Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I'm a neurospicy website designer and strategist. I provide custom Squarespace website design to entrepreneurs and small business owners who know the value of establishing an online presence... and get them hyped up about their shit!

What is your why? - Why do you create? What do you love about creating?

This is a tough one - because innately my why is ME. When you don't fit into molds very well (or need to heavily mask to fit in), it's exhausting and draining. You don't feel like you're honoring who you are at your core. I create, and pursued my business, because I wanted the flexibility to not only design and be creative, but so that I could also create days that worked WITH my spicy brain, not against it. Make sense?

How did you get started?

The structure of a 9-5 worked well for me, being neurodivergent. But the work itself was something to be desired. Don't get me wrong, I can hyperfocus like a mofo... and organize the shit out of anything. But my day job lacked a lot of that creative flow I longed for. // After designing websites for friends and family, and having pursued a business in the past (collapsible hula hoops!), I felt like this was something I needed to try. And it simply came down to the practicality of the job itself (web design) and the income I could create for myself. // I jumped in and left my full-time job at the end of May 2020 (yes, right at the beginning of the pandemic. Not my best move, but here we are.)

If you could give your 16-year-old self some advice what would it be?

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. YES, you're dramatic, but there's a reason. YES, you talk a lot, but there's a reason. YES, you become infatuated with relationships easily, but there's a reason. YES, you are 'picky', but there's a reason. YES, you're easily excited, but there's a reason. YOU ARE NOT BROKEN. Embrace all the things that you feel make you flawed, and change the narrative. They're your superpowers, babe. And that's what makes you amazing.

Do you still get scared in your biz?

...Doesn't everyone? If you're NOT scared, I think maybe you're not making ENOUGH moves or trying enough new things. // The wild thing about working for yourself or owning your own business, is that there really aren't any rules. Which sometimes makes it feel like you're free-floating in space, watching all the other brightly shining stars around you, and trying to figure out what makes YOU shine. (Ouff, that's a long metaphor... you still following?) // The fear is... scary. But alongside the fear is the excitement of trying something new. Maybe it's that I've finally accepted that it's ok to fail in my wise old-age (...of 35.) But at the end of the day, becoming submissive to failure is wildly liberating. Accepting that you could fail, and you won't die... it gives you the confidence to be brave. Do it scared.

What is the one tech support you couldn't live without?

I hate to even admit this (being that I consider myself a proficient writer), but I'm obsessed with ChatGPT. It's like Google, but better. // Sometime your clients written website copy needs a little pizazz. Sometimes you're tired of looking for CSS code. Sometimes you want to know what happens when baby birds get taken away from their mother. The possibilities of what you can ask is endless, and it spits out these personalized responses just for you. //

What is one management support you can't live without?

I honestly just think my Google calendar has saved my life. I can access it anywhere, I can make notes, reminders... and I can make it color-coded and pretty to look at.

How do you feed your creativity?

As far as web design inspiration goes, I love seeking out other websites within the industries of my clients. It's amazing to see what you can do with web design - and it helps me look outside my own perspective and style. This usually leads to my brain exploding with ideas of custom CSS code, and then the hyper-focus sets in. // But creativity in my personal life can be seen in watercolor paintings, embroidery kits, puzzles and tablescaping. I'm completely obsessed with thrifting beautiful things and creating elaborate themed decor for dinner parties and events.