GIFT SHOP GAB

HEY,
I SEE WE HAVE A NEW FOLLOWER. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WELCOME!

LATELY I'VE BEEN GIVING ALOT OF THOUGHT TO OUR BUSINESS AND THE FINANCIAL STATE WE ARE IN. TO PUT IT PLAINLY WERE FLAT BROKE! THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PLIGHT OF ALOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES THESE DAYS. BEING THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST THAT I AM, I INSIST ON SEEING THE PROVERBIAL GLASS AS HALF FULL, BUT AS MY HUSBAND KEEPS POINTING OUT TO ME YOU CAN'T INSIST THE GLASS IS HALF FULL OR HALF ANYTHING ELSE IF ITS FRIKIN EMPTY! OKAY YOU GOT ME ON THAT ONE HONEY EMPTY DOES NOT EQUAL HALF FULL AND EMPTY SURE DOESN'T PAY THE BILLS.

SO I GUESS THE QUESTION NOW IS WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? SINCE QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME (WE HAVE INVESTED TOO MUCH BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS NOT TO MENTION CASH TO JUST QUIT) SO ITS TIME TO RE-THINK OUR CONCEPT. WE HAVE A NICE SHOP EVEN IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. EVERYONE WHO COMES IN COMMENTS ON HOW PRETTY EVERYTHING IS. AND WE GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO BE FRIENDLY AND ACCOMMODATING. WE HAVE OUR GIFT ITEMS NIC-NACS AND SUCH, AROMA CRYSTALS, CANDLES, AND OUR SPECIALTY GIFT BASKETS AND CANDY BOUQUETS. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SALES TO MAKE ENDS MEET SO WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT WILL BRING MORE PEOPLE IN. WHAT IS IT THAT PEOPLE WANT THAT WE DON'T HAVE?

THE IDEA OF COMBINING OUR BUSINESS WITH ANOTHER BUSINESS HAS BECOME APPEALING TO ME. SOMEONE WITH THEIR OWN INVENTORY AND CUSTOMERS TO SHARE EXPENSES COULD BE JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL ANTIQUE SHOP THAT IS OUTGROWING HER CURRENT FACILITY. INTRODUCING ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES TO SOMETHING SPECIAL COULD ALSO BE AN ANSWER . ANY READER COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS ACCEPTED WITH APPRECIATION SO DON'T HESITATE TO CHIME IN ON WHAT YOU THINK OF OUR PREDICAMENT.

IN THE MEAN TIME ALL OF US HERE AT THE "SSB" WILL CONTINUE TO TREAD WATER ENTHUSIASTICALLY. AND IF YOU COME IN AND I TRY TO TALK YOUR HEAD OFF PLEASE BE PATIENT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ONE TO TALK TO ALL DAY EXCEPT A 2 YEAR OLD AND AS DELIGHTFUL AS HE IS I CAN ONLY MANAGE TO TALK ABOUT SPONGE BOB FOR SO LONG!

Y'ALL HANG IN THERE,
YVONNE

HEY Y'ALL,

I'M BACK AGAIN. TIME FLYS WHEN YOU'RE GOING NUTS DOESN'T IT? I HAVEN'T BLOGGED IN A FEW DAYS SO I THOUGHT I'D JUMP BACK IN WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF CHAT & OTHER CHIT. I READ SOMETHING RECENTLY THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE.

"SMART IS THE NEW SEXY, AWKWARD IS THE NEW COOL, FLAWED IS THE NEW BEAUTIFUL"

I SAW THIS ON A FELLOW BLOGGER'S SITE CALLED "ABOUT WHAT I SAID". THIS BLOG IS WRITTEN BY A YOUNG WOMAN WITH A DISABILITY AND IN CONTEXT ITS REALLY QUITE PROFOUND. BUT SINCE I TEND TO BE MORE PROFANE THAN PROFOUND THESE DAYS, I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK OF WHAT THESE THINGS WERE BEFORE THEY BECAME "THE NEW". PERSONALLY I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED INTELLIGENCE TO BE RATHER SEXY. TO ME AWKWARD SUGGESTS A LITTLE LACK OF CONFIDENCE BUT HEY PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT RIGHT? AND I'VE ALWAYS PREFERRED SLIGHTLY FLAWED OVER PERFECT. WHO THE HELL WANTS TO STAND NEXT TO PERFECTION? NOT I! I HAD A RULE GROWING UP THAT I NEVER WOULD DATE A BOY WHO WAS PRETTIER THAN ME. (AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT BRAD PITT DUMPED ME BEFORE PROM)

THEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER SAYINGS LIKE THIS SO HERE'S A FEW MORE:
"40 IS THE NEW 30" THAT'S COOL, I'LL TAKE THE TEN YEARS
BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT 60 IS THE NEW 50? AND WHEN
DOES IT GET TO THE POINT THAT IT WON'T MATTER? 80?90?
MY NEIGHBOR JUST TURNED 100 I WONDER IF SHE THINKS
100 IS THE NEW 90?

"RED IS THE NEW BLACK" I THINK THAT MEANS YOU CAN NOW
TAKE THE BASIC BLACK IN YOUR WARDROBE AND REPLACE IT
WITH RED. (RED HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CORE COLOR FOR ME
RIGHT DOWN TO MY SHOES)

"ICY IS THE NEW HOT" THAT ONE CAME FROM A COFFEE
COMMERCIAL. (WHATEVER!)

"CHOCOLATE IS THE NEW CRACK" I REALLY HEARD THAT I HOPE ITS TRUE.

HERE'S WHAT I THINK. THERE IS ALOT TO BE SAID FOR "THE OLD". THE OLD WAS AROUND LONG BEFORE SOME DUFASS DECIDED TO COIN A PHRASE TO MAKE SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY UNPOPULAR TURN INTO SOMETHING NEW AND THEREFORE COOL AND MARKETABLE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT I DON'T NEED A MAGAZINE AD OR A TV COMMERCIAL TO TELL ME WHATS COOL. I LIKE WHAT I LIKE AND I HAVE A MIND OF MY OWN (DAMAGED AS IT IS!).

Y'ALL HANG IN THERE,
YVONNE

HELLO,

THIS IS A PHOTO OF NELSON VELEZ FROM "THE BOOK OWL" HE'S IN OUR LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK. PROBABLY NEXT WEEK TOO SINCE I DIDN'T GET A PICTURE ON HERE UNTIL THURSDAY. I TOLD Y'ALL I'M A ROOKIE AT THIS STUFF! EVERYBODY GO SEE NELSON AND HIS NEWEST OWL PICTURE.(SEE IT ON THE WALL UP THERE) THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE STUDENTS WITH SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS NEED TO GET IN THERE FOR BIG SAVINGS.

Y'ALL HANG IN THERE,
YVONNE

HELLO,
ITS WEDNESDAY AND TIME FOR THE LATEST VOL OF CHAT AND OTHER CHIT.

ALL WEEK I'VE BEEN MAKING PAGES ON MY SPACE AND FACE BOOK. IT SEEMS THE LATEST WAY TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS IS IN THIS VENUE. THE ONLY THING IS I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THESE POSTINGS ONCE THEY ARE OUT THERE. BASICALLY ITS LIKE HAVING A BILLBOARD IN THE DESERT. IT DOESN'T HELP YOUR BUSINESS IF NO ONE EVER SEES IT. NEVER FEAR THOUGH, I WILL FIGURE ALL THIS STUFF OUT. I'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THAT'S NOT BAD. I WILL CONTINUE MY RESEARCH AND SHARE ANY KNOWLEDGE I PICK UP WITH MY READERS ( I THINK I HAVE 2 OR 3 NOW!)

SO, FOR A COMPLETELY RANDOM CHANGE OF SUBJECT...... JUST IN CASE ANYONE CARES MY BRIEF ATTEMPT AT THE CLEANSING DIET LASTED ONE DAY.(I KNOW!)
NEVER FEAR THE HORRID CONCOCTION WILL NOT GO TO WASTE. IT IS GREAT A KEEPING THE CRITTERS OUT OF THE GARDEN! IT MUST BE THE PEPPER. ANYHOW NOW I'M BACK TO MY QUEST TO FIND A PLAN I CAN STICK TO. I JUST WANT TO EAT WELL (HEALTHY) AND NOT PAY FOR WEIGHT WATCHERS OR JENNY OR NUTRA SYSTEM ETC. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE STARTED WALKING AT NIGHT AND BETWEEN THAT AND A FEW REPS OF PUSH BACKS MAYBE WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT PUSH BACKS ARE? YOU KNOW, PUSH YOUR FAT ASS BACK FROM THE TABLE! (SHAME ON ME I SAID ASS).

IF YOU NOTICED I WROTE HUSBAND AND WE IN BOLD TYPE. LET EXPLAIN WHY MY POOR SWEET HUSBAND IS MY NEW DIET BUDDY. (BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP) THAT MAN WHO IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE AND MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD TOLD ME THAT HE WANTS ME TO GET BACK THE BODY I HAD BEFORE WE WERE MARRIED. OK , THAT'S A REASONABLE ENOUGH REQUEST (HE'D HAVE A BETTER SHOT AT GETTING HIS WISH IF HE HAD FRIKIN ALADAN'S LAMP BUT WHATEVER!) SO THEN WE GOT INTO A DISCUSSION OF HOW I DON'T CARE IF HE DOESN'T LOOK 20 ANYMORE BUT HE CARES IF I LOOK OLDER. HE EVEN TOLD ME IF I LOST 30 POUNDS HE WOULD PAY FOR ME TO HAVE A FACE LIFT. (HE'S STILL ALIVE) SO I SAID I CAN'T JUST GET A FACE LIFT SO I LOOK YOUNGER AND JUST BE FATTER? NOPE THAT'S A DEAL BREAKER(NOW AIN'T THAT SOME CHIT!) SO GUESS WHO IS GOING TO LOSE 30 POUNDS EVEN IF IT KILLS ME. THAT'S RIGHT AND THAT JACKASS BETTER MATCH ME POUND FOR POUND IF KNOWS WHATS GOOD FOR HIM! (OOPS I SAID ASS AGAIN)

SO NOW I WILL GIVE WEEKLY UPDATES OF OUR PROGRESS. I WONT SAY HOW MUCH WE WEIGH IT'S JUST TOO HUMILIATING BUT I WILL POST OUR TOTAL POUNDS LOST EVERY WEEK. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST A COMMENT.

Y'ALL HANG IN THERE,
YVONNE

HELLO,

IT'S MONDAY AGAIN AND EVEN THOUGH MONDAY IS TYPICALLY NOT A BUSY DAY IN RETAIL UNLESS ITS A HOLIDAY, ITS USUALLY BUSY WITH LEFT OVER CHORES. TODAY IS ALSO THE DAY WE POST OUR NEWEST FEATURED BUSINESS OF THE WEEK. IF YOU LOOK TO THE LEFT YOU WILL SEE THAT "THE BOOK OWL" IS IN OUR LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK. ITS MY PLAN TO HAVE SOME PHOTOS UP AS WELL. I'M STILL A ROOKIE BLOGGER BUT I'M LEARNING.

I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND. MY FAMILY COOKED OUT AT MY HUSBAND'S BROTHER'S HOUSE. IT WAS A REALLY NICE DAY SPENT WITH FAMILY. WE ATE WAY TOO MUCH AS USUAL AND NOW I'M GUILTY. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LOSE A FEW POUNDS. AND WE HAVE BUT THEY KEEP FINDING US AGAIN!

I HAVE RESEARCHED ALOT LATELY ABOUT DIFFERENT DIET PLANS. THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE. YOU CAN REALLY SPEND A FORTUNE AND I'D RATHER NOT EAT A BUNCH OF PRE-PREPARED FOOD THAT IS HIGH IN SODIUM AND LOW IN TASTE. LATELY THE TREND SEEMS TO BE TOWARD ALL THESE "CLEANSING" PROGRAMS. I GOTTA TELL YA, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF THESE NO FOOD PLANS AT FIRST, BUT AFTER READING UP ON THE REASONING BEHIND IT I DECIDED TO TRY ONE THAT MET MY CRITERIA. (MY CRITERIA IS ITS CHEAP!) SERIOUSLY THOUGH, I WANTED SOMETHING NATURAL AND NOT EXPENSIVE SO I SETTLED ON ONE THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME WITH LEMONS, ORGANIC SYRUP, AND CAYENNE PEPPER. (IF YOU THINK THAT SOUNDS HORRIBLE YOUR RIGHT!) ANYWAY THIS MIXTURE IS SUPPOSED TO CLEAN OUT YOUR SYSTEM AND DETOXIFY YOUR BODY MAKING YOU FEEL ENERGIZED AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT. SO FAR ALL I FEEL IS NAUSEATED.

I GOT UP EARLY THIS MORNING AND JUICED ME SOME LEMONS AND PREPARED ENOUGH BOTTLES FOR TWO DAYS WORTH OF "CLEANSING". I'LL BE LUCKY TO MAKE IT UNTIL TONIGHT. ITS NOT SO MUCH THAT I'M HUNGRY ITS JUST THAT IT TASTES SO BAD! I'M A BIG FAN OF LEMON-AIDE BUT THIS STUFF IS JUST AWFUL. I WONDER IF IT WOULD STILL WORK IF I ADDED SOME STRAWBERRIES OR SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THE TASTE? OH WELL I WON'T LET IT GO TO WASTE I BET I WILL WORK TO KEEP THE NEIGHBORS CAT OUT THE GARDEN! I'LL KEEP Y'ALL POSTED AND NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME, TELL ME I LOOK THINNER.


Y'ALL HANG IN THERE
YVONNE

HELLO,
I'M BACK AGAIN WITH WITH ANOTHER FIRST EDITION BLOG POST. FRIDAY IS THE END OF THE WORK WEEK FOR MOST FOLKS AND THE OFFICIAL KICK-OFF OF THE WEEK END FOR US ALL SO, I CHOSE FRIDAY FOR A WEEKLY POST ABOUT INSPIRATION.

INSPIRE: TO ENCOURAGE OR STIMULATE SOMEONE INTO DOING
SOMETHING. TO CAUSE CREATIVE ACTIVITY.

I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS I'M TRYING TO MAKE A POINT!
ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE INSPIRED. LOOK AROUND YOU AND TAKE THINGS IN. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO IF YOU HAD THE TIME AND THEN MAKE THE TIME. ITS REALLY AS SIMPLE AS THAT. START READING THAT NOVEL ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE. EVEN IF YOU ONLY READ 10 PAGES PER DAY(ABOUT 20 MIN) IN A YEAR YOU WILL HAVE READ 3,650 PAGES AND THAT ADDS UP TO ABOUT 18 200-PAGE BOOKS. WOW! ARE YOU INSPIRED YET?
HOW ABOUT BECOME A GOURMET COOK, EXERCISE MORE, OR LOSE WEIGHT.
HERE ARE SOME EASIER ONES - GO SEE SOMEONE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN TOO LONG, SPEND 1 HOUR PLAYING WITH YOUR CHILDREN, TAKE YOUR DOG FOR A LONG WALK, BAKE A CAKE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR WHO LOST HIS WIFE.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO GET LOST IN OUR EVERYDAY ROUTINES. ALLOW YOUR SELF TO BE INSPIRED AND BE AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS. TODAY I WAS INSPIRED BY A LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS GOING AROUND JOYFULLY TELLING EVERYONE SHE HAS A NEW BABY SISTER. I WAS INSPIRED BY HER BEAUTIFUL FRECKLED FACE AND HER SNAGGLE-TOOTHED SMILE. SHE INSPIRED ME TO FIND THE JOY IN MY OWN LIFE. I THINK I'LL CLOSE EARLY ON THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND GO PLAY WITH MY BOYS.

Y'ALL HANG IN THERE,
YVONNE

HELLO,
AS THE INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND APPROACHES AND I SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO BBQ THIS YEAR I SUDDENLY BECAME SENTIMENTAL ABOUT AMERICA. YEA THAT'S RIGHT! OUR COUNTRY THE GOOD OL' US OF A. WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD COULD I BE DOING WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW? TYPING ON MY KEYBOARD AT WORK, IN MY OWN BEAUTIFUL GIFT SHOP, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME I CAN LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER AT MY ADORABLE SWEET SMILING BABY.(WHO JUST SHOWED ME HE PORED HALF A BOTTLE OF SALAD DRESSING DOWN HIS SHIRT AND ALL OVER THE FLOOR!) GOD BLESS AMERICA ON ITS 223RD BIRTHDAY AND EVERY ONE IN IT!

I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF ALL THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. 200 YEARS AGO DID THEY COOK BURGERS AND DOGS ON THE GRILL OR RIBS? REGARDLESS I'LL BET IT WAS STILL VERY FRESH IN THEIR MINDS HOW FORTUNATE THEY WERE TO BE LIVING THEIR LIVES IN AMERICA. SO WHAT EVER YOUR PLANS ARE THIS 4TH OF JULY, TAKE A MINUTE TO REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE CELEBRATING AND BE THANKFUL. AND PLEASE WHILE GIVING THANKS FOR ALL OUR LIBERTIES REMEMBER THE SONS AND THE DAUGHTERS, THE FATHERS AND MOTHERS, AND THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT INSURE THESE FREEDOMS EVERYDAY. REMEMBER THE ONES THAT ARE HERE AND NEVER FORGET THE ONES THAT ARE HERE NO MORE.

EVERYONE PLEASE HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Y'ALL HANG IN THERE
YVONNE