Due to the need for discretion during the early planning stages, Vicki requested that we wait on posting her first few weeks of blog posts until now. Vicki wrote this one on March 24. Don't worry; we'll be caught up to the present day soon!--NAILS Eds.

This past week we paid our rent through July 1, signed the lease, and have made some headway on the details of the licensing, turning on the electricity, and making extra keys. We've also decided to expedite the move-in date to April 7.

Painting is next. Kim is the “paint designer” and she has chosen the colors and will do some striping. On Sunday we are painting the salon before the floor is ripped up and a new ceiling installed. The door and window have been closed up and the salon should start coming together. The next two weeks are going to be busy!

I am broke! We all are in fact. Buying a banner ($225) because we can’t afford a $1,000 sign, security deposit, rent, licenses, liability insurance, $300 deposit on the electricity, and paint. $40 a gallon adds up fast!

Good thing is the three tables I custom made cost us less than $200. I found the perfect wood tabletop (18x47x1) at The Home Depot for less than $25. I sanded and painted them with the expensive $40/gallon paint. Natalie went to IKEA (from where she promptly called me and said, "Get me out of here!") and got metal legs. I am picking up glass for the tops of the tables next week, and, voila, custom tables! (No storage for our stuff yet but we have tables. The plan is to put cabinets behind our stations.)

--Vicki, Polish Salon, Brea, Calif.