I'm afraid i've been a weenie

As a business owner, I know that you have to periodically reinvest in your business in order to be successful. It takes time and money to make it work.

I have been the first to admit that I haven't been giving it the time, butI also haven't been giving it the money. I have been trying too hard to force BC to stand on it's own (with the exception of licenseing).

I won't even get into the website issues.

I am fixing it all now. I just placed an order that will completely resotck my supplies. I haevn't done that since I started. Tonight, I will post products to Artfire, a shopping website I went ahead and subscribed to. I'm ordering a soap stamp, and I WILL set aside at least one night a week to devote to my business.

It's a start. I'm also convincing myself that I should get up early every day and take care of stuff since I so rarely have time at night. That will take a lot more disipline. I hate getting out of bed.

I know I talk alot about doing it but over the last couple of days I have really felt a resurgance of motivation. I'm excited.  Again.

What? Oh No!

I recieved a call the other day from the city planning department who was looking over my business liscence. They had not done this before, but that's ok, I have nothing to hide and passed that hurdle easily. The difficulty is this:

Apparently, my phone number is wrong. It goes to some poor lady who is getting rather frustrated with the call volume.I think she must have been issued my last number. But I hardly gave out any cards or samples during that time!!

Lots of calls= good!! Awesome! excellent!
Wrong number?= Super Bad.

And in this day of internet, it's REALLY hard to fix the mistakes. really hard. I've signed up with two different listing sites now trying to fix this and although the issue is supposed to be fixed with at least one of them, it's still listed incorredtly. SHOOT.

I know i'll get it straitened out. And will call that nice lady, apologize, and offer her some soap on the house. but until then, SHOOT!

On the rack and Famers Market

Today was the last day of the South Reno Farmers market and although I didn't sell as much as last week, I am sorry to see it end. I had a great time talking to the other vendors and to the managers who hold a specialness all thier own. I enjoy being out in the sunshine meeting people and spinning. It's a wonderful way to spend a sunday morning.

Due to great sales last week, I have had to replen both Peppalyptus and Lavender this week and will be refilling others next week. It's exciting; replening means that my product is out there. and I can't really ask for much more than that

Aw, Crap

There are some days when you just have to concede that it is not a good day for making soap.

If it's 8:30 at night and you realize you are out of a key ingediant? You might concede. But you can make other kinds.

Except that the battery in my thermometer died.

So I decided to grind some herbs. And was reminded that my last roommate used my herb grinder to grind coffee.

I cleaned it out, yes. But still. One frustration after another and I have to say, maybe not today. Except I will grind some herbs. So that TOMORROW I can make soap. After I pick up peppermint Essential oil and a new battery!

Afoot. I am out and about and VERY excited!

There are fantastic things happening in the bubbly world.

Last week, I attended the South Reno Farmer's Market. I feel as though I was quite successful here; I sold 14 bars of soap! Almost ran out of Peppalyptus;  Manly and Butt Soap both were recieved well. I am looking forward to attending the last market on Sunday. It was wonderful seeing my product laid out completely for the first time in many years. So many colors! There are now 7 (SEVEN!!) different varieties of Bubbly Creations soap. Wow.

My website is still under construction! Nick has been very busy with it and life in general. I? Am thrilled to see what he has created for me. During this contruction period, I don't have bubbly email. I can always be reached through gcaudillo@gmail.com or ginamonster@yahoo.com.

Tonight, I replen Peppalyptus. It won't be ready in time for Sunday, but at least I can tell people it's on the drying racks and maybe get some preorders? We will see.

So much excitement I can hardly control myself!!

Amazing things are happening over at the Sweat Shoppe. My website is getting revamped and should be up and running at the end of this month, and I am taking some time from Roller Derby to put things in order like I should have been doing all along.

It will be a challange, but I think an important one.

I have one month. one month of NOT skating to get my house organized and Bubbly Creations running properly again. This time, I have help from my BF who is giving me (and you!) the new website for my birthday, and time to get my bottom off the ground and out of the slump its been in.

I am excited, I am motivated, and I have a support system in place to keep me on track.

Here's to another new beginning!

Just a few more days!

...and Manly soap will be completely cured and ready to go! Shoot me an email if you would like a sample!

gina@bubblycreations.com

The juices, they are flowing

I started my first batch of beer soap today. I'm pretty excited about it. Not only is it a deviation from my usual recipe, but it's a deviation from my usual recipe. Something I haven't done in YEARS since I made Huckleberry soap with a synthetic scent instead of my usual essential oil. Or maybe it was when I added flax meal.

Regardless, I have been dreaming up soaps, but not actually taking the leap and making them. And for that, I am a little ashamed. I told myself after I finished Milton Hershey's biography that I was going to stop being afraid to fail.

The first step to acheiving that goal? Beer. Whoda thought?

Now, here's an odd nitch...

There are many, many Mommy Bloggers out there. There are many Mommy Business Bloggers. But Single Girls with a Boyfriend who has a Kid Buisiness Bloggers? holy crap. If they are out there, they are likely hiding from thier title!

I learned this weekend though that they don't have to be your kid. They can be any kid. what you are doing is just as interesting and they want to help just as much.

I'm a huge believer in child labor. That, I think, is why people have kids. So they won't have to do the dishes anymore. But a 4 year old, she brings a whole new element. She's too little to reach the sink. (for now...)

It's so easy to tell a kid to go play. That you are busy. To think she can't help because what you are doing is for sale and therefore has to be perfect. Or that what you are doing is too dangerous.

I learned that there is always something they can do. So they can feel a part of things instead of feeling like an outsider who "can't". I put that kid to work stuffing samples in plastic bags. And she was awesome at it. Was she slow? yeah. but she's FOUR. And free labor, so who am I to complain?

And, they're off!

New home, new phone number. New zest for business!

I never thought I would need a man to help keep me motivated, but I'm fortunate to have found one that seems, so far, to be incredibly supportive. He even helped me make a batch of soap and is excited to experiment and make some more.

That's right. Soap. I made some. There's a whole batch of lavender on the curing racks and a customer waiting to buy a few bars. So exciting. So much on the horizon. I had better stop talking about it and go re label all my samples because I know a roller derby league who might appreciate some freebies to put in the gift bags for Saturday's bout. It's not my league, but it is our sister league! Hooray!

Where have I been?

I've been... Lazy for lack of a better term. Although I have been very, very busy.

Since September, BC has moved to what will hopefully be it's permanant home-Or at least until we outgrow it! I closed escrow on my very first house which is, appropriately, turquoise. I love every square foot.

Although I admit much of my delay in returning to business has been about laziness, I am proud to say that I am back on it and with the fervor I had in the beginning when I was actually profitable.

I have learned a lot about how I let fear get in my way, namely, my fear of failing. Right now, I am learning from Milton Hershey how you can't be afraid to experiment even if it means that you might fail. Hershey spent months and money researching and experimenting until he managed to perfect the recipe and technique for milk chocolate. He didn't worry about the cost, he didn't worry about the failures, he knew that if the swiss could do it, so could he.

I'm not looking to make chocolate, to build a zillion dollar empire complete with my own town, but the lessons are the same. I have to stop being afraid to try for fear of the time and money lost. I am going to start using my resources. and DO it. Other people do, so can I. For goodness sake, the materials don't do me any good sitting on the shelf!!