My picture got reposted by Narcity Canada YAY!

WOOT WOOT! @NarcityCanada reposted my picture!

I work really hard on my blog which includes writing all my own original content, maintaining my website and taking pictures. So when my work is liked and appreciated by a massive media company, I cannot help but get really absurdly excited! Narcity Canada (@NarcityCanada) just reposted the picture I took of Native Shoes' monolithic wall and their mantra "Keep it Lite" in neon lights. 

I started watermarking my images last year because I found my pictures were being taken from Pink Tea Latte or my Social Media channels and being reposted by other people. The internet is really big and when you publish something online, you cannot stop people from re-using your work. Since it had happened to me a few times, it started to bug me, especially when large Instagram accounts were doing it. 

I still have people take my pictures and crop out my watermark before publishing it on their pages, but the fact Narcity kept my watermark AND give me credit makes me respect them that much more! I seriously cannot contain my excitement. Literally doing a leap of victory! 

BYES

Working Gurl | Balancing Work + School + Blogging with Personal Life

Hey Dolls!

I had such a positive response on my Working Gurl post on dressing for an interview and thought I would do another one for you! This time, I want to tackle managing your time to ensure you have a balanced work load without sacrificing personal time. Being a motivated individual comes at a price. While you are striving to give your 110% at every task you take on, you forget the importance of creating boundaries in regards to personal life. 

At times, I definitely struggle with creating time for myself amidst all of the initiatives and responsibilities I have. 

I need to balance being a full time student in my last year of my Bsc undergrad at UBC Vancouver, a part time job, free lance writing positions, volunteering, and the newest addition - blogging! 

Also, I am guilty of doing work on my off time... my mind is constantly thinking, the gears turning on how to solve a practice question for class or all the tasks I need to complete for work or new ideas for Pink Tea Latte. GAH! It really does burn you out if you do not take  time off - as in not thinking about work. 

With having so much going on and always wanting to give my best at anything I am doing, you can imagine, I can end up neglecting my own wellbeing. 

So if you feel you are spending too much time working and thinking about work than taking time for yourself, you are not alone! These are my little tips on how I make sure to have ME time and not always anxiously worrying about work. 

TIP 1 | Leave the work AT work! 
If possible, do not bring work home with you because otherwise, if you are like me, you will end up just working on it. This might include not bringing your work computer home, or not checking your work email outside of work hours. Because work hours are for work and when your off, FREEDOM!

TIP 2 | Why stress about work when you are not there
Stressing about work is not going to change anything. Especially if you are not at work to change whatever you are stressing out about. Just take some deep breaths, grab a Starbucks and do something fun. Worrying and stressing is not worth it. 

TIP 3 | Tell your boss if you are feeling overwhelmed
If you have too much on your plate at work it can really make you feel anxious and overwhelmed which will not allow you to enjoy your down time. As well, be candid. For me first and foremost, I am a student. If I find that my work responsibilities are burning me out and cutting into my study time, I tell my boss right away. It is far better to inform them versus handing in something not that great. 

TIP 4 | Prioritize
For me, school is always going be my highest priority and I will take time off from work when I need to focus on studying for exams. 

Next will be my paid jobs. I am being paid by my employer and they expect me to deliver on all my assigned tasks. Never take a job for granted because the job market is tough and an employer will not think twice letting you go and hiring someone who is more invested. 

Lastly, blogging. I do not make any money off of my blog. I pay for everything out of my own pocket; therefore, it is solely a labor of love on my part! Unfortunately, when I procrastinate, I will work on my blog, but it is not a priority. That being said, it is so much fun and I am learning so much indirectly from it, so blogging is rewarding in its own way for me. 

TIP 5 | Plan ahead
My agenda is my best friend. I write everything down in it. This way, I know what is happening so I am not taken off guard by an assignment deadline or completely forget I was scheduled for work. And I like to pre-plan my blog posts at the beginning of the week and try to get them done a few days in advance so if things get a little crazy at school or something unexpected comes up, I have a post ready to go! 

TIP 6 | Make firm boundaries
When the clock strikes 9pm, hands up, pencils down. I do not do anymore work. This is my way of making sure I have some relaxation time to for myself everyday. Also, I am not a night owl, so working into the night is not going to be productive. I will just be zoning out and probably fall asleep. So why waste time stressing when you can be chilling in bed watching funny youtube videos before going to sleep. 

TIP 7 | Spend times with your friends and family
Get out and do something fun with your friends and family. Enjoy your life. Results will not be fulfilling if you do not enjoy it. Also, from experience, if you are constantly busy, eventually you will fall out of touch with friends. Then you will feel all alone :( no fun. Also, the best way to take your mind off of work is to go out and do something fun adventurous with friends hehe!

I really hope these tips help you all! These are the small things that work for me! By no means am I saying it will be the same for you. But hopefully these tips could give you some ideas on improving making time for yourself! 

BYES

Working Gurl | Tips from MadeInPrint on Branding + Logos

Hey Dolls!

as I promised in my business cards post, I would be doing another post in collaboration with Made in Print on do's the don'ts as well as TIPS on creating your first logo as well as branding. (My post on my business cards is here )

Lily from Made in Print gives me the insight on first time branding. She gets her ideas for logos from everywhere because anything thing can inspire you. For her, she is most inspired on the new things she sees on her travels! When Lily sees a logo, she is looking for overall harmony of the elements like colours, font and shapes. As well if the logo represents the business. And since Made in Print primarily does printing work, Lily pays attention to if the logo can be reproduced in print. She makes sure no lines or text is too thin. 

To make this post really clear and as helpful as possible to all my readers looking to design their first logo, I am going to go Q&A format :) 

Q | Key Elements to a good logo?
A | 3 things make up a logo: company name, tagline and a symbol that summarizes the company. If you do not just want a good logo, but the best logo, it needs to be simple, memorable, versatile, enduring and most of all appropriate for what the business is about. 

Q | The one thing to NOT do when creating your first logo?
A | Do NOT use Photoshop!!!! Use a vector graphic program such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel draw. Creating your logo as a vector will ensure the logo is visually consistent across multiple sizes. As well, avoid using too many fonts as it can confuse the viewer and will take them more time to recognize your logo. 

Q | Should the Logo be Text or Symbol based?
A | This is dependent on the stage your business is in. Enduring and versatile logos evolve, like McDonalds and Starbucks. If you look at the evolution of their logos, you will see the earlier years were predominately text based, but after many years of branding and marketing, consumers have been conditioned to recognize the symbol without the company name. 

Q | Why not start with symbol for first logo?
A | For start-ups, it is best to establish your symbol and text as one so your audience can be trained to recognize your brand and name. The green siren alone can now be recognized as the symbol for Starbucks after years of intensive marketing. Starting your business with only a symbol for the logo is risky since no one knows about your business name. You essentially put yourself at a disadvantage since audiences would not be able to search up your business. 
If you are really determined to have a symbol only as your logo, one solution is to have it your website attached to it. However, this still requires you to get your businesses' website to your audience. 

Q | Is there an ideal number of colours a logo should have?
A | Like all good designs and all things in life "balance is key." As long as it is all balanced, you can have as many different colours as you want. An example would be if you use contrasting colours, make one colour the dominate one. 


Q | What is the key to making a logo that can be used across multiple platforms - cards, websites etc ?
A | Horizontal logos are the trend at the moment because this shape works well with headers on websites and mobile devices. As well, by using a vector graphic design program to create your logo means there will be no pixel issues. 

Lilly's biggest branding tip is to establish a distinctive identity by defining what your brand (business) represents. Be innovative, bold and daring so it stands for something you believe in. Most importantly, stay consistent in your marketing across all your platforms to not confuse your audience. 

I hope this helps everyone who is looking to create their first logo or revamping their current brand! I had a lot of fun when I designed re-designed my logo and I hope you all do too! Have fun and do what feels right to you. 

BYES

Working Gurl | My First Set of Business Cards!

My first set of business cards! Designed by me! Digitally rendered and printed by Made In Print! 

Hi Dolls! 

If you have not noticed already, exciting changes have been happening on my blog - well specifically I have a new logo! I am so excited to share with you my experience of designing, working with Made in Print, and my final business cards!

I did not realize that being a blogger was more then just posting online and sharing cool things on my social media. Practically without a fail, every business or person I spoke to about my blog asked me for my business card?!? At first, I thought they were all just joking and giving me a hard time since I am still a new blogger; however, after asking them why, it became apparent that they expected me to have my own business cards. Most bloggers in Vancouver all have business cards with their blog information on it.

The notion of a blogger having a business card seemed a bit absurd to me. I have always associated business cards with a "business" to give out to potential clients. However, business cards have now evolved to a marketing tool. One of my favourite examples would be Bando's business cards. Their business card is no longer a white card stock with the company name in one corner and the employees name and information in the bottom right corner. It is an eye-catching piece of art that embodies their fun outgoing company that is passionate about having fun! 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/60869032439134290/

I wanted to design my own card and not have anyone telling me how my card should look. 
The card needed to be a reflection of my blog with is ultimately a reflection of ME! Prior to even going in to talk to printing companies, I spent several weeks sketching designs, looking at designs online for inspiration and figuring out how I wanted my business cards to look. 

Once I knew the direction I wanted my business cards to go in, it was time for me to find someone to print them! It was important to me that I meet the company in person and have a consultation as I did not have the time to graphically render my cards myself. Plus, just like clothes, when you order online, you do not know what you are going to get. This was also a great opportunity to support another Local Company! 

I had walked by Made in Print's Broadway location many times, so they were the first I checked out. With the fabulous customer service that they gave me, I did not even think to check out another printing company. Not to mention how impatient and eager I was to get my cards printed and in hand! 

They were super sweet, I sketched out my design for them and Lily, from Made In Print, gave me some really great pointers on how I can improve my logo and design. She also showed me all the different options I have for type of paper, type of print, style etc. It was nice to see the examples in person and feel the paper. That is something you cannot do online! After that, I just went home, re-sketched it and emailed the design to them. 

Probably within 24hrs, Made In Print sent me two digital proofs to pick from. We probably went back and forth a couple of times before I was happy with the design. From there, they printed out four colour proofs for me. I had to go into the office and select the colour I liked best since colour on our computer screens does not necessarily print out in the exact same shade. With their speedy service, I had my business cards in hand in two business days! 

Overall, the whole process of having my business cards digitally designed, proofed, and printed took a week. I would say that is pretty darn amazing because I am a hard person to please! 

I definitely recommend checking out Made In Print for your first set of business cards. Not to mention, Students get a discount ;) They are really great with being informative and have really talented graphic designers to make your vision come true!

I will be doing a second post on how I came up with the design, what changes I made and some really helpful tips by Lily from Made in Print on branding. 

Let me know if you are thinking of getting business cards?

BYES

Working Gurl | Applying for Jobs + Looking Chic for Interviews

My Summer Outfit Picks for Applying to Jobs

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Hey Dolls!

Sorry for not being as present as normal on my blog. I have just gotten myself a new job for the summer and it has been keeping me busy busy busy! To get a job, I had to drop off many resumes at stores as well as attend several interviews. Dressing appropriately is the easy part, it is the dressing appropriately while also looking apart in a positive light from the other candidates is the tough part!

It is vital you dress to impress because many employers will evaluate you on your first impression which includes being excited to be a part of their company, a firm hand shake as well as how you look. If you do not leave them with a lasting first impression, you will not stand out as a potential employee! 

First thing is first, be sure you are groomed. Please shower, do your hair and wear a LITTLE makeup. Key word being LITTLE, unless if you are applying to be a makeup artist, caking on makeup can at times not give the desired impression. 

When dropping off resumes or attending an interview, jeans are NOT appropriate. I have been shocked at how many people wear jeans to an interview. Jeans are not professional. Even if the employees at the place you are applying at wear jeans to work, jeans are still not okay for an interview. You may have heard, it is better to be overdressed then underdressed, jeans are definitely underdressing. 

You also want to dress according to the season. Since it is summer right now, it would be silly of me to wear a wool coat and thick nylons to an interview. They would think I am crazy! 

In the warmer months, I like to wear nice silk pants or black ankle length slacks with a nice top. To complete my outfit, I throw on a blazer and a chunky heel sandal or flats. I avoid sky high heels as I do not trust myself to not trip over myself and take down my interviewer with me! 

Oh and dolls, if you are wearing nail polish, be sure it is not chipped! It is the small details because when you put effort into your outfit and look, an employer knows you are serious in getting the job! 

Lastly, have your resume in a folder. It will keep your resume crinkle free and makes you look more professional. It's also a good idea to have some paper in the folder if you need to write anything down. 

Hope this helps you with your job search! Stay chic dolls!

BYES