1. ELLIE BURKE | From Compassion to Compassionate Action I just signed up for this 1/11 workshop all about turning your care and concern for the world around you into action from Ellie Burke, who I’m a huge fan of. 2. CNN | McDonald’s employees assist woman who mouths ‘help me’ in the drive thru
The Golden State Restaurant Group, which owns the McDonald’s location she went to, has certified each of its restaurants as a “Safe Place.”
The Safe Place program is a national youth and prevention program for “young people in need of immediate help and safety.
3. TWITTER | The Cast of Jagged Little Pill Ringing in 2020 in Times Square alongside Alanis I saw this musical in New York thanks to my friend Alyse Shorland and it was amazing. I LOVED Lauren Patten’s performance of You Oughta Know.
4. PEOPLE | Powerful Photo Shows Black Medical Students Standing on Former Slave Plantation in White Coats “It was really overwhelming. I hope that I make them proud even in the smallest ways by living out my dream and being able to exercise my freedoms… I kinda imagined this ancestral conversation where our ancestors looked down on us from heaven and said, ‘Look at our babies, they doing so well. I hope they’re happy, I’m so glad they came to see us.’ That kinda stuck with me… We literally are what no one thought we could ever be.”
5. GET BOOKED | 2020 Resolution Reads I’m especially interested in Ross Gay’s The Book Of Delights
- Look Beyond Fine Art Print of a Landscape | $37.00 | Etsy I follow this artist, Emily Jeffords, on Instagram and love her work. I have never seen anything like the way she does landscapes. They feel ethereal to me.
- Ka’iuliani | $30.00 | Haley Mitchell Art This is probably my favorite piece of art that I won. I bought mine from One Kings Lane. They have that kind of clever advertising that follows you around incessantly until you buy something. So, I caved and got this. Mine has a teal acrylic frame, which I love almost as much as the art. I found the artist’s website where she sells smaller, more affordable prints. I think her abstract portraits are so cool.
- Dual Traveler Organizer | $89.00 | Mark & Graham I don’t have one of these, but the quality looks awesome. I didn’t think travel jewelry cases were necessary until I broke a few pairs of big, intricate earrings. I love that this has a structured compartment below and a pouch at the top. Plus. a monogram. I can’t believe I don’t have anything that’s monogrammed.
- Pink Leopard Travel Bag | $30.00 | Dana Gibson Dana Gibson is an artist local to Richmond, and her family created the Gibson Girl. I LOVE the home decor pieces she creates and this pink leopard design is my favorite. I bought a sunglass case in this print, and I think the makeup pouch is awesome too.
- Staffordshire Dog Pin | $7.00 | Stay Home Club I found this little guy at Quirk Gallery inside the Quirk Hotel. I learned about Staffordshire dogs just this year from my friends Lyndee and Jess and now I LOVE seeing them everywhere. I bought a set for my office from Facebook Marketplace, and then pinned this tiny version into a 4X6 mat to hang on my wall at home.
- Rocky Cardhead Ram Head | $16.95 | CBSAFARI I discovered Carboard Safari at The Shops at 5807 In Richmond, and then searched online for a Ram version. I bought the tiniest size, which hangs on my office gallery wall as a tribute to my Alma Mater where I also teach one class a semester, Virginia Commonwealth University. These come in a flat sheet, and you assemble them. I think they’d make a cute stocking-stuffer.
Kim’s Picks:
- Vegan Leather Boots | $189.00 | Alohas Sandals I absolutely ADORE these boots! I’m in love with the chunky block heel with a square toe. Plus, they’re vegan leather.
- Leather Sling Bag | $118.00 | Madewell This bag may slouchy but you can throw so much inside! I love how the handle on the bag is long, so it’s not too high. You can throw in keys, notebooks, lotion, perfume and maybe even sneak in snacks for the movies!
- Large Vintage Mirror | $448.00 | Anthropologie I’ve been searching long and hard for a vintage mirror- and as I don’t have this one in particular, I do have something similar. This one from Anthro is pricy, but if you go thrift shopping or look on the Facebook Market, you may be in luck!
- Knee Boots | $199.95 | Sam Edelman High knee boots are BACK! Again, I’m in love with the block heel. It gives your feet so much more comfort and easier to walk around in. These babies will keep you nice and warm while still looking super chic!
- Tribe of Mentors | $16.79 | Amazon I bought this book for myself for Christmas last year and I LOVe looking through it. It’s so cool to get a peek into
- Over the Top | $16.79 | Amazon LOVED this book. If you want to smile/laugh/cry, this is a great read. I listened on Audible – where he reads it himself. I love everything about JVN, including his podcast. This is my favorite episode, where he interviews Olympic Gymnast Shannon Miller
- The English Home | $29.95 | Amazon This was on a gift guide made by Eclectic Curator, who I love following on Instagram. (I bought these pink crane plates from her) I read most of my magazines on my iPad through Apple News+, but I can’t get access to magazines from other countries. I will pick English Home up sometimes from Barnes & Noble, but it’s always a lot cheaper to subscribe for the year.
- Joyful | $15.37 | Amazon I’ve given our more copies of this book to friends than any other book. I heard about it on the Young House Love podcast (you can see their gift guide here). This book is so fun and inspiring. After I read it, I hung up a bunch of art in my house, got my nails painted neon yellow. It also influenced me to buy more Interior design/art books, which have been great for giving me ideas at work.
- Rain Earrings | $60 | Deepa Gurnani I bought these at Anthropologie and they’re some of my favorite to wear. I lost one of them while I was out to dinner at an Indian restaurant, and had to hunt down a new pair online. It turns out, they come in a ton of colors. I have the red and the black, but I love the white too.
- The Artist Way | $21.55 | Amazon This is such a cool book. I’ve talked about it with people I look up to and several of them had read it. This set comes with a workbook that you can use for the “morning pages” exercises that the author recommends.
- Nagel | $39.93 | Amazon My friend Gretchen (aka the Fairy Tan Mother) introduced me to Patrick Nagel. I hadn’t heard of him, but I’d seen his work. You may know it too. I think it’s so interesting to learn about a new-to-you artist. I tore out the pages of this book to hang them as prints. You could also do this and gift to multiple people.
These are my three favorite photos from our shoot. Thanks to Departure Point Films for helping to capturing the beauty of Shenandoah Valley.
SVEC is a locally-run cooperative, giving us a personal connection to our members. We believe in saving energy, saving dollars, and serving our community. We made this video to help tell the story of you, because while we provide electricity, we’re all part of powering Shenandoah Valley.
The Tooth Brigade founders Sharon and Andy Azula joined Jessica Noll on CBS6 Virginia This Morning.
Matt Murphy of Q94 and Nutzy the Flying Squirrel joined in the celebration of the grand re-opening of McDonald’s in Carytown on Saturday, November 23rd.
Owner Mike Traub was excited to give away Amazon Echo Dots, Gift Cards, and a 50″ TV as part of a raffle. Cheeseburgers and coffee were also on special for $0.79 and $0.25, respectively.
The grand re-opening came as a result of a renovation McDonald’s calls the Experience of the Future. McDonald’s is adding features to its restaurants across America.
All 67 restaurants across Richmond owned locally by owner-operators.
New technology, menu items and level of service enable a more fun and modern guest experience.
McDonald’s now invites guests to experience McDonald’s in a new and unexpected way, with a new level of choice, engagement, and service. These changes are reflective of a new restaurant model that has been successfully rolled out in more than 2,600 international McDonald’s restaurants and puts more choice and control in the hands of guests by evolving how they order, what they order, how they pay and how they are served.
For those looking to order at their own pace, McDonald’s digital self-order kiosks make ordering and paying for a meal easy. Kiosks empower guests to browse the menu, find new options and tailor their meal just the way they want.
Guests’ orders are delivered to tables by McDonald’s crew members, allowing customers to relax and enjoy a more custom dining experience. McDonald’s owner/operators and restaurant teams in Waverly are placing a higher emphasis on hospitality by focusing on greeting customers, assisting with technology and ensuring a clean, welcoming environment.
Thanks to Mayor Levar Stoney for spending the morning with us at McDonald’s to talk about education programming for employees through Archways to Opportunity! 🍔🍟👨🏾🎓
Roben Farzad of NPR’s Full Disclosure shared Keya’s journey from Bombay to Candy Valley to Keta + Co.
Sharon and Andy Azula had an idea. They dreamed of creating fun, maybe silly things, for kids that would make certain moments in children’s lives more special. They wanted to bring parents and children together. They also wanted to find a way to start giving back. So after many years in advertising and several years raising their children, they are finally taking a crack at making this one idea, their dream, come true.
When their twins started losing their teeth, Sharon & Andy realized they weren’t prepared for the Tooth Fairy! They borrowed a tooth pillow from a neighbor. It was thick and lumpy with a tiny pocket for the tooth and prize. Plus, it was shaped like a tooth. The experience definitely left something to be desired.
When they looked for something better, they couldn’t find anything they, or the kids, liked.
And so became The Tooth Brigade. Ollie, Blue, and Potato are three unlikely heroes who set out on a fun-filled adventure. They trudged through the Sticky Swamp, bravely crossed Crocodile Creek and finally climbed to the tippy top of Tippy Top Mountain. All to help their new friend, the Tooth Fairy.
Each member of The Tooth Brigade has been designed to be the perfect tooth pillow for you, your child, and the Tooth Fairy!
The tooth pillows are flat enough to fit perfectly under your child’s pillow.Their arms, legs, horns, and ears make it easy to find and grab.
The mouths are big enough to fit larger Tooth Fairy fingers and there’s plenty of room for notes or prizes.
Each Tooth Brigade member comes with a ticket – good for a missing tooth – because sometimes after a tooth falls out, it gets lost, or swallowed or falls down a sink!
The Tooth Brigade plush tooth pillow and book launch for presale on November 6th, and a portion of proceeds benefit charities that provide dental care to children in need.
BBGB in Carytown is hosting a Launch Celebration on Saturday, November 9th at 1pm. Orders placed during the Pre-Launch can be picked up in-person at BBGB on the 9th.If you’d like to be notified when pre-sales start, sign up for emails at thetoothbrigade.com
For interviews or requests for more information, please fill out the form below and I’ll get back to you right away!
Tanya Heath of Chesterfield was chosen as one of McDonald’s corporation’s Ray Kroc award winners. Chosen globally from more than 37,000 restaurants, these individuals represent the top 1 percent of McDonald’s restaurant managers from around the world.
Named after McDonald’s Corporation founder, Ray Kroc, the award recognizes and rewards hardworking restaurant managers who deliver superior results in team performance and operational excellence. The Ray Kroc Awards were established in 1999 to celebrate exceptional manager performance at both company-owned and franchised restaurants.
Owner/Operator Sue Durlak is extremely proud of her employee.
“It’s a hard award to win. Only 370 employees get it and it’s only awarded every other year. She deserved it, though. I’m glad she’s in the club.”
In a speech at a surprise celebration in Tanya’s honor, Sue said:“When I think about the Ray Kroc award, to me it’s not just about the results and the numbers produced. It’s about the person – how they conduct themselves, the way they interact with guests, managers and crew, their work ethic, and desire to be the best. You can check yes to next to Tanya’s name for everything for all of the above. Tanya deserves this award for everything she has done and continues to do for our company and the brand.”
Tanya has been working towards this goal for four years.
“Everyone helped me get here and I appreciate it. Chris gave me a job and Sue made me family. This what I really wanted. I appreciate this and it means so much.” -Tanya
The recipients of the Ray Kroc Award are nominated by McDonald’s franchisees and regional management for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the McDonald’s brand. From there, a selection committee of representatives from McDonald’s operations, training, and human resources teams select the award winners.
“Tanya is a true advocate for the Richmond Ronald McDonald House. She has won the contest three years in a row for RMHC and has collected over $15,000. She also donated her time to Habitat For Humanity.” – Sue Durlak. Allison Santos, Director of Development at the Richmond Ronald McDonald House says “Well deserved!!!!! Tanya is a rockstar!” in an Instagram post comment.
In addition to the cash awards, prizes, and gifts from the McDonald’s Corporation, suppliers, and S.M. Durlak, Inc., Tanya will join her international peers at the Ray Kroc Awards Gala Celebration in Orlando, Florida in April with an all-expense-paid trip.
I’ve been researching and looking for inspiration and trying framing techniques for the past few months. These are some of my favorite things that I found.
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8X10 Front-Loading Picture Frames | $13.19 for 6 | Walmart
4X6 Clear Box Frames. I got mine in a set of 12 | $30 (including shipping)| Amazon
Pre-cut “museum mat” | $1.99 | Hobby Lobby
16X20 Pre-cut “museum mat” | $7.99 | AC Moore
16X20 Brass Frame | $31.99 | Target (Get the one that says it’s for an 11X14 photo)
Artover is here! Check out the site for a combined calendar of all the events celebrating arts in Richmond all month long!
Eileen Melon, food editor for Richmond Magazine, did a writeup on Keya’s newest venture.
Read it here
Gifts are my love language.
Personalized Pet Sculpture
My sister-in-law Jenn is TFB’s virtual assistant (she keeps the events calendar and jobs board updated) I send her little tokens of appreciation like her favorite moisturizer or a book I think she might like every so often. She LOVES her dog, Ollie. I found an Etsy shop that makes custom figurines. I sent in a few photos that I pulled from her Facebook page and surprised her with this. It turned out perfectly. Use the code THNKS4NWR for 30% off.
Handwritten Recipe Cutting Board
My little brother has our late mom’s recipe card holder filled with her recipes. One Christmas, he scanned them all and put them on a USB drive for me. I wanted to do something special for him, too. I saw this idea in an issue of Oprah Magazine, and then found a retailer on Etsy to make it for me. My sister corroborated with me and sent a photo scan of the recipe card so that I could send it off this Etsy Shop to get made. Chicken Divan is both of our favorite meals that she made.
Custom Plush from Petsies
Commissioned Floral Painting
Commissioned Home/Office Illustration
After following her for a while on Instagram, I had Lydia Carns make a watercolor illustration of TFB’s office. I also had her make one for my friend Lyndee and her husband Matt of their first home. I love following her company, The Illustrated Life. She releases new designs every month that are sized to use as iPhone backgrounds.
H
Little Miss Dress Up on Etsy will take a photo of your home and turn it into an ornament. I got one for my dad for Father’s Day a few years ago.
‘Tis the season for the saucy return of the McRib to participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide!
The craveable and delicious sandwich – a seasoned boneless pork slathered in tangy barbecue sauce and topped with slivered onions and tart pickles – is set to return for a limited time in more than 10,000 U.S. restaurants as early as Monday, Oct. 7. To locate the closest participating restaurant, customers can enter their zip code at mcdfinder.com.
To help McRib fans celebrate the barbeque sandwich’s arrival, McDonald’s created 16 Instagram story GIFs to allow fans to share their excitement for the season. With the GIF stickers, McRib lovers can make their Instagram stories sing with seasonal cheer using options that say “Tis the SZN” or “SZN greetings” or one that shows a McRib made to look like a caramel apple. To find the McRib GIFs, simply search Instagram Story’s GIF library with #McRibSZN.
“We’re always listening to our customers and we know the McRib has some of the most loyal fans,” said Chef Chad Schafer, Senior Director of Culinary Innovation & Commercialization at McDonald’s USA. “This year we’re excited to give every McRib fan new ways to show their love for the sandwich with our saucy McRib GIFS so they can celebrate the season no matter where they live.”
The Instagram story GIFs will be available all year long, but the McRib is only available for a limited time. So hurry on in to your nearest McDonald’s and enjoy this iconic sandwich while it lasts.
The McRib’s spot on McDonald’s menu dates back to 1981. The iconic sandwich last appeared in participating restaurants in November 2018.
The Google business tool hosting Wink Beauty & Brow’s website wasn’t giving them the design choices and functionality they needed. We designed around the logo we created and added a listing all of her available services (including keywords to make the site more searchable on Google.) Here’s what the website looked like:
Before
and After…
Meet the Tooth Fairy’s newest helpers: Ollie, Blue. and Potato (pictured Left to Right).
We’re so excited to welcome our brand-new client, Zula Play toys and their first product, The Tooth Brigade!!!!!!! I worked with Andy at Martin Agency and I’m so excited to meet his wife Sharon and partner with them on launch! We’ll be working on social content strategy, media outreach, and an influencer campaign.
Learn more about The Tooth Brigade here.
“Her experience from actually living in and experiencing countries all over the world brought an invaluable perspective to our research,” Dick said. “Working with influencers in our local community is how we bring a unique advantage to the brand.”
Read the full article here.
We’re so excited that customers can now experience KINIS from their brand-new popup at Short Pump Town Center!
“I am thrilled to introduce the Nomad 804 barefoot footwear to RVA folks, having a pop-up store at Short Pump Town center allows me to share my barefoot journey and why it is important for us to getting back to basics for healthier feet and bodies. We’re also planning to utilize the space as a community fitness center where customers will have the opportunity to take fitness classes with local personal trainers for free.
I started Kinis because of my personal foot injury, leading me to connect with my early childhood living in the refugee camp playing soccer barefoot. I wanted to connect to my pass by having s stronger feet by going back to basics.” -Vincent Vu, founder of KINIS Barefoot
We partnered with Here’s what Juan had to say about the project:
“We got 360 footage and audio from familiar locations in Richmond like Belle Isle and Byrd Park. We placed mats with different textures like grass and pebbles in the store, so when people put on the VR headset and KINIS shoes, they’ll experience these places as if they were there. I partnered with Miles Hopkins, who used his ambisonic microphone to record in 360”
I met Juan at the VCU Advertising Program’s portfolio review this past May. I’m so glad I went! If you’d like to get on the list for the next, email Scott Sherman at sfsherman@vcu.edu. They have them twice a year.
Here’s a peek inside the pop-up store. You can see it in-person now through the end of the year. Photos by JAWFOX PHOTOGRAPHY
After a mini photo shoot I did with her and her daughter, my friend Jess sent me a “Greetabl” as a thank you. I’ve found myself telling more and more people about it as a gift idea.
Greetabl calls itself “an online one-stop-shop for creatively-curated, personalized gifts and greetings.”
Here’s how it works:
You choose a box pattern, then upload photos. You can choose a gift. They have a bunch of fun things to choose from. The box she sent me had a cat pattern (does she know me or what?), and was filled with a coconut mango mini candle, Sephora gift card (eee!) and photos from our shoot with a sweet note.
The box unfolds and the photo portion is perforated, so you can tear them off and frame them.
I love shower tablets (you put them in the bottom of your shower when you turn on the water and they fill the shower with steam and aromatherapy).
It looks like you can also order in bulk and brand them for your company/clients. These are some of my favorite things from their gift selections:
Thanks to B Cards Creation Shop and Bethany of Modern Raven Design for helping me bring my business card vision to life! I’ve been wanting these clear cards for such a long time!
I found the printer on Etsy. They’re in the Ukraine, so it took about two weeks for the cards to come in.
I reached to the printer again to ask if they had a discount code that I could share and he gave me one! Enter TFB10 for 10% off. I can’t wait to see all of your cute cards!
We just ordered these branded boxes an can’t wait to fill them with goodies for new clients! Gifts are our love language.
ClosedOpen 
“Art isn’t only a painting. Art is anything that’s creative, passionate, and personal. And great art resonates with the viewer, not only with the creator.
What makes someone an artist? I don’t think is has anything to do with a paintbrush. There are painters who follow the numbers, or paint billboards, or work in a small village in China, painting reproductions. These folks, while swell people, aren’t artists. On the other hand, Charlie Chaplin was an artist, beyond a doubt. So is Jonathan Ive, who designed the iPod. You can be an artists who works with oil paints or marble, sure. But there are artists who work with numbers, business models, and customer conversations. Art is about intent and communication, not substances.
An artists is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. And an artists takes it personally.
That’s why Bob Dylan is an artist, but an anonymous corporate hack who dreams up Pop 40 hits on the other side of the glass is merely a marketer. That’s why Tony Hsieh, founder of Zappos, is an artists, while a boiler room of telemarketers is simply a scam.
Tom Peters, corporate gadfly and writer, is an artists, even though his readers are businesspeople. He’s an artists because he takes a stand, he takes the work personally, and he doesn’t care if someone disagrees. His art is part of him, and he feels compelled to share it with you because it’s important, not because he expects you to pay him for it.
Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn’t matter. The intent does.
Art is a personal act of courage, something one human does that creates change in another.”― Seth Godin, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
“Capitalism has taught us that every transaction has to be fair, an even trade for goods or services delivered. What artists demonstrate is that linchpin thinking is about delivering gifts that can never be adequately paid for. As soon as it’s part of a system, it’s not art. Artists shake things up. They invent as they go; they respond to inputs and create surprising new outputs….Customers love artists. So do investors. That’s because art represents a chance to improve the status quo, not just make ti cheaper. Art builds a community, and the community creates value for all.”
“The magic of the gift system is that the gift is voluntary, not part of a contract. The gift binds the recipient to the giver, and both of them to the community. A contract isolates individuals, with money as the connector. A gift binds them instead.”
“Let’s talk about picking yourself. All of us are surrounded by people who can’t wait to be picked. Authors used to need to be on Oprah, we want to be picked by our local political party. We want to be picked our boss. We get picked, which authorizes us to do art.But gatekeepers don’t have all the power anymore. If you want to make a record, make a record. Put it on iTunes. Pick yourself. If you want to write, write. Build a blog. If you want to start a software company, you don’t need a permit, you don’t need anything. You just start it. And so we see authors and writer and singers and entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to, because we’re all one clock away from each other. Raise your hand and say, “I’m in. Here’s what I make. Here’s what I do.”
“Everything you do is either going to raise your average or lower it.
The next hire.
The quality of the chickpeas you serve.
The service experience on register 4.
Each interaction is a choice. A choice to raise your average or lower it.
Progress is almost always a series of choices, an inexorable move toward mediocrity, or its opposite.”
People don’t believe what you tell them. They rarely believe what you show them. They often believe what their friends tell them and they always believe what they tell themselves
I love these application questions:
Point to your personal website
Show us some of the projects you’ve led that have shipped and made an impact
Show us work you’ve done on the clock, and how you made it work
Are you restless? What do you make or do in your spare time that leaves a trail and makes an impact?
Find a particularly lame example of UX on the web and fix it into something better than good
What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from Steve Krug or Steve McConnell?
Point to a blog post that changed the way you think about connecting with people online
Have you created anything worth watching on Vimeo or YouTube?Where do you work now? What’s great about it?
My client, Tiffany Jana, gave a talk on managing unconscious bias in the workplace and beyond. Seth Godin is the keynote alter today and Tiffany remembered that I am a big fan and invited me to come. Amazingly thoughtful, that one.
I’m so excited that NICHE fit Studio is officially my first art customer! I met Jaclyn through her husband. I’ve tired her Spa Savasana class (yes, it’s amazing as it sounds) and love that she always has a foster kitten (or two or three) in the studio. You can follow some of the extras here and let me know if you’d like me to make something for you!
One day each year, animal shelters across the country waive adoption fees to We went to Richmond SPCA.
They wanted an extra hand photographing pets and their new families, so my friend Arshan and I spent the day with them.
Arshan is the one who taught me how to use my camera, and some of my first practice shots were of kittens and puppies at the shelter.
Here are some of my favorite shots. (You can see the full photo album here.)
I saw this handwritten recipe cutting board featured in a magazine and bought it from this Etsy seller for my little brother’s birthday. He has all of our mom’s recipes and for the first Christmas after she passed away, he scanned and put them all on a USB drive for me. This was my attempt at one-upping him. I didn’t see it in-person, but my sister-in-law said it smelled amazing and my brother posted this picture.
Chicken Divan is both of our favorite family recipes.
I think the writing is burned into the wood, but the description in the listing doesn’t say how it’s made.
Thanks SO much to this powerhouse group for lending your ears and ideas to help make the Rassawek jubilee sponsored by James River Air Conditioning Company even better!TFB’s “Ask The Influencers” combines a focus group and influencer strategy to get the right folks in the room talking about your brand at the right stage.
This dress is made of “poplin” and it feels like I’m wearing my bedsheets and I love it! The white was out of stock when I first found it, but I kept checking back and got it in white and black.
Here are a few more comfy, billowy dresses and tops that you might also like:
I love the Eucalyptus shower tablets from Aura Cacia since I discovered them last year. I’m always reordering these on Amazon or picking them up at the store. But, I use them so much that they’re always running out. I saw this Eucalyptus Aromatherapy Spray from the same line at the grocery store with the idea of spaying it in the shower for the same effect as the tablets.
It’s not as strong and doesn’t last as long as the tablets, but it’s still nice and to get a whiff of this to make you feel like you’re in a spa shower when you first step in.
I spray this several times and wait a few moments before I get into the shower.
I first learned about Farmhouse Fresh through Richmond’s own cruelty-free beauty boutique, Elements Beauty Shop. Aura Spa., one of my favorite places just
My favorite products are:
Sundae Mask Chocolate Softening Mask | $25Vanilla Bourbon Body Oil | $23
One Fine Day Flawless Face Scrub | $23
Honey Chai Steeped Milk Lotion | $15-$31
The chocolate mask smells exactly like brownie batter. It’s supposed to be softening. I find it gentle and just fun to use.
Jay’s birthday is around father’s day. When I took him for a couples’ massage, they were running a special using the Vanilla Bourbon oil. They used it on both of us and I loved the way it smelled.
I haven’t used a scrub in years, but when I got a “mini refresher facial” on my birthday, they used this one and my face felt amazing. The other thing I’ve started doing is using a washcloth instead of letting the hot water from the shower hit my face directly.
Farmhouse Fresh makes a mini pedicure kit that includes this Honey-Chai lotion, Honey Heel Glaze chemical exfoliant, and a body scrub. They were sampling it on the day we had our “bourbon massages,” and I loved the smell of the lotion, so I bought a full-size.
If you’re in Richmond, pop into Elements to play with the testers or book a service at Aura Spa. I love the facials – and don’t forget to add on a bubble bath.
I love that Farmhouse Fresh is cruelty-free. They also indicate on their site what percentage natural each product is, as well as whether its organic, vegan, and gluten-free.
“We’re big animal lovers. The FHF Ranch is located on a rolling pasture that is home to FHF fur babies of all sizes. Through veterinary care, healthy food & snacks, and unlimited hugs & love, we help animals erase the memories of their past and build new ones with our FHF family. Our team also dedicates time to rescue activities, including donating dog beds to shelters through our Dog Bed Fairy Program.”
And look at their cute staff on the farm. Love!
I got this book because Sherry from Young House Love mentioned it, and I will literally do anything sherry tells me to do. It’s one of those reads that inspires so many more.
This book introduced me to the term, “maximalism,” and inspired this leopard jacket/neon manicure/glitter sneaker combination.
“Like a kid in a candy store” is one of the most iconic images of joy in our culture, expressing the wild, almost delirious pleasure we take in being let loose in a bountiful world. When I first started hearing about the places that give people joy, I realized that many of them evoke this giddy feeling of abundance: carnivals and circuses, dollar stores and flea markets, and giant old hotels like the Grand Budapest of director Wes Anderson’s imagining. The same feeling also exists on a smaller scale. An ice-cream cone covered in rainbow sprinkles is like a candy store held in your hand. A shower of confetti, a multicolored quilt, a simple game of pick-up sticks, have this irresistible allure.
Even the language of joy is rife with excess. We say we’re overjoyed or that we’re brimming with happiness.
We say, “My cup runneth over.” And this is very much how it feels to be in a moment of joy, when our delight is so abundant it feels like it can’t be contained.”
Meet my friend Jessica Brooks. She’s a marketer/mom/master’s student and antique-enthusiast.
She runs Renaissance RVA. If you’re in Richmond, you can see her curations in-person at the West End Antiques Mall.
We met because her husband and my boyfriend play music together.
I saw on Instagram that she started renting a space at a local antique mall selling really cool pieces, so I asked her to be part of the TFB Art Pop Up.
She also always looks elegant and has a beautiful home, so I asked her if she could share some of her style wisdom with you all.
I went to her rancher home in Southside Richmond to spend a Saturday afternoon with her and her daughter, Georgia.
Of course, I was most interested in her beauty and skincare routine. She told me that she mostly learns about new products to try from Gweneth Paltrow’s site, Goop. Here are her favorite products:
May Lindstrom The Youth Dew | $180 | Goop
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze | $25 | Sephora
Euphoria Full Effect | $28.50 | Euphoria.net
Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Tinted Moisturizer with SPF | Nordstrom | $48
Eufora Full Effect – hair styling must Clarins instant smooth perfecting touch – great for hiding pores Skinbetter Science Regenerating AlphaRet® Overnight Cream – I think you can only get this through the dermatologist – I got mine from Dr. Godin’s esthetician. Here’s a link to the same onePCA Skin Total Strength Serum | Dermstore | $92- works to minimize fine lines and pores. I mix this with my sunscreen first thing every morning. Then I apply the Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer mixed with the youth dew.
Tanology Drops Light Sunless Tanning Treatment | Target | $19.99
Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen | $19 | Sephora
She wants to try this serum from Vitner’s Daughter next. I heard from my friend McKenzie that it’s sold ad Need Supply in Carytown and that they’ll even give you a sample.
I also loved her cool, summer outfit. She bought the top from a little boutique in Asheville North Carolina.
“I’ve got pieces I love everywhere from Roan to the Goodwill. But also H&M, Anthropologie, Zara, Gap… I bought a really cute jacket from Goodwill while thrifting recently, and also found a vintage Express jumpsuit at a Goodwill not too long ago I really like. But if I find myself somewhere like Roan or Saks, I make sure I’m buying something timeless and can be dressed up or down so that it’s an investment piece.”
I found Jess’s pants on the Target site, and here are some similar tops:
Poetry | $149
Target | $25
Francescas | $38
Poetry | $159
Faherty | $58
She also told me some of her favorite accounts to follow on Instagram:
Architecture:@archdigest
@home
@modernhomesportland
@midmoddreamhomes
Decor & Style Inspo:
@Molly_britt – Newport Beach-based, California style
@themakerista – mom of three with an amazing design sense, lots of thrifted finds, based in Kansas City
@ashlyngoldberg – Durham based mother of two, lots of vintage, natural organic and traditional elements
@lizlidgett – art curator and gallery owner in Des Moines, Iowa
@vervehomefurnishings – local, amazing finds
@angelachruschiakiblehm – gorgeous pop art
@sothebyshome
Lifestyle/Style:
@inagarten
@whatlolalikes – AZ based mom who turned me on to May Lindstrom
@bat_gio – Italian fashion editor (formerly of vogue)
@erinfoster – hilarious, co-creator of Barely Famous
@camillestyles
Landscapes and beautiful places
@swiss – take me back
@vermontphotography – hope to visit
@villacamilla – just lovely
And… @glennclose on Instagram – cracks me up.
…and her own account isn’t too shabby. I especially love the photos from her sweet, private wedding and gorgeous honeymoon all across Europe.
I spent the morning at Bowels Knobb Farm with Zuula Consulting for an equine-infused Communications workshop. Each of us talked about roadblocks and challenges we face personally. Mine was my struggle with teaching and feeling like I’m not doing a good job. At the end of the workshop, we were asked to write something on a rock that represented what we had worked through that day and that would remind us and keep us motivated and inspired through communications roadblocks. I wrote down the names of as many students I could think of that had ever said something. Nice to me about my teaching. It’ll be so nice to have this reminder handy. Thanks to Deanna and Meghan for putting on this workshop and thanks most of all to all these students I’ve met along the way.
We’re so excited to welcome Kinis to TFB!
Barefoot exercise allows the activation of foot muscles to build stronger feet and legs. Gripping the floor with toes improves balance and form, and helps reduce the risk of injuries. Exercising barefoot builds a strong and healthy arch.
Learn About Kinis
They’re already been featured on Women’s Health, and we’re jumping in to help spread the word to even more people about the benefits of barefoot training and Kinis.
Ana of Rio Fitness hosted a popup workout class at 1717 Innovation Center, so we got to see a bunch of Kinis in action.
And I tested it the brand-new pink version (Nomad Lite) for myself at Gym Quest Gymnastics.
I just finished my first week of Freshly and I like it A LOT. It’s different from the other meal subscriptions in that the meals are already cooked for you.
Last Friday, a box came in the mail with six little TV dinners.
Jay and I got six meals and split them.
Last week, I tried the cauliflower-shell bolognese and the wild-caught Mahi Mahi. Both were delicious but the pasta was AMAZING. Jay had the Chicken Livorno and the Teriyaki Salmon Cakeshe loved it too. I had a bite of the chicken and it was remarkably juicy – like I was really surprised.
Each meal has little icons to let you know things like whether the meal is spicy, Gluten Free, high in protein, and how many calories there are.
I still have an eggplant parm left before the next delivery comes on Friday. Here’s what’s coming in that order:
This Tuesday the Richmond-based Australian Football team, RVA Lions, hosted a screening of Australian film The Merger, to celebrate World Refugee Day. McDonald’s sponsored the event as part of their worldwide Favorites campaign, which has introduced (for a limited time) international menu items to McDonald’s restaurants in Richmond.
The film, which portrays the story of a struggling Australian Football team that grows into champions through the inclusion of refugee players, debuted at the 2018 Melbourne International Film Festival.
“It’s a wonderful story,” said Manyang Reath Kher, who was resettled in Richmond in the aftermath of violent conflict in Sudan. “It brings people together. People are supposed to help each other,” said Kher about the film.
Australian football is a sport that uses a ball that is similar in shape to that of rugby, but has its own rules. Richmond is the 44th city in the United States to have a team, called the RVA Lions. It was the sport featured in The Merger, the team that included refugees went on to win a tournament.
The showing was attended by approximately 70 people, whose ticket proceeds benefitted the International Rescue Mission, ReEstablish Richmond, and the Commonwealth Catholic Charities.
“It inspires me a lot and broadens my perspective,” Shuang Hu, an exchange student from China who also attended the screening.
McDonald’s raffled off prizes, including gift cards so that audience members could try the Worldwide Favorites Menu, including the Australian feature – Cheesy Bacon Fries. Other menu items include a Tomato-Mozzarella Chicken sandwich from Canada, a Stroop Waffle McFlurry from The Netherlands, and a Grand McBacon Extreme Burger from Spain.
“My boys like the cheesy bacon fries at home,” said David Boyle, an Australian who recently moved from Brisbane to Richmond. “I’ve just moved to the U.S. willingly and it’s been difficult,” he said, explaining that two of his sons did not relocate with him. “The whole concept of refugees coming to a new place under pressure, like war, I can’t imagine,” Boyle said.
When asked what other dishes he missed from Australia, Pete Gunning, another Australian who attended the screening, said: “sausage raw”.
“There are 68 McDonalds in the greater Richmond area, and I’m always on the lookout for ways to help them support the community. The organizations participating this evening are doing the good work. I’m so happy that McDonald’s could play a small part in the celebration and fundraising efforts.” said Christina Dick of Tiramisu For Breakfast Agency, McDonalds local PR firm.
Photo by SHERITA SIN
SPA
AURA SPA: My favorite place for massages and bubble baths! Aura is inside the Hilton in Short Pump. They carry Farmhouse Fresh products; I love the Bourbon Vanilla Body Oil, the Fluffy Bunny Shea Butter, and the Honey Chai Steeped Milk Lotion. They’re SO friendly and it’s somehow always very easy to get an appointment.
NAILS
POLISHED: Taylor from Wink told me about this place, and it’s the best pedicure I’ve ever had. I get the dip polish on my nails and I recently tried gel on my toes for the first time. It’s by the Panera in Short Pump. I sent my friend Katie here and she loved it too.
ESCAPE NAILS: They have locations in both Short Pump and Three Chopt. I’ve never had a bad experience. They have a very fancy heated toilet with lots of features.
SKINCARE
GLOW MED SPA: I love Glow Med Spa for facials. They use Skinceuticals products. I used to go more regularly, but my skin has been good lately and I haven’t felt the need. As far as aestheticians, I’ve been to Cody and Angela – love them both!
AURA SPA: I also loved my facial at Aura Spa. They used Privai products at the time, and I ought the oil they used on me. I can’t say enough how nice everyone is that works there. It’s a true spa experience. I love to get there early and take a bubble bath or get in the pool/hot tub. I also recommend the restaurant in the hotel. The last time I got a massage, I ordered a charcuterie plate and it was ready for me after I finished up. They also always include mimosas or cocktails with your service. I love it there so much.
LASER HAIR REMOVAL
GLOW MED SPA: I’m about halfway through with my laser hair treatments at Glow Med Spa. It hurt SO badly on my legs, but it’s been worth it. before I got it done ,
I know it’s not a new thing, but I recently discovered lip liner and I like it A LOT. This is Lip Cheat by Charlotte Tilbury in Pillow Talk.
It’s almost the same as my natural lip shade. I line my lips a little outside the edges and then fill in. I’ve tried adding gloss, but I like it better by itself.
The only con: It needs to be sharpened after every few uses and you’ll need to buy a sharpener because it doesn’t come with one. I got this one.
Probably my biggest worry in going off on my owen almost three years ago to start Tiramisu For Breakfast Agency was that I would get stale and quit learning. I was so used to being around super smart people at companies like The Martin Agency, and I thought that if I went on my own, I wouldn’t be taken seriously and I wouldn’t get to be around smart, fun people and I’d be stuck working on small accounts doing “small” work.
Boy, was I wrong. In my time on my own, I’ve learned so much more than I ever could have working for someone else. Working for myself has allowed me the freedom to find creative expression and learn design, painting, photography. I’ve learned gold-foil printing and even edible printing. I’ve learned how to.
One of the things that makes this possible is clients like Tiffany Jana. The trust they put in me has been truly instrumental in allowing me to grow not only as a business and a creativem but as a person.
Rashawd Hawkins and Jenny MxQueen were the “real” photographers
One of our values here at TFB is “unending self-improvement.”
I can’t remember where I first came across this ad, but it’s my all-time favorite. I included the documentary Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie about the history and story of the brand in this post. Barbie gets so much criticism, and it was interesting to hear about the brand’s feminist roots and mission.
I love the uplifting message of make-believe and dreaming big in this spot:
In User Experience class at VCU, students in my class are spending their second half of the semester on their passion projects. Each has been tasked with identifying a problem they care about and using the User Research, Strategy and Design process we’ve learned in class. Here’s what they’re working on:
It’s Electric…Stephanie Eldridge
Gold RushSophia Kleess
They Call It Fast Fashion For A ReasonKimberly Castro
Muralist: Ever
Photo by Style Weekly
Celebrate Our MuralsHenry Wood
Why Is It Hard For Me to Give You My Money?Adam Conklin
Finance Is CoolPeyton Nugent
Helping Drum Circle Walk To A New BeatMerrill Holt
I Can Fix ThatKatie Pistininzi
![photo of girl with sticker that says i [heart] lynda.com"](https://tiramisuforbreakfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Screenshot-2019-04-12-at-12.19.44-PM.png "Passion Projects")
Revamping UX at VCUSophia Levandoski
Buy/Sell/Trade Used SurfboardsThomas Carlson
One of my LinkedIn connections shared this new Budweiser commercial with basketball player Dwyane Wade. I showed it to my class yesterday and I haven’t come across one person that doesn’t love it too. Watch for yourself:
This year Modern Richmond, a non-profit with a mission to promote, educate and celebrate modernism in Richmond, celebrates 10 years of tours of modern homes and businesses in the city and surrounding counties with the publication of their first book, not only documenting over half these tours, but also celebrating Modernism in Richmond.
The Modern Richmond book honors modern architecture and design in Richmond starting with the Modern Masters that have left their mark on our city such as George J. Hoppe, Jr., Richard Neutra, Philip Johnson, Frederick “Bud” Hyland and several others.
Modern Richmond Board Members, Helen Reed, Andrea Levine, and Trey Tyler spearheaded the book project over 2 years ago. They worked with Angeline Robertson of Scout Design on the design, layout and production. The book is being printed in Richmond by Worth Higgins & Associates.
This beautiful book features architectural photography by several of Richmond’s best photographers including Ansel Olson, Kent Eanes, Chris Cunningham, and Kip Dawkins. Essay contributors include Kim Chen, Mimi Sadler and Edwin Slipek, in addition to a few of Richmond’s Architects that specialize in Modern Architecture and Design.
The book launches April 9th with a celebration at Try-me and Page Bond Gallery. Tickets are $50/person and are available here.
Jessica Haddad at R. Home Magazine wrote about the book and local freelance journalist Marissa Moomaw wrote a story on the Modern movement in Richmond for the national archidtecture and design-focused magazine, Dwell.
Modern Richmond board members Helen Reed and Trey Tyler visited CBS 6 to talk about the book for a segment of Virginia This Morning.
At the advice of my friend Dontrese, I sold my bookshelves and donated business books I didn’t need to VCU. I replaced them with three of these filing cabinets from Target.
I added these clear acrylic and gold-colored handles from Amazon for $40, so the whole project ended up cost me about $175. I might also add these label holders, once I figure out how exactly I’ll be storing things.
I’m hoping this solves our office storage issue and allows for a lot more free space and less clutter, but I’ve also been looking at antique armoires on Facebook Marketplace, just in case. (Who else is addicted to that)
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Announces “Shimmer,” the Annual Fashion Show
Honored guests include Manhattan-based designers Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough of Abasi Rosborough, and fashion illustrator Richard Haines
TFB will be on the Jury!!
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising presents “Shimmer,” the annual fashion show. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Train Shed, Main Street Station, 1500 E. Main St., Richmond, Virginia.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of VCUarts’ founding, and the 50th anniversary of the school’s fashion show. Honored guests for the evening’s event are Manhattan-based designers Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough of Abasi Rosborough, and fashion illustrator Richard Haines.
“We are in a celebratory mood this year, as Richard Haines returns to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the School of the Arts as well as the 50th year of the VCUarts Fashion Show in Richmond,” said Patricia Brown, chair of the VCUarts Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising. “We are also excited to welcome Abasi and Rosborough, as they share their vision for reimagining tailoring for the 21st century.”
This annual juried event presents the finished work of fashion design students, as well as the strategic production talents of fashion merchandising students. “Shimmer” will feature women’s sportswear, dresses, menswear, denim, embellishment/luxury and surface design, all created by hand or with the assistance of industry-standard machinery. Clothing modeled on the runway includes junior and senior class designs, as well as designs from VCUarts Qatar, the school’s campus in Doha, Qatar.
“Shimmer” is organized by nine junior and senior merchandising students enrolled in the fashion department’s Advanced Show Production class, in collaboration with design students, fashion faculty and sponsors. Students produce all aspects of the show, from model selection and training to lighting, music selection and backstage operations.
Tickets are $100 for front-row seating; $75 for second-row seating; and $60 for third-row seating. Discounts are available for fashion students and their families. The show will also be live-streamed at arts.vcu.edu/fashion/
GET TICKETS
I saw this round wall mirror hanging from a beaded “necklace,” and loved it, but was not willing to pay $399. After a bit of trial-and-error, I figured out a way to make it.
GAVIN MIRROR WITH BIRCH BEEDS BY GO HOME | BLUE SKY ENVIRONMENTS INTERIOR DECOR | $399
I’m super happy with how it turned out. Here are links and instructions to how I did it.
I bought this mirror from Lowes for $29.99. I love that the website tells you what aisle and bay they keep the product in. I was in and out of the store in about five minutes.
I initially thought hot glue would be the best because it dries so fast and would stick the beads in place – but it wasn’t quite strong enough. What ended up working was a combination of Gorilla Glue and hot glue. The Gorilla Glue doesn’t dry as fast and the beads were rolling around, so I found that a dab of each kind of glue worked perfectly. The necklace part of the mirror is an illusion, and the mirror is handing by brackets attached at the middle. There is a nail in the wall above the mirror to hang it, but that’s not what is supporting it.
I ordered a 50-pack of 40mm wooden beads from Etsy. This was the perfect size. I strung them on clear fishing line and then glued them to the mirror and painted them after it was hanging. If I was doing it over, I would have spray painted them first. But, this worked OK. It looks a little bit rustic, because the paint job isn’t perfect. I also think it would looik really pretty with a high-gloss enamel spray paint – maybe even in a periwinkle or light pink.
If you try this project out, please let me know and send pictures. I’d love to see them!
If you’re not trying to go the DIY route, here are a few more mirrors with a similar vibe.
WOOD BALL MIRROR | PB TEEN | $199
ROSE GOLD MIRROR WITH DETACHABLE HANGING CHAIN | WALMART | $13.99
ZINGS & THINGS FAUX LEATHER HANGING WALL MIRROR | AMAZON | $33.57
FRANC DECORATIVE WALL MIRROR | HOUZZ | $35.99
Thanks SO much to this powerhouse group for lending your ears and ideas to help make the Rassawek jubilee sponsored by James River Air Conditioning Company even better!TFB’s “Ask The Influencers” combines a focus group and influencer strategy to get the right folks in the room talking about your brand at the right stage. Reach out if you’d like to set one up for your brand!
I loved watching this video from Allure showing a day in the life and beauty routine of a ballerina.
This video made me want to try the red eyeliner trick and pull my hair into a sleek little bun. Speaking of ballet-inspired fashion, this wrap sweater from Alo Yoga is one of my favorite things to wear to barre class. I have it in white and in gray. It’s sooo soft.
The new business cards we made for Wink Beauty and Brow Bar came in today and we can’t stop looking at them. How cute is the little eyelash? The gold foil is so shiny it almost glows in the dark.
Wink Beauty and Brow Bar is the vision of Taylor Vanlandingham, owner and Master Esthetician.
Taylor wanted a place that could be a one-stop shop for all of your beauty needs, offering microblading, permanent cosmetics, spray tanning, and teeth whitening.
When you walk into Wink, you’re greeted with gold glitter ceilings and pink velvet curtains. We love these special touches and worked to bring her brand to life with the same energy in the design of her card. We used Moo for printing. Next up, we’ll be working on her website and service menu.
To see some of Taylor’s beauty transformations, follow her on Instagram at @winkrva.
This is my favorite piece so far by one of our newest clients, watercolor artist Eleanor Cox. We’re helping her create an online presence so that more people can see her beautiful work! You can find her new website at EleanorCox.com and you can follow her Instagram @eleanorscox.
Today was the halfway mark for the semester.
What problem are you trying to solve?Who is your user? (user persona)
What challenges if your user facing?
What communications issues are there?
What do you want to ask your class? (feedback/advice)
I wish someone would figure out a way for regular doors to make that Star Wars WHOOSH sound when they open.— Eleven-ThirtyEight (@eleventhirtyate) January 5, 2017
I wish someone would figure out a way to open ironing boards without the screeching banshee nails-on-chalkboard sound.— Brittany Cranston (@BrittCranston) August 1, 2018
i wish someone would make a website that tells u why helicopters are in ur neighborhood at any given time— Becca Laurie (@imbeccable) December 18, 2014
the only form of social media I’d be very grow tired of is the old version of myspace. I wish someone would make a new website just like it.— тαуℓєя🌻 (@vivaciousxsoul) September 2, 2015
11am-12:15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Temple 2211
Instructor: Christina Dick
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Design brand communications that involve physical experiences for consumers. Learn to create experiences around ongoing brand strategies, and to create experiences based on research of website usage, store appearance, employee behavior, and the purchasing process. 11am-12:15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Temple 2211
Instructor: Christina Dick
Office hours: By Appointment Only
Office + Mailing Address: 1901 East Franklin Street Suite 119 Richmond, VA 23223
E-mail: dickcm@vcu.edu
Slack: VCU User Experience
Blackboard: User Experience (Spring 2019)11am-12:15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
in Temple 2211
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Show Your Work by Austin Kleon (Amazon, VCU Library Free Online Access for Students/Faculty) RECOMMENDED READING
A list of recommended books, articles, videos and tools is available here.
CLASS WEBSITE
We will use Slack extensively in this class. Through Slack, you will have access to class announcements, supplementary readings, lecture notes, instructions for assignments, and online discussion.
CALCULATION OF FINAL COURSE GRADES
This chart show how much each gradebook item will be worth. This grading scheme will be modified if we change the number or types of assignments or tests during the semester. Changes will be announced in class and on Blackboard.
- In-Class Assignments 25%
User Personas (Google Slides Format)
Question for Cheng Hong (Slack Thread)
Partner Website Critique (Hard copy turned in class or digital version posted on Slack)
Five People You Follow + Commenting On A Classmate’s Blog - Blog Posts 25%
What is UX?
UX at Carmax and (Jake Mitchell Guest Lecture Learnings & Takeaways
Cheng Hong Guest Lecture Learnings & Takeaways - Passion Project 25%
- Personal Website Project 25%
HOW YOU’RE GRADED
90% or more A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
Below 60% F
ATTENDANCE
If you miss more than two classes, you fail the course.
INCOMPLETES
No incompletes will be given in this course, except for dire emergencies. All assignments must be completed by the end of the semester to pass.
ETHICS AND PLAGIARISM
The VCU Honor System will be strictly enforced in this class. If you fabricate or plagiarize material, your name will be turned in to appropriate university officials for disciplinary action. The honor policy provides substantial penalties for violation, including expulsion.
Unless I specify otherwise, all work done for this course is “pledged” work, as defined by the Honor System. Each assignment implicitly carries this pledge:
“On my honor, I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment.”
For a complete copy of the VCU Honor System, see:
http://www.provost.vcu.edu/pdfs/Honor_system_policy.pdf
CLASSROOM DECORUM AND BEHAVIOR
According to the student conduct policy in the VCU Undergraduate Bulletin, you are entitled to receive instruction free from interference by other students. If you believe that another student’s behavior is disruptive, tell me and I will deal with the situation.
No food or drink is allowed in the classroom. Turn off your cellular phones before class begins. You may not sleep, wear headphones or use electronic devices (such as computer games) in class. You must not conduct side conversations or create other disruptions. It is disruptive to arrive late and/or pack up early. Be on time for class and plan on meeting for the entire class period.
VCU rules prohibit anyone “to have in his possession any firearm, other weapon, or explosive, regardless of whether a license to possess the same has been issued, without the written authorization of the President of the university.”
Be polite; respect your classmates, your instructor and others with whom you will interact during this course. If you engage in any behavior that I deem disruptive, you will get a verbal warning for the first incident and a written warning for the second. A third incident will result in your being administratively withdrawn from this class. For more about the university’s policy on student conduct, see www.students.vcu.edu/policies.html.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
It is vital that students in this course broaden their mass communications experiences, with guidance from the instructor, by including in their course work people and subjects such as ethnic, racial and religious minorities, people with disabilities, gay men and lesbians, and other groups. The intent is to ensure that students are exposed to diverse ideas and perspectives. In this class, it is the responsibility of the instructor and students to foster an environment that supports free expression.
Under VCU policy, you may not harass or intimidate any person or “interfere with the lawful freedom of other persons, including invited speakers, to express their views.”
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires Virginia Commonwealth University to provide academic adjustments or accommodations for students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability that requires an academic adjustment or accommodation, you must contact Joyce Knight, the coordinator of services for students with disabilities on VCU’s Academic Campus. Ms. Knight’s office is in Room 102 of the Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Her e-mail address is jbknight@vcu.edu, and her phone number is 828-2253.
After meeting with Ms. Knight, you then should meet with me to discuss your needs and how we can address them. For more information, see the university’s Web page on Services for Students with Disabilities: www.students.vcu.edu/dss/
STUDENT TECHNICAL STANDARDS
The School of Mass Communications has created descriptions of technical standards required for various professions within communications, including but not limited to print journalism, broadcast journalism, online journalism, advertising, public relations and photography. These technical standards – in the areas of motor skills, sensory-observation abilities, communication skills, cognitive skills and behavioral capabilities – reflect the performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to successfully complete the requirements of the academic programs at the school. These standards are not requirements for admission into the programs. The School of Mass Communications complies with the requirements and spirit of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Therefore, the school will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities who are otherwise qualified. The complete technical standards may be found at:
www.has.vcu.edu/mac/ugrad_programs/tech_stand.html
WHAT TO KNOW AND DO TO BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES AT VCU
1. Sign up to receive VCU text messaging alerts (www.vcu.edu/alert/notify). Keep your information up-to-date.
2. Know the safe evacuation route from each of your classrooms. Emergency evacuation routes are posted in on-campus classrooms.
3. Listen for and follow instructions from VCU or other designated authorities.
4. Know where to go for additional emergency information (www.vcu.edu/alert).
5. Know the emergency phone number for the VCU Police (828-1234). Report suspicious activities and objects.
One of my favorite lessons to teach when I visit classes is the”Instagram Workshop.” Students bring in an item from a brand they like and we studied the Instagram accounts to define the vibe/look/feel or the brand. They study the look/feel of the visuals and photography for their brand of choice. Then, they get to work recreating and mimicking the style of the brand. The idea is that their photo recreation looks like it belongs in their brand’s Instagram – that they’d matched the brand style.
A lot of times, we don’t get to create a brand from scratch or create things with the only criteria that we think it looks good. A lot of their first jobs, especially if they end up in larger agencies, will be working within an established brand to create content that fits the overall look and feel. An important skill to have is being able to analyze a brand and define and replicate. To create the look that their client/boss is looking for. The goal of this workshop is to give them an into to that.
Here’s what they had to do:
1. Choose a brand/Product:2. Identify other brands in the category that could be competitors
Research your brand on Instagram. Look at the colors used, types of photos, positioning. Questions to consider: Do they show people or are their product shots only? Is it a bright/loud color scheme or more light and airy? Are their photos busy or more minimalistic? 3. Describe the visual look of the brand/product’s Instagram in three words. 4. Then, three words that are the OPPOSITE of what the brand looks like (what the brand is NOT)
5. Take a photo in the style of your brand, (6 &7) and in the style of each of the competitors you identified.
Brene Brown, Jimmy Fallon I love this book and have given away several copies already. It’s so awesome to peek inside the lives of others.
A Whole Hour to Get Bacon with Anything on the Menu—That’s Right—ANYTHING. One Day, One Hour Only, in Celebration of Bacon’s Arrival to Three Menu Classics
In celebration of bacon’s limited time arrival to the Classics – the Big Mac® Bacon burger, Quarter Pounder®* Bacon burger and Cheesy Bacon Fries – McDonald’s is makin’ bacon dreams come true by giving fans even more … you guessed it…bacon! On January 29, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. local time, McDonald’s is hosting a first-of-its-kind, nationwide bacon bash called Bacon Hour. For 60 minutes, customers will be able to get thick cut, Applewood smoked bacon with anything on the menu, at no additional cost. And is there anything better than free bacon? (Spoiler alert – there isn’t).
As if bacon on our three Classics wasn’t enough, now the whole McDonald’s menu is ready to be bacon’ized. Customers will be given two half pieces of bacon on the side with any purchase and can add it to whatever item they wish. It’s an ode to bacon. Filet-O-Fish® with bacon. Even a Hot Fudge Sundae with bacon. You name it…with bacon.
“When we said there’s no such thing as too much bacon, we weren’t kidding. January 29, we’ll be upping the bacon ante—the bac-ante, if you will—and celebrating this glorious food favorite like never before,” said Chef Michael Haracz, McDonald’s Manager of Culinary Innovation. “I love bacon. America loves bacon. I really can’t wait to see the crazy and daring combinations our customers put together.”
And with all this bacon, it begs the question: is bacon the best thing to happen to the classic Big Mac, fresh beef** Quarter Pounder and World Famous Fries® or are our Classics the best thing to ever happen to bacon? Let the debate begin.
But there’s no debating that McDonald’s food keeps getting more craveable and delicious – from fresh beef Quarter Pounder burgers, Buttermilk Crispy Tenders, café-quality espresso beverages like the McCafé Caramel Macchiato, Cappuccino and Americano, and not to mention the Classics with Bacon earlier this month.
TLDR: Bacon Hour. McDonald’s. One day, January 29. One hour, 4-5 p.m. (local time). At participating restaurants nationwide***. An hour long celebration of bacon’s arrival to the Classics where customers will be able to get FREE bacon on the side with anything on the menu.
Bacon Hour Lineup: Bacon Sundae, Bacon Big Mac, Bacon McNuggets, Bacon Filet O Fish, Bacon McFlurry
*Weight before cooking 4oz.
**Available at most restaurants in contiguous U.S. Not available in Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. Territories.
***Limit one side of bacon per person with any order.
Dr. Tiffany Jana joined her co-author pastor Ashley Diaz to discuss #ErasingInstitutionalBias at Richmond Public Library’s Books For A Better World Series.
“When race is no longer predictive of outcome, I will be out of a job. And that will be great.”
“When you’re working to build a community around your brand/company/product, put the right person in charge. Don’t pick the person with the most time on their hands or the most senior executive. Pick the person who has the most passion about starting a relationship with your customers. You’ll be able to spot her because she uses the word customer in most of her conversations.”
Co-author Josh Bernoff reflects on the book ten years after it’s release here.
Mary Oliver
I quote others only in order the better to express myself. – Michel de Montaigne
These are a few of my favorite quotes and what they mean to me.
There’s power in looking silly and not caring that you do. – Amy Poehler
The world will tell you who you are until you tell the world. – Tamara Winfrey Harris
You must expect great things of yourself before you can achieve them. – Michael Jordan
You’ve always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself. – Glinda The Good Witch
I quote others only in order the better to express myself. – Michel de Montaigne
Those who say it cannot be done should not get in the way of those who are doing it.
I’m not better than anyone and no one is better than me.
Pour yourself a cup of ambition. – Dolly Parton
A little nonsense every now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Play is the highest form of research.
If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.
How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. – Annie Dillard
Without great solitude no serious work is possible.
Covergirl ditched their Easy Breezy Beautiful slogan and I LOVE their new one – You are what you make up.
Droga5 was the agency behind the campaign,
We made the women of our campaign our subjects, not just objects.Philosophically (and grammatically), our new tagline wasn’t a description but a statement, a redirection of the typical beauty-marketing focus that, in turn, positioned COVERGIRL products as tools of self-expression.
“Every day, as you stand in front of that mirror with your makeup bag and creativity, you have the opportunity to express who you are to the world and to create who you want to be.” – Ukonwa Ojo Senior Vice President, Covergirl.
- Make a list of people who’ve helped you.
- Make a list of people you look up to. What do you admire about them?
- Take it one step further and write them a fan letter.
- Create a Booya Folder
- Listen to an inspiring podcast. I love Creative Pep Talk and Being Boss
- Listen to this episode of the Creative Pep Talk podcast.
- Read Seth Godin’s Linchpin
- Look up people with your dream title on LinkedIn and study their career history. How did they get where they are?
- Perform a social audit on yourself.
- Make a list of our favorite quotes/words of wisdom/pieces of advice.
- Or, get inspired by the story of a successful career changer — like one of the many featured on Careershifters.
- Read Finding Your Own North Star
- Read Your Dream Life Starts Here
- Look up five people who have your desired job title on LinkedIn, and study their profiles. What skills or experiences do they all have in common? This isn’t meant to be discouraging (“Ugh, they all have 10 years of experience) — it’s meant to help you identify skills you could start to add to your own resume. On that note:
- Sign up for an online class in your dream field. Udemy, CreativeLive, General Assembly, and edX all have a great selection of affordable options.
- Create a “networking spreadsheet” where you can keep track of all your contacts in the field. Write down anyone you know now. Then, next week’s task can be…
- Identify one person you know who’s in the field you want to go into, and invite him or her out to coffee or lunch (your treat!).
- Make a list of companies that
- Sign up for interesting and inspiriting email newsetters.
- Write our your favorite quotes. “Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.” – Emerson
- Create
- Buy a journal, and write about your dreams, goals, fears — anything that comes to mind. Here’s a great guide to getting started.
- Sign up for a meetup, conference, or professional event.
- Say “yes” to an event, party, or gathering you wouldn’t normally attend. You never know who you might meet.
I love this episode of Marie Forleo’s MarieTV. So many times we feel pressure from work or wherever to focus in and try to get good at one thing – but we don’t need to fit ourselves into a box.
“It’s funny because when I was growing up I would run into people in my family and at school who would say you have to pick one [interest]. And I thought – well I don’t want to pick one. I like all of these things. And I very much think that if you have lots of interests, you should explore them to the best of your ability because you never know how they’re going to interplay or which one is really going to take-off. Even if they don’t fit together in a traditional sense, that’s all the more reason to try to make it work because that’s going to separate you from the pack.”
Sometimes my skin gets so tight and dry and flaky that it doesn’t seem like anything will fix it. But this does. A lot of sheet masks are flimsy and not moist enough, but this one is drenched in serum and sturdy. Get it!
My sister-in-law Jennifer wanted advice on what beauty products to use, so I bought her some of my favorites and made her this guide for Christmas!
We’re SO excited about this new spot for our client, Dr. Wiley. Thank you SO much to Katy O’Brien Holder, Melissa Wirt, Blair Bode Barkley and their families for helping us show what At Your Door Pediatrics is all about! And to Departure Point Films for being fantastic partners!
“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.”
We love Dr. Wiley’s concept and are so excited to spread the word to Richmond families. Watch the video to learn more and visit AtYourDoorPediatrics.com.
style=”text-align: center;”>To say Jason Valentino and his bride-to-be Ambar Rieken love the McDonalds McRib is an understatement. The couple included the iconic sandwich in their engagement shoot, with photos by Memories by JP.
More info at McRibRVA.com
Please contact me if you’d like to do a story on this! I would LOVE to talk to you and put you in touch with the couple!
I’ve never met someone who doesn’t love this scent. I’d always known it as a candle but recently came across a hand cream in the scent. It got me curious about what else is made – and it turns out there’s a ton!
If you know someone who loves this scent, here’s the full selection.
I have gallery walls in both my home and office, and I’m always adding and switching out frames.
I’ve been seeing a lot of these oversized mats. They’re $76 at Pottery Barn, but I found this one for $23.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond (Don’t forget your coupon).
I also love these brass frames from Target.
The closest I’ve found is this mini one from TJMaxx.
I had so much fun putting this together. Click here to check it out.
This account is exactly what it says it is – beautifully straight-forward. Her About Me simply reads, “Here is how this works. I buy it and if I like it, you will see it here. Just things I bought and liked.”
I loved getting to write about Carrie Walters and Paper Rose Co. for B Side Collective!
Ja’Nai Frederick started B Side Collective in 2017 to highlight “the ground-breaking, the risk-taking, the unconventional, and often the less celebrated women” of Richmond and Charlottesville. For their third issue, they posted a Call for Writers in a Boss Babes Community Group that I’m a part of. I thought it was so cool that they were an independent publication with all female writers and immediately jumped on the opportunity.
Once I found out that I would be covering Carrie, I was excited because she has been a friend of mine and I have supported her business Paper Rose Co. since it started in 2016. I have even been able to collaborate with Carrie in the past by using some of her custom floral arrangements as gifts for my newly signed clients, which she highlighted on her website. She also made us several gorgeous arrangements for a Tiramisu for Breakfast Party we had at Kendra Scott.
Check out the issue here!
“You don’t necessarily have to be good at something to be good at something.”
One of my favorite podcasts, Happier, with Gretchen Rubin referenced this quote and it really stuck with me (and not just because I love Dolly Parton). You see, Dolly Parton doesn’t read music; neither does Paul McCartney, and neither did Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, or Jimi Hendrix.
“These musicians didn’t have a thorough education in music, they lacked arguably crucial skills—but that didn’t stop them. They loved music, they wanted to play, create, and perform, and they figured out how to do that.”
Tiramisu For Breakfast is all about doing things in your own way. People often ask us how long their video should be, what’s the best time of day to post. The truth is, there are a million ways to do something. The details are often not what’s important.
DESIGN TOOLS & INSPIRATION
APPLE NEWS+
I LOVE this app. The $14.95/month fee includes current and back issues of a huge selection of magazines.
I screenshot layouts and colors I like from magazines, websites and email newsletters and add them into a Google slides document I call “Design Inspo.”
FLAT ICON
Camden told me about this one and it’s awesome! Edit the icons right within the site and download as PNGs. I used this to create Insta Stories covers for At Your Door Pediatrics.
GOOGLE SLIDES:
I screenshot layouts and colors I like from magazines, websites and email newsletters and add them into a Google slides document I call “Design Inspo.” I use this to help me store ideas. I send screenshots, iPhone photos and forward branded emails to my virtual assistant, I loved the look of this newsletter from Gal Meets Glam, and it immediately thought about the photos C’estlabree took of me with a pink background. I combined this with a pink text background I saw on something else to make this page of my pitch deck.
PINTEREST: There is SO much good stuff on here. I started a board called “Design for Non-Designers” to house my inspiration. Check it out here.
FLAT ICON: Camden told me about this one and it’s awesome! Edit the icons right within the site and download as PNGs. I used this to create Insta Stories covers for At Your Door Pediatrics.
The most exciting part, I think, is seeing how the designs have evolved. I started sending monthly emails in MailChimp (a program I highly recommend), in January. Here’s a look at my very first newsletter.
Here’s a look at how that design has evolved.
CREATIVE MARKET: My friend Arshan told me about this one.
BEAVER BUILDER: One of the most frequently asked questions from my students is “What should I use to build my website?” There are countless options, but Wix, Squarespace, and Adobe . Portfolio are some of the most popular.
FONT BUREAU & WHAT THE FONT
Beaver Builder: I still source out. I bought the upgraded version.
A big learning for me has been buying pre-made designs instead of trying to work with a designer to make everything from scratch.
I’m a big fan of doing what I can on my own and then getting help to take it to the next level. Inspiration can come from anywhere.
If you want to see Christina Dick serious, get her on a balance beam.
The social media marketer and blogger behind TFB Agency and Tiramisu for Breakfast is better known around town for the enthusiasm and laughter she brings to her work. But when she’s not cracking jokes and connecting with clients, the 30-year-old does what she describes as both fun but also the one thing that puts a serious look on her face: gymnastics.
“The only time I’m serious-looking is when I’m on the beam,” she said, between the occasional laughs. “That’s the only time I’m truly super-focused on something, because you have to be.
“In our industry, PR and advertising, there’s a lot of fluff. You can look at something and you don’t really know what it is,” she said. “You’ve heard about influencer marketing and all these people who have a million followers; it can be frustrating, because you don’t know what’s real, what’s not. But anything with your body and with sports, there’s no faking it. Either you can do it or you can’t.”
The Portsmouth native has been doing gymnastics most of her life, since she first took a class when she was 12. Today, she gets her fix at Gym Quest Gymnastics in Rockville, where she and a group of fellow adult gymnasts keep up their skills through classes and competitions.
While the majority of gymnasts there are more than 10 years her junior, Dick said her love for the sport hasn’t changed with age – nor, really, has her skill level, which she said is the trick.“I never got so good that I can’t keep up with all the things I used to be able to do,” she said. “Even though I’m older and larger than I used to be when I was in high school, I can still do everything I could do then, because it’s not like I was Olympic-level.
“My skill level is not impressive at all when everyone else is doing it in high school, but now, since I’ve kept up with it, it’s kind of like the tortoise and the hare. Now it’s like: ‘Oh, that’s awesome that you can still do that,’ and I’m like, ‘This is always what I could do,’” she said, laughing. “If you just never get really good, then there’s no pressure!”
With age also has come a different dynamic with her colleagues and coaches, Dick said, referring to peers in her age group who include an area attorney, a teacher, a PR rep, and social media and brand strategists at Capital One.
“It’s funny, because now we’re adults in the gym and we’re peers with the coaches, but we’re used to being the kids and hearing, ‘Christina, stop talking. Now it’s like, ‘Christina, what do you think we should do about our marketing?’”
ChristinaDick4Dick, second from left, with fellow Gym Quest gymnasts Morgan Lubking, Elizabeth Thomson, Emily Bayer, Rachel Bremer and Nerissa Rouzer, from left.
Others who hone their skills at Gym Quest include Nerissa Rouzer, a former state assistant attorney general who now works as assistant counsel for JMU; Capital One’s Rachel Bremer and Elizabeth Thomson, a senior brand strategist and social engagement strategist, respectively; Emily Bayer, a middle school math teacher; and Cameron MacPherson, an associate at PR firm The Hodges Partnership.
Dick said she’s been going to the gymnastics center since she was 19, soon after she moved to Richmond for VCU, which she learned didn’t have a gymnastics team or club. She and others started a group that evolved into a VCU gymnastics club, and Dick said she also taught younger gymnasts part time.
“It wasn’t anything serious. I’m not very good,” she said. “And I’m not trying to be humble. I’m not a super-good gymnast. This is a fun hobby I try to keep up with.”
Dick said she keeps up with gymnastics because it’s a fun way to work out and extends to other exercise such as yoga and barre. She said her best moves are the pistol squat, an aerial (a cartwheel with no hands) and maneuvers on the balance beam, where she said she finds a focus that can elude her outside the gym.
On the balance beam at Gym Quest.
“With gymnastics and other things with your body, it’s a natural thing and you just can’t force it,” she said. “It’s just a routine and all of a sudden you can do something, and it’s because you’ve had that consistency. That’s not a strength that I have or something I do in other areas.”
While her aerials send her spinning through air and the balance beam takes her to even greater heights, Dick said gymnastics helps keep her life grounded, the concentration she gets from the balance beam literally keeping her balanced.
With her work, Dick said, “There’s so much up and down, where I’m like, ‘Do I suck? Am I awesome? I don’t know.’ Every day is different. But in gymnastics, it’s not like that. Either your body can do it or it can’t.”
Meet @tiramisuforbreakfastagency this week on the podcast 🎙! If you’re in need of some inspiration, this is your episode! We’re chatting with Christina Dick, Founder of the Public Relations Agency and Adjunct Professor of Advertising at VCU.
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Christina’s positive energy and plethora of #truthbombs will make you feel like you can tackle everything on your to-do list 💯.
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There is so much magic to this convo like: why it’s important to “obsess over your customers and not your competitors”, that “everyone you meet knows something you don’t”, and that “you can always lose something you have, but you can never lose something you are”. 🙌🏼💓 Christina shares her down to earth approach on business and encourages us to consider our intention behind every action and interaction. Tune in now 🎧here.
This month, the craveable and delicious McRib returns for a limited time to Richmond, VA. A sandwich that has had fans clamoring for more than 35 years, the McRib is made with seasoned boneless pork and slathered in tangy, delicious barbecue sauce – it’s topped with slivered onions and tart pickles on a hoagie-style bun. The iconic sandwich last appeared in participating Richmond restaurants in November 2014. Learn more at mcribrva.com
I joined my colleagues and international guests on the panel for the International Business Forum. The topic was “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.” (I talked about the good, of course)
“Looking outside of our own group is really trying to understand people who think differently than us,” she said. “[Social media provides the opportunity] to learn from other people, to talk about what you are hearing around you, what you’re putting out there and what you’re taking in.”
“A lot of people think that we have become a nation of people who are constantly staring down at our phones and not paying attention to the world around us,” Dick said. “But social media is allowing us the capability to reach people not just on the other side of America, but also to spread ideas across the globe.”
Read the full recap from VCU News and The Commonwealth Times.
Emily wrapped up her tenure with TFB as our senior intern. She was with us for a year and a half. She spent her last day training one of our new interns, Olivia, who you’ll meet soon!
Emily was right by my side as we won awards at PRSA, landed Richmond Dermatology, Clementine as clients and moved int our first office space.
We will miss Emily a ton but can’t wait to see where life takes her!
One of the classes I teach at VCU’s Robertson School is Professionalism in PR: The class wasn’t created until after I graduated, and when I talk about it I frequently hear things like: “I wish they’d offered that when I was in school.”
Here’s the official course description:
Study of public relations careers, including an in-depth examination of types of practice and industry choices for professionals. Includes development of job-seeking skills such as networking, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, as well as professional skills such as impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, presentation development and effective meeting management. Focus on ethical practice and understanding of effective long-term professional development activities.
As a teacher, my hope is always that I’ve shared at least one thing with each student that they might remember/find useful.
I asked one of my former students, Yosan Mascio of Park & Morris, to share what she took from our time in class together. Here’s what she had to say:
The class encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone when applying to jobs/networking. For example, when looking for jobs, I was able to confidently tell the person interviewing me what I wanted to do and when networking I was able to see if there would be a possibility for us to connect in the future.
Here are two of her takeaways she’d share as advice to other students/recent grads:
1. You’re never being too creepy when it comes to LinkedIn and networking. People love connecting and getting a chance to give advice. Finding a common ground with someone via social media is easy and going from there is not as scary as it seems.
2. The importance of informational interviews because I learned that’s when the person is most candid about your prospective field or job you want to get into. That is the best prep you need before your actual interview somewhere.
You see everywhere that you’re supposed to wear sunblock every day. It prevents skin cancer, aging, discoloration, etc. But, sometimes it feels like the worst – greasy, pore-clogging and thick. That’s what always kept me from wearing it every day. I felt like it made my makeup slide off and broke me out and was even itchy/uncomfortable.
I tried to incorporate it into my morning routine several times but kept skipping over it.
Two things were game changers for me: One, someone (I wish I could remember who) gave me the tip to apply it with a brush, and two, I got this matte version from Obagi.
It doesn’t smell or break me out at all. I apply it with this brush from Bobbi Brown. Since I started doing this, I rarely miss a day. I tried this tinted version. I love the way it feels and smells but I miss that mattifying effect when I use it.
Plus, my favorite concealer from Cle de Peau reformulated to include SPF 25. So, now I’m getting that extra protection too.
The one thing I still want to get better about is bringing it all the way down over my chest and I’m starting to notice a bunch of freckles.
If we’re going to be out in the sun all day, I carry the tube with me to reapply and also bring this brush on sunscreen from Colorscience. I use COOLA on my body.
Background:
We created this series because working out and trying new fitness studios for the first time can be intimidating.
In this blog post, we’re going to cover some of the most popular workouts and studios in Richmond, and we’ll be judging and reviewing them based on intensity, difficulty, who it’s for, what you need, and what to wear. Here’s how we’ll define each one:
Intensity: We’re ranking this based on sweat-level and ability to carry on a conversation.
Difficulty: How beginner-friendly it is and how hard it is to pick up on the movements.
Who it’s for: Who we think would enjoy this workout the most based on our experience.
What you need: Accessories, if needed (ex: towel, mat, shoes, etc.)
What to wear: Our recommended attire. We based this off of personal preference/experience as well as what we saw other people wearing in class.
Emily’s fitness background: When I was a kid, I feel like I tried every sport possible. I played soccer, hockey, basketball and even did cheerleading for a while. Now, I’m training for a half marathon, so I am very into running. I also love to supplement my running with yoga and high-intensity interval training.
Christina’s: I was the kid on the softball field sitting on the ground. As a kid, I did a little bit of ballet and tap dancing. I grew up in a small town, so we didn’t have some of the sports or facilities in bigger cities. At the end of middle school, I started gymnastics. I continued through high school and still try to keep up with it.
1911 West Cary Street (The Fan)
What it is: Aerial Yoga studio
Who tried it: Both
Intensity: Low. Neither of us was sore after the class.
Difficulty: Medium. Can be difficult when first learning the bungee sequences (Peter Pan’s, runs, jumps, etc.), but it gets easier as you catch on.
Who it’s for: Anyone who gets bored with their workout routine and wants to switch it up with something new and unique.
What you need: A water bottle.
What to wear: Tank top, shorts or leggings, and athletic shoes.
Length of class: 45 minutes
Pricing: The one-time drop-in rate is $23.00. Fighting Gravity Fitness also offers a 1-month unlimited membership for $134.00. They have other membership offers too, including class passes.
What else you should know: The classes are usually small with lots of one-on-one help. This is the perfect workout to do on a weekend with a group of friends before brunch. Also, super photo-friendly #doitforthegram.
3105 West Moore Street (Scott’s Addition)
What it is: Boutique dance fitness studio
Who tried it: Both Christina and Emily
Intensity: Low to medium. You’ll sweat during this class, but you usually can hold a conversation.
Difficulty: Can be difficult to keep up with the rhythm.
Who it’s for: People who like fun in their workouts. All of the participants in the class we went to were women, but it doesn’t seem to be exclusively female.
What you need: Nothing. They provide the mats and the drumsticks.
What to wear: Athletic clothing and shoes. They also allow you to be barefoot or in your socks for this class.
Length of class: 45 minutes.
Pricing: The drop in rate is $20.00 per class. They also offer a deal for two weeks of unlimited classes for new clients for $40.00. They have a lot of other options for membership, including class passes and an unlimited monthly membership for $110.00.
What else you should know: This is another fun one that would be good to do with a group. We didn’t feel like we were “working out,” but we were super sore after our first class.
2522 Hermitage Road
What it is: CrossFit gym
Who tried it: Emily
Intensity: High. You’ll be sweating pretty much the entire class.
Difficulty: Pretty beginner friendly. You’ll be doing a mix of cardio and strength (using the rowing machine, then doing burpees, etc.).
Who it’s for: Anyone who enjoys high-intensity workouts.
What you need: Water.
What to wear: Athletic clothing and shoes.
Length of class: 1 hour
Pricing: This gym offers CrossFit and RVA Fit. CrossFit uses heavy barbells to mimic Olympic weightlifting, and the RVA Fit program is focused on high-intensity interval training. I tried RVA Fit, which is $135.00 a month for unlimited classes. The drop in rate is $15.00 per class.
What else you should know: This gym is very welcoming to all skill levels, body types, and fitness interests. Membership is pushed heavily and they will work with you to tailor a training schedule to your goals.
2510 Wayside Drive (Southside)
What it is: Hig- intensity interval training gym
Who tried it: Emily
Intensity: Very high intensity.
Difficulty: Can be pretty difficult if you don’t know the strength movements done in class since there is not a lot of time for an explanation of each movement. Some examples are deadlifts, chest-to-floor burpees, donkey kicks, alt v-ups, plank burpees and plank rows.
Who it’s for: People who actively do high-intensity workouts and that are into strength training.
What you need: Water bottle and towel.
What to wear: Running shoes, shorts (it gets hot in the gym – especially in the summer), tank top.
Length of class: 1 hour
Pricing: Drop-in classes are $20.00 a class, and the unlimited month membership is $125.00. Endorphasm offers class passes too.
What else you should know: Endorphasm is pretty intense and is meant for people accustomed to a consistent high-intensity workout routine. Although you can go at your own pace the entire class, you’re often doing exercises for time, so it is a very fast paced environment.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
200 North Boulevard (Museum District)
What it is: Free fitness movement
Who tried it: Emily
Intensity: Medium to high.
Difficulty: November Project is beginner friendly, and is very welcoming to the community.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to workout with a lot of people, and wants to be motivated by others.
What you need: Water bottle.
What to wear: Running shoes (you’ll be doing a lot of running!), shorts or leggings, tank top (especially in the warmer months).
Length of class: 45 minutes to 1 hour. It will usually end anywhere between 6:45am-7am.
Pricing: It’s free!
What else you should know: November Project meets at the VMFA every Wednesday at 6am. They workout no matter what the weather condition is – it could be sleeting with temperatures in the negatives and they’d still be out there!
3024 Stony Point Parkway (Southside) and 3621 Cox Road (West End)
What it is: Hot yoga studio
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: High
Difficulty: Medium.
Who it’s for: People who like heat. It is very hot, y’all.
What you need: Yoga mat, towels, and a LARGE water bottle.
What to wear: Tank top and shorts. Now that I’ve done hot yoga a few times I can stand to wear crop pants or pants, but you might feel more comfortable in shorts for your first time.
Length of class: 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes
Pricing: Drop in class is $20.00. An unlimited monthly membership is $110.00. Other memberships are available.
What else you should know: We’re not joking about the water bottle and the towels. You’ll want to lay one towel down over your mat and have another hand towel for wiping off sweat. You’ll be surprised at how much water you drink. These classes are intense. They tell you to try to stay in the room for the whole class, even if you need to take a break. My first class, I ended up lying down for most of it because the heat was so shocking. I’ve been back since and was able to make it through. I think the heat might even be a little addictive.
4501 Highwoods Parkway #410 (West End)
Workouts take place in different locations every day (ex: Belle Isle, Dogwood Dell)
What it is: Fitness boot camp
Who tried it: Emily
Intensity: High intensity. Lots of running and bodyweight workouts.
Difficulty: It’s a hard workout but pretty beginner-friendly.
Who it’s for: Anyone who likes to workout with a group of people.
What you need: Water bottle.
What to wear: Athletic clothes and running shoes (that you won’t mind getting dirty.)
Length of class: 1 hour
Pricing: First class is free. Boot camp membership (monthly unlimited) is $169.00 a month, but $99.00 for students.
What else you should know: This workout is military-based. Enough said.
11819 West Broad Street (Short Pump) and 6984 Forest Ave (West End)
What it is: Group personal training studio
Who tried it: Both.
Intensity: Medium to high.
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly. The moves aren’t complicated and the instructors do a great job of explaining and including visual demonstrations.
Who it’s for: Anyone who enjoys mixing cardio with strength training.
What you need: Water bottle and a towel. After a few classes, Christina bought a pair of workout gloves because the rower was rough on her hands.
What to wear: Athletic clothes and shoes. Christina wore crop leggings but would have preferred shorts.
Length of class: 1 hour
Pricing: The first class is free. They offer a bunch of different membership options – orange basic, orange elite and orange premier.
What else you should know: The tracking aspect of this class is so fun. You watch your metrics on the screen alongside your name, which can be motivating (and distracting from the hard work you’re doing). This was a really co-ed and diverse workout. This would be the perfect workout for someone that’s brand-new to working out.
2300 West Main Street (The Fan)
What it is: Group running studio
Who tried it: Emily
Intensity: Medium to high intensity, depending on what level you choose to walk/jog/run at.
Difficulty: Very beginner friendly. There is a lot of explanation of how the class will go in the beginning. Tread Happy is very welcoming to new clients.
Who it’s for: Runners, joggers, and walkers. Anyone who likes to use a treadmill and run to fun and upbeat music.
What you need: Water bottle, towel.
What to wear: Running shoes.
Length of class: 45 minutes to an hour.
Pricing: As a new client, your first class is $15.00. The new client unlimited month is $115.00, and they also offer a 2-week unlimited option for $32.00. More membership options are available.
What else you should know: You don’t have to be a runner to go to Tread Happy. You can go at your own pace, and you can choose to walk or jog whenever you want. There is no pressure to do what everyone else is doing.
14227 Midlothian Turnpike (Southside) and 9665 W Broad St (West End)
What it is: Hot yoga studio
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: Low
Difficulty: Medium
Who it’s for: Anyone!
What you need: Large water bottle and a yoga mat. (I use this one from Lululemon.)
What to wear: I always wear leggings and a tank top. I see other girls wearing sports bras and shorts and most of the guys are shirtless.
Length of class: 45 minutes, 1 hour, and 90 minutes
Pricing: A drop-in class is $20.00, and they offer a 3-week unlimited membership for $59.00. They have a bunch of different monthly membership options as well.
What else you should know: I really love this place. I started going after feeling like my first Bikram class was too long and hard. Hot House is slightly less hot and they have classes as short as 45 minutes. I started with those and worked my way up to the 90-minute advanced classes. They have two options – flow and stability. I only do the flow classes, which are faster-moving with less time in each pose than the stability classes. The family that owns this business seems to be SO friendly and really make you feel welcome everytime they come in.
1219 Highpoint Avenue (Scott’s Addition)
What it is: Yoga studio
Who tried it: Both.
Intensity: Depends on the class. Some classes are more relaxed (Yin yoga, Restorative, etc.) but some are more intense (Rocket 2, Led Primary Series, etc.)
Difficulty: Varies. They are very welcoming to new yogis, and will teach you basic poses all the way up to some of the most advanced.
Who it’s for: Anyone with an advanced beginner-intermediate yoga practice.
What you need: Yoga mat (you can rent one if you need to), towel, water bottle.
What to wear: Leggings and a tank top. Men can go shirtless or whatever.
Length of class: Ranging from an hour to an hour and 30 minutes. They offer a Rocket 50 Lunch Express class every day at noon. This class is only 50 minutes and is the perfect way to take a break during the middle of the day.
Pricing: A drop-in class is $18.00-$20.00 (depending on how long the class is), and the unlimited monthly membership is $108.00 a month. They also offer class packs.
What else you should know: This is the most fun/relaxed/low-pressure yoga studio ever. They are so welcoming. They cater to multiple experience levels, so check out the schedule to figure out which one you’d like best. (The calisthenics class is cool but HARD). Stay tuned for their workshops too, they bring in a lot of special guest teachers. I really liked the one I took from Fit Queen Irene. The instructors here really care about your goals and what you want to learn. Every class I’ve been to, they’ve asked what everyone is working on and made it a point to address everyone’s questions and interests.
2309 West Main Street
What it is: Yoga, pilates and functional training studio
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: Low
Difficulty: Easy
Who it’s for: Anyone interested in trying yoga or pilates.
What you need: Nothing
What to wear: Leggings and a tank top.
Length of class: Varies
Pricing: A drop-in class is $35.00, and they also offer different class pack options.
What else you should know: The class I went to was called “Spa Shavasana,” and it was amazing. After a yin sequence, the instructors came around to each of us and gave us a mini facial with Maven Made products and massage. Also, they have kitten yoga for charity.
2609 West Cary Street
What is it: Personal training studio
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: Medium/high
Difficulty: Medium
Who it’s for: People who want one-on-one attention when working out.
What you need: Gloves for lifting weights
What to wear: Athletic clothing and athletic shoes meant for cross-training (versus running shoes)
Length of class: Varies
Pricing: Varies
What else you should know: I heard about reDefine from RVA Fit Foodie’s Instagram and was initially intrigued by their app/online training. I reached out on Instagram and was assigned a trainer, Ben. We met for a free consultation/assessment. I’ve been going for almost two months and it’s exactly what I was looking for.
2196 Lanier Lane
What it is: Gymnastics studio
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: Medium
Difficulty: Hard
Who it’s for: Former gymnasts – or anyone who wants to give gymnastics a try!
What you need: Nothing
What to wear: You don’t have to wear a leoptard – but you totally can! Shorts or leggings and a tank are fine. Guys need to wear shirts.
Length of class: One hour
Pricing: $15 for one hour of adult tumbling class
What else you should know: You don’t need a gymnastics background to enjoy this class.
6235 River Road (Near West End)
What it is: Barre studio
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: Medium
Difficulty: Medium
Who it’s for: Former dancers would like this. Also, anyone who doesn’t like to sweat or do heavy cardio would probably enjoy this as well.
What you need: Athletic clothes and socks. You can wear any kind of socks but you’ll want the ones with the grip bottoms.
What to wear: Leggings and a tank
Length of class: One hour
Pricing: A drop-in class is $24.00, and they offer different class pack options.
What else you should know: Compared to other barre classes, this one seemed less dance-focused and more upbeat.
5711 West Broad Street
What it is: Barre studio
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: Low
Difficulty: Medium
Who it’s for: Former dancers would like this. Also, anyone who doesn’t like to sweat or do heavy cardio would probably enjoy this as well.
What you need: Nothing
What to wear: Leggings and a tank
Length of class: One hour
Pricing: A single class is $18.00, and a 1-month unlimited membership is $99.00. More memberships and class packages are available.
What else you should know: This studio is great for anyone trying to ease into barre!
7007 1/2 Three Chopt Road
What it is: Barre studio
Who tried it: Emily and Christina
Intensity: Low. You’re not moving or sweating much, but you’re doing small focused movements to build strength.
Difficulty: Medium, especially if you’ve never done barre before.
Who it’s for: Former dancers would love this. This is the perfect workout for people who don’t like high intensity workouts or getting super sweaty.
What you need: Water and a towel.
What to wear: Barre socks, leggings, tank top.
Length of class: 45 minutes to an hour.
Pricing: A drop in class is $24.00, and a one-month unlimited is $189.00. They also offer 5, 10 and 20 class packs that vary in price depending on which one you buy. If you’re a new client, you can go to a drop in class for $19.00.
What else you should know: The instructors do a great job of helping you get the movements right, and will adjust you if needed. Everyone is very welcoming to new clients, and the classes are usually pretty big.
Two locations, one in the Museum District and one in Church Hill.
Musuem District:
714 North Sheppard Street
Church Hill:
2401 East Marshall Street
What it is: Cycle studio
Who tried it: Both.
Intensity: Pretty intense. You’ll be sweating the whole time.
Difficulty: You are in control of the difficulty since you can control the resistance on your bike. Pretty easy to get the rhythm of the movements (“tapbacks,” etc.) down. The moves are simple – it’s the speed and nonstop motion that gets you.
Who it’s for: Anyone who enjoys cycle classes
What you need: Water bottle and towel.
What to wear: Cycle shoes (you can rent these at BOHO), leggings, tank top.
Length of class: 50 Minutes
Pricing: If you’ve never tried BOHO before, your first class is free! The drop in rate is $20.00, and the monthly unlimited membership is $150.00. They also offer differently monthly membership options as well as class packs.
What else you should know: BOHO is a fun way to get your cardio in. The music is upbeat and the instructors are awesome. The classes are usually pretty full, and everyone is very welcoming. They also turn the lights off during the class, and they give you cool lavender towels at the end. Christina started going here at the suggestion of her redefineRVA trainer, Ben. WE LOVE BOHO.
10809 West Broad Street (West End)
What it is: A megaformer studio
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: Medium
Difficulty: Medium
Who it’s for: If you like barre/pilates, this class has a similar vibe.
What you need: Nothing
What to wear: Leggings and a tank top
Length of class: 60 minutes
Pricing: One class is $29.00, and the monthly unlimited membership is $299.00. More membership options are available.
What else you should know: The moves are tough, but this workout feels very customizable. I didn’t sweat but definitely felt like I was working. The reformer forces you to focus on each move and your form. Virginia Bloggers hosted a meetup at PlankRVA and we all tried the class together. Read about it here.
What it is: 20 minute workout program
Who tried it: Christina
Intensity: Low
Difficulty: Not difficult
Who it’s for: Mainly for people who want an approachable way to start working out. This program is perfect for people interested in learning the hows and whys about nutrition and fitness and the human body.
What you need: Stability ball, 3lb medicine ball weights, exercise band, and 5 lb dumbells.
What to wear: Anything you want. You do this workout from the comfort of your own home.
Length of class: 20 minutes
Pricing: TBD. Go For 20 is brand-new and still in beta mode. If you’d like to sign up for their waitlist, you can do that here.
What else you should know: Full Disclosure: Go For 20 is a TFB client. We love them! 🙂
Emily:
90-degree by Reflex leggings
Gaiam reversible yoga mat
Hydroflask water bottle
Rosewater spray
Foam roller
Nike running zip up
Yoga bag
Athleta running socks
Cell phone armband
Zumi Yoga mat spray
Nathan SpeedDraw Plus water bottle
ASICS GT 2000-6 running shoes
Apple Watch
Christina:
Lululemon yoga pants: the align pants are SO soft I also love their Free To Be Wild bras.
Last month, we launched The Tiramisu for Breakfast scholarship.
Open to undergraduate students in The Robertson School of Media & Culture (Journalism, PR, and Advertising) at VCU, recipients of the scholarship will receive funds to go toward conferences, professional organizations dues, and networking events.
I want students to have the same opportunities I’ve had to be involved in the Richmond community.
Throughout the year, we’ll create opportunities to support the scholarship.
So far, we’ve made T-Shirts and hosted a “Gratitude Party.”
Thank you to everyone who has bought a T-Shirt through our Bonfire Funds campaign and to everyone who attended our gratitude party! If you missed these, don’t worry. T-shirts and TFB stationary are still available. Click the button below to learn more about how you can lend your support.
We moved into our very first office in January of this year. Last month, our talented friend Caroline Martin photographed the space.
Here’s the photo I asked the building owner to take of me on the day I signed the lease 🙂
I LOVED spending the morning with our clients at James River Air Conditioning while Nikki Dee Visited for her segment: Nikki Dee, Can You Be Me? It really is inspiring to be around someone so joyful. Look out for the episode coming soon!
Here’s James River’s Social Media Manager, RaShawn Hairston. PS. Check out his blog, Clazzy Styles.
In this post, TFB’s newest team member, Camden Dechert, will take us through the ins and outs of material design -Christina
I heard about Material Design for the first time a few months ago from my coworker at VCU Technology Services. Together, we had been developing a new designed campaign for Technology Services that would give our brand a facelift. I began exploring Material Design as a new way to approach our new brand. It lent me the freedom to stay within our university brand guidelines, but also add that extra oomph.
I was interested in learning about this new language because it is starting to revolutionize the way we design. Companies are beginning to implement Material Design into their logos, graphics, websites, and apps. The differences are subtle, but they make a huge difference once you notice it.
So, what is it?
In 2014, Google developed a new design language called Material Design, otherwise known as Quantum Paper.
Designed by Matías Duarte, Material Design makes more liberal use of grid-based layouts, responsive animations and transitions, padding, and depth effects such as lighting and shadows.
Google announced Material Design on June 25, 2014, at the 2014 Google I/O conference, but it is within the past year that it is being noticed by people other than designers. As of 2015, most of Google’s mobile applications for Android had applied the new design language, including Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, Google Maps, Inbox, Google+, all of the Google Play-branded applications, and to a smaller extent the Chrome browser and Google Keep. The desktop web-interfaces of Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides and Inbox have incorporated it as well. More recently, it has started to appear in Chrome OS, such as in the system settings, file manager, and calculator apps
Duarte explained that, “unlike real paper, our digital material can expand and reform intelligently. Material has physical surfaces and edges. Seams and shadows provide meaning about what you can touch.” According to Google, their new design language is based on paper and ink but implementation will take place in an advanced manner
Why use it?
Material Design is revolutionary because of how amazingly well thought out it is. Success in implementing Material Design comes from following a type system, a color guide focusing on bold, but subtle, limited color, three-dimensional environment qualities focusing on surfaces, shadows and depth, and a meticulously gridded layout.
Material is the metaphor. Material Design is inspired by the physical world and its textures, including how they reflect light and cast shadows. Material surfaces reimagine the mediums of paper and ink.
How should I use it?
Check out this guide for all the information you need on Material Design. https://material.io/
My first job out of college was at the Martin Agency as an assistant media buyer. At the time I didn’t own a TV, but I learned so much about how ratings and advertising work, the importance of “sweeps week”. Each spring, the television and advertising industries gather in New York to debut the new Fall TV lineup. They call it the Upfronts, and it’s a big event. Our whole team didn’t get to travel for the event, but the sales reps at local stations would send us DVDs of the pilots. We’d watch one or two at a time with popcorn during lunch and try to predict which shows would last and which would be canceled.
A consultant I work with for my clients sent out a list of the new shows for Fall 2018 and I thought you might like to check them out:
Our friends at Richmond SPCA needed some fresh photos of their newest baby cats for their social media, so we stopped by last week for a Kitten Photo Shoot. Ayasha Sledge, a PR professional with a photography side-business, joined us for the shoot. She’s finishing up her master’s degree in Strategic Public Relations from VCU and getting in some internship credit hours with TFB. Here’s some of the behind-the-scenes action:
These pearl slides are my new favorites. If I have to wear flat shoes, they might as well be these. 
Leni Shirt Dress | $35 | Pretty Little Things
I bought this Geode art from Target ($64.99) after seeing it at my friend Judi’s house. It looks especially pretty when sunlight hits.
I just discovered that Elemis mini/travel-size versions of a lot of their products, so I ordered a few things I’d been wanting to try. My favorites so far are the Rehydrating Rose Cleanser, the Skin Nourishing Shower Cream, and the Herbal Lavender Repair Mask. The cleanser is similar to the one I use from Eminence, so this one will be perfect to sub-in when I visit Vegas next month.
