Over the last two decades, the digital landscape has evolved dramatically. Social media has given rise to a new wave of creators, many labeled as “influencers.” But here’s the thing—I’ve been creating content long before the term “influencer” even existed, and I’ve never been comfortable being called one. In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on why I prefer to call myself a content creator, the key differences between influencers and creators, and the lessons I’ve learned after 20 years in the digital space.
The Evolution of Digital Creation
When I started creating content nearly 20 years ago, the landscape was completely different. Platforms like MySpace, Blogger, and even early YouTube were about connection, creativity, and authenticity. The term “influencer” wasn’t even a thing back then—it was all about sharing passions and building communities organically.
Fast forward to today, and the word “influencer” has become synonymous with brand deals, curated lifestyles, and chasing trends. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s not the path I’ve chosen.
Content Creator vs. Influencer
So, what’s the difference? For me, a content creator focuses on storytelling, education, and adding value to their audience’s lives. An influencer, on the other hand, often focuses on selling a lifestyle or product. While both roles are valid, I’ve always prioritized building genuine relationships with my audience and sharing content that reflects who I am.
Why I Don’t Like the Term “Influencer”
The label “influencer” feels limiting—it reduces the depth of what we do as creators. I’m not here to just sell products; I’m here to tell stories, inspire, and connect. Plus, the term comes with stereotypes of inauthenticity and superficiality, which doesn’t align with the values I hold as a creator.
Lessons From 20 Years of Content Creation
Here are some key lessons I’ve learned over the years:
Authenticity Wins: Audiences connect with creators who are real, not perfect.
Adaptability is Key: The digital world changes quickly, and being flexible has helped me stay relevant.
Know Your Why: Creating content with purpose keeps you motivated and grounded.
It’s Not All About Numbers: Impact matters more than follower counts.
Consistency is Everything: Showing up regularly builds trust and credibility.
Listen to the Full Episode
Want to hear the full story? In my latest podcast episode, “Car Confessionals: Don’t Call Me an Influencer,” I dive deeper into my journey as a content creator and the challenges and rewards of staying true to myself in a rapidly changing industry. Check out the full episode on YouTube here or listen to it on Spotify.
Closing Thoughts
As the digital space continues to evolve, I believe it’s important to redefine what it means to be a creator. Whether you call yourself an influencer, a digital entrepreneur, or something else entirely, the key is to stay authentic and create content that reflects your unique voice.
Thank you for joining me on this journey! Don’t forget to leave a comment below with your thoughts on the “influencer” vs. “creator” debate—I’d love to hear from you!
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored or collaborative post. Affiliate links are listed throughout this post.
Welcome to a new year and a fresh start! Today, I’m sharing a Get Ready With Me (GRWM) experience featuring the gorgeous Alter Ego Mishaven Palette. This palette…
Having the freedom to work from wherever you want in the world is something you always wanted for yourself. Feeling liberated and empowered to enjoy your job from a scenic spot in a brand-new country will never grow old. Remote working can become lonely sometimes and it can throw you off sync with your regular habits, so how can you tailor your working day so that you enjoy your job wholeheartedly? For working women, it’s important to find a lifestyle and work balance that works well for you. This can take numerous different tests along the way, but you will soon land on some of the most successful methods for you. With this in mind, consider some of the following methods to help you find peace and balance as you work remotely.
Pick a Spot That Feels Inspiring To You
When you are free to work from anywhere, you need to choose somewhere that’s both practical and inspiring. It may not be the best idea to set yourself up in the middle of the beach (Wi-Fi isn’t great out there!). Finding a happy medium will help you to enjoy your surroundings, but still feel inspired to conduct your best work. Whether it’s a quirky cafe or a co-working space, you can find a space that motivates you to do your best as you work remotely.
Make Sure Your Connection is Secure
You will feel more content and happy in your job role if you are working from a place that provides you with a secure and reliable internet connection. There aren’t many jobs that are manageable without an internet connection these days, so you may want to look into some common vpn myths before you turn them down. Using a VPN is actually much more secure, especially when you’re working from a public space; they don’t require any technical knowledge at all and they won’t slow down your connection either. Overall, as long as you’ve got a strong connection and a VPN, you can continue your work without risk and enjoy the process.
Set Goals and Give Yourself Focus Time
Although you want to enjoy yourself as much as possible, you also need to be realistic about setting goals for yourself so that you can focus on your tasks. Even as a remote worker, you need to get your jobs done and allow yourself enough focus time to work efficiently wherever you may be. At the start of each working day, write down your goals and how you’re going to achieve them on that day. This will give you an accurate timeline to work from so that you can keep your focus and tick off your to-do list. It’s a brilliant way to feel a sense of achievement and accomplishment at the end of a working day; it will also motivate you to do even better the next day as well.
Allow Plenty Of Breaks Throughout The Day
Giving yourself space and time for lunch breaks and comfort breaks throughout the day will help you to be more productive overall. Remote workers don’t get enough credit for managing their time effectively and giving themselves healthy space away from their laptop when they need a break. If you’re scheduling your day appropriately, you will always have breathing space to talk to a colleague on the phone, go for a walk or, buy yourself a nourishing lunch. As a remote worker, you need to find what type of working style suits you the most so that you can tailor your breaks and daily schedule to suit this.
Invite Your Colleagues to Join You
If you know you’re heading to a city or area where you have other colleagues, why not make the effort to link up with them? Inviting your colleagues to join you for a day of work will help you to create meaningful connections and provide you with even more motivation as you carry out a job you truly enjoy.
Hopefully, some of the methods explored will resonate with you and allow you to find the ideal balance between traveling and working from anywhere in the world. For many remote workers, it’s important to establish a healthy routine that fits in well with your work schedule. For others, it may involve getting other colleagues to join you for in-person meetings or setting clear goals to improve focus. Whatever you need to discover your happy place with work and life balance, you can explore by yourself and try out some of the methods mentioned above.
Disclaimer; Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links are posted throughout. Feel free to read my Disclaimer Page for details and information on sponsored posts, affiliate links, and more.
When you buy a car, you’re usually looking into a car that’s considered safe for the family, right? Well, have you ever taken a moment to consider how…
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I want to begin this post by first stating that I am not a single parent and I could not possibly begin to imagine what a single parent goes through. My husband and I both experience challenges as parents together, but I am so lucky that I don’t have to do it alone. This post is dedicated to all the strong women (men too) who conquer parenthood on their own – you’re amazing!
Being a single parent is a challenge
A Single Parent – one of the most challenging and fulfilling and terrifying roles any woman (and even man) can ever have is as a single mother. It’s not something that anybody chooses necessarily, and it’s not often born out of chance, but it’s something that does happen and when it does happen you have to figure out how to make it work. Especially if you want to keep your child and you want to live as a family. Let’s not make the mistake that a family has to have two parents and a child.
Families are what you make it
Families are exactly what you make it, and dealing with the pregnancy on your own is not easy nor is single parenthood. Most of the time, single parents often forget themselves in their attempts to provide as much as they can for their children.
Surround yourself with a family that encourages
Articles such as https://embracegrace.com/dealing-with-pregnancy-alone can give you some tips and insight into how to do it by yourself, but you don’t necessarily have to. If you have family around you even if it’s not a partner, you will be able to manage parenthood by yourself, with some help. You need to be able to empower yourself as a single parent so that you don’t spiral down into self destruct or burnout too quickly. So with this in mind here is how you can do that.
Know your limits. Yes, you are raising children, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise yourself in the process. You are a human being and that doesn’t mean that you are able to spend 24 hours a day awake dealing with children and work and everything in between. You need to ensure you understand the signals of depression, extreme anger, and frustration, and you also need to understand what it means to be apathetic. Knowing these signals and knowing your limits are going to help you to manage when you have to empower yourself to stay focused and present with your kids.
Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. From family, from childminders, from childcare or daycare, don’t be ashamed of asking for help from anybody. Being open and honest with your needs will be able to ensure that your friends can help you, nobody is going to be able to help you if they don’t know you need it. If you have the affordability, higher help and get a nanny. Yes, that does mean putting your children into a childcare environment that you can trust and feel comfortable with. But you are an individual who still has career goals and life goals. Yes, you’re a parent – but you deserve to have some time for yourself. This will also go alongside the first tip.
Do not sit with the judgment of others. It’s a daunting task to ignore what other people have to say about you as a single parent. They may say things in front of you and they may say things behind your back, but you have to make the decision not to sit with that judgment. You are in a unique situation, you are still a powerful person, and you have a child who’s going to be watching your every move. Allowing yourself to be drowned by the judgment of other people is only going to show your child that you do not have the strength that you need. But you do have it inside you, and it’s going to empower you to do better and do more than other people can.
You Can Do This – I Believe in You
It’s obvious that I truly don’t know what it’s like to raise my sons on my own. While my husband’s past jobs have taken him away from us for many hours on end – I’ve been lucky to have his support when I needed it most. Truly – I can’t imagine what a single parent goes though. I hope some of these tips can help empower you as a single parent. And, I want to remind you – that you’re not alone, and I believe in You!
Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links are posted throughout. Feel free to read my Disclaimer Page for details and information on sponsored posts, affiliate links, and more.
https://youtu.be/juB8CIaYl0A Hey Fam! It seems like a little while since I’ve made a car confession and my goal is to do more of these. Today I’m sharing a…
As many of you know, my family and I took a little trip to the states (or the Mainland as Hawai’i residents call it) in January. It was a wonderful little trip with my husband and sons. We started our journey from Las Vegas (more about that in another post) and made our way to California before heading home. We spent a day in Universal City and Universal Studios Hollywood (read about that fun experience here) and had a blast. But, I wanted to share a little about our experience while visiting Disneyland for anyone who is wondering what it was like to go during Covid-19 and the Delta and Omicron surges.
Disneyland & California Adventure Park
We booked our tickets and made our reservations for Disneyland and California Adventure Park in early December 2021 for our trip this past January. Since we were going to be in Las Vegas the week prior, our goal was to drive from Las Vegas to Anaheim to enjoy our time at the theme parks. Our schedule went as follows: Thursday, January 13th – California Adventure Park, Friday, January 14th, and Saturday, January 15th, 2022 – Disneyland. We opted out of the Park Hopper Passes (something we purchased when at Disney World) because we knew that we wanted to get as much done within each park and, with California Adventure Park being a little smaller, we knew we could tackle it in a day.
Pricing & Cost Breakdown
First, I wanted to say that when you purchase your tickets online – the site should allow you to also book your reservations. Whether it’s due to the Pandemic or otherwise, RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED for a specific day and park when you want to visit. This is very different than I remember when going to Disney World years ago. You need to buy your Admission Ticket and Reserve for each person in order to enter the park.
We opted to purchase Genie+ for all three days while at Disneyland & Disney California Adventure. For my family of 5, and the Disney Genie+ Package, our tickets came out to $1950.00 for a total of 3 Days (1 Day at Disney California Adventure Park and 2 Days at Disneyland). While the cost was definitely pretty hefty, we wanted to ensure that we could do as much as possible within those three days – so Genie+ was a great option. Especially considering we had no idea how busy the parks would be and whether the lines would be too long. The boys have not been to Disneyland before and we wanted to make the most of the experience.
What is Genie+ and is it worth it?
Disney Parks offers a service now called Genie+. The rules and regulations do vary between Disneyland and Disney World but still have similarities. We opted to pay the extra fee because we wanted to be sure to make the most of our three days there. Attractions, experiences, and arrival windows are all limited to availability but in my opinion, if you are traveling from out-of-state, I think purchasing the add-on is a good idea.
Genie Plus is the replacement for the Max Pass service that many of us are accustomed to. It allows guests to obtain a Lightning Pass (similar to the Fast Pass) without having to physically go to the location of a ride. You simply select your ride choice through the app (the next available time) and check-in within an hour of your time selection.
Genie+ Ride Times
So, as I mentioned before, this is similar to the Fast Pass that Disneyland and Disney World used to offer. With Genie Plus, the benefit is that you can book it directly on the app and select a time availability and head on over to check in. Sometimes, you can book an attraction almost immediately – while other times, you can book further in advance. The minute you book a ride, you can start heading over to the lightning lane if it is within your time. You can book one ride after the next (so we checked in to our ride – scanned the code – then booked our next ride.)
TIP: Make sure your phone is charged and you have a charger or backup battery on hand. You’ll use your phone for MANY things from reservations for restaurants and eateries, scanning your PhotoPass and booking and reserving your ride queue. Not to mention taking photos.
Honey
Rise of the Resistance, Webslinger, and Cars – Pay the cost or wait in line?
Of course, there are some rides that you could not use Genie Plus on and three main ones were Rise of the Resistance, Webslingers, and Cars. You can opt into purchasing the Lightning Lane for an additional cost – $7 to $20 per ride, but honestly, we had no problem waiting in line. Webslingers was about a 90-minute wait, honestly – I would not wait in that line again. The attraction was cool, but not worth it in my opinion. Cars and Rise of the Resistance were about 90 minutes each as well and those were worth the wait in line and I would likely pay to ride those too. They were fun – trust me, you’ll love those two.
Photo Pass with Genie+
FREE PHOTO DOWNLOADS??? I say YES! Disney Genie+ also provides free photo downloads from Photo Pass locations as well as on rides that offer photo capture. This meant that my husband and I could be in more photos than normal since someone could capture our images for us. Here’s the kicker for this though… if you are on a ride and someone (whether in your group or not) is not wearing their mask, the image will display on the board (for you to grab your code) but will not show up in the app. Disney has a mask mandate indoors and on rides, so that was a bummer, especially since we had others not in our party but in the photo that refused to wear their mask and we weren’t able to get our photo.
Disney California Adventure Park – Cars Land
Is Genie Plus worth the $20 a day?
In one word, YES, I definitely think Genie Plus was worth the extra cost per person, per day. The photo downloads alone were worth it considering we paid hundreds of dollars for photos when we went to Disney World years ago and it was included. If you saw someone with a camera with Photo Pass signs, you could grab a picture. And while the mask thing sucked, overall – we really enjoyed the option of having those without paying $20 a photo.
Disney Genie Plus was rolled out on December 8th, 2021 so it was very new when we arrived a month later. But, overall I thought the transition was smooth and we really didn’t have a lot of hiccups or issues. Most of the problems were in issues with the app loading or the machines unable to scan the code. While these may have been an issue temporarily – it still didn’t make for much of a problem.
Visiting Disneyland in Winter
Since our last adventure at Disney Parks was over 15 years ago, at Disney World in the middle of the hottest months (July), we knew that visiting Disneyland would be comfortable in the winter months in California. And, we were right. The highest temperature was about 65 degrees and it was still pretty chilly. We packed ponchos in case of rain, though we never had to use them. The air was brisk and comfortable and it made for a great experience. Most days – the temperatures stayed around 55 degrees. We were fine with pants (jeans and leggings) for those days and sweaters and hoodies worked well. Overall – the cold air actually made for a really nice experience and we would surely go again during that time of year.
While the weather was nice, we also expected that a few of our favorite rides would be closed for renovation. Be sure to check the calendar of events, etc. so ensure you know what won’t be in operation before attending. Rides like Haunted Mansion (which I really wanted the boys to see, but it closed about 3 days before we arrived) were closed down as well as Splash Mountain. We were bummed, but truly we made the experience worthwhile. Also – due to the winds, none of the three days we were at the parks had their nightly firework show. That was a huge highlight of my visit when we went to Disney World so I was bummed, but still – again, worth the experience to go regardless.
Positive to going in the winter? The crowds were actually pretty mellow. Yes, of course, we were in the middle of a pandemic and I’m sure that added to the decrease in visitors, but overall I didn’t think it was so bad.
Traveling to Disneyland during Covid-19
While the numbers seem to rise and drop throughout the Nation, Covid-19 is still a thing and the Omicron variant is making travel pretty interesting. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared and enjoy your time at the parks.
As I stated before, reservations are now required to enter the park. So if you buy your tickets online, they should allow you to book your reservations at the same time. If you purchase from elsewhere, make sure to get your reservations done before heading to the park. The parks are still at limited capacity, so be prepared ahead of time.
There are no 6 Foot Social Distancing mandates while waiting in lines or on rides. They have since eliminated that mandate so it was quite packed and everyone in close proximity to one another. Since we came from Hawai’i, my family and I still practiced this but noticed no one around us was.
If you’re outdoors at Disneyland, masks are optional. We used our masks through the park in and outdoors, unless we were taking photos or eating, but keep in mind that not everyone did so as it was not a requirement. Indoor venues, stores, restaurants, all rides, etc. do mandate masks at all times, so make sure that you have one on you and are ready to put it on.
Disneyland also didn’t require us to show our vaccine cards upon entry to either park, but we were told to have it on hand just in case. The cast members will tell you if you ask – that they recommend unvaccinated visitors wear masks at all times in the parks, but honestly – no one will likely enforce it. We decided we would use our masks in the parks regardless of whether we were all vaccinated or not.
Hotel Accommodations? Staybridge Suites Anaheim at the Park
We don’t have any photos of our accommodations while in Anaheim, California – but we stayed at the Staybridge Suites Anaheim at the Park. This quaint little hotel is located just minutes from Disneyland’s main gate. We opted to take an Uber since the walk would be about 25 minutes, the drive about 5-7 or less depending on traffic. Affordable and awesome considering the location.
Staybridge, unfortunately, doesn’t offer a shuttle to and from Disneyland, but you can ask them about utilizing the ART (Anaheim Transit). It was about $6 per person, per day and we found taking a Lyft/Uber to be our most affordable and quickest option. The ART can take over an hour on some days since it’s going on a loop around the town. Trust me, if you stay here, book Uber or Lyft.
Staybridge offers complimentary breakfast, continental style but better. Hot food like eggs, bacon, and sausage and you can also make waffles with the batter they have set up. The perfect way to start your day at the theme parks is with a good breakfast. They also offer complimentary use of a washer and dryer (in the basement). Our suite was equipped with a small stove, full fridge, and microwave which was awesome to heat up and cook meals. Awesome great for buying your own water bottles to take with you into the park and keeping them cool through the day. Quick note – parking is $18/day and it is unsecured, so plan accordingly.
Overall – we would book Staybridge over and over again. It’s a smaller hotel compared to other resorts we’ve stayed at, but definitely a good one. Affordable, clean and it didn’t feel cheap. If you’re expecting HoJo, this is so so much better. We would book this place again, without a second thought.
Check out what Staybridge has to offer on its website here.
Was it all worth it? Traveling during a Pandemic and Genie Plus?
ABSOLUTELY! Now traveling during a pandemic is no easy feat… and you will want to ensure that you’re not only prepared but also have backup plans just in case. Whether that means packing a box of disposable masks and reusable ones (which is what I did) or making sure you’re stockpiling hand sanitizer and wipes for everything – it’s always best to be ready whether you need it or not.
Here’s a plus for traveling during a pandemic… it’s a little less crowded. Yes, still very busy. You can also run into your mean, “don’t care about anyone but themselves”, people. But it didn’t ruin our visit to the Happiest Place on Earth. Simply enjoy yourself and make sure you’re ready for anything and you’ll still enjoy yourself.
Genie Plus (Genie +) was also worth it in my opinion. Definitely look into it Genie Plus if you’ll only be at the parks for a few days. Or, have limited time while there. If it’s your first time there or traveling with little ones, I think it’s definitely worth the investment. Yes, the price of the theme park entries does add up. When looking to book your tickets, make sure you plan accordingly.
A few tips…
And, speaking of planning… water is important! You can bring your water with you from outside the park, so do so to save on some money. Water and drinks, in general, can cost a lot and the prices add up. We purchased a few of our favorite foods within the park. But, we made sure to pack snacks and water to have on hand. Since we were at the parks from rope drop to park closure, we wanted to be prepared. Save yourself a little money and bring a few snacks and drinks from outside the park.
Interested in hearing about my family’s experience at Disneyland this 2022? Check out my recent YouTube video here.
Heading to the Happiest Place on Earth in 2022? Leave a comment below and let me know what you are excited to see when you go!
Disclaimer: The products and trips featured in this post were paid for with my own money. Affiliate links can and may be posted throughout. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased.
Happy Thirsty Thursday Fam! Today, I have a GRWM (Get Ready With Me) with a little Thirsty Thursday and Chit Chat. It seems like forever since I have filmed myself doing my makeup. It’s a long video – so grab something to drink and a snack and come hang out with me!
Here’s a few photos featuring this look.
Disclaimer: All products featured in this post were either purchased by me or sent for review consideration over the years. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links may be posted through out. This is not a sponsored post or video.
