Beautiful Bows

I just love this company and their cute and clever bows and headbands! I just love the detail and the colors on them!

Cute Christmas Ornaments

These adorable hand-painted ornaments will make a great addition to any tree...and a GREAT gift for that special someone on your Christmas list!

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There are also blue and a red "baby's 1st Christmas" ones, a "We're Expecting" one and one for a teacher (that I think is so cute!).

Christmas Cuddles

This cute little stuffed snowman and gingerbread man will be perfect for your little snowbaby!

Santa Baby...

Our MudPie Christmas bibs are 40% off while supplies last.

A Special Sale Just for YOU!

Tomorrow is the big shopping day and the beginning of our Customer Appreciation Weekend!

Come shop with us this weekend for some great deals!

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The ad in the paper says 10% or more off storewide for the entire weekend...and just for my blog buddies - if you come in tomorrow (Black Friday) and mention this post you can have an additional 10% off of whatever you buy! So you're guaranteed to get at least 20% off!

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Now there's something to be thankful for!

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Free Giftwrapping, Layaways, Wish Lists for Santa, Stocking Stuffers, & Gifts for Everyone on Your Christmas List! We're your one-stop-shop for Christmas this year...come shop with us and TRY MCMINNVILLE FIRST!

Something else we're thankful for!

It's a little blurry...but here's a cute picture I snapped with my phone of Morgan at her birthday party a couple of weeks ago (giving herself bunny ears for some reason!). As you can see...she's doing pretty great! She didn't get a chance to get her face painted at the party the other night because she was soooo busy being the birthday girl and playing with all her buddies. Goodness, that girl has energy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Gillentines!

Family, friends, God's grace, a wonderful community, a roof over our heads and food on the table...We have a successful business and the very best customers...what more could we ask for?

We're greatful all year 'round for all of the blessings we've been given...but we especially say our thanks today!

Even though...

I saw this poem on Danielle Sliger's blog and really enjoyed it. So many times we forget how blessed we really are. I know this is a nice reminder for me so I thought I'd share it with all of you too.

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Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings,
thank you, Lord that I can hear...for there are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep, as long as possible, my eyes closed against the morning light,
thank you, Lord that I can see... for there are many who are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
thank you, Lord that I have the strength to rise...for there are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic when socks are lost,
toast is burned, tempers are short and children are so loud,
thank you, Lord for my family...for there are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines,
and the menu is, at times, unbalanced,
thank you, Lord for the food we have...because there are so many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
thank you, Lord for the opportunity to work...for there are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day
and wish my circumstances were not so modest,
thank you, Lord..for life.
Author Unkown

TurkeyFace

Lincoln Sain is one of the cutest kids! I painted a turkey on his cheek a few weeks ago at a Junior Auxiliary event because his favorite thing right now is hunting. Well, his mean mommy, Jennifer, washed it off later that night...how rude!

A week later I was facepainting for Morgan Mingle's birthday party and Lincoln was there. He came up to me and said, "Mommy washed off my turkeyface," and asked me to paint another. I thought it was so funny that he called it his "turkeyface"!

I snapped this picture with my phone...not the best turkey but you try to paint a turkey on a squirmy 3 year old...LOL!

Calico Critters Art

Here is some Calico Critters art work brought to us by Caroline and Claire Brooks...so cute!

They took the coloring sheets that we provided on the Calico Critters Playday...but decided to do their own art on the back! They're creative girls and I like that!

Calico Christmas

Calico Critters are turning out to be one of the hottest toys for Christmas this year. I like that they encourage kids to use their imaginations and that they encourage family values (there are mommies, daddies, babies and even grandparent critters!)! I also love that they were around (in a slightly different form) when I was little even! There are endless gift possibilities with Calico Critters...prices start at only $7.99!

We do layaways and we have free gift wrapping...so you don't have to worry about a thing this holiday season!

Tiaras, Tutus, Wands and Sparkles

Wouldn't your little princess, fairy or ballerina love to see some new "bling" under the Christmas tree this year? Check out all that we have in stock for the girliest of girls!

Beautiful Bracelets

These will make great gifts for the special woman in your life...mom, girlfriend, sister, wife, grandmother, aunt, etc.

We can have them wrapped and ready for you...and that's one gift off your list!

Inspiration Bracelets

Don't we all need a little bit of inspiration? These bracelets remind me of those old fashioned ID bracelets but not as bulky. I like the "peace" one best!

Chococat Bling

Christmas is for jewelry! Definitely hurry in to get one of these necklaces (with matching ring) while supplies last, though, because my buddy Chelsea has already asked Santa for a set!

Girly-girl Bowholders

We got in these cuuute bowholders a few weeks ago and they're going really catching on!

They're colorful and sparkly and will make pretty room decorations even if your little girl doesn't wear bows!

Hello Kitty Stockings

These stockings will dress up any fireplace.

And don't think these are just for little girls...big girls like them too!

Hockey hockey hockey

Ok, ok...I know this is a family oriented blog and I shouldn't condone fighting in any form...but there's just something about a good hockey fight! Here are some pictures that I took of one of Jordin Tootoo's fights tonight...one of tonight's MANY fights! I just love his "style"! Since his mom, Rose, checks out our blog from time to time, I figured she might like to see them too!

Even though we lost tonight to the San Jose Sharks, I'm still really proud of my boys!

We beat them last week in San Jose and tonight we played hard, and considering the Sharks are the #1 team in the league, I think that's saying a lot!

Baby It's Cold Outside

I LOVE these new Hello Kitty earmuffs! Sanrio has done earmuffs in the past...but they've never felt 'just right' on me...but these are fluffy, warm and they fit perfectly!

These will make a great Christmas gift for the girly-girl on your list...and they have matching scarves and gloves too!

Shortcuts for Holiday Cooking

It's that time of year again...

Thanksgiving dinners, holiday parties at work, school, church and clubs, get-togethers at friends' houses and family reunions...and all of the invitations say, "bring your favorite holiday dish."

And you'd like to be able get in the kitchen and bake up the perfect batch of 'Martha Stewart-worthy" cookies, the perfect stuffed mushrooms, a beautiful cake, or made-from-scratch bread pudding...yeah, me too.

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But let's face it, if there were maybe just one party to prepare for, it might be doable...but with our hectic schedules and busy lives it's just not so easy to handle all the cooking too.

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Well, we're here to help! Every holiday season we stock a little gourmet food section at the store with a good selection of easy-to-make cakes, pies, soups and other holiday goodies.

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I promise that no one will know that you didn't spend hours in the kitchen when you show up at any of your holiday parties with these treats! They taste and look so good...you'll really just have to come in and see for yourself. Mom usually tries to have some samples made up for everyone to try and that usually seals the deal for most skeptics!

These also make great host gifts for parties and get-togethers...it's a nice little treat that they might use for their next party!

For those of you with relatives staying over the holidays...we have a large selection of gourmet syrups and breakfast toppings...and they're on sale!

Enjoy 30% off our whole stock of these through December!