Whimsy & Wild Interview
Julie is an illustrator influenced by nature, our state & close-knit bonds, selling her stationery & paper goods in her shop, Whimsy and Wild. You'll also find her bright vibes gracing shops like Rebel Reclaimed & Parliament The Boutique in Grand Rapids. Julie & I became instant friends as we talked over coffee about the holidays, our favorite blogs & freelance life. I admire her will as a shop owner, the spirit she brings to her work & the honesty she shares in her process:
Why did you begin Whimsy and Wild?
Julie Wylie To be quite honest, I started Whimsy + Wild because I got to a point where I realized I couldn’t work for someone else. I’ve only had a couple of jobs in my life, + I gotta say, I was pretty miserable. I have always been really creative + I love art. For a long time I thought opening an Etsy shop would be cool, + one day it just made sense. It started as a blog since I temporarily moved to Arizona with my husband so he could go to school. Once we got back home, I got to work + finally opened up shop! It was so exciting, and it truly still is every day. I love being able to do what I love + I am so, so thankful.
What makes you feel brave?
JW I think having the support from my loved ones is what makes me feel the bravest. Knowing that they’ll always be there supporting me along the way really makes me feel like I can do anything. It is because of them that I’m not afraid to really push myself + try something risky, like starting my own business with zero savings. I know that if it does or doesn’t work out in the end, I have them.
Describe a typical day for you.
JW My days are not very exciting. I wish I had some awesome routine that included eating healthier + waking up at the crack of dawn to get work done, maybe some yoga + one day, it will. I’m working towards that, but for right now, I try to get up as early as I can. Sometimes that’s 9am, sometimes it’s 11am. I usually eat some food then check out what’s happening on Instagram or the internet. After a little inspiration, I get to work. My favorite thing is when I actually check off everything on my to-do list. I’m a pretty unmotivated person in general, but I’ve been getting a lot better at it + that feels really good! A few days a week I wake up at 7:45am to babysit my niece + I get to hang out with her all day. It’s pretty awesome.
Who has guided you to do the work you love?
JW I think I’d have to say myself. There were teachers I had in art school or even high school, that were really awesome, but I’ve never really had a “mentor” per se. The reason I’m doing what I love is because I just couldn’t do anything else anymore. I was done living a life I didn’t love + I was and still am determined to do what makes me happy. It’s most definitely challenging, but it’s worth it. And like I said, I’m very fortunate to have such a wonderfully supportive family (+ friends!).
How do you begin a piece?
JW Everything starts on paper, either with a pencil or more often now just a nice pen/marker. I doodle over and over and over, honestly. I have so many pages of computer paper on my desk + in drawers. It’s a lot of clutter sometimes but it’s my preferred way to work (the papers, not the mess). Sometimes I’ll pull out the handy LightPad my husband bought me as a wedding gift to trace a design that’s good but not quite right. Then I scan it + edit it on the computer using Photoshop and my Wacom Bamboo tablet. Sometimes I use Illustrator but a lot of my work is just cleaned up/colored in Photoshop.
My favorites are the little things. I like nature a lot. I like pretty things. I’m not sure what that means exactly but I like rain, steam from a cup of coffee, frosting on a cupcake, a cardinal in the snow, sunlight through a window…
What inspires you to create?
JW This is both a tough + easy question. Sometimes nothing inspires me + I just create because I need to. I create because I need to make something even if I don’t feel like it or even if it isn’t good. Other times, so much inspires me. My favorites are the little things. I like nature a lot. I like pretty things. I’m not sure what that means exactly but I like rain, steam from a cup of coffee, frosting on a cupcake, a cardinal in the snow, sunlight through a window…it’s all of these little things that really get me going. I also love looking at other artists’ work. That can be tough if you start to critique your work against theirs but whenever I scroll through Instagram and see a fellow maker’s work, I can’t help but get really inspired.
Currently digging?
JW The excitement of Christmas time, even if it is a little stressful. I love this time of year. Also, David Bazan + The Passenger String Quartet’s recent collab. SO perfect. It’s on repeat in my car.
What can we look forward to from Whimsy and Wild?
JW Hopefully a lot! Right now, I'm looking forward to adding a bunch of new card designs after the holidays. I also really need to get my butt into gear and add the rest of the states to my States Series collection! Oh, and something extra exciting but I can’t say anything just yet.
Surprise! Julie & I made something for you in celebration of the Winter Solstice coming up this Sunday. It's the shortest day of the year, symbolizing the inherent need for soul searching & inner reflection during this dark season. It's also a time to celebrate the coming of more light as the days get increasingly longer.
Solstice literally means "when the sun stands still" so Julie made a dark & light version for your desktop or your phone background. It's a free download, our gift to you:
In Great Company is a Brave Girl series that sparks conversation with people making waves in their communities, careers & life.
Shine & Wine
The sun is so rare this time of year in Michigan but today he showed his lovely face. These days, I never know when he'll be in town so I closed the studio doors to soak him up on a long trail walk with Tiger. Tiger chased squirrels. I caught up with my thoughts:
The Liebster Award by Hayley of Roots & Whim
The Liebster Award is given to new bloggers by new bloggers which is how Hayley of Roots & Whim came to nominate me (newbies unite!). I love that this award exists because it creates a welcoming community to people who've started a new journey of their own. I'm honored to have been nominated, thank you Hayley! I've passed it along to Megan of Chat Clink Repeat & Julie of Whimsy & Wild. I answered my questions & put a little twist on the rules here. Fellow bloggers with less than 200 followers, please join in! Hayley lays out the original deets & rules wonderfully here.
Trello for project management
Talk about a freelance lifesaver. Trello is a free resource that allows you to organize your projects from a large scale down to the minute details. It's intuitive & easy to share tasks, files & deadlines with team members, as well as comment on them & chat directly. It also puts tasks into calendar form which is easy on the eyes for us strictly visual folks.
The Day Designer by Whitney English
The power of Twitter, my friends. Yes, I'm 5 years late to the phenomenon of just how useful Twitter is but it led me to the best 2015 planner a girl could ask for so I don't mind my pace one bit. Donned with a thick cover, beautiful paper, top priority tasks, daily gratitude & best of all, a reminder for dinner! Best. Planner. Ever. If you're looking for a 2015 Day Planner there's a few Day Designer's left here or check out Elle & Co, she has a great self-printable planner!
OnGuard Essential Oil Blend by doTerra
I recently went to an Essential Oils 101 class at Have Company where I uncovered more hidden gems about essential oils thanks to Tess Lindholm, a local doTerra rep & health coach. Sick days are hard to have when you've got a boss like mine (she runs a hard bargain!) so I've been using 1–2 drops of OnGuard in my hot drinks & soups as soon as my throat got sore & nose got runny.
Wine night with friends
I'm excited to hang out with Megan, Tieka & friends tomorrow for a holiday wine night! We're doing a blind taste testing of seasonal wines like mulled, spice or cabernet. I have no idea what that means. I'm more of a craft beer drinker but still can't wait for a night of wine & relaxation. Any suggestions on good wine under $20 I should bring?
I read this great article about genuine excitement when selling your service. It came at the perfect time since I'm now a offering a brand starter package called the Design Blitz for entrepreneurs, bloggers & shop owners who need a logo. Selling usually has an icky feeling tied to it. No one wants to be sold to, they want to be understood. It isn't because I'm trying to manipulate people into giving me their money (how selling often feels). It's because I've seen a thread of frustration, confusion & ambiguity in people at the beginning of the brand process that doesn't need to be there. How do I instill that trust & show you I truly mean it? The initial idea was simple: I made this for you because you told me you needed it. It's more efficient, less blurry. The Design Blitz is a process with tangibles instead of words that never become action. Yes, these are the thoughts racing through my head as Tiger chases squirrels up trees (he's never caught one).
Good vibes & sunshine, friends. –xo, Em
Savor the Season Brand
Savor the Season is Katie Den Ouden's holiday guide to enjoying complete presence during a month that's particularly challenging to do so. I've worked on the design in partnership with Fresh Paige Creative, a studio founded by my hilarious & crazy talented friend, Meghan, to equip women entrepreneurs with unique brands to reflect their own powerful message. Katie is a health coach based out of Denver with a zeal for living fully. Working on materials for her holiday guide has been the anchor to my slower pace lately & the sole reason for listening to Christmas music pre-Thanksgiving.
If you ever meet Katie, you'll quickly discover a powerhouse woman with a bright personality & an amazing message to share. She listens intently, truly cares about your concerns & doesn't want you in that rut any more than you do!
I wanted the handwritten logo to reflect how personal this program is with a touch of whimsy for the magic we feel during the holidays. Photography was thoughtfully collected to embrace the coziness & warmth bringing us indoors this time of year with a palette of soft vanilla & mint hues. Oh, & a sparkle of gold for good measure!
A 1-pager explaining why Katie created this guide, what you can look forward to & where to sign-up. The web page is the beginning of a gift of seasonal recipes, desire-seeking exercises & essential oil know-how (my favorite part!) that keeps giving throughout December. I designed the layout to highlight key points & neatly organize the contents of the holiday guide.
We kept promotional pieces simple since it's difficult to savor the moment if you keep being told to do it. A newsletter announcement & minimal social media badges gently prompt you to sign-up for free if it fits your fancy.
The holiday guide just launched on Monday with the 1st topic: Self-care.
I can tell Katie's message has made a difference in how I'm viewing this holiday season than those in the past. I took a bath in an aroma of balsam fir, had a bonfire because I craved the smoky smell & have gotten coffee at the local bakery every morning this week because it's always buzzing with a great atmosphere.
What are some ways you're savoring this holiday season? Cheers! Em
Honor Your Rhythm
A friend told me the other day to honor my rhythm. How beautiful is that? I was feeling irresponsible dancing to my natural rhythm, swaying slowly like the blues with a little surprise sax in the mix. Waking up slow, creating at odd hours & putting my boots on to walk the trail over driving. I was feeling good but guilty. Shouldn't I want to hustle harder? Shouldn't I be working longer?
But...Honor your rhythm. We are in the slow season, after all.
It's a luxury—and a curse—of being someone compelled to create as a career. The muse does not care about your 9–5 timeframe. You must honor the present moment, float on it like a cloud or ride the wave to see where it takes you. The muse is not measured by numbers but by experiences, vibes & connections, if she is even measured at all (quite touchy, that muse).
This wave, although slow & unpredictable, has guided me to similar creatives that have been in my neighborhood all along. I remember when I told my favorite teacher right before I graduated that I wasn't sure design was for me anymore. She disagreed, "Oh no, you just have to find your tribe." She was so sure, I hoped she was right & 2 years later I think she might've been.
I found a few of them trudging through the snow to get the perfect shot, getting their illustrations into killer shops & hosting amazing events they've been dreaming of. There's something about friends who get your hustle, who empathize with your challenges & celebrate with your triumphs, who want to create something awesome together.
I'm always trying to replicate the memory of Saturday mornings with my mom, covering the kitchen table in glitter & beads & whatever else we could find to MAKE STUFF. At the core, these moments invigorate my creativity.
Muses just wanna have fun, you know? Getting out of your comfort zone is great for growth, a noble pursuit, but making messes with people who accept my weird warms my soul the most.
Photos by Rachel Kaye Photography
Focus for the Holidays
This may be the most wonderful time of the year but it’s also the most difficult time of the year to stay focused on work tasks, client deadlines & your blog calendar (or is that just me?). There’s gifts to be purchased, family events to attend & lots of spiked egg-nog to drink. I’ve gathered 5 quick & cozy ways to remain focused on your to-do’s so you can fully appreciate the chaos & comfort that this beautiful season brings. From my studio to yours:
1. Get outdoors
Bundle up & get out there! A quick walk/activity outside is good for your lungs, legs & overall mood. When I started freelancing, I let my inbox determine my schedule first thing in the morning. This usually meant skipping lunch & being in reaction mode all day. I recently replaced this bad habit with a 20-minute morning walk. It slows my pace to “realistic”, clears my head & sets the tone for the rest of my day.
2. Drink hot lemon water
Megan Gilger of The Fresh Exchange recently shared that she drinks hot lemon water as part of her morning routine. I liked her idea & did the same once the snow began to fall (yes, already a foot & counting on the Michigan Lakeshore!). It soothes my throat after a chatty lunch date or client call & puts a refreshing spin on the most simple & best drink for you.
3. Wear your favorite sweater
Tending to client needs & task lists in your favorite sweater is the work day equivalent to cuddling up on the couch with your favorite blanket watching reruns of Gilmore Girls (thank you, Netflix) or that book you’ve been meaning to start. Sometimes I tell myself, “Rock the sweater & to-do list now so you can fully enjoy the blanket & book tonight.” Nothing wrong with a little self-imposed ultimatum, right?
4. Spread good vibes
Good energy in your workspace means good work, writing & creating. What gives you good vibes? Integrate that into your day to keep interested in the task at hand. It’s about enjoying the moment & reminding yourself that you hustle so hard because you love this shit (especially when you’d rather be building snowmen & decorating the Christmas tree)!
5. Crank up the holiday music
I’ve gone from Nat King Cole’s Christmas Song to Whitney Houston’s Holiday Album to Frank Sinatra’s Jolly Christmas & it isn’t even December yet! But with the snow softly falling outside & the heat cranking up inside, I feel so spirited a little work to fulfill promises I made doesn’t feel like an unwelcomed blizzard. It feels like giving a gift…& everyone knows giving is better than receiving.
May your workdays be merry & bright. Cheers! Em
You can also find this post on The Blog Loft, a great resource for bloggers looking to collaborate. Thanks for letting me share my focus essentials, Margo!
Woman, Warrior & Artist
I'm still that girl who checks out her books from the librarian, walking right past the self-serve kiosk in search of some CONNECTION. I'm also the girl holding up the line digging for change to pay the overdue balance, wishing I would've just checked out at the damn self-serve one where fees don't exist until they put a hold on your account. This happened to a "friend of mine", otherwise I'd have no idea the library didn't let you renew more than 2 times or cut you off at a $10 maximum overdue balance.
Anyway, if I was asked to explain what I'm going through lately or where my head’s at, I'd ramble off these 4 titles. Reading books gets me giddy because I don't find them, they find me (& Tiger too, apparently). I haven't read these through yet so here's a peek inside via the ole tried & true Bill Shake Method*:
How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
“Personally, I find the idea that women are supposed to “love” shopping bizarre—nearly every woman I know wants to cry after 45 minutes of trawling the high street looking for a shirt and hits the gin with alacrity upon the sad occasions when jeans have to be found.”
Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
“And every single time, he sets up his mat right next to mine. Every single time. Sometimes he even moves my water bottle to get closer to me. And he smells and he coughs throughout the entire class. He smells and he coughs so insistently and consistently that when the instructor says to breathe deeply, I’m not sure that’s in my best interest.”
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
“It is important to be able to sort useful criticism from the other kind. Often we need to do the sorting out for ourselves, without the benefit of a public vindication. As artists, we are far more able to do this sorting than people might suspect. Pointed criticism, if accurate, often gives the artist an inner sense of relief: “Ah, hah! so that’s what was wrong with it.” Useful criticism ultimately leaves us with one more puzzle piece for our work.”
The Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine
“No matter what your future plans, you may want to take a year off after high school or college. Perhaps you need a break between formal education & whatever comes next. Maybe you want time to further explore your values & focal points. You may even decide that you want some additional “growing up” time before taking life’s next step.”
*Bill Shake Method is something I invented when I got The Complete Works of William Shakespeare at a book sale. I was 19 & couldn't make a decision to save my life so I turned to the ever-so-wise—& even more confusing—Bard with the beard to give me some insight on what to do in moments of indecision. You open the book to a random page, close your eyes & point. Read what you landed on & there's your answer. Think of it as the Magic 8 ball for book-loving women who can't commit.
What are you reading lately?!
Why Brave Girl?
I became unattached from a crucial truth recently: People are people. It's seems ignorantly obvious, right? I've been so caught up with "pick me" guest blog applying, "I see you" tweeting & "follow me, damnit" notification checking that the core of me slipped away a bit. I saw myself dissolving into the screen, longing for acceptance from avatars & snapshots. But then I woke to the first snow of the season. It came in fluffy white flakes, the familiar cool drops of clarity landing onto my rosy cheeks. I put my knit socks on, shut down my laptop & listened to the person sitting in front of me. I looked into their eyes. It broke the ice building inside of me. This moment is for us.
Warmth. Eyes bright with understanding. Visions. Sipping hot drinks while smiling.
"Why Brave Girl? What does it mean?" It turned my moments of listening into a question that felt like those snowflakes. Clarity. "What a wonderful question. Thank you for asking. "My politeness was a stall tactic (although it was a truly thoughtful question).
Why Brave Girl?
It all poured out: "Can I let you in on a secret? I am scared of many things. Brave Girl is an aspiration. It is also a reminder to people putting a microscope on their weaknesses & a blind eye to their strengths to stop doing that, myself included. We need both to be whole. You are worthy simply because you are here. Showing up as YOU is one of the most courageous acts in your life. I want to celebrate my wholeness more than I want to be ruled by the exhaustive effort of trying to be good enough until I can do so."
I was teary-eyed by the end of it. Life is emotional, exhausting & eye-opening but it is never too much. We all deserve to be here. For you, Em.
Another Shower Story
Last year, I started questioning the ingredients in my bathroom products because I couldn't pronounce them & hated how the bright-colored bottles turned my attempt at serenity in the shower into a college rave of neon colors. I've learned a lot since my last shower story.
I've been slowly weeding out my chemical-based products with closer-to-organic ones, especially after meeting Teri at Sérendipité Organiques in East Hills, Grand Rapids. She has a wealth of knowledge, dispels many organic myths & completely lives out what she preaches. I have a soft spot for people who start a business to share with others the good they're already doing at home.
Most people I've talked to hesitate to try natural products due to expense or sensitive skin concerns. The price increase is worth it to me because these highly concentrated products generally last longer. Just because it's natural or organic doesn't always mean it's the best mix for your skin type though so I often research ingredients before use.
I've gathered a list of natural products working for me in hopes it'll cut down your trial & error time if you've been wanting to try natural alternatives but aren't sure where to start:
Shower Basics
Yep, I only use 4 things. 2 of them I use every other day & 1 is mainly for a fresh shower scent so if you haven't thought, "this girl is such a hippie" yet, now's the time. Momma calls me minimal, Daddy calls me dirty but these are the things I love to talk about & use regularly-ish:
Shampoo by Organic Matter, $16
My experiment with the rosemary tea tree shampoo last year was a flop. The crown of my head got real greasy since my pores were finally allowed to "breathe". My hair turned coarse & unbrushable. Whoever said beauty is pain must have switched to natural shampoo. It was a 6-month struggle to get a brush through my hair until I chopped it all off & started using this. My head is now mostly toxin-free & silky smooth after 1 week. I use a dime-sized amount every other day so yeah, it'll last forever.
Conditioner by Organic Matter, $16
Part 2 to getting my hair back to its natural state was this matching conditioner. I stopped by Teri's one day in a tizzy—greasy top-knot & all—when she suggested using a conditioner with shampoo to balance my natural oils & decrease build-up. Is this a Hair 101 rule I didn't know about? It's a rule I'm sticking to because it's working.
Chamomile & Lavender Soap by Bubble & Bee, $4
Still have my pile of all-natural bar soaps I'm working through. I got 5 bars for my birthday so my family's either real supportive or not-so-subtly telling me I stink. Did you know a 100% organic soap doesn't exist? It's true but I love the smell of earthy ingredients so I'm stickin' with.
Peppermint Oil by Now, $7
A recent obsession. Peppermint oil smells so fresh & wakes me up in the morning. It helps relieve headaches & motion sickness so I use it on long road trips too. I prefer essential oils from Rocky Mountain Oils but picked this up at the local health food store in a pinch.
Treat Yoself Essentials
My natural alternatives are quickly making their way past the shower doors & into the bathroom cabinet. I'm thinking of doing a natural makeup round-up in the near future. Does anyone have a great organic foundation they use? I'm at a loss.
Spearmint & Tea Tree Pit Putty by Bubble & Bee, $8
This is a gem I want everyone in the world to wear because it smells amazing & continues to smell amazing all day long. Plus, it isn't an antiperspirant meaning this putty won't plug your sweat glands with aluminum-based compounds. Antiperspirants also alter armpit bacteria negatively & can make you smell worse in the long run. I've tried 3 other natural stick deodorants but none made me feel I found my armpit soulmate as much as this one.
Cool Cucumber Facial Cleanser by Bubble & Bee, $15
Still warming up to this one but I've found using it both morning & night is most effective for my skin type. It's gentle cleansing & free of synthetic detergents, preservatives & artificial fragrances so it won't make your skin sensitive or bacterial resistant. It's been difficult for me to see if it's really working because my foundation is undoing everything this cleanser does (another reason I'm on the lookout for a new foundation).
Luminous Body Oil by Herbivore Botanicals, $28
This baby lasted me 9 months & the current scent is a lower price than what I originally got mine for. I feel so moisturized & cozy after putting it on post-shower. No artificial or animal ingredients, parabens, fragrances, unnatural preservatives, or animal testing on their products or ingredients. The ingredients are crafted to be completely therapeutic.
Relaxing Lavender Mineral Bath Salts by Aura Cacia, $3
I don't know that this product is natural or organic at all but the scents put me in bathtime zen I think I've been waiting for all my life. From the relaxing lavender to the tranquil chamomile, I treat these like collector's items. Except for the fact that I use them. A lot.
Learning from people making a conscious effort to offer well-crafted products free from harmful chemicals & cruel animal practices has become quite a hobby of mine. It fills me up to have a home filled with hard work & intention. Sérendipité is a local organic body care shop I've had a great experience with because I've learned so much from the shop owner, Teri. Because we share a lot of the same views,
Teri is giving any Grand Rapids Brave Girl interested in organic body care goods a discount* for the month of November at Sérendipité. Just mention you're a Brave Girl reader! Hopefully, this offer will help if you want to try out a few products on a budget. Any essentials in your home you can't do without?
This post is not sponsored by Sérendipité Organiques & I'm not an affiliate for any of the products mentioned. It's my unpaid opinion, my fresh experiences with natural products, & my hopes that you'll stop by my generous friend's beautiful shop if you're inspired to. –Love, Emily
*Discount is not valid on some product lines, during events, or with other specials/offers.
Full Moons & Freakouts
Technically, the freak out happened last weekend but I'm still hungover from it & the full moon has been in Taurus since last night so expect any rages or freakouts to be the exact topic you need to dig deeper on right now. I know this. Mystic Mamma told me so. This week was a lot of head-down work & prepping clients for the upcoming holiday season but I did take a breath of air long enough for:
Holiday decorating at the greenhouse
It's my first holiday season at the greenhouse meaning I had to "fluff" the trees. After 5 trees fluffed, I understood why it was a job for the new girl. We turned on Christmas music, most customers came in & said "too early" but no, it's never too early to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!
The Jess Lively Show with Erin Loechner
Erin's blog, Design for Mankind, was one of the first I ever read. I love the way she plays with words & finds a connection between every day & the bigger picture. Hearing her speak on freelancing, family & quitting the rat race was a 50-minute long moment of clarity for me.
A quick visit from Meg
Working from home makes me crave the time I have with friends. It's been me & this screen all week so time with Meg was refreshing. We slowed down long enough to chat about the challenges & celebrations we've had lately. One of hers being the cutest little boy they've just welcomed into their family! I smiled as she backed down the driveway & yelled out her window, "Hang in there!"
Hannah Brencher's writing
This girl is reading my mind. She kept me up way late this week with chills from her intuitive words. What stuck the most: "You're okay. Stop looking for a reason to not be okay."
Gettin' schooled by Sian Richardson's Biz + Self-Employment articles
Sian's story is similar to mine with the exception of being in the game longer & not working with plants. At least, I don't think she has. She's a kickass brand + ebooks designer who calls it as she sees it & solidified the icky feeling I had about affiliate programs. The biggest takeaway for me though: "...[as a creative] it's not your job to regurgitate what everyone else is already doing or talking about." It's so easy to seek out inspiration as a procrastination tool now (hello, Pinterest!) but it leads to a black hole creatively. I want my clients to have a visual avenue to express what's inside of them not express a replicated exterior of someone else. It's a lot of heart work but every time I follow this harder path, I'm much happier with the results (& so are my clients!).
Earth is prepping for the slow season this week. The lake's gone quiet, the wind is lazy. I'm setting my sights on a cozy & slow weekend too. What are your plans?! Peace + freakouts, brave ones.
Hep & Cask Identity
Hep & Cask is a lifestyle blog crafted to uplift people through photography, positive writing, local hangout reviews & a classic drink recipe or two. When Christopher first introduced his swanky vision for a blog to me, I was instantly hooked. It was a bonus that we met at one of my favorite coffee shops to discuss his intent for the blog. Hep is a 1940's spin on the word hip (Bing Crosby was known as a hepster back in the day, ha!). It was the era of jazz, Jack Kerouac & fedoras.
Christopher mixed his admiration for this rebellious time in history with his vast knowledge of bourbon to encapsulate the spirit of his blog. He wants his readers to feel sanguine & relaxed as they read on, leaving the space with a bit of optimism & swagger as they go about their day. I wanted his logo suite to capture this essence so a geometric sans-serif typeface, Neutraface, is used for a classic yet modern feel. Soft-shaped drink icons take the ampersand's place in a palette of boozy colors with the option to rotate seasonally. Could anybody else use an Old-Fashioned right about now?!
Using the Squarespace template, Aviator, the Hep & Cask home page invites readers to join a weekly newsletter to receive original photography from Christopher & positive quotes for their week (with a little prompt to go do that thing you can't get out of your head). I loved working with Christopher on his identity & can't wait for it to go live (I jumped the gun a bit early to give you a sneak peek)!
Working with people like Christopher has opened me up to new perspectives, experiences & interests. I would've never known the origin of the word "hipster", wouldn't be able to tell you the history of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail & sure as hell wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an Old-Fashioned & a Bufala Negra if it weren't for this opportunity. Cheers to having a vision & seeing it through.
Looking to launch a dream of your own? Let's chat.
Photos courtesy of Death to the Stock Photo & Nothing But Delicious
Gratitude & Dream-Makin'
I like little vignettes. One tiny piece of a story that allows the viewer to wonder what's happening outside of the calculated frame. Kind of like when you see a design portfolio or an Instagram account & you're like, "Man, this designer has her shit together!"
We don't see the chaos of her coffee-infused late-night scramble to meet a deadline, her apprehension to email a professional she admires, or even at 4am when she wakes up in a sweat, haunted by her to-do list & the nagging deeper question, "Why do I care again?".
I love these raw moments because they give refined beauty some serious street cred. It wasn't easy for you, was it? I respect the hard hustle. Moments like this are coming to Brave Girl because I'm grateful for the choice I made to be a freelance designer every day but I'd be lying if I said being your own boss is easy & tax season doesn't suck & I know exactly what I'm doing.
My little vignette this week has a lot to do with gratitude & getting started with some fresh dreams for my new studio:
Influential Objects
A calcite pink stone & a lucky penny have joined forces to transform what used to be a little girl's room with life-sized Madagascar characters into the studio of my dreams. The one where I don old painting shirts & jingly handmade jewelry all day, making art & people's dreams come true. The calcite, aka The Reiki Stone, nurtures my heart chakra & fills it with universal & self-love. It reminds me to dance & paint my walls pink. I found the penny under a baseboard when I was prepping to paint & immediately decided to infuse copper into the mix instead of the go-to gold. I wouldn't be upset if this studio made some money in the near future so I'm channeling pennies people! One-by-one if I have to.
A night of painting
Christened my new studio with a night of painting & listening to Eckhart Tolle talk about the pain body.
Applied to be a guest blogger on Unfancy
Caroline Joy uses Unfancy as her platform to share her personal style & love for minimalism. I really believe in what's she doing & made a Capsule Wardrobe myself thanks to her. I applied to be a guest on her blog in hopes I can share my experience with style as a freelance designer working from home. I don't hear much about the "what do I wear?" challenge when your commute is a 5-second walk to the studio. Do other freelancers get tempted to stay in yoga pants all day or do you dare to wear heels when no one is watching? I'll find out in a few weeks if I got the gig or not. Fingers crossed!
The chair of my dreams
One of my 2015 Business Dreams is to get a new office chair. This one, bright & beautiful as it is, has my back in all sorts of knots. Step 1 to a successful studio? A good fricken chair.
Alt Summit Gratitude Chat
Joined my first #altchat on Twitter this week where we talked gratitude. It made me grateful to be surrounded by people who support me & remind me to keep going in the direction that feels right for me. You never have to feel alone. People show up. I "met" new friends, gained new perspectives on thankfulness & got a great idea for a shirt because of it. Success!
Business Dreams thanks to The Every Girl
Getting more serious about my financial & business dreams after reading The Every Girl. It led to an eye-opening chat with a friend this week about why talking about money shouldn't be taboo. We agreed being more open about rates & salary expectations would create a more accurate value standard in the creative field as well as elevate women's perspectives on knowing their true worth professionally & otherwise. Maybe it's a touchy subject because we don't talk about it enough?
Employee of the Week
I took Thursday off from everything work-related (phone off, laptop sealed shut) & gave Tiger "Employee of the Week". His plaque should be in soon!
Happy Halloween, friends! Chose a chili cook-off & installing new lighting in our house over dressing up & going out this year. Taking my friend's idea for a costume & being an "adult". It has its perks. :) If you're local, I suggest going to AIGA West Michigan's Halloween Party tonight. I'm a total Aaron Draplin fan girl & he's the main event! xo, Em
What is art?
Some will look at this painting & think, "This is art?", "I could've done that", or "I guess scribbles are an art form now".
I used to discredit abstract artwork, as well, based on my expectation of what art should be. The word art is a broad & undefinable concept by nature. I can only share my experience. When I started going to gallery exhibits & art museums, I liked the realistic pieces. The one's where you could make out faces & see ancient stories in action before your eyes. The sky was always blue. The grass was always green.
The formless shapes & eclectic hues of abstract pieces frustrated me because there wasn't a logical sequence. No gods & goddesses, no historical tale, confusing titles, or no titles at all. I was so focused on seeing the literal that I couldn't feel the metaphysical.
Recently, logic in my life has made no sense at all (green sky, blue grass kind of stuff). I'm overwhelmed most of the time & uncertain for the rest of it. So a few nights ago, I turned this book on & turned my thoughts off. I was exhausted from my incessant mind chatter. I began to paint.
When I look at it, I don't see scribbles. I see intention. I don't hear a story. I listen to the present moment. I don't wonder "why?". I feel the brush in my hand, my eyes closed, relinquishing control like a current of electricity running through me. What is art? I do not know. But I know how good creating makes me feel.
Go with the good. xo, Emily
Babe Vibes Interview
Kara Haupt is a designer based out of Portland, Oregon. In addition to developing a design thesis at Pacific Northwest College of Art, teaching workshops on art journaling & photography. Kara is the founder of Babe Vibes. It's a sisterhood of women channeling their inner babe, standing up for their beliefs & challenging the status quo. I stumbled upon Babe Vibes on Instagram a few weeks back, intrigued by the manifesto & self-care handbook. It's equal parts positive vibes & empowerment on your own terms. I had to learn more about the strong babe at the forefront of it all:
Why did you create Babe Vibes?
Kara Haupt: I don't know why I created it, or the name at least, in the beginning. It just appeared. I kept making Babe Vibes because I needed it. I needed to be kinder to myself, I needed to make things with women, I needed to say "fuck off" to all the stuff I've been taught.
What makes you feel brave?
KH: My younger self. When I was 18 I moved to New York to go to school (I lived there for a year). I've made a lot of hard choices, in regard to how I live my (so far, short) life. I often feel surprised with how tough I am or the badass things I've done in my past. So, she makes me brave.
How would you describe feminism? There are so many perspectives & opinions on what it means to be a feminist. How do you see it?
KH: Feminism is a response to the oppressive systems & ideologies that face marginalized people, women specifically, but also people of color, queer people, poor people, etc., & all the ways those things intersect. Being a feminist is about listening to fellow women & groups that are marginalized; actually listening. Trusting their experience, being a good human being & changing those systems & ideologies.
Describe a typical day for you lately.
KH: It really changes each weekday! I work at a marketing company part-time & then I'm in school part-time. I'm in my thesis year for Communication Design & spend my nights & weekends working on Babe Vibes, homework & whatever else I'm making. My days are pretty typical & boring. I like getting up early & getting some work done before I go to work. I listen to podcasts while I walk to work (trying to get through the Longform archive right now) & then after the workday I head home, eat, shower, make coffee & get to work. Looks pretty much the same for school days too. It's not glamorous & it's stressful. I take a lot of showers to calm myself down.
Who has guided you to do the work you love?
KH: My friends Steph, Mei & Danika have been really big encouragers of Babe Vibes. My friend Mei specifically is constantly encouraging me & reminding me to take care of myself through all I do. Also, my Instagram and Twitter followers rule. Every woman who has posted in the #babevibes Instagram tag has inspired me. I am so lucky.
How do you get through the 3pm slump? Is it just me or does this happen to you too?! Even after going freelance, I still need some serious mental toughness—aka, caffeine—to get through that hour!
KH: Ugh, I hate the 3pm slump & to be honest, I don't really get through it. When I'm at home working, I try to schedule errands or house-cleaning, or classes then. I work best in the morning & at a night. At work, I usually leave to get coffee. It really helps if you're around other people working. Their focus will guilt you into working, ha.
A piece of advice for all the Brave Babes?
KH: You don't owe men shit.
What can we look forward to from Babe Vibes?
KH: I just asked one of my good friends to help me out with the site & I'm excited to have help to make everything better. I'm pretty positive my thesis is going to be about digital publications, so I'm excited to have an excuse to research all these things. That didn't really answer your question though. From Babe Vibes in the coming months, you can look forward to good music, Star Trek, masturbation, gifs & more selfies.
Thank you for the inside look into Babe Vibes & what makes you brave, Kara. Here's to all the strong babes (that's you!). All the good vibes, Em.
Methods of Self-Care zine (free download)
All images courtesy of Kara Haupt
In Great Company is a new Brave Girl series that sparks conversation with people making waves in their communities, careers & life.
Ode to Flannel
All images thoughtfully captured & words written by guest contributor Lauren Pinner
Call me a typical white girl, but I've always been obsessed with Autumn, especially the perfect month of October. How could you not love it? It's the season of bonfires, falling leaves, apple cider, chilly evenings & one of my favorite things, flannel.
I might be borderline obsessed with this wonderful plaid fabric (6 & counting, is that too much?). I seriously have to restrain myself when I go into stores this time of year because I have a hard time resisting the urge to buy more. I've decided it’s a problem that can only be solved by wearing it as much as I can. Here are a few ways I work the ever-versatile flannel into my Autumn wardrobe:
1 | The Professional
Confession: One of my secret goals for fall & winter is to come up with endless ways to integrate flannel into my work wardrobe. Don't tell anyone, ok? I recently completed my search for the perfect tweed blazer & discovered it was an absolutely fantastic thing to pair with my flannel! I added a woven belt to dress it up & to add more definition to my figure. A pair of comfy ankle boots finished off this work-ready outfit.
Blazer (H&M) / Flannel (Eddie Bauer) / Black skinnies (JCPenney) / Ankle boots (DSW)
2 | The Bonfire
There's nothing better than gathering with friends around the fire pit on a cool fall evening. An essential when venturing outdoors in Michigan right now is a BUNCH of layers. Cue my go-to outfit on the weekend: Boots, vest, flannel, scarf. You really can't say "Autumn" better than that. It's outdoorsy, warm, practical & I love it!
Vest (Lands’ End) / Scarf (Eddie Bauer) / Flannel (Eddie Bauer) / Skinnies (Old Navy) / Boots (Delia’s)
3 | The Holiday
The holidays aren't quite here yet but they're all I can think of when I wear this outfit. It feels festive & cozy. Flannel + sweater = heaven. Ya feel me? The other beautiful thing about this duo is that it makes for great office wear as the leaves change. I love letting my flannel peek out under the edges of top layers like this. Roll up the sleeves for even more peek-a-boo.
Sweater (H&M) / Flannel (Eddie Bauer) / Black skinnies (JCPenney) / Flats (Payless)
My favorite places to discover the perfect flannel:
If you're going for good ole oversized shirts, thrift stores like Goodwill & Salvation Army are perfect. You'll have to do some digging—often in the men's section—but they're a good place to find super inexpensive shirts.
I seek out higher-end secondhand stores like Plato's Closet for flannel with a better fit & quality, especially for work outfits that I use for layering.
My favorite place for buying new flannel is Eddie Bauer. I've only done this once but it was worth it. There's an outlet store I drive by a few times a year that has great sales around the holidays so in the rare moment's I do splurge on flannel, this is where I'll go to spend a little extra.
Join me in my flannel obsession? Get out there, rock those fall patterns & make sure you enjoy the rest of this absolutely beautiful season!
Thanks for listening, brave girls. — Lauren
Fall Raw
I struggle with commitment. There's not a logical reason for it, it's really just letting fear of the unknown take up more space in me than living in the moment does. It's one of the reasons I'm so blessed to have Joel in my life, why I stop myself when I start bitching about student loans & now, why I can say I didn't give up on my year-long personal project, Feelings of 2014.
It's a commitment I made to myself & I think that's why it feels so monumental. As a girlfriend, I make the commitment to be the best partner I can be to Joel every day. As a daughter, sister & friend, I make commitments to show up more often (physically & emotionally). As a designer, I make commitments to deliver beauty & results to my clients weekly.
But this one, this one was for me.
The experiment involved internalizing a chosen feeling for 3 months to represent each season this year. I let the word consume me & show me new perspectives. I made discoveries, decisions & theories because of them but mostly I dug up lots of questions & curiosities.
Spring: Faith
Faith brought me to the revelation that I wasn't meant to spend only a lunch hour's worth of time taking care of my psyche. The whisper inside me, "What is my purpose here?", started to roar. Faith answered softly, "Honey, you gotta go find out." It coddled my battered ego in the greenhouse & showed up when I begged for a seat at the Bloom Workshop after it had already sold out (I got in by some form of a miracle).
Summer: Warrior
I was guided to exude my inner warrior & felt like a goddess all summer collaborating with the sweetest creator & sticking to my stillness ritual every morning. I started saying how I felt instead of what I thought people would approve of. Then, I felt shame. Not worthy of this warrioress inside me. Who was I to feel so good? I kept discovering more & more of the unexpected in me with each season & while it guided me to new internal heights, it also scared the shit out of me. Doubt consumes if you let it...& I let it. But I'm kind of liking this whole committing to the present thing so my final feeling is less about aspirations & more about right now, this moment.
Fall: Raw
Uninhibited mixed with clarity of self. Sweet honey & sour milk. Being splashed with a mud puddle while you're wearing a white dress. Hollowness in anticipation of being refilled. The rugged terrain of making love stay. My final feeling of 2014 is begging me to let down my guard, daring me to relinquish control & making me realize daily that the unknown is all I've ever known.
How do you feel? Love, E.
A Chat with Nature
Water, what should I do?– Go with the flow.
Clouds, what should I do?– Listen to the wind.
Trees, what should I do?– Stand firm.
Star thistle, what should I do?– Bloom & share your nectar.
Crickets, what should I do?– Keep singing.
Happy Friday, brave ones. xx, Em
Gardening, Feathers & Money Love
No, I haven't read this entire stack through. My reading list is forever long so I've given up on it & go with books at the moment. For instance, I've had The Loon Feather by Iola Fuller for a couple of years because it has wonderful illustrations of Mackinac Island on the front & back inside covers. It was an act of desperation to begin the first pages with my glass of wine each night. Like most things you look past, there was a hidden beauty in it. Much like the rest of the books in my current stash. I unwind with them slowly as these summer days turn into crisp autumn nights:
1 | The Truth About Organic Gardening by Jeff Gillman
I'm about 10 pages in & already know I'll learn more than ever predicted about the negative & positive impact of pesticides on my garden. So far, Jeff has touched on the history of the term "organic" & it's nothing like the product marketing in large grocery stores wants us to believe. Hallelujah. I read this on days the greenhouse is slow.
2 | Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Brené's words are a large reason I left my last job to pursue what kept bubbling up in my heart. She's taught me about inner gremlins & how acknowledging them gently quiets mental chatter. Her perspective on vulnerability is backed by tons of research & her life has changed because of it. A true artist by my definition.
3 | Treasures of the Creative Spirit by Robert Piepenburg
A gift from Mom, I keep this on my nightstand & randomly flip to a page when I'm feeling spent. Robert speaks deeply on treasures like truthfulness, courage & faith. A thread through the entire book is that creativity is sacred to each individual, each community & the entire world. Agreed!
4 | Money, A Love Story by Kate Northrup
Joel & I are reading this together because we've found our views on money vary. It feels cleansing to communicate openly about our money differences, especially when I'm inclined to avoid the subject. Kate shares how her hate relationship with money turned into a love story.
5 | Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
I adore this book. I couldn't put it down yet I was trying to hold off so it wouldn't end. Once I read the opening dedication, "For the girls with messy hair and thirsty hearts", I knew I was entering a world I already felt a part of. The untold story of "Peter Pan" as we know him & dare I say, it's better!
6 | The Loon Feather by Iola Fuller
A story of Oneta, the daughter of Shawnee Native American Chief Tecumseh, & her life as an Indian on Mackinac Island in the late 1800s. Iola's writing is simple & raw. I loved reading about the places I travel to in Michigan today. I'm a sucker for history & the Native American's way of life.
We have a long trip out of state this weekend—Joel's running his first-ever Tough Mudder!—so I can't wait to begin Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins in the backseat while the boys determine a plan of action for enduring the crazy challenges they'll be faced with. One of the obstacles is running through electrical wires. Yeah, I'm going to stick with books.
Happy weekend, friends! May we all have a moment to feel as brave as Joel. xo, Em
The Solar Plexus Chakra
It's been a while since I've shared the Chakra Meditation Series I was a part of last winter. I mentioned in my reflection back in March that this light energy inside you doesn't work on a deadline & my solar plexus chakra was no exception. I had to wait for this Manipura (Sanskrit for "lustrous gem") to show itself to me in a positive light but my lack of patience made it difficult. Until now. Now I'm sitting on my back deck looking up at the trees bathed in golden hour sunlight. Now it feels most pure. Chakras are an energetic light within us. They affect us physically, mentally & emotionally.
As a beginner of the chakras, I currently pay attention to their individual attributes but they all play off one another throughout the body. I was antsy to learn more about the Solar Plexus Chakra because my personal brand (emilywatz.com) is shaped around what this chakra symbolizes; empowerment, creativity & optimism.
Unfortunately, I felt my inner fire dim creatively. I couldn't feel its presence after a summer full of deadlines & breakdowns. Burnout urged me to take a break. Only when I stopped moving did I discover my Solar Plexus again. In a world where busy is celebrated, the solar plexus loses her glow.
The solar plexus chakra is represented by the color yellow.
Located 2 inches above your belly button.
Governs our self-worth, willpower, ego & passion.
Element is fire.
This energy center is dynamic due to the fire it exudes. It brings your will into action & creates new behaviors, burning off old habits & unhealthy patterns (can mean facing childhood issues & laying them to rest, forgiving certain people or situations in your past, etc). Fire has both the power to create & destroy so it's up to us to listen to its presence & harness the energy to our advantage.
The symbol is a 10-petaled flower that unfolds to reveal a downward triangle, the symbol for Shakti, "sacred divine feminism" in Hinduism. Each petal represents a syllable of Sanskrit, a primal sound uttered in meditation chants to release emotion & get closer to your center.
Ailments include depression, low self-esteem, temper, & digestion issues.
Yoga poses like the Warrior sequence & Downward Dog, practicing self-love & saying silent prayers of gratitude keep this chakra in balance.
This meditation was empowering & uplifting for me. I cried for the first time in a while & realized how long it'd been since I said, "I love you" to myself. It seems silly to tell yourself you love yourself but saying it frees up gremlin-space & leaves more room to accept others as they are. Ahh, vulnerability at its most beautiful. We were guided to meditate on fire & at the end opened our eyes to smoke billowing out of the candle jar in the center of the meditation circle! The candle caught its own container on fire. It was then I knew how powerful this chakra can be.
You can use these essential oils if you feel depressed, egotistical, are lacking self-esteem, or need to exude your inner warrior.
Place a few dabs just above your navel or on soles of feet (mix with a carrier oil to prevent burning or irritation on the skin).
Empower + Balance: geranium is a great oil for women looking to channel their divine femininity & balance insecurities men in their life are feeling.
Protection + Worthiness: Valor + Cypress essential oils help men bring out their inner warrior + self-worth. Men need guidance balancing their chakras too even if they don't admit it or realize it in themselves.
Lemon + orange oil are everyday basics for combating super-ego or super low self-esteem.
Another great way to surround yourself with these powerful oils is to use them in nontoxic household cleaners (there's a great how-to zine from Raleigh Briggs at Have Company if you're local) or use earth-friendly household cleaners.
While the solar plexus has much to do with your internal fire, it's difficult to fan the flame when I'm not surrounding myself with fresh scents, good vibes, & passionate people. To have these 3 essentials around a bonfire on a cool Autumn night, well, that's what my dreams are made of! Hoping to make that a reality over the next few weeks. I hope you feed your fire this week, Em.
24
My birthday this year did something to me. I can't quite put my finger on it but it feels big in a slow, rumbling sort of way. Kind of like sunflowers do. They hang their heads in darkness but stand firm in the faith they'll see the sun soon. And once they've seen the light, there's no stopping their glow. My favorite flower. My favorite time of the season. My year always starts in August.
A note to me, at 24!:
Sometimes when you think you need change, you really need rest.
You found a man who brings a kiss to your neck with every handful of sunflowers. Well, my love, you have bumped into your moon soul.
That dark, deep place inside you? It's there to remind you of the importance of light.
That quote you saw in high school, the one about "if you want to fly, don't hang around with chickens"? It's TRUE.
That lump in your throat, it's your voice trying to tell you, "let's stop trying to be perfect". Listen to her.
You are brave. For sticking with it, giving it a chance & letting it go.
The container garden in your backyard is bringing you closer.
You will never enjoy running. It's ok.
When you say never, life usually brings you something to challenge the statement.
It's not for them.
And when it is, let it be your gift to them. Don't try to change them. Respect everyone's right to their own opinion.
Giggles cure gremlins.
You can buy all the self-help books in the world, girl, but experience will show you full force every. damn. time.
Your parents are humans too. They'll make mistakes. You'll still love them—as they do you—unconditionally.
The Sun. The Moon. The Earth. Remember this on days you let email get the best of you.
Treat men with empathy too. We all show shame & vulnerability differently.
You're going to hurt someone's feelings. Forgive yourself by bedtime.
The weight of the world is not for your shoulders. Enjoy your coffee.
When me flips to we, your journey has expanded. It's earth-shaking. Feel the beautiful rumble.
Coffee. Beer. Wine. Kombucha. Don't forget the water.
Sometimes they're saying things about you because of themselves. Taking it personally gives you gut rock. Release, baby.
PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE.
Life isn't about trying to be everything. You'll find your sweet spot. Take breaks, give it a chance to find you.
Begin. Always...just...begin.
I love you, brave girl. –Em
Summer Denim
The last visit with my cousin, Brooke, led me to a few gems. This awesome color-blocked wall I made her stand in front of (forever the bossy older cousin) was one of them and my observation of how she styled her denim cutoffs throughout the weekend was another. As she was rockin' her 90's vibes, I asked her to share a few denim secrets on the blog today so we can all savor these last moments of summer as laidback & spirited as her. Brooke's guide below is made up of fresh ideas for styling summer denim on a budget.
Written by Brooke Watz
Love Urban Outfitters but often find yourself making a beeline to their sale rack searching for anything to fit your college budget (or any budget for that matter)? Yeah, me too. One of their most expensive items? Denim. Of course, it’s the perfectly ripped, damaged denim only a machine can do that makes me sit & wonder what I'll have to sacrifice this week to justify buying $70+ jeans. This summer, I found myself falling deeper in love with high-waisted denim but refused to let this love affair see the deep, dark void of my bank account.
So I made the trek to Salvation Army & began my search for the perfect high-waisted jeans to DIY. Trying on countless pairs of ’80s & 90’s high-waisted denim had me leaving Salvation Army with seven pairs of my latest obsession (I know, I’m a bit crazy) for little over $20. With my fat stash of denim, I got crafty & made my own shorts to get the same UO look for much, much less. All you need is thrifted jeans & scissors to make your own denim cutoffs.
Here are 3 ways I've styled my repurposed denim this summer:
1 | The Distressed
If I had to describe my style, I would say it closely resembles girly-victorian-hippy. I love anything floral, flirty & vintage so I styled my favorite distressed denim with my favorite summer wedges & shirt.
Achieve the Look
Being creative with the location of holes, rips, & tears gives your shorts originality. Cut your holes with scissors or find a rough patch of cement to rub the denim until a shredded hole emerges, which I happen to know is a great arm workout!
Perks of The Distressed
Everyone thinks you bought them because they look too good to have been made from hand & you’re like, "Nope, I made these suckers myself, thank you!"
I love how this shirt length flirts with the hem of my shorts.
2 | The Booty
This look is all about the booty. Flaunt it, girl! A little booty never hurt nobody so I take this denim to the beach on the hottest of summer days.
Achieve the Look
Cut your shorts at a length right below your booty, simple as that. I save these shorts for the beach because the shorter the length the more you have to be aware of if you know what I'm sayin'. I styled my too-short booty shorts with my favorite bikini top, beachy wedges & sun hat.
Perks of The Booty
Your pockets play peek-a-boo.
They make a fun cover-up when you want to rock your favorite bathing suit top.
Everything I’m wearing apart from the bathing suit top is from Salvation Army. I’m serious, you can find anything there!
3 | The Basic
Every now & then a look comes along inviting me to channel my inner badass. I usually gravitate towards softer hues & similar outfit combinations so I love stepping out of my comfort zone with this look. I kept my denim simple to keep the focus on the black, red, and gold combo of the rest of my pieces.
Achieve the Look
I tend to keep my basics a little more modest for my day-to-day so I cut these to my desired length, adding an extra inch to fold the hem up. A folded hem gives a touch of spice & dimension to my basics, but they look killer with or without a folded hem.
Perks of The Basic
You won’t be hackled by your family for your booty cheeks hanging out (some don’t understand the perks of The Booty, *sigh*).
Salvation Army & Goodwill are hot spots for flannel, as well. This flannel? $5 from Salvation Army!
In the last two years, I’ve had to get crafty with, well, my entire wardrobe (thanks college education!). You don't have to sacrifice style just because your budget is small. In fact, the challenge has made me more resourceful & creative, allowing my style to constantly evolve. I'd love to see how you've styled your own cutoffs & secondhand finds so share them with me on Instagram @brookenicolewatz with the #brokegirlsdenim tag. I can't wait to see your denim beauties!
Here's to the pickers, the searchers & the wanderers of the local Goodwill & Salvation Army. Until next time braves ones, Brooke Nicole Watz