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HELLO JULY: MONTHLY GOALS

I know, I know - I'm a day early, but I prefer to do these things on Monday. For the past 15 or 16 weeks I've been linking up with Melyssa over at The Nectar Collective for Weekly Wishes. It's proven to be effective for me. I started participating because I've been procrastinating a lot lately and it has really helped me to stay on track. But I've decided that I'm ready to share monthly goals with you and I'll also be sharing business goals as well, something I found over on Think & Grow Chick. If you're starting a business, have a business, or you're thinking about starting a business, you may want to think about giving this a try. This is something I'll be implementing on my new site as well, so I wanted to go ahead and get started!

JULY MONTHLY GOALS

// Review branding. I created my own style elements this time around (if you want to call them that!) and I need to be sure I'm okay with them. I'm sure they are just fine, but I tend to second guess myself.

// Begin creative coaching course. I'm so excited! This course starts today. I'm ready to work through the material and get this party started!

// Put newsletter content into an editorial calendar. I finally created an editorial calendar for this thing. When I launch my new site, I'll be able to create more newsletter with better quality content. By the way, if you haven't yet, sign up here.

//Outline my business processes. It all seems so easy and put together in my head. But, once I start mapping it out on paper, it really turns into a lot, so I'll be spending some time on it this month.

CHALLENGES

// Staying on track. I have goals for my new site, so staying on track while I'm working on this blog and the new site is a challenge. I've reduced the number of posts I create here on 27th + Luxe, but I don't want to neglect this space and I want to make the new space everything I want it to be. For right now, I guess it's about finding a good balance.

// Prioritizing. I've found myself jumping from task to task. I need to get better about completing something or getting to an acceptable stopping point before moving on to the next item on my list.

WHAT'S WORKING FOR ME

// Keeping a list of goals. It keeps me focused on what my initial goal was for rebranding. When you're rebranding, you will come up with all these other great ideas, but it's important to stay on track and focused on the main goal.

// Feedback. I've gotten some feedback from family and friends. I also need to get feedback from some of my blogger friends and my business coach.

PERSONAL GOALS

// Paint more. I've been able to work on little projects here and there, but I want to do more. Maybe I should set aside a few minutes everyday?

// Start sewing again. I have ideas tucked away for this too, so maybe a few minutes every weekend would work for this to make sure I touch it.

// Explore the city. I can be a homebody and I really need to get out. I'm a born and raised Houstonian, but I've never explored my city as an adult. It should be fun!

DOING WHAT YOU LOVE

I'm a big proponent of doing the thing that you're most passionate about. I have a lot of awesome ideas jotted down in my notebook. Those ideas have been whittled down to the things that I am most passionate about, but they also mesh really well together. Now that grad school is officially over, I have the extra time to focus on courses that are directly related to another passion of mine: my business.

I don't know of any entrepreneurs in my family -the only person I can think of is my cousin, she's started her own photography business. If there are any others, they are in the same boat as me - just getting started, honing their craft and figuring out how to authentically stand out in the crowd. I do know that my dad would speak about having his own business when I was a little girl and so I believe he planted that seed in me. And now in hindsight, MAYBE that's how I ended up studying business - so that I can have an understanding of the administrative aspects of working for myself. This is something that I'm going to do (speaking + typing this into existence!). I've finally got a plan together that just feels right. Do you know what I mean? A plan where every other idea that you think of just fits in so seamlessly?

I want to share two things that I've been working on. The first I've been working to piece together for some time. It's the rebrand I mentioned earlier this week. It's coming. I have enjoyed my time blogging at 27th + Luxe, but I don't feel like I can take that name with me. I'm going to take my time as I continue to strengthen my voice and my vision, so you won't see any changes in the immediate future. Just know I'm planning away behind the scenes and it's awesome!

The second thing is that I am starting a course on June 30th called "Build Your Creative Coaching Business From Scratch" from byRegina. I'm excited about this because while I've started implementing many of the points that will be covered within the modules, the coursework is extremely detailed. I'm looking forward to refining my plans and seeing my business in a new light. I'm really looking forward to receiving feedback from someone who really understands what I'm working to accomplish.

I usually keep these types of things to myself - I don't like sharing until all my ducks are in a row. But I thought I'd try something different this time and keep you in the loop throughout this process. I won't overload you - you'll see tidbits in the newsletter (by the way have you signed up?) and I'll share bits + pieces with you here on the blog as well. The most important takeaway from this post is that when you want something, you go after it. And having other people that you can bounce ideas off of is so crucial, especially when you're new to this freelance/entrepreneur world. You also need to be willing to take a risk on yourself. Haters gonna hate and you have to be able to push through that to reach your bliss. [Click to Tweet]

Are you in the budding stages of your freelance/entrepreneurial career? I'd love to chat!

And one last thing friend! I'd like to know how this blog has rocked your world these past few months. It's a very short survey I promise! The data will help me with my rebrand plans so your feedback is so appreciated!

WEEKLY WISHES 12

LAST WEEK'S WISHES

//Recover. You know how you need a vacation after your vacation? I am so tired it's not even funny! And I want to get all these thank you cards out of the way as soon as possible. So this week I will be trying to rest and get everything back in order.

//Work on business website. I really want everything under one space. I'm not ready to make that change yet - going to one site - so everything will remain as is for now. I'm still trying to figure out what that would mean for the brand I'm working on building and if I'll need to change direction a bit. But I do need to work on my copy and fine tune some things. So my goal is to start working on that this week.

//Finish these last four weeks of grad school strong. It's almost over!! That's all I have to say about that! Once I finish I can start focusing on some other courses I have my eye on like Blog Life, Brandgasm, and Photoshop. I've been trying to start the classes on my list for the year for a while but, school comes first. So glad I'm almost done so I can pursue my other interests!

This last week was a pretty laid back one. I didn't really get to relax because I was visiting with one aunt before she left and then the other came by too so I was basically wrapped up in family time. Not to mention my daddy turns the big 5-0 today! We celebrated with him on Wednesday and again on Sunday. I had three assignments due, some interviews..."recover" was a bust!! I did get a chance to brainstorm about my business website and make a few changes. I brainstormed some more yesterday and targeted some additional things I'd like to learn and implement. Still a work in progress though. YES!!!! THREE MORE WEEKS!!! I've decided that for now I'm going to let lynda.com go and take some classes on skillshare - it's cheaper and seems like a fun online learning environment. With lynda, there's just too much of a "freshman american government 101 with 200 students" feel to it.

THIS WEEK'S WISHES

// Go back to personal training + Pure Barre. Oh my gosh! Pray for me that I don't die tonight. I haven't been since before the wedding and my trainer is not going to go easy on me. Oh and pure barre how I've missed you! Please be gentle to all my muscles as I stand on my highest tippy toes, tuck and pulse.

// Get back on track with blogging. This means scheduling my posts and engaging. I still wish I was on vacation. I think the other thing is that I am overflowing with ideas and I am trying to focus on one thing at a time. It may be time to revisit my content plan to help me get back on track.

// Start skillshare course. So, I'm thinking I'm going to go with a Photoshop course first. I added a lot to my wish list, but Photoshop really needs to be tackled. Thankfully I have three weeks left so I can really start digging into the other subjects I'm interested in learning.

// Tie down business ideas. I guess it's okay to be flexible when it comes to this because I'm still figuring it all out, but it really feels (only to me-everyone I ask thinks I make sense so...) like I'm a tad bit all over the place? Any other business owners feel like this?

// Thank you cards. Guys. There are still gifts at my mother's house. And gifts at my house. I have a four day weekend this week so I really need to start working on this before time gets the best of me.

Best of luck accomplishing all of your goals this week! And, if you're anything like me, you should consider linking up with Melyssa for Weekly Wishes. They don't have to be weekly-they can fit your schedule however you see fit!

PROCRASTINATION - 5 TOOLS TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK

Before I get started with today's post, I'd like to direct your attention over to my sidebar. Are you looking? Great! You may or may not have noticed that I've created a reader survey and I'd love for you to take it. It's not very long I promise!

I've shared with you about my recent struggles with procrastination, especially during this last term of grad school. Did I tell you it all worked out-I finished with two A's!!! Anyway, I've been observing myself and I've realized that I'm procrastinating because I have other things I'd much rather be doing (work on my blog, work on my goals to have my own business, sleep, etc.). I thought it would be a good idea to share some tools to stay focused and organized, especially when your mind is going 100 miles per minute, focusing on everything else but the task at hand.

// Mind Mapping: A mind map is a diagram used to visually outline information. A mind map is often created around a single word or text, placed in the center, to which associated ideas, words and concepts are added. Major categories radiate from the center, and less important categories are sub-branches of larger branches. Categories can represent words, ideas, tasks or other items related to a central key word or idea.

**update: There is mind mapping software available if you want to create one digitally. You could also use other programs like PowerPoint, Photoshop, or good ole pen and paper.**

// Evernote: Evernote makes it easy to remember things big and small from your everyday life using your computer, phone, tablet and the web. Evernote also has other products like Evernote Remember, Skitch, Evernote Peek and Penultimate.

// Wunderlist: Wunderlist is the easiest way to manage and share your to-do lists. Whether you’re planning an overseas adventure, sharing a shopping list with a loved one or running your very own business, Wunderlist allows you to collaborate anywhere with anyone. Wunderlist syncs across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows and the Web to keep you on top of to-dos from just about any device.

// Planner: I am currently using a Lilly Pulitzer planner to keep track of my life. I got it because it was pretty, but I am planning on switching over to the Whitney English Day Designer or the Emily Ley Simplified Life Planner next year.

// Notebook: This is where it all goes down! This is where I write my ideas, goals, plans, blog posts, sketches. It's really a messy notebook that would only make sense to me. I'm using the greenroom notebooks that you can find at Target. I like moleskins, but I don't like their price. A notebook is a notebook at the end of the day.

I have used everything on this list, but right now I'm mostly using Wunderlist, a planner and a notebook. I use Wunderlist because it keeps my to do list organized by what's going on in my life like, school, the blog and the wedding. My notebook is where I jot down ideas and a to do list as well, but it can get pretty sloppy. The planner was being used to keep track of my to do's, but Wunderlist and the notebook have taken over. I like the day designer and plan on purchasing one in the future because it will give me some worksheets that are centered around my business and brand. I've been making my own thus far and that's been working, but sometimes I like to simply "do" without thinking about the how.

What tools do you use to stay on track and avoid procrastination street?

Tanay blogs over at This Girl & the World a lifestyle blog focused on...well life! Some of my favorite posts are about her hair journey, scheduling posts in advance "because sh*t happens"(that's certainly the truth for me this week!), and I just love a good inspiration board filled with clothes!

WEEKLY WISHES 13

LAST WEEK'S WISHES

I did make it to personal training this past week and I survived!! I'm excited to get back on track with my fitness routine! As far as blogging is concerned, I've written out some ideas + I'm working on getting things organized. I did get a chance to start that Skillshare course! Awesome sauce! I'm still working on streamlining my business ideas and now I believe I'm on the right track! The thank you cards...well...I've sectioned out the gifts so that Aaron + I can start this week since he is off. Four hands are better than two right?

THIS WEEK'S WISHES

// Go back to personal training + Pure Barre. Adding Pure Barre this week + I'm sure I will be in pain! But, it will be worth it, I'll feel good by the time the weekend gets here!

// Get back on track with blogging. This week I want to focus on engaging. I was able to do this a little bit last week, but I really want to focus on reading and commenting on blogs this week. I've missed it to be honest.

// Start skillshare course. Continue working on Photoshop course.

// Thank you cards. Aaron is off this week, so ideally we'll be able to get quite a bit of this done. I really want to have all the thank you's sent out by no later than mid June.

// Start working on the household budget. This is my job because I'm good at it. Aaron will pay the bills and I'll keep track of the spreadsheet. This is the first time we'll be doing this together so it will be interesting!

// Come up with a date idea. So Aaron has told me that I can pick whatever I want and we will do it this weekend. Yay!! Do you have any suggestions?

// THE WEEKEND //

Photo by Mary Costa Photography, DIY Projects and Styling by Studio DIY for Balloon Time

So thankful for Friday! This has felt like the longest week and it's likely that the next three weeks will feel that way as well as I count down to the wedding + our honeymoon!

I wanted to leave you with some links for the weekend. If you're planning on at least a few hours to yourself like me, you'll love these!

// Vacation time is upon us. The Well had a great post about how to prepare your blog for your vacation.

// Found this post about Facebook business pages...interesting.

// I discovered Sissy + Marley via Made By Girl. This is so my style and what I picture for my future kiddos.

// Have you heard of Brand Market? They recently held the workshop in ATL. See the recap here and here. I'm really hoping to attend someday.

// I shared some basic but essential blog design tips this week. Check it out, there's also a free + quite handy worksheet!

// How cute are these easter eggs? She's ALWAYS got awesome stuff on her blog. I'v got so many of her projects on my "to try" list.

// Need to track your site stats? Here's a great post on how to do it without becoming obsessed.

// Need some tips on creating a routine? This post offers some great ones.

// If you're a business owner, you'll appreciate this post on cultivating great client relationships.

Have an awesome weekend, do something for you + remember to love yourself!

HAVING A VISION + CREATING A PLAN

Today I want to talk about having a vision and creating a blogging strategy, two very important things for your blog.

For me, the phrase "treat your blog like a business" rang very true and has helped me to focus and clarify exactly what it is I am hoping to accomplish with this blog. One of the first things I would advise you to do is to think about why you're blogging and wanting to blog. Is it just for fun, is it to share something of value? Or, is it to earn extra income and turn your blog into a tangible business?

When I started blogging, I would post whatever I felt like posting. That of course led to limited posts on the blog, the death of the blog and ultimately a lack of consistency and cohesiveness. When I became serious about wanting my blogging journey to be what I define as successful and when I decided to view it as my own little business, then things changed.

Time for a little disclaimer: I thought it would be fun for me to post about what I've been learning about blogging from my studies and my own perspective as I'm going through it and encountering different things. These opinions are my own. This is what I have learned and what I try to implement here on my blog. Feel free to use what you find helpful and leave the rest.

// Content is KING. Have you heard this before? It's definitely something that has been stamped into my brain during grad school and through self study. Great content and quality content will keep readers coming. To do that, you need an overarching theme and to develop a content strategy. Remember my last blogging + business post? I mentioned that in your blog plan, you should be determining what topics or themes your blog will be centered around for the year. For example, Chasing Happy has been posting a lot about creativity. I would venture to say this is a popular topic or theme on the blog, and that Kenzie put some time and thought into how and when she would create posts centered around creativity. Creating your strategy is the next step. For example, if health and fitness is one of your themes, when will you post about it, how often, what exactly do you want to share about health and fitness, what other channels will you use to share it, how will you engage your readers, etc.

Have you ever changed directions? How do you feel when you do? Does it make you feel relieved or like a quitter? Or do you feel confused? I feel a bit of all those things and decided it was time to make some adjustments to my plans for the year.

At the beginning of the year I made some goals and while I've done pretty well with working to accomplish them, I've missed the mark on a few things like classes I wanted to take and new skills I wanted to learn. A lot of that has to do with my being overwhelmed with grad school, looking for a new job, wedding planning and working full-time. Now that it's basically June (can you believe it?!), I decided that it would be good to evaluate the goals I created at the beginning of the year.

As I'm nearing the end of my degree program and as I continue my job search, I am constantly thinking about the plans I have for the blog and for studio27L. As things continue to evolve and change in my life, so do my goals for this space and my business. That can get really frustrating! I'm still working out the kinks where branding is concerned and I'm constantly considering whether or not what I choose will remain relevant down the road.

I'm all about simplification remember? So I thought why not try to make my life a little easier and simplify my goals for the rest of the year:

BLOG

+ continue to post consistently

+ create quality content

+ engage with the community

BUSINESS

+ work on website

+ secure more clients

+ HUSTLE

CONTINUING EDUCATION

+ blog life

+ brandgasm

+ photoshop

So much simpler right? How are you coming along with your goals? Or if you chose to focus on a word for the year, how is that going? It may be time to take a look at the progress you've made towards your goals/living out your word of the year. Are your goals and your vision still the same? If so, GREAT!! And, if not, it is totally okay to reassess and change directions. Change is good.

5 TIPS FOR PERSONAL BRANDING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

Personal branding has become increasingly popular and all the more important in today’s job market. It is ideal to cultivate a personal brand that is unique and refreshing. Social media will continue to play an important role in personal lives and within business, so it is only fitting that you create a personal brand that will present learning, networking and business opportunities for you. Personal branding is creating a specific look, feel or message that is associated with your name.

Through social media, it is entirely possible for anyone to create their own unique personal brand. When deciding to build your brand, you must first identify your goals – this will help you create a strategy to meet those goals through the use of social media. Here are some key steps to being successful in building your personal brand through social media.

image via Amazon

In my Amazon account I have multiple wish lists and one of them is filled with creative business books. I decided to purchase one of these books from the Kindle store and I'm so glad I did! For the past few weeks I've been reading My So Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman. This is a great guidebook for those of us who want to turn our freelance dreams into reality. Goodman offers tips, advice and everything else that we need to know to pursue a freelance career with witty anecdotes and a heavy dose of realism. What I enjoyed the most about the book is that she covers everything from creating an online portfolio, to invoicing and keeping receipts, but she also discusses the bits that we are all curious about - pounding the pavement, how to find clients, how to pay your bills and how to conquer the ever elusive work/life balance.

I also want to share with you some resources I've discovered over the past few weeks and this past weekend.

// building a creative coaching business from scratch

// the meet up guide

// know & grow your audience

// be a farmer

Do you have freelance dreams of your own? What steps are you taking to make them a reality?

LUXE LINK LOVE

Cheers to the weekend!! I'm so glad it's Saturday, aren't you? Today will be my "rest" day because tomorrow we're celebrating my dad's 50th birthday, so I'll have some work to do early in the day. I can't believe it - and he still looks exactly the way he looked when I was a little girl. Both of my parents have good genes...gives me something to look forward to!

I couldn't let the weekend come + go without sharing some of the awesomeness I discovered during the week!

// have you ever heard of The Freelance To Freedom Project? I just discovered this the other day, don't ask me how I found it, but I'm hooked!

// are you an introvert + you dream of owning or already own your own business? Then visit The Marketing Movement to learn the "art of thriving quietly".

// if you enjoyed Emily's guest post and were intrigued by the travel journal, then you'll love reading this oldie but goodie about creating a travel scrapbook.

// I often struggle with being an introvert as I'm sure plenty introverts do. This is an interesting article about being an introvert in an extroverted industry.

// this post makes me want to head back to Austin this summer - so much to explore there!

// now that grad school is almost over, it's time to get back to this sewing business. I've been wanting to try my hand at sewing my own skirt. Do you sew - got any tips?

// since the wedding has come + gone, I'm so excited to start dreaming (with more detail!) about our next home. This living room is so cute + gives me all sorts of inspiration!

And to start your weekend off right, a giveaway!! I'm sponsoring The Nectar Collective and we are giving away $230 in prizes to Etsy and Amazon. Enter the giveaway below and best of luck!

Esther & Jacob | 27th + luxe | The Wellness Doer | Safaris and Sunsets

Food, Booze, & Baggage | Quaintrelle | A Home Away From Home

| Found Love, Now What? |

Foreign Geek | Beauty In Your Eyes | Dreams, etc. | The Nectar Collective

a Rafflecopter giveaway

27L GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR

I decided to share my goals for the new year for both the blog and for myself. I'll be more accountable this way AND it'll be great to get some feedback from ya'll as well!

1. Collaborate with other bloggers. It's been so much more fun to blog since I've become more engaged in the blogging community over the last few months of 2013. I want to find more things to do this year that embraces that very thing-there are so many talented bloggers out there!

2. Become a better friend to my editorial calendar. Ok so I have had a love hate relationship with this calendar. I have made that calendar, I have followed it halfway or not at all! I participated in a project in November via Chasing Happy where I had a prompt everyday and posted 28 times that month in addition to my own blog posts, totaling 40 posts for November! So my goal for 2014 is to really use that calendar!

Today is day 22 of The Thankful Project! Today's prompt is "an expectation".

image via Jose Gieskes // text via 27th + Luxe

Spring is officially upon us! I whipped out my yellow shirt yesterday! Even though it’s technically been pretty spring like in Houston for a bit now, I never feel comfortable pulling out my pastels + brights until it’s officially Spring. Is that weird? Now, here’s what I loved on the Internet this week!

// This apartment feature on The Everygirl is lovely!

// How cool is this business card scrapbook?

// Need some consistency and cohesiveness on your blog? I wrote about content + editorial planning this week. And, The Nectar Collective wrote about how to make money blogging.

// I got an email and immediately fell in love with these, these, and these.

// Nicole over at A Dash of Gold rocked this look!

// In the Name of Glamour has some awesome pillows in their shop, this one is my favorite!

// Painting fabric for wall art?!?! Yes please!

// These would look awesome on my patio.

Have an awesome weekend!

#TGIF: Time To Recharge

Life has been pretty crazy for me lately. I turned 28 on October 2nd and have such high hopes for myself-dreams that I want to happen right this minute! On top of all that, I am in graduate school, planning a wedding, and wanting to start my own business. I have created a high stress/high anxiety environment for myself! Thankfully, I'm traveling to LSU this weekend to "TURNUP" with my sisters for LSU's homecoming. Hopefully that will help me unwind!

Cheers to a great weekend!!