Three Books to Get Your Butt in Gear

In need of motivation, boss guidance or just a play-by-play on starting your own business? Yeah, we all could use a little butt kicking from time to time. These three books have been helping me navigate my creative journey. If you've been following my Instagram posts lately, you'll know I am in the process of rebranding and relaunching. So it's been amazing to have these resources to turn to and figure out some of the more difficult concepts. Navigating life, business and self love is never easy, but these three women are making it easier for me.

Attention all female creatives, hustlers, and bosses, here are the three books you need to read to get your butt in gear:

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals
Titty twisters and milenial boxes of chocolates,  anyone? Rachel is actually hilarious. She proves good girls can hustle and shares actionable skills on just how to get yourself up after being bumped down by the expectation of others.  This book isn't just for the woman looking to launch her own business either! Rachel discusses family life, how not to downplay your achievements,  and ways to rid yourself of excuses to take on your empire. Drive, hustle and the desire to work as hard as you can to chase down a goal... that's her love language. And I'm loving it.

WorkParty: How to Create & Cultivate the Career of Your Dreams
I've talked about this book a while back. It's still one of my favourites! It's basically a how-to guide on creating and cultivating the career of your dreams. Jaclyn dealt with major moves for her career, like literally moving across the country, and then major letdowns.  She bounced back, created a massive online platform for female entrepreneurs and is definitely still on the rise. I love the real anecdotes Jaclyn shares and her interviews with some of the most powerful ladies out there today. I have since become addicted to not only her podcast of the same name but also the website and her social channels for a good daily dose of motivation.

Little Black Book
Do yourself a favor and get this toolkit for the working woman. It's a short, quick read but provides actual steps on how to grow your own business. Are you looking to freelance? What about trying to register a company? It's backed with amazing resouces to get you started! I'm really looking forward to her next book, it's all on how we need to speak openly about money! If you want a taste of Otegha, check out womenwho.co the online community for creative women that she built.

Do you have any books you are loving right now? Let me know!

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H&M denim, Honey blouse (available here), head scarf via Amazon, Blue Lemon Paris bag

Three Brilliant Ways To Make The Most Out Of Every Meeting

Do you ever walk out of a meeting contemplating what was ever accomplished, or wondering why you just wasted an hour of your life? It's happened to the best of us. You want to leave meetings feeling inspired, productive and ready to tackle any issue, not feel drained or depleted. Over the years I have developed a little method to ensure this doesn't happen and to guarantee that no time is wasted.

There is a way to strategically manage how you occupy your meeting time, so today I'm sharing my three brilliant ways to make the most out of every meeting. 

1. Do a background check.
Who are you meeting with? What's their story? I always like to go into a meeting having done a little Sherlock Holmes investigating beforehand. I do a little digging on LinkedIn and am always researching the company if it's a different one than my own. I take note of their role, and where they have worked in the past. I also like to do a brief google search of the person/company to check out when they were last in the news headlines. Did they just launch a new initiative, or have a merge with another company? It's good to see what they have been up to lately. Something else I do? An Instagram search of the company. I love seeing a company's social profile and how they interact with their community.


2. Make eye contact and take notes.
Don't zone out in the meeting. Jotting down some point form notes ensures that you will stay focused and that your company has your full attention. If you don't need to bring your computer to the meeting, don't. If you do, put your status to away or busy and avoid answering emails. There is nothing like being called upon and not having any idea what is going on in the discussion. I like to show my enthusiasm and interest by maintaining eye contact and nodding in agreement. However, if you don't agree with something, speak your mind! Show your value, and worth and speak! It not only shows your power but that you're not afraid to voice your opinion.


3. Leave with actionable steps.
If the meeting is going on too long or is about to end, be sure to summarize your next steps together. You both want to leave the meeting feeling accomplished and ready to get down to biz. I like to summarize the key takeaways from the meeting and create a list of actionable items for both parties. Reiterate your own action items too, so the person does not feel like you are ordering them to do something, or that they are less important than you.

How do you make the most out of your meetings? Do you have any brilliant ways to make sure everyone is leaving fulfilled, feeling productive and ready to take on the next tasks? Let me know!


Blouse and denim c/o Honey

Pixi Beauty Spring Skincare Collections

Pixi Beauty just released major newness for spring and here is everything you need to know about the Vitamin C, Hydrating Milky, and Collagen collections. 

As you guys know, I've been a die-hard Pixi Beauty lover for years. I am just obsessed with the whole brand. They create skin-loving products that are cruelty-free, free of harsh chemicals and are packed with botanicals to enhance your natural radiant skin! The whole aesthetic is so on brand for me. Glow, radiance, natural beauty...could it be any more Pastels & Pastries perfect? Also, just look at the packaging. They are being so innovative right now and releasing SO many products that I don't know where to start. They've launched face masks, eye pads, body peels, and smoothing oils. UGH, I KNOW! Don't you want it all?

Last week I sat down with global make-up artist, Amanda Bell, to discuss all the Pixi Beauty launches. She was fresh off a plane from London where she covered The Brit Awards and then in Milan for Fashion Week. I got the inside scoop and I can't wait to share which Pixi launches I am most excited about.

There are three collections I want to focus on... the new Vitamin C line, the Hydrating Milky line, and the Collagen-infused line. You're probably thinking they all sound amazing, but which one will work best for me? I got you, girl!




Vitamin C collection:
Are you in need of brightening? Do you have hyperpigmentation, discoloration or sunspots? Does your skin look dull or just blah? The vitamin C products are here to help! Formulated with powerful antioxidants and acids (hello ferulic acid aka my fave!), the products will bring out your true radiance promoting a brighter and youthful complexion. Love it already. Some of my favourites from this line are the Vitamin-C Caviar Balm. I lather it on before bed as an overnight mask, and wake up with the bright, and plump skin. Not to mention silky soft! Also, the Vitamin-C Juice Cleanser is packed with the same antioxidants but its purpose is to cleanse your skin. You can apply with a cotton pad and there is no need to rinse off. Perfect for those late, lazy nights! Like the one I had this weekend... Here's looking at you, vodka-soda.

Hydrating Milky collection:
Is the harsh winter getting the best of you? Is your skin dry, red or lacking in hydration? I FEEL YOU. Go away winter! But in all seriousness, if your skin is dry, blotchy and in need of soothing you will want to go for Pixi's Hydrating Milky products. Try the Hydrating Milky Tonic as your toner to really sooth and balance the skin. It has oat extract so you know it is suitable for even the most sensitive skin. Bonus-- it's alcohol-free!
**Okay if we are talking red, inflamed skin I need to shout out the new pHenomenal Gel. It's a moisture gel that instantly calms redness and evens out your skin tone. I am obsessed with this right now and have been using it after my serum, just before moisturizer. It has aloe vera, which is so calming on the skin!

Collagen collection:
Are you noticing wrinkles, fine lines and need to inject some plumpness back into your skin? Then these products are your jam. You don't need to have "aging" skin to use these, but they are youth preserving. What to use specifically? The Collagen & Retinol Serum might be your go-to (use on cleansed skin before moisturizer). It's packed with collagen and retinol so you'll be sure to get some bright, plump skin going on. If you didn't know-- you ALWAYS want to use SPF when you are using a product with retinol. Retinol will help scrub away dead skin cells so you'll want to protect all the new skin cells. That's what makes this serum a knock-out. It's double duty!












One more product I am super excited about?! It's not from either of these lines, but it's a new one... the On-The-Glow Stick! I just know it's going to be the perfect travel companion. It looks like a deodorant stick, but is multi-purpose and can be used on face, lips and the body. Swipe it onto the skin for moisture and a serious glow-up! Amanda's pro tip: apply on your cheekbones for an instant highlight effect. This weekend I applied it on my collarbones for a little sultry glow! The light reflects on it so beautifully without any sparkle.

I hope this was a great breakdown of Pixi Beauty's new launches, and it really helps you decipher the best line for your skin concerns. If you have specific questions, let me know! I am here to help!

And you can find most Pixi Beauty products at Shopper's Drug Mart!

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