Sunshine
ISSUE NUMBER FOURTEEN
Summer 2016
on t h e
cov er:
C rah Sa
larius Photog ra p hy
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Sunshine MAGAZINE
issue number fourteen - Summer 2016
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in this issue (summer) 2016
14 page 46 Summer Yoga Flow
page 26 4th of July sweets
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Ixchel Trian
g
le
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IN EVERY ISSUE CELEBS WITH STYLE EDITOR'S NOTE A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER WHAT TO WEAR CURRENT OBSESSION WHAT'S IN MY BAG
Artist Spotlight
King of Pops
Dashworthy Y
oga
6 11 14 24 80 82
Wallets d a e Thr
Th
acklefords h S e
celebs with style
Lupita Nyong'o Trend Alert: Scallop suits are big this summer! You can find them in a lot of colors, styles and prices! You are sure to find the perfect one for you!
Hat Gigi Pip
Body Chain Kendra Scott
Swimsuit Marysia's Antibe
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It's official---summer is in the air. As the days heat up, don't forget to factor in the impact high temps and outdoor activities can have on your skin.
We are looking for little rays of Sunshine to join our skincare team! If you are interested in learning more about Rodan + Fields and starting your own skincare business email us at:
thesunshinemag@gmail.com
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MEET THE
Sunshine TEAM Lesley Dennis Music Editor
Sarah Clarius Handorf Photographer
Shelby Cutting Fashion Contributor
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Leann Daniel Editor-In-Chief
Hello Summer. The sun is shining, the wedding invitations are rolling in, and my chaco tan lines are getting stronger by the day. Summer is such a busy and fun time. Our summer will consist of camp, iced coffee and as much time in the water as possible. Finley is such a water child and i don't hate the water. It is the best way to beat the heat. I am a fan of all water: pool, river, lake, and ocean. I hope to visit them all this summer. Also trying to stay fit this summer. I have fallen in love with yoga and Hiking. I love that these are things I can do with my family too. But the best part of summer...watermelon. We eat about one a week in our house. We cannot survive without it. It is our go to treat. Hope you lots of fun summer plans with your friends and family. Get outside, go on adventures, eat ice cream, and remember to protect your skin!
THANKS FOR LETTING THE SUNSHINE IN.
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EDITOR'S Cactus Tank Top Hello Apparel
The laybag is lightweight and so compact when deflated! You can take it anywhere. It looks so cozy! and it floats!
Inflatable Chair LayBag
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(wishlist)
Pool Daze
"Backlace" Sunglasses Strap Sintillia
Flaotable Sunglasses Beach Bum Outfitters
Beach Goddess Pallette Illuminate Cosmetics
Pizza Floatie Floatie Kings
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Melissa Turner Founder
My husband and I like to establish one word to describe different seasons of our life. The words range from "relaxed" to "blur" to "upside down." One of us will refer to a word from the past and the other will know exactly when they are talking about. Example: "The leg on that stool has been wobbly since blur." One month ago, we entered a new phase of life. We're calling it "fun." We just came out of "whirlwind," so "fun" just seems appropriate. We moved to a new city, I had a club chair and ottoman covered in cowhide, and I got some new sunglasses for summer. Fun. When we start to feel stressed or overwhelmed, we remind ourselves that we need to calm down and have some good, old fashioned fun. I hope you have fun this summer. Embrace the whimsical, the exciting, and the bright Sunshine!
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YOUR (AD) HERE
We would love to feature your product in our next issue. contact us at thesunsinemag@gmail.com for more inforamtion.
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Describe your business. Ixchel Triangle is the fusion of love for a culture and timeless fashion. We upcycle traditional Mayan weavings and turn them into bags and other products. We produce only 100% handmade products. All of our bags are signed by the artisan who created it. I personally know every artisan working with our company. We are committed to making the highest quality bags and accessories. Each product is unique and one of a kind. We strive to be a company of integrity, and we stay true to our commitment to support people and their handmade art, rather than supporting machine made products. Tory Jones is the owner and creator of Ixchel Triangle. She started the company in 2013, but fell in love with Centreal America and the people when her grandmother moved to Guatemala years before. Tory was overwhelmed by the love and energy and history the artisans poured into every hand-made item. These unique pieces are delicately woven into her own family story and are now are apart of her future story. Tory is elated and honored to share a small piece of Mayan culture through Ixchel’s unique designs. Every item that is purchased directly supports a family in Guatemala. A portion of the proceeds is given to every artisan who participated in the construction of these 100% hand-made Ixchel's creations. The artisans are paid above market wages for their talents, and thrive as highly valued members of the Ixchel team.
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How did you get started? My grandmother moved to Guatemala when I was 5. While visiting her I began supporting the education of a few children down there. (We had known these families for a couple decades.) I've always had an eye for art and a love for creating things. Before Ixchel Triangle, I had a "regular" job working as a baking occupations instructor in a prison. Basically I got to hang out with inmates all day, teach them how to bake, and help them get a job upon release. I loved this job, but something inside of me knew I needed to take the risk to start my own business. I wanted to merge my passions of creating, art, culture, and giving back to the community and families I had grown to love in Guatemala. I wanted to create something I could be proud of. It was difficult and scary to leave a secure, guaranteed, goverment job to start my own business and be my own boss.
I will say the road has not always been smooth and straight, but I believe in this, "The man who goes farthest is usually the one who is willing to do and dare." -Dale Carregie
What's behind the name? Ixchel is the Mayan goddess of fertility and midwifery. The Ixchel Triangle is an area in The Highlands of Guatemala where some of our weavings come from. The goddess of Ixchel spoke to my heart as I had three daughters naturally at home with a midwife, and I was also born at home with the help of a midwife.
What's the most challenging part of your work? Not listening to the voices of negativity or my inner voice when it is filled with fear or doubt. These will bleed you of your creativity and drive. I have to stay focused on my goals and use that negativity or doubt as motivation to be better and stronger. This can be a challenge when you have your own business but I've always loved a challenge.
follow them on instagram
What do you love about your work? I love working with people and creating products that I'm proud of. I also like having the freedom to decide which path my business will take.
@ixchelltriangle
Describe your office. My office is filled with the lovely smell of leather and vibrant colors of Guatemala. I always have product in the office, so whenever people come in they get to see and touch our beautiful bags. My door is always open, music is always playing (usually along the lines of Louis Armstrong or Ella Fitzgerald.) I work best amongst chaos, so I like a messy office filled with music and constant interruption of people popping in to chat. One entire wall of my office is a window with a view of our local mountains and tiny airport. Watching the planes come and go all day from my desk brings the outside world in, along with creative ideas of adventure and wonder.
What Keeps you inspired? Children and nature have been and continue to be my inspiration.
What are your most popular products? Depending on the season/time of the year different products are in higher demand, but our most popular products consistently are the Nim and diaper bags.
What makes your products so unique? Our attention to detail and quality are unmatched. Our use of one of a kind weavings (not cheap machine made knockoffs) and genuine full hide leather. Our unique artistic designs are what set us apart.
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Best advice you've been given? "If you stop now you'll never finish." This advice was given to me by my mom encouraging me in my education. I have carried this advice over into my business, and all other aspects of my life. I never stop, no matter if I feel tired or discouraged. I keep going towards the goal ahead until I achieve it.
Favorite Summer treat. I am kind of a dessertaholic, so I would rather a sweet treat over food all year long. My all time favorite is peanut butter chocolate ice cream!
How do you spend your days off?
What is your dream summer vacation?
Days off? Ha! Anyone who owns a business knows you never really have any days off. I might not be at the office everyday, but my mind is never "off." When I'm not physically working I'm spending time with my daughters Amelee (11), Zuzu (7), and Bleu (4). I love taking them on fun adventures such as the beach, road trips, the mountains, disneyland... we just love making memories everywhere.
I just returned a few days ago from doing a road trip in a camper van through the North Island of New Zealand. This was one of the most visually enticing trips I've ever been on. It was a blast! The only thing missing was my daughters, so as soon as they are on summer break, I'm planning on taking them to Yellowstone National Park! I think Yellowstone is a must do/see for everyone, especially those of us living in the USA. I think the memories we make there will be unforgettable.
Each bag is hand made and takes roughly 4 hours to complete. The Hupil (vibrant colorful fabric worn by the Mayan women) is hand woven and the leather is stained and cut. Each bag is signed by the maker.
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What t Top H&M
(summa summa
Style Stap Goo le: d com su m f y m actu er stap tees are a l a seas lly a s e. The taple y are o n. T up o h r do ey can for every w n. So e be dress as y to st ed yle
Glasses Urban Outfitters
Shoes Nordstrom
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o
Wear
a summa time)
Sh elby
Fash Cu i o n ww Cont ttin w.s h el g byh ribut ele or n.c o m
Necklace Kendra Scott
Purse Rebecca Minkoff
Skirt H&M
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Sprinkle Filled
recipe by: Desha McNeair of Coffee and Sprinkles
Brownie Bites
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Ingredients For the Brownies: ½ cup all purpose flour 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/8 tsp salt 1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter 3 oz chocolate chips ¾ cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract For the Buttercream: 2 sticks (8 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature ½ tsp vanilla extract pinch of salt 1 ½ - 3 cups of sifted powdered sugar Other: Red, white, and blue sprinkles 1-2 Tablespoons of melted butter for the pan
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Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 325º Fahrenheit. 2. Brush two mini muffin pans with melted butter. 3. In a small bowl, combine flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside. 4. Place the unsalted butter and chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water. The bottom of the bowl should not touch the water. Stir chocolate chips and butter occasionally until completely melted and smooth. 5. Remove bowl from the heat and add the sugar. Whisk to combine. 6. Next add in the eggs, one at a time, whisking until combined. Be sure not to overbeat. 7. Stir in vanilla extract. 8. Stir in the flour mixture being careful not to over mix. 9. Fill the mini muffin tin ~3/4 of the way full and bake for 8-12 minutes. The edges should be puffy but the center will look a little undone. 10. Let cool for 5-10 minutes. 11. After the brownies are partially cool, remove from the pan and, using a ½ tsp measuring spoon, gently push down the center of the mini brownies to create a well. Let cool completely before filling with sprinkles. While the brownies are cooling, make the buttercream: 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip together the butter, salt, and vanilla extract on medium speed until light and creamy (about 1-2 minutes). 2. Turn off the mixer and add in 1 ½ cups of the powdered sugar. Start on low speed, gradually increase the speed, and whip until combined. You can add in more sugar depending on how sweet you like your frosting. Once the desired amount of sugar is added in, increase the speed to medium high and whip until very light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Assembly 1. Fill each mini brownie with sprinkles. 2. Using a piping bag with a star piping tip, fill the bag with frosting and pipe small swirls of frosting on top of the brownies. 3. Top each swirl of buttercream with a few more sprinkles. Yield: ~20 mini brownies Brownie Recipe From: Coffee & Sprinkles (www.coffeeandsprinklesbakes.com) , adapted from Smitten Kitchen (http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2013/02/salted-caramel-brownies/) Buttercream Recipe from: Coffee & Sprinkles
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Describe your business. King of Pops is a line of frozen pops. They are handmade with high quality local ingredients and no artificial coloring or preservatives. They are mostly sold in carts outdoors, creating a culture of going outside and being close to the community.
How did you get started?
Brothers Nick & Steven dreamed up the idea of a pop making business while vacationing in South America. While visiting, they fell in love with paletas (Latin American ice pops) and began dreaming of bringing these fresh-fruit pops back to the people of Atlanta, GA. Steven was laid off from his job and used his time to develop a plan to make King of Pops a reality. He recruited the help of his brother Nick (the lawyer), friends and family and began experiementing in the recreation of the essence of those pops he had enjoyed years ago. After much trial and error the brothers opened their first cart. It was a huge success! Eventually the pop-making was so successful that Nick left his job as a lawyer to join the King of Pop team full-time. Now they have their own kitchen and carts all over with locations in multiple states.
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Brothers Steven and Nick Carse used to travel with their brother in South America and fell in love with the 'paletas', fresh frozen pops made with ripe local fruit and interesting flavors. They dreamt of bringing that back home with them. When Steven was laid off his corporate job, it seemed like the perfect time to give that a try. After countless hours in the kitchen trying out recipes and flavor combinations, they started selling their pops out of a pushcart.
What's behind the name? We went through a lot of names and had family and friends pick their favorites. The finalists were King of Pops and Fria, which means cold in spanish. Funny story: one of our friends hated King of Pops and thought Fria was the best. He is our General Manager today.
What do you love about your work?
Describe your workspace/office.
We love bringing people together. Although you can find King of Pops at a lot of stores and we have a couple of brick and mortars, our retail business is mostly carts. We love the fact that getting a pop mostly means you have to take a break and go outside for a walk, talk to others, look at the sky.
Busy! Imagine an office where sales and marketing happen, a kitchen where we make 10k pops a day, a deposit where we keep product and where we have around 50 carts that go in and out with products everyday! Even though we are still a small company, we grew a lot! We have rented out some space next door so we can have a little more office room!
What is the most challenging part of your work? The biggest challenge for us is probably keep the business going during the winter. We have even started a christmas tree business years ago, called Tree Elves, to keep us busy outside of pop season!
Follow King of Pops on instagram @kingofpops
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What keeps you inspiried? Our community, our Farm... We have a farm, King of Crops (of course!), where we are growing our own ingredients. The work we have been doing there is certainly inspiring and keeps us focussed on being our best.
What is your biggest accomplishment so far (your biggest "pinch me" moment)? We pinch ourselves every day! (laughs). But a cool moment that just happened was Coca-Cola wanting us to make a special Coke flavor for them. They even designed a special wrapper where they put our crown in their Coke bottle! Amazing! Another one would be our free yoga class. We started a yoga class at the park nearby and around 1000 people come every week. It's insane and we feel so loved!
How do you spend your days off? Probably exploring our city, biking down the Beltline, and eating a pop (laughs)!
Best piece of advice you've been given? When Steven started, he pushed his one cart by a construction site. The workers asked him what he had, and he said "Pineapple Habanero, Grapefruit Mint, etc.." and the guys asked "No strawberry? I want strawberry!".
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What are your most popular flavors? Chocolate Sea Salt and Raspberry Lime. We can't send a cart out without those two flavors or we get in trouble!
Any new flavors for summer? Yes! We have a seasonal flavor calendar, so we are only using the produce that is freshest! The Peaches just arrived and we're psyched. Our peach pops are amazing, y'all!
What is your go-to Summer Treat? Pops!!! Oddly enough, we don't get sick of them!
Favorite Summer tradition(s)? We have been going to our farm with coworkers and customer and working there together. It's definitely a new summer tradition.
Look for the cart with the rainbow umbrella.
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What's behind the name? Our life is made up of two dates connected by a dash: the date we’re born and the date ultimately leave our physical body. Dashworthy is a reminder to live every moment of that dash to the fullest, because we don’t know when it could come to an end.
Describe your business. I am a 200-hour certified Vinyasa yoga teacher based in San Diego, California. I share tips to live every day as if it were your last, infusing yoga and other wellness techniques on my blog, Dashworthy.com.
How did you get started? How long have you been practicing yoga? I started my blog, Dashworthy, a couple of years ago to take my journaling online in hopes that topics I was interested in could help and inspire others. I soon realized that Yoga was central to the theme of the blog and eventually decided to get my yoga teaching certification to take it one step further. I started practicing yoga around 10 years ago at the beginning of college. I was sick of the ego-centric gym culture and driven to the mind-body connection and stressrelief I found in yoga. It’s been a love story ever since!
The concept came to me on the birthday of a beautiful friend of mine that we lost far too early in life due to a careless drunk driving accident when we were only 20 years old. She was born only a few days after me, so every year around our birthdays I think of her. She was the first person I was really close to that I lost in life, so it has always been a brutal reminder to me that life is a precious gift we must appreciate. During her funeral the poem “Live Your Dash” was read aloud and really resonated with me. Thus, Dashworthy was born in hopes of inspiring others to make the most of the present moment.
What do you love about your work? I love to see when a message I share resonates with someone in my community. I have been at a point where seeing inspirational messages motivated me to get out of a rut and hope that my posts can do the same for someone else in a similar position.
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Most recently, I hosted my first yoga challenge (#DashworthyYogaChallenge). For some this was the first challenge they ever participated in. For others, it was their first time doing yoga and they were learning the poses for the first time plus putting themselves out into the world as a yogi. I was so incredibly inspired by the talent and the courage of my community to put it all out there! The support within the community was incredible and I can’t wait to kick off my next challenge this summer (#BikiniYogaChallenge).
What is the most challenging part of your work? The way I see it, I’m a “Spiritual Entrepreneur” and much of this path is uncharted territory that hasn’t been clearly defined. I love the creativity of it, but I’ve always worked for others in established roles and industries. My career prior to yoga and starting my blog has been in marketing and public relations. It’s invigorating to know that I can take my yoga business into the exact direction that serves my passion and purpose. But it’s also scary not knowing how soon I will get there and if I will be successful. There are so many beautiful yoga teachers and programs that are already established, yet so many new yoga students awakening to the healing benefits of the practice that I do believe there is room for me in the ecosystem.
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Describe your workspace (favorite place to practice)? I love to practice outside where I can be inspired by nature. I usually gravitate to water, at the beach or the bay in San Diego, CA where I live. The beach is beautiful and inspiring but sand is tricky for balance (though great for practicing poses like headstand and handstand)! I try to find a grassy spot nearby where I can get the view plus the stability so I can focus on more than just my balance. As a result, you will find me teaching a donation-based class facing the bay in Mission Beach and another class on the water as a standup paddleboard yoga instructor in San Diego this summer!
What keeps you inspired? I’m a sponge for information! I love to read and consume inspirational messages from others who are unabashedly putting themselves out there into the world, such as Rachel Brathen (Yoga Girl), Amber Zuckswert (Epic Life). I also love to read and would highly recommend my most recent book infatuation: "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. The thing I love most about yoga is that there is so much to learn and so many directions to take your practice. I consider myself a student of life and try to learn something new every day. In addition to reading I listen to podcasts daily where I pick up tips for entrepreneurship and more. One of my favorites is the School of Greatness by Lewis Howes.
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What is your biggest accomplishment so far? The success of my first #DashworthyYogaChallenge blew me away! Over a 10 week period I saw more than 1,000 beautiful yoga photos put out into the world. It has been a great feeling knowing I can share what I’ve learned with others who will take action, and together we can all be a part of something greater.
How do you spend your days off? I spend my days off by the beach or bay in San Diego! I recently got a standup paddleboard and enjoy taking my dog Izzie out in the bay. Otherwise, I love to rollerblade/bike/skate on the boardwalk by the beach! When I’m not at the beach, I’m most likely hiking, traveling or catching up on my reading.
What is your advice for those just starting the practice? Be patient and focus on feeling good in your own practice. Don’t get distracted by others who may have been practicing 10 times longer than you have. Yoga is a personal practice of going inward and is so much more than asana (physical postures). As they say, "Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle."
What is your go-to summer treat? I’m obsessed with avocado! I have at least one a day. Luckily in San Diego they are in season year ‘round! I just cut it in half, sprinkle on a little lemon pepper and scoop it out with a spoon. Simple yet delicious!
Favorite summer tradition(s)? Best piece of advice you've been given? No dream is too small. My parents always encouraged me to go after my dreams and that anything could be accomplished with hard work. I was born and raised in a small town of Wisconsin and never dreamed I would be living by the beach in San Diego, CA. But here I am! With enough determination, anything is possible.
I absolutely love a beach bonfire when the days stay warmer after the sun goes down. Bring on the s’mores! I also love outdoor concerts during the summer. It’s so great to be outdoors listening to music with friends without a care in the world!
Follow Heather on instagram @dashworthy
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Summer yoga flow with Heather from Dashworthy Yoga.
follow this sequence as many times as desired. Take 3-5 breaths for each pose. This is a great sequence to start or end your day and can be done anywhere.
forward fold BENEFITS: Stretches the hips, hamstrings, and calves. Strengthens the thighs and knees. Keeps your spine strong and flexible. Reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Calms the mind and soothes the nerves. Relieves tension in the spine, neck, and back.
halfway lift BENEFITS: Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression. Stimulates the liver and kidneys. Stretches the hamstrings, calves, and hips. Strengthens the thighs and knees. Improves digestion. Reduces fatigue and anxiety. Relieves headache and insomnia.
mountain pose BENEFITS: Improves posture. Strengthens thighs, knees, and ankles. Firms abdomen and buttocks. Relieves sciatica. Reduces flat feet.
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mountain pose, arms up BENEFITS: Improves posture. Strengthens thighs, knees, and ankles. Firms abdomen and buttocks. Relieves sciatica. Reduces flat feet.
four limbs pose BENEFITS: Strengthens the arms and wrists. Tones the abdomens.
plank pose BENEFITS: Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression. Stimulates the liver and kidneys. Stretches the hamstrings, calves, and hips. Strengthens the thighs and knees. Improves digestion. Reduces fatigue and anxiety. Relieves headache and insomnia.
forward fold BENEFITS: Activates the abdominal muscles. Eases symptoms of menopause, asthma, headaches, and insomnia. Stimulates the kidneys, liver, spleen. Improves digestion. May lower high blood pressure. Therapeutic for infertility, osteoporosis, and sinusitis.
upward-facing dog BENEFITS: Improves posture. Strengthens the spine, arms, wrists. Stretches chest and lungs, shoulders, and abdomen. Firms the buttocks. Stimulates abdominal organs. Helps relieve mild depression, fatigue, and sciatica.
downward-facing dog BENEFITS: Helps prevent osteoporosis. Relieves headache, insomnia, back pain and fatigue. Therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis.
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The original roundie towel. Also available in a petite size. We love their geometric prints and neautral colors. Their leather carrier is another noteworthy product.
The Beach People
Sand Cloud
Tren d Ale Tie D rt : ye h a com as off iciall ebac y ma k . W be m d e c o re e o u l d n e ot xcite d.
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Sum
spre
Gunn & Swain
mmer
eads
It doesn't have to be cold to get good use out of your favorite mexican blanket. These blankets are perfect for the beach, picnics and outdoor concerts. We love that they are both festive and practical.
Cotton On
We are still obsessed with watermelon everything. This towel is a steal, only $20.
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hello
Summer
Sarah Clarius Photography
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We are suckers for a good husband and wife team at Sunshine. Colby and McKenzie Bauer are no exception. The pair started Thread wallets in a storage unit a few years ago, 2014, with hopes to bring life in an industry full of boring and bulky wallets. The couple moved to Hawaii shortly after getting married and tested their first round of Thread Wallets. In 2015, they moved back to Utah and continued to further develop their company. Thread Wallets offer a functional design, slim profile, and unique patterns. The minimalistic style and their practicality are a perfect pair.
Describe your business. We make slim wallets for the stylish minimalist. When my husband came up with the idea, he noticed wallets were either really big and bulky and without style or slim without style. There wasn't a slim wallet on the market that also had style.
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How did you get started? My husband had to successfully fund a Kickstarter campaign for a school project. He noticed that slim wallets did really well on Kickstarter but they all lacked style. He picked out his favorite and put his own twist on them.
What's behind the name? Our wallets are made out of elastic so "Thread" seemed to be the perfect fit.
What do you love about your work? I love working with my husband! He is the best business partner. It's so fun to be able to bounce ideas off each other. Besides that, I love seeing people using our product! It makes what we are doing worth it.
What is the most challenging part of your work? Manufacturing overseas has been more difficult than we thought. It's taken us a while to nail down manufacturers that we trust and feel comfortable with.
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Describe your office/workspace. We still work out of our home. It's a small little room in our cute little cottage! It gets cluttered and messy sometimes, but it's super convenient.
What keeps you inspired? Everything! My husband and I love food, travel and being outside. We also look up to a lot of other successful brands who have taken a simple product and made it stand out (i.e. Stance Socks, Neff Headwear, Skull Candy).
What is your biggest accomplishement so far? We have been so blessed! I think our biggest accomplishment has just come from seeing our growth this past year. We started pushing our company in January of 2015 and it couldn't have gone any better! When we started, we said "we will do this for 6 months and if it is making us money, we will continue. If it isn't we will stop." After six months, we had raised 35K on Kickstarter and had done really well with our online shop as well as our social media followings. So, we continued pushing on!
Follow Thread Wallets on instagram @thread_wallets
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What's next for Thread?
How do you spend your days off?
We are introducing new products this year! We are really excited for that. We are going to be branching out to new wallet products, leather wallets, phone wallets, etc.
Working ;) Since we work out of our home we really don't take days off. Sometimes we will work less than others, but we are always doing something whether its emailing, collaborating, designing, or working on production.
What's your go to summer treat? We love fruit! Fresh fruit and Acai bowls are the best. I also love s'mores.
Favorite Summer Tradition?
Best advice you've been given? Learn from your failures. People see failure as negative, but if you can learn from your failures, they become successes.
Both mine and my husbands families go to Lake Powell every year. We LIVE for Lake Powell.
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Summer Playli ke i l e m i t r e m m a su n s o l e e u ar ef t u i o u y q r r g o e n , i h e t h k t e a o h l N W e ! h c i t s t u a st m i l g d y n i o a y o l g a p l s p i , h e t v , i e r s i e d f t f I g ! o n y c n lo d a e p c i m o n c o f d g o o n i o p w g p e r f si o a f e h k t i a will m new music w n in. ENJOY! w y o l r t h s t o s m e t i r o v a f r u o
ist
Great Night - NEEDTOBREATHE Uh Huh, Yeah! - Judah & the Lion Thank God for the Summertime - Ben Rector American Beauty - Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors Vagabonds - Grizfolk Fine Without You - Best Coast Daydreamer - Young the Giant First - Cold War Kids 97 - Davis Red Fire Night - Green River Ordinance Lemonade - Matt Wertz Stand Up For It - Brett Dennen Honey, I m Coming Home - Dave Barnes Soldier, Poet, King - The Oh Hellos Crave - Parachute Sedona - Houndmouth White Flag - Joseph High Roller - Sugar & the Hi Lows Mississippi Kisses - Leon Bridges Sooth Lady Wine - Matt Corby Diamonds - Johnnyswim Silhouettes - Colony House Cleopatra - The Lumineers Our Blood - Grey Lakes This is Life - The Roosevelts
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You can find “Sunshine’s Summer Playlist” on Spotify!
My roommate knew how much I liked Anna, so every time he went over to her house he would plant seeds for me. It took me a bit of time, work and convincing, but eventually I was able to spend some quality time with her. Our first time really sitting down and talking together we ended up talking for hours. I don’t think we spent a day apart from each other after that. I knew from the very beginning of our relationship that I would marry her one day.
Anna and Daniel are a husband and wife photography team that recently decided to live full-time in a travel trailer and go exploring. We admire their desire to pursue a more "meaningful and simple lifestyle" and love that they are documenting and sharing with all of us along the way. We have admired Anna's photography for a while and love that Daniel is now able to join her full-time. Their work is beautiful and their passion shines through their photographs. We cannot wait to see where their little trailer takes them.
How did y'all meet? Anna and I met during college, but I remember meeting Anna long before she remembers meeting me though. I thought she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, so I liked her from the first time I saw her. Our paths crossed a few times freshmen year but we never got a chance to actually spend any real time together until my roommate started dating her roommate sophomore year.
Anna, we know that you have been doing photography for a while. Daniel, is this something you have always been into or something you picked up from your wife? Photography was always interesting to me growing up, but I didn’t really get into it until Anna and I started dating. She started shooting weddings while we were dating in school, so I’ve been along for the whole ride on the wedding photography business. We started shooting weddings full-time together at the beginning of 2016, and I’ve really enjoyed getting more into photography during this time. We’ve also been doing a lot of work with film photography lately, and I’ve really gained a deep appreciation for shooting film. There’s something really amazing about shooting medium format film that you just can’t get from shooting digital.
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What is the best thing about working together? The best thing about working together is definitely the time we get to spend together. Before I started full-time with the business, I worked Monday through Friday and Anna would typically leave on Friday to shoot weddings and wouldn’t be home until late Sunday. We both hated that we really only had weeknights to spend together. Working together has tremendously helped strengthen our relationship, and our biggest regret is not doing it sooner. It’s also great being a husband and wife team on a wedding day. We’ve figured out really good processes for a wedding day, so we each always know where the other person is at what time during the day and what shots they’re getting.
What is the hardest part about working together? The most difficult part about working as a husband and wife team is probably learning to communicate as business partners, not as a husband and wife, when the time calls for it. There are times when we might not think to communicate something to each other related to the business because we assume the other person already knows what they need to know. Overall we’ve really enjoyed working together, and we both compliment each other’s strengths/ weaknesses very well.
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What is the most challenging part of your work? One of the primary things we always keep focused on is creating a lifestyle centered around the things that really matter to us in life. We always want to keep our family and friends as a priority, and spending quality time with our loved ones, and each other, is something we always want to do. If you’re not careful work can very quickly take over your life. We work really hard keeping our focus on the right things and working as efficiently as possible to give us the opportunity to do the things we want in life.
What made you decide to transition to tiny living? We were both into the idea of tiny living from the time we first heard about it. The idea of living a more simple life and cutting out the things we don’t need was always very appealing to us. Once we really started having serious conversations about doing it the thing that I always kept thinking was, “I don’t know if we’re making the right decision, but I do know we’re not making the wrong decision.” I think the biggest thing that finally pushed us to make the decision was not wanting to look back at this time in life and regret not trying it. We’ve been living on the road in just over 200 sq ft for the last 5 months and we’ve never been happier.
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What has been the best and the worst to downsizing?
What takes up the most space in your camper?
The best part is definitely the freedom that comes with this type of lifestyle. When we made the change we sold most of our furniture and other belongings. Getting rid of all of the clutter and only holding onto the few things we need is a very freeing experience. It truly feels like a weight has been lifted off of us. We’ve also really enjoyed our kitchen situation. Since our fridge is really only large enough to hold about a week’s worth of food, we buy all of our food fresh for the week and plan out our meals for that time. We’ve greatly improved our diets because of this change and we feel so much healthier because of it. We don’t eat nearly as much junk/processed foods because honestly we just don’t have room for it! What an easy excuse to eat better!
I hate to say it, but probably clothes. We’re working on reducing that down much more, but since we do travel around a little we wanted to make sure we had both warm and cold weather clothing. As we’re getting more into summer we can store the cold weather clothing and reduce the clutter even more. I’m VERY much looking forward to that. Although we’d probably let Bella have anything in the world that she wanted because she’s perfect and has never done anything wrong, she’s usually pretty happy sitting outside chewing on sticks. When she’s inside she has a few go-to stuffed animals. Thankfully we don’t have to keep to many with us at one time.
The worst part about downsizing is probably how quickly our home gets dirty. When you’re in such a small space things tend to get dirtier much faster. I have to follow that answer up and say that cleaning our home is SO much easier than before though. The same way things get dirty really quickly, we can clean everything even faster. When it’s time to do it we can typically clean the entire place in less than 30 minutes. That means vacuum and Swiffer the floors, dust, wipe counters, do dishes and organize everything in our home in the time it might have taken to vacuum our last house.
I’d certainly have to say travel, especially in our current situation. In the future we’d like to have a big family and I know that will be our inspiration during that time, but right now we want to see as much of the world as we can. I think being young, married, and without kids is a very special time in life for a husband and wife to really grow together. We both have a passion for travel and we feel so blessed to have this opportunity to explore the world together.
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What keeps you inspired?
Follow Anna and Daniel on instagram @theshacklefords
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Top 3 places to visit on your bucket list?
What are your future traveling plans?
New Zealand and the Greek islands are definitely on the top of that list. We’ve both talked about going to these places a lot, and we’re currently working out plans to ensure we visit them before we settle back down somewhere. Our third place is probably Patagonia. We’ve always felt a draw to nature and the wild, and Patagonia is definitely calling our name.
We have trips back out to California and to the Rockies confirmed on our calendar so far. We’re also working through plans for Hawaii and Maine at the moment, and we’re looking to knock out some bucket list locations next year.
Favorite place you've traveled to so far? Yosemite. No doubt about it. Driving into the park from the south end, you immediately feel the power of that place when you come through the tunnel. There’s something that will take your breath away around every corner of the park. Yosemite was a bucket list location for us and it certainly did not disappoint.
Best advice you've been given?
What is your go-to summer treat? This might be because we’ve been eating them a lot over the last few weeks, but we’ve loved making s’mores over a campfire after dinner. S’mores take us both back to childhood and they’re really tough to beat.
Favorite summer tradition(s). Spending time in the water! We both LOVE the water, fresh and salt, and taking a dip in a lake, river or ocean on a hot summer day is simply the best.
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. This kind of sums up all the reasons we’re doing what we’re doing. We think we’ll look back at this time in life and really be happy about what we did.
We love that Bella gets to be part of all the advenutre too.
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4 Festivals to go
Festival Season is in full force! He should be spending
to this Summer
ere are our suggestions of where you g your time and money!
photo courtesy of obfessed.com
Fort Worth, Tx - June 11 Lineup Announced: Built to Spill, Hayes Carll, Grupo Fantasma, David Ramirez, Rayland Baxter, White Reaper, Bummer Vacation, The Hendersons San Antonio, Tx - Sept 17 Houston, TX - Oct 22 Dallas - Nov 12 *The lineup has not been announced for the dates after Fort Worth, but the craft beer alone makes this worth the visit! More info: untappedfestival.com
Telluride Blues & Brews Telluride, Co September 16 - 18 Sunshine Favorites: Gary Clark, Jr, Jason Isbell, Shakey Graves, Jamestown Revival More info: tellurideblues.com
Austin, Tx Weekend 1: Sep 30 - Oct 2 Weekend 2: Oct 7-9 Big Acts: Radiohead, Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar, LCD Soundsystem, Major Lazer, Kygo, Willie Nelson, The Chainsmokers, Flume, Chris Stapleton Must Sees: Cage the Elephant, LL Cool J, Cold War Kids, Kasey Musgraves, Band of Horses, Young the Giant Sunshine Favorites: City and Colour, Andrew Bird, Brett Dennen, Atlas Genius, Walker Lukens & the Side Arms, The Roosevelts, Foy Vance
Moonriver Music Festival Memphis, TN Oct 7 - 9 Lineup Announced (These are ALL Sunshine Favorites): Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Lori McKenna, Sean McConnell, The Oh Hellos, Johnnyswim, Wade Bowen, Green River Ordinance, Colony House, Dave Barnes, Penny & Sparrow, Golden Luke & the People, David Ramirez, Humming House, Ellie Holcomb, The New Respects More info: moonrivermusicfestival.com
4th of July diy confetti launchers
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This is a fun alternative to fireworks. No it is not as grand, but it is great for neighborhoods who do not allow fireworks and kids who are not fans of the loud sounds. Enjoy this fun and simple craft with friends and family at your festive parties!
find this craft and many more fun projects to do with your kids here!
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What You Need : - Toilet paper tubes - Decorative paper or markers - 12 balloons - Tape - Paper - Scissors
How To Make : 1. Cut some paper into confetti sized squares. Set aside. 2. Next, decorate your tubes anyway you like. Here I just taped some patriotic themed paper to each tube. 3. Then, cut a balloon in half and tie the end. 4. Wrap the larger end of the balloon over one end of a tube and secure with tape. Try your best to keep the balloon taut but don t bend the tube. And that s it.
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Take your poppers and stash of confetti outside. To use your popper, add a heavy pinch of confetti to the tube. Point the tube out, pull back the balloon end and let go. No big bangs or smoke but still very cool!
Current O
tie dye d
we can't get enough o Lucky Duck Dress Up
American Thread
Planet Blue
Obsession:
dresses
of this summer trend.
Rodan + Fields
Soft Matte Lip Cream
Michael's
Fuji Instax
bag with our Editor-in-Chief, Leann
Lip Shield & Sunsc
NYX
(what's in my)
Check out the reflection in my sunnies. Hashtag rookie.
Sunglasses
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ZeroUV
I am the n e e se d th
col
reen
mo
b se s lip sed w c hem ream ith in e s. I very lor.
Bag
Michael Kors
Notepad
Target
Selfie Stick
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Thanksfor letting the sunshine in.