In it Together #8: How to Embrace Your Inner European

Man, everyday life in quarantine is filled with an array of unexpected daily challenges that seem small, but add up quickly. The In It Together Series will make your day to day easier thanks to expert advice from female business owners in Seattle. As a personal stylist for women in Seattle, I’m fortunate to be a part of a community of bright, generous, resourceful women who have the power to improve our situations. Today’s post is from an old friend of mine and the force behind Bold Spirit Travel, Regina Winkle- Bryan. She’s been all over the word and now focuses her energy empowering women through travel. I loved this post so much that I’m posting it earlier than I’d planned. It’s just that good. I hope it inspires you the way it did me.

We do many things well in the United States, but relaxation is not one of them. Short vacays, working weekends, crammed social calendars, and never-ending to-do lists are commonplace. Now, forced to stay home and social-distance, you may not be run-ragged by long commutes and packed workdays, but new stressors have sprung up to replace them.

I lived in Barcelona for a decade next to the warm sands of the Mediterranean Sea. I was often scolded by my Spanish family for working too much and not knowing when to disconnect. It took a while, but I realized that they were right. When it comes to enjoying life, Europeans—especially Southern Europeans—know what they are doing. They’ve been perfecting the lifestyle for millennia.

In this season of uncertainty and anxiety, let’s look to the Spaniards for some schooling on how to calm the hell down.

Your Beginner’s Guide to Relaxing Like a Spaniard

In It Together #7: Easy Tips to Cook A Great Meal When You Don't Have All the Desired Ingredients

Man, everyday life in quarantine is filled with an array of unexpected daily challenges that seem small, but add up quickly. The In It Together Series will make your day to day easier thanks to expert advice from female business owners in Seattle. As a personal stylist for women in Seattle, I’m fortunate to be a part of a community of bright, generous, resourceful women who have the power to improve our situations. Today’s post is from the Chef Owner of Miri’s Golden Gardens, Miri Plowman. This is sure to be a post you bookmark and come back to repeatedly. Enjoy!

First, I want to acknowledge that everyone is approaching this time in the kitchen differently. I think some find it a time to dive into cooking projects that maybe otherwise they would never dare to take on, others are looking at their kitchen with dread and overwhelm and for some, cooking is business as usual, just more of it.

For me personally, running a business and a restaurant means that my partner and I end up eating at odd hours, and not very consistently. I have enjoyed this time for reinstating important habits that have fallen to the wayside-like eating three square meals a day all at reasonable hours and mostly at the table. I’ve been really enjoying having a big delicious lunch followed by a smaller, more leftover-y or salad-y dinner.

All this to say, if I could offer one suggestion in this weird time, listen to what your body wants and needs! Try to relish in the slow down and savor mealtime if you can!

The other thing that typically dominates my home cooking style lately is to make do with the ingredients I have. The other day I was looking to make Prad Pri King. A Thai dish with red curry paste, green beans and a protein- typically pork or beef. I had maybe half the ingredients and zero interest in braving the grocery store. 😱

In lieu of the red curry paste I blended some chili pepper flakes, shallot (an onion would have also been fine), a squeeze of 1/2 a lime and some fish sauce. I added some chicken broth for some extra umami. It wasn’t perfect, but it also wasn’t bad. Learning to make do with the ingredients you have means wasting less and also saves time and energy. Over time, you will find that doing this will help you to be more creative in the kitchen. Recipes will only get you so far! I want to be clear this is far more helpful for cooking than it is for baking!

In It Together #5: How to Reinvent Your Space Right Now

The next several weeks are devoted to making your days better. We’ll be solving problems, decreasing anxiety, making you look and feel better. It’s all happening here. And, it’s all happening thanks to the genius of local small businesses in the Poplin community. Welcome to another installment of, “In it Together.”

As I’ve mentioned in the blog, we’ve been doing some major repurposing over here. We turned our garage into my husband’s “loft like” office by cannibalizing lots of swanky furniture from around the house and building some tables with old doors and sawhorses. We reorganized our son’s room including repainting and putting up a mural on the wall. And, of course, we’ve been building planter boxes and more out front. The point is, we live for this stuff and now is the best time to do it. Not only does it make our space more appealing during Quarantine, but it also is a great way to be creative, productive and achieve flow. I heard from readers that this sort of thing doesn’t necessarily come naturally to everyone. So, I reached out to my longtime friend, Poplin client and genius Interior Architect and Designer, Amy May. Enjoy!

P.S. Next up, I’ll be guiding you through getting dressed everyday in Quarantine. See you Friday!

Reinventing Your Space With Amy May, Founder of May Designs

In It Together #4: How to Work From Home in the Time of Pandemic

The next several weeks are devoted to making your days better. We’ll be solving problems, decreasing anxiety, making you look and feel better. It’s all happening here. And, it’s all happening thanks to the genius of local small businesses in the Poplin community. Welcome to another installment of, “In it Together.”

Happy Monday, Dear Reader. Whether you just wrapped up spring break for the kids, are kicking it off today or are in a land where spring break for the kids is meaningless to you, the In It Together Series is here to give you some momentum every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I’m elated to offer tips from my good friend, Poplin client, Executive Coach and founder of the Essential Group, Kore Koubourlis. She’s an insightful resource who primarily works remotely with her clients and offers online trainings. In a word, this is her wheelhouse. Dive in and let me know what you think.

And when you wrap up your reading, go outside (if you can) and listen to this. See you Wednesday!

-Mellicia

We need strategies to take care of ourselves and our mindset; especially so during times of rapid change and uncertainty. In case you are interested, here is my personal top ten list (well, it's a list of 12 actually). These are things I am including in my life right now to stay sane amidst all this "family togetherness time". I hope you find it useful.

12 Strategies to Stay Sane While Working at Home Right Now

Must Know Now: In It Together #3

I’m deep into the, “In It Together” Series. I hope you are finding it useful and that it makes you feel better. Despite operating as if I’m in a remote cabin with my family, I find there are all sorts of things I want to make sure you know. So, here’s a post just for that. Enjoy and thanks VERY much for all the emails, messages, etc. They are delightful and are inspiring content for the blog. Mwah!

All The Things

In It Together #2: Do Your Mani Like a Pro with this DIY Tutorial

The next several weeks are devoted to making your days better. We’ll be solving problems, decreasing anxiety, making you look and feel better. It’s all happening here. And, it’s all happening thanks to the genius of local small businesses in the Poplin community. Welcome to another installment of, “In it Together.”

While I have lots of great qualities, doing an attractive mani or pedi is certainly not one of them. A few years ago, i discovered how much better I feel when someone else makes my nails look amazing. This is not because I enjoy the process so much. In fact, I often find myself anxious about my schedule when I’m getting my nails done. Nope, it’s because I can’t seem to make them look as beautiful as I’d like.

And, apparently, I’m not alone.

So, today’s IIT post is courtesy of my good friend who is also an incredible resource, Courean Napolitano, owner of Vixen Day Spa and Boutique in Magnolia. It’s a magical land where you can get spa services and pick up a hip and affordable vegan leather jacket before you leave. I’m a big fan.

Enjoy Courean’s tutorial on doing the perfect mani at home.

Friday’s post is all about how to dress for yourself (and your Zoom calls) from yours truly. On deck, how to rearrange your place from Amy May, set yourself up for professional success on your Zoom calls from Kore Kobourlis and much more. Thanks for being here and take very good care.

How to do a Mani Like a Pro

Launching: In It Together

While we all might be physically separate, we are very much in it together. Over the past month or so, I’ve had all sorts of delightful interactions with my clients and the Poplin community. Of course, this is certainly not a delightful time to be home. And, if you can, please support local food banks and other organizations working tirelessly to help folks affected in an endless number of ways right now. Really. Anything you can give does matter. (For that matter, supporting your favorite candidates for office matters quite a bit, too. )

The thing is, it’s all very abstract. We’re not interacting with one another IRL, which means we are missing the nuances of in person communication. We aren’t taking in nonverbal cues from one another. We can’t comfort with a hug or an impromptu get together. While we all may be finding the silver lining in this (and yes, there are many), it can also be lonely, frustrating, and unpredictable.

Add to that, we have the daily annoyances of real life. Likely, we feel guilty about caring about our roots growing out or lacking a pedicure. But, trust me, Dear Reader, those things matter because they are reminders to us everyday that life is not the same. It can be depressing to feel like there’s no reason to put yourself together each day. But, My Dear, there absolutely is. You are the reason.

If you get that, but you still don’t know exactly how to execute, that’s where this series comes in. Get ready. It’s awesome.

Over the next few weeks (maybe more?) you’ll be the lucky recipient of blog posts that aim to solve your daily challenges. And, I won’t be the only one solving them. I’ve turned to my very favorite local experts to answer those nagging questions with detailed, helpful guidance made just for you. Here are some examples:

A Sample: In It Together Blog Post Topics

Hot Tips to Improve Your Mood During Quarantine: from a Stylist who Works from Home

I know, it’s been a while. In the words of one of my clients, “you know I love clothes, but my heart just isn’t in it right now.” True story.

So, my Dear Reader, I can promise you this: I’ll only be writing when my heart IS in it. Because, as far as I’m concerned, I owe that to the both of us. Today, my heart is absolutely in it. Yes, I’ve got a sea of content that I never shared. Spring fashion just isn’t speaking to me right now. I’m going to guess you feel the same way. What is speaking to me? All the hot tips I have for you. After all, not only do I work from home (when I’m not with clients) but I also have been predominantly home since the end of February. So, I’m further down the road than most. Get ready for some ideas that will hopefully inspire you, and if nothing else, give you a few minutes of distraction from the other media. One quick thing before we begin: Remember to listen to the experts and local officials. I especially find the Daily from the NY Times helpful. Wash your hands, stay at home. Okay- Off we go!

10 Ways to Feel Better While You are at Home

Celebrity Stylists Just Launched a Line of All the Undergarments You'll Ever Need

As a personal stylist based in the Seattle area, I tend to have pretty intimate conversations with women. These conversations are often about style. For instance, I can’t actually pull off a jumpsuit, can I? Oh yes, you can. Or, how exactly do I stay warm in ankle length pants? Or how do I style ankle boots? Sometimes, folks can feel uncomfortable asking those questions.

Once we’ve connected, the questions get a little deeper. My feet smell after I wear shoes. What can I do about that? Are there any products to help when my thighs rub together? And so on.

One of the things that is truly most perplexing to my client base, is tackling next level style problems. I love that dress, but do you wear a bra? Or, how does J Lo look like that in that dress? Isn’t she worried that it’s all going to come out at some point? The answer is, “no” she doesn’t need to worry. She’s got the right team and the right products. And now, everyone else has access to those resources, too. Enter The Kit.

Two celebrity stylists paired up to answer all those tricky questions to prevent wardrobe malfunctions. The site’s tips and tricks will give you a quick education. My favorite part of the website is the glossary. Once you’ve brushed up on your style speak, get ready to shop. After visiting this site, you’ll be dying to try a new silhouette for the holidays. Here are a few of my favs. Have fun and let me know how it goes!

A Few of My Favorite Pieces from The Kit

Must Know Now: How to Stay Warm When You Are Wearing Ankle Length Pants

As a personal stylist for women, I’m getting questions about cropped pants all the time. Yes! You can actually wear ankle length pants all year and be comfortable. Believe it. Here’s how.

How to Stay Warm While Wearing Cropped Pants

Sustainability: How to Care for Your Jeans

As a personal stylist for women, I’m all about respecting each client’s values and helping her communicate those through her clothing. I got so deep into this values discussion that I did a workshop at Amazon last year to help employees learn to live their values when it comes to clothing. As it turns out, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. And, like everything, it doesn’t need to be perfect. Really, who needs more things to feel guilty about? No one, that’s who.

So, I’m kicking off a new series of posts on Sustainability. This will also be woven more intentionally into posts in the future. This does not mean that I’ll only focus on pieces that are made from sustainable fabrics or recycled water bottles, etc. Although, I’ll certainly share those with you, too! What is means is that it’s important to be of service to the Poplin community where YOU are. So, if you’d like to pre-cycle (buy less, buy previously worn pieces or maximize what you have), recycle (find new homes for your unwanted pieces in a way that makes the world a better place, or at least doesn’t make it worse) or make intentional purchases (fabric choice, makers, number of pieces, and so on), this series is for you.

We’re going to kick things off with some essential info for just about everyone: How to care for your jeans. Off we go!

How to Care for Your Jeans

Extending the life of your jeans saves you money and heartache.

Style Essentials: My Favorite Steamers (Handheld and Upright)

As a personal stylist, it's clear to me that a great steamer is everything. I know, it can seem so fancy to have a steamer. Trust me. Once you have one, you'll never look back. Here's everything you need to know about owning your very own steamer.

5 Real Life Fashion Hacks That Will Make Your Life Much Easier

As a personal stylist for women, I've discovered that the smallest issues are often the ones that really derail our days. Surprisingly, the average office doesn't employ a tailor. I often tell our 7 year old, there's always a solution. You may not like it. But there is one. The same is also true for fashion mishaps. Hopefully, these will fall under the, "I'm so glad I know this," column.

Repurpose. Repackage. Making an Old Coat New Again.

Upping your style game does not have to mean running out and purchasing a ton of new clothes. Whatever your budget might be, there are creative ways to help you embrace your style and be mindful of your money. On of my very favorite things to do is to find new life in existing pieces. If this speaks to you, you'll should certainly check out the post about updating your "they work for work" pants. There are lots of ways to stretch those Banana Republic/ Ann Taylor/ Express pants.

Eclectic Chic: Made, Found, Purchased, Loved. The Story of Aga.

Thursday's client photo shoot was another showstopper. In this case, my client, Aga, was the star. As we navigated our way from spot to spot through Volunteer Park, Aga was on the lookout for her young daughter who coincidentally was on a field trip nearby. What a moment- to have your daughter see you modeling in a photo shoot. #mindblowing.

Aga has lived in several countries and

Introducing Very Well Designed Gear to Communicate the Resistance.

Local designer Lauren Wallace is a friend, an immensely talented individual and a force for good in this world. With all the upheaval as of late, Lauren decided to channel her art and make things to make the world better.

If you've been struggling to style up your inner activist, worry no more. From totes to tees and everything in between, Lauren's looks are just for you.

AND.... 100% of the profits go to organizations that protect the health, safety and security of women, the LGBT community, immigrants and the long term health of our planet.

Dear Etsy, It's Time to Make Art Out of Headphone Wires

I finally upgraded my iphone last night. Hooray! Huzzah! During the purchase, I told my salesperson all about my idea for making use of the soon to be useless iphone cords. It occurred to me, I should get the word out with your help, Dear Reader. If you like it, please share.

Dear Etsy (translation genius makers who sell via Etsy),

accessories, DIY, Giving BackmelliciaSeptember 19, 2016etsy, Personal Stylist Seattle, Personal stylist women, recycled iphone headphonesComment

Smoothest Skin Ever, Without Spending $50.

I adore body scrubs. My personal favorite is Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Scrub. It's $60. Up until this point, I endured a constant struggle between two parts of myself. The first part enjoys my super smooth legs. The second, and directly opposing side monitors my bank account.

The struggle is real. And lucky for me, it's over.

Seattle Sunday: Coffee & Creativity at Drygoods Design

I love to sew. Am I good at it? Not so much. But, I love it. I love the prints on fabrics and the endless possibilities. A great fabric store is an incredibly inspirational place.

For those of you who sew or just like to make things, there's a magical land in Ballard just for you, Drygoods Design. What if you don't sew, you don't make things and you just love clothes? Not to worry. This magical land will also bring you much joy. Let me explain.

Make an impact with a bold neutral

Here's something I've noticed- a large percentage of women (and lots of men, too!) truly love the experience of a mani/pedi. The relaxation, the final result. You name it, they love it. What is especially interesting to me is that nail care can be a very effective and low barrier way for someone to communicate his/her personal style. You might notice someone rocking fleece and a pair of jeans with manicured nails, for instance.

The real battle is finding the time (I'm talking to you parents and/or workaholics!) and choosing the right color. As a redhead (thank you hairdresser and the joys of color), my bold nail color is orange-red. But, when that isn't calling to me, I am a big fan of neutrals. Wah wah. Right? Nope! Not, "I don't notice your color because it is so neutral." Instead, "holy cow. That nail color is awesome," despite being a neutral.

And, as a special treat, I'm going to show you the brands I used… which are not at all fancy. It looks like a trip to the drugstore is in order.

Your Beginner’s Guide to Relaxing Like a Spaniard

Reinventing Your Space With Amy May, Founder of May Designs

12 Strategies to Stay Sane While Working at Home Right Now

All The Things

How to do a Mani Like a Pro

A Sample: In It Together Blog Post Topics

10 Ways to Feel Better While You are at Home

A Few of My Favorite Pieces from The Kit

How to Stay Warm While Wearing Cropped Pants

How to Care for Your Jeans

As we are in the month of financial cutbacks, here's an inexpensive way to up your game: Make an impact with neutrals.