Furniture Consignment Center

I am super excited to announce that I am now one of the owners of the Furniture Consignment Center at 22 Chad Lane in Williston, only a few miles from Burlington, Vermont.

Since I have recently updated the about me section on my blog, I think it's important that I let you know what it said yesterday.

"I'm working towards becoming a self-employed furniture fixer-upper through thrifty home decor resale. I strive to lead a happy life while maintaining my frugal sense of style with DIY projects."

When you read my previously stated goal, you can clearly see that this is the perfect fit for me. I am following my dreams! Starting November 1st I will be a self-employed furniture fixer-upper at a consignment shop where I'll be selling a wide variety of used home decor pieces. Amazing!

Do you want the background story? Okay, I'll tell you!

Remember that free dresser I fixed up and painted green?

Yeah, that's the one! Well a few days after I listed it on Craigslist, a man named Danial came to buy it. Upon our meeting, I learned that he runs the Furniture Consignment Center in Williston. I had been there a few times, and I told him that I had actually spoken with his sister a few weeks prior about possibly consigning my furniture there!

So we got to talking about his furniture business and how I fix things up. I showed him all the furniture and home decor treasures that I had collected in my garage during the summer months, and he liked what he saw! I was hoping that he would be interested in striking up an exclusive consigning partnership with me, but it turned out he wanted a business partner on a much bigger scale.

Throughout the month of September we talked about the possibility of joining forces and how partnering up could really benefit both his business and mine. We discussed employment, ownership, interest, percentages, wages, skills, hours, etc, and we finally decided what we would do.

In early October 2012, we started the "Green Dresser Corporation," under which we will co-own the Furniture Consignment Center. We are going to work together over the next few months to grow the business at the Williston location with the goal of opening up another furniture consignment shop down in Montpelier, VT.

I'm looking forward to bringing my creativity, energy and marketing skills to the new company. I anticipate obstacles and tough situations, but I am prepared to put my positive attitude and character to the test. While I'm a bit nervous about leaving a stable position as the Social Media and Web Specialist at Vermont Public Television, I truly believe that this is an amazing opportunity for me, and I fully accept the challenge!

I'll update you on more of my grand plans soon. Happy Friday :) I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

I'm Back From Vacation!

Hi everyone! I am back from a wonderful week-long vacation to the Outer Banks, North Carolina. It was great to get away for a bit, but I am definitely glad to be back in Vermont. It has taken me a few days to get back into the swing of things as I am getting over a pretty nasty cold/flu/virus that kept me in bed for the past few days. I'm back at work today, but have a bunch of errands, housework and yard work to get to this week before I can jump back into furniture fix-ups. Hopefully I'll be able to sand and prime two pieces of furniture that have been waiting in the garage by the end of the week.

Here are a few photos from our last night at the beach. 1 - 2 - 3 - JUMP!

Grandma Lil and some of her grandkids.

Mike and me on the beach.

I hope the Internet didn't miss me too much while I've been away. I hope to jump back into blogging tomorrow by checking out all the linky parties I missed out! Happy Tuesday.

A Happy Father's Day Life Lesson

Warning: This blog post is about to get personal... proceed with caution.

I have two Dads. My parents had Katie, Rachel and ME before they got divorced. Mom married John and had Lillian and Johnny. Tom-Dad married Mary and had Trisha and Brendan. Here is the diagram of our immediate family tree that I have drawn SO many times for my friends, but never quite like this! :)

I grew up in Rye, NY with the McCabe nucleus, while the Miller nucleus lives out on the West Coast.

When I was younger I used to get so excited to visit Tom-Dad out on the West Coast. Oh, yeah, Dad, you should probably know that Katie, Rachel and I usually refer to you as Tom-Dad. It probably sounds weird, but we always have since before I can remember. Even Lillian and Johnny call you Tom-Dad!

Anyways, to ten-year-old me, visiting my father meant spending lots of time with my awesome older sisters Katie and Rachel, and my younger siblings Trisha and Brendan, who I rarely got to see. It also meant airplane rides, swimming pools, game boys, mini-golf, ice cream, video games, car trips and a fun vacation on the West Coast. Even though I was pumped for vaca with my sibs, I used to cry myself to sleep in the weeks leading up to my trip, but I didn't understand why.

One night I remember (John) Dad came into my room (which I shared with Lillian and Johnny) and asked me why I was crying, so I tried to explain my confusing feelings. Through my sobs I explained I loved both my Dads so much, but I was afraid one would think I loved the other more. I told him I didn't know how to show Tom-Dad that I loved him in such a short amount of time. I explained I was happy to see my Dad, but I was sad that I would have to leave.

He may not remember this moment, but it will stick with me forever. My Dad, peering over the wooden bunk bed safety rails, put his hand on my face and told me that it was okay to feel confused, happy and sad all at the same time. He told me the best way to show my Dad I love him is to enjoy the time I spend with him, and try not to worry about how sad it will be when it's time to leave.

Now I am "grown up," I don't live with my parents or my siblings anymore, in fact I don't live near most of my family and friends, and I miss them all the time. (I seriously cannot explain how much I love and miss you all...) My Dad's comforting words helped me realize that we can't always spend our time with the people we want to spend our time with. We all have lives, responsiblities, goals, dreams and aspirations that will keep us apart from the people we love. Now every time I get to visit Dad, Tom-Dad, Mom, Mary, Katie, Rachel, Lillian, Johnny, Trisha, Brendan or anyone I love, I always remember what Dad explained that night...

The best way to show someone you love them is to enjoy the time you spend with them. 
I think it's important everyone remember this lesson on Father's Day... If you are getting the chance to spend time with your Dad this weekend, I am SO JEALOUS of you. But please try not worry about what happened in the past, or what might happen in the future. Just try to really enjoy the time you spend with the people you love. That is the best way to show them you love them ;)

Happy Father's Day Dads!!!! I love you and I miss you always.