If you’re a lover of reality TV, you may have heard the clear, mesmerizing vocals and hauntingly beautiful lyrics of singer-songwriter Melissa Giges. Her music has been featured on shows like MTV’s Real World, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Bad Girls Club and Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami. And her heartfelt debut album, Evident, won her a loyal following that traveled way beyond the reality-show circuit.

Next month, Giges returns with her second album, Just When I Let Go, an introspective yet raw exploration of relationships. The album’s first single, “Audience,” is an empowering look back at an emotionally draining union (“You took anything I’d give/Then you’d offer the breath when I couldn’t breathe.”) that enables Giges to flaunt her … //READ MORE

Nidhi Chanani says she wants to make people smile. That’s why, three-and-a-half years ago, the Calcutta-born artist committed to churning out a drawing every single day and posting it to her website, Everyday Love. “I wanted to share those little moments in life that make people happy, that put a smile on their face.”

No one would dispute that her lively, colorful images are smile inducing. Sometimes romantic, often whimsical and always cheerful, they depict handsome young couples in love, strolling over bridges, snuggling in bed or wandering through moonlit city streets. They show mothers and daughters baking together or braiding one another’s hair; women alone, daydreaming over a cup of tea, playing acoustic guitar or riding a bicycle across a gorgeous landscape; and cuddly zoo animals frolicking against natural backdrops. Much of Chanani’s art is a love letter to her City by the Bay, with cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge and other landmarks featured prominently. But she also pays homage to her Indian heritage and dabbles in other romance-inspiring metropolises, including New York. … //READ MORE

One should never underestimate the charms of a loving grandma—especially one whose homemade goodies inspire you to start your own business. For Susan Sarich, owner of the fast-growing SusieCakes chain, the charms of not only one, but two grandmothers were her delicious motivation.

Growing up in Chicago, Susie (as she was then called) would come home from school to enjoy the company—and the freshly baked treats—of grandmas Mildred and Madeline. When Susan grew up and moved to the West Coast, she brought along their precious recipes on handwritten 4-by-6 cards. Today, in her eight SusieCakes stores throughout California (and in three additional locations opening soon), Susan honors her family history, not only in her dedication to baked goods, but in her commitment to providing women with progressive careers in the food and hospitality industry. … //READ MORE

She’s got medical degrees from Yale and Stanford. She’s on the board of directors of the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. She’s a clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco. But most important, she’s a good sport when it comes to inspecting the scars of party guests she’s just met.

Meet renowned San Francisco dermatologist Jacqueline Dolev, owner of Dolev Dermatology in the prestigious Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. One might expect a woman with such an impressive dossier and upscale address to be a tad uppity. But Dr. Dolev is as charismatic and down-to-earth as they come, with a complexion as bright as her intellect (no surprise there). She’s also as funny as hell. Here, she addresses our concerns about everything from snake oil to self skin checks, and even lets us in on a little secret about what not to do after hopping onto the examination table. … //READ MORE