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* This March, Stephanie Rado Taormina; founder of Have Some Fun Today will be telling her story at the Women2Women luncheon event at Folino Estate Winery. A link to purchase tickets for the event can be found below.
Q&A With Stephanie Rado Taormina, Founder & CEO of HSFT:
What words of wisdom would you offer to other women?
To believe in yourself & have faith.
What is the most valuable way women can support each other?
I believe the most valuable way women can support each other is by giving each other the benefit of the doubt. So often when someone is different from us, we tend to be suspicious of their motives, but if we give each other the benefit of the doubt, we are giving them a chance.
Is there an "aha" moment or experience that defines who you are?
The moment when I had the vision to create with the slogan "Have Some Fun Today." since that day 8+ years ago I haven't looked back, and I feel such a purpose around creating a truly inspiring body of work for all people.
What is your favorite mantra, favorite saying or words that keep you grounded?
Have Some Fun Today!
What's your mission?
To make people smile and feel connected to each other.
What do you consider women's main asset?
The ability to multitask.
What do you consider women's main threat?
Other people's misperceptions of her.
What three things do you recommend that contribute to your success?
Belief in myself, being open minded, having laser focus on what it takes to get the job done efficiently and always doing what I say I will do.
How do you want to be perceived / remembered?
I'd like to be remembered as someone who shared her gifts to bring joy to others and to be a role model for others to break free from limiting beliefs to turn their dreams into reality.
What is the best advice you have received?
To: Have Some Fun Today - (from my dad.)
You recently shared on social media that you'd like to change things up a bit and include more of what you love. That might include art? Tell us how you realized it was time to reinvigorate the brand / yourself.
My company Have Some Fun Today was started in 2014 with the idea of a painting I wanted to make. My mind quickly envisioned the painting, then the tote, the pillow, the tees, the hat and so on. All in the span of five minutes one morning while doing my morning meditation. As I developed the brand over the coming months, including the initial pairings, I soon realized that I was stuck on the way the paining were coming out and so I didn't do much with them over the following years.
Then there was this global pandemic and it seemed like people all over were discovering the artists inside themselves. I had been painting all along, but something moves me to try something again with the words of my brand Have Some Fun Today. Maybe it was the self-work I had been doing, including the therapy I started to do last year. Whatever it was, when I approached my painting with those four words this time in my handwriting, it didn't turn me off! To the contract, something clicked! This time my own handwriting felt just right. Like I turned a corner in my own self-acceptance. The handwriting didn't need to be perfect, it was perfect in its imperfection. Just like me. Just like all us truly are.
That was a breakthrough. I worked on experimenting with the concept of doing some paintings in my abstract style, with the words Have Some Fun Today boldly written down the middle. I worked for months to find the right formula, and one day not too long ago it all came together. I found the style and it has reinvigorated the brand for me so much so that I am embracing my abstract colorful style back into the designs for the brand in the bags & clothing for 2022.
You see, I am not a follower. Never have been, never will be. However, when you are making and designing things to sell you do need to balance what people like and want with what you like and want to do. But, now that I have done some substantial laying the foundation of the brand, it's time to be a lot more playful with what we put out there. It's time for color and pattern and some FUN energy in everything we make. Stay tuned.
Please share why you believe W2W is important for the community:
For a very long time as a creative, I didn't resonate with being an 'executive'. After moving back to Berks County from NYC 25 years ago, I worked for myself for a very long time as a design consultant. It wasn't until my career path changed that I really went past being a Creative and became a Founder. Now that I'm here in the C suite space of my won doing, I have this new awareness that yes, I am an executive and yes, organizations like Women2Women are really important for our community. I've had my head to the grindstone for the past eight years and finally looked up this past October to attend my first Women in Retail Leadership Summit, and what I experienced has opened my eyes to the benefits of hearing what other women in business leadership roles can offer to each other in terms of support & guidance. It is truly a wonderful resource for our community to any woman who utilizes it.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Just that it is an honor to be noticed by other business leaders in our community for my work and having this platform to share my experience. Over the years I've had many people privately reach out to me to give advice on starting their businesses and I am always happy to listen and give some advice. To me, it is very important to give back whenever I can to my community through the different events we have at Have Some Fun Today that often benefit local charities. Part of what makes what I do so special is that it is a way for people to connect and feel connected. Two strangers passing each other both wearing something from Have Some Fun Today are bound to strike up a happy exchange and your whole day feels warmer and brighter. No other brand does that. I'm not solving the homeless issue (although I'd love to work that someday) or curing cancer, but I am creating a way through my designs that reminds us to reframe our attitude. What you bring to your daily grind is a matter of choice. You can go to work or school with an attitude of drudgery, or you can go with an attitude of "Let's make this fun". It changes everything.
Join us for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s “Pursuit, Passion & Paying it Forward” luncheon:
On Wednesday, March 16, 2022 owner and founder of Have Some Fun Today, Stephanie Rado Taormina, will be speaking at Folino Estate Winery from 11:30 AM to 1 PM for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s “Pursuit, Passion & Paying it Forward” luncheon. Stephanie is a fine artist and interior designer who began her career in fashion over 30 years ago.
Learn more about how Stephanie's life experiences and abilities helped form her life direction, and see how she plans to take her brand into the future by purchasing tickets for the March 16 luncheon here, and be sure to read the full Cover Story in Women2Women's Winter edition here.
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HAVE SOME FUN TODAY - Recently, a few of us were sitting around the HSFT studio and brainstorming what to call ourselves. See, there's this community of people that have gathered around this brand with soul, and it's really been amazing. They've become the HSFT vibe. They've become part of the brand and inspiration. "Squad" seemed a little juvenile and overused, "Tribe" is taken, "club" seems like we need a secret handshake. We couldn't land on the perfect word to describe our community.
Who We Are
Like-minded and eclectic, we're connected as much by what makes us different as what makes us the same. We're movers and shakers, designers, artists, writers, thinkers, and glass ceiling breakers. We're all someone's daughter and someones friend, some of us are moms and wives, sisters and aunts.
Somewhere along the way, I jotted down Soul Circle. I was thinking back to a time when sewing circles were a thing, when women would gather because of a task at hand and would connect over so much more. And our founder, Stephanie Taormina, has always called this a brand with soul. A company that was born from the legacy of her late father's mantra, Have Some Fun Today. You don't get much more soulful than that.
Whatever it is, it's proved to be powerful and palpable. And a little bit magical. HSFT has become it's own thing and has a different meaning for everyone.
You Can BE HSFT
So it's not an exclusive club or a members only kind of a thing. We decided it's a mindset. It's a philosophy that we hope everyone will embrace, to really try to Have Some Fun Today. And what does life look like if we're trying to have a little more FUN? It's a shift in how we live, how we think and what possibilities we open up to. And the best part is, that's FREE.
Yes, we have amazing products like luxe t-shirts, totes, hats and pillows with a daily reminder of finding the beauty in life everyday. But you don't have to wear the t-shirt to own the vibe.
We're creators, who were inspired to create something, that inspires others. Hopefully it inspires you. We think it's sort of contagious and that we need more of it in the world.
Pop Up Shop For The Arts
Join us at our HSFT Studio today for a Pop-Up Shop from 12-3 with proceeds going to Art Education and Outreach. We love supporting our community and the things that make this world a better place.
Positive Vibes
We wanted to create something that changes the world; a mindset of positivity and love. Our shirts, hats, hoodies, and gifts are designed to share the vibe. You can host an HSFT party and share the goodness with friends in your home OR join us at one of our HSFT Pop-Up Shops or our in-Studio Events. Life is what you make it, so make it FUN. #hsft
Written and contributed by Rebecca Doubek who loves the HSFT vibe....
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Spring things.... A classic raincoat from Burberry is the perfect Spring go-to with our HSFT luxe tote, HSFT umbrella for spring storms and our HSFT baseball hat just in case...
HAVE SOME FUN TODAY - Ahhhhh, lovelies.... It's a season for change and re-birth. For rain showers and wind storms, maybe even a snow. Things are growing and changing all around us. Nature often gives us the perfect road map for what we need in our own lives. Just take a peek outside and you'll know it's time for opening windows, sweeping out the dust from the winter and shifting into the energy of a new season.
We're being awakened out of the dormancy of winter and into the potential for new growth, just like those buds bursting out on tree branches and flowers that stubbornly push through the soil. Clocks move forward to give us more sunshine, temperatures fluctuate from highs to lows.
We're shifting, too. The energy of this season is powerful! Our bodies and minds feel it long before we've put away our winter sweaters.
1) Spring Into Action
Spring is a time for making choices and putting them into action. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is believed that the quiet of the winter is a time to dream and imagine ideas and reflections. Spring it's time to watch them come to life, leaping forth like blossoms and leaves. It's the perfect time to start new projects and see where they go. Feeling its time for a new job change? Start looking. Got a new idea for a home project? Perfect, grab a hammer. It's a time of renewal and change.
2) Get Yourself Outside
Winter gives us pause and for those of us who have the cold of a winter, it's a cue to slow the body down. Our metabolism naturally slows, we spend more time indoors. Spring brings us warmer temps, and the energetic buzz of things growing and shifting gives us that skin tingling "spring fever". Take your workout outside. Take a walk after dinner, with the extra hours from Daylight Savings. Grab a bike ride on a weekend afternoon. Getting the chi or life energy of our bodies moving and flowing is the equivalent of an internal spring cleaning, so get your move on!
3) Clean Your Space
This tradition of Spring is still something many of us who like to get the winter dust bunnies moving on out for a clean and fresh re-set in our homes. Spring Cleaning is very ceremonial and ritualistic in many cultures, whether for religious holidays or the start of a "new year". It's thought that sweeping out the dirt and dust removes bad luck and helps "sweep" in good luck for the year ahead. It's also thought to trace back to a time when fireplaces would have been burning all winter long as the main heat source for our homes, so removing the soot and the ash was necessary each winter's end.
Whatever the reason, cleaning out your living space makes literal space for new things. Space makes way for new energy and new ideas this is thought to increase the flow of energy in your home. In Feng Shui, it is believed that cleaning under things, dusting, vacuuming, etc opens up the flow of energy. Get the vacuum or call Merry Maids, but bring in the season with a deep clean for a fresh start.
4) Think Green
The color of green is synonymous with Spring. Infuse your life with a little green, whether it's a fabulous new handbag, shoes, or a pop of color in a pillow you toss on the couch. Take it to another level and bring in fresh flowers, potted plants, even branches from budding trees and surround yourself with the color of the season. Green is the color of life, energy, renewal and harmony. It's also restful and relaxing, so think green!
5) Have Some Fun Today
The energy of the spring is infectious. Things are growing and energy is pushing up through the earth and pulsing through branches and stems. It's a palpable and gorgeous time of year. Take time to literally stop and smell the air around you. Have Some Fun Today! Find the beautiful in what may seem like the everyday and the mundane. Make it a choice to HSFT and change the way you see the world.
Happy Spring!
Written and contributed by HSFT writer Rebecca Doubek who loves the color green....
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Soul Circle: A community of women that surround you with love, healing, positive vibration and acceptance, and always have your back.
HAVE SOME FUN TODAY - So, yesterday was International Women's Day, a globally celebrated day honoring the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Honoring women and all the amazing things we can do is what Have Some Fun Today is all about. Founded by a woman, surrounded by a team of women (and yes, a few awesome men, too) this "mindset brand" is all about lifting up our fellow females with positivity and love.
We love celebrating women. We love women who love to raise up other women. And women who don't buy the catty bullshit stereotypes and see the beauty in all of us rising up, like a phoenix from the ash.
Be A Bucket Carrier
We are: mothers, daughters, sisters, friends. Women. Beautiful, thoughtful, creative women. How can we make the world a better place for all of us? How can we empower each other? We think it starts with something as simple as carrying a bucket...
"I love when people that have been through hell walk out of the flames carrying buckets of water for those still consumed by the flames..." Stephanie Sparkles
That quote is everything! We fell in love with that beautiful quote by Stephanie Sparkles that we found on Instagram. We can empower other women by being there and lending a hand. Yeah, we are those kind of women. Be a bucket carrier! Be the woman who says, "I've got you. Keeping walking. You're almost there..."
Medicine Women & Revolutionaries... We Kick Ass
This we know: with age comes wisdom and with experience comes an understanding of self that we just simply can't see when we're in the flames. What a beautiful thing when a woman who has been through the fire can say to another woman, "I'm here. I see you. I know what you're going through."
Women are inherent and instinctive healers. We are like ancient medicine women with herbs and salves in our well-worn leather bag that we dole out to those who are hurting or in pain. We've been rocking this nurturing thing pretty much from the beginning of time. We give birth to lots of things, babies, ideas, companies, music, art, revolutions (see Joan of Arc, Harriet Tubman, and Susan B. Anthony ). Women are powerful beyond measure, especially when we work together. You know that saying, "Women's Instinct"? That's not just a saying. That is gospel. We have an instinct born into us that some would argue means we work from "the heart". And as nurturers, we've got the most powerful tool of all; love.
Find Your Soul Circle
When surrounded ourselves with these kind of women, we've created our own soul circle. When we can't love ourselves, they will remind us why they do. They'll pick us up and dust us off and put us back together. They'll cheer the loudest for our victories and cry with us when we fail. There's pretty much nothing we can't do when we have that kind of energy and love around us. Get a soul circle. Be a bucket carrier and immerse yourself in the beauty of being a woman.
Written and contributed by HST writer Rebecca Doubek believes in the healing power and love of a Soul Circle......
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A late winter tropical beach getaway calls for plenty of water to stay hydrated and cooled off and the perfect reason to load up the HSFT luxe tote and crown zipper pouch with beach essentials...
HAVE SOME FUN TODAY - Want an instant mood boost? Drink more water. Studies show that most of us fall short of drinking the recommended daily amount of water. That late afternoon tension headache you're getting may not be that imposing work deadline or the school carpool line, but dehydration. Drinking enough water eases tension, fatigue, muscle cramps and aids digestion. It's also detoxifying the kidneys and sharpening brain function. Who doesn't need that?
The Basics
We all know that water is essential to our survival, we need it for our body's basic functions. But when we shortchange our body the water it needs, it directly affects how we feel. It's common knowledge that most of us don't drink enough. Some experts suggest that we should drink at least half our weight in ounces. So if you weigh 140, you'd drink a minimum of 70 ounces of water daily.
Getting tired of the blandness of water? Try an infuser where you can add fresh lemons and limes, even fruit for a taste booster. Decaffeinated herbal tea is another way to get your water intake, but be mindful of adding sweetener.
Drink up, Beautiful
Drinking water is the most powerful tool we have in our beauty arsenal. Hydrating the body feeds the skin and skin is our largest organ! Drinking enough water gives us improved texture and skin color and helps promote cell regeneration. When we don't drink enough, our skin will literally show it with dull, dry skin and more pronounced wrinkles. And doctors now believe that drinking enough water can cut our caloric intake and actually help us loose weight. Drinking water before a meal can help digestion, prevent overeating and regulate blood/sugar levels.
I'll Drink to That
Studies have shown that even mild dehydration can alter mood, decrease memory and reduce brain function. Make it a habit to take your water with you. We are never without our HSFT water bottle, which fits perfectly in the gym bag, purse or car drink holder. When we feel good, we do good, and share good. It's infectious. So grab your water bottle and get happy. Never underestimate the power of feeling your best. Cheers!
Written and contributed by HSFT writer and blogger Rebecca Doubek who needs to drink more water...
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HAVE SOME FUN TODAY - It's the simplest of Beauty Secrets, but we often underestimate how important a good night's sleep is on our body and our well being."One of the most crucial anti-aging tools is sleep," says Integrative health coach and nutritionist Lisa Rado of RADO Nutrition. She tells her clients that stress is a huge deterrent in getting quality sleep and that often our bodies adapt to chronic, low grade stress in our everyday lives. She recommends a specific blend of supplements and vitamins to clients based on their individual issues.
Check out 5 more reasons you need get more rest...
1. Be Happier and Have Some Fun Today
Your mood and overall "experience" in the course of your day is most impacted by having good, restful sleep. You simply will not Have Some Fun Today when you've had a bad night's sleep. Experts agree the ideal amount of sleep is 7-9 hours each night. Clinical research shows we are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression when we are not sleeping long enough. Good sleep, good vibes. Good vibes, good day. That's how you HSFT.
2. Glowing & Radiant Skin
It's called beauty sleep because it makes you glow! A recent study in dermatology found that people who consistently log 7-9 hours each night had a better reaction recovering from ultraviolet light exposure on their skin. They also showed fewer signs of aging. Drink plenty of water. Get your sleep. That's the secret...
3. Your Body Needs a Re-boot
So much is happening internally when we rest. Our body re-sets and recalibrates. "Proper sleep is the magic hour for everyone. This is when our body repairs, rebuilds, restores and refuels on a cellular level for the next day," says Lisa Rado, of RADO Nutrition. She says that when we fix and restore good sleep, it's a game changer for the body with how we manage stress, fatigue and overall health.
We create a molecule that strengthens our immune system while we are asleep. Our blood pressure and cholesterol lowers. Cellularly and muscularly, our bodies are rebuilding and getting charged up for the day ahead. Sleep is also the way our body regulates and controls our appetite. When our sleep patterns are off and irregular, it can mean weight gain and other health issues. One study of 500 participants that was conducted over 13 years found people who frequently slept less than seven hours a night were 7.5 times more likely to be overweight! It really reeks havoc with our natural systems when we don't get the shut eye our bodies truly need.
4. Kick More Ass
We are more focused and energetic after a full night's rest, so there's pretty much nothing we cant 't do. We retain information better, learn and listen better, and generally are more productive. We look better and feel better when we get good sleep. And we definitely can make time to HAVE SOME FUN TODAY! You can't conquer the world when you're "ass-dragging" tired.5. A Better Booty Call
Getting a enough sleep is actually crucial for our sex drive. Both men and women create testosterone when they sleep, and when you're not getting enough rest, it lowers libido. So if you wanna get jiggy with it, make sure you've got a date with your pillow (our HSFT pillow is perfect!) for at least 7 hours every night.
Written and contributed by HSFT writer Rebecca Doubek who loves a good night's rest...