Finally, it’s cold weather season—even in Florida, where it was about 40 degrees this morning (I know that’s nothing for you North Easterners!). For me, cold weather means warm food, warm drinks and cozy pajamas for a few months. As a person who mainly defaults to salads, sandwiches and Indian food for meals, it’s been difficult to come up with meal ideas that are warm but not so labor-intensive. Pinterest has been a lifesaver, and here's a roundup of my favorite tries.

1. Instant Pot Lentil Soup: I’ve become a big Instant Pot user over the past year, and one of my favorite recipes is this lentil vegetable soup. It’s hearty, and it takes less than 20 minutes to cook! To avoid extra sodium, I replace the vegetable broth with water, and the flavor is just as good. The recipe yields a pretty generous quantity, so I’ll often freeze half of it for a lazy day. It’s great for lunch or even a light dinner with a salad and some bread.
   
   
2. Vegan Spicy Thai Peanut Ramen: Ever since I discovered vegan ramen a few years ago, I’ve been hooked. When I realized I could make it at home, I couldn’t wait to try it. I found this recipe a couple weeks ago and it was much easier than I expected! The coconut milk tastes great, and I eliminated the agave syrup for a healthier option and it was perfect. It’s also nice and spicy for those days when you have a tickle in your throat and need something to soothe the discomfort.
   
   
3. Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Coconut Curry: I love sweet potatoes during the fall and winter, but I’m always looking for creative ways to cook it. This recipe is a great one that also adds protein from chickpeas for vegetarians who are looking for something a little heartier. I like to add kale to it to get some extra greens in my system. It also tastes great over quinoa.
   
   
4. Slow Cooker Mexican Quinoa: This is a quick and easy slow cooker recipe that doesn’t sacrifice on taste. I typically throw it together in the afternoon, wrap up work, go to yoga, and by the time I’m back, it’s ready to eat! This recipe has beans and chickpeas for protein and includes corn, peppers, tomatoes and fajita seasoning for a nice Mexican flavor. I always add some avocados and chopped cilantro. Added bonus: It’s a huge hit for larger groups of people.
   
   
5. Cauliflower Tikka Masala: This recipe puts a delicious vegetarian spin on the traditional sweet and savory chicken tikka masala dish. The roasted cauliflower is a yummy replacement for chicken, and if you have dairy issues like me, no need to worry about cream! This recipe uses coconut milk to add a creamy texture to the gravy. 

What are your favorite Pinterest recipes for the winter? Hit us up @Cutline on Twitter. We’d love to hear from you!

While not entirely new, wellness was undoubtedly one of the biggest buzzwords of 2019. A global movement, people near and far are looking at personal health, both physical and mental, in an entirely new way. From food and fitness to technology and beauty, nearly every aspect of our lives is being infiltrated with the now widely adopted lens that is wellness. Here are my top three trends to try this year

Workin’ on your fitness: The Megaformer

If you’ve yet to jump on the Megaformer train, 2020 might be your year. As we start to see more body positive and one-size-does-NOT-fit-all mantras, the fitness world is following suit. It’s no longer a race to lose as many pounds as quickly as possible (and, hurrah for that). Instead, people are slowing down and focusing on what makes them stronger, inside and out. Enter the Megaformer. 

If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a low-impact combination of cardio, Pilates, and strength training, and it kicks your butt. If this sounds intriguing, you’re in luck. According to ClassPass (my favorite fitness app), Megaformer classes increased by 39% in 2019 and 600 new studios have joined the platform over the last year. Up for the challenge? Find a studio near you and get your Megaformer on. 

Beyond the Impossible Burger

This year, we saw a huge uptick in meat-lovers everywhere expanding their horizons to try the much-hyped Impossible Burger from Impossible Foods. While many were (and some still are!) skeptical, the vast majority of beef extraordinaires took one bite and couldn’t believe the bleeding patties they were eating were made from, drumroll please, plants. Now, other meats are joining in on the fun. You heard it here first: get ready to see plant-based chicken and fish alternatives reach alt-burger status in 2020. 

Not entirely convinced? Don’t knock it ‘till you try it! The very popular fast-casual chain Tender Greens just recently introduced a soy-free vegan chicken, comprised only of pea protein, wheat proteins, and some spices for a kick. Also, Chipotle recently invested in plant-based seafood producer Sophie’s Kitchen, which, to me, means it’s safe to say we’ll be seeing an alt-fish option popping up at the cult-status Mexican chain nearest you soon. Vegans rejoice!

Breathing Easier at Home

Indoor air quality is maybe not something the average person worries about, or for that matter, even really thinks about. But, this is changing! With atmospheric pollution a hot topic at the moment, new air-purification technologies are coming into play that will help us better understand the quality of air we breathe at home. And with concentrations of some pollutants often 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors, it’s about time. 

Now, I know what you’re thinking: there’s no way you can afford an air purifier. But, think again! One of the biggest, and in my opinion, the most important changes to this industry is the advancement in technology that’s making it more accessible to the average person (ahem, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg). If you’re interested in breathing easier on a budget, check at Blueair and Coway. Your lungs will thank you! 

What are you waiting for? Get your wellness on!

I have been fascinated by the inner-workings of the entertainment industry for most of my life. I always loved VH1's “Behind the Music,” am enthralled by award shows like the Academy Awards and the Grammys, and enjoy reading about casting and on-set news in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. I once dreamed about working in entertainment PR but heard many horror stories about shoes being thrown at entry-level PR people’s heads — hard pass. Anyway, my point is that I get a total kick out of anything entertainment-related. I also love journalism. These two passions are what drive my appreciation for the new Apple TV+ series The Morning Show.

If you have not heard of this wonderful show, here’s a quick synopsis. Loosely based on the book “Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV,”  the series centers around a fictional morning show on national network TV. It follows Jennifer Aniston as a veteran anchor, Steve Carrell as her disgraced former co-anchor, Reese Witherspoon as an up-and-coming anchor thrown into the chaos, and Billy Crudup as a network boss who lives for chaos. 

Much of the series centers on the #MeToo movement and the boys’ club that controls network television. But the show also paints such a vivid and fascinating portrayal of working for broadcast media to an outsider. I’ve never worked in this industry so can’t say how accurate it is, but I find it highly entertaining to immerse myself into the world the show has created—the 3:30 am wakeup call every morning, the glitzy NYC townhouses, the network’s obsession over what they think America wants in a morning show, the conflicting opinions about what makes for good TV vs. good journalism. 

If you love a good look into the entertainment and news industries, with some timely and topical flair, give The Morning Show a shot. 

Frustrated from an overloaded inbox? I feel you. Whether it’s sales promotions, unnecessary updates, or spam, it can be time-consuming to uncover the messages you actually want to read.

But the good stuff is what makes the work of sifting through worth it though, right? At Cutline, my teammates and I agree that the good stuff includes the newsletters we look forward to reading each morning. Avid readers, content lovers, and self-proclaimed pop culture aficionados, we rely on our favorite dispatches for the information that keeps us up to date. From tech and business news to digital culture and celebrity gossip, here’s a handful of daily digests that really deliver.

1. High Tea

I have a few favorite newsletters but lately, High Tea has become the one I look forward to reading the most. This email is centered on digital culture (served “piping hot”, as the writing team proclaims) and it covers everything from trending shows to memes and more. I love reading this newsletter because it surfaces timely stories and insights I usually haven’t seen yet. Plus, it gives me a real pulse on what’s cool with Gen-Z and younger millennials — something that’s helpful to me when thinking about consumer stories for clients. I personally love High Tea’s casual and sometimes snarky tone; the information is smart and relevant, yet it’s so much fun to digest.

2. Create & Cultivate

Remember when Courtney went to Create & Cultivate in San Francisco on behalf of the Cutline team? Her love for the company, brand, its leaders and community still runs deep. “From career inspiration to gift ideas, the Create & Cultivate newsletter serves killer content that’s always perfectly timed with the season,” Courtney notes. “Whenever I’m feeling uninspired, I can easily read one of their past or present newsletters for advice from thought-leaders and innovators in their network. They also include upcoming events they’re hosting if you’re looking to spark creativity with an IRL experience!”

3. Accelerated

Carrie says that her top newsletter is one that’s published by two investors at venture capital firm CRV. “I’m obviously biased, but our client has two wonderful investors named Justine and Olivia Moore. They’re identical twin sisters, known as the ‘venture twins’, who are smart, determined, and very kind,” Carrie says. “On top of research, meetings, and deal-making, Justine and Olivia produce a weekly newsletter called Accelerated. It’s easily become one of my favorite things to read every Monday morning! Each week, the twins share tech and venture capital news of the week, as well as open career opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area. To wrap it all up, they include a ‘puppy of the week’ section with a short bio and an adorable photo. It brightens my morning and sets a good tone for the week!”

4. Morning Tech by Politico

“Politico’s ‘Morning Tech’ is a daily newsletter that rounds up some of the biggest stories in tech politics and policy,” Camille shares. “I find tech policy incredibly interesting. It’s often one of the few spaces in tech where industry competitors come together as allies and lobby for a common goal. This newsletter is a great way to keep up on the latest tech policy stories happening on Capitol Hill and across the pond.” 

5. 10 for Today by Flipboard

Esther constantly surfaces well-written articles and top-notch industry reads for our team, and she credits Flipboard’s ‘10 for Today’ newsletter for keeping her in the loop. “This newsletter is curated daily by Flipboard staff and includes 10 of the most interesting stories from around the web — everything from politics, to lifestyle trends, to interviews with celebrities to deep dives into world news or cultural movements,” Esther promises. “And, it never disappoints. There are always multiple stories I read from each newsletter.”

Are you all about the newsletters too? We also love and recommend the following reads for your daily dose:

Business and Tech: Axios Future, Axios Pro Rata, The Broadsheet, Fortune’s Term Sheet, Harvard Business Review, The Hustle, The Profile, Robinhood Snacks, Strictly VC, and TechCrunch’s Daily Newsletter

Consumer and Lifestyle: 5 Things by CNN, Girlboss, The Goods by Vox, Rose Colored Round-Up, and The Skimm

The best writing has the power to teach you perspective, create empathy, even break your heart. I read a lot of stories this past year and in no way can remember them all. But I thought it would be fun to comb through my Twitter, Facebook and some of Cutline’s Slack channels to revisit some of my favorite stories from the year. Here are five of them—if they’re new to you, I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did. 

1. The New Yorker, Anna Wiener, How Hipcamp Became the Airbnb of the Outdoors: This is such a colorful and vivid examination of not just Hipcamp and its founder, but the growth of camping and outdoor experiences and the quest to commodify them. 

2. Politico, David Freedlander, ‘I Want Him on Everything’: Meet the Woman Behind the Buttigieg Media Frenzy: No matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on, or how you feel about Democratic Presidential candidate Mayor Pete, it’s hard to deny that his initial rise was a master class in publicity. This profile on his campaign manager Lis Smith offers an inside look at how she designed his campaign and rocketed his name to national recognition.  

3. HuffPost Personal, Steven Romo, I Grew Up Hiding My Family’s Shameful Secret. Here’s Why I Finally Decided To Share It: The writer of this essay is a news anchor who has carried shame with him throughout his adult life about his childhood. Here, he decides to stop hiding from his past. This piece was so beautiful in all its pain and honesty, and I greatly admire the writer for putting his story into the world. 

4. Vox, Rebecca Jennings, The impossible quest to build a better breast pump: I loved this story about the pressures on women to breastfeed, the difficulty of pumping even in a supportive work environment, and why smarter pumps are just a bandaid for the wider issues working moms face in the United States. 

5. The Week, Zoe Fenson, It's so much more than cooking: This essay really nailed the mental burden of meal prep that many women carry. I found myself nodding my head in agreement throughout the entire piece. Sometimes, just putting words to a vague feeling we’re carrying around is incredibly powerful—and makes us feel we’re not alone. 

We all experience it — sometimes the weight of the world is overwhelming. With the mounting issues we are facing, from the climate crisis to water contamination to an increasingly divisive nation, it can all feel a bit too much. Thankfully, there are good acts and deeds happening every day—from world-changing inventions to random acts of kindness. Here are a few of my favorite feel-good stories from the past year. 

TeenVogue: Jaden Smith on Flint, Michigan, and How We Can All Change the World

The son of Will Smith could probably just rest on his laurels and coast through life as the child of an incredibly successful actor. But this year I was so inspired when I read about how Jaden Smith is helping the residents of Flint: “Jaden announced that he was installing a water-filtration system in Flint, Michigan (after sending cases of his JUST Water bottles for a time), that can clean up to 10 gallons of water at once for families. The process takes about 60 seconds and is free for public use. After years of waiting for officials to clean up the mess in Flint, including changing its drinking water supply from Detroit’s system to the Flint River in 2014, Jaden came up with his own small solution to a bigger issue of systemic racism.” 

Today.com: Watch teens pull off an incredible rescue of boy dangling from ski lift 

As a former teen, I can say with all certainty that teens can be jerks. But these heroic teens used their creativity to save a boy falling from a ski lift. 

CafeMom: 7 Strangers Just Showed the World What to Do When Another Mom's Kid Has a Public Meltdown

Speaking from personal experience, it can be very embarrassing when your kid melts down in public. I loved this story about how several women banded together to help a pregnant mom calm her son down: “As both mother and child were sobbing on the terminal floor, things turned from ugly to incredible. "... (I'm crying just writing this) ... the women in the terminal, there must have been six or seven of us, not women who knew each other, approached and surrounded her and the little boy and we knelt down and formed a circle around them," she wrote. These complete strangers independently knew what this mom needed and banded together to form an emergency mom tribe. Dunnington sang "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to the little boy while another woman peeled an orange for him that she had, and another took a small toy out of her bag. One woman gave the mom a bottle of water and another helped the mom get the boy's sippy cup out of her bag to give to the child.”

The New York Times: Fyre Festival’s Organizers Didn’t Pay a Restaurant Owner, So GoFundMe Donors Stepped In

The Fyre Festival fiasco was many things: horrifying, cringe-worthy, and sometimes hilarious. But the bleakest part was the Bahamians who suffered the fallout, like MaryAnn Rolle—a chef who was never paid for her catering work and left in a major financial crisis as a result. Thankfully, generous people around the world who heard her story stepped in to donate via GoFundMe. To-date, $232,770 has been raised for MaryAnn and her husband.

Fortune: Missy Elliott Will Receive MTV's Video Vanguard Award

This is a feel-good story because this incredible woman was SO OVERDUE. She deserved this award years and years ago, from all the groundbreaking, awe-inspiring, one-of-a-kind music videos she created as art. They are timeless yet futuristic and I could watch them over and over again. Her performance at the award show gave me chills, not just because of the music and the visuals, but the audience going bonkers for the hits. Missy forever!

I attended Create & Cultivate SF on behalf of Cutline and it was a blast! The one day conference lasted from 9 am-8:30 pm and was full of guest speakers, panels, meet & greets, pop-ups, mentorship opportunities, and more. They had two tracks: Track One focused on entrepreneurship, advancing your career and growing your brand, and Track Two (which I participated in) was geared towards social media, marketing, and content creation.

I left the conference feeling empowered, optimistic, and excited about owning my career. One common theme I found from the panels and speakers throughout the day was authenticity. All of these women found success by being true to themselves and following their passions. The energy at the conference, not only from the panelists but also the women who dedicated their Saturday to attend, was something I‘d never experienced before. It was incredibly positive, uplifting, and motivating. And, seeing Kourtney Kardashian in real life was an added bonus. Here are a few key takeaways and highlights from my day.

Favorite Panel: How to Create a Brand that Lives Beyond the Social Bubble

I really loved this panel because it brought together women who all focused on creating a brand. Even though the brands and companies varied — from the Editorial Director of Lonny to the Brand Director of Alaska Airlines — all of the women said the same message in one way or another: be real and authentic and always commit to your core values. It was interesting to see how such contrasting women found success in their careers through the same ideals. Clearly, it’s working for them! I really resonated with this panel and it inspired me to make it a goal to be as authentic as possible in my everyday life and career. 

Panelists:
• Angela Tafoya, Editorial Director, Lonny
• Julie Solomon, Founder, The Influencer Podcast, The Influencer Academy
• Katie D'Amato, Director of Brand and Social Activation, Alaska Airlines
• Rachel Curry, Director, Marketing, Owned Channels at Volvo Car USA
• Tanesha Awasthi, Influencer and Designer, Girl with Curves

Mentorship Power Hour

Within a day full of speeches and panels, you can get tired of being spoken to. Luckily, Create & Cultivate breaks it up by providing a “Mentor Power Hour.” I was able to get one-on-one facetime with some really smart and successful women and pick their brains. This was by far one of the most meaningful experiences for me. I got the opportunity to meet with Ginger Siegel, the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard International, as well as Brandy Pham, the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Planoly.

Brandy Pham, Founder, Chief Creative Officer of Planoly: My conversation with Brandy was really insightful. She shared the surprising career trajectory that accidentally led her to create Planoly (the first visual planner and scheduler for Instagram profiles). Initially, she was creating and selling jewelry, and quickly realized she was gaining the most traction for online sales through her Instagram page. She started planning her Instagram posts by hand in a journal but knew there must be an easier way. Enter Planoly. Brandy and her husband created the company to help small businesses build a brand and stay on top of their social media accounts. She also discussed the challenges behind being a female founder in the tech space, which is overwhelmingly dominated by men. She said that people will always doubt you as a woman in the tech space, but she likes to surprise people by over-preparing before a big meeting and making it clear she knows just as much, if not more, than everyone in the room. I asked Brandy if she plans to go beyond Instagram, and she said that Planoly is branching into Pinterest so businesses can plan their Pins ahead of time and post automatically. I can’t wait to try it out!

Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead: My conversation with Ginger was one of my favorites. The conversation was really interactive because she was mostly just taking questions from our small group. She shared some valuable advice that could apply to both client relations and negotiating for a raise: “Price is only an issue in the absence of value. Show the value you can provide for your client, and then tell them the price. If they say no then they’re saying they don’t pay attention to quality.”

Keynotes

Giuliana Rancic, TV Personality: Giuliana Rancic gave the opening keynote in the morning, which was a really exciting way to start off the conference. I loved how candid she was! She discussed her early struggle with scoliosis as a child that allowed her to build a sense of humor and personality, which ended up helping her in her career. She also discussed her struggle with breast cancer. I thought it was interesting that she has a background in journalism and initially she thought she would be doing hard-hitting news, which I was unaware of. However, she quickly realized she naturally writes in a “fun and quirky” tone and decided to build her career around that with consumer/lifestyle content. She also shared advice on the benefits of doing what you love: “When you’re naturally good at something, you can master it at a quicker pace and it doesn’t feel like work.”

Jenna Dewan, Actress: Jenna’s keynote was amazing! She hit on so many things that women struggle with, including imposter syndrome, embracing authenticity, and the importance of self-care. Jenna’s success came later and after plenty of blood, sweat and tears. It was inspiring to see someone so established talk about the many years she struggled through and almost gave up. She described it as “the long game,” and emphasized the importance of taking charge of what you want and being vocal. 

Kourtney Kardashian, TV Personality: Kourtney closed out the day and to be honest, her keynote wasn’t my favorite but it was really incredible to see someone so famous in real life. She was exactly like she is on her show, monotone and sarcastic. I really admire that she’s doing something new and a little risky with her lifestyle brand “Poosh”. She shared the story behind the Poosh name, which is her daughter Penelope’s nickname.

From getting a look behind the scenes to learning about new trends and getting inspiration for ideas, attending conferences is one of the best things you can do for your career. I’m looking forward to my next one!

1. What will you do at Cutline?

As an Account Coordinator, I’ll be working with the Cutline team to set our clients up for success. This looks like compiling coverage reports, researching, brainstorming, and developing media lists. I’m sure I’ll be learning a lot along the way! 

2. If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Ramen.  There is nothing quite like a warm bowl of noodles and milky rich broth. Nothing! 

3. Who would you most like to swap places with for one day and why?

Hands down, Beyoncé! Queen Bey is the definition of a true Renaissance woman who can do no wrong and is the voice of my generation. It would be so fascinating to peek behind the curtains of my music muse. 

4. Where is your favorite place in the world and why?

Mexico. Partially because my family’s roots are tied to the land, but most importantly, it’s due to the diverse landscapes and beautiful people I’ve met there. I have a special place for Mexico City, specifically. What’s not to love about a place that has great eateries, an abundance of art galleries, and Baroque architecture? 

5. What do you love to do when you're not working?

You can find me rummaging through thrift stores in search of one-of-a-kind pieces, walking around Lake Merritt and stopping to pet every dog in sight, or exploring new hiking spots in the Bay.

6. Tell us about a few of your favorite things… including, of course, your favorite gadget or app!

I don’t ever leave my home without my Fitbit. My friends and I challenge each other every week to see which one of us can clock in the most steps, and let’s just say we are a competitive bunch. I also use Spotify throughout my day and enjoy spending time on the app creating a new playlist, listening to a podcast, or discovering a new artist. 

I am also drawn to large bodies of water, and given that I am originally from the sunny Central Coast of California, I couldn’t imagine ever living too far away from the ocean. 

7. If you could be in the movie of your choice, what movie would you choose and what character would you play?

I must admit that I’ve always wondered what it would like to be part of the royal family. I would play Mia Thermopolis from Princess Diaries (clearly, I am a product of the early 2000s). I love that the movie takes place in San Francisco, and think it would be fun to see the city in a different light.

I’ve never been much of a TV person. Until recently, FRIENDS was the only show I had ever been truly hooked on. I remember when my sister and I bought a few VHS box sets on a whim at Best Buy and laughed until we cried while watching all of the early episodes in less than a week. Fast forward to today, a time when 77 percent of Netflix users and 76 percent of Hulu customers say they stream shows and movies either daily or a few times per week, and one can understand how a person who doesn’t binge-watch popular shows regularly might feel a bit out of the loop.

Tired of feeling clueless in conversations (and really curious what all the hype was about), I started streaming the shows I heard about most. I got sucked into Ozark and Mad Men first and then jumped on the Game of Thrones bandwagon just before Season 8 began. Now, I’m proud to say I’m completely caught up on Big Little Lies, a show I especially love because I spent two years living in Monterey, CA. Seeing some of my favorite places get screen time served as inspiration for this post, which outlines the peninsula’s top spots for living life like one of the Monterey Five.

Highway 1: Do the opening beach scenes shown on Big Little Lies leave you dreaming about the California coast? See the rugged shore and splashing waves for yourself with a drive down picturesque Highway 1. An hour or two is all you need to go through Monterey, the Carmel Highlands, and Big Sur. Plan time to stop and gawk at Instagram-worthy sights, such as Garrapata Beach and the iconic Bixby bridge (which is shown in the credits). Though not pictured on the show, Nepenthe is a must-visit for lunch.

Lovers Point, Pacific Grove: You might recognize Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove as the backdrop to some tension-fueled scene, like Ed and Nathan’s meetup, or where Jane told Celeste that Max, not Ziggy, had been bullying Amabella at school. But fret not, there are plenty of feel-good activities to do here. Plan to bring a picnic and a bottle of wine, or climb out onto the rocks for one of the best views of the town’s edge. Visit during springtime to catch the 4.4-acre park covered in famous pink ice plant.

Del Monte Beach, Monterey: This beach in Monterey has one best views of the entire peninsula, especially when dotted with bright lights at night. Though the weather is rarely warm enough for a refreshing dip, Del Monte Beach is the perfect place to go for a jog (as Jane does), a long walk, or to surf. This adored hidden gem also has massive sand dunes, which are fun to climb! 

Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey: Celeste, Madeline, and Jane often meet on the wharf to dish the latest drama at the Blue Blues Cafe. While the coffee joint is fictional (family-owned Paluca Trattoria actually served as inspiration for the quaint cafe), the wharf is still a fun place to eat and drink while watching sea lions play. Next, pop into the nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is featured in both seasons of the show. The well-known marine paradise has jellyfish, otters, an octopus, and a three-story kelp forest. 

Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea: Another gorgeous beach (and in my opinion, Monterey County’s best) is a must-see on a Big Little Lies inspired tour of the central coast. Ride along Scenic Road to see the full span of the crescent-shaped white sand beach, plus bonus views of Pebble Beach Golf Links in the distance. The end of this road is just as beautiful as the beginning is, as it winds past Carmel River State Beach and its tranquil aquamarine lagoon. 

Point Lobos State Reserve: I’ve been recommending Point Lobos to friends and fellow travelers since the first time I trekked through the trees to uncover secluded beaches (China Beach is my favorite). Known as the “meeting of the land and the sea”, this state park is the perfect place to see wildlife and unwind. Plus, just like her character on Big Little Lies, Reese Witherspoon loves to see the sun set here. Time your trip for sunset to catch a truly spectacular light show.

Thanks for the photo, Unsplash!

Attention all passengers! Please keep your arms, hands, and feet inside the ship at all times. Today, we are going to embark on a journey. Where are we going you may ask? We are heading to Cutline Communications in San Francisco! My name is Tiffany Cerruti, and I will be your captain this week. As we travel to the home of the San Francisco Giants, I will be sharing my personal experience on what it is like interning at Cutline. By the end of our journey, I hope you will consider working at this incredible public relations agency. Before we set sail, let me explain a little about myself.

I recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Studies. I chose this major because I have always had a fond appreciation for technology and media. In addition to this, I have a love for public speaking and writing. During my college years, I strongly felt that news reporting was my calling. After I interned at my local news station for four months, I realized that news reporting was not my forte.

While I was studying at UC Berkeley, I remember my professors would mention to me that I would be a great fit in PR. After Google searching “What is Public Relations?”, I began to realize that this career path was a better suit for me. 

So, what has my personal experience been like at Cutline? Let’s begin our voyage!

I have been interning at Cutline Communications for exactly a month and it has been extraordinary. I’m sure many of us have our own experiences (either good or bad) on what it is like being an intern. Cutline is not the typical “fetch me a cup of coffee” or “pick up my dry cleaning” kind of place for interns. Cutline is the ideal place to work for if you want to learn the ins and outs of the public relations industry. Before I joined the Cutline team, I had zero experience in PR, but now that I have been here for some time, I have done the following:

-Composed media lists for our clients from various consumer-tech companies
-Updated media tracking coverage on a day-to-day basis
-Drafted social media posts 
-Wrote brief reports for upcoming client meetings
-Brainstormed pitch ideas with the Cutline team

Working at Cutline has been rewarding because I am constantly learning something new in the consumer-tech world. By the time I complete my internship in September, I know I will be able to tackle any PR assignment. One piece of advice that I can give for future interns that want to work at Cutline is this: ALWAYS walk into the office with a positive, go-getter attitude. I have learned that your attitude plays a major role wherever you go in life. So, turn that frown upside down! Show the world your beautiful smile. We need your confidence and enthusiasm! 

This internship has enabled me to grow both on a professional and personal level. With that being said, I want to personally thank my colleagues for being incredibly kind and patient to me during my time here. It has been a pleasure working with you all and I can’t wait to get to know you more in these next few months.  

One thing that this agency has taught me is if you have faith in yourself, then you can conquer anything.  To conclude this, legendary fashion icon, Audrey Hepburn once said, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!” 

Perks for working at Cutline: You get cute flowers, a Camelbak bottle, Cutline notebook, and other fun goodies!