When purchasing a piece of fine jewelry, it’s extremely personal. The craftsmanship, weight, how it captures the light or fits perfectly in place are all the nuances that lead us to that “glass slipper” moment. When the fit is so good, and you know it. Wearing a piece of jewelry by Kristin Ohmstede feels right, that perfect statement and touch of joy you want in life. With conflict-free diamonds, recycled gold, and made to order and limited production runs, the designer has created a world and luxury fine jewelry collection committed to her love of animals. 10% of her sales are donated to animal sanctuaries, and she provides custom designs using gemstones, 18K gold or Sterling Silver, and her signature French Champlevé custom enamel color ways and classic, heirloom pieces you will treasure.
Read MoreCaro Creative
The 5 Point Strategy /
Think of it as making a connection with a new friend. Introduce yourself and reintroduce yourself when new friends arrive. Include personal anecdotes in your captions or even get on stories and tell it yourself. Add an “about me” highlight with photos of you and the basics about your life and your brand. Post photos of where you’re working/living so your community can picture your environment, just like you would send a friend to show them your new decor or setup.
Read MoreThe Day You Decide You're Beautiful Is The Day Your Life Begins /
When you define your worth, you define everything else about you. If you wake up one day and think you’re the smartest, most beautiful, most hilarious, and charming person alive. Well then YOU ARE! So start acting like it and you will be a amazed at what you attract into your life.
Read MoreYou Are More Than Enough /
Image Credit: Harper’s Bazaar
“I have been at probably every powerful table that you can think of. I have worked at nonprofits, I have been at foundations, I have worked in corporations, served on corporate boards, I have been at G-summits, I have sat in at the U.N. They are not that smart."
-Michelle Obama
As women, we can be taught to shrink ourselves. It is almost second nature to set ourselves on fire in order to keep someone else warm. To make ourselves as small as possible in order to make someone else more comfortable. To apologize for everything.
Stop saying sorry for everything. Your thoughts are valid, your questions are valid and you are more than good enough. There are so many people that are in rooms they may not be qualified to be in for the sole fact that they went for it. Someone, quite possibly less intelligent, less creative, less passionate than you - is living your dream life because they believed in themselves.
They took the plunge and they went for it. Beginning is half the battle and the other half is retraining your brain that your imposter syndrome is something you made up in your head.
You are powerful and you can change the world. As long as you believe it, you can do it.
Gratitude Is Your Superpower /
Gratitude is life changing in every sense of the word. Think of it like this, when you buy a new car, you suddenly start seeing that car everywhere on the road. The same goes for gratitude. If you acknowledge it at the beginning and end of every day, you will be blown away at everything you have to be grateful for. Throughout your day you will slowly but surely be picking out all the special things you have to be grateful for in your life that you won’t be able to fit it all in your journal and if you ask me, that is a great problem to have.
Read MoreYour Diet Isn't Only What You Eat /
Your diet isn’t only what you eat
I woke up today in a bad mood. I know - waking up in a bad mood during a global pandemic is very trendy as of late but as most of you probably can relate, I couldn’t help it. Navigating this pandemic and a seemingly never ending lockdown has been difficult but it is not in my nature to look at the glass half empty.
With any hurdle in my life, my first thought is “Well, this has to be happening for a reason, right?” and this past year of 2020 has been no different. This pandemic’s currency is time. It seems almost ironic that this sickness has cut some people’s time devastatingly too short while the rest of the world now has more time than they know what to do with. I luckily have been able to categorize myself in the second group. My life has slowed down and I have been given the time to look inward and get to know myself better than ever before.
2019 me would have woken up in a bad mood and stayed in it. Beat myself up, wallowed in it all damn day. I would have shrugged my shoulders and said something along the lines of “Try again tomorrow”.
Now, I dig deeper. I acknowledge my bad mood, I figure out why I feel this way, and then I actively try to improve it but remember not to beat myself up if I can’t quite get there. I remind myself that when I am physically ill, I don’t deprive myself. I nourish my body with teas, soups, popsicles, you name it - so I should do the same to my mind.
Your diet isn’t only what you eat. It’s what you watch, it’s what you listen to, what you read, and the people you surround yourself with. Be mindful of the things you put into your body emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Maybe you’ll find yourself in those bad moods far less often.
Image Credit: Florence Pugh for Vogue Magazine
Raise Your Vibration /
How is your state of being?
We are finding this seemingly never ending quarantine to be a time to “go in” and recalibrate on every level. How do we use this time to raise our vibrations?
The answer is simple. Be conscious with your thoughts and formulate them with intention.
Find something beautiful and appreciate it, be conscious of the foods you eat, drink water, meditate, be grateful, practice acts of kindness, & get your blood pumping. We love you and we are here for you always.
XO Caroline
Image Credit: @messynessychic
No Is a Complete Sentence /
Eat no for breakfast.
All women can relate to moment when they quieted their voice, were tempted to silence their position, and also when they chose to confidently voice themselves without compromise.
As we head into this new year, lets think about what is no longer serving you, your brand, or your business. Then apply this powerful word “No” as you make a choice about what is best for you and what you value.
Be it your own voice in your head saying “No, you can’t do that!” or your peers, family, or even strangers…stand with conviction and well…eat those No’s for breakfast today. You deserve it.
Image Credit: Vogue
Under Promise & Over Deliver /
Always deliver more than expected.
I don’t sell to, but connect with, my clients. I listen and then lead when needed. Being my best self allows me to deliver a quality service, solution, or support to a growing team. And, I never take that lightly. Finding real joy and sentiment in building quality relationships. It’s ease, but not always easy. By delivering more than expected, we allow ourselves to grow along with the process in those precarious moments.
-Caroline Rothwell
Image Credit: Vogue Paris
Imaginable, and Possible /
What is imaginable, is possible.
Never give up the creative pursuit. Be inspired, remain hopeful.
Caro works with emerging and growing designers, ventures, and businesses to realize their potential and line up their strengths. Creatively developing unique and beautiful strategies, campaigns and communications.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution." -Albert Einstein
It's hard to find anything you can't sell online - ask Bezos /
Amazon is a force. We have a client who was facing closure, before their official launch in late March. Today they are a fully scaled business and Amazon distribution was at the core of their success. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Times are changing. Technology is growing. But one important thing to remember is that aside from social media, ads and affiliate marketing is the need for innovation, creative strategies and media exposure and endorsement. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Contact CARO, we would love to hear your story and help you gain more meaningful exposure, long term strategies and growth for your business during these unprecedented times. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What’s the future look like for you?
Progress, not Perfection /
We are right where we are.
All of us are different, have different skill sets, strengths and weaknesses. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What we do with what we have, right now, is what leads to progress. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Stop worrying about being perfect, and instead focus on acceptance and making a little more progress today than you did yesterday.
Something We Can Believe In /
We would have liked the OPTION to take the red or blue pill, versus being thrown down this rabbit hole.
This new 2020 reality has challenged us and gotten us out of our comfort zone, disrupted our sense of place, purpose and identity. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Through this comes transformation; a renewed sense of faith in what life CAN truly be. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We have found that we are inspired, taking action, speaking up and continuing to build. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Let’s get into business with a new set of eyes. Focused on a life we can all be proud of, for generations to come.
What To Do About Data /
Image Credit: Dorian Legret
Data makes many people cringe. To think of our privacy being infringed upon, is a growing concern for many who are finding their “private” conversations instigate a populated advertisement to their devices.
Everyone is now accustomed to immediacy and ease, striving for perfection via apps and tools offered by Google, Apple and Android.
We are living on free-turned-affordable tools offered by every mid to large company doing business online. But at what cost? At what point do we ask for our right to privacy and at what cost? Is that even possible at this stage? What happens to third parties in need of marketing data, will it always be available for free to low cost? Or are we walking into a trap?
Special note: If interested to learn more about data privacy rights, every year on the 28th January is the internationally recognized Data Protect / Privacy Day. The purpose of Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices.
Our Minds Are Blown Open /
Our minds are officially blown, daily. ⠀
How do you stay on track with your daily goals, give back to your communities and maintain mental, spiritual and physical wellness? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We work hard to focus our attention and the clients’ attention on solutions, the joyful moments, and the opportunities that arise even when things are challenging. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How are things materializing for you? We are manifesting a lot right now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Share any moments recently when you were happily surprised by an unexpected outcome.
Remember Free Hugs? We Miss Them Too /
Woke up today and realized how many great huggers I’ve met in my life. Work is work, but there are so many moments when kindred spirits unite and stay forever in each other’s worlds.
Socializing lost its luster at times, feeling overwhelmed by packed calendars and commitments. But now I daydream of those many splendid moments. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Mixers with PR Net, gatherings at NeueHouse, shows at PDW, and gallery exhibits at Guggenheim and MOCA. Over the past 15+ years in the business I am missing the hugs and the connection we took for granted. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Our own event concert Blanc Series (@blancseries) was just getting off the ground, but halted by Covid’s arrival. Shall we reignite the “conscious women in creative industries” platform? Last event was with TRR, Beauty Counter, and some amazing women in beauty, sustainable, fashion, architecture and fine art.
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Stay safe everyone and let’s keep our sights on creating a safer world for us, so we can all start hugging again soon.
Focus On Your Foundation /
As I close up my yoga practice this morning I can’t help but walk away feeling more “grounded” both literally and figuratively. Grounding is how we connect with ourselves, create balance and fortify our foundation. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Beyond the myriad of online tools, and tech resources, and courses there is the beauty and strength that lies within each of us. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Take time today to work on your foundation and that of your venture or business. Identify the needs from the wants and care for the needs immediately. You will find that what you don’t put off today, only makes you more resilient tomorrow.
To Put It Simply - VOTE /
“There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter.” -Barack Obama
They’re fun. They’re history. They save the USPS.
An archive of my grandfather’s stamp collection, with stamp designs mostly from the 1950s to the 70s. This first edition of 25 was designed, printed, sewn and binded by myself, as part of a final thesis for my worktrade fellowship with the IPRC.
144 pages
Letterpressed vellum enclosure
5.5 x 8 in (13.97 x 20.32 cm)
Signature-sewn binding
Edition: 25
$40 donation ︎ Email to pre-order
Free shipping in US
We can do so much better. /
We can do so much better, yes?
What are you called to do today?
“To earn the respect (and eventually love) of your customers, you first have to respect those customers. That is why Golden Rule behavior is embraced by most of the winning companies.” – Colleen Barrett, Southwest Airlines President Emerita
How can you show up and serve?
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein
In which way do we connect with those around us, and is it mutually gratifying and beneficial?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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“We are all affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to or not. Our actions and states of mind matter, because we are so deeply interconnected with one another.” –Ram Dass
Enjoy This Moment /
Image Credit: Marion Parke
Friday Musings…
When working with brands the one thing that’s imperative to note today is “being in the moment”. It’s important to NOT be distracted by everyone else. Clear out the #FOMO and instead go in and listen to what you know is right for you.
I listen to my clients ever-changing needs and it’s like a dance; we take it day by day, week by week, with the aim of reaching loftier goals for the business. While being in the moment, we find that the answers come clearly, and our intentions remain pure and focused.
Have you ever heard of what is called a BRANDING MOMENT? Sometimes called the NEW-AGE Branding Moment?
These are moment of joy or delight. When the emotions and logic come together to experience a moment, and this moment makes a lasting impression.
People are now researching before they buy, off or online, and they are sharing their experiences which forces brands to engage and care about their digital presence and communications. It all boils down to the simple things:
“Work through the full experience from intro, to buy, to exchange/return, to sharing. Introduce an element of MEANINGFUL surprise or delight to enhance the experience. Innovate, be creative and deliver something truly worth it’s price.” - Caroline Rothwell
Be true. Be honest. Stay focused. Be in the moment. Never stop believing.