Create Magazine - Issue 1 (Summer 2016) by Mint To Inspire

Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

inspire with us

Photography By: Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Estelle Photography Cake By: Your Sweet Table

create with us

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thank you

JUST THE BEGINNING I’m going to tell you something funny. When I was in grade 7, I started this online magazine with a really simple layout that also had the funniest graphics because my graphic design skills were way off in elementary school. I am thrilled to say that after 2 years of running Mint To Inspire, I decided to push my very first official magazine, Create Magazine. It is a magazine for Women In Business while adding creativity editorials with friends. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed making it. I really would love to thank

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everyone who contributed to Create Magazine. Without the people behind this magazine, this dream project would have never happened. I’m super excited to be sharing one of my closest friends on the cover. Miya was the first to be a part of Mint To Inspire and she became one of my closest friends who inspires me everyday with her art and photography. I’m super excited to be showing more about her, her art and her amazing studio with Blush Sky Photography! HOLLY HO EDITOR IN CHIEF

BY MINT TO INSPIRE www.minttoinspire.com

TEAM FOUNDER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Ho EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rebekah Ho ASSOCIATE EDITOR Olivia Lam EVENT DIRECTOR Kathy Sheng

ISSUE 1 SUMMER 2016

Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

CONTRIBUTORS Blush Sky Photography Caroline Ross Photography Jessica Sung Connie Zhou (Chocolate + Connie) Vestige Story AnaVBeauty + Team Ashley Trainer A Glass of Style Rachel Cheng Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Atelier Vancouver Coworking

COVER MIYA GU www.miyagu.com www.jumistory.com

Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

Content

KEY TO BRANDING...............12 The list of branding and what you need to think about.

DESSERT WITH CONNIE......28 Recipe on how to make Chocolate Ganache + Fresh Berry Cupcakes.

CREDITS.........................................5 Sending love to our contributors and team members.

VESTIGE STORY.....................14 A lookbook with Vestige Story and a few social influensters.

BRAND FEATURE......................32 Featuring The Incubator, an integrated marketing and design firm.

DAY AND NIGHT: BUN..............8 A Day to Night hair tutorial with Ashley Trainer.

COVER: MIYA GU.................20 Artist and photographer, Miya Gu shares her story and inspirations.

SPOTLIGHT................................34 Learn more about a few Women in Businsess.

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE..........................4 A note from our Editor and Founder of Mint To Inspire.

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NEXT ISSUE ISSUE 2 JANUARY 2017

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Day To Night: Braid Bun PHOTOGRAPHY BY REBEKAH HO

WRITTEN BY ASHLEY TRAINER

Ashley Trainer is a local hair stylist in Vancouver, BC. We have collaborated with her to create this hair tutorial. She will show us how to do one look with two different styles to take you from day to night with ease. You Will Need: one small elastic, bobby pins and hair pins. To Prep Your Hair: Styling works best on day old hair, but we did this look on freshly washed hair. On damp washed hair, work in a small amount of Redken Full Frame 07 Mousse and Redken Diamond Oil on the ends of the hair. Once dried, sprinkle the roots with Redken Matte Powder Grip. This absorbs oils like a dry shampoo but also gives your hair volume and grit to help with styling.

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Step 1: Section off the hair into a half pony, and secure the bottom half out of the way with a clip. Divide the top section into three equal triangle sections to meet at the top of the head.

Step 2: French braid the middle section until reaching the top of the head. Leave the rest as a ponytail and pull the braid apart lightly to create volume on the top section, pin that out the way.

Step 3: Complete the other 2 sections on both sides with French braids with all the braids meeting at the top in a ponytail. Secure all top sections together with elastic. (Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pull apart the braids of side 2 sections, because you want these to be tight.)

Step 4: Take the top ponytail and backcomb it to create texture and fullness, then wrap into a top bun and secured in place with bobby pins.

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Step 5: For a day look, split the bottom section into 2 sections dividing them directly down the middle of the head. Secure one section out of the way with a clip. Then, take the left section and comb it diagonally to the right side of the bun. Spray it with hairspray and lightly comb it again that to give it a polished look. Take the end of that section and wrap it around the bun and secure with bobby pins.

Step 6: Take the right section of the hair and wrap that in the same way as Step 5, but up and over to the left side of the bun.

Step 7: To transition into a night look, gently unpin the bottom sections wrapped around the bun, give them a little shake out. Use a 1â&#x20AC;? curling wand to curl the bottom half and hairspray. Start from the bottom nape area and take 1â&#x20AC;? horizontal sections. For your curls to hold better, spray with hairspray first and then wrap your hair around the wand. Do not run your fingers through until all curls have cooled. Cooling sets your curls and will last longer.

Step 8: Alternate the direction in which you wrap your hair on the wand. This will give that beachy look and will make your hair look fuller. Continue to spray and curl the rest of your hair. Run fingers through and your look is complete.

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KEY TO

branding PHOTOGRAPHY JESSICA SUNG

1. Passion 2. Unique Name 3. Inspirations 4. Color Palette 5. Design Visit our shop at www.minttoinspire.com/shop Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

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Vestige Story FASHION

+ SOCIAL INFLUENSTERS

PHOTOGRAPHY CAROLINE ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY DESIGNER VESTIGE STORY MAKE UP & HAIR ANAVBEAUTY VENUE Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ATELIER VANCOUVER COWORKING

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Meet Chanel & Emily @aglassofstyle_

top//lavandula top in navy & green skirt// acacia skirt in navy & green 16

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Meet

Rachel @rachelontheroad_

outfit//chantilly chambray jumpsuit in blue Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

Meet

Holly

@misshollyho

top//lilium tee in lily skirt//acacia skirt in tan 18

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Creating

WITH MIYA GU

PHOTOGRAPHY BLUSH SKY PHOTOGRAPHY

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WRITTEN BY HOLLY HO

Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

girl who does artsy stuff,” but after growing up, art became the medium to describe my own perfect world. Miya Gu has travelled to 27 countries, been in the photography business for over 5 years and has over 23,000 admirers on her Facebook Art page at only age 23! Graduated with Bachelor’s of Commerce at UBC, Miya chose to follow her dream and focused on photography and art. When you first meet Miya, she may seem quiet and shy; but after you get to know her, she becomes the most amazing, passionate and bubbly girl you’ll ever know. I was honoured to have worked with and became friends with Miya over the last couple of years to be able to see her grow as a person through photography and art. So here we are now, hanging out at Miya’s beautiful home studio enjoying some EDM music playing with Jen from Blush Sky Photography. How long have you been doing art for? What is your inspiration? My mom sent me to toddler art lessons when I was 4 and my art education continued throughout the following 20 years. Ever since, I was known as “that

Your main focus is photography! What got you into photography and how has it changed your perspective through the lens? Like everyone else, I got a DSLR and some kit lenses when I was in grade 12 and that by default made me a “photographer.” The camera is simply just another way for me to portray the reality I see. Till this date I still enjoy editing the most, as it gives me the magical power to produce something that is pretty yet not 100% real ---- it allowed me to become a fairy tale creator. What is a day in your shoes like? As a business owner, it’s always hard to predict how your day will be like. If we are not “out shooting,” I would be usually staying in our home studio, replying emails/client messages, scheduling more shoots, meeting with clients/vendors/friends, or painting a commission piece while sipping ice cream and blasting EDM (only when my partner is not in studio). Once in a blue moon we will purposely set aside a day off and relax.

We love how your studio is also your home! How was it like creating your own space? It still feels unreal. Having a studio has been a dream of mine for a long while, and being able to see it come true made me feel 10 years older (and wiser). It was a lot of blood and sweat put into the process, but I can’t be happier with the entire thing. It was the best space in the best time of my life created with the best partner I could ever ask for. What’s your design process with your studio/home? Pinterest for the win! I had the vision pretty much years ago, after finding the right place that fits, we exchanged ideas, drafted out what we had in mind and literally went furniture/ décor shopping with that draft whenever we could. Congratulations on opening your own photo studio in Richmond, BC a few months ago with Jumi Story, what made you decide to open a photo studio? We knew we both wanted a bigger place other than our home studio to store all the dresses/outfits we had for rental. The new location could also be a shooting space, make up section and store front so we could keep our business and our lives separated from each other. We weren’t planning to execute the idea until a few years later, but the Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

opportunity came and we just had to jump on it because it was too good to let go. It definitely happened faster than we ever imagined--we haven’t even had the chance to throw a housewarming party for our home studio. The Richmond studio is already in place, but having a warehouse space with customized backdrops that accommodates our shooting needs is quite satisfying. The presentation is way better now as well. How do you keep yourself inspired? When I was in my teenage years, my art was quite sad and dark, and the darkness inspired me. It is no longer the case now that I found my meaning of life and self. I am inspired by the simplest moments in life that bring happiness. I create art to make people smile, cure their sorrow, and regain my fuel from that in return. What would you tell your 18-year old self? 1. Dress more fashionable please! 2. Stay positive, everything will be okay.

“It was the best space in the best time of my life created with the best partner I could ever ask for.”

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Chocolate Ganache

FRESH BERRY

CUPCAKES

PHOTOGRAPHY & WRITTEN BY CONNIE ZHOU CHOCOLATE + CONNIE Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

SUMMER IS FINALLY UPON US AND WITH THAT WE MUST APPRECIATE THE ABUNDANCE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BY INDULGING IN... CUPCAKES! THESE CUPCAKES COMPRISE OF A FLUFFY CHOCOLATE CAKE TOPPED WITH TANGY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING, SHARP CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND FRESH BERRIES. THE FLAVOUR PROFILE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE. 30

Create Magazine | Mint To Inspire

Cupcakes 2 cups sugar 1 cups AP flour ¾ cup cocoa 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt

2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup strong black coffee OR 2 tsp powdered instant coffee + 1 cup boiling water ½ cup vegetable oil 1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°F 2. Sift together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in large bowl 3. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes (Batter will be thin) 4. Pour batter evenly into cupcake tin, about ¾ full 5. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean

Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1 package (8oz.) cream cheese, cold

2½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract 3 ½to 4 cups icing sugar

1. In a mixer bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy 2. Add in cream cheese and beat until just smooth 3. Gradually add in icing sugar until desired sweetness 4. Splash in vanilla extract and beat until incorporated

Dark Chocolate Ganache 1 cup dark chocolate, chopped

250ml heavy whipping cream

1. Chop dark chocolate into small chunks and place in a bowl 2. In microwave or on stovetop, heat heavy cream until just simmering 3. Pour cream over the chocolate in the bowl and let sit for 2 minutes 4. Stir with spoon until incorporated and glossy, it should be fairly runny but not thin

Assembly

1. Peel away cupcake liner and turn cupcake upside down 2. Pipe a dollop of cream cheese frosting on the cupcake 3. Drizzle ganache on top of cream cheese frosting 4. Decorate with berries

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BRAND FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY & WRITTEN BY REBEKAH HO

Julianne Keu is the founder of The Incubator, previously known as Creative Quo Marketing. She has taken the long road to get to where she is today, as most good entrepreneurs do. We have sat down with her to talk about her story and the company that she has built from the ground up. Note: The photos are taken at the Water Street Profile office, but since then, they have moved to their own private office. What is your “elevator pitch” for The Incubator? What makes it unique? We are an integrated marketing and design firm that specializes in catapulting new brands on the map. We’re unique in that we practice the “lean marketing approach”. 32

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Why did you become an entrepreneur? What pushed you to get here? I became a business owner for the simple reason that I believed that what I had to offer would be better than what was being offered. You have to believe that if you want to succeed. You also shouldn’t start a business for the sole purpose of making money. That can’t be your primary goal, because when sh*t hits the fan (and it will), you’ll need a more compelling “WHY” to get you through. That being said, a big part of why I’m doing this is because I hated taking orders from others when I knew they were headed in the wrong direction. As the head of my own company, I get to own it all - mistakes and successes alike. How do you define success?

A will fail. You need to be resilient to dust yourself off and pursue Plans B, or C, or D, with the same fervor as you did Plan A. What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced on the road to becoming an entrepreneur? Aside from my battle with depression, there are days when I have Imposter’s Syndrome. There are nights when I can’t go to sleep, and there are moments when I imagine being wrapped in the comfort of a 9 to 5. What do you do when you have a creative block? Go to bed, get some sleep, and wake up bright and early the next morning to give it another whirl.

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Success is a feeling of satisfaction in the road you’ve taken thus far. What do you think is the most important trait that makes an entrepreneur? Can I pick two? Adaptability and resilience. Hand-in-hand. You need to be adaptive because 99% of the time, Plan

minttoinspire.com/julianne

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SPOTLIGHT meet the women in business

Tara was born and raised in Chilliwack, BC and in 2008, she moved to Vancouver. By 2012, she had two degrees under her belt, yet she struggled over and over again with career choices. Although music was her passion, Tara knew something was missing. For as long as she could remember, Tara has been creating playlists for family and friends. She was the one you called if you couldn’t remember an artist’ name or the name of a song. Her husband, Russ, and her deejayed a few events in previous years and loved every minute of it. One day, they sat down and decided to make a business out of it. Russ is her #1 employee. So came Mr. & Mrs. DJ Services! There is no greater feeling than making music for others and witnessing the positive impact it has!

Ranbir’s journey was borne of a deep desire to transform despair into destiny. Her passion for empowering others led to the development of FreeWithin.Me (Spirituality for Reality Inc.). FreeWithin.Me is an organization that focuses on integrating mind, body and spirit to instill positive self image in children and adults. Ranbir’s unique ability to get to the heart of the matter in an intuitive yet pragmatic and direct manner has enabled her clients to achieve clarity and make dramatic changes in their lives.

Kerry was born in St.Thomas, Ontario and raised in Turkey. Kerry studied Bachelor’s of Business Administration, and got her PostGraduate in Business Administration at BCIT. She is the Founder of letspractice.ca which will be launching soon. It is an online platform for people to practice their language skills. The website will include 11 languages such as English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Turkish, etc. Kerry loves to laugh, meet people, and be adventurous. She is a salsaholic, a coffee lover, an optimist, and a go-getter! If you want to connect with her, send her an email to kerry@ letspractice.ca.

Want to get featured in a future spotlight? Email us at magazine@mintotinspire.com for inquire. 34

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