I am originally from Illinois and moved out to California with my childhood sweetheart of a husband. I was modeling in Illinois for a short time and continued to model once moving to California from time to time. After years of experiencing my own struggle with an autoimmune disease, my husband and I started our business drinkbar juicery. I discovered several years prior to our business juicing was my saving grace and my husband wanted me to have a way to share that experience with others who were also hurting. 

_

_

1) What inspires you and get’s you excited!?

Health and feeling vibrant. The idea that there is so many people out there not feeling incredible and I can show them how. That gets me excited.

2) Where would you want to be five years from now personally and professionally?

 In 5 years from now I want to have my own ranch and potentially 2 babies. I want to live off the land, with as many fruit trees as I can fit into one small space. I want to have several recipes books on the market and show so many more people how much better they can feel. 

3) What does being a Dazey Lady (my term for self employed babes kicking ass) mean to you?

It means authenticity, It means WHOLE. Most self employed women make sacrifices to birth things that are deep inside them. They sacrifice "things" to create something that is not yet tangible. They don't buy purses and expensive hair care but they invest in ideas deep inside them and make them reality. A dazey lady pulls on that inner strength to create a path not yet paved, and is glamours while doing it. 

Mini Message from Dani Dazey:

When Sand Sisters reached out to me, I was instantly excited to work with them on a Dazey Lady feature! Tedi and Sonya, real-life sisters, created a Los Angeles based non-profit group aimed at empowering youth through rad, engaging activities all around the city! I love the message behind Sand Sisters and how inlined they are with our mission over here at Dazey, so it was the perfect opportunity to have them over to Dazey HQ to share their story with our Dazey Ladies! 

Find Sand Sisters:

http://www.sandsistersla.com/ 

@sandsistersla

 I have never been more proud to be a strong woman.

I have never been more proud to be my own boss.

I have never been more proud of the supportive group of women around me.

I have never been more proud to empower others and make them feel valued and loved.

Women of today across every race are still seeking equality by lawmakers, in the workplace and in social situations. Human rights and women empowerment marches, rallies, marketing campaigns, inspiring artists performances and installations, Girl Boss hashtags and social awareness are supporting this movement. We’ve all seen it and hopefully been a part of it in some way. Standing together, we’ve proved that our voices must be heard in a powerful yet peaceful way. Through it all, the quote that resonated with me the most during my daily instagram scroll was, “Be who you needed when you were younger.”

Oh, to flashback to childhood can either be a delightful experience or one you want to shut the door on. For me it was a mixture of both. My sister, Tedi, and I grew up as best friends. We are as close as two siblings can be and that is because we grew up depending on one another. Our single mother worked tirelessly to make sure we had the best upbringing. On school nights, 9:00pm was a standard time for me to see the light from the hallway spill into my room and then I’d feel my mother’s kiss on my forehead. My mom made sure Tedi and I had everything we needed, but what I always felt what was missing was the feeling of being seen and valued.

Tedi and I jumped into the roles of being “independent” and “adult” by the age of 12. We lined up neighborhood babysitting gigs for $4 an hour, worked countless holiday retail jobs, coached the swim team, worked on campus college jobs --- you name it, we did it --- and we had the lives we did because of two things, we believed in ourselves and we hustled.

Through all of our experiences we immersed ourselves in, we formed relationships with strong women in our community. We sought out mentors without realizing what we were seeking. My first mentor was my 3rd grade teacher, Miss M. She took the extra time out of her day to make me feel seen. She would let me read to the class every week (my favorite thing to do), invited me to church with her and her mother and sent weekly letters through the school post office years after I'd left her classroom. She was the first person to really see me and hear me without having to tell her a thing.

Tedi’s first mentor was her 5th grade teacher Mrs. McCune. She was an adventurous woman who would spend summers with her husband white river rafting in Colorado and bring back thrilling stories and pictures for her students. Mrs. McCune showed Tedi that there's a whole world to explore --- new people, unbelieveable cultures, delicious (and scary) food and other beliefs than what we were brought up to hold true. She saw Tedi’s desire for a colorful life. From elementary school on we met with so many wonderful women, who taught us life lessons, showered us with love and made us feel valued.

Fast forward to two sisters, post college living in Los Angeles, we were both young professionals, Tedi in elementary education and myself in advertising. Tedi began to take girls to the beach during the summer months. She taught the girls to connect with the ocean, surf, stand up paddle board and form friendships. In one summer the girls blossomed. They gained confidence, became strong water women and started a sisterhood.

After that summer I jumped on board and we grew to become Sand Sisters Los Angeles, a youth empowerment nonprofit taught as extended education in after school programs and of course, our beloved summer beach camp. Our 10 week program is designed to give children the tools to love themselves. It seems so easy to teach, yet it is something people spend their whole lives trying to do --- accept themselves, love themselves and care for themselves.

The success of our growing nonprofit is because of our authenticity for why we mentor children. We know what it’s like to need a strong female mentor in our lives who sees us for the individual that we are. We show up for the girls. We fill the room with love and laughter. We dance and sing. We hug and love. We create a positive space where the girls feel safe. And most importantly the girls learn that the best part about themselves are the parts that are unlike any other - confident, strong, smart and one-of-a-kind.. Our path led us to be the mentors we needed when we were younger.

Our program has been offered as extended education in over 15 independent schools and is a part of the CREST Enrichment Program, enrolling over 500 students in the Los Angeles area to date. We are spreading to New York City in the Fall and plan on taking over the nation in 2018. Check us out at www.sandsistersla.com and follow our story @sandsistersla. Connect with us as we are always looking for donors, volunteers, interns and partnerships.

Very excited to have a guest post by Shiloh from A Distant Mentality! She is a forensic psychologist and travel blogger, how cool is that? Shiloh went all around town researching the very best coffee shops in LA to work from. She reached out about doing an article and we came up with this idea! Its perfect because she's a huge coffee lover and Dazey was born from coffee shop hopping :) Check it out below:

http://adistantmentality.blogspot.com/

IG: @adistantmentality

I am a Gemini. Although I think the emerald is beautiful, I consider the coffee bean my birthstone.

My caffeine obsession likely started in undergrad when I took a part-time job as a barista. Coffee fueled me through college and it helped, that as an employee, I was able to take home a free pound of coffee every single week! Shortly after college, I started my career as a first responder and coffee became an essential part of each shift. I mean, how else do you stay alert all night? Now as a busy psychologist, coffee is a beautiful part of my morning ritual, putting me in my happy place of feeling relaxed yet stimulated.

All of these personal moments with coffee usually took place in my home, car, or office but last year when I started my travel blog, A Distant Mentality, I needed that "other" space in which to work.

Lots of us find ourselves here. On those days where hanging out in yoga pants with your cat crawling all over your laptop just won't do. You need to get some serious work done on that almost-due-assignment or put some finishing touches on those creative projects that will hopefully launch you into the Big Time. You need a place that is relaxed, yet laptop friendly and with stimulants at an arms reach. The coffee shop workspace is a first step for many entrepreneurs when they barely have the funds for that second Americano, much less, office space rent.

Here are LA's best speciality coffee shops that promise to fill your motivation needs right alongside your mug.

Verve Coffee Roasters

833 S. Spring St. 

This magic spot has super high ceilings and cleverly designed seating to maximize the floor plan. The impressive entrance is made up of floor to ceiling windows so you get good light and great views of the amazing living green walls that cover the front patio. There are a few common tables areas, one in the middle of the coffeeshop (complete with outlets) and one that wraps around the coffee bar, but then there are cute little nooks that make small meetings feel intimate. The staff is great and I had the best dirty chai of my life here.  

Wifi: Yes

Outlets: Many

What to get: Dirty Chai 

Alchemist Coffee Project

698 S. Vermont Ave.

This ideal workspace is tucked into an unassuming strip mall at Vermont and 7th. It is lively with people working and chatting, but with soft music and moody tones. If you want to hunker down and get a little lost in your work, this is a good space to find a cozy corner while sipping coffee and eating a colorful macaron.   

Wifi: Yes

Outlets: Lots!

What to get: Spanish Latte

Bru Coffee Bar

1866 N. Vermont Ave. 

Bru Coffee Bar looks tiny from the street in the bustling heart of Los Feliz, but opens up into a great place to work. All kinds of folks can be found pounding on their keyboards at the large community table and there are several two-person tables, plus a spacious loft that would be more ideal for a quick business meeting. If sunshine is what you crave, there is a small front patio which is perfect for people-watching. The baristas are super friendly and the musical playlist is easy on the ears for working.  

Wifi: Yes

Outlets: Many

What to get: Meyer Lemon danish, matcha latte

Dinosaur Coffee

3443 W. Sunset Blvd. 

I love Dinosaur Coffee for its overhead natural light. It makes the shop feel huge and they certainly know how to make the best use of the space. The coffee bar is situated in the middle of the room with bar seating all around, as well as at the front windows. You can get fresh made sandwiches or a variety of majorly delicious pastries. Dinosaur is defiantly the trendiest of all the shops on this list, but it does make for a good workspace. Lots of parking in the back is a plus. 

Wifi: No, but I got on the McDonald's wifi with no problem

Outlets: Some

What to get: Drip coffee in a signature "Fuck It" mug 

Civil Coffee

5629 N. Figueroa St. 

Civil Coffee is another nice airy space with great natural light (and equally marvelous light fixtures for asthetics). It is simple and sleek, with just enough charm to make it a comfy place to work diligently. They have used the space nicely, by dedicating the area along the large front windows to bar-height desk space that faces Figueroa Street. The music is soft and the rest of the space is filled with large tables and a couch in the back.  On weekends, you may find young families noshing on some comfort food such as cinnamon toast or PB+J. Plenty of creative and savory toasts are also constructed here and they offer a special menu of caffeinated drinks named after local landmarks and streets.    

Wifi: No

Outlets: Some

What to get: The Figueroa

Copa Vida

70 S. Raymond Ave. 

Copa Vida is a lively little spot in the heart of Old Town Pasadena that makes for a good workspace or meeting place.  The large main room can be a bit bustling, but it has nice lighting and offers some communal spaces and individual tables. A back room is more quiet and dark and you will often find laptop warriors hard at work. In my opinion, the baristas here are top notch; I usually go with a cappuccino and whatever the daily kombucha offering is. They also have an avocado toast that is made with the freshest crusty bread and weighs as much as your arm. 

Wifi:

Outlets: Some

What to get: Cappuccino, daily kombucha, baked eggs

THE NAME GAME 

Oh the daunting task of naming your business. People can get hung up on this for months, and it often causes delays in launching. I don't know if it's going to make or break your business, but it is so scary thinking this name can potentially always be attached to you.

Everyone approaches naming their business or brand differently. I find it helpful to hear how other people came up with theirs. Below we have stories on how 8 Dazey Ladies came up with their brand names, including ours!

If you have a fun story on how you named your business please leave it in the comments below, we would LOVE to hear!

Xx- Dani Dazey

Dani of Dazey LA art apaprel

I wanted a simple name that evoked a feeling more than specifically mean something. After a week of back and forth with my sister, she just said the name ‘Dazey’ and it stuck. It had that California ’70s vibe that the clothing line is inspired by. As a made-up word, it didn’t carry any preconceived meaning—it could define itself. Important things to consider as well: if the trademark is open, and if domain names and social media handles are available. If you’re having a hard time coming up with a name, just use a placeholder you like. Don’t let that stop you from getting your company going. People will forgive you if you change it early on.

Kelly of Electric West fashion label

For me, picking a name, went from being an easy task, to a daunting chore of intense over thinking. I got so hung up on the permanency and importance of a brand name, that i ended up grasping for something that i thought would appeal to the masses, instead of what really reflected me. I finally had to step back and think… what was the story I was trying to tell and how did i want it to make people feel? Most importantly, how did it encompass me? I’m an avid traveler and love being on the road. Dusty desert towns and dive bars are kinda "my thing". Whenever i can i’m heading out to Joshua Tree or driving up to the mountains to go camping. I really just wanted to create a line of t-shirts that would encapsulate my travels throughout the West Coast and Southwest. The name Electric West, just kinda clicked. At this point, the name has become more than just a brand to people. It’s a story of travel and wanderlust (with a touch of vintage Americana). It’s cool to see how the name Electric West translates to each person and resonates with them in their own travels. 

Heather of The Westside Collective boutique and consulting

I came up with the name The Westside Collective after I had already started my company Westside Consulting.  I lived on the Westside of LA and thought this was fitting for the consulting company. When I started the boutique I wanted the companies to be related, hence using Westside again.  Also my plan was to do pop up event on the Westside which we have been doing for the last year.  Collective came because I wanted to bring in a range of different designers and artisans and for us to collectively do events for the community.The name has been confused by marijuana lovers as a dispensary which I had never thought of! Regarding the logo, I wanted it to be clean but have some meaning.  The W is formed from 2 upside down tipis (since I have my dog tipi company Growler Goods).  I have the logo on my Tahoe and people tell me all the time they've heard of me or seen my logo so I'm happy that it's working!  

Dominique of Stone and Spirit jewelry 

I just recently rebranded my company and had to go through the daunting task of choosing a new name for it. I think the best way to think of a name is to have a good old fashioned brainstorming session, and enlist someone to help you bounce ideas around. I had another jewelry maker friend help me, and we started off by listing off random words that were related to my business. (My company is jewelry that is mostly crystal and gemstone focused) I tried out names of crystals that I like and use often, and went from there. Opal, angel aura, spirit quartz, druzy, etc. Then tried to tie those in. I even tried out puns, my wonderful boyfriend suggested I name my company "Opal Winfrey", which had me dying of laughter. Don't let it be a stressful process and don't take yourself too seriously when you're just brainstorming! Finding who you are selling to and narrowing it down can really help you focus on a good name. I eventually thought of Sun & Stone, as a play on sunstone. But a quick google search dashed my dreams, since it was already taken! Sad day. But after that I decided I really liked the & in the name, as well as the word stone. My final business name landed on "Stone & Spirit". Both because, one of my favorite crystals to work with are called spirit quartz, and I felt it would really relate to the market I had cornered (the hippie/gypsy/free spirit type who feel energy and healing properties from their crystals). To sum up my business naming advice: 1. Know your market and think of what they would respond positively to 2. Think not only about the product you are selling, but also the emotions it may invoke 3. And finally to just have fun with it! 

Blogger Nikia of Mad Maven Style

I always get so excited when people ask me how I named my blog. It all started with a passion for style and a book called "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. In this book, he kept defining a Maven as being someone who is an expert or connoisseur, a fashion maven if you will. These mavens were always first to know about the coolest trends and the first to set these trends wild for everyone to know about. I loved the word maven so much, that it stuck, I began referring to myself as a maven. The mad part came from the madness behind my styling, like it was an art or a special technique, which it is. And style was what sealed the deal with what I wanted people to know my blog was about. Not fashion, but style. Now days I go by The Mad Maven usually when people address me or write about me, but my blog will always remain Mad Maven Style.

Kailee of I'm With The Band headbands

The name of my company was really important to me. I wanted it to be playful and lighthearted and fully embody what I do and what I love. It also needed to make perfect sense, evoke emotion and a sense of belonging. Last, but certainly not least, I wanted it to tie in my rock and roll roots and undying love for music. When I tell people the name of my company is I'm With The Band and I make headbands they invariably giggle, as it clicks for them. It's awesome to get such a positive response and put a smile on someone's face just by telling them the name of my brand.

Debbie of brows. eyebrow salon

The name "brows." came about out of simplicity. We wanted a name that took the mystique out of the process. We wanted it to appear easy, almost so easy that it left little to the imagination as to what we do. However in saying that, there was a lot of thought in how we would convey the name. We chose a small "b" and a (.) dot at the end to make it a full statement. The small "b" was important because it signified a demure response to our approach. Our designer, Sam Eaton came up with our amazing logo and last year made a case for adding a few detail changes, and he was right. It's perfect for us and our product line. We researched many names for our (flagship) spot, all the while keeping in mind that we wanted a name that was easy to franchise. We noticed that most brow artists were interested in incorporating their names into the mix. There were plenty of places with the word "brow" in the name, mostly with the name of the brow artist. Again we wanted the diminutive "b" to step back - almost like a whisper. "brows." is a collaborative effort, and one where we focus on the client. That is very important to us. It's not about the ego of the artist, but rather focusing on the client. brows is a half-hour individual experience where clients can get a simple clean-up, a re-shaped eyebrow, an eyebrow growth program, or an editorial eyebrow. brows. speaks eyebrows, 6 days a week. It's what we've studied and what we are passionate about.

 Wardrobe stylist Maureen of The LA Look

The•LA•Look was created out of divine intervention. The end of 2009 found me out of my very prominent, high-profile buying position in a well-known Los Angeles store ; into starting a freelance buying office at the beginning of the crash of retail. I needed a strong concept. I had confidence going into my business that I would and could provide for a multitude of stores the knowledge and dare I say talent that I’d acquired in my previous position. I would offer them a different and dedicated eye in the marketplace. I would offer them collections and ideas they might not otherwise be privy to.  I would offer a dialed in perspective they might not otherwise have access to. I would know and obtain the celebrity styles and latest trends coming out of the west coast. I would offer to their store, to any store, anywhere, an LA touch. So, by defining my business I created my name. I was offering these clients quite literally, The LA Look.  And, the domain was available :) Now, as my business has developed and evolved, the name continues to define almost instantaneously who my business is.  And as I grow in to consulting and take on more marketing, and adamantly persue my biggest passion, styling; and as Los Angeles continues to grow into a fashion-centric definer of style - I am happy to help define what is The•LA•Look

The Dazey Lady Contest 

A few weeks ago we had our big Dazey Lady contest! It was amazing and over 100 inspiring girls entered by telling us how they are following their dreams. I was particularly inspired by Juliete of @julzjunkiejewelry because she chose to quit a steady job and school to follow her dreams. What started as a fun project became her passion, and she's damn good at it too.

Check out the lovely video and shoot we did below as well as her entry :) shop her JULZ on www.julzjunkie.com! Also check out the hastag #dazeyladycontest and see the other entries, so uplifting and inspiring! 

 SHOP THE TOPS HERE

Julette's Original entry story:

Hi loves! I'm Juliet, the little 27 year old boss lady behind Julz Junkie. The name starts with my nickname "Julz" and my very first customers would always return over and over wanting more so that's where "Junkie" came in. I figured this was the perfect time to tell you a little about myself for the #dazeyladycontest and how I ended up here.

I worked in Real Estate, Property Mgt and Escrow for around 7 years. I did go to college and wanted to be a Dental Hygienist. That's until one summer I was bored and sick of all my cheap jewelry always tarnishing on me. I've been creative all my life so I went to the local craft store and picked up my first set of jewelry pliers and some chain. I analyzed all the jewelry I had and taught myself everything I know. To be honest it was just a hobby until friends started admiring my pieces. After doing it for a while I noticed how happy I was doing it and started selling pieces on an online marketplace. Every day I would have lots of designs running thru my head and would run home and make them.

At my job at the time I was doodling jewelry designs and losing focus (oops 🙈) and that's when it clicked that I had to go with a different career. Of course my family was a little worried that I wasn't going to start the dental hygiene program and that I was quitting my job, not to mention I had rent to pay. Everyone always said "omg Juliet the fashion world is such a cutthroat business". I figured if I was gonna give it a shot this was my chance and well as you can tell it was totally worth it! Now, my life consist of jewelry 24/7. I also work part-time for a well known Jewelry designer in LA and have learned a lot to apply to my own business. I get home and put all my focus to my brand. I do everything myself and I am very proud of it. Hashtag #girlboss lol Obviously if my lil brand blows up I'll need some help but at the moment I've got it under control 😜 Never be afraid to try something new and go after your dreams no matter what anyone tells you. Don't lose hope because nothing happens overnight, just stay motivated and you will get there. Thank you so much for the endless support, it never goes unnoticed. ❤️Julz

 This Lovely creative is Irene Luna. She attended my Dazey Lady event, and approached me asking to shoot! I thought she had such a unique and striking look; I couldn't say no. I think all the girls I shoot are beautiful and wonderful, but frankly I'm getting a little bored of always shooting your standard blonde California girl. Irene was different, and it was refreshing. Dazey is all about celebrating and empowering ALL women. When we met up to shoot I was delighted with how smart, funny, and confident this 20-year-old girl was. I asked her to write a piece for the new Dazey Zine and she KILLED IT!!! Read her amazing story below, and check out the magical shots we got.

Not your stereotype by Irene Luna:

From the moment my grade school teacher handed my class and I a box to decorate for back too school night, I knew one thing: I wanted my box to stand out, to be different. When people liked blue, I wanted red. When polka dots were in, I was into stripes. When the world was watching this, I was reading that. To me, standing out in a sea of very pretty fish, is by far the most intriguing opportunity. Not to say it was ever an easy option, not in the slightest. (read more below)

SHOP THE TOPS HERE

I always knew I wanted to be a performer, I grew up in theater, and in dance. Undoubtedly, the stage is my first love, and acting my dire passion. I can't exactly pin point the reason that I love being in front of an audience, but I just feel right when I'm in that “all eyes on you” position. So naturally being in front of the little eye of a camera came as a part of that deal. To be completely honest, I never saw myself as the “model type”, therefore I never really thought modeling was for me. I do not have a perfect taut figure (my thighs love each other too much), and I’m a brown haired, brown skinned Hispanic, far from what I grew up thinking a model was. In fact, growing up, being a model to me meant being in the secret society of perfection. Given such an ethnic background and lack of tiny waist genes, I very well knew I could not and would not be able to afford that membership. 

But like I said, I have always embraced my desire to stand out. It has successfully pushed me to strive toward being the odd one out, learning to love myself and the unique qualities of not only myself, but of every person I come across. It hasn't always been easy breezy cheesy toast, of course not. I can't say it's exactly pleasant or easy to be standing in a room full of beautiful girls similar in many ways to one another, while you stand with more resemblance to the chair in the corner than any of them. (continued below)

A healthy, positive, ambitious mindset is a very big part of having the ability to do what you want to do. Deciding to feel good about you, is what makes you feel good about you. Not the approval or fondness of people whom you don't know, if we were to let that dictate where our lives were going we wouldn't get to enjoy the world and the ridiculously awesome experiences it has to offer. And relinquishing those joys of life is not in the cards for this gal. 

I see not being the stereo typical model, as a great opportunity to represent the color of the world, because really if all fish were blue I'm sure we wouldn't be so intrigued with the sea. I know there is beauty in every face, ethnicity, and proximity of our thighs. Being different, and ‘not looking like everyone else’ is now a pretty trendy thing, and it’s quite a lot of fun to be apart of a generation that has such a rad outlook. 

Knowing that the confidence that everyone is able to bring to their own looks, craft, and passions is what is most important. Not being the stereo type, and embracing the things that make you different to the standard, is what adds so much color to the world, gives us all more reasons to connect with one another, and even more reasons to enjoy and strive on this cool little rock we live on.

Xx- Irene Luna  

Our first Dazey Lady video interview! Everyone meet heather, this gorgeous creature manages to maintain 2 business while being a very involved single mom.

She's always been an entrepreneur and has rich wealth of experience to show for it. With all this knowledge she found herself consulting friends and family an realized she could do this for a living! West side consulting was born. On top of her consulting business she owns an adorable mobile boutique "The west side collective truck" that carries ethically made american goods, including Dazey! She was actually the first boutique to carry Dazey :) She found me on Instagram at the very beginning. When she came to pick up the stock we chatted and clicked instantly. There's a calmness and warm aura about Heather thats hard to explain. She's a beautiful person inside and out and  has been so helpful to me in my small business adventures. I'm so happy to call heather a friend and an official Dazey Lady! 

Hear from Heather youself, below is our video. There's also some epic photos of her in one of our most popular and now sold out "the best vibes" tee.