Names

Per my advisor, Tim, "One of the most powerful techniques is to combine an easy to remember name with a slogan that is both descriptive and communicates an advantage."

For example:
Travelers: Insurance. In-sync.
Range Rover: Designed for the extraordinary.
Air France: making the sky the best place on earth.
Singapore Airlines: The romance of travel lives on.
Patron Tequila: Simply perfect.
Mass Mutual Financial Group: We'll help you get there.
Ford Truck: Built Tough.
The Quiet Gardener.

Thanks to my readers for the following two suggestions:
A Family Friend
A-Okay

Here are the names I've come up with over the last couple days:
Second Sunday, Giving you another day each week
Second Saturday, Giving you another day each week
Time Design
Time Solutions

Pumpkin Carving with Moni & Raymond

Our friends Monica and Raymond had never carved a pumpkin, until now.

Good (clean?) fun

I love pumpkins

Baby D with the final products.

... kids these days.

Notes on Being Perfect

Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen is a small book with only 64 pages and several artistic, black and white photographs.

Susan H. Woodcock of the Fairfax County Public Library in VA describes it this way:

In this brief treatise, Quindlen attempts to deter readers from continually seeking perfection, which is by definition unoriginal and stereotypical. She believes that everyone needs to find her (or his, though the general tone and the illustrations seem to focus on female needs) own true self, especially for those moments when there is nothing else left.

She describes herself as having been a true perfectionist throughout high school. After a semester or so at Barnard, she realized that she would never be the prettiest, smartest, or "est" anything, but she could try to find out who she was and not be afraid to try new and unusual routes through life. This realization was more freeing than she expected, and she encourages readers, young and older alike, to do the same.

The book reads much like a commencement address, but both size and subject matter should appeal to teens looking out on the landscape of their lives. It is also a good example of an essay or short biographical account for those studying such literary forms.

These are the main points of Being Perfect that stuck out for me:

• Effort is the point of effortless perfection.
• Things that lack effort, lack soul, passion and reality.
• Perfection alienates.
• The lockstep (think military) is the opposite of the skip and jump. Avoid lockstep at all cost.
• Every story has already been told, but if your books (actions) reflect your character, the authentic shape of your life and mind, then you may be giving readers and yourself and new and wonderful gift.
• When parenting, lead by example.
• Give up the quest for perfection. It causes us to doubt and denigrate ourselves, our quirks and foibles and great heroic leaps into the unknown.
• Make mischief. Have fun. Be contrarian.
• "It's never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot

More brainstorming...

Production
Planning
Events


Blueprint
Base camp
Ground floor
Over the Top
Details! Details!
Little Things
Behind the Scenes
Beyond the call
Solace

Brainstorming

Here are some words, phrases and ideas that came up last night when I was trying to name the business.

it's already done
a step ahead
everything is taken care of
1st class service
top notch
mind reader
proactive (not the zit creme)
all encompassing
Full-Package Productions
full meal deal
custom
Tailor Made Productions
Out of Time
Time Keeper
Platinum Hourglass
Five Star Productions
Five Diamond Productions

Agony

I am agonizing over what exactly to call my business.

There are implications no matter what name I use and how I describe all I do.

Do I want the word "concierge" in it? Does "concierge" pigeon-hole me into a specific set of services offered. PERHAPS!!

What about "Personal Assistant"? Too corporate? Boring? It doesn't leave much to the imagination.

What about Big Shot Seattle? Everybody wants to be a big shot, right? Everyone could use some help with one thing or another. But do my senior clients really care about being big shots? Or do they just care about what they get?

Ideas? This is your chance to name my business.

Lazin' Around

Dahlia's first time at the pumpkin patch!

"I love a man with plenty of chest hair!"

I'm sure some of her food went down the hatch.

Behold, the discovery of the Cheerio.

I gave D Cheerios last week for the first time and it took her 3 days to learn that she could move them around with her tongue and 6 days to learn she could use her jaw to move them as well. Now she "chews" with all 3 teef, like a pro. It's really funny to watch because she drools all over and half the time, the disintegrated, drooly Cheerio falls back out of her mouth. It's excellent entertainment.

"What am I? Some kind of ANIMAL?!"

D is getting so heavy that I can barely carry her when she's in her car seat. God bless the stroller.

Could it be the last sunny day for the next 9 months?

Say... whatever happened to that Bowling Alley floor/ table project?

We pulled that sucker out of the garage, rented a sander and my dad had it pristine in no time. With his impressive craftsmanship, Jeff is making shelving and a huge desk out of MDF for us. The wood slab will be the desktop. Thank you Leilani Lanes, RIP. Yeah dad!

Snugglin'

My dad brought this hat to us in the hospital when Dahlia was born. For the last few weeks Brenna and I have been trying it on D and finally, it doesn't fall completely over her eyes. Since it's still a little big, we expect that she'll be able to wear it for a long time.

Dahlia's First Halloween Costume

I bought the fabric and planned the pattern to a T.

As I like to say when I'm working in the garage, measure once, cut twice.

Dahlia is a soccer ball, I'm a goal keeper and B is a goal. His shirt says "goal!" but you can't tell in the picture.

The babies (Dahlia and Leia) liked playing on the poofy soccer ball after we set it on the floor. I might turn it into a fleece blanket.

The jury is still out on who won the costume contest since we had some fierce competition.

Alyssa Starts a Business

It's hard to blog when I have no time and both hands busy 24/7. Plus, I always want to post pix and loading and formatting them takes some time.

I have a few post in the pipe, but I don't know if I'll be able to get them out. Baby is rockin' in her Bumbo chair right now, teasing the dog. "Muppet, don't do it..."

Dahlia has been doing funny, new things every day. I know it sounds like an exaggeration, but it's not. This week she stood up once she got in the bathroom. She knew it was bath time and was very excited. She rolled over and pulled herself up on the outside of the tub while I was filling her little inflatable tub. She likes to hold everything she sees; the 4 bath toys; all the shampoo bottles, she tried to eat the soap... plus she's all slippery and squirmy, so bathing her is now tough work. Fortunately she can sit up now, but she's still wobbly.

Another reason I haven't written in a while is because every chance I get, I'm researching or working on my NEW business! It's called Eastside Concierge. "Redefining Personal Service." I've met with my business consultant, web designer, attorney and I still need to get my accountant on the horn. I also need to get bonded and insured. I have an LLC and business license already too. Once I get the site content to my designer (not Brody since he has plenty going on right now), we can get it up on the Internet, since it's my "storefront".

I have no capital to start this business, so if you want to invest or "grant" me some cash, feel free to send it to the address below. I will respond to all monetary gifts with a glowing thank you card and my sincere gratitude.

Eastside Concierge
23515 NE Novelty Hill Road
Suite B221 #222
Redmond Washington 98053

Right now I have a $900 attorney bill that I'm interested in paying.

I'm currently on leave from Microsoft and I'm hoping to get Eastside Concierge launched at Thanksgiving just in time to help my busy clients during the holiday season. My holiday package includes: Gift shopping and wrapping, Christmas lights strung on interior and exterior of house, Christmas Tree purchased and put in stand in living room. Add-ins include tree and home decorating. I also do event planning with catering or a personal chef.

I will have vendors perform the services I cannot do; like the light hanging for example.

I'm sure you have lots of questions about logistics, packages, pricing and as soon as the website is up, they should all be answered. If not, let me know if you have questions because if you do, then someone else is wondering the same thing.

If you have any recommendations of people who do service jobs on the eastside (dog walker, yard and home maintenance etc.) send them over, or let me know.

On a completely separate topic, my mom and I made Dahlia's Halloween costume the other day. I was determined to make it myself, but due to my fear of the sewing machine, I needed help. I have to say, it turned out damn cute (and funny), but I cannot unveil what it is until Sunday since the competition may be reading my blog. ; )

We are going to a Halloween party on Saturday and there is stiff competition for cutest baby and best group costume. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Right now, there is a torrential downpour outside. Our weather is so weird lately. Last night we were bracing for a huge storm. There were a few trees down, but you know the News crews, they find one branch in the road, take a close-up camera shot of it and extort the crap out of it. They are alarmists and should report on actual news as opposed to fake news. And now it has completely stopped raining. Sheesh. I'm glad I didn't take the dog for a walk.

ok, I'm posting now. I think I may try to post another with photos.

Love you all,
Alyssa

Seven Months Old!

If you are looking for anything other than pictures of my kid, you've come to the wrong website.

Turn back now!

Here are some pictures from today. Hmm, maybe I will be a walrus for Halloween.

Finally! A photo of the three teeth!

Gosh, I wonder where she got those chubby cheeks! Which reminds me, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grandpa Jeff!

Why is there a gate here? We just want to be friends!

I have a picture of Dahlia in the Bumbo chair when she was 2 or 3 months old. I posted it a while ago and this pic shows how big she is already.

These 12 month clothes from Grandma Jean fit already because D's diaper is bigger than the disposable ones. Thanks for the outfit Grandma Jean! And thanks for the diapers Grandpa Larry and Grandma Lynda!

Mid September Pictures

What else has Dahlia been up to lately?

She's been helping Grandpa Jeff exercise his biceps.

Drinking from a sippy cup.

Planning escape routes from her playpen.

Studying comparative literature; Green Eggs and Ham versus Bear Snores On.

And she's been going places!

Yesterday she pulled herself to a stand in her crib! This means that we now have to fully lower it.

6 Month Check-Up

Dahlia says, "As an infant, there are pros and cons to going to the doctor."

"I get to wiggle in my birthday suit while the impatient nurse tries to weigh me."

This time, Dahlia weighed 16 pounds and is now in the fiftieth percentile for height and weight. I consider her weight to be an accomplishment since she was in the twentieth percentile at 4 months. A week after her 4 month check-up, we started supplementing her feedings with formula which gave her adequate food and iron. Previously, she hated the iron drops I had to put in her breast milk bottles and I don't blame her. They smelled as bad as they probably tasted.

She's down to one breast milk feeding per 24 hours at this point. As usual, she and I are in sync in that regard. By the time I'm in a frenzy and "full" she wants to cuddle up for some baby love. Moving on to solids more regularly is a wonderful improvement; she has three razor sharp teeth...

And I know I alarmed some of you with my previous post, but all I have to say is hopefully someday it will be you with a new, wonderful baby, you will love the whole life-changing experience and just like me you will have to suck it up when the tough times roll around! Feel free to call me to whine if you need to. I'm here for you.

"I get to meet new people... oh wait, that's me... hey, I'm a good kisser!"

"And since mom feels guilty that I have to suffer through three more immunizations, she'll let me torture her while I'm waiting for the doctor!"

"I scream in her ear!"

"I threaten to pull her hair!"

"Then I pull it anyway!"

"I love to bounce! bounce! bounce!"

Is my poor old camera getting rusty? Every picture I take seems to be fuzzy.

"Mom loves me."

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

We (stupidly) let Muppet outside after dark a couple nights ago and only minutes later she had gotten zapped by the new invisible fence.

We both ran outside since we could tell something was wrong when she let out an uncharacteristic yelp.

Sure enough, B came face to face with a big "husky" in the pitch black back yard. He scared off our unwelcome visitor while I held the dog.

We only half jokingly call Muppet "coyote bait" and I have the sneaking suspicion that this particular coyote has been casing our house, just waiting to pounce on our fluffy dog.

All three of us have been extra cautious ever since.