Prevalent Yet Subtle Workplace Bias Erodes Productivity and Engagement

Prevalent Yet Subtle Workplace Bias Erodes Productivity and Engagement A new study has found that more than a quarter (27 percent) of those who experience discrimination at work report the bias to be common, impactful and beyond their ability to manage. The result of this triple threat of factors leads to frustration, stress, depression and helplessness on the job. To measure the impact of workplace bias, David Maxfield, vice president of research at VitalSmarts, and Judith Honesty, CEO of Honesty Consulting, asked 500 victims of discrimination to share their stories. Each subject experienced incidents in the workplace which resulted in them feeling unwelcome, excluded, discounted, or disadvantaged because of who they areâ€"their race, age, gender, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status or sexual orientation. By analyzing the stories, Maxfield and Honesty found that bias in the workplace is pervasive, permanent and unmanageable for victims. Specifically: Pervasive: 49 percent of victims said the discrimination happens regularly in their workplace. Permanent: 66 percent of victims said it has a large impact on their engagement, morale, motivation, commitment and desire to advance in the organization. Unmanageable: 60 percent of victims said they did not feel they could master incidents of bias in the moment or prevent them from recurring in the future. Maxfield and Honesty rated the stories based on Martin Seligmans work on Learned Helplessness to measure the impact of discrimination on employee behavior. Seligman has found that the way people perceive an event determines the impact it has on their behavior. Events that are seen as permanent, pervasive, and beyond their control lead to frustration, stress, depression and helplessness. Additionally, they found seven themes in the stories indicating the most prevalent types of workplace discrimination. Dont Be Yourself. Employees are warned to avoid showing who they really areâ€"i.e. to avoid talking about her wife, to dress in a more feminine way etc. Youre Not Credible. Employees are interrupted and discounted, excluded from meetings, passed up for high-visibility assignments or promotions, etc. Others hint the perceived lack of credibility is the result of race, sex, age etc. Oops, Just Kidding. A manager or co-worker makes a blatant racist, sexist, intolerant comment to a colleague and then tries to walk it back. Anything Goes After Hours. A manager or co-worker makes blatantly racist, sexist, or intolerant comments/jokes about othersâ€"customers, people in the news, etc. They feel its okay because theyre not at work or because they arent talking about an employee. Youre Unwelcome. Employees are excluded from conversations at both work and social gatherings. Co-workers or managers forget to invite them to meetings or give them information they need to do their job. Others fail to socialize with them or change the subject or stop socializing when they join. Gotcha. A manager or co-worker seeks to tear down their colleague or believes others, even when they arent credible; dishes out unequal punishments; finds faults to the extent of distorting the truth. Unconscious Bias: Women, minority, or older employees are told they lack executive presence, dont fit our culture, are too aggressive even though their performance would be seen as exemplary in a white, male or younger employee. Honesty says these 7 themes reveal a trend of subtleâ€"yet harmfulâ€"workplace discrimination. While overt bias is likely not tolerated, under-the-radar forms of discrimination are pervasive and severe across corporate America. She said: We catalogued hundreds of moments where victims were left questioning others intentions and their own perceptions. The inner litany sounds a bit like, Im upset, but I dont know if I should be, or if I have a right to be. At best, this shadowy bias is exhausting. At worst its soul-destroying to both the individual and the organization. Maxfield says its important leaders demonstrate and teach skills for confronting bias in a way that uncovers what really just happened. He added: Our research shows people who initiate honest, frank and respectful dialogue build understanding and cultures of respect. These are the kinds of cultures that promote rather than erode performance and engagement. Maxfield and Honesty share five skills to confront and reduce subtle to overt forms of bias in the workplace: Use CPR: When confronting bias, should you talk about the Content (a one-time incident), the Pattern (a series of incidents), or the Relationship (the impact of a pattern on your ability to work productively with others)? Many stories described micro-inequitiesâ€"small incidents that wouldnt be worth addressing except that they are a part of a pervasive pattern. If you confront the one-time incident, youre likely to be seen as over-reacting. But if you address the larger pattern or relationship concern, you can demonstrate that these micro-inequities add up to soul-crushing impacts. Start with Heart: Before you speak up, identify what you really want to happen. Is it enough for the bad behavior to stop? Or do you want an apology, punishment and reparations? Also consider that youre likely going into the conversation with a lifetime of grievances. How responsible is the person in front of you for that history? Likely, he or she plays a smaller role than what you may be attributing to his or her actions. Master My Stories: Before speaking up, separate the stories you bring to the situation from the facts of the other persons actions. Only then, can you master your own strong emotions. State My Path: Discover what really just happenedâ€"no apologies, no self-repression, no accusations and no indictments. Begin with the detailed facts, then tentatively suggest what the facts mean to you. Make it Safe: Is a person who exhibits unconscious bias automatically a bigot? If so, then were all bigots. Its challenging to describe biased behavior without the other person feeling attacked. More findings from the study can be found in this infographic. Infographic courtesy of VitalSmarts.

Getting Back into the Recruiting Groove After Your Summer Vacation

Getting Back into the Recruiting Groove After Your Summer Vacation How can working parents refocus after the school summer holidays? With most schools having 6 weeks off over the summer, this has become a challenge facing many working parents across recruitment (and all employed sectors); it is likely your desk has “ticked over” as opposed to excelled and I would like to impart some tips to those who want to return in September with purpose, a plan and a strategy for success. It is likely that as a working parent, you will have had to utilise summer camps, clubs and grandparents to keep your desk active. My own summer has looked like this: Weeks 1 and 2 the girls were in summer school. I worked 9-3 daily and then tried my best to turn off. Week 3 they spend combination with family and friends and some days I had 10-5, others I managed 7-3. Weeks 4 and 6 we went on holiday and I didnt work at all. Week 5 they went away with their dad so I worked full time. Maybe my summer was the norm for many of you reading it? I have managed to create some great opportunities for my candidates during these weeks but there is no doubt that August is a tricky month anyway, navigating the availability of decision makers who are also spending time with their children also! How do you ensure you hit the ground running in September to maximise the effort you have put in over the summer? Like many, I always feel a little compromised that I am neither being a proper mum nor a proper recruiter. A charlatan to both camps but I do what I have to and my tip is to try and switch off the other brain when you are in that mode: so when you are with the kids, be mum/dad. When you are in work, be the recruiter. Here are a few returning to work tips. The week before: Text update with your live candidates to see where they are up to so you know who is ready to get going when you start back. Explain you are still off but want to prioritise their search on your return. Thank them for their patience. Email your clients to ensure you know whose jobs are a priority and ask for any updates on what has altered their side so you know exactly where you stand when you come in. Update your social media to say you are looking forward to coming back in on X date and share it a couple of times so people know when you are available again. It gets you back in peoples psyche and more importantly back on their timeline. The day before: Write your list of who you need to update in order of priority. Activity that has happened in your absence. New enquiries from candidates and clients respond and see when they are available to speak on your first day. Anything outstanding from before your absence, update. Set your goal for day 1. Get a good nights sleep ?? Remember: Do be firm with yourself of what is achievable when you get back in and stick to your goals. Do catch up with people and ask about their holidays but keep it succinct so you don’t bore your colleagues by hearing the same bungee jumping/crab catching/sunburn story too many times. Don’t beat yourself up if you missed out on placing someone whilst you are away. These things happen and you can’t work 52 weeks a year. Do make a note of what you have learned from this summer and transcribe it into your diary for next July so you can remind yourself of your own tips. Do enjoy the time you have had off and come back full of energy and enthusiasm to be the success you deserve to be Have you got any further tips to aid recruiters who are also working parents for how to be refocused after the long summer holidays? Do you take the whole summer off? What works best for you? Wishing you all luck for the autumn term!

College Tips Can I get financial aid for a second degree

College Tips Can I get financial aid for a second degree Dear Class Career Girl,   In 2010, I graduated from a four-year university with a bachelors in science degree that I really didnt want but was overly talked into. After looking for a job for about a year, I found a pretty nice office job that I like. Its a little boring and underpaid to my tastes but at least I finally landed a job and stopped feeling like a failure. My job is at the local maximum security prison and I have always been around this type of environment (my dad worked here for 20 years and the guy Im dating works at the neighboring prison). I have decided to go back to school online to get a B.A. in Criminal Justice and they also offer the Masters degree fully online. Are there any places that offer aid to students/young professionals that are wanting to correct their mistakes and get a second degree that they could actually benefit from in a career? Thanks, Second Chance Student Dear Second Chance Student, When I received your question, I knew I didnt have all the right answers for you so I asked Ken OConnor, the Director of Student Advocacy at CUStudentLoans.org to help.   Ken is recognized by CBS MoneyWatch as one the top 25 college twitterers!   Thanks, Ken! How To Get Financial Aid For a Second Degree First up, the student should not feel bad, or like they have made some kind of huge mistake by pursuing their prior degree. There is no sense in feeling bad after the fact. Im not a Prison HR expert. However, I do know they are the kind of organizations that would require Masters degree recipients for very specific positions. My advice would be to first focus on exactly what positions would require this advanced education. Then research the administration of other prisons, and look at the educational background of people that have the same positions you would like to hold. What schools did they go to? Did they like it there?   Does it have an alumni base in the field you want to enter? [RELATED: Going Back To School? 5 Must Read Tips For Your Significant Other] Unfortunately, school opportunities have irreparably changed as a result of completing a first bachelors degree.   The student cannot ever be funded with any federal need-based grants to pursue a second degree, and most likely will not qualify for any institutional merit or need-based grants no matter where she attends. If she were to pursue a Masters Degree, they would be eligible for the same thing, just federal Stafford loans. So my advice is to forget the second Bachelors and go for a Masters instead.   Consider a Masters in Public Administration, but only after being exactly sure that this would fill the requirement. The MPA is only effective when combined with real work experience, but it could be the linchpin to securing the job when the opportunity arises. Second, are there any places that offer aid to students/young professionals that are wanting to correct their mistakes and get a degree that they could actually benefit from in a career? Schools will give support within their sphere of influence, and will arm the student with knowledge, but really only the student does any work towards advancing a career.   No school is going to help you correct mistakes, and no one comes out of programs instantly getting jobs anymore.   The employment wheels are set in motion long before even starting a degree program.   It sounds like the student wants a do-over because they are unhappy with their first-degree choice. On the second try, this student needs to be careful to avoid the mistake of thinking a school is going to bestow a magical gift to her, making her instantly employable.   She needs to instead focus on what actual job skills and ability she needs to continue in her field.   I suspect that in the field of prisons, there is NO CLASSROOM CAPABLE OF TEACHING THE LESSONS NEEDED TO WORK THERE.   Its more about the experience, and being connected politically.   Since Dad has been in the business for over 20 years, I bet there might be some clout in her corner, so just getting a Masters to pad the resume will be enough to secure that job when it opens. Hope this helps you!   Best of luck!! Classy Career Girl and Ken OConnor Readers, what is your advice for Second Chance Student?   Should she take out more loans to get a second degree if financial aid isnt an option?

Networking November is Almost OverLets Get Going - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Networking November is Almost Over…Let’s Get Going - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Earlier this month I began a movement through my network, on Twitter (#networknov), Facebook and LinkedIn to ignite job seekers and professionals alike to get out and network throughout the month of November. The monthly is halfway over, Thanksgiving is upon us and it’s time to ask yourself, “How much networking have I done in November?” Does Aunt Sally really know what you do? Thanksgiving dinner is filled with family, fun and, if you’re a savvy networker, opportunities. Give your personal branding statement a touch up so that it conveys, in a fun, creative and catchy way, truly what it is you do before dinnertime. Does your personal brand pass the “Tell me more” test? If it doesn’t make you, or others, want to immediately ask “tell me more” then it’s time for a fresh personal brand. Apply the 15/15 rule A personal brand and unique value proposition (UVP), as I mention in my book, “Career Sudoku”, have different reasons during your job search. Your personal branding statement is a more elaborate, 30-second pitch (hint: the perfect follow-up to “tell me more”). Your unique value proposition is short, powerful sentence. Keep it to fewer than 15 words and less than 15 seconds. Viola. The 15/15 rule. Making It real This month in San Diego I spoke at a conference and challenged the audience to create their own UVPs, using the 15/15 rule, within 2 minutes. They did great! One of the guys came up with this “I help people sleep better at night” as his personal brand UVP. He had the whole room guessing what he does for a living. He’s a military training officer. (Thanks again, to you, and all our service men and women, for what you do). What a magnificent, catchy personal branding UVP that easily passed the “tell me more” test and took far less than 15 words or 15 seconds to convey. Disconnect to connect The best thing he did, and you can do, to connect with your audience, whether it’s Aunt Sally at dinner or a potentially employer at a networking event during your job search, is to disconnect yourself from your work. There was no mention of military, marines, troops, training or anything of the like which is why everyone wanted to find out what he did. Disconnect yourself from your company, your professional and connect yourself to your personality and what you do to create a powerful UVP. Happy Thanksgiving! Author: Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game, released with top book seller Amazon.com. She is creator of   “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare.” For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com

11 things being on a university society exec teaches you

11 things being on a university society exec teaches you This post is written by a member of the Debut Student Publisher Network. Read on for  Beths    reasons why being a society exec is awesome: Getting involved with societies when you’re at university can be one of the most fun ways to spend your time, learn new skills and make friends. Not to mention youll have some amazing experiences that will look good on your CV! Becoming part of a society exec or committee is a lot of responsibility, but it can teach you so many things about people, life and yourself. Here is a list of 11 things that being on a society exec teaches you. (Hint: it’s more than you think.) 1. How to present yourself In order to actually get an exec position you usually have to apply, either by writing an online manifesto or by giving a speech when you stand at elections. It makes you really think about what skills you already have, and how you can apply them to certain roles. After an interrogation by 30+ people, job interviews won’t seem too bad! 2. How to get along with people Being on an exec means working as a team with like-minded students. Even though your individual jobs might be very different, you’ll still have to pitch in on big projects, work together during group meetings and collaborate on tasks. You might have opposing opinions, but getting along with the rest of your exec is a great skill to have and practice. 3. How to fix any problem In the words of Coldplay: nobody said it was easy. Though some roles can be completely stress free, most will sometimes be difficult. Your budget will be too small, prospective sponsors won’t return your emails, SU forms will make you scream or things will get cancelled last minute. You learn to just roll with it, keep cool as the problems come up and try to fix them. 4. That students are really incredible You will continue to be amazed at just how creative and talented the students around you can be. People can sing and dance, make memes, snowboard,  put on conferences, close  business deals, produce newspapersbasically do anything they put their minds to. Students are inspiring; don’t underestimate what you can learn from your peers. 5. Confidence confidence confidence It is incredibly brave to put yourself out there, whatever your role. Little things like giving speeches, talking to freshers and making them feel welcome, takes guts. So does making phone calls to strangers, teaching a class or leading a social. Your confidence will grow as you realise you can do your job, and do it well. 6. You really can do anything Your role can mean you end up learning things you never even thought you could. This could be anything from how to haggle with a kit provider or how to down a pint in 10 seconds. Suddenly you realise you’ve become that cool third year you once looked up to. 7. Organisation is key Uni can be stressful enough without adding responsibilities, but having something else to prioritise alongside your studies can teach you how to manage your activities, so you have time to prepare for your seminar AND organise a bar crawl. 8. Marketing is as easy as 1, 2, 3 (likes) Societies basically provide the purest model of a business â€" your  goal  is to give people what they want. When profit isn’t an issue and you don’t need to worry about wages, you simply focus on what your society aims to provide, and how to get it to the right people. Learning all the tricks to get as many people to click attending on your Facebook event makes you a marketing genius, even if you don’t even realise it! 9. How to communicate like a pro Communication is KEY to a functioning, successful society exec team. Unlike a business where everyone can be found by leaving your desk and walking, uni isn’t that simple. That usually means a whole lot of Facebook groups, Whatsapp messages and Doodle polls. Though sometimes it seems you are never off your phone, it teaches you how to communicate effectively, efficiently, and make sure your point doesn’t get lost in the flurry of a group inbox! 10. How to deal with difficult people Sadly it’s not always all fun and (drinking) games, and sometimes you have to make difficult decisions, sometimes about others. Learning how to deal with people in a kind and considerate way, even if they’re uncooperative, is a lesson you never stop learning. 11. How to be a boss Perhaps after a successful year in a position you might stand to be president or chair of the society. This is the grand-supreme position of all positions. You have to manage people, think about long-term goals for the whole society and ensure your vision for the year runs smoothly. It all starts with going to the first event, meeting people and giving it a go. What are you waiting for? Seriously. Execs run the world, be on one. Feature Image ©  University of Warwick Northern Society Download the Debut app and you could totally grab yourself a summer internship  way before anyone else. Follow Beth  on Twitter  @bethhursty Connect with Debut on  Facebook  and  Twitter

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Awesome

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Awesome Do you want to attract recruiters and your next job opportunity with your LinkedIn profile? Make your LinkedIn profile awesome by going through the list below. LinkedIn Profile Checklist [UPDATED] 1.             Headline Your profile headline is the first thing someone sees after your name. Make it memorable. It should help someone understand the role you want to do next and/or contain keywords important to your profession. See examples here: Fix Your LinkedIn Headline Today 2.             Photo Choose a professional, high-quality headshot for your photograph. A profile with a photo receives up to 21x more profile views and 9x more connection requests according to LinkedIn. 3.             Email List all the email addresses you use. You can set the default email which will be viewable by your connections and the account that receives InMail and updates from LinkedIn. 4.             Vanity URL Your LinkedIn profile has a URL (an Internet address). You can and should edit this by adding your name (www.linkedin.com/in/yourname). This also looks more professional when you include it on your resume, business card, or email signature. 5.             Other Web References If you have a personal website, professional Twitter account, or links elsewhere on the web, you can add them to your profile within the “contact info” section at the top. You should change the label from “other” to a short, descriptive title. 6.        About (formerly Summary) Consider this section a mini bio or the answer to tell me about yourself. Highlight the best of your background, experience and skills. You could also provide insight into your leadership style, personality, values, longer-term goals, or outside interests. Keep the reader’s attention by using short paragraphs. And make it more personal by writing in the first person by using “I”, “Me” or “My”. Add a specialties section to incorporate important keywords, skills and technology. You may even want to include your email address to make it easy for people to reach you who are not connected. 7.             Work Experience Include all the significant work history and include strong, keyword-rich descriptions and accomplishments under each position. Your work experience should be the same as listed on your resume. You may choose to include more or less detail for each job. 8.             Embed Media Add media (documents, video, images, audio) to your profile to make it an online portfolio. You can embed these links in your summary, work experience and education sections. Get ideas here.  Make Your LinkedIn Profile Media Rich 9.    Skills and Expertise List all the skills (up to 50) which are most important to your profession. Keep in mind work processes and procedures and other keywords companies ask for in job descriptions.    LinkedIn users with 5+ skills listed are contacted (messaged) up to 33x more   receive up to 17x more profile views (according to LinkedIn). 10.     Education Include all the institutions you attended. List your concentration, major, and/or minor. If you are a recent graduate, include clubs committees and groups you were active in. 11.     Certifications, Test Scores, Courses These sections are particularly helpful for new graduates. List the most relevant and important information. 12.     Projects You can reference class projects, special work assignments and side gigs as a project. This is another way to showcase skills and experience. 13.     Recommendations Ask for recommendations from colleagues, managers or even clients who know your work. Learn more here:  4 Reasons You Can’t Put Off Getting LinkedIn Recommendations 14.     Honors Awards, Publications, Patents Complete these sections with as much detail as necessary to highlight why it is important. 15.     Organizations, Volunteering Causes Provide details about your involvement in professional associations and the organizations you belong to or committees you serve on. You may also choose to list the volunteer work you do and causes you support. Use discretion when choosing to include any religious or political affiliations. 16.     Personal Details Your birth date and marital status are the least important details. You may choose not to include this information on your profile. 17.     Status Update Regularly update your status so your network can see what you are up to. A status update could include a link to an article, information about a presentation you are attending, or it might be a question you would like feedback from your contacts. LinkedIn users can see your activity. Its sometimes an indication of whether or not your use LinkedIn. Learn more here: 10 LinkedIn Status Updates for Job Seekers 18.     Groups Join college alumni groups, professional associations, and any industry related groups. Participate by answering questions, sharing links to interesting articles and engaging in conversation with other like-minded professionals. 19.     Make it Complete Don’t leave information blank or overlook details which may help set you apart such as: Languages, Honors Awards, Patents, Courses, Test Scores, Certifications, Volunteering Causes, Organizations, and Interests. To achieve All-Star profile status, youll need these: A profile photo Your industry and location A current position (with a description) 2 past positions Your skills (at least 3) Your education At least 50 connections 20.     Make It Public By default, LinkedIn sets your profile to be viewable to the public. For active job seekers this is the best option. BONUS: If you are openly seeking a new job, turn on open to new opportunities so that recruiters using LinkedIns recruiting tools can see this. Learn how this works by reading:  How LinkedIns Open Candidate Can Save You Time You can download this list here: Checklist for an Awesome LinkedIn Profile 2018 [UPDATED] Improve Your Visibility If youve ever asked How can I  get in front of more hiring managers? youre not alone.    This is a common challenge for job seekers. Use the tips above to convert your LinkedIn profile into one that is interesting, keyword-rich and shows your abilities. Most importantly, being active on LinkedIn will help you stand out! This is your chance! Show off your super, awesome, amazing LinkedIn profile!

5 Reasons to Give Your Creative Biz a Break

5 Reasons to Give Your Creative Biz a Break Im on vacay until 10/15, but my blogs still hard at work. Enjoy this post from Patty of The Plaid Cupcake! The trick is to keep breathing by farouche What’s the one single tool most critical to your creative biz? Imagine that tool is suddenly gone, broken, or unavailable to you. Maybe it simply wore out; maybe you left it on the subway; or God forbid you lost it during a flood, earthquake or mudslide (these days, you certainly have your pick). A small, but critical part of my sewing machine recently made the dreaded “ka-plunk” sound that I knew right away meant trouble. Without my sewing machine,my business comes to a stand still. At the time I had four custom orders to get out the door, plus an upcoming craft fair that I was just starting to ramp up production on. Immediately I felt PANIC! DREAD! The most critical tool that fuels my creative mojo was dead. First step? Contact all of those customers who had placed a custom order and explain the situation. Fortunately for me, they were all very understanding. Next, I took down all of the items on my site that were “made to order” so that if anybodywent on to my site, they only had the option of purchasing items that were ready-to-ship. I also ordered the replacement part from TWO different sources (read my blog post for a fun take on my field trip to the repair shop!) After putting the “emergency plan” in place, I went from feelings of helplessness and worry to almost feeling a “zen” state of mind. Over the ten days my machine was out of commission, I felt calmer, and oddly more confident. I had come face-to-face with one of the utmost worst things that could happen to my business, and wound up thriving from it. So go ahead. I dare you. Quit the biz “cold-turkey” for a week, and see what happens. I don’t necessarily recommend the route I went by having your most critical tool break down- but if it does, put your contingency plan into place and then take a deep breath. Or, take your creative tools and put them behind lock and key for a week (and hand the key to a trusted friend!) Here are five reasons why: 1) Chill, pickle! If you’re like me, you live and breathe your business. When you wake up, when you’re in the shower, and even when you try to “relax.” Take a week and let your mind mellow and chill out. I’ve found some of my best ideas come when I’m not trying. 2) Brush the dust off the hobby you dropped when you made your creative endeavor a real business. Break out the ukulele! Attend a Pilates class. For me, it was knitting and jogging â€" two things I hadn’t done in months. I think we all need interests that are just for fun and non-business related. 3) Cross off that to-do list. If you find going cold-turkey is too hard and you’re really itching to be productive, how about all that stuff that you’ll “get around to” someday? Fix your website, write that blog post, stock up on supplies, and get your finances in order! 4) Rekindle the romance. No, not with your significant other! With your craft. We all know the expression “distance makes the heart grow fonder.” Sometimes we becomes so entrenched in the business aspects of our creative endeavors, we forget why we loved it in the first place. Some time away can make you remember what makes your creativity so special. 5) Become a better business person by knowing you can handle a semi-crisis. Often we get lulled into thinking the more and more we practice our craft, the better. But doing well in the face of adversity can give you that boost of confidence that you’re on the right track to face ANY challenge that is thrown your way. Patty Bachorz is the owner of The Plaid Cupcake, your go-to place for handmade pick-me-ups that brighten any day. She creates all of her items at home in NJ with her husband and reality television as her two constant companions. Shop her creative wares at her etsy store and keep up with her creative musings on The Plaid Cupcake blog.