Meet the Speaker: Whitney Port

Whitney wearing her Awapuhi crop top, $79, the talk of our #createcultivateLA conference! 

It's hard not to love Whitney Port. She's humble and hardworking, and gets it all done with a (particularly beautiful) smile. Everyone swooned over her palm print skirt set — ok, we're still swooning — on the #createcultivate stage in Los Angeles, a look from her own Whitney Eve line, of course, and we're even more excited to see what she busts out at #createcultivateCHI! 

From The Hills to The City and beyond, Whitney has won hearts all over with her grace and style, and we can't wait to some advice on everything from Instagram to transitioning her personal style into a successful brand on and offline. We had fun asking Whit to list off a few of her favorite things, so keep reading for more! Pinot and platforms, anyone? — JM

Name Whitney Port @whitneyeveport

Trade Blogger & Designer at Whitney Eve

Panel From Blog To Brand: The art of creating compelling content that translates offline and online

This or That?

Rosé or Pinot Noir? Pinot Noir 

Stiletto or Platforms? Platforms

Road Trip or Round-trip Flight? Road trip!

Girls Night In or Girls Night Out? Girls night out!

Shopping: IRL or on the Web? IRL

Early Bird or Night Owl? Neither! I keep pretty normal hours!

In flight: Work, Nap, or Movie? WORK
 

Quickfire

Favorite Mascara? Max Factor

Current nail color? French Tip/Half Moon gel desig

Favorite App? Instagram!

Favorite iPhone Game? I don't play any!

Last thing you Googled? Researching a photographer for our Whitney Eve Spring '16 lookbook shoot!

Most-used emoji? Kiss! 💋

Best business advice? Do not take no for an answer!

Beauty advice? Never go to sleep with makeup on.

Next thing on your to-do list? Deal with car insurance! 

Which Whitney Eve look do we need right now?  This off the shoulder Jeffrey's Bay top in our tropicana print with the matching Venice skirt! 

A few of our Whitney Eve faves: The Blood Lily Sweater, The Crab Claw Skirt, The Laguna Top + Skirt

Shop the Whitney Eve pop-up at #createcultivateCHI or on the web at whitneyeve.com!

Meet the Sponsor: Why Wearable Tech Matters for Women

Suzanne EL-Moursi was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt where she was inspired by the experiences, people, and places she encountered. She had a keen interest in the intersection of technology and design and now, as creative director for smart jewelry brand Mira, Suzanne has led the brand’s successful redesign and is building a creative team comprised of content strategists, editors, UX designers and industrial designers, all passionate about women’s wellness and empowerment to live healthier lives. She's also a full-time mother and fashion enthusiast and we're thrilled she's found the time to come speak about her experience as a speaker and sponsor at #createcultivateCHI! Read on to learn more about Mira and this wonder woman behind the brand.
 

Mira is creating a line of wearable tech specifically for women. How does your product differ from offerings already in the market today?

Suzanne: We sought to create a product particularly for women because it’s important that technology fits in with her life and addresses the unique challenges she faces to fit more activity into her day. We’re creating a line of modular smart jewelry that’s versatile and beautiful. We’re looking to design products that can be taken apart, paired with different form factors, and offering customers the opportunity to make something their own. Our product is not one-size-fits-all. It comes in three different sizes and two colors that can fit a variety of styles, body types, skin tones, and lifestyles. We want our customer to have color options to keep it fresh. Our app is also unique in its friendly, approachable voice and tone because we believe it’s important to be a partner in the wellness journey.

Why are women-focused tech products important?

Women are completely under-served in the wearables category.  We’ve found that women are willing to invest in products that are versatile and beautiful and that’s why, at Mira, we’re thinking about wearables as an accessory for her wardrobe, not just a fitness tracker that counts steps. Other companies aren’t connecting the dots that wellness doesn’t just mean fitness, and that it has to work with your personal style, too. It shouldn’t just be about marketing products to women by making the band pink. Smartwatches with large faces, or activity trackers with rubber bands, don’t accommodate smaller wrists and indicate that the devices were designed by teams of men with men in mind. At the same time, women still want to be able to see a display. To address this, we’re designing smart jewelry that really works for women throughout her whole day, from the office to the gym to date night. We believe that for our product to cause a change in behavior and help her add more activity to her busy life, she needs to be capturing the entire picture of her day.
 

Mira has done a lot of research to inform its design, have you been surprised by any of the findings?

Every woman is different—so we are never done asking women what they want in their smart jewelry. Across the board, women care about their health and we want to honor that with a product that helps them reach those goals. It’s not just about fitness or weight loss, it’s about the whole wellness picture. We’re also finding that community is a really important aspect to women in their journey. They want to share and support each other and celebrate their accomplishments.

What health and wellness challenges is Mira solving?

We all have unique wellness goals, but the challenges—finding time between all the other priorities—are the same. Whether you’re interested in daily step count or calorie burn or a yogi or a runner, our app is designed to fit into your daily life. Our tracker can be removed from the bracelet and clipped to clothing for times when the bracelet isn’t ideal. The more you wear Mira, the more our app gets to know you and understand your habits so that it can deliver targeted, personalized insights and “boosts” to help you increase your activity level. Our research has shown that most women are looking for fresh ideas to mix up their daily routines, the content within our app gives specific tips on how you can keep reaching your goals.

We also really want to change the dialogue around women’s wellness, and what it means to be healthy. There are few companies out there celebrating various body shapes and sizes, so we’re trying to disrupt the body negativity mindset and use content to inspire and empower women to feel their best.

How has working for Mira affected your personal wellness routines?

I get up every morning really excited to come into work, and I believe that loving what you do is part of the wellness equation. I’ve also found that my personal wellness is very much tied to the people I work with and to family and friends. You need people in your life that support you on your journey. Everyone at Mira approaches their wellness differently and it’s exciting to see our diverse team really excited about encouraging others in their wellness journey.

Catch Suzanne in conversation at #createcultivateCHI on our panel: Launchpad — How to Launch Your Business, Create Community and Stay Relevant in the Modern Marketplace + learn more about Mira at mymirafit.com.

post sponsored by Mira 

Meet our Non-Profit Partner: Emily Greener of I Am That Girl

Name, @username, craft, elevator pitch: 

Emily Greener, Co-Founder/CEO of I AM THAT GIRL

@thatgirlgreener + @iamthatgirl

We inspire girls to be exactly who they are, instead of who they think they are supposed to be. I AM THAT GIRL is a community that provides girls with a safe space to love who they are and have honest conversations about things that matter.

Panel: Moderating — How to use the Digital Space for good via commerce, blogging, content & more

What’s at the top of your to-do list today? 

To find a sponsor for the I AM THAT GIRL retreat!

What was your career catalyst? 

An honest conversation with Alexis Jones at a party in LA when we asked the question, "why we are all so mean to each other, and to ourselves? And what would be possible if we all said the things out loud that we are universally struggling with yet no one is talking about?" 

What do you think other non-profits (or individuals who want to make a difference) can learn from I Am That Girl’s approach? 

Lead with vulnerability. Be the first to show who you are, what you struggle with, why you think you’re awesome, and ask others to join you from a more honest place and as a collective all working towards a common goal. 

What have you learned from the I Am That Girl community? 

How to be vulnerable, which is the single greatest and most challenging thing in my life. 

What tools and/or apps are essential to your work & life? 

All of the usuals: Instagram, iCal, Google Drive, etc. Recently I started silencing my phone—not vibrate, silent—which has given me a piece of my life back. I now control when I look at my phone instead of my phone stealing my presence every time it dings or vibrates. Also podcasts and audiobooks rock my world!

Being at the head of such a powerful community and team, what have you learned about leading a team? 

As a small and mighty team, the right balance of autonomy, trust, and teamwork allows us to do so much more than most of our size. We care about who people are, not just what they do or deliver, and we practice what we preach. Also, people don’t work for me, they work with me. 

You’ve helped empower so many women and young girls. Is there a particular success story that comes to mind? 

I wouldn’t use the phrase “success story” because we are all a continuous work in progress and absolutely perfect wherever we are in that process, but a story that stands out is of a girl who went to her first local chapter meeting and, for the first time in her life, felt safe enough to share that she was depressed and had thought several times about taking her own life. The girls in the chapter loved on her and encouraged her to tell her mom. She did and then went to a rehab center where she and the girls in her chapter wrote to each other every week. It took one hour for this girl to realize she belongs somewhere, that she isn’t alone, that she matters, and that she had an entire community of girls who had her back.

What were you like in high school?

I’m one of the rare people who actually had a great experience of high school. I was outgoing, super involved in student council and drama, and had a ton of friends. One thing I’m not proud to admit is that I let what I thought other people would think keep me from dating a guy I really liked, maybe even loved.

What do you know now that you wish you'd know when starting your business?

Focus on one thing, do it better than anyone else, and then expand from there. 

Do you have a favorite a quote or personal mantra? 

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." — Buddha

How can people get involved with I Am That Girl?

You can sponsor a girl at iamthatgirl.com. If you are a girl in high school or college you can start or join a local chapter at iamthatgirl.com/local.

Find out more about this amazing community—and Create + Cultivates charity partner!—at @iamthatgirl.

They're supporting the next generation of #girlbosses and we couldn't believe in them more. See, hear, and meet Emily in person at #createcultivateCHI on Aug 15th!

From the Founder: How to Make the Most of Your C+C Experience

Create + Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson by Grant Legan

OMG, #createcultivateCHI is just a few weeks away...

And while our team puts the final pieces together for conference, I want to take a minute to get you all in a C+C state of mind! Each time, I learn more about what to expect and what to bring to the table, which I want to share with you (whether you're coming for the first time or the fifth)! — Jaclyn

1. Be Open

Conferences can feel intimidating. You don't know who is going to be there, what to expect, or what you want out of it. My advice is: be open to everything! The Create + Cultivate community is one of kindness, support, and enthusiasm. You'll quickly find out that everyone is very open about where they are and what they're looking for (in life and work), and will be totally down to buddy up for the day! We have seen so many friendships blossom from the conference, so be open to whatever it may bring.

3. Take Advantage

There is a lot to do on-site! We have a beauty lounge with OPI nail treatments, NuFACE mini facials, a Glam App beauty bar, and pop-up shops from Topshop, Havenly, Whitney Eve, Mira Fitness, Simple Skincare, and Lulu & Georgia—so get ready! While you’ll be busy with panels and workshops, there’s still plenty of free time to mix, mingle, and shop! Maximize the experience and take advantage of it all.

2. Get Prepped

Bring your business cards, charge your Mophie, pack a pair of flats, and wear your game face! Most importantly, bring your questions! We have Q+As after each panel so you’ll have your chance to get your questions answered by the experts! The better questions, the better the panel. Don’t be afraid to get specific. We’ll supply the rest: from notebooks and pens so you can jot it all down, to Gevalia coffee and Daily Greens juice to give you an extra boost throughout the day.

4. Get Social

We have a happy hour for attendees the night before that we highly recommend attending! It's a great way to meet fellow attendees in a calmer setting before the festivities begin! Also, gear up your social media from Snapchat to Instagram—there will be tons of content to capture so get ready to hashtag #createcultivateCHI so we can all follow along.

5. Go For It

Be bold and get outside your comfort zone—approach that person you have been dying to meet and ask them your burning questions! We want you to get the most from your C+C experience but that starts with you! Myself and my team will be all over to answer any questions and if you see me, PLEASE introduce yourself! I love meeting our attendees and hearing all of your amazing stories! It's one of the things I look forward to most, so I'll be bummed if you don't say hi!

Follow @jaclynrjohnson for more dispatch from C+C and beyond!

Meet the Mentors: Chicago

Wondering which #createcultivateCHI mentor is the best fit for your blog, business, or brand? 

Check out all of our Chicago mentors and their areas of expertise below! They're amazing, multi-talented women and we adore them all.

Liz Adams of Sequins & Stripes

Best for: Fashion Blogging, Brand Partnerships, Lifestyle

Liz is a Chicago-based fashion & lifestyle blogger turned entrepreneur, who has worked with brands like Nordstrom, Kate Spade, & Madewell.

 

Annie Lin of General Assembly

Best for: Tech, Career Development

Annie is regional director at General Assembly’s Chicago campus. Their global community empowers individuals to pursue the work they really love, through course offerings from web development to digital marketing (on campus + online).

Jenn Tardif, Product & Marketing at Adobe

Best for: Marketing, Career Development

Jenn manages the creative team at Adobe. Whether she’s working with a new product or prevailing team, she takes a collaborative, data-driven, and human approach.

Suzanne El-Moursi, CCO of MiraFit

Best for: E-commerce, Entrepreneurs, Fitness

Suzanne is the CCO of the much-buzzed wearable tech line, MiraFit—a fashionable fitness tracker for real people. She’s an expert at team building and business strategy.

Lauren Sherman, Head of Marketing at Shyp

Best for: Startups, Marketing, Business

Lauren oversees the Shyp’s customer acquisition, growth, brand, and PR. Before Shyp, she worked with numerous super-star tech companies like TaskRabbit and Zipcar. 

Monique Hypes of Mott 50

Best for: Entrepreneurs, 
E-commerce

Monique is the founder of Mott 50, a sun-protective clothing line based out of Chicago, which offers a variety of clothing items with an ultraviolet protection factor of 50. 

Latham Thomas aka Glow Maven

Best for: Life Coaching, Balance, Spirituality

Latham is a wellness & lifestyle expert, and also serves as a doula and specializing in “glow meditation” helping to ground women and channel energy to produce a more productive, balanced life.

Kathleen Wright of Piece & Co.

Best for: Entrepreneurs, Philanthropy, Retail, Fashion

Kathleen is the founder and CEO of Piece & Co., a social startup committed to ending global poverty by providing sustainable employment opportunities to female artisans in the developing world.

Anna Leisemeyer of  Brand Market

Best for: Branding, Entrepreneurs, Marketing

Anna is the voice behind In Honor of Design and the founder of The Brand Market, a creative workshop that helps entrepreneurs build successful businesses through branding, marketing, social media, and styling.

Jay Goldmark of EmiJay

Best for: Entrepreneurs, Philanthropy,  E-commerce

Jay is the co-founder of EmiJay, a hair accessory and apparel brand, who dipped her feet into entrepreneurship at the age of 18, as a college freshman. Still in college, she is mastering the work, life, and school balance.

Maxie McCoy of Maxie

Best for: Life Coaching, Soul Searching, Career Development

Maxie is a life coach & director of Local Levo who shares wisdom in her digital video series and weekly writings. If you want your spiritual and emotional IQ shooting to the stars, Maxie is your go-to.

Melisse Gelula of Well + Good

Best for: Editorial, Lifestyle, Media, Wellness

Melisse is an expert in the health and wellness scene. After writing and editing for numerous magazines (from Lucky to Martha Stewart), she co-founded premier lifestyle & wellness publication Well + Good.

If you've already got your #createcultivateCHI tickets, check your inbox in the coming week to make your official mentor selection.

And if you don't have tickets...what are you waiting for!? They'll be gone before you know it!

#CreateCultivateCHI City Guide: Sequins & Stripes

By now, you know that we're super excited to head to the Windy City for #createcultivateCHI! We asked C+C Mentor—and one of our favorite locals—blogger Liz Adams of Sequins & Stripes, for some must-see spots while we're in town. 

Read below for her top spots from dog-watching to pregnancy cravings and catch Liz in person at Create + Cultivate on August 15th. Ah! So soon!

Best Saviour for a Sweet Tooth 

"Jeni's Ice Cream, Bobtail, and Sprinkles Cupcakes are my favorite spots to curb my sweet tooth!"

Best Street Style Photo-Op

"Chicago is filled with fun street art, skyline views, parks, and cute shops. The Greetings From mural is a perfect photo backdrop."

Best Sunday Shopping

"My favorite shopping spots in Chicago are Oak Street, the shops on Damen Avenue, and the Southport Corridor. Filled with beautiful boutiques, tasty restaurants, and everything in between."

Best Cheat Day Grub

"Two words: Doughnut Vault. My weekend weakness." 

Best Long Walk with the Dog

"On most days you'll find me walking our chocolate lab, Webster, throughout Lincoln Park. I love that you get a mix of lakefront, nature trails, and parks all in one." 

Best Place for a Coffee Meeting

"I'm always in need of a quick caffeine fix and Heritage Bicycles, La Colombe, Intelligentsia, and Floriole are ideal for a morning meeting or afternoon pick-me-up." 

Best Kept Secret

"I don't think many people realize that Chicago sits on the prettiest lakeshore! Our city is lined with beautiful beaches making summer in Chicago the best!"

Follow Liz on Instagram @liz.adams_ for more fun, food, and fashion in Chicago!

Meet the Speaker: Nadia Aboulhosn

Name Nadia Aboulhosn @nadiaaboulhosn

Trade Blogger, Model, and Designer

Panel Getting Niche: Finding an Untapped Market and Creating a Unique Brand

Nadia Aboulhosn is a voice to be reckoned with. She's won over countless fans and brands alike with her real talk, real style, and sense of humor. Her plus-sized design collaboration with retail giant Boohoo put the brand back on the map, and showed off Nadia's ability to translate that real talk to very real sales. She's serious about her business without losing sight of where she comes from, where she's going, and how to kick back and laugh at it all. Read on for a little insight into how she does it all, and then some. 

Get your tickets here to catch Nadia live in conversation at #CreateCultivateCHI on Aug 15th!

Please sum up your current mood in a Drake lyric.

"Guess you lose some and win some, as long as the outcome is income. you know I want it all and then some..."

What's at the top of your to-do list today?

Spend as much time with my family, be well off enough to help others, make sure I'm happy and not just content, be in the best health as possible, and to keep creating.

What was your very first job and what skill did you learn there that you still use today?

I actually first had a job at 14 years old. My father's friend, a Lebanese man, had a Middle Eastern restaurant in the food court of a mall. He gave me a job and I worked at that same place until I was about 22. It taught me work ethic, it taught me how to speak to people even when I'm uncomfortable, and it taught me that I had to be my own boss. It really was one of the major things that shaped me into who I am today. I have a crazy work ethic because of that job.

What were you doing in life just before you started your blog?

I was trying any and everything to try and express myself. I was still working and going to college full-time. I originally was going to go into studying for journalism to bring awareness to Middle Eastern issues.

What's the last interweb rabbit hole you went down?

Honestly, I'm barely on the internet unless it's for work or social media. The internet is so much of my life because it's my work so I try to stay away as much as possible!

Have you ever found it challenging to maintain your voice while working with brands? Who are you still itching to work with?

I use to feel that way until I worked with enough brands. Like, I'm already blunt over social media so if they're choosing to work with me now, they already know what I'm like for the most part. I'm very understanding and know already going in about compromise. I very much have my own vision, but at the same time I know that their are certain designers I can learn from, and people at brands I can learn from, so I try to make it a learning experience rather than "I'm Nadia Aboulhosn, this is my project, and you have to listen to me." I don't work that way. Most brands also want me to feel comfortable. They let me style a lot of my shoots or choose how makeup and hair will be. They have general ideas and I usually approve before it all goes live. They want me to be happy with the product because if not, my followers and fans will see through that.

What do you wish more people understood about what you do?

That it's a lot more work than taking pictures. There's a whole business behind it. I do a lot of work people don't see. I spend most of my day locked in my room answering emails or pitching myself and ideas or just creating things. It gets really lonely. I don't try to glamorize my life, like, "Oh look! I have so much money and I'm so cool because I'm overseas on a project." When I travel, I'm lucky to get one day off for leisure. You start questioning people around you and their motives. There's no fulfillment in people just knowing who you are. The fulfillment comes from helping people and your community. I hear all the time, "It's so cool you're like Instagram famous!" and I'm like um, no. I'm not, and [Instagram fame] is not what I want to be known for.

"it's a lot more than taking pictures...instagram fame is not what I want to be know for."

tweet this

Which parts of your business come the most naturally to you? What skills have you had to work overtime to develop?

Creating outfits and styling come naturally. I had to work on overtime to take down my social media a notch—not ranting as much, trying to keep it more professional, and show different sides of myself.

Your collaboration with Boohoo drove unprecedented sales and engagement, which can be hard for even the most popular bloggers to pull off. What do you think you do differently that made that work so well?

I think there were a lot of different factors. I think there was anticipation from my followers because it was my first line, and they had been patiently waiting, unlike me. I think the price point helped because it was so affordable. I think that the "inbetween" and "plus-size" girls constantly want new and fresh product because clothing isn't as accessible to them as it is smaller sizes. I have another collection with Addition Elle, a plus-size Canadian brand, that releases in September for Fall with a higher price point, so fingers crossed it does well. After that, I promised myself I'm going to be doing clothes for all sizes, like I've wanted to from the beginning.

Any advice for girls who want to get in the game?

Work hard, don't give up. When you get no's, keep working until you get a yes.

Get your tickets here to catch Nadia live in conversation at #CreateCultivateCHI on Aug 15th!

Office Inspiration: Kristi Kohut @ Lulu + Georgia

Artwork by Kristi Kohut, prints available via Lulu + Georgia

We've got some seriously incredible sponsors lined up for Create + Cultivate in Chicago. If you're lucky enough to be in attendance, you'll find them filling up your gift bags (the VIP gift bag is worth the cost of admission alone!), on the conference floor, and in the coming weeks, we'll highlight a few of our favorites right here on the C+C blog. Because sharing is caring and they're too awesome not to.

First up: Lulu & Georgia, the lifestyle boutique of our dreams. They stock everything from furniture to trinkets, all of which you'll see around the conference (plus, you can shop the on-site pop-up!), in addition to some amazing artwork prints from talented female artist including our very own #createcultivateCHI keynote speaker, Garance Doré. We recently discovered (and promptly fell in love with) the work of the Chicago-based mixed-media artist and designer Kristi Kohut (above). Her work is a perfect representation of our brains right now: a little bit of organized chaos and a whole lot of color. Each piece is like a high energy Rorschach test that would be perfect to hang in your office. Color therapy at its best.  

Get one of Kristi's prints for under $100 at Lulu + Georgia (alongside Garance's prints and a whole host of other amazing artists) and see them in-person at our Lulu + Georgia pop-up at the Chicago conference!

FAQ: VIP or GA?

As we get closer to the big day, we'll be answering a few of your most frequently asked questions about C+C, from where to stay to what to wear. First up, if you're deciding between a VIP or GA ticket, just what do you get with each? Both tickets get you a day full of amazing speakers and an opportunity to network with fellow creatives (we've seen some amazing relationships sparked at the conference!), and the VIP ticket sweetens the deal with some incredible perks. 

Below is a breakdown of all of the Create + Cultivate ticket offerings. Items in bold are only available for VIP ticket holders. 

#createcultivateCHI VIP Perks:

Admission to the Conference on Aug 15th*

Choose your Track for the day: Get the panels and workshop you want most!*

Guaranteed first selection of your (2) Mentors for the Mentor Power Hour*

VIP Gift Bag worth over $350*

Complimentary Valet Parking*

All-day Open Bar in our on-site VIP Lounge* 

Plus, everything included with a General Admission ticket:

#createcultivateCHI General Admission:

Access to our Attendee Happy Hour hosted by General Assembly (Aug 14th)

Admission to the Create + Cultivate Conference on Aug 15th: a full day of workshops + panels with industry execs, bloggers, thought leaders, & creatives.

Create & Cultivate Starter Kit to get you going for the day (think pens, notepads, + more)

Mentor Power Hour session with 25 fellow attendees & a C+C Mentor (to be assigned)

Pop-up Shop: Shop on-site for exclusive deals from our partners & friends

Breakfast (including a Do-Rite Donut Wall!), Lunch, and Late-Afternoon Light Bites

Unlimited coffee, juices, and snacks all day

A Gift Bag worth $150

Ice Cream Social Hour with McConnell's Ice Cream

Photo Booth access

All-day Glam Bar hosted by Stylisted (get a bright lip or braid!)

Happy Hour to socialize & network with fellow attendees

*indicates VIP-only Perk

So which will it be? Tickets are selling out fast, so get your GA or VIP ticket at createcultivate.com and tweet us to let us know you're coming! 

 

Meet the Speaker: Erica Domesek of P.S. - I Made This

Name + @username Erica Domesek + @psimadethis

Trade Founder of P.S.- I Made This

Panel From Blog To Brand: The art of creating compelling content that translates offline and online

Erica Domesek founded the DIY empire P.S. - I Made This, taking the brand from blog to books to events and then some. She's an expert on delivering smiles one DIY project at a time and building a brand both online and off.

Get your tickets here to catch Erica live in conversation at #CreateCultivateCHI on Aug 15th! 

What’s at the top of your to-do list today?

I am headed to Duff's Cakemix to decorate a cake with my friend's daughter! Top priority. 

Where were you in life just before you started your blog/business?

I was a prop stylist and set designer, working as a creative consultant for brands like Madewell, Kate Spade, Anthropologie, Glamour and Teen Vogue Mags, etc. Designing store windows, advertising campaigns, and lookbooks was my background.

Your Instagram feed is a go-to destination for a dose of color and inspiration. What content have you found performs the best? Any tips for creating content?

I like to say, "comfort with a twist" performs the best. What does that mean? Something that you're comfortable with, like something you recognize and are familiar with, but give it a twist. That OMG-factor that makes you wanna double tap, or even tag your BFF in the comments.

Great tip. What’s the last interweb rabbit hole you went down?

Instagram is my bermuda triangle. I'm currently stuck on rainbow legos, gummy candies, and comparing compositions and color coordination.

What tools and/or apps are essential to your work?

My go-to apps are Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat… and I would be lost without Dropbox. 

Which part of your business comes the most naturally to you? What skills have you had to work overtime to develop?

I'm a left and right brained person who sometimes leans on the creative motor skills more than the business side, and other times that flip-flops when you're running a creative business. Brainstorming new campaigns and projects with out-of-the-box ideas and writing cute copy are what I live for. I have to work on my management and communication skills daily, as well as my organization.

Who do you go to most for advice (in life and/or work)? What’s the best piece of advice they’ve given you?

I have the best and smartest friends who are also my mentors. I have learned that being reactive does not help anyone—yourself, your team, etc. I always say "talk once, and listen twice," because sitting back and getting other's perspectives and thoughts will be helpful to not only your overall team building, but also helps you to stay open and accepting of other's advice and ideas.

Check out P.S. - I Made This for more bold DIY inspiration than you can shake a fistful of glitter at (including this #girlboss friendly DIY gem mousepad)!

Get your tickets here to catch Erica live in conversation at #CreateCultivateCHI on Aug 15th!  

 

Love Style Life by Garance Doré

Love x Style x Life by Garancé Dore/via Spiegal & Grau

You already know we're beyond excited to have Garance Doré as the Keynote Speaker at #CreateCultivateCHI. So we we're that much more excited to have some new details (and cover art!) for her soon-to-be-released book LOVE STYLE LIFE (out October 27th, and available for pre-order now). 

As expected, it's beautiful—pink, black, with gold accents that will fit in perfectly on our coffee table for years to come. We also got some intel on a few of the iconic women featured inside: Emmanuelle Alt, Drew Barrymore, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Jenna Lyons (yes, yes, and more yes!).  In addition, there will be tons of the gorgeous illustrations and photography we love by Garance herself.

Get tickets to hear all about Garance's career & life in her own words at #creatcultivateCHI on Aug 15th. 

& pre-order Life Style Love here.

Love x Style x Life by Garancé Dore/via Spiegal & Grau

Meet the Speaker: Gaby Dalkin of What's Gaby Cooking?

Name Gaby Dalkin (@whatsgabycookin)
Trade Chef, Food Blogger, & Globetrotter at What's Gaby Cooking?
Panel Mastering Food Photography: The Ins & Outs of the Perfectly Posed Shot

What's Gaby Cooking? is all about living the California Girl life no matter where you actually live! That means a life where it's always sunny, where smart healthy choices for lunch happily exist with Slutty Brownies for dessert, and where there's always room for guacamole. The California Girl life also means hitting the road now and again for new adventures, and exploring the world through food.

Get your tickets here to catch Gaby live in conversation at #CreateCultivateCHI on Aug 15th!  

What’s at the top of your to-do list today? 

Planning my upcoming trip to Germany! I'm heading there in September to explore the food scene and I can't wait. I've been a handful of times but it was back when I was the pickiest eater on the planet, so I'm excited to do some research and find the best places to grab a bite and a pint! 

Which of your recipes would you suggest to the totally amateur—but hopeful—foodie?

I say start with a pizza! It's approachable because it's something we are all familiar with but you can jazz it up and really get your inner foodie on! This Corn Cilantro Jalapeno Pizza is currently rocking my world. And it's great because you can make it with chorizo if you're a meat eater, or keep it vegetarian and use soy-rizo if that's more your speed! From there—sky's the limit! Keep experimenting and getting crafty as you become more and more comfortable in the kitchen. 

Now that it’s officially cherry season, what are you adding to your dessert menu? 

Cherries never quite make it to dessert for me because I eat them by the pound straight from the farmers market—I'm obsessed! But, if I showed a little self restraint then it would for sure be a cherry pie! 

You’re the ultimate California Girl, but any food/restaurants you’re looking forward to in Chicago?

OMG where do I even start. I'm flying in early specifically to eat at some fab restaurants. Nando's Peri-Peri is this incredible South African chicken restaurant that just features epic chicken with various dipping sauces—I'm in! I love Girl & The Goat, Piccolo Sogno, The Publican, and Taxim, too! 

What’s the last interweb rabbit hole you went down? 

Yesterday I spent an inordinate amount of time researching the best patio dining in Los Angeles. Literally two hours of Google searches and image searches to figure out where the heck I should host my husbands 30th birthday dinner. Because not only does it have to be delicious, but I need to make sure it's Instagram friendly too! 

What tools and/or apps are essential to your work? 

I live by my TeuxDeux app. It's a giant to-do list that keeps me organized and you can move things around easily if your schedule changes. Slack is my lifeline when it comes to web work. The What's Gaby Cooking team is mostly based in Los Angeles and Slack lets us work remotely, stay connected, and share docs really easily. I also love Buffer, which allows me to schedule content ahead of time as I do quite a bit of traveling for work and I'm not always at my desk! 

Which part of your business comes the most naturally to you? What skills have you had to work overtime to develop? 

I'm a people person, so I love getting creative with my clients and coming up with awesome ideas or getting out there and networking with fellow influencers and publishers! As my business has become more successful, I've had to work on developing a thicker skin. It's just business and I needed to learn not to take things so personally! 

Who do you go to for advice (in life, work, and/or food)? I'm so lucky to be surrounded by an incredible network of people. I talk to my mom like five times a day and she's always in the know about what's going on in my business, so I bounce ideas off of her all the time. My husband works in the industry too, so he's always quick to help out when I need advice. And my best friend is Matt Armendariz (@mattarmendariz).  He's a blogger and photographer extraordinaire. We talk shop all the time!

Get your tickets here to catch Gaby live in conversation at #CreateCultivateCHI on Aug 15th!  

Letter from the Editor: Then & Now

A shibori tie dye workshop with Honestly WTF at the very first Create  & Cultivate in Palm Springs, CA. 

cre·ate / krēˈāt 
to bring (something) into existence

cul·ti·vate /ˈkəltəˌvāt 
to apply oneself to improving or developing

Hello Create & Cultivators, 

I am so excited to share our new site with you and our latest and greatest conference: Chicago! Create & Cultivate started nearly 4 years ago as an idea developed from the thought that some of the most inspiring people I know sit behind a computer 8 hours a day. I wanted to see what would happen if we got people offline—even if just for a day—to re-connect, create ideas, and cultivate new friendships. Hence Create & Cultivate was born.

Since our first conference in 2011, the Create & Cultivate community has grown into the tens of thousands. It is full of passionate creative entrepreneurs, ready and willing to learn, meet, and grow alongside us.  I wanted to create a brand that lives offline and online, an epicenter of information about being a creative entrepreneur in the modern world, a place where you can find the tools and advice you need to move your business forward, and of course, a conference where you can meet like-minded individuals that want to collaborate and move the needle with you.

We hope to bring you "real talk" content, the type of content that I wish I could have turned to at times in my career—from breaking up with a business partner to dealing with clients that won't pay—we will be tackling the topics you want (and sometimes need) to hear about. Beyond that, we are excited to be launching a podcast all about creative entrepreneurs and their process in the next few months, spearheaded by our amazingly talented Editorial Director (longtime friend, colleague, and creative entrepreneur in her own right), Jazzi McGilbert. 

I am also thrilled to also announce Create & Cultivate's partnership with Clique Media (Who What Wear, Byrdie and Domaine)—not only the home of some of my favorite sites on the web, but now also our official media partner for the conference. 

The line up for Chicago is K I L L E R and we will be dropping more speakers, mentors, and panelists throughout the month, so be sure to keep it tuned right here! Meanwhile, join conversation on our Instagram and group page on Facebook. I am consistently inspired by YOU, the attendees, my colleagues, and friends so please let us know how we can support you further. 

I can't wait to see your faces at #CreateCultivateCHI!

Best,

Jaclyn  Johnson

@JaclynrJohnson

Press Play: Create & Cultivate Los Angeles 2015

Create & Cultivate is not your average conference. We gather the next generation of curious creatives, entrepreneurs and business leaders to enlighten, entertain and inspire across multiple categories such as fashion, design and business. Create & Cultivate LA 2015 was presented by Bare Minerals and held at the Bookbindery in Los Angeles. Press play to watch speakers Whitney Port, Mr. Kate, and Chriselle Lim share the goods. 

Meet the Speaker: Jeff Mahin, Partner at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

When we were selecting panelists for #createcultivateCHI Jeff Mahin stood out as the forward-thinking restaurateur we needed to nab. At 31, he is a chef/partner at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) and the creative force behind Stella Barra Pizzeria (Santa Monica, Hollywood, Chicago, North Bethesda), Summer House Santa Monica (Chicago, North Bethesda), Do-Rite Donuts (Chicago), and M Street Kitchen (Santa Monica). As regulars at Stella Barra in Santa Monica, the C+C staff already loved Jeff's food, and after getting to know the man (and Forbes 30 Under 30 alumna) behind the dishes we knew he'd be the dude to dish (pun intended) about finding a unique voice and vision in the ever-growing Food, Health, & Wellness space. 

Get your tickets here to catch Jeff live in conversation at #CreateCultivateCHI

Name Jeff Mahin
Trade Partner/Chef at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Panel The New Disruptors: How to Break Out in Food, Health, & Wellness

Favorite neighborhood in Chicago  Before I moved to Los Angeles, I lived in Chicago for years. There are so many diverse neighborhoods and I've lived in many of them, but my favorite would have to be Lincoln Park. It’s the first neighborhood I moved to in Chicago so I have a lot of great memories there. Our restaurants Stella Barra and Summer House Santa Monica are also located there.

Best bar for a nightcap  Violet Hour and Three Dots and a Dash. If I am with a bigger group or with friends from out of town, I’d go to Three Dots and a Dash. For a smaller group, or a date with my girlfriend, I’d go to Violet hour. 

Your top spot for late night grub  Allende Restaurante, a taqueria in Lincoln Park. They have the best al pastor taco I've ever had (even better than anywhere in L.A.) and they stay open until 3 a.m. When I first moved to Chicago and had no money, I would go there after work late at night to get a great meal for pretty cheap. In fact, I still eat there whenever I’m in town. I think it’s fair to say I have eaten at this restaurant more than anywhere else in the city.  Lady Maria, who works there, is there every day and always remembers me.

Best Chi-town donut shop  Do-Rite Donuts, of course! We have two locations in Chicago. There is a great variety of artisanal flavors like Pistachio Meyer Lemon, Candied Maple Bacon, and Valrhona Chocolate Cake, along with a selection of gluten-free and vegan donuts. But the one I’m most proud of is the most basic: a classic buttermilk old fashioned. We worked on perfecting this donut for a long time. The flavor brings back so many childhood memories. 

What do you love most about Chicago?  Chicago is a great, big city with amazing architecture. I love the diverse neighborhoods and the sky rises.  But what I love most is that it doesn’t really have that big-city mentality. It’s a very warm, welcoming, and clean city.