Cool baubles

Last week I spent 72 hours of my life at work. This week, I'll leave the store today at 61 with a partial day to work tomorrow. I'm whittling my time down. I am most definitely tired, but happy. So, so, so very happy.

Last night was a great event, well the event was a total bomb when it comes to attendance, but we still made sales and I scored a fantastic pair of new earrings. And made a new connection for unique stuff in the store. AND scored a reason to send a press release, which I did. So hopefully someone will start paying attention to us up here and giving me some coverage...

For your pleasure - pics from last night:

We Have Liftoff

Holy Geez. I am sitting in my store. My store. MY store. My STORE! I have dreamed of this forever. It's changed in concept over time, but one thing is constant - it's my store!! I did manage to find 72 hours worth of work last week, which has left me beyond exhausted. But in a really just tired, yet peaceful sort of way.

If something could go wrong it did. I know that's Murphy's Law or something. And that something will inevitably always go wrong. But no, this was ran over a small child in a past life karmic stuff. Every-single-thing went wrong in getting this place open. But as they say, bad dress rehearsal great performance. So off we go. Curtain's up. So far so good. We've only been open 2 days and already had pretty good sales! That's just nuts!!

If you know me, you're reading this and live near me, you should be here. No excuses. Just be here. Friend, enemy and frenemy alike, this is so cool I don't even care who you are, just that you are. However, be sure and bring your wallet. I mean, I am running a business here...

Days Gone By

I was engaged three years ago today. Or tonight. In Paris. I wouldn't have even made the connection if a friend wasn't living in Paris for a year and posted that it was Bastille Day.

The Eiffel Tower was beautiful. It was seriously breath-taking. Minus the arguing and bleeding feet from hiking miles in heels in extreme, humid heat, it was a really special moment. I can't take away from what it felt like to look at someone & feel that security of forever. I will say that going through it and feeling all of those emotions and having it fall apart makes it difficult to want to do it again.

I actually desire to be engaged. I'm not sure about married...yet. But I do want to be engaged. I hope it can still be a truly special moment that stands on its own and isn't reminiscent of days past...

Random Dreams Part Deux

Dave Matthews wanted to date me and then tried to kill me. I was trapped in a falling elevator. I was living in a hotel; however, a hotel that has made multiple appearances in dreams over the years.

Kitchen-focused

This post is all about the food, but there's been some good stuff coming out of my kitchen. I had to share.

Tonight's menu:

Chicken marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, oregano and cinnamon 24 hours. Perfect flavor.

On the side - sweet potato fries tossed in olive oil, salt and paprika cooked and flipped at 400 for 30 minutes. And fresh green beans in toasted garlic, chicken stock and tons of Allspice, boiling and simmering for 30 minutes.

I already shared all of my menu from the 4th. I must say that the tomato salad is a new favorite heading into rotation.

Tomorrow is girls night out at Lumi, but Thursday is Boo's family recipe of pot roast in the slow cooker all day with an entire jar of pepperocini's, juice and all. I'm adding chopped carrots and onions to the mix for a side. Fresh wheat bread from the store, toasted at 350 for 10 minutes and served with butter. Perfection!

Fantastic Relaxation

This was a great weekend. Three days of 4th festivities with friends, all feeling a bit on the grown-up side. I sincerely loved it. And I even found myself able to relax enough by Monday evening to look around and take a deep breathe, appreciative of the evening. For the most part, I spend events either running around taking care of things or feeling on the outside. Since reading my highly mentioned book, I'm doing better about both.

My self esteem isn't based on others perceptions of me.

Saturday Boo's parents came in to toast the new store and check out what we're up to. After a long day with them we headed to Addison for our recently married friends. It was a casual get-together with burgers, beer, fun times and then fireworks. We hiked to a nearby bridge to watch the local shenanigans.

Sunday we hosted the pool portion of the weekend, but it was really so calm and quiet. The ladies lounged in the sun and the guys sat around the food. You know you've reached adulthood when there's more food (and gourmet food) than beer at your parties. I made a tomato, basil, bell pepper salad tossed in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon zest, salt and pepper. And a low fat ricotta processed with lemon juice, Splenda and vanilla extract, topped with fresh berries in lemon juice and Splenda. And firecracker burgers made with cayenne, spicy mustard and red onions. The other ladies contributed slow roasted pulled pork, "potato" salad made with cauliflower and taboulleh. So exciting!

We finished off the weekend with a couples viewing of the Bachelorette and a rooftop hotdog cookout. It sincerely couldn't have been a better weekend leading up to a crazy week of store-ness.

Angry Email

I am beyond frustrated with my contractor. I send him emails, leave him voicemails and even have resorted to text messages. All ignored. I don't know if it's because I'm a female, I'm a smaller project or he just plain finds me annoying, but I do not care. The man is making money off of my store and he didn't need to take the job if he didn't want it. So here is my recent email. We can title it: Vented frustration after fireworks and 1/2 a bottle of Chardonnay:

Hi XXX,

I will begin by being upfront and telling you that I am incredibly frustrated. I realize that I am not a big job for you nor making you a lot of money; however, I am still trying to open a business and feel I deserve a little more respect.

I have yet to receive confirmation on any of my questions regarding timing for lighting installation, wiring, flooring, etc. The dressing rooms were initially done incorrectly. They are now perfect and look great, though. I have never seen a blueprint for the space, even though I told you that I am contractually obligated to produce them for [the landlord] in 3 copies. I am trying to make appointments for installations and deliveries based on work being finished and I have no answers on timing.

The original quotes for a double-sided sign was $3157. Now it's higher, even though the sign is now only one-sided. And again, [the landlord] has yet to approve because we need more information. How is it that it increased in cost? What else is going to increase on the quote? I need to sign off on any increases as they occur.

Additionally, for the existing speaker holes, since I have been unable to get any feedback on something economical, do you have an industrial ladder I can use and I will have laminate cut at Home Depot and use a cordless drill to fill them myself?

I truly appreciate the work that has been done and that you are working with me when I hear back from you. I know you are busy with larger projects; however, I am required to work with you under my lease with Shops at Legacy and would appreciate more communication when it comes to the opening of my store.

Please let me know about timing and why a 1-sided sign is more expensive than the 2-sided.

Again, thank you for what you have done for us so far and the work yet to be done. I genuinely love the space, the work and look forward to the finished product.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

UPDATE:

We had a phone chat at 8am this morning and all is well and good in store land. Opening the doors Tuesday next week (pending any more setbacks)...

Book Corner

I just finished reading Robert McGee's "The Search for Significance" and I do not have enough good things to say about it. I've struggled with self esteem my whole life, leading to depression and emotional roller coasters. All of that leads to isolation, sarcasm, bitterness, etc.

Am I cured? Not yet. Do I have a better understanding as to why I feel the way I do and how to move forward? Yes.

And now I can finish "The End of Fashion." Also fascinating, but because it analyzes the end of couture and the creation of consumer-centric fashion. The science of fashion - I love it.

Just a thought

I can't wait to move my office and all of this product out of the apartment. I can't wait to go to work away from the apartment every day. I can't wait to have my own place to go, my own things to do. I can't wait to have my boyfriend back instead of a business partner. I can't wait. But then again, it's just a thought.

Ran-dom Dreams

I had the oddest dream last night. However, I am thankful for a good enough sleep that I slumbered far enough into dream land that I remembered it. But it was odd.

It was Boo and two exes - the most recent jerk and the actor from LA. The actor made an appearance - nice enough of him - but was mainly a no-show. Per usual. And even Boo was short-lived. The main theme was the recent-ish ex. He was in the hospital with a broken ankle/foot/toe something. But the whole family was there. We were definitely over, but trying to figure out why. His sweet youngest sister and I hung out and his Mom and I chatted. Because I must drop acid in my water before I sleep, before the dream was over he became a dog, Lassie style, alas with a busted foot. And as he approached me I knew it was him, even though as a Lassie dog and we continued communicating.

I woke up and was in a dream haze of good times with the ex. But then I shook my head and remembered that whole cheater, yelling, meanie thing and went back to life.

Ran-dom.