A small tribute...

My very best friend Mary Jo Curtis - Brown graduated this month from Austin Peay State University. I cannot even put into words how proud of her I am. This girl is amazing; she has been through more than most people our age and she has had to grow up a lot faster than any kid should have to. She really has had every excuse to not be very driven in life....but she has been! She was a cheerleader all through school, she managed to get a 4.0 in high school- and this was while she was taking all of the hardest classes, she got married right out of high school and she STILL went on to college. She graduated this month Magna Cum Laude with a political science degree in only 3 and a half years. She is now getting ready to go to law school!

Like I said, I am completely in awe of her and very proud to call her my best friend!

Enough with the gushing though...I completed the very difficult task the other night of getting our group of girl friends together all in the same room since before high school. Mary had been wanting to do this for a long time so I decided her graduation was the perfect excuse. We sat around at my house and immediately fell into old times - eating, gossipping, poking fun at one another, talking about boys and what we were going to do with our lives... lots of fun. If any of y'all are reading this, thanks so much for making this happen for Mary and for me...I hope we don't wait this long for the next time we get together.

Merry Christmas Everyone!
I hope you all have a great day tomorrow!

Don't Forget!

We WILL be open today after 1:00pm until atleast 4:00pm (if you need us to be there later, though, make sure and call).
And we will be open tomorrow, Christmas Eve...I'm sure you won't be suprised to know this is usually one of our busiest days during the Holidays! We'll be there around 10:00am and we will just play it by ear on how late we stay....once again, call us if you need us there at a certain time!
We have great stocking stuffer ideas and we are running a 50% off sale too!
Maybe we'll see you there!

It's almost Christmas...can you believe it?

If y'all are anything like me, you have waited and waited and waited till about right now to even start thinking about Christmas gifts...

or you're like so many of our other customers and you have gifts for everyone but, Oh yeah! You forgot about the stocking stuffers...or a gift for the teacher.....or something for the cousin that you only see on Christmas....or a whole bunch of other reasons that your Christmas shopping is not quite done.

We have just the stuff to help you start or finish your Christmas shopping. You can find something for nearly everyone on your list at the shop.

We gift wrap for free, we are still accepting lay-a-ways for Christmas gifts so that the kids won't be tempted to snoop, we have something for every price range (especially helpful for those $5 and under school gifts), and, just face it, shopping in the Plaza, right in the middle of town, is ALOT more convenient than going out of town, or even to WalMart...and A WHOLE LOT less crowded!

Come see us...we'd love to help you wrap up (literally too!) your Christmas list!

We'll be open till 6PM on weekdays until Christmas,

we'll also be here until 4:30 on Saturday,

Sunday until 3:00,

and Christmas Eve until probably 5:30!

Ornaments

A friend of mine has started making these ornaments for Christmas and they're soooo cute! This is just the "Santa" ornament but I think she has a few other styles too.

If any of you are interested in ordering one (or more!), send me an email.

They're only $8.00 ... a great keepsake Christmas gift.

Open House

You're invited to our

Holiday Open House

this Friday - November 16 from noon until 8 pm

& Saturday - November 17 during our regular store hours.

We'll have all of our gourmet foods out to sample.

You can sign up for doorprizes to be given out all afternoon!

Come in to find gifts for

almost anyone on your Christmas list...

we'll have great deals on stocking stuffers,

school gifts, first Christmas gifts

and just maybe you'll find a few things for yourself while you're here!

Other stores in the Shopping Center

also holding their open houses are

Southern Embroidery, Wallpaper for Less and More,

Body ReDeZine, Kathy's Bridal and Formal Shop,

Head to Toe Salon

as well as the ladies at Salon Suites

in the adjacent Garden City Plaza.

Necklines are here...

The Necklines are here! We have K's and M's....for all those who have been waiting patiently. Also, the holiday charms are so cute! This year's new ones are a snowman and a gold star.

Come in and see them. If you haven't gotten the "Necklines Fever" yet, it's about time. For only $8.99 a-piece, they're great to mix and match and to have one for every outfit!

Also, since it is the holiday season....inexpensive gifts are sometimes in order: school Christmas parties, stocking stuffers, co-workers, teachers...etc. etc. etc.

Miss Warren County 2007

I just got home from working the 2007 Miss Warren County Pageant and let me tell you, I am so glad that I am involved with this pageant and with the entire 'Queens for a Cure' organization.
That pageant went sooo well, I mean, there is always going to be a little drama and a little hectic, but I was so very impressed with how smooth the whole night went! The ladies working with me tonight were all amazing, I'm not even going to try to name all of their names, but you all know who you are! Kathy...especially deserves some sort of award for the way she was delegating and keeping her cool tonight under all of that stress!
So I just wanted to congratulate all of tonight's winners in every single category...but more importantly, if you were in the pageant at all, you deserve congratulations because it takes a whole lot to put yourself out there, think of answers to questions off the top of your head,walk in uncomfortable dresses and shoes and to do it all gracefully and without complaint!
I hope this pageant and the ladies representing our group this year will bring a lot of attention and funds to The American Cancer Society and Warren County's Relay for Life...I like to think one day our group might be able to say,
"We helped find a cure for cancer!"

Necklines

I did an order of Necklines this week, so look for them to come in in the next week or two.I'm getting in the oval vintage initials that I've run out of and I'm getting in some really really cute ones for the holidays, there's a antique-y gold star that will probably be good all year

Santa Claus is comin' to town....

Believe it or not folks, but it's October and in retail that means we're right in the thick of the Christmas season!

I am one of those people who hates the idea of starting my Christmas planning before Thanksgiving, let alone Halloween...but I have to face the fact that every year the Christmas stuff starts earlier and earlier.

So with that in mind, I thought I'd remind you that
- we do lay-aways for Christmas,
- we wrap FREE on all regular priced gifts in the shop,
- we have something for just about everyone on your shopping list and
- we do "Santa Lists" for the kids so that there is no question about what they want.

This year, we also will be offering a really unique Christmas service. For a small fee, your child can receive in the mail a letter personalized just for them. This is not just a form letter with their name typed in, but a letter that can be as specific to them as you'd like that comes for them in the mail. Come by to see a sample and to pick up a form. This is a really unique keepsake for the kids and they get very excited to see the letter addressed to them.

Autumn Street Fair

Everyone come out and see us at the Autumn Street Fair today!
We're in a booth right in front of "the hole" (no longer a hole, though!) to the left of Paul Holder.
We have a bunch of beads for everyone to make their own jewelry and we're showing off the new styles of Crocs.
We also have the Necklines for only $5.00 today only at the fair, they're regularly $8.99 so that's a really great deal!

More Preds Crocs...

We have the Kids Preds Crocs available now. They are sized like the Cayman style (6/7, 8/9, 10/11, 12/13, 1/3, 2/4 nand 3/5) and are $29.99 + tax.
We also got in a big shipment of the Mammoth Crocs for all of you who have been waiting for this second order to come in.

Predator Crocs!!!

Finally! They're here! And just when we Preds fans could really use the pick-me-up, after yet another dip on the team ownership rollercoaster.
Get your Preds Crocs for the beginning of the season before we run out of your size.
We recieved the adult Crocs today (they will be $34.99 + tax) and should get the kids' (at $29.99 + tax) on Wednesday or Thursday.
Give us a call or send us an email and we'll work out all the details then...our contact info is at the bottom of this page.
Thanks to all of you who patiently waited for us to get this shipment in...

Meet the Karito Kids!

Come in and see our new shipment of the Karito Kids Dolls. These will be great for girls who are fans of the American Girl Collection and/or Webkins. They are beautiful dolls from five different countries and each doll comes with an adventure book about herself.
The girls can also visit the Karito Kids website with a code (that comes with the doll) where they can play games, learn more about their dolls and have the opportunity to help the Karito Kids company choose international charities to donate some of their proceeds to.

Christmas is just around the corner, folks. It's time to start getting ready with lists and layaways!

Go check out the website http://karitokids.com/and see what the Karito Kids are all about.

MOVING??

For those of you who might see us moving everything out of our store and into the building that formerly belonged to Life Line, you might ask, "are they finally going to take the plunge and move the shop again?"
No...not so much...
We are, however, taking EVERYTHING out of the front of the store and storing it in the other building tonight and tomorrow so we can have the floors stripped and waxed during the day tomorrow. It's a lot of work, but it has to be done.
Hopefully while we're moving everything back in on Sunday night and Monday, we will be able to make the store a lot fresher for the upcoming holiday season. Also, look for lots of changes over the next few months...when we get the time we will be trying to remodel and revitalize the whole store because we just need a change!
So please excuse our mess for the next few days and don't stay away because we won't be closed during any of our regular store hours.

Time for Dance...

It's time for dance classes to begin! We've pretty much depleted the ballet and jazz shoes that we already had in stock just in the past two weeks. For those of you who have yet to get shoes though, we just received a shipment today! We have both pink and black in the ballet shoes and the slip-on boot for girls needing jazz shoes.
Good luck to those of you with girls beginning their dance classes this week!

We're drowning in Crocs...

We recieved a shipment of the regular Cayman style Crocs this week in both kid and adult sizes (from 4/5 in kids' all the way to men's size 12). You all know how fast they go, so if you're looking to get new colors, come see us! John Deere green is the newest color they've come up with...just in time for the fair.
We also got in a few of the khaki colored Patra sandals in some of the most popular sizes to finish out the summer.
Next week we will be expecting shipments of the Alice, the Georgie and the Disney's Cars Caymans!

First day of school...again

This morning while driving to the first day of my 7th semester at MTSU, I did what I most always do when I find myself alone for a certain amount of time. I talked to God and thanked him for all the stuff that is going so good in my life.

This morning in particular I had alot to be greatful for;

a $4000 a year scholarship to school so that my parents have a little less money stress,

a major that won't take me 8 years to complete and that will allow me to get a job that I will actually enjoy,

a car that gets really great gas mileage (for the three times a week drive to Murfreesboro),

the fact that I didn't have a panic attack last night while preparing for a semester with FOUR english classes,

getting the chance to take two classes taught by professors that I have had before and actually really like

and most of all....something that I couldn't stop thinking about almost the whole way to school; a mom who still celebrates my first day of school.

She didn't make me breakfast in bed like she use to, but she did set out my travel coffee mug. She didn't wake me up forty minutes before I actually needed to be up like she use to, but she did get her shower out of the way earlier so that I would be able to jump in and shower as soon as I woke up. And she didn't drive me to school like she use to, but she did walk me out to my car, make sure that I had a jacket and flashlight in my car, warn me that it might rain, make sure that I had some cash and, most importantly, gave me a big hug and told me she loved me and to not worry so much about being the best just to be myself and get the job done....something that she has always done. Encouraging words and actions like that have been a staple in our relationship; something that has kept me grounded and a reason that I think she and I have remained close through everything, long after many moms and daughters have stopped sharing everything with one another.

My mom is definately one of the best and I probably don't say it nearly enough, so I just thought I'd share this with all of you. Just remember moms, it's little stuff like a big hug before school and reminding your kids to do their very best that could make a big impact on their day whether you realize it or not, whether you do it on a regular basis or not...to all the moms out there who are great mine most definately included - thank you!

ps. I won't even get started on my dad...he's wonderful too. He gets up at 4:30 am and doesn't get off work until 4:30 pm...then turns right around and helps his brother take care of my grandfather. In the midst of all that, he manages to find time to be a great dad - he cooks, helps at the store, we talk, he helps me with homework or work-work when he can and spends quality time with both me and mom. He didn't get to see me off this morning but I'm sure he'll be calling at some point before the school day is out to see how it's going. I thank him too!

John Adams...and 7 other things about me

Tonya tagged me, so here goes....


1. I have a favorite United States president. It is John Adams. I'm kind of obsessed with Adams-related history. I own three of his biographies and one about his wife, Abigail. I LOVE the musical 1776, in which Adams is the main character. I have a second favorite president too. It is Andrew Jackson...I know, I'm weird.


2. I like awkward. I can't really explain it, but I get some sort of unnatural enjoyment out of awkward moments, therefore I actually look forward slightly to uncomfortable situations (even when I'm the one being uncomfortable!). I think that maybe gives me a little power in those types of situations though, the enjoying it, so I guess that's pretty good.

3. I collect shot glasses and tea cups.

4. My first "celebrity" crush was on Claude Monet. I learned about him and his artwork in my art class when I was very little and mom says I talked about him all the time and begged for Monet coffee table books after that. I still get butterflies in my stomach when I see his work in a museum!

5. I read something years ago about bacteria flying out of the toilet when you flush it and getting on your toothbrush. Ever since then I have had a very OCD like obsession with the toilet lid being closed before I (or anyone else around me) flushes the toilet, especially in my bathroom.

6. I sleep with somewhere between 5 and 8 pillows in my bed at night.

7. I hate cold weather...HATE! I have a deal with God that I will not complain no matter how hot he decides it should be outside and I will even compliment the heat daily as long as I can complain and complain every single hour of every day during the Winter. I hate layering my clothes. So excuse me for being so chipper about these 100 degrees-plus days...I thank God for them!

8. When I'm sick, the only thing I will eat/drink is warm cherry Jell-o (right after it's mixed out of the microwave) juice and only if my dad makes it and only out of a plastic cup.

It's been hard finding someone who hasn't been tagged...but Tabetha, you're it!

Seth washed his car yesterday...

Hooray for the rain last night!

Seth finally broke down and took his car to be washed yesterday afternoon, after weeks of putting it off...and wouldn't you know, last night was when it decided to rain.

The storm caused the football game to last almost 5 hours which was kind of a bummer, but hey, IT FINALLY RAINED!

A solution to an age-old problem

Changing a baby girl is not all glitz and glory;

Changing a baby boy is an even bigger horror story.

You hold his feet in one hand,

and the diaper in the other;

The whole time praying, "Please don't pee on your mother!"

(poem and photo curtesy Beba Bean website)


Enter the Pee-pee Teepee...

In the next few weeks we will be getting in this very interesting product...

The Pee-pee Teepee is a cone-shaped, cloth "shield" of sorts designed to make changing a baby boy's diaper much dryer and easier.


It really cracks me up, the products like this that companies come out with these days, but after I get done laughing I realize that this is quite the functional product. As the poem above illustrates, changing a baby boy's diaper does come with a bit of a fear of getting sprayed. It'll make a perfect baby boy gift...and just imagine the laughs it'll get at a shower!


Keep checking this website and I'll let y'all know when we receive our first shipment of them. They come in several different designs, colors and packages. They're also washable and reusable. None of the packages we get in this shipment will cost over $15, either, so it's a really affordable gift!

New Shoes!

Here are some pictures of the new Crocs. I decided to model them for everyone on here. D'ya think I'd make a good shoe/foot model? Haha...

The Mammoth is just like a regular Cayman except no back-strap and it has a fleece-y lining. The lining pops out and the shoe can be worn by itself. The lining is also washable. We have them from a kids' size 6/7 to women's size 11 (that's men's 9). The colors are black on black, oatmeal on chocolate, oatmeal on cotton candy and oatmeal on red. I haven't got to wear it out a whole lot yet because it's been so hot and they are really warm but I know they'll be great for winter.


The Alice is a cross between the Mary Jane and the Prima ballet flat. It's my favorite so far because it's so cute on. We have them from a kids' size 4/5 up to a women's size 11. They come in black, brown, turquoise, ruby and grape. I love the turquoise the most! These are the colors that are coming up all over the place in Fall and Winter fashions and the shoes go really well with the new clothes we've got in for the girls for back-to-school!


These two styles are great, I'm quite excited about them. They're already selling fast and we're already running out of some colors and sizes so come get some while we still have this first shipment in stock!

Summer Sale

Our Summer Sale is going into its second week and I've added some new things!
In addition to Summer Sanrio and select back-to-school Sanrio being 40% off, swim suits being 50% off, and a ton of clothing being 10% to 60% off....I have put a whole bunch of Summer Crocs ( All the flip flops, Sassari, many of the Cleos, all of the spring colored regular Caymans and Maryjanes and all of the remaining Patras) on a table outside for just $20! The remaining Cleos that I still have inside and all of the Scutes are $5 off. I'm attempting to make space for the new Fall/Winter Crocs that are coming in so it's definitely time to stock up!
While you're looking at the sale stuff make sure to check out our brand new girls' clothing lines and the brand new Crocs styles (Alice and Mammoth).

-Ashley

I'm finally ready to try this...

Customers have been asking for months that I do something online for the shop. So here I am, blogging. Hopefully I'll be able to keep everyone updated on the goings on at the shop, when we get special shipments in and stuff like that. Also, any of our out-of-town customers will be able to keep better in touch if they want to.

Since mom refuses to learn most things having to do with the computer, I'll be the sole person updating the blog. Hopefully, I'll be able to post often and make sure the blog doesn't get stale. Forgive me if I slack a little this semester, though...I have an 18 hour schedule at school and I'm really trying to get done by August 2008!

The latest news is that we just got back from our big annual family vacation to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. This was our ninth year, if I'm counting correctly and we still have just as much fun as we did the first summer. We go with my dad's brother Buddy and his family and stay in a big house about three blocks from the beach.

Mom and I always take the opportunity on the trip to go scouting for ideas in Charleston at the great shops down there. We actually got the chance this year, when we were in a Birkenstocks/Crocs shoe store, to meet a woman who helped to design the Sassari wedge for the Crocs Company. She says they have a version coming out next year that is actually adjustable for those of you with very narrow feet. There are several business owners down there that we've made friends with over the years. We get great tips from them about products and display ideas and they often get ideas from us too.

I guess thats all for now. Thanks for reading and I hope you'll visit again soon when I add more on here!

Till then - Ashley