Born and raised by the beach in Southern California, Valeri Horn lives and breathes West Coast culture and its surrounding artistic charm. Valeri, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a Minor in French, continuously seeks to explore the beautiful and obscure and enjoys sharing her adventures through captivating interviews, strategic storytelling, and clever copy.
Valeri is currently the Senior Copywriter at Outerknown.
Julianne Vanderhoop’s Orange Peel Bakery is more than just a bakery; it’s a celebrated gathering space on sacred Wampanoag territorial land that breathes positive light and love into every confection that spans beyond its baked goods, warming the hearts of those who are lucky enough to visit.
Sitting at Bijou Karman’s dining room table, eagerly eyeballing all of her strategically placed knick-knacks and personal works of wall art, I resist the urge to blurt out, “RIHANNA! Tell me about working with Rihanna!” So, acting like the cool, collected writer that I pretended to be while rehearsing my interview questions on the car ride over, I instead calmly and inconspicuously ask Karman about her art schooling, fashion background, her artistic inspirations, some of her favorite past works and recent clients. Karman immediately begins to blow my mind, unpretentiously rattling off her incredible accomplishments, from graduating with Distinction from Art Center College of Design, creating illustrations for Harper’s Bazaar and designing her very own zines to campaign work with Converse, artistic window displays for an Italian luxury brand and scoring the cover of Little White Lies magazine. That’s just to name a few.
Two hours and many windy roads later, I pull up to her fairytale-sized, wood-paneled home, perfectly tucked away within the Highland Park hills. “The door is open, make yourself at home!” Wosinska texts as I follow the road to her front door. Upon entering her massive wooden sanctuary, I stop in my tracks in complete visual awe. Inhaling the scent of freshly lit incense, I admire the dozens of vintage keepsakes and rare relics that line the walls. An impressive collection of multicolored vinyl albums stand almost ceiling high next to a record player already spinning classic melodies. Feeling as if I entered a rock legend’s temple, I quickly begin scanning her home, absorbing each intricate detail fearing I’ll forget this truly original moment.
Part of being a grown up means taking on the high stresses of the day and learning how to properly unwind at night. And nothing says self-care like soaking in a hot bath after a long day; scented candles, soothing soaps, a good book, tranquil music and a glass (or two) of wine are just a few of the ways you can enhance your time in the tub.
We all know the benefits of consuming plants, but did you know that filling your home with greenery can also drastically improve your health? Aside for providing dreamy home decor, houseplants have been known to improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15%), reduce stress levels, boost your mood and decontaminate the air in your home.
Quality self-care is as vital for your well being as eating right and exercising regularly. While a six-week yoga retreat sounds spectacular, an extravagant trip may be out of reach for many. However, maintaining a simple but consistent self-care practice can prove just as effective for relieving stress and boosting your mind and body wellness while keeping your wallet happy.
Regenerative farming may be the key to saving our planet. Earth and all its living creatures are at risk of extinction if we do not drastically change our global practices. In an effort to further spread the need for better eco-friendly habits, we want to share how the weed farming industry is making great strides to reduce their carbon footprint, one plant at a time. Let’s start with the basics.
Everything in the universe is made up of energy that vibrates at different frequencies. Your personal energy and the level at which it vibrates play a pivotal role in your mind and body wellness. Equipping ourselves with the proper tools to combat these exhausting confrontations can be extremely beneficial for maintaining optimal health.
You can smell the fresh pine trees in the air; you can feel the desert sun on your face; you can hear the waves crashing on the rocky shore. Outdoor photographer Stephanie Marchant doesn’t just snap photos of her surroundings; she captivates the senses and paints palpable portraits from her open-air adventures with just one click.
Almost every form of exercise can work wonders on elevating our mood. Outside of some much-appreciated muscle tone, exercising triggers the release of our “feel-good hormones” called endorphins that work with the neurotransmitters in our brain to diminish our perception of pain and increase pleasure. The amount of endorphins released differs by exercise type, intensity and duration. Here are some of the quickest and most efficient ways to stimulate your endorphins without even leaving your living room.
