Progress Report 42

What a whirlwind of a week! I started the week off with a bang by becoming part of the Northern Maine Bridal EXPO committee. I believe it will be good exposure and good networking. I have created their logotype, which will used on everything from TV to swag bags. I have received good reviews from the rest of the committee as well. Tuesday, I completed the fourth proof, and received the go ahead immediately, with minimal additions, but no design changes. The rest of the week flew by. With Mandy's help, I ended up wrapping up the Vendor Blender stuff late Friday night. I think it was all worth it. Mandy and I spent the day networking and talking with people who were in need of my services. I actually seemed to be the busiest table there. I had visitors stopping at my table as well as most of the other vendors. It was a fantastic first experience at being part of a trade show. I was very glad that Mandy was with me. She was my moral support and subtle "hinter." It was also awesome to have been able to spend some time with the kiddos too.

Sunday was a difficult day. It was a dramatic turn from the positive energy of Saturday. First thing Sunday we lost one of the puppies. It was bound to happen. I was actually surprised that it hadn't happened sooner. It was the littlest of the batch. He just failed. J and I have been struggling with what to do with Sally over the last couple of months. Yesterday the decision was made and Sally-O is no longer in pain. It broke my heart, but J had the difficult job. He placed her with Grampy, Gram and JoJo. I am sad, but as a pet owner, these are the decisions we have to make sometimes. We will not be replacing her.

This week needs to be client focused. I have to follow all of the leads that I made on Saturday, including quotes. I am excited and anxious at the same time. Consistency will be the name of the game.

1. Complete requested quotes and rates
2. Contact non-winners with special offer
3. Rework NMMS logo
4. Meetings with clients Tues & Wed
5. Business photo session & client meeting on Saturday
6. Contact potential vendors for Bridal EXPO
7. Try to make planned meals each evening

Progress Report 42

Last week was busy and filled with hard work and fun. The highlight definitely being going to PI and helping Row with her Vendor show. I was very glad that I had the opportunity to go and help her with the preparation, set up, and working the table. I feel it was productive for her business and a great learning experience. Not only did Row get the chance to show off her design work, but she also had several opportunities to network and market face-to-face. I know she'll be busy this week preparing quotes and gaining new clients.

This week I have several things going on as well as several things that need to be done. Today will be focused on cleaning my house and catching up on laundry. Aunt Andrea and John will be stopping by sometime this afternoon. And this evening is the SCA craft night. Tomorrow is 4-H and an Advisor dinner and meeting at UTC. I'll have to pick up the babysitter in the afternoon. Wednesday I need to drop the babysitter back off at school. Mom and Dad will be coming in for coffee in the afternoon and then church that night. Thursday I will probably clean for a client and I also have to get my dog into the vet to see if we can remedy his itching. Friday is wood day at the church and sometime this week I need to sew a skirt for a student at ACA.

So to sum it all up... this week I will:

1. Clean my house
2. Go to craft night
3. Visit with family
4. Go to 4-H
5. Go to meeting at UTC
6. Pick up, drop off babysitter
7. Work
8. Take dog to vet
9. Sew skirt

Progress Report 41

Feast or famine. Two weeks ago projects for DbR were almost at a stand still. Last week four new jobs jumped in my lap all at once, plus prepping for a small trade show this coming weekend. I don't know if I am ready for it, but I have to get some visibility. Right now I am hidden in the woods and it's time to put my fears aside and put myself out there. I still have a lot of work to do, but I did get all of my bags labeled and tagged, discount postcards to the printer, give-away cards completed and discussed decorations with Mandy. She is going to be here, so I know everything will go smoothly. And, if it doesn't, she will be here and that makes life better anyway. I could really use her company right now, for sure.

As for client jobs, I got proofs for three of the four jobs done and out, with approval for one complete and to the printers. The fourth was awaiting information, which was received this morning, so proof should be done by Wednesday.

This past weekend proved to be eventful. Daisy had her litter of pups Saturday night. I'm still exhausted and reeling from the all-nighter. The pups seem healthy and Daisy is taking to motherhood a lot easier. I am making an appointment for Jiminy to get fixed ASAP! No more! And we are not keeping one of these pups. I have made my opinion known. Of course they are adorable, fuzzy little things and it will be fun to watch them grow, but I will be glad when the craziness is over.

This week, in addition to spending time with J and Arianna, cleaning my house, cleaning the whelping box 100,000 times and doing 100,000 loads of laundry, and making supper I will...

1. Monday - evening meeting for Feb. Wedding Expo
2. Tuesday - finish fourth proof.
3. Wednesday - sample wedding invitations
4. Thursday - sample greeting cards?
5. Friday - last minute DbR things for trade show & print customer flyers/posters
6. Saturday - setup and trade show all day

i.e. become Super Woman

Progress Report 41

I was sick last week. Not much happened. I ran a fever, I coughed, I blew my nose. I still have the lingering symptoms, but hopefully can function better this week. Especially since it will be busy.

This week I will:

1. Can chicken soup
2. Get car worked on
3. Bathe my itchy dog
4. Go to SCA craft night
5. Work
6. Sew skirt
7. Go to PI to see Row and family
8. Post to Broody Bunch

Progress Report 39

Hey, Mandy! It's Monday and I'm doing a Progress Report. Unbelievable. I am feeling a little discouraged right now. I'm not sure if it is the time of year, shorter days, colder weather, impending winter, my crappy day job or that I was geared up to do the trade show and then it fell through. I need a clear plan of action. I have been invited to be part of a Bridal Expo in February. I am definitely going to do that. It is far enough in advance that I can be really ready for it.

Positive stuff. I have really started drawing again. I've kind of made it my own personal schooling to draw better with pencil and paper. I started with eyes, then hands, then lips and am finally getting the hang of drawing noses. That was frustrating. I will soon attempt a whole face. It has been good therapy.

I've continued to read A Tale of Two Cities. I'm half way through now. When I'm done I would like to talk to somebody about it. Perhaps I will resurrect the Moody Readers.

I have been asked to be part of a grant committee again. I have an MCWWC ambassador's meeting next week and state wide convention in November coming up. I'm hoping that these connections will begin to show real results soon.

1. Wednesday Grant Committee meeting for MCWWC
2. Complete b.cards for NEP, decal mock-up for EW, cut decals for BM
3. Send out Ella's gift. (I'm such a crappy Auntie.) :-P
4. PAY BILLS
5. Clean my house

Progress Report 39

Though I hadn't planned to do much last week, it was very productive. I cleaned, I rested, I canned apple pie filling, and I did some yard work.

I also set up my first meeting with a prospective client for The Occasional Housewife which takes place today at 4:00pm. With the help of Katie, I found a home for the stray kitten who's been hanging out on our front porch, and I located a building for my chicken coop. Not only did I locate it, but I purchased it, had it delivered and set up. So now I have a home for my chickens! I also have a good lead on some chain link fence that will hopefully be purchased and picked up this evening. And on top of all of that, we picked up the hardware and tools needed to fix up the swing set for the kids. Half of it is up and functioning already.

We also went to the ReStore this week to check things out. What a fabulous store! It's a store for Habitat for Humanity. They take donated used or slightly damaged building materials, furniture, hardware and such from the local population as well as from stores like Home Depot and Lowes. They resell the goods for 50% or more off retail price and all the proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity. Doors for $3-$10. Shutters for $3.99 a pair. Ceramic tile for .75 /sq.ft. Furniture and appliances for $10 -$25. We will definitely be visiting again.

This week will be productive as well, I hope. I plan to paint the chicken coop. I found Oops paint at Walmart for 50% off and it's the color that I wanted. I have at least one skirt to make this week, and a couple more soon. I will be meeting a potential client and hopefully scheduling her in. I need to make a trip to the bank, hopefully open an account at the credit union, and get the car into the mechanic. Busy. But I really hope I can get it all done.

This week I will:

1. Sew skirt
2. Paint chicken coop
3. Meet client
4. Take car to mechanic
5. Open bank account
6. Find fencing, windows, flooring for chicken coop