Month in Review: July 2018

As I wipe off all that sweaty gross-ness that is July heat in Los Angeles, I'm sitting in a coffee shop where the WiFi is weak, the cold brew is stiff, and the AC is strong.

After another month, I think this month was a great month for business opportunities, creativity juices were flowing and better lifestyle choices were made. So yet again, let's break-down how we did this month...

Personally, I like to think I'm a pretty good home-cook. I learned how to cook from my abuelita and from my mom. Clare has taught me to refine my palette and taste, while I've watched lots of Chef Step YouTube videos. But let me intervene with this---I just  used my brand new Crock Pot for the first time and OH EM GEE it is a game changer. As I've mentioned before, I feel like with a 9-5 office job, running a business and trying to have a social life--there's not much time for anything else. So man, oh man is this a game changer for me. I'm sure you're reading this and asking "where have you been? Crock Pots have been around forever!" But in my family, this was not a thing. So, okay. I'll just stop there.

• I finally decided to start up and promote my Print Shop with Society6. This was originally created late 2017, but I finally decided to clean it up and add some more photography products to the online shop to sell. The items listed range from ​art prints to throw pillows with the coolest palm trees on them. If you haven't checked it out yet, just head over by clicking here. 

 

• I have discovered Canva. Holy Moly!! Where have I been?! This web service and app has saved me time and that is huge! I love me some Adobe Photoshop, but when Canva walked into my life I feel like I have found gold. This site has enabled me to create some quick cute Pinterest boards for my blogs and some random flyers for my business. It's super user-friendly and has so many optioned for fonts which I love. I'm not affiliated with this company, I'm just sharing what I think is awesome. :)

 

• As far as my health goes--gosh. I haven't really mentioned it to anyone, but I'm mentally working on not beating myself up for not always making the best choices. I'm working on creating a mental space for allowing a restful space for myself to forgive myself for eating a cookie or not going to the gym as often as I tell myself I should. And instead making myself feel like a stinky bag of garbage (OUCH! Yeah, I know), I'll learning to be nicer to myself in my own thoughts. As a woman, it's easy for me to spiral into a mental game of "I'm not skinny enough". So as I write this, I'm going to try my very best to talk to myself as if I'm talking to a very best friend. (This best friend better toughen up, because it's about to get real. Lol

 

• This month I've been toying with a clearer vision of how I want my brand to look and feel like. I've been talking and thinking a lot about re-branding for almost a year now, but haven't settled on creating a clear vision/mood board for it. To be honest, I've also been beating myself up about not getting this done sooner. But then I listened to this fantastic episode on the Ted Radio Hour Podcast about Slowing Down where they talk about how slowing down on an idea can allow your mind to simmer on ideas and become more creative which I thought was an interesting take on what I thought was pure procrastination. Haha. I'm hoping to gather my notes and thoughts (and my Pinterest board) with a clean vision full of creative ideas for my re-branding. More to come on this.

 As the year moves along, I've had to ask myself one thing:

Am I really growing?

Have I moved the needle in my business? Am I healthier than I was when the year began? Have I done anything to make myself happier in my heart, mind and soul? I think a huge part of why I started creating these Month in Reviews for 2018 was because I wanted to be held accountable for what I say and do (or don't do). A way for me to publicly journal where I am in my business and in my life. 

​So, am I really growing?

I like to think so, at least a little.

If you haven't been keeping up with me, you might've missed my first Month in Review for January until today where I talk about growth and accountability. Two very important pieces to hold up high when running a small business all on your own while trying to be girlboss in your own life.

So to another month of being a girlboss! Let's get 'em!