Latest and Greatest Photographer - Katie Riggan

From the time I started my company, it has always been a challenge for me to get my website up to par. I have always thought my pictures did not do my jewelry justice and when I have asked for feedback on my website, people agreed with me about the pics.

I met Katie a few years ago but was not able to truly appreciate her work until she shot my wedding reception. The pictures were amazing! When I realized I needed a revamp of my website, I knew I had to go to her to retake all the pics of my jewelry. I am not aware of the ins and outs of photography nor how to take creative and unique looking pictures. I absolutely fell in love with the pictures she took of my jewelry so far and cannot wait for her to take pictures of the remaining pieces.

Here are a few more examples of her amazing work:

If you are in the Delaware or surrounding areas and need a photographer, check out her portfolio website at http://web.me.com/ktriggan/Site/Home.html and her flickr site is

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99671652@N00/.

Q&A with Katie

1. What made you want to become a photographer?

I've always been the one in my family who enjoys the act of taking photos. But for awhile I wanted to go into film-making until I began to realize how hard it is to do on your own. Photography is a lot easier. And even one still image can be really powerful. When I learned concrete examples of the history learned, and the change that has happened because of photographs, I decided to study photojournalism. I love the variety and the access that photography provides. To be invited in and learn about different people/places/events that I would never have otherwise is fantastic. From my first published photograph, I've been hooked on the variety and the future possibilities.

2. What challenges have you faced?

About the time I graduated from college was when the newspaper industry was beginning it's, uh turmoil? (I refuse to say demise) So one of my biggest challenges has been coming to terms with that and looking for other kinds of work. And of course flash/strobe lighting.

3. Where do you hope to see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully, I will be well on my way to having enough photography clients to be able to ditch my day job. And I hope at least a part of that work will be for personal projects and/or non-profit organizations.

4. What advice do you have for other women entrepreneurs?

It's corny but true - just keep at it. No matter how little or slowly, just keep going. Listen to and even seek advice from others, but know that you don't always have to follow it. (You know, unless it's something like paying taxes)

5. What are three things people do not know about you?

1) I went to Space Camp twice and loved it

2) I've lived in 9 different states

3) I'm starting a food blog soon! Hopefully this winter/spring

Featured Vendor - Preppy Poppy

Recently, my appreciate for women entrepreneurs has tremendously grown. Since I started networking for my own business, I have met so many great women. I am going to try to feature one every few weeks on my blog to inspire others.

Angela from Preppy Poppy is truly an inspiration to all women. She is the wife of a Navy pilot, a mom and a entrepreneur. Preppy Poppy sells monogrammed/personalized items for children and adults.

Here are a few of my favorite items:

1. Monogrammed Mod Burp Cloth for Baby Boy
2. Personalized Newborn Outfit
3. Personalized Christmas Tutu Outfit

Q&A with Angela:
What inspired you to start your own business?
I started The Preppy Poppy because I love to work. However, my husband has a non-conventional career as a Navy Pilot, so to have a "real" career in the corporate world was not an option. I've always had a great love for monogrammed and personalized items. After great discussion with my husband, we came up with The Preppy Poppy. Now I have the luxury of being home for my children and have a career to call my own.

What types of products do you sell?
The Preppy Poppy carries anything from monogrammed Eco friendly shopping totes to personalized holiday tutu outfits.

What advice would you give to other female entrepreneurs?
I underestimated the amount of hours I would have to put into The Preppy Poppy. There have been numerous times that I worked through the night to complete orders. Balancing your home, family and business takes a great amount of creative planning (usually at your expense). I sleep less - but it is so worth it!

What are three things that people don't know about?
1. I love rap music!
2. I have two sisters who are 10 and 11 years younger than me. I always feel more like their 2nd Mommy than their Big Sister.
3. Before starting my business, I had never sewn a single thing! Oh wait - there was a pair of shorts back in eight grade Home Economics, but Ive tried to forget that ill fitting mess. My point is, don't let any obstacle get in the way of your dream. If you want it bad enough, you will learn and adapt in order to accomplish you mission.

http://preppypoppy.com/
http://twitter.com/preppypoppy

Thank you again Angela for being featured on the Destination Diva blog!

PRODUCTS ON MY WISH LIST

HANDBAGS
Shop Suey Boutique - Christina Satchel *Bargain*
http://www.shopsueyboutique.com/servlet/the-1498/A-CHRISTINA-SATCHEL--dsh-/Detail

Burberry Quilted Leather Hobo *If I win the lottery bag*
CLOTHES
Andrew Marc Wool Trench

MARC BY MARC JACOB "Orion" Wool Sweater Dress

SHOES
Via Spiga "Irma" Tall Platform Boots

For all you moms...here are some of my favorite sites!

Random
http://preppypoppy.com/category_13/3/Poppy-Babies.htm
http://www.chicmamadiapercakes.com/

Good site for baby announcements!
http://uptowngirldesigns.com/

Neat blog!
http://newmommyoasis.com/

Little girls
http://www.cutiepatutus.com/pa-tutu-outfits

Jewelry
http://www.thevintagepearl.com/

Women on Wall Steet

As most woman in the corporate world, I am surrounded by men everyday. Don't get me wrong, I love the guys I work with, but they don't know how hard it is for us women. It only gets worse when you have kids. I have a few friends who are also in the Investment Banking world who definitely also feel the brunt of the glass ceiling. It makes it even harder when you are a woman who is not going to be ruthless to get to the top. At this point in my life, I realize that it is going to take me a lot longer to move up and I am honestly not sure if I care as much nowadays. The competitive side of me does but the hopefully future mom side of me doesn't care. I am a hard worker so no matter what, I will come into work everyday and do my job to the best of my abilities.

My friend sent me an article titled "Women on Wall Street" and the statistics are frightening.

*Women managers in finance, a group that includes bank tellers as well as executives, earned 63.9 cents for every dollar of income men earned in 2000, based on median salaries, according to Government Accountability Office statistics analyzed by Bloomberg.
*In 2007, the last year for which data are available, the figure was 58.8 cents. The 41-cent gap was the biggest in any of 13 industries surveyed by the GAO, and only two others had a widening disparity.
*The number of women in finance, banking and insurance in the United States fell by 537,000 between the second quarter of 2007 and the second quarter of this year, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These facts are something us women face everyday. The world is not designed for women to be successful, but all we can do is keep trying to prove everyone wrong and change the statistics!

Beautiful wedding!!

So one of my good friends got married yesterday and I have to say it was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been too. It fit their style and personalities perfect! The place was was amazing! It was called Lavender Fields. A few women quit their corporate jobs and bought this farm. They planted a BUNCH of lavender and now run it as a business.
The ceremony took place in a labyrinth, so family and friends were all standing in a circle in a close, intimate setting. They wrote their own vows, which made me cry. The reception was under a huge tent filled with browns, purple, candles, and was so beautiful.
CONGRATS Steph and Hari!

I wanna be rich...

Some days I wish I could just wake up and do what I want to do, instead of doing what I have to do. I know I need to make money to pay my bills, but working until 10pm is just not good! I feel like I just aged 10 years the last 2 years!!! From working in London over a year ago to working at my current job, it is just exhausting. I just do not think that a 28 year old should have to use a heating pad or come home daily with a headache. Nor should anyone be doing laundry at midnight! Anyway, I just needed to vent because it has been a LONG week of work. I want to be back in a cabana in Punta Cana!
This weekend I am teaching a Jewelry Making 101 class at the beach then I have a wedding for one of my good friends. I am so excited for both! The wedding is going to be so unique! Her fiance is a chef and they both just have such eccentric styles! The wedding is in a lavender garden and it is suppose to be beautiful this weekend. Love weddings and wish them the both.


But this goes back to me wanting to be rich....we will need to wake up at like 5am Monday to come home to work. Why does work get in the way of everything?? I don't need to be a billionaire but just enough to live comfortable! Oh well....live goes on :)

OH HOW I LOVE SCOTLAND!

Since I was a little girl, I always heard a lot about Scotland! My great-grandmother was from Scotland and had a true Scottish last name "Hunter". My grandmother always has thistles and Scottish plaid all over the house. I never knew how much Scotland would play a role in my life as an adult. Last summer I went to London for two months for work. My boyfriend at the time was planning on coming over to visit me about a month into my stay there. We both had already been to London and Paris, so we thought we would plan a trip to Scotland. To my surprise, he planned the whole trip! The trip started out terrible because we had to take a train to the airport, then our flight was delayed. We ended up not arriving in Edinburgh until about midnight that Friday. We grabbed a pizza and went to our hotel. It was SO nice, especially since I was staying in this crappy hotel in London for 2 months. The next morning we were about to walk about the door to take a train to see a castle and Pete goes, "Pack up your stuff. I have a surprise for you later." Needless to say, I asked all day for clues what the surprise was. Around 2pm we got back to Edinburgh, grabbed our bags and jumped in a cab. We drove for a good 25 min to what seemed like out of civilization and out of the city. Finally, we pull up to this beautiful castle and I yell, "IS THIS WHERE WE ARE STAYING". I was so excited!! There was this beautiful wedding that just finished and I joked that we should just get married while we were here. Pete checked in and this guy in a Scottish kilt walked us up these old steps. We walked into the room and it was so amazing. Just like you would think a castle would look. There were roses on the bed and champagne. I thought it was standard to every room :) I start unpacking (have a little bid of ADD) and turn around to find him on one knee.
I can honestly say I was SO shocked and had NO idea. That was the beginning of the rest of my life and my grandmother was thrilled it happened in Scotland :) Almost 9 months later we got married in the Dominican Republic and I have had a huge smile on my face ever since!