Luxur Lux Magazine| Issue 6 | November 2018

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A L E X A N D R E A G A R Z A | Y O U T U B E N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 I S S U E 6

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HUSTLE FOR THE PRETTY THINGS IN LIFE

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EDITOR'S NOTE We are now on our sixth issue of Luxur Lux Magazine and I am blessed and grateful for every reader. As we close out the year with our December issue being the last of our monthly timeline, we will now transition into bimonthly. We want to give our readers more fashion features, quality interviews and produce one of the most beautiful magazines in the world akin to a coffee table book, proudly displayed in the most beautiful hotels, homes and businesses.

Our November issue features our cover girl Alexandrea Garza, which is the reveal of our new cover design. We are excited to share how Alex was able to build her YouTube career and grow as a mega influencer.

I hope this issue makes you dream and inspires you to follow your passions.

Angela Brickley Founder & Editor-in-Chief

LUXURLUXMAG.COM // @LUXURLUXMAG

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Founder & Editor-in-Chief Angela Brickley

Managing Editor Ava Hawkins Contributing Editor Yalda Kazemi Contributing Editor Lori Granded Digital/PrintMarketing Director Avery Mitchell

EDITORIAL CONTACT INFORMATION Luxur Lux is published monthly For advertising please email | info@luxurluxmag.com www.luxurluxmag.com

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Inside YOUR GUIDE TO ISSUE 6

14 Alexandrea Garza Alexandrea shares her story on how she built her businesses and manages motherhood all while balancing her day-to-day.

24 Chigozie Ohanele Chigozie shares how she turned her blogging business into a full-time career and balances her career as a nurse practitioner.

31 Ali & Daryl Zweben Ali and Daryl, popular food blogger sisters, and now authors, share how they've built their successful businesses.

38 Dr. Charlene Lawson Dr. Charlene Lawson is not only a Ph.D. Chemist, but she is a wardrobe stylist to the modern woman. Her goal is to help women cultivate a sense of style that feels natural and effortless Issue 6 | 5

There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise

High shine is one of those looks that can be worn as a statement piece to any look. This look can be paired with a bold or soft color to give contrast to the texture of any look.

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Fendi Vinyl Trench Coat $5400 net-a-porter.com

MSGM Vinyl Trench $802.58 italist.com

Image Source: Harpers Bazaar

Fall/Winter Fashion Trends Calvin Klein Beige High Shine Trench $1157 farfetch.com

Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini High-Waist Patent Pants $585.23 stylebop.com These glossy black patent pants are a directional choice from Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini. A higher cut on the waist makes them flattering

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Tweed brings a little sophistication to your wardrobe

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Frayed tweed blazer $2645 net-a-porter.com

Gucci Tweed Cardigan $4500 matchesfashion.com

Image Source: Vogue

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T inA r e dn lam ntirP Rixo London Tiger Print Ruffled Dress $846.70 farfetch.com

Image Source: fashion-to-go

Nili Lotan Leopard-print silk-satin maxi dress $695 net-a-porter.com

Forget about what you've heard, that leopard is over done in New Jersey.

Zebra, leopard and snake skin was all down the 2018 runway, so enjoy all the animal print that you want.

Snake Print Circle Beltbag - Animal Print $42.31 stories.com ALEXANDRE BIRMAN Amaliah python mules $995 net-a-porter.com

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tnirPdnerT d i alP

SELF-PORTRAIT Checked felt coat $567.94 italist.com FENDI Kan I woven leather shoulder bag $2690 farfetch.com

Balenciaga Bb Houndstooth Ankle Boots $1327.27 italist.com

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ELLERY Alvar checked velvet flared pants $3495 net-a-porter.com

W i T d r nde eL e g P tsna

They're comfortable leg-elongating, as well as elegant and fashion forward; depending on how you style them.

SEMSEM PlissĂŠlamĂŠ wide-leg pants $1095 net-a-porter.com

BELLA FREUD Bianca cottoncorduroy wide-leg pants $575 net-a-porter.com

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SIT WITH WINNERSÂ THE CONVERSATIONS WILL BE DIFFERENT

Alexandrea Garza YouTube Star & Girlboss

By: Ava Hawkins Meet Alexandrea Garza, a mega beauty and fashion YouTuber and the owner of an online women’s clothing and accessory shop. Read Alex's interview to learn more about how her passion turned into her business.

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hen did you start your business(s) and tell us the story behind your brand?

I've always known I would own my own business and I've always been into beauty/fashion. I just didn't know what that business would be! Throughout my teens and early 20's I definitely thought it would be something more traditional like owning a salon, makeup store or freelance business. I started my youtube channel as a hobby in 2011. I just wanted to share what I knew with a larger audience so I knew this would be the best way to do it.

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Once I saw a little success I knew I had a chance to really turn it into a great business. It's always great when your passion and your hobby can turn into your income. My channels always evolve as I change and find new things I love. I really got into fashion and started creating a lot of content around the topic. Good To Be was a just a natural next step for me! I wanted to get into the fashion industry in a way that would really fit well with the brand I had already built.

"IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN YOUR PASSION AND YOUR HOBBY CAN TURN INTO YOUR INCOME." Why did you decide to start your business?

I first found youtube when they were still pretty new in 2005-2006. Around this time is when I also started to really get into beauty. After high school I went directly into cosmetology school. Once I started working in the industry I quickly realized that one of my biggest passions was actually sharing my knowledge, tips and tricks. I had always watched youtube so I knew that would be the best place for me to start sharing my content. I made videos as a hobby while I worked as a makeup artist. After a few years I knew that creating content was exactly what I wanted to do so I decided to take the jump. I went down to part time at my day job so I could spend as much time as possible creating content, coming up with new ideas and working with brands. My channel was gaining some success but nothing huge. It all changed when I got engaged in February 2014. I was searching youtube for wedding planning videos and found nothing. I knew there had to be other girls looking for videos on how to plan their wedding so I started my own series called Wedding Belles. I made videos every month about my wedding planning journey. My channel blew up from this series. I think I went from 30 or 40k subscribers in February to 100k by July of 2014. I had really started to build a community on my channel. These videos showed you an inside look into my relationship, wedding and life. People were invested and wanted to keep coming back to see how the wedding turned out.

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Because of the success on that series we decided to start our second channel, Alex and Michael. When I first started my channels, youtube was a lot different than it is today.

However, the model I did to build my following is the same today. I try to create a community. A place where women can come, tune in to my videos and gain inspiration to create a life they love. Whether that be through beauty, style, business, motherhood, health, etc. It's a safe place where we can all share our struggles and successes together and lift each other up! I knew that when the time was right I wanted to create my own brand. Then I realized that the "right time" was never going to come on its own. So I just picked a day on the calendar and decided that would be our launch day. I gave myself about 10 months to build Good To Be and get it ready for the public. Michael and I had zero experience in ecommerce or fashion. We researched like crazy and put a great team together. That business is definitely a huge passion of mine and to see it finally come to life is still crazy everyday! But I'm still learning and make mistakes everyday. I have so many ideas and things I want to do with Good To Be, 2019 is going to be so exciting!

What does your current business model look like?

So one of my biggest goals for 2018 was to delegate, ask for help and find a great team. Once I became a mom I knew something had to give. I couldn't keep working the hours I do and enjoy life with him. So we have a small team that really helps out with a lot of our daily tasks. Within our youtube business I try to really stay on the creative side. I spend most of my time coming up with video ideas, shooting content and working with brands on campaigns. I'm an ambassador for the makeup brush line Eco Tools so I spend a lot of time everyday creating content for them and working with their products. For Good To Be my role is similar. I try to spend most of my time working on new ideas, buying and designing. However, because we're such a small team I help out in every area. Sometimes I'm packing an order, modeling for an upcoming launch, designing the website, customer service etc. As the owner I have to know how to do every role within the company if I'm needed.

What is your dream-level goal for your business?

My biggest goal is to inspire women all over the world to create a life they love. I would love to see fashionable women wearing Good To Be while building and living their dream life! Being able to influence women in a positive way and support each other is always my goal. I also really love connecting one on one with other women as well. So I would love to see the Good To Be team expand and have multiple offices and locations.

Being able to employ women, help them start their journey in this industry and share my knowledge and advice is something I would love to do on a larger scale!

"MY BIGGEST GOAL IS TO INSPIRE WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD TO CREATE A LIFE THEY LOVE." I see that you and Michael work a lot together. How is it working with your husband?

Working with Michael was such a natural fit and it's the best! Towards the end of 2015, I was ready to hire an employee. Michael was unhappy in his career and I could see the effect it was having on him and our relationship. I'm a big believer in enjoying your career because it's such a massive part of your life. We took a risk and he quit his job to come on full time. We've never looked back and it was the best decision we ever made. I would have never found someone as invested as him or someone I could trust as much. He had no experience with film, photography or editing but learned so fast! Something people don't know is that he's worked with a couple other small channels and helped them to grow their channels. He always wants to see others succeed and grow. Of course, there are times where we argue or disagree at work but luckily we are able to move on from it fast and never take it personally or take it into our relationship. What you see on our vlog channel is exactly how we are in real life. We spend every day together, we're always laughing and having fun while working hard!

Talk us through what your typical day looks like.

7:30 Wake up, Get Julian ready for the day. Feed him and play with him! 8:30 Coffee Meeting with Michael. This is our tradition that we do every morning. Drink our coffee together while we plan out our to-do list and talk about what we want to accomplish that day or week. 9:00-5:00 Monday, Friday and Sunday Morning- Filming days! We will go over our ideas for the video, set up the shot, hair, and makeup, pull product etc.

Then we shoot the video! This can take an hour or it can take days. It depends on what we're shooting and what the rest of our day looks like.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays I spend most of the day on the computer, in meetings or on phone calls. I meet with my staff at least once a day to go over ideas and keep everyone on track and the same page. I spend a lot of time buying and designing for the store. For our youtube channels, I will edit videos, work on SEO, marketing, video or phone meetings with brands, agencies, youtube partner manager, etc.

We are so lucky that my mom and sister love to come over a couple times during the week and play with Julian while I get work done. It helps me be able to be fully present and get work done!

5:00-7:00 On Tuesdays and Thursdays we put out new videos! So those couple hours before the video goes live we're always finalizing last minute details. Getting social posts ready, finishing up the video tags, etc. On Sundays, we launch new arrivals on the store. We're always on the site making sure our newsletter is ready, inventory is set and everything looks great! We are usually doing all of this while we're on the go.

Most of this can be done on our phone or a laptop. So I can be playing with Julian, making dinner, getting household stuff done and doing this in between! 7:00 The video or launch goes live! This is the best time of the day. I love hearing peoples reaction about the new content and seeing the engagement. It makes me feel like its all worth it!

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting?

Get out of your way! It's so easy to let fear of failure and nerves take over and stop you from going after what you want. I heard that whenever you get that nervous feeling in your stomach it means whatever is about to happen is important to you. So now whenever I get that butterfly feeling I get excited! It usually ends up being a significant turning point in my career. The bigger the risk the biggert the reward!

Having a creative a career can come with challenges, but how do you manage to stay inspired and come up with new and innovative ideas?

Two things always inspire me! The first is getting out and being around other creative people. Hearing other peoples stories, talking about new ideas, and even just venting. Issue 6 | 18

Having a community of like-minded peers is so inspiring! The second is traveling, especially to NYC. Something about being in that city is so inspiring. Just to see everyone doing their own thing and not caring about what others think it always motivates me! There is something magical about NYC, I love it and try to visit as often as possible. Michael and I have thought about living there many times, maybe one day will get a little apartment or something that we can stay at when we visit!

What is it like managing several businesses and being a mother to your baby boy, Julian?

I've got to be honest. It's tough and something that I wasn't prepared for. When it was just Michael and I we could work from 7 am to 2 am and have fun the whole time. We love our business so it doesn't feel like work a lot of the time. We knew having a baby would change our whole world but I don't think we realized just how much time we did spend working.Â

Once Julian was a couple months old I realized that what we were doing wasn't working. I wasn't able to give 100% to anything because I was just trying to keep up. I started having my mom or sister come 2 days a week and watch him. I also hired a lot of new employees. That way I can focus on the big picture and being creative and they can help me with daily tasks and things that I don't have time for. This has helped SO much! Now I know on those 2 days I can crank it out and get as much done as possible. That way when I'm done I can give him my full attention. I don't want to be on my phone or laptop in front of him. I love spending as much time as possible with him and don't want to miss anything! But my business is significant to me so it's always hard to find that balance. It's something I'm still trying to figure out. To be honest I don't know the right answer. I just try to be present in whatever it is that I'm doing and set a good example for him! Being a mom to him is the best thing that ever happened to me, I fall more in love with him every day!

What's next for your businesses?

We're excited to be doing some live events as well.

We want to create that community feeling and connect with our viewers one on one. Women can come to learn about fashion, beauty, life, and health.

It'll be a great chance to network and have a fun girls night out! Good To Be will be expanding into more than clothes. Keep an eye out for beauty and home decor!

Fun Facts About Alex

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Why? Some people might not like this answer but Kim Kardashian or Kylie Jenner. They grew social media and "influencing" into what it is today. They used their influence to create huge brands! I find what they do so exciting and I would love to pick their brain about business. Even though some of the things they do, post or wear might be considered controversial, I have a lot of respect for them.

What is your favorite type of food?

Anything sweet! Donuts, cookies, candy. Give me all the sugar!

What is your favorite skincare product right now?

Brazilian Bum Bum Cream! It's this fantastic cream that smells like a tropical vacation and makes your skin feel and look so smooth and soft.

What is your favorite travel destination?

If I want a relaxing beach vacation then definitely Maui. Michael and I love renting a little convertible and driving up the coast. Just listening to music, talking and taking in the view. It is so inspiring and beautiful!

What does your workspace look like, and what is one thing we would find on your desk every day?

I have a gorgeous home office that I spent a long time decorating and making it feel inspiring. But for some reason, I always end up working at the kitchen table! That way I can play with Julian, make lunch, and always be at the center of the home. Our employees work from our house a lot too so I like to be right there when anyone needs me. I'm crazy about always having different drinks. So you will always find a lemon water, coffee and one or two other drinks at my desk.

Depending on my mood it could be a diet coke, a glass of wine or a green juice.

Where can people find you?

They can find my fashion and beauty channel on youtube under Alexandrea Garza and our family vlogging channel under Alex and Michael. I'm always on IG and IG stories too @AlexandreaGarza Don't forget to check out our women's clothing store @shopgoodtobe and shopgoodtobe.com

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Slouch Boots ALEXANDRE BIRMAN Anna leather knee boots $1125 net-a-porter.com

Slouchy knee boots have been on our radar for the season since they were first spotted on trendsetters like Gilda Ambrosio

GIANVITO ROSSI Laura 85 leather knee boots $1625 net-a-porter.com

HOTTEST BOOTS FOR THE SEASON

AQUAZZURA Gainsbourg suede knee boots $1295 net-a-porter.com

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MIU MIU Leather boots $990 net-a-porter.com

Combat Boots

Image Source: Getty

MARC JACOBS Crosby textured-leather ankle boots $465 net-a-porter.com

ALAĂ?A 135 leather ankle boots $1550 net-a-porter.com Issue 6 | 21

Take the time to sit and watch the beauty of this world

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BLOGGER INSPOÂ WHY WE LOVE JEANNE GREY'S INSTAGRAM PHOTOS?

WOMAN ON THE GO & WORKING MOM Nurse Practitioner turned Entrepreneur, Lifestyle Influencer & soon to be mom By: Lori Granded Photography: @luvangelamariestudio Location: The Dry Bar - Sugar Land

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hat is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

The ability and autonomy to be creative, do what I am passionate about and use my knowledge, talent, and resources to solve people’s problems and make a positive impact on their lives.

Who or what inspires you to chase your dreams?

God inspires me. The realization of Gods unconditional love for me, abundant grace and blessings empower me to be my best self and maximize all my potential. By knowing who I am, I know that there are no limits to how big I can dream, how much I can accomplish and how many people I can touch with my life.

The beauty of life, nature and all of Gods creation most especially my family and friends who have always supported me and the women who have come before me and have been trailblazers like my mom, grandmother, Princess Diana, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Kyrzayda and many more.

Why did you decide to start your own business?

I started my lifestyle, media and consulting company “Chigi’s World, LLC,” because I wanted the freedom to use various talents, be creative and do all the things I love. In my company, I’m able to serve in different roles as a content creator, stylist, designer, creative director, host, speaker, coach and consultant on life, style, beauty, health, and business.

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I also wanted the autonomy to run my own business without having limits to what I could do, how far I could rise, whom to hire, what type of culture I could implement or how much money I could make. My goal has always been to maintain a balanced, healthy, happy, flexible, fun and financially free life. I want to be able to spend more quality time with my family while I still fulfill my purpose of making a positive impact on peoples lives and build up my community.

What is your dream-level goal for your business?

My goal is to have a multi-million dollar empire with hundreds of employees that is based on the principles of truly helping people find their voice, strengths, style, talents, and purpose.

Our purpose is never just about us, but to serve others and make the world a better place. I want my business to be leaders in showing people how to do this through the products and services I provide.

What does your current business model look like?

Initially it was a one-woman show with the support of my husband because I wanted to minimize cost but I’ve learned that at some point, if you want your business to grow, reach more people, and make more money; you have to spend money, build a team and set up business structures that will help you meet your clients needs, manage and scale your business effectively and efficiently.

As a growing business, I have staff that is part-time, which consists of a virtual assistant, photographer, videographer, business consultant, lawyer, accountant, web designer, SEO expert, and database administrator.

Also as a business, our highest priority is all about building authentic relationships within our community, which includes our team and clients, to meet their needs and realize their highest potential.

Talk us through what your typical day looks like.

My typical day starts with me doing my "lifesavers" which is spending time in silence and prayers, meditating, daily affirmations, doing my visualization activities, exercise and then either read my bible or devotional or listen to an inspirational podcast and music while journaling. This gets my mind, body, and spirit aligned and ready for the day.

FUN FACTS ABOUT CHIGI

What celebrity would you love to have dinner with?

Omg! I have a good amount of people I’d love to have a conversation with but the first five would be Michelle Obama, Oprah, Chimamanda Adichie, Beyoncé and if I could the Late Princess Diana What is your favorite vacation location?

Lol... I’m so big on traveling and it’s so hard to choose just 1 place. My top three vacation spots, so far have been Brazil, Italy, and France especially the South of France & Lake Como.

What is one thing on your bucket list that you would like to complete by end of the year?

Write a book. I’ve been thinking of it all year and I finally decided on it. I’ll start writing it now but I plan to hopefully release it Spring or Summer of 2019 after our baby arrives.

Coffee or Tea? Both depending on the day. I love my Keto Coffee & my Green or Lemon Ginger Tea for all the significant health effects.

What does your current workspace look like?

Studio. I love to have space where I can feel inspired and work.

Next, I share either my content on my blog or social media platforms and engage with my community before focusing on my emails to respond to clients, pitch to brands, manage projects I am working on and my team updates.

After that, I take a break to eat or meet up with someone for a lunch meeting before I get back to either creating content, working on a project or event, managing my membership program or getting on a consultation call with clients.

The rest of my day is spent between working and engaging with my community before an event, going to the gym. Before my husband comes home, I switch off to have dinner and spend some quality time with him.

What is your brands' mission?

Our mission is to empower women to find their voice, strength and purpose, own their story and use it to make a positive impact in their community and make a profit.

We want to share how to maintain a balanced, healthy and happy life.

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I got into this career to care for people and save lives so in my role I have to always be an advocate for my patients which some people don’t appreciate.

"What I love most, is the ability to take care of people in a holistic way."

What is your favorite thing about your profession as a nurse practitioner?

What I love most, is the ability to take care of people in a holistic way. Not only do I get to physically examine, diagnose and treat my patients, but I love the relationships I've built with my patients, which is ultimately very useful in the success of their care. Also, I love the ability to support and care for them mentally and socially while coordinating with other health care providers if more specialized care is needed.

Do you get to create your schedule since you also have a full-time business as well?

Yes, I do. As an independent contractor, I get to pick my schedule, the location, and setting that is best for me at any moment in time. I love the flexibility because it allows me to be and do all the things I love as a nurse practitioner, a content creator, an entrepreneur, a daughter, sister, friend, wife and soon to be a mother to our precious baby.

I am all about maintaining a balance in life because we have all been created with a purpose to fulfill, with multiple talents to use and to serve in different roles, but we have to learn how to maintain a balance for our wellbeing so we can ultimately function to our highest capacity in all areas of our life.

What's been the biggest challenge for you in your nursing career?

Having the autonomy to change the culture in some places I’ve worked. What we do is fantastic and the relationships we build with our patients and the care we provide is priceless, but under no condition should making money ever be more important than caring for people and saving lives.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen so many times where making money has overshadowed patient care. While I understand the multiple causes of that and I understand that you have to make money to sustain a business/facility so you can help more people, there has to be a more ethical way to solve the problem.

I’m also always brainstorming more streamlined, effective and efficient ways to provide evidence-based care for people, which is why I’ve been working with some other health care providers to start our private practice with a different culture and model which eliminates a lot of the major issues people have with health care in our country, because our goal is for our patients, staff, and partners to be adequately cared for and satisfied.

What advice do you have for aspiring and current nurses or nurse practitioners?

1. You can never pick a career like this for just the money. You have to truly have a calling to care for people in such an intimate way, which relies on knowledge, skills but also emotions like empathy, compassion, kindness etc.

2. I recommend you spend some time shadowing a nurse or nurse Practitioner to get a first-hand experience of what their work requires and what life looks like in that career. This helps you make a more informed decision.

3. Do not let anyone scare, bully or deter you from what you’re passionate about and have chosen to do e.g.

Professors, Mentors, other Healthcare Providers etc. In the nursing world, the culture isn’t too kind to new people so you have to be prepared. Although some nurses are great, they are generally said to be notorious for eating their young to the point that the new and younger ones leave because of the stress and lack of support from colleagues and facilities. So, do your research about places and the people, ask the right questions during job interviews to understand what type of culture they have and if you find yourself in a difficult situation, be diligent in your job, provide the best care for your patients, find a couple of nurses who share your values and are willing to be good role models. Learn as much as you can, know your rights, persevere, always advocate for your patients and yourself and at the right time you will be ready, move on to a better job, a better position or get active in changing the culture of the place.

"DREAM BIG AND ALWAYS DO SOMETHING DAILY TO GET YOURSELF ONE STEP CLOSER TO YOUR DREAMS." 2. You have to find your God-given talents and purpose and align your work/business with it because that’s what you need to transform peoples lives and that’s what gets you through the challenges that may come your way.

3. Believe in yourself always, as God believes in you. The only validation you need is from God and not from other people. Your past does not define your mistakes, failures or insecurities. You can do much more than you imagine and you are whom God says you are which is blessed, a winner and a successful person.

4. Always be your authentic self and best self. Embrace your unique qualities, expert knowledge, experiences, which include your hardships because everything has shaped you and once you embrace it, they can be used to do great things for people.

5. Everything you do should first be in service of others.

Your purpose is always about helping people.

6. To be your best and maximize your full potential, you must have self-love and apply self-care in your life.

7. You can never do it alone. Find the right people who have expert knowledge and talents in different things and learn to delegate them, so you can focus on what you are great at.

8. Life is simple. When you get overwhelmed, frustrated or stressed out, focus on (a) Gods word, power, and blessings (b) Gods purpose for you in your life and business (c) The people God has given you to serve and how to meet their needs.

There is a lot that I have learned on my journey and I'm glad to share more on a consultation.

What's next for your business?

2019 is going to be amazing! Right now, we are working on a few programs for our community. We are focused on mental and physical health, beauty, style, business, and financial resources to help our community grow in all areas of their lives and business.

We are also working on expanding our coaching services and serving more people in different ways e.g. speaking engagements, writing books, hosting a podcast etc.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their business?

Wow! I have a lot of advice to share.

1. Dream big and always do something daily to get yourself one step closer to your dreams. Your mindset is the only thing that can limit you and each step you take adds up to miles of progress.

www.chigisworld.com @chigisworld or Chigi’s World on all social media platforms

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STINE GOYA LIV DRESS, $540 SHOPBOP.COM

VALENTINO VALENTINO GARAVANI MINI 'ROCKSTUD SPIKE' CROSSBODY BAG $2895 FARFETCH.COM

Editor's

@samanthamaria

PICKS Autumn / Winter Picks!

I love this time of the year, especially for all the fun fashion layering and boots that you can wear for chic look.

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KARL DONOGHUE WOMAN TOSCANA SHEARLING SCARF $355 THEOUTNET.COM

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CHLOÉ EYEWEAR OCTAGONAL FRAME SUNGLASSES $397 FARFETCH.COM

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GUCCI COATED-CANVAS AND GOLD-TONE WATCH $890 NET-A-PORTER.COM

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO REVERSIBLE LEATHER BELT $850 NET-A-PORTER.COM

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1 La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream $325 bloomingdales.com

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Dior BACKSTAGE Face & Body Foundation 6 Warm $40.00 sephora.com

3 Honey Infused Hair Oil $90 urbanoutfitters.com

TOP BEAUTY PICKS 4

Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori Eau de Toilette $112 ulta.com "Add

a few products into your regimen to prepare you for the cooler weather"

Rouge Pur Couture The Slim LipstickBlack Opium Collector $39.00 shopbazaar.com

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Eyeshadow Palette $45.00 urbanoutfitters.com

@mariannahewitt

TWO BLONDES WHO LOVE TO EAT & WRITE ABOUT IT We had the pleasure to interview Ali and Daryl Zweben, popular food blogger sisters and now authors.

BYÂ ANGELA BRICKLEY

W

 hat is your favorite thing about being entrepreneurs?

Our favorite thing about being entrepreneurs is operating on our own terms and adapting and growing our brand as we see fit.

Who or what inspires you to chase your dreams?

We get inspired by women who fearlessly put themselves out there and are not afraid to change the rules to achieve their vision. As sisters, we also provide great support and encouragement to each other whenever one of us feels a bit stuck.

Why did you guys decide to start your own foodie business?

We decided to start our business because we felt there was a need for intelligent, witty restaurant reviews that wasn't being served. We wanted to show that accessible restaurant reviews can still be smart.

"WRITING A BOOK WAS ALWAYS A DREAM OF OURS, BUT WE FEEL THAT THERE IS STILL MORE FOR US TO SAY."

What is your dream-level goal for your business?

PANTS WORLD DOMINATION! Writing a book was always a dream of ours, but we feel that there is still more for us to say. We want to continue to be an authority on food and restaurants and provide a unique voice that reaches as many people as possible. We don't necessarily want to be a lifestyle brand, but we are going to start to branch out a bit to include more travel content as well as products and we believe in; food and fashion can go hand in hand.

What does your current business model look like?

We are a small operation, and some aspects of the brand are a collaboration, and others have us in more defined roles; Ali heads up the content and creative vision, and Daryl focuses on social media and making the creative visions feasible. We both brainstorm on partnerships and press opportunities; we are currently looking for a "hungry" associate, hint...

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"We want our brand to be the go-to resource for savvy and sophisticated women who love to eat!"

Talk us through what your typical day looks like.

Tell us more about your newly realeased book?

We are both new moms, so no two days are the same! We both try to make time for fitness in the morning and squeeze in work and meetings between meals together (generally lunch and dinner, and sometimes both!). Spending time with our families is essential, and when we can't work (or eat) together, we are always in touch via text.

Our book is a neighborhood by neighborhood guide of where to eat in NYC; the tone is fun, the photos are beautiful, and we include everything from NYC institutions to neighborhood gems. It’s equally exciting for visitors who want to take a bite out of the Big Apple and locals who want to explore their city.

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What's next for your business?

What celebrity would you love to have dinner with?

Relaunching our website and expanding our content scope.

Howard Stern

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting?

What is your favorite vacation location?

Ali: St. Barths Daryl: Tokyo

It might sound trite, but stay true to yourself! As social media has changed blogging, we have seen a lot of tempting ways to broaden our appeal that would hurt the integrity of our brand; by staying true to ourselves we were able to realize the longterm goal of writing a book.

What is one thing on your bucket list that you would like to complete by end of the year?

Where can people find your website or social media channels?

Coffee or Tea?

UnbuttoningPants.com, @UnbuttoningPants on Instagram, @Unbuttoningpnts on Twitter, The Sisterhood of the Unbuttoning Pants on Facebook

We have gotten approached by a few producers for a television show, so we'd love to make that happen by the end of the year.

Ali: Tea Daryl: Double Espresso What does your current workspace look like?

Ketchup stained notes made on napkins or Soho House

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3614 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77027

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Photography: Anne Menke

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Meet Dr. Charlene Lawson Photography: @jp.hanney.visuals

PH.D. CHEMIST & WARDROBE STYLIST

By Angela Brickley

W

hat is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

Being able to turn my dreams into a reality and feel fulfilled knowing that I'm doing exactly what I was created to do.

Who or what inspires you to chase your dreams?

I'm inspired by the women that have come before me and shared their gifts and talents with the world. When I see a woman in her element and making a difference, it encourages me to pursue my dreams. My two sons also inspire me. They give me the strength and motivation to chase my dreams. I want to be an example and show them that they too can do anything that they set their minds to do.

Why did you decide to start your own business?

While working in Corporate America as a Ph.D. Scientist, I met the most amazing, brilliant women who were killing it professionally but struggling with their personal style. You know scientists aren't exactly known to be fashionable lol.

I've always had a love affair with fashion and was well known around the office for my sense of style. My female colleagues would always ask for fashion advice and how they too could express their personal style in the workplace. After helping a colleague revamp her closet and seeing her confidence shoot through the roof, I felt I had found my true calling and knew I needed to move forward with my own business.

What is your dream-level goal for your business?

Ultimately, I would LOVE to have my own television show to help women get out of their style ruts and revamp their closets. That would be my dream.

What does your current business model look like?

I'm the Lead Stylist and currently have 2 style assistants who help with shopping and client fittings. When it comes to all other aspects of my business including style consultations, closet detoxes, wardrobe revamps and special occasion styling, I take full responsibility.

Photography: @luvangelamariestudio Hotel: Alessandra

"YOU CAN BE STYLISH, SUCCESSFUL, AND POWERFUL ALL WHILE STAYING TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE." Talk us through what your typical day looks like.

It depends on the day of the week. The first half of the week, I spend most of my days shopping online or in person for my clients. I simply don't just pick out the first thing I see, I take the time to understand my clients' personalities and ensure that I'm pulling pieces that are aligned with their body shape, personal style, and image. My evenings during the first half of the week are reserved for new client consultations and networking events.

The weekend is when I do any closet detoxes, in-person meetings and client fittings scheduled for that week.

What is your brand mission?

My brand mission is for all women to know that you don't have to sacrifice style for success or authenticity for ambition. You can be stylish, successful, and powerful all while staying true to who you are. When we look good we feel good and when we feel good, our performance improves in all areas of our lives. You know, Style is powerful and my goal to help women start living their best, most stylish lives yet.

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What's next for your business?

I've started doing more speaking engagements to help women in professional settings understand the importance of personal image, branding, body shapes and how to develop their own unique personal style. I would love to take that a step further and hold 1-day workshops/seminars. I also plan to start coaching aspiring stylists who need help starting their own business.

Photography: @jp.hanney.visuals

BE CONSISTENT, PERSISTENT AND PATIENT. BUILDING A BUSINESS AND A BRAND TAKES TIME.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out?

To be consistent, persistent and patient.

Building a business and a brand takes time. Also, there is no substitute for doing the work. I would also say not to overthink things. I tend to be a perfectionist which can be good and bad. I delayed launching my business for months because everything was not perfect. Then I realized that it's never going to be perfect and I just need to jump out there and get started! Set your goals, be focused and intentional about building your business and being successful.

Photography: @luvangelamariestudio Location: Hotel Alessandra

Photography: @luvangelamariestudio Location: Hotel Alessandra

FUN FACTS ABOUT DR. CHARLENE LAWSON What celebrity would you love to have dinner with?

Coffee or Tea?

Michelle Obama

Coffee for sure!

What is your favorite vacation location?

Jamaica What is one thing on your bucket list that you would like to complete by end of the year?

What does your current workspace look like? Studio

Getting a style segment on the local news...stay tuned lol.

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Style Chemistry Consulting WWW.STYLECHEMISTRYCONSULTING.COM SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: @STYLECHEMISTRYCONSULTING

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CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IS BETTER THAN DELAYED PERFECTION

624 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Photography: Sam Rock

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