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Growing Up
When I was little I used to ask my Mom: "when am I going to grow up....when am I going to stop learning, when am I going to know everything?"
You see my Mom was a school teacher...she knew EVERYTHING! Mom would tell me...Kathryn Ann -"you never stop learning,you never stop asking questions, you never grow up!"
That used to annoy the daylights out of me. She was right you know, you never do stop learning and growing and doing! Which is really a good thing. Think how boring we would be if we hit 30 and just stopped! Scarey thought!
However!!!!! It is hard living in our world today, doing the right thing and being able to talk to others and get ideas and just basically live.
We all have some sort of job, we are all raising kids and trying to make the world a better place. As some of you may know, I live on a horse ranch. I am 4th generation horse. I love my life, I dont know any different, but at 54 sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming! You all have heard me talk about chasing Lady, our 35 yr old mare around the front yard trying to get her out with the other horses in the morning - she eats breakfast in the front yard - or having to leave the shop in an instant to get a sick horse to the vet.Then there was the 4 years Murphy,Katies horse went to college with her and I was always worried about the 2 of them. Somehow it always works out.
What I wanted to talk about this morning is the importance of having friends you can call and just vent to. As a single Mom, rancher and business woman it can be overwhelming. I have my core group of excentrict terrific girlfriends I talk to all the time. They seem to love me no matter what. We are all well over 50 yet seem to get in as much trouble as we did when we were 20 somethings. We share our accomplishments, breakups, financial issues, eye make up secrets and often times you will find us sitting in a bar just laughing away. Much to the dismay of our children!
All of us are active in our little community so we really do have to behave....but just like everyone eles we are continulng to try and "find ourselves" and be the best that we can be.One thing we have learned is that it is difficult "growing up" even at 50, 60, 70 something. Just like my Mom said you never stop learning or growing. Each decade brings new adventures, crisis and happiness. Learning to deal with these, embrace the adventures is the interesting part.
My friend Cindy made a comment the other day that when we are "complaining" whether it be a girlfriend, husband,boyfriend or lover, we are not being crabby or mean, it means we trust you and we want to talk to you. It is important. Trust is a wonderful thing and the ultimate compliment we can give someone. It has been a struggle getting to "this age". When a friend takes the time to talk to you about their concerns, problems, fears. Listen to them. They trust you, it is the best compliment a persn can give another. It means YOU are loved.
Katie
Some of you may know my daughters. I have three. Emily, is my daughter thru different parents...... she was our Nanny while Katie and Amy were growning up. Our families have been friends for years and the funny thing is she looks just like Katie and Amy! Katie is my AGGIE. 100% Aggie. Now she is getting her PhD from MD Andersen in Houston in Molecular Carcinogenisis. Thats right....took me a year before I could say it! Amy, the baby is at Emerson College in Boston. You will see Amy in the shop in the summer working.
This blog is about Katie, well not so much about her but as about growing up, facing your fears and being brave.
I am very lucky to have very smart girls. My Mom was a teacher and she instilled in us there wasn't anything you couldn't do. Consiquently the girls are all in honnors programs and just love their schools and what they are studying. (Emily, has just started her Masters Program this week at UTSA, keep in mind she works full time and has 2 small children and is single. Her real mom and dad help out with the boys alot) But.....along with this comes some scarey times.
Emily called last night to fill me in on "stuff" and Katie called this morning needing a pep talk. Some times I think we all need a pep talk. Life is scarey now. We don't know what will happen with the stock market or the economy or real estate. Will we make our house payments will we have enough for groceries or soccer fees or a new dress? All of these things we THINK are out of our control....but are they????
I don't think so, I used to, but not anymore. As a single Mom and a business owner, I don't think I ever sleep - I am always worried about something, making my payroll, rent, house payments, tuitions etc etc. Somehow I always manage.
I manage because I want to. I love my store, the customers, my staff, the vendors. Sure I have difficulty with money - who doesn't these days but it always works out because I am determined to make it work. We have been on that corner for 25 years and I have every intention on being there another 25.
But.....how do you teach your daughter to be brave. Lead by example. I try to be honest with the girls, but what do you say to a 24 year old scientist??????
What Katie does is foreign to me. I am so proud of her. She is one smart cookie! She has a heck of alot on her plate. Her instructors sound terrific. I am terribly impressed with the caliber at MD Andersen. It has to be scarey tho. Todays talk with her was about being brave. Being confident. Taking the next step in being a scientist. Learning to believe in yourself. I think that sounds so funny. I believe in Katie - heck there isn't anything that kid can't do. I digress.....have you ever seen her horse???? 1300 pounds, 16 - 17 hands tall and will come in the house if I let him. Katie, all 5ft 3 of her has trained this gentle giant to jump huge jumps, run thru ponds and then do Dressage, which we call ballet on horse back.
She also was one of 42 students that recieved a special accedemic honnor when she graduated. When she graduated from A&M a few years back I was so tired by the time I got to her class graduation ceremony, because i had been to so many Honnors Graduation ceremonies!
Katie takes on allot. But, she can do it. She is passionate about her work and believes in all that she does. Katie truely believes there is a cure for cancer and all that MD Andersen stands for. For that I am so grateful. I tell her that the world needs people like her, I don't think she believes me but that will come with age. So many of my girlfriends, like me have cancer and we NEED people like her to make sure WE don't die! Scarey but true.
Every day can be scarey - it is a matter of attitude. If we believe in ourselves and what we do. Ask questions. Go to those that can help us. Be brave. Stand up for what is right. Be confident in ourselves, we WILL be successful. It is up to US not the government, not the schools, not the churches, but US. We have the ability to go to school and church and correspond with our senators and congressmen. We controll our destiny. Don't ever let someone tell you that you can't do something because you can! Just like Katie - you can be a scientist! You can be what ever you want to be! It is ok to be a bit scared - but that is 1/2 the fun!
I am so so so excited for Katie and all that she will do and discover! Most of the time I have no idea what she is talking about. I do know that I would love to be her patient, be in a study she will do some day for cancer patients. Because...she has a heart of gold and is brillant. She loves her work, has terrific mentors and professors that will teach her and every day she is making a difference in someones life.
We can all learn from her. Most of us won't be a scientist or have our name on a paper or read scientific journals, but we can be the best at what we do. We can smile at someone on the street. We can, as in my case, help them find the perfect dress for a very special occasion. Just like Katie - we can make a differenc in the world just by being us.
This blog is about Katie, well not so much about her but as about growing up, facing your fears and being brave.
I am very lucky to have very smart girls. My Mom was a teacher and she instilled in us there wasn't anything you couldn't do. Consiquently the girls are all in honnors programs and just love their schools and what they are studying. (Emily, has just started her Masters Program this week at UTSA, keep in mind she works full time and has 2 small children and is single. Her real mom and dad help out with the boys alot) But.....along with this comes some scarey times.
Emily called last night to fill me in on "stuff" and Katie called this morning needing a pep talk. Some times I think we all need a pep talk. Life is scarey now. We don't know what will happen with the stock market or the economy or real estate. Will we make our house payments will we have enough for groceries or soccer fees or a new dress? All of these things we THINK are out of our control....but are they????
I don't think so, I used to, but not anymore. As a single Mom and a business owner, I don't think I ever sleep - I am always worried about something, making my payroll, rent, house payments, tuitions etc etc. Somehow I always manage.
I manage because I want to. I love my store, the customers, my staff, the vendors. Sure I have difficulty with money - who doesn't these days but it always works out because I am determined to make it work. We have been on that corner for 25 years and I have every intention on being there another 25.
But.....how do you teach your daughter to be brave. Lead by example. I try to be honest with the girls, but what do you say to a 24 year old scientist??????
What Katie does is foreign to me. I am so proud of her. She is one smart cookie! She has a heck of alot on her plate. Her instructors sound terrific. I am terribly impressed with the caliber at MD Andersen. It has to be scarey tho. Todays talk with her was about being brave. Being confident. Taking the next step in being a scientist. Learning to believe in yourself. I think that sounds so funny. I believe in Katie - heck there isn't anything that kid can't do. I digress.....have you ever seen her horse???? 1300 pounds, 16 - 17 hands tall and will come in the house if I let him. Katie, all 5ft 3 of her has trained this gentle giant to jump huge jumps, run thru ponds and then do Dressage, which we call ballet on horse back.
She also was one of 42 students that recieved a special accedemic honnor when she graduated. When she graduated from A&M a few years back I was so tired by the time I got to her class graduation ceremony, because i had been to so many Honnors Graduation ceremonies!
Katie takes on allot. But, she can do it. She is passionate about her work and believes in all that she does. Katie truely believes there is a cure for cancer and all that MD Andersen stands for. For that I am so grateful. I tell her that the world needs people like her, I don't think she believes me but that will come with age. So many of my girlfriends, like me have cancer and we NEED people like her to make sure WE don't die! Scarey but true.
Every day can be scarey - it is a matter of attitude. If we believe in ourselves and what we do. Ask questions. Go to those that can help us. Be brave. Stand up for what is right. Be confident in ourselves, we WILL be successful. It is up to US not the government, not the schools, not the churches, but US. We have the ability to go to school and church and correspond with our senators and congressmen. We controll our destiny. Don't ever let someone tell you that you can't do something because you can! Just like Katie - you can be a scientist! You can be what ever you want to be! It is ok to be a bit scared - but that is 1/2 the fun!
I am so so so excited for Katie and all that she will do and discover! Most of the time I have no idea what she is talking about. I do know that I would love to be her patient, be in a study she will do some day for cancer patients. Because...she has a heart of gold and is brillant. She loves her work, has terrific mentors and professors that will teach her and every day she is making a difference in someones life.
We can all learn from her. Most of us won't be a scientist or have our name on a paper or read scientific journals, but we can be the best at what we do. We can smile at someone on the street. We can, as in my case, help them find the perfect dress for a very special occasion. Just like Katie - we can make a differenc in the world just by being us.
Why I do what I do.
Not everyone has the opportunity to live their dream. I know I am very very lucky. BUT... on my behalf I do work hard at all this. I blame it all on my Mom and Dad. They told me there wasn't anything I couldn't do and I believed them. So here I am at 53, orphaned, single, a cancer survivor who is always wondering if I am going to have another bad cell day selling dresses on Main St. in Fredericksburg Texas and having the time of my life!
If you have ever been in the Shop - you know we are about as unconventional as they come. We have a blast every day! All of us at TSG love what we do. We may not do it right some times, and we have been known to make up the rules as we go along......but isn't that what life is all about?
When I bought the Shop I was able for the first time in my life to be actually down the street from Amy's school! Sometimes during her high school career she would come down for lunch. During Cross Country season the team would run thru the store to get water as they ran their routes. Keep in mind the cc coach lived across the road from us and knew the girls did this. Amy played soccer also and it was always fun to decorate the windows with "Go Billies Soccer" Now all these girls are in college but they still stop by on breaks to say hi. I still decorate the windows for the soccer team - just because I can!
Katie had gone off to A&M but still would come home on the weekends once in a while bringing with her assorted Aggies - some of who had never seen a ranch before - now that weekend was a trip!
Even now in Grad school, Katie is always bringing people home to the ranch and it is just wonderful!
I write these Blogs because I want you, our customers to know that you are more than just a customer - you are family. We love to tell you about OUR kids, but we like to know about yours. We LOVE to get just the right dress for the Mothers of the brides and grooms. To help you get a dress for the rodeo - or your Granddaughters Jr. High Graduation! This is important!
We have a really great relationship with our vendors and the designers that go with them. If you have ever been in the store when we are custom ordering things for you - we are usually talking to the designer. AND...they know who you are and why this is so important.
I want you to have really cool clothes that make you feel wonderful! I care about every tiny detail that goes into purchasing something for the shop. I ask alot of questions to get things right for my customers.
The real reason why I do all this is because I want my daughters to grow up and live THEIR dreams just like I have. My daughters and myself are different as night and day. As their Mom the only way I can teach them is to lead by example. I want them to be happy, to know they are loved, to be confident and to make every day an adventure. Most important, I want them to be their own person. To live their life and their dreams to the fullest. We have a saying at our house "Katie has to be Katie and Amy has to be Amy". They can't be me, or their grandma or one of the Aunts - they have to be them! It has taken me YEARS to get this thru to them but it is FINALLY paying off!
I want my customers to be "them" also - I want the ladies who shop here to be proud of who they are and what they have achieved. Shop out of your box. Wear a bright color. Add "one more piece of jewelry" to your out fit! Be what you have always wanted to be! Do it because you can!
If you have ever been in the Shop - you know we are about as unconventional as they come. We have a blast every day! All of us at TSG love what we do. We may not do it right some times, and we have been known to make up the rules as we go along......but isn't that what life is all about?
When I bought the Shop I was able for the first time in my life to be actually down the street from Amy's school! Sometimes during her high school career she would come down for lunch. During Cross Country season the team would run thru the store to get water as they ran their routes. Keep in mind the cc coach lived across the road from us and knew the girls did this. Amy played soccer also and it was always fun to decorate the windows with "Go Billies Soccer" Now all these girls are in college but they still stop by on breaks to say hi. I still decorate the windows for the soccer team - just because I can!
Katie had gone off to A&M but still would come home on the weekends once in a while bringing with her assorted Aggies - some of who had never seen a ranch before - now that weekend was a trip!
Even now in Grad school, Katie is always bringing people home to the ranch and it is just wonderful!
I write these Blogs because I want you, our customers to know that you are more than just a customer - you are family. We love to tell you about OUR kids, but we like to know about yours. We LOVE to get just the right dress for the Mothers of the brides and grooms. To help you get a dress for the rodeo - or your Granddaughters Jr. High Graduation! This is important!
We have a really great relationship with our vendors and the designers that go with them. If you have ever been in the store when we are custom ordering things for you - we are usually talking to the designer. AND...they know who you are and why this is so important.
I want you to have really cool clothes that make you feel wonderful! I care about every tiny detail that goes into purchasing something for the shop. I ask alot of questions to get things right for my customers.
The real reason why I do all this is because I want my daughters to grow up and live THEIR dreams just like I have. My daughters and myself are different as night and day. As their Mom the only way I can teach them is to lead by example. I want them to be happy, to know they are loved, to be confident and to make every day an adventure. Most important, I want them to be their own person. To live their life and their dreams to the fullest. We have a saying at our house "Katie has to be Katie and Amy has to be Amy". They can't be me, or their grandma or one of the Aunts - they have to be them! It has taken me YEARS to get this thru to them but it is FINALLY paying off!
I want my customers to be "them" also - I want the ladies who shop here to be proud of who they are and what they have achieved. Shop out of your box. Wear a bright color. Add "one more piece of jewelry" to your out fit! Be what you have always wanted to be! Do it because you can!
Dancing With The Stars
I just love watching Dancing With The Stars! As a former merchandising and design major at TEXAS TECH !!!!! (yes i am a home ec major) I love the costumes,makeup the whole thing. When I was little I just loved to watch my Mom and Dad dance - OMG they were just beautiful! My Mother was georgous and my Dad very very handsome - my sister and I would watch in awe as they danced. Daddy would teach Karen and I by having us stand on his feet as we learned the dance steps. If I ever re-marry, the dude has GOT to be a terrific dancer! I digress....anyway , what I wanted to talk about this morning was the absolutly beautiful performance by Kirsty Alley. She was stunning.
Like everyone eles watching the show i waited till the end to see her. Has she lost weight, what does she look like, just how old is she anyway???? Anyone that saw her last night was blown away! She looked beautiful! Her dance was amazing and the song was PERFECT!
As a 53 year old breast cancer survivor, I have gained my fair share of weight over my 5 year treatment. PLUS I love to cook and of course eat too. I sold breast cancer drugs for 23 years and yes they DO cause you to gain weight - but as an educated person....I have suplimented my pharmaceutical weight gain with some food. (yes dr. lang - i admidt it)
I hear in the shop EVERYDAY women saying - "I just need to loose a bit more weight". Ladies....we are NOT defined by our size! Everyday I see the most beautiful,wonderful terrific ladies shop in my store!
Beauty is from WITHIN ladies! When I go to market every showroom I go in tells me "ignore the size, they run small" "You need to size up - there is to much spandex in this top" My venders KNOW that some designers just run small. My designers will tell me the same thing. Donna Karam ALWAYS says buy to big and get a taylor to fit YOU!
My daughters are little slim young ladies. BUT they wear everything from a size 4 to a 14. I use the girls as examples to my customers ALL THE TIME!
As a cancer patient I want to be healthy. The last thing I want to be is a dead cancer patient. So I try to eat like my Oncologist would like me to.
Last night tho watching Kirsty Alley - I clapped out loud when she finished. She truely was just beautiful. She was happy and so proud. I was inspired by her! The judges had mentioned to many of the dancers before her to "work it" "own the stage" "you have a bigger than life personality - use it". Kirsty Alley did it all!
I often tell my daughters "walk in like you own the place, even if you are scared to death". I admire ALL the dancers on this program. It has to take allot of courage to do this.
Being on national television has to be hard - having the whole world judge your every move what you look like, your cloths and hair. I do not think I will ever be in this position but I want to be confident in how I look. Last summer I was sort of seeing this guy who made the comment "I just do not find Plus Size women attractive". That comment just broke my heart as well as embarrassed the daylights out of me. After I picked myself up I thought you "sasob" BUT more than anything eles, my feelings were hurt. Needless to say I am not seeing him anymore!
We work really hard to buy things for the store that will make our customers look terrific and feel really good about themselves. One time someone asked me to describe our style. I told them that we sell "really cool cloths for really cool women". I mean it. We have an attitude in TSG that we can do anything and I am very proud of that!
I know we are successful when I see a customer out and about and she looks at me with a huge smile and then does a "twirl" to show off her outfit! That is the best compliment TSG could ever have!
Ladies, we do a ton of stuff during the day, we work, raise kids, run a houshold, take care of husbands and parents. Many of you are ranchers and at 60 are still slinging bales of hay and 50 lb feed sacks. You do it all with style and grace. Kirsty Alley is 60. In 7 years when I turn 60 I want to be on Dancing With The Stars!
Like everyone eles watching the show i waited till the end to see her. Has she lost weight, what does she look like, just how old is she anyway???? Anyone that saw her last night was blown away! She looked beautiful! Her dance was amazing and the song was PERFECT!
As a 53 year old breast cancer survivor, I have gained my fair share of weight over my 5 year treatment. PLUS I love to cook and of course eat too. I sold breast cancer drugs for 23 years and yes they DO cause you to gain weight - but as an educated person....I have suplimented my pharmaceutical weight gain with some food. (yes dr. lang - i admidt it)
I hear in the shop EVERYDAY women saying - "I just need to loose a bit more weight". Ladies....we are NOT defined by our size! Everyday I see the most beautiful,wonderful terrific ladies shop in my store!
Beauty is from WITHIN ladies! When I go to market every showroom I go in tells me "ignore the size, they run small" "You need to size up - there is to much spandex in this top" My venders KNOW that some designers just run small. My designers will tell me the same thing. Donna Karam ALWAYS says buy to big and get a taylor to fit YOU!
My daughters are little slim young ladies. BUT they wear everything from a size 4 to a 14. I use the girls as examples to my customers ALL THE TIME!
As a cancer patient I want to be healthy. The last thing I want to be is a dead cancer patient. So I try to eat like my Oncologist would like me to.
Last night tho watching Kirsty Alley - I clapped out loud when she finished. She truely was just beautiful. She was happy and so proud. I was inspired by her! The judges had mentioned to many of the dancers before her to "work it" "own the stage" "you have a bigger than life personality - use it". Kirsty Alley did it all!
I often tell my daughters "walk in like you own the place, even if you are scared to death". I admire ALL the dancers on this program. It has to take allot of courage to do this.
Being on national television has to be hard - having the whole world judge your every move what you look like, your cloths and hair. I do not think I will ever be in this position but I want to be confident in how I look. Last summer I was sort of seeing this guy who made the comment "I just do not find Plus Size women attractive". That comment just broke my heart as well as embarrassed the daylights out of me. After I picked myself up I thought you "sasob" BUT more than anything eles, my feelings were hurt. Needless to say I am not seeing him anymore!
We work really hard to buy things for the store that will make our customers look terrific and feel really good about themselves. One time someone asked me to describe our style. I told them that we sell "really cool cloths for really cool women". I mean it. We have an attitude in TSG that we can do anything and I am very proud of that!
I know we are successful when I see a customer out and about and she looks at me with a huge smile and then does a "twirl" to show off her outfit! That is the best compliment TSG could ever have!
Ladies, we do a ton of stuff during the day, we work, raise kids, run a houshold, take care of husbands and parents. Many of you are ranchers and at 60 are still slinging bales of hay and 50 lb feed sacks. You do it all with style and grace. Kirsty Alley is 60. In 7 years when I turn 60 I want to be on Dancing With The Stars!
Why I am always late for work!
When I was in the "corporate" world, late for work meant you were at work 15 minutes before you were supposed to be there. HAH! After I retired, most of my friends will tell you NEVER to expect me until 10 minutes after I said I would be there.My girls at the shop will tell you it is more like 45 minutes! They are right.
BUT in my defense I am doing stuff! My mornings consist of coffee, feeding the cat,birds,dogs,horses. Checking my bank statement,email and facebook. Checking in with my daughters, and solving whatever crisis is currently looming.
At my age I have made a conscious decision to deal with ONLY who I want to deal with. I have been through to much to deal with people that are not nice or bring NOTHING to the table. I carry this into my world at the Shop. We only deal with Vendors that treat my Garden Girls like the QUEENS they are and that will go the extra mile for my customers.
In April we will be having 2 trunk shows with two of our FAVORITE vendors. The first will be BRYN WALKER. This will be the first weekend in April. April 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Lisa our terrific rep will be here that weekend with ALL THE SAMPLES that you could ever imagine! The really cool thing about this trunk show is you can order off the color chart as well as pick all your styles to make a linen wardrobe that is just perfect for you! We will ALSO have plenty of merchandise on hand to purchase and take with you. We will have food and drink so you don't get exhausted! Bryn Walker is one of my favorites. The ease in wearing this line is perfect. Sunny is the lady we deal with in California, she is such a treasure. Half the time I call her up hysterical because we forgot something or sold out to fast and she always works her magic to make sure our customers have what they need. For this trunk show Sunny is sending stock we usually do not get. Some will be beautiful sweaters, some fall, and best of all some will be on SALE!!!!!! So we look forward to seeing all of you on April 1,2,3 and helping you get your linen on !!!
The next weekend , April 7,8 we will be having my other FAVORITE line LUNA LUZ!!!!! This is our number 1 selling line in the shop! Ed and Sandy Truman will be here with the complete line! Luna is the perfect line for Texas. It is cotton-washable-colorful-comfortable-packs well-and makes you look terrific! We always have Luna Luz in the windows and it is so pretty. This year we have some really pretty dresses for spring and summer as well as the drop dead georgous skirts that we always have.
Sandy will have the catalog with her so you can special order any pieces that we don't have to complete your summer wardrobe. This is also the line that provides us with our really cool belts.
I have been in retail a really long time. To be able to have my reps in the shop to meet you all is such a treat! These folks work really hard at making sure all our customers have just what they need. To be able to provide our customers with a custom trunk show is really cool!
I hope you can all come out these weekends to meet Lisa, Ed, and Sandy!
I better get going - I am supposed to be in the store in 27 minutes! Have a terrific day! - Kathy
BUT in my defense I am doing stuff! My mornings consist of coffee, feeding the cat,birds,dogs,horses. Checking my bank statement,email and facebook. Checking in with my daughters, and solving whatever crisis is currently looming.
At my age I have made a conscious decision to deal with ONLY who I want to deal with. I have been through to much to deal with people that are not nice or bring NOTHING to the table. I carry this into my world at the Shop. We only deal with Vendors that treat my Garden Girls like the QUEENS they are and that will go the extra mile for my customers.
In April we will be having 2 trunk shows with two of our FAVORITE vendors. The first will be BRYN WALKER. This will be the first weekend in April. April 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Lisa our terrific rep will be here that weekend with ALL THE SAMPLES that you could ever imagine! The really cool thing about this trunk show is you can order off the color chart as well as pick all your styles to make a linen wardrobe that is just perfect for you! We will ALSO have plenty of merchandise on hand to purchase and take with you. We will have food and drink so you don't get exhausted! Bryn Walker is one of my favorites. The ease in wearing this line is perfect. Sunny is the lady we deal with in California, she is such a treasure. Half the time I call her up hysterical because we forgot something or sold out to fast and she always works her magic to make sure our customers have what they need. For this trunk show Sunny is sending stock we usually do not get. Some will be beautiful sweaters, some fall, and best of all some will be on SALE!!!!!! So we look forward to seeing all of you on April 1,2,3 and helping you get your linen on !!!
The next weekend , April 7,8 we will be having my other FAVORITE line LUNA LUZ!!!!! This is our number 1 selling line in the shop! Ed and Sandy Truman will be here with the complete line! Luna is the perfect line for Texas. It is cotton-washable-colorful-comfortable-packs well-and makes you look terrific! We always have Luna Luz in the windows and it is so pretty. This year we have some really pretty dresses for spring and summer as well as the drop dead georgous skirts that we always have.
Sandy will have the catalog with her so you can special order any pieces that we don't have to complete your summer wardrobe. This is also the line that provides us with our really cool belts.
I have been in retail a really long time. To be able to have my reps in the shop to meet you all is such a treat! These folks work really hard at making sure all our customers have just what they need. To be able to provide our customers with a custom trunk show is really cool!
I hope you can all come out these weekends to meet Lisa, Ed, and Sandy!
I better get going - I am supposed to be in the store in 27 minutes! Have a terrific day! - Kathy
24 years on the same corner
Today I decided to start writing THE SECRET GARDEN blog on a regular basis.
Amy , my youngest daughter writes for www.breastcancersisterhood.com every week, and Katie the phd candidate regularly reads www.pioneerwoman.com. They are always getting after me to write because our lives our nuts! In a good way of course. OH YES! You must follow old friend Debi Williams and her blog www.lavendarchick.com! It is hilarious.
I have been writing a bit but the time has come for me to share some of the ridiculous things that go on in a 53 year olds life (yes ray - i am really 53, not 50) Sorry I digressed. So a bit about myself....I am a 53 year old divorcee from downtown Detroit. I was born and raised in the midwest and am still a card carrying Yankee!
We moved to Texas when I was 17 and my goal in life was to own a dress shop on Main St in Fredericksburg. It took me 30 years to do it but I got there!
I have 2 1/2 beautiful daughters. Emily, the 1/2 was our Nanny while my girls were growing up in San Antonio. She is 30 now!!! Yikes She has 2 beautiful boys who refer to the ranch we live on as "camp Kathy". They will be up the end of the week for Spring Break! Katie is 24, and a PHD candidate at MD Anderson getting her PHD in Molecular Carcinogenisis (did i spell that right?) and the baby Amy, is at Emerson College in Boston getting her BFA in writing literature and publishing. Let me state UP FRONT I am the luckiest Mom in the world to have such wonderful girls! We truely have a blast. They often show up in the shop when they are in town so say "hey" if you see them.
We live on a ranch called The Sacred Heart . It is a horse ranch, and I run it. That is why I am not always in the shop - I am here. But I love it! We have 4 dogs and a cat named Elvis - all of who I will write about.
I bought The Secret Garden from my college friend Meg Burdick. I decided to retire from being a pharmaceutical rep and Meg wanted to sell real estate so we had a change of career weekend. The Secret Garden has been on the same corner in Fred for 24 years now. It truely is a magical corner!
The store has always been owned by working "Moms" and I hope it always will be. We try hard at the store to have really different merchandise, clothing that will make you feel really good about yourself. We want the shop to be a place where you can feel comfortable and just come hang out and look.
I do feel it is important for us to give back to Fredericksburg and our customers. If there is ever an event that you feel we need to donate an auction item or something please feel free to come by and ask.
Ok folks - that is about it for now - time to head into town and get to work!
I look forward to seeing you and please do not hesitate to introduce yourself.
Very truely yours,
Kathy
Amy , my youngest daughter writes for www.breastcancersisterhood.com every week, and Katie the phd candidate regularly reads www.pioneerwoman.com. They are always getting after me to write because our lives our nuts! In a good way of course. OH YES! You must follow old friend Debi Williams and her blog www.lavendarchick.com! It is hilarious.
I have been writing a bit but the time has come for me to share some of the ridiculous things that go on in a 53 year olds life (yes ray - i am really 53, not 50) Sorry I digressed. So a bit about myself....I am a 53 year old divorcee from downtown Detroit. I was born and raised in the midwest and am still a card carrying Yankee!
We moved to Texas when I was 17 and my goal in life was to own a dress shop on Main St in Fredericksburg. It took me 30 years to do it but I got there!I have 2 1/2 beautiful daughters. Emily, the 1/2 was our Nanny while my girls were growing up in San Antonio. She is 30 now!!! Yikes She has 2 beautiful boys who refer to the ranch we live on as "camp Kathy". They will be up the end of the week for Spring Break! Katie is 24, and a PHD candidate at MD Anderson getting her PHD in Molecular Carcinogenisis (did i spell that right?) and the baby Amy, is at Emerson College in Boston getting her BFA in writing literature and publishing. Let me state UP FRONT I am the luckiest Mom in the world to have such wonderful girls! We truely have a blast. They often show up in the shop when they are in town so say "hey" if you see them.
We live on a ranch called The Sacred Heart . It is a horse ranch, and I run it. That is why I am not always in the shop - I am here. But I love it! We have 4 dogs and a cat named Elvis - all of who I will write about.
I bought The Secret Garden from my college friend Meg Burdick. I decided to retire from being a pharmaceutical rep and Meg wanted to sell real estate so we had a change of career weekend. The Secret Garden has been on the same corner in Fred for 24 years now. It truely is a magical corner!
The store has always been owned by working "Moms" and I hope it always will be. We try hard at the store to have really different merchandise, clothing that will make you feel really good about yourself. We want the shop to be a place where you can feel comfortable and just come hang out and look.
I do feel it is important for us to give back to Fredericksburg and our customers. If there is ever an event that you feel we need to donate an auction item or something please feel free to come by and ask.
Ok folks - that is about it for now - time to head into town and get to work!
I look forward to seeing you and please do not hesitate to introduce yourself.
Very truely yours,
Kathy
This ain't your Mama's Bra honey!
OK folks - we are 2 weeks out from our FIRST bra fittings for those of us "sisters" that have been rebuilt !!! I say that with love in my heart and a HUGE smile on my face! As Katie, my 24 yr old says -" Mama your boobs are way better than mine" ! My response - they better be !!!!
The ladies from Lingerie Line will be in the first Friday of every month. This is an on going thing that we will be doing every month. Call the ladies at 1 888 747 5760 for an appointment. The reason why you need to call is that the girls can get your size, insurance info, have a conversation with you so they know what to bring. All the girls are professional fitters and just as nice as can be.
One of the cool things about them coming here is everyone of the girls that works here is either a survivor or has a family member that is. So we as a group "get it". The Garden Girls as we call ourselves want our customers to feel comfortable coming here to be fitted. Believe me I KNOW how awkward this is at times. BUT My goal as a shop owner is and ALWAYS will be to have my customers walk out of the door feeling REALLY good about themselves!
So ladies - call 1-888-747-5760 and get an appointment and we will see you on Friday March 4th!
As always - refreshments will be served!
Love, Kathy
The ladies from Lingerie Line will be in the first Friday of every month. This is an on going thing that we will be doing every month. Call the ladies at 1 888 747 5760 for an appointment. The reason why you need to call is that the girls can get your size, insurance info, have a conversation with you so they know what to bring. All the girls are professional fitters and just as nice as can be.
One of the cool things about them coming here is everyone of the girls that works here is either a survivor or has a family member that is. So we as a group "get it". The Garden Girls as we call ourselves want our customers to feel comfortable coming here to be fitted. Believe me I KNOW how awkward this is at times. BUT My goal as a shop owner is and ALWAYS will be to have my customers walk out of the door feeling REALLY good about themselves!
So ladies - call 1-888-747-5760 and get an appointment and we will see you on Friday March 4th!
As always - refreshments will be served!
Love, Kathy
Bras at the Garden
The Secret Garden is very proud to present a new service to our fellow Breast Cancer customers.
As some of you know I am a 6 yr survivor of stage 2 Breast Cancer. At the time of my diagnosis I worked for Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals selling Breast, Lung and Prostate cancer Drugs. I did this for 23 years. I was one of the lucky ones. I had terrific insurance and knew everyone in South and Central Texas that had ANYTHING to do with Cancer.
One of my business associates were the girls at Lingerie Line in San Antonio. These ladies are experts in fitting women for bras and prosthesis after their surgery. What many women do not understand or even know is their insurances will cover Bras for them.The ladies at Lingerie Line know how to bill your insurances and take care of all paper work. Even if you do not have insurance they can help you.
On the first Friday of every month starting in March, these ladies will be in the shop from 10 - 1 for bra fittings. All you need to do is call for an appointment. 830-997-5507. I know this can be awkward for some women. Remember I spent 23 years working South Texas and the Mexican border with Breast Cancer patients. I have seen allot. I know first hand how hard it is to have breast cancer and all the emotional baggage that goes with it. It is not fun. We at the Secret Garden are here to hold your hand and help you get through this journey. The girls at Lingerie Line are here to make you look faboulous!
Please give us a call and we can get you to the Lingerie Line ladies and get you an appointment. For the record....The Secret Garden is only providing a place for this to be done. We will have coffee and snacks for all of us to enjoy.
One of the fun things for me is this is "pay back". I know all of the Oncologists and Surgeons that you folks go to. I was their rep for 23 years. They were my support group for me while I went through my cancer treatment. They encouraged my daughters and calmed my Mothers fears. It truely is an honnor for me to be able to provide this service for the ladies of the Hill Country!
Take care and I hope to see you soon.
Love Kathy
As some of you know I am a 6 yr survivor of stage 2 Breast Cancer. At the time of my diagnosis I worked for Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals selling Breast, Lung and Prostate cancer Drugs. I did this for 23 years. I was one of the lucky ones. I had terrific insurance and knew everyone in South and Central Texas that had ANYTHING to do with Cancer.
One of my business associates were the girls at Lingerie Line in San Antonio. These ladies are experts in fitting women for bras and prosthesis after their surgery. What many women do not understand or even know is their insurances will cover Bras for them.The ladies at Lingerie Line know how to bill your insurances and take care of all paper work. Even if you do not have insurance they can help you.
On the first Friday of every month starting in March, these ladies will be in the shop from 10 - 1 for bra fittings. All you need to do is call for an appointment. 830-997-5507. I know this can be awkward for some women. Remember I spent 23 years working South Texas and the Mexican border with Breast Cancer patients. I have seen allot. I know first hand how hard it is to have breast cancer and all the emotional baggage that goes with it. It is not fun. We at the Secret Garden are here to hold your hand and help you get through this journey. The girls at Lingerie Line are here to make you look faboulous!
Please give us a call and we can get you to the Lingerie Line ladies and get you an appointment. For the record....The Secret Garden is only providing a place for this to be done. We will have coffee and snacks for all of us to enjoy.
One of the fun things for me is this is "pay back". I know all of the Oncologists and Surgeons that you folks go to. I was their rep for 23 years. They were my support group for me while I went through my cancer treatment. They encouraged my daughters and calmed my Mothers fears. It truely is an honnor for me to be able to provide this service for the ladies of the Hill Country!
Take care and I hope to see you soon.
Love Kathy
Filming in Fredericksburg
One of the great things about living in a small town is everybody knows everything about everybody. In the last few days Robert Duvall has been filming a movie here. We had the ladies in the shop that do the catering for the film in yesterday. They picked up our copy of Cowboys and Indians to take over to get it autographed for us. I hope they remember to bring it back - anyway there is allot of excitement in town with all the film crew here.
The house where they are filming is near a house I own in the Historic District. Amy called me this morning to tell me she was running by to watch the filming, so I thought I would swing by also. It was so cool - I did not see any movie stars - at least I don't think so, but what was cool is all the neighbors out sitting in their lawn chairs taking it all in. Lots of folks visiting back and forth watching all the trucks and lighting "stuff" go by. I of course am driving thru the middle of evrything with my mouth hanging open going WOW! I swear I am such a dork sometimes. BUT it was really cool.
The house that they are filming is just beautiful - the old 2 story lime stone kind that is absolutly beautiful. I think it is a bit odd to know that a neighborhood 3 blocks from Main St. is going to be in a movie, but around here it really does happen all the time. I have a good friend that I run around with who lives in Kerrville, (we went to hs together) Sunday he was over and commented how really pretty Fredericksburg was and he never realized how many beautiful old houses there were and how cool downtown is. I didn't think much of it at the time but he is right. Those of us that live here sometimes forget how cool our little community is. I though about what Jon said this morning driving thru the neighborhood on the way to the shop. I can say that there wasn't a person sitting out this morning watching all the action that would not have invited any one of the people working on that film into their home to have a cup of coffee or ice tea. You need to use the bathroom - sure come on in. That is what we do here. Everyone is family, everyone is welcome. I think that is really cool.
Have a terrific day....
kathy, and all the garden girls
The house where they are filming is near a house I own in the Historic District. Amy called me this morning to tell me she was running by to watch the filming, so I thought I would swing by also. It was so cool - I did not see any movie stars - at least I don't think so, but what was cool is all the neighbors out sitting in their lawn chairs taking it all in. Lots of folks visiting back and forth watching all the trucks and lighting "stuff" go by. I of course am driving thru the middle of evrything with my mouth hanging open going WOW! I swear I am such a dork sometimes. BUT it was really cool.
The house that they are filming is just beautiful - the old 2 story lime stone kind that is absolutly beautiful. I think it is a bit odd to know that a neighborhood 3 blocks from Main St. is going to be in a movie, but around here it really does happen all the time. I have a good friend that I run around with who lives in Kerrville, (we went to hs together) Sunday he was over and commented how really pretty Fredericksburg was and he never realized how many beautiful old houses there were and how cool downtown is. I didn't think much of it at the time but he is right. Those of us that live here sometimes forget how cool our little community is. I though about what Jon said this morning driving thru the neighborhood on the way to the shop. I can say that there wasn't a person sitting out this morning watching all the action that would not have invited any one of the people working on that film into their home to have a cup of coffee or ice tea. You need to use the bathroom - sure come on in. That is what we do here. Everyone is family, everyone is welcome. I think that is really cool.
Have a terrific day....
kathy, and all the garden girls
Where i used to live...well one of the places
When I was in the 9th grade my Dad got transfered to Charles City Iowa. It was 1971. I would be a freshman and my sister a senior.
Below is the house we lived in, but at the time it was white.. The building in the next picture is my school. Although you cannot tell I lived 3 doors down and across the street from my school. Did my Mom let me come home for lunch ! Heck no - she said I had to socialize. Well we all know I have no trouble talking.
Anyway, today this house and Iowa is still an important part of my life. We loved living here. Charles City was a tiny town and we all knew everyone. My sister met her husband there, they were high school sweethearts, we had our horses at a farm near by and in the summer everyone in town went to the pool.
Many of you that shop in the store know that I make regular treks to Iowa to go shopping for the store. Later I will add some more Iowa photos so you can see where our Folk Art, Amish Baskets and Antiques come from.
My daughters and I go "home " as often as we can. Their cousins are all the same age and all of "us girls" go running around. One of the things that I have learned over the years is that you have to know where you "come from" in order to get to where you are going. I notice with many friends and customers that we all are so proud of where we came from but often as we get older, kids grow etc etc we are not quite sure what to do now. As many of you know my girls Katie and Amy are either in Grad school or regular college. It was quite an adjustment for me as a single Mom to be rattling around on our ranch by myself.
Last night all the girls were home along with Katies boyfriend Mark, who Amy and I just love.By the time I got to the house, Mark was mowing the yard and the girls were starting to get dinner ready and goofing around. It was one of those Mommy Moments when you think" hey, this is pretty cool".
While we waited for dinner to cook we sat out in the back and shared the adventures of the day. It was really nice having quiet time with my girls.
Dinner was great - I had gone to HEB and bought whatever it was the chefs were making that day and tried it at home. I am not a good cook so we are all amazed when I am successful. To make a long story short everyone was in prime form laughing and joking. Then the girls decided to get out the jewelry box and show Mark all our treasures. Well one treasure led to another and before you knew it the girls were giving the entire history of the Cox family. I was just grinning from ear to ear. As a parent you wonder if all the places you drag your kids to ever matters. do they pay attention to Great Great Grandmas ring or where this vase came from or which cousin went with which Aunt and Uncle. And what IS Aunt Frances's last name? I may not be the best Mother in the Universe, but listening to my girls last night I think I did a pretty good job. I know they are on their way to learning who THEY are because they know where they come from. See you soon! Kathy j.a.m. (just a mom)
