Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Oh ..The Irony of Life !.

Evening All,

Today was a lovely day.

Today my eldest daughter turned 18. It seems like only yesterday that I was rolling (on my fat pregnant belly) down a steep sand dune from my friends Crona's summer house in Wexford to the beach, trying to induce a labour which was already 13 days overdue.

When I presented the next morning in Holles St. they suggested I stay & asked if I had brought an overnight bag with me. No, I hadn't, in fact I hadn't even packed one.I remember Mr Delicious double parking on South King St. whilst I nipped into Dunnes Stores to pick up a nightie, baby gros etc.

There is an element of that me that hasn't changed since that day.
I'm still a "seat of her pants" kind of entrepreneur. Despite the highs & lows of our business life, the absence of cash at key moments, things always seem to work out. So today  I had the amazing good fortune, to be able to take my daughter (window) shopping in Tiffany in Brown Thomas
As we purveyed the beautiful jewellery, the impeccable John, suggested a glass of champers for both of us to celebrate her 18th.

So, it was with much joy & amusement & irony that this hippie foodie,whilst wearing her own
treasured tiny Tiffany lock & key, celebrated her daughters first (legal) drink with a glass of champagne in Tiffany @ Brown Thomas, whilst purchasing a beautiful simple Tiffany bracelet.

Today life is good !

Shirley







Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Casting my net at a networking event

Evening all,


One of the nice things about my new role as catering queen (in waiting) of the corporate sector is that it will require a change of image. I will need a new wardrobe, or at the very least a few "key pieces" for the season,...no more Converses, jeans or comfy Tee's,
I may even have to brush my hair..

..
On Thursday evening as one of Dublin Chamber newest members, I'll be attending an afterworks networking event in Mason Hayes Curran in Barrow St & I will need to look sharp, competent, a girl ready to do business. Already I'm wondering what to wear.
There are so many options to consider,

I could opt for

...the killer networker look.. pencil skirt, crisp white shirt, seriously high shoes...
or
I could pull that back & go casual smart, "I'm a nice girl, you'd be in a safe pair of hands with me"
or
I could just dress like me but smarter?

That's it,sorted, I'll wear a smart pair of jeans/ black legging, a designer Tee, a tailored jacket & my secret weapon, my new 5 inch chunky platform boots & nobody will even realise, as I smile & sparkle that this nice sweet girl from The Delicious Food Co, is in fact a killer networker at work.

Your business card please!


Shirley


Monday, September 15, 2014

Corporate World ....here I come again !




Evening All,

So here I am on a Saturday evening pouring over the Google machine, (as Mr Delicious refers to it) researching images of sandwiches & sandwich platters, wondering not for the first time,
"how did I get here"

In a previous life I was featured in a glossy magazine as a fashion stylist to watch, with page after glorious shiny page of gorgeous images of Irish fashion designers
all chosen & styled by
 MOI

Those who knew me back then still giggle at the irony that the generous expense account lunches, the flash company cars & designer suits have been replaced with a white van & me packing shelves of shops with my wonderful salads & sandwiches. In truth,  the biggest irony of all is that underneath those designer suits lay a dormant hippie never truly destined for the constraints of corporate life.

Two weeks ago we made the decision to merge the two  assets of our business our great food & my sales/people skills. So that is where we will be focussing our attention in the next few months.I will no longer be found stacking shelves with our gorgeous Delicious Food Co produce, although we will still be on sale in shops, I'll be back in my designer gear, targeting the corporate market.

We had a great start to our corporate campaign this week with, two small catering gigs and  a posh do in The Royal Irish Academy, yesterday for over eighty people, where several people asked for my business card & the client was incredibly complimentary. It felt good to be dressed to impress, to put on a delicious spread & to get such immediate positive feedback.

And of course the icing on the cake was when the client pulled out his cheque book, clicked his pen ready to write & uttered those wonderful words,
"Now, how much do I owe so I can settle with you now"

delicious !


Shirley

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