Dear reader,

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 I really, really love my family. I feel that of all the blessings that God has given me, the most amazing one is my family. When I was living away from my family I’d miss them and count down the days until I’d get to see them. Granted, sometimes family can get on your nerves (dysfunctional family, anyone!?) and you may fight a lot and not speak to them for a while. Despite that, they are my family and I will always love them.

I’m glad to have an extended family that I can see whenever I want. When I get fed up with my immediate family, I can go and visit my cousins for a while. Like this past week. I do not have a lot of friends and so I count my cousins as my best friends. They have all been here for each other through our lowest and highest points. Sure, I get mad at them sometimes, and they get mad at me but we always forgive each other and carry on like nothing has happened. They make me feel good about myself and I sure hope I make them feel good about themselves as well. When I’m with my cousins, laughter is always the norm. In fact, I don’t think I have gone a day with my cousins without laughing. Not even during all those funerals last year; we always found something to joke and laugh about. We tease each other as well, mercilessly, but it is always in good humour. Like that time one of my cousins said to me, “your fingers are so long your husband is going to take a long time putting a ring on your finger.” and “your hairline starts on your face and not on your head.” (I have a widow’s peak). It’s all good though; my comebacks were top class and sometimes result in my cousins trying to beat me up while laughing.

We all had a tough year last year and when the festive season rolled around, we were apprehensive about where and how we would spend our Christmas because the people who we normally spent it with and who made if good were gone. When Christmas arrived, my siblings and I congregated with my cousins at their house and it was an excellent Christmas. We had a lot of fun and there were no adults around! Haha!

This past week I was feeling rather stressed and feeling constantly tired (setting up a business does take it toll on your health). My cousins asked me to come over and I agreed, knowing it will do me good and what good it did! It’s always an adventure being at my cousins’. Other than all the silly things we did, one of them graduated that weekend, the same day the pageant I participated in was televised! Myself and another cousin stayed behind so we could watch it and I was hiding behind her every time I came up haha. I thought I looked really terrible but my cousin got mad at me for thinking that and said I was actually okay. See what I mean when I say they make me feel good about myself? As soon as the broadcast was over we hurried over to the graduation and my cousin looked so beautiful! I did her make-up and also did my other cousin’s hair and make-up -about which she said I could open a beauty salon since I’m good with make-up, hair and nails- and this was a big deal since I don’t wear make-up and know close to nothing about it. Hello beauty bloggers, I’m coming for you, haha!

My favourite thing about family is that they are always there for you even when you mess up really badly. They have seen you at your worst and still love you. You can talk about the most disgusting things to them and they’ll still love you. To my family, immediate and extended, I appreciate you guys and love all of you. Thanks for loving every inch of me.

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The festive season is always a time for family for me and I’ll take any excuse to spend time with them because I know in the next year I’ll be very busy and they will too. We are all growing older and wiser. Besides, any excuse for laughter and embarrassing anecdotes, right?

I’m wishing you, lovely reader, a beautiful and merry Christmas whether you are going to spend it with family or not. If you are and however dysfunctional your family is, make sure to give them a hug and let them know you love them. Let’s also spare a thought for anyone out there without a family since this is the season they’ll really need a family. If you are able, open your heart and homes to them.

Let me know in the comments what your plans for the festive season entail and what your favourite thing about family is.

‘Til next time,

-Bella

Starting your own business

Hello reader,

Welcome back! You may have noticed that I redesigned the blog. Bought my first blog template and did a little customization here and there! I like trying something new.

This is not all I’ve been busy with lately though. I’ve been working very hard trying to set up my design company. Oh yeah! The secret it out! I’m excited to announce that the website will go live on the 20^th, launching with special prices for Christmas and New Year. So if you’re looking for graphic design work, you’d be able to save just in time for the New Year!

Yay! However, setting up and running your own business is pretty challenging. There were many late nights when I wanted to know how to do something or wishing that I knew a lot of coding so setting up a website will be easier. I had a lot of chances to quit and just apply for a job but I knew that I had to give it everything I’ve got because it was my dream and I wanted to see it come to life.

When you a dream to follow and you have about 50 reasons why you should put it on the backburner and do something else, focus on the one reason why you should just risk everything and go for it. Starting a business is incredibly risky. While working as an intern, I saved the majority of the money I earned in order to put all of it into my business as capital so going forward with this means I stand a chance of losing money I worked hard for and going months without income. But you know what? It’ll be worth it because I get to wake up every day doing what I love, excited to create something new and on my terms.

As starting a company can be extremely stressful, it is a good idea to ensure that you have a support structure. I have a small one in my family and friends and it’s great! However it was also challenging to convince my parents that I do not want to work for anyone and that I want to start my own business and be my own boss. That was met with, “What would you do? Are you going to sit at home doing nothing?” and “It’s hard to find a job in this economy. It is better to work for someone and build your portfolio before setting off by yourself.”  Despite all this, I was adamant that I should start my own business and I think over time they started to see this and they relented. Now they are part of my support group. I turn to my Dad about legal matters and advice on registering a company and my sister advices me on finance and things that involve numbers and percentages since those make my eyes glaze over.

I don’t even know why my family was surprised when I decided to do this. I mean, my Dad had started his own company and my older brother older also broke off from working for someone else and ran his own business successfully until he passed. And I’m pretty sure I would have valued his business advice. Full disclosure: My design company is not only the only business idea I have. My sister knows this too! I showed her my notebook, which is full of ideas I want to implement and it’d be such a waste of brain cells, ink and paper to not try and implement them, no? Yes.

To help me on my way to setting up a business, other than relying on my family for support, I read a lot! There are so many free business tools on the internet. I especially love the Reddit, often frequenting the Entrepreneur subbreddit. If Reddit was a person, I would marry him! It has everything and I learn a lot from it! I suggest anyone to use Reddit when they need help or advice on anything or just to have a few laughs and converse with people.

You know what is the absolute best thing about being a business owner who works from home? You get to work on your own terms, and you can work all day in your comfy pyjamas and when you get stressed or frustrated, you can take a break, switch off by watching TV or Sherlock (I NEED SEASON 4!) or nap and the bonus is…you can cuddle with your puppies! (Did I mention I have puppies? Well I have 3! Aslan, Teddy (named after Ed sheeran) and Rashie (sister’s suggestion; named after Rashida Jones) and they are just little cute bundles of fur!) I will conduct a puppy shoot and post the photos on my Tumblr.

Whoo! Whoo! I’m so excited about the website launch. December 20^th it’s *makes rocket launch noises* boom! I’ve shown a few family and a friend what the website looks like, and they love it! So set your reminders, I’ll only be taking on a limited amount of clients once the site launches so I’m able to fully commit to each design request. Ready? Set…

Do you have plans to start your own business? Have you started one? Let me know now in the comments! *Butterbean Cauliflower as Smaug's voice* Come now, don't be shy.

P.S Also, if you’re in South Africa and neighbouring countries, please set your reminders to watch Dtv on SABC 3 on Saturday, the 13^th. This Saturday! I’ll be on TV since they will finally show the beauty pageant and you can see my awkward interview for yourself! Also, you could join me while I live tweet it! :D

P.P.S How awesome are Licorice AllSorts!?