​Jess Merritt is serving up something sweet. She’s not your typical chick selling boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Forget that! She doesn’t have a catalog of chocolates to sell either.
 
Jess Merritt is taking on the art of homemade fudge and she’s throwing her own twist on it. How many teens do you know that can whip up a batch of fudge?

​Miss Merritt is 18 years old and finishing up her Senior year of high school. She resides on the south shore and finds herself passionate about art and animal care. Combining her love for food and animals, she aspires to own her own farm and use her own organic produce and ingredients from her farm in her future meals.
 
Hearing from Jess, it was so invigorating to see someone who wants to live a life of self-sustainability through farming, agriculture, and cooking.

​Jess first heard the fudge calling this summer. She began working at a fudge stand at the Marshfield fair. Curiosity called and she began her first batch at home. She found cooking it to be calming and therapeutic.
 
Since then, she found her favorite type of fudge to make is mint chocolate because it comes out a shade of green that reminds her of Christmas. She also enjoys the process of swirling in the chocolate on top.  Her favorite fudge to eat is the cookies and cream flavor because it’s her favorite flavor for any sweet treat!

​After Jess realized she was interested in making fudge, she spent days online looking at recipes that could be used to make different flavors. After experimenting and trial and error, she finally found one that fit really well and she’s been doing variations of it since. 
 
Her process for making fudge all starts with the size of the batch that she’s making. The largest size she does is a full pan of 16 pieces, then a smaller pan of 8, and half of that pan for 4.
 
She then melts a bowl of chocolate chips because most of the fudge has a chocolate bottom layer. She mixes that in with the base and add it to the pan, and from there it depends on what type of fudge she’s making. But the flavors (whether it be peanut butter or more chocolate chips) are melted down with the base and then added into the pan.
 
She lets them set over a few hours or through the night and then cuts and boxes them in the morning. 

​Support local woman in business – support Jess Merritt’s sweet new business! It is inspiring to see Jess start out her own fudge business and I am so excited to see where this journey will take her! I wish her all my luck and I give her all my support.

Support Jess's Business!

Order her fudge today!
 
Contact info:
Email her at jessmerritt12@gmail.com
Instagram: local_fudge_girl

Jess is currently setting up Venmo and other sites to make ordering and payments easier. 

​Welcome to the third blog post about #ThatBALife
If you haven’t read the other two posts, please visit
1) http://www.samanthagottlich.com/blog/batipsandtricks1
2) http://www.samanthagottlich.com/blog/batipsandtricks2
Before reading on to this post!
 
So you’re educated. You know the different types of BA jobs and what you might want to explore. You’re fueled up, fired up, and ready to roll. But how the HECK do you get employed? What is the process of employment? How do we make that sweet, sweet dough?

​BA jobs are unlike any other job out there. Trust me. It’s a process. Paperwork wise, the first five or so jobs seemed so frustrating! All I wanted to do was sprint into action and become a great BA! But, I had to slow down and understand that this is a job unlike any other, so the paper process is very different.

​There are endless ways on how to get BA work.
 
A great resource would be Facebook groups for BA’s in your area. Join the groups, turn your notifications on, and see what fits you interests! Some posts will have you email a hiring manager or sign up on an agency’s portal.
 
Another way to get BA work is an agency’s portal. You can apply to be staffed by an agency and if they review your credentials and profile and accept you, you can select jobs to apply to.
 
In addition, Craigslist and Google as well as networking on other social media platforms can lead you to some great BA jobs. Friends and coworkers who work in BA can also recruit you for other jobs if you show you’ve got the drive and the positive attitude!

​When you work as a BA, you’re almost always an independent contractor or freelancer. That means, there’s going to be a decent amount of papers going back and forth. You’re remote, the agency/recruiter/employer for that specific event is most likely not in your time zone. That means you need to step up that responsibility and make sure everything is sent over.
 
Agencies usually request a filled out W-9 with a license, passport, SSC, or a mix. They usually want photographs or scanned images or PDFs. If the agency is paying via direct deposit, they may want a voided check and your bank routing number and account details. On the other hand, they may just want your address to send checks. It depends on the hiring manager, the agency, and the event.
 
You’re almost always NOT going to get taxes taken out. Sounds sweet, but you HAVE to be cautious. You don’t want the IRS knocking.

I recommend keeping a spreadsheet of all the events you’ve worked organized by month. My spreadsheet includes agency hired, client worked for, hours, expenses, and if I was paid or not (as well as any bonuses given). This helps with tracking business expenses and if the agency has paid its BA’s yet. It can take time depending on the client. Time varies! ​

Most people wonder if being a BA is the right fit. It requires a lot of drive, consistency, job hunting, and effort. It's hard work and you have to keep on top of things to ensure you're booked and scheduled. The industry is unpredictable and nothing is certain. But, the jobs are exciting, you make people happy, you get to travel, and meet wonderful people!

​BA work isn't for anyone but it's worth the try!

​Summer – the fashion season of bright and warm colors and plenty of floral prints. As we transition into fall, how do we transform our closets into fall fashion?
 
Of course, we can keep rocking our fantastical flowers but we can also let the flowers wither and bring on a new print instead.
 
Kate Spade is calling for animal prints, especially leopard, for the season of fall. 

I had the opportunity to step into my local Kate Spade retailier and ask questions regarding their inventory, upcoming inventory, and the brand's plans for fall fashion. 

​Before the frigid winds come back to New England, we’re still in for warmer days! Thankfully, Kate Spade is having a blowout sale of all the summer pieces in order to make way for the fall collection. 

Photographed above: The summer collection - which is on sale!

​Glasses start at $160 and range to $180 and reading glasses start at $68. Select wallets and select bags are on sale as well. 

To ring in the new season of fierce and fabulous looks, Kate Spade will be hosting a complimentary event from October 2nd through 8th to promote their new styles.

Attendees of the event will receive SPECIAL Kate Spade swag - only available at this event! I was so excited to have gotten some #LeopardLeopardLeopard swag from the event - the Leopard Leopard Leopard pin and Kate Spade tattoos.  

The STUNNING new Kate Spade Leopard dress paired with the Kate Spade Leopard purse

Rocking the Kate Spade swag.

Whether you're thinking of exploring new prints like leopard or if you're looking for a new outfit to complete your closet, check out Kate Spade! There is plenty of looks for every woman. 

To contact the Kate Spade location I visited on the South Shore, email derbystreet@katespade.com . The location can be reached by 781-740-2422. Check them out on Instagram too: @derbystreetmuses

​“CHICNICITY was created with a simple goal - Ready To Wear clothes inѕрirеd by ethnic colors & prints in соntеmроrаrу ѕilhоuеttеѕ fоr the modern woman.”

​When picking out an outfit for the day, you normally start with your top and bottoms (whether a shirt, pants, skirt, or dress). Then you find a pair of shoes to compliment the look. Sometimes we go the extra mile to add extra details to the look such as jewelry and bags.
 
But what about our head?
 
Sure, we can add a beanie, baseball cap or sunhat but not every look fits those styles. Maybe change our hair and add a hair clip? Maybe not.
 
How can we bring accessories to the next level?

​CHICNICITY takes prints and styles rich in history and adapts it for the modern woman. The styles compliment any figure and any shape. Available in not only headwear; dresses, tops, skirts, and more are available.

​There is an article of clothing for ANY woman – for ANY event!

I had the pleasure of meeting the designer of CHICNICITY, Boye, during the summer and I can recall feeling incredibly empowered in her looks for the CHICNICITY line.

​One of the dresses I wore made me feel spunky, care-free, and whimsical. The other dress I wore made me feel sexy, sophisticated, and bold. 

I loved how the same designer could pull such contrasting emotions out of me through the designs and I could hardly wait to try CHICNICITY's line of headware!

Looking darling and innocent, the Lilie Twist Wire Headband ups your mane game (Love that phrase - it's from the CHICNICITY site). 

The headband itself brings me a Rosie the Riveter vibe. Therefore, you can take that sense and bring your outfit to a more bad-ass look!

I decided to do the opposite and put together a look that's innocent and sweet with modern and not-so-modern aspects.  

When RUE 21 closed in my local mall, I scooped a whole look! I took my black crop top, gold skirt, and hippie vibe shades and paired them with my Lilie Twist Wire Headband. I then toned down the look with Payless black heels. 

Purchase your Lilie Twist Wire Headband by following the link! Receive 10% off by using coupon code JUSTSAM10%

https://www.chicnicity.com/product-page/imanie-headband-extra-wide

The Imanie Turband keeps your hair in place - no matter your wildest days! It holds back my waves and brings my outfits to a new dimension. 

I wanted to contrast my other two CHICNICITY looks with my outfit for the turband. I decided to go sophisticated yet graceful and flirty.

To achieve this, I took my hand-me-down dress, thrifted earrings, and Payless heels and paired it with the Imanie Turband. 

This look is perfect for a night in the city, a lunch outback, or a day catching up with friends! 

Sweet? Check. Graceful? Check. Rebellious? CHECK.

CHICNICITY Headbands can truly help you pull off any style. They add the pop you're missing to rock a look. The headbands fit cute and sweet skirts and dresses, but what about something more alternative?

I took my Surrie Turband and I brought it to an unheard of look: Luxurious and Rebellious!

My $5 thrifted mink jacket, my $2 thifted pants, my hand-me-down heels and earrings, and a department store tank top helped bring out this unique outfit concept proving the power of accessorizes and how CHICNICITY can help add to any look!

Check out more of the CHICNICITY designs, fashion shows, and more! Stay up to date with all things CHICNICITY!

Website: https://www.chicnicity.com/

Shop: https://www.chicnicity.com/shop
​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicnicityllc/

Facebook: ​www.facebook.com/chicnicity/

A HUGE thank you to photographer Mathias Eigen-Zucchi for shooting me for this post! He is an absolutely talented photographer and it was a pleasure working with him.

Mathias is 22 and studying Editorial at the New England School of Photography.

He can be contacted and reached for bookings and other information through email: mathiasezphotography@gmail.com

Connect with him on social media to follow his work and see his galleries!

​Instagram: ​www.instagram.com/mathias.ez/