10 Fun Side Hustles To Replace That Crappy Second Job
When many of us think of a side hustle or second job, we cringe at the usual options that might either be out of our comfort zone or totally outside our passions. The motivations for even pursuing a side hustle or job can often center on money and getting it by any means necessary---especially if the need for extra cash is immediate.
It's OK to bite the bullet, make sacrifices, and take on a side gig just to reach a financial goal, get out of debt, or upgrade your life, but why not work smarter versus harder? A good way to do this is to monetize what you're passionate about or good at and finding creative ways to do so.
Let me help you out sis. Here are 10 cool and fun side hustles where you can do just that:
1. Virtual Assistance
As black women, we are the highest growing population of entrepreneurs. Knowing that, you might guess that there is always a need for someone to come in and totally enhance the work life and organizational operations of a busy power woman somewhere around the world. The great thing about being a virtual assistant is that you can do it from practically anywhere, set your own hours, and work with who you want to. If you've got great project management skills, are good with technology, or have great experience as an assistant, this might be a great option for you.
2. Admissions Coordinating
So many parents are bogged down with simply making sure their children are safe, well-fed, and not about to ruin their lives that when it's time for college prep, things can get a bit overwhelming. You can step in---and actually charge a fee---to organize college tours, set up schedules to meet with admissions counselors, and assist with applying for financial aid. You can also help with researching scholarships, special programs, and finding program fits. If you're an administrative geek who loves being part of helping students reach their higher ed dreams---and helping take the burden off parents---this is a perfect side gig for you.
3. Event Planning
This is highly lucrative these days, especially when working with corporations and brands, and if you're savvy with organizing and coordinating all the moving parts of great ones, this is a sweet spot. Many event planners will agree that it's not all fun and games, but you can enjoy a good party more often than not.
If you love making key moments of people's lives the most memorable, this is the side gig of your dreams.
4. Mobile Beauty Service
More and more people are buying into mobile beauty services, from manicures and hair grooming, to waxing and Botox. Providing these might require specialized licensing, training, certifications and even insurance, but it's worthwhile if this is something you love doing. You'll also have the flexibility to make your own hours, choose who you service, and leave that booth fee behind. It's a good way to tap into your creative side if you find yourself happy but in a primary job that doesn't require that much.
5. Freelance Entertainment or Event Hosting
Knowing how to work a room, run a show, or make people laugh are actually money-making, marketable skills. Organizations and professionals oftentimes hire personalities to take their events up a notch, host fundraisers or lead receptions, and you can definitely take a Saturday or two out of the month to make a few hundred---maybe even a few thousand---extra dollars doing just that. If you have gift of gab, are known as a person who can give a great speech or tell a good joke, or you're just good a schmoozing, start using that to your advantage to make a few extra coins.
6. Wedding Officiating
In some cases, can get ordination for this online and get to marrying folk the same week. It's that easy. Just do your research for the state where you want to start officiating, and be sure you're in love with love. Once you figure out your style and get a good buzz going in terms of the service you offer, you might become that go-to person for different types or vibes of weddings. You can create a niche doing this, and again, you make your own hours and choose the couples you'll be legally bonding together in marital bliss.
7. Fashion or Shoot Styling
Are mood boards your thing? Do you love putting together a great look or vibe? Are you familiar with lighting, angles, fits, and aesthetics? This might be a match made in heaven for you. Making someone's vision come to life for a website, special event, social media platform, or publication is a unique skill set that is in demand.
This side gig also affords you the opportunity to meet new people, travel, and be active, especially if your first job is more stoic and stationary.
8. Interior Decorating
This can go beyond putting together the look for a new homebuyer. Realtors, theater owners, church leaders, and entrepreneurs often hire interior decorators to conceptualize spaces, shop for pieces, or stage rooms for marketing or selling purposes. Get creative and think outside the box if you're looking to take this on because, again, the need is there.
9. Travel Concierge Services
International travel has increased among our sister circles, and many of us look for experiences outside of the norm. If you find yourself always being the one in the group to know about some special concert, new adventure or locale, or just a super-planner, why not charge for use of those skills? Taking the stress out of planning the next big girls trip is something many professionals and entrepreneurs will pay someone top dollar to do.
10. Freelance Editing and Writing
Obviously, I'm a bit biased on this, but if you have expertise in a certain field, are great at putting words together that actually drive change and make sense, or you're an awesome grammarian, put those skills to use by taking on freelance projects. Sites like Upwork are your best friends, and businesses and orgs are always looking for someone to provide or tweak content. This also provides you the access and opportunity to attend events, travel and meet people you may not have previously had the chance to.
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Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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From Dinnerware To Color Palette: How To Curate Your Dream Thanksgiving Table
Food is the star of the show for Thanksgiving, but let’s be honest: dinner wouldn’t be anything special without a good tablescape. Decor is a significant part of the holiday season! Garlands, pumpkins, candles, and other decor can take your Thanksgiving spread from bland to brilliant! However, we understand the stress of making a whole feast for family and friends.
We sat down with Beth Smith of Beth Diana Smith Interior Designs to learn how to create the perfect tablescape for any dinner party.
Set the Tone With Dinnerware
Carolyn Ann Ryan/Getty Images
“Focus on the meal you’re serving and make your dinnerware set the tone and be the highlight of the table,” says Smith. The dinner is why your community is coming together and is arguably the most crucial centerpiece. Decorative pieces are nice, but food and what we use to eat can make it much more special. Smith suggests, “I recommend the Nguka dinnerware set from 54kibo, which is stunning, unique, and beautifully made.”
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, The Stoke Collection by ceramic artists Althea’s Meade-Hajduk is intentionally created to visually enhance any meal experience.
Have Fun With Your Color Palette
Maria Korneeva/Getty Images
In the world of nude palette overload, it’s nice to see color occasionally. Color is a natural mood booster that can bring excitement to the room - or table! “Create a thoughtful color palette that is not the standard Thanksgiving palette of fall colors,” says Smith. Having fun with colors and moving away from a traditional setting can bring uniqueness to your tablescape.
There’s also no chance of your tablescape having the same color palette as everyone else on social media. Smith adds, “If pink has grabbed your attention, this dusty pink set from Our Place has different plate and bowl size options.”
Incorporate Florals Through Bud Vases or Bouquets
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Who doesn’t love florals? This look is accepted year-round, not just when romance is involved. “You can’t go wrong with florals for a tablescape if you’re setting it for your family, friends, or a group of singles,” says Smith. Florals are an easy way to make any event look elevated without having to try as hard. If you’re worried about hypoallergenic guests, you can purchase artificial flowers from Amazon. Here, you can find various floral options and even create your own bouquet.
“A floral tablescape can be budget-friendly or as extravagant as you may like. You can select a few bud vases and strategically place them around the table using a bouquet you bought locally,” says Smith.
Unsure of who is your local florist? Black Girl Florist is a site that helps you source local florists in your area. Click here to find a florist in your neighborhood! And if your budget is a little tighter than usual due to the holidays, Smith has a solution that will save you money altogether. Smith suggests, “You can also use dried-up branches and leaves from your backyard, which would be free.”
Elevate Your Tablescape With a Charcuterie Board
JMichl/Getty Images
Charcuterie boards have become all the rage on TikTok, and for good reason. Mixing your favorite meats, cheese, and grapes has made snacking visually tasteful. Smith says they can also create a fabulous tablescape - killing two birds with one stone. Smith says, “You can never go wrong with creating one large charcuterie board. This makes food the decoration interesting, colorful, and delicious!” This could be especially great for Friendsgiving, and you want to avoid cooking a turkey twice.
The beauty of charcuterie boards is creating a food palette unique to you or your guest's needs. On the flip side, we also understand how overwhelming it can be to decide precisely what to put on your board. Smith has a few recommendations that can be helpful, “You can include cheeses, crackers, and meats, but you can also add specialty items like deserts, chocolate, and truffle mustard.”
Smith refers to the Truffle Mustard by Truffiest, an award-deserving mustard infused with summer truffles from northern Italy. This mustard can be paired with crackers, cheeses, meats, and shredded turkey if you want to stay on the theme.
Build on an Artsy Vibe and Add Layers
Liliboas/Getty Images
There’s no shame in bringing it back to basics. Bring out the old tablecloth your family member gave you a few years ago; it’s vintage! “The goal is to make the table look and feel like you have everything you need and more,” Smith says. Everything you need and more can consist of four main ingredients: tablecloth, napkins, cups, and, most importantly - wine glasses. “Make the tablescape feel artistic with funky dinner napkins and tablecloths. Then, layer with oversized plates, long-stemmed wine glasses, and after-dinner cups.”
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