Why We're Celebrating the Good (and the Bad) From 2019 and Stepping Boldly Into the New Year

In paid partnership with Steve Madden.

The year that was 2019 is almost over and yes, it was definitely challenging at times but we all know that out of change and failure comes growth, right? And ultimately, that stretching and persistence to get through the bad times with the good is what will take us to the next stage in our career, and our lives.

So, we decided to celebrate the many tests and stumbles we experienced last year by partnering with our friends at Steve Madden during our Vision Summit in Miami. We want to encourage everyone to put the year behind them and step boldly into 2020 with confidence and style.

We invited local visionaries, bosses, and founders to join us and clink champagne in celebration of our achievements while enjoying the stunning collection from Steve Madden footwear. Click through the gallery below to see all the fun photos from the night and head to the comments to let us know how you’re stepping boldly into the New Year.

Gal on the Go: The Ultimate Boss Guide to Miami

CREATE & INNOVATE in collaboration with Marriott Hotels

photo credit: Yesi Flores 

Miami is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States. It is also full of female entrepreneurs who are thriving in the Magic City.

So we headed to Miami this past month in partnership with Marriott Hotels to profile three women working and living in the city. Each has a unique relationship with Miami, two of whom having emigrated to the US. These women shared their #travelbrilliantly hacks, tips for success, and why Miami is the city for them.  

We stayed at the newly renovated Marriott Stanton South Beach , taking in the sun, sand, and soaking up all the culture Miami has to offer. 

GABRIELA GUZMAN, FOUNDER THE JUPITER CIRCLE

LOCATION: LITTLE HAVANA 

photo credit: Erica Melissa 

Gabriela Guzman, founder of The Jupiter Circle, just finished hosting her Group Strategy Session with six women entrepreneurs. "I've been hosting one-on-one sessions or larger workshops up until now," the creative entrepreneur says, and "I'm excited to lead a more intimate group of women learning from one another, supporting each other and diving deeper into their brand and social media. I believe sisterhood makes everything better." 

Her shared creative office space in Little Havana is a perfect example of this. She found the space with her friend Nadia, and they brought in a third friend and business woman, Jen. "We loved being able to create the space in line with our vision, taste and values. Today we also host "Brand New Mornings" in the space - free monthly meetings for creative entrepreneurs to chat about branding, creativity and business."  

"I believe sisterhood makes everything better."

Tweet this. 

In regards to the neighborhood she says, "Little Havana reminds me of the homey feeling of Santo Domingo in the 80s. People say 'hi' to you when you're walking down the street, there's salsa playing in the background, and there are options for delicious Latin American food all over the neighborhood. We have a community of artists and makers as neighbors and it's amazing."

Gabby grew up in the Dominican Republic and moved the United States when she was 19. At the time, she says she felt the need to make "sensible" career decisions, and worked for Consulting and Human Resources in New York for several years. Then at 28 she found herself pregnant with her son, laid off, and used it as the impetus to define and pursue her passions professionally. "I started working in Communications at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. I loved using my creativity in my work and became so excited to see the power of content and social media platforms to inspire action and make ideas spread." She then felt that calling, that inescapable 'what if,' to "do things 'my way,' own my time and spend much more time with my son. I had never before considered becoming an entrepreneur, but suddenly, starting my own thing was the only option."

The Jupiter Circle has evolved with Gaby as she becomes more clear about what fuels her and can make the greatest impact. "Today," she says, "I help women entrepreneurs define a solid foundation for their business growth, with an authentic brand and a solid social media plan that fits their life and vision."

Morning coffee spot: There's a coffee spot around the corner from our office, San Lorenzo where I get my morning café con leche. It's essentially sugar + milk + coffee and it's perfection.  

Place you go when you need a little (or a lot) of inspiration: I'm an extrovert and I get a lot of inspiration from connecting with my closest girlfriends. There's a beautiful courtyard (see photos) right behind our office and we'll hang there and talk things out for hours.

Tourist attraction that’s a guilty pleasure: The Perez Art Museum (PAMM) is absolutely stunning and has one of the best views in the city. It's an absolute must see place. I try to go as often as I can.  

The *one* restaurant where visitors have to try that *one* dish: The pan con bistec at Doce Provisions in Little Havana gives me absolute life.

Best place to watch the sunset: I love finding chill beaches in Miami where I can hang with my son and a few close friends. Right by my house Matheson Hammock is a great spot to relax and wind down the day.

Best place to hang when the clouds open up: There's so many! One of my favorites is Crandon Park in Key Biscayne.

Spot in the city you love to be still: This is going to sound crazy, but after not driving for 10 years, driving (without traffic) has been surprisingly therapeutic. When I need to clear my head I find myself just getting in the car and driving around neighborhoods I love. Just driving and listening to music and being in the moment with nowhere to go.

"When I need to clear my head I find myself just getting in the car and driving around neighborhoods I love."

Tweet this. 

Best drink in Miami: When you're in Miami you HAVE to try a mojito - preferably the one at Ball & Chain at Calle Ocho.

ASHLEY ASPINWALL, BLOGGER & FOUNDER SIDE SMILE STYLE 

LOCATION: WYNWOOD 

photo credit: Yesi Flores 

A relative newbie to Miami, Ashley Aspinwall is still getting used to the heat and she doesn't drink coffee, which means she hasn't tried Cuban coffee. "I hear it's very potent," laughs the Dallas-bred fashion blogger. 

Ashley began blogging her senior year in college after a bad breakup-- "I needed a project," she says. "I had been reading blogs for a couple of years and thought to myself 'I can do that!' and just kind of hit the ground running."

Her parents didn't entirely agree and weren't sold on her ability to create a lucrative career. So she took a job in the corporate world out of college, a stint she credits as "as one of my biggest motivators to make my blog successful."

"I learned pretty early on how valuable being your own boss can be. From setting your own schedule to creative control, the autonomy was such a drastic change. I’m not sure I can ever go back! Although, having a knowledge of corporate infrastructure and that mentality has definitely helped me when I’m working with bigger brands."

Now Ashley has come a long way from her first post where she "was wearing a camel sweater and bright red jeans, awkwardly posing on my apartments fire escape." She's also a long way from home. "Miami is SO different from Dallas," the blogger explains, "which I think is the most exciting thing. I’ve never lived near the water, and I’m getting to experience so many cultures on a daily basis."

She says the making friends and building professional contacts hasn't been the easiest. "Honestly this has been an area that I have definitely struggled in. Due to my busy travel schedule, making new friends hasn’t been the easiest, especially in a transient city like Miami. On the professional end, I always try to attend any events that I’m in town for and make sure to follow up with any contacts I make in the process. With blogging, you never know who could bring you your next job!"

Travel hacks: 

1. Drink a ton of water. Constantly flying is super dehydrating and your skin will seriously thank you for loading up on the H20.

2. Peppermint Oil. It is the swiss army knife of essential oils. I use it for headaches, nausea, stinky uber rides, you name it!

#TravelBrilliantly with: "Peppermint Oil. It is the swiss army knife of essential oils."

Tweet this. 

3. I always bring a cashmere travel wrap with me on every trip I take, because planes are freezing.

4. I try to carve out at least a few hours at the beginning of a trip to go off on my own and explore without a plan. It helps me to get the lay of the land and I almost always discover something I never would have found in a guide book.

Favorite spot to shoot: The Beach

Best place to grab a juice: JugoFresh

Tourist spot you haven’t hit up yet, but want to: Joe’s Stone Crab

Secret spot in the city that’s just for you: The Key Biscayne Lighthouse - the beach is never crowded and it’s so beautiful!

Best place to meet new colleagues: Bachour Bakery and Bistro

Best morning meal to grab on the way to the airport: Old School Breakfast at S&S Diner

Most walkable neighborhood: Brickell

Favorite place to dance: FDR at the Delano

Best spot for after work drinks: Sugar Bar at the East

Best Cuban food: Versailles has the best Vaca Frita hands down and you can’t beat the atmosphere!

DANIELA RAMIREZ, BLOGGER & FOUNDER NANY'S KLOZET 

LOCATION: DOWNTOWN MIAMI 

photo credit: Gabriel Sanchez 

Fashion blogger Daniela Ramirez of Nany's Klozet says that "Miami is basically the capital of Latin America."

The Venezuelan-born beauty says she loves being about to speak Spanish every day and buy Venezuelan food in all supermarkets. "Personally," she says, "I'm also a short flight away from home and from my husband's hometown, Puerto Rico. Professionally, many main hispanic magazines and big hispanic fashion brands are based in Miami. There are great opportunities for Latina bloggers here."

She loves shooting downtown for a couple of reasons. "While I love Miami's gorgeous ocean and palm trees, it can get repetitive when it comes to blog backdrops or when I need to do fall-ish outfits." So she says that "Downtown has a great city vibe that can be very versatile. Our downtown is not that big, but there are certain corners that work amazingly."

As for getting comfortable in front of the camera she urges upcoming bloggers to not be shy. "People are naturally curious...some will stare, some will ask you- but most people are just going to keep going with their lives. Also, be aware of your surroundings. I always let people walk by, I try not to interfere or be in their way. You can also avoid shooting in peak hours; for example, Downtown Miami is empty after 5pm."

Travel hacks:

1. Do not wear makeup on your flight and stay hydrated. I've realized that my skin feels dull and dry if I wear makeup while traveling.

2. Always bring the next day outfit in your carry on, in case your bag goes missing.

3. Always think versatile pieces to avoid over packing- things you can re-wear at least two times.

Best place to get coffee:  Panther Coffee in Wynwood

Favorite spot for a date night: Lagniappe House

Favorite place to dance: Ball & Chain, El patio

Best walkable part of the city: Miami Design District

For a healthy meal you head to: Manna Life (see above photos!)

The one tourist attraction that’s a guilty pleasure: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

The one tourist attraction you’ve never visited: Jungle Island

The one place any visitor has to hit up: Wynwood (24th Street for Art, Graffiti walls and great small places)

Favorite spot in the city to feel inspired: The Perez Art Museum (PAMM) 

Best part of the city to see classic “Miami” art deco style: Ocean Drive

Best place to watch the sunset: South Pointé Park in Miami Beach

Create & Cultivate will be visiting 2 more cities across the United States in partnership with Marriott. For our next city, we're heading to Charlotte. Be sure to check back to see more of the series. 

MORE FROM OUR BLOG: 

Nany's Klozet Shares the Four Hard Lessons of Blogging

nanysklolzet.com

Daniela Ramirez is a dreamer who started her blog to create an inspiring space for Latinas and WOC in fashion an beauty. The Miami-based influencer now has over 150k followers on Instagram.

But she doesn't think blogging should be an end goal. We caught up with the woman behind Nany's Klozet to chat hard lessons, blog evolution, and why Latinas and WOC should support each other more. 

You've been blogging for 5 years now - how has your blog Nany's Klozet evolved since? 

I actually started blogging in 2009. Back then it was called Fab Chic and Fit and it was only in Spanish- it had absolutely no personal style and was almost anonymous. I opened Nany’s Klozet in 2011 as a way to separate “magazine-ish” content from personal outfits. 

Blogging has changed in so many ways. At the time most bloggers were either in school or working- few saw it as a business career, most of us were sharing content simply because had a need to share our passion or knowledge. I find it amazing how brands slowly started to realize the influence bloggers have, and we definitely have changed how brands market to their audiences. Also it is interesting to see how people have shifted from reading online to instant gratification with social.

What is one thing you used to do in 2011 for your blog, that you will never do again?

Never say never! But we (my now-husband takes all my photos) used to take outfit pictures in abandoned streets in the middle of nowhere. I was super shy about taking pictures with people around me, so I guess that’s why I liked it.  Now I'll look at them and it didn’t make sense. I think that the outfit has to match what you are doing and where you are going. 

What would you say are some of the hard lessons of blogging?

There have been many hard lessons along the way:

1. Be very careful with contracts. Have a lawyer look at them. Some brands want to take advantage of you.
2. Never lose yourself for money. Never take opportunities because of a good pay. It’s important to stay true to yourself. Your audience notices.
3. Also don’t change for your audience. I’ve seen people change the direction of their content. I understand thinking about what content they need, but blogging is about sharing your passion, not pleasing others.
4. We need to stop obsessing over numbers and followers….and focus in quality content (and quality of heart and soul)- with that, the following will come organically.

"Never take opportunities because of a good pay. It’s important to stay true to yourself. Your audience notices."

Tweet this.

Everyone has their one growth hack or strategy to help their blog grow - what is yours that you stick to religiously?

I try to interact with my readers as much as I can. To always answer their comments and keep the engagement high. Blogging is a two-way form of communication. It’s not only a “come, read me” but also listen back to what they have to say and answer. I always go to my reader’s profiles and comment on their photos. I’ve met so many amazing girls and I’ve found amazing blogs that way too.

"Blogging is a two-way form of communication. It’s not only a 'come, read me' but also listen back to what they have to say and answer."

Tweet this.

nanysklozet.com

In a way your blog is a testament to making it look easy, while also looking polished and perfectly composed. However, we know that are BTS stressors that all bloggers deal with. What are some aspects of blogging that your audience doesn't see?

I don’t even know where to start…there are so many! My husband and I have had countless fights while taking pictures…I don’t even remember why but I get frustrated easily (and often!).

I also think we don’t wear heels as often as seen on the blog- I always have another extra pair on the car. Sunglasses are always great to increase the chance of a good picture. Plus sunglasses mean you don’t necessarily have to wear makeup!

Sometimes I think readers don’t know the amount of work we do and it all looks super flawless. Recently I did a nail polish campaign in Mexico where I had to change polish twice a day for three days and run around doing specific activities at the hotel. It was a blast, but it definitely wasn’t as polished and composed as it looked.

"Sometimes I think readers don’t know the amount of work we do [as bloggers]…and it all looks super flawless."

Tweet this.

As a Latina, you have been able to encourage other WOC to start their own blogs and become a part of the digital space in fashion. What else do you feel needs to be done for representation of Latinas and other WOC in the digital space?

Being 100% honest, I think Latinas and WOC need to start supporting each other MORE. I absolutely love my Latina community and I’m so proud to be Hispanic. However, I think Latina readers still prefer the tall/skinny/blonde/European looking blogger.

I also have been in many situations where I know I was filling the “Latina spot”- like campaigns with a blonde, a brunette, an African-American, and me. Brands need to stop looking at us as a space to fill, and instead acknowledge that we are a BIG part of U.S society.

What is one piece of advice that you have for anyone that is looking to start a blog today?

I would tell them to see a blog as a step to a reaching a bigger goal. I don’t think being a blogger should be the end-goal. For example: if you want to be a personal stylist….share your tips, do make overs, share your work. If you want to be a magazine editor, imagine you are already doing the job and treat your blog like it. Treat your blog as your portfolio…a passionate portfolio. Enjoy every second of it and genuinely network…you are going to meet some amazing people along the way!

"Treat your blog as your portfolio…a passionate portfolio."

Tweet this.

Make sure to see Daniela on panel this fall as she joins us at Create & Cultivate Atlanta. Click here to get your tickets now!