Well it's my last week as a FULL TIME SAHM and already I'm sad! There are so many classes and activities that I want to do with the Little Miss and yet most of these take place in the mornings and that is when I will be teaching classes :( Oh well, the sacrifices we make I guess. I've loved saying that I'm a SAHM for the last 17 months and will really miss calling myself that. I really prided myself on that role. But the economy is what it is and it's time for me to make a few bucks out there...I guess I can't really complain. I mean my work involves me pushing the Little Miss around in a stroller and hanging out with other Mums and Dads and their Little Ones...but still, I'm no longer a SAHM and that makes me sad :(
I'm very excited and anxious for my launch next week. I seem to have received a good number of RSVPs to my Grand Opening event...a little lower than I had hoped, but there's still another week and actually the RSVPs aren't my friends, they are actually potential members which is great!! Quality over quantity right??
I'm not sure how long it's going to take me to start making money with the biz...I hope not too long, but I must say the registrations for my classes is very slow...but I'm a Mum and realistic and know that many new Mums can't commit to something that starts in a few days (I have classes starting in one city next week, and another at the end of March) let alone a few weeks!!! Our schedules are so unpredictable and the Little Ones dictate them pretty much 100%. Having said that, it would really increase my confidence if I had a bazillion registrations...okay or 20! heh heh
Anyhow, as I mentioned I'm excited and anxious and am putting all my eggs in my basket that this is going to go well and that I will be a successful Mum-preneur! If not, I know I'm a very successful SAHM - so there's a career always waiting for me on the side!
CaliAlly
xo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Spending Freeze!
18 days and no blogging from me - bad bad bad! I kind of just got caught up with life, this cold and work! It's definitely been a busy few weeks!
Anyhow, inspired by YM (I don't know how to link to your post) and tired of listening to hubby moan and lecture, Ally is on a Spending Freeze. Now I am terrible with spending - I can admit that! Since moving to USA I've cut out all the major spending - clothes, shoes, bags, expensive hair/spa stuff...because I totally recognized that it wasn't fair with me not working and really not needing this stuff! However, since the birth of our daughter, I'm still spending tons - but it's at Target, Babies R Us (now Toys R Us), Costco, places like this...buying silly stuff. Stuff that we mostly "need" but that we could really do without! Groceries after groceries when there is food in the pantry and freezer. So that's it! I'm on a self-imposed Spending Freeze...until March 4 - when my business launches - at which time, I hope to sign many people up the day of my opening and as a result, a little spending reward!!! However I have a few caveats (here we go!!!):
- will need to have my hair done before my biz launches and am going back to Aveda as I cannot handle the half-a$$ job you get at cheaper stylists!
-will need to purchase a few things for my Grand Opening - but I have a budget and it's coming out of my biz account, not our personal acct
-I am allowed Starbucks if and only if, I'm accompanied by someone...if I'm flying solo with the Little Miss, I can easily brew a cup of coffee here
Ugh, now that I've put it in writing I must stick to it...a little scary - I love spending, I think it makes up a part of me...but I also recognize in a time like this (with our economy and no end in sight to the madness) I need to do my part...
Ps I know March 4, is just around the corner - I'm starting small :) My hope is that I can just do one day a month of "need" spending. I think also working every morning will keep me out of the shops...well I hope!
Okay here goes...Day 1 - will update you on my success (and stumbles)!!!
CaliAlly
xo
Anyhow, inspired by YM (I don't know how to link to your post) and tired of listening to hubby moan and lecture, Ally is on a Spending Freeze. Now I am terrible with spending - I can admit that! Since moving to USA I've cut out all the major spending - clothes, shoes, bags, expensive hair/spa stuff...because I totally recognized that it wasn't fair with me not working and really not needing this stuff! However, since the birth of our daughter, I'm still spending tons - but it's at Target, Babies R Us (now Toys R Us), Costco, places like this...buying silly stuff. Stuff that we mostly "need" but that we could really do without! Groceries after groceries when there is food in the pantry and freezer. So that's it! I'm on a self-imposed Spending Freeze...until March 4 - when my business launches - at which time, I hope to sign many people up the day of my opening and as a result, a little spending reward!!! However I have a few caveats (here we go!!!):
- will need to have my hair done before my biz launches and am going back to Aveda as I cannot handle the half-a$$ job you get at cheaper stylists!
-will need to purchase a few things for my Grand Opening - but I have a budget and it's coming out of my biz account, not our personal acct
-I am allowed Starbucks if and only if, I'm accompanied by someone...if I'm flying solo with the Little Miss, I can easily brew a cup of coffee here
Ugh, now that I've put it in writing I must stick to it...a little scary - I love spending, I think it makes up a part of me...but I also recognize in a time like this (with our economy and no end in sight to the madness) I need to do my part...
Ps I know March 4, is just around the corner - I'm starting small :) My hope is that I can just do one day a month of "need" spending. I think also working every morning will keep me out of the shops...well I hope!
Okay here goes...Day 1 - will update you on my success (and stumbles)!!!
CaliAlly
xo
Monday, February 2, 2009
Body Shop!
It had been about 3 years since I'd last been in a Body Shop to purchase something (other than browsing with friends, etc). I'm not sure why I stopped shopping there...I don't think there was any reason in particular...however I've struggled over the last few years finding that perfect Body Wash, that scrub that's not to harsh but does the trick, fabulous smelling hair products...the kind that make you want to sniff your pillow after a cat-nap, etc...
Well Body Shop, you've won me back! I went in last week early in the morning with a girlfriend (started as a playdate for the kids at the mall, ended up with kidlets in stroller and us doing some shopping! heh heh) who is obsessed with Body Shop (oh, AA...I just outted you!!) Anyhow, she wanted to pick up a few things and I just browsed around and walked out of the door with a ton of stuff, for $45 and that included purchasing a new Love Your Body card.
The gal working there was amazing...she entertained our little ones while AA and I bopped around the store smelling products and AA giving me the low down on what is the good stuff (almost everything!!) and what has changed over the last few years. Well, not only did the salesclerk entertain our girls, she gave them all kinds of cool little samples to play with...and then let them keep them for Mummy to play with! LOVE IT!
How I've missed the smell of Satsuma in the morning shower...and there really is nothing more amazing than the smell (or function) of the Brazil Nut hair mask.
Body Shop...I'm yours :)
CaliAlly
xo
Well Body Shop, you've won me back! I went in last week early in the morning with a girlfriend (started as a playdate for the kids at the mall, ended up with kidlets in stroller and us doing some shopping! heh heh) who is obsessed with Body Shop (oh, AA...I just outted you!!) Anyhow, she wanted to pick up a few things and I just browsed around and walked out of the door with a ton of stuff, for $45 and that included purchasing a new Love Your Body card.
The gal working there was amazing...she entertained our little ones while AA and I bopped around the store smelling products and AA giving me the low down on what is the good stuff (almost everything!!) and what has changed over the last few years. Well, not only did the salesclerk entertain our girls, she gave them all kinds of cool little samples to play with...and then let them keep them for Mummy to play with! LOVE IT!
How I've missed the smell of Satsuma in the morning shower...and there really is nothing more amazing than the smell (or function) of the Brazil Nut hair mask.
Body Shop...I'm yours :)
CaliAlly
xo
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I've been tagged!
Thanks for the tag BB! So the deal is, go to your folder where your photos are kept...pick the fourth folder...fourth picture...and then post it and describe...and then tag four others!
Well this photo was taken in Calgary, Alberta, Canada this Christmas at Miss Sadie's GG's (Great-Grandad) house. This is Christmas morning (probably afternoon by this point!!) and the Little Miss has mastered the unwrapping of prezzies! This is a beautiful white bear from GG. Oh how I love the little dress she's wearing - it makes me so sad to know that she won't be able to wear it much longer (and yes I still make her wear it even though it's no longer the holiday season - it's just too darn cute!)
Oh dear...I don't think I can tag anyone - everyone's done it that reads my blog I think...and if you haven't done it and read my blog - stop lurking, say Hi :) heh heh...well alliwilli, if you are updating your blog..tag your it!
CaliAlly
xo
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Kickboxing
Tonight I did my first Kickboxing class...aside from my business, this is the single most exciting workout I've done in a really long time!! Within 20minutes, I wanted to be sick...35minutes, I saw stars and 60minutes, couldn't wait until next week for our next class...I only wish it was offered twice a week!
I'm not sure I'll be able to pick up my beautiful baby in the morning...but all for a good cause - becoming a yummy mummy!
The best part is the instructor is from one of the expensive cardio-kickboxing studios down the street and instead of paying top dollars to attend one of his classes...I get it for less than $5 at our fitness center here! Sweet!
I'll be sporting chic purchases from Gilt in no time with this class!
CaliAlly
xo
I'm not sure I'll be able to pick up my beautiful baby in the morning...but all for a good cause - becoming a yummy mummy!
The best part is the instructor is from one of the expensive cardio-kickboxing studios down the street and instead of paying top dollars to attend one of his classes...I get it for less than $5 at our fitness center here! Sweet!
I'll be sporting chic purchases from Gilt in no time with this class!
CaliAlly
xo
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Work Life
So my new work life rocks!
Seriously...today my business attire (I have a meeting with the other Franchise Owner who operates the territory adjacent to me - we are aligning our strategies versus competing with each other - yey!!!) consists of my favorite Lululemon capris and tank...and my brand new wind shirt from Lucy - I love it!
Yes I'm going for a run - that's how we are conducting our meetings...sure it's a little tough to take notes, but that's okay, we will follow up with a coffee if need be!!! I'm so excited. This IS my new career...while I will miss my Advertising and fabulous Fashion days...this is so exciting! A whole new area of Fashion that I've only dabbled in up until recently...workout fashion! heh heh
Plus when I make my fancy purchases from Gilt (thanks YM), they will feel all that more special to me...as they will not become something I wear everyday - and they will not be taken for granted.
Lucy and Lulu, I'm sorry to say, you probably will be taken for granted!
Off for my run, er my meeting (ps did I mention we are pushing our kidlets in the stroller?? Yes the little ones even get to come!!!!!!!!!!!)
xoCaliAlly
Seriously...today my business attire (I have a meeting with the other Franchise Owner who operates the territory adjacent to me - we are aligning our strategies versus competing with each other - yey!!!) consists of my favorite Lululemon capris and tank...and my brand new wind shirt from Lucy - I love it!
Yes I'm going for a run - that's how we are conducting our meetings...sure it's a little tough to take notes, but that's okay, we will follow up with a coffee if need be!!! I'm so excited. This IS my new career...while I will miss my Advertising and fabulous Fashion days...this is so exciting! A whole new area of Fashion that I've only dabbled in up until recently...workout fashion! heh heh
Plus when I make my fancy purchases from Gilt (thanks YM), they will feel all that more special to me...as they will not become something I wear everyday - and they will not be taken for granted.
Lucy and Lulu, I'm sorry to say, you probably will be taken for granted!
Off for my run, er my meeting (ps did I mention we are pushing our kidlets in the stroller?? Yes the little ones even get to come!!!!!!!!!!!)
xoCaliAlly
Sunday, January 25, 2009
CaliAlly, ACE-certified!
That's right! I wrote my ACE Personal Trainer exam this past Saturday and I passed! Weehoo! DONE! And boy am I ever! I'm exhausted still and it's Sunday evening! My girlfriend babysat Sadie for me on Friday morning so I could do some last minute reviewing and when she dropped Sadie off, she took one look at me and told me I look exhausted and sooo tired...aka crap!!! heh heh And I was, and still am! As I sat studying my flash cards on Friday night I thought to myself...if I only had one more week...and then I thought Who am I kidding? I'm so done and so fed up of this material...I can't do this anymore. Hours every single day, long study sessions on the weekends...and keeping my exam date a secret from everyone because I was so worried I wouldn't pass!
But I'm done now...I don't feel guilty updating my blog - don't feel like I should be studying instead. I enjoyed a long walk with the fam (doggy included) this afternoon, complete with hot chocolate...and thought to myself, I've missed you Ws...so much! xo
So now one more exam and I'm certified to teach my classes...which couldn't come at a better time considering I launch the business on March 4. So my goal is to see if I can hammer out this last exam - specialty in Prenatal and Postnatal - this week and be done by Feb 1 and spend the month of February gearing up for a fabulous Grand Opening and first session...and oh yeah, learning more about this franchise that I purchased.
But for now...I'm going to watch some no-brainer TV and when I go to bed and my head hits my pillow, there will only be a million things running through my head - nothing Anatomy/Biomechanics/ACE related :D
xo CaliAlly
But I'm done now...I don't feel guilty updating my blog - don't feel like I should be studying instead. I enjoyed a long walk with the fam (doggy included) this afternoon, complete with hot chocolate...and thought to myself, I've missed you Ws...so much! xo
So now one more exam and I'm certified to teach my classes...which couldn't come at a better time considering I launch the business on March 4. So my goal is to see if I can hammer out this last exam - specialty in Prenatal and Postnatal - this week and be done by Feb 1 and spend the month of February gearing up for a fabulous Grand Opening and first session...and oh yeah, learning more about this franchise that I purchased.
But for now...I'm going to watch some no-brainer TV and when I go to bed and my head hits my pillow, there will only be a million things running through my head - nothing Anatomy/Biomechanics/ACE related :D
xo CaliAlly
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