New Year, slightly delayed

Happy New Year! As the first few days of 2020 come to a close, I cannot help but look back on what 2019 had to offer. It was definitely a year of ups and downs for me both professionally and personally.  And the truth is, I started this blog post 3 weeks ago and 2020 did not get started the way I had planned.  I apologize for the delay and lack of engagement.  I am ready to get the year started off right!

In 2017, one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to hire someone to work with me at Julie’s Beet. I made that happen in 2017 but in early 2019, it became clear that that relationship was ending.  It was a wonderful having someone to bounce ideas off of and help out with the workload, but it just didn’t make sense anymore.  We parted ways amicably and I started to look for someone new. It isn’t always easy to find the perfect person especially in a small business like mine.  Thus, the search continues… On the flip side, working by myself has forced me to be more efficient in my actions and more purposeful as well. It has forced me to become more of a planner and less of a last minute person.  I look at this as a positive.  On a positive note for 2019, my family grew by one.  We welcomed a healthy baby boy in August and he has become my partner in crime over the past 5 months.  While he doesn’t have so much to say, he is a very good listener and is always there to lend a smile when needed.  Pretty soon, he will also be able to taste the products and will become a much better helper!

Looking ahead to 2020, I have made some resolutions or goals for my business.  I’m going to share them with you so you can hold me accountable.

  1. Update the IT system – While there’s not too much tech work at Julie’s Beet there is some. I need to give the whole ‘system’ an update starting with a new laptop computer, having something with more storage and power will allow me to be more efficient at task at hand. I also plan on updating parts of the website, making it more user friendly.
  2. Find the Right Help – I mentioned above that I have been working solo for most of the last year. In the past I  created a position that combined many skills from customer service to marketing to packing and shipping. The truth is, it is pretty difficult to find someone who excels in all of the these areas. I plan to divide and conquer, which may mean hiring a marketing specialist in addition to someone to help out around the shop.  At the end of the day finding the right person for the specific task is most important.
  3. Stay Fresh – I love all of the products in the marketplace(they wouldn’t be there if I didn’t) but I also feel it is important to keep the products relevant. If something is amazing but just isn’t what you all want, then it is time to find something else. I get it, just because I love something doesn’t mean you will too!  My plan is to continue looking for new and innovative artisans that follow our goals and bring those artisans and their products to you!

And with this list I plan to go out and give my all in 2020!

Happy Friday,

Julie

Here we go, 2019!

Happy New Year!  I hope 2019 has started off well for all of you.  We have a tradition of hosting New Year’s Eve at our home and this year was not different. I believe this may have been the tenth year we hosted but who’s counting, right?  The party has changed over the years as we’ve gotten older and children came into the picture.  We’ve had parties end at 4am but now we’re starting at 6pm and if you’re still standing at 10pm, I’ll kindly offer you something to go!  That gives me enough time to clean up and join my husband on the couch to watch the ball drop before heading swiftly off to bed.  The kids don’t get the memo that they’re supposed to sleep later on New Year’s Day!

As we start a new year, there seems to be a lot of pressure to make new resolutions and make changes to your life. Like most people, my resolutions tend to be similar from year to year, meaning I don’t quite get that part of my life resolved as I had hoped.  As I look ahead to 2019, I’ve decided I should concentrate on the parts of my life that are great and keep them that way instead of adding something else to my plate. I juggle a lot as a mother of three small boys, a wife and a small business owner.  Like that tradition of hosting New Year’s Eve, here are some of the pieces of my life I resolve to keep running as smoothly as they are.

  1. Schedules:  We’re a very busy household with 5 different schedules for work, school, classes and playdates. I keep most of our dates in my handy iPhone calendar and post the important ones on our family calendar.  Each year, I create a calendar which lists the birthdays of friends and family and has photos from the past year. It is a great way to keep us on point and enjoy some memories from the past year.
  2. Exercise:  I used to work out 6 days a week, that was before having kids.  With three of them running around it is often difficult to carve out time for myself to get the exercise I need.  Last April I joined Obe Fitness and can work out in the privacy of my own home at 6am before anyone else wakes up.  In addition to these workouts 3 days a week, I aim for 1 day of yoga, 1 run and 1 other workout(Physique 57, Fhitting Room, Swimming). I strive to keep that going through 2019 to keep my body and mind healthy!
  3. Healthy Eating:  I love cooking and cook a lot for myself and my family which equates to healthier eating.  Typically for the grown-ups at home I keep the meals low carb with lots of vegetables and healthy proteins.  The kids get their fair share of pasta and potatoes but usually mixed with some healthy proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables.  French fries and milkshakes are a staple when we’re eating out but balancing that with healthy home cooking keeps us on a well-balanced diet.  And my go-to snack during the day is a mix of almonds, raisins and chocolate chips… a little bit of sweet to complement the protein in the nuts and get me through the afternoon.

What are your resolutions for 2019?

Happy Friday,

Julie