What is love? What is Marriage? A child's Opinion

I am sitting at the table painting as usually and I have my little helper, Riley.  We are talking about whatever the 5 year old thinks is important at the time and Riley says "I am going to marry Tommy, I am in LOVE with him."  I respond, "Really?  Riley tell me what is LOVE?"  Riley explained to me, "LOVE is really being in LOVE with someone."  So then I asked her, "Well what is marriage?" My five year old at this point literally sits there for a minute thinking. She then stated, "It is teamwork, it is hugging and kissing, marriage is working together." 

At this point I stop painting, I am sitting there staring at my child in disbelief.  My next thought was, we are doing something right.  Marriage is team work, Marriage is hugging and kissing, Marriage is working together.  Our children mimic and see more than we know.  My marriage is one of the most important treasures in my life, I love my husband.  Clint and I do work together, we are a great team, and we work at this everyday.  I didn't realize this is what our girls see in their everyday life.  I never really put much thought into it.   I had an overwhelming feeling of  comfort that came over me,  "Teamwork" is how my girls see how a marriage should be. 

In writing this blog topic today I was looking up divorce statistics, do you know that 50% of marriages will end in Divorce?  This is a sad statistic, the question is when did divorce become acceptable? I do believe there are certain marriages that are not meant to be and certain marriages that are toxic for everyone involved and there is no alternative but did you know that lack of communication is the number one reason people get divorced? Second reason for divorce is finances, obviously followed by abuse, affairs etc.  But what happened to the teamwork?  Marriage is not easy, you must work together and work at your marriage every day. It is too easy to say, "I'm done, I want out."  I can't imagine my life without my husband, my best friend, my team mate and I feel a marriage is something worth fighting and working for.

(My marriage advice:  Never forget....marry your best friend and keep your spouse as your best friend, have fun AND keep flirting)

How is your marriage? More importantly how do your kids perceive your marriage?  We learn by example, show your kids how things should be, not just tell them! 

Life WITHOUT Television



Our LIFE without T.V.

I blogged here about a month ago about making time for family and making Sunday nights our Movie Night...WELL we took this a step further.  I did the unthinkable I canceled our dish television three weeks ago.  This makes our movie night that much sweeter!  I have never known life without T.V.  so much so (sorry mom and dad, I am going to tell on you) my parents leave the T.V. on while they are gone for the dog...yes you read that right, the T.V. was on at my house 24/7 as I was growing up.  So when I say I have never known life without T.V. that is just what I mean!  With that being said you all know too well about our busy life.  We just don't watch that much T.V.  so being thrifty I thought, we are paying for $90 a month for Riley (my five year old)  to come home and watch the DVR of full house episodes over and over again.  This was ridiculous, so I called and canceled our subscription. 

Although I never watch T.V. I missed it the first two days, you know that feeling you get when you can no longer have something? AND now you want it more than ever? This feeling was short lived and by day three I was over my with drawl symptoms!

NOW HERE IS THE NEAT PART.  I hate to admit this about myself but YES I was one of those mom's when I came home from work Riley would ask, "Can I watch Full House?"  I would say, "Yes that will be good."  She would go down and watch T.V and play in the family room until dinner was ready.  I HAD TO CHANGE THIS, I WANT MY KIDS TO BE ACTIVE, I WANT MY KIDS TO PLAY, I WANT MY KIDS TO EXPERIENCE LIFE, NOT WATCH IT!  I have seen a whole new kid in the last three weeks.  The first few days was rough on Riley too.  BUT we have enjoyed playing cards together, playing blocks,,,,did you know sneaking on mom and dad's bed and jumping little sister around is about the best fun you can have, well Riley sure thinks so.  I have seen a happier child and more active child.  It has been amazing.  We still have our DVD player and thanks to the grandparents we about have a movie gallery so yes for bed time she can watch a short movie BUT no longer are we coming in and watching T.V.  we are living life WITHOUT the daily routine of T.V. 

Different strokes for different folks I know.  I use to be addicted to the reality shows and ARMY WIVES, I LOVED T.V.  but let me tell you, this might be one of the best decisions I have made in my life.  Not to mention we will be saving a little over $1,000 a year...WOW another perk!

 It was windy and cold this past weekend, I told Riley to bundle up and go outside and play.  She agreed, there was no sneering, no whinning, no saying, "No I just want to watch T.V"  she actually put on her boots and coat with hat and spent a lot of time outside. 

I have had people tell me, "Your Family time is important don't get so busy making a living you forget to live."  I agree with this on a certain level.  I know I discuss our daily schedules and although busy, GUESS WHAT?  Most of this time is with my girls.  They are sitting at the table talking to me or playing around me while I paint, they paint with me, or they are in bed before I even start.  Today when I got home we played. I don't mean I sat there and watched them, I played.  Kids don't care if your having fun or not, they are having fun because you are actively doing something with them.  We collected trash out of the yard (yea like I thought this was fun,,,,but we were on a treasure hunt) we got out the side walk chalk and made hearts and bear paws....rooooarrrr!  Then came inside for left overs because it was already seven by the time we got done from our adventures!  Then as we are getting ready for bed I told Riley, "Let's play CraZy Eights"  We played a few games and laughed and talked about the day.  While I am writing this blog,  she is in her quiet time of watching a movie but I spent three quality hours with my girls today. The amount of TIME isn't that important in my book, it's quality.  If you come home cook dinner, run here, run there, then settle down to watch T.V. read a book,  or sit on the computer for 2 hours, how much quality time have you spent with your kids?

I would highly recommend trying this Life WITHOUT Television, especially if you have kids.  No I don't feel T.V. is the devil, I don't feel like T.V. is to blame for all the bad in the world but what I do know is I have spent countless hours watching T.V. in my life. I can't help but think just how much I could have gotten done without it!  Please share your questions or comments! 

Just another day in the life of RiOak!

Marketing your Small Business, "Don't hate Wal-Mart....."

I would like to start this blog off by saying I am in no means an expert on anything when it comes to business,,,,there has been many trial and errors a long our way but I thought I would share a few tips that have been very beneficial to our small home based business.

Vinyl Lettering, an affordable way to advertise your business!

 

 

This is new for us, but I do believe this is one of the best advertisements you can have.  Everywhere you go you are marketing.....getting your name out in the public is vital to having a successful business.  So how do you do this?  I have found Facebook to be a GREAT way to get your name out there!  We run giveaways and have had a great success.  We have over 2,000 likes now, I never dreamed our little home based business would have this many likes (the town we live in only has 1,023 population!) Do I push it, YES sometimes I do.  Are we BUSY yes we are BUT it is because I stay consistent in posting and getting our name out there.  Don't feel as if you are going to bother people, they have hit like because they like your page.  Facebook has changed their policy with how many of your fans get to see your post (it's not very many)  So more than likely not even a fourth of your fans will see your post,,,,,so post away!  It's the only way for your fans to see what you have!

 

(1900 like giveaway done at RiOak)

Tip: Make your giveaways good this way people will share, the more people who share the more people see your post!

 

Tell PEOPLE!!  Do you know everywhere I go I leave a business card?  I love those places (farm stores, restaurants etc.) that have those bulletin boards by the bathrooms....you know the ones I am talking about?  I leave them everywhere!  On a number of occasions when I am in the check out line and buying supplies (paint, brushes, fabric and so on, AND so on)  more times than I can count I have had cashiers ask about what project I am doing.  Here is what I say...Marketing one on one,,,,short and sweet.  "Oh I am sign painter, I paint custom wood signs for people, are you on facebook?"  If they say yes, I hand them a business card and tell them, "Here check us out sometime, I have a variety of projects I have done for people."  If they say no, I still hand them a business card and say, "Our pictures of most of work is on facebook BUT if you need any type of custom gift for a wedding or baby shower we enjoy creating and even do free consultations."  Then I smile load my cart and walk off.  People don't care to hear about every detail, (I was a marketing director for a very short time...BUT what I learned was you have about 30 seconds to impress someone, if you don't capture them in the first 15 seconds you have lost them...make every second count).

 

CUSTOMER SERVICE, CUSTOMER SERVICE, CUSTOMER SERVICE.....the customer is always right!  Keep your customer's informed.  I have to admit with everything I have going on I sometimes don't communicate the best, but I strive to make happy customers, THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT IS WORD OF MOUTH!  I had a customer call me and order a sign because someone had brought one of my signs into WalMart and they had seen it.....asked for the business card on the sign and then she called me...WOW there's those business cards again. 

 

MAKE A GOOD PRODUCT.  This will help the word of mouth.  People are willing to pay for good craftsmanship, AMERICAN made products.  Famous words of my husband, "If your going to do it, do it right."  We have improved our signs and improved our signs.  We always are looking for more ways to make a better quality sign and a sign that will last a lifetime (or at least as long as the person wants it in their home).  I love the words from customers, "It's better than I could have imagined."  I know when I have heard this statement it was a job well done.

 

 

It seems pretty simple....maybe easier said than done.

1. Let people know about you.

2. Social Media is great -Facebook, Pinterest, AND blogging.  GET OUT THERE

3. Great customer service.

4. A great product.

 

If you can do all four of these I believe you will have a successful business.  Keep in mind if you don't someone else will.  This is by no way the "Correct Formula" or everything it takes to have a great business but this is what has helped us so far.

 

 I think it is great to help promote other small home businesses but let's face it business is competitive and really it is cut throat.  You know why?  Money is involved.  I mean I seriously doubt K-Mart and Wal Mart share their ideas or "know how" with one another.  I realize this is on a big scale but I think we can learn from it.  I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite speakers, Dave Ramsey, "Don't hate Wal-Mart, Learn from them, they are marketing geniuses."  

 

 

Hope you all enjoyed some sunshine as me and my family did today, the Vitamin D was much needed!

Journey of RiOak- Part 2

So we had a name, RiOak Western Design.  We honestly had no idea what our goals were or what we were doing...BUT we knew we had a work ethic, the willingness to learn and an eye for decorating and colors.  We started going to craft shows and meeting people.  My mom went with me (craft shows just aren't Clint's thing) it was so much fun decorating my booth and seeing people actually come in and buy what I was making, my pride and heart swelled with excitement.  


During Thanksgiving of 2012 my husband's cousin said, "Ashley we should start a business page for you."  I said, "Sure that would be great."  It was at this moment looking back our business was about to take on a whole new level that we never would have thought was possible.  I posted a few signs I had left over from the craft shows as well as some wreaths and odd and ends....they sold....hmmmm "This could be neat."  It was in March someone messaged me to do a wedding sign...."You want me to custom paint a sign for you?"  I was so nervous....Remember I never saw myself as artistic.  I couldn't believe someone actually had contacted me to hand paint a sign....It was March 18th of 2013 my life changed as I knew it, I painted it, posted it and two more orders came in.  Then I did my brother and sister in law's wedding in April.  A few more orders came, then I had 10 orders on the books.  I was so nervous when I started.  All the thoughts run through your head, "Am I good enough?"  "What happens if they don't like it?"   

                                                   (First Custom Order every completed)
Well the answer....have I improved---YES, Have I learned----YES, do I know how to fully run my business with no problems and know how to do everything....NO--BUT we are on a great, great, great journey.

We started being 2 weeks out, then three....then we decided if we were going to continue to grow our business we had to move... our house had no storage and we just couldn't breathe with all of my signs EVERYWHERE, so September 2013 we moved to our new home,  it has so much potential to house RiOak.  We are very excited about redoing the sign shop, it is 3,000 square feet...ahhhhh (it is in pretty rough shape but definite  potential---With a large office space,,,,maybe this will be my store front one day!

Our family has been a huge help in our Business, at least once a month my in laws take the girls for a day or two.  My parents have helped with the craft shows, paint, come over and cook for us while we work and or take the girls for a few hours.  This business has many factors that play into this to make it successful.

So in a nut shell this is RiOak and we are still on our journey---We LOVE our family, we LOVE our time together and We LOVE running this business.  It is exciting to have a blog to document our journey as we proceed.

Future BLOGS:  Craft Show List and Tips, Patience, Who is the Woman behind RiOak,
Counselor Ashley, Grudges and Anger, Politics....should I? (that might not be a good one)

Which one should I do next??  Comment and let me know!

The Journey of RiOak-Part 1

Part 1-Our story!
Our story is not elaborate, it is not dreamy, it is not a fairy tale.  No one inspired us, it was something, it was a simple Welcome sign that I have had hanging in my house for several years. 

(Not the best picture but here it is!)

I was 7 months pregnant and hormonal, wanting to feel useful (I guess I figured growing a human just wasn't enough).  I told my husband as I was looking at the sign, "I am going to make wood signs like that."  He smiled, nodded his head and said, "I will cut you some wood."  That was beginning of of my idea.  I started out doing stick lettering, I thought they looked great, looking back......Oh MY, they were horrible!!!  But I was so proud of myself, I have one of my very first sign I did I will post that sometime!  It was not good, not good at all....BUT beauty is in the eyes of the beholder! 

As I was talking to my mom (I talk to my mom daily, she is my best friend :) I was telling her about my business idea ( I say Idea because honestly nothing about this at this point was planned) she said, "Well I think you would enjoy it, what are you going to call your business?"  I have always loved the idea of "Ashberry" so I told her I was leaning towards that....she said, "You know what would really be unique, different and neat? RiOak....for Riley and Oaklee......" My eyes lit up and that day sitting at my kitchen table, it was remarkable.....My business had a name, RiOak Western Design.
 Stay tuned for Party 2, I will write it Friday Night! (If you read this, leave me a comment about your business names, or a the neatest business name you have heard)

Run YOUR Business, Don't let YOUR business run you!

We have made a decision as a couple for our business.  We have decided to close shop for the months of April and May.  We will not be doing any custom work during these two months.  We have a very busy March and beginning of April ahead of us with custom work.  We know this is peak season for Mother's Day and Weddings so have no fear we will have already made products for you to be able to get for your loved ones.....and of course if you need a special sign for a wedding please contact us. But we are going to get caught up on all of orders through March and work on some projects that we just haven't had time to do.  This will also allow us to get completely caught up and decrease waiting time once you order a sign,,,,right now it is at 7 weeks and this is not acceptable to us.  I was reading quotes the other day and I found one that said, "Run your Business, Don't let your business run you."  This really made me think and for several months now our business has been running us!  It's time to make a change....

Let me explain why.....
Clint and I continue to work full time, I work 40 hours a week and Clint puts in a minimum of 45 and usually closer to 50-60 hours a week.  So yes with the two little girls we are BUSY as it is.  BUT then we have our home based business.  Let me tell you how my day goes!

5:30 Alarm goes off....ahhh are you kidding me? Hit snooze, 1 to 3 times!
5:45 At least up by now, check my facebook business page to ensure no orders have come in over night.
6:00 Shower and COFFEE!
6:15 Have told Clint at least two times to get up.
6:30 I am usually dressed and ready for the day now time for the kiddos.
7:00 We are out of the door ready for our day, take the girls to daycare and preschool (I won't go into detail about preschool but let's just say I work some 9 hour days to make up for the time I have to go and pick her up)
8:00-4:30 Work
5:00 Have picked up the girls and are usually headed home (unless it is one of my longer days)
5:30 Check Facebook to talk with customers about any orders
6:00 Supper is being cooked, a load of laundry is on and two little girls are running around like two little mad women! Fun time for mommy and girls for a little while!
6:30 Clint is usually home by now and we all eat together....ANOTHER POT OF COFFEE IS MAKING WHILE WE ARE EATING!
7:00-7:30 Bath time (Clint's job) Cleaning Kitchen (my job)
8:00 I start in on Painting or whatever needs to be done for the business.
8:30 BREAK---bed time story
8:45 Back to the business
10:00 At least paint or work until 10:30, sometimes this goes on until 11-12:30 at night.

THIS IS MY DAY, every day.  I work a minimum of 10 hours a day on the weekends, cutting sanding, prepping boards and completing signs, marketing, packaging, planning, designing, making up stencils, deliveries  etc.  It is a time consuming business! AND WE LOVE IT.  We average 30-40 custom signs a month just from evenings and weekends!!!!

So as you can see we are BUSY!!    In the last year and a half we have only taken three weeks off from our business (two weeks while we were moving and then a week after our rush of Christmas orders).  I am not telling you this to make excuses, have you feel sorry for us...BECAUSE this is our choice and we honestly love what we do.  Anyone who knows me and my husband would tell you we don't do anything we don't want to do.  We dream of having a full time business one day and expanding but for now we are happy with how we are growing and excited about what the future holds.

We have several projects we will be working on these two months.   We have several "To Do's" on our list for the business and our home.  We will be working on some tutorials, furniture, new blog design, logo, advertising, better tax system, landscaping, our sign shop HAS TO BE ORGANIZED and the list goes on.  AND we will have new product posted that will be available to buy as well as a craft show or two we have been invited to this spring and summer! Thank you for being on our journey! 

Another Day in the Life of RiOak

Remember why you started!!!!

When we first started RiOak we had no idea our business would grow so fast.  We have had ups and downs but never the less our business continues to grow everyday.  I can't help but wonder where it will be in five years from now.  I was talking to my husband last night about our business and we laughed.  We have signs all over our basement drying and lining our walls and I told him, "Remember when we first started I said, I just want to make enough money to cover two weeks of daycare?"  This was my goal.  My goal has obviously changed since then but I have to remember I started this with a small goal of just having a little extra money in our pockets. 

 

(This is where it all started, cluttered in a 1,000 square foot home, on a little 4 ft table and my Kitchen table, signs lined everywhere among the toys, against the furniture, EVERYWHERE)

 

You see I am a VERY competitive person.  I grew up in a very competitive household.  I was a barrel racer for years and of course you go to the rodeo to win.  In being competitive you also have to learn to be a gracious loser,,, I became good at this as well!!  BUT it is my opinion if you are going to do something then strive to be the best, not like the rest.   With this being said with my competitive nature I feel like I have to keep up, continue to create and basically wear myself so thin that I FORGET WHY I STARTED this business.  I did this for my family not to compete with ANYONE.  Before I entered into this competitive business I had no Idea there were so many business doing the exact same thing I am doing.  Also many businesses I was connected with are no longer in business.  I can't help but wonder why?  Sometimes it was due to stress, family and other times it was burnout.  Many new businesses have started as well, so I have learned some will come and some will go.  I can't worry about what others are doing, I can only worry about what I am doing. Do you know I work only from Facebook and referrals?  I have not ventured into many other markets, BUT we are in a few stores now. 

(My Very FIRST craft show,,,,lol this was a learning experience)

The first year I started this I decided I was going to do shows.  Well I have become so busy with custom work I don't have time to do shows.  I love doing them but why lug all of my product around when I can promote and sell from the comforts of my own home??  I have participated in some really good shows and really bad shows.  I have chose for now to only do a couple a year.  I do enjoy the atmosphere of the shows.  It is neat seeing people come into your booth and buy the things you have created!  I get a high from this, but I also enjoy creating one of kind custom orders that our customers come to us with.  Maybe one day I will have time to both. 

(My craft booth a year later....I learned a lot in a years time....this booth was really pretty this year)

I have become so busy I now have a month waiting list.  I feared this at first.  Many businesses promote and brag about how fast they can pump out product.  This is great for them, but we take our time in creating.  We make sure each sign has our undivided attention.  You cannot create a handmade product that is quality in a matter of minutes, at least not what we do.  We get our material from the local lumber yard.  We cut, sand, detail, make hand made stencils to the customers liking and hand paint our signs.  Each sign has a protective coat, a hanger and our stamp on the back.  Sometimes this can take hours.  When you get a sign from RiOak know that it has been created with two little girls running around laughing (or screaming), music is playing, a pot of coffee is ALWAYS on, a couple has talked over your sign, and discussed your sign at least 10 times.  We take pride in what we do and take pride in providing a good quality product for you, your sign can already tell some stories by the time it leaves our home and goes to yours!

We are venturing into furniture making soon.  If anyone knows my husband, he will not do anything unless it is done right.  I make fun of him and tell him he is going to have to pump out product a little quicker than a table or a bed every three months....lol.  He just smiles and says, "Well it will be done right when I get done with it."  Of course with this comes all of the tools.  We have spent countless hours on ebay, taking a road trip to Kansas and shopping around for the "RIGHT" tools we need.  We should be having a biscuit joiner join our family of tools tomorrow!!  Clint will biscuit joint all of our tables.  This will create a more sturdy table that our customers will be able to use for many years and hopefully pass down to their kids. 

We don't just create things to pump out product as quickly as we can to try to compete with other businesses....we are remembering why we got started!  We want to build our company, make it grow, and have a great reputation with our customers.  I am proud to say we have several repeat customers.  This is the best compliment we receive on a monthly basis. 

(Here is the kitchen table!  This was taken in our old house, but eat and paint from this table nightly)

 

During one of my bridal showers the game was to write down a piece of advice for the bride. I think the best piece of advice I received was from my sister in law..."Always remember why you got married."  I have taken this to heart and can apply this theme to many different aspects in life.  So whatever your doing now whether it be getting married, starting a business...or being in business for years, a career or school....REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED!  Hopefully the passion will come back to you.  I wish everyone of my readers the passion to continue on your journey and never forget why you started.

Another day in the LIFE of RiOak!