Business Babe: Laura Drayton Creative

It's time to create and celebrate with Laura Drayton! Literally, such a perfect Business Babe feature because she is involved with everything! From designing to baking Laura Drayton makes everything cute and perfect. We love her story and simply could not wait to share!

Tell us more about yourself and your business?

My name is Laura Drayton, and I am the owner of Laura Drayton Creative, LLC.  I have quite a few occupations: designer, baker, blogger, traveler, and I manage a small online boutique of fun party supplies and office accessories (www.shopld.com), but my background actually doesn't have much to do with any of this!  I'm currently a full-time grad student at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine, pursuing a Masters in Public Health.  As a way to fulfill my creative passions while in school, I started a small Etsy shop that sold organizational printables and designed stationery on the side. Eventually, I got to a point where I had way too many ideas and too little time. Finally, at the beginning of 2014, I sat down and decided to finally merge all of my creative passions into one place, and the Laura Drayton Creative brand was born. I had no idea that my little shop would soon grow into my own brand, but I am beyond thrilled that it has turned into a job that inspires and excites me.

What is your day to day like? 

Day to day, I really have to admit that I don't have a set schedule.  With such a long list of occupations, I am packing and shipping orders one day, and composing a blog post the next.  Almost every day, I fill in some time with design work and creating something fun (like cupcakes or a project).  I find inspiration from my daily life, but my favorite place to draw inspiration is from my travels.  I love bringing home new ideas (and recipes) from all of the countries I've been able to visit.

What is next on your agenda?

Looking forward, my main priority is focus.  My creative mind often runs wild, and I find myself with too many ideas and too little time (which is where the long list of occupations come in).  I struggle with what to give up in order to put more time into pursuing the things that are most important.  One of the most important things I want to focus on in helping others, which is why I launched my Love in Motion project.  If I can do what I love while helping others, I'm happy (and so extremely lucky!)

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Like A Pro: Style on a Budget

Jennifer Burchette is the creator of the blog Fashionista Jenn. The perfect blog to help fashionistas learn how to balance the schedule and budget of a young woman while still being in Vogue. We asked her to give us a few tips for style on a budget. 

Re-wear your party outfit

Don’t be afraid to re-wear those fun Friday night outfits with the girls or your expensive holiday outfit. Instead of spending money constantly on a new dress every time you want to go out, simply pair them with your day outfits. Loved that sequined skirt you wore for a New Year's party? Pair it with your fave winter sweater. Re-using party favorites is the perfect way to look cute without breaking the bank.

Steal his look 

Dressing fabulous doesn’t always have to take a lot of effort. Use your resources! Instead of searching for the perfect over sized sweater for the cold season, borrow it from a guy in your life! I love to layer over sized crew necks over my graphic print and/or velvet leggings. Just make sure to return them later...maybe.

Shop budget friendly online stores

Being able to own designer items is great, but being able to achieve the same look without the designer prices is just as fantastic! Shopping online at a pocket friendly stores such as ASOS, Nasty Gal, and Missguided allow you to have the designer look without putting a huge dent in your pocket. 

Stick to your staples

Have you ever bought something and went home and realized you already had something similar to it but in a different color /similar style? Avoid wasting money rebuying similar items and stick to a list of staple pieces. Once you have your basic staples down then you can possibly expand on your wardrobe. 

Creatively layer

Finding different ways to wear your favorite things can be the most exciting part about getting dressed! Don’t ever feel limited to a certain look! In these times we tend to wear an outfit, post it to Instagram and then think we could never be caught dead wearing that item again. For example, pairing your favorite turtleneck under a denim button-down gives your look a whole different feel. Experiment with your clothes and have fun in them!

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