Branding | Simply Makeup & Hair

Hello all! Just popping in really quick to share this brand facelift I recently worked on! Haley is one of my best friends and she is a phenomenal business owner. She started Simply Makeup & Hair around the same time I was getting into freelance design and her business has grown quite a lot, so it was time for a change. Haley wanted fresh, light and simple and we're both really pleased with how the new look came together! We also updated her blog site, which you can see a snapshot of below. But be sure to head over and see it live - www.simplymakeupartists.com - and if you are in Florida, Kentucky, or Ohio and in need of a makeup artist or hair stylist, call her up! 

And I hate to be a broken record, but if you haven't yet, I would love if you would take a moment to watch my story and donate! Thanks to those who have donated through Go Fund Me and who have sent donations through the mail, I have just about reached my goal! So, thank you!

Oh, and in case you missed my news last Friday - Read this.

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Just a girl who decided to go for it...

Photo from Dear Lizzy

I can't believe the words I'm about to type, but as of 2 PM today, I will officially be 100% self-employed. Two weeks ago I put in my two weeks notice at my part-time job and ever since I have basically been equal parts excited and terrified. I guess I shouldn't say equal, because although I am terrified, excitement and passion overcome the fear. 

Owning your own business is scary and failure is always in the back of my mind but I'm thankful for the support I have. Because of it, I have never let the fear paralyze me. While I was still in college I knew that I would not have a regular job. I knew that I was going to create my dream job and here I am, just 20 days shy of the 3rd year anniversary since I graduated from The Ohio State University - a small business owner! 

I am so excited to get busy on all of the things I've wanted to do for my business that I just did not have the time for. The scary part comes in because before if I didn't do well I could blame it on the fact that "it's just something I do on the side". Now, this is it. It's all on me - but I know I can do it! I know I'm doing what I was made to do.

I hope y'all have an amazing holiday weekend and if you would, please watch my story and donate! :)

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Memorial Day Weekend Party Ideas

Hello my loves! Happy Thursday! I just wanted to pop in and share an updated version of a past post I did on Memorial Day party ideas. (I switched out the image there so it matches this one, FYI.) It has been pinned a lot here lately as people are planning for their 3 day weekends! I wasn't all that happy with the original graphic so I decided to update it a bit! Links for the sources are below!

It will probably be pretty quiet around here until Tuesday! Tomorrow is my last day at my part time job! As of 2 PM tomorrow afternoon I will officially be 100% self-employed. I am equal parts excited and terrified! This new chapter of life is sure to be full of ups and downs but I welcome them all with open arms because I know I am doing what I was made to do!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend with family and friends! I'd also appreciate it if you'd be a dear and head over to watch my story and donate so I can get back to Haiti this July! Thank you, kindly! :)

1 | I want to attend this backyard BBQ.

2 | Such a simple and beautiful dessert that would work for any party!

3 | Loving the streamers. I definitely think I need to make a plaid backdrop using this same technique...

4 | The hanging lanterns add a perfect whimsy, summer touch and the table spread is gorgeous! 

5 | I have never in my life thought of dressing up hot dogs, but after seeing these I can't figure out why?

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Help Me Get Back to Haiti!

If you read my blog often, you know that Haiti holds a special place in my heart. I am so excited to share that I am going back for a third time, this July! This time around, we won't be staying in Prosper, which makes me pretty sad because I would love to be able to see everyone I've met. Hopefully we'll at least be able to take a day to go up on the mountain, but we are going to be staying in the city and will be working at an orphanage - I can't wait!

I need $1,000 for my trip - which includes airfare, food and clean water while I'm on the ground in Haiti. Please watch my story and donate. I appreciate so much anything you are able to give! Anything over what I need for the trip I will use to purchase supplies we need to take over as well as help fellow group memebers who are still raising money for their way!

Thank you so much for your time and thank you so much to Nick at Thre3 Words Production Co. for taking my pictures and words and turning them into a story! I appreciate it so much! :) Be sure to check him out - great things ahead, for sure!

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Branding | Virula Imagery

Happy Monday, friends! Today I want to share a fun project I got to work on recently! Rebecca is an interior designer friend of mine and she is in the process of starting a new business venture. She is a very talented photographer (she actually has been shooting some SC products - can't wait to share with y'all!) and will soon be offering her services to the public! Becca loves seahorses and came up with the general concept for her logo so my job was pretty easy! I love how it turned out and how much Becca loves it - her response was one of the best to date! :) Stay tuned, folks! There's more to come from her soon! 

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Branding | AmyCakes Bakery

I'm so excited to be sharing this brand board today! Amy is a friend of mine who owns and operates the adorable bakery Amy Cakes! I designed her logo back when she first got started and we recently gave it a facelift! She is about to open up a brand new storefront (If you're ever in Miamisburg, OH - check it out!) so it was the perfect time to make a few changes! I can't wait to stop by and see her bakery the next time I'm in Southwest, Ohio! Congratulations, Amy!

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Make It Happen | May Goals

It's May 1st, y'all. How in the world did that happen? Time flies, as I've said many, many times before, which just emphasizes the thought for today. Today is the perfect day to start living your dreams. Can I get an AMEN? I have received a few emails asking how I got started with my business and any advice I might have for someone just getting started. My number one piece of advice is to just start. This is something I'm thankful I didn't think too much about in the beginning. Four years ago I got an idea and I just started. My business name was terrible and my first website was built using Webs.com. It was awful. But it's what I was able to do at the time. Slowly but surely my business and brand have evolved (and is still evolving) into something I love and am proud of. If I had waited for everything to be perfect I would still be waiting. There's no time like today, folks - get to it! ;)

And now, for my goals for May! Again, I'm keeping the list pretty short and easier to manage! :)

Get my apartment in order! Last month one of my goals was to get out of boxes which I have done a pretty good job at. This month my goal is to focus on getting organized! This also goes along with my word for 2013 (Organization). My bedroom and kitchen are in pretty good shape, but my bathroom and living room still need a lot of work!

Paint my rocking chairs and table. My aunt and uncle were kind enough to gift me not one, but TWO rocking chairs and a side table for my porch. They are handmade and absolutely beautiful! They are currently natural wood so they need primed and painted and I'm hoping to get that finished this month!

Wrap up graphics project for the website. While I decided to Go Ugly Early a few weeks back, that doesn't mean that I have stopped working towards my ultimate goal. I am in the process of working with my wonderful calligrapher again for a few more commissioned phrases and I am also now working with an extremely talented illustrator. These next few pieces of the Stephanie Creekmur puzzle are going to be so fun and I'm so excited to share them with all of you! It's all things I would have loved to have from the start, but remember - do what you can today with what you have now! It's OK if you have to do things in stages!

Will you be setting goals for May? How will you hold yourself accountable? Let me know! 

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