Conversations with the Inspiring Erika Kurzawa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Kurzawa.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m really just a big nerd who has always marched to the beat of my own drum. As an adult (and a mom of 2), most people thought I was weird for being so in love with things like retro 90s cartoons and Disney, so I had gotten used to being alone in my fandom… but then, I discovered a whole tribe of magical adults who refused to “grow up” just like me. I soon discovered Disneybounding (a term used to describe dressing in regular fashionable clothes inspired by Disney characters) and started a Facebook community called: Disneybounders Unite that has since grown to over 19,000 members. I run the group with a few of my closest friends including Leslie Kay, the creator, and owner of the Disneybound blog (disneybound.co).

Through disneybounding, I found new confidence and creativity that inspired me to take on other artistic ventures and my blog, Castle Cravings was born. I blog about Disney inspired (as well as other fandoms) DIYs, travel, style, recipes, and more. Along with my husband, we created a shop to accompany the blog (shop.castlecravings.com) where we sell whimsical and fun apparel we’ve created inspired by the fandoms we love.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road is still bumpy. While I’ve made great progress, both personally and professionally, I very much feel like I am still in the beginning stages of this journey. Personally, my biggest obstacle has been learning to believe in myself. I have not always had the highest self-esteem, so I would often downplay my talents or feel like I wasn’t good enough or worthy enough. But, one thing that has made me stronger and continues to motivate me daily are the friendships I’ve built. I am fortunate to have an incredible group of girlfriends who support each other and lift one another up and I don’t think I’d be who I am today without them. We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, celebrating each other’s triumphs, and supporting one another through failures. So, if there is any advice I’d like to give to young women, it’s to not be afraid to help another woman on her path to success. There is no need for competition when we work collaboratively and two lights will always shine brighter than just one.

what should we know about Castle Cravings? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My brand is about celebrating. Celebrating yourself, your creativity, your youthfulness, and your right to remain an individual in a world that expects you to fit into a category box. As a mom, people expect you to behave a certain way. You’re often expected to give up your dreams and dress “sensibly” and a million other ridiculous ideas. Having kids has changed my life for the better because I am inspired by their innocence and carefree nature. I think we should all indulge our inner child as often as possible. I like to color outside the lines and hopefully inspire people (especially fellow moms) to let their creativity flow and live their best lives.

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
Disneybound.Co
“Girlboss” by Sophia Amoruso

Contact Info:

• Website: http://castlecravings.com
• Email: erika@castlecravings.com
• Instagram: erikaenchanted_
• Twitter: erikaenchanted_
• Other: http://shop.castlecravings.com

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.