On the Road Again

Well, after almost 2 months of very little travel, I am back on the road this week. Traveling to Brainerd, MN; twice. Tuesday night I am presenting a workshop at the Community College and then on Saturday I will be a vendor and also present a workshop for the Providers Choice Conference in Baxter (right outside of Brainerd). I love to travel for my business, but the first time back is always like coming back after a vacation. Groan, moan,...
I suppose I should give some background on my business. I was a licensed child care provider for 6 years, and about 4 years into it, I started my business, calling it Back to Basics. At first I thought I would sell dried beans, oatmeal, granola and oh ya, a few craft kits I put together. The craft kits went, the dried beans didn't, and so I realized I needed to focus on just one of these aspects. I still remember my very first sale held at our local Community Center on April 15, 1997. I sold about $65 that first day and I was ecstatic. Beside myself with joy. I was on my way. People liked my stuff. I remember the date because, though we live about 75 miles away, that was the day that the Red River overflowed its banks in Grand Forks, ND, and East Grand Forks, MN. It was called a HUNDRED YEAR flood because no one had seen a flood that bad in 100 years. No lives were lost in Grand Forks (I believe I read that a young pregnant mother and child froze to death near Fargo, ND because of flooding there), but many people lost their homes, businesses, and really their way of life for a very long time. I think it took the area more than 5 years to really recover. In May or June of that year, my husband gave/lent me $1000 to send out 1000 letters with price lists to area child care providers. A few orders came in, I started taking over the basement with my inventory, and started dreaming about traveling to child care conferences to sell my craft kits. This is getting too long, so I will continue another time.

Back 2 Basics 4 Kids

Let's Get Started

Well, having never had a blog, I'm not quite sure how to begin, but will try to post on occasion. My name is Joan and I am the owner of Back 2 Basics 4 Kids. I have all kinds of things going on, both business related, family, and personal, but I am not sure how personal I will get, so we will just have to see. I have 4 children, age 7 - 21. My 21 year old does not live at home any more. That has indeed been an adjustment. But I am getting more used to it now. I never really did believe those "old" ladies that used to say "Oh, enjoy them when they are little, they grow up so fast". Egaaddss, at the point when my children were preschoolers, I have to confess that I was one of those mothers that knew exactly what date they would be starting school. How I loved those years, and yet how hard they were in many ways. My husband says we are in the best years of our lives because of all the 3 kids that live at home "they all sleep through the night, but none of them can drive".
I do have weight loss issues, but I may be too embarrassed to talk about them much. Give me a few months maybe I will be less reticent. Regardless, I am glad to be here and would love to here from you all.
Joan
Back 2 Basics 4 Kids: Good Morning

Good Morning

Back 2 Basics 4 Kids now has a blog to find all current happenings!
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