Tag: #lifestyleblog

Made Magazine

Chicago is a town known for worldwide successful publications. The Chicago Defender, Ebony, Jet and other publications were born and bred in Chicago and have been Chicago staples for centuries. Recently I had the opportunity to attend Made Media Day at Made at Fame studios in the Chicago Pilsen neighborhood. In the time where many publications are choosing to go digital, Made has come and Made is making its mark in the Chicago media landscape.

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Made magazine is a publication that is looking to change the way millennials get their news. Instead of the news stories delivering shade, the latest celebrity gossip or delivering the ‘tea’, Made magazine seeks to highlight positivity, share resources and ultimately help millennials be successful. The publication has three areas of focus: 1. To Educate, 2. To Elevate and 3. To Empower.

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According to their Website Made Magazine is a “MULTI-CHANNEL PLATFORM TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF CONTENT CREATORS. MADE is an aggregator and curator of fresh content MADE to inform and inspire our diverse community of forward-thinking millennials. Our mission is to amplify the voices and platforms of content creators and creative leaders, on and offline. Through our multi-channel platform, we publish a bi-monthly digital and print magazine, daily online outlet and monthly national events to cultivate our community.”

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With this focus in mind, Made also seeks to amplify the voices of creators of color. This is one of the reasons that Made sought the three areas in which their content is published. Made can be seen in print, online and experienced through live events/ summits and conferences. Made is composed of six channels: Made Mindset (Personal Development), Founders Row (Entrepreneurship), Sound & Color (Art), Hollywood Heights (Entertainment), Creative Currency (Finance) and Made Maven (Women).

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According to Made’s publisher Kris Christian, in a time where people are leaving Chicago for places like LA and New York, Chicago is full of opportunities. She states “We have creatives here. People leave but it is important to cultivate a community here.” That is the primary reason that Made has made Chicago it’s home. Made is a magazine for millennials, according to Christian, “60 percent of Made’s readers are female with the other 40 percent of readers being male”.

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Kris Christian, Publisher

Made believes that creativity is the currency of the future. That it takes influential networks, rich resources and optimal exposure to harness the power and future of Black creatives. The vibe of the Media Day definitely showed that there was spirit of creativity as well as collaboration. Not only was the Made teams showcasing the work they had already done, they were providing content creators the opportunity to work with them in order to be featured on one or several of Made’s platforms.

 

 

The publications that were already been printed as well as the digital version of the magazine were impressive. The content was created for the everyday person and was relevant and relatable. The digital version was full of fresh content and easy to navigate. Made is definitely a publication of the future and a welcome addition to the rich literary landscape of Chicago.

For more information or to check out Made: http://www.made-magazine.com/

Be Blessed, Be Fabulous

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Work Life Balance

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Work life balance.  We are all searching for it, we all want it.  We want to be able to do all things impeccably and still have the time, attention and energy to do whatever else we desire to do.  Sounds good, but it doesn’t always happen.  So what do you do to find or achieve work life balance and is it possible?

I think the first thing that we need to understand is that work/life balance will look different on different days.  If there are days when you have more appointments than usual, then your work/life balance will be different on that day as opposed to a day when there are no additional duties, appointments or responsibilities.  Additionally, if you work outside of the home, your work life balance will also be different compared to someone who works from home.  The same if you are single or married, have children or no children.  For each individual, work/life balance will be something different.

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The key to finding work/life balance is to find what works for you.  No one can give you the perfect roadmap or manual on how to run your life, so figure out what works best for you.  You can listen and take bits and pieces from others but it is up to you to construct that unique puzzle that make the best life for yourself.  You are the best judge in knowing and understanding how work/life balance best fits into your life.

I know personally, it is difficult for me to do anything other than the basics early in the morning.  Outside of shower, dressing, makeup, devotion, journaling and coffee, my mornings are shot.  If I add anything else to this list, I will end up rushing, running late and being frustrated.  So I don’t add anything else.  I enjoy afternoon or evening workouts.  I used to workout before bed and shower, that was the best sleep ever. The key is that I had to adjust my schedule and do what was best me for and for my life.  It is ultimately up to you to figure out what works.

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Work Life balance is possible.  It really can happen.  It is just up to you to be realistic, find what works for you, make a schedule, and stick to it.  We can do it all, have it all and be successful, we just have to figure out the best way to do it.  Good luck on your road to work/life balance.  Tell me about your journey and how you are enjoying the destination.

Be Blessed, Be Fabulous!

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