Pass The Pen: Emily Schuman
I have said it before and I will say it again, the Boss Babes feature at THP is one of my favorites. It’s my opportunity to share with all of you the incredibly inspiring and amazing women in my life AND take a minute to celebrate their passions and talents that are brightening the world. I could think of no better way to kick off 2020 than with a woman that I not only admire, but I’m a total fan of!
Emily Schuman is not only the talented beauty that has a knack for sharing her effortless style, entertaining tips, and life in such a relatable way; she is also the founder of Cupcakes and Cashmere, a lifestyle blog meets online shop that offers gorgeous clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home goods. As if that isn’t enough, she just launched her first line of planners in collaboration with Blue Sky sold at Target!! I’m obsessed with mine and take it everywhere with me.
I have been a fan of Emily before I ever met her. And if you don’t already follow her on Instagram or shop her fab online shop, I promise you will be obsessed. I was so excited to ask Emily some of my burning questions and can’t think of a better person to start our 2020 Boss Babes feature with!
Enjoy!
Xx,
Jo
As we usher in the New Year, we hear a lot of talk about ‘resolutions’ and setting goals. Do you believe in resolutions? What do you look forward to most as the new year begins?
I believe in resolutions, but perhaps not in the traditional sense of simply looking at all the things I want to change, like going on some crazy diet or committing to an unrealistic exercise regimen. I write a list each week called 'Goals and Gratitude' and share things I'm grateful for and the things I'd like to accomplish. I basically do that, but in a much larger scale. I find that in order to properly get yourself ready for a new year, it's imperative to focus first on all the things you have in your life that you appreciate since it offers a valuable perspective. But of course I also see the beginning of the year as a fresh start and a time to rethink patterns and how we can make improvements. The notion that 'you can't hit your goals without creating a target' is one I follow, and make sure to set new ones each week just so they always feel relevant and reachable.
I have been a fan of Cupcakes and Cashmere since day one. I remember being so excited when we sat across from each other at a dinner party and I made the connection. If someone was just finding your site for the first time what would you want them to take away from it? Besides all of your fabulous clothes and jewelry, of course!
Well first of all, thank you! I remember that dinner well and was silently thinking the same thing about you! My goal with Cupcakes and Cashmere, though the site and product offerings have certainly expanded over the years, remains the same: to connect with people and inspire others - whether that's with a beauty tutorial, a recipe idea, or destigmatizing something like therapy, as it pertains to mental health. My tagline is to elevate everyday life, which a rather simplistic, but all-encompassing look at the brand in itself.
My monthly planner is my bible. I always look forward to choosing a new one each year. So when you sent me yours, I couldn’t wait for 2020 so I could start using mine! What was the inspiration behind the beautiful designs you used for your collection sold at Target? What were some of the ‘must have’ elements that you included in them?
I'm the same way! For the longest time I thought I was the only one who still used a planner, took notes and wrote things out by hand, but as it turns out, I'm very much not alone! I'm really particular about how I want it all to be laid out, the design, the quality of the pages...I mean, all of it, so it was truly a lifelong dream to get to design my own collection. The fact that they're sold at Target stores nationwide and online is just the cherry on top. As for the design process, I wanted them to feel classic, timeless, chic, and elevated. That's the main thing about a lot of agendas I used to come across - they rarely felt like designs I'd want to bring into a meeting and put on my desk. I wanted lots of room for notes (nothing worse than not being able to write everything down), tiny boxes to check off once you get things crossed off your to-do list, and thoughtful details like tabs with each month on the side so you can easily access your place in the year.
You are quite the baker! I have thought many times I need a little crash course from you. I especially love seeing when you prep homemade treats you bring to parties or hanging out with girlfriends. Any fool proof recommendations that are absolute crowd pleasers?
I am obsessed with baking, both for the process, which I find relaxing and therapeutic, and obviously for the end result. My two favorite recipes, and the ones I make most frequently, are my 36-hour chocolate chip cookies and my salted browned butter rice krispies treats. The cookies aren't particularly difficult - the hardest part of the whole thing is having to wait a day and a half until you bake them (though from experience I can attest that they're fantastic even when you make them immediately). As for the rice krispies treats, they're as nostalgic as the ones you used to have at bake sales as a kid, but turned up a notch with browned butter and salt. The best part is they're fool proof, take 10 minutes from start to finish, and make you the most popular person at any party you bring them to.
You just bought a new house!! Congrats! I’m always inspired by new spaces. What are you most excited about as you create your new family home?
Thank you! The whole process of deciding on paint colors, re-staining our floors and coming up with our furniture layout is beyond exciting, but I'd have to say the design of our kitchen. It's where we spend so much time as a family and I can't wait until the space reflects our taste. The footprint is fantastic already, but once we put our spin on it, it will feel even more like our dream room.