Wearables are already big like FitBit and smart watches, but for me they are a bit cost prohibitive. Lately, I've seen a lot of smart jewelry coming out which is cool if you're not sporty or into giant wristwear. They all connect to apps that let you accumulate data overtime like you're some kind of science experiment! Data can be helpful in setting, maintaining, and keeping track of goals.
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We're trying to keep up and do everything, better, faster, and easier. Integrating technology into our bodies makes it more seamless. It's also a status symbol, shows you're fashionable and up with the latest trends.  Wearables are integrating technology more seamlessly into our lives. We want to be the best at everything and being able to track, quantify, and measure everything can be comforting in a high-pressure world. We have to be fit, the perfect parents, and be in tune to what's going on but still be present at the same time. It's exhausting! Our robot friends are here to help,
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I think it also has something to say about women taking more ownership of their health and lifestyle choices. Re-designing a breast pump to be more comfortable, easy to use, and wired can be revolutionary for a lot of women, considering that many companies or public spaces like airports, etc do not provide safe, private, clean or comfortable places for women to pump while traveling away from their babies or working. This could help women be more effective in the work place and less at risk for firing, demotion, or straight up shaming at their jobs. Smart jewelry that helps track menstrual cycles, fitness, etc can help women be more in tune with their bodies and keep them healthier so they can go out and be a major boss at life. A better baby monitor can help prevent SIDS, give mothers with postpartum anxiety or depression a chance to be less vigilant and worried and get the crucial sleep they need to stay mentally and physically healthy. All in all, wearable tech is GREAT for women! The price however, means it's really great for women who can afford it. Hopefully as it catches on it will be more accessible to more people so those that really need it can reap the benefits as well.

I think it's cool and interesting, but not something I'm willing to try right now. I have concerns about privacy and what all this data will be used for and how safe it is. I'm already tetchy about wireless monitors because they can be hacked by creeps who can use them to speak to your baby or just silently watched (you can google a website for live fees of poorly secured wireless cameras - creepy as hell!). I don't think everything about our lives needs to be connected to an app, although I do find them useful for staying organized, remembering things, and tracking my period, stuff like that. I think this is just the beginning and it will get more intense. We are kind of like the frog boiling in the pot with our privacy. Adam Ruins Everything does a great episode about us giving away or data to Facebook, etc. 

It's going to get more intense. I've even read about people being microchipped. We'll become bionic before we know it! I think you can get upset and put on your tinfoil hat or just accept that Facebook, Google, Amazon, etc own our asses and this is the future! I just hope our robot overlords are kind and treat us fairly.  On that note, here are a few wearable tech trends I find fascinating!

​Ringly buzzes you for important notifications so you don't obsessively look at your screen and allegedly helps you be more present. It's also pretty and looks like normal jewelry. I'd love to try this and see if it helps me be more in the "now."

The Willow is a wearable, wireless, app connected breast pump. Instead of pumping in gross closets and bathrooms, it's discreet enough to do at your desk! I for one am ALL for this! I have pumped in hospital waiting rooms, random conference rooms, you name it. I think this would be great for pumping on your commute, on airplanes, and in offices. It's a high price point, but if your insurance can cover it, it's worth its weight in gold! (Note, mine does but not for the full amount, still pretty amazing! Willow also offers financing).

According to their site, "the Owlet Smart Sock tracks heart and oxygen levels and sends real-time insights to your phone. It also includes a base station which glows green to reassure you baby is okay but will notify you if heart rate and oxygen levels leave preset zones." If you're anything like me,  you havespent  many a night staring at the tiny glowing screen instead of sleeping, making sure baby is breathing. I'm really eager to try this out just to alleviate some of the new-mom anxiety (normal) and intense post-partum anxiety (normal, but scary) for baby #2. Here's one mom's review below.

Bellabeat Leaf is a personal health tracker specifically geared towards women's health (they also have a smart water bottle). This tracker and app encompasses multiple facets of women's health including sleep, activity, stress, meditation sessions, and menstruation. It's a lovely design with lots of options to choose from, and is a similar pricepoint to FitBit. 

I hope you enjoyed my round up of wearable tech for the female future. Whether we come to welcome our robot overlords, or simply become bionic ourselves, these female and mother-centric devices hold a lot of promise. I hope they can become more ubiquitous and offer more diverse price points so more women can enjoy them!

As a hobby seller on my favorite peer to peer fashion selling app, Poshmark, I have learned some great tips and tricks in the past year. I by no means represent myself as a power seller who makes an actual income from it - there are plenty of experts out there! This is very much something I do to clean out my closet, and share great items while making a bit of money in return. I've started this little series to share my favorite best practices in the hopes it will help someone else! This first volume is one of the most basic things and the first thing your customer sees when they place an order: Packaging!

I don't know about you, but I love getting packages and gifts. Online shopping is basically a gift to yourself, so why not make your buyer feel extra special with a pretty package? There's no guarantee it will result in a repeat sale, but there's no guarantee it won't! Here are some quick money and time saving tips for you to put your best foot forward with your Poshmark packaging!

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

• If I have an appropriate size box or vinyl clothing bag or bubble mailer from Amazon or another online retailer, I will definitely re-use it! (Amazon Prime ensures I never run out!) I make sure to carefully tape up all open seams just in case. I have had buyers tell me that their package came partially open so now I'm always very thorough with the tape!
• I would not use cereal or granola bar boxes because they are not thick enough and I would be fearful they would rip or crush easily. 
• Make sure to remove or cover all other barcodes or labels that may confuse USPS.
• I also save the clear plastic bags that my online orders of clothes come, in to ensure items stay dry in all conditions. Those boxes really get thrown around and you don't want your item to get wet.  You can also buy fresh ones, but I try to reuse as much as possible since plastic is forever!
• I also save all manner of bubble wrap and sealed air to make sure my items don't' get tossed around and ruin my beautiful wrapping! 

If your customer appreciates eco-friendly practices (which most people do) they will not mind a reused box or packing material. Do what feels authentic to you as a seller and is in keeping with your brand.

2. Get free boxes from USPS!
You can order them online here or pick them up in store. I tend to order in bulk and pick them up when I happen to be at the post office.

3. Order affordable supplies on Amazon
I also have these 10x13 and these 6x9 pretty pink waterproof vinyl mailers for clothing or jewelry. I just wrap the items in bubble wrap if they are vulnerable and they do fine.  I always add some washi tape to the sealed area and then add extra packing tape to secure. I've received fun printed mailers and it always brings a smile to my face. It helps to add to your "brand" as a seller as well.

4. Make it pretty!
I wrap everything in tissue paper (good condition paper saved from birthday and Christmas or procured from the dollar store) and seal with my logo label and tie a nice ribbon or baker's twine around it.

I included a sample image in this listing so people know their package will arrive beautifully. People give my items as gifts also so it saves them the trouble of wrapping. Using special packaging, tissue paper, washi tape, twine, thank you notes, etc is a way to build a relationship with your customer and give them a nice buying experience. 

5. Add a Thank you Note!
This is somethign that is completely optional but is very nice to do. It makes me feel good to write it and I love when I get one from a seller! You can either use thank you notes you have on hand, hit up the Target dollar spot for some cheapies, or just write on a piece of note paper. It's a nice little touch that goes along way.

​6. Wow them with a free gift
Now this is something that not everyone wants to do, but it's very nice. I know I've been super pleased and felt really special to get one. If it's not for me, I just re-gift it to my own buyers the next time I sell something. Things I've included are make up samples from my ipsy subscription, lip glosses (from the party favor section at Target - super affordable!) and cute love-themed pins that I had leftover from my bridal shower. I will tape them to the thank you card with washi tape. It's super pretty and fun. 

I hope you enjoyed these 6 tips. Know that you don't need to spend a lot of extra money to make your packages look pretty. I am a craft supply hoarder (and general hoarder) so I already had these things on hand. If you're just getting started here is a mini shopping list for you:

1. Packing tape (try to get a gun as it makes it much easier to handle)
2. Tissue paper (dollar store, christmas clearance, save and re-use
3. Washi tape (take advantage of craft store coupons by downloading their app!)
4. Bakers twine or ribbon (make sure you price compare twine in the craft store as it will be priced differently depending on the section it's in - scrapbooking, party supplies, or baking! I love this site for large ribbon orders)
5. Waterproof vinyl mailers (fun colors and prints if you don't have used bubble mailers, vinyl clothing bags or boxes on hand)
6. Thank you notes (I love the dollar store and the Target dollar store for cute ones)
7. Little gifts (buy in bulk or share unused makeup samples or other things that you've accrued but never intend on using, but are still useful and lovely!)

Download the Poshmark App today - use code MOMENT2SHINE to get a $5 credit when you sign up!
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Stay tuned for Vol. 2. Leave a comment if there is a specific topic you'd like me to cover in an upcoming installment! Happy Poshing!

We live in a consumerist, disposable culture. Just watch The Story of Stuff and you'll realize it's not just a personal problem (though many suffer from disorders that cause them to hoard and I by no means wish to trivialize that). Learning about planned obsolescence was a real downer for me: the fact that companies make things specifically to break down faster so you'll buy the newer version. The Earth, and we as humans cannot sustain this forever. I'm sure you have plenty of things you could throw out, or are maybe saving for that magic day when you meet your goal weight, have somewhere to wear it, etc. You can't seem to part with it, but you can't hold on to it forever or you'll literally drown in stuff. If you're feeling stuck, it's time to make a change and start minimizing clutter, making some money, and living your best life!

Ready to get started? It's time to get real. Do some thinking about the following topics before you start decluttering: