Hi, friend!! I am so excited you are here!
My name is Kelly and I’m the girl behind Lipstick & Ink®. I’m based in the beautiful city of Chicago and have been an Illinois girl all of my life. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and then made the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (I-L-L anyone?!) my treasured home for four wonderful years. I received a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and started my professional career at a Chicago ad agency. These days, I work full-time in the advertising tech industry at Salesforce and currently live in Chicago with my husband, Adam.
I’m fueled by black coffee, sunshine, candles, fresh flowers, a bold lip and a really good ink pen. I’m a collector of handwritten notes and cards. I am honest to my core and always stand up for what I believe in. The fall season gives me life with the crisp leaves, warm apple cider and football Sundays. Anything that glitters catches my eye and I believe gold is never out of style.
I started Lipstick & Ink in January 2018 when I was fresh off the holidays and my honeymoon. I no longer had a wedding to plan to occupy all of my time and there was no better time to dig deep and figure out what I wanted to do – it was the start of a new year after all! I knew something was missing in my life – and as I really thought about it, I realized it was writing.
I’ve always known that I was destined to be a writer. Ever since I’ve been able to pick up a pen, I’ve been writing. As a kid, I’d lock myself up in my room and write short stories and poems that I dreamed up in my head. I started writing in journals at the ripe age of seven. I secretly got excited any time I got a writing assignment at school. I followed my passion into high school when I wrote for newspaper. In college, I jotted down my thoughts on various blogs that I had started.
But for the better half of my 20s, I pushed my passion for writing to the side. I let judgment, ridicule, and self-doubt over my writing get to me, so I buried it for years. I got so caught up in my life that any time I felt inspiration to write, I made an excuse not to. Something changed though on that snowy Saturday in January. I resurrected my writing and I was determined to do everything in my power to do something good with it.
Since then, my goal has been to motivate women to achieve their highest potential in their careers. I aim to empower women to take charge of their lives and thrive in their 9-5 jobs and remind them that they have the power within them to accomplish their goals and dreams.
Ever since that cold, wintry day when I made that decision, I can say that I’ve never been happier to be following my dreams of being a writer and helping others in the process.
On an average day, you’ll find me…
- jotting down thoughts, to-do’s or writing for L&I and my upcoming book
- with at least 3 lipsticks in my purse
- giving career advice or reviewing resumes
- staying on top of the weather forecast
- keeping things organized and making a plan
- at home or running errands in athleisure
- always wearing earrings
- researching and planning out an itinerary for our next travel destination
- only drinking coffee, wine or water
Speaking of, I hope you’ll pour your own cup of coffee or glass of wine (or both, cuz #YOLO) and stay awhile while exploring everything that is Lipstick & Ink®. Learn more about how we can work together or book a 1:1 career consultation with me.
