Good afternoon! I got back from Denver last night and rolled in my apartment just before midnight. The entire experience was awesome, I had so much fun working with the ladies at American Express OPEN and the Score folks as well. I also made a new friend, Amanda, who was my social media co-panelist and co-founder of Think So out of NYC.

[I will also mention quickly that the red bag I packed and photographed earlier this week is a Jack Gomme purchased at Spare Parts, an adorable shop around the corner from my apartment who also sells Jess LC.]

In other news, a super-secret blogger from Texas and her husband are flying in tomorrow morning to model and shoot our new Diversey lookbook. And to make things even more crazy, we also have a Macy’s trunk show tomorrow night on State St. from 5:30p-11p. Feel free to stop by and say hi, I’ll be there in the first half of the event and Melissa will be finishing up the show.

Saying Yes to Life

As you know, my life looks totally different now than it did just seven days ago. And with it has come a wave of highs, lows, and opportunities. I’ve also realized that over the past year or two I became comfortable in my life, I was happy and content. Within that contentment, I was comfortable with saying no to opportunities that did not align with my intentions. For example, I loved nesting and being at home more than traveling. So I wouldn’t seek out opportunities to travel unless it was for something major like a marathon or business trip. I also didn’t see a huge benefit to networking without a specific purpose. I liked to stay in on one of the weekend nights and just relax. I preferred one-on-one interactions over large groups. I went mostly to my favorite local bars and restaurants close to home. I even liked ordering the same meal each and every time I went to dinner.

The up-side to this life was that it was exactly as I liked it. I only did things that had a known positive outcome. I didn’t waste my time doing things that might not align with my intentions. It was like I created a security blanket of ‘no’s’ that kept me warm, safe, and secure in the little life I enjoyed so much.

…

Then the move happened and what I “wanted” is not available to me anymore. I am forced to go off-roading on the life plan I mapped out so meticulously. My main goals and destination is still the same, but how I will get there has been altered. Life has something different in store for me. Something I didn’t plan. Something I didn’t ask for.

And though right now I have no idea what the hell that new life looks like, I have decided to have faith that it is even bigger, more rewarding, more satisfying, than the life I had planned. Even though I don’t know why it’s happening yet, I trust that it’s not happening for any other reason than to make me a better person.

Given that I don’t know where Life is leading me, I have decided to just start saying yes to things that I may not normally choose.

I’m saying yes to travel for work and play when the opportunities arise.

I’m saying yes to meeting new people and going out in larger groups.

I’m saying yes to networking without an objective.

I’m saying yes to letting tomorrow sort itself out and to doing the best I can today.

I’m saying yes to living life without the answers.

I think by saying yes to these new unknowns, I will start to be guided towards the path that Life has in store for me. And though there may be some new things that don’t work out for the best, overall I will have a better chance at finding happiness where I may least expect it.

I’d love to show all of the apartment, but I’ve been asked to keep the pictures private for an exciting reveal in a few months via another source… I’d say more, but I don’t want to give anything away just yet.

Here’s what I am able to show you though, enjoy!

First, I’ll start with the dresser/nightstand I found last week the day before I moved. This little guy got a pretty sweet makeover with two coats of primer and two coats of white glossy paint. Eventually I want to get real gold hardware for it, but in the meantime I simply spray painted the existing hardware gold.

I’ve also been working on a few pieces of art during the past few weeks for my bathroom and bedroom. Here are two of the easiest DIY art projects ever.

This. Cannot. Be. Any. Easier.

I took a canvas and taped strips of hot pink masking tape to it on different angles and called it a day. I love how it brightens up the bathroom and brings your eye up in what is a pretty small space. I got the canvas half off at Michaels ($16) and ordered the hot pink tape on Amazon ($15 with shipping).

This project took slightly more time than the masking tape, but was well worth the effort. I painted two canvases gold and made dozens of white felt flowers using these instructions and then hot glued them to the canvases. They will go above my headboard… when I have a headboard. I got the canvases half off ($16 each), bought bronze paint ($8), and about 12-15 squares of white felt ($.29 each).

This project was all about cutting layers and layers of white felt petals using right handed scissors left-handedly. Not so gentle on my thumb, but as they say, no pain, no gain.

And today I’m now getting Susie back into the swing of things in the new space and training our new intern/assistant, Melissa, for two hours. Then I’m off to Denver, Colorado to speak for American Express about small business and social media. I was thrilled to be asked to be on their speakers panel last week and quickly made arrangements to attend. Though it is in the middle of our lookbook photoshoot week as well, I am determined to make it work.

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here on Thursday!

As for my life lately… I officially begin moving my stuff into my new apartment tomorrow morning. Over the past week or two I’ve been busy preparing for the move, buying new furniture, decorating the space over and over in my head, and enjoying the last few weeks living with Erwin. It has been one heck of an emotional roller coaster, let me tell you. Sleeping has become a relatively distant memory. But I’ve had the most amazing support system of friends to help me privately through the hard (and extremely hard) parts. Prayer and meditation have helped as well.

I have a few little updates to fill you in on the shop and the apartment transformation:

The Jess LC  Update: Franklin Pendants Arrived! + Shop Temporary Closing

Franklin Pendants

The new Franklin pendants arrived! I’m thrilled to say that you can now go on and order your pendant with the corrected braille. And though the whole misspelling ordeal was not ideal, these new pedants were worth the wait. We now have them Palladium plated (they are still vermeil [gold coated sterling silver], but Palladium is a bit fancier than nickle-plating) and our guys did a great job with these new pieces.

Fall Samples + Photoshoot

We also got our fall pendants in, and they are awesome. I can’t wait to shoot the lookbook on September, 11th. A certain super secret fashion blogger is flying in from Texas with her husband to model for the shoot!

Temporary Shop Closing

And during the move, I am “closing the shop” so that I can get everything situated properly. Which means orders placed between now and Labor Day will be filled next week after Tuesday.

Apartment Transformation

Literally three hours ago after a morning run walk with my friend Cathy (hi, Cathy!), I came back to my apartment building to find this little guy sitting on the curb. Up to this point, I have been unable to find the perfect bedside table for the new place, and I’d decided to just move in and wait until I found the right size/shape. But this over sized nightstand had my name all over it for the right price: FREE. I’ve been pining after the glamorous white and gold campaign dressers I’ve seen in the pages of Lonny and this puppy is going to get a head to toe makeover! To be continued…

In the meantime, this is what my bedroom looks like currently. Pretty glam, right? I kid, I kid. These few pieces will be making their way to my new place bright and early tomorrow. In the meantime, sleeping on the ground is kind of odd.

I should also mention that I’ve turned the apartment into an Ikea Lack factory over the past two days. After a huge blowout trip to Ikea on Sunday with a friend, I have been building bookshelves faster than you can imagine. I promise, they all will should fit in the new place. And they will should look amazing.

Phew. I’m exhausted. I think it’s time for a nap.

And again, thanks for sending the kind thoughts my way; I have soaked every single one in and I can feel the grace.

Can I please just start off by saying that I’m terribly nervous to be here?  I’m kind of equating Jess letting me guest blog for today to that idiot “pants on the ground” guy on American Idol.  Not talented, but should probably be shown to America in order to be mocked continuously.  Hopefully I will crush this prospect and wow all of you amazing followers with wit, charm, and maybe even more guest posts in the future!

Now that we are familiar with one another, why don’t I tell you why I’m here?  I live in Washington, DC and I am a twenty-something who loves food and fashion but on a budget.  Wanna be friends? Great!  I reached out to Jess not only because I read her blog religiously but also because I think I could offer some advice on MMLing from another perspective.  I’d like to think I’m a combination of Jess and Heidi; I don’t like clutter but I love buying pretty things (Jess) and I love to love myself but sometimes I forget to (Heidi).

I think what I would like to write about is the dos and don’ts of making yourself smile.  Everyday.

Do:

• Have confidence in your abilities
• Give yourself space to take breaks every now and then
• Start your to-do list with a task you’ve already done
• Begin thinking about lunch at 9:35 A.M
• Be truthful about your own feelings. If you are happy, acknowledge the joy. If you are sad, acknowledge the sorrow
• Put cheese on top of any meal, it just makes it better

Don’t

• Question your abilities- if you haven’t noticed, you rock.
• Be afraid of not knowing the answer, the future, or all of the above
• Worry about the number on the scale- worry if you look too freakin’ gorgeous for work
• Try to please everyone, you will always be disappointed
• Burn the popcorn
• Put yourself down.  Ever.

These are just the start of some things that I think are so important to remind yourself of today.  We all have busy schedules, invitations, meetings, stressful relationships; sometimes it’s hard to balance and focus.  Hey, it’s OK!  Delegate the tasks that you can, I know you’re Superwoman but didn’t you know that’s why they gave her a cape?  So she can fly over all of her tasks and to-dos and look at the big picture from above. Everything will get done.  If you read MML then I know you already take pride in your work and worry about disappointing others from time to time.  Remember, worry causes wrinkles and let’s be honest, you can dress up or dress down Jess LC’s collection, but do you really want to do it with worry lines?  Exactly.  Smile.

Like Kelsey?  You can find also find her at thecapitalbarbie.blogspot.com

Hello again MML readers.  It’s Heidi from To Be Luminous again.  One of the questions I get most often is why I call my coaching practice “To Be Luminous.”  Recently I’ve written a Luminous Acclamation- a manifesto so to speak that defines what a luminous woman is and what my practice represents.
Enjoy!  And don’t forget to enter the give away for six weeks of free coaching or contact me about my six week coaching sale.  Have an amazing day.
-Heidi

Luminous Acclamation

A luminous woman glows from the inside out, radiating light, warmth and energy that is undeniable and magnetic.  She is fabulously unique and unlike anyone you’ve ever met, because she  is herself, from the crown of her head to the tip of her toes.  She lives aligned with her values.  There are no facades for the luminous woman!

A luminous woman knows when to be still and knows when to laugh out loud.  She is both lively and serene, but whatever the occasion, she is perfectly alive.  She balances her life thoughtfully processing her moments and days as needed, yet lives with wild abandon often.

A luminous woman lights up a room because she is the most phenomenal version of herself.  She doesn’t strive to be anyone else.  She is a perfect blend of all those unique  and quirky characteristics that define her.  She has that magnetic ability to appear perfectly herself in any situation.

A luminous woman is luminous 100 percent of the time regardless of her circumstances.  She is the thermometer and allows everyone else to adjust to her temperature.  She’s accommodating and loving, and she is confident enough to think more of others before herself.

A luminous woman understands that she needs to take care of her needs in order to help those around her.  She takes time to center herself daily to fortify her from the natural storms of life and to ensure she is able to listen to her inner-intuitive voice.  This voice is what helps her serenely navigate through even the most tumultuous times and is what helps her know what events, changes and obstacles in life are important, and which ones can be left behind.

A luminous woman knows who she is and that she has something unique to offer the world.  She understands that each individual she comes in contact with has something of value to offer her, and never repudiates anyone for any apparent differences or flaws.

A luminous woman is pure inside and out.  She’s not perfect, but she is beautifully authentic.  She doesn’t pose or pretend to be anything she is not.  She is comfortable with her life yet continually strives for something better, knowing that it is in the process of reaching that miracles occur.

A luminous woman is kind.  A luminous woman accepts others for who they are and who they are not.  She allows everyone room to grow and to change and allows herself the same opportunity.  She speaks encouraging words to herself and to others.

A luminous woman understands that there is enough darkness and negativity in the world.  She is willing to take a stand for joy, laughter, and uplifting everyone around her. She seeks serenity, energy, personal discovery, value alignment, and confidence.  A luminous woman is a woman of action and determination.  She is always in the mode of accomplishing something of great worth.

[Photos courtesy of istock]

Photo credit: Matt Smith/James Breeden/PacificCoastNews.com

This just in! My PR ladies sent me an email last night saying that they found photos of Ali Fedotowsky, of this season’s The Bachelorette walking with her fiancé, Roberto while wearing a Jess LC Franklin Be Present Necklace!

I was shocked, thrilled, and so happy to know that she loves the necklace as much as I do! I wear the same one, the Be Present with a pearl, everyday myself.

In other news…

I’d also like to give a little update about MML. I can safely say that this move and transition in my life is starting to hit me and I’m feeling a roller coaster of emotions. And in typical Jess fashion, I’m going to give myself some time to go through whatever I’m feeling and then come out later when I’m ready and share what I’ve learned here on MML. In the meantime, I’ve decided to invite a few guest writers to come in and share their inspiring ideas for the next week or two. This way I can take care of myself properly and then come back to MML better than ever (kind of like the old “put the oxygen mask on your face before helping others”).

“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address..”

-Joe Fox from You’ve Got Mail

To Be Luminous Coaching Giveaway

photo credit

I loved, loved, loved working with my last free coaching client from MML and am offering another free series of  6 coaching sessions to a reader who comments!  I’m also opening up a coaching sale to MML readers who set up their initial (free) consultation in the next week.  You’ll get six coaching sessions for only $250.  Just email me at hlslovacek@gmail.com and mention MML in your initial consultation request or with any questions you have.  Of course, if you win the free six sessions, you won’t pay anything.

As you start pulling out your wrap-me-up clothes and start planning your new fall routines, why not take stock and get a jump start on the resolutions you know you’ll be making come January?  Which area do you want to work on?

After having a great lunch and a long talk with Stacy, an MML reader, I’ve decided to make a few changes here on MML for the rest of August. The transitions in my relationship, apartment, and business happening in two weeks have taken a much larger toll on my energy level than I anticipated. This week I find myself mentally and physically (plus sometimes emotionally) exhausted from all the change and preparation. Juggling the move, break up, business, and blog is a lot to handle day in and day out.

And rather than trying to push through and run myself into the ground, I think I am best off concentrating on concentration. During the next two weeks I want to do less things, but with better quality. I want to be more present in each aspect of this phase and give myself time to rest and refuel during the process. It’s kind of like marathon training, I can do a bunch of miles for the sake of running, but that often that leads to injuries, fatigue, and burn out. Instead, it is often best to run less often and have higher quality workouts. The rest in between the runs makes for a stronger performance overall. And though I love writing here on MML five times a week, I am going to post on only Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until Labor Day.

By posting just three times a week, I can really concentrate on producing fewer, more thought provoking posts. By doing less, I hope I’m actually more helpful. And I know it will do wonders for my own mental outlook. I’ve also decided in the spirit of concentration to end the Makeunder My Week series on Mondays and just add more day-to-day updates in the intros of my weekly posts.

In addition, I’m excited to take this chance to stop and prepare for all of the awesome-ness that I have in store for MML this fall. With the start of our new intern/assistant for Jess LC in September, I am going to have much more time to ramp up the volume on my “feistiness” which was so well received a few weeks ago. I know MML is my purpose, and I’m excited to have more time than ever to really make a difference and produce powerful posts.

So thanks for understanding about the temporary change of pace on MML and thank you for all of your support while I go through this change. Your comments have meant so much to me and remind me why I love my purpose and am on the right path.

Though I haven’t mentioned it before, I’ve decided to go on vacation during the entire month of August. In fact, I’ve been on vacation for the past two weeks and it will continue through the weeks to come as well.

But I haven’t missed one day of work and I’m not going on any major trips.

I’ve simply decided to go on vacation from worrying, judging, and over-thinking things.

This idea originally came from a message from Joyce Meyer several months ago and it never quite left my head. I could argue that this month has the potential to be the most worrisome, stressful, frustrating, depressing, and impatient four weeks I’ve experienced since graduating from college. However, to avoid the mental gymnastics my ego could certainly produce at the drop of a hat, I’ve chosen to step outside it’s crazy tendencies and “go on vacation.”

Though I certainly feel emotions when they arise – laughing and crying as needed – I realize that I have the ability in large part to step aside from a lot of the chaos in my brain involving judgment, projecting into the future, over-planning, worrying, stressing out, and just basically putting my emotional well-being where I really have no control.

To honor the fact that I’m releasing my concern over things I don’t have control over, I tied a green bracelet on my wrist. Like the yellow “no complaint” string, this little reminder helps me bring myself back to my intention whenever I start to get carried away by the “what ifs,” “if onlys,” and “never agains.” I simply let those worries go and focus on what actions I can take and need to in order to function in my life peacefully. I still grow my business, pay my bills, write on MML, love my relationship, and prepare for my new apartment – I just do each thing one at a time and take it day by day.

Obviously peace is easier to maintain on some days than others, but overall I am so thankful that I’ve decided to “go on vacation” for the month. Knowing my tendency to over-think things (just ask my dad about my high school basketball career), I can imagine I’ve saved myself from boatloads of suffering just by keeping this simple intention. Which means that by sharing it with you, I hope you consider trying something similar yourself if you are like me and tend to question life just a little too much.

Let’s raise a metaphorical margararita, kick back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Today I’m back to share steps two and three of the makeunder I’m doing for my new apartment. I shared step one, create a vision, last week. Here’s how I’m using the makeunder process for the next two phases:

Due to the nature of this transition and makeunder (moving out of a two bedroom apartment with my boyfriend to a one bedroom on my own), you can imagine that there is a lot of stuff which is naturally being exfoliated. The scale of the exfoliations are more on the level of “chemical peel” than “gentle salt scrub” and for this reason, I’m choosing not to dwell to much on this phase here on MML or in real life.

Thankfully, we have done a fantastic job looking out for one another’s best interest and we have easily and peacefully decided who is getting what items in the apartment. The general rule of thumb is anything that we purchased or brought to the existing apartment is our own to take with us at the end of the month. And the only major joint purchase we made was our large sectional, which he generously offered to me.

However, I will not have the following items to bring with me to the new space: mattress, bed-frame, kitchen table, club chair, bookshelves, bedside tables, toaster, iron, vacuum, etc. The list goes on but the rest isn’t terribly interesting. In fact, I am finding that whenever I am in doubt about who should get something, I lean on the side of giving it to him so that he has what he needs for his space, and I get to get new things for this next stage. Because if there is one thing I enjoy, it is shopping and decorating for a new place.

Speaking of shopping and decorating, this brings me to…

Ah, this is where the fun begins! No matter what I may be feeling at any point in this journey, this one step brings me happiness and joy. I have always loved decorating since the day I got my first Ethan Allen catalog in the mail when I was eight. At the time, I swore that when I had a place of my own, I would decorate it in granny apple green and cobalt blue. But now that the moment has finally arrived… I’m thinking white, gold, coral, and light blue. No lime green or bright blue to be found. Funny how life turns out, huh?

Anyways, here is a little collage of some of the items that I need and want, including: mattress, bed-frame/headboard, chair for living room, chair for bedroom, bookcases, striped curtains, bulletin board, etc.

I have lots of other cool things in store as well, but I want to save those things for the big reveal once I move : ).

The nice thing about step three of the makeunder process is that it allows me to clearly think about what I need in my apartment to help me fulfill my vision from step one without getting distracted by other things that I might see while shopping. By creating a list of items I’d like before I move into the space, my focus is narrowed to what I truly need. It also allows me to plan my spending accordingly.

All month I’ve been on a “saving spree” when it comes to fun items like clothing, bar, and makeup purchases. I now weigh those wants against something like my new headboard, and the decision to save the money is easy.

Now the next step involves actually moving and ordering the new furniture. In the weeks to come I’ll be sharing bits and pieces of the process as things start to come together.

Hi Guys,

Whew! I took a mini-weekend trip to Rochester, Michigan this weekend to see my hometown. I hadn’t been back in town since my parents moved to a Philadelphia suburb two and a half years ago. It was a bit surreal to walk the streets with my childhood best friend, Carol Beth, and revisit the places we used to go as fourth-graders. But it’s also awesome that she’s now moved back to Rochester herself with her husband, so I can come visit as often as I like. And if it weren’t for the grueling six to seven hour train ride, I’d probably go back a lot more often.

Anyways, while I was there, we picked up a People Magazine (August, 16th issue) and found none other than our Division Teardrop neckalce sitting on Sarah Rue’s lovely neck on page 4! Though it would be amazing to say I “just happened to notice the feature” the truth is that my awesome PR firm, Red Light PR secured the spot via a People stylist picking up my samples in their office and then using them in the photo shoot. But either way, it’s pretty darn cool. A few months ago I promised myself I’d celebrate my first major piece of print PR with a pedicure — I envisioned getting my foot massage while looking at the piece of Jess LC jewelry in the magazine. And now that it’s finally happened, you can guess where I’ll be this afternoon. : )

In other news, I’ve been getting several emails about the discounted Franklin necklaces. We had removed them from the site for a few days so we could catch up on our inventory and orders. Now that we are caught up on everything we have re-posted the discounted Be Brave, Be Thankful, and Breathe necklaces, but our quantities are very limited in each style. And of course, all of the pre-order Franklin necklaces are all available for purchase and will ship by September 1st.

This week I’m excited to start finalizing decorating decisions for the new apartment. Which means I’ll be posting the makeunder steps two and three for the space tomorrow. I have to admit, the bittersweet-ness of these last few weeks living with Erwin has started to really sink in. But I keep remembering is an evolution, not an ending.

Have a great week,

Jess!

Lisa won last week’s Mischief by Loki giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who commented and entered. : )

Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time here on MML talking about business, purpose, and taking actions because that’s what I’ve been focusing on myself this summer. However, there is another important aspect of MML that hasn’t gotten as much attention: simplifying and tailoring our spaces to reflect our visions.

But, since I’m going to be moving in just three weeks, I’m now spending a lot of time thinking about my new space and what I want it to look like, feel like, and how it needs to function for me and Jess LC. Making under is also the root of MML and I’m going to spend the next several days explaining step by step how I put the makeunder process to work for myself. I hope that it is helpful in understanding how I think about making under and how you might want to incorporate similar principals in your own space and life. So without further delay, I bring you my vision for my new space.

Step One: Create a Vision

First, let’s talk about the transition…

In order to really understand the vision for the space, we really need to understand the transition that I’m making. One year ago I moved into my current apartment with my boyfriend and we consolidated our stuff to this single space. However, at this point in time, we are choosing to take a different path and continue our relationship as friends. Though this is the last thing I expected to happen twelve months ago, I accept this transition and have faith that it is for the best.

This also means that I recently got rid of many pieces of furniture and now need some pretty major items like a mattress, bed, bookshelves, and a tv, among others. It also means that I need to change my paradigm from one of “us” to “me.” I need to make these decision for myself, without compromise, without agreement. To many, this might seem obvious (and even ideal). I get to decide exactly what I want, no questions asked. But to be honest, after three and a half happy years making decisions together, this is more than a bit strange for me. I need to learn to embrace this new independence and look at it as empowering.

I need to also make sure I ask myself what I really want without waiting for a second opinion. This space is all about me being me. It is also a chance for me to discover who I am after such a long, deep, relationship. This is the first time I am single as an adult post-college.

So, after reflecting on the transition, a few things are clear about this makeunder:

• I need to make sure I embrace my individual style and choose things that make me 100% happy.
• I can take this opportunity as a chance to feel empowered. I get to call the shots and decide things that weren’t in my jurisdiction before (ie: television choice). I also get to decorate using things that weren’t agreed upon before like hot pink art for the bathroom.
• I need to acquire a fair amount of new furniture and ‘stuff.’ Though most makeunders involve a lot of exfoliating, the nature of this move involves half of my belongings being taken away at the get-go. Opening up space for many new things going forward.

Now, let’s talk about what I want this space to feel like…

I will state right away that though I am moving within the building, with an identical floor plan and identical finishes, I want this space to feel very different from my current apartment. I don’t want to feel like I’m living in the carcass of an old relationship. A fresh start, a fresh space. I want this space to feel complete, because it is a reflection of me; I am complete just as I am, in or out of a serious relationship.

When I walk in the door, I want to feel cheerful, bright, and awake. For the space to emanate those feelings, I would like bright white bookshelves, crisp white paint, pops of color like coral, gold, and light blue. I want the furniture and accessories to be polished, chic, and pulled together. I want everything to have a place. I even want my closets to be beautiful and organized. I only want to own what I need, use, and love.

When I think about similar spaces that embody these traits, my inspiration automatically comes from Summer Thornton’s Lincoln Park home (photo credit).

To keep my space beautifully edited and consistent, I’m going to keep these ideas in mind as I identify what I exfoliate (step two) and what I make an intentional obsession (step three).

I also want the space to accommodate the following activities…

Going from a two bedroom apartment to a one bedroom apartment means I need to move my studio space from the second bedroom to the main living room. Though this is necessary, I want to make sure the living room does not feel like a studio at all times, it should serve the business functions when necessary but also be discrete. I can do this by using beautiful home goods as storage and by exfoliating unnecessary items ruthlessly. If something does not serve a purpose in order fulfillment or inventory, it does not need to be in the apartment. Using a rolling cart which can go in the closet at the end of the day will also help conceal items during off hours.

All in all, this is my chance to have a “single girl apartment in the city.” Though many take the opposite path and go from single apartment to shared, my path is a bit different. And I’m okay with that. I intend to take it all in stride and savor each decorating decision and embrace my femininity. (I even bought myself a housewarming gift: a coral, gold, and white candle which smells like flowers.)

Hi guys! I just want to pop in and say that Susie and I are still busy chipping away at the orders from last weekend – the response was so much bigger than expected and we are filling orders as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, my longtime friend, Krista, sent me some photos of “vintage” Jess LC jewelry from high school. Though not quite as ugly as my first piece of jewelry, these bracelets are still testaments to how much one can improve given nine years of moving forward and trying new things. Perfection is impossible, but even excellence takes time to achieve.

So please take this as a reminder that you will improve from wherever you are now, so far beyond your own expectations that you will surprise yourself. I know my 17 year-old self would not have been able to dream up anything I’ve done in the past three years. — And I hope that what I’m doing in three years is beyond any expectation I could have at this point in time.

Hi Guys,

Good afternoon! I am a bit late in posting today because we had a secret sale this weekend for people on the Jess LC email list (sign up is on the top right of our homepage). There was such a huge response to the deal that I’ve been quite busy prepping, printing, and packing for Susie; and I only now have a moment between order filling to stop in and say hi.

While I’m on the topic of jewelry, I will also point out that we now have pre-order pages available to get the new, corrected braille necklaces as soon as they arrive (we are expecting pre-orders to ship to customers before September 1st).

In other news, I want to thank you all for the resounding response to last week’s more “feisty” posts. You have encouraged me to keep speaking what I believe and feeling more confident in what I want to say. I hope to bring more fearless posts in the future as well. Because, at the end of the day, whatever helps people design a better life is what I am trying to provide here on MML.

As far as the new apartment decorating goes, I appreciate all of your votes for the West Elm bed a few weeks back. I think you are totally right and I can’t wait to order the bed for September. I am now debating between arm chairs to go in the living room next to the big toffee colored sectional. I’m feeling these two yellow chairs on Target.com. I prefer the fabric a bit more in this chair, but love the shape of this chair. What are your thoughts? Either one I think would look lovely paired with these chevron yellow/white curtains by Nena Von on Etsy…

(photo by Becki Schleis)

Since I’m talking about the details of the new place, it can’t hurt to do a shout out about two pieces of furniture that need to be passed on to new owners. The white loveseat in the header photo and this black desk are too large for the new space. I’m selling the white denim couch (an Ikea Ektorp loveseat priced at $579) for $300. Since the couch has been in our bedroom for most of it’s short three year life, it has got surprisingly little use and is crisp, clean with only a few smudges on the slipcover- which most likely will come out in the wash. And the new owner can even keep the adorable Dwell Studio pillow (shown) if they like. The couch is available for pick up anytime.

The desk has seen a bit more use but is still perfectly solid and great. There only major thing to note is some water stains on the top. I’m willing to part with the desk (originally from Target.com priced at $299) for just $80 if the new owner can pick it up sometime the week of August 30th. If you are interested in either of these two items and can come pick them up in East Lakeview, please email me at jess@jesslc.com. I’d rather have these items go to someone here on MML than a random stranger : ).

Have a great day,

Jess!

Thanks for the awesome comments and email stories shared in response to this morning’s post, What to do when you don’t know your purpose (yet)! This week has given me some incredible insights into ways I can create some kind of class for MML in January and February. I’ll be sure to ask for more help with that over the next few months…

In the meantime, Janelle, a MML reader emailed me this incredible analogy and I think it could be helpful for anyone else who thinks they might be alone in the “dark” phase of their life as well.

Enjoy!

Janelle’s Story: Lost in a Forest

I’ve been feeling pretty lost lately, and now I’m started to feel so inspired and ready to take action. It’s funny, after reading your post today, I started thinking…I’m feeling lost in life, so what if I were lost in a forest? (Sorry this is SO cliche, but the image works for me so I just went with it!) Would I just sit there and cry and complain and give up, and just plop down on the ground in that one spot and not move? I might, for a little while, but it clearly wouldn’t get me anywhere. I’d still be lost and confused and sad.

But if I just started walking, I would at least be attempting to get somewhere. I may move in the wrong direction, but I would soon find that out, and then just turn and move in another direction and try that path instead. Eventually, I would get out and be exactly where I was meant to be – but that would never happen if I didn’t get up and start moving – anywhere. I could sit there and hope for someone to show up and rescue me, but the chances of that happening would be very slim.

So I started thinking about this realistically and applying it to my situation with my life right now, and it totally made sense for me. I’ve been so upset for so long, but have just remained stagnant and haven’t attempted to go anywhere, in hopes that someone else would tell me what to do. I’m still not sure where I’m going or what to do, but I know I need to do SOMETHING, anything. And then I’ll start figuring things out.

As promised on Monday, I’m going to share something that I realized while talking to, Stephanie, an MML reader who recently left the job she knew wasn’t her calling in order fulfill her purpose. The only problem is, she doesn’t know what that purpose or next step might be…

Yet.

As we talked over coffee, it became clear that she was serious about fulfilling her purpose, and equally bewildered as to what that might actually be.

At first, I was perplexed. I meet a lot of people who know what they want to do but haven’t actually designed their life around that intention. In those cases, I try to help them remove the personal barriers blocking their dream. Usually there is some kind of mental obstacle that they feel is compelling them to stay in their dissatisfied situation rather than taking the leap of faith.

In Stephanie’s case however, she jumped in trusting that she was making the right move. But once she made the decision, her purpose didn’t magically materialize. I think that there are many others out there who also, like Stephanie, don’t know what they want to do just yet.

It’s like being in a dark room without a crack of light underneath a door to lead you to the next stage.

Once you see a speck of light, your eyes can adjust to the darkness and guide you to the door and you can walk into the next room pretty easily. But how do you find the doorknob in a pitch black room?

You start feeling around.

Though I’ve mentioned the ego vs. spirit before, I will recap really quickly: I believe we have two voices in our heads, our ego and our spirit/gut/intuition. Both messages are present at all times but we often hear the ego’s rationalizing, fearful, and prideful voice shouting over the spirit’s cool, calm, knowledge and understanding.

When you are in a “dark room” in your life, instead of frantically looking around with your ego’s eyes for a light source, a rationale, a prescribed set of beliefs about your purpose; take a moment to start feeling from your gut. In the dark room, use your your spirit to guide you towards what feels right for your life in the same way that you use your hands to feel for furniture in the darkness.

Start to have faith that your gut will lead you towards the door when the time is right. Start to pay attention to the feelings you get in your stomach which drive you towards some things and away from others. Try to ignore the white noise coming from your ego. You can even do what I do and pray that the white noise is drowned out by the spirit’s voice. (Yep, there is no secret formula, I still struggle with the spirit/ego thing too, I just ask for help to pull the voices apart from one another – and turn up the volume on my spirit so loudly I can’t help but follow it.)

In the darkness, if you learn to identify and follow your spirit with faith and patience, you will be rewarded with the clarity you are looking for when the time is right (which is not necessarily when your ego wants things to happen). And even more importantly, you will have then developed the spirit muscles needed to lead you once you open that door and follow your path to the next stage. Otherwise, it’s too tempting to just let your “ego eyes” do all the work and never really reflect or produce what is truly meaningful for you.

Think of it this way, if we are never forced into a situation that causes us to find a way to deal with uncertainty through faith, we will never develop the skills needed to blaze a trail that is truly our own, truly our destiny.

So please treat this phase of your life reverently, it is going to build you up and take you farther than you ever imagined if you consistently listen, trust, and follow to your spirit.

Thanks for the resounding response, comments, emails, and tweets about yesterday’s post. I normally don’t get too fired up when writing here – but I’ve felt the urge this week to really nail what I’m learning home here on MML and with Piper, our lovely and talented MML Dream Reporter. My perspective on business is changing pretty rapidly over the past two months and I want to share this with all of you so you can use it in your own lives.

Below is an adapted letter I wrote to Piper about advice and getting too reliant on other’s expertise at the expense of our own innate guidance. I have adapted it to suit many of you who shared that you felt similarly caught in the comparison and advice trap. I hope it’s helpful for you as well.

A Letter to All Small Business Newbies

Let me start off by saying I don’t think that advice is always a bad thing, but I think too much of it lends itself to the phenomenon I mentioned in yesterday’s post, Produce Your Own Success Story. I don’t know what it is, but I’m feeling bolder, and more insistent upon you, myself, and everyone for that matter, to start writing our own stories and figuring things out by trial and error. It’s totally underrated in the online world which promises “experts” of every kind telling you how to use twitter, grow a business, grow a blog, grow a garden, even grow penises (ugh, I hate those spam emails!).

Sure, there can be information that help us save some time, but in the end I only know what I “know” about business and blogging because I have done what I’ve “done” for the past 11 years with Jess LC and 1.5 years with MML. I only know more than you because I simply have out “done” you- I have simply “done” more things. And as you go along your “done” to “haven’t tried yet” ratio will shift and you will start to gain more confidence. Just rest assured that you are doing the right thing. Keep blogging, keep commenting, keep going forward with the next step in your business, just keep going! In a way, (and I don’t want to get too strong, but I feel really passionately about this) it is like you are running a marathon and you keep asking each mile how to run. But really, all you have to do is just keep running. Period. Sure, there are different aspects of the business that you are dealing with, but the main ultimate act is “starting a business” that is constant. And so each mile along the way may have a slightly different tone or task, but the general direction is still the same – keep running, just keep going.

Side Note: Asking for advice and looking for reassurance is different than seeking out cut and dry information. If you need to get your DBA (Doing Business As) you can ask someone, “How do you get a DBA in Ohio?” That is something that is simply a gap in process. You can find this information by asking someone who has a DBA or by looking it up online. It is a black and white answer. That is totally fine to keep doing as often as you need. If you need to know how to register your URL, that is completely understandable and black and white. BUT anything that is not a black and white, concrete answer counts as “advice” – how to grow a blog or business is different for everyone and is open to interpretation — and where you are getting stuck thinking too much. That is where I suggest you stop reaching out and start reaching within.

And in a way, I totally resonate with how you are feeling, though I’ve for some reason never struggled with this in business, I remember when I was in fourth grade I was afraid of making mistakes and would go up to the teacher’s desk every time I was unsure, unclear, or worried that I might do something incorrectly. Eventually, the teacher became so frazzled with my constant questioning and fear of mistakes that he stopped allowing me to walk up to the desk and ask any questions. At first, I squirmed, I felt uncomfortable. What if I didn’t do the assignment right? But really, let’s think about this rationally: despite my intense insecurity and fear of failure, if I did even completely fail an assignment (which never actually happened, despite my fears), I would still be fine, I would still breathe, I would learn from the mistakes and move on with my life. I would still graduate from college and I would still start a successful business.

You, my lovely ladies, are the in the exact same boat, you are so afraid of failing and/or comparing yourself to a mystical standard you think you should be at (ie: with your blog or business traffic – big and small, right and wrong, slowly and quickly – it’s all relative) that even if you did fail (which is impossible, by the way, you only fail when you give up on the business – then you fail in business. Any other mistakes, wasted money, time, etc. is not failure! You just learn, become wiser and can later tell someone else what to avoid in the future.) By the way– my failures and successes are all I have to go on each day myself. I am in your shoes just a few levels ahead. That is all. You will be fine, you will still breathe, you will learn from your mistakes and move on with your life.

I hope you make a “mistake” this August. I hope that you have the chance to see the other side of what you are so afraid of. Because, when you are there, it will sting for a day and you will find a sunny way to look at it and keep rolling forward. That’s your personality, that’s the positive part of all of this. You are so capable of overcoming obstacles – which will allow you to be ultimately successful.

So… for this month, I suggest you give updates on what you are doing without asking anyone for advice. You are welcome to tell people all the awesome developments, decisions, choices, and visions you have for your Dream, whatever that is. We will cheer you on! But you are not allowed to ask me for any advice for the month of August. You are my peer now with your business, I want to talk as equals, you aren’t a “student” – you just have less experience at this point. And that is not a big deal.

Here’s another way to look at this: If you were a baseball player, I know that you would have wanted to interview Babe Ruth and find out how he had the most home runs in the league for so long. He was the most “successful” home run player for decades. You would want to know how he did it, so you could replicate his success, right?

Well, his answer seems pretty clear: He has the most home runs because he went to bat the most times. Which means he also had the most strike outs in the league too. Yep, he had the most successes and failures because he simply tried the most times. I’m guessing he wasn’t so much worried about how other people were batting, what their techniques were, he just kept doing what he knew he needed to do and trying. Just kept doing things. I am successful at business because I keep trying, I keep going to bat. I keep failing and I keep hitting home runs. That is the secret. That is what you need to do. No advice required. Your spirit has everything you need in the advice realm.

Maybe you could start writing out your questions, concerns, and fears in a journal and start answering the questions as you go. What you wrote last week might be solvable this week… You will start to be your own adviser.

Phew! I got a little carried away – feeling feisty, but I think you get the point. I care about you and I want you to be successful. If I just wanted to feel important and hear myself talk I would answer all your questions every single time but that is doing you a disservice. It’s the difference between teaching someone to fish or giving them the fish.

I think it could be really transformative for you if you take these days to blaze your own trail and glory in the consequences, both good and not so good.

-Jess!

Good afternoon! I hope you are having a great day so far. I want to pop in and share an interview I did with MML sponsor, Kristi, of the jewelry shop, Mischief by Loki (etsy shop). One thing is clear, this lovely lady knows how to metal smith. And with her designs so refined and site so professional, it’s incredible that she’s less than one year into her business. See how she’s made it a reality in her interview answers.

She’s also generously offered to do a giveaway of one of her gorgeous birthstone rings, contest details are below.

Interview with Kristi, designer of Mischief by Loki

When did you know that you wanted to be a jewelry designer?

I’ve played with color, texture and space in a variety of ways throughout the years, but I never considered myself a designer or a creative or crafty person. I could see a finished product in my head but what I created just never lived up to my vision. I started making some simple beaded earrings several years ago but was never fully satisfied with those either. That was until I decided to add some metal elements and signed up for a metalsmith class at a local community college. Finally! A vehicle that could turn my visions into actual creations.

My husband is the one who encouraged me to open my Etsy shop in January. I still couldn’t quite believe that anyone would want to purchase anything I made–but they do!

What’s your design inspiration?

Inspiration for my designs come from everything I see–the interplay of light and texture and color. Fashion and architecture. Things that are a little mischievous and unexpected. But mostly, inspiration comes from the stones and metal itself. It sounds a little strange, perhaps, but sometimes it seems like the stones I choose ask for certain settings or shapes. The same thing happens with pieces of metal left over from other projects. That means I usually make one of a kind pieces, though many have similar design elements.

The name Mischief by Loki was inspired by my crazy dog Loki. He’s named for the Norse god of trickery and he (and his little sister) are certainly full of mischief. I like to think that their mischievous ways help keep me laughing and looking at everything from unexpected perspectives.

What is your favorite part of entrepreneurship or jewelry design?

My favorite part of designing jewelry is taking kind of plain, individual items and turning them into something lovely. I love to see metal take on new shape and life. There are so many techniques that can be used to create the designs and it’s fun to find new ways to do things.

But I have to say… one of my favorite things is to hear from people who love my creations and get such enjoyment from something completely developed by me. It makes me want to work harder so I can make things even better.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from the business side of jewelry design?

It’s a lot of work! I’m the creative designer, fabricator, supply orderer, shipper, marketer, technical support, and on and on. And that’s after spending all day at my day job. The most important lesson I’m still learning is that it’s so important to take time off. If I try to force myself to fabricate a ring when I’m too tired or grumpy or stressed, I just end up with a glob of melted silver. There’s always something else to do so on those days I work on accounting or learn more about social media or clean my studio.

Where do you see the company going in two years?

At this point I’ve been in business less than a year. It’s hard to imagine where I could be in two years after so much has happened in only a few months! I’m in the process of building a website, which will include a blog where I hope to provide design, creativity and metalsmithing tips and inspiration. But if we’re dreaming big… in two years I would like to see my designs featured in a magazine and on strangers that I pass in the street (ok, even just a few strangers would be fantastic!). I’d also like to make enough money that my husband and I can take an amazing trip every year.

Giveaway – (1) Birthstone Ring

To enter to win your own customized birthstone ring, simply visit Kristi’s shop and comment here on which design is your favorite. Comments will be accepted until next Tuesday, August 10th.

Pardon me, but I’m a little fired up today. While standing in line at the CVS to pick up some contact solution yesterday afternoon, I glanced at the cover of one of the weekly magazines and saw a feature on how “Ali from the Bachelor lost 10 pounds as revenge”… or something like that. Regardless of why she was losing weight as revenge (which is a pretty strange notion to begin with) or what she actually did to achieve the weight loss, I found myself with ruffled feathers.

I know that on another day, in the not-so-distant past, I would have stood there and wondered what she did to lose the weight, wondered how she might be happier now (I mean look, she got a cover feature), and speculated about whether I should try her methods to lose weight myself. But something inside me has shifted (at least for the moment). Ever since the trip to NYC and realizing my intention to pursue PR for Jess LC, my paradigm has changed. Rather than look to others successes for guidance in my life, I’ve become much more interested in my own actions and using those to propel myself further. I’ve become more interested in how I want to become successful than how others have reached their own successes.

Though I think there is a lot to be said about bibliographies, success stories, advice, and research, I also feel many of us are getting too comfortable sitting on the sidelines reading and watching other people achieve their dreams — and then attempting to replicate their achievements in our own lives.

The problem with this copycat method, I believe, is that it leaves us with a second-rate version of what worked for someone else, which doesn’t take into complete consideration all of our own unique factors. And therefore, whatever plan we follow, is innately going to clash with our individual abilities, motivations, and values – which ultimately leads to dissatisfying results, unmaintainable goals, or a simple lack of follow through on our part. Our actions need to speak to us on all levels, spiritually, physically, and mentally, and it’s very hard to really grasp that in a cookie cutter plan or a shadowed routine.

The one major concession I make in the above paragraph is when a particular plan does meet your individual spiritual, physical, and mental values – then the plan could quite possibly work with flying colors. Take my brother, for example. He has been preparing to follow the P90X routine this summer for almost a full year. He researched, thought about it, planned his meals, and devoted the hours he needed in order to reach his goal. He became so intrinsically motivated by the plan and the outcome that he faithfully executed each exercise and nutrition requirement to it’s fullest. He also reaped the rewards he desired in the process. On the other hand, I tried the Weight Watchers program for several months but finally realized I wasn’t seeing results because I wasn’t dealing with the right spiritual issue.

I maintain that many most of our failed attempts come from the fact that we are trying to fit ourselves into a prescribed routine that isn’t capturing our real desires. Or, we are fearful of failure and rush to find comfort in something that has worked for someone else. This constant focus on the information itself keeps us so busy listening to others that we are unable to actually devote the full amount of energy and attention that it takes to reach our goals.

I think this is because we underestimate how much time and devotion it requires to take action, follow through, and maintain progress. We think that if we “know” everything, we will be able to “do” everything. But the real knowledge comes from personal experience, until then, it’s just information in our brains. To follow with the magazine story example, we don’t really know how to lose weight until we actually drop the pounds. Until then we “have the weight loss information” without any experience to back it up.

So, back to my ruffled feathers, I am finding that for the first time I feel bold, less fearful of failure, and more focused on what I’m going to do next. I’m writing my success story each day that I take new actions and try new things. Not all of the things I try will lead to the success I am looking for, but each step ahead is one further away from where I started. It is a constant process that takes into consideration my personal values and goals. My path will be one-of-a-kind and unrepeatable because I am following my gut and trusting things to fall into place. I am following my purpose which is unique to me. Everyone is capable of doing this exact same thing for themselves, they just need to start tapping into what they know and stop looking around at the people next to them.

My Challenge to You

I challenge those who find themselves easily caught in the research and advice trap to take a minute this afternoon and write your own success story. Write out a future magazine feature story detailing how you are successful in three months, six months, or two years from now at the thing you are working towards.

For example, if you want to create a full-time business but are in a desk job, write the story explaining how you made your business so profitable you were able to quit your job after nine months. Explain what actions you took, what marketing efforts you made, what hiring decisions you struggled with. Write it all out and then use that as your own road map to success. Because when you stop and think about it, the story you just wrote captures your spiritual, psychical, and mental abilities and values. Your plan understands you perfectly and you resonate with it 100%.

In summary, stop reading someone else’s success story and start writing your own.

(paper from a craft project I worked on this weekend)

Hi Guys,

Can you believe it’s already Monday? I don’t know about you, but I certainly felt like I could have used an extra weekend day. I spent a lot of time on the past two hot, sunny days outside walking around- to the farmers market on Saturday and to Navy Pier (my favorite 7 mile walk in the city) on Sunday. These weekend walks always remind me why I chose to move to Chicago.

Speaking of moving, I have one month left in my lease before moving to my one bedroom on a lower level in this same building. While doing research on mattresses in order to purchase one for my new bedroom, I ended up actually buying one on Saturday. It’s lovely. Despite a bit of a dirt from the bag ripping on the bottom foot of the mattress (which allowed me to snag it for 70% off the original price), it is the most lovely, comfortable, bed I’ve ever laid on. I also plan to take all of your wonderful advice last week about the West Elm bed. My friend Crystal and I checked out the headboard in person at the West Elm store in Chicago and it’s ideal. Now it’s only a matter of saving up for it…

As for MML, I’m excited to finally have more time to sit down each day and prepare posts that I’ve meant to share for the past several weeks. One post in particular, about what to do when you are ready to find your purpose but don’t know what it is, is going to be really helpful for a lot of people (I hope). And then of course I also will be posting the next batch of blog Ambassadors for Jess LC as well!

Have a great week,
Jess!

Hot off the press! I have been nominated for a FGI (Fashion Group International) Rising Star Award. I am super excited about this because the last award I won for my business was Entrepreneur of the Year in my graduation class at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. And that might sound cool… until you realize I was the only person with a business to be nominated – and therefor won by default. Ahem.

Anyways, I’m in good company with this nomination! Some of the nominees are my friends, like Kate Boggiano and Jules. And then there is Summer Thornton in the interior design category who has also participated in the DESIGN YOUR LIFE series this spring as well. The event will be held on September 16th. To buy a (pretty expensive) ticket, go here.

#10 Stiletto Woman of the Year

In other news, I was featured in Stiletto Woman’s Top 25 Women of the Year. I clocked in the top ten by a hair (at #10 exactly, in fact). So honored to be included!

Utterly Engaged Big Talent Big Heart Feature

And last but not least, this stunning feature in Utterly Engaged debuted in their most recent issue. Um, forget what they say about Jess LC and just check out how gorgeously they’ve designed the article! That graphic designer knows what she’s doing. As part of their Big Talent Big Hearts series, they interviewed me about Jess LC and our Soc Chic necklace helping social causes.

Whoa. In putting these pieces all in one place, I realize how incredibly thankful and lucky I am to have this amazing support from so many people. Back when I was a freaked out Pilgrim, I never would have imagined that I would be in this position three months later. And what I think this goes to show is that we are all Pilgrims, building our lives one brick at time. And this is just proof that we all can do it- we just need to have patience and faith.

At long last! I am proud to say that we are all caught up with work from the past few weeks and I finally have a chance to sit down and tell you all about the press tour in New York.

I will start by saying there was incredible amount of clarity and purpose throughout this trip. As you know, I’ve had a lot of uncertainty in my life over the past year. And now that I’m heading out in a totally new direction, this trip helped clarify what my future might hold. It was also fascinating to reflect on my last trip to NYC two years ago. At that time, Jess LC was a 90% wholesale business and I was checking out trade shows like ENK and Moda tricking myself into thinking that I might actually want to be in a booth at one of these large huge scale events. But the reality was that I disliked the whole trade show process from participating in Magic in Las Vegas and StyleMax in Chicago. And I was just trying to do what other people told me would be best for my business. (Note: Trade shows are a great way to grow a business (and I might do some in the future), I recommend them for those looking to increase their wholesale business. However, it’s not my cup of tea nor part of my intentions at this point in time.)

Since that trip, I have decided that what was really important to me was working with retailers and customers one-on-one via my website and by spending time doing what I am meant to do: help people design a life with intention.

I decided upon this press tour and desk side trip in order to broaden the Jess LC audience and customer base to include those who are not already plugged into social media and blogging – magazines and traditional media still play a huge role in raising brand awareness.

So I had the amazing team at Red Light PR, my PR firm, connect with magazine editors at Lucky, Real Simple, People StyleWatch, and Brides Magazine. They scheduled appointments for me to meet with these accessory editors one on one in their offices. Here’s some snap shots in between meetings (apparently I’m not very good at remembering the camera when around actual people, just buildings).

Day One

Hello, Conde Nast. One thing to note about the building and lobby was that it was full of beautiful people. Some of the best fashion from the whole trip was seen while waiting for my press pass to enter the offices.

My first appointment was with the editor at Brides Magazine. She was super nice and low key, I felt immediately at ease and ready to chat about anything and everything. I instantly realized I wanted to do desk sides like this All The Time.

I had a bit of time between the Brides appointment and the Lucky meeting, so I hung around the block and tried to stay dry during the random showers that hit the area. Trying to look cute with 13 bug bites welts on my legs, frizzy hair, wet wedges, and 90*+ weather was Not Easy.

Here’s a quick shot of the Lucky office (cue the harp). I have imagined Jess LC in the pages of Lucky Magazine since I was in high school. When entering this space I’m not gonna lie, I had A Moment.

As expected, the assistant editor at Lucky was laid back, friendly, and inexpressibly chic. She looked like she walked out of one of the pages in the magazine. Not to mention that she was my age and totally living a life I would love to have in an alternate universe.

After the first day of desk sides, I headed out to Brooklyn for the first time to meet up with Jessica of WhatIWore. We’ve been online friends for about a year now, and it was great to chat with her in person. Of course, I again forgot to whip out the camera at Dizzy’s the adorable coffee shop we went to. But you can see how cute she looked here.

By the way, how much does this area look like San Fransisco? I was mesmerized by the homes and totally imagined walking my future kids to school on this block.

Day Two

On the second day of desk sides I walked up to Time & Life to see the editors at People StyleWatch and Real Simple. They happen to be right across from this iconic building.

(I will also mention that I was much smarter on the second day and packed my heels in my bag and wore sandals up to the appointments. Though the wedges may be comfortable, there is only so much walking one can do in 4″ heels.)

When I met the editor at People StyleWatch I immediately felt like I was talking to someone I had known for years. She was engaging, witty, and obviously was great at her job. She mentioned she was working on a big boot article for the October issue and had dozens of pairs in the back room (she recommended I get suede wedge boots for fall). The entire office, I might add, was covered in magazine tear-outs. It was like the office was wallpapered in inspiration. Such a creative and exciting space.

Then I headed over to Real Simple. What I realized immediately was that if I was ever to really actually work at a magazine personally, Real Simple is where I belong. It had a fresh, fun, clean look which was totally the intersection between Jess LC and MML. The women there were all equally intelligent and adorable. Plus, the editor was down to earth and also happened to grow up near my parent’s new house in Pennsylvania.

When she nonchalantly mentioned they did a segment that morning on the Today Show it took me a minute and a half to realize that she personally had been on the Today Show that morning. The segment was about transitioning your summer wardrobe to fall. So Cool.

What Desk Sides Are Like

As you can see from the descriptions above, I totally loved every minute of the desk sides. Though I went into them with no idea what to do, I quickly learned that they are meant to be an informal introduction to your brand, line, and story. I shared how I started, what I was doing now, and showed them my samples. They in turn told me about themselves, the stories they were working on, and what they liked in my collection.

The goal is essentially to develop a relationship with the editors so that when they have a new story about “Jewel Tone Jewelry Under $50,” they think about the adorable paisley post earrings that I have coming up in Fall 2010 and request a sample for the shoot. It’s about being on the top of their mind when they are considering features. The appointments themselves can take place at their desk, in the lobby, or in a conference room. In general they can be a quick half hour, or a relaxed sixty minute conversation.

What’s Next for Jess LC and PR

Now that I’m one week out from the trip, I’ve already had a new sample request from People StyleWatch. Though I can’t say that this is strictly due to the meeting, I can say that it didn’t hurt. And my fingers are crossed that Jess LC jewelry makes appearances in the holiday/winter 2011 issues of all four magazines. But there is definitely a waiting game in PR. You don’t know whether your styles make it in the magazine until the PR firm gets a credit request (which basically means they shot it in a photoshoot and intend to put it on a page in the magazine and need to know where to say the product is available). And even after the credit request there is the chance that it might get deleted from the pages as layout and content changes are made closer to publication.

Going forward, I’m pumped to revisit New York again this October to debut new samples from Fall 2010 and Spring 2011. My PR firm is having an event at their showroom in Soho which will bring a lot of editors into the space at one time. So I’ll be there to introduce myself and the samples. And of course, I’ll be sure to recap that event as well, hopefully with more photos of people this time around!

Phew. Thank you all for your awesome comments yesterday on my “freak out” post. I rarely do that here on MML, but I think it was nice to let you all into a less than graceful moment of my life that wasn’t full of self-reflection. Though I do my best to keep the bigger picture in mind, that isn’t always how I feel. Not to mention, it was incredible to hear your words of encouragement and understanding. Thank you.

I’m also excited to say that I have gotten back to a sustainable daily pace with work. We have caught up on all our orders and can now look forward into fall preparing for the holiday season, our fall photo shoot, and sharing a lot of new things here on MML.

I have to admit, with all of the growth in Jess LC and with my move in 4.5 weeks, I have a lot of things I’d like to get and it’s a bit dizzying determining what I should pay for first. But I’m trying to be patient and realize that at this moment, I don’t need anything. And I have faith that what will be needed will be very clear when the time comes. Until then, I’m just trusting that it will all work out.

But the reality is that though I took two glorious days off from work this weekend, I am still up to my chin in work (had to work until 10p last night which is incredibly rare). And I’m feeling like it’s almost impossible to ever catch up. Which is a good thing, I want things to grow… but there is only so much I can handle on my own (with the incredible Susie by my side). And let’s just say, that I’ve finally hit the breaking point. There is so much to do and so much change coming as I navigate the move, my relationship changing, and the company growing at an unprecedented pace. And oh, there is MML and all the wonderful things I’d like to do and say here but don’t have time to even though it’s my purpose and most important contribution.

So anyways, I guess I’m breaking my code of “learn then share” and saying, “though I know I’ll be fine, right now I’m feeling over my head, overwhelmed, and just plain frustrated.”

You know what? Everyone feels that way sometimes. This just happens to be my time.

And with as much work as I have to do, I think the most productive thing I can do is to take a break from everything for a bit and come back with a cooler head.

Thanks for understanding.

6:01: Update

Phew! Okay, took a break and went in the other room (aka: cried for five minutes and let the storm pass). I felt a lot better right away. Came back and finished the day out and decided to make a few changes to keep my life sane:

1. I am definitely getting an intern to help us this fall.
2. Looking into getting an inexpensive (used?) laptop for Susie and the intern to use to help process orders and email customers.
3. Responding in individual comments will become an ideal, but not required part of my day.
4. I am going to do my best to post five days a week on MML, but understand when that is not possible.
5. Enter sales into Quickbooks at the end of each most days.

With these actions I hope to free up more time to connect with store buyers, magazine editors, my PR team, MML readers, blogging, and designing. These are my essential actions which I need to put more time into for long term growth in the business and in my sanity.

(working from my parents’ deck last week)

Hi Guys,

I hope your weekends were great! Chicago has had quite the heatwave lately but yesterday the humidity and stickiness broke and gave way to a gorgeous and breezy afternoon. I spent it walking along the lakefront with a friend and catching up on chores like cleaning the apartment, doing laundry, and grocery shopping. I feel like the whirlwind of the Philly/NYC trip is finally settling and I’m excited to get caught up with work this week and move forward.

To be sure, there are a lot of online orders still left to fill from last week which Susie and I have worked hard to fill, by tomorrow my goal is to have everyone’s orders out the door and on their way. This Franklin discount has been incredible in terms of sheer volume and we are so excited to be toting so many packages to our UPS store each day. I’ve also been getting photos of our fall pendant designs and they look incredible. I cannot wait to wear a winter white and gold paisley necklace! But the samples being finished means that we are that much closer to doing a photo-shoot, lookbook, and collection launch. So I just need to take a deep breath, pace myself, and do the best I can to keep the momentum high.

This week I’m also excited to finally have time to really nail out some awesome posts here on MML. Since PR is a whole new animal for me, I will do my best to explain what my experience has been like. I won’t have lots of advice for others at this point, but I can speak first-hand from what I’ve seen with Jess LC.

Other than that, I am starting to reflect even more, if that’s possible, on what I want my new apartment to look like this September. I’ve signed a lease for a one bedroom in my current building which overlooks the roof deck and faces east, bringing lots of light into the space. One big purchase I will be making is a bed, and I’m still deciding between a West Elm bed and an Overstock.com bed. What do you think? Any suggestions? Until I make the choice, I’m on a “savings spree” through August.

Have a great week,

Jess!

I just want to pop in and let you all know that I temporarily pulled the Franklin collection off the site while I was in NYC so that I could come back and do a proper inventory. Once I mentioned the mistake in the braille and marked them 50% off, there was a flurry of orders.

Now that I’m back in the studio, I’ve had time to count the pendants remaining and re-posted the collection online. Here’s what’s left:

(UPDATED 7/26) Updated 7/28

Be Present – 13 8 left 5 left

Be Brave – 3 Sold Out

Breathe – 17 15 left 14 left

Be Thankful – 19 18 left 13 left

Dream Bigger – 14 8 left 5 left

Get them now at the discounted rate or wait for the corrected pendants at full price closer to September.

I like this quote from a David Sedaris article. Sort of an adapted ‘carpenter’s triangle’:

“One burner represents your family, one is your friends, the third is your health, and the fourth is your work.”

The gist is that in order to be successful you have to cut off one of your burners. And in order to be really successful you have to cut off two.

- The Art of Non-Conformity

There is an amazing comment section devoted to this concept and whether it is true or not and I think it ties in perfectly to my goal here on MML about designing a life with intention. Definitely worth checking out if you have a chance. I have no idea whether I think this is true or not, but it’s fascinating to see all the different perspectives.

Franklin Inventory Update

In other news, I got back from NYC last night and have been working with Susie to get out all the orders from the past week. We got about half of them out the door today and we have the other half to complete tomorrow. Since we had an unprecedented number of Franklin orders, I took the Franklin necklaces off the site until we know the exact quantities we have left of each of the misspelled braille necklaces. I have a feeling we might be able to post more Breathe and Be Thankful necklaces online Friday afternoon at the same 50% off discount. Any phrases that are completely sold out will return once we get the corrected pendants closer to September.

If your heart is set on a misspelled Breathe or Be Thankful necklace, feel free to email me tonight or tomorrow morning and let me know. I can give you a heads up tomorrow when I post the quantities so you get first pick from what remains.

Though I am mostly excited for the weekend to finally come after all of this hustling over the past two weeks, I also look forward to sharing all about NYC and the desk sides next week. So stay tuned!

Good morning! I am on my way to the second day of desk sides: People Style Watch and Real Simple are on the agenda today. Then I visit my PR showroom and meet the girls at Red Light PR for the first time in person. And after that I go to American Express to talk to the awesome marketing department about their Open for Business campaign.

In the meantime, Susie, my incredible assistant is in Daley Plaza in Chicago manning the Jess LC booth today and tomorrow. Everything at the booth is 20% off for the show only and if you mention “I Heart Susie,” you can get 30% off for supporting her and for reading MML!

Hi Guys,

As you know, I am now in NYC and will be doing a press tour of sorts for Jess LC. I’m going to do my best to photograph and document the whole process so I can share it with you here on MML next week.

In the meantime, I want to share this awesome online magazine I’ve finally gotten around to reading (it’s been on my desktop for months now). It’s called fear.less and is dedicated to helping you get motivated and pursue your purpose past fear. Though I’m still going through the first issue personally, I thought you might like to browse their newest e-mag and check out their archive.

Have a great day,

Jess!