Welllllllll the inevitable happened. I’ve seen Reddit post after Reddit post of others experiencing this same situation. I know I didn’t violate any community standards or terms of use so I guess all I can do now is wait. 🕰️

Hiking boots or trail runners for a newbie hiker? Pros? Cons? I was thinking hiking boots for extra ankle support. Plus I KNOW I will only be running out of necessity while hiking.

Morning ramblings reflecting on the email I wrote this morning for my Reporting In Newsletter and am sending out tomorrow morning. Get it in your inbox: rae.design/subscribe

Biiig shoutout to @ferncxandcrm.com and @thehellocode.com for talking this thru with me last night. I always feel the pressure to show up online for my biz b/c “that’s just what you do” …but I’m realizing that it doesn’t have to be what you do. There are lots of other options!

It’s crazy how quickly things can go from 😬😭😫 to 😁🥹🤓 when you’re a small biz owner.

Today has been an unexpectedly exciting day full of collaborating and working on @rae.design projects. It's always nice (and sometimes stressful) to turn your attention toward your own business.

I’m referencing a Threads post I made in this video, find the link to it in the next thread! (Yeah, I know Meta is gross)

Work on your logo and brand strategy now to prep your biz for longer term growth... especially when you're busy! Prep now to implement in your slow season so you're ready for that next busy season.

This upcoming week is the first one in 6 weeks that I don't have lots of places to run around to in between finding time to work and I'm excited for the relief I'm already feeling knowing I don't have to leave my house for a few days. 😆

Think an artist (or anyone, really) is doing cool things? Compliment them and let them know.

Maybe I should just recreate myself in sim form and make that my online persona instead of my actual face. 🤔🤔🤔

Now’s the best time to start that brand refresh you’ve been day dreaming about 💭 rae.design/blog/why-now...

There was a 6% voter turn out for our county election. That’s crazy low.

Who has thoughts on publishing previous newsletter emails as blogs? Pros? Cons? Random thoughts? I'd love to hear it all.

Ever watched a team work really hard… ...and not actually go anywhere? That’s what happens when you move fast without direction. In motorsports, it’s potentially dangerous. In business, it’s expensive. 📘 That’s why I wrote “You Are a Strategist:” More info: youareastrategist.com #motorsport

Finish up my prep step blog outline just in time to revisit it tomorrow before a co-working call w/ @ferncxandcrm.com Last week on our call Mollie and Amber @thehellocode.com helped me talk through who my target audience was for this and it was SO HELPFUL in getting going on the outline today.

You know why so many people are angry about A.I. doing the jobs that humans usually do? Because out of work humans still need to eat & pay bills! But companies will pay BILLIONS to keep A.I. employed instead of helping people struggling with unemployment, homelessness, or hunger. It's INSANITY.

Brandstorm ⚡ is my strategy-first brand refresh that helps you figure out what’s actually worth changing and how to create a brand experience that builds trust without adding more chaos to your plate. (1/3)

The feeling of starting a fresh folder at the beginning of a project is just the satisfying calm before the creative storm ⚡️

I loveee designing with color... I mean its pretty obvious in my work... but I also love a challenge to work with neutrals. They can be fun too! It's just all in how you use the colors.

My ankles are BIT UP but some of my plants got re-potted and multiplied so I guess that's a sacrifice I'll just continue to live with.

I started listening to Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil and UGHHH ITS SO GOOD I'm looking for excuses to listen longer. I don't want it to end, but I wanna get to the end to know what happens. Anyone else read or listen to V.E. Schwab?

I’ve been procrastinating on working on my own stuff 😅 and it’s been an unproductive morning sooo instead I’m getting going on a client project (ok a website for a long time brand client) and I immediately feel fulfilled and excited to get to work. 😍 there’s a reason I do what I do!

Update: stopping for a snack break cuz these pics are making me drool

“Y’know, if it weren’t for all this corn sweat and humidity the temp wouldn’t be so bad” – your typical midwesterner, said in my best thick country accent

Last night I had a dream that I was in an intense cooking competition (but more like Great British Bake Off or something rather than a USA show competition). ANYWAY – the meal I chose to cook for this competition was spaghetti with hot dogs (bun and all) as the side. 🤔🤔🤔

Refocusing your thoughts around your logo to be more brand focused will help you save time AND money. Your brand includes... ☑️ A logo ☑️ Brand voice + personality ☑️ Mission, vision, value, positioning statements ☑️ Your target audience + customer journeys

Gearing up to go to WURK in the Sims 4 tonight after working for a bit this afternoon. Who knows what my construction crew (ahem, muah) will build tonight... I'm open to suggestions... bonus points and extra emojis for off the wall creativity.

All prepped and ready for my mandatory 2 weeks off for surgery – it's sooo needed and I'm excited to come back stronger and not have to rely on my hubby for so much extra assistance! And ofc to not be in pain every damn day from just doing the things I wanna do! (Like gaming or crochet...)

Strategy doesn't stop when you rest. Being consistent as a business still matters even when you aren't working. In Fridays Reporting In email from @rae.design I told ya'll I wasn't sending emails while I'm off recovering from surgery. Then I remembered what I said about consistency a few weeks ago

Updated from the last time I mentioned 'em! Mini case studies on brand + rebrand projects, a look bts on website projects, and so much more coming on the full-service projects I've been quietly working on here at Rae Design HQ... (continued)

Oh heyyy my portfolio is looking pretty damn great if I do say so myself... These brands are Brandstorm and Identity Innovator projects. Figure out which is which when you check out my portfolio. 😏

Currently adding another project and writing a case study for one of the magazine rebrands to procrastinate writing my email newsletter. 😅 I’m just spending my creative energy where my joy pulls me. 💜

FINALLY! A place where all my projects live. 😍 See projects from full brand identities to simple but strategic websites. Almost every project has a mini case study or is linked to its full case study. Check out my work – if ya like it and want to collab on a project, reach out! I'm available.

It only took me a few weeks to update the page design AFTER I finished reworking the messaging. Super proud of this one! 💜

You build trust with your brand by showing up. Even when it’s hard. Even when you don’t want to. Creating (realistic) consistency for yourself will help make this easy on you. But ya still gotta show up and doing the things for your biz.

You’re more strategic than you think! I sent this gem out this morning – if you want it, sign up for my list and I’ll send it over to ya! rae.design/subscribe

Last weeks subject line was "Looks like carpal tunnel is my Y2K glitch" and has the HIGHEST open rate to date for @rae.design 🥳 Get tomorrows gold... eh... I mean email when you sign up for my newsletter, Reporting In. rae.design/subscribe

remember when 'bbl' was your mid-afternoon sign off and not a medical procedure?

Hey – checked the flowers. They're looking good. I'll update later with some pics and maybeee a video?

So, a random guy I don’t know escorted me into the restaurant I was headed to and grabbed a waitress to seat me. He then went on his way and is no longer here. 😆🤣 Unexpectedly nice but weird, right??

While writing my morning pages, this thought popped up & I’d like to hear your thoughts on it: It’s more important for business owners to understand their business as a brand… a strategic one at that that understands the way it communicates AND who, specifically, they’re communicating with.

SO GLAD I watered the roses right before this nice summer downpour 🙏😆

I’ve been considering adding a brand and website package to my services for a while now. 🤔 Part of this consideration has been working on a few websites this past year to see if it’s… 1) Something I actually enjoy and WANT to offer 2) How a package like this could work within @rae.design’s cx

Having a brand that builds trust means showing up even when its inconvenient. Even when its uncomfortable. Even when your inbox is quieter than you’d like. Because that’s what brand strategy is. It’s the system behind how you show up. It’s how people learn to trust you.

Repeat after me, "Brand strategy first, then everything else" Now say it again! #FernTalk

I'm at the point where I just send my husband calendar invites instead of texting him about it.

The best piece of advice I can give you is that you don’t have to every piece of advice given to you.

For anyone who asks “when’s straight pride?” The fact you need this explaining just highlights why we will need #Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

If you don’t know, now ya know.