day 4.

I can't even begin to tell you how exhausted I am right now, and my head is swimming with business to-dos.  To be expected as a new business owner I guess, but I wanted you to know I haven't forgotten about you, the blog, Finding Windom or my quest to make this town even better than it already is. 

I was asked to be on the Chamber board, which would have been a lot of fun and another part of this journey of finding windom, but I just can't take on another project right now.  I wish they would have asked last year...heh.  Something to look forward to in the future I guess...

I'm sitting here in the dark, quiet shadows of what is left from day 4 of River City Eatery.  I didn't realize just how much the freezer buzzes until now.  A sweet sound I must say when one gets the chance to sit for a second and realize all her dreams have become such an unexpected and wonderful reality right here in downtown Windom.  It's also I chance to remind myself how lucky I am to be surrounded by family and friends who believe in this as much as I do...I wouldn't be this far without them.  I don't know what I did to deserve such wonderful people in my life.

Henrik has also taken a liking to the place, I think mostly because there's food--he ate 5 popovers last night, they just fit so perfectly in his tiny hands.  He helps us clean up when the supper rush slows.  I hope he is as eager to help when he gets older...

Thanks for listening,

You are probably wondering how our first day of opening River City Eatery's doors to the public has been going, well, I'm still standing and getting ready for the supper rush as the lunch rush was just that--a rush!  We had a few kinks with our POS system, but fixed it--I hope and as with any new thing, we will continue to work through more kinks and hopefully get into a good routine so we can make sure everyone is very happy with their stay here at River City Eatery.  Thank you to all who joined us, for your patience, and your taste buds for our very first lunch hour.  We are looking forward to seeing you again...

Here is to preparing more fresh veggies...

timing.

I couldn't be more disappointed to tell you that we had to push back the opening of River City Eatery until Friday, October 21st, because my body just couldn't keep up with all the excitement and adenaline running through it.  I came down with the flu on Tuesday evening and Wednesday, so I had to make the decision to wait until I was healthy. Today, I'm feeling much better and preparing for the big day tomorrow!!  See you there!

this is my heart and soul.

I can't begin to quite explain to you in words the emotions pumping through every inch of my body right now.  I'm doing everything I can to stay in my skin, to keep from jumping up and down and shouting for complete joy.  I've been randomly dancing, smiling from ear to ear, and skipping like a little girl all day after our final inspections have allowed River City Eatery to open its doors.

These feelings are all so unexplainable, but I feel exactly how I was hoping to feel and exactly how I knew it would feel to literally make my dreams come true. It has been a long time coming, not only for the past 6 months since purchasing the old Mix Bakery building in downtown Windom and completely flipping it with the help of amazing family and very gracious friends or the months of research, planning, writing the business plan, trying to sell the idea to financial resources, hearing "you're crazy" a million and one times, but it has been a long time coming because I have wanted to do this since I can remember.  This place has been in my head for years and years and years, and it has finally come to life. It is real.  At 28 years old, I am living my ultimate dream right here in Windom, Minnesota.  This is passion with a capital P.  This is my heart and soul.

I'd like to say I did it all by myself, but you must know, I have an amazing support system I'm lucky to call family and friends.  Truly, without these people who believe in River City Eatery just as much as I do, it wouldn't be real--it wouldn't be what it is right now, which is absolutely unbelievably incredible.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.  You have no idea how much I love each and every one of you for your support and helping hands throughout this crazy, wild ride.  I am the luckiest girl in the world for having these amazing souls in my life. 

And a special thank you to my parents and my husband, who have worked a million and one hours with me--as tired, sore, stressed, and emotional as one can be--we did it!  We made River City come to life together.  You have shown me that anything is possible if one is willing to work their tail off to do it.  And, if you're going to do anything right, you must do it wholeheartedly. 

So, this is the moment I have been waiting for, folks, to finally tell you that River City Eatery will be opening its doors on Thursday, October 20th, 2011. 

May you all leave a little bit of your heart and soul with us after enjoying River City Eatery in beautiful downtown Windom. 

Happy times,

inspired by Enspired.

Today was the grand opening of Windom's newest business, Enspired.  It is located along Highway 60/71 in the Got Ink Tatoo Shop. 

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to have a store like this in Windom.  A store that gives local artists an outlet to share their art, a store that inspires to create and enjoy the simplicities of nature, a store to find a gift or be selfish and buy something for yourself.

But what a wonderful gift the owner, Hilary Mathis, has shared with Windom.  My friend, my classmate, and now my fellow business owner right here in Windom, Minnesota.

But this is what I'm most excited about, someone believed in an idea so much that she made it happen right here in Windom-she took a risk and followed her dreams. I most excited that someone believed in Windom enough to open a small business.  I'm excited that she saw an often unexpected opportunity within these city limits, and she took it.  

And this is what it means to truly find Windom...