THE HAPPY POST

I think my very heart filled, sad blogging days are passing by. I'm starting to look forward to our trip down south now, in anticipation of our business opening.

We scored some amazing marketing deals this year, which was all thanks to yours truly. I love when I can come up with a idea that nobody thinks we can get to happen, and then you know what? I talk, and talk and talk and make it happen. Once we get opened I can share what those deals are, but for now, I have to stay mum about it, because we do have competition, and they could possibly see my FB page, which has a link to this blog. And I'm smart like that to watch my back :)

In addition to making deals, we've also secured all of our hired help. That was a big stress weighing in on me, since I don't have a lot of time to interview. There is still one variable, with someones schedule, but I think we'll get it worked out.


We finally got the phone call yesterday about our apartment of choice. It's in a really good area, and close to our location, plus they take dogs up to 100 lbs which was a huge deal for us!

They dont have a lot of availability, and they're a little higher on the price scale, but in our opinion it's worth it.
We got a 1 bed 1 bath which is def a change for us, since we have over 2000 sq ft in our current house, but we'll make it work.

I'm on the hunt in our house for what we can bring and what has to stay. For instance, instead of buying a bed down there, and spending money we don't have right now, we're taking our guest bedroom bed. We're also taking a few pieces o furniture I've redone, like a TV stand, night stand and a coffee table. 

We still need to find a couch, because there is no way in hell I'm moving our beast down 1 flight of very narrow stairs and up another flight of stairs into our apartment. It sort of grosses me out that I'm going to buy a used couch, but I have a carpet and upholstery shampoo machine, so I'll be able to get it clean, and then just buy a washable couch cover.

We bought plastic dishes at Target, so that's one less thing I need to take out of my kitchen. However, I love to bake in the fall, and I especially love having 150 cast members to bake for, so I'll be taking all of my baking utensils. Plus whatever every day stuff we'll need.


Everything is going smooth, C and I are both on board, both helping each other out, both accomplishing our to do list, and we're doing it together. That's a big step from last year, a HUGE one.


All is right in our world right now, and I can't ask for more then that.

2 WEEKS...

In 2 weeks we'll begin our journey back down to California for another Halloween season. I will be packing up all of the bare essentials and leaving the rest behind. My bed will not have anyone to lay on it for 3 whole months. The TV we had to save for 6 months, will not have any use. The fridge and freezer will be emptied, the cable turned off. The potted herbs that are growing so well will be carted down to a new state, where the heat will more then likely kill them.

The windows will be shut and locked, and when we return, they will not be opened since it will be nearly winter time. The water will come out slightly brown because it hasn't been ran for some time. The house will lack any warmth, any love, and any of us.

Spencer wont get to run with his best friend Oscar ( the neighbor dog) My favorite little girl will be bigger, and taller and have to get used to me again . There will be houses actually built in the field Spencer used to run so freely in.

I will miss our gym, that we frequent 3 days a week plus a boot camp. I wont have boot camp.

I will be spending more money on groceries, house payments, and sales tax. Gas will be more expensive. Our AC bill will be through the roof because Sacramento summers last until October and usually hover around 98 degrees on a cool day.

I wont have my own computer, just C's work computer. I wont have my own office, bathroom or 3 stories. I wont be able to watch all my favorite shows since we wont have cable, and chances are I wont have time for hulu.com. Cooking and baking will slowly die down, since my kitchen will be small and I wont have the energy after a 14 hour work day and lots of heavy lifting.

Having a business posts challenges and lots of changes. Carlos is reading a book; Rich Dad, Poor Dad. And in that book he says " you can't be afraid of change or you will fail. Failure is essential in business, everyone must fail in order to succeed"

So to me he says, be afraid of change, let yourself fail. It's okay. It will only help you in the long run, it will only help you grow and become more successful.

But what he doesn't know is; I'm not afraid of my business, I'm afraid of my life. I'm afraid of what was suppose to be. I'm afraid of our old cast asking too many questions that will inevitability break me down. I'm afraid people will think differently of me, and not see me as the person in charge. They will see my weakness, and take advantage of me. Or worse yet, they will feel sorry for me.

So please, during my journey down to another year of Halloween madness, say a prayer for me. Send me your kind words, encouragement, and support. I will need every last ounce of it.

 There are positives to every situation, and I'm trying so hard to see them all.


I am grateful, I am loved, I have support and that's all that matter in the end.

A TRIP IN REVIEW.. Day 1-3

Unfortunately there isn't much to "review" this was a business only trip and I knew that going into it. So let's start there....


We left Oregon on June 24th a Thursday, which generally is a bit early for us on the normal scheme of things. We decided a few months prior to have a garage sale, to get rid of stuff we've accumulated in the last 4 years. I didn't get any pictures because, well it's a garage sale. LOL ..nothing too exciting! We pretty much sold out and made over $600 which was a huge bonus! I highly recommend doing one..not only does it empty your garage but to add that chunk of change to your savings account? Heck yes.

I have a few tips:

1) LOTS of signs. it took us over 2 hours to post them, but we used about 40 signs total. We made our signs years ago using paint, and have kept them nice and neat in a box..people always complement us on signage.

2) Start planning early. Carlos and I are both a bit OCD about keeping things neat and organized, and that was the basis of how we ran our sale. We had "sections"..electronics, house hold, office, etc. People loved that they didn't have to look through everything. They could go to the section they were interested in and find what they were looking for.

3) Hang your clothes. I hate going to a garage sale where they have all their clothes thrown in a box or on a lawn. We hang all of them on a clothes rack so they look nice and neat.

4) Price everything before. This is HUGE. You already have your hands full, the last thing you want to do is track down your husband, mother in law or father in law to find a price on something. So have everybody pre price there stuff before hand.

5) Last but not least; Make deals! if someone is buying one thing, I generally would leave the price as is. But if someone had their hands full of stuff? I always made them deals so they wouldn't put anything back!


We only had our sale on Saturday because everything sold so quickly. on Sunday we spent our one and only day off at the local pool, and then we had dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant. I was so stoked to be in the SUN and lounging as much as possible. Good thing I did, because the week to follow wasn't so kick back and relax.

HOME ALONE!... AHHHHH!

Remember in my last post I said we had a little business trip and you probably wouldn't hear from me until Monday? Yeah. Turns out my business trip was to stay home and C's business trip was to head to California to close a few deals and attend jury duty.

Unfortunately it was very last minute, and we have packages coming in the mail, we were right in the middle of spring cleaning, and a million other projects going on at home. So I decided to stay home. Which really is for the best. But I miss him. A LOT. We're very close, and in the last 6 years of living with one another we've spent very little time apart.

So I'm finding things to distract myself, and to distract the dog who has been moping around here for the last 3 days. We're pathetic!

I did venture out to ikea today to pick up a new duvet. Since the dog has taken Cs place on the bed, it also means he's left all his fur all over my blue down comforter. I hate to keep washing that thin since I know it ruins it, so I caved and bought one! It's in the wash right now, but once I get it all set up I'll take pictures.

Another perk to C being gone? ( although I would rather have him here!) I lost 4 lbs. Seriously. I've had zero appetite, and cooking dinner for 1 just isn't appealing, so dinners have been pretty darn simple.


I'm hoping to book C and I a weekend getaway for when he returns, because lord knows I need it. But hmmm...where to go...