Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: Shalini Bethala

National Cupcake Day + Sprinkles GIVEAWAY!

Our leading ladies share their favorite cupcakes, plus a chance to win a $20 Sprinkles giftcard!

My sisters and I baked cupcakes regularly together growing up (never mind that they were generally of the boxed variety). My affinity for cupcakes meant endless gifts of cupcake-icon gifts: a belt, a tank top, luggage tag, rain boots, and not one but two cupcake deliveries for my birthday last year. Needless to say, when Sprinkles opened its doors I jumped on that cupcake bakery bandwagon real quick. It was one of the first stops on my list to visit when I moved to Los Angeles, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Sprinkles put cupcakes on the map, and many have followed to continue the movement of one of the best baked inventions.

To celebrate National Cupcake Day, read on to find out where our leading ladies across the country turn to curb their cupcake appetite… plus don’t miss your chance to win one of three $20 giftcards to Sprinkles!

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December 15, 2014
Happy Thanksgiving!

Contributors share traditions and what they’re giving thanks for

PHOTO: TV Media Insights.

I used to mark my year in reasons to fly home, and one of the biggest trips was naturally for Thanksgiving. LAX is reportedly the busiest airport in the US during Thanksgiving week, and from the endless delays, cancelations, and hours spent at a terminal during that week for the past decade I can say proudly that it’s true.. and I survived. Last year in the cab ride to the airport, a thought casually crossed my mind: “This is the last year I’ll travel for Thanksgiving.” It came and went before I had a chance to challenge it, but a year later I smile at my personal premonition.

For the first time since 2005, I am staying put for Thanksgiving. I see my family every day, yet the festive air is contagious and the holiday spirit feels even more magical now that I’m in a city in which temperatures drop for the season (plus you have to admit San Francisco feels like a snow globe city, without the snow). 2014 has been quite a year. I don’t know many who didn’t go through some kind of major change—a decision to change jobs, move into a new apartment, relocate to a new city, go back to school, start a company—and we are all better for it.

This Thanksgiving, take a pause before you begin your meal or before you change into your Thanksgiving pants, and give thanks to those around you (literally and figuratively). Here are what our single girls are grateful for this year.

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November 27, 2014
All Hail Our Single Girls
A Shout Out to Our Amazing Contributors, Our Single Girls

As we celebrate 1 year of The Single Diaries we would be remiss not to recognize the Single Girls who have contributed to the making of this site. From our long-time friends to friends whom we’ve recently met, there are nearly 50 amazing women whose talents make up these pages.

The posts that they have contributed are as varied as the women themselves. Some have shared their advice through original articles. Others have let us tap their talents for an interview. While still others have shared their words of wisdom for posts Catherine and I have put together.

No matter the method, the result remains the same. We are always inspired by their passion, ability, and fortitude. We’ve:
- Learned from their adventures in romance.
- Explored the world through their travels.
- Gotten to know the cities they call home.
- Been motivated by their pursuits.
Needless to say, we think our Single Girls rock.

A few weeks ago one of our contributors introduced me to a dinner party game called “I’m a badass because…”. Everyone around the table was asked to share what personal accomplishments she was most proud of. I had two immediate reactions when our host initiated the game- fear and appreciation. Fear because I, like many of us, am not comfortable tooting my own horn. Appreciation, for having a friend that was pushing this group of girls not only to cheer for one another but also for themselves.

When I thought about the best way to recognize The Single Diaries contributors I could think of no better idea than to carry forward this game and allow each girl the chance to express what she is most proud. See what they had to say-

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August 27, 2014
How to Stay Safe While Traveling Alone

Planning a Solo Vaca this Summer? Shalini has 10 Tips to Help You Be a Smart, Single Traveler

A few months ago, I decided that this was the summer I would go to Europe. The only issue was that I had no one to go with. For a while, I frantically tried to find friends to travel with me, but then I realized that I had never truly gone anywhere by myself. I went to the same college as my older sister, and I had friends in all the places I’ve moved to. I never knew what it was like to go somewhere completely alone where I would have to figure things out for myself. Since, I didn’t have anyone to go with, I figured now was a great time to test myself to see what I can do.

I decided to go to Italy, and today wrapped up the last day of my one-week solo vacation. Looking back, I want to brush my shoulder and say, “That was a breeze!”, but, in truth, a lot of planning, preparation, and worrying went into this trip. However, since I arrived, it has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had, and I am so happy I made the decision to come. I prepared for this trip by researching tips from other solo travelers, and I learned a few valuable lessons that every Single Girl traveling alone outside the country should know. Here are my top bits advice to help you stay safe while traveling alone.

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July 17, 2014
To the Men Who Matter Most | Happy Father’s Day

A Look at the Greatest Lessons We’ve Learned from Our Dads

There are many men who will come in and out of our lives but there is one who rises above the rest– our dads. When I look back on my childhood and what it took to raise me into the young woman I am today, I can truly see how difficult the role of “dad” is to fill. It’s takes a brave man to step into those shoes. Speaking from my experience, I know that girls, especially in our teenage years, are not always the easiest bunch to deal with. We want our freedom but also our dad’s protection. We want to learn but also to discover things on our own. We want to be told we’re beautiful but to be valued for more than our looks.

This Sunday June 15th we will celebrate the men who have raised us to become the fierce, fearless, and aspiring women we are today. In preparation for Father’s Day, we’ve asked several of our Single Girl contributors to tell us the most important lessons they’ve learned from their dads. Read on for the lessons we’ve learned and then let us know– What is the best lesson you’ve learned from your dad?

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June 13, 2014