Customer quote of the week:

A loyal SmartyPants shoppers said of shopping at SmartyPants, "it's like shopping at a thousand stores at one time!" Thanks Carly, and it's so true when I straighten the racks I see lots of stuff from Hollister, Abercrombie, American Eagle, but I also see things from Banana Republic, White House Black Market, and other shops that we would have to drive at least 60 miles to shop. How fun is this place?!

Hey did you guys know SmartyPants offers lay away? We process at least 100 new items every day at SP. I always say those who shop most often get the best stuff! Have you ever looked at something, loved it, but didn't have the cash right then to buy it? You come back the next week looking for it, and of course, it's gone.

Consider lay away for those moments. And if I were you, even though it's 85 degrees (and amazing), I'd be buying up all the hoodies, sweaters, jeans and YES even winter coats that are coming in now. Don't wait until it gets cold. The shop is full of that stuff right now, so scoop it up, put it on lay away, just pay it off within a month and you'll have it for when the weather cools down.

We also have a wish list. You tell us what you are wanting, and if and when an item that matches your description comes in, we'll call ya! Hollister jeans size 3? American Eagle hoodie size large? We'll add you to the list and you'll get first dibs!

See ya at the shop!

Making decisions

This baby gets a whopping 13 miles per gallon!

So I was walking to work this morning (yes, you read that right, walking!) and I was thinking...I'm really liking life right now. This whole down economy thing is working in my favor.

First of all, business wise, we are doing great...I hate to even admit it, as so many other businesses in our area are having their worst months in 5 years. But we're up, sales are great, woo hoo.

But even moreso, I am happy with the decisions we have been making for our family lately. We moved last weekend out of our dearly beloved old farm house. 4 bedrooms, two stories and a basement, drafty windows, old furnace, and hard wood floors though out made the place as charming as can be, but it was expensive to heat and cool, and with oil prices a risin', we were looking to pay even more this winter.

As we decided where to move to, things like energy efficiency and location really played into our decision, and we actually downsized. The move is a temporary one, but still, when we look for a more permanent residence the same thought process will apply.

The house is small, functional, newly remodeled and exactly one mile from my shop.

I now walk to work every day. I desperately needed to get exercise back into my life, and what a convenient situation we have created! I'm walking all over, post office, bank, grocery store, and LOVING the energy a little fresh air and exercise provides.

So as I was walking this morning I was thinking...the decisions we make these days to at least THINK before we burn resources...it's what we should do all the time not just when it hits us in our pocketbooks!

When buying a car, mpg is at the top of the list these days, I even saw my friend whose family owns a Ford dealership driving a crossover type vehicle...a huge downsize from the 4 door dually pick up trucks, or the expeditions she usually drives. Good for her! Good for the environment.

So once again, I'm going to say I am thankful for the changes this economic crunch has made in my life. I'm healthier, enjoying life, and I'm most thankful about the example we are setting for our kids, the future generation. As they grow up I hope that they will look back fondly on this time where we buy less and enjoy eachother more.

25-30 mpg now this little Honda Accord is on my radar screen for my new car wishlist!

We made the front page!

And by we I mean all of you!! I can't number the times I hear these things in the shop: my girlfriend told me...I told my co-workers to...Everyone asks me where I got my outfit and I tell them SmartyPants!

Word of mouth is worth it's weight in gold to a small business such as SmartyPants, so THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all your support and for telling your friends to check out the shop!

http://www.kvpostnews.com/articles/2008/09/03/top_story/topstory01.txt

Click the link above and see that we made the front page of the KV Post newspaper! Woo hoo!

Thanks again for all your support, consignors and customers alike, you are a vital part of this business, and we appreciate you!

A bit of Nostalgia...

Last night we went to the drive in movies! I have suddenly reached that age where I can "remember when..." and from the sound of things, someday I'll be telling my grand kids, "I remember when there were drive in movie theatres!"

I will tell them how the cars lined up on the main road in Knox Indiana waiting to get into the lot, how we only paid $6 per person (I'll bet my folks will tell me they used to pay $1!) to see 2 movies. We'll giggle as I tell them that their grandpa put an airmattress in the back of the truck so we could lay on it while we watched the movies.

What I loved the most was the sky...this has been the labor day holiday weekend of everyone's dreams. How many times have you planned a bbq party on labor day weekend, only to huddle in coats under a tent to keep the rain off your hotdog? Eighty five degrees and sunny, not a cloud in the sky all weekend long, what a gift to end our summer! Last night I had a hard time concentrating on the big screen with those millions of stars shining down on me, I couldn't help but gaze...

My how we take things for granted. It didn't really occur to me until I spoke with the owners of the Melody Drive In movie theatre last night, that drive ins are becoming a thing of the past. They will become yet another casualty of "development". It takes the right amount of rural area to pull off a drive in movie, large housing developments, and the traffic, noise and lights that come with that ruin the outdoor movie setting.

So if you haven't enjoyed a movie under the stars in a while, do it while you still can. Oh and wear long pants, socks, shoes, and a sweatshirt, and bring a blanket, September nights can get really chilly under the stars...more reason to snuggle with your loved one.

Apparently Indiana is one of the few states to still have several drive in movie theatres, here are 2 in the area:

http://www.49erdrivein.com/

http://www.melodydrivein.com/