A multi passionate life

Living a multi passionate life

VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS TO GROW IN THE GARDEN

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FAVORITE VEGGIES AND FLOWERS TO GROW IN THE GARDEN

vegetables and flowers to grow in the garden

Hobbies are our passions. I’d like to share one of mine with you.

Through the last few years, gardening has grown to be a grounding experience for me. and in this post, I’m going to share my favorite flowers and vegetables that I grow in my backyard space, many which can be grown in pots. But I will also tell you why I love them. Plus, with the rise in cost of food, what better time to start growing food than now?

At A Multi Passionate Life, I share ways for us to uncover our passions by digging deeper. Tell me a hobby of yours and why you love it below in the comment section and if you like gardening posts, please let me know. I’d love to share! I don’t always want to write with a focus of making money. For us to have a balance of work and pleasure, we need to focus our attention on things we love, too. No strings attached like making money, but things you do to ground yourself. Gardening is that for me. It has helped me so much through the years.

Being outdoors with nature, getting my hands in dirt, or holding a large harvest and sharing beans, or seeds… it’s healing, plus, it creates opportunity for me to get outside more often on the days where I may never leave my house.

Let me start by saying, I by no means think I’m some garden guru. Quite the contrary. But I am inspired by it; love learning more abouts plants, the evolution of growing things and I enjoy sharing what I like with other people. What grows for me, may not grow for you, though I wish you a wonderful journey!

I used to think I had a very brown thumb when it came to growing plants, and I sometimes I still do (especially indoor plants) … but don’t let a few bad tries discourage you! 😉

If you have a small growing area, try growing in pots. I grow many vegetables and fruit in pots because of limited in-ground or sun loving spots in my yard. Growing veggies and flowers aren’t limited to in-ground efforts. You can have a successful harvest from pots and raised beds.

If you’re starting a garden or would like ideas on what to plant, even with smaller space, then I hope this post will give you the garden inspiration you need to get digging!

I started growing my own veggies about 4 or 5 years ago. It all started when a friend gifted me my first blueberry plant, and then once I grew more tomatoes than I knew what to do with, it really sparked a desire to keep learning and growing (and eating). (:

GARDENING HELPFUL TIP: Look up your hardiness zone so you know what will grow in your area.

DON’T GET DISCOURAGED

If veggies don’t produce, or seeds aren’t germinating, it’s okay and it happens. Learn why, and next time you plant, you’ll try something different. Sometimes crops are taken by weather and circumstances you can’t control. Other times it’s taken by pests or lack of knowledge about the plant. You may plant seeds too late or too early, not care for the roots when transplanting, or your container isn’t big enough.

It’s so cool growing things, and eventually, you’ll get there if you stick with it. But it also doesn’t need to be overwhelming. But you can’t control every situation. Do your best and keep trying!

Start small by growing what you or your family already enjoy. Don’t grow something if you won’t use it.  Growing your own food is a great way to taste new vegetables.

This is the truth: I’ve not been able to grow decent carrots. 🙂 But I try every year and wind up with miniature “baby” carrots. :B Still pretty cute and useful… but still, I’d love to pull up a full sizze carrot after trying to grow them for months. Eventually, I’ll grow a bunch worth!

So let’s dig together. Drop a comment below, and share what you’re thinking of planting next, or any garden tips you’d like to share with us.

Now, let’s get growing!

Here are my favorite things to grow and why I love them.

borage, calendula and zinnia

First, we take care of the pollinators. 

We have pollinators to thank for every one in three bites of food we take. They are miracle workers and providing a safe space for them is essential in a growing garden. It’s important to first take care of our pollinating friends, and then the veggies & fruit will come. 

Pollinators are most commonly bees, birds, bats and butterflies and our ecosystems depend on them.

  • Providing feeders, houses, baths, and/or bat boxes into your growing space will give them resting spots, supplement food in the winter and help our friends do their magic work.
  • Adding attractive flowers and herbs to your garden encourage and help our little friends to hangout in your garden.

What I’ve found very easy to grow from seed have been borage, zinnia varieties, calendula, and nasturtiums.

Other great flowers for garden spaces would be lavender, ground-covering Sedum, Coneflower (Echinacea), and Yarrow are all excellent choices. 

BORAGE

Borage

Borage is a favorite of mine because of its many benefits. It not only attracts beneficial pollinators like bees and birds but will bring essential insects to your garden for organic pest control.  It goes great interplanted with strawberries, tomatoes, beans, peas, and more!

Borage is easy to keep happy, and it does SO much for our hardworking friends in the garden. The bee’s absolutely love borage, and so do I! 

Known as an ornamental plant, borage is also edible and used for medicinal purposes, you can learn about borage from permaculture news.

Calendula

Calendula (or Pot Marigold) is one of the oldest of cultivated flowers and has a long history of being used for healing purposes. It’s used in my garden because it attracts essential pollinators that keep Mother Nature going. I love having a place that promotes a safe space for honeybees, bumblebees, and birds. I’m so impressed by calendula because it’s easy to grow and will self-produce. Leave the flowers to dry and the seeds will fall out to grow again when they’re ready to, likely coming back again the following year/season.

You can easily save the seeds by plucking them off when they’re dried and storing them. You’ll be able to grow them again the following year or try them out in pots. Collect seeds for family or friends to use. The seeds are really cool-looking. 

Zinnia

zinnia

Zinnia’s are very easy to grow, and have a long bloom season. They are an annual flower, producing long blooms. Great to cut for fresh flowers in the home!

Nasturtiums 

nasturtium flower

Nasturtiums are beautiful flowers. I’ve seen bees and hummingbirds loving these flowers. They are great climbing through fencing, flowing down around a planter or raised bed. They’ll grow in many garden conditions, including poor soiling. 

Annnnd yep! The flowers and leaves are edible, too, just like borage! 

Annual vs. Perennial flowers: Annual flowers will die off every year, whereas perennial varieties will grow back the next season. There are some annuals, though, that when they die off, the seeds drop and will self-germinate when they are ready again. (You may see this with calendula, and borage does this).

Now to growing Vegetables!

Radishes 

I’m not in love with radishes when it comes to eating them but growing them is a different story. They are absolutely incredible!  I’ll use radishes in soups, or on pizza but they are also good chopped raw into salads or veggie bowls. I know folks who’ll eat ’em raw, as is!

You will seriously be impressed by how easy they are to grow and care for. I’ve grown them in the ground, in beds, and in containers. You can grow a good amount in ONE SQUARE FOOT (read about square foot gardening here).

Radishes are a quick-to-grow vegetable that if you let flower, will produce edible pods that can be eaten! Much milder in taste, (which I prefer) and when left to flower, a radish will produce a pod filled with seeds to use for another time.  Plus, the small pretty flowers will attract bees and more to your garden. I like to let radishes flower, it’s a neat process. 

I haven’t had much success with beets, but recently heard and saw that you can grow them for the green tops they produce. So, beets will be in my plan for 2022, for sure, just for the tops!

Tomatoes 

tomatoes and peppers

Tomatoes (which are botanically known as a fruit)  were the first vegetable I decided to grow, and they really got me excited to start a veggie garden. In 2021 I grew so many varieties, probably too many if you ask my husband but I’m pretty sure he loves it because he knows tomato soup will be a frequent dinner option. 🙂

The more I work from home, the larger my growing area has expanded. Many of my tomatoes were in grow bags but had a lot of blossom end rot, so I will likely add larger pots for tomatoes next year. See, it’s all about experimentation, and I really have a lot of fun seeing the process. I’ve grown them usually in my raised bed I built or in the ground. 

I enjoy growing different tomato varieties such as ground tomatoes, the ‘champagne bubbles’ variety, roma and cherry tomato varieties. 

Beans 

pole beans
bush burgundy beans

Beans are an absolute powerhouse in my garden! By far the favorite vegetable I grow, I think! I grew beans for the first-time in 2020, and it was an instant favorite. Just watching a pole bean grow to ten feet tall if it wants and grow 6-inch-long beans… is really grounding and cool to me.

A personal favorite pole bean is called ‘rattlesnake’. Royal Burgundy beans are a bush variety but are a striking purple bean with high yield. Very pretty! It’s cool how when you cook with them, they turn green. Even the beautiful rattlesnake coloring disappears when cooked. Gone. Like MAGIC.

strawberry plant

Strawberries

We love to grow strawberries. And sure, a couple plants aren’t going to produce a replacement to picking them up at the store right away but going out and seeing a plump berry dangling down is very rewarding. Fun for kids, and our partners! (My husband loves it!) What’s great, they will return again, producing more runners which will lead to another strawberry plant. Read more about growing strawberries. 

Zucchini 

If you have the space, GROW zucchini (and other squashes)! Zucchini is so versatile; you can make a variety of different dishes with, and the plant will produce for a while. Zucchinis are more than just a vegetable, they’re also a delicious dessert! My favorite brownie recipe is made with zucchini! 🙂

This year I am growing Fordhook zucchini, easy to start early indoors or in a greenhouse. Zucchini is also successful when planting the seed directly into the soil.

Pumpkins

We love growing pumpkins, 2020 wasn’t a good year for them but this year I have a couple decent sized pumpkins and a few small ones that will be great on the front porch this year! If you have kids, these are fun to watch grow, and easy! Don’t be afraid of the space they take up and have fun learning how to grow pumpkins!

VERTICAL GARDENING

I know you might feel like you wanna plant it all, but if you have limited space, or just a deck… Learn about growing things that will vine up or out and create a trellis so things can grow vertically. Vertical gardening could be what works for your limited space.

Great plants for vertical gardening can be: beans, cucumbers, cucamelons (Mexican Sour Gherkins), snap peas, squash, Malabar spinach, melons, nasturtiums, tomatoes, tomatillos, thyme.

squash

HOW TO START YOUR GARDEN & WHERE TO BUY SEEDS

To start, look up your hardiness zone, create a plan for your space or pots, and then buy seeds or get starts at your local farmers’ market or store, and get planting.

I like using seedsaver as a place to shop for seeds, and I find many seed packets on eBay as well! Check your local nursery, support your local farmers or garden store. To save, wait for when gardening items and seeds are on sale once the growing season is over.

Let us know what you’re excited to plant or do this year in your garden!

Time to get dirty! 😀 

Ashleyann

Resources for Gardeners

USDA Hardiness Zone 

Square Foot Gardening

Learn about seed saving

READ MORE ON A MULTI PASSIONATE LIFE

EARN MORE MONEY SELLING YOUR STUFF ON POSHMARK

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EARN EXTRA MONEY SELLING YOUR CLOTHING ON THE POSHMARK APP

Links could obtain affiliate links at no cost to you. Read about my privacy policy here.

Okay, so you either have clothes piling up and are curious on making some extra cash, or you currently sell clothing online and ready to jump into another platform and expand your reach.
Poshmark is a great option to sell new and used clothing, and to list home decor items; with just some of your time, you can start making money online from the comfort of your own home!
I do it myself and have helped others be Posh bosses!

Share with me down below your intentions with selling online? Why are you deciding to do this? Would love to hear from you.
If you’re wanting to earn more income, check out my other blog posts and hopefully log off with a sense of empowerment and curiosity!

POSHMARK BOSS
WHY I LIKE POSHMARK

It’s a community driven online platform, backed by the heart of their sellers and where income meets flexibility.

– Easy deposits and payout structure
– The buyers pay for the shipping
– When you buy through Poshmark you’re supporting people just like you (feels like a win-win).
– Income earning potential for more financial freedom
– You set your commitment to it

MY QUICK STORY:

I listed my first clothing item on Poshmark in December of 2018.  

Backstory: I’ve been selling online for over 7 years. I love finding good deals on great clothing, while also making some money while doing it. I’ve lost my motivation selling with eBay and Amazon I only use for my handmade items.
I had heard about Poshmark from my husband’s super awesome baseball coach; well, he kept telling me about his successes on the platform with jewelry, and what he enjoyed about selling on there. It really sounded like he enjoyed it. So one evening I decided to give it a try and sign up!

It would take me a month to list my first item but once I did, I was hooked! 

Poshmark is a community, and selling on there has only been a positive in my life. I recommend it to anyone who wants to make a little (or a lot of) extra money and you likely have clothes or items around your house you wanna part with that could turn into income in your bank account!

Even if you don’t want to sell, maybe you’ll be a buyer. Using Poshmark to buy secondhand only helps reduce our waste in the landfills. An average American throws away approximately 80 pounds of used clothing per person per year. 

I’ve listed 900 items so far, shipped over 500 sales, and earned several thousand dollars on the Poshmark app. 

When I first started selling on Poshmark I was doing it much more than I am now, now I sell very part-time because I am focusing on other things. But it’s very nice cashing out and then paying down my home with it. That’s why I love it! Our outcome really depends on the effort we put forth.
You can decide your time commitment to it and what you want out of it. Spend an hour a week on it or more, just do it on the weekends, when the kids go to sleep or after work… it really is up to you!
Income with flexibility and balance! I’m all for that, aren’t you?

Finding time management to be tricky? Read my blog post about 7 ways to get super intentional with your time so you can start making the big moves happen!

NEW TO POSHMARK? Sign up with my code to SAVE $10 off your first purchase! CODE: @ASH_LEY_B OR CLICK HERE

The great thing about starting to make extra income is using that income to positively impact our lives. Why are you thinking about making extra money? Is it to pay down debt, to save or go to college, explore and take a trip, or to build a business?
Poshmark has provided opportunity for me, and maybe it can do the same in your life too! 

poshmark love notes

WHY I RECOMEND SELLING ON POSHMARK

I recommend selling on Poshmark because they’ve created an interactive way to sell online that makes it fun (and addicting). Plus you’re earning money while working from home, the flexibility is very attracting.
I also enjoy that the buyers pay for the shipping costs, the money payouts are simple and quick, and the return/inspection timeframe is short and sweet.
Whenever I’ve had issues on the app, it’s usually resolved quickly and I feel supported by them as a seller. Many online shopping places like eBay and Amazon feel like the sellers aren’t all that important. Of course not every experience is the same, but overall, in my personal experience, I have enjoyed selling on Poshmark. I think it’s an awesome way to earn as much money as we desire and want to get from it. It’s also a way to support our goals, make more money to pay off debt, it can create opportunity and eliminate some financial burdens.

Making more money = more financial freedom

Another thing I like!: Poshmark and USPS even have some sort of agreement so all orders ship using priority mail, which means fast shipping to buyers (happy times!) and tracking and insurance for you. You can get priority boxes free, too! (just keep scrolling)

We love going to the post office! Sometimes, we go daily between running our online businesses. You likely will enjoy dropping off your sales at the post office, and since you can print your own labels, you don’t have to wait in line usually!
Are you still going to the post office to pay and ship your things? With the holidays coming up, COVID-19, and to provide relief for postal staff workers, and to save you time, learn how to do it yourself because it’s so easy.

WONDERING HOW TO SHIP YOUR NEXT POSHMARK SALE?

I use UpakNship for all my poly bags, you can also go on eBay and Amazon, and I order priority boxes in advance from USPS (it’s free!!). 
I use Pirate Ship for any personal and sometimes business shipping! Simple, free, easy. (and no this is not an affiliate link, it’s literally a free website to buy labels for your letters and packages). I love using this service when I ship on Mercari (a different buying/selling platform).

You’ll want shipping tape, a small scale, measuring tape, and you’ll need a way to print a label either by getting a printer, going to the library, or purchasing a label printer.
Here is the label printer I use, but we also have a regular printer with regular or sticky label paper. It’s your preference. A regular printer is just fine for now! Once you’re consistent, and have some cash flow, purchase what you need.

Find good deals on stuff, and don’t shy away from second hand, thrift shops, and garage sales to help you get what you need to get started. Don’t spend a lot at first and you don’t need everything to get started today.
Over time, I’ve found a label printer to be the best choice and most cost-effective option since we ship several hundred items a year out of our home. 

PHOTOGRAPHING THE GOODS

You don’t need a great camera, though, I will say I enjoy the photos I take with my DSLR over my iPhone- but that’s me, and you’re not me. My phone is just fine (and quicker!), especially under great natural light with a simple backdrop. No need for fancy equipment when lighting is everything.

Don’t get too caught up with the perfect photos that you never even put your thing out there.

Take photos in a well-light area, I prefer to be indoor near a window or outdoors.
Use a simple hook on a white wall, and a nice hanger to display your clothing and you’re on your way.

SELL CLOTHING

SHARE YOUR CLOSET FOR GREATER OPPORTUNITY & SALES

It’s important to share the items inside your closet often to get your listing refreshed in the app. This is all done in-app, it’s not external shares, so don’t think you have to bombard your friends on Facebook or Twitter, you don’t!
I see closets all the time where there’s been no activity for weeks, and months sometimes, and often times, items aren’t refreshed since the first time it was listed.
This is a no. Being active on the app leads a better chance of your items being discovered and getting sales.
Like I said above, you create the balance. Whether that’s sharing your full closet 1x a week, less or more, it’s up to you. It can impact the number of people that see your listings online.

Right now, I have 300 active listings. I try to share my whole closet weekly, and sharing during the parties throughout the week days, if I can. When I was doing it as one of my main income sources, I’d try to share my whole closet everyday. But now, 1x a week is manageable for me.

So what do you say? Ready to list your first item up? I’m stoked for you. Let me know if you sign up so I can follow your closet!

VISIT MY POSH CLOSET

Learn more about Poshmark by reading through the Posh Guide which is straight from Poshmark themselves on how to list your first item, to shipping out your first order and guidance on how to grow your sales organically.

What are you looking forward to about selling on Poshmark? Tell me below!
Have a question about Posh, or something else? Send me a message or comment below so I can help ya succeed!

A MULTI PASSIONATE LIFE BLOG
A MULTI PASSIONATE LIFE BLOG

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CREATE ACTION TOWARDS YOUR NEXT IDEA

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Links could obtain affiliate links at no cost to you. Read about my privacy policy here.

This is a letter to the creative, 
and to the ones who don’t even know how creative you are.

To the woman who’s ideas and goals are burning
yet there are no flames coming from that fire.

This is for the people who wanna find a hobby,
and are ready to value your time with passion projects.

Create action towards your next idea

You’re drumming up all the possibilities,
however, you’re swimming through the reservations.

I believe you can do the thing you’re non-stop thinking about.

I’m talking to you if you’ve got goals, some to-do’s you’re shaking around, dreams you’re ready to open your eyes to and plans you WANT to make happen.

You’re a person who wants MORE.
You are drawing the life you dream to see. You’re ready to create action out of your ideas.

LET ME BE THE ONE TO TELL YOU…

I get it. Sometimes we need permission to make an idea worthwhile.
How can we justify thinking, “can it be possible?” 

I’ve put my plans on hold because I didn’t give myself the permission I needed to hear. I listened to the wrong people tell about what actions to take, and I only heard the growing reservations in my mind.
I stopped listening to them and heard me.

– Become aware of your choices and if those efforts are bringing you joy + growth in the way you actually want.
– Accept the choices you make, and understand when it moves you in a certain direction. Change it if it doesn’t create the action you are exploring.

Don’t let the what-ifs, shouldn’t, and not-good-enough chatter be louder than your efforts, and definitely don’t allow other people to steer your dreams. STOP LISTENING and DISCOVER for yourself.

I’ve written down goals that at once I thought were no way in my realm.
And then they got crossed off.    CHECK, CHECK!

What isn’t pursued is not found. 

So yeah, if someone hasn’t told you today, let me be the one to tell you…. 

those ideas and goals you’ve been shifting about, they’re worth the pivot.
Yeah, they are possible, and because you’re capable and have all the ability, you can choose to make it happen.

START WHEN YOU think YOU “shouldn’t“. 

Don’t reason with the part of your brain telling you the story on why you can’t or why you shouldn’t start. Stop listening to all the reasons why you can’t and LIST all the reasons why you freaking CAN.

Because… (insert any potential excuse here) will always be there, but you can choose not to listen to it.

You might have someone who depends on you, and you’re scared that you’re gonna fail if you give this a whirl.
I understand that, and I hear you, sis.

The number one defense I hear myself say is that “I don’t have the time.”
Have you not started because of that, too?

I want you to know, there is time. We create the time for the right WHY. 
And you wanna know something, YOU ARE WHY.

create action, believe you can, motivational image

To move yourself towards what you want, being intentional with your time is pivotal.

Do you have 7 minutes?
I don’t know why I asked that. You do.
Just start with the intention of 7 minutes, and if at the end, if all you did was progressed in an area for 7 uninterrupted minutes… Well done! YOU did it.

But what if you look at your timer and it’s now been 25 minutes? It’s amazing what groove you get into when you actually START.

Use 7 minutes as a tool to do something you’re putting off (like pulling weeds, organizing the closet, cleaning the bathroom), or to learn a new skill (like a language, building a business, or building a deck).
Once we begin working on the idea, we are much more willing to follow through with it because we started action towards it.

When you wake up, find a way to make what you want work in your life. Even if you’re dedicating a smidgen of time to it. It’s worth it. Because you are.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE VERY GOOD AT FIRST

I don’t want you to get so worried about being bad at doing this new thing, and then you give up before you’ve tried. 

You gotta stop expecting you’re supposed to know it all right away and be calm with the progression of growth. Growth is not instant. 
It can take years to be fluent in another language, but you became fluent because you chose to practice it.

Guess what? You will most likely be bad. Probably really bad. I was at several things and I think it’s safe to say that most of us are!
There’s benefit in the beginnings. Trust in the process, and you’ll notice the impact.

The cool thing about being bad at something is you can choose to get better at it. 
Imagine when you’ll actually be great at it. I can’t wait to hear about that! 

And if there’s one motto I like living with, its that it’s about progress and not perfection. Remember that when you fall into those moments of doubt. 

SPEAK OUT ABOUT IT!

One way to create action is by writing your goals and ideas down, then speaking about them.
– You are more likely to give energy to your ideas when you see them everywhere.
– You are more likely to stay accountable when you speak your truth and share it out loud.
There is so much power in what we write and speak about. So express good things for yourself. You’ll be surprised by the domino effect it can generate.

>>> START by writing/recording your goals, aspirations, wants, DREAMS.
>>> Encourage them by SPEAKING them out loud. Tell a friend or just the universe.

For instance, here’s what I am currently thinking about:
I choose to speak about purpose, self-exploration, travel, and creativity.
I am learning to be an understanding partner, give encouragement, and practice the importance of perspective.

What are you working towards? Are you speaking those truths out loud and sharing them with someone so they can hear you?

STOP thinking, START LEARNING + CREATE the ACTION

Thinking about doing something has no action. 
Do the thing, create the action.

If you really want to become a photographer, do more than think about it…
If you want to work for yourself… offer your energy to it. Speak it. Live it. be it.

>>> If you want to be able to jog two miles without stopping, BEGIN with 5 minutes.
>>> START learning that new skill by setting x amount of time a day/or a week to dedicate to it.
>>> DO what you can with what you have NOW
<<< CREATE more passion by trying and being bad at something new >>>

Practicing something, even if it’s the minimum amount of time you can spare, will only increase your chances of getting better at it.

Learn so you can create the life you want, and not have it created for you.
If you have access to a library or the internet, then you have access to resources that can teach you to do MANY things, Google is an incredible resource.
WHY NOT use it!?

As Gary Bishop has said in his book, Unf*ck Yourself, “You change your life by doing, not by thinking about doing.”  (Side note, definitely recommend)

shine light onto what you want

You know what you want, because you’re dreaming about it, writing about it or telling your sister all about it. 
The value of our time can be measured by our actions and because we don’t get this time back, let’s be intentional with those choices, because, we have that ability.

Tell me in the comments below if there’s a reason that keeps holding you back.
Share with me what you are ready to give attention to, and how you will make that happen. 

Stop overthinking it, and go after it. Create your action.

So, go on now… you can do it. I believe in you!

A MULTI PASSIONATE LIFE BLOG

Thanks for reading my blurb to you! I hear so often the excuses of people I care for when it comes to sharing their gifts, and creativity. I hear incredible people tell me that they can’t do it, they can’t trust their gut. It bums me out when creative people are listening to their mind’s chatter vs. putting their art out there. I want people to take more action within themselves, see what it can create for their lives.
How do you feel?
Tell me in the comments or send me a message. Whatcha thinkin’?! 

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7 REASONS TO SELL ON ETSY IN 2022 TO CREATE MORE INCOME

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WHY I STILL SELL ON ETSY TO CREATE INCOME

Are you considering selling on Etsy in 2022? Do you want to create more income or turn a passion of yours into profit?
You might be here because you’re thinking about making some extra cash with your hobby or bouncing around ideas for another stream of income.
Whatever your reasons are, you can use your talents, hobby or ideas to create more income in your life and have it pay for the things you want and need. 
I’m excited to share with you why I still choose to sell on Etsy and why you should too! I have been a seller for over 5 years, and I want to share 7 reasons why I still choose to sell on Etsy in 2022 to create more income.
I like to think of making money online sometimes as a way to pay another bill.
If I can make an extra $100 a month, I would. Wouldn’t you? (Your answer should be YES. That’s a cell phone bill!)

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

What could you do with an extra $500/month? 

Wouldn’t it be cool to use your talents and pay for your next trip to Canada? Heck yeah! And it’s completely possible to add more income to your life with Etsy.  (No, I am not affiliated with Etsy, but maybe one day!).

But Ash, what could I sell? I don’t have any talents. Stop that. Yes, you do! We all do. You can use what you’re good at and make money with it. There are ways and it’s about time you tap into all the things YOU CAN DO.

If you didn’t know, Etsy is a platform for you to grow your awesome and turn your hobby into profit. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve recommended Etsy to someone, but I know it’s a lot. 🙂 I have been fangirling over them for years!

I’ve mentioned that Etsy is a great place to buy your next logo, but it’s so much more than that.

Etsy is an online marketplace that encourages people of many backgrounds to use their creative outlet to make things while making money doing just that. Etsy will showcase your items to their millions of active buyers and visitors searching for unique and awesome items. Your awesome items! 

Whether you are handmaking art, using your graphic design background or posting your vintage treasures, Etsy could be the platform for you to put your skills to use! Not sure that you know what your side hustle could be? I have a blog post that can spark some self-exploration!

I believe in you! Comment below what your awesome is! Do you already have a shop? Leave that in the comments so I can show it some love.

I STARTED MY ETSY STORE IN 2014

To sum up my personal story of Etsy; I’ve been a shop owner since 2014 which is when I started my creative journey of selling my handmade items online. Since then, I’ve created for over 2,000 occasions and I’ve shipped to over 25 countries!
It’s no lie that I thank a lot of that success to Etsy. Many of the passions I do now have stemmed from putting myself out there and if I wouldn’t have taken a chance on myself back then, I do think things would look different now.

Even though Etsy has changed over the years, such as an increase in sellers, oversaturated markets and fee changes, I’d still recommend it today and I do believe you can find a home for your talents.

There are a lot of people searching for cool things to buy (tens of millions, actually), and everyone has different tastes, so don’t think that you don’t have a place there.
Sure, you may not get immediate eyeballs the moment you list.
But if you put in the work, stay consistent and learn how the platform can make your shop a success, you’re doing everything right. 

And I’m a big ole believer that if we put in the energy, we’ll get rewarded in some way from it. But we have to put in the energy.

you wont know unless you start

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ETSY

Unlike hosting your own website, which can cost hundreds of dollars upfront and include their own sets of processing and merchant fees; Etsy’s platform is free to sign up for and the upfront costs are affordable. Of course, I recommend eventually getting your own website, in addition to your shop, but for anyone starting out this is a great option with very little risk.

7 REASONS WHY I LIKE SELLING ON ETSY

1. A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTIVE CREATIVES

Etsy is a creative marketplace that encourages people to make things and because of that, it makes an excellent place to buy awesome things, too! Plus when you buy, you support a mission to collectively encourage other artisans to pursue their passions. Wiiin!!! 

To find further support, their forums and Teams pages are a great place to connect with members that actively support each other when you’re first starting out. You can be apart of many teams to find people in your area, to seek advice or to collaborate and learn from one another.

chaching

2. IT’S EASY

It’s easy to set up your own shop and the platform and app are user-friendly. I love how simple it is to navigate all your seller tools.
The app even makes the best “CHA-CHING” sound when you get a sale. Que in a happy dance every time I hear that!

3. IT’S INEXPENSIVE TO STARTUP

Compared to hosting your own website, Etsy is an affordable option because the initial start-up costs are slim when each item posted costs just .20. That’s a small price to pay to be seen by the millions of visitors who stop by the site monthly.  See their website for all standard fees when items are sold.

BONUS! If you want 40 free listings, and cut your initial costs further, then sign up here, and you’ll be able to start your Etsy shop ahead with 40, that’s FORTY, free listings.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to go live with your shop until you are completely ready! Signing up doesn’t mean LIVE. It just means you’re taking that next step forward!

The free listing promo is a generous offer that Etsy does for new sellers and those who love to recommend it. (Like me! Ya know, always fangirling.)

4. THERE ARE TOOLS & RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO GROW YOUR SHOP

Etsy provides a plethora of tools to assist you in the growth of your shop. They offer an extensive seller handbook filled with tangible information to growing your Etsy store straight from the source. They have tons of articles on tips to grow your successful Etsy shop!
Which leads me into #5.

5. COMMUNICATION: IMPROVEMENTS, STREAMLINED PROCESSES & CHANGES

Etsy is really transcendent about letting you know what’s in the pipeline that could directly influence your online store. Whether I like the changes or the improvements hinder my shop in some way, they provide an understanding of how it impacts my shop and what I can do to embrace the changes.

Trust me, there are changes that honestly sucked the life out of my shop and there are improvements that benefited me greatly. This is just the way it is when you rely on another platform because you don’t have much control. But I understand that’s part of business.

One thing I wanna mention is about customer service. Their customer seller service, in my opinion, outdoes many online selling platforms. If I have a concern, pose a question or just want to provide feedback, they are open to it and have responded in ways that help me grow my shop and gain a clearer understanding of how their website works.

Just like in our relationships, communication is important and I have found that Etsy does a great job at that.

6. FAST & EASY PAYMENTS

Easy payment is a great benefit to selling on Etsy. In most cases, you have the ability to request a deposit the day after a sale, making for fast payments from your shop.

But you can also choose weekly deposits as well, so you can have a consistent payday!

You can read about their payment structure here.

7. It helps you be discovered!

Finally, it helps you and your talents be discovered.
Like I mentioned before, there are millions of people searching for unique, creative and totally awesome items to buy and they are waiting to discover yours.
Having a shop also means you have a place for people to go, so start telling allllll your friends and family about your new side hustle!
I really think Etsy can be a rewarding way to see if starting a business or making money with your hobby can work for you. They provide the platform, the tools, and the people searching.

For someone starting out (and of course for those seasoned), Etsy is my most recommended platform.
The good outweighs the bad, and if you want to have a streamlined way to promote your items, reach more buyers and make some income; Etsy is a solid place to start expanding your reach and your wallet.
If you want to become a seller, I encourage you to take advantage of the 40 free listings and go for it. What do you have to lose?
If anything, use it to pay your cell phone bill! 😉

Sooo, what’s your next move?

Let me know in the comments below what you plan on doing next. Did you open a shop? Thinking about it? Ask me anything Etsy, and hopefully, I can help you out!

Continue to crush those goals and live passionately in life and business,

A MULTI PASSIONATE LIFE BLOG

35 THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EXPLORATION

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Do you want to dig a little deeper, travel through your thoughts and find foundation in your truth? Ask yourself any of these 35 questions to spark self-exploration and discover more about yourself.
You might be here because you need writing prompts, you want to uncover your values, or hone in on your next passion project and need a place to start learning about your strengths and have them guide your goals.

QUESTIONS TO PROMOTE SELF DISCOVERY

Use these questions as a tool to provoke thoughtful dialogue, get clear on your values, and to get to know yourself intentionally so you can lead with more impact and create more passion in life.
At the end of this blog post, you can even download a free printable of all the questions.

“At the center of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want.”
― Lao Tzu

BE PRESENT

Be present during this moment and give yourself time to be distraction-free. So, please, unplug + relax.

  • Share with yourself and only you. No one else has to see these answers.
  • Run a bath, pour a glass, and wonder in all the bubbles.
  • Crack open a sour beer and get deep with your sister (cheers!).
  • Share openly with your spouse to build on your foundation (I feel admiration in the air tonight!).

LET YOUR MIND GO OFF

Have no limitations and think of all the possibilities. This isn’t a time to be short with yourself when you think about your goals.
If these questions spark other things, write them down, too! This is an exercise to get honest and real and your wandering mind can be liberating.

STOP SECOND-GUESSING YOURSELF

I always get in my head, and I think if I write it down that things are permanent. But it’s not, because we always, at any time, have the ability to change our course. So, stop overthinking things and just write without hesitation.

LEONARDO DA VINCI-QUOTE

LIST OF 35 QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHTFUL THINKING

Remember to give yourself time to be present & intentional, allow your mind to run around and explore all the possibilities. Dream bigger, dig deeper and use this time to get intentional with yourself. That is your power. One of them.

get honest with yourself
  • Who am I? 
  • What do I value in myself?
  • If I couldn’t fail, what would I try? 
  • What motivates, ignites and uplifts me?
  • What is currently out of my control that I can’t change?
  • What’s in my control that I could change?
  • When do I feel most angry or frustrated? Why?
  • When do I feel the most hurt? Why?
  • In what ways can I do good for others? 
  • What are 7 things I’m grateful for?
  • What do I value in people? 
  • Are there relationships in my life that don’t support these values?
  • In what ways do my values not align with what’s important to me?
  • What have I given up on? 
  • What do I want right now?
  • What am I afraid of? Why?
  • What is my definition of success?
  • What are my talents and how can I share them with the world?
  • When I think about my future, I am fulfilled and satisfied because…?
  • What inspirations or ideas have I thought of but haven’t acted on yet?
  • What are the 7 things I want to seek/learn or create more of in the next two years?
  • What would be a 10-year goal of mine? (could be one or many! DREAM)
  • What skills do I want to get better at, achieve, or learn? 

There’s no better time than today to take the next step in creating the life we want.

  • What can I do to feel more fulfilled currently? 
  • What do I want others to remember about me when I’m not around?
  • In what ways have I grown in the past year? 
  • In what ways do I want to grow in the next year?
  • If money wasn’t a factor, what would I want to do?
  • List 5 goals or ideas for the next 12 months. (don’t just set attainable goals, reach further and don’t get in your way)
  • How will I cross off these goals?
  • What ways can I do more with my time to get me where I want to go? Be specific!
  • What can I do to grow myself in the next year?
    What can you do to be in a better position in the next year
  • How are my finances? Do I feel anxious or at peace with them?
  • Who are the people who have a great impact on my life?
  • Have I been connecting with those I love? When?
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO NEXT

Use these questions as an exercise to grow your mind and spirit; these questions can truly serve as a tool to reflect, and there’s so much power in practicing reflection.
Look through your answers, and circle or write about any common themes, and what sticks out to you.

  • What did you learn about yourself?
  • How do you feel after doing this practice and reading your answers?
  • Did you have an ohhh, wowww moment?
  • Figure out your next pivot.

I’d love to know what you got out of these questions!
Do you have questions you think would be useful for others to practice?
Share in the comments below or send me a message. (:

Let’s add to this list, together!

Continue creating those big audacious goals and finding new ways to live in passion.

A MULTI PASSIONATE LIFE BLOG
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7 PRACTICES TO USE YOUR TIME INTENTIONALLY

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7 WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR TIME

7 HELPFUL WAYS TO SPEND YOUR TIME INTENTIONALLY

Are you ready to get more done but you’re struggling to find your focus? Do you have a list of things to do but feel like you’re not getting through any of them?
I know when I chase the big goals, I need to find useful ways to be more aware of my time. Write to me in the comments and tell me why you’ve decided to start getting intentional with your time.

Since we can’t add more hours into our day, we have to be pretty strategic on how we’re filling up the time we do have.
The best thing I like to remember is that it’s always about PROGRESSING and not about perfecting.

time is a valuable resource

I firmly believe that time is our most valuable resource and I’m sure when most of us sit and think about it, we can agree on that.
We all get the same 24 hours in a day, yet the amount of those days is unpromised and are vastly different from each other.
There’s no secret sauce to constant productivity with our time, but what’s important in my eyes, is the effort we put into how we choose to manage the hours in our day.
If we are positive about our efforts (in anything), spend our time aligned with our values and set attainable goals… the outcome is inevitable.

My feeling is that if we’re putting in the energy, then somehow and in some way, the universe will reward us.

So let’s dig into some ways that could encourage you to manage your time so you can start making those impactful moves happen in your life + business!
Remember, that, if we’re living then we’re choosing and I want to make choices that will influence passion into my life and business. What are you goals?

(I’ll have a simple list at the end of the post compiling it in an easy view.)

The first two hours of your day sets the tone for how the rest of it will go.

1. WRITE DOWN YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE

Start planning your day the night before.

Preparing your day the night before sets you up to take actionable steps and have a clear path as you start your morning. To plan is to anchor yourself better than you were before and when we focus on creating good habits, a chain reaction starts to begin.

When you wake up knowing how you’re going to spend your time, it creates discipline and structure. Plus, we are more likely to do something once we write it down. Create that intention and write down your goals for the day.
You’ll find such great satisfaction when you look at the clock and it’s 11 am and you’ve done more than you typically would all because YOU had a PLAN!

plan plan plan

2. BATCH WORK FOR BALANCE

As you look at your plans for the week, if you notice that you’re doing something related throughout the week, batch working those tasks may be just what you need to save time and mental energy in your career or life.
Now explaining how to batch work would make this too lengthy (and I chat a lot in this post), but essentially it’s grouping related tasks together and planning to focus on them for that day, or the time you can allot for it. Jenna Kutcher has a great podcast episode and post on batch working if you’d like to take a deep dive. Highly recommend!

BATCH WORKING CAN BE USEFUL TO YOUR BUSINESS + LIFE

EXAMPLE

Let’s say you’re a photographer and you schedule your editing on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays for two hours each day. Instead of editing those three days, add the editing process into an efficient batch working day. Choose one day where you specifically focus on editing, say Tuesdays. Tuesdays you now edit for a full 8 hours, leaving two days free for other tasks that can impact your business further.

Batch working allows you to structure many days into one block of time, organizing related tasks together so you’re not doing more work than is necessary, plus it increases your focus and provides a sense of satisfaction.

3. USE A TIMER TO KEEP FOCUSED

There’s a higher likelihood that we’ll be more productive when we assign less time to a specific task. So, I encourage you to start setting a 10-minute timer as an easy way to stay focused + actually complete things you’ve been holding off on. I believe that we’re more willing to complete a task if we’ve started the action.
If you find yourself procrastinating and the small tasks are piling up such as the laundry, tidying up a corner of your office or home, or writing that email… my tip is to set a timer for just 10-20 minutes and just do the thing you’ve been putting off or want to get done. Focus just on that ONE task until the timer is up, no other distractions.

I find this to be helpful when I’m just not feeling it. Like, those days where the lack of motivation is stronger than my ambition at the moment. But ultimately, I have ten minutes.
Set the timer on your phone or watch to go off for 10-20 minutes.
For those 15 minutes, focus only on your project. Be intentional.
When you push that timer, you’re going to work as efficiently for that block of time and nothing else.
I want you to dedicate this time strictly to the task at hand, such as setting up your email templates, register your business, dream about your business, stretch, put away the clothes, hang with your cat (hey, our furry friends need one-on-ones too), draw, go paint, write, bike, sing, read, everything and anything you want to, do that thing and that thing only.
So, play some music or listen to a podcast and press GO on that timer and get. to. wooooooork on your project. Immerse yourself into it.

SET A TIMER TO KEEP FOCUS

Two things can happen when your timer goes off in 15 minutes.
One, either you get into a groove and keep going. (Heck yes!)
Or two, once your timer goes off, you stop. Were you expecting that answer? hah!
If you keep going, great and if you stop, great also. You centered your focus for 15 minutes, and the hardest part of doing something is to start… So, be stoked that you started!
Now you’re ready to move onto your next step! Yay!

GETTING THINGS DONE FEELS SO GOOD

4. MANAGE PHONE USAGE & NOTIFICATIONS

We all know that our phones are an easy sore spot when recognizing where we spend most of our time. You never want to admit that you spent two hours on Reddit today but chose that the laundry wasn’t important. Been there!

We often don’t realize the amount of time we consume on our cellphones and as much as we try to be productive, we are often scrolling mindlessly with no clear impact. I encourage you to check your numbers and see your phone’s usage. I picked up my phone 600 times last week… 600! And, that was actually a week I only spent 1 hour on social media.

CREATE BOUNDARIES FOR SCREEN TIME + APP ALERTS TO LIMIT DISTRACTION

First, check your numbers. See how much time you’re spending on your phone and which apps eat up most of your days.
(Guiding Tech has an article showing how to check your screen time on different devices.)
Once you know your screen time numbers, then I recommend adding app limits to start narrowing the number of distractions.
Set a limit that feels good to you.
You know yourself well enough to understand what would be a reachable goal you can stick too. Not sure what limit to set? Try a daily max of 30 minutes on a social media app.

Another helpful trick: Turn off or reduce your notifications to limit which apps you get notified. Do we really need to know when a celebrity posts a photo, or be alerted when we’re low on steps and need to walk (okay, maybe that one you choose to be notified about!).
I choose to have my messages on silent so I have less of a reason to look at my phone. Be intentional when deciding which apps can disrupt your life.

Think of all this more as a choice though, you’re choosing to be intentional with your app usage so you can spend your time doing things you love which creates an impact in your life and business.

HERE’S A CHALLENGE FOR YOURSELF: Go 10 days without your most used unproductive app. How does it make you feel? In what ways did it impact other aspects of your life?

GOALS ARE LIKE MAGNETS TONY ROBBINS QUOTE
Motivation by Tony Robbins is sometimes all you need.

5. SET ATTAINABLE GOALS

When you’re planning how you’re spending your time, it’s important that you’re setting realistic and attainable goals for yourself. When structuring your time out don’t block too little that you feel like you haven’t moved the needle forward or block too much to where unproductive habits start to creep in.

You want to know clearly what you’re working towards and set the intention that this IS a goal you’ll achieve.

6. COMMUNICATE YOUR GOALS WITH OTHERS

Communication is hard in any relationship, including ourselves. But once you start structuring your time efficiently, you may see areas where you’re focusing too much time on things that don’t really line up with your values. Or maybe your calendar is filled with passionless projects and you need to delegate these projects to other people.
Helping each other succeed is the most fulfilling way to reach our goals.
But people won’t know what we need unless we tell them. So I encourage you to be open in your relationships so they can serve as your foundation.

“If you believe you can change – if you make it a habit – the change becomes real.” Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit.

7. ROUTINES CREATE HABIT

When you think of routine, you probably sighed, huh? I get it. Routines get boring super quick because they’re mundane and predictable.

The more intentional we get with our time the higher the likelihood it produces powerful habits in our lives.

Doing something, even a single thing every single day sends a powerful message to ourselves. Whether it’s to wake up every day at 6:30 am, walk for 30 minutes in the morning, read 500 pages like Warren Buffet (okay more like 50), or to start your day off with tea and your notepad… those are the actions that will set the trajectory of your day and create impact in your life and business.

CHOOSE YOUR ROUTINE AND HABITS

BONUS TIP: Reflection

Reflection can be such a useful tool. When we reflect on our day it’s a chance for us to see what we accomplished, the areas of focus still needed and what lessons we learned about ourselves.
Reflection can lead to empowerment when we write down everything we were able to do, but it also can lead to dissatisfaction if we’re unhappy with what we’ve done.

I find that reflecting can encourage the next day, week or month to have a greater purpose.

Grab some tea or a smoothie, get out your journal or laptop and either daily, weekly and/or monthly jot down the challenges, the wins, and the lessons. Get deep with yourself.
Write down what you need to do tomorrow or next week to combat unproductive habits, write down the small and bigs wins you’re experiencing, and how your new habits are making an impact. Not sure what to reflect about? Check out my list of questions to ask yourself in life and business, if you need some prompts!  

There you have it! 8 ways to practice getting intentional with your time and tips to start reaching that goal of yours! Which tip have you found useful, and do you have daily practices that help you achieve your goals? Let me know below!

MOTIVATION TO KEEP GOING

Phew, that was long! Here’s a complete list for you so you can recap what we talked about.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF 7 PRACTICES TO GET INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR TIME

  1. WRITE DOWN YOUR SCHEDULE TO PLAN AHEAD
  2. BATCH WORKING FOR BALANCE
  3. USE A TIMER TO STAY FOCUSED
  4. MANAGE PHONE ALERTS & SCREEN TIMES TO LIMIT DISTRACTIONS
  5. SET ATTAINABLE GOALS 
  6. COMMUNICATE YOUR GOALS WITH OTHERS
  7. ROUTINE CREATES HABIT
    Bonus tip: Practice reflecting daily, weekly + monthly.

Not every day will be packed full of productivity and you’ll have days that are challenging and you can muster up to do the bare minimum and that’s okay. Take it one day at a time because it doesn’t need to be complicated. Remember, as I said, it’s about progress and not perfection!

Until next time, friend,

A MULTI PASSIONATE LIFE BLOG
A MULTI PASSIONATE LIFE BLOG

Don’t forget to tell me what goals you wanna make happen in the comments. I wanna hear your story!

HOW TO BUY A LOGO ON THE CHEAP

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A FRUGAL WAY TO PURCHASING YOUR NEXT LOGO

WHY YOU WANT A LOGO

First, let me talk to you about logos.
If you’re ready to launch that next idea of yours or start building your brand and business, then add buying a logo onto your checklist!
But wait, maybe you’re not even considered a business yet? Or the thought of business totally freaks you out. Trust me, whether you’re a hobbyist, a baker, entrepreneur, into real estate, or watch dogs on the weekends… we can all benefit to having a professional logo.
Whatever stage of the process you’re in, I’ll tell you how I personally purchased my logos and how most of them cost me under $10.
TEN freaking BUCKS! Yes, that’s what I said, sister! Read and see my steps below so you can start making your dreams work.

photography logo, business logo

This watermark has been serving in so many facets of my business and the five bucks I spent on it even supported another creative entrepreneur. Can you say “WIN” x2!

5 REASONS TO BUY A LOGO

You may be wondering how buying a logo would even help your business and be thinking “is it worth it?” Here are 5 reasons why it is.

  1. First off, you can market yourself officially.
    It’s time to get started on creating those flyers or start branding your business for launch. Get out there and start making moves happen.
  2. It makes a strong first impression.
  3. Your clients will find your brand more trustworthy vs. your competitors.
  4. Branding for your social media or online presence will be cohesive between platforms and gives your audience a consistent look.
  5. It just looks good! Honestly, having a logo looks good but it also feels great. Bonus, it makes you feel like a total pro!

There are a loooooot of places to search for a logo but my overall recommendation is Etsy. If you’ve never heard of Etsy, well, it’s a marketplace full of creative sellers who offer handmade and vintage products in a wide variety of areas. But wait, Ash, you can find digital logos and watermarks on Etsy? YESSS!
Guys, I use Etsy all the freaking time. And the best thing about Etsy is that you support other creatives in the process of helping yourself.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff and I’ll show how to get your next awesome logo in three easy steps!

3 STEPS TO BUYING A LOGO FOR UNDER $10.

Etsy

1. Go to Etsy.

2. Search for business logos or digital watermarks on Etsy.

Filter by your budget and sort through your favorites. Find a trusted seller to create or provide the template for you. I’ve found several great logos for under $10.

TIP: I recommend using the heart option on Etsy to save your favorites for later, this helps to compare shops and products. Note: You have to have an account to create favorite boards.

3. Buy. It’s that easy!

The logos in this price range are usually less customizable and will be digital downloads once your logo is finished. I personally like this route because it’s inexpensive, will give your business a professional feel and designs are delivered pretty quickly!

It’s all about creating action and I encourage you to spend the $10 so you can work on other things that impact where you want to go. You have more important space to attend to and the time you will save in exchange for the money is SO. WORTH. IT. 

If you’re still not sure if buying a logo is right for you, let me make it super simple: GO. FOR. IT. It’ll be one of your favorite investments, and I don’t want you to wait on following your passion.

Until next time, loves!