Fave goes FAB!

3 more weeks until the FAB Fair. I'm super excited about it, even though there's stiff competition that weekend (if you're into indie/handmade products, then you know which shows I am referring to!). If you're free for a bit on either day, Nov. 22 & 23, stop by the Heritage Hall on Main St. You won't regret it! Even though I'm vending there the entire weekend, you better believe I'll be shopping too!

Some thoughts on working from home

I've read tons of books/articles about the traps and potential setbacks of working from home, and I've noticed that they all pretty much say the same thing. There's lots about "to do" lists, time management tricks, setting boundaries etc and that's all well and good, except I think there's something missing. We focus so much on what we have to get done, rather than celebrate what we've already accomplished! I've always got a "to do" list a mile long, and while crossing off items once I've finished them is satisfying, I like to actually write a list at the end of the day of all the things I accomplished. Whether it's something small like "responded to so-and-so's email" to something bigger like "finished fabric inventory," I think it's important to note all the things that I've done and be thankful for it! It's just my way of putting a positive spin on the drudgery of daily life.

Here is my list of "off the beaten path" tips for working from home:

1) Wake up at the same time every day, as though you have to run out the door to get to work. I know this one sounds weird, but I'm sure other people who work from home (those of us that don't have children, anyways) can agree that sometimes the temptation of sleeping in an extra hour just because we can is hard to resist!

2) Do things for yourself that you'd normally do if you were going to an actual office. For me, I know that I'd be stopping at Starbucks for a peppermint mocha in the morning to get my daily caffeine kick. So I actually purchased a bottle of peppermint syrup from Starbucks (it only costs $6 for a whole bottle, FYI) and now I make my own peppermint mocha at home by adding the syrup to my cuppa joe in the morning. This makes it easier to get up in the morning, saves me at least $4 a day and helps me get through my usual morning tasks.

3) Create a motivational playlist to listen to while you work. One of the great perks of working from home is the privacy, right? So why not capitalize on that by compiling a playlist of all your favourite songs that you can actually sing along to at the top of your lungs? I know that helps me keep my energy up and well, it just makes me happier=)

4) Take a break to do something fun every day. For me, it's giving myself time to watch an episode of my favourite show while I eat lunch. I have to eat lunch anyways, and giving myself the treat of watching my show while I eat gives me the fun break I need in the middle of my day. The anticipation makes the morning go quicker, and the afternoon seem less daunting afterwards.

5) Share your daily accomplishments with someone. Whether it's in person (my boyfriend gets to hear about all of the wonderful, exciting things I get done in a day whenever he gets home from work), by phone, email, forum post or blog, tell someone what you've accomplished and it'll get easier to stay productive.

Well, I'm sure I'll remember other things to add to the list, but for now that's it. For anyone else who works from home, are there any tips you have that aren't normally found in the "work from home" guidelines?

Fave Handbags hits Richmond, BC!

Ok, so I know I said I'd try to blog at least once a week, and then proceeded to NOT blog for a few weeks, but I have a good excuse. We've been working away at getting the online ordering function on the website ready, plus I had a handbag party to plan for this past weekend! The party was in Richmond, and it was a huge success. I'm proud to say we even had a local celebrity grace us with her presence - Joy MacPhail was in the house woohoo! The Mexican Fiesta theme went off without a hitch, empanadas and sangria warmed our bellies and the games and prizes were enjoyed by all. The ladies all got a chance to see the Fave Handbag line up close and play around with all of the fabric choices, and in the end lots of awesome handbag creations were designed that day! Thanks to all the ladies who came out to our fun, fabulous, Fave afternoon!!

Going live...

Wow, I can't believe this day has finally come! Today, our website, www.favehandbags.com, went live on the net, and I have to admit some days I thought it was never going to happen. It was almost a year ago that I decided to quit my job as office manager at Nannies on Call to make my dream of starting this business a reality, and it feels like much longer than that. This is also my first foray into the world of blogging, and it's something I'm going to have to get used to. It's a little strange, isn't it? Kind of like giving the world constant access into your personal journal, or better yet, a glimpse right into your brain and the crazy, wacky or sometimes boring thoughts you spend your days dwelling on. Me, I've been eating, breathing and sleeping this handbag business for the last year, and I have to say it has been the most exhilarating year of my life.

When I was attending the Venture Program at BCIT, which is an entrepreneurial skills training program, we were strongly encouraged to start a blog. People obviously blog for many different reasons, some strictly personal, others purely professional, and some are a mixture of both. My blog will be the latter; I will attempt to update weekly whether it be personal or business matters that find their way into this lil' ol' blog o' mine. I can't say for certain that I will be able to maintain my intended weekly schedule of blogging, but I will do my best. For now, I'll end this entry with the inspirational quote that helped me through the past year and kept me motivated and moving forward.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- excerpt from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, by Marianne Williamson