How to: Get dressed up, quick!

Smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, we’re all bound to be invited to a few parties. I usually like to take time to plan and prepare for such events, but last weekend things went a bit differently. I’ll present a possible scenario* in the hope that my experience helps you. You may be spending a cozy afternoon swathed in designer cashmere** when you receive a call from your Significant Other: “Baby, I...

How to: Lazy Layering

I’m back! Back from…wherever it is people go when they’re burnt out from the responsibilities of being a so-called adult but can’t afford an actual vacation with beaches and fruit-infused liquors and stuff. Between working (mostly) from home and preparing for holidays that revolve around eating, it’s easy to get used to slobbing around in gear best suited for parking it on the couch. Sometimes, though, I have to leave the house (I know. I...

How to: Design a simple business card

I returned from the IFB Conference with a stack of business cards, which I thought was fantastic. If you have a blog, a website, or especially a business (no matter how small), you should have business cards. While they seem like a holdover from simpler times, there are a few reasons why handing a small square piece of paper to a potential client, contact, or friend is still an effective way to network. 1. It’s...

How to create a simple text logo

Reading this post on Before&After reminded me of something that’s been bugging me lately: bad logos. Look at number 5. Now look away quickly, then look again. Yep. Chalk it up to my typographic tendencies, but I’ve noticed that many solopreneurs and small business owners take one of two paths: Scenario 1: They get excited about their products and/or services and try to fit information about everything they can do into their logo, usually in...

How to: Stalk shoes online

Have you ever seen something you put off buying, only to have it disappear/sell out before you had a chance at it? I’ve kicked myself more than once for letting the perfect whatever get away, until I realized how easy it is to stalk merchandise* online. Here’s my technique: I saw a pair of sturdy-yet-cute sandals on the Urban Outfitters site a few weeks ago. I’ve been on the lookout for a pair of walkable...