Starting a Business...

I finally officially started my business today.  One may think that it would take quite a bit of money and hassle to start a business.. but today I found out it is way easier than one may think.. but more complicated in ways you wouldn't expect.. Let me explain.

Step 1) Register your business name.  Easy enough. Drive down to the register of deeds (I'm starting to feel like I see those people quite a lot) fill out the form, have it notarized, pay $14 and done.  You can now operate your business under a "fake" name.  

Step 2) Apply for the business permit.  Now this is not required in all cites and  counties but of course in Wilmington it is.  So you drive around the block to the city office.  Go to the business-permit room fill out the application..Then (here's the funny part) you go to zoning for approval.  Now zoning makes a lot of sense for brand new building operating businesses but I'm operating from my home so to me it seemed a little silly. So I go up there and talk to the zoning office.. and they ask "how much space is your business taking up in your apartment?" Well frankly it takes up no more than my normal crafting stuff but I try and explain the space of my craft area.. and he says You may need a  some kinda permit to allowing up to 5 customers a day and 1 employee and no large freight trucks to come to your home.. I'm like woah! this is a small online business, no customers to my home and no employees i don't think i need that! Besides the thing cost $250! So after we worked through that he still said I need a letter from the apartment complex to give me approval for operating a business from my home.  I reply. I work there I"m sure its fine.. But I still need the letter. 

Step 3) go to the apartment office and ask for a letter.. 

Step 4) back to the zoning office they see the letter and give me zoning permission.  

Step 5) Down to the first floor back to the business permit office where I fill in some more information, Pay them $30 and walk out with Chi Fashionista's Business permit! 

WoooHooo! It took about 3 hours total time to legally start my business.. It feels so exciting to know that i am now operating a legit business!  

Now granted the time it took me to create the web page, begin the accounting software and sew the clothing are not included  its still pretty awesome how quickly you can begin a business.. 

Now where's the customers?!?!

Crafters Nightmare

So Over the years I'll gathered quite the collection of crafting supplies.  When I first moved to wilmington I brought a sketch book, one paint set, and some makers.  After being in college and the endless supplies needed for art classes gathered and I collected different items for personal use.. Well My collection would be too long to list but lets just say.. when Zach and I moved to our apartment I said we can't have a dining room I need somewhere for my craft stuff!  Well now.. my craft stuff has FILLED our "dining room"As you can see it's a disaster and there is no where to put my craft stuff more less work!  I am tring to start my own doggie clothing line and with no work space I was becoming more and more frustrated.  With Fabric in piles...  My work table covered.. on top and underneath  So I decided Enough Is ENOUGH I had to do something to get more space.. More organized and get more "work" done.  

Well.. as most houses Zach and I had the what i like to call the Avalanche closet.. Where it's so full of stuff when you open it everything just falls out.. Well since most of what is in this closet we don't use because we can't get to it there was no reason it need to be in the house.. So why not move it to the garage.  I cleaned out this closet moved all the stuff to the garage and designed it to be my craft storage.. I went out and brought some storage shelves and organization containters... And now I have the crafters dream! A whole organized closet designated for my craft stuff!! And look how pretty... 

And I didn't even want to show you the before of this closet.. but you couldn't see those pink and orange baskets...and don't even think about the floor..  But now.. You can even walk in the closet.. I ca easily access all my craft supplies.. And its no longer and avalanche closet! Look at my workspace 

Its a work space!!! Not a disaster! 

And the best part.. The whole project was done all while Zach was at work and costed under $50! Super exciting to have an awesome work space and storage! 

Thank you!

Sometimes in todays society I believe the words "Thank you" are under used although some may say over used.  We always here the words when you are out in public and a nice stranger opens a door or picks something up for you.. Most people would reply "thank you" and go about their way.. but what about the people you see everyday: co workers, friends and spouses, how often do you say thank you to them?  i know I don't hear it very often especially not as often as I would like to and although I don't hear it and i make an effort to show my appreciate but i know that I'm gilty of the same non appreciate no thank you sometimes too.  

During the gift givings of my wedding I tried to make an immediate effort to send out thank you notes to all of those individuals that gave us a  gift.  Each person received a hand written personalized thank you.  Even though after doing 50+ thanks yous it didn't feel as personalized.. And while writing my thank you cards  I realized that thank yous should really be used more often.  Especially after I donated my goods to the domestic violence shelter and only days later I received a hand written thank you for my donation~! I literally just packed up my old stuff and drove in 50 yards up the street and I was appreciated . 

So today and all other days when you see someone (Not just a stranger) do something special, somethings that showed extra effort Don't forget to thank them.. A little kindness can go along way! 

Surfing!

So.. You think this post is about zach... WRONG :)

I rode my first wave in over 3 years yesterday! Zach finally got smart about surfing and decided to ask me to go with him. Of course the waves have to be just perfect for me to go.. Perfectly small! And they were and I was able to spend 2 hours in the waves yesterday. Sadly, I do live within minutes of the beach and this was the first time my body has touched the ocean in probally 2 years! So it took me a few minutes to readapt to waves, current, and generally being in the water. But I find it funny how all your training comes back to you. I was taught the mechanics of surfing my freshman year of college when i joined surf club and once a week they would take you to the ocean and teach you how to surf. Zach I think was a little impressed with my "turtle rolls" and ability to not let the waves bully me around. Although I didn't fully stand up on any of the waves I rode I had a blast! I still don't know how Zach does it everyday my body was so sore when we got home. I look forward to other small surf days when I can go out and attempt to surf some more!

Out with the Old....

Funny thing about getting married is.. you get a lot of gifts.. Don't get me wrong Zach and I LOVE gifts but there problem with a lot of gifts and an apartment is NOT a lot of space!! After returning home from the honeymoon our apartment floor was covered.. with STUFF! Literally there was a walking path from the door to our bedroom/bath and that was it! I didn't think I would ever find a place for everything..we were already a little cluttered... I finally had cleared out the living room dining room area  and put most of that stuff away sorta but really just piled most of it in the kitchen.  When I went to put away the kitchen I decided there is absolutely no way everything is going to fit in here so I said Out with the old... And Zach and I decided to get rid of our old "college kid" stuff and use our new "grow-up" stuff.  Although it was a bit hard to get rid of the plastic plates and cups I'd had since I was a freshman in college it was just time. Well by the time we had cleared out everything we no longer wanted we had a huge pile of stuff to get rid of.. I saw no reason to throw these items away.. they still have a lot of life left.. and thus decided we were going to donate the items.  Usually i just load the stuff up and drop it off to good will but this time I really wanted to help someone in need.. So I contacted a friend who volunteers with Open Gate a domestic violence shelter in Wilmington to find out if they needed any donations. And of course they did.  And so today I am taking by our kitchen stuff to the domestic violence shelter.  When someone leaves a domestic violence situation they go to open gate where they help them get back on their feet which includes finding them a new home and assisting them to purchase they need to live in their new home.  So I know our kitchen stuff will help someone in need very soon and I feel much better about giving it away. 

Back to Life...

Zach and I have arrived back to our apartment in Wilmington despite my resentment to returning back to our day to day life.  After experiencing nothing but wedding bliss for the last two weeks coming back to the chores and work of everyday life is not something I was looking forward too... Especially after our 7 days in Harrisonburg.. Zach and I were able to spend all seven days together without interruptions.. We were able to savor each others company fully and do only things we wanted to do without a worry of schedule, work, taking care of our "children", or any of the boring day to day things that life consists of.. I knew that we are not going to experience that same bliss again so I was not looking forward to coming home.  But after really thinking it through Knowing my four children were patiently waiting for our arrive I knew we had to come back to reality.. back to life.. And despite the fact that we were away for a whole week.. its funny how fast things can just go right back to normal

Look.. Zach's already sleeping on the coach.. and you won't guess what I was doing.. Cleaning :)

Funny how things just fall right back to normal... 

Happy Fathers Day Mike! I'm glad I finally have a father to wish a Happy Fathers day!  

Just Married!

Wow Has it been a long time since I posted...I Wanted to update and say Zach and I are offically husband and wife.. I am posting from Harrisonburg, VA where we are spending the week for our honeymoon! 

We had an absolutely perfect ceremony and a wonderful reception.  

I will direct you to my sister-in-law's blog for an awesome post of the day http://www.michaelandlindseykaufman.blogspot.com/

 Hopefully upon returning to Wilmington I will be updating more frequently as Zach and I begin our married life!