A quick one this week — read to the end and tell me which update surprised you most.

Keeping this week’s email brief because the weekend did not leave much opportunity for writing. Saturday started with a track meet for all the kids (they’re all running on Ila’s team now), and we didn’t get home until the afternoon. I was at home for a few hours and then went to the store on Broadway to help out the scoopers working there, because this weekend was truly the first hot weekend of the year. I worked until close yesterday, and then today, after participating in our neighborhood’s annual stoop sale — where residents living from 118th Street to 124th Street, from Madison Ave to Seventh Avenue, sell furniture, clothes, books, and more from the stoops of where they live — I went to the Lenox Ave store to help out because it was pretty busy. Then I had to go to the store on Broadway because they needed help.

Caption: Images from the Stoop Sale. Ila ended up doing a custom bracelet stand that turned out to be pretty popular. All of the proceeds are going towards's Zadie's Dance Theater of Harlem tuition.

I don’t have much to offer this week. I was working on a post about influence and the impact of the people we spend the most time with, but I don’t have all the words yet.

So, I’m leaving you with some quick life updates:

I’m hoping to hire a Director of Operations soon. If this works out, it will be an answer to my prayers on finding someone who can lend a systems-thinking approach to the business while also understanding our brand and wanting to be a part of our next chapter.
I’m feeling very warm and fuzzy about the Scoopers we have in our shift lead roles. They do a good job, and I’m always impressed by them whenever we work together.
My meal planning has truly gone out the window, especially now that we are in the summer season. But there is now more meal prep equity. I cook on set days, Nick cooks on the others, and this arrangement works very well for us.
Ila came in first in her 3000m race this weekend, which has been five years coming. We were all so happy for her.

Nico is a semi-finalist in a Haiku competition that his school participates in every year.
Zadie is trying to raise money for tuition to attend one of Dance Theater of Harlem’s summer intensives.
I have lost my motivation to train for the marathon, but it’s coming and I need to lock in — as my kids would say — because November will be here before I know it.

I’m struggling to keep my eyes open. So, until next week.

With love,

Petrushka Your Local Ice Cream Lady & Life/Business Coach