Healing Hearts

In the past year Junior Auxiliary has begun helping out the organization Healing Hearts of Tennessee. Healing Hearts is a service organization that has a headquarters in McMinnville. They provide counseling and other forms of therapy to individuals as well as entire families in order to help them get through major traumas and other life-altering changes. You can read more about them here on their website. They are a group of people who really really care about what they're doing and the services that they provide to our community.
We at J.A. have been trying to help them out in small ways; some of our ladies and their husbands have taken training sessions to become mentors for the children that come through Healing Hearts' doors, some have offered up other services to help out, and the club as a whole has been raising money with some of our finance projects' money going directly towards Healing Hearts. While we are trying to do our parts and I'm sure that many other individuals and groups have been helping out in their own ways, it has become apparent that the organization needs much much more help. Our Junior Auxiliary president, Susan Burks, brought to the rest our attention in an email today; an article in Sunday's Southern Standard about Healing Hearts' funding problems.
I just thought I would do a quick post to let those of you who might not read the Standard know about this...maybe you can help or know someone who can help...I'm sure they'll accept any form of service that you have to offer.
Thanks.

So very sweet...

Our baby slings from Sweet Fletcher Designs are some of my favorite things that we have to offer at the shop. One of our mommies was in the store a little while back and I got permission to snap this picture of her baby in her Sweet Fletcher sling...just look how comfy they both look. I thought I'd take this time to share the pic and to tell you all a little bit about the slings!

Finally finally they are really catching on here in McMinnville! We have just gotten so use to lugging around those cumbersome baby carriers, not to mention the strain on your back and arms from carrying it around, that many folks don't even think how much easier it really can be.

These slings from Sweet Fletcher Designs make shopping, doing work around the house, going to the bank, going to the grocery store....and so many other things easier - you get to use both of your hands AND you don't have to leave the baby sitting in its carrier on the floor! The baby gets to feel all cozy up next to you (just look at the photo) where it can hear and feel your heartbeat. AND they're great to use as a cover-up when it comes time to breastfeed...really...these are just great for everyone involved.

We have gotten in several new styles and have stocked up on a few of the old favorites. They come in 4 sizes so that they fit you and your baby perfectly...they even come in sizes big enough to fit you daddies out there. They are reversible, machine washable and have reinforced seams so baby is as safe as can be. They can also be used to carry the baby in four different ways and can support the baby's weight up to around 20 pounds.

Yes, they might take a little practice and getting use to...but many of our moms will tell you how great they are and how they've really helped them out. Come on in and check them out!

Go to the Sweet Fletcher website to read the sweet story about how they began. I'm sure you'll fall in love just like I did...and then remember them the next time you need a really nice and unique baby gift.

Happy Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month.
To celebrate, a lot of TV stations, radio stations and websites are listing women who have made history, nationally and internationally. These are famous women like Amelia Erhart, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Florence Nightingale, Eleanor Roosevelt (one of my favorite historical figures), Oprah...who have made big impacts in history and literally changed the world.
So while we should celebrate those ladies for making it just a little easier for us all today....
I think we should start a list of women that WE celebrate. Women who have made a difference and who have impacted us and our community, on a more personal and local level...in any way. I want to see women that the big national lists missed. I want to see Tennessee women and McMinnville women on this list. Post in the comments women that you think deserve recognition and the reason that you think this. If you are a visitor from another county or state, please feel free to post your female heroes too!
They can be anywhere in the country, famous or just your next door neighbor.
They can have made huge changes in our society, accomplished huge goals or maybe made a quieter impact in your community.
They can be alive or dead, old or young....
there are no rules to this except that they must be women who have made an impact on YOU personally...

Nominate as many women as you like, give a reason for your nomination, and I will put you in a drawing for a gift certificate from our Shop for every name (If you are posting from somewhere other than McMinnville and surrounding counties...and are not able to get to McMinnville...I will think of something comparable to a gift certificate to send to you!). Remember that we aren't a just a kids store anymore...we have plenty of stuff for YOU or for anyone in your family that you'd like to spend the gift certificate on!

Post a link to this post on your own blog or other website and let me know about it and I will add your name to the drawing AGAIN!
At the end of the month (Let's say March 28th), I will post a big list with all of these women's names in honor of them and Women's History Month...as well as the winner of the drawing.

Here are my contributions to the list, though. These are some of my local heroes because of their drive and love of service to others!

Helen Gillentine of McMinnville - my mom has to be on this list. Almost 21 years ago she opened up Ashley's Attic with a bunch of clothing that I had outgrown. She did it all herself and is one of the most well-known business women in our community and the shop itself is one of McMinnville's most established businesses! (Sorry...had to put a plug for the shop in here somewhere!)
Peggy Bratcher of McMinnville - 1st Junior Auxiliary of McMinnville President...lol...you know me and my JA heroes!
Pat Bigbee of McMinnville - a huge volunteer in our community in countless organizations and has been very instrumental in making our Magness Library what it is today.
Audrey Sircy of McMinnville - one of my good friends. She is in her late 80's and still drives herself everywhere, likes a good adventure and does everything that she wants to do! She has a better social life than I do (I'm 22, remember!) and she just really enjoys life. She was the first working woman on Main Street to ever wear pants to work, among other local firsts, I'm sure! She is an advocate for living your life and doing all that you can as long as you can...and she makes it her mission to encourage others to live this way. She also serves as a walking example of her Christian faith by loving and giving every chance she gets!

Thanks so much everyone...show some love and get your nominations in!

While I'm on the subject, though...

Speaking of causes; you've heard me talk about our line of Karito Kids dolls before in this blog....

Well, they seem to be picking up steam and really gaining popularity. Several of the dolls and their accessories have already sold a couple of times over (we already had to do a reorder!) and even more customers have expressed interest in the dolls and the book series for upcoming birthdays and other holidays! Come in and see what all the hype is about!
Below is a photo I took of just a few of the dolls that we have.

I really like this company and I love the ideals that they represent. The dolls and their accompanying books are just a gateway to the whole Karito Kids world...with each doll comes a passport that allows your child to get on the Kidsgive website with a code in order to play games, earn points, and shop for online goodies (a-la Webkins); but on top of that, they get to learn about the countries that the different dolls are from and actually find out about charities in those countries designed to help the children and families of that particular nation.
AND THEN, for every point your child earns with their passport code, the company will donate money to one of those charities...after so many points, the child actually gets to make the decision which charity their "points" go to! I love that this company is encouraging kids to take responsibility for what is going on in the world! I love that they encourage the ideas that EVERYONE, even kids, even just one little girl, can make a difference in the world!

Below is the box-set of all the dolls' books.



Go check out their website over in my links to learn more about the dolls or come on in to the store and let mom and I tell you about them in person.

They are about to release a new doll as well, so I'll definitely be keeping you posted about that!

Yet another reason we love Paula Deen...

You know about me and my causes...well, I can really appreciate when someone else really really cares about one of the causes out there.

I saw on TV tonight a piece about Paula Deen being a spokesperson and big supporter of America's Second Harvest Food Bank where she was getting really riled up about our country's biiig hunger problem. As the richest nation in the world, it is very sad that we have such a problem; millions of people in the United States go hungry every day...

Nashville has it's own branch of the Second Harvest Food Bank and is always accepting donations.

Most important to us Warren County folks, though, should be those in our own community. When last I heard, we have our own Emergency Food Bank here in town. I'm sure we would all be suprised to find out just how many people right here in Warren County don't get enough food to eat. Here is the link to the Southern Standard site with the most recent information I could find on the Warren County Emergency Food Bank.

There are other groups and projects in this community dedicated to making sure that the folks of Warren County don't have to go hungry. I'm sure you can check with your church or your child's school...your closest boy or girl scout troops maybe even...to see if they have any programs to that affect going on.

So, there's all the information you could ask for! Get out there and help! I know you have a few cans of soup, beans, or beets in your pantry that you aren't going to eat any time soon...why not donate it? Do it because Paula says so! And on that note...follow Paula Deen's example...get mad about the problems you see out there in the community and the world...find a cause that you care about...and then do what you can to support that cause!

Whew! Now I'll get off my soapbox...lol! Thanks for reading!

In Memory...

A friend of mine, Miss Thelma Vickers, passed away on Saturday.
She was formerly a beautician at Jones Twins Beauty Shop with her sister and even after she retired, she would spend time there entertaining customers and helping her sister around the place. She was one of those people that you knew no matter how old they got, that they would be involved and active as long as they were able. She told me several times that age was just a number and you should always act how old you feel...and she practiced that lesson every day.
She was very active and energetic, and I really thought a lot of her. She was a big fan of Kelly Marlowe and Bobby Newby's morning radio show "Town Talk". She invited me to be a part of the unofficial "Kelly Fan Club" and we joked about getting fan club shirts made for all of us.
She was a regular at the Warren County Senior Center, where she considered herself as more than just a visitor - she was their "greeter" and also enjoyed helping new folks to the Center to get acquainted with the place.
She was also an award-winning hog-caller! She won an award in nearly every hog-calling contest here in Warren County that I know of!
So anyway, I just wanted to share a couple of memories of Thelma with y'all, in memory of her. I know that there are undoubtedly many many more things about her that are worth telling, but these are just a few of my favorites.
It just feels so odd to lose someone who, just Friday morning, was calling in to "Town Talk" and talking to Bobby and Kelly and who it seemed would never slow down and "get old", let alone die so suddenly. I'm sure her family is still in a bit of shock and trying to make sense of it all. So please remember her them, especially her twin sister Velma, in your thoughts and prayers for awhile, while they're getting through this.

Deadline Approaching

As I said in an earlier post...these Easter Bunny letters are great for the kids! They make great keepsakes and it's so fun for the kids to get a letter addressed just to them in the mail!

The deadline is at the end of this week so be sure to pick your forms at the shop or at the Southern Standard...or email me and I can send the questions from the form back to you.

This is a great and inexpensive gift idea that will last much longer than that candy in the Easter basket; how can you pass it up?