so i was at the drive-thru car wash, too hot to do the self-serve and there was a ton of bird crap on my black car. {not a good look} i took a bunch of photos, listened to music, enjoyed the lazy, selfish moment.
{just a few notes, hopefully more updates on the shop by the weekend. let's suffice to say that i bought window coverings. and there is no more room in my house for boxes and *stuff*! oh, yea the website is underway...i bought the domain name nfbveganshop.com. catchy, huh?}
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
*nfb poppy love*
well, you are looking at the arm of a new midtown sacramento business owner :) finalized the lease conditions today, signed on the dotted line. now i can't run away flailing my arms...i am locked in for one year! {i am only half-kidding about running away, i am going crazy on the details of what has to happen and soon and the idea does occur to me from time to time!}
but as you can see, my never felt better poppies are finished, thanks to our friend mischa. and he also did my middle fingers {my favorite ones of all time}. i can't tell you how good it feels to complete something so dear to me, at a time when i am embarking on something so dear to me. the synchronicity and serendipity abounds. {it's magical}
i hope what merch i have gotten so far is as pleasin' to everyone else as it really is to me. i will have a meager start, but it's a start and every time i hear someone congratulate me earnestly or say how i am living my dream, well that's priceless. {i am living the dream, and it's pretty fucking sweet}
please stay with me when we get in to primer and paint {i am getting closer to picking out the final colors every day but i am not quite there yet} and keep in mind sept 15th is the date for the soft opening. along with the painting and sprucing up of the joint, i have a press release to write, fixtures and display stuff to pick up, and my craft area to fix up, all in about one month! {oh and get my kids back to school...oi that's another stress-mess with lucy's special ed and which school will they ultimately go to. yikes, how much more can i fit on my plate!?!}
happy weds and i hope you have some radical weekend plans going down. and if you are open to it, explore veganism. the animals need you!
but as you can see, my never felt better poppies are finished, thanks to our friend mischa. and he also did my middle fingers {my favorite ones of all time}. i can't tell you how good it feels to complete something so dear to me, at a time when i am embarking on something so dear to me. the synchronicity and serendipity abounds. {it's magical}
i hope what merch i have gotten so far is as pleasin' to everyone else as it really is to me. i will have a meager start, but it's a start and every time i hear someone congratulate me earnestly or say how i am living my dream, well that's priceless. {i am living the dream, and it's pretty fucking sweet}
please stay with me when we get in to primer and paint {i am getting closer to picking out the final colors every day but i am not quite there yet} and keep in mind sept 15th is the date for the soft opening. along with the painting and sprucing up of the joint, i have a press release to write, fixtures and display stuff to pick up, and my craft area to fix up, all in about one month! {oh and get my kids back to school...oi that's another stress-mess with lucy's special ed and which school will they ultimately go to. yikes, how much more can i fit on my plate!?!}
happy weds and i hope you have some radical weekend plans going down. and if you are open to it, explore veganism. the animals need you!
Thursday, August 05, 2010
2315 k st is a go!
well, it's official. i put the deposit and rent down on the k st. space. me and my good friend and girl friday elisabeth went to meet with melissa for paperwork business, and to take some notes on what we need to transform the space. it was nice to have a fresh set of eyes and we came up with some great solutions to maximize the floor selling space.
afterwards, we went to go browse paint chips for color ideas. lucky for me i am being gifted primer (which we need tons of!) and most of the painting supplies. we begin this weekend! wut!
as far as vendors, i am 88% done with all my invoices. a few more tee sellers and the dishware gal are out but i finished up my supply shopping for things such as bags, price guns etc. i have fixtures and tables on tap, so that will happen more mid-month when everything is painted and dried. it's SO EXCITING! the good news is spreading...every time i go in to the cafe someone asks me if i am "that jen" while pointing upstairs LOL and yes, i am THAT JEN.
i had a dream last night that i was working alone, it was swamped, my register was jamming and some chick came in and bought most of my stock LOL. but then at the same time elisabeth had a less anxiety-riddled dream of serene shoppers and a cute couch and the painting touches she was wanting to try. i am going to focus on hers! my anxiety is at an all time high, people...but i suppose it's a good anxiety?
nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile!
afterwards, we went to go browse paint chips for color ideas. lucky for me i am being gifted primer (which we need tons of!) and most of the painting supplies. we begin this weekend! wut!
as far as vendors, i am 88% done with all my invoices. a few more tee sellers and the dishware gal are out but i finished up my supply shopping for things such as bags, price guns etc. i have fixtures and tables on tap, so that will happen more mid-month when everything is painted and dried. it's SO EXCITING! the good news is spreading...every time i go in to the cafe someone asks me if i am "that jen" while pointing upstairs LOL and yes, i am THAT JEN.
i had a dream last night that i was working alone, it was swamped, my register was jamming and some chick came in and bought most of my stock LOL. but then at the same time elisabeth had a less anxiety-riddled dream of serene shoppers and a cute couch and the painting touches she was wanting to try. i am going to focus on hers! my anxiety is at an all time high, people...but i suppose it's a good anxiety?
nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
*git yer buttons here!*
a sheer metric ton of cute 1" vegan buttons (see picture there are way more styles than that but you'll just have to come see for yourself! when we open!) came this week by teeny tiny tantrums. i spaced on making buttons for the shop to giveaway but that's next on my ever growing list of things to do/buy/pick-up. some very cute coffee cozies and aprons came via flapper girl and also some awesome recycled tee shirt crocheted scrubbies that are hands down the best i have ever seen.
in the home front, we went to the fair on thursday and are going one more time just the mr. and me before it closes so we can go on the rides lyric was too chicken to go on as my ride buddy lol. the girls had a blast and we ate way too much greasy food. yay! shawn and i saw inception earlier in the week {one of the best movies of modern history! i can't say enough great things about it, so go see if for yourself to find out what all the buzz is about}.
today we are making vegan tamales and enchiladas. shawn and i were a well-oiled kitchen machine busting out both items in record time. whoever says tamales are too much work needs a punch in the throat. they are SO worth it, and come on...it's not that much work sheesh! it's called "cooking" lol. {slow food movement--- pbbbbbltttttt someone just made that up and is trying to sell a book and make a mint!}
happy saturday and i will blog about the tamales tomorrow, letting you know how they turned out. {i can tell you right now...delicious!}
in the home front, we went to the fair on thursday and are going one more time just the mr. and me before it closes so we can go on the rides lyric was too chicken to go on as my ride buddy lol. the girls had a blast and we ate way too much greasy food. yay! shawn and i saw inception earlier in the week {one of the best movies of modern history! i can't say enough great things about it, so go see if for yourself to find out what all the buzz is about}.
today we are making vegan tamales and enchiladas. shawn and i were a well-oiled kitchen machine busting out both items in record time. whoever says tamales are too much work needs a punch in the throat. they are SO worth it, and come on...it's not that much work sheesh! it's called "cooking" lol. {slow food movement--- pbbbbbltttttt someone just made that up and is trying to sell a book and make a mint!}
happy saturday and i will blog about the tamales tomorrow, letting you know how they turned out. {i can tell you right now...delicious!}
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
*never a dumb question*
here, in q&a format are a few questions asked recently in real life and via the internet about what the hell we are doing. :)
{for those just tuning in shawn and me are going to open an all vegan shop above sugar plum vegan cafe in midtown sacramento. the name is never felt better {vegan shop}. the website will be redirected to a new url and is getting a spruce job to reflect the new direction . i am really excited and distracted so i am going to try extra hard to keep blogging through the process! it ought to be fun!}
Q: you are going to have a store with all your handmade stuff in it?
A: no, my personal line of accessories will be available {i still gotta craft, yo!}, but i am so lucky to know so many talented people filling a store up with cruelty free and cute as hell stuff won't be too hard. not only will we carry handmade one of a kind goods for men and women, we will also do some vegan grocery staples, cookbooks and other household things that every self-respecting vegan should have ;p
Q: do you buy from only vegans?
A: i wish, but of course not silly. some are, some aren't. some of my good friends are omni's. and most of the crafters and artists are personal friends of mine so if i could turn out just one of them who isn't already i would consider that a personal triumph. HINT HINT HINT, personal friends!
Q: you called yourself the "vegan gift shop". are you kidding me?
A: no. i kid you not. i predict when you are done snarfing up some sugar plum vegan food you will come up the stairs and buy yourself a commemorative herbivore clothing company tee shirt, lollibomb "me so honey" vegan massage oil and a bag of eco-planet cheezy crackers because that's how you roll.
Q: what will i find in your store, really?
A: awesomeness. pure awesomeness. but keep in mind that the awesomeness you will find at my shop will be devoid of animal cruelty and suffering making it awesomeX10. so, vegan women's and mens clothing, accessories like buttons, belts and hair stuff, animal and AR related jewelry, animal companion accessories and v-dog food. bath and body stuff such as soaps, lotions and fragrance, vegan cookbooks-books-zines, paper goods and grocery and snaky items.
Q: will vegetarians be welcome?
A: everyone is welcome. especially veggies! although they will have to sign an enforceable promissory note to fully convert to veganism or they can only look through the window. LOL JUST KIDDIN'. {or am i? mwahahahahaha} putting all seriousness aside, these items are 100% vegan and 100% suitable for EVERYONE.
Q: i thought you were going to change your name?
A: i thought so, too. i think we are going to keep the other name we were tossing around for shawn's sustainable vegan skateboard company LOL. {our next business venture!}
Q: you have been saying you were going to get the vegan cookzine done for the past two years. what's the hold up?
A: life, laziness, shawn going gluten free and us having to redo some of our family classics. but don't think we have forgotten it, and it will come out in print soon. oh yes, it will be. no excuses...
Q: what's the new website info?
A: that is TBA. check back for more info, and like i said i will be photo documenting our process of before and after to the shop and sneak peak merchandise here on this blog. check back for more info soon.
so, that concludes the question and answer portion of the blog. :) i am certain i forgot some important information, but for a gal who is writing through a class 3 migraine i think got what i need out.
happy tuesday!
{for those just tuning in shawn and me are going to open an all vegan shop above sugar plum vegan cafe in midtown sacramento. the name is never felt better {vegan shop}. the website will be redirected to a new url and is getting a spruce job to reflect the new direction . i am really excited and distracted so i am going to try extra hard to keep blogging through the process! it ought to be fun!}
Q: you are going to have a store with all your handmade stuff in it?
A: no, my personal line of accessories will be available {i still gotta craft, yo!}, but i am so lucky to know so many talented people filling a store up with cruelty free and cute as hell stuff won't be too hard. not only will we carry handmade one of a kind goods for men and women, we will also do some vegan grocery staples, cookbooks and other household things that every self-respecting vegan should have ;p
Q: do you buy from only vegans?
A: i wish, but of course not silly. some are, some aren't. some of my good friends are omni's. and most of the crafters and artists are personal friends of mine so if i could turn out just one of them who isn't already i would consider that a personal triumph. HINT HINT HINT, personal friends!
Q: you called yourself the "vegan gift shop". are you kidding me?
A: no. i kid you not. i predict when you are done snarfing up some sugar plum vegan food you will come up the stairs and buy yourself a commemorative herbivore clothing company tee shirt, lollibomb "me so honey" vegan massage oil and a bag of eco-planet cheezy crackers because that's how you roll.
Q: what will i find in your store, really?
A: awesomeness. pure awesomeness. but keep in mind that the awesomeness you will find at my shop will be devoid of animal cruelty and suffering making it awesomeX10. so, vegan women's and mens clothing, accessories like buttons, belts and hair stuff, animal and AR related jewelry, animal companion accessories and v-dog food. bath and body stuff such as soaps, lotions and fragrance, vegan cookbooks-books-zines, paper goods and grocery and snaky items.
Q: will vegetarians be welcome?
A: everyone is welcome. especially veggies! although they will have to sign an enforceable promissory note to fully convert to veganism or they can only look through the window. LOL JUST KIDDIN'. {or am i? mwahahahahaha} putting all seriousness aside, these items are 100% vegan and 100% suitable for EVERYONE.
Q: i thought you were going to change your name?
A: i thought so, too. i think we are going to keep the other name we were tossing around for shawn's sustainable vegan skateboard company LOL. {our next business venture!}
Q: you have been saying you were going to get the vegan cookzine done for the past two years. what's the hold up?
A: life, laziness, shawn going gluten free and us having to redo some of our family classics. but don't think we have forgotten it, and it will come out in print soon. oh yes, it will be. no excuses...
Q: what's the new website info?
A: that is TBA. check back for more info, and like i said i will be photo documenting our process of before and after to the shop and sneak peak merchandise here on this blog. check back for more info soon.
so, that concludes the question and answer portion of the blog. :) i am certain i forgot some important information, but for a gal who is writing through a class 3 migraine i think got what i need out.
happy tuesday!
Monday, July 19, 2010
*lost weekend, found workweek*
this lost weekend (some me time with my sister exploring n. california back roads, casinos and the yuba river, pictured above) gave way to a BUSY found work week. this is the week of the three bigger distribution entities needed to get some of the grocery, vegan dog food and cook books in the store. the v-dog people are local: a sacramento company which sells all over the US--and our three dogs are thriving on it. awesome stuff...pick a bag up with me when you stop by the store.
oh! and orders have started rolling in, like amazing vinyl bags and wallets on saturday, and another today of herbivore clothing co tee shirts, with two email confirmations others were on the way! i have a running vendor list that makes me very excited, i am hoping everyone else gets excited too lol! over the next couple weeks of painting and feathering my retail nest, as it were, and the more orders that come in i will be doing previews of what to expect from never felt better {vegan shop}. there is still really so much to get done in a relatively short amount of time but i have shawn, more help from friends that i know what to do with, and a vision so i feel half-way there in my mind :) but for right now it is in a corner of my living room until the space is ready.
oh! and orders have started rolling in, like amazing vinyl bags and wallets on saturday, and another today of herbivore clothing co tee shirts, with two email confirmations others were on the way! i have a running vendor list that makes me very excited, i am hoping everyone else gets excited too lol! over the next couple weeks of painting and feathering my retail nest, as it were, and the more orders that come in i will be doing previews of what to expect from never felt better {vegan shop}. there is still really so much to get done in a relatively short amount of time but i have shawn, more help from friends that i know what to do with, and a vision so i feel half-way there in my mind :) but for right now it is in a corner of my living room until the space is ready.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
*sweet holy cucumber*
{warning this is the post in which i drone on and on about a cucumber.}
today is double digits, and i kind of spaced on the garden thinking the soaking last night would last. {it didn't i had wilty everything...tsk tsk tsk on me.} when usually the cucumber leaves are like huge umbrellas and i have to hunt for the cuc's which is part of the fun, some extra wilty leaves led this *thing* to catch my eye. tucked among the vines of the watermelon plants, it's gotta be the biggest cucumber i have ever seen, and i thought the others harvested were big ones already!
man, i should have known and entered this bad boy in our fair--i think i would have a ribbon winner on my hands--literally.
enjoy my cucumber freakazoid. i know i am TOTALLY tickled pink over the mere sight...but i think i am 75% 12 yr. old boy. ha!
{you were warned about the prattling about a cucumber, so i don't wanna hear it!}
in NFB news, i am totally stoked to have a GANG of herbivore tee shirts en route. also, there will be held vegan belts, lollibomb bath and body, bread and badger {etched with vegan logos} pint glasses, and so so so much more. it's crazy! CRAZY i tell you! that was just a sneaky peek. {there will be many, many more of those...that i can promise.}
happy thursday and i hope you have some crazy weekend plans that will make me jealous as all hell. enjoy :)
today is double digits, and i kind of spaced on the garden thinking the soaking last night would last. {it didn't i had wilty everything...tsk tsk tsk on me.} when usually the cucumber leaves are like huge umbrellas and i have to hunt for the cuc's which is part of the fun, some extra wilty leaves led this *thing* to catch my eye. tucked among the vines of the watermelon plants, it's gotta be the biggest cucumber i have ever seen, and i thought the others harvested were big ones already!
man, i should have known and entered this bad boy in our fair--i think i would have a ribbon winner on my hands--literally.
enjoy my cucumber freakazoid. i know i am TOTALLY tickled pink over the mere sight...but i think i am 75% 12 yr. old boy. ha!
{you were warned about the prattling about a cucumber, so i don't wanna hear it!}
in NFB news, i am totally stoked to have a GANG of herbivore tee shirts en route. also, there will be held vegan belts, lollibomb bath and body, bread and badger {etched with vegan logos} pint glasses, and so so so much more. it's crazy! CRAZY i tell you! that was just a sneaky peek. {there will be many, many more of those...that i can promise.}
happy thursday and i hope you have some crazy weekend plans that will make me jealous as all hell. enjoy :)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
*garden fresh quinoa pilaf*
in urban gardening news: today we had a cornucopia of harvesting goodness! we got chard, squash, yellow cherry tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers. shawn was craving quinoa so he made a quick pilaf using everything but the cucumber in it, with an addition of garbanzos, garlic and onion. i feel like a million bucks eating such rich, colorful and nutritious vegan food. it was like a bowl of vitamins! {this is a perfect warm or cold weather meal as it can be served fresh off the stove, or chilled. it's delicious in any form!}
in never felt better {vegan shop} news: for the past two days i have focused on following up on emails, placing orders and taking care of invoices. our printer is on the fritz and i need to print and fax two of the bigger distribution companies {like for the food and books}. so, if we get a replacement printer so it can be done by weeks end. {some stuff has even shipped already (!!!) and i am freaking out and can't wait to have them in my hot little hands.}
so happy tuesday, all...hope your week is shaping up good {and busy}!
in never felt better {vegan shop} news: for the past two days i have focused on following up on emails, placing orders and taking care of invoices. our printer is on the fritz and i need to print and fax two of the bigger distribution companies {like for the food and books}. so, if we get a replacement printer so it can be done by weeks end. {some stuff has even shipped already (!!!) and i am freaking out and can't wait to have them in my hot little hands.}
so happy tuesday, all...hope your week is shaping up good {and busy}!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
*mental health day*
i am so ditching vending at 2nd saturday so i can experience some 2nd saturday with the family. it's all good--i called in and everything and some lucky bastard on the waiting list is going to have their day made. it's a win-win situation in my book. {i do what i can...}
along with sleeping in, so far this day has consisted of flax pancakes, fresh flowers, farmers market produce, fresh-from-my-own-garden produce, vegan tamales, swimming and family time. {i can't really complain. it's my kind of mental health day.}
behind the scenes it's trying to decide on two colors that will compliment the rooms, the dark wood floors and brightening factors of the new space. this takes more time than i thought. {actually that is a lie, i know exactly how long it takes. i can't make up my mind on the two rooms that need painting here at our house, never getting past the staring at paint chips stage. but, since painting the new spot is mandatory i think i will coordinate the two with the leftover paint from the shop IN the house as well and cut two carrots with one knife. GENIUS.} so far i have narrowed it down to a couple, three combos. plus i need an accent color or two for other things that need to be painted, like shelves. somehow i have to spruce up a standing vintage brass spinner that would perfect for the vegan held belts i am going to carry. i can't decide to paint or bring back the brass color, it's pretty rusted. {oh, if all my decisions were this hard: do i PAINT the display spinner or leave it natural? haha}
i can't wait to start previewing what's to come! the few things i have bought for the shop are nothing less than AWESOME and i feel like things are coming together, which is welcome. {this is really happening!}
happy saturday! i hope you are having your own version of a mental health day, whatever that may be. {peace}
along with sleeping in, so far this day has consisted of flax pancakes, fresh flowers, farmers market produce, fresh-from-my-own-garden produce, vegan tamales, swimming and family time. {i can't really complain. it's my kind of mental health day.}
behind the scenes it's trying to decide on two colors that will compliment the rooms, the dark wood floors and brightening factors of the new space. this takes more time than i thought. {actually that is a lie, i know exactly how long it takes. i can't make up my mind on the two rooms that need painting here at our house, never getting past the staring at paint chips stage. but, since painting the new spot is mandatory i think i will coordinate the two with the leftover paint from the shop IN the house as well and cut two carrots with one knife. GENIUS.} so far i have narrowed it down to a couple, three combos. plus i need an accent color or two for other things that need to be painted, like shelves. somehow i have to spruce up a standing vintage brass spinner that would perfect for the vegan held belts i am going to carry. i can't decide to paint or bring back the brass color, it's pretty rusted. {oh, if all my decisions were this hard: do i PAINT the display spinner or leave it natural? haha}
i can't wait to start previewing what's to come! the few things i have bought for the shop are nothing less than AWESOME and i feel like things are coming together, which is welcome. {this is really happening!}
happy saturday! i hope you are having your own version of a mental health day, whatever that may be. {peace}
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
*vegan food is love*
they say compassion begins on your plate, and they would be correct. but i will say the passion and love that got someone to go get the ingredients needed for what another someone is craving, come home and make & serve it to said craving person....well....that is really special.
yesterday it was biscuits and gravy. after hearing me grumble about not having the things to make what i was craving, the mr. ran down to the coop and grabbed some ingredients. then shawn quietly whipped up some daiya cheesy biscuits and a delicious tempeh gravy with a side of mixed greens. gimme a heavy plate of home-made down-home grub any day over anything. my breakfast turned into a delicious brunch and afternoon snack, too :)
now if i can get melissa to offer biscuits and gravy as a staple on her menu i would truly be in vegan heaven when we open in the fall. crisp mornings with a heapin' bowl of B-n-G is totally what i am talking about. {working above a vegan cafe will have it's total advantages. there is nothing worse than working out where there is NO FOOD. all i will have to do is sashay downstairs for vegan-goodness and coffee. lots and lots of coffee. should i pinch myself? am i dreaming? lol}
speaking of never felt better, i have made my first orders for stock! sneaky peaks coming later on...really cute stuff for sure. it's a lot of work, kinda like a full time job LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL i crack me up. everyone has been so nice, and positive for us. that is what matters, at the end of the day. i also am working on a website revamp from the same gals over at aeolidia. if i can pull off the cost, it will be a very, VERY nice upgrade. {i am in the wrong business...web design is crazy expensive!}
happy weds and i hope you are working toward some of your goals today too. it's supposed to be a cooler day, only lower 90's at best so right there it's working out for me big time. {my sympathies to my east coast friends...this heat wave is no laughing matter. and imagine wearing a fur coat during it all! don't forget about the animals, too. everyone hydrate!}
yesterday it was biscuits and gravy. after hearing me grumble about not having the things to make what i was craving, the mr. ran down to the coop and grabbed some ingredients. then shawn quietly whipped up some daiya cheesy biscuits and a delicious tempeh gravy with a side of mixed greens. gimme a heavy plate of home-made down-home grub any day over anything. my breakfast turned into a delicious brunch and afternoon snack, too :)
now if i can get melissa to offer biscuits and gravy as a staple on her menu i would truly be in vegan heaven when we open in the fall. crisp mornings with a heapin' bowl of B-n-G is totally what i am talking about. {working above a vegan cafe will have it's total advantages. there is nothing worse than working out where there is NO FOOD. all i will have to do is sashay downstairs for vegan-goodness and coffee. lots and lots of coffee. should i pinch myself? am i dreaming? lol}
speaking of never felt better, i have made my first orders for stock! sneaky peaks coming later on...really cute stuff for sure. it's a lot of work, kinda like a full time job LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL i crack me up. everyone has been so nice, and positive for us. that is what matters, at the end of the day. i also am working on a website revamp from the same gals over at aeolidia. if i can pull off the cost, it will be a very, VERY nice upgrade. {i am in the wrong business...web design is crazy expensive!}
happy weds and i hope you are working toward some of your goals today too. it's supposed to be a cooler day, only lower 90's at best so right there it's working out for me big time. {my sympathies to my east coast friends...this heat wave is no laughing matter. and imagine wearing a fur coat during it all! don't forget about the animals, too. everyone hydrate!}
Monday, July 05, 2010
*happy 4th!*
it's the same every year: i am a 4th of july hater until later in the afternoon when the grill gets fired up, and then i cave and go get a few key fireworks for the girls. who can resist some sparklers and some fountains, hmmmm? i guess it's like that for most holidays and me, i disassociate the meaning of the holiday with all the bells and whistles and get sucked in. {who doesn't like lighting shit on fire and watching it blow up and burn?}
yesterday, shawn went on a mini-skate tour of northern california with some friends and the girls and i cleaned up and swam leisurely all day until he got back. {he can't swim he just got a new tattoo, which i love btw.}
i had some time to clear out my head and when i did my dream team vendor list grew by a few names. i mentally flipped through the pantone catalog and picked out some colors for the walls and featured where the furniture and fixtures are going to go. if you can visualize it, you can do it, right? :) we did some business scoping on saturday night: ducked out to check out the non-2nd saturday night scene at the cafe and there was quite bit of foot traffic, happily. the golden bear was bumping before 10 and rick's desert diner {for the over 50 set, apparently. for as long as i have lived in sacramento i have never known a soul who ate there. unless you needed a place to take your out of town elderly gramma or something...} was busy, which is a good sign. i saw groups of touristy folks leave there, cross the street and look intrigued by the cozy outside and warm glow of the fairy lights of sugar plum vegan cafe...maybe we can turn some ricks-folks out to veganism with some good ol' fashioned outreach. people don't know what they are eating, you know? :) information is power! cruelty is not delicious, creamy or sweet. ahimsa IS.
happy monday!
yesterday, shawn went on a mini-skate tour of northern california with some friends and the girls and i cleaned up and swam leisurely all day until he got back. {he can't swim he just got a new tattoo, which i love btw.}
i had some time to clear out my head and when i did my dream team vendor list grew by a few names. i mentally flipped through the pantone catalog and picked out some colors for the walls and featured where the furniture and fixtures are going to go. if you can visualize it, you can do it, right? :) we did some business scoping on saturday night: ducked out to check out the non-2nd saturday night scene at the cafe and there was quite bit of foot traffic, happily. the golden bear was bumping before 10 and rick's desert diner {for the over 50 set, apparently. for as long as i have lived in sacramento i have never known a soul who ate there. unless you needed a place to take your out of town elderly gramma or something...} was busy, which is a good sign. i saw groups of touristy folks leave there, cross the street and look intrigued by the cozy outside and warm glow of the fairy lights of sugar plum vegan cafe...maybe we can turn some ricks-folks out to veganism with some good ol' fashioned outreach. people don't know what they are eating, you know? :) information is power! cruelty is not delicious, creamy or sweet. ahimsa IS.
happy monday!
Thursday, July 01, 2010
*can see clearly now...*
wow got my new glasses {love them in their cute shape, red color and little blingbling happening...} and everything is just so much crisper. lol.
so i say to myself, "self, let's start cracking on the business plan. you know the one you need to produce to the landlord? you know, the one you need to have handy for a legitimate business if you ever need to borrow more money etc etc? yeah. THAT ONE. get going and get it done!"
now that i have no more excuses {my wrist aches, my head aches, my shoulder aches...} and am feeling good i compiled what info i had up to now in the first draft. sent it to a few people to review to see if i make any lick of sense {or not}. waiting for feedback.
shawn is home helping me with getting stuff done again--i love his swing shifts when he works them. so far he has run to the post office, target and entertained jasper while i tip-type out our potential future on paper. gotta love him for being supportive. {whadda guy. any help is appreciated, even at the smallest level! seriously. extracting what's in my head onto paper with this thyroid induced brain fog is some kind of feat, but i think the last med change is working because i *feel* better than a few months ago. huzzah for little victories!}
so i say to myself, "self, let's start cracking on the business plan. you know the one you need to produce to the landlord? you know, the one you need to have handy for a legitimate business if you ever need to borrow more money etc etc? yeah. THAT ONE. get going and get it done!"
now that i have no more excuses {my wrist aches, my head aches, my shoulder aches...} and am feeling good i compiled what info i had up to now in the first draft. sent it to a few people to review to see if i make any lick of sense {or not}. waiting for feedback.
shawn is home helping me with getting stuff done again--i love his swing shifts when he works them. so far he has run to the post office, target and entertained jasper while i tip-type out our potential future on paper. gotta love him for being supportive. {whadda guy. any help is appreciated, even at the smallest level! seriously. extracting what's in my head onto paper with this thyroid induced brain fog is some kind of feat, but i think the last med change is working because i *feel* better than a few months ago. huzzah for little victories!}
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
*life's a garden. dig it!*
lessons learned from this years gardening adventures:
*get a backhoe and dig up your grassy yard. kiss that wasteful water hog bye-bye. if you wish, get a rain barrel for when the infrastructure breaks down and you have no running water.
*triple your efforts and grow many more plants, different varieties and don't shy away from more uncommon types of vegetables and grains. a couple of each kind IS NOT ENOUGH, plain and simple. i am talkin' you need rows and rows full of what you need.
*learn to can and your family will never starve during the apocalypse or just a harsh snowed-in winter with no electricity.
supporting and feeding my family aside, an ideal backyard for me would be half garden deluxe, and the other half would be a in-ground saltwater lap pool. maybe a gazebo with the hot tub would round out my garden shangri-la. mmmmmm. even thinking about it makes me smile, relaxed, calm. it's my happy place.
i feel i will be going here in my mind quite a bit over the next few months. every waking moment i am trying to project positive thinking about opening our vegan business...trying to believe in myself as much as others around me do so i don't let anyone down. i want to do right for the animals, my family...my mom. i feel like i am going from 0 to 60 and i haven't even qualified for the race! yikes!
and it's only wednesday! let's see what the rest of the week will bring. :)
*get a backhoe and dig up your grassy yard. kiss that wasteful water hog bye-bye. if you wish, get a rain barrel for when the infrastructure breaks down and you have no running water.
*triple your efforts and grow many more plants, different varieties and don't shy away from more uncommon types of vegetables and grains. a couple of each kind IS NOT ENOUGH, plain and simple. i am talkin' you need rows and rows full of what you need.
*learn to can and your family will never starve during the apocalypse or just a harsh snowed-in winter with no electricity.
supporting and feeding my family aside, an ideal backyard for me would be half garden deluxe, and the other half would be a in-ground saltwater lap pool. maybe a gazebo with the hot tub would round out my garden shangri-la. mmmmmm. even thinking about it makes me smile, relaxed, calm. it's my happy place.
i feel i will be going here in my mind quite a bit over the next few months. every waking moment i am trying to project positive thinking about opening our vegan business...trying to believe in myself as much as others around me do so i don't let anyone down. i want to do right for the animals, my family...my mom. i feel like i am going from 0 to 60 and i haven't even qualified for the race! yikes!
and it's only wednesday! let's see what the rest of the week will bring. :)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
*TCB baby*
so do i keep the name 'never felt better' or what?* :)
so far today, i am having a heaping sense of accomplishment from
a) making a pot of coffee,
b) getting my youngest out the door for her movie playdate and
c) getting my credit report (not free by the way, fuck those commercials) and rectifying some of the more fubar/old/stupid negatives. there are not as many as i thought (didn't know what to expect), and i actually found one i have no knowledge of what it *is* (looking into that one, lol).
now, if i wanted to get all CRAZY i would finish up my business plan to show to the landlord at the space. i would be subletting from melissa but still the guy needs to know what's going in his property. i think i can give him a pretty good idea from what i have so far. but it needs a lot of tweaking and to actually be typed. ha.
i suppose in the spirit of "taking care of business" i will allow some time in the afternoon to work on the plan. it's kinda important, afterall. and in the spirit of summer, i will also allow for some swimming time for myself. booyah!
*so. seriously. do i keep the name, or change it up? what to do? WHAT TO DO? :))
Monday, June 28, 2010
*don't dream it, be it*
it's one thing to labor and over-think something in your mind, while it's a whole separate ball game to speak it out loud and make it real.
i have been presented with a wonderful business opportunity, and frankly the ability to live the dream: our dream. shawn and i are going to take the plunge into running our own vegan accessories shop above sugarplum vegan on kst in midtown. i am lovingly calling it the "vegan gift shop" because well, it will have what you need and what your friends and family want to get you :) i have had the opportunity to shop at portland's vegan mini-mall and sacramento needs a vegan one stop destination to support the vegan community here. the location is perfect, the clientele is perfect, the timing is perfect.
lovingly, we will offer vegan cookbooks, accessories such as belts, wallets, bags, dog treats and food, handmade goods from vegan artists/crafters, soaps, AR related goods (tee's, buttons etc). we have a covered patio and band area for speakers, music, craft shows, fundraisers and more. the possibilities are endless :) everyone is pretty much over the moon with excitement but i am nervous as fuck! yikes! there is also space i would like to rent for studio space perfect for silk screening/soap making or some other art/craft.
we are tossing around names and have a couple we like more than others. more to come there, as it all happens. i am taking suggestions of course!
if all goes well i am shooting for a soft late sept. opening. just in time for the holidaze...
*rolling up my sleeves--this is going to be a labor of love. and i am ready to get this love-fest GOING!*
i have been presented with a wonderful business opportunity, and frankly the ability to live the dream: our dream. shawn and i are going to take the plunge into running our own vegan accessories shop above sugarplum vegan on kst in midtown. i am lovingly calling it the "vegan gift shop" because well, it will have what you need and what your friends and family want to get you :) i have had the opportunity to shop at portland's vegan mini-mall and sacramento needs a vegan one stop destination to support the vegan community here. the location is perfect, the clientele is perfect, the timing is perfect.
lovingly, we will offer vegan cookbooks, accessories such as belts, wallets, bags, dog treats and food, handmade goods from vegan artists/crafters, soaps, AR related goods (tee's, buttons etc). we have a covered patio and band area for speakers, music, craft shows, fundraisers and more. the possibilities are endless :) everyone is pretty much over the moon with excitement but i am nervous as fuck! yikes! there is also space i would like to rent for studio space perfect for silk screening/soap making or some other art/craft.
we are tossing around names and have a couple we like more than others. more to come there, as it all happens. i am taking suggestions of course!
if all goes well i am shooting for a soft late sept. opening. just in time for the holidaze...
*rolling up my sleeves--this is going to be a labor of love. and i am ready to get this love-fest GOING!*
Monday, June 21, 2010
*fathers day weekend wrap-up*
happy first day of summer! maybe today will be warm enough for an adult swim :) {the kids get in that water at sub arctic temps like little polar bears}.
saturday was the midtown bazaar which was so. very. early. in the morning, it gave me pause for my aspirations to be a farmer. that would never work out for me and my sleep schedule! the event was early, it was unseasonable cold and the cover band hurt my ears but i sold some and it was worth my while. i am not sure if i will be doing that again but if i do i will bring more than just NFB things--it was very flea-marketish with the mix of goods available.
sunday shawn and i took lucy to see toy story 3 which was adorable. lyric was with her family in woodland so we are going to try and go again to the drive-in while it is still in theaters for her. lucy wore her cowgirl hat and took jessie and woody with her to watch the movie. it was very cute to see her excited! i think he had a nice daddy's day, i think he is #1 dad, just like the tee shirt says LOL. then before dinner he and lucy did some skating at their new skate spot near our house of which i got some super cute pictures. lucy did some new tricks!
the whole weekend was a good one, i spent a lot of time with the garden, scooping bugs from the pool and getting things mentally in order. we have two separate families coming down from portland staying with us this week and weekend, so the general frenzied housecleaning will commence. also i have to go down to merced for business on weds, possibly thursday so things could not be more hectic this week. {yay? though it is always nice to see friends from stumptown...goddamn i miss pdx!}
happy monday!
saturday was the midtown bazaar which was so. very. early. in the morning, it gave me pause for my aspirations to be a farmer. that would never work out for me and my sleep schedule! the event was early, it was unseasonable cold and the cover band hurt my ears but i sold some and it was worth my while. i am not sure if i will be doing that again but if i do i will bring more than just NFB things--it was very flea-marketish with the mix of goods available.
sunday shawn and i took lucy to see toy story 3 which was adorable. lyric was with her family in woodland so we are going to try and go again to the drive-in while it is still in theaters for her. lucy wore her cowgirl hat and took jessie and woody with her to watch the movie. it was very cute to see her excited! i think he had a nice daddy's day, i think he is #1 dad, just like the tee shirt says LOL. then before dinner he and lucy did some skating at their new skate spot near our house of which i got some super cute pictures. lucy did some new tricks!
the whole weekend was a good one, i spent a lot of time with the garden, scooping bugs from the pool and getting things mentally in order. we have two separate families coming down from portland staying with us this week and weekend, so the general frenzied housecleaning will commence. also i have to go down to merced for business on weds, possibly thursday so things could not be more hectic this week. {yay? though it is always nice to see friends from stumptown...goddamn i miss pdx!}
happy monday!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
*garden zen*
every morning i stroll in the backyard, making rounds making sure everything is in tact from over the evening {you never know, there are critters who roam the neighborhood who may want a midnight snack of my carrots or lettuce. not to mention the snail fiasco of earlier in the season...}. the one bed is dappled in sunlight even at 7, where the other is shady and cool and won't receive it's sun until about 10ish when it clears the roof of the house. the containers receive their sun about 9am. their location is the best in the yard, as seen by the jillion squash flowers and now bean flowers! {who knew they made flowers?}
even though i didn't have TOO much to do with everything {things seem to grow whether i am there or not haha}, i have a sense of pride that it's my loving tending to them that helps them grow. i am no master gardener, more like a humble novice. it's one thing to keep hearty plants alive in the yard but it's another joy to plot and plan a vegetable garden and watch them produce for you to share with your family. {even though today that one new red ripe strawberry was all mine!} i might even have enough to gift friends or do the crop swap this year, which makes me even more excited for the harvesting.
i have to read up on the swiss chard, like how and when to clip and harvest...when the carrots will truly be ready...how to keep the tomatoes producing through the summer. there is so much to learn! when we are own our own home i believe i will try a year-round garden then canning. my aunt on my mom's side lived into her late 90's and when my mom asked her how she stayed so spry, she said that she got up early to bake bread every day, she had her own garden and she canned her fruits and veggies. that sounds like heaven to me...
so: how does YOUR garden grow? :)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
*2nd saturday wrap-up*
yesterday was an amazing day. lucy was invited to a classmates birthday party and we went to a park we had never been too out in rancho cordova to attend. it was wonderful to see her with her friends from school and all the kids had a great time :) i also got to speak with other parents of children with varying levels of autism and compare a bit of notes. the park was...nice...but nothing to write home about, nor travel to rancho for on a regular basis. strangely we saw a HUGE gathering of muslim people (we saw a full burka clad woman--don't see that everyday.) who were doing a bbq. then here comes a goat led to the group on a rope. i said a big AWWWWW (goats are awesome) but then shawn let me know it was about to be slaughtered. literally, they were loading in hella bbq's and butcher blocks. is that even legal at a community park? NOT COOL if you ask me, i don't care who you are. if there wasn't at least 400 people in the party i would have considered a liberation maneuver. we were sorely outnumbered! {rip cute goat, i am really trying to convince myself you were the "family pet" but it's not working.}
then we had a brief respite before we had to load up and be down to set up for 2nd saturday. this month's was the best so far--the music was great and it was VERY busy! i have to say i had a honest organically good time i have had in a while. geared me right up for next saturdays new midtown bizaar. :)
for the better part of the afternoon we have all set up the pool. we got the girls scrubbing it clean and helping daddy with the poles of the pool construction. {i am seeing the value of the newer pools that have no poles, but this pool has served us well. it may be kind of a pain to put together, for the most part is a work horse. no holes yet, knock on wood!} hopefully the pump holds out another season...but it may have to be replaced. it's a small price to pay for the kids (ahem, my) fun in the summer sun.
happy saturday!
then we had a brief respite before we had to load up and be down to set up for 2nd saturday. this month's was the best so far--the music was great and it was VERY busy! i have to say i had a honest organically good time i have had in a while. geared me right up for next saturdays new midtown bizaar. :)
for the better part of the afternoon we have all set up the pool. we got the girls scrubbing it clean and helping daddy with the poles of the pool construction. {i am seeing the value of the newer pools that have no poles, but this pool has served us well. it may be kind of a pain to put together, for the most part is a work horse. no holes yet, knock on wood!} hopefully the pump holds out another season...but it may have to be replaced. it's a small price to pay for the kids (ahem, my) fun in the summer sun.
happy saturday!
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
*purdy burdys*
i am loving these epic-style naps mr. j has been taking. as i did yesterday, i made actual progress again today! not virtual progress, but actual 90% finished product progress. these birds are going to be affixed to their respective headbands tomorrow {then after saturday hopefully respectfully affixed to a cute girl's head lol}. now i turn my eye to making more pint/coffee cozies--a trial item that i have not offered before but heck...i use one that i made every day when i drink my morning pint of coffee. you need one too, i'm sure. they are pretty cute. so, then i feel very VERY prepared for saturday's craft show. not just a little but VERY VERY VERY prepared. all i need is some customers and great weather, and i'll be set. :)
{i am easy to please.}
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