We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
I disagree with the idea that you look at other’s to determine what success looks like and how to achieve it. In my experience, success comes from keeping your blinders on and staying in your own lane. The next big thing isn’t something anyone is already doing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Simplicity & Coffee started as a way to answer all the questions about style, shopping, hair, and life in a more streamlined fashion. It began as a casual blogspot site where I could write out my thoughts on upcoming trends, how I was styling things, and where I got them, then shoot the link to any curious parties rather than typing out the answer individually each time. After a few years of writing on the side as an escape from my 9-5 in biochemistry, an unexpected move to Texas in 2016 gave me the opportunity to take the site full time. Since then, Simplicity & Coffee has grown up gracefully into a digital space full of articles that provide tips, tricks, and products allowing women to simplify their lives and reclaim the things that truly matter to them. S.Co THE LABEL grew as a natural extension to the SC brand, creating seasonal capsule wardrobes that eliminate that age old problem of having nothing to wear. We provide elevated essentials that enable effortless dressing in the blink of an eye. Despite all the growth, the heart behind our brand remains the same: We believe women are beautiful, and intrinsically of immeasurable worth. Our hope is to create a space where they both feel loved and gain knowledge that allows them to live fully into that truth.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ah, those pre-pandemic days! Can’t wait to get back to them. I’d have to say, living in Los Angeles, I have quite an arsenal of hidden gems up my sleeve. Anyone who knows me knows that I love love love my coffee, so several favorites would be on the list. My local go-to spots in Pasadena are Lavendar & Honey (be sure to get some toast with that coffee), Blue Bottle (The Bella Donovan is my favorite), Intelligentsia (flat white alllll day), Coffee & Plants, and Copa Vida. We’d spend some time exploring the Huntington Library and Gardens, which is one of my favorite escapes, and walking around Old Town (okay – shopping around Old Town). When it comes to meals, my favorites are Dominico’s for Pizza, Bacchus Kitchen for EVERYTHING, Mama Sushi, and Mi Piace’s (oh those garlic fries).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My biggest shout-out goes to the guy who makes it all possible, Gabe Lopez. Without his support, guidance, and willingness to step in wherever I need help, this dream would never have gotten off the ground. Gabriel, thank you for gallons of coffee. thousands of photographs, and endless moments of listening and encouraging. I couldn’t be myself without you.

Website: www.simplicityandcoffee.com
Instagram: instagram.com/simplicityandcoffee instagram.com/s.cothelabel
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simplicityandcoffee/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/simplicityandco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplicityandcoffee

Image Credits
Shot by Gabriel Lopez. (C) Simplicity & Coffee.

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