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.

Working Working working

Sort of. I am working, I am actually very busy, if it didn't look like rain was eminent I would be planting in the garden. However, its kind of cloudy today so, maybe I will let the rains come and then go outside. I also have to CLEAN! Our new house is all hard wood floors and its amazing how much stuff and crud just fills takes over the floors. So a good vacuuming and mop is in order. Dusting, all the window sills and blinds. OK, who I am kidding, this cleaning will not take place all in one day. Probably over the course of the week, since I also have to look for a job! I'm broke and need some source of at least part time income to pay off my credit cards and student loans., because lets be realistic, it may take awhile before I can make any money on my business Although working from home would be awesome. I could work while I sit in my jammies. Like I am now. But we shall see.

As for my business, I need to work on my business plan. I have some market research that I need to incorporate and I need to go to the SBA this week, today or tomorrow and get help on it an see if I can get some grants and get my business going. I am also supposed to have my logo sometime this week and need to work on getting the website up and running. I need to make a checklist of everything I need to get done before I can even think about opening. Wow, I can hardly breath there is so much. But it is so exciting! This could actually work.

Wish my luck and stay tuned.

Accomplishment

So I am really proud of myself. All the stuff I that I said I was going to do yesterday, I got done. I even found that research I was looking for and plan on reading it today.

I really didn't get to explore the town much or even take my walk around the neighborhood but I did go to Wal-Mart. Man people are so nice here, and it genuine nice, not that annoying nice that puts me in a bad mood. When the gal at the check out asked me if I found everything alright, I actually replied back with a more than a yes. I told her, I got a little lost because I really haven't shopped at Wal-Mart a whole lot in the past. I told her I just moved here from Vegas an mostly went to Target. She said she had never been to a Target! OMG! I was about to take her on a road trip. She doesn't know what she is missing. Target is my favorite place in the whole world. If I could remake my favorite movie I would call it "Breakfast at Target" because nothing bad could ever happen to you in a place like Target. But anyway, the gal at Wal-Mart was really nice and the Wal-Mart here is really clean, which makes me actually want to shop there. I think I spent a little too much money. I got caught up in the fact that everything was so cheap.

Today, more unpacking and cleaning and getting ready for tomorrow. IKEA!!!!!!!!! I love IKEA! So excited, we are getting storage stuff and probably some little furniture stuff. YAY! IKEA!!!!

And Sunday, I want to go to Lowe's and get some lawn and garden stuff, because we have this big beautiful front yard and it is covered in weeds, crab grass and clover. With a few dandelions pointing through. So I want to fix that. I want some roses and peonies and a vegetable and herb garden.

Wish me luck, my thumb is a little more black than it is green, but hopefully with the right advise I will be OK and get a green thumb.

I will keep you posted and hopefully post some pictures.

Busy setting up my new life

I am so busy, I don't know why. Well, I know why, and the weired thing is that while I am busy and have TONS to do. I have plenty of time. So why do I feel overwhelmed? Probably because I feel like I need to get it all done at once and I want to do it all at once.

I want to work on my business, I need to set up all the licensing and legal stuff. I need to research. I need to find all my research materials that are still packed up.

I want to finish putting contact paper in the cabinets and finish unpacking.

I want to explore the town a little more.

I want to go Wal-Mart and pick up some groceries.

Ok, it doesn't really seem like that much and if I just sat and breathed I could get it all done. So here is the schedule. Work on the business for about another hour. Take a shower and go to Wal-Mart. Come home and finish up the cabinets and unpack for a bit. And then maybe read and relax. I will explore the town tomorrow or next week. Mostly because I have a feeling that after I am done unpacking I will be to tired and stinky to go anywhere. Maybe I will go for a walk around the neighborhood this afternoon though.

I just feel busier than I actually am, but like I say, I really don't know why. I have plenty of time. Maybe I should lay off the coffee and get to work.

My Blog is a mess

So here a I am, back at blogging and my blog is a mess! I re-did layout and background but there are these silly little things on my blog that I don't know how to get off. You know what I'm talking about, that cutest blog logo and the photobucket thing. I don't use the cutest blog anymore and I have no idea how the photobucket got on there.

If you know how I can get these off, can you please let me know.

Thanks. :)

In other news, the moving and packing is going great. I'm about 98% done and waiting to pick my husband up from the airport. Tomorrow we are getting the U-Haul and loading it, getting rid of the couches and furniture we don't need and then bright and early Friday morning, OKLAHOMA bound! Still my only worry about this trip is how the cats will do. I hope the Benedryl works well enough that they fall asleep and I can get Suki in the car. Sammy won't be a problem getting in the car but he will cry. He doesn't like car rides and this is a long one.

The house right now isn't even that messy, its a little messy but it will get clean and there really isn't a whole lot to do.

Ok, time to go pick Bob up. Talk to you all soon.

Long Sabatical and Now I Am Back

Ok, it has been awhile, I admit. But I have had a lot going on and have just decided to wait in the wings. So here I am. Big announcement. I am moving! And starting a business.

More on the business later, I am overwhelmed with this whole moving thing. You never know how much stuff you have until you have to pack it up and move it.

I can safely say I am about 90 to 95% percent packed. I am going to pack the rest of my kitchen today and my closet. So after today, I can no longer cook in my kitchen and I will have 2 outfits. Plus Cleaning. I need to clean, even though my property manager is bringing in a professional crew after I leave, I guess I am kind of that person that cleans before the cleaning lady comes. Plus, my microwave is a mess. Something exploded in there and I'm not sure what. I guess its time to get out the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I love those things!

With all this packing, we are not moving everything. I have 2 couches I need to get rid of. My cats have used them as scratching posts and they are destroyed. Well, if you are into re-apholstering, they would be great, other than that..... I know of a big Goodwill warehouse by my house but I need to get some help getting them there. A pick-up and a strong guy or 2 would be perfect.

And of course, not to put to much pressure on me, but I really need to get this stuff done by tomorrow. Which I'm pretty confident it will happen. Without any missed sleep or missed TV time this evening.

Ok, yes, with moving to Oklahoma, I am beginning a new life, a new job, being with my husband and yes, I am very much looking forward to it. I will find a job, but I am also starting my business, finally. I don't want to reveal to much, but there will be a blog devoted to just that, as well as a twitter and facebook page. I am getting a logo and when I get to OK, I will go to the local SBA office and get some help financing and starting it. Yes, I am very excited!

It's Been Awhile

It has been awhile, sorry to all my loyal readers. But I have been so busy working on something BIG, really BIG that I will let you all in on as soon as the time is right. In the meantime, in an effort to keep my blog current, here is what I have been up to. In February, my husband left Las Vegas for Gulfport, MS with the Navy. He is a construction manager working on Navy bases in Europe and Africa. I am currently sitting on his couch in the GPT on my 3rd visit down here. I came down for the 4th of July holiday weekend and am loving it. I love this place, He lives across the street from the beach and I love just sitting on his patio staring at the water. (pictures to come soon).

I love the small town feel of this place and how green it is. Everyone is so friendly and I love how this is a beach town but its not all pretentious, expensive and crowded.

On previous trips here my husband and I have mostly enjoyed just sitting on the couch and watching movies and tv. Me usually reading or knitting. Other times, Bob and I, huge fans of the TV show's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and "Man Vs. Food" like to scope out the area places featured on those shows. Some excellent ones in the GPT are the Blow Fly Inn in Gulfport and Darwell's in Long Beach. So good, excellent hush puppies and tri-tip respectfully. Another joint Bob took me to just the other night was Tarantino's in Woolmarket. Just a hole in the wall dive that Guy Fierei or Adam Richmond have yet to discover but their fried pickles, buffalo shrimp and Po-Boys are out of this world. I recommend anyone take the treck out there. Ok, I must be hungry because I am going on and on about food. I'm also crazy about the Waffle House and Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

Twice when I have been down here, Bob and I have made the 90 mile trek to New Orleans, a place Bob says he can only take in small doses. I like it. Its fun and I have yet to see it all. On our last trip down there, just this Saturday, I tricked Bob and lead him to a yarn store. The Quarter Stitch on Chartes St. in the French Quarter, right next to Jefferson Square. Such a neat little store. Yarn, yarn and more yarn. I got my fix, Bob just laughed at my trickery. We also hit up our little artists co-op. A little store by the French Market by the river. Every city my husband and I go to we have to buy art. On this trip, we bought a photo of a street car. And of course, no trip to NO would be complete without my totally tacky tourist move of imbibing in a Hurricane. I totally had to have one. Plus it was so hot, a nice icy cold beverage was just the ticket. Until the half bottle of rum in the drink hit. Wow! Dem' hurricanes are good. I'm such a light weight, I drank half and slept on the way home.

In other news, I must say, I had my best 4th of July last night, Bob and I walked down to the beach in Gulfport and watched the fireworks, both those put on by the casino down the beach and two very close firework shows put on by locals who picked up some very good fireworks and were setting them off about 20 feet from us. A great show, great weather and wonderful company.

I will try to keep writing so stay tuned.

Withdrawls

I'm going through withdrawals. My Blackberry says "JVM Error 102" So now I need to download the Blackberry software on my ROOMMATES computer, because my operating system is too out of date for my brand new Blackberry. So here I am, with my How to fix your Blackberry instructions on my computer and the software and my computer hooked up Joe's computer and a glass of wine in between. Now the software says, " Connecting to device (This task might take up to 30 minutes to complete). It's 8:40.....I don't even know what I am doing, am I actually fixing my phone or downloading more crap onto it, WTF? What happened to hitting the reset button or taking the battery out and putting it back in. Now I have to de-frag my phone?!? Because there is a .cop error. Grrr. Why do phones had dot anything errors?

Next Phase

As you may have noticed, I have changed the name of my Blog from "Mary Kay Adventures" to "My Adventure". As I explained earlier, this is because my life is more about Mary Kay and I want to tell you about it. Also, in discussing with my husband the other night, he so bluntly stated, "Don't you think the train has left the station." And yeah, I think he is right, I think the train has left the station. My Mary Kay business is over. It sucks because as you know, I am currently working on starting a business and if I quit Mary Kay, and/or can't be successful with Mary Kay, what do you think that says about this new business that I am starting? Will that endure the same fate? I hope not! Of course, I can make excuses all day long on why my new business is different than Mary Kay and that it will work and will be successful but at the end of the day its business, and that's the gamble you take when you start a business, whether it be Mary Kay or any other business. It's business.

So why am I quitting Mary Kay you ask? Because its not successful. I've given it a year, over a year and nothing. Yes I have had customers and mad a little bit of money but realistically, I have put more money into this business than I have gotten out of it. I have put my own money into this business and not seen a return. Despite my efforts. So to keep up with Mary Kay at this point would be a bad business decision, not to mention a bad personal financial decision. Especially when I am trying to improve my finances and get out of Credit Card and Student Loan debt. So So Long Mary Kay, (maybe later, or not. Maybe I'll just find a Mary Kay lady because I really do like the products). And on to other adventures in my life. Including my new business. I have a timeline all made up of deadlines for a business plan, financial plan and marketing plan. I have a fabulous web/graphic designer who is stoked to help me and i am EXCITED!!!

On a personal level. In December I turned 28, YIKES!!! 2 more years till 30! A friend of mine is 29 and is currently doing 29 new things on her journey to 30. So I am thinking about doing the same thing. I already have a few ideas, including: Getting a Tattoo, learning how to paint in watercolors and oils, taking a sushi class, a wine tasting class and learning how to snow board. Any other suggestions would be welcome. What has anybody else done that was awesome?! I don't think I want to bungee jump or sky dive. So give me something interesting.

Anyway, when I turn 29 I will post the list and let you know of my progress.

Its just ART!!!

Last night I took my husband to First Friday, the monthly art "fair" downtown. I'm sure every city has one. All the galleries in the Arts District downtown open their doors on the First Friday of every month and all sorts of people come. In fact, that is one of the selling points for my husband to go. All the crazy people watching. Unfortunately, the rain last night kept most of the people away, all except for the angry emo teenagers and hippies selling their wares. And the artists and gallery owners of course. However, there were the die hard art goers, the ones who really annoyed me and reminded me of why I don't really go to First Friday that often, despite my love of art.

It's just art for crying out loud! It's not pretentious, you don't have to be in a certain tax bracket or a certain level or field of education or understanding or even background to understand and appreciate art. You just have to be YOU. Seriously, there were people there who were seriously "high brow" posers, acting like because they had a plastic cup of "Two Buck Chuck" wine and were standing near a painting they were cool. Really?! Maybe it's because I actually did study Art that I feel that art is not pretentious, it just is? But I think I may have been the only one in my class who felt that way.

But seriously people, its just art. Cave paintings are one of the earliest forms of art that we have, art is one of the earliest forms of communication, paintings today are simply an interpretation of what the artist sees, much like what the cave painter saw. This blog is art, I am telling you what I see. I'm not above you the reader, you the reader are not above anyone else just because you are reading my blog. Some of you will like what I am saying and/or understand it, some of you will not. And that's OK. If I were a painter, it would be the same, some people looking at my paintings will like and/or understand what I am conveying through my painting, some will not. But those who like/understand my paintings are not above the person who does not. That's just what they see. Or say I paint a big blob. The person who sees a butterfly is no better than the person who sees a blob. That just what each individual person sees. However, on the flip side, if I paint a butterfly and someone sees a blog, either they need to get their eyes checks or I need to go back to art school.

Anyway, that's my rant, Art is not a pretentious thing and those who look or make it are no better than the novice who just comes to check out the galleries and the people watching.


On a business note, I am getting organized. I read a little more today, took notes and organized my notebook. After I post this, I am going to plug my computer in and do some more market research. I even did a little market research today. I ordered some things off of my competition today, one because the product was on sale and looked fun and neat. Two, its research, I want to see how they do business, from when I click on the site to after I get my order. As an adamant e-shopper and very involved in the activity in which I am perusing, I have been a member of their mailing list for awhile, which is how I knew about their sale. And of course, how did I hear about this website? Word of mouth through a group of this related activity. See, that is the market research I am conducting, from word of mouth and advertising, to mailing lists, to sales to ordering and my satisfaction of the product and process of receiving that product to after I have ordered, how much will I hear from that website to my likelihood of purchasing from them again.

OK, battery is getting low, time to do my research and find out what time my Pi-Yo (Pilate's/yoga) class is tomorrow.

The Adventure Continues.....

The fear and rationality set in. Oh yeah, of course I still want to start my business. This is my dream. I have always wanted my own business. The little Entrepreneur in me is just waiting to get out and have fun.

I am still in the research stage of my business with my launching date in 1 year. FEBRUARY 1st, 2011 will be the date.

So yes, I am researching, I have a ton of books, and am looking into ordering more. So far all my books are on the topic of starting a Brick and Mortar business, which is fine, because I will have a Brick and Mortar store one day, but I am starting out online, an online business is a completely different animal. Different rules, different stuff, so now I need to find some books on starting an online business, an ECommerce business. Not just a Yahoo business, or an Ebay business, but a www._________.com business.

And now the fear has sunk in, the excitement is still there but now I am thinking, OK, How do I promote this? How do I bring customers, keep customers coming back and get new customers? How do I get the Buzz out? What will my website look like, including down to the details. What about logistics likes shipping, inventory control, etc etc....

Yikes, I hope at least some of these answers are in all those books I am buying, and websites I visit. However the scariest part is, some of these answers I'm going to have to find out on my own, the hard way.

Oh well, wish me luck, and any advise would be awesome!

A New Adventure

I have a new adventure!!! Today, I registered a domain name. For my new business. I will announce the domain name when my website and business is up and running. But I am excited. This is the first and easy step in a long exciting road on a very exciting adventure I thrilled to take.

What is my new business you ask? I will be starting an online store. Selling Yarn and other knitting and crocheting supplies. I know, there are plenty on the website already, but why can't I have one too? Besides, I'm not really a fan of the ones that are out there. Mine will be different and fabulous.

This website will also be a perfect segue into the Brick and Mortar business I will be starting someday.

Yes, I am so excited, and being the nerd I am, I have already stocked up on tons of books on opening a store, retail business, small business, and now I am looking a books on starting an e-business. And my uber-organized husband encouraged me to get a notebook so I can keep all my important papers, questions and notes.

Why am I doing this you ask? Because the Entrepreneur inside o me is just waiting to come out. I have always wanted to have my own business and be my own boss and do my own thing. So while it is a long road ahead, it is an exciting road and I am excited!

So here I am, just in the research stages, setting a timeline and I am on my way. Originally, I was going to open my business (Brick and Mortar) by the time I was 30, which is just less than 2 years. But now that I am going to start out in the e-business realm, I am thinking of moving that timeline up. Maybe 6 months to a year. I'm looking more on the 6 month side.

But, AHH I am so excited. So if any of you out there have any advise for starting your own business and/or where to get product from, let me know. I need all the advise I can get.

Making Changes

So I am seriously contemplating changing the name of my blog. Since my life isn't just about Mary Kay and there is so much more I want to share with you about my life.

Like did you all know that I love to cook, and I love to eat. I also am an avid knitter. Seriously, knitting sounds like something only your grandma would do but it is ADDICTING!!! I can't sit still so knitting totally gives me something to do when I am just sitting in front of the TV on a road trip (when I'm not the driver of course) or when flying.

I am currently working on my second pair of socks, look really cute. I also just got a book on knitting socks, I am totally going to work my way through that book and learn to knit all those types of socks, there are lacy socks, cable knit socks. It's sad that I am so excited about knitting socks. :) I also am working on a sweater, white alpaca sweater.

Yesterday, I looked into my fridge and saw NOTHING!!! There was nothing, there hasn't been anything in the fridge for like a week, and yesterday there wasn't even enough to be creative anymore. So I made a grocery list, now I am an avid believer in not going to the store without a list, not that I have never done it, or that I ever get stuff off my list. Of course I do, we all do. But I am also a believer in meal planning. So I got out my Rachel Ray cookbook, got some yummy recipes to make throughout the next 2 weeks including a recipe for minestrone soup for lunches this week. I just made it and I have to say my house smells delicious!!! And I must say, my husband better know he is the luckiest guy alive. What other guy comes home from a long road trip for work and then gets steak, pasta and the football game. Blue cheese Spaghetti- YUM!!!

So here I am doing all this, yes, I am busy, I am still always trying to work my business. Wow, now I don't even know why I started writing this post in the first place. Maybe to show you all that I have more going on in my life besides Mary Kay. Well, you have to have more. I love selling Mary Kay but you have to have other activities to round out your life.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant, hopefully my thoughts will be more organized next time.

Game Plan

So, yes I have been busy lately, and tired, I don't know what it is, when I get home from work I'm just dead and have no motivation. Anyway, I have been busy.

For One, I GOT MARRIED!!!

Yes, my fiance and I decided to go to the courthouse on Saturday and get married. He is going to Mississippi for the Navy for 9 months so we decided to get married before he left. When he gets back from Mississippi we will go to Hawaii and do it up right on the beach, complete with flowers, a fancy wedding dress and a fabulous vacation in paradise.

Until then, here I am, working and working and working my Mary Kay.

In fact, with all this motivation I have and as hard as I am working, if my promise to myself this year was to really work my Mary Kay business and be a rock star at it then I may be doing ok, but I could always be doing better.

For one, I was talking to my Sales Director yesterday, now she is motivated, she has her Cadillac, which I must say, laugh all you want about the Mary Kay Pink Cadillac, but once you see one, you want one!

But I digress, she told me, since I don't get to go to the weekly sales meetings she would love to sit down and talk with me one day about my business. She even said, if I ever want to sit and talk to her about a game plan she would love to help me. Now, as much as I love her and as much as I love selling Mary Kay, I was just nodding my head, every time she sees me she tells me the same thing, she would love to sit down with me and help me with my business, blah blah blah. Information I keep for when needed but not really process.

Anyway, as soon as she said "Game Plan" honestly it peaked my interest. Game Plan?! That's one thing I don't have. I don't really have a game plan or really any goals beyond selling 30 products in 30 days. That's kind of a small goal and maybe I need to think bigger if I ever want my Cadillac, or to even REALLY grow my business.

So now I am thinking, what is my Game Plan? Where do I want to be with my Mary Kay business a year from now? Where do I want to be 3 years from now? When do I want my Cadillac? Where do I want my business to be THIS SUMMER?

My Sales Director is going to be on vacation for a bit, but in the meantime, I need to think...What do I want out of my Mary Kay business? Where do I want to be a year from now, etc.? What are my goals? WHAT IS MY GAME PLAN???!!!??? Then I need to write them down and discuss with her on how to get what I want.