MAKE SPACE with Cara Newhart

Time to talk organization. Did you just cringe? That's ok, you're gonna love this episode.

Cara sits down with a professional organizer to talk about why organization isn't perfection, how to actually cut through the overwhelm to get your sh*t together, and learn about some coping mechanisms that work for people who aren't naturally organized. You'll also hear about when it's ok to say no to waffles and why you should implement the one-touch rule. Cara also covers her favorite patio decor trend + how you can style it AND talks about how our parents opinions & style can affect our spaces as adults.

See the Shownotes HERE

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 The perfect gift

Gifting is an art. And you might agree, but still find yourself scrambling to find the perfect gift, whether it's because you're totally short on ideas...or just really short on time. Gifting is something that almost no one is sunning at every time they find themselves wrapping up a present.

What kind of giver are you?

From thoughtful to funny, last minute to well-planned, everyone has their own kind of gifting style.

Even if you love giving gifts or consider yourself great at it, sometimes you can find yourself drawing a blank as to what to give. Today I'm breaking down the art of gifting so that you will never be lost or rushing to find a last minute present.

You've probably heard the saying, "The manner of giving is worth more than the gift." While it's probably a balance - the gift itself should have some purpose or intention behind it - in a sense, this saying is cliche but absolutely true.

❝ the art of gifting isn't just picking out an amazing gift, it's creating an experience that conveys a feeling. ❞

How do you want your recipient to feel? This is the one and only starting point. Everything else - from the gift itself to the manner in which you give it, all comes back to this one question.

Whether you're a pro or constantly scrambling, here is everything you need to know about giving the best possible gift.

2 minute brainstorm

Take two minutes and write down everything that comes to mind. This might seem silly, but I promise it's going to help get the ideas flowing. Sit down, set a timer and let's do this.

1 Minute: What does the recipient love?

Write down everything that comes to mind - their hobbies, favorite snacks, favorite songs, favorite color or pattern, animals, favorite smell, season, dessert and drink.

1 Minute: What are some characteristics about them?

Write down personality traits, kind deeds, funny jokes, favorite memories or stories, tendencies or quirks.

With your list in hand, start thinking of gifts that express who the recipient is and are a fit for what the recipient loves.

One way to get inspired and find some great ideas is by searching on Pinterest. Type in some of the words or phrases from your brainstorm list and see where they take you.

Don't ask "what do they need?"

Ask, "What can I give that will make them feel ______" ...loved, appreciated, happy, etc.

When gifting, you're not trying to fill a material need. gifting is an expression of love and appreciation. Objects can help you express this, but the objects themselves don't make the gift. It's the intention, creativity, and uniqueness that make up the whole package.

Think about how each gift idea will make them feel, instead of just whether they'll like it / be able to use it or not.

Is it the "perfect gift?"

How do you know when you've found the perfect gift? Here are some tips to clue you in and guide you as you perfect the art of gifting and give the best possible gift.

Don't get hung up on things

Gifts don't have to be things — which may seem obvious— but this might slip your mind when you sit down to come up with some ideas.

Non-object gift ideas include experiences — like a trip, skydiving, or a wine tasting, the gift of learning — like an ecourse, book, or culinary class, the gift of surprise — like a fully planned date night or "treat-yo-self" day, or the gift of charity — like donating to a non-profit on behalf of someo...

Episode 002

I n this episode, I sit down with Annie Bloj to talk all things fashion design. We get some insider insight into how trends are set, the full process of designing a piece from sketch to rack, and what a regular day-to-day for a fashion designer looks like.

Annie shares her story and how she got started as a designer and talks about what it was like to learn how to design for a brand and ultimately, the consumer. She shares some of the non-glamorous parts of working in fashion and gives us an amazing overview of what it takes to build out a line for fashion label.

Annie has designed for Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, J. Crew, GAP, Aeropostale, New York & Company, and the Venus Williams & Sarah Jessica Parker lines just to name a few. After over 15 years in the industry, she's moved here to Denver from NYC and currently publishes a curated events calendar for all things art, culture, food, and more.

Subscribe // Pin for Later

 

 

Connect with Annie: Website / Instagram

 

Cara:                                          00:00

You're listing to the Never Skip Brunch podcast, episode number two.

 

Announcer:                      00:14          

Never Skip Brunch is a life and style dossier inspired by a casual chic style with pops of color. It's a space for women to become fearless with their style and create a beautifully lived in life. Cara Newhart brings you wellness, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle tips and tricks with amazingly brilliant guests dedicated to helping you build a beautifully lived in life. Southern raised and living in Denver. Cara Newhart is the creator of never skipped Brunch as an influencer, Cara has worked with brands like h and m, Kendra Scott, Alba Botanica Express, L'Occitane, charming Charlie, Thrillist, and hair story. She's Tequila loving, color and prints obsessed and passionate about helping others build a lived in life they love pop some champagne and join us. Here's your host, Cara Newhart.

 

Cara:                           01:10         

In this episode, I sit down with Annie to talk all things, fashion design. We get some insider insight into how the trends are set, the full process of designing a piece from sketch to rack, and what a regular day to day for a fashion designer looks like. Any shares her story and how she got started as a designer and talks about what it was like to learn how to design for a brand and ultimately the consumer. She shares some of the non glamorous parts of working in fashion and gives us an amazing overview of what it takes to build out a line for a fashion label. Any has designed for Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle, J, Crew, GAP, Aeropostale, and the Venus Williams and Sarah Jessica Parker. Lines just to name a few. After over 15 years in the industry, she's moved here to Denver from New York City and currently publishes a curated events calendar for all things, art, culture, food, fashion, and more.

 

Cara:                           02:14       

Hi Annie. Thank you so much for joining me today. So just to get started, can you share a little bit about your story and maybe when you first realized you wanted to pursue, um, a career as a fashion designer?

 

Annie:                      02:29      

Sure, sure. Gosh, I think ever since I was like four years old, I've wanted to be a fashion designer. I literally used to like sit in the corner and draw as long as I can remember and I would go to the library to read Vogue when I was little because my parents wouldn't buy me because it was two risqué and I think they thought it was pretty proba...

everyone loves brunch

very time I meet someone new and we decide to make it official via swapping IG handles, mine gets a good reaction.  After typing in @neverskipbrunch to bring up my feed, there’s the inevitable, “What an awesome name,” “Oh my goodness I love that handle,” or “How did you come up with that, it’s amazing.” I always joke that I love snacks and sleeping in, and brunch lets me do both. While I don’t disagree that I’m pretty hilarious and my handle is indeed pretty witty, there’s something deeper going on here — it’s like we all love brunch.

Seriously, brunch has gone from a hot weekend trend to a cultural staple in our society. With all the meals to meet for, coffee dates to have, or drinks to grab, why are there so many good feelings around brunch? Today, we dive into my favorite meal — and maybe yours — to discover the social phenomenon behind why we brunch.

Brunch is inherently ❝ cheerful, sociable & enticing❞ – Brunch: a Plea

The inventor of Brunch originally crafted the idea as a hangover cure — and while it’s evolved into much more, it does still excel as its original purpose. A meal that lets you get in a little extra sleep from your big night, provides a range of flavors so you can pick what you need to recover – sweet or savory, and the socially acceptable presence of libations at the table before noon – for whoever might need a little hair of the dog.

The brunch cure also has a social component:  Brunch is the antidote we need after a night out – especially when that night is spent in a crowded and loud bar making decisions on a whim and welcoming that one too many. Brunch is a social recovery, a way for us to sit and sip and connect and create a meaningful social interaction that balances out our prior evening. While of course, still getting to share and reminisce about how crazy and unforgettable it was. 

But brunch has evolved to become more than a hangover cure. It’s a cultural pillar with endless fangirls (and guys) that rally around it and brunch their heart out whenever possible – hangover or not.

 

More than  just a hangover cure

o why the brunch obsession? I think it has to do with a few things — cuisine, culture, & community. Brunch is an institution that takes the best of these and blends them into one convenient meal that gives you both a non-early morning and still leaves your evening open for plans. The formula is simple:

❝  good food + good company + fun environment + drink menu = happiness❞ 

Now, there are those out there who say they don’t like brunch — I’ve met them and they’re lying. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience or maybe they don’t like the popular brunch spots, but secretly they still love it — they just haven’t found their best brunch. Yes, I romanticize brunch, but if you somehow find that surprising just check the URL of who you’re talking to. ? If you’re a brunch-basher and you’re still here for some reason, then read on – because you can clearly be convinced.

 

The cuisine

runch food is just fun. From the wide range of sweet, savory, breakfast, and lunch selections on most brunch menus to dishes that are just plain pretty — brunch is a perfect excuse...

I t's almost time for the most important sale of the summer. If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me introduce you. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is so close - it starts July 12th!

Why is this the only sale you should care about right now?

Because it's oh so wonderful and instead of flipping through racks of picked-over pieces that are about to be out of season (aka left over summer styles) this sale is all about stocking up on some amazing fall pieces that are just now hitting stores.  

Usually retailers put things on sale because they are going out of season or they haven't sold well. This is why sale racks usually don't have the good stuff. But this sale is different. This time they're putting merchandise that is just hitting racks on sale first, then raising the price back to normal once the sale is over.

Psst...I'm hosting a $500 Nordstrom gift card giveaway that starts on July 11th and goes until the 17th - so if its then hop over to Instagram to find out how to enter. It will be on my feed and in my highlights.

HOW TO GET EARLY ACCESS

E arly access starts JULY 12th...If you're a Nordstrom Card holder. I brush off every request to sign up for a store-specific piece of plastic, but not this one. Here's why: first you can get either a credit or debit card, so you don't have to worry about going rogue and spending money you don't have.

Some of my other favorite perks are the "Notes," which are basically gift cards you get from Nordstrom through the mail or by making a purchase with your card. They currently have a special where you get a $20 note if you spend $100 they day you're approved. You also get other perks like free styling, skincare and makeup workshops. And no, I don't get paid if you sign up for the card - I seriously just love it that much.

 

S ale access starts JULY 20th...if you don't have a Nordstom Card.  You can still take advantage of some of the amazing deals if you don't have a nordstrom card, but you'll just have to wait a little bit. There's perks to shopping the sale early because a lot of the good stuff and amazing deals often sells out during the early access week from the 12th-20th.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

I prefer to use this sale to build my fall wardrobe and stock up on all the cute booties, jeans, sweaters, and statement pieces. I still browse the summer section since there are some deals you just can't miss, but I do this sparingly and pick pieces I know I will still love next season as well.

Here are my preview picks that I've got on my list to snag once the sale opens. So many great fall styles, adorable accessories, and beauty picks that are going to be super hard to choose between.

FIRST LOOK: SEE MY PICKS HERE

 

WHEN DOES THE SALE END?

The sale ends AUGUST 5th, then they will raise the prices on all the merchandise that's staying in stock for the fall s...

Let's get something clear...your skin.

O k, I maybe can't clear your skin up completely, but I am going to share my daily and weekly skincare routine and why I do what I do. Hopefully, you will find some helpful tips to improve your routine, or maybe even adopt my whole thing if you are like I was a little bit ago and don't have a routine at all.

P.S. If you want more skincare tips, you can see part 1 here and part 2 here

Seriously, I was just winging it, occasionally finding time to wash my face and slather some creams. Then I decided that since this is not college anymore and I am full-time adulting, I needed to step up my game, do a little reading, and put together a consistent routine that worked for my skin. Well, after a while of trying different products and making some changes, here it is.

MORNING ROUTINE

EVENING ROUTINE

WEEKLY ROUTINE

MORNING

T his is my morning skincare routine, including the products I use. I've been doing this whole thing for about a couple months now and I have already noticed a huge difference in my skin.

1. Cleanse

Wait, I need to wash my face in the morning when all I did was sleep? Yes. You might not know it, but you sweat *a lot* at night. Plus, if you are using a night cream that is a little heavier, you probably want to give your face a fresh start. Use a somewhat gentle cleanser in the morning or a soothing cleansing pad that doesn't overstrip the skin. I like to use a super gentle cleanser in the mornings. It gives my skin just a little wake me up and fresh start without ingredients that strip it of moisture.

Recommendation: FRESH Soy face Cleanser

2. Tone

Using a gentle toner helps to balance skin's PH levels and wipe away excess oils and dead skin cells that can lurk on the face even after washing. I like to use a soothing rose water toner in the mornings to hydrate my skin. Toners are not absolutely necessary, but they can be a great way to keep skin fresh, and add in some helpful active ingredients like antioxidants.

Recommendation: Rose Water Floral Toner // SW Basics Toner

3. Moisturizer + Sunscreen

Sunshine on my mind.

D ays are getting longer, temps are heating up and it's time to snag a perfect summer swimsuit. We're diving into some of my favorite swimwear trends to help you decide on the perfect suit. Summer swimwear trends have kind of become a tradition around here, since nothing puts you in a summer mood like suit shopping.

But first, we can't talk about swimwear without talking about self-confidence. The truth is, the beginning of summer might bring up some negative feelings for you if you're feeling pressure to "loose the weight" or get your body "bikini ready." So if that's you, here are 5 things you need to hear before we can decide on what suit you're going to rock.

 

5 tips for bikini ready self-confidence:

1. Stop comparing. Stay focused on you.

Comparison is bullshit. And it totally sucks. But it's also super easy to get sucked into. Sometimes avoiding comparison means doing it intentionally.

When your mind starts wishing you had her ____, take that thought captive and delete it before you let it get to you. Confidence is not, "They will like me," it's "I'll be fine if they don't"

2. Let yourself relax & let go of the little things.

Let yourself be comfortable. Being unhappy with your little imperfections takes the focus off enjoying life...or your beach vacay.

And yes, cellulite is considered a little thing - running and laughing is the important thing, not whether your legs will jiggle while you do it.

3. Love yourself.

Nothing would be the same if you didn't exist, just as you are. Embrace that like you mean it. And if you need a little more encouragement for loving yourself, hop over to this post for more.

4. Be positive

Look for the good in every situation. The past cannot be changed and opinions don't define your reality. Most importantly, smiles are contagious.

5. Do what you love.

Life is way to short to be held back from experiencing amazing things just because you don't like the way your body looks or feels. Don't sit on the sidelines waiting until you're the perfect weight or amazingly fit to do the things you love, because that day might never come. Let yourself experience amazing things just as you are.

"Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful, magical person that you are."

- Mandy Hale

Now that you're bikini-ready, let's dive in to some swimsuit season trends.

 

Front Tied Swimsuits

B ikinis, tankinis and monokinis are getting tied up in front this season. From front-tie tops to bows to faux knots, this style is perfect for adding a little interest with or without a pattern or a bright color.

The monokini I'm wearing has a faux knot front, which is a perfect addition to the side cutouts.

 

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Crocheted Swimwear

T hese little numbers have a sexy boho vibe that makes you want to run off to an island and just lay in the sun, fresh cocktail in hand. Why are they so sexy?

 

a guest post by Kaylee Jones

We all know the story of the ugly duckling. He grew up an outcast, because he looked different from his peers. However, after seeing his reflection in a pond one day, he realized he had never been a duckling at all; he was a swan who’d grown up judged by a duck standard of beauty.

The story has been used as a parable to teach individuals to accept their own unique beauty, and by extension - themselves, in a world filled with subjective standards for both.

I was your stereotypical ugly duckling.

I had knobby knees, a bad haircut, and a wardrobe full of 90’s clothes. I grew up in a time before social media and makeup tutorials helped guide young girls through their awkward pubescent years.

 

My beauty routine consisted of Bon Bon lip glosses that looked like edible optical illusions, hair clips shaped like butterflies, and body glitter as an everyday accessory.

There was no contouring. Highlighter was a utensil I used to study, not to accentuate my cheekbones. I crimped my hair, and I was proud.

Feeling nostalgic? Stop. This wasn’t the theme of a party; it was our lives.

Today I feel much more comfortable in my own skin, but please do not take this as me saying I grew into a beautiful swan. There is a chance that if I’d had the technology growing up that girls do now, I may have been different. 

Maybe I would have had an opinion on my haircut, known how to draw winged eyeliner, curated a personal style, and known how to pose for pictures. But even now, as a 26-year-old woman I still struggle with knowing what to do with my hands in pictures and, let’s be honest, with winged eyeliner.

Although, perhaps it wouldn’t have made a difference at all. Growing up, I preferred to stick my nose in a good book over a compact mirror. I like to think my classmates’ rejection of me helped me to develop beauty in other areas of my life, when the reflection in the mirror did not seem beautiful, or before the reflection even mattered to me at all.

 Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

Confucius

I’m not the only one who seems to think so. The benefits for growing up as an ugly duckling seem to outweigh the downfalls. We learned to treat the underdog with respect, so we developed empathy. We learned to focus on improving our minds, so we expanded our intelligence.

While I’ve joked about my entire generation of 90’s girls growing up as ugly ducklings, I admit it must be exceedingly more difficult for the modern woman.

Unrealistic standards of beauty are no longer confined to actresses and models in the pages of a magazine. Now they’re on our phones, in our news feeds, on display in the photos of our closest friends and acquaintances who become social media famous and amass large followings because of, at least in part, their beauty.

The pressure to be beautiful has become overwhelming, but it’s a pressure I am fortunate enough not to feel to the full extent, as beauty was never the yardstick by which I measured my value.

Now, I’m not arguing The Ugly Duckling story has a universal message for all women. In fact, some individuals argue the narrative helps construct a negative mentality for women where beauty is something ...

What does it mean to love yourself?

Self-love is often used as a buzzword. We always hear quotes like "You can't truly love someone else unless you love yourself first." It's a concept that seems pretty big picture, its hard to understand how it fits into our everyday lives so we chalk it up to making time for bubble baths or making time for outward self-care, but its so much deeper than that. It's easy to understand why,

Self love is f*cking hard.

And it's not totally our fault, we live in a society where a message of "you're not enough" is projected more loudly and frequently than any voice that might whisper to tell us we're enough or absolutely worthy of love. No, I'm not a socially critical hippie, its an actual phenomenon. 

Need some proof that we live in the opposite of a culture of self-love? Did you know about only 4% of women would call themselves beautiful?(1) That young girls are more afraid of being fat than getting cancer or loosing both their parents?(2) Or that self-esteem based on external sources is linked to major mental health consequences? (3)

Those studies are devastating. It's not that we are naturally this way, society trains us into this kinds of thinking through ads, entertainment and messaging. This doesn't mean we should stop buying beauty products or boycott Netflix (thats cray).

All it means is that we absolutely have to be intentional about self-love.

Let's  walk through 4 essential steps to self-love and explore some of the ways you can become better at genuinely loving yourself.

1. Be mindful

Mindfulness means understanding what you think and feel. Mindfulness takes a little self-assessment to get to know why you do the things you do or why you have certain tendencies or thought patterns. Becoming mindful means examining your own thoughts and taking negative thoughts captive. P.S. You can also check out these 20 questions for self-honesty to help you get started on some quality self-reflection.

When you have a negative thought about yourself whether it's self-doubt, embarrassment, or un-satisfaction with who you are, analyze that thought for a moment. Can you identify a specific source? Like an ad, someone's IG post you saw, or something someone said to you? Take a second to find 3 reasons that this thought or comment is not true. Then think of a couple reasons that the opposite or the positive side of this thought is true.

2. Act on your needs rather than wants

Ok this one is hard. True self-love means being able to do what is best for yourself even when it doesn't sound good (or taste good). Acting on your needs means making choices that will keep you strong, centered and positive rather than acting on impulses that leave you feeling bad and may lead to a vicious cycle of being unsatisfied with yourself.

This doesn't mean saying no to cupcakes or binge-watching. At some point you need to let yourself indulge in those sorts of pleasures.

The trick is checking in with yourself and making intentional choices about what you truly need - and not just what you need right now, but discovering ways you can make meaningful choices that benefit your long term wellbeing.

Assessing and acting on your needs will allow you to move away from different patterns or habits that aren't good for you and will help you not to fall back into making those same types of choices over and over that don't truly...