When you Give a Mom a new Business Phone

Well, I finally stepped out and got myself a phone for the business.  I don't have it yet, nor do I have a number ... but it should come in the next few days.  I went against a few people's advise to keep my own number as the business number.  I decided it is too close to the number Allan has, so it is best to leave well enough alone.  Plus, that phone is on it's last leg ... it is going on 3 years this November.  Long time to keep a phone I am told.  Most people upgrade as soon as they can.  I haven't seen the need although the want is there with all the new gadgets that are coming out.  

My only complaint with my old phone is not having a qwerty board for texting.  Between Allan and I we text A LOT!  But this new phone has a qwerty.  But if all else fails we can always upgrade later if we feel like it is needed AND I can always get rid of the old phone and number if I have to.

I comparison shopped and adding a line to our family phones was WAY cheaper than going the business route for a phone.  So I am going to just take the $40 out each month to pay my home phone for the business phone.

As time passes and business increases I will see if a phone for the business is needed.  I am not sure what everyone else does, but we have found it way cheaper to just have a cell phone vs. a home phone anyway.  Plus, I got a free phone tossed in and no activation fee ... what better reason than that.

Also, my husband called me today to send him this web page address.  Seems the sweetie is talking me up at work ... cool!  So if you are reading this and work with Allan ... kudos to you for checking me out!

So one last item of business before signing off ... seems we might be close to getting some funds for the cash we need to finally get into the shop.  Please keep praying.  The specifics would be that we get just the amount we need and at a good rate.  We have talked to a few places and either they do not do what we need or we have been rejected.  But we have not given up ... we are talking to an old CU we used to belong to and they are getting back with us.  WE also have a place down the road from us that "LOVES SAYING YES" or so their sign says ... we will see.  So keep that amongst your prayer requests for us.

Final note, another friend had a sudden and tragic accident happen in her family.  Seems her son, 20 yo in college in Texas - she is living in IND now, was killed.  I do not know the facts at this point, but I am sure when she is ready she will tell us all on her list.  Please pray for this family.  I am not sure where they stand with the Lord.  It would be nice to think all our friends will be seen once again on the silvery shores, but I don't believe they will.  But as many tell me ... only God knows their heart.  Just pray this tragedy will bring something of substance for her.

Partying with Kids ... my Life!

Janet

If You Give a Mom 80% off and a little Customer Service!

Well, it's Thursday and usually on Thursdays my husband is off and we have date days.  This, of course, can really only happen during the school year since the flowergals are in school and we do not need a babysitter, which are usually on short supply for us.  So our usual date day consists of going to lunch at a nicer place than say "Steak-n-Shake" and then shopping for needed (or wanted) items at locations that are stressful when taking the flowergals. (They are not shoppers unless it is for candy or toys ...)

Today we knew we would have our date luncheon (but I had a few other chores we needed to take care of beforehand).  He knew of a few of these things, but not 1 of them.  

My church's Children's Ministry (CM) is consolidating a few things since we are getting so big especially in K1 and PreK.  Therefore, my CM was looking to get rid of or loan a few things.  So due to my involvement at the church, esp. in CM, I was privy to a few of these items firsthand.  So my sweetie and I loaded up our van with chairs (adult and kid size), puppets, clear containers, etc.  I landed the mother load ... Thank You STC CM especially.  (Just about all of these benefit my new business.)  Also a special shout out Thank You to God for keeping this all in the forefront and helping me find great things!

Then after we loaded down the mini van with above said items, we headed to lunch and also to a local jewelry/craft store to get more bracelet snaps (the place we weren't going to for any special reason other than the snaps ... my sweetie wasn't privy to this knowledge until after the loading of the van).  We decided due to the location of the restaurant we would go to the jewelry/craft store first and then go back to the restaurant.

Walking in we found the snaps and then as we looked around walking to the cash register we spotted the leftovers from their recent garage sale items.  I must add they were all marked 80% OFF.  I am particularly not good at hunting and pecking through small items, too much effort ... but I surveyed the items and began to think ahead of what I could use whatever I saw for at the shop or for future parties.  I found quite a few items and with Allan's help he pecked through the smaller items I detest looking for.

The sales lady asked me if I could use a basket, I said I was fine and then she said, no ... let me put these up here {on the counter by a cash register} for you (I thought great more arm space for more things).  (See I only went in for 1 thing ... I didn't need a basket or cart in the beginning ... silly me!)  So as we looked through the items and Allan then helped me rethink the prices ... most things were way under a $1.00.  So I re-looked and got more great things for crafting projects for parties and other items were things I thought I could use for decorating or making my own things to re-sell.  And I must add all the while the nice lady kept checking back with me to see if my arms were getting full.  So all in all after everything I got I walked out saving almost $200 with a grand total of $100 paid.  How cool is that!

One more note:  I have to say sometimes that chains have nothing on "mom and pop" operations.  There are a few chains I adore, but most ... their customer service STINKS.  This mom and pop operation ... their CS was just grand.  I am making a mental note of that ... seeing I will be a "mom (and sometimes pop) operation" very soon!   Being nice and helpful ... goes a long way in how people view your shop!

If You Don't Give a Mom a Job

Well, as you can guess from the title this Mom was looking for a job and couldn't find one, so what did she do?  Hired herself!  Then, started her own business!  So there, that shows you world!

It had been over a year and a half since I first started looking for a job.  Particularly in the field I had left, Children's Ministry.  I came close 2 times.   Once REAL close, but God thought otherwise and, as everyone was telling me, "saved me from myself".  Then I thought I am trying to go the wrong route, so I started looking for my 2nd field of interest, teaching in preschool.  Nope, closed doors again.  

So on a friend's advise, I began actively waiting on God and the "next sure thing".  That came when I STOPPED looking, started listening and began talking to close friends.  

After church one day I was talking to one such friend and she said, "You know you really need to go into kids party planning!"  I said, "Really?"  "Sure!" was her reply.  "You do this great job here at church working with the kids and designing the staging, it really suits you best to do something creative like that."  I then told her over the years, after planning parties for my own girls, I had thought about it but thought it was frivolous as most things people dream about.  She disagreed and that began my quest for finding out if this is what God had in mind.

So far, it IS what God had in mind.  I have acquired a place, a line of credit as well a few friends lining up to "give a kid a party".  So now I am just patiently waiting for some cold hard cash to drop from the sky and then I will be set to go.  See some things can't be done on credit, nor should they be, so I need to again wait on the Lord for the provisions I need to pay the rent, the licenses and fees as well as just other incidentals that costs but not paid for with credit.

In the mean time, I am talking to people I know about various areas of the shop.  From being part of the retail, to participating in parties by helping assist OR even act as character visits to getting ideas for the logo while still researching what is new, relevant and worth my time.  As they used to say, "I am getting my ducks in a row".  I have even purchased a few helpful items that will aid in what I do at church and also what I will need to do for the shop.  My first order of business will be to finalize my logo and then make a sign.  One aforementioned item is perfect for sign making.

So the target date to be up and running is by my oldest flowergals 10th birthday were she will be the lucky recipient of the 1st party in the place.  That date will be Sat. Oct 9th, 2010.  (Hey, if it's not my family that benefits from this ... it should be no one.)  The youngest flowergal will have to wait until February for her day in the shop, but she will get her party too.

So if you need to "give a kid a party" and are reading this, think of me and the shop and we'll get together and make some memories for your family!

Visit this blog often for updates on the shop as well as what develops.  This will be our website for the 1st year or so.  Another way to save money and get the word out!

Just a kid at <3,

Janet