A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That!

This past week, I've tried to share some of the great displays, merchandise, and what is in the store at Country Roads right now! As I said the other day, this year at Country Roads was that we would be "Steppin' Up Our Game"! And believe me, my Country Roads family has not let me down in accomplishing this!! Here are a few pictures below to show you what I mean!





I've been off for a few days, so I know right now when I go to work this morning, the above photos will be out of date. What does that mean? Either much of it will have sold, or my dealers have changed up their displays to keep them looking fresh! I'll be taking some more great photos today for next week. Have a wonderful week-end!!

"Owning It'" Week Three

Here I am still struggling but still "owning it" beginning week three! And I have to say, my shoes are beginning to get some good mileage on them. Yesterday I finally hit my first goal, two miles under thirty minutes. I did it, and you know, it felt good! I know it's not lightening speed, but it was my beginning goal. I think by taking the time to make a playlist on my ipod, the Blackeyed Peas and the Stones were the ones that kept me going this morning. And I know & understand I've got to push myself even further now that I hit the first goal, and I will continue to do that each time I reach a goal. And no, it still is hard to wake up and drag my butt out to the garage to jump on the treadmill. But the reward is later, after I'm done! I feel good, I watch what I eat much more than I did before. The scale says I've lost a few pounds which is also a plus. And I've got some hand weights I'm starting to use now as well. Have you seen that commercial with the old lady dancing, and singing something like "I don't want to grow up to be an old lady"? We all age, that is a given, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to keep up with life! I don't want to sit and be a spectator, I want to live it!! My life is very full and for awhile now I had been saying I want to do something for myself but I didn't know what it is. Right now, I'm so thankful I found my way back to exercise. I like the Biggest Loser. I know a lot of people believe that this show uses people. I tend to disagree. I think it's trying to save their lives by teaching them about good foods and the importance of exercise. I was watching it the other night, and Michael, pictured above, was one of the heaviest contestants ever. He had a starting weight of like 536 pounds! I think now he is down to 390 pounds. I turned the show on the other night when they were doing their "last chance workout". That means they work as hard as they can before they weigh in. I was blown away when Bob looked at Michael, at 390 pounds, and said to him as he was on the treadmill, "give me five miles"! I couldn't believe it, and Michael did it! Our world is a big fat mess right now! We can complain about the politics, the economy, traffic, global warming and everything else that is going on. Or, we can get up in the morning and take care of ourselves so we are better equipped not only physically, but mentally to deal with what is going on in life these days. Just give yourself a bit of time, clear your head, and get up and get MOVING. Whether it's a walk around the block, riding a bike, the treadmill, whatever, just MOVE!! I promise you that if you do you will be so glad you did, just own it!

Steppin' Up Our Game!

At the beginning of this year, I told my dealers, who REALLY are my Country Roads family, that we were going to be "Steppin' Up Our Game". What that meant was even though some of us had worked hard before, we were going to do our best to make Country Roads even better. A lot of us jumped on this, myself included. I made the decision to get the name "Country Roads" out there any and every way that I could. And I continue to do that each day now. The pictures on this post are from Eileen's space. Her displays always look fresh and they pop. And now, she too has worked even harder to put together these killer displays. Please remember, these photos were taken with my "ghetto piece of junk" camera! So, in all fairness to Eileen, please know they even look better when you see them in person.




I had to include this really frightening, not just doll head, but an entire doll. I turned around and saw her and thought, "yikes, she really looks pissed off"! Even with all the dolls and their heads rolling around at "the store", I'm very lucky to not only be able to do what I do, but do it with the best group of people ever. Thanks Eileen, your stuff looks great, except for that doll;0}

White Wednesday

Once again, it's time for "White Wednesday". I posted a few photos this past Sunday of "John of Cottage White" goodies he brought back from his recent trip to Texas. Here are a few more below, hope you enjoy them.






Believe me there is some good looking "eye candy" in this part of the store right now. And for those of you that live in the area, John is taking some more space in the garden where I'm sure we'll find some more "White Wednesday" treasures. Speaking of that, please go visit my favorite "WW" buddy, Kathleen who created "White Wednedays"! There are so many wonderful blogs and pictures to see. Hope you all enjoy this "White Wednesday" and see you next week, take care.

The "Quiet" One

Country Roads probably has maybe 80 dealers, not including their spouses, partners, etc. I've always been afraid to count, like the number might scare me if I "really" knew! So, as you can imagine, I deal with many, many personality types. I have to be very honest, the majority of our dealers are the best. And the ones that give me headaches, there thankfully isn't that many of them. I have some that I ALWAYS know what is going on, or if there are problems, or if this or that has happened. Then I have others that just go about their business, working well with everyone including our customers. One of our more quiet dealers, but definately one of our most talented, is Cindy Finch and her sidekick, also know as Bill, her husband, are the best! When I worked last week, my last day before a few days off, one of Cindy's displays is pictured above. It was awesome, all on this little porch everything was displayed in darker colors.And when I came in on Saturday, this is what I saw in the same little porch area. When Cindy does a "makeover" you have NO idea what she does. It is a project that always turns out to be amazing. She mixes stuff up, gives her spaces different looks and keeps our customers coming back again and again. Below are a few of Cindy's new displays!









This is an interesting business to be in. You deal with so many personalities. Then, as in my case, I have so many great dealers that have such class, and Cindy is definately one of them! She continues to just quietly work away creating great displays while always there for our customers if needed. Sometimes I think people that don't make a bunch of noise sometimes don't get the attention they deserve. So, with that said, this post is for Cindy and all that she does for Country Roads, we all appreciate you!!

"BSC" Sunday!

I'm back, sorry my guest writer bailed on my for last week's "BSC" Sunday post. Thanks Brande, not! This "BSC" Sunday was so ever special. We also had all the streets in Old Towne Orange closed for the annual Orange Rotary Car Show. This "is" supposed to be for charity which I think is awesome, but none the less, it doesn't make doing business any easier when the streets surrounding your store are closed and customers are pissed off because they actually, are you ready for this, had to WALK!And before I go any further, please note that Brande took a couple of pictures with my ever so special handicapped camera and then came back yesterday and told me that my camera sucked. Then the battery died! And I looked at her and said, "duh, you think it sucks, I KNOW it sucks"! I try to be easy going on a day like yesterday. You come to open the store, the car dudes have their chairs and beer coolers blocking your front door, etc. But I do have to say they were cool about moving, but none the less it is a struggle. They have some really cool cars, which periodically during the day, a male owner of said cool cars is encouraged to turn on said car and rev up the engine as loud as they can go. No problem "dude", I will ask my customer that is begging to use my bathroom because they are going to pee their pants, right there, in my store, to just "hold on just a second". The City provided nice portables for the public but somehow the "special customers", well, they just couldn't "go there". Ours was closed for the day, with a note on the bathroom door and front door that I wrote. It said, "sorry, due to customer abuse of our bathroom it is closed for the day". So even though people have read the "sign", they stand in front of you either squeezing their legs together, doing the pee-pee dance, asking where you go to the bathroom (please), or begging to use yours anyway. Nope, I was NOT handing out that bright blue letter "B" key today!! And it was so nice not to have to repeat "bathroom directions" a hundred times a day! The day was a mixture of "pee-pee dancers" along with some really nice customers, to Brande scoring this awesome bike for $75! Hidea, you rock! Not too long into the day, IT happened. We have some very exceptional special customers. It's like you glance up and just say, "shit"! Then your strategy is to pass them off to one of your unexpecting co-workers. And when THAT happens, they say, "shit"! The first one that came in is draining. Brande had never worked with her before and said, "no, I think she is disabled, her hands shake". I said, "no" but knock yourself out to help her. It wasn't long before Brande knew what I meant. Then, I swear, within 30 minutes I look up and one of our other "special" customers came through the door. You can always identify her, she is the one with the black rain cloud over her head!! I knew we were screwed. This ONE will stay, and stay and the ONLY thing she ever, ever talks about is how bad she feels, how bad and awful her husband is, and about how awful life is and on, and on she goes. She is the poster child for www.my lifesucks.com!!! By then, let me tell you we were on a roll! We had a customer that spent over a half an hour trying to decide which doily she should buy. Seriously, if you give a doily that much thought, how do you get through the rest of your day? Of course we had the usual customers that tried to convince us they wanted the stuff they picked out for free, or it should be cheaper because it looks "old and used", you know, maybe as in vintage! On and on it went. It was a never ending day. I looked at the little bus across the street from us, pictured above that was all decked out. Did I see a bar in the back of it? And I was waaaaaay ready to board the "Over the Hill Gang" bus, as long as it would just get me the hell out of Country Roads and Old Towne Orange! And then you will never, ever believe what happened. It was like the clouds parted and an angel walked through our "door" and she came up to the counter to see me with a brown bag in hand. She smiled and said, "here"! I touched the bag, I felt the bag, I hugged the bag because I knew what was inside! My angel has a name, Sandy Kiwana. I'm hoping I spelled her name right. She brought me six, cold Coronas! Sandy has been a customer from the early days, as in when we first opened. She follows our "BSC" Sunday posts. I've got to tell you, I think that is the best gift I have ever, ever received on a "BSC" Sunday!! Seriously, you rock Sandy and thank you so very much. You made my day. It is nice to be appreciated by our customers, they are the best. So, with all that said, it's Monday and I have a whole new week ahead. Oh wait, Monday, damn, I have to go back to "the store" today! Let's hope for mellowness! And again, thank you Sandy!

This & That at Country Roads

I was planning on posting more pictures of John's "Texas Treasures" today, but since many of those treasures are white, I thought I'd save it for "White Wednesday" this week. Here are a few pictures I had time to snap yesterday while trying to work, carry up merchandise and answer questions for our customers. And the number ONE question, as always, "do you have a bathroom"? My answer: "yes, the key is behind you, under the fire extinguisher, hanging on the "big bright blue letter "B", end of the aisle, follow the blue arrows on the floor, at the base of your stairs on your right". My favorite lady yesterday is searching all over the counter "in front of her", when the key is behind her. Finally, I can't handle it anymore (I want to grab her head and physically turn it around myself)and look at her and say, "STOP, turn around and it is in front of you". And then the next question is, "and where did you say the bathroom is"??? Sorry, I had to vent there for a second, can you tell? Here are the pictures I mentioned before I had to go on my "bathroom rant"!







The pictures above are just a small selection of what is in the store right now. There are so many good displays and cool stuff in the store I just don't have time to take enough pictures. I'm planning on doing a sideshow very soon. So, I hope my vendors that haven't been included for awhile will remember that my camera "WAS" the Target floor model (my new camera after a couple of months had jumped out of my hands and drowned itself in my pool)! That is WHY I have this piece of junk camera. Today it wouldn't turn off or take pictures. I have to take the battery out and start over. I'm saving money for a new one while researching what camera I want to buy in the future. And when that day comes, I am going to THROW this camera in my pool!!