The Journey

I'm not often at a loss for words, especially the written word.  While I may wordsmith something over and over again until it sounds just as I want it to, I feel comfortable expressing myself in writing.  But last Monday night as I worked on the email to publicly announce Zoe's closing, I struggled.  I had been thinking about it for several days and nothing seemed right.  I am not dramatic by nature and wanted my words to be simple, heart-felt, and honest.

I thought back to a quote from Ernest Hemingway that a high school friend of mine had posted on Facebook a few weeks ago.  It had touched me at the time and spoke loudly to me now.  "It is good to have an end to journey toward: but it is the journey that matters, in the end."  Zoe has always been a journey for me.  An amazing, life-changing one at that.

What I didn't realize when I used that quote was that I had used the word "journey" in reference to Zoe in my very first blog post on this site.  I wasn't sure what the future held 4 years ago when I started out but I knew I would learn and experience a great deal along the way.

In the next month as Zoe's current journey nears its end, we'll take a (mostly) upbeat look at the road I've traveled and include some feedback from some people who've taken the journey with me.  

Please don't get me wrong - as much as I am at complete peace with God's Will in this decision, I'm human.  I'm grieving.  The tears I've shed (including a big cry when I wrote the email on Monday night) aren't the last.  On Sunday, a woman came into the store and asked me why we were closing.  When I explained to her my reasons why, she said "Oh, you couldn't get someone to take it over for you?"  I told her that I had not ever considered that option as Zoe was too personal to me.  She looked at me like I was crazy.  It's OK.  I don't expect everyone to understand.  And even more importantly, I don't need them to understand.  The people that I care about understand and that's all that matters to me.  

So continue on the road with us - I promise it will be a fun one!

My Zoe is Three!

It’s hard for me to believe, but my baby is three! Yes, this weekend was Zoe’s third birthday and yet again I was touched by the outpouring of love and support. We celebrated in true Zoe fashion with three days of visits from friends, loyal customers, neighbors and well-wishers. By the end of the weekend, the air was heavy from the gorgeous aroma of floral arrangements and my heart was filled with joy and gratitude.

I am grateful and inspired by every single person who has touched my life and supported my journey to introduce Zoe to the world.

My life was on a very different course and I was a different person before I took the time to listen and follow my heart. What I realized was that I had to pursue my dream of bringing Zoe to life. It was what I was meant to do and was worth every struggle and hurdle.

Before writing this post, I went back to the very beginning and read my first entry. This is what I said then, “I was led to what has become my signature verse for this venture - Matthew 11:30 - For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I realized that God wanted me to work but to do something that was enjoyable! And I truly feel alive when working on Zoe!”

Feeling alive is exactly the perfect way to explain what Zoe has given me. Thanks to Zoe my eyes were opened and my soul was filled.

Through Zoe I have discovered a community and been introduced to people I would never have met. People who take time out of their lives to stop by just to say hello. People who I now consider my friends. People who respect, love, and understand what it means to be an entrepreneur. People who connect to my sense of design and style. People who see more than a small boutique, but rather see my Zoe.

I am looking forward to celebrating many more birthdays with all of you. As part of my gift to Zoe, I am recommitting to keeping this blog updated with my many stories and experiences. Zoe is no longer in infancy and there is much to share.

I would like to send a special thank you to the following businesses who helped us pull-off the best birthday celebration yet: Affordable Signs and Banners, Alexandria Cake Pop Company, The Enchanted Florist and designers Trina Turk and Velvet.  We also received beautiful floral gifts from The Shoe Hive, Bishop Boutique, and DC Modern Luxury. 

Here are some photos from the weekend's festivities. Visit Zoe Boutique on Flickr to see even more! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Time

To do something with the blog!  Knowing that I haven't written in it for a month and a half taunts me every day.  My husband (the official blog conscience) asks me about it on a regular basis.  I met someone this past weekend who had read it and really enjoyed it.  But if I don't update it, is it serving a purpose?

Just having finished Year Two of Zoe being open (and Year Three since I started the blog) coupled with my current time-challenged schedule, I had to make a decision - keep going or let the blog go dormant?

I decided I want to keep going but I've got to find a way to keep it manageable.  I can't let my perfectionist streak prevent me from writing at all.  Perfect is the enemy of good, after all (Thanks, Voltaire). 

So keep an eye out for a Reboot of Zoe's Blog.  I know - very cliche, especially with my IT background.  But it just makes sense.

Watch for shorter features, things that are top of mind for me in the fashion world, things I figure out about myself and I how I react to the fashion business.  I will still include fun Zoe things too.  And let me know what you think - did the reboot work?

A Look Back (and Forward)

I actually love the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.  Each year, I take time to remember what I thought the year would be like on January 1st and then reflect on what actually happened.  The year never turns out like I thought it would - there are happy times, sad times, and many surprises along the way.  But each event has its purpose, even if I don't always understand it at the time.  But there is always something magical about a new year - it is like having a blank notebook full of pages to be filled with the next chapter. 

As part of my reflection for 2012, I read my end of year blog post from last year.  It was encouraging and fun to read my feelings at this time last year and to review what has actually happened for Zoe and for me this year.  At the time, I think I could only look about 3 months ahead.  And I had a full plate and then some! 

After the store closed this afternoon, I stayed to catch up on some administrative tasks and do a little clean-up.  When I finished, I sat there in the quiet for a while, listening to the excited voices outside from First Night Alexandria attendees and couples and groups heading to dinner.  I thought about the year in review and what makes Zoe special to me (and, hopefully, my customers). 

One of the things that stands out to me most is the relationships that I and the other ladies at Zoe have the opportunity to build with our customers, our designers, our neighborhood friends, and our business partners.  There is nothing that lifts my heart more than seeing someone I know walk through Zoe's door.  I want all of our relationships to be genuine - to be more than a potential transaction (and that goes for Zoe's vendors as well as Zoe's customers).  I want to always feel that, at the end of the day, I have conducted business in such a way that is honest, fair, and authentic.  I can be very hard on myself (constantly evaluating what I could be doing better) but I want to know that I've always given it my best.

I am grateful to every person who was part of my and Zoe's life in 2012.  And I can't wait to see what 2013 brings!  Happy New Year!

Why Zoe?

Jim and I had always said that if we had a daughter, we would name her Zoe Catherine. What I did not realize was that the name Zoe is Greek for "Life" or "Alive". How very appropriate for this new venture!



I have been searching for my purpose for a long time. God creates each of us with unique gifts and I have wanted to make sure that I honored Him by using mine appropriately. Somehow, a career in technology didn't really seem to fit His ultimate purpose for me.



In April 2006, Jim and I were discussing a new technology job that had been offered to me. As we talked through the pros and cons, I realized that the job did not excite me at all. Sure, it was prestigious and challenging but the thought of it left me feeling empty. Jim said "You know, you really should open a boutique to sell women's clothes. You would be so good at that!" While I immediately thought that would be fun, I came up with many reasons that it would not be a good idea. But, I didn't take the job.



I took a different technology job in October 2006 and set my mind to making it a success. When we realized that a biological child was not meant for us in the summer of 2008, my heart and mind began to focus intently on God's purpose for me. There were many ideas (none of which had anything to do with a boutique) but God quietly shut the door on each one. I began to pray for a burning bush to show me what I should do!



I was led to what has become my signature verse for this venture - Matthew 11:30 - For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I realized that God wanted me to work but to do something that was enjoyable! And I truly feel alive when working on Zoe!

In the fall of 2009, I decided that I needed to find out if the dream of a boutique was really a possibility. I interviewed boutique owners and studied their strategies to determine if this was something I really could do! And I found that I could! Jim and I started talking about how we could make this a reality and I also started reviewing my remaining projects at work to determine the best time to make a change.

On April 1, 2010, I submitted my resignation and my final day was May 7, 2010. I am now focused on making Zoe a reality. This blog will be used to chronicle my journey and my inspirations.