Coming to Terms: I'm Not Everybody Else

Lately I've been feeling really conflicted about my expectations vs my abilities. Until now I seem to have been able to keep afloat, but barely. I think I am starting to realize that I cannot keep comparing myself to everybody else and what they do or how they live their lives. I need to focus on me, and what I can do and how I life my life.

So let's stop beating around the bush - up until this point I have been able to swing working full time, maintaining a home, running a small business and going to school two nights a week after work. I don't care if other people can go to school six nights a week - this girl can't.

I don't know how some people manage to juggle ten thousand things at once, it's truly a talent, and I don't have it. Maybe other people are like human-versions of honey badgers; capable and ready for anything. However, I might be a little more like a stiffy goat. Right now I feel like I'm in survival mode, which means I'm really not paying attention or learning during classes, I'm just attending and going through the motions because I have to. I don't want to be in survival mode anymore. So, next year I am changing my schedule around - just one class per semester for me. I might take one or two over the summer sessions as well, but at the end of the day I need to start focusing on what works for me; not what everybody else is doing.

I'm looking forward to having a more balanced amount of time next year to focus on all the aspects of my life. I'm especially looking forward to having the time to let my business continue to grow! I don't care if it takes me ten years to get my masters, one day it'll be done and I'll be proud, proud, proud!

Believe Notes Free Giveaway on Facebook!!!

And I sure do have something to be happy about today!!! I woke up this morning to see my Facebook Page made it up to 100 fans and then just kept on going!! Woooohooo!!!! This means a giveaway is on it's way :)

So I think that not only do I have something to be happy about, but you all have something to be happy about as well!!

In order to be entered for the giveaway all you have to do is head over and "like" my page. Just remember that you need to like it from your personal page, not your business page, for some reason Facebook doesn't allow businesses to like other businesses. Silly, I know.

I've got a pretty good idea what I'll be giving away, but I think I'll wait till later to announce.

Thanks for all the support and keep the love coming!

**OH and if you haven't checked it out in a while, you'll be noticing a few new gems in the Etsy Shop**

Valentine's Day is Coming Our Way!

I've been putting together some various Valentine's Day cards and designs. Want to see? Thought so!

Holiday Cards 2010

Here's a peak at some of my holiday cards for 2010. This year the inspiration was bold, fun graphics with a modern flare. You'll see lots of stamps, fun graphics, cool typography, and some funky colors. This year we are keeping the cards simple, but totally, totally awesome!

To see the rest of my 2010 Holiday Collection, and to make a purchase visit my BelieveNotes Etsy Shop.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!

Let me introduce myself...

My name is Jackie and I take both nothing and everything seriously. Sometimes I refer to myself as a bee, since I tend to buzz around doing a million things at once. While a lot of people define relaxation as keeping activities to a minimal, I define relaxation as keeping busy. Weird, I know. I was born and raised on Long Island, New York. If you have never been to the Big Apple, you must. There is nothing else in the world quite like it, and the people aren't half as mean as they're made out to be.

Although I am not a graphic designer, or print specialist by trade, I happen to love all things creative. Growing up I always hand-wrote 'thank you' notes, love letters, or "hello" notes. I find it's a dying habit. Today people seem to be too busy to put pen to paper, and would rather put finger to keyboard. Well, I think that's a sad, sad thing. I'm guessing, if people are like me, that the majority of their mail consists of bills, bills, junk and more bills. It's funny because if I ever get something that does not look like a bill, I get this little feeling in my tummy that maybe somebody thought of me for a moment in their day, and due to that thought, they actually snail mailed me!! Amazing concept. Pretty exciting too, getting something in the snail mail as opposed to e-mail.

Anyway, this train of thought is what lead me to begin creating my own line of paper products. You name it, I'll make it; stationary, invitations, labels, cards, posters, whatever. I believe that sending somebody a cute little note is worth its weight in gold. Moving forward I will be posting my little do-dads as I make them, feel free to take a look. If you want something made, just send me an e-mail at believenotes@yahoo.com.