Help from Canva

 

As we all know, small business ownership requires wearing a bunch of hats. Recently, while donning my marketing hat, I have been using Canva.com to help with some of my social media. It is proving to be a very helpful tool to allow me to get what I want done, and done quickly, and for free! All wonderful things. 

I can imagine using Canva.com for lots of things outside of social media: 

• Birthday cards 
• Invitations 
• Thank you notes + e-mails 
• Sale banners for your online store 
• Tags for your kid's lunch box
• Electronic love notes for your special peeps
• Facebook banners
• Sorry for being a knucklehead note 
• Garage sale flyers  

The list goes on... and on... 

Above are a few images that I created (in no time at all!), one of which I am going to add to my personal Instagram feed, because I am now using my business Instagram account more frequently than my personal one. Wearing the entrepreneur hat LOTS lately!  If you are reading this, follow @e4interiordesign on Instagram + check out canva.com for creating your own custom images. 

Make time to do something creative today! 

Cheers, 

Being present.

Are you happy here? Wherever "here" may be for you; both the physical location + in the moment in life you are in? I have been reminded of this bunches lately. Learning to appreciating the moment I am in + to be present; be it dealing with a screaming toddler, working with a client, cleaning the house, taking a webinar to learn about entrepreneurship, enjoying a nice glass of red wine, or having dinner (or even a disagreement for that matter!) with my partner. Good or bad, easy or uncomfortable; truly being present and appreciative in any of these moments takes practice, practice, practice! Still practicing... :) 

I took the picture above this summer while on a boat ride around Linekin Bay + Boothbay Harbor. My family and I were with friends enjoying the beautiful sun + blue skies, listening to music, slowly touring the coast of Maine, soaking in the moments. Yesterday I enhanced the image with the help of canva.com. This morning I made this image my screen saver on my laptop as a reminder to stop, take a deep breath, + soak in the moment - even if it sucks, I know the moment is fleeting and around the next turn maybe a moment like the one I recall from the image above. 

Make it a great day! Cheers, 

DOLLAR STORE DYI SUPER HERO

Since we are now less than a week away from Halloween, I figured that I would reveal my creative and affordable costume solution that I have created for Charlie. The best part is it's unique and most of the supplies came from The Dollar Store! 

It all started with the blue cape. When I realized that Superman did not have a blue cape and all he kept talking about was wanting to be Batman. Avoiding a mini-melt down from the 2 year old, my creative mom-mind when into full effect, and together Charlie and I created our own super hero: 

 Super Mattei (our last name) Man!

 Super mom moment for me, it worked! He has been telling everyone about Super Mattei Man. Most people have no idea what he is talking about and probably think his name is Matthew! Oh well, it's our little super hero creation and Charlie is taking his new roll very seriously. We have even had a few dress rehearsals. 

So fast he is almost flying. 

Anyway, here are the supplies and associated costs all at the Dollar Store, except for the Velcro: 

Blue Cape ($1)

Red Duct Tape ($1 each roll)  + Blue Painters Tape ($1) 

 

Large Foam Sheets ($1) + Glittery Foam Sheets ($1)

Packet of Felt ($1) + Sew-On Velcro ($2.99 @ JoAnn's) 

Glue Gun Sticks ($1)

The other items I already had at home; glue gun, scissors, and a white mask left over from last Halloween.  I searched my trusty friend, Pinterest, for some inspiration images, and went to town! 

A few sketches, wine, and hot glue and I created a fun, unique, and special custom for my little super hero’s first real trick-or-treating adventure. No sewing required thanks to duck tape and hot glue. So easy + so cheap =  my kind of DYI. 

 I have bunches of left over supplies, so I have been thinking I may add a shield of some sort by Friday, or who knows, maybe I will make a Super Mattie Mommy costume!?!

Happy Halloween + safe Trick-or-Treating! 

Cheers,