A Little back story -Part 1

It's only appropriate to give you the back story on how this all started. Bare with me as a go back in time...

2/7/10 - My sister in law calls me from Hawaii and tells me about a store she found in Hawaii - The Wedding Cafe - they're a resource/retail store for brides planning thier wedding in Hawaii and as an added bonus they can sip tea and eat cupcakes while roaming through the store - Sis in Law J thought this would be a great concept for the store ont he 5 year plan - i checked out website and bookmarked it for future reference

2/18/10 i received an email from one of my dear friends encouraging us to support a busines owned by Young African American girls by purchasing groupon certificates for Southern Girl Desserts. Now I didnt need 6 large cupcakes but i wanted to lend my support; I purchased the certificate, send the owners an email introducing myself and my event planning biz and wishing them great success in their endeavors.

3/2/10 - i had a sweet tooth and remembered about my groupon certificate, so i did what most people would do at 3pm in the afternoon - i went to redeem my certificate for SIX cupcakes!! ( You would have done it too -dont judge). On the drive back from Southern Girl Desserts(cupcakes in the seat next to me) heading east on Pico a white chinese lantern caught my eye in what appeared to be a store window (Its an event planner thing - you notice everything decor). i slowed the Jetta and noticed it wasnt a new store it was a space for least. So again i did what the average person would do - i pulled over called the number and inquired about the lease on this storefront. ( That's normal right?)

I spoke w Cee-Alis (LOL I'll explain this later on another post) and made an appointment to see the space on 3/3/10 - i drove the rest of the way home daydreaming of a store.

03/03/10 -Today is the day i see the store - and knowing that i can sometimes jump into situations and sometimes i have a way of rationalizing everything to make it work i decided to take my number one voice of reason - THE MOTHER!!! I picked her up at 9:30am - and we drove to see The Spot - she was keeping an open mind i was very appreciative - but i knew soon enough she would speak her words of reason. We arrive, meet Cee-Alis, look at the property and talk - im reading her facial expressions expecting to get that eye - you know the one a mother can give you - the one that says - "this is cute and all but i know you are not trying to open a store - why the heck did you bring me here" but i didnt see it - instead i saw a little smile and little inspirtation and push in the right direction!! We ate breakfast next door at Bloom and talked. We talked numbers, what it would take,and of course she wanted to here my plan the short and long term plans!! You cant blame here i am the same little girl that swam, danced, flipped on uneven bard, rode horses, played the flute and piano all in one year - LOL)

Wednesday March 3rd was just the beginning of the process - but we left breakfast feeling good.

Whew that was a lot its just the beginning - if you made it through it i know you will be a great follower and hopefull a great customer too - stay tuned for Part II

I signed the lease

March 21, 2010 - I signed a new lease!! The lease to my store - Cordially Invited. A store that three weeks ago was a mere line on the pages of my five year goals; and now, today it is a mere 9 weeks away from being a reality!! On June 5, 2010 i will open the doors to Cordially Invited.

Over the next nine weeks i will blog the process it takes to get there!! Wish me Luck

Yours Truly,

Yvette