Let It Go

This phrase has been popping up a lot in my life lately. So much so that it's stuck with me, like it's asking me to reflect on it. It's definitely been a busy and stressful few weeks full of changing times. Wrapping up work with my biggest client, figuring out what's next, working out a lot and trying to adhere to a superfood diet. I take on a lot and I know it. (See also: Jessie Spano moments.)

My reiki teacher/friend Rachel taught me that sometimes the pain and sickness we bear is a manifestation of imbalances in our lives. I often will get pain in my shoulders and neck, which usually means I'm taking on the 'weight of the world' (a.k.a. doing too much.) I've been under the weather this week with that familiar shoulder pain coupled with major sinus pain. I know some of this is due to seasonal allergies, but I also have no doubt that my body's giving me a little nudge to do some reflection.

Image via Pinterest

While I've had amazing consulting clients so far who've taught me worlds about...everything, I find myself itching to do something different. LUNA events will help, but I'm yearning to take on more writing gigs too. It's not the end of my consultant days by any means, but it is a clear sign to remember to focus on only doing the things I truly, truly want to do. I also still struggle with being rigid about saying "no," especially when it comes to stuff I'm pitched as a blogger. I always want to help however I can, which isn't great for discerning what's best for me and what works for Fresh Jess.

It's time to let go of taking on too much.

Let go of the fear of not being enough or having enough to change my course.

Let go of negative thinking.

Let go of thinking I don't have what it takes to pursue my dreams.

Let go of excuses.

Let go of the paralysis that comes with having too many tasks on my to-do list and not enough mind space to devote to the big picture of things.

Let go and get out of my own way.

Let go and get it!

Oh Beyonce, How I Admire Thee!

I was scrolling through my Instagram a couple weeks ago and saw this post from Dimepiece LA. I immediately fell in love with it and knew I had to share it with Jess, cause we all know she loves herself some Queen B!

It wasn't until this past weekend, that this quote really resonated with me. In the midst of all the exciting things that were happening and yet to come, I found myself uninspired, void of passion and in a rut. I realized I was at a point where I needed to make a move whether it be a career change, exploring internships, trying a new activity or even taking a vacation.

Random thoughts and personal goals had been weighing heavily on my mind and I thought to myself, "what's next and how can I possibly achieve it?" I looked back at this quote and it hit me.

I've got the same 24 hours in a day as Beyonce and look at all she's accomplished and done so far! With that time, I'm going to knock things off my list and continue to make things happen. Here's to getting back on track, staying inspired and focusing on what I love!

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Fresh Style: Le Voyager Coquette Raincoat by Elizabeth Roberts

The reason I mention Seattle weather so much is because it's so variable, you really never know what to expect on any given day. Earlier this spring, I was gifted with this amazing raincoat by local designer Elizabeth Roberts. I figured it'd be cloudy and possibly rainy the day I chose to take these photos (in early April) but of course, the weather gods decided to throw a beautiful sunny day our way instead. 

Elizabeth Roberts designs for the quintessential Seattle style-conscious in mind. She combines functional elements that are very tech-friendly with attention to detail and fabric that rivals the most coveted couture lines. This particular style, "Le Voyager Coquette," features a hidden hood, deep pockets that fit EVERYTHING, midi mitts, a forearm pocket and waterproof, breathable fabric. All of Elizabeth's jackets protect wearers from the invisible but real dangers of electromagnetic frequencies from cell phones via Elizabeth’s exclusive SMARTSHIELD pocket linings.

A native New Yorker now living in the Pacific Northwest, Elizabeth says:

“What I want more than anything, like so many women, is more time, so I created the first jackets to minimize the transitions in a woman’s life. Designs that could take me from a morning walk to midday meetings to a night out on the town, from nonstop rain to bright sunshine and everything in between. The result is what I call high yield, scalable fashion.”

Like so many others I enjoy writing about, Elizabeth also fuses style with philanthropy, focusing her efforts on the Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and early learning.

Special thanks to my aunt Penny for taking these photos! She's second from right, and we're here with my mom and sister.

Elizabeth Roberts 'Le Voyager Coquette' raincoat / Duro Olowu for JCPenney dress (similar) / Report Shoes coral wedges (similar) / TOMS sunnies

Aces Interview: Eddie Borgo via Nordstrom

Eddie Borgo recently launched his latest collection at Nordstrom with an appearance in their Downtown Seattle store. I love Borgo's aesthetic and style and was delighted to get some insight on the inner workings that eventually become fuel for his designs. Read on:

Who or what inspired you to be a jewelry designer?

I am specifically interested in the jewelry and adornment that we attribute to the different realms of NYC subculture; how and why a padlock around someone's neck can immediately establish their identity. My collection plays with the ideas we have of subculture, and then how those points of view trickle up into the luxury fashion market. My aesthetic has to do with this idea; it is high-end meets street.

What's your favorite piece you've designed so far?

Our cone bracelet; it has really become such an instantly recognizable piece for our brand - and also within the jewelry space today.

Who are some of your modern-day muses?

Our ad campaigns reflect who we see as modern-day muses. Each season, we photograph our friends as models. Past campaigns have included: Vanessa Traina (fall/winter 2009); Lauren Santo Domingo (spring/summer 2010); Kate Lanphear (f/w 2010); Giovanna Battaglia (s/s 2011);  Tabitha Simmons (f/w 2011); Cecilia Dean (s/s 2012); Alison Mosshart (f/w 2013); and Anja Rubik (s/s 2013.)

What's one of your favorite highlights in your career so far?

Winning the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, being awarded the CFDA/Swarovski Award for Accessory Design, and being awarded the Tiffany & Co. Development Grant - all within months of each other.

What's on your music playlist right now?

• David Bowie

• Iggy Pop

• Lou Reed

• The Rolling Stone

• Patti Smith

• The Kills

Describe your personal style.

Uniformed.

What are you reading?

I always seem to be reading a few books simultaneously. I recently started I Dreamed I was a Very Clean Tramp by Richard Hell and it's great!

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

We always have special projects in the works at the studio - I continue to be excited and inspired by the innovate, progressive development processes our team consistently realizes.

My concentration for the time being is spearheading our fine jewelry division.

Thank you! All images and video courtesy of Nordstrom, via The Thread blog.

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

Aces Interview: Ray Page

The Aces interview series are a little look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world.

Today, please meet Ray Page!

In the social media & tech scene here in Seattle, there are people who are at every meetup, Ignite talk, SMC event and more. Then there are others you never see, because their job has them being a full-time badass here, there and around the country.

Ray Page is the latter. Like so many others, I met him on Twitter and then in real life over happy hour with our dear friend Carrie. All I remember was laughing as hard as I've ever laughed before at the most random jokes the three of us were telling each other. Getting to know Ray since then has shown me he is every bit as creative, curious and passionate as he is hilarious. Anyone that knows Ray knows that he's incredibly fucking good at what he does (he's executive creative director of POSSIBLE's Seattle office.) I am personally grateful to Ray for believing in my future. He was one of the most instrumental figures in helping me find the confidence to pursue my dreams. Read on to see what inspires him:

What's on your playlist right now?

• Del the Funky Homosapien

• Kitten

• The National

• Pavarotti

• Biggie Smalls

• Nas

• Daft Punk

• Wu-Tang

• Rufus Wainwright

• Dinosaur Jr

• The Cure

• & The Smiths.

At any given time, these get me through the week. However, when I need to crank out a presentation deck or ideate around a concept, it’s continuous hip hop every single time.

Describe your style.

Understated, with clean lines. Simple, with mostly solids. I’m a sucker for details, so moods of norway, scotch & soda and nau are my sweet spots. I will never wear pants that resemble salt water taffy. Men, please stop that.

Who inspires you?

I have many, but they have shared traits.

I’m inspired by individuals who fearlessly pursue their passion.

The extremists. The makers. The ones who live without balance. The ones who go against the grain without any other objective except to be the best at what they do. The ones who are motivated only by their internal dialog and not by financial gain, awards or recognition.

Great dads inspire me. The ones who blossomed as people because of their kids. Those that get giddy recounting weekend stories with their children. Yeah, those guys.

What are you reading?

I mostly stick to industry publications; Monocle, Contagious, IDEA, CommArts and various websites. I’m currently reading Present Shock by Douglas Rushkoff, where he introduces the phenomenon of presentism. He shares thoughts around how the “future” we used to talk about pre-Y2K is happening now. And, frankly, how we’re not hard-wired to deal with living in the present. It impacts global economics, social economics and everything in between.

The next book in the cue is Finding Ultra by Rich Roll. He’s the epitome of one of the inspirational types described above. An extremist, who in 5 years went from an overweight middle aged man, to one of Men’s Health Magazine’s top 25 most fit men in the world.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

My 6 year old daughter choses not to pick a favorite of anything. She loves too many things. So, I’ll take her lead and mention all the things I’m excited about in the coming months.

Summer in Seattle. Zanny. The final episodes of Breaking Bad. Decatur. My daughter’s dance recital. Home renovations. raygr. Continued badassery the creative department produces. Dinner with friends. The Perfect Bite. Tennis lessons / tournaments.

Thank you!

Read all of my  Aces interviews here.

Kube 93 Summer Jam RECAP!

Have you ever found yourself just wanting to relive an amazing weekend? As I write this, that feeling has been running through my body since Saturday - the night of KUBE 93's Summer Jam. I couldn't have asked for a better venue, weather, line-up and group of friends to go with! (well, if Miguel was there it would've been perfect!) My friends and I decided to escape the city for a weekend in Eastern Washington and to enjoy the talents of Drop City Yacht Club, Wale, J.Cole, 2 Chainz, Trey Songz and the King, TI.

The whole day consisted of dancing, drinking a few cocktails and singing at the top of my lungs - my voice is shot by the way. This was by far one of the best outdoor concert experiences I've had! I want more!

A couple Summer Jam tidbits I'd like to share:

1. My left side of the body is darker than the other.

2. 2 Chainz has been in heavy rotation on my car playlist.

3. Crop tops and jean shorts were the "unofficial" outfit of Summer Jam.

4. Trey Songz is undoubtedly amazing live.

5. I wish I knew why 2 Chainz wore a long sleeve sweater in 85 degree weather.

I've posted a few pics below to recap the night!

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Aces Interview: Jaclyn Johnson

The Aces interview series are a little look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world.

Today, please meet Jaclyn Johnson!

L.A. is home to most of my favorite fashion bloggers. One of those is Jaclyn, whose Some Notes on Napkins blog I've been following for a couple of years now. The graphic design in her posts drew me into the blog, so it was no surprise to find out she'd founded a creative agency, There is No Subject. The hustlers who use their blog as the gateway to pursue their dreams are the best kinds of inspiration to have. Read on for what's lighting up Jaclyn's life right now:

What's on your playlist right now?

The new Jai Paul album is amazing. I also love Night Time Sound Desire, RHYE and Lorde.

Describe your style.

Consistently changing. Some days I feel like a good drop crotch and others a baby doll dress. I tend to stick to earth tones and simple silhouettes. so ever changing simplicity, maybe?

Who inspires you?

People who are loyal. There are very few people in this life that can pick you up when you are down and generally be on your team. I am lucky to be surrounded by amazing hard-working women and business owners that all lift each other. To name names, Alisa Leonard (French BK), Jasmine Takanikos (Jas Consulting Group), Geri Hirsch (leaftv), Jeanine Pesce (We Are Range) - they all have businesses but are creative geniuses as well and they consistently inspire me.)

What are you reading?

I just finished Contagious by Jonah Berger which was a great read. I also finished Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In between flights to NYC-- a must for any lady getting her hustle on.

What are you most excited about in the coming months? 

Create + Cultivate, my company's creative event series is hitting the road! We are hosting our first one in Portland on July 27th and another one in Brooklyn in late August. I am so excited for Portland as we are working with super dope brands like WildFang, Betsy and Iya and more! Plus the space we are hosting it in is like a creative playground.

Thank you!

Find Jaclyn at Some Notes on Napkins (her blog), There is No Subject (her agency) and Create + Cultivate (the event.)

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

Fit & Fresh: Tmber, The Pacific Northwest Hiking Guide

Living in the Pacific Northwest, you can't help but get outdoors and into nature for a good workout. Hiking in the many beautiful trails is one of the most popular outdoor workouts, with a plethora of options just a short drive out of Seattle or Portland. If you've been hiking in this area, you know how hard and time-consuming it can be to find a good trail. State and national park sites are text-heavy and hard to navigate, and most other trail-finding sites are just plain boring and uninformative. 

Enter the hiking guide & community for the digital natives. Hey Tmber!

Tmber caught my eye when they started following me on Twitter. A few weeks later, my boyfriend wanted to try a new trail with some water, scenery and challenge but that wasn't too far away from Seattle. I went to Tmber to peruse some routes and immediately fell in love.

Tmber is centered around making your entire hiking experience enjoyable and not a complete mystery. They know over 63% of the 2.7 million people who hike in the Pacific Northwest research routes online before heading out into the wilderness, and they've created a site and community that answers all the questions you might have (source.) Most sites will tell you how long, how far away and how challenging a trail is, but Tmber will also tell you if that trail is good for kids, what to pack, the nearest place to get some fuel after the hike (both for your body & your vehicle) and what to expect.

The absolute clincher for me was the fact they've got short, 90-second videos of their people hiking specific routes, and describing their experience along the way. Peep the one on Franklin Falls - that's the one we chose. So simple, yet so incredibly helpful! Now I won't feel like I'm wandering lost into the wilderness next time I want to try a new route.

Peep Tmber's site, but check out their fun Pinterest too. Tons of helpful resources for hikers everywhere.

How are you getting fit & fresh this summer? Any favorite trails you like to hike - in the Pacific Northwest or beyond?

Court’s Summer Essentials for 2013

EOS (Evolution of Smooth) lip balm

I am absolutely OBSESSED with this lip balm that I just got for my birthday! In general I cannot go a day, let alone an hour, without applying lip balm to keep my lips moisturized. I absolutely hate chapped lips, especially in the summer. It’s a must-have to protect your lips from the sunshine! Pick up this no-mess lip balm in a variety of flavors (mine is “Honeysuckle Honeydew”) from your local drug store for just $4.

Dolphin shorts

This is one of my favorite latest trends! This style of shorts is very casual (with its slightly athletic flair), yet stylish. I just picked up my first pair from the Buffalo Exchange in the U-District for only $10! But you can find dolphin shorts in an assortment of prints at Forever 21.

DIY crop top

Crop tops are an essential for summer – need I say more? How can you possibly go through summer in the sweltering heat without rockin’ a crop top?! I recently purchased a graphic tee (a white T-shirt with a black and white graphic of Tupac) off of eBay. I then DIY’d it so that there was a bow-like design on the back and I also fringed the hem of the shirt. Pair your DIY crop top with dolphin shorts for a chic summer look!

Simple bangles

All the celebs are workin’ this trend, from Kim Kardashian to Rihanna! This is such a simple look that all ladies can pull off this summer. Wear multiple bangles together and remember that the colors can be contrasting! Pair a couple of gold bangles with a rose gold one! I purchased a few open double-skull bangles on eBay and I also found a simple rose gold bangle from H&M.

Something neon

Neon has become so trendy rather than tacky – from a chartreuse-like neon green to a neon, highlighter pink! My favorite is the neon green look. Neon colors are so necessary for summer because of the shock factor that it brings to any look. I recently picked up a textured, chartreuse skater skirt from H&M (for only $17.95) that I am completely in love with! I paired my neon green skirt with a cream lace top to balance out the brightness.

(Almost knee-high) Gladiators

These sandals have been an on-and-off trend over the past couple of years but they’re back for this summer and you should all get a pair! The style that I’ve really come to love is the grid-like patterned, almost knee-high gladiators, which celebs such as, Kourtney Kardashian, have been seen wearing ‘em.

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Courtney Liu is a Hawaii native in the journalism program at the University of Washington. She loves clothes and styling herself and her friends. She hopes to pursue a career in public relations or in the fashion industry.

Find Courtney on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Aces Interview: Jessica Piha

The Aces interview series are a little look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world.---

Today in Aces, please meet Jessica Piha!

When Jess agreed to do an Aces interview for me, it felt right to either begin the month or end it with this pint-sized power chick. Jess and I met two years ago at an event. A few weeks later, we went out to lunch to talk blogging and PR, and our friendship's been flourishing ever since.

If you have the pleasure of knowing Jessica Piha, you'd join me in singing these same praises about her. Jess is one of the most supportive, giving people I have ever met. She's nice and sweet, sure, but don't underestimate her ferocity. We both started our own businesses last year, and though she had the skepticism and fear we all have when we're about to do something scary - she leapt right off into the world of entrepreneurism and hit the ground running. She's now one of the busiest publicists I know, and yet she always has time to spend with and be there for her support system. Life as an entrepreneur is much sweeter when you have a friend going through the same things. Thank you for always being a light and a friend, Jess.

What's on your playlist right now?

Country music. Rascal Flatts and The Dixie Chicks have really good break up songs. ;-)

Describe your style.

Pretty classic. 90% of my closet is Banana Republic and J.Crew. I generally wear a lot of stripes and nautical colors. Have taken a recent liking to C.Wonder. Minimal makeup (just mascara and Kari Gran lip whip and I’m ready to go) and I can’t enough pairs of Tods flats.

Who inspires you?

People who live with purpose and passion. My best friend Whitney, my friend Aimee, my client Marci Zaroff, every single female entrepreneur who is following their dream.

What are you reading?

The Rise & Fall of the Third Reich (book) and always my weekly New Yorker.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

Continuing to excel in my work and grow my business and personal brand, quality time with my incredible family, friends and dog Figgy, vacations to Napa Valley, Walla Walla, and my family summer home on Lopez Island, summer walks around Greenlake and dare I suggest, a little romance?

Thank you!

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

Aces Interview: Sayra Morán

The Aces interview series are a little look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world.

Today in Aces, please meet Sayra Morán!

One of the reasons I decided to continue the Aces series after 30 Fresh was so I could feature and also get to know people I admired but didn't know very closely already. Sayra was one of the first people to come to mind. We met almost two years ago at a Seattle event for Miir bottles but have only kept in touch over Twitter. We have a lot in common, which made it easy for me to think of her when I wanted to do more interviews. We have a shared love of sports, Georges St. Pierre, philanthropy, music and so much more. I'm looking forward to getting to know her more in the future!

What's on your playlist right now?

My playlist right now consists of Coachella sets and as usual, music to dance and work out to. A lot of:

• Eric Prydz

• Pete Tong

• Daft Punk

• Macklemore

• Calvin Harris

• Above and Beyond

• and Phoenix to name a few.

Describe your style.

I can always be found in skinny jeans or a skirt and tights, that I love to pair with print/screen tees and a colorful blazer. I love to wear black so I try to balance that by adding pops of color and statement jewelry. Can't wait for spring to start wearing dresses, shorts and tanks regularly though!

Who inspires you?

Tough question for me as I feel so many people in my life inspire me. My mom. The extremely-gifted author Paulo Coelho. My friends and family are all huge inspirations to me. I love to surround myself with people who are moving and shaking things up in their life, traveling, learning and loving, people who have passion and the drive to experience life and meet their goals.

What are you reading?

I just read the book Tuesdays with Morrie and loved it. The Prophet by Khalil Gibran is a recent read too and I was floored by its beauty. Next book on my reading list is The Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho. I am an article and blog post collector and am constantly perusing Twitter for new content to favorite and read in my down time.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

I'm really excited about my job that is constantly challenging me and pushes me to be a better businesswoman, traveling to Utah next month to see my family and friends, the new Daft Punk album and in keeping the positive energy going! 2013 has been a great time already and I'm excited to see what else comes my way.

Thank you! Follow Sayra on Twitter, Instagram and sporadically blogging at SayraGrissel.com.

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

Get Scattered.

I had the opportunity to check out a screening of Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. For someone who has gone to fashion school, I’m almost ashamed to say that I was never really familiar with Bergdorf Goodman. The only assumption I had was that it was a New York Department Store on 5th Ave that sold expensive things to rich folks. 

The documentary consists of collected footage that spans over about 1 ½ years. It includes a look into the store itself – the history, the employees, and the culture. Mixed in were numerous and hilarious interviews with designers that I absolutely adore; Marc Jacobs, Marchesa, and Karl Lagerfeld just to name a few. They shared their story of how they got into Bergdorf Goodman and how the road in wasn’t easy, in fact some designers still aren’t in yet! I was fascinated by all the stories shared and how iconic this store is and how it will be forever.

Although the film does jump all over the place, behind all the footage, there was a little story! It focused on the work of the Visual team at BG. (I feel so cool now saying BG, just like a true Nordstrom shopper says Nordys.) Viewers got to see the behind the scenes planning, preparation, and unveiling of their Holiday window displays. Unbelievably gorgeous! 

To sum it up, I now know Bergdorf’s is the best of the best! I would love to make a trip to NYC to see it for myself. If you want to get a dose of fashion or get a look into the BG world the film starts playing this Friday, May 24th at the Varsity Theatre in the U-District! 

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Aces Interview: Jammie Chasteen

The Aces interview series are a little look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world.---

Today in Aces, please meet Jammie Chasteen!

Jammie's whirlwind story brought her to Seattle for a short while. We met at another blogger's shopping party at Banana Republic, and kept in touch over Twitter. It wasn't until the week before she made a big move to L.A. that we finally sat down together for something longer than a passing conversation. All it took was a little happy hour to know that she and I would have a long-lasting friendship. Now, she's at the top of my list for people I absolutely have to see every time I'm in the City of Angels!

I adore Jammie's resilience and good spirit. I respect and admire Jammie's ever-evolving relationship with God and how it shapes her life. Though I am not very religious myself, I am a big believer that you should always be nurturing your spiritual self. Your spirit and energy are huge driving factors in your life, and how you deal with what happens to you. Jammie's got the strength and persistence of a true hustler, and I'm a fan of hers for that. Long story short, Jammie's move to L.A. was a fresh start to her next decade, and I am grateful to be her friend throughout a year or so of successes and lessons learned.

What's on your playlist right now?

Right now I have three in constant rotation:

• I'm obsessed with Maroon 5 after seeing them live.

• I listen to Hillsong United pretty much every morning.

• I'm a huge Frank Sinatra fan and love anyone in the jazz/easy listening/big band genre. Rain + wine + cooking + this playlist = perfection.

But generally, my music taste is all over the board and my playlist making skills are subpar. So I’m very thankful for Spotify and the fact that I can rely on playlists- not made by me.

Describe your style.

I'm a little New York and a lot L.A.

Give me a maxi dress and some sandals or yoga pants, flip flops and a tank any day. That's the basis of my wardrobe, especially since moving to SoCal. My style is definitely a reflection of my personality. Although I can be the easy- going/soft-spoken type, I also have an adventurous side and an unexpected edge. Cue my love of all black everything, studded anything and the highest of heels.

When I travel I am so inspired by my surroundings and the locals. I love layering when I'm in Seattle, dressing to the nines in Paris (I say that like I’ve been more than once), buying colorful jewels and scarves at the marketplace in Israel, and my studded over the knee Stuart Weitzman boots go with everything I pack for New York. When in Rome...

Overall, I have fun dressing for the occasion. I don't take fashion too seriously and I almost always wear a bright pink lip. It's my “signature”. Or something like that?

Who inspires you?

My friends and family, I am surrounded by amazing people and I try to learn something from each one of them. My parents taught me the power of love. They've been married over 30 years and raised 7 kids. If they know how to do one thing in life, it's how to love. Side note: I just sang the Lil Wayne song while typing. Guilty. I digress… My siblings have taught me to laugh more, be me, and not take myself so seriously. My friends have pushed me to be better all around. Some setting examples of healthy living, some live so full of faith it just amazes me, some living their dreams and making things happen, others are such selfless humans who would give anything to anyone who needed it. My friends who take risks, my family who has taken me in when I needed to start over in life and everyone who lives life to the fullest. My best friend, Melissa, has lived out the definition of a true friend. I really don’t know if there’s anything much more inspiring than that. And you, Jess, are an inspiration to chase dreams, make your passion your work, and keep on hustlin baby.

What are you reading?

As with the playlists, my ADD brain cannot grasp the concept of reading A book! I've always got at least 5 on my iPad. A mix of learning and fun reads. Right now a few are: The Great Gatsby, Jesus Is ____., and Super Rich (for the second time). If you tell me that you are going through a hard time in life, chances are that I will recommend a book to you. I’m THAT girl. Got a problem, need advice, going on vacation? There’s a book for that!

I can't get enough of the TED talks. They really come in handy during my morning commute. L.A. traffic is much more bearable when listening to these passionate, positive and driven speakers. My most recent favorite was Aliza Licht, aka DKNY PR girl. She played a major part of my Twitter story and how I became a stylist.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

I’m just REALLY excited for life in general. It’s been a roller coaster since turning 30 (see her 30 post here.) The past few years have been rough, yet character refining. You find out who you are in the valley and now that I’m closer to the mountaintop I’m ready to live life 100% authentically for the first time in a long time. I’ve accumulated the best group of friends and gotten closer to my family. Now I’m enjoying just doing life with every single one of them. Since moving to LA, everything has been an adventure and I never know what will happen next. One moment I’m styling for an editorial shoot and the next I’m riding to lunch in a helicopter, front row at a concert or just chatting over coffee with a celeb… no big deal. My new favorite saying is: Only In LA! I’m so thankful for everything happening and my heart is so full of love it could burst. I hope to get back into blogging and styling within the next few months, so that’s exciting too. But whatever happens happens and I’ll be here to make the best of it.

Thank you!

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

Aces Interview: Nohe Ka

The interview series I started last month during 30Fresh has resonated so well with readers that I've decided to extend the series indefinitely! From now on, these interviews will be a look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world. To see all of these interviews, look for the Aces tag.

Today in Aces, please meet one third of my Pretty Gang and one of the most beautiful island girls I've ever seen, Nohe Ka!

Let's talk about how I was too intimidated by Nohe when I first met her to even have a straight conversation with her. Imagine a tall, gorgeous Hawaiian athlete girl strolling around Niketown. Then imagine a tiny, awkward Filipino college girl just trying to make a living dressing mannequins in the same store. Though Nohe's known my best friend Paula their whole lives, I never really talked to her much until recently. Thank you once again to based God & Twitter!

Nohe is the picture of how to make single motherhood life look effortless while having and doing it all. She holds down a stellar job at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and raises her young daughter to be just as well-rounded as she is, while staying close with her parents & brother, and regularly entertaining fun dance parties and nights out with Paula and I. OH and don't get me started on her cooking skills. Chicken adobo, spam musubi, all that. I feel like I can't go a week without seeing my two favorite island girls, and glad to have a forum for you all to meet them.

What's on your playlist right now?

Major Lazer, Major Lazer, Major Lazer. Ever since their concert in March that’s 90% of what I’m listening to, the other 10% is Miguel. The How Many Drinks Remix with Kendrick Lamar is everything!

Describe your style.

I think my style is diverse, my friends have also said sophisticated MILF. I absolutely LOVE accessories - from scarves, jewelry, watches and of course handbags. Louis Vuitton will always be a weakness of mine. I’m usually in black, always in heels and will pay a small fortune for a good white tee.

Who inspires you?

My boo, Anuhea and my parents. They all put perspective in my life and keep me grounded. Anu makes me want to be a better person and brings laughter to my life every day. My parents are great role models and I feel like I’m a combination of both. My dad is stern and intimidating. My mom is smart, kind and considerate. The #1 thing they’ve taught me is loyalty.

What are you reading?

I’ve been reading a lot of nonprofit benchmarking reports for work, Fresh Jess (this month’s posts are my 7am highlight I look for on the train) and any YouTube videos you or Paula send me. Ha!!

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

There are a lot of exciting things going on for me at work now and in the coming months. Two big things in my work life right now are Project Violet and Obliteride. Project Violet is an inspired grassroots project to allow people in the community to “adopt-a-drug” for $100 and follow that drug through the research process. Obliteride is our new annual bike ride taking place August 9-11. What’s unique about this ride, besides the picturesque routes, is that 100% of every dollar will go directly to the research at Fred Hutch. It’s exciting because we’re trying new strategies to offset the drop in government funding due to sequestration. Oh! And highlight of the summer will be Hawaii in July for my family reunion. We’ll be spending time on the Big Island and Honolulu. No doubt I’ll be eating the entire time.

Thank you!

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

A #KINDawesome Time at The Color Run Seattle 2013

What better way to get fit & fresh on a Sunday than "The Happiest 5k on the Planet?" 

KIND Snacks invited me to be one of their #KINDawesome correspondents at The Color Run Seattle on Sunday, and what an experience it was. While the Run is more about having a blast while getting blasted with color than any measure of athleticism, I still got a great workout in. I also met some great people and we made quite the fashion statement all over Seattle Center and downtown. It was my first time doing a 5k for real (I'd actually done PAWSwalk a couple of times, but we never walk the full route b/c we'd always had a bulldog with us!) Here's how it went!

How many 5ks you know have a whole weekend check-in party before it even starts?

The Color Run took over the Seattle Center Pavilion on Friday and Saturday so we could pick up our packets early. Music blasting, tutu-buying, and packet passing all around.

It was a cloudy but humid Seattle Sunday morning. Perfect weather for a run!

Hangin' with the KIND team before lining up for the race:

Prepping for the afterparty:

Got my sunnies on, headphones in, Spotify playlist of songs I'm currently obsessed with on repeat, and iPhone securely tucked away.

Here we go!

To be honest, I wanted to take photos during the race but after getting blasted in the first Color Zone, decided it was against my better judgment to do so. Oh, and for those of you who are wondering: there are four Color Zones during the Run, where teams of Color Run volunteers are ready to blast you with color. Never fear, though - it's just corn starch in squirt bottles, so no harm done to your physical or emotional well-being :)

This was right after I'd finished the Run.

I've got a good amount of color all over me, but can use some more....

After the Run, everyone congregated back in the main staging area for a giant party. Every 10 minutes or so, the party turned into a Color Throw session, where we'd throw even more color into the air and all over each other!

The-Color-Run-Seattle

Finished product. Lookin' like the human version of Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know" video!

Ever so grateful to KIND for giving me this opportunity!

One for the road :)

Peep all my photos on the Fresh Jess Facebook page. If you're looking for an easy segue into the world of 5ks, or one to do with family or friends, I'd definitely recommend signing up for The Color Run. Head over to TheColorRun.com and sign up for their email list to see when they'll be in your town next - they sell out real fast! Thanks again, KIND!

Aces Interview: Kelly Ogilvie

The interview series I started last month during 30Fresh has resonated so well with readers that I've decided to extend the series indefinitely! From now on, these interviews will be a look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world. To see all of these interviews, look for the Aces tag.

Today in Aces, please meet a dear friend and true hustler, Kelly Ogilvie!

I've known Kelly for almost ten years now, and he's been an incredible role model for me and so many others since. He's like a big brother I didn't know I had! I met him for the first time while I was an intern at the Downtown Seattle Association and he was serving on former Mayor Greg Nickels' team. Less than a year later, we both ended up at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, where he served as Director of Government Relations and I served as the Chamber's events director. He left the Chamber to found Blue Marble Energy with a focus on turning algae blooms into a renewable fuel source. He's now working on another startup, Quemulus (read more in his interview) and on Social Milli, a social media consultancy.

Having met him when I was maybe 22, I couldn't comprehend how someone just a little older than me was accomplishing so much and yet had his eye on leaving an even greater impact on the world. I admire his passion for giving back to his community, on a local and global level, changing the world for the better. Don't be surprised if you see Kelly on the stage at TED or the World Leaders' Summit someday, because I sure won't. I can say that Kelly has always been someone for me to look up to, and any success I have has been fueled by seeing the things he's done in just a few short years.

What's on your playlist right now?

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Can't Hold Us". I love the song because it has an aspirational quality to it. That, and the fact that at the end of his video he lands on the Space Needle and hoists a flag. He reps so hard for Seattle; how can you not get behind that?

Describe your style.

My parents subscribed to the Cary Grant school of fashion and instilled some basic ideas:

1. Buy a few nice things you can afford, not lots of things, and;

2. A man should wear the suit, the suit shouldn't wear the man.

So I'd say my style is professional-casual. Devil wears Chucks. Blazer and blue jeans with a timepiece. Minimal bling.

Who inspires you?

Neil DeGrasse Tyson. He's an astrophysicist who's dedicated his life to making science accessible and exciting for people. He's a great story teller and makes a compelling case for scientific literacy.

What are you reading? 

I just finished the book Ender's Game. A movie based on it is coming out this year (w Harrison Ford), and I have to say it's one of the best fiction books I've ever read. It's set in a dystopian future where young kids are genetically engineered to be geniuses, and used to fight in wars. The book has a twist that you just don't see coming. Highly recommend it.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

Quemulus (cue-mu--lus, like the cloud) launches is a few months! We're going to provide an easy (and free) way for people to save, send & receive money. The goal is to make money an extension of our social networks, and to give people an alternative credit option. For example, if someone doesn't want to go to a bank or apply for a credit card, they can go to their network with Quemulus to raise $$. June is the target launch date! Quemulus.com is the signup page for BETA users.

Thank you!

Read all of my  Aces interviews here.

Life as Creative Director of TEDxUofW (Contributor Post)

*Please meet Emilee Goo, my fifth and final new contributor to Fresh Jess! Emilee will wax poetic on Seattle, travel, college life and more. She recently served as creative director for the TEDxUofW conference. Read on to see what her experience was like, and peep her bio at the end of this post. Enjoy!

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A week ago, a student organization I'm a part of, TEDxUofW, hosted our second annual event on the University of Washington campus here in Seattle. It was without a doubt one of the most inspirational days to have come out of this campus. I wish more students could have attended. We heard from nine speakers all with varied backgrounds and stories to tell, some of which were current undergraduates, faculty and alumni. Somehow everyone was connected not only to this fine establishment but for a bigger and brighter cause. To purely spread ideas worth knowing. The entire concept behind TED itself is "Ideas worth spreading". It seems so simple yet so empowering and can really go beyond your imagination and yourself.

Being a part of this opportunity and taking on the creative director position has made this entire rollercoaster of an experience worthwhile. It truly astonishes me how incredibly smart young people can be. Three years into my undergrad career, I've realized the capacity we, the young and creative "potentials" have from turning someone's day through random acts of kindness like buying a random person a coffee, creating an ingenious organization to better your community or why not, just create a start-up out of your 10x10 square foot dorm room. Having surrounded myself with such positive and bright people has made me realize how incredibly blessed I am to have what I do have.

Days before the event, while talking with some friends on our way to pick up some last minute items at my favorite store (Costco), it hit me how we were able to hustle our asses off in putting together this event. With a hardcore group of rad people, we collectively came up with sponsors, speakers, our own website, the aesthetics of the room, the center piece cut outs, the lighting, the audio, the video and even the swag bags. We, us measely ol' students, had the capacity to truly accomplish such an amazing day to spread ideas worth knowing.

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Emilee Goo is an aspiring creator and adventurer living in Seattle, WA. She's currently a senior at the University of Washington double-majoring in communications and interdisciplinary visual arts. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but is Seattle-grown and Hawaiian at heart. She has had past experience working with Nectar Communications, State Farm Insurance, TEDxUofW, UW PRSSA and BSSP. She is a fashion enthusiast thriving on travel, food, culture, art and photography. She loves to blog ever since she discovered blogging with a friend during her high school years, and is now introduced to a whole new world filled with creative people. She loves sharing her interests over at her own blog, Life of Goobers.

Aces Interview: Steven Severin

The interview series I started last month during 30Fresh has resonated so well with readers that I've decided to extend the series indefinitely! From now on, these interviews will be a look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world. To see all of these interviews, look for the Aces tag.

Today I have the honor of sharing with you a Seattle's "Rainmaker." Meet Steven Severin!

If you've ever enjoyed a show or a night out on Capitol Hill (and probably many other places in the city), most likely Steven Severin had something to do with it. His Neumos / Barboza / Moe Bar / Pike St. Fish Fry establishments are arguably the heart of Seattle's nightlife, steady beating lively for over 20 years (Severin is also part of the team behind Li'l Woody's.) Certainly that block has come to be the center of activity on the Hill. I've always had indirect connections to Severin - I knew of him but I didn't know him. I figured we'd meet one day at one of his venues or at City Arts Fest, which he also oversaw for the past three years. Funny enough, we meet one sunny Saturday when I'm watching my friend Sara's store, SPUN Sustainable Collective and he stops into Porchlight Coffee next door for his usual coffee & chat with Porchlight owner Zack Bolotin. As fellow Seattle die-hards and consistent supporters of local small businesses, I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. I loved getting to know Steven through this short interview, and hope you enjoy too:

What's on your playlist right now?

My playlist is kind of funny actually. There's two ways that I generally listen to music. When I'm walking around  (I walk pretty much everywhere), I listen to what's on my iTunes. I decided at the beginning of the year that I was going to listen to every track in alphabetical order. I'm currently in the G's. The last 5 tracks were: Erykah Badu, The Weeknd, Fucked Up, Charles Bradley, and The Black Keys. What's coming up is: William Elliot Whitmore, Kanye, My Morning Jacket, Black Flag, and The Maldives.

The other thing I do is listen to everything new on Spotify. If I listen to it at least twice, then I'll buy it. Right now that's Shuggie Otis, Alice Russell, Melvins, Daughter, and Trinidad James. I'm about to go on a Slayer marathon as I just found out that Jeff Hanneman passed away yesterday. I'm crushed. I've seen them more times than almost any band. The Melvins, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Hush Harbour are up there with having seen 25+ times too.

Describe your style.

My style is "the sneakers always match the shirts."  Other folks may not think it's matching, but my color scheme can be different than others. My wife thinks I'm colorblind. Probably am a little bit. I think pink and green is a great color combo. Don't you?

Who inspires you?

Inspiration is a funny thing to me. I know this is kind of cliche to say, but the Dalai Lama inspires me. I have a book called the Path to Tranquility which gives you a small way to think about the world or yourself every day. I read it each day and try and keep that idea in mind. I struggle to be a better person every single day. I'm a lot better than I used to be, but in this world it's tough. Lots of hate out there. I do just do my best to avoid that shit.

One person that I do look up to in this city is Tim Keck, publisher of The Stranger.

I was at a Stranger Holiday party and then writer Christopher Frizzelle said that Tim was the guy that he hopes he grows up to be. I thought he was joking and I started to defend Tim when I found out he was serious, I said I do too. If you don't know the man, he's one of the best.

What are you reading? 

As far as books, let's see: I just finished Casual Vacancy a week or so a go which was pretty good. Just started the Girl who Played with Fire, the second in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I'm totally hooked. I'm also reading the new book by the guy who wrote The White Tiger (Aravind Adiga.)  Really good book. My favorite authors right now are Gary Shtyengart and Murakami. I guess I can't really get enough of Dave Eggers either. What is the What was kind of a life changing book for me. I love to read. Wish I had more time for it.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

I'm excited about having more time. I've recently hired a new assistant, which is giving me more time to have fun. I stopped doing City Arts Fest this year after 3 years, which is kind of awesome even though a little sad. It was basically a full-time job that I did while I have all my other day and night jobs. I am really focusing on less work and more fun. Of course, there's always a couple irons in the fire with consulting etc., but trying not to take on any more 40 hour a week gigs. Ha ha.

Thank you!

Read all of my Aces interviews here.