I like this better over there...

My creative side is waking up this week. I've received some new shipments, requiring a little product shuffle and desired a new display and window. I forgot how much I love merchandising! It's been a couple years since I've been creative at work. (with the exception of all of my brilliant ideas...)

I merchandised the trendy 2,000 sq ft space I managed a while back - windows, floor sets and all. And my NYC job was fairly creative. And when my dragon boss wasn't sucking the fun out of the room with her fire breathing, it was fun! I played with fabrics and created design boards (which was initially fun, but the critiques with said dragon boss were HELL!), clipped trends and oversaw production and sales of accessories. Seriously, does it get any better for a job description? Once my company is super huge and handling licensing, I'll make sure I maintain that position within the biz.

But I am seriously enjoying flexing my brain a bit and feeling the ownership of the store. That and interviewing 20-somethings all week who look at you like an accomplished store owner. Man, my self esteem is on the rise!

*gleam*

My head has spent a lot of time in my past lately, both awake and asleep. I honestly couldn't be happier. I have managed to open my own boutique and I'm going to have some press coming out soon. And it's sports! I mean, 30 is my year.

But my head....maybe because life has gotten easier. Maybe because things aren't as intense as they've been this past year. Maybe because I have one dream realized that I wonder about the other things & people I've let go along the way.

I would like to say hello, sit down and have a drink and catch up with a few people. Then again, that's what I keep doing in my head. So maybe I just want to show them all that I've got it all now that, well, I do.

Bananas!

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!