Thursday, October 13, 2011
Today's Plan
Clean up my office. A impossible task it seems, somehow my office became the dumping ground for things that need to be out of site. I have a huge desk with papers on it and my kids laundry in a basket on the floor. I am trying desperately to find some time to exercise. That is the hardest thing to fit into my day. Unless I get up at 6, which I just can't seem to do. Oh well, we'll try again tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
On Life & Being Busy
To say I'm busy is a understatement. Part of this is my fault, I understand. I have a lot I want to accomplish. I have a restaurant with my husband, I also have a part time jewelry business and I am attempting to maintain some kind of order in the household (often, a losing battle).
The kids are quite involved in extra curricular activities. I struggle with this. I don't want them to be too scheduled. However, if they're interested in something I want them to have the tools to be the best they can be, so they will have confidence about these activities. I was never really good at sports or dance or any of those things. I was also shy, as is my daughter. So I'd like her to have more confidence than I did. So Samantha is currently doing soccer, music, voice and dance. It sounds worse than it is. Soccer is almost over and the other things just started. Music and voice are each every other week. And dance is weekly. She asked to do all of these things. She loves them, I ask her often, did you have fun? Do you want to keep doing this? It's a fine line between wanting her to stick with something and not being a "quitter" but also not wanting her to be too scheduled. Then we add into it the fact that I am running around like a crazy person to all these things.
Ella is only doing dance and soccer, soon she will just have dance. It's fun for her and she likes watching her sister doing the other things and can't wait until she can do it too.
I also have other things I want to do besides driving my kids to activities. I want to grow my businesses, work on the catering company and eventually have a more casual restaurant as well. I also want time to exercise, read and have time to myself.
How in the world do I have time for all this? Well, I haven't quite figured it out yet. I think being organized it one way, which I'm working on. And maybe have a very strict schedule that I stick to with when I do what. And I should probably get up earlier. My goal is to be up at 6 and run from 6 to 6:30. Then start my day. We'll see. It hasn't happened yet.
So, basically what I'm saying is I don't have time for this blog. But I'm going to do it anyway. Because I like it. : )
The kids are quite involved in extra curricular activities. I struggle with this. I don't want them to be too scheduled. However, if they're interested in something I want them to have the tools to be the best they can be, so they will have confidence about these activities. I was never really good at sports or dance or any of those things. I was also shy, as is my daughter. So I'd like her to have more confidence than I did. So Samantha is currently doing soccer, music, voice and dance. It sounds worse than it is. Soccer is almost over and the other things just started. Music and voice are each every other week. And dance is weekly. She asked to do all of these things. She loves them, I ask her often, did you have fun? Do you want to keep doing this? It's a fine line between wanting her to stick with something and not being a "quitter" but also not wanting her to be too scheduled. Then we add into it the fact that I am running around like a crazy person to all these things.
Ella is only doing dance and soccer, soon she will just have dance. It's fun for her and she likes watching her sister doing the other things and can't wait until she can do it too.
I also have other things I want to do besides driving my kids to activities. I want to grow my businesses, work on the catering company and eventually have a more casual restaurant as well. I also want time to exercise, read and have time to myself.
How in the world do I have time for all this? Well, I haven't quite figured it out yet. I think being organized it one way, which I'm working on. And maybe have a very strict schedule that I stick to with when I do what. And I should probably get up earlier. My goal is to be up at 6 and run from 6 to 6:30. Then start my day. We'll see. It hasn't happened yet.
So, basically what I'm saying is I don't have time for this blog. But I'm going to do it anyway. Because I like it. : )
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Things have been busy to say the least. We've been planning a lot for the restaurant, wine dinners, Harvest parties, food day festival, staff meetings. We are coming up on 2 years and my husband and I are really trying to amp up our business. We're trying to get tighter with paperwork stuff and trying to really make sure our staff is top notch.
Someone who came to the restaurant told us he is a business life coach and would be willing to coach us, her assured us if would help us to make more money. I admit, I didn't take it very seriously. We don't need a life coach. And, really, what is a life coach anyway? Then he mentioned that he would be willing to do it for barter. Okay, I guess we would give this a try then. So we went. He asked us to take off our shoes (this is a personal pet peeve of mine). I have lots of great shoes and I want to wear them. Sure, the people who ask others to take their shoes off must have cleaner houses, but nobody really wears great socks. Why can't we keep our shoes on? Anyway, I digress...
So, we went and it was actually helpful. We started out by talking about personal happiness and then we talked about the staff. Tim and I separately discussed what we thought of each staff member (but in front of eachother). It was actually really helpful. So, we got our "homework" and decided to go back next week and see what we can improve on our business.
On a personal note, between, dance classes and soccer practices and games to say things are hectic is a understatement. But it's fun. I couldn't imagine my kids not having hobbies and doing these extra things. And I definitely couldn't imagine someone else bringing them.
Life is good (except when it's not.) But I'm working on realizing how good life is. I tend to live in the moment, when things are good, I'm happy and things are great, but when the restaurant is slow I tend to think that it will never get busier. But it always does.
Someone who came to the restaurant told us he is a business life coach and would be willing to coach us, her assured us if would help us to make more money. I admit, I didn't take it very seriously. We don't need a life coach. And, really, what is a life coach anyway? Then he mentioned that he would be willing to do it for barter. Okay, I guess we would give this a try then. So we went. He asked us to take off our shoes (this is a personal pet peeve of mine). I have lots of great shoes and I want to wear them. Sure, the people who ask others to take their shoes off must have cleaner houses, but nobody really wears great socks. Why can't we keep our shoes on? Anyway, I digress...
So, we went and it was actually helpful. We started out by talking about personal happiness and then we talked about the staff. Tim and I separately discussed what we thought of each staff member (but in front of eachother). It was actually really helpful. So, we got our "homework" and decided to go back next week and see what we can improve on our business.
On a personal note, between, dance classes and soccer practices and games to say things are hectic is a understatement. But it's fun. I couldn't imagine my kids not having hobbies and doing these extra things. And I definitely couldn't imagine someone else bringing them.
Life is good (except when it's not.) But I'm working on realizing how good life is. I tend to live in the moment, when things are good, I'm happy and things are great, but when the restaurant is slow I tend to think that it will never get busier. But it always does.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
the Chef's Wife
After reading a book about a Chef, I was inspired to keep a record of our story. My husband and I own a restaurant in upstate NY. He is the chef and I help run the restaurant. We have 2 small children and things can get crazy at times. But it's fun and I wouldn't change it for the world.
We are just ending our second year of having the restaurant. We are also just ending the busy season. The winters in upstate ny can be tough and when you have your own business supporting a family it can be even tougher. But we got through it last year and we think this year we have some more of an idea how to do it. We're also working harder on our catering business.
We recently got a very good Zagat review and hopefully people see that and will come and visit us for dinner! Having a restaurant with 2 kids can be crazy, we are often at the restaurant with the kids, and I'm often trying to get work done with the kids around. Telling them to stop touching the salt shakers and stop making their own "concoctions" with things they find.
It's a fun time.
I have a lot going on besides the restaurant, I work for a jewelry line part time, I'm on the board of the local community center, we also get very involved in local food events, and I'm involved in the kids school and daycare. On any given day I have lots to do and because of that I've gotten forgetful. So I'm working on being more organized.
Today is my work day, I work half a day from home, then go pick up my daughter at 12:30 and attempt to do some work with her around at the restaurant. We're catering a large party this weekend and I have to make sure everything is good to go for that. Then it's to the bus stop at 3:15 to wait for my daughter, do some errands and then a school event tonight. Busy, busy as always...
We are just ending our second year of having the restaurant. We are also just ending the busy season. The winters in upstate ny can be tough and when you have your own business supporting a family it can be even tougher. But we got through it last year and we think this year we have some more of an idea how to do it. We're also working harder on our catering business.
We recently got a very good Zagat review and hopefully people see that and will come and visit us for dinner! Having a restaurant with 2 kids can be crazy, we are often at the restaurant with the kids, and I'm often trying to get work done with the kids around. Telling them to stop touching the salt shakers and stop making their own "concoctions" with things they find.
It's a fun time.
I have a lot going on besides the restaurant, I work for a jewelry line part time, I'm on the board of the local community center, we also get very involved in local food events, and I'm involved in the kids school and daycare. On any given day I have lots to do and because of that I've gotten forgetful. So I'm working on being more organized.
Today is my work day, I work half a day from home, then go pick up my daughter at 12:30 and attempt to do some work with her around at the restaurant. We're catering a large party this weekend and I have to make sure everything is good to go for that. Then it's to the bus stop at 3:15 to wait for my daughter, do some errands and then a school event tonight. Busy, busy as always...
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