"You Need To Relax"

“Take a deep breathe. Hold it. Okay. Now breathe out.” How often do you hear yourself repeating it to yourself throughout the day? Nowadays, the average person is running around like crazy due to an endless to-do list! We are simply in the age of multi-tasking. Constantly being on the go actually poses the question of: “How do I relax?”



How many people can really give a response to this question?  Personally, I’ve never been able to give an answer to that question. Being a natural busy-body, I find it weird when I’m not running around or stressing about something. It actually feels as if I’m missing or forgetting something, so it’s an unsettling feeling! When I find myself with time to just sit down, my mind is still racing back and forth, making mental to-do lists and tasks I need to accomplish. If it is not that, I am scrambling around trying to visit friends I haven’t seen because I am always at work. My friends are always the first to say, “you need to relax”, and give me these suggestions:
1. Go for a massage or spa day:  let’s be real – not everyone, certainly not most 21-year olds like myself, can afford something this fancy! If only I was one of the Kardashians, right?
2. Drink tea to detox:  I’m not much of a tea person so… preeetty much a write-off. Replacing team with some other hot beverage like coffee is not an option either, since I’m already a coffee-addict!
3. Watch Netflix and eat ice cream: Netflix is a slippery slope! It takes great self-discipline to stop binge watching the newest Netflix original. 
4. Meditate: to this suggestion, I say…how many people actually know how to meditate correctly? I just sit there, cross-legged, and continue to think about my life as a headless-chicken. Help!
So here I am. A stubborn person who apparently has an issue with relaxing because I am pride myself in being a productive person that contributes to society. In my case, I do not want to stop.


When it is not about work, what I want to do with my time is enjoy life. Why wouldn’t I? I look for my friends because I miss them and would rather have adventures with them than take a bubble bath.


I may still think of what’s going on in the week but that’s because I know things may change so I want to prepare to accept that there are other outcomes and possibilities to a situation. It may seem like I’m never stopping but the truth is – I would much rather keep going and enjoy life while I can because this idea of what relaxing is isn’t for me. I choose to do what I can while I can because life is short and I choose to seize the day!  

Everyday Struggles of Being Your Own Boss

With more and more inspiring stories coming up, such as our favorite Girls girl Lena Dunham, almost everyone dreams of being their own #GirlBoss. As appealing and exciting as it sounds to owning and running your own business, there are some pitfalls and lessons we have learnt over the years to keep our sanity! 

Does your to-do list seem toe grow exponentially? Yes? That is a good sign! It means you are innovating and growing, and don't you just want to complete everything on that list as soon as possible? Well, I hate to break it to you, but you are only one person! It is okay to ask for help. Prioritize your tasks, and use your resources as best as possible. If you are a rockstar at doing something, and your partner/staff can handle the other task, then feel free to delegate those extra tasks to others! Stretching yourself too thin is dangerous territory.

When do you stop working? Finding some time to yourself to 100% relax and take your mind off the business is almost impossible. This is the trade-off you are making by pursuing a passion since the passion becomes your life. We have to constantly remind ourselves that we are also human and humans need unadulterated, uninterrupted leisure from time to time! So whether you enjoy curling up with a good book, doing the latest Zumba fitness workout, or cuddling your dogs while binge-watching Netflix, find a vice that will help you relax. Don't feel guilty about it! Alone time is A-OK! 

Who are your biggest supporters? Family, friends, mentors - believe it or not - are interested in hearing about your well-being just as much as they are interested in your business! Forgetting to stay in touch with your nearest and dearest is a pitfall to avoid; we know ours definitely keep us grounded. Everyone has a friend that basically disappears when they start a new relationship, and don't reappear until the inevitable break-up. Don't be the friend that is in an unhealthy relationship with their business! 

What motivates you the most? We make it a mission to discuss in our Winky Family what keeps each individual going every morning. What about for yourself? Sometimes it is easy to be so entrenched with the short-term goals and achievements, that you forget the big picture and why you started this all in the first place! Find out what makes you happy every day and remind yourself of that feeling. Keep your eye on the prize! 

It took a lot of commendable courage for you to jump in to explore your own passions. Managing and multi-tasking has become second nature to you, so try to keep that stress at bay with our handy tips! If all else fails, our foolproof Feel Good Solution is to have a Taylor Swift dance party. That always does the trick! #WinkyJoy

Winky hard at work: sleeves rolled up, power tools in hand, building out the Container Park Store

"Running your own business is sometimes not unlike riding a rollercoaster.  There are these high-highs, low-lows, sometimes you do loops and you're back where you started, and sometimes you just want to throw up.  After doing this for so many years, I have really learned that the entrepreneur who make it are the ones who are able to weather through the tough times.  There are going to be days where you just feel extremely down and hopeless, and you think everything is failing.   And, if you don't believe in your business, yourself, or don't have the strength to make it through, most entrepreneurs will just close up shop.  I've had a lot of these moments myself, and it's ONLY because of my encouraging support system that I hang in there, and I can tell you - it is ALWAYS worth it. We have grown tremendously over the last 4-5 years, and we've had more wins than losses overall, it's just about keeping your eye on the long-term game." - Winky Wu

Catching Up With Style Blogger Julia Shutenko

We stumbled upon Julia’s blog last year and oh, are we so glad we did! Julia has the uncanny ability to mix high end designer labels with up and coming labels all the while making it look FAB-U-LOUS *snap snap*. This London-based blogger even has quite the impressive resume with internships under her belt at Conde Nast and Hearst publications as well as previous positions at Elle UK Magazine. We wanted to take a moment from her very busy schedule to ask her a few questions and get some fun girl talk in. Fashionistas, take heart! Julia also shares some tips on how to break into the fashion industry….

WINKY DESIGNS: How would you describe your style?

JULIA SHUTENKO: My style depends on my mood. One day I want to feel feminine and wear pencil skirts and next morning I put on my biker boots and boyfriend jeans. I am probably never too girly and whenever I wear a cute dress I pair it with edgier accessories, oversized coat and messy ponytail. I like to play with my looks and am opened to new experiments with my outfits. If I had to give my style a name it would be casual chic.

W.D.: Who’s your biggest style inspiration?

J.S.: I don’t have just one style icon and tend to seek inspiration from the variety of sources. Probably the most of it comes from street style photos and other fashion bloggers. I can spend hours browsing through Pinterest mood boards in search of some new ideas. I love looking at models and celebrities off duty looks and admire Jessica Alba’s effortlessly cool style.

W.D.: You have some pretty amazing pieces in your wardrobe (J’ADORE)! Do any have a really great story behind them? Which one do you consider your absolute fav?

J.S.: Ah, thank you! An item that holds the most memories for me is the pair of Lanvin heels that I found during my trip to New York. Do you know the feeling when you think that something was meant to be? That’s how we found each other. I was exploring New York’s SOHO area and stumbled upon a sample sale in one of the stores. And there they were, just one pair and just one available size that fit me perfectly. That was such a Cinderella moment!

ERMAGOSH, we LOOOVE the Lanvin heels too! 

W.D.: We loved how you rocked our Words of Wisdom DREAM watch. What dream do you personally have for yourself this year?

J.S.: I love that watch and every time I look at it I feel inspired. This year I have set several goals that I would like to achieve with my blog and am focusing all my energy on that. Dreams are so important in life, they are the biggest motivators that help you move forward. I wouldn't be where I am right now if I wasn't dreaming. Dream on, guys!

Read that post here!

W.D.: You have such a great resume with interning and working in the fashion industry. Can you give our younger style savvy readers any advice in pursuing a career in fashion?

J.S.: You have to be prepared to work very hard, be determined, patient and never lose hope. The fashion industry is tough and highly competitive and you need to be your best self in order to succeed. Be prepared to start from interning and always be passionate about what you are doing. Trust me, give it some time and people will notice you and all your efforts will pay off!

Thanks Julia for being so sweet and encouraging us to chase our dreams! We wish you all the best!

Make sure to stay in touch with Julia Shutenko:

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