Emily Bode 1/15/19 Emily Bode 1/15/19

20 on the Rise Nominee by Honeybook

Last year I was nominated as a 20 On The Rise Designer by Honeybook. It's an extreme honor to be nominated as an individual who is making waves and raising the tide by rocking my respective industry through hard work and creativity. Honeybook and its other three brands (Gusto, Rising Tide, and Peer Space) united to recognize individuals making an impact in the creative economy and freelance industry.

What I love about this achievement is that it’s peer-nominated. It is the support of the community and the encouragement of mentors and friends that make this nomination such an honor. 20OTR isn’t a popularity contest nor is it a ‘most liked’ list. It is a curated list of 20 rising stars in 5 categories nominated by everyone and selected based on empowerment, impact, purpose, and passion.

20 On The Rise 2018 by Honeybook – Emily Bode, designer & writer | Photo by Sincerely Ashley | Emily Bode blog

Thank you. If it weren't for this platform and having connected with you in one way or another over the years, this wouldn't have been possible. On days when I feel like a narcissist or selfish for pursuing my creativity full-time, I try to remember that sharing my story expands and makes room for others to share theirs.

Here are 5 creatives I nominated for the 20 On The Rise award:

Ginger Herman – Owner of Ginger Bakes

Ginger is an extremely talented baker. She does wedding cakes and celebratory desserts with a modern and minimal style without skimping on the sweets! She also offers gluten and dairy-free options. Ginger herself is a sweetheart and so humble with her mission. We had a mini collaboration for 2019 in time for wedding season that I'm excited to share soon.

Website | Instagram

Leigh Ann Cobb – Photographer

Leigh Ann is as badass as she looks. She's a natural light photographer with an artistic approach to documenting intimate and genuine moments. Most of the photography you see on my blog was captured by Leigh Ann. Not only is her photography stunning but the energy, acceptance, and encouragement behind the lens make all the difference to the experience of being photographed by her.

Website | Instagram

Kherington McFarland – Content Strategist

Kherington is my co-work confidante! She is a lifestyle blogger, content strategist, and most recently started a YouTube channel. A smart strategy is her name of the game. Planning ahead, organizing, and most especially her vibrant spirit get her to her goals faster than any freelance creative I've met, and always in style. I admire Kherington for her tenacity and how she's always getting after her goals.

Website | Instagram

Krystle Waivio – Hair & Beauty Stylist

Krystle is every bohemian bride's dream stylist. She was mine in 2016 for our wedding and continues to create natural whimsical styles while changing the wedding industry's definition of tradition as the hair & beauty stylist for The Elopement Company. The experience in her chair feels like a mini-meditation. Krystle creates a zen moment graciously welcomed before a nerve-wracking walk down the aisle.

Website | Instagram

Becky VanDenbout – Web Developer & Founder of Joon + Co.

Becky is a multi-talented creative with range. She is a freelance web developer mentoring young girls to learn how to code and the founder of Joon + Co, an online sustainable eco-conscious clothing company. She has mixed her passion for style, empowering women, personal growth, and her strong intellect into a package that this world so badly needs.

Website | Instagram

Emily Bode 12/30/18 Emily Bode 12/30/18

2018 Year in Review

2018 Year in Review: A recap of celebrations and goals met in my personal and professional life.

Last year was about growth. This year was about contentment. The thing is, I like fireworks, surprises, the way seemingly disconnected things align through pure life magic. I like opportunities that only come once in a lifetime, the buzzing energy of What if I just went for it? My confidence is in those moments. I feel secure in hyped-up spaces.

2018 was none of these things.

This year was a different challenge. What happens when I'm not on the edge of my seat in anticipation? Who am I when I'm hurt and downtrodden? When I acknowledge that yes, what happened was shitty and I'm angry about that. How do I release then bounce back? How do I find renewed strength? Can I let those closest to me know I need help? That I can't always be the pillar holding everyone else up, sometimes I'm the one who needs holding. How do I handle calm moments when I thrive off of chaos and pressure? Can I be happy when it isn't about my individual pursuits? Can I keep those to myself and be there for the collective that needs more listeners fewer talkers?

It was a year where roaring like a lion wasn't needed of me but rather a quiet showing up. Just doing the work and then being done with it. Pursuit is my nature. 2018 showed me patience can be too, albeit not my first choice. I just needed things to happen that would bring that side of me to the forefront.

Here are my top highlights of 2018:

Personal

Moved (back) to the Lakeshore

We decided to move back to our little cottage by the lake after a year in the city. It was a time we'll never regret. It shifted our perspective and made us more grateful for the life we have here by the lake. Read more about it [here].

Celebrated our 2-year wedding anniversary

I hope the memory of our wedding always feels like it just happened. It still does 2 years later as we continue to grow and learn more about each other. This year we celebrated with an unplugged weekend on Mackinac Island. Just the 2 of us and a ghost (more on that below). It's as if the Great Creator is doing everything in its power to show me marriage is anything but boring.

Kayak Sunday's

Joel and I started going for kayak rides to a bayou near our place most Sundays in the summer. It became our church. Spiritual by nature and a time we could always count on together before the week would get away from us. It allowed us conversation and rest that one can only find on the water. Joel only lost his paddle one time.

International Women's Day

Ashley, on the far left, and I came up with a plan to celebrate International Women's Day with a photoshoot very last minute and I'm so glad we went through with it. Each of these ladies is impacting our creative community in powerful ways. It was an honor to stand by their side last winter. This was right before we were kicked out of the parking garage but I made sure to give the employee a piece of my mind as we left. Something about having 5 women backing you up that gives a girl a little extra oomph.

Travel

Nashville, Tennessee (x2)

I loved Nashville so much the first time I had to go back a month later! The first time was for my friend's bachelorette party and the second time was with Joel and another couple. We stayed in East Nashville both times. My favorite places were Bar Taco in 12 South and Bourbon Street Blues. I don't need to hear Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy, or Wagon Wheel again in my life but the vibes, live music, and the food are so good! We're already trying to find time to go back soon.

Recommendations: Imogene + Willie / Acme Feed + Seed / The Nash Collection Ball Cap

Lake Michigan, Michigan

I took a staycation for a week this summer and didn't tell anyone. The Lake Michigan lakeshore in West Michigan is buzzing with tourists from Memorial Day to Labor Day so I joined in on the fun as a tourist in my own town for a few days. It was wonderful to view my town from a vacationer’s perspective. I went to antique shops, had a glass of rosé overlooking the channel, and sunbathed on the beach for hours. It was the perfect mid-year pick-me-up.

Recommendations: Saugatuck Antique Pavilion / Snug Harbor / Rosy Mound Natural Area

Mackinac Island, Michigan

We went to Mackinac Island in September for our anniversary. It was my first time ever which is crazy considering I've been a Michigander my entire life! We stayed at Pine Cottage. We didn't know until our last night it's the most haunted bed & breakfast on the island! Those who know Joel and I know we're chickens with that stuff so we had a good laugh on the ferry home. We will definitely be going back. The charm and natural beauty of the island is one you have to see more than once.

Recommendations: Anne's Tablet / The Woods Lounge / Fort Holmes

Hocking Hills, Ohio

Our girl's trip has become an annual fall getaway. This year we went hiking in Hocking Hills, a state forest in Southern Ohio. We added miles to our hikes, took naps in our super cozy cabin, and watched old movies. We didn't have WIFI and only a landline (remember those?!) to call anyone. It was the perfect way to start the holiday season and have downtime with my closest friends. I wonder where we'll go next year!

Recommendations: Eagle Ridge Cabin Airbnb / Kindred Spirits Restaurant / Cantwell Cliffs

Professional

Brave Girl featured in Bella Grace magazine, Spring Issue 2018 | Brave Girl Design + Blog

Published in Bella Grace Magazine

I've had a goal to be published in print for the last couple of years so when Bella Grace accepted my submission of what grace means to me, I was ecstatic! They even added a story I wrote about hustling as the center spread with Tiger's big mug on it. I couldn't believe it. The feeling to see my words in print, and on the shelves at Barnes & Noble! It can keep a girl going on her toughest days that's for sure. More details [here].

Design professor at Grand Valley!

I continue to be amazed at the way life works. It was only a year ago I wrote in my 2017 Year in Review that I'd like to teach a design class one day and 8 months later here I am teaching a design class. You just never know and it makes me believe so much in the power of believing and faith. There were challenges and it was exhausting but I loved every minute of it.

Screen-Shot-2018-12-29-at-7.36.14-PM.png

Spacial design for furniture conference & apartment building brand

I was brought on the creative team at Full Circle last Spring to create a conference booth design for a German furniture company. It is my favorite kind of design to do and I'm super happy with the results. I also created the logo and brand elements for a new apartment building in Grand Rapids in the Monroe neighborhood, 601 Bond. I can't wait to see how it all comes together when the building is ready for tenants.

Top 100 Women Blogs to Follow by Feedspot

My, my. This look of pure joy and I can't believe it shows how I feel about this best. This is a top recognition I'm just so proud of for this little space of mine. It is because of all you who keep coming back to read. Thank you, it means so very much to me. More on being a Top 100 blog [here].

Walked in the Lee & Birch Holiday Fashion Show

This was another goal I didn't think I'd ever had the guts to follow through on. But I did it. It was very symbolic to walk in a fashion show this year for very personal reasons. Every time I remember I was a model for a day I will know I am worthy of feeling feminine, beautiful, and taking care of myself just the way I am. More details [here].

Nominated for 20 on the Rise by Honeybook

I was a 20 on the Rise nominee by Honeybook for my work as a freelance designer and writer this year. There are so many people who have created services and opportunities for others by leading with their hearts and not following the status quo. It's made the landscape of career so much more interesting than I could've ever imagined growing up with my limited ideas of what a career can be. To be a small part of this bigger message is an honor. See 20 On the Rise Winners

2018 brought so many blessings and magic. I became more self-aware and read my emotions better since I wasn't hyper-focused on goals for once. It's hard work to change a mindset & habit! I'm a little more goal-oriented for 2019 and feeling a bit stir crazy and excited for the possibilities this next year.

I hope you've had a wonderful 2018. Best wishes for 2019! Let's all be kind and not make excuses for doing rude phone things in public. xo, Em

Emily Bode 12/22/18 Emily Bode 12/22/18

December | Life Lately

Life lately in tune with the monthly full moon cycle.

December 2018 – January 2019 Full Moon

Based on my intentions last month to slow down and escape burn out, I'm pleased to report I've been more present during the holidays this year than years past. There was chaos wrapping up the Fall semester and last quarter of 2018 but how I responded is what allowed me to find calm in it. It's officially the hardest time of year for me after the holidays. There are fun things planned and goals I'm excited about that should keep me preoccupied.

Recommended book: The 13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams

December

Christmas at the Moon Lodge

Joel and I hosted my family for Christmas this year and we absolutely loved it! We weren't able to host last year because we were in a tiny apartment. We were ready to rekindle the vibes & traditions with my family. Joel asked me at the beginning of the holiday season what I wanted most. I said to have our home ready to celebrate the year we had and honor our loved ones. It was absolutely magical.

November 2018 Full Moon / Winter issue of Creative Grace newsletter

3 easy ways to honor the Winter Solstice | Emily Bode blog

Root Cause Reset with Ditea Wellness

I'm starting a 90-day nutritional program in 2019 with Diane Teall, nutritional therapy consultant, and fellow boss babe. You may have seen her in Issue 02 of Creative Grace! I haven't been intentional with my diet & health in years. I'm super excited to begin this journey with Diane's guidance. I'm nervous too but I think it's a good indication I'm ready for this commitment to my health and well-being.

Self-care for creatives / Ditea Wellness

No Drink January

I'm also not drinking alcohol the entire month of January! If there was a theme to this full moon it would be health + wellness for sure. Beer has been making my stomach feel crummy. I also don't like how easily it becomes a crutch to social gatherings. I'm breaking the routine and hoping this month off will help form a healthier habit. :) When I told Joel, he was all about it too. He has a trail race and other fitness goals so it worked out for both of us this month. Having support and accountability makes all the difference. We'll see how it goes!

Self-care for creatives / January 2018 Full Moon

November

The Holidays

I really enjoyed the holidays this year! This season felt more peaceful and had great vibes. They were tough without my Grandma but we felt her presence and relived funny memories of her and the traditions she put in place for us. Losing her has changed all of us but we've held each other a little closer and tighter thanks to her too. Joel and I also made cookies with his family, trimmed our tree with ornaments from all the places we've traveled, and had a couple of Saturday morning coffee dates that I cherish so much. I mean look at that cute but irritated face for making him take a picture.

How to honor the Winter Solstice / Top 10 Books of 2018 / Tips for sweater weather

Freelance Workshops

The week after Thanksgiving was an absolute blur with freelance workshops on top of my regularly scheduled class at Grand Valley. I hosted workshops for the senior design classes on being a freelancer in the design industry. It's a rather new topic in our area, and there are so many avenues it can create, so I shared my experience with tangible advice for students graduating soon. They had amazing questions and thanks to a brief IG survey, it seems like a lot of creatives at all levels are looking for a workshop like this!

3 tips to be a freelance designer / Freelancing behind the scenes / A day of freelance

Studio Closed until 2019

Ultimately I think it was a good move to shut down the studio for the month. The holidays, grades, print shop, blog, clients, etc., etc. all became so overwhelming that I needed to change my mindset to get through it in one piece. My dad is an engineer in the automotive industry and every year they have a plant shutdown to fix the assembly lines and other maintenance. This was my plant shutdown. I needed to regroup, reflect on 2018, closeout some items that always get the backburner, and take a break. I'm going a little stir crazy now and that's how I know this was the best thing I could've done for myself. The energy is coming back...

My studio / Self-care for creatives / Sign up for the Creative Grace newsletter

Full Moon Monthly recaps life lately and what’s on the horizon. See all moons here.

Emily Bode 12/20/18 Emily Bode 12/20/18

How to honor the winter solstice

The winter solstice is officially the first day of winter. There are a lot of negative connotations about this, especially in the North, because there's this impending doom mentality to know there's still probably 4 or 5 months of cold weather, dark days, and crappy drivers. But with the state of our environment, increasingly intense storms, and weather patterns my relationship to the cool and dark season is changing. Just because I haven't liked it for years, doesn't mean I want it to go away. The balance to the Earth to keep winter as it should be is something that's been on my mind more and more lately. The best, or maybe the first, we can do is be aware of moments like this. What can we do to make the most of the darkest day of the year?

3 easy ways to honor the Winter Solstice | Emily Bode blog | Wood block print by Becca Watz of Soul Sister Studio

1 | Perspective

I think to check in with our perspective helps to honor the solstice. Are you being cranky or bitter to others? Not letting others in when traffic is heavy or being a jerk in the checkout lane? Both of these I've been the victim of and have done to others already this season. A change of mindset could help. If I'm feeling this way, others probably are too. This is a human thing, not an everyone-is-out-to-get-me-kick-me-when-I'm-down thing. Or do like my mother says, "Count to 10 before responding". It might seem childish to count to yourself but being petty and cranky is childish too so which is better?

3 easy ways to honor the Winter Solstice | Emily Bode blog | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb Photography

2 | Have a ritual

I've found having a ritual or a routine helps to stay positive. Something I do every day or every week, no matter how small, that I can count on when everything else seems to be falling apart. Writing for 10 minutes with coffee and a candle to start the day or having a winter bonfire to end the week are a couple ways to soak in the darkness instead of avoiding it.

3 | Work up a sweat

This is the probably the hardest but most rewarding to do during these darker days. Difficult because it's cold and the couch is calling or it's dark and...well, the couch is still calling! But working up a sweat is SO good for your immune system. It releases toxins from your body that have stagnated and gives you more energy. Just think, there's a nice hot shower at the end of it!

There are a lot of advantages to darker days. If you're a busybody, it might be difficult to slow down or sit still with your thoughts and feelings but it's so crucial to check in with yourself every once in a while. Take the time to reflect on your last year with these 3 questions from Marie Forleo in lieu of New Year's Resolutions or start a ritual with a partner or close friend to keep you going. Whatever you do, remember that the days will continue to get lighter & brighter from here on out until the Summer Solstice, literally!

Happy Winter Solstice, friends. xo, Em

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Emily Bode 12/15/18 Emily Bode 12/15/18

My Winter Studio

I shut down the studio for the month of December and in true Emily fashion have spent more time in it now than I have in the last 3 months! This time of year is always a good time to tie up loose ends, brainstorm, reflect, and set goals for the upcoming year.

My studio corner with new shelf, metal cart, and rug

It's been tempting during this little sabbatical to feel like I should be doing something more than resting and going at my own pace. Turning off Instagram has helped with this greatly. It was making me sick to be bombarded with "discounts" and everyone trying to sell something so I shut that down for the season too. The clarity I've felt, woowee! I might not go back. Instagram has become such a rat race and it hinders my focus I need to create the custom design work I do and to feel present in my life. I was losing sight of what I wanted to put out in the world so this break has been rejuvenating. I feel like I'm getting myself back.

Give me all the plaid, ball caps, and duck boots.

I've mentioned before I didn't start blogging to get free products and advertise brands. There are many I love and use but I'm not trying to influence anyone despite that being the direction the blogging world seems to be going in at lightning speed. I started this space because I love to write and share the mountains and valleys of my journey as an artist.

Writing is how I make sense of the world so the terms have always been loose here. That's how life actually happens. It's messy, heavy, imperfect, scary. There are arguments and misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and trying to make it all better. There are missteps and luck and unexpected gems while you're looking at something else. All heartbeats, flesh, and bones.

I'm definitely not the place to come when looking for the latest fashion trend or interior DIY or top places to buy, well, anything. I've loved reading blogs long before starting one of my own. There are many helpful ones, especially travel blogs lately! I'm just not one of them.

I don't make money from this blog and while I've battled with wanting it to be profitable at times, it somehow never pans out that way. Whether by my own choice or others. Some days this makes me think I'm not good at what I do. Other times it makes me proud that I've kept this space free from the influence of brands and other people's agendas. Oh, a sponsored post is something I might try every once in a while, see how I feel about it, but ultimately it's a journal, first and foremost.

I wonder how big-time bloggers handle the pressure of keeping their followers engaged and happy for profits' sake. That seems like such a burden to carry and how long do you carry it? What does the business model look like for that? When I try to do similar things, I always stop. It just doesn't feel right for me.

I'm not sure why I'm telling you all of this. It sounds defensive, even to me. To you, it might seem like it's coming out of the blue but it's been on my mind lately. Maybe I am needing to hear it myself. The realigning with my values and personal goals that I tend to do at the turn of each season. It's quite tiring, I don't advise it.

All this time in my closed studio has been enlightening though. Exactly what I was hoping for when I tuned out all the noise at the beginning of December to hear my own voice again. It is a constant work in progress. I think the idea that is being sold often — that there is this easy fix for anything you want, that others have found it and you haven't — is really debilitating to our humanity, and Mother Earth.

Because nothing is a quick fix. Relationships, physical/mental/spiritual health, culture, traditions, ancestry, bathroom remodels, connection to self and others. And even when you do find a fix for something in your life, the world becomes a kaleidoscope and shifts your view or circumstance and your back to where you started sometimes.

I admit I come on here and often want everything to be perfect. The photos, the message, the SEO, a call to action as you finish reading. I love the design and curating beautiful things, after all. But other times, like today, I just want to write what's on my heart and nothing more.

Not all the other bullshit.

It's how I know this break is deeply needed. My crankiness and bitterness are giving me away. But I think it's important for us to acknowledge this part of our story too. The one that is more shadow-side than sunny dispositions.

“There has never been a time when you showed mercy toward yourself, Walks Tall Woman. You have enjoyed being active and have masked your Shadow well. The Shadow has shown you no mercy by driving you beyond all that is humanly possible. You have made promises that have actually forced you in the Shadow’s keeping. You have not abused your leadership ability by hurting others, but you have abused the trust other women placed in you as a role model. You have set an example that would break the back of any beast of burden. Donkey carries his Medicine of shouldering his load of responsibility, but he also knows how to refuse and become stubborn when the burden is too much. There is great inner strength to be found in showing mercy to yourself and in allowing yourself to be an example to other women by showing them that all humans are worthy of rest and pleasure. The example you set through making time for your needs will liberate you and every other woman who looks to you for guidance. The excuse that you do not have the time or the space to be nurtured will harm more people than yourself, giving the Shadow the upper hand.”

— The 13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams

May you find rest and give yourself mercy too. xo, Em

Emily Bode 12/12/18 Emily Bode 12/12/18

Top 10 books for staying in

There's nothing that sounds more relaxing than curling up with a good book as the cold weather continues outside. It is difficult for many of us to slow down long enough to do this curling, yes? Grab a blanket, light a candle, and pour yourself a hot drink. I have the books covered for you!

Here's a list of top 10 reads on my nightstand this season:

The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Womb Wisdom by Prakasha & Prakasha
The Road Back to You by Cron & Stabile
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden, ND
The 13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams
In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens by Alice Walker
Girl Talk by Jacqueline Mroz
Farm Anatomy by Julia Rothman

Overview of Top 10 books

I'm listening to Becoming on Audible (30-day free trial) because I like something to listen to while working in the studio. Michelle's voice and story are wonderful so far!

Womb Wisdom and Period Repair Manual are more educational. I'm enjoying learning more about my body and ways to support her.

Farm Anatomy is a beautifully illustrated book on all things farm and country life. I was able to guess what kind of chickens and rooster my friend has thanks to this book, a fun read.

In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens is a classic that I've started digging into on my lunch breaks. I love Alice Walkers' style of writing.

The 13 Original Clan Mothers is always on my nightstand, I read it monthly right before the Full Moon.

The Dirty Book club is a light fiction read and has inspired more titles to add to my ever-growing book list.

Girl Talk is hot off the press, a new release I've been asked to review on the science behind female relationships.

The Road Back to You is for Enneagram lovers and The Death and Life of the Great Lakes are for lake lovers who need to know the hard truth and reality of the health of the Great Lakes.

Other tips for solitude during the winter solstice

I love curling up with a good book but there are a few other go-to ways I like to make the most of the slower pace this winter season:

1 | Yoga

When I say yoga, I basically mean laying down a mat at home and taking 10-minutes to just stretch along to wordless music like Native American Meditations. It's healing to get out of your mind in all the winter darkness and move muscles in a less extreme way.

2 | Host a small group of friends at home

One of my favorite winter moments last year was having a few friends over for New Year instead of going out to crowded celebrations. It was such an intimate way to celebrate our victories of the year and voice our dreams for the next year. I highly recommend cozying up in the living room with a few friends. Have a few questions to start a reflective conversation like, What was your favorite place you traveled to this year and why? or What are you looking forward to this year?

3 | Go for a walk in nature

I admit it takes me some convincing to get out in the cold but I ALWAYS feel better when I've gone for even a 10-minute walk in nature. It brings mental clarity and improves your immune system to get out in the cold and not get stagnant inside. My dog loves me more too.

Hope these inspire you to read a good book and revel in the season, friends! xo, Em

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Emily Bode 12/3/18 Emily Bode 12/3/18

The only tip you need for sweater weather

I am a person of practical solutions when it comes to style. It is all about staying warm in the winter and keeping cool in the summer. As we near cold winter days, a simple tip: layer your sweaters.

One sweater on top of another is how you won't get cold. It seems obvious but there are a few details to layering your sweaters that will keep this formula easy without bulkiness, itchiness, and discomfort.

No one and I mean no one wants to be this kid in A Christmas Story.

287A7112 — The only tip you need for sweater weather | Emily Bode blog | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb photography

The only tip you need for sweater weather | Emily Bode blog | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb photography

287A7061 — The only tip you need for sweater weather | Emily Bode blog | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb photography

1 | Consider sweater length.

What's working here is the first sweater layer hits at the waist. The second layer is a longer sweater cardigan that hits around the knees. This reduces bulkiness, making the look more balanced with different lengths. Choose an open front second layer with buttons, zipper, or clasps to reveal the bottom layer and have more freedom to move.

287A7044 — The only tip you need for sweater weather | Emily Bode blog | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb photography

2 | Choose soft fabrics.

There's nothing worse than an itchy wool sweater on dry skin. When I'm in a mood it's either because I'm hungry or I'm wearing unforgiving wool. The problem with this is winter wool is your best bet in keeping super warm. Tips here and here for why wool can be itchy (hint: chemically processed or not 100% wool) and what to do about it.

I've found the softest sweaters at Lee & Birch and Goodwill. I admit I haven't tried other places than those two this year but I'm guessing L.L. Bean, Patagonia, and Everlane have great soft sweaters too. Other soft sweater fabrics I love: cotton and thrifted-cashmere.

3 | Add a subtle pattern or different textures.

I love starting with a solid color base layer but after my Spring 10x10, I've been burnt out with neutral on neutral looks. It looks pretty online but in real life, an all texture-less neutral outfit looks drab. Add a subtle pattern or mix textures between sweater layers. Velvet with knits is fun or plaid with pearl embellishments is festive. It doesn't have to be super bold, just something to add visual interest.

The wide collar with the black and white chevron pattern on the cardigan and the turtleneck with dotted pearls on the base layer is making this a detailed yet simple look. It's in the neutral family but not boring.

Whether you're trying to stay warm or get away with a bit more elevated casual look for holiday events, keep this tip in mind to layer your sweaters this season. I hope this helps you stay cozy without the crankiness.

Similar sweater [here] and cardigan [here] by Lee & Birch.
Sorel Joan of Arctic II Wedge boots [here].

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3 easy tips for layering sweaters | Emily Bode blog

Emily Bode 11/23/18 Emily Bode 11/23/18

November | Life Lately

Life lately in tune with the monthly full moon cycle.

November – December Full Moon

I'm not sure where the last month went but every month is flying by right now. I'm trying to slow things down in order to be more present to all the beautiful things the holidays bring—family time, cozy weather, laughter—while keeping my wellness at the forefront. It's difficult this time of year with final grades for my students, Q4 goals, holiday traditions, gift-giving etc. but I'm trying my best to maintain some balance and not be completely burnt-out. We'll see how it goes!

Recommended book: The 13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams

November

Thanksgiving

We went to my Grandpa's for Thanksgiving this year. I made my Grandma's famous green bread for the first time ever and plenty of pumpkin muffins that Joel enjoyed. Tiger road-tripped with us this year and it made me so happy to be Up North with my family. My cousin, Mom, & I may have stayed up too late to see the moon rise over the field and reminisce on our memories of Grandma over a bottle (or 2) of wine.

Thanksgiving 2017 / The Moon Lodge / A Letter to My Husband

Freelance Workshops

I'm looking forward to hosting 2 freelance workshops for senior design students at Grand Valley this month. One of the reasons I was hired to teach is my experience as a freelance designer. Freelancing is becoming more & more popular for young designers but they're not sure where to start, which is where I come in. There aren't a lot of us in the local design community, at least not actively talking about it, so I'm looking forward to sharing what I know from 5+ years as a freelance designer in hopes it will help inspire & motivate the students.

3 tips to be a freelance designer / Freelancing behind the scenes / A day of freelance

Studio Closed starting Monday, December 3

It's time for a break. Last year I closed up shop mid-December for some R&R in Florida and it made a huge difference to my mental health and the energy I brought in to the New Year when I returned. I'll be tieing up loose ends for current clients and finishing out the fall semester. Closing up shop a couple of weeks early is a business move I'm excited to make. It seems counter-productive to shut it down just when retail and 2018 budgets are ramping up but I have an inkling it's exactly what I need to do this year to start 2019 strong.

Book your 2019 design project with me [here].

October

Clockwise from left, images from: Yoke & Bore / Mom Basics / Lined Notes / Sol Soleil Soul / Ali Wayys

Fall 10x10

A year of 10x10's is now in the books! My 4th challenge wrapped up on Halloween. I spent the week afterward reading through #10x10representationmatters which has unpacked a lot of realities on my privileges as a white woman. So it was a very successful 10x10 for more reasons than my 10 looks but I'm also happy with my looks from Lee & Birch. Feeling very confident in my style these days.

Fall 10x10 / Summer 10x10 / Spring 10x10 / Winter 10x10

Lee & Birch Holiday Fashion Show

I talked all about my night walking in the holiday fashion show [here]. I realized doing things like a fashion show, photoshoots, and getting ready for local events is my version of pampering. I work a lot, I'm always thinking or writing or scheming up ideas so spending more time getting ready and dressing up is a nice little way I've found to give myself a little self-love.

Fall 10x10 with Lee & Birch / Style posts / How I define a capsule wardrobe

3 Weddings

We survived our season of weddings! haha. They were all such amazing days. My favorite part is watching the groom's face as his bride begins walking down the aisle. Most everyone is looking at her but I always turn to see her groom because his reaction tells all. It brought me to tears each time to see our friends begin their journey's together and I think Joel and I finally have our outfit coordination down.

Our wedding / My bachelorette party / A letter to my husband

Full Moon Monthly recaps life lately and what’s on the horizon. See all moons here.

Emily Bode 11/16/18 Emily Bode 11/16/18

A graphic designer walks into a fashion show...

Lee and Birch Holiday Fashion Show 2018 | Emily Bode Blog | Photo rights Lee & Birch by Leigh Ann Cobb Photography

...and walks the runway! I know, I'm still struggling to believe it too but there are photos that confirm I did indeed walk in the Lee & Birch Holiday Fashion Show last night. I was nervous as hell. It's all over my face in these photos, I'm guessing you can see it too.

Lee & Birch Holiday Fashion Show 2018 at Wealthy Studios

The point is, I did it anyway. Despite my fear of all eyes on me and not knowing how to walk a runway properly. It's so interesting where the mind can go when we feel less than others, isn't it? I consider myself a pretty confident person these days but I did not feel that way standing next to other women with better hair, better legs, better lipstick, the list goes on.

It wasn't that they were actually better, in reality, but that's where the mind goes when you're not feeling confident in yourself. There must be something wrong with you because of them. I'm not saying it's right, I'm saying it happens. And you have to push through the mind games to just do the damn thing.

Not to mention I'm a pretty shy person by nature when I don't know anyone in the room. I'm most definitely that person standing alone for a bit until others feel sorry for her and come up and talk out of obligation. I often use this to my advantage but last night I was too nervous to feign confidence. I kind of just wanted it to be over, that's how nervous I was!

Safe to say I will not be America's Next Top Model after my modeling stint but I'm really proud of myself for doing something that previously scared the shit out of me. It would've been easier to say no & rationalize that I was too busy like I did last year with the Anthro Holiday Show.

No one tripped me or switched my clothes around before outfit change or laughed at how awkward I was (very real concerns I had going into it) so I consider it a success.

It was held in the new Wealthy Studios in Grand Rapids too which was a super cozy space as the snow fell outside. A very festive way to kick off the holiday season. The artisan boutique half of the space has some great calendars, my favorite P.F. & Co. candles, and stationery I had my eye on when I wasn't nervously gulping down rosé. Worth a stop if you're in the Eastown area.

Lee and Birch Holiday Fashion Show 2018 | Emily Bode Blog

I celebrated with my handsome man and a good ole Bonfire Brown at our local watering hole immediately afterward. It felt the most like me. I encourage you to do something that scares the shit out of you this weekend. Doesn't need to be anything major or life-changing. Just something you wouldn't usually do that breaks the routine of your self-imposed rules. It's only uncomfortable until it's not.

Happy weekend, friends! xo, Em

All photo rights are Lee & Birch by Leigh Ann Cobb Photography

Emily Bode 11/16/18 Emily Bode 11/16/18

Community Spotlight Interview on Station Seven

You’ve heard the saying, “It takes a village”, yes? Indeed it does and this online space of mine is no different. Station Seven is the designer + developer duo whom I’ve worked with since 2015 as the starting point for the WordPress templates my blog is built on. This minimal, neutral, & ad-free aesthetic was a vision that Mike + Brittni have played a large role in making come to life.

I’m honored to have the had chance to share my story as part of their Community Spotlight, an interview series highlighting a few creative entrepreneurs out of thousands they’ve launched websites for.

Station Seven Community Spotlight featuring designer & writer Emily Bode | Image credit c/o Station Seven, read full interview on stnsvn.com

A snippet from the interview:

What’s one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way? My biggest challenge has been remaining a blog independent of traditional advertising. It’s definitely a more difficult, less revenue-friendly road to forego ads on my blog but I can’t seem to sacrifice design aesthetic to include them! I don’t like the distraction advertisements bring to the reading experience and I don’t want my readers digging through third-party content to reach mine. I’m proud of my stance on it however I’ve witnessed many magazines and online publications change similar ad missions midstream because it’s really difficult to maintain. I continue to try my best with it though.

See the full interview on Station Seven.

Emily Bode 11/7/18 Emily Bode 11/7/18

Fall 10×10: My 10 Looks

That's a wrap on my Fall 10x10! This one was very different from Winter, Spring, & Summer challenges because my 10 items were all from Lee & Birch and I planned my looks a week ahead of time.

The summer challenge influenced me with all the patterns, color, & texture! After 4 years of narrowing my focus on the items I bring into my closet, I needed to break free from my demanding rules a bit.

This 10x10 made me enjoy clothing again. It's since made me much more interested in the history of clothing from a political, cultural, and societal standpoint. I highly recommend the Articles of Interest podcast by 99% Invisible if the history of jeans or why we call it plaid sounds intriguing to you.

The first 5 days are a blur to me. My schedule is nuts this season so the fact that I didn't realize any issues or frustrations with my clothing as I ran around like a wild woman is a great sign they did the job.

Teacher Style I wore these black boots the majority of the challenge and they already feel like a staple as it gets colder. I wouldn't have been comfortable wearing velvet leggings with a shorter top if it weren't for the longer-length cardigan so the layering was a good choice. For my morning class, I buttoned the top of the wide collar because it's important to me I remain modest as a young professor. This outfit will be on repeat this season, it's so simple, fast, & comfortable for my 6 am get-up.

Buffalo check button-up | Black and white cardigan | Velvet leggings | Waterproof boots

Print Shop This look was one of my favorites. After dressing up for class days, I love dressing down for print shop days. The camouflage moto pants are my absolute favorite item of this challenge. I love the knee detail and the zippers around the pockets. Mixing it with the plaid scarf was fun & not something I'd usually think to do but the look needed color so I added it in. I didn't even get a speck of ink on my crisp white shirt!

White long sleeve | Plaid scarf | Moto skinnies | Slip sneaker

Teacher Style I don't normally wear denim on class days but this day we toured a print shop local to Grand Rapids, BrightFormat, so it made more sense. The denim and black boot combo made me feel like a boss. I felt confident and had a take no shit attitude pretty much all day. Win!

Buffalo check button-up | Black and white cardigan | High-waisted denim | Waterproof boots

After Work I like looks that can go from day to night seamlessly because I don't like spending time messing with multiple outfit changes in a day. Once the robe is on, I'm not going anywhere. I LOVE the hue of this orange duster — it's the perfect shade for Fall — and how it elevates a simple white top and black bottoms combo.

White long sleeve | Rust-colored duster | Velvet leggings | Waterproof boots

Casual Wedding I don't have much green in my closet so this cozy shirtdress was a great addition. It's super soft and has a nice pocket detail so I don't feel like I'm just wearing a sack. It worked perfectly for a more casual wedding I went to that involved a bumpy trolley ride. I felt super comfortable and the gold jewelry and metallic clutch elevated it subtly.

Shirtdress | Waterproof boots

Weekend at Home My parents came to visit for the weekend so I'm glad I had this simple white and denim combination. The day was all about catching up with my parents, making chicken chorizo chili, and walking Tiger. I worried a bit about spilling ingredients on my white sweater but ultimately was all good and super cozy for a lazy day in our cozy cottage.

Pearl-studded ivory sweater | Plaid scarf | Moto skinnies | Slip sneaker

Sunday Brunch I mentioned on Sunday that I failed to wear this look and that I really need to stop planning dresses on Sunday's! I simply don't wear them. As much as brunch sounds like this super cute thing to bookend the weekend, I've never done it so I'm not sure why I thought I would this day. This is the outfit I would wear if I were the kind of girl to do brunch.

ShirtdressLayer | Plaid cardigan | Waterproof boots

Lunch My favorite look of the challenge! It feels the most Me. I don't know if it's the shade of tan in the wedges and my glasses or the moto pants with the pearl sweater but it all just goes together in this cohesive and mismatched kind of way. I wore it for class then lunch with a friend. I'll be wearing this again and again.

Pearl-studded ivory sweater | Black and white cardigan | Moto skinnies | Tan wedges

Print Shop I wouldn't have worn this to the print shop if it weren't for this challenge. Velvet leggings in an inky shop just felt, unnecessary and the sweater was too hot. BUT, it's definitely a go-to look and quick way to feel dressed up when you're running out of time and would like to spend more time listening to podcasts on the commute than getting ready. This is how the cardigan looks when the two buttons are closed, I LOVE the collar it creates.

White long sleeve | Black and white cardigan | Velvet leggings | Waterproof boots

Halloween Style Had to save the most Halloween-ish for last. Not really a costume but the rust duster felt very festive. I really loved mixing the feminine floral pattern with masculine camouflage, it made for softness with an edge which is how I think I am (don't tell me if this isn't true).

White long sleeve | Rust-colored duster | Moto skinnies | Tan wedges

Insights

What am I trying to say? I faced a lot of doubts & demons this challenge. More than any other 10x10, I was concerned with what I was saying by partnering with a local boutique for all 10 items. The majority of my style posts are about capsule-inspired wardrobes, slow fashion, and clothing essentials. It worried me that some of you who know this about me might think it odd or worse, disingenuine, that I dedicated these 10 days to a somewhat different message.

I share a different perspective about 10x10's than most of the 10x10 community anyways but my partnership with Lee & Birch was an opportunity to connect and collaborate with fellow local women in business. I felt it important to celebrate a boutique in my backyard and the women who have been running it for over a decade. A very hard feat in a fast-paced, ever-changing retail industry. This was not a sponsorship, meaning I wasn't paid to talk about their clothes, nor did I purchase all 10 items for the sake of this challenge. I purchased around half because one of their stylists was AMAZING and helped me discover items I was looking to fulfill after the Spring 10x10 when I became disenchanted with my whites and lack of color in my closet.

Anyways, this could very well be me overthinking things but it feels right to tell you. My goal with 10x10's and anything for that matter is never to encourage you to buy things you don't need or want. If you like it, buy it, and try out a local boutique that I personally enjoy. But if you don't, then don't and I hope the looks inspire you to mix items you already have in your wardrobe or find it at other places you enjoy.

10x10 Representation Matters. If you participated in the challenge or follow someone who does, I'm hoping you heard of the #10x10representationmatters hashtag. It was started this season by a group of women who are most definitely underrepresented in the slow fashion movement. In all movements actually but the focus was on ethical clothing in this 10x10 instance. It took off like wildfire, thank God, and has unearthed a lot about culture, politics, white supremacy, hurtful pasts, and pain that is woven into their everyday lives because of all of these things and more. I've often grappled with myself that all this time & energy spent talking about clothes and personal style is shallow and why am I doing it? What has been shallow is my lack of understanding.

I urge you to read through the posts and follow the hashtag #ethicalfashionrepresentationmatters for continued dialogue. I hope it changes you and your perspectives like it is doing for me.

Inspiration

Still pining for wide-leg pants. Add Ochre to the wish list. Love how Raven hopes to pass on her sisterhood denim jacket. Leaning back to black & tan. Still admiring Candice's style & photos. These green pants & Gina prepping for elections. Corduroy's making a comeback, my Mom started it. Everything Bo has said, especially this.

You can see my inspiration + my 10 items for the challenge here. For more wardrobe inspiration see my Pinterest board and Style posts.

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Emily Bode 10/25/18 Emily Bode 10/25/18

When You Can't Find What You're Looking For

I recently watched CMT Artists of the Year 2018, the first awards show of its kind dedicated to the women of country music. They're consistently underrepresented and have less radio play than their male counterparts. It was encouraging to see a network like CMT finally acknowledge and award women like Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert, and Maren Morris to name a few. A commercial for Ram Trucks aired during the event showed fierce women surfing crazy waves, snowboarding mountains, and rehearsing for sold out shows. As a television lover raised in the '90s, I didn't see women represented this way on screen or in music. It was uplifting to see tonight & made me think of all the young girls watching that will know without a doubt they can go after whatever the hell they want. AND they don't have to sacrifice their femininity or softness to do it.

Brave Girl: An archive of my early 20's

I'm telling you this in lieu of my recent switch to this online space that is now under my own name, Emily Bode. I wrote under the pen name, Brave Girl, since 2013. Brave Girl will remain online as an archive of my early 20's. It was the season I needed to go through to get to where I am today as a designer and writer on EMILYBODE.com.

What does this have to do with country music?

Well, watching all these women I admire and listen to their albums, I finally found the words for what Brave Girl has always meant to me. I often said Brave Girl was an aspiration because being brave is very hard when you want to go in a direction that you don't see other people like you doing. I don't mean I never saw anyone like me blogging in the popular sense. Trust me, I know there are more middle-class white girls like me blogging than all the pumpkin spice lattes in the world.

Unwelcomed surprises and good lessons

What I mean is I couldn't find what I was looking for in the creative marketing field in 2013 as a young designer. I saw talented women rise to the top as creative directors but they weren't supportive or kind to other women. The sweetest most creative woman would stop pursuing her dream of a creative hobby or business because she was uncomfortable dreaming bigger.

I witnessed women act like they were supportive while secretly manipulating a fellow female behind the scenes or not standing up for coworkers when the boss came around. Designers who were so uptight in classical training there wasn't any personality or excitement to their work. I saw women doing this & I was a girl emulating their patterns. It surprised me this kind of personality was being taught and accepted. I hated this every-woman-for-herself mentality. It was lonely, isolating, and destructive.

I started Brave Girl because I blamed myself for bringing these experiences on with my attitude or my weaknesses or being inadequate or something. I thought what I witnessed in work settings, at professional events, and in my personal life was all my fault. So the more courage I could have the better to face these monsters, right? Sort of.

The monsters were there, indeed. And other people aren't always kind nor will they care about your dream more than you do. You need to want it so much more than anybody else for it to work. The monsters I was battling? Most of them were my own. And because of my blog Brave Girl, I did find what I was looking for.

Courage requires patience.

Courage to be the woman I am. To dream and know it is a valid dream even if it doesn't look like the "popular" dream. One of the greatest lessons Brave Girl taught me during my time writing under her pen name; an aspiration is the first stage of a dream.

You have to know what you're aspiring to be, want, or do. It is the key to all that follows. I bet some of the women at that awards show can relate. It will turn into everything you want and more if you keep going despite the monsters. Despite the naysayers, in your head and otherwise. I started Brave Girl because I was looking for a woman I couldn't find. So, I became her.

I want every woman to do this for herself. Over & over & over again.

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Creativity: When you can't find what you're looking for | Emily Bode blog

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Emily Bode 10/24/18 Emily Bode 10/24/18

October | Life Lately

Life lately in tune with the monthly full moon cycle.

October – November Full Moon

This month was wilder than the last. My schedule has changed drastically since the summer so you'll see I'm excited about a lot of events coming up, as well as a lot of fun celebrations that happened. I chose this picture of my kitty, Belle, and I in the living room a few years back because I miss her terribly. She passed away last October when we were living in Grand Rapids so this month is a year without her. I know that's kind of sad to talk about but the photo actually reminds me how lucky I was to have 18 years with her. It's healing to shed a few tears and honor her. I swear I can still hear her little paws pad through our cottage in the quiet moments and it helps.

Recommended book: The 13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams

October

Fall 10x10

The Fall 10x10 has officially begun! It started this Monday, October 22nd. See the full post [here] for more on my partnership with Lee & Birch, as well as my style inspiration and how I'm doing it differently this season.

My Fall 10x10 items / Summer 10x10 / Spring 10x10 / Winter 10x10

Meet the Makers Event at Dime + Regal

Local friends, you can come to meet me and other artists at Dime + Regal on Saturday, November 10th from 7-9 pm. I've been selling my hand-lettered prints at Dime + Regal for about a year now. Their shop space is STUNNING, the owners are are talented jewelry makers themselves, and they've built a great community of Michigan makers that I'm so grateful to be part of. Let us know if you're coming on the event page [here]!

Dime + Regal: Facebook event / Website / Instagram

3 Weddings

We have three weddings in a row this moon cycle! We've never had that happen before. I'll never complain about weekends full of dancing, dressing up, and celebrating love and new milestones of all of our friends. It's events like weddings that really remind me of the great community of friends Joel & I are in. I may or may not have gotten a new dress or two for special occasions. Haven't done that for a few years so it was exciting to get a few new cool weather fancy dresses!

Our wedding / My bachelorette party / A letter to my husband

September

Joel's 30th Birthday

Happy to report we survived Joel's 30th. It was a week full of surprises for Joel starting with gifting him a 2-week trip to Morocco next Spring to visit with our very close friends who live there! He was so surprised and excited. Let the travel planning begin! We then had friends over for his birthday weekend to watch football, eat carb-heavy and cheese-loaded food, go to a beer festival in town, and a bonfire in our backyard to finish out the celebrations. I'm pretty sure he had the best week ever. Seeing him as happy as he was is one of the greatest feelings in the world to me.

See more on living & our cottage

My 5-yr blogaversary

This blog milestone kind of snuck up on me this month with all the other things going on in my life right now; teaching, working at a print shop a few days a week, Joel's birthday celebration, some travel, and everything else, but I did take some time on a Friday at my favorite bakery in town to reflect on these last 5 years. See the full post [here]. It's a good mix of nostalgia, some backstory on past jobs, & some fun brand visuals to look at from all my evolutions of my personal brand over the years.

5 years of blogging / My IGTV video about the last 5 years / Top 100 Women Bloggers to Follow

Annual Girl's Weekend at Hocking Hills

The anticipated girl's weekend has come and gone, and much too fast! It was a restful, rejuvenating, and relaxing weekend with my best gal pals from high school. I continue to be amazed, humbled, and grateful to still be close to my girlfriends after all these years. We've been through a lot together and taking the time to nurture our relationship, surrounded by nature, is a feeling of gratitude that is hard to describe. We hiked 9 miles total this year, 1 mile longer than last year! We watched old movies each night, like the season's first viewing of Hocus Pocus with some mulled wine, took naps, shared podcast and book recommendations, and had the best chili to keep warm. We stayed at Eagle Ridge Cabin and I highly recommend it!

See last year's trip to Red River Gorge.

Full Moon Monthly recaps life lately and what’s on the horizon. See all moons here.

Emily Bode 10/19/18 Emily Bode 10/19/18

Fall 10x10: My 10 items

It's time for my fourth 10x10 challenge, the Fall 10x10, starting Monday, October 22! The challenge is to create 10 outfits from 10 items for 10 days in a row. Created by Lee and co-hosted by Caroline. For more challenge details see my Spring 10x10. I've enjoyed the last 3 challenges because each one is different from the other. Not only because I live in Michigan, meaning every season has different weather to plan for, but also because it's helping me grow in my personal style.

Lee & Birch Partnership

This 10x10 I've partnered with Lee & Birch, a local Michigan boutique with 3 locations in Grand Haven, Rockford, and Grand Rapids. One of the things I love about Lee & Birch is how they treat their customers. Have you ever walked into a boutique and walked right back out because the vibe felt uppity or the stylists didn't make you feel welcome? Or they were too pushy? I have, many times, & I hate the way that makes me feel.

When I walk into Lee & Birch, I'm greeted warmly, am left to wander on my own taking in all the options, and receive styling advice in time or when I ask for it. The ladies there are great at giving you current trends and ideas that complement and elevate your personal style. You'll get a part of this experience throughout the next 10 days here as they've shared some great advice for fall style I'll be sharing with you!

Goal

My main goal for the Fall 10x10 is to find versatility and layering options while mixing classic neutrals with pattern and texture in a playful way. I want to build upon the color and texture I explored in my Summer 10x10.

Inspiration

I gained confidence in pairing my go-to neutrals with patterns and texture thanks to the summer challenge. It's nice to express more shades than ivory, black, and gray, which I did last winter. I still can't do bright red though, it just is not my color. Moving back to the lakeshore has me swooning over all things cottage & cabin this season. Practical fabrics like flannel and heavy knits with tones that reflect the wild neon sunsets we have this time of year are inspiring me deeply.

The weather is going to be high 40's, low 50's, partly cloudy and showers. Pretty moody and common for fall in Michigan. Neon sunsets, moody gray waves, deep greens surrounding me, changing of the leaves, and all the cabin vibes are my inspiration.

My 10 items

I'll be splitting my time between teaching a college design course, getting my hands dirty at a print shop, and some time in my home studio. The range of environments I'm in this season is my biggest challenge. Going from a professional classroom environment to a dirty, inky print shop and then casual studio vibes are a bit of a whiplash. I really focused on selecting versatile and durable items to account for this. I also have a wedding, meetings, and business lunches mixed in. I'm NOT counting shoes this time. I removed them from my count to have a few more items for layering since layering is a challenge for me (some great tips from friends here).

10 items from Lee & Birch

6 Tops

Basic white tee Rust orange duster
Pearl-studded sweater
Buffalo check button-up
Black and white cardigan
Plaid cardigan

3 Bottoms

Camouflage moto pants

Hudson Jessi high-waisted denim

Spanx velvet black leggings

1 Dress

Sage shirt dress

Supporting Items

3 Shoes

Sorel Joan of Arctic Wedge II, Ash Brown

Sorel Margo Chelsea Boot, Black

Sorel Campsneak Slip Sneaker, Cattail

3 Jewelry

Nakamol Earrings

Nakamol Layer Necklace

Crescent Moon Necklace

My looks

I shot 10 looks ahead of time again, this time with my pal Leigh Ann Cobb. My approach to the challenge continues to evolve. Based on the great conversations with you guys each 10x10 season, the inspiration route (vs. "live" outfit documenting) seems more helpful for you. I, of course, will link to what I'm wearing because sometimes a piece or two is all we need to get started.

Lee & Birch has some great brands for the Fall. If you're local, they have all the styles and items I'm wearing in-store right now so you can get exactly what you see during the challenge. If you're following from afar (hi Canadian friends!), the Lee & Birch website will have all the styles available early November so keep a lookout for that.

My 10 items for the Fall 10x10 | Free Guide Sheet for download | Emily Bode blog | Partnership with Lee & Birch

I want to elaborate on my statement last challenge re: retail therapy. I still stand by not needing retail therapy as much as we think we do. There are multiple perspectives to everything – even within one person. When certain areas of my life get hard or I've had a shitty day, shopping is a good avoidance tactic. So is wine. And TV. And the list goes on for all of us, doesn't it?

Shopping can also be a treat or a gift to your hard-working self. I haven't done that much the last couple of years so dang it if I won't get a few new items. ;) I've been in a rut this fall and while I'm definitely proud of having 134 items in my year-round closet, I want to refresh some classics and bring in more color. Now I have 140 items, fresh sparks of inspiration, and continue to build my wishlist as I keep saving.

I did a quick poll in preparation for this 10x10 and most of you responded you won't be joining but plan to follow the challenge. Awesome! You can follow on Instagram [here]. Happy 10x10 friends!

A special thanks to Lee & Birch for providing all the items for this shoot, style tips, and brand information. Follow them on Instagram [here] for more fall styles. And thank you to Leigh Ann Cobb who shines a positive light on the goofiness I feel when getting my photo taken. All the upcoming challenge photos are by her.

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Emily Bode 10/10/18 Emily Bode 10/10/18

3 quick ways to layer flannel

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:

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)

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)

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)

My favorite places to discover the perfect flannel:

Thrift stores 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.
Higher-end secondhand stores 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.
Eddie Bauer My favorite place for buying new flannel is Eddie Bauer. 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

Emily Bode 10/5/18 Emily Bode 10/5/18

My 5 year blogaversary!

Wow, my 5-year blogaversary. I've been blogging for 5 years today. I've been looking back at the last 5 years all morning so thought I'd share my trip down memory lane with you:

5 Year Blogaversary | 2013 | Emily Bode blog

2013 – Brave Girl Spirit

The first logo for Brave Girl, my former blog. bravegirl.com wasn't available so my friend's boyfriend thought to name it BRAVEGIRLSPIRIT.com, after the American Spirit cigarettes he was smoking. I loved the packaging for those cigarettes and spirit felt so right.

I made the logo organic & simple linework to represent a bonfire (triangle = fire, two lines crossed = sticks). It symbolized the fire within I was feeling about starting this new venture. I think I knew then I would be doing this blog thing for a while.

Trying it all, seeing what sticks

Since no one needs to dig back to those first posts, I'll give you a little recap. That first year I was super unhappy in my first job out of college. My blog was all about exploring my craft as a designer that I wasn't allowed to do at my job. It wasn't for lack of trying, I pushed hard to create in a way that came naturally to me. Looking back on the things my boss did allow me to do, well, it's cringe-worthy. I was so dead set on doing things my way that I didn't recognize it really wasn't that good looking. But I had to go through that to get better. When I see my paintings, line work, & first go at handlettering, I try to remember that.

I have a secret to admit…I don’t always feel brave.I am terrified of failing.I don’t want people to know I can’t do it all.
So that’s what this is for me. A place that says, “you are brave, girl, not in spite of your weaknesses but because of them”.
I am excited to explore whatever that means.
– from my first post in 2013

5 Year Blogaversary | 2014 | Emily Bode blog

2014/2015 – Brave Girl Refresh

In 2014 I quit that job, became a freelance designer, and we moved from our rental to our first house, The Moon Lodge. I'm just now noticing I rebranded my blog every time there was a big personal event in my life. You'll notice if you keep reading.

For the new logo, I used a bold and blocky sans-serif typeface with a pink "X". I wanted to show this balance of being courageous and strong yet soft and feminine. I was trying to find this in my life at the time so I wanted the logo to represent that. The "X" was to keep the 2 sticks from the bonfire of the first logo.

My first photoshoot

I did a photoshoot with a good friend from design school for my new brand too. It was my first photoshoot! I put on my overalls and my hat and we found a gorgeous old building to shoot near and the old post office that is Atwater Brewery now. It had this bright blue tile that my friend Lauren and I loved. I used the tagline There's a new brave girl in town for my marketing.

My Mom and Grandma loved it, and that's about all who saw it.

Brave Girl Mission Statement

I wrote this mission statement out of anger. At the time, people in my career life acted like I was some little girl who didn't know anything. I worked my ass off to have a solid education and be a good designer. All they saw was my youth, my blonde hair, and my loud laugh and translated that to "she's not capable of having her own business". I believed, and still do, that our vulnerability and our sensitivity is the EXACT thing that makes us courageous and brave and I was fed up with other people treating that as a weakness.

Full customized site in 2014

I'm so proud of my 2014 blog for the reason I mentioned but also because my web developer friend, Justin, and I designed a totally customizable blog. We had just won a Gold Addy for a website design so we were feeling pretty jazzed to make another site. I was happy to have him get his Wordpress chops by practicing on my blog. I still long for this About page. It was dreamy.

5 Year Blogaversary | 2016 | Emily Bode blog

2016-2017 – Brave Girl with Station Seven

By now I started to narrow down what I wrote about. I did so many personal projects when I started blogging, it helped me find what I liked to talk about and create. I really started to grow into my style in 2016 and met a lot of people in the blogging community. It made me realize my blog was SO personal. I wasn't talking about outfits or products but rather how I felt about outfits and products. I'm deep, we all know that.

Having the logo be my own handwriting symbolized this for me.

Station Seven Wordpress templates for the win!

The site itself was an overhaul from that custom work Justin and I did to a Wordpress template from Station Seven. While I loved the custom, the web landscape was changing so fast. I needed to spend less time tweaking an old site and more time being more easily available to you, my readers. I don't remember how I found Station Seven I only remember crying out Hallelujah! and being over the moon to have found a web design service that was GORGEOUS and super easy to use.

5 Year Blogaversary | 2016 | Emily Bode blog | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb photo

Top 100 list and published in a magazine!

I was working full-time as an in-house designer and planning our wedding during this time so OF COURSE, let's add a blog rebrand to that mix. I went from being embarrassed and insecure about my blog to being really proud of it. It was around this time I was published in Bella Grace Magazine and was voted a Top 100 Women's Blog to Follow. I think more people started paying attention and it made me so happy because I dedicate so many hours and thoughts to this space. It was rewarding to have it recognized.

I wanted more connection with my creative community in real life too. The blog led me to great friends, fun events, and co-work turned therapy sessions. Blogging is difficult to navigate sometimes. Having a few people who "get it" feels really good.

Brave Girl Photography

Leigh Ann Cobb was our wedding photographer and we got along so easily during all of our engagement photo sessions that I asked her if she'd start shooting for my blog after our wedding. GAME. CHANGER. I'm not a photographer and I don't want to be one. I like focusing on writing and designing so working with a photographer has been wonderful. Leigh Ann isn't the only photographer I work with. There are many talented photographers in the area so I consider myself very lucky. Leigh Ann's moodier, deep tones, and editorial style aligns with my writing and my personality so I love working with her.

5 Year Blogaversary | 2018 | Emily Bode blog

2018 – EMILYBODE.com

And now we're here. Sitting in my favorite bakery, looking out the window at the cold rain I'll have to walk in soon, just completely in awe at the way things can change so much yet come full circle all at the same time. The biggest rebrand I've had in 5 years was changing my blog from Brave Girl to my name Emily Bode.

By now you're definitely not surprised this happened at the same time we moved back to our cottage after living in Grand Rapids for a year. You're also wondering what else was going on because surely that isn't enough change. Well, you're right, I launched the rebrand a few weeks before teaching for the first time at Grand Valley State University and working at a print shop a few days a week.

Modern typeface with neutral color palette, a more sophisticated look

A modern, editorial typeface with gorgeous ligatures that make me drool and thin line work with a neutral palette represents this Brave Girl all grown up. I'm not a girl anymore, I'm a grown ass woman.

These last 5 years, being a brave girl for some really hard things has had everything to do with bringing me here to my own name. It's very symbolic and needs an entire post dedicated to it.

Wisdom and white space

I like to think my blog now is a better balance of being courageous but also content and happy with my life. When I look back on past posts I can now see that my early 20's were just so hard and tumultuous. I think it's mostly still positive and so many amazing things came from the past. But the other side to that was I wanted so badly to do things my way but I was also naive, doubtful, and moody about not knowing what to do next. I just didn't have patience and I wanted EVERYTHING all at once instead of sinking into what is truly calling me.

This rebrand has not been about adding more but removing what isn't me. Clearing the clutter. Keeping white space in your life is just as difficult, if not more, than creating white space in a design layout. It's natural to try to jampack everything in. The challenge is keeping it out.

So, what can you expect from here on out? At this rate, I'm averaging a rebrand about every 2 years. 2 years from now I'll be 30 so you can be sure there will be some kind of change here. A midlife crisis or a new haircut or something big.

Images clockwise: @inkdiplettering / @jessekamm / @jazzyhwang / J.Crew — 5 Year Blogaversary | 2018 | Emily Bode blog
I LOVE moodboards. I created this one after Summer 10x10 Challenge in 2018

Summer 10x10 Challenge | Emily Bode — 5 Year Blogaversary | 2018 | Emily Bode blog

But really, I hope you come here to be inspired on your own creative journey, or for capsule-like style ideas, or to just check in with a woman who loves to write about what she's going through in an attempt to make sense of it all and smile at the end of the day.

Thanks for these 5 years. That's, like, a very serious relationship. Some people get married in less time than that! Not Joel and I, we're marathoners. Some people have kids in that amount of time! Others have jobs that last this long! Also not me, you know my track record.

I mean, half a decade, that's a damn good chunk of time. Thanks for being here with me. I couldn't, I wouldn't, do it without you.

Cheers to 5 years! xo, Em

Emily Bode 10/1/18 Emily Bode 10/1/18

Summer to Fall Closet: A procrastinator's closet clean out

This is how my fall closet looked all week while my piles of summer and upcoming winter clothes sat nearby. You probably know by now I don't do many things quickly and my closet is no exception. I wasn't ready to commit to the switch but as Midwesterners, we know it has to happen at some point, right?!

“Procrastination may be the enemy of productivity but it can be a resource for creativity.”

If there was ever a doubt I needed to speed my process along, this quote from The Originals by Adam M. Grant completely helped me rationalize my pause. Yes, yes, it's for "creative purposes" that my clothes are taking up our bed for days on end.

Summer to Fall Closet: A procrastinator's closet clean out | Emily Bode blog

Fall 2018. Winter wardrobe on the left, summer on the right.
134 items in my closet total!

I don't have enough room in my closet for both warm and cold weather items in the same space. Each Fall and Spring I have to transition my closet for the seasons when the weather starts to change. I was surprised to find that my box in the basement, where I store my off-season clothes, wasn't full. My closet of summer clothes wasn't either. Makes sense; I only have 134 items including shoes, outerwear, and activewear.

I'm down 46 items since 2016 when I had 180 items total.

This is nuts! Especially when you consider I was the girl in high school who you couldn't see over a pile of Forever21 clothes. They don't have an item limit in their dressing rooms and I took full advantage.

Getting down to under 150 items for a 4-season closet was no easy feat. It's been 4 years in the making. In 2014 I took stock of everything I owned and started my first capsule planner in an effort to discover my true personal style.

There are a lot of eye rolls about capsule wardrobes right now because so many people are doing it but it led me to my personal style and I'm so grateful for that. I'm also lazy and don't want to spend valuable time in a day getting ready. A capsule helped me pair things together in less time, allowing me to focus on my creative work and still appear like a sane person out in public. So a capsule was a no-brainer for me. I don't keep one as disciplined anymore but the intentionality behind my closet is the same.

Why I love the 10x10 challenge

The 10x10 challenges [Winter, Spring, and Summer] this year have helped immensely, as well. They allowed me to get creative with items I already have and mix in a few new items. Each season I donate items that aren't appealing to me anymore. The pile I donate is getting smaller and smaller because I'm consuming less = my version of poor girl's slow fashion. I mentioned in my Spring 10x10 that a lot of my whites were feeling tired so those will be rags soon, like my Happy Camper tee sadly! We had a good 2-year run but the poor pits are donezo. I definitely got my wear out of my favorite graphic tee though.

Summer to Fall Closet: A procrastinator's closet clean out | Emily Bode blog | Image via Pinterest — Fall closet inspiration

Onward to my Fall/Winter closet! I can already tell I'll need a couple of pairs of shoes and some lighter-toned blouses to liven up my style a bit. I discovered in my Summer 10x10 that I want more color, relaxed silhouettes, and classic cuts than I currently have. Skinnies and button-ups have been my go-to and while I love them, I'm looking for something fun to add.

Check out my capsule-inspired Pinterest board [here] for more & stay tuned for an exciting Fall 10x10 challenge I have coming up on October 22nd! I can't wait to share with you.

May your Fall be cozy, knitted, and offer a warm glow. xo, Em

Emily Bode 9/24/18 Emily Bode 9/24/18

September | Life Lately

Life lately in tune with the monthly full moon cycle.

September – October Full Moon

This last month flew by for me, did it for you?! I felt like Summer was slow and then took off like wildfire at the end of the August. Teaching a college course for the first time, working at a print shop for a couple days, and continuing to work with clients on top of life stuff probably had something to do with it. It took some time getting acclimated to a new routine but this time of year always seems to be that for me. I'm excited for some fun celebrations and trips coming up and overall being in the fall season. Bonfires, football, and cozy Sundays here I come!

Recommended book: The 13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams

September

Joel's 30th Birthday

It's hard to believe this day is right around the corner considering I met Joel when I was 19 and he had just turned 21. This is such a milestone & I'm excited to celebrate this season of his life with him. Football, bonfire, craft brews, & yard games are on the agenda in true 30's fashion. Isn't he so handsome?! I keep telling him he gets more handsome with age, like George Clooney.

See more on living & our cottage

My 5-yr blogaversary

I started blogging 5 years ago! I've learned so much about writing, met many wonderful people, and stumbled into great opportunities because of this little corner of the internet. I've had moments of trying to strategize this space and not strategizing whatsoever, as well as plenty of other experiments, over the last 5 years. I'm grateful for it all. Thank you for continuing to show up through all my evolutions.

My very first post / Top 100 Women Bloggers to Follow / Brave Girl (my former blog)

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Annual Girl's Weekend at Hocking Hills

2nd annual girl's trip is coming up! We enjoyed last year's trip so much we had to do it again. We're staying in Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio for some fall hiking and R&R. Last year we made up a game with Hallmark movies to drink wine every time a poinsettia came on the screen. There were SO MANY we had to stop playing. Haha. I'm excited to check out a new place before the holiday chaos begins with some of my best girlfriends.

See last year's trip to Red River Gorge

August

GVSU Design Professor this Fall

So far, so good. I mentioned the last moon that my mind was buzzing with ideas and it still is for upcoming projects. It's exciting to see the concepts the students come up with and how they're pushing their designs to be more & more refined. The author of the textbook I assigned for this course (Designing For Print, The Art and Science by Marina Joyce) found me through the bookstore and sent me a copy as a thank you for using it in class!

See more on creativity

Creative Grace Newsletter

I sent out the first issue of Creative Grace in time for the Autumn Equinox and it's so far received some great reviews from readers and sponsors (my featured visionaries of the seasons). This newsletter was a labor of love since June when I started designing a seasonal newsletter of inspiration for thoughtful creatives and readers like you. If you haven't signed up yet, please do right here.

Love your newsletter! It is so beautiful + makes me think of a mini magazine. – Currently Kherington

Mackinac Island for our 2 year anniversary!

This was the last photo we took before leaving our phones in the car and spending a long weekend on Mackinac Island. I felt like we were in a different world. There's so much history expressed on Mackinac Island and I truly understand why everyone loves it so much. From biking around the island to all the gorgeous summer cottages and the romantic views from pretty much anywhere, we loved our stay & will definitely be back. Probably won't stay in a haunted cottage next time like we did this trip though!

My favorite places: Anne's Tablet / The Woods Restaurant / Medicine Man & Coffee Trail

Full Moon Monthly recaps life lately and what’s on the horizon. See all moons here.

Emily Bode 9/21/18 Emily Bode 9/21/18

How To Eat Local...Without Spending Your Whole Paycheck

Written by guest contributor Jess of Poppy Rose Co.

Living consciously. Protecting our earth. Eating local. Sustainability. How many times a day do you see these words buzzing around our online and offline world? I keep coming back to these seemingly simple words; Eat Local. But how do you eat local in a climate where great produce has a minimal harvest season? How do you buy locally when building your own business and funds need to be spread around lightly? Where do you start? I am not an expert but I am a West Michigan woman passionate about food, where it comes from, and what to do with it once you have taken it home.

How to eat local without spending your whole paycheck | West Michigan Farmers Markets | Emily Bode blog | Guest post by Poppy Rose Co.

A book inspired a year-long challenge

Two years ago, my husband and I moved to the West Michigan area from Chicago. As we reacquainted ourselves with Grand Rapids/West Michigan and began building a community of friends, we quickly found ourselves repeating the same Saturday morning routine weekend after weekend. Morning coffee at home followed by a leisurely walk through the Fulton Street Farmers Market, and back home to make brunch with our findings. We continued this ritual through the fall of that first year until I read a book. Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingslover challenged the way I thought about groceries, animals, and food in general. It's a great read if you're interested in food, cooking, and local eating. Closing the final page, I was ready to overhaul the way I shopped, cooked and ate. But, this was not the first time finishing a book that I was ready to overhaul some portion of my world. So, my sweet husband listened to my passionate words about local eating, food miles, waste etc., without believing I would actually uproot our current system of eating.

The one year challenge of eating local

In the new year, I presented my challenge to him: One year of 75% local eating. One year of shopping at farm stands, farmers markets, CSA boxes, and intense cooking at home. One year of truly making due with what we had in the pantry (DISCLAIMER: This did not include dining out, but we did try to mostly dine at local restaurants supporting local farmers).

Challenge ground rules:

Maintain current grocery budget.
Weekly farmers market trips and a weekly stop at a local farm store (West Michigan friends, we went to Rakowski Family Farm Market).
Menu planning once the produce & meat is purchased.
Minimal grocery store runs for necessities like baking supplies, olives oils, and vinegars.

75/25 local eating ratio

The other 25% was budgeted for non-local purchases to cover spirits not made in Michigan, tropical fruits like oranges and bananas, nuts, and the occasional box of Cheez-Its. To make this challenge harder, we counted produce grown locally but sold in the supermarket as part of our 25% – the goal was to purchase directly from local farmers.

A word of caution if you want to start a similar challenge: Do not begin this journey in January, especially without preparation. Starting in January meant living on root vegetables, apples, and the occasional green lettuce grown from Michigan food goddesses that used a greenhouse all winter long (THANK YOU). We had not prepared by canning tomatoes and summer fruits or frozen some of the early fall bounties. So, we had to be savvy with our 25% to make sure fruit and hearty greens were in our diet. We were committed, despite the lack of color on our plates, and we ate well with creative minded menu planning. We found vendors that pickled or canned products to keep us out of the potato rut & were resourceful with our 25%.Let me tell you when I knew the first asparagus would arrive at the market I was there at 7:30 am and walked away with 10 lbs. Yes, 10 lbs. of asparagus for two people. And it was heaven. If you ever need an asparagus recipe, come this way, I think we tried them all. As spring evolved into summer, we were overjoyed with new tastes and smells at the market. Our garden was planted and harvested, and we prepared for our remaining non-peak harvesting months.

Biggest takeaway? How wonderful it was to really think about what we ate.

Yes, some days I wanted to scream when I went to the market and literally bought the same beets and turnips as last week. Or cry when I drove across town and arrived at the farm store on a Monday to stock up knowing full well they rest on Mondays. There is such ease unrealized in driving to a supermarket and buying whatever you need. Some days I missed that ease but the lessons we learned committing to local eating were well worth the occasional hiccup.

4 Tips for Eating Local During Harvest Season

Find a nearby farm stand, store, or market
Farmers markets guarantee local fare and are a great way to meet others in your community doing the same thing. Plus, regularly visiting the market will allow you to be more in tune with what is in season and when. Typically, food purchased in-season is less expensive. Many grocery chains post sales on in-season items and locally grown produce if you can't make the market.
Discover your passion point.
Do you want to eat all local fruits and vegetables? Do you eat meat, but are passionate about the way animals are raised? Have you been thinking of signing up for a dairy CSA? Money is an important factor and we cannot always afford everything. Decide what you feel most passionately about sustaining and go with it! We ate very plant-based meals with occasional meat entrees thanks to my 'everything, all or nothing' personality.
Know your farmers
They are amazing, helpful, funny, and smart. During our year of local eating, we met various vendors at the market. We asked how produce and animals were grown/raised. We shared about our year challenge and they, in turn, shared their hard work. If met with blank stares or someone who was not interested in answering our questions on their growing practices, we would politely move on to the next booth (this was rare). I cannot tell you the amount I learned from the farmers growing and caring for our food. A few things they taught me to stretch my dollar:
- Spoiled milk can be used for making yogurt & the best ricotta During the first six months of the challenge, we often over-purchased milk. When sharing my woes of spoiled milk, I learned how to make my own yogurt before it went bad. Also how to use slightly spoiled milk to make the creamiest, most delicious ricotta I have ever tasted. AND IT WAS NOT HARD. All of this taught by the lovely woman who runs the Rakowski Family Farm Store.
- 6-minute lamb chops We bought lamb from S&S Lamb and learned to grill tiny chops three minutes per side on high heat to make the most delectable lollipop of lamb ever tasted.
- Endless ways to use root vegetables in the dead of winter In the rut of a root vegetable depression, I was given more ways then I could imagine to use potatoes, carrots and celery root from Visser Farms. Depression over.
Remember why you're eating local
You clicked through to this article because eating local is important to you. Our family continues to focus on local eating. While we do not chart our purchases anymore, we still primarily buy local whenever we can. Over our year challenge, we learned how to meal plan and that fridge-dive meals can be the most fun. Cooking was an essential part of eating local, but cooking did not need to be complicated.

Picnic dinners became our favorite – a plate of steamed or roasted veggies alongside locally made cheese and breads with Traverse City wines was always the perfect end to a busy day. We learned to be comfortable shopping in a farmer’s market and treasured the excitement that came from seeing the first asparagus or rhubarb after a long winter. Mostly, we learned how to appreciate and care for the tiny space of the world we choose to call home.

Resources from this article:

Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingslover
Rakowski Family Farm Store
Fulton Street Farmers Market
S&S Lamb Visser Farms

Pin for Later:

Emily Bode 9/19/18 Emily Bode 9/19/18

My Interview About Competition with Currently Kherington

I recently spent the golden hour talking about Community Over Competition with Kherington McFarland of Currently Kherington and photographer Leigh Ann Cobb. We sipped on lattes and champagne in a cozy little booth at Lyon Street Café, a Grand Rapids hub for dream chasers and young professionals.

Our chat consisted of the woes of homeownership, city living vs. lake living, and being business owners in our respective fields — design, blogging, and photography. We agreed the direction our careers have gone can be lonely & isolating. All the more reason to connect with the artists & entrepreneurs of your community and BYOC (bring your own co-workers). There was a lot of laughter, energy, & encouragement as the sunset behind the city.

I shared with Kherington what Community over Competition means to me:

I used to think collaborating with a national corporate brand or publication would be the sign I "made it". This is not to say I wouldn't love to collaborate with the likes of Darling Magazine, Cuyana, or Megan Gilger of The Fresh Exchange because those would be nice. I just mean in dreaming of those partnerships I forgot the magic that happens in collaborating with your neighbor. I've found so much joy and friendship in joining forces with amazing women like you [Kherington] and other local creatives. I'd love to collaborate on a community event or a shop product of some sort.

See full interview on Currently Kherington.