...that shouldn't be really a question =)

Hi, it's Veronika here and yes, it's been a while. I've been busy with important preparations, getting things ready for the next step. I'll explain in a bit.

Today I want to share something that's been on my mind for a while and that's the whole thing about Veronika Honestly and also Magicful Home.

Donations. Charities. Giving money away for non-profits.

When I was younger I was always thinking, 'I'm gonna be making big bucks and I'll be giving money to charities. Saving animals. And our environment. Supporting the economy in developing countries. Sending money to good causes.'

Most of us think that's a good thing. Yes, sure it is. But why are we waiting to make big bucks to give a few pennies away? I'm, in my heart, an entrepreneur. I like Robert Kiyosaki and his teaching on how to invest, make money, yes, be rich. Not that I need to be rich, but I always dreamt what I'd do when I'd be rich (and we're back to charities). But what Robert Kiyosaki teaches is not only to make money but also learn to give money away. Yes, before making big bucks.

I'm not making big bucks yet. And I may never get there. But I've started giving money - a bit here and there when I can. I'm lucky enough, that my main job, maths tutoring, pays my bills, gives me extra for saving and I have the luxury to take a bit aside and give to those who need it more. And that money, not kidding, always feels well "spent".

I'm not here to preach about how I give money and that you should do too. Just to mention, that literally, every little helps and most of us ARE in a position to donate here and there RIGHT NOW. Whichever cause appeals to you most, give a pound a month. A week. Whatever is comfortable for you. You don't have to. Nobody is expecting you to do it. And that's why it feels so great. I hear people saying "the rich should give away to those in need". Yes, sure. But aren't you rich? Do you have a roof above your head? Internet connection (so you can read this article =) and probably have something to eat for tonight's dinner. Then you're rich! =)

I'm from the Czech Republic. I've moved to the UK because I felt I can reach higher potential here. Also because I always loved this country (Scotland specifically, it's rather a feeling than anything I could describe, but I feel home, when I'm there). Comparing to how I was making my living (doing the same thing - tutoring maths) there and later here, I was poorer. But looking back, I could've been giving to charities already at that time. Just less than now.

Me and my partner, Jack aka The Primary Consumer, in Scotland, for me the best place in the world!

So I'm giving, but that's not enough. I want to do more. But it's not always easy to work out what to do. How to do it.

I've decided, having my entrepreneurial nature, to step into business. I'm calling it running a charity-oriented business =) I've spent the last month reorganising and preparing my businesses to run on Etsy. Mainly to cut costs (more profit - more money for charities, simple formula). That's why I haven't written anything here for a while. And now it's time for the next step and to let more people know what I'm doing.

Here's Magicful Home: where I turned my long-term idea of a beach eshop into reality. Writing this in early summer 2018, Magicful Home has been running nearly for a year now and I've succeeded more than many other businesses in the industry of a similar age - I'm still open and running! =) Although the path is tough, I'm constantly being pushed to keep working on this business because of the core idea - to make money TO GIVE to charities. In the case of my beach eshop, it's marine conservation, I've decided to support Sea Shepherd - an organisation which not only protects oceans, but also so far it's the only one [I know about] where there are vegan principles in place. Like the simple idea that they don't eat meat on their ships. Surely it would be strange to protect the sea turtle while eating fish fingers...

Moving on =)

What's cool about my beach eshop:
Magicful Home has become certified cruelty-free from VeganDesign.org! All my products were always vegan, but gaining industry-recognised certification feels almost as good as back in the days when I got my maths degree =)

As a currently small business, for now I have just few core products which I operate with myself - pack and ship. But everything I ship myself is plastic-free!
And as I mentioned earlier, I split profits in half to donate to protect our oceans. But, to offer a wider range of products, I've touched another industry - designs:

Together with falling in love with designing (mainly) T-shirts, I've established this blog, where I talk about what matters to me. It's a lot of vegan stuff, environment... It touches entrepreneurial ideas too. Self-esteem and life - it's good and bad aspects. It's a wide variety. (Maths aside, there's Your Maths Tutor for it - with own range of designs now too! =) Veronika Honestly became an umbrella for all my business activities, although I keep my maths tuition still quite separate. It's just connected through the designs I sell for profits. To make money for charities. As you know already.

I speak to you here, I look for interesting stories to share with you (like Lauren's story about Del, the Street Dog from Thailand - go and read about him and perhaps drop him few supporting pounds on his fundraiser page so he can get the full treatment and a home he deserves) and I'm learning how to make business.
I want (and to be honest - need) to spread the word. Without people knowing about it, no business can work. I can keep "just" writing. I do it because I love it. Although my partner, who is the Head of Proofreading (because, unlike me, he's an English native speaker - thanks, babe!), may not be so thrilled, we both do it because we believe we can give something good away. And gain something good back. You may like my stories. You may like my designs or products. Maybe you'll share this article or my blog or products with your friends. Perhaps you have also blog or channel and can write an article or make a video about me and what I'm doing. Maybe you will buy something from me and directly support the good cause through my products.

I'm quite obviously biased towards sheep... I love visiting them in sanctuaries!

But besides writing the blog, I was thinking, how to reach more people? How to lead Veronika Honestly's designs, which support mainly animal charities, rescue centres and sanctuaries, through its first year successfully, and how to push Magicful Home's products further to its second year with more sales and more money for Sea Shepherd? Currently, I still fund them from my own pocket - I can't wait till things rocket start and will be bringing amounts for donations I'll be happy with. But yes, I want all my charity-oriented businesses to thrive and exceed money I can donate from my own pocket coming from what I make as a maths tutor. That'll be success for me!

So I'm thinking - how to get there? It all comes down to publicity and sales, of course. I'm not used to asking "favours for free" (old Czech joke... you may not find it funny, no worries). What can I do to get others to want to help me out too? Write an article, give away part of their profits, become a partner. Yes, networking with like-minded people.

Are you a blogger or do you have a vegan-friendly youtube channel, Instagram account...? Simply - do you have some public followers who are interested in your thoughts? If so get in touch - we can set up a partnership profitable for both of us, cross-test our products and share what we have with those who are interested in our blogs, channels...

Do you have a business related to topics I'm writing about here? Veganism, environment, animals,...
Get in touch - we can cross-test our products and cross-promote our businesses if your products are vegan-friendly.

Are you a reader who's got friends which may like what I have here?
Get in touch - we can set up a mutually beneficial relationship. I can offer a discount for your friends who'd like to get my products, discounts for you. You can even make some bucks too, alternatively, I can send extra money in your name to charities or you can get some products for free if you can spread the word.

There are countless possibilities. Everyone is welcome - I just need to get to know you a little bit. I honour good relationships, with everyone in my life - family, friends, business partners and customers. Just email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and tell me that you'd like to help me spread the word. We'll find a way to benefit you too.

The main goal is the same - get money where it's needed. I don't really need it, I'm rich. (So to speak =)) But I'm not rich enough to give as much as I would want to. Yet... We can change that and all be part of something good. Just get in touch.

Honestly yours, Veronika

P.S. Thank again, to my partner, for the proofreading, turning my crazy English into readable English. I hope I can soon learn it well enough so he can spend less time by checking on my grammar and more time by writing his own blog - The Primary Consumer. Check out out his vegan cashew blue cheese we made a year ago. And more cool stuff on the way - his Instagram @theprimaryconsumer will give you a glimpse of what's coming =)

Yes, that's still in our fridge... it'll be well aged by now =)