I definitely drew the short straw at work this month.
Con-I just worked six days in a row.
Pro-I just had three days off.
Con-I start seven days in a row tomorrow.
Pro-I have three days off over Easter.
Con-I have another six days in a row after that.
Con-I work 6 of 8 weekend days in April.
Con-We're closed Easter Sunday so no one works. I have one Saturday off.
Con-Really, I work six out of seven weekend days and I close five out of the six I work.
Con-I close all three Saturday's I work. No one closes more than once.
Con-I close two of the three Sunday's I work. No one works or closes more than once.
Con-I close eleven times, including Sunday's in April. I only work twenty days.
Pessimistic? Optimistic? Realistic?
I wonder if I did something wrong that I don't know about.
See you in May.
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Stay in our Second Bedroom
Who's in for staying in our newly painted second bedroom?
Navy blue & beige with a pop of red.
I really like how it turned out!
Although we are still in a constant battle of storage. We need to get the basement organized and clean and that might be worth being the next project to get rid of the seasonal items from the closet, bed and dresser. I know Katy would appreciate getting some of my clothes out of there. I also need someone to help edit my wardrobe.
We have openings most weekends (though I probably work) though out the summer of 2012. Just call at least a few hours before and we'll open the room up for your stay (though I may be at work.)
Navy blue & beige with a pop of red.
I really like how it turned out!
Although we are still in a constant battle of storage. We need to get the basement organized and clean and that might be worth being the next project to get rid of the seasonal items from the closet, bed and dresser. I know Katy would appreciate getting some of my clothes out of there. I also need someone to help edit my wardrobe.
We have openings most weekends (though I probably work) though out the summer of 2012. Just call at least a few hours before and we'll open the room up for your stay (though I may be at work.)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
WWD & Dunn Brothers
Here I sit. I have a stack of WWD's on the table with coffee a sandwich and twitter running in the background. I'm listening to Pandora.
I guess this will just be a public journal.
I want to buy Brunello Cucinelli's stock when it's offered. I wonder what the offer will be? He's started his IPO process. What would it be like to work in Italy for him? Does he have the best cashmere sweaters in the world? I'm fascinated by a business like that, which goes public and how it gets valued. That's one of the reasons why I like watching "Shark Tank." I understand, that is a minuscule amount of information but it's the tip of the iceberg in terms of what I would love to understand about how a company gets running, becomes successful and then offers shares to the pubic.
Randa is going to buy Swank for $57.5 million. That's fun to know because Randa is the vendor of a ton of our ties at Herb's and the come in boxes plastered in Randa. Randa is the top men's accessories maker in the US with $450 million. Wow.
Major eyewear makers like Oliver Peoples, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Dior and more have frames specific for an Asian customer base? Yep.
There's a Longchamp article in here eyeing US expansion for the brand. I met a woman, who spent $450 on a Coach handbag and a Dooney & Bourke handbag. Hers was in great condition and I asked her what it was and how long she had been using it. She replied "Longchamp and I've had it for 15 years!" Wow! I know I've heard of the brand, knew it was high end but goodness she had that thing in fantastic condition and it was definitely a style I hadn't seen in 15 years. Or ever. Then she pulls out her wallet that she had been using for the same amount of time which was also in stellar condition. Amazing.
Should I work for Longchamp? "The US has now become our second-biggest market after France," Cassegrain said in an interview at his bright offices here. "We're still planning significant growth in the US." They doubled warehouse facilities in New Jersey.
Let's pretend I got a job there. As I sold the bags, accessories etc, I'd have my clientle list and as the years go by I'd give them a call; drop by and take a picture of their products showing how they wear/wore. That would be fun to see how a Longchamp wears after 3,6,9,12 years and more.
There's an article on how Made in the USA is a bigger factor in the mind of American's lately. Manufacturing has been going elsewhere for decades and jobs and the sentiment of Americans is that they want these products back. Some companies are listening and bringing some things back. Some see it, in an election year, as a political move some see it as patriotism. I've been for it. I just want a product that will last wash after wash, wear after wear, go out of style and be put away in tissue paper, folded nicely and come back decades later on my son or grandson. Like the bright red pants Dad gave me this winter. And the two pair of plaid pants, one red and cream and the other light blue, light orange and white checked I have in the basement right now.
But really, what is the cost and the move of moving things back here? What is the real incentive? The real cost. What is the real motivation behind it. I'd be interested to see that result.
Alexander Wang. Crazy good, hip, popular, modern designer right now right? His executive team is Dennis and Aimie Wang, who are his brother and sister in law. I'd love to know how they got those jobs. Were they qualified? Did they have experience in getting a start up going before? What is their background? Or are they just figuring it out as they go-like it seems like many start ups do. Are they lawyers? Finance/economics pros? Hhhmm...
Duckie Brown (Steven Cox and Daniel Silver) will do Spring/Summer 2013 for Perry Ellis.
True Religion Net Falls 8.4%. I like this headline because True Religion jeans are the biggest, gaudiest, over stitched, rock and roll denim that I do not care for.
"Samples can cost $1,000 each or about $4,000 for a fur or coat. This is the stuff I find interesting. Gross margins-or the difference between the sales dollars brought in and the cost to produce and distribute goods-are generally good in the designer realm." Initial margins could be 70% and fall to about 50%. But the higher the margin the brand takes, the smaller its distribution. A designer's magic number is $25 million. Then it goes to $60 million for more investors with $100 to $200 million if it's successful. Then comes IPO's. Random-Michael Kors made $117 million from his IPO last fall.
I want to go to one of these fashion conventions in Las Vegas. Or be there when one is going on.
J.Crew's fall 2012 collection for men by Frank Muytjens was inspired by the Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. It's an ideal blend of polished dress-up with a rugged aesthetic. Distressed denim layered under Harris Tweed blazers and wool coats...
Interesting he got some ideas from the film we watched at the Minnesota Science Museum.
NRF says that stores are moving fast on mobile landscape. Wonder how I'd get a job in a tech company doing some of that. I find it interesting but is it in my skill set?
I guess this will just be a public journal.
I want to buy Brunello Cucinelli's stock when it's offered. I wonder what the offer will be? He's started his IPO process. What would it be like to work in Italy for him? Does he have the best cashmere sweaters in the world? I'm fascinated by a business like that, which goes public and how it gets valued. That's one of the reasons why I like watching "Shark Tank." I understand, that is a minuscule amount of information but it's the tip of the iceberg in terms of what I would love to understand about how a company gets running, becomes successful and then offers shares to the pubic.
Major eyewear makers like Oliver Peoples, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Dior and more have frames specific for an Asian customer base? Yep.
There's a Longchamp article in here eyeing US expansion for the brand. I met a woman, who spent $450 on a Coach handbag and a Dooney & Bourke handbag. Hers was in great condition and I asked her what it was and how long she had been using it. She replied "Longchamp and I've had it for 15 years!" Wow! I know I've heard of the brand, knew it was high end but goodness she had that thing in fantastic condition and it was definitely a style I hadn't seen in 15 years. Or ever. Then she pulls out her wallet that she had been using for the same amount of time which was also in stellar condition. Amazing.
Should I work for Longchamp? "The US has now become our second-biggest market after France," Cassegrain said in an interview at his bright offices here. "We're still planning significant growth in the US." They doubled warehouse facilities in New Jersey.
Let's pretend I got a job there. As I sold the bags, accessories etc, I'd have my clientle list and as the years go by I'd give them a call; drop by and take a picture of their products showing how they wear/wore. That would be fun to see how a Longchamp wears after 3,6,9,12 years and more.
There's an article on how Made in the USA is a bigger factor in the mind of American's lately. Manufacturing has been going elsewhere for decades and jobs and the sentiment of Americans is that they want these products back. Some companies are listening and bringing some things back. Some see it, in an election year, as a political move some see it as patriotism. I've been for it. I just want a product that will last wash after wash, wear after wear, go out of style and be put away in tissue paper, folded nicely and come back decades later on my son or grandson. Like the bright red pants Dad gave me this winter. And the two pair of plaid pants, one red and cream and the other light blue, light orange and white checked I have in the basement right now.
But really, what is the cost and the move of moving things back here? What is the real incentive? The real cost. What is the real motivation behind it. I'd be interested to see that result.
Alexander Wang. Crazy good, hip, popular, modern designer right now right? His executive team is Dennis and Aimie Wang, who are his brother and sister in law. I'd love to know how they got those jobs. Were they qualified? Did they have experience in getting a start up going before? What is their background? Or are they just figuring it out as they go-like it seems like many start ups do. Are they lawyers? Finance/economics pros? Hhhmm...
Duckie Brown (Steven Cox and Daniel Silver) will do Spring/Summer 2013 for Perry Ellis.
True Religion Net Falls 8.4%. I like this headline because True Religion jeans are the biggest, gaudiest, over stitched, rock and roll denim that I do not care for.
"Samples can cost $1,000 each or about $4,000 for a fur or coat. This is the stuff I find interesting. Gross margins-or the difference between the sales dollars brought in and the cost to produce and distribute goods-are generally good in the designer realm." Initial margins could be 70% and fall to about 50%. But the higher the margin the brand takes, the smaller its distribution. A designer's magic number is $25 million. Then it goes to $60 million for more investors with $100 to $200 million if it's successful. Then comes IPO's. Random-Michael Kors made $117 million from his IPO last fall.
I want to go to one of these fashion conventions in Las Vegas. Or be there when one is going on.
J.Crew's fall 2012 collection for men by Frank Muytjens was inspired by the Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. It's an ideal blend of polished dress-up with a rugged aesthetic. Distressed denim layered under Harris Tweed blazers and wool coats...
Interesting he got some ideas from the film we watched at the Minnesota Science Museum.
NRF says that stores are moving fast on mobile landscape. Wonder how I'd get a job in a tech company doing some of that. I find it interesting but is it in my skill set?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Happy Birthday Edie!
Dear Edie,
Today is your birthday and it seems like you'll get some time to play outside since spring has arrived early in Chicago this year!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDIE!
Love you!
Joel & Katy
Today is your birthday and it seems like you'll get some time to play outside since spring has arrived early in Chicago this year!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDIE!
Love you!
Joel & Katy
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Enjoying some French Press Coffee
Enjoyed some coffee from Brasa a month ago while eating out with Katy.
Bought some a couple weeks ago, however, it was still a whole bean.
That was fine because I've been told that you should grind the beans fresh before you brew it. So I jumped on the bandwagon and bought a burr grinder and enjoyed my first cup this morning.
It was great! Well worth the extra time on a day off!
Bought some a couple weeks ago, however, it was still a whole bean.
That was fine because I've been told that you should grind the beans fresh before you brew it. So I jumped on the bandwagon and bought a burr grinder and enjoyed my first cup this morning.
It was great! Well worth the extra time on a day off!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Style Blog
Anyone have any good ideas of what I should call it? I've got plenty of ideas, just tapping any new perspectives.
Mom & Dad Visited
So, Mom & Dad came to visit a long long time ago already. But don't worry I don't have any pictures to prove it.
However, that doesn't mean I didn't have a good time hanging out with them mostly at restaurants. We enjoyed WA Frost, The Bachelor Farmer and Olive Garden.
I've never enjoyed so much tasty food.
I know I tweeted about some of it...but Cocoa Crusted Elk Striploin with barley mushroom risotto, caramelized Belgian endive and winter fruit reduction. It was rare, fairly cool once the first few bites were gone but it was delicious. And I really like barley mushroom risotto; it was great with the striploin. I also drank an Ethopian Sidoma french press coffee. It was good but it wasn't the best thing I've had.
The Bachelor Farmer was great too. I know Eric didn't approve of our toasts but I did. The duck liver pate, dried cherries and pistachios reminded me of liverwurst I ate as a kid. I'm surprised Mom fed us liverwurst but didn't feed us the tasty caramelized brussel sprouts from Brasa. Dad ordered house smoked steelhead trout, scrambled eggs, pain de mie and capers. I only got a small bite but it was good. On the dinner side Katy's venison was delicious, the chicken I got was good too but it was outdone by the side of cauliflower and parmesan cheese which was melted perfectly with the best texture possible. Mom got the meatballs, lingonberries, mashed potatoes and pickled cucumbers.
Olive Garden was terrible. We left Grandma's with an expected no wait and we got there and it was 30 minutes. Haha, just like last time I went to Olive Garden 8 years ago. But I'm glad we were able to go out with Grandma.
Ok, so I like food; especially unique food.
However, that doesn't mean I didn't have a good time hanging out with them mostly at restaurants. We enjoyed WA Frost, The Bachelor Farmer and Olive Garden.
I've never enjoyed so much tasty food.
I know I tweeted about some of it...but Cocoa Crusted Elk Striploin with barley mushroom risotto, caramelized Belgian endive and winter fruit reduction. It was rare, fairly cool once the first few bites were gone but it was delicious. And I really like barley mushroom risotto; it was great with the striploin. I also drank an Ethopian Sidoma french press coffee. It was good but it wasn't the best thing I've had.
The Bachelor Farmer was great too. I know Eric didn't approve of our toasts but I did. The duck liver pate, dried cherries and pistachios reminded me of liverwurst I ate as a kid. I'm surprised Mom fed us liverwurst but didn't feed us the tasty caramelized brussel sprouts from Brasa. Dad ordered house smoked steelhead trout, scrambled eggs, pain de mie and capers. I only got a small bite but it was good. On the dinner side Katy's venison was delicious, the chicken I got was good too but it was outdone by the side of cauliflower and parmesan cheese which was melted perfectly with the best texture possible. Mom got the meatballs, lingonberries, mashed potatoes and pickled cucumbers.
Olive Garden was terrible. We left Grandma's with an expected no wait and we got there and it was 30 minutes. Haha, just like last time I went to Olive Garden 8 years ago. But I'm glad we were able to go out with Grandma.
Ok, so I like food; especially unique food.
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