It’s here! The season where we pause, celebrate, reflect and cherish the ones we hold dear. While this can, most certainly, happen without any tangible things, just in case you wanted to wrap something pretty and share a token of love with a friend, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite things to make your shopping a cinch.
A Note From The Editor: While in the past it hasn’t been our policy to promote Kickstarter campaigns on Darling, we’ve been receiving so many amazing and inspiring product pitches that we’ve decided to open the door for submissions and will be selecting one campaign to feature every quarter! If you have an upcoming Kickstarter campaign that you’d like to submit for our spring selection (March – May) please send an email to blog@darlingmagazine.org with “Kickstarter Submission” in the subject line.
We like to support each other in the magazine world, which is why we’re excited to introduce you to White, our friends from down under. With the goal to inspire, encourage and challenge couples to build a marriage as beautiful as their wedding day, their current Kickstarter campaign is worth watching.
Whether single or in a relationship, we invite you to learn more about White’s journey, where it’s headed next, and why anyone can stand to gain from this beautiful publication.
Redecorating around this time of year can be tricky, and usually when we desire those cozy times at home the most. Yet, as we dash out the door from one event to the next, so does extra sleep, and taking the time to rest can inch ever nearer the bottom of our to-do lists.
So when Darling’s EIC Sarah Dubbeldam was on the hunt for a new mattress, the last thing she expected was to find a company like eve. Currently making its debut in the US from the UK, eve was founded by four friends seeking to reinvent the whole mattress buying process — taking it from something time-consuming and (typically) overwhelming to something fun, encouraging, and, best of all, easy!
Why does eve get our vote for the best way to a better night’s sleep?
Sending a special thanks to Dockers® for teaming up with us on this post. Check out more about the brand and shop the looks pictured here at Dockers.com®.
Guys are notoriously hard to shop for, so we’re making it easy! We’ve teamed up with Dockers® to round up a few of our favorite picks for the guy in your life this holiday season.
Our tip? Basics don’t have to be boring; when in doubt, go with those classic pieces (and always needed items) that will be used, appreciated, and one step above the rest.
DailyWorth, one of our favorite sources of information for everything career-and-money-wise, is back! This time they’re sharing a few simple ways to save hundreds. Especially during one of the busiest and expensive times of the year, who couldn’t use a little extra pocket change?
A few weeks ago, I saved our family $792 a year with a single, 10-minute phone call. A few months earlier, another quick call saved us $833 a year. Many times, saving money requires time and energy — sometimes for very little payoff. I prefer the lazier way: quick hits that don’t take long but that reap big benefits.
Here are some small ways to save big.
Our interns are an integral part of all that we do at Darling. From showing up early and setting up photo shoots, to staying here late and shipping hundreds of magazines, we couldn’t be more appreciative of these young women who give their time, energy and resources to putting the #DarlingMovement into action.
We don’t want to keep them a secret, either, so below we’re sharing the faces, stories, and a few interesting facts about the ladies behind Darling Issue No. 14.
This post is sponsored by Shutterfly. Share and celebrate your family update. Shop Shutterfly for personalized holiday cards that are unique, meaningful and that are just the way you want.
We’re gearing up for the gifting season and love looking for inventive (and, let’s face it, stress-less!) ways to show our love for those we hold dear. While Shutterfly has been our go-to in the past for printing epic vacation photos, memories from times abroad, and cementing important life milestones, we recently learned that they now make gifting those one-of-a-kind keepsakes even simpler through the use of their new Art Library. No uploading or extra thought required.
Available on their site, the library is preloaded with hundreds of free travel photographs, art images, patterns, quotes — you name it — for you to easily customize any number of gifts. So, in addition to stocking up on cards and calendars this holiday season, we’ve put together a Darling “Persona-Approved” gift guide to use while shopping Shutterfly’s products. Read on below to see what we picked!
We recently discovered DailyWorth, a powerhouse of information for the modern-day girl on the rise. Offering advice on everything from boardrooms to budgets, we find their content to be so helpful that we’re excited to begin sharing some of it here with you! Today’s post is extra timely — cooler weather is welcome, but feverish chills are not!
When one person gets sick at work, it usually means everyone’s bound to catch it too; you’re just one poorly aimed sneeze away. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Beyond getting that annual flu shot, here’s how to protect yourself when your office becomes a bucket of germs.
We’re so excited to give you a sneak-peek inside of our latest issue, Darling No. 14!
It’s that time of year where “what really matters” often gets talked about, but rarely pursued. With winter upon us, we’re now seeking to refocus the lens on our character, taking the time to really think about what it is we stand for and making certain virtues (maybe those long forgotten) popular once again. In these pages you’ll find themes of leaving a legacy, prudence in decision-making, becoming a woman of commitment and finding beauty with age.
From Sarah Dubbeldam’s Letter from the Editor:
“However, what’s most important is becoming a pillar, a woman who is the same even when nobody is watching — one that holds an inner compass that guides them in every decision — who desires more than anything to be good, true and right.“
Want to see more of what’s inside?
When hunger strikes and it’s cold outside, we want only one thing. Cheesy, gooey, stick-to-your-insides comfort food. Unfortunately, such dishes tend to take a toll on our health even if they may lighten up our mood. Thankfully, Chalkboard Mag comes to the rescue once again with this unbelievable, fall-appropriate dish from Food52. It’s vegan. It’s good for you. It’s extra delicious. You’re welcome.
Everyone has a favorite mac and cheese recipe. This one, which uses sweet, creamy butternut squash in the sauce, is mine. To create an authentic cheese flavor, I use a combination of nutritional yeast, miso, smoked paprika, salt, and lemon juice. (You can use any leftover sauce as a cheese dip.) I highly recommend including the optional vegetables. In addition to providing some contrasting color and texture, they’ll round out the meal, so you won’t have to worry about making an extra side dish – win, win.
Amra Beganovich and Elma Beganovich are two sisters and digital influencers with a following of 1.5+ million on social media. They have worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, like Make Up For Ever, Dr. Marten’s, Navitas Naturals, and Daniel Wellington.
The girls left their 9-5 jobs, Amra, an economist working on World Bank Projects, and Elma, a Georgetown attorney working in international arbitration, to turn their hobbies into a career. Together they are the founders of www.amraandelma.com, their personal lifestyle blog, and www.clubfashionista.com, an invite-only blogging platform dedicated to high quality content.
Both are based in Manhattan, so we caught-up to get an inside scoop into their style secrets, including how to elevate your style while keeping it simple and polished.
A Note From The Editor: We recently had a friend of Darling, Kelsea Olivia, attend the Axis show in New York City. Below she is sharing her recap of the event and some of her favorite brands and designers that she wanted to share with us!
All three days of Axis at Pier 94 in New York City were filled to the brim with meaningful connections, exposure to new and exciting makers, as well as several sneak peeks of spring collections from some well-loved brands.
Throughout the experience, Axis provided the perfect environment to create new and worthwhile relationships — as well as experience the tangible work from a wide range of creative makers of beauty products, home decor and goods, women’s apparel and accessories.
The end of summer and beginning of fall have been packed full for the Darling calendar. From dinners, to a brunch series, to our fall issue launch party, we’ve kept ourselves busy with events.
Keep reading below for a peek into all that we’ve been up to!
A Note From The Editor: We are very aware that the words we publish in this space and in our print issues have power. Even more so, we’re in awe of how your words, our dear Darling readers, keep us encouraged and motivated in the mission to redefine what true beauty looks like — in the media and in culture — so that all women everywhere can feel known, loved, whole and worthy. We want to start sharing these words with you as well, because YOU are the real voice and agent of change.
From Darling reader Jessie McShane:
A few weeks ago my good friend Wynne, from La vie Charme Events, and I got together at a cozy pub in Minneapolis for what started as a casual happy hour to catch up. The evening was full of talk of exciting collaborations, wedding recap (Wynne had just gotten married in Canada), and business ventures. Wyn and I are both big fans of Darling Magazine so while on the topic of one of their more recent posts about Turning Your Passion into Your Profession we found ourselves talking about how we really wanted to get to know some of the local Minnesota women working towards their passions on a more personal level.
Lawyer. Scholar. Co-Founder. And licensed Q Grader. Noushin Ketabi could embody any number of our personas, but it’s because she’s harnessed all of her talents to better the lives of coffee farmers in Nicaragua that we’re highlighting her work as a true Explorer today.
As founder of Vega Coffee™ Noushin works with local Nicaraguan communities to help them become entrepreneurs themselves and learn the business model behind coffee production. In the process, she’s also bridging the gap between farmer and coffee connaisseur through Vega’s coffee subscription service. If you fancy a cup, or a healthy serving of inspiration, continue reading for more of Noushin’s story and to learn how you can play a role in it.
A Note From The Editor: We’re back sharing more content from FabFitFun. Today they’re offering up some wisdom on an age-old problem: Having nothing to wear. We like how they keep it simple and stress the importance of taking care of pieces that you already own and encourage you to get a little crafty. For more fashion, health and wellness articles, be sure to pay a visit to their magazine, too!
We all wish that we had a personal stylist helping us get dressed and shop for outfits for us. However, only the rich and famous get to have a glam squad at their beck and call. Lucky for you we’ve come up with a few ways to make it look like you’re constantly reviving your wardrobe all the time without changing a thing.
Get ready to shop from your own closet.
This post is brought to you by Target Style. Shop the new Beauty collection in stores and online.
Ok, so we many not be mixing up real potions, but fall is the time to experiment with the unexpected, out of the ordinary and slightly wacky. And rather than get crazy with chemical-laden face paint, we thought we’d get creative and treat our skin to some natural treats instead.
Since Target now carries some of our favorite carrier and essential oils — which we were pleasantly surprised to discover is not a trick! — we trolled their aisles to see what interesting ingredients we could find and what health benefits they could afford us.
Below we sharing our findings and including a few recipes for you to get brewing, too!
If we could live inside the recipe pages of Chalkboard Mag, we would 100%. They have the most inventive, mouth-watering, and — best of all — healthiest dishes available at the click of a mouse. Today we’re sharing one of their recent fall-infused creations, because in LA in October we’ll get autumn any way we can. Enjoy!
WE LOVE OUR zucchini and spaghetti squash, but we’d be lying if we said we were anything but over-the-moon that kabocha, butternut, and other non-summer squashes are slowly coming back in season! Although called “winter squash,” seeing these babies back on farmers market stands is an unofficial signal that the hottest months are behind us and autumn is on our heels.
This recipe from green goddess Candice Kumai’s new cookbook Clean Green Eats uses roasted kabocha squash atop a bed of hearty kale leaves and quinoa – a perfectly balanced lunch or dinner, if you ask us. Get cooking on your new favorite fall recipe.
Just because your favorite beanie or wide-brimmed hat might be easing into constant rotation, cooler temps don’t have to limit the creativity you employ with your hair. Below we’re sharing a simple braided bow brought to you by the same talented lady who taught you how to master this summer’s braided crown.
Read on for Cara McLeay’s easy step-by-step hair tutorial that we think would perfectly dress up anything from sweater to sweatshirt.
In a world that’s leaving so little to remain untouched or unexploited, we’ve been so refreshed and encouraged by Tory Jones.
Not only does her company, Ixchel Triangle, make some of the most beautiful, unique bags that we’ve seen in along time, but after getting to know her story and the mission that gets her out of bed in the morning, we’re hoping hers is a business model that others can take note of.
Read on below to learn more about Tory’s bags, the stories they are woven from, and how they are helping to change lives in Guatemala.
Fall! And all its things.
We love the rich hues, warm tones and comforting scents that autumn afford us. Whether that’s via candle, perfume, a soothing oil or the perfect cocktail, below we’re sharing a few products that have caught our eye (and our senses) this season.
A Note From The Editor: Seth Godin is known the world over for his astute marketing and business advice, and we find his writing so rich not just because he’s smart, but also because he has a way of tapping into cultural cues that better help us connect with society, and thus, create better products and provide better services. When we read one of his latest articles, we knew we had to share it with our audience, here. This short entry from his mailing list hits on why we are so passionate about what we do at Darling. We want all women to find their voice. We want all women to realize the lie that says “you are not enough” and to begin to take back the confidence that Photoshop and advertising have slowly won away. Read it and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Stop for a minute to consider those magazines that stack up like firewood at the doctor’s office, or that beckon you from the high-priced newsstand before you get on the airplane. The celebrity/gossip/self-
This post is sponsored by Cotton Incorporated. Find your cotton favorites here.
We all have those classic pieces that can save an outfit (or a mood) in a pinch. Usually made of cotton, they’re versatile, worn-in and hold a prized position on our hangers. It’s always interesting to learn what those items of clothing are for different people, especially when they’re pieces you might not expect, so we thought it’d be fun to visit the closets of a few of our Darling staff members to learn what those can’t-live-without items are … and why.
The wave of ethical fashion and socially conscious companies continues to rise, which is something that we can’t encourage more. We love highlighting these brands, not only because we can feel good about spending wisely, but also because we get the opportunity to connect with the hearts of founders who have been so moved by experience that they’ve been willing to reorient their entire lives to improving the ones of others.
One such women is Carly Burson. After holding her adopted Ethiopian daughter in her arms, Carly was struck by how often circumstances prevented a woman from being able to care for a child. Carly has since made it her mission to create full-time jobs and to instill confidence and hope in women through Tribe Alive, a marketplace where jewelry, accessories, weekender bags (which we love) and more are made by artisan partners across the globe.
Below, we’re sharing more of Carly’s story and why she believes that women, in particular, hold the key to changing the world.
Switching gears with the upcoming autumn season, we’re envisioning cable knit sweaters, breezy cobblestone streets, and sparks of creativity as we sharpen pencils and chase dreams.
And the sound of BOY adds in the perfect soundtrack for such imagination.
The BOY duo of ladies Valeska Steiner and Sonja Glass have recently released their second album, “We Were Here,” and we can’t get enough of their inventive melodies, creative visuals, and all-around let’s just stay curled up journaling in a Parisian cafe vibe. We’re sharing the video to their album’s title track and we invite you to give (them) a listen, below!
Spend five minutes reading her blog and Emily Henderson will quickly feel like the best friend you’d want to spend an entire day binge-watching TV and having heartfelt conversations with.
Spend five more minutes reading her blog and you’ll soon scrap that idea in favor of wanting her to come over and redesign every single nook and cranny of your home.
Emily has a level of design genius that’s nothing short of inspiring; she’s able to turn clutter into chic and something generic into something perfectly original. We were fortunate enough to get to spend the day with her earlier this summer shooting for Issue No. 13, and we’re giving you a sneak-peek into her feature (and sharing some of her interior design wisdom) with you, below!
A Note From The Editor: We’re so excited to begin sharing content with FabFitFun. Known for their monthly curations of health and beauty products, they also host a wealth of fun reads — ranging from entertainment to wellness — over on their magazine. We thought this article was a great reminder (and educational lesson) on the way we need to rethink our eating habits so that they are truly a part of a healthy lifestyle, not an unrealistic means to an idealized end.
Sure, counting calories may lead to short-term weight loss, but it doesn’t serve us in the long run. It doesn’t create healthy habits, control cravings, prevent inflammation, or ward off disease. (Plus, eating portion-controlled French toast is just no way to live!) Let’s abandon the calories in/calories out mindset.
Instead, let’s grab a greater understanding of how to optimize the way our body works, and find effortless sustainability.
In the age of eye-opening documentaries like Food, Inc. and Farmaggedon, you’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed and defeated as to the state of the food systems in our country. It can be hard to believe that anything wins anymore except profit, profit, profit, ever slimming the margin between good business, good food and healthy communities.
Then we discovered Los Angeles’ Food Policy Council. They exist to heighten civic engagement between communities and policy makers to ensure that fresh, sustainable, ethical food (otherwise known as Good Food) isn’t a luxury but a right, fully accessible to everyone. We had to chance to chat with the council’s executive director, Clare Fox, for an empowering look at the change that’s taken place in southern California and, hopefully, across the country. Read on, below.
We first heard of Gingger Shankar because she’s the only women in the world playing the double violin. Then, we learned she also started her own music production company, working on projects for companies including HBO, CBS Sports, AFI, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the World Economic Forum.
Her talent and drive make sense, seeing as how she also comes from a line of women responsible for breaking cultural barriers and bringing Indian music to the West during the 1970s. This Embodied Achiever has a lot of wisdom about the music industry, and what it looks like to be a woman in any male-dominated field, so keep reading below to learn more about her story.
When The Chalkboard claims it has discovered life-changing sauces and dressings that practically guarantee you’ll eat more vegetables, how could we not share the findings with you here? Below we’re doing just that, because we think such secrets should never be kept to oneself. Bon appetit!
EAT MORE GREENS. And roots. And veggies that are really fruits. We’re all about helping you eat more things that grow from the ground! Here’s what every veggie-loving, skin-be-a-glowing gal knows: The key to eating more veggies on a consistent basis has everything to do with making incredible sauces that’ll keep you hooked.
We’re obsessed with lemon tahini sauce (try it on almost anything!) – and miso dressing over veggies of every shape and size will have you craving more greens than you ever imagined. Take your greens from a chore to a craving. Try tahini lemon dressing on even the most bitter veggie and you’ll learn why people legitimately enjoy eating this stuff.
Below are three dressings we love to make at home, each pulled from a popular TCM recipe. Each makes a killer combo with a grain bowl filled with veggies or as a dressing for roasted, raw, or steamed veggies.