ASOS Africa

I currently have no plans to go to Africa, but if I did, I probably still wouldn't wear these. But I love the patterns and the colors and will totally wear them every day in New York! See more of the ASOS Africa collection here!

Inspiration: Elmery

Elmery

Being the owner of a small business can be so daunting whether it's your full-time gig or something on the side. To keep yourself going, it's so important to stay in touch with others doing similar work and learn from their stories. I found Seowyee Loh on Etsy one day and ended up going to her site and finding this really inspiring video about her and her work. I love her aesthetic and focus, and it reminds me that focusing my own line is one of my short-term goals and I need to get on it!

It's also interesting that this video was to promote Levi's Curve ID jeans, because it was thrown in there a little randomly. How does her butt size have to do with her work?

Side note: oh, to be a Slight or Demi curve! I could buy pants at Zara or H&M! At American Eagle! Anywhere! Instead, I am Bold. I shake my fist at you, butt.

Should I get with this, or should I get with that?

I got some amazing kelly green patent leather last week, and I plan to use it in part as bag handles for canvas totes. I'm debating navy or black for the men's bag. What do you think? Leave me a comment!

And a little more color inspiration: New York subway tiles

Inspiration

I am not the kind of person that goes around being all New Age-y and spiritual, but this talk from this year's Social Media Week, Do It For Love AND Money, was so inspirational. These women are so hardcore and smart, and they have amazing advice for anyone wanting to change their career. I highly recommend it for anyone, but for women especially. Just a few bits of advice I found most relevant for me:

• Get used to talking about money. Women aren't used to it, so start doing it, and the more you do it, the more matter-of-fact it seems and the more comfortable you'll be.
• Just because you like doing something doesn't mean it isn't worth money.
• People value you at the amount you value yourself. If you don't charge much for what you do, people won't see the value in it.
• The thing you're meant to do that makes you happiest is not necessarily the thing other people recognize you're good at. In your job, you may be known for being an amazing bookkeeper, but that doesn't mean that's what you're doomed to do. Choose the things you'd still be interested in doing if there were no people around to ask you for your time and energy.

Watch it ASAP! You can watch the rest of the Social Media Week 2012 talks online too, although their idea of organization is really unlike any other.