Thrive: 5 Minutes/ 5 Questions with entrepreneur, Neal Bodenheimer

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.

Here is an interview with Neal Bodenheimer, who serves as co-chair on the Board of Directors for Tales of the Cocktail. 

ELENA:)

THRIVE: 5 MINUTES/ 5 QUESTIONS WITH ELICEO LARA

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:)

 

THRIVE: 5 Minutes/ 5 Questions with food designer/scientist, Dr. Johnny Drain

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:)

THRIVE: 5 Minutes/ 5 Questions with author, Patricia Wooster

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:)

 

BELLA: The Keto Kind

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:)

THRIVE: 5 Minutes/5 Questions with @AllThatGlittersOnTheGram

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:)

 

 

 

THRIVE: 5 Minutes/5 Questions with Meagan Ollari

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:)

 

Thrive: 5 Minutes/5 Questions with Dee Charlemagne

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:)

 

THRIVE: 5 Minutes/5 Questions with Donald Burlock, JR

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:)

BELLA: Elegant, Elaborate Easter Eggs for Everyone

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:)

 

BELLA: Your Bridgerton Best

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:)

 

Thrive Global: 2020’s word of the year – Resiliency

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:)

BELLA: Forever Formal Fashion

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:)

Thrive Global: Education through Eating

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:)

 

 

Thrive Global: Maintaining Momentum

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:)

Thrive Global: Food for Thought

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:)

 

BELLA: Advent Calendar and Loungewear

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:)

 

Deloitte: Future of Health Panel

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:)

 

New on Thrive and BELLA

 

It’s midsummer! Can you believe it? I’m just finishing off the last of July with two stories to share. The first is a roundup for BELLA about being able to have those vacation vibes – while staying at home. The second story is about the Charmsters #iSeeMyself campaign for Thrive.

ELENA:)

For Thrive Global: Optimism from Oppression

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:)

For Thrive Global: The Pandemic Purgatory

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:)

Surviving Self-Isolation for BELLA

I don’t think anyone foresaw that we would be spending a lot of time at home (under orders) in 2020. I wrote a roundup for BELLA on some products that have helped the stay be a little more pleasant.

ELENA:)

For Thrive Global: Our Productive Passions

Since my trip to the UK back at the end of Feb, I struggled on how I would write essentially a ‘trade’ piece and have it be relevant. I think I succeed – read it here.

 

ELENA:)

BELLA: Spring Staycation Fashion Finds

 

This piece went live on BELLA in March.When I wrote this piece I was thinking quarantine might be for a month or so. Unfortunately, it’s looking like its longer. No matter – you still need to get outside and get some moments of fresh air (just think – with less cars – the air is actually fresher!). I want to personally thank you to all the essential mail carrier/courier companies out there as they are allowing me to still online shop without much of a delay.

Spring Staycation Fashion Finds

Hope you are staying well and healthy.

ELENA:)

 

Live on the Tamron Hall Show

I had the incredible opportunity to talk about my book live on national daytime TV on the Tamron Hall Show in NYC. It was so much fun, but I don’t think I had much time to process everything that was going on. It was nice to visit my friends though, I haven’t been back to NY since Jan of 2018.

Being on TV is not something new to me, I was re-occuring on a TV show for a bit and in 2018 I did three taped segments including Good Morning Washington, The TODAY show in Sydney Australia and NBC News BETTER for my book.

Yet, this was the first time there was a live audience. I can’t wait to do it again as I had a lot of fun.

TAMRON HALL: Tamron Hall

TAMRON HALL: Tamron Hall

TAMRON HALL: Tamron Hall

TAMRON HALL: Tamron Hall

ELENA:)

 

 

 

BELLA: Optimizing Ourselves and Top 5 Local Must-Do’s in 5 Iconic Cities

Just catching up from some busy weeks. I was in NYC (which I will tell you about in my next post) and then I went to the UK as well. Here are two pieces for BELLA.

Optimizing Ourselves – It was my research about supplements and vitamin regimes on the market today.

Top 5 Local Must-Do’s in 5 Iconic Cities – Looks at a survey of 5 cities around the world and their Must Do lists as noted by locals.

ELENA:)

 

For BELLA: Happy ReNEWal Year!

Because every New Year (New Decade) we should regroup and see how we can be just a tad bit better. I rounded up on a few products to help us hit the ground running on BELLA. Here is the piece.

ELENA:)

For BELLA: Marvellous Mexico

I can’t believe that I forgot to post this! Such a great trip with Jose Cuervo. I definitely did not get my fill of street tacos though, or enough time at the Anthropology museum.

Here is my piece for BELLA.

ELENA:)

For Thrive Global: Mane Mindset

Here is a spotlight on THRIVE, I did on the philanthropic work of celebrity hairstylist, Martino Cartier and FOLLEA founder, Daniel Alain Hafid. They recently had their hair drive at The Gregory Hotel with Caravan Stylist Studio.

 

ELENA:)

Collection of 3 BELLA articles

I’ve been slacking on sharing my pieces on my site. Here are 3 BELLA pieces that I contributed this fall.

Full STEAM ahead – A roundup of STEAM toys and one to look out for in the future.

How to win those Winter Woes – Skincare during the winter months can be challenging. Here is some products that can help.

Forever Fashion – Two OOTD looks, one for work and one for play. Entirely created with sustainable fashion pieces.

ELENA:)

 

Open Operations

I attended Glimpse 2019 (A HydraFacial and FastCompany event) in Las Vegas a few weeks ago and I wrote this piece on a few of the speakers that shared their wisdom with the crowd. I love when I can tie in my business knowledge into real life scenarios. This is Open Operations for Thrive.

ELENA:)

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