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[theSkimm Logo] Daily Skimm WEEKEND Skimm'd with [this week's best sales]( âAn Ikea bagâ â [What]( one person used to return a stolen Vincent van Gogh painting. What a Swede return. theSkimm With TikTok Baby Name Consultant (Yes, Really) Jessie Paquette Letâs face it: Choosing a baby name is overwhelming. So much so that some parents-to-be are turning to complete strangers â or, [baby name consultants]( â for a bespoke list of potential names. To learn more, we spoke with Jessie Paquette (aka, [@dreambabynames](), who offers free consultations to her tens of thousands of TikTok followers. Q: A baby name consultant isnât a job many people have probably heard of. When did you realize it could be a career for you? It was so accidental. No one wakes up and thinks, Iâm going to start a baby-naming business on TikTok. Iâve always loved names and thought they were fascinating. It comes from being a âJessicaâ and feeling so bored by it ... [So] I started an account to give myself an outlet to post some of my favorite [baby names]. Before I knew it, [a] video took off. I had like 5,000 followers, and it spiraled into something else. I realized this is a helpful skill I have â so I jumped in full force. Q: What kind of name requests do you get on TikTok? I get a lot of middle ⦠and first name requests, specifically for [second children] ⦠People will also come to me with a style or type of name they like ⦠even a nickname they want to use ⦠and ask me to find something even more unique ⦠And I have a lot of requests from people who are like, âMy daughter is three months old, and I hate her name.â So theyâre changing the name, but they donât trust themselves the second time ⦠Iâve even gotten some that are Halloween-themed. People will say, âI want the darkest, most gothic names you can get me.â Itâs wild â and I love it. Iâll spit out Salem, Blair, and other cool, âout thereâ names. Q: Is there anything you wonât do? If you just ask for a [boy or girl] name, Iâm not going to be able to get back to you. I have 650 requests right now, so I need a solid basis to work on ⦠[Also] Iâll always [prioritize] the people currently expecting a child, whether through adoption, IVF, or whatever else. There are a lot of people that say, âIâm not having a child for years, but I wanted to ask.â I donât have time for these [hypothetical] babies. Iâve got to name the real ones right now. Q: So where do you even begin? Itâs very hard when people say, âI want a unique name.â Unique means something different for everyone ... So if they have that requirement, I [ask for] a number ranking from the [US Social Security Administration]( (SSA) ⦠which posts state and national rankings, and how names have gone up or down [in popularity] ⦠So people can say [the name should be in] the top 100 or 150 ... Then Iâll look at names they like, so I can establish the vibe and style theyâre going for. Iâll look at the origins of a name, ones that sound similar or that have the same energy, and Iâll make a list of those ⦠Iâll go through the other [information] ⦠a siblingâs name they want it to flow with, if thereâs a middle name, or a grandparent they want to pay tribute to ⦠and Iâll narrow it down from there. Q: It seems like thereâs increasing pressure to pick a name thatâs unique. Why is that? I experienced this when I named my own child a few weeks ago ⦠His name is Pierce. Itâs not the most common name ... I wasnât trying to invent anything, and I wanted it to be recognizable, but people were like, âboo, lameâ or âboringâ ⦠I think [the pressure] comes from being in classes with like four Jessicas, Emmas, Hannahs, and Emilys ⦠[Consequently] some of us are like, âThat sucked. I want them to have their own name and be able to identify with it.â But also, weâre breeding a new generation of influencers. Some people are picturing their kids on social media and creating this brand for their older selves ⦠[Also] baby name announcements on Instagram [play a role]. People think about what will make others say, âOh my gosh, Iâve never heard that beforeâ or âIâve never met one of those.â Q: What are some of your favorite â and least favorite â names at the moment? Iâm obsessed with the name Gaia for a little girl. I think it's gorgeous â it means Mother Earth [in Greek mythology] ... For a boy, I love Wells â names that start with a W are so nice. Also, Iâve been seeing Scottie on the rise for girls. Itâs cool and cute, but still strong ⦠I [wouldnât recommend] Atlas. It was up and coming a few years ago, and [its popularity] has increased in a way Iâve never seen ... Iâd guess itâll be in the top 30 [names] next year ... Similarly, Maverick has taken on a life of its own. Then for girls, Iâd say Eleanor has really, really taken over. Psst, this interview has been edited for length and clarity. [Facebook]([Twitter]([Email](mailto:?body=More parents are turning to TikTok baby name consultants #theSkimm%0A3Ftype%3Demailurl%26r%3DSKIMM%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare%23custom) What's Happening ð In relationships... Turns out, an overwhelming number of brides are hitched to taking their [husbandsâ last names](. Meanwhile, if your partnerâs been pulling away, they may be [slow dumping]( you. Plus, [friendship coaches]( are helping people change up their inner circle. --------------------------------------------------------------- ð¦ In food... Consider whipping up a [brain-dump meal plan](. You could cook up something as creative as [Cokeâs Y3000]( flavor. Or, something [more vanilla](. If thatâs not your taste, try frozen Lunchables (aka a â[guy dinner](,â apparently). --------------------------------------------------------------- ð In beauty... Many people are going coco-nuts for this [milk mani](. [Low messy buns]( are reaching new highs. So is the [ribbonaissance](. But beware of the [Lord Farquaad vibes](. Forward this to a friend. [Click here](mailto:?&subject=Check out this Daily Skimm Weekend newsletter&body=Check it out . Skimm Reads â[Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weissâs Glossier](â by Marisa Meltzer...Close your eyes and picture it: Itâs 2015, and youâre applying [Boy Brow]( for the first time. OK, now open them. Here we are in 2023, and Glossier is not quite the âitâ brand that it once was. This book charts the rise of the company â helmed by its young, well-connected founder, Emily Weiss â and, more recently, its plateau. Itâs an inside look at what it took to build what was the millennial brand of the moment, and for millennials like usâ¦well, we couldnât get enough. Skimm Picks Here are todayâs recs to help you live a smarter life⦠1. Sheertex's early Black Friday sale. [Everything on their site]( is $35 right now, including their cult-favorite [rip-resistant tights]( â a feat of engineering, if you ask us. [Add to cart](
--------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Free shipping sitewide at QVC this weekend. We're eyeing their fall decor collection. We'll be burning this [honeycomb candle]( and admiring this [autumnal faux-floral arrangement]( till Christmas. [Shop now](
--------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty Sale ends today. It's your last chance to get makeup, skin, and hair products [for 50% off](. Procrastination = not an option. [Start saving]( Psst...looking for more discounts on brands Skimm'rs love? Check out all of our exclusive promo codes [here](. Weekend Escape *Slams laptop shut until Monday.* We know the feeling. And weâve got some tips for escape. Donât settle for the same old game night. Instead, trade up with some new moves: This week, the beloved board game [Catan]( entered the cookbook world â so fans can fuel up on their quest for world domination with recipes like Ear of Plenty Corn Dip and Desert (Prickly Pear) Margaritas. But itâs not the only board game offering some food for thought. If youâre game, try your hand at... - [Candy Land](. Pay homage to the Peppermint Forest with [peppermint bark](, [patties](, or [biscotti](. Traverse the Gumdrop Mountains with [homemade gummies]( or [freshly-baked cookies](. Dip into the Licorice Lagoon with a [mouthwatering martini]( or [chewy brownies](. Or feast on [chocolate frosties]( and [sugar cookie bars]( on your way to the Frosted Palace. - [Guess Who?]( Bring even more mystery to the table with some[deceptive treats](. That could mean [mashed potatoes]( disguised as ice cream, a [strawberry galette]( that looks like pizza, or fries made from â wait for it â [apples](. Itâll truly be anyoneâs guess. - [Scrabble](. Mix things up with a winning [party mix](. While thereâs nothing wrong with [the classic](, you could [spice things up]( with a dash of hot sauce. Or, for [something sweet](, add white chocolate. You could also recreate the actual Scrabble tiles with [cookies](, [Rice Krispies treats](, or [brownie bites](. - [Clue](. Salute Colonel Mustard with some [deviled eggs]( or [soft pretzel sticks](. Show Professor Plum some love with [plum tarts]( or [thyme-plum Moscow mules](. And get your daily dose of veggies for Mayor Green, courtesy of a [crudité platter](. Either way, the answer will be: A friend, with a snack, in the living room. News Quiz Letâs see how well you kept up with the Daily Skimm this week. Which Canadian actress will make her Broadway debut next spring? A. Rachel McAdams B. Sandra Oh C. Nina Dobrev D. Catherine OâHara Check back tomorrow for the answer. But if you just need to know, youâll find what youâre looking for [here](. Skimm'd by: Macy Alcido, Maria del Carmen Corpus, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos by Jamie Grill via Getty Images, Izzi Talefenua, Atria/One Signal Publishers, lechatnoir via Getty Images Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? [Subscribe to the Daily Skimm](. ---------------------------------------------------------------
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