One year down

Happy Anniversary to Ashley and Seth!

Click here to visit their personal blog.

Thankful & Black Friday info

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Have a wonderful day, stuff your faces with lots of yummy food, watch the Macy's Parade, sleep during the football games (that's what I do!) or watch the football games, spend time with family and friends and most of all, give thanks to God for all of the blessings that we have in our lives!

Oh, and Black Friday?

Yeah...we'll be around. We'll be open and I'm sure that we'll be running some great deals!

No doorbusters though...so please don't be waiting for us at 5am or earlier...we'll be asleep and then spending time with visiting family and making breakfast. We'll be there just a little before our usual time probably. All of our gifts will still be there when you're done shopping the very early morning deals!

Working Girl and Cute Clothing for Spring

Sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately. I started full time as Community Relations Coordinator at River Park in the Marketing Department in December and have just stayed busy with that ever since. Add to that wedding planning and Junior Auxiliary and that's my life right now!

I'm learning to better manage my time though, and I promise to be better! Just give me some time!

.........................................................................

Now...I know you're all curious about what is going on at the shop...

Well, it's January, which, of course means that we're gearing up for SPRING! Yes, that's right...it's 20 degrees outside and new spring merchandise is coming in every few days!

But there is no time like the present to stock up for spring. The season will be here in no time and your favorite fashions might be gone by that time! We'll try to save you some though.

Our new spring clothes have already started coming in, and you just have to see the adorable stuff that's coming in! We know right now you're all concerned with finding the cutest clothes out there for your kids, you want them to hold up for more than just a season, but you don't want to give an arm and a leg for them! You also want decent and modest stuff that doesn't make your kids look older than they are...am I right?

For the girls, skorts (Do you remember skorts? I love them!) and yoga pants are a big deal this year, and they show up a lot in our new spring lines! Sequins and peace signs are bigger than ever and bubble dresses and tops are sooo trendy too!

Check back soon for photos and even more spring news!

Ashley and Seth Sittin' in a Tree...

Three years ago this evening I went on a first date with a guy that I wasn't sure was "my type".
And, really, he wasn't! We went to Opry Mills to see Memoirs of a Geisha, we ate at the food court Burger King (My idea, not his. He wanted to take me somewhere "fancy".), we held hands for a total of 5 seconds in the parking lot on the way to the car (we both thought the other pulled away and so neither of us tried it again that night!), we talked and talked and talked. But he still wasn't my type!
........................................
We were complete opposites! He was 11 years older than me so we obviously hung out in different circles. We kind of knew of each other...but we had never officially met until a few weeks before. He kind of drove me crazy with his "nice guy act" practically racing me to doors so that he could open them for me (and actually I found that it wasn't an act...he really IS that nice!). I drove him crazy with the fact that I was still a bit hung up on an ex-boyfriend (I get made fun of now for that). He liked sports A LOT...He had a weird work schedule...He had weird eating habits...I had a whole list of reasons that we wouldn't work out!
..........................................
But for some reason I just couldn't seem to make the decision to stop seeing him. We did like the same music...it turned out that I actually liked hockey...He was an MTSU alum so we had school to talk about...We were both artists (me with writing, him with graphics)...He made me LAUGH...something just kind of clicked with us.
.........................................
Well...after several months of "just seeing each other"...we got closer, we became best friends and very soon it was just him. Somehow the guy that wasn't my type became the only guy that I wanted to be with.
.....
So tonight we celebrate the 3rd anniversary of our first date. I ended up getting one of the good ones and I'm just so blessed to have him. Soon we'll have another anniversary to celebrate but I think this one will still be an important one even after getting married.
I love you Seth. Happy 3 years!

HO. HO. HO. Two Shopping Days Remaining...Really?

So...here I am...posting at 1:21 am because I feel like I've abandoned you last-minute shoppers in your time of need! There are only TWO shopping days until Christmas people!

..............................................................................................................................................

I still have a ton of Christmas gift ideas...but having just gotten done with customers and wrapping and away from the shop at 8:00 pm and not having enough energy to post all of the great ideas. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful....just a little tired too....but I can sleep after Christmas, right?

..............................................................................................................................................

It's gotten to the point where y'all are just gonna have to come into the shop and see us if you're really in need of a cure for that "shoppers block"! Or if you're visiting the blog for the first time ever or for the first time in awhile click here for some more Christmas ideas!

...................................................................................

To break it down for you...because I don't want you to take any unnecessary trips:

• I can definitely take care of the baby to 10-year-old boys and girls...
• I've got the 11 to 14-year-old girls taken care of....
• the grandmothers, aunts and teachers...
• the moms are easy easy easy, especially if their little darlings or wonderful hubby picks it out...
• Older-than-10 boys I can still find stuff for, but it kind of depends on their personality...
• 15 to 17-year-old girls are hard to shop for no matter the personality (I think I just wanted Mario Lopez for Christmas during those years) but I can still find a couple of things that they would like...
• 18 and up girls and women are pretty easy to find stuff for (and gift certificates are ALWAYS appreciated by them, I promise!)...
• a lot of dads, brothers and grandpas LOVE Crocs............................
• and we have got stocking stuffers galore for EVERYONE! Under $10, WAY under $10 and even some above $10!

I guess I'll summarize all of this with my usual tag "We can find something for NEARLY everyone on your list"!

And we have several sales going on (for you lucky last-minuters...in addition to Mom's everyday "special, on-a-whim" deals that she gives randomly!

.................................................................................................................................................

If you have questions, just call us! If you want some more ideas, just call us! If you want us to wrap something up so that you AS WELL AS the person you're gifting is suprised, just give call us and give us a price point! I promise, we'll go out of our way to make sure you're satisfied with your gift and that your loved one will LOVE it!

..................................................................................................................................................

Now for my rant!

I'm right along with you...I've helped everyone else get their Christmas shopping done and gifts ready and have neglected mine! Thank goodness I have a wonderful brother in Knoxville who does a lot of the parent shopping...but what to get the wonderful shopping brother and his fiance?

........................................................................................................................................................

Better yet, what to get my own fiance? I have gotten him a few things that I think are pretty great and I know he'll appreciate but I haven't got "that" gift...you know, the finale gift that really packs the punch...? Our first Christmas together was a really awesome, very hard to find, SIGNED by PAUL STANLEY guitar that I had to call all over Middle Tennessee to find. Last Christmas was a bunch of Milwaukee Admirals (The Preds' minor league team) stuff and an authentic Preds practice jersey. This year...there is one really great thing that I won't mention on here because Seth actually likes the blog and reads it on a regular basis....but no guitar this year....no really awesome jersey...I suck! He's just so good and thoughtful all of the time but especially in his gift giving and hopefully he'll continue to be really great (yeah, I'm kissing up a little...what?)and let me get him something really great after Christmas when I have some time to breathe and maybe even shop!

.......................................................................................................................................................

Whew! I feel better...though not any more energized! I hope your last two days are not too stressful, not too crowded, not too hectic, not too cold and that you find the joy in the season and really get a kick out of your gift-giving this year! I'll post more over the next couple of days...just don't expect anything too spectacular until after the new year has begun!

Thank you thank you thank you!!

.........................................................

p.s. I realize that Christmas is not all about the gift-giving, by the way! There's a whole lot bigger and better "reason for the season"...and HE doesn't really care how "prepared" I might be for the holiday...just that I continue to take the time to LOVE and care for my fellow man despite the hustle and bustle of this week! HE LOVES me unconditionally and has set an example for me and THAT is what keeps me in check and gives me peace despite my recent lack of energy and the craziness of the season!

The Graduate

I did it! After nearly 18 years of school...I'm done I'm done I'm done! As promised, here are a few (ok, more than a few...we took over 400 pictures over Saturday and Sunday!) pictures from Graduation day and Sunday's Open House and Graduation party.

Here you see that the fact that I was graduating did not keep me from having to work a bit at the shop on Saturday morning!

Chandra, my guardian angel and unofficial "aunt", ran the shop for us on Saturday while we were in Murfreesboro. We love Chandra...she's great for the shop because she's like a real-life Groovy Girl (she had on purple boots with her outfit on Saturday!) and customers LOVE her! Thanks for all the help Chandra!



At the ceremony...

Can you find me? Mom said that it was difficult because a bunch of the girls (and some guys) had long dark brown hair and the black robes made everyone look pale!

What about now?

Waiting to walk across the stage...I only teared up twice and this was one of them!





My camera men...

Because I was on the back row I was on the camera the entire time they were showing the processional and the recessional...see?

I didn't realize it until about 5 minutes into the processional... I don't think I scratched my butt before that?!?

That "just graduated" glow! Seth got me flowers...so sweet!

Seth and I goofed off a little after the ceremony...to get some extra pictures. He was disappointed that none of the graduates threw their hats during the ceremony so I did it outside!

I had a couple of good luck charms with me during the ceremony.

One was the necklace that you can see in some of the pictures. Seth had it made for me by the very talented Miss Tabetha Sullens...the pendant had a photo of my granny (mom's mom) on one side and my nanny (dad's mom) on the other. They've both passed away and so I liked having a physical reminder of the two angels on my shoulder during this big event in my life! The majority of the beads were from a bracelet that belonged to my nanny...it broke years ago and I kept putting off having the bracelet put back together...I think this was a much better use though! The necklace is officially my favorite piece of jewelry and now I can't wait to incorporate it into my wedding ensemble too...another big event! Thanks so much Tab...this necklace means SO MUCH to me and to both of my parents!

The other good luck charm is shown below. I wore this bronze owl brooch on my gown in honor of Dr. Brown who was my mom's English professor in college. When mom was studying to be a teacher she took one of her hardest English classes with Dr. Brown at Motlowe. Turns out, she was pregnant with me at the time and I was already pretty active even in the womb! I would jump around and do gymnastics but when Mom would get to Dr. Brown's class I would calm down and be very still. Mom says that I really seemed to like Dr. Brown's voice and now she tells everyone that I took my first English courses while I was in the womb! Mom didn't do great in the class...she's never been much of an English student...after that semester, she took a break from school, had me, became a full-time mommy and then opened the shop and the rest is history. She still considers Dr. Brown to be one of her favorite teachers though and the other day Mom and I went to a yard sale at Dr. Brown's house, where I bought this brooch that belonged to her. Well, since I graduated with an English degree and the owl represents wisdom...I thought wearing the brooch would be a nice tribute to one of my Mom's favorite people and my earliest English influence!

The proud parents, brother, sister-in-law, fiance and in-laws...

More of the post-ceremony photo shoot...

After we were done on campus we headed across town to the Macaroni Grill where my best friend Mary Jo Brown was waiting with a table for all of us and a really funny balloon to greet me! she's so smart and organized...it didn't even cross my mind to send someone ahead to the restaurant! It's a good thing she did because as soon as we got seated and our drink orders in the place really started filling up. Thanks so much for being thoughtful and just all around great Mary!

Saturday night Seth and I went to the Preds game against the Dallas Stars! Of course, my boys won for me...as a Graduation gift I like to think! Yay!After every win, the guys salute the fans for being "the best fans in hockey"...it's true...we're super loud and we really support our guys!

After the game Seth and I went to watch the post-game wrap up show on The Zone radio station be recorded. Goalie Dan Ellis came down to do a mini interview and stopped for a moment to have his picture with me!

Down in the concourse we ran into one of our announcers, Terry Crisp. He congratulated me and stopped for a picture as well!

Outside we ran into this very interesting Santa Claus and I couldn't pass up another photo opportunity!

Back at home, here I am posing with my graduation balloon. Wow! I look sleepy!

But, darn it, I wasn't taking off that hat for anything! ...........................................................................................................................

On Sunday we had our Christmas Open House but Mom and Dad also had a little drop-in reception for me on the side. We had a ton of food and a yummy cake made by Miss Ann Dixon!

And I can't forget to mention the WONDERFUL banana cupcakes by Miss Paula Wanamaker! Mmmmmm!

Lots of customers were on hand to do some Christmas shopping. We ran a special additional 10% off coupon here on the blog and in the newspaper and apparently that was all it took to bring crowds of people in. We stayed packed until around 5 and didn't finish up with all of the customers until 6. We're so grateful for our awesome customers and we appreciate all of the shopping they've been doing this season and all year long! Seth even snuck out to the sidewalk a few times because he said it was so much quieter out there...lol...I love it! The Open House was so much fun and I love that Open House brings customers out of the woodwork that we don't see a whole lot throughout the rest of the year!

The reception was great too! Dad snapped a few pictures of me and some of the guests when we got un-busy every once in awhile...

Audrey Sircy helped us out a lot with the reception!

Here are Edyth Burton, my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Tommy chowing down at the snack table!

Sanra and Emil Marugg are two of the reps from some of our companies...but they are so much more than that! They're part of the family and I'm so glad that they came down to see us!

My Samantha...

This picture is really depressing to me since I use to babysit Hamilton when he was just a baby! I had a regular babysitting job with the Spiveys from when I was around 11 years old till I was 19 or so. They are like family and it's so weird that this kid towers over me now!

Here is the rest of the family...Buzz and Karen, who have been such great influences in my life, Hamilton and Hamilton's two little brothers Justin and Landon. In my head, Hamilton is still about Landon's size...and Landon isn't even walking yet...it's sooo weird to see them all grown up!

And finally, my J.A. sister, one of my best buddies and favorite people - M.A. Higgs. She stopped by right as we were cleaning up but I'm so glad that she could make it! She's a teacher at MTSU so she was celebrating the end of the semester as well! The only thing is - she has to go back in the Spring! HA!

Well...there you go...A LOT of fun, friends, family and food over two WONDERFUL days! I'm so blessed to have such great people in my life who have loved and supported and prayed for me throughout my life! Thanks to everyone who came out to Open House, to my Reception, and to my very closest friends and family who came to the Graduation itself!

Now on to the "real world" so don't stop praying for me just yet!

No More Pencils, No More Books...

HOORAY! I am DONE with classes, DONE with finals and I have NOTHING else to turn in!

Now all I have to do is sit back and relax until Graduation on Saturday! Ok ok...I won't be sitting back and relaxing exactly...I will be working either at the shop or at the hospital...but no more homework...and that is relaxation enough for me!

Come see us at the shop on Sunday to help me CELEBRATE with cake, punch, cupcakes and more cake! The really casual drop-in reception will be held from 12 till 3

AND...

We'll be having our Open House that day too with doorprizes, sales and lots of Christmas gift ideas...

Two reasons to celebrate in one place...what a Merry Christmas!

We hope to see you there!

Christmas in the Park 2008

Join us tomorrow night for the 23rd annual Christmas in the Park!

It'll be a night to remember so don't miss it!

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 Fall Y'all!

Yes, it's here...it's taken me almost a month to accept it but the leaves and the cool mornings have forced me to it....it's fall. I'm not a huge fan of either of the cold-weather months...but it is kind of nice right now when the days are still warm but it looks like fall outside.



The ladies at Merle Norman and Shear Elegance have been talking with mom and they decided to join forces and put together a fall display in Jennifer's little courtyard in front of Merle Norman. I offered to decorate the pumpkins, and, because I am not too steady with a carving knife, I painted them. I think the whole display is turning out pretty cute...and apparently more work will be done as the week goes on...so I'll be posting more pictures when we're completely finished!