Hannah Morrison

Secret Garden Summer Style

There’s something magical about a beautiful dress. I could have my hair thrown up in a bun and hardly a lick of make-up on my face, but if I have on a beautiful dress then I can take on the world. I rounded up some beautiful dresses and a few pairs of shoes for your summer soirees coming up. From wedding guest dresses to a beautiful brunch with friends, there’s no such thing as “too much” in my book. A quality dress is a staple piece in your closet worth investing in! I have linked below a wide variety of price points to best help you with your own budget.

In other news, I hope this finds you well today. I am living in a half packed home currently and feel a little chaotic to say the very least… hehe. But, it’s exciting and I cannot wait to be moved into our new home. You guys have been the very best since our first announcement about this journey. It’s been so fun walking it with you… from being rolled around in early labor picking my tile choices to a water leak in the wall, and everything in between! If you’ve been finding you like my transitional coastal(ish) style, be sure to check out my HOME tab up at the top of my navigation bar. It’s like hiring an interior designer… without hiring somebody. Basically, if I owned an actual store front, these are the things I would keep inventory of.

Secret Garden Summer Style:

 

My Everyday Necklace Layering

Happy Wednesday, friends! I hope you had the best week so far. This last weekend we had our second city-wide Interest Party for Cadence [the church we are starting!] and it was just incredible. We are still reeling in from that! It is still so humbling and mind-blowing to us that strangers would come hear about the vision our family has for the city of Frisco, and then somehow even more wild to us that people would say “I’m in! Let’s do this.” We are just enjoying the journey and grateful beyond measure for this season. We are so lucky and so thankful this is what we get to do for the rest of our lives.

Today, I wanted to share my go-to rose gold layered necklaces that I literally wear every day. They’re simple and sweet both by themselves, but make for a great layer when paired together. The first is a minimal druzy necklace and then the longer is a custom initial necklace with everybody’s letter in my family around my neck. I LOVE IT. Paul surprised me with it for our 7 year anniversary, and it’s just so sweet.

See below for my chain and layering necklaces (my exact druzy is out, but they carry a triangle just like it right now!):

Initials Link: Here

 

5 Tips to Make Your Dreams Happen

Alright, so here’s the deal: You have a dream, but you have zero idea how to make it a reality. Sound familiar? You have a business you want to start or a job role you desire, but it all feels overwhelming to begin. Which steps do I take first? It can feel like so much that you find yourself paralyzed with fear and confusion, and you stay stuck in the comfortable routine you’ve been in because… well, frankly, it sounds easier than the work you need to put in to make a life you love.

STOP. BREATHE. LET’S DO THIS. You get ONE life. You have a specific purpose. Your dreams are God-given. Don’t waste any of it!

6 years ago I began blogging and started sharing my life with intentionality on my Instagram and website. I wanted a space to write and loved the idea of growing an authentic community when I lived in the middle of a city at the time that felt anything but. I was an exhausted newlywed working in the start-up fashion industry in the heart of Dallas, and I was unfulfilled to say the least. I knew the pace I was running couldn’t last forever… so, I started to take my life into my own hands. All these years later and I am truly living a dream and multiple businesses under my belt that came to life because of the blog I said “yes” to over Christmas break. Whatever your dream may be, I want the same for you. I want you living a fulfilled life with purpose. 

Practical first steps to see your dream come to life
  1. Write a why statement for the dream/business/end goal. A sentence that encompasses the hopes, goals, and dreams of whatever your business or self-investment may be. And then – you filter absolutely everything you do and every effort you put into it through that. My why statement has morphed over the years as my life has literally changed before my online community’s eyes. But, my current statement is “Finding joy in life, motherhood, and fashion.” This phrase tells you, the audience, that coming to my page/website will *hopefully* help you find joy, mommy and fashion tips, and a glimpse into my overall lifestyle. Yep, that one sentence tells you ALL of that.
  2. Write a list of the practical things you need to do in order to begin!
    If this is starting a business endeavor, start with the basics:
    -File your business as an LLC or DBA depending on what the nature of what you do is
    -Create a website/hire out somebody to design your website (Your site is something you shouldn’t skimp on. If you can’t do it, hire somebody who can.)
    -Reserve any social handles needed (IG/Pinterest/Facebook)
    – Choose 5 pillars for content branding and be sure ALL content strategy stems from these (i.e. when looking at your grid of 9 on Instagram, every single pillar should be subtly shown in one glimpse. You have 2 seconds to captivate somebody and tell them what you’re about!)
  3. Write a list of 50-100 goals for your business and start crossing them off. This means send as many emails as you possibly can and tell everybody about what you’re doing. Somebody knows somebody who knows somebody. No… really. Email the most seemingly achievable collaborations or business mentors and work your way up. I will never forget meeting with Katey McFarlan in my earliest days and she said “start with brands who are at the same place as you and grow together.” That, of course, is most applicable to blogging, but the concept is all the same. My first big contract was with BareMinerals all simply because I created consistent content and tagged them on my photos as the make-up I was actually using at the time.
  4. Pick your colors and 5 words. What words, emotions, and colors do you want people to think of or feel when they come to your page? Do you want whimsical, clean, minimal, warm and inviting, editorial-like, inspirational? You have to know the feelings and stick to them with everything you post, write, execute!
  5. Stop saying you wanna do it…. and just do it. Not to sound harsh, but it’s the truth. You WILL be your greatest road block. Do what makes you happy and make it come to life. Hire a business mentor if it doesn’t come natural to you. Whatever you gotta do… take practical steps daily to make it happen.

Looking for more? you can hire me to help consult your business plans and vision meetings. Email me hannah@cakemedia.org

Favorite Target Finds for the Home

Can y’all believe we are SO CLOSE to our move in date?! One month and 6 days to be exact… hehe. I cannot wait to get my hands on my home and start truly making this space that I have dreamed of and designed into OURS, once and for all. I have mentioned it throughout the process, but majority of my design inspiration comes from Studio McGee. Crisp, traditional meets modern, and a neutral space that you can build off of. With that said, I have rounded up my favorite items currently available at Target – much of which is from the Threshold x Studio McGee line itself. I hope this helps you find that new piece you’ve been hunting for to make your home exactly what you have been dreaming of *and on a budget!!*

You will catch on that I go neutral on the big stuff and add color with vases, dishes, throws and pillows, and artwork that is easy to exchange when my style changes! Replacing these items is a lot easier to do than replacing tile or a $3k sofa/large piece of furniture.

Anthropologie New Releases

If you haven’t caught on… Anthro Home is basically my style to a T in one spot. I love a neutral space with pops of color. You’ll see me add color in dishes, kitchen accessories, towels, trinkets, and furniture that isn’t a major staple piece [like a bench rather than a sofa]. I find their prices to be surprising more often than not, as I believe majority of their decor and home/kitchen items are fairly achievable price points. Plates and mugs for the season around $20 is not bad in my book when it’s quality and unique!

I rounded up some of the colorful items in my cart right now. With our move-in date in May, I am READY for a bright, colorful, clean space full of inspiration and opportunity. I believe the pieces below say just that.

LET’S GET SOCIAL