Morning Brew - 👑 The Plant Kween

Time-saving tools and products we’re really into rn.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Pack all your essentials into your carry-on with this Kitsch Ultimate Travel Set for toiletries and get through security in record speed. Because this summer, there’s no room for error.

📒 Get the tea on how to set rates, make a pitch, and get paid fast with Noumena for freelancers. If you’ve been thinking about starting that side hustle, you’re going to need a like-minded team in your corner.

The dreaded final boss stage of applying for that new job is writing the cover letter. Give yours a knockout edge with tips from this Fast Company article.

“The pandemic has really shown us the possibilities of what work-life balance can be. And I’ll be damned if I’m not going to use what I learned these past few years and be ready for it.”

An educator at heart, Christopher started their Insta @plantkween in 2016 as a way to share lessons about the simple joys of being a plant parent. Their “plantfluencer” social media presence, rooted in making plant care fun and engaging, features colorful outfits, dance breaks, and plant care advice that extends to self-care. During the day, Christopher works as assistant director of the NYU LGTBQ+ Center and earlier this year, they published their first book, You Grow, Gurl!: Plant Kween’s Lush Guide to Growing Your Garden.

Our bodies, our plants: “During the pandemic, we spent a lot of time with ourselves. My plants became a reflection of [how] I can care for myself and my body. I need nutrients to grow. I need to forgive myself. And I just really love learning. You see a plant in the grocery store, and then do some research, right? You find out what the origin is…and the history of how it came to you. That kind of research I do with my mind, body, and soul as well. It’s an opportunity to dig into my own entity.”

Balancing two jobs: “It’s kind of a roller coaster. There are moments where everything just feels perfectly balanced and aligned…[but] I’ve definitely experienced burnout. When NYU is really busy and then Plant Kween stuff is picking up, and I’m working from 7am to 2am [it feels like I’m] just trying to get the work done. I use my weekends to create most of my content, and so I communicate that with brands [so they can expect] what I can create and how fast I can produce. They’re usually very understanding about that.”

Staying creative: “I just want to share parts of myself and tell stories. I actually just bought a new camera, and I’m always trying to find new ways to keep myself excited about creating. I have an ongoing conversation with myself about the stories that I want to tell, the parts of my life that I want to share, and the ones I don’t. Then I decide what brands I want to work with to share those stories.”

Building an online community: “As a Black, queer, nonbinary person, I think being able to share my joy and help people find possibility, potential, and light in their own lives has been very beautiful for me to witness. There’s a lot of Black trauma porn out there. It’s nice to also share that we are thriving. With all that’s been built against us, we’re still doing our damn thing. And that really speaks to our power and our magic.”

Setting boundaries: “Work-life balance is being able to say no. I’m very transparent with my supervisor. When I was interviewing, I was like, ‘Hey, I love this work. I will show up fully. But when the clock hits six, she is out—I’m done.’ Don’t contact me unless it’s an emergency. I’m not going to work at night. I’m not bringing my work home. No, I’m not staying extra hours. It’s about creating those boundaries for yourself and communicating those boundaries with your team.”—MW

We knew it was coming, and it’s not easy to face, but this is the last installment of Sidekick’s summer travel guide! Together we’ve helped you identify your travel personality type, decide which apps to use, narrow down your packing list, and get the inside dish on credit card points. We even had an expert answer all your pressing travel questions. But fear not! There’s still plenty of summer left.

So for our grand finale, we’ve got some pointers to make any trip feel like the best one ever, no matter what the world sends your way. And here to help us help you are three travel experts—Nicole Hu, Eli Solidum, and Dasha Kofman—armed with tips on getting the most out of your destination whether you’re on a budget, in a group, or living the digital nomad life.

Bon voyage and click below to continue reading!

Burning questions of our time.

Before the pandemic, lots of us pretty much had a complete Severance-style split between work and life: We went to offices to work and then got in our cars and went home to our families. But now work from home has given us a literal look into the living rooms, bedrooms, and closet nooks of our coworkers. Zoom meetings are punctuated by curious toddlers and barking dogs. Exhausted caretakers jump on  work calls with a sleeping baby strapped to them. Is it possible we’re sharing too much of our personal lives at work now that the office/home bifurcation is less clear-cut? Is it OK to bring family life into a professional (albeit virtual) setting? What’s appropriate to share, and what should we try to keep private? Let us know your thoughts in the Inbox!—SS

And now, your thoughts on reverse mentoring:

“As a younger millennial (late twenties), until very recently I was always the youngest one in the office. However, over the past year or two, I have seen Gen Zers enter the workplace with a lot of new and innovative ideas. Suddenly I wasn’t the youngest anymore or as ‘in the loop’ as I used to be. Of course, at first it was a hard pill to swallow, but I’ve come to realize that it’s all a natural part of life’s progression. It’s better to be open-minded and learn from the next generation than avoid and miss it.”—Ashlin

Your punch list for when you punch out.

Read (before you watch): Don’t even think about watching Where the Crawdads Sing before you read this article explaining why best-selling author Delia Owens is wanted for questioning about a televised murder and other crimes that occurred during her family’s time in Zambia in the mid-1990s.

Watch: Are your friends suddenly yelling, “Behind!” and “Heard!” and “Chef?” They’ve been watching Hulu’s excellent new show The Bear, a story about a young chef trying to breathe life back into his late brother’s failing restaurant.

Drink: For a fine-dining experience without the $20 per drink price tag, whip up this Nobu-inspired lychee martini. It calls for just three ingredients: canned lychees, St-Germain liqueur, and your favorite vodka.

Mind your business: Morning Brew’s Business Casual podcast, that is. Join journalist Nora Ali as she chats with creators, thinkers, and innovators about today’s biggest and most significant business stories. Listen to the latest episode, sponsored by Real Vision, here.