Update

Hello!

It's been a while since I wrote anything here. Clearly I retreat from the blog world when I need a break or our lives are in limbo. We have experienced a few things in the last few months.

I am going to make these updates as brief as possible so I don't write a book.

November

Hours and Pay Cut.
Downsizing at the Nanny job because the little guy starts kindergarten and my pay drops considerably.

 

Car accident.
Long story short, Mat was in a car accident, a girl hit him and drove away. Luckily he was fine but the car was not (totaled according to our insurance company). We shopped around for cars but it was just too much. When you are working and saving for an adoption, the last thing you want to do is start car payments. My Dad drove his car out for Mat from Indiana. It's been great and we are very grateful. Quite grateful.

abbymade.
I was told by a few attorneys that running a business out of an unlicensed kitchen is not okay. I knew this, but was trying to work under the radar for some time. After it was brought to my attention that option was not possible.

October

Adoption Hold.
The two September $ involved events happened within 2 weeks of each other. That is when we had to put the adoption on hold for the 3rd time.

November

abbymade.
I was researching another business option for abbymade to succeed. I began discussions and meetings with the Senior Planner about the Cottage Food Bill.
I attended the City Council Meeting, I was on the agenda to speak on behalf of the Bill and how it affected the current Home Occupations Policy within my city. Spoke to council members after the meeting and exchanged numbers to continue the conversation and mail documentation about the Bill.

December

Their Christmas card was missing, it's a long and funny story but I found it in the snow out of the backdoor.

 

 

Family visit.
My parents came out from Indiana to spend some time with us, which we always enjoy. We were able to celebrate Christmas and my Mom's birthday. It was a great time. My Mom helped me with the "dough font" by drawing out the Love on parchment paper. We were both very pleased with the results, it was a fun time in the kitchen. We made Grama Betty's sugar cookies too. Special time.

Pecan pie I made with the help of my Mom for Mat's family.

 

 

 

Family Visit.
Mat's sister Michelle and her husband Mark came to visit from Nebraska with their two dogs, Kelsey and Jackson. It was so great to see them and we were able to spend Christmas with them, there was bowling and a birthday karaoke celebration for Yvette's boyfriend, Drew. We had a great time!

Solar City consultation.
Amazing opportunity with no out of pocket expenses to run our home on solar power. Made the decision to move forward. Home evaluation, easy online paperwork and waiting for permits from the City.

January

Family visit.
My cousin Leah and her boyfriend Zach came out to visit us from Minnesota. We spent New Year's Eve together hanging out, playing games and enjoying each other's company. Red Rocks blizzard visit too. We had a great time!

Memory Jar for 2014

Adoption Grant.
Giving notice to the wonderful helpusadopt.org organization who has a grant waiting for us. We have a time limit with this grant so I was communicating our hold status and what that means with our grant.

February

My birthday.
Mat surprised me with our friends meeting us downtown at the champagne bar. It was really great to see everyone and hang out together!

Galentines Day.
My friends Rach and Whit outdid themselves again for the 3rd annual Galentines Day Party. A day to celebrate the great girls in our lives, drink mimosas and the company of new and old friends. I look forward to it every year now!

Mat's knee.
Mat blew out his knee playing rugby. His ACL is not even visible on the MRI, he is currently doing prehab. He continues to walk without the assistance of his cane and increase the range of motion. He will have surgery in a few weeks.

City Of Englewood Notice Letter.
I received a letter from the City telling me I owed $1,500 because I didn't file for taxes. This was the moment that sealed it for me. Since November I had been retooling my business and working around my limitations. I was getting all of the Cottage Food Bill requirements put in place, reworking all of the pieces that are involved.

Tangent.
I had to stop, reflect and think. I made myself objectively see all the pieces of the puzzle. What pieces had I already obtained, which ones were possible to manipulate into something beautiful and workable and how many pieces would take a miracle for me to conquer.
It's so much. I am a perfectionist. And when I couldn't perfect all of the occupations that are involved, obtain all of the pieces of the puzzle, I just couldn't do it. A puzzle will not be truly complete if there are any missing pieces or some are mangled, faded or marred in any way. I am a baker, a foodie and a food lover. I am not an accountant, a marketing major, I don't know about web design or how to properly research my competition. There are legal aspects, packaging comparisons and City policies to consider. I have a counter depth refrigerator and one oven. The pieces were just not there.
Because I wanted this to succeed so badly, started it out of my love of baking and the love for our child and desperation to make more money for our family...I was determined it was going to be successful. However, in order for me to be happy with the quality of my business, meaning everything would be perfect...something had to give. I would have to nurture this baby business so it would grow and succeed. However, I cannot allow myself to remove my focus in any way from being a Mother. That is more important to me. That is what I have always wanted to be. And in turn, I would want the best bakery and business and would not be able to do that if I was distracted. I would like both if I'm being honest. But for now, I choose to stop this and refocus. 
I feel like this is one of my biggest failures because I saw it had the most potential. I truly saw it flourishing and me and my business making it. I really did.
Perhaps, one day down the road it will all come together. I don't know the answer now, but I choose to re-prioritize on what I know will work and get us from point A to point B with certainty.
I have been looking for a nanny-share for a few months now.

(By the way- about the letter/fine, I got it all squared away. I made some phone calls and it is all sorted. The woman I spoke to was surprised that I wanted to cancel my license because "all of the hard work you did for the Home Occupations Policy and the Food Cottage Bill in our City".
I don't know her and don't know how she knows about my work. However, regardless of my future endeavors with a home occupation, I am glad that I brought it to the attention of my City and fought for the opportunity for myself and others.

Announcement on Home Occupation Zoning.
Englewood community news. I spoke to the Senior Planner who has been acting as somewhat of a mentor to me on all City related items. He said, did you see our local paper, your issue is on the front page? The above briefly speaks of the issue. 

March

Having fun as a nanny. Making his lunch for school.

New Job.
I have a nanny-share in the works! I can give more details later.

Solar City.
Tomorrow is the installation for our solar panels- we are thrilled and hope to be on the grid in April! We will not only be saving money for 20+ years (because we will not have the increasing interest rates from Xcel) but we are reducing our carbon footprint. Hooray!

We hope everyone is well!
xoxo Abby and Mat