Featured: Gala Darling (Photo Credit: Gala Darling)

The other day, I was freaking out about a bunch of things. And yes…when you’re a part-time college professor, producer, and web entrepreneur who scrounges up every piaster to pay for your Manhattan apartment, you tend to freak out at times, especially when your bank account website is “temporarily down due to technical difficulties.” Nothing seemed to be going right that morning! I was feeling so down, my phone wasn’t working properly, everyone was making me anxious, and I simply wasn’t feeling myself. When this happens, I act like a five-year-old and throw my shoes at the wall…

I had heard somewhere that Mercury was in retrograde (I know, right…you’re thinking, what the hell is that?), so I literally Googled “Mercury retrograde” to see how the alignment or misalignment of planets…or whatever…had been causing all of my conundrums. One of the first articles that popped up was Miss Gala Darling’s guide to surviving Mercury Retrograde. So, I clicked it. Not only did I find the perfect little pamphlet to solve my problems, but I also realized how fabulous Gala really is. Her website, galadarling.com, is almost a sister site to Holly Pinafore. We both have whimsical personas and names – and we’re both committed to the self-love movement. AND…she’s practically my neighbor. We both live in the same Manhattan neighborhood. You better believe I emailed her right away to spread her beautiful vibes on our site. We could all use a little bit of Gala’s hipster-diva charm and glamour. Take a look at my top 7 questions I asked this beautiful, wonderful woman:

If you could give one piece of practical, no-nonsense advice to every woman, what would it be?

The most important thing I can say is that learning to love who you are is the most worthwhile thing you’ll ever do.

How do you get into “the zone” creatively? What things motivate you?

I feel like I’m almost always in “the zone”! I am constantly driven to create & make plans: my mind feels like an endless blue sky. I’m motivated by the desire to be better than I was yesterday. I only ever compete with myself.

What do you do to make yourself feel better on a crappy day?

It’s very important that we listen to our bodies & our minds when we’re not feeling our best. We should honour those impulses that tell us to go back to bed, to watch 10 episodes of Sex & The City, to walk around the city & not look at our phones! I think that often, those impulses stem from our intuition telling us we need to avoid burn-out. Don’t push yourself when you’re not there, mentally or emotionally. You have to take care of yourself!

I have some other ideas, too… How about 100 Ways You Can Start Loving Yourself Right Now —  or 100 Things To Do When You’re Upset ?!

How do you stay healthy and radiant? What are your secrets to a great glow?

I love a great beauty product as much as the next girl, but the most essential thing to recognise is that your body is a product of what you put into it! This is as true for your curves as it is for your skin: for optimal results, eat great food. I avoid gluten, dairy and processed foods as much as I can, and eat lots of raw food. Other than that, drinking a spoonful of apple cider vinegar once a day & taking my vitamins are my top beauty tips!

What are your 5 favorite beauty products (things you’d recommend to every lady)?

Okay. Clarisonic. It’s expensive but it’s a non-negotiable. A fabulous serum for nighttime: at the moment I’m using Tarte’s maracuja oil & Lancome Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector. (EXQUIZZ.) A killer concealer for under the eyes: I love Bobbi Brown’s creamy concealer duo. NARS blush/bronzer trio (I have one which is Laguna/Orgasm/Albatross & it’s off-the-charts good). & St. Tropez for the entire body, as well as the face!

If you could be any type of candy bar, which would you be and why?

I’d be a handmade dream bar: coconut, chocolate, gooey caramel. Mmmmm. Imperfect but delicious.

What’s your advice for straight, single 25+ year-old ladies in New York City? Where’s the best place to find lasting love?

I met my husband on OKCupid! (I asked him out for a drink the night he messaged me!) No matter what your sexual orientation, I think meeting someone online, & falling for their personality first, is fabulous.

Thanks, “gawgeous” Gala, for tattooing the world with your sweetness and positivity! You’ll definitely leave a lasting impression on us here at HollyPinafore!