Get Inspired!

Hello All!

What a beautiful day it is today! The sun is shining and it is gorgeous out today therefore, I have scooped up my precious macbook and headed outside for the day. I have to take a minute and brag for a second, nothing too sappy I promise! I just want to reiterate to everyone out there that if you have a dream or a goal, take a good look at what it is that you need to start moving in that direction. I honestly can't even explain how nice it feels to be in charge of my own day. Being able to crank up my music (currently I am loving Jack and White and Florence + The Machine courtesy of Spotify) and just get lost in what I am doing wether it be blogging, sourcing, creating, -my whole day is mine! Now I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, I'm not completely on the "self employed train", right now I am still depending on a weekly paycheck from a part-time job to pay bills and that right now affords me the luxury to re-invest my funds into my business. The first thing I did for myself was work my butt off (ie prom season at GLAM:)) to save some funds to label "business start-up" to get me going, buy supplies, and create a mini safety net so I don't have a panic attack when my aforementioned paycheck fluctuates. It also helps that I am surrounded by the most positive and inspiring people, my husband, my family, my friends, they have all been so supportive! I have also realized that I have to set strict goals for myself, weekly!, to make sure that I am staying on task. Some of my more long term/overall goals are as follows:

1. Don't give in to your insecurities!

2. Write a blog post every day.

3. Revamp my brand for clearer focus and to prevent premature "burn-out" by trying to focus on too much.

4. Market my brand to target more brides.

5. Be completely self-employed within one year!

These are just a few of the goals I have for myself and for Libby & Jean, the list grows every day! I have already booked Libby & Jean for an upcoming bridal show in September 2012 (the HyVee Everything Bridal Show, yay!!). I have been blogging every day, and have an appointment to meet with my graphic designer guru friend to re-vamp my logo and overall brand image tonight! I also follow blogs within my industry to stay on top of trends and to get inspired!

Two of my absolute faves:

Kat Williams of Rock N Roll Bride -Kat is truly an inspiration for me! She is a UK based bridal blogger promoting real weddings and wedding vendors that embrace the non-traditional wedding. I follow her blog like a hawk and soak up her business advice and industry insights like a sponge. She is truly amazing! I have even been so lucky to have had the chance to meet her when she was in the US for 2011 Omaha Fashion Week to help promote a friends new line (the, also extremely talented and inspirational, Omaha based designer, Princess Lasertron)

Kat and I outside the AIDS Benefit/Mondo Guerra Meet-N-Greet in Omaha, NE. 

Pink hair and tattoos-nuff said, she rocks!!

Liene Stevens of Think Splendid- Liene runs one of my favorite industry blogs. She's a tough cookie that tells it like it is! She compiles, interprets, and shares industry information on how Millenials (my generation!) operate within the wedding industry from decisions regarding how, what, and why they shop/live/think the way they do. Extremely interesting and beneficial to small and large business alike. I have set a goal for myself that within this year I will make it to one of her speaking engagements! She also has a book out right now, Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace, that details changes in marketing to the wedding industry based on the changes in the way Millenials operate. I bought my copy from AMAZON.com, cannot wait to start reading!

So to wrap things up, message of the day is to GET INSPIRED!! Go do what makes you happy! I promise it will change your life!