So, it's no secret that we love partnering with bloggers, artists, designers, stylists, photographers, musicians over here - we love to be inspired by all the amazing things that people are creating! We wanted to celebrate some of the awesome women that make up our Blowfish family, so we started this It Girl program! An It Girl exudes effortless originality, isn't afraid to express herself, and offers a bit of the unexpected! She also has amazing style - so we've asked her to pick a selection of her favorite shoes!

Meet our newest “It Girl”, Zandi De Jesus, who is an inspiration to say the least.  Zandi is a mother, a musician, a UCSD alum, a blogger, beachgoer, L.A. native and Breast Cancer Survivor.  Zandi received news that she had Stage 3, Grade 3, Her2+ Breast Cancer when she was only 27 years young.  Rather than succumbing to fear and doubt, Zandi used her illness as an impetus for personal growth and self-expression.  While changing the fate of her own life by remaining strong and positive, she in turn has inspired others through sharing her experience battling Breast Cancer on her blog, www.onceuponaboob.wordpress.com.

Zandi’s strength, positive outlook, amazing sense of personal style and ability to still look to help others in her time of need, made her the obvious choice for our October “It Girl”.

Our Interview with Zandi:

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Los Angeles and spent most of my childhood in Northridge.  After the earthquake, we moved to Lancaster.  After high school, I moved to San Diego for college, where I attended UC San Diego as a theatre major. 

What do you do now?

Right now I am working an admin position at a Physical Therapy office.  I was touring nationally as Marcy Park in “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical), but then I settled down and got married and had my son, Max.  My current job allows me to provide for Max and is understanding with my cancer treatment and recovery so I can continue writing music on the side.  I am currently writing an album that has a lot to do with my cancer journey.  Eventually, I would love to get back to doing something more creative.  

WATCH ZANDI LIVE

Subscribe to Zandi’s music channel on you tube here: [http://www.youtube.com/user/zsos].  

Most of Zandi’s current music was a collaboration between her and her brother-in-law, who she stayed with during her recovery period.  She describes her current works as Folk-Pop, different from her usual Jazz-Pop style.  Her new album is more introspective, which matches more what she was going through emotionally.

Does Max love your music?

He actually doesn’t love when I play because he wants me to pay attention him, but he likes to hold the microphone with me.  

Are you more of a flats, heels, or boots kind of gal?

Because I am 5’ tall I don’t wear flats because I want to be taller.  People think I am a lot younger than I am with flats.  Wedges are my favorite.  I love boots too, but they have to have a wedge.

What is your favorite Blowfish style?

I picked the “Inspiration” because I love the wedged boot look, and all of the detail.  I also love the Iris t-strap wedge in nude.  This style is cute, girlie, and versatile.

What are your favorite things to do in L.A.?

I love going to the beach!  I have a deep appreciation for the ocean and water because it calms me down.  I like to sit on the beach and watch the people, and the water, and enjoy the sun.  During my treatment I would go to Whole Foods, pick up food and have a picnic to just appreciate life.  When I am stressed I love the batting cages.  And I also love heading to West L.A. for jam sessions with my band mates.  

When were you diagnosed with Breast Cancer?

September 15^th 2011.  

What was going through your mind when you got your initial diagnosis?

To be completely frank, I thought I was going to die.  I hadn’t been exposed to cancer too much.  I just thought it meant you were going to lose your hair and then die.  I thought, "I want to see my son grow up and get married."  After I snapped out of it and found out the prognosis was good, I thought, “What is the plan of attack?  I need a positive attitude and determination. “

What inspired you to start your blog?

I have a large family, so on the initial day of diagnosis, I called my parents, 4 sisters, 2 close cousins, and my voice was so hoarse from telling the story over and over.  That is why I started the blog so I could let them know how I was doing because they were all praying for me and supporting me.  It turned into something really therapeutic and different in terms of awareness.  I didn’t realize that breast cancer affected so many younger people.  My blog spread the word and let people know that.

“I wanted to be able to refer back to my blog to remind myself what I went through.  I fought for my life and there is no reason to be afraid any more.“ 

What kept you strong throughout your recovery process?

My son 3 year old son, Maxwell.  He is so funny and loveable.  I never lied to him about where I was going or what I was doing.  I never dumbed down anything.  I would say “You have to be careful because I just had surgery” or "Mommy is sick and needs to go to the doctor."  He really kept me going. 

Did you know anyone else who had cancer and how did that affect you?

My aunt is going through breast cancer, but she has opted out of chemotherapy.  Also my Dad’s sister had cancer, my best friend’s dad passed away from lung cancer that metastasized to his brain, and a good friend's mom from college had colon cancer and died. 

“[Cancer] doesn’t discriminate.  It can happen to anybody.”

I also met a lot of beautiful breast cancer survivors throughout my recovery process.  Kimberly from Susan G. Komen is amazing and doing big things.  Being around people who know what it is like to go through cancer treatment was crucial.  Around these people I could be vulnerable; I could let out the sadness, pain and hurt.  Having these people in my life was really important.  

How did the response and support you got through your blog affect your recovery process?

It was so uplifting to know that my blog was reaching people, touching people and even making people cry.  Being a spokesperson and a voice for young people with cancer made me feel that I was making a difference and going through this for a reason.  I don’t wish it on anyone, but it was a blessing in disguise.  I can reach out to people through this disease.  This made me more responsible about writing more and feeling obligated to say something.  It really kept me in check and kept me going.

If you had to do it again, would you do anything differently?

No.  I think everything happens for a reason and I wouldn’t be who I am today without going through all of that.  I think I had a really good cancer experience.  I have a great family and a great job that supported me when I needed to be out of the office.  I am now in a place where I can speak about it and be happy.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I hope to be happy, healthy, cancer free, making music, and speaking to young people about awareness and prevention.  I don’t know where I will be in terms of my career, but I am a very creative person so would like to be in the creative industry, whether singing, acting or writing.  I think when Max goes to school I will be able incorporate this experience into my life through a creative platform.  

What do you think was the most important thing you took away from this experience?

“There was no other choice than to be positive.  That got me through every single challenge, trying to find a positive ray of sunshine in the midst of the storm.”  

The most important thing to keep in mind is a positive attitude.   When you have cancer it is so crucial for your recovery to stay positive; you need to believe that you are going to get better.  So much of your recovery process has to do with your outlook, people don’t want to be there for you when you are down and negative.  If I would ever write about something horrible on my blog, I would try to write about something that I was thankful for, or something that was funny at the end of every entry.  I thought about the blessings, I thought about the positive.  

What kind of advice do you have for young women dealing with Breast Cancer now?

“When you are going through your treatment it helps to do something to make yourself to feel feminine and beautiful.  Treat your breast cancer warrior to a makeover day, a new outfit or a pair of shoes.”  

I was just telling my coworker, I used to have really long hair and bangs.  It was so traumatizing to lose all of my hair and look so sick.  It was so important for me to do my nails or put on makeup, and have friends and family to make me feel pretty.  I wrote an entire blog post about shoes, about how every time I finished a treatment I wanted to treat myself to a pair of shoes.  [Read that post here]

 Zandi's story warms our heart, gives us hope, and finds us feeling grateful for the beauty that surrounds us.  Follow her story here and listen to her music here.  Share her story and remember why it is so important to have a positive outlook! When life gives you lemons... <3

My shoe crush for this month is Rocker! This hi-top lace up sneaker is so comfy & I'm lovin' the yellow contrast laces.

I love wearing these shoes with a casual outfit like cuffed up skinnies & a v-neck!

Need a pair for yourself?! Grab em' here

 Fall has arrived, October is here, and it's time for another 3 Ways to Wear It!  This time, we are getting up close and personal with the Kipper.

I love this style because it is perfect for fall!  This bootie pairs well with shorts, dresses, legging and even jeans!  I love the little heel because I can feel tall while still feeling comfortable while on my feet all day.  I chose to style three different looks to go with my versatile lifestyle.

This look says:

1. "I am off to work!"

2. "I have plans tonight!"

3.  "I need to be comfy!"

Are you feeling the need to treat yourself to a pair?  I understand.

Snatch 'em here.

  Hi Friends, 

I am happy to announce that I am the newest addition to Blowfish's B.Log!  I recently moved to Los Angeles from Chicago, and although moves can be stressful, I have been finding that change is good.  Los Angeles has been quite the adventure thus far, and I could not be happier about starting this next chapter of my life!

I am the newest member of the marketing team here at Blowfish, which means I will be keeping you up to date on shoes, fashion and all of my noteworthy California experiences.  I am coming in with experience working in the music and art supply industries and am very excited to dive into the fashion world.  So that you can get to know me a bit, I though I would share the top 10 highlights of my first couple of weeks here in sunny Los Angeles.

Since moving to California I have . . . 

1. Swam at Venice Beach.

I find the energy of Venice quite inspiring and the salt water felt amazing!

2. Indulged at the Culver City Farmers Market

My favorite find was a "Dinosaur Egg".  They taste like if a peach and a plum had a baby; quite possibly the best, sweetest, juciest fruit I have ever tasted.

3. Partied in the Valley

I hear that driving into the Valley is no fun, but sitting in the passenger seat, the view at night is pretty spectacular.

4. Explored Downtown L.A.

Maybe it was just a picture perfect sunny day, but everyone I saw looked cute, happy and bright.  Seeing the iconic downtown area made me feel like I was on a movie set!  I highly reccommend shopping around Little Tokyo to anyone who is looking for a fun afternoon activity in downtown L.A.

5. Shopped at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena.

This place is amazing!  The extreme heat made it a bit harder to shop, but that was probably for the best.  I got some seriously cute layering pieces, which are always fun.

6. Unpacked my boxes.

Packing is no fun, and unpacking isnt really either.  But I must admit, I did a great job.  All of my boxes were so well organized, everything seemed to fit right into place.

7. Hiked Baldwin Hills at sunset.

I conveniently live right next to the Baldwin Hills, so I decided to wrap up the weekend with an evening hike.  We timed it perfectly and caught an amazing sunset.

8. Had my first celebrity sighting.

I was at Cynergy Cyles picking out my new bike and there was Jim Belushi.  He struck up a conversation with me, told me that Chicago must miss me because I am a happening chic, and gave me some advice on living in L.A.  I'm a dork, so this was beyond exciting for me.

9. Biked to work.

My new commute is a 6.4 mile bike ride to work and back until I can get myself a car.  That puts me at 12.8 miles a day and 64 miles a week, which means I am getting in shape quickly and I may be the craziest person in all of L.A. ;)

10.  Paddle boarded at Hermosa Beach.

So awesome!  Paddle boarding in the ocean is much different than in a lake; i much prefer it.  The worst part of this was carrying the paddleboard from the shop to the beach, but after that, it is all waves, fun and sunshine!

I have been quite active exploring the city and trying to find my way around.  Waking up and not knowing what life is going to throw at you is a really great feeling.

Please stay tuned for more from yours truly.  And remember, CHANGE IS GOOD!