Decisions, Decisions...Featuring Sara Mueller of A Dose of Pretty & Sara Mueller Designs

We love stories of people discovering their passion and turning it into a career! (Have you noticed that theme here, here, and here?)  

Today, we are excited to introduce you to an inspiring self-employed web designer and blogger who juggles her budding business, her beautiful family, and her wonderful blog...and does it all in style!  (Seriously, her Instagram feed is dripping with style!)

Meet Sara Mueller of A Dose of Pretty and Sara Mueller Designs...

Sara in her home office with her daughter, Ella Sofia, and her dog, Marley.

The path to my current career has been nothing traditional. I majored in Business. I worked for over 10 years in real estate for the Federal government, but when my husband took an opportunity to work on his master's degree we moved to Monterey, California with our then five-month old baby, and I left a career I thought was for a lifetime. Since then we have moved two additional times, once to South America and currently we reside in North Carolina. 

I have always been career driven and ambitious. I never thought I would be a stay-at-home Mom and there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one. I just grew up with a Mom who was a successful business woman and she has been my role model since day one. After a couple of years of being a stay-at-home Mom I realized that I was missing something and that's when I decided to start a blog. And with that, fast forward another couple of years, I realized that I love designing things and making things look pretty. I decided to educate myself in the graphic design field and everyday I am learning new things. Somehow, with blogging I found a very fulfilling career.

Earlier this year I took a leap of faith and opened my own business in blog/web design. I decided to put myself out there and do what I love. And now I get so much pleasure and joy to be able to work from home and still spend my entire day raising my two beautiful children.

Thanks for having me Rebecca & Paula!

xo, Sara

Photography by Lesley Veronika

Thank you,  thank you Sara for sharing your story with us! Bravo for finding and following your passion! Your work is beautiful and we know you'll continue to be successful!

Decisions, Decisions...Featuring Sabra of Sabra Lattos Photography

If you have been hanging around the blog world you probably remember Sabra from The Lonely Wife Project.  Her tag line was "Because my career, husband and three dogs don't keep me busy enough." We could relate!  Well, she finally decided to pursue her passion for photography and started her own business Sabra Lattos Photography.  Let us tell you, she doesn't disappoint! See how her change in career was her best decision.

"Corporate America has a tendency to zap your creative juices, so a few years ago I started a blog chronicling my life.  And we all know, blogs are nothing without images.  Before I knew it, I was taking photographs of everything and my hobby turned into a passion.  I got a new camera, read everything I could about photography, lighting and composition and taught myself Photoshop.  Then I started to slowly build a portfolio while I was working a day job.  After a couple years of this, I knew I needed to make a change."

"Leaving my big wig corporate job to develop my own business and pursue photography full-time."

"It has been about six months since I launched my business and website and I am still shocked that I had the balls to leave everything behind and make a complete career change.  Business is continuing to grow and I work my butt off everyday to come into my own as a photographer.  it is not easy and it definitely requires serious self-motivation and a little hustling, but I am happy so I say my decision was a success!"

How amazing are Sabra's photographs?  Every image is stunning!  See more of her photographs on her website HERE.

Thank you for sharing Sabra!

Decisions, Decisions...featuring Niccole of Little Petite Designs

I am pretty lucky to have Niccole of Little Petite Designs as not only a friend, but also a neighbor.  Now it is your lucky day and you get to meet her too!

Niccole runs a handmade jewelry business out of her home...one that started as a hobby and ended up turning into a full fledged business.  Little Petite Designs is handmade jewelry created by Niccole to help fund the adoption of their second baby. 

"Being creative has always been a positive outlet in my life.  Originally I started creating jewelry as an escape from my ever stressful career designing shoes and as a way to fund the adoption of our son Oliver.  After becoming a mother, I began to pour more of my energy into the creation of new products, which led to a surprise growth of my collection.  I was thrilled when retail accounts wanted my product to display on their shelves!  With beads, gems and rope overtaking my dining room and a curious toddler constantly on the move, I needed an organized creative workspace."

"Create a functional work studio space in our tiny home - the master bedroom to be exact - where my creativity could thrive and I could continually be inspired."

"My own workspace with natural light and large overgrown trees and succulents galore from our patio to gaze out as I am working.  The new space allows for a vast array of colorful beads and gemstones to be on display, which constantly keeps me dreaming of new creations.  Plenty of drawer space for paperwork, tools, supplies and hundreds of beads.  I am overjoyed with my new workspace!"

Thank you Niccole for sharing your workspace with us!

As a treat for all of our readers, Niccole is offering 20% off with promo code 'SEA' for the next week. Niccole and her husband are currently looking to adopt their second child and 50% of all profits go towards growing their family to four.

You can see more more of Niccole and Little Petite Designs on instagram.

Decisions, Decisions... Featuring Alexandra from Things That Sparkle

If you spend much time in the blogosphere, you've probably had the good fortune of seeing photos of Alexandra Kaehler's interior design projects.  If not, we're thrilled to be introducing you to her today.  

The incredibly stylish blogger behind Things that Sparkle, Alexandra was obviously born to be an interior designer.  Just look at her chic bedroom below--that headboard, the oversized monograms! I mean, really!!  

But, like many of us, she didn't take the most direct route to the career that she now loves.  Below, she shares with us how making a change to pursue her passion, and never looking back, is the best career decision she's made.

Photo of Alexandra's stunning bedroom by Anjali Pinto.  

See more of her photography here.

"I worked in marketing for a couple years out of college. Before I started I thought it was going to be my dream job. An account position at a big advertising agency. What could be a better fit for someone who wanted a creative business focused job? But it wasn't my dream job at all. I left after two years."

"After leaving my marketing job, I enrolled in design school and have never looked back."

"I am now an interior designer doing what I love every single day. It definitely isn't as glamorous as I had originally thought but it is incredibly fulfilling and exciting. I love what I do and look forward to every new client and every completed project just like they are the first one."

Thank you!  Thank you Alexandra for sharing this with us!  You are a rockstar and an inspiration to both of us!  Oh, and we're dying to see photos of your new home!  

Decisions, Decisions...featuring Lauren of JL Photographers

 Kilim rugs. Oh kilim rugs, how I love thee.  The gorgeous colors, the patterns, everything about them I LOVE --everything except the price.  $3,000+ YIKES.  So when I decided to go on an adventure to the flea market, I was on a mission to find one!  The problem?  I've never been much for bargaining.  I enjoy a good sale, but I am not a bargainer.  Not at garage sales, not at a flea market, I am just not good at it!

 I went to the Rose Bowl flea market with only $200.  I passed three vendors selling gorgeous lilim rugs, all of which wanted $250 - $1000.  I left them without even trying to bargain.  I was beginning to lose hope, but on our last round when we were getting ready to leave, we passed by one last rug vendor, with a giant, gorgeous lilim rug laid out on the ground.  They wanted $180! Amazing! Sadly, I did not have that much money left.  I told the man I only had $100, but that I loved the rug!  I had very little hope that he would accept my -- who sells a 6x9 kilim rug in perfect condition for $100?

He accepted!  He said it cost more for him to store the rug and he didn't want to take it back!  Now I have the most gorgeous and HUGE kilim rug in my living room, reminding me of the one time I actually tried to bargain and won!

Thank you so much Lauren for sharing your decision to find yourself a gorgeous kilim rug in your budget!  Sometimes it takes awhile, but it is great when you stick to your guns and win.

In case you do not know, Lauren and her husband are amazing photographers.

Check out their website here.

Until the next big decision!

Decisions, Decisions... Featuring SPRUCE Stationery & Design

We'd like to introduce you to a very talented custom stationer who's gorgeous work has been featured by Martha Stewart Weddings and Style Me Pretty, among others.  Meet Brittany of SPRUCE Stationery & Design, who Paula had the pleasure of working with when designing her wedding stationery last year and when creating the logo for her design firm recently.

Brittany recently decided to make the courageous, inspiring, and totally rad decision to open her own store where she will continue to work with clients on custom stationery in addition to selling all sorts of gorgeousness in the way of paper products and party supplies.  

Today, she's telling us about her fabulous new store (you absolutely must see the custom moss-covered chandelier she made) and the best design decision she made while designing it...

Embracing Vertical Space!

"When I first toured the location that was going to become SPRUCE it was a thrift store. A very small thrift store. It was dark and overflowing with merchandise so it felt very small. At just around 1,000 SF it IS a modest size retail shop, but with its small footprint it boasted 14 foot tall ceilings and I saw potential."

"I picked a slate gray for the ceiling and brought the color down four feet where it meets the big traditional white crown moulding we installed. I got to crafting a statement piece chandelier and and we took a lot of the shelving and built-ins up nearly the full 10 feet."

"The results are bright and airy. The crown moulding divides the height but makes the space feel larger than it is. The chandelier is eye catching and always yields some fun comments. The white walls make the papers pop and, yes, some items are out of customer reach but it gives us a great reason to interact with our clientele and be helpful."

Look at that chandelier!!  Amazing, right?  Yes, she created that from a $50 Craigslist find! See more photos of SPRUCE here, including some stellar before and afters.  

These gorgeous photos were taken by Michéle M. Waite Photography.

Thank you Brittany for participating in our Decisions, Decisions... series!  We both dream of opening our own boutiques some day and we can only hope they'd be as beautiful as Spruce!  

And y'all, if you're in the market for some custom stationery, call her! Seriously, she's good! I mean, even Martha thinks so!

Happy Wednesday, and cheers to good decisions!

Decisions, Decisions... Featuring Alissa from 'The Goods Design'

First of all, thanks so much to Rebecca and Paula for inviting me to share my own big recent decision!

It's Alissa from The Goods Design here and my best decision lately has been going from couch potato to gym junkie. 

"I was never an athlete growing up. I played AYSO soccer for one year in 7th grade and never scored a goal. I almost did, until I realized everyone was yelling at me for running towards the other teams' goal (oopsie!) I didn't have a weight problem in high school, but like a lot of people, once I got to college I packed on the pounds very quickly (all-you-can-eat pasta bar? waffle maker? I was in heaven.) After college I settled back into a healthy weight, but considered carrying groceries or walking around the design center to get fabric samples my major workout for the week."

"I was feeling overloaded with stress last year (infertility, work, etc) and thought I'd give Soul Cycle a try (it's an indoor cycling work out here in LA, and in NYC and SF.) I was immediately hooked. I left the class feeling like I was floating, even though I was drenched in sweat and beet red. The combination of amazing music and inspiring instructors kept me coming back for more. But the nearest Soul Cycle is a 30 minute drive from my house, so I decided to join a local gym and start working out there as well."

"I'm so proud of how far I've come. I ran my first 5k last month, and hope to run a marathon before I turn 40 (so I've got 7 years to get that done!) I love working out because it just clears out my mind and relaxes me. It's also opened up so many more activities for me (like on our recent vacation to Mammoth Lakes I was able to do some tough hikes and lots of activities throughout the day, rather than just one and then being too pooped to pop.) My dad (who is in his 60's) runs marathons, and we've started running together on Sunday mornings, then getting brunch, which has been great. It goes to show that you don't have to let your past determine your present. I've never thought of myself as "athletic," but I'm doing it!"

Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you Alissa for sharing this with us!  You've inspired us to step up our workouts a bit, and maybe even get back into spinning!  Please keep us posted on your marathon training progress!

If you haven't seen Alissa's Blog, The Goods Design, you should check it out!  And to peruse some gorgeous photos of her interior design work, check out her firm's website here.  

So, what's the best decision you've made recently?  We'd love to hear from you!

Decisions, Decisions...featuring BlyDesign

If you do not know about BlyDesign get ready for some eye candy!

Katie Bly is a classically trained pianist turned jeweler.  She turned her jewelry making passion into a second career in 2009 and the world has been benefiting from it ever since.  Today she is sharing her best decision in regards to her gorgeous workspace.

Take a peek inside...

Picture via BlyDesign

I wanted my workspace to have a fun atmosphere.  I have noticed with home offices I've had in the past, that they were seldom used, because they didn't invoke a fun and casual atmosphere.  I would just take more work with me around the house (causing disorder and frustration).

So, I set out to design a FUN office space.  That is where the disco ball came into play.  I have actually incorporated disco balls into almost every room in my house for this reason.  The gold glams it up a bit as I wanted my office to have brass touches.  As for before, it was a ceiling fan, a bit of a bore for the room.

Now, I enjoy the space (and get all of my work done in there!).  It is important for an office to be as beautiful as it is efficient. 

Thank you Katie for sharing your wonderful office with us!  We both love a good disco ball, and are both learning that a home office is a place to work but it still needs to feel like it is part of your home.

If you want to see more of Katie of BlyDesigns home see her recent interview in Charlotte Home + Garden Magazine.

Also, we have a great giveaway with Katie starting this afternoon!  You could be the lucky winner of one of her wonderful works of art - a gorgeous druzy and resin necklace!  Check it out here as well of her other gorgeous creations on her Etsy page.

See you this afternoon!