A Welcome From Our New Writer
Hello and Happy Thursday! I want to welcome you to the voice behind the posts you’ll be reading. I’m Erica, The Qi’s new branding girlie.
I’m 26 years old and was born and raised in Chicago. Much like any other other adult woman with multiple miffy keychains hanging from her purse, I’m still very much figuring it all out.
I hail from a series of editorial-based corporate jobs and hold a deep passion for baking and food styling. You might be wondering…so why The Qi? After a year of freelance writing and selling baked goods out of my home, I was undoubtedly at a crossroads. I’d either continue to fall in line as a reporter, covering things like local city politics and commercial real estate, or I’d take a leap of faith and finally tap out.
There was my journalism side — one governed by deks and deadlines, and my creative side, where I dreamed of recipe development, social media marketing, personal writing, and a brand I could grow with, long-term. I longed to infuse the two but struggled to find a role that fulfilled that sweet spot.
Enter: The Qi.
When the role at The Qi opened this past May, I applied right away. Initially drawn to the product’s beauty, I eventually became taken by the mantra. I’m so used to seeing self-care preached through the lens of slow living — a message so many brands continue to push — but it’s never fully resonated with me. The Qi’s direct link to energy and the idea that healing happens when we feel more alive is an entirely new concept to me.
One month and a lot of anxiety later, our founder, Lisa, offered me the job. Now three weeks in, with onboarding behind me, I’ve yet to fully grasp how much my world’s turned upside down since working here.
Every day I get to come to a beautiful office with a small team of badass women to work for a company I truly believe in. There is no roadmap to running a successful small business, but we’re figuring it out each day, all together. One moment, we’re stuffing PR boxes, the next, we’re sticking wires into apple slices for a product launch photoshoot. Last week we made Nara Smith parody content, did prep for a massive trade show, and launched our very first podcast. No two days have been the same since I started.
The other day I awoke with terrible period cramps before work.
I didn't want to work from home, especially not on a Monday. I'm definitely most productive in the office when I'm working alongside our team in the tea studio.
“Just push through,” I thought to myself, curling into a ball as I contemplated asking to stay in. I texted Lisa nervously.
“Drink some rose tea with lemon and honey,” she responded instantly.
Last week, my aunt bought the Daily Ritual Set after I told her about my new job.
“I bought The Qi,” she texted me. “Which one do I try first?”
“I'm 9 months pregnant” messaged a winner of our latest giveaway. “So feeling very grateful to receive this soon for my postpartum healing”
Every day at The Qi I feel challenged, not only to make this brand the best it can be, but to be better in general. There’s no secret recipe to feeling more alive, no set roadmap, glossary or ChatGPT response to generate the feeling. You know it when you have it and it’s one I have working at The Qi.
I’ll be here weekly with reflections and stories out of our office. In the meantime, here's what I brewed when I had period pain last week:
Rose Regulation
–Boiling water
-Handful of jujube dates
-Gogi berries
Rose Tea can actually help soothe you in a variety of ways. It has…
Anti-inflammatory Properties: Rose petals contain compounds that can help reduce inflammation, helping to reduce and alleviate pain from menstrual cramps.
Is a muscle relaxer: Drinking rose tea can help relax muscles, including those in the pelvic region to potentially ease cramping.
Can relieve pain: Rose tea's gentle analgesic properties may help lessen pain perception, providing relief from menstrual discomfort.
Can boost your mood: The calming effect of rose tea can help improve mood and reduce heightened stress around your period.
Is hydrating: Staying hydrated is important during menstruation, and drinking rose tea can contribute to your fluid intake, helping to reduce bloating and discomfort.
And is antioxidant rich: Rose petals are rich in antioxidants, which can help combat oxidative stress in the body, potentially offering period relief.
