the sparkher 3/4

Hey besties, welcome back. This one’s for my fellow sleepy girls 🥱.

WHAT’S INSIDE

• Sleeping smarter, not harder

• ICYMI, brainfeed, and things to send to the group chat

• Upcoming events & deadlines

• Her hustle & coffee: Sanya Lakhani @ Farishta Flowers and Goods

LEVEL UP

Writing about sleep feels quite ironic as I find myself fighting the urge to nod off. It's not just about dodging drowsiness; quality sleep is the bedrock of our mental and physical health, crucial for sharp decision-making and emotional balance. Let’s cut to the chase with some no-nonsense, yet clever, strategies for better sleep.

A Sleepy Girl Mocktail - Imagine a drink that doesn't just taste good but escorts you gently into dreamland. The secret? Ingredients like chamomile, lavender, or magnesium that don’t just calm the mind; they practically serenade it to sleep. Think of it as a lullaby in a glass.

Timeshifter for the Jet-Setters - There’s literally an app for everything, but stumbling upon Timeshifter was like finding a cheat code for travel. This app personalizes advice to help reset your internal clock based on your sleep habits and itinerary, effectively giving jet lag the boot. If you’re not into apps, try setting your phone clock to your destination's time as soon as you board your flight to trick your brain into adjusting sooner.

Mouth Taping: Odd but Effective -Mouth taping sounds like a bizarre beauty trend, but it’s all about promoting nasal breathing for better sleep. It improves oxygen exchange and keeps your throat from turning into the Sahara overnight, ensuring a deeper snooze.

Magnesium: The Dream Conductor - Magnesium supplements are famed for their muscle-relaxing and nervous system soothing properties, promoting a state of calm. Maybe it’s just me, but the supplements make my dreams extremely vivid, which is just my brain’s way of tidying up the day's mental clutter.

And… if anyone else has sleep hacks, please send them my way.

BRAINFEED & SHAREABLES

• ICYMI – Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding wasn't just a ceremony; it was a full-blown spectacle with a jaw-dropping $120M budget. Even Rihanna came out of retirement to perform at their pre-wedding celebration for $6.2M. This wasn't just any wedding; think of it as the Met Gala meets Bollywood - a star-studded affair with tech moguls like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg rubbing shoulders. Beyond the glitz, the wedding was a deep dive into India's rich cultural tapestry, showcasing traditional elegance in every detail, from the stunning décor to the meticulously chosen outfits. Guests were even treated to gifts of dupattas and candles, lovingly made by visually impaired artisans. This was more than a wedding; it was a grand showcase of culture, compassion, and high-profile networking, all wrapped up in a celebration of love.

• ICYMI – Tarte Cosmetics' influencer trips have become a notable strategy for engaging with beauty and lifestyle influencers, creating buzz around their products and brand. This year, the group of influencers has been flown out (on a private jet) to Bora Bora. But before they even got there, they were sent some lavish gifts that included gorgeous purple Jordans, a custom sweat suit, a Beis travel bag, and even a Cannon G7x (which is $800+ on it’s own – yes, it’s a recent purchase of mine). However, these trips haven't been without controversy. In the past, there's been drama around the selection of influencers, raising discussions about diversity and inclusion within the influencer community invited on these trips. And this year, there seems to be criticisms about having a brand trip with only big name influencers instead of loyal customers. Personally, I am happy they chose one of my favorite creators for this trip.

• 🎧: As a sleepy girl, I definitely feel the post-lunch slump. This podcast talks about how to avoid it.

• 📖: The she-conomy is not just booming, but it’s also expanding.

• Year over year, time feels like it’s flying. This TikTok made me a little emotional thinking about it.

• ⚠️Trader Joe’s recall⚠️ A fan favorite, the steamed chicken soup dumplings are being recalled. And on the TJ’s news wave, they dropped super cute reusable totes .

• If you’re interested in going to graduate school, specifically for your MBA, you’ll be taking the GMAT. I have the hottest tips.

• What’s hot 🔥: White nectarines, Cannon G7x, a panini press, sunny NYC days

• What’s not 🙅‍♀️: A messy room (@me), expensive groceries, Oura ring ship times (yes, I still haven’t gotten it yet)

• 🔝High of the week:Boris and Horton, a dog cafe in NYC, has been saved. Community is everything. Check it out + support them ❤️

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

• 🗽UWIB Presents – From Setbacks to Success 3/12: Join to talk to an inspiring panel of women in business and learn about the incredible journeys of resilient women who have faced career setbacks. Tickets here.

• 🗽Cyclebreakers: Same Skin is hosting a one-day energetic retreat for women in business. Learn more here.

• (High school) Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program: In our flagship program, we pair talented high-school students with world-class PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. Priority deadline is 3/17 while regular is 4/14.

HER HUSTLE & COFFEE

I love finding new coffee shops and meeting other female founders, so I started a series to share stories of female entrepreneurs at coffee shops around New York City.

Meet Sanya Lakhani, the founder of Farishta Flowers and Goods – A floral design and South Asian fusion baked goods company.

Sanya gradated from University of Texas – Dallas before moving to New York City where she had careers in tech, the startup space, and the beauty industry before founding her own company, Farishta Flowers.

Check out the full video interview here, or highlights from our conversation below.

Tell me about how the name – what it means and why you chose it.
“Farishta (fuh-ree-sh-tuh) is my mom’s maiden name. It means Angel in Hindi, Urdu, and Farsi. My mom plays an instrumental role in my life and in my business. She’s always taught me the value of nature.”

I know you’ve had full-time jobs in the tech and startup space, how did you know it was time to pursue this full-time?
“I felt like I was sitting there working for 8 hours a day, not feeling like I was significantly impacting anything. The impact wasn’t actually fulfilling me, it was more fulfilling my boss. I started realizing, your life is so short and you have meaning. Why would you sit every single day working for someone else?”

📍Cafe Lyria (SoHo): 7.2/10 – I love the aesthetic inside, but it’s always super packed. The coffee is a little strong for me, but their blueberry scone was phenomenal.

“If your plan doesn’t work, change the plan. Not the goal.”

xoxo,
Prasiddhi
thinkers, founder

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