I was in first grade when I realized that no one w I was in first grade when I realized that no one who looked like me had ever held the office of President or Vice President. My heart is filled with joy for the young people who will never know that feeling.
🙌🏽 🙌🏽
Please remember to stay safe this week! There are Please remember to stay safe this week! There are a lot of things happening in DC and all over the USA. Stay vigilant, stay away from people whenever possible, and stay home if and when you can! Also, remember that is it perfectly acceptable to celebrate tomorrow. These past four years have felt like a lifetime. We still have so many steps to take to make this nation a truly accepting, fair, and free place but let's hold on to the little happy moments along the way until we get there.
As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we s As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we should call ourselves?!) I haven't ever really experienced a winter season. I've enjoyed winter many times while in many different cities including, Edinburgh, London, NYC, and Boston. But I've never lived in winter day in and day out. After a week it was always time to fly home to my palm trees and theme parks. This winter is the first time that I am experiencing cold temperatures daily and often experiencing grey skies. It's only been about two weeks and I have to admit that it is a huge adjustment. But I am doing my best to embrace the season and stay as cozy as possible. I am used to being outside as often as possible in winter while hibernating with the A/C running all summer. So I guess now I will be reversing those habits and bundling up until spring gets here.
For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing o For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing only, @hipcityveg. Although I still miss all my favorite Orlando foodie places, I am so excited to finally be so close to a Hip City Veg location. It's my all-time favorite plant-based restaurant and I have been craving this vegan milkshake for months! If you haven't been yet and you are in DC or Philadelphia, go right now!
I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This last trip around the sun was during a very difficult time in our world but I can't personally complain much about the last 365 days. I thought I would be taking over as the lead on a contract at a Disney hotel as their main wedding photographer. I had been photographing weddings there for years but covid had other plans. Instead, I watched as the entire world shut down around me, only for the hotel to reopen as a part of the NBA bubble. So I decided to jump headfirst into running a product-based business. It's something I wanted to do for years and yet I could never quite seem to muster up the nerve to fully go after that dream. I launched my first collection of candles, sold out in days, and things have been steadily growing since then for @kismetandcharisma. After finally going after my dream of switching from service-based to product-based, I co-founded a nonprofit. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and the stars finally aligned to bring it to light. Along with my best friend, Anna, I co-founded @LoveDoesntHurtInc. It has already healed me in ways I never thought possible and I can't wait to see what our nonprofit does for other people. I also consistently recorded @heartandhustlepodcast all year alongside my ride or die, @studio404design. Outside of work, I adopted the sweetest little pup ever as a present for my husband's quarantine birthday (best present ever). I didn't finish writing my own book but I managed to read quite a few other books. I battled anxiety as usual but I managed to learn when to turn the news off and FaceTime a friend instead of continuing to doomscroll. I also convinced my husband to leave OCPS to work for a school district that would like to keep him alive during the pandemic, which resulted in us relocating to the DC area. Here's hoping that this trip around the sun is filled with the same amount of professional success but WAY more hugs.
Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some o Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some of the local coffee shops in DC and NOVA. You would never know that I don't like coffee by how often I am spending money in coffee shops. I do, however, love just about every tea I come across. Earthy, fruity, sweet, bitter, it doesn't matter. I love them all. Any other tea lovers out there? Do you like coffee and tea or just one or the other?
This year is off to a wild start. I literally star This year is off to a wild start. I literally started the New Year on the road, driving somewhere just south of Raleigh. We slept in Raleigh for a few hours and then finished the drive to our new home in the DMV. We have been here just over a week now which feels pretty hard to believe. In some ways, it feels shorter and in others, it feels much longer. I don't feel at home yet but yesterday was a beautiful day and definitely the best one that I have had since we moved here. It definitely has me feeling hopeful. I know that this year won't magically be better than last year but I am going to be doing everything I can to make it a better year for myself and everyone I know.
Instagram post 18186913066037488 Instagram post 18186913066037488
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Uncategorized · December 3, 2014

Women In Business: Melissa from Jelly Design Studio

Too often in our society, people picture men in their heads when they hear words like, “boss”, “entrepreneur”, or “CEO”. Being a small business owner has put me in touch with so many successful female business owners and entrepreneurs that when I hear these words, I often picture a woman or I just don’t assume anything at all. Women are obviously just as capable as men when it comes to the business world and it is high time that women business owners and entrepreneurs are more visible in the media in our society. This is where the idea for Women in Business was born. Women in Business is a monthly feature that highlights female entrepreneurs and business owners. Not only is it a fantastic opportunity to learn more about small businesses in various fields, but it is a great shopping guide for supporting small businesses.

An Interview with Melissa from Jelly Design Studio

Tell us a little bit about your business. When did you officially start your business? What exactly do you do and how long have you been doing it?

I started Jelly Design Studio back in early 2012 as a way to make a little extra income. I never really thought I could ever leave my day job at the time, but a bit over a year of starting Jelly Design Studio, I was able to leave the corporate world.

When I originally started I was just designing blogs and little by little started to expand the services I offered. I now also design informational websites and offer a variety of premade Blogger templates. My main goal has always been to help those who are starting a blog or business, so I do my best to offer a variety of services at different price ranges so that anyone can have a chance to start any venture they have been dreaming about.

Women in Business 3

How would you describe your personal design style?

I’ve worked with a wide variety of talented bloggers and business owners so I’ve done a little bit of everything – but I always find that my design style leans towards modern and feminine.

 

What are three things that help you run your business efficiently on a daily basis?

Daily Planner: This is where I write down notes of everything that I plan to accomplish throughout the week. I keep my to-do list in the planner as well so that I don’t have everything scattered around. This helps me plan what needs to be done on a daily basis to meet any goals and deadlines.

White Board: Having a white board might be sort of old school but it’s been such a game changer for me. I use it to list all the projects I am currently working on and the status they are on. This helps me get a quick visual of when a deadline is approaching or if anything is pending. It’s also quick and easy to update.

Organized Email Folders: My inbox can sometimes get out of hand. It took some trial and error but eventually I found a system that worked for me. Creating folders for my inbox helped me keep things organized so that it would be easy to go back and find a client’s email or file an email that I would need in the future. This little change has saved me so much time.

Women in Business 2

What are some of the challenges you experience from working at home?

Working from home is amazing but it does come with some challenges. When I first transitioned to running my business full time I realized that I it was so easy to get distracted with everything around me as I no longer has a “fixed schedule” or a boss watching over me. Things like social media, errands, or just the television easily take over your day if you don’t stay focused.

Design 2

What/who inspires you and your work?

I feel that there is so much that inspires me such as but my favorite source of inspiration is always my client. I’ve had the opportunity to work so many talented business owners who are passionate about what they do.

Talking to a client that has so much passion about something they have created makes me feel so excited about having the chance to work together to create a final product that they will be proud to display as part of their business.

Women in Business 1

What goals do you have for your business over the next three years?

For a while now I’ve been offering premade Blogger templates because it’s an affordable way for bloggers to spruce up the look of their blog. The templates have gotten positive feedback for many. So one of my goals is to expand the Template Shop and give bloggers who are starting out another option when it comes to having a pretty blog design.

 

How do you define success as a business owner?

A happy client always makes me feel successful at the end of any project. I love getting an email from a client that is excited with the launch of their new blog or website. It’s an amazing feeling and always reminds me why I love my job.

Design 1

What advice would you give to someone who is looking to start a small business?

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” -Walt Disney

Small businesses don’t grow overnight. It takes a lot of doing and many hours of hard work. Anything is possible you just need to put in the hours and stay dedicated. Never lose focus of your goals. That’s why this quote from Walt always feels like the best advice I can pass on to anyone starting a business. It’s what has always inspired me to get things done.

 

You can find Melissa here: Jelly Design Studio | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Blush and Jelly

In: Uncategorized · Tagged: blush and jelly, designer, small business, women in business

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A Non-Traditional Thanksgiving

Hi! I'm Charisma, a creative entrepreneur who loves to help others reach their full potential. I'm a photographer, a writer, and the owner of Kismet + Charisma, an online boutique that pairs minimalist, cozy, boho style with activism. In my little corner of the internet you'll find my latest travels, what I'm currently reading, how I practing Black joy as resistence, and how I'm finding hygge in my daily life. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and stay awhile.

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I was in first grade when I realized that no one w I was in first grade when I realized that no one who looked like me had ever held the office of President or Vice President. My heart is filled with joy for the young people who will never know that feeling.
🙌🏽 🙌🏽
Please remember to stay safe this week! There are Please remember to stay safe this week! There are a lot of things happening in DC and all over the USA. Stay vigilant, stay away from people whenever possible, and stay home if and when you can! Also, remember that is it perfectly acceptable to celebrate tomorrow. These past four years have felt like a lifetime. We still have so many steps to take to make this nation a truly accepting, fair, and free place but let's hold on to the little happy moments along the way until we get there.
As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we s As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we should call ourselves?!) I haven't ever really experienced a winter season. I've enjoyed winter many times while in many different cities including, Edinburgh, London, NYC, and Boston. But I've never lived in winter day in and day out. After a week it was always time to fly home to my palm trees and theme parks. This winter is the first time that I am experiencing cold temperatures daily and often experiencing grey skies. It's only been about two weeks and I have to admit that it is a huge adjustment. But I am doing my best to embrace the season and stay as cozy as possible. I am used to being outside as often as possible in winter while hibernating with the A/C running all summer. So I guess now I will be reversing those habits and bundling up until spring gets here.
For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing o For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing only, @hipcityveg. Although I still miss all my favorite Orlando foodie places, I am so excited to finally be so close to a Hip City Veg location. It's my all-time favorite plant-based restaurant and I have been craving this vegan milkshake for months! If you haven't been yet and you are in DC or Philadelphia, go right now!
I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This last trip around the sun was during a very difficult time in our world but I can't personally complain much about the last 365 days. I thought I would be taking over as the lead on a contract at a Disney hotel as their main wedding photographer. I had been photographing weddings there for years but covid had other plans. Instead, I watched as the entire world shut down around me, only for the hotel to reopen as a part of the NBA bubble. So I decided to jump headfirst into running a product-based business. It's something I wanted to do for years and yet I could never quite seem to muster up the nerve to fully go after that dream. I launched my first collection of candles, sold out in days, and things have been steadily growing since then for @kismetandcharisma. After finally going after my dream of switching from service-based to product-based, I co-founded a nonprofit. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and the stars finally aligned to bring it to light. Along with my best friend, Anna, I co-founded @LoveDoesntHurtInc. It has already healed me in ways I never thought possible and I can't wait to see what our nonprofit does for other people. I also consistently recorded @heartandhustlepodcast all year alongside my ride or die, @studio404design. Outside of work, I adopted the sweetest little pup ever as a present for my husband's quarantine birthday (best present ever). I didn't finish writing my own book but I managed to read quite a few other books. I battled anxiety as usual but I managed to learn when to turn the news off and FaceTime a friend instead of continuing to doomscroll. I also convinced my husband to leave OCPS to work for a school district that would like to keep him alive during the pandemic, which resulted in us relocating to the DC area. Here's hoping that this trip around the sun is filled with the same amount of professional success but WAY more hugs.
Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some o Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some of the local coffee shops in DC and NOVA. You would never know that I don't like coffee by how often I am spending money in coffee shops. I do, however, love just about every tea I come across. Earthy, fruity, sweet, bitter, it doesn't matter. I love them all. Any other tea lovers out there? Do you like coffee and tea or just one or the other?
This year is off to a wild start. I literally star This year is off to a wild start. I literally started the New Year on the road, driving somewhere just south of Raleigh. We slept in Raleigh for a few hours and then finished the drive to our new home in the DMV. We have been here just over a week now which feels pretty hard to believe. In some ways, it feels shorter and in others, it feels much longer. I don't feel at home yet but yesterday was a beautiful day and definitely the best one that I have had since we moved here. It definitely has me feeling hopeful. I know that this year won't magically be better than last year but I am going to be doing everything I can to make it a better year for myself and everyone I know.
Instagram post 18186913066037488 Instagram post 18186913066037488
Saying goodbye to Christmas and Orlando at the sam Saying goodbye to Christmas and Orlando at the same time is going to be incredibly difficult! đź’”

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