#tracysmith

Congratulations to Tracy K. Smith on being named U.S. Poet Laureate! 

Selena Gomez, known for her poise and confidence on red carpets, opens up about her evolving career and personal journey, including her latest role in Emilia Pérez. The film, a hard-hitting true crime drama, is a unique blend of love story, self-discovery, and music. Gomez stars as the wife of a Mexican drug lord who secretly transitions, a role that pushed her out of her comfort zone with intense dance routines. “I found it incredibly compelling,” Gomez shared. “I’ve never really seen a movie like this before, and I don’t think I’ve ever been this proud of something in the acting field.”

At 32, Gomez’s accomplishments extend beyond acting. She's also a successful singer-songwriter and founder of Rare Beauty, a cosmetics brand that made her a billionaire. Her philanthropic efforts, particularly through the Rare Impact Fund, demonstrate her commitment to helping young people with mental health challenges, an issue she’s very familiar with.

Growing up in Grand Prairie, Texas, with her mother Mandy Teefy working multiple jobs, Gomez reflects on the valuable lessons her mother taught her. "When I'm doing something great today, it just makes me more thankful for the lessons that my mother taught me," she says. Gomez’s rise to fame began at a young age, with her role in Barney & Friends and later on the Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, before venturing into music. During the pandemic, she hosted the popular cooking show Selena + Chef, though she admits, "My cooking skills aren’t that great, I’m not gonna lie!"

Her acting career took another turn with Only Murders in the Building, where she praises her co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short for their guidance and kindness. “They’ve helped me grow up in a lot of ways,” Gomez says, reflecting on the positive impact the two legends have had on her career.

Despite her success, Gomez hasn’t shied away from discussing her personal health struggles, including her lupus diagnosis, kidney transplant, and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Her 2022 documentary, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, offered an honest look at her life, and she shares that releasing it felt like a huge relief. “One of the strongest things you can do is be vulnerable,” she says, explaining her decision to publicly share her struggles in hopes of helping others.

Gomez’s passion for mental health advocacy continues through the Rare Impact Fund, which she considers one of the most important aspects of her life. "This is probably the most important thing to me, besides my family,” she says.

Another highlight in her life is her relationship with music producer Benny Blanco, whom she describes as deeply caring and attentive. "To know that there is someone in the world that deeply cares about every tiny detail about who I am, I'm really, really lucky,” she says, expressing her happiness.

LAUREL HILL FLORAL DESIGN

It's so wonderful to see a logo in action! I designed this for Laurel Hill Floral Design just about a year ago and she has certainly come a long way as her new site has just launched!

Laurel Hill Floral Design is  a boutique floral design company based out of owner Laura Chadwell’s home in East Boston, MA. She is a third generation florist who started her training gathering scraps of flowers as they fell from her mother’s arranging table. She specializes in special event floral design, including weddings, showers, and nonprofit events.

I have been lucky enough to work with Laura on numerous occasions including her engagement photos and now with her new business. Have a wedding or an event coming up? You should definitely consider Laurel Hill Floral Design!