Start Before You’re Ready: How My Business Began (And Why Yours Can Too) If you’ve ever wondered whether you should start before you’re ready, I’m proof that the answer is yes. This lesson shaped the early days of Monarch Design Co. long before I had a polished brand, a website, or any clear plan. Starting […]

Pinterest isn’t a social app; it’s a visual search engine. In this episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, I sat down with strategist Elaine Timms to unpack what’s working right now for Pinterest marketing 2025—so your evergreen content keeps pulling traffic while you run your business and, you know, live your life. Key Takeaways […]

What does it really look like to build a business while raising babies? In this honest episode of The Self-Made Life Podcast, I’m sharing what no one prepared me for: the juggling act of newborn naps, client deadlines, and trying to scale my design studio, Monarch Design Co., while recovering from birth (twice). If you’re […]

On this episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, I sat down with my own financial advisor and money mindset coach, Paula Wilimek chatting all things money mindset for entrepreneurs. In this powerful conversation, we chat about building financial confidence, reprogramming your beliefs around money, and what it actually takes to manage your business cash […]

Your website should be more than a digital business card. Done right, it can be your best salesperson, booking dream clients while you sleep. In this post, I’m breaking down five proven ways to make your website your best salesperson — so it works 24/7 to grow your business. 1. Prioritize Fast Load Times Speed […]

Why Streamlining Systems for Entrepreneurs Matters Running a business doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Many entrepreneurs struggle with operations, endless to-do lists, and lack of boundaries—but it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, I sat down with Britt Holmes, founder of Merit Media and The Operations […]

Hey friends, Ashley here from Monarch Design Co. 👋 On the Self Made Life Podcast, I recently dove into a topic that’s flying under the radar for a lot of business owners but is absolutely crucial if you want to stay visible online: AI search optimization for small business. We’re officially in the era where […]

Why Add a Flodesk Popup to Your Showit Website? Ever wondered how to add a Flodesk popup on Showit website? If you’re using your Showit website to attract dream clients, having an email list is one of the best ways to build trust, nurture leads, and stay top of mind. Pairing Flodesk (my favorite email […]

It’s with a heavy heart that I share this blog post. Last month, my friend and past client, Chris Deir, was tragically killed while traveling in Costa Rica (CTV News article here). Chris was not only an incredible person but also the founder of Soul Advocacy Coaching. He dedicated his work to guiding people through […]

“You do not just wake up and become a butterfly.” — Rupi Kaur The values behind Monarch Design Co. are rooted in real-life growth, personal transformation, and family. For me, it all started during a really hard season. Years ago, my mom was diagnosed with stage 3A breast cancer. We were gathering for a family […]