Ashland Trip Today

We took off as a family today to service our accounts in Ashland and Bayfield. We've spent 4 days out of our last week in a different state, as we took a family camping trip to Hayward last weekend.

3 out of 4 of our family is sick with summer colds. Apparently, no one around here knows the meaning of a sick day. Clara and mama trooped along well. Logan isn't great sick and has 2 modes: sleeping and crying. It was a long day but we like to be together when we can, so we made the best of it anyway.

The first stop was the marina in Bayfield. It was a beautiful day. Logan enjoyed his banana breakfast on the patio.

The kiddos always enjoy helping daddy with the machines... For a few minutes anyway.

While daddy finished up with the machines, the kids and I walked down to Lake Superior. Clara loved all the sailboats and was delighted to discover a duck friend as well on our walk.

After Bayfield, we headed to Ashland to service the machines at Northland College. I took Clara and Logan to the park for a picnic lunch. The beauty of photos is you can't see poor sick Logan screaming bloody murder in the background. Doesn't it look like a lovely family moment in photos?

We did enjoy our day together, but it was a long day for all if us. Praying speedy healing for our clan to keep tackling all that needs to be done!

Candy Buffet for Your Next School Event

A Sweet Event was excited to do another school event candy buffet. Our first was a grad party, this event was for a local high school's cheerleading squad. We decorated the candy buffet in school colors and the cheerleaders loved it! Looking to sweeten up your next school event? Give a candy buffet a try! It's unique and fun!

Unique Idea for an At Home Party

This evening I hosted (hostessed? ha) my very first at home party. It was for a company called 31, and they make the cutest bags, purses, etc as well as organizational solutions, which I have a bit of an affinity for, but not the budget- hence the hosting.

One of the great things about the hosting is the perks like discounts and free products. One of the not as great things is cleaning your house from top to bottom fooling people into thinking I live like this all of the time, and having to shell out money for food. I was looking for a unique idea for my party that would be fun and wouldn't break the bank.

Oh wouldn't you know?! I just happen to know a nice little company that does candy buffets! ;) So we set up a girly candy buffet to go along with the girly things like shopping for purses. Everyone loved it and it was cost effective. Looking for something unique to spice up your next at home party? Try a candy buffet to make your event extra sweet!

Mixing Business with Pleasure

A few weeks ago, Peter found a great deal on a snack machine in St. Paul. So we decided to purchase it for one of our fast growing locations in Duluth. This is the second time we have traveled to the twin cities recently for a snack machine. Even after paying for gas, getting a snack machine in the cities is cheaper than we can buy one in Duluth. So it is worth the trip.

We decided to make a weekend out if it being it was also our wedding anniversary. We can't afford to take big vacations, but weekends here and there are doable. And when it's all tax deductible, well that just makes it all the more affordable!

Maybe because we have to take car trips frequently, both kids are great in the car. Logan sleeps a lot and Clara will watch movies, but is often content to just look out the window.

Our original plan had been to take the kids to Como Zoo, but we had a bit of a health scare with Clara the day before. its very possible she has the same sensitivity to excessive heat as mom and dad, so instead, we made a quick lunch stop and then headed to Mall of America. Which now that we have kids, mainly means Nickelodeon Universe. We went on the Ferris wheel as a family and the Clara and daddy tried a few more rides.

While they were riding, I made a quick stop at the Disney Store. After her horrible day in the ER the day before, we were in the mood to spoil our princess just a little. So I found the "Lambie" character from her favorite show, Doc McStuffins, for a mere $10.

Needless to say, it was love at first sight.

Intern Logan may have a future in management like his daddy. He reveled in riding in the front seat of the double stroller calling out his orders to all passerbys.

Since it was our anniversary, we grabbed a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Red Robin, before heading to our hotel for the night.

First thing in the morning, Clara requested to go swimming. So we spent the morning together at the pool.

Logan's favorite hotel feature was the big mirror, where he had many conversations with himself.

After some pool time we headed to the Children's Museum in St. Paul. The kids had a great time playing.

Even amidst all the fun, we still got some work done. We picked up the snack machine for a great price, had a small, impromptu marketing meeting in the pool, and even Clara and Logan found some time to get some work done.

We absolutely love living in Duluth, but the twin cities is one of our favorite places to get away as a family. Working three jobs between us doesn't leave us as much time together as most families, so we are always looking for ways to roll necessities of running our business with family time. 

Hope you had a safe and fun holiday weekend as well!!

Out to Ashland!

The beauty of working from home is the flexibility and all the extra time I get to spend with my family. I've been able to arrange my workload and schedule so that I can accompany Peter out to Ashland and Bayfield to check on our new accounts. It's about an hour and a half drive, and even though there are obviously challenges taking the whole family, I always say that if we can be together, we will be together. It actually turns out to be a fun family day.

Our first stop in Ashland is to check on one of our larger accounts at Northland College. Clara, always the helper, loves assisting her daddy in getting set up to fill and service the machines.

 Logan is at the fun age where he loves to explore all that's around him. He stares at open soda machines like they're magic vortexes.

While daddy takes care of the college, I take the kiddos to the park. Ashland has a really nice playground that Clara loves. We easily kill a few hours there. The beauty of Dr. Pepper being our supplier is I can endlessly enjoy my Snapple Peach Tea while playing with my two favorite kids on a beautiful day.

After Peter's done at the college, we usually grab lunch on the go and head out to Pike's Bay Marina in Bayfield. It's a very nice place and Clara and I usually read books or pretend we're going to put together a 1,000 piece puzzle  inside the marina's "clubhouse" while Peter takes care of the vending machines there.  

Those two stops and travel time make it a full day, but the kids do very well considering how young they are. I love getting away for the day with the family, and I love that this is the way our kids will grow up, getting to always explore new places and meet new people!