Repost @shophelloginger Love this picture! ・・・ Confession: I used to semi-stalk the speakers and alums of @stationeryacademy. (Not in a creepy way, but in an “OMG they’re so cool and I look up to these ladies so much” way.) Actually attending Stationery Academy felt unattainable. Was I worthy? Would other attendees look at me and think, “What is SHE doing here?” Thank goodness I put these fears aside because (A) they were ridiculous and (B) registering for #StatAcad was one of the BEST decisions of my life. Stationery Academy is actually much, much more than a business conference. It is a community for creative women to come together and discuss their fears and their dreams. It encourages you to get honest with your values, find your core, and identify your purpose. In doing that, I had my "a-ha,” business-changing moment. I didn't want to design wedding invitations anymore. I wanted to create bold and bright things that would make people happy every day of their life — not just on their wedding day. Hence the birth of Hello Ginger! And true story: I learned more about business and branding and money in my 3.5 days of Stationery Academy than I could have learned in years of my own research. And while that in itself was worth the money, here’s what is invaluable: the relationships and connections I formed while there. Those stationery celebs I admired so much before going? They are not only real, honest to goodness people, but they are now just a Facebook chat away. Several of the friends I met at #StatAcad I now talk to weekly. We share our failures and our successes, and lift each other up when we are doubting ourselves and our businesses. The support of the Stationery Academy community is legit. We all just want to learn and grow, and to see each other succeed. And there’s no amount of money in the world that is worth the cost of that kind of #girltribe! #statacadalum