 Lindsay Manfredi, Author of Unfu@kwithable: A Guide to Inspired Badassery, Cold Bassist and Tedx Speaker The key to this gift giving guide is to shop small this year. With the pandemic threatening tens of thousands of small businesses, it is up to us to help keep art alive and well in all of these areas. Here are ten of my particular favorites. For the animal lover on your list…  Alma Animal Rescue Foundation Alma Rescue provides rescue, transport, veterinary care and shelter for homeless animals. Erin Riley-Carrasco and Suzie Williamson founded this Southern California 501(c)(3) and have been rescuing animals together, since 2015. They’ve also helped end animal suffering by spaying and neutering over 2100 dogs and cats through their Spay and Neuter Clinics in Mexico. Whether you’re looking to adopt, volunteer, or just give a donation on behalf of yourself OR the animal lover in your family, this organization has been helping to shape lives for years for not only the animals, but also for the humans who THEY rescue. Check them out here. https://www.almarescue.org For the artist lover on your list…  Hanna Bruer Abstract Art I can’t even begin to express the level of talent this abstract artist, Hanna Bruer has. Prior to the pandemic, her art shows were usually live, as she would paint onstage alongside a band. Her love of creating art coinciding with her passion for music is pure fire. In addition, her soul is incredible. A little about Hanna… she’s based out of Madison, WI. She has permanent installations throughout the Midwest, including Northwestern Technical College, Sunseed Research, and Dane County Credit Union. Bruer has worked with the National Alliance on Mental Illness for their Healing Art Shows, earning Best In Show Finalist in 2015. She has provided live painting performances at venues such as the Majestic Theater and Memorial Union Terrace in Madison, as well as for Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Gallery Nights. Her work and story have been featured in the Isthmus and Cap Times publications, as well as NBC15 News. Be sure to check her out here. https://www.hannabruer.com For the Zen Massage lover on your list...  Diana Shriver - Holistic Health Practitioner Diana is as magical of a human being as they come. Diana is a licensed Holistic Health Practitioner and is based out of Southern California. Not only does she have a Bachelors in Human Development & Health Sciences from California State University, her true calling is her training in holistic bodywork and massage, including: Deep Tissue, Myofascial release, Dynamic Sports Cupping, Acupressure (Shiatsu), Reflexology, Thai, Lomi Lomi, Prenatal, Ayurvedic, Reiki & Energy Work, Craniosacral Therapy, Structural Integration, & Lymphatic Massage. I will travel to her anytime I need work done on my body. Her calm, her presence, and her passion extends to every point she touches (on your body and your soul). I’ve been in knots but she has worked those out physically, spiritually, and emotionally. If you’re EVER in the SoCal region, look her up and set it up. You won’t be sorry. Gift certificates are also available. Check her out here: https://www.dianawellbeing.com/about. For the organic shower lover on your list…  Kailea Evon Iskra (pronounced Kay-Lee) Kailea makes one of the most divine, organic body scrubs out there. Her Rose Lavender Body Polish is made out of organic extra virgin coconut oil, Himalayan pink salt, organic Lavender essential oils and rose petals. It is calming, all natural, and an extremely effective exfoliant. Her gift bundle not only includes the body polish, she throws in a little spoon, a raw rose quartz and Palo Santo for an extra boost. Plus, it’s beautifully wrapped. Kailea is an Integrative Health and Wellness coach who specializes in overall mind, body and Spirit vitality. She coaches her clients beginning with food as a mind, body and spiritual transformation. She’s based out of Los Angeles, but does online coaching as well. Check her out here and order this amazing scrub as well. It’s one of my favorites. https://www.getgreenstache.com For the jewelry lover on your list…  Michelle Bernat - Bernatti Designs Michelle Bernat is based out of Carlsbad, CA, and her custom-made jewelry is gorgeous AND affordable. From earrings to bracelets to necklaces to rings, she’s been beautifying ordinary to extraordinary for years. Her designs are made of one-of-a-kind stones and are all custom pieces. Check her out here! https://bernatti-designs.myshopify.com For the candle lover on your list…  Equinox Farms Luxury Candles It’s no surprise I’m putting this on the list. Yes, I am partnered with owner Tricia Meteer when it comes to candles for my band, Cold, but her candles are truly THE best. Made from 100 percent coconut wax, one 8-ounce candle can burn up to 50 hours with the best throw you will ever smell in your life. From snarky to spiritual, from holiday to every day, EQX Farm Shop labels (and scents) have the perfect messages for anyone on your list. Some of the scents include champagne mimosa, karma, goddess glow, and magick to name a few. We also do custom candles for bands and brands. Some of the most popular bands we’ve created for are Cold, Motley Crue and Jonathon Davis of Korn. Check out the entire candle collection here! https://eqxshop.com For the fashion lover on your list…  Black Pearl LA “All I ever wanted was everything” is the main idea behind the new brand Black Pearl LA. Founded by Matteo Ben Shaul, this brand is on point when it comes to comfort and fashion. His designs are creative and thought-provoking. He specializes in menswear but also has a line of women’s jeans. Be sure to be one of the first ones to rock this brand. It’s going to be huge. Check it out here. http://blackpearlla.com For the book lover on your list…  Unfu@kwithable: A Guide to Inspired Badassery Of course, my debut book Unfu@kwithable is going on this list. Published this year by Rose Gold Publishing, you can get a signed copy for just $20, and I will personally send it out. The reviews and responses so far have been incredibly humbling and exciting. This part memoir, part personal development book was created to help give readers encouragement and hope when it comes to living a life based on the Law of Attraction and true passion. I share my journey with the ups and downs of living a creative life and being in one of my all-time favorite bands. Get your copy here! https://shop-ljm.myshopify.com For the organic body product lover on your list…  STRIPPED Stripped is an organic, eco-conscious small batch, body care brand, born out of passion from my dear friend, Rose Marie. HER particular vision of passion is to nurture others and teach how nature provides nutrition, protection, and healing benefits for our bodies and minds. Focusing on small batches allows room for her to be creative and fresh, while ensuring exceptional, thoughtfully-made products. Rose Marie started Stripped with the vision to create quality, organic products without the harsh, lab created filler ingredients, dyes, and sulfates. I’ll also note that all packaging is either recyclable, compostable, or reusable. Check out her products here. https://www.strippedbody.care For the guitarist on your list…  Couch Guitar Straps I’ve been rocking Couch Guitar Straps for nearly a decade. They are on this list because they started small but have most definitely grown. As they should. All of their guitar and camera straps are made in the USA, are completely hand-made, AND are made of at least 25% of recycled materials…like the one I’m rocking here that was made from an old seat belt. They also carry wallets and bags, and fun knick-knack like things. Some of the biggest rock stars in the world rock these straps. Plus, their customer service has always gone above and beyond. Every new guitar gets a new Couch strap. Be sure to check out the entire collection here! https://www.couchguitarstraps.com I hope you all have a great time shopping and supporting these businesses. As always, stay safe and have a wonderful holiday. Cheers! This article was written by a guest contributor: Lindsay Manfredi
Some may say Lindsay Manfredi is the definition of a renaissance woman. From being in the music industry for over 20 years, as well as a two-time TEDx speaker and Co-founder of Girls Rock Indianapolis, a nonprofit rock and roll summer camp for girls ages 8-16 which was started in 2010, she is currently the bassist for the alternative rock band, COLD, who has sold over one million records in the US alone, and most recent album, The Things We Can’t Stop, debuted at 34 on Billboard through Napalm Records in September 2019. She is endorsed by Ernie Ball and also has an endorsement with Diamond Guitars who are currently building two bass guitars, the Maverick and Hailfire ‘LM’ series basses, that have been custom made for her. Manfredi is also a singer/songwriter whose music is featured on the Fitfluential Radio podcast and does studio work with Geno Lenardo (Filter, Chevelle) regularly. Manfredi is also partnered with Tricia Meteer for Equinox Farms and hand-pours luxury candles for bands and brands when she’s not touring. Manfredi owned a ghostwriting and social media marketing company, Linzstar Inc, for 10 years until music took over her life. She has been a featured speaker at Blog Indiana multiple times and on many social media marketing panels including Blog Indiana, The Combine in Bloomington IN, and was featured in Indianapolis Monthly Magazine as an up-and-coming artist in 2013. Manfredi is currently living in California and recently released her first book, UNFUCKWITHABLE: A Guide to Inspired Badassery. Connect with Lindsay Manfredi New Book, UNFUCKWITHABLE: A Guide to Inspired Badassery available NOW! Bassist for COLD, lover, rocker, speaker, author, road warrior Website: lindsaymanfredi.com Band: coldarmy.com ig: lindsaymanfredi ig: coldmusic facebook: COLD
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 My dearest #WomxnCrush Music community,
What a year, right? Thank you to all of you for supporting us every step of the way this year. When COVID-19 hit in March, it took the world by storm, and the music industry was definitely no exception. As an organization that depends on in-person connections and live music, we had to adjust. But we didn’t want to just get by, we wanted to give back to those who had supported us in the past, and help our community thrive through an unknown future. This brings us to right now, with the launch of our #GivingTuesday campaign: Proud Of Our Past, Funding For Our Future. When we found ourselves amidst this pandemic, we pivoted. We are in the middle of wrapping up our 5-month virtual tour across the USA where we raised money for local womxn-owned music venues, facilitated connections between artists and their local industry members and gave our songwriters a platform to connect with old and new fans. We also launched a program called Song Sessions, a monthly event where our community is encouraged to submit original songs for live critiques by experienced songwriters and industry professionals. We had the honor to work with songwriters like Jenna Andrews, industry professionals like A&R Manager Caterina Nasr from Elektra Records and so many more. Through these programs,we have continued our mission of creating opportunities for rising womxn songwriters. And next year, we aim to take things a step further. In 2021, #WCM will be focusing our programming not only on amplifying the music of our artists and facilitating connections between creators and industry professionals,but also helping our community members hone their craft and build their creative businesses. Some of our new programs include co-writing camps, webinars with tech and industry leaders, a yearly summit to help build awareness on all-things business, and intimate, small-group events that help foster genuine relationships with industry decision makers. 2020 has been a whirlwind, and we are grateful for what we’ve been able to accomplish and provide our community with thus far, but 2021 will be the year for rebuilding our industry and creating impactful opportunities to help artists move forward. Community is everything, and #WCM will never stop pursuing our mission of providing for our community of rising womxn songwriters. With your help, we know we can do that. If you’d like to support #WCM and work with us on advancing our mission, you may make a donation to help us fund for our future (click here). Any amount helps, and we truly appreciate all of it. So here’s to a future with more womxn topping the charts, headlining festivals and being recognized in this industry. We can do this together! Happy Holidays, Ashley K. Stoyanov |