If you're just starting here, stop and go read my birth story! This blog post details the post-birth experience of my second child.

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For anyone who is unfamiliar with labor, birth doesn't really end after the baby is born. You need to birth the placenta as well. The placenta is a large temporary organ that grows with the baby and manages the baby's nutrition and hormones. If the placenta isn't delivered shortly after birth, the uterus is not able to contract back down to size, leaving a massive wound which can cause hemorrhaging, a very serious ...

If you are at all familiar with my life story, you'll know that the birth of my firstborn son completely broke me. It was a difficult pregnancy, followed by a traumatic labor, and I was ultimately awarded with a fussy and completely restless baby. I honestly felt like I lost a year of my life between postpartum depression and all the major life changes happening at the time. I would love to revisit that story now that I have some perspective and feel like myself again, however that is unlikely to happen anytime soon, so feel free to check ...

Hello!

It's a pleasure to finally meet you!

When I started my blog back in 2016, I spent a lot of time wondering what to write for my first post. For a lot of bloggers, the first post is an introduction, letting readers know who they are, a little about themselves, and the type of content to expect. I found this way too intimidating, not to mention unnecessary, so I decided to skip it all together and simply began posting helpful content.

Almost 4 years later, 6000+ subscribers to my YouTube channel, and 100+ unique users per day on ...

Adobe Photoshop is arguably one of the best programs for artists, designers, and photographers to have in their collection. The capabilities of the program are mind-boggling; it has features for everything from digital painting, to template creation, to photo manipulation. Although there is a bit of a learning curve for beginners, once familiar the program becomes intuitive to use.

I have been using Photoshop regularly since the middle of highschool, around 10 years ago. (Anyone starting to feel old?) ...and while I don't consider myself an *expert*, I do consider myself highly experienced in the software and qualified in ...

Most of my subscribers on this website and YouTube channel are interested in learning how to make planner stickers to sell on Etsy. I covered the topic in great detail in my previous blog series; however one of the main questions I still receive is where exactly shop owners should go to find clipart and graphics for sticker kits.

In a previous article, I explained the different types of places that you can go to get images for your designs. However, in this article, I am going to share 6 websites that I find to be excellent resources for finding ...

Before our little one was born (in fact, before I was even pregnant), I loved researching all things baby related. Mostly because I like being prepared, but even more-so because I like learning new things. Baby land was something I had no experience with whatsoever, which meant every aspect of babyhood was an uncharted territory, often brimming with cute things... and I found it fascinating.

Even when it came to diapers.

Believe me, I was eye-ing up those cute Honest Company printed diapers and stocking up on everything from little scented baggies to help conceal particularly stinky messes to flushable ...

As the New Year approaches, you may be thinking about your resolutions for 2019. Planning to hit the gym more often or only eat organic food? Before you set goals for the next twelve months, it can be helpful to reflect on the year you’ve had so far. Especially if you didn’t stick to your resolutions last year, introspection can help you determine why you may not have been able to accomplish your goals.

That's why I will be dedicating several pages in my new 2019 bullet journal for these self-reflection questions and activities from Shari’s Berries! These ...

This is Part 2 of my birth story. Click HERE to read Part 1.

The prospect of being in real labor helped me push past my exhaustion and continue with my plan of a medication free birth. I had my exercise ball in the car, I've been practicing my breathing for almost 4 days now, I could do this.

The hospital's policy for intermittent monitoring was 15 minutes on the machine, 45 minutes off, every hour. We went through several cycles of this before a doctor came in around 11 am to check me again.

I had ...

My birth story is a perfect example of “We planned, God laughed”.

As an engineer, I love data and learning about things. I literally spent the entire pregnancy watching every birth vlog on YouTube (twice), taking multiple birthing classes, and researching every little detail about the labor and delivery process in an effort to be as prepared as possible. I wanted to be informed and ready for any given scenario that could occur.

Obsessive. I know.

My only real desire for labor was to deliver as naturally as possible, with as little intervention as necessary. Ideally, no epidural – I ...

Hello everyone!

Per long awaited request, I am finally happy to announce a new series of blog posts as a companion guide to my previous guide, where I will be demonstrating in-depth tutorials on how to design various types of planner stickers in GIMP.

Before we get started, here is a link to my previous guide, where I go step by step through the process of buying materials, opening an Etsy shop, printing and cutting planner stickers, and fulfilling orders. If you are interested in that material, click here to head over to the other series.

Additionally, I would like ...

Hello everyone!

Per long awaited request, I am finally happy to announce a new series of blog posts as a companion guide to my previous guide, where I will be demonstrating in-depth tutorials on how to design various types of planner stickers in Adobe Photoshop.

Before we get started, here is a link to my previous guide, where I go step by step through the process of buying materials, opening an Etsy shop, printing and cutting planner stickers, and fulfilling orders. If you are interested in that material, click here to head over to the other series.

Additionally, I would ...

Every artist knows the struggle that comes along with getting a new sketchbook. It usually goes something like:

1. Obtain a glorious, beautiful, new sketchbook.
2. Gaze upon it's perfection for extended lengths of time.
3. Finally build up the courage to draw in it.
4. The drawing does not live up to expectations, and now the sketchbook is ruined. Toss it onto a shelf to be forgotten about, and to live out its days among the dozens of other half used sketchbooks that you already have.

The struggle is real.

For someone that has been drawing their whole life, I finally realized ...

This article is part of my “How to Make Planner Stickers to Sell on Etsy” guide.

Five months and fourteen articles later, we have finally reached the last installment of the series! I am so happy to have been able to interact with so many of you in the community, and sincerely wish you the best of luck in your Etsy journey!
_{Psst... If any new shop owners are looking to do a collaboration or sponsorship, message me! ;)}

I'd like to finish up this series with a list of miscellaneous tips and tricks that do not fit in any ...

This article is part of my “How to Make Planner Stickers to Sell on Etsy” guide.

Choosing a name is not only the first step towards opening your Etsy shop; it is also the beginning of your store’s brand. Your brand is what defines you, your products, and the journey that leads you to where you are now. It’s a personal story that grows and develops over time.

On first glance, a brand appears to extend only as far as the logo and design of their website or business card. However, a brand inherently extends much further than that.

In ...

This article is part of my “How to Make Planner Stickers to Sell on Etsy” guide.

Now that you’ve opened shop, it’s only a matter of time before you receive your first order. While it’s definitely exciting to get your first Etsy transaction email, you may also feel a little panicky and unsure about how to proceed!

At least, that’s how I felt when I got my first order.

I hadn’t really given much thought to the process of packaging and shipping my stickers. I had all my supplies ready, but never actually put it all together before getting my ...