I got this warm sweater dress is purple but it also comes in this green khaki and in white. I love it for the fall. Get yours here! https://rstyle.me/cz-n/egmyjrbfddf
I’m yet to meet a lady who doesn’t love dresses with pockets!
Dresses with pockets functional and have a whole vibe to them, I don’t know why but there is something about wearing one that feels really good. When I saw this dress, I was immediately drawn to it as I shared on Instagram, but what sold it for me was the pockets. As a matter of fact, I loved it so much that my husband went back and got it for me in another color. Anyway, I searched the internet far and wide and found some gorgeous budget-friendly summer dresses with pockets.
We will start in my dress, of course, it’s from Target. I was minding my business when I saw it and comes in three different colors. It’s under $30, and the quality is good, it’s lined, and I love the material. It’s also very forgiving, and if you’re looking for a dress to hide your quarantine weight, this is it. You can purchase it here.
Photos by Wini Lao Photography
I didn’t want to share just one style with you, so below are 12 budget-friendly yet stylish summer dresses with pockets. These dresses are all less than $100, and you can set up a sale alert for them if you think the price will go down further. I found cute options everywhere from Calvin Klein, to Mod Cloth and Everlane. They’re all such a wonderful variety that you can have a whole wardrobe of summer dresses with pockets. I chose options with pops of color that are flattering.
Super cute, right! Perfect for everything from work to hanging out with the family or just a pretty house dress as we’re all dressing up for Zoom calls now.
Which of these summer dresses with pockets are you going to buy?
How I’m Encouraging My Toddler’s Imaginative Play with her Madame Alexander Baby Doll
My toddler is at a fascinating stage in her development; she’s starting to do more role-playing and imaginative play. A few weeks ago, she got her very first doll, a Madame Alexander Baby Doll Amazon exclusive doll, who she affectionately named Bebe and takes everywhere. It’s so fascinating to watch her pretend to be Bebe’s caregiver. I know at two years old, she learns through play, so here are a few ways I encourage my toddler’s imaginative play with her Madame Alexander Baby Doll.My toddler is at a fascinating stage in her development; she’s starting to do more role-playing and imaginative play. A few weeks ago, she got her very first doll, a Madame Alexander Baby Doll Amazon exclusive doll, who she affectionately named Bebe and takes everywhere. It’s so fascinating to watch her pretend to be Bebe’s caregiver. I know at two years old, she learns through play, so here are a few ways I encourage my toddler’s imaginative play with her Madame Alexander Baby Doll.
Pretend Play with my toddler.
After months of extra screen time as the big kids switched to remote learning, screen-free hours felt necessary for my sanity. I don’t have a schedule for them, I just let them know it’s time to take off devices when it feels like they’ve had enough. Without devices, the kids have no option but to explore imaginative play, whether it’s through the use of toys and games or just their creativity. Sometimes they play together and other times they naturally go off to do their own thing. My toddler is often playing at the kitchen set with Bebe or blowing bubbles for Bebe during quiet time.
Fostering curiosity.
Fostering curiosity is essential for toddlers to learn through play. I enjoy asking my toddler questions about Bebe to encourage her curiosity about her toy. “Does Bebe cry? Is Bebe tired? Is Bebe hungry?”I believe her Madame Alexander Baby Doll realistic newborn features, soft skin, and expression inspire her to nurture Bebe. Plus, this is a great way to help her with her conversational and critical thinking skills.
Modeling healthy relationships.
My toddler treats her Madame Alexander Baby Doll, Bebe, exactly how we treat her, I use playtime with Bebe as bonding time for us. Showing her love, kindness, and compassion, knowing she will mimic that behavior not just with Bebe but with her friends as she grows older. This is my chance to model healthy relationships and behaviors for her, so although it’s play, I’m always thoughtful.
I hope this post is helpful to you, if you’re thinking about getting your toddler their first baby doll, I would recommend the Madame Alexander Baby Doll, it’s a great quality doll I know my daughter will grow with and have for years to come.
How do you encourage your toddler’s imaginative play?
Every summer, I do a guide for New York City families, and I almost didn’t do one this year. We’re halfway through the summer as I write this one, but with the city just reopening after a few dark months as the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, I think we deserve to have some fun safely. So here it is, a few things to do with kids summer 2020. This is is much shorter than usual, but it’s still worth crossing a few things off your list to make memories.
Go to a Drive-in Movie in Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx.
This is at the top of my list because I’m really excited about it! My kids really miss going to the movies, so this is an exciting and safe alternative.
You have three options for Drive-in movies in NYC, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
The Skyline Drive-In in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is at the waterfront with the city as the backdrop, find out what’s showing here.
In Queens, The Bel Aire Dinner hosts drive-in movies and comedy shows, find out what’s showing here.
In the Bronx, the Uptown Drive-in Festival will have movies and other festivities. I couldn’t find their website, besides finding out about it on the Travel and Leisure website and this waiting list you can join from Time Out New York.
Have a Picnic.
Picnics are currently our favorite thing to do! It’s the easiest way to enjoy some fresh air and outdoor time, and you can find a nice patch of grass at your neighborhood park and have fun.
You can even order takeout from your favorite resturant and enjoy it at your picnic.
I prefer to go earlier or later in the day, especially if it’s a popular park. Last weekend, we had a picnic at Brooklyn Bridge Park, and we got there early before it got too hot or crowded, so we were able to have fun safely.
Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru
I’m hoping we can make it to New Jersey for the Six Flag Wild Safari Drive-Thru before the summer ends. This contact-free experience allows families to enjoy the safari animals safely from our cars. My kids have been asking when we will go since I first mentioned it to them. Get more information here.
Head to the Beach.
Lucky for us, the beach wasn’t crowded at all so we were able to enjoy the fresh air safely without wearing our masks the entire time since we were social distanced from other families.
Besides Rockaway Beach, I would recommend Jones Beach or Long Beach in Long Island. Again, I would avoid going on a crowded part of the beach or on a popular day.
Bike/Scooter Riding.
Okay, I know this is quite ordinary, but make it fun by visiting other parts of the city. We took the kids a few weeks ago to ride their bike and scooters on Roosevelt Island. You can find bicycling and greenways to explore this summer on the NYC Parks website.
This is a stressful time, but I wish you and your family a wonderful summer! I hope you found safe things to do with kids in NYC summer 2020.
I’m a Black Woman in Art Therapy for 8 Months! Here’s My Experience and how it’s helping my personal growth and healing journey.
Did you know that July is Minority Mental Health Month? I advocate wellness and mental hygiene for everyone, especially Black women and Black mothers. I believe it’s essential that we share more of our stories about our mental health journey and mental hygiene routines to remove the stigma in our community. There are many proactive ways we can practice mental hygiene, and one of them is seeking therapy.
I’m a Black Woman in Art Therapy for 8 Months! Here’s My Experience…
My first time seeking therapy was in college shortly after a traumatic life-altering experience. At the time, I believed I was so strong and resilient that I didn’t notice the effects that experience had on my mental health until I went to therapy. It helped me heal, and since then, I’ve bravely sought out therapy whenever I needed to.
Last fall, I was hit with Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD) in the worst way after two winters of thriving. I couldn’t do any of the basic things I needed to or enjoyed doing. It was a dark time for me, so I decided to see a therapist. I was in such a difficult place the therapist recommended I see her twice a week. As she got to know me a little better, she suggested that I switch to art therapy. That was last November, and I’ve met with my art therapist every week since. Since March, we’ve had to do virtual sessions, but it’s been one of the most healing experiences I’ve had outside of sound meditation (that’s for another day). If you’re considering art therapy, here are a few ways it has helped me heal and grow as a person:
Three ways I’ve been able to heal and grow as a Black woman in art therapy:
I’ve been able to build my mental health toolkit.
Almost every session, my art therapist and I do an exercise that I can later add to my mental health toolkit. This is major because these are practices I can incorporate into my life when dealing with life challenges or struggling mentally. I can do an appropriate exercise from that toolkit. It’s also helped me as a mother because I’m able to pass those tools on to my kids when they’re struggling with anxiety or having a stressful day.
It’s helped me to recognize my healing powers.
As a child, I did art constantly, and I didn’t realize it then, but that’s how I healed myself of some of the trauma I experienced.
You can talk, or you can do creative healing.
Most of us aren’t raised to share our personal business; we have secrets. I had to hold to carry secrets since my childhood, especially on a small island, so it’s still difficult for me to talk to a therapist about certain things. When I cannot speak about something, in art therapy, we explore them creatively.
I’ve come a long way in the last eight months. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of myself and learned a lot of perspective on how I can improve myself.
I’ve shared my experience both when I first started art therapy and updates in my Instagram stories. Last week I asked for questions, so here are the answers:
Answers to Instagram Questions about my experience as a Black woman in art therapy.
No, my art therapist isn’t Black, but she is an ally and culturally sensitive. You can find a Black therapist on Therapy for Black Girls or by searching the Psychology Today database where there are photos of all the therapists so you can find one you think you would feel comfortable seeing. Just keep in mind that any therapist you choose regardless of race, do a few feel-out sessions to see if you’re comfortable with them. You will know when you find the right one.
How much does art therapy cost?
My health insurance covers the cost of therapy and art therapy. You can check your insurance website or call your provider to see if it is covered. You can also call art therapists to find out their rates to see who fits your budget or if money is tight, try to find one with a sliding scale. Whatever you do, please don’t let money stop you.
Would art therapy be helpful for those of us with no creative ability?
Yes, I believe art therapy would be helpful for everyone regardless of how talented or creative we view ourselves. In my art therapy sessions, we’ve done activities like writing, working with objects, improv, games, grounding, vision board building, to name a few. I think more than anything; you will need to be open to trying different types of self-expression.
Do art therapist talk with you too or only do art?
Yes, you will definitely want to ensure that you’re seeing a licensed art therapist. They are trained psychotherapists, so they work with you through talking and creative expression, not just one.
Could an art therapist prescribe medicine?
I’ve never been prescribed medicine for mental health disorders, but I believe you would have to go to a psychiatrist for an evaluation to get a prescription if necessary. When I first started seeing my therapist, she recommended that I do a physical health exam with my primary doctor to ensure I didn’t have any hormonal issues that triggered mental health issues, so be sure to do that as well to rule out any possibilities.
How long are your sessions?
Each session lasts 50 minutes; it doesn’t go by as fast as therapy, I guess, because we sometimes do a few projects during this time.
What practices do you have to help counter triggers of anxiety?
Thanks to my treatment with my art therapist, I rarely have anxiety attacks now (although I had a bad one last month). The critical things for me have been establishing a wellness morning routine, so I start my day off with the right mindset, meditating, journaling, and setting boundaries with people in my life (the hardest one).
Are you going to have Seasonal Affected Disorder again in the fall? I think I have it and didn’t know the name for it.
Honestly, I don’t know if I will, but I hope not. I’ve dealt with it on and off since I first moved to New York City during the darker months. Some years I’m fine like the last previous years, so I’ll have to wait and see.
If you think you have SAD, I would recommend that you try to find treatment through therapy of try light therapy.
I hope you found this post informative! Please take care of yourself, hydrate, and get therapy if you need it.
If you know me, you know how much I love rompers and jumpsuits, they’re easy to style and interesting. I did a mini-haul over on my Instagram last week, and I shared a few jumpsuits that I purchased from ASOS. I got so much good feedback; I wanted to share the ASOS rompers I kept and the best ASOS rompers for summer 2020.
This River Island Ruffle Sleeve Romper is easily one of my favorite of all of my purchases from ASOS, and I love the design and the details on the sleeve. It also fits true to size and isn’t too tight around my midsection, which can be an issue with some jumpsuits. My only critique is that the belt could have been made with a thicker backing or material, but it gives it a vintage vibe that I love, I love the length too—the shorts aren’t too short they hit around the center of my leg. More information about the romper here!
This romper is perfect for every day with the kids; it’s going to be in heavy rotation for the summer. It’s very comfortable, has pockets and fits well. This romper looks great with heels, sneakers, and even my most comfortable summer sandals ever, my Birkenstock Arizona. This jumpsuit is timeless, so also though we’re not doing much this summer, I can wear it any summer or on tropical vacations.
I dressed my toddler in matching colors for a quick walk recently, her dress and sunglasses are from Target.
Best ASOS Rompers!
There are so many fab ASOS rompers this summer. Honestly, I want all of these, but sis got nowhere to go.
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I’ve been experimenting with my hairstyles a lot more lately. My hair is in that in-between stage as it grows back, and I decided I should have fun with it instead of obsessing about its length. Plus, I have time during quarantine to improve my braiding skills (did you see the unicorn box braids I did in my daughter’s hair?) For the last few weeks, I’ve been rocking two cornrows with braiding hair, and it’s becoming my favorite style even though I want to move on and try Popsmoke braids next. I’ve gotten a few DMs about this hairstyle, and while I am not a professional and I try to make it look as natural as possible, I wanted to share everything you need to do two cornrows with braiding hair at home so you can rock this style too.
You can choose to use human or synthetic hair, depending on your preference. I purchased this pre-stretched Kanekalaon braiding hair from Amazon. There are many options on Amazon, so be sure to read all of the reviews, so you don’t waste your money. I like this hair because it didn’t tangle easily. I use one packet per braid depending on the thickness of your hair; you may use more or less.
This style wouldn’t work without a good edge control gel! While it’s necessary for my edges, it’s also great to blend the braiding hair with my natural hair, parting my hair, and give this look a polished finish. One issue I always have with edge control gel is that it flakes, and the only one I’ve tried so far that doesn’t flake is Cantu Edge Control gel. It also doesn’t get so hard that it damages or dries out your hair. That means you may have a few flyaways, but that’s fine with me to ensure my hair’s health, especially along my hairline.
Styling Gel
In addition to edge control gel, I use a styling gel to braid my hair. This is important to smooth my hair and get rid of any frizz, especially since I do not blow dry my hair to stretch it.
I mentioned in this post that I was going to move on from using a toothbrush and purchasing edge brushes. I’m so glad I did because this edge brush comes in so handy for this style.
If you’ve been around here long enough you know that I am a diehard fan of the powers of a Denman brush, it can be used to make just about any style work on thick natural hair.
Hair Jewelry
This is optional, but if you want to have fun, add some hair jewelry to your braids. I prefer to add them to the synthetic hair to avoid tangles in my real hair; I purchased this variety box from Amazon.
That’s everything I use to do two cornrows with braiding hair at home. Let me know if you plan to try this style.
Also check out this mini tutorial video on Instagram or TikTok!
This post is sponsored by Kabrita USA. As always, all opinions shared are my own.
Over the last few months, my toddler started to express interest in doing more things by herself. I would see the frustration when I did something for her that she wanted to do, so I started making small changes to make her happy and help her development. I’ve watched how proud she is of the things she can do or the little decisions I let her make for herself, and I wanted to share them with you. So here are five ways to encourage your toddler’s independence at home.
Make your home toddler friendly.
I purchased a few stools for my little one so she can do things like help me in the kitchen, climb on my bed, wash her hands, and brush her teeth. Now, although she’s only two and a half, she goes to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She can turn on the faucet and put the toothpaste on her toothbrush herself. I was surprised the first day she did this, and I always supervise, but I take a step back so she can be independent.
Let your toddler clean up.
My toddler started with cleaning up after herself when she saw her older siblings doing the same. When we finished reading books, she would race to put them back on the bookshelf or put crayons back in the box. She likes helping to pick up toys and putting them in bins. This gives her a massive boost of confidence.
Kabrita Snack Puffs are one of the few snacks I feel comfortable feeding her because I know it’s all-natural, contains no GMO ingredients, gluten-free, easy for toddlers to digest, and doesn’t contain any added sugar. Most importantly, it’s yummy, and my baby girl loves it.
She also likes Kabrita’s Goat Milk Porridge to start her day. If you’re weaning your child, Kabrita Toddler Goat Milk Formula is perfect. You can order Kabrita products on their website, Amazon, and I’ve bought them at Whole Foods Market and Fairway in my area. You can find a location close to you here.
Go ahead and order the Kabrita Free Trial Kit here! It includes the Goat Milk Toddler Formula, Organic Goat Milk Porridge, and Snack Puffs. A $30 value, and you’ll pay $4.99 for shipping!
Give your toddler creative freedom.
My toddler loves art, and it seems like she has different ideas everyday. Sometimes I plan a fun activity that I found on Pinterest for her, but most days, I allow her to express herself. All her art supplies are within reach, and although we sometimes have a beautiful mess, she creates what she wants without my interference. I usually supervise or join in when she gives me a crayon.
Give your toddler small chores.
Giving a toddler chores is new for me, I have two older kids, and I don’t remember giving them chores this young, but I think having two older siblings motivates her to do more. Her little chores include helping me pack laundry away, clearing her dishes from the table (none are breakable), and helping make her bed. She can’t do any of these independently yet, but she loves helping, and she beams with pride when we recognize her for it.
I hope these tips help encourage your toddler’s independence; if you have any suggestions you’d like to add, leave them in the comments below.
How to Practice Self-Preservation as a Black Woman in America
Whew, deep breath! The last week has been hard; it hasn’t been hard because racism is new, or the killing of a black person is rare. It’s hard because, as we raise our black children in America, we have to worry about their safety. Reading about Breonna Taylor, a woman who was shot and killed in her own home, Ahmaud Aubrey, who was shot while jogging and then seeing the image of a white officer sit casually on the neck of George Floyd while he died crying out for his mother was just too much. I found myself feeling hurt and helpless. I couldn’t shake the pain, I couldn’t help but read every story, watch every news story hoping for some justice. I ended up with a massive headache and I could feel the stress manifesting in my body, then it became too much and I recognized that I needed more than self-care, I needed to go into self-preservation mode.
As a black woman in America, it’s necessary at times to practice self-preservation to protect your mental health. I wanted to share a few ways; you can do this whenever you need to.
How to practice self-preservation as a black woman in America
Stop consuming content.
Although I was exercising a few wellness practices that usually help me to feel better, I was consuming too much content. I was losing my balance. I remember reaching this point a few months ago as NYC became the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, I couldn’t sleep or think about anything else, and it began to weigh on my mental health. As I scrolled and read articles, the algorithm gave me more, and before I knew it, my mood was shifting, and I felt wounded. Trying to moderate yourself when you get to that point is hard, and even one more article could be bad for you. Just delete the apps off your phone, that’s what I did.
Take a break.
I mean a real break, not just put your phone down for an hour. Take off the TV for a day, a week, a month off of social media if your mental health is affected by the stories of racism, videos of abuse, adverse reactions of friends and family. Trust me, this is important, we need to be refreshed to think clearly, and we need these breaks to be present with our families.
Surround yourself with people who genuinely love you.
I’ve been disappointed by so many people over the last week as they shared opinions that are disrespectful and dangerous for my family. I’ve had to unfollow and unfriend them as they continued to flaunt their white privilege as black people cried out for help. While that’s hard AF, it feels better knowing that I am surrounding myself and my family with people who genuinely believe that we’re equal and do not see me as less than they are.
Love on yourself.
Self-preservation is all about loving yourself in a time where there are lots of shouts of reasons why you shouldn’t be or feel loved. Make a list of all the things that make you an incredible black woman: your melanin, your body, your beautiful kinky hair, and own them. Think of all the things you’ve overcome despite all of the obstacles you’ve faced. Think about all of the things that make you, you. You’re beautiful, smart, and loved. Own that! Write a list of affirmations for the things that you feel insecure about so you can work through them.
Get therapy.
If this all feels too heavy, the burden too much–get therapy. If you find yourself feeling hopeless, sad, crying, and unable to function as you usually do, please get therapy. This is a traumatic experience, and it probably triggered pass unresolved trauma; this is the time to work through them. A therapist will help you and give you tools to to work through those feelings. I’ve been in art therapy for the last six months and I’m so grateful for those weekly sessions.
Start a daily morning wellness practice.
This is one of the best things you can do for yourself, starting your day off with the right energy can really help you manage the stress you encounter well. It it is essential in a time like this to have a wellness routine practice, I shared a few ideas in this blog post. Whether you get down and pray on your closet floor every morning, start a gratitude journal, or gratitude walks—a daily practice before you enter the world or get on social media will help you to deal with the inevitable BS without issue.
I hope these tips are helpful and that you feel loved, heard, and at peace. I love you <3
Cricut Beginner Guide: Machines, Tools and Materials You’ll Need
This post includes affiliate links!
It’s been six months since I was introduced to the world of Cricut and I am OBSESSED! If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you probably already know that. Cricut makes crafting TOO easy, and I love the types of projects I can do in only minutes. I think everyone, especially us moms, need a Cricut machine, which is convenient, easy to use, and you can do many projects. So I put together this Cricut beginner guide with all of the machines, tools, and materials you will need.
Of course, as a Cricut beginner, you will need to get a machine. Right, now, I own two Cricut machines, the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Joy. I love using them both for different projects.
If you’re trying to decide on one machine, I would go for the Cricut Maker, I love the Maker because you can use it for just about any project from simple vinyl cuts to engraving jewelry, cutting fabric and wood. Here is a leather clutch bag I made with the Cricut Maker machine. It’s a fantastic machine to express your creativity. ps: It’s currently on sale for $299, down from $399 a really good deal. Get it here!
If you’re Cricut beginner planing to do iron-on projects like this infusible ink shirt I made here or like this one, you will need a Cricut Easy Press. ps: I have the Cricut Easy Press 2 and it’s currently on sale for $149.99 which is also a good price since it’s usually $209.99.
The Cricut Joy is their newest machine; it’s great for crafting on the go as it’s little, but you can still do some great projects with it. I love it for making cars, labels, t’ shirt designs, decals, etc. It’s a tiny machine, but you can still be very creative with it, and I think it’s great as a gift for kids or to get if you don’t have space for a bigger machine. It’s also Cricut’s most affordable machine at $179, so it’s perfect for beginners.
Cricut Infusible Ink is hands down my favorite type of heat transfer. I like to work with using my Cricut. Cricut has so many fresh and modern designs that are inspiring, and I love how easy it is to make something that would last many years. The infusible leopard ink is my favorite, followed by the leaves and watercolor.
Cricut’s leather is inexpensive and compatible with the Maker machine. I’ve used it so far to make a leather clutch and leather earrings. Here is a project I made with Cricut Genuine Leather
Cricut Tools
My projects wouldn’t be complete without the Cricut tools; I use the Cricut Weeder, Scraper and Spatula Set on just about every project that I do. I’ve also been enjoying using the Cricut Joy pens for my labels. This an essential for Cricut beginners.
Last but not least, Cricut Access gives me the opportunity to use of customize thousands of designs for my projects. I would recommend you invest in it if you plan to use your Cricut for lots of projects.
I love sending cards to friends and clients and I love that I can create custom beautiful, high-quality cards with the Cricut Joy Insert Cards. I’m blown away by the beautiful materials and designs that can be customized in Cricut Design space. The cards are simple to make and love using the card mat.
I hope you find this post helpful, to see all of my Cricut projects make sure you’re following me on Instagram and TikTok.
One of the top questions I get in my DMs is, how do you start making money as a nano or micro-influencer? It’s a great question because influencer marketing is a relatively new industry, and there is no clear cut road map of how to start. Influencer marketing is expected to grow to approximately $9.7B industry in 2020. In this post, I’ll share a few tips to help you set up yourself to start attracting and working with brands based on my 6-year experience as an influencer.
This post contains affiliate links.
Determine your niche.
The first step to making money as a nano or micro-influencer is finding your niche. Your niche can be anything from plant mom to home renovations, or it can even be your career—let’s say you’re a teacher, you can share resources for parents to supplement their child’s education.
Whatever you choose, be sure to choose a niche that you’re passionate about. This is a HIGH TURNOVER industry. I’ve seen so many people start and give up. A niche you don’t enjoy may lead to you quitting out of frustration, so focus on things you enjoy.
Storytelling
Once you determine your niche, work on your storytelling skills. Your social media platforms and/or blog should tell a story. For instance, if you’re a Seattle mom who loves to go on road trips and works in tech, you should have photos of yourself at work, you and your children in the car, different places you’ve visited, apps you use to plan your trip, filling up your tank at the gas station, etc. Just one vital thing, make the story authentic, don’t pretend you’re someone you’re not because it will be a turn off for both your followers and brands.
Post Consistently
I’m not going to tell you to post daily at 8 am or to publish 365 days a year but post with some predictability. You can’t just disappear and reappear and expect brands to want to work with you; they’re going to think you’re unreliable.
Post High-Quality Images.
Photos aren’t everything, but good images help, especially on platforms like Instagram, that’s a visual platform. I take most of my pictures with my Canon Mark IV, but I also take some with my iPhone, especially now that we’re in quarantine. The most important thing is that they’re good quality and bright images that can attract clients. Most clients will want to repost your images on their social media or may buy the rights to use your images, so the better your images, the more earning potential you will have. You can hire a photographer (just be sure to give them credit when you post the photos they take) or purchase a ring light, a tripod for your camera or your phone (I use this one with it’s built in ring light) and take them yourself. Tag brands you use in your posts.
Learn the FTC Guidelines.
Brands want to work with influencers who follow FTC guidelines so if you haven’t done any collaborations yet, take some time to read and learn them. Study how other influencers disclose brand relationships with #ad #sponsored #paid when they share their content so when you land your collaboration you will post in accordance to the guidelines.
Tag brands in your posts.
Whenever you post, tag all of the brands you use in your posts to see your content. For instance, if you made a gluten-free cake, tag the flour brand or tag the cake stand maker.
Pitch brands.
Once you’re a bit comfortable with your content, your engagement rate, and your understanding of the FTC guidelines, you can start pitching brands to work with them. Pitch brands you use and love, don’t pitch a brand because you see them working with other influencers on a particular campaign. The brands usually select the influencers for campaigns and approve their work weeks before you see it live, so by the time it comes across your feed, it’s too late to join the campaign.
YOU DO NOT NEED A PARTICULAR NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS TO WORK WITH BRANDS! This post is partially for nano and micro influencers. A nano influencer is anyone with 1000 to 10,0000 followers and a micro-influencer has 10,000 to 50,000 followers.You need followers who trust you, ask about products you’re using, takes your advice—people you influence.
Some brands aren’t interested in working with nano-influencers, and they will tell you no, this is fine because there are also brands who understand that nano-influencers can bring a high ROI and will hire you, focus on those.
When you pitch, show a few examples of your success in the past. Maybe you posted an Amazon Affiliate link in your IG bio for a book you got for your son, and 950 people purchased it. You can start testing out your influence and use those examples in your pitch deck.
If you’re not sure you could deliver, work more on growing your influence before you pitch because you don’t ever want to disappoint a brand, word gets around the PR world, and your reputation is important. It’s also a good idea to develop long term relationships with brands; repeat work is excellent for business.
Start Small.
If you’ve never worked with a brand and want to test it out, start with a small pitch. I’m almost seven years in, so I rarely work in exchange for product (unless the product is my rate and I really want it), but when I was starting, I did accept products and services. When you get that first campaign, make sure to kill it, whether it’s paid or not, and create content that will blow the brand away. It will also serve as a sample of your potential to other brands, so give it your everything. You always want to overdeliver, and if they’re happy with your work, they might come back with a monetary offer, or you may attract other brands.
Another option is to start with a product you already own, use it to create content, and send the link to the brand in a pitch if it’s well-received by your audience. For instance, if you’re a plant mo, a post showing off a plant stand you made with materials from a hardware store will be a good sample post. A post like this will show the products you purchased and how you used it practically to grab your audience’s interest. Send the brand a pitch, letting them know that you love their product, use it, and would love the opportunity to work with them if they have any upcoming campaigns.
Join Influencer Networks.
One of the ways to start making money as a nano or micro-influencer is to join influencer networks. When I first started out I got almost all of my work from Influencer Networks. These days I work mainly directly with my brand partners but I do work with networks ever so often still. Some of the ones I’ve worked with over the years are:
I hope this post is helps you to start making money as a nano or micro-influencer. I wish you much success, and let me know below if you want more posts like this and what topic you’d like me to cover specifically in the comments.
If you wear your hair natural, you know that there are a few products that you often use to style and care for your hair. I recently posted a video tutorial on Instagram, and based on the comments, I realized that we need to talk more about the natural hair tools because they make all the difference in how our hair looks. I’ve been natural now for ten years, and these are the hair tools I use regularly.
Wide-tooth Comb for Detangling
Before my hair was natural, I used the opposite, fine-tooth combs to style my straight hair, but since going natural, I’ve found wide-tooth combs to be the best option for detangling my hair. I always section my hair and start detangling at the ends, then work my way up to the roots as the hair detangles.
Sectioning Clips
Whether you’re doing a braid-out, twist-out, or cornrows. You will need to section your hair. These alligator clips are great for sectioning your styling hair, and these butterfly clips are perfect for the same as well as detangling.
Denman Brush
A Denman brush is my go-to tool for smooth bouncing curls. It was one of the first products I purchased when I first went natural, and it’s lived up to the hype. Look at this video to see how I use my Denman Brush. Also, keep in mind that other brands make similar style brushes but I stick to the Demnan Brand.
A Diffuser hairdryer is another product that I’ve been using since I first went natural a decade ago and still use it regularly. A diffuser dryer allows me to dry my natural wash and go without ruining my style or drying out my hair. This is the Diffuser I currently use, and it’s so much better than the one I used for eight years, drying my hair in half the time. It’s also very inexpensive at less than $25. You can also buy a diffuser attachment for a blowdryer you already own, just ensure it’s compatible.
This is another must-have not just for your hair but also for your skin. A satin pillowcase is great because your hair doesn’t dry out at night, it doesn’t pull your strands out the way that a regular pillowcase would. This is my go-to for myself and my children. None of us use hair bonnets or scarves (the girls can’t keep those on) but before I got to this stage I did a combination of scarf and satin pillowcase.
You’re still going to need a fine-tooth comb to part your hair, especially for cornrows just be sure to not use it to detangle your hair because it would damage your hair.
Edges Brush
After buying toothbrushes for years to slick down our edges, there are now Edges Brushes that we can purchase. I’ve been holding on tight to my toothbrush, but I’ll order one for the sake of review. I found this one on Amazon, and it’s only $7.
Bonnet Hair Dryer
So I can’t remember a time while growing up or as an adult that I didn’t have a bonnet hair dryer besides now. I used one for the first five years that I wore my hair natural for deep conditioning as well as drying my hair. It’s a great product to have on hand, but it’s also bulky, and I had nowhere to store it in my NYC apartment, so I got rid of it.
Afro Pick Comb
Natural hair shrinks and flattens quickly whether you sit or lay for a while, so an afro pick comb is a must-have to shape and tease your hair to make it full and beautiful again.
That’s all friends! I hope this post is helpful. Let me know your must-have hair tools for natural hair below. Make sure you’re following me on Instagram and TikTok for more natural hair tutorials.
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