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.

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