Feeling This

Red isn't normally my color. I'm not trying to rush Christmas on us or anything, I've just been liking it lately. It adds a pop of fall color to your wardrobe. I think my favorites are these chevron earrings. I'm all about comfort, so that pullover also looks amazing for a fall day.

Too bad it's supposed to be back in the 90s this week in So Cal. I'm trying not to think about it...

Happy Monday friends!

1  //  2  //  3  //  4  //  5  //  6

Oh Yes

Whew! It's Friday! Hope you all have some fun plans this weekend! I'm headed out to Long Beach to spend some mother daughter time with mi madre. I'm looking forward to it, but at the same time trying to cram in a bunch of stuff I have to finish before heading out! Do you ever feel like leaving home for a bit can be more stressful than not?

Anyways, I hope it's a great one for you and that you enjoy this wonderful fall weather! (It rained here yesterday, and after weeks of it being over 100 degrees, I was ecstatic!)

Happy weekend friends! Make it a great one!

photo source

Step it up 02 | Working Smarter

There's no substitute for hard work, they always say.

And it is so true! But do you ever feel like you're working extremely hard and not seeing any benefit or reward from it? You may be placing your efforts into the wrong place.

When I was a little girl, I remember learning how to put my seatbelt on by myself, and getting super frustrated with that thing. It would get stuck when I was trying to pull it, so I would pull harder, then it would get stuck once again! I would pull and yell, then it would somehow scratch my face and the whole thing would turn into one big mess. I remember one time in particular when this occurred  and my dad patiently came over to help me out. I couldn't have been more than five years old, but I still remember the words he told me. "Joanna, work smarter, not harder." Simple statement most of you have probably heard before. But as a five year old child, this was the first time I had ever that said. And it blew my mind! I remember realizing that pulling the seatbelt harder wasn't going to do any good. I had to slow down, let it go, then slowly pull it over and around to the buckle. I've had seatbelt success ever since! ;)

My point in writing all of this is to remind you to put your hard work and efforts into places where they will be used to the best interest of you and others. When pulling doesn't work, just pulling harder doesn't do any better. If you are working really hard at something that just doesn't seem to be going anywhere, it may be time to re-examine some things. Now the question - ok, that's cool, but how do we do this? Well lucky for you (and me!) I've written down some tips on ways you can start working smarter, instead of burning yourself out and working oh so much harder.

1 // Examine your day. How do you spend the precious 24 hours you are given? Are you spending hours and hours on achieving the perfect text effect in Photoshop? There's definitely nothing wrong with that. But have you tried Googling shortcuts or tutorials on how you can achieve the same effect in half the time? I just discovered a shortcut in Illustrator (an Adobe program) the other day that will save me tons of time in the future. I was spending lots of time working to create this effect, not knowing there was a button I could press that does it for me! A perfect example of working smarter. Google is your bff.

2  // Slow down and think. Take a break. Even if it's just for 10 minutes, to think about your day. What do you need to get done, and how are you going to achieve that? Figuring this out was huge for me. I used to say to myself, "I can't take a break, there's too much to get done, I don't have 10 minutes to stop and plan!" But in all reality, those 10 minutes you take to do some planning and thinking will save you tons of time and help you get things done much faster! You may be slowing down for a minute, but in the long run, you're saving so much of your precious time!

3  //  If something isn't working, change it up! Einstein said that doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is insanity. Not saying anyone reading this is insane, but if what you're doing each day isn't getting you the results you need, it's time for change! Change isn't easy, especially when you've set yourself into a pattern. But change is vital for growth. Do you have a business but are having a hard time getting the kind of clients you want? Maybe you need to start attending events where your ideal clients are hanging out and get to know them. Reach out to your favorite blogger whose audience is similar to the clients you want, and see if they will feature your work! Do you have a ton of traffic coming in to your site but no one is buying what you're selling? Maybe you need to re-examine your product and how your site is set up. (Good design is key!) Examine what isn't working, and think about how you can change that. Also examine what is working, and how you can make it work better! Change is good my friends, and you won't be able to grow in whatever you are doing without it.

4 // Learn from the mistakes around you. There are tons of people who have ventured out and done similar things to what you are doing now. Take a look at them. Did they succeed? How did they do that? Did they fail? What mistakes did they make that you can avoid? Mistakes are made everyday and if examined, you can figure out how to not waste your time making the same ones. There's no need to re-invent the wheel and start from scratch with something that has already been figured out. Learn from mistakes. Yours and others. It will save you time and stress in the future!

5 // Take advantage of technology. There are so many softwares and apps that are created to help you do things better. Everything from keeping a calendar, to bulk editing those weddings you shoot every weekend. Don't slave over things that can be done quicker. Use your resources, and if you don't know how to find them, ask around. (Hello Google!) Follow tech blogs. There's so much out there to help you save time and do what you do better. Take advantage!

These are things I'm currently learning as I continue on my journey as a small business owner. As I write these things I'm really talking to myself! I hope this can help you in some way in your journey, whatever that may be!

Happy Thursday friends! The weekend is almost here! AH! So much to do!

photo source

Wednesday Words

I thought it would be nice to have some motivating words to keep you going in the middle of the week.
This quote is so true, and reminds me that there are no substitutes for smart work habits.

Well said John Ruskin, well said.

Happy Wednesday friends!

Design Journey | Eva Black

I'm really excited to announce to you a new series I'll be starting here on the blog!
I'm calling it "Design Journey." I'll be talking with some fabulous designers about when they entered into the design world, how they got to where they are today and any advice they have to give. We're starting off the series today with the ultra-talented designer and a friend of mine, Eva Black. Enjoy!



Hello! I'm Eva Black. I'm a graphic designer and studio owner of Eva Black Design. I work and live in Los Angeles with my husband. Most of my work consists of brand identity, web design and paper goods. The style of my work usually includes, texture and graphic elements with a big emphasis on type and color. I also have a love for working with my hands which shows up in my work with the use of various hand made elements and pieces.


When did you decide you wanted to be a graphic designer?
Back in High School, I took the one and only 'computer graphics' class that was offered and loved it, I knew right then that it was what I wanted to do 'when I grew up.' But I don't think we even used Photoshop, I think it was Corel Painter. It wasn't until college where I really got into real design and haven't looked back since.

How did you transition from being a student in school to being a designer in the "real world"?
I think for me, it was kind of smooth transition because it was gradual. The last semester at school I was a part-time student, working part-time at my school's marketing department, doing freelance another part-time and working on my final senior project. So when graduation came, I had already been freelancing and had built up my portfolio and client list and was ready to move forward with more on my own work.

What was your first paid design job?
My first actual paid design job was at my school's marketing department. It was an internship, but thankfully paid! I actually learned a lot from that job, specifically how to work with vendors, because that wasn't something they really 'taught' in school and it's more something you learn as you do. My first freelance paid job ( however pretty cheap ) came shortly after, where I made a logo for a friend.

How have you been able to make a name for yourself in the design community? 
By making connections and working hard. The best part of making connections in the design community, is that you have a community. I've met some really great people ( like Joanna! ) by building relationships that are built on being designers. Working really hard is also really important. Being a designer isn't always easy but when you work hard you're able to see your progress.




What is one quality you think all designers should have? 
Staying focused. Focus on your design first and foremost. It's the most important part of being a designer. I think our work should be continually progressing and we should stay focused on becoming better designers.

What advice would you give to a new graphic designer?
Work hard and make those connections! You might be an amazing designer but no one will see it if no one knows about you. Whether that be trying to get a job at a design firm or do freelance work, let people know about you! Most people will come to you because not only do you have great work but because people will know you personally or they've heard of you through word of mouth.

Thanks so much Eva! You are an inspiration!!

Find more of Eva here:  Portfolio  //  Blog  //  Twitter

Happy Tuesday friends! Make it a great one!

How to prepare for fall

I am beyond thrilled that it's supposed to be steadily in the 70s this week. The coolest weather we've had in far too long! I'm finally ready to bring in fall.

For me, fall means cozy with a warm beverage by your side. These are some fun items I found that I think would be perfect for bringing in fall.

What does fall mean for you? Pumpkin spice lattes and a chick flick? Carving pumpkins and baking the seeds? Whatever it is, I hope it brings you happiness this season :)

Happy Monday friends!

Here are the links to the items above:

handmade wool pillow  //  mug a  //  mug b  //  scarf  //  slippers

Something More

Have you guys ever stopped to think about what you're doing in the world and why? I think we all hit a wall, get burnt out, tired, stressed, and think to ourselves, "what the heck am I doing with my life, and is it worth it?"

I overheard a friend at DesignLife last weekend saying that at the end of your life, are you really going to be lying on your death bed thinking, "Man, I really wish I had more Twitter followers..."

SO true, right? That's not what you're going to be saying. You will be wishing you had spent more time with the ones you love, investing in relationships, going on adventures, stretching yourself, using the gifts you were given and encouraging those around you to be the best they can be. Yet we don't do this. We get caught up with the every day stress of life and forget that our life one day will end.

I think it's these times in life where we have to look at the world around us, and remember that there is a beautiful, miraculous universe functioning day to day, and it has nothing to do with us. The world we interact with daily is sooo small, and there are greater things happening that have nothing to do with you and I. We are apart of something bigger. Something extravagant and beautiful. If you mess up, if you fail miserably, the world keeps spinning.

Take time to think about the blue whales who weigh 150 tons, yet are gracefully moving through the ocean at this very moment. RIGHT NOW that is happening. There are wolves hunting their pray out in the forests, stars exploding at this very minute, and we won't know about it for thousands of years! There is so much we will never comprehend... I find freedom in that. It refreshes me to remember that the world doesn't rest on my shoulders.

Life is more than blogs, businesses, Twitter and Instagram. Step out of this facade of a world we live in and think about what really matters. This life goes by far too fast to forget those things. Don't let it pass you by.

Sip your coffee a bit slower, smell it and savor it.

Ok, enough refection and big-picture talk! Go and enjoy your day!!

Happy Thursday friends!

Illustration by (me!) Joanna Waterfall