Thank you, Shark's Bites of Life, for sponsoring this post, part of the 2017 Shop Small Spring series. I was selected for this opportunity by Shark's Bites of Life; the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Working from home allows me to be a bit more flexible in my daily style. I have not put on dress pants since my interview and my normal looks more like yoga pants and a tank top than anything. I hop off to Starbucks to grind out some work and sometimes envy the girls in their cute tops and snazzy attire; however, if we are being honest, I love my casual dress code.
My typical day has me doing morning emails in bed once the house is quiet and everybody is gone. I find the shower an hour or so later and then just stare at my closet thinking... I could put jeans on today, but if I do, I'm definitely not going to the gym. So I opt for my favorite style of Fabletics pants and a workout tank or graphic tee, and sometimes make it to the gym.
My absolute new favorite tank is this one by Shark's Bites of Life. It is absolutely perfect as it is made of the softest material, my favorite color, and screams my life moto -- Vitamin Sea is All I Need. Okay, maybe not my life moto, but it reminds me of the Florida sunshine that then makes me think about Disney and honestly... Florida sunshine with a bit of Disney is really all I need.
Shark's Bites of Life creates fashionable high quality apparel for men and women's active lifestyles. Owner, Theresa, lives a very active, healthy lifestyle -- something that our family believes is super important. Additionally, she believes in a high fat, low carb diet (again, exactly what we try to do every day!). I felt like supporting her shop was just a match for us. I love wearing her shirt out and abut because of how cute the design is and how it just matches my daily attire.
Her shop is perfect as for the active mom or mommy friend when thinking about gifts for Mother's Day, or an active teenager for their graduation. She has the cutest designs! Here are a few that I am eyeing up!! I may be slightly obsessed. Use the code "ABODE20" for 20% off your purchase of $25 or more. Hurry -- it expires at the end of May!!
Here is a little bit more about Theresa, the owner of Shark's Bites of Life:
How did you get your shop started?
Ever since I was a kid I always dreamed of owning my own clothing line, I would draw out cute ideas for apparel that I would like to wear. After working at a few graphic design jobs for stationary and advertising I knew, I had to find a way to make my longtime dream come true designing apparel.
What is the hardest part of owning a shop?
Hardest thing about owning a shop is managing every single aspect of a small business owner. You spread yourself thin in marketing, sales, designing, bookkeeping, customer service and then also printing the apparel and managing inventory. (It can be really overwhelming at times)
What is one thing unique about you?
One thing unique to me is that I not only design all of my items but I also print them. This makes me extra picky with quality control and overall designs.
What is the best part of owning a shop?
Best part of owning your own shop is making whatever you want to wear! I love being able to create a new shirt on the fly and having a whole new wardrobe 😉
How did you get your shop name?
My nick name is Shark. It goes back to an old college story and my then boyfriend, now husband. He started calling me shark and everything followed. Then when I went to make a blog (before I started my shirt business) I wanted something cleaver. So I used play on words SHARK (that's me) BITES OF LIFE (bits and pieces of my life that I'd share with people). When I started designing shirts I liked that blog name so much I transferred it over!
What is one way that you keep organized?
To do lists keep me organized, and a crazy photographic memory!
How do you balance family life and work life?
I used to be really bad at putting down my phone at night. Anytime I'd hear it go off I'd have to respond right away because I like to be very communicative with people who ask questions in my shop. But I realized that wasn't helping me recuperate from the day and that I needed to turn it off at 7:00 pm and answer questions the following morning. Having that "dead zone" time helps 1:1 time with my hubby and allows me to fully recharge for a productive morning!
