Coffee at the Barre

Ashley and Alex catch up this week to discuss the highly requested topic of time management. Disclaimer - we are not experts and these are our opinions, but we have come up with some good tips over the years!

Some of today's tips include writing things down, using color coding and bullet journal style, and how to use a physical planner. Alex discusses how she schedules her day to make sure she has time for the things she loves besides work. She also shares how the practice of Yoga and Ayurveda have helped her develop a routine and establish grounding throughout the week. Ashley suggests working during the time of day that best maximizes your ability to get work done, and that may mean taking mornings or nights off from work. Ashley likes to get things done right away to help minimize tasks, and she shares how she uses email to stay on top of her to do lists. Overall, it is important to delegate tasks, respect others' different styles of work, and set days and times aside for certain tasks. Ashley and Alex mention some programs that help them stay on top of things! Those are linked below along with some books mentioned on today's show. We hope you enjoy this episode, and invite you to DM us on Instagram with your tips and tricks for time management!

Quickbooks Online
Homebase Scheduling
Square
Mailchimp
Mindbody

The Idiot's Guide to Ayurveda
How to Raise a Plant and Make it Love You Back
Ink & Volt Planners

Today we have a special St. Patrick's Day edition of Coffee at the Barre, featuring Neal Brown of The Shaskeen Irish Pub! The Shaskeen opened in 2005, and is one of the longest running businesses downtown. Neal worked at The Shaskeen for 11 years, and became a co-owner in 2015. He grew up in Belfast in the North of Ireland, and is living his dream of owning an Irish Pub in the U.S. Neal tells us about his life in Belfast, a brief history of St. Patrick’s day and its traditions, and all about The Shaskeen's food, drinks, and entertainment. Neal is running a few St. Patrick's Day specials this week! Be sure to get your orders in today for their Takeout Tuesday special: 2 cans of Guinness, 2 pint glasses, and corned beef dinner. Check out The Shaskeen on Facebook, and Instagram, and next time you're downtown be sure to visit, “One of the best pubs in one of the best parts of the world.” Thank you for listening, and happy St. Patrick's Day! 

If you enjoyed our episode on how to support small businesses, you'll love today's episode! Ashley and Alex welcome Raquel Castillo to the show.  Raquel started Manchester, NH Business Showers as a community initiative with her Leadership Greater Manchester class.  She came up with the idea after seeing how family and friends support one another with wedding and baby showers. Her goal is to support new businesses with a "shower" as well! Raquel has so many great suggestions on how to show your support, from spreading the word, to liking, following and sharing on social media. Visit Manchester, NH Business Showers on Facebook, and follow them for events, like the upcoming Trivia Night to support Makin' it Happen on March 16.

We would also like to thank our listeners for helping us reach 1,000 downloads last week! Thank you so much for your support, and thank you for supporting local! 

Link to apply for Leadership Greater Manchester: http://www.manchester-chamber.org/chamber/about/leadership-greater-manchester/

This week we welcome the owners of The Terracotta Room to the show! Alexis and Nicole took on the task of opening a retail store during the pandemic, and the result could not be more amazing. The Terracotta Room is full of unique plants, handmade pottery, and sustainable gifts and home goods. Alexis and Nicole share with us their mission to educate their customers on sustainable practices, and how making small changes in your life can make a huge impact on the planet. Be sure to visit The Terracotta Room on the North end of Elm Street, 1361 Elm St. Suite 102, and make your sustainable dreams come true!

This week Ashley and Alex are dropping some small business knowledge! We discuss what it means to support a locally owned small business, versus a franchise or a large corporation. Small business owners work so hard to bring you the best of the best food, fitness classes, and products. It is so important to support these small businesses with your dollars, because otherwise they will cease to exist! Outdoor dining begins at Café la Reine and all of downtown on March 15. Outdoor classes from Barre Life begin May 1 and run every Saturday through September at Stark Park! Make sure you vote for your favorite small businesses in the Best of New Hampshire, and the Hippo Best of 2021. And don't forget to share with us your favorite ways to support small businesses! It is important to note, these are OUR opinions, so feel free to give us feedback on our Instagram, @coffeeatthebarre.  Thank you for listening! 

This week we welcome Julie Alig to the show! Julie is a data analytics expert, and recently opened her own firm, JLA analytics. Julie has a passion for making data interesting, and will help you understand the data within your small business in order to become profitable! This episode is full of great information, so have a pen handy, take some notes, and contact Julie at www.JLAAnalytics.com to book a consultation! 

This is the second episode in our Valentine's Day mini-series! This episode features Shelly-Anne Storer, owner and head baker at Wild Orchid Bakery in Manchester. Shelly-Anne started baking back in Trinidad, where she sold banana bread out of her kitchen. Fast forward to today, Wild Orchid Bakery opened in late 2020, and has since taken off! The bakery features a variety of baked goods, Trinidadian specialties, and a selection of gluten free and vegan items. She is a huge supporter of small business, and knows the true value of local businesses supporting one another.  We hope you have a great Valentine's Day, and treat yourself or someone you love to Loon Chocolate and Wild Orchid treats!

This week we have not one, but TWO amazing guests to celebrate Valentine's Day! Episode 13 features Scott Watson, owner of Loon Chocolate. Loon recently relocated to downtown Manchester, and we couldn't be more excited! From craft brewer to chocolatier, Scott opened Loon in 2018 with the intent to make great chocolate from start to finish. Scott and his team source single origin cacao beans, roast, shell, and grind them to perfection. Scott is a self proclaimed foodie, and is an amazing example of following your passion in life, no matter when and where it takes you. Be sure to check out Loon Chocolate on Instagram and Facebook to follow along with Loon, and Scott's best friend Jackson! 

This week Alex interviews her co-host, Ashley! Ashley owns Barre Life, a barre, yoga and fitness studio located in downtown Manchester, NH.  Ashley discusses what it's like to own a fitness studio, and how her business was able to pivot during the pandemic. Ashley talks about taking over Barre Life, her journey to owning a fitness studio, and some tips on purchasing an existing business. Between being an entrepreneur, working at a Manchester based start up, and her involvement in Leadership Greater Manchester, Ashley's investment in the Manchester community is admirable. 

This week we welcome Ben Dion to the show! Ben is the host of The Weekly Dion radio show on WMNH 95.3 FM. He has hosted The Weekly Dion for 4 years now, and has had guests from all over Manchester, ranging from politicians, to business owners, to other radio show hosts. Ben is a life-long Manchester resident, and he is a huge supporter of everything MHT! Fun fact, we broke the news of Coffee at the Barre  for the first time ever on Ben's show! Be sure to check out The Weekly Dion every Thursday night live at 6pm. You can catch the show on 95.3 FM, wmnhradio.org, Facebook Live, and Apple Podcasts!