Seven Questions for Sweet Dani B

Sweet Dani B's love gnome loves you... a lot.

Today we get a glimpse into the life of the woman behind the cookies, none other than Sweet Dani B herself, hot off her Valentine's Day appearance on "The Martha Stewart Show"! Dan may make the most fabulous looking and tasting cookies in the universe, but she is also a pretty awesome person. I had the privilege of making her acquaintance through a friend. I was a little intimidated to meet her, knowing that she had her own cookie company (!), styled for Martha Stewart (!!), and was best friends with my coolest new friend (!!!). I mean, really. But Dan immediately disarmed my nervousness with her smile, laugh, and all around excellent spirit.


After you read this post you should definitely start thinking about any upcoming parties that Dan can trick out for you — besides cookies she also creates awesome invitations and party environments (I think I just made that term up but I'm going with it). Not only will you love what she comes up with, you will be happy to find yourself working with such a cool cat. 


Here's wishing Dan all the success in the world! And not just 'cause she took the time to answer my questions. ; )


Q 1. What's something you wish more people knew? 
A 1. Agreeing to disagree can solve so many problems from big to small.

Q 2. Current favorite sources of inspiration? (Books, websites, movies, music, people, places, food)
A 2. I do a lot of online research these days but I so miss having time to pour over a stack of juicy mags... My ideal magazine stack would include a few of the fall issues (hopefully SJP in on one of the covers), the latest J. Crew and Free People catalogs, mixed in with Martha Living and Weddings all set next to a lovely glass of red wine and a few empty hours. If we are being honest, I'll throw in the current Us Weekly too. : )

Q 3. What did you want to be when you grew up? What do you do now?
Q 3. I had to ask my Mom about this because I have no recollection of wanting to "be" anything. I was doodling and making crafts (and messes) since I was very little... so when I started getting a little older my Mom said "Maybe you will be an artist some day" and I always said "I don't think so" or "I don't want to do that"... I was very big into art in middle school and high school and suddenly it was time to look at college. My parents were nervous about letting me loose in NYC (I was a bit of a rebel) so they drove us up to see RISD and while we were touring the studios I felt and strong need to be part of it... I applied and was lucky enough to get in but even through college I always wondered "what do I want to be?" I still wonder but try to live by "the journey is the destination" theory... I have worked in fashion as a graphic artist, a fashion illustrator, started an event design / cookie business, worked on restaurant graphics, styled for Martha Stewart (again walked into the Martha offices and had that 'this is where I belong' feeling), went freelance for Martha, then went back to my business and changed it up a bit. It's been a crazy journey. The constant is the desire to be creative and making myself and other people happy with what I do... "spreading the love" as they say.

Q 4. When you look back on your first love, how do you think your idea of love has changed or stayed the same?
A 4. I've always been obsessed with love as a "lifestyle" from then to now... My views on love have matured since high school but love is love... It's all meaningful.

Q 5. What is your biggest weakness? (Spiritual, disciplinary, dietary)
A 5. Red wine & pizza (separate, combined)

Q 6. Three things you want or are working toward in your future? 
A 6.   1. Peace with all my decisions  2. Big fenced in yard behind a great house near the beach- outdoor brick pizza oven, table for 12 to 14, and lots more rescue dogs running around the yard  3. Meeting THE Cookie Monster (no fakes)

The Real Cookie Monster? Or just an impostor?

Q 7. And finally, for my records, chocolate/chocolate, chocolate/vanilla,  vanilla/vanilla or other (please specify)?
(This is helpful in case I am ever bringing you dessert).
A 7. Chocolate/ vanilla, and I always like a topping or garnish... sprinkles, hot fudge, fresh whipped cream, or cookie crumbs on top!

A Spread from Dan's "Greatest Story Ever Told" Sketchbook.

Seven Questions: The Greatest Person Currently Living On The West Coast

No offense to all you other Left Coast dwellers, but this girl is my college roommate, the girl who NYU randomly placed me with back in 1999. For that, I am forever indebted to them. We lived at 35 Fifth Avenue, once home to Mark Twain and surely the most fabulous address I'll ever have. To the questionnaire!


Q 1: What's something you wish more people knew?
A 1: Good intentions, strong opinions and a loud voice do not necessarily mean a person will be a good policy maker.  I wish people would understand the complexity behind public issues, and recognize the sophistication needed to make good policy.  Sometimes what sounds good in the press will have some truly horrific unintended consequences and sometimes what sounds less than ideal, is really better in the long run. Policy is much trickier than people think.  If you're sick you go to a doctor.  If you want to address social problems like the economy or unemployment, you should have someone who is highly trained in that field.  Politicians with BAs in oh say theology, just won't cut it.  Sorry...


Q 2: Current favorite sources of inspiration?
A 2: Infrastructure (especially in San Francisco).  It's where art, engineering, history and public policy collide to make poetry.


Q 3: What did you want to be when you grew up? What do you do now?
A 3: When I was 5 or 6 I wanted to study dinosaurs bones because I loved learning about them in school.  Today, I work in public finance (and love it - go figure!).


Q 4: When you look back on your first love, how do you think your idea of love has changed or stayed the same?
A 4: First love is exquisite, maddening and for better or worse fleeting...


Q 5: What is your biggest weakness? (Spiritual, disciplinary, dietary)
A 5: Men with scruffy beards and good sneakers.


Q 6: Three things you want or are working toward in your future?
A 6: 1. Excelling in my job, hoping my analysis helps shape better pubic policy. 2. Finally getting that dream apartment. 3. A big trip to Asia (want to come?)

The perfect apartment? Via designsponge.

Q 7: And finally, for my records, chocolate/chocolate, chocolate/vanilla, vanilla/vanilla, or other? This is helpful in case I case I am ever bringing you dessert.
A 7: Chocolate/vanilla - I don't discriminate, I regulate every shade of cake.

"Showing my weakness."

Seven More Questions

In our second installment of Seven Questions I picked the brilliant technicolor brain of one of my best friends, Renu. She is a fabulous Manhattan dwelling friend, wife, professional, and mom-to-be! In fact the present wrapped in December paper in my last post was a gift for her growing bean, who is due in December!

Q 1. What's something you wish more people knew?

A 1. Their blood type. I can never seem to remember mine.

Q 2. Current sources of inspiration? (Books, websites, movies, music, people, places, food)

A 2. Elle Decor for aspirational living spaces, Garance Dore for clothes/style, Papercrave for paper/design inspiration, fffound as well, 'Lagerfeld Confidentiel' for Karl Lagerfeld's direct quotes and comic relief, 'Casino' has been visually inspiring for me since high school, Alexa Chung for style, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg for career inspiration, tomato cheddar soup from Hale and Hearty to warm you up, the blue seas around Tobago for brilliant color.

Sam Rothstein takes a smoke break.

Alexa Chung's cat eyes.

Q 3. What did you want to be when you grew up? What do you do now?

A 3. My mom reminds me that my first proclaimed aspiration was to be a 'doggie doctor.' I am the farthest thing from a vet. Just took a new job in finance (my background) and will be taking on the job of a lifetime (being a mama) in December! 

Q 4. When you look back on your first love, how do you think your idea of love has changed or stayed the same? What have you learned from then to now?

A 4. Changed: Love doesn't have to be rife with barriers and sacrifice. When it is the right person, things will flow and it will come together and just work, unobstructed. Stayed the same: It is perfectly OK to be infatuated with your partner, even after 5.5 years!

Q 5. What is your biggest weakness? (Spiritual, disciplinary, dietary)

Q 5. Inability to commit to an exercise routine. Ever.

Q 6. Three things you want or are working toward in your future?

Q 6. A house. A creative enterprise at some point. A kick-ass family of my own to add to the two families I already have.

Q 7. And finally, for my records, chocolate/chocolate, chocolate/vanilla,  vanilla/vanilla or other (please specify)? (This is helpful in case I am ever bringing you dessert).

A 7. With regards to cupcakes? Vanilla with vanilla icing! Or carrot with orange vanilla icing! Or vanilla with chocolate icing! You decide. [OK, hummingbird cupcakes! Since you introduced me to them!]

Seven Questions

I have always been intrigued by the art of the interview. Terry Gross's "Fresh Air" is definitely the podcast I listen to most, I love "Inside the Actor's Studio" (I can hear Mr. SevPrez groaning now) even though James Lipton is highly ridiculous, The Selby is sweeping the design nation with his lovable lists of hand written questions, and who doesn't like the Proust Questionnaire? People are fascinating, and you never know what you're going to elicit by probing personalities.


A few years ago I developed a website to prove my hypothesis that everyone is unrepeatable, by giving friends and strangers alike a platform to acknowledge the people that make their awesome life possible — you know, like the Oscars, but for everybody else. With the Seven Questions, I'd like to take it a step further, and get to know a little bit more about the people in my life, and the faces in the crowds I walk through everyday as I go about my business. To extend an analogy I used on my first project, Jamie Foxx is not inherently more interesting than you are. In fact, in the years since his Oscar win, we are finding out that he is probably way less fascinating than we had anticipated (hello embarrassing music career). 


So, first up at bat is my brother, Jason Watt, who aside from being an entrepreneur, is an Ironman and ultramarathon runner, a husband and a father, a consumate story teller and a goofball. I would also call him an amateur zen koan master. You'll see...


Q 1. What's something you wish more people knew?
A 1. I wish more people knew about nothing. The real nothing.


Q 2. Current sources of inspiration? (Books, websites, movies, music, people, places, food...)
A 2. "The Right Stuff" (Editor's note: he has loved this movie since forever.)

Q 3. What did you want to be when you grew up? What do you do now?
Q 3. President of the United States. Branding.


Q 4. When you look back on your first love, how do you think your idea of love has changed or stayed the same? What have you learned from then to now?
A 4. I learned that love is not then but now.


Q 5. What is your biggest weakness? (Spiritual, disciplinary, dietary.)
A 5. Peppermint patties.

Q 6. Three things you want or are working toward in your future?
A 6. Peace on Earth and branding in its purest form answers all questions. Getting out of the way of my daughter.


Q 7. And finally, for my records, chocolate/chocolate, chocolate/vanilla, vanilla/vanilla or other (please specify)? (This is helpful in case I am ever bringing you dessert.)
A 7. Chocolate/chocolate.