Officially day seven without coffee.No one tells you that one thing you really should avoid during post-surgery recovery is the sweet nectar of caffeine. Yadda, yadda, something about dehydration and delayed healing.Gah, I miss it. I don't have many vices these days. It's hard breaking my well-worn habit of hitting the Nespresso button twice while simultaneously checking my inbox and shoveling 20 grams of protein milk into my giant cup of joe in an effort to appease the internet macros gods.I...
10 days ago • 2 min read
Probably one of the best perks of designing digital products for stellar clients like Laura Belgray? I get first dibs access to their premium content. So when said client got known for writing prolific (and sales-inducing) newsletters, I started paying close attention.A few years back, I promised myself that I would start writing a consistent newsletter (generally sent on Fridays - barring major illness, travel or a contagious case of idontwannaitis) - but only if I could have fun with...
12 days ago • 2 min read
As a designer, almost nothing feels better than slapping a fresh coat of paint on a website - especially when it's been more than a few years since you've updated the last version. So I'm pleased as punch to share the all-new updated website for longtime client, friend and fellow dog enthusiast Ann HandleyThis site was created the old-school way. Pushing pixels by hand (and getting feedback with change orders accompanied by dog pics at my request). Two elements I love to play with in my...
23 days ago • 1 min read
Since celebrating my birthday last week, I decided there's a few things I'm no longer going to feel guilty about. Rewatching Columbo episodes as my nightly nervous system soothing protocol. Unabashedly using the phrase "no filler, no fluff" (with apologies to LB). Picking out the apple green jolly ranchers (and mailing the grape ones to Meg). Deleting thousands of people from my email list. That last one might have freaked me out a few years ago. But regularly clearing out my list feels...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vault has to be one of my earliest TV memories. I remember watching with rapt attention as Geraldo Rivera hyped up the potential riches inside — only to be sorely disappointed when the vault revealed just a few empty bottles and a big pile of dirt. I’m dating myself with that reference, but I’ll allow it since it’s my birthday. To celebrate, I’m opening up my vault of private expert trainings I'm calling the Brain Bundle. And this vault delivers the goods. Want to:...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
If you're new here—or if you’re like me and can’t remember what you did last week—read the previous email in this series: does Google know who you are?Curious how to get your own Google Knowledge panel (the overview that shows up when someone Googles your name?) Step 1. Use a tool like https://kalicube.pro/tools/knowledge-graph-explorer to search for your name. You should see a list of results like this image below. Click the "see on Google" link to see if it matches your info. (In my case,...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Reviewing a new site design with one of my favorite clients this week, she asked me a question.Why don't I show up the same way in Google as other dudes in her field?And by "that way" she meant the following format when she Googles her name. (I'm showing my client Laura Belgray's panel as an example above - go ahead, google her name and see what shows up!) This block of info at the top of the search results is called a Google Knowledge Panel. The display is generated based on info stored and...
4 months ago • 2 min read
One of my best friends like to surprise me in the best ways.We got in late Monday night from a quick trip to NYC to celebrate my nephew's 21st (and to hang with really cool clients over the best, longest brunch ever - thanks VV)! I went to water my plants and saw that Monty, my mini monstera, was missing from his perch on the kitchen windowsill.Now Monty's needed some TLC for a minute - he'd outgrown his pot but I haven't had the energy (or frankly the knowhow) to properly rehome him. I knew...
4 months ago • 2 min read
I finally gave in. It's been 8 months since my longtime hairdresser up and left me for Arizona. Since then, I've just been stuffing it in a ponytail and hoping for the best. My husband's been coloring my hair, painstakingly painting my grays and calling it his meditation.On the plus side, I've already saved 2k in fees. But it's time for a chop and I needed to find someone who could tame the nest.If you've got curly hair, you know the struggle to find someone who won't style you like a shaggy...
4 months ago • 3 min read