Pursue. {part 4}

I am so excited this week to introduce you to my friend, Alissa. We actually met almost 6 years ago when I was teaching middle school and very pregnant. She was the one who took over my position. Because of this meeting, we became friends. We have kept in touch... 6 years and 5 babies later. She is an awesome mommy, blogger, crafter, entrepreneur...really, she's great at whatever she puts her mind to.

Please meet my friend, Alissa....

It's funny because if you had asked me a year ago if I thought my life would be where it's at, I would have looked at you sideways and said, "are you crazy?! No way!" But that's just how God works. He takes people who are willing to be molded and opens doors in front of them just to see if they will walk though. This is the story of my life. Unexpected randawesomeness. Although with God, nothing is random... it's all just plain awesomeness. My name is Alissa and I have a lifestyle blog called, Rags to Stitches. I began blogging in 2007 as a way to document our journey... to leave legacy for our children. When it began it was a space where I shared pictures of my belly bump, talked about all the things mommies to be talk about, minus nipple shields because someone held out on me on that secret gem! Those babies transformed nursing for me.

 

 Then in 2009 I started my the Rags to Stitches Shop, where I created and sold iPad, laptop and clutches for the modern mom on the go, who wanted to look and feel trendy. It was during that time that I learned a lot about how to market myself, customer service, creating a great product that stands out against others in the same space and ways to stay ahead of the trend. Knowing when to move on and adapt or change your product style can be a difficult thing to navigate without losing your original branding. Over time I began blogging more, putting myself out there to meet other bloggers, first in my area, then from other areas of the nation. I started attending conferences, which led to opening up and sharing more about myself on my blog. While I was still running the shop and loving it, my passion for blogging and sharing began to outweigh my love for my shop. I found myself developing my own little niche on my blog. While I call myself a lifestyle blogger and that can mean a lot of things, I consider myself a niche lifestyle blogger, meaning that I try to write posts that stay within 3-4 categories: faith, family, fashion and community building. Then in 2011 I began working with blogging agencies to share amazing brands and products with my readers. I was writing about products and brands I already shared with my readers, but I was able to being monetizing my blog in a way that I hadn't been able to before. It was fun, allowed me to still be creative on my blog, but also make a little bit of extra play money. Then about 6 months ago, God opened a door for me that I never expected. A good friend of my husbands came to me with brands who were looking to use bloggers for marketing and he asked me if I wanted to start a blogging agency with him. He actually spoke with my husband first, who quickly jumped on board and said I'd be all about it.... Well I was, but it was still scary!

So 6 months ago, Pollinate Media Group, was born. In the last 6 months I've seen God open more doors that I could've ever expected. We have built an amazing executive team, we're working with awesome brands like Cost Plus World Market, Child to Cherish, Fox/Universal, Dr. Pepper, Minute Maid and just landed a deal with People Magazine. Trust me when I say I'm still pinching myself somedays, but the glory is all God's. Now looking back I realized that He used my little shop to help me learn about branding, marking, creative strategy and customer service and my blog to teach me how to be transparent, build community and share passionately for this moment. I'm still in awe. Each day I'm reminded of His goodness in my life. I guess what I'm trying to say is that God has a plan for each one of our lives and He creates moments and learning opportunities to train us up to do what He has planned. Don't every underestimate what God has in store for you or what He might call you to do. And when He does call... be sure to answer. It may not always be an easy ride, but I promise with Him on board, it'll be a great one.

 I just want to say thank you to Kelly for asking me to share. When she emailed me I was floored and honored to be able to share alongside the other amazing women who have also shared. I'd love for you to pop by the blog and say hi, I love meeting new people.

BLOG // TWITTER // FACEBOOK

If you've missed any of the last weeks, you can click here or here or here.

Pursue. {part 3}... and a GIVEAWAY!!!

I sure am loving reading about all these women who have pursued a dream, a 
hobby, or an opportunity that was laid in their lap. I hope you are too. If you've missed any of the last weeks, you can click here or here. 

They chose not to let their visions sit. They made something happen. 


I want to introduce you to another awesome mommy, friend, party planner, crafter {I could go on}... I have known Angi since I was a little girl. Our families have spent many holidays together, family vacations, and day-to-day dinners. She is now a wife and mommy of two ridiculously cute kids...and in all her spare time {yeah right} she and her mom are the brains and creative genius behind Sew Sweet Patterns.



I'd like you to meet Angi...

- Tell us a little about yourself. What dream did you pursue?
We are a mother/ daughter team that specializes in sewing patterns for kids and dolls. We started about 2 and a half years ago with a dream to provide simple sewing patterns for beginner sewers.


- How your dream started.
This started after my daughter was born and I decided I wanted to sew clothes for her. I picked up a store bought pattern and a few minutes into sewing it, I called my mom in tears! It was so confusing and hard to work with! She showed me a few things that made it clearer and easier. Then she put together a few patterns herself and I was able to follow those easily! So we thought maybe we could help others who were just beginning or as frustrated with store bought patterns as I was! So we started with 5 patterns in our Etsy shop and today we have 87! 

- Encouragement when hit with setbacks.
We haven't had to deal with too many setbacks yet! Thank goodness!! We of course have the occasional unhappy customer and it is hard not to take that too personally. We do our best and there is always going to be someone isn't satisfied, but we choose to use that to help make us better instead of getting too discouraged. 

- What you've learned.
We have definitely learned that you need to be doing something that you enjoy (which is cliche but so true). We love the whole process of developing new patterns and giving customers the means to create something for their children themselves! And to not get to frustrated if your first attempts just don't work. I think this is my third or fourth attempt at turning a "hobby" into an actual business. We just finally found our niche and it worked!

- Where you are now. 
We are currently working on 5 new patterns. That will get us up over 90 listings in our shop. Our goal is 100 by the end of the year! We have our own website now and a wonderful following on Facebook.


Thanks so much for sharing with us, Angi!!!

And, that's not all... Angi and her mom, Patti want to give away a 3-pack of patterns to one of my readers. Winner's choice!!!



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Pursue {part 2}

I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Sarah. 

We met at a home Christmas boutique five years ago. I had just finished walking (waddling - I was pregnant) around looking at all the cute stuff. It all was cute, but I had no problem walking by without making a purchase. 

Until I was walking out the door. 

 She was set up right by the front door. I looked to the left - inside her "booth" - and couldn't help myself. I just had to peek...especially at the prices. I picked out an adorable Bohemian style dress figuring it would be WAAAAAAY out of my price range. I was wrong. I bought it. I saw another adorable dress that I had to have. Checked the price tag and bought it. You get the idea. 

Rad stuff and affordable. Win- win. 

Please read how Sarah "went for it." She went from home parties to an amazing store of her very own. If you live in or around Orange County, you've got to check it out. While you're there, get a coffee. Portola Coffee Lab, who I featured last week, is located in the SAME SPOT. 

Please meet Sarah: 

Tell us a little about yourself. What dream did you pursue? 

Name: Sarah K. Dowdell

Dream: Owning my own clothing boutique

- How your dream started.

My dream was born from 18 years of working in fashion and retail at South Coast Plaza.

In 2007 a friend was doing home parties and church/school boutiques with her kids line and she approached me about doing women's clothing. I took my small savings bought 2 rolling racks and some clothes and did my first home party. It quickly became apparent that people loved my style, selection and prices. That was the start of my first company Bird Street. The name later changed to Deer Lovely. 

- Encouragement when hit with setbacks.

In the fall of 2010, Mike and I decided to liquidate our stock and get out of the traveling boutique business. A new pregnancy, dwindling sales and an over-saturation of home parties and church/school boutiques made it very difficult to justify all the manual labor that went into setting up each week. I was really sad, but agreed at the time that it was the best thing for us as a family. I did my last event at the start of November 2010. Two weeks later, I read an article about The OC Mart Mix and convinced Mike to go with me to "just take a look". A few weeks later we signed a 6 month lease for a 175 square foot space at The OC Mart Mix and few weeks after that I lost my job. Setbacks are just part of life, you have to let doors close so that new ones can open. We opened the Deer Lovely store on January 26th, 2011. 

- What you've learned. 

You will always have competition and if you are doing something successful someone is going to copy you. Believe in what you are doing, stay motivated, be inspired and GROW your vision. My favorite quote and my next tattoo is "dreaming instead of doing is foolishness". 

- Where you are now. 

Deer Lovely is now over 650 square feet. We have expanded our women's collection, brought in local artists and  introduced our men's concept Whiskey Tango 1977. Next on the horizon is the launch of our online storewww.deerlovely.com. 

About Deer Lovely: Deer Lovely was born from a desire to provide feminine, colorful, bohemian styles at exceptional prices. A love for combining the old with the new, mixing patterns and layering has led to Deer Lovely's signature style. 

The Deer Lovely Boutique is an independent retailer that offers a uniquely curated selection of clothing and accessories. Inspired by our favorite items, Deer Lovely believes in the beauty and excitment of finding those special pieces that you have in your closet for years. 

Location: 3313 Hyland Ave

Costa Mesa, Ca. 92626

949-705-7878

Thanks for sharing with us, Sarah! 

Now, if you're local, get up and go. She is offering 20% this weekend to my friends and followers if you mention this blog post. I promise...You won't be disappointed! And if you aren't local, click here!

P.S. She is the mom to an adorable 15-month old named Lenox. Can you get a cuter name...and face?!?! I didn't think so, either!

Pursue. {part 1}

Since becoming a stay-at-home mom, I have met so many incredible women who have also had dreams and pursued them. They are so incredible that I want you to be able to meet them.

Incredible Woman #1: Christa and her dream... Portola Coffee Lab!

I had the privilege of meeting Christa and her son, Gabe, 3 years ago. My son, Archer, and Gabe were in a "feeding class" together. I was baking cupcakes on the side and she was making coffee. We'd talk about it. They were dreams that we both had...at that point, still small... 

Well, things have changed for Christa and her family because they decided to "go for it" and pursue their dream ALL THE WAY.

Meet my friend and her amazing business...

My name is Christa and I am a mother of 3 kids..ages 5, 3, and 3 months. My 5 year old has special needs and was born with a heart defect. Because he was in and out of the hospital pretty much for the first year, I was not able to keep my job. Our family had to figure out how to supplement my income and also allow for me to be at home. 

My husband was always roasting coffee at home and we loved to visit coffeehouses. We first started off small...we opened a wholesale coffee roasting company by sharing space in a bakery. Our bigger dream was to open a coffeehouse that was unlike anything we could find in Orange County. All of the coffeehouses that we loved were either in San Francisco or the Pacific Northwest. So...we started working on our next goal...opening a retail coffeehouse. We were able to do it with the help and support of our family.

We have been open for about a year and it has been quite a ride. It is our dream but it has been a lot of hard work. My husband is not home as often as I like and the first 6 months of opening I was not with my kids as much as I would have liked. But, in the end, we know that our hard work has paid off and we hope Portola Coffee is something we can pass down to our children as well as using our business as a platform to teach them many life lessons.

Life these days are hectic, crazy, and busy but on the flip side our life is rewarding, happy, and most of all I am so proud of what we have accomplished by following our dream!


Thanks, Christa!

So...if you live in South Orange County and love coffee or coffee-inspired drinks, Portola Coffee Lab is a must.

It is located in the OC Mart Mix which is just past South Coast Plaza on the right if you are headed north on the 405. 

3313 Hyland Ave

• Costa Mesa, CA  92626

• (949) 284-0596

Open Daily
6am - 9pm Weekdays
7am - 9pm Saturday
7am - 8pm Sunday

Stay tuned for more introductions. A sneak peek into the line-up...
**If you'd like to be a part of this series, please email me at kcdebaca@gmail.com with PURSUE in the subject line. 


Click here to enter this week's giveaway!!!