Valentine's Re-gifting?

True story.

I was in our store yesterday, and on his way to work, my sweetheart calls me.

I tell him that he can buy me one of the watches we have in the shoppe for Valentine's Day.

 Mine is like the silver one!

He laughs and says "Just take one.  We already bought them!"

I laugh.  Then say "Well, I guess the TJMaxx gift card you said I could have could be my Valentine's Gift!"

(This gift card was given to him for a Christmas gift.)

He laughed and said, "There you go!  Happy Valentine's!"

I laughed and said, "Wow!  That means you are re-gifting for my Valentine's gift!  I guess I'll have to tell Denny thanks for my Valentine's gift!"

We both laughed at the thought of how confused our friend would be!  "What?!"

Then we made plans for lunch out at a favorite restaurant, Loxley's, for Valentine's Day, since he works in the evening.  The best part?  We have a gift card!  One that was given to us for Christmas.  

Oh, yeah!  We won't be re-gifting that card!        

In The Shoppe Today

So Lindsay can compete in her last horse show of the year.  She, Rachel and one of Lindsay's riding students, Abigail are competing today.  

This is always a fun show, and we all enjoy it.  Having the store means sacrifice and today that means I am here in the shoppe.  

I'll try to get photos of the Christmas decor, there is a bit more that I would like to do still, but we will see.

There are 12 days until Thanksgiving and 13 days until Black Friday.  I have never shopped Black Friday before always taking that day to put up our tree and our decor at home.  This year I will be working it with my daughter!  

Our store is very small so there is limited room for the things I'd like to do, such as have hot cider and muffins available.  To make things more festive and celebratory.  

I am looking in to changing how we display earrings.  It would free up so much room! 

I really need to make a trip to the Big City, but I am not sure how crazy it might be right now with all the disaster left by Hurricane Sandy.  I can order most things online, but there are just some things I like to go get in person.  

Everything we buy is hand selected...if we order something that we have never handled before, and it turns out to not be great, we will not sell it!  

That attention to detail and careful selection of our products makes our store special and unique.

I just heard from Lindsay and she said that the place doing the horse gaming show, didn't let her know that they decided to just do a regular show which is mostly English riding and jumps.   That is too bad and so strange that they wouldn't have emailed her as she emailed them twice about the show and they responded.  You would think they would have thought to email her or put a notice on their website.  She just checked the site last night to see if there was anything she needed to be aware of.

She is disappointed, and I know Rachel will be too.  Last year they had two gaming shows at this place, but this year only one was planned so they have had to wait all year!  Oh, and this is their favorite show!

I'm sad for them.

Ahhh, life.  So many challenges.  I have a few going on, too, like the webstore for our shoppe....but I am not going there!

I will trust the Lord in all things, be thankful, and put a smile on my face!

So what are you all up to today?

Let's Chat

Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea or coffee, if you prefer and let's settle in for a bit of a chat.  Doesn't that sound nice?

I have lots rolling around this brain of mine and I love talking with you and hearing what you are up to as well.

Emma and I got up early and headed about an hour away to shop at a wholesale place.  We needed some display pieces, so we don't have to strip the store when we have an event.  We found some nice ones, and also some nice jewelry.  They even had the cute children's bracelets back in stock that are so popular.

Speaking of events we have two this weekend.  The Hearts in Style and Song event at the Hotel Hershey on Friday benefits the Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute.  It is a great event with a luncheon, fashion show, silent auction, and vendors.  It is already sold out.  This is our first time being vendors for this event but we are excited to be in this beautiful hotel and a part of this fundraiser.

On Saturday, Rachel and I will be headed to Harleysville for a 5K run benefiting the American Red Cross.  We are excited to be a part of this event as well.  I am hoping it doesn't rain as this whole event is outdoors like a street festival.

Last night the girls and I hosted our third Reclaiming Beauty webinar.  I had planned to do it with my daughters, and we decided to invite some friends to join us.  It has been really good.  We've been challenged in our health, who we are dressing to please (no rules of "this is godly, this isn't),  trying new things.  Last night I was challenged to address my weight.  I've never allowed myself to see it as a sin issue but for me it is.  I am lazy, and lack discipline.  I want to please the Lord in every area and this is the one He wants me to work on now.  Pray that I will delight in riding the exercise bike, that I will give up coca cola, and that I will be able to see results to keep me encouraged.

After these two events this weekend, we will start to focus on our Fall Fest we hold at our home every October 31st.  It is Reformation Day, and a good opportunity to get together with our church family and friends to celebrate together.  We have a bonfire, play games, have a hay ride (sometimes).  

Then in November we will have family visiting us.  One of Tim's sisters early in the month and the other mid month on their way to hunt and spend Thanksgiving with our brother in law's mom on the family farm in New York.  This will be fun to have them in our home and spend a bit of time together!

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, and I love to savor each holiday.  This year it will be a bit different as we will be in our store on Black Friday, instead of home decorating for Christmas!  And that means that the store will be decorated probably before Thanksgiving!  In fact, Emma and I found a nice sized tabletop Christmas tree for the store today!  

My friend Brenda, collects the brown transfer ware pattern by Johnson Brothers called Friendly Village.  I think it is charming and so I started to look for some plates or cups for myself.  Well the other day when I was out shopping with a friend I found a set of service for 12!  But all the pieces were priced individually and the dinner plates were $12.00 each!  A bit much for my budget these days!  But it is charming, isn't it?

Lindsay and Rachel took advantage of the cool weather on Monday and took their horses out for a ride.  Liberty is too small for Rachel so we are looking to sell her.  She is young, with attitude but learns quickly and has the potential to be a nice gaming pony.  Rachel will miss her.

Well, I should get back to work now.  Doing prep in the shoppe today for the weekend.

Hope your day is lovely.

Blue Moon

Did you know that Friday night is going to be a Blue Moon?  This means that the month of August will have two full moons in it.  Tim said that the next Blue Moon won't be until 2015.  Tonight the moon is shining brightly in a clear sky, when I took the dogs out it was very easy to see, though it was almost 11:30pm.

My days are full, mostly of good things.  Kyle is feeling much better, thank you for praying for him.  He felt well enough today to do his math (which he loves) and even did several lessons, because he wanted to finish the first disc of lessons.  There are 30 on each disc.  He is now a quarter of the way through his 3rd grade math - highly unusual for this family who is mostly filled with those who find math a bit, well, challenging.  Did I mention that we have only been doing school for a few weeks and that a good part of those days, he has had a virus and done no math?  Yea....he likes to do many, many lessons a day!  I let him!  I mean, why not?  He likes it - he thinks it's fun!

I got the store ready for Autumn this week.  Did you know that accessories are a great way to freshen up your wardrobe without breaking the bank?  

I have spent the last few weeks as a driver - Lindsay or Emma to the shoppe or Sight and Sound.  Kay to work at Subway, back to get a girl, then another and sometimes another girl from our church needs a ride as well!  It is taking it's toll on my sanity, but with only two cars and 5 drivers it is hard to share the vehicles!  Plus my Mom has been coming and taking Rachel to cello on Wednesdays!  Thanks Mom!

I have been enjoying the cooler days, and nights, but heard on the radio that it is going to be 90 degrees again this weekend!  We already have had our warmest summer on record - I say bring on the Autumn weather!  Also being in retail, we have been in Autumn thinking mode for a while.  It is hard to be patient!  I really hate to tell you this, too, but the craft stores are full of Christmas items!  It will be here before you know it!

I've been enjoying the lovely music that Vee has been linking too on her blog A Haven For Vee.  I also listen to Pandora a lot.  I have lots of stations on there so depending on my mood I can listen to a variety of music.

Well, I am getting very sleepy.  Time to lay my weary head down and sleep.  I am thankful for our Lord who gives us sleep.

Psalm 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. 

Sweet Dreams my friends!
 

The Big City

You all know by now that I am a home educating, home maker who loves to practice hospitality.  That is how I think of myself.

You also know that since January we have been the owners of a small women's handbags and accessories store called Fab Fashion.  I regularly have to remind myself that I am a business woman too, and give attention to that as well.  I am getting better at this.

Like any job, there are things I like to do more than others.  A very fun part of having the store is buying trips!  We had not been to the Big City for a few months, as many of the businesses we buy from now have online stores too.  But when you want to go and see what is coming for the next season, to check out new things, there is nothing like going and seeing for yourself just what those items feel like in your hands; is it soft?  Does it feel like leather?  Could I sell this in my store?


Yesterday, Tim took a vacation day and drove Lindsay and I to the Big City.  

 While we were waiting for our car I was trying to count the floors of the building on the left.  We park our car at this lot every time we come.  The attendant of the lot, Walter, is a nice, responsible man who does an amazing job moving vehicles around this tiny lot.


This brings up another reason I like going to the big city.  The people who live there are so interesting.  They have different kinds of jobs than the people that I know - I mean I know all kinds of people but I didn't know anyone who parked cars and watch a small lot.  Some people may not think that is a decent career, but the service that Walter provides is important to people who live, work or visit in the city.  Plus, I saw him driving a couple of nice BMW's yesterday, so the job has it's perks!  Besides on occasion we bring him baked goods which he enjoys! 


We have also gotten to know men and women who work in the wholesale jewelry and handbag district.  Many are Asian and some are Latino.  We have built a rapport with many of them.  They work hard, rents are expensive and they have families and friends and lives there.  We have come to know believers in Christ who work in these shops, too.  One guy who is so fun and friendly, enjoyed teasing Tim yesterday, saying he looked like he was looking for a chair to sit in, ha ha ha.  Tim said that actually I could probably use it since my lower back was causing me some discomfort.  Right away he got me a stool, offered us ice cold cokes and was his usual helpful, fun self.  Now, you may not think this is a big deal but you must understand there is no where to really sit in this shopping district.  There are no outside benches etc...the stores often don't have air conditioning on - they try to cut expenses anywhere they can. So his offer was so great and after sitting for a few minutes sipping our ice cold cokes, we were refreshed and ready to continue.


We also like some of the ethnic food we are able to buy there.

This was my lunch yesterday.  Tim says it is a Mediterranean version of American Chinese food - meaning that it is likely Americanized Mediterranean food.  Spicy rice, grilled seasoned chicken with onions and a 'magic' white sauce.  Delicious and delightful.  We usually take this food to the corner restaurant where we start our day with a pastry and coffee.  We buy our drinks for lunch and head upstairs to sit in comfort.  This is a very clean place with helpful people.  We go there every time.  We like to support a place like that.

The Big City is not a place I'd want to live or to raise my family in.  But I love to visit and love to do our buying there.  Mostly because of the people.  You see it all there, that's for sure, but people are people.  Some nice, some not.  Everyone has a story and everyone needs the Lord.

We did find some really nice things yesterday, too.  Which is of course why we were there.  We are working when we go.  We are in the city and parked by 10:00 am and out by 3:00 pm in order to miss the traffic.  We have our handbags too look for, jewelry, sunglasses and more to buy.  We have to look and look, as some things are nicer than others and our shop doesn't carrying the blingy stuff!

Thanks for listening to my chatter.  I am off to head into the store and change out the window display, put out new items and do some cleaning.  This afternoon Tim and I have a meeting with a marketing guy.  

What are you up to today?

Anniversary Gift!

Usually for my birthday or Christmas or our anniversary, Tim will stop by our friend Denny's store and buy me a handbag or earrings or a bracelet.

For our anniversary this year he out did himself...He bought the whole store!

Yes, really, he bought the store!

We are now the excited owners of Fab Fashion!  Denny approached us this summer about it and were we surprised!  We prayed about it and the timing seemed right, so we said "yes!"  We are grateful to him for helping us learn the business...we've been to NYC several times since Thanksgiving week, and only once was it for sight seeing! 

We are excited about this wonderful opportunity.  We feel like the Lord answered our prayer that we have been praying for years about having a business of our own.  We are so blessed to be the owners of a well established business.  Basically we will walk through the door as owners but it is the same store that Denny started.  Over time somethings may change, after all, styles come and go, but the basic business principles will remain.  Great products and great service. Oh, and for those of you not in the area we will be launching our web store this week!  You can preview it now by going to www.fabfashionpa.com.

Denny says the girls and I will have an advantage that he didn't have - we can actually wear the jewelry, scarves, sunglasses and carry the handbags!  

So, that is our excitement for the new year.   We would appreciate your prayers...

Deanna