Got lots on my "to do" list before I get to take off and enjoy my Santa Fe adventure.
I'm so thankful that the husband is gifting me some time off to go and enjoy it with my son. I have some special Facebook fun planned for while I'm away to keep him entertained. Stay tuned to my page while I'm away.
I received a phone call today from the youngest son who asked me if I was excited to come this weekend. "OF COURSE" I answered. It made me feel so good to hear him say that he was excited as well.
I figure this might be the last time I get to spend some one-on-one time with him. Once he and Shay move in, she will be with us (and I will be glad to have her). Also, I usually don't like to make plans without the husband He's still my #1 travel buddy.
But this weekend, I shall go off and have some fun with my youngest son. It will be nice to spend some time together just the two of us doing things that we love (drinking beer, eating, and hanging out in casinos). Ha!
Monday, October 13, 2014
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
We're trying to get bigger
Not us personally (even though we are).....but our little teeny tiny 1200 sq. ft. pizza shop.
Sometimes I just sit back and am totally amazed at what we've created.
I think back to how scared I was when we all of a sudden made the decision that we were going to buy the equipment, Paul was going to quit his job, and we were going to open a pizza shop with Alan and Tricia. Well, actually it wasn't quite like that.
All of the above is true, except that I was not for it. I was afraid that we were jumping into something too soon and we weren't ready. It was scary.....the husband quitting his job and I was going to have to be the sole income provider for the family (if the business couldn't pay him a salary). Not only did I have to go and work full time during the day, I also had to work nights and weekends in the pizza shop so that we could get it off the ground.
Almost 15 years later and look where we are:
In 2003 I was able to quit my full time job and survive off our shop (wow....that was a little scary).
In 2009 we were nominated as a finalist for Small Business of the Year (that was exciting)
We opened a second shop in 2009......which we were so thrilled and proud about.
We finally hit a million dollars in sales in 2012, 2013 and on course to do it again this year!
Our customers voted us Best Pizza in Houston in 2012, 2013, and 2014
We sold our second location in 2014......which we were thrilled about.
And now we are looking at expanding our first store. We're cramped. The customers on busy nights are cramped waiting for their pizzas. The drivers are cramped trying to get their deliveries bagged up and get through the mob of customers.
And after meeting with the contractor again this morning to discuss all the plans for our expansion.......I'd say that me and the husband have done a really great job together and that we are an amazing team. I'm just really looking forward to retirement and not have to work as hard!
Wow......if a fortune teller had ever told me that this would be my life, I wouldn't have believed her!
Sometimes I just sit back and am totally amazed at what we've created.
I think back to how scared I was when we all of a sudden made the decision that we were going to buy the equipment, Paul was going to quit his job, and we were going to open a pizza shop with Alan and Tricia. Well, actually it wasn't quite like that.
All of the above is true, except that I was not for it. I was afraid that we were jumping into something too soon and we weren't ready. It was scary.....the husband quitting his job and I was going to have to be the sole income provider for the family (if the business couldn't pay him a salary). Not only did I have to go and work full time during the day, I also had to work nights and weekends in the pizza shop so that we could get it off the ground.
Almost 15 years later and look where we are:
In 2003 I was able to quit my full time job and survive off our shop (wow....that was a little scary).
In 2009 we were nominated as a finalist for Small Business of the Year (that was exciting)
We opened a second shop in 2009......which we were so thrilled and proud about.
We finally hit a million dollars in sales in 2012, 2013 and on course to do it again this year!
Our customers voted us Best Pizza in Houston in 2012, 2013, and 2014
We sold our second location in 2014......which we were thrilled about.
And now we are looking at expanding our first store. We're cramped. The customers on busy nights are cramped waiting for their pizzas. The drivers are cramped trying to get their deliveries bagged up and get through the mob of customers.
And after meeting with the contractor again this morning to discuss all the plans for our expansion.......I'd say that me and the husband have done a really great job together and that we are an amazing team. I'm just really looking forward to retirement and not have to work as hard!
Wow......if a fortune teller had ever told me that this would be my life, I wouldn't have believed her!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Rough weeks are hopefully behind us
Wow......it's been a rough couple of weeks. The husband has closed 8 nights of the last two weeks and has worked every single day.
I personally have worked in the store more in the last two weeks than I have in the last 6 months.
Remember that weekend get away trip that I was getting all excited about?
Yeah......well you can forget that.
No, really it's not that bad. The husband doesn't want to be gone away from town so that he can keep close tabs on the store and go work if he's needed. Although, we did write the schedule with the intention of being gone this weekend......but what can I say.....the guy is really really dedicated.
With a new manager starting and our "so so" shift managers coming back from their 2 week vacation, we're hoping that we're a little more staffed to handle our extremely busy busy business.
Our plan now is that we are still going to make every attempt to be off Saturday and Sunday and have decided to try and do things around the house......we're talking LONG NEGLECTED items that are on our "to do" list. I'm not sure if we really know how to act like homeowners that have weekends off and do things around the house. That's not us.
Probably what's going to happen is we're going to be bored just being at home and we'll think of someplace that we need to go. The weather this weekend is supposed to be awesome and good convertible top down days.
Boo on doing things around the house. I just wanna have fun.
We REALLY REALLY REALLY need a couple of days off. But you know what....no matter what we do, it will really be nice to spend some time with the husband.
I personally have worked in the store more in the last two weeks than I have in the last 6 months.
Remember that weekend get away trip that I was getting all excited about?
Yeah......well you can forget that.
No, really it's not that bad. The husband doesn't want to be gone away from town so that he can keep close tabs on the store and go work if he's needed. Although, we did write the schedule with the intention of being gone this weekend......but what can I say.....the guy is really really dedicated.
With a new manager starting and our "so so" shift managers coming back from their 2 week vacation, we're hoping that we're a little more staffed to handle our extremely busy busy business.
Our plan now is that we are still going to make every attempt to be off Saturday and Sunday and have decided to try and do things around the house......we're talking LONG NEGLECTED items that are on our "to do" list. I'm not sure if we really know how to act like homeowners that have weekends off and do things around the house. That's not us.
Probably what's going to happen is we're going to be bored just being at home and we'll think of someplace that we need to go. The weather this weekend is supposed to be awesome and good convertible top down days.
Boo on doing things around the house. I just wanna have fun.
We REALLY REALLY REALLY need a couple of days off. But you know what....no matter what we do, it will really be nice to spend some time with the husband.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Glorious glorious days off are coming soon
Hallelujah.....there is a light at the end of our long dark tunnel.
We are going to try to take Saturday and Sunday off because our last day off was August 14th.
Whew.......we need a vacation. Gotta be someplace close and somewhere we can drive.....so that we are in control of our own schedule.
I'm thinking about this place:
I love this city. It's so beautiful and it would be so relaxing to get a hotel on the Riverwalk!
Yes, this is San Antonio and a short 3 1/2 hours from Spring.
The great news is that we hired an Assistant Manager. He has a good pizza background and we're hoping that he's going to jump right in and do an awesome job from the start.
Then.......we are really trying to take a few days off and get some much needed time away. I know it sounds crazy, but this is the next destination that we have in mind.
I was going to try and make you guess the location, but since it's printed on the picture you don't have to be much of a detective. Yes......we want to go to Branson, Missouri. Where else is there so much music in one place and tons of shows to go see?
And since we'd like to really make this another adventure.......we've talked about going there in once of these:
We could rent one of these babies and travel in style. The drive from our house is about 10 hours. But we really do like road trips......and who wouldn't like a road trip in this?
So once again, it looks like we might be able to get a little time off and enjoy ourselves. Of course, I am lucky enough to be able to take a trip to visit Santa Fe in 3 weeks.
Oh how we've missed traveling!
We are going to try to take Saturday and Sunday off because our last day off was August 14th.
Whew.......we need a vacation. Gotta be someplace close and somewhere we can drive.....so that we are in control of our own schedule.
I'm thinking about this place:
I love this city. It's so beautiful and it would be so relaxing to get a hotel on the Riverwalk!
Yes, this is San Antonio and a short 3 1/2 hours from Spring.
The great news is that we hired an Assistant Manager. He has a good pizza background and we're hoping that he's going to jump right in and do an awesome job from the start.
Then.......we are really trying to take a few days off and get some much needed time away. I know it sounds crazy, but this is the next destination that we have in mind.
I was going to try and make you guess the location, but since it's printed on the picture you don't have to be much of a detective. Yes......we want to go to Branson, Missouri. Where else is there so much music in one place and tons of shows to go see?
And since we'd like to really make this another adventure.......we've talked about going there in once of these:
So once again, it looks like we might be able to get a little time off and enjoy ourselves. Of course, I am lucky enough to be able to take a trip to visit Santa Fe in 3 weeks.
Oh how we've missed traveling!
Monday, September 29, 2014
You just gotta do what you gotta do
It's been a long day that began early this morning with an interview for a possible Assistant Manager. Good news is: it looks promising........but no decisions yet
The rest of the day has been spent picking up posters, first of the month stuff, bank deposits, new employee stuff, and blah blah blah blah blah.
The husband won't be home until 10:30.
It's 9:46 and I'm still working.
Here's the proof:
I'm drinking a cold beer and printing and cutting up boxtoppers.
Oh yeah I forgot......I also have a whole lot of signs that needs to be put together in frames and stuff
But you know what.....life is good!
The rest of the day has been spent picking up posters, first of the month stuff, bank deposits, new employee stuff, and blah blah blah blah blah.
The husband won't be home until 10:30.
It's 9:46 and I'm still working.
Here's the proof:
I'm drinking a cold beer and printing and cutting up boxtoppers.
Oh yeah I forgot......I also have a whole lot of signs that needs to be put together in frames and stuff
But you know what.....life is good!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Where have all the good people gone?
We've run an ad for Assistant Manager and Delivery Drivers for about 2 weeks now. We've advertised on Craigslist, the GreenSheet, a couple of places on the internet.
The applications we get are weak. When you do find one and set up an interview.....they don't call you back or they schedule the interview and don't show up. The one that did show up expects us to pay him $50,000 a year and he has no experience in a pizza shop.
Seriously dude.......good luck finding a job.
It's so frustrating. We're busy. We're tired of working long hours and so many days without a day off. Where in the heck are we going to find our STAR employee.
I'm so tired of all of this right now. Gosh darn it......I need a vacation.
The applications we get are weak. When you do find one and set up an interview.....they don't call you back or they schedule the interview and don't show up. The one that did show up expects us to pay him $50,000 a year and he has no experience in a pizza shop.
Seriously dude.......good luck finding a job.
It's so frustrating. We're busy. We're tired of working long hours and so many days without a day off. Where in the heck are we going to find our STAR employee.
I'm so tired of all of this right now. Gosh darn it......I need a vacation.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Taking care of business and working overtime
Wow.....what a crazy couple of weeks it's been.
Remember all those glorious days earlier in the year when we were able to take off and travel?
Well, those days are long gone for the moment and there's no vacation in sight.
Back to school meant losing 80% of our "A" team going to college and only able to work weekends.
And to make matters worse, our only two shift leaders who we were counting on to fill in the majority of the gaps.....took off for 2 weeks to visit family.
Then as if that wasn't bad enough......we seem to have a major epidemic of people calling in sick.
So......guess who has to cover all these shifts......yep, that's right. we do.
My poor husband is going to be working so many hours these next couple of weeks (even though he's been working his butt of these last couple of weeks). I've even had to work......GASP! I've been making pizzas and delivering.....and looks like I'm going to have to put even more hours in working at the store.....GASP!
In fact, remember those Tom Petty tickets I won awhile back? Well unfortunately, there is no way in **** that Paul would be able to go and now it seems as though I am not able to go either.....boo hoo!
So, as I remember all those fun days that I had traveling with my husband.......I long for a vacation once again. (lucky me gets to go to Santa Fe....and my poor husband has to stay behind).
But while we are working these long and crazy hours.....we can't forget that business is BOOMING and we keep setting record breaking days.
Cross your fingers.......that we get some really good candidates applying to fill our vacant positions so that we can get a MUCH NEEDED day off!
Remember all those glorious days earlier in the year when we were able to take off and travel?
Well, those days are long gone for the moment and there's no vacation in sight.
Back to school meant losing 80% of our "A" team going to college and only able to work weekends.
And to make matters worse, our only two shift leaders who we were counting on to fill in the majority of the gaps.....took off for 2 weeks to visit family.
Then as if that wasn't bad enough......we seem to have a major epidemic of people calling in sick.
So......guess who has to cover all these shifts......yep, that's right. we do.
My poor husband is going to be working so many hours these next couple of weeks (even though he's been working his butt of these last couple of weeks). I've even had to work......GASP! I've been making pizzas and delivering.....and looks like I'm going to have to put even more hours in working at the store.....GASP!
In fact, remember those Tom Petty tickets I won awhile back? Well unfortunately, there is no way in **** that Paul would be able to go and now it seems as though I am not able to go either.....boo hoo!
So, as I remember all those fun days that I had traveling with my husband.......I long for a vacation once again. (lucky me gets to go to Santa Fe....and my poor husband has to stay behind).
But while we are working these long and crazy hours.....we can't forget that business is BOOMING and we keep setting record breaking days.
Cross your fingers.......that we get some really good candidates applying to fill our vacant positions so that we can get a MUCH NEEDED day off!
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