Mom Knows Best: This Lifestyle Blogger Shares How Her Mom's Words of Wisdom Have Changed Her Life
“She is always there to ground me with wisdom, hard truths and tenderness only a mother can provide.”
How has your mom inspired your life? This Mother’s Day, we’re partnering with Hallmark to share the stories of four inspiring women whose mothers have shaped their lives in special ways. There’s truly nothing like receiving the perfectly well-chosen card from a loved one, and Mandy Ansari of Girl and The Bay is a true believer in that idea. Read on to hear how her mom has made her into the successful woman she is today—and to see the card she’s sending her mom (pssst…Mother’s Day is May 12, so if you haven’t found the perfect card for Mom, now’s the time!).
Q: How do you make your mom feel loved?
A: When it comes to giving love, my love language is gifts. Growing up, I loved spoiling my mom with things—whether it was a gift I made for her in school, an ornament or that pair of espadrilles she told me she liked (that I saved my lunch money for months to buy). As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to realize that while giving gifts is how I show love, my mom values quality time. It’s something I have to work on and be more intentional about, but my mom feels the most loved when I make time for her—clearing my schedule for activities we can do together when we’re in the same city or just being better about FaceTiming her regularly.
Q: How are you and your mom similar? What parts of her do you see in you?
A: My mom is such a youthful soul. She’s so lively, energetic, active, really channels that joie de vivre, tries anything once and always down to tear up a dance floor or travel the world. While I can appreciate a good nap, I love that we share the same love for life. I’ve noticed even more in the past few years how her ability to be spontaneous and present has shaped me into the woman I am today, especially when it comes to traveling.
Q: How has your mom inspired your career?
A: My mom and I couldn’t be more different when it comes to our career paths. She’s analytical, love to crunch numbers, detests public speaking and sends me multiple emails a week to proof because she hates writing. While our brains, talents and skills in the workplace lie on opposite sides of the fence, my mom’s work ethic is strong and something to be admired. My mom came to America when I was 3 and hit the ground running. She didn’t know any English and didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do, but dove right into academic and often juggled several jobs at once. She did everything from working the assembly line at a bakery to working at the post office. Since then, she’s held high-powered roles at Fortune 500 companies like Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, and Google. She is a perfectionist and stresses out about every last detail when it comes to work, which she’d say is a point of weakness. However, her dedication to doing things right, owning up to mistakes quickly, meeting and exceeding her goals, and working her way up in companies while displaying gracious leadership have taught me invaluable lessons. She continues to inspire my work ethic and career path daily by simply being herself and humbly leading by example.
Q: What's your go-to mom word of wisdom?
A: When I left my lucrative, stable and incredible job of 6 years this past year to pursue solopreneurship, I was excited but oh-so-scared. I had a few meltdowns very early on when I wanted to turn back around and dive right back into the corporate grind. I called my mom in a panic and she said, “Ok, so you give this a year and you realize you miss the corporate 9-5. So what? You apply for jobs like anybody else would and jump right back in. You’ll have gained experience and satisfaction knowing you tried.” It was a bit out of character for her because she’s absolutely not a risk taker (opposite of me), but she was able to look past her own mom fears to give me the advice I needed. I think of that “So what?” she threw at me every single day!
“She is always there to ground me with wisdom, hard truths and tenderness only a mother can provide. ”
Q: What's the latest "I have to call my mom" moment you've had?
A: Oh man, there are so many. This past year has been full of change—I left the West Coast, where I lived within 10 minutes of almost all of my family, for the very first time in my life to move to New York City. Not having my mom or supportive family just a few minutes away has been an adjustment. Not only have I made made a big geographical move, but I’ve lost over 100 pounds while undergoing major changes in my career and personal relationships. I’ve had a lot of moments where I’ve felt extremely lonely and lost. Of course, my mom has been the first call I’ve made. She is always there to ground me with wisdom, hard truths and tenderness only a mother can provide.
Q: What is your most memorable card to or from your mother?
A: My mom LOVES buying cards and I LOVE saving them. She’ll see a card months before a birthday or holiday and purchase it because she knows exactly who she needs to give it to. Since she hates writing and says she has a “hard time expressing emotions in words,” she loves finding cards that echo her sentiments. So, she’ll often send me those fun, over-the-top cards that are tri-fold (more words on the card means the less she’ll have to write). I look forward to receiving her cards every single year. My favorite card she has ever given me was the most recent one (and they’re always Hallmark) because it truly felt like something she would say to me herself. The card’s message was uplifting, empowering and encouraging as her motherly love has always been to me, but it was also filled with the type of wisdom I seek from her time and time again. Here’s what the special card said:
A little guide to life for a lovely daughter on her birthday:
Be good to yourself. There are some things everyone deserves—Love, respect, time to recharge. Never settle for less.
Seek out your dreams. Start small. Take it as it comes. Even a butterfly has to inch along before getting its wings.
Listen to your heart. Trust your gut. If the way seems unclear, look within you.
Let your voice be heard. You have a story to tell and opinions that count. And a difference to make.
Stay curious. Wonder. Take every opportunity to learn. Knowledge is a gift. It will take you places.
Hold on to what's important. Let worries go. No matter how you look at it, some things just don't make sense. The way you choose to carry on is what really matters.
And when you make that list of what you want in life, make another list of what you've got. Be sure to start with all the things that make you a beautiful person. There are so many.
Most of all, remember you're loved. Always.
Q: What are you most grateful to have inherited from your mother?
A: My mom has so many qualities I hope to inherit and embody, but the one that I am most thankful for is her graciousness. My mom is not only quick to forgive, but she has a rare ability to see both sides of any situation. She never passes judgement and can always show sincere empathy to all parties involved. She has passed down the ability to have supernatural grace for others and I am so thankful for this trait (her sweet dance moves and taste in fine cheeses are a close second).
This post is sponsored by Hallmark. See what a card can do at hallmark.com.
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Making Moves: Promotions, App Upgrades, and Calling Out Inequality
Women are speaking up this week.
Every Friday, we here at C&C like to celebrate all of the moves women are making in their industries. And as always, this was a good week for women. Read on to see women getting promotions, speaking up against inequality and discrimination, and more!
Sylvia Rhone has been promoted from president to chairman and CEO of Epic Records. In this position, she will have control over the label’s creative direction and management of the label. Rhone was the the first African American woman to be the chairman of a major record company when she was made chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group's Elektra Entertainment Group in 1994. That’s music to our ears!
Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Walt Disney, called out the Disney Company for contributing to economic inequality in the US. She called Disney CEO Bob Igar’s $65.7m salary in 2018 as “insane” and noted that the lowest-paid company employees only make $15 an hour. Way to speak up, girl!
No filter necessary. Bumble is beginning to develop an AI-enhanced “private detector,” which will screen unsolicited nude photos sent through the app. Bumble CEO and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd and Bumble’s parent company founder Andrey Andreev are working together to make the internet a safer and friendlier space for women.
Way to call out workplace discrimination! Former CBS executive Whitney Davis recently published a letter in Variety detailing the discriminatory and toxic culture present within CBS. She details the racism she personally experienced, as well as racist comments spoken about other people of color. Davis attributes the network’s toxic environment to its “white problem,” and it bringing awareness to the systemic racism present in the entertainment industry.
Sign on the dotted line. Michelle Obama, the Reach Higher Initiative, and Better Make Room are hosting a College Signing Day on Wednesday, May 1st. The Reach Higher Initiative was started by Obama to encourage more high school students to pursue a college education. The event itself will have a multitude of celebrity guests and performances.
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Don't Be a Bore: 4 Ways to Engage Your Audience in a Meaningful Way
Let's ban basic together now.
We all know how integral it is to have a following. To have an audience. Whether those people are reading your blog, buying your products, or double tapping your pictures, in order to have a brand or business you must have an audience.
However, if there’s one thing potentially more important than the size of your audience, it’s how likely that audience is to engage with you. Do they convert? Will they buy? Are they sharing insights? Are they so invested in what you’re building that they tell everyone they know? If they’re engaged, they’ll do all of the above.
So while it’s important to build that audience, it’s equally as important to engage with them. Here’s four valuable (and easy!) ways to do that:
STORYTELLING. STORYTELLING. STORYTELLING.
Even the most perfect shot won’t mean high engagement. So if you feel like your images, blog posts, or messages aren't nailing it, think about how often you’re sharing relatable stories. You can close the delta between your beautiful brand and meaningful engagement that adds to your audience's lives via storytelling. It’s in your stories, which naturally communicate trials and rumbles and victories, that someone will feel more connected and engaged to you. No, you don’t have to get all existential about the details of your morning in order to tell a good story, but don’t forget to open up about the life behind the brand. The message. Or the service. Through storytelling, you’ll build trust – which is the north star of any well-executed brand and business.
“Open up about the life behind the brand. The message.”
SWIPE RIGHT...TO 'VIDEO'
Ain’t nothing hotter right now than hot sauce in your bag, and video. Everything, all the stats, point to video. I could source and quote a million articles that make the point that we already know intuitively (“is video engaging?”). The better question to ask regarding the topic is... how. No, you don’t need to hire a full production team, yet. No, you don’t have to invest thousands of dollars in equipment. But you should try getting a feel for how video best integrates with your goals. Maybe in blog format? Swipe right in your iPhone to change from photo to video and get rolling. Or maybe you want to show your audience what’s going down at the event? Hi, SnapChat and Instagram stories. Or maybe you’re having lunch and an epic convo with your fellow boss biz woman of a friend, go live on Facebook and give audiences an insight into your problem-solving. Video rocks engagement like no other, and the barrier to entry is the lowest it’s ever been, both financially and in effort.
Example: Easiest of easy? Facebook videos shot on your iPhone in Bali. #justsaying
TWO WAYS WILL GO A LONG WAY
Think about your most avid readers, buyers, followers, share-ers… Have you followed them back? These ambassadors of your work are the entire reason you likely do what you do. It seems so simple but treating your audience and being there in return to follow what they are up to can go a crazy long way. Do you need to follow every single person that follows you? No and no. Always follow back your biggest supporters. Nothing encourages engagement and loyalty like treating your biggest supporter with a little support back.
Example: Take a cue from Sophia Macks of @beyondthemag. She does this. And I do say it’s workingggggg.
HAVE A CONVERSATION. LIKE, A REAL ONE.
If you had a friend, advisor, boss, or sibling who was always giving her opinion, thoughts, and ideas but never asked for yours, how would you feel? If engagement with your audience isn’t where you want it to be, consider the opportunities that you’re giving your audience to ask. Have you opened up the space for them to do so, whether it’s with a final question before the comment section on your blog, or in the comments of your Instagram? Have you given your audience permission to chime in? Often, that’s all it takes.
Example: Take a look at this post from Amy Locurto. Lesson 101 on how to do this well. She not only asked, she demanded!
At the end of the day, engage with your online audience in the same way you would if they were sitting right in front of you. Which reminds me, if they ARE sitting right in front of you, share your energy and love. Show up as that fine person you are. Ask questions. Tell stories. Give hugs and high fives. Engagement goes a very long way in garnering support and business.
Maxie McCoy is the energy designer of Maxie, where she shares soul wisdom on the digital video series #maxie and her weekly writings. If you want your spiritual and emotional IQ shooting to the stars, Maxie is the place to be.
Let Maxie be your guide to unlocking your brilliance by following along at maxiemccoy.com. Maxie offers soul sessions, workshops, one-on-one coaching, and words of wisdom you really shouldn't miss.
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Day in the Life: Amy Nelson of The Riveter
“It’s important for me to understand all the moving pieces of the company if I am tasked with leading the whole.“
In today’s installment of our monthly Day in the Life series, we’re going behind the scenes with Amy Nelson, founder of the wildly successful women’s coworking space The Riveter, which has location in Seattle, Austin, LA, and Dallas, with spaces in five more cities forthcoming. Below, Amy gets real on what it’s like to run a business based all over the country—all with three children (and another on the way)!
What time do you get up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking?
One of my girls is undoubtedly up by 6 am… but if I beat them to it, I’m up at 5am. I read through news updates (Fortune’s BroadSheet is a favorite) and head down to the treadmill in our garage. I love to start the day with a work out. Even if it’s only 20 or 30 minutes - and it often is - it’s a little bit of “me time” to stay balanced. (And right now, at 32 weeks pregnant, I’m definitely walking and not running!) We also have “family breakfast” at our house, as it’s a better time for my husband, myself and the little girls to spend quality time together than at night. It’s something I really cherish.
What’s your commute like? Do you listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks? Any current faves?
Each day’s needs are different. I use commute time for calls with board or team members, wrangling childcare, scheduling doctor appointments, mentally preparing for meetings and speaking engagements, etc. Both my company and my family are in a period of growth, so this means I haven’t been able to settle on a routine. I do love listening to two podcasts - Committed (by the amazing Jo Piazza) and Dot Complicated (with the best host, Randi Zuckerberg) - when I have the chance!
“Block out times with your team and for yourself where you forgo phone calls and quick meetings and instead use the time strategize toward a clearly defined objective.”
Mark Twain said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” What’s the first thing you do when you get into the office/to your desk?
Apparently I could learn a lot from Mark Twain. I don’t have a regular-enough day to have a blanket statement. Airport as the office? Often. The Riveter locations and coffee shops in other cities are my floating desks. I do regularly sweep through unanswered email and check in on priorities with team members early in the day. I also look at my calendar so I can remind myself of the day’s priorities! (Also, let’s be honest. Wherever I am, priority number one is a cup of coffee.)
What are you working on this week?
This week, I’m preparing to give a keynote address at WNORTH in Whistler on Advocating for Mothers in the Workplace (fun!) and preparing the deck for our board meeting next week (less fun - but crucial!). I’m simultaneously working on our upcoming Riveter openings in Dallas, Portland and Denver. And I’m also working on making sure I get enough sleep and water. The third trimester is no joke. It’s such a busy time!
You have coworking spaces in four cities, with plans to launch in five more cities soon. How often are you traveling, and what do your days on the road look like?
I’ve traveled 3-4 days a week for the past two months (and will be keeping the pace until I am a month out from my due date in early June!), mostly for speaking engagements and to visit cities where we are opening The Riveter locations. My days on the road consist of meeting business and social innovators in our soon-to-be-Riveter homes to learn about their work, exploring amazing opportunities to work with other amazing women-led movements, spending time with key stakeholders and really laying the ground-work to ensure that our new space is a success. What is special about The Riveter is that, as we expand across the country, we are creating spaces and community that are an extension of the already-existing ecosystem of each city. It’s important for me to take the time to build those relationships and learn from other business leaders and community members, and that’s what I prioritize with my travel. No two Riveters are the same, nor should they be.
What advice do you have for balancing the minutiae of day-to-day tasks with big-picture planning?
It’s so difficult to balance time “on the business” versus “in the business” and I work to perfect this process every day. One tip I would give is to set very clear, tangible long-term goals for yourself and your company. Throughout the week and as needed, block out times with your team and for yourself where you forgo phone calls and quick meetings and instead use the time strategize toward a clearly defined objective. As a daily action item, make time at the end of each day to reflect on your work - you should be able to connect every task you did in the day to the big picture. The other piece of advice I have is to tie all of the “small acts” to each of your “big goals.” If the small isn’t tied to the big, you have to question whether it’s a good way to spend your time!
What are some work habits that help you stay healthy, productive, and on track to reach your goals?
I strive to have some understanding of every aspect of the business and, by extension, a working relationship with every employee at The Riveter. It’s important for me to understand all the moving pieces of the company if I am tasked with leading the whole. This allows me to learn from the very talented individuals on my team, no matter if they’re on the ground in Austin leading events or in the C-Suite with me directing our operations. I can weigh in where I can to optimize productivity and also keep the company on track to where we need to be.
What do evenings look like for you?
There’s always an element of chaos getting everyone home from afternoon activities, preparing dinner and getting three small children ready for bed. When I’m in town, I do try to make it home for afternoon activities once a week so I can join in on swim lessons, dance, or whatever else is going on! Once the house is quiet, I normally take another hour or so to finish up work for the day and plan for the day ahead. This is also the only time I have to spend with my mother (who lives with us) and also my husband, so we’ll debrief our days and catch up.
When do you go to bed? What’s your “optimal” # of sleep hours?
10:00pm is typical. I strive for 7 hours of sleep a night.
What’s the most rewarding part of your day?
Spending time with my little ones, by far! It is incredibly rewarding to watch them grow and see what they accomplish daily. I love their energy and joy, and I learn so much from them every day.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you?
I love to camp. From the age of 13-20, I attended and later worked at a camp in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area between Minnesota and Canada. I went entire summers without running water and spent endless weeks on the water, paddling miles. My husband is from Minnesota and, coincidentally, went to camp in the same area, and we can’t wait to take the girls camping when they are a bit older.
Love what Amy had to say? Check out our other Day in the Life features here!
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In Her Shoes: This Fashion Blogger Shares Why You Should Treat Your Side Hustle Like a Full-Time Job
“The only way a creative idea becomes a full-fledged reality is when you dedicate enough time to it to help it grow.”
Coco Bassey’s life has been anything but typical. The Nigerian-born New York- and Atlanta-based content creator spends her days in the corporate marketing world and her nights and weekends hustling away on her fashion blog, Millennielle. As a cancer survivor who grew up in Canada, Czech Republic, Nigeria, Germany, and the USA, she’s got a world view most millennials don’t, and it shows. We partnered with Jessica Simpson to chat with Coco on her personal style and professional pursuits—check out the Q&A below!
What do you wear when you want to feel most confident (shoes included)?
Even though I love a dressed-up moment every now and then, my everyday personal style is all about comfort and elevated basics! To me, nothing beats a pair of flattering jeans and a crisp white button-up shirt, especially when worn well. I gravitate towards comfort when it comes to footwear too, my shoe collection is full of statement sneakers, flatforms and block heels!
“The only way a creative idea becomes a full-fledged reality is when you dedicate enough time to it to help it grow.”
If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be?
It would easily, hands-down, be Rihanna’s.
Describe your style in 3 words.
Elevated, feminine and effortless.
You balance a job in corporate marketing with your work on Millennielle. What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a creative idea while working full-time?
Treat your creative endeavor as professionally as you do your full-time job — that means monthly planning, reporting, pitching new business… and delegating tasks that you simply cannot take on yourself. It can be really easy to get home from a full day of work and want to turn off your brain for the day, but the only way a creative idea becomes a full-fledged reality is when you dedicate enough time to it to help it grow!
Love Coco’s style? Shop her look from Jessica Simpson below, and get $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with code create10! One use per customer.
Moya Lace Trim Knit Top (similar)
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C&C Classifieds: Ginny Macdonald Design, Apple, Twitter, & More!
Job hunting is never easy. We’re here to help.
Job hunting is never easy. We’re here to help.
Ginny Macdonald Design - Los Angeles, Ca
Apple - Culver City, CA
Twitter - Los Angeles, CA
Dosist - Los Angeles, CA
24Seven - New York, NY
Foot Locker - New York, NY
LOGE Camps - North Bend, WA
General Assembly - Remote
WeWork - Charlotte, NC
Autocar Trucks - Remote
Baskervill - Richmond, Virginia
3 Easy Ways to Spritz Up Your Summer Happy Hour
Summertime is almost here!
Summer Fridays are just around the corner! Here at C&C, we’re getting excited to host some happy hours in the sun, and we’re partnering with Ketel One Botanical to make it happen! They served up some delicious drinks at our Desert Pop Up this year and gave us major inspo for our team cocktails—and today, we’re sharing the easy-to-make recipes for our favorite Botanical Spritzes with all of you!
Made with 100% non-GMO grain, no sugar, and no carbs, Ketel One’s newest Botanical varietals – Grapefruit and Rose, Cucumber and Mint and Peach and Orange Blossom exude a flavorful essence, so all you need to add is some club soda and fresh garnishes for a delightful spritz that’s perfect for sippin’ in the sunshine. Check out the recipes below!
PEACH & ORANGE BLOSSOM BOTANICAL SPRITZ
1.5oz Ketel One Botanical Peach + Orange Blossom
3oz club soda
Fresh orange slice & thyme garnish
CUCUMBER & MINT BOTANICAL SPRITZ
1.5oz Ketel One Botanical Cucumber + Mint
3oz club soda
Fresh cucumber wheel & mint sprig garnish
GRAPEFRUIT & MINT BOTANICAL SPRITZ
1.5oz Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit + Rose
3oz Club Soda
Fresh grapefruit + flower garnish
We also served up some other delicious cocktails alongside our Botanical Spritzes. If you’re a citrus fiend, you’ll love these for your next happy hour!
GRAPEFRUIT FLOW
1.5 oz Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit Rose
0.75oz fresh grapefruit juice
0.5oz fresh pineapple juice
0.5oz wild blueberry honey
2oz hibiscus tea
1 dash rose water
PEACHY KEEN FIZZ
1.5oz Ketel One Botanical Peach & Orange Blossom
0.5oz fresh lemon juice
1oz fresh strawberry and rhubarb reduction
2oz tonic water
This post is sponsored by Ketel One Botanical. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
KETEL ONE BOTANICAL. Made With Vodka Distilled With Real Botanicals And Infused With Natural Flavors. 30% Alc/Vol. © Double Eagle Brands, B.V. Imported by Ketel One USA, Aliso Viejo, CA.
Ketel One Botanical is a first-of-its kind spirit made from vodka distilled with real botanicals and infused with natural fruit and botanical essences. Made with 100% non-GMO grain, this 30% ABV spirit is an exceptionally smooth, fresh-tasting drink with no carbs, no artificial flavors, no added sugar and no artificial sweeteners. Ketel One Botanical is available nationwide in three varietals: Peach & Orange Blossom, Cucumber & Mint, and Grapefruit & Rose. For more information please visit www.ketelonebotanical.com.
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Millennial Burnout Is Real. The Question Is: Do You Have It?
We want to do it all. At what cost?
We want to do it all—but what happens if doing it all drives us to a place where we can't get anything done?
Millennials are not invincible—but we love to tell ourselves we are. I recall multiple occasions when concerned friends and family members warned me, "Careful you don't burn out!" And I recall as many occasions when I just shrugged it off before heading to my next commitment.
For most millennials, it starts in high school when you’re expected to take on countless extracurriculars. College is no breeze, but you get through it with the grades your parents expect and with a smattering of internships you somehow tuck between classes. Your friends are right there with you, juggling it all and joking that “overworked” is the new “normal.”
But then there’s adulthood.
I dove head-first into my first job while handling two apartment moves, a hectic social life, and then—because I wasn’t stressed enough—I took on additional volunteer work. My high school and college self could handle juggling, but I quickly realized I hadn’t accounted for the real world pressures of independence and a competitive work environment.
The trouble with burnout is that it strikes when you least expect it. You're overworked, overstimulated, and striving for excellence in a world that sets the bar high. And as a millennial, you’re setting your own bar even higher.
“The trouble with burnout is that it strikes when you least expect it.”
We know ourselves better than anyone, yet we internalize societal pressures and put aside our needs. We want to strengthen our personal brand, maintain an active social life, all while striving for that sweet work-life balance—when balance means we just sort of never stop working.
We. Are. Tired.
And who can blame us? Fortunately, though, we can change that. Here are signs you’re nearing burnout and some ways to stop it before it happens.
SIGN 1: Someone asks what’s most important in your life and your answer is ‘everything.’
We want to do it all. But what happens if doing it all means sacrificing healthy sleeping and eating habits? Not worth it.
You know the word “prioritize,” but a lot of millennials struggle with the concept. There's so much to do, and in the Digital Age, it feels like everything needs to be done immediately. Ever have someone give you a hard time about not texting them back immediately? I hate to break it to you, but you can’t do it all at the same time. You’ll burn yourself out, guaranteed.
SOLUTION: SLOW DOWN + STREAMLINE
I say it's time to cut some of the dead weight. Start by taking a look at your schedule for the next week. Is there anything you'll be doing that fills you with dread? See if there's a way to maneuver yourself out of it. Our entrepreneurial tendencies mean we often say “yes” to every opportunity. But people will be supportive of your need to take a step back. Be honest about your concerns, say no, then stick to it.
Next, try making a to-do list. It may seem archaic, but listing out what needs to be done per day and then checking those items off your list can give you a great sense of accomplishment. It will also allow you to visualize what’s most important and what can be left for another day.
SIGN 2: You panic if you leave your iPhone (and thus instagram) at home
As millennials, we've been raised with limitless information and countless ways to communicate. We’re encouraged to build our identities on social media, reinforcing our public image with well-edited photos of party going and staged selfies. That’s a lot of pressure, and it’s time consuming. Suddenly, the need to share means we’re permanently plugged into our devices.
SOLUTION: DON'T GIVE IN TO THE PRESSURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Remember that you exist in the present and that person is enough. If your work life isn’t contingent on your social presence (meaning you’re not working as a social media marketer), reevaluate your participation on social platforms.
How often are you pulling up Twitter or Instagram to share? Try actually counting how many times a day you open the app. The results might be staggering, but you’ll have to face your problem honestly.
That time can be better spent sleeping, cooking healthy meals, or exercising. Yes, these options may initially seem less appealing (thanks to social media, too many of us have no sense of how to be alone), but they can drastically improve your overall health and energy levels.
Put your phone in another room before you go to bed so you won’t be tempted to check it in the middle of the night or immediately when you wake up.
Consider committing to only checking Instagram (or Twitter or Facebook) once a day.
Disable your push notifications. They’re both tempting and distracting. You’ll be more productive without them.
The next time you plan a fun activity or take a trip, commit to not photographing it. Instead, just focus on enjoying it.
SIGN 3: You know your body needs a quiet night in, but when friends text, you wind up going for yet another night out. that’s five days in a row.
This may seem like an obvious point, but we often forget to take care of ourselves. We get a text from a friend asking to meet for dinner as the workday comes to an end. Instead of heading home to get an early night’s rest, we talk ourselves into meeting for happy hour and feel pressured into the next bar or restaurant down the street.
SOLUTION: MANAGE EXPECTATIONS AND PRACTICE SAYING “NO”
It’s difficult to tell your friend no because you want to sleep. Chances are, they’ll put on the pressure and make a few jokes at your expense. But that extra time for self-care is crucial to avoid burnout. You will miss many more happy hours if you’re completely exhausted, depressed, stressed, or even physically ill. As hard as it may be to make time for it, self-care is crucial.
If you’re like most millennials, you may need to actually schedule your nights in so you don’t make plans on top of them. Put them on your calendar and stick to them.
Consider limiting drinking to weekends. Late nights are exhausting, but you’ll only feel more run-down if you’re dehydrated and hungover.
For the friends who tend to pressure, make advanced plans and offer them the specific days you’re available. Then they won’t expect you to text on the nights you’re not.
Single? Delete your dating apps. If you’re feeling frantic and exhausted, you’re not going to be your interesting self anyway. Make your self-care your priority until things calm down. Trust us, Tinder will be there when you get back.
Whether you’re on the cusp or already drowning in a pool of burnout, it’s never too late to take your life into your hands. Reflect on how you got to where you are, cut yourself some slack, then use our tips to get back on track. As millennials, we hate the thought but: sometimes we need to take a step back to move forward.
Do you think millennial burnout is a real thing? Why or why not? Chime in below.
An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa.
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Money Matters: Shannon McLay, Founder of The Financial Gym
“Every step, no matter how painful, presented an opportunity to learn, grow, get smarter and improve the business.”
In this month’s installment of our monthly Money Matters series, we’re sitting down with ShannonMcLay, the founder of The Financial Gym, a financial training program that offers one-on-one advice to help you reach your money goals. We got down to business, asking Shannon the nitty-gritty about her business, including how she saves, spends, and invests in her company’s future. Read on to see why Shannon should be your new BFF (best financial friend).
Where do you think is the most important area for a business owner to focus their financial energy?
I think the most important area for a business owner to focus on is expenses. It doesn’t matter how much money your business is making, if you’re not retaining most of the revenue because your expenses are under control, then it’s not a healthy business. I have a client whose business generates $1.2MM per year, but she’s only taking home $20,000 and she can barely afford the expenses around her business.
What was your first big expense as a business owner?
The first things I invested in was legal advice on how to set up my business properly and a designer to help me set up my first website.
How did you decide what to pay yourself?
Before I had any investor money, I didn’t pay myself anything, especially since the business was operating on losses. After I raised my first round of money, I paid myself $5,000 a month. It wasn’t enough to sustain my personal expenses, but it was a balance between what I could use personally and what I needed to leave in the business account to survive.
“Every step, no matter how painful, presented an opportunity to learn, grow, get smarter and improve the business. ”
How did you decide what to pay employees?
I offered my first employee $50,000 per year salary and she negotiated back with $70,000, but I told her I couldn’t pay her more than I was paying myself, so we settled on $60,000 and we both made $60,000 for the first year she worked for me.
What are your top three largest expenses every month?
Payroll, Rent, Office Supplies
How much do you spend on office space?
We have two gym locations, our HQ and our initial gym space and the two combined rents cost us $30,000 per month.
How much do you spend on employee salaries?
Our current payroll runs around $130,000 a month for full-time staff and $15,000 in contractors.
How much are you saving? When did you start being able to save some of your income?
We are not in a position to save money each month since we are actively growing our business and spending extra money on marketing to fuel our growth.
What apps or software are you using for finances? How did you decide when to hire a financial advisor (if you have one)?
We like using Quickbooks for our business and we wouldn’t hire a financial advisor since that’s what we do for a living.
Do you wish you’d done anything differently in your financial journey as a business owner?
I have certainly made some large financial mistakes where the business is concerned, but I wouldn’t change a single thing about my journey. Every step, no matter how painful, presented an opportunity to learn, grow, get smarter and improve the business.
Why should women talk about money?
Money is our lifeblood. Whether we feel connected to our money or not, we need it to operate in this world and more importantly, we need it to have power and authority and I truly believe that our financial situation prevents us from being and making the changes we want to see in the world.
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The Evolution of Celeb Seeding & If It's Still Worth It
What you got in that swag bag?
Give it away, give it away. Now.
While celebrity endorsements have always been a “thing,” celeb seeding really took off in the '90s and early 2000s with the rise of brands and products like Juicy Couture and the trucker hat.
Back in the day it was almost impossible to leaf through a magazine without a glimpse of Paris Hilton in a fuzzy pink track suit or Ashton Kutcher topped off with an ironic mesh hat.
If it was not a paid for endorsement or gifting suite, celebrity seeding was a tricky process that involved multiple steps and a lot of finger crossing. PR pros tasked with gifting had to identify the best contact (stylist, manager, assistant, best-friends-little-sister’s-cousin) and pray that the item landed in the hands of the actual celebrity rather than some handler along the way.
There was also the mind-numbing time spent pouring over photo databases hunting for a celeb wearing your brand on their most recent Starbucks run. Finally, someone in PR typically needed to pitch those hard-won images to media contacts and hope the photo was strong enough for inclusion in a story. There were few guarantees and lots of product was sent out into the void never to be heard from again.
With the evolution of social media, seeding has evolved. The playing field has opened up and now includes influencers who can go direct to their audience via their own Instagram, Snapchat, or other. Social media has given brands hungry for endorsement new and more direct avenues for both outreach, contact, and end-consumer visibility.
Outside of the products that influencers are personally fanning out for, now, with a little luck, a well-timed tweet, comment, or share has the potential to catch the eye of an actual tastemaker with a larger social following. In a sense, social media has helped reduce those six degrees of separation to just one and has given brands a more instant gratification with fewer obstacles to navigate.
To seed or not to seed
At some point it seems every woman is offered the following euphemism, maybe by an old-fashioned parent or an overprotective brother, “Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?” This passive-aggressive advice would certainly not win any praise from Amber Rose, and it doesn’t play well in the world of influencer marketing either.
Seeding and gifting are a necessary part of most consumer-product marketing strategies, and while they come with very few assurances, one strategic placement has the power to move the needle right off the scale.
Like every marketing initiative, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of gifting and to always consider timing and target.
A few basic tips for giving the milk away for free:
Find Your Muse - If you sell leather handbags, don’t gift a vegan celeb or blogger. If you make anti-aging cream, don’t go after a YouTuber with a fan base of 10 million 13-year-olds. Consider the look and feel of what you’re hoping to promote and who the tastemaker is reaching.
Become A Subtle Stalker For Good (not evil) – If you don’t have a relationship in place, try to suss out the best point of contact. Maybe you can find a way to go direct, via a mutual contact or find a reliable team member to start the conversation.
Pick A Winner - Make sure you are sharing a product that is so new and hot it will stand out or a tried and true classic that everyone would be happy to have. Don’t use gifting as a time to get rid of your “clunkers.”
Keep It In Your Pocket – Identify whether you have a product that makes sense to gift. While more outreach and product seeding is likely to increase the potential for a return, it’s important to really look at your costs and margins and come up with a cold hard number gifting budget that you can stick too. With seeding, more is often more, but not if it puts you out of business.
Feeling Myself - If you design fine jewelry, coordinate trips to Bali, or are offering something with a very high price point, gifting needs to come with some kind of guarantee. A high price tag will often create leverage to secure just the kind of coverage you’re hoping for.
Continue To Subtly Stalk (without being annoying) – Follow up is important. Influencer, celebs and the people who work with them are inundated and harangued by people trying to give them stuff all the time (tough life). It is important to try and get a definitive sense of interest via reasonable follow-up. Don’t be too extra; after one or two follow up emails let it go… otherwise you just seem crazy.
Channel Your Inner Bad Ass and Dig In – Seeding should be done consistently with the launch of each new product or collection. Just because you want Kylie Jenner to IG your natural lip balm it doesn’t mean she will, but if you work at it long enough and hone your approach, you will develop a few tried and true contacts that will give your brand the love it deserves. If all else fails and it’s within your budget, hire a pro to handle your seeding initiative(s) for you.
Jessy Fofana founded La Rue PR over ten years ago after successfully directing public relations and marketing initiatives for an impressive list of well-known fashion, home décor, lifestyle and cosmetics brands and retailers. Having worked in both digital and print magazine publishing as well as co-founding a fashion and lifestyle brand that she later sold, Jessy and her team at LaRue PR understand exactly what it takes to create the kind of take-notice, multi-faceted campaign that delivers brand-changing buzz. With an experienced team of professionals, LaRue PR covers all the bases including print and digital media coverage, influencer relations, synergistic brand partnerships and more. LaRue PR provides the skill and experience of a large agency with the creativity, dedication and affordability that can only be offered by a boutique firm.
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3 Things To Consider Before Becoming A Digital Nomad
Choosing to work and travel the world is now easier than ever.
It seems like everywhere we look, more and more people are choosing to become digital nomads and embracing the #workfromanywhere lifestyle. While the thought of living and working on the road is what a lot of people aspire to do, it’s important to realize that once you take the leap, it isn’t all just sangria on the coast of Spain (although that is an added perk).
When you’re thinking about becoming location independent, either working remotely for a company, freelancing, or realizing that your current business simply requires an internet connection and a good cup of coffee... it’s important to remember these three things:
Slow Travel Is Sustainable Travel
When you’re starting this new chapter of your life, odds are you’re going to want to book a ticket around the world and head to a different country every week. Heed my advice: slow travel is sustainable travel.
If being a digital nomad or location independent is something you want to keep up for a while, make an effort to be in one place for 3 to 4 weeks at a time so you can truly make the most of your experience.
Being on the road takes time and energy, but when you’re fully immersed in a place for around a month, there are endless benefits. You’ll be able to feel settled, create a routine, and most importantly be able to be present instead of worrying about the next plane ticket you have to buy or when the next train leaves.
When you opt for slower travel, it also allows you to become fully immersed in the culture you’re in. When you’re in a new country or city for 4 to 5 days, you’ll only just scratch the surface of what it has to offer.
Learn How To Work Smarter, Not Harder
Don’t believe the Instagram hype. Being a digital nomad doesn’t mean that you’ll be on the beach in the Amalfi Coast all day long or ziplining through Guatemala from sunrise to sundown. While these new experiences might be part of your journey, don’t forget that you’ll still need to work to pay the bills (and lattes).
Choosing to work from anywhere will force you to work smarter, not harder. With new experiences, people, and places at your fingertips, you’ll learn how to get the essentials done in less time so you can enjoy where you are.
A few ways to keep things under control especially when starting out....
When planning your travel, think about where your team or clients are based so that you don’t have to work odds hours. Let’s be real, conference calls at 2 am in Thailand isn’t ideal.
Create a new schedule that allows you to still respect your ideal working hours while you’re on the road so you can stay balanced and happy while still checking off items on your to-do list.
Consider spending “off-peak” hours exploring so that you aren’t stuck behind a computer all day long. If you’re traveling through Europe and your team is in the U.S., consider taking the morning hours to get to know your new city so that when everyone else is headed into the office (6 hours later) you’ll be readily available without regret.
Find Community That Fosters Deep Connection
“Why do I need to find community? I have my friends and family at home as my support system.”
While that may be true, one of the things that connects us as human beings is shared experiences. When you start life on the road, you’ll find yourself longing for real connections with others who are on the same path. Loneliness as a location independent worker is real.
While you’ll meet a lot of new people, it’s important to go the extra mile to foster relationships that aren’t just surface level.
Many people who work and travel choose to stay at coliving spaces exactly for that reason. Coliving is an up-and-coming trend where you live and work with other like-minded people for a period of time, normally between 2 - 8 weeks.
Something I’ve seen time and time again at one of the leading coliving spaces in Europe is when you’re in a place that offers both personal and professional development, you seem to connect on a deeper level. Sharing a space and certain experiences with others positively impacts life on the road and creates long-lasting friendships.
Choosing to work and travel the world is now easier than ever and such a rewarding experience at the same time. Be sure to do your research before you get ready to take the leap and remember that slow and steady wins the race. You want to make the most of your digital nomad experience and when you set yourself up for success before even leaving home, you’ll have that much more of an opportunity to thrive along the way.
Sienna Brown is an entrepreneur and expat thriving on the coast of Spain. Her mission is to teach others how to build a life that they love. She’s the founder of Las Morenas de Espana, a platform teaching women of color how to move abroad and thrive. She also leads business development at Sun and Co., one of the leading coliving spaces in Europe. Follow her on Instagram @siempregirando and reach out sienna@siempregirando.com
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15 Signs to Step It Up at Work
It's not her, it's you. Or is it? S.O.S.
In an ideal world, your boss tells you when you're doing something wrong. But sometimes people avoid the hard conversations. We've got some common warning signs to watch out for.
1. She stops giving you large assignments
If you were initially given a chance to work on large assignments, but now you’re only assigned small (maybe even seemingly unnecessary) tasks, something’s gone awry. It’s possible your boss wasn’t impressed with your prior work. Whether it’s paying better attention to detail, logging longer hours, or having a direct conversation with her to get some feedback, you should do something about it now. Tackling bigger projects is your bargaining chip for future promotions.
2. She reassigns your work to a coworker
Take a look at your current work load. Is it different from when you first started? You might have felt like you nailed your last project, but if you notice that your coworker seems to be taking on more work, while your assignments dwindle, stop to consider. This may be your boss’s attempt to balance, but if you feel like you could be doing more and aren’t getting invited to do so, consider approaching her about it. You want to make sure she knows you’re ready and able to assume additional responsibility.
3. She does your work herself
Some of us may have completed an assignment or conducted research for our manager only to find that she redid it herself (ouch!). This might not actually be as bad as it looks. Sometimes the instructions were unclear, or she wanted you to focus on something else so she finished it up herself. But it doesn’t hurt to clarify. If she’s unhappy with your work, you should discuss ways to improve for next time.
4. She calls a lot of meetings to “discuss your work”
We’ve all experienced a manager who loves meetings. However, if your boss calls a meeting more than once to discuss your work, or the quality of your work, then she’s probably trying to guide you. She may be subtly telling you that your work isn’t up to par. Try to listen without taking offense. A simple fix may make it better, for her and for you.
5. She edits most of your work
I cringe sometimes at the red underlines and blue scribbles I see when my manager edits my writing, and the meetings afterward to discuss the edits are awkward, too. If you embrace the feedback, though, over time the reds and blues will decrease. If you don’t see a marked change after a few attempts, chances are you’re at an impasse with your writing styles. That’s when you’ll want to consider addressing it directly with her.
6. “I love it... but...”
We’ve been programmed to expect the worst when we hear the word “but,” and it’s usually for good reason. Some managers are sensitive to their employees’ feelings so they add a cushion to their negative response when reviewing work. Watch out for these phrases—it may take some reading between the lines to determine what your boss actually wants from you. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification, either. Just because she’s not always comfortable with direct feedback doesn’t mean you don’t deserve it.
7. She drops you from a group project
If you start working on a team project, but suddenly you find yourself removed from the email chain? Warning sign. The change in guard could have to do with work load and strategy rather than you specifically, but it’s always good to address it. Letting your boss know you were excited about the project and would love to be considered for a future one is one way to open the conversation. Ask her if there’s anything you could do better for a future opportunity.
8. She micromanages
All bosses have different management styles, but if she feels the need to give you step-by-step guidance on every project, even those you’ve done before, there might be a trust issue. Consider broaching the subject from the perspective of her time. Tell her you don’t want to take up her limited work hours and ask whether there’s a better way for you to work independently. The conversation should reveal any concerns she might have about your work.
9. “You should know by now”
When you first get a job, you’re given a probation period where you get the chance to show what you can do but also learn the business. If you find that your boss starts to bring up the fact that you’ve been at the company long enough to know how something works without feedback, she’s probably hinting (in a not so subtle way) that you need to step up your game.
10. She starts nitpicking and sniping
As time progresses at your company, you may notice that your manager is becoming more irritable when you approach her. Maybe she starts pointing out every little error you make, leaving you with this feeling that you can’t do anything right. We’re all personalities beyond our job descriptions and, frankly, that means we sometimes get on each other’s nerves. If your boss continues to lash out in small ways, you can still make a comeback. Triple-check your work before turning it in so those small mistakes don’t happen. After all, they really shouldn’t, should they? If it truly feels like unfair treatment, though, consider addressing it with her or your HR department.
11. She condescends
Yes, she has more experience than you but professionalism dictates that she should treat you with respect even if you aren’t on her “level” at the company. If she condescends from the start, it’s probably just a sign she’s not a great manager (and that’s another story entirely). But if your boss suddenly starts talking to you as if you’re a child or not on her level when she’s previously worked well with you, she may be tired of the less-than-excellent work you’ve been turning in. The key word here is ‘suddenly’.
12. You ask her for a certain opportunity but it goes to someone else
All of us love to take on new and exciting opportunities, and we should relay this to our bosses or managers. However, if an opportunity comes up, and you make it known you’re interested in taking it on, and your manager gives it to someone else, she may not think you’re up for the job.
13. She gives you poor scores on your annual review
This is probably the most obvious sign (if you can even call it that). If your scores on your annual review seem to be decreasing every time, there’s no doubt about how your boss feels about your work
14. She "inadvertently" skips you in update meetings
This can be totally disheartening, but if she stops asking you for updates on your projects or doesn’t ask you to share in team huddles, she’s probably hinting that she’s uninterested in the work you’re doing currently.
15. Her energy toward you has just... changed
Interaction styles vary among managers. Some are open and approachable while others prefer to keep their office door closed most of the time. If you were once “cool” with your manager and for some reason she starts avoiding your morning chats over coffee, she’s probably intentionally distancing herself for one reason or another. It doesn’t hurt to ask her why.
What you can do
If you notice any of these signs, here’s what you can do:
Ask your manager directly how she feels about your work and areas where you can improve
Ask a coworker who seems to be thriving to give you some pointers regarding your manager’s preferences
Ask for feedback from your manager and coworkers monthly
Evaluate your work and ask coworkers (whom you trust) to review your work before turning it in
What did you think about this article? Let us know in the comment box below.
An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa.
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What to Expect at Our New York Conference
Success never sleeps! We’re coming back to NY bigger and better than ever.
Big Apple, Big MOOD! We cannot wait to get to the city that never sleeps for Create & Cultivate NYC and we hope you’re just as excited as we are! Before we pull up, we wanted to give the play-by-play of what to expect during the big day. Besides the jam-packed speaker lineup and beautiful ambiance, the day is full of Instagrammable moments, shopping, food and drinks, and tons of inspiration. Get ready!
ALL DAY FUN
First things first: You should be receiving your welcome box with your badge in the mail by April 25th (if you’re an international attendee, your box will be available for pickup the morning of the conference)! Your box will have your badge with a lanyard dictating your track and your mentor power hour selections. Upon arrival, you will receive your C&C NY conference notebook from At-A-Glance! If you’re a VIP, you’ll get some additional swag & opportunities as well, including access to the Alaska Airlines VIP lounge access and your own beauty bar!
You’re in for one amazing day. We’ve organized every detail of the day for you below, so all you’ll need is your badge, schedule, and your best IG-worthy outfit—we’ll take care of the rest (we’ve even got the Poo-Pourri, everyone’s favorite bathroom bestie, covered)!
Keep reading to plan your day!
LOCATION
Industry City
220 36th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Enter on 2nd Ave. between 36th and 37th St.
C&C INSIDERS PERKS
Are you a C&C Insider yet? Grab your membership card and meet us at the Insiders pop-up to learn more about your membership perks and get your free Insiders PopSocket! If you’re not a member yet, don’t worry—we can give you run down and sign you up at the booth! Insiders will be able to meet and greet some of our amazing speakers during the day, including:
Jaclyn Johnson, founder & CEO of Create & Cultivate
Anastasia Soare, founder & CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills
Michelle Lee, editor-in-chief of Allure magazine
Rebecca Minkoff, founder of Rebecca Minkoff
Sharifa Murdock, co-owner of Liberty Fairs & founder of ENVSN Festival
SHOPPING, FOOD, & FUN
We’ve partnered with some of our favorite brands to bring you amazing shopping experiences, to-die-for photo ops, and delicious food and drinks! Peruse each booth to find your new go-to brands for home, beauty, and fashion! Shop ‘til you drop, girl!
LIFESTYLE
As our presenting partner for the conference, Mastercard will be serving up the knowledge during our panels. Stop by the Mastercard Small Business Marketplace during breaks to meet some amazing local boss lady businesses and support their vision. It doesn’t stop there—looking for a new creative headshot? Swing by the Mastercard sketch studio to get your portrait sketched live in their studio and share what sparked your career for another photo inspo pic!
Mastercard Small Business Marketplace businesses include:
Bliss Lau | East Olivia Creative | YES I AM | Coco and Breezy | Teressa Foglia
GET PUMPED FOR SOME PTO! We’re so stoked to have our team’s go-to travel partner, Alaska Airlines, on-site at the conference giving out round-trip flights to our hard-working attendees. Head to their booth to enter to win your next Out of Office trip on the house. We will be announcing the 10 lucky winners throughout the conference, so listen up!
Want a behind-the-stage look at how the C&C team puts on events using Microsoft Teams? Lucky for you, we filmed it all! Stop by the Microsoft booth to watch a minidoc that shows how we use Teams to bring all our events to life…and see how you can use Teams in your office, too!
Welcome to the future, where you can now get a car on your phone. Meet the future of mobility at the Fair booth and learn about their car subscription app that’s disrupting the auto industry—plus, hear from their female execs on the Raise Up panel!
As we love to say at WorkParty, behind every great woman are strong women. Pick the perfect card, write a love note, and send your mom a special moment for Mother's Day at the Hallmark pop-up and see what a card can do.
Ready for a road trip? Feel the wind in your hair, girl! Stop by the Volvo booth to check out one of their newest models and live out your best road trip moment in their amazing video booth.
We all know the importance of a killer to-do list, and your notebook is a major player in your productivity. That’s exactly why we bring our team’s favorite notebook brand At-A-Glance to our conferences for all of our attendees. At the NYC conference, you’ll be able to customize their notebooks thanks to an onsite calligrapher. Love a monogram moment!
Need a quick and easy way to up your content game by 100%? *Everyone simultaneously raises their hands* We’re so happy to have PicMonkey on-site with an amazing animated portrait booth! We’ll have a photographer on site to capture your best lewks. Plus, you’ll be able to learn more about how the app can help your personal + brand content without paying for extra graphic design help. Dream come true!
Be inspired by the lives, work, and stories of powerful women thanks to GoDaddy. They’re highlighting Icons of Our Tribe in their IG-worthy setup—stop by to see what makes YOU an icon!
It’s your time to shine, girl! Stop by the QVC recording studio for your very own five minutes of fame and try your hand at selling a beauty product on camera. Who knows? You could be their next on air host!
The 2018 midterm elections had the highest youth voter turnout in the past quarter century—and a record 102 women were elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 2018 elections. Our voices are not only important, they’re necessary. Turn into our afternoon keynote for I AM A VOTER activist Mandana Dayani’s conversation with Amber Heard. Not registered to vote? Stop by the I Am A Voter kiosk, and make a difference!
HEALTH & WELLNESS
#LoveYourMarks! We’re all about authenticity, and what’s more authentic than celebrating who you are in this exact moment? Check out the Bio-Oil pop-up to learn about and sample Bio-Oil—and embrace all your marks with us by snapping a pic at their fun photo booth!
Lola is helping women live their best lives—period. This is a pop-up you do not want to miss. Head over to the Lola booth to learn more about everything this organic tampons brand is doing for women right now.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Keep scrolling to find out all your food and drink options while you’re enjoying the big day!
Stop by the main bar to grab a Ketel One Botanical cocktail—or their floral bike cart for a Botanical Spritz!
Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Chameleon will be serving organic cold-brew coffee to keep your day going strong!
Stay hydrated with bottled water from CORE—you’ve got a day full of panels to attend! Grab them at any of our bars all day long, plus show us your balance by snapping a pic in their upside-down pop up booth.
Everyone’s favorite 100% natural sparkling water is at it again with a super ‘grammable pop up experience. Snap some IG-worthy pics in LaCroix’s interactive booth and (duh) pick up your favorite flavor to take with you to the next stop.
Glasses up, girls! It’s time for more bubbly. Visit the Chandon pop up to grab a mini bottle of Chandon (another super ‘grammable moment) and get your new girl gang together for an IG worthy boomerang!
Cheers! You got through spring cleaning and now it’s time to drink to the summer sunshine! Stop by the New Belgium Brewing pop-up to try their new (PINK) Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza. It’s tasty and it’s chic.
Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company
With all the fun of the day, you’re sure to need a quick refresher. Grab your new friends and juice up between panels with a stop at the Natalie’s Orchid booth, where they’ll be serving delicious juices all day long!
Need a break? Head on over to the bar and grab a glass of Santa Cristina wine. Or two! ;) You’ll have your choice of a Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC, Cipresseto Toscana IGT Rosato or Rosso Toscana IGT! Learn more about their wine selection and find your fave.
It’s time to get crafty (and full) at the Navitas Organics pop-up. Check your schedules, because during break you’ll be able to have a hand at a DIY station and mix your own nuts & berries snack—plus, you can sip on a matcha, turmeric, or cacao latte while you get your ‘gram on in a Insta-worthy photo booth!
The now-famous pasta sauce came from humble beginnings, co-founded in 1937 by Assunta Cantisano, who sold the iconic sauce straight from her front porch. Snap a pic on the RAGÚ porch, and don’t miss some of their tasty recipes available during break.
FASHION & BEAUTY
Everybody freeze! We’re heading all the way back to the 90s with this one. Head on over to ShopStyle’s pop-up with your new girl gang to snap a good photo and relive your yearbook moment. Hands up if you’re well overdue for a reshoot?
Truth is, all this work deserves some relaxation. Take a moment for yourself and visit the Moroccanoil pop up to get a hand massage and have your hair styled at Moroccanoil’s beauty bar (and if you’re a VIP, you can get glammed up in the VIP booth, too!).
As a 100% plant-based skincare line, Biossance is giving us sustainable beauty through biotechnology. Head to their booth to stop & smell the roses! Hop in the photo booth then shop till you drop with a special gift with purchase (pro tip: the rose vitamin C mask & rose oil are a C&C team fave!).
Sunscreen, anybody?! We’ll answer for you: Yes. Everybody. Join Supergoop! in a pop experience for Skin Cancer Awareness month in their booth. Hop in the time machine and flashback to the 90s while you snap a pic at their nostalgic photo op.
Wellbeing is shaped by the air we breathe, the light, dust, and allergens we’re exposed to, and more. These affect our bodies, skin, hair and sleep quality. Stop by the Dyson booth to experience the newest Dyson machines that support your wellbeing by empowering you to control and personalize the elements that affect your daily life—for a healthier home & happier you.
Shop the latest clothes & accessories from Dynamite, then get your ‘gram on in their gorgeous pink couch photo booth!
Who run the world? Curls. Get your curls poppin’ and don’t stop ‘em at the DevaCurl pop-up. Head on over to experience their styling station and learn more about their top-of-the-line products, then show off your look in the photo booth for an IG worth photo moment.
If you’re in major need of a good hair day, you’re going to want to head on over to the ghd pop-up. Their styling pros will be touching up that fabulous hairstyle you put all that work into—and they’ll be their all day to help keep you picture perfect.
OK, who doesn’t want flawless, vibrant skin? OLLY is here to make your skin dreams come true, amongst all your other dreams! Sampling their famous beauty supplements, the OLLY booth is not to be missed. Check out their Instagram to see all the ladies who swear by the vitamins for their wellness and beauty fills.
New color, who this? Need some tips and product tricks for that new hair color? Look no further. The Living Proof pop up booth has what you need. Stop by to check out their new color care line and snap a pic in their IG photo booth!
GIVEAWAY alert! Want a year’s worth of shoes? Obviously—you do. Tamara Mellon is hosting a giveaway you won’t want to miss! Stop by the booth and enter for a chance to a year’s worth of new shoes, then snap a pic at the booth photo op. If you like what you see, check out the booksellers during break to buy Tamara’s book!
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, MAY 3
ATTENDEE HAPPY HOUR | 6:30 - 8:30PM
SERAFINA LUDLOW
98 Rivington Street (at the corner of Ludlow)
Join us on Friday, May 3rd, at Serafina Ludlow for our pre-conference happy hour to meet your fellow attendees.
SATURDAY, MAY 4
All that ‘grammin got your phone short on battery? Charge your phone up at charging stations presented by STAMBA Superfoods, located throughout the venue.
Feeling thirsty? Stop by the bar and our popups to grab a beverage in an Instagrammable (duh) Tossware glass—you deserve it!
TRACK 1
BREAKFAST | FOOD HALL | 8:00 - 9:15 AM
Energy up with a delicious breakfast, get that photo opp, and introduce yourself to your fellow C&Cers!
PANEL: RAISE UP | SECOND STAGE | 9:20 - 10:05 AM
On Venture Capital, Negotiation, & Bootstrapping Your Biz
Panelists: Yasmin Moaven, Angela Du, Ginger Seigel, Jordana Kier, Marah Lidey
Moderator: Sherry Jhawar
PANEL: IN GOOD COMPANY | MAIN STAGE | 10:10 - 10:55 AM
The Women Creating, Collaborating, & Cultivating Community
Panelists: Marie Forleo, Gabby Bernstein, Katie Sturino, Pauline Lhote, Suzy Batiz, Betsy Patel
Moderator: LaTonya Yvette
PANEL: LAUNCHPAD | SECOND STAGE | 11:00 - 11:50 AM
How to Build Your Brand & Bring It to Market
Panelists: Carmen Tal, Robert Schaeffler, Fiona Parkin, Sharifa Murdock, Asa Siegel
Moderator: Maxie McCoy
LUNCH | FOOD HALL | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Nom alert! Grab your lunch, hydrate, and be sure to hit the popups! We’re halfway through the day!
MENTOR POWER HOUR | SECOND STAGE | 1:10 - 2:10 PM
Meet with your mentors for two 30-minute “pick your brain” sesh!
Mentors: Nicole Tollefsrud, Erin Silver, Tracy G., Nita Mann, Gail Nichols, Francey Grund, LaTonya Yvette, Caroline Vazzana, Maxie McCoy, Jessy Fofana, Mandy Ansari, Cynthia Andrew, Tamara Mellon, Eva Goicochea, Rachel Martino, Hunter McGrady, Sherri Haymond, Christina Vongas
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE | MAIN STAGE | 2:20 - 2:50 PM
Powered by I AM A VOTER
Mandana Dayani in conversation with Amber Heard
PANEL: BRAND LOVE | SECOND STAGE | 2:55 - 3:40 PM
How To Build Companies With Kindness At Their Core
Panelists:
Camilla Ruth Marcus, Teressa Foglia, Kristy Lewis, Katie D’Amato,
Moderator: Amina Smith
PANEL: PRICELESS CONVERSATIONS | MAIN STAGE | 3:45 - 4:30 PM
Powered by Mastercard
Meet the Women Making an Impact
Panelists: Kelsea Olivia Gaynor, Bliss Lau, Breezy Dotson, Piera Gelardi, Jaclyn Johnson
Moderator: Cheryl Guerin
PANEL: CHANGEMAKERS | MAIN STAGE | 4:35 - 5:20 PM
The Women Breaking Boundaries & Building Businesses
Panelists: Tamara Mellon, Rebecca Minkoff, Gwen Whiting, Jaime Schmidt, Deepica Mutyala
Moderator: Annie Fulenwider
BREAK | 5:20 - 6:20 PM
Grab some yummy beet chips and chocolate bark from west~bourne, then stop by the food hall to get book signed by your favorite female authors—and meet actor, model, and activist Hunter McGrady at the Bio-Oil booth!
KEYNOTE | MAIN STAGE | 6:25 - 6:55 PM
Michelle Lee in conversation with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
HAPPY HOUR | FOOD HALL | 7:25 - 8:25 PM
Powered by Alaska Airlines
Cheers to you! Let’s toast to taking on the world!
KEYNOTE | MAIN STAGE | 8:25 - 8:55 PM
Jaclyn Johnson in conversation with Martha Stewart
TRACK 2
BREAKFAST | FOOD HALL | 8:00 - 9:15 AM
Energy up with a delicious breakfast, get that photo opp, and introduce yourself to your fellow C&Cers!
PANEL: MODERN ACTIVISM | MAIN STAGE | 9:20 - 10:05 AM
Exploring the Role of Diversity, Inclusion & Politics in the Workplace
Panelists: Nabeela Noor, Halima Aden, Hunter McGrady, Denise Bidot, Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Nikki Ogunnaike
Moderator: Heather Records
PANEL: POD SQUAD | SECOND STAGE | 10:10 - 10:55 AM
Meet the Ladies Killing the Podcast Game
Panelists: Noor Tagouri, Becca Tobin, Julie Kramer, Emma Diamond, Mamrie Hart, Grace Helbig, Ahyiana Angel
Moderator: Tyeal Howell
PANEL: THE PERSONAL IS PROFESSIONAL | MAIN STAGE | 11:00 - 11:50 AM
How to Build a Personal Brand You Love That Brands Want to Work With
Panelists: Mari Mazzucco, Justine Marjan, Laura Minch, Wendy Nguyen, Dr. Dendy Engelman
Moderator: Tiffany Reid
MENTOR POWER HOUR | SECOND STAGE | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Meet with your mentors for a 30-minute “pick your brain” sesh!
Mentors: Nicole Tollefsrud, Erin Silver, Tracy G., Nita Mann, Gail Nichols, Francey Grund, LaTonya Yvette, Caroline Vazzana, Maxie McCoy, Jessy Fofana, Mandy Ansari, Cynthia Andrew, Tamara Mellon, Eva Goicochea, Rachel Martino, Hunter McGrady, Sherri Haymond, Christina Vongas
LUNCH | FOOD HALL | 1:10 - 2:10 PM
Nom alert! Grab your lunch, hydrate, and be sure to hit the popups! We’re halfway through the day!
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE | MAIN STAGE | 2:20 - 2:50 PM
Powered by I AM A VOTER
Mandana Dayani in conversation with Amber Heard
PANEL: MARKETING MASTERCLASS | MAIN STAGE | 2:55 - 3:40 PM
Showing Up in the Social, Offline & Online World
Panelists: Tezza Barton, Cynthia Andrew, Hilary Sloan, Rachel Curry, Jacey Duprie, Naomi Jacobs
Moderator: Reesa Lake
PANEL: MEET THE MOGULS | SECOND STAGE | 3:45 - 4:30 PM
Meet the Moguls: The Women Dominating the Fashion & Beauty Game
Panelists:
Lilit Caradanian, Lisa Price, Kate Walsh, Holly Thaggard, Anastasia Soare
Moderator: Cyndi Ramirez
PANEL: CHANGEMAKERS | MAIN STAGE | 4:35 - 5:20 PM
The Women Breaking Boundaries & Building Businesses
Panelists: Tamara Mellon, Rebecca Minkoff, Gwen Whiting, Jaime Schmidt, Deepica Mutyala
Moderator: Annie Fulenwider
BREAK | 5:20 - 6:20 PM
Grab some some yummy beet chips and chocolate bark from west~bourne, then stop by the food hall to get book signed by your favorite female authors!
KEYNOTE | MAIN STAGE | 6:25 - 6:55 PM
Michelle Lee in conversation with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
HAPPY HOUR | FOOD HALL | 7:25 - 8:25 PM
Powered by Alaska Airlines
Cheers to you! Let’s toast to taking on the world!
KEYNOTE | MAIN STAGE | 8:25 - 8:55 PM
Jaclyn Johnson in conversation with Martha Stewart
GIFT BAGS
We know your want ‘em! Gift bags are only available at the end of the night and will be handed out in exchange for your badge. If you have to jet early, you will be forfeiting your right come back in...but we doubt you'll want to do that!
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU IN NYC! Who are you most thrilled to see? Share in the comments below!
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Desk-Side: This Actor & Blogger Shares How She Finds Balance When Working From Home
“The best part about being a blogger is getting to connect with women from all over the world.”
Courtney Halverson is a busy woman. An actor by day and an influencer—well, also by day, she spends her waking hours running lines, shooting content, and blogging about all of it on her site, Pretty Little Fawn. So when she gets time to relax, she really takes advantage. We partnered with Glade® Essentials Room Mist to hear how Courtney puts a little balance in her hustle—read on below!
Q: How long have you been in Los Angeles?
A: I’ve lived in LA for about six years.
Q: What’s something most people don’t know about you?
A: Fun fact about myself, I can turn the shower on with my feet.
Q: How long have you been acting? What do you love most about it?
A: I have been working as an actress since I was a kid. I actually just had a film come out set in the 1950s, which is great because I love all things vintage. But the best part about being an actress, is getting to become a lot of different people. I mean, I have worn a lot of different hats.
Q: What are your essential tools when prepping for a role?
A: A cup of coffee (needed), a highlighter, and whatever script I’m currently working on.
Q: What’s your favorite room in your house?
A: My favorite part of the house is definitely the cloffice (closet-office). It’s definitely my happy place in the house because it’s where I get to work on my other job of being a blogger. It’s where I style looks, create content, and do what I call “research,” a.k.a. reading magazines.
Q: Since you work from home a lot of the time, how do you instill work/life balance in your space?
A: After a long day of learning lines and writing blog posts, I like to relax in my living room. For me, it’s all about unwinding and setting the mood. The Glade® Essentials Room Mist is my go-to—I love the Mandarin & Mimosa scent. It helps clear my mind and let me know work is done for the day.
“The best part about being a blogger is getting to connect with women from all over the world. ”
Q: Who is your style icon?
A: 100 percent Alexa Chung.
Q: What’s the best part about being a blogger?
A: The best part about being a blogger is getting to connect with women from all over the world. Second best part? Creating content.
See Courtney’s full interview below:
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Making Moves: First Female CEOs, TED Talks, & Record-Breaking Films
Another week, another batch of inspiring women.
Every Friday, we here at C&C like to celebrate all of the incredible contributions women are making in the world. And as always, this was a good week for women. Read on to see women being featured in film festivals, moving up in business, and more!
Activist, writer, and educator Brittany Packnett gave her first TED Talk ever this week. The subject of the talk: confidence! Packnett says she has been working her whole life for this moment, speaking at the event TED2019: Bigger Than Us in Vancouver on April 16th.
She’s moving on up! Corie Barry, the current CFO of Best Buy, will become the company’s first-ever female CEO. Barry will become one of the few CEOs to head an S&P 500 Company and will officially take the role this June. Talk about being a boss!
“What, like it’s hard?” Kim Kardashian West is taking a page out of Elle Woods’s book and is planning to become a lawyer. KKW informed Vogue that she’s been studying law for the past year as part of a four-year apprenticeship available for those who did not attend law school. She is scheduled to take the bar exam in 2022 and credits her work helping Alice Marie Johnson get out of prison for this new endeavor.
Lights, camera, more female representation! This week, the Cannes film festival revealed its official selection of films to be screened this year. The News? They’ve tied their record for the most films directed by women to be considered for jury prizes, with four. More female directors are to be featured as well, with 13 of the 51 directors being women. To top it all off, the official poster (above) was made as an homage to female filmmaker Agnès Varda.
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How to Work out Without Leaving Your Desk
Get your blood flowing and body moving without pulling yourself away from your to-do list.
We all know that spending too much time in the office can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Anyone who’s scarfed down a sad salad desk lunch knows that not being able to pull yourself away from your computer can be taxing. Buuuut sometimes that’s life.
We’ve got good news! When you just can’t escape your chair, we’ve got some tips to keep you happy and healthy. Yeah, that definitely includes a big cup of coffee and some pretty desk accessories, but we don’t stop there!
With this desk workout, you can get your blood flowing and body moving without pulling yourself away from your to-do list. It’s simple, yet targeted enough to help you tone and tighten right from your desk chair. Pair this with a walk on your break, and you’ll reap the physical and mental benefits of exercise, all before happy hour! Now that’s work-life balance.
Are you ready for the workout? Let’s go!
Chair Squat/Air Sit
Start seated at the end of your chair with heels firmly planted into the ground. Sit up tall with your chest lifted and core engaged. Press your heels into the floor to lift your booty off the chair about 2 inches. Hold and hoover for about 30 seconds.
Glute Squeeze x15 (to avoid dead booty!)
This is an isometric move to get your booty woke. Squeeze your glutes as hard as you can and hold for 10 seconds. Release and repeat.
Toe Touches x20
Seated, reach your right arm straight toward the sky, extend your left leg, and engage your core to lift the leg as you lower the arm to touch your toe. Lower and repeat, alternating sides.
Tricep Dips x15
Start seated on the edge of a stationary chair. Position your hands shoulder-width apart on the chair, then move your booty off the front with your legs extended out in front of you (the straighter your legs, the harder you'll work).
Begin to bend your arms to 90 degrees as you lower your hips toward the floor. Straighten your arms, squeezing into your triceps and lifting your hips. Lower and repeat.
Bicycle Crunches x20
Seated, gently place your hands behind your head, elbows out wide. Sit up tall with your chest lifted. Lift your left knee toward your chest as you rotate through the spine, twisting your right elbow across to the left side of your body. Return to start and repeat, alternating sides.
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The Importance of Mentors & How to Find Them
They are out they and they want to be found.
"Get mentors." That's Alexa von Toble's advice to young entrepreneurs.
Von Toble, who remains CEO of LearnVest, the financial planning company which sold for more than $250 million in 2015, echoes something we've always promoted at Create & Cultivate.
Mentors are not only a wealth of information for the career-driven young-preneur, they also help boost your confidence by given you actionable advice. Something we consider vital when you're starting out.
So why mentors?
Mentors are inspiring
Ask any successful person about their career trajectory and they will always cite people who have inspired them. They have stories that push us to work harder. They've made mistakes we can learn from. They have wins that keep us going.
It's like having an inspirational professional playbook.
Mentors tell you when you should do better
Constructive criticism is easier to take from a mentor than from a boss. If you've chosen one or two people who you really trust, then you can remove any workplace issues or resentments that make it hard to hear what your boss (or superior) is saying.
No one likes being told that they're wrong. Or that their work needs improvement. But when it is coming from an objective third party, it's much easier to stomach and will likely inspire you to *gasp* do better.
Mentors have key relationships
If you impress your mentor, chances are they are going to find a way to connect you to other people who matter, professionally speaking. Often this can happen naturally. People who are willing to be mentors like connecting the dots and as such, will connect the dots.
Plus paying it forward is a win-win. When you are in a position to introduce them or connect them to new clients, do it.
Mentors know what it takes to make it
Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. That's what it takes, and when you're midnight-deep in another oil burner at the office, and you don't think you can do it anymore, a text to your mentor that reminds you they were once (and probably still are — because making it means even later hours) in the same boat, goes a long way.
They've also heard "NO" a million ways and never gave up.
A little bit of encouragement from someone you respect and trust? That's the juice that turns into a money-making smoothie.
Just because you’ve made it, doesn’t mean you don’t need a mentor
Sophia Rivka Rossi co-founder of HelloGiggles, has “made it” by most professional standards. The feel-good company online platform was acquired by TIME last year for an estimated $30 million. And yet, when speaking with Elizabeth Rice and Julie Cutler, co-founders of SoulCycle, she cited both women as her mentors, and who she continues to look to for for inspiration. Smart, savvy, successful business women never stop learning. It's how you grow. Even when you think you're tall AF — there are still professional inches to be gained.
Where to find them
One, at Create & Cultivate. Have you become an insider yet?
Two, six degrees of separation is real. One very simple way to see who knows who you want to know, is to look through who your friends follow on Instagram. You'd be surprised to find out how interwoven our lives are. Then, craft that DM and tell person X that you'd love to bring them coffee and take 15 minutes of their time.
It could be the beginning of an amazing working relationship.
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Desk-Side: This Successful Style Influencer Shares What It Takes to Build a Full-Time Blogging Career
“Sometimes I wish that I had a superpower where I snap my fingers and everything is organized.”
If you’re looking for a new style muse, look no further than Sheryl Luke. As the voice behind Walk in Wonderland, she’s made her blog her full-time venture—something many of us only dream of doing. That’s why we partnered with Glade® Essentials Room Mist to hear Sheryl’s advice on what it takes to become a blogger and influencer full-time. See her sage wisdom below!
Q: How long has LA been your home?
A: I’ve lived in Los Angeles for about 13 years. I live with my husband and my puppy.
Q: How long have you been a blogger? What’s your favorite thing about being a blogger?
A: I’ve been blogging for about five years now. The most rewarding part about being a full-time blogger is that I get to make my own work schedule.
Q: How do you start your day?
A: To start my day I love a fresh cup of coffee, and I love a clean scent.
Q: What tips do you have for someone looking to be a blogger?
A: For anyone starting in the industry, my tip would be to have a good, strong work ethic. I think that’s gotten me to where I am.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of being an influencer?
A: Because I live and work in the same space, I have to find new ways of staying productive, so my productivity hack is actually getting ready. It keeps me in my work mode all day long. I’m super blessed to be doing what I’m doing, but if there’s one thing that I find challenging is constantly staying creative. But the fun part is I get to dress up every day and work with a ton of amazing friends from fashion to beauty and lifestyle. My typical work day is answering my emails, scouting locations, prepping looks. But if there’s one thing I wish I had more time for is actually shooting.
Q: How do you create an inspiring workspace even when you’re working from home?
A: Through scent. I use Glade Essentials Room Mist Mandarin & Mimosa and the bright scent keeps me going all day long. I wish you could smell it; it reminds me of Capri Blue’s Volcano candle!
Q: How do you finish your day?
A: After a long day, I love to unwind. So I shut my computer down, set aside my phone, spend time with my husband, and take my puppy for a walk. One other thing I’ve also been enjoying is also cooking. I’ve been cooking a lot of Indian food lately.
“For anyone starting in the industry, my tip would be to have a good, strong work ethic. I think that’s gotten me to where I am.”
Q: What’s your favorite fashion piece you own?
A: The one thing I cherish most is my mom’s vintage earrings. They’re from the ’80s, and they stay really close to my heart.
Q: What’s one question you always get asked?
A: People always ask, “Why Walk In Wonderland?” I’ve always wanted a huge, walk-in closet where I walk in and feel like I’m in Wonderland.
Q: Do you have any habits you wish you could break?
A: I hit snooze a lot. I snooze between 30 minutes sometimes to even an hour. And I’m a bit of a mess. Sometimes I wish that I had a superpower where I snap my fingers and everything is organized.
Q: If you weren’t blogging, what would you do?
A: If I wasn’t blogging, I’d probably have a clothing store.
See Sheryl’s full interview below:
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"I Weigh the Sum of All My Motherf*cking Parts" — Jameela Jamil on Feminism, Inclusion & Impossible Body Standards
“Make space, don’t take space.”
Listening to Jameela Jamil talk about her philosophy on womanhood, success, and inclusion is like taking a breath of the freshest air you’ve ever inhaled. She’s unlike anyone else in Hollywood, sharing her fears and failures like badges of honor and taking down the patriarchy along the way. When she left the stage at our Desert Pop Up event this past weekend, we sat in awe processing everything she’d just laid out on the table. Lucky for you, we took notes—and some of our favorite takeaways from her keynote are below. Scroll through for inspiration from a woman who’s had enough of the status quo and is fighting to make the world a better place for all of us—both on Instagram and off…and go listen to her WorkParty episode for more!
“Trying is winning. I think we put too much emphasis on what we think success is. There’s so much to be had in just trying, and that’s where the real guts come from.”
“If you’re going to be an activist or feminist, you have to be willing to take an L and know that we don’t know everything. We have to be willing to shut up, listen, and learn, and not be too proud about it.”
“We’re all feminists in progress who said weird problematic shit when we were younger, and now we’re all growing up and out of it. We’re having to unlearn so much of our own internalized misogyny, and we have to not shame each other for that.”
“I am done with the idea of the “icon.” I want an icon I can relate to and see myself in.”
“I was told I was too old, too fat, and too ethnic for Hollywood, but I’m here today. Don’t listen to people who project their fears on you.”
“The next generation is f*cking done being excluded and looking up to a white straight thin version of what we are supposed to be. We’re done with the dinosaurs…and I’m here to kill the last of them.”
“It pays to include minorities, so do it.”
“If a man is attractive, it’s considered a bonus. For us, it’s the basic foundation of our worth. We have to be the Victoria’s Secret model, but they just have to be successful enough to fuck the Victoria’s Secret model.”
“I am done with the idea of the “icon.” I want an icon I can relate to and see myself in.”
“I weigh the sum of all my motherf*cking parts.”
“Stop being so worried about being fucking likable—it’s not your responsibility to make people happy.”
“All the things we want are readily available to us; we just don’t know we’re allowed to ask for them.”
“Build yourself up from the inside. Go to therapy! Spend all the money you’d spend on bullshit face creams on saving yourself first. You are the most important person in every way.”
“I have a strong elimination diet around anyone that brings toxicity into my circle.”
“The amount that all of us, especially women of color, have been through is ridiculous. You are walking miracles.”
“Make space, don’t take space. We’re told there’s room for one, but that’s a lie. There’s room for loads of us.”
“This is now a time of sisterhood. Seeing how high my activism has risen, seeing how I’ve been embraced for being so outspoken, so rude—-by even the media and men—-is a sign that change is here.”
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C&C Classifieds: Color Camp, ID Group Live, The Brand Guild, & More!
Your dream job is out there.
ID Group Live - West Hollywood, CA
CURIO - Remote
NestSet - Remote
Dear Media - West Hollywood, CA
DBA - New York, NY
Mailchimp - Atlanta, GA
Brainjolt - Remote
General Assembly - Remote
SundaySky - New York, NY