practical and meaningful

hard work is heart work

When you are doing something you love, the effort feels effortless.

                                                                                                          hard work can be heart work

the holidays knock the wind out of me

From Halloween to New Years, I fumble around in a state of hecticness that literally knocks the wind out of me. This year is especially challenging and I cannot quite get my bearings to enjoy any of it.

The end of the year means more to do and less time to do it  I am buried with tax responsibilties, three businesses to run, holidays to celebrate, a family to make memories with, paperwork, employees to thank, clutter to clear, and life to live.

I hope to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate all the forward movement in my life, be grateful I do have so much going on, appreciate my amazing family and friends, and achieve a little rest and relaxation this holiday season. Wishing the same for you and yours! xo

 

 

identify your bliss and make that your life's work

Ask yourself these questions. What motivates me? What am I good at? What is important. What gives my life meaning?

My list is varied but you can see parts of it shining through every thing I do.

Building things. Shaping people's experiences. Providing jobs. Feeding people. Knowing. Working hard. Loving hard. Organization. Seeking. Documenting. Sampling. Doing good. Creating spaces. Encouraging others. Standing back. Family. Details.  Friends. Meeting people. Making a difference. Believing. Soul work. No regrets. For the long haul.

Identify your bliss and make that your life's work.

my secret sauce

There is  a lot of talk when you are an entrepreneur about what "you" specifically bring to the table in terms of your work and your business. My friend Jan calls it your secret sauce.

This past week was busier than usual with  big events, parties, and catering  ON TOP of the usual cafe, art studios, and crafty work.  I thought about farming out the baking of the rainbow cakes since I had so much going on - but ended up doing them myself. As I was assembling them, I was inspired to switch up the order of the layers, so that each girl would have their own different cake. Had someone else made the cakes, I would not have had the insight to ask them to switch up the layers ahead of time. It was in the moment, and I concede, part of my secret sauce.  What did you do today that was done specifically a certain way, because you did it. Do you know what your secret sauce is?

lean towards happiness

 

When in doubt....

                                                                                lean towards happiness.

live from true choice, not habit

My new favorite band is the Civil Wars...my husband and daughter played me one song and I immediately fell in love.  Have not stopped listening to them. In my car, while i work, while i work out, on my computer....cannot get enough.  There is one line that says " I don't have a choice, but I still choose you" and everytime I hear it, my heart swells. It is profound and it is dear.  We get used to the things we do, the people we love, and the life we live.  Habit can kill the romance. Choose who you are, who you love, what you do, and why you exist. Live from true choice.

a tired so deep, after a high so high

The cafe is open.  After nine months of planning and construction and menu workshopping - we opened our doors on Monday.  In 4 days, we have had over 500 customers. We have gotten some really great press and unbelievable support from the neighborhood and friends.

Starting a new business is exhilarating.  We have been training and creating systems and making things happen. So much to do, so many people to greet. So much energy exerted.

The other day, as the adreneline started to fade, I got tired.  A deep, in your bones tired that not even the stellar coffee we serve, could revive.  I knew that attacking my pile of work was futile - so I took a hot bath and went to sleep.  It was deep and dark sleep, not my usual nodding slumber and when I woke up, I felt clearer and stronger than I have in years. 

I have always regarded sleep as a waste of time, but this week, it was the most practical and meaningful thing I could do. 

knowing when to get out of your own way

We are days away from opening the cafe and we are working hard finalizing the menu, tweaking recipes, and creating systems.  Yesterday I had a team of experts to help with the task and in a moment of clarity I realized that I needed to get out of the way and let them do their job.  It felt good to know it, and to admit it, and to walk away.  I was able to focus on the bigger picture, delegate more errands, and get a lot more done .

Knowing when to get out of your own way is both practical and meaningful.

coffee+food....practical & meaningful

The Pavoni is a longtime treasure of mine that I have carted around and used worldwide and the mixmaster was my grandmothers (she was one of the best cooks I knew). I have held tight to both of these for years, and now I am happy to share them with patrons of the cafe as our mascots!  I just need a + sign to put between them!  love and love. coffee+food=love

practice

When you practice anything, you get better at it.

Put in the time to be a better cook, a better friend, a better lover, a better person, a better writer, a better parent, a better boss, a better communicator, a better example. Practice, it is personal.