Taking a rest day today and focusing on something a little different – boosting your immunity this fall. With the changing seasons come seasonal illnesses. If you interact with other people at all, chances are you’re coming into contact with tons of germs and bacteria. I’m not a germaphobe by any means, but I do hate getting sick.
I’m lucky if I can get through the winter with only one cold or sinus infection, in the past I’ve had much worse luck. However, I’ve learned with certain preventative measures and understanding when my body needs a break, I can stay healthy and avoid getting sick.
Note: I’m not a licensed medical professional by any means, these are just little habits I personally have that help me feel my best :).
Boosting Your Immunity This Fall
Vitamin C
Studies are mixed, but I absolutely swear by vitamin C. I drink a packet of Emergen-C every day and eat lots of citrus fruits. If you’re worried about sugar content there are pills you can take as well. Call it a placebo effect, but sometimes that isn’t such a bad thing.
Sleep
Lots of it. 7-8 hours is optimal. Lack of sleep suppresses your immune system which makes you more likely to get sick. Whatever you’re doing can wait – you won’t be nearly as productive if you’re sick. Get those zzz’s.
Shots
Medical professionals agree that getting the flu shot is the best thing you can do. I like to supplement with B12 shots if I’m feeling a little under the weather or about to embark on travel. B12 shots are especially beneficial if you’re vegetarian/vegan (you likely have a B12 deficiency) or need a little boost in energy.
Liquids
Water, water, water! When I feel a little tickle in my throat I also add in tea and juice. I LOVE this ginger honey tea and will always run to my nearest juice bar to pick up a juice (anything with extra ginger!!) and an “immunity shot.” You can also make one yourself – wellness shots typically include ginger, honey, and cayenne pepper. If you’re in LA, my favorite juice bar is Beverly Hills Juice Club – get the apple lemon triple ginger and feel yourself get better instantly.
I load up on ginger and garlic (<<yep!!) and avoid sugar. Oh, and everything you’ve heard about chicken soup? It’s actually good for you. Try bone broth too!
Hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween weekend! I’ll be curled up in bed today working on some upcoming projects (blog and non-blog related).
Something that’s been on my mind a lot lately is the concept of self-love. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m my own worst critic and a bit too self-deprecating at times. We’re so hard on ourselves, that sometimes we forget how important it is to be kind to yourself.
Be Kind to Yourself
I see it all the time – we criticize our bodies, our appearance, our performance, the list goes on. It doesn’t help that we’re told to be so many different things – sometimes conflicting, oftentimes straddling a fine line between “good” and “bad.”
You should be confident and assertive (too much means you’re arrogant, though). You should also be humble and gracious (but not too much). Be kind, but don’t let others walk all over you. Stand up for yourself, but don’t be a bully.
What I’ve learned over the years is that every rose has its thorn – meaning every quality has its good and bad sides. There is no character trait that is universally thought of as positive – so why are we always beating ourselves up over our flaws?
So now I’m trying to focus more on being kind to myself. I’ve shared before that for a long time I didn’t feel comfortable calling myself a blogger because I didn’t feel that I had earned the title. It made me realize that I needed believe in myself and celebrate small milestones more. It’s important to not beat ourselves up over every little thing. After all, can you really expect someone else to love you or believe in you if you don’t love yourself? There’s nothing wrong with being your own biggest fan.
What I’m NOT saying is to just completely give up and accept the status quo as it is. And herein lies the contradiction – it’s important to be self-aware, to reflect, and strive to be a better person. But at the same time we all need to practice a little more self-love.
This past Saturday, Her Campus hosted their very first College Fashion Week in LA. I had the pleasure to attend with Foray Collective and loved supporting this great cause. Her Campus’s mission is to empower college women, and LA College Fashion Week was the perfect outlet to do so.
LA College Fashion Week
It was amazing to see a site that I’ve followed since my college days hosting such an incredible event. Her Campus co-founder and President, Windsor Hanger Western (TOTAL #girlboss!) said: “College Fashion Week is about celebrating real women’s bodies and highlighting fashion as a form of self-expression.”
The models in the show were all real college women that had never modeled before. It was incredible watching these girls walk the runway for the very first time, but what was even more incredible was how supportive and enthusiastic all of the attendees were! The girls were cheering on the models and so excited to be there. It’s always so uplifting to see young women supporting and empowering one another – something we should all do!
Foray sponsored a fun festival themed segment of the show with LA based brand Delacy – the brand I’m wearing here.
I had a blast hanging with Tiana, Kaitlyn, and Kelsey of Foray Collective, and Evelina. I’ve followed these girls for a while and each of them is a girl boss in her own way!
Happy Fridayy! We’re in a bit of a heat wave at the moment. So, the jackets have been on pause this week. But in the spirit of fall, I wanted to quickly share a brand that I’ve been loving lately – Band of Gypsies. This line is a must for anyone who loves bohemian inspired pieces. They take inspiration from icons such as Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, and Janis Joplin. Band of Gypsies carries amazing prints and textures that are total wardrobe must-haves, and the best part is hardly anything is over $100.
A huge highlight of blogging has been building relationships with brands. Especially ones that I wore and loved for years before I ever even considered starting a blog, Band of Gypsies being one of them! The new fall/winter line is cuuuute and I’ve linked some of my faves below.
Also if you’re in LA, let’s hang!
This weekend Her Campus, the number one new-media brand for the empowered college woman, is hosting its first ever LA College Fashion Week. College Fashion Week is about celebrating real women’s bodies and highlighting fashion as a form of self-expression.
I’m really excited to support this empowering experience. It leaves college women feeling confident and inspired. I know myself and many other women suffered from body image issues in high school and college, so I’m proud to attend this event with Her Campus. If you’re in the LA area and also interested in supporting this incredible program, details are below. And a BIG thank you to the event sponsors: Foray Collective, Delacy, DryBar, Rebecca Minkoff, Vince Camuto, Fitbit, Bertha Watches, and Perfumania.
What: LA College Fashion Week
Date: Saturday, October 22nd
Time: 6-9pm Tickets Here
Hi loves! As you may have seen on my Instagram, I had the opportunity to attend Create + Cultivate Atlanta last weekend as Bebe’s brand ambassador. The weekend was a TOTAL whirlwind, and I finally had the chance to sit down and collect my thoughts on the conference. If you haven’t attended Create + Cultivate before, I would recommend going at some point if you can. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the experience left me feeling incredibly uplifted, rejuvenated, and inspired to continue my journey as a content creator.
Create + Cultivate Atlanta Recap
I took a red-eye to Atlanta Friday night, landed at 5am, took a quick nap at my Airbnb, and then got ready for the conference. Physically, I was exhausted, but mentally I was stimulated and completely awake the second I got to Create + Cultivate Atlanta. Immediately you are surrounded by almost 500 women that share a common interest and goal: creating. You can instantly feel the energy in the room. The day is jam-packed with speakers and panels, but you can take it at whatever pace you like.
The conference was a well oiled machine – practically every little detail imaginable was thought out. The entire space is a Pinterest lover’s dream, and every corner is Instagram-able. I loved the beauty lounge (for makeup and hair touches throughout the day, as well as free mini massages and manicures!) and the snack/refreshment stations that were set up around the building.
One of the highlights of the conference was definitely the mentor session – small group sessions with an influencer who acts as your “mentor” and answers all of your burning questions.
These sessions alone are incredibly valuable and worth attending for! I know for me, it’s much less intimidating to ask questions in a small group than in a large crowd. The intimate settings allow you to get to know your mentor and some other girls better than you would be able to otherwise. I will say that meeting Jessi Malay of My White T was one of the highlights of the day – she is truly as talented, savvy, and beautiful IRL as she is online!
I won’t go into the details of every panel I sat in, but I will summarize the two main themes I heard over and over again throughout the day.
Focus on yourself.
This came up so many times at Create + Cultivate Atlanta.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
“You have to just do you.”
“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”
It all comes down to the same message: focus on yourself, not what other people are doing.
Nicole Richie was asked about the difference between being competitive and ambitious.
Her response? No one should ever be competitive. Because being competitive means that you are inherently comparing yourself to someone else. Be ambitious – strive for more, but not at the expense of comparing yourself to someone else. You are building the career you want for yourself, so what someone else is doing shouldn’t matter.
I couldn’t agree more with this advice. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but if there’s one lesson I’ve learned in my almost 1 year of blogging, it’s to focus on yourself and not what others are doing. Spending your precious time and energy thinking about other people and what they’re doing will only hold you back. You’re the only one that can live your life, so make the most of it. Take your journey at your own pace, and make sure to celebrate small victories along the way.
Find your people.
Every single speaker, founder, business owner, & entrepreneur at the event attributed some part of her success to the people that have supported them. When you have a solid support network, it makes a journey that can feel overwhelming and scary that much easier. I’m not saying surround people that only tell you you’re the shit, I’m saying surround yourself with people that care about you, will listen to you, and support you through the ups and downs. These are the people that matter – always make time for them. Blogging can be incredibly time consuming, but I will always make time for the people that matter most – my family, boyfriend, and close friends. They’re the ones that have believed in me and supported me, the least I could do in return is give them my love, support, and time.
To hear such successful and creative women say the same things over and over was truly empowering. Whether you’re just launching your blog, a slightly experience blogger, or have been at the game for years, Create + Cultivate is an event that sparks a fire within. I can’t express enough how happy I was to attend Create + Cultivate Atlanta.
If I had to sum up the experience in one word: inspiring.
It was so inspiring to see these women that have built brands and communities out of nothing. To hear them talk candidly about their successes and failures.
It’s so crazy how an entire industry has evolved over the past decade, and the digital space continues to grow.
And of course, a huge thank you to Bebe for bringing me on as their brand ambassador for the weekend. It was an honor working with a brand that I grew up with, and one that I’m more than happy to become reacquainted with. Their new collection is stunning, and this top and embellished skirt combo was the perfect outfit for a long day in Atlanta.
Thanks for following along! My mind is totally buzzing now thinking of what to do and where to go next. And if there’s ever anything you’d love to see or hear more of, let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email/Instagram DM/Snapchat/etc. I love hearing from you guys : ).
