Saturday Spotlight – Taylor Sam’s

It has been awhile since I focused on the AMAZING Taylor Sam’s located at 1563 Route 88 in Brick, NJ.

They just recently won – BEST BREAKFAST on 94.3 The Point radio station.  

Here is a little bit about them:

Taylor Sam’s is operated by Executive Chef Scott Spivak. Chef Scott along with his wife Dawn, formerly owned Sixth Avenue Bistro was started in 2006 and soon become the local hotspot for guests who enjoyed their unique flair on comfort food in Toms River. Voted one of the best fine dining rests in Ocean County in 2007 by the Asbury Park Press…..Sixth Avenue had quickly made their mark in Toms River, now with the focus soley on catering, sixth avenue can offer that same experience at your next event.

Now Scott and Dawn have started a new venture in Brick….there goal was to offer a great breakfast and lunch dining experience for the local residents in Brick as well as visitors enjoying the Jersey Shore. They wanted the menu at Taylor Sam’s to be eclectic and homestyle by using quality ingredients as well as offering personal service. They want you to feel at home while not breaking the bank!

Open EVERYDAY from 8AM – 3:30PM. Delivery service available, phone: 732-458-7267.

What started for hubby and I as a “let’s just try it”, has become like a second home.  The staff: Nick, Dan, Rose, Fernando, Kara, Taylor and the rest of the crew are AMAZING!

I think I speak for all of the regular customers when I say that you couldn’t find a better place to eat. The food is FRESH. The staff is friendly. Special requests are no problem – believe me I know since I am always changing things up.

Pancakes and French Toast are AWESOME!

Their variety of salad combinations always leaves me guessing with combinations that I would have NEVER thought to put together.

I have probably tried everything on the menu that is NOT meat since I am a vegetarian but I haven’t heard anyone complain about anything there.

If you haven’t tried it, you need to. Having an event, meeting or party – have them do the catering.

Looking forward to hearing what you have to say AFTER you have tried them out.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

North Carolina Bound

Today’s the day….I am so excited!  Rob and I are headed to North Carolina.  It is WEDDING weekend.  I know you are all thankful,right?  Now you don’t have to hear about it anymore, right? No more using the wedding as an excuse for procrastinating in my business either, right?  I figure excuses are the result of fear.  Fear of success.  Fear of failure. September is going to be chock full of NEWNESS – new fundraisers, coaching with the amazing Brit Bolnick, and the awesome Hope Shortt. I am so ready for things to change but for this weekend, it is family and friends.  I am sure that there will be some posting on Facebook.  I am ready to share the gift of Thirty One with whoever I run into that expresses an interest.  That means leaving minis at the rest stops and with our tip at restaurants.  I even have magnets for the car that say “catalogs on board”.  Hubby figures if I have sales, book a party or recruit someone on the trip that we can write off the whole thing.  You never know, right?

Back to road trip details…. I like to travel early in the morning, you know getting up at o’dark hundred to get on the road BEFORE anyone else.  BUT things are a little different, now.  Hubby moves a little slower as a result of health issues so I adjust.  It is a process and it has only taken about a year but I think I finally get it.  Yes, I am a little slow on the uptake.

We agreed to leave no later than 8AM.  Yes, it is a compromise. I packed most of the stuff in the car yesterday and there isn’t much room left.  I am always so amazed at how much stuff we take with us.  Of course, this time in addition to the 4C green tea mix and the Taylor pork roll and whatever Belinda has requested from the house; we have all kinds of things for the wedding.  Coming home there might be some room which will be nice.  The only thing I have to add is our suitcases.  We have progressed from the filled Thirty One thermal for the road trip to the cooler – the BIG one that plugs into the outlet to run like a refrigerator.  I haven’t had to use that since we did cheering road trips.

A quick stop to Taylor Sam’s for a grab and go breakfast to give us energy for the first leg of the trip.  The goal is NOT to stop until we get on the PA Turnpike or a little later.  I drive the first and last legs of the trip; hubby covers the straight route down 81.  Our goal is to drive straight through which usually takes us about 12 hours.  It will depend on how hubby feels if that happens.  Bad backs are no good for long car rides.  I am always happy to stop in Staunton, VA since they have a great winery that we found several years ago.

I know the mindless ramblings of the mother of the bride…..YIKES!  I can’t believe that this weekend is here, we have been planning it for what seems like forever…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Taylor Sam’s

This Spotlight Saturday should have been a NO BRAINER for me….I am ALWAYS talking about this place and many would say this is my second home.  I am talking about the AMAZING Taylor Sam’s located at 1563 Route 88 in Brick, NJ.

Direct from their website:

Taylor Sam‘s is operated by Executive Chef Scott Spivak. Chef Scott along with his wife Dawn, formerly owned Sixth Avenue Bistro was started in 2006 and soon become the local hotspot for guests who enjoyed their unique flair on comfort food in Toms River. Voted one of the best fine dining rests in Ocean County in 2007 by the Asbury Park Press…..Sixth Avenue had quickly made their mark in Toms River, now with the focus soley on catering, sixth avenue can offer that same experience at your next event.

Now Scott and Dawn have started a new venture in Brick….there goal was to offer a great breakfast and lunch dining experience for the local residents in Brick as well as visitors enjoying the Jersey Shore. They wanted the menu at Taylor Sam’s to be eclectic and homestyle by using quality ingredients as well as offering personal service. They want you to feel at home while not breaking the bank!

Open EVERYDAY from 8AM – 3:30PM.  Delivery service available, phone: 732-458-7267.

What started for hubby and I as a “let’s just try it”, has become the only place we go for breakfast/lunch.  Scott, Dawn, Cheryl, Chris, Dave, Nick, Dan and the rest of the crew are AMAZING!

I think I speak for all of the regular customers when I say that you couldn’t find a better place to eat.  The food is FRESH.  The staff is friendly.  Special requests are no problem – believe me I know since I am always changing things up.  The daily specials are my favorite.  Hubby is “boring”.  He sticks to the same things – Original Taylor (pork roll, egg & cheese), Denver Omelet, or Monster Melt.  Do you love french fries?  They are addictive here – fresh cut, fried just crisp enough with only a pinch of salt.

  Banana pancakes!

Their French Toast and waffles is AWESOME, too!

     Their variety of salad combinations always leaves me guessing with combinations that I would have NEVER thought to put together.

I have probably tried everything on the menu that is NOT meat since I am a vegetarian but I haven’t heard anyone complain about anything there.

I have held meetings there in the evenings where we have been treated to AMAZING baked goods.  The cheesecake is the best that hubby has ever eaten and he is fussy about his cheesecake.  I LOVE the brownies.

I guess you get the message.  If you haven’t tried it, you need to.  Having an event, meeting or party – have them do the catering.

Looking forward to hearing what you have to say AFTER you have tried them out.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Party On

I can’t believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve!!  In the past, I have been Vacation Veronica and put my business on hold from the 15th of December to the 1st of January.   To say the least, it left me scrambling for bookings and sales in the new year.  This year, I have been working on my social media postings and getting a plan in place to ROCK 2015.  I have been in touch with customers and hostesses to entice them with the NEW Spring catalog – planting booking and recruiting seeds.

I came across a blog from “My Sales Tactics” which I thought was interesting.  The main focus was tips to “party on with home parties”.  Although they talked about five different things, I really liked these TWO ideas:

1.  Booking in close works best. Booking in close means scheduling events within a short time, usually within 3-10 days. By booking in close, people know their schedule and they either attend or don’t. People usually attend home parties if they have nothing better to do; that means no work, school, or children commitments that have a higher priority. For many people, especially working women, the opportunity to get together with the girls is a luxury that gets wedged in between work, kids, and family.  To build attendance when booking home parties in close:

• Be sure to get the cell phone number of your friends.
• Send them a text with the invite information. Here’s an example of a short and sweet invite sent on short notice:
  • Party Thurs. nite at 123 State St., 43550
  • 5:00 pm
  • See if you can bring 2-3 new friends.
  • Appetizers and fun. Shop for
  • Hostess: Susie Smith
  • RSVP please, coming or not
• Use multiple means to message your Hostess’s friends.

The Hostess and I can also make personal phone calls, email a PDF invitation to guests, and post the party on Facebook. Even if most phone calls go to voice mail, the point is that in today’s busy world, multiple methods of inviting are key to getting a good turnout.

The truth is I was never one for quick home parties but I am definitely reconsidering it as an option.  Time to redo my guest list forms to include cell phone numbers as well as email addresses and home addresses for snail mail.  I am grateful for Red Stamp which could turn the text invite into a cute picture.

2.  Parties can be held in public places.  I am excited that starting in January, I have several of these on my calendar.  My local favorite lunch place, Taylor Sam’s, will be trying out a dinner menu.  They have already agreed to let me hold several mini parties during these new hours.  Week 1, I will pay for the drinks (coffee and tea) and dessert for the guests.  Then another week, I will do a mini wine tasting and the restaurant will supply the snacks (cheese, crackers, dip, etc.).  We will publicize not only the restaurant but also I will be able to introduce my products to a new group of customers.  A win-win for everyone.

Thirty One has recognized the changes taking place in the home party arena and are now encouraging “parties on the go”.  A concept that works well for everyone. The Hostess doesn’t have to open up her home and the guests were more likely to bring friends that the Hostess didn’t know because of the less personal turf for the party.

So for those who ask, “Is the home party over?” The answer is a resounding NO!  With a little bit of imagination as to where and when to hold a “home party”, it can quickly become a “party on the go”.

What are some of YOUR best unique party tips?  Share them with us…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

#partywithHope, #partyonthego, #winetasting, #quickandeasy, #ThirtyOne

 

RELAX REFLECT RECHARGE

I am always so grateful for Sunday…even though I work now for part of the day and miss church, I am grateful that I have a relationship with God so that I can relax, reflect and recharge.  As I have been struggling to keep up (with the Jones, as we used to say) this week, I was reminded that I can’t do it all nor should I try.  I find that God always puts a story in my path that I can relate to so that I can grow and move on.  Here is the devotion that got me started “Why I No Long Cry Over Burnt Bread” today…

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11 (NIV)

As we come to the month end with Thirty One, I find myself comparing what I have done to what others have accomplished this month.  I know to some I sound like a broken record.  My numbers are lower than they have been in over a year.  No new recruits on this AMAZING new incentive.  Just when the devil wants me to believe that “I am no good” or “I will not be a success”, God sends me a message.

The message came in the form of this devotion, a new Thirty One sister – Bobbi Trisko and a conversation with my hubby.  In a mentoring call with Bobbi, we talked about my goals and my why – things that I struggle with.  The words came out as an apology – that I was blessed because there is not an urgent need for my Thirty One income.  I struggle because of the comparison game.  My ultimate goal is for my hubby to to retire without the worry of finances.  Of course, anyone who knows him would say that this is probably not possible – I disagree.  I am a giver and as a giver, I want to give that gift to the man who has provided for Belinda and I for years.  I also love to help raise funds for groups or individuals to give them a hand up and to know that there are people who care about them.  It isn’t about me, it is about what I can give to others.

After that conversation, hubby and I went to Taylor Sam’s for lunch where I proceeded  to ask him about HIS dream.   I was not prepared for the answer.  His dream is “to make a difference in this world so that it is left in better shape for our children.”  Of course, that wasn’t the answer I was expecting so I began to dig deeper by asking more questions.  Okay, so did you get the part where I said, this wasn’t what I expected him to say.   To say the least, it was not the happy conversation that I EXPECTED it to be.

I know, where is this all leading right?  Believe it or not, we both have the same dream.  As a retired Social Worker – I love to help people, empower them and give them the chance to make their world a little brighter.  He as a political advocate does it in a way I don’t usually understand through the political system.  So, here is what grabbed me in the devotion:

We spend our lives trying to mimic everyone else’s script, we might miss the lines that are uniquely ours.

WOW, another AHA!!  When I am struggling, I always want to jump to someone else’s script and as a result, I miss focusing on the the things that I do well.  There are days when I can’t tell what I do well but I can surely tell you what I can’t do.  My brain focuses on the negative and not the positive – something that I am definitely working on DAILY!  Who is with me on that?

So, if you’re tired of feeling tired, make that list. If you’re worn out from the comparison game, make that list. If you can’t celebrate your talents and laugh at your limitations, make that list.

Stick it to your bathroom mirror. Carry it in your purse. And refuse to apologize for being you.

So, friend, if you’ve been created to bake homemade bread, by all means, bake away.

If you’ve been fashioned to encourage others, speak life.

If you’ve been gifted to sing, fill the earth with music, please.

But whatever you do, don’t try to do it all, or you just might miss the one thing that the world desperately needs you to do.

Share your thoughts… Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!