ADAM BRAUN: PENCILS OF PROMISE DECEMBER 2013
Letter from It is the most wonderful time of the year. The holidays are here. There is no turning back now. That gift for your office party? Yes, it needs to be selected and wrapped ASAP. And you better start thinking of the outfit, because you know that will be a doozy. That friend who always gets you a gift unexpectedly? There will most definitely be one of those this year. Oh, and grandma is, without a doubt, counting the days until she sees you again, so she can ask who you’re dating and what you’re doing with your life. My point is, the holidays always love to make life a little trickier. Did I get so-and-so the right present? Did I budget everything ok? The thing I love about Sweet Lemon is that we love to talk about all of these things. In this issue we are dishing great tips, like gift suggestions, how to wrap your presents beautifully, what kind of cocktails to serve and more. Stay tuned to sweetlemonmag.com for all of our holiday discussion as well. And although you didn’t ask, here are my quick tips for the holidays: 1. Make sure every potential holiday cocktail party dress you own has been dry cleaned and can be ready to go at a moment’s notice. (Hey you never know.) 2. Have your apartment or home 5 minutes away from entertaining at any time. You might not plan on having company, but it seems like around the holidays it just happens. For me this means, stocking the fridge with a few extra beverages, keeping things a little tidier, and always having a couple of snacks on hand. 3. Stock up on hostess gifts now. Usually I try to buy 3 or 4 (typically bottles of wine, or candles) and then have them wrapped and ready to go. There will always be last minute party invites. 2
Doing a little preparation, like these 3 things, can go a long way. Everything is intensified during the holidays – even the traffic. Preparation is key in making things more enjoyable and less stressful. Another thing I love about this time of year is reflecting back on the past year and making goals for the new one. Last year about this time, I sat down and wrote out all of my goals for 2013. I put them on the very first page of brand new leather notebook I planned to use for work ideas and todo lists. It ended up being such an effective tool because every day when I went to write down an idea or list for work, I had to pass by the first page of big, lofty goals. From January to December, these goals stayed in the forefront of my mind. Everyone has different methods for staying on track, but this one seemed to work for me. I didn’t reach every single goal, but I came pretty close. I encourage you to come up with your ideas of how you want to make 2014 YOUR year. I have a theory that the more you put your goals out there in the world, the more they start to come true. So go ahead, think of your wildest dream. Then break down little goals for 2014 so you can achieve that wild dream one day. One of my goals for 2013 was to get involved with a publication like Sweet Lemon Magazine. I am so happy that this goal came true! Thank you so much for welcoming me into the Sweet Lemon family this year, with open arms. I have met so many amazing people through this venture, and I can’t wait to see what 2014 holds. Please feel free to send me a tweet or email anytime.
@tiffanytweet
tiffany@sweetlemonmag.com
ISSUE 12 Contributors Mattie Quinn @mattiekquinn
Cara Maresca @caramaresca
Alex Lemley @alexlemley
Sara Anwar @arazanwar
Clare Austen-Smith @clareausten
Molly Kadish @mbkayy
Shay Nematollahi @love_shayda
Carleton English @careltonenlish
Melanie Schneider @melfitwellness
Zack Grossman
Mandy Kellogg Rye @waitingonmartha 3
Guide to
Holi
Nice 20
Pop Culture Recs
Adam Braun
Sweet Lemon Gift Guide
Holiday Beauty
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Beat Winter Blues
Fitness
Blogger Wishlist
DIY Gift Wrap
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The Little Market
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Staying in the Green
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Eyegasm
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Santa Claus, Sex Symbol
Holiday Cocktails
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SWEET LEMON CALENDAR
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National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. Who knew this existed, but count us in!
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I don’t know about you but Taylor Swift’s feeling… 24?
National Lemon Cupcake Day. We’re definitely sweet on this day! Celebrate Adam Brody’s Birthday with a Lemon Cupcake.
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A royal Birthday for Duchess Kate Middleton
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SHOPPABLES Our Holiday Wishlists
Marc Jacobs 1984 Satchel Burberry Scarf Anna Sui Lace Dress Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge
PARIS’ Wishlist
Valentino Rockstud Flats
Paris Rouzati // editor-in-chief Paris is part geek, and part chic. She fancies lame jokes, TED Talks, spontaneous dance parties, and red lipstick. She enjoys witty banter over a cup of tea (or two), and consumes more Nutella than recommended. She believes that a life without giving isn’t really living. Follow her: @ParisRouzati www.parisrouzati.com
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ALI VITALI // VICE PRESIDENT Ali is a digital journalist with a passion for politics, pop culture, and live-tweeting press conferences. She worships at the altar of Liz Lemon, Carrie Bradshaw, and Sloan Sabbith. Ali is still trying to make “fetch” happen. #RollWave Follow her: @alivitali WWW.ALIVITALI.COM
Ali’s Wishlist Ted Baker, lace ankle boot DVF Jeannie embroidered jersey dress Cole Haan loafer Shae leather trim cardi Kate Spade, 2 park avenue beau bag
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Our Holiday Wishlists TIFFANY OLSON // CREATIVE director Tiffany is a stylist, writer and travel lover. She dreams of attending Paris Fashion Week, being BFF with Wintour, and having a separate, large, shoe closet. Obsessed with macarons and peonies before it was a thing. #SorryShesNotSorry about her Royal obsession. Coffee, blogs, Valentino, girl talk. Married to a Sports Journalist, so that explains the frequent sports tweets. Work hard and be nice to people. Follow her: @TiffanyTweet www.tiffanystyleblog.com
TIFF’S Wishlist Zara Cape Michael Kors Watch Eddie Borgo Bracelet Tory Burch Bag Valentino Boots
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Our Holiday Wishlists Crosley Record Player Vince Blair sneakers Zara Jacket Cynthia Rowley Flask Cuff Illesteva sunglasses
KELSEY’S Wishlist
KELSEY REIFLER // ART director Kelsey is passionate about creating for a cause, and aims to harness the power of design to make a positive difference. She adores book stores, unplanned evenings, design blogs and rooftops. She never leaves home without headphones, a good book and her beloved Moleskin notebook. Follow her: @KREIFLER WWW.KELSEYREIFLER.COM 11
Our Holiday Wishlists Zoë Björnson//Marketing Director Zoë is a California girl at heart, but having spent time in New Orleans, New York and Copenhagen, she’s always ready for an adventure. She digs good food (you should see her Instagram, can you say #foodporn?), fabulous shoes, and sunshine. She believes in the power of social media, but there’s nothing like lunch with an old friend. Follow her: @kzoeb
Frankie Rose lipstick Sam Edelman booties Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton Fendi Shearling Aviator Jacket Dannijo Hixon iPhone Case
ZOE’S Wishlist
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Our Holiday Wishlists Adair-hayes Crane//copy editor Adair-Hayes is a coffee-addicted, Selena Gomezloving, music-obsessed writer. As the double name implies, she was indeed born and raised in the South, but dreams of one day making the big move to New York City with her fiance and her cat in tow. She tends to think she’s hilarious, collect too many books she will never get around to reading, and dream of Follow her: @AdairHayesCrane
ADAIR’s Wishlist
One Direction Midnight Memories CD Kate Spade Cat iPhone Case Zara Jacket Michael Kors Watch Madewell Booties
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Our Holiday Wishlists
Anthropologie Cardigan Kate Spade 2014 Agenda Ugg Slippers Vince Camuto Studded Double Wrap Watch
CALI’S Wishlist
Victor + Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum
Cali owings//COPY EDITOR Cali is a newswoman not-so-secretly obsessed with the Voice, her cat, pro-fem blogs and DIY projects. When she’s not in the newsroom, Cali enjoys thrifting, making meals for others and exploring places both near and far. She’s a true Midwesterner having lived in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin (You betcha!) and now calls Fargo, ND home. Follow her:@OhCaliJade 14
Our Holiday Wishlists Lauren parisi//social media manager Lauren is a lover of all things fashion and when her shopping addiction hits, there’s no stopping her (seriously, though). Lauren can be found laughing with good friends or enjoying an awesome playlist and a runners high. A N.Y. girl, Lauren lives for the hustle and bustle of The Big Apple and loves nothing more than to pass talented musicians in the subway doing what they love. Follow her:@laurenrparisi
Lauren’S Wishlist
Kate Spade 2014 Agenda Rebecca Minkoff Satchel Jcrew Star Necklace Kate Spade Champagne Coin Purse Tory Burch Wedge Sandal
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Our Holiday Wishlists Emilia Morano-Williams// Social media manager Emilia is a hopeless anglophile who divides her time between the USA and England. She can usually be found drinking coffee, reading on her kindle or searching for the perfect croissant. She owns too many striped shirts for one wardrobe. She believes in working hard, traveling far and always smiling. Follow her:@emilialiveslife
Fjallraven Kanken The French Market Cookbook Gold Striped iphone case from Rifle Paper Co. Cashmere Scarf Jcrew Kate Spade Watch
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Emilia’s Wishlist
Our Holiday Wishlists SLM’s STOCKING Wishlist
Kendra Scott Earrings Emi-Jay Hair Tie NYC Wine Stopper Brighthouse Baubles bracelet Emergency Kit
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Pop Cultur Ear Candy Childish Gambino Because the Internet Available December 17th
image via sidewalkhustle.com
Donald Glover is probably one of my favorite artists of right now -- and I do not use the term “artist” lightly. Starting his career as a stand-up comedian and writer for 30 Rock, Glover quickly transitioned to writer/actor on the popular NBC show Community. All the while, this funny guy was harboring a deeply intellectual and emotionally driven alter-ego. Enter: Childish Gambino. If you haven’t heard his 2011 album Camp, do yourself a favor and go listen now. If 30 seconds into the underground hit “Heartbeat” you aren’t convinced that Childish Gambino is your distant soul mate, then I am convinced that you just don’t know what love is. Now, let’s on focus why I’m so darn excited for Gambino’s 2013 album, Because the Internet. On 20
November 12, Gambino introduced the single “Shadows” to the world. In true Gambino fashion it was a perfect mix of soulful vocals and hilarious lyrical genius. Cue usual swooning. Of course, I’m also excited to hear how Gambino plays with others. Back in 2011, CG had almost no street cred in the music community, and therefore no collaborations on his debut album. But it’s 2013 now, ladies and gentlemen, and Gambino has quite the guest list. Chance the Rapper, Azealia Banks, Jhene Aiko. Bottom line: if you are familiar with Childish Gambino OR Donald Glover you’ll need little to no convincing when I say this album is a must play (on repeat). If not, do yourself a favor and try something new. You won’t be disappointed.
re Recs
By Molly Kadish @mbkayy
Guilty Pleasure
If you have been living under a rock then you Britney Spears probably have no idea Britney Jean who Malala Yousafzai Available December 3rd is. If your residence isn’t sub-sedimentary, then you know she is the 16 year-old I am Malala:The Girl Who Pakistani teen who has image via music-mix.ew.com Stood Up for Education and taken the world by storm by fighting for Was Shot by the Taliban Okay, so this one is kind of a her right as a woman Malala Yousafzai gimme but… Britney Spears is to an education. >> Out Now coming out with a new album and based on the laws of the universe you must listen to it. While I can’t speak much to the artistic integrity of the forthcoming Britney Jean album, we have already been exposed to the work of art that is the “Work B**ch” video, and let’s just call a spade a spade here – it’s perfect, classic Britney. Forget the fact that the music video includes some blatant product integration amidst some soft-core S&M, the song itself makes me want to party, get my workout on, and learn how to dance all at once. If the whole album follows suit, I think my head might explode. ALL HAIL image via Glamour.com QUEEN BRITNEY.
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Of course, this is after the Taliban maliciously sought her out to silence her, attempting to murder her on her public school bus in front of her peers on her way home from school in her hometown of Swat Valley. I had the unbelievable honor to hear Malala speak at the 2013 Glamour Women of the Year Awards and she is a force to be reckoned with. Completely unfazed by the star-studded crowd, Malala spoke with eloquence and conviction that quite frankly I didn’t know was possible for a woman her age. Everyone was so blown away, in fact, that most of the other honorees dedicated their award to Malala and her fight. Lucky for us, Malala has put her thoughts down on paper in the riveting I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. And while the title is getting nothing but praise here in the United States -- where we are lucky enough that it is every young woman’s right to get an education -- this book is banned in Pakistani schools so as not to perpetuate the idea that women are deserving of it. If you are still unconvinced that this book is a must read, let me leave you with this thought: if you ask social scientists the key to ending global poverty, they will insist it is the education of women. Men, women, boys, girls, brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers, we need to be grateful for what we have and (READ UP) 22
work towards using our advantages to help others that are less fortunate. The first step on that path? Educating ourselves.
Holiday picks On the soundtrack: N*Sync/ “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” In the oven: Snowman sugar cookies -- decorate with frosting and friends Included in Wardrobe: Make like Taylor Swift and get your gold and glitter on. On Netflix: Nightmare before Christmas Perfect DIY Gift: Hand decorated mason jars filled with seasonal candy -- or really any candy (Bonus points for glitter)
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beauty
Written by Shayda Nematollahi IG // @LoveShaydaXo Photographer Dylan York // @Dylanyorkatl MakeUp Artist Michaela Polaco // @Mickipeezie Hair Stylist Paola Tellez // @PoochieGrl 30
‘ Tis the season to party It’s that time again, the holidays are here and so are all of the wonderful festivities that come along with it. This season is all about being fresh and daring. Intense lips, glitter pigments, bold colors, and fresh faces are all the buzz this winter. Stay true to your style, whether you like to be edgy, au naturale, or glam, Sweet Lemon has the hottest picks for you to stand out in the crowd.
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Deep, dark lips have been a huge trend this fall, but we see them taking an even darker turn this winter. Believe it or not, it’s easier than you think to wear this edgy look. Inspired by M.A.C’s runway Reb-elle & Au Currant trends, try mixing a smoky exaggerated liner on your eyes with vibrant dark berry lips.
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Top Lip Picks:
(listed bottom to top) Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick in Homegirl M.A.C Lipstick in Cyber YSL Lipstick in Forbidden Burgundy
Pair your edgy makeup with silky straight hair! Use Aveda “Smooth Infusion’ Glossing Straightener to help maintain those locks all day long.
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A polished face can be effortless and beautiful, without taking the time of a full makeup look! Put your best face forward, with makeup that looks, well, like you’re not wearing makeup.
1 Start with freshly exfoliated and moisturized skin. Use Prep + Prime Skin to even, calm, and soothe your face. 2 Next apply M.A.C Face and Body Foundation. Use a fluffy duo fiber brush like M.A.C Brush #159. 3 Perfect your skin with a flawless sweep of Prep + Prime Transparent Finish Powder. 4 Lightly sweep a bronzer 1 or 2 tones darker than your skin, using a fluffy brush like M.A.C Brush #129 . Focus on applying color from your cheekbones toward your ears. 5 Using that same bronzer and a fluffy brush such as M.A.C #224 lightly sweep the color on your lids. 6 Lightly line your eyes with M.A.C Liner in Bountiful Brown and use a q-tip to soften out the color. 7 Apply mascara as you please or add false lashes if you want to add a little pop to your look. 8 Pair this look with soft lips using M.A.C Sheen Supreme Lipstick in the color Bare Again, add a little bit of gloss and you’re ready to go! 35
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Glammed Up It’s gold and it glitters! Who doesn’t love glitter, especially when it comes to holiday glam? It’s a must! We’re in love with M.A.C’s Holiday Sets, especially the Nocturnal Pigments and Glitter kit! Buy it for yourself, or as a gift. These stackable pigments are absolutely stunning! Learn how to apply glitter to your holiday look: 1 Prime lids and apply your crease color. To copy this look use M.A.C Eye Shadow in “Saddle” as a transition and the colors “Sketch” and “Motif” as your crease colors. When you’re done, apply TOO FACED Glitter Glue to the area you want to apply the glitter to, using a small brush for precision.
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2 Next, using a flat brush lightly pat the M.A.C pigment in “3D Gold” from the center and outer ward on your lid. Lightly pack the glitter on the lid in a pressing motion. 3 Apply a black liquid liner to your lash line. 4 To finish the look apply your favorite false lashes!
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Pair this look with a bold red lip!
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TIP: If you want your makeup to last you all night try this weightless setting spray by Urban Decay. All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray will keep your makeup looking fresh up to 16 hours! Party on dolls! 37
How to beat the Winter Author: Mattie Quinn @mattiekquinn
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Ahh, the holidays. It all starts with the annual introduction of the red Starbucks Christmas cups. Then, the smell of firewood in the air, and all of those great holiday movies we can watch upwards of 100 times without getting sick of them. Everything about the two post-Halloween months seems to be magical.
But wait! What are we left with once that magical feeling is gone, the presents have been exchanged, and the New Year’s champagne has been consumed? As Americans, we spend the better part of our year getting excited and preparing for that six-week period of Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve. Once it’s over, it can be a big let down. The weather is sickeningly cold, we feel a little tubby from all the holiday goodies and an all-over feeling of ‘well, this sucks.’ I know every year after Christmas I feel an internal timer go off, and my mood darkens exponentially. The prospect of being social fills me with dread, all I want to do is sleep and my countdown until the first day of Spring is as slow as ever. Luckily, I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one.
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Let’s face it, between the pressure to “improve yourself” every new year, the sun setting earlier and earlier in the day and weather so cold it seems to sink into your bones, winter is hard. While only about six percent of America officially have “seasonal affective disorder,” a study in 2011 by the Cleveland Clinic estimated that up to 20 percent of Americans display symptoms of it during the winter months. So what’s there to do about beating those gloomy months post holiday fun? As someone who has “displayed symptoms” of S.A.D (what an appropriate acronym) since I was a teenager, I like to think I’ve mastered combatting the winter blues. What to do when winter is bringing you down: ● Have a goal. This is NOT the same as a New Years resolution. New Years resolutions are loaded with pressure and the false promise that accomplishing them will make all your dreams come true. Instead, come up with a short term goal that you’d like to have finished by the time spring rolls around. Last winter, when I was in the midst of a bitter Chicago winter, I committed to train for a 10K. I took advantage of my building’s treadmill, and by the time the
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race rolled around in April, I completed it faster than I expected to. Whether it’s an exercise goal, starting a book manuscript or planning a vacation, having something to work towards will get your mind off of the heinous weather.
Hit the gym. I know, I know. Nothing on this planet sounds worse than working out when all you want to do is sit on your couch and drink hot chocolate. But endorphins exist! And they’ll make you feel better! I know the gym can be intolerable in early January when seemingly everyone on this planet has committed to losing 15 pounds, but I can only really say that you just have to suck it up. The mood lifting ability that exercising has will far outweigh obnoxious gym-goers. If you really, really can’t bring yourself to work out when it’s bitter cold, at the very least try to visit a sauna. Allowing yourself a good sweat is one of the best things you can do when you’re feeling sad. Be social. Nothing makes me antisocial quite like the winter blues. Looking cute is almost impossible when you have bundle up in five layers of clothes just to leave your house. But believe it or not, being with people you love is only going to help. You can’t stay in and eat ramen every night! Force yourself to put on a nice outfit (and yes, with a coat and a scarf,) and see friends. Chances are many of your friends are also feeling effects of winter blues as well. Don’t let yourself go through your feelings alone.
can’t be happy every single day. Just know that it isn’t going to be gloomy and gross forever. Soon you will be shedding your layers for sundresses and shorts, and the abundance of happy days will return. If you need to repeat that to yourself every day while walking to work without any feeling in your nose or hands, do it. This too shall pass. Once you are finally wearing your favorite high-waisted-shorts-and-crop-top combo and everything feels wonderful, be sure to remember those heinous winter days. Reminding yourself you made it through days of virtually no sunlight and layers-onlayers will make the al-fresco dining and music festivals all the more sweeter. You can’t have happy days without dreary days, but the key to real happiness is making the most of all the days.
Know that ‘this too shall pass.’ It’s healthy to embrace your feelings. If you feel your mood souring with each passing cold day, let yourself recognize that. We 41
The Holidays Are Here Take your workout on vacation with you By Melanie Schneider @MelFitWellness
The holidays come with a lot of mixed feelings, and unfortunately, a lot of mixed drinks! Yes, I’m the Scrooge in the room. On the one hand, who doesn’t love the holiday season with its heart-warming Christmas carols on the radio, red Starbucks cups, wreaths, beautifully decorated trees and menorahs, friends and family coming together to celebrate various holidays from around the world? But besides the overwhelming sense of anticipation and excitement that surrounds the holidays, there is also an overburdening feeling of dread and guilt for the gluttony and glamour that will ensue - every which way you turn there are holiday cookies in the office kitchen, your Aunt’s homemade pie arrives at your door, a couple more sneaky cosmopolitans at your friend’s Christmas party and an abundance of tantalizing finger foods 42
waiting to ruin all your willpower and hard work over the past several months. Not to worry, celebrate the holiday season with your Sweet Lemon health nut and ring in the New Year without a “I’m going to join the gym” resolution, because you will have nothing to feel guilty about! Let’s get started with how to squeeze in some calorie-torching, muscle-burning workouts into your holiday travels. In between visiting with friends and family you haven’t seen all year, hopping on plane after plane, waiting in crowded airports, train stations and traffic jams, trying to juggle your social life with your fitness goals can be tough. Let me make it easy for you - here is a quick and easy workout that requires no equipment and can be done in as little as 15 minutes or as long as an hour!
Instructions: Complete this full-body workout in a circuit, with no rest in between exercise sets, and only resting for 1-2 minutes in between circuit sets to keep your heart rate elevated for maximum burn in the least amount of time. For those of you super short on time this holiday season, complete 1 full circuit. For those of you who can squeeze some more “me time” in, complete up to 4 full circuits to make sure you are fatiguing each muscle group enough.
Mountain Climbin’ Jumpin’ Jacks Duration - 60-90 seconds Start in a mountain climber position (hands on the ground in plank position, quickly drawing your knees into your chest one at a time by pushing off the ground with your feet behind you, as if you are running parallel to the ground) and complete four reps (each knee will come into your chest 2 times), then quickly jump your feet in and up to a standing position in order to complete 2 jumping jacks. Alternate as quickly as you can between these two exercises for at least 1
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Twisting Push Ups Duration - 20 reps (10 each side)
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Start in a regular push-up position (for beginners, complete on a bench, elevated step, edge of firm couch/bed) and after you complete the push-up, at the top of the motion when your arms are extended, bring one arm up rotating your body up toward the ceiling in order to look at your hand that is reaching towards the ceiling now. Come back down with control to a push-up position, complete a push-up and repeat the rotation and reach on the other side.
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No Arms Sit Ups Duration - 20-30 reps Start in normal sit-up position (knees bent, lying on the ground) but cross your arms over your chest, holding onto your shoulders, so you cannot use the momentum of your arms to help you sit up. Sit up as high as you can, keeping your arms on your chest, and lower yourself back down with control. Repeat. 44
Praising Lunges Duration - 40 reps (20 each side) Start with both feet shoulder width apart. Take one foot forward into a lunge position, and as you lower yourself down towards the ground (both knees creating 90 degree angles with the ground), lift your arms straight up overhead. Alternate forward lunging foot and repeat.
Tricep Dips Duration - 20 reps Find a bench, elevated step, edge of a firm couch or bed, and start with your elbows tucked in to your sides, the palms of your hands on the surface, with your fingers facing away from you, knees bent in front of you, feet on the floor. Bend your elbows, lowering your body weight down and push up to straighten out your arms (only using your arms to raise you, as opposed to your legs). Repeat up and down.
Leap Frog Squat Jumps Duration - 15-20 reps, 10 sec rest, 15-20 reps again, total of 30-40 Start in a deep squat position so you are low enough to touch your hands to the ground, while still keeping your back, neck and head in an upright position facing forward. Jump up as high as you can from this low squat position and land back down in that deep, low squat. Repeat as quickly as you can, jumping and landing back into a squat.
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Holiday Shopping & Staying in the Green By Carleton English www.carletonenglish.com @carletonenglish
Christmas decorations have been creeping up since Labor Day, yet many of us don’t attack our holiday shopping until the last moment. And although Wall Street keeps hitting unprecedented highs, many of us are not feeling so flush with cash. Don’t fret though! Below are some holiday dos and don’ts, as well as gift ideas for your friends and loved ones, that will keep you sane, in the green, and allow you to actually celebrate the season.
Holiday Dos • Set a spending budget and stick to it. Your budget should be based on what you can afford (no more than 10% of your last 3 months of salary), not what holiday advertisements say you need.
• Don’t stray from your holiday budget.
• If you haven’t been budgeting for the holidays, get started for next year! Putting aside $40/month will give you almost $500 come holiday shopping 2014.
• Don’t feel that you need to get gifts for everyone you know.
• Look for opportunities to save and stock up on gifts for next year. A two for one product can cover your gifting for 2014! • Remember what giving is truly about. 46
Holiday Don’ts • Don’t expect a holiday bonus or monetary gifts from family to pay off your credit cards.
• Don’t forget the spirit of the holidays.
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Gift Ideas:
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grandparents, combine your money with siblings to afford big ticket items. If you are still unsure or don’t have siblings to share the monetary burden consider gifting experiences with your family such as tickets for shows, gift cards for restaurants, or spa days. And, if you’re reading this with apprehension and still blinded by dollar signs, consider making a scrapbook of some of your favorite family photos and writing down your memories.
• Coworkers: Gifting should usually be left out of the workplace. I am not trying to be a Scrooge, but gifts create too many opportunities for awkwardness and HR violations. However, there are some offices where it is considered offensive to not share the holiday cheer. If you are inclined to celebrate with colleagues, keep things light and budget friendly by going out to lunch together or bringing in desserts on • Surprises: Of course, despite our best a day before people go on their holiday laid plans, we often get that one surprise vacations. gift that leaves us feeling, well, emptyhanded. While we often berate ourselves • Friends and Significant Others: If you feel for not reciprocating, keep in mind that cash strapped there is a good chance that reciprocation is not the spirit of giving. That your friends do too. To avoid unnecessary said, I know a few of you are reading this stress and credit card debt, keep things in agony with hopes of the perfect solution simple. Look for experiences you can all for this common problem. While you’re do together like a dinner party, holiday shopping keep your eyes peeled for a few show, or White Elephant exchange. If trinkets to buy that won’t put too much of a you’re super tight on cash, move the party dent in your holiday budget. Ornaments, to one of your apartments and make a travel mugs, candy, warm weather gear, day of watching holiday movies, DIY spa and paper goods are generally good cost treatments, and sipping on hot toddies and effective, gender-neutral things to buy. mulled wine. Your friends are your support Keep your stash in your car or office and system for all the craziness that work and you won’t find yourself empty-handed while family bring - keep the gift drama light and you’re on the go. really celebrate why you let these special people in your life. • Family: Depending on the size and closeness of your family this may be the toughest area for savings. If you come from a large family with lots of siblings and close cousins, consider doing a White Elephant exchange or setting a price minimum and picking a quirky theme. For parents and
Carleton English is the co-founder and COO of Belus Capital Advisors, an investment research firm. She maintains her passion for finance by serving as Treasurer-Elect for the Junior League of Philadelphia and writing for Sweet Lemon Magazine and other online publications. Carleton is a graduate of the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. 47
ADAM BRAUN The power of a pencil By Cara Maresca @CaraMaresca
Adam Braun should be intimidating. At just 30 years old, Braun has already been named to Wired’s “50 People Who Will Change the World.” He’s an alum of both Brown University (where he played Division I basketball) and Bain & Company. He speaks in whip-smart sound bites. He’s the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. And the nonprofit he founded, Pencils of Promise, has broken ground on 150 schools in developing countries in the past five years. Intimidating might be too mild a word. Fortunately, within minutes, Braun gives us our first clue that he’s just a regular guy—a guy who isn’t afraid to ask for help in the wardrobe department. “Would you rather I wear this greenish button down?” Braun stops our photographer before she shoots. “Or I have a solidcolored kind of…T-shirt-ish? It’s not really a T-shirt… You guys just tell me what to wear.” That’s more like it. 48
Photo of Adam by Angela Zhao 49
Elementary school students in Laos Courtesy Nick Onken/Pencils of Promise
Braun founded Pencils of Promise in October 2008 with the goal of building one school in Laos. His inspiration: A boy begging on the streets of India he encountered during Semester at Sea his junior year of college. Braun asked the little boy what he wanted more than anything in the entire world. The boy’s response: a pencil. A few years later, on his 25th birthday, Braun put $25 in a bank account. “I wasn’t trying to build this huge organization,” Braun says. “I just wanted to build one school. And I also figured that if it did become something big, it would be symbolic for what we stood for—that you can start from a really small place and achieve really big things.” These days, Pencils of Promise (PoP) is breaking ground on a new school in Latin America, Asia, or Africa every 90 hours. The goal for this holiday season alone: to raise $625,000 before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st – enough money to build 25 schools in Guatemala. 50
Courtesy Nick Onken/Pencils of Promise
Lofty? Maybe, but absolutely necessary, Braun says. “I was really reluctant in our early years for us to set goals, for us to have these numbers that could either demonstrate failure or success,” he says. That reluctance shifted three years ago when Braun became dead-set on building PoP’s first school on the African continent. At the first annual PoP Gala in 2010, “I just put it out there in front of the audience. I said, ‘If we raise a million dollars tonight, then we’re going to be able to expand into Ghana.’” Braun’s new goal-setting mantra: A goal realized is a goal defined.
feel: the head honcho’s office, more aptly described as an icebox in November (an unfortunate side effect of a faulty air conditioner installation, Braun apologizes). More worthy of distraction than our goose bumps is a large, grungy (yet framed) piece of cardboard mounted by Braun’s desk. “Most people don’t know that whole story,” Braun says, catching my gaze.
And again, Braun is putting his money where his mouth is. He just turned his 30th birthday party into a fundraiser and collected $25,000 – the cost of building one school. The Pencils of Promise headquarters are nestled in the suddenly posh NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan. The interiors feel more like a trendy startup than a charity organization, à la Warby Parker: iMacs, young staffers, and open floor plans abound. This could be a nod to Braun’s business approach to PoP, which he’s coined as a “forpurpose” organization, not a nonprofit— Braun’s idea that traditionally nonprofit organizations are driven by maximizing value in the same way top-notch corporations are, and should operate accordingly. The one part of the PoP workspace that definitely does have that not-for-profit
Elementary school student in Guatemala Courtesy Nick Onken/Pencils of Promise 51
Braun grew up in Greenwich, Conn., “but my parents didn’t raise us like most of the other kids in town,” he’s quick to qualify. By “us,” Braun refers to himself and his four siblings, one of whom is record label owner Scooter Braun (better known as the guy who discovered Justin Bieber).
workforce in July 2007. “I really wanted to get out of my comfort zone before I went from Fairfield County to New England back to New York for finance,” Braun says.
About a year and half into his time at Bain, Braun took a sabbatical to launch Pencils Braun’s parents both grew up in poverty, of Promise, then returned to corporate life his father a post-Holocaust immigrant to the in December 2009 with one foot in the United States (Braun’s paternal grandparents door and one foot out. With PoP’s first survived concentration camps), his mother and second schools under construction raised in the Catskills by his widowed and plans for the third, fourth, and fifth grandmother. They settled on Greenwich underway, Braun “started being a notbecause of its first-rate public education so-great employee.” When his staffing system. “They wanted us to go to public manager assigned him to a consulting case school and prioritized education above all that would force him to spend four days a else,” Braun says of his parents. “We were week in upstate New York—far from his raised…[knowing] that anything we were PoP initiatives—Adam asked what would going to get, we had to earn. We had to happen if he decided to turn down the work for it.” project. “The staffing manager told me, ‘If you don’t take the case, you’re choosing to Braun always figured he’d follow in his leave Bain.’ Greenwich neighbors’ footsteps and pursue a career in finance. He landed his first Elementary student from the Volta region of Ghana hedge fund internship at age 16. But after Courtesy of: Pencils of Promise his fortuitous experience on the streets of India, Braun returned to Brown “very much a man on fire,” less interested in finance and more interested in helping those in need of quality education. Braun signed on to work at Bain & Company after graduation (he turned down Lehman Brothers’ offer) in hopes of gaining the skills he’d eventually need to go into the nonprofit sector. “I looked at Bain as paid business school,” he says. Then he used his signing bonus to backpack across Central and South America for four months before entering the 52
Adam Braun, Leslie Young (PoP staff) in Laos Courtesy Nick Onken/Pencils of Promise
For Pencils of Promise’s first two years of existence (2008 and 2009), Braun refused to give an interview on any significant media platform. “I really wanted three things in place before we ever told our story,” Braun says. Step one: “We needed what I call a holy shit story—an actual story that would make people stop and say, holy shit. [A story] that made people feel like they were a part of something or discovering something really unique.” Braun didn’t think PoP had that story until they’d built ten schools, which means the majority of PoP’s original funding was organic, thanks to word of mouth and social media’s echo. During those first two years, 98% of unique donations came in amounts of $100 or less, all from millennials. Braun’s vision for PoP’s growth might have something to do with that. “I never wanted it to be an organization you supported; I wanted it to be a movement that you joined,” Braun says. In aiming to provide each PoP donor with a “sense of purpose and fulfillment,” Braun seems to have tapped into 53
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Adam Braun, PoP primary school in Laos Courtesy Nick Onken/Pencils of Promise 55
a generation—his own—that others have written off.
Courtesy Nick Onken/Pencils of Promise
By early 2010, PoP not only had a story worth telling, but also had Braun’s other two musts: a “killer” website and a team that could convert ideas into action. It was time to bite the bullet. After sitting down with his boss at Bain, Braun headed home to his new East Village apartment via garbage-lined streets in advance of the next morning’s trash pick-up. He’d been given a week to weigh his big decision. Back in 2010, the East Village was also home to the De La Vega Museum, a “colorful and comfortably claustrophobic” gallery of the “street art and inspiring messages” that made Guerilla-graffiti artist James De La Vega famous. “He’ll do chalk art, or he’ll graffiti something that’s getting thrown out the next day,” Braun says of De La Vega. When Braun reached his apartment, sitting on his doorstep was a discarded cardboard box. On it, scrawled in Sharpie: “Become your dream.” Photo of framed box by Angela Zhao 56
When Braun reached his apartment, sitting on his doorstep was a discarded cardboard box. On it, scrawled in Sharpie:
“Become your dream.”
Courtesy Nick Onken/Pencils of Promise
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“That was the sign I needed,” Braun says. “I decided right then that I was going to leave Bain the next day.”
Nambo Primary School in Laos Courtesy Elizabeth Mitaro/Pencils of Promise
Braun recounted the story to a friend who came over later that night. “You realize that’s De La Vega, right?” Braun’s friend prompted him. “‘Become your dream’—that’s his trademark phrase. You should hold on to that.” So Braun went back downstairs to his front stoop, cut out the cardboard scrap, and vowed to one day hang it in his Pencils of Promise office. And the rest, as they say, is history.
HOW YOU CAN HELP • Participate in the holiday campaign • Organize a fundraising event with friends • Donate your birthday • Create a team campaign (companies, families) • Spread the word via social media • Participate in Sweet Lemon’s Holiday POP Fundraiser
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our fave bloggers’
holiday wishlists
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anumt.blogspot.com instagram.com/anumt
tradition: I love walking around to see holiday lights and decorations with friends and family. song: Baby, It's Cold Outside food: Pumpkin pie drink: Gingerbread Latte charity: UNICEF destination: San Francisco
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Jimmy Choo Limit Pumps // Kate Spade Candle // AERIN Rose Hand & Body Cream // The World According to Karl hardcover book // Tibi Dress // Deborah Lippmann Silks // Jimmy Choo Flash Sunglasses // Jane Carr Snake Print Scarf // Vita Fede Mini Titan Two Tone Bracelet // 2014 Kate Desk Calendar
Anum
ASHLEY xosmash.com twitter.com/xo_smash tradition: Every year my entire family gets together to decorate the Christmas tree. We listen to holiday music, talk and wait to see who will break the first ornament. song: The entire Charlie Brown Christmas Album by The Vince Guaraldi Trio food: Lobster on Christmas Eve drink: Champagne charity: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital destination: Home
Bond Perfume // The Big Book of Chic // Hunter Boots // Gpin Clutch // Waiting on Martha tray // Kate Spade Watch // Zhush Wishbone // Jenni Kayne Flats // Jcrew Scarf // Kate Spade shoes
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EVANN
Evannclingan.com Twitter.com/evannclingan tradition: My family always opens presents around midnight on Christmas Eve, after going to church. We sleep in on Christmas morning, then spend the day eating, doing puzzles, and enjoying family time. song: Grown Up Christmas List food: My mom’s pumpkin pie drink: Peppermint mocha charity: She’s the First, because education is always a priceless gift. destination: New York City is magical during the holiday season, but my true holiday is with family. This year, that’ll be South Carolina. 62
Athleta Sandstone Relay Tight // Athleta Vail Vest // Sweaty Betty Body Map Thermal Run Tights // Sparkly Soul Wide Headband // Nike Free 5.0 V4 Shoes // Nike Free TR III Printed Shoes // iPad Mini in white // Jcrew Factory Waffle Infinity Scarf // Warby Parker Welty Eyeglasses in Plum Marblewood // Benefit They’re Real! Mascara
Filomena
Twitter.com/figrossi the filosophy (It is being revamped so stay tuned) tradition: One of my favorite holiday traditions has to be when my mother roasts chestnuts for the whole family. And still to this day she will crack them all open for us to eat, as we all sit around the table drinking sweet wine. song: The Christmas Shoes by Newsong. It is such a heartfelt song, and really makes you appreciate the people in your life. food: Panettone! A little foodie insider, use panettone for bread pudding or even French toast, and you too will be hooked! drink: Homemade Hot Chocolate charity: Chef’s Challenge: The Ultimate Battle for a Cure, supporting specialized care and research in women’s cancers. destination: NYC with my family. We go every year before Christmas for four days to get into the holiday spirit.
How The Devil Are You stationery // It by Alexa Chung // Black Orchid lipstick // Royal Navy Nail Polish // Topshop Multicolour Embroidered Aztec Bikini //Topshop Romper // Coach Colored Bangles // Wilfred Hat // Winter Candle
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Michael Kors Bootie // Marnie Satin & Crystal Necklace // Altuzarra Leather Jacket // Milly Black & White Zip Coat // Karl Lagerfeld Fingerless Leather Gloves // Lulu Frost Crystal Encrusted Earrings // Kenneth Jay Lance Gold Coin Necklace // Alexander McQueen Gold Plated Bracelet // Tory Burch Leopard Reva Flats
franki
lifeinaventicup.com twitter.com/frankidurbin tradition: I love maintaining the tradition of hosting my family for a fantastic meal on Thanksgiving as well as Christmas Eve. Christmas has always been an incredibly special time time for us, and opening a few gifts while being surrounded by those I love the most makes the eve before “the big day” even more memorable. song: All I Want for Christmas is You food: Nothing beats a beautifully roasted turkey with my grandmother’s wild rice stuffing. drink: Cappuccino charity: Ronald McDonald House has a special place in my heart, they offer help in many forms to families with a child in the hospital. destination: I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays than spending it in glorious Paris. Aside from that, home sweet home is the place to be.
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Gaby www.thevaultfiles.com/ twitter.com/thevaultfiles tradition: I love walking around to see holiday lights and decorations with friends and family. song: All I Want for Christmas is You food: Stollen made by my grandmother, it’s the absolute best! drink: A cup of hot chocolate or tea would get me as excited as a glass of champagne charity: UNICEF destination: Anywhere where you can cozy up around a fire with mountain views and great company!
Loeffler Randall Pouchette // Classic Newbury Booties // Gold Flatware Set // Veda x Madewell Black Leather Moto Jacket // Colorblock duffle coat // Lulu Frost for J.Crew shoe clips // Ciccio Eyeglasses // Victorian Baguette Stud Earrings //Mougin & Piquard™ for Jcrew
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GRACEY stripesandpeonies.blogspot.com twitter.com/stripes_peonies tradition: My favorite thing to do during the holidays is meet up with my cousins, who live all over the country, at a local dessert shop, and catch up over macaroons and cupcakes. song: White Christmas - Michael Bublé food: A nice warm cup of hot chocolate! drink: Sparkling Apple cider charity: My family and I always donate extra warm clothes for the homeless destination: New York City. Even though it’s super crowded, I love it during the holidays.
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Clare Vivier Leopard Hairon flat clutch // J.Crew kiki ballet flats // Rag and Bone Dunaway hat // Loren Hope Lindsey bracelet // Bobbi Brown Old Hollywood Eye Palette // Jean-michel Cazabat Noni short suede booties // Madewell Shimmer skirt // Autumn Cashmere Cable Knit Peplum Zip Up // Rebecca Taylor Halter Cloque dress // Tuckernuck Women’s Navy Beadnell jacket
jackie
livingaftermidnite.blogspot.com twitter.com/Jackiegiardina tradition: My favorite holiday tradition would have to be watching old Holiday movies with my Mom. No matter how many times we’ve seen “White Christmas”, “Holiday Inn” or “Christmas in Connecticut” it doesn’t stop us from watching them every time they air during the Holidays. song: All I Want for Christmas is You food: Turkey, Roasted Sweet Potatoes & of course Pumpkin Pie drink: Dairy free Egg Nog charity: Make-A-Wish destination: Somewhere in the mountains (snow is a must)
Michael Kors Bag // Forever21 Vest // Piperlime Earrings // Nasty Gal Pumps // Ily Sweatshirt // Baublebar Necklace // Keds // Bag from Piperlime // Lightinthebox Necklace //
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Waiting on Martha Corkstop // Anthropologie Sweatshirt // Nars Lipstick // Sam Edelman Boot // C Wonder Serving Utensils // C Wonder Cheese Board // Anthropologie Fedora // Milly Bag // Club Monaco Shoe // Bauble Bar Necklace //
Jessica
Editor of My Style Vita, LLC Twitter.com/mystylevita tradition: One of my favorite holiday traditions is on Christmas. Ever since we were kids we always do Christmas in a certain order, presents, sausage and eggs for breakfast and then stockings. It’s never changed and I like it that way. song: Madonna’s Santa Baby duh! food: My mom’s stuffing always gets me. It’s drink: Warm apple cider charity: Humane Society destination: - I love seeing NYC during the holidays. There’s nothing quite like seeing the holidays in that city.
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julie browneyedbellejulie.blogspot.com twitter.com/JulieLeah
song: All I Want for Christmas Is You, food: Green bean casserole and everything on the dessert table drink: Green holiday punch - a staple at our family gatherings! charity: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital destination: Even though I haven’t been during the holidays, I would love to spend Christmas in New York, a la Home Alone 2 at The Plaza!
Loren Hope Necklace // Sole Society Shoes // Design Darling Cuff // Sole Society Scarf // Etsy Pillow // Furbish Studio Pouf // Waiting On Martha Paper Products // Furbish Studio Print // JCrew Sweater // Gigi NY Bag
tradition: I love the gatherings leading up to Christmas - ladies’ brunches, girlfriend gift swap, cookie exchange. Those moments hold the true meaning of Christmas for me.
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katie
tradition: My favorite holiday tradition is the Christmas Eve candle light service at my childhood church with my family. song: All I want for Christmas is You food: is my mom’s breakfast casserole we have every Christmas morning. drink: Egg Nog charity: My friends and I took on 5 Angel Tree kids last Christmas and the whole experience was so much fun and so rewarding! I’m really looking forward to doing it again this Christmas! destination: The couch at my parent’s house
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Modcloth Dress // Kate Spade Shoes // Atlantic Pacific Collection Ring // JCrew Hat // Kate Spade Book // Waiting on Martha Animals // Waiting on Martha Pillow // The Outnet Glasses // Topshop Sweater
pearlsandtwirls.net twitter.com/pearlsntwirls
krystal
www.krystalschlegel.com twitter.com/KrystalSchlegel tradition: One of my favorite traditions is my girlfriends and I go on a carriage ride to look at Christmas lights every year. Also the girls in my family all wear matching pajamas and cook a big breakfast Christmas day. Every year we trade off who picks the pajamas that year! song: Santa Baby food: Gingerbread cookies drink: Peppermint Latte charity: The Salvation Army Angel Tree destination: Vail, Colorado
Shopbop Coasters // Cartier Bracelet // Karl Lagerfeld Sweater // FourChow Pillow // Eberjey Pjs // Abrams Book // Nike Shoes // Hermes Blanket // William’s Sonoma Mints
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LACEY alaceyperspective.com twitter.com/laceperspective tradition: My siblings and I always get a new set of pajamas on Christmas Eve and after we open presents on Christmas Day we head to the movie theatre for a double feature. song: White Christmas food: Stuffing drink: Egg Nog charity: American Cancer Society destination: Anywhwer I can ski
72 Burberry Trench Coat // Christian Louboutin Pumps // Stuart Weitzman Boots // Sophia Humle Bag // Tibi Skirt // Loeffler Randall Shoes // Hunter Boots // Karen Walker Sunnies
Euginia Kim Fedora // Edie Parker Clutch // Christian Louboutin Pumps // Drybar Blowout in a Box // Monique Pean Necklace // Taschen National Geographic Book Set // Bobbi Brown Travel Case // Reiko Kaneko Mug // Two’s Company Set // Alexander McQueen Bag
Lauren
www.thepartyforone.com twitter.com/ThePartyForOne twitter.com/TheLaurenHarper tradition: I love spending time with my family because it’s always full of laughter, fine wine, heartwarming conversations and delicious homemade food! song: Winter Wonderland by Johnny Mathis food: Champagne drink: Also champagne charity: All animal/wildlife charities destination: Wherever my family is
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MAE www.maebadiyan.com twitter.com/maebad tradition: We celebrate the Persian Version of the holidays. We have all the traditional foods but with a Middle Eastern twist. My family all comes into town and it’s a big party! I love the mix of my heritage and culture with good ol’ American classics. It’s the best. song: I love holiday songs remixed by current artists. Mariah Carey’s versions are always good and who doesn’t love Lady Gaga’s ‘Christmas Tree’ food: Pumpkin Pie!! Obviously. drink: Starbucks Peppermint Mocha charity: My family runs a non-profit working with children and youth in honor of my little brother. destination: Paris or Colorado! Or Vegas :)
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mandy
www.waitingonmartha.com twitter.com/waitingonmartha song: The Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra food: Frosted sugar cookies drink: Hot buttered rum cider charity: - Samaritan’s Purse destination: Sun Valley Idaho
Waiting on Martha Items // Meg Biram Cloud Set // JCrew Socks // Target Wine Stoppers // Foley Lamp
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rachel
supposeanythinggoes.blogspot.com twitter.com/supposeanything tradition: Singing carols at the Christmas Eve candlelight service song: Let it Snow food: Peppermint Bark drink: Champagne charity: Farm Sanctuary destination: NYC
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Shop Society Social Bar Cart // BCBG Perfume // C Wonder Tea Set // Cat Bird NYC Ring // Globe Trotter Luggage // She Book // Kate Spade Earrings // Kate Spade Bow // Etsy Glass
Teodora thefashionlush.com twitter.com/TheFashionLush
tradition: In my family, Christmas Eve is the big night. Think classic Romanian dishes that my grandmother has been cooking all day and Frank Sinatra holiday music in the background. Definitely my favorite part of the holidays! song: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas food: This is a little different, but in Romania one of the classic holiday dishes is “Sarmale”. Stuffed cabbage leaves with pork and vegetables. drink: Spiked hot chocolate :) Just add a little Bailey’s. charity: Make-A-Wish Foundation destination: New York. Yes, it might be cold, but there’s nothing like the lights around the city during the holidays!
Helmut Newton Book // RGB Nail Polish // Houston Fedora // Frends Taylor Headphones // Tom Ford Lipstick // Quay Fleur Sunnies // 3.1 Phillip Lim Clutch // Archipelago Gardenia Tuberose Candle // S.O.A.P Coconut Cream Whipped Shea Butter // Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch
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UGG Slippers // Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch // Kate Spade Iphone Case // JCrew Hat // Calypso Dress // Sorel Boots // Jcrew Gloves // Tom Ford Mini Set // BR Strip Flats
trina
www.thebabyshopaholic.com twitter.com/BabyShopa song: Donny Hathaway - This Christmas food: Sweet Potato Pie drink: Spiked Egg Nog charity: Toys for Tots destination: Chicago for the snow.
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By Mandy Kello gg-Rye // @W aitingonMa
diy gift wrapping
rtha
Whether stac ked up under your tree or b prepared to g eing ive, the art o f gift wrappin as important g is just as the gift itse lf. And while paper is of c beautiful ourse a nece ssity, you can your packag easily take es to the nex t level by thro standard bow wing out the and instead tr ying these thre ways to top th e different at gift.
gift wrapping necessities • • • • • • • •
A variety of wrapping paper in all colors and patterns Ribbons Twine Tags, tags & more tags Tissue paper Double Sided Tape The perfect pair of sharp, sharp scissors Paper cutting tool - I prefer the slim one from Scotch 3M
*All wrapping paper, tags, and accessories available at www.shopwaitingonmartha.com
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3 ways to wrap 1
Utilize natural embellishments such as rosemary branches, pine cones, berries, or any other wintery greens to add a rustic look and feel to any package.
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paper is an attractive yet strong 2 Kraft wrapping which is great for extra large
and oddly shaped packages. Once wrapped, add special trimmings, gift tags, or even stamp and write on the paper itself. No access to kraft paper? For a quick fix simply turn paper grocery bags inside out for the same kraft paper look and feel.
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3
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Make your gift part of the wrapping itself. Rather than a bow I love attaching an ornament, flower pin, feather pom pom, or even a smooch brooch.
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the little market Shopping with a conscience By Alexandra Lemley @AlexLemley
Admittedly, I’m a bad gift giver. Dad’s Christmas gift ever year? Golf balls or cigars. Big brothers? A sweater from J. Crew. Never, do I ever, think outside of the box. This year though, word of mouth lead me to a website that struck a chord with me. The Little Market, founded by Hannah Skvarla and former classmate, Lauren Conrad, is new on the holiday scene helping you give beautiful, original gifts that at the same time support women in developing countries. You spend hard earned money helping talented females around the world in need instead of mass produced items everyone owns? After buying my nephew a precious teddy bear knit with alpaca fur by Peruvian women, I knew I needed to talk to co-founder, Hannah Skvarla, to learn more. 84
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with practices that reflect respect for workers’ economic circumstances and The Little Market is an online marketplace human rights. Fair trade relationships that works with artisan groups in struggling protect the cultural identity and traditional communities around the world that meet our skills of workers. Fair trade organizations fair trade, fair wages, and fair workplace are committed to non-discrimination, standards. The artisans create one-of-agender equity, and women’s economic kind goods, we offer design insights, and empowerment. The goal of fair trade is to customers allow the artisans to reach a create sustainable development for workers global market. Each purchase makes it and their communities with approaches possible for the artisans to earn wages to crafted by involving workers in the process. support their families, for the artisan groups Programs seek to support workers in areas to offer health and education services, and including healthcare, nutrition, education, for the customers to connect directly to and capacity building for their operations. the artisans. For the artisans at The Little Market, fair trade means fair wages, safe workplaces, How did this become a reality? and access to needed services. For example, at Destiny Reflection in Calcutta, Traveling has allowed us to meet inspiring India, the artisans - all victims of sex women who have hope despite living trafficking - find safe housing, healthcare, a with hardships from extreme poverty to healthy workplace, therapy, skills training, unimaginable trauma. When we returned income, and ultimately, self-sufficiency. from our trip to Africa in 2012, we asked experts in International Development about What's the difference in a mass produced found the most sustainable way to set up an online store to support artisans from around objects in the home decor section of chain the world. We strategized and partnered retailers vs. The Little Market's handmade with US-based fair trade nonprofit Global goods? Goods Partners. We have spent the last All of the items at The Little Market are year working on product development with handmade and are selected to showcase the ten initial artisan groups representing the artisans’ traditional skills and their Bolivia, India, Mexico, Nepal, and Peru. dedication to preserving their techniques,
What is The Little Market?
Explain fair trade and its importance to the artisans you work with. Fair trade is a framework for trade relationships that focuses on addressing social justice issues for small producers around the world struggling with poverty 86
often passed down from generation to generation. We travel to visit the workshops of the artisan groups to learn about the artists and their crafts, their families, and their communities. The artisan groups represented by their work at The Little Market are committed to the
Lauren Conrad & Co-Founder Hannah Skvarla
principles of fair trade. Workplaces must meet with safety and health guidelines, including limits on worker hours, standards required of workplace conditions, and compliance with child labor laws. Fair wages provide a living wage and artisans are paid 50 percent at the time the order is placed and 50 percent at the time the order is delivered so that artisans can purchase their materials. Community development efforts by the artisan groups we work with go beyond food and shelter to support education for children and literacy for adults, healthcare access, and training in human rights and capacity building.
What's been the most gratifying experience to date with The Little Market? When we placed our second order of glassware from Rose Ann Hall Designs we were informed that they were able to hire back artisans that they had had to lay off when business was slow. Rose Ann Hall Designs employs artisans, many of whom have disabilities, to produce elegantly carved glassware. By promoting traditional Mexican arts, Rose Ann Hall Designs provides income and an outlet for artistic expression to individuals with few other opportunities. Rose Ann Hall Designs takes great pride in the uniqueness of its artisans and products. 87
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: E O S S R S E O V P NI U n a h t e s r t o r m ki g n ir s i nn the i Sp st ju
By Sara Anwar @arazanwar
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I had the pleasure of meeting Marylouise Pels and Vanessa Giovacchini early this fall. They had just completed a dope set and were on their way out from the DJ booth. I quickly stopped them because--lets be honest--it’s not every day (or night) you see two gorgeous females, dressed like they belong on the cover of Rolling Stone, spinning at premiere venues. Marylouise Pels and Vanessa Giovacchini not only turn heads with their sultry long hair, beautiful faces, and stylish clothes, but they also turn tables. Yes, these two girls who make up Posso wear many hats, and I can promise you every single hat is cute—pun intended. The dynamic duo are renowned DJs selling out shows across the world, including EDC 2013 in Las Vegas. They’ve opened for artists such as Disclosure (fave!) and Alesso. Their sets root from disco to electro to house, 92
among similar genres and bring together sounds that will leave your energy level higher and ear buds overly compensated. What’s even more intriguing is that these two girls are designers as well. They’ve collaborated with jewelry and merchandise lines, including a capsule collection with Volcom, and they are working on their own design label, which is set to launch shortly after the completion of their first album. They are surely breaking the mold by showcasing their talent and skills in the DJ booth, but also making waves in the fashion world--two industries that are typically not easy to step into, let alone succeed, but they’ve seem to accomplish just that. Their creative and dynamic agenda is one to keep an eye on because these two ladies aren’t going anywhere but up.
Curious to know more about these talented women? Here’s a little bit more of our conversation… SLM: We’d love to hear how you two met and the moment you two realized that collaborating on music and fashion was simply fate? We met in ballet class in our small home town of Sonoma California when we were four. We weren’t best friends until we were 14/15, but it’s crazy to look back at all the times since we met that fate attempted to bring us together. Sophomore year of high school we were the only two people in our grade that had every single class together, which sealed the deal. Our moms were friends in college and randomly both moved to Sonoma. In high school Vanessa was really into fashion design, sewing her own clothes and re-making vintage, and I was playing classical piano, really into Led Zeppelin and the Chicago blues. We both became friends and introduced each other to our passion which is how it all started to go down.
feeling of change that fuels our mood and inspires what we wanna wear. We are writing and making music everyday right now, so nothing is more addicting or satisfying than doing that.
SLM: Which do you each of you love more: fashion or producing/DJing? Well we really love the ritual of getting dressed and feeling good, feeling badass, more than we love fashion, per say. All good fashion design stems from that feeling. Music is an obsession, a constant 93
“ Music is an obsession..., a constant feeling of change that fuels our mood and inspires what we wanna wear.�
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h t i d w n a ng s e lo t s � a . u o l go . N t i p e ike e t r r a l a a h e u na t r o e es y on h “ T nus who is g mi ing ne be eryo ev
SLM: In an industry dominated by males, how do you guys manage to make waves and assimilate yourself? Interesting that you used the word assimilate here, we would actually encourage anyone coming into this business to focus all their energy on what separates them as artists. Like every DJ or music act, or any brand out there, there are pluses and minuses that go along with being who you are. Not everyone is gonna like it. Women in any business are looked upon in a different way, it is what it is. It’s unfortunate and quite silly that female DJs are pitted against each other or compared and contrasted to one another whereas male DJs are able to all exist in a comradery of some sort of DJ brotherhood--It’s even more of a shame when women Djs drink the koolaid and feel the need to play into that game. We like to focus on doing our best work as artists, not girls. Come to our show and you’ll see what we mean. SLM: Have you guys ever felt it was more difficult as female DJs in the industry? Did you feel you had to work harder to prove an audience or other artists? Yes, but we think that any act, male, female, black, white, Swedish, Asian, etc. has worked hard to get to the top. No one gets there easily. As in anything, there is no point or progress gained in focusing on the negative aspects of
something you are passionate about pursuing, there will always be someone out there judging, comparing or being negative but as an artist you are exposing yourself to that, it’s your choice to give it energy or to ignore it...we choose to focus on working hard and connecting with our fans. SLM: I noticed that you two are not only into style consulting/contributing via style.com, but also designing, which includes collaborating with Volcom, can you explain your vision and what sets you apart? Yea, we designed a capsule collection for Volcom for spring and summer of 2012. Both collections were geared towards our traveling lifestyle, vintage inspired silhouettes, and classic 90’s labels like Contempo Casuals. Everything was chic but a bit relaxed for that badass kinda girl that is adventurous and likes to take risks. Anytime we design anything, we are obsessed with making it either a wearable staple, or a piece that can be worn multiple ways. We are currently working on a few design projects including: some pieces for our merch line, a jewelry collab as well. We also do private design work and consulting for a few different labels.
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SLM: What is your favorite attribute about each other? Marylouise: Vanessa can figure anything out and is an amazing problem solver. She’s a rock of faith for our business, which keeps me focused. Vanessa: Marylouise is fearless and has this infectious confidence and swag that everyone can’t help but gravitate towards. She’s a true boss bitch.
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Posso’s album is set to drop in early 2014, but until then you can listen to music they are always putting out on www.soundcloud.com/posso and peep their designs, outfits, globetrotting, and lollygagging on their Instagram: @possouniverse
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Eyegasm: Behind the Lens with Fashion Photographer Zoey Grossman By: Zack Grossman www.zoeygrossman.com www.facebook.com/ZoeyGrossmanPhotography instagram.com/zoeygrossman 100
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Based out of Los Angeles, CA, Zoey Grossman is a young fashion photographer with quite a bit of edge. At 29, Zoey has already developed a portfolio of powerfully evocative images. She’s shot advertising campaigns for brands like Nike, Swarovski, Billabong, Forever 21, Vans, and Citizens of Humanity. Zoey’s work has been published in a number of domestic and international fashion magazines, including Elle, Oyster, Nylon, Glamour, and Flaunt. Sweet Lemon was lucky enough to sit down with this talented young lady to talk about her craft and experience in the field. Sweet Lemon Mag: What do you love about photography? What draws you to pursue your craft? Zoey Grossman: Creating. Part of it has to do with a fantasy. The idea of photography is so unique, because while it’s so real, it’s also not. You can create your own reality. A picture is supposed to capture a moment in time and depict reality, but it’s also kind of like fantasy, because you can make anything appear real in a picture. It’s the idea of creating fantasy; a world I can make come to life that involves anything my imagination can come up with. But I also think it has to do with connecting with people. I love to connect with the makeup artists I work with, the models, or the subjects. I think that it’s a collaborative experience that I find really energizing. SLM: So you’re a people person?
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ZG: Totally. SLM: Do you prefer to work with male or female models? ZG: You know, I’ve always been drawn towards women, towards female figures. It’s almost like playing dress-up with your kid sister. I think women’s bodies are more sensual. It’s not to say that I don’t want to ever get into males, but I think that for me, there is a lot more that I can do, with more ease, with women. SLM: What is the hardest aspect of working with models? ZG: There are difficulties in working with any kind of subject, even if it’s an inanimate object. People have interesting personalities, and I think that the thing I’ve come across as the most difficult when working with people, is when someone is having a bad day, or when someone is just not feeling into it. They might not be giving it their all, and that sometimes can come across in a photo. I think that people, with their own struggles with life and their own personalities, can either enhance or distract from the mood of the set or the picture itself. Sometimes people make it easier. Sometimes models really give back and become a part of the creative process and sometimes they, like anybody, are having an off day, or they don’t care, or they don’t connect with the direction you want to go in, or they’re just feeling annoyed. I think it’s just people in general.
You know, I’ve always been drawn towards women, towards female figures. It’s almost like playing dressup with your kid sister.
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I always try and find something about it that’s good. I think to myself, “how would I want this to be marketed towards me? What would make me want to buy this?” If I don’t connect to the model, I ask “what is the special quality that she has in her that I ZG: This is an interesting question because could really play on?” The items might not be my favorite looking clothes, but I have I feel like this is something that I struggle to ask myself “how can I make them cool? with. It’s a struggle between being the Is the shape cool? What kind of girl would pleaser and wanting to make people want to wear this?” I think it’s about finding feel comfortable, and also finding your those little aspects and really going with own internal artistic standpoint. It’s been hard, because my inclination is to want to that. It makes everything come together more, but it’s not always easy. Sometimes make people feel comfortable and have a really good time on set. I think that kind it’s really frustrating and I can’t seem to find of energy is really helpful. It makes people it, find what that “thing” is to make it all click. feel like they’re just hanging out, talking, and connecting. A lot of the time it’s easy SLM: How did you get started? When did for me to over think that and it becomes too much of a focus. Let’s say I’m feeding you decide you wanted to work in this field? off the energy of somebody and picking up on the fact that they’re upset, it’s kind of like I have to play therapist and cater to ZG: I was in college, majoring in art with them. Not everybody does this, it’s just my a minor in photography. I really loved way of doing it. I think that the way to get taking pictures of people. My thesis was… well it didn’t have anything to do with the best imagery is to make people feel comfortable and feel a part of the process. fashion. It was a photographic series about bodies, and women, and femininity. I think it’s also about finding the balance between not forcing that, letting it happen Then that kind of translated into fashion. I organically, being natural, and letting what was part of a fashion magazine at Penn, and I really loved doing that. So when happens happen. I came home I decided that I wanted to SLM: Do you have to like the clothes you play around with photography. I’d always loved fashion and people, so I put the two shoot: what happens if the clothes on together, doing model tests, and it just kind display gross you out? of grew into its own thing. ZG: For sure, I feel like there are so many times, probably more times than not. But SLM: If the model is having an off day, or if you’re not feeling connected to the person, if you have to work at it, how do you get them to where you want them to be?
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[photography] is kind of this interesting thing where you can be really mysterious and invisible, but also engage and connect if you want. I thought that was a really interesting way of doing art. -Zoey 112
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SLM: What drew you to photography while you were at Penn? ZG: I think the dark room, and the camera, and the whole process of developing your own film and not knowing what you’re going to get was interesting. The process of developing it with your own hands was really exciting. I used to be a painter, but I also thought that photography is a way to be a fly on the wall, but also engage with people. It’s kind of this interesting thing where you can be really mysterious and invisible, but also engage and connect if you want. I thought that was a really interesting way of doing art.
called The Walk. Of course it also refers to the catwalk and models strutting their stuff, but it was also a play on the fact that we had this walkway on campus. It was a magazine that came out every month, or every two months. It was actually a really legit project. It was cool, we’d have meetings every couple of weeks in this huge lecture hall and there were a ton of people working to make the magazine happen. We’d have meetings about the shoots, and there would be an editor, a fashion director, and so on. I was the head photographer. You know, looking back on it, it was terrible…I mean it was so bad. It was embarrassing.
SLM: Now that you work almost exclusively SLM: Haha, what was so terrible about it? with digital cameras and techniques, do ZG: Just my photography, and just you miss the darkroom experience? everything. It was terrible. But it was so fun, because we were so excited. We thought ZG: Totally. When you’re shooting with film it makes you more thoughtful about the we were doing amazing things. We took it so seriously. It was cool. It was really fun, art itself, and there is more thought and and it definitely helped me feel comfortable connection that goes into it, with yourself and the object. I think now it’s just so instant moving forward after I got out of school. and it’s a bit careless. So yea, I do miss the SLM: Did it give you confidence to get process of not knowing what I’m getting started, that you already had some and really planning the shot just letting the experience? magic happen. ZG: It gave me confidence, and then that confidence was shattered when I went into the real world and noticed the photography I was doing was really cheesy, and sucked. People reacted like “this is not how it’s ZG: It was started while I was there, which done,” which was okay though. I felt really good walking in… and then I was shat on. was amazing. It was called “The Walk,” because at Penn we had this long walkway But at least I felt good walking in…hahaha. SLM: You mentioned that while at Penn you were involved in a fashion magazine. Can you talk more about that? What was it called? What was your involvement?
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SLM: Haha, when you were ‘shat on,’ what did you change to make your photography more appealing? What techniques or aspects did you shift? ZG: Well, I honestly think that sometimes it’s helpful to go back and learn from other people and be aware of what’s going on around the world that you like. Looking at blogs and looking at the masters of our time, I think there is always something to be learned from previous artists, and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Sometimes you can get wrapped up in your own head if you focus too much on what other people are doing, that’s not a good thing either. There are artists that I really love, and I would look at them and ask myself “wow, what about it is clicking with me?” Then take that and apply it to my own work.
SLM: The fashion industry has a reputation for male dominance. As a young woman, have you had to grapple with this aspect? ZG: I don’t know if I’ve ever come into a direct example of that. But there are a handful of really successful female photographers that are out there, doing amazing work, who I love. The majority of it is men, though. For me personally it has been being young, which I think has been my main struggle, with some people thinking, “oh, you’re young,” or not taking me seriously. At least not as seriously as they would an older person, or somebody with more experience.
SLM: Which photographers, or artists are your favorites? Who is your muse?
SLM: When life gives you lemons, how do you make your lemonade?
ZG: There is an artist, a painter, named Klimt who I really love. I LOVE Klimt.
ZG: I actually feel that being a woman, a female, gives me an advantage, because it’s disarming. I can connect to women a lot easier in terms of sensuality and nudity. It comes off as less threatening and less overly sexualizing. So I think that has been an advantage for me.
SLM: Klimt is amazing ZG: He’s so amazing. It’s colorful and it’s sexy and it’s dark, all at the same time. So I loved his work, and that is always in the back of my mind. But I also love Helmut Newton, who did a lot of really sexy black and white, kind of dark photos about women’s bodies. But it was really interesting. And Guy Bourdin did the same thing. Well, he didn’t do the same thing, 122
but they’re similar in that they do this weird twisted dark erotic photography, which I love.
SLM: Nice. Way to flip it.
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I actually feel that being a woman, a female, gives me an advantage, because it’s disarming. -Zoey
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ZG: Haha, well it’s the truth. But I think that the constant struggle for any artist is the struggle between art and commerce, and finding a balance between not selling out, and, you know… finding a way to make money doing what you love. I think ultimately its what everybody wants to do, because money is just a way to live, and you know, I do like nice things. SLM: Who doesn’t? ZG: Haha. Some people don’t care about it, but I like to travel and, you know, money is an aspect of it. So I think that part of the struggle is finding your voice. Ultimately what you want to have happen is for people to hire you because they like what you’re doing and they want your look. And that’s the ultimate dream. You know there is always a balance, and a back and forth of your work with other people. They have an idea of what they like. You have an idea of what you like. But it always feels good to have your stamp, whatever that stamp is, on anything, because you feel like you’re putting a little bit of yourself into that. SLM: What do you feel like your stamp is? ZG: If I were to step out objectively and look at my stuff, or if I were to step back and ask “what does Zoey’s work bring?” It would probably be, well I would hope it comes across as, energetic, fun, sexy, sensual, and a little mysterious.
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Santa Claus, Sex Symbol By Clare Austen-Smith @clareausten
Those of us who grew up in Christian (or, as my mom likes to put it, “recovering Catholic”) households always got excited by Santa Claus. No, not in the “excited” way you may be thinking - but we’re getting to that. After all, Santa Claus is undoubtedly a holiday celebrity. His face adorns malls, posters, coffee mugs, and kitschy tablecloths. People like him so much they pretend to be him -- or let their children pose on the laps of those pretenders. Women dress up as “sexy Santa Claus” for holiday parties. He’s the Regina George of the holiday myth world, minus the army pants and flip flops. So is it really that surprising that Santa Claus has become somewhat of a sex symbol himself? Ever since Jimmy Boyd’s “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” worked it’s way up the charts in the 1950s, the idea of Santa as not just a jolly old man, but a man who can also make you jolly in another way has occupied a weird niche of Christmas culture in America. Maybe it’s the usage of the word “naughty” on the famed naughty 132
or nice list that drives people’s minds to places not normally acceptable on religious holidays. Or maybe it’s the adage that women (and men!) have a thing for authority figures, in spite of the fact they he’s already married - or maybe because of it. But perhaps Santa’s sex appeal isn’t so surprising considering the roots of the Santa Claus myth. Prior to the spread of Christianity in Europe, Germanic tribes celebrated a midwinter event called “yule” during which a ghostly haunt used to ride through the sky, presided over by the god, Odin. Yes, the “Odin” Ron Burgundy so frequently references
in Anchorman. Odin was also known as to be seen, as not many parents are the Yule figure and had a long white beard stepping up to the plate to declare their (sound familiar yet?). Santa Claus fetishes. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, previously pagan practices were absorbed into the newly popular religion and combined with the tradition of St. Nicholas, a particularly pious Christian saint who was known for his generosity and, coincidentally, living at the North Pole. At odds with the Catholic Church, the druids of the pre-Christian Europe were not known for their chastity. Fertility, and therefore sex, was celebrated in many pre-Christian religions throughout Europe. And while it would seem that the religious qualities of St. Nicholas overshadowed the pagan heritage of Odin, the sexy Santa Claus of pop culture today speaks to the enduring influence of those pagan rituals. All the people you see dressed up in skimpy santa outfits at your boozy Christmas party aren’t making a mockery of a family symbol, they’re just channeling an age old pagan ritual. Seems a little more appropriate now, doesn’t it? Moreover, multiple psychological studies claim to back up the idea that Santa Claus is inherently sexy given his physical characteristics of a robust girth and big white beard. One researcher even goes so far as to speculate that others “may fantasize about tickling him underneath his beard so snowy white, but Santa is a onewoman man, an all-around family guy.” How legitimate these studies are remains
Instead of Santa Claus becoming a sex symbol, he’s always been one. The pervasiveness of a seemingly inappropriate association of sex and a family-oriented tradition like the belief in Santa Claus speaks not to the power of togetherness and tradition, but to how important sex is in our culture. Years and years of transformation have turned a pagan sky god into a friendly old man who works with elves and makes toys in the North Pole, yet somehow an underlying tone of sexuality has persevered, making its way into psychological studies, Mean Girls, and a classic Christmas tune sung by parents and children alike. And while I’ve always thought that the idea of seeing mommy kissing a chubby, bearded stranger in the living room would be disturbing, who am I to play the Grinch? Still, you can rest assured that the only cookies Santa will be receiving in my apartment this year will be Oreos.
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By Mandy Kellogg Rye @WaitingonMartha
Every good host or hostess knows that when throwing a Holiday Party that would rival the likes of Clark Griswold, it really all comes down to the cocktails. And though my hard and fast rule is to always stick to one signature cocktail, beer, champagne, and wine when entertaining, I make an exception when it comes to the holidays. And trust me when I tell you that my Peppermint Bark Martini and Sugar N’ Spice White Russian are worth this exception.
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Peppermint Bark Martini 1 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liquer 0.5 oz. Peppermint Schnapps 0.5 oz. Vodka Chocolate Syrup Crushed Peppermint Candy 1. Add Godiva Chocolate Liquer, Peppermint Schnapps, Vodka and ice in a shaker and shake, shake, shake. 2. Place syrup and peppermint candy on to two different plates. Press the martini glass rim in to the chocolate syrup and twist, making sure to get plenty of chocolate on the glass then immediately dip into the peppermint candies. 3. Pour into glass and enjoy. HELPFUL TIP: Rim all of your glasses with chocolate and peppermint the night before and store in the fridge until your guests arrive. This makes one less step for you the day of, plus the glasses will be chilled and ready to serve.
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DIY
Sugar N' Spice White Russian ●1 oz. Cinnamon & Sugar Smirnoff Vodka ●0.5 oz. Kahlua or any coffee based liquer ●0.5 oz. 1/2 and 1/2 ●Cinnamon sticks or cinnamon spice for garnish 1. Add Vodka, Kahlua, 1/2 and 1/2, and ice in a shaker and shake, shake, shake. 2. Pour over ice and garnish with cinnamon spice or a cinnamon stick and enjoy. HELPFUL TIP: Though our Sugar N’ Spice White Russian is sure to be a hit with the ladies it might be a tad on the sweet side for the gents. My suggestion is to set up a White Russian DIY Station. Display the necessary ingredients on the bar (or even on a side table close to the bar) and let your guest decide how sweet they want their Russian.
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Vodka Cinnam Smirno Kahlua 1/2 an Ice
Y White Russian Station
mon & Sugar off Vodka a nd 1/2
Cinnamon Sticks or Cinnamon Spice Spoons Straws Rocks Glasses
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Happy Holidays
The Sweet Lemon Team
Cover photo Cour tesy Nick Onken/Pencils of Promise
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