Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of m Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of my life, @john_aok. Every day I’m more and more proud to be by your side. Every day I love you more than I did the day before. You make me laugh more than anyone on earth. You are one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. 

I’m so thankful to have you in my life and I love celebrating you every single day. I hope you loved your day and you love this next trip around the sun. 

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
💜💜💜💜💜
A round up of some of my favorite moments lately. A round up of some of my favorite moments lately. 🤍 

🎨 Planned a painting party with @joshyytbh and channeled our inner Bob Ross. 

🏝️ Visited the causeway after showing houses by the beach.

☕️ Enjoyed a cool night and some hot tea while walking around downtown Celebration. 

🌴 A much needed sunset at the Polynesian Resort after a busy work day. 

🍨 Gelato, live music, and lots of nerd talk with my besties on Saturday night. 

✈️ My favorite sign at Disney Springs. 

🎈 Maybe I’ll go on this attached hot air balloon this year! I love looking at it but still a little overwhelmed by how high it goes. 

🐊 Saw this on a car this weekend. I would love to be friends with the driver. 

Here’s hoping the weather stays beautiful this week! I would love to keep enjoying long walks and dinners outside. 

#liveintentionally #liveinthemoment #intentionalliving #hyggemoment #slowliving #livecreatively #creativity #gelato #disneymoments #disneymagic #weekendvibes #carefreeblackgirl #queeraf #orlandoliving #orlandolife #floridaliving #intentionalcommunity #intentionalcreativity
Weekend things. 🤍 Outdoor art and boat rides. Weekend things. 🤍

Outdoor art and boat rides. I’m hoping all of spring looks like this. 🖼️🛥️

#weekendvibes #vacationwhereyoulive #livefully #intentionalliving #intentionallife #hyggelife #hyggelifestyle #hyggeliving #artlover #lakelife #orlandoliving #springiscoming
Last month I went on my first ever VIP tour at Wal Last month I went on my first ever VIP tour at Walt Disney World! It was one of my favorite Disney experiences to date and definitely something I would recommend to anyone who wants to squeeze as much Disney as possible into one day. Thankfully I was on my tour with some VIP experts so everything was planned perfectly for the #BestDayEver. Here’s what I learned:

🤍 Make a game plan for rides and experiences you want to do. We did all four parks in one day but didn’t feel rushed or exhausted because we talked about what rides everyone really wanted to do ahead of time. 

🤍 Go to the parks with people who have similar expectations and want a similar experience. Everyone in our group was a #DisneyGirl already who visits the parks regularly. This made for an extra laid back experience because we had all visited all the attractions at least once before. It would be a completely different experience to have first time park visitors or people who don’t visit the parks much mixed in with people who frequent the parks. 

🤍 Enjoy the snacks! There are some fun snacks provided on a VIP tour. Snacks are always a huge perk to me!

🤍 Pay attention to the weather. We went on our tour on a gorgeous weather day. This made it easy to be outside for a long period of time. If it was too hot or rainy, it would have been a different experience. 

🤍 Wear comfortable shoes! You are trying to either get on many rides at one or two parks or go to three or four parks. This is going to require a lot of walking! Be prepared with comfortable walking shoes. 

🤍 Bond with your tour guide. You are spending the entire day with a WDW expert whose main goal is to make sure you have a great experience. Ask them questions about the parks, learn more about their job, and include them in your fun! 

What ride would be at the top of your list if you were going on a VIP tour at WDW?

#disneyworld #disneyparks #disneystyle
Today was a perfect weather day at Epcot. So thank Today was a perfect weather day at Epcot. So thankful I live close enough for middle of the week visits. 🤍

#epcot #disneyworld #wdw #disneyparks #epcotcenter #epcotball #spaceshipearth #norwaypavilion #livingwiththeland #minimalism #architecture #disneyimagineering #worldshowcase #seekingjoy #joyfulmovement #joyfulmoments #blueskies #visitorlando #orlandofl #joyfulliving #seekjoy
February is the perfect month for hiking in Florid February is the perfect month for hiking in Florida. It’s 65 degrees today and I’m so thankful to live so close to so many gorgeous hiking and walking trails. Three things to remember when hiking in Florida:

🥾 We don’t have mountains but we do have swamps and you can sink in them so keep it moving. 

🥾 Alligators won’t mess with you unless you mess with them first. Don’t give them a reason to feel threatened. Never sneak up on one and stay away from their babies. 

🥾 Stay hydrated! Just because it’s cool outside doesn’t mean you don’t need water. Drink before and after a hike and bring water with you if you are going out for a long hike!

Remember, getting outside is amazing for your mental health, even if you are just taking a short walk, or even just standing still and taking in how beautiful our earth is. 

What trails are you hiking or walking this month? 

#getoutside #mentalhealth #mentalhealthrecovery #natureishealing #naturelover #outdoors #thegreatoutdoors #floridahiking #floridawinter #softlife #softgirl #softblackgirl #slowliving #intentionalliving #petitejoys #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #joyfulmoments #choosejoy #floridanature #blueskies
My first dining experience at the Flying Fish was My first dining experience at the Flying Fish was a success! I loved everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere but what really blew me away was the dessert. As always, I chose the chocolate option on the menu, and I was certainly not disappointed. This is definitely one of the best things I’ve eaten on Walt Disney World property and one of the best desserts I’ve had in general. If you are a fan of chocolate, you definitely need to try it during your next visit! 

🍫 Cocoa Breach
Vanilla Custard, Chocolate Bavarois, Feuillentine Crunch

📍 Flying Fish 
Disney’s Boardwalk Resort 

#disneyfoodie #disneyfood #chocolate #chocolatelover #desserts #dessertbae #disneydining #diningexperience #flyingfish #disneyworld #boardwalkresort #chocolatedessert #chocolateaddict #disneyrealtor #disneyinsta #disneygram #wdwap #wdwresort #wdwfood #orlandofoodie #foodiesofinstagram
Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonder Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonderful month for me! 🤍 This year, for the first time ever, I decided to start the year off with a focus on only myself. I spent a large part of January celebrating my birthday this year! From delicious dinners and coffee dates to hiking and surprise secret adventures, this month has been full of celebrating and I’ve embraced every single moment of it. After a few years of not feeling quite like myself due to anxiety and depression, it’s great to feel like ME AGAIN! 🎉 I love her and she’s BACK, BABY! In addition to celebrating myself as much as possible, I also honored my mental, physical, and spiritual needs with lots of rest, intentional movement, meditation, and reflection. 

My word for 2023 is community and now that I feel like myself again, I’m so excited to spend the year pouring into my community, while still remembering to fill up my own cup first. 

#january #januaryreflections #selfcare #selfcarefirst #selfcarematters #intentionalliving #intentionallife #beintentional #uniquevintage #velvetdress #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlskillingit #joyfulmoments #joyfulfulmovement #joyfulliving
Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends who always make my heart happy. Plus a small snippet of me being overjoyed at getting the tiny seat at the back of the train. 
🤍🌳🏰🚂

#intentionalliving #intentionallife #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #livejoyfully #enjoythemoment #enjoythejourney #happyliving #blackgirldisney #disneymoments #disneygram #orlandoliving #orlandolife #orlandolifestyle #orlandofl #magicalmoments #choosejoy #joyseeker #orlando
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • Life
    • Travel
    • Well Read
    • Wellness
    • Business
    • Photography
  • Contact

Charismatic Concepts

  • Life
  • Travel
  • Well Read
  • Wellness
  • Business
  • Photography

Uncategorized · April 27, 2016

Women In Business | Allison from AllieMarie Design

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 bi-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 Allison

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

AllieMarie Design is a graphic design studio based in St. Paul, MN. I work from my cozy home office, helping small businesses with big hearts take their marketing to the next level with beautifully designed visual branding and print collateral. I pride myself in giving my clients a personal, one-on-one experience with a designer who listens to their needs and works to understand their vision. Bringing this vision to life brings me so much joy and I feel blessed to do what I love every day!

I started my business in 2012 when I started picking up regular freelance projects on the side of my full time gig (as an in-house graphic designer and communications lead at a small non-profit). I freelanced part time, building up my client base for about 3 years and then made the leap to running my business full time in 2015. I haven’t looked back!

AMD_CoverPhoto

What does a typical day as the owner and graphic designer of AllieMarie Design look like?

Every day is a little different! I recently heard the phrase “working by structured flexibility.” I totally connect with that. One of the luxuries of working for yourself is the flexibility and the freedom to make your own schedule. And although I thrive having structure to my work week, I also give myself room to breathe and allow my schedule to ebb and flow the way it needs to. Along with meeting client project deadlines, I also carve out time to work on bookkeeping and admin tasks, planning and working toward my own marketing and business goals, and (trying!) staying sane by getting enough sleep and having downtime.

What/who inspires you and your work?

I’m really inspired by awesome typography and minimalist design. I love the quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” I love that! In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded by information and visuals. I believe the best way to stand out and connect with people in this oversaturated environment is to focus on clarity, consistency and authenticity. So I’m really inspired and attracted to clean designs with lots of white space and a clear message.

Outside of the graphic design world, I’m always very inspired by fellow female entrepreneurs who do awesome work and are really paving their own way. I love meeting for coffee dates if we’re from the same area or connecting to those across the world via online networking groups – it’s motivating to learn how others are making their mark on the world, and I enjoy talking to them about their processes, what challenges they face, how they got to where they are. Finding these connections and building these supportive relationships is very inspirational and rewarding.

AMDImage2

Do you have a favorite project or product you have worked on so far?

Visual branding has grown into a true passion of mine. I enjoy partnering with small businesses, getting to know their brand and, together, creating an authentic visual identity that stands out and aligns with their mission. Over the last year, I’ve fine-tuned my visual branding process to ensure it’s thorough and fun. It’s amazing to see an idea or concept evolve into a logo, a style guide, a website. I’m always honored to help make my clients’ vision come to life.

How do you stay balanced with your career and personal life?

I think I’ll always be working toward this balance and it’s not an easy thing. But I learned (sometimes the hard way) that downtime is so important in nourishing my creativity and this knowledge alone has really helped me stay balanced. When I’m feeling creatively exhausted or burnt out, my work is less enjoyable and I find that I’m less productive. Now I’ve learned to see it coming in advance. When I start to feel burnt out, I give myself some time to re-coop – whether that means sleeping in, taking an afternoon off, or otherwise. It’s for my own good personally, but the success of my business also depends on it.

The other big way I try to keep balanced is putting up boundaries for myself with how much I’m working. For example, I only answer emails on weekdays and I turned off email notifications on my phone all together. When I put together client project timelines, my evenings and weekends are off limits. These small things make a big difference. Of course, there are times when things don’t go as planned and I need to put in extra design time in the evenings and on weekends. But I try to keep these boundaries as strict as possible, to keep my sanity.

AMDImage3

Do you use any apps or programs that help with marketing/social media? Which are your favorites?

Social Media: You can find me hanging out on Facebook and Twitter, but I am the most active on Instagram because it’s such a visual experience. As a graphic designer, I find it to be most effective in communicating my brand, showcasing my work and connecting with people. And, honestly, it’s the most fun!

Squarespace: My website is the most important marketing tool for AllieMarie Design. It’s where I showcase my work, post journal entries, collect emails for my newsletter list, send potential clients to learn more about me and see if we’d be a good fit, and more. Therefore, my site needs to be gorgeous and easy to maintain. Squarespace has fit the bill in more ways than one and I’ve so enjoyed working on their platform!

I’m also kind of a pen and paper kind of gal. I do use Google Cal to schedule out projects in advance, but my paper planner helps me keep organized on a weekly basis with my own marketing and client work. I use Sugar and Type’s Rule the World Planner!

What was the best piece of advice you were given?

“Leave room for growth.” It’s easy to get anxious and overly focused on meeting goals, forgetting how important the journey is. When I look back at this time of growth for my business, I want to remember how exciting it was as I learned lessons and carved my own path. Of course, I need to ensure I make ends meet financially on a month-to-month basis. But beyond that, it’s not all about growing as quickly as possible for me. “Leaving room for growth” takes the pressure off, allows me to actually enjoy the process and gives me time to figure out how to manage the growth before it gets overwhelming.

How do you define success?

Waking up in the morning with a smile on my face, excited to do the work that’s ahead of me and feeling proud of the impact I’ve made on my clients’ businesses.

Allison_MG_8425-fb

What upcoming projects are you excited about?

I just launched the new AllieMarie Design brand and website, which has been huge for me. I look forward to continuing to see my brand come to life with my marketing collateral, client communication materials… the works.

As far as client work goes, I’m working on a big project for one of my non-profit clients, a live theater company for whom I’m designing 2016-17 season collateral. I’m really excited about that! I’ve also been connecting with some Twin Cities based female entrepreneurs and look forward to collaborating with them.

You can find Allison here: AllieMarie Design | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |

In: Uncategorized · Tagged: business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, small business, women in business

join the club

You’ll Also Love

Women In Business: Nicole Logan of Dear Alice Company
Creative Spaces | Amber Burns
Women in Business: Ashley from Ashley Brooke Designs
Next Post >

3 Things To Do at Night for a Healthier, More Productive Life

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.

join the club

Categories

  • Life
  • Travel
  • Well Read
  • Wellness
  • Business
  • Photography

Reader Favorites

  • Portraits | Jacob Tobia
  • The REAL Wizarding World: Victoria Street AKA Diagon Alley
  • 10 Reasons You Should Never Be Bored

trending now

  • Portraits | Jacob Tobia
  • The REAL Wizarding World: Victoria Street AKA Diagon Alley
  • 10 Reasons You Should Never Be Bored
  • The REAL Wizarding World: Greyfriars Kirkyard

instagram

Follow @charismaokeefe

Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of m Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of my life, @john_aok. Every day I’m more and more proud to be by your side. Every day I love you more than I did the day before. You make me laugh more than anyone on earth. You are one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. 

I’m so thankful to have you in my life and I love celebrating you every single day. I hope you loved your day and you love this next trip around the sun. 

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
💜💜💜💜💜
A round up of some of my favorite moments lately. A round up of some of my favorite moments lately. 🤍 

🎨 Planned a painting party with @joshyytbh and channeled our inner Bob Ross. 

🏝️ Visited the causeway after showing houses by the beach.

☕️ Enjoyed a cool night and some hot tea while walking around downtown Celebration. 

🌴 A much needed sunset at the Polynesian Resort after a busy work day. 

🍨 Gelato, live music, and lots of nerd talk with my besties on Saturday night. 

✈️ My favorite sign at Disney Springs. 

🎈 Maybe I’ll go on this attached hot air balloon this year! I love looking at it but still a little overwhelmed by how high it goes. 

🐊 Saw this on a car this weekend. I would love to be friends with the driver. 

Here’s hoping the weather stays beautiful this week! I would love to keep enjoying long walks and dinners outside. 

#liveintentionally #liveinthemoment #intentionalliving #hyggemoment #slowliving #livecreatively #creativity #gelato #disneymoments #disneymagic #weekendvibes #carefreeblackgirl #queeraf #orlandoliving #orlandolife #floridaliving #intentionalcommunity #intentionalcreativity
Weekend things. 🤍 Outdoor art and boat rides. Weekend things. 🤍

Outdoor art and boat rides. I’m hoping all of spring looks like this. 🖼️🛥️

#weekendvibes #vacationwhereyoulive #livefully #intentionalliving #intentionallife #hyggelife #hyggelifestyle #hyggeliving #artlover #lakelife #orlandoliving #springiscoming
Last month I went on my first ever VIP tour at Wal Last month I went on my first ever VIP tour at Walt Disney World! It was one of my favorite Disney experiences to date and definitely something I would recommend to anyone who wants to squeeze as much Disney as possible into one day. Thankfully I was on my tour with some VIP experts so everything was planned perfectly for the #BestDayEver. Here’s what I learned:

🤍 Make a game plan for rides and experiences you want to do. We did all four parks in one day but didn’t feel rushed or exhausted because we talked about what rides everyone really wanted to do ahead of time. 

🤍 Go to the parks with people who have similar expectations and want a similar experience. Everyone in our group was a #DisneyGirl already who visits the parks regularly. This made for an extra laid back experience because we had all visited all the attractions at least once before. It would be a completely different experience to have first time park visitors or people who don’t visit the parks much mixed in with people who frequent the parks. 

🤍 Enjoy the snacks! There are some fun snacks provided on a VIP tour. Snacks are always a huge perk to me!

🤍 Pay attention to the weather. We went on our tour on a gorgeous weather day. This made it easy to be outside for a long period of time. If it was too hot or rainy, it would have been a different experience. 

🤍 Wear comfortable shoes! You are trying to either get on many rides at one or two parks or go to three or four parks. This is going to require a lot of walking! Be prepared with comfortable walking shoes. 

🤍 Bond with your tour guide. You are spending the entire day with a WDW expert whose main goal is to make sure you have a great experience. Ask them questions about the parks, learn more about their job, and include them in your fun! 

What ride would be at the top of your list if you were going on a VIP tour at WDW?

#disneyworld #disneyparks #disneystyle
Today was a perfect weather day at Epcot. So thank Today was a perfect weather day at Epcot. So thankful I live close enough for middle of the week visits. 🤍

#epcot #disneyworld #wdw #disneyparks #epcotcenter #epcotball #spaceshipearth #norwaypavilion #livingwiththeland #minimalism #architecture #disneyimagineering #worldshowcase #seekingjoy #joyfulmovement #joyfulmoments #blueskies #visitorlando #orlandofl #joyfulliving #seekjoy
February is the perfect month for hiking in Florid February is the perfect month for hiking in Florida. It’s 65 degrees today and I’m so thankful to live so close to so many gorgeous hiking and walking trails. Three things to remember when hiking in Florida:

🥾 We don’t have mountains but we do have swamps and you can sink in them so keep it moving. 

🥾 Alligators won’t mess with you unless you mess with them first. Don’t give them a reason to feel threatened. Never sneak up on one and stay away from their babies. 

🥾 Stay hydrated! Just because it’s cool outside doesn’t mean you don’t need water. Drink before and after a hike and bring water with you if you are going out for a long hike!

Remember, getting outside is amazing for your mental health, even if you are just taking a short walk, or even just standing still and taking in how beautiful our earth is. 

What trails are you hiking or walking this month? 

#getoutside #mentalhealth #mentalhealthrecovery #natureishealing #naturelover #outdoors #thegreatoutdoors #floridahiking #floridawinter #softlife #softgirl #softblackgirl #slowliving #intentionalliving #petitejoys #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #joyfulmoments #choosejoy #floridanature #blueskies
My first dining experience at the Flying Fish was My first dining experience at the Flying Fish was a success! I loved everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere but what really blew me away was the dessert. As always, I chose the chocolate option on the menu, and I was certainly not disappointed. This is definitely one of the best things I’ve eaten on Walt Disney World property and one of the best desserts I’ve had in general. If you are a fan of chocolate, you definitely need to try it during your next visit! 

🍫 Cocoa Breach
Vanilla Custard, Chocolate Bavarois, Feuillentine Crunch

📍 Flying Fish 
Disney’s Boardwalk Resort 

#disneyfoodie #disneyfood #chocolate #chocolatelover #desserts #dessertbae #disneydining #diningexperience #flyingfish #disneyworld #boardwalkresort #chocolatedessert #chocolateaddict #disneyrealtor #disneyinsta #disneygram #wdwap #wdwresort #wdwfood #orlandofoodie #foodiesofinstagram
Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonder Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonderful month for me! 🤍 This year, for the first time ever, I decided to start the year off with a focus on only myself. I spent a large part of January celebrating my birthday this year! From delicious dinners and coffee dates to hiking and surprise secret adventures, this month has been full of celebrating and I’ve embraced every single moment of it. After a few years of not feeling quite like myself due to anxiety and depression, it’s great to feel like ME AGAIN! 🎉 I love her and she’s BACK, BABY! In addition to celebrating myself as much as possible, I also honored my mental, physical, and spiritual needs with lots of rest, intentional movement, meditation, and reflection. 

My word for 2023 is community and now that I feel like myself again, I’m so excited to spend the year pouring into my community, while still remembering to fill up my own cup first. 

#january #januaryreflections #selfcare #selfcarefirst #selfcarematters #intentionalliving #intentionallife #beintentional #uniquevintage #velvetdress #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlskillingit #joyfulmoments #joyfulfulmovement #joyfulliving
Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends who always make my heart happy. Plus a small snippet of me being overjoyed at getting the tiny seat at the back of the train. 
🤍🌳🏰🚂

#intentionalliving #intentionallife #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #livejoyfully #enjoythemoment #enjoythejourney #happyliving #blackgirldisney #disneymoments #disneygram #orlandoliving #orlandolife #orlandolifestyle #orlandofl #magicalmoments #choosejoy #joyseeker #orlando
I love being able to explore all of the little pat I love being able to explore all of the little paths that exist in Animal Kingdom. All of the gorgeous greenery in this park makes me feel happy, balanced, and calm. Whether it’s a quiet moment at a waterfall, watching birds enjoy the beautiful weather, or trying to see how many different types of plants I can spot, it’s such a peaceful place to spend the day. 🌳🤍

#outdoors #plantlife #nature #naturelovers #walking #animalkingdom #disneysanimalkingdom #wdw #bestdayever #waltdisneyworld #animalkingdomdisney #intentionalliving #livingintentionally #livinginthemoment #joyfulmoments #joyfulliving
https://www.instagram.com/charismaokeefe/

Explore

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Services

join the club

On the Blog

  • Travel
  • Well Read
  • Photography
  • Business
  • About
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Charismatic Concepts · Theme by 17th Avenue