In Case You Are Looking For Desha...

The Desha Show is on hiatus, but if you are looking for Desha you can find me over at Sweet Spot Style. See you there!

Falling in love with MINTED.

You've seen it everywhere, but what exactly is MINTED?

It's not just a place to buy beautifully designed stationary, it's a tour de force of designers from across the globe producing original art, party decor, birth announcements, business cards, calendars, journals, invitations of all sorts, and yes… lots and lots of gorgeous stationary.

How sweet is this Save the Date postcard?
Makes me want to get married all over again. 

Although I spend a lot of time online, I will ALWAYS love the look and feel of hand written letters, and enjoy both sending and receiving them. On Minted, you can either choose from hundreds of original designs, customize a design by another artist, or design your own products.

I'm quite inspired to design a Sweet Spot Style journal, how cool would that be? I'd love to give them away at my workshops as a surprise gift.

If you'd like to try your hand as a designer, you should check out the Minted Design Challenges, where you can win up to $1000 for your original design. This month the themes are Wedding Parties and the West Elm Art Challenge.

Here are a few of my favorite designs on Minted….

How cool is this photo back drop. See more designs here. 

Want to see more? Check out My Minted Pinterest Board to find all of my favorite designs. Do you have a favorite design? Send me the link in the comments below, I'd love to see!

This is a sponsored post.

Lucky 2013 really was.

This is my favorite time of the year, a time to reflect and a time for possibilities.

Last January, I participated in Amanda Upton's workshop: Complete, Create, Celebrate. During that blissful three hours of yoga, meditation, reflecting and dreaming my word for 2013 emerged, it was LUCKY.

In Amanda's workshop, we made gratitude jars and adorned them with our word for the year. Throughout the year I wrote little notes to myself about how I felt Lucky. My daughter wanted to join in, so she often wrote little notes for the Lucky Jar, too.

Last night was New Year's Eve and I asked my husband to write down how he felt Lucky in 2013 to add to the jar. Then, we took turns pulling out slivers of paper and read them to each other. It made us realize that 2013 has been VERY good to us.

Lucky Jar 2013

Here are a few notable things that I feel Lucky about in 2013, in no particular order…

1. I signed my first book contract and got the idea for Sweet Spot Style.
2. I worked with 16 talented contributors and 3 professional photographers.
3. We are all healthy.
4. We received over $16,000 in unexpected financial abundance, most of which we used to remodel our kitchen.
5. I found a hundred dollar bill in a fountain in New Orleans :)
6. My daughter loves her school, teacher and classmates.
7. Family trip to Disney World (a dream come true for my daughter and her Gigi).
8. We love our home, and feel grateful for it.
9. Hubby and I went to a Kripalu Retreat for couples that has profoundly changed our relationship.
10. I had a smooth and loving transition from my four years at Marlboro College.

Last night, my daughter declared her word for 2014 was ICE.
Then she won a raffle for 10 free passes at the rink.

After reading the list from our jar, we talked about how acknowledging what we feel lucky or grateful for is a way to bring in more abundance and draw more of the things we desire into our lives.

Later that night, we took my daughter ice-skating. She said her word for the 2014 would be ICE because she loves ice-skating! (Well, her first word was CANDY, but I asked her to think a little more deeply about it- ha ha!).

Shortly after, she won a raffle at the rink for 10 free ice-skating passes!!! A fine example of how gratitude really does bring in abundance, and sometimes it is immediate!

As I say goodbye to 2013, I should let you know this will be one of the last posts on this blog, as I prepare for the launch of Sweet Spot Style. It seems appropriate to post my new word and expectations there for 2014.

Until then, sending light and love to you all. I hope you had a joyous 2013, and may your heart's desires be fulfilled in 2014 as well.

xo Desha

My last day.

Today was my last day at the college. Four years. 10,222 sent emails. Over 1000 meetings. At least 60 workshops/events… one local TV show and a book later, here I am starting my new biz Sweet Spot Style.

My coworkers gave me this card. They said it reminded them of me. And I do feel like a Spanish Flamenco dancer. I feel proud of my time at Marlboro. I feel blessed to be able to do work that is meaningful and fun. I have to tell you, I love encouraging people to do what they love and go for their  ideal career path. But I never thought this job would lead me to my OWN dream career.  After years of encouraging others to go for it, it's time to take my own advice, to set fear aside and listen to that inner voice… head held high, bright yellow billowy skirt and  all… I'm ready for the next adventure.
Thank you Marlboro, you've been good to me. xo Desha

Let's dance.

Quitting your job? Starting a business? Let's talk!

Hello dear ones,
I have some big news for you today. Last year on the Solstice I received some divine information that indicated I would be writing a book, starting a biz, and leaving my current work as Director of Career Development at Marlboro College by the end of 2013. And so it is my friends. The book and biz are in progress and my last day at the college is Jan. 1, 2014.

I've had lots of jobs in my life and it's always been hard for me to quit, even the bad ones. But leaving a job I like is even harder.  I love working with students to help them see the bigger possibilities that exist within themselves, and now it's time to share this calling with my tribe. I feel very drawn towards working with women who are at the edge of their dreams and need a hand to hold as they embrace their fear and go for it.  And that's why I am choosing to go down this very risky path of giving up something great to go for my soul calling. I love the quote by Iyanla Vanzant- "You must have a test to have a testimony."

This is my test. There's A LOT OF FEAR out there. If you are an entrepreneur, I'm sure you've heard it  in the voices of your friends and family… "the economy is bad….most people fail at business within the first two years… how will you survive????"   And I get it.  I know people who have gone into debt, even lost their family over their business. And if I focused on those stories, I might just throw in the towel before I even get started, but that is not my style!

Thus,  I've made it my personal mission to find stories of women who are killing it within their first two years of business. I'm looking for women like me who don't have a sugar daddy doling out cash and who have to figure it out because their livelihood depends on it. And that's why I'm a big fan of Hilary Rushford (a fellow B-School Alum!) and founder of Dean Street Society. She's a personal stylist and  business guru who has managed to make a profitable online business in two years that she loves. And that, I love.

Hilary is rolling out a new program that is right up my alley. It's more than just a book, it comes with a built in tribe and toolkit for women who are on the edge of their entrepreneurial dreams and includes inspirational case studies of people building successful businesses in the first 2-4 yrs. Just the kind of stories we need to hear! It's called the  4-Part Entrepreneur Cocktail and I am more than honored to be part of the Dean Street Society Happy Hour Dialogues to start the conversation rolling. 2014 is the year I officially launch my book and biz, so it's perfect timing, and I'd love for you to join me.

In my opinion, there is no better way to go for your dreams, than to find someone who is already doing it and learn from them and that's what the 4-Part Entrepreneur Cocktail is all about.

According to Hilary, "The 4-Part Entrepreneur Cocktail is for you if you are a blogger or entrepreneur who sometimes feels lost, over your head or unsure where to start or what to do next, like you should be further ahead by now. This applies to readers who haven't yet decided whether to start a business, those a few years in, but who have yet to really succeed the way they'd hoped... It's for anyone who secretly feels there should be a better, easier, less overwhelming way to do this. It's the book I wish I'd read when I was just getting started two years ago."

Join me for Hilary's 4-Part Entrepreneur Cocktail!

I'm on board. How about you?
Here is what I'd like to suggest. You sign up here so Hilary knows I sent ya, and I will...

1. Hold your virtual hand and encourage you throughout the process.
2. Provide you two free Sweet Spot counseling sessions (worth $200!). Following along with the Hilary's cocktail theme, we'll do Before and After Shots. Because self-assessment and reflection are vital to growth, the Before Shot will give you a chance to check in with me before you start the program to acknowledge where you are in your business/life and what you hope to gain out of the program. At the end of the program you report back and share your After Shot - including clarity around your intentions, accomplishments and action plans. You'll have one on one time with me to make a plan to help you continue working towards your soul's Sweet Spot in a way that feels oh, so good.

So, if you are thinking of doing your own thing, whether you are starting a blog or your dream business-  Click here to view more details about Hilary's 4 Part Cocktail and let's start 2014 on the right track, baby.

If you aren't an entrepreneur, that's ok. I'd still like to invite you to come along this journey with me by staying in touch in 2014. Either way, I'd appreciate the company.

xo
Desha

Sweet Spot Style Featured in Snowed-In Magazine!

Hi friends! I'm excited to have a fashion feature in SnowedIn Magazine produced by Ashley Pahl of She Makes a Home. Check out the full magazine here- it's gorgeous and it's free! xo Desha

Make Art.

Sometimes I forget how fun making art is. Ah, it can be such a stress-reliever. Today, I took Iyla and her friend to the River Gallery School of Art to check out their Word and Image Workshop, which included  brush paining, collage, calligraphy, letter setting, and book binding. We did it all! Carol and Donna were so patient helping the girls (and me!) make sweet little journals and after Iyla's friend said "this was the BEST day ever!" I think they did a pretty good job, right?

Check out the after school art classes for kids, scholarships are available!

xo Desha