Category Archives: Business

Reflecting on 2017

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2017 has come and gone.  Another year that has flown by, the kids are older, a few more gray hairs showing up and trying to stay and few more dreams realized and a few laid by the wayside.  As with every year, there have been ups and downs, but the beginning of the year has me reflecting back on all that 2017 had to offer.

lessons in 2017

I can’t exactly explain why, but I feel like 2017 was a year of real vulnerability for me.  I literally felt like I was walking around with all my nerve endings exposed.  I think I spent a good part of the year, wondering why that was, and then the other portion of the year trying to accept it.   According to one of my favorite authors Brene Brown, “Daring greatly means the courage to BE VULNERABLE.  It means to show up and be seen. To ask for what you need.  To talk about your feelings. To have the hard conversations.”  And, truthfully, these were all things that I tried to do in 2017 and it is something I plan to bring forward into 2018.  I will tell you that no matter the outcome, inserting vulnerability into your life tends to lesson the speculation.  If  you know what you want, go after it and don’t receive it, well then you know you tried.  If you tell someone what is expected of them, and they fail to meet your expectations, there is no more wondering if maybe they aren’t getting it. You know and so do they.

on a personal front

  • I now have a 21 year old and a 13 year old.  Geez… (Ok, maybe don’t tell anyone else that.  They will figure out just how old I am lol.)
  • i jumped head first into learning how to cook more low carb food options for myself and my family.
  • i maintained a great A1C , for the entire year.
  • We redesigned our 13 year old daughter’s room, to make it more fitting for a young lady.
  • Oooh… and I managed to total my car, just three days after it was paid off (head banging).

on a business front

  • Our Etsy Store hit 536 Etsy Sales.
  • Our NOLA poster became our Highest Selling Item.
  • Posters in General were the Highest Selling Category in the Store  for 2017.
  • We Added Physical Invitations to Our Shop.
  • We Made A Lot of Updates to the Blog.
  • Leaned Into Being An “Influencer”  on our Social Media Platforms.  By the way, are following us? (Links Above)

my favorite books from 2017

  • The Monkey On My Back by Debbi Morgan
  • Big Magic Elizabeth Gilbert
  • Remembering Whitney by Cissy Houston
  • Milk and Honey Rupi Kaur  **** (A Must Read)

As we embark upon our next adventure, the year 2018.  Always Remember, “Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions.” – John Randolph

End of Year Review

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2016-a-year-in-review

It is the last day of 2016, and I for one am glad to see it go.  2016 has been the most tumultuous year I have experienced in my 40 years.  It has literally been filled with the lowest lows and the highest highs,  a perpetual roller coaster of emotions, blessings and disappointments.

We entered into 2017 full of hope and vision.  And, as seems to be the norm at this stage of my life the days quickly turn into months and the months into years.  This is something that most Moms tend to be cognizant of as you watch your babies speed through their younger years. And, believe it or not with a business it is not much different.  I sit back a little awe struck at times, as I watch it develop in new ways.  The most minute changes can garner the most significant rewards.

On the Business/Blog Side of Things:

We started off the new year by re-branding.  Even though we loved our original logo, we wanted a new logo that we felt represented where we were going as a company. I assume that this can be a fairly easy project for larger companies who hire out this type of work.  But, we decided to do it ourselves, or I should say my hubby did it.  And, since we both have the perfectionist gene getting on the same wave length was a bit harder than we thought.  But, ultimately we were both pleased with the finished product.

TheStagepresentsBlog got its own Instagram Page. Having another account separate from the one we already had for our Etsy Store allowed me to share more of myself, my family and my daily life with all my Stage Presents friends.  It also gave me a chance to connect with other like minded bloggers.

Our Etsy Store hit 400 + Sales and officially passed the 3 year mark.

Our Back to School Binder Covers went viral.

Increased our Social Media presence and Developed relationships with other bloggers

Collaborated with other bloggers to present the Friday Favorites Linky Party.

We had some amazing Guest Bloggers.

2016-highlights

“If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery–isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you’re going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.”
― Charles Bukowski, Factotum

On the Personal side of Things:

Life dealt more blows than I would like to remember in 2016.  Only months into the New Year, my toddler niece got very sick and passed away.  It is something that I honestly don’t know if I will ever truly understand. The only thing worst than experiencing that loss, was watching my baby sister go through it.  As a big sister, you never want to think that there is something that you just can not help your younger sister with or through.  But, I had to accept that this was something that we could only call on God to help and heal.   Then some months later, I had a health scare that consisted of  a spider bite and my blood sugar being way too high, that landed me in the hospital.  Though terrifying, it turned out to be exactly what I needed to get my act together as far as eating what I should eat, instead of what I wanted to eat.  This year, I also started subbing at the School System for longer periods of time.  I got a quick refresher course on just what a balancing  act it was to work full time hours and still juggle being Mommy and Wife, Blogger, Etsy Shop Owner, Cook, Taxi…  The flip side to that was being able to do more of the things we wanted to do as a family with more money coming into the household, and having a little more to invest back into our business.

“It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.”
― John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

The pain makes us change. The change makes us grow, and finally the growth makes us strong.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THESE BOOKS HELPED ME OUT THIS YEAR.

Favorite Books:

Why We Can’t Wait by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Fervent by Priscilla Shirer

Make it Happen by Lara Casey

2016 has been a year of growth for the business and for the blog and it is with bated breath that I wait to take in all that 2017 has to offer.  We are humbled by the support of our readers, our customers, and our community.  We acknowledge that without you we couldn’t have come this far.  As we end this year, and venture into the new one keep these words in mind.

THROUGH ADVERSITY, NOT ONLY ARE WE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER OUR INNER STRENGTH, WE ARE ALSO GIVEN THE  GIFT OF FORESIGHT SO WE CAN SHINE A LIGHT FOR OTHERS WHO GO THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE AFTER US. — RACHAEL BERMINGHAM

Getting & Keeping My Creative Juices Flowing

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Getting and Keeping My Creative Juices Flowing

I am the first to say that I think everyone’s creative process is different.  But, there are some basic elements that are pretty universal.  Here are my go to’s to get it cranking…

Atmosphere….

For me, this is  the biggest component.  In fact, I dare say that all of the other things that I will list are going to fall into this category.

  1.  A Clean and Organized Space is A Must for Me.  Why?  Because I am easily, easily distracted.  A Messy Space for me means that I must clean it up.  Oh and organize it, before I can start on whatever task is at hand.  This is why it really is better for me to keep my space clean or nothing is getting done.  It’s a Cluster… You know the rest.
  2.  Coffee, Coffee, Coffee and More Coffee.  I do love coffee and it tends to focus me.  But, I am trying my best to cut down.  So I try to keep it under 2 cups a day and most days I succeed.  Of course with fall coming, I tend to consume much more.
  3.  A Plan.  I know here I go, list, list list.  I love a list, but I may love a plan more.  Having a plan in place the night before means that I have a measurable task list.  I have finally accepted that I don’t have but so much time in every day and week.  So making more manageable daily and weekly goals is paramount to my success. {Enter My Planner Addiction]
  4.  Music.  IS E-V-E-R-Y-THANG?  It makes the most mundane task seems less mundane, by making it a desk dance party.  And, for the more thought provoking work or things that I need to focus my attention I choose more soothing types of music.  If you were to go through my iTunes playlist, I think you would be surprised to find everything from Classical to Heavy Metal.
  5.  Checks and Balances  Almost as important as a plan is having a way to make sure that the plan is working.    For me, with blogging and our Etsy Store, this is strictly a numbers game.   It is about making sure that what we put out in terms of an advertising and marketing budget is worth it and still allows us to garner a profit.  This is also part of the reason that our store is ever changing as the market is ever changing.
  6.  Time for Mindless Browsing.  Now, I don’t think it’s mindless browsing, but if you were to saunter by my desk, you may think so.  But, my favorite way to move pass being blocked and spark some creativity ranges from Pinterest and Instagram, to ZGallerie and Pier 1 Catalogs.  And, I can’t forget my favorite magazines, Real Simple and Domino Magazine.

How do you get your creative juices flowing? I’d love to hear what your tips are for getting productive and staying that way.

“THE BEST PREPARATION FOR TOMORROW IS DOING YOUR BEST TODAY.” H. JACKSON BROWN JR.

What your Favorite Color says about you?

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For as long as I can remember, Blue and Green have always been my favorite colors, and I suppose by default turquoise.   I recently decorated my office space and a girlfriend of mine brought it to my attention that once again these were the dominant colors.  It got me to thinking about what it was that made me gravitate to these colors.  So, I looked it up.  ** I know surprise, surprise.

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You - stage-presents.com

I have always found these colors soothing and centering.  So, I was not surprised to find that these colors were associated with words like refreshing, calming, serenity, tranquility, emotional balance and even good luck.  The words that gave me another perspective were sophisticated, energy, wisdom, wholeness, creativity, spiritual grounding, friendship, love, joy, patience, intuition and loyalty.  If I could cloak myself in words or characteristics these would be the words that I would want.  It also explains why I get the most done in my office.  Clearly, it’s a centered spot for me, where I can block out the outside world and exist in my truest form and create.

Colors have long been heralded as the building blocks in successfully marketing and branding companies, simply because certain colors trigger emotions.  As you can see from this Color Emotion Guide (below)

Color Emotion Guide

Photo Credit: The Logo Company

Just like a certain song will bring you back to a certain time in your life happy or bad.  There are certain colors that we identify with.  Interested in knowing what your favorite colors mean?  Check out this article by Very Well.com on how color impacts, moods, feelings and behavior.

When we started Our Etsy Shop, we ONLY sold pillows. [Old news – we have a lot more to offer now.] In order to help our customers decide which pillows would work well in their living spaces we created color stories.  You can check them out here.

What is your favorite color?  Do you surround yourself with it?  Tell us all about it in the comments section below.

Planning Your Own Way

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Planning Your Own Way

Hi, I’m Sheree and I am a planner/list addict.  As if you didn’t already know that.  I have owned almost ever planner known to man.  The Franklin Covey, The Day Planner, Student Planners, Mead Planners, Goal Planners. Financial/Budget Planners, you name it, I’ve had it.  In the past, planners have strictly been for organizing and scheduling your day.  There was no glitzy, preppy, girly element to it.  But, let me tell you, things have changed.  The planner craze has taken over and with it has come the need to make it look good and feel good(embellishments).  For some, the planner has replaced the Family Control Center, as a way to plan out their lives in one portable location.  I personally have a planner that I use for my Household/Mommy/Wife Life and another one I use for this blog and my Etsy business.  But, I am the person that needs to compartmentalize everything, each thing must be in its individual box.

This year I purchased my very first Erin Condren Life Planner with the Horizontal Weekly Layout.  I had a pretty lengthy list of all the planners that I was interested in and after much deliberation I chose this one for my business needs.  Let me tell you about it.  Well, this was not the determining factor but… I was able to have it personalized.  So that was a major plus for me.    I need things to be horizontal. My planning is more like writing or journaling.  If you are into Bullet Journaling then the vertical one is probably a better option for you.  Included in the package with my planner was Pandora’s Box.  It came with all kinds of stickers and dots, Coils, books, etc.  And, at that point, I knew I was in trouble.  It was the equivalent of Apple products. For example, if you got the iPod, at some point you probably got the iPhone, and then the iPad, and eventually the iMac.   You probably have the Apple TV and you could probably think of a million other Apple products you would love to have.  I went straight to the Erin Condren site and I was in seventh heaven.  From there, I went to Pinterest and Searched Planner Stickers and then I was on to Instagram for more ideas/inspiration.

Planning Your Own Way Planner Pics

Planning Your Own Way Planner Sticker Views - Instagram Pages

Photo Source: Instagram Pages – PlannerStudio ThePlannerSociety

Thankfully, I was able to apply the brakes here. Being a former Scrapbooker, I was able to see the trap before I fell into it.  While I certainly aspire to have my Planner Pages look like some of the ones shown above.  I knew that this would be a job all to itself.  And, trust me when I say that I do not need ANOTHER JOB.  Now, I won’t lie to you and say that I didn’t  order any stickers because, I did but I tried to keep it simple.  If you are up to the challenge – Check out the Links to the  Instagram Pages in the links above. I decided to compromise with myself and put together a system that I could manage without feeling overwhelmed.

  1.   Key/Legend/Color Coding- I decided that this would be easiest way for me to keep up with my tasks by creating a Key and Color Coding. I split my Household Planner up  into these categories:  Household – Kids/School/Family – Meal/Diet/Fitness – Financial/Diet -Me/Other.  I split my Business Planner up into these categories: Blog – Social Media – Etsy – Ideas – Me/Other.  Take some time  and figure out what categories work for you before setting up your system.
  2.   Stickers –  If you are concerned with the looks/aesthetic of your planner than you will most likely get sucked in here.  For me, I need maximum writing space.  But, I found the smaller stickers were useful when tracking things like vitamins, water intake, exercise, and appointments.
  3. Tabs/Arrows – I find these helpful as ways to draw attention to certain areas or upcoming projects.  And, with all the color  and style options they can look cute too.

We are almost through February and I think I have found a system that works for  me.  I am sure I will make more tweaks as the weeks go on but for now, this seems to be working.  What is your favorite planner?  And, how do you keep it organized?

“a goal without a plan is just a wish.”

5 Simple Ways not let your quest for perfection become a “time suck”?

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ANYTHING CAN BE A TIME SUCK.

5 Simple Ways Not to Let Your Quest for Perfection Become a Time Suck.

Your To Do List has gone from Line Items to Journal Entries.  There is so much to do and just not enough time, or at least that is how it seems.  Is your quest for perfection becoming a time suck and preventing you from being productive?  Check out these 5 Simple Steps to get it all under control.

Planing and Preparation:  It’s no secret that I love a list, and even more than that I love a good Planner.  But, as with anything else spending an hour planning to do something that never gets done, serves no real purpose. Simply nail down what has to be done and move on.

Time Blocking:  Now that you know what you have to do.  How much time can you realistically afford to spend on each of your tasks?   Separate your tasks into categories and then decide what the level of importance is.  Then block your time accordingly and stay committed to it.  Don’t let one task bleed over into the time you have allotted for something else.  (I personally, struggle with this one a lot.  Especially if I feel like I am on a role.  But, I know that their are only so many hours before the girls are home from school, and then all bets are off.)  For more information on Time Blocking or to Download a Free Printable that can help you with this.  Check out Hey Donna.com’s blog post Time Blocking 101.

Sample Time Blocking Sheet from Hey Donna.com

Photo Source: HeyDonna.com

Rest:  Even the most stimulating task starts to feel mundane after a while. It’s very easy to get caught up and let time pass you by.  This is especially true for those of us working from home. Get up. Rest Your Eyes.  Grab Lunch – Socialize A Bit. Even if it’s a particularly nice day outside and you would rather stay out and play or shop.  You will be surprised that you will return with a renewed spirit.

Return to your tasks:  This is possibly the most crucial step.  You have to finish what you started. Even if you can’t get it all done in one sitting, make finite and future plans to complete them.

Celebrate Your Success:  Your work day is over.  This is the time to enjoy simple pleasures that could otherwise get you off track. For me that would be my personal Facebook Page, Words with Friends or Sims Free Play, anything that will draw my focus and my time away from what is important.  Now, if you are Mommy, then it’s probably time to start your other full time job.  So, feel free to start off with a glass of wine, since more than likely dinner is your responsibility.  It’s ok. You’ve earned it.

What do you do to keep the wheels from falling off the bus??

Beating The Winter Blues

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Beating The Winter Blues

When the New Year starts, I am always filled with so much hope and motivation.  But, as the days go by in January, I sometimes find myself falling into Alice’s Rabbit Hole. For me, I think the reason behind this lies in the fact that I hate to be stuck inside.  It’s called Cabin fever.  I know I have definitely turned into a bit of a home body since becoming a full time stay at home mom.  But, there are still days when I want to get up and venture out into the world, whether it be to grocery shop or hit up the closest Target or Walmart.  Some days I just need to get out and spread my wings.  But, the colder it gets the more those plans tend to exist only in my head or penciled in my planner.  The older I get and the longer I live in Georgia, I fear the cold, which now feels like it chills me to be the bone.  I have never had a strong immune system, an unfortunate trait, I think I passed down to my babies.  I dread being sick!!  So rather than allow myself to turn into a Winter Weather Hermit, I came up with some tips to beat these Winter Blues.

Plan Plan Plan…

It’s easy to simply crawl into bed and pull the cover up around my ears.  And, as divine as that sounds I am pretty sure that I would get NOTHING done, except maybe catching up on the movies on my DVR.  So I plan out my day from Household Duties –  Business Duties ( this Blog/Etsy/Social Media Stuff).  For example, I know that I can get more cleaning and more writing done when the kids are at school.

Stock Pile…

Hoard… If you are going to go into semi- hibernation get the things you need or want to surround you.  For me that is Coffee (the good stuff, and lots of it), Delicious Creamers, Warm Hearty Soups, Comfortable Socks, good reading material and even better music.  Believe it or not these things can serve as inspiration on days when you really need some.

make yourself a priority…

It’s easy to put off getting your hair dyed, or your eyebrows arched when you aren’t going to a job everyday.  But, you just can’t allow yourself to become a recluse.  Set appointments for yourself that you DON”T waffle out of.  It can be as simple as getting a much needed and well deserved pedicure.  Lunch with a friend to catch up on life OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.  A doctor’s appointment that you have been putting off.  Something you know you have to do but don’t necessarily want to do.  Make yourself accountable to you.

find your productivity window…

This can be a time period where you feel the most productive.  It can be a certain spot that gets great light where you can write.  It could be right after you work out.  Just like with anything else, the key here is to know yourself.  You know what colors look best on you or what styles you prefer to wear.  You should also know when you are at your best and capable of your best work.  In a regular 9-5 environment this is not as easy to achieve.  But, when you are at home you have a little bit more flexibility. Work Smarter – Not Harder.

“Wisdom comes with winter.” — oscar wilde

I sure am glad that I live in Georgia now.  I can’t imagine what I would do with more weeks of winter than what we currently have.  What are your tricks to staying both productive and content during the Winter Months?

Read More About My Winter Struggles HERE.