HBN news + life debate

Some of my items are in a store! Yay! Yay! Yay!

The owner of a local dance store contacted me asking if I could make ballet bun covers. I had never crocheted one before, so I did a little research and replied with a giant "YES, of course I can!"

So after a lot of hard work, I made eighteen of them in three different sizes and delivered them to her shop. So now all of her little ballerina customers can buy my items. Isn't that fantastic?! I think it's pretty awesome.

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I've been having an internal debate with myself lately about if I should put my handmade business away in box and get a real typical day job. It's been a little over a year since I made the decision to do my handmade jewelry and crocheting for real and although I understand things don't happen over night, I am in fact a struggling twenty-something with many student loans that, unfortunately, don't pay themselves. Not having a regular pay check is a pain the you-know-what and when my bank account slaps me in my face, I can't help but doubt my decision to start this business fresh out of college.

Having someone contact me and order my handmade items has given me a glimpse of hope, however. I'm pushing harder than ever to advertise and send out mass amounts of post cards and brochures in hopes that this bun cover thing will catch on with other dance studios and shops. I am so grateful for a supportive boyfriend and family. Without them, I would have a hard time remembering why I quit my office job and started my own business. When I'm full of doubt and negativity, they gently encourage and remind me to keep working hard and that eventually it will pay off. Maybe not immediately.. but soon. And putting one hundred and fifty percent into it could only result in something good. 

So Thank You, Thank You, Thank You boyfriend & family -- I love you more than you know.

Happiness for your Tuesday

"Don't make money your goal.

Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you."

- Maya Angelou

via

Happy Tuesday friends! This is another quote featured in Bethenny Frankel's "A Place of Yes". If you haven't gotten it and read it yet, then what the H-E-double hockey sticks are you waiting for?! Huh?!

In other news: I haven't seen my cat since about eleven this morning. It is very unlike her. Normally she's all up in my face. Today I frantically ran around to every room calling her name. Usually she either comes running to me, or answers with a meow. I've checked all her normal hiding and napping spots, and haven't found her. I easily freak out, and probably shouldn't be so worried because I'm sure she's around here somewhere. She's strictly an indoor cat, so I'm nervous that she somehow got out.

Oye.
I fret too easily.

Inhale deeply,

 e  x  h  a  l  e

Something I've been trying to do A LOT more of. Something I forget to do all the time [quite typical of dancers]. Something that a woman with so much enthusiasm and love for life that it's impossible to contain, taught me. Something that everyone should practice. Yesterday, while I was having "one of those days" I remembered how laying on the Old Gym floor, I would hear her voice, follow her instructions and feel like a million pound brick had been lifted off of my mind, chest and spirit. And while I was driving [not the best place to experience frustration, exhaustion & overwhelm], I sucked in a deep gulp of good 'ol air, held it, then let it out. Fully concentrating on the sensation in my chest. When I let the air escape, I shoved it out like I had never done before. Pushing everything [annoying phone calls, to-do lists, etc] out of my brain. And it felt wonderful. Like I had nothing in the world to worry about. We're always trying to worry about everything all at once. What for? Are we going to solve every single problem we stumble upon throughout the day. Probably not. And if you do, kudos, cause I can't and I will no longer try to do so for the sake of my personal sanity. 

So this is a challenge. For myself and you, if you so choose. 

Quit worrying when you know there's no use.

Move on. Push all the s#*t out and go back to it when you have some time. 

Or just get rid of it all together. 

Grab life. With both hands. Hold on tight.

 

..and exhale once in a while for goodness sake!

Now that i re-read this post, it sounds sorta corny. Oh well. Sorry.

If for some crazy, bizarre reason, any of you decide to try my "challenge" I'd love to hear your revelations, feedback, struggles, success, etc. so leave me a comment = ]

Happy summerlikeweather day!

Don't forget to look at my "handmade by nicole" page! It's over there somewhere -->

Think about all the lovely gifts that they could be : )