Business Babe: Grease and Glamour

Jinna Yang might be the coolest person you could ever meet. She is inspirational, funny, artistic, adventurous, and stylish. Her blog, Grease and Glamour, contains travel anecdotes, words of encouragement, beautiful photographs, and a very impressive portfolio. Also, did we mention she was on House of DVF? Yes, plain and simple she is amazing. 

Tell us what inspired you to get started with your blog Grease and Glamour?

In college, I didn't know what I wanted to do or be. I just knew that I liked to do and try a lot of things. So I decided to take my passion for photography, web design, fashion and travel and turn it into my blog.

The idea behind Grease and Glamour was inspired by the juxtaposition of all of these things, and life in general - it's not black and white, there's always something behind the scenes that makes things tick - and glamour is never as good without a little grease. The beauty of success is that it takes a lot of hard work to make it happen. 

  

We know you love to travel...do you have a favorite place you've been? 

Iceland changed my life - it was the first time that I had been in complete awe of nature. This world is a magnificent place, and so many of us get caught up in the day to day that doesn't allow us to be grateful for the simple things. Iceland changed that for me - it changed my perspective. 

What are some packing necessities when traveling? 

An adaptor for electronics, my camera, laptop, phone, leggings, a scarf, SNEAKERS (or comfortable walking shoes), and wrinkle-free clothing!

You were on House of DVF: what is the number one thing you learned from the experience? 

There is a plan for you, and your job in the pursuit of success is to always be yourself. And know and trust that every move you make is one in the right direction - no matter what anyone tells you. Learn from your experiences, and have faith that everything that happens to you, is actually happening for you. 

Tell us more about Voice Your Dream and how can we get involved? 

Voice Your Dream is a project that we launched to encourage people to live the life of their dreams. The first step in achieving your dream is voicing it - speaking it into existence. VYD is a platform for you to do that. But we also want to connect people because everyone - no matter where you're from or how old you are - has the power to help someone else achieve their dreams. Whether it's by lending a couch, relaying a contact, or offering a few words of encouragement or advice - you can help someone's dream come true. 

I co-designed a necklace called "The Dreamer Necklace" - all of my proceeds go towards building this site + community. It's available for purchase here: http://www.voiceyourdream.com/shop/

I'd like to encourage people to submit their own dreams and leave comments/advice on the existing dreams already posted on VoiceYourDream.com. It takes no money to help someone start to live the life of their dreams.

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#OOTD

JCrew Jakcet (no longer available), C Wonder Sweater (no longer available), Susana Monaco Skirt, Bootights Tights, Sam Edelman Booties (similar), Gucci Purse

Photography by Haley Cairo

Brrr... is it ever going to get warm again? Here in PA the weather has been chilly, snowy and icy. You can find me under a blanket, sipping tea while counting down the days 'til spring. It's that time of the season where I look in my closet and think, "I have no clothes" or at least, "I'm so over all these clothes." 

Does anyone else feel the same? I can only layer so much without feeling like the Michelin Man, ya know? Plus, no one feels pretty when they're pale and cold. 

And She's Turning 25...

I thought I'd share some pics from my birthday last weekend. I turned the big 2-5 and celebrated with a handful of my fabulous friends. I'm sure you can guess that Kate Spade was the inspiration. Super girly, quirky and pink (duh). Princess of Persia created all the delicious treats... how talented is she?! The decor was from Hattan Home, Swoozies, Kate Spade and Homegoods finds.

Want It, Need It

Sensi Studio Hat, NBD Dress, New Balance Sneakers, Anthropologie Blouse, 5th & Mercer Dress, Flight 001 Pouch, Vans Sneakers, Ferragamo Flats, Trend Tribe Necklace, Tart Collections Shirt    

I think I'm still on a birthday high. I had the BEST weekend celebrating the big 2-5 with all my friends. The party turned out adorable. Check out some of the pics here. Seriously, the best. Now it's time to do some bday shopping. That birthday money is burning a hole in my pocket and I need something to commemorate a quarter of a century in age. 

I'm looking at investing in a new designer handbag, Hermes bangle or wallet but in the meantime these little pretties will be perfect fillers. I've had my eyes on them!    

Like A Pro: Host a V-Day Girl's Night In

Single or attached, there is no reason to not get together with your best girlfriend's for a Girls Night In this Valentine's Day. We talked to Shannon Wellington, owner and lead planner of Bottle Pop Party Company, about hosting the perfect gathering for your girlfriends. 

Signature Cocktails are a Must:

Preferably something pink and bubbly!

Desserts Only:

Serve all of the pretty confections you usually pass up at the bakery counter!

Fresh Flowers Forever:

Pretty up your place with some beautiful blooms!

Dressy Dress Code:

You don't get enough excuses to wear that sequin skirt you got at Forever 21 so bust it out now!

Beyonce:

Enough Said.

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Business Babe: Thimblepress

Tell us more about Thimblepress®, we want to know all of the details!? What gave you the idea for Push-Pop Conetti™?

When I was planning for the National Stationery Show in May of 2013, I started planning early on for what I wanted to do for my invitation that I would send out announcing my debut at the Stationery Show with my booth number. I have always loved a good party, party supplies, color, balloons, hats, the works. I even have a drawing i did back in college of a still life where we got to pick the subject, and what was mine a drawing of? Party decor and favors! I knew that I wanted my invitation to be more than just a flat invitation, I wanted someone to feel the excitement I had about debuting at the Stationery Show when they opened it. I ended up coming up with a party box idea. I thought, I send birthday boxes to my friends to celebrate their birthday, why don't I celebrate my debut at NSS and send a party box!? I knew I wanted a balloon, a hat and confetti. I love confetti, glitter, anything that sparkles. I began trying to figure out a unique way for the people that received this box to not only see the party, but participate and throw or launch the confetti in some way. I began thinking about containers that I could make. My original plan was to letterpress chipboard and try to fashion my own push-pop. I gave up on that Idea when I could not find the resources I needed to build it, but in my resource searching attempts I stumbled across a food-safe, push-pop container and fell in-love. I figured that I could adhere the chipboard, letterpress label onto the food-safe container and not lose my original idea of having a cardboard container like the ones my favorite dessert as a child, Flintstone Push-Pops, came in. I then hand-cut and chopped all the confetti for the push-pop and sent them on their way in the NSS invite boxes along with my (now product) You're So Lovely Heart Shaped Balloon, and (now product) Celebrate The Unexpected metallic-gold paper party hat. The rest has been a blurry and color-filled history. Today we have three other variations of the push-pop confetti™. We have an eco-friendly version that houses a dissolvable-in-water confetti mixed with lavender buds for scent for people who would rather pop the confetti outside and not have to clean up the colorful explosion of awesomeness. We have an All That Glitter's Push-Pop Confetti™ version that features an all metallic confetti, and then our most recent one are the Gender Reveal Push-Pop Confetti™.

What are some other must have products?

We just recently launched a collection with Glitter Guide that we are so very excited about! The Glitter Guide is an online brand that loves color, style, and sparkly things, so of course it was love at first sight when we decided to partner together. Their website offers fun, chic, and colorful lifestyle tidbits from fashion to entertaining; each injected with a healthy dose of glitter. Visit www.theglitterguide.com to read more about them. We launched 34 products ranging from greeting cards, gift tags, art prints, and a special new product called Flashes of Delight Flash Cards featuring 15 inspirational flash cards featuring my paintings or hand lettering with different printing processes.

What inspires Thimblepress®?/ what is the company culture like?

I am constantly inspired by the colors, seasons, and places around me. Right now, I am really inspired by color and lots of it. I have always had a love of bright colors, but ever since I have been making the confetti Push-pop's and staring at buckets of color, I have found myself painting with lots of beautiful colors all intertwining. I am also ready for this dreadful winter to be over, so painting with lots of color brings a little warmth into the studio! 

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