I just got home Wednesday from the US Youth Entrepreneurship Summit in Kansas City and the best way to describe it is a whirlwind of inspiration. It all started when YES contacted me several months ago and invited me to be a part of the first ever summit held in the US. They have held 7 previous summits around the world, and this time it was hosted in the US at the Kauffman Foundation's headquarters. The weekend started off on Sunday when I boarded a plane and promptly got stuck in Charlotte, NC for 5 1/2 hours because of an airplane maintenance issue. No complaining though as that meant I had extra time to sit in Charlotte's awesome rocking chairs and catch up on email while downing an eggnog latte. I rolled into the event late Sunday and met a bunch of entrepreneurs including good friends from Runa, Crimson Campaign. Holstee, and Proxy.

The next day started bright & early with wisdom from John Mackey (CEO of Whole Foods), Betsy Sanders (Former VP of Nordstrom), and Jeffrey Hollender (Founder of Seventh Generation). Betsy grew Nordstrom's employee base from 350 people to 11,000 and is a total retail rockstar. I loved her quote "I broke many glass ceilings but I have no shards in my head because they're not real." Basically the entire three days were filled with amazing people (established + young) sharing awesome advice with each other. The big news is that the Youth Trade concept is launching in the US (like Fair Trade except it is designed to support young entrepreneurs).
I was super pumped to meet other entrepreneurs from across the country including the brains behind Susty Party (check out their reuseable party crowns + heart seed confetti), Barley + Birch (organic children's clothing), Good & Fair (sustainably made clothing).
Of course no trip to a new city is complete without popping into a reputable lingerie boutique and Birdies did not disappoint. Danielle and Chelsea were super sweet and I gave them an up close view of Sexy Period undies. As you can see in the photo above, they keep undies in display cases from vintage candy stores so it really is a magical place. I couldn't resist doing a little shopping of my own and not only did I come away with a beautiful purchase, but also recommendations on where to visit in town. Natasha's amaretto French macaron's were to-die-for and I only regret that I didn't try the fancy marshmallows too. For the possibility of being a cow town, Kansas City sure packs a lot of punch.

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Let's face it: we love hot nail polish. It's so much fun to wave around a set of bright nails, but have you ever thought about the toxic ingredients we're inhailing as we paint? Enter Ginger + Liz: a toxin-free color powerhouse. I met the two ladies behind the brand at the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit in Kansas City earlier this week and they are fab. With names like Boss Lady, Reality Check, and Put A Ring On It, I don't know which shade to choose....looks like Caution!, featured below, will be a great place to start.

Photo courtesy of www.gingerandliz.com

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Do you love the nifty pink wraps our models wore at our recent runway events? How about the pink cheveron photobooth backdrop at the spa party (shown at left)? Lauren is our super stylish intern who is behind these gems. Read below to learn more about her thoughts on Cheez-Its, Chuck Bass, and giggling.

What’s the snack food you’re addicted to?

Reduced-fat Cheez-Its.

What’s the last book you read?

Do textbooks count? Lately I’ve been getting pretty cozy with my Ancient Chinese Art textbook.  But in my downtime, I’ve been reading “Breakfast of Champions.”

What school do/did you go to and what is/was your major?

Senior at Brown University studying History of Art and Architecture.

What about fashion interests you?

It’s always changing and I never get bored with it!

What’s the television show you just can’t get enough of?

Gossip Girl…it’s my guilty pleasure.  I <3 Chuck Bass.  And the fashion is to die for.

When you’re going out on the town, what’s your go-to piece you just have to wear?

I’ve got this amazing necklace with big chunky jewels in it.  I try to fit it into an outfit whenever possible.  It is quite the statement piece!

What’s playing on repeat on your iPod right now?

“Cudderisback” by Kid Cudi. 

How would you describe your style?

I like to keep it classic and girly with a bit of edginess.  I’m very into pairing a great staple item with fun accessories. 

If someone wants to make you laugh, they’ve just got to _________(fill in the blank!)

Laugh! Laughing is contagious for me…giggling’s my favorite. 

What’s your favorite style of Sexy Period underwear?

Blossoming Beauty in cheeky. The blossoming beauty pattern is super cute, and the cheeky cut reveals just the right amount. 

What’s your must-have comfort during that time of the month?

Chocolate..duh!

Photo courtesy of Jen Brister.

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Today is 11/11/11, and for some of you reading this, your wish has come true. When you all “met me” this week on the SP blog, I mentioned my FAVORITE pair of Fiorentini and Baker boots with the fabulous buckles on the side, so I figured why not let everyone in on the fun.  Now, I have them in black but I LOVE these brown ones as well. I may have to go out and by them myself. But just in case you, like me, love a staple pair of black boots here is the link to the F & B website: 

http://fiorentini-baker.com/fall_winter_1112.html

photo courtesy: http://www.pedshoes.com/fiorentini_and_baker/fiorentini_and_baker.asp?productLineID=1&vendorID=29&productID=140&colorID=1848

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You may have noticed that someone new started popping up recently on the blog and in a Facebook photo or two. Meet our new, fabulous intern, Emily! This girl hails from sunny California and has an equally bright personality to match. Read below to find out her thoughts on awkward moments, black leather boots, and jellyfish.

What’s the snack food you’re addicted to?

Brown-sugar cinnamon pop-tarts. My mom just sent me a box of them from home and I am in heaven!

What school do/did you go to and what is/was your major?

I am currently at Brown University concentrating in Commerce, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship.

What about fashion interests you?

I love that fashion is undefined. It is constantly changing and can be interpreted and used differently by each person.

What’s the television show you just can’t get enough of?

MTV’s new show Awkward is my new favorite because I can relate to the main characters unfortunate, embarrassing moments.

When you’re going out on the town, what’s your go-to piece you just have to wear?

My black leather boots. They are kind of slouchy and have three buckles on the side. I love them!

Who’s been the most inspirational person in your life?

My father. He’s a genius.

Let’s say you just won a vacation for free (lucky you!). Where would you go?

I love to travel. If I had to choose I would probably go to this tiny island called Palau hundreds of miles of the coast of Papa New Guinea that I have always wanted to travel to. You can scuba dive with sting-free jellyfish in water that is three different colors!

What’s playing on repeat on your iPod right now?

Adele’s entire 21 Album and Feel so Close by Calvin Harris. I’m obsessed!

What’s your favorite thing about being involved with Sexy Period?

I love the idea of empowering women through fashion. Sexy Period is confidence wrapped in tissue and a ribbon and I love being able to be a part of that.  

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The past few weeks have felt like an alumni overdose (in a good way of course). On Oct 18th I spoke at a Brown Women in Business meeting along with handbag designer Andrea Valentini (we gotta pay it forward to other potential fempreneurs!). Then I was invited to be on an alumni panel on Nov 1st for engineering students. The new school of engineering must be doing something right because the students asked a ton of interesting questions (and refreshments were a step up from the pizza we used to eat when I lived at Barus & Holley). 

All good things come in threes, and the final event rounding out an alumni-filled few weeks is happening tomorrow at RICIE! I'm sure there's still room if you want to stop by for the "Starting Up in the Ocean State" panel highlighting "Success Stories from the RI Business Community." Other panelists are Charlie Kroll ’01 from Andera, Deb Schimberg ’80 from Verve, and Max Winograd ’09 from NuLabel. The event runs from 6-8pm and you can sign up here (no need to be a Brown alum).

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Hello there! I'm writing from the Charlotte airport right now as I'm on my way home to Kentucky for the weekend. You know you're back in the south when you see chicken gumbo on menu (yes, I ordered it- it has been too long since I've eaten okra). 

My friend Lexie is getting married so it's only appropriate that we're having the fling before the bling this weekend. I'm excited to see friends from home and I'm also hoping to pop into Bella Rose (my fave boutique in Lexington) at some point to see their dresses. 

In honor of venturing back to the south, the fashion find this week is a pearl necklace from Kate Spade. Pearls are a staple for any southern belle and in the south they go with anything, dressy or casual. What do you think? Do you only wear pearls for fancy occasions or are can they be worn anytime? 

Photo courtesy of www.neimanmarcus.com.

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