[Chelsae Anne | Photography]

DRESS: (c/o) Chicwish/CUFF, BRACELET (here and here), STATEMENT RING, EARRINGS: (c/o) Idalia Baudo Jewelry/HEELS: more options here/BAG: (c/o) Neiman Marcus

Ditching the corporate life to run a small business is no cake walk. And it’s most certainly not as sexy as people think it is. You invest an incredible amount of time, hard work, money and passion into your dream with the hope of it taking off one day. You struggle with work/life balance. Have trouble turning “it” off at night. And feel like you’re running a marathon – more like the Iron Man. Not a sprint.

Before I get into tonight’s post, I just want to say that I feel unbelievably blessed to do what I do. While I don’t have a small business, I’m very familiar with the emotions of pursuing a dream. Starting a blog has been an incredible journey for me. And I think it’s exactly where I’m meant to be. But it wasn’t easy getting here!

Anyways, I’m often surprised when people I talk to interested in pursuing their dreams say, “I wish” or “someday I’ll do it… it’s just not the right time.”

Meet: Idalia Baudo. Local jewelry designer. Miracle worker. Dreamer. Mompreneur. And a dear friend of mine who decided to go after her dreams and make it happen after her father passed away from lung cancer.

Since launching her line, Idalia has taken off – fast. And having a family has never slowed her down. She’s made a name for herself in Palm Beach as a leading designer and frequently works with bloggers (like yours truly – click here to see last year’s post wearing her jewelry!) and other trendy boutiques on a regular basis.

She’s also very humble. And shy to talk about herself and her vast achievements. So, I’m going to take it over from here – and talk about her jewelry tonight. Because I think it’s fantastic. And glamourous. And I think you guys will feel the same after seeing more…

Everything is handcrafted in Italy using silver and gold mesh (it’s super lightweight), sterling silver and/or 21k gold vermeil. Her price points range from $65 to $320, meaning both you, your bestie, mom, sister, whomever – can wear this line. It’s also classic, timeless and exquisitely made.

One of my faaavorite pieces from her collection is this sparkly Fiora Mesh Cocktail Ring. I’ve worn it with everything from dresses to jeans to swimsuits. Click here for more rings!

I’m also wearing a stack of bracelets that include the Allegra Gold Mesh Bracelet, the Stella Gold Mesh Cuff (another favorite) and the Muse Gold Cuff from her newest collection. All bracelets are daring enough to wear alone, or dainty enough to wear stacked on top of one another.

Idalia, who is originally from Krakow (yes, #AmericanDream), says she is who she is because of her father. A creative force whose giving nature and kind personality taught her to realize life wasn’t always perfect. A spirit that lives on in everything she does as a wife, mom, business owner, friend and dreamer.

I think there’s something to be said about following your dreams. Inevitably, you’ll face challenges. It won’t be perfect. You might second guess yourself because you have a family. Responsibilities like a job. Or be scared.

But thinking you need to have the perfect timing, the perfect moment, the perfect idea will act as a road block. And distance you from your dream. Because there’s no such thing as the “perfect timing.”

Take it from Idalia who took a leap of faith and went for it. Look where she is today…

For more information about Idalia’s jewelry, click here or scroll up and click the pink links above. And as always, thank you for stopping by!

Xo, Stephanie