Blog | Musings from a Spitfiregirl

Jun

THE SPITFIREMOM SOCIETY INTRODUCES: Lisa Guillot of Step Brightly

Spitfiremom_lisa_guillot My first understanding of the power of a designer/writer collaboration was working with Lisa Guillot. Lisa is the owner and creative director of Step Brightly Creative Group, a boutique graphic design and web design studio with clients from coast to coast because of their reputation in everything from lifestyle branding to professional service branding. We are also two of the three co-founders of Forth Chicago, a salon-inspired, seasonal event. Lisa called me up before 2013 started and said she wanted to collaborate on intimate gatherings of creative women. It’s ideas like that, creating time and space for good ideas, that makes Lisa great to work with and just generally great.

Lisa has one son who is almost 3 and a little girl on the way in late July. She’s also a step-mom to two fantastically energetic and kind boys. Her house? It’s bustling (and beautiful). Design work is for Monday, Wednesday and Friday and she keeps Tuesday and Thursday open for playtime with Julien. Like many of us, she works through his naps and has email and other social media on at all times and laments feeling the need to be always connected. Her son is at an in-home daycare about a mile from her house when she works. He starts preschool next year which is very exciting for both Mama and him…but Lisa’s betting she’ll be the one to cry the first day.

Here’s what Lisa had to say about being a SpitfireMom.

How does being a mom influence your work?
I have learned to be more patient with myself. In business I get things done on my schedule. With a child, it’s on his time. Trying to get my son out of the bath? At least a 5 minute ordeal. Breathe Lisa, breathe!

Because scheduling is so tight with kids, I have become super aware of my time and other people’s time. Scheduling time when you have a child, or 2 or 3 is a daily challenge. A dead give-away that I am from the Midwest: I am rarely late, typically early, and above all try not to cancel. It’s rude and selfish of other people’s time.

Do you talk about your kids with clients or potential clients?
I am lucky because most of my clients become my friends because we have kids. And I am 30 weeks pregnant, so it makes it difficult not to talk about kids when I am growing one in my belly.

We know a SpitfireMom like Lisa has tips to share, so we asked for her best time saving trick (Seriously, aren’t you kind of in love with her?):
List-making and clear communication with clients. It doesn’t sound revolutionary, but it helps millions with so much going on. I have a weekly planner with hand-drawn checkboxes so I know when something is complete or needs to be done. For a ‘creative-type’ this way of highly organized thinking is crucial to meeting deadlines.

SpitfireMom_lisa_guillot

What’s one thing you haven’t figured out? (Oh, I get this. And I only have one little person…)
I haven’t figured out how to go to the dentist. I understand the process: find a dentist in my plan, look them up, call and make an appointment, but this has been on my to-do list forever. This is probably a reflection of not taking care or time for myself when there is so much to be done for others. Like today for example, I have two phone interviews with potential interns, a client meeting, a file due to the printer, four pick-ups and drop offs with the kids, two house guests coming and zero food in the house for dinner or breakfast. It’s Friday, gimme a break. Like my mom always said when I was growing up, “You gotta work with what you got.”

Ed. note: By chance, I mentioned to Lisa that I was going to go to my dentist, who I adore and is magically near Lisa’s house and next door to a phenomenal pedicure place. Lisa says: “The universe must be working in my favor. I knew, ‘This is it! This is my moment to make a dentist appointment.’” SpitfireMoms to the rescue!

And, if you’re a mom entrepreneur and just found out your expecting, Lisa says:
Everything is temporary.The sleepless nights don’t last forever, you will be able to think straight sometime in the near future. You will put on a nice outfit and go on a date in the future. Life is not over just because you have a newborn.

My biggest lesson was to learn patience for myself. I had to stop and take a breath before acting. You are the center of your little one’s world and you have the power to make that a happy or sad place. I want to stay in a happy place with my happy son and daughter.

Lisa, we can’t wait to hear about the little lady! I love partnering with Lisa because of that unique and masterful blend of creativity and organization. I also love that in the years I’ve work with her I’ve never seen her flapped. She’s unflappable. And that, my friends, is why she’s a SpitfireMom.

XO,
Julie & Heidi

Know a fabulous, creative mompreneur? We want to hear about her (or YOU)!

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Step Brightly
Email: ideas@stepbrightly.com

Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

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Jun

Happy Father’s Day!

photography by zoom photography

Oh hello there…remember me???

I’m back y’all – albeit for a hot minute. Just sneaking into the office early this morning before the day runs away from me. How are you? I miss you all. Things here are chugging right along, we are about to launch two big projects we’ve been working on for months – hence the radio silence. In the coming weeks we’ll have a few BIG announcements of which we are very excited about. In the meantime, I wanted to give a shout out to my wonderful and talented hubbie, my dad and all the dads out there – Have a wonderful Father’s Day this sunday!

While posting will continue to be light this month, be sure to check back on Monday when Julie and I introduce our next SpitfireMom! We are excited for you to meet this creative lady. Be sure to check back!

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Have a great weekend!

xo, Heidi

Photo by Zoom Photography

Curse a little and Carry On!

carry on

Ok folks, I’m not going to lie to you…I am exhausted. Deadlines, deadlines, a messy house – i’m keepin’ it real people! – and what feels like never ending laundry and june gloom is weighing.me.down. Yes, sometimes this is the life of a SpitfireMom. Thankfully, all this is for a good cause, as in just one week I’ll be enjoying that magical thing called “SUMMER” with family and close friends. So I’ve just got to get through a little more struggle to enjoy the reward.

So thank you! for allowing me to curse a little. Now, I shall carry on! Hope your week is a productive one.

xo,
Heidi

++ witty quote pinned here ++

Wedding Wednesday: Classic Bridal Gowns

As a little girl (along with every other little girl), I always envisioned wearing a princess gown to my wedding. Not much has changed over the years, but as I get older I appreciate the classic, timelessness of a more subtle & fitted fairytale look. These classic bridal gowns – with their truly romantic detailing – wins my heart every.single.time!

xx,
Angela

Classic Bridal Gown Inspiration:
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

THE SPITFIREMOM SOCIETY INTRODUCES: Bryn McCoy of Citizen Made

I knew about Bryn McCoy long before I knew Bryn McCoy. She’s part of the team that brings Baby Loves Disco Spitfiremom-Bryn-McCoy shimmying into some of Chicago’s best music venues. Now, I’ve had the chance to work with her through Design Cloud and, man, she’s rad. Bryn is a true polymath, good at so many things. Mainly, she’s a product designer and software engineer. She and her partner, Rachel Brooks, are the founders of Citizen Made, an ecommerce platform for brands that want to sell their custom products online. Recently, Citizen Made also made news as one of the finalists of Fast Company’s Co.Labs and Target Retail Accelerator competition.

Bryn chose information technology over med school because of the flexibility inherent in the new frontier of creative careers from distributed work environments, progressive colleagues and recreation on the clock. All of which she says are great things for working parents. Her two kids spend a fair amount of time, maybe more than she says she’d like to admit, gaming side-by-side her working. Her husband and their part-time nanny also take them out to live more balanced lives.

Here’s what Bryn had to say about being a SpitfireMom.

How does being a mom influence your work?
Since becoming a mother, I’ve raised the bar across the board: It’s important to me that I’m not just doing good work, but rather doing work for the greater good. Efficiency is paramount…for better in most software, for worse in most art. Retaining my focus amid all out craziness comes more easily these days.

Do you talk about your kids with clients or potential clients?
I love transparency. Can’t imagine living my life any other way.

Bryn McCoy- spitfiremom quote

We know a SpitfireMom like Bryn has tips to share, so we asked for her best time saving trick (Seriously, aren’t you kind of in love with her?):
Disguise procrastination with multitasking.

What’s one thing you haven’t figured out?
My happiest moments are spent making art. Part of my creative liberation is the freedom to explore. I can’t seem to find that space often enough.

And, if you’re a mom entrepreneur and just found out your expecting, Bryn says:
Pick your medium, take an art class. Make art. Don’t stop.

Wise advice from a woman I’ve yet to see stop making, creative, and doing. Bryn, you’re one helluva SpitfireMom.

XO,
Julie & Heidi

Know a fabulous, creative mompreneur? We want to hear about her (or YOU)!

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CitizenMade
Phone: (312) 451-4055
Email: hello@citizenmade.co

Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

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THE SPITFIREMOM SOCIETY INTRODUCES: Lisa Guillot of Step Brightly

Happy Father’s Day!

Curse a little and Carry On!

Wedding Wednesday: Classic Bridal Gowns

THE SPITFIREMOM SOCIETY INTRODUCES: Bryn McCoy of Citizen Made

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