Remember yesterday when I said I’d have a gift guide for you? Well never fear, that day has come. Unsolicited gift guides are a longstanding blogger rite of passage. Due to the nature of our fun year, I’ve decided to share gift guides in six different categories, highlighting some of my favorite small businesses that are doing amazing things. It’s very hard to navigate the holiday shopping noise so I hope I can introduce you to some fun shopping ideas, not only during our generic winter holiday season but all year-round.

My Holiday Shopping Must-Haves

My go-to candle provider is Kismet + Charisma all year-round. It has been so difficult to find a soy candle company locally that provides scents that appeal to me. My friend and co-producer Charisma has done just that. I am not just saying this to be nice, these are actually really good candles. They just as long as my favorite bigger box candle company which is a big deal for me, as someone who has candles going all of the time. She will be sharing her winter/holiday collection very soon but I wanted you to bookmark the shop and come back to check this out.

Unfortunately, this is a Central Florida-local thing, but my dear friend Kim of Chaos Bagels makes the very best bagels I’ve had in this state. I am not a bagel-snob by any means but I have had bad bagels here. If you have friends in the Central Florida area, do them a favor and order these bagels for the holidays. I gifted my husband bagels for his birthday which is how wonderful they are. Also, who better to trust with your bagel providing than a mom of three boys?

Quarantine Holiday Gift Guide

2020 gave us a unique perspective on living indoors for prolonged lengths of time. Now that we’re heading into cooler weather that is typically a tricky time for many people health-wise, we are extra-vigilant on keeping our outdoor time to a minimum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some fun things to keep you occupied while you make the best of your physical distance winter season.

1. Snack + Go Organic Cotton Tote by Project Pop | 2. Blue Dottie Adult Face Mask by Sarah Hearts | 3. Save The Post Office card by Creative Future Studio

4. The Sampler Kit by Haus | 5. In Therapy and Thriving Greeting Card by Curated Dry Goods | 6. Postal Service Crew Neck Tee From Natalie Reales Designs

Art Enthusiast Holiday Gift Guide

Fellow art nerds, assemble! Some of my favorite items to express how much you love the visual arts. If none of the things vibe with you, I recommend donating to your local theaters and community art groups as they are all looking for support while keeping their artists safe.

1. Postcards do Bem by LOJA by Barbara Astrini| 2. Thank You Stamps by Dana Tanamachi | 3. Basquiat Corkcicle Canteens

4. This Joy I Have The World Didn’t Give It by Christa David | 5. “Stop Stealing Tote” by Jasmine Mans

Entrepreneur Holiday Gift Guide

Your entrepreneur friends always need a gift, no matter what they say. We are running around and we’re thriving in making it up as we go along. Supporting small businesses while uplifting your friends who own small businesses is a win-win anyway. 10/10 would recommend.

1. Emma Design Squarespace Kit by JDS Creative Studio| 2. Classic Polka Dot Customizable Planner – Undated / Open Dated by June Paper Market | 3. Grinding All My Life Pin by Adé Hogue

4. Explore: Journey from Fear to Happiness by David Yarde | 5. In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney| 6. DSA Magic Girl Keycaps Round 2 by Mintlodica

Plant Lovers Holiday Gift Guide

If you follow me along on my very rare Instagram sharing journey, you probably know that I, too, have fallen into the trap of millennials with plants. What better way to raise your serotonin levels, than with plants that spark joy? If you’re not sure where to start, never fear, I’ve got some gems below.

1. Jungle Dreams Notebooks by Castlefield Design| 2. Ficus Elastica Burgundy Rubber Plant by Botany | 3. Wild at Home Book by Hilton Carter

4. Buried In Plants Where I Belong Tote Bag by Jungalow | 5. Macrame Plant Hanger No. 1 by Eco Vibe| 6. Tall Painted Clay Planter by The Jungalow

Holiday Gift Guide for Kids

If you don’t interact with kids, it’s not the easiest to just jump in and buy a gift for one. There are various things to consider and so many places to buy gifts. Here are some fun things I’ve found that aren’t your typical pickup in your local superstore.

1. Constellation Kids Tee by Jessica Hische| 2. The ABCs of HBCUs (Board Book) by HBCU Prep School | 3. Who Will You Be? by Andrea Pippins

4. Double-Sided Pre-Writer Shape and Squiggle Board by Schoene and Son | 5. Black Lives Matter – Love ASL Print from Nicole Marie Paperie 6. Little Likes Kids – Fun Outside 48 Piece Floor Puzzle

Home Holiday Gift Guide

If you’re looking to try some fun things at home or buy for friends who may be living in a new space, here is the gift guide for you. It’s been a good time to try some new products from companies you may not ever have had the opportunity to support to help make your living space a home.

1. Rose Body Scrub from Luna Nueva Apothecary| 2. You Are Your Best Thing by rayo and honey | 3. Rise & GRND – Coffee Blend, Medium Roast by Blk & Bold

4. Matcha Set by Junbi Matcha| 5. 2021 Sun Wall Calendar by Under the Sunlight 6. Playful Marks (Golden) Tea Towel by Ritual Morning Studio

The post 2020 Small Business Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Unsure of what to get your friends from the Studio 404 Paper shop? Don’t fret! There are plenty of options for yourself, your favorite people, or even something fun to add to the office gift exchange. Shop the official Studio 404 Paper Holiday Gift Guide below and stay tuned for the gift guides this week that will be showcasing other amazing small businesses for you to support!

Best Sellers

Gifts for Co-workers & Professional Colleagues

Gifts for Teachers

Appropriate Gifts for 2020

Gifts for Coffee Drinkers

The post Studio 404 Paper Holiday 2020 Gift Guide appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Hey, this is only almost two months late. In April, I had the privilege of sharing a workshop on podcasts at The Blog Connect Conference in Philadelphia. If you didn’t get the memo from our time in New York last year, I had never visited Philadelphia before. This was also my first solo trip and being it was for a speaking opportunity, I was a little nervous on the days before leaving. However, I know lots of amazing bloggers who live in Philadelphia was extremely excited about meeting people who I’ve connected with online for years.

Logistics & Planning

Planning this trip was interesting because I only have a handful of friends who’ve actually visited Philadelphia. I was lucky enough to be linked to this amazing planning guide from The Blog Connect conference organizer, Chrystina Noel. I could not say enough amazing things about Chrystina. She was a fantastic contact and she treated each attendee like we were all of her children. I kept her blog post bookmarked and referenced it only a million times. Originally, this was going to be a trip for my entire family but after finding out we were headed to DC a month later and are headed to NYC next week, we decided that it’d be easier for me to travel alone. As per my usual travel plans, I decided to book an Airbnb and settled on the Fairmount area.

Philadelphia is extremely walkable so I axed the notion of renting a car. I did Uber quite a bit while I was up there (I know, I should not be using Uber) due to the rainy weather but for the most part I walked all over with no issues. I also have no idea how buses work so I skipped them for the most part and I have no regrets. I spent most of my time in Rittenhouse, Washington Square, Chinatown, and Old City. If there is anything I regret, it would be not using any of the ride-share bikes to get around the city. I definitely recommend seeing as much as the city as you can on foot because it’s gorgeous. Some tips of things I do prior to visiting a new place:

• Read Design*Sponge City Guides. I have been using these as travel references since heading to Jacksonville for One Spark four years ago. Back then, I would create a Google Doc of all of the places that seemed interesting and made note to visit them. Now, I just bookmark things in Google Maps so when I’m in an area I can reference restaurants, shops, or museums nearby. These guides have never failed me since I’ve been reading Design*Sponge for years. I also try to reference posts from local blog friends or browse other people’s Instagram feeds for places that look interesting.
• Watch Flight Prices. So I’ve been using Hopper now for a while to track prices and when it’s the best time to purchase tickets. This allows for me to save some money while planning logistics.
• Budget. While I’m not insane with spreadsheets, I do like to keep an idea of how much I will spend on food and transportation. Knowing how much I’m allocating allows me to not become an insane person or waste money on things that won’t be beneficial for my trip. For instance, I’d rather spend a little more money on museums or culture-related things than buying really expensive coffee.

The Blog Connect Conference

This was the conference’s second year so I was completely surprised by being accepted as a presenter. I knew I was in good company with the PHL Bloggers organizing this amazing event. As I said before, I knew some fun people in the Philadelphia area like Amber Burns of Space on Third and Lisa Yoder. I was completely stoked about attending another blogging conference after my time at Blogalicious last year. The conference itself was an all-day event on Sunday with fun things like a speaker’s happy hour and a conference hour on the Saturday before.

I had a fun time getting to know the speakers and organizers beforehand at The Baker’s Jar, as pictured above. It was an adorable bakery where I got to meet amazing people like Angela, Erica, Nicole, Jennifer, Jess, Melissa, and Sarah. I could not say enough nice things about these humans. It was great to have people to talk to and navigate the conference with. I really do think speaker happy hours are an easy way to get out-of-town guests comfortable with the experience and I learned so much about the city. Thank you to everyone for letting me ask a million questions about everything.

Saturday night ended with a crazy fun time at ellelauri. I had an amazing time to talking with the owner Liz Rymar about her shop and her label. I also met the adorable Kareema who was really excited about her blog journey and drank way too much kombucha from Inspired Brews. I’d been running nonstop on Saturday since landing so by 10pm, I was more than exhausted. I definitely slipped out early and had a good time introverting back in the Airbnb.

The actual conference was tons of fun. I also got to meet, finally in person, the conference’s keynote, Sarah Morgan of XO Sarah. Sarah was incredibly kind and her keynote was great. She brought amazing energy to kick-off an early Sunday morning after a late Saturday night which was perfect. Every speaker was fantastic and I really enjoyed being an attendee and not a psuedo-organizer. There was a cupcake decorating workshop from Cupcakes by Ruth which was a great way to break-up the sitting and relaxing after lunch.

I was one of three break-out workshop sessions. It’s always a little nerve-wrecking presenting a new talk you’ve never given before. I was completely worried about not having enough information. However, I found myself only about a third of the way into my slides when I was given the ten-minute reminder. Luckily, I made it through everything in an informative way and still took a few questions without going over on my time. Some additional key take-aways I have on this experience were to:

• Be casual. I know it seems harder than it sounds but it’s not. I really just felt like I was chatting with a bunch of girlfriends. Everyone was extremely kind and helpful. They asked important questions, listened intensively, and wrote everything down. By setting the mood, the speaker really has the power to set the tone of the talk. If you’re nervous and unsure, attendees will pick up on it. Just relax and breathe.
• Know your stuff. Luckily, even though I spent a lot of time on the top-half of the slides, I knew them in and out. Knowing what is in your talk really helps navigate any last minute difficulties. I always prepare as if I won’t have the slides to guide me just so I can avoid any problems with technology.
• Be yourself. I’m never super serious when presenting. I always make jokes. I talk about my failures. This is me on any other day so I don’t have a special conference persona. This allows me to navigate speaking in new places without being stressed. I can just be calm and collected. The worst thing that can happen is that everyone hated it and honestly, that’s not as bad as it sounds.

Exploring Philadelphia

I had a day and a half to navigate the city without any serious plans. I did meet with Bee of Black Girls Laughing at Mugshots and Cafe to talk being creatives and podcast hosts. She gave me good insight on some of the city’s art scene and we talked about how podcasting is insane. Other than that, I allowed the conference swag bag to guide me most of the day on Monday. It started with my very first SoulCycle class in Rittenhouse. I took advantage of a free chai break from Saxbys Coffee not too far from SoulCycle. I was hosted for lunch by Chrystina at Smile Café which was fantastic. (I also must note that on Saturday I had lunch at Giwa which was about the best Korean food I’ve had to date.)

After leaving Chrystina, I walked over to Reading Terminal Market to play tourist. This may have been one of my least favorite things I did in the city. It’s not my jam but I could certainly see why everyone says it’s a must-visit. I walked down to Chinatown and avoided buying all of the things. Visiting Chinatown was on my list as Philadelphia’s Chinatown is the backdrop in a lot of novels I’ve read in the past. It was adorable and busy. This led me down to do what all tourists do when in Philadelphia, which is visiting The Liberty Bell. By this time, it was mid-to-late afternoon, rainy, and I was pretty done. Afterwards, I spent the rest of the time hiding in the library until it was time for my flight. Three days in the city were definitely enough to do everything that I wanted to do. There were still so many places I didn’t get to explore but I was really happy with my trip. I feel like this post is long enough so here are more pictures! Maybe in another month, I can talk to you about that road trip to DC we took two weeks ago. Until then, stay in touch via Instagram!

The post Exploring Philadelphia & #TheBlogConnect Recap appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Hello! It’s December and I’m here, around, and still functioning. This has been my quietest blog year in over four years. With only twenty-one posts thus far in 2016, I’ve been struggling to find the words to share here. This has been our busiest year in business and combined with a toddler, it’s made for very little time to do many other things. Today I’m here to play catch up and get everyone updated on what I did in 2016, besides blogging. I’m also going to talk about what are some regrets I had about 2016 and what I plan to do in 2017 to get back on track. Let’s review!

January 2016

January was so overwhelming! Being a new mom to a one year-old meant getting my butt in gear. We made the decision early on to put A in childcare at one and she started her first day during the first week. With David onboard at Sevenality full-time for at least three months at this point, we knew we needed to really get going to make 2016 a good year for business. I also decided to make 2016 the year I really kicked fitness in the butt which was a decision that would pay off in the long run.

Honorable mention: Launched the Heart + Hustle Podcast

February 2016

February was quite a blur to me. Heart + Hustle Podcast got featured on iTunes for the first time which was a huge surprise for us! We didn’t really plan on the podcast growing as quickly as it did but it was safe to say that weekly recording was taking over my life. Things obviously slowed down a bit more here. We also went down for our first trip to WordCamp Miami where David spoke on Improving the Project Handoff Experience. Miami is only a two-hour drive so we only did one day at our first of five WordCamps for the year. It was good to experience a road-trip with the toddler as she would be taking a few road trips this year on our behalf.

March 2016

March was the finalization of one of my favorite branding projects for The Lower School at Creation Kids Village. I worked on my first splash page design in Sketch which was an easier transition for me than I thought it would be. This project is near and dear to my heart as being a student of private school from K-12, it’s pretty cool to see the brand you designed on tiny backpacks and sweaters. I also had the pleasure of attending WordCamp Atlanta and speaking on Creating Content for WordPress. WordCamp Atlanta was so much fun and it was a good time to play tourist in my own hometown with my daughter. This was my first out-of-town conference public speaking and I learned so much!

April 2016

April really kicked off with me changing the direction of the paper shop by switching to brush lettering. I really enjoy the products I made in 2016, as they weren’t many, and very spread out. I really took a lot of time in the process versus just churning out products for the sake of doing that. Turning twenty-six was an adventure of its own. I also ramped up some fitness things, adding more running after meeting the fitness love of my life. I had the pleasure of being selected to do the same talk at the inaugural WordCamp Jacksonville. This was probably my least favorite travel experience and not because I don’t love Jacksonville, because I do! I learned a few things about traveling for us that we took into account for the remainder of the year:

• Airbnb location does matter (more so with kids).  Back in 2013, we stayed in an amazing loft just right outside of downtown Jax and had a great time. I found a loft in the same building but they were booked WCJAX weekend which sucked so hard. I ended up renting the bottom half of a duplex in Riverside. The location was still under development so there wasn’t much to do in the area. We were 5 minutes away from the venue which was awesome but the area wasn’t my favorite. It also wasn’t the safest, which would have been fine for us but not ok with a baby.
• No carpet please! This is also where I learned how much I hate carpet in Airbnbs. While our place in Atlanta had carpet, it was newer and more renovated. I just couldn’t handle the carpet, rugs, throw pillows, shaggy items without wanting to go over everything with a steamer. Our host was awesome but his décor wasn’t my favorite.
• Make the best of it.  After staying over one night, we decided to spend the next night at home, losing out on some money. It was the best decision. Our kid didn’t sleep at all that one night and Jacksonville is close enough to drive up. We spent the next day at the Ponce Inlet to recover for the lack of sleep which I recommend to every human who comes to Florida.

May 2016

May was very much a recovery month from all of the back-to-back traveling. I posted some amazing inspirational illustrators here. I spent a lot of time developing new relationships and really kicking the fitness into gear. It also began to get hot here which started to become miserable.

June 2016

June was such a tough month. It started out with promise but halfway through, Orlando had the roughest week it’d had in a long time. Dealing with the Pulse shooting was hard and took a lot to process for a while. We spent a lot of time just rallying around the local community by supporting small businesses, attending a vigil, and honoring the space. It’s still so strange, six months later, but it’s important that those lives continue to be honored. I think June was a little slow for work which resulted in doing some fun lettering pieces like the one above just for fun.

July 2016

July was wonderful. Every hot, boiling moment of it brought new memories. I usually abhor July because of how hot it is but this July was fantastic. We spent so much time with our wonderful friends, celebrating babies, and then getting on a plane to WordCamp NYC where I spoke at the United Nations building. I talked about how much I’ve always been obsessed with NYC and this was easily my favorite trip of the year. I will totally finish the part two of that post sometime, I promise. WordCamp NYC was also my favorite WordCamp of the year. We had so much fun meeting amazing people and getting to know the city my heart has dreamed of. I can’t wait to go back and I’m watching tickets like a hawk on Hopper. My sister also came down to visit which never happens so it was fun to see her get auntie time in.

August 2016

August was the hottest month and ironically the month were I spent the most time outside. I worked out a lot in August which helped me really get ramped up for my fall journeys. We didn’t do any traveling but I spent a lot of time with the Central Florida Lady Bloggers. I never really covered events here in this space but it was nice to review the restaurants at Disney Springs. I did two more events this year that I have to cover here (BAH) but I really enjoyed getting to know more bloggers in the area. I am always open to making new friends and stepping outside of my comfort zone worked out in my favor.

September 2016

September was my first BodyBack experience. After working out with Fit4Mom for a year, I decided it was time to invest in kicking things off. By this time, I’d already lost twenty pounds which I very much didn’t notice. Waking up at 5:45 am to get my butt kicked was tough but I don’t regret it at all. It kicked my fitness into a different level and I did an insane 100s workout twice and ran up four flights of metal stairs outdoors so I’m a champion of my own body. On a personal note, breastfeeding and postpartum hormones really made my body wacky so losing weight was so much easier when I stopped. I also got to attend and speak at FLBlogCon for the very first time. FLBlogCon is the largest blogging conference in the state and I can see why! Bess does amazing things in the community and the conference was no exception. I had a blast hanging out with all of my blogging friends and got to meet Pamela for the first time in person. We were sitting next to each other and I just called her out! She is such a dear blog friend now and I am so glad we met.

October 2016

Ode to October! Octobers are my absolute favorite. We survived Hurricane Matthew (baby’s first hurricane), I met the lovely Jamaya for the first time in person, celebrated my anniversary, and I ran my fastest 5K to date at 38:48. We also did a very silly thing by driving all the way to Little Rock, Arkansas for David to speak at Little Rock Tech Fest. After 18 hours in the car and crossing five states, we became delusional. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with Little Rock! I talked so much garbage about it and then didn’t want to leave. We also did the entire trip in only two days so we’re a little nutty. I wouldn’t trade this trip for anything in the world. So much good food, a fun kids museum, and a beautiful historic city overall. We will be flying back for our next trip for sure but we can’t say we didn’t survive.

November 2016

Only two weeks after LRTF, we drove back up to Atlanta for Blogalicious 8. The weather was fall perfect, the conference was overwhelmingly fantastic, and I had a great time. It was even more fun because Pam and Maya attended as well and I met so many bloggers I’d known from online for years. I was so inspired by the ladies at Blogalicious for being so beautiful and inspiring. I really left full of ideas and ready to get back to work. We also started sponsorships in October for the podcast which was new for me since this blog has never had a sponsorship. We spent the middle of the month at WordCamp Orlando where David spoke and I sat on a panel. November was a month of launching the new holiday line and also venturing into some more portrait shoots which are just a fun way for me to get creative.

December 2016

December has been challenging, not gonna lie. Business has been pushed back a lot into 2017 which looks phenomenal but it was preparing for this month which I haven’t had too much time to do. Also, I’m exhausted. I started dragging around the end of November and I realized we just did a lot of traveling this year, comparatively to last year. As of around the first of the year or so, I’d lost twenty-eight pounds total which has pushed me towards my fitness goals. I really was stuck in a rut with trying to figure out my next moves when really, I could have just chilled and reflect on how awesome this year was. Which is how I got here to write this post. I really needed perspective of what I did accomplish so I could feel less like I hadn’t accomplished anything at all. Isn’t being a creative so silly?

We’re just hanging out here planning for an awesome Q1. We have some cool projects lined up with some fun people. I’m super excited about them so much! I also finally went through the process of cutting off my hair or doing a mini big-chop. After almost two years of transitioning hair, it was time. So there are new headshots to be taken, new designs to be done, blog posts to be written, newsletters to be planned, and dealing with being the mom of an almost two-year old. 2016 was an adventure but I would be lying if I didn’t say I was ready for 2017. See you all in 2017!

The post Studio 404: 2016 in Review appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Hey friends! I know it’s been a while since I was able to share some business thoughts and this blog is no exception. I did chat this week about business growth and evolution on the podcast. Earlier this year, I was invited to speak at WordCamp NYC at the United Nations building in Manhattan. The conference took place in July and it was such an amazing opportunity. Since it’s now September, I figured I could take time to write about my experiences in the city and why I’m still in love with the city that never sleeps. I also got through this post and realized this needs to be split up so here is the first half of our trip!

Dear NYC, I’ve Been Obsessed With You

For anyone who doesn’t know, I have been, as most people are, obsessed with the phenomenon that is New York City. As a kid, seeing Kevin McCallister take on this behemoth of a place mystified me. So many of my childhood favorite movies and television shows all seemed to center around this beautiful city that just kept evolving. Tibby Rollins obviously lived there at one point so I just couldn’t have been more obsessed with the city. Fast-forward to last February when David got the opportunity to visit the city for the first time with his work, I think my obsession to get to the city became insatiable. After deciding to take on more public speaking roles, I knew I wanted to travel more. It wasn’t until a week before the speaker submission deadline that a message of Winstina Hughes encouraged me to submit a topic to WordCamp NYC in July.

There Are Firsts For Everything

I was in the process of submitting some other speaker proposals so I gave it a go and was surprised to hear back shortly thereafter that I got accepted. Now after jumping on buying tickets from JetBlue and securing an Airbnb, I waited meticulously for the day to arrive to fly into the city. When I say waited meticulously, I mean I talked about it nonstop for probably four weeks straight. For those of you who think this is really not a big deal, let me just lay down some facts about this trip:

• This was my first trip ever to NYC.
• This was my first trip flying with a toddler/as a mom.
• This was the longest trip we’ve taken as a family thus far.
• This was the first time I’ve ever been outside the Southeastern US.
• This was the first time I ever used public transportation.
• This is also the very first time I would ride in an Uber.

Hello Brooklyn!

While WordCamp NYC was taking place in Manhattan, I really thought it’d be easier as a family to stay in Brooklyn. We rented a cute one-bedroom in Bed-Stuy which was only minutes from the two major subway stations that we used the whole trip. I’ve also been obsessed with Brooklyn since the 90s. As a 90s kid, Ghostwriter and PBS helped raise me and you couldn’t tell me that Brooklyn wasn’t the best place in the world to live.

Let’s Never Leave

We spent the first day exploring Brooklyn. We ate pizza. We went to Prospect Park. We walked among the people who called this borough home, taking it all in, and learning how fun it is to get accustomed a fourth-floor walkup. By the end of the day one, I was pretty much convinced that we never needed to leave. I think I had already mentally made a note to call a realtor. I wondered how many things we actually needed to live. I wanted to stay where I was for as long as I could.

Day two, we were out and to the subway station as early was we could be without seeming insane. For the first time since WordCamp Atlanta, our toddler slept in a different place peacefully. In fact, New York completely drained her which was fantastic.  We managed to get around Manhattan and back to Brooklyn in one piece. We did some really cool things which I adored and I also learned a lot in just two days. I know there are hundreds of articles about how to visit NYC, especially for parents. Trust me, I read them all. I watched all of the YouTube videos of adorable toddlers on planes. There were just so many things that I experienced firsthand so I thought I would round them all up in one section to help.

Tips for Traveling to and Navigating NYC

• This varies per child, but traveling early in the morning was perfection for our eighteen month-old. She slept for over half of the flight was an absolute angel.
• Book lodging that makes sense for you. Hotels are TINY in the city. YouTube it if you don’t believe me. We booked an Airbnb because we’ve exclusively done that for the past two or three years and it was such a good choice. It was spacious. The fridge was full-sized so we could stock up on water and milk as needed. I couldn’t say enough kind things about our Airbnb. It was the best.
• Fly into the closest airport. I was the idiot who booked our tickets and we flew into LaGuardia, which is not so close to Brooklyn. I was nervous because I’d only known people who flew into LGA instead of researching. Also, LaGuardia is tiny which made for long bathroom waits and awkwardly almost getting into the wrong Uber. I know, I’m problematic.
• Be prepared for Uber. I have lots of friends who have used Uber and were freaked out by how much it costs. I mentally made a note that our trip would be costly ($40-45). We were riding with Uber, specifically because they have carseats. There are sites out there that can help you estimate how much your trip will be. Those estimates were significantly spot on. First-time users also can save money from using codes so be on the lookout for those.
• Google Maps Walking and Transit is a lifesaver. I use Google Maps every single day and it didn’t fail me at all in New York. We walked around and navigated the subway system like a boss.
• Bring recyclable bags. Knowing we had to stock up on water and milk at the nearby grocery store, I brought a Baggu recyclable bag with me. Best choice ever! We were able to transport food and groceries without worrying about it spilling over. The best thing about Baggus is that they fold up so small that they fit perfectly in another bag.
• KT Tape. I have plantar fasciitis so KT taping my arches helped me survive the extra pressure I put on while walking.
• BRING A STROLLER. I don’t care what anyone says, bring a stroller. I did not. I carried my near thirty pound toddler for five days and I regret every moment of it. There were so many beautifully amazing strollers that I saw other parents using and I was envious the whole time. I hate everyone who ever suggested not bringing a stroller. You are wrong. While I will say I have the back muscles of an Amazonian goddess now because of it, I still regret not having a stroller.
• The subway is its own boss. I listen to enough podcasts to know that the MTA subways just do what they want when they want. We were delayed ten minutes on one train. The day we were leaving, we couldn’t get into Manhattan because the subways weren’t working. Since it was Monday, we just opted to stay in Brooklyn. Either way, just be prepared for things to go awry. We were fine and mostly everyone on our subway trips were super awesome. I got offered a seat on every trip. The SunRail would never.

Like I said, this article is way longer than I thought it would be. Who knew I had so many thoughts about my trip? I’ll add in some things about visiting the UN, becoming the unofficial representative for Wakanda, and our favorite places to eat and shop next week.  Have you been to New York? Tell me everything you loved so I can plan our next trip!

PS – There are definitely referral links to Airbnb and Uber in the post!

The post A First Trip and Love Letter to New York City – Part 1 appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Happy September! I’m so happy for another month and so ready for it to be fall already. If you haven’t heard, we’re deep in tropical storm weather here so we’re experiencing cooler temperatures but lots of rain.  Since I’ve been churning out content over on the podcast, I’ve been trying to get out during the week and experience some local scenes while meeting other bloggers and creatives. The ladies over at Central Florida Lady Bloggers have been so awesome at coordinating events for us to get together and last week, I had the pleasure of heading over to Disney Springs for Morimoto Asia and Vivoli il Gelato.

One thing I adore about Disney Springs and their choices for retail and dining is there are options for everyone. While Morimoto Asia, the restaurant of Iron Chef‘s Chef Masaharu Morimoto, is traditionally a more expensive dining experience, they recently opened a street food side that’s open to everyone. Morimoto’s Street Food menu contains most items you would traditionally find traveling abroad to many countries. Everything is packaged to-go so you’re not contained to the outdoor dining area. Even with the casual nature of street food dining, there is still an eclectic menu full of delectable dishes and drinks that does not disappoint.

I was fortunate enough to try the roasted salmon summer rolls, one of the daily specials. Wrapped in rice paper, the rolls were paired with a sweet chili sauce. They were so refreshing and perfect for a humid August day. I also ordered a Singapore slush, my very first, and it was fantastic. We had the privilege of meeting Chef Yuhi Fujinaga who worked closely with Chef Morimoto in developing the street food menu. He shared with us that many of the chefs were from several different countries in Asia which explains their culturally-diverse menu. It offers just enough from several countries that I couldn’t imagine ever getting bored dining here.

I also had the pleasure of sitting with Tian of TianShanae who is an absolute doll. I’ve really enjoyed meeting so many different bloggers here locally and there’s no better way to get to know someone than over food. Before eating here, I’ve always avoided the Morimoto Street Food window because of the line. I’ve never been to Disney Springs without seeing the line curving around the building but now I totally get it. It’s an amazing place to eat and I can’t wait to make reservations to eat in the main dining hall.

We then moved on over to Vivoli il Gelato. I’m not a huge frozen dessert person but some gelato is amazing. I was really excited to try Vivoli as they have been making their gelato the same way for eighty years since they opened in Florence. I don’t even have words to explain how amazing this tiny cup of gelato was. I have been craving it for seven days and I can’t wait to go back and try it. Vivoli has several different things they serve including coffee, sundaes, and milkshakes but a cup of gelato will be my new go-to. I tried the chocolate, because I’m boring, but Melissa told me to try the rice pudding the next time I go so I definitely will.

Do you have any favorite summer eats? Let me know in the comments, especially if you’re in Atlanta, NYC, or Austin. 🙂

Thank you so much Morimoto Asia & Vivoli il Gelato for this experience. All opinions are my own.

The post Morimoto Asia & Vivoli il Gelato with #CFLB appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Hey friends! I’ve been doing an amazing job with the content calendar for the remainder of the month which I’m extremely excited about. One of the things that I’ve been wanting to do here is really include some real-life experiences from the places I’ve been. I have traveled a lot with some of my speaking opportunities so we’ll see more posts here in the fall and winter about the places I’m going to.

While on that note, I have been a member of the Central Florida Lady Bloggers for about two and half years now. We have an amazing group of women located all around Central Florida who contribute in different ways to the community. I’ve had the opportunity to visit some cool places and attend amazing events with this group. I don’t always get the chance to share here but this past weekend’s event was too amazing not to recap.

The ladies and I got the opportunity to have lunch at STK Orlando at Disney Springs on Sunday. As someone who has watched Disney Springs evolve from Downtown Disney, I’m constantly amazed at the restaurants that have managed to land in this space. Some of my favorite places are at Disney Springs like Erin McKenna’s Bakery or Tea Trader’s Café by Joffery’s. I like to spend a weekend once a month just getting out and eating some of my favorite things while I’m there. It’s also convenient being a ten minute drive from my front door so that definitely plays a factor.

STK Orlando is brands itself as “not your daddy’s steakhouse” and they weren’t lying. As a pescetarian, it’s been a breeze finding places to eat at Disney Springs and STK Orlando was no exception. As a designer, the STK branding stands out. It’s sleek, clean, inviting, and dare I say, sexy? Tall slim sans-serifs speak to me. The black and white trademark colors along with the red sign that soars on the rooftop space, I love everything that STK has done from a design standpoint.

As someone who pretends to be swanky, STK Orlando is perfect for so many events. This is the very first two-story restaurant of the franchise. The second floor serves its extravagant lunch menu every single day. That alone is enough to drive this work-at-home-mama to get out during the daytime. The menu offers a wide variety of choices from tuna tartare to parmesan truffle fries. Yes, truffle fries. We were treated to three-courses which was way more food than I’m accustomed to.

Look at that glorious thing. It’s the heirloom tomato and watermelon salad. Topped with a red-chile honey dressing, it offers just enough spice with a nice amount of shredded parmesan cheese. I am a huge fan of watermelon salads and this was one of my favorites.

These cutie pies were the LIL BRGs. I didn’t try them but they were super adorable so it was hard not to take a picture. One thing I love about STK Orlando, as I mentioned before, is the consistency in branding. Using these tiny sliders as a branding opportunity showcases their attention to detail.

Yes, those are the parmesan truffle fries. You also get a glimpse of the mahi mahi sandwich which was a perfect pescetarian option. I can’t say enough about how diverse the menu was. I really enjoyed the sandwich which was topped with a pickled cole slaw and potato bun. I have been craving this meal every day since Sunday and have plans to go back ASAP.

They brought out three dessert options: bag o’ donuts, caramelito bar, and the orange dream cheesecake. As much as I love a great cheesecake, I passed on dessert. After two and a half hours of bonding with amazing bloggers, I had to head back to get a jumpstart on my work week. I am so excited to take everyone I adore to STK Orlando and I hope you get an option to try the nearest STK to you!

Thank you so much STK Orlando for this experience. All opinions are my own.

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Happy July! It’s been such a long time since I’ve been able to write here because June was obnoxious. I’m gearing up to head up to New York City for WordCamp NYC. We’re spending five days in the city and it’s my first visit ever. I really can’t expect to be excited about returning but I’m looking forward to a change of pace, even if it’s a little quicker than I’m used to. With all that’s been happening in Orlando, dealing with an emergency room visit with David that I didn’t expect, and the over-abundance of murders and attacks, it’s so hard to focus.

As a multi-faceted creative running a creative business, it’s imperative to funnel my creativity to what my clients need. One of the reasons we offer so many different services at Sevenality is David and I’s preference for many different creative outlets. We thrive on solving intricate puzzles and combined with the power of creativity, creating design-centered solutions for small to medium sized businesses. It’s our dream job and I love everything I do; but, when you’re a creative at heart, it’s hard to funnel your creativity and really focus on your day-to-day tasks. Through my experiences in the past few months, I’ve found some ways to really help figure out how to pay the bills and be creatively fulfilled at the same time.

[Tweet “You shouldn’t have to stifle your creativity when it’s part of your healing.”]

Taking Time to Process

I’ve been drawing, writing, and making different things my whole life. Writing and art is a huge part of my daily creative process. As far back as the end of elementary school, I can remember having those soul-gauging needs to make something. I needed to write or I needed to draw. I would have to stop what I’m doing and work on making whatever my heart was leading me to. I’ve pretty much thrived on fulfilling those needs and making those needs part of my business. When I experience loss or life-altering experiences, instead of creative block, I feel an overpowering need to process those emotions through different mediums.

This is all so awesome except it’s hard to do that when life needs to happen. Your clients still need their projects completed, your kid still needs your attention, and you still need to do your day-to-day tasks. As an adult, it’s hard to breakaway from your everyday to fulfill your creative needs. Fortunately, through the process of healing, I’ve found that taking the time to process is imperative. I’ve made it  a priority to have at least an hour to focus on my craft. If I need to get through a yoga session, write, take time for photography, or design something that I want to do—I make it priority to do that. You shouldn’t have to stifle your creativity when it’s part of your healing.

Creative Block vs Creative Overload

When I worked a 9-5, more than often I thought I was experiencing creative block. I couldn’t create. I felt my brain was clouded and I didn’t want to create. I focused on my work and when I came home, it was all about socializing and unwinding. However, no matter how much I didn’t create, I still felt unfulfilled. I still had all of this energy that I couldn’t dispose of. No matter how much I worked out or focused on my actual work, nothing was helping. It wasn’t until we decided to slowly take on more projects that I was able to writing. I began focusing more on blogging and things really started to make sense.

Knowing the difference between creative block and creative overload was something I learned in adulthood. I am an INFJ and those with the same personality type feel burnout often. We are creatives at heart and we use that creativity endlessly. It’s very easy for me to get burned out but what I thought was burnout, was often me not focusing that creativity in the right way. Sometimes you need to trust your gut and go outside of your comfort zone. By working on projects I never thought I would enjoy, I’ve started to lose the overwhelming unfulfilled feeling.

[Tweet “You will always been evolving as a creative and your creative business should be evolving with you”]

Making Creative Work Feel Natural

Client work isn’t always easy. Often times, it can be stifling which is why it’s so important to focus on working with the clients who help you feel fulfilled. Our ideal client owns a small-to-medium business, understands creativity, but wants solutions to help grow their brand. We usually don’t work with other creative businesses as service providers but as partners. We find ourselves providing services for non-profits, healthcare companies, restaurants, schools, and other smilier businesses because those industries are intricate and unique. There is no one answer to solve problems which is why problem-solving is a part of my creative process.

It takes time to figure out how to build your business around yourself creatively. You will always been evolving as a creative and your creative business should be evolving with you. Your clients should not look the same. Your work should not look the same. Creative work feels more natural when there’s a natural progression over-time towards growth. When you force yourself into a box that you no longer fit into, you will find your creative work becoming mundane. Here are some simple things you can ask yourself right now to check your creative process:

• Am I doing the work I enjoy today?
• Do I enjoy my client communication process?
• Am I comfortable with my current rates?
• Have I felt creatively fulfilled by my business recently?

If you answer no to any of those questions, it’s time to really think about what you can do to help get your business on track to where it needs to be. As creatives, we really have to measure our creativity daily and it’s not easy but it’s so rewarding. Being a starving artist is hard work right? 🙂

Let me know how you manage your creativity when it’s all over the place!

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