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!  

 

Happy Hour: The Traveling Round of Cocktails

We know sometimes it can be all hustle and no flow. Rachel Mae Furman is  Create & Cultivate's resident Leisure Expert, and our go-to girl for tips on cocktails, parties, and the art of entertaining. She'll regularly be serving up the best ways to mix and little business with pleasure. It's always Happy Hour somewhere, so we'll drink to that. —JM

The Traveling Round of Cocktails
by Rachel Mae Furman
 

Summer is upon us and that usually means lots of potlucks, BBQs, picnics and backyard parties. To which, of course, you should never show up empty handed. And while everyone else shows up with the standard bottle of rosé, why not show your host that you appreciate all of his or her efforts with a little something special? 

Since I appreciate a good cocktail wherever I may be, I like to bring the bar with me. But I’m not talking tools, shakers, and mixers, or jello shots. I mean a good round of craft cocktails that's portable and ready to go. Here’s all you’ll need for a Traveling Round of Cocktails:

Ditch the standard bottle of rosé for your next hostess gift and try this instead

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1) Choose Your Recipe

Anything from a citrus cocktail like a Vodka Lemonade to a stirred cocktail like an Old Fashioned or Negroni. Liquor.com or the Epicurious app are both great place to start for inspiration. It's best to skip a recipe that requires soda for this one, as bubbles don’t travel well (that said, you could always add a splash when you get there)!

2) Choose Your Vessel 

Mason Jars are the way to go. You can pre-make each cocktail, screw on the lid for travel, add some ice when you get there and give it a good shake. It’s like your own individual cocktail shaker!

3) Choose Your Package

Invoke some serious wow factor when you show up to a party with a vintage mini suitcase and pop it open to reveal your round of drinks. Any decorative box or storage basket could do—once you’re thinking cocktails, take a peruse around Michael’s Crafts or Target and soon every box will start looking like a potential bar!

4) Keep It Cute

For extra credit, I cut a piece of cardboard the shape of my suitcase lid and spray-painted it with chalkboard paint to write my drink recipes on. You can also find cute mini-chalkboards online or at a craft store. Also consider custom print mason jar labels with your logo or an image for the occasion, and/or line the inside with a pretty kitchen towel in a coordinating color. While everyone else shows up with the ninth bottle of rosé for the evening, revel in your hostess magic as you offer them a cocktail from your suitcase!

Added Value: Here's my go-to recipe for a Peach Negroni

 

Negroni Pesca (“Peach Negroni”)

1oz Gin (I like Art in the Age SAGE Gin for this one)

1oz Suze Liqueur

1oz Lillet Rosé

3 Dashes Peach Bitters

Stir all ingredients together with ice, garnish with a grapefruit peel, and enjoy!

Rachel Mae Furman is a self-proclaimed “Leisure Expert" on a quest to elevate moments, create occasions and curate experiences at any given moment. She has spent the last decade traveling the country scouring the back roads and small towns of America for inspiration, then jet-setting from city to city on the corporate dime, building booze brands in the liquor business. Inspired by her Grandmom Doris to be the perfect little hostess, Rachel is known for whipping out a mason jar Old Fashioned from her purse just when you need it. Her blog Smoke & Honey celebrates the art of leisure, from cocktails to entertaining, style to homemaking. Follow her @rachelmaefurman. 

BFFs in Business: Show Me Your Mumu

BFFs in Business: Cammy (left) and Cologne (right) of Show Me Your Mumu

#Femships have been making headlines lately. From Beyoncé and Nicki, to Tina and Amy, to Taylor Swift and her bevy of BFFs (#squadgoals), it's a term coined in celebration of female friendships in life and sometimes, in business. 

Proving that necessity is the mother of invention, design duo and best friends Cammy Hebert and Cologne Schmidt, both 29, of Show Me Your Mumu reinvented the classic mumu after a weekend vacation in Miami. The rest is modern fashion history wrapped in their eclectic brand that has been embraced by celebs like Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, and Beyoncé. Show Me Your Mumu is loved by women everywhere who can find it online and in more than 300 stores nationwide.

We chatted with Cammy and Cologne about the ins and out of business and friendship, and how they make their #femship work (literally).

Name: Cammy Hebert & Cologne Schmidt

Trade: Co-founders of Show Me Your Mumu

Location: Venice Beach and Vernon, CA

So-called "femships," aka female friends run businesses together, are having a moment. How has your friendship given you a business edge?   

Cologne: We started this business as friends, and we're lucky that we still are best friends and work together so well! Usually people advise not to go into business with your best friend, but we have been very lucky. Our relationship is more like sisters now—we have been through a lot together. The Mumu lifestyle is all about girlfriends and having fun, so were have been able to translate that lifestyle to our customer. We also each bring different vibes and styles to the table, rounding out the Mumu line and aesthetic. 

"we started this business as friends and we're lucky that we still are."

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How do you think your business would be different working solo?  

Cologne: Having a business partner makes the whole process so much more fun and emotionally manageable. Cammy and I go through all the highs and lows together—we get to cry and we get to celebrate together. When problems arise, we can help each other solve them. We also manage different channels of the business, so we can split up some of the workload and teams we manage. The creative part, which we both love, we get to do together and bring our unique vibes to each collection.

How was the transition of working for companies like Calvin Klein, to packing your bags to LA and starting your own business?

Cammy: We laugh because starting your own business is kind of like having a baby. You care about them so much, they are nonstop work, and you will do anything for them—including staying up all night. Working for yourself is very challenging, but also very rewarding. It involves a lot more emotion and work, but we would never change it. We love our baby, Mumu!

Show Me Your Mumu is a very female-powered business. Who are the women that inspire you?

Cologne: We have both learned a lot from our moms. My mom is a very strong lady, who always taught me to speak up, work hard, and be and be myself. We have 3 women on our board who we work closely with—Liz, Cammy’s mom Teresa, and Janet. They are amazing women who inspire us and make us better women and #girlbosses.

"always be honest and vocal with each other. it will help in the long run."

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What would be your best advice to someone who wants to start a business with their friend?  

Cammy: Make sure that you can see it working longterm. Think about all of the situations you will have to go through and imagine how you'd handle them together. It is so much fun to work with a friend, but it can also be strenuous on some friendships, so it is not for everyone! If you do choose it, make sure to always be honest and vocal with each other. It will help you in the long run. Also, have fun with it! Running a business with your bud is a blast!

Thanks, girls! 

Shop the line and follow @showmeyourmumu on Instagram for tons of color and goodness daily!

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

Longform: The Money of Art and How I Self-Published My First Book

The Money of Art by Peter Nguyen photographed by EDGE Studios/Sean Kilgore-Han

Peter Nguyen is an artist, writer, designer, career coach, and champion for artists in the digital age. He has also been a constant in my own digital life. We met way back when on LiveJournal and since then, I've sought him out for advice on everything from fashion to relationships, moving cross-country (and back again), podcasts to coffee, career, business, and everything in between. Peter is the master of many domains: from his successful lifestyle blog/newsletter The Essential Man, his menswear label LÉON, and now his first book The Money of Art. 

I've always been struck by Peter's transparency about his art, work, and process. Since reading The Money of Art, I've been suggesting and passing it along to pretty much every creative I know (it's currently on-loan to an indie musician friend, who's already applying Peter's tips to his work). This post started out as a book review, but with so many creative entrepreneurs in the Create + Cultivate community, I thought Peter had a very unique perspective and advice on expanding your brand and successfully self-publishing a book. You don't have to wait for a book deal to come knocking. There are plenty of ways to get a beautiful book out there yourself (and maybe even capture the attention of a publisher or book agent for your text title). Read on to see how Peter made it happen for himself. —JM

The Money of Art and How I Self-Published My First Book

I have been selling online for literally half my life. I started my first eBay business at 16 years old, buying and selling arcade games. Early in college, when I took an interest in fashion (which later led to a career as a menswear designer), I started buying and selling designer clothes. More recently, I launched my own menswear label and started a writing about my experiences on a blog called The Essential Man. In 2012, when I decided to revamp The Essential Man, I decided to give my readers something they had been asking for. I announced that I was writing a book.

As it so happens, that book never happened.

It's a joke among writers—if you search "working on my novel" on Twitter, you’ll get millions of results. There's even a blog dedicated to people announcing their books. Most of which never make it onto (or off the) page.

It wasn't until I picked up a book called Just F*cking Ship by Amy Hoy did I realize I was going about it all wrong.

Amy's book not only changed how I work forever, it has changed how I approach my goals. Two months after I finished Just F*cking Ship I had written my first book: The Money of Art: Make Money And Escape The Corporate Grind, While Staying True To Your Art.

So what was different this time? Below are 10 things that helped me write and finally self-publish my 1st book.
 

1. RE-DEFINE THE "REAL AUTHOR". 

When other writers ask how I published and sold my book, and I say that I self-published, they always seem turned off. They tell me they want to do it the “old-fashioned” way. As a writer, of course I understand there is a certain romance with being “chosen” by a publisher and possibly, just maybe, hitting the New York Times best-seller list. But you have to decide what’s more important to you: holding onto an outdated, romanticized image of what it means to be a writer or embracing new opportunities to actually get your work out there for people to discover, love, and share.

"What’s more important: holding onto a romanticized idea of a writer or actually getting your work out?"

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The best thing? You can still have your book printed in physical form. In fact, The Money of Art was published in paperback, hardcover, and digital. The difference was that I no longer needed someone else's permission to publish my book.

What makes you a real author? Writing a book and making it available for people to read. It’s as simple as that.

2. CHOOSE ONE PROBLEM AND SOLVE IT.

It’s tempting—especially with your first book—to cram your entire life philosophy within its pages, but it’s not going to do you or the reader any favors.

A lot of people I advise tell me that they want to write a “lifestyle” book or build a lifestyle business. The truth is, no one goes in a bookstore thinking “I need a book on lifestyle!” Instead they'll look for a book on vegan baking, turning a blog into a business, or DIY projects, specifically. Niche into a problem—specific problems that are part of a lifestyle. Find your trojan horse. In the case of my book: how to make money as an artist. And inside my trojan horse I hid the other things I wanted to teach, such as the psychology of money, redefining happiness, and doing work you’re passionate about. I believe my first ill-fated book for The Essential Man never worked out in part because I never defined a true problem.

3. DEADLINES WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE. 

Flash back to high school. Remember how you seemed to do your best work when the assignment was due the next day? Was it because you’re just really amazing at working until the sun comes up, or was it the pressure of that deadline? I’d put money on the latter. When I announced my first book attempt, I chose the worst kind of deadline: coming soon. In my experience, “coming soon” is code for “never really going to happen.”

Here’s something I’ve never shared publicly: When I announced The Money of Art release date (in March 2015) and started taking pre-orders, I only had the outline finished. The timespan from the day I announced the book to the on-sale date was just 30 days.

I took to my Google calendar and broke up the work accordingly. I scheduled what writing, editing, sharing, and cover designing needed to be done on what days. And this time, I stuck to it.

Now, I don’t recommend you (nor anyone) try to write a book in 30 days, but my point still remains: deadlines help you get work done. Your self-imposed deadline should be close enough to scare you into doing the work, but not so far away that you'll put it off.

"Self-impose deadlines close enough to scare you into doing the work, not so far away you'll put it off"

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4. THE OUTLINE IS HALF THE BATTLE.

In The Money of Art, I emphasize the importance of what I call "front-loading the work." It's something I learned from entrepreneur Ramit Sethi. Front-loading the work means putting in extra time and effort upfront to make the work later on much easier.

To that effect, I spent a good month outlining my book before I actually sat down and wrote a single chapter. I didn’t use anything fancy, just a Google Doc. The first thing I wrote was actually the last chapter—what I wanted the reader to get out of the book. In The Money of Art, my goal was to teach artists how to market themselves and sell their work online.

Then I worked my way backwards, writing the chapter titles as I went, and starting to write and edit the book in my head. After that, I got someone to skim it over. Did it flow like a real book? Was there something to expand on? Anything unclear? Just make sure the person you hand it to will give you honest, real—and sometimes blunt—feedback.
 

5. SET UP A MAILING LIST RIGHT NOW.

Setting up an e-mail list is basically a way for you to separate people that don’t really care about your work from the people who can’t wait to throw money at you.

Your mailing list also helps when you have future products you want to sell. The old business adage that it's harder to sell to a new customer than an old one is true. Customers who have purchased from you before are 4x more likely to buy from you than someone who hasn’t.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. I purchased my book's URL on Hover.com ($10), set-up a website through Squarespace ($8), and created a landing page that linked to my Mailchimp account (free). All the page said was: "To get news of the release of The Money of Art sign up here."

6. BEFORE (& AFTER) YOUR BOOK RELEASE, SEND AMAZING CONTENT.

Building a list and only e-mailing them when you're selling something is a guarantee that you will get no sales. You know that one friend or family member who only calls when they need something? Don’t be that person. People will stop looking forward to your call.

Long-term, the relationship is more valuable than the sale.

For example, before its release, I held a book cover design contest. The prize: A full “Pro-Package” of The Money of Art. It contained a signed hardcover edition of the book, instant digital download, a goodie bag, and a design credit in the book. Mailing list subscribers were shown three rough cover mockups, chose their favorite, and answered a simple survey via Squarespace. It was one-part crowdsourcing the most-liked cover design, one-part content to keep people excited while I wrote the book. It was a huge success. Not only did I get hundreds of responses, I got to interact with my mailing list to show them there was an actual human being on the other end of that sign-up form, and I cared about their thoughts and opinions. 

I also sent chapters of the book AS they were being finished and fielded questions. Including one of my best chapters about the artist’s fear of being successful. Why did I give away one of my best chapters? Because when someone reads or shared that e-mail and says “Wow, that was good,” they’re also thinking “well, the rest of the book has to be amazing.” It’s incentive to buy and validates their subscription in the first place.

And now I keep the conversation going even after the release with exclusive content for people who purchased the book.
 

Original cover mockups for The Money of Art

7. YES, WE DO JUDGE BOOKS BY THEIR COVERS.

What your parents told you isn't true. Book covers matter. Romance Author JS Taylor doubled her sales overnight with a good cover redesign.

My most basic advice: collect a folder of book covers that instantly attract your attention, then try to analyze them. Pinterest is a perfect resource for beautiful cover designs.

If you're up for a challenge and want to be hands on, I recommend taking the Skillshare course on book cover design by Peter Mendelsund, who’s designed famous covers like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

What would I do differently for my next book? I’d invest in a professional to design it for me. Writing, formatting, and marketing a book is hard enough, and I think cover design is the first area I would outsource besides hiring an editor. The lifetime return for a great book cover in sales will outlast the couple hundred bucks you spend on a good cover designer. It’s your book’s best business card.

8. OUTSOURCING YOUR WEAKNESS IS A STRENGTH.

Speaking of outsourcing, I highly recommend owning your weaknesses and outsourcing them. After 16 years of experience selling, packaging, and mailing out orders, I knew I didn’t want to spend hours a day sending out orders of my hardcover book (paperbacks were handled by an Amazon-backed service for self-publishers called Createspace). I used an amazing service called Shyp (Editor’s Note: Shyp’s Head of Marketing, Lauren Sherman is a mentor at #createcultivateCHI!) to package and ship my orders. You simply take a photo of what you need sent, and Shyp comes by to pick it up. And recently, I hired a copy editor, which has made my writing process 100 times smoother, less stressful, and more fun.

9. LEARN FIRST, EARN SECOND.

One of my favorite entrepreneurs whom I mentioned previously, Ramit Sethi, talks about “optimizing for learning not earning” when you’re starting out. I will be honest, you probably won’t be replacing your main source of income with your first book... or your 2nd, or even the 5th. But as you keep publishing, it is going to get easier and easier.

Think of your first book like the beginning scenes in one of those bank heist movies—you’re casing the scene, getting familiar with how things work.

My book launch had the bigger-than-expected numbers because I took time to build an e-mail list before the book launch, seeded out great content, engaged with my list, and even e-mailed subscribers personally, asking what they were having problems with as an artist.

Through that effort, I pulled in about $1,305 on the very first day. Three months later, I sell about 2-4 book sales a day with little to no extra effort or advertising on my part. That comes out to about $150/month. Not life changing, but it’s passive income that has paid tenfold in credibility for my private career coaching and speaking engagements. And with each new book I write, I expect that number to rise.

As James Altucher, best-selling author of Choose Yourself!, put it, “the best way to promote your book is to write another book.“

10. BE PROUD OF YOUR WORK.

Now, you went through the process of writing a book. You finished it. You took the time to outline and find a good designer. So do me and everyone else a favor: call yourself an author!

So many of the creatives I advise are too humble, dare I even say, embarrassed when it comes to talking about their own work. It’s called “Imposter Syndrome” and it's no good for anyone. How many times have you seen on social media someone say "I wrote a little thing..." or "Oh, I'm just self-published writer" or "I have a start-up." A start-up is just a scared person’s word for “new business” and “I wrote a thing” is a self-conscious way of saying, “I wrote a mind-blowing resource for young business owners.”

People will start taking you more seriously when you use confident language that signals that not only are you serious, but you’re serious about your work.

Get The Money of Art by Peter Nguyen and follow Peter @leonnyc & @theessentialman. Subscribe to his newsletter for tons of great advice on life, creativity and business. He's one of our best-kept secrets. 

Pro Tip: Jaclyn's Top Apps for the Modern #Girlboss

The millennial proverb “there’s an app for that” is both terrifying and amazing. We truly are living in an on-demand society—pretty much anything you want delivered to in an hour or less. While I don’t plan on exploring the larger implications of this phenomenon, I will say that as a busy entrepreneurial female, there are a few apps that have made my life easier. Way easier.  So get ready to boot up your iPhone and download these life savers.

SHYP

Hate the post office? Who doesn’t. Finding a box, locating packing tape, drive, wait in line, get into a casual altercation in the parking lot... No, thank you. Shyp takes all of that away. You just snap a photo of an item (any item!), and they will send you back shipping options, take your pick and someone will show up at your door to take your item, pack it, ship it, and sending you tracking information. Plus you can Shyp your first item free so #whynot. We use it for everything in our office. (Editor’s Note: Next week, read about a blogger/author who self-published and used Shyp to mail out all his book orders!)  

BLOOMTHAT

Flowers on-demand. No longer are you a slave to the antiquated 1-800-flowers nightmare of 6-day delivery for $100. In 45 minutes, your special someone (or clients!) can have a fresh, adorable bouquet in their hands.

STYLISTED

The magic that is a fresh blow-out and makeup on-demand is one that I cannot get enough of. Within in hours, you can have your own personal Glam Squad at your house, office, car (ok, not your car, but wouldn’t that be great?). Try it ASAP. It’s fun to play Kardashian for a day (or a special night out)! Stylisted will also be on-site all day at #createcultivateCHI doing braids & lips, so if you haven’t gotten your ticket: you’re doing it wrong.

VENMO

Splitting the bill at lunch has never been easier with venmo! All the girls in our office are constantly Venmo-ing each other for coffee-runs, after work drinks, etc. It’s easy and fun—plus if you have freelancers, it’s an easy way to pay them out vs having to write checks!

LUXE

Luxe promises to make you "fall in love with parking" which, I know, seems impossible. Have you ever arrived to a meeting 15 minutes early, only to find out there is absolutely no parking, only cash lots in sight, you’re fresh out of cash, and then suddenly—you’re 15 minutes late, sweating from the walk, and fumbling over your words to apologize. No? Just me? Well, consider Luxe your own personal valet.

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!  

Celadon & Celery's Desktop Floral Faves to Hit Refresh

Photography by EDGE Studios/Sean Kilgore-Han

Whether you're in a cubicle, corner office, or a sunny loft space with an open floor plan, bringing in some choice plant-life is the ultimate in functional decorating. Some well-placed greenery can not only brighten up a space with a little color, but they can also purify the air around you—and a little extra O2 goes a long way in creating a more relaxing, peaceful workspace. We know that spending time in nature is linked to reduced stress levels, so we've asked Bess Wyrick, founder of Celadon & Celery, and the mastermind behind many of Create & Cultivate's floral arrangements, to round up a few beautiful houseplants that are easy to care for (green thumb or not), and effective at increasing oxygen and clearing out toxins for a little breathing room.

1. Magnolias

(above, center) Fresh magnolias are total stunners in a vase (or even an empty coke bottle) at your desk. They'll brown and wilt quickly if not kept in water, and will only last a couple days, but since they're in season, you can easily pick one on a lunchtime walk (they're especially easy to find blooming around trees in Los Angeles) and impress everyone in the office with a fancier bloom. 

 

2. Philodendron

The heart-shaped philodendron is a popular plant choice for indoor areas, as they're easy to care for (they're just fine in low-medium light), smell divine, and make you feel like a queen. Like the English Ivy, they are particularly good at absorbing airborne toxins and formaldehyde. Pick them up at your local nursery or get a starter plant for under $5 on Amazon.

"Cubicle or open floorplan—a little extra O2 can go a long way."

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3. Cacti + Succulents 

(above, left) Desert plant-life is having a major moment. You'd be hard-pressed to scroll through any California-girls Instagram feed without spotting some cacti—they're even Create + Cultivate's unofficial mascot (here's proof). These low-maintenance plants are a powerful toxin eliminator and air purifier, and they're one of the easiest plants to grow, as they thrive even in dim lighting and cooler climates, and as you know, they won't require too much water. You can get 20 gorgeous succulents in 2" pots for under $25 and pass them around the office. Everyone will love you.

 

4. Ruby Ball Cactus

(above, right) We hate to play favorites, but we love the Gymnocalycium Cultivar—sometimes called Ruby Ball cactus or Moon cactus—it's actually two cacti in one. A pure red cactus seedling lacks the ability to produce chlorophyll and will die unless it is grafted onto a green one. The green feeds its mutant-mate sugar molecules produced from water and carbon dioxide. Once established, the two parts grow together so you can't even see the seam. These cacti typically live only a few years and do not grow appreciably, making them ideal for small spaces, and apartment dwellers.

For a breath of fresh air and some truly epic floral-porn, follow Bess and Celadon & Celery on Instagram @celadoncelery. 

 Not your average flower child, bicoastal designer-slash-stylist-slash-floral goddess Bess Wyrick is a force to be reckoned with. Founder of Celadon & Celery, a NYC and LA-based event and floral design company, she’s a style guru with an affinity for peony tattoos and rich life stories that run deep. An adopted child from a family of eight siblings, Wyrick straddles the earthy and the ethereal, exploring the continents (she’s frolicked through flower fields on every single one) and spending mornings with her fiancé and feline friends in the serenity of her new Culver City studio. Follow Bess @celadoncelery. 

Q+A: Mr. Kate, A Hot Glue Gun Mess

Mr. Kate is a DIY and lifestyle blogger, prolific YouTuber, entrepreneur, and long-time Create & Cultivate favorite and friend. She has killed it as a panelist—most recently on the "Lights, Camera, Action" panel at C+C Los Angeles 2015—and gives us a dose of inspiration and laughter on the daily via Instagram.  On the eve of the release of her first book A Hot Glue Gun Mess: Funny Stories, Pretty DIY Projects, we asked Kate about the art of oversharing and how it feels to add "author" to your resume. Read on (and read to the end for an exclusive excerpt from the book!). — JM

Name, @username, day job/craft, elevator pitch:

Mr. Kate aka Kate Albrecht, @mrkatedotcom. DIY, design, & style blogging—and now author of A Hot Glue Gun Mess: Funny Stories, Pretty DIY Projects. The quirky Martha Stewart for the reality TV generation; creating content to inspire people to express themselves because #whynot! 

A lot of bloggers are fantastic at walking the walk (including you!), but for all the talk of authenticity in content, you stand out as someone who also talks the talk. You keep it hilariously real and revealing in the book: were there any stories that you hesitated to share?

Awww thanks! It was a big and very conscious decision to reveal as much as I do in the book—you learn lots of hilarious and embarrassing things about me, from the time I pooped in a tub to my one-night-stand with a world famous athlete. I always appreciate when people are transparent and find humor in their "oops" moments, so I figured if I was going to spend two years writing and creating a book, I may as well bare my soul and not hold back. That said, I do hope people still like me after they read about the time I (accidentally) set fire to a kindergarten... oops! (PS: NO children were harmed!)

"If I was going to spend two years writing and creating a book, I may as well bare my soul and not hold back..."

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What advice would you give other creative entrepreneurs who might feel like a hot glue gun mess? 

That we are all hot messes, some people just cover it better than others. Learn to find a balance between laughing at yourself and taking yourself really F-ing seriously. It's the serious side of you that will grow your dream and it's the humor that will infuse the dream with creativity and also allow you to laugh when things get ridiculously messy and/or overwhelming... which they will. But then they get better! 

This is your first book: what was the biggest learning curve? Favorite part of the process? 

This was definitely the hardest and most involved project I have ever done. The biggest learning curve was realizing that I could actually write a book, which was something I never thought I'd do. My favorite part was writing the stories and then figuring out ways to link them to DIY projects in fun and funny ways. To give you an example, a story titled "I Used To Babysit My Stepmom" is paired with DIY Beyond Nude Nail Art Two Ways... how do they relate? You'll have to read the book to find out!

"we are all hot messes, some people just cover it better than others..."

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How’d the whole project come about? Did you approach your publisher, did they approach you?

We got a book agent who then guided us in writing a proposal and then she sent that out to publishers. We got lucky that a few publishers wanted to work on this book so we got to pick our favorite! 

How many copies do you think your parents will buy?

Haha I think they've collectively bought 10 or so and then Joey's (my husband/business partner) parents bought another 10 so yeah... thanks and sorry I wrote that you eat too many cheeseburgers! 

Besides your hot glue gun, What tools and/or apps are essential to your work? 

I use a drill a lot in interior design projects to hang curtains, pictures, do DIYs, etc. As far as apps, I love the Polyvore app for building moodboards around any kind of creative spark and Afterlight for editing photos! 

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

Planning the book release party!  

What movie can you quote start to finish?

Clueless and Some Like It Hot

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

Trying to pick the perfect tub faucet for a claw foot tub.

You’ve got $50 for a last-minute gift: what do you DIY or buy? 

An at-home gel manicure kit (my favorite is the Sensationail starter kits). If you're going to spend the time DIYing some nail art, make it last as long as possible with gel polish!

Open a page at random: tell us what page, what you’re reading/seeing, and anything you remember about writing it/putting it together.

Page 167, the reveal photo for a "DIY Basket Canopy" project which is a really pretty and easy way to make a canopy for over a bed or daybed. I remember styling this reveal photo (we hung the canopy from a tree over a day bed on a patio) and I was obsessing over the tea cup on the coffee table in front of the daybed and how to place it perfectly. Of course in the photo we chose, the cup is blurred out but hey, it made it into the shot, and it matches the teal of the canopy cloth!

An Exclusive Excerpt from Mr. Kate's A Hot Glue Gun Mess

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Hooker With a Head of Gold

“My early twenties were a mess. My best friend was a high-priced hooker. She was introduced to me as twenty-six-year-old Alex, who worked in fashion. I didn’t know her true profession until after our friendship ended years later, when I found out she also had a fake name and was six years older than she claimed. Alex was lovely—funny and charming, with a laid-back beauty—and we would laugh nonstop together.

Alex had this amazing laugh—a loud and genuine cackle. It was the laugh of a girl who didn’t give a shit what people thought of her. Her signature look was her long blond hair, which she wore in messy, beachy waves. She drove a Mercedes and had a realistic-looking boob job and lithe friends, which should have raised a red flag to her actual profession, but to naive, twenty-year-old me, she was an intriguing and fantastic friend…”

Follow all things Mr. Kate at mrkate.com and from one hot mess to another, believe us when we say Kate's book A Hot Glue Gun Mess is a must-read and hilariously defies any and all expectations of the usual DIY how-to books. 

5 Must-Follow Hilarious/Real Talk Instagrammers

We love Instagram (duh) and while we love love love the macaroon, peony, jet set explosion that often fills our feed, we also love the people who lay it out there real talk style. The people who aren't afraid to talk about their dog barfing in their car (Jayne Min) or admit that they have a mustache hair (Jen Gotch)--- we need them, the world needs them. We thought it was time to share what basically gets us through our day, which is often not filled with cute cups of coffee and European vacations, but is sometimes filled with, er, mustache hairs.

Kelly Oxford / @kellyoxford

The author, writer, show-seller, and cool mom is one of our favorite follows.  She posts the ins-and-outs of motherhood,  the hilarity surrounding her kids, her dogs, and general commentary on the craziness that is life. Our favorite is the picture of her mom where she says "Hi Mom. Sorry I don't call, I hate the phone. If it makes you feel any better, I call no one. You're cute for an old Baba." #truth

Jayne Min / @stopitrightnow

Don't be fooled by her couture looking imagery - Jayne Min isn't as serious as her posts may look. She is constantly killing it with self deprecating humor. For instance, her caption "Cowlick profile shot featuring ear cameo" (see image below at the upper left), plus her posts about her pups hit way too close to home -- we like it Jayne! 

OrlandoSoria/

@mrorlandosoria

OMG, WE LOVE ORLANDO! His effortless use of CAPS when instilling hilarious puns and wit into his often beautiful interior photos literally gets us through the day. For National Donut Day, his post declared "I hate donuts but LOVE RUGS." As do we, Orlando. 

Jen Gotch / @jengotch

Jen is everything. No really. She is a boss lady extraordinaire, she pulls off pink hair and mumus with ZERO effort and she is not just funny-- she is freaking hilarious.  She literally doesn't care what you think (in the best way possible) and her Instagram is a direct reflection of that. Do yourself a favor and watch the mustache video. 

Samantha Duenas / @sosupersam

Don't let her freakish good looks fool you, Sam is WAY more than a pretty face. When she isn't spinning the best parties, she is posting hilarious commentary on Instagram.  Her post featuring the guy juggling at the airport, simply captioned "go ahead daddy", literally made us pee (just a little bit.) 

Is Girls Club the New Boy's Club?

We’ve all been there. A senior-level executive dismisses you as sweetie or one of your male employees refers to you as his colleague when you are very much his boss. The gender gap is alive and well in the startup industry, but is it starting to close?
 
As a female founder, I’ve experienced the pendulum swing of the gender imbalance issue. At the start, I began to notice that my fees nearly always came up for negotiation—seemingly because I was a female business owner sitting across the table from them. To test the theory, I brought male employees with me into key meetings regarding fees to gauge the difference. Across the board, the fee bargaining didn’t occur when they were present.
 
But this presented an opposite catch-22 for me, one that other entrepreneurs have probably faced, too. I wanted (and needed) to take on the new business and grow my portfolio, but that meant saying sometimes giving in to lower, negotiated fees—essentially saying yes to gender pay inequality.
 
Now four years later, my startup has grown, the caliber of clients we work with has increased, and we can turn down business when the numbers don’t add up. But I think the elusive “boys’ club” that revolves mostly around startup funding, raising money and venture capital will always be present in some iteration.
 
However, I’ve seen the clouds parting, with more women at the helm of large budgets and leading prominent companies. That’s why it’s important for more women to excel in the financial aspects of running a business, especially funding, investing and raising money so we can help balance the gender inequality.
 
To that end, I’m excited to see the growing number of programs devoted to female founders and entrepreneurship that give women the support to flourish. A few months ago, I hosted an evening for Women in Business in conjunction with General Assembly, where we had more than 300 RSVPs and women waiting in line eagerly to hear female entrepreneurs speak about their experiences. It was a great opportunity to dole out advice to those just starting out, and to network with new like-minded contacts.
 
While this is proof that the women-in-business movement is strong, what does this mean for the gender gap? It means a “girls’ club” is forming, and the responsibility is now on female CEOs and others in powerful positions to give opportunities to deserving female entrepreneurs.
 
But this girls’ club won’t usher in the gender inequalities that I faced in the past. Instead, it will be an opportunity to mentor young women looking for guidance and empower women-owned businesses.
 
Will the girls’ club be the new boys’ club? It’s on us to make it happen.

This story was written by our founder Jaclyn Johnson and originally appeared on Success.com. To learn more about her, head to the about section up top!

Longform: The Modern Outdoors Woman

Johnie Gall, Dirtbag Darling

Some use the outdoors to disconnect from the usual social networking and selfie hustle, while others are using those very networks to create new communities, building a bridge to connect to other Modern Outdoors Women. Jeanine Pesce is the founder & editor of RANGE, an agency, magazine, and content-hub dedicated to discovery in sports, lifestyle, and the outdoors. She spends her days embracing nature, trend forecasting, and consulting for your favorite sports and lifestyle brands. Recently, she took an in-depth look at what it means to be a Modern Outdoors Woman—or a brand that aims to capture her attention. Read on for her thoughts, insights, and observations.

The Modern Outdoors Woman

an essay by Jeanine Pesce of Range

Recently, you've probably noticed a serious surge in images of women outdoors—not so much in the #mountainbabes kind of way, but more in the #outdoorwomen kind of way. Women, in terms of trend, are having a major moment. Terms like feminist, #girlboss, and lean-in, now punctuate everyday conversation (Editor's note: take the growth of Create & Cultivate as proof)—women are stronger and more successful than ever, doing a great job of balancing work and family, and seriously interested in getting outside. According to the Outdoor Industry Foundation’s in-depth report on participation, attitudes, and behaviors, called “Getting < Women < Active,” 61% of women currently participate in outdoor recreation, and individually spend an average of $295 annually on outdoor apparel and equipment.

As more women are empowered to discover the simple things that being in nature provides, we wanted to ask ourselves: What defines today’s modern outdoors woman? Is it about tactile skills and experience, or is it more a state of being? We interviewed a dynamic group of women with varied levels of traditional outdoor experience to find out. The Modern Outdoors Woman is inquisitive, kind, and willing to introduce her less experienced friends to the outdoors. She looks to Donna Carpenter; owner of Burton Snowboards, Melissa Arnot; an American mountaineer and the only female guide on Everest, Liz Clark; a sailor, surfer and National Geographic Adventurer, Gina Bégin; founder of the Outdoor Women’s Alliance and Caroline Gleich; professional big mountain skier for inspiration. She is beyond stoked to collaborate, and her competitive nature, although present while in motion, is more passive when creating content. She finds strength in her femininity, and doesn’t feel that words like “tomboy” define her. She is just as comfortable casting a line as she is shopping online, and is constantly daydreaming about trips and adventures.

Gale Straub, founder of She-explores, a site dedicated to women who wander, describes her as “curious and ready-to-go, invariably planning her next endeavor. You could just as easily find her climbing in the mountains as rediscovering her hometown. She explores with an eye for color, an appreciation of technique and a pull towards what’s next.” According to Sasha Cox from Trail Mavens, which specializes in outdoor adventures for urban women, “An outdoors woman is someone who's not afraid of getting dirty outside of her comfort zone, and likely believes adventure is adversity in retrospect. Regardless of what happens, it's a learning experience and probably a great story.” This sums up the main difference between our experience as women in the outdoors and that of our our traditionally pragmatic male counterparts. Simply put, we are on a journey to discover something deeper and more meaningful.

"75% of women agree their feeling of connection to the outdoors is the most important reason to get outside"

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The Outdoor Industry report states 75% of women agree their feeling of connection to the outdoors is the most important reason to get outside. “Unlike men, who are drawn to the tactical, logical applications of gear in the outdoors and an almost engineering-like mentality of deciphering maps, putting up tents, cutting snow pits, and chopping wood, women connect with the emotional side of being in nature. Then there are also those of us who like the adrenaline rush, but not without the fresh air and good scenery to feed our souls,” explains Ali Carr Troxell, an outdoor gear editor, adventure travel journalist and founder of PR agency Headwaters Collective.

Another key difference is the way we purchase product. Men like buying things quickly and concisely, but women want to be romanced into a purchase by an editorial point of view. 64.7% of women say they look to store displays for their apparel inspiration, confirming the fact that ladies want to shop where they feel captivated and engaged. Women get pumped for in-store events, sample sales and collaborations, so why not apply that formula to the way they shop for gear, in the form of clinics, product testing and group activities? The old days of “pinking” and “shrinking”— a term used to describe the antiquated habit of brands who shrink men’s designs and color them pink to appeal to women—just won’t cut it. Women want contemporary silhouettes, trend-driven color options and prints that are more evolved than paisleys and daisies. When conducting our own interviews about the Modern Outdoors Woman, we stumbled upon a very interesting fact: only a handful of the women we spoke with admitted to wearing hiking pants. The rest wore leggings because they were more flattering on the form, felt better against their skin, and didn’t make them look like a “funky aunt.” Discuss amongst yourselves.

So who is nailing it when it comes to women’s apparel and hardgoods? That is a loaded question and really depends on who you are asking.“To me, doing it ‘right’ means you aren’t promoting harmful gender stereotypes, your messaging/brand isn’t misogynistic, you truly support the female athletes on your team, and you make gear and clothing women actually want. There are a lot of really well-intentioned companies still constructing their women’s lines out of pastel fabrics or producing short and soft skis. As the owner of a hard-goods company, I understand there is a process and you can’t please everyone. What one woman loves, another may despise,” explains Jen Gurecki, CEO of Coalition Snow, which makes skis and boards by women for women.

Social media inadvertently plays a huge role in how women interested in the outdoors are connecting with each other. “I felt like I was the only woman I knew mountain biking on the weekend or surfing on the East Coast in the winter. Social media offers me a sense of instant community in a space where I used to lack many female friendships. It's especially relevant while I'm traveling. I've been able to bum couch space from women all over the country who have become my good friends strictly via Instagram,” notes Johnie Gall, founder of Dirtbag Darling, a blog that “celebrates the outdoor woman,” including those with “dirty feet, salty hair, goggle-tans and borrowed surfboards.” And what about the outdoor selfie? Isn’t it only natural to include our gorgeous faces in these scenic vistas? Well, not in every case: “I typically leave my face out of pictures because I've lived that experience already. I prefer to let people put themselves in my shoes, and they don't need to see my mug to do that,” explains Gall.

Everyone has a different level of comfort and an individual set of skills when it comes to being “outdoorsy.” Some connect through sharing their outdoor experiences online, while others join all-women workshops to enhance their technical skills. We know our textbook definition of an outdoors woman is someone who skis, snowboards, climbs, camps, surfs, cycles, runs, backpacks and does yoga, but that list could run on forever—or at least we hope it does. All the women we spoke with were different, but they all had the same things in common: a unified, deep-rooted love of life and an absolutely pure appreciation of nature and the great outdoors.

Johnie Gall, Dirtbag Darling
 

This essay first appeared in RANGE magazine

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. 

Q+A: Heather Lipner, Creative Director/CEO of Clashist

Name:  Heather Lipner

Occupation:  Creative Director / CEO of Clashist

Location:  Los Angeles, CA

What was the a-ha moment when you decided to start Clashist?

This sounds so cliche but I was at the Chateau Marmont with Cory Kennedy and I showed her some very, very early designs on my iPhone and she was into it—which surprised me actually. I quickly sampled them and sent them to her. Within a week, they were on NYLON magazine’s Instagram and then stocked in their shop and I immediately sold 50-100 units. So then, yeah, it became a business. A-ha!

Tell us about your business model, what makes you unique?

We’re a commerce business—we make goods and sell them direct and wholesale. Our prints focus on pop culture commentary, something most people can relate to has more depth than just an abstract print. Our commentary at large within the fashion industry is unique as well.

How do you know which celebrity prints people will gravitate to? Do some celebrities have more internet clout than others?

Honestly, we don’t really know—it’s ultimately a guess, but overall we’re informed by said celebrity’s sense of humor in general and how they connect with their fans. For example, I love James Franco—he’s entertaining, anything goes, and you can tell he’s having fun. That’s great and we celebrate him.

How do you see online and offline ideas changing and growing in the next 5 years? 10?

The space between online and offline continues to narrow as technology connects the two. From a fashion development perspective, it’s about more efficient communication between the factory and client, speed of production, new types of ink and fibers that will make the prints last longer. From a consumer experience perspective, I think we’ll see issues behind buying, washing, wearing out, and metrics like price-per-wear being solved.

Because you are focusing on meme-centric content do you feel your production needs to move at an IRL pace?

Nah, that would be super-fast fashion. From a consumer and environmental perspective, that would be a waste of money and thus feel empty. We go a bit broader on topics that are deep-seeded in the apparel such as feminism, religion, and cultural expectations. If you step back and examine, what we’re really doing is poking fun at ourselves, the world as it is, and how very stuffy we still are, knowing that it will all change in due time.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from starting Clashist?

I have created and closed other businesses in the past, and of course I’ve been involved in others as well. So now that I know Clashist, the best lesson I’ve learned is that if a business isn't flowing easily, it might not be the right business for you. Meaning: Clashist comes naturally for me; I know exactly what to do, so I can trust my gut to predict trends and create unique products that people are into. When you know, you know—it’s like meeting your soul mate I suppose.

Favorite internet meme of all time:

Oh, you should check this out.

Some rad Clashist tees landed in the VIP gift bags at Create & Cultivate Los Angeles. Want in? Get tix for the next conference here.

Little is the New Large: A Tiny Home with a Big Message

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A Tiny Home with a Big Message

by Whitney Leigh Morris

I live in a tiny home. I moved here four years ago, not because I was on a minimizing-mission, and not because it was the “on-trend” thing to do. I don’t even consider myself a minimalist per se. I simply fell in love with the space. I had no idea that it would ultimately change not only my entire outlook on life, but also  completely reroute my professional career.

My Tiny Canal Cottage, located in Venice Beach, California, is just 362 square feet. That’s roughly the size of a standard two-car garage. It’s my office, studio, and living space, and I share it with my fiancé, Adam, and our beagle-mix, Stanlee. Thanks to editorial coverage, creative collaborations, and the power of Instagram (#TheTinyCanalCottage), the Cottage is now widely known by individuals and businesses around the world. And while I am still madly in love with my home, I must admit that it isn’t this exact space that has captured everyone’s attention. It’s the message within the space that resonates with audiences: We don’t have to live large to live beautifully.  

"We don’t have to live large to live beautifully." 

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For decades we’ve been inundated with the message that bigger is better, and that full, successful lives are measured by large homes, expensive cars, extravagant vacations, and numerous belongings. To each his or her own, but I personally am delighted by the recent shift towards finding fulfillment in simplicity.

Let me be very clear—I am not demonizing larger homes nor lifestyles that differ from my own. (I was raised on a 10 acre wildlife preserve, and my favorite place to live/work when I’m not at my cottage is an insanely gorgeous rustic castle in France, so I can hardly claim that my entire life fits into 362 square feet.) But I’ve never felt happier and more balanced than I do while “living little” with my guys in our mini-home.

Downsizing my possessions allowed me to focus on exploring new projects and endeavors, and gave me a mental clarity that resulted in discovering the love of my life, enjoying a lack of jealousy or resentment over other people’s lives, and experiencing ever-increasing success with my small business.

As the economy continues to shift and the freelancer community expands, presumably more and more people will find themselves operating predominantly from live-work spaces. Thanks to the capabilities of our latest gadgets, most of us no longer need dedicated offices in order to properly do our jobs. 

(I routinely fit up to three comfortable workstations in the Cottage with ease. See here & here.)

I challenge anyone who is thinking of downsizing to take the plunge. Truly commit to it, and I believe you’ll find pride and remarkable joy in the mindful curation of your belongings, and in divesting the weight of the unnecessary.

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Whitney Leigh Morris is a firm believer that you don’t have to “live large” to live beautifully. She operates her creative consulting firm from her 362 sq. ft. #TheTinyCanalCottage in Venice Beach, California, where she is dedicated to making life—even the little things—delightful, thoughtful and meaningful. Her company specializes in simple style for small spaces, gatherings, and visual content, and has recently been featured via Domino, One Kings Lane, Design Sponge, CB2, Urban Decay, and more. She’s a must-follow @whitneyleighmorris.

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.  

Happy Hour: Pimp My Gimlet

We know sometimes it can be all hustle and no flow. Rachel Mae Furman is  Create & Cultivate's resident Leisure Expert, and our go-to girl for tips on cocktails, parties, and the art of entertaining. She'll regularly be serving up the best ways to mix and little business with pleasure. It's always Happy Hour somewhere, so we'll drink to that.

Pimp My Gimlet

by Rachel Mae Furman

I love the classic Gimlet for its simplicity, and it’s really easy to add your own twist to it. Whether adding seasonal fruits or herbs, a dash of liqueur or artisanal soda, once you have the base recipe down, you can do a whole lot from there.

Let’s start with the basics: A Gimlet is simply gin (2 oz.), lime (.5 oz.), and simple syrup (.5 oz.). And just like I explain in this article about a citrus cocktail template, as long as you have equal parts lime and simple syrup with about twice as much booze, you’ll start with a balanced cocktail.

So what can we do with our little Gimlet friend to make it more magical?

Master this simple template for a Gin Gimlet, then break rules.

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Infuse the Booze

Regular gin will feel so ordinary once you’ve infused it with fresh blackberries, or even bell peppers. Throw in your farmer’s market finds and suddenly your gin will be the life of your next cocktail party.

Use a Flavored Syrup

A simple syrup is just that: simple. Does the trick, but why not use something more fun? You could use a syrup from small artisanal brand like P&H Soda Co like I did for the cocktail above, or make your own by adding fruits, herbs or spices to the syrup while you’re melting the sugar. (See this article in LA Canvas for more of my recipes using Hibiscus Syrup.)

Top with a Fancy Soda

With the boom of artisanal food and beverage products, there are oodles of handcrafted sodas that would make the perfect top-off for a fresh gimlet. All-natural soda company Joia’s Grapefruit, Chamomile and Cardamom soda would be a delight atop a gin cocktail.

Get Herbal

Whether just a garnish or shaken right in with the cocktail, a sprig of fresh rosemary or sage leaf will add another level of fresh to your drink.

Swap Gins

There are so many small batch “American gins” breaking the boundaries of what defines a gin. The traditional English recipes are tried and true style, but they are no longer the standard. Swap your usual gin for something a little different like a barrel-aged gin or a garden gin. 

As you see, one simple cocktail has the potential to be so much more, and you definitely don’t have to visit a fancy craft cocktail bar to enjoy it. Master this simple template for a Gin Gimlet, then break rules, and just have fun with it from there.

This post was adapted from Rachel's blog, Smoke & Honey.

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Rachel Mae Furman is a self-proclaimed “Leisure Expert" on a quest to elevate moments, create occasions and curate experiences at any given moment. She has spent the last decade traveling the country scouring the back roads and small towns of America for inspiration, then jet-setting from city to city on the corporate dime, building booze brands in the liquor business. Inspired by her Grandmom Doris to be the perfect little hostess, Rachel is known for whipping out a mason jar Old Fashioned from her purse just when you need it. Her blog Smoke & Honey celebrates the art of leisure, from cocktails to entertaining, style to homemaking.

Create + Cultivate's Go-To Apps of the Moment

We love to disconnect as much as the next creative, but in reality, our phones are our everything: from a personal assistant, entertainment center, meditation coach, our modern day Rolodex, and everything in between. Here are just a few of the many apps that are well worth the real estate on your homepage. Get the to the app store stat!

Calm

calm.com — When vacay is a little too far off the calendar, Calm is a great app for a quick escape via guided relaxation and meditation. Just a few minutes really does lead to increased focus and decreased stress, plus, it’s way cheaper than airfare.

Highball

Highball by Studio Neat— Happy Hour in your pocket. This is one of the best drink recipe apps we’ve found: you can upload, share, and search through tons of cocktails at the tap of a button. So whether you’re playing hostess or need a new after-work special, this one’s a must-have. Drink responsibly.

Niice

Niice.co — The design-focused, minimalist mood-boarding platform of our dreams. Their newly released iPhone app still has some room to grow, but on the web, it’s a perfect resource to get your creative juices flowing or even share a collaborative board. Export your moodboards as PDFs, Dropbox folders, or send a link directly to a client.

VSCO

VSCO — If this photo editor isn’t a mainstay on your home screen, it should be. VSCO Cam & Film (for Android/iPhone & Lightroom) are more than just great film-simulating filters (and they really are great!) — they’ve built a beautiful community of artists around the world. They’ve also got a suite of products (VSCO Grid, Journal, & Film) that are great places to get inspired and maybe even get discovered.

And an honorable mention goes to:

Felt

Felt Pro / This one’s pre-launch (May 2015) but we’re already sold. Write and send handwritten personalized stationery, all from your iPad. Personalized thank-you notes in the mail are always good form, and stand out even more in the digital age, so good on Felt for making the process easy and modern at $4 a card (including shipping)!

Are there any apps on your home screen that everyone should download? We're always up for an App Store shopping spree.

This post first appeared on Create & Cultivates Facebook. Follow us for more.