Monthly Check In - April

This is it, friends. I turn 40 in April. The "someday" is happening now! Here's my monthly update on all those resolutions I made for 2021.

Day 1, almost 40 years ago

Acting my age

The BIG One

Here's what I know. I've bitten my nails for as long as I can remember. I decided it was time to stop in one heck of a year. I made it through January and am now working through the steps of opening my own business. So far, all nails are in tact. I'm not going to lie, March was a tough month. BUT I MADE IT!

The Other Goals

1. Read a novel written in Spanish. Nope. But I did read one picture book in Spanish! 

2. Learn how to roller skate...again. Nothing yet on this front. 

3. Stop dying my hair. 👍👍

4. Learn how to use power tools. Maybe later. This is a tough one for me with everything else going on.

5. Join a writing group. YES! I finally took the leap to join a critique group. 

6. Learn to play "Blackbird" on the guitar. 👎👎

7. _______ Bookstore Alice, Ever After Books

SOOOO much progress here! I am an official LLC and have checked a few other "business-y" things off the list. I have a very talented friend working on logos/branding. I am taking small business classes and working on finalizing my business plan. I've been in touch with some local artists to explore the idea of adding art classes on a regular basis. 

My online bookshop is live and thriving. I have a dream location that is currently available...that I can't afford yet. I've been in contact with the landlord but I had to tell her, recently, that I just don't have my financial ducks in a row yet. I need to raise some capital, tbd how that is going to happen, before I am ready to sign a lease. Anyone sitting on $40k they want to Venmo my way?  😂

Working on layout for one potential retail space.
Well, Oscar did this work.
Might go with a second opinion.

Despite the bookstore keeping me busy, I have managed to catch up on some reading and finished the last two Reese Witherspoon Book Club books. I really loved Infinite Country by Patricia Engel. I am especially grateful to have a list of books keeping me going right now as I wade through the weeds of opening my own small business. I just started reading Rebel Bookseller: Why Indie Bookstores Represent Everything You Want to Fight for from Free Speech to Buying Local to Building Communities by Andrew Laties. Another independent children's bookstore owner recommended I read it while in the planning process.

Loved.

I hope things are going well your way! Maybe you are meeting your goals! Maybe you are cursing your goals! Wherever you are, own it all, as they say.