my c+i chronicles

One other reason I love being a Chloe+Isabel merchandiser is that it gives me an opportunity to give back. I decided early on that I would organize one or two fundraisers a month and work with local non-profits/charities as well as causes that have a special meaning to me.

This entire month of September I am raising funds for the following causes. If you order through the links provided NOW through Sept 30, 25% of all sales (basically my commission) will be donated to the corresponding non-profit.

1) Getty Owl Foundation

The Getty Owl Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is helping families and fighting Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA is a genetic disorder causing severe muscle weakness. The vast majority of children with SMA, like Getty, are born with weaker muscles. There is no cure or treatment for SMA. For more details, visit www.gettyowl.org

To support this fundraiser, ORDER HERE:

http://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/freya/700412

Join the Facebook event for updates and raffle prizes for this fundraiser:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1473788896223051

2) National Ataxia Foundation

Ataxia is a rare, progressive, neurological disorder, and is a cousin to Parkinson's, MS, and Muscular Dystrophy. There is currently no effective treatment for any of the over 60 types. The National Ataxia Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of persons affected by ataxia through support, education, and research. For more information, visit www.ataxia.org

To support this fundraiser, ORDER HERE:

http://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/freya/38bccc

Join the Facebook event for updates and raffle prizes for this fundraiser:

https://www.facebook.com/events/800627280002088

Please consider shopping for these causes while picking up birthday presents, doing some early Christmas shopping, or getting a few sparkles for yourself (nothing wrong with that!). Thank you for your support!

Send me an email if you are interested in collaborating on a future fundraiser.

#chloeandisabel #shopforacause #causes #sma #ataxia #shoplocal #goodkarma #giveback

The first question you are asked when you apply to become a Chloe+Isabel merchandiser is which persona you fit into the most:

Entrepreneur

Socialista

Fashionista

Tastemaker

I think I have a little bit of each persona but I lean most toward being a Tastemaker (the crafty creative, baker, entertainer + DIY enthusiast). Probably because for DIY geek in me, one of the most exciting things about being a merchie is getting to plan pop-ups and design jewelry display tables :)

If you haven't yet seen the Fall lookbook, you have to check it out. (Email me your mailing address if you want a copy). It's so beautifully put together and I am loving the #Botanica theme. It was no question that I had to put together a nature-inspired soiree for my grand opening pop-up.

Since the pop-up was going to be at my friend Nikki's place, I started practicing my jewelry display at home a week or so before the party. I found a few items laying around our house that I could actually use (like a small tin watering can and clear wine glasses I used to make terrariums). For the rest of my props and supplies I shopped at online garage sales (check out VarageSale.com) and a few nearby stores. It was a little uncanny that most of the stores happened to have a good selection items that fit the Botanica theme. (do all these companies share the same trend alert memo?) My most frequented stores were the following:

Cost Plus World Market - jewelry box and stand

Home Goods - frames and burlap bulletin boards

Marshalls and TJ Maxx - frames, moss, various other props, tablecloth

Michaels - burlap, easels, clear glass vases (and they have moss too)

Whole Foods and Trader Joes - plants

NileCorp (online only) - linen jewelry display stands

DIY Tip: Cost Plus sells framed botanical prints for $20, but you can save money and make your own. I Googled "free botanical prints" and eventually found this awesome blog that had some good ones: http://christina-g.blogspot.com/2013/07/free-botanical-prints.html

Just print and use a frame that you already have.

All the practice paid off because then I knew where everything went and on the day of the pop-up it took me less than 20 minutes to get set up. (this picture was taken at the end of the party though, because I didn't have time once guests started arriving!)

For food I decided to go vegetarian to match my theme. (and I had a few vegetarian guests anyway).  This would have been my ideal menu: (I ended up omitting a couple of things)

Roasted Vegetable Pasta - I don't usually follow a recipe for this, I just roast assorted vegetables in olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss with a pasta of your choice and top with parmesan cheese. I used multi-color carrots, asparagus and zucchini that day, but would also add portabella mushrooms and any other vegetable in season. Again this picture was taken after everyone left:

Caprese Skewers - I found the some cute bamboo skewers and was excited to make these... but I got too ambitious by making my own mozzarella balls from scratch and that was a fail, so I had to take these out of my menu. Will try this next time with store-bought mozzarella :) Here's what they might have looked like, but would have drizzled olive oil and a reduced balsamic vinegar over them:

Assorted Cheese platter with crackers, Marcona almonds and grapes - easiest thing to put together. Got Brie, Goat cheese and Manchego.. and served apricot and fig preserves on the side.

Carrot cake -Sorry, no good picture here as there wasn't much left when I got to take a picture. But here's the recipe I used: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/03/super-moist-carrot-cake-with-cream.html For the cream cheese frosting I used a slightly different recipe so its not too sweet: 12 oz cream cheese 1/2 cup confectioners sugar 1 tsp vanilla

Avocado chocolate-mousse dirt cups - http://haveanamasteblog.com/2010/02/guilt-free-avocado-chocolate-mousse/ (The idea was to top them with ground up oreos and mint sprigs so they would look like this:)

Cucumber-lemon infused water

An assortment of wine (of course!)

I also went to Party City and found these perfect napkins. Then I made some drink markers using some scrapbooking stickers and miniature clothespins.

One more thing to make the event more special, I hired Marina, a local henna artist to do henna for my guests. Here's just a sample of some of her work on me.. Check her Facebook page for more pictures!

I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed one normal June day when I noticed an ad for Chloe+Isabel. I was drawn by the pretty graphic and curious about this brand I had never heard of before. I guess that was fate in the works, because clicking on that ad was the catalyst for this new adventure I've embarked on.

So fast forward through meeting with an MM (Merchandiser Manager), making a couple purchases, hosting my first pop up in July... I was so impressed by the jewelry and company that the very next day after my pop up, I decided to apply to become a merchandiser. Got an invite from my MM, filled out an online application, went through a phone interview... and I got accepted! 

And so now that I've been a merchandiser (aka merchie) for a month, I have a little time to look back on what a whirlwind my first month has been. I hosted my grand opening pop up and had an awesome turnout, thanks to my amazing and supportive friends. I had written down my goals for the month and ended up surprising myself by meeting and exceeding those goals.

As I start my second month with even bigger plans, I want to reflect on why I became a merchie in the first place:

1) The jewelry. I cannot say enough good things about this brand and their commitment to quality, both in their products and their customer service. I had been looking forever for a product I can really vouch for and finally found it.

2) I am a creative soul and I've always needed an artistic outlet. My day job in front of the computer doesn't quite fill that void. As a merchie I get to work on my jewelry display and graphic design skills. I also get to come up with creative ways to market through social media.

3) I am a social person. Though I have my shy and introverted moments, I do love networking and meeting new people. The past month has give me a chance to reconnect with old friends and make so many new friends in the very welcoming c+i community.

4) I wanted an opportunity to earn money doing something I actually enjoyed. Enough said :)

Becoming a c+i merchie has challenged me in so many ways but I accept those challenges with my chin held high and look forward to where this sparkly new road will take me.