Now Open

We did it! We made it through the week. We are moved.

Before:

After:

The new store opened today!

It was a lot of hard work, and yes manual labor! But it was all worth it.

(Our District Merchandiser Shannon helping to move the lifestyle images)

(Our biggest challenge was moving the Cash Wrap,
it was heavy solid wood,
Everyone pitched in even our District Manager Amanda,
notice I did my part by taking pictures!) :)

(We hired handy man, Pastor Greg to help us out)

The new store is so cute. I love it.

And this 5 minute commute beats that 25 minute one any day!
I Love being so close to home.

Divine Secrets I've Learned From The Ya-Ya Sisterhood

I told you earlier what I am reading this summer. I've always wanted to be part of a book club, after all, I love to read and I love to give my opinion! :) So, when I took my girls to our public library to get some books to read this summer (for them of course, you know I can't check out books, here's why) I saw they were having a book club discussion group in July on the book Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

I had read this book a couple of years ago. Actually, I read all three in the Ya-Ya series. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (which was made into a movie), Little Altars Everywhere (which was my least favorite of the three, I'm glad I didn't read that one first, or I might not have read the others!) and Ya-Ya's in Bloom, all by Rebecca Wells.

So, since I had read the book, I saw my chance to check out a book club. So, I went. It was really fun. I liked it. And it caused me to think of things about the book that I normally wouldn't have paid attention to. There were about 6 woman all ages, and a librarian who facilitated the discussion. It was very interesting. So, I thought I'd share some "Divine Secrets" I picked up from these book. Really just some of my favorite quotes and thoughts on the books . . .

From Little Altars Everywhere:

"If it's one thing I learnt in this life, it's to bite my tongue when I got to, and yell when I don't."

"But you can't look back. Good Lord didn't mean for us to hate ourself. He make us to love ourself like He do, with wide open arms."

"Just keep your eyes wide open except when you sleep. Then let the Lord's mighty vision see you through the night."

"You think somebody gonna throw us a party or something for gettin through all this? No sir. You didn't get no trophies for livin the life you born into. It just be your job, and you lucky if you can do the work set out in front of you and not fret if it seem puny."

From Ya-Ya's in Bloom:

"Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light."

"They felt a star shining inside them. Those who had feared for the safety of their children and their grandchildren, for the safety of their own souls and bodies, felt perfectly safe, held in the arms of love, divine love that knows no bounds, and human love with all it's flaws. A gathering of fragile creatures knew without a doubt they were a flock being watched over by night."

From Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood:

"Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all of us love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour - unceasingly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family."

"But who has time to write memoirs? I'm still living my memoirs."

"Life is short, but it is wide. This too shall pass."

"Humor is the healing art."

"The Ya-Ya's always made themselves up as they went along and always tried to see what they could hold inside and still keep breathing."

In the Book Club discussion group we focused on the scrap book the main character had received from her mothers friends (the Ya-Ya's) and we talked about how wonderful it would be to get glimpses into previous generations. In all our families I'm sure we wonder what life must have been like for our parents and their parents. (I know I do!) And how they grew up and what shaped them into being the people they have become. That is one of the reasons I Blog and Journal.

Sadly, because of the economy and budget cut backs, the public library's are cutting out all their Book Clubs. (And just when I found them. I'm so bummed) I really enjoyed the discussion, and how each of our backgrounds and experiences in life caused us to view things differently, and let others see them through our sharing.

Totally Wicked!

Of course, being who I am, I raise my children to love all things Broadway! So, for Kyle's Birthday we got him tickets to see the Broadway Musical Wicked. I've been dying to see it. It was a Mother/Son Date night.

It is the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West (from The Wizard of OZ) based on the best selling novel of the same name, by Gregory Maguire. I read the book awhile ago. The book is much, much darker than the play.

It poses the question: Are people born evil, or is evil thrust upon them? Was she born wicked, or was it all the teasing, and being shunned her whole life because her skin was of a different color? she is after all, green!

The play is fun. Especially when she and Glinda (the good witch) become collage room mates, and Glinda tries to give her a make-over! :)

But there are also some social issues thrown in that make you think. My kind of show. I highly recommend it, if you get the chance to see it.

Just BEEcause

In the small town where my husband grew up, there is a little hole-in-the-wall taco stand that he loves to frequent. Great food! And we've noticed they always have a bag of water hanging from the roof. So, being curious, we finally asked them one time why. And they told us it keeps the Bee's away. So, we tried it, and guess what? It works!

We don't know why it works or how it works. We've speculated that maybe it's the water's reflection, but, who knows. If you know, do tell. But, we do know it does work! It doesn't keep ALL the Bees away, but you will notice there are much fewer of them. We've done it at several family outings where we are eating out doors. And last weekend while we were camping, Bees kept coming around. So I was telling everyone there about our "little discovery" so we happen to have a zip lock bag and some clothes pins and we hung up the bag of water pictured above from an awning. A little while latter someone commented they hadn't seen any Bees around. I thought I'd share my little tip with you. See, maybe this is a learning blog after all! Just don't get too used to that! :)

My girls are 11 years old now, and this past year, one of them got stung by a Bee for the first time in her life, riding bikes around the neighborhood. Within a few weeks, the other one got her very first Bee sting ever while swimming at a friends house. Funny, Huh?! Maybe it's just one more of those wired Twin things! And just for fun, I mean just BEEcause: here's a picture of the girls dressed like a Bumble Bee and a Lady Bug for Halloween when they were about 3 years old.

I'm the flower, (just in case you couldn't tell) Alexia is the Bumble Bee
and Erica the Lady Bug!
Aren't we cute?!

Oh, A Camping We Will Go

I grew up camping as a girl. I loved it. My dad was all about it. He had all the equipment and all the know how. I (as usual) took total advantage of that. When I was a teenager, He would hang a hammock for me, and I read a good book while he set up the rest of camp. That's what I'm talking about!

John also grew up camping with his family. But as adults now, we don't really go for the camping thing. Our favorite vacations are in hotels, at Disneyland and the Beach. Or discovering a new City! Even though he grew up in a small town, I have converted him to my way of life. We are most definitely city folk!

Well, some friends of ours from Church talked us into going camping with them. Bribery really does work. And we survived! We even had a good time. My girly girls learned how to handle a knife and whittle! Zach chopped down a tree. And Kyle became the official fire starter. (Dangerous I know!) We rode quads and got all kinds of dirty!

Whittlers Row!

It's a Lumber Zach!

Poor tree, didn't stand a chance.

Lexi & Maddie turning the log into a balance beam,
before it can become fire wood!

Machete Mayhem!

A good friend of mine told me "'A family that camps together, stays together!' probably because there is nothing harder you could do together." Someone else told me 'camping is spending a lot of money to live poorly!'

Erica showing off her "ringer" in horse shoes!

Girls Gone Wild!

This weekend brought back a lot of great childhood memories for me and for my boys, who remember camping with Grandpa too. He would have been so proud of us. . . the boys got to use their knifes and even machete's. The girls went on their first ever "Snipe Hunt!" :)

His Mother should have taught him not to play with fire!
Oh well, I think it's too late now!

Good Friends, Good Fun, Good Memories!

It Just Keeps Getting Better And Better!

- In March, I got this part time.
- In June, I became manager of the store and went full time.
- In July, we are moving the store from The Chandler Mall to The San Tan Mall. Right in my own neighborhood!

I work for a good company, that makes high quality, affordable, cute, hip, modest clothing for women. We carry Maternity wear as well.

It just keeps getting better and better. First my little job turns in to a career, and now, I'll be much closer to home, which will save on time, gas and just make life easier! I'm so excited! I'll be very busy the next couple of weeks packing up the store and getting everything ready for the big move. And hiring another person as well. It's fun and exciting.

San Tan Village Mall is a new, outdoor mall here in Gilbert. It is so cute and is just a fun place to be. I think it will be a good fit for SHADE Clothing. Come see me in our new home starting July 30th!

A Leap In Time

I don't exactly know how it happened. But my baby boy has just turned 19!

My how Time Fly's!

(Kyle flying through the air!)

He was due on the 4th of July, and being a Christmas baby myself, I thought how cool for a kid to be born on the 4th and think all these fireworks and celebration were for him! John told people since my name was Star, if our child was born on July 4th we were naming it Spangled! But, of course he came a week late! 7/11 is his Birthday!

Kyle has always been a fun kid. It was not unusual to find him dressed up as some super hero, or his favorite animal, or running around with nothing on at all! (I won't show any pictures of that!) :) Though he may be older, some things never change . . .

Kyle as Captain Jack Sparrow!
(A local elementary school had him come to a book night they did on pirates, he looked, acted and sounded just like the real thing!)

At the opening night of the X men movie, dressed like Wolverine himself!

Happy Birthday to my Little Boy!

Summer Reading

I Love Books! I Love to Read! I'm always looking for new books to read.

So, I thought I'd share with you what I'm reading,
and find out what you are reading this summer . . .

I'm really liking the book I'm reading right now, I found out about it through a Blog I read. Stefanie at Because I Pause did a post on a book she picked up in an airport and couldn't put down, the story is very similar to how she grew up, it sounded like my kind of book, so I went out and found it and have really enjoyed reading it. It's about real women, in real life, who became friends in childhood and are still friends today in their 40's. Living far away from each other and from where they grew up in Aims, Iowa. Very enjoyable reading!

I'm also excited to read Kathie Lee Gifford's book, I just really like her! Her personality, her heart, her sense of humor, her parenting style, Her writing style.

I've also bought My Sister's Keeper to read.
But, I'm waiting until after I see the movie.

There is a saying: "Don't Judge a Book by it's Movie"

And I've learned, by going with a friend to see The Notebook, who had read the book already. And all through the movie she kept saying things like "that didn't happen in the book", or "the book is so different than the movie" (better, worse, etc) So, I figured it out right then and there that if you read and like a book, the movie can only disappoint you. Because they can NEVER put all that's in an entire book in to a 2 hour movie! But if you see a movie and like it, then the book only adds to it. That's just my philosophy on it.

Also a few summers ago I read Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (again after seeing the movie!) I've also read Little Altars Everywhere and Ya-Yas in Bloom, I'll do a post some day on what I've learned from the Ya-Ya's! :) But, I think I'm gonna bring that book back out and refresh on it, because I just saw that my local Library is doing a book club discussion group on it in a couple of weeks and I'd really like to go. (Any one who's read it, or does read it is welcome to go with me! It will be fun!)

So, what are you reading this summer?
Do share with me, I'm always looking for good books!
(just leave a comment about it)

Happy Reading!

Happy 4th of July!

We truly are blessed to live in a free country!
Let's remember all those service men and women who are fighting,
or have fought, for our freedom.
I hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend.

Here's a picture of us a few 4th of July's ago . . .
too cute!