Letter from the Editor:

Hey Everyone! I’m so excited to be writing my first editor’s

letter for La Petite Fashionista Magazine!

When I started my blog back in 2007, I never

imagined (but always hoped) that someday I’d

be launching a digital publication of my own!

I’d like to thank all my fabulous contributors, sponsors, family & friends for

the endless support in this endeavor. This has been my labor of love over the

past few months, and so many talented people have collaborated on this issue!

The misson of La Petite Fashionista Magazine is to bring inspiring content

each issue. This magazine is written by real girls, for real girls. Those of us who

like to live life in style on any budget! Who says college ladies & young profes-

sionals can’t throw affordable dinner parties & dress stylishly on a dime? We’re

here to show you how to do it! We’ll feature articles on everything from travel

& fashion, to fitness & interior design and inspiring business women.

The magazine contributors are from across the country, sharing their

expertise and style with you- We’re not professionals, we’re not models, we’re

just living & loving what we’re writing about!

Enjoy the first issue & thank you for your support!

xoxo, lauren felix editor-in-chief, La Petite Fashionista Magazine

2.

1. Brooke Kennedy- CA

2. Grace Yco- CA @GraceViX

3. Julianne Phillips- AZ

4. Michelle Phillips Henderson- KS www.secondstreeteast.blogspot.com

5. Lauren Felix- WI @lpfashionista @LPFMag www.lapetitefashionista.com

Laura Podlich-WI @lpodlich www.beautyandbeard.blogspot.com

Sarah Eastman Cribari- WI @neroliblossoms www.neroliblossoms.blospot.com

Meet the Contributors:from across the country

6. Katie Kinka- FL Sarah Ennis- FL @EventsUncorked www. eventsuncorked.blogspot.com

Jocelyn Mandalou- FL @JoceysKitchen www.saucyjoceyskitchen.com

7. Allie Felix- FL @InvigorateYou Meredith Cotton- F www.cottonspickins.blogspot.com

Melissa Athas-FL @MelissaRAthas

Kelly Boudreau- @KellyNBoudreau www.HelloBoudreau.blogspot.com

Emma Hamilton- FL @sansascenseur www. emmalouisse.tumblr.com

Nia Hankenhof- FL www.freelycorageousfashion.blogspot.com 8. Alexandra Medina- FL

9. Becca Lucio - GA @LLofFashion www.littleladyoffashion.blogspot.com

10. Heather Wendrow- DE www. theheatherproject.blogspot.com

11. Hayley Wood - TX @HayFWood www. hayfwood.wordpress.com

Victoria Erhart- WI

3.

2-3: Letter from the Editor & Contributors4-5: Table of Contents6-7: Latest Lusts8-15: Entertaining: Stylish Tailgate16-17: DIY: Gameday Necklace18-19: Gameday Glam with

Twelve Saturdays20- 21: Gameday Your Way22-23: Interior Design: Outfit to Room24: Interior Design: Decorating your First Home25: Secrets of eBay Steals26-27: DIY: Ombre Platter28: Back to School in Style

29: Blogging Basics30: Healthy Eating:Jalapeno Watermelon 31: Wine Reviews:Bottles of Wine for less than $12

Table of Contents:

4.

32-35: Travel:Affordable Beach Vacations36-37: Travel:What to Pack & Bikini Fit Guide with ViX38-39: FitnessStand Up Paddleboarding40:Beauty 5 Minute Face

41: BeautyBeautiful Blowouts42-45: FashionSummer to Fall Style46-55: Interior DesignReal Girl Homes: Michelle in San Diego

56-57: Stress ReliefFlying Fears & Goods Reads58-59: Women in BusinessAmy Rodbell of Swell Caroline60: Playlist Midnight Swims & Rambling Conversations

LPF Mag is interactive- click the links to launch

product pages, playlists + more!

5.

LatestLusts

"Apron anxiety" Book, $10

RoAD Trips

Outdoor Bottle & wine Glass Holder, $30

Madewell Polka dots idewalk Skimmers, $98

warby parker glasses, $95

BBQ Bloody Mary

Prana Yoga Mat, $48

Emma

Meredith

Allie

Heather

Julianne

Melissa

Sarah

contributor’s picks LATEST LUSTS

Chromatic Gallery heels, $88

Lauren

7.

Brandy MelviLLE Shorts, $40Drybar blowout- $35Marysia Swimsuit, $320

Kate Spade plate, $19

Laura Mercier Tintedmoisturizer, $43

Calling cards by Pixel Impress, $25

Food Trucks

Cooking withFresh Herbs

Family Dinners

Michelle

Kelly

Hayley

Jocelyn

Sarah Alexandra

grace

becca

katie

8.

TAILGATINGin Style

stylish tailgate JOCELYN MANDALOU & SARAH ENNIS

in Stylephotography by: Alan Ennisevent design by: Sarah Ennisrecipes & food by: Jocelyn Mandaloudresses from: Twelve Saturdaystablecloth & menu from: Go Chic

KICKOFFCupcakes

SALADSkewers

sstylish tailgate JOCELYN MANDALOU & SARAH ENNIS

11.

SALADSkewers

SIDELINESipperMakes 14 servings

(16 fl oz each)

Ingredients:1.75 L vodka4 L lemon lime soda24 fl oz frozen lemonade concentrate mixSliced lemon, lime, and orange for garnish ● Mix all ingredients and serve chilled

12.

PULLED PORK

Sliders

BuffaloChicken

Dip

stylish tailgate JOCELYN MANDALOU & SARAH ENNIS

13.

AUGUST means the arrival of Football season. At my Alma mater, foot-ball is not just a sport but also a way of life. Every Saturday, everyone rolls out of bed at an hour we would not imagine during the week, to put on our Sunday best and root on our favorite football team

Just because you’re going to a sporting event does not mean that you have to dress like one of the boys. It is an opportune time to bring out your fashion know how in a new and innovative way. The simplest way is to pair a great sundress with a state-ment necklace. You’ll keep cool in the humid summer heat and look fashionable at the same time.

Another warm weather option is to pair the ever-popular patterned short with a simple white button down tied. These shorts are available in numerous patterns and colors, making it a cinch to find a pair in your team colors. As the weather gets cooler, pair skinny jeans with boots and a cute blouse. You’ll still be looking fashionable while keeping you warm as the temperatures dip. Bring a cardigan to put over the top.

Overall, just remember you can never over accessorize. Any outfit can go from simple to amazing with a little bit of bling. Think simple shirt with a statement neck-lace or a large pile of bangles. It’s the little things that complete a gameday outfit!

gameday fashion BECCA LUCIO

14.

stylish tailgate JOCELYN MANDALOU & SARAH ENNIS

15.

click here for printable

recipes& DIY’s!

STYLISHGAMEDAY.COM’S tips for a fashionable gameday:

1. Wear cute but comfortable shoes. Wedges or sandals in the warmer temp, boots or toms in the cooler temps.

2. Cross body bags are a must- they free up hands for holding drinks & tailgate snacks!

3. Weather can be unpredictable, packing a lightweight sweater or poncho in your bag is always a good idea!

4. Keep a small make-up bag in your purse to touch up the morning’s look or at the least suncscreen & chapstick.

5. Make sure all your electronics like your camera & cell phone are fully charged (& a stylish case for safekeeping).

fun fact! - our models for the shoot

also did the event design & food!

They both have blogs- Events Uncorked &

Saucy Joce’ys Kitchen!

16.

DIY GAMEDAY NECKLACEI’ve created a simple diy necklace that you can create in your own school colors!

Supplies· Twill Ribbon (approx 50")· Beads (each strand needs to be 13")· Beading Chord· Crimp Beads· Pliers· Chain (13", Ace Hardware has the best variety)

SUPPLIES

Step 1: Cut the ribbon to approximately 50"inches. Weave the ribbon through the chain until it is evenly in the middle. Tie a knot at each end of the chain, securing the ribbon to the chain.

Step 2: Using the stopper and pliers, secure the cord to the last chain (near the knot). String the beads onto the string and secure using the stopper at the opposite ending chain. You may want to weave the strand around the chain for a “twist effect”.

Step 3: Repeat step two for all 5 strands of beads. Feel free to mix and match bed colors and textures and to play with twisting and weaving the strands for a more casual effect. For a more “chunky” necklace, you may want to have more than 5 strands of beads.

gameday necklace DIY MEREDITH COTTON

17

GAMEDAY

BUY IT!

BUY IT!

BUY IT!

A SNEAK PEEKAT GAMEDAy

DRESSES FROMTWELVE SATURDAYS

AND JEWELRY FROM SWELL

CAROLINE

stylish tailgate JOCELYN MANDALOU & SARAH ENNIS

stylish tailgate LAUREN FELIX

19.

GAMEDAY

BUY IT!

BUY IT!

BUY IT!

A SNEAK PEEKAT GAMEDAy

DRESSES FROMTWELVE SATURDAYS

AND JEWELRY FROM SWELL

CAROLINE

glam

20.

pictures from football gameday across thE country from our awesome lpf mag readers

and stylishgameday.com!

your way

GAMEDAY

Death Valley dress,Twelve Saturdays, $89

gameday your way LAUREN FELIX

21.

- aurburn’s war eagle that flies over the stadium before each game- howard’s rock at clemson university, touched by players for luck - ”jump around” at uw badgers game between 3rd and 4th quarter-mississipi state’s infamous cowbells rung throught the game-fsu’s chief osceola riding in on horseback with flaming spear-virginia tech hokies storming into the statium to “enter sandman”-the florida gators’ chomp along to the “jaws” theme song-ohio state’s marching band and their cursive “ohio” on the field-nebraska’s release of red balloons after their first score-alabama’s “rammer Jammer” chant at the end of a winning game

GAMEDAY Traditions

StylishTAILGATE

Death Valley dress,Twelve Saturdays, $89

grilling spatula,shopgochic.com, $22

bow tie, Brier & Moss, $45

FOR HIM:

lpf mag koozie

FOR HER:

Corn Hole Game,Victory Tailgate, $145

22.

You can find great inspiration for your home by looking in your closet and how you compose outfits. Do you wear a lot of accessories or none? Do you like to wear your hair in a bun or loose and wavy? Do stick with neutrals or are you more daring in your color choices? All of these are style indicators for not only your home, but all areas of your life.

Outfit to Room: Tribal Princess

Photos by Denene Brox

Outfit to Room MICHELLE HENDERSON

23.

InspiredInterior:

Pottery BarnTeen, $129

Ikea, $149

West Elm, $19

Jonathan Adler, $68

Michelle ofSecond Street East

24.

Decorating YourFirst Home

There are many ways to make the most out of your small space! Be it an apartment, house,

or in-law suite, there are tricks to overcome tight spaces in any room of the house.

Paint What you’ve heard about small spaces and wall paint is true; white (or a light neutral) paint is best for small living spaces. White

walls allow light to bounce around the room to make it more airy and open feeling.

Furniture You might think the best way to hide clut-ter in a small space is to conceal it; this is

not always the case. Pieces like big, chunky bookcases can make a room feel even

smaller. Look for see through storage op-tions that let your eye look beyond them.

You will focus on the spaces behind the fur-niture, making the room feel bigger.

Avoid buying chairs and couches with big arm rests. A day bed is a practical option for a couch in a small space and then can dou-ble as a bed for when you have company. It can be tough to maintain an open feeling in a small apartment living room, but choosing armless furniture will create the illusion of more space.

Decorative Accessories Buy accessories for your small space that

can be used for multiple things. For instance, that big drink pitcher you love, that’s too big to fit in your cabinet, can be used as a vase for fresh flowers! Dual purpose accessories are a way you can keep your counter tops

clutter-free and avoid buying extra stuff that can’t fit.

FIRST PLACE PICKSSwirl Pitcher, Pier 1, $25

This pretty pitcher can double as a vase for

flowers when not in use!

Futon, Target, $130

A futon doubles as a couch and an extra

bed for guests.

The perfect pieces to make a small space feel larger & rental

feel a little bit more like home sweet home.

Throw Blanket, Design Darling, $52

A colorful throw brightens up a small couch.

Lattice Dish, Shop Furbish, $5

This preppy dish is perfect for

storing jewelry or keys.

Watercolor Print, Society6, $18

Buy affordable prints that don’t break the bank via Society6.com

decorating your first home KELLY BOUDREAU

24.

As many who have used the site can attest, ebay is a wonderful source for finding vin-tage and new fashions for fractions of their retail. I have had an account now for 7 years, but it wasn’t until college that I learned just how valuable it can be as a shopping destina-tion. As my fashion sense developed, I favored less mall brands and more unique and smaller designers. There were two problems as a re-sult of my new found discriminating tastes, the first was that I couldn’t afford anything I really loved unless it was on sale. The second being that I went to school in Missouri which meant it left a lot to be desired in terms of its store offering. That was when I discovered online shopping and just how wonderful it could be.

In particular, I developed an obsession with ebay due to it’s wide selection, low prices (for the most part) and the thrill of winning the auction. So now, I hope to impart upon you some wisdom and general advice for using the site, because let’s face it, it can be quite over-whelming if you have never shopped from it before. This month I’ll cover some of the best tips for searching, and as well my most recent acquisitions.

STEP 1: Refine Your Search Unlike other online websites, you can’t re-ally just browse by category (unless you want 200K results for sweaters... no thanks), you must have a general idea of what you’re searching for in mind. My first recommenda-tion is to search what you know. Been eyeing a blouse in store or online at somewhere like revolveclothing.com or shopbop.com? Here’s a perfect chance to see if you can find it for less. Use very specific characteristics like silk stripe blouse or search by using a smaller brand or designers. Why smaller? Go too mainstream

and it can take forever to weed through the results even after filtering by size. Need proof, just try searching ‘Anthropologie’. As for too high end? Here it can be difficult to sort out fakes from the real thing, generally if you’re able to find a Prada skirt for under $100 it’s probably too good to be true.

STEP 2: Use Filters Second tip, put a filter on it. After searching, the next step is to filter, I start with size, and generally I choose a few sizes and also include not specified, since you can ask for precise measurements from the seller if you’re unsure of the true size. I also will set a price limit, that way, if it’s out of my budget, I won’t even be tempted. Depending on what you’re search-ing for, material and style can be quite helpful as well. This step should make your shopping much easier.

STEP 3; Choose Favorites Lets say you found a great item that has a reasonable price and suits your style well, check out what else that seller is offering. Often, sellers sell many things at once as part of a clear out. It’s a great way to discover other brands and fashions from someone who has your same tastes. If you really like what they have to offer, be sure to add them to your favorite sellers so you can see when they have new listings. Another way to find similar items to what you’re searching for is by us-ing ebay’s related searches located just below the search bar. Often they’re very relevant to what you’re looking for and I’ve found them to be quite helpful. With that I now challenge to start browsing. Create an account if you haven’t yet, and see what great values you can find.

the secrets to eBay steals

secrets to eBay steals VICTORIA ERHART

turn an old tray from trash into treasure

If you’ve been watching closely, thrifting has become more and more popular on blogs lately. Not only can you find hidden gems like vintage clutches & jewelry to add

to your wardrobe, but also quirky accessories to change up the look of your home.

For a DIY girl like me, thrift stores and flea markets are a great source of inspira-tion for new DIY projects. Going through dusty antique/thrift stores may not be glam-

orous, but it can sure bring some unexpected surprises.

Darling ombre tray DIY LAURA PODLICH

I found this old tray at a thrift store for $4 and immediately

saw its potential!

After a good scrub down & light sanding, I painted the tray with a thick coat of white acrylic paint

(spray paint works wonders too!)

I decided to go for an ombre look, so using blue painters tape, I taped off 2 inch thick stripes down the

length of the tray.A quick seal of modge

podge later, the tray was waterproof and ready to

be used.

“My favorite part about

repurposing thrifted pieces

is knowing they are 100% one of a kind"-Laura, Beauty & the Beard

DIY

T h r i f t i n g T i p s w i t h

LaurA

• Go to smaller, local thrift & charity stores instead of “big name” ones like Goodwill. Not only will the prices be lower, but since the traffic through those stores is a lot less, there’s a greater likelihood of hidden gems.

• Don’t be afraid to dig. When you’re out on the hunt, don’t just scan the store and leave. Most stores have years worth of piles- take the time to brush off the dust and get your hands dirty!

• Imagine everything with a fresh coat of paint. Sure, at first glance dirty brown bookends or a rusty tray with 70’s colors may look hid-eous, but there’s nothing a little sanding and white paint can’t fix.

• Think outside of the box with repurposing. Old mason jars can be used for tealights in a centerpiece and a vintage ashtray can be the new dish you throw your keys into at the end of the day.

27.

Back to Coolstylish Back to school supplies-- or an excuse for us

workin gals to buy some pretty new pencils + Notepads.

Blogging 101:back to school LAUREN FELIX

Urban Outfitters, $8Big Buddha, Zappos, $90

Urban Outfitters, $8

Erin Condren, $50

ModCloth, $4

DesignDarling, $8

WINTHIS!

Cygnett, $50

neonpencils

way cuter thana backpack

cute composition

book

Getorganized!

STicky Notes

girlypencils

colorfulipad case

29.

Back to Cool Whether you’ve had a blog for a while or you’re just diving into the blogosphere, it’s always useful to review the basics of blogging and remember some of the “golden rules.” The best part of blogging is how much you will learn along the way! Consider following some of these tips to stay on track with your blog or perhaps start your first!

Keep a List Always keep an accessible list of your favorite blogs. Maybe write them down or bookmark them in your web browser. Not only should you be staying in tune with the blogging commu-nity, but you also can refer back to these blogs for inspiration. Your blog list should definitely include a few that include your per-sonal interests but try to also include a few that are a little “outside your box” - you never know what you’ll learn!

Spread the Love While you’re keeping track of these blogs, remember to post comments! If you’re consistently blog commenting, it shows that you are willing to participate and be an active member of the blogging community. As a result of your efforts, you may start to notice a few new comments on your own blog. Some of the best blogs are those that have built a strong community of commenters as well as readers. So make sure you thank your readers for their comments, answer their questions or respond to their com-ment with your opinion to start a conversation, which may lead to a new blog post idea.

Don’t Give Up When you find yourself in a rut and you’re not sure what to blog about, find something to get your creativity flowing again rather than take a “blogging hiatus.” Breaking up your routine can

help restart your brain so take a walk outside, try a new restaurant, go to a play, meet new people, take a class or even tell your personal story (a tough one but it’s a great way to really connect with your readers). One of the fun parts of blogging is how much it will en-courage you to step outside your comfort zone! Try putting in a keyword on pinterest related to your blog topic in the Pinterest search bar and see what you find. When you see images that get a lot of repins, likes and comments, consid-er it inspiration for your next blog post!

Stay Connected If you thought running a blog was as simple as just well, running a blog, there is much more

to it than meets the eye! In addition to your blog, it’s best to have multi-ple social profiles to further advance the content of your blog. Start with a Facebook page for your readers to “Like” and a Twitter account (either personal or just blog-oriented) to post links back to your blog posts. Engage on these platforms daily and break up the types of content so it won’t seem as if you only care about promoting your blog. Then

of course, use Pinterest! Pinterest is extremely useful for promoting your blog. All of the imag-es and videos you post on your blog should be on your Pinterest with appealing descriptions and links leading to your blog posts.

While you’re pushing your own content on Pinterest, make sure your boards include plenty from other users as well in order to start build-ing relationships with them that could possibly lead to blog growth.Once you have your Face-book, Twitter and Pinterest up and running, get a button for each to add to your blog so your readers will know where else they can find you.

Creating and maintaining a blog can be one of the rewarding experiences you may ever have.

Blogging 101:tips for starting & maintaining a blog of your own!

“Use Pinterest-I’m sure you’re already on the site every day gaz-ing over fashion and

baked goods but believe it or not, Pinterest is extremely useful for promoting your blog”

Urban Outfitters, $8

Cygnett, $50

blogging tips HAYLEY WOOD

Kate Spade, $50

some like it

Turn up the heat on your watermelon with a spicy but

sweet jalapeno glaze

Vinaigrette Ingredients:1/2 cup olive oil1 tablespoon fresh lime juice1 tablespoon rice vinegar2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions1/2 fresh jalapeño pepper or red pepper flakes to taste2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:1. Whisk olive oil, lime juice, and vinegar in a bowl.

2. Chop green onions and pepper and add to mixture. You can use about half of a jalapeno pepper if you aren’t a fan of spice.. If you love your food spicy, feel free to add more or switch it to a Serrano pepper! (Red pepper flakes are also a good substitute if you don’t have a fresh pepper on hand)-Add chopped thyme and salt. Mix well.- Cover and store in the refrigerator at least 1 hour to let the flavor develop. This can be kept chilled for up to a week. Stir before using.

3. Cut up watermelon into bite size pieces and put into a large bowl.

4.Once the vinaigrette has set at least an hour, pour over watermelon and

For a delicious summer salad

try adding a bag of

lettuce to the watermelon

mix!

HotHealthy Cooking SARAH EASTMAN CRIBARI

31

Red, Red, Wine Makesme Feel soFine

So, what exactly makes red wine (in small doses), heart

healthy?

POLYPHENOLS: Antioxidants present in red wine that protect the lining of the blood vessels

in your heart.

RESERVATOL: Prevents damage to blood vesssels & reduces “bad” cholesterol.

A Girl’s Guide to Good, AffordableWine

Mark West 2010 Pinot Noir , $9

This wine earns a spot as one of my favorite reds with taste charac-teristics sure to please most pal-ates and an appealing price tag its one Pinot Noir guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser!

This medium bodied Pinot Noir is filled with characteristics of dark berries, toasted oak, and brown sugar spice carried straight through. It begins with a sweet blend of blackberry and raspberry, followed by a layer of fresh plum, jammy strawberry and boysenber-ry center and dry finish.

Pair with: light meat entrees such as baked chicken with sautéed mushrooms and loaded baked potato.

Wine is like frienships, it only gets

betterwith age.

Rosenblum Cellar Vintners Zinfandel CuvEe XXXIII, $12

Rosenblum Cellars produces some of my favorite wine selections, their wine options are always high-ly recommended on my list!

This non-vintage Zinfandel is the perfect house wine for entertaining. It is a full bodied wine burst-ing with flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, and plum. It is layered with notes of rich cocoa, vanilla, and black pepper spice. It is a smooth sipping wine with supple tannins and lingering dry finish. Try Rosenblum Cellars Vintners Zinfandel Cuvée at your next backyard gathering.

Pair it with hearty barbeque meats, seasoned grilled zucchini, and cornbread pudding.

Our resident wine expert, Melissa will share her picks for affordable bottles of wine each issue; and give us a little vino education- Remember,

enjoy responsibly!

Wine Reviews MELISSA ATHAS

32.

Scoring Sweet Travel

DealsAre you finding yourself

realizing it’s already August and summer has passed you by? It’s not too late to take a last

minute trip to a nearby beach!

These are some of our favorite sites to score

deals on hotels & airfare:

We are lucky enough to have girls on LPF Mag staff from across the country, not to mention the best beach areas! If you’re looking for

an end-of-summer beach trip,check out their locals picks for the best of their cities from restaurants to shopping!

Groupon offers discounted rates at hotels around the country- often more luxury

accomodations. Check weekly for new deals!

Kayak compares hundreds of travel sites at one time to find the best bargains

Travel insiders say for the best deals, travel on week days instead of weekends.

Caluculate gas costs before traveling so you can

budget, OR even better find people to share costs!

BeachTravel ALEXANDRA MEDINA, BROOKE KENNEDY, HEATHER WENDROW

Affordable , Last Minute

Beach Vacations

33.

Miami- the Magic City. If you’re looking for a

cool, hip vacation spot you can visit year-round, you’ve found your place.

The climate is warm and tropical practically

year-round, so no matter when you choose to visit, chances are it will be a

truly “Miami” experience.

When your plane lands, it might be a bit intimi-

dating to see everything Miami has to offer. That’s

where I come in--I’ve lived in Miami my whole life, so I know a thing or

two about the City Beau-tiful. And luckily for you, I’ve put together a list of the best places you could stay at, eat at, and check

out- for any budget.

Where to Stay:

South Beach: There are countless hotels to stay in in Miami. If you love being in the middle of the action, and within

close proximity to most of Miami’s hotspots,

South Beach is the per-fect place to stay. If you

really want to experience the Miami you see in

movies,this is where you want to be. But of course,

it will cost you.

Brickell: If you want to experience Miami from

the other side of Biscayne Bay, the Brickell neigh-

borhood in Downtown is a great place to stay. It’s the newest hip spot for

young professionals, The area is full of restaurants, bars and elegant hotels.

Coconut Grove: For those of you that don’t want to spend as much, but still want a uniquely “Miami” experience, Co-conut Grove is a great

option. The Grove offers its own CocoWalk area, full of restaurants and

bars, but is still within 15 minutes of Miami’s night-

life downtown.

What to Do

When visiting Miami, there’s never a shortage of things to do. Famous for its nightlife, South

Beach is the place to go if you’re looking for the

quintissential Miami club experience. Nightclubs here don’t close until at least 5 am. This is the place to let your hair

down & party all night long.

Some of South Beach’s most popular spots are

found right at one of the beach’s icons: the Fon-tainebleau. LIV is pos-sibly the hottest club in Miami.LIV is a 18,000

square foot partygoer’s paradise, with VIP ta-

bles, private skyboxes, and a great view of all the celebrities that fre-quent this place. For any nightclub on the beach,

besure to get there early or get in through a pro-moter-- the lines here

can get extremely long.

If packed, loud night-clubs aren’t really your thing, take a walk along Lincoln Road. This is the perfect place to people-

watch on a Friday or Saturday night. This

pedestrian mall has no shortage of quaint res-

taurants and shops. Make sure you ask for a seat

outside, to both enjoy the warm Miami weather and

the unique characters you’ll only see on Miami Beach. Some great res-taurant picks are Spris (Italian pizzeria), Yuca (Modern Cuban), and

Serendipity 3. In recent years, Miami has become a pretty big sports town. If you’re in town in the summer you may want to catch a Mi-ami Marlins game. Their brand new ballpark is lo-

cated in the famous Little Havana neighborhood, Get a gorgeous pan-

oramic view of the Miami skyline from almost any

seat in the house. Of course, no sports out-

ing in Miami is complete without a high-energy, “White Hot” Miami Heat basketball game. See the Big Three- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh- along with the Heat Dancers

and Burnie, in an electri-fying game that’s sure to heat up your stay in

Miami.

The Heat’s home, the American Airlines Arena,

is just next door to another Miami hotspot, Bayside Marketplace.

This mall offers a vari-ety of restaurants and

shops right on Biscayne Bay. After the Heat’s sure win, get some drinks and enjoy live music at the

mall’s promenade.

Where to Eat

For a quiet Sunday brunch between the

skyscrapers of Brickell, Perricone’s Marketplace can’t be beat. For $20 per person you get a complete, delicious

breakfast buffet in the beautiful open-air din-

ing patio.

For great seafood and killer views, Red Fish

Grill and the Rusty Peli-can are both great op-tions. with beautiful

views is the Rusty Peli-can on Key Biscayne. This restaurant sits

directly across the bay from Miami, and as a result has some of the most beautiful views in the city. Make sure to

ask for a table out in the patio for both a deli-

cious meal and sweep-ing panorama views.

Whether it’s partying at

CityGUide:Miami

Viceroy/BrickellThis luxury hotel overlooking the bay features an expansive art collection and an infinity

pool with a view.

Mayfair/ Coconut GroveAn Asian inspired oasis of lux-ury in the center of the Grove’s

action. Perfect for relaxing after a day at the beach!

Fontainebleu /South BeachDuring the Art Deco period, this

hotel was frequented by the likes of Frank Sinatra.

Where to Stay:

What to Do

LIV NightCLub, South BeachLIV is one of the hottest night-clubs in Miami. Be ready to do some celbrity spotting & party

till dawn.

Red Fish Grill Fun Fact; this restaurant in the Brickell district is right where

Something About Mary was filmed!

Marlins GameOne of the unique things about Miami’s baseball games is that you can get an authentic Cuban sandwich instead of a hot dog!

Los Angeles is a VERY spread out city and what they say about the traf-fic is true! So before you visit, you might want to do a little pre-planning and figure out which

area you want to spend most of you time. I’m

partial to the west side since I live in Santa Moni-ca, but each little bubble of LA is unique in its own way. For each hotel, res-taurant, thing to do, I’ll

choose a west side spot and a central/downtown

spot.

Where to Stay:

Shutters on the Beach is a classic Santa Monica hotel and very popular

wedding spot! Some like to call it California Cape Cod or a laid back Mar-tha’s Vineyard. It’s in the heart of Santa Monica, walking distance to the famous Santa Monica

pier, Third Street Prome-nade, tons of restaurants, and the beach bike path, which you can follow all

the way up to Malibu or down to Venice. The rooms are thoughtfully decorated, the service is great, there’s a great restaurant, bar and pool and it’s the perfect place to catch the Pacific sun-set and watch the waves

roll in.

If you’re staying in Hol-lywood, the Redbury Hotel is your spot! It’s a boutique hotel that

mixes modern glamour with old Hollywood glitz. The ambiance is amaz-ing with lowly lit rooms

and funky music playing throughout the hotel. Be-tween the record players,

pictures of Hollywood bombshells on the walls, and the Library bar, this is the perfect spot for

someone looking for true Hollywood luxury, not to mention it’s got a pretty

rad view of the Holly-wood sign!

What to Do:

While your in the Los Fe-liz/Hollywood area, you must visit Griffith Park. You’ve got the Griffith Observatory, hiking,

horse back riding, amaz-ing views of the whole city, a dog park, grassy areas to picnic, the Los Angeles Zoo, a great

view of the Hollywood Sign...I could go on. Ba-sically you could spend a whole day here! Not to mention the neigh-borhoods surrounding the park have the most beautiful homes. Finish out the day by catching a concert at the Greek

Theater, also inside Griffith Park.

Where to Eat:

Los Angeles offers some of the most diverse food

choices in the world!

If you’re in West LA and looking for a great lunch

spot, you MUST go to Cha Cha Chicken (my all time favorite). Featured on Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”, this is authentic Car-

ribbean food at its fin-est and is as laid back as it gets! It looks like a brightly colored shack but it’s SO much more than that. You order at

the front and take a seat on the patio. The owner always takes your order

and you’re allowed to bring your own alcohol in, no corkage fee! It’s

perfect on a bright sunny day. Order the Ropa

Nueva with spicy cuban fries! No reservations,

very casual.

If you’re in the beauti-ful area of Los Feliz or Silverlake, hit up the

best vegan eats at Cafe Gratitude. This place has

the freshest food and the coolest vibe. Even if you’re not vegan, try it anyway! Non-vegans

have been known to crave it.

CityGUide:

Los Angeles

REDBURY HOTELThis boho chic botique hotel is in the heart of Hollywood. It’s decor is a mix of retro Holly-

wood with sixties flower child.

GRIFFITH PARKThis park is home to a famous

observatory, hiking, and amazing views of Los Angeles.

SHUTTERS ON THE BEACHShutters is a great place to do

some celebrity spotting, even if you don’t stay there!

Where to Stay:

What to Do

HOLLYWOOD SIGNIt wouldn’t be a trip to L.A.

without a picture with the fa-mous “Hollywood” sign in the

background.

CAFE GRATITUDETry a vegan dish at this too

cool cafe for a true California experience.

CHA CHA CHICKENGet your Carribbean food fix at this authentic joint in West

L.A. Make sure to try their jerk chicken enchiladas!

BeachTravel ALEXANDRA MEDINA, BROOKE KENNEDY, HEATHER WENDROW

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Delaware may not be the first place you think

of for great beaches, The beaches of Dela-ware are just 2 hours from Washington D.C,

Philadelphia, and Boston. This makes it one of the

best bets for a beach break getaway with all of its great shorelines.

Where to Stay:

If you are looking for top of the line experi-ence then the Bellmoor Inn and Spa is for you. It’s within walking dis-tance to Rehoboth beach and shops down-town. Or better yet, spend a day or relax-ation at their full service spa. Who doesn’t love a good massage by the beach!

Another great option is the Boardwalk Plaza, Located right on Re-hoboth beach, this hotel has beautiful Victorian design, and it even of-fers afternoon tea. An affordable alternative is renting a house – a lot of people rent out their homes in the summer so there are tons of deals to look into. Bring some

friends & split the cost.

What to Do:

The beaches are an obvious choice! Whether public beach or state park there are miles and miles of beaches, and the Atlantic Ocean.

If you’re looking for a beachy bar, check out the Starboard. It has great drinks and a relaxed beachy vibe-- and let them know that Heather sent you! I also reccomend listening to some live music on the water at Rudder’s with an icy drink post day on the sand.

There is no shortage of cute shops either. My picks for unique

dresses and girly ac-cessories are Bella Luna and Downtown Cowgirl. But, it wouldn’t be a trip to the beach without stopping at a surf shop; Quiet Storm won’t dis-appoint! Market Street is lined with art, cloth-ing, and antique shops. shopping trip.

Where to Eat:

Dos Locos has the best margaritas in town, always with a salted rim. Not only are the drinks delicious, but the food is to die for! They even have stone grill options where you cook it your-self at your table.

Half Full sells wine and handmade pizza. Need I say any more? It may look tiny from the outside but once you step inside you may never want to leave.

The Gallery Espresso has some of the best breakfast and lunch options around - from crepes to grilled paninis.

CityGUide:

Delaware

Boardwalk PLaza HotelThis luxury hotel overlooking the bay features an expansive art collection and an infinity

pool with a view.

StarboardThis is the perfect place to grab a drink on a hot day. Home of the biggest bloody mary bar “ever” & fun live entertain-

ment.

BELLMOOR INN & SPAYou’’ll love the location of this upscale inn right by the beach and the spa services they offer.

Where to Stay:

What to Do

BELLA LUNAFrom fashion books to cute

dresses, this store has way cuter souvenirs than a tourist shop!

Quiet Storm Surf SHopA trip to Delaware beachs would not be complete without a trip to

a surf shop.

Half FULLThis Lewes restaurant is the

perfect place to grab a glass of wine and flatbread pizza.

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Miami

LosAngeles

DElAware

Miami

Patriotic Stripes DressThreadsence, $40

Havianas, $26

DIp Hem Maxi SkirtTopshop, $80

Angelfish Boat Shoes,Sperry Topsider,, $80

Tribal TankBillabong,, $30

Mango Tree Bangle, $ 18

Vacation Style LAUREN FELIX

Bia Bikinitop & Bottom,Vix,, $88 each

the Bag

tie dye weekenderlesportsac, $108

Neon Pink Dress

Lulus.com, $45

what to pack:Last Minute BeacH Vacation

LObster earrings,swell caroline, $25

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Miami

what to pack:Last Minute BeacH Vacation

Swimsuit Fit Guide GRACE YCO

SUP?What's

Tired of your old, monotonous gym routine? Looking to spice up your sweat time, and change up the scenery? Put down the iPod, and pick up a bikini and some SPF. It’s time to get your body in tune with nature, and leave your tech-savvy world behind… Well, at least for an hour.

A growing trend in the fitness industry is the novel idea of stand up paddle boarding. The emer-gence of the paddle boarding, or SUP, trend has sup-plied yet another option for getting a full-body work out to the water sport world. Many describe SUP as surfing redefined. The buoyant long board supplies the body with enough stability to incorporate various movements while standing up, or even in plank posi-tion! Feeling particularly ambitious? Try out a SUP Yoga class for a more diverse variation of the activity.

Whichever way you choose, maintaining proper stance, a tight core, and strong, fluid paddle strokes will leave your muscles sore, and you want-ing more. Keep those three key elements in mind to facilitate the isolation of your major muscle groups for the optimum, kick-butt SUP work out.

Good news; paddle boarding is not limited to your beachy vacation destinations. Look for SUP in any coastal, or lake area, as it is a growing trend. You’ll be too busy basking in sunlight and exploring Mother Nature to realize how hard those glutes, abs, and biceps are working. Whether you are a begin-ner in need of formal instruction, or looking to rent a board on your own, it is quick and easy to find a location near you. Get out there and sweat it out alongside your journey to being toned, happy, and fabulous. Paddleboard sessions have been officially tested and approved by LPF Mag. Have fun!

Our Resident fitness girl tests out & tells us about new fitness trends!

swimsuit by: VIX Swimwearphotography by: Emma Hamiltonmodels: Allie Felix & Nia Hankenhof

Fitness- SUP ALLIE FELIX

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Where to Try:CALIFORNIASurf Diva San Diego2160 Avenida de la Playa La Jolla(858) 454-8273

SUP-Position15571 Commerce Lane, Huntington Beach(714) 899-3020

FLORIDALazy Dog Key West5114 Overseas High-way, Key West(305) 295-9898

Tampa Bay SUPSouth Gulfview Boulevard Sheph-ards Beach Club, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767(727) 474-5018

MAINESOPOSUP382 Cottage Road, South Portland (207) 317-0425

MASSACHUSETTSSurfari Stand Up Paddle & Surf26 Central St, Man-chester

NEW YORKNYSUPNew York Stand Up Paddleboard Shop3203 Lawson Blvd, Oceanside(516) 318-6875

OREGON

swimsuit by: VIX Swimwearphotography by: Emma Hamiltonmodels: Allie Felix & Nia Hankenhof

"Get out there and sweat it out alongside your journey to being toned, happy, and fabulous."

39.

1It would be awesome if we always had the time to prime, conceal, set, highlight, and bronze, but to save time use a

face product that can do most of those things for you. My favorite on days my face needs less cov-erage is my Garnier BB cream, it’s a tinted moisturizer and It gives my skin a dewy, well rested look. On days my face needs more coverage I like my MAC studio fix powder.

2 In keeping with the same theme- buy an all over color stick (like NARS mul-tiple) that you can use on

both your lips and cheeks. This saves so much time! Dab a little on your cheeks and blend, then a little on your lips and you’re done with your face.

3Think shimmery neutral eyes. Use a light gold eye shadow to combat any lingering sleepiness in your

eyes because it will reflect light and make you look awake. Don’t forget to dab a little in the corner

of your eyes.

4Eyeliner is not everyone’s cup of coffee, but I adhere to the school of thought that it goes a long way

in making you appear more pol-ished. However, this is not the time to try out a cat eye or any-thing that requires precision. For most mornings, I use my L’oreal voluminous smoldering eyeliner. It goes on and looks smudged in an intentional way.

5Finally, curled eyelashes and mascara are your fin-ishing touches. Fortunate-ly, they don’t take much

time at all. Choose a waterproof mascara for lasting power.

five-minute face JULIANNE PHILLIPS

12

3

4

TIE DYE HAIR TIES, ETSY, $11A colorful hair accessory for perfect ponytails

ESSIE POLISH, “MUCHO DINERO” $8This dusty pink shade perfectly complents an arm party

NARS, THE MULTIPLE, $39Save time in the mornings w/ an allover color stick for cheeks + lips

ORIGINS, GIN-ZING RE-FERSHING EYE CREAM, $30Help de-puff and soothe under eyes after a late night of studying/ girl talk

BEAUTY PRODUCTS WE CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT!

5

5.URBAN DECAY, NAKED EYE SHADOW PALLETTE, $36Perfect palette for ev-eryday make-up looks.

““The two things that make you look most awake are put-

ting some color on your cheeks and curling your eye-

lashes. Definitely don’t miss those steps.”

Busy Girl BeautySecrets:Five MinuTE

Face

A Simple but Beautiful Makeup look done in five minutes or less, Perfect

for you busy girlson the go!

modeled by: Nia Hankenhof40. Photography by: Emma Hamilton

We all crave that straight hair with a touch of volume look. But who has the money or time to constantly go to the salon every week? If you just set aside a couple extra minutes you could rock the look any day of the week.

beautiful blowouts HEATHER WENDROW

Start with towel dried hair. Grab your styling foam and either the straightening serum or lotion and mix them together. Put two pumps of foam into your palm and then a squirt or two of the serum or lotion (less is more!). Then mix the two in your hands.

Now this is important… make sure when you apply the product you start from the nape of your neck and work your way up. If you were to start at the top of your head, all the product would sit there and be heavy. Which completely defeats the purpose of an amazing blowout.

After you have worked all the product through your locks grab your brush, whatever size it may be and your blow dryer (don’t’ forget the nozzle!)

If you have long hair clip the top up and start on the bottom. Use your round brush and wrap about an inches width of hair at

a time around the brush.

As your blow drying, pull the brush up and continually wrap the hair around the brush in a nonstop motion. The more volume the better because your hair will fall a bit. Once that piece is dry and bouncy, move on to another. Each piece should take about a minute to dry.

Always pull the brush up no matter where you are on your head. You want those roots to stand up and give you volume. Ok so now that you’re hair is all dry give your head a good shake, and now grab the last product, which I call my secret weapon.Some use hair spray after a good style sesh, but I swear by my texture paste. Use a quarter sized amount on your fingertips. Now dig into your mane and rub it on your roots.

Blowout Styling Essentials

Paul Mitchell Express Ion

Blowdryer, $130

This blowdryer is an investment that will last you forever and leave you with gor-

geous hair every time.

Paul Mitchell Ion Round Brush, $15

Look for an alumnium hair brush that heats up while blow drying and help hold hair in place.

Aveda Phomollient Styling Mousse, $16

Weightless volume for lightweight to medium hair types; builds body

with organic ingredients.

Bumble & Bumble Straight Blow Dry

Balm, $28

A lightweight lotion for taming flyaways and frizzies and creating

sleek hair with its heat- activated formula.

Sally Beauty Clip, $5

A lightweight lotion for taming flyaways and frizzies and creating

sleek hair with its heat- activated formula.

Garnier Fructis, Sleek and Shine Hairspray,

$5

Look for a hairspray that features anti-humidity to

combat frizz and keep hair volumized all day.

BeautifulBlowouts

Steps for creating a flawless blowout

hairstyle every time from our very own

Paul Mitchell expert.

41.

Paul Mitchell Express Ion

Blowdryer, $130

fdsfcc

SummerStaples

Fall Favorites

to

fall fashion LAUREN FELIX

models: jennifer ruetten, victoria erhart, lauren felix

what she’s wearing:Green Jeans: Lulu’s // Denim Shirt:: Lands’ End Canvas // Navy Top: Mar-shalls // Oxford Heels: Miz Mooz // Jewelry: Swell Caroline

42.

what she’s wearing:Sweater: Forever 21 // Dress: Target // Shoes: Miz Mooz // Sheer Tights: Hanes Silk Reflections Tights // Jewl-ery: Swell Caroline

43.

fall fashion LAUREN FELIX

what she’s wearing:Hi- Low Hem Dress: Lulu’s // Tights: Hanes Silk Reflections Tights // Wedges: Miz Mooz // Leather Jacket: Model’s Own from Italy // Purse: Vintage // Jew-

44.

what she’s wearing:Pink Silk Shirt: Lands’ End Canvas // Striped Tee: H&M // Jeans: Forever 21 // Pink Heels: Chromatic Gallerie // Jewelry: Swell Caroline

45.

real girl homes GRACE YCO

46.

Vintage Eclecticin San Diego

REAL GIRL STYLE

47.

real girl homes GRACE YCO

48.

Meetthe

Owner

LPF: Describe your home décor for us. Does it have any special themes?

MK: My interior design style is eclectic with a little bit of a modern and vintage twist. I love pairing vintage finds with more updated pieces. In my living room, I have this beauti-ful gray velour couch with an Old Hollywood feel. It is in a half circle shape and the back is tufted. To accent this bolder and more pol-ished piece, I paired it with a vintage auditing trunk that my mother used to use while work-ing.

LPF: Tell us about your favorite room or piece of furniture.

MK: My most favorite piece of furniture is my dining room table. It is made of reclaimed saal wood that was once used as doorjambs. What I love about it is that it looks like it had a meaningful past with its nicks and little im-perfections. The legs of the table are made of steel and have little bolt details. This is a great piece to mix and match with - I have a bench on one side of the table with printed pillows, and on the other side I have acrylic “Ghost” chairs.

LPF: Any DIY projects that you are particu-larly proud of?

MK: Oh yes! I built a banquette in my dining room out of 2 by 4s and love it! My mom is

the handy one in the family and she was go-ing to help me build it, but she broke her arm on her way here to work on the project. Since she could no longer work a compound miter saw or hold a hammer, I had to learn to build it! This is definitely one of the first pieces I show off to everyone when they get the tour of my condo. I am so proud that I was able to build the whole thing from the ground up!

LPF: Playing hostess—let us in on your best tip!

MK: I love playing hostess but I’m always looking for ways to cut down on prepara-tion time so I can also get myself looking fabulous. My go-to appetizer is a flatbread pizza - you can get pre-made crusts at Cost Plus World Market that are quick and easy. I spread some blue cheese, add sliced pears and crumbled pecans and it’s an instant crowd pleaser!

LPF: San Diego has a Little Italy? Tell us more—and what do you love best?

MK: Little Italy is part of downtown San Di-ego and as you can imagine, it has a plethora of Italian restaurants, little boutiques, coffee shops and more. What I love most about Little Italy is how accessible everything is. If I need to run out to grab some veggies or wine for dinner, I can head to the local Italian market or hit up the Farmers Market on the weekend.

Michelle Koch

Lead Sales & Marketing

Associate at Vix Swimwear

San Diego, CA

49.

ABOVE: A dress-er vignette com-plete with fan coral, stack of books, birdcage holding art sup-plies and neck-lace holder.

RIGHT: A closer look at the trunk nightstand, it’s artwork and per-fect patina.

real girl homes GRACE YCO

50.

ABOVE: A vintage trunk is transformed into an area for enter-taining complete with agate coasters & mercury glass candles.

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Orange walls make a statement and printed pillows give the room an artsy, bohemian feel.

real girl homes GRACE YCO

53.

“What I love most about Little Italy is how accessible

everything is. If I need to run out to grab some veggies or wine for dinner,

I can head to the local Italian market or hit up the

Farmers Market on the weekend.”

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LEFT: Hooks spelling “EAT” hold colorful kitchen towels.

ABOVE: A secretary’s desk is painted black & decorated with a vintage butterfly print.

F ly ing, It’s not exactly a stress-free activ-ity for anyone. In fact, I imagine it’s been one of the most popular gags for comedians since the Wright Brother’s first discovered what it meant to experience “light turbulence.” But once you get past the initial anxieties of bare-foot assembly lines, “maintenance” delays, and kick-boxing toddlers that always seem to have it out for the back of your seat, most people are quite content with flying.

I used to be one of those people. Blissfully ignorant of the fact that 100+ other pas-sengers and I were literally about to defy the natural laws of science (gravity in particu-lar) for the next 2 or so hours…until the day I experienced 1 and a half seconds that changed any level of comfort I once had for traveling by air. For those with similar fears of flying, I will not go into vivid detail. For others who may be curious; picture the Tower of Terror ride at Dis-ney World, minus the intentional “simulation” of free-falling, plus the actual, unintentional sen-sation of free-falling, AND a plane full of pan-icked, unsatisfied customers. So naturally, I’ve had just a teeny tiny irrational fear of flying ever since.

Let me try to break this down for anyone who may still be under the impression that this is a “normal” reaction: The moment I feel the first jerk of turbulence on a flight, an intense sting of adrenaline hits me in the pit of my stomach, my palms start to sweat, and my stance be-gins to widen. My entire body is overcome with

adrenaline and fear. Hopefully we are now all on the same page...the, “This is clearly not ok, and you should probably do something to change it”-page. I’m glad you agree.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about controlling my own stress,

it’s that distraction is a powerful thing. The most recent flight I took wasn’t particularly stressful. However, when the Captain came over the loudspeaker and informed everyone to return to their seats because the remainder of the flight would likely be “slightly uncom-fortable”, I went into full-fledge panic mode. I was in the middle of a great read that a friend had recommended to me the week prior. But instead of stowing my book away to free my hands I kept reading. With every bump and jerk of the plane I focused harder on the char-acters and the plot that was unfolding.

it’s a little ironic—no, it’s utterly absurd that i would be asked to give advice on ‘how to stress less’. i f ind a reason to stress in everything i do. it’s not something i enjoy; it’s become a part of who i am.. That being said,

what i have proposed is a series of stress-reducing techniques that i plan to utilize when issues that are

particularly anxiety-inducing for me arise. in turn, what you wil l ( hopeful ly) receive are semi-humorous accounts of my daily stressful situations, and some useful methods for dissolving unnecessary stress. Here goes nothing!

stress relief- flying fears KATIE KINKA

StressLess

conquering f lying fears

“The moment I feel the first jerk of turbulence on a flight, an intense sting of

adrenaline hits me in the pit of my stomach, my palms

start to sweat, and my stance begins to widen.”

There were still times when I wanted to slam the book shut and bring myself back into the chaos around me, but I kept reading. There was something about escaping my reality and absorbing the conflicts of others that allowed me to diffuse the severity of the situa-tion.It’s not something technical that you can execute using a step-by-step process. But it is a move in the right direction.

For those of you who may find yourselves in similar situations, remember that while the mind is extremely stubborn, you have the power to alter your thoughts. In the event that literature is unavailable, talk to your neighbor. Seriously. If there was ever a time to be so-cial and divulge into someone else’s business, it’s now. Ask questions. Not about the weath-er, obviously, but about their reasons for traveling, about their families, profession, favorite movie. It doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that you become interested and focused on something other than the stress. So there you go! Katie: 1, Stress-0

lovelyAIRPLANE

READS

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Our first women in entrepreneurship feature is on the lovely Amy Rodbell of Swell Caroline. In addition to loving every piece from her online jewelry shop, she has some great advice for girl’s wanting to start their own business! Amy has her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia with a focus on marketing and received a MBA from Georgia Tech. She currently runs Swell Caroline from Georgia where she manages the Marketing and Social Media as well as sourcing new products all while chasing two kids at home.

What is the most rewarding part of your role?The most rewarding part of running the business is being able to stay close to the customers, hear what they want and bring them fun products that they get excited about. I love the process of building a business and making all the processes in our company work together.

What motivated you to launch Swell Caroline?After having children, I wanted to build something for our family where they could learn entre-preneurship first hand and build a business that I could eventually let them be a part of if they so choose.

What advice do you have for other young entrepreneurs?1. Test your market first before taking a big plunge. Grow organically if you can, do not overextend your business on credit cards based on what you think customers will want. Just because you think it is a good idea or product, does not guarantee that others will. I am continually surprised at cus-tomer preferences and often products I think will sell best do not! 2. Reward the people who promote you. We are a very young company and do not have the budget for much advertising. We try to reward those who promote us every way we can collaborate with and cross-promoting other brands and publications. What has been the biggest challenge of owning a boutique?Realizing that I can’t do it all. I was very lucky to find people who are organized and enthusiastic to help me maintain the day to day customer service and shipping. Running after two small children does not bode well for staying organized and efficient. Outsource things to people who can do it better than you can and focus on what you do well.

How have promotions such as Swell Rewards helped in making your boutique successful?Building a successful rewards program is essential. Since we have adopted Swell Rewards, we have seen about a 30% boost in sales and we have gained a loyal following. I smile every time we send out a free necklace or monogrammed earrings to one of our ambassadors. They work hard for us and we love to reward them.

What are your hopes for the future for Swell Caroline?For it to grow with our family and to increase the product offerings. We may branch out into other lines and plan a wholesale line eventually.

What is your favorite piece in your boutique?By far our gold and sterling monogrammed necklaces. They are simple and easy to wear every day. Although I sell jewelry, I usually opt for simple and traditional myself. My favorite pair of earrings are my diamond studs that my in-laws gave me when my husband and I got engaged. I wear them almost every day.

Amy Rodbell of Swell CarolineInspire US

women in business BECCA LUCIO

we can’t get enough of all the jewelry at Swell Caroline!

Women Who

What are your hopes for the future for Swell Caroline?For it to grow with our family and to increase the product offerings. We may branch out into other lines and plan a wholesale line eventually.

What is your favorite piece in your boutique?By far our gold and sterling monogrammed necklaces. They are simple and easy to wear every day. Although I sell jewelry, I usually opt for simple and traditional myself. My favorite pair of earrings are my diamond studs that my in-laws gave me when my husband and I got married.

59.

we can’t get enough of all the jewelry at Swell Caroline!

we can’t get enough of all the jewelry at Swell

Caroline!

Midnight Swims & Rambling Conversation

1. This Wind - Tallest Man on Earth

2. Aint Wastin Time No More - Allman Brothers Band

3. For the Summer - Ray LaMontagne & the Pariah Dogs

4. Ho Hey - The Lumineers

5. The Swimming Song- LouDon Wainwright III

6. Gypsy- Fleetwood Mac

7. Into the Mystic- Van morrison

8. Beach Song- Seryn

This playlist full of folksy songs

embodies the end of summer filled with late night swims &

ConveRstions With Freinds.

Play on

8tracks

Play on

Grooveshark60.

Thank you for your support of

LPF Mag's first issue!leave us some love:

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