HI HELLO, WHAT’S NEW?

As you know I have a new Instagram account that is totally dedicated to bringing you easy, efficient, quick, & affordable hacks for the girl who has G2G.  This account makes everything easy because there are no crazy pictures, it’s just the product & then me telling you why I’m obsessed. These are products I’ve tried over & over & that I keep going back to. The account & Amazon store keeps everything streamlined.

& I just feel like this account really brings it back to why I started the blog in the first place, which is a space for you to get the juice, the skinny, the deets. If you don’t follow the account I wanted to give you a little foreplay before you stick it in. These are 3 posts to give you a taste of what you can expect from @and.the.skinny.was.like.

The Fake Gucci Headband 

You know what I love? A good RICH GIRL/POOR GIRL post- inspired by my bf, @fashionlush, these have always been my OG favorites especially when I was a broke bartender on a budget literally budgeting for a Rubio’s fish taco- u feel me? Anyway this headband is something every girl needs. Here’s the deal: even if I were a billionaire like Kylie I would still buy this headband. The Gucci one is like $28272 gazillon dollars- & like how many times are you even going to wear a fucking headband? Maybe a handful? If you’re like me you’re wearing it maybe 4 to 7 times depending on the venue. When we went to France- I strategically packed the baby pink one because, let’s be real, we needed it to fit with my feed’s theme. SO for $12.99 you will get THREE- yes, 3- in different colors I may add: green, black, & baby pink if we are getting specific. The headband fits nice too- there’s nothing worse than a headband that’s all crooked, making your head look like Sloth from ‘The Goonies.’ This one is even, elegant, & looks BOUGIE AF. I wore it 4 times in France- it matched well with my velvet & linen moments. SO ideal too if you hate washing your hair but still want to look like Blair Waldorf. Grab your three pack now before they sell out. & to win another one of my favorite headbands in pearl & pink- tag a friend below.

Salt Lamp Night Light

Have you ever experienced seasonal depression? I have. Specifically in London in the wintertime. The sun was only out for a few hours. Legit felt so lethargic, depressed, & fatigued. After hours of googling I found out that SALT LAMPS help fix the problem immediately. Of course I had to human guinea pig that shit on myself so I went to an actual salt lamp room. Where you like sit around buck naked in a towel & stare at a salt lamp. After 20 minutes I FELT IMMEDIATELY BETTER. Something was throwing me off though about a huge-ass salt lamp sitting by my bedside so I decided to take matters into my own hands & ended up finding the MOST PERFECT THING EVER: a tiny but mighty (AKA V EFFECTIVE) night light! You know the little light we all had when we were kids & afraid of the dark? Ya, a night light but like for a grown up who wants to reap all the benefits of a salt lamp. Benefits like increased energy, less anxiety, helpful ions, & clear sinuses. We plugged this baby into two places in our house: in the bedroom & in the bathroom. Bedroom because it would omit all it’s positive benefits while sleeping AND then in the bathroom because my new thing is to take a shower at night in the dark with only the salty night light on- & it gives off the most therapeutic glow. I am telling you on this one.

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

Did you wake up with anxiety after a weekend of too much dry rosé? Perhaps your Sunday Scaries turn into a Monday meltdown? Is a co-worker annoying the shit out of you- maybe chewing their bubblegum too loud? Don’t worry, I have you covered. This is a book dedicated to stoicism- it helps me through any kind of anxiety/annoyance/negative feeling. It sits on my night stand all cute with The Skinny Confidential bookmark cascading down the cover along with my specific white pen nearby. Every morning I wake up & read just one page. It’s a short paragraph daily. Underneath the inspiring info I write notes about how to do better & be better. Today’s message was about the color of our thoughts & letting go of negative feelings because they ultimately seep into every aspect of our life. There are so many incredible takeaways in regards to self-awareness, remaining stoic in stressful situations, perseverance, & so much more. Every time I open the book, it’s filled with value and takeaways. Make sure when you get it you start at the right date (so for example: instead of starting at the beginning of the book, start at whatever date it is- the book contains specific wisdom for specific dates). Anyway Michael gifted me this- well, actually he loved it so much he gave a book to all our family members. It really is a POWERFUL book. also you should know it’s not a religion, but a philosophy. Nothing better than starting the day with a stoic mindset…especially because I got a fucking very expensive parking ticket today soooooo what did I do? Instead of having a Monday meltdown, I simply took a deep breath & remembered: TO BE STOIC. lol. Get 1 for you, 1 for a friend. Everyone needs a little stoicism in their life. Oh, P.S. want a bookmark for your bedside book? Tag a friend who needs to follow this account & we will send a bunch of you pink The Skinny Confidential bookmarks. x

Expect gadgets & gizmos a plenty, especially for the babe on a budget. You can follow the account here @and.the.skinny.was.like. & I definitely have to shout out @things.i.bought.and.liked because she really got my gears going & inspired me to launch this. If I’m not constantly evolving & doing new things, I get really bored, so this account has been a great outlet for me to share things that I can’t stop using.

On that note, is there anything I should be adding to the account? What are your latest hacks? Give me all the juice.

x, lauryn

+ there’s a full breakdown of the headband here.

+ check out a more in-depth post on why I love salt lamps.

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The post Tiny Little Hacks That Make All The Difference appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

This post has been along time coming. I want to talk about my favorite gift I’ve ever received & my favorite gift I’ve ever given.

I think this is fun because hopefully it will inspire you to discover new gift ideas. There’s nothing worse than when you want to give someone a special gift & you can’t think of something that’s creative. Keep in mind that I was on such a strict budget when I was a bartender & going to school full time. It was hard to spend money on gifts because I just didn’t have the funds.

So here are 3 gift ideas that won’t break the bank.

The first one was given to me by my friend & TSC team member George. He’s so creative & he helps us with The Skinny Confidential back end. For my birthday he surprised me with handmade paper dolls of me & Michael. Not only did he surprise me with these, he also made sure they had every little detail.

As you can see, he also took the time to make Michael in his leather jacket & in his specific white tennis shoes. He did Pixy & Boone too. Every detail is just so thoughtful & realistic. You could always hire out for this & commission someone from Craigslist or Etsy.

Another cool idea is to design cards for someone. So if your BFF is having a bridal shower or baby shower, you could have some cards handmade with her on them. The details are important here I think. Have her in her favorite dress or outfit, in her favorite nail polish color, perhaps holding her dog.

The dolls are so special to me & it was just one of the most thoughtful, creative gifts ever. It would also be fun to do this for someone who is younger, instead of getting another toy.

Now lets get to my favorite gift I’ve ever given. This was a gift I gave as a broke bartender to Michael. He was living in this beautiful apartment & he’s one of those people who is so hard to buy for. What do you get someone who has everything? I wanted to think of a creative way to give him an experience & I noticed he didn’t have a bar. He just had all his alcohol bottles displayed on the counter.

I decided to go to Target & get a $100 shelving situation, spray painted it black & then I got all different kinds of bar tools. I found a cheap set online with a jigger, strainer, stirrer, shaker… you name it. I set it up with everything a bartender would have – little flamingo stirrers, cute umbrellas, even some blue cheese stuffed olives.

Michael had all these cocktail books & cool glasses collecting cobwebs in his cupboards so I took those & set them all up along with his alcohol bottles- color coordinated of course. For a finishing touch, I bought a print from Etsy for about $30 of a huge martini glass.

So I think the whole experience was about $250. When he came home I had some cool music playing, a drink made, the whole bar set up, & everything organized with the lights dimmed. Candles were lit, oils were diffusing & he was totally FLOORED. It was really special. Not only special, but functional too. It was all just using what he had, but adding some festive features to it. In the kitchen I set up crackers, cheese & grapes & made a whole night of it.

I wish I had a picture of this but I don’t ( so sad ). But this is a really creative gift idea that you can really have fun with. & I’m not talking like I did some home renovation for him. It was a very small area of his house.

Another gift I got Michael recently is personalized Guess Who? When it’s personalized it’s one of the cutest, most intimate games/gifts you can get someone. I had this personalized with our friends & family & Michael loved it so much. Did it appeal to ego? I’ll let you decide.

So I got pics of his family & friends, then got Boardgame Bonnie to put together the game, box & pieces. His smile was bigger than the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland. We’ve played this personalized game of Guess Who? quite a few times over beers & laughed our asses off. It’s so fun to describe your family & friends & get super specific.

Anyways, those are 3 very special gift ideas that are fun if you’re looking for something to give the person who has everything.

Would love to know your guys’ gift ideas. Share all the deets.

With that, we’re currently in the South of France. We’re going to be out here working, but also having some fun. Will keep you updated through Instagram Stories. If you have any recommendations for Capri, St. Tropez, Monaco or Positano let me know below.

x, lauryn

+ check out the TSC team’s gift guide here.

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The post My Favorite Gift I’ve Ever Received appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

SO FUN.

My sister-in-law Jordan & her husband Nico are pregnant with their first baby – a little girl named Luna Rose Becerra – so she recently had her baby shower which was thrown by my mother-in-law Lisa. I was in charge of goodie bags, & I wanted to make them as special as possible for Jordan, so I reached out to all my favorite brands to curate a very special goodie bag for all her friends & family.

Obviously I don’t have a ton of experience with the whole baby thing, but I did throw my sister Faye a baby shower so I wanted to share with you guys all the goodie bag deets & maybe it will provide a little inspo.

♡ Kopari

Kopari has always been a ride or die for me. I love their lip balm & I’ve been obsessed with them since they launched. The lip balm is so delicious that Michael likes to kiss it off my lips so it was a no brainer when it came to Jordan’s baby shower. It’s the perfect addition to a goodie bag because it’s super girly. We included a tiny Kopari Coconut Melt too which is safe for mom & baby. Kopari’s products are super clean & they just get it. I love all their stuff, PLUS they’re not tested on animals, non-GMO, free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, & gluten.

website | instagram

♡ Poo~Pourri

Poo~Pourri is all over my house- it basically works like magic. You spritz the bowl before you go & it creates this barrier on the surface of the water & traps the odor below. This is incredibly efficient if you share your bathroom with you S.O. or a roommate. You should know that there are NO harsh chemicals—just the good stuff. Unlike the other guys, Poo~Pourri is safe to breathe & safe to flush. All the stuff we like: no fake fragrances, no parabens, & thank God- no formaldehyde. It’s just a bunch of essential oils that work. This is all so important when getting a house baby-ready so I thought it was perfect to include a little bottle of the lavender vanilla scent.

website | instagram

♡ The Sis Kiss

This is a line by 2 TSC readers who are sisters. They reached out about a year ago to send me some jewelry & I absolutely fell in love. For the goodie bags they sent us a bunch of gold necklaces that were tiny little moons for Luna. Their jewelry is super delicate & it layers really nicely. It’s affordable & chic & I think it’s the perfect thing to add to a gift or any goodie bag- whether it be a baby shower, bridal shower, or birthday. The sisters, Megan & Marla, started The Sis Kiss because they couldn’t find any jewelry they wanted to wear so they made it themselves! Love seeing the community start businesses & follow their passion!

website | instagram

♡ Taja Collection

This is one of my favorite candle brands because of their customization. They’re out of control with how gnarly they customize. If you’re looking for a brand that really takes it to the next level, then this is the brand for you. I cannot recommend them enough when it comes to candle customization. They worked with me to design a candle that was specifically for Luna. We did one with tiny moons & stars on it & on the lid it said “thank you for helping us celebrate Luna Rose.” This was probably one of my favorite additions because it was so personal. We decided on white matte because it was for a baby shower. This company also does custom diffusers & vases.

website | instagram

♡ Tavi Noir

These socks have been on the blog a lot & this brand was founded by my friend Charlotte Hobgood. Tavi Noir creates these amazing grippy socks that are perfect for yoga, pilates, or barre. It provides this grip that’s just essential for getting the most out of your workout. They don’t slip or fall down & I feel they are a total must-have. My favorite ones by far are the knee-highs– If you want a visual, check out this pic: ( don’t mind the mask. LOL. )Their knee high socks are major & they have all different styles which are all super cute especially if you’re into barre or reformer pilates. These socks are functional, fashionable & very good quality.

website | instagram

♡ Olive & Nectar

If you want a cheese & meat plate that’s on fucking steroids then Olive & Nectar is your go-to. I’ve never seen a Charcuterie board that is quite like this before. First of all it was about 6 feet long. It was so decorated that it’s more like a piece of art. Sofia is so artistic with the way she lays it out- not only did she have all these amazing cheeses, she also did a big pink moon out of beet hummus. There were tons of fruits, nuts & crackers & the whole thing is out of this world.

I’ve used Olive & Nectar before for my friend Faith’s party too. It’s such a hit. People actually stand in line to get to it & it’s such a conversation starter & a place where everyone wants to stand to stuff their face with brie cheese & grapes.

♡ The Floral Exchange

The amazing flowers were done by Marian Inbar of The Floral Exchange. Not only did she do the most beautiful flower set up ( as you can see ), but she also made these clouds out of cotton that were hanging over the flowers with a moon that represented Luna ( Jordan & Nico’s baby’s name & ‘moon’ in Spanish ). She is so creative & did everything herself- a real expert DIYer- definitely outdid herself with the flowers, decorations, & tiny details. We love a detail.

Instagram

If you like this post, make sure you check out Faith’s birthday where we also made super fun goodie bags.

You guys should also know, if you’re a blogger/business especially, that Jordan is the founder of InfleuncerSEO. She’s VERY good at SEO & has done it for me before. If you have any questions or want to check her out, follow her on Instagram: @influencerSEO & stalk her website. Jordan knows her shit when it comes to SEO so if you’re looking for an SEO expert, she’s your girl.

Hope you guys loved this very baby post. I’ll see you tomorrow. Happy Sunday!

love, lauryn

+ For more party posts check out my sister’s baby shower & Jordan’s bachelorette party.

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The post How to Make a Chic Baby Shower Goodie Bag That Everyone Will Love appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Hey guys.

Today we’re doing something different…I’m introducing you to Sam who works with me at The Skinny Confidential Dreamhouse ( but have you checked out the beauty vault? ).

Samantha works in our office & is the Marketing Director for Woo. She helps curate content, do the newsletter & run the brand. She’s savvy, sweet & knows her shit when it comes to getting a job. I am thoroughly impressed with her work ethic- she’s professional, self-aware & just gets it. Sam lived in NY where she worked at VaynerMedia, so she knows what it takes.

I asked her to come on to give tips on how to absolutely NAIL a job interview. In this post she shares the importance of what you do in the lobby while waiting, your posture & actions you take AFTER the interview.

Let’s get to it.

Hey guys! I’m Sam, Marketing Director at WOO More Play. I recently moved to LA from NY, where I worked in influencer marketing at VaynerMedia. Now, I am living my DREAM career at WOO – and not by accident. Today we’re going to chat about HOW TO KICK ASS AT AN INTERVIEW. 

Personally, I have always been ambitious – and I’m sure many of you gals can relate. I started working at 12 years old (is that even legal now…?) at a local frozen yogurt shop in my hometown in Long Island. I liked the feeling of showing up for something and contributing to a vision. That, and blonde highlights were more expensive than I thought LOL.

Over a decade later and I have had jobs from froyo shops and retail stores (#tbt Abercrombie + Fitch) to working at Storm (Kate Moss’ modeling agency) in London, Wunderman UK, VaynerMedia, and now WOO More Play. Jobs are not granted to you with a magic wand – you learn them, breathe them, work them and live them. And if you’re like me, you LOVE it. After years of phone calls, Skype meetings and coffee shop meet ups – I’ve mastered one thing: The Art of the Interview. 

Read on for 10 tips on HOW TO KICK ASS AT AN INTERVIEW, and get the job of your dreams. 

IF YOU’RE ON TIME, YOU’RE ALREADY LATE. 

My 10th grade science teacher told me this when I was rolling into class as the bell rang with an XL Dunkin Donuts iced latte and it hit me HARD. Like, it’s so true – once class starts, the meeting starts, the interview starts – it’s YOUR responsibility to be on your A-GAME.

AKA… by the time your ass is in the seat across from whoever is interviewing you… you already peed, checked your teeth for strawberry seeds and made sure toilet paper wasn’t dragging on the bottom of your heel (speaking from experience. Please check your heels HA.) That way, you’re not sweaty and scrambling with your portfolio when you introduce yourself, and you have time to take a breath and remember why you’re here.

SPEAKING OF PORTFOLIO.

This one is super dependent on the job you are applying for, so I’ll be brief: Have your shit in two places – hardcopy in hand, and another version on email. ALWAYS a resume, and if you are a writer / designer / stylist / model, always a book representing your BEST work. Not all your work, not your whole life story, and definitely not the stuff that you aren’t proud to put your name on.

Personally, I bring my mini iPad with me to EVERY interview. If you don’t have one, I highly suggest investing in a Mini iPad or tablet ASAP. This has saved my ass in the past, and probably will again in the future.

EXAMPLE A: It’s 2016 on a hot summer day in NYC, and I just returned from studying abroad in London, getting my NY Real Estate License online, and am en route to interview for a summer internship at a NEW influencer marketing agency, The Gramlist – now called Social Studies (spoiler alert: I was their second hire and am still great friends with the founder to this day!) And with all the haste of a hot day in June, shifting in my seat to avoid my ass sticking to the leather – I left my resume on the train. 

….

Forgot it completely. I realized this when I was already sitting in the LOBBY, waiting for my interview to begin. So, what did I do? Instead of panicking, I pulled out my mini iPad and handed the PDF version to the woman interviewing me. Not only did this SAVE my interview, the advisor was actually IMPRESSED that I was “digitally minded” and unique. Trust me on this: get an iPad Mini.

IMPOSTER SYNDROME. 

Approx. 3 minutes before an interview, I always get hit with this panic-y thought, like, “OMG WHO AM I WHAT AM I DOING HERE I SPENT LAST NIGHT EATING DRIED MANGO AND WATCHING NETFLIX I DON’T DESERVE TO BE HERE I COULD HAVE WORKED HARDER ON THAT COLLEGE THESIS MAYBE I SHOULDN’T HAVE WORN THIS DID I WEAR NATURAL DEODORANT TODAY GOD I HOPE NOT.”

…and that my friends, is imposter syndrome. Defined by Psychology Today as a “psychological term referring to a pattern of behavior where people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.”

Let me just cut to the chase: YOU CAN DO THIS. If you couldn’t, then you wouldn’t be in this room. There is a REASON for why you are where you are. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. My trick? I talk to myself how I talk to my best friend. I tell myself that I worked hard for this, I made this happen for myself, that it’s not an accident, that my highlighter is on #fleek and that everything happens for a reason. Because it’s all true! 

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.

A good interview is kind of like ping pong. The interviewer asks you questions, you answer, and then at the right time, you ask him or her questions back. It’s a bit hard to explain this one because the flow of every interview conversation is different, but that’s just it – this is a CONVERSATION, not an interrogation. They are not grilling you on your high school AP scores just like you aren’t asking them about how many vacation days you get a year (PLEASE, never ask that!!!). This is an open conversation where they learn about you, your passions, and how those passions can deliver for their company – and also an opportunity for YOU to learn about their personal experience at the agency, their favorite part about their job, how it is working on the “X” team, etc. After all, you may THINK this is your dream job, but it is totally possible that after you hear the inside scoop from someone who works there, that maybe the role or division isn’t for you. Have an open mind, open ears, and know when to close your mouth. 

SWOT ANALYSIS YOURSELF. 

In my college marketing course, my professor would make us do a SWOT analysis for fake brands we wanted to launch: SWOT stands for: strength, weakness, opportunity, threat. To prep for an interview, SWOT YOURSELF.

What are your strengths? Know them HARD, believe in them, and double-down on them.

What are your weaknesses? And NO, being a “perfectionist” is not a weakness. It’s a characteristic, and an excuse I used for a long time, too. REALLY think about what you’re NOT good at, and be okay with telling the team that. If you can’t think of anything that you’re not the best at, then you’re lying. It takes balls to be good at something and talk about it. It takes BIGGER balls to not be good at something, and talk about it. 

For example – one of my weaknesses is staying focused on one task at a time. I’m not hiding it, I’m not pretending like it’s not true. Instead, I am working at it every day so that throughout my career I can grow into the focused, time-managed woman I want to be. See what I mean?

For opportunities – recognize the skills that make you unique, and how your PASSION can help deliver them. See YOURSELF as an opportunity to achieve X for said company. 

Threats? They happen. Crises happen in business, relationships, and the two together – but figure out how YOU, personally, would handle a situation like that in your specific role that you are applying for. It’s not always about having the right answer, it’s about having THE answer. 

DRESS FOR THE JOB YOU WANT, NOT THE JOB YOU HAVE.

I was working at like six different frozen yogurt stores when I was also aspiring to be a writer at a magazine – applying every day to newspapers, digital marketing companies and basically anywhere that would take me. Did I show up in my T-shirt that said “FLAUNT YOUR FLAVOR?” No. No, I did not. In the beginning of my interview journey, I was overdressed. But NEVER was I underdressed. It’s 2019, so I get it – a lot of creative agencies + corporate environments alike are super casual, and that’s going to be awesome when you want to hit a SoulCycle class right before work.

However, when is it NOT cool? This interview. Tom Ford says it best: “Dressing well is a form of good manners.” The person you’re communicating with will tell you to dress comfortable. They will say they are casual. They will say it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And I am telling you this, because I have gotten every job I have ever applied for: DRESS AS THE GIRL YOU WANT TO BE.

After years and years of conversations, coffees and Q+A sessions, I’ve narrowed down the look that makes me feel SMART, SEXY + most of all ME: black silk tank top, loose fitting blazer, grey silky cargos and black suede booties. AND a bra, which I mention solely because I never wear one, except in interviews. I want the people I’m speaking with to pay attention to my brain and not my boobs. 

Now…If your interview is in the summer, which I understand many of them are for you girls that just graduated college – NY / LA heat really does put the pressure on, not going to lie LOL. I suggest a dress, flat sandals (I REPEAT: SANDALS, NOT FLIP FLOPS) and a WHITE blazer. So summery + chic. Blazer goes on for the interview, and after 10 min. you can strip on the way to Starbucks. Or at least that’s what I did.

GET OVER YOURSELF. 

YES, you CAN do this, and you’re great and you 100% should feel CONFIDENT in yourself and your abilities…but at the same time, understand a very KEY element in applying for the job you want: IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU. Even though the JOB is for YOU, the ROLE is for THEM. The agency / corporation that is hiring you is because they NEED SOMETHING. So badly in fact, that they are willing to spend their hard-earned money on your salary. Think of this 10 – 15 min. session as a moment to share what you can do for them, why you are different than the girl in the waiting room, how you can provide THEM VALUE, and why this shit lights you up. This isn’t a time to share that you want to learn from them, see what they do every day, or figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life through this experience. 

Hiring is not a free-trial for a company. This is a decision that is going to elevate their brand’s experience – either in sales, creative work, community energy, etc. One day, if you start your own company, the tables can turn. Right now, be a GIVER – as simple as that. 

POSTURE. 

I don’t often think about the fact that I skipped ballet class when I was a kid, but I sure do when I’m in an interview! Posture is EVERYTHING. The way you present yourself physically tells the world that you care, or that you don’t. With cell phones always in front of our faces and tech neck happening, it’s easy to ignore proper posture and the core work involved to maintain a straight spine. And yes, it is WORK! Doutzen Kroes has attributed her sleek abs to always sitting up straight, even when she’s driving in the car. A perfect posture REALLY lights up the core. Pull your bellybutton in toward your spine and drop your shoulders away from your ears. This will help you relax and appear SUPER attentive, which is what they’re looking for. A hot new job + hot new abs. I see this as a win/win – don’t you? 

GET THE FUCK OFF YOUR PHONE. 

5 years ago I wouldn’t feel this needed to be said, but I see it happen in interviews all the time now, so here we go. 

Get. The. Fuck. Off. Your. Phone. If you’re following along this thread of how to kick ass at an interview, then hopefully you already got there 10-15 minutes early. And more often than not, the interviewers will be running a bit behind as well, so realistically you’re sitting there for like 20 min. And yea, it’s going to feel like the longest 20 minutes of your life. And sure, your friends are blowing up the group chat and it’s super tempting to see how your Instagram post of your dog is doing – JUST IGNORE IT. It is twenty minutes of your life, and it can wait. 

You might argue, “but the people interviewing me aren’t even here yet! I’m just on the sofa in the lobby” or “it’s a digital marketing agency for a social media position – I’m basically working by being on my phone!” I’ll let you in on a little secret: that girl or guy sitting at the front desk of said agency, floating through google calendar and answering the phones is also the brains of the operation. She knows WHAT’S UP with everything, and everyone. My two best friends at my previous agency, VaynerMedia, work at the front desk. And let me tell you that agency insiders are not shy to ask them their thoughts on people’s attitude, presence, and respectfulness. 

You will STAND OUT when you are the girl sitting poised, with her legs crossed, phone out of sight and in bag, patiently waiting. Look around the office, take in the scenery, or check out your freshly polished manicure. I don’t care what you do, but don’t look at your phone. Or your watch, while we’re at it. 

THE AFTER EFFECT

LISTEN CAREFULLY… what you do AFTER the interview is almost as important as what you do before + during. Most likely, this company has a long list of girls that are similar to you in academic achievements, skill set and good manners – so what makes them choose you? 

TWO MUST-DO’S:

+ a handwritten thank you note. 

If you’re thinking that’s so 1950s, think again. Nothing says that you give a shit about something MORE than actually writing it down on a piece of paper and saying so. MY HACK: Bring thank you notes WITH YOU to the interview. Before you leave the building / area, write them down and either put them in the interviewer’s mailbox at the office or hand them to front desk associate, your new BFF, to pass along for you. I always find really cute thank you notes at Target for like 5 bucks. I stick with a black + gold theme but there are so many options – do you!  Some girls are out designing their wedding invitations, and I’m in Target with a thank you note color palette. I’m OK with it LOL. 

+ email follow up

First things first, say thank you for their time. If you want to take it up a notch and actually GET the job, show them that you were listening to what they were saying when you asked about their experiences. If they mentioned a favorite project they did, or something they worked on that brought the company huge success, or maybe even a simple lesson they learned through growing in the company – name drop that shit. Not only does it show that you pay attention to detail, but that you’re inspired by them, and want to hustle like they did and make this job a CAREER. Connection + chemistry is important to establish early on. 

FINALLY…

Check your teeth. Check your shoes. Take a deep breath and feel grateful that the universe has aligned to bring YOU here, in this moment. One of my favorite LA SoulCycle instructors, David, says “if it’s in front of you, you’re ready for it.” – let that sink in for a sec. 

GOOD LUCK out there babes! xoxo

If you have any questions on the interview process, how to get an interview or preparing for your first day, DM me at @samantha_nik. 

There you have it. Make sure you follow Sam on Instagram, & also follow Woo– cuz you know coconut oil lube is the best thing on the planet.

x, lauryn

+ for more career advice: cheat sheet for doing what you love  | my 5 favorite books for business

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The post 10 TIPS ON HOW TO KICK ASS AT AN INTERVIEW AND GET THE JOB OF YOUR DREAMS appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Did you know that there’s a The Skinny Confidential Facebook Group that’s dedicated to a book club? You have to join the main group on Facebook, then just search The Skinny Confidential book club & join.

Books are such a theme on this blog. Reading is such an important part of my life. When my mom passed away, reading really got me through it. I would immersed myself in books & it was this form of escapism I guess.

We’ve been traveling a lot lately. Right now we’re in New York, next week we are going to Mexico & then later this year we’re going overseas. That means lots of books. There’s nothing better than kicking back with a book. You know I LOVE long flights because it’s a time to disconnect, sip some champagne, & read a book without any distractions. Not going to lie, I kind of like when the wifi is spotty- gives me an excuse to read.

So let’s get into the latest:

Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life by Steve Martin

I just started this one & haven’t finished it yet, but so looking forward to diving deep into the life of comedian, Steve Martin. This book is all about his early beginnings working at the Disneyland Magic Shop when he was 10, his rise to comedic stardom, how & why he quit it all, how he loves to write. Can’t wait for this one. Have any of you read it yet?

The Art of the Pimp: One Man’s Search for Love, Sex, and Money by Dennis Hoff

If you listen to The Skinny Confidential podcast then you know that we just interviewed the highest paid, legal sex worker, Alice Little from The Bunny Ranch. Michael & I decided to actually go to The Bunny Ranch to interview her in her element. After I saw The Bunny Ranch, I wanted to learn everything & anything about it. I found out that the owner, Dennis Hoff, had passed a way a couple years ago so I did a deep dive into his life. His girlfriend was Heidi Fleiss, the “Hollywood Madam.” Heidi Fleiss wrote Pandering ( such a good read ) & used to arrange high-class escorts for celebrities. Anyways, Dennis’ life was so interesting & colorful & unique. I couldn’t put this book down- it explains everything from his perspective about how it is to be a legal pimp. I like to see things from other people’s perspectives instead of judge. It’s nice to see life through their eyes. This book kept me interested & curious. The how, why & his logic to why he got into is in this book too. I’m not saying I agree with it, I’m just saying it’s a unique perspective.

Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of “The View” by Ramin Setoodeh

Ok guys, you have to check out this book, especially if you ‘ve ever watched The View. This book is by an award-winning journalist & he takes us behind the scenes of the show. It’s soooooooo good & JUICY. He talks about Rose O’Donnell, Barbara Walters’ career ( why she is single ), Debbie Matenopoulos being the youngest person on The View, & Star Jones’ rise to celebrity. It’s just one of those books that you can’t stop reading. I would stay up til 4 am reading it, which isn’t good- Must’ve needed some more CBD that night. It’s explosive. The author is so good & really takes you through the whole story of The View which has been around for 22 years. This is a great book to gift to your girlfriend or your mom.

Jackie, Janet & Lee: The Secret Lives of Janet Auchincloss and Her Daughters Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill by J. Randy Taraborrelli

You know I’m obsessed with The Kennedys & Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. & if you don’t know this, definitely check out my post on her perfume & this book club post, featuring The Other Man ( who she had an affair on JFK jr. with ). This book is a biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, her mother Janet Lee Auchincloss, and her sister, Princess Lee Radziwill. These women are iconic & it was so interesting to see where they came from & the inner workings of their family. Jacqueline married JFK ( obviously ) & went on to marry shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. It’s all about how these women personified beauty, style & fashion. Their mother always taught them to go for “power & money”, so that’s just what they did.

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

This is my favorite book that I’ve read all year. I’m trying to convince anyone & everyone to read it. It’s the autobiography of Anthony Kiedis who is the lead singer of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. This book is so beautifully written that you truly fall in love with Anthony Kiedis. Out of all the books listed here, I would start with this one. It’s so good because it shows you every facet of his life – a horrendous drug addiction, living on the streets, all the women he’s been with, inner workings of the band, & why he is the way he is. If I ever write a memoir when I’m like 50, I hope it’s as beautifully written as this one. It’s probably one of the best written autobiographies or biographies that I’ve ever read. & that’s saying a lot because I’m an autobiography whore. It’s such a great story of the world of rock, success & excess.

Be sure to join the book club on Facebook guys! Would love to know what you’re reading right now. As you can tell, I love autobiographies. There’s just something about getting so deep into someone else’s life that gets me off.

So if you have juicy recommendations let me know.

Happy reading.

x, lauryn

+ for more amazing book recs: tsc book club | the master list | books for business

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The post THE SKINNY CONFIDENTIAL BOOK CLUB: MY LATEST READS appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

THINKING TIME. This may sound strange but bear with me.

Recently I was listening to a podcast with Keith Cunningham, who wrote The Road Less Stupid. I became OBSESSED & did a deep dive with Keith. He had so much sound advice within this small podcast ( the podcast is The One Thing ) & I loved his stoic approach to business. I found myself listening to it over & over. One thing he talked about that really resonated with me, is the power of thinking time.

So when Keith ( who has made millions of $$ by the way ) was young & cocky, he went into a business meeting with a huge oil guy. In the meeting the oil guy told Keith that he sets aside an hour for thinking time every day- from 4:30-5:30 am. He just sits there & thinks. Keith thought this was so strange & didn’t understand it. Waking up at 4:30 am was not Keith’s thing, so he set aside 5-10 minutes a day for thinking time with an exact strategy of what he would be thinking about. For instance, he would say “where are the holes in my business?” & sit there with a journal ( or not ) & just think.

In doing this for 5-10 minutes everyday for a year, Keith became a happier person & had a huge realization that thinking time was non-negotiable.

As I was listening to the podcast I realized that I spend a lot of time thinking & I haven’t done a post on it- so I thought it would be interesting to share this with you guys.

Thinking time is non-negotiable for me too. I need time to think & wrap my head around things. Whether it’s making a big business decision or thinking about my reaction to a problem, I spend time thinking. The way I think is to clean, & focus on that one problem.

Through Keith, I further realized the value of actually sitting down with a pen & paper to think. & I’ve been using The Morning Pages as extra time to really think with an actually strategy. What I mean by this is I’ll write down what my goal is. So if my goal is to find ways to improve The Skinny Confidential, I sit down & do a 3 page brain dump. Writing it out is very different than talking it out. You don’t have to write it out, you can just think, but the point here is to CALENDAR your thinking time. Start with 5-10 minutes & go from there.

If you’re just reacting to everything & not being proactive then cracks start show. I know this because for a long time I was very reactive.

For anyone not familiar with The Morning Pages:

It’s known as one of the most profound and empowering tools for cultivating creativity, personal growth, & change are the Morning Pages- this is a stream-of-consciousness style of writing that helps you basically purge your thoughts before you start your day.

Think of it as getting all your thoughts on paper before you need to tackle your to-do list.

I’m the type of person that will be legit distracted if I don’t do this in the morning. My thoughts are so chaotic & I want to get everything done that I literally can’t form sentences if I don’t write them down in the morning.

When I first started a business I did this thing ( which I still do in my Morning Pages ) called TOP 7. TOP 7 is your top 7 priorities that NEED to get done for the day. Again, I still do my TOP 7, I just do them within my Morning Pages.

You can really write whatever you want in your Morning Pages- the only catch is this: YOU HAVE TO WRITE THREE PAGES AND YOU CANNOT STOP. My pages include my to-do list, TOP 7, what’s bugging me, where I want to take my business, what I am grateful for ( I do this one everyday! ), ideas, visions, dreams, quotes, funny sayings, things my husband says to me, etc. You can have your three pages be anything you want really.

Anyways, after researching this a bunch I found that tons of successful people spend at least 10 hours a week just thinking.

Warren Buffett is a great example- if he has time to think, anyone can find time to think.

My tips are:

♡ schedule time in your calendar.

♡ don’t think in your office; do it at home where you can be alone.

♡ bring a journal.

♡ evaluate the time you spend on meetings & cut it in half.

♡ ask powerful questions to encourage deep thinking.

Would love to know if you guys put aside thinking time & as always share your tips below!

x, lauryn

+ More posts like this can be found in the TSC Business section.

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The post The Importance of Thinking Time & Tips to Get Started appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Today 2 badass sisters, Mady and Scout are here to talk about how they were able to stop smoking ( *spoiler* The Skinny Confidential played a role). Also- I was recently on their podcast, Okay Sis Podcast, listen here.

I was twenty-three years old, working at the local Italian deli drugstore as a cashier, supporting myself through my first entrepreneurial journey – a magazine sold in Barnes & Noble locations and newsstands across the country. It was a slow night, so I set up shop at the checkout counter and whipped out my phone. My fingers immediately navigated to the Instagram app and what I thought would be a mindless scroll turned into a 3-hour content binge of The Skinny Confidential.

I came across Lauryn’s Instagram through the explore page, having heard about her a few months back from my husband who went to high school with her. What was intended to be a mindless ‘gram scroll turned into an inspirational hunger.

I devoured The Skinny Confidential, and the very next day, I put the following into play: I signed up for workout classes, went to Ulta and bought all new hair tools and products to start doing my hair the way I’ve always wanted to wear it, upped my skincare game, and leaned out my diet. But the most important thing that happened to me that night was my insatiable desire to quit cigarettes. Lauryn promoted the version of myself that was better than I could have imagined and quitting cigarettes was one of the most important steps to self-improvement.

Let’s back it up for a bit. Where did I pick up the nasty habit of smoking? I attended Sarah Lawrence College for a year, a liberal arts college where the artistic and the creative roamed. With about 90% of the student population identifying as smokers, I picked up a pack one day with my two closest friends. What happened after that was a slow, yet fast, progression. What started at two cigarettes a day turned into the eventually consistent pack and a half consumption. I became a full on smoker.

And it was romantic. It was artistic. It was alluring. It made the wheels in my head turn, it connected me to my writing, it inspired me to be deeply rooted in the depths of my mind. I remember chain smoking with my friends while reading Howl by Allen Ginsberg while passing around a bottle of red wine. I remember philosophical debates out on the lawn with a cigarette perched between our fingers. I remember taking study breaks and having endless conversations under the stars as we puffed down. We were in love. Cigarettes became a part of my identity, a part of the way I lived my daily life.

But as most romances come to a tragic end, I knew I couldn’t sustain a pack and a half habit if I simultaneously wanted to be a healthy human being. And as I grew out of the poetic, depressing artist facade, cigarettes started losing their appeal and they became what they truly are – a nasty habit that affects your entire health. The seduction wore off and all I was left with was an intense addiction. I couldn’t go two hours without a cigarette. And on that faithful weekday night, as I was working minimum wage to support my dreams, The Skinny Confidential smacked me in the face with the reality check that my addiction needed. I wanted to feel better, look better, and treat myself better. So that is exactly what I did – and in full force.

How did I quit? How can you quit? Real talk: it is tough. Really, really tough. It feels like you are crawling out of your skin, that you are on the verge of a mental breakdown, that you can’t contain the consistent heart palpitations. But you can do it. It will pass. And one day, you’ll forget what it ever meant to be a slave to a white three inch stick.

HOW I QUIT:

1. I replaced my cigarette habit with a healthier habit. In that moment, it was working out. I needed to release a lot of nervous energy and spin classes wrung all the frantic electricity out of me. I had to go hard at the gym to calm my withdrawals.
2. I chewed gum in the beginning. You might need an oral fixation to replace your smoking, and that’s okay. Chewing gum gave me my oral fixation fix while not harming my body.
3. I set intentions. Each day, I set an intention to not smoke. I meditated on that intention and reminded myself of it when the going got rough.
4. If you need to do something with your hands, get a fidget spinner. Distract your hands. Start knitting. Play Cat’s Cradle. Whatever it is that tickles your fancy, do that.
5. Become obsessed with another healthy aspect of your life. For me, it was eating clean. I threw myself into grocery shopping and meal prepping. If I was doing something good for my body by not smoking, I wanted that to bleed into other areas of my life. I looked at my health holistically.
6. Learn to love your body. Thank it for all the miracles it performs on a daily basis. Treat it like the temple that it is. Honor it as a holy vehicle for your soul. Take deep breaths and feel your lungs live out their purpose.

If you smoke and want to quit, know that you can. You do not need to be a slave to a habit that doesn’t serve your highest self. Your lungs (and your skin) will thank you. You’ll feel accomplished, stronger even. And the romance that came along with it? You’ll find that connecting to your breath is the real relationship you should be in. It’s the one that will sustain you and give you that long, healthy life. The one we all want – it’s time to start living that dream.

Hope you guys got some valuable tips from Scout & Mady. Hope you all had a nice, relaxing weekend ( we celebrated Michael’s birthday while I recovered from my jaw surgery ).

Be sure to listen to my episode on Okay Sis Podcast. See you tomorrow.

x, lauryn

+ Check out the latest YouTube: What’s in my bag

++ Up your fiber with these skinny blueberry waffles.

+ to connect with Okay Siss: Instagram |Podcast | Scout | Mady

The post HOW TO QUIT SMOKING appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Guys, as you know I’m a huge Tim Ferriss fan. I find him interesting, multi-faceted & someone who takes his craft really seriously, while also having a good time & providing tremendous value.

As a HUGE consumer of his content, I subscribe to his newsletter, which I highly recommend. I came across one of his newsletters for the new year & it really spoke to me. I wanted to share it with you guys, but also share how I’m utilizing it in my own life.

I feel like this particular content is very useful to The Skinny Confidential community, especially with the new year.

As you can see below I copy and pasted part of his newsletter that spoke to me. His words are in italics, mine are not.

First, let’s talk about Tim & why he is someone to pay attention to: He’s a major player in the business world, he’s a best-selling author, he’s a pro interview/podcaster, he’s interviewed Arnold Schwarzenegger, LeBron James, Edward Norton, Tony Robbins, Maria Sharapova, Jamie Foxx, Rick Rubin, & hundreds more interesting, compelling people. He really has this unique way of getting his guests to open up.

Here’s a quick bio from his blog, but I highly recommend you go read the long bio: Tim Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company‘s “Most Innovative Business People” and one of Fortune‘s “40 under 40.” He is an early-stage technology investor/advisor ( Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ others ) and the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, including The 4-Hour Workweek and Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers. The Observer and other media have called Tim “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, which is the first business/interview podcast to exceed 100 million downloads.

Ok, let’s get straight to the point because I never want to waste anyone’s time. So with that, here we go:

I’m often asked about how I approach New Year’s resolutions. The truth is that I no longer approach them at all, even though I did for decades. Why the change? I have found “past year reviews” (PYR) more informed, valuable, and actionable than half-blindly looking forward with broad resolutions. I did my first PYR after a mentor’s young daughter died of cancer on December 31st, roughly eight years ago, and I’ve done it every year since. It takes 30-60 minutes and looks like this:

The whole ‘new year, new me’ thing doesn’t work for me, so I feel very similar. Setting a resolution here & there is good, but I don’t want to feel like I have to write a completely different book than I did in 2018. Refining habits & being better for overall optimal performance is a goal I like to set.

1. Grab a notepad and create two columns: POSITIVE and NEGATIVE.

This is such a good exercise for a lot of areas of your life. You can use this printable to go through your calendar ( like Tim says to do – I’m for sure doing it ) & also to take a little inventory of your life. Here’s what I mean:

On the negative side identify the grievances, disrespects, & bad breaks:

♡ People who don’t like you.
♡ Deals that went wrong.
♡ Unfair expectations.
♡ Bad situations.
♡ Unfortunate outcomes.
♡ Unfairness.

On the positive side, write down the privileges, advantages and opportunities you have:

♡ The places where you get the benefit of the doubt.
♡ Your leverage and momentum.
♡ The things you see that others don’t.
♡ What’s working and what has worked.
♡ The resources you can tap.
♡ The things you know.
♡ People who trust you.

Now, take one list and put it in a drawer. Take the other list and tape it up on your bathroom mirror. Read the list in the drawer once a month or once a year, just to remind you that it’s safe and sound. Read the other list every day.

The daily list will determine what you notice, how you interpret what you see and the story you tell yourself about what’s happening and what will happen.

You get to pick which list goes where.

The point is, you really can create your own STRATEGIC FUTURE BY DESIGN, & this is a great step to start creating it.

2. Go through your calendar from the last year, looking at every week. 

This is something I think is really powerful for cutting toxicity out of your life. I didn’t do this one ( yet ). It’s something I’m hoping to sit down & do this month. Eliminating toxicity for the upcoming year is very smart.

3. For each week, jot down on the pad any people or activities or commitments that triggered peak positive or negative emotions for that month. Put them in their respective columns.

I do believe this past year I have minimized toxic situations & part of that is because I was driving back & forth to LA so there was no time for that. When you’re really busy & you’re focussed on positivity, it automatically reduces negativity because you just don’t have time for it. But like I said, I still need to audit my calendar.

4. Once you’ve gone through the past year, look at your notepad list and ask, “What 20% of each column produced the most reliable or powerful peaks?”

For me, driving could have been so distracting & pointless & mundane. Instead, Michael & I made a game out of it & we’d listen to a book on tape or a podcast that brought us knowledge ( Tim Ferriss, Joe Rogan, The Balanced Blonde, Pardon My French by Ingrid, Tony Robbins, Gary Vee, Ed Mylett ). We were always trying to better ourselves while we were doing something that could have been looked at as a waste of time.

If you feel you have something that’s not producing results, you need to see if there’s an opportunity to take that time and turn it into something that could produce results. As far as time that does not produce reliable results, I would highly recommend auditing that because I’m a huge believer that ‘where focus goes energy flows‘. You only have a certain level of energy & you can only do so much in a day. If your time is spent doing something toxic that isn’t providing reliable peaks, it’s time to get rid of it.

5. Based on the answers, take your “positive” leaders and schedule more of them in the new year. Get them on the calendar now! Book things with friends and prepay for activities/events/commitments that you know work. It’s not real until it’s in the calendar. That’s step one. Step two is to take your “negative” leaders, put “NOT-TO-DO LIST” at the top, and put them somewhere you can see them each morning for the first few weeks of 2019. These are the people and things you *know* make you miserable, so don’t put them on your calendar out of obligation, guilt, FOMO, or other nonsense.

Step 1: I could not agree more with this. My calendar for me is my way of life. I live & swear by it & having an appointment in a calendar is super powerful. If you want to hang out with someone, make an appointment. My friend Steve taught me to look at my calendar every night before I go to bed & to make sure it’s laid out in a way that’s going to make the day as productive as possible.

Another tip here is to only make commitments that you want to do. I’ve been guilty in the past of doing things I don’t want to do. You end up resenting the task at hand which makes it selfish. What I mean is: you take a selfless act of doing something you don’t want to do & resent it so it becomes selfish. You almost have to get selfish to become selfless. When you’re selfish with yourself your self-care you become a better person, a better family member, a better friend, a better boss & a better employee.

Step 2: Agree with this so much. This is hard when someone is aggressive with your time. I’ve been there – trust me, I get it….to the point of almost changing my phone number. To be honest, I actually don’t have advice for this. When people are super aggressive with me I tend to give into them, just to get it over with. But I’ve realized that nothing is ever enough for these aggressive people. I noticed that I’d schedule a coffee date with this aggressive person, & at coffee they’d be scheduling a dinner. Then at dinner they’d schedule something else. I call these people Dementors ( ya, just like in Harry Potter ). It’s someone who is constantly stealing your time & sucking your energy. I’m still a work in progress when it comes to combating these Dementors. I’ll let you guys know when I have more advice here. But this is a hard one because it does make you feel guilty when these people want your time.

Definitely try this guys. Let me know how Tim’s assignment goes. Tag me in your IG Stories @theskinnyconfidential so I can check it out. Be sure to print out the free printable above.

If you want another printable to help create your strategic future, stalk this post. Just remember to get the positive things on the calendar ASAP!

Think of this like losing weight. When you try to lose weight you don’t want to take things away from your plate, because you end up feeling deprived. You actually want to add more good things to the plate to crowd out the bad.

Alright I’m off to watch Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. She’s the author of The  Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It’s such a cute show all about cleaning up your house & creating space in your life, which is so fitting for this post & the new year. Tidying Up makes room for joy, creativity, more of the things you absolutely love, & creates a space that’s peaceful & calming. So about it for 2019.

There’s something therapeutic about watching this show. She cleans everything & provides serenity. I’m also gonna make some homemade popcorn with dark chocolate chips.

Happy Monday!

x, lauryn

+ if you’re interested in Tim Ferriss, be sure to check out posts here & here

START 2019 WITH A BANG

The post How To Kick 2019’s Ass Like a Boss appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

BY Ylfa Grönvold | WORK HERE | @ylfagronvold

AGAIN! Remember when I did a post all about TSC READERS’ ART? SO fun for me to share YOU. And YOUR creativity.

SO HERE WE ARE AGAIN!

Basically the gist of my idea ( it came to me in the shower, HA! ) is to showcase what you guys love to create. Some of you are artists, some are bloggers/vloggers, some are graphic designers, some are entrepreneurs, ETC.

& I want to share your work with TSC Community. This is a place to inspire.

Anyway, today’s the second installment of the “creative spaces” idea. Today’s theme is up & coming artists— each of them designed a very Skinny Confidential-ish piece. & honestly WHATTTTTT, I can’t believe how amazing these phenomenally talented artists are, AGAIN- I was just shocked! They crushed it. A bunch of these pieces are going in my office. All their bios/contact info is below.

Oh! If you are a creative, please share what you do so I can plan the next creative feature on TSC. Want to hear about what you guys do, what drives you, your passions…you get it. Leave your websites, Instagrams, whatever below too. You guys always support me, I love to support you.

OK, ENJOY! FIRST UP, THE VERY TSC PIC ABOVE:

+ Bio: Ylfa Grönvold is an artist & illustrator from Iceland currently living in Copenhagen, Denmark. She graduated from the Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design in Copenhagen in 2012. After graduating she set up to merge her two passions of illustration and fashion design, where her career then took off and opportunities arose to design and illustrate for various fashion houses, television shows, movies as well as bridal dresses and stationery design. Having a positive approach to life, living life to it’s fullest and taking every opportunity with open arms has been the blossom of her career & taken her places she could never have imagined.

BY: Jenna Webb | WORK HERE | @jennawebbart

+ Bio: Contemporary mixed media artist Jenna Webb specializes in vibrant, unexpected & bold works infused with her positive spirit and energy. Numerous years of business management work in a left-brained space fueled Jenna’s drive to become a full-time artist. Her brave career transition has served her uncommon creativity allowing her to ultimately share her gift with you. She is passionate about nature, beauty, positivity, travel, and interior design. Her artwork reflects the beauty she sees and the light she wants you to feel. Jenna creates from her studio in Raleigh, NC, which she shares with Gus & Lola, her Boston Terrier & French Bulldog.

BY: Caleigh Bird | WORK HERE | @caleighbirdart

+ Bio: Caleigh Bird is a contemporary realist artist living the dream on O’ahu in Hawaii. She has been studying art her entire life culminating in a Master’s Degree last year and has since become a popular custom portrait artist for both families and their four-legged friends. Because of her hectic life-of-an-artist schedule and frequent travels, Caleigh isn’t able to have any pets of her own, but she enjoys living vicariously through her clients and feels like she gets to have a special connection with each sweet furry she draws. When not busy drawing and painting in her little tropical valley studio, Caleigh’s fingers can be found getting dirty in her organic garden or twirling her hula hoop.

BY: Olivia Dockerty | WORK HERE |@livdockerty_art

+ Bio: Liv Dockerty is a young emerging Contemporary artist. She studied Art and Design at Parsons in New York City where she graduated with a BFA and has since moved back to her hometown of Miami. Her art is inspired by the sky and you can find her painting on large-scale canvases while blasting 70s Rock classics. She recently had her art selected by Restoration Hardware’s new Modern Collection.

BY: Jessica Rodriguez  | WORK HERE | @noemipapeterie

+ Bio: Jessica Rodriguez is a designer & illustrator from Dallas, Texas. She received a degree in Visual Communications from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. She has been drawing ever since she could remember and currently works a full-time job while illustrating on the side. Her work is inspired by fashion bloggers, brands, & beauty.

BY: Chelsea Lundy | WORK HERE | @chelsdrawsyou

+ Bio: In late 2015 in Canada’s capital, Chelsea Lundy began drawing her friends and favourite celebrities using a sketch app for fun. What began as a hobby quickly became a new passion. When she started her Instagram ( @chelsdrawsyou ) to showcase her finger paintings, the feedback was overwhelming. Requests started coming in, and, as her portfolio grew, so did demand for her artwork. She calls it finger painting because that’s exactly what it is – she sketches every single picture on her iPhone 6 using only her finger. Chelsea is constantly inspired by the people she draws, and she tries to capture each person’s (or animal’s!) aura through her artwork.

BY: Bruna Mebs | WORK HERE | @brunamebs

+ Bio: Bruna Mebs is best known for her watercolor paintings, ink drawings and pencil sketches. A nostalgic by heart, her biggest inspirations all derive from history, like period movies, vintage clothing, medieval tales and old books. Her work ranges from food, animal, fashion, costume, beauty and botanical illustrations to portraits. She currently sells originals, prints & custom paintings at her online shop.

BY: Whitleigh Kid | WORK HERE | @missywhitleigh

+ Bio: Wei studied arts & designs in college but later decided to pursue psychology related study and ended up working in the clinical field.  After all those years, she has returned to her ultimate passion and is planning on making her mark in the vibrant creative world this year.  She enjoys fashion and lifestyle illustrations and all things related. She finds inspiration everywhere- & of course The Skinny Confidential is her go-to source!

BY: Kevin Glatt | WORK HERE | @_kevvy_kevv 

+ Bio: Kevin Glatt is a multi-medium artist based in Santa Monica, California, who is a producer by day ( he produced TSC Show forever! LOVE YOU KEVIN! ), musician by night, & always conceptualizing art in all of its forms. He is a fluid artist by trade, that uses mixed-media paints & a two-part epoxy resin to achieve his glass-like & depth-filled abstract pieces. Kevin‘s art is driven by color in its purest state, music, & the everyday rhythm of life.

BY: Nina Romans | WORK HERE | @ninaromansdesign

+ Bio: Nina Romans is a multidisciplinary designer specializing in graphic design, brand design, illustration, & web design. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles where she majored in Design | Media Arts. She has experience collaborating & working with a variety of clients from boutique online businesses to big brands. She designs in hopes of making memorable and positive impacts on peoples’ lives and the world around us. Stay updated on her work by scoping her Instagram: @ninaromansdesign.

BY: Kelcey Vossen | WORK HERE | @knicolevossen

+ Bio: A Toronto-based creator who lived in and is continually energized by New York City. Passionate about design and illustration. Enjoys discovering hidden coffee shops, reading Greek mythology and epic poetry, and getting lost for hours in the European literature section of independent book stores. Loves the soft silhouettes and elegant femininity of the 1920s and 1930s, collecting silky robes and Art Deco jewelry from these romantic decades. Hopes her whimsical illustrations continue to inspire and be enjoyed. ( She actually made ME into a phone case too- which is nuts! Above is my Snapchat filters she designed for our wedding ).

I hope you guys enjoyed all of these up & coming artists. Insane, right? Let me know what kind of art you create below ( are you a: blogger, writer, actor, vlogger, producer, artist, designer, etc. ) so I can pick the theme of the next installment.

Happy Monday- see you tomorrow! x lauryn

+ first artist installment here.

INSPIRED? WELL THEN LET’S GET CREATIVE:

The post BADASS UP AND COMING ARTISTS appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.

Hi guys,

After the response on my last book post and due to popular demand I am going to start writing about my monthly book recs at the end of each month. I think everyone should try and get through at least one book a week so I will give four recommendations each month.

Let me know in the comments what type of books you guys prefer and I can adjust my picks.

Here are my monthly book recommendations for February!

The Fish That Ate the Whale by Rich Cohen

Have you ever heard of the banana king of America? This book is based on the life of Samuel Zemurray, a Russian immigrant who became one of the richest men in the world. He made his fortune on bananas! Along the way he hired on mercenaries, took on the CIA, started revolutions, overturned foreign governments and built one of the biggest fruit companies of his time. It was a really quick and interesting read and I highly recommend it.

The Cartel by Don Winslow

This is the sequel to The Power of the Dog which is the story of the rise of the Barrera brothers and the rise of a drug empire in Mexico. The Cartel follows up the prequel 10 years after the events in the PotD. This book is based around fact and loosely based around the life of Jouquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the notorious Mexican drug kingpin that has been in the news recently. It was really intense and was the most informative book I have read to date on the drug war going on in the U.S. and Mexico. It is a really fast read as well, with a lot of action.

The Story of the Human Body by Daniel Liberman

Recently I have been really intrigued with evolution and psychology. Being in a relationship with Lauryn I hear so many tips and tricks on a regular basis about my diet, what is good, what is bad, what to eat, what not to eat. I wanted to know more about why our bodies react to different food and environments in both positive and negative ways and why they do so. This book literally tells the story of how we evolved over millions of years, shifted to a non-fruit based diet and how cultural changes like farming and the industrial revolution impacted us physically. Using this information, the author hints and even tries to compel his readers to pursue better lifestyles with healthier and happier long term effects.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

This book has been out for a long time now and has gained even more notoriety now that Leo has signed on to play Dr. H. H. Holmes in the upcoming Hollywood movie. I don’t know why I didn’t get on the hype train a while back but I am glad that I recently did. This book is based on true events surrounding the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. H. H. Holmes was one of America’s first documented serial killers. He claimed to have killed hundreds of women. The book tells the tale of how events at and during the Chicago World’s Fair helped to create a perfect atmosphere for one of America’s first serial killers.

I hope you guys enjoy these book posts & recommendations.

Reading really is the key to success in your life. If you want a sure formula for a miserable life, learn only by your own experiences and never by the experiences of others, both living and dead.

– Michael

{ read about my 3 book theory too! }

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