I’m Blah….How Are You?

Ever feel that the day is just…well, blah? It is Monday, but evidently, Twitter folks feel Thursday is the worst. It is Monday, but why is that reason to feel like you are moving in slow motion?

Some days you just want to hide behind a good book! Does it have anything to do with the day of the week? Or, is it just the blah that must hit us all in order for us to be up again tomorrow. It’s a recharge zone I guess. My computer does it – rather often. Why can’t I? Why do we tend to fight these blah moments and not let them move on through like the results of a bad sushi dinner? Because, I think we have been trained not to allow ourselves a blah moment or day. Hey, it could turn into a blah month…then year. Really? How many of us have a blah day and never get over it? That’s what Zanex is for!

Bear Reads Zoo Faces

I prefer to think that this is a recharge moment. I prefer to think playing a little hooky is good for us. I prefer to think God gets tired watching us and wants us to “just calm down.” Sometimes my mind is fed up with me. Can’t leave, so it shuts down and makes me blah. I am forced by measures who know better than I that a mental moment off is not a bad thing. God knew what he was doing when he made us, and he gave our bodies a blah button to push in an emergency.

I’ll surround myself with friends. I’ll watch the ants and wonder if they ever have a blah moment. I’ll hug my cats and tell them I love them, which I know they’ll be delighted to see me coming for that! I’ll take a walk with my husband and listen to the sound of nothing. He has mastered the art of total balance. I am the kite; he is the kid holding the string. I’ll tell my daughter to just relax, all her questions will be answered soon enough. So, today I’m feeling blah. Not a bad thing…a recharge thing. Hugs to you in blog land.

Group Hug

Enviro-Pleasing-Plush Pluck Down at Silver Barn

Apple Park has ARRIVED!

When I went to market this season, I came back to Silver Barn with a great deal of excitement. Oh, I always get excited going to market, but this time Dallas Market was filled with fabulous finds. Things that offer value, uniqueness, and continue to make Silver Barn a special shopping experience.
We started with the wild commemorative wine glasses (anyone from 21 up), then we introduced this week our new MOGO bracelets (anyone 6 and up), and now….we are proud to introduce Apple Park Picnic Pets (anyone – period).
What is Apple Park? It is probably the cutest collection of baby plush I’ve ever found. From the wrist rattle to the finger puppets, hand puppets and plush, these darling bunnies, monkeys, bears and more are a collectible. They even come with a fabulous decorative hat box so they can be carefully saved for the next generation. Plus, Apple Park is eco-friendly and is certified to meet Global Organic Textile Standards.
I don’t have little ones, heck, I don’t have grandkids (yet) but I love these precious little animals. They make me giggle. They jump in my arms and run around the store with me, urging me to pet them as we walk around. They want to go home with you. So, call the store and ask for Bunny, Lamby, Monkey and any of their friends….

Hot Summer Party Idea

Melamine by Le Cadeaux

Hot town. Summer in the city. Back of my neck gettin’ hot and gritty…..but, the weekends make it all worth living!! Living through the week to get to the weekend? Looking for something good to serve? Looking for something to serve it on? We have everything you need. And, the best part — this dinnerware is melamine. Yes, melamine. It won’t break, crack or leak through to your fabulous white pants. And, it looks like fabulously expensive Italian dinnerware. Then, you take the “Tacos & Salsa” cookbook we just got in and create something fabulous. Then, text your friends and tell them to come on over — to enjoy summer in the city at your place!

Etch This!

The Silver Barn is becoming a gathering place of fine folks. Some shop with us. Some bring us great ideas and together we can expand opportunities. So, we are proud to now be able to offer our customers the opportunity to have just about anything etched – from a logo to special date. All of this is provided by a local couple who had the entrepreneurial spirit and came to us to solicit some ideas. This is one of the things I enjoy about owning the store — giving others a hand so they too can enjoy their work as much as I! So, now if you want to commemorate a special occasion, create a one of a kind gift, or anything you can think of to etch, we have the folks for you.

Texas, My Texas

A Salute to the Lone Star State

I am originally from Texas, by way of Las Vegas, Nevada. I was raised here, my grandfather’s father came here with the railroad before the turn of the century. Other than stints living back in Las Vegas and a fabulous 12 years in Chicago, I’ve always been a Texas girl. With all my travels, I’ve never seen a state so darn proud of itself. Everyone talks about Chicago, New York, LA, Vegas…but, Texas is, well, TEXAS. Yeah, you hear Dallas or Houston mentioned, but pretty much Texas is as they say in the song, a state of mind.

So, as I was moving the store around today I decided to say thank you to the people, the sites, the way of just being Texan that is hard to explain to anyone not lucky enough to be from this incredible place. It didn’t take long before I had a huge homage to everything Texas. From Jon Bonnell’s fabulous Texas cookbook to cowboy etiquette (yes, it does exist and I know some folks in places I won’t name that could learn from this book), to a plaque that proclaims a personal love of Texas and that Lone Star is everywhere around here. For all my years in Chicago I barely knew the state flag; Chicago flag – yes. Here, it is Texas state flags everywhere.

The stars at night are big and bright…deep in the Heart of Texas. Howdy from Texas. Y’all come on down and visit soon!

Personalize This!

$8.95

So, today while I was moving stuff around at the store I moved these clever coffee cups…and then, I moved some pewter monogram labels we carry next to them. While I was deciding what to put where, I started looking at the cups…then at the labels. “Hmm, wonder if the label would look good on the cups?” So, the cup met the label….

$9.50

TA DA!!

Now THIS is a personalized coffee cup!

Hey, That’s My Glass!

$18.95

Friends are what make life worth living. Finding fun gifts that are unique, reasonably priced, and match their personality make shopping worth doing! So, when I was at market and saw these fabulous new wine glasses I couldn’t wait to get them here. Why? I have a friend, Jackie, many who follow us on this blog have heard me mention her before, and she is a connoisseur of wine. Not only does she know wine, she knows where to go anywhere in the world to find it. She deserves a special glass to savor her latest full-bodied find. I also have a daughter who likes to invite her girlfriends over for a night of dinner and fine wine sitting by the pool at her apartment. I now have a glass for her as well. For my hairstylist, Trish, and her Bunco party friends….I got glasses, including pilsner beer, for every personality. This is what I love about market, finding something new and fun that I think our customers will enjoy. So, Jackie, Cydney & Trish — I raise my glass and salute you!

What IS In A Sale?

Jiggy Piggy

The Silver Barn has never had a sale. We opened our doors March 6, 2008 and expanded upstairs last July 3, 2009. In all that time, I’ve never felt the need to have a sale. That may sound over-confident that our sales are SO good we don’t need a sale. Actually, I think it is more of a desire to find new ways to display something and just as soon as I think of a new way to show an old product, it is gone. Every retailer thinks the product assortment they’ve brought in is the best, why would they bring it in otherwise? Every retailer hates to say, “well, put it on sale. I bought too many, bought the hot item too late, or no one liked it as much as I.”
So, why is The Silver Barn having its first sale? I’m longing for that holiday buzz that shoppers get when the days are counting down to the last minute before the Christmas season is over. I’m in the mood to create a summer buzz, give back to our customers who have graciously supported my other baby (the first being my precious daughter, Cydney), and have some fun. In my estimation a sale should not be drudgery to get rid of the junk, it should be a great excuse for a party, a good way to say thanks for helping us become the hottest shopping destination in the region. NOW I’m being over-confident!
If you are around Columbus this weekend, come by, have a Senorita, taste one of our tasty treats and save 20% on everything, yes everything in the store. I said if I was having a sale, it was going to be fun!!

Milestones…Keeping Track of Success

It was just one year ago today that The Silver Barn expanded to include the upstairs area of our century old building. In that last year I have made lots of new friends, thanks to Twitter and Facebook, and all the great new folks who’ve stopped in to see our little store in the country. In the last 12 months, The Velvet Frog as gained quite a following, we’ve expanded to include a comprehensive bridal assortment and begun adding a variety of antique pieces perfect for your city condo our country compound. We’ve added pets (thanks for your help Vegas & Wrigley), expanded baby to include apparel, more books and plush suitcases we’ve shipped all over the country. We all got another year older, but another year wiser in the way of retail (sort of), and now we are ready to get going with a new array of items to celebrate over the next 365 days.
Thank you for following us, thank you for buying from us….but most importantly, thank you for encouraging us to keep moving along in building the best little store in the best little town of Columbus. You now have 365 days to make plans to come see us in person. We’ll leave a light on for ‘ya and a cold one in the fridge. See you soon!!