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

Hi Jenn , what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My husband and I are both very entrepreneurial, have a lot of hobbies, and a lot of passions! Besides our Coco & James business, my husband also has a print business called Metropolis Prints, and I’ve started a podcast with a friend. Additionally, I’m working on a blog! We are always creating, thinking, working, tinkering … it’s part of the foundation of who we are, and I love that on top of being a lot of fun, our pursuits bring us additional income as well! A win-win!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What started as a “can I really do this?” side project has turned into a viable business, and that is no doubt due to hard work, grit, and a desire to learn. It was not easy, but because it was fueled by passion, it was *almost* always fun. My husband has this amazing ability to figure out how to do just about anything, and so he is an endless resource of knowledge to me. We pride ourselves on the ability to create digital art that is inspiring and unique, and because things are ever changing, I try to always stay ahead of the design curve.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh this is easy … and also hard—there are so many amazing places! I would definitely build an itinerary around taking my best friend to these places: • A full spa day at Rancho Valencia • A morning hike in Torrey Pines • Afternoon drinks at The Hotel Del Coronado, followed by a walk on the beach to collect seashells • After dinner drinks at La Valencia to hear live music and pretend you are in a different era • Lunch at Lobster West for lobster rolls • Lunch at The Prado in Balboa Park, followed by a museum • Lunch at C- Level • Saturday morning stroll through the Little Italy Farmers’ Market • Dinner at Juniper & Ivy • A shopping day at UTC, including afternoon drinks at Raised by Wolves

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate this Shoutout to my husband, who is always encouraging me, pushing me, and inspiring me to work towards my dreams.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CocoAndJames?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=181136288 and https://www.etsy.com/shop/CocoAndJamesHome
Instagram: cocoandjamesdesigns
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cocoandjames/