Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Playing Catch-Up: Thoughts on Maternity Leave + 2014 Valentine Cards + Etsy Shop Reopening


The Bubby and Bean 2014 Valentine Card Collection

Hey you guys!  How about that for a long title?  I have a lot to share today and it didn't seem very productive to break it up into a bunch of separate posts, so here we are.  It's been a little strange being away from the blog for the last couple of weeks, but I'm so grateful to have had some friends graciously fill in as guest contributors while I care for our new baby.  (You can read about baby Essley's introduction here and my initial experience as a new mom here.)  I do have a few more guest bloggers who will be stopping in over the next week or so, but I am making the transition back into daily blogging, so you'll start seeing me back around here on a regular basis sooner than later.

Maternity leave is a weird concept when you own your own businesses.  I'm very lucky to have work help, but it's still been a challenge to really walk away.  And planning for a 'leave' when you're a small business owner just isn't as cut and dry as it is with a more traditional career.  I originally scheduled three weeks off of work, with plans to come back on a more part time basis for a few weeks until things felt a little more adjusted.  It turns out though that Robbie has to go back on the road with the band quite a bit earlier than he'd anticipated, so we've had to move some things around in order for me to be able take care of Essley by myself while he's away.  Since it will be impossible to work full time when he's gone, I decided to cut my leave short and start work again last weekend, while he was still here to help care for the baby.  In between feedings and snuggle breaks, I've been working on a lot of tax stuff (yuck) and end-of-2013 tying up, catching up on business emails, planning for the businesses' first quarters, planning the blog's editorial calendar, and getting things as organized as possible in order to figure out the best ways to balance this new mom thing with the whole entrepreneurial thing when it's just me here.  I won't lie - it's only been a few days and I'm already wondering how I can really make this all work.  Add in a major dash of sleep deprivation, and I'm pretty exhausted.  I'm staying positive though, and hoping it all falls into place. Fingers are crossed.


I also opened Bubby & Bean's Art Etsy shop back up a few days ago after having it closed for three weeks.  I shifted things around (it always makes me a little sad to push the holiday cards to the bottom in January, especially after such a great season in the shop), updated inventory, and assessed current stock.  I also added the 2014 Valentine Card Collection, which you see in the images throughout this post.  Most of these are best-selling cards that I'm bringing back from last year, along with a couple of new designs.  Like the holiday line, the vast majority of the Valentine line features recycled and eco-friendly cardstock and envelopes, each of which is individually printed, cut, scored, and folded by hand.

The cards you see here, along with the rest of the collection, are available are Bubby & Bean Art as singles (and some in sets of 10), but can be packaged in any quantities that are requested.  And to celebrate love and all that, I'm offering blog readers a 15% discount for the next week (today through January 22nd) with code BLOG15.  If you're not a Valentine card person but still like to get a little somethin' for your sweetheart or friends, there are also lots of love-themed art prints available. 


That was an awful lot for one post, I know.  If you're still reading, you're a champ. (Playing catch-up can be a little overwhelming at times.)  I still plan to eventually share some of my birth story with you guys, and I definitely plan to share more about life with this wonderful, amazing new little girl who, despite her ability to keep us awake at the most inopportune hours of the night, has already filled us with so much happiness it's ridiculous.  In the meantime, you can catch lots of mini life-with-baby updates and pictures on my Instagram account (@bubbyandbean).  Thank you for bearing with me during this time of transition, and for continuing to come here and support my guest contributors along the way.  You are the best readers in the universe, hands down.

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21 comments:

  1. Best of luck Melissa, specially for when Robbie leaves! Sending you a big hug! Have loved every single guest post, by the way :)

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  2. oooh loving your pretty cards! those are so fun!
    and you are amazing being able to juggle all of that - you go get 'em, girl!

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  3. Love the valentines so much girly. Gorgeous. I also still think you're nuts for taking a 2 week maternity leave! Wish I lived closer so I could come help. Remember to rest when you can!

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  4. Welcome back, Melissa :) I'm in awe of how you manage it all!!
    Your Valentine's cards are fabulous :)
    The best of luck with everything!!!

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  5. I love the Valentine's Card line up. My favorites from last year are back. =0)
    I think it's a great thing that you're easing your way back into work mode. It's going to be difficult, but you're a champ! You can do it. When you feel overwhelmed, just take a minute, give that sweet Essley a kiss and breathe.

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  6. Beautiful Valentine sentiments! You are doing an awesome job.

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  7. I'm sure you will find a way to make it all work, and if you need to take more time off, that's totally ok! She will only be this little once. :)

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  8. You're doing a fantastic job Momma! Keep it up xoxo Molly

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  9. I think you'll do just fine. Life is just a series of adjustments when you really think about it. And heck, coming back after only two weeks is so hardcore! You can take a longer break, girlfriend!

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  10. your valentine cards are so lovely! thanks for the coupon! i took 7 weeks off for maternity leave and i work from a home office too as a cpa. you are right that it's a different challenge when you're self employed especially because you're not getting paid when you're not working. i probably would have taken a lot longer off but we needed the money.

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  11. I've really enjoyed the guest posts but will be happy to see you back more regularly too, and with any luck there will be a lot of baby pictures involved! =) It sounds like you have so much on your plate, I hope you have some time to relax too. PS I love the valentines! Theyre so elegant!

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  12. Being a first-time mama is tough - you're hormonal, you're sleep-deprived, your body is still adjusting to its post-pregnancy self, and so you spend so much time just wondering if you're doing it right.
    I just had my 3rd child two weeks ago, but I remember so clearly how difficult it was the first time around. But it was so worth it. Just remember that, and you'll see that as time passes it becomes easier.

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  14. It's like you read my mind! I've been going through the exact same thing. I told myself I would be on a self-imposed "maternity leave" until the end of January. I ended up reopening my Etsy shop a few weeks early because I felt like I had to be doing something productive (because, you know, taking care of an infant isn't time-consuming enough on its own!) I've also been wondering how I make everything work, it's definitely a challenge! I'm sure in our own ways we will each find a way.

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  15. Glad to hear you're starting to get back to work and get somewhat of a routine down. I have a hard time planning to be away for a short vacation, I can't imagine how hard it is to be away for 3 weeks and learn to care for your sweet little girl. But like you said, it will all fall into place :)

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  16. Welcome back, you are rockin' it!!

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  17. Welcome back + wonderful new art prints :) Best of luck with returning to work, while also wrangling being a new mama!

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  18. These are all absolutely gorgeous! Welcome back and congrats on reproducing a lil nugget of joy :]

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