Engagement Photos & The Hidden Expenses I Didn’t Think About

Published on July 6, 2015February 2, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason2 Comments

About a year ago I announced my engagement to the Mr. and since then, it has been full steam ahead. I started by pinning inspiration pictures and decided that one of the very first vendors we pick should be the photographer. After the wedding day has passed, all you are left with are the memories and the photographs, so I believe this is a good place to invest your research and money. When coming up with the budget, we wanted someone who included the engagement photos in their package. What I didn’t think about was all of the other expenses that I hadn’t included in the overall budget. For example, finding the perfect outfit, hair, makeup, and sometimes even location fees depending on where you take them. All of these things are luxuries that anyone could live without, but enhance the overall experience. I stressed for weeks about buying the perfect outfit but after all was said and done, I ended up wearing a mix of new stuff and timeless pieces already in my closet. I found my shoes on sale and asked a friend/makeup artist to do my makeup. Instead of paying for a fancy location shoot, we decided we wanted our photos to reflect our lives together. We started in the neighborhood where we will be living as husband and wife, paid homage to our Atlanta University Center (AUC) roots, and ended in the heart of Atlanta, where both of us are from. Our engagement photos and story were even published in MunaLuchi {check them out here}, the leading multicultural wedding publication catering to women of color.

Here is a Sneak Peak of the photos no one has seen yet!

brimcdanielphotography_danielle+michael_engagement-117

Photography by Bri McDaniel Photography

Let’s Get Social!

shemakescents{at}gmail {dot}com | Instagram @shemakescents

{Woman to Watch} Misty Copeland

Published on July 3, 2015July 2, 2015 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

For years I have followed the career of ballet dancer, Misty Copeland. Beyond her killer legs and amazing stage presence is a woman who encourages young dancers of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds to be the best they can be on the stage and off. This week, Copeland was promoted to principal dancer of the American Ballet Theater, making her the FIRST African-American ballet dancer of the A.B.T. to lead the company, a goal that she set for herself years ago.

At the beginning of every year, I ask readers of SMC the same question: What ONE word reflects your vision for the year? Back in 2013, I selected the word “BALANCE” and framed the picture above as a visual reminder of the balance I so wanted in my life at that time. She has been an inspiration to me and an example that hard work and the belief in oneself is the most powerful prerequisites to accomplishing one’s goals. She is unstoppable, she is glamorous, and #shemakescents!

{Wise Words} Kindness

Published on April 11, 2015April 9, 2015 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

{Wise Words} Are You Beautiful?

Published on February 10, 2015January 22, 2016 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

SMC Book Club: The Bliss List

Published on January 26, 2015March 3, 2017 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

“A little reading is all the therapy a person needs sometimes” – Unknown

I remember one particular time, I needed to get out of the house and clear my head. I didn’t know where to go, so I hopped in the car and just started driving. When I need to clear my mind and relax, especially when I am under extreme stress like I was that day, I find my way to my local book store. I walked around, grabbed some coffee, and sat down in the middle of and aisle and started reading the first page of several books. I bought four books that day, one of which is the SMC February Book selection- The Bliss List: The Ultimate Guide to Living the Dream at Work and Beyond by J.P. Hansen . I started reading The Bliss List and I immediately started to feel better, relaxed, and excited for the possibilities ahead.

WHAT IS THE BLISS LIST?
Four out of five people are unhappy in their current jobs (and that unhappiness spills over into their personal lives). One secret to living the life you dream about, according to author and Life Coach J.P. Hansen, is to pursue the activities that put you in the zone where time stands still.

In his book, The Bliss List, he guides readers through an odyssey of mystical concepts to attract bliss into their lives by changing their attitudes and their minds. He provides insight and inspiration for readers to find work that truly brings them bliss (and whatever else they desire, including money). At the same time, and on a practical level, he takes readers inside the world of executive recruitment and shows how a powerful résumé opens the right doors to the right job. He shows résumé make overs for success and even gives a template for readers to fill in.

Join #teamSMC as we dive into a spiritual, practical, and conceptual evaluation what makes us truly happy. You will need a pen and paper, so this is not a book I would recommend in audio format.

Want to Join Book Club? Leave a Book Suggestion Below.

FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, RSS Feed,

Email SMC: shemakescents@gmail.com

{2015 Vision Board Preview} I Resolve Not To Be Cheap, Easy, Fast, or Fake!

Published on January 3, 2015January 3, 2015 by Danielle YB Vason6 Comments

A Vision in the Making

Happy 1st Saturday of the year lovelies! I hope that it has been a good one thus far. Hopefully you have had a chance get your Bingo Style Money Sheet and have crossed off your first box. This morning, I am live blogging to you about a “vision in the making”. With PJs on and a laptop in the bed, I have decided it is time to get my vision board together. Instead of doing one large board, I have decided to break mine down into six categories and refine my focus in those areas of my life- Danielle Y. Boler as a Brand, Vocation, Health, Personal Relationships, Social, and Wealth. I will have them printed and I plan to frame them in my office, closet, and in my day planner. This morning I am focusing on being mentally, spiritually, and physically Healthy. This photo below is just a glimpse of what I am thinking and positively projecting for this year and beyond:

For me, this photo is a reminder to be more conscience of what I’m putting into my body. Be knowledgeable about where my food is coming from, but most important to remember that you are what you eat. That being said, I resolve to not be cheap, easy, fast, or fake!

What are your more healthy resolutions?

Please share below!

FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, RSS Feed,

Email SMC: shemakescents@gmail.com

For those who know me personally, you know that I’m the type who is all about time and the numbers. I’m the girl who broke down how much she makes per minute to show just how much my time is valued in the workplace. We have all heard it before that time is money; however, I guess I have always thought about it in terms of one’s career…especially when I was billing my time at one of Atlanta’s top law firms. When thinking about time as currency, are you spending yours well?

In honor of my “Word of the Year“, P-A-S-S-I-O-N, I’d like to share this quote from Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, author of Lean In, and overall empower-er of girl power in the workplace. I choose the word passion because I resolve to be passionate in my thoughts because thoughts become actions before they become habits. Imagine how divine the year will be once I am consistently and habitually passionate about things that require my time (i.e. financial goals, career, self-improvement,and love)…just to name a few things one can be passionate about. The focus and elevated motivation will help this new year be my best year! #SMCYearofPassion

What ONE Word Reflects Your Vision for 2015?

Published on January 1, 2015December 26, 2016 by Danielle YB Vason7 Comments

If you could choose one word to reflect your personal goals/resolution/vision for 2015, what word would you choose?

Every year I post this question to my readers on the She Makes Cents Facebook page. The year 2013 was my year of BALANCE, 2014 was my year of FOCUS, and 2015 will be my year of PASSION. Passion is something you can’t fake, it is motivating, and a compelling energy that elevates one’s thoughts and actions to the next level. Welcome 2015 and cheers to a passionate year! I’d love to hear your vision for the New Year. Please share your one word in the comments section below.

What ONE word reflects your vision for 2015?

FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, RSS Feed,

Email SMC: shemakescents@gmail.com

SMC Book Club: The Woman I Wanted to Be

Published on December 31, 2014October 31, 2017 by Danielle YB VasonLeave a comment

Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light. – Vera Nazarian

I am an avid reader and every year I set out to read at least 12 books a year. It’s a resolution that when of making, seems simple. But yet, as the year goes on I find myself getting caught up in things that pull my focus away. That 12 book goal starts feeling like 1200 books. Last month, in a few moments of downtime, I took a pink post-it and made a list of books that I have been wanting to read. I then took it a step forward and bought the first book on my list. It was an autographed copy, at that! Afterward, I told my girlfriends from work who also seemed interested in some of the reads on my list and [insert angel choir here] the birth of the She Makes Cents Book Club was born. For the past month, I kept going back and forth about whether I would present it to the world as a monthly book suggestion, book review, or a book club and then I remembered about why I love books in the first place. Reading and discussing books with other people allows you to understand the same material, often time from a different point of view than one’s own. That is one of the things I miss about college… the ability to have an open dialogue about a multitude of subjects.

So Here Is How It Will Work:

Every month we will select a new book and announce that selection a week before the start of every month. This will give you time to go to your local bookstore, library, or download to your device. Selections for the books will come from readers suggestions and the list I started on the post-it. We ask that selections embrace powerful women, business cents, fictional favorites, and anything that informs and inspires us to be the people we aspire to be. With that being said, I am happy to announce the SMC Book Club: January Selection to be The Woman I Wanted to Be by Diane von Fürstenberg. I have always been a fan of her as a woman and I was so happy to see that she is exactly who I hoped her to be when watching her reality show “House of DVF”. This book explores the subject of her roots, love, beauty, and business; thus, making it the perfect choice for our January Selection. I hope you pick up the book and join the SMC team as we read our January selection. Discussions for this book can be found in the comments below starting Monday, January 5th.