This L.A. Streetwear Designer Changed The City's Retail Game
No boys club will slow this woman down.
Source: Behind The Hustle
LA-native, streetwear, footwear, and jewelry designer, Melody Ehsani was going to be an attorney. "I always knew I was really passionate about justice," she says a few days following a return from the United State of Women Summit in D.C., convened by the White House where leaders and influencers gathered to enact change for the #stateofwomen. "But I thought that the only way to work toward justice, was through the legal system."
In the early 2000s, Melody completed a variety of internships in legal fields. She worked on Capitol Hill, on human rights campaigns, and at private law firms. "I couldn't see myself," she says, "doing that for the long haul." So she dropped out of law school after a week and had the ubiquitous 'who am I' conversation. She didn't land immediately on designer. Instead she took her love for basketball and tried to turn it into a career. “I knew wasn't good enough to be a player, but I played growing up and in college and I thought, maybe I can represent players." But the internships she took did not live up to her fantasy. "Growing up, these were my idols," she says. "Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson-- and I was in this fantasy land about what the business would be." What she found was an incredibly misogynistic environment that didn't vibe well with her. Nor did what she calls "the negative side of the business."
She left the sports world and recalls feeling "super depressed during that time." Until a friend referred Melody to a "medical intuitive." She had no idea what that meant, but she made an appointment. "It was the first time in my life," she says, "when someone said, 'you're a product designer.'" At first Melody rejected everything the woman told her and was unable to see herself as an artist or a designer.
Both of her parents were artists and she says the rejection of the notion had to do with them. "They didn't want me to be an artist," she says, "because neither of them had succeeded.”
"I grew up thinking art doesn't make money, it's not practical, it's cool to have as a hobby, but it's not lucrative. So I never viewed it as an option.” But she also said the woman "struck something deep."
"I grew up thinking art doesn't make money, it's not practical."
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She ended up researching product design and found that the number one program in the country was at the Art Center in Pasadena. The first night she showed at class "every star in the sky aligned."
"I knew," she says, "this is what I should do."
***
Source: The Hundreds
Melody's eponymous flagship shop is in the illustrious strip of Fairfax Ave. populated by streetwear brands like New York’s iconic Supreme, which was among the first to open in 2004, and the (now-closed) Odd Future store. Its a block that plays host to pop-up shops from moguls like Drake, who opened a temporary OVO store in December 2015, and Kanye, who most recently hosted a surprise “Life of Pablo’”merch store in May. When *something* happens on the block, the lines twist and turn as far as the eye can see. It is highly dude trafficked. And it's a strip of street that's been described as intimidating for those not in the know.
But when Melody moved in a little over 3 1/2 years ago she didn't feel that vibe. "I think all of the guys on the block were dying for some female energy. I don't think the general online culture of streetwear is a direct reflection of many of the brands."
"I don't think the general online culture of streetwear is a direct reflection of many of the brands."
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She started around the same time as Lanie from HLZBLZ and Married to the Mob in 2008, though Melody's store remains the only female-owned on the block. "We didn't know each other that well, but there was still a sense of community. I've always felt encouraged and welcomed by this space."
"We are all actually connected," she says, "it's not just a saying."
Source: The Hundreds
The Melody Ehsani brand is about female empowerment and not being defined by your past. When you first walk into her Fairfax location you're greeted by a large print of the famous Fred W. McDarrah photograph taken during a women’s liberation demonstration in New York in August of 1970. The women hold a banner that reads: Women of the World Unite.
It’s a feeling that emanates through Melody’s work, which is in part influenced by her Persian roots, her passion for women’s advocacy and justice, and her American upbringing on hip-pop, punk, and basketball.
For the United State of Women Summit, a female-owned company was commissioned to organize all the creative materials and they reached out to Melody to create custom letterman jackets for both the President and First Lady. "The majority of times I get opportunities like this it's from other women who are familiar with the brand. Women who are paying it forward."
She's of the camp that believes there is enough space for everyone to succeed and never felt in direct competition with other female streetwear brands. "Even if we're all doing the exact same thing, it's actually impossible for us to do it the same." This was not an innate feeling however, and she says it took her a minute to realize this.
"When I first started, my pieces were getting knocked of, super early on, not brands but by mass market Chinese distributors and it was really bumming me out." She thought her business was going to fold because she couldn't compete with Chinese prices. "They were making the same thing for four dollars." But then she had an epiphany after seeing a Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibit in LA. "It was the first time I had seen that many of his pieces in person. After the exhibit I went to buy a print." Looking at the print however, “I realized, ‘I don’t want this.’”
"When someone makes something it contains a part of that person, it contains what they put into it-- essentially the love is there. You can make a perfect copy, and there's a market for that, but there are people who will always want the original."
It was in that moment she says she understood, "there's even room for the knockoffs. There's something for everyone, at every price point."
The store itself is a hang spot for kids who attend local Fairfax high. "There's no prerequisite here," she says. Girls from the school will come and ask for advice or hang out until their parents can pick them up.
"There are girls that are skaters that don't really fit in anywhere else so they hang out here." It's a positive and empowering space for young women."
"There's no one that's writing the script for us now," she says.
"I try to use a lot of language and emblems that have never been used in this context before." She doesn't want to rewrite history, she wants to make it. Rather than asking about a past, she wants to know "Who are you now? Who are you today?"
Melody today is a far cry from attorney. She's venturing further into apparel as well as continuing her collabs with Reebok, the first of which launched in 2012. "The business grew in a way I was able to scale it slowly," she says. ME has no investors.
As for the summit? ”It was eye-opening," she says, noting being excited about how much has changed even in the last ten years. "When I first started everyone told me I needed a business plan, so I did a bunch of research and every business plan I found was created by a man, and none if it worked for my brand.”
She knows how special it is to not be attending these events as a lawyer, but as a creative, and the odd cyclical nature of where she started and where she is now.
"I always bug out. When you're working in the legal field your goal is to be invited to events like that. But as corny as it sounds, I believe in the power of fitting in where you belong."
" I believe in the power of fitting in where you belong."
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"You start to realize everything you're invested in will weave into your life. I really didn't see how justice could be a part of design. The way it's weaved into my work through the years, it's magical," she says. "There's no other word for it. It's divine."
Melody Ehsani is located at 424 1/2 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Arianna Schioldager is editorial direction at Create & Cultivate. You can find her @ariannawrotethis and www.ariannawrotethis.com
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Nicole Kidman And Beauty Influencers Share Their #1 Summer Skincare Tips
Sunday’s are the best, right? But you know what makes a summer Sunday a SUNday FUNday? Casually hanging out with Neutrogena and Brand Ambassador Nicole Kidman of course; which is exactly what happened on Sunday, August 24th at our #EverydayIsaSunday Sun Symposium. Hosted in Hollywood’s beautiful Lombardi House, guests were in for the happiest Sunday they’ve had in a while. Attendees were treated to a Sunday-themed brunch and juice bar curated by Little West, a sun hat customization station, and a panel discussion on choosing happiness, summer beauty, skincare and more. Everyone on sight also got the chance to experience some of Neutrogena's best-selling sun care products including the new Hydro Boost Water Lotion Sunscreens, Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Sunscreens, and Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreens.
All guests at this event had some great takeaways and were left feeling confident about spending more time in the sun and being their happiest and healthiest selves. Of course, this all starts with incorporating the application of sunscreen to your everyday skincare routine. Whether that's setting a daily sunscreen reminder, choosing makeup with SPF, or keeping it visible—daily sun protection will make every day feel like their best Sunday.
Kidman has been part of the Neutrogena brand for quite some time and is a huge advocate for sun protection herself. Growing up in Australia, the actress paid frequent visits to the beach (and still does), inevitably exposing her to a lot of sun. You look at Nicole’s skin today and you know she’s doing something right, and that ‘something’ happens to be sunscreen. She’s been very candid about the fact that she relies heavily on SPF, and it’s been part of her everyday life for as long as she could remember.
“I keep it in handbags, I keep it by my sink, and I keep it by the pool—I have it on hand,” she said. Her love for the outdoors has prompted her to never leave the house without sunscreen and always have it available to avoid any accidental sunburns. Today Kidman has instilled SPF into her own children’s lives so that they can enjoy outdoor activities without being limited. Her mom kept her inside as a child for sun protection, leading her to read novels that inspired her to become an actress. There’s a positive factor in everything.
Today, she continues to enjoy her days on the beach with her kids and husband and her partnership with Neutrogena has helped her better educate others on sun protection.
Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychology professor at UC Riverside and author also gave the audience some insight on happiness. She's studied the subject of happiness for over 20 years and dives into the scientific approach of making your ideal life a reality. She explained how your own joy will only benefit those around you, and there are plenty of ways to ignite the path to being more content. Whether it's taking up a new hobby or eating healthier to feel better, we can all find ways to make ourselves feel carefree.
Photo credit: Angelica Marie Photo
We also made sure to catch up with some of our favorite L.A. ladies who dished on how they care for their own skin in the sun.
"My number one sun care tip is to wear sunscreen, which is something that I didn't always do but as I've gotten older I've realized that getting wrinkles and sunburns can be avoided by wearing sunscreen every day," said Alli Webb.
Our panel moderator, Renée Bargh, also happens to be from Australia and is just as passionate about SPF as Nicole Kidman is. "Have sunscreen in every single bag that you own, and always keep it on the counter so that you never forget to put it on before you leave the house," she shared.
Beauty influencer and YouTube star Eman makes it a point to wear sunscreen no matter what the weather is like. "Even if it's cloudy out, you still have to put on sunscreen," she said.
Sona Gasparian doesn't believe in applying sun protection just once a day. "I highly recommend reapplying sunscreen throughout the day as much as you can," she suggested.
Jaclyn Johnson learned that making sunscreen application a daily habit is a lot easier than she thought, and she'll keep hers next to her toothpaste from now on.
What's your number one sun care tip? Share in the comments below!
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How To Meditate At Work When It All Becomes Too Much
Woosah.
We've all felt stressed the F out at work, and that's probably never going to change—sorry. But rather than sulking into your anxious state of mind, why not try and get your zen on like all of the wellness bloggers you follow? Believe it or not, you can get in your zone at work and not feel like the workday took you down. Here's how to chill and stay chill at work when your inbox looks like it's at a million.
Practice Breathing Exercises
As basic as breathing exercises may sound, they're a huge help when it comes to relieving stress. Taking deep breaths slows down your heart rate and helps reduce the sense of anxiety. Getting your stress under control is one way to improve your health, and breathing exercises can help get you there. Hillary Clinton even used alternate nostril breathing as a way to cope with getting through the 2016 election. Hey, if it’s good enough for a presidential candidate, it’s good enough for us.
Plug In Your Headphones
It’s obviously not chill to blast any audio from your work computer, especially if you don’t have your own office. For us desk babes, headphones are heaven sent when it comes to meditating. When you get to squeeze in some downtime, take advantage of pre-recorded meditation sessions from YouTube and some binaural beats. You’ll get in a meditation session at your desk or zone out to some chill tunes without anyone around you getting disturbed.
Download An App
Stepping out for lunch today? Download a meditation app such as Head Space or Calm and get your moment of zen. These guided meditations are right in the palm of your hand and are great for the times you’re able to get outside and catch some fresh air. Look out for meditations that help kickstart your creative juices and productivity so that you can kill the rest of the workday. The best part about these is that they’re usually short, and you won’t face the guilt of being away from your desk for too long.
Try Team Meditation
Get your fellow boss ladies (and guys!) involved in your meditation. It’s honestly something we can all benefit from and will help everyone get their work done more effectively. Book the biggest conference room you can find, preferably in the middle of the workday, and play a guided meditation out loud for you all to follow. If you live in a larger city, there are plenty of meditating professionals who work with companies all of the time. Grab an expert to come along and show you and your coworkers the best way to stay balanced and refreshed in your office.
By: Andrea Navarro
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Classifieds: twelveNYC, Hello.Me, Nordstrom, & More!
Get it, girl!
It's Wednesday and that means we're back with a sparkling list of hot new jobs fresh on the market. The job search can be hectic if you don't know where to start. Which is why we're here and listed them out just for you! From New York to Los Angeles, this week's classifieds list is full of opportunity.
Read through these job descriptions and tailor that resume for your dream gig.
P.S. We're hiring! Wanna join the C&C fam? Dive in below.
Create & Cultivate - LA
Komar - Jersey City, NJ
Nordstrom - LA, CA
Want more? Check our full list here!
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5 Simple Ways to Not Let Your Fatigue Get The Best of You
There is such thing as being too tired.
It's only Tuesday, your week already feels so long and you can't wait to go home and get in bed. But have you ever sat down and wondered why you're actually so tired all of the time? Plenty of your everyday activities can be contributing to your exhaustion and making you feel the symptoms of fatigue. As a working woman, you can't have any of that because there's way too much to get done. A lot of the time you could be contributing. It's only Tuesday, your week already feels so long, and you can't wait to go home and get in bed. But have you ever sat down and wondered why you're so tired all of the time? Plenty of your everyday activities can be contributing to your exhaustion and making you feel the symptoms of fatigue. As a working woman, you can't have any of that because there's way too much to get done. A lot of the time you could be contributing to your own lack of energy, but it's important to note that if it becomes serious, you should go ahead and see a doctor for an evaluation. Ahead, a few things to consider in your everyday life that can help you feel more energized and alert enough to conquer your entire to-do list.
Upgrade Your Breakfast
You're probably so tired of hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it is—and sorry to tell you for the millionth time. A nutritious breakfast can give you the energy you need to survive your 9-5 days, making your week so much better. A lot of us have the tendency of eating bread or sugary cereals in the morning, but having heavy carbs or too much sugar early on in the day can lead to a crash come the afternoon. Swap your starchy breakfast for a protein-packed meal to keep you fueled with energy.
Double Up On H2O
As you may already know, dehydration makes us feel exhausted. After all, our bodies are made up of about 60% water, so staying hydrated is a major key to avoiding burnout. Thankfully, a lot of jobs are already stocked with a sufficient water supply, making it easier for us to sip on H2O throughout the day. If you're not so lucky, try bringing your own water bottle wherever you go, so that you not only continuously drink it throughout the day but also have the chance to refill it whenever possible.
Track Your Sleep Pattern
If you think you've gotten the proper amount of sleep and still feel tired all of the time, it may be time for you to track the way you sleep. Just because you got eight hours of sleep, doesn't mean that your sleep cycle length was, in fact, eight hours long. A sleep tracker can determine how many full cycles of sleep you actually get per night, along with how many hours of deep sleep you're getting. Once both of these are determined, you'll understand if you're not getting the proper amount of sleep for your body, and can move forward from there.
Get Up and Moving
What if we told you that to stop being exhausted, you should get up and exercise? The last thing you want to do when you're tired is a workout, but that's exactly what your body might need. A regular gym session can help boost your energy levels when you're feeling tired beyond belief, and you'll thank yourself later for it. Whether it's a 20-minute run on the treadmill or a walk around your neighborhood, being active will lead you to be a lot less tired.
Take Your Vitamins
Unfortunately, we don't all always have the right amount of vitamins in our system to help better fight issues like fatigue. Having a vitamin deficiency is a fairly common issue, especially among women. Vitamins such as Vitamin D, B5, B6, and B12 can help promote better energy levels and normal fight fatigue. The downside to this is that to learn if your body is deficient in any vitamin levels you must see a doctor.
By: Andrea Navarro
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The Career Tactic That Will Get You One Step Closer to Becoming A Boss
Guide your mentees -- and yourself -- to greatness. (It’s a win-win.)
(Credit: #WOCinTech)
“They” say those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
We’re flipping the script and calling BS on this one. Because those who “teach” in a mentorship role are doers and next-level leaders. So much so, they serve as role models to the eager protégées who learn from their wins and their fails.
We know that having a mentor (or four) is a critical component to success. It’s a two-way street, really, because becoming a mentor and imparting your wisdom on the lucky candidates under your wing will serve you in more ways than you know.
Mentorship has always been an important tenet at Create & Cultivate; in fact, the mentor sessions are a key component of the Create & Cultivate conference. And while the Bosses imparting their truths to keen attendees are at the top of their game, they are clearly honored and stoked to be advising the ladies in their mentoring sessions.
So if you’re looking to take your career to the next level, it might be time to consider becoming a mentor.
Here are 6 reasons why:
IT MAKES YOU AN EXPERT
Whether you’re meeting with your mentee(s) on the regular or serving as their mentor on the phone or via Google Hangouts, they will try to absorb every tidbit of wisdom you’re sharing. And when you’re focusing on your trade, you’re becoming an expert on the topic as a result -- whether you realize it or not.
So if the pesky feeling of Imposter Syndrome creeps its way into your psyche every now and then, kick it to the curb with your renewed “expert vibes.”
After all, even though you’re slaying career-wise, every now and then you might second-guess your path, passion or purpose. This is normal!
Sometimes our inner critic / doubter / hater gets the best of us and makes us wonder, “Have I got what it takes?” Being a mentor and the ensuing validation it offers might just be enough to give you the confidence boost you need.
IT CAN OPEN YOUR EYES TO A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE
Imagine being a mentor to the next Uber founder? They might be right there, in the next batch of millennial leaders. And if you are currently mentoring a high school student, then you are likely gaining amazing insight into the generation younger than millennials, dubbed Generation Z (a.k.a. Gen Edge).
You’re getting direct access to these brilliant and ultra tech savvy minds, and this can open your eyes to a whole new business idea or new way of doing things. So enjoy and stay dialed into these a-ha moments.
YOUR PUPIL MIGHT JOIN YOU ON YOUR QUEST FOR WORLD DOMINATION (#SQUADGOALS)
As you impart your truths and help pave the way for the bright young leaders of tomorrow, you might spot a spark in one of them and realize they should join your team.
Whether they join you on a freelance or full-time basis, imagine the magic that can be created when you find the right people who share your vision and complement you in the best ways possible.
IT'S REWARDING AND FULFILLING
Throwing it back to Create & Cultivate Los Angeles this past May, where kindness was one of the key themes. All the keynote speakers emphasized the importance of being nice, and Rachel Zoe shared her open-door philosophy as a boss.
Helping someone else make the most of their career is the ultimate way of paying it forward. When you feel fulfilled and happy to help an up-and-coming dynamo, it adds to your gratitude bucket, which is a popular element in becoming successful. So make karma your kween and pay it forward by helping others as a mentor.
"Make karma your kween and pay it forward by helping others as a mentor."
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Eventually the student might even become the teacher -- the ultimate “yaaasss!” moment.
IT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED
When someone is looking to you for advice and wisdom, you need to make sure you’re up for the challenge. This is the perfect motivation to keep your expertise sharp, on-point, and always ahead of the game. After all, if they’re looking to you for inspiration, you need to make sure you’re worthy of their spotlight.
IT KEEPS YOU GROUNDED
The appreciation your mentees experience when receiving your expert advice and dedication is enough to light up your day, and give you all the feels.
Remember that you can be a mentor to different people, at different stages of their careers. This is a great way to stay on your toes and be reminded of what it’s like to be in the very early stages of your business.
As well, online platforms like Glassbreakers allow you to sign up as a mentor to modern women from diverse backgrounds, and you get matched up with women with common career goals.
READY TO MENTOR?
The whole “mentor-mentee” relationship requires chemistry, kind of like finding a partner. So try to be in tune with the people you encounter throughout your day-to-day, who might just become your protégées, pretty organically. Or seek out some lucky candidate(s) to take under your wing, with a local “Big Sister” program or mentoring organization.
However you go about it, embrace it, because being a mentor is the gift that keeps on giving.
Karin Eldor is a coffee-addicted copywriter, with a long-time love for all things pop culture, fashion and tech. Ever since she got her first issues of YM (remember that one?) and Seventeen in the mail, she was hooked on the world of editorial content. After earning her Communications degree, she spent 6 years honing her craft as a Senior Editor for AskMen.com. More recently, Karin enjoyed gramming and strategizing as Social Media Manager at ALDO. Today, she is Chief Content Writer at 818 Agency and a social media consultant.
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A Writer & Stylist Shares Her Money-Saving Tip For Planning A Vacation
Lemonade stand cuteness.
Simple summer pleasures are upon us. No matter what your job, summer is the season of FUN. But work does not wait for summer—unfortunately. With the bulk of the summer ahead of us (YAY!), we're teaming up with Old Navy to tap on-the-go moms across the country to find out how they squeeze more fun out of summer in their cities - while keeping that to-do list managed and inboxes at a minimum.
A BROOKLYN SUMMER
Lifestyle blogger, writer, stylist, and mom of two, LaTonya Yvette Staubs, shares how she enjoys summer in New York and how to save money when planning a vacation.
SHOP THE STAUBS FAMILY'S OLD NAVY SUMMER LOOKS HERE
How does your family “squeeze more fun” out of summer?
The kids and I always stay out until the sun goes down. New York is kind of magical during summer evenings. We also find joy in the simple things, like food on the stoop, going through a fire hydrant, grabbing ice cream from Mr. Softee and much more.
What are some of your favorite Brooklyn memories or Brooklyn-specific summer traditions?
Oh goodness, there are many! I love park hopping, which sounds ridiculous, but from morning to evening, we find our favorite spots, throw bathing suits and dry clothes in my bag and make a day of it. We then join friends for bites and stoop hangs—it's just pure fun.
As an entrepreneurial mom, there’s a lot of pressure to be plugged in and online. Why is it important for you to make family memories in the summer?
Thankfully (yet, unfortunately) summers are a little slow for me, so I have more opportunity to tune out of the business side of things. But the reality is that work allows for me to have fun and that my work sort of surrounds my life. Therefore, making family memories is often two-fold. It is of the utmost importance because my children are young and out of school and it feels like an essential time to focus on them and indeed be with them. But again, my work gives me the space for this.
Vacations are wonderful but they can also be hard work to plan. Do you have any family vacay planning tips?
I think my biggest thing is to see if you can apartment swap with someone first. New York living is so expensive, so my top tip is to try and not have housing be one of the expenses if possible.
What can the workplace do to help families inject more FUN into their summer?
I think in general employers should help create better scheduling options so that parents can be with their children and enjoy them. Maybe Friday's off, or being out by 5 o'clock on the dot. I believe that so much of our personal joy can impact our work, and if we can create somewhat of a balance more people will feel like they aren't completely missing out or struggling with it.
What are your summer fun hacks?
Get lost! Literally. It's kind of fun just to roam and be without any real plans.
Curious on how LaTonya manages mom life with self-care? Be sure to check out her blog for major inspiration.
What are your go-to activities to #SqueezeMoreFun out of summer with the family? Let us know in the comments!
SHOP THEIR OLD NAVY LOOKS!
LaTonya:
Daughter:
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The Biggest Piece of Advice Nicole Kidman Would Give to Her Twenty-Year-Old Self
You’ll want to hear this.
Photo: Tim Vickers
Nicole Kidman is an icon to so many of us. From her impressive roster of acting roles in films like Lion to the small screen in Big Little Lies and a longtime ambassadorship with Neutrogena, Kidman remains as one of the biggest names in Hollywood. She’s also a major source of inspiration to women all over, thanks to her advocacy for equal rights and offering a fresh perspective on the subject of age.
Who could forget her powerful speech at this year's SAG Awards in January? "Twenty years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives, so that's not the case now. We have proven, and these actresses and so many more are proving that we are potent and powerful and viable," she told millions of viewers. She thanked the women who paved the way for this change, including Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep, and Jessica Lange who were all fellow nominees and actresses for decades. Kidman has made her stance clear; women are inspiring a serious change and ageism should not interfere with anyone's success.
"Our stories are finally being told"
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At 51 years old, Kidman has defied the logic that a woman has a shelf life, whether it’s in the limelight or elsewhere. We caught up with the award-winning actress at our #EverydayIsASunday event with Neutrogena in Los Angeles this past weekend to discuss how she’s beat the pressures of aging in a society that seems to only embrace youth.
On the topic of age, Kidman shared what she would tell her 20 year old self, now that’s grown into one of the most successful actresses of our time with a career that is still taking off.
Photos: Time Vickers
“I would just say that there’s a long life ahead. Take care of yourself and know that you will make it to the age of 50 and beyond and you don’t have to worry so much,” she said. But growing up in Australia as someone who was born in the states, she felt hat she had a hybrid identity that made her different.
She had big dreams and aspirations and knew from a very young age that she wanted to be an actress, but didn’t know what her future was going to look like. “I would go and do photo shoots and go out for auditions, and they would tell me: “when you’re older you’ll be really pretty,” and at 14 years old I didn’t know what that meant,” she explained. “I was that kid with curly hair and was 5’11” at 14 years old, and I hadn’t grown into who I was,” she continued.
“To them, I would say: “Don’t say that to me,” because it was a really weird thing to hear because it sort of took away my confidence in a way when I was younger.” But, in the end, she would tell herself at twenty that it’s all going to be okay.
By: Andrea Navarro
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Atlanta Blogger Mattie James Explains Why Summer Fridays Are So Important
Simple summer pleasures are upon us. No matter what your job, summer is the season of FUN. But work does not wait for summer—unfortunately. With the bulk of the summer ahead of us (YAY!), we're teaming up with Old Navy to tap on-the-go moms across the country to find out how they squeeze more fun out of summer in their cities - while keeping that to-do list managed and inboxes at a minimum.
SUMMER IN THE SOUTH
Atlanta-based blogger Mattie James dishes on how family time is extra important during this time of year.
SHOP THE JAMES FAMILY'S OLD NAVY SUMMER LOOKS HERE
How does your family “squeeze more fun” out of summer?
We really try our best to get outdoors and try new things. With little ones, it’s fun to look at things through their eyes.
What are some of your favorite Atlanta Location memories or Location-specific summer traditions?
There’s something about Piedmont Park that’s so special in the summer. But we love going to the drive-in with our favorite snacks and watching movies together as a family.
As an entrepreneurial mom, there’s a lot of pressure to be plugged in and online. Why is it important for you to make family memories in the summer?
Being “on” for my blog and social followers is fun, but it’s a lot. My kids are the littlest they’ll ever be, so it’s important for me to step away intentionally, reduce my screen time, and allow myself to be present for memories that are really once in a lifetime. My oldest daughter is three years old, but this is the only time she’ll ever be a three-year-old in the summertime. That’s something to bask in.
Do you have any favorite summer traditions? What is your go-to activity for summer fun with the family?
The girls are still so little that we’re having fun creating our own traditions. So far, Friday is family day where we go out to eat or to the park after dinner to get some fresh air. Because our youngest is only months old, I’m excited to create traditions in the summers ahead. But so far, we take our Memorial Day party in our backyard pretty seriously.
Vacations are wonderful, but they can also be hard work to plan. Do you have any family vacay planning tips?
Make sure everyone who’s going on the vacation is on the same page. Vacations can mean different things to different people - parents want to relax, and kids want to see and do everything. Agree on what that balance is and outline the days of your vacation. But don’t plan too strictly that there isn’t any room for some spontaneity which is when really special moments happen.
What can the workplace do to help families inject more FUN into their summer?
Being more lenient about the amount time spent at work during that time of year. Days are longer in the summer thankfully, so half-day Fridays or having every other Friday off is generous. For those of us with families, it allows us to spend more time with them, which is when more vacations are planned, and kids are out of school.
When you’re not on PTO, how do you keep the family fun going at home in the summer?
Getting as much sun and fresh air as possible. Because I work from home, it’s easy for me to forget to go outdoors and spend quality time with the girls. Something as little as eating lunch or dinner on our deck is huge for family morale and creating sweet memories. If my preschooler is too antsy, I’ll have her grab her bike and helmet to ride in the front yard, or we’ll go on a treasure hunt in the backyard for an imaginary treasure. For really hot days, I’ll fill up her kiddie pool and blow bubbles while she’s in there to keep her entertained. Staying active even if for a short amount of time makes a huge difference.
What are your summer fun hacks?
I like to keep bubbles around. With little ones, a pack of bubbles from the dollar store can turn a regular schmegular summer afternoon into some summer fun for toddlers. I also like to keep popsicles or ice sandwiches in rotation in the freezer as well. Nothing like a cold sweet treat after basking in the sun.
What are your hacks to #SqueezeMoreFun for the family in the summer months? Let us know in the comments!
Are you thinking of making blogging a full-time job? Read Mattie's blog to learn how she did it.
SHOP THEIR OLD NAVY LOOKS!
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Maizah:
Caliana:
Hubby:
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6 Mobile Apps That Will Help You Get More Organized
When your planner isn’t enough.
Do you feel like your life is currently in shambles? It's time to get organized, girl. We spend so much time glued to our phones all day, not realizing they can be our pocket-sized assistants on any given day—and let's face it, we all need an assistant right? Ahead are a few mobile apps that could help you get your sh*t done the easy way.
Tick Tick
Think of Tick Tick as your ultimate to-do list. When your phone's calendar just isn't cutting it, this is where you pop in all of your day-to-day tasks. Need to go food shopping? Check. Need to walk the dog? Check. You get the gist of it, and it's super helpful to pull up and update every day. You can also set alerts for yourself and rank them from highest priority to lowest.
Mint
Running low on cash? You probably lost track of your coins after your brunch order last weekend. Mint is here to be your financial assistant by keeping track of all your purchases. If you've signed up for any subscriptions that you forgot about, this is where to find them to hit cancel finally. Mint also gives you a clear picture of where most of your money goes into, and yes we've felt guilty after seeing our charts. Use mint to set a better budget for yourself and be a little stress-free financially.
Planoly
If you're obsessed with Instagram (because who isn't?), then you'll need to get on Planoly. This app is the first visual planner for the 'gram. While other apps allow you to either preview your feed before posting a photo or schedule posts in advance, this one does it all. It even has relevant hashtags for you to choose from to boost your engagement. This one's definitely for the social media queen, but it's free so why not give it a try?
Venmo
We barely know anyone who doesn't have Venmo yet, but if you haven't hopped on the bandwagon, here's why you should. Venmo is a free digital wallet that quickly allows you to send money back and forth for owed payments. You can request money from friends, and send them whatever you owe them on the fly. All you have to do is link your bank account or debit card to get started. While the app runs on a business day schedule, you now have the option to send money in a few minutes for a small fee of 25 cents.
Evernote
Jotting everything down from a meeting isn't the most fun part of a job, but we know it needs to get done. To better organize your notes, or transfer handwritten ones to a digital file, try Evernote. This one is available on both desktop and mobile, but anything stored on your account automatically syncs onto your device. So you can read notes on the go, or type new ones out on your phone if there's ever anything pressing.
GroupMe
You're probably so tired of your phone's battery running low due to your squad's constant group texts. If you're part of multiple group chats, then our hats go off to you and your storage plan. That's where GroupMe comes in to solve all of your texting needs. Rather than having all of your conversations on your phone's regular inbox, run them through GroupMe and have them all in one place. Another major plus is that any phone can participate in a GroupMe chat, and users without iMessage aren't being left out. Win-win.
By: Andrea Navarro
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Be a Business Wildflower: How to STAND OUT in Your Next Meeting
Don't be a wallflower. Make an impression now.
You’ve heard of FOMO— Fear of Missing Out, but what if you’re missing out in a meeting or at a company event because you’re a bit of a business wallflower?
We’ve all seen and heard of wallflowers- standing alone on the back wall at the dance, getting picked last for sports teams or formal dates. And you may be thinking, ‘That’s totally not me…I’m queen of the social scene!’ But are you queen of the boardroom? Or do you get too shy to speak up when you’re face-to-face with a big client or the company CEO?
Don’t fret. It’s normal and it’s a part of growing yourself as a business woman. You’re a wildflower at heart; you just need a little water and the chance to bloom.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with our friends at Wildflowers Skincare to show you not only how to put your best face forward with some of their amazing products, but also how to make sure you’re seen, heard, and presenting yourself with the most girl boss confidence.
MAKE AN IMPRESSION
You’ve heard the saying a million times- ‘you only get one chance at a first impression.’ And while your first instinct may be to knock ‘em dead with the killer outfit you just bought (can we get an amen for suede being the ‘it’ fabric this season?), but it may leave your client or potential business partner turned off. Remember, you’re dressing to impress the client you want! The best thing you can do to make that leap from wallflower to wildflower is to follow classic business dress rules for your first meeting or two to gauge the situation. Start with a fresh face (Wildflowers Gentle Cleansing Powder is our go-to travel friendly formula) and apply natural looking makeup. Craving a little bit of bold? A classic red lip is a great way to add a little sass! Next, use basic wardrobe pieces to create a strong foundation for your outfit. A pencil skirt paired with a buttoned up white top and a cool statement necklace makes a feminine, but classic statement. Just can’t kick the urge to accessorize? Throw on a fun statement heel. It’ll up your confidence knowing you’re rocking your favorite shoes.
GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
There are some overlapping techniques between public speaking and speaking up at a conference table. The first is that the person who cares the most— is you.
You’ve seen the graphic. There are two bubbles— one stating “Where the magic happens,” and the other “Your comfort zone.” It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they don’t overlap. The first step to getting out of your comfort zone is the hardest one. Next time you’re in a meeting and you have an idea, write it down.
Writing it down serves as a constant reminder any time you look down to take notes that you have a great idea for the topic at hand! Send a follow up email after the meeting, thanking everyone for their time and quietly sneak in your suggestion. This takes a little bit of the pressure off, so you can feel more comfortable to bring it up again, out loud, in your next meeting.
The first time you do it is the scariest, but 2016 is all about growth!
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, MAKES PERFECT
OK. There is no such thing as perfect, but there are vast improvements— the likes of which you will never see if you don’t work on it at home. You’re not going to wake up one day and be a clutch public speaker. And, contrary to what you may think, not even the very best public speakers were simply born with the knack.
There are plenty of famous known introverts that have had very public careers— Steve Jobs and Sheryl Sandberg to name two. You might be thinking, what? How?! They’ve been able to get up in front of millions of viewers to give speeches on television and at conferences. It’s true, but it also goes to show that if you want something bad enough, nothing will hold you back. Practice every day until you feel like you’ve got the hang of it, then stand up in the boardroom and knock it out of the park!
FAILURE ALSO MAKES PERFECT
You probably just read that title and thought “Um, what?!” But, hear us out. Every business woman you know has had a flop idea, been shut down in a business meeting by an unprofessional colleague, or has totally botched their presentation to a client. Failure is an important part of the process because it teaches you how to navigate those awkward and uncomfortable moments so you can come out on top next time! When these things happen, take a bit of a breather. Splash some water on your face or relax with a nice face mask (hint: the Wildflowers Detoxifying Clay Masque does the trick for us every time) and go over what happened.
"Failure also makes perfect."
Tweet this.
How can you be better prepared? What steps can you take to diffuse a situation? How can you transform your idea to better fit your client’s needs? Then the next time you’re faced with potential setback, use what you’ve learned to kick butt and take names!
The transition from business wallflower to #beawildflower is a process, but it’s totally worth it when you’re becoming your best boss girl self. There’s enough success to go around, so practice your pitches, dress to impress, and don’t be afraid of failure. Every experience gets you one step closer taking over the world!
How This Clean Beauty Brand Is Protecting Our Oceans
In celebration of World Oceans Month.
In case you weren't aware, June is World Oceans month. While it's always important to try our best to keep the environment as clean and protected as possible, the focus is on just that this month. Our oceans take up about 70% of the Earth, making them one of, if not, the biggest source of life. So if you're heading to the beach anytime soon or in for some water-related activities, try and make an effort by picking up three pieces of plastic you see for example.
We've partnered with REN Clean Skincare, and the Surfrider Foundation, for our own efforts in honor of World's Oceans Month. As part of its new mission to be Clean to skin and Clean to planet, REN Clean Skincare has pledged to produce zero waste by 2021. Later this summer, REN Clean Skincare will be relaunching its award-winning Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash into a 100% recyclable bottle with 20% plastic reclaimed from the ocean and 80% plastic recycled from empty plastic bottles.
Both REN Clean Skincare and the Surfrider Foundation are dedicated to the cause of keeping our water-centric playgrounds clean for all of us to enjoy.
More than eight million tons of plastic appear in our oceans every year—yes, you read that right. With so much waste disposed into our water, we took our cleaning efforts to the Hamptons with REN Clean Skincare, the Surfrider Foundation, and some of our favorite New York ladies. We're hoping to raise awareness on this ongoing issue that could severely damage the quality of Earth's ocean water through a beach cleaning day for World Oceans Month.
During the beach cleanup initiative, the scene may have looked clean from afar but participants quickly learned otherwise. In one hour, 2.5 pounds of waste was found on the beach. The waste found included:
- 4 balloons
- 38 cigarette butts
- 5 glass bottles
- 2 plastic bottles
- 10 plastic bottle caps
- 5 plastic bags
- 5 straws
- 2 plastic utensils
- 11 plastic food wrappers
- 2 children's toys
- and more...
The day was followed by an eco-conscious lunch in the Hamptons, with zero straws of course. Influencers who attended this effort also shared some insight about what they learned and their own sustainability tips.
Sai De Silva reduces her waste footprint by recycling her clothes as much as possible. As an influencer who receives plenty of clothing gifts, she makes sure to donate them or sends them off as hand-me-downs. As a bonus tip, she also suggests reusing toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls as pots for your plants by closing the bottom and adding in some soil.
Jessica Franklin learned that a lot of the waste found on beaches is consumed by fish, which can then affect any of us who consume fish as well. One of the ways she practices sustainability is through her diet as she is a pescatarian. She chose this lifestyle because of the large amount of water that goes into feeding other animals, such as cows.
Natalie Suarez doesn’t use any plastic water bottles and swears by recyclable bottles, and by recycling everything else that she possibly can. That includes packages, plastic, glass and more.
Rachel Martino learned that even the smallest items could affect our beaches and the ocean. Such items include bobby pins and plastic bottles, which are often found lingering in the sand. In efforts to reduce her own waste footprint, she only washed her hair once a week which helps save a lot of water.
Rachel Nguyen believes in reusing as much as possible, rather than purchasing more recyclable household items. She also believes it’s important to use clean beauty without any synthetic ingredients or packaging because our skin is such a prominent organ of ours and it absorbs everything.
Candace Hampton’s favorite takeaway from the beach cleanup was that everyone should make an effort to recycle and reduce waste as much as possible to make more clean beauty products. The experience also inspired her to use less plastic water bottles and less plastic in general.
If you're heading to the beach this summer, try cleaning up any waste that you may spot around you. On the other hand, if you can't make it down to a beach this summer, you can learn more tips on how you can help the initiative on the Surfrider Foundation site.
What Is Clean Beauty?
We're living in a time where beauty brands are changing the way they manufacture and package their products. It seems as though clean beauty is the topic of the moment, but the descriptor can be confusing. To be clear, clean beauty is defined as products that are produced and formulated without any harmful or toxic ingredients. Such ingredients include sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and more.
REN Clean Skincare chooses only bio-actives that benefit skin health and ingredients that protect the efficacy of the formula. It’s a brand consiststing of clean, safe skincare, with no toxins, no hard or controversial chemicals, and no potential irritants, ever.
REN Clean Skincare's goal to help the planet is for its packaging to produce zero waste by 2021. It swears by recyclable packaging, refillable solutions, bottles with reclaimed ocean plastic and so much more for a waste-free future. Most importantly, REN Clean Skincare has taken action with global activist partner, Surfrider Foundation by cleaning up beaches and oceans worldwide.
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7 Things Every Working Woman Should Keep At Her Desk
Because who likes clutter?
Got a new job? Congrats! So, now what are you going to put in that brand new desk of yours? Will you personalize it with some small touches such as photos or décor? Who knows. But there are some staples that every working woman needs. Apart from basic office supplies, we can all benefit from stocking up on the following seven items. Keep these in mind once you've settled into your desk.
Extra Chargers
Don't be that girl who's asking her new coworkers for a charger on her first day. It's likely that your phone is a huge part of your job, so you don't want it to run out of juice. To save yourself the extra headache of searching for a charger, always have a backup at your desk. If worst comes to worse, at least have the USB cord that could easily stay plugged into your computer throughout the day.
Stain Remover
It happens to the best of us. You might spill our lunch onto that new white shirt you bought at the Zara sale, or a pen casually decided to explode all over your pants. The easiest way to solve this inevitable mishap is to have some stain remover at your desk. There are even stain remover pens available now that won't take up a ton of space, and work just as effectively.
Feminine Products
Want to be the office hero? Keep some lady products stocked at your desk. You know us working women can't always rely on their offices to be stocked with the good. That time of the month could sneak up on us, and it's essential to be prepared for a worst-case scenario. Prefer specific brands of tampons or pads over others? That's another solid reason to take matters into your own hands.
Shoes
Look. You never know what kind of day you're doing to end up having. While most would tell you to keep a pair of flats at your desk, we're telling you to keep both flats and heels available at all times. Could you imagine being sent off to an important meeting in your not-so-new pair of sneakers? On the other hand, maybe you love wearing heels but have an unexpected day full of running around ahead of you—that's where your flats come in. Trust us, you'll thank yourself later.
Tissues
Getting up to go to the restroom every time they you need a tissue is super fun, right? Not so much. Whether it's allergy season or your eyes have a habit of watering up, keep a stash of tissues at your desk. They also make it easier to clean up minor things quickly, and you can always get a cute cover for your box.
Hair Ties
Sometimes we just want to throw our hair up, but we can't do that without keeping some hair ties nearby. If you're in a professional setting, it's not a good look to keep hair ties around your wrist, even though we're all guilty of this. Buy a pack of some hair ties at the drugstore and keep them with you at work. Hair dilemma solved.
Snacks!
Of course, we couldn't leave snacks off of this list. We all need that extra fuel to keep us going throughout today and to hold us over until lunch. Some snacks that are great for keeping at your desk are pretzels, nuts, rice cakes, and bars. You won't regret having something to munch on when your stomach is asking for it!
Honorable Mentions
- Books
- Candles
- Mirror
- Sweater
- Fragrance
- Deodorant
- Makeup (and makeup-remover wipes!)
By: Andrea Navarro
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Exclusive Report: We Polled 400 Working Women & This Is What We Found Out
You'll never guess their #1 priority.
We spend our days around hard-working, motivated women. But we wanted to know how they really felt about their careers, their futures, the state of the world-- all of it.
So with the help of Buzz MG, we surveyed over 400 working women. We talked social, savings, and the every day hustle. One of the biggest takeaways was the 83% of the women surveyed said that they want to own their own business. Entrepreneurship is ON THE RISE (and hey ladies, the highest wave floats all boats).
If this sounds like you, check out our new video series for branding and building your own side hustle.
Here our some of our favorite takeaways. You can download the full report below!
graphic credit: Chloe White
Knowing your audience is key. Deep dive into the full report featuring 5 full pages of stats and info including: work habits, career status, media preferences, wants and goals, saving abilities, and political leanings.
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C&C Classifieds: Travel En Vouge, RGI Events & More!
Another Wednesday, another job opening.
It's Wednesday and we're sure you know what that means by now. It's time to dust off that cover letter and polish up the resume for some of the freshest job openings straight off the market. Our weekly classifieds list is the spot for you to envision yourself in new cities with a new title and new money. Dive into the openings below and get ready for a fresh start.
Create & Cultivate - LA, CA
Travel En Vogue - LA, CA
Youth To The People - LA, CA
Good American - LA, CA
Artisan Talent - CHI, IL
WANT MORE? SEE OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS HERE.
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School of Side Hustle Lesson 4: From Market to Marketing!
All the tools you’ll need to market your business.
For those of you just joining our Create & Cultivate x Weebly School of Side Hustle Series, where have you been? Missing out, that’s where.
Luckily, we love a recap.
In “Lesson One: Building a Brand Online,” we talked to Emily McDowell, founder of The Emily McDowell Studio about the basics of brand building.
In “Lesson Two: From Concept to Commerce,” we talked to illustrator and artist, Carly Kuhn (@theCartorialist) about her advice for selling online and what kind of websites she prefers.
In “Lesson Three: Don’t Just Build a Website, Build a Business,” Kelsey Kelley of KKelley Designs walks us through her hustle and flow.
Caught up? Good. Because it’s full steam ahead for “Lesson 4: From Market, To Marketing.”
Watch: Lesson Four From Market to Marketing
At stage right, we’ve got @DazeyLA.
Dazey LA is a brand that stands out.
And yet it’s founder, Danielle Nagel, says she started off the same way so many businesses begin: with a side hustle. (Are you sensing a pattern here?!)
“I started off with odd jobs for friends, print shops, doctors offices, and slowly worked my way up,” Danielle shares. “Fast forward 6 years later and I was full-time designing apparel graphics for large companies like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Forever 21, Macy's and Nordstrom to name a few! I had a great career as a young designer but all I really wanted was to start my own brand and design shirts that stood for something.”
The idea of standing for something and taking a stand against fast fashion was vital to Danielle’s success. From the start her brand has been about transparency-- this wasn’t only a marketing ploy.
But like so many others, even Danielle had the concept, she had to take “the leap” we talked about in Lesson 2. “I still always say my biggest challenge was actually gathering the courage to start Dazey. It took me years to finally do it. Self-doubt and other peoples negative opinions can so easily slip in. Of course, it wasn’t easy sailing after that, every season of my company presents new challenges. You just have to learn to take them one at a time. Believe in yourself.”
Photos by @Dazey_LA
Danielle adds that she had to work to be taken seriously. “It can be hard to be taken seriously, especially when I come skipping into a factory wearing pink shoes and spice girl buns. I may not look it but I can be a tough bitch when push comes to shove and I will stand my ground and protect my company. Ask for a better price and better product every single time! Find production people you trust and who respect you. It will save you some serious headaches. Never forget you are already endlessly brave for starting a company in the first place, use that power!”
This is something we talk about at C&C all the time: Your power tools. Standing your ground. Protecting your company. Walking into a warehouse and asking for exactly what you want.
But you also want tools on the backend to do the same. You want tools that work for you-- not against you. Tools that make your site searchable. Tools that make sure you are getting all of eyeballs on your product.
Katie Swett, Director of Product at Weebly knows all about this. When it comes to marketing 101, Katie says,
“Learn to use your tools! The big brands have huge marketing teams and budgets to power intelligent marketing. BUT a lot of that power is now available to small businesses."
Platforms like Weebly Promote can help you automate campaigns, personalize content, and market uniquely to different segments.
Katie also encourages those new to marketing to be sure to collect email addresses. “Don’t wait to get started with marketing! Even if you are not ready to sell your product, it’s always a great idea to create a Coming Soon Page that collects the email addresses of people interested in learning more about your business. This list of subscribers can start small with friends and family, but will be meaningful over time,” she says.
As Danielle has, Katie encourages new brands to get to know their customers. “Respond to them when they reach out on social media, ask them questions, listen to their complaints and use that information to build a community that reflects your brand.” More so, she says you need to, “Be your authentic self! You have a huge advantage when you’re starting, you can be real and authentic with your customers. That’s harder for bigger brands to do. Tell you story, be transparent, make them feel like they’re talking to a human. That’s the little guys secret weapon.”
It was certainly part of Danielle’s secret weapon.
So let’s fill up your arsenal a bit more.
We’ve touched a bit on marketing, but we want to dig a little deeper. In Lesson 4: From Market to Marketing, Jaclyn Johnson talks with Katie who is going to walk you through marketing tools and techniques, which include Weebly's latest product, Weebly Promote, an integrated marketing platform.
As discussed in Lesson 4's video, an essential part of marketing, is the kind of grassroots engagement you do with your followers. Because, once you’ve built your brand, your site, and your following, you need to keep said followers engaged. It’s an important part of the game. So we asked Katie Swett for some other pro-tips on how tools like "Weebly Marketing" and help you build and maintain your customer base." These automated tools allow you to work smarter, not harder.
With Weebly you can:
Build brand awareness and drive traffic to your site by creating Facebook ads right from the Weebly platform.
Use the benefits of Automation. Abandon Cart Emails allow you to automatically detect when a customer leaves a cart with products in it and sends them an email follow-up with their abandoned products. This lets you potentially win back customers you may have lost without doing any work.
Try different prices, sales, offers and messaging and see what works best for your audience. Weebly has an Insights dashboard that gives you analytics on your computer or phone so you know what's working (and what's not) right away.
Break your audience up into targeted groups. Then you can send different emails to people that visit you every week, than you do to people who have only visited one. Or, different emails to people who normally buy mens clothes, than you do to people how normally buy womens. This personalization helps you send more resonant emails to smaller groups, without overwhelming people with too many.
Build up a list of subscribers. Email marketing is still the most effective marketing tool to maximize your ROI (return on investment). It’s is how you start a relationship with your audience, and how you will ultimately turn visitors into customers.”
For Danielle, part of her marketing plan means connecting with her customers on a “deeply personal level” as well as “sharing what the day-to-day life of an entrepreneur really looks like.”
It’s all about connection.
Katie likewise encourages small businesses to connect with their customers on an intimate level. She says, “Social media has made it easier than ever to start communicating with potential customers. We always recommend heading out to farmers markets or craft fairs to have those face to face conversations with your customers. You will be amazed how grateful they are to speak with you and learn more about your story. In turn, you will get real feedback from customers that can dramatically shape how your grow and iterate.”
That doesn’t mean it’s the right direction for everyone, but for Danielle and Dazey LA, it gives her work meaning. “I noticed so many of the boss babes I looked up to didn’t share the nitty gritty or their biggest tips and tricks,” Danielle says. “Those were the things I was dying to see when I was still in my corporate design job daydreaming of starting a company. Being open has hands down been my biggest asset. So many small businesses feel the need to look more professional or bigger than they actually are. I choose to do to the opposite and embrace being a small one-gal company. People are so much more excited to support something small, real, and relatable. My suggestion to people is to be as true to yourself and your mission as possible. Align your beliefs with your company and then promote the hell out of it!”
Ahh. Promote the hell out of it. That’s part of your job as a small business. And you need to get comfortable with self-promotion, even if there are other parts of launching that scare you.
Danielle assures all her side-hustle people who are unsure of the next step that you don’t have to know “business” to create a successful business. “You don’t have to know anything!! You just need to find the people who do." I knew how to design shirts and that was basically it. You learn so much as you go and there is no rules to follow. Put yourself out there and you will figure it out. It’s the wild west baby! - Also Google is your best friend.” Shop Danielle's latest collection here.
And so is Weebly, we would add.
Have more questions, drop us a line below and we’ll get them answered!
Be sure to look back at Lesson One: Building a Brand Online, Lesson 2: From Concept to Commerce, and Lesson 3: Don’t Just Build a Website, Build a Business.
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Why This Houston Mom Thinks Employers Should Encourage Vacation Time
Moms for summer fun.
Simple summer pleasures are upon us. No matter what your job, summer is the season of FUN. But work does not wait for summer—unfortunately. With the bulk of the summer ahead of us (YAY!), we're teaming up with Old Navy to tap on-the-go moms across the country to find out how they squeeze more fun out of summer in their cities - while keeping that to-do list managed and inboxes at a minimum.
BEATING THE HOUSTON HEAT
Houstonian and first-time mom, Carrie Colbert, shares her summer hacks + new plans for making summer memories with her new baby girl.
SHOP THE COLBERT FAMILY'S OLD NAVY SUMMER LOOKS HERE
How does your family “squeeze more fun” out of summer?
At the risk of sounding trite, we make the most of everyday moments! Sure, vacations are fabulous! But there is a joy to be found at home in the day to day moments as well. Whether that's going for an evening swim or going to get ice cream, we cherish those extra hours of daylight in the summer.
I am really looking forward to this summer in particular. You see, last summer, I was due to give birth on July 7, but she actually came early on June 12. So, after a difficult pregnancy, an early delivery, and the craziness of having a newborn and being a first-time mother, last summer was a total blur.
So, I am really intent on creating lots of fun this year!
What are some of your favorite Houston memories or Houston-specific summer traditions?
Truth be told, many Houstonians flee Houston in the summer. The heat and humidity can be overwhelming. But in fact, there are great things to do to beat the heat! Occasionally, we make the short road trip down to Galveston to enjoy some beach time. Other times, we opt to enjoy the air-conditioned offerings of Houston like a trip to the museum or a the theater. Most days, you can find us very close to our swimming pool!
As an entrepreneurial mom, there’s a lot of pressure to be plugged in and online. Why is it important to you to make family memories in the summer?
Isn't that the truth? The struggle is real! Being online is not just a "bad habit" that I can forego altogether. Rather it's part of my business. What I've found works for me though is choosing to set aside my phone for certain hours. I have to make an intentional choice to be completely present and focused.
And that choice has gotten easier as I've seen how quickly my daughter changes! Time certainly does not stand still. She is one year old now and is changing and growing and learning new things all the time. I don't want to miss a moment with her!
Do you have any favorite summer traditions? What is your go-to activity for summer fun with the family?
Admittedly, I am one of those Houstonians who does like to escape the high heat and humidity for at least a week or two. You can often find us in Aspen, Colorado enjoying summer outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and more.
Vacations are wonderful but they can also be hard work to plan. Do you have any family vacay planning tips?
Pack light! You don't need as much as you think. In fact, I almost always travel just with one simple carry-on bag. Of course, a baby has added some additional traveling logistics. But I still try not to overpack.
Traveling light makes the whole process of getting there so much easier.
What can the workplace do to help families inject more FUN into their summer?
A lot! Ha.
When I worked in the corporate world (for almost two decades!), I found that often vacation time wasn't truly vacation time. You were still expected to check in, to keep up with emails, answer phone calls, and so on.
But we all need a chance to disconnect, unwind, and refresh - not to mention the need to really connect with our loved ones.
So, workplaces could help inject more fun into summer by truly encouraging employees to disconnect during PTO.
What are your summer fun hacks?
I'm trying something new this summer: making a summer bucket list! It includes things big and very small. But, as one who believes in the power of writing down intentions, I thought I'd try it with our summer plans this year!
Want to add some color to your inbox? Visit Carrie's website and subscribe to her newsletter!
How do you #SqueezeMoreFun out of the summer with your family? Let us know in the comments!
SHOP THEIR OLD NAVY LOOKS!
Carrie:
Elle:
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The Trick to Avoiding Burnout Isn't Delegating or Meditating
This calls for a celebration.
photo credit: Memorandum
This whole business of building your dream career is not for the faint of heart; we know this.
Delegate! The productivity hackers command. Automate! The digital marketing experts implore. Meditate before meetings! Suggest the self-care gurus. And yes, a healthy mix of all of the above will go far in helping to grow and expand one’s professional empire. The problem is that in the quest to outperform, overdeliver and yes maybe even overachieve, we often miss out on a powerful, potentially easier way.
What if I told you there was a nearly foolproof, feel-good tactic available to you? Right now. Something basically guaranteed to activate a serious mood-boost, along with a burst of motivation, creativity and enthusiasm for yourself and your team? A strategy that will help to drive demand for your products and services, build extreme team loyalty and attract your right people and opportunities your way, like a magnet.
So what is this powerful career cocktail?
Professional recognition.
Employees who do not feel adequately recognized are twice as likely to say they’ll quit in the next year, which seems likely as a Gallup poll conducted in 2016 found that employees often feel their best efforts are routinely ignored. In fact, the number one reason Americans leave their jobs is that they don’t feel appreciated. And yet, the Aberdeen Group found that only 14% of organizations provide managers with the necessary tools for rewards and recognition.”
Seriously.
So how do we turn this around? Here are 3 ideas:
Seek out PR opportunities for your experts
The standard protocol is often to have the CEO act as the mouthpiece for a company, whether or not she is intimately involved in the subject matter at hand. Instead, make company PR a group effort. Encourage your team to seek out opportunities to write articles, contribute expert quotes, submit for career interviews, apply to speak on panels, heck, give a keynote speech. Share the spotlight with the experts who are helping you succeed and everyone wins. If you’re an employee, being opportunities like this to the table and argue your case.
Earmark budget (and-time) for awards and celebrations
Every cent matters, particularly in a startup environment. But take note of a World at Work study that found 46% of senior managers view recognition programs as an investment rather than an expense. From that perspective, consider putting money aside for external and internal recognition opportunities. Whether you apply for industry awards, incentivize an employee of the month program with a half day of paid-time-off, or host a quarterly peer-recognition love fest complete with seasonal snacks, ensure everyone knows these programs (and the core value of appreciation) are a company priority.
Write love letters
One of my career maxims is to ‘lead with generosity.’ This idea aligns well with one of my favorite quotes by the French philosopher Simone Weil, particularly apt in our multi-platform, multi-distraction world: “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” (It's also free.)
One of my favorite strategies to bust through my own burnout is to send out emails of appreciation. I send them to people I know and complete strangers, anyone whose work I am inspired by, anyone who has gone above and beyond for me in a meaningful way.
No matter where you are at in your career, you have every opportunity to build yourself up - and those around you - through a heartfelt note of appreciation.
By adopting formal-or even informal-recognition practices for yourself and your team, you’ll enjoy perks like an improvement in outside perception, an easier time attracting top talent, higher customer satisfaction, lower turnover, less frustration, a more highly engaged workforce and better business results overall.
Now that sounds like something worth celebrating.
Crosby Noricks is the founder and director of PR Couture, the sourcebook for fashion and lifestyle communicators. As part of the site’s own 10-year anniversary celebration, Crosby launched The Bespoke Communication Awards, a global online award program established to recognize excellence among agencies, in-house teams, individuals and brands. The BCAs include a free “Favorites Category” nomination form for 6 awards, including ‘Breakout Lifestyle Brand’ and ‘Favorite Industry News Source/Publication’ - submit your faves today!
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Dadsplaining Our Jobs
Our dads explain Create & Cultivate.
Photo via @lmferreira3
DADS. You gotta love em. This Father's Day, the Create & Cultivate team asked our dads to explain what we each do for a living. Their responses were perfectly adorable.
If you're putting in some quality time with Dad this Father's Day, we highly recommend giving this a spin.
JACLYN, CEO & Founder
“Promote the women in business through electronic media.”
TYEAL, Marketing Coordinator
🤔‘Creating and cultivating’ brands for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Helping little people have big presence in our digital online Universe. 🤗
NIKIA, SR. Producer
“Ok - this is what I've been able to gather:
You go to trade shows all across the country and set up exhibit booths for your companies customers. The customers hire the company that you work for to take care of the logistics involved in setting up and taking down of the booths.
You make all if the important decisions. They don't make a move with out your input 😊”
HEATHER, Digital Marketing Director
"Professional social media and blogger."
NATALIE, Team Coordinator
“You help plan, organize and manage events that your company does.”
Happy Father's Day to strong dads who champion their daughters by teaching them that strength, independence, and fierceness aren't gendered traits.
Ask your old man and share his response with your title in the comments below!
5 Summer Hair Care Tips
Let your hair down, but keep it moisturized.
All dressed up and everywhere to go! We are about two weeks out from the official start of summer and that means, pool parties, BBQs and summer Fridays.
And whether you’re at events for work or pleasure, the fact is we’re all about to have some fun under the sun. But there’s ONE downfall: the blazing summer heat has the ability to do major damage to our hair.
Beauty experts know it’s important during these months to keep your hair covered, moisturized, and to keep your scalp hydrated as well. This is why we rounded up a few of our favorite tips for summer hair care below with our friends at WEN® Hair & Body Care by Chaz Dean.
Get your head in the hair game girl.
1. WEAR YOUR HAIR UP
Pulling your hair back and out of your face is a must for long summer days. Throw it up in a high pony or rock a topknot fresh out of the shower. You could get creative and spice up the look every so often with accessories. Headbands, scarves and even over-the-top straw hats for beach days, when you need a little more shade.
2. CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION
Keeping your hair conditioned is the number one summer hair care essential. From leave-in conditioning sprays to overnight deep conditioner creams, there are many ways to keep the moisture locked in. One of our favorite conditioners (and yes, it smells as good as it sounds) is the WEN® Summer Coconut Lime Verbena Cleansing Conditioner. It’s enhanced with antioxidant rich four-tea complex, strengthening amino acid blend as well as Coconut, Lime, Verbena oils, and extracts help to enhance shine, volume and body. All while keeping the moisture locked in.
3. USE A HYDRATING MASK
For an extra boost of hydration, try a mask. We all know DIY spa days aren’t complete without our favorite soothing or brightening face masks, but a hair mask can work wonders as well. The WEN® Summer Honey Peach ReMoist Hydrating Mask is full of nutrients to maintain healthy hair and scalp. It helps improve lackluster hair, restoring it to a much healthier state. Just apply the mask to clean, wet hair. Comb through, clip hair up, and leave-on for 30-45 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and style as desired.
4. WRAP IT
Another sure-fire way to protect your gorgeous locks from the unforgiving summer heat, is to wrap it up. Try braiding your hair back and pinning the loose pieces up, then throwing on a fun and playful scarf on top. There’s no such thing as a bad hair day if your hair isn’t in the way!
5. TRY A TREATMENT OIL
Our scalps naturally emit oils on a regular basis to keep our bodies in balance. It might seem crazy to think about adding more oil to your scalp in the summertime, but it’s a great way to keep your scalp hydrated and actually helps your hair grow a bit faster. The WEN® Summer Mango Coconut Treatment Oil is a unique blend of nourishing oils. It blends the moisturizing properties of Argan oil, the restorative properties of Abyssinian oil and other nourishing botanicals. This treatment oil hydrates and softens both hair and skin. It is a non-greasy formula perfect for daily use.
What are your go-to summer hair care tips? Let us know in the comments!