If You Give a Mom a Snowball ... It's gonna roll and FAST!

OK so the inspection is set for tomorrow, Friday, September 24.  I will get a call after the inspection that I can come and sign the contract and then be handed the keys.  My insurance lady will also be there to finalize all that.

We have rented a truck to finally get this busting at the seams house unloaded.  We pick the truck up today at 4:30 and will unload it after the keys are in my sweet little hands and then return it at 4:30 tomorrow.  I am not sure how many people read this, but if you are free and want to help us unload ... WE'LL TREAT YOU ... not sure to what, but something GRAND!

So now the snowball is moving and moving fast.  Who knew 3-4 months ago I'd be where I am today.  All I can say is Thank You God ... this is the real thing, not a made up thank you.  Because basically He IS in control of everything that has happened and will continue to happen.  I also have to thank everyone who is supporting me and praying for me.  Mostly my husband, of course and his family as well as my dear, dear friends.  You all know who you are.

So get ready, get set, LET'S THROW A PARTY!

Stop by on 10/10 at 2 to take a look at my oldest's party ... that will be the first official one on the books.

Love to you all,

Janet

If You Give a Mom a Party to Plan

I think anyone who reads this knows that I am starting my own business.  They also might know about my family and that the first party in my new business shop will be my oldest daughter's.  So I won't go back and detail all this info.  If you are new to this blog, then just refer back to various parts of the site like "About Me" or previous blog posts.

I have been steadly working on various parts of the business while waiting on the OK for my inspection.  Seems there is only one company that can fix the gate to the shop, so we are waiting on them.  We still feel like our move in date will be next week (week of Sept 19th).  But the party that cometh on 10/10/10 at 2 does not stop.  So I have been busy keeping up with what needs done for that also.

We are having an Alvin and the Chipmunks (Chipettes, too) party for my oldest who is turning 10.  So from the party invites to the decor ... all things Chipmunks and Rock & Roll.  

My girls both LOVE pinatas and I as a mom like to rig it so that everyone gets the same amount of candy.  Now don't start with me about how life's not fair so kids need to deal with it.  You try being the kid who only gets 1-3 pieces while some other kid HOGS it all.  NOT at my party - I MAKE THE RULES!  Everyone gets about 10 pieces and if they get more they are to share with everyone else ... if there is more, then everyone gets more.  Nothing like a candy hog at a chipmunks party!

So as we are out scouting for the decor to change the spiderman head into an IAN head (he is the talent scout/scoundrel from the movie my kids want to beat to a pulp ... guess Daddy isn't up for the job again in the same year - he was Speckles from G-Force and the kids beat him up with swim noodles ... fun but I think he's had enough), my hubby and I go into the Party supply store in our area and as we are looking for glasses for my oldest to go as Jeannette, we stumble on the CLEARANCE RACK (dun-dun-ta-da).  As Allan is retrieving the cart, I ask him to find out if this rack is 75% off the orange tag or is it already marked down.  Hold on to your seats folks, it is off the orange tag which is already priced LOW, LOW, LOW ... so I walk out of this said Party supply store with not all, but most of the clearance rack.  (Hump and the glasses my oldest needs and I ALMOST SPENT $6 on ... got for 25 cents ... )

Remember a few weeks back when I got that great deal at the craft store ... this one rocks even more because we are talking themed cups, napkins, favors, etc.  I am so jazzed it made up for my CT scan and dye injected in my head as well as the headache that had not succumbed to the meds I had taken.  I said to my husband if God is not on this same boat, then we are rocking the sales for some reason ...

The girls said, I want to remind you that clearance items are non-refundable.  I said, Honey where these little babies are going ... they won't need refunded.  To which she asked me where they were going and I replied, My new KIDS party planning location.  Both her and the other girls were impressed and said "You done good!"  I said,'You are darn tootin'."  (Well maybe not those exact words from me, but I was jazzed.)

So for going in and trying to find peach streamers to paper mache IAN's bald head ... I came out a winner ... I might even take a few pieces of candy for myself when they knock that pinata to smithereens!

It's all for the kiddies,

Janet

If you Give a Mom a Business ... She is going to need HOURS OF OPERATION

OK I was asked to generate hours for my proposed schedule while we are at the mall.  So here is an example of what the standard week will look like.  Note, that when we have parties in the shop, the hours will flex during those times.  Being open earlier or staying open later could be what is needed on those days.  However, to have some consistency and be available for everything we want to do, we need some hours to post.  Here is what we have at this point:

Mon:   CLOSED*
Tues:  CLOSED*

Wed:  11:00 am - 3:00 pm / 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm*

Thurs: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm / 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm*

Fri:     11:00 am - 7:00 pm*

Sat:    11:00 am - 6:00 pm*

Sun:     1:00 pm - 6:00 pm*

 

Note that the hours may change during the summer, but I will keep you posted on that as it occurs.  Also, note if you need to come to the shop any time that we are not open, please call for an appointment and we will work something out! (636-575-8233)

 

With this above schedule I am trying to keep up with my girls, but still provide a consistency for customers.

OK now back to making CANDY BOUQUETS (pictures soon) as well as working on Lily's 10th!

This is all so exciting,

Janet

If You Give a Mom a Decision

Well, it all worked out ... we changed our business space to right across from the other spot.  We are now 615 which is not that big a difference and it will be easier to spot.  Worked out a great deal on the rent ... so this is great.

Funny thought, got all my advertising stuff (except brochures) done yesterday, so I guess I will be whiting out the 4 and replacing it with a 5 ;-)

Due to the switch-o-roo, all the fees and permits have to be done on Monday since I ran out of time today before the girls came home from school.  But that is fine.  Gives the mall a chance to get the space in order for the inspection.  Things are moving nicely.

With this new space we will have to do little to no renovation ... take down some fixtures as well as paint and set up a few things ... then the big move in.  Storeage for supplies and product will be nice sized for what we need.  The other location it would have gotten too crowded for all the stuff we need to store.

So stay posted for before and after pictures as well as for a move in date.

Love this idea and can't wait to start,
Janet

If You Give a Mom some Advertising

This little ol' business is slowly becoming a reality for me.  We got our loan money and are close to getting our permits.  I also ordered a few advertising mediums today via VistaPrint ... business cards, magnets, large banner for signage, and a few other incidentials.  So we are on our way.


Then we go to re-visit the shop site after the girls get off of school and are now re-thinking it.  Not sure if what has been proposed to us will work out.  2 other sites across from the current site with one just being a small distance from the other two.  But both new locations have MUCH LARGER storage areas and one has shelving already in place.  The 2nd thing we need to consider is how much renovation needs to happen to place number 1 that getting a space that needs less will afford us.  So I have word into the Leasing Agent to find out what she thinks.  If we can move to spot #2 the advertising I got will be just a tad off ... but fixable.  The rest of the stuff will be fine as will the load we have in getting ready for my oldest's 10th.


So if you happen to read this and can offer up a prayer or two ... much appreciation.


Much Love to everyone supporting me!
Janet

If You Give a Mom Creativity

This blog will be short and sweet, but I just wanted to keep you updated.  We are now going to make the 1st official party for IF YOU GIVE A KID A PARTY and my oldest on 10-10-10.  It will be her 10th so why not make it really memorable for all of us.  So as a side note, this will be a friends and family party, but stop by to peek in the windows to see all the fun.

Getting Really Excited,

Janet

If You Give a Mom a Talented and Sweet Husband

It has been a few days since I was able to write on the blog/website.  But a lot has happened since my last post.

Thursday while out eating our date lunch (we take those now that the girls are back in school ... works perfect - NO BABYSITTER NEEDED), my husband and I were talking about the decor for the shop.  I had been mulling over a few ideas and he even found a few cool ideas online.  As I sat there thinking I decided on a retro theme.  I thought why not stay with the theme of the logo and just go retro with the findings as well as the paint/paper job.  This got me real excited so we went to the Antique Mall and found retro (or should I say old - from my childhood) toys.  This will be something I am familar with, because most things I am getting I once had myself (i.e. a Mickey Mouse Club lunch box) or played with at friends.  I got quite a few and also have some I got at yard sales a few years ago, so that is how I am going to decorate the shop.  We also decided to paint with the colors and design on this site, purple and lavender (my favorite colors anyway) using them in stripes.  We went back and forth with a harlequin design but it just didn't seem to fit.  So once we get in we have 2 walls to knock down and then we can paint.

Now the most exciting news, we got our loan money to start the business.  It is a small signature loan, but thankfully due to Allan's job and our once being loyal customers of this credit union, they accepted us.  So now I have the much needed cash to get us up and running.  It goes into our new savings account tomorrow (Wed).

So as I sit and plan my first party, Lily's 10th, I am now getting more and more excited about the possibilities of this business really being real.  I was a tad worried last night since we hadn't heard and Sept is beginning to tick away.  Oct 9th will be here before you know it.  So silently I came up with a back up plan (or 2) if we aren't ready to open the store to others.  Lily will have her 10th birthday there - ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS - STYLE.

Thanks for all the prayers ... keep them coming ... we are just beginning this new exciting adventure.

Feeling all giddy and like a kid,
Janet

If you Give a Mom an Exciting Day

WOW!  Lots have happened since yesterday!  Very exciting things.  Let's hope tomorrow lends more excitement.

First off, I got my new phone for the business today ... so the number is now posted to your left there ... I charged it before going to do my volunteer work at church and when I came home ... played with it.  LOVE IT!  (and it's PINK)

Secondly, I got a call from a potential insurance agent on the business to get more info to give me a quote (first quote seemed too high to my jewelry friend) ... and in talking to her she said "Your business sounds so interesting, please tell me more about it."  I complied and then she said, "You will have to send me some stuff, because I have a little girl AND have lots of friends also looking for something like this."  WOW!  I was so jazzed.

Thirdly, I got an e-mail from my sweetie while he was at work commenting that a work friend has some left over stuff from her crafting days and might I want it if she moves.  (OH YEA!)  I think from what I could decode from his message to me is he told her YES!

So as if I was not working in warped speed as it is ... now I have to kick it up a couple more notches.  So, here's to October 9th in hopes that will be our first day open for my daughter's 10th.

Will Keep you Posted

The Kid at Heart,

Janet