Such is the mantra of The Everygirl, "the newest online resource helping shape the creative, career-driven woman to experience her life better lived." I mentioned in my last post an embarrassing confession that (lucky for me) I have yet to regret. I literally had only read, like, two lines of the manifesto above before I had dissolved into a sappy, weepy, teary mess. I'm pretty sure I can't rationalize my fit of tears, but I am fairly certain it's because I felt like the website was completely, totally, one hundred and twelve percent MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR ME. Seriously! I found it right when I needed to and it's like it gave me a little bit of hope--The Everygirl is screaming, "You're not the only one out there who's feeling what you're feeling! There are girls like you! WE WERE GIRLS LIKE YOU!" Sigh. They get me.
The picture above says it all. It IS a life map for everygirls everywhere, & co-founders Alaina Kaczmarski & Danielle Moss are producing something chock full of genius and creativity and inspiration literally leaps off its pages. It's my new best friend.
It's based out of Chicago (as if I needed another reason to love it) and started when the two head everygirls met at a Christmas party, found they shared common goals, and then launched the site a little over a year later. (They both have blogs--Live Creating Yourself & Breakfast at Toast--that are AH-MAZING.) They for real are the embodiment of the life I dream about. Sighing once again. It's divine!
The Everygirl tackles everything an Everygirl needs to know:
This or That, a few posts here and there dedicated to weighing your options (baking or cooking, afternoon picnic or night on the town, high-rise or walk-up just to name a few).
Use Fancy Words, a dictionary, per say, of words apparently every Everygirl should know (the latest is innocuous). I love a good wordsmith.
Blogwatch, where they've compiled the best of the blog-o-sphere's lifestyle, fashion, & design blogs. Forbes Magazine just named the site one of the 10 best websites for Millennial women. See? They're kind of a big deal.
They've got Finance Tips (things like Investing 101, Good Debt, Bad Debt...you know, all the boring, essential stuff I should have learned in my Personal Financial Planning class at ORU. We're not going to go there.)
Budget Finds, everything from jewelry to home goods, food and drink--and the occasional Target find. (How much are we loving these Kate Spade Match Point Racquet Studs?)
One of the most fun (and helpful) facets of The Everygirl is their Job Postings page. The Everygirl itself was just recently looking for a few interns. And yes, I planned on submitting a resume, but the position required a Chicago residence. Wah wah.
Event coordinating (for The New York Design Center. Seriously?), graphic design, Sprinkles Cupcakes. Need I say more?
Oooh, the Handbook section is one of my favs.
Fashion Essentials (21 must-have items for your wardrobe)
How to Style Place Settings (I didn't know that people DIDN'T know how to do this)
How to Repaint Furniture (love love)
You name it, they've got it!
The Everygirl's crowning glory though, I must say, would have to be each week's Feature Stories. The categories range from health, finance, living and travel, but my favorite is the Career section, where they interview an Everygirl just like them. There's usually four or five a week and each one is better than the last. They give you a fun look inside the every day life of the highlighted Everygirl and it gets me pining for more than online classes and a dead pan, post-grad job.
Some of my most fav features include:
Jenn Lake of Zapwater Communications
Michelle Kohanzo of The Land of Nod
Amber Venz of rewardStyle
(yeah, we're talking about that company later. Too good to pass up.)
I'm sighing for the third and final time. The Everygirl is what I've been waiting for--a compendium of stories about women who (surprisingly) were once in my shoes (at least they make it sound that way); it's the site I open every morning and check multiple times a day (I have over-commitment issues); and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to not be convinced that it's one of the best things I've ever laid my eyes on.
The Everygirl is my everyday pick-me-up. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it makes me wish I would have thought of it first.
Three cheers for The Everygirl!
...and this might be my favorite post every written. Anywhere. You just sold me on my own site! Here I am scratching my head thinking... yea, I guess we do have all that! Haha Thank you SO much for all of your kind words! Yes - we were (and are) like you. As are all the ladies we feature. If there's one thing I've learned from these profiles, it's that it takes a lot of hard work, but you can get there. I literally just spent 45 minutes scrubbing my stove top and now am back to finishing tomorrow's feature... the clock just struck midnight. Boo. Anyway... this post made my day. Sorry for the novel response. But thank you for your enthusiasm and encouragement and being inspired! It makes these late nights so very worth it.
ReplyDeleteI am a little late to reply but THANK YOU for writing such a lovely post about us and The Everygirl. I second Alaina! We were (and are) JUST like you. Just two girls with a dream :) Thank you again!
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