Day 15 - The Fresh Mansion

Good morning! You know how I know today is going to be a good day?

Because it already is. How bad can a day be that starts with Julie Andrews and Mickey Mouse pancakes?

Wendy had The Sound of Music in a stack of DVDs she was trying to get rid of, so I took it home for the kids and we watched it today. (Well, half of it, before they got hungry. They got bored when the Baroness was introduced and we saved the rest for later tonight).


I had forgotten what a lovely film that is. Frauline Maria is my kind of chick. She leaves the convent singing a song about confidence, approaches the Von Trapp castle with wonder and amazement, and quickly wins the hearts of the children and staff. She's definitely fresh.

Speaking of Fresh, I am meeting our realtor, John Tripodi, to view a potential site in Newport for the Fresh Mansion at noon today. Someday, this place (or one like it) will be the female alternative to the PlayBoy Mansion, but less tacky. Because hottie guys in bunny costumes seems a little bit ridiculous. Well, a lot ridiculous, actually.

OK, maybe the guys can dress up in bunny costumes the night before Easter, but that's IT. A girl's gotta draw the line somewhere.

While I go get ready, and try to figure out what the male staff should wear the rest of the year, you should Google "412 Bellevue Ave, Newport RI", check it out, and let me know what you think. See the description, "Single Family Home with 22 bedrooms". Those Guilded Age peeps really knew how to live!
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Day 14 - A Word About Perfection

I took a moment to read the last couple of days blog entries, and noticed a ton of spelling errors.  As I told Alayne White (of Alayne White Spas) on Wednesday, blogging daily requires you to let go of perfection.  I can't blog on the run without making a mistake or two.  The key is to have someone proof-read your work, or go back to it when you have a fresh eye. And, thankfully, blogging is a medium in which you can fix your mistakes, unlike a printed brochure.

I'm not perfect, and don't claim to be.  But completion is more important than perfection in this case. And, when you're operating at the speed I have been lately, you can't slow down and write perfectly.  You must sacrifice perfection or run the risk of not getting the job done.

That being said, your marketing reflects your quality, and some might read this blog and say, "Michelle settles for less than perfect. Our "brand experience" with her company will probably be less than perfect.  And so I have to work extra hard to make sure that's not the case. I realize customer service and the "perfect" Fresh experience is required for customer loyalty, repeat business and word of mouth referrals.  So, allow me to clarify.  All I'm talking about is the daily blog, people.  That's it.

Sew, thanc ewe 4 you're patients w/ me typin errers... :)

Day 13 - The Fortune is in the Followup

Yeah, so yesterday was AWESOME!!!  Seven back-to-back meetings totally kicked my butt.  I was in bed asleep at 10pm, and barely made it home from the game without falling asleep in the car.  (Luckily Rich was driving.)

And, if I didn't have to get Jessie on the school bus in less than an hour, I'd type up all the delicious details of my day.  But instead, I'l just tell you all about it in a future post.

If yesterday was back-to-back meetings, then today will be back-to-back emails.  As they say, the fortune is in the followup!  And I have a LOT of following up to do.

Then, I have a lunch date with my favorite person from the Secretary of State's office, Kelly Carrello.   Then, I volunteer in Nick's classroom, and this afternoon, I'm going to a RI Business Plan Competition event.  Tonight, I hang out at RKB to get my butt kicked AGAIN in their Biggest Loser class.  Lots to do, as always!

Will fill you in later...
Michelle

Day 12 - Today is a challenge.

From the minute I woke up, I knew it was going to be a challenging day. Nick woke up coughing at 5am, and never went back to sleep. The Mickey Mouse pancake crumbled in the pan. And I had to figure out what the perfect outfit would be to wear to all my appointments today:
-the Emerging Women in Business board meeting,
-coffee with Sixcia at RISBDC,
-signing papers at attorney, Kas' office,
-lunch with Alayne White, spa owner,
-meeting with Amanda to discuss embroidery of the sleepwear,
-meeting with RiverzEdge, to discuss production of the sleepwear, and
-schmoozing with alumni in the luxury box at the URI basketball game tonight.
I'm tired just thinking about it, but then again, this is MY KIND OF DAY! :)
BTW, I chose jeans, a white long-sleeved tee, warm fuzzy boots and a green wrap. I think it works. Let them talk if they don't like it. :-p
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Testing the mobile blog function

Yes, it is hard to type with a cat on your lap. My brat of a cat, Whiskey, who loves to curl up on my lap in the morning while I read, decided to move in on my Macbook today. She's so pushy! She is literally laying ON my arm right now.  She can't stop me from blogging, though. Not with my trusty Blackberry - I can type with one hand!  (OK, I have issues...)
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Day 11 - Progress is Good, Life is Good

Yesterday, I was so busy building this new company (and playing Girl Scout Mom) that I didn't post, so today I'll post entries for Day 10 and 11!

So, first, the progress:
- Inventory arrived!  All my stuff for the "Fresh Fix" gift bags came in finally!  Ironically, the same day as my credit card bill, so I'd better get selling.

- Product photography.  I hired my friend Jim, who did the Sassy Ladies' photo shoot in July to take some great, professional pictures of the bags, and I'm almost ready to shoot the launch video. One more product to pick up. I haven't been able to find it at a price I like. 

- Research and development - I set up meetings with an embroidery person, and someone "who's absolute passion is sewing", with screenprinting capabilities, to keep the product development of the "jammie hoodies" moving along. I added that phrase to the trademark search Kas is running for me.  I also found out that the company that brought you "The Snuggie" just released "Hoodie Footies", which are "soft as a marshmellow" and really cute.  Good - that means there's a market for this.  Jumping on it. My meetings are on Wednesday, and hopefully I'll have specs in a couple of weeks.

- Mansions, club wear, makeup, oh my! - Put out feelers on a piece of real estate I would love to own in Newport, contacted y friend Todd about a line of branded club wear, met with Jade, who could help me tremendously with events and childcare, and added more people to the service provider list (reiki, reflexology, makeup, video/documentary services, limo provider and a yacht charter). Moving right along!

- Brainstorm sessions - And, I brainstormed some more with my trusted advisors - this time, family members.  My Dad, who gave me some really cool business advice that he learned from my grandfather (remind me to tell you that story some day) and my brother and sister-in-law.  Alicia is one of the "beautiful people", who is always stylish, well-put together, and smiling.  I had to return the Christmas present I bought her (a North Face jacket), because it was too small.  So we went out shopping for a new one, and found a fabulous cream colored Calvin Klein - a warm, hooded, puffy jacket. (I am sure that there is an "official" name for this style, which she probably knows, but I'm clueless.)  She looks adorable in it, and it was fun to "talk shop" while we shopped! She loved the "My Big Fresh Wedding Party" concept, and offered to help.

My Dad offered the use of his 1971 Cadillac El Dorato for shuttle services, and his Caddy Club connections. I'm calling it the "Fresh Sugar Daddy's Caddy" shuttle.  I can't wait to hire my dad to drive me around town! I also want to hire my mom to be my business manager.  She's so good with managing all the details and bookkeeping- she's done it for my dad for years. My daughter is already designing the perfect child care center, complete with Miley Cyrus' closet for dress up, and gate, to keep the boys out.  LOL  My cousin Christine will be the accountant.  This will be a family business indeed.

What else, what else... oh! Life Is Good!
I'm a big fan of the "Life is Good" brand.  For Christmas, everyone in my house got L.I.G. clothes  - Rich got a long-sleeved "Road Warrior" bike shirt, Jessie a "Surf's Up" t-shirt, Nick got a basketball t-shirt, and I got an Aqua Volleyball!  I went to blow it up yesterday, and in typical Michelle style, skipped a step (moistening the needle) and the pin broke right off the pump, embedded in the hole and I almost broke a tooth trying to get it out.  Thank goodness for my hero, Rich, who took it to his workshop in the garage, and came back with a fully repaired, properly inflated ball, which I can now play with.  I'm not sure the pump made it, though.  Rest in peace.

So, as I was throwing out the box, I decided to cut out the cute logo for my desk. I noticed that they are right in Derry, NH, a few hours drive north of here.  I'll be connecting with them soon, to see if there's any possibility of a Fresh collaboration. (Road trip!)  I just love their message, their look, and the quality of their products.  It's a good company, with a great story. Life is good indeed.

Day 10 - The Will To Win

Well, if this isn't a mighty fierce poem, I don't know what is.  Thanks to "Uncle Jay" White for forwarding this. I never would call myself "dogged" or "grim" and I'm not sure I could "beseige and beset" if I tried, but I like the buildup and the happy ending.  Enjoy!

"The Will to Win"
    by Berton Braley

If you want a thing bad enough
To go out and fight for it,
Work day and night for it,
Give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it,
   
If only desire of it
   
Makes you quite mad enough
   
Never to tire of it,
   
Makes you hold all other things tawdry and cheap for it,
   
If life seems all empty and useless without it
   
And all that you scheme and you dream is about it,
   
If gladly you'll sweat for it,
 
Fret for it,
 
Plan for it,
   
Lose all your terror of God or man for it,
   
If you'll simply go after that thing that you want
   
With all your capacity,
   
Strength, and sagacity,
 
Faith, hope, and confidence, stern pertinacity,
   
If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt,
   
Nor sickness nor pain
   
Of body and brain
   
Can turn you away from the thing that you want,
   
If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
   
You'll get it.