Poppy Magazine August/September Issue by Poppy Magazine

POPPYMAG | AUGUST 2012

thoughts

“My friends remind me, by their very steadfastness, that truth, beauty, and goodness exist in the world, and that, no matter what, there are and always will be people loving people through thick and thin.”

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

index A DAY IN THE LIFE... The lovely Erika of Fashion Chalet gives us a sneak peek into her busy life as a full time fashion blogger. From collaborations to prepping for her next photo shoot, Erika shows us the true meaning of multi tasking!

NORWEGIAN WOOD Modern meets bohemian with this collection by designer Angie Johnson of Norwegian Wood. Inspired simply by the life around her, Angie truly creates a lifestyle within her collections and inspires us with her clean, eclectic style.

BEHIND THE SCENES Our very own Christa Jae Morris of Jae Photography takes us behind the scenes of one of her favorite shoots to do a little spying! Christa shares her tips and tricks for setting up a successful shoot and, most importantly, capturing that perfect moment.

A CITY SUMMER Photographer Caileigh Kyle brings us back to the days of our youth by infusing the raw, urban feeling of the city with those carefree feelings of summer. Beautifully styled and flawlessly executed, this editorial shoot is the perfect intro into fall fashion.

returning faves GETTING TO KNOW...

The Awkward Girls tell us how they met, where they got started, and what inspires them each and every day. They also offer some great tips for beginner bloggers on how to keep your content fresh and unique.

BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT This month, we quizzed six bloggers on their transition techniques to help move our summer wardrobes right into the fall season.

22 RECIPE OF THE MONTH This is no ordinary pizza recipe, and it certainly does not disappoint. A perfect weekday meal that is perfect as is or customized to your heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s content!

61 PERSON, PLACE, MUSE

We chat with Erika Storm Wasser about her unexpected move from comedy clubs to SPACEStv host. Her sense of humor and candid approach kept us laughing the entire time, as Erika answers some of our favorite questions...

Photographer // Darian Simon Toliver Stylist & Model // Claire Kruljac

@poppylindsay anxiously awaiting its release! :) - @floralandfrayed @poppylindsay Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to read issue two :) ! ! ! - @spiritrunfree

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s give them

!"#$%&'() to talk about @poppylindsay i just read your magazine for the first time and it's amazing. i have been inspired! - @cathwithcolour @poppylindsay Made the "Cowboy Caviar" from the June/July issue the other night. YUM! ! ! ! - @Marionberry3

Lovely job on the first issue of Poppy! I am very impressed and excited for the next! ! ! ! - Abby Johnson Thank you so much for introducing me to @poppylindsay!! LOVING the magazine! - @JulieLeah

letter from the editor It’s funny how much your life can change in two short months. We started out as a small team, pulling all-nighters, and dreaming of creating something amazing. Now we have a growing team that is constantly receiving love, support, and unimaginable opportunities! When we launched the first issue, I set a personal goal - I wanted to reach 1,000 readers. I made it small, thinking that way we couldn’t fail. I never dreamed we'd be so successful so quickly! In fact, I was oblivious to Poppy’s impact until I received two inspiring letters: one from a sponsor and one from a future contributor. The sponsor, a store owner, mentioned how much she connected with my Letter from the Editor and how precious it was to watch someone's dream become a reality. The second, a future contributor, who also happens to be a teacher, wrote to say how much she enjoyed our column featuring 25 items under $25 - something that definitely compliments her teaching salary. These two letters gave me an incredible feeling that can only be described as a mixture of joy, accomplishment, and utter thanks. As I said in last issue’s Letter from the Editor, It takes a village to grow and nurture a magazine. Well the Poppy village has some of the sweetest and most talented people an editor can ask for. Therefore, on behalf of my team, I'd like to thank the entire village for all the love, support, and constant inspiration you've shown us.

the crew Lindsay Boland Editor-in-Chief Lauren Puskas Executive Editor Mackenzie Clarke Art Director Hilary Walker Features Editor Hannah Pobar Senior Lifestyle Editor Christa Morris Lifestyle Editor Sara Neely Fashion Editor Kory Woodard Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief

Lindsay Loves... !"#$%&'()#*'+*,-'%.$/-0#%/$/)1%$).$-%#$.02)#'(%$ .'+&/$.)#$3)"#$-)1%$0+&$40#&#)5%6667-%$8%#.%,($ .'+'/-'+9$()",-%/$.)#$.0::; Pastel Beaded Collar $22.00, Dorothy Perkins

Marrakesh Honey Wallpaper $98.00, Urban Outfitters

Horn Jet Set Watch $195.00, Michael Kors

Mountain Peaks Bath Basket $88.00, Anthropologie

Triple Tiered Pendant Shade $64.00, Urban Outfitters

Go Overboard Nail Polish $8.00, Essie Madurodam Pencils $38.00, Anthropologie

Aztec Bangle w. Black Leather $80.00, House of Harlow

Pantone Color Palettes $14.95, Urban Outfitters

Paris versus New York $20.00, Anthropologie

getting to know ... AWKWARD G IR

!"!!#$%&'((%)'%*+,-.%/,-01'(2%+'2,0'%/,-%1.*0.'3% 4565*03%780(1

!$%M,5%383%/,-%.-0A%.H'%83'*%,2%4565*03%780(1%8A.,% *%0'*(8./N

49:94;<%7=;>?$%9'%5'0'%@-1.%.5,%+'1.%208'A31B% 0,,))*.'1B%*A3%C,(('D'%1.-3'A.1E%F*381,A%81% )*@,08AD%8A%G1/CH,(,D/B%*A3%>*-0'A%81%)*@,08AD%8A% I*)8(/%*A3%J,A1-)'0%?C8'AC'1E%&,D'.H'0B%5'%(,K'% )-18CB%2,,3B%*A3%,2%C,-01'B%2*1H8,AL

47$%>*1.%1-))'0B%5'%2,-A3%,-01'(K'1%58.H%(,.1%,2% 1G*0'%S)'%,A%,-0%H*A31E%T'8AD%8AC0'38+(/%+,0'3B% 5'%1.*0.'3%@,68AD%*+,-.%H,5%5'%C,-(3%@-1.%1.*0.%*% 2*1H8,A%+(,D%.,%U((%.H'%S)'E%VK'A.-*((/B%5'%0'*(8O'3% 5'%.*(6'3%*+,-.%8.%1,%)-CH%8.%5*1AW.%'K'A%*%@,6'% *A/),0'E%?,%,A'%3*/%5'%@-1.%D0*++'3%*%C*)'0*%*A3% .,,6%G8C.-0'1%,2%5H*.%5'%5'0'%5'*08ADE%9'%C*)'% -G%58.H%*%A*)'B%.H0'5%.,D'.H'0%*%+(,D%3'18DAB%*A3% (,%*A3%+'H,(3B%4565*03%780(1%5*1%+,0AE%

!$%M,5%383%.H'%.5,%,2%/,-%)''.N 47$%9'%)'.%,-0%20'1H)*A%/'*0%,2%C,(('D'%5H8('% (8K8AD%*%2'5%3,,01%*5*/%20,)%'*CH%,.H'0%8A%.H'% 3,0)1E%9'%1,,A%0'*(8O'3%5'%(*-DH'3%*.%*((%.H'% 1*)'%0838C-(,-1%.H8AD1B%1H*0'3%*%(,K'%2,0%F*0/P:*.'% *A3%41H('/%),K8'1B%*A3%5'0'%'K'A%20,)%C(,1'B% 18)8(*0%Q,0.H'0A%J*(82,0A8*%.,5A1E%9'%(86'%.,%1*/%8.% 5*1%2*.'E% !$%9H,1'%83'*%5*1%8.%.,%1.*0.%4565*03%780(1N%9H/N 47$%9'%+,.H%(,K'3%0'*38AD%2*1H8,A%+(,D1B%1,%.H'% 83'*%5*1%G0'R/%)-.-*(E%9'%@-1.%.H,-DH.%8.%5,-(3% +'%*%2-A%5*/%.,%3,C-)'A.%,-0%G'01,A*(%1./('%*A3% 1H*0'%8.%58.H%.H'%0'1.%,2%.H'%5,0(3L

!$%M,5%3,%/,-%C,A1.*A.(/%C,)'%-G%58.H%)*.'08*(N 47$%9'%H*K'%*%(,.%,2%38X'0'A.%8A.'0'1.1%1,%5'%C*A% 6''G%.H8AD1%K*08'3%*A3%8A.'0'1SADE%?,)'S)'1%5'W((% +(,D%*+,-.%2,,3B%*A3%1,)'S)'1%5'W((%+(,D%*+,-.% )-18CE%%T-.%5'%),1.(/%@-1.%+(,D%*+,-.%.H'%2-AA/%*A3% *565*03%.H8AD1%.H*.%H*GG'A%.,%-1%YH'AC'%.H'%S.('ZB% 1,%A'5%)*.'08*(%,CC-01%,A%.H'%3*8(/E% !$%9H*.%81%/,-0%+8DD'1.%8A1G80*S,AN%M,5%3,%/,-%D'.% 8A1G80*S,AN

!"#$%&$+(>&$*53*$0*$0)$F0./$(9$+0F&$(62$(?.$1&2)(.3+$ )*,+&$G(62.3+=$H*$5&+1)$6)$)&&$5(?$:+(*5&)$3:*63++,$ +((F$(.$6);$3./$?53*$?&$+0F&$3./$/(.@*$+0F&=$!.(*5&2$ 132*$38(6*$(62$8+(7$*53*$?&@>&$2&3++,$&.G(,&/$0)$3++$ *5&$:((+$1&(1+&$?&@>&$8&&.$38+&$*($'&&*$3./$*5&$ 920&./)501)$*53*$53>&$:('&$(6*$(9$8+(770.7= <#$%53*$?3)$*5&$'30.$7(3+$,(6$?&2&$*2,0.7$*($ 3:50&>&$?5&.$,(6$-2)*$)*32*&/$8+(770.7C

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

H'37&)$:(62*&),$(9$*5&$!?F?32/$"02+)$ R(1,$8,$S0./)3,$Q(+3./

25 under

$25 Glam Wheel Drops $24.00, BaubleBar

Black Blazer $24.95, H&M

Sidney Leopard Top $5.99, Delias

Absolem Ruffle Dress $20.00, Ruche

Stud Panel Belt $24.86, Asos

Tassle Purse $17.95, H&M

25 UNDER $25 Belted Cocoon Sweater Vest $19.99, Delias

Bronze Bangle Set $24.00, BaubleBar

Lind

say Pick â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Save My Spots Scarf $15.99, Mod Cloth

Armed and Ready Polish $8.00, Essie

Keeley Heeled Boots $22.50, Target

Cavaletti Court Velvet Skirt $22.50, Ruche

25 UNDER $25

Drop Shoulder Cardigan $22.99, Target

Azure Cascade Drops $24.00, BaubleBar

Black Blouse $17.95, H&M

Bow to Stern Scarf $7.99, Mod Cloth Brooke Skirt by Cheap Monday $17.00, FarFetch

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s y a s d n i L Pick Classic Ballet Flats $16.80, Forever 21

25 UNDER $25 Elle Stud Bow Headband $10.50, Ulta

Blakely Bow Purse $24.99, Ruche

Dolman Sleeve Dress $24.00, Target

Braided Choker $21.00, LYLIF

Skinny Suede Belt $14.00, Aeropostle

Ankle Leggings $24.00, Topshop

Pamila Shootie Boot $20.99, Target

Vintage Inspired Clothing at Fabulous Prices at

F Enter to win our Vintage Wallet Giveaway! .33*7 <.11 7*(*.;* & ;.39&,* 5455> 57.39 <&11*9 <.9- &3 *=(1:8.;* (4)* (&7) .38.)* /:89 +47 >4:@

Find us on Facebook and Twitter!

blogging style This month we have six new bloggers to introduce, and they are ready to share their fall fashion tips. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve asked these lovely ladies to offer some advice on how to transform a summer wardrobe seamlessly into the fall season. Suggestions that cover everything from the perfect layering strategy to flawless accessorizing help ease us into the cooler months without breaking the bank and help transform the summer pieces we already love! Please join us in welcoming Ashley, Christa, Helen, Jade, Margaret and Suzie to the Poppy family!

fashion or famine

meet christa... My style is unique to me, I am not pretentious, I don't think there is a ton of rules and regulations when it comes to getting dressed or enjoying style. !In all honesty its about having fun for me. !I like to change it up all the time, one minute super laid back maybe even slightly tomboyish and the next a more elaborate, feminine outfit. !I started this blog for just that reason, and I try to incorporate this idea on a day to day basis with my personal clients that I work with, styling and developing their own unique style and what works for them! Summer and Fall are both pretty darn hot in LA, so when transitioning my wardrobe or an outfit from summer to fall, I tend to start pairing pieces that give me a little extra warmth, and give the outfit a more fall vibe.! In this outfit I pair a long sleeve button down blouse with a pair of shorts to give it a slightly more fall look. !As it gets colder and What sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wearing... more into fall I will throw a blazer on over for Blouse by Zara / Shorts by Michelle Jones / a quick and easy update! Shoes by Pour la Victoire / Jewelry by Gorjana / Sunglasses by Ray Ban Photographer: Noah Luger @noahluger

these days meet jade... I started blogging after I found a string of fashion blogs that I really loved reading. It was something that I had never seen before and I found to be really fun! I love making things, and my blog is something that I can add to my list of creations. Fashion is really exciting to me and is something that can always keep you on your toes. I love sewing also, where I'm still learning but I hope to be able to create anything in my wardrobe one day. Because of my blog I've been able to get deeper into sewing.! I'm lucky to live in a city where its sunny and pleasant out year round, but with that being said sometimes I have to warm up a summer outfit. Layering up is usually an easy fix! Sometimes I switch out the shorts for pants and add a big coat or a scarf. Stockings are good to have so that you can keep some pairs of shorts or a skirt around in the fall!

What sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wearing... White T-Shirt by H&M / Leather Jacket by Nasty Gal / Skirt by Mikkat Market

ashley treece

meet ashley... Hailing from a small town in which fashion always took a back seat to local high school football games, hanging out in parking lots and more Dollar Generals than anyone could ever need, I never felt like I could fully express my interest in the industry. My excited conversations on the latest Miu Miu collection often ended with "...now what's Miu Miu?" I created my blog as an outlet to share this excitement with others interested in the field of fashion and build friendships all around the globe. Fashion provides such a unique outlet to express ones creativity, and I fully believe that the way you dress can affect your outlook towards each day! My wardrobe transitions from Summer to Fall with the help of a few key items- tights, jackets, boots and hats! A flirty summer dress can easily be taken into fall by adding sheer or opaque tights, switching out summer sandals for suede ankle booties and throwing on a blazer. To take the look even further into Fall, swap out your nude or bright lipstick for deep plum shades and add a smokey eye!

What sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wearing... Dress by BCBGMAXAZRIA / Blazer by Urban Outfitters / Sandals by BCBG / Hat by Forever 21 / Photographer: Ashley and her boyfriend, Ken Bristow

style cue by suzie q

meet suzie... I am a young professional working girl with a love for fashion. My blog, Style Cue By Suzie Q, was born out of being a creative outlet source from work, a fun way to chronicle my outfits and capture my youth, and an inspiration to pursue what I loves after overcoming a challenging life stint with cancer. In my blog, I provide style cues by sharing my personal style of feminine, chic, and on trend looks. Floral dresses just exude spring and summer, and with their feminine feel, who wouldn’t love to be able to continue wearing it as we go into Fall? I transition wearing floral dresses from summer to Fall by adding layers to my outfits. Sandals are traded in for booties and leggings are worn. Fall calls for darker colors, which a leather jacket provides. I adore juxtaposing a tougher piece with a soft, feminine piece, and Fall is perfect to achieve that look with a leather jacket combined with floral print.

What she’s wearing... Dress bought in Japan / Jacket by Miss Sixty / Leggings by Hue / Shoes by Aldo / Bag by Gucci Vintage / Photographer: Suzie’s husband

fashion euphoria

meet helen... My name is Helen and I am 22 years young. My blogging takes place in Sydney, Australia where I was born and bred for the most part of two decades. I started blogging in 2009 just for fun and ever since I've been blogging on and off between studies and work. I began blogging because I needed something that combined my hobbies; fashion and photography and it's just so simple to set up and maintain. Fashion blogging and styling is something that helps me express my own personality and style and balances out the mundane nature of my studies. My style transitions quite simply from summer to fall, all I do is include scarves, stockings and colorful sweaters. Weather doesn’t usually inhibit my wardrobe selections here in Australia so I generally get away with wearing whatever I want by just adding on a few layers and experimenting with textures; warm cardigan’s or big jackets over silk dresses or skirts. It’s all about experimenting with different items in your wardrobe that you wouldn’t think to combine in an outfit which makes it work.

What she’s wearing... Jacket by Stylestalker / Skirt, Hat & Necklace by Kookai / Boots by Sam Edelman / Sweater by Sass and Bide / Sunglasses by Tom Ford / Scarf by Paula Cahen D’Anvers Photographer: Mateusz Blaszczakiewicz

floral and frayed meet margaret... I originally started blogging with the intention of compiling posts about my personal style. Since then, my blog seems to have taken another direction. While it’s not entirely about personal style, I do occasionally share outfits and the items I currently love. I blog about what I wear in order to be an example to other women on what it means to combine modesty and great style on a budget. For me, fashion is about redefining beauty. It’s about living out your own style, making your own trends, being true to yourself, and not being any less than what you were created for. I plan on wearing my colored denim straight into the fall! So many of the colors translate easily, and it’s such a fun alternative to regular jeans. I’m all about comfort in the fall so cardigans and over-sized sweaters are my favorite. They are so versatile that I am able to layer them when it’s chilly and also use one as a light jacket when it’s warmer. I pair my jeans and sweaters with socks and boots and I’m good to go.

What she’s wearing... Jeans by Old Navy / Sweater from Goodwill / Necklace by Sam Moon / Ring made by her boyfriend / Boots by Kohl’s / Socks stolen from her dad! / Photographer: Megan Gilger of The Fresh Exchange & Hitch Design Studio

a day in the life... FASHION CHALET

Erika Marie of Fashion Chalet gives us a look at her life as a successful fashion blogger, and she shares some of the things that keep her so inspired!

8:00 am When I wake up, I like to start my day with a cup of tea (sometimes coffee- if I need that extra jolt!) I begin to read all of my emails. I receive around 100-200 inquiries, collaboration possibilities and comments via email every day.

10:00 am When I am all "caught up". I break to update my blog. This usually includes editing (narrowing down the set of photos to just a few images) and writing content to go along with it. After I am done, I must market the post online via Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. After Lunch, usually have meetings to attend. Sometimes it's a conference call. Sometimes it's in person.

When asked who influences my looks.. I have 3 answers: Mary-Kate Olsen & Nicole Richie (for their Bohemian Vibe) Ashley Olsen (for her classic silhouettes and tastes!) And, obviously, Audrey Hepburn. Classic and classy

2:00 pm By the early afternoon, I am setting up plans for my next photo shoot. Of which I must decide on a location, as well as styling a "look" together- shoes and accessories included. I don't wear things the second they arrive by mail. I tend to wait until all the right pieces meld well together, to create a finished and creatively styled outfit. Once ready, I shoot. My favorite part of blogging actually, are the photo shoots. They're still a lot of work, but can also be very fun! A way to step "out of the office" if you will.!The only time it's more of a chore is when it's either 100 degrees outside in the summer or absolutely freezing in the Winter-- then I try to get things done as quickly as possible.

Copy // Erika Marie Images Courtesy of Fashion Chalet

stay in the lines !"#$%&'()(*%+,-%.*/0(&1%#$%1"(%.(*2(&1%345% 1/%6*#7"1(8%9.%/8(%/2%1"/$(%()(*5:45% .*/:9&1$%48:%4::%$/;(%&/'/*%1/%5/9*% &9'#84*5%(8:(4)/*$<

=/.5%>%,;47($%??%@4&'58%A9#'#48/

DIY FEATURE

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

DIY FEATURE

!"#$%& '()!"*+"),-".)*/)0/1-/-%.#2),332)40""-/5)63*+2) 78-/#)*+#)1+38)9:#*;<)".#/)4+#*"#)=30+)2#%-+#2) 2#%-5/)0%-/5)6>0#)$*-/"#+?%)"*$#()9)4.3%#)*)6*%-4) %"+-$#)$*""#+/)"3)4+#*"#)63>2)%"+-$%)31)43>3+(

@()A.33%#)*/)*%%3+"8#/")31)4+*1")$*-/")43>3+() !"*+"-/5),-".)B)-%)*)5332)3$"-3/)6#4*0%#)=30) ,3/?")6#)"#8$"#2)"3)53)4+*C=),-".)43>3+)3/)#*4.) 63*+2()D.#):#=)-%)"3)8*:#)%38#".-/5)%>##:)*/2) %-8$>#),-".)*)"304.)31)43>3+( B()E$$>=)",3)43*"%)31)$*-/")2-+#4">=)"3)".#),332<) ".#/)>#")2+=)3F#+/-5."( G()D.#)/#H")83+/-/5<)+#83F#)"*$#)*/2)1-/-%.),-".) *)4>#*+)>*4I0#+)43*")"3)%#*>)".#)$*-/"(

J()K#")2+=)3F#+/-5.")*/2)=30+)63*+2%)*+#)+#*2=)"3) 53L

9 Things You Can Do To Blog Your Way To Front Row Copy // CamMi Pham Images // Jennie Frake of On Sunshine Photography

Nobody starts blogging and wakes up the next day as an A-List blogger. Life is only a fairy tale if hard work is your fairy godmother. It took BryanBoy years before he became a seat mate of Anna Wintour at fashion week. If someone told you that blogging is easy that person is not a blogger. Most A-list bloggers started very early when there was less competition. They had a lot more time to figure out the right way to blog, you don’t. Being a good writer doesn’t make you a good bloggers. It is no longer 1998 when you can just write an interesting life story like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, and everybody will be head over heels for you. Behind all the beautiful blog posts you read on the internet, many hours was put into them. How to become the next Bryan Boy or Susie Bubble? Everyone is asking it, but not many people made it. There are a million blogging tips out there, but if you don’t take action, nothing is going to change. Here are the list of 7 things you can do to set your blog up for massive success.

1. Define Your Brand If you don’t even know what your blog is about, how can you convince people to love it? You have to find your niche and blogging voice. Find an area and focus on it. You don’t want to talk about everything and good at nothing. If you want to be successful, you need to know who you are and what your blog is about first. One of the most common mistakes new bloggers make is trying to copy someone else. It is a good idea to learn from the master, but the formula for success is different for everyone. You have to find something that you love. It would take months even years before you become a successful bloggers. If you don’t love what you do, you will quit before you see a sign of success. At the end of the day you cannot pretend being someone else forever. Blogging is a long term relationship; you have to understand clearly what you are signing up for. You will eat with your blog, play with your blog, and sleep with your blog. Once I worked 12 hour straight on a blog post. I wouldn’t able to do it if I didn’t love my blog. “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” ~Judy Garland

2. Write, Write, Write Choose a focus and be crystal clear about it. Write an elevator pitch, an overview of your blog. You already know what your blog is about, now you need to learn to explain it to people. I am a social media girl not really a writer. When I was running my nonprofit organization, I would write an outline and give it to my assistant to write the proposal. People liked my content on Twitter and kept asking me why I didn’t blog. I wanted to blog at some point but Twitter offered me everything I needed. I didn’t think I would need a blog especially I knew I cannot write. However my dear followers asked me way too much and it became very annoying. I started a blog because I just want some peace, and I fell in love with it. It was not

easy switch from 140 characters to 14 000 character. I didn’t know what to write. I didn’t have a blogging voice. I cannot even write in my first language, I didn’t know how I am going to blog in English. I am a hopeless blogger, but I keep writing. One day, I got this tweet from one of my follower "It’s so inspirational! I’m putting a few of your pieces on my wall. I've been looking for something inspirational like this.” I almost cried when I saw that tweet. Someone is reading my blog and she likes what I write. I read that tweet a few times because I couldn’t believe it. Nobody was born as writer. Some might be better than other. If you want to be a good blogger, write. You might not know your style in the beginning but you will discover it at some point. Write every day. Write when you don’t know what to write about. Write when you hate it the most. Write when people tell you to stop writing. Keep writing, and write more Pick a time to sit down and write every day. Some posts will be amazing, some will never be published. The more you write, the better a blogger you will become. And if you are a personal style blogger, don’t use it as an excuse to avoid writing. Firstly, Google cannot read your images. It cannot tell that you were wearing a flowy white dress with a flower crown running around at sunset. No matter what you do, you need to know how to write. Secondly, there are a million personal style blog out there; they all look the same with beautiful photos. When everything is beautiful, nothing is beautiful at all. If you don’t have a story people don’t want to read, they will treat you like last season booties. Write and write more.

3. Google Is Your Best Friend No matter who you are, you won’t know everything. Blogging is more than just writing. It is about researching, editing, photography, web design and more. Even Emily from Cupcake and Cashmere said “I had zero experience with blogging, so I Googled every single question. I didn’t even know how to hyperlink to another site when I first began, let alone reformat pictures or create a clickable headline.” It is ok if you don’t know how to blog, you have Google and that is all you need. It is so easy to learn anything now. If you need to learn about basic SEO, just Google it. If you want to learn basic HTML and CSS, you can visit Code Academy [http://www.codecademy.com]. And I believe you should learn both. If you want to blog your way to front row, you need to become better than others. You will have to try to become better every day. My best advice is try to make Google your best friend and start learning. The more you know the better your blog will be.

4. Take Down the Ads A lot of people want to blog because they want to make money. The first thing they do when they start blogging is putting up the ads. Seriously if you want to go far, don’t put up ads when you haven’t had decent traffic. It looks tacky just like a hooker standing on a street. Would anyone take your blog seriously if all they see is ads? You don’t like ads, I don’t like ads, nobody likes ads. If you want to be successful you need to look at the big picture. Ask yourself do you want $5.00 from Google Adsense or a collaboration with your favorite brand? I know it cost money to have a blog if it is self-hosted. Don’t forget if you want to make money, you have to spend money. If you want to sit front row at fashion week, you cannot think about a few dollars.

5. Be Everywhere Before I was a blogger, I was a little girl in Twitter land changing the world one tweet at a time. In the beginning of 2011, I had over 30,000 followers on Twitter, but in Toronto nobody knew me. I am a little competitive....No, I lied, I am very competitive and I wasn’t really happy with that. I reached out to people both online and offline. It was hard for people to ignore me because I was everywhere. They would see me at every hot event in town. Within 2 months, invitation to exclusive parties and offers to work with brands started coming in. Did I tweet better? No, my tweets actually got worse because I was too busy meeting people. A lot of time it is not about the content but who you know. You can write amazing content, but if nobody knows you, your blog has ever been existed. Of course you have to find the balance between the two. If you want people to remember you, be everywhere both online and offline. Have a consistent image of yourself everywhere for people to recognize you. yes I am talking to all the ladies who change their profile pictures every other week. People don’t remember your name unless you are an A-lister. Also don’t count followers. It is nice to see my 67,000 followers on Twitter but at the end of day that number means nothing. Popularity is not influence. You might have thousands of follower or page views but nobody cares about your blog. Once I got thousands of views from Stumble Upon but a very few of them became my readers. Fame is nice to have but they don’t last. No matter what you do, you should build a strong foundation of relationship. Five years from now Twitter might be the next MySpace; the only thing will last is the relationship you build today. Same thing with blog, you don’t know how long your blog will last. If you want to stay successful, you have to figure out a way to gain influence. There is only one way to do that, building relationship. Here are a few tips on building relationships on social media. - Be yourself. No matter how good you are at acting, people will see the real you at some point. - Be social. Engage with people, the more the better. It calls social media for a reason. - Focus on a few social networks that you are good at. Don’t waste your time on a social network that you hate. If you don’t like it, most likely you won’t do a good job. Just love yourself, and ignore it. - Don’t wait for people to talk to you, reach out. If you want to approach A-lister, spend 20% of your time talking to them and the other 80% talking to their friends. Most of the time

the friends are just normal people and it is much easier to build relationship with them. When you get into their circle, you can be anyone's friend - Use the most unexpected tool to reach out. Most influencers use more than one social network but there is always at least one social network that they are not very popular on it. That is the best tool to build relationship. This is how I manage to get to know people with millions followers on big social networks. I have no competition at all to talk to them on smaller social network. - Don’t just focus on A-listers. Most of the time, the people who will add the most value to your brand are the little people. I know it sounds so obvious but building relationship on social media is exactly the same as building relationship in real life.

6. Learn to Say No I told you that you should learn to do everything, but now I will tell you why you shouldn’t do everything. You need to know everything because it is very important to understand how everything works. However you shouldn’t do everything because you are not good at everything. If you are an amazing writer who hates SEO, don’t kill yourself. Just write killer articles that people will love. According to 80-20 Rule or also known as Pareto principle, 80% of outcomes can be attributed to 20% of the causes for a given event. Just focus on things that you are good at and be the best. Don’t waste your time doing things that adding no value to your life. Try understanding Google Analytics and figure out what works for your blog. Figure out when is the best time to post, what kind of content your readers like the most, where do your readers come from. Just focus on the group of people who add the most value to your brand. Same rule for brand collaboration. If you don’t think it will work, turn down the offer. Don’t just do it because someone asks you, Most of the time you will damage your brand.

7. Give Before You Get When I just start tweeting in 2010, I knew nothing. I followed a bunch of Twitter influencer and shared their content. Soon I developed relationships with many of them and they started sharing my content too. Why did they do that when I was nobody? Because I went out of my way to help them building their brands. If you want to become a successful blogger, help other people to be successful. When Pete Cashmore started Mashable, he commented on hundreds of blogs a day. If you want more comments, do a Pete-Cashmore. If you want more traffic, guest blog. If you want people to love you, add value to their lives.

8. Love Yourself Some people will love you, some will trash you. That is life. You cannot please everyone. Someone told me that I cannot write and I should stop blogging. I didn’t care and I am not doing too badly now. I have my own people who adore me.When you are a blogger you cannot please everyone. You cannot always write nice thing about brands or smile at every party. You cannot change your blog because someone dislikes it. Because at the end of the day, your life is yours. Nobody will love you and your blog if you don’t even love it. I always tell myself if I cannot make people love me, I will make them hate me. Either way, I have their attention. I am known for writing about very controversial topic, and that is why people adore me. I am not afraid to talk about many topic that other people are not confident enough to talk about. I speak up for myself and others. I know exactly where I stand and I fight for my belief. If you want to be successful, you have to pick a side and stick with it. Choose something that you love and will be happy writing about it. Love yourself and your blog; at least you always know there is one person who loves you. You cannot convince anyone to love your blog, if a hater’s comment can affect you. It is your blog, only you can know what is best for it. The hardest thing is accepting yourself. If you can do it, the world will be your oyster.

9. Don’t Give Up Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ~Calvin Coolidge Like any business, blogging is not an overnight success. Bryan Boy wouldn’t be the same famous blogger we see today on America’s Next Top Model if he stopped blogging after a year. It took him a few years before he saw a sign of success. It is hard when the only reader is your mom. It is hard when people trash your blog. It is hard when you don’t even know what you are doing is right. But nothing is easy. “I always knew I was going to be rich. I don't think I ever doubted it for a minute.” ~ Warren Buffett When I was 16 going on 17, I wanted to do give back to the community. I started an environmental not-for-profit organization on the Internet. Nobody believed in me even my family. Everyday people told me to forget my silly project and enjoy life. Running a charity organization half way around the world from my bedroom sounded a little ridiculous. But I believed in my dream and I did not listen to anyone. I told myself that even if I was the only person who cared, one person is better than nobody. I worked hard trying to convince people to work with me. At the end, I ran many national campaigns and worked with big international NGOs such as UNESCO and WWF. By the time I was 17, my face was on all the biggest newspaper in Vietnam. I wouldn’t see that day if I listened to other people and gave up my dream. I was the change I wanted to be. If you believe that blogging is right for you, keep writing and ignore people. You will make it one day. If you don’t think so, it is ok to quit. Find your passion and go after it. Believe in yourself and your dream. It is easy to become a blogger, but it is very difficult to be a successful blogger. If you want to sit next to Anna Wintour next fashion week, start working and turn your dream into reality.

Norwegian Wood Clothing line Norwegian Wood is “Boho-Urban”- an oxymoron that is oh-so-right

When I shop- which is quite often- I generally think more in-depth about each garment I see hanging from a rack than “that's pretty!” When I look at the pieces in Angie Johnson's Norwegian Wood Collection, however, I think “I've got to have that!” There's something so intriguingly bohemian, modern and unique about her viscose jersey zig zag leggings, sheer lace maxi skirts with metallic embroidery, jersey tops, with faux leather collars, elastic harnesses and chiffon over-skirt belts. You'd think a girl with a closet filled with pink, ruffles and sequins would think twice about clothes like these; on the contrary, I feel like a good girl gone bad (in a very good way.) I think every woman's fashion sense evolves over the course of her lifetime as collects inspiration and learns what is socially acceptable; Angie Johnson will tear down your preconceived notions of “personal style” faster than you can say “Norwegian Wood” and set you free. Oh, did I mention she makes jewelry too?

Talking to Angie, I was surprised to find how much we have in common. We both love vintage. We're both Scandinavian; she's part Norwegian- I'm Swedish. We both had a realization that Fashion can be a job; Angie's epiphany occurred at age 9- I found out at age 20 after two years of Biochemistry. When I started working in fashion, I felt, like Angie says, “like my life was FINALLY starting.” We may share a few strange coincidences, but Angie is truly a creative original. It will probably not come as a shock when I tell you that Angie's designs are loved by popular fashion bloggers like Susie of Style Bubble and Tavi of Style Rookie. You may be wondering why a designer based out of Canada named her collection Norwegian Wood. As I mentioned before, Angie is part Norwegian. She also discovered her my parents old 8-tracks when she was about 10 or 11- including a few Beatles albums. All you Beatles fans out there are probably already aware of the song, “Norwegian Wood.” Thanks to her discovery, “Norwegian Wood” quickly became one of Angie's favorites. I'm always interested in learning what exactly inspires a designer's collection; is it an image? A person? A place? Where do you even start? I feel like this is an answer that is only authentic when a designer's exact words are quoted: “Usually I start with something that has recently really inspired me….a painting, an experience, a photograph, or even just a random idea or mood. I keep a little list in my phone of things that I notice and am inspired by….the list is quite long, so when it’s time to start a new collection I browse through and choose what feels right, then build upon it.” I also asked, “When do you know that a collection is complete- a certain number of pieces, a budget, a gut feeling?” Angie replied: “Well first I just sketch. I sketch out complete outfits, so at this point I focus a lot on silhouette and just draw, draw, draw. Then I edit. After many years working as a designer at larger clothing companies I approach things from a pretty practical point of view. I have a general list of the approximate number of categories I want to fill (i.e. “x” number of skirts, “x” number of dresses, etc) so I then work backwards from the sketches and choose the pieces I feel are the strongest. Then comes the fabric sourcing, pattern-work and sample making. Usually I aim to have around 15 full outfits, but it usually ends up growing to 18 or 19 as I round out the collection.”

Angie did not know that she was going to create jewelry when she started her clothing line. Her clothes first appeared in small boutiques when she was just 16 years old followed by a few stores. She continued to study fashion and received a Bachelor's Degree in Clothing and Textiles from the University of Manitoba. After college she worked in the mainstream fashion industry for 8 years as an assistant designer and then head designer for various companies. Luckily for us, she now devotes her time to Norwegian Wood. Eventually, the jewelry bug bit (and I'm so glad it did): “... when my husband and I had a boutique in Montreal about 6 years ago I started dabbling in jewelry, just for fun, for the store. Then when I started selling on Etsy I thought I should list a few pieces, because jewelry is the perfect thing to sell online; easy to ship, easy to fit. My fringe necklace design was one of my first pieces that really took off online, and it really encouraged me to continue with my jewelry experimentation. Now I love creating jewelry as much as the clothing, and love the fact that I can create an entire look for my photo-shoots.” I'm usually against wearing outfits created entirely by one designer, but I will make an exception for Norwegian Wood. No other jewelry designer construct pieces the way Angie does; every item can stand alone or enhance- but not overpower- a Norwegian Wood outfit. Understanding and achieving balance in fashion is quite an accomplishment. Angie was making fringe necklaces and earrings before they were even considered “trendy.” You can also find earrings made from leather or nylon tassles, and brass cuffs wrapped in jersey! My last questions for Angie provided me with insight for the future of Norwegian Wood: What goals do you have? What's your next step? “One of the best parts of working for yourself is being able to update and change your goals as your life progresses. Right now I’m really missing the open spaces of living in the country (I grew up in a very small town), so my husband and I are looking at house options outside of Montreal and trying to do a sort of 4 days in the country 3 days in the city type of situation. Tyson is an artist and also works for me with Norwegian Wood, so our schedule are quite flexible. Fingers crossed we’ll find the right place and start our new lifestyle within the year!” I look forward to the collections of Norwegian Wood for many years to come. I'm always grateful to encounter a designer who can not only change the contents of my closet, but influence the way I think about, study, and live fashion. If you want a little bit more of Angie Johnson's amazing style in your life you can check out her Website, Etsy Shop, Vintage ShopVintage Headquarters, and her husband's Art Shop- Monster-rama! by Tyson Bodnarchuk.

Copy // Sara Neely Images // Manon Parent Model // Claudia

transitions... Copy & Styling // Claire Kruljac Photographer // Darian Simon Toliver Summer is coming to an end and signs of fall are popping up everywhere: shorter days, cooler weather and of course, the excitement of getting a new wardrobe and bringing out those favorite pieces from last year. Looking to save a few bucks or just can't bare to put your favorite summer piece in the closet for the next six months? Here are a few ways to transition those cherished summer pieces from summer to fall without changing your entire wardrobe.

A Summer Tank: A vibrant tank are typical in the summer but can seem out of place among all the neutrals in the fall and winter months. Instead of lace shorts pair with leather leggings and neutral jacket to keep warm and downplay the bright colors.

Outfit Details: Tank by bb Dakota / Shorts by Sans Souci / Belt by French Connection / shoes / Leggings / Forever 21 / Jacket by BCBGMAXAZRIA / Heels by Pacsun

High Waisted Shorts: Can't convert to pants quite yet? Switch from a crop top to a cozy sweater and pair with combat boots for a relaxed look. Put on tights for those super cold days and still feel covered up in your favorite type of denim.

Outfit Details: Top by Urban Outfitters / Shorts by Levi / Vintage Sweater / Combat Boots by Khols

Florals: Floral anything can be especially tricky to wear in the fall given its natural referral to spring. Trade your shorts for black skinnies and a deep colored tank to embrace fall.

Outfit Details: Blazer by Saboskirt / Shorts , Shoes, Cami by Iris Premium / Jeans by Love Culture / Shoes by Rank

ADDICTIVE SUMMER READS

Get lost in the season’s most noteworthy reads

Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations Charles Dickens A terrifying encounter with an escaped convict in a graveyard on the wild Kent marshes; a summons to meet the bitter, decaying Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward Estella- these form a series of events that changes the orphaned Pip’s life forever. $11.98 barnesandnoble.com

The Fault in our Stars John Green Despite the tumor-shrinking miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus suddenly appears, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten. $11.98 barnesandnoble.com

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake Anna Quindlen Look back and celebrate it all in this irresistible memoir. Pulitzer prize winning journalist Anna Quindlen delivers life wisdom without being preachy. $17.42 barnesandnoble.com,

Story of My Life storyofmylifetheblog.blogspot.com A blog for the romanticist; get lost in her love story, obsess over the sweet words she writes to her husband and life lessons she shares. And her cute clothes.

Fairy Tales are True

Edito

r’s P

ick

fairytalesaretrue.com ! Sarah shares all things inspiring and her adorable life on FTAT. A blog especially for a budding entrepreneur as Sarah shares her new styling and events planning business Sarah Tucker Events.

Across the Pond living4london.blogspot.com Live vicariously through Megan as she travels (and lives) “Across the Pond”. This recently engaged former LA fashion industry girl turned neuroscientist will have you laughing and lusting like no other.

RECIPE

BBQ Chicken Pizza Pizza, Pizza, Pizza...Everyone loves pizza! Admitted or not, pizza is always a favorite food for any audience! Mushrooms, pepperoni, sausage, hawaiian, specialty - you name it itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s do-able. Do you eat it with ranch dressing? How about BBQ!? Here is a yummy way of being creative with your own homemade, fresh (and so easy to make) pizza.

!"#$#%&'(")*+*,-./(-*00*1"&/2$'*3#&&/2

!"#$%&'()**%+,,-

./,.#/,%&'(/%0+1/,-0,+$2

Sweet Baby Rays Honey BBQ

•

Grill the chicken and dice into bite size pieces

Sauce

•

Chop the green onion & cilantro

•

Pizza Dough

•

Green Onion

Set out the cheese & pineapple

•

Cilantro

•

Preheat the oven to 400°

•

Cheese - Mozzarella & Mexican

•

Mix •

Pineapple Tidbits

•

Grilled Chicken

•

Seasoning - Basil & Parsley

*Option: Also tastes great with red onions!

!"##$%!&'#()#"* Start by rolling our your pizza dough - white or wheat. Spread your BBQ sauce. (Make sure itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sweet Baby Rays...Just isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the same without it!) Leave about 1/2 inch of dough clear around the edge for the crust. Sprinkle your cheese mix.

!"#$%"&%'( When you’re ready, begin to put our toppings on. •

Sprinkle basil & parsley

•

Add grilled chicken

•

Add pineapple, cilantro & green onion

•

Top with a quick & small

!"#$%#&!$'()!* One of the best parts of this pizza is the crust! When your pizza is all topped & ready to go, glaze the crust with a light coat of Sweet Baby Rayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Honey BBQ Sauce. Once thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done, sprinkle a light coat of Mozzarella cheese. This will create a sweet and cheesy crust for you to really taste while you are enjoying your pizza! This is no joke my friends - it is pure deliciousness!

+#!$,#)$-./# After all of your toppings are loaded on, place your creation in the oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the crust is a golden brown. Then finally...

ENJOY!

Behind The Scenes with Jae Photography

Behind The Scenes with Jae Photography Poppy Lifestyle Editor, Christa Morris is also Jae Photography. After Poppy Lifestyle Editor,Jae Christa Morris also expanded Jae Photography. Afterto starting starting in 2011 sheis has what used simply be a fun Jae in 2011 she has into expanded what used tophotography simply be a fun hobby into a the help of hobby a rising wedding business. With rising wedding photography With the help of Casey from the Casey Arakawabusiness. from Papernote Photo, PoppyArakawa went “behind Papernote Photo, Poppy went “behind the scenes” on a recent engagement scenes” on a recent engagement session, called “Harley’s & Horses”. session, called “Harley’s & Horses”. See how Christa does things, get inside See how Christa does things, get inside her head, learn a few her head, learn a few secrets, and check out the outcome. secrets, and check out the outcome.

A Few Photography Suggestions: !1. !

If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re early, you’re on time!

Whatever your scheduled session time is, make sure to show up early! Be there before your clients & make sure you are presentable. You don’t have to dress fancy, just make sure you are clean and ready to get dirty! And although it may sound silly, make sure your car is clean too. You don’t want to show up in a car that is covered with mud from your latest off roading trip do you? ;)

"2.

Interact!

Interacting with your clients is key! Don’t be afraid to come close, show them what you mean when you say “like this”. If time permits, walk around the location of the session. Using props? Show them before the shoot so they know what they will be working with. For example, I introduced Lilah to Brenda & Dustin. Lilah was the pretty little horse (okay maybe HUGE horse) that was the “horse” of “Harley’s & Horses”.

"3.

Be creative!

Creativity is probably the most important aspect of being a photographer. If you don’t have a creative eye, your picture is just that– a picture. Anyone can take a picture; not everyone can be a photographer

Don’t be afraid... To get dirty. Actually, it is encouraged! I am a true believe in the phrase, “for the sake of a good shot!” If that means laying down in a freshly cut wet lawn, well then you should do it because you only get one chance to capture a single memory.

To get a weird shot. You never know whether something will look good or not if you don’t try it first. If it doesn’t turn out good, at least you gave it a shot. The worst thing you could possibly do is not try.

To check your progress Don’t worry, it doesn’t look “unprofessional” if you glance at your camera here and there. Your clients wont wonder whether you know what you are doing or not; they have seen your pictures if they have hired you. Plus, checking your progress will show you whether you are getting focused shots or not.

Words of Wisdom... Laugh! As someone who literally has a “natural frown” laughter is such an important thing to me. It goes along with interacting with your clients. Laugh with them too. Being friendly, joking, and having a good time with whoever you are taking pictures of, will only make for a smooth and more memorable session experience!

Direction is OKAY. We all love those natural candid moments. It is the “in” thing right now. But direction is okay as well. Not everyone is a natural as having his or her picture taken. Actually, most people hate it. There are ways of being natural and also creating a natural “candid-like” moment in a photo. It all takes practice, and once again, interaction!

Try new things. With every session you have, you only get better. If you don’t, then you are more than likely in the wrong business. Practice really does make perfect– or at least better. You will learn quickly what works and what doesn’t. But you have to try new things in order to figure it out.

It is really important to... Have a style. Knowing what is “you” is what makes you. If you don’t have a style then you will be all over the place. Find out what you like and how you like to do it. Make that your style. It will be awesome when someone sees a picture and says “Oh! It looks like so-and-so took that!”

Know what you are doing. Never show up to a shoot empty handed! That doesn’t always just mean props. Show up knowing what you want to do. If you come without a clue, it will only go down hill from there. Plan your ideas out and bring the to life!

Communicate. This should apply to every aspect of your life, honestly. Communication is the absolute key to success. Without it, you wont do well. Connecting and talking back and forth with your clients will assure them that you care, are organized, and professional. It will also save you from last minute stressing. Apply communication to your life and you will go far.

Be loving. Not necessarily with animals, but in general. Showing your clients you care will create a positive atmosphere. Go above and beyond what they expect you to do. Don’t do it out of wanting and expecting more–do it because you love your job and making them happy makes you happy!

To see more of “Harley’s & Horses” visit Jae Photography Click here to see all the photos from Behind the Scenes Copy // Christa Morris Photograhy // Papernote | photo

Capturing the Day... We get some added background tips from Casey Arakawa of Papernote Photo who captured this â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Behind the Scenesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; day. Casey shares some more tips about her move into the profession of photography and about her collaboration with Christa. Interview // Hilary Walker

How did you come to the profession of photography and what brought you and Denny together? I have been involved with photography for several years doing artistic and expressive works. Denny was also an avid photographer with a more journalistic style of photography. One day, Denny's friend needed a photographer for her wedding, so Denny and I collaborated to shoot her wedding. Documenting a wedding for a friend was the first time that we felt an emotional connection with people through our photography. Not only were we moved by the love of our friends, but we were also driven to capture that love with our photography. Afterward, we decided to start our own wedding photography team that we now call, "Papernote Photo." You could say that we were inspired by the love of our friends. Why wedding photography? Is there something unique about it that makes your work especially rewarding? Its the abundance of love and joy at a wedding that motivates and inspires us to pursue this kind of work. When you start to breakdown a wedding to its basic components, eventually you are left with two people in love. There are times when we can be a little "caught up" with photographing the venue, the dress, and the flowers. Then there is this moment of clarity!upon seeing a couple for "who they are" that makes a wedding truly unique. We enjoy making connections with our clients and to witness their love at a wedding is one of the most rewarding experiences we have.

What makes a photograph timeless and how do you achieve that for your clients looking for an enduring aesthetic? That is a great question! In general, capturing a "real moment" that is consistent with a photographers vision may help create timeless photographs. However, what makes a photograph truly timeless does not need to be the most artistic or "a photographer's favorite," but how much it emotionally moves our clients.!As photographers, we do our best to be unnoticeable so that we may capture as many real moments as possible. We aim to provide photographs that primarily allow our clients to relive the happiness they experienced on their wedding day. Describe the process of collaborating with Christa on this engagement photo session. How did you prepare? What was the day like? Were there any favorite moments? As the second photographer, I would just mention a couple ideas regarding the shoot, but I typically kept to myself out of respect to the session lead by Christa. There is a level of intimacy that allows a couple to behave naturally and for the photographer to have an "open vision" during a photo session. The chemistry between a couple and the photographer is an essential component to a great session, in which case too many people can sometimes disrupt that relationship. That said, the artistic vision of the engagement itself was all Christa! She did an amazing job and like most engagement sessions, it was a fun and lighthearted experience. The whole session was memorable as its always great to see another photographer "work their magic." Photographers all will have a different perspective relative to their photography and it's awesome to be a witness to it.

See more of Caseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work at Papernote | photo

a chat with...

Copy // Lindsay Boland Images courtesy of A Daily Something

Today you can find her over at A Daily Something as a Prop Stylist and Event Planner, but a couple of years ago you would have found her as a political science major desperately seeking a creative outlet. Rebecca Beach, started A Daily Something as a stylish sanctuary where she curates all of her favorite things. Simply described as a place to share all of the things she loves with the world, you can find recipes, DIYs, thrifted finds, and my favorite, all of her incredible work.

POPPY: How did you know that you wanted to be a Prop Stylist and Event Planner? REBECCA: I love organizing people, creating things with my hands, and making things look beautiful. These three passions translate perfectly into event planning and styling. The most rewarding feeling in the world is taking a minute during an event or photo shoot to step back and enjoy the moment, watching everything you've worked on come together seamlessly! P: What is your favorite event to style? R: Weddings! The entire process - meeting with clients, hearing their vision, connecting with vendors, making decorations and collecting props, and then putting it all together on their wedding day - is just a thrill! I enjoy seeing a bride's face light up when she sees everything actualized on her wedding day! It's a privilege to help couples make their dreams come to life. The marriage ceremony is a special and unique occasion and it is an honor to be a part of such an important tradition.! P: Describe your style in three words R: Organic, industrial, and vintage.

announced it was garter time, my bride mouthed across the dance floor "I forgot!" I quickly pulled her aside, opened my trusty emergency kit, and helped her put on my spare garter! She was relieved!! P: What do you believe is the key to making an event or design successful? R: Anticipating any needs your clients and their guests may have. My goal is to achieve the most comfortable and relaxed atmosphere possible!

P: Favorite event planning memory? R: The day before her wedding, my bride had been commenting on the fact that she had an over-abundance of garters. What one item did she forget to put on while getting ready? Her garter! In a moment of panic, after the DJ

P: What is your biggest inspiration? How do you get inspiration? R: My biggest inspiration has to be nature. I love being inspired by pinterest, magazines, and other creative people, but ultimately I

need to remove myself from the computer, go outside, breath some fresh air, and get ideas

R: I hope to continue growing my readership, developing friendships, building my portfolio,

from the seasons, and the different textures. I’m also always inspired by a trip to the thrift store. Finding new uses for old treasures is one of my passions!

and officially launching my business! Details to come soon ;)

P: How did A Daily Something help you to pursue your dream of becoming a Prop Stylist and Event Planner? R: It’s connected me with clients, and helped me showcase my work in a way I never thought possible! P: What is your favorite part about your blog?

P: What is the biggest piece of advice you can give bloggers about posting consistently? R: It helps to have some sort of regular schedule. Think of about 5 “series” or topics that you can post about regularly, and then just alternate days for each. I post about recipes, entertaining, gatherings, personal style, my work, and DIY projects…that gives me enough variety day-to-day, without being overwhelmed. There’s flexibility but also consistency. And sometimes I can add another

R: How it’s introduced me to other creatives and the relationships I’ve developed. It’s been a fun journey and I cannot wait to see where it takes me over the next year!

topic into the mix, just to switch things up a bit. P: If you could tell newbie bloggers one thing, what would it be?

P: What do you believe was the key to your blog’s success?

R: Don’t compare yourself to others! Know what other creatives are doing, and be inspired by their success, but be yourself and be original! Don’t get bogged down or discouraged – think of new and innovative

R: I think there are three main reasons for my success: 1) original content; 2) being authentic, and reaching out! I cannot stress enough how important it is to make connections with other bloggers and people you admire. Send an email or a tweet. Develop relationships. Ask people to collaborate with you on projects! Be yourself and try to think outside the box and post things you’ve never seen before!! P: Where do you see your blog in one year?

ways to express yourself.

A CITY SUMMER Inspired by the urban Toronto landscape and the raw textures of the city setting, photographer Caleigh Kyle is able to capture that precious feeling of carefree summers and youthful exploration.

"The girl I imagined draws inspiration from the trends of the past and mixes it with a cool, unapologetic and laidback attitude. She puts her outfit together in the morning with little thought but they always seem to make the day feel more memorable and picturesque. In the end I think these looks allow you to get to know the girl on a personal level and the images portray a magical moment in her life that reflect the spontaneity of summer adventures." - Stylist Thea Acierno on her inspiration for this shoot

caleigh kyle

Editorials have a power to make the viewer feel something interesting and inspiring. I always aim to capture expressions in my photos in ways that evoke such feelings. - Caileigh Kyle

caleigh kyle

PERSON | PLACE | MUSE Copy // Hilary Walker

Erika Storm Wasser has the name of a person you would guess poses natural magnetism and boundless energy. We know she’s probably heard this before, but there’s just something about the name “Storm” that gives the impression of “a mover and a shaker” . Would you believe us if we told you that Erika is exactly that?! And just as her name might catch you by surprise, her current involvement as the host for SPACEStv began as unexpectedly... in a New York City comedy club after one of Erika’s nightly comedy sets. (Yes, you heard that correctly! She began in New York as a comedian!!) When the GM of SPACES approached her one evening after a show about an exciting opportunity with SPACEStv, neither one of them knew just how serendipitous the meeting would be. Since then, Erika has interviewed the likes of J. Alexander Martin and Thom Filicia and is gearing up for a collaboration with High Point Market this coming Fall. A storm is surely brewing... in the best kind of way!

The Person // Erika Storm Wasser The Place // !New York, NY

Q&A

Your Muse or Role-model // !Changes all the time. Where it started // Gotham Comedy Club, NYC… SPACEStv General Manager Bradley Werner was in the audience, thats how we met. What keeps you going // Having so far to go. The soundtrack // Usually a shuffle, but I'm into Ellie Goulding for the moment. Your drink of choice // Vodka. Something only your friends know // I'm trying to learn how to tap dance and am a closeted musical theater-geek. Also, I'm way more domesticated then I'll ever let on. Dream vacation // !Yachting around the Mediterranean. Real-life getaway // Hamptons, Tennessee, Vegas. One item on your bucket list // Live abroad for a year. Reading or Watching currently // Reading David Sedaris "Naked", watching SPACEStv & Breaking Bad. In your handbag // Lipgloss, Notebook, but never a pen!?! Personal style in four words // Do my boobs fit? Dinner date with your hero... who would it be // Joan Rivers. What’s next // SPACEStv is growing so I'm excited to not be looking for a "next" for a bit…. !so, whats next? Staying put -- I'm also in this upcoming December's GLAMOUR magazine.

adorned a collection to inspire a curated life...

WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER PINTEREST