I’m so excited Katana Kitten will come to Vancouver this week. This three day pop-up will start on Wed with renowned owner and mixologist Masahiro Urushido. Click to check out my piece on BELLA.
ELENA:)
With less than a month until my trip, I didn’t see myself writing another piece until after my epic trip. But this short roundup came together quite organically (pun intended). Click here to read the piece on BELLAMag.co
ELENA:)
And you had to know this was coming with the launch of Bridgerton Season 2. Here is my roundup of necklaces for BELLAMag.co Can’t wait for the upcoming seasons.
ELENA:)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
It is Women’s History Month – all March long. And what a way to celebrate then with cocktails inspired by influential women from two influential mixologists – Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero. I had the pleasure of doing a short interview with Ivy for Thrive back in 2020.
Here is the link for the BELLAMag.co piece.
ELENA:)
So here we are -it’s almost Spring! I can feel the weather getting a little warmer, the sun out for longer. I thought I should pre celebrate and do a beauty roundup on new products for Spring. Click on this link for the roundup on BELLAMag.co
ELENA:)
After 5 long months, I think my bedroom refresh is complete. It’s astonishing how fast time flies and how much the supply chain has affected our shopping habits. Click here to read the full article on BELLAMag.co
ELENA:)
Here is a quick roundup I did with all things Heart related. Click here for the link to BELLAMag.co
Happy Lunar New Year!
ELENA:)
Ok – that was a very long title for a very fun article. I came up with the premise over the holidays and with Emily in Paris being renewed for two more seasons (gasp!) it just made sense. Click here for the piece on BELLAMag.co
View this post on Instagram
I am definitely missing travel and I am so grateful I was able to head south twice late last year. Hope this gives you the inspo you need as better days are ahead.
ELENA:)
About two years ago I created the roundup for BELLA, but this time I changed up some products and published this for RESIDENT. Click here for the online version.
Hope you have a wonderful New Year!
ELENA:)
My first trip in 18 months and I found myself in California Wine Country. Not the usual Napa/Sonoma area though – I went to Paso Robles. 3.5 hours between SF and LA. Click here to Read about all the adventures here on BELLAMag.co
ELENA:)
My first official press trip in 18 months and I am heading to Mexico to celebrate Día De Los Muertos. I can’t wait for some sunshine. Check out the piece in BELLA here.
ELENA:)
Here is a long-time-coming roundup on Fall Outerwear for BELLA. I have every intention to get this out at the end of Sept – but with firms running at half capacity response were lacking. Anyway, I am super happy how this all turned out. Click here to read the piece.
ELENA:)
So it’s been a while since I contributed to an article vs me writing one. So here we do, this is a piece for Wedding Write by Lindsay Tigar on How to make a Long-Distance Relationship work.
ELENA:)
To continue on with my pairing of interviews – here is one with Duncan McRae of the whisky brand WOVEN. Although it came out a little bit later than anticipated, it was very in depth. Also – this is the week of the Tales of the Cocktails Awards. Check out my Thrive interview here.
ELENA:)
I first was cutting this piece a few months back when I tired a Milani Cosmetics eye stick. It was so great and thought that this would make a perfect premise of my piece. Read it here on BELLA.
ELENA:)
Pairing up with Kaidy and Karol (the ladies behind Nina Nieves capes), I reciprocated an interview for their short story section on the Nina Nieves website. Read the piece here. And in case you forgot, here is the Interview they did with me for Thrive.
ELENA:)
After an ongoing struggle of tech issues since I posted Patricia’s interview, I think I finally figured out what the WordPress issue.
Anyway, the Tales of the Cocktail 2021 Spirited Awards are coming up and I nominated someone for the Pioneer Award – sadly there is no top ten announced this week. There is only the winner at the end of Sept. Nevertheless, I am proud of my composition as it took 4 weeks to put together.
ELENA:)
In the fall of 2019, I went to Mexico City and as a “Sunday Surprise” I booked a baking class with Eliceo. It was so much fun! I was thoroughly impressed and will definitely recommend it if you are heading to Mexico City. If not, check out his classes online. Read my interview with Eliceo here.
ELENA:)
So last year, I wrote one of the best pieces I’ve ever written called Food for Thought. Dr. Johnny Drain was a part of it. It only made sense to get him back to see what he was up to this year. Check out his interview here.
ELENA:)
I’ve been a fan of Rich’s work for a while. He whimiscially creates works of art with paper and existing famous landmarks. Like the saying goes, a picture is worth a million words and Paperboyo’s art is better left seen. Here is the interview with Rich aka Paperboyo.
ELENA:)
After I got bit by the ClubHouse bug, I convinced Patricia Wooster to include me on her moderator panel. So glad I did. It’s a wealth of knowledge for all writers and I learn so much every time I join. Check out her interview for my series here.
ELENA:)
Here is a fun roundup inspired by a hike with a coworker. As I realized – not all keto snacks are created equal. Make sure you read the labels!
I’m definitely trying to get out and enjoy our summer weather (minus the heat wave days!). I hope you are having a wonderful summer. Read the BELLA article here.
ELENA:)
Here is an interview with famed wedding designer known as @AllThatGlittersOnTheGram. I remember really liking one of her long sleeve dresses she had made year ago and seeing her on the TLC Show, “Say Yes to the Dress.” So nice to actually chat with her! Check out her interview here.
ELENA:)
I met Meagan in New York around 2015. She was starting out her collection, Ollari. I actually have no idea how we first connected (hahah!). But we did, and I’m so glad. Every time I would visit the city I would check in. I consider her to be one of my fearless friends as she moved countries to pursue her passion. Read 5 Minutes/5 Questions with Meagan Ollari here.
ELENA:)
Here is my latest instalment of my interview series, 5 Minutes/5 Questions…This time it is one-half of the duo behind AVEC. AVEC is a Brooklyn-based, good-for-you line of cocktail mixers. Winners of Pharrell William’s Black Ambition Program, you can read my interview with Dee Charlemagne here.
ELENA:)
I believe I came across Nina Nieves on Instagram – which is a goldmine for talent (if you didn’t know). I really fell in love with their capes and their sisterhood. Read their interview here.
ELENA:)
I tuned into an IDEO session with Donald Burlock, Jr. He was speaking about his book, Superhuman by Design. I read it and thought he would be great to kick off an old interview series that I used to run on my Tumblr blog; now for a THRIVE audience with a focus on success and mental-wellbeing. Read Donald’s interview here.
ELENA:)
I didn’t realize that I haven’t done a roundup in a while! Well this one is definitely timely. Read it here.
ELENA:)
This piece came together quite quickly. I think started to see a similar theme of ‘Deadstock’ coming up in either my IG feed of just random companies that I would google. Read it on BELLA here.
ELENA:)
I know, this isn’t exactly in my wheelhouse – yet it took an IG post from my friend in the UK to get my wheels turning. Before I knew it, I had a roundup on my hands. Here it is for BELLA. Read the piece here.
ELENA:)
It’s such a humbling experience to write something and then get it rejected. Only for you to re-write a better piece. Here is my piece with Citizens of Soil and Nudo Adopt for Thrive Global.
ELENA:)
I can’t wait to share my Laura Elizabeth photos of me in my Retrofete denim jumpsuit. But until then, check out this roundup I did on the latest styles for BELLA. Click here to read the piece.
ELENA:)
I love Mini-Eggs and so today I organized a mini egg ice cream run for the department at work. While these eggs are almost too pretty to eat, I’m sure I wouldn’t have a problem devouring them. Read the BELLA article here.
ELENA:)
Ever since I went behind the scenes at Gucci’s offices in Milan and Florence two years ago (eek!) I’m always intrigued with the craftsmanship behind luxury goods. So I was happy to learn more about the Lady Dior Art collaboration with artist Chris Soal. Read about it here.
ELENA:)
So earlier this year I did Hair Care Challenge. Of course, I had to write about it. Here it is…
ELENA:)
This roundup was inspired by the Netflix show Bridgerton. Set in the Regency period, the show featured over 700+ costumes in the 8 part series! I’m a big fan of ruffles, bows and lace myself – so this made for a fun roundup.
I can’t wait for the second season. Read the piece on BELLA here.
ELENA:)
So here it is, my last piece for Thrive this year. Looking back, I wrote a lot even though I never physically left Vancouver. Although this is an interview I did with Lynn Lin of Electric Bing Sutt (Lebanon), it describes how resiliency has become the word of the year.
Hope you have a wonderful, happy, healthy New Year.
ELENA:)
This is definitely going to be my last roundup of the season. Here is Forever Formal Fashion, a sequel to a piece I did last year, this is a roundup of sustainable brands for formal occasions.
ELENA:)
I was interviewed by Wendy Sy for the Fortune and Frame blog , for the What I Give campaign. It was such a pleasure because, I have yet (after so many years) to meet Wendy in person.
ELENA:)
Here is my convo with Chef Douglas McMaster of Silo London and the new Zero Waste Cooking School and food educator experience designer, Charles Michel for Thrive. This is the sequel to my initial article, Food for Thought. Both had really aligned POVs and values and it was nice to hear more of their thoughts on the Future of Food.
ELENA:)
Let’s back track to the summer. I was part of a panel for #DeloitteFutureofHealth panel and here are some snippets of the discussion. Here is my Thrive article about it too.
ELENA:)
I had the pleasure of visiting Supernova Ballroom back in Jan. so I was sad to hear that it had to close down. Here is a piece I wrote based on an interview with Kelsey Ramage and Ivy Mix about the trials and tribulations of owning a business during this uncertain pandemic time.
ELENA:)
Here is a piece for a joint interview with Chef Eduardo Marin and Dr. Johnny Drain on the Slow Food Movement. Read it here.
I’m actually in the process of doing a follow up piece with Chef Douglas McMaster from Silo London and the Zero Waste Cooking School. Should be out very very soon!
ELENA:)
I put together two roundups on BELLA. One on Advent Calendars and another on Loungewear.
I definitely need to start the Advent one earlier next year; I can’t believe that SO many sold out by the time the piece went live.
ELENA:)
A few months back, I wrote an article on my thoughts on the pandemic (which is still going on!) and because of that article I was asked to participate on a private group panel for Deloitte about the Future of Health. Incredibly honoured for two reasons. First, when I graduated I actually thought about moving into management consulting and Deloitte was on the list (so working with them has come full circle). The second reason is that being able to use my 16 years of healthcare in a different way is a nice consolidation of my experience to date!
Other panelist include
Jennifer Jolly – an Emmy award winning journalist in the Tech and Health Space (New York Times, USA Today, Today Show)
Robin Raskin – a Health and Tech industry leader
Robin Plotnik – Nutrition and Fitness influencer @WhatRobinEats
Anna DeSouza – Digital and Broadcast journalist in the Tech and Health Space (Yahoo! and Today.com). This is my second time working with Anna – the last time, she was pregnant and now she has two beautiful baby twin girls.
UPDATE: Here is the Thrive Global piece I wrote about this session.
ELENA:)
Here is a piece I wrote about the other pandemic, systemic racism. This time I called upon my friends to help me out. Find it on Thrive.
ELENA:)
It took me a while, but here is the piece I wrote about the pandemic for Thrive. It’s been a weird few months for everyone – I know everyone is dealing with their own form of purgatory.
I’ve been watching a lot of late night TV (on Youtube) and Seth Meyers always ends with – “Stay Safe, Wash your hands and We love you”.
ELENA:)
BELLA’s latest edition honors frontline workers and guess who was included? This Beauty issue is for sale here.
ELENA:)