My days are kind of crazy right now. It’s go time for store #2 so I’m running around a lot.

For example, here’s how my day went yesterday.

I started by going to the city to deal with an issue with our back door at Echo Park. The good news is the inspector and I came to a conclusion that works for both us. But I have to change it on the plan and come back…again…to get it stamped. So another visit is added to my list for next week.

Then I went to a printer shop to make some copies of the plans because I have to go to the health dept next week as well to show some changes we made.

Next was to the tile place to order the tile for the exterior of the store. I had a tough time deciding between 2 different colors so hopefully I made the right choice.

Next to Smart n Final to pick up dry ice as I had 3 pint shipments to do. So on to Glendale Yoga-urt I go to pack up the pints, and then I took them to Fedex.

Next was dropping the plans back off at the Echo Park store for my GC.

Then back to Glendale Yoga-urt to try and get my walk in before it got dark. Spent some time checking in at the store there and then finally went home.

And all the while also approving signage for the store, ordering some things, and dealing with 1 really big construction problem that I will share more on soon.

I don’t know how I did this last time with a full-time job. It’s a lot now without another job, so how the hell did I do it. I know it wasn’t healthy and I know I’m still recovering, but I guess I just pushed through.

Tomorrow is a big day at Echo Park as we have 3 inspections. Hoping all goes well so we can move forward.

And then we deal with my big problem. At least I’m clear now on our options so hopefully I can make it still work – I have to.

We’ve been in construction for almost 2 months now with probably 1 more month to go.

The store is coming along nicely but still looks like a construction site. I think it will be about 2 more weeks when it will start to look like Yoga-urt, which is really exciting.

Overall, things have been going well. But in the last few weeks, there seems to be a problem like every other day with construction. Some big. Some small. Some fixed. Some we’re still dealing with. It’s a bit stressful but when an issue comes up, there is no other choice but to find a solution.

Besides the above, for me this past week was about ordering all of our equipment and materials that might take longer than 2 weeks to deliver, as the clock is now ticking.

Ideally, I’ll be doing soft opening during the 3rd or 4th week of March, which is about 4/5 weeks out. So we will need everything delivered as soon as the floor is done in a few weeks. That’s very soon!

This past week I went to the place we got our counter wood and countertop material from to make sure still available – it is! I felt so weird retracing my steps from almost 4 years ago, but was a nice feeling too as we’ve come so far since then.

Started production on our exterior signage, kicked off our mural, found tile for the front, got a bid on a new security gate, ordered our menu board, in addition to ordering the equipment. OMG, I’m spending a lot of money!

I need to order a few more things next week and I really hope I’m not forgetting anything.

But I will say it’s so much easier this time. I know where to go. In some cases, I’m repeating what was done for the first store so less decisions to make. I don’t have my other job so I have the freedom to run around. I can have things delivered to our first store (last time, everything had to be delivered to my condo which meant piles of boxes that eventually had to be transported to the store).

And when we open, I can also borrow some things from the first store if needed like bowls, ingredients, cleaning supplies, etc. just so much easier!

But I feel like I’m on a roller coaster that is going up the first big drop. We are a little more than halfway up and itching towards the top. And in about 4 weeks or so, we are going to drop! I have all of the emotions you have before the big drop: excitement, fear, anticipation, making sure my seatbelt is secured like a million times – lol.

I need to start interviewing and hiring soon so that is a priority the next few weeks as well! But once again, luckily, the new team members can train at the first store so they all will hopefully know what they’re doing by the time we open. Unlike last time when we really just winged it. At least I did. I had no idea what I was doing when we opened the first store…but now I’m an expert!

So that is the current status. Full steam ahead and the PR push will need to start soon too! The countdown begins!