 The Bohemian trend is one that's not going away. Not anytime soon, anyway. It's actually one of my personal favorites, so I've comprised a list of boho decor statement pieces you never knew you needed for your home and boho themed spaces...                     Love what you see in this blog post? Subscribe to our emails to make sure you never miss a post HERE
If you need assistance opening your Etsy shop, designing an amazing logo, sale graphics, and much more, find Liv & Co. Consulting on Facebook HERE. Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby and toddler apparel and accessories and Blue November for our adult collection of apparel and accessories. Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE.
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 Whew! So, we're finally here in Panama City Beach, FL, our first stop along this adventure, and all I can say is, selling a home is probably the single most stressful thing I've ever gone through. Just when it looked like our home had very little contents and it'd be easy to move - the more things that kept piling up. The anxiety was running so high ALL the way up to the actual day we closed, it was paralyzing at times. The two nights leading up to our closing date, I was up at 2 a.m., on our mattress that we were sleeping on on our living room floor, riddled with anxiety that we wouldn't be able to get everything out in time. I wish I could sleep and not worry as easily as Doug does. I tend to carry the mental burden in the family and have issues trusting everything will work out fine when it always does, and even though, deep down, I know it always will. Hayden and I had been listing and selling things for the entire month leading up to our departure while Doug was out on the road. He was in Florida, then Colorado, then back to Florida and finally back home for SIX days to get our entire home cleaned out and into a storage unit. It seemed like Hayden and I had made a really good dent into minimalizing until the moment came to really get moving. Thank God for the family and friends that came to help us! We love you! If you know me in real life, you know the issues I've had with my Chevy Suburban for the past 3 years, but refuse to give her up, so we knew we had to button up a few loose ends on her before leaving. Since we didn't scrape up the funds to get all of those fixed before we left the Midwest, we decided the motor mount was the most important thing to fix before leaving and we'd do the rest once we arrived to our destination. I'm proud to say, thanks to Tuffy Tire and Auto {amazing customer service there, by the way} we have new tires, thanks to Dobbs {who got us in quickly and were the most reasonably priced}, we have a new motor mount, and thanks to Doug's mechanical abilities, we have new brakes and all dash lights are OFF in the Suburban for the first time in 3 years {feels good!}! She's got 250,000 miles, and I fully intend on driving her until she refuses to drive anymore.  Since we're traveling with all of our belongings and my equipment to run my Etsy shops and website, we had to purchase a trailer prior to leaving. We got lucky and scored a navy blue {my current favorite color} Stealth trailer that had been upgraded and equipped with a bed, flatscreen TV, dresser, air conditioning + heat and additional lighting so we're able to sleep overnight in it if we need to pull over to rest in between destinations! What's even better? If family and friends want to host us, I can plug in our trailer, leave my equipment in there and work out of it, rather than having to burden anyone with taking up so much space! Everything just fell together perfectly...  The Holiday Inn in Fairview Heights, IL was gracious enough to house us in a beautiful suite for 2 nights prior to our departure, to close on our home and say our "see you later's" to our close friends and family. If you're ever in that area, that hotel is a hidden gem, tucked away behind Lotawata Creek. It is a full service hotel with a restaurant/bar, fitness facility, pool, patio, and recreational vehicle parking.  We spent the night in the parking lot of a truck stop in Kentucky and slept in Doug's rig the night our journey began. Those are the moments I cherish, when we're all snuggled together and close. By the time we arrived here, I was exhausted and emotional.  Pulling the trailer was no easy feat with less than stellar tires and a vehicle that was in fairly dire need of brakes. Throw in an extremely windy first day of driving and my nerves were just totally shot. If you're trying to imagine how it went, just watch the freeway scene in the movie Clueless, where Dion accidentally gets thrown on the freeway and that's a pretty accurate representation of our experience. I went live on Instagram that night HERE. The next day, our final day of driving, Doug had to split from us to deliver a load an hour north of where we're staying, so that added to the intense level of anxiety I was experiencing. To top it off, I hate driving at night and planned on being here before dark, until my GPS rerouted me off 331 and on to a completely different route than I'm used to taking. By the time I realized it, there was no turning back. I called Doug to check his map to make sure this new route was, in fact, going to get us to our destination, and thankfully, it did. We spent our first night here as a trio, then picked Doug up the next day. We've been busy living our best lives and experiencing the actual culture of Panama City Beach ever since, so make sure you're following our Work and Play Across the USA blog and social media posts! How can you follow along?
If you own a vacation rental property and would like to host one of our stays, please contact us -- we'd love to sponsor your home in our adventures. I've had a lot of people message to ask how they can support us, and I love y'all for it! All of my shop links, YouTube channel, Hello Fresh + Get Upside discount links, GoFundMe and blog posts can be found HERE. Stay tuned for our next blog post that will document what we're doing while we're here in Panama City Beach, FL. Check out this blog post to read about how all of this got started. Full disclosure: I blog about an array of topics from recipes and my favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. I may receive a small commission from links in my posts to keep this blog running, however, I do not represent any companies or products that I do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how I roll. The opinions expressed are my own. My blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice.
 The time has finally come to escape Illinois {thank God} and embark on the journey of a lifetime. We are so excited to announce life's next adventure in store for our family: Work and Play Across the USA. Each month, we'll be in a new Airbnb in a new state, and we want you to join us! Find out how we're doing it below!  (Our empty home that housed us for 10 years that will forever store many of our family memories.) WHY? I created this trip, in part, to show you that our country, despite what the media shows you, is an extraordinary place, and that the American Dream absolutely still exists. I created this trip to teach my children to never be afraid to try new things and go to new places, and that you can always go back "home" or create a new one. It's all what YOU make of it. I created this trip because I don't believe we were put here to pay bills and die. I created this trip because I don't believe you should have to wait until you're elderly to LIVE your life or make your dreams come true. Our time here is not promised and there's nothing guaranteeing we'll make it to any certain time, anyway. I believe you can work and truly LIVE simultaneously, especially in today's society. I find it sad that people wait until they are terminally ill to make their dreams come true and knew that I never wanted to be in that space. I'd rather be broke and travel than rich and imprisoned to one tiny corner of the world or enslaved to debt. Some have asked, "How can you leave knowing your mom has stage 4 pancreatic cancer?"... If you wait for the RIGHT time, it will never come. It just won't. There will always be something stopping you from taking the next step, most of the time those somethings are excuses and fear. If my mom having cancer has taught me anything, it's to do ALL the things I dream of now and to teach my children the same. When I told people what we were doing and they called me crazy, I knew I was doing it right.  If you know me in real life, you know I always wanted to renovate a school bus into a living space and travel the country while running my online businesses. While I would still LOVE to do that, it's been 6 years since I began planning it and could never totally bring the idea to fruition because my daughter wasn't completely on board. My plan was to wait until she graduated in 3 years, homeschool Hawkins, then set out on my journey when Hayden went to college, BUT... Covid happened. Some saw a pandemic, I saw opportunity. Being forced into virtual learning has been a blessing, because it fast forwarded my plan to do this when Hayden graduated -- to now, and I believe she was meant to be a part of this journey. The hardest part was leaving my oldest son {21}, Hunter, behind and wishing I'd have done this sooner so he could've been a part of it {prime example of why NOT to wait}. Fun fact: Did you know in other countries, like Germany, homeschooling is illegal? You are literally a prisoner to one location because you're forced to send your children through their education system. That's just one tiny example that shouldn't go unnoticed, of how blessed we are to be in a country where we are free to choose how to educate our children. How are we doing it? Financially, I own 4 Etsy shops: My website: I earn us free gas with this app. There's no catch. You have to get gas anyway, so why not get it at a discounted price AND earn cash back for every person you refer? I earn meals for our family from everyone that signs up for Hello Fresh meal deliveries through me. Sign up to receive meals HERE and you'll save $40 and earn $10 for our family. Doug, my better half, drives an 18 wheeler. We have also set up a GoFundMe for any incidentals/emergencies we may incur.  We purchased a trailer to pull behind my Chevrolet Suburban that houses my work set up and our belongings. How can you follow along?
If you own a vacation rental property and would like to host one of our stays, please contact us -- we'd love to sponsor your home in our adventures. Our first stop is Panama City Beach {look out for my next blog post about our journey}. Where do you think we're going next? Drop your guess in the comments below and stay tuned... We have one life to live. There are no re-do's. There's no rewind button. Your time is now. Go. Full disclosure: I blog about an array of topics from recipes and my favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. I may receive a small commission from links in my posts to keep this blog running, however, I do not represent any companies or products that I do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how I roll. The opinions expressed are my own. My blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice.
 🌮Small shop Fiesta party!🎉 Planning your little one's 1st birthday party and stumped on a theme? Allow me to suggest a Fiesta party, because how amazing would a taco bar be?! Alas, all roads lead back to food for me. Now, more than ever, it is so important to support small business, so every item included in this Fiesta birthday party #OOTW (outfit of the week) comes from a small business! 🎈Uno Fiesta Hat 🎈Fiesta Banner 🎈Shredded Jeans 🎈Uno Bodysuit (available in several colors) 🎈Holy Guacamole Uno Shoes What birthday party themes have you guys done or are you interested in seeing? Tell me in the comments below! Love what you see in this blog post? Subscribe to our emails to make sure you never miss a post HERE If you need assistance opening your Etsy shop, designing an amazing logo, sale graphics, and much more, find Liv & Co. Consulting on Facebook HERE. Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby and toddler apparel and accessories and Blue November for our adult collection of apparel and accessories. Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE.  For obvious reasons, I'm pretty against stuffing my kids Easter baskets with candy. To each their own {no judgement}, sugar just sends my kids bouncing off the walls, and... teeth. {lol} Recently I've seen an abundance of requests online looking for candy alternatives that people are putting in their kids Easter baskets, so I figured I'd compose a blog post of unique items to stuff your kids Easter baskets with that A.) won't break the bank. B.) are from small shops, because I'm all about supporting the small businesses!, and C.) won't cause cavities. {ha ha!} I've included gifts for all ages, even teenagers! Don't forget to pin this to your Easter Pinterest boards and share it with your friends on Facebook and Instagram! Personalized Crayons I purchased these for Hawkins this year and I'm so excited for him to see them since he learned how to write his name this year.  Temporary Tattoos I did dinosaurs for Hawkins, but this shop is stocked with pretty much any theme you're looking for for girls and boys, including unicorns.   Mom Socks Show mama some love. What little guy doesn't need these mama socks?! So cute!  Travel Tic Tac Toe What a great idea for an Easter basket or stocking stuffer! No pens, no paper, no problem!  Carton Of Bath Bomb Eggs How cool are these egg bath bombs?! They are made and scented with all natural ingredients and a super cool alternative to candy.  Gantosaurus In An Egg Super soft and ready to cuddle, these cuties are made from recycled cardboard. How cool!  Felt Fishing Game Several color options are available! A customer review: "Bought this for my two year old nephew who loves fish and fishing. After opening his fishing kit he refused to open any other presents or eat his birthday cake because he was having too much fun with his fish! It was the perfect gift! Simple but well made."  Personalized Easter Outfit Every kiddo needs a great Easter outfit, right? Luckily, all of this is available in one shop. Snag the shirt HERE, the leg warmers HERE and the headband HERE.  Plush Heirloom Dolls Handmade for the win here! What girl doesn't love dolls, right? What's even more special than a doll, is a handmade doll that is sure to be passed down to future generations. This shop is stocked to the guild with cute plushies for girls and boys, but this one was my personal fave.  Hand Embroidered Necklace Don't worry, I've not forgotten the bigger kiddo's! This personalized, hand embroidered necklace is another one of those keepsake gift every girl is sure to appreciate and keep forever. You can customize your fabric color, font color, and of course, your initial.  Personalized Palm Leaf Tumblers The perfect gift for your teenage gal. Does the Easter bunny come for mom, too? Asking for a friend. {wink, wink}    Organic Football Soap Hygiene + football. Win/win. {lol}  Personalized Sports Pillow Boys absolutely love these!  Tell me what you guys are getting for your kiddo's for Easter in the comments below! Love what you see in this blog post? Subscribe to our emails to make sure you never miss a post HERE If you need assistance opening your Etsy shop, designing an amazing logo, sale graphics, and much more, find Liv & Co. Consulting on Facebook HERE. Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby and toddler apparel and accessories and Blue November for our adult collection of apparel and accessories. Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE.  Every Saturday, we do a little thing to give back to the community that so graciously provides for us, the small business community. In our Facebook VIP group and our Instagram and Facebook stories, we spend the day hosting other small shops and their unique products and services, complete with links to purchase them. Then, we place them all in one convenient location, our blog, so you can pin them to Pinterest and come back to them when you need them! Without further ado, here are our picks for 3/28/2020! Personalized Satin Bridesmaid Robes An Etsy bestseller, several gown + thread colors and fonts to choose from! I kind of just want one for myself -- non bridesmaid edition.  Will You Be My Bridesmaid Wine Bottle Labels PSA to anyone that wants to snag me as a bridesmaid in their wedding: slap one of these on a bottle of Moscato and there's no way I'll turn ya down.  Baby Swaddle Sack Easy in, easy out. What a great baby shower gift idea!  Eco-Friendly Reusable Washable Toilet Paper During the great pandemic of 2020 where everyone went out and hoarded all the toilet paper, it only seemed appropriate to include this gem of an eco-friendly, economical option. They are an Etsy bestseller with 5 star reviews and they look way more comfortable to wipe with than conventional toilet paper. I'm going to try it and let you know how it goes in a separate blog post. I'm all about not cutting down millions of trees just to have something to wipe my ass with. Stay tuned...   14K Gold Diamond Solitaire Necklace The perfect gift for bridesmaids, wives, girlfriends, best friends, daughters, mothers -- you name it! Gorgeous.    2020 Grad Socks The graduating class of 2020 is facing the possibility of not being able to attend a traditional graduation ceremony due to COVID-19, so it's time to start thinking outside the box to make the day special for them. One way is happy mail and decking them out in head to toe graduation gear -- small business style.  Random Rompers My son damn near lived in these for a good portion of his baby and toddler years. They are so comfortable to do all the kiddo things in them... Sleep... Play... Eat...  I Survived The Great Toilet Paper Panic 2020 T-Shirt I suppose you'll definitely survive it if you have some eco-friendly toilet paper, eh? {wink, wink}  What is your favorite item listed? What would you like to see more of? Tell us in the comments below! Love what you see in this blog post? Subscribe to our emails to make sure you never miss a post HERE Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby and toddler apparel and accessories and Blue November for our adult collection of apparel and accessories. Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE.  It's the turn of another decade, I'm 36 years old, and the more time that goes by, the more urgent it feels to compile a list of valuable information to pass down to my kids, that they can pass down to their kids, and so on. In this life, I've had a child in every decade {16 years old, 22 years old and 31 years old). I've been poor and I've been well off. I didn't go to college, but built a successful business and went on to build 3 more. I've experienced death of loved ones. I've experienced depression, and I've experienced tremendous happiness. I feel like I'm at a good place to offer up some good old fashioned words of wisdom, so here goes! 1.) Don't quit one job until you have another lined up. 2.) Take lots of pictures. I mean, a TON. 3.) Don't waste a single second of your life worrying about what other people think of you. 4.) Don't follow the trends. Set them. 5.) Your "check engine oil" light isn't like your gasoline light. {Ask me how I know... RIP, 1996 Geo Metro.} 6.) Never sacrifice your financial independence for anyone. Ever. 7.) Be kind, BUT never EVER let people walk all over you. 8.) Rid your life of toxic people the moment you discover they're toxic. 9.) Failure is a part of life. It's the only way to determine success. Kind of like, no rainbows without rain, ya know? Learn from your mistakes and use them as building blocks to make you better. 10.) No matter how alone you feel, you never will be. I will always be with you. I mean that. I will always find a way. 11.) Don't wish your childhood away. 12.) Stand up for what is right and stick up for people being wronged. 13.) Be the bigger person. 14.) School doesn't always make you smart. Education does. Never stop educating yourself no matter where you choose to do so. 15.) When baking, if a recipe calls to add the eggs separately, do it. There IS a reason. 16.) Learn a craft. You need to know how to do or how to make something. Always have something to offer. {Thank you, Mrs. Meyer (sp?), my 7th grade Home Ec teacher at Rogers Middle School in Affton, for teaching me to sew. Not only does it earn me a living, it is therapeutic.} 17.) Trust your gut. I'm telling you right now, it will not lie to you. 18.) College isn't everything. Loving what you're doing IS. There are very few places of employment that won't require EXPERIENCE. If you take the college route, try to obtain part time employment in the field you are in school for so you have the experience and education required to start your career immediately upon graduation. 19.) The saying "actions speak louder than words" has been around for ages for a reason. Words are just words. We say words out of emotion, things we may never really mean, it's in your actions that will show who you really are. 20.) Always support your small, local businesses first. 21.) You can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat you when you have money vs. when you don't. Pay attention. 22.) Forgive. Forgiveness is important, not for them, but for you. Being honest, though you may be able to forgive {maybe}, you will never {ever} forget what someone has done to you. Keep that in mind when going further in your relationships in life. {Because, actions...} 23.) Use the microwave as little as possible. 24.) Honesty is most definitely the best policy even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment. One lie leads to another and betrayal is hard to get over. We all make mistakes in life. Come clean and move on. Anyone worth being in your life will understand. 25.) If you are going to be "in" something, be ALL in. Whether it's relationships or jobs, put your all in it or get out of it. 26.) Self care isn't a luxury. It's mandatory to be a successful human. 27.) Having good manners is important. 28.) You will determine how people treat you by what you tolerate. 29.) Nothing is permanent. Nothing. Don't be afraid to take risks or to leave a town. You can come back from anything. All the magic in life occurs outside of your comfort zone. 30.) Respect and communication are THE key components of a successful relationship. Period. 31.) Learn to love yourself NOW. All the great and not so great things all make you, YOU, and you are amazing. It is imperative you recognize this. 32.) Debt sucks. Always have a rainy day fund. You never know when you're going to need new wheels, lose a job, or break a limb. A good rule of thumb is to act like 20% of your paycheck doesn't exist and immediately transfer it to an account you won't use unless it's an emergency. 33.) Don't ever be afraid to stick up for yourself and I don't care what that means you'll lose in the end, because at least you'll have your dignity. 34.) There are friends, then there are FRIENDS, ya dig? Invest in FRIENDS. Nurture them. They are your village, and we all need a village. 35.) You only have one body in this life. Do right by it. Give it, bare minimum, 30 minutes a day of exercise. You will never regret it. 36.) Do not use food for comfort. While I'm at it on this one, also be aware of the food you are putting in your body. Some foods do nothing for you, some foods destroy your body and some foods heal and nourish your body. Know the difference. 37.) Set boundaries and adhere to them. 38.) You are in an era of technology where your answer to any question is always just a click away on a device you carry around ALL day long. Use your smartphone to make you smart. 39.) Be grateful. Everyday, be grateful. This world is an amazing place. If nothing else, be glad for each day you are here to be a part of it. 40.) Travel. 41.) The people most worth keeping are the ones that loved you when you weren't always the most lovable. 42.) A good friend will tell you the TRUTH, not just what you want to hear. 43.) Often times no one will notice what you do for them until you stop doing it. Keep doing it anyway. 44.) Never let the things you want in life make you forget what you already have. 45.) Lend a helping hand. 46.) Be relentless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. 47.) Laugh a lot. 48.) When {if} you have children, make sure you are ready for them. It isn't fair and it isn't their job to have to grow up with you. {I love you, Hunter, and if you read this, I'm sorry.} 49.) Live simply, it's less confusing and far more gratifying. 50.) Hold the door for the person behind you. 51.) You are here for a reason. You were created for a reason. No matter how bad life gets, remember that. 52.) Love your mother despite her flaws. You grew inside her. She carried you {in more ways than one}. She brought you into this world. I can guarantee you, every hard time you go through, she's going through it with you. When life is good, she's celebrating with you. Everything she does, she does it with you in mind. 53.) Only surround yourself with people that know your worth. 54.) Learn from your parents mistakes, don't repeat them. 55.) Everything WILL fall into place. It may not be in YOUR timing, but it always will. 56.) Never stay with someone that you have to beg to hang out with you. 57.) To my daughter: Under no circumstance is it ok for a man to raise his hand to you. To my son: It is never ok to raise your hand to a woman. 58.) Always keep a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle, at least. 59.) It's ok to change your mind. 60.) The kid sitting alone in the cafeteria - sit with them. 61.) Don't do drugs. Ever. Seriously, just don't. They will ruin your life if they don't kill you first. 62.) Don't eat yellow snow. 63.) Tip your server. 64.) Return your shopping cart. 65.) It's ok to say "no". 66.) Everything you do, do it with love, even when you've been wronged. 67.) Have patience. 68.) Don't judge people off of their political affiliation. It may be tempting, but don't. There are great people on all sides and it's a shame missing out on good people because of blanket judgements. 69.) Never ask a woman, "When are you due?", unless you are a thousand percent positive she is pregnant. 70.) When {if} you have children, let them sleep with you if you want to. 71.) Life is short. Eat the cake. Just not too much, because -- health. 72.) If you're not going to wash your dishes right away, at least let them soak. Scrubbing sucks. 73.) Form is important. It's better to be able to do 5 pushups right than 20 wrong. 74.) Cook your own food as often as possible. It's healthier. It's satisfying. It is relaxing. 75.) Never make permanent decisions in moments of temporary anger. Love, Liv I'm dying to know, what would YOU add to this list? Tell me in the comments below! Love what you see in this blog post? Subscribe to our emails to make sure you never miss a post HERE Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby and toddler apparel and accessories and Blue November for our adult collection of apparel and accessories. Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE.  Ladies, I was never one for fake eyelashes... I could never get them on. I always made a mess with the glue, then ended up trashing them. Literally, my lashes would be glued stuck to my fingers, I could never line them up just right on the first try, so I'd have to strip them off and go through the process again, and honestly, it was time consuming, exhausting and I found the entire process to be not worth it. I LOVE make-up. In fact, if you talked to the group of gals I ran around with in high school, I'll bet some of them would tell you that they thought I was going to be a beautician of sorts when I grew up, but alas, here I am. Close enough, eh?  Truth be told, as much as I love make-up, I have never been one to use fake lashes, brows, etc. I started looking into them to make my eyes stand out more in my product pictures for my business, Blue November (shameless plug). I've heard horror stories from losing lashes from lash extensions to friends losing their eyebrows to threading and microblading and was looking for a temporary (and cheap) fix to risking any of that and stumbled upon these magnetic lashes. You're probably thinking, "Magnetic? That sounds heavy." Nope! I can't even tell I have them on. They come with a tool for easy on and off, but honestly, I just use my tweezers. If you want to try them out, here's where I got them! If you don't like them as long as I have mine, don't worry, you can trim them! What do you guys think? Do you love these? Tell me in the comments below if you want me to work on doing an application tutorial! Love what you see in this blog post? Subscribe to our emails to make sure you never miss a post HERE If you need assistance opening your Etsy shop, designing an amazing logo, sale graphics, and much more, find Liv & Co. Consulting on Facebook HERE. Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby and toddler apparel and accessories and Blue November for our adult collection of apparel and accessories. Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE. 
"Why aren't my abandoned cart emails converting to sales?" So, this question popped up a few days ago in a small business boss group I'm in and I felt compelled to write about it.
Let's first address WHY people are adding products to their cart.
I know for myself, I like to "window shop". I like to go to websites, look at all the pretty things, add them to my cart {you know, just in case... for later} and I jump ship, because A.) I don't currently have the funds to purchase, B.) Don't NEED what I'm shopping for at the moment, or C.) I'm going to wait for a sale or discount (which is why having an email list is so important, so people can subscribe to your sales, etc. Read more about that HERE). You see, someone like me greatly appreciates those abandoned cart emails, so don't feel discouraged. I love when I get a little reminder that pops up because, if we're being honest, I window shop A LOT -- on several different sites. Aside from leaving 1,000 tabs open on my phone or computer, those emails are the only thing connecting me back to what I wanted to purchase {at a later date}. It's not so important to look at the number of sales missed that are tracked by abandoned cart emails, because people WILL come back when they are ready to make that purchase and it might not be by clicking the abandoned cart email, but that email may have reminded them, if that makes sense. 
How exactly do we get a higher conversion rate on abandoned carts?
The secret is simple. You raise the prices on your product and offer a more enticing incentive to come back, like a higher percentage discount or dollar amount off per sale. "But I can't raise my prices, I will out price my product and no one will buy." WRONG. This is the biggest misconception among small business owners. They are always so afraid to take this leap, but want to know where the sweet spot is. Well, this is it. This is the sweet spot. This is the difference between a business owner and a crafter. All too often I see small business owners with the crafter mentality. We all know what that is... They slash their prices in an attempt to undercut the competition, but end up underpricing themselves so badly they end up out of business in 5 years or less because they didn't understand how to "business".... or how to "math", for that matter. If you are making money with your craft, you are a business, therefore, a business owner, and you have to start thinking like one. If you are a handmade small business, you have even more of a reason to have higher prices being that you don't just buy and resell -- you actually make your own products. You have a lot more time invested than typical retailers. Not only is raising your prices going to raise your abandoned cart conversion rate, but it's going to increase your sales overall because now you have the flexibility to offer sales more frequently. What do buyers like? Buyers like a deal, even if they just think they are getting a deal, and we are all guilty of it. "I don't like playing mind games with my customers." Umm, OK. You do you, Rhonda, but this IS what works. It isn't a mind game, it is strategy based on extensive research and human habits. Your buyer wants what you're selling, but they want to think they received a deal, so you give it to them. Imagine going into your favorite brick and mortar store. I don't know if you do this, but I definitely do. I find something I love, check the price tag, walk around with it in my cart, then go put it back at the very end because my kids need the things more than I do, BUT -- if that product is on sale -- you've got me, and the higher the sale, the more likely I'm going to buy, because "What if these mauve sequin PINK Victoria's Secret joggers aren't here tomorrow in my size?" or "What if this sale ends tomorrow?". The sense of urgency has been created. Your virtual abandoned cart is no different. In addition to raising your prices, sweet spot #2 is: Create a sense of urgency. Your abandoned cart email should contain 2 things: an enticing discount {25% or higher} and a sense of urgency, like, "Complete your purchase now and use code 'XYZ' for a limited time, while supplies last!" OR make an expiration for your code. Make sense? A rule of thumb for retailers is to price products 4x or higher than the original price they purchased wholesale for. They bank off the few that pay full price during their initial release, have a 25% off sale a few weeks later, where they will still make a great profit, then at the end of season, they'll hold a 50% off sale, where they will still make double the money that they spent, so why in the world should your small business not be doing the same?
Did this blog post help you? Did you raise your prices and offer higher discounts to more effectively convert sales? I want to hear about what works for you in the comments below!
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If you need assistance opening your Etsy shop, designing an amazing logo, sale graphics, tips on running a small business and much more, find Liv & Co. Consulting on Facebook HERE. Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby, toddler and mama apparel and accessories and The Matriarchy Matters for our collection of apparel and accessories that celebrates women. Follow on social media: Liv & Co. Facebook Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter The Matriarchy Matters Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE. 
After every storm comes a rainbow. Every mama that has suffered a miscarriage or death of a child understands this more than anyone. For this extra special time in every rainbow mama's life, I wanted to create a list of the most unique rainbow baby products, that you won't find in your typical box stores.
Samuel 1:27 Bible Verse Rainbow Wall Art
The perfect piece for every child's nursery, especially rainbow babies. 
Personalized Brown Fawn Minky Fur Rainbow Baby Blanket
This ultra cozy rainbow baby blanket is personalized and you have to head to the listing to see the full personalization because it is nothing short of stunning. There are blankets, then there are these blankets. I mean, it speaks for itself, does it not? I'm completely obsessed with these colors, as I may mention several times throughout this post. 
Gender Neutral Rainbow Baby Wood Sign
So, picture this ... Your new bundle of joy in his or her hospital crib with this sign - AND - the adorable rainbow Hello My Name Is bodysuit below for Fresh 48 pictures. Yes, please! 
Hello My Name Is Rainbow Baby Bodysuit Outfit
Every baby needs a hospital outfit and coming home outfit. I'm pretty sure I'd never want to take this darling little bodysuit off my child. This little design is available in several color options, as well as in stickers at LivAndCompanyShop on Etsy, but I love the way the colors pair with the wood sign I posted above. 
Personalized Rainbow Baby Name Blanket
You can't ever have too many blankets for your babe, trust me. Name blankets are all the trend and even extra special for your rainbow baby. 
Somewhere Over The Rainbow Scratch Off Cards
Your rainbow baby is on his or her way, how cool are these Somewhere Over The Rainbow scratch off cards to reveal the great news to friends and family?! 
Rainbow Balloon Arch
How perfect is this rainbow balloon arch for a rainbow baby sprinkle or baby shower? 
3 Piece I'm The Rainbow After The Storm Outfit Set
Everything about this set gives me all the heart eyes, but especially those pants and that hat! 
Muted Rainbow Baby Shower Invites
I love the gender neutral colors in these rainbow baby invitations. 
Rainbow Nursery Pillow
Obsessed with the soothing colors of this rainbow pillow! 
Rainbow Baby Baby Book
Mark every milestone with this sweet rainbow baby book! 
Rainbow Milestone Cards
Marking each milestone is so important when they are tiny because there are SO many. How perfect are these rainbow milestone cards?! 
Rainbow Beauty Leotard
A little girl can never have too many outfits and your little rainbow beauty definitely needs this adorable flutter sleeve leotard! 
Rainbow Boppy Pillow Cover
Boppy pillows are a staple in the world of newborns and this boppy pillow cover is perfect for your rainbow baby! 
Rainbow Tie Back Crown
You'll more than likely have professional photos done for your rainbow baby and I just felt like this rainbow heart tie back crown was the sweetest. It would actually go really well with the wrap I posted (very top of this list). 
Personalized Rainbow Baby Car Seat Canopy Cover
You'll need a car seat cover. I included 2 of my favorite styles. The first is this multi use canopy cover that can also be used as a high chair cover or nursing cover. It is personalized and the colors can even be customized! 
Winter Rainbow Car Seat Cover
I love this car seat cover style because it seems more permanent. I like the multi use of the one above, but this one seems like it's a better option for cooler climates and has easy in and out via the zipper closure on the font. 
Gender Neutral Rainbow Bedding
You're going to need bedding for that beautiful little miracle of yours! Allow me to suggest this gorgeous rainbow set! 
Rainbow Baby Word Scramble
Baby showers have gotten so much more fun than when I was pregnant. I don't recall ever playing games at mine. I thought this rainbow baby word scramble was a great addition to this list to play at any rainbow themed baby shower. What makes this word scramble even better is that it's an instant digital download... just in case you're a procrastinator... like me... 
Mama Rainbow Floral Crown
Let's not forget a beautiful rainbow crown for a beautiful rainbow mama! 
Personalized Pot Of Gold Rainbow Baby Blanket
Send all my funds to this shop! I need ALLLLL the blankets! 
... the back of the blanket above.
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If you need assistance opening your Etsy shop, designing an amazing logo, sale graphics, and much more, find Liv & Co. Consulting on Facebook HERE. Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby and toddler apparel and accessories and Blue November for our adult collection of apparel and accessories. Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE. |
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AuthorProud Mom of 3 beautiful children. Creator, designer, & owner of Liv & Co. 
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