute shoppers, you can shop for Google Home or Google Home Mini at Google Store: store.google.com, where you can learn more about Google’s products and offers. Heads up there’s free 2-day shipping on your holiday gifts when you order by 12/19!
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WTF: A Super Unsettling Trend Among Female Abuse Lawsuits
So many odd feelings about this.
There is a growing and unsettling trend among high (or "higher") profile women.
Elsie Hewitt, a model who dated Ryan Phillippe for two months this past summer, filed a lawsuit against him alleging that he assaulted her on July 4 when she showed up at his house to pick up her stuff post-breakup. She claims he beat her and threw her down the stairs. She went to the cops after the incident and a temporary restraining order was granted. According to Hewitt she also saw Phillippe “repeatedly abusing a panoply of legal and illegal drugs, including without limitation: cocaine, ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms, and steroids…Phillippe increasingly combined these drugs with excessive alcohol consumption and often exhibited symptoms attendant of poly drug and alcohol abuse, including mood swings and bouts of anger.”
She’s posted photos (somehow deemed "glamour shots"), which can be seen here and is asking for no less than one million dollars in damages.
Cue: the money-grabbing, whore narrative. Cue: the lawyer’s rebuttal.
To undercut that “whore” narrative we so often see associated with public cases like this, Hewitt’s lawyers have said that the accusations that she is out for money and fame aren’t true, and that if she wins, she will donate the money to domestic violence charities. The suit was filed only yesterday, and Hewitt is already on the defense.
This is becoming an all too familiar plot point and smells a bit like victim-blaming's cousin. In order for women to be taken seriously by the public, they’re required to take extra measures to ensure that people know they’re telling the truth. i.e. not take a pay day. (This is theme all too familiar among women in general. We’re asking for too much. You can’t be feminist capitalist. Women have to pretend that they aren’t running for-profit businesses.) But specifically as it relates to narratives and accusations around abuse, more women feel compelled to pay up (or pay it forward) when the men are required to pay out. If they want to be taken seriously, they can’t ask for a dime.
Or rather, they can only ask for a dollar.
Just last month Taylor Swift’s federal-counter lawsuit against former radio host/ass groper DJ David Mueller made headlines when the Grammy-winning entertainer won the suit where she testifies that Mueller stayed attached to her bare backside during a photo op with him and his then-girlfriend Shannon Melcher. Her winnings? A symbolic $1 as a chance to stand up for other women. Mueller, on his part, should he have won, could have received $300,000. There was no way he was donating that money or making symbolic gestures.
In closing arguments, Swift’s lawyer Douglas Baldridge said, “That single dollar is of immeasurable value in the scheme of things. It says no means no for all women.”
But I’m not entirely sold on this. Sure, it’s not about the money. It’s about calling men out on their shit and holding them responsible. But it enforces the ongoing storyline that women have to prove the validity of their story by foregoing funds.
Yet another recent example is that of actress Amber Heard, who settled her divorce and domestic abuse claims against ex-husband Johnny Depp for $7 million dollars. Heard, 30, filed for divorce in May and obtained a temporary restraining order, alleging her Oscar-nominated husband assaulted her after a drunken argument in their LA apartment. Those claims were met with similar jeering as Hewitt. Some cried blackmail. Others like actor Paul Bettany tweeted: tweeted: “Known Johnny Depp for years and through several relationships. He’s the sweetest, kindest, gentlest man that I’ve ever known. Just saying.”
Of her settlement, Heard has said, ”As described in the restraining order and divorce settlement, money played no role for me personally and never has, except to the extent that I could donate it to charity and, in doing so, hopefully help those less able to defend themselves." She went on: "As reported in the media, the amount received in the divorce was $7 million and $7 million is being donated. This is over and above any funds that I have given away in the past and will continue to give away in the future." Amber added that the $7 million will be divided amongst charities with "a particular focus to stop violence against women," including the ACLU and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, where she has volunteered for over a decade.
While we admire these noble acts surely beneficial to foundations in need, something about this is hard to swallow. Is it necessary for women to donate their winnings or take symbolic stands to be viewed as honest? Or to be taken seriously?
Is proof no longer sufficient? (Side note: proof has never really been sufficient when it comes to dudes getting away with things.)
Apparently not, according to the uptick in these kinds of cases.
Women are still required to be the sweetest, kindest, gentlest victims. Donating all money to charities. #Justsaying.
Arianna Schioldager is Editor-in-Chief at Create & Cultivate. You can follow her @ariannawrotethis.
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Links From Our Group Chat: New York City Just Banned This Question During Hiring
And other goodies.
Good news for activists and advocacy groups seeking to eradicate the gender wage gap — on Tuesday, New York City banned asking about salary history as a question during hiring processes.
However. Something else bit the dust last week. And it wasn't great.
But to lift your spirits, check out these self-made women.
Wondering how young women get ahead in entertainment? Click thru.
ANND. This makes us want to clean out our closets. Stat.
What are you digging into this crispy almost Christmas evening?