A Rare Family
I was out the door with my copy of The Artist’s Way in the passenger seat before I noticed grabbing it.
It was a sleepless night; partly because of the wine, mostly because the little one was wide awake from witching hour until the dawn bird’s first song. I woke up dreadful. Unfulfilled, angry, resentful. It’s the booze, the baby, most definitely the sleeping husband just laying there. Luckily the first chapter kicked in quicker than caffeine and forced me to find the core fault.
“Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children than the unlived life of the parent.”
I’m fatigued with each foot dipped in separate pools. It’s like I have 10 feet! and they’re all tripping over each other. One hour I’m submerged in my career, the next I’m negotiating crackers with a toddler to get in the fuckin’ car sweetheart. Negotiating isn’t my strong suit. Toddlers are like dogs, they sense your insecurities and they pounce. My daughter eats a lot of crackers, is what I’m saying.
I may be the matriarch of this schedule for my daughter but don’t assume I like it every day. The years go fast so hold on to every moment they say as if that will stop my tears on random Sundays as her independence grows. That does not help the constant push-pull heartbreak-happiness that your child is healthy & growing…away from you if you’re doing it right. Big eye roll to the stereotypical Mom advice that isn’t advice but a passive-aggressive veil to not talk about the dichotomies we’re so clearly living in. Let’s skirt by the loud disruptive screaming in the room that some of these early days just aren’t fulfilling. Some of these days feel like you’re trying to get that spring-loaded wiggle worm back in the can and sit still for a second. It doesn’t mean you’re an ungrateful Mother to admit that. Your child still feels loved by you and wants to “hold you Mama” when the last dusk bird coos her babies to nest at night.
My mom is my biggest mother example. She didn’t have the life of an unlived parent while raising and childrearing. Not that that hasn’t brought challenging conversations with her now that I’m an adult trying to raise a child, but thank goddess she showed me a Mother deserves a life of her own in addition to being a Mother and she needn’t grovel for it at every turn. The child will have to fall in line with that to some degree as a result. This is an unpopular opinion, I’m sure. It’s insinuated in multitudes that Mother is the ultimate goal instead of a welcomed layer bestowed upon the already multi-faceted woman. When I wondered if we couldn’t have children, Mother was the ultimate goal so I appreciate and understand that season. I was that season and could be again, this is not either-or. I guess I’m just trying to navigate this mother layer in tandem with the artist layer I’m just not willing to give up and I can’t pause any longer. I’m of the belief this will benefit my daughter when she stops bugging me about the crackers.
“A rare family, faced with the myth of the starving artist, tells its children to go right ahead and try for a career in the arts. Instead, if encouraged at all, the children are urged into thinking of the arts as hobbies, creative fluff around the edges of real life.”
I’m grateful I’m part of this rare family Cameron explains. The blank stares and polite changes of the subject have reinforced this in many conversations throughout my life so far. Like the ugly duckling who doesn’t know they’re beautiful because they’re hanging out with a different bird species. Now that I’m a Mother, I know this wasn’t a family default I was born into.
It was my Mother.
She crafted it. She fought like hell for it. Together with my Dad, they made our family’s environment a breeding ground for dreaming and acting upon it throughout their many lived lives as our parents. I was the child who got to witness worlds before I ever left the nest.
Keep those feet in all those different pools. Your child’s inner artist may look back on their rare family with gratitude someday. After the therapy sessions, of course.
Autumnal Equinox
New season. New routine.
I’ve enjoyed having the summer to be with my babe exclusively. I’m ready to integrate as a family into our outer world a bit more. The Great Creator knows what we can handle.
I’m ready to get back to work albeit with nerves & anxiety. So much has happened in these 16 weeks in our little cocoon. When I paused my career I was not a mother, & now I am. I wish companies in the United States would honor this transition from an ancestral wisdom standpoint. I wish they would give 4-6 months to both mothers & fathers to transition into parenthood first. How many citizens they would retain & how many employees would be loyal to them upon their return.
At 6 weeks postpartum I wasn’t going back. I couldn’t imagine being disconnected from my newborn (hormonally it’s meant to be this way). I would’ve been willing to make an extreme life change in order to stay with her. Another experienced, intelligent, profitable female employee bites the dust. Yet this is the timeframe for short-term disability for vaginal delivery before you’re expected back to work. Legally. It barely honors medical recovery for the mother & does nothing to acknowledge the child who is 100% dependent on their mother for nourishment.
But then, through a series of fortuitous events, I was given 16 weeks. by week 14 postpartum I am ready to go back. An experienced, intelligent, profitable female employee stays.
She prepares for the transition with her babe. Explains through actions & words that we are getting ready for an adventure. One that affects the entire family. it’s important we take good care of one another, little one.
Let us be intentional in our preparation.
A Freelance Mindset
The skills I learned to survive as a freelance designer has come in handy for navigating both parenthood & pandemic. The biggest piece: mindset.
it was important to have rituals get me from one mindset to the next when freelancing full-time. the environment wasn’t changing — I worked, lived, & played from home. rituals transitioned me away or towards work.
Mornings started with exercise & breakfast (something for me) before client emails & meetings (something for them). I was in control of my day instead of the client determining my day. We were all in it together. I could remember that was true if I gave time to myself first.
A couple of hours of focused work, then food again. it was often with a book, podcast, show, or nap. topics unrelated to work. Sometimes it was out of the house (library, coffee shop, porch, trail) to truly step away from the physical place of responsibility.
Afternoon work was often slower, more distracted with personal errands & tasks, but work nonetheless. the day would end welcoming Joel home, a walk with Tiger, a glass of wine on the porch, or a beer at the local watering hole in the winter. Dinner with friends, a show, workout, or a book. bedtime routine.
rinse & repeat until the weekend.
Not very glamorous but it took me years to discover a template. I’m proud of my findings. I enjoy the stability of a routine. then breaking it here & there.
It’s important to know triggers & red flags. Then you can combat them. “Ok that helped. that didn’t.” You troubleshoot, you’re in conversation with yourself, & you keep going.
I’m grateful for freelancing first in my career. It gave me the essentials of boundary-setting, personal reflection, a wellness-first mindset, & daydreaming.
Now I use those tools for both parenthood & pandemic. who would’ve thought?
The perils of Instagram
Dax Shepherd made a statement that stuck with me on the latest episode of Armchair Expert. He said when we try to mimic other people’s formula in order to be liked, it’s a quick way to failure. You won’t strike a chord with anyone because you’re not being you.
It was related to his acting journey but it resonated with me with my writing. Somehow writing on this blog morphed into thinking I had to be an influencer on social media. It became about trying to do what I thought other people liked of me. My value was dependent upon a heart emoji.
I started blogging before Instagram took off. There weren’t widgets yet to connect your Instagram feed to your blog. I didn’t think it’d get to me or make me question myself as it has.
But it got to my head. Especially when my audience was growing & my value was being validated by responses to an image. It was more difficult to stay true to what I enjoyed writing about because how & what I like to write about isn’t very interesting.
So what Dax said really struck a chord because I think a lot of people go through this, many times in a life. You’re noticed because you’re different, then liked because you’re the same, & it’s easy to get caught in between this battle of self. Especially if you’re someone who doesn’t like to disappoint people.
I miss Brave Girl
I miss my old blog, Brave Girl. What she stood for, the simplicity of it all. Maybe what I miss more is that season of my life. In my early 20’s where all of this felt fresh & exciting. My future was a blank canvas. I set out to build something all my own I could be proud of. That others would come to & admire, feel less alone, or connect with a like-minded human. I had a passionate fervor toward creating & expressing myself wholeheartedly. It’s all I focused on & it was all under my altar-ego, Brave Girl. I reaped a lot of rewards & successes because of it, something I care deeply about.
And then the very thing that drove me to explore my inner workings, to say them aloud, is the very thing that made me clam up & not love it anymore. It’s the challenge of any journey. It’s why I like the beginnings best. The middle & end can be melancholy or change like a kaleidoscope. Suddenly you look up after staring down for so long & you don’t recognize what’s in front of you. It’s a completely different shape than the one you were trying to make (maybe the one you need, not the one you want).
A conversation with my mom years ago; I came home exasperated after some social event,
“Mom, I’m not that kind of girl.”
“It’s funny how we become the girl we said we’d never be,” she replied.
I never set out to share a filtered life, or to be on-trend, or to grow a following based on shallow pretenses. I became exactly what I said I would never be. I suppose it’s a good time to rebuild then. To pull that kaleidoscope back out, watch how the shapes change.
Image credit: Poem by Tess Guinery, an excerpt from her book The Moonflower Monologues
Sabbatical
My blog is many things; confidante, walk-in closet, workroom, cheerleader, podium.
One thing it is not? Consistent. Because life isn’t consistent. All of the stories that are not mine faded away when I acknowledged consistency isn't my purpose here. It left the story that is mine standing at the forefront. Crisp & clear.
So, where have I been? I’ve been teaching, traveling, running, kickboxing, visiting, saving. I’ve been on sabbatical from translating my life to make space for my life’s transformations.
Of course, translation & transformation can be in the same room together. They’re good friends who have established healthy boundaries. They know one another’s drink order & hobbies. When one needs solitude the other is ready to gather. Translation & transformation leave space for each other because they’ve learned together they make one whole.
I am not twitchy about these necessary shifts as I was in my early years of writing. I feared these gaps of not writing would make me irrelevant. All of this work would be meaningless & I, too, with it.
But the gaps are where all the juicy nourishment lives. It is in the unspoken, unseen, & undocumented where the sweetness lies for the writer, for the reader to eventually enjoy.
May I remember in the chaotic storm that is creation & inspiration — it is the gaps where we are reborn.
A Studio Refresh for Spring
Some of you already know about my studio refresh if you follow me here. But that part of the story doesn't do the space justice. I stepped away from my studio for a few months during the Holidays out of frustration and impatience; a clear sign that I was exhausted and needed a break. I'm not so good at knowing when I need to step away (as I sit here watching my favorite golden hour set behind me) but I'm getting better.
Since I spend so much time in my studio, it was time to give it some TLC and bring in some comforts and coziness. The quickest way to both: pillows! I read somewhere pillows are the adult's version of stuffed animals. I love pillows to bring in texture while sticking with the same color palette and just changing up the sizes with subtle patterns to blend in with solid colors.
Lately, I start my morning writing amidst all the pillows. Then I get ready for the day, check my project tracker for what to work on first, and get started on each task. Easing into the morning has been a game-changer for me – it was something never "allowed" in past office jobs so I'm grateful for the freedom to choose my schedule. Knowing your rhythm is what makes you more productive, not having a required time to start your day. I also get up a bit earlier to have more time for myself.
With each space in our cottage, I like to feel things out before committing. It drives Joel mad sometimes (like how we still don't have many pictures or prints framed on our walls after 4 years of being here) but you have to listen to what a room is telling you it needs, right? One thing was obvious, I needed a large desk. Joel installed a large butcher block slab of wood that runs the length of one wall held up by sturdy piping. Leaving it open underneath feels airier with a shelf above for storage. There's also an anti-fatigue mat hidden under the rug because I switch between standing and sitting on my captain chair (Joel's term). A little footstool adds more coziness and reminds me of the Beauty and the Beast footstool that acts like a dog.
A few baskets for loose ends and washi tape to moodboard my wall per project helps keep it organized but flexible. I used to think to be a graphic designer meant working in a blank space with cool tones, hard lines, and strictly black and white everything. But those spaces never led me to creativity. It felt impersonal, cold, and the furthest away from being able to focus. I'm happy I've finally dropped these ideas that being a graphic designer can only be done one kind of way.
I love the warm, bright, feminine tones that are in my studio now. Little butterfly placemats, a moon poster from my sister-in-law and touches of seashell-toned picture frames with photos that remind me why I do this. I think my studio will always be a work in progress, the way that an artist is always discovering new layers of the world or the world within them. See more studio inspiration and my studio wish list for spring!
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Rest But Don't You Quit
I had grand plans for some posts coming up on spring style, creativity, and new lettering & design work but guess what happened?
Life.
I've had a few hard reminders this past year and because I'm not great at asking for help and don't like sharing heavy things you haven't heard much about it. All is ultimately well but I'll be away from this little corner of mine for the next few weeks – I have a couple of big projects that require full attention and being fully present with some promises I've kept to friends & family.
I've been reading and reflecting A LOT on how I want my business to grow and just what is going on with our Life at the moment? Maybe some other Enneagram 1's or Perfectionists can relate to this mindset of needing to slow down and reflect before you implode?
One of the things I love about this space carved out here is it's this little safe place for me to explore, wonder, and create with you. It's truly changed my life in so many ways I can't quite fathom. This quote resonates with me right now and I'm going to take the next few weeks to do that.
“If you get tired learn to rest not to quit.”
The old Emily would have none of this. There was no quitting or resting. Only pushing on, getting better, doing more. Work, work, work. I accomplished many tasks I'm proud of but my body, mind, and soul are a bit weary from all work and no play. I owe it to myself to give myself rest and to be intentional with my days. If this is something that's been on your back burner lately too, maybe this can be a reminder for you too.
Celebrating the slower pace of life is one of the reasons I started a quarterly newsletter. A final quote that touched me & made me retreat with grace for the moment:
“I want first of all — in fact, as an end to these other desires — to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact — to borrow from the language of the saints — to live “in grace” as much of the time as possible. I am not using this term in a strictly theological sense. By grace I mean an INNER HARMONY, ESSENTIALLY SPIRITUAL, which can be translated into OUTWARD HARMONY.”
Happy Spring Equinox! May you soak it all up. xo, Em
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:
20 On The Rise 2018 by Honeybook – Ginger Herman, owner of Ginger Bakes | Emily Bode blog
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.
20 On The Rise 2018 by Honeybook – Leigh Ann Cobb, photographer | Emily Bode blog
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.
20 On The Rise 2018 by Honeybook – Kherington McFarland, content strategist | Emily Bode blog
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.
20 On The Rise 2018 by Honeybook – Krystle Waivio, hair & beauty stylist | Emily Bode blog
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.
20 On The Rise 2018 by Honeybook – Becky VanDenbout, web developer & founder of Joon + Co. | Emily Bode blog
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.
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.”
May you find rest and give yourself mercy too. xo, Em
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.
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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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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2013 | Emily Bode blog
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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2014 | Emily Bode blog
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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2014 | Emily Bode blog
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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2014 | Emily Bode blog
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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2016 | Emily Bode blog
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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2016 | Emily Bode blog | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb photo
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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2018 | Emily Bode blog
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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2018 | Emily Bode blog
Sign up for my seasonal newsletter, Creative Grace
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.
5 Year Blogaversary | 2018 | Emily Bode blog
I LOVE moodboards. I created this one after Summer 10x10 Challenge in 2018
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
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.
Thank You
It's been a week since the launch of my new online space, emilybode.com. Thank you for all of your kind words on the design and your support, encouragement, and questions over the 4-week process of getting this space all set up.
As is common with any project you put your heart into, it's been a whirlwind of tasks and deadlines to have this space align with the vision I saw for it in my head. I'm happy, proud, and grateful that it's turned out better than my original vision. I couldn't have done it alone. Asking for help will bring it to you 10 times stronger if you're open to receiving it.
Thank you to:
Photo via Poppy Rose Co.
Jess of Poppy Rose Creative
Jess is my right-hand woman. She tackled tasks like a boss while listening to my weekly emotional breakdowns and encouraging me to finish what I started. "The idea is good Em, now you just need to execute it". I'm in awe of how she juggles my endless stream of ideas and keeps me on track while navigating her way through Motherhood and starting her freelance writing business. Thanks, Jess!
Justin, web developer
Justin came to my rescue halfway through migrating all of my content from Brave Girl to this new space. Basically, I F'ed it up trying to do behind-the-scenes web development work to save some money and was facing spending a lot more money for someone to fix my mistake. The day before the 4th of July break Justin solved it with an ease and calm that I've admired in him since our design school days. Thank you, Justin.
Station Seven, Wordpress templates
Mike & Brittni of Station Seven are to thank for the structure of this site and isn't it lovely? It's all their genius. Not only do they have a keen eye for website design (see their Wordpress and Squarespace templates) but their customer service is TOP NOTCH. They did the install and set-up for me which was a huge stress reliever. I highly recommend paying a bit more for this service if anyone is looking to refresh their blog template. Can't recommend them enough to do the heavy-lifting seamlessly.
Seriously I've learned so much with this rebrand by simply Google'ing stuff. There are things I couldn't have been prepared for, like finding the special code of a blog post to get it to show up on the "popular posts" sidebar, that was quickly answered with a Google search. DIY is so much easier this way.
Photo via Leigh Ann Cobb Photo
Kherington of Currently Kherington
Kherington is a fellow blogger and business owner who I often co-work with. She's also the lady hanging with me in most of my new brand photos around here! She was so encouraging to me during this process to keep going and reminded me this was a good thing to do even though it felt messy at the moment. She rebranded her blog a year ago and wrote great insights she learned when pivoting. I highly recommend reading it if looking to rebrand! Thank you Kherington for always being there to share blog tips, vent, and inspire me.
Leigh Ann Cobb Photography
Leigh Ann is to thank for all the new brand photos you see on each of my site pages like the About, Newsletter, and Contact sections. Kherington and I came to her with a vision early in the summer to do a shoot of women working in a coffee shop. I wanted a very imperfect, raw, and warm vibe to the photos and she knocked it out of the park.
Mom
I reference my mom a lot around here and on my Instagram not only as my mother but as an artist. She deeply understands what it means to be one and be in a constant state of self-discovery. She's taught me so much and is open with me about her experiences and her artwork. She's listened patiently and intently for the last 2 years when I first started considering rebranding. I feel lucky to have her to turn to with things like this. Thank you always, Mom.
Jake
My brother Jake has also been a patient sounding board to me through this process. He has a great eye for design and is honest with me if things in my writing aren't making sense (I mean he is flicking me off in this picture). He challenges me and pushes me to be more inclusive. A lot of discussions we've had played a big role in changing my blog name. I was only acknowledging female creatives and he continued to remind me it isn't "us against them". There are plenty of men questioning the very same challenges in our society who want to support and uplift women. Sometimes we women don't let them. I know this is a layered topic right now but in my inner circle, in particular, I agree with him often. Thank you Jake, for inspiring me to back my shit up and challenge my perspective.
Joel
Saving the best for last for my husband Joel, the one who is with me day in and day out. He encouraged me 5 years ago to publish my first post on Brave Girl. From the very beginning, he's challenged me to follow my urges and be completely myself. He knows tough love is what I need to stop talking and start doing and he's tirelessly listened to every idea, project, and passion I've ever had and treats each with unwavering support. He is my rock, the man behind the scenes looking for no thanks or applause yet showing up anyway. I will always embarrassingly give you the credit you deserve, my Love. Thank you for this and so much more.
“We all begin the process before we are ready, before we are strong enough, before we know enough; we begin a dialogue with thoughts and feelings that both tickle and thunder within us. We respond before we know how to speak the language, before we know all the answers, and before we know exactly to whom we’re speaking.”
You!
And finally thank you to you, for reading my writing. For the wonderful chats we have in person about creativity and life and equally the ones we have via email and social channels. I've learned a lot. Most importantly, I've learned to begin before you have the answers. Before you know if anyone is listening. I hope this space encourages you to explore this for yourself.
Sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Instagram and Pinterest.
xo, Em
Creative Business Chats: A Day in the Life of a Freelance Designer
I recently did an interview and want to share as it answers questions I often receive about what I do & why I'm a freelancer. Design can be hard to define because it ranges from graphic to interior to digital to environmental and the list goes on.
My focus is on event design, stationery, and styling.
Living in the Midwest has led me to create commercially for the furniture industry, apparel companies, and wedding planners. My personal interests have guided me to skill sets like handlettering, watercolor, and organic forms. All graphics, illustrations, and curation you see here on Brave Girl are created by me unless stated otherwise.
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
What is a typical day like for you?
It starts with a morning walk with my pup. Then coffee as I write out my daily plan and sketch the latest flow of ideas. Commissioned art prints, a client design project or writing is at the heart of my day. I like the days when a coffee date or shop visit sneaks in unplanned. A walk or workout, dinner, tea, and a book or show unwinds me from the day. This typical day is balanced with days full of chaos, late work nights, and playing catch up to my list of errands I've avoided until I can no longer.
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
What are the main responsibilities of your job?
The responsibilities are broad as a freelance designer. Not only the creative design work for clients but also invoicing, quarterly goals, and always checking in with my business plan that I'm in alignment with my purpose and my planner.
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
What do you like most about your work?
Creating work that speaks to my heart. Whether it's lettering a design to save the great lakes, illustrating a shirt to share a Vietnam Veteran's heart-wrenching story, or creating print materials for a boho Full Moon wedding. When I feel my craft is aligned with my heart I'm reenergized.
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
How did you become interested in this field?
I discovered design as a high school sophomore. I went to the career center and learned about design programs, photography, and printmaking. These techniques were similar to what I did growing up scrapbooking, crafting, sketching, and doodling letters. It showed me I could make a career out of what I enjoy & I was all in.
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
How did you begin your career and what do you wish you'd known in the beginning?
I began freelancing as a junior in college with logo & branding projects for local businesses and old friends. Then I worked at a design studio in West Michigan after graduating creating identity systems and marketing materials for the furniture industry.
I found college is a place to learn design "rules" and post-college you need to find how design works for you. I'm a rule-follower and it can hinder me creatively. Creativity to me is boundless by nature and rules can be stifling. I now try to balance what I learned with following my creative intuition.
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
What do you feel is the future of graphic design?
Graphic design will continue to evolve like it always has based on culture, economy, and society. Many say print is dying and graphic design is becoming fully digital but I disagree. Print is becoming more tactile and tangible and digital is becoming more human with UX/UI roles (user experience and user interface). There will always be a place for custom, thoughtful, and intuitive design work.
A day in the life of a freelance designer with Joon+Co sustainable fashion | Brave Girl Design + Blog | photo by Sincerely Ashley
What advice or insight do you have for a student who is considering a career in graphic design?
You have to first and foremost love it. Creativity is heart work, meaning it is hard work, meaning it is work that can change the world. You have to be ok starting out with a modest salary and working hard to grow from there. You also have to be a great communicator or learn how you communicate best. When you make good, & many, connections you'll be the first designer someone thinks of when they have a design project and that is always good for your business.
Wardrobe c/o Joon + Co. Shop their Spring collection.
Photos by Sincerely Ashley
Creative Business Chats foster conversation and community amongst creatives seeking tips for getting started. Includes behind the scenes of freelance/business ownership. See all chats here.
Bella Grace Magazine Feature
Brave Girl featured in Bella Grace magazine, Spring Issue 2018 | Brave Girl Design + Blog
I've been published in Bella Grace, a magazine dedicated to celebrating the ordinary and embracing the beauty of slow living. Or should I say Tiger & I have been featured in Bella Grace?
Brave Girl featured in Bella Grace magazine, Spring Issue 2018 | Brave Girl Design + Blog
Joel and I went shopping last weekend to spend Christmas gift cards. My dad often gives me gift cards for books so we stopped into Barnes & Noble first. There it was at the checkout, the Bella Grace Spring Issue.
Brave Girl featured in Bella Grace magazine, Spring Issue 2018 | Brave Girl Design + Blog
We laughed at seeing Tiger's big mug get an entire page and relived a crazy day before work which is the story on the right page.
Brave Girl featured in Bella Grace magazine, Spring Issue 2018 | Brave Girl Design + Blog
There's also a portion where I share what living a Bella Grace life means to me with photos from my Instagram of my lettering, everyday life, and snaps from a seasonal capsule wardrobe shoot with my friend Leigh Ann.
Brave Girl featured in Bella Grace magazine, Spring Issue 2018 | Brave Girl Design + Blog
You can find the Bella Grace Spring Issue at Barnes & Noble and Michael's for $20 or subscribe to the quarterly publication. The paper alone is worth the value but seeing the beautiful photography and stories of ordinary moments from hard-working and humble women is a true inspiration.
Thank you for all your continued support of this little corner and mission of mine. I really enjoy every comment, encouragement, and celebration of the ordinary moments you share with me. At the end of it all, it's the ordinary moments we'll remember as extraordinary.
xo, Em
Self-Care for Creatives: Know Thyself
Self-care prompt: Know Thyself
This is the final post of the #iamlovingme challenge. I thought I'd share more about essential oils or taking a bath at the end of a long day this week. After being immersed in the Enneagram and 16Personalities test this week though, I want to talk more about that and here's why:A lavender-infused bath after a long day sounds luxurious to me but if you ask my husband he'd say it's torture to just sit there staring at a wall. ha. He's the first to go for a long run after a busy day to unwind. That's zen for him. Whereas I hate running and would rather just sit in fresh-smelling standing water until it got cold. :)Month of self-care posts: Week 1 / Week 2 / Week 3
Photo by Sincerely Ashley
We all have different ways to unwind and best ways to take care of ourselves based on who we are, what drives us, etc. Enter: personality tests. I think they can be used as a starting point to discover self-care practices. We're all so unique and carry different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. Learning more about ourselves can help us to accept ourselves and that can radiate to accepting each other's differences and similarities.
Self-care prompt: Know Thyself by taking a personality test
One of the things the Enneagram test talks about is how a 1 type like me has this constant inner critic they battle with. She can be loud and mean and might be why I'm so hard on myself. But someone with a different Number has a different set of challenges and motivations – hence, why a bath sounds so good to me and not at all to Joel. :)
16 Personalities Test
16 Personalities is a free test, loosely based off the Myers-Briggs test, that takes around 10 minutes to take. It provides an in-depth look at how your personality handles career, relationships, and your strengths and weaknesses. You can pay around $30 for a full synopsis on your personality if you're crazy like me and want to read ALL THE DETAILS. :)I'm The Advocate (INFJ - T), what are you?!
Enneagram Test
Here's a free test for the Enneagram with the caveat that Enneagram is actually an ancient personality test where a quiz isn't needed to find out your "type". You just need to read the different descriptions and whichever one is speaking to you or is a bit hard to read because it feels so true to you, that's the type you are. HOWEVER if you need a starting point here's the free Enneagram quiz I took.I'm a 1w2, also known as The Perfectionist or Reformer. What are you?!These resources have been really helpful as I learn more about my personality and how I interact with others : [amazon_textlink asin='0830846190' text='The Road Back to You book' template='ProductLink' store='bravegirlspir-20' marketplace='US' link_id='20ed795a-263b-11e8-98b8-532978b177b6'] / The Road Back to You Podcast / Enneagram Institute
Do you like personality tests? What were your results if you've taken one of the tests listed above? Tag a photo with #iamlovingme on Instagram and share your type and thoughts on this with me or in the comments below, of course. :)Have a great week! xo, Em
CREATIVE BUSINESS CHATS FOSTER CONVERSATION AND COMMUNITY AMONGST CREATIVES SEEKING TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED. INCLUDES BEHIND THE SCENES OF FREELANCE/BUSINESS OWNERSHIP. SEE ALL CHATS HERE.
International Women's Day 2018
I've never celebrated this day before. It felt too big. How could I make an impact at all? I let my fears get the best of me so I just stayed small and quiet about it. But then my friend Ashley brought up her vision to honor it. I couldn't get her vision out of my head – we can do something to celebrate International Women's Day and all it stands for. Our dreams of an event were mighty, my friend. And they were a bit last minute for the logistics required.
International Women's Day 2018 in Grand Rapids, Michigan | Bloggers, creatives, artists | #IWD2018, #pressforprogress | Brave Girl Design | photos by HZPhotos
International Women's Day 2018 in Grand Rapids, Michigan | Bloggers, creatives, artists | #IWD2018, #pressforprogress | Brave Girl Design | photos by HZPhotos
International Women's Day 2018 in Grand Rapids, Michigan | Bloggers, creatives, artists | #IWD2018, #pressforprogress | Brave Girl Design | photos by HZPhotos
So instead:
"Hey, will you join me on the rooftop of a parking garage?"
"Will you celebrate with me? We're a bit overdue celebrating who you are, who I am, and that we're all in this together."
Maybe it doesn't have to be so big after all. Maybe all it takes is a quick text, taking our place above the city, and looking to one another with an unspoken understanding:
“We got this."
"I'm here for you."
“Thank you."
International Women's Day 2018 in Grand Rapids, Michigan | Bloggers, creatives, artists | #IWD2018, #pressforprogress | Brave Girl Design | photos by HZPhotos
The ladies here (left to right):
Ashley of Sincerely Ashley, @ashleywiergenga: Photographer, Marketing consultant, Lifestyle Blogger
Kristin Jones of Kristin Jones, @kristinjonesy: Stylist, Creative Director, Lifestyle Blogger
Franceska Garza, YouTube channel, @franceskax: Makeup Artist, YouTuber
Maria Roelofs, Graphic designer, @marroleo: Designer at DesignVox, Social Media for AIGA West Michigan
Elyse Flynn, @elyseflynn: Creative Director at DesignDesign, AIGA West Michigan President, Collaborator at Not Design
Photos by HZPhotos
Self-Care for Creatives: Take a Break
The #iamlovingme challenge I started last month has proved how little I've been taking care of myself. I realized myself is at the end of the list from observing my daily self-care routines. Probably why I was out sick with the flu recently. Joel made a rule I COULD NOT go on any screens and I'm so grateful for his gentle nudge because I couldn't seem to turn work off on my own. What was most eye-opening to me was how wound up I was and I didn't even know it. My body was showing signs (waking up in the middle of the night, night sweats, irritability, foggy head) and I ignored them, rationalized them away. Isn't it scary how easy that is?!
All the screen-time made me not even realize what my body was trying to tell me! I think my tech use has gotten way out of control and it's become a health issue for people whose jobs are centered around screens (influencers, bloggers, designers, writers, etc.). Any resources or rec's you like on this topic? I want to learn more about it.
Self-Care for Creatives: Take a Break | Brave Girl blog, #iamlovingme west michigan blogger campaign
Self-care prompt: Take a Break
The flu & too much tech-inspired this week's self-care prompt. If you've been grinding like me this winter, TAKE A BREAK. Not an Instagram story showing you're taking a break, like a true break where no one knows you even did it. From the phone, social media, the noise. Whatever distraction is keeping you from checking in with yourself. Or just giving your mind a moment of silence or simply being.
“I have found the strength of retreat and silence that taps the feminine power of introspection and receiving answers. It has been good to understand the art of self-exploration, because through the feminine principle, I have learned the wisdom of loving myself.”
Self-Care for Creatives: Take a Break | Brave Girl blog, #iamlovingme west michigan blogger campaign
I've been trying to change an unhealthy pattern I've struggled with since college. Every 6 months or so I come down with a really intense cold that puts me out for 3-5 days. My body aches and my head pounds yet I still try to push through. But then I just can't keep going at that pace and all I do is sleep. It's the only time my mind, body, soul truly rests and it's because I'm so broken down I can't do anything. This is NOT healthy! But I don't know what to do about it. I've been trying a lot of things to become mindful and restful as a daily habit in hopes to shift this cycle. The stress will crush you little by little. I've been making lifestyle changes the last couple of years and trying to learn more about my body and what's healthy but there are things I'd like to tweak and be more aware of. Any resources or rec's you have with this would be great to know also!
Self-care prompt: Give yourself 30 minutes of solitude a day
So, let's try it out this week! Let's focus on work and then turn it off. Like really turn it off when the day is done. I just signed up for March Meditation Challenge by AM Yoga – 28 days of meditation to see if meditating daily will help to quiet my mental chatter and slow down a bit. It's a free challenge. I'd love you to join me if it feels right for you. There's a FB group for accountability with other people who are in the challenge too.
Other free resources I enjoy:
The challenge is technically over but I'm still going strong with #iamlovingme on Instagram. Follow along & tag your self-care tips and techniques. I'd love to learn more.
How do you diffuse mental chatter? What are some healthy tips & techniques you do to reduce stress?
Have a great week! xo, Em
Creative Business Chats foster conversation and community amongst creatives seeking tips for getting started. Includes behind the scenes of freelance/business ownership. See all chats here.