ASK THE WALLACES: VACATIONING ON A BUDGET

As you read this, Jon and I are in the mountains of Tennessee celebrating our 3-year anniversary with another couple! We decided to take a long weekend trip, rent a cabin, spend a day in Dollywood, and have a leisurely vacation time. Zach and Leah, who are also going with us, got married one day after Jon and me, so it's been fun to take mini vacations with them to celebrate our anniversaries together.

Something you may know if you've been reading my blog for awhile is that Jon and I have been working hard to pay off my student loans from college. Going to a private college can have its advantages and disadvantages, one of those being a giant tuition. We've been working on paying off our loans for the past 2.5 years and have been able to pay off 55% of our loans. We still have a little ways to go but are hoping to completely finish them off in 2014. It's been a long journey and we've definitely had to hold off on extra purchases, big vacations, saving to buy a home and fully furnishing our home. In the end, we know it will be SO worth the effort and time once these bad boys are done. And yes, we will be throwing a huge party to celebrate!

However, as we are both working full-time, we still need to make breaks and vacations a priority. We need time to get away from everything, put the electronics down and refresh. It's been so important for us and it's been so invigorating to get away and come back ready to go and refreshed. Over the past three years, Jon and I have come up with clever ways to get away on a budget and not break the bank for expensive vacations. Below are a couple of our tips:

1// Budgeting - We live off of a monthly budget that we try to keep as detailed as possible. This helps us understand where our money is going, when we've paid our bills, and how much "flex" money we have available. Each month we try to set aside a small amount of money into our vacation budget. If we know we have a vacation coming up, we try and slip in a little extra so that the money is fully available before our trip and will cover everything from our stay to gas money. A couple weeks before we leave for our trip I take our budget and split it up between gas money, food money, money we know we will be spending (on tickets etc.) and a little bit of extra-cushion money. This helps us be aware of how much we have to spend on the trip so we won't go overboard or get too caught up in that "I'm on vacation" mode that makes you spend more money than you have. ;) This has been great for us to make wise financial decisions while we are vacationing. We know we can splurge on one fancy dinner and we might eat at less expensive places throughout the rest of the time or even cook our own food. Budgeting has helped us save so much money and puts us in the right frame of mind for our trips.

2// VRBO - Have you heard of VRBO? It's a website were you can rent vacation rentals by owner and it's AMAZING. You can rent places all over the world and in almost any location. The website is easy to navigate and we've been able to find some amazing places to stay. I've used VRBO to rent 4 places now and I don't think I'll ever go back to staying in hotels if I can help it. The benefit is that more than likely you'll find something less expensive than a hotel. It's a great option to split with other friends! Most likely, it will include a full kitchen so you can cook for yourself and it really gives you that "at home" feel rather than feeling like you're a tourist. Jenny and I rented a beautiful loft in Savannah, GA, through VRBO right on Broughton Street with a full kitchen and it was less expensive then nearby hotel options. Jon and I are also currently staying in a beautiful, cozy cabin with a hot tub, pool table, and cozy beds that has an amazing view. Both places were under $150 per night. You can find great reviews for places on VRBO, see photos of the location and sometimes score a special discounted rate from the owner during the off season. I'm a huge fan and will forever be using vacation rentals from here on out.

3// Go with Friends - When we stay in a vacation rental, the idea of getting away to a nice place in and of its own feels like a vacation. We don't necessarily feel the need to go out and do a bunch of additional costly things. We love to bring games, movies, explore the outdoors, and go into town for a fancy dinner or trip to Dollywood. ;) Having friends go with you on vacation can not only make that type of vacationing so much more fun, but it also helps with cost. You can split the price of the place you are staying at, gas money, and chip in together to buy groceries. After everything is said and done a three night-four day stay, gas, food and extra costs will come out to under $450 total for an extended weekend vacation. Depending on your budget, you can make this more or less depending on where you choose to stay and being economically creative. ;)

4// Make it an Extended Weekend - As mentioned above, we usually like to stick with extended weekend vacationing. This saves us from using too many vacation days and sandwiching 1-2 vacation days on a weekend, or a holiday weekend really helps! If possible, look to vacation during off-season times. You'll most likely find way better rates and less crowds!

5// Cook Your Own Food - By using a vacation rental, we've been able to purchase groceries and make our own food during our trip. This definitely helps ease the budget rather than eating out for every meal. We usually bring food to prepare for breakfast and lunch and plan to go out to dinner OR just go out to one fancy place. It also saves money on snack foods throughout the day. When we go with another couple we usually meal plan beforehand so we have a list of all the meals we can make and plenty of beverages and snacks throughout our time. If you don't have access to a kitchen, I suggest bringing meal and snack items that don't have to be cooked to help save costs.

6// Roadtrips! - Going to a far away destination can be so much fun, but flight costs can sometimes be out of budget for your upcoming vacation. Whenever possible, we try to plan mini trips that we can drive to in under 8 hours. This not only gives us a great excuse to explore the Southeast, but it saves lots of money not having a buy a plane ticket. As well, if you are going with friends, road-trips can be SO much fun. If it's a really long road-trip, plan to make stops at fun locations to make the road-trip also feel like part of the vacation.

7// Staycations - Sometimes a get away is completely out of the question. Perhaps due to other financial responsibilities or timing. When we first got married, we would often take "Staycations". This meant that we would stay at home, rent fun movies, plan out of the ordinary activities and dates and be intentional to be on vacation while we were at home. This often requires you to set "Staycation" house rules like no work, electronics, and canceling some of your plans. This helps give you that "getaway" feeling. We still take mini Staycations here and there when needed but love when we are especially able to take a mini getaway.

I hope this was helpful advice!! AND I hope that you will enjoy this new series! Jon and I will be posting about marriage/relationship/things-we've-learned advice on a regular basis so if you have any particular questions or topics you would like us to cover, please feel free to share them in the comment section below! As well, if you have additional tips to add to vacation on a budget, please do share!

Hope you are having a wonderful week, friends!

LIVING WELL: TAKING UP NEW HOBBIES

Since going full-time with Maiedae, I've found myself shutting down my computer before dinner time and having the evenings wide open. Before I quit my job, I was working 32-40 hours per week in Atlanta and then working most nights and some weekends on Maiedae. Maiedae WAS my hobby. When I wasn't spending time with my family or friends, I was working on Maiedae. On average, I think I put anywhere from 15-20 hours per week into Maiedae; working on my blog, meeting with Jenny, working with graphic design clients and helping run the business. Because I loved it so much, I didn't think of it as work. It was what I loved doing in my spare time and I considered it my favorite hobby.

Once I packed up my desk at my 9-5 and began working for Maiedae full-time, a couple things changed. For starters, I decided to keep consistent working hours. Unless there is an emergency, meeting, or we are traveling, I try to only work on Maiedae Mon-Fri, 8:00AM-5:00PM. Keeping consistent hours has really helped me balance my time. However, once I shut down for the day, I'm finding myself with lots of open time on my hands during the evenings and some weekends. I had been in my old 9-5 + Maiedae work routine for the past 3 years that I almost didn't know what to do with myself. I turned to Jon shortly after diving into this new adventure and told him that I'm going to have to start finding some new hobbies!

I think having in mind a list of things you truly enjoy doing and that REALLY relaxes you is important. It's good to work on projects, try new things, and occupy extra time with your passions. I happen to be the type of person that has a really difficult time just sitting and watching a show, I like to be doing something, so having a variety of hobbies and interests is important to making me feel productive and happy at the end of the day.

Hobbies can be as simple as taking extra time to pamper yourself on the weekends or as complex as learning how to dance and taking lessons. Here are a couple tips I have on finding new hobbies:

1. Keep it Simple // Once again, it's completely fine to have simple and leisurely hobbies. Maybe you've had an "If I only had more time..." list in the back of your head and you've been dying to read a stack of books, or try your hand at some nail art, or maybe you just really want to watch through the top movies ever made? Think of things you can enjoy that are economical and don't take up too much time.

2. Learn from Others // Maybe you have a friend that's great at art or maybe you know someone who is an expert at baking? Ask people you know to give you lessons! This can be a great excuse to hang out with people you love. Plus, it's always so fun to be asked to teach something you are passionate about. I'm sure your friend will love it. :)

3. Be Adventurous // I think it's good to maybe pick one complex/adventurous hobby to try. This way you can dedicate a little more time to it and see if it's something you're truly interested in. Maybe you've never gardened before and want to try your hand at an herb garden? Or maybe you've always wanted to learn how to ride and care for horses but just never had the opportunity? Go for it! Again, check and see if any of your friends have experience or connections they could help you with. :)

4. Make a List // I think when we were all little we made a "before I die" bucket list. I know mine probably had something along the lines of "name a star," "write a song on my guitar" and "get married and have kids" on it. I actually would like to go dig up my old journals and find those! I think making these types of lists is GREAT. I would suggest making a list of things you'd like to try and doing them throughout the year. Keep them reasonable, but be a little creative and adventurous. Challenge yourself to try one new thing each month. Even if it's simple!

I hope some of these tips where helpful! I'm excited to put a list together and get started on some new hobbies. What are some of your favorite hobbies?? Have any that you've been itching to try?

CHEER: TAKING TIME TO REFLECT

While decorating, making wish-lists, wrapping gifts, baking, and listening to a little Bing Crosby are fun ways to celebrate the holidays, I think one of the most important things to do each year is to take time to reflect. Reflect on the year; the times full of joy and the times filled with sadness, the new people you've met and the old friends you've gotten closer to, the big life moments and your favorite memories. After thinking about the previous year and its memories, it's exciting to think about the year ahead and what's to come. :)

For the last day of 12 Days of Christmas Cheer, I'll be sharing some of my favorite tips for reflecting on the year and getting excited about stepping into 2013! Personally, I feel like 2013 is going to be filled with life-changing moments. Jenny and I had our end of the year Maiedae meeting last night and we are thrilled about our plans for 2013. While I'm planning to soak up every last bit of 2012...I cannot WAIT for 2013.

Photo Via

Tips for Reflecting
1// Retreat - While you might not be able to pack your bags and visit your favorite getaway, think of a place that gives you peace and makes you feel relaxed. Maybe that's a local coffee shop or a favorite room in your home. Set aside some calendar time before the end of the year to visit your "retreat" and let the reflecting begin!

2// Record - What is your favorite way to record things? Maybe you have a journal or use a tablet to take notes on. Bring your favorite journal and take time to write out some of your favorite memories. What did you love about the year? What did you dislike about the year? What are you looking forward to in 2013? How do you want to grow? Write out your thoughts and keep it in a place you can refer to throughout the year and for next year's reflection time.

3// Listen - I think it's safe to say that a lot of people have an emotional connection to music. Create a playlist of your favorite and most inspirational tunes and listen to your playlist while your reflecting on the year. Take your time, sing along, and enjoy the process. :)

4// Goals - When setting goals and thinking about the year to come, be realistic and set goals that really make you excited! Decide whether you're a year-by-year, seasonal, monthly or weekly goal person and set goals according to what motivates you most.

5// Review - Grab someone close to you and ask them to talk with you about your reflections. Ask them to give you feedback on your thoughts for 2013 and laugh with them over memories from 2012.

6// Enjoy - Soak up everyday. This is the last 2012 and also the only 12-12-12! Celebrate, laugh, and find joy. Whatever you celebrate this holiday season, celebrate with those you love and make sure they know how much you truly love them.

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Ok, friends! Live it up! Thank you so much for following along with our 12 Days of Christmas Cheer! I hope you enjoyed the little inspirations and DIYs along the way. :) Be sure to check out Jenny's blog later this evening to read her last Cheer post. I'll be getting back to my regularly scheduled posts starting tomorrow! In the meantime, I've got some Christmas cards to finish and some gifts to wrap!

THE WONDER LIST'S GUIDE TO AUTUMN

Four times a year, we have a fresh beginning. Something new is in the air and it revives our spirits in a miraculous way. You find peace in the season’s traditions, encouragement in new experiences, and a refreshed wardrobe gets pulled from your winter storage bins. Just when you thought the hot summer days would last forever, the winds change and Old Man Winter gets nudged from slumber. It’s the most beautiful season of all, autumn.

The Wonder List suggests a few "musts" to take part in this season. These will bring the pumpkin spice latte cheer to you. From simple to extravagant, come and see that this season is good, very good.

Wonderlisters: Allie & Emily

1// Take a Bike Tour of your City ---> Wake up early on a Saturday and bike to your favorite coffee joint. Sailing down the roads with little traffic and the crisp air of the morning sun hitting your face… simply brilliant.

2// Buy a Pumpkin ---> Pumpkins = great investment for the season. Whether for your front stoop or to assist in a batch of roasted pumpkin seeds, this is a smart spend. Seeing a plump jack-o’-lantern brings back sentiments of autumns gone by.

3// Discover your Favorite Hot Drink ---> As the weather cools, we all crave something warm and tasty to sip on. Make a point to find the drink recipe that you love. Mix and match syrups, foams, and espressos to find the perfect cold-weather concoction and don’t be ashamed to order in bulk this season.

4// Put a Cozy Spin on your Home ---> Don’t just buy the typical cinnamon spice candle. Go a bit further and make your home a welcomed, warm place for the temperature. Purchase a new blanket, soft couch pillows, and fall wreath for your door. Check this off with a one stop-shopping trip at Target, highly suggested for the nine-to-five Wonderlister.

5// Frolic in the Leaves ---> They only fall once, so jump on the opportunity for some little-kid fun. Go with friends and enjoy a local park, making sure not to sprain an ankle from skewed leaf pile depth perception.

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Whatever you do this autumn, be sure to devise a plan of action in your mind. What do you love about this season? Enjoy special things that bring you joy, all while keeping traditions and taking new adventures.

- Emily & Allie

Thank you, sweet friends, for giving us a fantastic guide to autumn! Be sure to visit Emily and Allie on their blog The Wonder List for more inspiration!! 

5 THINGS WITH MADALYNNE

Hi, my name is Maddie Flanigan and I am the blogger behind Madalynne. It's a cool pattern making and sewing blog that covers everything from how to draft a sloper to interviews with designers and what purchases are on my mind. By day, I work in technical design for a very large fashion company in Philadelphia. I consider myself one lucky gal to be able to do what I love every day, not to mention I receive a stellar discount off some really fancy clothes. But it is the knowledge my day job has given me that I’m truly thankful for. If it weren’t for my day job, I would not have learned all the valuable pattern making and sewing tips and industry secrets. Examining and evaluating garments and the patterns that go with each, as well with dealing with wash care, label placement, and packing, I have been able to create tutorials that relay information not known to many in simple and easy terms and illustrations.

I was ecstatic when Savannah asked me to participate in her 5 Things feature. I have been an admirer of her puritan, but cool ways, as well as her blog and its marvelous design and writing. But what 5 things would I talk about? I had no idea. Then, I decided to write about a topic that I have recently had experience with – burnouts. We all have experienced a burnout at some point. It’s when we work too hard - nights, mornings, weekends, and sometimes subconsciously in our sleep - and our minds and bodies just can’t take it anymore. The to-do list might be endless, but we literally can’t handle one more task. We shut down. At this point, a spoonful of relaxation, recharging, and Julie Andrews singing her infamous song from Mary Poppins, is the only remedy. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent reaching this point. Through trial and error, I have found 5 things, which I share with you today, that help me keep my mind sane even if the world around it is not.

1. Break projects into little tasks. ---> This is an obvious tip, but an essential one. Almost all of my projects cannot be completed in a day. Whether it is a sewing, pattern making, or blogging project, all take time to complete. Last year, I made a dress to wear to my dad’s wedding. It was an intricate dress that had boning, batting, lining, and interlining. The pattern alone took a month to correct and the entire project took four months to complete. It was a lot of work but I was able to complete it efficiently and sans a panic attack by breaking the project into mini tasks. On Monday, I cut the fabric. On Tuesday, I transferred notches and other markings from the pattern to the cut pieces. On Wednesday, I staystitched and interfaced each pattern piece. On Thursday, I sewed easy seams. On Friday, I pressed. Each one of these little steps prepped me for major tasks that I planned for the weekend (when I had more time). By breaking the project into smaller tasks that could be completed in 30 minutes, the project progressed seamlessly (pun intended).

2. Break. ---> This is another obvious tip, but also an essential one. We all need breaks. We cannot keep going and going and going. Over the past three months, I have worked straight through the weekend, blogging and sewing into the wee hours of the mornings and nights. Although I was having fun, it finally got to me. When the weather started to get warmer, I struggled to muster up enough energy to sew or blog.  I resisted for awhile, but I eventually had to satisfy my craving and venture out. So one weekend, I did something completely out of character - I went hiking! I didn’t know what to wear or what to bring; I just knew I wanted to go hiking. And I had the best time! I spent an hour or so sitting by the river, just watching the world go by. The smell of fresh air, the colors of the landscape, and the slight breeze recharged my brain way past one hundred percent. My creativity and energy the following day were at levels they hadn’t been for weeks.    

3. Music and silence. ---> Music and silence save my sanity, even though both are completely different (music is sound and silence is the absence of sound). When I’m down and in the trenches of a project or when I hit that midday brain fart at work, listening to music puts me in the zone and keeps me going and going and going. Music also cleanses me of feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or even the blues.  Maybe it’s the melody, maybe it’s the beat, or maybe it’s the voices of the singers but something about music releases whatever is pent up inside me. Far, far away my thoughts and worries go whenever the likes of Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, The XX, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Lil Wayne start playing.

Along with music, silence also keeps me sane. We all live in a chaotic world that seems broken at most times. Between work, hobbies, friends, boyfriends, family, chores, etc., our lives just seem like too much. Silence, for me, puts the broken pieces back together. The peacefulness of no sound brings order back to my mind and refuels for whatever is next. I often spend Saturday or Sunday mornings dilly-dallying around my apartment to the sound of nothing.

4. Notebook. ---> The reason I feel anxious or nervous most of the time is because I have too much to do and I don’t know where to start. This is where my notebook comes in. I carry my notebook around with me almost everywhere. Seriously. Whenever I have a thought, idea, or task, I jot it down in my notebook. If it is a task, I look at my calendar and figure out the best time that it can be completed. I also use my notebook to break larger tasks into little ones (like I did for the dress I made for my dad’s wedding). Doing this does the same thing as silence – it brings order and structure to my life.

5. Mentality. ---> An extremist mentality will most certainly lead to a burnout. We can’t do it all and we can’t achieve it all. Being okay with just being okay is okay (sorry for the redundancy). I would love for my blog to reach the status of Elsie Flannigan’s, A Beautiful Mess (we have the same last name!) but if Madalynne doesn’t reach that level, I am okay with that. What’s most important is that I’m having fun, helping others, and meeting others with similar likes and hobbies. As long as I achieve those three things, I consider Madalynne and myself successful.

If all my above suggestions fail, watch Grace Kelly in the movie "High Society". Watching her and Frank Sinatra gallivanting through the plot, climax, and eventual resolution prevents and cures all and every case of burnout. 


Find Maddie Here:  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Thank you, Maddie, for sharing such awesome advice on preventing burnout. It's awesome to do what you are passionate about and truly love, but you have to give yourself time to rejuvenate and refresh so you can keep doing what you love. Great tips!! 

5 THINGS WITH THE WONDER LIST

Both wide-eyed dreamers, Emily and Allie started The Wonder List with hopes of staying inspired and sharing that inspiration with others. Best friends since college, their bond has been marked by an uncanny sense of connection that continues to build as their friendship is written into each other’s stories. Through all of their experiences, together and separate, they have learned that life is frequently the reverse of what you might have expected, but they have also learned that the reverse is often more beautiful than anything you could have imagined. The key to discovering this beauty, perhaps, is simply to stand and wonder.

1. Free yourself. ---> Simply give yourself the freedom to be inspired. Spend hours and days thinking about what inspires you, what you love, and what brings passion to your life. Make a list with two columns and proceed to outline all the things that you love and all the things that you loathe. You are a deep well of inspiration that needs to be tapped. This exercise opens up a beautiful inner conversation and allows you to see brilliant correlations.

2. Explore through travel. ---> Traveling to a new place provides an instant fresh start and allows you to feast on the inspiration of the unknown. By being intentional in planning and taking trips, you open yourself up to opportunities that may not exist in your place of residence. Make it a priority to save money for that out of state or overseas experience and take advantage of a weekend getaway in the next town whenever possible.

3. Talk that talk. ---> Gain inspiration from conversation. The people you’ve interacted with in person, over the phone, or via email in the last week are the people who inspire you. They know you and you want to be known by them. It’s worthwhile to schedule coffee and dinners – staying late to talk about life or tabling the conversation for the next date. Ask the hard questions; find out what inspires them and how they can be an intentional resource on your journey.

4. See the world through new eyes. ---> People-watching has immense potential for inspiration as there is a wealth of insight to be learned through observation. It proves the value of closing your mouth and opening your eyes by forcing you to notice the intriguing people moving all around you. You never know when your next outfit inspiration will pass you on the street, so pay attention!

5. Get back to your roots. ---> How refreshing and inspiring a trip to your hometown can be. As our grandmothers always said, “You can go home when you can’t go anywhere else.” This is so true and important for young people to remember. Inspiration is often found when you step away from everything and go back to the nest; to recharge and be reminded of the cloth you were cut from. On numerous road trips to Florida, we always cherish the hours spent in the car. Breathing in the wide-open spaces, thinking, dreaming, singing our favorite songs, and usually crying a few tears on the drive back.

Find Emily & Allie here:  Blog  |  Allie's Twitter  |  Emily's Twitter  |  Pinterest  |  Bloglovin

Thank you so much, Emily and Allie! It has been such a special experience seeing you both grow as bloggers and getting to know you ladies. Your inspiration topics were so unique and perfect to start us all on a good path this summer. I totally recommend adding The Wonder List to your "must reads". These ladies are very talented writers and always have inspiring content! :) 

5 THINGS WITH SCATHINGLY BRILLIANT

I'm Kate and I blog at Scathingly Brilliant and sell my illustrated goodies in my Etsy shop, Flapper Doodle. If I had to be honest, the thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is food. My food (I'm a huge fan of breakfast) and my cat's food (she starts meowing at me incessantly from the moment she sees me open my eyes.) Other than that, each morning I really look forward to getting dressed (oh, I would add this to my list of 5 important things -- if you work from home, get dressed! It makes work feel more like work, and makes the transition into pj's at night really fun), reading my favorite blogs, and watching movies! 

Scathingly Brilliant is my personal life & style blog. I do outfit photos, post about music, astronomy, fashion, and movies... and cats, of course! When I'm not blogging, I'm usually drawing or tending to my Etsy shop. I started Flapper Doodle in 2009 on a whim, after someone on Flickr liked one of the doodles I had uploaded to my account. I had spent the last 4 years trying to sell my art at outdoor street fairs, but nothing really took off until I opened my Etsy shop. Since then, I've been really lucky to work from home and hang out with my cats all day long! Anytime I regret working from home, I look over at one of them and I'm reminded of how much I love it! :)

1. Don't let low sales hurt your self esteem. ---> I struggle with this a lot... I tend to feel really bad about myself when my sales are slow, and it affects me way too much. So I try hard not to let my Etsy shop dictate my mood & my self confidence. Running a handmade shop is a lot more personal than running any online business -- you're putting your own creations 'out there' and it can be really rough on the ego. During these slow times, I try to come up with new products and re-energize my shop! Creating something new helps bounce the ego back a bit (assuming you created something you like, lol) and take your mind off the slow sales!

2. Know what your best-sellers are. ---> My dad owns a small mail-order business, and he told me that 20% of your items account for 80% of your sales, and he's right! You'll have a lot of great products that just never sell, and one or two that fly off the (virtual) shelves! For me, it's my best friend art prints. They're far and away my best seller, so I try to capitalize on that by offering a bunch of products with that design. Right now I have prints in 2 sizes, customizable prints, an embroidery pattern, and pendant sets! Even if your best seller isn't your personal favorite, remember that its success is what makes your handmade lifestyle possible.

3. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed. ---> Only list items in your shop that are either pre-made or can be made in a reasonable amount of time. Make sure that you have your supplies in stock before listing an item for sale. Even if you have a reliable supplier, it's easy to accidentally oversell, and then find out that your supplier is sold-out too. (Can you tell I'm speaking from experience? lol) If you sell 20 of something that has to be made to order, consider deactivating the item for a little bit while you play catch up. There's nothing worse than an angry, impatient customer, and making sure you're not overwhelmed is the best way to avoid meeting any!

4. Celebrate little victories. ---> When you're running a handmade business, chances are you're doing it alone. A lot of people have amazingly supportive spouses (or in my case, parents & a brother) who help them when they're crunched for time, but the bulk of the work is all on you. You're a manager, customer service representative, shipper, *and* you have to make the product from scratch. It can get overwhelming and sometimes seem very daunting. I find that one of the perks of being your own boss is treating your whole staff (aka: you) to a treat. It can be reaching a milestone sales number, or just packing up an especially challenging order. Buy yourself a little something, or order take-out! (P.S.-- Ordering take-out can also serve as a great bribe incentive for getting family and friends to help you out!)

5. Support other handmade artists. ---> You don't have to purchase (although that is always awesome!), but at least leave feedback on their blog posts, favorite items on Etsy, re-tweet their sales and new products on Twitter, or like their posts on Facebook. Good feedback and encouragement is SO important and if we all support each other, everybody is happy! :)

Find Kate Here:  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Blog  |  Shop  |  Pinterest  |  Bloglovin

Thanks so much, Kate, for sharing!! I loved all of your tips! I especially love your idea about capitalizing on your best selling products and supporting other handmade artists!

5 THINGS WITH CASEY WIEGAND

My name is Casey Wiegand, I am a freelance artist, wife and mama. I love painting and sharing our life through my blog...where you can expect pieces of my perspective on life, faith, kids, marriage, with touches of art, creative inspiration, projects and things I love along the way. I have two little ones with one on the way and hopes of lots more and am married to the love of my life!

1. Stepping on Toes//Blogger ETIQUETTE. ---> Be careful asking other bloggers to give you a "plug", or to post something on their blog, etc. etc. etc. There are a lot of ways//things you can ask that will put the person you are emailing in a tough spot. If you catch their attention, they will ask. If they want you to guest post for them, they will ask. If anything, you can ask them to guest post on your own blog for a start! Or be a sponsor on their blog. I don't have extra money, but I decided from the beginning of blogging that a portion of what I made from sponsors would go back in to sponsoring other blogs... I value people's time and the hard work they have put into their spaces!!!

2. Sponsorships. ---> Sponsorships are huge. But you also have to use them to your full advantage. You have to be active...Do a giveaway! I know some people say, "I don't want to do a giveaway and have someone just following me for a pair of shoes!" Well, I don't look at it that way. I have never, ever followed a blog because I want to enter a giveaway. In my opinion, it gives you that solo attention to give people the option to see what you have to offer and they will either like it or not. So, maybe you specialize in recipes and someone who loves to cook sees your giveaway. They wouldn't have found you otherwise and now are going to become a loyal followers! I personally think that SOLO//paired giveaways are what bring the traffic! Choose a blog that is somewhat similar to yours. If people are following that blog and yours is similar, they will most likely enjoy yours as well. Choose blogs that you think will best represent you! Also, I look for blogs that are growing. If they are growing readers monthly, then if you sponsor them monthly, that is constant new exposure!

Starting sponsorships on your own blog. This is what I did: I emailed like 10 blogs that had the same followers as me and asked them if they would be willing to trade for a few months while I "figured the whole sponsor thing out." Then, I found 5-6 bigger blogs and emailed them and asked permission to put them listed as a sponsor for free for a few months. This does a few things. One is, people think, "Wow she has Gussy, Litttle Miss Momma, Just lovely things, etc. all sponsoring her blog!" It makes you look good to have big names on there. And you haven't rubbed them the wrong way in the process. THEN, you will start getting emails from new bloggers who see all your sponsors and want to start paying. My whole trade//free process lasted about 4 months, then I got more and more emails and I started slowly dropping off my free ads and my trades. I started accepting paying sponsors around 600 followers.

3.Twitter. ---> Twitter is a FABULOUS network to meet other bloggers. Promote your shop & blog. I have met so, so, so, so many people through Twitter! Get on the bandwagon; it's worth it. Such a fast, easy way to instantly connect.

4. Be a space worth following. ---> Maybe it is just the artist in me, but I am very drawn to blogs with big, beautiful pictures. Wide blogs with big pictures are fabulous in my opinion! If you aren't using Photobucket or Picnik, check them out; they are AMAZING. Also, I think it's worth it to have a blog design that you love and that feels like "you"! If your look and whole feel//vibe is warm and inviting, people will want to come back!

5. Blog about what you know. ---> It would be silly for me to blog about things I don't know. It wouldn't be real and people see through that. If fashion isn't your thing, don't focus on that. Focus on what you love, what you are passionate about.

Find Casey Here:  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest 

Thank you, Casey, for contributing your thoughts on blogging!! I loved your thoughts on blogging about what you know. We are all so unique and have something great to offer. It's important to harness the "you" and let that shine in your blog!! (Or really with anything you do!)

Interested in being a 5 THINGS contributor? Email me at Savannah@Maiedae.com!

5 THINGS WITH PIE N THE SKY

Hello there! My name is Melisa and I run a blog and shop called Pie N' the Sky. I love fancy, lovely, frilly things and I love, love to blog and craft! So much of what I do stems from my desire to inspire, so I thought it was fitting to share five tips on staying inspired! Hope these tips can help you out!

1. Surround yourself with inspiring people. ---> My Mr. is probably my biggest source of inspiration. He's creative and when he shares with me what he's doing, it motivates me to create. Being around friends who are inspiring will help your ideas to stay fresh. Soon, you'll be too inspired and not have enough time in the day to create everything you have ideas for!

2. Keep a Journal. ---> This is something I've done for years and years! I love to journal and having a notebook in my purse makes it easy to jot down ideas whenever they hit. I don't know about you, but I seem to get inspired in the most random places and at such random times, too! Having a journal at hand helps me to remember all the good ideas. ^_^ Even your journal itself can be a source of inspiration. If I've made my journal, every time I look at it, it gets those creative juices going. Need some help thinking of things to journal? I always like to doodle or make lists to start... Here's a list I made of things that inspire me; it helps during those days when I'm just not feelin' it because I can go back and read it and BAM! I'm inspired.

3. Blog or Craft because you want to, not because you have to. ---> This was my biggest fear when I started my blog and shop; I never wanted my hobby to become my work. Even if it became my "work" I never wanted it to feel like work. I wanted it to always remain a source of refreshment and joy and never a source of stress or worry. I love to craft and create, so sometimes I need to just make something simply for the joy of making something. This time of creating for fun really helps me stay inspired. I challenge you to go back to the initial reason you started your craft. It'll inspire you to keep crafting and remind you of how much you love what you do.

4. Make an Inspiration Playlist. ---> Music is a such a huge part of my life. I love, love to make playlists for everything that I do. Music is constantly inspiring me and I think you'll find it will help inspire you too! Certain songs will always get me in a mood to craft, but sometimes it's good to add to the playlist and refresh it. I like to do a feature called Music Monday where I share a few songs that are currently inspiring me, in case you need a few good ones.

5. Read blogs. ---> Not just any blogs, but blogs by bloggers who inspire you and motivate you to create. Every blog I read is different and I read them for unique reasons. For instance, I love reading Busy Bee Lauren, because of how open and honest Lauren is. She inspires me to write more heartfelt posts. I love reading Bleubird, because of how Miss James writes. She inspires me to share my daily adventures in new and innovative ways. I love reading A Beautiful Mess, because Elsie is just the sweetest. She's always coming up with fun new features and her styling is just the prettiest. She inspires me to do more styled photo shoots and start new features. I love reading Food Coma, because she always has such fun recipes. She inspires me to share more recipes and DIYs. These are just to name a few, but you see how easy it is to stay inspired if you just go to the right places? I always like to start my day by visiting at least one blog. That always helps me to start off with inspiration and be more creative throughout the day.

Hooray! Hope this helps you to stay inspired. And if you're simply not feeling inspired, that's okay, we all have those days. You needn't worry though, because these tips are the perfect recipe for a constant flow of inspiration! Thanks so much for having me here, Savannah!

Find Melisa Here:  Blog  |  Shop  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest  |  Bloglovin

Thank YOU, Melisa!! Staying inspired really is a huge key to staying motivated. It's so important to keep your thoughts and ideas in a place you can reference them often and write in whenever you need to! I loved your #2 tip. I do this personally by keeping a Moleskine journal with me at ALL times. It's perfect for when that innovative and exciting idea hits out of nowhere!! 

What are ways that YOU stay inspired?? 

5 THINGS WITH LITTLE TREE

Hi everyone! My name is Maria and I am the little lady behind Little Tree Vintage. My blog is a lifestyle blog that expresses my personal style choices and encompasses everything that I love. I also own the Little Tree Vintage Shop on Etsy. I grew up adoring my mother's closet and was always stealing her vintage jewelry. When I got a little older, I realized how much I enjoyed it and I decided to start my own shop. That's how Little Tree was born.

Some of my favorite things include shopping (of course), making jewelry, collecting vintage//pre-loved items, antiquing, thrifting, and cooking. I spend most of my days daydreaming about things that inspire me and keep me motivated. I hardly ever feel like I have my feet on the ground, but that's what makes life fun, right? I chose to talk about the topic of blogging, because I think there are a lot of things that I have learned during this whole process and I love being able to share that with others. Coming into the blogging world can be very intimidating, but once you develop your own style, everything will fall into place!

1. Be yourself. ---> Always stay true to yourself. There are so many bloggers out there doing the "same" things. Find ways to stand out and find your own style. It's important to be yourself and not try to imitate anyone else, plus everyone wants to find out about *you*, not someone else! I think being genuine is extremely important, even in the blogging world, because no one likes a phony, and you're not really being you. Embrace who you are and roll with it; chances are people will love it, too! I know we are all terrified of putting ourselves out there completely, and I totally understand where you're coming from, but honestly...that's what people relate to.

2. Social networking. ---> Join social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest. These are such great ways to meet new people who share the same interests as you. Branching out across different areas of the web will bring you all different kinds of readers and make your blog more accessible.

3. Make your blog pretty. ---> I think this is really important, because how your blog looks says a lot about you! You should treat your blog like your baby. I know I do! People will judge your blog when they first visit it. It's the same as meeting you in person. How it looks tells a lot about what the readers should expect. I don't think everyone needs a super fancy layout, but I do think there are a lot of free and easy tutorials you can do to spruce up your own blog! The internet is full of resources and sometimes even asking other bloggers can help! Some good websites I have used for tutorials are Youtube and photoshop tutorials.

4. Don't be discouraged by the "numbers". ---> When you start your blog, there's a huge chance that no one will read it. That doesn't mean in any way that what you're writing isn't great or worthwhile. It just means that you haven't built up a solid readership yet. Things like this take time and dedication, and if you work at it, it will come. You just have to be patient and ignore the numbers. Do what you love and the rest follows.

5. Don't let negativity bring you down. ---> When you put things on the internet, there will always be people who just simply do not agree with you, or what you stand for. The best thing to do to people like this is just simply ignore them and go on your merry way. Feeding into negativity will make you seem just as childish as the person who started the problem to begin with. Let it roll off of your back, as much as it might irritate you; it's not worth it! And remember, taking the high road does pay off, and people will always respect that. Don't let anyone control how you feel about your blog. Keep doing what you love!

Find Maria Here:  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Bloglovin

Thank you, Maria, for sharing your tips on blogging! I loved what you had to say about not letting negativity bring you down. It's important to remember why you do what you do...because you love it! Negative comments shouldn't make you re-consider what you love. 

5 THINGS WITH REGINA MORRISON

Hi, lovely MaieDae readers!  I am so excited to be here today to share with you all 5 things I have learned about running a handmade shop.

About two years ago, I opened an Etsy shop, {Acute Designs}, on a whim.  I was working at a mind-numbing day job and wanted a little hobby to keep myself from going crazy.

After a few weeks of running my hobby//business, I was hooked and knew this was what I wanted to do full-time.  I didn’t want to get up every day and go to a job I hated and live for the weekends.  I wanted a life that I felt like living every single day…not just two days a week.

With the support of my husband and a lot of hard work, I left my day job  just over a year ago.  This past year, as I have been finding my way in the handmade selling world, I have learned SO much.  And I am still learning on a daily basis.

Every week, when I read a new 5 Things post here on MaieDae, I learn something new.  Today, I am thrilled to be sharing with you a few important things I have learned.

1. It is so important to support the handmade community. ---> Handmade is more expensive and not everyone can afford to buy everything handmade.  However, I have found that it is important {and a lot more fun} to spend what I can afford on handmade.

By supporting handmade artists, I am making a pledge with my hard earned money to grow a side of the economy that was forgotten about for far too long. Every day, I am faced with hundreds of cheap store options, and I do buy some of them, but I always make a point to support handmade and small businesses when I have the opportunity.

2. I need to value myself and price accordingly. ---> I wrote a piece about pricing//valuing yourself on my blog and on Design*Sponge and both received a huge response. When I first started selling, I didn’t have a “formula” for pricing; instead, I just pulled the prices out of thin air. Not a good idea.

Since I opened my business, I have learned that I need to factor in all the costs of creating a design + labor cost for all the time I put into that particular design + a profit.  On top of that, I need to work to make the price realistic.

Pricing can be a challenging thing to get just right and the biggest mistake I made at first, and I see so many new handmade sellers making, is in pricing.  It is tempting to offer super low prices just to get a sale.  But I have learned that the right customer will pay what my product is worth.  A customer who wants a super low price is not my customer.

Learning to walk away from those customers, and not sacrifice my value or the value of my work, has been one of the biggest things I have learned in the past two years.

3. Treat every order like it’s your first one. --->  I cannot stress this enough. One of the reasons people buy handmade is because they want to support an artist and they enjoy that connection with the artist. I treat every single order like it’s my first. I never skimp on anything and if something goes wrong, or the item is going to take a few extra days, I am honest and upfront with my customer.

If someone is willing to spend their hard earned money on one of my designs, then it is my obligation to give them the best buying experience I can manage.

4. Branding! ---> I struggled with this a lot in the beginning and I finally feel like I am getting it. Having a consistent brand and look is so important. We all know a McDonald’s when we see one. We all recognize their packaging, logos, jingle, etc. Imagine if it was different every time? That would be so confusing and it would prevent the brand from sticking in our minds.

Think of a logo, font, color scheme, etc., and stick to it. If need be, find a graphic designer to work with you and bring make your vision a reality. It is totally worth the extra money.

5. Networking is so important. ---> Don’t ever underestimate the power of blogging and social media.  That being said…be genuine. Do your best to make real connections and be yourself.

I think Twitter and Facebook are great places to promote your new products. However, when I first opened my Twitter account, all I used it for was promoting my products. I quickly learned that I was using it in the wrong way.

Once I started using Twitter, Facebook, and my blog as a mix of promoting my business, connecting with customers, and making real friends in the blogging//handmade community, I saw a huge increase in followers, connections, and sales.

Find Regina Here:  Blog  |  Shop  |  Etsy  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Thank you, Regina, for taking the time to talk to my readers about running a handmade shop! I loved your insights. :) I especially love what you had to say about treating every sale like it's your first and creating a great experience for your customers. Such a powerful and fantastic business strategy! 

Savvy about business, blogging, balance, or staying inspired? Consider participating in 5 Things and offering your tips and best practices! Contact me at Savannah@maiedae.com if you're interested. :)