Doing it, I’m quitting my job…

Making a big change.  For the past three years I’ve worked as a design consultant for CDI (Custom Decorators Inc.), using my degree in Interior Design, a passion.  It’s an exciting job and no two days are alike, rode a Cat Trak to work one day (lodge in the mountains).  I’ve worked with some fun designers and I've had great clients (most days), and managers, a nice company to work for.  It started as a part time job to work while my kids were in school, perfect, until it got overly busy.  I became certified in more areas and was one of the top designers in our state, days filled with Webinars, Certifications, training new designers, Paperwork, and Scheduling appointments, along with all the driving and time with clients.  Of course I’ll miss most of it, especially the yearly week-end Escape for the designers in the US and Canada, and Premiers twice a year.  I enjoyed my job, but I need to put my family first.  I put in my two weeks a little while ago, gave them extra time to train someone else while I wrap things up.  I was grateful to hear my supervisor (from Washington) tell me there is an open door and I am always welcome back.  I also have my own business doing the same thing, so if I ever get bored (ha, ha), or later in life, I can do it on my own if desired, or go back to CDI.  I learned a lot, became more professional and confident in my work, became more computer savvy used my laptop in clients home, and enjoyed helping my clients.  I have no regrets (except I’ve seen some wear on the girls with me being so busy) and I'm so grateful for the opportunity, but there is a time and place for everything, and I don't want to miss out on being a mom while my children are still young.
 

just got my shutters & drapes, it adds so much to the room!

I'm looking forward to catching up and getting more involved in things at home~ make better dinners, good reading, have time to work out, get more involved in my kids schools, charity work, and mainly enjoy my family while they’re still young…  I even let my cleaning lady go, not easy.  I’m grateful to be a full time mom again and for the support and hard work my husband always gives.  I won’t worry about getting bored, 2 days after putting in my 2 weeks, I got a new job in my ward (church) as Camp Director… Girls Camp is next month, yikes.  It’s a lot of work, but I’m looking forward to it.  Of course this job is volunteer.   

more time for this… after school snacks for the kiddos to come home too

If I haven’t lost all my blog readers by now, blogging wasn’t high on my list while I was working, I’m planning to keep up on it better, especially for the girls.

from Miss Domesticated for now

Escape to Long Beach~ {Sunday Snapshot}

Once a year my work puts on a huge design convention- “Escape,” here was last years in Portland…

This year we met in Long Beach. The theme was “Empower the Designer”, last years- “We’re not participating in the Recession” :). It’s a fun business trip to take refresher classes, update technology, meet other designers, visit vendors, share ideas and participate in focus groups. Plus, feel a little pampered with banquets, prizes/awards, and a nice break from everyday work.

the highlight was dinner & dancing on the Queen Mary

Designing Women, it was great having all 6 designers from our state come this year, here’s a few of us

Well, we should let our boss in. Nice hat Frankie!

It was a delightful week!

Before returning, we stopped at a few design places we don’t have at home, of course we had to stop at Trader Joe’s. There’s a story behind this card I bought, I’ll have to share later so I don’t get sidetracked. I picked up some nice souvenirs to bring home to my family, wish they could’ve joined me. Although I really look forward to this yearly event, it’s never easy leaving my family.

Way to go Paul! for getting the girls ready for their fairy party, and doing their hair each morning, I know that may have been the biggest challenge while I was gone, you did great! I’m so thankful for Paul & Josh (17) for doing double duty and taking care of things while I was gone, I know it was a lot of work and running around, but everyone was in good hands and I appreciate your support and help, and hearing about the good times you had. And thanks Grandma for helping on Friday. It was so nice coming home to my happy family!

Click above for other Sunday Snapshots

Giving up something I love… {Sunday Snapshot}

for something I love more!  I did it, I put in my two weeks notice at work.  It wasn’t exactly easy, I’ve really enjoyed my design job, but it’s for the right reasons, I feel good about it.  And congratulations on your new position honey, I know you’ll do great! 

Later that day I went to the girls PTC while they were at piano, I was greeted with these letters… 

“Dear Mom and Dad, thanks for making those cookies for me last night.  Mom and Dad could you tell Sophie to stop playing with Bruno so hard.  Mom do you think you could pick us up early now on.  Dad thanks for helping me do my poem.  Thanks for letting us have a dog named Bruno.  Mom thanks for driving us to school.  I’m glad you sighn me up for Soccer.  Love, Sage”

“Dear Mom and Dad, thanks for every thing you had done for are family.  Thank you for feeding me every single day I really like it.  Thanks you for buying a dog name Bruno and a cat name Shadow.  Thank you for teaching me cool stuff like times.  Thank you for leting me go to school every single day.  Thank you for all of the Wii game.  I really like them.  Thank you for adopping me.  Thank you for getting me from China.  Thank you for always takeing me to places.  Thank you for nameing me.  Sincerely,  Love Sophie.”

OK, it was already a bit of an emotional day, so when I started reading their letters, I had to stop during Sophie’s in fear of blubbering right there.  These letters just reinforced my decision.  Their teacher, a little teary eyed herself, said  it about made her and her aid cry when they saw what Sophie wrote.  In the whole scheme of things, nothing is more significant then the work we can do in our homes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I heart their writing

it’s not all about the grades, but way to go girls!

They’ll be happy that I’m not so busy now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Them too!  Nick comes home in a week! :)

Check out Stefanie’s Sunday Snapshot

Escape to the Nines- {Sunday Snapshot}

Portland is beautiful this time of year. We stayed at “The Nines” above Macy’s, pretty chic!

Elegant room, fresh European design with a splash of color. Our days were filled with classes, banquets, visiting vendors, meeting other designers and CDI staff, along with Hunter Douglas, and many hands on displays, and awards assembly. The last night we enjoyed a formal dinner and dancing (if you can imagine about 100 designers, mainly women, dancing to some good music w/ a DJ, great workout, I love to dance!) Laryl was the grand prize winner at the drawing- woot woo!, it was comical trying to get her extra large boxes home on the plane, but we did it with style, kind of. And I was honored to be nominated as “Rookie of the Year”, thanks Frankie! The winner went to a designer from New York, hard to compete with that :). But very nice to be nominated and got a nice spiff and certificate.

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I am now certified to sell drapes, excited. Here’s some I liked on display. Nice 3 finger pleat panels with decorative rods and rings. Goblet pleat with buttons, and the popular Grommet style with Roman Shades beneath. View album for a closer look, they look much better up close. This is something I’ll enjoy helping my clients with.

Self photo from the plane. We'll make a tradition of this each year, looking forward to next years in Long Beach :) It was nice coming home to my family. Thanks Paul for your wonderful support and taking great care of things at home, and Josh for filling in when dad couldn't, I knew everyone was in good hands. It was great coming home to my man and happy kids that were thrilled to see their mom, and wife.

Click below for Stafanie’s and others Sunday Snapshots.

Recognition… {sunday snapshot}

We don’t need it- praise… but it’s always nice to get.  I haven’t blogged much about my work and I’ve been hesitant to post this, but I should for memory’s sake, it’s a big part of my/our lives, I’ve really enjoyed my job and helping others.  A few days ago when I opened my email, there were two personal notes- one from my supervisor who oversees 60+ designers throughout 5 states, congratulating on my sales & closing rate, job well done, she says “you’re hot girl!, keep up the great work”.   And one from the Director of Sales acknowledging my work and thanking me for being part of their team and their top designer in the state I’m sure that fluctuates.  It was nice and personal.  I know I’ve been blessed with this position and I’m grateful every day, especially with the economy the way it is my heart goes out to those out of work right now.  What makes this work is not letting it neglect my family, they come first.  It’s been nice to make my own schedule and work around their schedule.  I love being a mom to 5, wife to 1, and designer to many.  I have a short business trip next week, looking forward to going with a good friend & colleague from design school.   It’s packed full of great seminars, product updates, meeting other designers, etc.  Thanks Paul for holding down the fort at home and being so supportive, you and the kids will be missed!  

As a mom, the rewards often come later in life.  You don’t get raises, pats on the back, business perks, public recognition for doing the most important, most rewarding and hardest job out there.  The rewards seem to come a later…

For me, it’s seeing your son work 2 jobs over the summer saving for college, as I look back at the beginning of his high school years when he had no interest in attending college.   Grown up.  When seeing your fifteen year old (he’s now 16) want to date like his buddies are, but adhere to family rules (& church standards) to wait until you’re 16.  Good example.  When seeing your 12 year old get clobbered on the football field but bounce right back and thank you for letting him play.  His first year of tackle, he loves it- yikes.  And seeing your daughters rock the soccer field even though they’re the smallest on the team, but step back to make sure their teammates have a chance.  This makes it all worth it, the piles of laundry, dirty dishes, occasional loud music, drum & guitar practice (teenagers), and car pooling everywhere. 

Sending some mommy perks… pats on the back and big hugs to the wonderful moms that do so much for their families (can’t leave out the hard working dads!)

 

  A few pics from July, I have some summer catching up to do.

Fun design post next- Parade of Homes favorites.

Click here for other sunday posts

2010 Goals, for work

For sure, being a wife and a mom is #1 in my book, the thing I am most passionate about… I'm also enjoying my design job I have, a lot. Luckily I mainly work while my kids are in school. It's perfect for a mom schedule and fun to do something else I have a passion for, and use my degree (thanks again Laryl!). My clients have been great and I’ve enjoyed helping with their home or business design needs. Of course I have the occasional difficult jobs and some bad days, but for the most part it has been really good and my numbers have been high and consistent. It's been a blessing and I'm looking forward to learning more, getting drapery certified, and gaining more experience.

We’ve been asked to submit our yearly goals (I admit I wasn’t too thrilled about this assignment at first, thinking "who has time?", but I know it helps to think about your goals and get them down on paper, so I'm glad they asked). I'm posting them here since it’s a part of our lives and I know I’ll read and think about them more often if I do…

Versatility-

• Get trained and certified in Draperies. (finishing this up in two weeks, exciting!)
• Order my shutter samples and become a shutter expert. (received them a couple of weeks ago, sold my second shutter job:)
• Keep up on product knowledge, new products, and refresher courses (the Luminette webinar was great)
• Keep my samples fresh, new, and updated.
• Continue to attend Parade of Homes, Open Houses, and subscribe to my favorite Design Magazines- stay current.
• Use my own home as a showcase, add my touch and flare to keep it nice. (even with 5 kids, they can help :)
• Attend "Escape Convention" in the summer

Keep my numbers up-

• Treat all clients the same, no matter how big or small the job is.
• Listen to help solve their design issues and have their best interest in mind.
• Be professional and sharp.
• Make suggestions they may not have thought of, maybe other areas of the home they may want to invest in.
• Be assertive, not overbearing, and ask for the close.
• Follow up with each client.
• Make them a client for life, thank you cards, customer service…
• Stay positive, organized, thankful, and enjoy the job!
• Stay one of the (actually "the") top designer in my state.

Design shapes the way we live, so it ought to serve everyone. ~ Eva Maddox