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Ciera Design Studio

Brand identity and design solutions for creative businesses and passionate entrepreneurs

One Year Married + Featured on Borrowed and Blue

October 14, 2016 by Ciera Holzenthal Leave a Comment

Since my one year wedding anniversary is Sunday, I thought a fun way to celebrate would be to share my wedding story and photos with y’all! I’m also so excited to announce that our wedding was featured on Borrowed and Blue!

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My husband Zander and I began dating 10 years before we tied the knot, and have been friends for even longer. We wanted our wedding to represent the commitment we already had for one another and to reflect the life that we built together. Our goal was to create a fun celebration with the family and friends who had been there to see our relationship grow over the years.

Ideally, both the ceremony and reception would have been outdoors, but I didn’t want to risk being rained out with the unpredictable New Orleans weather. We also disliked the idea of using a typical wedding venue like an ornate ballroom. We wanted the day to feel natural and fit with our laid-back personalities.

We searched and searched for the perfect venue and finally stumbled across Il Mercato. It was still completely under construction when we first visited. The walls were not painted, the floors were bare concrete and the courtyard was a mound of dirt – but I could see their vision and knew it was the perfect spot!

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We were so happy to find a venue with the best of both worlds. A gorgeous outdoor courtyard and an elegant indoor space. With Il Mercato as our location, we were able to keep decor simple with pops of color and let the renovated Spanish style building shine.

I decided on the color palette immediately and just like I do when working on a client’s branding, I compiled all of my inspirations into a mood board to help set the tone. I wanted bright florals even though it was a Fall wedding (which doesn’t mean much in New Orleans) and decided to go with Navy dresses for the bridesmaids so the bright flowers would really pop.

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I designed our invitations myself and got them printed with gold foil and navy blue letterpress. I accented the navy envelopes with a pink floral liner, chose vintage stamps in my color palette and had a friend hand address them with a modern calligraphy in a light pink ink. I couldn’t be more pleased with how they turned out!

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When the day finally arrived, we began with a simple ceremony in the courtyard, followed by a cocktail hour for the guests while Zander and I snuck away to take some photographs and have a few minutes to ourselves.

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One of the few requests that Zander had was that the reception was a big party, so it was! We had a buffet style dinner (typical of the South) so there was as much time as possible for dancing! We stayed away from traditional wedding music and supplied the DJ with songs straight from our day-to-day playlist. We had people breakdancing, doing the limbo, grandma’s busting a move and of course, some New Orleans bounce!

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It was so great to spend this special time with family and friends that we don’t always get to see due to distance and busy schedules.

One of my favorite memories of the night was when my grandfather sang a toast to me and Zander, it was so special to us both.

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It was such an amazing day. During our final song, I stood back and scanned the room, trying to take it all in, feeling so lucky and amazed at the love we felt… celebrating love is fun!

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Supporting friends, family and other local businesses was important to me when selecting my vendors.

  • My mom conceptualized and sourced everything for my decor including the glass bottles used for my centerpieces, candelabras, mantle decor and the furniture used in the courtyard sitting area. She even surprised me with handmade streamers for the guests to wave when Zander and I entered for the first time as a married couple. Our coordinator helped to bring all of her ideas to life the day-of!
  • My dad designed and built the large C&Z marquee light sign.
  • A good friend addressed my invitations and created my chalkboard signage.
  • Our photographer and florist are both friends from the creative scene in New Orleans.
  • My aunt prepared me and the bridesmaids an amazing lunch as we got ready.
  • My grandmother altered my dress to perfection.
  • A long time friend of the family created our cake.
  • My hair was done by the same person who trims and colors my hair year-round.

Not to mention all of the other friends and family who threw us parties and helped in other ways! I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such creative and innovative family and friends!

Click through for more photos and sources.

[Read more…]

Louisiana Strong

September 1, 2016 by Ciera Holzenthal 1 Comment

Depending on where you live, you may not have heard much about the recent catastrophic flood in Louisiana that left an estimated 146,000 homes damaged. The flood has been called the worst US natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. 13 deaths have been reported and thousands of Louisianians were forced into shelters. Seeing friends forced out of their homes with no return date in sight is tough and with the 11 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina just two weeks after brought up so many emotions. But as my wise friend Kaylynn said “It’s not the details of the devastation I want to remember. It’s the strength in between.” It has been so incredibly inspiring to see the Louisiana community come together.

Faith is restored when you witness people helping their friends, neighbors and even strangers. People have donated time, money, supplies and many creatives have used their talents to produce products to help raise money for those in need! I’ve compiled my favorite products created by my amazing friends who are all donating proceeds to those affected by the flood.

Products and services donating to help those affected by Louisiana Flood

The Louisiana community has helped me grow my business over the years and was here for New Orleans after Katrina, now it’s my turn to help out however I can. I’ve decided that for every branding package booked through September 30th I will donate $300. Just 3 new clients means $900 donated to families in need. If you are starting a new business or you’ve been thinking about re-branding, consider booking now. Part of your business investment will greatly help those affected by this tragedy. Please do what you can, where you can, when you can and how you can.

Items Pictured:

  1. Louisiana Love: Oyster Heart Tank (available in other styles) by WalkingMan Studios – 15% donated to flood recovery
  2. Art prints from Art By Allie – 100% profits will go to Second Harvest Food Bank
  3. Magnolia Print by Juliet Meeks – 100% net proceeds donated to organizations aiding those affected
  4. Louisiana Rises Coffee Mug -100% proceeds donated to help the victims of the Great Flood of 2016
  5. Love Thy Neighbor Necklace by Pieces of April – 100% of the proceeds will go to flood relief
  6. Come Hell or High Water Art Print by Lionheart Prints – 100% of proceeds from this limited edition letterpress print will go towards essential items for the victims of the flooding
  7. Come Hell or High Water Shirt and Art Print by Artful Happiness –  100% profits will go directly to assist schools and children affected by the flood through Team Comeback Kids
  8. Hand-painted canvas tote bag with leather straps by Lyla Grace Design – all proceeds will go to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation
  9. Illustrated Notebooks by Blackbird Letterpress –  100% proceeds of the rain, water and Baton Rouge notebooks goes to flood relief efforts
  10. Illustrated Louisiana Shirt by Lauren Poole – 100% of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross

Services:

  • $300 of each Ciera Design branding project booked goes to the GBR Food Bank and affected families (Now-Sept 30)
  • 20% of any Petite Canaille wedding photography collections goes to flood victims (Now-Sept 30)

More Products:

  • Photographic swamp prints by Petite Canaille – all proceeds benefit flood victims
  • Juliette created this roundup on Etsy
  • People Stronger than Water Art Print – 100% of proceeds from sales of these prints, and the painting itself, will be donated to APEL’s efforts to help teachers replenish supplies.

More T-Shirts:

  • Steadfast Louisiana – 100% proceeds benefit Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, La State Animal Response Team
  • Red Stick Rising –  100% proceeds benefit Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
  • Fight the Flood – all benefits from the sale of these shirts will go directly to flood relief.
  • Made by Maxwell – proceeds from  game day series are going to help individual families affected.
  • Parish Parcel – 100% of all flood relief t-shirt sales go to Louisiana flood relief organizations
  • We Rise United – 100% of the net proceeds from sales of this shirt will be donated to the Acadiana Disaster Response Fund at the Community Foundation of Acadiana

Please read each site for yourself to confirm donations are still going towards flood relief.

Coral, Navy and Gold Wedding Moodboard

March 17, 2015 by Ciera Holzenthal 2 Comments

Wedding planning is in full swing y’all! It’s actually a lot harder than I thought it would be but so far I have my dress ordered, venue, florist and photographer. I have 9 different Pinterest boards so far, seriously, don’t judge. Just like I do for client branding, I’ve compiled all of my inspirations into a mood board now that I’m working on some of the smaller details and the invitations. Guys, designing for myself is so hard, I’m scared to get started, but that’s what’s next on the wedding list!

Coral, Navy, Gold Wedding Theme Inspiration

bridesmaid dresses | hair | unknown | suit | cake | invitation | shoes

P.S. Did you know that I have a wedding invitation suite for sale in my Creative Market shop?

Looking Back at 2014: The Year In Review

January 2, 2015 by Ciera Holzenthal Leave a Comment

Girl in Rain By Big Oak Tree

Crazy how quickly 2014 has gone by! It’s been an amazing year both personally and professionally and I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings. Having this blog is a really special way for me to look back at the year and see all that I have accomplished and what y’alls favorite posts were. Before I move forward I wanted to take a look back and bring you with me on the journey that was 2014.

 

Things I’m Proud of & Excited About

  • held six Made In Mind events
  • designed work that I’m really proud of including my first packaging design
  • conquered a huge fear and spoke at Alt Summer
  • launched my first ebook, The Meetup Guide
  • opened a Creative Market shop
  • continued to add items to my Etsy shop
  • Traveled through Spain, France, Iceland and Maine
  • helped launch BIZ magazine by designing their first two issues
  • added consulting to my packages
  • one of my DIY projects was featured in Times Square
  • celebrated 5 years of blogging
  • guest posted for Design Sponge, Hera Sport and Creative Market just to name a few
  • featured on some amazing sites including Apartment Therapy, Good Housekeeping and Brit + Co.
  • gave my site a facelift
  • two of my friends got married and another bestie had a baby
  • got engaged and started planning my wedding!!

 

Your Favorite Posts from 2014

So you guys didn’t actually vote on the top posts of the year, but I did a little digging into my Google Analytics and discovered the most popular posts of 2014. Take a look back at your favorites below.

Best Design Related Posts

  • Sweet Tea Logo and Branding
  • Rose Gold Moodboard
  • Showcase Font by Latinotype
  • The Business Cards of Alt Summit
  • Daft Brush Font by Pintassilgo Prints
  • 4 Signs That Your Visual Branding Needs A Facelift

Best Business and Blogging Posts

  • How To Grow Your Blog By Positioning Yourself As An Expert
  • Tips & Tricks for Your Email Newsletter
  • 10 Ways To Expand Your Small Business
  • The Best Free and Affordable Stock Photo Sites
  • Twitter Tips For Bloggers and Small Businesses
  • How To Blog With Intention

Best Food & Drink Posts

  • How To Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar
  • Kale Berry Smoothie Recipe
  • Marshmallow S’more Pops
  • How To Set Up A Mimosa Bar

Best DIYs and Printables

  • Backyard Tin Can Fence Garden
  • Love Is All You Need – Free Valentine’s Day Printable
  • DIY Gold Toy Animal Globes

 

If you want a look back in even more detail, check out my That’s A Wrap posts that I wrote at the end of each month! For the next month posting will be a little on the lighter side – I really want to reflect on 2014 before I jump right into content for 2015. In the meantime, please let me know what you’d like to see more of in 2015 and THANKS A MILLION for reading and all of your support this year!

Photo of me by Hannah Hudson Photography

Blue and Silver Snowflake Christmas Decor

December 26, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal Leave a Comment

Hey friends, I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! My mom makes an amazing brunch each year for Christmas day and she always outdoes herself with the food and the decor. This year she did a gorgeous blue and silver theme. She cooked quiche, ham & egg cups, Grand Marnier French toast, mushroom/potato/chorizo fry-up, French onion soup,  berries with creme anglaise, peach and blueberry clafouti and cracked pepper & brown sugar bacon (y’all, this bacon was legit)! My dad smoked a turkey on the BBQ pit and for drinks we had fresh squeezed orange juice from my dads orange tree and blackberry thyme sparklers. It was all unbelievable and such a great day spent with family, I don’t want Christmas to be over!

Blue Silver Christmas Presents Blue Silver Christmas Table Setting Blue Snowflake Christmas Tree PresentsBlue Glassware Bar CartBlue Silver Snowflake Christmas Tree Presents   Christmas Mantle Silver Deer Blue Silver Snowflake Christmas TreeChristmas Table Setting Fraiser Fur Blue Silver Christmas Ornaments Fraiser Fur Christmas Mantle LaMarca Prosecco Chrismas Snowflake Christmas Tree

La Marca sent me a bottle of their prosecco and I just had to bring it to my mom since it matched the decor perfectly! I’m going to take the next week off to enjoy time with family in town but you’ll be able to find me on Instagram in the meantime.

Fitness: Getting Back On Track with Healthy Choices

September 22, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal 2 Comments

This story about making healthy choices has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. But as always, all opinions are mine alone. #BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias

sports bra, apple, wedding magazine for fitness

A few months ago I was finally back into a good health and wellness routine, I was going to the gym at least twice a week (better than nothing) and doing pretty good at eating healthy. All of that went right out the window when I started traveling, oy! We did a ton of walking, but we also did a ton of eating! So now that I am home, settling back in, it’s time for me to get back on track. I’m in the process of planning my wedding and besides the venue, music, flowers, invitations, etc, I want my health to be a priority on that list as well. When I’m eating bad and not exercising I feel sluggish, I want planning my wedding to be an enjoyable experience and I want to be in great shape and healthy for the big day! It’s time for me to start making healthy choices again.

healthy food, new fitness gear and iphone app

I don’t know about you, but being able to track my health goals and getting a little reward every now and then really helps to keep me going. This is where the Walgreens app comes into play. I have always been a Walgreens customer for my toiletries and use their app to refill my prescriptions. I also have a Balance Rewards card. For every 5,000 points you earn $5 to spend at Walgreens. If I’m going to be buying stuff, I might as well get rewards for it right?!

sports bra, tennis shoes, capris, iphone, water bottle

But what I didn’t know until recently is that you can also earn rewards just by making healthy choices throughout the day with their Balance Rewards for healthy choices feature. You can track your steps, weight and blood pressure each day. Every time you track one of those items you earn Balance Rewards. You can even sync some devices (like a Fitbit) straight to your account so go register today and start tracking your progress!

wedding magazine apple and sports bra

Another way I like to reward myself is with some new workout gear every once in a while! I just got these Victoria’s Secret Sport items and adore them, I want to go get more in all of their fun patterns!

sports bra, tennis shoes, capris and walgreens app

Thank you for supporting this blog by allowing me to post occasional sponsored content. All sponsored posts feature products or services that I truly feel would be of interest to you. #BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias

Graffiti Graphics: My Parents’ Sign Shop

July 29, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal 1 Comment

For some crazy reason in June we decided to host two Made In Mind events even though we usually only do it every other month. But the cool thing was that we held one of them at my parents’ sign shop, Graffiti Graphics! My parents started a sign shop together before I was born, in what turned out to be my first bedroom. They are both so talented and I know that’s the reason I started to take art classes in 2nd grade and eventually pursue a career in a creative field. I recapped the event over on the Made In Mind site, but I thought it would be fun to show some of the details that Laura Rockett captured of my parents’ space too!

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Photos by Laura Rockett Photography for The Made In Mind Social.

How Do You Celebrate The Bright Side of Life?

July 23, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal Leave a Comment

Eating Mango Frozen Fruit Bar

As you can probably tell by my travel adventures this summer, I’m attempting to be a little more spontaneous and embrace the bright side of life. Traveling to Europe for a few weeks, maybe a few months (still unsure, ah spontaneity) was not an easy decision for me since I’m a frugal spender and a planner. But I had an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up so I’m doing what makes me happy, spending time outside, traveling and treating myself, even if it’s something small like a frozen fruit bar on a hot day!

I’m not letting work dictate my life, although I am working part-time while I travel but I’m really trying to embrace the adventures by breaking routines and taking in my surroundings. Before leaving for Spain I tried these amazing mango fruit bars from Fruttare (so yummy and perfect on a hot New Orleans day) and during my travels I have been indulging in local sweets like chocolate and churros and gelato! How do you celebrate the bright side of life?

Mango Frozen Fruit Bars

Mango Frozen Fruit Bar

Ciera With Mango Frozen Fruit Bar

Fruttare Mango Frozen Fruit Bar

Holding Mango Frozen Fruit Bar

Mango Frozen Fruit Bars on Board

Photos by Kaylynn Marie Photography

Thank you Fruttare for sponsoring this post. Celebrate the bright side of life with Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars. Thank you for supporting this blog by allowing me to post occasional sponsored content. All sponsored posts feature products or services that I truly feel would be of interest to you. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

On Speaking at Alt Summit

July 16, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal Leave a Comment

On Speaking at Alt Summit 3

When I was at Alt last January I remember saying that I would NEVER be able to speak in public, and definitely not at a conference like Alt, with so many other bloggers and creatives that I look up to. I’m much more comfortable talking to people one-on-one and I get incredibly anxious in large groups of people, especially when I’m front and center. I’m an introvert so attending events like Alt are already out of my comfort zone, let alone speaking at one.

On Speaking at Alt Summit 1

When Mariah suggested that we pitch a panel idea together with Melissa, PJ and Tan, for some reason I said yes, secretly hoping we didn’t get picked, but to my surprise, they loved our topic idea and here we are, a year and a half after saying “I would NEVER”, I did it, I spoke on a panel at Alt Summit!

On Speaking at Alt Summit 7

It was the scariest thing I have ever done, but because of that, one of the most rewarding. I believe that if you are not pushing yourself or doing scary things then you are not going to grow as a person or grow professionally. One of my favorite quotes from Alt this year was from Emily McDowell “fear is an asshole and a liar” and I’m so glad I didn’t give in to my fear! I mean, I got to speak at the same conference as Martha Stewart!

On Speaking at Alt Summit 2

Our room was packed and it was awesome to see everyone so engaged and to hear how much people appreciated the content and hard work we put into making our panel special.

On Speaking at Alt Summit 6

On Speaking at Alt Summit 5

On Speaking at Alt Summit 4

On Speaking at Alt Summit 8

On Speaking at Alt Summit 9

I am so thankful for the opportunity. If you missed it, you can see the recap of what I spoke about, Growing Your Blog by Positioning Yourself as an Expert.

Photos by Justin Hackworth or Brooke Dennis for Alt Summit.

That’s A Wrap: June + My Life Lately

June 30, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal 2 Comments

June has been full of emotions for me, I’ve been excited, exhausted, nervous, ecstatic, sad, relieved, lonely and surprised, in no particular order.

Alt SLC Summer Thursday Night

Speaking at Alt Summit was very nerve-wracking for me, I promise, I’ll expand on my experience in a post soon. And then maybe the biggest news since I started this blog, I got engaged to my boyfriend of eight years! He had to leave the day after to travel for work for 5 months, so that’s a bummer but I’m super excited and of course, started a Pinterest board immediately (well, a few, I can’t lie to y’all)!

Alt SLC Summer Thursday Night

And remember my Vacation Dreaming post? Well, my dreams are coming true! While I didn’t win a vacation, my travel plans did work out, so next week I’ll be heading to Spain then France (whoa, mini freak out) to work from abroad for three weeks! I’m so thankful that I can pack up my computer and work from anywhere. It’s going to be challenging but I can’t wait for the adventure!

Alt SLC Summer Thursday Night

Plus lot’s of great stuff happened on the blog and around the web:

– Hosted two Made In Mind events, an Etsy craft party and a Letterpress Workshop
– Opened pre-sales for The Meetup Guide – only a few days left of pre-sale pricing!
– I guest posted on Design Sponge on How To Hold a Networking Event
– The lovely Kory wrote a review on The Meetup Guide, you can read it here.
– Backyard Tin Can Fence Garden
– Summertime Freebies
– DIY Gold Toy Animal Globes
– The Business Cards of Alt Summit 2014
– Remember Greco Design Company from May? Well Lori has been up to a lot this month too! Her blog is full of awesome backyard DIYs so go check it out!

Alt SLC Summer Thursday Night

 All photos from the Alt Garden party by Justin Hackworth for Alt Summit.

Off to Alt!

June 17, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal Leave a Comment

Off To Alt Summit

So I’m off to Salt Lake City for my second Alt Summit today! And incase you missed the memo, this year I’m speaking on a panel! You can check out all of my posts from when I went in 2013 here and keep up with me on Instagram and Twitter! If you’ll be there, keep an eye out for me and please do say hi. This photo is from the plane when I went last January.

Once I’m back, I’ll be on a bit of a blogging break while I let information overload settle in and catch up on work, but I’m sure I won’t be able to stay away long!

P.S. I launched pre-sales on my new ebook: The Meetup Guide: How to Create, Plan, and Host Your Own Local Event Series. Grab it now while it’s over 50% off!

P.P.S I got engaged to my boyfriend of eight years on Saturday!

I’m Speaking at Alt Summit!

June 4, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal 6 Comments

Last month I mentioned quickly that I was going to be speaking at Alt Summit but now that they have released the schedule, I’m back to share the details!

Growing A Small Blog Panel

In two weeks from today, Alt Summit will be kicking off its first summer event in Salt Lake City. And in two weeks from tomorrow, I’ll be speaking on a panel about Growing a Small Blog. I am equally excited as terrified! But I’m so happy that I’ll be up there with friends: Mariah of Oh What Love, Melissa of Lulu the Baker, and PJ of Bunny and Dolly and Tan of Squirrelly Minds.

We’ll be discussing all the ways that new bloggers can grow their readership, including tips and tricks we’ve learned from our personal experiences. Since none of us are big-name bloggers (yet!), we hope that our success stories inspire others just starting out. As we put the finishing touches on our presentation, we’d love to know what specific questions you have about growing a small blog.

So find us on twitter, include the hashtag #growingasmallblog in your question and ask away! Can’t wait to hear from y’all!

Mariah – blog / twitter
Melissa – blog / twitter
PJ – blog / twitter
Tan – blog / twitter
Me – twitter

And if you’ll be attending Alt SLC in two weeks, leave a comment below — I’d love to meet you!

What’s In My Bag

May 26, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal 2 Comments

Contents Spilling Out of Purse

I can’t believe it but I haven’t done a post like this since 2011 when I was living in Boston, wow time flies! I try to keep the contents of my purse to a minimum because I don’t want to be lugging some heavy thing all around with me so my purse is usually pretty clean and these tend to be the items that are in their consistently… let’s dive into this bag of mine…

What's In My Bag Details

purse / iPhone / excessive amounts of chapstick and lipgloss including Burt’s Bees, Honest, Clinique, Kismet / keys (isn’t my handy iPhone tiltpod cool) / facial moisturizer with sunscreen (my fave is Aveeno) / business cards / pens / a snack (I’m not very nice when I’m hungry) / hair ties / MAC powder / Mary Kay bronzer & blush / gum / lady products

What's In My Bag

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and U by Kotex but all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting this blog by allowing me to post occasional sponsored content. All sponsored posts feature products or services that I truly feel would be of interest to you and all opinions are my own.

My Fitness Motivation

April 7, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal 37 Comments

I’m finally feeling like I am in a good workout stride after years of being off track. I joined a gym a year ago for the first time in forever. My gym teaches the Les Mills exercise programs and I’m totally obsessed with them! Doing the same workout bores me and I need to be having fun, otherwise I’ll stop going. So right now my favorite class is Body Combat which is inspired by mixed martial arts and draws from a wide array of disciplines such as karate, boxing and taekwondo. It’s super hard, fun and a great stress reliever! Since they are always releasing new classes it never gets boring which keeps me going back!

Another motivating factor is keeping a fresh workout wardrobe. Since I work from home, there are lots of days when I put my gym clothes on in the morning even though my classes are not til the evenings. I’ll work and run errands in them and then head to the gym. I don’t want to wear faded old t-shirts and old sweats, I want to look presentable even though it’s just to the grocery store and the gym!

Cute workout gear: Cobalt Leggings, Top With Thumbholes, Hairbands, Nike Running Shoes, Sports Bra, Headphones

I usually wear black bottoms but that gets boring, so I recently decided to try out, Albion Fit. They have some really cute options in fun colors! There stuff is so comfy that I’ve found my self throwing it on even when I’m not heading to the gym. They actually have a bunch of items that work as normal clothes AND they have swimwear!

Woman in Blue Leggings Tying Laces for Workout in Park Woman Putting Hair In Ponytail for Workout Blue Leggings and Gray Top for Workout in Park

I’ve been putting my hair up with Haybands hair ties and headbands, this is a local New Orleans company! And when I use headphones, Sol Republic’s Relays are great! They come with a clip so they don’t flap around and are designed to stay in while working out.

Woman Putting Hair In Ponytail for Workout

I hope you enjoyed this little insight on how I stay motivated to work out! I’ll be back next week to share how I’ve been updating my breakfast and lunch for a healthier diet! Do you have any motivational tips for staying in shape!

Woman in Blue Leggings and Gray Top for Workout

Go Long Leggings in Cobalt c/o Albion Fit / Go Long Crew in Charcoal c/o Albion Fit / Hairband and Headband c/o Haybands / Relays Headphones c/o Sol Republic / Sports Bra Avia via TJ Maxx / Nike Revolution Running Shoes via DSW / Photos by Zander White

Giveaway Time! Closed

If you are having a hard time getting in gear, I thought I’d do a fun giveaway to get you motivated! One lucky winner will receive:

  • $50 Albion Fit Gift Card
  • Sol Republic Relays Headphones
  • Music download from RUN DMT (whose song is in the new Relays video)
  • Miscellaneous selection of Haybands hair ties and headbands

Discounts!

15% off any albionfit.com purchase with code ciera15 (valid through the 11th) and 15% off your Haybands purchase with code HAYCIERA (valid through the 18th).

Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway open to US and Canada shipping addresses only. Winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!! Have any questions? Feel free to contact me. If you are in a reader click out to access the Rafflecopter entry form. Please note that your entry will be removed if you do not complete it correctly.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I have always been a Puma and Converse person for tennis shoes, but those were  just not right for the gym so I finally got a good pair of shoes that I love for working out! I spent way to much time researching them and finding a good deal, so I have included some of my faves below.

I received free goods as compensation for this post however all opinions are my own.

What I Wore // Working At The Coffee Shop

March 24, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal 3 Comments

I thought it’d be fun to tell y’all my history with PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, my favorite coffee of all time! It was founded with a single shop in 1978 and has spread throughout the Greater New Orleans area, then the Southeast and has even made it to other parts of the United States including California.

My grade school was only a few blocks away from the original location on Maple Street, so in 7th and 8th grade we used to walk there after school and hang out in their courtyard. Then in high school my best friend lived next door to a PJ’s which we frequented at least once, sometimes twice a day. I don’t even want to know how much money I spent there during those four years! Now I’m back in the Maple Street area and their iced coffees are still my absolute favorite coffee, ever, anywhere! Not to mention their amazing spinach and feta croissants and a granita when I really want to treat myself!

Most days I make coffee at home to save money but I get cravings for their yummy coffee all the time and I usually give in… hey, I deserve it! I also love to go and work from their courtyard every once in a while when the weather is nice. Crazy how constant some things in life can be! And just excuse my bitchy resting face in the third photo.

Ciera Holzenthal with MacBook Pro at Coffee Shop

Ciera Holzenthal with MacBook Pro at Coffee Shop Courtyard

Graphic Designer with MacBook Pro and Coffee In Courtyard

Striped Dress, Brown Leather Purse and Coffee

Ciera Holzenthal with MacBook Pro and Coffee

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Photos by Hannah Colclazier

Let’s Do This

January 3, 2014 by Ciera Holzenthal 4 Comments

Let's Do This Hand Lettered Art Print

I’m back from my blog break and I want to start the new year with total honestly. A few months ago I realized that I was in a rut. I was feeling like I didn’t get enough accomplished during the year. I had too many ideas and didn’t know what direction I wanted to go in or where I should put my time and energy. I have always felt confident in my design work but I was feeling a little lost managing everything. 

I didn’t feel like I was reaching my ideal clients and I was getting worried that my site wasn’t portraying my services the best way possible. I was posting quality content to my blog but it somehow felt random and focused on the short-term. I decided that I needed help, I didn’t want to feel lost in my own business anymore.

That is where Ashley of Your Super Awesome Life came in! I told Ashley my concerns and she had me fill out a business assessment. Once I answered some questions on paper, we had a Skype session where we talked through what was working and what was not and what I really wanted for my blog and business.

I was actually a little surprised at how well she communicated and understood what I was going after even though she isn’t an insider to my business or blog. I felt totally comfortable talking to her and suddenly everything that was spinning in my head made sense again.

At the end of our first session Ashley helped me to come up with an action plan that covered the main points we discussed and mapped out all of the steps to begin making my goals a reality. We wanted to get really clear on what I wanted my business to look like moving forward. All of my goals suddenly seemed so attainable.

  • After our first session, I updated my services page, I still have some work to do here, but I think it’s a much more clear representation of the design services I offer. I’m currently taking on clients so feel free to reach out!
  • I created an end of the year reader survey to find out what y’all want to see more of here on the blog in 2014! If you haven’t taken it yet, the survey is still open. Until I take some time to review all of the responses, I’m going to take it slow and post content here very intentionally.
  • I’m also starting to reach out to blogs to guest post on, so let me now if you are looking for some guest contributors in 2014!

A few weeks later we had a follow-up call to make sure I was on track. I still have a lot of work to do to accomplish the actions we came up with but I feel like I’m back on the right path! It wasn’t easy for me to reach out for help but this year I really want to take my business to the next level and after Ashley’s sessions I’m ready and confident to take on 2014, so let’s do this!

2014 Let’s Do This art print available for sale on Etsy.

Happy Birthday To Me & Year In Review

December 31, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal 3 Comments

Today is my birthday y’all! I’m still on a blog break but just wanted to stop in for my normal end of the month recap.

Ciera Sitting On Oak Tree With Balloons

I decided that I should recap the whole year instead of just December, so without further ado here are some of the most popular posts from the year! It was really fun to look back at all of these posts!

Ciera-Design-Year-In-Review

Popular Posts in 2013:

– Do It Yourself Macrame Friendship Bracelets
– How To Stay Productive
– The Business Cards of Alt Summit
– Roam If You Want To Freebies
– Naive Font Favorite
– How To Make Geometric Felt Coasters
– Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Growing Your Blog Through Social Media
– Ombre Cluster Necklace DIY

Ciera Design Elsewhere in December:

– Merry and Bright Freebie featured on Glitter and Bow
– Sprucing Up Your Branding featured on 8 posts for smart-working, creative-types
– Geometric Felt Coasters on Brit + Co 
– The Best Memories Are Handmade freebie on Whimseybox 

Thank you so much to everyone who has shared my content this year! I also want to give a special thank you to Mariah and Melissa for being amazing contributors this year!

If you haven’t yet, please fill out my 2013 reader survey! 

One more note, I have simplified my sidebar ad options for 2014! One size at one very affordable price!

On Generosity and Selfless Giving

October 23, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal 2 Comments

Open your eyes to the possibilities around you.

I’ve been thinking and thinking what amazing topic I could share on Ciera’s blog. I’m so grateful she keeps letting me blog hop. I think I post more on her blog than my own! I had several ideas to write about but the one that sticks with me the most is generosity, or selfless giving.

My daughter had her first school fundraiser recently. She was so excited to help out her school (I don’t even think she understood that there are prizes for the best sellers). She just really wants her school to be a better place….but, no one will buy anything from her. It’s $1 for a chocolate bar or a jerky stick and you get it immediately. C’mon, it’s $1. I got to thinking a lot about this experience. What does it tell a child when they are trying to do something and no one will support them? How does it feel when adults only say “No” Or I can’t afford that? What does that teach them about money?

We went through some pretty darn hard times in our not too distant past. We lived on dry food storage for a year. It was miserable. Our family knows what tough times are but I still found ways to be generous (even if it was only a dollar here or there) because I’m not just buying a candy bar or donating to pay for someone’s medical fund. I’m investing in people. Real live human beings that need a chance and they need to feel loved.

When I started my Etsy shop I asked friends and family to simply put in a plug for me on Facebook or my blog. I even offered some pretty sweet things in return. They didn’t even have to buy anything but NO one would help me! It was pretty disheartening and it took a while for my shop to get started because getting those first few sales is really the hardest. So, I now make it a point to try to buy something from my friends when they start new endeavors. Sometimes money is too tight and I take a rain check but sometimes I give up something else I want so I can help them and then we are both the better for it.

I wasn’t always this generous. I met a new friend about 7 years back that showed me what generosity means. Often times I found people commenting on something awesome she had like a necklace or a bag and she would say, oh I’d love for you to have it and while they blinked she would hand it to them. When we went to parties, instead of sitting down to enjoy herself, she would go straight to the kitchen and start pitching in. She even gave her car away instead of trading it in because she said the kid needed it. Wow. I was the one turning down every school kid that came to my door and here my friend is giving cars away. She really helped open my eyes.

Money can’t buy everything. We all know that. But we CAN use our money to do more and to serve instead of only being a slave to it. I don’t have any specific agenda here. I’m not going to ask you for any money or tell you a charity to donate to. I just hope that the people who take the time to read this will open their eyes even more to the possibilities around them–The possibilities of the amazing things a little bit of money or a helping hand can do. Check out Dedra’s shop, blog and Facebook.

Circles Conference 2013

October 16, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal 4 Comments

Jasmine and I have been busy planning Made In Mind’s October Social (which is tomorrow, come if you can!) so it somehow took me a month to get this post up, oops!

Design Your Life Hand Drawn Type

Last month I got to attend Circles Conference in Grapevine, Texas. As described by the founder, it’s a place to learn from world-changing thinkers and innovators for the creative community. It was amazing. So inspiring. The main message I took away was to design my own life. Figure out what will make me feel satisfied and happy and create that life for myself. You can’t see someone else’s life and say “Hey, I want that life” you have to make it for yourself!

Circles A Creative Conference Inspire Create Repeat by Bethany Marie

Two days packed with meeting new people and listening to inspiring talks from amazing creatives across multiple disciplines. It was great to meet people who were previously only Twitter friends, as well as make plenty of wonderful new friends.

Circles Conference Megan Gilger Create Wildly by Bethany Marie

It turned out that Justin Shiels, a fellow New Orleanian, was attending so we got to know each other better! Blog buddy and fellow graphic designer Patti was nice enough to let me crash in her room. It was really fun hanging out and sharing stories of running our own businesses. I also got to meet Ismael Burciaga (the event coordinator) who has been an online friend for a few years now. It was wonderful to meet him in person, he is so talented and generous and was a great host! And then I met the lovely Joanna Waterfall who happened to be on my flight home for a vacation in New Orleans for a few days!

Josh Hensley at Circles Conference by Bethany Marie

The thing I loved most was that the speakers told their personal stories. It was very honest and genuine and no one was scared to share their struggles which was very refreshing to hear. It was great to hear so many talented people talking about their personal journey and not just telling us their design process. It was nice to take it all in and learn from their experiences. The intimacy was something you don’t get at larger conferences.

Circles Conference Program Mug Sticker by Bethany Marie

The after party was also a blast, we got some good Texas BBQ and it was great to mingle outside of the conference setting.

Do What You Love - Jeff Sheldon of Ugmonk - Circles Conference by Bethany Marie

Another plus is that Circles is very affordable compared to a lot of conference and since it’s in Texas the travel was affordable for me too! I definitely recommend attending next year! I’ll also be sharing some of my favorite quotes from different speakers on the blog in the future!

Crowd at Circles Conference by Bethany Marie

All photos courtesy of Bethany Marie Photography, a very talented lady who I got to have lunch with one of the days at the conference!

Four Years of Blogging!

October 7, 2013 by Ciera Holzenthal 10 Comments

When I started my blog, I could have never imagined where it would be today! Since I’m celebrating four years of blogging this month, I thought I’d give y’all a little history of how it all got started. Then for the rest of the month I will have some other special posts and surprises for y’all!

Ciera Design Four Year Blogiversary

In 2009, I had been at my agency job for a few years and I wasn’t really feeling satisfied by the design work I was doing anymore. I decided to start a blog to get some of my ideas out. It started as a photo dump. I would post my random iPhone pictures with a little caption and might expand a little here and there. I had no plan and no organization. Soon after, I left my job to start my own business and I knew that I needed to create a portfolio site that potential clients could check out. So in 2010 I decided to take my site and blog to the next level. I started posting on a regular basis with relevant and consistent content. It has been growing ever since into what you see today!

I love networking and meeting new people who I probably would have never had contact with if not for blogging. In January, blog friend and contributor, Mariah and I roomed together at Alt Summit and at Circles Conference last month I got to be roomies and hang out with another blog buddy, Patti! I love hearing about adventures of other bloggers who work for themselves and love following along with other creatives!

One of my favorite opportunities that has come from starting this blog was being able to attend Alt Summit this year! It was SO inspiring! When I walked into the Bing It To Life Lounge at Alt Summit the LAST thing I expected to see was my travel map pin board, but there it was, and it was huge! Bing took submissions of ideas to showcase and my DIY creation was chosen to come to life! It was really special to see bloggers from all over interacting with my idea and pinning their business cards to the map! It was so surreal to see it all over Instagram and it was such a cool way to see where everyone was from.

I’m always trying to take this blog to the next level and I can’t wait to see where it takes me in the next four years! Thank you so much to all of my readers for encouraging me, challenging me to keep creating unique content and for all of your comments over the years, it really means the world to me!

Jasmine took these photos for me.

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Mango-Frozen-Fruit-Bar-in-Park-295 Hi, I'm Ciera, graphic designer and co-founder of VenturePop creative conference. When I’m not designing for my amazing clients, I'm writing blog posts, walking my pup or bringing creatives together through local events. Take a look around!

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