There are plenty of charities vying for attention, but we had to share a very important cause that is near and dear to the Bella Life family. Contributing Style Editor, Pamela Pekerman launched the Ilya Peckerman Fund, which benefits theVasculitis Foundation, in 2010, after the passing of her father. The Vasculitis Foundation is the international organization that leads education, awareness and research in support of those with vasculitis, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels.
This year, Pamela has enlisted the aid of her fashion friends to launch Shop4Vasculitis, a campaign aimed at raising funds and awareness through the purchase a fashion, accessories and lifestyle merchandise. During May, Vasculitis Awareness Month, purchase these amazing red, white and lavender and a minimum of 20% from each purchase will go directly to theIlya Peckerman Fund.
Click Here For An Exclusive Tweety To Support This Amazing Cause!
Sabina Les, Metal Chain Silk Scarf
$120 – 20% donated
As seen in PEOPLE Style Watch
Confections by Shara’s Paperie, red, white and black damask pattern personalized iPad folio case (spfc130)
$72.50 - 20% donated
Confections by Shara’s Paperie, red, white and black diagonal stripe pattern personalized phone case (spcase128)
$55 - 20% donated
Ted Rossi, Python Envelope Clutch
$598 – 25% donated
Celeb fans include: Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Ted Rossi, Python Cuff
$115 – 25% donated
Celeb fans include: Jacqueline Lauritaof Real Housewives of New Jersey
Devora Libin, Rubber Skull Bracelet
$80 – 20% donated
As seen on FOX Good Day Los Angeles (and Caroline Manzo last night)!!
Casey Shannon, original art work framed and matted 11×11
$350 - 20% donated
Casey Shannon, greeting cards based on original art
$4.25-$5.95 - 25% donated
Casey Shannon, prints based on original art
$4.25-$5.95 - 25% donated
Yummie Tummie, Wendie Cotton Wow Tank
$72 – 20% donated
Di Manno Designs, Red Leather Ponytail Holder/Hair Cuff
$25 - 20% donated
As seen in In Style
Nitika Chopra is a featured Love in Life contributor and passionate, colorful and inspirational voice behind www.YourBellaLife.com. For more about her click here for her full bio and all of her articles! read more →
I first met Karie Hill at Marie Forleo’s Rich, Happy & Hot Live event in October 2011 and from the moment she said hello I knew that I wanted to get to know her better due to how fun-loving and delightful she was to be around. I soon found out that Karie was not only a woman I would be happy to call a friend, she was also just the woman I had been looking for to help me take my business to the next level! Karie Hill is a masterful financial freedom coach for women and she has helped myself and so many others transform their financial conversation from fearful, lacking and chaotic to empowering, abundant and organized. She has the ability to make you feel like you CAN create the financial freedom you long for and she totally helped me do just that with Bella Life. Recently I sat down with Karie and asked her to share some of her personal tips, tricks and juicy secrets with us so take a look at our candid interview below and be sure to leave Karie a question in our comments section to connect with her directly! For more information on Karie Hill and the variety of ways to work with her, please visit www.KarieHill.com today.
Nitika Chopra: What inspires you about working with individuals on their finances?
Karie Hill: It is so much fun! I take a different approach to the work I do. It’s not all number, budgets, and interest rates. It’s about getting women really excited about their lives and potential.
Women come to me feeling anxious, overwhelmed, ashamed, stressed, and not sure what to do. By the end of our time together, so much is transformed beyond bank accounts. Women experience increased self-esteem and confidence, improved relationships and health, and an overall excitement for life.
I love being a part of the transformation. It’s so rewarding.
NC: Have you ever personally struggled with finances?
KH: I was taught how to handle money at a very young age. It is something I was always good at and came very natural to me.
My biggest struggle came when I started my business. I’m really good at handling money but making it was another story. You would die if you knew how much money I made my first year. Someday I’ll write about it and we can all have a good laugh.
NC: If yes, how did that shape the way you work with your clients?
KH: When I work with entrepreneurs, I totally understand their challenges. It’s difficult to go from a 9-5 world of a consistent paycheck with taxes and retirement already taken out to the world of an entrepreneur where you not only make your own money, you have to figure out how to handle it.
I love working with this kind of client. I feel like I have so much to offer because of my own business “hiccups.”
NC: Being an entrepreneur, what has been the biggest obstacle you have had to over come so far?
KH: Putting myself out there and getting personal. In the beginning, I was anxious with every newsletter or post on social media. I hated it. Then I realized – IT’S NOT ABOUT ME!
It’s about who needs to hear my message. Staying small out of fear wasn’t serving anyone. I learned that people want the authentic version of me. Showing my personality and sharing my story has been a great way to build relationships and trust with my financial freedom family, and build my business.
NC: What’s your favorite part about being your own boss and owning your own business?
KH: Being a business owner has opened up a whole new world for me. Besides the obvious, freedom, my favorite part has been all of the people I have connected with.
There is something special about the spirit of an entrepreneur. They are so determined, supportive, passionate, and literally changing the world.
Surrounding myself with people that share those qualities has filled my life in the most beautiful way.
NC: How do you add color to your world, Karie?
KH: Dancing!
I’m terrible but I love it. There’s nothing more fun than a good song and a booty shake.
Confession: I dance in the shower and I was obsessed with Carmen Electra’s Aerobic Striptease (here’s to being authentic!).
NC: What are three things that you can’t live without?
KH: Girlfriends – People are my thing. I love my ladies.
Books – I have had my nose in a book before I could read. I love buying them used on Amazon.
Green Juice + Smoothies read more →
Tirusha is the Editor-in-Chief of Bravura Magazine. Bravura is an online South Asian fashion, lifestyle, music, entertainment & culture magazine. Since its inception, she has had the opportunity to personally interview prominent South Asian personalities such as Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Mallika Sherawat, Deepika Padukone and many celebrities such as Hrithik Roshan, Freida Pinto, Dev Patel, Shahrukh Khan, Sean Kingston and Manish Malhotra.
Through her writing, Tirusha has been invited to events such as Grammy pre-parties, Mercedes-BEnz Fashion Week and film festivals. Tirusha is a pioneer in her field and introducing a colorful world to THE WORLD. That is why she is our Woman To Watch!
Nitika Chopra: What inspired you to create Bravura Magazine?
Tirusha Dave: While I was interning in college and writing for a few different South Asian publications, I noticed that there was never a “one-publication” that encompassed everything from South Asian fashion to lifestyle to music, arts, entertainment and even culinary. Therefore, I got my creative head thinking and decided that I wanted to make my own online magazine. Slowly and steadily, one thing led to another and here I am today…Editor in Chief of Bravura Magazine.
NC: What is distinct about South Asian fashion, music & lifestyle that you wish to share?
TD: I believe that the one factor about South Asian fashion, music and lifestyle is that it is timeless. Creativeness from the past is embedded in today and tomorrow’s future. The same with South Asian sounds; Bollywood beats from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, are being showcased in today’s music.
NC: At Bella Life we are all about adding COLOR to your world and doing what makes you happy. How do you add COLOR to your world & the world of your readers?
TD: One of my biggest goals as Editor in Chief has always been to blend together the South Asian culture with the American culture we are continuously surrounded by. The first way I add COLOR to world of my readers is through my writers; not all of writers are of South Asian origin, yet they so beautifully write about South Asian topics, bringing together their insight with our COLOR. I also bring COLOR to my readers by the personalities we feature and stories we highlight. Not all our stories or interviews are South Asian-related and this helps to bring the worlds’ COLORS together for everyone.
NC: By age 25 you were a published writer in seven different countries. How was this process? What challenges, if any, did you face?
TD: The process was easy; I made a list of publications I wanted to write for and contacted each of them. The challenge, in all honesty, was getting the foot in the door. I had built a great portfolio of editorials and interviews, but even with that, a lot of publications didn’t want to publish your work. But there is always that “one” publication that will give you your first “big break,” and I finally got mine. And from there onwards, it was smooth sailing. People soon saw that my talent for writing and creative way of putting onto paper fit hand-in-hand.
NC: What do you love most about your work?
TD: I love the sense of accomplishment. When you set a high standard for yourself, push yourself to accomplish something even bigger and succeed at it, there truly isn’t any better feeling than that. When I first created Bravura Magazine, I knew it would be successful, but you never think to such extremes until you’ve actually walked that path.
NC: What are three things you can’t live without?
TD: My family, my phone and my notebook! read more →
Moms are the first mirrors daughters use into the beauty and self care world. They take copious notes when they are young and moms hope their daughters will continue to share with them as the mature.
Our little girls mature fast and maintaining a solid relationship is key. Speaker, mother and author Erika Katz, “Bonding Over Beauty” (Greenleaf Book Group) http://www.bondingoverbeauty.com, shares how to be there for your budding beauty at every step in a fresh, fun and meaningful way.
Build Trust: Be present for your daughter and she will seek your advice. While it’s hard to watch your little girl grow up, help her learn. Even if you think what she wants to do is not yet age appropriate, listen to her. No matter how trite the issue, validate her by saying, “I did not know you felt that way,” If you are there for her when she’s ready to tweeze her eyebrows, color her hair or use tampons, she may come to you later when she has a question about sex, drugs and alcohol.
Stay Open: Your daughter should feel secure to approach you with any issue. She may feel embarrassed and freaked by her body’s changes – pubic hair, body odor, discharge, etc. Reassure her that these things are universal feminine experiences! What’s important is how you handle it, so be honest, help her navigate and do not shame her. Shame forms the basis for anxiety and long term insecurities.
Positive Feedback: When complimenting her appearance, highlight her nature and attributes versus just saying, “you look good”. Choose gentle terms and stay positive. Exchange “you look fat in that outfit” for “it’s not for you or I love the other outfit on you because it flatters you.” After all, makeup should be about fun and sparkles than hiding imperfections.
Promote Her: Permit your daughter to develop, define and find her personal style. A great mistake is trying to make children into a mini-improved versions of parents. Let them be who they are, not who you want them to be.
Beauty Coach: Learn the basics so you can guide your daughter. Research where to go for hair cut, color, spas, facials, etc. For cut and color, splurge at the John Barrett Salon or try a neighborhood place. For facials, Mario Badescu, http://www.mariobadescu.com, Georgette Klinger, Oasis Day Spa http://www.oasisdayspanyc.com/salon . For pain free bikini waxing, try Bliss the lavender chamomile wax http://www.blissworld.com
Learn their language: Each generation has their own slang so learn their language, watch their television shows, read their magazines and know their favorite celebrities so you can gauge who and what they are emulating.
Beauty Days: Spending time together is the prettiest gift. Whether at the makeup counter, Sephora, getting manicures, Bloomingdales or a night at home concocting homemade facemasks from avocados and mayonnaise, be together and enjoy the moment.
Inner Beauty: Focusing solely on your daughter’s outward appearance can never replace the importance of the inner beauty. Her sense of self will last after her lipstick wears off. Positive affirmations from both parents will go a long way.
Now, go be gorgeous together!
About Erika Katz
Author of the book Bonding over Beauty, A Mother-Daughter Guide to Self-Esteem, Confidence and Trust (Greenleaf Press, March 2011), Erika Katz uses her beauty expertise to help moms bond with their ‘tween daughters. A former child model and actress, Erika appeared in over 100 commercials, print ads, and films. As the mother of a ‘tween girl, she now writes a popular beauty blog for mothers tackling the drama of the ‘tween years.
Before college, Erika interned in the beauty department at Seventeen magazine. Using her experience at Seventeen, cosmetology classes, and lessons learned through her extensive work in television and modeling, she created a beauty guide that served as the foundation for Bonding over Beauty. Though the guide initially targeted young women, after joining several parenting groups Erika soon realized many mothers were unsure of how to bridge the generation gap when dealing with the beauty and hygiene issues their daughters faced. Believing that a parent’s job is to nurture their children’s self-esteem and happiness, she turned her beauty guide into a valued resource for moms that contain advice and numerous bonding rituals that can ease the difficulties faced by young girls growing to physical and emotional maturity.
Bonding over Beauty focuses on encouraging and strengthening the mother-daughter relationship through simple, fun, and intimate activities such as teaching your ‘tween basic beauty rituals like painting her nails or making an organic face scrub from scratch. The book also helps mothers navigate sensitive topics that often arise with ‘tween girls, from dealing with unwanted body hair to menstruation, and everything in between.
A graduate of Dartmouth College, Erika lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
Anjula Acharia Bath is the face of Desi Hits! an innovative multi-platform media company that is undoubtedly creating a cultural shift in the digital field and pop culture worldwide. Steering the company to global influence, Anjula creates and executes deals with US Major labels such as Universal, Warner and Sony, and South Asian/Bollywood film studios. Anjula’s pioneering efforts have led the company to some of the biggest names in music, Lady Gaga, 50 Cent, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Sonu Niiggam and AR Rahman have all been featured on their web property DesiHits.com.
She is an incredible example of how woman RULE THE WORLD and can do anything we set out mind to. Read below as Anjula answers some of our burning questions and shows us even more evidence for why Anjula Acharia Bath is our Woman To Watch!
Nitika Chopra: What’s your favorite part about owning your own business?
Anjula Acharia Bath: That I am able to do something that no one else has ever done and I can change the rules!
NC: Many of our readers are entrepreneurs, can you share some advice on how to take a small business and grow it in to an empire like you’ve done?
AAB: Network Network network and become an evangelist in your space, inspire people with your ideas and dreams in a way that is relevant to them growing their business.
NC: At Bella Life we are all about adding COLOR to your world, doing what makes you happy and makes you feel vibrantly fulfilled daily. How do you add COLOR to your world Anjula?
AAB: I spent much of my childhood feeling like an invisible minority and felt like the bands/artists I admired knew nothing about me or my culture when I knew everything about them, I didn’t even feel like they knew where India was! Now I am bringing the life of Bollywood and the color and extravagance of that world to some of the biggest celebrities in the world…. That’s defiantly adding color to the world.
NC: As the founder of Desi Hits, what is it like being a woman on top of such a large company? Is it challenging? If so, how?
AAB: I don’t “worry” about being a woman and don’t find the fact that I am a female CEO to be challenging– I simply enjoy being a woman in business, I think women often have incredible communication skills. I meet a lot of women in business who ask me how “I cope” – there is no coping about it…. It maybe a man’s world…. but let’s really face it women run the show. I have 2 founders who are men who respect me enough to put me as the CEO, but in all honesty we are all the CEO’s in our own ways, when you are founders of a company building to a common goal the person with the right skills will lead at the appropriate time. I think I would find it more challenging as a man in business, harder to stand out!!
NC: Coming from an Indian background (which I can relate to!) was your family ever concerned with your business endeavors and being in the music industry? If so, how did you handle that?
AAB: No, my parents are hugely supportive and have always encouraged me to live my dreams and challenge the norms. They know much of what we do is risky but, it never worried them, they believe in me. My older sister was also always very encouraging and wanted me to pursue a career in the arts.
NC: What are three things you can’t live without?
AAB: My family & friends, my dog Isabella, music! read more →
