// STUDIO DAYS

//

If you follow me on snapchat [ckayedesign] you would think my studio days consist of Rihanna on repeat while dancing instead of working. You're partially correct. I like to put on headphones and albums on repeat. The loud music and the repeated songs make me concentrate better [is this normal?]. That or I'll put on the three movies I like to rotate. Just for some background noise. Yesterday I had a full day of painting. It left me with a huge headache and it felt glorious. I haven't had a full day with my paints in a while. Collection N Fiften is starting to look pretty cool. If I do say so myself. 

In other news HELLO spring. Me likie you, please stay forever. New horoscopes are up! x -C

// GOOD MORNING

// 

Good morning :) How was your weekend? Mine was filled with friends, and meetings, and studio mornings. I've gotten back on my video game again. I've been looking at old video footage while at the same time making new video footage which I plan on piecing all together to launch Collection N Fifteen [which is finally starting to look like a collection]. Collection N Fifteen and I are going through some pretty incredible life experiences together, which is why I've decided to start filming again. "You're the director of your own life" is sort of the premise behind it all... so far.

In other news Nicole Sciamarelli, a good friend of Dan's from home, made my entire afternoon yesterday. She is naturally hilarious, in like every way possible. I met Nicole about two years ago now and I remember the moment she told me she was going to do radio. My immediate response was YES that is exactly where you should be. Anyway I found out yesterday she started writing again. THIS is how I remember blogging when I first started six years ago. Nicole thank you for 1. being hilarious, and 2. for just being you. Daily Dose Of Nikki

// WHY WALLPAPER?

// Coffee talk 

[takes a sip of her coffee] Yesterday's 7:15 am networking meeting & all of these #girlboss podcasts I've been listening to got me thinking about my work, my purpose, who I am as an artist, and who I want to become as I continue to grow. I feel it's important to constantly keep connected and check-in to why you started in the first place. During yesterday's meeting as I was listening to everyone's 90 second pitch, I jotted down major points I wanted to touch on just to make sure I didn't ramble on and go totally off course. Who is Candice Kaye Design? What are the major points I want these lawyers, insurance bankers, mortgage brokers to know. How can I communicate what I do to make them understand me. Who knows they might know people who are looking for someone just like me. It was a very interesting exercise that I have never had to do before. All of my clients have been through word of mouth. Whenever I've walked into a meeting the chances were high that they've been to Maman or have looked through my website. 

I've always loved fashion. Photographing fashion week, and street style started because I loved to take photos of how the clothes moved. I also love interior design. There is nothing I love more than walking into a space that is well decorated or brilliantly thought out. It's Candice Kaye Design's goal to bridge these two worlds together. For instance, when you see a Chanel bag you know it's a Chanel bag. People will spend the $5,000 - $6,000 for that Chanel bag. I want to bring that same connection to interiors. I'm seeing a societal change in the way people see and notice design, which makes me excited. #FromWhereIStand is a social hashtag which holds over 2 million photos. 2 million. 80% of those photos are of feet standing on some pretty flooring. Christene Barberich is the global editor and chief of Refinery 29. Her istagram is filled with design. People like to take photos in front of a pretty wallpaper to make their social look pretty. Wallpaper is getting noticed. Good design is getting noticed. 

As I continue to grow I want to make sure that I continue to nourish these needs. I want Candice Kaye Design to be that design that makes your space feel prettier, I want to be the design that your customers want to take a photo in front of. It's a very exciting time for design, and I'm very happy to be apart of it. 

I have some new projects in the talks. March has been a month of growth so far and we are only on day 4. Anyway just my Friday coffee talk rant. 

Leave a comment I would love to know what you think.

xx -C

// THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

// Location: Manhattan, Meeting @ 7:15 am 

I opened my eyes this morning at 5:45 am, stepped into the shower thinking I can't believe I'm doing this. My [talented] graphic designer friend Michelle has been asking me for weeks to come to a networking meeting she goes to once a week at 7:15 am. Naturally the time got me like umm no thanks. I'm not a morning person. Michelle is one of those all-the-time-on-people. She has energy at every hour of the day. It's truly a skill. But I decided to get my ass up this morning, made myself a coffee, put on mascara, put some country music in my ears and walked out the door. I've never felt so awake at 7:15 am. It was such a cool experience. The whole purpose of the meeting was to network. Let's start from the beginning, first of all - I had no idea New York City had traffic at 6:45 am. Seriously this city doesn't sleep. I walked into the meeting and was greeted with coffee :) and breakfast. We sat down at tables all facing each other set up in a huge square, sort of like in Uni days. Everyone introduced themselves, said what they do, what they offer, who their clients are, and who they wish to be their clients for 90 seconds. I literally had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was writing down notes to make sure I didn't end up rambling about nothing for 90 seconds. It was pretty intimidating. So naturally when it was my turn I got up and started yelling and dancing [that's how I explain my presentation skills. I can dance in front of thousands of people, but when you make me speak I get really nervous. I used to actually have a huge stutter. Like stut-t-tt-tt-er. I've gotten over it, somewhat, but need to move around and yell in order to control my nerves]. I actually loved it. For the first time in my life I was excited to speak It's incredible what can happen when you talk about what you love. Anyway I ended walking away from todays meeting with three new business cards, and three new contacts. Networking is everything. Hustle is all about building your product while at the same time talking about it. K I need another coffee. happy thursday x -C

// WRITE YOUR OWN STORY

// Location: Soho House, nyc

What if we were all the same, same rules, same game, and we weren't allowed to change anything about anything that anybody's ever done before, wouldn't that be boring? Always spinning on a ride, all walking on a line that they drew a long time ago... when you know that you don't have to go where they go, you can go write your own story. Those are words by Kelsea Ballerini's Square Pegs. A song I heard on my apple music this morning on my to the city, and smiled through entire song. You're responsible for your own life, and you can write your own story. That's a sentence that took me a long time to learn.

If you're on the fence about taking a huge leap into something you love, jump. I promise you'll land on your face, haha kidding, actually you probably will land on your face but someone will always be there to help you up so you can dust yourself off. I had the pleasure of meeting Rachel on this crazy Manhattan island. She's writing her own story just the same as I am, and because of that we can talk for hours about everything or nothing. She's become my best friend who now has to leave New York to continue writing/living her story. Secretly I'm really sad but I'll never let her know that. New York is going to miss you Rachel Bonnetta so is my 'selfie' album on my iPhone. Cheers to your next adventure see you in a few!

Speaking of all of changes, new horoscopes are up! x -C

// GIRL BOSS

// Girl Boss- Podcast 

So this is pretty much what the studio looks like on a coffee refill break. I'm finally sitting down with my computer, it's been a long and interesting day. Naturally some Tarot Card reading followed. I had a meeting down at the Lower East Side today which left me falling off my chair. Things are happening and things are happening quickly. I started to listen to Girl Boss radio. I'm in love with Sophia Amoruso [the founder of Nasty Gal]. She's just like a normal chic with mad street smarts which I admire. She has her own Podcast which I listen to on my lovely commute from the city to Hoboken. Today she was speaking to Moj Mahdara the founder of Made with Elastic and the CEO of Beautycon. Besides the fact that she made me want to be her best friend, she said something really cool about Fear and the importance of it - "I think fear is a vital part of entrepreneurship and living, I think you have to like love it and embrace it, it's your romantic counterpart in anything that you do, and if you can't lean into it, you are not going to be an entrepreneur". I mean I heard that and was like woah... and then i was like, what does "Lean into it mean"? I was listening to a Podacst [also on Girl Boss] yesterday with Christene Barberich [the founder CEO of Refinery 29] and she said sometimes you just have to take leaps and kick and scream the entire way. I'm thinking that's what she means by lean into it? Making large and what could be life changing decisions is scary as fuck. I'm right in the middle of those big scary decisions  and I'm just praying I continue to make the right ones. If you're reading this and are going through the same thing, I feel ya bro. Cheers [take a sip of her wine]. Anyway just some Tuesday thoughts. x -C 

// LEAP WEEK

// #THE6IX

Happy leap week. It feels good to be back in New York feeling rested. I literally slept all day Wednesday & Thursday. Home has that effect on me. Naps around 3 pm, bed times at 10 pm, wake ups at 9 am. Tim Horton mornings :) Yum. Below are some snaps from my morning coffee with artist Chrstine Flynn.  I love love her work. Her photographs make me wish I traveled with her to wherever she was when she took her photos. Sandra and her hubby Adrian [above] threw a fun party Saturday at their beautiful new home. Food Dudes catered and of course did an incredible job. It was a nice feeling to actually attend my best friend's birthday in person and not through FaceTime. My little guy Shai was too cool to make an appearance at his parent's birthday, he's making me work for his attention. In the next few months my sister will be a mommy along with the two best friends. How is time moving this quickly? 

Alright Monday let's do this. x -C

// AIRPORT MODE

// Back to New York City

It's been a lazy/ busy couple of days. I've managed to see a lot of friends while at the same time spend time with the family. We tried a new restaurant on Friday night called Good Son. I recommend the pizza and the brussel sprouts. I'm in the middle of packing up my suitcase and sipping on a Caesar [Canadian's better version on the Bloody Mary] when I remembered I forgot to tell you about my interview dropping tomorrow with The Style Line. In 2015 The Style Line, Elisa from Maman, and I sat down for an interview. Rachel [the founder] asked if I wanted to do a catch up interview to talk about personal and professional changes since our last conversation. I've learned a lot can happen in a year. It actually hasn't even been a year yet since I've launched my first collection. Anniversary date is May 5th [unlimited old fashions to follow]. Anyway you need to sign up for the newsletter in order to read it! Sign up here! Happy Oscar Sunday! x -C