I got a huge compliment today!

While checking email this morning, I came across a message from a mom of a frequent teen shopper here at SmartyPants.

She was asking for advice on what to wear to her daughter's graduation this weekend.

I replied telling her that I would hook her up when she came in the shop, I already have a few outfits set back for her to try on.

Why is this a compliment to me? I'm thrilled and honored to be seen as a human being and not just a business. I love it that my opinion on what to wear to a function would matter!

We try so hard to truly help our customers look and feel their best. The girls are trained not to lie and say "oh yes, that looks perfect on you!" if it doesn't. We make other suggestions, and even point out something that isn't fitting quite right.

The goal around here is NOT just to make a sale, it is to offere CUSTOMER SERVICE with a smile.

Being asked my opinion on what to wear assures me that we are doing a good job.

Thanks to the mom who sent me the email, it is a joy to serve people like you

and your sweet daughter!

Anyone else wondering what to wear to a graduation ceremony? My advice is something comfortable. The ceremony I will be attending this weekend is held in a HOT gym on uncomfortable bleachers. I'll be wearing a dressy white linen pair of capri pants, red sandals, and a flowy red blouse with white floral pattern. I'm hoping to look cute and stay cool, I wish the same for everyone of you who will spend hours on bleachers in honor of our graduates in the next few weeks.

$288????

Pretty Ashley at prom in her $288 dress. Nails $85 (I had to get my toes done too, can't make the kid go thru that alone ;-)) Hair $45, Hair extensions $45, Jewelry $35, two pair of shoes, 1st pair $39 made her taller than her bf by an inch, 2nd totally flat pair $20.

Seeing my little basketball stud daughter lookin' like a princess....PRICELESS!

A chick with 'tude

Ted and I chaperoned at post prom, where the school rents out a fun center from 11pm-3am and the kids can bowl, ride go karts, play pool etc. in a fun and safe environment.

It took a week for Ted and I to recover from staying up until 4 pm. We got up at 6 am that morning so we almost made it 24 hours...we're officially getting too old for that!

It was fun seeing a few girls at prom who found their dream dresses at SmartyPants. What fun to help them find the right one, and have a really happy mom to top it off.

SmartyPants is considering getting into the new prom dress business next year. What do you think? Email Cathy with your thoughts on bringing in new dresses next year, what would your price range be? what is your biggest complaint about the shops you went to this year? cathy@smartypantsresaleshop.com

Here's what I've decided...

First of all, my digital camera bit the dust, so I apologize that there have been no new arrival posts. I promise to purchase a new camera this weekend, and get back on track.

I hope ya'll don't mind if I ramble for a minute...

In a previous post I vowed not to talk doom and gloom, recession, or high gas prices in my shop. It has been wonderful! If a customer brings it up, I do nod in commiseration, but then I change the subject to something fun or interesting. My whole attitude is changed. Now don't get me wrong when I saw $4 a gallon, yes, my heart did a little flutter, but then I remembered my change of attitude, and just let it go.

Here's what I've decided, and those of you who remember the depression, or previous recessions will be saying DUH, but bear with me.

A. I am enjoying the heck out of staying home. Who knew? Even my teens are hanging out at home, and I am LOVING it!

B. I'm prioritizing like never before. The organization of my life is so much better as I'm just not running around as much, I'm planning, and thinking is this absolutely neccesarry right now.

C. I have spare time!! You read that right, I have spare time! A typical pre high gas prices weekend would include a 30 mile each way trip out to dinner on Friday night. Saturday another 30 mile each way trip to see a movie. On Monday I might get groceries, you guessed it, another 60 mile round trip. Now, if we take that trip North, we get all of our things done at once. I must say grocery shopping at midnight really isn't so bad, but carrying in the groceries at 1 am, that I don't enjoy. Look at all that time we were wasting on the road, not to mention the gas.

This recession, high gas prices etc. is just making us do what we should have been doing all along, the truth is, I don't need it yesterday, things can wait. Our life is actually better and makes more sense right now than it has in a long time.

When our kids were young, and I didn't work, having fun meant going to the park, taking a bike ride or playing baseball in the yard. As they got older, and we started to make more money, without realizing it, we got totally caught up in buying stuff and doing things that cost money. It seemed a measure of our success, or a reward for all our hard work.

It took this recession to remind us who we are. A few months ago on a nice Sunday, we went to the beach and ran on the dunes. Our 2 kids, 17 and 14 played on the playground. We haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

Tonight we will have a bonfire. No steak dinner at a restaurant, just some good ole hotdogs cooked over the fire. It will be a time of laughter, and family bonding without distractions. Previously, our kids would have had opportunities to do things and we would have gone our seperate ways.

THIS is who we are...a family who laughs and likes eachother. We are not wealthy, and we like us that way. We don't need stuff to entertain us, we are pretty entertaining all on our own.

While I'm not happy about people losing their homes and falling on hard times, in my own life I am thankful for this smack upside the head reminder of who I am, and who I am not.

If you're in the area tonight, stop by for a weenie roast, and stay for a laugh.

The phone rings...

As the mother of teens, it's inevitable, some day the call is going to come where your kids have been involved in an accident. I've worried for hours over long trips they've driven, but when they left for school this morning, I whistfully said bye, love you, and didn't worry over them a bit.

Then it happened, I heard my cell phone ring three minutes after they had left. Tearfully my 17 year old told me she had been in an accident, she said they were okay. I found out where they were, and made the 3 minute drive in a minute or less. (I know not smart to speed but my foot would not get off the accelerator)

As I pulled up I saw her little jeep up on it's side right next to a deep ditch with a few feet of water in it. As I jumped out of my car and ran toward them, I saw that they were standing next to one of those roadside crosses put up last year when a mom lost her 18 year old at that same intersection.

Knowing my sensitive, over-achiever daughter would be mad enough at herself for the both of us, I smiled as I walked up. She said WHY ARE YOU SMILING?! I was smiling to make her feel better, but mostly b/c there they were in one piece. I just needed to see them before I could feel okay again.

My son said that at least 20 cars stopped to make sure they were okay. I make fun of this small town of DeMotte we live in quite often, but the truth is, the people here are wonderful, and I'm very happy it is where we have raised our children.

Those of you who know Ashley from the shop won't be surprised to hear she insisted on getting to school and will be in the shop working tonight. Stop by and help me convince her that it's just a car, and she shouldn't feel bad!

Thanks for listening!

Free Sunglasses Weekend!

Friday May 9 & Saturday May 10
Spend $30 on cute stuff, and receive a FREE pair of cool shades.
Perfect for your mother’s day present, or for yourself!

You know, everywhere I go, everybody is complaining. The weather is too cold, too rainy or too hot, the economy stinks, and not a day goes by that I don't find myself caught up in a conversation about the high gas prices.

YEP, things are wierd right now, but one thing I will guarantee you...at SmartyPants we'll still be having fun. We like to laugh around here, so stop in daily for a dose of the giggles. Heck, I'll even print up a joke of the day if it helps!

We vow to remain the one place you can get really great stuff at a good price, and service with a smile. No complaining allowed!

Don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing, is gonna be alright. ~Bob Marley