DogVacay’s in house social guru Rachael King, calls Los Angeles’ WeHo (that’s West Hollywood for non-Angelenos) home. When we were deciding on the best place to brunch in her ‘hood Gracias Madre was an obvious choice.
Image from graciasmadreweho.com
When you approach Gracias Madre you encounter a sleek white building with a simple, yet elegant typographic sign. Walk through the doors and you’re transported into a beautiful oasis. The building’s white walls are sharply contrasted by bright colors of fresh fruit on the bar and blooms adorning the tabletops as abundantly as the cocktails.
Image from mrsiebert.com
The food, like the decor, draws inspiration from the kitchens of Mexico. Expect to find vegan cuisine served up with cocktails concocted from fresh pressed juices. Brunch options are a mix of tofu scrambles, smoothies, and sweet and savory toasts. There’s no need to sweat your decision, trust that no matter what you order it will be delicious.
To see what Rachael and I decided to brunch on, you’ll have to click here and watch our interview!
Rachael King is an entrepreneur of a different sort. She is the Head of Communications for the dog sitting startup DogVacay. Though the company is not her own, the journey that lead her there is uniquely hers.
What started as an interest in blogging has turned into a full-blown career that many young women would dream of. She has competed to earn the title of MTV’s first Twitter Jockey, garned fame for her “Pinterest Resume”, been written about by today’s top media, and ultimately landed in her dream job. She is the perfect example of someone who found her passion and relentlessly pursued it.
To learn how her journey unfolded, I met up with Rachael at one of my favorite healthy brunch spots, Gracias Madrein West Hollywood. This Mexican inspired joint with a vegan twist is the second child of the founders of Cafe Gratitude. Expect to find amazing fresh-pressed juices, glorious guacamole, and guilt-free indulgences like their superb lemon scones. The food is delicious and their outdoor patio is storybook. If you’re in the ‘hood this is definitely a must-see spot, even if you are a meat lover : )
More About Rachael
Rachael is the Head of Communications for DogVacay where she is responsible for leading the company’s PR efforts. A typical day might include brainstorming consumer events, booking executive speaking engagements, and building relationships with social media influencers. Before landing her gig at DogVacay, Rachael lead social media at Sidecar, Adobe, and ioStudio.
Rachael’s first experience with content creation came soon after graduating from The University of North Carolina. While working in an entry-level admin position, she used her spare time to build her first blog. As she watched her audience size grow, she quickly realized she was pretty good at the game, and so did others. MTV invited her to be a participant in a contest to be their first Twitter Jockey. Though she didn’t land the gig, it gave her the confidence to pursue social media as a career.
She added to her portfolio by volunteering her talents to local businesses. To keep track of the work she’d done and the accomplishments she’d earned along the way, Rachael decided to create a “Pinterest resume“. To her surprise her personal portfolio became a media sensation, gaining news coverage across popular outlets like Mashable, USA Today, and CNN. The rest as they say, is history.
What is DogVacay?
DogVacay is a website that connects pet owners with sitters willing to take care of their pets while they are away. When you register as a dog sitter you have the flexibility to name your services (in home boarding, walking, grooming, etc…) and your prices. I consider it Match.com but for dogs and people because owners have the opportunity to browse individuals’ profiles and select the dog owner they feel is the best match for them and their dog. Before agreeing to sit, you have the chance to do a meet-n-greet with the dog to make sure you’re a good fit. When you do accept a gig, DogVacay is on your side in case of any puppy emergencies by providing you with pet insurance and 24/7 customer support.
An Interview with Rachael King, Head of Communications for DogVacay
Coming up next on Toast Meets Jam… Rachael King, the Head of Communications for DogVacay.
The goal of Toast Meets Jam is to inspire and empower you to pursue your passions. Often this means stepping out on your own and building your vision from the ground up rather than following a traditional career path. For this reason, most of the interview guest are female entrepreneurs.
On this episode of Toast Meets Jam however, I interview a guest who’s entrepreneurial spirit has taken her a different route. Rachael King is the Head of Communications for DogVacay, one of today’s hottest startups. It’s a role that she enthusiastically refers to as her dream job, as would many young women who’s interests also lie in the industry. Though her journey did not lead her to building her own business, it is one of an entrepreneur none the less.
From sitting behind a desk at a lackluster administrative job to competing to become MTV’s first Twitter Jockey to building the famous “Pinterest Resume”, Rachael’s pursuit of her passion is quite the unique tale. Check back in to catch our conversation over green juices and avocado toasts at Gracias Madre.
For anyone who wants to find their way into a career in social media, this is an interview not to be missed!
Since quitting my job last November I have been hitting the side hustle – hard. One of my most lucrative undertakings has been serving as a dog sitter for DogVacay.com. The site matches dogs and their owners with people in their neighborhood who are willing to offer their services as sitters and walkers. For someone like me who would love to own a dogbut realistically knows she’s not ready for that kind of commitment, it’s great. It’s like being the aunt- you get all of the fun of watching a dog without the long term cost and responsibility of owning one.
When I started dog sitting it was purely with the aim of making money. Six dogs later, dog sitting has delivered a surprising and unexpected reward. My days of dog sitting have actually taught me lessons on how to live a happier life. It might sound crazy but it’s true.
As you head into your weekend, consider these three lessons and how you can apply them to your own soon to be happier life!
Turn to these Websites for Great Ways to Earn Extra Income
Every now and then we all find ourselves thinking that we could use a little extra padding in our wallets. It could be that you’re scrapping up dollars to make it to all of the bachelorette and wedding festivities your friends have added to your calendar. Maybe you’re saving up to buy that first house. Or perhaps, you’re simply looking to increase the number in your savings account. If you’re like me you’re just trying to add any income you can because you’ve quit your job and gone the route of rouge entrepreneur (but that’s another story).
Luckily, there are a lot of sources for Single Girls in our situations. Many websites have made it easier than ever to find freelance work and easy side jobs that can help you rake in a significant amount of cash. Next time you find yourself wishing you had a few extra Benjamins, try checking out one of these 6 sites to score yourself some serious cash.
Rachael is the Head of Communications for DogVacay where she is responsible for leading the company’s PR efforts. A typical day might include brainstorming consumer events, booking executive speaking engagements, and building relationships with social media influencers. Before landing her gig at DogVacay, Rachael lead social media at Sidecar, Adobe, and ioStudio.
