Monday, March 21, 2011

Caffeine Monday!

And this is why I love Starbucks.....

Saturday afternoon was beautiful, so of course I had to grab a venti iced mocha (no whip---gotta watch the calories somehow) to accompany my shopping extravaganza!  The lovely barista made note of my "gold card status" (hey, at least I am important somewhere) and suggested I purchase a pound of their Tribute blend because I would get my drink for free.  I hesitated....do I really need another pound of coffee?  What the heck...sure!  I don't have a grinder, so they did it for me----and it is FABULOUS!  I would highly recommend you grab a pound of the Tribute blend before it runs out! Mmmmm.......

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Winey Wednesday.....Basic Wine Tips!

My husband and I recently watched a sad, but touching movie with Robert De Niro.  In the movie, De Niro's character was looking to purchase "expensive" wine from a local grocery store.  The grocery store clerk was clueless about wine (well, except that some is red and some is white?). 

Sadly, my knowledge does not exceed the clerk by much!  I like to read the label (in hopes that it will offer some detail about the flavor).  Unfortunately, not all wine bottles offer this detail.  I stumbled across a slide show that I found beneficial.  Cheers! 

***oh, and check out the movie too.....it's really sweet!***  Don't forget the Kleenex!





Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Treat Yourself Tuesday......Mmmmmmm Tropical!

Do you enjoy Strawberries and Kiwi?  What about Mandarin Coconut?  I don't know about you, but I would LOVE to treat myself to a tropical vacation!  Unfortunately, I am stuck in Dayton, Ohio.....the sun is shining, but the weather is still frigid.  In order to "feel the tropics", I simply burn one of our yummy candles....ahhhhh, tropical bliss! 



Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Winey Wednesday.....Blackstone Merlot 2008

This week, I have been enjoying a glass of Blackstone Merlot 2008 with my dinner each evening.  I read a review for this wine on another blog, so I thought I would give it a whirl! 

Of course, it was on sale.....I am a thrifty wine girl.  And, for $8.99, it was a nice treat.  My husband liked it, too!  Although, since he has a "not under $10 rule", I had to tell a little white lie and say it was $11.99.  Shhhh...he will never know....besides, 2 glasses later, he doesn't care. 

We opened the bottle on Sunday evening and paired it with our Fettuccine Alfredo.  Not a bad combo...in fact, YUMMY!



 

Monday, February 28, 2011

Caffeine Monday

Okay, if I am being completely honest with myself....which I don't always like to be.......I am spending about $25 per week at Starbucks.  Unfortunately, I really don't have the extra cash to continue this habit.  Soooo, I thought I would try these nifty little drinks a few days a week. Yes, I know they aren't from Starbucks.  However, they will give me the afternoon caffeine kick I need and be a little kinder to my bank account!  I haven't actually tried them yet, but I will let you know how they compare to my "go to girl", the iced mocha.......

Friday, February 25, 2011

Free Thinking Friday.....New Blog Design

For the last month, I have been scouring Etsy and various blogs to help spark inspiration for our new blog design.  There are so many amazing blogs out there!

Stay tuned for our blog makeover....coming soon!  

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Small Biz Thursday - Developing a Business Budget

After over a decade, I made the decision to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Biz Mgmnt.  I just completed my first class, so I feel like it's "official" that I am a college student again.  I am actually enjoying it! 

My goal is to incorporate any research papers, essays, etc. around small business ownership and share it with others....hopefully, someone can benefit from my research!  Sooo, here goes.......I edited some of the content because I didn't want it to be too long.  I also added a few links to help credit the sources of my research (APA format has become my new BFF...UGH)....

Developing a Business Budget

The decision to leave the corporate world and become an entrepreneur can be exhilarating. As an entrepreneur, there are several factors to consider before the dream becomes a reality. One of the key factors to consider is a business plan. A business plan is similar to a road map because it shows where the business is going and how it will get there. However, the plan itself is not sufficient. In order for a business plan to be concrete, it must include a budget and a financial forecast. The budget will identify goals and objectives throughout the plan. There are a few basic guidelines for the business owner to follow throughout the development process of the business budget.

Budgeting basics

Knowledge is power. Therefore, it is important to learn the key concepts of budget forecasting by reading business books.  The website article, Guide to Budgeting and Forecasting Basics, recommends avoiding academic textbooks because they tend to focus more on the theory than practical applications. For better results, the author suggests books and articles targeted to the business owner's perspective. For example, a business owner of handmade items may want to study articles and books that are written for handmade business owners. The budgeting ideas for a small handmade business would not likely coincide with a large corporation.

Sometimes the simplistic act of writing down the budget for a month, quarter and year is sufficient for planning. The details can be reviewed with an accountant or staff members to validate accuracy and discuss the logic behind the plan. One advantage of today’s business world is the availability of budgeting software. Business budgeting software can enhance the quality and accuracy of the forecasting budget. Part of a new owner’s learning process may include researching a software supplier. As the business progresses, there are valuable reports that can be generated from the accounting software. These reports will help determine if the business is meeting the objectives set within the initial plan.

Creating objectives

What are the objectives of a budget? The obvious answer is to forecast the results of the upcoming year. However, the budget is not limited to this objective. There are a number of legitimate objectives within the budgeting process. The objectives vary depending on the organization level. The business owner needs a budget that

• is realistic, accurate and internally consistent;

• predicts the best results achievable with acceptable risk;

• contains the information most useful for management;

• is consistent with strategy;

• facilitates goals setting and measurement;

• communicates strategy and plans to the organization;

• communicates operating plans across functions.

Since the objectives must be responsive to the needs of all participants, the budgeting process can easily generate conflict within the organization. Therefore, it must be designed to meet the objectives while minimizing the adverse effects of the inherent problems, yielding the best possible planning document. Conflict is only one of the inherent problems outlined by Robert Finney in his book, Powerful budgeting for better planning and management. Because a budget deals with the future, there is always the underlying problem of uncertainty. These problems must be overcome for the budget to be a useful planning document.

Overcoming obstacles

It is imperative to consider the problems within the budget process because they will not go away. In order to overcome these problems, the business owner should focus on what the company wants to do, on its real problems and opportunities, and continue striving for improvement and excellence.
The requirements are to

• ensure that everything in the budgeting process promotes objectivity and concentration on the real strategy, opportunities, and problems of the company;

• deal realistically with uncertainty and uncontrollability;

• focus the organization’s attention on the parameters most important to the company performance and strategy and demand the best possible predictions for all parameters;

• promote improvement and encourage excellence throughout the company.

At times, the budget must be adjusted to meet the demands of the environment. Every organization will be impacted by unpredictable outside events. It is during times of chaos that good budgeting can help contribute to better business results. Even a negative situation can produce positive results because the owner and staff may be forced to identify solutions to serious problems.

A budget is much more than numerical calculations and a good software program. This activity is essential in setting priorities and achieving business objectives. However, budgeting does not have to be a dreaded, daunting task for the business owner. With knowledge, the business owner can overcome obstacles as they arise. In turn, developing a business budget can be a challenging and exciting opportunity to produce positive results for the organization.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Winey Wednesday - Seriously, Arbor Mist?

Amber, I love you, but I cannot support your love for Arbor Mist.  Have I become a wine snob?  My husband feels you cannot get a good bottle of wine for less than $10, but I have always disagreed.  Now, I am starting to wonder if he is right?!  Although, there are still a few good cheapies out there....

One of my personal favorites is the Dancing Bull Merlot.  I can purchase it at Kroger for around $9-$12, depending on whether or not it's on sale.  It's a little oaky and a little sweet.  How's that for a description?  Oh, and it goes well with a tasty pizza from Marco's pizza!  Annnnd, that's a Friday night at our house!


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Head in the clouds.....

Yep, it's another dreary day in Dayton, Ohio.  That's okay because it's "treat yourself Tuesday".  I've decided that every week I am going to think of a way to treat myself. 

What does this entail?  Hmmm, maybe a special coffee drink (I mean, aside from my standard coffee drink), a walk in the park, a new book....I don't know, but I will find something! 

Why am I doing this?  Why NOT!  I totally deserve it.  We all deserve to do something nice for ourselves once in a while.  In turn, I am going to find something nice to do for someone else each week. 

So, this week, I am going to schedule a hair appointment. Seriously, my hair is lacking in so many ways right now!  I can't wait to visit my favorite hair stylist, Elise at Square One.  I have not been able to see her since last August.  UGH, that's depressing!  What about this cut? 





Philippians 2:3–4 (NIV)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.


 

Monday, February 21, 2011

Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees

I love love love Starbucks coffee, but I have become curious about our local coffee roasters.  Thanks to my friend Google, I was able to find Winans Coffee.  Winans was established in the late 1800's and the company is in it's 4th generation of family ownership.  Aweessomee! 

Their factory is located in Piqua, Ohio and they have retail stores across the Midwest.  I think I will stop in and purchase a bag of their Winan's blend very soon!

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Dayton, OH, United States
Hi there! I am 34 years old and the proud co-owner of Starwick Candles. My friend, Jen, and I started our business in January 2008--it was our dream to escape the corporate world! I am excited to share my experience in starting & managing a small business with fellow crafters.