Ah-Mazing Weekend!

Wow, time flies. Yes, I am still her LOVING Oklahoma! Even after a few hurdles, working on opening the business, and all in all enjoying life. But I must tell you about my most recent adventure.

Last weekend my husband and I went down to Dallas for a romantic, relaxing art and city filled weekend. Yes, living out in the country, every once and a while we feel the need to get out city fix.

Well, anyway, earlier, my husband found a great deal at The Fairmount in Dallas for an Art package. The Fairmount being in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. The package included a suite! A tour of the hotels gallery with their curator, and an art lesson with their artist in residence.

Ok, so we get to the Fairmont. A beautiful hotel, and since I work under neon lights all day after we put our bags down in our suite, we headed to the pool. Like any weekend, the Fairmont was hosting a rather large wedding, and they were all at the pool. I got the skinny on this wedding from one of the wedding attendants at the pool, the Flower Man, yes, it was a BIG family. And when I commented that my husband and I could never have afforded such a big wedding at such a place he looked at me like I was from another planet.

After the pool, we set out to meet the artists in residence MK Semos and Hugo Garcia-Urrutia, an awesome husband and wife couple who do amazing mixed media of photography on reclaimed objects like window shields and wood. (We especially liked the one done on reclaimed gym floor.) We also got to some other great works from their gallery in New York, www.decorazongallery.com We had a great time talking, drinking wine and beer and making art. They were such a great couple, I swear we would be friends with them anywhere. Well, we drank wine while my husband had a beer, how cool is that the hotel sommelier brought my husband a beer because he doesn't drink wine. I think that is very accomodating and great

customer service. And MK and Hugo were such a great couple, I swear we would be friends with them anywhere. After that we chatted with curator of the Ross Akard Gallery at the hotel, Bryan Embry. Another great person who really knows his art and, yes, we would also and did also have a beer with him in MK and Hugo's studio.

I highly recommend that if you are ever in or near downtown Dallas you head to the Fairmont and check out the Ross Akard Gallery and inquire about the current artist in residence. It is worth the trip.

After our art it was time for dinner. Included in our package was a 5 course tasting dinner with wine and beer pairings from the hotels chef and sommelier. It was the best meal we have ever had! 1st course was a roasted potato and watercress soup with morel mushrooms, followed by grilled melon with mint, frisee lettuce and watercress. Next, tuna with ponzu sauce in a beet "sphere", with the main course being a heavenly thai curried duck breast with peanuts and green curry sauce. For dessert, coconut milk panna cotta with cardamom cherries. As each course and served and wine and beer poured the chef, Andre Natera and sommelier Hunter Hammett came out to explain each one. We really felt special and like we were on "Iron Chef" (Chef Natera wond).

I would love to say that my husband and I are late night party animals and stayed up until the wee hours crashing the wedding reception but we didn't. We were stuffed and full of booze so we went up to our suite and watched The History Channel in bed.

Even still, it was a wonderful weekend filled with wonderful talented people and food. I would defiantly do it again.

Settling in

When moving to a great town it can take awhile to settle in, one of the hardest parts about moving to a new town and settling is finding those services and service providers that you trusted in your last town. Like hair stylists. Yesterday, I did just that. It was time, I was due.

Before I left Las Vegas I asked my trusted and beloved Belle to put more brown highlights in my hair because I didn't know when I would be able to find a new stylist and I didn't want a bunch of blond with dark roots. Unfortunately, my brunette color of choice is much lighter than my natural hair color so it was time to find a stylist. Like most women, finding a stylist for me is as important as finding a lady doctor. You have to like them and their technique. You have to like the facility they practice in and feel comfortable.

So after some driving around, I thought I had found a place. It was across from where I have my business mailbox and their Facebook page looked pretty good so I called to make an appointment. I have to admit, I should have listened to my gut as they seemed confused as to what I wanted. Highlight, color..... How confusing???

Anyway, I went, the environment was stale and a bit unfriendly, just a few rows of chairs facing the work stations. There was one older gal working in the corner and when I walked in another stylist who looked (maybe just acted) like she was 12 said "Can I help you" I gave her my name and said I was here for my 12 o'clock. I honestly can't remember if she said anything else, she just went on working on her client and smacking her gum. The gal she was working on was busy cattily gossiping to the gal next to her like they were high school mean girls. It really just gave the place a bad energy. After a few more clues and my gut yelling at me to get out, I left.

I remembered there was a place downtown that looked promising so I went. I had my kindle so I was prepared to wait, since I was a walk in. I did just that, I walked in, the gal up front was doing nails but very friendly asked me how she could help and I simply motioned to my head my need for root touch up. Turns out, there was a new girl there who could take me right away. And I have to tell you, I LOVE MY HAIR!!! She did a great job! It is the perfect color golden blonde and looks terrific. We had great conversation and the energy in the salon was positive and professional. I will definitely be going back again. And since this girl is new (New to the salon, no new to hair.) I will happily give her name to anyone who needs a good hair stylist. Her name is Marcy and she is at Le French Quarter Salon in Downtown Ardmore. So go see her. Just remember, they only take cash.

So now I'm happy, I have a great stylist, I'm settling in to my new town and I am also learning to trust my gut. Because when you do anything, that is the voice you need to listen to the most.

Getting Scary Now

Ok, this is the scary part of starting a business, having to ask for money. I am at that point now. It is very exciting, that this is where I am at. But the other day I had a meeting at the SBA about going to the bank to ask for a loan and it was kind of a "Come to Jesus" about how hard it can be to get a loan and that the banks will ask for everything, including your first born. Now normally that wouldn't scare me, but I'm not exactly financially well off. My credit score is better than what it was (I was laid off 3 years ago and got by on credit cards and spent the time after that recovering) I also bought a house right before the worst recession in history (hence the lay off) in one of the hardest hit areas in the country. So its not like there is a lot of money there. Other than personal debt that still outweighs my net worth, all I have is a good idea and a promise to pay it off.

Oh and if you are asking about grants, there aren't any, I checked. And the fact that I am a woman owned business doesn't really help that much either.

Oh well, time to lay my financial self on the table and see what happens. Personally, I am proud of my finances, they show that I actually have come a long way and if I were a bank, I would give me money.

Getting Excited!

So here we go. While at Wal-Mart today, on impulse my husband suggested I get that fancy new printer I have been needing/wanting for my business. So we got it. I do need a printer after all. OK, office equipment aside, things are moving along on the business front. I have some vendors in place and a pretty good draft of my business plan going along with some other fun money type spreadsheets for bankers to look at so they can give me money to start this thing.

Now my only really question is. What came first? The chicken or the egg? Should I get my business license and incorporate first or get the loan first? I think I should incorporate first so the bank knows I'm serious. Plus, they aren't going to give me a loan, they are going to give my company a loan. So I'm going to have to have a company they can give a loan to. Then we are off! Well, we pretty much better be off once I get incorporated. But once I get the loan, I can get my website up, get a phone line, and get inventory and start advertising.

But you know what's really funny, what I am looking forward to most at the moment? Buying funky pretty office supplies. Not boring ones, but pink ones and sparkly ones. You know why? Because I'm the boss! Yes, I will be the boss! Like Mark Zuckerburg has on his business cards, "I'm CEO...Bitch!" Yea, OK, that is the exciting part. I will be the boss, I will be the only one I have to answer to and yea, I'm CEO Bitch!.

OK, enough of the power trip. But it is very exciting none the less.

Culinary Adventures - 2 - Two fabulous places to check out

Ok, here are two great places I must report on that I have found during my exploration of my new town.

The first is "Burgers and Fries" A little drive up burger place walking distance from my house. They have much more than burgers and fries though, the whole front side of their building is their menu. They even have breakfast. On my first trip there (yes, there will be more) I just had the burger and fries. YUM! Just your typical burger and fries, but yummy. It's kind of fast food, greasy bag style, but I would take this over McDonald's any day. And I couldn't get enough of the fries, they had big pieces of salt all over them. Other items they have on the menu include, down home favorites like catfish and chicken fried steak. I may have to try either sometime. And yes, they are a drive-thru/walk up. Really no place to sit, unless you count the picnic table, but that is more for just waiting for you order.

The second place is called "My Brotha's BBQ". It used to be a gas station! And their outdoor area, is just a table built around the gas meters. And you can still get your pop from the coolers. They have everything and everything is delicious! I got the fried catfish and potato wedges and some jalapeno hush puppies. Bob got some shredded beef, half a roast chicken and potato wedges and mashed potatoes. And we got samples of some of their famous sides, like the Parmesan dressing. so good we bought a jar, that is one of those things that you can and will put on EVERYTHING! It is so good. And their pimento spread, I think I live in the South now and like it. I may have to buy me some, and their chicken salad was almost, ALMOST as good as my moms. So anyway, back to the real food, we took our dinners home and WOW, I had never had catfish before and now I know why it is so popular, it is really good, it doesn't even taste like fish. And with the Parmesan dressing, it is even better, Bob's shredded beef and roast chicken was flavorful and moist even without any sauce, but I did try the mild sauce it came with that was delicious. The hush puppies were yummy, with just the right amount of bite from the jalapenos. And the mashed potatoes were creamy and yummy in the white country gravy. Even the potato wedges, which normally I am not a fan of (too much potato for me) were good, they were seasoned perfectly.

Bob and I already have our next order planned when we go. The full slab of ribs. And some pimento spread for me. And maybe some more hush puppies.

Happy eating all.

Culinary Adventures - Ten Star Pizza Kitchen

I know, 2nd blog post in a row, but I just had to tell you about this amazing pizza place in my little town of Ardmore, Oklahoma.

It's on Main Street, and its called Ten Star Pizza Kitchen. It is delicious. The pizza is like a regular crust and lots of cheese and really great toppings. Fresh veggies and yummy meats. My husband and I first went there last Friday and split the "Bob" it is their meat pizza. I has all the pizza meats, sausage, pepperoni, ham. It was very good, we also had some bread and oil, they gave of a variety of FRESH BACKED rolls. Yummy. I also went by myself yesterday, I was walking around downtown checking the place out and looking for jobs and I popped in for lunch. I had a small, "Don", the small, by the way is perfect for 1 person. The "Don" is their veggie pizza and is delicious, get it with jalapenos, it makes the pizza although you may want to order a side of ranch to cool it down. The veggies are very good and fresh and consist of black and green olives, onions, green peppers and tomatoes, and like I said earlier, lots of cheese. For the crust lovers among you, the crust is somewhere between think and regular, but it is good and exactly what you need.

Honestly, I'm really only telling you people that don't live in Ardmore, because everyone who lives here already knows about it. Both times we have been in there it has been packed.

But if you are ever in town, check it out.

Looking for work

Ok, here goes, I am here in Oklahoma and need a job. I need something to cover the part of my mortgage that the rent from my tenant doesn't, I have credit card debt and student loan debt that I need to also pay off. Yes, I am starting my own business, but lets be honest, business can take up to 2 years to be profitable. So I need at least a part time job in the mean time. The thing is, I'm really hesitant to find a job. My last job sucked. It was horrible, I feel like leaving that job was like leaving a bad relationship. I was just glad to be free of the binding that that job caused. Not just a crappy job but a job that ate away at my soul. I was contantly having to build myself up saying that I was the great and awesome person that I am. Only when I go to work to be torn down again by my boss, co-workers, and other crappy drama that went around. I honestly did hate it.

And now I find myself in a position to find work once again, and here I am, 29 years old and afraid. I know that I need to leave that crappy job behind me just like every other crappy job I have had and move on. I will find a wonderful job here, where my boss is great, co-workers are great, clients are great and there is no drama.

I am looking, I have my resume out and have asked around. The right job will come in time, I know it will.

Also, I really like sleeping in, but I guess that may have to be the sacrifice I need to make in order to have a paycheck.

Oh well.