In my wild dreaming over the last ten or so years, I always thought "that would be fun to open up a store" but as I am sipping my coffee and sitting by the fireplace this morning trying to take it easy, I am all like ... I AM NOT SURE HOW WE GOT HERE. WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING. So, let's take a stroll down memory lane of the last few weeks.
Things have been moving so quickly. Deciding on things like vendors and lighting and flooring and point-of-sale systems. Hanging a ridiculous amount of insulation, drywall, and ship lap. Painting until our hands can paint no more. There are so many decisions to make and it feels like so little time to make them. I am sure for anyone actually reading this, we are all in the same boat, experiencing the same tension, just for different reasons. This is not a woe is me rant, but this is a WOW, WE ALL deserve awards for getting through each day and making any sort of sane decision.
I imagine Joanna Gaines feels this way too, trying to balance everything well, except for she looks a heck of a lot more put together doing it.
Dang you, Joanna.
I am over here thinking, "when was the last time I did laundry? Do I even have clean clothes to wear today? BUT REALLY, HOW DOES ANYONE EVER GET ALL OF THEIR LAUNDRY CAUGHT UP?"
Amen, sister. (Yes, I just gave myself AND YOU an "Amen, sister". No one ever gets all their laundry done, that's just a silly goal. And it's okay to not have all your laundry ever caught up. I am telling you right now that you are still doing a good job at this thing called life, despite the hill or mountain of laundry you have to do.)
One of my favorite quotes that I have said over the last few months when people ask me how I am doing is this... "I am bobbing. Not straight up drowning or carelessly floating, just bobbing between the two, depending on the moment."
I imagine if you are still reading this, you are thinking "yeah, but what about the building?"
We have been pulling a lot of late nights and drinking a lot of red bull... it all started with a night trying to get the ceiling framed in, which was also the night before the electrician was going to be coming. So it was "we aren't going home until this is done" sort of thing. But after that, the place has started to transform in just a few short weeks.
We now have everything painted, electric all updated, insulation, drywall, ceilings done and painted, flooring and ship lap all installed. We even have a wheelchair accessible ramp all done and well used already.
And if you made it all the way to the end here, you deserve a sneak peek of some of the building in it's more finished state.... Complete with wallpaper from Magnolia by Joanna Gaines, because let's face it, her stuff is stupid adorable and you can't deny that.
SO, HOW DID WE GET HERE??
I am not entirely sure, it's all one big blur, but people continue to show up to help and things continue to fall into place. Yes, we have been making lots of decisions, and yes, we have been putting in lots of hours, but I believe it will be well worth it.
We still have SO MUCH to do before the Grand Opening on November 17th, but there is a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel and we are sprint/marathon running towards it. We hope you will join us in celebrating this teeny, tiny, little labor of love.