Lovely Lessons: How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

Hello My Lovelies,

I was going through my emails and trying to catch up on some reading when I came across this Lovely Lesson in a newsletter from SheBrand.com. When I decided to starting making jewelry it was supposed to be as a hobby but I quickly realized I had an opportunity to make it so much more and see some growth in myself as well. P.S. You're Lovely has not only become a passion but part of my identity and something I want to be remembered for years down the line. Check out this test below...

Today's Lovely Lesson: How Do You Want to Be Remembered? 

How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

The following quiz appeared on the Web and has been all over the world. Take a few minutes to answer the following questions and see how you do:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

The point: None of us remember the headlines of yesterday. These are not second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name three people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few special people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of three people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name a half a dozen heroes who stories have inspired you.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They are the ones who care.

© Liz Dennery Sanders 2011
Liz Dennery Sanders wants you to build your brand with style. As the CEO of Dennery Marks Inc., a brand development and celebrity outreach firm, she founded SheBrand, to help female entrepreneurs build powerful personal brands, attract more clients and position themselves as authorities in their industries. You can reach her directly at info@shebrand.com or www.shebrand.com. 

After I read this I realized something else. It's not just about HOW you want to be remembered but its also about WHO you remember as you make your way to the top. The people who really want to see you succeed in whatever you do in life will be there no matter what. Take faith and pride on your way to the top but just don't forget about the people who carried you when you were weak.


Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone.


Blissfully,

P.S You're Lovely

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Lovely Lessons: Do Something Scary

Hello My Lovelies,

I'm back from camping and I just want to say I had an AMAZING time! But we'll come back to that in just a minute. I was visiting one of my new fav blogs, Blackburg Belle, and April had a very touching Vlog where she encouraged each one of us to take a moment to step outside our comfort zone and "Do One Thing That Scares You." So today I'm challenging you to do just that... here's my story.

Today's Lovely Lesson: Do Something Scary

This past weekend was one for the books. As many of you know I went camping and I was beyond excited, what you might not know is that my friend had to back out last minute. I love to have fun but normally my best friend is right there with me or I'm with a group of friends. Having someone I know around me has always been a crutch and although I make new friends easily, breaking the ice has never been one of my fav things to do. In December my best friend moved to STL (an extreme after living no more than 10mins from each other our entire friendship) and I had to make the decision to step outside of my comfort zone and learn how to enjoy doing things on my own or without knowing anyone. Bestie, you know how hard this is for me.

 When my friend had to back out, my first mind was to cancel the trip all together but then I realized I was canceling something I really wanted to do just because I had to do it alone. There was a meet up for all the campers, new and old, so I told myself that I would attend and how I felt would determine if I went or not. People let me tell you... I HAD A BLAST! I quickly met the organizers of the whole trip and told them that not only was this my first time but that I was also coming alone and they quickly put my mind at ease, introduced me to everyone and convinced me to join the early crew that was headed out on Thursday. That evening I went home and packed up all my stuff and arrived at camp Thursday for a weekend that I will always remember.

I see that this post is already getting lengthy but the point is that you never know where your next adventure, moment, memory, smile lies so do something scary and live it up. Step outside of you comfort zone and see what's waiting out there for you. If I had stayed home this weekend I would have never known how much I love camping, missed a chance to go tubing on the river, and never met 20 something new friends.

I extended this challenge to each of you! Do something scary and tell us all about it. Make sure you take a moment to listen to April's Vlog and I promised you'll be moved today.

Blissfully,

P.S You're Lovely

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Lovely Lessons: Birthstones vs. Zodiac

Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Weekend and spent plenty of time with family and friends! I'm currently trying not to get sick so I can be ready for my CAMPING TRIP this weekend with my dear friend and about 80 new friends.

 Anyway, back to the topic at hand. It came to my attention that some people are unaware of what their birthstone is and that your birthstone corresponds with the month of your birth and not your zodiac sign so I'm here to help.

Today's Lovely Lesson is Birthstones vs. Zodiac

I am a very proud April baby. Since my birthday is on April 12th I fall under the zodiac sign of Aries. Aries start the cycle of the zodiac and are born between March 21st and April 19th. There are a total of 12 zodiac signs just like the calendar but these follow the path of the sun in 30 degree blocks. I don't want to get too deep into it but the point is there is a difference between the two.

 Although two months share the same zodiac each month has its own Birthstone. April's birthstone is the Diamond while March's birthstone is Aquamarine or Bloodstone.

Below are two birthstone charts. You'll notice that some months have multiple stones. In my designs I pick the stone that goes best with the combination for each necklace.

I hope these charts educated you and also helped you envision what your Family Tree necklace or Baby Girl's First Pearls will look like.

Have a wonderful Tuesday and I'll talk to you soon!

P.S You're Lovely

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Lovely Lessons: Shipping and Handling

Hello My Lovelies,

Along my journey I will share the "Lovely Lessons" that I've learned and my hope is that my fellow crafters, jewelry makers, and Etsy community will share their stories so that I may learn from them as well.

Today's Lovely Lesson: Understanding Shipping and Handling Takes Time.

When I first decided that I wanted to start P.S. You're Lovely I thought that it would be as easy as making a wonderful necklace, someone will love it and buy it, and I'll drop it in the mail. PERFECT. I didn't even think about how I was going to package it, what that would cost, printing cost, shipping packaging, will I offer insurance, and the actual shipping. My head started spinning and I tried my best to figure it out on my own. I did ok but I quickly realized that I was not covering my cost and if I kept it up that I would soon end up eating my actual profits.

To start, you need to know how much your method of packaging cost.
I know I need the box to put the necklace in, the business cards I put inside to pass along to friends, and the bubble envelop to ship the box.

Second, you need to understand your shipping options. 

Will you shipping First Class or Priority? Can you even ship First Class? I was trying to figure out how to handle my shipping and handling for multiple items and if it made more sense to package everything as one package and send them off individually. You can only ship First Class it what you're mailing is 13oz or less and once you go over 13oz your next option becomes Priority. If I have to mail off any combination of 2 necklaces that are multiple strands it automatically sends me to Priority based on the weight.

  For my current order of 3 necklaces the weight is 22oz.

• If I mail it Priority but I use my own packaging (bubble envelop, box, etc.), my price will be $7.90.
• If I try to use a Flat Rate box ("If it fits, it ships"), then my price is $10.95
• If I mail each necklace First Class separately, my price totals only $7.68

 First Class is clearly the best option for me and I now see why so many in the Etsy community use this option. Any other option would mean I would have to charge more for shipping and handling and at the end of the day every cent matters.

Needless to say, because of this Lovely Lesson, I quickly corrected my Shipping and Handling to protect everyone's pockets and ensure that each product from P.S. You're Lovely arrives safely to your hands. I put a lot of care into each piece I make and always want to ensure the presentation and quality of each piece make you want to come back soon.

Oh yeah, for those of you that I know personally and its easier for me to hand delivery it to you, I still have to cover the packaging that you receive so please be understanding that a fee will still apply.

Thanks for sharing in my Lovely Lessons. If you have dealt with similar issues or have suggestions or stories PLEASE comment and lets get a conversation going. I'm always here to learn and I get better each day because of the support I get from you.

 

P.S. You're Lovely

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