inspired by...

The team over at A Beautiful Mess continues to astound me every day. It has been so cool to watch Elsie Larson's brand and business evolve from a one woman show to now a whole team of awesome people helping her and her sister Emma Chapman make awesome things.

When Justin and I moved into our first apartment last October, ABM was one of the first places I went to for decorating inspiration. They have fun, simple DIY's, and as their team has grown recently they've added more complex things (think power tools). ABM also has fun recipes and cocktails, photo ideas, scrapbooking, fashion and beauty posts... I think if you name it, they've probably done it.

Elsie and Emma wrote their first book, A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book, last summer. I have yet to read it, but I'm positive it's awesome. Yesterday, their second book, A Beautiful Mess Happy Handmade Home was released in bookstores nationwide. So excited to support these awesome ladies and their business.

Elsie, Emma and their team have also developed a couple of photo apps! The A Beautiful Mess app is one of my favourite photo editing apps. I love being able to add fun borders or doodles to my Instagram photos, and it's made adding text to photos a breeze. They have also recently released the Party Party! app that allows you to make stop motion videos and also has more photo editing options.

Elsie & Emma and the entire ABM team are unstoppable. In this crazy Internet ran business world, I'm so excited to see where they take A Beautiful Mess.

Find ABM on the internet... website, app, shop, official instagram, Elsie's instagram & twitter, Emma's instagram

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Kara Haupt... Where do I begin to explain the fabulousness that is Kara Haupt? I first discovered Kara on flickr in 2010, and I have been keeping up with her work ever since. Her Instagram feed is flawless, full of adventures with her roommate/best friend, photos of her cat #piplukehaupt, and lots of creative energy.

Kara is the hashtag master, selfie queen, and all around driving force of a bunch of inspiring and unstoppable things. Kara is a design student at Pacific Northwest College of Art. She runs a business called Classes Kara Made, where you can find ecourses about art journaling, photography and iPhone-ography. And then there's #babevibes.

"Babe Vibes is about women and the power of calling oneself a babe. It's energy, vulnerability, sisterhood, and identity. It's about empowerment on a babe's terms."

Babe Vibes is something that I have followed very closely from its conception. It's something that I 100% fully support and will promote every chance I get. Kara is a card carrying feminist, and every day she pushes the envelope against the patriarchy a little bit more and inspires me to do the same. From her rants on twitter to the work she does with Babe Vibes, to the notes she writes herself, Kara Haupt is a force to be reckoned with.

The #babevibes tag on Instagram is one I use every chance I get. I love that Kara has created a little community where women can come together and revel in our babeliness. For me, #babevibes means positivity. It means confidence and fearlessness. And there's a lot of red lipstick.

Kara inspires me to break ground within myself, to discover those places shrouded in shadow and then use those discoveries to make the world better.

Find Kara around the internet... website, instagram, twitter, Classes Kara Made, Babe Vibes

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Inspired by... will hopefully be a new series to feature people (bloggers, creators, instagrammers, etc.) that are doing things that I love. First up is Elise Blaha Cripe. If you've been reading my blog for at least a year now, you might know that I've made it no secret that I look up to Elise in so many ways. I go back through her blog archives almost monthly when I'm digging for inspiration, something to make me feel like creating again. She makes me want to create stuff that blows my mind.

Elise's Instagram feed is one of my favourites. When I mindlessly scroll through Instagram in the morning while I wait for my coffee to brew, hers is usually one of the first ones I check for updates. Her photos are so simple and yet they're so full of life and joy and awesomeness. Her #eliselovesmornings project inspired me to take pictures of my coffee every morning. She inspires me to look at my every day life in a whole new way. Her photos remind me that there is always something beautiful within the mundane.

In April, Elise launched her very own Podcast: Elise Gets Crafty. This launch became an absolute game changer for my Wednesday mornings (or if I'm up before the sun, I listen on Thursdays). I love hearing Elise talk shop, small business, and creativity. My favourite guests have been Elsie & Emma of A Beautiful Mess, Ann-Marie Espinoza, and Jen Lara. Often after listening, I make lists of everything that pops into my head, whether that list involves blog post ideas or new photoshoots or things I want to save for. This podcast has sparked something in my brain and I truly love listening to it every week.

Find Elise around the internet... blog, shop, podcast, instagram, twitter