Tag Archives: business
Shop Small Business Saturday
Hello there! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your family and friends! If you did a little Black Friday shopping {like me} you have since had some extra rest. I’m writing this post late tonight because tomorrow is Small Business Saturday {Nov. 24}. It’s a day when we all make a point to shop local. As a small business owner, it is easy to feel the effects when people choose not to shop local or shop small. Think small business on Saturday! I have a special code I’m offering for FREE SHIPPING on any order through November 30th! Use code THANKS at checkout. Thanks for supporting our small business!
Find out more about Small Business Saturday at ShopSmall.com or follow on Twitter @ShopSmall Use #SmallBizSat to share your photos of your shopping on Saturday as you support small businesses.
My Recent Workshop Experience | Amber Housley Inspired {A Recap}
{Image by Sara E Rose Photography}
Yesterday, I was on the phone with a friend (I’ll call her “K”) and I just smiled after getting off the phone with her. She’s looking and searching to find something that she loves that she can put her heart into. I just knew I needed to write about this today because I know K isn’t alone. Just a couple weeks ago I attended a great workshop, Amber Housley Inspired in Nashville, TN. I had met Amber at a workshop I attended last year, Stationery Academy, and I was in awe of her sweet personality and ambition so I knew anything she would do would be quite amazing. The two-day workshop covered topics of defining & creating your business, marketing, dreams & goals, branding, social media, family/work balance and taking action.
{Image by Sara E Rose Photography}
I had the opportunity to meet and hear from these creative AMAZING ladies!
Sara Rose {Sara E Rose Photography}
Amber Housley {Amber Housley}
Jessica Bishop {The Budget Savvy Bride}
Courtney Dial {Pizzazzerie and Author of Push Up Pops & Candy Making for Kids}
{Image by Sara E Rose Photography}
I took so much information away with me from this workshop. So if you are thinking of starting a business, I would HIGHLY recommend it. Go HERE to find out more.
I want to leave you with this. In 2006, I started HollyDays as a hobby business while I was working full-time and it turned into so much more. One thing I did know, I loved being creative and I ultimately wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom. HollyDays definitely helps me feed my creative desire and as it grows, I realize I can help other moms realize their goals. When the workshop was over, we had to write down a message: if we could go back to DAY ONE of our creative business, what would we tell ourselves? If you are like me, you probably are your biggest critic. As I was talking to “K” yesterday she said “Sometimes I need my own cheerleader” – love that! Well here I am cheering for you, K, and you reading this…
My message to you:
Dream Big, YOU can do this!
What are you Dreaming about?
Introducing our New Brand
Wow! Today is such an exiting day for me! Our new HollyDays brand is finally here! Last year, I started re-evaluating my brand after some great advice from the Stationery Academy, advice that was not taken lightly. Without further adieu, the new HollyDays…
The new brand truly reflects me as a person – I love polka dots, color and a whimsical southern look. A little Holly berry and leaves is a simple cute icon for the brand. Our packaging has grosgrain ribbons, kraft boxes and bags and adorable details.
This is what our new website looks like:
I have several people to thank for the help with the new look. First and foremost, a HUGE thank you to my husband. I think he deserves a spot on the About Us page because of all the work he always does behind the scenes. Thank you for the many late nights you have worked so hard to make this possible. You will notice when you shop on the new site, you will be able to customize most of our products and see an instant proof. A project that he wanted on the site and worked with a company to incorporate it into our site. Thank you!
I hand drew and typed out “HollyDays” so many times trying to find the perfect logo, but I never could get exactly what I was going for until I met Jessica Ulrich from Jessica Haley Ink. She is credited with the amazing calligraphy for “hollydays”. Thank you so much, Jessica!
Jennifer & Karan, Thank you so much for your suggestions and help on the new brand!
I can’t wait to share all the goodness to come with you! Welcome to the new HollyDays!
Grateful
TODAY: I woke up late only because I was up a couple hours during the night comforting my little one who has been having nightmares. It started around the time she turned three and has been going on for months now. Last week we finally went 4 nights in a row with full nights sleep, but the last couple of nights have been not so fun. Last night after I stayed up late working she woke up at around 2:00 and it was 4:00 when she was finally asleep for good. I went back to sleep after my husband left for work and didn’t wake up until she ran in at 10:00 this morning – we both needed the extra hours of sleep. Unfortunately, that meant we were late to a fun playgroup we had planned at 10:00. We strolled in about 11:00, but still made it in time to see some of our little friends and play.
(Stationery Academy Class of 2011)
TODAY I am grateful. Last year, you may remember me talking about my experience at a Stationery Academy here and here. That was exactly one year ago. Today, they are hosting another academy and I can say I know for stationery designers, they are having the time of their lives and learning things that will change their careers and lives. One of the MANY things I learned from the academy was from Whitney English Kolb, everyone’s definition of success is different “What is my definition of Success” … wow, have you ever thought about that, I mean really thought about it? How many times have you looked at someone else and thought “Wow, they are so successful, why can’t I do what they have done/be who they are?” Success really meant for you to define on your own. It’s not based on education, money or achievement. What a relief, huh? You know, today I was able to wake up late and take my daughter to playgroup. I’m working on orders and returning emails/calls right now. Later, I have to take my dog to the vet. Tonight, I’ll cook dinner for my husband and daughter. After my daughter is in bed, I’ll be working on my new website. You know, that is my version of success. What is yours?
(Jen & her sweet family – photo by Benzaia Photography)
THE PAST MONTH: This summer has been different for us, last month, Jen had her sweet baby, Emme, and she’s been on maternity leave. I miss her greatly, mostly at 1:00 am when I am sometimes working on proofs/computer work that would have normally been done during normal working hours. Yes, my version of success is great working at home, but for those of you with little ones, you know a lot things that take real concentration does not get done when you are constantly answering “Why this/why that?”
Also this past month, my husband’s office was closed and he was home with us for a month and a half. He started his new job this week. We are grateful for this new company and he is so excited to be working for them. Blessings… grateful. We put our house on the market. We went on a vacation with my parents to Tennessee and the beach with my In-Laws. What a whirlwind month. On a sad note, a dear friend was diagnosed with Cancer. We love their family greatly and are saying many prayers for them. This is a verse they shared on their website: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Wow. Please pray with us for God to be glorified, Stephen to be healed and their family to have peace during this time.
As we wrap up this week, it is nice to sit back and think of all the things we are grateful for – family, experiences, doing what we love. What are you grateful for today?
Warehouse Sale!
Join us for a GREAT sale this Friday! We are cleaning up & clearing out. We’ll have the best prices on a variety of products, blanks, samples & fixtures/displays we don’t need anymore! You don’t want to miss this sale! Join our Mailing List for a special code we will email you this week for extra savings!
Read Rework and Reworking my Work
So the book I bought Monday, Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson, I’ve already finished it! It came in the mail yesterday and I thought “Gee, I’ll sit down and skim through it and then go to bed” and I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting last night. One sitting – never even got up one time to take a break… It really made me think about a lot of how I run my business as a mom and a wife and how success isn’t defined by how many employees you have or how busy you are. I’ll share more as I start to put some things I learned into practice! It was a super great book to me {minus a few choice words not in my vocabulary that they use to get their point across, so just as long as you don’t let your 10-year-old read it, you’ll be good… read it!}
On another note… just a week and a half until my daughter’s 3rd birthday party! Invitations are out {well, some are going to school friends tomorrow, yes even I run behind} Here’s a little teaser…
Yes, there is tulle & fabric on them! Yay!
Hope you have a great day!
Tootlebugs
I just finished the work on a logo design, business cards and stickers for a super cute business called Tootlebugs! Tootlebugs is owned by Amy Henson. She creates the cutest mongrammed clothing for kids. You can find her on Facebook.
Interested in a logo design? Logo designs are available for $150 and you will receive three different design concepts to choose from. Then we’ll work on it to make sure you are 100% happy with the design. You can also purchase business cards and stickers, too!
{Here’s what Amy’s business cards look like}
Don’t forget to go visit Tootlebugs on Facebook and let Amy know we sent you!
Hope you have a great day!
