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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.

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.

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.***

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!

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!

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

October 12, 2018

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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.

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!
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.
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.
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.
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.

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!

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!

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

October 11, 2018October 12, 2018

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5 Ways How To Stay Creative

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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.

October 4, 2018

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Rafaella Style Review

Have you ever had pants the fit your body perfectly? If not, look no further and grab one of the Rafaella Women’s Slimming Fit Ankle Denim. You can work, play, lounge anytime with these pants found in Amazon from sizes 4 – 16 & 16W – 22W.

Top: Forever 21

Jeans: Rafaella

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

October 3, 2018

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Head Over Heels With Steve Madden

“Give a girl the right shoes & she can conquer the world.” – Marilyn Monroe

How many women can relate with this quote? Exactly last week, I had my first fashion show featuring Secretly A Mermaid and wore these Daisie Heels for the first time! I was sooooooo nervous (as I’ve never walked down the runway before), yet excited as these heels made me feel powerful, strong & sexy.

This weekend I wore them again as I went to Conquer LA photomeet in DTLA. I love how chic this ultimate classic iridescent pointed toe pump is. This sexy style is a timeless silhouette that every girl should have in her closet!

I also shot a quick silly video just because it’s fun & it’s important not to take life too seriously sometimes. So I invite you to grab your pair of Steve Madden Daisie Stiletto Pumps, have fun & recreate this video in your own way! 😉

Xo,

Joy

September 27, 2018

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Puppy Friday With Solid Gold Pets

Before summer ends, I wanted to make a matching outfit of me and Coco and a few weeks ago, I finally got a chance to do that. We went to the dog park in Hollywood and we got so many compliments! Coco also had so much fun running around with her fellow doggies!

Last month, she actually tried Solid Gold Mighty Mini and she couldnt stop eating it. Coco is normally picky with her food so I was glad to see that she loved this one! This grain- and gluten-free recipe is made with USA-sourced beef, nutrient-rich fruits and veggies, and a balanced blend of superfoods with omega fatty acids. She loved the savory lamb, sweet potato recipe – especially the wet food – it was also filled with plus nutrient-packed superfoods like vitamin E-rich cranberries.

I was thinking of doing more blog posts like this one where Coco and I have matching outfits – what do you guys think of this blog post?

Xo,

Joy

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018

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3 Reasons Why You Should Go To The Fair

When I think of fairs, it reminds me of my childhood – when my grandpa would take me and my cousins to the fair every summer in the Philippines. If you still haven’t gone to the fair – you definitely should & here’s three reasons why~

There’s animals & there’s a section that you can actually play with them!

2. Almost every corner is instaworthy – especially the rides! Go ride them ~

3. It’s pretty romantic. Go on a stroll with your significant other & enjoy the night. Also, there’s curly fries & never ending junk food!

And I’m not sure if they still have this on Groupon but they have a deal for 2 tickets + a parking space for $29 only. It’s such a steal.

Dress: www.urbanoutfitters.com

Jacket: Rosebowl Flea Market

Photos Taken By: Eduardo Salazar

September 18, 2018

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How She Quit Her Full Time Job of Managing A Spa To Pursue Her Passion Of Helping Others Through Social Media

Hi Babes,

For this week’s Influencer Tips Thursday, we are learning so much from Addie & how she quit her full time job managing a spa to helping others live a healthy lifestyle through social media. She has so much insider insights so let’s get to it!

Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Addie Pratico and I am currently living in Alabama.

What is your brand about and what made you start it?
My brand is geared towards health & fitness. Living a healthy lifestyle & how to be the best version of you.

Do you have another job outside of being a (blogger/influencer/entrepreneur)?
A couple months ago I had quit my full time job of managing a spa to pursue my passion
of helping others through social media to live healthier lives.

Is it difficult to balance your work life and passion project(s)?
I do not find it difficult to balance it because; I do not consider this work for myself. I
have always been very passionate on helping others. When I found this opportunity of
being able to work from home and help others live a healthier and happy lifestyle, I fell in love with it immediately.

What do you love the most about being an influencer?
I love being able to make that positive impact to others lives. I love the fact that I’m
serving my purpose on helping others and sharing this gift of getting others started on
their own fitness journey.

What do you think is the hardest thing about being an influencer?
Hardest thing for me about being an influencer would be the fact I had to step outside my comfort zone. Before I started, I was barely even active on social media. I was very
private and shy about sharing my life with others on social media. It took me a while to
get out of that comfort zone and I am so glad I did. I’ve now been able to inspire and
motivate others by just sharing my healthy lifestyle on social media.

What are three tips you can give to someone who also wants to be an influencer like you?
The three tips that I can give would be:
1. Step outside of your comfort zone. Do not be afraid to share your lifestyle with others
and get yourself out there. You never know who could be searching for someone just like
you.
2. Personal development. Whether its just reading a gratitude book for only five minutes in the morning or listening to a podcast on your way to work. Personal development was a game changer for me and has helped me keep a positive mindset. Even through social media others can feed off that positive energy you give off.
3. Be okay with failing. It’s okay if something you had planned didn’t go the way you
thought it would. Figure out a different way to implement it and never give up on your
passion.

What are your goals and where do you see yourself a year from now? Where do you hope to be in 3 – 5 years?
A year from now I see myself having created a successful and thriving business. I’ll be
leading a team of women who are just as passionate as me about helping others live
healthier lifestyles.
Three to five years from now, I will be making six figures in my business and will have
helped so many others get on track with their fitness. I will have helped many others out
there create their own thriving businesses, all while doing this from the comfort of your
own home.

Who/what inspires you or keeps you motivated to do what you do?
There a couple people in my life who keeps me motivated.
First is my fiance who has always believed in me from the start. I am lucky that he has
been so supportive of my business and will do what he can to help me in anyway that he
can. He pushes me to work hard and to never give up on myself.
Second would be my own mentor who helped me get started in this business. She is one
of the most hardworking individuals I have met. Just watching her and seeing the way she has been succesful, motitvates me to follow in her footsteps and that by working hard and staying consistant that you can make your dreams come true.

What’s your favorite app aside from instagram?
Pinterest hands down. I am always scrolling through pinterest for recipe ideas,
inspirational quotes, and so much more!
What’s your next project and how can we support you?

My next project is I’ll be focusing on growing my team this month. I feel like this
community is already so supportive and I just love the fact that we are all girl bosses
working hard to be successful.

How important is it to you to make genuine connections/friendships through social
media/in our industry & why?
To show people out there that I truly care about others. I want to help others in anyway
that I can. I love the fact that I’m able to connect and form friendships with others and
really get to know them. By forming those relationships helps me get a better grasp on
what I can do to help them.

What does female empowerment and girls supporting girls mean to you?
For me it means that even if we have different interests/businesses we run, that we can
still support each other. It is not easy being a girl boss and I have so much respect for the
women working towards their own goals and dreams who are willing to hustle and put in the work. It’s so important to keep each other motivated and show support, because it
does get hard at times.

Where can we find you in social media? (state your social media handles/blog/website)
My facebook: Adelia Graziela Pratico
Instagram: AddiePraticoFitness
My website: https://sites.google.com/view/addiepraticofit/home

What are you looking forward to the most from Influencer Girl Gang and what do you hope to acquire from joining us?
Having the supportive community and to learn from the other women in this group.

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

Xo,

Joy

September 13, 2018September 13, 2018

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17th Annual Claremont Village Wine Walk x Charriol

It’s always wine o’ clock somewhere! Last weekend, I was invited to go to the 17th Annual Claremont Wine Walk and boy, was it so much fun! We started our walk with I Like Pie Bakeshop & not only did I fell in love with their Orange Moscato but oh my gosh, their Strawberry Rhubarb pie is to die for!!! Definitely coming back there whenever my sweet tooth starts kicking in.

We then kept going with our wine walk and had to stop by at this cute little alley and took a quick #ootd picture as I also made this two piece printed rose outfit just for this event!

As we kept going with our walk, we found more shops handing out yummy wine, food and saw some really cool artwork too!

Eddie and I also found this unique gift shop, Rio De Ojas! They have so many cute little things and decorations you can easily give to anybody, especially for halloween just around the corner!

We then hopped off to Noren’s Nursery, which is one of my favorite nurseries in Claremont! I want this to be my backyard someday with their little succulents! Just come check them out. They have some serious interior goals!!

Another shop I fell in love with is Speckled Hens. This store has a hand-selected, ever-changing merchandise, seasonal treasures and holiday displays, creating a unique shopping experience every time you visit.

And right next door is Linda Lloyd Antiques selling antiques & interiors! When I get my own house someday, definitely coming back to shop here for decors.

Another shop that’s worth the stop in Claremont is Amelie. It’s a cute little store that carries high end brands like Free People, 7 For All Mankind, and Lolli Swim.

And for our last stop, we had to end our night with ice cream from Bert and Rocky’s. I don’t even remember what we got (hence from drinking wine all night) but it tasted like premium strawberry ice cream mixed with fine wine and everything is made in their little shop!

Once again, thank you Claremont Village for sharing this wine-derful experience with me! Such an awesome way to end my summer!

Also, super in love with this dangling Marguerite Charriol necklace! It’s light, elegant, gorgeous & easily goes with any outfit/season inspired by the Daisy flower! I normally don’t like wearing jewelry as I easily get irritated and I dont like it when they’re super heavy and it hurts my neck but this one was just perfect.

We seriously didn’t want this night to end. Will I see you in the next wine walk? Dont forget to look out for the tickets next year as they sell out fast! Hope you babes had an amazing summer! Now who’s ready for fall?

Outfit: Made by yours truly <3

Necklace: Charriol

Photos: Eduardo Salazar

Xo,

Joy

September 12, 2018September 12, 2018

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