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Author: madewithjoy

Made With Joy is a fashion, lifestyle, adventure blog featuring the latest fashion trends, travel tips, influencer tricks & DIY hacks.

Ways You Can Help With California Fires

I ‘ve lived in SoCal for more than half of my life and moved to Los Angeles as I pursued fashion design; however, I grew up in Ventura County. I am fortunate to hear that my family is still okay and weren’t asked to evacuate yet, there are still many people in need. The past few days have been unsettling for me. Three wildfires in California have displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed thousands of homes and so far 44 people have died. I also have family in Nor Cal and as of Tuesday, 125,000 acres had been burned by the fire, called the Camp Fire. It has turned into the most destructive in the state’s history and one the most deadly fires.

Here’s how you can help:

  1. Research before you donate – Charity Navigator is a great source to consult.
  2. Donate money – go directly to Go Fund Me and research Woolsey Fire, Hill Fire, Camp Fire. Spread out your donations between all the families that need it. Even $10 is helpful. Some people think $10 isn’t a lot but when 10 people donate $10, that fire survivor now has $100 and they can now buy new necessities.
  3. Donate your time and volunteer – There’s many volunteer opportunities available and you can find them here —–>  California Volunteers
  4. American Red Cross – The Red Cross is providing both shelter and emotional support for evacuees. You can text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make an automatic $10 donation.
  5. Baby2Baby is distributing essential items to children affected by the ongoing fires. Help them supply diapers, wipes, blankets, and other basic baby needs by purchasing from their registry.
  6. Los Angeles Fire Department – You can donate directly and help them save lives.
  7. California Fire Foundation – is a nonprofit that is distributing emergency funds to fire victims, including distributing prepaid credit cards to help victims buy food, clothing, and shelter.
  8. AirBnB – They launched a program that asks people to open their homes to those affected by the fires. Until Nov. 29, the company is allowing residents to mark their homes as a place for evacuees and aid workers to stay for free.
  9. Humane Society Of Ventura County – This nonprofit is accepting donations to help animals displaced by the Woolsey and Hill Fires. It is taking in domestic animals, such as dogs, cats and birds, as well as livestock.
  10. Caring Choices – This nonprofit, which is in Chico, Calif., has turned into a hub for organizing volunteers to help those affected by the Camp Fire. Volunteers are assigned a variety of duties, including caring for displaced animals and, for those who are certified doctors or nurses, offering medical care.
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How Jen Made Her Freelance Bizz Her Full Time Gig Along With Travel Blogging

Hi Babes,

For this week’s Influencer Tips Thursday, we are learning so much from Jen & how she managed to make her freelance bizz now her full time gig along with travel blogging. She has so many insider insights, so let’s get to it!

Who are you and where are you from?

I’m Jen, a freelance copywriter, social media manager, and travel blogger. I’m originally
from Michigan (shout out to all my Midwesterners!) and I’ve been living in Los Angeles
for the past 10 years.

What is your brand about and what made you start it?

My brand is a combo of my professional freelance work and my blog, Jen on the Run. I
started my freelance writing business about a year and a half ago, and I’ve been
blogging for about six months. I have been writing for a long time, but never for myself –
it was always for college assignments, former bosses, or clients. Last spring, I attended
the 3-day conference, ALT Summit in Palm Springs, which opened my eyes to the world
of blogging. I realized I could combine my love of writing with my love of travel by
blogging. All the tools were within my reach, so why not go for it?

Do you have another job outside of being a (blogger/influencer/entrepreneur)?

Yes – the work that I do for clients as a freelancer – but I tend to marry these two paths,
since blogging, social media management, and writing all involve complementary skills.
When I was previously working in PR for a firm, I used to say that my freelance
business was my “side hustle.” Now, my freelance biz is my full-time, 9-5 job, and my
blog is how I like to spend my spare time!!

Is it difficult to balance your work life and passion project(s)?

Surprisingly, yes. It might not look like it from the outside though, because I work from home. So many people (myself included) think that they can accomplish ANYTHING if they just didn’t have that commute, long hours at another job, or school assignments… the list goes on. The reality is that it’s just about time management.

What do you love the most about being an influencer?

I love having the opportunity to share, and I love having the opportunity to listen. I like
understanding what people respond to and what people don’t, learning from that and
always growing. I have always sought ways to reflect and achieve personal growth, and
running a blog and being an influencer is a great way to practice that.

What do you think is the hardest thing about being an influencer?

The weight of words. Typing anything and publishing it online means it could be there
indefinitely – as long as the website is still up. I think traditionally, people have put a lot
of weight on having their words in print, but print has a shelf life. A blog or an online
article doesn’t.

What are three tips you can give to someone who also wants to be an influencer like you?
1. Just do it. I spent so many years fixating on what my Instagram feed should look
like or what niche I wanted to be in. Really, just get started. Don’t worry about
being perfect. That’s just the thing – everything evolves. You learn and grow.
Whatever is “perfect” today will be even “more perfect” six months from now.

2. Don’t be shy. This is a tough one for me. Own it, and don’t worry about bragging.
It’s not bragging. It’s you sharing something that someone else might find
genuinely useful or beneficial. I used to think that pitching myself meant I was
stuck up and full of myself. Now I realize pitching is an essential tool in order to
get yourself and your message out there.

3. Sign off. Really, I need to follow this advice myself. Most days I feel like I’m on
my computer or checking my phone from 8am – 11pm. But if you’re already
working from home, why not go for a 30-minute walk? I have to remind myself of
this constantly.

What are your goals and where do you see yourself a year from now? & where do you hope to be in 3 – 5 years?

Right now, most of my business is fueled by the services I offer as a freelancer; writing
and social media, and my blog is my creative outlet. I love working with clients,
understanding their needs and business goals, and working hard to share mission with
their audience. Similarly, I’d like to accomplish that with my blog and learn how to
monetize it better. Ideally in 3-5 years, I’d be in a place where I’m balancing both.

Who/what inspires you or keeps you motivated to do what you do?

Really, it’s my followers. The people who leave comments on my Instagram and blog
posts, open my emails and follow me back. It really makes my day when someone
shares their genuine thoughts on something I’ve written. That’s why I keep going.

What’s your favorite app aside from instagram?
Pinterest, of course!

What’s your next project and how can we support you?

Right now I’m really working on getting my emails up running. I’d love it if you signed up for my email newsletter! I even have a couple freebies right now – an ultimate packing list for anywhere in the world and also 15 inspiring writing prompts.

How important is it to you to make genuine connections/friendships through social media/in our industry & why?

 I think the beauty of our modern digital age is that it has opened up a lot of doors. Now, connecting is as simple as sending a DM or leaving a nice comment that might just make someone’s day. I’ve met up with other influencers I’ve met online, and really can’t believe how easy it is to just reach out, message someone, and then there you go – you have a new brunch bud. I believe everyone has something to offer, and the person next to me knows more about something that I do. Why not strike up a conversation and learn from them?

Where can we find you in social media?(state your social media handles/blog/website)

Blog & email freebies: www.jenontherun.com
Insta: www.instagram.com/jp_ontherun/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/jp_ontherun/
Twitter: twitter.com/jp_ontherun

What are you looking forward to the most from Influencer Girl Gang and what do you hope to acquire from joining us?  I’m so happy I found the Influencer Girl Gang and I can’t wait to attend one of the meetups soon!

Hope this blogpost was helpful to you and other inspiring entrepreneurs out there to pursue their passion.

Xo,

Joy

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Golden Magenta Roccoco Style

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Hope everyone had an amazing Halloween this year! For this year’s Halloween I decided to take a fashion editorial shoot using the Roccoco Fashion as an inspiration. I created this headpiece with fall colored flowers and painted the sticks gold. For my outfit, I decided to use a vibrant magenta charmeuse to complete the look and made a blousony dress. I wanted this photoshoot to focus more on the dramatic hair and make up done by my dear friend, Celina

Photography: Eduardo Salazar

I enjoyed doing this photoshoot so much and the process on making this happen. For my fellow creators and my viewers, do you prefer this high fashion content or more of everyday lifestyle?

Xo,

Joy

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How This Military Wife Turned Her Personal Blog About LDR Into A Lifestyle Brand

Hi Babes,

For this week’s Influencer Tips Thursday, we are learning so much from Roxci & how she actually started her blog because she had too many feelings about her long distance relationship that she needed to unload. Until a few years later, she now blogs about her military wife lifestyle, travels and all the products she loves. She has so many insider insights, so let’s get to it!

Who are you and where are you from?

I’m Roxci, a military spouse lifestyle and travel blogger. I was born in the Philippines, raised in both Singapore and Manila, and now I’m in San Diego because of my husband’s military training. We move to Hawaii soon though!

What is your brand about and what made you start it?

I started my blog as a way to just unload all the emotions I had while I was going through a long distance relationship. Soon, I started receiving messages and emails from both friends and strangers telling me how my posts helped them hold on to their long distance relationships despite all the struggles of being affiliated with the military.

At the heart of it all, I loved getting to know that I was helping people by just being me. I talked about things I was going through, products I loved, and advice for military spouses.

Do you have another job outside of being a (blogger/influencer/entrepreneur)?

Now, I serve as a full time content creator for my blog. In the past, I’ve worked in corporate in the fields of advertising and business development. I also have an extensive experience writing for different publications — been writing since college. Basically, I like to talk a lot. Haha!

Is it difficult to balance your work life and passion project(s)?

Since I am a full time content creator, my work is my passion. I’m constantly driven to think of new ideas, new ways of shooting products, and new collaboration opportunities, because of the fact that I love what I do.

What do you love the most about being an influencer?

Honestly, what I love the most is knowing I have people who trust me enough to follow my advice and try the products I recommend. It’s one way I know I really am making a difference in someone else’s life by being an influencer.

What do you think is the hardest thing about being an influencer?

I’d have to say the hardest thing about being an influencer is… Instagram’s ever changing algorithm! Hahaha!

Another challenging aspect is the fact that sometimes I feel like I can’t completely switch off from working — even when I’m on vacation. I’m always scouting for areas to shoot, taking and editing photos, filming videos, taking down notes — the list goes on. But again, I love what I do, so it’s worth it!

What are three tips you can give to someone who also wants to be an influencer like you?

  1. Have a long term goal. || Goals will give you a sense of direction in the things you’re doing. They’ll keep you focused and help you realize how much you’ve been growing in your career.
  1. Be authentic. || Don’t recommend something you don’t believe in because once your followers know you’re lying, it’s going to be so much harder repairing your relationship with them.
  1. Be kind. || Never ever think you’re better than anybody because you have a bigger following than him/her. There’s a fine line between knowing what your worth and shoving it in everyone else’s face.

What are your goals and where do you see yourself a year from now? & where do you hope to be in 3 – 5 years?

We’re moving to Hawaii soon because of my husband’s orders, so my short term goals are to find a house, get settled, and gain a network of blogger friends based in Oahu. In 3-5 years, I hope I get to connect with more people all around the world, have great relationships with the brands I’ve worked with, and make a few products of my own.

Who/what inspires you or keeps you motivated to do what you do?

I’d have to say my husband is my #1 inspiration because he’s one of my cheerleaders when it comes to blogging. The fact that he lets me shed a lot of light in our relationship, when he’s a private person, is such a big thing — and I love him even more for it.

What’s your favorite app aside from instagram?

Facebook, Lightroom, and Unum.

What’s your next project and how can we support you?

I’ve collaborated with a preset creator recently and now I’m her partner when it comes to selling her Lightroom presets in the US market. It’d be great if you could support by buying a preset or 2. 🙂

https://www.signedbyroxci.com/blog/how-i-edit-my-photos

How important is it to you to make genuine connections/friendships through social media/in our industry & why?

It’s incredibly important because most of the connections start online, and it’s so much better if they’re taken offline as well. I love getting to know the friends I’ve made through social media by actually meeting up with them for coffee. Even just getting to know them by engaging consistently on their posts and stories is a good idea.

Genuine relationships take time and effort to develop but it’s worth a lot, especially when you want to know more about the industry you’re in.

What does female empowerment and girls supporting girls mean to you?

I feel like girls deserve to acknowledge that they are unique and beautiful in their own way. So instead of trying to be someone they’re not, they should just be who they are — as raw and real as it may seem. If girls recognize this, then they’ll feel empowered in their own way, and in turn, they’ll want to spread that self-love with the people they surround themselves with.

Where can we find you in social media?(state your social media handles/blog/website)

https://signedbyroxci.com

https://instagram.com/signedbyroxci

What are you looking forward to the most from Influencer Girl Gang and what do you hope to acquire from joining us?

I’d love to broaden my network with the help of the Influencer Girl Gang. I feel like blogging is such a niche of its own, and the only people who really understand it, are the ones who are go getters and have their eyes on the prize. I’d love to have a group of girlfriends who keep me motivated and inspire me to be better.

Hope this blogpost was helpful to you and other inspiring entrepreneurs out there to pursue their passion.

Xo,

Joy

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Why It’s So Much More Fun To Go To A Pumpkin Patch Than Just Buying A Pumpkin

Soooooo let’s begin with I’m not from here and I wasn’t raised here in the U.S. Maybe that’s why I’ve never been in a pumpkin patch before (so don’t judge me lol) and I might’ve over done it this year as I’ve already gone twice this month! So you can just imagine the look in my face when my boyfriend brought to my first pumpkin patch earlier this month at Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch. I was like “Omgggg this is better than a fair!!! There’s dogs everywhere!” I loved it so much that I also hosted the second Influencer Girl Gang Meet Up event at Tanaka Farms. But other than dogs, here’s the main reasons why I personally love going to pumpkin patches rather than just staying at home carving store bought pumpkins.

  1. It’s just a ginormous place of magical pumpkin land. Every corner is pretty much a photo opp and insta worthy.

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2. There’s sunflowers!!! (Ok, maybe I just got lucky but both pumpkin patches, I’ve           gone to had sunflowers.)

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3. UMMMMNNN. CORN MAZZZZEEEE FUN! Need to say more?

4. It’s just a fun place to be with you girl friends or your significant other!

Have you gone to a pumpkin patch near you? Don’t forget to do so this year & enjoy the festivities!

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3 REASONS WHY FALL IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MAMMOTH LAKES

1. It’s off season = not the busiest time of the year since summer just ended and winter is about to come; therefore, less crowds, less people. Yeyyy! With fewer visitors, accommodations and Airbnb is actually cheaper.

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2. The BEST weather EVER! I was able to do the whole 3 mile walk around Convict Lake wearing Reebok’s Pure Move Bra and North Face Windbreaker. The average temperature ranged between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. But it wasn’t really until the sun was setting did I need my windbreaker as it got a little bit more chilly.

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What I love about my Reebok’s Pure Move Bra is how it’s natural shape literally feels like it’s molded for your body with free-cut edges that allow you to move freely-from the gym to a hike to a brunch with friends. The fabric almost feels like your second skin. I also love how modest this bra looks that I didn’t feel self conscious walking around without a top covering me.

***I was gifted this product, but all views are my own and I was wearing a size M Bra.***

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3. MAJESTIC VIEWS AND FALL HEAVEN!!! – I mean where else can you find this view? Like how is this even real? I honestly lost it and just fell in love. As I walk around Convict Lake, I cant help but marvel at the sight of golden Aspen leaves everywhere. It almost looks like real gold when the sun hits the leaves. And seeing all of the trees together with different colors was truly a stunning sight to see!

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I hope you find your way to squeeze in some time to go to Mammoth Lakes soon before winter starts. It’s a lot more amazing in person, I promise! Happy Fall!

 

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How She Became An Influencer + How Important Authenticity is.

Hi Babes,

For this week’s Influencer Tips Thursday, we are learning so much from Camly on how she became an influencer & how important authenticity is! She has so much insider insights so let’s get to it!

Who are you and where are you from?

My name is Camly, and I’m a Vietnamese American who is LA born and raised.  My parents are both refugees from the Vietnam war, and my dad was a POW so the Vietnamese part of me is near and dear to my heart.  I graduated from UCLA so I’m a Bruin through and through.

What is your brand about and what made you start it?

My brand is just me, Camly. The crazy thing was it was my personal Instagram; I wasn’t necessarily looking to build it into a brand. I think one thing I realized was being myself and also wanting to break the mold of what a “influencer” should be was important to me. I want people to see my account, and see themselves. I want girls to see a normal, average height, average sized girl doing extraordinary things and know they can be that too.

Do you have another job outside of being a (blogger/influencer/entrepreneur)?

By day I’m a data analyst for a nonprofit in DTLA, called LA Promise Fund. I love my full-time job because it always allows me to keep perspective of life and what’s going on. I work with youth in South LA who’ve had to experience more life in some ways than I have. Its a constant reminder of the change I want to be able to make. I’m fortunate enough that my job allows for flexibility, while still feeding my soul to help others and make a difference.

Is it difficult to balance your work life and passion project(s)?

Of course, if it was easy everyone would be doing it, but I think the best things in life don’t come easy. They require commitment, sacrifice, and drive; at the end of the day I see the hard work as always worth it. I want to see how far I can push myself, how much I can do, what my limit is; there’s no better time to do that while I am in my 20s without kids or a marriage. Being able to explore these things has also redefined those goals; I actually think about whether I want a traditional family. My passion project has redefined what I’m passionate about. I’ve thought about adopting, about starting my own company. It is difficult hold that down while still working full time, but without doing both I don’t think I’d dream as big as I do. I don’t think I would have experienced what I have. I’m grateful that its been a roller coaster; where I’ve dealt with health issues that put me on bed rest post surgery for 2 months. It all gives you perspective about what’s important, and also what really matters to you.

What do you love the most about being an influencer?

That I have the power to make a difference; whether thats promoting a brand I love or sharing about something I care about. The term “influencer” means you have influence, and at the end of the day we are all “influencers”. I love being able remind every single person who crosses my path that. I’m not “special” or “unique”; I’m like you but took my influence and ran with it so you can too!

What do you think is the hardest thing about being an influencer?

I think its the idea that my feed is my real life, and yes it is, but I also want people to know I’m a real person. I think so often people don’t see all the behind the scenes, and do share some of that but Instagram is a highlight reel. I do my best to be real, but I don’t share every moment.  Like everyone else I have a private life; in many ways I’m an open book. But, I want people to know that influencer’s feeds aren’t every part of them; its a filtered down reality.

What are three tips you can give to someone who also wants to be an influencer like you?

1) You are already an influencer. OWN THAT! KNOW THAT!

2) Be open to networking. Meet people from all walks of life, and see where that can take you.

3) Collaborate! This is a space that is meant to work with people so you’re not on your own. Bring people along for the ride.

What are your goals and where do you see yourself a year from now? & where do you hope to be in 3 – 5 years?

In a year from now I hope that my brand has grown, but I don’t necessarily have a specific goal. I want to be open to whatever happens at some point I’d want to start my own company, but I don’t want to put a timeline on that. I think we so often set these goals, and when we don’t meet them we think we failed, but thats not failure its a learning process so who knows if in 5 years my company will be up in running. No matter what I hope to still hold true to who I am, and make an impact, empower young women, and love where I’m at.

Who/what inspires you or keeps you motivated to do what you do?

My parents are one of my biggest inspirations. My dad started his own business here in LA, ran it for 23 years, and came here as a refugee and POW without any money to his name. If my dad can beat all odds, what’s stopping me? Gives me so much perspective, and the kids I work with on a daily remind me that we need to change society. If I don’t keep fighting how are things going to change. They deserve better, we deserve better, this country needs better!

What’s your favorite app aside from instagram?

Oh that’s so hard…can I be honest I don’t use many apps. I’m pretty low maintenance on apps because I want to be in the moment and a not always locked to my phone. However, GoogleCalendar is my best friend! Its how I keep track of every collaboration, every lunch meeting, and every workout session. It keeps me organized and allows me to share with friends too!

What’s your next project and how can we support you?

I’m working on building out my website. IT’S NERVE WRECKING as I took on the task on my own, but I would love any guidance I can get. Also shout out to WEOSH! I’m working closely with them to launch workshops, events, and simply opportunities to empower other women so check us out and come along for the journey.

How important is it to you to make genuine connections/friendships through social media/in our industry & why?

It is so important. I am fortunate to specifically have a girl gang I LOVE, and they truly support me and back me up. Its hard when sometimes others tear you down, and without that love and support you can get lost in the industry. In addition I love being able to mentor women; I’m so young and have so much to learn, but those mentor figures in my life have kept me sane. Trust me…I have had my moments of insanity so its important for others to keep you grounded.

What does female empowerment and girls supporting girls mean to you?

It means you are genuinely supporting other women; its not competition. When one women gets a deal, a campaign, or a promotion its a win for all women. One more step closer to even the playing field for women kind. It means setting aside your opinions to truly love without expectations; so often society pits us against each other. WE GOTTA LOVE EACH OTHER, SUPPORT EACH OTHER, and BE HAPPY FOR EACH OTHER.

Where can we find you in social media?(state your social media handles/blog/website)

Instagram: @camly.me (formerly @camly.n)

Yelp: camly.yelp.com

MORE COMING SOON, and a rebrand!

What are you looking forward to the most from Influencer Girl Gang and what do you hope to acquire from joining us?

MORE Boss Babe connections, and simply another community of amazing women I love!

 

Hope this blogpost was helpful to other aspiring influencers out there to pursue their passion.

Xo,

Joy

 

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How Traveling Can Benefit Your Mental Health x Twenty Nine Palms Holiday Inn Express Review

Did you know that traveling can be a huge benefit for your mental health? And due to today’s Mental Health Awareness Day, I wanted to write a blog post dedicated to how travel can actually benefit your mental health.

What is mental health? It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps how we determine how to handle stress, relate to others and make everyday choices. Today marks the start of mental health day. Sometimes the little things really do matter like helping a stranger, sharing a cup of coffee or simply having a chat can dramatically change a person’s day. I don’t claim to be an expert but I do know that sometimes listening is important so listen up, talk more, take a break and support each other.

Also, take a vacation, a change of scenery or even just a few hours down the road can magically improve your mental health. A lot of people normally ask me, as a designer – how do you manage to travel so much or go on many road trips on weekends? My answer is always because I absolutely need it. I’ve made traveling and adventuring become a part of my lifestyle because I truly believe that it heals me & it helps me keep my sanity & gives me that small break that I need. So here’s other few reasons why traveling is good for you.

  1. It’s another form of stress relief except more fun – Traveling helps us take a break from our constant boring routine from our day to day lives. It helps us escape our responsibilities for a bit and our worries!
  2. Excitement and happiness is boosted before you travel – Have you ever noticed how happy and excited you are right before your trip? Yes, that alone is healing to your body and mind. When we get so pumped about how much fun you’re going to have in your trip, that’s when you’re the happiest and when you’re actually doing what you had planned to do.
  3. It enhances your creativity – Have you noticed that most artists, designers, writers get their inspiration from a place or their latest trip or vacation? Maybe it’s because when our mind is at rest – that’s when we learn and soak in as much knowledge and inspiration the most. Plus, seeing/experiencing things you’ve never done before is always a great tool how to see things in a different light.
  4. It makes or break your relationships – Traveling helps you learn how you react with certain situations – it helps you as a person and how you adapt to certain unexpected scenarios and it also helps you learn what you can and cannot tolerate from another person. When put in a foreign country/place and you have a traveling buddy, it either strengthens your relationship or breaks it. Either way, it teaches you a lesson.
  5. It’s just so much fun – When you feel happy, your brain is happy. You get to experience life and things you’ve never done or seen before and because of this you’re constantly adapting and becoming the person you’re meant to be.

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I stayed at Twenty Nine Palms Holiday Inn Express, which is situated along Highway 62 and provides easy access to area attractions. The hotel is located three miles from the Oasis Visitor Center and seven miles from Joshua Tree National Park.

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This suite is pretty spacious and is perfect for busy bee business travelers. It has two TVs, a small kitchen with a sink, microwave, a fridge and coffee maker! We were surprised and happy to have all these features as we ended up using them more than we intended to. Also, there’s a free breakfast from 7 – 10 AM that has many options. They even had pancakes!

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There is much to see and do in 29Palms. The hotel is seven miles from Joshua Tree National Park where you can hike, mountain bike, climb and more. If you know me, you probably notice that I’m in Joshua tree almost every other month. It’s honestly my favorite place to have photoshoots in, hike, de-stress (they have the most beautiful sunsets and if you’re lucky, you even get to see meteor showers) & they also have vintage thrift shops almost around every corner!

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Thank you so much Twenty Nine Palms Holiday Inn Express for having us! We had a great stay for the weekend.

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5 Ways How To Stay Creative

  1. Slow down. – Often times, I get my biggest “AHA MOMENTS” while I’m either driving, taking a nice long bubble bath, reading a book or journaling. With all the constant distractions & our never things to do list – our right brain often has a difficult time popping up with the next genius idea because we never give it time to rest & destress.
  2. Consume knowledge. – Do you know what’s the one thing that geniuses all have in common? They are all obsessed with learning – consuming knowledge, asking questions, always curious, reading books & taking chances. If you want to be amazing at whatever field you’re in — then do a lot of research about it. One of the best tools I like to use now is Google. Want to start a podcast? Google how. Want to learn about photography? Google how. Want to learn how to paint? Google how and once you find different ways to start what you’re passionately curious about – read & consume a lot about what you want to be a bad ass about! Did you know how many books an average CEO read per month? About 4 or 5. Want to be the next CEO of your dreams? Maybe it’s time to start reading how to get there. Our ideas has to start from somewhere and the more we learn, the more we become more knowledgeable.
  3. Break It Down. – Once you’ve done all your research – let’s do our break down and start a plan of action on how you’re going to be the next best thing. Jot down your plans and make them happen. Study the structure how others have done it before & practice & practice & don’t stop. Even if you fail the first time – don’t stop. Michael Jordan, one of the Greatest Basketball players of all times once said, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”
  4. Imitate & Recreate – Now that you’ve been practicing how to do your thing & hopefully have learned how others have done it & succeeded – it’s now time to imitate how they do things & even recreate their work. I’m not saying just copy everything – add in your flair and what makes you unique. Now that you know that rules – you can now break them.
  5. Don’t stop creating even when you don’t feel like it. – I recently have been feeling like I was in a “creative mental block” – like I just can’t get myself to do things that I used to love before or I simple don’t feel inspired. And you know what I did? I put on one of my favorite TV shows “Once Upon A Time” and started creating & sewing again. Yes, I forced myself to sew. This show reminded me my dreams of wanting to be a costume designer. So even when I was at my lowest, I pushed myself to just create and before I knew it, all my creative juices just started flowing.

 

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