Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving y'all! I have a lot to be thankful for this year. In no particular order, rhyme or reason, here's what's on my mind this holiday:

I am thankful for my fitness community. I'm writing this in a puddle of sweat following our 90-minute workout extravaganza this morning. The variety of moves we did will definitely have my metabolism on high today, which will come in handy for Thanksgiving dinner tonight. Thanks for giving me and so many other women out there the confidence to own our strength and beauty - whether that's in the jeans we couldn't fit into last year, or the sweatpants we are about to adorn for this Thanksgiving day.

I am thankful for Calico, my lash stylist, for always keeping my lashes on fleek. Forever grateful to Nohe for the recommendation!

I am thankful for my contract gig, which rocked the boat of my (somewhat stagnant) freelance life and brought some much-needed structure to my time. It's hard to say no, but it's a lot easier when your time and perspective are top of mind. I love the work that I do and I do it with a great team. Couldn't be happier!

I am thankful for my friends, who continue to inspire me to be greater every day. Some of them are pulling in extra work for me lately and for that I'm even more grateful!

I am thankful for Spike Baby, who's snoring heavy on my shoulder as I type this. Thanks boo for always reminding me to savor the simple things, like cuddles, hugs, feeding you dinner, making sure you have the perfect spot on dad's side of the bed to lay in, and those big brown eyes.

I am thankful for social media, which allows me to share ideas, resources and opinions that expand well beyond what I can share here on my blog. Social media has kept me tuned into the race movement unfolding in America, with its epicenter in Ferguson, MO since the day Mike Brown was shot and killed. I'm thankful for the block button, which I've only used on one person who thought it was a great idea to tell me the evidence compiled by a broken system supports a killer's accounts. There's so much more unraveling and the need to stick to 'unbiased' facts, order and system is exactly why you don't get it. BYE. FELICIA.

I'm thankful for the consciousness and slow but steady fight to spend more time offline and off of social media. There's only so much one can absorb from the maelstrom of online content. It's okay to miss the latest viral video in favor of more time journaling. It's okay to not share that cute Buzzfeed article in favor of relishing in face-to-face time with loved ones. I think we who work in social media let it become the cool thing to be online at all times and know everything currently trending. The actual cool thing is knowing your limits and remembering what's truly important to you. I guarantee sharing on Facebook isn't on that list.

I am thankful for our beloved Seahawks, who are spending the day in enemy territory for what's sure to be a good game!

I am thankful for my family, who are strong in numbers and in love. I can't wait to see them later today!

I am thankful for all of you! Thank you endlessly for reading Fresh Jess, and offering up encouragement when something here speaks to you. It will never not be scary to put yourself out there like I have on this blog the last few years, and your support and positive vibes mean everything to me.

Fresh Jess Holiday Picks for Gear Live

Last week, Andru of Gear Live invited me to be a part of their Holiday Bash in Seattle, and give my picks in fashion, beauty and fitness for the season. Gear Live is a big tech blog based here, and since its readers are mostly male, I wanted to highlight items not just because I'm into them myself, but because they're functional and approachable. I wanted these to be the kinds of gifts Gear Live fans could easily buy online and in local stores without the fear of it being too fashionable or irrelevant to the special someone they're shopping for. I am not much for holiday guides, but thought I should put this up for those who wanted to see them:

1. The search for a sustainable, zero-waste, grippy yoga mat is over. I have this Manduka pro Lite mat on my wish list for next year's burpees in the park.

2. Scotch & Soda skyrocketed high onto my favorite stores list after I hosted an event at their U-Village store earlier this fall. I've been wearing the Maison Scotch fluffy punk scarf with everything lately. It puts the definitive Seattle touch on my outfit :) 

3. I am not into wearing a ton of makeup and spend much more of my time and money on keeping my skin healthy. That includes regular facials at skoah - and at home I use many of their products! My favorite product is the skoah Hydra Dew Mask. It keeps your face & neck hydrated and moisturized and gentle enough to use everyday (and leave on all day if you forget.) I recommend this to everyone, for the plane, in desert heat and in the harsh winter temps. 

4. I'm not a trendy fragrance person and when I find one I like, I tend to stick to it for years. I've just added Oribe's Côte d'Azur eau de parfum to my boudoir. The sandalwood, jasmine & bergamot are the perfect notes. You can find it in Seattle at Robert Leonard Salon & Spa next to Jazz Alley!

5. I love my Converse rubber All-Star hi-tops - and they're a hit with men, women and kids! They're on sale at Nordstrom if you can get your hands on a pair. They're going fast!

On #Mockingjay:

I was invited to preview Mockingjay last night in exchange for some social media work I did. Now that I'm hopped up on movie nachos and caffeine (sorry Jenn), here are some of my scattered thoughts on the movie:

Mockingjay

The political undertones of Hunger Games and Catching Fire come front and center in Mockingjay. There's a lot to read into with this movie and much more to think about afterwards - which is why I think it might be the best one in the series so far.

Such. good. casting. Effie Trinket (Elizabeth James) and Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) are some of my favorites in all three movies, but Julianne Moore as (Madam) President Coin of District 13 is excellent.

"Everyone will want to kiss you, kill you or be you." - Effie to Katniss. Also my new life mantra #true #bossbitches

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was brilliant as Plutarch. RIP.

Why does the District 13 head of security look like Future?

If Lana del Rey doesn't cover that little ditty Katniss sings in District 12 (Are you, are you...?), that's a real missed opportunity!

The absence of Lenny Kravitz appearances is felt (by me)

Everything Effie says and does in this movie gives me life. Her turbans. "I'm a political refugee, and I've been confined to a life of jumpsuits." GET YOUR LIFE GIRL

The Capitol made Peeta look like Nick Carter. How dare they!

Liam Hemsworth is so fine. Miley what is wrong with you girl?

There's just so much to think about during and after this movie. It's gonna take several viewings and maybe a re-read of the book to digest it all. I'm sure I'll have more to say after I hit 'post', but I hope you have your tix and have a great time seeing it!

Mockingjay

Fresh Reads: The Daily Love: Growing into Grace

How many newsletters are you currently subscribed to?

Lord knows I've got way too many in my inbox, and no matter how many times I hit that unsubscribe button, even more find their way into my email. They're like weeds!

The one newsletter I've held onto like a dear friend is The Daily Love. Written by Mastin Kipp, TDL is like a daily coffee date with the one friend who tells you everything you need to hear but - for whatever reason - don't want to. I never really saw myself being into the self-help genre, but I've always been into Mastin's raw, unapologetic writing style. While he's very much categorized in that same genre as the people he looks up to (Marie Forleo, Gabrielle Bernstein, etc.), he's always come across as genuine and honest to me.

That's not to say they don't. Mastin just has this "take me as I am" realness and confidence about his writing that sets him apart from the others. His ability to connect with his readers stems deeply from his candidness about his own insecurities, fears and serious life fuck-ups. He's been to his personal depths of hell and back, and not only has lived to tell about it, but he's using his experiences as a way to help others get past their own fears and hang-ups (me included.)

The Daily Love book, The Daily Love: Growing into Grace, Mastin Kipp

I've been reading The Daily Love for at least five years, and was so excited to hear that Mastin was taking his new book, The Daily Love: Growing into Grace on a special workshop tour with a stop in Seattle. I probably could've spent that Friday night in October doing a million other things, but there was no place I'd rather have spent those three hours than from hearing from him in person.

The Daily Love: Growing into Grace

Just as I'm a fan of The Daily Love newsletter, I loved this book and devoured it in less than a week (which is unheard of for me nowadays!) All the pieces of Mastin's life we've been exposed to in the TDL newsletter - his rise & fall in the music industry, hitting rock bottom, getting perpetually "friend-zoned" by the women he met to falling in love, meeting Oprah and putting his all into The Daily Love - that's all woven together with some serious life lessons for us to learn from.

In the workshop and in the book, his story culminates in finding Grace and Love in the throes of despair and devastation. He shows us that success is what happens after we've survived all of our mistakes. That following your bliss is a serious bitch sometimes. That you should always seek to help others in order to find growth and opportunity yourself - and that your intentions should be pure, not with an agenda. That fear isn't the opposite of love, but rather a compass telling you where to go. That fear should fuel your courage to do what you most need to.

My favorite concept from the TDL book and workshop was of "spiritual entertainment." Basically, that all the retreats, workshops, books and articles we're consuming are nothing to us if nothing changes in our life because of them. If you ever feel yourself forgetting something as quickly as you're inspired by it, you know what spiritual entertainment is. While it's great to bring all of those things into your life, it's most worthwhile if you take immediate action and ask better questions to improve your life because of those things. As someone who is forever overwhelmed and striving to cut back on everything I'm 'consuming' online (that's another blog post), this has totally stayed with me since the workshop and reading the book. I'm doing my best to make choices tied to action and not just because it's something I saw on Facebook, Twitter or in my inbox.

You can pretty much pick your poison when it comes to the self-help guru who speaks most to you. TDL is just right for me, and I'll be subscribed for a very long time!

Check out The Daily Love: Growing into Grace book and The Daily Love website.

Support Us in The Big Climb 2015!

My family and I are all signed up for the 2015 Big Climb! Won't you join us in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with a sweet  donation? 

The Big Climb is 69 flights of stairs, 1311 steps, and 788 feet of vertical elevation up the Columbia Tower - the tallest skyscraper in downtown Seattle. This will be our third year doing the Climb and every bit of struggle up those flights is worth it in the name of fighting blood cancer.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Every day, more than 347 LLS sponsored researchers come closer to the goal of finding a cure for leukemia and related blood cancers. Locally, LLS funds 7 researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington Medical Center. Your support and commitment to the mission of LLS enables us to continue this important work of saving lives and aids us in our ability to reach patients in our community.

I'm proud to be climbing again this year and look forward to helping raise even more to fund the efforts of the LLS.

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Donate here

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Thank you so much for your support!

On Transitions & A Life Update

Happy Monday & happy November! Now that we're full swing into fall, I thought a fun life update was in order. Then I thought about it, and there's not a whole lot I want to talk about right now!

If you're worried, please don't be - I'm totally fine. When I take stock of what's happening in my life right now, everything seems to be in a time of transition or in the works. It's in these times of transition where we see where we're progressing and where we're not - and the actions we need to take to make exciting things happen.

Getting used to having a full-time contract gig exhausted me for the better part of summer and early fall, and last month I felt like I finally had the hang of it. I even took on coffee dates catching up with friends, workshops and events again. I was so focused on being present for this gig, it dominated my weekdays and I started to miss those connections. 

Workout life is in a bit of flux right now too. Seattle classes are on a sort of hiatus. On top of that, I slipped so hard on this metal grate walking home from work one rainy day about a week agooo and landed square on my tailbone. I went to Booty Barre class on Friday and just barely made it through that; I'm just now feeling like I can (and should) get back to working out. Of course, this injury was like a gateway back to the land of excuses to not work out. It's too early. It's too late. I'm tired. I need to sleep. I'm not sure if my body/tailbone's up to it. I can't figure out where to work it into my schedule. That's where I'm at. This week I'm figuring out what workouts to do to ease my lower back into it; in place of Glow class and where to fit it into my schedule. 

One thing I can talk about that I'm hyped for is my new bi-weekly posts for SELF.com! I'm so excited to be part of the SELFMade Collective, and am writing on health, fitness, fashion, beauty and all other parts of a SELFMade woman's lifestyle. I have all the insecurities and nerves about being part of this Collective, but I figure they came to me for a reason and I'm totally game to show up for the task at hand. It's quite an honor and I'm stoked to be part of it!

Part of having the new work schedule down means throwing myself back into my blog too. I have a lot of fun things in the works but right now, they're all eggs in the basket that'll be beautiful chickadees in a bit! 

A beautiful editorial I did with Moda + Estilo! Shot by Eleanor Petry. See the full spread here.

Transition times are not flashy or news-worthy, but are so absolutely necessary. I'm actively reaching for more balance in how much time I spend online and off. It's a tough thing to unlearn having your phone glued to your hand, and in place I've been doing a lot of reading, self-care and snuggling with my bulldog. 

Hope your fall is off to a great start too!

Jess

On Procrastination & Remembering Your Voice

One of my biggest reasons for procrastinating is overthinking the problem or task at hand. I let a whole lotta nothin' build up into a serious something in my head that keeps me from just doing the damn thing.

Writing is easily and all-too-regularly one of those things.

I was at coffee with one of my contributors today catching up and talking about blogging. The hype we build in our heads about the potential reactions and ramifications that might come from putting our opinions out there; that's enough to paralyze our thoughts before we've even got one word written.

Ever feel this way about tackling something?

Image via  Pinterest

I've been struggling with this in a new writing gig I've taken on recently (more on that next week!) Writing for a big publication is nerve-wracking. I get so wrapped up in trying to get the voice and tone of their brand right, my true and authentic voice got lost in the way. Nothing I write seems good enough, so I procrastinate. I have so much trouble getting all the pieces together in my head in a way that flows right, and there never seems to be a good time to crank it out. I'd rather do almost anything else than just sit down and focus on making it happen.

Does it reflect my writing style?

The brand's?

What will their readers think?

What is my writing style anyway?

I turned in a post this week to said publication, and got feedback I didn't know I needed. They told me to infuse more of my opinions and take it outside of their normal box.

Of course. That's why I was chosen to write for them in the first place! My voice, my writing style and my opinions are what attracted them to me, and I was so nervous about getting their brand right I'd forgotten that.

And then I remembered how I felt when nothing I was producing seemed right. It didn't feel right because it wasn't me in the first place. My contributor said he feels the same way every time he tries to write a post for me!

Sometimes we get so caught up in getting things perfect - often on terms we let other people decide - that we never allow ourselves the time and mind space to just take a stab at it. To let that creativity just flow. It might not be right the first time, and it might never be perfect - but just getting it out there is what matters.

More often than not, it turns out exactly as we need it to.

Happy halloween!

Jess

Seattle! Smithsonian Exhibition Bring Star Wars™ Costume Tour to EMP - Jan 2015

Better put this on your calendar now because this exhibit will definitely sell out! Seattle is the first stop on the Smithsonian Exhibition's 12-city national tour of iconic movies from the epic. The exhibit, titled Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume, will be on view at the EMP from January 31st through October 4th, 2015.

Image credit © & ™ 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Image credit © & ™ 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Culled from the collection of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars and the Power of Costume is a partnership of the EMP, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Lucasfilm.

Image credit © & ™ 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

George Lucas imagined and created a fantastical world filled with dynamic characters who told the timeless story of the hero’s journey. The costumes shaped the identities of these now famous characters, from the menacing black mask of Darth Vader and the gilded suit of C-3PO, to the lavish royal gowns of Queen Amidala and a bikini worn by Princess Leia when enslaved by Jabba the Hutt.

Image credit © & ™ 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

“Craftsmanship and artistry in costume design are valued creative components in the Star Wars saga,” said Lucas. “The detailed precision of a design can be as bold a measure of storytelling as words on a page, leading to truths at the core of a character, situation or shared history. From initial concept drawings to complex physical constructions, the costumes featured in this exhibition serve to further define crucial aspects of worlds created to move, educate and entertain us—to inspire the imagination.”

Image credit © & ™ 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Presenting 60 of the finest hand-crafted costumes from the first six blockbuster Star Wars films, the exhibition uncovers the challenges, the intricate processes and the remarkable artistry of Lucas, the concept artists and costume designers. The costumes reflect an eclectic mix of cultural, historical and mythical sources that add rich texture to the story.

Through nine presentational “chapters":

• Introduction: Dressing a Galaxy; 
• Jedi versus Sith: Form, Function and Design; 
• Concept and Design for Royalty and Beyond;
• Symbolism and Military Power; 
• Outlaws and Outsiders; 
• All Corners of the Galaxy: The Galactic Senate; 
• After the Throne: Padmé’s Journey; 
• Darth Vader: Iconic Villain; and 
• Droid™ Design: C-3PO and R2-D2—visitors will explore the creative process from Lucas’s vision through concept drawings by artists such as Ralph McQuarrie and Iain McCaig, to the final costume designs of John Mollo and Trisha Biggar, among others.

Image credit © & ™ 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Featured costumes include:

• Monk-like robes of Jedi masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker
• Intimidating suit and complex breathing apparatus of Darth Vader
• Military-influenced uniforms of the Imperial Stormtrooper, Senate Guard and TIE Fighter Pilot
• Yak hair and mohair costume of the towering Wookiee Chewbacca
• Intergalactic outfits of Senators Bail Organa, Mon Mothma and Mas Amedda
• Fierce armor of mercenary bounty hunters Jango Fett, Boba Fett and Zam Wesell
• Elaborately detailed gowns of Queen Amidala, Queen Jamillia and their handmaidens

Short films in Star Wars and The Power of Costume provide a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and include interviews with artists, designers and actors. The visitor experience will be enhanced by interactive flip books featuring sketches, photographs and notes that capture the creative team’s inspiration and vision.

Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars and the Power of Costume is the third exhibition on which SITES has collaborated with Lucasfilm. Previous projects were Star Wars: The Magic of Myth and Star Wars: The Art of the Starfighter.

Image credit © & ™ 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 60 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

is a first-of-its kind institution, designed to serve as the country’s premiere venue for understanding the connections and lineage of illustrative and visual art. Conceived by George Lucas, the museum is based on the filmmaker’s passion for education and the role art can play in inspiring young people. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art collection ranges from fine art to animation, from fashion to cinematic design and is comprised of works of the great masters of the Golden Age of Illustration through today’s digital artists, showing the ways culture is reflected in the popular art of any given time.

Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.

EMP Museum is a leading-edge, nonprofit museum, dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel popular culture. With its roots in rock ’n’ roll, EMP serves as a gateway museum, reaching multigenerational audiences through collections, exhibitions and educational programs, using interactive technologies to engage and empower its visitors. At EMP, artists, audiences and ideas converge, bringing understanding, interpretation and scholarship to popular culture. EMP is housed in a 140,000-square-foot Frank O. Gehry-designed building. This spectacular, prominently visible structure has the presence of a monumental sculpture set amid the backdrop of the Seattle Center.

A Business Case for ‘Yo’: Cutting Through the Noise (by Titus Kimbowa)

With the risk of adding to the ‘Yo’ noise bubble, I will attempt to look at the business application of Yo. There are plenty of consumer applications.

Human communication has many forms with a unique purpose across every signal. We've used technology to cut the time in which we communicate; no matter the distance. Tools like email, phone calls, and SMS text have drastically changed how we communicate. One thing these tools share is a notification system that alerts users when someone wants to communicate with them. That’s a communication tool in itself.

In the case for Yo, the notification is the message. It’s like technology learned the subtle communication that goes on outside the realms of a conversation. It’s like a wink, a secret code, a secret handshake. And yes, it’s stupid.

Stupid simple.

Communication on a battlefield requires fast and timely communication. Words are replaced with hand signals and sometimes they are replaced with words that have little meaning to anyone outside the loop. A famous example of this is depicted in Henry W. Longfellow’s poem in which he mentions a secret signal by Paul Revere saying: “One, if by land, and two, if by sea.” Had Revere used Yo, one Yo would signal the land route, while two Yo’s would signal the dispatch by the water. Information is powerful and can be devastating to a business if it ends up in the wrong hands. Once at fruition, I believe Yo will have the capacity to give business sales teams and executives a way to quickly communicate and act on a given strategy/play without hesitation or worry of information leaks.

It’s a long-shot but certainly doable.

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Titus Kimbowa

 is a young entrepreneur living in Seattle, WA. He was born in Kampala, Uganda & moved to the States when he was 12. He’s currently a senior at the University of Washington and serves as vice-president of the UW American Marketing Association, and he's interning as the product marketing analyst for stealthy start-up Webtuner. He’s got past experience as part of the Zagat team at Google, Crown Social, TEDxYouth Seattle, and starting up an enterprise travel company. In his spare time (which he rarely gets) he likes to play basketball, read, and hang out around Seattle.

Find Titus on Twitter, and view all of his posts here.

What's On My Playlist: Fall 2014

Seasonal changes are a great time to switch up the playlist. I've been feenin for darker, moodier, sexier, more soulful songs to go with the tone set by these very rainy Seattle days we've been having. Here's what's on repeat as of late:

Partynextdoor

Every woman needs those tracks that make her feel like a lady, and sometimes that doesn't mean power anthems from Beyonce. Recognize has been on full repeat since August, and when I listen to it I imagine I'm basically the human form of the 'lady flipping hair' emoji. #feelinmyself

Hozier

I thought dude was from the South. Ireland's even better. Listen to this album and if the Holy Ghost doesn't take your heart and soul to new places, I don't really know if we can be friends.

Sam Hunt

My girl Jammie got me into Sam Hunt. We swear it's not because of the looks. Promise. ;)

Chemical Brothers f/ Miguel

WHO'S EXCITED FOR SOME HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1!!!!????

I'm still listening to hella Gyptian too, don't get it twisted.

What's on your playlist? Leave me a comment, I'd love to know!

Seattle! Cutie & The Beast Burger @ Lil Woody's for Dog Adoption Month

As an avid lover of dogs and of Lil Woody's, it's my pleasure to share with you the burger joint's latest collaboration!

LOOK AT THESE TWO

This week, Lil Woody's partnering with internet superstars Cutie and the Beast to honor Dog Adoption Month, raising money and awareness of man's best friend through Motley Zoo.

The “Cutie and the Beast Burger” is a both a dog and dog lovers' dream—with peanut butter, apples, Swiss cheese, bacon, and 1/4 lb burger patty. Get one for yourself starting today through October 27th, and don't forget one for your lil furball too! I know Spike, Jacob and I will be paying a visit or two this week.

This quote is awesome so I had to leave it in: “In the spirit of all good dog lovers, we’re excited to be offering up a delicious burger that man or beast will love, all while trying to get some of these little dudes new homes.” says Marcus Lalario, owner of Li’l Woody’s.

There will also be giveaways all week long for the dogs, from Crazy Rebels dog collars, All the Best Pet Care, Petbox and Green Juju (an amazing Seattle-based organic dog food that Spike's a big fan of!)

If you're not following Cutie and the Beast on Instagram already, you should - and prepare yourself for a daily dose of cutest ever.

Motley Zoo Animal Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit corporation, foster- based animal rescue, assisting local, national, and international dogs in need. They have no shelter facility. Instead, they house rescue dogs with foster families where they enjoy one-on-one attention in a home environment, receiving training and support, while they work to find the best possible forever homes.

Li’l Woody’s Burgers has two locations; in Capitol Hill at 1211 Pine Street and Ballard at 2040 NW Market Street. Open 11:00 a.m. - 11:00p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. - 10:00p.m. Sundays in both locations; Ballard is open 11:00 a.m. - 10:00p.m. on Friday and Saturday while Capitol Hill stays open until 3:00a.m. on weekends.

Look Inside: Seattle Art Museum's Pop Departures Exhibit

Not since the Picasso exhibit have I been so taken by a Seattle Art Museum feature exhibit. Pop Departures is opening tonight, and you're in for quite the treat, Seattle. Curator Catharina Manchanda took us on a media tour of the exhibit, which highlights the work of American Pop Art icons Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldbenburg and Robert Indiana. My favorite piece is from New York artist Mickalene Thomas; 'Hair Portrait' is for sure inspired by Beyonce and Lauryn Hill although she won't say exactly who.

There's a packed calendar of events around Pop Departures and other new SAM exhibits this fall, including Takashi Murakami works at Seattle Asian Art Museum, talks from featured exhibit artists, Warhol movie showings and of course, SAM Remix. Hard to choose just a few favorites, but because I don't want to spoil the exhibit I whittled it down. Enjoy!

Pecan Pie, Claes Oldenburg / The Electric EAT, Robert Indiana

Hair Portrait, Mickalene Thomas

Roy Lichtenstein

Muhammad Ali, Andy Warhol

American Mall, Josephine Meckseper

Pink Panther and St. John the Baptist (back), Jeff Koons

Attila the Hun, Nam June Paik / Untitled (Not Cruel Enough), Barbara Kruger

Vocho, Margarita Cabrera

Pop Departures is on view at the Seattle Art Museum starting Today, October 9th, 2014 - January 11th, 2015. Tickets here

On Rekindling the Art of Conversation

Do you ever feel like the art of conversation is fading fast thanks to social media?

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much harder it is for me to delve into a good conversation, especially with someone I've just met. I feel like I used to be much better at it during my days as an events director, when I had lots of opportunities to engage in conversation at our events. My team and I worked hard to make sure chamber of commerce members got their time and money's worth out of our events. We placed icebreaker questions on tent cards on every table, and committee members stood at the ready, greeting everyone and giving special attention to making wallflowers feel at home. I learned a lot in those days about the art of conversation, and networking in ways that didn't feel slimy or salesy.

Fast forward to becoming a blogger social media professional. While I embraced my digital native nature five years ago, nowadays I feel like I'm un-learning and re-learning what it's like to be a normal, offline human being. I think everyone has a digital breaking point, and I reached mine recently. I spend way too much time in front of a screen, and the list of things it's doing to my body, mind and soul far outweigh the benefits. I sit too long. My neck, shoulders and fingers get sore from holding and looking at my phone, or typing on my laptop on the couch (which I am doing right now. :/)

I lay in bed staring at my phone even though I'm dead tired and should be trying to sleep. I have a (imaginary?) twitch from wondering if I've missed anything since the last time I was online - which probably wasn't too long ago. I write about how bloggers are sometimes awkward in real-life despite a shiny online personality - then I wonder if I'm one of them too. Most of all, I lean on my phone to get me out of those uncomfortable social situations that should be challenging me to have conversations with people. Those precious skills I built in my chamber of commerce days have sat dormant for way too long. I let myself get away with being a real-life social asshole just because I let myself get comfortable being social only online. I know many of you do too, and we gotta stop!

Image via Pinterest

Yesterday I made the conscious effort to chat with everyone I came into contact with. At the grocery store. At the coffee shop. My friend Hilary hosted a workshop that was part yoga, part discussion group. Hilary, a group of ladies I didn't know and I sat on our yoga mats for almost three hours, talking about what brings us peace, what we need more of and how we can all support each other. It got us out of our comfort zone in many ways - addressing what we need for our selves rather than always trying to help and give to others. I told the group I loved making connections like these - offline, real-life, one-on-one conversations with no expectations and judgment. I also recently started re-reading Darcy Rezac's Work the Pond just to get back into the mindset of positive networking (& yes, there's a positive way to do it.)

It's a long road to finding that sweet balance between living a digital life while not forgetting to be present offline too. The important thing is to start on that road!

Do you have any recommendations for books or resources on the art of conversation? I'd love to hear them!

Remembering Your Anchor

Have you ever had so much going on that you just wanted to cry, laugh maniacally or throw your hands in the air saying "Nah. I give up."? If you haven't, I'd like to meet you and know what your secrets are! That feeling is very cyclical in my life, and lately I've felt like I've been having one extended Jessie Spano moment.

Life has a funny way of getting in the way of...life. 

When I was younger, going a million miles an hour was not only exhilarating, but encouraged. Always on-the-go, always up to something. Getting into the blogging game has only compounded my schedule with its various responsibilities. My commitment to health and fitness is yet another layer on top of that, and now my full-time, onsite gig has added a whole new dimension. Working from home spoiled me in many ways, and though I love and welcome this gig, I've been struggling hard with making time for everything. Older and wiser, I know it's not a matter of 'finding work/life balance', but of reorganizing my priorities and recognizing a new phase in my career. 

Photo by Emily Shearing

I used to looove being busy. Everyone did, it seemed. Multi-tasking was acceptable. It's like we walked around wearing 'busy' like a badge of honor; an easy way out of sharing too much in a conversation or getting out of things that you don't want to do but know you have to. Somewhere along the line, 'busy' became synonymous (to me anyway) with 'procrastinating', 'running away from responsibilities' and 'bullshit.'

There are things we have to do so we can do the things we want to do, and if we're lucky enough, there might even be some overlap of both. I made the choice to take on a full-time gig to bring some structure to the volatility of consulting, but blogging remains my passion. I also love to work out, preferably in the morning. I've also learned that the perfect counterpart to having a lot of shit to do is to take care of yourself and sometimes, that means doing nothing. Somewhere in the last few weeks, I'd let myself get caught up in the tide of all that I have to do, I was barely doing anything I wanted to. That lights a fire in me. Grounds me. Anchors me. 

My anchor; my perfect day involves writing, reading, a great workout, a delicious nap and little to nothing on my calendar. A Beautiful Stephanie with hemp milk from Vivace is icing on top of that cake. It's hard to say 'no' to events, fashion shows, friends and sometimes even family, but it's even harder to come back from saying 'no' to yourself so much that you're no good when you are out in public. If you find yourself complaining a lot, getting grouchy or annoyed easily or that things that should be fun (like happy hour) aren't anymore, then you know what I mean. There are a lot of shiny new toys, things and people to be distracted by out there, and I grow daily in learning how to step back from all of it to nurture myself. No matter how far the tide of life takes me, I am grateful to always find my way back to the shore; to my anchor.

What is your anchor? 

Meet Banago Philippine Bags (+ Support Their Kickstarter!)

Last week, this Kickstarter campaign pitch landed in my inbox. Intrigued by the obviously Filipino word 'Banago' (pronounced ba-NAH-go), I clicked the email open and was immediately drawn in by the vibrant color and modern style of what I knew to be traditional Filipino straw bags. Founder Renée Patron graciously took time out of her busy New York Fashion Week schedule last week to hop on the phone with me and satiate more of my curiosity around Banago.

Banago was a flourishing accessories brand whose factory had been leveled during Typhoon Haiyan. Renée began teaching weavers, mostly women, to become self-employed business owners and to work within the safety of their own homes. Before Haiyan, Banago grew to help provide for the livelihood of over 400 artisans, who became leaders in their communities. Renée herself is a veteran of the fashion industry, with experience in everything from design to production to distribution. Her solid reputation helped land Banago's high-quality, high-fashion bags on the shelves and in pages of Nordstrom, Anthropologie, J.Crew, Vogue, Lucky Magazine and more. 

Watch Renée tell the full Banago story here:

It's just too rare to see a Filipino shine in any industry, even as we've found ourselves in virtually every corner of the world. Renée's hard work cemented Banago's place in all of these retailers and magazines, and for that I admire her.

I want to help Renée and her team restore their factory, their homes and their lives that were destroyed by Haiyan, and hope you do too. The Pintados bag is about to be the 'It' bag of the season 'round these parts!

Shop Banago and support their Kickstarter here. Thank you Renée!

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

A Seattle #DogVenture with Spike! (Sponsored)

Let me start off by saying this is probably my favorite brand campaign to date. DogVacay reached out to me for a DogVenture around the city, and Spike, Jacob and I were only too happy to oblige. Seattle is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country, and Spike is always up for an adventure. We're so happy to have DogVacay in the Emerald City, so that even when we're out of town, we know Spike will get lots of active fun in.

What is DogVacay, you ask?

It's a website and app that makes finding great pet sitters simpler than ever! Pet owners can search for pet sitters nearby, book stays and pay online, all with a couple clicks.

All DogVacay reservations include free pet insurance, 24/7 customer support, and daily photo "pup"dates, so pet parents can rest easy knowing that their best friend is in great hands. DogVacay Hosts work hard to take pups on walks, to the beach, to parks, etc. whenever they have a Vacay. If your pup doesn't return home pooped, they haven't done their job. :)

We took Spike on a DogVenture at some of our favorite places to walk and frolic. Hope you enjoy following our Sunday Funday!

Our DogVenture started at the University Village, where Spike loves to charm all the families into giving him a piece of that Trophy Cupcake.

C'mon dad, one cupcake!

The bronze animal fountain is just as much fun for canine kids as it is for human ones!

Water! -- Whoa where'd it go?

Menchie's for some more people-watching (or yogurt-watching.) Don't worry Spike, they've got treats for the dogs too!

The next morning, our DogVenture continued at Alki Beach, where Spike quickly charmed a few Alki Beach 5k runners. Can't ever walk Spike on Alki without taking a half-hour to make it down one block. He looooves the attention!

It's exhausting being this handsome yo. I gotta take a seat!

We even played cheerleader for the awesome runners!

Way to go girls!

Quick pit stop at Hamilton Viewpoint Park for some frolicking in the grass. There had to have been a wedding there the night before, because rose petals were everywhere! So romantical.

Dad & Spike playing chase

DAD THAT TICKLES!

OH COME ON SPIKE

The final stop on our DogVenture was Marination Ma Kai, home of the best patio view in the entire city - and dog-friendly to boot.

Gettin' kinda tired...

I'd say our DogVenture was a success, because Spike was out for most of the afternoon and evening!

One tired pup

TKO

Thanks for this fun weekend, DogVacay! Visit DogVacay.com for more info & to find your next pet sitter. Follow more #DogVenture excursions on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by DogVacay for this post. All opinions are mine!