If you've been a reader of my blog for a while, you may have noticed I tend to blog about a few things. Some days I'll be lusting over a newly released lipstick, while some days I may be organising my office or decorating a room.
Another topic I wanted to introduce to my blog was a business series. I've posted a few times about my shop, and I always receive emails asking for advice and generally wanting to know more.
I know I'm not the next Sir Allen Sugar apprentice, but I can share my experiences, mistakes and achievements along the way. Sometimes it's nicer than reading the typical 'How to start a successful business in ten steps today'. And it'll be nice to share some more things about my shop.
I felt before jumping right into the posts, I'd give you an inside to my previous jobs and education.
At school, I was nothing special. I didn't enjoy school, I actually hated it. The whole environment was not for me and I hated having to spend anytime around individuals who could have a whole series of Jeremy Kyle just to themselves. I came out with what I needed. I think I got 10/11 Pass grades at GCSE. I then applied for a college not too far away from where I lived. I thought I wanted to study A levels, so applied, and went to the taster days. The taster days were two days but I only managed an hour an a half un till I released I was in exactly the same situation. I went straight home and called up my local college and applied for a media course. I ended up applying for the wrong course at start, but that was soon resolved.
College was ok, I studied film. At that time I was a little bit of a TV addict, so it suited. If you asked me to write up an essay about Eastenders today, I would refuse. Back then, it wasn't that bad. At the beginning of my second year was when I started my blog. Here's my cheesy first post. I'd always loved fashion, beauty and had and probably still do, buy umpteen magazines every week and month.
Although I liked studying media, I decided to not continue at uni. Everyone else around me went to uni, but after moving in with my boyfriend the year before I wanted to find a 9-5 job with a stable wage. That's exactly what I didn't get. I did a Sales Apprenticeship for a year. Earning £2.50 an hour is not the best. But, I did get a permanent position out of it. I was offered a business admin role, so all paperwork and spreadsheets. I loved working on databases for some reason. But, there were quite a few times I had to go without being paid. I went over 2 months, once. On top, of being told if I didn't do something (which was against my morals) I wouldn't get paid, I couldn't wait to leave. I visited my doctor who said they could sign me off for a few months with stress or I should quit there and then. After taking some legal advice, that's exactly what I did. And luckily, I had every penny they owed me paid back.
Whilst I had my office job I also ran an online jewellery shop, which then moved on to a little bit of home ware My mum suffers badly with arthritis, so she set up an online shop selling gifts.
My mum had always wanted to own a shop. She'd worked in shops before, so one evening randomly, I said we should open a shop up. A mixture of being fed up with my job and looking for something new to do, and that's exactly what we did. At first, I don't think anyone was behind us, family included. But, if you'd understand that my mum had wanted to do it for so long and I was fed up and felt like I was going nowhere.
As, the economic climate is how it is. We did know it was going to be a big risk. We decided that we wouldn't take a wage from working in the shop. I was working in my office job at the time and my mum didn't need one. This way we could concentrate in building it up.
Back to when I'd quit my job (best decision ever), I went on a good hunt for a job. My boyfriend wasn't too keen that I quit my job, but we made it work. There was nothing around, and my mum suggested I started my own design company. I'd always been into computer coding and graphic stuff. I think I must get it from my dad. He's an engineer and works with companies such as Cadburys (free chocolate is not the best when you don't like it) BMW, Alton Towers and he's even done something with the staging at Disney Land. So, I've always loved my technology If anyone can remember 'Bebo' I use to one of them kids making the skins and they would send me one of them love hearts. Then there was piczo? (I think it was called). I'd design gawdy graphics for people for that too. So, that's always been something I loved. A couple of days after my mum suggested I should, I set up my design website. I'm still surprised at how many quotes I get asked for. I've been designing websites, shop logos and branding, leaflets, and not much longer after I started doing blog designs.
When I first started my designing business, I looked into some freelance writing too. I did a couple of articles for some companies, but then luckily Kate contacted me and I now contribute to Nouvelle Daily.
I work on my design business in the week and work in the shop at the weekend. There's lots of late nights involved. I can count on one hand how many times I have gone to bed before midnight this year. But, I wouldn't want it anyway. I run two businesses and it's tough. But it's a challenge.
I hope you enjoyed a little sneak into my life and look forward to my little series! I've got a few topics to get started with, which I've put together from questions I've been emailed. So hopefully it will be helpful.
These two rooms have been making me happy recently. My wardrobe looks out over miles and miles of fields, so gets perfect lighting. Although today we've had hail stones and rain. But, the sun has finally come out at 6pm - great! Also, when I uploaded the photo from my wardrobe. I noticed, how I never changed my date on my block calendar - oops.
I mentioned 
Another product which has been helping me getting my skin back to normal is the 
