Posts from the ‘Inspired By:’ Category

Today Anthropologie officially launched their new wedding line, BHLDN (pronounced: beholden) and, as I expected, I really love it. To be completely honest, I expected more of the dresses to be a bit more dramatic, but I know they are trying to appeal to a wide array of brides. These three below are my favorites with the Ribbon Silk Dress winning hands down. Their site is having trouble today due to the overwhelming traffic they are receiving but I was able to take a glimpse around and pick a few favorites for you to see…

There are bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, lingerie, hair pieces, jewelry, and shoes available on the site and I adore pretty much all of it. In fact, I’m thinking of picking up a few pieces for myself just because they are so achingly lovely.  The Ribbon Silk Dress is my standout favorite from the new line and is perhaps the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen (except for my own Sarah Seven wedding dress, obviously). It is elegant but unique with lots of visual interest and a soft vintage feel. I think it would look beautiful at a wide range of events from a vintage style outdoor ceremony to an elegant soirée at an art museum. The tiered tulip gown is a bit more traditional with simple lines and a whiter shade of fabric. The swooping detailing across the top and bottom are lovely and the big black ribbon adds a bit of drama. I envision this dress on the side of a mountain in Iceland or at a blacktie outdoor garden party. My third favorite, and the most unique of all the dresses is the Zinnia gown. Completely untraditional, I love the fabric pattern, the bit of orangey-red, and the unique billowing. Can’t you just envision this gown among a garden of roses at a breezy, garden wedding at a historic estate? I love it.

The hair accessories are all beautiful but these are my favorites. From simple vine to a bohemian wrap I love them all and I want them all in my closet. I love that headpieces are becoming a way for brides to show off their individuality. The rein of the plain veil is coming to an end and I couldn’t be more excited. I could stare at these photos all day.

And since the website is being finicky I couldn’t show you all my favorite shoes, gems, and bridesmaid dresses but be sure to take a look around all of it. I know you’ll find something you adore. Happy Valentine’s Day friends! ♥ ♥ ♥

.

.

.

Pantone released their spring 2011 fashion picks and immediately I recognized our branding colors (and also the colors of our office and my living room… what can I say, I love em!) in the lineup. We’ve been loving our soft gray and golden yellow branding for the last few years so it’s nice to have some validation from the color experts as to how awesome they are. But then I noticed that little pink beauty and realized that it’s very close to the accent color of the ‘related posts’ boxes here on our bloggity blog. HELLO SERENDIPITY! Now I’m all, “Maybe I should start incorporating more soft pink?” What do you think? :)

.

.

.

In the very beginning of this year I was blessed to take part in a Fire Starter Session with Danielle LaPorte who is not only one of the creative forces behind one of my favorite books, Style Statement, she is also a kick ass motivational writer and speaker following her passions through life and helping people do the same. The session was part pep rally, part slap upside the head as Danielle was 100% straight with us right from the start. It opened my eyes a lot to how blinded I can be by living solely in the industry and forced me to stop looking around and start looking forward. It was a big moment in the timeline of my creative life.

This year Danielle decided to take what she does in the Fire Starter Sessions and make it into an online workbook that people can do at their own pace called the Fire Starter Sessions Digital Program. It’s been buzzing around the interwebs for months now and receiving raving reviews (none of which surprise me because Danielle is so genuinely inspiring). Part of me wants to be Danielle when I grow up. And another part knows that she would look me in the face and tell me that’s not what it’s about. ;)

I’ve learned so much from her writing, blog (White Hot Truth), and the time I got to spend with her during our session.  I am so honored today to be able to share this little interview about genius, balance, and blogging…

1. You’re Fire Starter Sessions Ebook is a workbook based on the one-on-one Fire Starter sessions you’ve been doing (that we were blessed to get to take part in) that entrepreneurs can go through at their own pace discovering their strengths and refining their focus. In the world today, I feel like this tool is especially timely. What words of encouragement can you give to struggling entrepreneurs who are thinking about taking this journey with your book?

Do it! Here, I’ll let Kris Carr from CrazySexyLife.com call you to action:

“Please fasten your seat belts because The Fire Starter Sessions is the revolution you’ve been waiting for. It will shake-up and wake-up every aspect of your life. Danielle LaPorte combines soulful wisdom with razor sharp business advice to create a blue print for moguls, spiritual rockstars, and lovers of life. Skinny dip head first into this hot and fabulous book. I dare you.”

2. What is your state of mind right now as we start this interview?

Calm. Very grateful.

3. You say in your tagline: “Spark your genius.” What to you is genius, and does it have an age or experience requirement?

Genius is a gift. It’s your personal creative edge, a natural strength. And everyone has got it — no exceptions. Sometimes it gets buried underneath compromise and low self-esteem and fear. But you can always shake it up with some daring and desire. Experience just hones it. Age polishes it. But courage evokes it.

4. How do we keep from sacrificing our genius for stability in this crazy world of business?

Genius and stability aren’t exclusive. Compromise and suffering on the other hand are optional.

5. I’ve always felt like genius is like balancing on a tight rope between world changing and insane. I think that’s why genius attracts so many nay-sayers. How do you deal with people, whether their hearts are in the right place or not, that try to stifle your vision and genius?

I don’t deal with people who try to stifle me. Ever. I did that. It’s excruciating. It cost me my last business. If I’m not feeling expanded, inspired, and respected, I’m out.

6. As an entrepreneur who’s business is as much about art as it is about business, what is your best advice about keeping the creative fire burning while dealing with the weighty responsibilities of running a business?

If it feels weighty, re-think it. Delegate, prioritize, nix it. And I find that the more creative “work” I produce, the more joy I have in my being and the necessary administrivia isn’t such a drag.

7. One of my favorite things you’ve talked about is giving up on trying to find balance. One of my favorite quotes on your blog is: “I no sooner want to be balanced than I want to be a “good girl”. Balance is not something I want to live down to.” One of  my favorite quotes is, “Well behaved women rarely make history.” Can you elaborate a bit more about living well in the imbalance?

I burn a lot of omlettes. It’s a regular occurrence – I’m drawing robots with my kid, I’m jotting down an idea I don’t want to lose, I’m taking the call. And then the smoke alarms goes off. I “work” on holidays. Last Monday I stayed in bed and read all day. I send birthday gifts three months early or three months late – but it’s just the right gift. I can eat cereal every day for a week, wearing the same clothes, never leaving the house because I want to finish a book. I like last minute trips out of town and not answering email for days. The last time I was at a monastery, I tweeted about it.

This is not a balanced life. But it works. And the more I pursue my passions, the more uncomplicated my life gets, actually. There’s not much in my life that I resent. And if resentment builds, I’m swift to get it off my plate. It’s not the imbalance-ness that stresses me, it’s doing meaningless things that aren’t taking me where I want to go.

8. I really admire the way you are able to be genuine on your blog. As a blogging, female wedding photographer sometimes I feel the pressure to talk about life, projects, and the world as romantic rainbows and butterflies and all I really want to say is “My day was shitty.” Can you talk to me about finding the intersection of genuine and positive?

MY WORK (+ SOCIAL MEDIA) CREDO – in order of priority – is:

1. Be USEFUL. If your stuff is not 100% about utility, practicality, or wisdom, then…
2. Be INSPIRING. If you’re not flush with inspiration, passion, motivation, then at least…
3. Be ENTERTAINING.

And if you can’t at least be amusing then keep to yourself. Otherwise, you’re wasting people’s time. And when you waste people’s time – you’re not only a delusional wanker, you’re disrespectful. Once you disrespect your audience, they’ll walk. Complaining is a no-no.

10. You said I could ask you anything so here goes… What was the biggest business mistake you’ve made?

I kept my mouth shut.

Any closing words to share with the people out there who may be sitting on their dreams, scared of taking the leap to that next, beautiful level?

Don’t burn energy trying to assume how people will perceive you. It’s your job to show up as you, passion and all, and let the right customers make up their mind about you.

xoxox
Danielle

Purchase the Fire Starter Session book here | Follow Danielle on Twitter here | Check out her blog, White Hot Truth here