My Little Turkeys!

I think it has been since the time change, Halloween weekend, but my kids have been acting a little nuts!  They have been pestering each other and defiant to John and me, and I have been a little under the weather so that doesn't help things.  John and I were about to turn the lights out the other night and we started to look at the personality traits and gifts of each of our three lil "turkeys".  They are all outgoing, but one is a free spirit, one is a rule follower, and the other is a born leader.  It dawned on me that their "gifts" are there strong wills, their "can do it myself" spirits, their outgoing personalities, AND their challenging behaviors!  And, I have to admit, these three little "turkeys" came from two pretty strong willed parents.  Yikes!  As we face the Holiday Season, and the next 10 years, I must remember to arm myself with the "Love and Logic" principles, but I also need to remember to celebrate these little turkeys, as they are blessings.  I am so thankful I have a husband who reminds me of the blessings and the gifts God has given us, and reminds me that all the little trials will make our children smart, successful adults one day.  So "Peanut", "Pickle", and "Princess": I love you. Happy Thanksgiving to all! 

Rest and Be Still

Well, today started off my normal race to get a million things done, and I felt a little under the weather, so reluctantly decided to stay home and relax.  I am almost NEVER alone, and it felt a little weird, but I decided I would lay on the couch and watch "Facing the Giants".  Wow, what a great, inspiring movie!  I got so much accomplished!  In just a few weeks I will have my Business Planning Retreat, and in usual style, I am not ready!  Little did I know that my need for rest would inspire me, and give me tons of "goodies" for my meeting.  I actually planned almost the entire agenda, with notes, inspiational thoughts, and activities, and enjoyed the silence of my own home.  Sometimes, when it seems like you are getting nothing done, and having to push things to the next day, something very important and meaningful happens. Just taking the time to be still and quiet can bring great clarity to a very hectic world.  Too bad a stuffy head and throat had to be the reason.  Here's wishing you rest and stillness.  It may be your most meaningful time today.

Curbside Groceries: My New Lifesaver!

Ok, so you know that I don't have time to cook, and that every business with a curbside or drive thru gets my business.  What about this?  I got groceries delivered to my home last night!  I wanted to wait to see how it turned out before I blogged it, but Rice Epicurean delivered to me.  I went online, selected items, and a time to be delivered.  My hubby wasn't home, and I had to run to get my kids, so I called the store and they said they would communicate with Eric, the delivery driver, to come when I could be home.  He unloaded everything into crates and brought the dolly to my front door.  He brought everything into my house and put it down in order of dry goods, frozen, deli, produce etc.  I checked the list against the items, he swiped my card and he was out in about 10 minutes.  Between the order and delivery, I spent about 30 minutes, and I don't think I spent anymore than I would have in the store.  I really looked for items to be pricy, and there was no delivery fee since it was the first time.  Next time it will be $9.99, but I am sure I usually spend about $5 on gas, and it takes me about 2 hours from start to finish to get groceries with kids and it is stressful and I buy DVDs, candy and snacks we don't need just to keep them busy while we shop.  Plus, I can't keep them on lock down, and someone always has to tee tee right in the middle of the shopping experience!  Can we also talk about how at times, it seems like it is going smoothly, and then you get to the checkout and there is a huge "discussion" about candy bars and gum.  There is a supermarket in Ireland called Superquinn, where the owner, Fergal removed all candy and impulse buys from the cashier counter due to the overwhelming results from customer focus groups!  His sales went up drastically because he catered to the customers' needs.  He also values customer complaints more than compliments because he says you can affect major change with complaints and compliments sometimes give the staff a sense that they don't have to work because they have "arrived".  I have experienced this in my own business and it is so rewarding to see my crew developing as they handle issues, and strive to turn every situation into a positive.  I am rambling, but I am so excited to fine tune my grocery list next week, and boil it down to what I need for the 3 meals I will cook next week!  Will let you know how that goes.  Maybe you can be my "focus group"? (Reference: Crowning the Customer by Fergal Quinn)

Meet me at the curb!

I don't know why I have such an aversion to Breakfast, Lunch Boxes and Dinner time at my house!  I have three children (7,4,3) and I am pretty successful about balancing all the stuff I need to do for work, and home, but I can't seem to get a handle meal times, as they are a huge source of stress in my life.  I actually feel like a failure when it comes to feeding my family, and I AM IN THE FOOD BUSINESS! In the midst of getting ready for work, pulling backpacks together, finding shoes, getting teeth brushed and permission slips signed, I scurry around trying to put breakfast options on the table, and there the pile of poptart pieces or uneaten toaster waffles sit as I race out the door.  What a waste!  Then, lunch time....well, we have decided they are all better off buying lunch from school.  While I suspect my 7 year old, Jake, is living on ice cream sandwiches, he has told me my lunches don't make the cut.  What's wrong with a turkey sandwich, chips, fruit and cookies?  And finally dinner time....I have to admit, I don't even think about what's for dinner until it's too late to pull something out of the frig, and you would think I would always have a reheat tray of chicken nuggets, and sides, but when I am heading home from work, I am thinking about getting to carpool line in time, or squeezing in my grocery shopping, before karate, piano, or dance lessons, not gathering a meal. It has taken me 7 years, and the help of a Life Coach, but I have decided that having fun with my kids, rather than cooking something they won't eat, is my priority.  Being "Mrs. Cleaver" is not in the plan for me until all three kids reach an age where they don't have to be supervised for 30-40 minutes! Most people who know me, know that I rely on any business with a drive thru, or curbside carry out.  I actually started to make a list of every place I could think of, and realized I needed to get on the curbside bandwagon, by starting with my own place, Chick-fil-A at Holcombe and Buffalo Speedway.  Now, I don't know if it will be well received, or if other Chick-fil-As will follow suit, but it makes sense that we give it a try. While we still have a drive thru for regular orders, and delivery for catering clients, we seem to have a number of people parking and coming inside to wait for party trays, and gallons.  If it were me, I would rather wait in the car, with my little angels strapped into their seats, headsets on, and learning their letters with Leapfrog, than to get everyone out, and wait in line.  Next week, I will tackle the issue of grocery shopping with kids: Ugh! For now, meet me at the curb!

Season to Give Thanks!

Well, it is November 2 and I am looking ahead to Thanksgiving, and feeling thankful for a life full of blessings!  I am starting this blog in order to keep in touch with friends, family and Chick-fil-A raving fans!  Please begin to look for blogs every Tuesday featuring what's happening at Chick-fil-A Holcombe, inspirational thoughts, or upcoming events and activities!  Juli