Friday 31 January 2014

Just a Minute! January 2014

Taking a minute to reflect on the month of January. This month I've been...

Reading… my coursework for my Professional Grooming Diploma course. Only a few more assignments to go!


Watching… a lot of The Real Housewives franchise and Millionaire Matchmaker.

Loving… having lots to do! It's really helped focus my mind and my anxiety hasn't been as bad.

Craving… everything. I've had such a bad month food wise and have been eating everything in sight!

Learning… the theory work behind how to groom dogs.

Planning… the next step in my career.

 

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Post Christmas Update

Hi everyone!

So sorry for being so quiet on here for the last few weeks. I've been so busy and only just this week had time to sit down and write.

Christmas was super busy for me and I only now feel that things have gone back to normal after the holiday craziness. I worked at the grooming salon that I usually work at on Saturdays full time for the two weeks leading up to Christmas, then I had a few days off between Christmas and New Year, travelled around and did fun things like seeing family and shopping and then it was straight back to work dog sitting and organising everything for this year.

I had a big sort out of my flat and office so everything felt nice and organised for me to get back to working productively, my office looked like a bomb had gone off in it over Christmas!

I also did my week long training at the Grooming Salon which the owner kindly allowed me to do so I feel as if I know a bit more now which is really good. I'm also now on Assignment 9 of my Professional Dog Grooming Diploma - only 3 more to go!

I've also been really working on the admin aspects of grooming and getting all of my paperwork, forms and costs in order. All that's next to do is to complete my City and Guilds qualification and then I can fully expand to include grooming services as part of my business. I'm really excited but I need to find the money to complete my training first which is going to take a long time as it costs nearly £5000!

I've been really finding it hard to carve out the time to work on Poodles and Pompadours this month as I've been so busy with learning to groom, but I have sat down and set an itinery and schedule for what I should be doing each day of the week so hopefully that will help me get back on track.

I have lots of new products that I'm hoping to get finished over the next 2 weeks and hopefully get online. I also need to update some of the photos on our online shop so I'll be busy doing that as soon as we get good enough weather to do a photoshoot outside in the garden. So much to do!

 

It was also Bear's 3rd birthday on the 16th of January so he was very lucky and got a chicken dinner to celebrate. Yum yum!

Anyway, now that I'm all caught up on January's goings on normal blogging service will resume as normal. I'm going to be publishing more of my Berkshire Dog Walks series which I was meant to do last year but it somehow got lost in a bunch of draft posts and never published so keep an eye of for those if you are a local dog owner.

Speak soon!

Hayley x

Sunday 5 January 2014

Happy Birthday to Us!

This week sees us celebrate our first birthday!

 

Hooray! We're one today!

 

To celebrate this joyous occasion we are holding a really special promotion.

 

Every order over £15 on our online store will receive a FREE BANDANA in the size of their choice from Monday 6th January 2013 to Sunday 13th.

 

Happy shopping!

www.shop.poodlesandpompadours.com

 

 

Wednesday 1 January 2014

2014 New Year's Resolutions

1. Continued Health and Happiness.

Last year I set a goal to become mentally and physically healthier. I lost 2 stone and made great progress with my anxiety disorder.

I want to match that progress this year and lose at least another 2 stone and made more progress in my recovery.

2. Learn How to Drive.

I had all the intentions of learning to drive last year although I had one lesson and freaked out.

My goal for this year is to learn how to drive and pass my test.

3. Go Back to School.

I have already enrolled on a Professional Dog Grooming Diploma course that I am half way through. My aim is to complete that and than go on to get my Level 3 City & Guilds Qualification.

I would like to be a fully qualified dog groomer by the end of the year.

4. Grow.

I would like to grow my small business.

This includes completing overhauling the online shop, blogging more, gaining more followers and customers, attending at least 2 events and gaining another stockist.

5. Save.

Last year we wanted to set a goal to save 50% of the deposit that we needed to buy our own home. Unfortunately we didn't managed it but after I have passed my driving test I would like to set a goal to save as much money as I can.

 

Do you have any resolutions or goals for 2014?

Happy New Year!

Hayley x