dream job

She writes, and writes, and writes some more! She also tests your favorite beauty products, attends those glamorous Hollywood events that we all see in magazines, makes time for daily exercise, and is living her dreams. Isn’t this what we all want in life?!

Amanda Montell, author, editor, and beauty extraordinaire shares her story, her advice, and her desire to see body glitter make a come-back, in the interview below.

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Let’s start from the beginning. How did you know this was the industry you wanted to go in to?

I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since I was a freshman in college at NYU. I was certain I wanted to write books of nonfiction, but I also knew that wasn’t actually a job (until it somehow miraculously is). So I had to figure out what kind of real job I wanted.

I did a zillion internships—literary non-profits, print magazines, digital media start-ups. But writing online lifestyle content was the most fun—the people were the smartest, most hip, and friendliest—so that’s what I decided to pursue.

If we were to spend a day in your shoes (and we’d like to), what would that day look like?

At the beginning of August, I started a six-month leave of absence from Byrdie to write my book, WORDY: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language. I’m still freelance editing personal essays for Byrdie’s new vertical The Flipside, but right now, I’m working from home and dedicating 90% of my time to the book.

A typical day involves waking up to an hour of Pilates at Studio Elevate in Culver City (I never made time to exercise before going on book leave, so this is a big change). The rest of my day is spent sprawled out in my bedroom with my computer, combing through hundreds of scholarly linguistics papers, interviewing experts for the book, and writing until my brain hurts (intermixed with staring into space, telling myself I’m an imposter, and binge-watching episodes of Younger, of course).

I also still attend plenty of beauty events for Byrdie to remind myself my life was glamorous once—like today I just had a killer facial with celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau. This lifestyle is totally different from my beauty editor life, which I actually documented in detail on Byrdie here.

What schooling or experience do feel was most instrumental to your success today?

I honestly think everything that’s worked out in my life is due to the sum of all the experiences I’ve had—not just one class or internship. College is where I learned about linguistics, which is the subject of my book. The internships are where I learned how to write for the internet, which led to my job at Byrdie. And involving myself in the literary and editorial industries of LA has introduced me to so many people who’ve helped me along the way. It’s all been important.

You’re writing a book right now. What inspired you to take that leap?

It’s been my dream for my entire adult life! I feel so lucky that a publisher is actually paying me to do it. It’s wild.

Have there been any unexpected challenges that you’ve had to face?

The process was shockingly smooth for me—everything happened to fall right into place! But I think what helped is that I said “yes” to a lot of suggestions early on that someone else might have declined. For example, I had written an entirely different book before WORDY was even a twinkle in my eye, but I totally scrapped it once I got on the phone with an agent who didn’t think it would sell. I was happy to start from scratch. At the beginning of your career, you have to be willing to be flexible sometimes.

Anyone working in a creative field knows what it’s like to hit a creative rut. What do you do when you need inspiration?

READ. Whenever I don’t know what to write, I just pick up a book by an author whose work is like a much, much better version of what I’m trying to do. That always fixes my brain block within minutes.

What do you love most about your job as a journalist?

Not to sound overly sentimental, but I consider being able to connect to people through words a legitimate honor. As a journalist, I’ve had the

chance to tell stories that might never have been told otherwise, and when they inspire an emotional reaction in a reader or make them think about something in a new way, that feels so, so satisfying. It’s magical.

Is there one accomplishment at this point in your career that you’re most proud of?

Back in 2015, my mentor and hero Jill Soloway, creator of the groundbreaking Amazonseries Transparent, read some of my work about gender and language and invited me to collaborate on a writing project. Getting to work with a writer I admire so unabashedly was absolutely surreal. I was 22 and so green, but I think I’ll probably always think of that experience as one of the proudest and dreamiest of my professional life.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given that you want to share with others?

Successful people are just regular people who never gave up.

As an Editor for Byrdie, what’s the greatest perk of the job?

I mean, I haven’t paid for a beauty product in years. Which is obviously insane and amazing. That said, the excess does get disturbing. The beauty industry can be so capitalistic and icky. But it can also be really empowering. It’s a big responsibility as someone who works in beauty to make sure you’re always working toward the latter.

What beauty trend are you most looking forward to this fall?

Hmm… maybe some more androgyny. Boys in nail polish. More girls with shaved heads. Hopefully some weird, Bowie-esque, rock-and-roll stuff to counteract all the dainty glosses and millennial pinks we’ve been seeing. I like those Milk tattoo stamps a lot. Would like to see more stuff like that.

What are your go-to beauty product staples?

Tatcha’s red lipstick and Glossier’s boy brow.

What is your favorite beauty trend of the past that you would love to see make a come-back?

Body glitter. I’m ready.

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If you never thought you’d hear the words “body glitter” again, you just did! And who’s excited?! We are!

All sparkle aside, Amanda is proof of the very quote that inspires her: “Successful people are just regular people who never gave up.” And she doesn’t. She just keeps going, she just keeps writing, and she just keeps pursuing. There’s no reason not to! We will see so much more from her, and we couldn’t be more excited about it!

Keep an eye out for her book, WORDY: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language, out in 2019. Until then, check out her work at Byrdie and The Flipside, and follow her gorgeous Instagram feed here. But while you’re at it, don’t just follow her – follow her lead. Take leaps, don’t stop, don’t give up.

C A R E E R C R U S H

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If only we could all be a Brittany Fuson illustration! She shops, she exercises, she vacations, she has quite the social life, and she dresses like a BOSS every day. Ugh, #goals!

The creator herself is just as gorgeous and chic as the women she puts on paper, plus focused, creative, and business savvy. She turned her talents and passion into a fulfilling career, and is spilling her insight and advice with us here!

Creative entrepreneurs, read up!

I admire your job because every day you have the opportunity to create something pretty and original. What do you love most about your job?

I love a fresh start each day, the freedom to create something from scratch with no parameters, no specifics. I try to start with a “warm-up” sketch each day, and it gets my wheels turning and my creativity flowing before jumping into the more tailored projects. Those are often my favorite illustrations because they’re usually a true reflection of what’s inspiring me at that moment.

You earned a degree in Fashion Design, but decided to go into Fashion illustration. When did you make that decision and what helped influence it?

Fashion Illustration was actually one of the last classes I took in college and I was hooked the second I got started. I knew instantly I had more of a gift for illustration than design. While it might seem like the same thing, I prefer to just create head-to-toe looks and complete illustrations instead of focusing on designing a particular blouse, dress, skirt, etc. I feel like I have more freedom than I did when I was designing apparel.

What has been the biggest struggle or hurdle in starting your own business?

Something that’s a daily struggle is staying motivated. I might work on a bigger project for a few months, so I’m putting in work that isn’t going to come to fruition or be published for a while. It can raise questions of those around me of “what are you working on right now?” While I don’t always have immediate project releases, I’m always working on something! I try to let my work speak for me instead of justifying what I do day to day. I saw a quote a while back that makes the late nights and working on the weekends worth it – “Work until you no longer have to introduce yourself”

What would you say has been the biggest reward to being a business owner?

I think what makes work worth it is seeing, reading or hearing a client’s response to their custom project when they see it for the first time. While I don’t strive to be praised for what I do, hearing the joy and excitement when they see their completed illustration is something that will make your day. Working with brands and individuals is something I feel very lucky to do in bringing their visions to life in the BFP voice.

So you’re glad you did it?

Every day isn’t a fairytale, but everyday is unique and brings something completely different to my daily routine. It’s exciting to see what awaits me in my inbox or on social media. Hard work pays off, but hopefully this is just the beginning!

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to start their own creative business?

Start small and stay true to who you are. I did a few projects in the beginning where I sacrificed who I was and my true style. I didn’t stand my ground and completely caved to the client’s wishes. Those projects don’t feel like my brand and my voice, but I learned from those experiences. You occasionally have to turn down big projects if they’re not on brand for you. Learning to say no was a huge stepping stone. It’s still tough to do, but you simply cannot take on every project that comes your way.

What do you see next for yourself? Anything you would love to do in your career that you have not yet done?

I try to never plan too far in advance because you never know what opportunities are going to present themselves. I am always looking for ways to expand my product line, but I’m also interested in live illustrating at events. I’m hoping to transition into traveling more and doing events but also bringing the signature BFP look to more solution-based products. While the “fluff” products are great, I would love to develop more products that are usable and fill a need while also being the chicest version on the market!

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Shop, browse, admire, and gush over all of Brittany’s Illustrations on her site: BrittanyFuson.com

And follow her blog and Instagram for non-stop inspiration!

Kyong banner_1 A N O L Y M P I C D I A R Y

F R O M A P R O D U C E R ‘ S P O I N T O F V I E W

The medals, the anthems, the tears, (the injuries), the heart – The Olympics! Some of us dreamed of being an Olympian, and now (for those of us that aren’t even close), we just dream about going one day, screaming in the stands as we witness life-changing historic moments! Imagine – watching Michael Phelps tally up the golds and swim his last race, or seeing Simone Biles fly through the air and dominate the gymnastic floor. Kyong Falci, producer for E! News, lived that dream for all of us and is giving us a behind-the-scenes look at her work in Rio and her overall Olympic experience.

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When you were first offered the opportunity to cover the Olympics for E! News, what were your initial thoughts and concerns?

When I was first offered the opportunity by my Executive Producer, she initially presented it as a slight possibility – 5% chance I’d be able to go and that I was just a “backup.” I told her I don’t care what my chances are, I’d go in a heartbeat! Later, I would find out that my chances were definitely higher than 5% but she didn’t want to make any promises. My one and only concern that immediately popped up was my son – “What about Kenton?” He would be 2 by the time I left and things would be easier for my husband, right? The first person I called was my mom. I asked her if she’d be able to help out if I did end up getting chosen to cover the Olympics. She, of course, told me not to worry about anything and she’d take care of all of Kenton’s daycare pickups and even offered to have him sleep over to give my husband some nights off. I then talked to Joseph, my husband, and he couldn’t have been more supportive. He told me that I had to go and that he’d figure everything out. Even until the day I left, I was the one stressing out, but he knew he could handle it. If anything, he was more concerned over my safety.

What ultimately pushed your decision to go?

I decided to go knowing that I would probably never get the opportunity to work the Olympics again and that I had the support back home. My son would have been the reason why I didn’t go, but I didn’t want that to hold me back. I’m a working mommy and he needs to know that. It was tough being away from him for 3 weeks, but I honestly think this made me a better mommy and wife.

Once you got to Rio, what was your first impression?

Well, my first impression of Rio was during my drive from the airport to our hotel so I didn’t get to see much. Rio’s a very poor city. We saw a lot of favelas, all the walls were covered in graffiti, and there was A LOT of traffic (good thing we could use the Olympic lanes!). But after spending 3 weeks there, I can tell you that the city is beautiful – especially the beaches, from Barra to Ipanema to Copacabana and Leme, the water is blue and the sand is so soft.

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Unfortunately you weren’t there to relax on the beaches, so tell us about the grunt work!

The days when we had early call times were pretty rough, and often we had to work long hours depending on our shoot schedule. I had a different job than some of the producers so I was stationed at the IBC (International Broadcast Centre) for most of my time, whereas others were out in the field. I worked off of a laptop from the 90’s that had very slow internet, but I also had the opportunity to go out on some shoots which was a nice change of pace.

I booked a lot of the shoots, field produced and worked on a few fun interviews (like the one with the Tongan flag bearer!), and did most of the file transfers, sending footage back to LA to air on E! News that night. Every day was different but the same, if that makes sense. A lot of the interviews were booked last minute, especially when it came to the athletes, and we had to hustle. We tried to work as ahead of time as possible but things were constantly changing – even the unpredictable weather affected our shoots and we had to adjust logistics.

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A few fun shoots? You also had lunch with Michael Phelps! Don’t think you’re going to get away without telling us that story!

The Michael Phelps shoot was pretty big for us and we were all very excited about it. Will Marfuggi, one of our correspondents, looped me in with the publicist for Krave (yes, the jerky) who I set up the Michael Phelps interview with. I think I was more starstruck by Boomer, Michael and his fiancé Nicole’s baby, than by Michael himself. During our interview with Michael, I asked the publicist if Nicole would be able to join him towards the end. She went and talked to Nicole and Nicole said as long as Michael was fine with it then she’d join him. I love that there’s that respect where she knew it was about him and didn’t want to take that away from him. He was, of course, fine with it and I just loved seeing the two of them talking about Boomer and their wedding plans. After the interview, we were invited to join them for lunch and most of the tables were taken. I forget who sat down first, one of our producers or Will but I just joined them and us 3 ate with Michael and his fiancé. They mostly talked about sports so I just sat there minding my own business, silently freaking out that this was actually happening!!

Did you get see how much he ate?! Tell us!

He didn’t have a massive amount of food but he had a good plateful, which he didn’t even finish. I, however, did see him grab something off of the dessert platter. Good to know he’s human!

What was the biggest challenge in your day-to-day?

The language barrier was definitely a daily challenge, but luckily we had two translators and one producer who spoke Portuguese so that was helpful. There was a lot of waiting for responses from athlete publicists to figure out all the details, and a lot of last minute postponements. Because we were so limited on our producers, crews, and cars, everything had to be very detailed and lined out for it to all work. There were definitely some late nights where I was sitting in my hotel bed, in my pj’s, ready to crash, but I was changing or adding details for our shoots the next day.

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You had the opportunity to be in the stands for some of the most exciting and historic events of these summer games. What was that like?

Yes!! Those were definitely some of the highlights of my trip. I got to watch the Final Five compete and win gold in their team all-around. I watched Serena Williams win a tennis match, Katie Ledecky smash her own world record, and Michael Phelps swim in his last solo race. I also watched the U.S. men’s basketball team get booed while they played against Serbia, and the men’s beach volleyball team lose to Brazil. Ouch! Either way, I can’t even explain the excitement of going to an Olympic game. There’s so much pride in cheering for your country, and the Brazilians are definitely a rowdy and fun crowd! The first time I heard the U.S. national anthem being played during a medal ceremony, I wanted to cry. It was all just so surreal.

Was there an athlete that you met that you absolutely loved?

Out of all the athletes that I met, I have to say that I had a blast with gold medalist Kayla Harrison and her best friend Marti Malloy. I set up a Rio nightlife shoot and we got the two Judo athletes to come out and party with us. They were hilarious! I mean, when they’re presented to you by their rep with “they’ll do anything you want,” you know they’re going to be a good time!

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What do you feel was your greatest accomplishment in Rio?

I honestly can’t pinpoint one favorite accomplishment. I had been working on story ideas and pitches long before we got to Rio, so it was very fulfilling to see it all come to life. I’m very proud of the work I did there and feel REALLY lucky to have gone. I learned SO much and can’t believe we survived!!

What about the most surreal moment for you?

There were a few of what I like to call “pinch me” moments. The first was when I saw Christ the Redeemer for the first time. I love traveling and I honestly never thought I’d get to see Christ the Redeemer. The moment I went up there and saw the statue, I was almost moved to tears. There was an overwhelming feeling that came over me, and I have some personal reasons why, but I’ll have to share those another time. 🙂 It was also just watching the games. There aren’t many people who can say that they not only worked the Olympics but that they watched the competitions.

So you’re glad you went?

I have absolutely no regrets. I think out of everything though, my favorite part of the trip was getting to really know some of my coworkers. I have worked with most of them for almost 5 years but I’ve never gotten to really know them. Work gets busy and then we all go home! Our Executive Producer chose a really good, solid group of people to work and represent E! and I’ll never forget all the moments we shared – the good and the bad.

And coming back to Kenton – what was that moment like?

When Kenton first woke up the morning after I got flew in, Joseph went to get him and asked him “where’s mommy?” I don’t think Kenton quite understood what was going on so Joseph told him to go to our bedroom. Kenton swung open the door, looked at me, smiled, but acted really shy. I told him to come to me and he came running into my arms. I, of course, cried and Kenton just kept looking at me with a HUGE smile and kept kissing me. I wish I could bottle up those feelings that I had in that moment because IT WAS THE BEST!!!

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HANNAH_10 Hannah-Skvarla-Polaroid_large

Have you ever dreamt of starting a business that requires you to travel across the globe with one of your best friends, all while creating positive change in the lives of others?

Yes?

Same here!

Hannah Skvarla, Co-Founder of The Little Market, wife, and mama to her one-year-old daughter Liora, is living our dreams and her very own.

While attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), where she met her friend and then soon-to-be business partner, Lauren Conrad, Hannah’s ultimate career goal was to find a way to merge fashion and giving back. Lauren, previous star of MTV’s The Hills, and now NYT Best Selling author and designer of her own Kohl’s fashion line, shared the same interest. Together they joined forces to create The Little Market, connecting artisans from around the world to a broader clientele.

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“Starting The Little Market has allowed me to have my dream job!” Skvarla said in our interview last year. “I always loved design but didn’t know how to turn it into a career path. After traveling with Lauren, we decided to start to The Little Market to empower women around the world.”

Hannah, also a member of Human Rights Watch, divulges below on the rewards and challenges of working with friends, her future goals (because, yes, she wants to do more!), and her best advice and tips to staying organized while changing the world.

What is the biggest challenge of running your own business?

The biggest challenge is prioritizing my to-do list. Everything I put on my list is important. From writing customer thank you notes to planning our next trip to designing new products, I really care about everything I do.

Prioritizing is definitely a universal struggle! Do you have any tips or favorite tools that you use to help you?

Of course!

1) I love the app Asana. It’s an amazing task manager for group projects. I use it to organize my to-do list.

2) I try to complete quick tasks immediately rather than adding them to my to-do list.

3) I like to keep my email inbox as close to empty as possible. If an email simply requires a quick response I try to get to it immediately. For emails that require work, I often file the email in a folder and I add the task to my to do list.

You have the opportunity to work every day with one of your closest friends. What is the biggest reward of working with a good friend?

The best part of working with good friends is that it doesn’t feel like work. Our small team at The Little Market is very close and I really enjoy working with everyone.

What do you think is key to working together successfully?

For me, the key to working successfully with a friend is realistic expectations. It’s important to work together to determine each other’s role and responsibilities.

While traveling and shopping, what kinds of items or styles are you drawn to for TLM?

I am drawn to items that would make good gifts. I love buying gifts for my family and friends and I like to find items that other people can give as gifts.

What is your favorite part of your job right now?

My favorite part of my job is meeting with the talented artisans we work with. I love hearing their stories of how our purchases have improved their lives.

You’ve traveled all over the world and seen some of the hardest working women. What does it feel like when you come back to LA, where we have so much, after seeing such struggle and poverty?

Every trip reminds me that I am lucky to live in LA. We often take for granted the privileges that come with living in the US. Most women and girls around the world don’t have the opportunities we do. Each trip motivates me to work harder to help other women earn an income so they can create a better life for themselves and their families.

What’s your next goal or even a dream that you might have for the business?

I would love to open a brick and mortar store. All of our handmade products are truly works of art and I would love for customers to be able to see each piece in person.

What’s the best advice you can share with anyone dreaming of starting their own business?

I highly recommend working or interning at a company that does work you are passionate about. You won’t even realize how much you learn until you apply the knowledge to starting your business. Change is possible, it is ok to be idealistic!

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Interest and passion can spark a dream, but Hannah proves that dedication, desire, and gratitude will fuel it. Writing thank you cards to customers, appreciating her co-workers, and caring about the artisans she works with, only makes us admire her more!

If you aren’t familiar with The Little Market, read up on the amazing company here before you get your shop on! The work they are doing reaches beyond the artisans and into their communities. Then, go nuts! You’ll know that you’re getting quality, handmade, one-of-a-kind items, and more importantly, you’re supporting other hard-working ladies around the world.

all photos from:

@thelittlemarket | The Little Market on Facebook | TheLittleMarket.com

C A R E E R C R U S H

L E X Y W A R D , T H E P R O P E R B L O G

If I had to choose four job titles, Prop Stylist, Party Enthusiast, Blogger, and Craft Boss would definitely be at the top of my list! In fact, I would trade my one title for all four!

Lexy Ward, founder of The Proper Blog, lives those titles (and everything that comes with them) day in and day out. Throw in “mom” and “wife,” and, well…to say she’s a hard-worker would be an understatement. Dedicated and down-right-awesome are two other ways to describe her, as you’ll see from her responses below. Shortly after a major move, with an 18-month-old daughter and a blog that doesn’t skip a beat, she took the time to answer my ever-so-curious questions on how she achieved those four great titles and continues to creatively thrive.

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Take me back – how did you get into styling? Was it something that you’ve always had a passion for?

You know, I’ve always been a little OCD about how everything looked. Whether it is for photos, or my home, or office, or my wallet (I’m not even joking. Everything is meticulous.), I just want things to be aesthetically pleasing. I didn’t really start doing it full-time until I had been blogging for about two years. I just kept receiving more inquiries from brands and companies asking me to style photos around their product, and it just sort of took on a life of its own!

Is prop styling something you went to school for? If not, what were your career plans before you decided to go this route?

I didn’t go to school for it, but I interned with a wedding planner and have amazing friends who work as professional prop stylists and just kind of learned from working with them and then honed my own aesthetic. My career plans were this: “Be the next Martha, okay, Lexy?” That was my second choice after I realized a career as a professional bass fishermen wasn’t going to pan out.

In addition to being a prop stylist, you’re a party enthusiast and craft boss – best titles ever! How would you describe your job on a day-to-day basis?

Oh heavens! It’s all over the place. I work from home and have an 18-month-old daughter who is non-stop. I have a backbone of what each day looks like, but I move things around to cater to her so that I can be as present and in-the-moment as possible. I usually make and shoot projects during the day when the light is natural, ideal, and available. And then I tend to the administrative side of things when my daughter is in bed at night.

While your job must be so much fun, you wouldn’t have such success without a lot of hard work. What would you say has been the biggest challenge in launching The Proper Blog?

Staying driven! Working from home is both a blessing and a trap. I have to make sure that I’m focused on my goals for PROPER and that I can meet them realistically. Even thought I’m no longer working in an office with a boss to hold me accountable, I don’t let that stop me from making this more than a 9-5 job.

What has been the biggest reward?

For me, it’s the connections that I’ve made. I feel so lucky to have my work featured both on and offline by large publications I’ve always admired. Some of my best friends have come from this job. While we only see each other in person a few times a year, we chat daily and have seen each other through pregnancies, weddings, divorces, and all the big and little triumphs of life. And we all work the same way so it’s refreshing to be able to have friends who truly know what your life is like.

Your blog and your work inspires so many others (such as myself), but who or what inspires you?

Thank you so much! It’s always a surreal feeling when I see and read comments from others about my work. I will always be inspired by Chelsea Fuss of Frolic!. I have had a girl crush on her and everything she does for years. I also like to be outside as much as possible. I try to surround myself with happy flowers, happy food, and happy friends doing happy things. I like to flip through vintage magazines to see what was inspiring back then. I try to imagine ways to modernize those trends.

Do you ever struggle with the need to be constantly creative? If so, how do you get yourself out of a creative rut?

Oh gosh, yes! So much knowledge and information is at our fingertips thanks to social media. It’s hard to be creative and original 100% of the time, but I am trying my hardest to make what works for me work for me. If I find I’m stuck in a rut, I just quit what I’m doing and do something else. The best (and usually last-minute!) ideas come when you’re not thinking about them.

What advice would you give someone that wants to turn their passion into a career, but they don’t know where to start?

I think building an online portfolio is a great place to start. If you can’t justify charging for your work just yet, figure out a trade with someone in the same field. With everything be online these days, photography is very important – at least in my line of work! Beautiful photos speak for themselves, so find a way to improve yours by either hiring a photographer or learning the craft yourself. I take a lot of my own photos for my blog and I’m learning something new ALL the time.

Lastly, as a party enthusiast, what are your top 3 tips to throwing a good party?

Oh man. I would say that food is my #1 priority. Even if everything else fails, if the food was good, that’s all the guests remember.

#2 – Cohesion. Make sure everything works. It doesn’t have to be a ridiculously over-the-top theme, but just have a general idea of what you want to do.

And my #3 – Find a way to make a memory! Have disposable cameras floating around. Or have someone illustrate your guests. Send pals home with something to remember that experience with. I am a hoarder and save all my non-perishable party and wedding favors. They eventually get used as props! 🙂

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I’ve read this interview over and over again simply to re-inspire myself and to ensure that I didn’t miss one bit of advice. When you visit The Proper Blog – whether on the blog directly, on Instagram, or on Facebook – those “meticulous” habits Lexy mentions are evident in the beautiful quality of her work (which is also bright, vibrant, and happy – a reflection of her personality, from what I can tell). Below are the key things that I’ve take away from my email interview with her.

– Be meticulous: Work until the quality of your content is up to YOUR standards. I often feel like I’m being too picky about a photo or a blog post, but I realize that there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, the “pickier” I am about my work, the higher I set my standards, and the quality of my work will continue to get better. Don’t criticize yourself – just do your best, and be happy with it.

– Prioritize and organize: We are all busy! However, if you really love what you do and want to succeed at it, you’ll find a way to make it work. Organize times when you can focus on a project, tend to personal needs, and manage the administrative duties of your business. Each day may be different depending on appointments or meetings, so take each day as they come. Prioritize each morning before setting out to tackle the day, and be willing to be flexible.

– Be accountable: When you’re your own boss, you’re the only one that can hold you to your own deadlines, so do it! The success of your business depends on it.

– Be yourself: Lexy didn’t specifically address this, but I can tell that her brand is built very much around her personal characteristics and likes. What you create or do in your day to day should be a reflection of who you are and what you love, not what you think others will like or respond to. Your work will be better (and way more fun to create) when it genuinely comes from you.

Thank you, Lexy! Now off to implement those party tips!

C A R E E R C R U S H

I L L U S T R A T O R

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Profound, simple, classy, gorgeous, clean and inspiring…

I could go on and on about my feelings for Bianca Cash’s work. She graciously answered my ever-so-curious questions about her career, style, and how (and where) she comes up with her beautiful and original quotes, plus how long they actually take her. Come to find out, her effortlessly gorgeous prints aren’t effortless at all.

Tell me a little bit about how you got into the art of typography and illustration? Was it something you were always good at and enjoyed?

I was generally never really good at school, but I always did well in art class and by the time I finished year 12, I knew that graphic design was something I loved. I have always loved handwritten type but I only started exploring ink typography about three or so years ago. I was in my first year of my graphic design course and one of my classes was drawing. I started to play with ink and kept writing. I wouldn’t say I was great at it when I first started. It’s taken a lot of practice and my style has evolved a lot. I think also having a graphic design background, it helps with my typography work.

When did you decide to turn this passion into a career?

I’ve wanted to be a graphic designer probably since I was in high school. When I finished high school I decided to take a different path and somehow ended up in administration and fundraising in a few different nonprofit organizations for several years. I got to a point where I just wasn’t happy within that industry and had a friend tell me that I just needed to study what I love. It was a scary step but I ended up studying graphic design for two years and ended up in third year Communication Design, which I have started part-time (very part-time) this year, as I’m freelancing full-time as well.

Your art is simple yet profound. How do you decide what you want to illustrate? Do you come up with your own quotes, do you read things that jump out at you, or both?

Thank you so much – that really means a lot. Honestly.. I’m not sure. A lot of what I write and post online, is personal. It’s something I have learned, it’s something I have/am going through. It’s something I believe in and feel passionately about. They often pop into my mind when I’m driving or in the shower haha.

Even her “work mess” is pretty! | photo via instagram

Everything you do looks effortlessly pretty. How long does a typical illustration take you?

It can really vary. Sometimes I get it at first go or second, other times I write it out a lot.. like a lot. Anywhere from 10 – 50 times. I’m a perfectionist so that really adds to the time. It can take anywhere from an hour to eight. Sometimes I’ll write a piece out and revisit it the next day, or a week later or even six months later.

Just because I’m curious, how would you describe your style? Often someone’s personal fashion style transcends into their work.

I like to think I’m quite minimalistic, classic but playful. Two of my favourite clothing stores here in Australia are Gorman and Country Road. Gorman has some crazy awesome colourful patterns and Country Road has a lot of classics. I own a lot of stripes. I can’t help it..

Lastly, would you say this is your dream job? If not, what would be?

I think this is my dream job… Though it always has to be evolving and changing. Also it’s important to know that dream job doesn’t mean it’s not hard and has it’s lows. It can be exhausting being your own boss and I’m in a constant state of learning. But for the most part I am really thankful I get to do this.

If you don’t follow Bianca on instagram, 1. you should, 2. you have most likely seen her work from the many re-posts of other girl-blogger favorites. Her illustrations are too beautiful not to share, and her messages…well, similar to kindness, should be “thrown around like confetti.”

You can see more of her amazing work on instagram, or buy prints directly from her website. While you’re there, you’ll see that she is not only an amazing artist, but an insanely talented photographer. This girl’s a vessel of limitless creativity, a business woman paving her own path, and a career crush for any Polished Press follower.

When I envisioned starting this blog, I pictured a site that would inform as much as it would inspire, and look as “polished” and put-together as we all strive to be when presenting ourselves; a site that represents who I aspire to be and highlights the people I admire.

As I began writing questions for the many Career Crushes that I plan to feature, I at some point decided to try and answer these questions myself. Had I done that from the beginning, I would have realized they aren’t easy. Nonetheless, if I expect others to dig deep on the lessons they’ve learned from their career path, share their best advice, and reveal their dreams for the future – I should be able to do the same.

About me: I’m 31, currently working at E! News as the Segment Production Coordinator. After almost 4 years with E! News, I still struggle to explain what I do. In general, the segment producers and I are the liaisons between E! News and network, studio, and personal publicists (and more). We pitch new ideas, book and produce shoots, read scripts daily, “put out fires,” correct errors, scramble for last minute materials, negotiate exclusives, work the red carpets, and are on email 24/7.

The challenges of my job: Accepting that news never stops, not even for my dinner or my weekend plans. When I first started in this position, the concept of having to check my email on the weekend made me cringe. It still does. I’ve gotten used to it and I’m much better at prioritizing what is urgent and what can wait.

Most tedious part of my job: Calendars, and ever-changing excel grids. This might be TV, but it’s still a job and there will always be documents to fill out and keep up.

Lady Gaga | @lovalles

Beyonce | @lovalles

Leonardo DiCaprio | @lovalles

Ben Affleck | @lovalles

Justin Timberlake | @lovalles

Rihanna | @lovalles

Favorite part of my job: I love that every day is different. I love that I have the opportunity to be creative and to create. I love working red carpets. I love the stress and rush of tight daily deadlines (I understand that’s not normal, but I do). I love that I am constantly meeting new people, and I especially love when I get the chance to meet and work with someone whose work I have admired since I was a kid. In those moments, its like my childhood dreams have come full circle and I feel like I am in the right place. (Cheesy, I know).

What I’ve learned about myself since starting this position: I learned quickly that I wasn’t as great as I thought I was. When I came in, I thought I was quick, but I wasn’t quick enough. I thought I had great confidence, but at times when that confidence would have served me well, I was intimidated. I thought I was a go-getter, but no matter how much I did there was so much I felt I wasn’t doing. Now, I’m quicker. I am more confident, and sometimes even fearless. I am stronger – I can handle criticism and negative personalities, no problem. Most importantly, I don’t let other people get the best of me. I just don’t.

Best Advice I’ve been given: “If you don’t have your health, you will never have all the things you are trying so hard to achieve.” When I was in college, after recently being diagnosed with Lupus, I was juggling a full schedule at Cal State Fullerton, a managers position at The Limited, and commuting over an hour to an in internship in LA throughout the week. I spent a lot of time shooting, editing, and writing news packages for school, and I took three internships back-to-back to gain production experience and connections. Add in a social life, and I was busy – I was a college student! I remember one day, while talking to my mom and grandmother about all that I had to do, they were of course concerned that I wasn’t getting enough rest. My grandmother turned to me and said, “You know Lauren, if you don’t have your health, you will never have all of these things that you’re trying so hard to achieve.” She was so right. I already knew that (how could I not?), but it had never been put in such perspective. I have never forgotten those words, and I often have to remind myself to slow down, or completely stop to take care of myself when I am trying to do too much.

Best advice I would give: Don’t be so focused on one career goal that you overlook so many other great opportunities. I interview a lot of college students that are on the brink of entering their careers, and so often, when I ask them about their career goals they say, “I want to be the next Giuliana Rancic.” No joke – they actually say that to me. Or, “I am willing to put in time as a PA, but I ultimately want to be on camera.” I have so many problems with this. First of all, “I am willing to put in my time as a PA” – you should want to put in your time as a PA. You will learn so much! Second, you most likely will have to, so be more than willing – be excited to be a P.A. Third, if your ultimate career goal is to be at E!, why are you trying to start here? I got my start at a smaller network, and because there were so few of us I was able to do so much more. I gained so much hands-on experience, and I credit that experience to helping me land my job at E! If your ultimate goal is to work at any big network, focus on getting a job at a smaller network first – you will learn more and move up a lot quicker. And lastly, just because I have to: want your own path and envision it as your own. Don’t go into an interview and say you want to be the next anyone. Be able to elaborate on the experience you want to achieve.

Ultimate Career Goal: I have a lot of goals, but I don’t have one “ultimate” goal right now. I did earlier in my career, but it changed and now I don’t know that I want one. I don’t want to see an end point. I’m at a place where I want to try so many different things and explore new opportunities. To pick an ultimate career goal right now feels like I might be limiting myself. You really never know how far you can get.

My 5 everyday work essentials? Coffee (always), my phone, a notebook, my planner, magazines (for constant inspiration and just because), hand cream and lip balm. (sorry that’s 6)

Favorite work style accessories? Cute notepads and my indestructible black bag. I’ve used it every day for over a year and it still looks and feels brand new.

How would you describe your at-work fashion? Whether I’m dressy or casual depends on my mood, but I’m always simple. I love color and neutrals equally, but I’m not too big on patterns or mixing too many tones. I always wear earrings, a simple necklace, and my nails are always painted.

Who is your fashion or style icon and why? Blake Lively and Olivia Palermo. Both ladies always look effortlessly put-together and classy.

My career crushes and why: Beyonce – no explanation needed. Oprah, because she’s built an empire from being herself (and a damn good businesswoman). Robin Roberts because she amazes me. Carson Daly because he’s genuine and just great at his job(s). Eva Chen, because she’s the EIC of Lucky Magazine which already sounds like a dream, and based on her instagram, she has a lot of fun doing it. There are so many others.

If you have any career crushes of your own, please comment! I look forward to sharing inspirational features with you, introducing you to new people, businesses, and ideas, and creating a space that is both visually pleasing and uplifting.

Thank you so much for reading!

Love, Lo.

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C A R E E R C R U S H

L E X Y W A R D , T H E P R O P E R B L O G

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