Life Update #2 | 1/23/2021
Happy New Year!
I didn't make any resolutions because, after 21 years, I've learned a secret: if you don't make resolutions, you can't disappoint yourself when you don't meet them. HA!
Just kidding... (kind of).
In actuality, I'm a huge supporter of setting goals. I cherish the idea of consistently trying to better one's self, even though it often coincides with the detrimental attitude of never being complacent with what one has. The thing is, even when one's goals don't pan out, the journey of trying for the sake of a happier and better life represents something very positive to me. The will to keep going, I'd say.
So I guess maybe I do have an inherent resolution—the same resolution that always exists within me. To keep on keeping on, to reach for my goals even when there are setbacks. Instead of creating concrete goals (ex: earning "x" amount of money in "x" time, or losing "x" amount of weight), I'm going the abstract route this year. Plus, the best part about goals is that they can be set at any time! The concept that we can only create new resolutions at New Year's time is nothing short of a fallacy. :-)
Anyway, I've been pretty absent from my blog. I figured it would be a good time to update you on what's new, with the biggest thing being...
My Etsy Boom!
Let me just preface—when I say "boom," I definitely don't mean BOOM. I didn't get a thousand orders or anything. Thank God, because IDK how I would've even managed that! But even with my 30+ sales, all within the span of a few weeks, I was totally overwhelmed—in a good way!
Around the Christmas holiday, I got an influx of orders on one of my listings on Etsy, my photo on wood. I didn't quite expect it, mostly because I'm a new shop, and orders were only trickling in prior to this point. I guess I should've accounted for the fact that we're in a pandemic, so most people do their shopping online.
The funny part is that I only have 2 items in my whole shop, which is another reason I didn't expect much. I was gradually trying to create new listings when I got hit with the "boom," which put a halt in my production of new items. I guess that goes to show that quantity < quality.
The hardest part was keeping stocked with the materials I needed. Because I get a lot of my supplies from craft stores and love to use coupons to get the best deals, buying in bulk wasn't ideal. However, that's what I had to do for some of my materials if I wanted to get my orders out in time, which was a top priority. Let's just say, we did a LOT of driving around to Hobby Lobby's in December.
Overall, while it kept me VERY busy and at least moderately stressed, it was such a fun experience! I learned a lot. I ran into quite a few issues along the way too: running out of printer ink, my checkout system becoming unavailable to customers (ended up being because I needed to update my driver's license on Etsy—silly), customers' photos not being the right dimensions for the project, my transfer papers doing this weird peel thing (thereby making them unusable), etc. However, these were all such valuable—albeit frustrating—issues to encounter because they taught me what to do in such situations, and I discovered new techniques to make my work even better.
Not to mention, it brought in a little profit, though it wasn't about the money for me—at least not this time around. It was about the experience, the customers' satisfaction, and the increase in shop credibility. I was a hermit for a few weeks, which is why you didn't hear much from me in December, but I wouldn't trade my little "boom" for anything.
Now that the holidays have died down, I'm back to the slow trickle of orders, which is good. This gives me time to create new items and write on here more!!
BT DUBS—if you are interested in purchasing anything in my shop, use the coupon code BLOG25 for 25% off! Valid until March 31st.
Family, birthdays...
Anita opening her "Ring for Sex" bell... courtesy of yours truly 😏
Thomas's family came to visit for about 10 days at the end of December, going into January. It was nice to see them and get to spend the holidays with them, especially because they're very big on Christmas. It was a relaxing 10 days; we didn't do much besides lounge around the house, which I think was alright with everyone. Sometimes that's what we all need!
It was also just my mom's birthday on Jan. 20th. We got to check something off her bucket list: indoor skydiving! She LOVED it. In fact, she's still talking about it! She said she could've stayed in that tube for hours. I will admit, it was a cool experience.
Work
I'm still doing the grind at Olive Garden. You gotta do what you gotta do to pay the bills, right? Ironically, I've actually grown to prefer doing take-out over serving!
I'm grateful to have been employed throughout this whole pandemic. OG has been good to me, and I'm even coming up on my 5-year anniversary this August. Not gonna lie though—how cool would it be if by the end of 2021 I could quit the restaurant life because I'm making enough profit doing my own thing??#newyearresolution?
What else?
Aside from all this, we've got the usual going on... There's housework and renovations. Thomas has been successful with his business! Some of our best friends just moved back to MN. We've been binging some new TV shows ("New Girl" with my mom and "Gilmore Girls," aka "Gilmies," with Thomas). I still do tutoring on the side.
I don't know—I'm kind of a domestic person. As much as I adore traveling and trying new things, I'm also fueled by relaxation and down-time with the ones I love. If nothing else, the pandemic has forced a good amount of that.
And on subject of the pandemic...
A little word on Covid...
Seeing the empty streets in New York for the ball drop on TV was weird, right?
I'm sure we're all praying this year will be vastly different from the last. I find it crazy to think about how, back in March when I first heard about the Coronavirus, I chalked it up to be something more similar to the seasonal flu. Even when we experienced our first shut-down, and I was out of work for 10 days (comparatively better than some people who have been out of work since!), I thought it would pass in a matter of a couple weeks—MAYBE a month or two. Little did I know that almost a year later, we would still be battling this pandemic. Jeez!
I recognize how important it is for some people to grasp onto the hope that this year will be different. Believe me, I am hoping so too! In the meantime, I like to remind everyone to take a breath and be thankful that we are alive and well. I thank God that no one I'm close to has been seriously sick because of—or died due to—Covid. I know that this is not the case for everyone, though, so I extend my best wishes and deepest condolences to all the families who have been negatively impacted from the virus. I hope the vaccines will make things better this year, and that if not, we can enjoy our lives to the best of our abilities within the individual parameters we each have.
So... Did you create any New Year's resolutions? What has been occupying your time? What did your life look like in 2020 after the pandemic?
Any new TV shows you've been into? 😜
All questions I'd love to hear your answers to. Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time...
