Having the line recognized by such a huge trade publication is absolutely a-mazing!
A designer Mama. An organic toddler. An Aspie tween.
Showing posts with label butters and beans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label butters and beans. Show all posts
10.09.2011
Major wow today!
I got a huge surprise in the mail today when I stopped by the store (on my one day off per week) - a feature in Earnshaw's!
Having the line recognized by such a huge trade publication is absolutely a-mazing!
Having the line recognized by such a huge trade publication is absolutely a-mazing!
9.19.2011
Just thankful.
Well folks, it's been awhile AGAIN. I could give you a gazillion excuses but I won't because some would be good, and some would be bad. Instead, I'm going to sum up the last few weeks real quick-like.
The store: B-u-s-y. Any of you that have worked in retail know how dynamic this field is, and I'm still doing most of the work by myself. Now, this isn't to downplay the help of Windy, my sidekick/therapist/Auntie/sales assistant and Carol, my very part-time personal assistant - they are both amazingly helpful. However, the major stuff like purchasing, budgeting, scheduling, visual, maintenance (think plungers - yes, plungers), inventory, sales and not to mention working the store close to 60 hours/week....all of those things still need to be done by me. And that 60 hours doesn't include the HOURS of research and what-not that I do at home until the wee hours...if I want to get real about it, I probably work 100+ hours per week, and that's no exaggeration. Yikes. Doing the math on those hours just gave me (more than) a little agita and made me realize it's time for some more delegation. (Sidenote - Agita is one of my favorite words, but most Minnesotans don't know it. You can find the definition here.)
The line: Market was awesome in every way. We picked up some accounts, learned a TON and made some great contacts. Going into more detail on this could take up paragraphs, so I'll leave it at that. I know that's a little anti-climactic, but we'll all be ok. This, however, is what our booth looked like!
This is Colin and I at Ceasars - I know it's SUPER blurry, but it is literally the only picture we took while we were there:
I'm wearing Custo and 6" sparkle stilettos, and he's wearing jeans and a Yankees hat. Gotta love it!
Personal: We. Are. Finally. Moving. Yay! The kids will finally be in their own rooms (and own bathrooms!) and we will be on a much quieter street so playing and riding bikes won't be quite so complicated and limited only to the backyard.
Jax (aka butters) is absolutely hilarious and is quite adamant that he knows how to talk. He CAN shake his head yes and no finally, which any Mom knows is a huge help to figuring out their little toddler-brains, but we're pretty limited on the vocab right now. His favorite words are "no" and "mine" - imagine that. He has about 20 or so other words that are clear, and the rest is just gibberish. I have to say, I'm a huge fan of gibberish. When a toddler just jabber-jabber-jabbers and looks you right in the eyes like you know exactly what they're talking about? Not too many things cuter than that. Definitely enough to give you the warm fuzzies.
Logan started school again, but at his age they just kind of get right back into the swing of things. His case manager says he's doing well, and I even got a cute little note back last week saying he had a great day. He initially didn't take well to the idea of moving as he has to switch schools, but he's coming around quickly. I think the idea of barricading his brother out of his room is unfortunately what is most appealing...but whatever works I guess.
I titled this post "just thankful" for a reason. With work and the kids it's easy for me to get so busy that I forget to slow down and appreciate everything I have. I think sometimes we all need a reminder to take a minute, look around and thank God for everything we have. I am not a highly religious person, but I am spiritual, and I read something yesterday that reminded me that the most important thing today is not how much I sell at the store, or what store picks up my line, or what kind of car I drive, or how big my house is. It's the people around me that matter - those are the only things that aren't replaceable. So today, I am thankful for my beautiful, precocious children, and all the other people in my life that are amazing in some way or another. Click here to read what I read, but I'll warn you, there will be tears. If you read further into her blog though, you'll see that she really is a remarkable woman with a huge amount of courage that has taken the worst scenario possible and tried to help others...major kudos to her.
The store: B-u-s-y. Any of you that have worked in retail know how dynamic this field is, and I'm still doing most of the work by myself. Now, this isn't to downplay the help of Windy, my sidekick/therapist/Auntie/sales assistant and Carol, my very part-time personal assistant - they are both amazingly helpful. However, the major stuff like purchasing, budgeting, scheduling, visual, maintenance (think plungers - yes, plungers), inventory, sales and not to mention working the store close to 60 hours/week....all of those things still need to be done by me. And that 60 hours doesn't include the HOURS of research and what-not that I do at home until the wee hours...if I want to get real about it, I probably work 100+ hours per week, and that's no exaggeration. Yikes. Doing the math on those hours just gave me (more than) a little agita and made me realize it's time for some more delegation. (Sidenote - Agita is one of my favorite words, but most Minnesotans don't know it. You can find the definition here.)
The line: Market was awesome in every way. We picked up some accounts, learned a TON and made some great contacts. Going into more detail on this could take up paragraphs, so I'll leave it at that. I know that's a little anti-climactic, but we'll all be ok. This, however, is what our booth looked like!
This is Colin and I at Ceasars - I know it's SUPER blurry, but it is literally the only picture we took while we were there:
I'm wearing Custo and 6" sparkle stilettos, and he's wearing jeans and a Yankees hat. Gotta love it!
Personal: We. Are. Finally. Moving. Yay! The kids will finally be in their own rooms (and own bathrooms!) and we will be on a much quieter street so playing and riding bikes won't be quite so complicated and limited only to the backyard.
Jax (aka butters) is absolutely hilarious and is quite adamant that he knows how to talk. He CAN shake his head yes and no finally, which any Mom knows is a huge help to figuring out their little toddler-brains, but we're pretty limited on the vocab right now. His favorite words are "no" and "mine" - imagine that. He has about 20 or so other words that are clear, and the rest is just gibberish. I have to say, I'm a huge fan of gibberish. When a toddler just jabber-jabber-jabbers and looks you right in the eyes like you know exactly what they're talking about? Not too many things cuter than that. Definitely enough to give you the warm fuzzies.
Logan started school again, but at his age they just kind of get right back into the swing of things. His case manager says he's doing well, and I even got a cute little note back last week saying he had a great day. He initially didn't take well to the idea of moving as he has to switch schools, but he's coming around quickly. I think the idea of barricading his brother out of his room is unfortunately what is most appealing...but whatever works I guess.
I titled this post "just thankful" for a reason. With work and the kids it's easy for me to get so busy that I forget to slow down and appreciate everything I have. I think sometimes we all need a reminder to take a minute, look around and thank God for everything we have. I am not a highly religious person, but I am spiritual, and I read something yesterday that reminded me that the most important thing today is not how much I sell at the store, or what store picks up my line, or what kind of car I drive, or how big my house is. It's the people around me that matter - those are the only things that aren't replaceable. So today, I am thankful for my beautiful, precocious children, and all the other people in my life that are amazing in some way or another. Click here to read what I read, but I'll warn you, there will be tears. If you read further into her blog though, you'll see that she really is a remarkable woman with a huge amount of courage that has taken the worst scenario possible and tried to help others...major kudos to her.
8.20.2011
Two days...
Two days from now I will be at Paris showing the line. Our flight leaves tomorrow at 7am, so I'm guessing I probably will only sleep for a couple hours being that I'll have to be up around 4:30ish - If I sleep at all.
So, I'm nervous. Very. I have a lot on the line. Enough said.
One of the worst parts of this is that I don't get to see Jaxie for a week. He's going to come to the store today to visit for a bit, but then I won't see him until next Saturday as he's going to New Jersey to visit his grandparents for a week. I've never, ever been away from him for more than a day, so I just can't imagine not seeing him for an entire week. I'm praying that I'll be busy enough at the show that I won't think about it that much...
I need everyone's positive thoughts and prayers. Just a little positive energy from all of you that read this...
So, I'm nervous. Very. I have a lot on the line. Enough said.
One of the worst parts of this is that I don't get to see Jaxie for a week. He's going to come to the store today to visit for a bit, but then I won't see him until next Saturday as he's going to New Jersey to visit his grandparents for a week. I've never, ever been away from him for more than a day, so I just can't imagine not seeing him for an entire week. I'm praying that I'll be busy enough at the show that I won't think about it that much...
I need everyone's positive thoughts and prayers. Just a little positive energy from all of you that read this...
8.13.2011
Oh boy.
An over-achiever I must be.
Somehow I don't think the average Mom of two starts a clothing company, a year later opens a store, and then three weeks after opening the store takes original said clothing company to market...I just don't think that's normal. Now, nobody thinks it's normal that I work until 4 or 5am sometimes. I guess I don't think much of it - who else is going to get it done? It's kind of like changing a poopy diaper. Somebody has to hold their nose and do it, or there's going to be a lot of screaming to listen to later...
So, I'm going somewhere with this. Market is stressing me out, probably more than opening the store did. SO many details - and being on the selling end of market is an unknown for me, whereas the store is something I've done all of my life and is extremely familiar. In the store I'm (overly?) confident that I could handle anything that happens - market, I'm nervous. I called Paris today, where our show is and also where I am staying, to ask what happens to packages that we have shipped that may arrive before we do. The woman at the front desk laughed a little and said they go into a big room, and that they come in by the truckload this week. She said when we get in, we get to venture into this "big room" and find them. I'm assuming she meant find them ourselves. Fan-TAS-tic. Because that's exactly what I want to do while I should be setting up my booth. And when I'm nervous as hell. Search for a needle in a haystack. Outstanding.
I also realized today that it might be good to have something to hang our garments on when we're showing them. Hangers, maybe? Whoops. Silly details.
Progress has been made on the line sheets - this was one of those instances where you have know when to throw in the towel and pay a professional to do it for you. Thank goodness for Molly, my new handy-dandy graphic design whiz (and yoga princess). She whipped something amazing up overnight, and it's just a matter of plugging in the right information and pictures. Molly, you're the best. Maybe she can give me private yoga lessons too, being that I haven't been to the gym since I started the first company last year...
Somehow I don't think the average Mom of two starts a clothing company, a year later opens a store, and then three weeks after opening the store takes original said clothing company to market...I just don't think that's normal. Now, nobody thinks it's normal that I work until 4 or 5am sometimes. I guess I don't think much of it - who else is going to get it done? It's kind of like changing a poopy diaper. Somebody has to hold their nose and do it, or there's going to be a lot of screaming to listen to later...
So, I'm going somewhere with this. Market is stressing me out, probably more than opening the store did. SO many details - and being on the selling end of market is an unknown for me, whereas the store is something I've done all of my life and is extremely familiar. In the store I'm (overly?) confident that I could handle anything that happens - market, I'm nervous. I called Paris today, where our show is and also where I am staying, to ask what happens to packages that we have shipped that may arrive before we do. The woman at the front desk laughed a little and said they go into a big room, and that they come in by the truckload this week. She said when we get in, we get to venture into this "big room" and find them. I'm assuming she meant find them ourselves. Fan-TAS-tic. Because that's exactly what I want to do while I should be setting up my booth. And when I'm nervous as hell. Search for a needle in a haystack. Outstanding.
I also realized today that it might be good to have something to hang our garments on when we're showing them. Hangers, maybe? Whoops. Silly details.
Progress has been made on the line sheets - this was one of those instances where you have know when to throw in the towel and pay a professional to do it for you. Thank goodness for Molly, my new handy-dandy graphic design whiz (and yoga princess). She whipped something amazing up overnight, and it's just a matter of plugging in the right information and pictures. Molly, you're the best. Maybe she can give me private yoga lessons too, being that I haven't been to the gym since I started the first company last year...
8.10.2011
To market, To market...
To buy a...wait. To SELL many clothes.
The collection is beautiful. Just beautiful. Even since our photo shoot, changes have been made, details have been added and final touches applied. I can kind of tell what our big sellers will be, but I've been in this industry long enough to know that not everybody's eye is the same. It's a wait and see game at this point.
My nerves are definitely a little racked and I'm kind of pushing my body to its limit with lack of sleep. But, this is how I do. I'm a "do-er" in the twelfth hour. Not that most everything isn't done, because the majority of it is, but I tend to go over and over things until the last minute (little bit OCD). Don't get me wrong, I have a list, probably a longer list than I would like, of things that still need to be taken care of. Samples are still being made. Paperwork is still being formatted. Our backdrop was just ordered today. Considering the situation though - just having opened a store and all - I think I'm on my game.
The store is fantabulous. Couldn't ask for more. The support of my friends, the community and the press has been amazing. With the only problem being I can't seem to keep merch in long enough, I think I'm doing okay.
Jaxie (aka Butters) is quite possibly the cutest thing ever. Yes, I'm partial, but still. This can entertain him for a solid hour:
Yup, that's my boy.
One LAST thing - I have to plug our amazing photographers, Kristy and Chris at Journey Photography. Mamas, I'm going to keep it very real and tell you that it's taken me more than a few tries to find the right photographers for my line, but these guys are IT. They are the very best photographers I have ever worked with, and have taken the most amazing pictures I have ever seen (yep, and I'm talking in general, not just my line). They take the type of pictures that really make you sit back and say, "WOW.", as opposed to "Ooooh, that's cute". I, personally, am looking for that "WOW", not the cutie-patootie shots that I can do at home with my SLR and its handy-dandy quick-shot guide. So, if you want some amazing photos of your children/family/whatevs, click here for their website, or here for their Facebook! Here are a few of my favs that they have done for us...
The collection is beautiful. Just beautiful. Even since our photo shoot, changes have been made, details have been added and final touches applied. I can kind of tell what our big sellers will be, but I've been in this industry long enough to know that not everybody's eye is the same. It's a wait and see game at this point.
My nerves are definitely a little racked and I'm kind of pushing my body to its limit with lack of sleep. But, this is how I do. I'm a "do-er" in the twelfth hour. Not that most everything isn't done, because the majority of it is, but I tend to go over and over things until the last minute (little bit OCD). Don't get me wrong, I have a list, probably a longer list than I would like, of things that still need to be taken care of. Samples are still being made. Paperwork is still being formatted. Our backdrop was just ordered today. Considering the situation though - just having opened a store and all - I think I'm on my game.
The store is fantabulous. Couldn't ask for more. The support of my friends, the community and the press has been amazing. With the only problem being I can't seem to keep merch in long enough, I think I'm doing okay.
Jaxie (aka Butters) is quite possibly the cutest thing ever. Yes, I'm partial, but still. This can entertain him for a solid hour:
One LAST thing - I have to plug our amazing photographers, Kristy and Chris at Journey Photography. Mamas, I'm going to keep it very real and tell you that it's taken me more than a few tries to find the right photographers for my line, but these guys are IT. They are the very best photographers I have ever worked with, and have taken the most amazing pictures I have ever seen (yep, and I'm talking in general, not just my line). They take the type of pictures that really make you sit back and say, "WOW.", as opposed to "Ooooh, that's cute". I, personally, am looking for that "WOW", not the cutie-patootie shots that I can do at home with my SLR and its handy-dandy quick-shot guide. So, if you want some amazing photos of your children/family/whatevs, click here for their website, or here for their Facebook! Here are a few of my favs that they have done for us...
7.17.2011
Five Days.
Five days. Five days. Five days.
Five days to enter in inventory. Five days for final touches. Five days to finish up appliques on the t-shirts. Five days to make 10 more tutus. Five days to figure out our POS system. Five days to finish the fitting rooms. Five days to tie up the window displays. Five days. Five days.
That's just about all that I can't think about. Five days.
I'm doing a segment on KARE 11 tomorrow at 4:00. That makes me feel a little pukey, but I'll take one for the team and get 'er done. It'll be cool to showcase a bunch of our product, not so cool that I have to do TV. TV makes me nervous - way nervous. So, if you want a good laugh, and to see me trip over my words, feel free to watch. It should be a good time.
I'm stoked for the Grand Opening party - but what do I wear? Like I have time to go shopping - with all my free time. I don't even have time to go get a mani/pedi. I feel like I'll have to do my best JUST to look presentable.
I'm also excited to listen to Tim sing - I loooooove his voice. We're also going to have my cousin's husband Travis do some acoustic from 4-5, and he has an amazing voice as well. Lots of good music...
Ninja mode today.
Five days to enter in inventory. Five days for final touches. Five days to finish up appliques on the t-shirts. Five days to make 10 more tutus. Five days to figure out our POS system. Five days to finish the fitting rooms. Five days to tie up the window displays. Five days. Five days.
That's just about all that I can't think about. Five days.
I'm doing a segment on KARE 11 tomorrow at 4:00. That makes me feel a little pukey, but I'll take one for the team and get 'er done. It'll be cool to showcase a bunch of our product, not so cool that I have to do TV. TV makes me nervous - way nervous. So, if you want a good laugh, and to see me trip over my words, feel free to watch. It should be a good time.
I'm stoked for the Grand Opening party - but what do I wear? Like I have time to go shopping - with all my free time. I don't even have time to go get a mani/pedi. I feel like I'll have to do my best JUST to look presentable.
I'm also excited to listen to Tim sing - I loooooove his voice. We're also going to have my cousin's husband Travis do some acoustic from 4-5, and he has an amazing voice as well. Lots of good music...
Ninja mode today.
6.18.2011
Toilet Water.
So Jax has finally figured out that there is a great new play place....the toilet. I USED to be able to lock him in the bathroom with me while I showered - I would just bring up a bin of toys and he would play nicely. No more. Yesterday he discovered the toilet. Now, showers are going to be limited to nap time, which used to be my hyper-speed work time. Naptime used to be my time to make all of my important phone calls without a screaming child climbing my leg (I like to refer to him as baby Jacqueline when he screams - his screams are like the girl-in-the-horror-movie type of screams). No more.
I NEED to clean my house. I'm having guests today and my house is a wreck. I've been putting all of my energy into getting the store open and getting ready for market - cleaning and laundry has fallen to the wayside. I shouldn't even be writing this right now, I should be dusting and vacuuming and scouring my bathroom. I think I look for just about any reason to put it off...
Our open date with the store was moved back to the 21st due to having to tie up some legalese with the company. I'm good with that though - I'd rather have more time for all of our product to get in and set up the way I want to set up.
Must. Go. Clean.
I NEED to clean my house. I'm having guests today and my house is a wreck. I've been putting all of my energy into getting the store open and getting ready for market - cleaning and laundry has fallen to the wayside. I shouldn't even be writing this right now, I should be dusting and vacuuming and scouring my bathroom. I think I look for just about any reason to put it off...
Our open date with the store was moved back to the 21st due to having to tie up some legalese with the company. I'm good with that though - I'd rather have more time for all of our product to get in and set up the way I want to set up.
Must. Go. Clean.
3.05.2011
Mama-liscious Meatballs
I don't think I've ever posted twice in one day, but this one is worth it. Faith and patience, peeps.
I'm feeling a bit better this evening. My list went to shmit, but that's okay. I accomplished a couple other things on my crap list so I'm feeling pretty good. However, I did mourn the death of my favorite pair of Joe's this morning - a worn part of the knee finally tore. I guess I can add find another favorite pair of jeans to my crap list.
But onto my point of this happy post.
Meatballs are awesome. I love Jersey-style meatballs. I learned to make sauce and meatballs from my ex's Sicilian mother and grandmother when I lived in Jersey. I'm going to share with you my "recipe", but it doesn't involve measuring cups so bear with me.
First, the sauce is easy - use a large stock pot.
2/3 large white onion, chopped (yellow onions are nasty)
2 spoonfuls (heaping) of minced garlic
3 swirls of olive oil out of the oil dispenser
2 large cans tomato sauce
1 (or 2) cans diced tomatoes
(you can blanch your own tomatoes and smash them, but it takes about 15+, and they aren't in season right now)
fresh basil (or just seasoning)
oregano
salt
The key with the sauce is your garlic and onions - put your garlic and onions in the pot and throw in your swirls of oil. Saute on medium heat until your onions are clearish but BEFORE your garlic is brown. When garlic browns, you lose flavor. When onions start to get clear, you ADD flavor.
Add the sauces and diced tomatoes, and let it heat again.
Toss in minced basil (to almost cover the top of your sauce), oregano (a little less than the basil), and salt (a little less than the oregano). Stir it in. Let it heat again for about 15 minutes. Sauce is super easy - people over-complicate it.
Now for the meatballs.
2 - 3 lbs lean ground beef
basil
oregano
fresh parm
2 - 3 eggs
bread crumbs
ricotta (optional)
First thing first, and the biggest mistake people make - DO NOT BROWN OR SAUTE YOUR GOD DAMN MEATBALLS. They do not belong in a saute pan, they get dropped directly into the sauce. Second, you really can't OVER-season sauce or meatballs, but you can very easily under-season. If you're in question, add more.
Throw your ground beef in a mixing bowl and add minced fresh basil (or just seasoning, but fresh is always better) and oregano - enough to almost cover your meat. Add about a half a handful of fresh grated parm. I like to toss in a couple of spoonfuls of ricotta. Use two eggs if your ground beef is on the lower end of the weight, 3 if on the higher. I would estimate you want about a quarter cup of bread crumbs. Then, dive your hands in and mix. You want them to be sticky - not sopping wet, but sticky. If it's too wet, add more bread crumbs. Smush them into 1.5-2.5 inch balls and toss them in your sauce (ha - that sounds like it could be dirty).
Cook them for at least an hour and a half on low heat if you made them smaller, two hours if you made them larger. Personally, I let mine sit for three hours if they are on the larger side. I just kind of move them around a little bit as they cook to make sure they stay buried in the sauce. I call ones that pop back up "turtles", and push them back under.
My recipe makes a lot - but I always make extra because the leftovers are gone within a day in our house.
I'd love to insert a picture here, but I licked my bowl clean. :)
I'm feeling a bit better this evening. My list went to shmit, but that's okay. I accomplished a couple other things on my crap list so I'm feeling pretty good. However, I did mourn the death of my favorite pair of Joe's this morning - a worn part of the knee finally tore. I guess I can add find another favorite pair of jeans to my crap list.
But onto my point of this happy post.
Meatballs are awesome. I love Jersey-style meatballs. I learned to make sauce and meatballs from my ex's Sicilian mother and grandmother when I lived in Jersey. I'm going to share with you my "recipe", but it doesn't involve measuring cups so bear with me.
First, the sauce is easy - use a large stock pot.
2/3 large white onion, chopped (yellow onions are nasty)
2 spoonfuls (heaping) of minced garlic
3 swirls of olive oil out of the oil dispenser
2 large cans tomato sauce
1 (or 2) cans diced tomatoes
(you can blanch your own tomatoes and smash them, but it takes about 15+, and they aren't in season right now)
fresh basil (or just seasoning)
oregano
salt
The key with the sauce is your garlic and onions - put your garlic and onions in the pot and throw in your swirls of oil. Saute on medium heat until your onions are clearish but BEFORE your garlic is brown. When garlic browns, you lose flavor. When onions start to get clear, you ADD flavor.
Add the sauces and diced tomatoes, and let it heat again.
Toss in minced basil (to almost cover the top of your sauce), oregano (a little less than the basil), and salt (a little less than the oregano). Stir it in. Let it heat again for about 15 minutes. Sauce is super easy - people over-complicate it.
Now for the meatballs.
2 - 3 lbs lean ground beef
basil
oregano
fresh parm
2 - 3 eggs
bread crumbs
ricotta (optional)
First thing first, and the biggest mistake people make - DO NOT BROWN OR SAUTE YOUR GOD DAMN MEATBALLS. They do not belong in a saute pan, they get dropped directly into the sauce. Second, you really can't OVER-season sauce or meatballs, but you can very easily under-season. If you're in question, add more.
Throw your ground beef in a mixing bowl and add minced fresh basil (or just seasoning, but fresh is always better) and oregano - enough to almost cover your meat. Add about a half a handful of fresh grated parm. I like to toss in a couple of spoonfuls of ricotta. Use two eggs if your ground beef is on the lower end of the weight, 3 if on the higher. I would estimate you want about a quarter cup of bread crumbs. Then, dive your hands in and mix. You want them to be sticky - not sopping wet, but sticky. If it's too wet, add more bread crumbs. Smush them into 1.5-2.5 inch balls and toss them in your sauce (ha - that sounds like it could be dirty).
Cook them for at least an hour and a half on low heat if you made them smaller, two hours if you made them larger. Personally, I let mine sit for three hours if they are on the larger side. I just kind of move them around a little bit as they cook to make sure they stay buried in the sauce. I call ones that pop back up "turtles", and push them back under.
My recipe makes a lot - but I always make extra because the leftovers are gone within a day in our house.
I'd love to insert a picture here, but I licked my bowl clean. :)
In my head.
Sometimes my head gets overwhelmed with thoughts. These thoughts can be random or focused, but either way they are overwhelming, and they put me at a standstill as my brain just can't seem to process all of them at once. If they came intermittently, I'd be okay, but when my head overflows, this is not a good place to be. I end up on auto-pilot, which is not helpful to anyone around me, personally or professionally.
Getting back on track is difficult when this happens, but it can be done. It usually means I have to slow down for two or three days, regroup, make a list of what the priority thinking pieces need to be and then rejoin life again with my normal ninja speed. And so begins the processing of all the crap in my head...
This is my current crap list:
1. Getting our b&b spring kids collection done. Last time I checked it is March already.
2. Possibly doing a full women's collection per the mention of a VIP. This is a huge commitment.
3. I made some promises I can't keep.
4. I want to move.
5. I don't want to move out of Logan's school district.
6. I need to move Jax out of our room and into Logan's.
7. To do the above, I need to either move both kids into our larger room and possibly build a temporary wall, or keep them in the smaller room and curtain off Jaxie's crib. Both involve shopping and quite a bit of my time, a difficult commitment while on auto-pilot.
8. I need to go to Abercrombie and exchange Logan's sweatshirt and get him clothes for next year while they are on sale.
9. I need new sweats.
10.I want to make said sweats with some of the organic fleece sitting upstairs as I can't find any I like, and our fleece is ultra-soft. Another time commitment.
11.I need to go to the thrift store and find some fabric for some upcycled pieces I'm working on. More time.
12.Thoughts about a b&b storefront have been discussed and are taking up some brainspace.
13.I need to discuss some of these things with my friends, but everyone seems too busy with their own stuff. I'm feeling a little alone.
14.My husband has been home for 5 weeks after shoulder surgery, and will be home for a minimum of another four weeks. Any other SAHM/WAHM would understand the difficulty in this with no explanation needed.
15.Jax has again gone up a size in clothing and I need to buy more. Already and again.
16.Logan has been holing up in his room, and I need to make sure he has more family time.
17.Logan is also behind on some of his assignments at school, and I need to stay on top of this.
18.Jax is in the process of going down to one nap a day, and I can't get him on a new schedule for the life of me.
19.I haven't been sleeping well. Probably due to all of the above.
20.I need to make a doctor's appointment.
21.I need a prescription refill.
22.My husband may be going back into the military. What will this look like for our family?
Now, bear in mind that this list does not include all of the random thoughts that come up throughout my day - such as dealing with the b&b daily business, changing poopie diapers, making dinner, running necessary errands and brushing my teeth.
I'm well aware of what I need to do when my life gets like this - make a list of three things that need to be done everyday and cross them off of that list. So here is today's list:
1. Finish two upcycled items.
2. Exchange Logan's sweatshirt, and while there purchase a few items for next fall.
3. Play a game with Logan.
This covers most bases.
Tomorrow I'll make another list, pray for patience and direction (again) and just keep swimming (thank you, Dory).
Getting back on track is difficult when this happens, but it can be done. It usually means I have to slow down for two or three days, regroup, make a list of what the priority thinking pieces need to be and then rejoin life again with my normal ninja speed. And so begins the processing of all the crap in my head...
This is my current crap list:
1. Getting our b&b spring kids collection done. Last time I checked it is March already.
2. Possibly doing a full women's collection per the mention of a VIP. This is a huge commitment.
3. I made some promises I can't keep.
4. I want to move.
5. I don't want to move out of Logan's school district.
6. I need to move Jax out of our room and into Logan's.
7. To do the above, I need to either move both kids into our larger room and possibly build a temporary wall, or keep them in the smaller room and curtain off Jaxie's crib. Both involve shopping and quite a bit of my time, a difficult commitment while on auto-pilot.
8. I need to go to Abercrombie and exchange Logan's sweatshirt and get him clothes for next year while they are on sale.
9. I need new sweats.
10.I want to make said sweats with some of the organic fleece sitting upstairs as I can't find any I like, and our fleece is ultra-soft. Another time commitment.
11.I need to go to the thrift store and find some fabric for some upcycled pieces I'm working on. More time.
12.Thoughts about a b&b storefront have been discussed and are taking up some brainspace.
13.I need to discuss some of these things with my friends, but everyone seems too busy with their own stuff. I'm feeling a little alone.
14.My husband has been home for 5 weeks after shoulder surgery, and will be home for a minimum of another four weeks. Any other SAHM/WAHM would understand the difficulty in this with no explanation needed.
15.Jax has again gone up a size in clothing and I need to buy more. Already and again.
16.Logan has been holing up in his room, and I need to make sure he has more family time.
17.Logan is also behind on some of his assignments at school, and I need to stay on top of this.
18.Jax is in the process of going down to one nap a day, and I can't get him on a new schedule for the life of me.
19.I haven't been sleeping well. Probably due to all of the above.
20.I need to make a doctor's appointment.
21.I need a prescription refill.
22.My husband may be going back into the military. What will this look like for our family?
Now, bear in mind that this list does not include all of the random thoughts that come up throughout my day - such as dealing with the b&b daily business, changing poopie diapers, making dinner, running necessary errands and brushing my teeth.
I'm well aware of what I need to do when my life gets like this - make a list of three things that need to be done everyday and cross them off of that list. So here is today's list:
1. Finish two upcycled items.
2. Exchange Logan's sweatshirt, and while there purchase a few items for next fall.
3. Play a game with Logan.
This covers most bases.
Tomorrow I'll make another list, pray for patience and direction (again) and just keep swimming (thank you, Dory).
10.24.2010
Love my little Elliot!
And yes, his eyes really are THAT blue - they are not Photoshopped! The new b&b pattern is pretty cute too... :)
8.27.2010
Fall 2010
Just a few pictures of what is to come! Media - please contact Lola Red PR @ (612) 333-1723 for pictures and more information. All items are made from organic and eco-friendly materials and will be available at buttersandbeans.com in October of 2010.
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Teryn Glenn Photography
Photo by Nancy Hauck, Liz J. Design Company
Photo by Nancy Hauck, Liz J. Design Company
Photo by Nancy Hauck, Liz J. Design Company
Photo by Nancy Hauck, Liz J. Design Company
8.23.2010
Buzzing Week
A week of buzz - photo shoot in t-3, first pieces of production due tomorrow (dresses and pants finally coming in), PR, screenprinters, website programming going on...
Butters heart appointment today with the pediatric cardiologist - hopefully we'll have some answers about the hole in his baby heart. Feeling a little somber until we get through this appointment...
Butters heart appointment today with the pediatric cardiologist - hopefully we'll have some answers about the hole in his baby heart. Feeling a little somber until we get through this appointment...
8.19.2010
Break before craziness...
Well, almost a break. When I say a break, I mean my web developer is off today and I do not have any meetings or appointments. I have some media things to work on (media is hearting us already!), and some writing to do and some numbers to crunch, but that would be considered a break.
Tomorrow on the other hand is going to be one of "those" days. My Mother-In-Law gets in from Jersey (actually a wonderful thing - I adore her) at 1:30 so I have to pick her up from the airport, I have a meeting with my merchant account company at 3:00, and then we have the last of our cutting to finish up at 6:30. I also have to approve the final web design - just the basic design aspect of the home and secondary pages - so we can stay on deadline and move into the programming phase of development. This will mean a lot of emailing back and forth with my developer and constant checking of updates she makes to the current design. This may not sound like much to the average person, but you need to factor in all of the in between stuff like, um, kids? And having an extra person in the house. Janie is easy to have here - she is not one that needs to be entertained, but I know I'll want to sit and chat with her after she gets in and I won't really have the time to do that. Chatting will have to wait till Saturday...
Personal note is that my fat cat, Miles, thinks he's a dog. He's a huge Maine Coon, and is an indoor/outdoor cat. He does everything a dog does - meows to get outside and inside when he wants to, follows us around the yard and the house, hops up on the couch on our laps when we are watching TV, sleeps on his "bed" (a blanket on the chaise in the living room), rolls on his back so you can scratch his belly...I wonder if he was raised with dogs? He's the best cat ever and is huge but is so docile. "Beans" comes over and has tried to ride him on several occasions - failed every time unfortunately - and he just saunters away like it's not a big deal, but he's just not having it. Oh - and he chases and meows at the squirrels. And walks around the yard and pees on everything to mark his territory. Hilarious.
Tomorrow on the other hand is going to be one of "those" days. My Mother-In-Law gets in from Jersey (actually a wonderful thing - I adore her) at 1:30 so I have to pick her up from the airport, I have a meeting with my merchant account company at 3:00, and then we have the last of our cutting to finish up at 6:30. I also have to approve the final web design - just the basic design aspect of the home and secondary pages - so we can stay on deadline and move into the programming phase of development. This will mean a lot of emailing back and forth with my developer and constant checking of updates she makes to the current design. This may not sound like much to the average person, but you need to factor in all of the in between stuff like, um, kids? And having an extra person in the house. Janie is easy to have here - she is not one that needs to be entertained, but I know I'll want to sit and chat with her after she gets in and I won't really have the time to do that. Chatting will have to wait till Saturday...
Personal note is that my fat cat, Miles, thinks he's a dog. He's a huge Maine Coon, and is an indoor/outdoor cat. He does everything a dog does - meows to get outside and inside when he wants to, follows us around the yard and the house, hops up on the couch on our laps when we are watching TV, sleeps on his "bed" (a blanket on the chaise in the living room), rolls on his back so you can scratch his belly...I wonder if he was raised with dogs? He's the best cat ever and is huge but is so docile. "Beans" comes over and has tried to ride him on several occasions - failed every time unfortunately - and he just saunters away like it's not a big deal, but he's just not having it. Oh - and he chases and meows at the squirrels. And walks around the yard and pees on everything to mark his territory. Hilarious.
8.18.2010
A little overwhelmed.
There is a lot going on right now, a lot to keep track of both in my head and in my planner. Bank stuff, budgeting, website stuff, media stuff, writing the bio/organics info, obviously production, the photo shoot, PR...a lot to handle. And then there's the kiddoos (priority) in between all of this. Lots of meetings...my phone rings constantly. I went over my phone plan last month by 2800 minutes - time for that unlimited plan. Luckily AT&T backdated my plan (one of the few things they've done right in the last five years).
Eight days till photo shoot!
Eight days till photo shoot!
8.15.2010
More cutting...
I think this is going to be the news for the next week or so. It's quite a process, and there's four bolts of fabric that haven't even been touched yet. Yikeroos. We're going to be in a time crunch soon which is exactly what I didn't want. Photo shoot is in 11 days, and we need a least one of every piece in every size for pictures. I was cutting last night (with one wonderful friend that came over to help me) and got a few pieces done. I'm going to get as much as I can done today, and just keep plugging away at it by myself until we have another cutting night where all my seamstresses are here. We should be able to get the rest done at that point.
On the upside - the weather is MUCH nicer, the humidity broke and it cooled down. Only in Minnesota can you have a 40 degree temperature swing in a matter of 24 hours...feels like fall and is absolutely beautiful outside.
On the upside - the weather is MUCH nicer, the humidity broke and it cooled down. Only in Minnesota can you have a 40 degree temperature swing in a matter of 24 hours...feels like fall and is absolutely beautiful outside.
8.13.2010
Cutting, cutting and more cutting...
SO much cutting last night. All of us were on the floor cutting. My body is sore today from being squished into a corner to make room to spread the bolts of fabric out and cut at the same time. We were able to get 45 dresses, 36 pants and 12 bibs cut. Some has to wait as we haven't gotten the organic sherpa or the organic fleece in yet. The sherpa should be here today or tomorrow, the fleece next week (I'm hoping, they are behind on production). Now, it's finally time to start putting everything together. Thi had a few upcycled items done and LOVE them...super cute dresses. One she did out of an old flannel shirt, one out of an old pique polo mixed with a cotton t. A-dorable.
8.12.2010
Shipments!
Got our tags and LOVE them! Perfect. Also got our fabric stamp - we are using our scrap fabric for our outer tags and stamping it with our logo to be as waste conscious as possible. I had to try it out right away and ADORE it. I also got our industrial snap press, which is exciting for me, but probably not as exciting to read about... :) I'll forgo the details and pics of that.
Where to even start...
On a personal note or a professional note? The professional side is fairly fun and light-hearted, so we'll start there.
Everyone will be here at 3:00 (T-minus 2 and a half hours) to start cutting the organics. We've already started the upcycled items, which I am SO looking forward to, but the organics are the big dog of our business. Elizabeth should have some sample herringbone dresses put together for me today, so I am absolutely STOKED to see them. I'm going to try to get a model over to the house so we can take some pictures and post them on FB and Twitter. It'll probably be a long night...we have over 200 pieces to cut.
Personal side is a bit harder to discuss. Butters' echo didn't come back positively. He has a small hole in one of the valves in his heart. It's called ASD, and is apparently fairly common and often heals itself over time, however it is obviously scary from my standpoint. We moved him back into our room last night - just more comfortable for me. Shed some tears yesterday, but try to think about the aspect that it is normally not a huge deal, and normally something that corrects itself. It also sounds though, like often they DO patch the hole through open heart surgery to prevent later problems. We see the Cardiologist on the 23rd and will find out more then.
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/Atrial-Septal-Defect-ASD_UCM_307021_Article.jsp
Everyone will be here at 3:00 (T-minus 2 and a half hours) to start cutting the organics. We've already started the upcycled items, which I am SO looking forward to, but the organics are the big dog of our business. Elizabeth should have some sample herringbone dresses put together for me today, so I am absolutely STOKED to see them. I'm going to try to get a model over to the house so we can take some pictures and post them on FB and Twitter. It'll probably be a long night...we have over 200 pieces to cut.
Personal side is a bit harder to discuss. Butters' echo didn't come back positively. He has a small hole in one of the valves in his heart. It's called ASD, and is apparently fairly common and often heals itself over time, however it is obviously scary from my standpoint. We moved him back into our room last night - just more comfortable for me. Shed some tears yesterday, but try to think about the aspect that it is normally not a huge deal, and normally something that corrects itself. It also sounds though, like often they DO patch the hole through open heart surgery to prevent later problems. We see the Cardiologist on the 23rd and will find out more then.
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/Atrial-Septal-Defect-ASD_UCM_307021_Article.jsp
8.10.2010
Not so bad.
Today wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It never is as bad as you imagine it to be right? Your mind builds things up to be terrible, but they always seem to work out okay.
Butters's appointment went great. He slept in a bit, which pushed his 1st naptime back a bit. Worked out golden. He waited so patiently during the echo, spending most of it sucking away at a bottle. We should find out the results tomorrow. I just keep telling myself that everything HAS to be fine.
Meetings went well. The web meeting was amazing - I actually got to look at a bunch of options for the home page that were based on my initial ideas. I feel like she took my ideas to another level and put a great spin on them...the artwork was beautiful and I loved the layout. It will be both visually stimulating yet simplistic at the same time - very boutique-y, which is exactly what I wanted and expected. I adore it when people meet my expectations as it doesn't happen all too often (the higher my expectations, the lower my serenity). We discussed the elements that I wanted to keep, and we'll look at a few more options next week. I'm loving the direction we're going in.
Outside of writing this, no working tonight. Eating za, watching The Office and going to bed early. I haven't done that in weeks. More meetings tomorrow, and Thursday production and cutting starts on the organics....that'll be a HUGE day!
Butters's appointment went great. He slept in a bit, which pushed his 1st naptime back a bit. Worked out golden. He waited so patiently during the echo, spending most of it sucking away at a bottle. We should find out the results tomorrow. I just keep telling myself that everything HAS to be fine.
Meetings went well. The web meeting was amazing - I actually got to look at a bunch of options for the home page that were based on my initial ideas. I feel like she took my ideas to another level and put a great spin on them...the artwork was beautiful and I loved the layout. It will be both visually stimulating yet simplistic at the same time - very boutique-y, which is exactly what I wanted and expected. I adore it when people meet my expectations as it doesn't happen all too often (the higher my expectations, the lower my serenity). We discussed the elements that I wanted to keep, and we'll look at a few more options next week. I'm loving the direction we're going in.
Outside of writing this, no working tonight. Eating za, watching The Office and going to bed early. I haven't done that in weeks. More meetings tomorrow, and Thursday production and cutting starts on the organics....that'll be a HUGE day!
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