Jamie's Blog

Word for 2011....was Change

January 5, 2011.

I am not sure if I am happy or sad to see 2011 come to an end.  It has been an amazing year with lots of changes and new experiences, in my personal life and at  Jamie's Painting & Design.  For most of the year I have tried to keep a positive outlook and stiff upper lip and my sense of humor in order.  Not to say some heated discussions, arguments and tears have not found there way into a few of my days, but I am still standing, so all must be good.  

I have bragged for years about how good change is, how I never look back, hate to regret...blah, blah, blah.  Truth is change is hard, change is tough, but change is what I think makes us grow.   No time in my life has the word change been more appropriate than in 2011.  I may not have totally embraced all of the changes of 2011,  I  do remember them:

Downsizing to Success

Five years ago when we moved the business out of my home and into a new location I was beyond stressed to the point of getting sick, heart palpations and my weight below 100 pounds.  The unknown and the employees that were not making the move with us was a lot for me to handle.  Moving the business this time....was much easier.

The stress of paying for all the warehouse and office space was a huge stresser for me.  The fact is that rental space in Northern California (Recession or not) is extremly high and hard on this small business.  Small is the new big these days and I enjoyed it.  I missed seeing my employees as much as I used to, but I learned to use the phone, email and the dreaded texting to communicate.  I also learned the working from home and staying in your robe and slippers during a bad winter storm can be pretty fantastic.

House for Sale Became House Sold 

We sold our first home in 2001 right at the time that the market in the Bay Area became saturated with home sales and the dot com bubble was a popping.  We had to lower our asking price, all of this was going on while my sister was getting married, and we had to deal with a probate sale....again, stress and the dreaded losing of weight.  Selling our home this time was stressful yes......but much easier.

I honestly never thought we would leave our house, I was thinking I would die in that house.  I still wake up every once in awhile looking around my room and singing a verse from Talking Heads song, Once in a Lifetime; You may find yourself in a beautiful house with a beautiful wife and you may ask yourself, well how did I get here? As much as I complained about the parts of the home I thought needed fixing or were not perfect, I did love my last home.  Seeing pictures now allows me to see it for what it was and how others might have percieved my home.

And for the second time in 2011we  moved the business again, this time half of it came with us 2 1/2 hours away and the other parts stayed in the Bay Area.  Not the best situation to have manufacturing and shipping separate - but it worked.  Leaner and meaner I say, or I just accepted it and moved on.  Getting the new studio situated and decorated here has been.....challenging.  Moving a home was one thing, moving a business at the same time was tough.

We Moved to Far, Far & Away

The farthest move I ever did was a junior in college to the SJSU dorms.  A mere 45 minutes away is not what I would call really living far away from home.  Heck, I came home every weekend for a good meal and to wash clothes.  This last move made it a little harder to run home for some comfort food.

Okay so 2.5 hours away and a new zip code is not that far away, but it might has well have been.  It felt like we moved to a different planet as far as I was concerned.   Just navigating myself out of our neighborhood was a challenge.  Finding new doctors, dentists, a vet, all exhausting excursions for this gal.  I hate to admit it, but I did take a few dips into my own pity party pool this past fall.  I am done with that though and am not going swimming for a long time.

Made New Friends But Ket the Old 

I was an old kindergartner, having been born right at the cut off I was almost six when I started, and I was ready for school.  The first day of school I marched up to a tall girl with a pageboy hair cut and a dress and said, "Do you want to be my friend?"  Luckily she said yes, and even if we don't see each other as often, we are still friends.  I wish making friends this time around was that easy.

I made some great friends and look forward to making more.  However, my olden-golden friends have gotten me through some super tough times and I will NEVER forget them.  I tried my damn-dest to keep in touch with all of them in 2011 and see them as much as possible.  I read a study last year that talked about what made men and women live longer.  For a man it said to get married, for a woman - have lots of friends.  Ya, I got that. 

Raising a Twelve Year Old Boy

 I remember twelve years old being one of the worst years of my life.  I was a sixth grader and I was miserable.  My hairstyle alone brings back horrible memories from that year.  I can remember not knowing where I fit in or who I was supposed to be or act like.  I was not a cool stoner that smoked cigarettes in the girl's bathroom, wore a leather jacket and kissed boys.  I was tiny, bookish and very uncomfortable in my own skin.  I try and remember this when dealing with my own twelve year old. 

Oh.My.Gawd...the changes we have had to deal with.  My sweet, soft spoken well read almost always polite son has changed.  He is a surley, back talking, eye rolling, video game playing skinny jean wearing stinky BOY.  The best part was when I was talking to my mother on the phone about how bad his back talking was and I claimed to NEVER recall acting like that.  She laughed so hard she dropped the phone and had to be practically revived to finish our conversation.

Typing texting and Carpel Tunnel....Oh my!  

I had that dull ache in both of my wrists for the second half of 2011 .   I used my hands to type, to paint, to to ribbon, to move boxes, to gift wrap, cooking....you name it, I was using my wrists.  I don't ever remember having my wrists hurt so bad for so long. I had to totally change my work habits, my work days and the way I work.  I was even put on "Don't Use Your Wrists" lock down by my husband (he even made me get off Facebook).

2011 Gone but Not Forgotten

So there you go 2011 is over.   It was not as exciting or eventful as some years, but it will go down as a very memorable one.  One year that had some pretty huge life changes for me.  I am sure it won't be the last time my world is turned upside down, but I am hoping 2012 will be calmer and more stable.  Considering we rang in the new year with old friends and new friends and laughter  I am most positive 2012 will be good!

Advice I Should Know Regarding Moving

October 10, 2011

Moving is not for the faint of heart, nor the easily emotional cry baby mess....not that I would know anything about the latter, but I have heard.  To be clear I am not talking about moving from one city to another, going away to college or moving out of your apartment to a new home....I am talking about moving with a capital M.  Moving one, two hours or 3 states away from your home - now that my friend is real moving.

Anywhere you can not get to within 15 minutes is not really moving.  Whether you agree or disagree with me, moving is a difficult pill to swallow and a big change for children, adults and pets....okay, not really pets, but adults for sure, and possibly children.  To quote a good friend when I told her we were moving she said, "I never meant I did not think you would not sell your house, I just never thought you would really move."  Her and me both.

When I agreed, or as my husband recalls it insisted we move this year instead of next,  I had the biggest rosiest glasses on you can ever imagine.  I just assumed it would be one big fat exciting adventure and I would be welcomed with big arms, a picnic, a parade and neighbors begging to have us for dinner....okay, maybe not the parade, but I thought it would be a big love fest.  

Also, I did think it would be the best, best, bestest thing to ever happen to the Lentzner clan.  Which reminds me of that quote that I now get, "If you want to make God laugh....tell him your plans".  I am guessing the big guy up in the sky has been laughing it up pretty good since I relocated my life, my family , my home and my business to El Dorado Hills.  Shame on me, I was the one who scoffed those with a birth plan, knowing that was just a crock.  I should have known better....really I should have.

Now moving the business has not been as hard as I originally thought it would be.  It has had a few hiccups (line NOT transferred to new area code for 30 days) and a few snafus (checks mailed to wrong address) but it has been easier than expected.  Taking on extra responsibilities until we hire employees has kept me busy and more involved in the day to day operations of Jamie's Painting & Design.  It has probably kept me more sane than I care to admit.

So, if you are in the mood or market to move, here are a few easy things to help anyone that is moving their life, children, pets....oh and their business:

Change is Not Easy....and Not for Wimps

Have you ever woken up day after day confused, disoriented and not sure where you were?  Have you ever repeatedly gotten lost just coming home from the grocery store?   The only thing I can compare it to is waking up into a dorm room 3 or 4 days after moving in and you can not stop signing that Talking Head song...."and you wake up with a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife and you ask yourself, how did I get here?"  No?...then you have not moved.  

I will be the first to acknowledge once again that this move was one of the most impulsive things I have ever done in my entire life.  As hard as it has been on me, it has been super easy on my kids.  Never, ever underestimate how easily your children will adopt to change....really, really trust me on this one.  I did not trust friends, family and strangers....children can adapt way easier than any adult.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

Being an ex-girl scout, and ex-sorority girl and an ex-Foster City native this one is crucial to your sanity.  Don't lose site of who matters and who has been there for you.  Not to say that there are probably a few acquaintances and friends that you will not keep in touch with, for the most part make the effort.  These are the people that know you for who you are, knew you back when...they will always understand who you are before you moved.

On that note it will be shocking who keeps in touch and who does not.  It will also be shocking how you have affected friends and how the hole you left will be very hard to fill.  I would suggest you do your very best to keep these people in your fold, find every way you can to make sure that even though the friendship changes....it never ends.

Being a creature of, well I would say comfort, but that is not what I am.  I am more a creature of comfort with my friends.  I love, love my girlfriends close, far, Facebook, High school, Grammar School....I love me some friends.  So, keeping them once you move can be challenging - but I highly recommend you do everything you can to keep them.  Because, for me I would be nothing without them.

Don't Be Dissapointed, Be Patient

Face it, people will disappoint you and things will happen in your personal life and your work life that do not make sense.  If you are in the midst of a major life change....then I suggest you let it go.  This is not easy, trust me and I am not an expert, nor have I let certain things go.  However, I have learned to live within the moment and realize that it is just life.

Last weekend my sister and Aunt came to visit and we had a great time.  We laughed, we shopped and we wine tasted.  It is always fun with my relatives, and this time was no different.  However my Aunt did put life in perspective for me.  She bought me a bottle of perfume and left it in my bathroom with this message written on a post it for me:

Jamie

Remember you are learning patience

I love you

Sheshi  (then she added a little cat face that she loves to do & I can't do on the computer) 

I also like to have things done quickly, like an HGTV makeover show.  Or better yet an episode of Extreme Home Make Over or any of those shows that works fast.   Nothing goes that quickly in real life....nothing.  So when I am down or sad I just think of this little simple post it my Aunt left me and I smile and I try to stay patient.

Live Chatting with Sears

The Fridge is Freakin' Out

So for about a month our Kenmore refrigerator has not been working quite right - it's not been on it's A-Game if I must be honest.  In December everything in the fridge was freezing and there was a constant drip of water from the freezer into the fridge.  There was either free standing water on every shelf, or a sheet of ice on every shelf. Each day we'd open up the fridge and we are not sure if our bread was going to be a wet mushy mess or the arugula was frozen solid (both true stories).

That was then, the last few days my freezer and fridge have really been putting on a good show.  It now looks like my freezer was hit by a blizzard, and not the good kind you get from the Dairy Queen.  My freezer is covered in ice, everything has a nice coating of snow on it.  The top of my freezer has icicles dripping down and the bottle of vodka is a frozen solid block of ice. I don't know much about alcohol but I was pretty sure it should not freeze.  

And while my freezer has been covered with a gorgeous layer of white pristine snow - I am not amused.  My fridge on the other hand is about as tepid as a warm glass of milk, oh and yes the milk went bad.  Gone is my frozen (or unfrozen) fridge lake.  Nothing is hot, but nothing is that cold.

My Uneducated Diagnostic Prediction of the Fridge

We were pretty sure that it is the seal around the freezer door is loose, and air is getting in.  And by we I mean my parents came by last night for dinner and they being older and wiser pointed out the loose seal.  I am not really in the mood (read afford) to go buy a new fridge right now and I was optimistic a repairman might be able to fix it.  I didn't even know if that was something a repair person could do, so I went on the good ol' Sears website to find out.  As I was trying to find the 800 number this screen kept popping up asking me I wanted to Live Chat.  I thought that it might go better than a long drawn out phone conversation.  I was wrong:

Live Chatting it Up with Robert Jones

Dear Customer, please wait while we connect you to a Blue Crew member to assist you. 
You have been connected to Robert Jones. 
Robert Jones: Thank you for choosing Sears. My name is Robert. How may I assist you? 
Jamie: Does Sears replace rubber seals around a freezer door? 
Robert Jones: Hi Jamie. 
Robert Jones: I will be glad to check and help you further. 
Jamie: Uh, ya hi Robert.   Does Sears replace seals on freezer doors?  It has come loose on our Kenmore Elite - the fridge was purchased in June of 2001. Our freezer is frozen - with ice everywhere and our fridge is NOT very cold 
Robert Jones: I'm sorry to hear that you are facing a problem with your fridge. I'll be glad to check and help you schedule a repair service on this fridge. 
Robert Jones: I wish I had an option to help you replace the appliance right away, however our technician need to check the appliance first. If he is unable to fix it, he will further help you in replacing the unit. 
Jamie: Um, I don't know yet if I have to replace the fridge, I want to know about repairing it, if at all possible.  So can you please let me know what the criteria would be for replacing the rubber around the door? I don't want to have a repair person come out - pay the fee and have him tell me that he does not replace or fix the seal. We just went through this with our dryer and after he told us it could not be fixed he gave us a coupon - that I had to use at Sears and that was only a small amount of money off the new dryer. 
Robert Jones: I'm sorry, I will be unable to provide technical assistance over the chat as I'm not technically qualified. However, let me provide you the link for a website that has the user manuals for most of the appliances and you may be able to fix the appliance on your own. 
Robert Jones: Please log in to www.managemyhome.com, if you wish to fix the appliance on your own. 
Jamie: Even though the fridge is over ten years old? 
Robert Jones: All of our technicians have been trained and certified by Sears so you know the service you are receiving is the best in the industry. 
Jamie: Um can you speak regular English and answer my questions Robert Jones? I just want to know IF they replace loose seals on fridge/freezer doors.
Jamie: I did not ask if your technicians were trained, I asked numerous times if your technicians replaced the seal around a freezer door. 
Robert Jones: Jamie, I apologize since the appliance is not covered under warranty. 
Jamie: Warranty?  I asked if they would work on a fridge that is ten years old.  Neither question have you even tried to answer.  What is the point of live chat if you can't answer any of my questions? 
Jamie: Just out of curiosity where are you located? 
Robert Jones: We are located at one of the many support call centers for Sears. 
Jamie: Ya, I got that - since I am on Live Chat on a Sears website.  In what country I meant? 
Robert Jones: I am afraid we're unable to disclose that information. All our technicians have been trained and certified by Sears. I am sure they will be able to fix it. 
Robert Jones: If your fridge cannot be repaired, our technician will provide you with a coupon towards a new appliance at Sears.
Jamie: Oh please, again with the "trained and certified".
Jamie: I KNOW your technicians have been trained and certified, you have already told me that! 
Jamie: Also I know that I will get a coupon - I had that with my dryer earlier in the year....as I already mentioned. Do your Repair Technicians (that are trained and certified by Sears) EVER replace seals on freezer doors?  Do you even read what I wrote? I know about the coupon!
Robert Jones: Jamie, once the technician diagnoses the fridge then only he will be able to decide, it is worth to repair or not. 
Robert Jones: May I schedule a repair service on your appliance? 
Robert Jones: I will remain available for another minute if you need further assistance. 
Robert Jones: We are ending this chat since we have not hear from you.

Forget the Live Chat

After Robert Jones typed in  "diagnoses the fridge" & "have not hear from me" I pulled out most of the hair on my head and banged my head against my laptop for a good ten minutes.  Then, I called the 800 number like I was originally going to do.   After only two minutes on the phone the lovely lady on the phone told me that yes Kenmore did replace seals on doors and yes they may be able to fix my fridge.  All I had to do was make an appointment with a Repair Technician (kindly she did not tell me how trained and certified they were.....I would have lost it).  Notice I said lovely - not quick.  After I told her the fridge was ten years old she then followed that up with, "And what year is the fridge?"

The thing that really irked me about Live Chat was, I really would have rather just typed my question and not bothered with using the phone, getting put on hold and asked what year my fridge was.  I like to multi-task and I am a pretty damn quick typist.  The customer service person was clearly not located in this country, he was answering with a script, he had no idea what the repair technician did (but he was positive the technician was trained and certified).  I am not even sure he understood the questions I was asking (ya I am real quick like that).  Also, I am not a genius, but I am pretty sure his name was not  not Robert Jones either!  And this is not a rant against aliens (illegal or not) nor is it a call to arms about how we should not send our jobs overseas.  It is just a company that did not execute the whole "let's chat on line to make your life easier and make this transaction cheaper" very well, at all.

Appointment is tomorrow.....maybe the vodka glacier will have thawed out by then.

Flying, No Busing it to San Diego

Disclaimer: "I am not mad (any longer) at my husband for his mistake (more on that later).  It is not his fault (though I may beg to differ) that the weather was bad.  I do not expect any jewelry (though I would like it) for Christmas to make up for his horrible/terrible/expensive mistake."              - Jamie Lentnzer

Thursday, December 9, 2010.

1:48 p.m  I just got  back to the office after getting my hair done and I went to print out my boarding pass.  Wait, let me back up to get you up to speed.  I was flying out to San Diego to meet my husband for his Christmas Holiday Party Friday night.  I was "supposed"(yes that is me doing air quotes and I am rolling my eyes if you must know) to fly out at 10:30 a.m Friday morning.  His company is based there, and no we are not separated he works out of the house here in Foster City (so many people looked perplexed when I said San Diego & Company party in the same sentence).  Any hoo - he flew in earlier in the week for some sales meetings and I was flying in Friday morning....so I thought.

After close inspection....no not really when I tried to print my boarding pass it said I had to wait 24 hours before my flight and I could not print it yet.  I took a double take at my itinerary and saw I was flying out at 10:30 p.m.........yes P.M!!  I calmly picked up the phone and called my husband - ya right I was practically hysterical when I told him, he booked the flight for me. 

2:15 p.m.  Darin called me back with the news and it was all bad news.  To fly on United the next day I would have to pay $1,100.00, or to change to Virgin American and fly tonight it would cost about $300.00.  Ya, I took the latter choice, only problem was that I had not packed and I had to make sure my kids (and dogs) had a place to sleep.  My fabulous wonderful totally amazing Mom agreed to take the kids & dogs an extra night. 

5:04 p.m.  After taking my son to soccer practice (and picking him up) I frantically packed my bag with what I thought was appropriate for a weekend away in San Diego.  I packed warm clothes, spring clothes and summer clothes.  I packed my kids clothes and my dogs stuff.  I rushed to my parents home and then I was off to the airport.

8:50 p.m. After slamming a beer at the airport bar I got ready to board my plane.....ya  not so fast there sister.  Our flight was late.  We boarded late left the airport at 9:30 p.m.  We then proceeded to circle San Diego for a long, long time.

Lucky for me I had two traveling companions on either side to keep me company.  On my right was  a woman who just wanted to be left alone, and how I knew that was the fact that she wore a sleep mask and pretty much gave anyone who woke her a look of death.  To my left was a Dude (yes I said Dude) who had a tail that was 3 feet long, a hat that was sideways with stickers, tattoo sleeves on both arms and had stolen Tina Fey's glasses from her.  As soon as he sat down he put his ipod on and went to sleep.  He then continued to breathe on me the entire flight.  He smelled like Chinese food, bad breath and gas.  I do not like to be breathed on.

10:25 p.m An announcement over the loud speaker from our lead steward told us we had been circling San Diego and could not land due to severe weather.  This was code for the fog was way too thick to land.  So we circled one more time and tried to land.  I was still being breathed on.

10:52 p.m. Sadly we were unable to land in San Diego so we were going to Los Angeles to either get  more fuel or get on buses and drive to San Diego.  So go ahead and guess which happened?  We got to sit on the plane until about 11:30 p.m.  The Steward claimed we would only have to wait 30 or at the most 40 minutes for buses to pick our asses up and distribute them in San Diego.  Piece of Cake, right? Ya wrong.

The Dude woke up next to me, or actually his friend decided to shake him till he woke up and yell in his face, "Dude (hence the nickname I coined) we are not in Kansas....we are in LAX!"  His response was peppered with explicatives that rhymed with Duck  and he proceeded to yell them over and over as we sat on the plane.  Oh, and he continued to breathe his horrid breath on me as he yelled them out.

The Bathroom Incident Friday, December 10, 2010 12:07 a.m

After finally being let off the plane we all rushed to the nearest bathrooms, which seemed logical since we were all eventually being put on buses that would drive over two hours to get us back to where we were supposed to land.  It was not only our airlines that was unable to land in San Diego, but countless other airlines that were stranded at LAX.

After asking numerous rude airport personal where the nearest bathroom was I found a woman's bathroom.  I stood in a very long line and waited.  Soon after getting in line a rather interesting older woman got in line behind me and she talked the entire time we were in line.  She explained how she had taken a bus before and it was not that bad, she talked about where she came from (Hawaii) and what airline she flew out on.  After each announcement she said ya,ya.  She poked me over and over and asked if I knew if there were more toilets (the answer was no).  She spoke like the Rain Man.

The line was long and we were in line for a long time.  As I stood there I continued to be bombarded with questions from Rain Woman.  She kept poking me and pointing to the bathroom section with the sinks and asking if I thought there were toilets there.  I kept saying no.  I almost yelled "I DON'T WORK HERE!", but I was too tired.  By the fourth poke I almost suggested she go pee in the sinks, but I thought better of it.

As I got closer to the toilets (Did I mention the line was long?) a young 8 year old blond girl with dark glasses (stole from my neighbor on the plane I assumed) pushed and shoved her way to the front of the line.  When she arrived at the front of the line she just stared at the stalls.  A woman asked her if she was looking for someone, she did not answer.   The woman then asked her what she wanted - again no answer.  Finally she asked if the little girl could wait, then the fun started.  From way back in the end of the line we heard at about 100 decibels, "NO SHE CAN'T WAIT!!!".  The poor woman looked around and asked the girl what she needed, still no answer.  Then we heard it again, "NO SHE CAN'T WAIT!".  She reluctantly let this little girl cut in line.  Small girl did not  even say thank you.

At last I finally got to a stall and just as I closed the door I heard this from somewhere in the back of the line, "HEY DO YOU KNOW WE ARE 20 DEEP IN LINE AND WE NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!"  Um, ya WTF?  I had, had it.  I quickly respondedyelled with my own tirade, "Ya We are Having a Frickin' Party in Here!  WE are peeing as fast as we can thank you very much!"

After I left my stall, Rain Woman gave me a strange look and then she asked me if I was okay.  I told her yes and then she proceed to say since I was YELLING at myself she was worried.  Um, okay.

Other Tidbits & Fun Facts While Waiting in Airport

The Virgin Airlines staff was kind enough to pass out water to us.  When the gentleman reached me two older short women proceed to take the rest of the waters and fill up their pockets with water.....I got no water.

A older stocky gentlemen in a trench coat hacked and coughed the entire time we waited for our flight.  Not only did he cough and not cover his mouth he walked around coughing on everyone.

One of the stewardesses had a very small (under 5 pound) puppy that she carried around, changed it's clothes, coddled it and gave it water.....bottled water, that I did not get.  She also did two costume changes at the airport.  Her co-worker not to be one upped also changed - into a super short royal blue dress, tights, thing high boots and put on some fantastic bright red lipstick.  Apparently she was dressing up for our long drive in the middle of the night to San Diego.

The Ride on the Bus, December 10, 2010. 1:30 a.m - 3:30 a.m.

The Bus was crowded, but we all got seats and though Virgin promised that we would be on a bus in 30 minutes, what they really meant was like an hour and a half.  The drive to San Diego was two hours and it was not nearly as entertaining as my time in the bathroom line, but then again I was dozing in and out of conciseness, but this I remember:

• Driver texted most of the way to San Diego
• Driver checked directions about 7 times while driving
• For two straight hours a girl smacked and cracked her gum
• The fog was so thick our driver had to press on the breaks numerous times
• Driver had no idea where she was going and got stuck in the wrong terminal
• A bus driver wearing a Santa hat can not be trusted, unless it is actually Sant

I finally got to bed at oh um 4:30 a.m. in the morning on December 10th.  To say I was not looking my best on Friday would be an understatement.  And even though the flight left me with an entertaining story I did have a good weekend.  And, when I got to the airport on Sunday to fly home - I was upgraded to first class.  Score!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies Don't Start a Business, Just Have Babies?

I read a blog post yesterday that really made me think about what it took to own/start a business.  Penelope Trunk, founder of Brazen Careerist wrote a post on Tech Crunch titled, Women Don't Want to Run Startups Because They'd Rather Have Children.  In the post she touches on many broad points and makes tons of assumptions about women entrepreneurs and mother's that own their own businesses.   She does this of course AFTER she has decided to pretty much take a step way back and let other people run her third Start-up.   She is pretty much pointing her finger at VC backed Tech companies - but she makes some bold and assumed statements about female entrepreneurs. 

Here are the highlights, if you don't have the time (or stomach) to read it:

• Starting a business can be Hell
• Women are under pressure to have kids - they have biological clocks
• Women don't want to give up their personal life in exchange for the next big Thing
• She won't even go there regarding women with young children that start a business
• She compares the stupid farms people build in Farmville to how Men and Women differ
• Women want a lifestyle business, so they can control their time, work & be flexible with raising kids

Just for the Hell of it, let me counter, question or decipher her points:

Starting a Business Is Hell

Yes, yes, yes sister  it sure can be Hell!  But uh, anyone in this day and age that does not know that has been living under a rock or is really lacking in the whole brain department.  I mean, gee thanks for starting the obvious.   I sort of loathe people that fail (and yes I know harsh words, but she did fail) at something and then tell everyone else NOT to do it.  It is demoralizing and patronizing.  I mean she is right about the whole starting a business is hell....but it is also a hell of a good time.  Those first two years for me  were mostly exciting, amazing and exhilarating.  Everything was so new and so much fun.  I was Leo DiCaprio in The Titanic, "I'm on top of the world!"

Women Are Under Pressure to Have Kids - Due to Their Biological Clocks

What?  Really? Is it real? No, it is not it was actually conceived as a metaphor for the sense of urgency some women feel regarding reaching menopause, being childless or arriving at her thirties unmarried and without a suitor.  We don't really have the biological clocks - but some of us do have the need, want and desire to have children.  I don't like the fact that she lumps all women into this nice little decisive statement.  Even though I am not who she is talking about, since I started my business after I threw the damn clock away.  I already had my children....then I started the business thank you very much.

Women Don't want to Give Up Personal life for the Next Big Thing

The funny thing is when I started Jamie's Painting & Design I thought, no I knew I was going to be the next big thing.     Okay not like Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates....but I was positive I was the next Rachel Ashwell or even Martha Stewart.  I had such conviction and an ego that was huge.  I could actually taste that desire for total world domination thing.  And, for those first few years I did give up a LOT of my personal life....a lot.  Our social card was empty, I worked while the children slept, I was  thinking and talking about my business all of the time (shout out to those friends that are still my friends....I must have been hell-a annoying back then).  It consumed me, like most entrepreneurs - I was obsessed with my baby.  But, back to her statement, it is so final and um broad reaching.  She, Penelope decided to quit.  She decided she wanted more of her personal and private family life.  I mean, she is even sort of snide saying that she wants to be the center of her family NOT her company.

The Impossibility of Starting a Business with Young Children

The crazy thing is she did this, her sons are young, she even says it in the article.  But, back to the fact that she did not succeed at it, soooooo no one else should try.  I did take offense to this part of the article since I was the one who did exactly that, but then I realized she has no idea who Jamie Lentzner is or what the hell to the L what  Jamie's Painting & Design does.  Since I am not going after VC money and I don't make some snazzy tech gadget...I am not that woman she is thumbing her nose at.  But, I still don't like the statement - so there.

Playing Farmville Shows the Differences Between Men & Women

I hate, hate, hate Farmville.  I never ever had the desire or time to play it.  I have seen it, I have watched it being played...and I don't get he attraction.  Maybe I am biased due to my total disregard and violent hatred of the game but still, I am not sure about her comparision.  She claims that women build colorful fun farms and men build big McManssion farms, proving that is why so few women pitch to Venture Capitalists and that even fewer get funding.  Okay?  So I say to her - what does my (if I had one) fancy farm have to do with me asking or not asking for money?  That means nothing to anyone.  I think it proves that these men spend way too much time on their computers and Facebook.  Or the men that built these huge farms are actually over compensating for something. 

Women Want a Life Style Business - To Control Their Life

Okay now I am thinking she is looking at me.  I have said this, wrote this, blogged this, cried this and screamed this.  I like the control, but doesn't everybody?  I have yet to meet a 40 something woman that did not like being in control of her own life.  We can't stay 3 forever people - we need to learn how to get dressed, earn a living and use the toilet.  Am I right?  I think men start their businesses for the same reasons - to control their own destiny.  Most uber successful entrepreneurs (I am thinking Donald Trump not Louie my Dry Cleaner) even have enormous egos and love being in control of their own lives.

But What Kind of Entrepreneur am I?

The post, as you can imagine got a ton of comments (482 at last count) and most were from women  with and without biological clocks screaming at her.  When I first read it I did take it personally and got all, "Oh no she didn't...." and I wanted to write a nasty comment.  Then I read it a few more times and I was not as irritated as I sort of confused.  I mean, I agree with her on some parts of the article (that would be one part), but coming on the heels of deciding she can not and will not do it all, sort of sounds like sour grapes. 

I do know one thing, oh she is so not talking about me or  Jamie's Painting & Design.  She doesn't even know my name (see another Sixteen Candles reference...I think I will start slipping them into EVERY post from here on out).  She knows nothing about what I do, or other like-minded women in small industries do.  I tend to buy into the whole You can have it all, just not at the same time theory and my personal favorite quote, "Life is hard...deal with it".  But I also think that a woman should not be held back by a ill-concieved pretend biological clock, or her real biological children.....I am just sayin' from experience and all.

Going from Good to Great

September 20, 2010.

My son has been playing on a competitive soccer team for almost three years.  What started as just a fun after school sport has turned into an all out way of life for the Lentzner Family.  Our weekends are spent at soccer games, tournaments, wearing our favorite jerseys and subscribing to the cable soccer channel.  You don't even want to know what it was like during the World Cup - we were fanatic.  One summer afternoon while my kids were....wait for it, playing soccer I found myself devouring a special soccer edition of Sports Illustrated.  At that point, I knew we had gone too far.

Ball to the Walls

I am not sure when the constant banging started, but it has been at least a year.  The Thud. Thud. Thud, Thud, I would hear through out my house.  When my son was awake he was constantly kicking a ball, any ball around my house.  As the days morphed into weeks and then months I noticed he was always touching a soccer ball. 

If he could not find a soccer ball he would kick a beach ball, a basketball - hell I once found him juggling with balloons.  He was always methodically touching the ball as he walked through our home.  The ball was always with him, no matter where he was - he was tapping the ball. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.  Whether he was doing homework, watching TV or just putting clothes away - he was always touching the ball.  Walking to get a glass of water took 14 touches, 3 turns and then he balanced the ball on his right foot as he drank his water.  Taking a shower was heading the ball against the walls or trying to rainbow the ball into our sink before he did the dirty deed.  

At about this same time he started watching soccer on TV and attending any games he could.  He would beg us to stay for the next game on a Saturday, or watch his competition while he waited for our next tournament game.  While watching TV he started analyzing the plays, the tricks and he watched how the players controlled the ball.  He memorized the stats of European players.  He knew the Premiere league from the league in America.  He reads about soccer too, books, magazines, the internet - he has immersed himself in the sport.  

He's Got Balls Too

At one of our many soccer games last weekend I mentioned my son and his ball touching....err honing his ball skills, and how he was kicking the ball around our house to a few other parents.  I asked them if their sons did anything like this. 

One Mom laughed out loud and nodded at me.  She then went on to describe her son doing the exact same thing as my son, daily.  The hard word floors were easy for him to push the ball around effortlessly, in socks even.  However, not only did he have a soccer ball at his feet, most days he also had a baseball in his right hand, as he dribbled the soccer ball around the house. Talk about multi-tasking, I can only imagine him doing a maradona around the kitchen table while he practices his knuckle ball with his right hand.  I felt better about my son's 'touches', yet I still did not know why he did it.

That Kid Has Balls....Skills That Is

Like I said, it has been over a year of kicking the ball around and as much as I loved my son's commitment to the sport, I was tired of the Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.  All of my pleading, begging and crying for him to stop with the soccer ball in the house, only ended with me being frustrated and him continuing to touch the ball.  In one exasperated moment I blurted out to him while he was laying still reading in bed, "Why? WHY? Why are you kicking the darn ball around the house day after day, after day??"

Without missing a beat, or putting down his 500+ page book my son replied to me, "Remember about a year ago when Dad told you about how to be an expert?  I heard him say if you want to be an expert at something you need to do it a lot to get really good at it.  I want to be good at soccer, I want to play it and if I can't play in high school, college and professionally, then I want to coach.  And after I coach it maybe I will do something else.  Don't you remember Dad telling saying that?"

Actually I did recall that conversation, but I did not know he was listening.  We discussed many other factors about how success takes time, not always talent, the expression 'Practice makes Perfect' was thrown around.  Our children were in bed and we were having quite the late night intellectual conversation.  The original quote was after a sales meeting my husband attended, and his exact quote was, "If you want to be an expert at something you need to do it at least 5,000 times".

All Balls Out 

It is so simple, and so true - experts or even professional athletes do not succeed without lots and lots of practice.  I once saw Joe Montana speak at some Inspirational Positive Lecture thing.  He told this amazing story about how he first mastered throwing a football through a tire, then his Dad swung the tire and he mastered that.  His father just kept making it harder for him, and until he mastered it - he practiced. 

The thing is my son is quite good at soccer, he is very cerebral and he has great ball skill.  He is not by far the best or biggest on the team - but he there.  He is quietly honing his skills, practicing while others goof off, juggling while some play video games.  I am pretty sure he is not the Joe Montana of soccer, but he sure is trying to be.

Being an expert takes a long time, and is a huge commitment.  I started to wonder if I was an expert at running Jamie's Painting & Design?  I have made over 5,000 Name Plaques and Birth Certificates.  I am sure we have shipped over 5,000 products.  I have worked over 5,000 hours on my business and at the same time cried 5,000 tears.  Calling myself an expert sounds sort of pompous and arrogant, not sure I would stamp that on my business card. 

Becoming an expert takes time, not just talent.

My Little Boy Grows Up

This post is actually very late - I should have put it up Fall of 2009 when my son's room was actually finished.  However, we had a few last touches that we finished this summer, and in my defense I tried.  Though, every time I wanted to photograph his room....it was a mess, or he had mis-matched sheets, or worse he was in it and refused to leave. 

Change is Good

I am not one to balk at change, I can handle a little change with my life.  I get it is part of life, I understand we all grow, we get our own ideas and we....change.  You would think with my son having no had less than 3 different room designs and decorated by me, I would be all gung-ho on this new venture.  Well, trust me I was excited.  I spear-headed the shopping spree to IKEA, the search for bedding that looked like soccer but was not a cheese-fest of bright colors.  I researched the posters, I experimented with having the room painted white, tan or cream.  I was into the decorating - I DID all the decorating.

Out with the Old

When the day came last year to dismantle his room, to actually pack up his sweet bedding, his model air planes and the hand made pillows my grandmother made him.....I got a bit weepy.  I wanted to save it all, and all I did save.  I kept much of his items because I could not bare to get rid of them.  It was like I was saying good bye to my Little boy and hello to a bigger, meaner and sometimes stinkier one.  He is not yet a man, or a teenager but a tween as he is often called.  The airplane room was his, and he loved it - but it was for a little boy.  This soccer, I mean Manchester United Room - was all him, and all his idea.  Don't get me wrong, I encouraged him and I wanted him to really help us, but it was defiantly his room.

For whatever reason last year when my husband went on his yearly boozefest golf trip my parents offered to watch the kids.  I was all alone on a Saturday night so I decided to paint my son's room.  As I quickly used primer over all of my airplanes I got even more melancholy.  I so wanted the room to stay the same, or as my therapist would say (if I had one) I wanted him to stay the same.  I got it, I get it still today....and yes, looking at that picture of his old rooms still makes me sad. 

Ah, such is life and I will keep living it.  I am usually one to embrace all of my children's milestones - but this painting time I was down right weepy.  Looking back, it probably did not help that we were having a major heat wave, it was 90 degrees inside and the first time I was home alone.  I would chalk it up to hormones but I was just a wee girl of 39 back then and pretty sure it was not menopause.

It is All Soccer Baby.....I mean older Boy!

This past June Grant just graduated fifth grade and is soon going to be entering junior high.  I figured this was a good time to show off his room.  I mean, if painting over a few airplanes brings me to tears, you can only imagine what I am like envisioning him in junior high.  I will try and keep my blubbering, my experience in junior high and my urge to kiss him in public at bay these days.  It was just a bedroom, right?

So, now almost a year later I am excited by his room, I am embracing him as he tells his friends about it and how he shows it off to his soccer team.  I like that he has taken ownership (and some of my credit) for his room.  Now, my husband and I are crossing our fingers this will be our LAST re-design of our son's room before he hits college.  And, at the same time we realize that Abby is going to start wanting a new room pretty soon......

Ooops I Did it Again!

April 25, 2010.

Spring brings rain & flowers, soccer & softball and stress & lack of sleep for this little lady.  Yep, once again I find myself waking up in the middle of the night having a mini-panic attack over some forgotten item on my virtual never ending to-do list.  My eyes pop open, my heart starts beating double time and I start to verbally abuse myself (in my head of course, husband is oblivious and snoring) regarding all the things I have agreed to do.

Here We Go....Again 

I might have sort of berated my husband a few weeks ago when he was considering running for office in one of the organizations our kids are involved in.  I start ranting and raving (so he said afterwords) about how, and he quotes; "You have no time to do any of things that need to be done, our house is falling apart, all our free time is at the soccer or softball field...." 

Ya, I may have said that.  Then he got very defensive and he quickly pointed out that I should listen to my own advice.  I was pretty sure I did not volunteer for as much as he did and I swore up and down how I was trying to not volunteer.  In fact I was not on one committee next year, that I am positive of.

His response was to call the kettle black (me) and then rattle off all of the things I had not said no to, those that I had jumped at the chance of not only volunteering for, but chairing.  I decided to list the things he mentioned and come back with a witty comeback (or so I thought):  

On going Art in Action for Two Classes - I don't think I even need to explain how hard it has been to teach one to two art lessons a week....not bad, I was able to handle this.

5th Grade T-shirts & 5th Grade Movie Night - First the t-shirts were designed in December but distributed in January, not that hard of a task.  Second, the movie night was well, we made a lot of money and yes I did have a massive headache, wrote a blog post about the crazy evening.....but I survived.

Donuts for Dads - Yes, I was the chairperson, fed over 600 parents donuts, coffee etc one morning.  We had matching aprons made, created posters, designed a logo, made wooden cut-out's.  It was a ton of work, but the event was a big success so it was all worth it.....the 2 mimosas after the event did not hurt either.

Friend Turned 50 Limo Wine Bus- I took it upon myself to organize about 15 friends to take a bus to the wine country for the day.  Tons of work, tons of time organizing, on phone, on emails getting the bus and picking the wineries....it was a totally crazy fun time, even if we all paid dearly the next day.

5th Grade Graduation Donations & Meeting - This has been on-going projectfrom beginning of the year.  We need to plan a bake sale, reserve space for a pool party, raise money, and get donations.  No, I had no idea the amount of work and time this would take.....not totally doing the best job possible, but making it work, I am a little stressed, but it will be fine.

Joined a Book Club - I did this because I needed to add more to my plate, no actually I did it so I could do this monthly instead of volunteering.  I might have picked our first book AND chose to host first event and the book may be over 500 pages.  You are right, what was I thinking?  I can hardly finish reading a blog post let alone a book.

Illustrate a Children's Book - A dear friend wrote a book and asked me to do this. I am and was flattered, I am thrilled to help out and do this.  You are correct, I had no idea how much time it would take.   No worries, all will be fine though.

Organized Teacher Appreciation Week- Brought this week to school with a good friend.  Organized items for students to bring to school each day, designed a logo (seeing a trend her).  Organized 5 different days, including a meal for the teachers each day. Posters, flyers, , a meeting, agendas....alright yes I am a little freaked out or stressed about the amount of work this entails, Mommy may need a Valium.

Daughter's 1st Communion - Just a little thing like, needing fancy clothes to wear, a white dress, food for about 25 people at our home......I am sure I won't freak out and totally over plan or anything, I am so getting a headache.

The Actual Teacher Appreciation Week - At least I have a partner in crime, but we need to get a quote from students for each day, get food for teachers and decorate the Teacher's Lounge each day....it will be fine, I am sure it won't be much work, right? RIGHT?

Founder's Day- No big deal only agreed to design some of the decorations, was on the nominating committee, presenting an award or a speech or something, helping with a 5th grade bake sale during the event......really, really great idea I am thinking way to not be involved.

End of Season Soccer Party- Only 12 families and their 7 year old daughters for a potluck at our house, with games and actives for the team at a near by park.  Yep, nothing to it......Calgon take me away! 

Cousin's Wedding Shower - About 50 friends and family coming over for a lovely brunch.  We need to make the food, decorate, get the yard ready, it is all fine.  I may need to go grab a paper bag and blow into it slow like.

5th Grade Graduation Party- A pool party with all Hawaiian decorations, a photographer, organize the whole thing, design a towel, get it totally catered....Darin was right, I may start to vomit.  I need to go lay down.

5th Grade Graduation- A gift for the school, a graduation ceremony, a special gift for teachers, a brunch catered for 5th graders and families......ya, I may be, okay am starting to cry a little as I type this.

So, there you have it I will be totally fine, I don't think that sounds too bad.  Who am I kidding?  I am pretty sure the first part is admitting I have a problem.  Right? Second thing is I need to make sure no one gets any sign up sheets near me anytime soon.....I mean it.  No one is allowed to ask me to volunteer again, ever!

Not a Bad Wig*

February 1, 2010

Me being me, I always try to do something creative with almost everything I do.  Whether it is a dinner party, a holiday or a child's birthday.  I enjoy taking it to the next level.  It usually works out, I usually knock it out of the park and everyone is happy I went that extra mile.  This is not one of those times. 

I am the chairperson for an event at school for our students & their fathers,  they bring their children and everyone eats donuts 1 day before school starts.  This year I thought it would be fun to go with a whole theme, you know with matching colors and decorations.  The feather in our cap was that we got Krispy Kreme donuts for the big event, so I thought let's go Retro, big pink and turquoise.  My committee all agreed to dress like waitresses and even sport beehive wigs.  I could not believe they were such good sports, but they were.  My job was to order them on line.

Now this may seem like a silly task to some, but I had to do my research and I had to find the perfect wig, and um I wanted it to be pink.  I was also working within a budget and I needed 10 wigs.  I found (what I thought) a great on line costume store, I confirmed they had more than 10 in stock and I was stoked.  Better yet, the wigs were only $14.99 - damn, I am great at this, right? Ya, no.  Job done, project finished I just waited for them to arrive.

I could hardly stand it when they arrived this past Saturday.  I ripped the box open and the first thing was the color.  The pink was all wrong - the box had a light pink cotton candy color looking beehive, the one I had was more fluorescent pink, or licked cotton candy.  No big deal. I put the wig on and looked in the mirror.  Oh GAWD!  The wig had sections of hair poking out and sticking in all directions.  The nice coiffed wig I expected looked more like something an extra from a Dr. Seuss Musical would wear.  It was not good.  Not to mention the wig was sporting a mullet.  I was wearing a bright pink beehive mullet, I did not even know that hair style existed!  This was bad.....

I had my son take a picture of me in the wig, and I took one of the woman on the box it came in.  I typed out this quick email to the manufacturer:

Dear Don,

On January 26, 2010 I ordered 10 of your pink beehive wigs #50813.  My purchase order is 39784.  The wigs that I received and the picture of the wig on the box (and on your site) is completely different.  Not only does the wig not fit, it is crooked and the hair is sticking out in many directions.  The color is not the same as the picture on the box.  I have no idea how I can use these wigs.  Please see the attached picture of me wearing the wig, and the picture of the wig advertised on your site.

Please advise - as I am pretty sure these are NOT the same wigs I ordered.

Jamie Lentzner

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Jamie,

After a wig that size has been stored in a box like that, it will need some styling with a comb and a little hairspray before being worn.  If you would like to send the wigs back, I can only give you a store credit at my costume store and I can not accept any returns on wigs that have been tried on, that is against health regulations.

I am sorry that you are not satisfied with the wigs, but that really is not a bad wig for that price range and I have sold many of them with no complaints.  Wtih a little styling the wig would look much better than the image you sent me.

Please let me know how you would like to proceed.

Don

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Dear Don,

Well, I understand that the wig was shoved into a box, but the wig I received and the picture on the box are two totally different wigs.  The color is not even remotely close.  Also, the hair on the back of the wig near my neck is like a mullet.  It touches my shoulders.  No where in the description of the wig does it say "beehive mullet".  I assure you that was not the look I was going for.  The box also says Deluxe Quality with an exclamation mark, I question your definition of quality.  I can accept not taking returns had I just not liked the product, however your site has false advertising.  And citing a "not a bad wig for that price range" is beside the point.  Again, this wig does not resemble the photograph on your site.

I will try and cut the mullet off and style the wig today.  I do not have much of a choice as the event is next Wednesday.  I also do not have much use with a "credit" at your costume store in February.

Please feel free to use the photo I sent you on your site, so your customers know exactly what they are getting.

Jamie Lentzner

*About once a month I am going to share a little more about me, my life and what goes on at home.  Even though this blog is mostly about my business, I can not help letting some of my personality slip in.

What I Do Does Matter to My Children....That is All That Matters

May 31, 2009

Sheesh, this has been a long year, wait that is not what I mean, it is not even half way over.  What I mean is this school yearhas been looooong.  I am not the only one at my little school that thinks this way - it has been an interesting year to say the least.  When we get out of school and the dust has settled, and I am no longer living in it, I will go into it....in great detail possibly.  Many will not believe the storm I have weathered.....living in my own little Harper Valley PTA if you will. 

Wake me When the Economy Picks Up

The whole year has not been bad, it has just not been a great year with JPD, but like I said not even half way over.  Even, with the Economy pretty much sucking for those of us in retail - it is going okay.  People ask me all the time, "How is business?"  My answer is - slow.  It has been the same answer for, oh let's see the past eight months. 

I know that not everyone is slow - but I am.  And I am fine with it.  Let's face it, in this blog I am also willing to be honest....and not everyone is.  I just don't have the time to put a spin on it.  Things are slower for everyone I am pretty sure, I just can't prove it.  I am not dumb enough to think that this will last forever, may be a slower than usual summer, but I do believe that this too shall pass........right? 

However, there is a bright spot for me this year.  I am waiting to go over our numbers for May because we sort of hit it out of the park in May.  We had our huge sale of Princess Plates to a certain someone in Tinsel Town, and of course our Tile Fundraiser we did for my children's school. 

My children's school also benefited from the slow economy, as I was able to take on more at school.  I spent time volunteering in my children's classes, helping with school functions and pretty much doing anything and everything that was asked of me.  And as my husband will tell you, they took complete advantage of the situation. 

Took on Way Too Many Projects

I am thinking this is not an unusual problem for many Mom's to have, especially working Mom's.  I took on too much this past year......and if you tell my husband that I admitted this I may have to come kill you.  Keep it on the down low k?  I feel I spent more time on campus than I did at work, probably too much time on campus.  Just so you can see what I am talking about, here are a few things what I have taken on this past school year:

• Room Mom for daughter's 1st grade class
• Art in Action Teacher  for 60 (yes 60) 4th graders
• Chair for Reflections (a PTA art contest thing for entire school)
• Joined a fund raising committee and designed t-shirts, plus wrote skit for assembly
• Regularly organizing a weekly, monthly cocktail party for the Mom's from our school
• Took the 60 4th graders art and  put it on tiles for the holidays
• Got 60 4th grader's art ready for Art Show and did special End of Year Game Show
• Made special tile for students to give baby gorilla at SF Zoo
• Took my daughter's 20 1st graders art and put it on tile for Mother's Day
• Agreed to help make decorations for 8th grade graduation, that consisted of designing a San Francisco skyline for the entire ball room, painting a 5 ft round moon and um I DON"T EVEN HAVE AN EIGHTH GRADER! 
• Chaired a Wall Art Tile Project for our school AND owned company that did the project  that consisted of; forming a committee, making flyers, brochures, planning an assembly, making posters, an art day for 620 students to design their tile, getting 444 tiles onto boards and grouted for display in the lunch court and another assembly on top of that to unveil the tiles..........anyone else exhausted?

Yep, the last one just about sent me over the edge....oh wait did I forget to mention that I sort of kind of tripped 2 weeks ago?  Ya, I was just going out the back  door and the stair jumped out and tripped me, I rolled my ankle, cut up my shin and killed my prized 20 pound palm tree plant that was in a super cute black pot?  Ya, so if you can imagine the last two weeks have been spent on crutches.....yes crutches....I hate crutches - you know why I am a tad bit overwhelmed.  I am even starting to resent those of you out there with two perfectly good working legs.  I so wish I could walk, talk and carry things at the same time! 

Not Another Pity Party Jamie?

After many tears this past year and realizing that I could not do it all, I started to feel real sorry for myself last week.  I had a mountain of work to do for my real  job business and I had another pile of responsibilities for things I had volunteered for.  Don't get me wrong - all me, all my fault and all totally avoidable.  No one signed me up for the company I started, the kids I had or the many numerous committees I decided to join chair this past year.  I have come to the conclusion once again that I can not do it all, I mean I can not do it all well.  Next year, I have to leave something for others to do.

Going Somewhere I Have Never Gone

Which brings me to last Thursday night and what happened to me.  At our school we have something called Founder's Day.  This is a big event in our school's gymnasium with anyone and everyone that wants to attend.  The PTA swears in and votes for the next year's officers, the 5th graders have a bake sale to raise money for......something, I refuse to find out till I have a 5th grader.  A couple of classes are asked to perform 2 songs.  Then, the PTA  gives out awards to teachers, staff and parents that have gone above and beyond the call of duty.  I have never (up until last week) attended Founder's Day.  To be honest it sounded dreadfully boring and I had no reason to attend.

After sitting through 8 songs by a 1st and a 3rd grade class (it was supposed to be 2 but I am guessing Math is not a subject either teacher excels in) they started handing out awards.  And I must mention that after my crutches fell over and the ENTIRE audience turned around to look at me.........I won an award.  I did!  I did not volunteer for this accolade, I could care less about some certificate in a frame.  I did not really want to gimp my way up to the podium to accept it.  I was humbled, I was honored, but again NOT why I volunteered.  Now, my children had a different take on the night.......

Appreciation in My Children's Eyes

When my friend started describing me and listing the crazy things I volunteered for the things I had done and describing me without using my name, my daughter's face lit up.  Her eyes got big, she turned to me with the biggest smile on her face and she said, "That's you, it's you Mommy!"  To my right my son sat.  He started laughing, looked up to me and said, "I knew it!  I knew you would get an award!"

As I slowly made it up to the stage my two biggest fans sat and clapped, and clapped and clapped.  They were so proud, they were so happy for me.  And they are the reason I do, or did all that I did this year.  I have no regrets.  I am happy that it meant so much to them...........I got more pleasure out of those two comments from them than anything I have done this year. 

My business will be here when they grow up and don't need me at school.   All of the headaches I got and crazy political garbage I had to deal with will be long forgotten.  These years that they need me at school, want me at school will be also be long gone.  But the memories will not.  I will remember that I was there for them when they needed me, but more importantly they will remember I was there.

Maria Shriver came to Town

April 30, 2008.

So, this whole blogging thing has been therapeutic for me, and it (I hope) has helped other female entrepreneur mommy types of women too....so I have been told.  I did not start blogging for the perks  that would soon be reaped by me and my stellar blog.  However, every once in awhile you do get a perk, and I got one last night.  Since I also blog for the Silicon Valley Mom Blog I got invited to a private book signing and apparently a "Gab Fest", as reported by the San Jose Mercury News.   Well la-de-dah, at least our "gabbing" was done in private, a  private book signing that is.  We were also treated to a new ice cream, from Lovin' Scoopful that Maria and her brother came out with, and they donate 25% of proceeds to Special Olympics, thank you very much.

Just Who Will You Be?

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of her book a few weeks ago and read it in a few hours.  It is a sweet little book about what you will do with your life, how will you make yourself happy. I think this book did exactly what she wanted it to do - make people take a long hard look with how they are spending their lives.  I mean not what you do but who you are.

Better than the book was meeting Maria in person, and she was sweet.  She is very passionate about her dreams, her life and her family.  I got to actually speak with her and she asked about what I did, and if I was living my dream (she actually asked ME?).  I of course answered I was and she asked me how my husband handled that, did he support me?  I told her he did and she asked how I got him to do that - I told her,  "He is just like that"  Maria laughed and repeated what I said a few times and said, "I like that".  I am pretty sure I made a major impression on her, and she is calling Madam Oprah to tell her all about me.....(kidding, kidding)

My two favorite quotes from  last night were these two quotes; When she was asked about finding balance and Maria said: "I've kind of just discovered at this ripe old age that one of the great gifts I found is to mother my own mother, and to give to my own kids the gift that they are enough at any age.  They don't have to go off and score or do great on their SAT for them to be loved."

At the end of the Q&A session and her short presentation she left us with this; "The question is what are you going to do with this wild and precious life of yours?  I decided to put my wild and precious life at the end of the line is no longer acceptable. The gift I'm trying to give my children is letting them understand that they have a wild and precious life and they should live it."

It was very refreshing to read her book, Just Who Will You Be at this time in my life.  I am happy, I am doing what I want to do, I do have a great supportive family also.  I am very, very lucky - I know.  This book just makes you stop and think about what you are doing with your life, and who are you spending it with?  Her speaking was even better though - she really makes you stop and think about what is important to you and your family.

Now What?

Which brings me to my next topic..........blogging.  If you are a frequent reader, or just stop by every once in a blue moon you have probably noticed the blogs are less frequent, especially the last few months.  And in my opinion (it's okay I can say this, I write it) not as good.  I am trying not go to that cross-road place and NOT stop, I really am.  I am not stopping, I am just taking a break, like you know Ross & Rachel, "we were on a BREAK!"

At this time I am really busy; I have a few (that would be 4) very large projects, a trip, new Christmas products, running the business, 2 blogs to write and just living my life.  There are not enough hours in the day it seems for me to blog these days.  The worst part is I miss it, I really do.  I may even go back and post some of my favorite posts........or send you to some other great blogs.  I am not sure what is next, but I do know that time is of the essence and I don't have any extra time!   I am not quitting (I don't think I could) I just may need to take a blogging sabbatical for a few weeks, if I can stay away that is.

7 Things You Do Not Know

March 25, 2008.

With St. Patrick's Day and Easter in the same week, entertaining, baking, cooking and school parties and I even got some work done and blogged twice...yes my brain is mush I tell you.  And when I was not paying attention someone snuck me a....."meme"?  Is that even what you young people call it?  I am not even sure I know what to do with it, I will probably do it all wrong.

I really do not do these "tagged" things well, I think that I give a lot of information away, and that I have divulged enough dirty laundry about moi on this blog.  However, a certain Miss Domestic Diva thinks not - so she tagged me.  Let me say this is the last time I am tagged, I am not doing this again, thank you very much.  You need to list 7 things about yourself, link person who tagged you, list 7 peeops to tag - and then go comment on their blogs....I think that is it.

So, in case you wanted more information about me (oh please, does anyone even care?) here I go:

1. I tried out for the cheer leading squad in high school twice - even though I can not dance.
2. When I got married I insisted that my husband and I were going to have five children.
3. I can't stand velvet
4. I am a sucker for any Gangster (no not Gangsta') movies, books, articles, etc.
5. I never exercise
6. I laugh when people fall, or trip - don't worry I laugh when I fall too.
7. I met my husband at a bar in San Francisco - but since they served food (peanuts) we told our relatives it was a restaurant....don't rat me out, Grandma still believes.

Oh my that was so painful, let me tell you.  If you could please not bring up the whole cheer leading thing again, I would be mighty grateful.  I thought I gave it all up to everyone all the time - who knew I had more dirt to share on myself.  Now I must forward this to seven bloggers - tough one.  Here I go: London, Vicki, Carrie, Michelle, Amber, Amber, Sarah Jane.  Please don't shoot the messenger - sorry ladies, I really had no choice....

A Belated Birthday Wish

February 6, 2007.

I am not even quite sure when the last time I posted, I have had two sick children home for 4 days, a night out, woke up Sunday with fever and coughing up a spleen, two doctors appointments - and missed my mother's birthday yesterday. 

Since I am still coughing so hard I almost pass out , I have been banished to work from home today.  And, today IS the first day I am sitting upright - oh the joys of winter colds.  Sadly, yesterday was my Mother's birthday and I did not get to see her, we did not get to go out for dinner and I did not get to post what I wanted to.  So, even though it is belated - it is still heartfelt:

Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday...yes, this is belated, and I am sorry I did not get to see you yesterday.  I was thinking I would do one of those cute rhyming poems you used to do when we were little - but it sounded totally lame and I scratched that idea.  I wanted to take this time to tell you how much I really appreciate you and all that you do.

1. Thank you for always being there for my kids, for always watching them at a moment's notice
   and never complaining...even when they mis-behave.  Well, I would not know whether they were ever bad, apparently there is this "What happens at Nana's Stays at Nana's" mantra the kids are always mumbling when they come home.
2. Thank you for always being there for me whether I ask you to or not - you come and help me at home, at work, with the children, with family cooking disasters....you just show up and help me out.  Many of my children's "over the top" birthday parties would not have been the success without the help from you....and yes I do promise to never, ever, ever do home-made snow cones again - I swear!
3. Thanks for always supporting me, no matter how crazy you might have thought my idea was.   You never questioned I would not be a success, and when other parents may have not supported art as a career - you stood behind me and always supported my choices.  I know there was that crazy few weeks at the end of college when I did um, think I might travel around the country as a representative for my sorority after graduating, and you did squash that pretty quickly - but other than that (and I deserved it) you have always been my biggest supporter.
4. Thanks for always taking my other child....no not Darin, my four legged little person covered with fur.  I know she can be a bit much sometimes, and tends to mouth off and howl around dinner time....or uh, an hour before dinner time that is.  Oh, and I realize she has been known to actually get back in bed after you made it, but I do appreciate you always taking care of her when we are away.  She loves to go to Nana's house too.
5. Thanks for always being there for Darin and I - no matter what you are there for us.  You have always helped us out, been there for us - and never complained.  We are so lucky to have you and Dad live so close by - not so close that you show up every night un-announced for dinner - but close enough that you can be here if we need you.
6. Thanks for your sense of humor - and I am so glad I got it!  You always know when to laugh at a situation, or when to um squirt us with the water while doing the dishes.  Sometimes all we can do is laugh - and you always make us feel better.  Of course it's better when we are laughing at someone else, and not you laughing at me - but still,  the laughing is good.

Hope you had a wonderful birthday and thanks for always being a great mom!  Hope to see you soon....once I stop coughing, and sneezing.

Love,
Jamie

Family Always Comes First

December 28, 2007

The past few weeks have been very difficult for our family.  I have not been able to focus on very many things - family has come first.  Nothing has gotten much of my attention; the business, home life, duties at school, the house or the blog for that matter. 

Sometimes life gets in the way of your plans, and sometimes you have to just drop everything and be there for your family members.  That is the major perk about being the boss - I get to make family first and damn-it no one gets in my way.

The End of an Era

Early yesterday morning my Grandfather passed away.  So, unfortunately I am ending this year on a sad note with a loss.  I am blessed I was able to know him for so long, and even my children were able have a wonderful relationship with their Great Grandfather. 

The last two weeks we have had family members come to visit from all over the country, all the while trying to keep the business running, hug and kiss our children and make sure that Christmas was not canceled.  Not sure if I mentioned earlier but both my parents work with me at Jamie's Painting & Design - so it has been a double whammy to say the least.

I am very thankful to friends, family, employees and even strangers for helping us out, stepping up to the plate and pretty much making sure we got everything done we needed to get done.

What the Blog Has Become

It is strange how important this blog has become...well to me anyway.  It is more than a "day in the life...blah, blah, look at my cute kids" blog, I find this blog helps me through the good and the bad times, even though  I am probably more honest than I should be.  I have been told that if I tell everyone all my secrets to success there will be nothing left.  Lastly, I am an open book when it comes to some topics, I don't keep much to myself, and no don't worry I am not going again there again.

I will pick back up with the Entrepreneurs when the dust settles, and the relatives (returning once again) have packed up and gone home.  I am not sure when I will post again, I am sure it won't be long before I feel the need to dump here, I even have an article sitting here that has me pretty peeved.

"Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying.  Then we might live life to the limit, every moment of every day.  Do it!  I say.  Whatever you want to do, do it now!  There are only so many tomorrows." - Pope John Paul VI

The End of the Halloween

November 3, 2007.

So....I had to let you all know where my witty dry sense of humor and total sarcastic attitude came from.  I am happy, or not to say that it came from my mother. 

She has a way of laughing at people when they fall down (even it she was only eight years old and an elderly couple fell on the escalator at the mall and then had to ride it all the way to the second floor....on their backs) to her way pointing out  an embarrassing situation.  She has been known to snort a few times when she laughs too hard.

But I digress, I would like to show you who she decided to dress like.  She took it upon herself to also talk and type on her blackberry all day long, carry a very fancy purse and say things like, "I don't have time to volunteer I have a business and two kids you know."  and her all time favorite, "This stinks!"

Behold my mother.......dressed up for Halloween - like ME!

Happy October, and another shout out to Atlanta!

So I have been wanting to change the blog for quite awhile.  I figured it should be a reflection of my artwork, instead of looking like a college student's Photo shop project that went awry.  Having majored in Computer Art in college, I know my way around Photo shop and I used to use those special effects on EVERYTHING I did - swirly? drop shadow? pixelated? You got it!  The more special effects the better.  I like my drawings better...hope you do too!

I also, uh added a fabulous new photo of me dressed up, in costume.  And after close introspection, and the uh, advice of my sister - I added a disclaimer that said it IS a costume....I can only imagine what would happen when Oprah decides to start reading my blog and catches me in that turquoise eye shadow!  I did love myself some turquoise eyeliner in high school though...sorry it's the truth!

Atlanta, My Georgia Peach!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, uh stress and entrepreneurship pretty much go hand in hand.  You can not have one (well not successful) with out the other at some point in your companies history.  Unfortunately for me I did not know how poorly my body would deal with stress.....until I started Jamie's Painting & Design.  I tend to get sick easily when stressed (duh!) and yes, I am worried about the long term affects.

Right after I returned from Atlanta, with my tail between my legs, jet lag and a pile of work to do I noticed I lost my voice.  I am positive London and I left it somewhere between isle 1900 and the Budweiser cart, but needless to say I have not seen or heard it since.  Now I am not saying I am mute, just well - let's say I have a very sexy 'come hither' smoker's voice.....minus the wonderful wet throaty cough.  I can not yell or scream.  I can not raise my voice (any of you with kids, know that this can be a bit of a problem....).

After two doctor, no make that three visits and a very intrusive long camera thingie shoved (yes I said shoved) down my nose all the way into my throat I got a diagnosis.  My left vocal cord is paralyzed.  They have no idea how it happened, or why, probably a virus that attacked my vocal cord.  I get to have a cat scan in a few weeks (oh joy!) to make sure there is nothing else wrong with me, and to make sure I do not have any other 'odd ailment'.

So, damn-it when Oprah calls (yes I am sure she will someday!) to have me on her show I won't have much of a voice.  I am forced to speak quiet (and carry a big stick....ya, ya - I am actually a fantastic whistler so I am forced to do that to get attention sometimes) and rest my voice, and wait an entire year until the powers that be (Doctor experts) know if it is permanently paralyzed, or not.

Thanks Atlanta - another great thing to come out of that trip!  Really I can not WAIT (not) to go back!  Maybe next time I can get my other vocal cord paralyzed there....and for those of you that think I got this because I talk to much (my husband thinks that is the funniest joke) you would be incorrect.  As my Doctor has informed me, I have a very fragile immune system.....more good news!

Freedom...free........erh.......Flexibility!!!

August 27, 2008.

Okay so I have a bit of a predicament to deal with tomorrow - a real kawink-a-dink, a conundrum if you will.......oh what the - it SUCKS!  I get to go put my Mommy britches on and be a real Mama Bear.  Let's just say that IF I worked for "the Man" or "Boss Lady" I would need to take the day off.  However, I work for myself, and (puffing chest out and pounding it with my fists) I am the boss.  So, my uh....problem will get to be dealt with immediately - work will wait.

I get to be the bad gal, girl, lady, mom - pretty much you can just try and think of that mother in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle....ya I am gonna be one bad-ass Mommy.  There seems to be a little um, "mis-communication" (and yes, I am standing here doing the quotation marks with my hands when I say this).   I need to go and meet with the principal at my son's (and now daughter's) school and uh.....well, I will hopefully be able to "fix" (yes air quotes again) the situation.

The nice thing is that I have the freedom to just DO IT.  I can stick around all day, I can pace, I can picket, I can cry, I can make meetings, I can do WHATEVER it takes to "fix" ( ya, ya, you know the drill) the problem.  Being a Mompreneur I have that luxury to stick around - as much as I love what I do, and I love my business, I love my children more.  Well.....cross your fingers I can fix this.  I often hear from mothers all over the country asking, thinking, wishing they could start a business - and I tell them the truth about it.  But, I honestly wish them the BEST of luck and hope that they do it - I love the prospect of another Mother starting her own business - I support them 100%!  To be in charge of your own destiny is huge....it is pretty awesome. 

So.......that being said I am feeling very generous (and vulnerable) today and I thought I would put something out there.  Why don't ya check this website out?

www.jamiespnd.com

Hmmm, have you been to the site?  Do you need a new ornament?  Would ya? Could ya?  Well as of yesterday my super-duper webmaster (here is the disclaimer that the big wigs use - he is my cousin's husband but I still love him dearly) posted all of our new products up on our site.  We have really expanded our line of products  (yes....251 different products) and hope to continue to do this.  The absolute joy I find creating new products and then having them become best- sellers on our site, other sites....well it is just AWESOME!!!  But, I digress:

I have a a request: Anyone, everyone that leaves a "comment" on this blog about the website (good or bad - please be honest!) will receive a free ornament (Small ornament the retail is $20.00).  You can email your personal information to [email protected] - I swear I will not SPAM you!  So, you pick, which one you want - but you MUST leave a comment about the site - good or bad!!  The comment has to be on the blog, and the constructive criticism will be appreciated!  And your address will be a big help....

So go on out there people!  Take a risk......I know YOU read the blog!!!  It's easy....feedback is the big part of writing a blog.

Don't make me beg, it is soooo un-ladylike!

My True Passion - Birthday Parties

August 15, 2007.

I bet you thought it was cartoons, or drawing or rhinestones........well truth be told I will always have a soft spot in my heart for rhinestones....and glitter!  I do love myself things that are all sparkly and covered in glitter.  When I was tad younger (oh let's say I was five) I used try and wear jewelry to school, basically sneak the contra-band into kindergarten.  They would send me home with a baggie pinned to my back with my precious jewels inside - telling my mother that "Jamie has trouble drawing in class when she has a ring on all ten of her fingers".

Alas, but no my passion is... I love, love, LOVE throwing my kid's birthday parties.  I just go to town with the whole theme thing - and the invites, the cake, the decor, the games, even the food is all wrapped around one theme.  Trust me with a five year old and an almost eight year old (boy and girl) I have done MOST parties.

Abby turned five so we did a "Build Your Own Bear" Party.  Since she has like 12 bears from that place, I did not want to go there once again.  So we got our own bears, and made our own clothes.  Each child got five Bear Bucks to spend on a bear, bear clothes, decorate a bear cookie, face painting, popcorn, and lemonade.

Some easy things I did for the "Build Your Own Bear" party:

• Invites were simple, with teddy bear stickers that the kids helped me decorate.  We (my mom that is ) wrote about Abby's Beary Special Day...
• Chocolate cupcakes from the bakery we decorated with Teddy Grahams
• Bears were ordered on line for under a $1.00 each
• Clothes were made from felt, lace can make great skirts, rhinestones for earrings, blush on the cheeks, even fake eyelashes, hats from the craft store even.
• Teddy Bear cookies made ahead of time, the kids got to cover with frosting and sprinkles
• Decorated backyard with teddy bears
• Played Teddy, Teddy, Bear when the natives got restless (Duck, Duck, Goose)
• Painted small brown teddy bears on kids cheeks

The problem with this party idea is the kids were done dressing the darn bears in 1/2 an hour so we had to improvise, and run next door to the park to blow off some steam.  And, uh the sugar probably did not help, but oh well - figure why not pump the kids full of crap....then send them home.

Of course best part of staying with the theme, is letting my daughter be a part of the decorating and the planning.  As you can see from the 47 bears on her bed, she uh........well she likes bears.

This is what I spend my free time doing....planning birthday parties.

Isn't it Ironic?

August 8, 2006.

So, my last post was all about "finding the time" and how I was able to multi-task OH SO well.  Look at me I am so organized and together.....acknowledging it was the worst thing.  Now look at me, I am behind on everything!

Well, truth be told we did go on vacation for a week to Mexico, with my children.  There was a little, um, melt-down, cold sweats, going through with drawl around last Wednesday from being away from the office.  My husband quickly found a cold margarita and some chips and salsa to drown out my sorrows.

So, being away from the business sure puts work in perspective, oh not for me - for everyone else I work with that was still working last week.  I did not expect this - but, leaving for a week forces everyone that is picking up after you to REALLY understand the business.  When they have to actually DO what you DO.

Talking is great, email is great, big slides, wipe boards, waving your arms around (pst... crying helps too).  However, walking a mile in my shoes when I can not be reached - teaches you quite a bit.  And don't get me wrong I was not looking for sympathy for how hard it is to run a business.  It is just that I tend to get a lot and I mean A LOT of suggestions from people I work with and even those that I don't. 

Bottom line we did come up with some great solutions, some easy ways to do things.  We have put the 'finding an office person' on the fast track before the holidays hit.  Shipping and gift wrap have been re-organized, printing has been improved, scheduling, etc.  I have been given lists of 'ways' to improve, everyone seems to be buzzing about what we need to do now.

Now who wants to clean the toilet this week?   

High & Low for the Day

July 18, 2006.

About a year ago my family started doing 'high for the day and low for the day' at the dinner table.  We thought it was a good way to keep us all posted on all the going's ons of our days (nursery school, grammar school, JPD, my husbands work, time with sitter).  My daughter, at the mere age of 3 did not quite get it and always insisted we tell our silliest part of the day'.

Well, we have not done it in awhile, however while I was bathing my daughter I started thinking about my lows for today :

• Tiles did not show up that were promised yesterday
• UPS tried to deliver something but missed me by 2 minutes
• A tile arrived at a customers home broken by Fed Ex
• I am inking birth Certificates tonight
• Major Contract needs to be filled out tonight
• All products ready for photo shoot Thursday

Now, as I do with my kids I must do my 'high's', and I only have one

• My son and daughter, a total fluke, are going to be on the Weather Channel this Saturday morning

The enthusiam of my children will always energize me, regardless of the amount of lows I experience in any given day.