Hot Cup of Inspiration: Clarissa Nicole

Hey! Today it's the fourth installment in the 'Hot Cup of Inspiration' Interviews. Each Thursday I'll be interviewing a different creative entrepreneur. We'll chat with all sorts of people - from writers, to designers, jewelry makers and photographers to see just what makes them tick.

Today I'm chatting with the lovely Clarissa from Five12 Studio. She is a blogger, designer and photographer.

You can see other installments here:

one

two 

three

  When Why and How did you start your blog? I was inspired by a few bloggers I was reading: Design for Mankind, Wit and Delight and Designlovefest, just to name a few. I liked the idea of cataloging your work and inspiration and wanted to do something on my own.

Did you start your businesses or your blog first?

My business, but the blog came right with it, so technically both. I needed a place to showcase my work and didn't have a website yet.

  Are you self taught or did you go to school for design?

When I was in my last semester of undergrad as a PR major, I took a class on advanced editing which focused on layout/design as opposed to writing and I was hooked. I went back to school for a year and got an interdisciplinary degree in art design. I learned a lot from them without a doubt, but I have to say I taught myself a lot of once I graduated. I’m far more advanced in Illustrator than I was when I graduated (not a fault on them at all).

  Have you always had a passion for design? 

I've always been creative, but I didn't know if I could make it into design. I like making a catalog of things that I liked in specific layouts, like my own magazine. Maybe it was foreshadowing :)

 How do you remain inspired & motivated to create? 

I’m really trying to move past Pinterest because it can be easy to copy, though it is where I get some of my motivation. I also like browsing catalogs and magazines when I’m at Barnes and Noble. I also shut off social media and just go, and things evolve from that.

What’s the most satisfying aspect of your ‘job’? 

Launching FIVE12 STUDIO after re-branding it from “CNICOLE Photo Design.” 

I've really pushed myself hard to get out there when I've wanted to give up

What has been your best moment through your career so far?  

Having random people compliment your work when they don’t have to.

 What's the worst part about your job? 

You’re really alone. At the end of the day, you’re the only one pushing your work, being the sales, marketing, PR, admin, etc of your business. But I believe in this so much that it’s not a problem. Oh…and taxes. Taxes are the pits.

What are your top tips for anyone interested in design/photography careers? Learn from the mistakes you’ll make. You’ll make them and feel discouraged, but once you look at what’s wrong you’ll know how to fix them. Also, find your own style. What makes you different than all the others out there?

Here are some of the Thank You Cards that Clarissa did

            

you can purchase them here.

To see more from Clarissa you can find her; on her blog or design site

or you could catch up with her on Twitter or Facebook.

Hacked By Kate; Homemade Baby Wipes

 Hi everyone! I'm Kate and I blog over at Hacked by Kate. I'm really excited to be doing a guest post for Jenny because she has a really great blog and I'm happy to be a part of it! Because she is expecting I thought it would be fun to share my homemade baby wipes.

But first, I wanted to tell you just a little about myself. I am a wife and mom of three. I started blogging in 2010 when I was pregnant with my second child and I had just become a stay at home mom. I guess I thought I wasn't busy enough and wanted to start keeping track of everything we were doing to share with my family. It has since turned into so much more and I'm really enjoying it all!

After about a year of blogging only about my family I started to open up a little and started sharing recipes, crafts, DIY projects, etc that I tried out. I find so many awesome projects on Pinterest that I redo and make my own and because of that I recently changed my blog name to Hacked by Kate.

Ok, now, back to the baby wipes. A while back I was thinking about making my own baby wipes and so I turned to my trusted source, Pinterest. And of course it was not lacking, there were so many different ways that you could make your own. After browsing through quite a few that looked promising I put together the ingredients I thought worked best. Luckily, I had everything I needed except a container, but I was able to find one at the store.

So gather your ingredients:

• 1 container to keep your wipes in
• 2 cups of boiled water- cooled to room temperature
• 1 roll of premium paper towels- I use Viva because they are really strong
• 2 Tbsp Baby Wash
• 1 Tbsp Baby Oil

1. You are going to start with cutting your paper towel roll in half. Remove cardboard roll.
2. Mix your water, baby wash and baby oil together in the bottom of your container and swish it around to mix it.
3. Then you will put your paper towels into the liquid, cut side down. Let it soak up all of the liquid.
4. Now, with the lid on, flip your container over and let it soak all the way in.
5. Pull a piece of paper towel from the middle to start your roll!

*One note* I typically go through wipes pretty quick, but one time when I didn't use as many after being gone on vacation, I came back to moldy wipes. They really have a shelf life of less than two weeks. Otherwise, I've had no problems.

And now you have your very own home made wipes that don't have a huge list of weird ingredients!

And thanks Jenny for having me! It's been great being here and I hope you'll check out Hacked by Kate for more of my projects.

How to Create a Killer Schedule ; Maximize Your Productivity

1. First of all you need to be realistic with the time that you actually have in your day. Then mark out where you already have commitments such as work and school.
2.  Write a list of all the tasks, projects etc that you're working on and prioritize what needs to get done. 
3. Go ahead and start allotting times to the tasks you need to get done; now you know how much time you have, what needs to be done and the order of importance
4. Assign colors to each task. This will make it way easier to tell at a glance what needs to be done and when.
5.  Break down the time that you have into <30 minute slots, and after 30 minutes of producing, creating, studying or whatever it is you're doing, take a break of 5 minutes.
6. Assign yourself free time; If you don't give yourself any down time there's almost a 90% chance you'll burn out or abandon your schedule completely. 
7. Test, re-arrange and test again until you get it right : Half the reason you probably haven't stuck to past schedules is that they haven't been 'right' for you. Especially if you're organizing a family or multiple people you need to get down with their routines and schedule things conveniently for you, and pay attention to notice what works and what doesn't.
8. Last, but not least; back up your schedule - in like 3 different places. I have a handwritten paper copy of mine, one on my laptop and one on my USB drive. However if you have a smart phone or tablet, try to keep it synced to all of your different devices.

How do you guys keep on track?

Weekly Wishes 25/08

• Get on top of the chores   Duh this got done, because un-tidy things give me nervous tics.
• Read all these blogging e-books that I have;   The only problem is I keep accumulating more!
• Read up on changing domains and using squarespace. I'm totally enamored with Squarespace and so far haven't found any real downsides. I'm looking to change domains some time within the next 2 months. 
• Get off my lazy behind and work on my email list. I made a start, but autoresponders sure can give you a headache!

• Dedicate some time to my blog again. Other projects have really taken over and my blog needs a little love! Then again, it never feels like I spent enough time on the blog.
• Dedicate as much time as possible to the side hustle! 
• De-clutter my email inbox; Who'd have thought someone who checks their email so often could get so far behind?

Hot Cup of Inspiration; Rekita Nicole

Hey! Today it's the third installment in the 'Hot Cup of Inspiration' Interviews. Each Thursday I'll be interviewing a different creative entrepreneur. We'll chat with all sorts of people - from writers, to designers, jewelry makers and photographers to see just what makes them tick.

Today I'm chatting with the lovely Rekita from Rekita Nicole Design studios. She is a blogger who makes her living doing blog designs and branding processes. You should check her out. She's Genius!

In case you missed the last post with jewelry designer and creative consultant Alisha, you can find it *here*

The second post with Social Media Manager & Personal Stylist Candice Van Wye is *here*

When Why and How did you start your blog?

I started my first blog when my husband was deployed in 2011. I started it because I really needed an outlet. I had just given birth to my second son and I just needed something to help me vent. 

Are you self taught or did you go to school for design?

I am self-taught, even though I do want and need to go to school to master my craft. I am sort of all over the place. 

Have you always had a passion for design?

Well, I have always had a passion for art, period. I am very creative. I used to be very good at drawing, I could look at something and just draw it. So having those skills has really lead me to the passion for design. 

How do you remain inspired & motivated to create?

My family motivates me a lot. I also have a husband who encourages/gets-on-my-nerves to be better. I also wanted to show my children there is more to me than just “mom”. I wanted to show them that they can follow their dreams and make a life from their passion.

What’s the most satisfying aspect of your ‘job’? What has been your best moment through your career so far?

The most satisfying aspect is getting that “WOW” reaction form my clients. It makes me feel so good and confident that I can do more. The best moment has been making good friends and collaborations.

What's the worst part about your job?

The worst thing is when people don't understand what you do and how much time it takes. Being a graphic designer and coder is so tedious. 

 What are your top tips for anyone interested in the design career?

I say research and take some classes pertaining to your craft. My most important tip is to set hours for your clients and yourself. I used to stay up until 2 AM designing and I would be the worst person in the morning. Also, leave weekend for yourself and your family. There is also nothing wrong with taking a short hiatus to regroup. 

You can find Rekita on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram
or check out her blog and design website

5 Things That Should Come In Adult Sizes

Hello everyone!  I'm Rebecca and I usually blog over at RebeccaChapman.com, but today Jenny has been gracious enough to allow me to take over at Escape and Inspire. 

I know Jenny is getting ready to have a baby, and so many of my friends are at that stage that I'm having to buy a whole lot of baby shower gifts.  The last time I walked in to the store to pick something up I thought to myself, "I would buy a lot of this stuff for myself if only it were adult-size."  Seriously, why do babies get to have all the comfort and fun?!  Here are 5 things that should be made in adult sizes.

1. Bouncing Seats

I own a rocking chair and it looks nothing like this beauty, all plush and cozy with a headrest to keep my neck from cramping when I inevitably fall asleep and will keep my butt inside when I start to rock so hard I almost fall out.  I'm not joking.  I would fall out without being strapped in!  No living room chair that I've looked at for myself has a cute name like "Snuggle Bunny Bouncer." I could really use that mobile too. I get bored easily and it's nice to have something to bat at. I bet you want one now too.

2. Activity Gyms

I'm not talking a work-out gym.  I don't want to have to work that hard.  I just want a nice comfy mat to lie on with a few toys I can reach for so I feel like I'm stretching out my arms. The product description said this came in "frustration-free packaging" so I was totally sold.  Pretty much everything I buy has "full of frustration packaging." 

3. Whatever the heck this is

I basically just wanted to include this product because this picture is hysterical.  Why is this baby so sad?! He looks so stylish in his umbrella hat.  And I could use one because every morning I get shampoo in my eyes!  

4. Jumpers

I want to feel like an astronaut in space walking around with no gravity.  Is that so much to ask?  

5. Pack-N-Plays

 First, I had no idea that play-pens were now called play-yards.  I totally get not wanting to put your baby in something that sounds like a dog kennel but I'm not fooled.  Still, this "play-yard" looks like an awesome place to nap.

Don't lie...you want at least one of these items on the list for yourself.  I have so enjoyed getting to talk to you today.  I’d love to have you visit me over at RebeccaChapman.com.  Stop by and say hello!

My Writing Process & How I Plan & Write My Blog Posts

what are you working on right now?

I’m working on growing another human being. It’s an amazing thing and I have so many things I want to say about it but I’m just not sure how.  Pregnancy changes your life in such unimaginable ways. Until you've been there, you can never understand how much. 

I’m definitely seeing growth as a person because of the pregnancy and letting it move me in my writing. I'm trying to process the fact that another human life is growing inside of me and I can’t say that it isn't affecting my content. 

There’ll be a motherhood series on the blog through September and October once a week.

At the same time I’m in this entrepreneurial whirlwind.  I can't read/ write enough about starting a business right now.I have this passion burning inside of me, I want  to make more of this online space. I've been working on my writing skills, doing freelance and trying to  branch out and help people to create their best content

Because of that, you'll be seeing  a series of writing posts. There'll also be a series called Cup of Inspiration featuring different online entrepreneurs. I've been letting all these ideas that are constantly flowing through my brain at a hundred miles an hour out and seeing where that takes me.

how does your work differ from others in it's genre?

I don’t know that I fit into a genre in the first place. I'm a just a teen mom, living the island life and learning  along the way. I want to make a difference in the world, and I’m constantly dreaming of ways to do that.

My work is ‘different’ because I lived it. I’m in it and I wrote it *click to tweet*

I don’t have the perfect life of the perfect blog with perfect pictures and perfect children, and I’m okay with that. It’s about making the most of what you have. I’m different because I know that no-one else truly has the perspective on life that I have. Everyone is unique, so I don’t think we should categorize or compare ourselves to others even if we write about the same things.

It's important because it's what I've learned and what I can help other people to learn. It’s my passions and thoughts that other people can love, hate or agree with.

why do you write what you do?

My writing is part emotional release, and part sharing to try to make a difference. I constantly love to learn and share. If I could have been, I’d have been a teacher - but those plans are on hold for right now. I write what I do to process my thoughts and to grow and to help others to do so.

My goal in writing here is building an amazing and interactive community that encourages and inspires. I want it to be a place where people can find love and creativity in abundance.

how does your writing process work?

My writing process has been a bit obsessive of late. But I’ve been really trying to get on track and prepare for the madness that will be the birth and rearing of a newborn child. Lately this is how it's been going;

First of all I sit down and think of all the categories I post about on the blog. I make a mind map of those categories, and then brainstorm. Each post idea gets a separate branch and I include any brief outlines that I have for the post. I save that and then I write down a list of all the posts that I have to write from it.

I check my editorial calendar and see what I have planned for the upcoming week or month. Then I schedule in the post where there is space. 

I have a color code for the types of post so I can see at a glance what I'm posting about, so I  go ahead and add the correct color to it at the same time.

Once I have my list I start to make draft posts for the upcoming posts. When I create the drafts I add my signature and an edited picture with the title on it. I also pre-schedule it for the day it’s going to go up and add the tags that I want it to have.

For editing pictures I usually use Picmonkey since it's easy to use and free.  I get the pictures from an assortment of sites such as Pixabay, Picjumbo, Death to the Stock Photo, Unsplash & Kaboompics. 

I save the stock pictures to my USB stick in the relevant category (landscapes, people, technology etc). I do that to make it easy to find the right image when I want to add it to a post. 

For certain posts like Weekly Wishes I have a general template so I’ll copy & paste that in and a few bullet points that I can add to later.

When it comes to writing the content there are usually a few ways that I might write a post. 

Sometimes I hand write the basic points I want to speak about and then go ahead and complete the post in the Blogger post editing window. 

At other times ( like when I can't concentrate) I use an app like Ommwriter or Focus Writer which cuts out the distractions. I copy and paste the finished piece to the Blogger window afterwards.

... and then sometimes I just write. A lot of the posts I have about becoming a mom and pregnancy are a chain of thoughts that nagged at me until I wrote them down. Just a quiet room and the sound of keys clicking and feeling my baby move were enough to motivate me. Posts about faith are usually spur of the moment - I have to get this out of my head kind of posts too. 

I’m glad when the end result is a coherent post, when it started as a jumbled up mess of thoughts in my head. I hope when I write like that, that  someone else might read and think ‘Hey! I’m going through the exact same thing’ or that they can change their views on something. It’s a beautiful and freeing feeling.

Sometimes writing consists of  finding a quote that echoes in my head and relating it to something that I'm going through. Or it's me reading an article that I just can’t help but comment and put my spin on. Joining up moments and ideas and pictures and making them come to life.

Writing is freeing. It gives me life and hope and reason. That’s what my writing process is. Life.

Weekly Wishes 18/08

• Write down everything: Complete!
• Dream Big;  I have SO many plans.
• Pray; Not a total failure, but not a total success either. Definitely going to work on this more this week.

• Get on top of the chores and wash all the baby clothes we have. I had a scare and had to go to Labor & Delivery unexpectedly last week, so I definitely want to get on top of things incase the baby decides to make an early appearance!
• Read all these blogging e-books that I have; while I still have the time.
• Read up on changing domains and using squarespace. I'm thinking about taking that leap.What do any of you out there that use squarespace think about it?
• Get off my lazy behind and work on my email list.

Tweet

Hot Cup of Inspiration; Candice Van Wye

It's the second installment of these entrepreneurial interviews. Each week we'll get to see another side of bloggers and creatives who have established their own businesses and gain inspiration and advice from them. 

If you missed the first installment with jewelry designer Alisha Nicole, you can check it out *here* Today I'm going to be chatting with Candice Van Wye. 

Candice is a multi-talented and multi-passionate blogger who has branched out in many different areas. Currently she runs 2 blogs and has her own businesses. -          Social Creative Studios: Blog Management, Copy+ Content Creation business -       Social Creative Styling: Personal Styling Business        

-       Brown Girl Bloggers: Collective site which showcases minority bloggers

-         Candice Van Wye; Her Personal Blog

Have you always been a 'writer?'

Yes, I've always been a writer. Even as a little girl I would write stories and read them to my little brother and my toys. I loved making up intricate backstories when I played games and I remember my brother being so angry that I took the time to write them down instead of just playing. 

When and why did you decide to start your personal blog?

I started my blog last May because I wanted to document my journey of moving after college but I didn't really start writing posts and taking it seriously until last October when I decided I would use it to launch my career as an entrepreneur. 

What was the ‘turning point’ for your blogs and your business.. when did they really start to flourish?

The turning point was when I realized I couldn't work for other people last year. That's when I got really aggressive in my approach and started taking everything seriously which then lead to more money and the ability to quit my job to write and pursue my businesses full time. 

What is the most empowering moment you've experienced through blogging?

The first time I got an email from someone saying my writing and my blogging had really touched their life. One girl was so afraid to go after her dreams and she was miserable but after reading my blog and seeing someone who looked like her go after a dream and succeed she decided to go for it. She's now very happy and she owns her own business. 

What motivates you to keep doing what you do?

The thought of using what I do to create the life I've always wanted. I know that if I put in the work now I'll be able to travel and have a totally location independent lifestyle with my husband in a few years. That dream is what keeps me motivated. I know I need to establish myself now and make enough money so that we can save and be in a good place when we're ready to live that way. 

How do you stay inspired?

By reading other blogs and talking with other women who are successful. Successful women have always motivated me. 

How do you manage 3 blogs & corresponding social media, any tips on time management?

You've got to set aside time to do everything. I map out everything - monthly, weekly and daily because little things change plans as you go along. It's all about scheduling. 

What's your advice to aspiring young writers and creatives out there?

Just do it! Don't wait for the perfect time because it will never come. Start when you think of it because if you do you'll be so much more prepared when you perfect time comes. Instead of just starting at that time you'll be in a position to take yourself to places you never imagined all because you already started, made mistakes and learned from them.

You can find Candice on twitter *here* and on Instagram * here*

How to Expand Your Blog with Twitter

Want to expand your blog's reach with social media, but just don't know how? Here are some of the things that you can do to increase your blog readership and engagement with twitter.

Twitter Chats: 

For those of you who don't know what twitter chats are they're basically a twitter based forum that is held usually once weekly under a specific hashtag. A company or person will tweet questions to the audience and then they would engage in conversation while replying all under the same hashtag. Some examples are ; #blisschat #altchat #blogtrends and #bloghour. They can be valuable in a number of ways.

• Joining in on Twitter Chats
• Helps you gain valuable information from people in the same fields as you - i.e. bloggers, small business owners.
• Gives you the opportunity to network with others with similar interests to you and build friendships over time
• When you actively participate a lot of bloggers in the chat end up checking out your twitter page and corresponding links, therefore increasing the traffic to your blog.
• Hosting Your Own Twitter Chats
• Allows you to distribute your own valuable advice to a large group of people at once.
• Helps you to build a reputation as an expert in the field that you are in.
• Is a great opportunity for interaction with your followers.
• Opens you up to sponsorship opportunities who want to take advantage of the impressions and engagement that you generate in an hour!

• Having a single business/personal twitter account :Not only is it exhausting running multiple twitter accounts along with the other forms of social media that you are on, but it can be detrimental to your blog/business to have separate accounts. For web based businesses and blogs; you are your brand. It's important that people are able to get to know who you are, especially if you want them to choose YOUR service over one that they can get elsewhere.

• Tweeting links to your posts can drive traffic to your blog, and you reach a wider audience which includes those that may not be subscribed to your email list or following you on bloglovin'. I personally read about 50% of the posts that I do because of twitter.

• Interacting with your Readership: After you've tweeted post links and people have read them, they often respond via twitter. It's important to acknowledge your readers and engage them.

• Tweeting quotes from your posts: can be a way to encourage more people to read. I for one usually don't click boring looking auto-updated links, and most of your readership won't either,

• Tweeting helpful tips, pictures, infographics and other bloggers content can also help give you a boost. People love it when you share their content! Wouldn't you?

• Your personal life matters too! We like to read what you write already, that's why we're following you, so getting an insight into your personal day to day life is cool too. I don't just want to follow for scheduled updates!

• Reaching out to one person a day: If you're not getting the results that you want from twitter, try asking for them. I've noticed since I've been reaching out to people the positive responses have just been flooding in! Whether it's co-ordinating a guest post or sponsorship or simply asking for help you should never be afraid to ask someone else for a helping hand - even if you're intimidated.

Ideally you should be spending at least an hour a day on twitter just interacting, how long do you spend on twitter for your blog/business?

How Journaling Can Make You a Better Writer

There are a ton of different kinds of journals. For a more extensive list you could read this post about Journaling options

My journal is a kind of mixture of a lot of different types of journals; it's a scripture, observe the world, personal daily log, post writing kind of thing. If compartmentalization works for you then go ahead and have a separate journal for most of those things, including writing, but I personally like to have all of the things that I've 'thought' in one place.

Types of journals that help specifically with writing:
- inspiration journals; where you keep pictures, receipts, letters, quotes etc that inspire you
- daily log; writing the basics (or more) of what you go through each day.
- writing journal; where you commit yourself to doing writing prompts etc

Whatever works for you is the key here with journaling, and also persistence. It doesn't matter how often you write ( every day every few days,once a week, etc) , as long as you keep writing.

I find that when it comes to writing, journaling can really help in 3 major ways:

• Getting in touch with your emotions, while writing and reflecting on those emotions when/if you  re-read.
• Reference for scenes in stories, where I can capture a 'stream of consciousness' type of emotion that I want to use for when another character is going through the same thing.
• Helping you get used to your voice as a writer. Sometimes when we know that content'll get posted on the web we end up writing in a voice that isn't entirely our own, intentionally or not - but in a journal that you know that no-one is going to read your voice and writing style really shines through.

I want to stress to you all that the more you write, the more you will be ABLE to write.

The key is to stop worrying about whether you're writing well, or whether you're good enough and just write. It doesn't matter if no-one reads it, or if you get horrible feed-back on it. Each minute that you spend writing is a minute you've dedicated to getting better to your craft. Persistence makes perfect.

Even the best writers cannot capture every audience; some people hate Harry Potter and some people love it, so it doesn't matter whether people like it. As long as you're writing it matters. The main reason that people don't persist in their journaling or in their writing in general is because comparatively, they feel shit. Stop comparing, and just keep going.

“Literature is strewn with the wreckage of men who have minded beyond reason the opinions of others.”

—Virginia Woolf *click to tweet*

Weekly Wishes 11/08

• Be more active on the blog Facebook page; meh. I wasn't really active on the page or social media much at all. Will improve on it this week though.
• Try cooking a new food;    while I didn't cook a new food, I did actually spend a bit more time in the kitchen than normal, especially last night which was nice. I want to get in the habit of cooking more regularly!
• Reach out to one person each day:   Aced this, and it was better than I expected. You'd be surprised the amazing things that happen when you try.

• Write down everything: I really want to commit to journaling again this week. I'm gonna create a method that works for me that's some sort of planner/journal hybrid. I really can't keep up with both, so why not simplify? 
• Dream Big; My most creative stuff comes from when I've just let my mind wander and I want to do more of that. And get it down on paper. There are some dream goals that are closer to becoming a reality and it can only get better.
• Pray; I prayed with Richard today and it was an invigorating experience. It's something I've wanted to do for a while, but never approached him about and it just happened today. I definitely want to make it a part of our day every day from here on out.

Hot Cup of Inspiration; Alisha Nicole

Welcome to the first week of my new mini-series on the blog.

Cup of Inspiration will be a series of short interviews with a variety of different and professionals ; bloggers,designers & entrepreneurs! Stick around and see what inspiration and tips you can find.

Today we're sitting down with Alisha, of The Alisha Nicole. She's a the owner of a small online jewelry business and blog & branding consultant.

[ the woman behind the blog ]

Have you always been a 'creative'?

I have! As a child I was always obsessed with different crafts, sketching and writing. I was that kid who wanted a new notebook and markers instead of a Barbie. At one point I actually thought I would become a writer when I got older.

When & why did you decide to start your blog and at what point did you decide to turn into a business?

I started my blog a little over a year ago. I was in a really strange place in life and I needed somewhere to vent and share my journey as a small business owner. It wasn't until I learned about all of the different opportunities out there for bloggers that I decided to monetize it.

What was the most ‘successful’ moment you’ve experienced through blogging?  How did you get there?

 Its hard to think of just one, but I have been truly blessed to be interviewed on a few amazing websites! They all came from simply networking and building relationships with others in my field. You never know where a simple email or tweet can lead you!

Where do you find your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from everywhere! I would say that I'm mostly inspired by music and reading about how the entrepreneurs I admire made it.

What motivates you to keep doing what you do?

My mom has always been my number one supporter, so a lot of my motivation comes from wanting to one day support her like she has always supported me. Also the fear of having to work for someone else again definitely keeps me motivated!

How do you stay on top of your design & branding/consultation businesses as well as blogging and social media?

I don't sleep! No but I make sure I have everything written down. My memory is terrible so I HAVE to always keep a to-do list and calendar close to make sure I stay on top of everything. I also try my best to schedule my social media ahead of time so I'm not rushing to do it during the day.

What's you main goal for the next 5 years and how do you plan to achieve it?

My main goal is to expand! I love growth and change so I definitely plan on expanding my shop into more than just jewelry (I'm thinking small home decor and lounge wear for women). I also see myself expanding my consulting services into offering e-courses and workshops! To get there, I plan on networking a lot and getting a better understanding of what my target audience is looking for. Also by slowly introducing new products slowly into the shop.

[ some of the jewelry available right now in her etsy store ]

What advice would you give to an aspiring young woman who wishes to become successful in running an online business?

I would say to stay consistent and not to give up! Running any kind of business is hard, but if you are truly passionate about it you can't just let it go! Push through the hard times and celebrate every single success!