Being a 'Grown Up'

Ok, there was no blog last week. Why? Because I'd had a really hard week - physically, mentally and emotionally. I didn't have the strength to sit in front of a screen and relay the highs and lows of the week before me. And that got me thinking about why I'm here, doing what I am. Did I plan to be self employed with three children? No, but then I never really did have a plan.

You see, nobody ever tells you when you are little how hard life can be when you grow up. They don't explain friendships stop being simple, choices stop being easy and the joys of childhood stop altogether. They just ask what you want to be when you grow older. Whatever the minefield of life could hold in store for you, it seems the answer to this single question is all you need to be armed with.Which, of course, is all very well if you what to be something sensible like a doctor or a teacher - but if not, like me, you shrug and say 'dunno' you leave the person asking a little disappointed that you don't have a 'direction' in life.

But now, I've found what I love doing and feel a little vindicated that I held out, that I didn't stick to a carefully constructed course of jumping through hoops and goals to get to the final destination. But as with growing up, running your own business is a constant journey of learning by your mistakes and relishing in your achievements.   By making choices, albeit harder ones than as a child (jam or ham in your sandwich?) you carve your path and gradually the lessons learnt along the way will teach you in anticipation of future avenues you may find yourself in and by having the past experience you'll know how to deal with fresh challenges.

Just to lighten the mood (!) I'd thought I'd share a few new lines that have been added to the website this week - all with Mother's Day in mind...

Blackboard Heart with Wooden Frame - £14.95

Watering Can Plant Pot Holder - £6.95

Grandmas Are Just Antique Little Girls - £9.95

Half term has landed!

Half term has landed!


It's one of those weeks in the school year you love or you loath - February half term. It's not like the summer or Easter holidays where (usually) the weather is half decent and you can get the kids out and about. Oh no, this is the week of cold, miserable weather and unlike the Christmas holidays where the weather is also abysmal, there isn't the distraction of presents and festivities!

We've all seen these looks on the kids, haven't we?!

So what to do....


I have a secret to share with you that my Mum told me once the oldest was at school. It's the secret to a (reasonably) smooth half term. Here it is....


Plan something everyday


Simples, right? By having one thing each day to do, you're giving you and the kids a little bit of purpose and structure to the week. You and the kids will have something to look forward to. Now I'm not talking about going to the zoo, theatre, indoor play area etc everyday 1) because it'll cost a small fortune and 2) because the kids will end up in overload mode!


I'm talking about a playdate with friends, visiting a relative you don't get the chance to see in school time, a movie afternoon at home with popcorn and the duvet on the sofa (personal favourite!),  doing a craft kit together, going to a local cafe for lunch, popping into a supermarket or similar and buying something thing to make with the kids at home. 

http://pretty-chic.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=myoowl&cat=53

Most of these activities will take between 1-3 hours so you won't have your day eaten up - the kids will still get to do their own thing plus you'll still have the chance to get on with the boring stuff too (washing, cleaning etc - go to be done!)

Ok, I may be dreaming if I think anyone can do all this in a day!

I write down in my diary what we've got planned for each day, and it may be just me, but I find it really reassuring to know that we've got something on. I'd hate to hear the age old 'Muuuummmm, I'm bored' every day for a week and by telling the kids we're doing whatever it is that day, they seem to look forward to it and I get (a very small amount of) peace. 


Happy half term everyone!




Lucy x


P.s  The website is always open, trading as usual - I may even have some little helpers this week!

So what's your 'other' job?

It's just before Christmas, I'm in a warm house, surrounded by a few hundred products of mine that I've lovingly displayed for guests to browse and buy. I guess there's around 15 women, doing what we do best on a Friday night - sharing a bottle (or two!) of wine and having a good ol' chin wag. 

This home party is going really well - the guests are relaxed, there's music playing in the background and we're all having a really great time. The conversation flows, covering a huge range of topics, from childbirth to holidays right through to who's going to win the X-Factor. Then, a lady turns to me and says 'So what else do you do?' I respond with 'Well, we attend some local fairs and markets as well as selling online.' I get a small puzzled look from her and then the realisation kicks in - 'Oh, so you don't have another job?' I smile and say no, this is my full time job. 

This isn't the first time I've been asked what I do and been met with the same response - 'But don't you have another 'real' job?' It can either go one of two ways - I get looked at like I'm completely mad, and I think people even feel a little sorry for me (crazy lady setting up her own business in a recession) Or, I get the 'Wow, so this is YOUR business, just you?' These conversations usually go onto talks about the recession, how independent businesses survive and why I wanted to set up a new business when I did. *

I always get a little bit excited when the conversation turns to this - I love sharing the fact that I am independent - I don't have to sell certain products, at certain prices in a certain way. I have the flexibility to pick and choose what I sell and how I sell, and in doing so, I'm able to offer my customers a range of goods they want and prices they can afford. 

Would I ever want a 'real' job? No way! I'm working hard at growing my business organically and although I'm still learning, I'm so pleased to be in the driving seat of my own business. 

* (I'm going to talk about these 3 topics in the next few blogs)