Haven't we enjoyed a beautiful fall/winter/spring in the northwest this year? Lots of dry, sunny days so we don't turn into miserable hermits - it has been a wonderful year so far. Of course I noticed that Abacus is booking wedding after wedding just as I look outside at the grey, damp, cold weather. This spring northwest wheather is of course something we are very accustomed to - but it always catches me a little off guard. Not because I don't expect it, but because it comes at the same time that our brides start getting quotes. Just when I want to crawl in bed with a good book and turn on the fireplace, brides are getting excited for the sun to shine on their big day. Congratulations to Emily who contacted us this week! We are so excited for you. It's going to be a wonderful day in September! Here's to the sun shining for all our happy couples!!!
Congratulations from Abacus Event Rentals!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
I Blinked
My daughter has a friend over to spend the night tonight. Our house is a VERY fun house for little girls. I have a closet downstairs with about 10 wedding dresses that I collected from trade shows over the years. Dress up is a popular past time here. I headed dowsnstairs to help with zippers and buttons and I caught myself in the closet. In one corner of the closet I have a collection of baby clothes that I have saved. On the other side of the closet hang wedding dresses. All too soon I will be blinking again and I won't be in the downstairs closet - I will be in a changing room of a hotel helping my daughter zip her actual wedding dress. How does this happen? Everyone tells you it happens, tries to prepare you for it and then the reality hits you harder than you ever imagine. Hits you when you are trying to create a fun sleepover for your nearing 12 year old. I headed back upstairs to compose myself after my heart sank in that innocent looking closet.
Tomorrow I get to host a trade show booth at another wedding show and I cannot wait! Marry Me at the Vancouver Hilton is going to be great! I will talk with mothers whose daughters were just last night trying on wedding dresses. I will meet women who were hosting sleepovers yesterday, trying on dresses and painting their nails. I will see what happens when we blink. What happens when we meet the person who makes us turn into little girls again. Makes us laugh, makes us cry, makes us blush, and makes us dream about our futures. These women are going to come by my booth and ask for recommendations. All I may be able to say is "don't blink" because all too soon baby clothes turn into wedding dresses. Enjoy every single moment of planning to picking out colors to food. Have the best time of your life preparing for the biggest day of your life. Don't miss a second of it worrying about problems but rather dive in and play your best round of dress up ever!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Upcoming Fun!!!
If you have been following my blog, you will know that I failed miserably at the goal of writing once a week. However, being too busy to blog is a great problem to have, although still a problem. My daily life consists of SO MANY stories that I want to sit down and tell you all about. Time eludes me so I am just going to catch you up on our upcoming fun. Come and see Abacus at the Marry Me Wedding Event at the downtown Vancouver Hilton this weekend! The event runs on Sunday from 10am-2pm and there will be great giveaways, fun vendors and US!!! Pauline and I will be giving away several prizes throughout the day and a $150 giveaway towards your wedding rental for one lucky couple. Abacus will have a fun interactive booth in the entry way where you can design your table scape. Whether it's a wedding or a corporate function - we encourage you to meet us at our booth and have fun playing with linen and dressing your table. Information on the event can be located at : http://www.facebook.com/MarryMeEvent?sk=wall
PLEASE SIGN UP TO FOLLOW OUR BLOG - WE WANT ALL OF YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR JOURNEY. SEE YOU SUNDAY!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thank you for your support!!!
I recently was notified that I have been nominated for Businessperson of the Year and Abacus has been nominated for Business of the Year with the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce. We are so grateful for all of our friends and peers who believe in what we are doing in our community. Thank you all so much. I had to write a letter to the Chamber accepting the nomination and talking a little more about what I do in business...here's what I came up with...
Dear Chamber Members:
Thank you for the opportunity to be recognized at the Businessperson of the Year for the Battle Ground Chamber. I am writing in response to tell you a little more about myself, my business practices, and what I stand for as a local businessperson.
As many in the community know I am one half of a partnership that makes up Abacus Event Rental in Ridgefield, WA. As a local business owner, community involvement and support is of the utmost importance to Pauline and myself. As a means to support the growth of our small business and maintain financial stability I have always continued to hold a full time position. My current position is held as a community liaison for Koelsch Senior Communities.
Through my work for Koelsch I oversee the Cascade, Hampton, and Ashley Inns in Vancouver, WA. I am highly involved in the Clark County Senior Services Network, as well as Specifically Seniors which is a non-profit agency that maintains the purpose of advocacy, awareness, and fund-raising for senior services in Clark County. I am a member of the board for Specifically Seniors and also highly involved with the board of the Clark County Senior EXPO. I have been a member of the Battle Ground and Vancouver Chambers for two years and I am highly involved. From volunteering to sponsoring to donating, I find the chamber to be a wonderful showcase for any businessperson. I work with families in Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and Vancouver areas to locate funding for seniors, find healthcare sources, assistance programs, and provide overall support for seniors and their families through hospital visits and help in crisis situations. This work is near and dear to my heart and ties in greatly with the goal of Pauline and my business.
Abacus Event Rental recently moved into warehouse space in Ridgefield and will be expanding our space in 2012. We have already outgrown the space, thanks to the loyal support of our community. We feel greatly blessed that we are able to partner with several other local businesses in the space. East Fork Cellars and Pacific Coast Fish Company have been wonderful to have as neighbors in our Ridgefield home. We count it an amazing opportunity to be able to not only grow our business but also bring awareness to these other local small businesses. We all benefit from one another’s presence and support and grow one another in our business goals. Pauline and I pride ourselves on excellent customer service and will go the extra mile every single time to make the client happy. You can read more about what we stand for on our website at: www.abacuseventrentals.com or on my blog at: http://abacusevents.blogspot.com/
We believe highly in contributing to non-profits in our community and supporting all our small businesses. We are all in this together and I help my seniors and my community with all that God has given me and I thank you once again for the recognition.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
You can't pay for this kind of entertainment
In an effort to blog weekly, I am sitting down and making it happen! You can congratulate me later.
I have a full time job and then work with Abacus and Pauline on the weekends. Every Tuesday morning I have a 9am meeting at my office with all of the department heads. Every Tuesday morning I am laughing harder than the previous week at the stories. I have never had a job like this - you really cannot pay for this kind of entertainment.
I was walking through the dining room today and a gentleman informed me "we caught a squirrel out there" pointing to the outside courtyard of the building. "Oh really" I respond, "and what are you going to do with him"? "We aren't sure-probably just let him go" was his response. "He's a big one though". Two giddy seventy year old men were anxiously pacing the dining room discussing plans for the squirrel they had entrapped in the courtyard of their new assisted living community. After weeks of adjusting and giving up what they thought of independence and freedom, these two men had reverted to 9 year old boys and were having the time of their lives. A reassurance that their lives were not over simply because their living environment had changed. Two young men catching squirrels in their backyard - maybe living here wasn't what they thought it would be after all.
Pauline and I are often involved in the beginning of life. We coordinate rentals for new couples starting their lives together. We get to see the excitement of marriage, the coming together of families, the love and the happiness that weddings bring. I enjoy each one for different reasons. Some because they are elaborate and exciting and give us a million ideas to think about. Some because they are crazy to be getting married and they make us laugh. Some because the families are so grateful and appreciative that we want to do anything we can to make their day great.
Because Abacus is growing and expanding, I continue to hold my full time job. My job at the assisted living communities has provided an unexpected perspective on running my own rental business. I find myself able to step back and offer more wisdom to people who may be stressed and overwhelmed. At the end of the day, you may be catching squirrels in your backyard with your buddy and none of this stress will do you any good. Enjoy your wedding. Embrace the chaos. You have your spouse a limited amount of time, don't waste a second of it. I am so thankful for my daily reminders of age and the value of time and friendship. I hope Pauline and I will be catching squirrels together for many years to come!
I have a full time job and then work with Abacus and Pauline on the weekends. Every Tuesday morning I have a 9am meeting at my office with all of the department heads. Every Tuesday morning I am laughing harder than the previous week at the stories. I have never had a job like this - you really cannot pay for this kind of entertainment.
I was walking through the dining room today and a gentleman informed me "we caught a squirrel out there" pointing to the outside courtyard of the building. "Oh really" I respond, "and what are you going to do with him"? "We aren't sure-probably just let him go" was his response. "He's a big one though". Two giddy seventy year old men were anxiously pacing the dining room discussing plans for the squirrel they had entrapped in the courtyard of their new assisted living community. After weeks of adjusting and giving up what they thought of independence and freedom, these two men had reverted to 9 year old boys and were having the time of their lives. A reassurance that their lives were not over simply because their living environment had changed. Two young men catching squirrels in their backyard - maybe living here wasn't what they thought it would be after all.
Pauline and I are often involved in the beginning of life. We coordinate rentals for new couples starting their lives together. We get to see the excitement of marriage, the coming together of families, the love and the happiness that weddings bring. I enjoy each one for different reasons. Some because they are elaborate and exciting and give us a million ideas to think about. Some because they are crazy to be getting married and they make us laugh. Some because the families are so grateful and appreciative that we want to do anything we can to make their day great.
Because Abacus is growing and expanding, I continue to hold my full time job. My job at the assisted living communities has provided an unexpected perspective on running my own rental business. I find myself able to step back and offer more wisdom to people who may be stressed and overwhelmed. At the end of the day, you may be catching squirrels in your backyard with your buddy and none of this stress will do you any good. Enjoy your wedding. Embrace the chaos. You have your spouse a limited amount of time, don't waste a second of it. I am so thankful for my daily reminders of age and the value of time and friendship. I hope Pauline and I will be catching squirrels together for many years to come!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving
Seeing as I haven't posted a blog in well...a very long time; Thanksgiving seems an appropriate time to play catch up. Abacus has been very busy the past few months. Pauline and I hosted a booth at the Clark County Event Center Holiday Showcase this weekend. This tends to be a large part of where we spend our time during the off season - at trade shows and networking events. It's a good thing both of us are outgoing and enjoy these functions. Both Pauline and I love to study people and find out what makes them tick, what they like, what they don't like, and what they are looking for when planning their next event. More than anything else we find they want to enjoy themselves and they want to feel cared for.
Don't we all? Want to enjoy ourselves and feel cared for? I mean when it comes down to it, aren't these two very basic ideals? Why do so many people miss this in business and in life? Why do we complicate things? What limitations are we putting between ourselves and enjoyment? Are we surrounding ourselves with people who make us feel cared for? Are we doing business with people who make us feel cared for? Even if details are missing or things don't go perfectly - are we cared for and better able to manage the disruptions?
This week as Thanksgiving approaches Pauline and I want to thank each and every one of you for your words, your encouragement, and your continued support of our business. We also challenge you to enjoy yourselves this holiday season. Take time to take care of one another and require that you surround yourself with others who take care of you in return. Don't settle this year. Make a decision to enjoy your event, your holiday party, and the season. I am committed to making time to enjoy myself and making time to blog about this enjoyment more than once every 6 months! I am too busy and I will focus on making that time. I hope your Thanksgiving holiday is filled with pleasure and care. Happy Thanksgiving from Abacus Event Rental!!!
Don't we all? Want to enjoy ourselves and feel cared for? I mean when it comes down to it, aren't these two very basic ideals? Why do so many people miss this in business and in life? Why do we complicate things? What limitations are we putting between ourselves and enjoyment? Are we surrounding ourselves with people who make us feel cared for? Are we doing business with people who make us feel cared for? Even if details are missing or things don't go perfectly - are we cared for and better able to manage the disruptions?
This week as Thanksgiving approaches Pauline and I want to thank each and every one of you for your words, your encouragement, and your continued support of our business. We also challenge you to enjoy yourselves this holiday season. Take time to take care of one another and require that you surround yourself with others who take care of you in return. Don't settle this year. Make a decision to enjoy your event, your holiday party, and the season. I am committed to making time to enjoy myself and making time to blog about this enjoyment more than once every 6 months! I am too busy and I will focus on making that time. I hope your Thanksgiving holiday is filled with pleasure and care. Happy Thanksgiving from Abacus Event Rental!!!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Summer has Arrived
I find myself twitching a little bit when I walk into stores surrounding me with back to school supplies. The sun JUST came out and we already have to start thinking about sending our cherubs back to school? I love summers with my kids. Water play, relaxing, everything just seems a little slower and easier - even while running an event company! Abacus is insanely busy these days and we are turning away business right and left. We keep scratching our heads - how are we ever going to keep up with the demand? Even the largest event companies assure us we will always turn away business. A good problem to have? Definitely. A problem? Most certainly.
Pauline and I continue to grow closer and closer each year as friends, as dreamers, as business colleagues. I am fascinated at how our friendship and admiration for one another never seems to diminish. Rarely do you find someone you can spend as much time with as we do with one another and come out still smiling on the other side of every project. Do we have moments where we are frustrated and irritated? Absolutely. I am quite sure I frustrate and irritate Pauline more than she does me - I love her so much for putting up with me! We admit when we are wrong, we laugh when we are idiots, we cry out in pain when we can't move our muscles, and we genuinely know that there is no walking away.
Like the school supplies, I am never quite ready for school to begin and I am never quite ready for the event season to end. It's a ton of work, but it's exciting and I get to hang out with my best friend every single day. Once the season is over it always feels strange to go a few days without chatting. We find ourselves calling and talking about our dreams for the next summer season. What marketing are we going to do? What do we need to purchase? What networking worked and didn't work and where do we invest next year? I hope that just like a new school season, and children dreaming we continue to have this dream and vision and continue to love the pain it brings and the rewards we can almost taste!
Pauline and I continue to grow closer and closer each year as friends, as dreamers, as business colleagues. I am fascinated at how our friendship and admiration for one another never seems to diminish. Rarely do you find someone you can spend as much time with as we do with one another and come out still smiling on the other side of every project. Do we have moments where we are frustrated and irritated? Absolutely. I am quite sure I frustrate and irritate Pauline more than she does me - I love her so much for putting up with me! We admit when we are wrong, we laugh when we are idiots, we cry out in pain when we can't move our muscles, and we genuinely know that there is no walking away.
Like the school supplies, I am never quite ready for school to begin and I am never quite ready for the event season to end. It's a ton of work, but it's exciting and I get to hang out with my best friend every single day. Once the season is over it always feels strange to go a few days without chatting. We find ourselves calling and talking about our dreams for the next summer season. What marketing are we going to do? What do we need to purchase? What networking worked and didn't work and where do we invest next year? I hope that just like a new school season, and children dreaming we continue to have this dream and vision and continue to love the pain it brings and the rewards we can almost taste!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)