Nashville, TN

I do not think that I need to point out the fact that travel looks a bit different these days, than it did 18 months ago. We looked at the positive side, and explored a new city within our country… Nashville ! We stayed within the Airbnb owned building, The Burnham. Their signage and wayfinding package was so well done, I could not help but be the girl taking photographs of signs. The lounge on the main level, and on each floor were well designed and inviting.

Right across the street from our home away from home, were two great finds. The irresistible Parlor Doughnuts, which had such great swag I had to grab a t-shirt. And Bar Sovereign, which describes itself as a funky, art-filled gastropub - I would have to agree.

The last but not least place to point out is Old Glory. I was blown away by the giant pothos, kind service and killer cocktails.

There is so much street art and many cool places to check out in Nashville. I will definitely return and continue to explore!

Santiago, Chile

Prior to my trip to Chile, an Expedia travel video taught me that Santiago was a city of extremes. At the time I did not think much of it, until my husband reminded me of this statement during our week long stay. I discovered this could not be closer to the truth.

To put it lightly, Chile is going through a very rough time, I will not pretend that I have a full understanding as to why. What I do know, however, is that over my Thanksgiving holiday this year, I gained a little more insight of the world we live in and the struggles that another country faces.

Santiago is absolutely a city of extremes. Beautiful and ugly, rich and poor, ocean and dessert, historic and modern architecture, the list could go on and on. But what I want to focus on is the beautiful and the ugly…

We road bicycles through beautiful miles of vineyards in the Maipo Valley. Off-road to soak in desolate natural hot springs in the middle of the Andes Mountains, drank water from a crystal clear waterfall, and were invited to have a barbecue lunch with some local people who lived in the Andes Mountains. We learned from two local woman how to make their grandmothers empanadas, where we then shared a bottle of Carmenere wine, ate our fresh empanadas and talked about the struggles their country is going through. These experiences were absolutely magical, you would never guess that the evening before or your next morning, things could take a drastic turn.

We walked around a graffiti covered city done by young, angry citizens desperately trying to get their message across to their government. Nearly the entire city center is boarded up, in a failed effort to protect the storefronts, second and third floor windows are totally destroyed from people throwing bricks. Subway stations burned to the ground. Our first evening we sat in a beer garden, where a block away tear gas was being fired to break up a protest. The gas blew over, my husband and I, as well as the rest of the patrons felt its' effects. We saw piles of rubble on fire in streets. Dozens of Chilean Carabineros, special services police force, were out in full protective gear, accompanied by their armored vehicles. Each evening they tear gassed the protests to put them to bed for the night, that is until the young citizens showed up in full force again the next afternoon.

I truly pray that Chile can get back on the right track soon, clean up it's beautiful cities, and live in peace. For now, I am thankful that I spent my Thanksgiving this year gaining invaluable experiences of the world we live in. Thankful to take inspiration from the architecture buried beneath the graffiti. Thankful for new friends in far away places. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina… the land of empanadas, tango, asado and Malbec! We had nearly a week to explore this vast city and I feel like we only skimmed the surface. Here is a glimpse into our adventure, which began at La Recoleta Cemetery. I would have never guessed that I would happily spend over an hour in a cemetery, leaving in awe of how beautiful it is. It was the perfect ominous day, with a thunderstorm approaching in the background.

The from neon to hand-painted storefronts everything was unique, you never knew what you were going to find around the next corner. Highly recommend Jazmin Chebar in Palermo for shopping.

EMPANADAS! La Cocina, order the Pikachu. A great quaint place to grab lunch or an afternoon snack, with a good mix of locals and tourists.

Our last stop of the trip was Floreria Atlantico, one of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2018. Upon entering through an operating flower shop you proceed downstairs through the cooler. You then find yourself in a very welcoming cozy environment. I would recommend tucking into a bar spot, where you can watch the bartenders make their beautiful drinks. Don’t leave without checking out the restroom, trust me.

One Year of Bliss Creative

As cliche as it may sound, I cannot believe an entire year has passed since I began this adventure. I met lovely clients, worked on amazing projects and learned so much about running a business.

I have many exciting projects in the works right now that I look forward to sharing photography of when they are completed. But for now, they must remain a surprise!

May the second year of business bring even more happy clients, successful projects and inspirational travel. Thank you to everyone that has supported me this first year! Especially to everyone that reached out and trusted me with their EGD & Graphic Design projects. It is truly appreciated and I look forward to working with each one of you more in the future!

London, England

Rainy & gray. Every day. This is what I imagined London to be, and it did not let me down. I had been wanting to visit this city for years, and finally got the opportunity. I feel like we hardly scratched the surface, however how does one ever feel as though they've done so when there are 1,220 pubs. However, that number has dropped drastically since 2001, when there were 4,835 pubs. Nonetheless, the Salisbury was a sight to see with it's historical etched glass mirrors. 

Another excellent pub to check out, is the notable Churchill Arms, famous for the flowers on the exterior and bed pan lined ceilings. I was especially fond of the darling little stained glass details. Don't leave here without trying some Thai food, trust me. 

After having a pint, or two, or three... try climbing these stairs. YES. These were in our flat, and lead up to the restroom. It was always an exciting adventure upon arriving home, or waking up in the middle of the night. I am happy to say, there were no casualties due to these steps during our stay. 

When we weren't grabbing a cheeky pint.... (hey it was rainy and gray, what would you do) We did do some walking around, and came across some beautiful architecture. I suppose that isn't surprising when the city was founded in 50AD. 

Another trip to London is definitely in order, I think next time I'll bring a pair of rainboots. 

Medellín, Colombia

Medellin, Colombia. The perfect balance of history, culture, relaxation, cuisine and nightlife. We stayed in El Poblado neighborhood, in the spectacular Energy Living building. I could have stayed on this wrap-around balcony for the entire trip, with an Aguila Light and been happy as could be, but of course I didn't...

Medellin was incredibly affordable, and the weather could not have been more perfect. There were so many restaurants that we enjoyed. We especially loved going to Casacomedor. They had great cocktails and fresh fish. The decor is especially interesting, the designer definitely has an eye for detail and it did not go unappreciated by me for one. See a photo of the staircase below. 

What may have been the most memorable experience of the trip was our walking tour with Walter, with Comuna 13 Tours. We were guided through Comuna 13, which up until relatively recently, was the most dangerous neighborhood in South America. It was thrilling to witness the history and culture in this area. We took the Gondola up the mountains, and got a close look at how people are currently living.

We then rode the Gondola back down and got on a local bus to another part of Comuna 13, where we go out and walked around to see the Street Art. Different than in America, local artists are commissioned to design and paint these pieces throughout the neighborhood. The art represents, hope, strength and is meant to invigorate the community. The artwork plays a strong hand in the major turn around that Comuna 13 has experienced. We saw pieces from Chota, Paola Delfin, Yesgraff, Yorch Art, and many other artists. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

In addition to wandering around Comuna 13, exploring El Poblado and relaxing at the Energy Living's infinity pool we also took a day trip to Guatape to climb El Penol and visit the colorful town. 

740 stairs, at 6500' altitude. NBD.

The view once you reached the top was nothing less than breathtaking. And luck enough for us, during our climb the clouds broke and you could really see how clear and turquoise the lakes were. 

If you thought the street art in Comuna 13 was colorful, you haven't seen Guatape. Guatape is a town full of color. We had a lovely crepe lunch at Guatacrep, which was well deserved after our climb up and down El Penole. 

Overall, Medellin is definitely a place I want to go back. It's a mammoth city, with so much left to uncover. If you are to visit, I would recommend either being able to speak Spanish yourself, or someone you are traveling with to speak the language. Lucky enough for me, my husband was able to communicate for us. 

For me, the city was full of inspiration. I hope that this post can give you a taste of that as well!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

6 Things I Learned my First 6 Months Freelancing

1. Just do it.
There will never be the perfect time, never be a door wide open with the path clearly marked out for you to start your own business. If the time feels even partially right, go for it.

Easier said than done, of course. I took months to formulate a plan, writing down all the steps I needed to complete before I opened my business, planning what a typical day would look like, how I would get projects and so on. These were all helpful things, especially in convincing my husband it was a good idea, however, until you’re knee deep, you can not anticipate what is ahead.

---

2. Referrals are everything.
I have been very fortunate to have connections from my previous experience, who have reached out and sent me work. Making positive connections with everyone I encounter is key, I own my own business now, and it is critical that each opportunity to connect with someone counts.

---

3. Organization. Organization. Organization.
I am not a Graphic Designer anymore… I am a Graphic Designer, Accounting, Billing, the Receptionist, IT Support, Project Manager, Business Development, Photographer, Social Media Manager, and Marketer. Just because I started a Graphic Designer business, does not mean that Graphic Design is my full-time job.

There are so many tasks that need to be completed to make this a success, and organization is the key to that success. Thankfully, I was born overly organized. And fulfilling these roles has not been an issue for me, honestly, it has been the opposite. It’s exciting and refreshing to have the responsibility.

---

4. Isolation.  
It is not news to anyone that knows anything about freelance work, it can be isolating. I ensure that I do not allow myself to sit in the house for days on end, my only human interactions being with UPS, FedEx and my husband. I know that, for me, is a recipe to be driven crazy.

So, to solve this, when I know I will be working from home on any given day, I make a point to either get out and run errands over lunch, take a long walk, or head over to the gym and take a class. I try to make a point to have positive interactions with everyone I come across, the cashier at the grocery store, the instructor at my spin class, etc.  

---

5. Tech.
Just because I do not work at a desk job anymore, does not mean I do not deserve to be set up like I do! Having the proper equipment is another key to success. I ensure that all my work is properly backed up, (Back Blaze has been so useful)! I have a solid external hard drive that I use to archive past projects, I purchased a good printer, and upgraded our home wireless router. I have a new powerful laptop, and next on the list is to treat myself to a shiny new monitor so I can be even more efficient.

This also goes to managing your finances. QuickBooks is a tool which I learned over the past 6 months, and it has proven to be beneficial in keeping track of my income and expenses. When April 15 roles around, the last thing I want to do is scramble. I take time to be organized, to know how much I make each month, and keep track the miles I drive to meetings, all these things pay off.

---

6. Atmosphere.
Over the past six months, I have noticed that my best days working from home, are the days which I…
A. Make myself a good cup of tea. (Almost out of mine, open to suggestions on a new one!)
B. Light a delicious smelling candle.
C. Put an upbeat playlist on through our Marshall Bluetooth speaker.
D. Sit at the dining room table.

Why? Because I have found these things create an engaging atmosphere, and set me up for success. I could work upstairs at my desk in the office, which isn’t as supportive as our new dining room set, does not get as good of lighting, and does not have access to the speakers.

Working in silence, enhanced the isolation. Bad idea. Sure, I could sacrifice the candle, but nah. Working on the couch, only lead to feeling like I should open my Netflix app and watch a “quick episode”. Bad idea. Figuring out what works best for me was important, and it took time!

---

Stay tuned, as I for one, am anxious to see what the next 6 months, and even 6 years running Bliss Creative take me!

New York City, New York

The Concrete Jungle. The Big Apple. The City So Nice, They Named It Twice. The City of Dreams. New York City has so much to offer, I enjoy so many new experiences each time I come here, and of course some traditions as well.

This year we stayed at Hotel 50 Bowery, in Chinatown. The hotel is so beautifully designed, I definitely would stay here again. I loved the concrete ceilings, and collection of art above the bed. And who doesn't love a well integrated In case of fire sign? Just me.... okay :]

We also checked out the Whitney Museum of American Art. I don't often enough make it a point to check out museums, this experience will ensure that I do so more frequently. The museum was great, below are a few photos of my favorite pieces and exhibits. 

Marrakech, Morocco

Design. Everywhere. From the custom painted electrical outlets, to the table we ate breakfast on, to the intricate tiles in the Bahia Palace. Marrakech certainly did not disappoint. I had been looking forward to this trip for the imagery I imagined I could capture and was not let down! I'm excited to share with you, and hope you can find some inspiration as I have. Below are some images from our stay at Riad Hikaya, which was amazing. The girls working there did an excellent job to make us feel at home, and Dan gave us a great overview of the city over mint tea right when we arrived. 

Our first full day was very thrilling, we began with breakfast on the rooftop terrace. (How is everything so adorable!?)

After breakfast, we made our way, via horse drawn carriage, to Jardin Majorelle, which is home to the most vibrant blue buildings I have ever seen. And no, I did not color coordinate my shirt on purpose! 

What is going to Morocco without riding a camel? This was quite an experience, my camels name was Scooby Doo he was imported from Saudi Arabia and was the leader of the pack. He was a cool dude. 

Even after all that, our day was not over yet! We made our way to Barometre for dinner, where we had such a great meal, that we migrated to their bar and spent our evening trying the cocktails. We met some new friends along the way while I sat mesmerized with the custom illustrated drink menus. (PS get the Rosee Du Matin, you won't regret it)

Our trip consisted of a mix of getting lost in the Souks, negotiating with taxi drivers, and trying new foods. I am desperate to learn how to make a fish tagine, we brought home a bunch of spices so I may try my hand at it!  

But the tiles, OH the tile. Upon making our way to Morocco, I was looking forward to this, and again was not let down. At the Saadian Tombs, there was an area where someone is in charge of restoring the ancient tiles. What an awesome job. 

At the Saadin Tombs we got to take a look at the majestic room shown above. The level of detail here is incredible, the photo does not do it justice. The ceiling is gold, this is where the sultans son, Ahmad al-Mansur was buried in 1603. On a lighter note, back to tile! Here's a some eye candy just because I can't help it. Overall Marrakech was a great place to visit, and I hope to go back someday. One thing I can guarantee, given my hundreds and hundreds of photos, is that you will be treated to some more Moroccan inspiration in the near future!

Cartagena, Colombia

Polar opposite climate from my last post, Cartagena, Colombia! What a beautiful city, founded in 1533, there is so much history and culture to discover. I'm excited to share some of my adventures with you. 

After breakfast on our first morning we stepped outside on the bustling street, and were hit with the incredible heat and humidity. They were packed with cars driving on the narrow roads, men selling hats to protect you from the sun, and woman selling fresh cut fruit.

We stayed at Bastion Luxury which was a delight, the staff were so friendly, we were only there 5 nights and by the end they had learned our orders. (light beer and water, in the pool please :) Speaking of the pool, what a dream, I think I could stay on this rooftop forever and be happy. It was amazing to relax here and admire the design of the old city.

I've never been so fascinated with doors, until this trip. Various shapes, colors, and intricate designs really liven up the streets. They almost could be a museum of their own.

We met some great people, I would highly recommend Demente, they had amazing food and we were greeted with an even more amazing server. He remembered us when we came back a second time, which is always endearing. 

On our walk to Demente, which is located on Plaza da la Trinidad we walked down the street photographed below. The street art here was incredible, so many different styles and so much to look at. For a minute it almost had me forgetting the fact that it was still 100 degrees out, at night. 

All in all, this was a great trip. It's such an affordable city, that you almost can't afford to not visit, I would recommend taking a trip and exploring it for yourself!

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Montreal! What a lovely city, I greatly enjoyed my time here. It's so quaint, and feels a world away from my home, Chicago, without actually being that far.

Nearby the Notre-Dame Basilica, we sat and enjoyed a hot cup of tea. (it was a freezing weekend!). From the outside it looked amazing, so of course we had to go inside and check it out.

And my, what a treat. I had no idea it was so beautiful, I could have sat here for hours discovering new things within the architecture. I definitely would love to return here someday.

We had a great brunch, at a place called, Olive & Gourmando the wait was very long but the food was awesome. And of course, the obligatory latte photo is below. 

My husband wanted to try Le Mal Necessaire, for the cocktails, I secretly just wanted to go because I thought that their green neon pineapple was fun. Either way, it was an enjoyable time with some good drinks. 

Istanbul, Turkey

Welcome! I am so excited to be starting my design blog, inspired by travel. As Istanbul, in my opinion is the most magical place I have experienced to date. I find it only fitting to be my first blog post.  Below is a photo from my favorite restaurant, Mellow. They have a cat, Layla, who lives here and greets the customers. She laid on my lap a good portion of the meal.  <3

Istanbul is jam packed with inspiration for designers of all types. You can not walk a block without seeing intricate architecture. The old age of the city, mixed with new elements makes it remarkable.  Below is a restroom sign I found unique. 

Below is a the entrance to the Grand Bazaar. It's a winding maze, easy to get lost in (I speak from experience)! Within it, you can find everything from gold jewelry, hand woven rugs, knock off designer bags, to Turkish delight. I really enjoyed wandering the Grand Bazaar and stopping from time to time for a cup of Turkish tea. 

It's unfortunate the happenings going in Turkey the past couple years. I would love to return to explore more of this glorious city, and hope to do so someday. For now, the memories I captured on our two trips there will have to suffice!

On both trips, we stayed at the Witt Istanbul Suites, which deserve an entire post of their own.