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2.4.15

As long as you’re having a meeting (or a quasimeeting with colleagues who are also friends) why not hash out that agenda over snacks and cocktails? We’re pretty sure that’s the original idea behind the “happy” hour, after all – but the idea itself has grown a little stale. No one wants to meet at a sticky bartop for salty bar food and syrup-drenched cocktails, so we think the concept of Happy Hour needs a major refresh…

We’re redeeming the afternoon meeting with our version of the happiest hour of the day and we think you’ll be all for it.

Instead of meeting over questionable treats, why not flip your afternoon meet-up into a sun-drenched power hour where you and your cohorts can get a little work done over food that’s light and clean in an environment filled with things you love – your own home!

We recently met up with a few L.A. ladies for a little al fresco work and play at the home of Jaclyn Johnson, the mastermind behind digital marketing agency No Subject LA and founder of the creative conference, Create and Cultivate. Pals Geri Hirsch, Danielle Gano and Daniele Pierson joined us and Jaclyn’s neighbor Rachel Mae Furman as she whipped up some of the most delicious fresh Pressed Juicery cocktails  as we worked and played our way through the golden hour.

Read through Jaclyn’s thoughts below as we pick this #girlboss (and brand new Forbes’ “30 Under 30” pick’s) brain on work and play. Then find out how to win a free VIP pass to Jacyln’s upcoming Create and Cultivate here in L.A.!

Tomorrow, join us as we share the recipe for Jacyln’s show-stopping beet hummus and a few easy ideas on making these perfect afternoon cocktails. Here’s Jaclyn…

Name:

Jaclyn Johnson, founder of (No Subject) and creator of Create + Cultivate.

Specialty:

(No Subject) is a creatively-driven marketing, influencer and events agency. We specialize in creating campaigns that live online and offline for forward thinking brands. Create + Cultivate is a conference for the curious — we have our March Fashion + Beauty Summit happening in March!

Your favorite time of day:

Definitely the golden hour; Los Angeles suddenly has a gold-drenched tone that saturates all the hills and it looks truly magical.

Three things that inspire you:

My city, my friends and our resilience as human beings.

Fave places in town for meetings:

Many of my days are spent bouncing from meeting to meeting – I love the Ace Hotel rooftop and Soho House for meetings, but I often prefer something a bit more intimate. Since I am lucky enough to work with many of my talented friends, I often host happy hours or brunches at my home, mixing a little business and pleasure.

Favorite apps:

Oh so many apps! Spring – Instagram meets the mall, you can browse and buy all your favorite brands (a little too easily!). Handstand – perfect for entrepreneurs, on demand personal trainers that come to you. Drync – snap a picture of a bottle of wine you like and it will tell you how much it is and where to buy it! Heads Up! – your favorite new party favor! I literally could play Heads Up all night with friends (watching the videos the next day however is quite embarrassing).

Fave organizational tool:

My Mod Mobile. I literally can’t go anywhere without it; it has a place for everything.

Your calendar: digital, paper or both?

Both. I live and die by my Google Calendar, but I write all my to-dos in my Moleskine.

Fave emerging trends of 2015:

I think the whole women-in-business movement is truly gaining momentum (blame it on the grand sextile!), but seriously I see women starting to connect, collaborate and create wonderfully businesses and friendships built on empowering each other. It’s rad.

Most inspiring women in biz:

Emily Weiss. She is truly a force to be reckoned with right now in the beauty industry – not only is she one of the first bloggers to really take her platform and use it to build an empire, but she created an amazing product line, Glossier, built off her audiences needs and wants (and raided $10 million dollars in the process!). I am beyond excited to see her speak about her story at Create + Cultivate in March! #girlcrush

Must-have happy hour snacks:

Happy hour snacks should always be light since you will likely have dinner after. I love a fun spin on a mezze plate – feta cheese, hummus (I made beet hummus for this meeting), crudite, light crackers, dried fruit and an array of nuts.

Meeting soundtrack:

Our office soundtrack totally varies but usually includes a mix of TVOTR, First Aid Kit, Zola Jesus, Beyonce (duh), Foxygen, Fleetwood Mac and Tribe Called Quest.

Best advice on work/life balance:

Find what works for you. There is no formula for the amount of time you should work or not work. For me my balance comes in the form of working out at least four times per week, having at least one or two designated date nights with my boyfriend, one night all to myself, usually with a face mask, Netflix and a glass of wine (this is super important!), and making time for non-work-related friendship hangs throughout the week.


Win a VIP ticket to create + cultivate’s LA Summit

Create + Cultivate LA:

We’re giving away (1) VIP Ticket to the Create & Cultivate LA Summit, March 21. (Value $500)

Get front row seats to mentor sessions and panels with top bloggers like Glossier’s Emily Weiss + Allure’s Kelly Atterton. A VIP goodie bag, beauty lounge, plus breakfast, lunch, and – what else? – happy hour!

Here's how to enter!

First, subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of stylish wellness here.
Second, find @createcultivate on Instagram and follow to get in on the lead up to the big event! Then enter to win by leaving us your comment below: Let us know who you are and why you want to attend!

Anyone may enter to win, but the conference is held here in L.A. so be sure you’re able to make it. Good luck readers!

This giveaway closes Monday, February 9th at 5PM PST. One entry per reader. Ticket is to the event only – travel and lodging not provided.

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Comments


  1. Local Venician (California of course), by way of Charleston, South Carolina and NYC. Part-time illustrator & calligraphy artist // Full-time marketer // Forthcoming entrepreneur (along with my husband), launching our own boutique cafe in Fall / Winter 2015.

    I would love to attend C+C to meet // learn // share ways to further blur the lines between my passion and entrepreneurial spirit.

    XoH

    HAYLEY M. C. FELDMAN | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  2. I love Create & Cultivate and excited for the opportunity to possibly win a chance to attend! I’m 30 and a small business owner and stay-at-home mom in San Diego. I would love the opportunity to connect with other like minded women and learn in a creative, fun, business environment! I’m also in the midst of creating another fun project which the timing of this would be impeccable for me! The women in the lineup for this year are several of my favorites too!

    Thank you for considering me! *crossing fingers*

    Cynthia M. | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  3. I’m a grad student who is juggling a few jobs, in addition to building myself as an independent publicist. I want to attend Create + Cultivate partly because the lineup is full of amazing women who have turned passion projects into empires, and because I think it would be a great opportunity to meet other women who are cultivating their dreams. The opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs at different stages in the game is amazing, inspiring, and probably more beneficial than my grad program!

    Thanks for the opportunity to win, and I’m am hoping my stars align!

    Angela | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  4. I’m a creative director and communications manager for a specialty foods and catering company in PDX. I’m a photographer. I’m a cooking teacher. I’m a “what if” person. I’m a dreamer. I learn something new every day and seek inspiration everywhere. I’m ready to back my bags and head to LA for this amazing event. I’ll bring snacks.

    Cheyenne Terbrueggen | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  5. The word of the year for me (other than businesswoman!), is CULTIVATE!!!

    A few weeks ago, I launched my passion project, City Leaper, which cultivates inspiration, connections, and community for ballsy women in the midst of moving to a new city (either for adventure, college, or that coveted dream job!).

    I LOVE to learn and network and money is admittedly very tight for me right now, so being selected as the lucky winner to attend Create + Cultivate = a dream come true! I live in beautiful San Diego, so making the drive to LA is easy!

    Thank you for considering me!!!!!! I know it will be an incredible opportunity! (Also, I signed up for the newsletter + am following on IG under @alisonkinsey) 🙂

    Alison Kinsey | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  6. Have been living it up in NYC for the last 11 years, and just recently made the move back home to sunny Pasadena, CA! I’m a digital marketer, social media guru, lover of beautiful things (be they clothes, jewelry, or aesthetically pleasing websites like this one), and karaoke goddess.

    Ready to hit the ground running as I embark on a new chapter in my life and am interested in a networking opportunity such as this that will allow me to meet some kick ass women doing amazing things in the industry. Fingers crossed!

    Caroline Sill | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  7. Hi – My name is Annette and a few years ago, I took a leap of faith and left my job as an attorney at a national law firm to pursue my passion of accessories design. I now spend my days running my jewelry line called Confetti by Annette. Combining vintage inspirations with vivid colors, dashes of sparkle, and pinches of playfulness, Confetti by Annette is a Los Angeles based jewelry line designed with the spirit of celebrating yourself and your life. Proudly made in America, we work with local craftsmen to design and deliver quality products that tell stories about the little moments of joy that fill up our lives.

    As a solo-preneur, I would love to attend C+C to connect with and learn from others who have the same entrepreneurial drive. I have a lot to learn, but I also have a lot to share. I think magical things can happen when a group of driven women get together + I’d love to be there to witness that magic!

    Thanks!
    Annette

    Annette | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  8. Hi! I’m Brandee, nice to meet you all!
    I recently started my own small business consulting company, WELL COMPANY. After 10 years of business development, sales and marketing for multiple companies in various industries, I created WELL COMPANY because I wanted to help small business think through strategy, build solid brand partnerships and ultimately increase sales. So many amazing business owners have put their heart and soul into their business only to burn out. Through 1 day to 3 months consulting options, I help owners and entrepreneurs strategize for growth and change. I would love the opportunity to attend this event…thank you for the opportunity!

    Brandee James | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  9. I was reading through the lineup and schedule for this year’s Create & Cultivate conference the other day thinking how amazing it would be to attend such an event. I’m in the very beginning, baby stepping phase of creating a true and purposeful life for myself. I’ve always been creative, but only recently have I decided that it’s time to embrace the gifts I’ve been blessed with and make my dream career a reality. My “Big Picture” goal is to illustrate beautiful design (fashion, interior, food, etc.) as an appreciation for all of the talent in the world. For instance, the talent so wonderfully displayed by the those involved with the conference. I would love to sell my illustrations, use them on products, and collaborate with others. From there my goal turns to giving back. I want to use what I gain to serve others who are in need. From orphans in Uganda and those without clean water in Haiti to closer to home situations such as this event where creatives come together to share their knowledge and help those looking to learn. But for now there is so much I want to learn! Like I said, it’s been a long time coming, but I’m really just beginning this creative entrepreneur journey and I can’t think of a better way to start than with the Create & Cultivate conference and a great cocktail of course!

    Oh, and I’m also in the planning stages of moving to L.A. so a trip for the conference would be perfect. Or maybe I would just stay for good!

    Jane | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  10. I’ve been following Jaclyn for a while now per mutual friends and appreciate that she encourages similar entrepreneurs to Create and Cultivate. As an Executive Producer for TV & Digital, I’d love to network at this event and meet like minded women. I’m also a fashion blogger who has shot street fashion around the world and published in Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Cosmo and more. I’m LA based and looking to fold e-commerce into my brand this year and would be interested in seeing what I could contribute to this group. Thanks for the contest and good luck everyone.

    Jerri | 02.04.2015 | Reply
  11. Hi, I’m Alison!
    I’m new to the blog world and now I’m addicted! I’m an event planner looking to grow. The Creative & Cultivate conference is an amazing chance to start on the right foot! I’m planning on escaping the cold winter in Canada for the weekend in LA to catch some Vitamin D and to meet some inspiring women. I look forward to the chance to get the VIP track to my new adventure! – AE

    Alison Elle | 02.05.2015 | Reply
  12. I’d love the change to learn from everyone at Creat and Cultivate as I’m beginning the process of setting up my own business.

    Angela | 02.07.2015 | Reply
  13. Simply put, I’m excited about how Create + Cultivate can help me put my dreams into action. A few weeks ago, I decided that I’d need a change of scenery for the inspiration and motivation that I need to building my image and lifestyle brand. LA was my destination of choice but I had NO idea where to start or who to connect with! This conference is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for! I really hope that I’m granted the opportunity to attend for free! I’d buy my plane ticket and hotel room sooooo incredibly fast! -LaJoyce The Voice

    LaJoyce Denson | 02.07.2015 | Reply
  14. What a fantastic opportunity you’ve created and that I’d love to attend! As a fashion blogger, I really enjoy participating in events bringing together creative and entrepreneurial women. With Lucky Fabb momentarily bygones, I don’t there is really anything else out there I have found with connectivity power to inspire and cultivate community among bloggers. Would love to soak up the inspiration, helpful tips, and connect with with fellow blogging enthusiasts! As the blogosphere continues to grow, gotta keep learning from each other!

    -Tanya

    Tanya Rivas | 02.08.2015 | Reply
  15. First comment here. Probably should’ve kept that to myself, but there is always a first right?! I’m about to make a leap in my personal and professional lives and would welcome the opporutnity to attend such an event as Create & Cultivate to be further inspired to charge ahead! Be well – MB

  16. Hello 🙂 I’m one of those gals with a creative mind and heart but a not so creative 9 to 5. I’d love to start a blog, something that serves as a creative outlet. I read blogs and follow bloggers (not literally, that would be weird), and am constantly inspired. I find that as a reader, blogs and social media are a great way to escape from the day-to-day chaos, I assume it is equally (if not more) rewarding to be the one producing great content. I’ve checked out the Create & Cultivate line-up this year and have to say that it is a group of diverse people whose creativity and particularly that “can-do” attitude, I admire. I’d love to gain some knowledge and first-hand tips from this panel of speakers and also have the opportunity to ask questions and get a better understanding of what it’s really like to take ones passion and start sharing it with the world and potentially make it a lucrative business. xoxo

    ingrid | 02.09.2015 | Reply
  17. WE ARE SO INSPIRED BY ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS – CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER, JANE!

    The Chalkboard | 02.11.2015 | Reply
  18. As a young professional in the Beauty PR world I aspire to break away from the office job and start on my own– in what I believe. I am extremely creative and have so many dreams but need that extra push and motivation to step up and make all my beauty business dreams come true. Being able to attend Create + Cultivate and be among the amazing hosts, panelists and other guests would be a once in a life time experience I’d forever be grateful for and know will be the push to take the steps I need.

    Lauren Vacca | 02.17.2015 | Reply

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