Our Group is Growing

A couple months ago a small group of military spouse bloggers living in San Diego got together and we've been getting together once a month ever since.  What started out as a small group of 5 has now nearly doubled into a group of 9!  This weekend, 8 of us (we missed you Emily!) got together for lunch and pottery painting.  We are all very different but have so much in common that we never run out of things to talk about and laughter always echoes around us.  These get together have become something I look forward to every month.

 3 of the OG's (Original Girls, of course!)

Nicole, Kara and Katie

The ladies painting.

  

  

The whole group!

Left to right:

Elizabeth of The Young Retiree
Nicole of Adventures of a Semper Fi Family
Yours Truly
Kara of Ramblings of a Marine Wife
Ines of the few, THE PROUD, the wife
Victoria of Anchored by Faith
Katieof Going Coastal
Katherine of The Newsom's Nest

Katie blessed each of us with cookies and individualized homemade ornaments!

We've already started discussing plans for next month so if you're in the area (Jordan, I'm talking to you.  We're meeting in your part of town in January) and want to join us, let one of us know, we'd love to have you!







Business Idea

It's no secret that I love to cook and I love to share my passion for food with others {hence half of my blog posts revolving around food}.  The husband and I have been talking about ways I can contribute more to our family financially without cutting into my social life {because that is important} and our travel desires{a full time job isn't going to allow me to take 30 days off for a wedding in June and 45 days off for 2 weddings in Aug/Sept plus additional time off for leisure travel}.  I think we may have found a solution.  My husband has been telling me for years now that I should teach cooking lessons to new wives.  Living in Japan, this idea presents interesting new possibilities. There are quite a few soldiers who marry local Japanese girls who aren't used to cooking, or even eating, foods that we as Americans consider staples. I know if I married a Japanese man I would have NO CLUE how to cook the foods he grew up eating and would jump at the opportunity to have someone teach me.  I am thinking about offering classes in classic "American" comfort food: pot roast, lasagna, chocolate chip cookies, meatloaf, chicken & dumplings, chili, apple pie, beef stew, fried chicken, etc. and potentially taking requests from husbands =}

GAH!  I can't believe I'm actually thinking about starting a "business"!  Before I go any further, I'd like some input from my fabulous readers.  I have questions.

Knowing that I have no formal training as a chef {yet...I'm seriously considering culinary school after our time in Japan}...

1}Would you be interested in taking a class like this as an American who just doesn't know a thing about cooking?

2}Would you be interested in taking a class like this if you had married someone from a different culture?

3}How much would you be willing to pay for this class?

4}Would you prefer one on one classes or small {3-4 students} group classes?

5}Have you ever started a business while living on a military base? {I welcome ANY and ALL advice, I'm sure there is going to be a lot of paperwork involved}

6} AM I CRAZY?!?!?!

As of right now, this is still in the brainstorming {out loud} stage.  I may realize there really isn't a market for it or it just isn't worth the effort to get it all started {legally} and toss the whole idea out the window.  For now I'm just collecting ideas and asking you lovelies for your thoughts!  Any words of wisdom, thoughts, comments or questions are welcome and appreciated!

And because I don't like blogging with out at least one photo, check out this gorgeous Turkish pottery I picked up today

the kind man that was selling this pottery at Yokota AFB today said he'd be making a stop at CZ in a few weeks...I'll be saving my pennies yen to buy some more when he gets here!