Vegan leather bags are becoming more and more popular, thanks to the hard work of designer and indie brands that are ditching traditional leather and suede for materials that don't require the use of any animal skins. Whether you're on the hunt for a great faux leather crossbody bag, shoulder bag, or a backpack that can fit your laptop, there are plenty out there to choose from.

As far as construction goes, vegan leather can be crafted out of a variety of different materials, including some that are sustainable (like pineapple leaves and fruit waste) and some that aren't (like the synthetic polymer, polyurethane). But the one thing they all have in common is that no animals were harmed to make them, and that's something you can definitely feel great about.

Below are 10 stylish faux leather bags that will take your closet from animal product-central to vegan paradise, including a handful of options that are under $100. Each are just as cute as "the real thing" and only a fraction of the price. Our list includes a buttery-soft tote that can double as a gym bag, a chic croc-embossed top handle crossbody that will easily become your new everyday bag, and a tasseled clutch that's perfect for date night.

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1 Best Backpack

$180.00

Matt & Nat makes vegan leather bags in a ton of different styles, including backpacks, diaper bags, luggageeven dog bags. This backpack has plenty of room to fit all your essentials, including your laptop.

2 Best For A Night Out With The Girls

$69.00

Melie Bianco's vegan leather bags are on-trend and fashionable. The Adele bag pictured here can be worn as a crossbody or a wristlet, and it's available in red, black, brown, light pink, and mint.

3 Best Bang For Your Buck

$69.95

The croc-embossed finish, top handle, and structured silhouette of this Sole Society bag all make it look much more expensive than it is. You can pair it with just about anything in your closet, and you'll never run the risk of it going out of style.

4 Best Tote

$50.00

Canvas totes are great, but sometimes you need something a little more stylish. This faux leather tote is just the right combination of practical and cute. And since it's reversiblethe interior is a fun leopard printyou're basically getting two bags in one.

5 Best Pop Of Color

$64.00

How cute is this red vegan leather bag? A chic (and hands-free) alternative to a clutch, this camera style has plenty of room for whatever you might need to bring along to a formal event. Phone? Wallet? Keys? Check, check, and check.

6 Best Crossbody

$205.00

All of the handbags from the accessories brand Angela Roi are made from premium, non-animal materials, and they're all produced in clean factories that offer fair wages to artisans and workers.

This simple crossbody is the perfect size for everyday: not too big, and not too small. (Yes, it's the Goldilocks of purses.) Plus, you can totally humble brag about that fact that it's completely cruelty free.

7 Best For Staying On-Trend

Trust us: The baguette is back in business. This vegan leather rendition from JW PEI also includes a lining made from 100 percent recycled plastic.

8 Best Shape

$80.98

Another from our fave, Matt & Nat, this circle crossbody bag is incredibly elegant and uniqueif you're looking for an everyday bag that doesn't look like everything else, this is the purse for you.

9 Best For Date Night

Anyone who's big on accessories knows that having a good clutch is essential. But there's no need to stick to blackinstead, get a little playful with this red tassel vegan leather clutch. It'll go with everything from jeans and a tank to your fave LBD.

10 Best Multi-Purpose Bag

$98.00

Crocodile is having a major moment, and this croc-embossed vegan leather tote is a great way to get the look without harming any actual crocs. (And it's also just a small fraction of the price.)

Wear it as a crossbody to run errands hands-free, or sling it on your arm before a night out.

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10 Best Vegan Leather Bags 2020 - Top Faux Leather Bags - Women's Health

As we navigate the new normal of staying home, working from home and parenting from home, the state of constant uncertainty and transition can take a toll on our mental and emotional health.

Adjusting to the times is something that we all have had to do, and I am happy to share tools to help you combat the mental and emotional stress you might be feeling. Ive been guiding my patients on how to do acupressure on themselves through virtual Traditional Chinese Medicine Sessions and supplementary YouTube videos.

Acupressure is a similar technique to acupuncture, but instead of needles, you use your hands to manipulate acupuncture points on the body. A systematic review of studies found it can be just as effective as acupuncture: various outcomes included managing nausea and vomiting, reducing pain, and decreasing insomnia and fatigue.

During these times, I developed a COVID-19 survival kit to help those that are sick and unable to leave home. This kit has been critical in preventing and treating symptoms related to the disease. I also recommend using acupressure for anyone who is looking to de-stress and relieve the tension that can build up in your body after long hours in front of the computer.

Acupressure works by firmly pressing trigger points on the body so that you feel a slight tenderness. This creates clear pathways in which energy can flow throughout the organs of the body, helping to contribute to boosting the bodys own natural ability to metabolize, boost immunity, and relieve stress. Combined with meditative breathing techniques, its a sure-fire way to relax.

You can work on specific acupressure points yourself by using your thumb and pressing each point for a minimum of 30 seconds with a clockwise circular pressure and doing 5-10 deep breaths for each point you press.

These are my top five acupressure points that I recommend to my patients:

Location: Top of the Wrist

Meridian: Outer Gate Point

Benefits: Boosts immunity and energy levels

Location: In Between Eyebrows

Meridian: Hall of Impression Point

Benefits: Relieves stress and anxiety

Location: The Upper Shell of your Ear

Meridian: Heavenly Gate Point

Benefits: Relieves anxiety and stress, reduces incidences of insomnia

Location: The Crease of Your Wrist Between Pinky and Ring Finger

Meridian: Heart 7

Benefits:Reduces anxiety, depression and insomnia

Location: Outside of your Hand Below Pinky Finger

Meridian: Small Intestine 3

Benefits: Relieves neck pain, earaches and headaches

In addition to acupressure, there are other ways you can incorporate self help into your routine. Its key to manage your routinewake up and get dressed even though you are working from home and only have video meetings. Make sure to maintain a schedule, as our body has its own natural circadian rhythm, and when there is too much transition it can be very hard for the body to self-regulate.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the heart and mind are one, known as Shen. Eat foods that look like hearts such as raspberries, tomatoes and strawberries are nourishing. Foods high in magnesium can help to contribute to calming the mind and alleviating stress.

When our bodies organs and energy pathways are working in harmony, our body has the ability to fight off disease and sickness. It is imperative that we have tools to combat mental and emotional stress, otherwise, they can become physical symptoms.

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Video: A Guide To Self-Care Acupressure At Home - Long Island Weekly News

Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker today extended the temporary lifting of the prohibition on self-service gas until May 9.

As WW reported earlier, owners of independent gas stations represented by the Oregon Fuels Association asked Gov. Kate Brown for a temporary suspension of the ban on self-service because they said they faced a shortage of pump attendants, many of whom were ill or disinclined to work face to face with the public.

Oregon and New Jersey are the only two states that don't normally allow self-service gas. (A 2017 Oregon law allows self-service in counties with fewer than 40,000 residents.)

The temporary rule allowing self-service does not require station owners topermit the practice and it does require them to have staff on hand to assist motorists if they need help.

Walker today decided to stick with that practice for another couple of weeks.

"We want to thank Oregonians and Oregon businesses for being flexible during these challenging times," he said in a statement. "As we continue to monitor this ongoing situation, we feel it is best to extend this option for an additional two weeks."

Danelle Romain, a lobbyist for the Oregon Fuels Association, applauded the move.

"Like many small businesses, Oregon's locally owned fuel stations are facing incredible challenges," Romain said in a statement. "Helping them keep fuel attendants safe by giving customers the option of pumping their own fuel is significant. The self-service option is allowing employees to shift their focus from close, face-to-face interaction with customers to keeping pumps and payment mechanisms clean and sanitized for the next customer."

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Oregon Fire Marshal Extends Self-Service Gas Throughout the State Until May 9 - Willamette Week

Bluffton Self Help handed out hundreds of meals Thursday to families who need them but because of an increase in demand due to COVID-19 they are now asking for community support. This is part of WJCL's Project Community: Giving Thursdays.For more than 33 years, Bluffton Self Help has served the Bluffton community and now they are seeing more people in need of food. We are seeing folks come in that have never needed help before that are really finding themselves in a situation that they never thought they would," said Kimberly Hall, executive director of Bluffton Self Help.People in the Bluffton community said they are very thankful for all the donations and community support during the pandemic."There is a need and anything they can donate is much appreciated," said Carol Hurst, who lives in Bluffton.Organizers said the need for supplies is even greater now."Right now we are serving around 320 families a week, which equates to over a thousand neighbors in Bluffton. That is about 12,000 pounds of food a week," said Hall.Organizers said the pandemic isn't going to stop them from making a difference. A lot of moderate income families are really struggling to make ends meet and putting that extra bowl of cereal and peanut butter on the table really makes a difference for them, said Hall.The coronavirus has caused big food drives to be canceled which is a major income of supplies for Bluffton Self Help. Now organizers are encouraging local neighborhoods to get involved. We would love if they would hold community food drives and have a central drop of point and deliver it here or we can come pick it up," said Hall. Organizers say your donations, whether financial or through a food drive, are making all the difference. It means a great deal to me because this will be whether I eat or starve. Because I am on disability and I dont have enough income to support going to the grocery store," said Hurst.Hall said for every $250 they can help feed a family of four for a year.Bluffton Self Help is offering free meals on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. They have a drive through style pickup at their location in Bluffton. For more information on how you can donate items or moneyyou can go to Bluffton Self Help's website.

Bluffton Self Help handed out hundreds of meals Thursday to families who need them but because of an increase in demand due to COVID-19 they are now asking for community support.

This is part of WJCL's Project Community: Giving Thursdays.

For more than 33 years, Bluffton Self Help has served the Bluffton community and now they are seeing more people in need of food.

We are seeing folks come in that have never needed help before that are really finding themselves in a situation that they never thought they would," said Kimberly Hall, executive director of Bluffton Self Help.

People in the Bluffton community said they are very thankful for all the donations and community support during the pandemic.

"There is a need and anything they can donate is much appreciated," said Carol Hurst, who lives in Bluffton.

Organizers said the need for supplies is even greater now.

"Right now we are serving around 320 families a week, which equates to over a thousand neighbors in Bluffton. That is about 12,000 pounds of food a week," said Hall.

Organizers said the pandemic isn't going to stop them from making a difference.

A lot of moderate income families are really struggling to make ends meet and putting that extra bowl of cereal and peanut butter on the table really makes a difference for them, said Hall.

The coronavirus has caused big food drives to be canceled which is a major income of supplies for Bluffton Self Help. Now organizers are encouraging local neighborhoods to get involved.

We would love if they would hold community food drives and have a central drop of point and deliver it here or we can come pick it up," said Hall.

Organizers say your donations, whether financial or through a food drive, are making all the difference.

It means a great deal to me because this will be whether I eat or starve. Because I am on disability and I dont have enough income to support going to the grocery store," said Hurst.

Hall said for every $250 they can help feed a family of four for a year.

Bluffton Self Help is offering free meals on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. They have a drive through style pickup at their location in Bluffton.

For more information on how you can donate items or moneyyou can go to Bluffton Self Help's website.

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Giving Thursday: Bluffton Self Help is asking for community donations as demand increases - WJCL News

Self-care is my jam.

You can find me doing it multiple times a day with yoga classes, self-help books, and the good old fashion bubble bath.

I consider it a hobby finding ways to treat myself, love myself more, and fill my days focusing inward instead of outward.

When I think back to when I first got into self-care though, it did not always come naturally to me.

When I first discovered it, I was in a toxic relationship, filled to the brim with anxiety, and I was seeking something to help me process the turmoil inside of me.

Self-care was a tool that helped me change my entire life, but I had to master it.

It started as a simple bath. I would fill it up with bubbles, read a poetry book on love, and listen to overly emotional music to melt the night away.

I would sit in that bath and feel, letting go of all the walls of strength I was holding up with the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Over time, self-care taught me how to nurture and love myself. And it has become a necessary part of my daily routine.

The answer, simply stated, is my attitude towards it.

When my attitude changes to one of scarcity instead of abundance, self-care becomes challenging to stick my mind to.

When I am tired, worn out, and lack motivation in general, taking that extra step to show myself love and affection becomes overwhelming.

Instead, it is easier to have an attitude of apathy. So, I turn my back on myself.

When youre mad at someone, do you jump at showing up for them? Probably not. Likewise, it is harder to show up for yourself when you are down in the dumps.

Foolishly, we get upset with ourselves for feeling feelings other than happiness. We become bummed at ourselves for not having a good day.

So when we feel anxious, depressed, tired, and in pain, it is easier to pull away, kick some dirt at ourselves, and scoff off into a world of shame and emptiness.

And that is why we must pull through and do the opposite.

Love ourselves harder when we feel our lowest. Give ourselves care, compassion, and grace when we feel like we dont deserve it. Force love on ourselves, as we would someone whom we believe in but who doesnt believe in themselves.

There is healing in that, power we do not fully understand. So take a bath and read sappy poetry. Put on a face mask and give yourself a manicure. Force yourself through a yoga class or go on the run.

Whatever self-care means for you, do it every single day including the days where you do not feel like doing it at all.

Show up for yourself when you need it most because that is where the power of self-care truly lies.

That is how self-care becomes the greatest act of unconditional love.

This post was previously published on Change Becomes You and is republished here with permission from the author.

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Aspiring writer of all things codependency, relationship, and healing related plus all the life that happens around it. Instagram: @ali_ringer

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Why Self-Care Is Harder When You Need It Most - The Good Men Project

Editor's Note: This is a preview of USA TODAY's newsletter Staying Apart, Together, a guide to helpus all cope with a world changed by coronavirus. If you would like it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Saturdays, subscribe here.

We got it this week. We're ready.

It's USA TODAY TV Critic Kelly Lawler, and Iam back after a few refreshing days off. Mostly I baked things, with the help of this amazing bread cookbook. I know flour and yeast are scarce right now, but I've never felt more prepared to make artisan bread loaves, the shortest recipe of which takes, oh, eight hours.

"Flour Water Salt Yeast" by Ken Forkish(Photo: Kelly Lawler/USA TODAY)

I might never have attempted it pre-coronavirus.It's not for everyone, but man did I love doing it. When the finished product starts to look better, maybe I'll share some pictures with you guys. (Some less-involved bread recipes here.)

Getting unplugged, spending some time outside (six feet apart from anyone else) and enjoying my fresh-baked breadhas been incredibly restorative for me. I'm not saying that I was as rested and raring to go on Monday as I would have been on a normal day in the office, but I felt pretty close. I will ride this wave of energy and determination as long as it lasts. Maybe through, oh, I don't know, Wednesday? Hey, in a pandemic, I'll take what I can get.

Subscribe to Staying Apart, Together for a little joy every Tuesday and Saturday

Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in CBS's 'Elementary.'(Photo: Michael Parmelee, CBS)

In addition to continuing my questto watch all of the James Bond movies (we just got through "Live and Let Die," and the Paul McCartney theme song is still stuck in my head, I'm not mad) I spent some of my time off revisiting "Elementary" (streaming on Hulu right now). The CBS cop show take on Sherlock Holmes offers simple escapist fare. In this Holmes story,Sherlock (Johnny Lee Miller) moves to New York for rehab, Dr. JoanWatson (Lucy Liu)is a surgeon-turned-sobriety-counselor-turned-investigator,and the deductive genius of Holmes catches killers and saves lives. There isa beautiful simplicity to it, and it has more levity and downright humor than other cop shows like "Law & Order: SVU." Plus, it has more than 150 episodes, so you'll go for awhile without needing to find a new series.

Last week we published a story I wrote in which I talked to psychologists and other experts about the fact that we don't have to be super productive during this time. It's sort of an official OK to just take it easy, focus on your health and your family. We couldn't publish everything the experts told me, so I wanted to share some tidbits from myinterview withneuroscientist Richard J. Davidson, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.He had more great thoughts on staying calm and centered in quarantine than could fit in my story.

Q: Why do you think there is increased pressure to be productive in quarantine?

Davidson: I think we can be so focused on the immediate needs at work that we fail to adequately consider the context in which the work is occurring.

Q: What is your response to people feeling stress from this pressure?

Davidson: I think we need to pay attention to what they are saying! They are naming something real and important that we must recognize.

Q: If people do find themselves with extra times, how can they practice relaxation and take care of their mental health?

Davidson: It actually does not require any extra time. It simply requires some intentional focus. We can practice relaxing as we are walking, cleaning our house, doing the laundry etc. We can also practice a little self compassion at these times, recognizing that no one is perfect and not being too hard on ourselves for failing to accomplish something in the time we had originally planned, for example. We can also practice appreciation. So much of our lives, particularly in this challenging time, depend upon others. We need others to help us get our food, to pick up the garbage, and of course, to care for our health if that should be needed. Intentionally cultivating appreciation for these many people who are serving others in this challenging time can be enormously helpful in promoting our own well-being.

If you are struggling to explain our new reality to your kids (or grandkids or nieces and nephews), here's a free, downloadablecoloring book fromTender Press Books and Zero to Thrive at the University of Michigan that makes it all a little easier.

Do you like choir music? This will completely blow you away.

We received so many pictures of adorable pets (dogs, cats and even a bunny!), so thank you all for sending them. It makes me so happy to have a little fluffy joy in my inbox. Putting two pets in today's newsletter so you can see as much cuteness as possible.

First up, Mac. His owner says, "Hes a therapy dog and is missing his buddies at the hospital. He cant wait to see them all again and wants them to know they are amazingly awesome!"

"Max"(Photo: Courtesy of Paula Zechman)

Next is three-year-old Boo, who understands the value of shelf-stable foods right now.

"Boo was rescued from a terrible hoarding situation in Northern Iowa and brought into the Northern Illinois Samoyed Assistance rescue (NISA)," says her owner."She was skittish of most people and terrified by loud noises. She stayed with her foster family for over a year before she was finally ready for adoption. We were fortunate to become her Forever Family in August 2019 and love her very much!"

"Boo"(Photo: Courtesy Leslie Allison Seei)

Thank you Mac and Boo. You are very good dogs.

Thats it for this Tuesday. Stay safe, stay well, and I'll be back with more tips and furry friends on Saturday.

All my very best,

Kelly Lawler

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Staying Apart, Together: A cop show, bread and self-care to help you cope with the pandemic - USA TODAY

Over50,300Americans have lost their lives to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This pandemic is also causing widespread confusion, social disruption and significant economic consequences. Many health care systems, associated personnel, and other essential services are stretched beyond the capacity to address the physical health care needs of their citizens.

Equally important are the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on individuals, their families, and communities. As a psychologist, I'd like to encourage folks, now several weeks into quarantine, to be courageous give yourself a mental healthcheck-inand seek support if you need it. Here are some assessment tools and resources that can help you.

During previous pandemics, such as the SARS outbreak in 2003,affectedpersons experienced intense levels of fear, loneliness, boredom, anger and worry over the impacts of the virus, including the quarantine and the health of their family members. As scientists, governors, and economists try to balance the costs of social distancing and stay-in-place orders with the desire to re-open businesses, a lot of us are feeling a roller coaster of intense emotions ranging from fear, loneliness and boredom to anger and grief.

First, it's essential to know that you are not alone. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented public health challenge with reverberating physical, mental, financial, occupational and social stress on individuals and communities around the globe. You are not alone to be afraid that you or a loved one will contract COVID.

If you're feeling bored, lonely, or irritable because you areadheringto social distancing guidelines, you are not alone. If you're frequently checking in to your national news sources and drop to your knees and cry or want to puke upon hearing the total number of deaths nation and worldwide, you are not alone. If you're trying to manage your work and homeschooling and find yourself wanting to scream at the top of your lungs, you are not alone. Being depressed and anxious when you are unemployed may seem expectable; however, it is essential to work to manage and overcome the everydaythoughtsthat come with depression/anxiety so you can be more able to seek and realize job opportunities and engage with future employers.

Second, it's essential for us not to minimize the stress we experience from large health or financial hardships to small inconveniences. This is hard and I don't support putting on a fake happy face and telling people you are coping well when you're not. It's essential to recognize that struggling in the face of this pandemic is normal.

As a psychologist, I like to tell the people I work with (as well as myself) that it's important, to be honest with ourselves and courageous in examining our emotions. There are plenty of good free online assessments folks can take to help them better understand how they're doing when it comes todepression,anxiety,alcohol misuse, andsleep difficulties.

Third, there is no need we have to struggle on your own. If we currently aren't connected socially or spiritually, and we need additional assistance, there are many good opportunities to engage in mental health self-care. For instance, some of us may only need a few reminders or some encouragement to engage in positive stress coping strategies. There are lists of ways we can take goodcareof ourselves by maintaining a routine, going to bed around the same time every night to get better sleep and not engaging in the excessive use of alcohol and other substances.

E-mentalhealth applications are particularly promising because of their accessibility, anonymity, and low cost. E-health apps typically can be grouped into four broad domains psychoeducation, screening, assessment, and monitoring of symptoms, interventions, and social support (discussion groups, chat rooms).

Most of these are Internet-delivered self-help apps involve minimal e-mail or telephone contact with a coach or mental health counselor. One major issue for the public is how to sort out which of these apps are evidence-based and which are unsubstantiated hype.

The followingsourcecan help people access a list of evidence-informed mental health technologies. One fantastic Internet-delivered intervention that has good evidence to help people prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety isMoodGYM.

Not only is this interactive self-help book free to the public, but it has also been translated into several languages. Other programs, which are evidence-based but cost a fee and thus may require you to check with your health plan or provider are,Beating the BluesandCALM Tools for Living.

There are additional mental health resources and apps which are easily accessible and self-paced. One group of very engaging evidence-informed mental health apps are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and are free to the public.

For example,COVID Coachwhich helps individuals cope with stress related to the pandemic;CBT-i Coach, which provides proven strategies to help improve sleep and help alleviate symptoms of insomnia; and finally,Mindfulness Coach, which provides tools to help people find emotional balance.

Moreover, many good mental health providers engage in tele-mental health. Often these are provided through clinical video teleconferencing or telephone sessions, but sometimes even use texting. These allow a therapist and a person in separate locations to see each other and engage in real-time two-way interaction. I know some people don't find this option ideal and to be honest, I also prefer sitting across from an individual, couple, or group and delivering face-to-face care services. Unfortunately, due to shelter in place orders, this can't easily happen for many of us right now. Not being able to leave our homes, however, should not prohibit individuals from seeking or engaging in mental health treatment.

Numerous organizations offer directories for mental health providers who deliver services online. These include discipline-specific associations like the AmericanPsychologicalAssociation and the AmericanPsychiatricAssociation as well as anxiety and depression groups, listed by state and their specialty areas, that haveclinicianswho provide tele-mental health services. There's even agroupof mental health providers offering short-term, free and reduced tele-health sessions for healthcare professionals, first responders, grocery store employees, and other essential front line workers.

Finally, self-help books that focus on mental health difficulties are also widely available. Unfortunately, there is relatively little research on how strongly these books are grounded in evidence-based behavioral science. In apaperpublished in 2008, a small group of psychologists identified 50 top-selling self-help books for anxiety, depression and trauma.

They then rated each book on overall utility; it's grounding in science, the extent to which it offered specific guidance for implementing the self-help techniques and whether it offered potentially harmful advice.

This PDF version of that paper, with a list of all 50 books, isavailablefor a small fee. Some of my favorite, newer work produced since 2008 include: "The 10-Step Depression Relief Workbook: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach" and "Show Your Anxiety Who's Boss: A Three-Step CBT Program to Help You Reduce Anxious Thoughts and Worry."

Staying physically healthy and safe during the current pandemic requires good management of our mental health. As all of us continue to cope with intense emotions associated with COVID-19, please know you are not alone and good mental health is available.

Joan M. Cook, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Yale University who researches traumatic stress and clinically works with combat veterans and men and women who have experienced physical and sexual abuse across their lifespan.

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Suggestions for tele-mental health resources for coping with COVID-19 | TheHill - The Hill

Cadillac Custom Tattoo & Piercing owner Bryan Michael stands outside his empty shop on Market Street in Wilmington, three weeks into to state-mandated closure of tattoo shops. (Port City Daily photo/Johanna F. Still)

WILMINGTON Since closing his doors, Cadillac Custom Tattoo & Piercing owner Bryan Michael has received a few late-night texts asking for appointments.

They arent frivolous, I need new ink messages. Rather, its If I dont get new ink soon, I may hurt myself.

That might sound extreme but Michael says his shop frequently works with people that struggle with self-harm who turn to tattoos as a safe alternative to hurting themselves.

Normally, the 3 a.m. conversation would lead to a same-day appointment. Hey, Im stuck at home, Im going through this, when can you get me in?' Michael said these clients ask him. I try not to say no. I try to say, the second that were open, those people are our priorities.

Professionals employed in the personal care industry do improve or alter surface-level appearances, but frequently, their work is more than skin, hair, or nails.

Forced to stop work on March 25, a majority of personal care professionals have had little to no way to earn a living. In an industry propped up by small businesses and independent contractors, public assistance for these roles has been scarce. Unemployment claims became available to independent contractors for the first time Friday, a full month after Governor Roy Coopers Executive Order 120.

With federal stimulus checks spotty, and forgivable loans dried up, many of these workers have had no income, and no way to work, for four weeks. Its worth noting that these workers didnt reach out to Port City Daily to bemoan their circumstances instead, Port City Daily reached out to them and asked if they would share their experiences navigating the new normal.

Authors note: This is part two of a two-part series. Catch up on part one, which features a nail artist and two hairstylists.

The inability to book clients struggling with self-harm has been the most difficult part of quarantine orders, Michael said.

So we have people that are stuck at home, that are dealing with those mental health issues in a more intense way, Micheal said. Thats what hurts me the most because I know that those people have come to rely on us. And not just people that deal with self-harm but people that are going through the loss of a loved one or a pet. This is the way they come in and deal with their pain.

Being cast as a non-essential worker doesnt make him salty, he said. But he said he thinks policymakers probably dont realize how his profession can function as a part of some peoples self-care routines.

I understand where theyre coming from. They look at tattoos as a luxury. And its not for everybody. For some people, its the thing thats keeping them safe and mentally well, he said. Even for myself, I find the process of tattooing to be very therapeutic. Its my happy place. Its my meditation.

Despite repeated attempts to get on the line with the states Division of Employment Security or get through to the Small Business Association about whether or not his application for assistance will suffice, Michael said hes received nothing financially and no communication back. Ive tried. You get hung up on. Itll feel like its going through and then youll click and itll be off. Or youll get, Were experiencing higher than normal call volume, please try again later. Click.

Now, hes living on credit cards and a loan from his sister since revenue dried up. He worries about his 19-year-old piercer, who had just moved on from an apprenticeship at the shop to serve clients independently. Luckily, Micheal said his landlord was willing to work with him on the building rent. I almost didnt say anything and just tried to scrape it together and use a credit card or something, she said.

A self-described optimist, Michael said the ongoing wishy-washy uncertainty around reopening makes it harder for him to hold onto the silver lining hes used to finding.Thats how I get through negative situations. Every bad thing comes to an end.

Tim Joyner didnt pierce half a dozen holes in his face to have to one day start over in a different profession.

I cant go find another job. Its hard for people that look like us to go get jobs. We look like our industry. We do not look like customer service necessarily to a lot of people, he said.

A piercer at Port City Tattoo in Wilmington, Joyner said his livelihood also reflects his lifestyle. Weve already made our lives, weve already put in years of work and sacrifices to get there, he said. This is our lifeline. This is what we do. This is the way we live. Were dedicated because this is what we have. For some of us, this is all we have.

Neither Joyner or his colleagues in the industry have been able to access public assistance since the closures. Were all 1099, he said of their status as independent contractors.

As the clock inched nearer to closing time March 25, Joyner said there was a strange feeling in the shop. It was a little more bittersweet. Every customer, youre getting closer to the deadline, getting closer to 5 p.m, he said.

Tax season is typically the tattoo industrys busiest time of year, he said. When people get a few extra bucks on their returns, they tend to spend some on body modifications before they run out and it gets harder to justify the expenditure. After this, who knows what money they may have, he said of his prospective clients.

As far as government assistance or reopening, Joyner said he hopes services like hair and nail salons are able to open before tattoo shops. Tattooing and piercing fall at the top of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, Joyner said.

I have always said that I was privileged to do the job I do. Having earrings and piercings is not a need. For me to be able to make it something that people want and consistently want is a privilege, he said.

Still, Joyner said seeing certain establishments deemed essential has been suspect. He feels the designation is less about the actual essential nature of the business and more about the individuals served by that business.

As far as golf courses, a few places, Im a little iffy about. But then again. I guess the clientele that they bring in make it easier for them to be essential. It has less to do with the job. It has more to do with the clientele, he said.

Looking ahead, Joyner is worried about how hell be able to make rent. How his shop will be able to make rent. He doesnt want anyone spending money they dont have.

This is a working-class industry. Therefore, anything that happens to the working class happens to us. If they cant make rent, we cant make rent. Were not getting funding, were not getting the big grants, were not going to get bailouts, he said.

As the states first hemp-based spa owner, Taylor Jameson of Treatments by Taylor at the Wilmington Hemp Spa attracts clients drawn to CBDs antioxidant properties. All treatments and products at the spa incorporate hemp products in some way.

Shes been able to offset some of the losses from being closed through product orders, but it doesnt compare to a typical week. When you do the amount of volume that we do every month, and then it is completely stopped, and not because of our choosing, its huge, for sure, Jameson said.

The licensed esthetician differentiates herself by offering CBD-infused products and treatments. After first turning to the cannabinoid when recovering from an injury, Jameson said her clients keep returning because of its calming and healing effects on the skin.

I have clients with psoriasis and eczema who arent able to get both reduced because of what were able to in the treatment room, she said. Clients with lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes extreme sensitivity to the sun, enjoy weekly spray tans. The CBD-infused tans give them a glow and also reduce the sensitivity in their skin, Jameson said.

Skincare treatments like facials can help clients treat acne and other inflammatory issues that can improve self-esteem, she said. Definitely confidence, feeling good about yourself, feeling normal. Feeling put together and looking like you care. People really appreciate that feeling.

Or, brow-tints and brow waxes can tame quarantine caterpillars. And then, of course, no one feels great with crazy brows. Good brows can really change a girl, Im serious.

One-year-old salon Casa PRANA shut its doors one week ahead of the governors orders.

I would never put money before health. so it wasnt even a question if we were going to stay open or not, owner Rebecca Oazem told the salons Instagram followers in a video March 21 after already being closed for a week. Oazem was urging policymakers to order the closure of stores in the industry to protect employees from violating social distancing requirements as cases of coronavirus increased in the state. Days later, the orders came through.

Just by watching how things were developing, we saw no need to cooperate in spreading this virus. What surprised me is that even though our industry generates over $56 billion yearly in the U.S. alone, we are still left behind and theres nothing in place protecting us when something like this hits, she said. Hopefully this will change in the future.

Five weeks into closing, Oazem is hoping some sort of financial support or forgiveness program comes through. We have applied to every loan category we fall under, I believe that now its only a matter of sitting tight and waiting, she said. We as a whole also need to understand this is impacting the entire world and wont happen overnight.

The sustainable salon prides itself on repurposing and recycling 95% of all waste. During the closure, Oazem said the salon is working on diverting even more waste away from landfills, with plans to go completely paperless once it reopens.

Current or prospective clients hoping to help the business stay afloat can simply leave reviews online, she said. Google and Facebook reviews and referrals are key to keep a business such as ours thriving, also following us on all of our social media channels. These things dont cost anything but if you are willing to help us financially, you can do so by shopping on our website.

Oazem is working on developing new products for the salons line and the whole team is taking classing, looking to improve their skills during the downtime. Im proud to say that my second family at the Casa has been working really hard over the last few weeks by taking online classes, video conferences with one another, polishing our skills, and making sure our clientshave the best visit possible whenever we reopen.

Send tips and comments to Johanna Ferebee Still at johanna@localvoicemedia.com

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'Non-essential' Part II: Covid-19 hit them early, but help lagged behind [Free read] - Port City Daily

Cloud stocks have been some of the biggest winners on the market in recent years, and few have done as well asAlteryx(NYSE:AYX), a provider of a self-service data analytics platform that allows businesses to break down and analyze data quickly and seamlessly.

Shares of the SaaS (software-as-a-service) stock have soared since its 2017 IPO, up more than 600% since then, as you can see from the chart below.

^SPX data by YCharts

Given the stock's breakout growth, investors may be wondering if it's too late to get in on this high-flying millionaire-maker. Though Alteryx has clearly rewarded early investors, there are a number of reasons to believe that it can still be a multi-bagger from here on out. Let's take a closer look.

Image source: Getty Images.

It's hard to deliver mammoth returns without strong top-line growth, and Alteryx does not disappoint here. The company's revenue jumped 65% to $417.9 million as it continues to grow its customer base and executes its "land and expand" business model, finding new customers and growing relationships with them over time. Total customers increased 30% last year to 6,087.

Not only did Alteryx's 2019 revenue soar, but top-line growth actually accelerated in each quarter, going from 51% in the first quarter to 75% in the fourth quarter. Management explained on the earnings call that fourth-quarter growth was driven by a record increase in large contracts and an uptick in contract duration. The overall acceleration of its revenue growth and those tailwinds in the fourth quarter bode well for growth in 2020 and beyond. High-growth companies generally see growth decelerate as they mature, not the opposite, so that acceleration is a sign Alteryx is executing particularly well and its product portfolio is in high demand.

Like other cloud software companies, Alteryx operates through a subscription model, which helps create sticky relationships with customers as they are billed at regular intervals, and it drives operating leverage as fixed costs are relatively stable. Revenue from incremental subscribers essentially goes to growth drivers like research and development and sales and marketing, or straight to the bottom line.

Last year, its gross margin was 91%, meaning that only a small portion of its revenue is used to cover direct costs like data centers and employees in customer support and professional services like consulting. That high gross margin should help the company grow profits over time.

Additionally, Alteryx's products are sticky with its customer base, with the help of switching costs and network effects through Alteryx Community. Once customers have integrated its tools, they are highly likely to continue using them. According to the company's 10-K report, "Over time, many of our customers find that the use of our platform is strategic and collaborative in nature and our platform becomes a fundamental element of their operational, analytical and business processes." The key word there is "fundamental." Even in tough times like today's, Alteryx's customers, including titans of industry like Chevron,Netflix, andToyota, aren't going to ditch the software to cut costs. It's become an essential tool to them for measuring and improving their business.

Alteryx's net dollar-based expansion rate has been at least 125% in each of the last 12 quarters, meaning that existing customers on average have increased their spending on the platform by at least 25% each year.

Alteryx competes against a broad range of tech companies both big and small, but the data analytics specialist is benefiting from tailwinds in the industry that are driving a shift to the kind of self-service analytics that Alteryx provides. A number of its competitors are "manual, spreadsheet-driven processes and custom-built approaches in which potential customers have made significant investments," creating ample opportunities for industry disruption.

Alteryx CEO Dean Stoecker estimates there is a $24 billion addressable market in data analytics, giving the company a long runway for growth as it generated $417.9 million in revenue last year.

Alteryx shares aren't cheap, but compared to other high-flying cloud stocks, they look reasonably priced. The stock is down nearly a third from its all-time high due to the coronavirus-fueled sell-off and is cheaper than high-growth SaaS peers likeOktaandShopify, both of which have slower revenue growth than Alteryx. On a price-to-sales ratio, the most common way of measuring SaaS stock valuations as many are operating at a loss, Shopify trades at 46 times sales, Okta is valued at 31 times sales, and Alteryx is worth 19 times sales.

Additionally, Alteryx is profitable and has been cash flow positive for the last three years. Last year, the company finished with $38 million in operating income on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis. Adjusted earnings per share was $0.94, giving the company a P/E ratio of 120, which is high but not astronomical given its growth potential.

Alteryx is valued at about $7 billion, making the company small enough that the stock could easily double or triple from here if it continues to put up strong growth.

Though Alteryx may have already made millionaires out of early investors, the recent pullback offers a good opportunity for new investors to catch a ride on this growth machine.

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Is It Too Late to Get In On This Millionaire-Maker Stock? - The Motley Fool

Gangtok: The Department of Horticulture, Government of Sikkim distributed Four Refrigerated Vans to the Self Help Groups (SHGs) of identified Model Village and SIMFED for the transportation of Farmers Produce in the State of Sikkim. The Honble Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture Shri Lok Nath Sharma flagged off the well equipped Refrigerated Vans from Krishi Bhawan, Gangtok, this morning. Out of the four vehicles, Minister Sharma handedover one each vehicle to the Tundong Self Help Group from Ringhim Nampatam, North District; Lower Kamrang Labour Cooperative Society from Mamley Kamrang, South District, Sikkim Vegetables Growers Association from Bermiok Berthang, West District and Sikkim State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federations Ltd. ( SIMFED), Gangtok. While interacting with the Media Persons, Minister Sharma congratulated the SHGs & SIMFED and urged SHGs to collect farmers produce from their Model Village and clusters of their peripheries in coordination of concerned Farmer Producers Organization ( FPOs) and to carry out marketing in their respective districts. Minister Sharma informed that the Refrigerated Vans are well equipped with technical facilities to sustain life of perishable vegetables after collecting from the farmers. The state government has handedover refrigerated light weight fabricated vehicle of Rs. 17 ( Seventeen) Lakhs to each SHG, which has storage capacity of thirteen hundred kilograms with external AC system that works even when the vehicle is not running or started . He also urged SHGs to utilise vehicles only for the transportation and Marketing of Farmers Produce and not to misuse against its dedicated purpose. He also said that, already more than thirty vehicles are in the field with FPOs and this additional refrigerated van will strengthen the marketing of farmers produce at large as envisioned by the Chief Minister of Sikkim Shri P S Tamang to benefit the farmers in all districts. Later, the Minister interacted with the senior officials who have been working for packaging of flowers and selling through online delivery system aap Mitho which receives online order from the customers. Minister congratulated and appreciated Senior officers and staff for coming forward and setting a historic record for grading and packaging of the flowers in the office during lockdown period to ensure marketing of the flowers of the local growers from different parts of the state

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Sikkim Department of Horticulture distributed Four Refrigerated Vans to the Self Help Groups - India Education Diary