Designer Vaca

More photos after the break...  Isn't this place magical? The decor and surrounding grounds at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs are so beautiful and bright.The pool is retro, quirky and perfectly cool. The rooms are bright, modern and understated art hangs above the beds. I also enjoyed a few breakfasts at the King's Highway - and I fell in love with Stumptown Coffee's cold brew while I was there!I was at the Ace a couple weeks ago for a designer event called Designer Vaca. It was full of talented women all out there hustling and pushing their creative limits, I mean just look at who came.After the trip I had a great sense of not only gratitude and inspiration, but also a lot of questions. Questions about myself, the path of my career, and what I want to be doing everyday.A few times during our panels, everyone wanted to know what the 'secret key' was to some of the other girls' careers. Megan Gilger's answer really resonated with me. She said to 'find the thing you're passionate about and go and do it.' Do it everyday all day until you're tired and exhausted and then get up and do it again.It helped me to realize that there's no secret ingredient. Just follow your passion wholeheartedly and let everyone know about it. That is what opens yourself up to the opportunity of success. Woah. It sounded idealistic, crazy, naive... and full of courage. Courage to smile at the naysayers, to shrug off the people who doubt you, or the things you tell yourself you can't do.So when I came home all I've done is think 'What do I want?' Do I want my own studio? Do I want to try freelancing full-time? What do I want to make everyday? What do I want my life to look like? Once I can answer these questions then maybe I can begin to discover my dream career. And then learn to take the first step down that path.Special shout out to all the amazingly kind women who shared a smile or conversation with me at Designer Vaca. Including Candace, Megan (the fresh exchange), Sarah (smitten studio), Giselle, Jaymee (jay adores), Liz (srsly liz), Jen, Vanessa (niorve), Meg, Kathleen, and Becky (chipper things).