Q&A with Baluku Design

Sharon Baluku founded her company, Baluku Design, on the idea of giving back. So she creates eco-friendly products, using sustainable materials and practices to ensure a safe environment for future generations; as well, Baluku Designs donates 10% of sales to education programs in Uganda. The high-quality home products and fashion accessories are inspired by her ancestral aesthetics - both African and Scandinavian.

When did you start your company?

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to work for myself. That notion grew stronger around 2014, though at the time I still didn’t know what I was going to focus on. In November of 2015, Baluku Design was up and running!

Why did you start Baluku Design?

Baluku Design started from wanting to create beautiful, unique, simple designs that I wanted to have, but couldn’t find out there. It also came from the urge to use my hands more, and not just be stuck behind a desk. I knew that I wanted to stay in the creative field, and most importantly challenge myself by doing something that I had never done before.

When did you first sell at Unique LA?

I first sold at Unique LA in Spring of 2016. It was my very first show, and I was extremely nervous and had so many doubts in my mind. But once I submitted the payment, I knew there was no turning back. The biggest surprise of that first show was that out of the 250+ talented designers, I ended up winning Best Table Design!

What did you do before becoming an entrepreneur?

Before I started my business I worked as an interior designer at a high-end interior design firm in Silverlake, CA.

What’s been the most important thing you attribute your success to?

The most important thing is also one of the underlying reasons why I started Baluku Design. With this company I have had the privilege of giving back; specifically creating educational opportunities for girls and women in Uganda. I’m committed to supporting their empowerment through education, and this is what keeps me going and continuing to love what I do!

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere! In general, nature is a big inspiration of mine; I’m always trying to incorporate more of it into my work through natural and sustainable materials, patterns etc. I think that there are endless ideas around us, and if we keep an open mind and pay attention to our surroundings, we can discover amazing things. Furthermore, a lot of it comes from my diverse background – because I have a Ugandan and Swedish background, and because I embrace both cultures almost equally, there is a touch of African and Scandinavian design influences throughout my work.

Advice to someone starting a business?

1. Make sure to educate yourself in whatever you decide to do.

2. Make sure you are comfortable being alone at times because there are lots of lonely nights when you are trying to start a business. You may lose friends along the way due to the time you have to commit to your business, and that’s okay because the right people in your life will stick with you no matter what.

3. Make sure to have fun!

What is the hardest thing about being a business owner?

To me the hardest thing about being a business owner is that I wear a lot of hats! I’m the designer, maker, photographer, and everything in-between that comes with owning a business. Also, time – always trying to find a balance between Baluku Design, my personal life, and my day job as an interior designer.

Who are some indie brands that people should be watching out for?

ILIA, a cosmetic brand that uses an ethical-sustainable approach. Each piece is filled with certified organic bio- active botanicals that nourish and rejuvenate the skin.

Favorite quote:
“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.” – Oprah Winfrey

Desert island album:
A Seat at the Table by Solange Knowles

Beverage of choice: Green tea!

Celebrating 10 Years of Photo Booth fun with Oh Snap! Studios

Since our very first event, we’ve been working with our friends at Oh Snap! Studios to create fun, interactive photo booth experiences for our shoppers. That’s TEN YEARS of amazing photos that show just how creative and silly the Unique family really is! We went way back into the archives to create this round-up of shots from the Oh Snap! galleries from throughout the years. We hope you enjoy! Don’t miss this year’s booth at our Los Angeles event!

Cheers! Our Fave Festive Cocktails

Who doesn't love a good cocktail around the holidays?! We've rounded up our Top 3 favorite recipes for you to enjoy... Cheers!

Under-The-Mistletoe Punch

Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott

The North Pole Cocktail

Winter Sangria

The Big Impact of Shopping Small

Featured product: Messenger Duffle Olive Waxed Canvas/Black Leather, from Graf Lantz

People often ask us what we mean when we say that buying from locally-owned businesses helps the community, so we decided to dedicate this post to showing all the amazing benefits of spending your dollars on independently made goods. Purchasing products that are made by people in your community just feels good, but it also helps support the local economy on both a micro and macro level and has other benefits that might not be obvious at first glance. Here are some of the benefits of shopping local:

1. Keep money in the local economy

When you purchase from a local business, that business pays local taxes that get spent on services and infrastructure that will benefit you and the community. That's everything from our public schools and police safety patrols to highway improvements and local parks! When you buy local, a lot more of the money you spend stays in the community. One Chicago study found that for every “independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales [to the local economy] than chain competitors.”

Local business owners you spend with also have an incentive to spend their money with other neighborhood businesses to get their services and supplies for things such as printers, couriers, manufacturers, accountants, etc. The cycle is continuous! Chain businesses, on the other hand, tend to purchase from larger suppliers and are less invested in buying local.

2. Help small, local businesses grow

When small businesses grow, they need help! The more people buy from a small business, the more they have to produce of their products. As they scale, they will have to invest in hiring employees to support their growth. In this way, buying local helps create jobs in the local community.

3. Know the people behind the products you buy

At Unique Markets, you meet the person behind the product that you’re buying. You hear their story and how the product was made, and all of a sudden that product holds more importance and character than a product you bought online that says “made in China.” When you personally know the people behind the local business where you’re buying products and services, you enjoy a connection you would not otherwise have. You also become invested in the success of that person and if you like their product, you want other people to know about it too!

4. Be a more conscious consumer

Shopping locally reduces your environmental footprint in a few different ways. First, when you purchase directly from the producer, you’re cutting out the energy and shipping waste that is required to transport products from places like China and Indonesia where a lot of mass produced products are made. With the increasing popularity of Amazon and online shopping, shipping waste has become a HUGE issue. And when you buy a well-crafted product and you know the person who created it, you are more likely to cherish and hold on to it than you are to discard it like we tend to do with mass-produced items that we know just aren’t special.

5. Make shopping a more meaningful experience

In the age of smartphones, online shopping and constant screen time, genuine face-to-face interactions and true community experiences are becoming more and more rare. At local shopping events like Unique Markets, you get to enjoy the experience of shopping and find out about the quality of the products from the people who created them. And most importantly, you know where your dollar is going and whose lives you’re impacting which is way more meaningful than placing an order on Amazon.

So while you may spend a few more dollars on things produced by local businesses, you can be confident that buying those products is indeed making a positive impact in so many ways that you can feel good about! Yay!

Thank You for 10 Years: Can't spell Unique without U

Ten years ago I created Unique LA as my love letter to the City of Angels, but I had no idea that it would grow into the massive movement and community it’s become. I placed a bet on my hometown, spending my entire retirement savings to hold the first market, and I never looked back.

Rewind to the summer of 2008 when MySpace still ruled and cell phones were used for talking on the phone. I was sitting on the 10 freeway, stuck in gridlocked traffic trying to get to a store in Venice before it closed, when I had an idea. Create a cool pop-up mall of sorts, where people could get all their shopping done in one place. At the time, Los Angeles was best known for being home to brands like Juicy Couture and Ed Hardy, the beach, and Paris Hilton. Yikes.

The city I knew and loved was filled with a burgeoning world-class art scene, small designers with big ideas, and amazing artisans. A place with a diverse community of risk-takers and doers – people I believed would help rewrite the story of LA as a city of innovation and creativity, not just in the film industry. And so I set out to create a pop-up marketplace that would bring people together, celebrate independent designers and artists, and help the local economy. A brand-new retail experience filled with interactivity, inspiration and good vibes.

From Day One it’s been about the people and the community. You’ve become my family - from the shoppers to the sellers (over 7500 at this point), to the sponsors and all the amazing staff who have worked with me. I’ve watched as sellers became parents. One family’s daughter grew from being a kid to a college student. I’ve been there to see brands like Sub_Urban Riot and Hedley & Bennett start at our markets and grow into popular, national brands. I’ve witnessed JJ Abrams shop at Unique LA every single year (uh yeah, blows my mind). And I’ve received emails from people who tell me they shopped at Unique LA as teenagers, and it inspired them to become entrepreneurs and artists!

Thanks to you, we’ve held markets in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Minneapolis. I’ve travelled across the country as a keynote speaker at conferences like SXSW, Create & Cultivate, and HOW Design Live. Companies like Redbull, Nike and Madewell have hired me. And as a mixed-race woman who is only 5’ 4”, one of my proudest moments was when I was featured on the cover of a magazine. The cover! Do you have unique memories? Please share them with me!

Dedicating the last decade to cultivating community, growing entrepreneurship and introducing people to the idea of conscious consumerism has been an honor. I’m so grateful that I not only get to do what I love every day, but that I get to empower, support and help thousands of small business owners too. THANK YOU so much for your support, enthusiasm and passion throughout the past 10 years. None of this would be possible without you.

SONJA RASULA, CEO & Founder of Unique Markets

Follow my adventures @sonjarasula

Our Fall Pop-Up's Were a Blast!

This fall was busy for UNIQUE! The markets popped up all over the city and it was so fun! We activated at The Grove in Mid City and Platform in Culver City with 70+ independent designers and artists. The days were sunny and beautiful, the beverages from Califia were delicious and the shopping was so good. We had a wide variety of brands with so many beautiful products. Click here to see the full photo albums of our fall pop-up markets.

Unique Home Tour: Jaclyn Johnson's Ridiculously Amazing Home

Gold accents, vintage artwork throughout, beautiful tile floors, and the best textiles and pillows we’ve ever seen… Jaclyn Johnson’s house is the stuff dreams are made of! But it’s the access to the outdoors and natural light in both her home office and her husband, David Kaul’s garage-turned-studio that really inspire.

Jaclyn is the founder of Create & Cultivate, the beloved conference for millennials that has been called “the ultimate conference for women everywhere” by sites such as Refinery 29, The Zoe Report, and Who What Wear. The blogger turned entrepreneur turned young CEO has built Create & Cultivate from a small side hustle, built to inspire budding entrepreneurs, to one of the pre-eminent events for women everywhere. Her first book, Work Party, was released in 2018.

Photography by Jessica Bordner

Q&A with TONL: Inclusion Through Images

Since their inception, stock photography websites have offered homogenous, way-too-retouched photos and very little variety. And yet they are a crucial resource for many small business owners who don’t have huge budgets to capture their own original imagery for everything. So when I met Karen Okonkwo last year and found out about her newly-formed company, TONL, I instantly became the #1 fan. Last year Karen and co-founder Joshua Kissi made waves in an old-school industry when they launched TONL, a culturally diverse stock photography company. I reached out to her to talk innovation, progress and change.  -Sonja Rasula 

TONL Founders Karen & Joshua

Why did you start TONL?

TONL started to address the lack of cultural diverse imagery in today’s media. We wanted to showcase what the world really looks like which is a melting pot of different ethnic backgrounds, sexual preferences, abilities and more. It was time for us to share the true narrative of our world.

For those unfamiliar with stock photography, can you describe what you do?

TONL is a diverse stock photography business that allows people to purchase imagery of people of various ethnic backgrounds and more to be used in various forms of media.

EXAMPLES OF STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE THROUGH TONL

What was your work background before becoming an entrepreneur?

Prior to embarking in entrepreneurship, I was fully committed to Medical Sales. For Joshua, he spent a small amount of time in retail.

Why are you so passionate about what you do?

We feel so strongly about accurately depicting what the world looks like because it offers a sense of belonging to those underrepresented. Our images also accurately portray the moment in time which makes imagery the timeless, powerful object that it is. We want the future to be able to see what the world really looked like.

The words diversity and inclusivity seem to be popular right now, yet I personally still don’t see a lot of diversity in imagery and on social feeds - especially with small businesses. What are your thoughts?

We agree and this has everything to do with the false idea of what sells. Businesses are old school in the sense that they believe that a white face is more socially accepting. However, studies continue to prove the power in the Black community’s spending power and the Muslim community’s spending power. While I can’t deny the progress, we still have a long way to go to get more diverse people on the front page of magazines and leading in large on screen roles.

EXAMPLES OF STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE THROUGH TONL

What other businesses are doing really innovative things and providing great tools for small business owners?

Localeur is a black owned business that is doing great things with its platform by simply leading by example. Localeur is an app that allows people to travel to amazing cities and experience the city like a local. Founder, Joah Spearman, has done a wonderful job doing talks to help share his knowledge on seeking investors and how to start an app-based, web-based business.

Another platform that does a wonderful job of speaking to the needs of all communities and developing business owners is Create & Cultivate. Jaclyn Johnson is the CEO and Founder of this amazing platform that seeks to allow women to cultivate the dreams of their life. Her platform is about women empowerment and offers tools to help women in business or women seeking to excel in the workforce.

What’s your advice for creatives and entrepreneurs?

Before you embark into business, sit down and really evaluate why you feel strongly about starting the journey into entrepreneurship. You’ve got to have a deep-rooted strong why because your why is what is going to get you up on the low days of building a business.

Painting for the People: A Look at the Cult-Fave Event "PowWow"

By Adam Mieuli

According to Jasper Wong, POW!WOW! is a spot on descriptor for both the impact art has on a person, POW!, and the reaction a person has to art, WOW! It’s also a Native American term describing a gathering that celebrates culture, music and art. Both meanings are fitting for POW! WOW! Jasper’s global art festival that has created hundreds of public murals in communities around the world during week long art, music and educational events. In 2017 POW! WOW! Hawaii in Honolulu brought together 120 artist painting 20 murals in one week. They also held 9 other festivals in cities around the world. But, this all started as a humble side project that might never have come to be if Jasper hadn’t been rejected from art galleries half a world away from his home state of Hawaii.

Jasper is an artist and painter. In 2010 he moved to Hong Kong to learn about manufacturing products while continuing to paint on the side. But, mainland Chinese art was in vogue and consequently his art was continually rejected from galleries.

Instead of waiting for a “Yes” Jasper created the opportunity for himself. He rented out a tiny, empty restaurant, painted the walls and windows white, few in a few artists from around the world and started his own gallery. They implemented two caveats: they would create paintings throughout the event and at the end they would destroy their work. They wanted to illuminate the creation process for attendees and make art without the intent to sell it.

They called the event POW! WOW! The following year, Jasper decided to bring the event home. He assembled 12 local and international artists and scaled up the event from a tiny restaurant to a warehouse. Everything was on course for a repeat performance, until several sponsors dropped out. Jasper again was faced with a choice: stop the event before launch or fund it himself. He took out his wallet and charged forward, full steam ahead. With new found freedom, they decided to paint a large mural in the parking lot of the warehouse for the duration of the event. That one decision brought everything into focus for Jasper.

Jasper and his team decided they would focus all future POW! WOW!s around week long murals painting exhibitions in communities around the world. Murals fulfilled many of the objectives Jasper had for POW! WOW! Using a public wall as a canvas meant people could witness the process of creating art while improving a community with artwork. A wall is big so it’s easy for artists to collaborate. Being in a public space means it doesn’t necessarily belong to anyone so the work can’t be sold, giving the artists more freedom to create.

Today POW! WOW! has three main missions: Beautify neighborhoods, connect artists, and support local communities through the arts. Artists work for free, donating their time and talents in exchange for a ight, housing, materials, and an opportunity to collaborate, create, teach and improve local communities.

Jasper’s biggest hope with POW! WOW! is that it inspires people, especially kids, to work on and share their own creative projects. “POW! WOW! started as a side project.
It was a hobby, a passion project that grew and it’s helped elevate me as an artists and organizer and connect with artists around the world. It doesn’t matter what you’re interested in, don’t forget about your dreams. If you put in the time and effort, you can create your own career and define your own path.”

Q&A with Three Potato Four

By Sonja Rasula

One of the cool things about entrepreneurship is that you get to know other businesses and the people doing work in similar fields as you, and you get to watch each other grow. Before I even had the concept for Unique Markets back in 2008 I was a fan of Three Potato Four, a website from husband-and-wife team Stu Eli and Janet Morales. Like me, they also seemed to have a passion for finding and collecting vintage things. When they started Three Potato Four was a small online shop where you could find anything from vintage clocks to old paint-by-numbers art. I felt a bond and kinship with them immediately.

Over the years as technology, the internet and social media brought change and offered new opportunity at rapid speeds, the company transitioned from selling one-of-a-kind items to designing their own products and collaborating with big brands. Their unique point of view and design aesthetic was fresh and they not only managed to survive through a terrible economy, but they evolved and are now one of the most popular gift/stationery/ lifestyle brands I know.

While we have yet to meet IRL, we’ve cheered each other on over the years. Their story is so inspirational and interesting, I asked Janet and Stu to share some of their history and wisdom.

Why did you start Theree Potato Four?

We started our business primarily to be able to work for ourselves and have more time with our kids. In the last 10 years, we've had that time and feel super fortunate.

You’ve pivoted and evolved so much, can you share your business timeline?

2007 – 2010: We began the business in 2007 as an on-line retail store. We wanted it to be a different kind of web shop filled with super fun, unique, and unusual housewares, accessories, and souvenirs - items that we loved and knew there was a market for but were difficult for people to source. We included a section of "Vintage" because we thought the items could give our brand a personality/ feeling/vibe and a unique point of view. At the time we started, the only other prominent online resource for vintage goods was eBay and so the antique portion of our business took o very quickly and we adjusted to selling primarily antiques.

A couple of years later we found ourselves in Philadelphia with our own antique shop and working on a line of our own vintage-inspired products (starting with milk bottle carafes, posters, key tags, and pennants) to supplement vintage sales. The kids were small and time was limited to source vintage to meet the demand and so designing, producing, and selling our own line helped with balance (both business and personal). This was a pretty important pivot for our business as, soon after, the influx of antique-focused reality TV (American Pickers, Storage Wars, etc.) changed the antique industry fairly abruptly (lots of weekend warrior antique dealers) and having a diversified business with our own line of products, not just the vintage, allowed us to keep things moving and growing.

2011-2015: During these years, we were selling less vintage and so we closed the antique shop and moved to a smaller studio closer to home. We focused heavily on what was
working well for us - product design; both for the Three Potato Four brand as well as linking up and developing product collections for larger retailers (Urban Outfitters, West Elm, Nordstrom, Fossil, etc.) who were keen on our style. During these years we also began cultivating the wholesale side of our business - more products, more trade shows, etc. I think that having gone through two fairly significant pivots in the business model, we wanted to make sure that we always stayed diversified in what we o er. If retail/wholesale was slow, then we had design and vice versa.

2016-Present: During the past few years the business has grown quite a bit. Larger collaborations, bigger accounts, expanded product lines, employees. We've learned so much about business over the last 10 years. Many highs and many lows, but what we're trying to do now is take all of those business lessons learned and apply to what we love most - designing and putting out products that combine good design with nostalgic roots. We've been making more time to shop for inspiration at antique markets and collector shows and trying to not fall into analysis paralysis or deep doubt with our o beat product ideas. As a business, it's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to follow trends, but we've come to realize that our most successful products have always been ones that people didn't know they wanted till they saw it. It's tough sometimes as we always feel like we are outliers, but it's the love of what we do that keep us going and trying new things. 2018 will see lots more new and different Three Potato Four products that we love and hope others are keen on as well. It's hard to be different, but it is fun to be the oddball.

What’s been your most successful product?

It’s been and continues to be our motel key tags.

Why do you think you’ve been so successful over more than a decade?

On the creative side, we'd have to say that it's a combination of keeping true to our "eye"/point-of-view along with our fortunate knack to foresee a possible trend in bringing something old back in a new way (key tags, pennants, letter boards, etc.). We sometimes use the tagline "Making old things new again" and it really does speak best about what we do and who we are.

On the business side, I think that being diversified in what the business offers (retail, wholesale, design services, sourcing, etc.) has meant a lot. There is never a time where all of these facets are up and being able to focus our efforts on what is currently working allows the business to keep moving while you work on the ones that are not. I would add that being humble, as a brand, as a business, as a vendor, as a partner - is paramount. Also, it's super critical to do your best to foresee upcoming potholes and pitfalls and preparing accordingly. It's not if you will hit them, it's when. And keeping our business small has allowed us the nimbleness and flexibility to both roll with the punches as well as capture some pretty fun projects and be better at customer/client service. Also luck. Lots and lots of luck.

Dolla Dolla Bills Y’all: Master Your Salary Negotiation with These 5 Tips

By Kara Scharwath

The data is clear — the majority of women hate to negotiate and will go out of their way to avoid situations where they have to do it, especially when it comes to compensation. According to a study from Glassdoor, 68% of women accept their first salary offer and men are three times more likely to successfully negotiate a higher salary. And it’s resulting in financial losses that add up over time. Research from Women Don't Ask shows that by NOT negotiating a first salary, you can lose more than $500,000 by age 60. Women who do consistently negotiate salary increase earn at least $1 million more over their careers than women who don't!

The good news is that with a little help and some diligent preparation, you too can slay your salary negotiation. Here’s how:

1. SET AN ACCURATE BASELINE

Use online resources like Glassdoor, Salary.com, and Payscale.com to ground your negotiation in hard data. Research salaries for similar jobs in your city at a comparable level of experience, education, skill, responsibility and performance.

It’s also helpful to talk with contacts in your field to get firsthand information from people who have experience in your industry. Don’t ask them what they make; instead, ask them for a range based on your role and level of experience. If you know any recruiters or have friends that work in human resources, they can be great resources too. If you don’t have those connections to reach out to, use LinkedIn to find people to contact or ask your college’s career services department to put you in touch with alumni.

By doing your due diligence, you base your argument on solid data, not just a feeling that you deserve more money. And you’ll feel more confident about the number you’re asking for.

2. PROVE YOUR VALUE

Comparative salary data is great, but you know what’s even better? Undeniable evidence that you’re killing it at your job. When you ask for a raise, your boss or manager is going to expect you to make a convincing case that you’re adding value to the company. Identify specific examples that clearly demonstrate your high level of performance, contributions to your team, and wherever possible, quantifiable results. This is how you can prove that you’re a valuable asset that’s well worth the additional compensation that you’re asking for.

3. REHEARSE YOUR DELIVERY

You should prepare for a salary negotiation the same way you would prepare for an important presentation or client pitch. Practice your language and delivery paying close attention to your body language, eye contact and facial expressions. You may be nervous on the inside but you want to come off as calm, positive and confident.

Write down the language you want to use and have a friend role play with you. Ask them to come up with some objections that your boss might pose and try to respond in real time. They can also give you feedback on how you can improve. Going through the scenario a few times will help you feel more comfortable once you’re faced with the real thing.

4. LISTEN + BE CREATIVE

A salary negotiation isn’t a one-way ask with a simple yes / no answer. It should be a collaborative conversation where both parties have an interest in finding a mutually beneficial solution. That means that what your boss or manager has to say is equally important. So, listen carefully to their responses, try to understand what they need, and be empathetic to where they are coming from.

If you don’t get the raise you were hoping for, there are other options you can explore that may be able to get you closer to where you want to be. Think outside the box about alternative benefits or other types of compensation that can round out your compensation package. This could include more vacation time, a better title, more equity, a performanced-based bonus, or an education budget to attend conferences or workshops. Your boss will appreciate your flexibility and willingness to offer creative solutions.

5. BE POSITIVE + STAY OPEN

It’s important that you pay close attention to your attitude and energy during the conversation. By preparing and doing your research, you can go into the negotiation with confidence and a clear understanding of your worth. Put yourself in a positive frame of mind and approach the conversation as a collaborative discussion with the goal of reaching a better outcome for yourself and for the company.

Salary negotiation is a discussion. If you’re not happy with where you ended up, set a follow-up meeting to keep the conversation going. Consider any feedback you were given on your performance and most importantly, try to learn from the experience. If you represent yourself well and keep an open mind, you’ll earn more respect from your boss, regardless of the outcome. Getting comfortable with and good at salary negotiation is an important and valuable skill you’ll be happy to have for life!

5 Easy Tips Business Owners Can Implement Today

Running a business is no easy feat, but with some simple tips, you can lead your team in the right direction. Here are a few reminders to keep you on track during your daily routine.

1. Capture the moment! (via Constant Contact)

Fans love seeing how everything comes together. By carving out some time each day to capture some behind the scenes footage of the team at the office or the beach, you'll have more content to share and connect with your audience in a new way.

2. Team up with micro-influencers! (via Forbes)

Don't let the numbers fool you. While they might not have as many followers as some of their celebrity contemporaries, micro-influencers have an advantage with their loyal and niche audiences. Their higher engagement rates compared to bigger names proves to be a more efficient marketing tactic with a greater ROI.

3. A little attention to detail goes a long way! (via Primoprint)

Many say "don't sweat the small stuff," but the finer details can truly help set your company apart from the competition. From providing customers with personal attention to ensuring the delivery of quality products, every seemingly small element contributes to building a loyal fanbase.

4. Distractions, begone!

Constant distractions are one of the many things that'll get in the way of working smarter. Keeping a tidy workspace smoothly translates to clearer thinking. Also try to skip the multitasking and instead carve out some time for each priority you have to tackle throughout the day.

5. Remember to unplug! (via USA Today)

Although the advent of the Internet and technology has allowed us to connect in ways never before possible, it's also become a bit too easy to get addicted to all these screens. Take a break from your desk with a walk outside to refresh your mind and system with a clean slate when you return.

Workspace Wednesday

Whether you have a home office or commute to work each day, maintaining a clean and refreshing work environment is essential to staying on top of your game. Not sure where to get started? Here's some inspiration for how to spice up your own workspace.

Home Polish

Photo by Julia Robbs

Squarespace

Photo by Magda Biernat

Cloud Room

Photo by Brian Paquette

BHDM Design

Photo by BHDM Design

Nuon Office

Photo by HEYLIGERS Design+Projects

Our Fave Summer Cocktails

Beat the heat with these tasty summer cocktails!

Image courtesy of Chareau

Endless Summer

2 oz Rosé

3/4 oz Chareau (Aloe Liqueur)

3/4 oz Lime Juice

1/4 oz Simple Syrup

Topped with Soda

Build over ice in collins or wine glass and garnish with fresh herbs.

Image courtesy of Chareau

Aloe Margarita

2 oz Tequila

1/2 oz Chareau (Aloe Liqueur)

3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice

1/2 oz Agave Syrup

Shake all ingredients with ice and serve.

Photo by Ethan Calabrese 

Recipe from Delish.com

Frozen Sangria Margarita

For the Sangria Swirl:

1 c. red wine

Juice of 1 orange

Juice of 1 lime

2 c. ice

For the Margarita Swirl:

1 can frozen limeade concentrate

2 shots tequila

2 c. ice

Blend sangria mixture. Transfer mixture to the freezer while you blend margarita mixture.

Rinse blender and blend margarita mixture.

On a small plate combine sugar and salt. Run a wedge of lime around the rim of a glass and dip in sugar and salt. Alternate layers of sangria and margarita.

Garnish with lime and serve.

Recipe from Esquire.com

Strawberry Basil Bourbon Lemonade

8 oz. bourbon

2 cups strawberries

2 tbsp sugar

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

12 basil leaves

8 basil sprigs

bitters

Place strawberries into blender and add 2 tbsp of sugar. Add about 1/4 of a cup of water and pulse until pureed. In a medium saucepan over a medium-high heat, add the puree and 1 3/4 cup of water. Heat until mixture begins to boil. Allow to cool and then strain through a sieve.

In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry syrup, bourbon, 1 cup of water, lemon juice, basil leaves, and a splash of bitters. Stir and then pour into eight glasses with ice. Garnish each with a basil sprig.

For the Foodies

DineL.A

July 13th-27th

Various Locations

California Pizza Festival 

July 28 and 29 

LA Center Studios

Echo Park Food Truck Fest 

July 6th

7PM-9PM

Echo Park Food Truck Rodeo

1310 Liberty Street

Los Angeles, CA 90026

Dessert Fest At Cooper Design Space

July 7th and 8th

12-7pm

Cooper Design Space

Latin Salsa Festival 

July 7th and 8th

532 S Olive St

532 South Olive Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

 

5 Ways to Help Families Seeking Asylum

In case you are unaware, here is a recap of whats going on in America right now: 

Families who are crossing the borders into the US are being separated by ICE and border patrol. The adults (who are seeking safety and asylum from our neighboring countries)  are being criminally prosecuted while their children are taken and detained in government facilities alone. The children are being taken away at an astounding rate; on average 45 children per day since 2016.

So, cutting to the chase: what can you do immediately to help? We have listed 5 EASY ways to positively impact the human rights violations and atrocities that our government is knowingly implementing.

1. TALK, POST, SHARE.. REPEAT 

Talking is the first step, always. Talk about what's happening to your peers, coworkers and the man that pours your coffee, this way you can share your ideas and get a better understanding of what you might not be aware of! Also tweeting and re-posting on social media is literally the way we learn these days. If you are silent, you are part of the problem.

Two things you can do right now: Share this blog post and follow @aclu_nationwide. 

2. DONATE

You can donate however much you want at Secure.actblue.com, which will spread donations across 8 relevant charities and projects that are working tirelessly to support and protect these families. The ACLU, Women's Refugee Commission, Human Rights First, and Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project are some examples of the groups that your donation will be dispersed to. 

3. CALL YOUR REP

5calls.org is a great website to easily access a phone number depending on your location. By voicing your opinion to the staffers of your local representative, your opinion is basically tallied and informs the local government on how strongly the population feels about a certain topic. The phone call can take less than one minute. 

4. TEXT YOUR REP

If you have call anxiety, text the free service RESISTBOT to get the word to your representative.  Text the word RESIST to 50409. 

5. READ ON...

Below are several links that will give you a better understanding of what is going on: 

Read about Jacob Soboroff's visit to an children's immigration holding facility,

Spoiler: its horrendous. 

Read the New York Times article on the legality of whats happening. 

Read the fact checking article by the ACLU on all the theories that are swirling around the internet.