Hello friends! First off, I would like to note that we are in the process of making over our website so you will notice some changes around here. We are going to be adding much more to our blog in the coming weeks so keep an eye out! Well, it is finally February 1st and the winner of the Valentine Basket Giveaway has been chosen :)

 
We have been keeping the basket a bit of a surprise, so I thought I would include a few photos below! Just a little something to show our appreciation :)

 



Mug, Damask stationary set, Owl Hearts To Do notepad, Monogrammed Coffee Mug with Conversation Hearts, Mailbox with Conversation Jelly Beans.

Again, thanks so much to everyone who purchased throughout the month of January and during our After Christmas Sale! Keep an eye out for a potential giveaway the beginning of March to celebrate Freckle Fox Boutique’s Two Year Anniversary! :)

 

Do you ever find yourself feeling exhausted doing so many things and never really accomplishing anything? I definitely have these past few weeks. With this Christmas rush finally over, I have had a lot of time to think about the things that make me happy and really focus on what matters. Too many times we get distracted with all of the other things pulling at us in life, but I think I am getting the hang of where my life is headed. Several times I have discussed with my mother about all of the great things I hope we will be able to achieve and it makes me feel even more strongly each and every time that this is exactly where we are supposed to be. We hit bumps in the road, as all people do, where we question if we truly are doing the right thing or if it will be enough to sustain us. Oddly enough, without a doubt, each time I find myself even more certain that this is the path we are supposed to follow. If it were not for a little bit of doubt, what would be the point of faith?

I think sometimes we hit walls that we think are confining and unbreakable. I have even found myself stumbling across a few from time to time this past month racking my brain to come up with new ideas, trying new things, and questioning whether or not to pursue certain options. Though, even when I am stuck or frustrated or hesitant, I keep my sights set on the things I want most in my life and for others. A lifestyle is created. It doesn’t just fall upon us. We choose it (and for the record, I choose happiness).

Occasionally, it seems easier to just follow the crowd instead of leading by example. A few times I have found myself almost falling into this idea these past few weeks. In trying to come up with some new items (which are going to be amazing, by the way!) and figure out what avenue we would go down with the business, I became extremely frustrated, tired, angry, depleted of all creativity, and a mental wreck. All I wanted was to finish the orders for Christmas so we could figure out new things and then, when it happened, my creatives juices had run dry? There is really nothing more devastating to an artist than when you cannot think of anything to create (ie: writer’s block). I was grasping for straws, pulling at anything that seemed slightly intriguing. I even thought about switching to Blogger a few days ago or being more “vintage” simply because it was what other successful SBO’s were doing, even though I knew that was not who I was as a person or what I really am passionate about.

I decided to get back into Pinterest (which I am basically obsessed with right now, just so you know!) and find some inspiration. It really helped me regain my focus and spark some creativity in me again. I also spoke with Adam at Storenvy (where our shop is based out of) yesterday and it honestly helped me find clarity once more. Just listening to myself talk about our store, what we stand for, and why we do what we do refreshed me. I do not want to be just another gift shop who makes the same things as everyone else, follows the same styles as they do, or even appears how other SBO’s portray themselves. 

I know this is a fairly long post and I do not even know if anyone will actually read it in it’s entirety. At this point, it does not matter to me because I want to do something different. I want to be able to post on Tumblr and get my point across that you do not have to be like everyone else, in business or in life, to succeed. I want to be able to be insightful and personal and real when I write to people instead of simply promoting items or sharing updates. I want our followers, customers, and affiliates to know they have people they can come to for help with anything because that is the basis of our entire company. 

I hope I haven’t bored anyone to death or that they feel like they wasted fifteen minutes of their lives reading this post! :) I just hope it helps other people who feel the same way and feel stuck in what they are doing. Time for me to head to bed!