Over the last few years January has become one of my favorite months. As a child, it meant leaving behind the joyfulness and complete abandon of the Christmas holidays. but as an adult it serves as a month of respite and signifies a time of renewal

And while I’ve always struggled with the concept of New Year’s resolutions, I have begun a new tradition of setting an intention. An intention differs from a resolution. It requires an active and disciplined commitment for growth rather than the remediation of a bad habit.

As I began 2015, I decided to have a single intention for the year:  

the zen of slow cooking is to be recognized and received in a large “well known and respected” retail environment.

Setting an intention requires a step beyond “wishing or wanting” something to happen.  Using the techniques I learned from my friend Ramaa, I used the following approach: verbalize, visualize, journal, attach/focus “to the work” and detach from the outcome.

I verbalized our intention to our “zen kitchen cabinet” of advisors. This made me/us more accountable to the work that lay ahead. I visualized our dream by bringing our product into various retail environments to better understand and “see” were our Zen Blends belonged. Putting (journaling) our goals on paper required Jane and I to construct a detailed timeline on how we could achieve them.

In addition to these tools, Ramaa also encouraged us to take a “Buddhist approach” to our intention. A meaningful component of this for me was to “attach to the work and detach from the outcome.” By taking this approach we remained steadily focused on the work through the ups and downs of moving toward our goal. As such, we were not as discouraged by the set backs we experienced along the way.

I’m sharing our story to illustrate a process of bringing your “dreams to reality.” With that in mind, I am delighted to tell you that in the final days of December 2015 the zen of slow cooking Slow Cooker Spices Blends were accepted by Whole Foods Market Midwest Region!

Our relationship with Julie Blubaugh, the local Whole Foods Forager (an employee who “forages” for locally produced products) began last April. She has helped us through the process of getting our products ready for acceptance by Whole Foods. This process culminated in a full redesign of our packaging.

So what else happened for us in 2015?  We… 

• Increased our sales by 57%
• Tested a retail shop concept in Chicago
• Started teaching Slow Cooking 101 Classes
• Finalized 3 additional blends (set to debut in 2016)
• Launched our Beans & Blends concept
• Became a Member Candidate for the Specialty Food Association
• Added 8 new wholesale accounts in 5 surrounding states
• Participated in the Chicago Botanic Garden Farmers Market
• Taught our second cooking class at Project 1212 in Chicago
• Redesigned “the look” of our brand
• Accepted as a WHOLE FOODS MARKET vendor

Finally, beyond providing a little inspiration, we like to begin the New Year by thanking people who have helped us along our journey.

I have to begin with thanking our packaging partners at Planet Access Company for “staying in the game” while we redesigned the blends; Kym Abrams for helping us refine our branding message; Linda Cassady for bringing our new look to life with her amazing designs; Kerri Sherman for adding striking new photography for our spice blends; Natalie Moore and Catherine Gregg at Elawa Farm for encouraging us to grow by adding a Zen Cooking class to their roster and letting us “test the waters” with our new heirloom bean collection; and finally Julie Blubaugh for her support, feedback and constant communication through the process of getting to our new label design. 

None of this would have been possible without all of our amazing friends who continue to buy, tweet, Instagram and FB about our business; our kitchen cabinet and co-workers Amy and Eileen for their unbridled enthusiasm and dedication; husbands Steve and Graham, who flex their business schedules to help with things like hauling our spices to Farmers Markets; and children Phil (for helping us grow on FB), Doug (who spreads a little “Zen” everywhere he goes), Lucy (for being an uber taste tester and, as the last child in the house, my main “schlepper”), Lily and Connie (for “Chief labelers” followed by Mom’s QC.)

And, of course, thank you to all of YOU, our blog followers, for continuing to help us grow, and spreading a little Zen in your own families.

We hope you “Set an Intention” for the New Year and enjoy our month of intentional recipes and exercises to help Lighten, Restore and Build with our friends at Organa Wellness in Chicago.

With gratitude, 
Meg & Jane

Author’s Note…

 On a personal note, I’m writing to ask those of you who live near a Whole Foods Store to ask their grocery manager to stock our Slow Cooker Spice Blends (see our new label above.)  Each store manager chooses what brands they carry and we would very grateful for your help!

Zen Moment

“Powerful words come with powerful intent. Where you have passion, strength, courage, and determination you can accomplish anything!”

― K.L. Toth