Just Between Friends

I promised a post about this long ago, but alas, this new focus in my life is unfortunately taking focus away from other activities (including blogging!)

When we were living in Texas and I was 7 months pregnant with Maddie, I went to an event in Forth Worth called "Just Between Friends (JBF)". It's a semi-annual children's and maternity consignment sale and I was hooked immediately. When I went on the website to find out when the next sale was, I learned that it was franchise. The light bulb went off in my head instantly and I thought "Why do we NOT have one of these in the Peninsula?!" Something was triggered inside my brain (and I guess, my heart) and I did not stop thinking about it. As soon as we moved back to the Bay Area, while we were still in corporate housing no less (!), I was on the phone with JBF Corporate and submitting my application. I interviewed shortly thereafter and many long conversations later, Mark supported me in buying the San Mateo County territory here in the Bay Area Peninsula.

I just launched our very first event in San Mateo May 14-15 and I do believe it was a huge success. We had 81 consignors and over 13,000 items at the event. Our sales in San Mateo beat the average and the positive response I got from the people in the community that participated was overwhelming. I've been looking for something to wrap my brain around since becoming a Mom and JBF was the perfect fit.

I really can't say thank you enough to the awesome friends and family I have. They were here when I needed them most -- watching my kiddos (Thank you NANNY!), manning the cash register (Thank you MOM!) and doing everything I asked of them (Thank you MARK and DAD!) And I have these amazing friends that stepped up to the plate when I needed them -- Jaemie, Rachel, Millie, Lindsay, Heather, Dana, Kristin, Amber and Noelle. These girls are just awesome and I am so lucky to have them in my life. Thank you for helping this event be so successful right out of the gate. I can't wait for the Fall!

A glimpse of my "3rd baby" (as Jaemie put it about a month ago) :)

Sometimes your kids surprise you...

Saturday was a little early Mother's Day present for Angela. After heading into the city for 4+ hours to participate in a walk to honor those who suffer from brain tumors in which the kids lasted for about the first .25 mile portion of the 3 mile walk (wasn't their fault...Daddy got to the park about 2 hours in advance by mistake and both kids were spent by the time the actual walk started!), we headed out to complete our Mother's Day gift for Angela....some professional photos of the kiddos since it has been soooo long (hasn't been a need really since Ang has taken her photography class!).

Needless to say, after Maddie only slept about an hour after the walk and Jake didn't sleep at all, I wasn't necessarily looking forward to this endeavor. It is one thing to jump around behind a photographer hoping for that one smile with 2 well-rested kids, it is a COMPLETELY different thing with 2 kids who were crying before you even left the house!

It didn't start the best way as we had a 3:30 appt, but we actually didn't sit down to take the photos to almost 4:15. Try to explain 'they are running behind' to 2 kids under 5! However, a few snacks later (and a little bribery with the kids) and they did great.

Once we actually sat down for the photos, I think you will agree, the kids surprised me! They were great...no crying, listening to everyone and willingly getting into many different poses. The highlight...Maddie was a complete Hamm! She couldn't get enough of the camera - smiling eery way, jumping into different poses the photographer wasn't even asking for...She actually was running into the picture when the photographer was taking pics of Jake only.

ohhh boy, let's just say a few more gray hairs sprouted up in just thing about the future based on these actions.

Happy Mother's Day, babe. I have to agree with Jake tonight when he said he has the greatest mommy in the world!

Spidoo!!

Maddie is ALL about singing and dancing lately. She wanted to sing "Spidoo" this morning so we took a video.