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Unofficial Summer Tour

5.23.2019

Memorial Day weekend just passed and you know what that means: Summer, we see you. We’re coming for you! White shoes, Mai Tai’s, convertibles, cook-outs and drive-ins: we will be chilling, grilling and killin’ it this summer. Come join us for our Unofficial Summer Tour where we test drive the latest warm-weather trends, fashions and destinations and pick out the best of what lies ahead in June, July and August. Grab your flip-flops and a cold one and let’s wade right in!

Shetland Shindigerry

Lonely Planet has just released their Best Places To Visit in 2019 and we’re thrilled to see the Shetland Islands on their list. Wind-swept cliffs, ancient stone cairns and secret coves tempt the outdoorsy dreamers in all of us. And did anyone say “Up Helly Aa”? Turns out Shetlanders love nothing more than drinking ale, dressing up as Vikings and setting fire to longships.

These most excellent gatherings are known as, you guessed it, Up Helly Aa’s. We don’t know about you but we’re suffering from Game Of Thrones withdrawal pains and there’s just something about the Shetland Isles that hits the Seven Kingdoms sweet-spot. We’re in!

Just Kiddin’ In The UK

On our way home from the Shetland Isles we’re stopping over in England because…romper and bonnet! Seriously, we are adoring British baby clothes this summer. They are just so delightfully proper! Plus, Baby Sussex just arrived. Need we say more?

Color Scheming Back At The Office


We are artists and designers here at Elum. We think color, we speak color, we dream color. And we’re not shy about giving colorful opinions either! This summer is all about the spice draw: cayenne, turmeric, vanilla and saffron. Lela Rose’s gorgeous SS19 collection just about sums it up.We are showing the spice trend some major love with our Zodiac Daily Journals for Anthropologie. Yes, we added pink to the mix. No, we can’t think of a pink spice offhand. Wait a minute…how about Baby Spice?

Spice Girls Summer

The Spice Girls have regrouped (minus the lovely Posh) and are ready for their World Tour.  We can’t wait to see them perform their greatest hits this summer. It’s what we really, really want. Say You’ll Be There!

Stranded At The Drive-In

While Grease just might be the most perfect summer movie of all time, there’s plenty of new movies coming out to get us out of the house and chowing down on popcorn this summer. We can’t wait to see Lion King (did someone say Beyoncé?), Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (did someone else say Brad Pitt?) and Rocketman.

As Elton John is the creative genius behind both Lion King and Rocketman we’re giving him our vote for Man of the Moment. Elton is also touring this summer. In his own words The Bitch Is Back!

Foodies Forever

We like to eat around here. A lot. We spend an embarrassing amount of time drooling over takeout menus and Instagram posts. If someone shouts “Tacos!” it will clear the building. Interestingly enough, an anagram for Elum Design is “glide menus” which we do pretty much everyday when we’re at our desks and lunchtime is approaching. So let’s glide those menus and see where they land! First off, we’re eating anything Julie Sherman @saladforpresident is preparing. We are also totally ready to share sushi with @brunchboys. In fact bring it all on: burgers and fries, bbq, pizza and tacos, tacos, tacos! #didwementiontacos

Adult Beverage Browsing

What to drink with all that food? Cocktails or beer? Wine or shots? Questions, questions, questions. Let’s start slow and build our way up. Summer drinks are all about the fruit so we are loving the ideas of Fernie Brewing Co’s The Reel Peel IPA.

We’re also craving Sangria loaded with strawberries and oranges and kicked up with brandy! Our shot of choice this summer is ice cold @patron chased with a wedge of sweet keffir lime. And we would be remiss in our duty if we didn’t mention our summer cocktail of choice: the Vegas-ready Mai Tai!

Party Central

Have we mentioned we love a good party? Shrimp on the grill, string lights twinkling, sound system breaking out the Marvin Gaye: summer is all about hanging outdoors with friends. Cookouts, barbecues, pool parties, garden parties: we cannot wait! Our Summer Tableware Collection will be dropping soon and you betcha we’ll be using it to dress up our picnic and patio tables!

It’s shaping up to be an epic summer! What are your listening to, what are you eating,
what are you dreaming about this summer? Let us know!

Elūm’s Epic Pub Crawl

5.14.2019

As the weather warms our thoughts turn to cold beer, alfresco dining, fried food, questionable dance moves and karaoke. Yes, we’re talking pub crawls! If you can think of a better way to spend a Saturday evening than strolling around your neighborhood, dropping in on local establishments and enjoying cold ones with friends, let us know. I mean, really, let us know! Elum is based in San Diego so we’re pretty lucky. The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown is an intoxicating, historical (sometimes hysterical) playground where dive bars sit next to ultra-exclusive cocktail lounges and the people watching is world class. We’re planning an Epic Pub Crawl, come join us for some adult only fun!

 

Pacing Ourselves At Rustic Root

The night is young, the sun is shining and the breeze is warm so our first stop is Rustic Root’s stunning rooftop bar. Did someone say “topiary”? As we marvel at a giant ivy-covered duck, we settle into our cushy lounge chairs and enjoy rosé sangria loaded with strawberries and raspberries. Drowsy bees buzz around us and we can smell the ocean a couple of blocks away. San Diego doesn’t get much better than this.

Sidewalk Swaggery At Union Kitchen & Tap

A two minute walk down 5th Avenue and we arrive at our second destination. The sun is setting and we’re ready for some tasty appetizers and even tastier people watching. Union’s charmingly cobbled patio is the place to be so we snag ourselves an outdoor table. Staying on point with our fruity drink vibe, we order a round of Latitude 33’s Blood Orange IPA. Our waitress calls them “beermosas” and suggests an order of chicken wings to accompany them. Sounds good to us! When she offers us a choice of Smoked Cherry BBQ Sauce, Buffalo Sauce, or Sriracha-Maple Glaze it sparks a heated debate. Cherries in a barbecue sauce? Hell yeah! But Sriracha maple? C’mon! And let us not forget classic buffalo. A tough call is prevented when our waitress happily agrees to bring all three dipping sauces to our table.

 

Getting Our Glam On At Side Bar

It’s getting dark and we’re ready to head inside and get this party started! A short stroll through twinkling gas-lit streets brings us to the swanky pink deliciousness of Side Bar. Music is pumping, fuchsia neon is purring and the drop-dead-gorgeous-level of staff and patrons just went straight through the roof. They let us in anyway! We’re seated in club chairs of heavenly orchid-colored velvet, where it quickly becomes apparent that there is only one drink on the cocktail menu for us: the Rich & Famous. Tequila, orange-flower essence, and a sprinkling of gold flakes. We debate whether or not we’re meant to eat the gold flakes or slip them into our napkins and save them as souvenirs. We decide to save them, sighing at the sheer glamour of it all.

 

Keeping It Real At Patrick’s

It wouldn’t be a pub crawl unless we visited an Irish pub! After the heady sophistication of Side Bar we’re ready to get down and dirty. A short stroll leads us to Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub. A live band is jamming, the bartender is on fire, and the patrons are exactly how we like ‘em: rowdy! We pull up at the bar and order burgers and Irish shandys all round. The burgers arrive in baskets accompanied by a metric ton of French fries. We are in heaven! Our toes are tapping, our inhibitions are lifting. There’s only one thing left to do: Dance.

 

Disco Dancing At Double Deuce

We can hear Double Deuce’s sound system throbbing from a block away. The bar is packed and the patrons are raucous. Beneath the spin of a giant glitter ball, a mini-skirted girl armed with a confetti gun is shooting paper streamers into the air, while a millennial-bearded hipster is riding the mechanical bull. YMCA by the Village People is playing and not one person in the room is standing still. We get to it. We’re Elūm and you betcha we know all the moves to YMCA! #noneedtofeeldown We show the young ‘uns a thing or two, avoid poking anyone’s eye out, and collapse in a happy, breathless heap. Life is good. Wisely, we leave without riding the bull.

 

Winding Down At Altitude

We spend the elevator ride up to the twenty-second floor resting. We’ve walked a couple of blocks south to the Gaslamp Marriott and are ready for our final act. The Altitude Sky Lounge offers the best views in the city. We step off the elevator and are surrounded by the dazzlings lights of downtown San Diego, Petco Park and the Pacific Ocean. We find chairs around a firepit and relax over boozy coffee and wicked dessert. Soon we’ll be texting Uber and Lyft for rides home, but for now we’ll sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds of our amazing hometown. #yougosandiego

What do you think? Did we make you want to come visit us?
If you’re a local, did we miss any of your favorite spots? Let us know!

What Moms Want Most On Mother’s Day

4.29.2019

We’re thinking about our moms here at Elum. Mother’s Day is fast approaching and we’re asking the question: What’s the best way to make Mom smile on her big day? We’ve been celebrating Mother’s Day in the US for over a hundred years. On May 12, a hundred and fifty-million of us will call home and say, “Hi, Mom!”. About a third of us will buy flowers (pink roses and carnations are our blooms of choice) and a fifth of us will take Mom to brunch or dinner, which explains why it’s Mother’s Day, not Valentines, that is the busiest day of the year for restaurants. What can we say? We love our moms! At Elum we wanted to find out what moms really want on their big day. What makes them happy? What really touches their hearts and fills them with joy? So we asked. We talked  to all the moms we know and listened (moms love it when we do that!), and are now proud to present the Six Things Moms Want Most On Mother’s Day.

Photo by Elena Koycheva on Unsplash

1. A thoughtful gesture, card or gift. Every mom we spoke to values thoughtfulness over the monetary value of a gift. Moms love a pretty card with a handwritten message inside.

“Mom, you’re always there for me. You’re my home port in every storm. Love, Jess.”
Or “Mom, you cook the best pancakes ever—tender and sweet—just like you.”

When it comes to gifts, moms really appreciate ones that are meaningful or caring: an old family photo made new again by a beautiful frame, a mom and daughter day at a local spa, their car washed, anything made by hand by their kids.

Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

2. A connection. If you can’t be with Mom on Mother’s Day, call her, FaceTime or text. Moms want to hear from you! Tell her what you love most about her. Relive your memory of the family vacation to Disneyland. Make Mom laugh by letting her know you haven’t forgotten the time she burned the Thanksgiving turkey, or the time she threw your brand new jeans in the trash by mistake. Make her cry by telling her that as soon as the bell rang after your very first day at school, the one face you couldn’t wait to see at the gates was hers. Moms want to feel connected with their kids on Mother’s Day. Show her the bond of love and family is still strong.

3. A day off from “Mommy” duty. We heard this most from moms with babies and young children. Their dream Mother’s Day is a day off from cooking, cleaning and running the household. They would really appreciate sleeping in. And while they love breakfast in bed, they would love it even more if you washed up after yourselves! #keepingitreal Clean the skillet and the stovetop—and why stop there? Nothing says, “I love you, Mom” more than cleaning the entire house!

Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash

Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash

4. Grandchildren. It’s a universal truth moms adore grandkids. If you have kids, this is a no-brainer. Bring your babies over to see Grandma. You don’t have to plan anything special. Bring cookie dough and sprinkles and let Mom and the kids bake cookies together. Or ask Mom what her favorite movie was when she was a child, and sit three generations of your family down on the couch and watch Black Beauty, Wizard of Oz or the Sound of Music. If you don’t have kids yet, we have a message from your mom. “What are you waiting for?”

5. Time. Mom just wants to spend time with you on Mother’s Day. We heard this answer over and over again. A beach day, family movie night, a potluck dinner, a day of shopping followed by afternoon tea: the most important thing to Mom is spending time with you. As we get busier and busier with our lives, Mother’s Day gives us the chance to slow down and appreciate the people who are most important to us. More than anything, moms want their families together on Mother’s Day

Photo by Edward Cisneros on Unsplash

Photo by Edward Cisneros on Unsplash

6. Love. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someonedeeply gives you courage.” We don’t know about you, but we’re pretty sure that Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu was thinking about how fiercely mothers love their children when he wrote that saying way back in 500 BC. No one loves us like our mom, no one protects us like our mom, no one celebrates our triumphs and takes the weight from our shoulders like our mom. Moms encourage our first smiles, hand-hold us through our first steps, bathe us thousands of times, kiss away hundreds of boo-boos, pack uncountable lunches and take all the photographs that will come back to haunt us decades later when we bring home a date.

A mom’s love is fierce, tender and everlasting. And the number one thing moms want this Mother’s Day is to feel their love is returned.

An EGGcellent Party

4.17.2019

In the spirit of Easter, we decided to have a dEGGcorating party! We gathered all the ladies (plus Scott & Ryan) and got down to business. Check out some photos below from our EGGcellent party and get inspired to have your own!–Who said decorating eggs was just for kids?!

Each person was equipped with a bunny headband (made by us of course), a plethora of eggs and all the kits, markers, paint, dyes, washi tape you can think of. (Gloves are recommended if you prefer not to look like your egg when you’re done)

We taped up our very own Pinterest board on the wall for some inspiration–which also doubled as some really cute decoration! (Thanks Haley!)

Our egg dyeing station had pretty much every color under the sun! Check out Real Simple’s article on what you need and simple directions to follow on how to dye an egg. (This one is great for kids) Bustle has more intermediate ideas if you are feeling ~fancy~.

For a more abstract look, you can dye the eggs with whipped cream! Follow My Baking Addiction’s article on how to do it–it’s super easy to follow. (this is where those gloves would come in handy!)

And if you’re not feeling so creative, fear not! We’ve got you covered with EGG DECORATING KITS! Our dapper bunny is a great classic choice.  For a more trendy look, this unicorn decorated egg is inspired by Coachella–and even though Coachella trends will come and go, this guy will never go out of style. #timeless You can get our kits at your local TjMaxx, Home Goods, or Marshalls!

If you don’t feel like using any of these methods or if you want to mix, feel free to go freestyle and create your own one-of-a-kind design!

No matter the outcome, the most important thing is that you had fun
and if there’s one thing that we know how to do here at Elūm, it’s just that. Happy Easter!

 

Elūm’s Spring Fling

4.11.2019

We love spring here at Elūm! April in Paris, fresh horizons and alfresco lunches: bring it on! We’re breaking out the flip-flops, cranking our office windows, waxing our surfboards, chilling the rosé and getting giddy with it! We’re declaring our First Annual Spring Fling! What are our artists and designers dreaming up this spring? What colors are they rocking? What foods are they craving? And what exactly do they get up to when they leave the office? We need to know! So we corralled them into the lunchroom, plied them with fish tacos and donuts (we know from experience they won’t talk if they’re hungry!) and asked. Read on for their light-up-social-media replies.

 

What colors are rocking your world this spring?

“All the yellows!” shouts our senior designer, Shannon L. Another of our senior designers agrees. “Yellow,” repeats Polly G with feeling. While Olga G, one of our graphic designer admits, “I’m still stuck on mustard.” Kristi C, our creative director, is also feeling the mustard, along with “Blush pinks and dark blues.” Colors are fighting words here at Elum and production artists Jael P and Scott H are willing to go to war for shades of blue. Meanwhile Shelby H, our lovely product development lead, is all about “Emerald green”. You go, girl! No color is left behind on this watch!

Spring cleaning or spring planting?

Kristi C declares, “Both! Purging paperwork, clothes and items I do not generally use in the house. Planting lots of ferns, podocarps, succulents.” Meanwhile Haley F, one of our senior designers, declares herself for spring planting. “We just moved into a new apartment with a large screened-in front porch and you better believe it is about to be a jungle out there.” We believe you, Haley! We also believe the five artists and designers who declared themselves ready to clean house this spring. We know your instagrams, #elumdesigners. We’ll be waiting on those before and after pics!

Fashions, homewares, style trends: what are you obsessing over this spring?

We opened a can of worms with this question. “Shoes!” shouts production artist Mikaela L. “Fitness!” counters Scott H. “Typography,” declares senior designer, Polly G. “Lots of matte black ceramics,” says Kristi C, “mixed with gold, silvers, terrazzo stone patterns and pops of fun bright colors.” I think it’s safe to conclude that we’re obsessing about a LOT of things here at the moment!

 

What are you listening to?

In no particular order: NPR, Michale Bublé, Odesza, La La Land, traffic updates and podcasts!

 

More importantly, what are you craving for lunch?

“Poke!” declares Jael P.  Shelby H counters with, “Smoked salmon on an everything bagel” which pretty much has everyone in the office nodding their heads. When Mikaela L declares, “Pizza. Always,” we burst into spontaneous applause. There’s no arguing with the classics!

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you head to this spring?

Australia, Bali, the Serengetti, Budapest, Chile, and our local Anza Borrgeo desert: that’s six out of seven continents. We’re still trying to figure out why none of our designers has Antartica on her list. Any idea why? #coldestplaceonearth

 

What’s your favorite piece from Elūm’s spring collection?

At this point the crew starts getting rowdy. “Paradise Palms Weekly Desk Planner,” shouts Haley F. “I love those inside pages!” Scott H has his own opinion. “Subtle Gem Weekly Eats. It helps get the hard decisions out of the way and is ok to have at home as a guy.” Meanwhile Shannon L declares herself for, “Smokey Stone 3 Pack Journals. So. Pretty.” While Kristi C gives a shout out to our “Lustre Wash Padfolio.” This could go on all day! We’re pretty passionate about stationary here at Elum.

Paradise Palms Weekly Desk Planner

Subtle Gem Weekly Eats

Smokey Stone 3-Pack Journal

 

Final season of Game of Thrones or live action The Lion King?

Turns out we’re also passionate about GOT. Eighty percent of us are iron-throning all the way, baby! Haley F sums it up by declaring herself, “Team Khaleesi!” Badass boss girl on a dragon? Yep, we’re down with that!

 

“Valar morghulis” or “Hakuna matata”?

Based on our answers to the last question you’d think we’d all be “Valar morghulis”, right? Turns out our artists and designers are a free-thinking, confound-the-stereotypes sort of bunch. While we do understand that everyone must die, we much prefer to live by Elton John’s Lion King philosophy, “Hakuna matata”. No worries. #swahiliwisdom

 

What are you most looking forward to this spring?

“Going to baseball games and eating stadium pretzels and garlic fries and taking my dog to the beach!” Shelby H tells us. “Sunshine!” says Haley F. “Being outside!” agrees Mikaela L, while Olga G adds, “Good weather to hike!” The final word, however, goes to Jael P who melts our hearts with her answer, “Getting married!”

We wish you and your partner all the best for your spring wedding, Jael! Here’s wishing you sunshine, pizza, the color yellow, trips to all seven continents, and hakuna matata! You remind us what we’ve known all along: Spring is for celebrating love!

Spring Careening

3.22.2019

In the words of the immortal Ella Fitzgerald Spring Is Here! Flowers are budding, days are getting longer and it’s time to get fresh and fierce. Let’s stow away our sweaters and knee-high boots, switch out pumpkin lattes for iced Pink Drinks, and start checking out the key spring bling. We’re ready! We’re dropping our Spring Collection here at Elum and to celebrate we’re floating our guide to spring essentials. Want to know where to go, what to eat and how to dress in SS19? We got you covered with our Spring Careening.

WHAT TO WEAR

Pistachio is having a moment. From frothy frocks at Valentino to the prettiest print blouses at Anthropologie, this light-as-air green is Instagram ready for spring. Dip your toe in the sagey-minty sea by pairing a chic tee with jeans or a denim skirt. And don’t forget to show off your fashion credentials by combining this season’s freshest color with the ongoing trend for mini bags with this gorgeous Mini Romantic Backpack. #styleswoon

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

Reach Out I’ll Be There by the Four Tops to go with the card, of course! Indie pop queen Jenny Lewis has just dropped new music featuring a trio of major wingmen. Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams and Beck have collabed on the Las Vegas born singer-songwriter’s On The Line album. We’re loving Jenny’s pistachio-stylin’ and her tell-it-like-it-is lyrics.

WHO TO FOLLOW

We are crushing on Lee Litumbe (@spiritedpursuit) for the inspiration, meditation and effortless beauty she brings to every post. Jessica Romero (@dearestdaughters) is also killing us right now with her candid take on raising her three adorable daughters. And we’d like to steal chef and author Mimi Thorisson’s entire life (@mimithor). Because French cooking, French farmhouses and French style slay us every time. #vivelafrance

WHAT TO DRINK

Here’s a topic that warms our heart at Elum #adultbeverages. Spring is all about the rosé, baby! Nothing says April more than a crisply chilled glass of pinkness. We adore the peachiness of Yes Way Rosé and the ballet-slipper sophistication of Chloe Rosé. And don’t get us started on pink Champagne! Seriously, we consider rosé Champagne to be the Disney Princess of wines!

WHAT TO SEND

Our Rosé Congrats card, of course! We did warn you we’re crazy about the pink stuff, right? And our Owl Be Here For You card…because letting your bestie know you’ve got her back never goes out of style.

WHAT TO EAT

Another subject we’re passionate about here at Elum: food! By now you know we love fish tacos. We have to—it’s the official food of San Diego! But this spring we’re also craving everything Carlo Cao of @vegaliciously is serving, including this to die for pizza primavera and food-porny ravioli with zucchini. We also believe carbs will never go out of style or season and are drooling over Trader Joe’s Pancake Bread. Feeling a little guilty about the pancake bread, we’re also backing the new Asian supergreen, celtuce. Think of it as a cross between celery and asparagus. The NY Times has it tipped as the breakout green of 2019! We’re charring our celtuce on the grill and pouring hollandaise sauce over it…because that’s the way we roll.

HOW TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS

Our Spring Stationery Collection has dropped and we’ve got the perfect pieces for the ultimate #deskgoals. We all want to do this adulting thing right and look good doing it. There’s something in this collection for everyone!

WHAT TO READ

Helen Oyemi’s Gingerbread follows a British woman and her mother as they delve into family baking traditions and family secrets. We can’t wait to read it this spring, along with Anne Beattie’s new novel A Wonderful Stroke Of Luck. Any story set in a New Hampshire boarding school has us at “Hello!”.

WHERE TO VISIT

Washington DC’s three thousand cherry trees are set to bloom any moment and we’re counting down the days. With its dozens of free museumn and art galleries, DC is one of the most visitor-friendly cities in the country. Take a stroll along the glorious tidal basin and view the Martin Luther King, Jefferson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorials, and then stop for cocktails at the Off The Record Bar in the Hay Adams Hotel. Located a stone’s throw from the White House, Off The Record delivers a clubby hit of insider power. That woman sitting at the bar, chatting on her cellphone? Our lips are sealed, Senator.

Spring is a time for new beginnings, daffodils, fresh fruit, cotton blouses, peep toe heels and blue skies.
What are your plans and loves this spring? Let us know!

#BalanceForBetter

3.08.2019

We are committed to empowering women and girls at Elūm. We believe the world needs more women scientists, engineers, designers, programmers, creators, entrepreneurs and leaders. #BalanceforBetter. We believe in girls on top, women supporting women, female-led brands, Chaka Kahn, Malala Yousafzai, and She-Ra! We say a woman’s place is wherever she damn well pleases! We’re excited about a future where a women is free to love whoever she chooses and can choose to do whatever she loves.

To celebrate International Women’s Day we sat down for a chat with our very own boss girl, Melissa Foster. Melissa is our co-founder here at Elūm. She is passionate about encouraging women to fulfill their potential and support one another in the workplace. And as a mom to two daughters, she is actively engaged in raising kind, fearless and gutsy girls.

Hi, Melissa. Thanks for talking to us today. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in the stationery business?

I grew up a very artistic kid. I loved to draw mostly, but there were so many creative outlets that I would explore, from creative writing and interior design to graphic design and even fashion design. I knew I wanted to become a business owner so that I could run my own show, so I got my BA and started in Advertising. It was when I took a job in a small printing boutique that I became a true paper guru. We were always flooded with the latest paper samples and I received one from a small batch company in Colorado that was all handmade cotton rag. It was thick, fibrous, and soft like a sponge. This began my love affair with paper, and led me to discovering letterpress. At the time it was a forgotten medium that could bring handmade paper to life.

A few years later when a client approached me to design a letterpress-printed wedding invitation, I got lucky. From that one event I caught the eye of one of the most high profile wedding coordinators in San Diego. She introduced me to an inner circle of strong women in the wedding planning industry and I instantly became flooded with business.

What were your goals when you co-founded Elūm?

My goals were simple; to reintroduce letterpress in a way that people had not seen it before and to make them swoon over paper the way that I did. If it worked, I would get to do art, be creative and feel good every day.

Were you ever given any advice that you took to heart and now guides you?

Yes. Failure is the best way to learn. With every failure along the way, I would look back through it and find out where and how things went wrong. Then I would implement a solution for moving forward and just keep on growing.

Have you experienced challenges as a woman running a business?

About three years into my business, I gave birth to my first daughter. I had a play room set up for her in the adjacent office and I was ready to bring her into the shop with me each day. I felt so fortunate, as a business owner, to have the luxury of doing this. But it immediately became very clear that my attention could not be divided. When it came to my daughter versus work, my daughter was my priority every time. It was extremely difficult for me to juggle being the kind of mom I wanted to be all while in the midst of getting my business to the next phase. I began a very real and hurtful internal struggle between my innate yearning to be with my baby and the practical need to continue on with Elūm so that I could support my family. It was more difficult than I ever imagined it would be.

What advice would you give to a woman thinking of starting her own business?

It’s so different today with the social media aspect being such a tremendous part of it all, and the competition seems more fierce than ever because of it. Just keep your focus on what you are trying to achieve and push on. And when an opportunity arrises, always say ‘yes’ and figure out the ‘how’ later.

How important is it that women support and encourage one another in the workplace?

It’s paramount. Throughout my career my greatest mentors and business supporters have been women. They are the ones that kept me sane through it all. Just one conversation with a fellow business owner and I felt heard, acknowledged, and not alone. And one lunch with my former boss and mentor (and the best negotiator I know) and I am recharged for my next challenge. Women are so critical of themselves and this makes it all that much more important that we make it a point to reach out and support one another.

As mom to two amazing daughters, how do you raise your girls to be strong and empowered?

I don’t do things for them that they are capable of doing for themselves. By the time they could talk, I had them voicing their own orders to the waiter. And if they needed a straw or a fork, they would have to ask for it. It is also very important to me that my daughters know they have a voice with me and with any superior for that matter. It’s okay to be upset about something, but I encourage them to come to me with a solution rather than complaint. I explain the importance of communication and that if they are having trouble in math and can’t finish the homework, to email the teacher and ask for assistance. This is a skill set that they will utilize throughout their careers.

We volunteer a lot. I want my girls to feel the incredible joy that comes from giving back, and they do. I also stress that when they have a ‘friend’ issue to go directly to the source and to actually TALK it out. Not text. Talk. And to be vulnerable. Trusting and supporting your girlfriends means telling them when they have hurt you, saying you are sorry when it was your fault, and cheering them on when they succeed at something. It can literally change the trajectory of your own self-confidence. And recently I hosted a “Healthy Sex Chat” for my fifteen year old and some of her girlfriends. We had a Sociologist specializing in Intimacy and Relationships come speak to our girls about such things as body image, disempowering messages to girls/women through media literacy and song lyrics, sexual consent, and the importance of desire, thus normalizing female desire and pleasure. Let’s just say, it was AWESOME.

Do you have a favorite quote?

“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be” —Maya Angelou

On International Women’s Day, what is the most important message you want to send out to young women?

Really listen to the encouraging words you receive along the way. It can be a knee jerk reaction to deflect praise, but if you really take it in you can use it in combination with what you love doing and let it guide you to where you are meant to be. Oh, and go sit with your boss at the lunch table every once in a while . . . she gets lonely.

We’ll sit with you anytime, Melissa! Thanks for inspiring us and starting the conversation today. Now let’s hand it off to our visitors.
Add your voice to the conversation and let us know what you think. And always remember to celebrate and champion ourselves as women.

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Bags of Class

2.15.2019

We’re all about getting organized here at Elum. We love a well-folded sweater and a desktop as neat as a pin. Perfectly stacked bookcases and color coordinated closets makes us swoon. Marie Kondo is our goddess and we aspire to her calm, uncluttered joy. Now that the New Year has settled in we’re ready to get down and dirty with our disarray. We’re making plans and setting goals. We’re opening our desk draws, kitchen junk draws and closets and asking the tough questions, “What exactly does that do? And why am I keeping it?” Marie Kondo tells us to “Keep only those things that speak to your heart.” We hear you, Marie! That’s why we’re starting by giving our bags a makeover.

“Our purses are our home away from home. Why shouldn’t they be as lovely inside as outside?”

Goodbye ancient tubes of lip balm, tattered day planners and ballpoints without caps and hello lip treatment in vintage tins, our Umi Bold Type Weekly Organizer, and Lamy pink fountain pens. We’re Elum and prettifying our purses is a job we can get behind! We’re obsessed with British Vogue’s In The Bag YouTube channel, where celebrities like Lily-Rose Depp and Hailey Baldwin empty their purses for the camera. Turns out even supermodels need bag makeovers! #supermodelsuperbag We’re here to help! Read our four fierce tips for switching up the contents of your purse.

1. Think of the interior of your purse as a room and choose a color scheme. Empty the contents of your bag onto a table and take a good look at them. What’s the color of your wallet? Your phone case? Your key ring? Is there a thread that ties them together? The key elements in your purse should match, harmonize or prettily contrast. We’re adoring Pantone’s color of the year, Living Coral, and love how it pairs with gold and dusty pinks and spring greens. Maybe you prefer classic black, white and silver? Or hot pink, red and black? Choose your favorite pieces and build a color palette around them.

2. Once the contents of your purse have seen the light of the day, it’s time to face them one by one and ask, “Do you need to be here?” Now’s the time to file all those business cards you’ve been collecting, return make up you rarely wear to the bathroom drawer, throw out that roll of Lifesavers that has been rattling in the bottom of your purse for a year, and remove anything you don’t use on a daily basis. We all know how easy it is to collect stuff in our bags: bobby pins, tiny packages of condiments, subway tokens, loose change, phone numbers on napkins. Head over to Sarah Benton’s In Her Handbag project to realize you’re not alone. #whatsinapurse

3. Once you’ve removed the items you don’t need you’re left with the essentials, the items you use on a daily basis. Now comes the fun part. Switching out the ugly essentials for pretty ones. Those earbuds with the frayed cord? Trade them in for these adorable cat ones that come in a range of colors from mint green to peachy pink and are accompanied by their own cute-as-a-button cases. That dog-eared notepad? Upgrade to a darling pink and blue ombre notebook: You got this! Small, inexpensive changes can make a big difference. Toss those old breath mints and swap with these prettily packaged organic VerMints. Trash that unsightly hair brush and replace with a milk+ sass macaron for your hair. When in doubt ask yourself what glamor icon Dita Von Teese would keep in her purse. We watched the video. Turns out it’s sexy things, blingy things and heated rollers! #ditaspurse See for yourself below!

4. Finally, choose some pretty cases and containers. Makeup, with its loose caps and tendency to spill, can be a problem if left adrift in your purse. A beautiful waterproof makeup bag like this floral by Ted Baker or this polka dot number by Face Stockholm will keep your lipstick and face powder stylishly safe. Loose coins, pencils and hairbands can be tidied away in Anthropologie’s whimsical Cherry Play Pouch or go slim, modern, & sleek with this black leather zip pouch from Everlane. And because Dita never travels anywhere without Thank You notes, we think a box of pretty stationery should be in every woman’s purse.

Whatever your style is— feminine, quirky retro, or full-on glamor—be playful and experiment with your purse makeover. We spend a lot of time each day with our purses. They are our home away from home. Why shouldn’t they be as lovely inside as outside?

We’d love to hear your tips and tricks for keeping your purse sassy and shipshape. Even better, share your photos with us! #insidemybag@elum

Ten Most Romantic Couples Of All Time

2.01.2019

We are hopeful romantics here at Elūm. We love heart-shaped boxes of candy, candlelight dinners for two, skinny-dipping by moonlight and cozy nights by the fire. A good love story will melt our hearts every time. Whatever version of A Star Is Born we’re watching we know to keep a box of tissues handy. And if it happens to be Titanic or The Fault In Our Stars you’re going to see the ugly cry. The great love stories move us in inexplicable ways. They make our hearts flutter and our souls soar by confirming our most fundamental hope: that somewhere out there is the person, that man or woman, who is meant to be our one and only.

As Valentine’s Day approaches we’re sending out a special Valentine to the Ten Most Romantic Couples Of All Time. We love the way you love: deeply, fiercely, unfailingly. You rock us with your stories, inspire us with your devotion, and bring tears to our eyes with the everlasting beauty of the love you create. #romanceforever@elum

1. ROMEO & JULIET

Teenagers, born into rival families, forced to keep their love on the down low, and given some of the most beautiful words ever written to say to one another. “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?” Romeo says upon seeing his love from a distance. “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” It does not get more romantic than that. #swooning

 

2. PRIYANKA CHOPRA & NICK JONAS

In this Friday, Nov. 30, 2018 handout photo released by Raindrop Media, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas celebrate during their mehndi ceremony at Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur, India, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (Raindrop Media via AP)

The first time the Quantico actress met the youngest member of the Jonas Brothers he got down on one knee. Catching a glimpse of her at a Vanity Fair Oscars party, he rushed over, set down his drink and said, “You’re real. Where have you been all my life?” Two years later they were married in India in a week long celebration involving palaces, elephants and an epic dance off. #stillhoneymooning

 

3. PENELOPE & ODYSSEUS

The original homegirl, Penelope waited for her husband to return from roaming the earth for twenty years. She raised their son, fought off a hundred-and-eight suitors, and generally kicked a lot of ancient butt. You go, girl! You’re so fierce we’re not entirely convinced Big O deserves you!

 

4. MILEY CYRUS & LIAM HEMSWORTH

Because when their house burned down last year in the California wildfires, all that remained was love.

 

5. ELIZABETH TAYLOR & RICHARD BURTON

When the most beautiful woman in the world set her violet eyes upon the handsome Shakespearean actor with a voice of gold, she was dressed as Cleopatra. He bought her a private jet and 68 carat diamond. They married twice and divorced twice but loved one another to the end. “I love you and I always will,” Burton wrote to Taylor in one of his final letters. “Come back to me as soon as you can.”

 

6. PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN MARKLE

Setup on a blind date by a mutual friend, the Suits actress blew the prince away. “I walked into the room and saw her and I was like: Okay, I’m really going to have to up my game.” Within a couple of weeks he’d whisked her away on a camping trip to Botswana where they got to know one another under the stars. He proposed a year later and the rest is history. Royal wedding. Baby on the way. #truelifefairytale

 

7. HELEN OF TROY & MENELAUS

“The face that launched a thousand ships.” That’s our Helen. Girl was married to Menelaus when she was kidnapped by a dude named Paris and hauled four hundred miles west to the city of Troy. Menelaus waged war for ten long years to get wifey back. Brother had some serious perseverance and a giant wooden horse. #bewaretrojanhorses

 

8. BEYONCE & JAY Z

This megastar and mega-talented couple renewed their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony last year. Their ten year marriage, with its well-documented brush with infidelity, is testament to the true nature of longterm love. Jay Z told David Letterman in a recent interview, “We did the hard work of going to therapy. I like to believe that we’re in a better place today, but still working, and communicating, and growing.” #goingthedistance

 

9. VIRGINIA WOOLF & VITA SACKVILLE-WEST

The iconic feminist writer and celebrated beauty and poet began an affair in 1925, which produced some of the most scorching love letters of all time. Woolf wrote to her lover, “Throw over your man, and we’ll go to Hampton Court and dine on the river together and walk in the garden in the moonlight and come home late and have a bottle of wine and get tipsy, and I’ll tell you all the things I have in my head. They won’t stir by day, only by dark on the river. Think of that. Throw over your man, I say, and come.” #whitehotpassion

 

10. MICKEY & MINNIE MOUSE

 Because even after ninety years together, these cutie pies can’t stop kissing!

Did we miss anyone on our list? Who is your favorite loved up couple of all time? Happy Valentine’s to you and your sweetie from your romance-ready BFFs at Elum! And don’t forget to get your love a Valentine’s card this year. Head to our site for a selection of cards!

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