Six Things that Drive Me Crazy!

Owning a store is awesome. I love the freedom and independence of being in business for myself. But sometimes the same customers who are my bread and butter, who I bend over backward trying to please, and whose business I work hard to earn can drive me flippin’ crazy. Thus I present:
My top six list of things that drive me crazy.
6) The “Wal-Martization” of America has made people think that they can return anything at anytime for whatever reason, without thinking about how it affects a small business. “Yeah I bought these 4 months ago and my kid doesn’t want to play anymore and I just want my money back” ….I’m sorry what????? Your kid doesn’t like football/baseball whatever and it’s somehow MY fault? Ummmm….no. I don’t even think so.
5) Customers who have no idea what size their child wears, or how much they weigh. Then blame us if we sell them the wrong size pant, pad or helmet. Even though we beg them to bring in their child for a proper fitting, they somehow think we should have a sixth sense or something. Weird.
4) Helpless customers who can’t (or won’t) maintain anything, then gripe at us when their equipment gets damaged. Yeah, your treadmill belt is shredded because you didn’t adjust it, and somehow that’s our fault. Right…A customer yesterday brought in a pair of shoulder pads that their child had tangled up the straps and laces. It was a mess. She brought it in for US to detangle. Seriously.
3) Parents who don’t watch their children when they’re in the store. Their little precious angels climb all over the equipment in their muddy nasty cleats, sometimes tearing belts or damaging ellipticals. When I say nicely, “sweety, get off the equipment please” Mom looks at me like I’m Satan or something. Watch your kids Mom…Please?
2) Grown men who tromp in the store with their muddy filthy shoes, displacing items, then just leaving golf clubs, packages, gloves etc. lying around. (Ususally in the wrong department) I have my own family to clean up after, can’t you at least put something back where you got it? Pretty please?
1) Cell Phones!! Customers come in the store yakking away about something of obviously earth shattering importance, and I don’t know whether to offer to help them or not. When I ask if they need help, I get the impatient “index finger wait a minute” signal, when I don’t I get the impatient “Can’t somebody help me?” comment. Grrrrrrrrr. Hang up the freaking phone people!

Yeah!!! I did it! A Digital layout!

I created a digital layout! And flattened the layers, and saved it as a jpeg, and uploaded it here. A HUGE accomplishment for me, trust me! All the elements used are from twopeas. I even learned how to create a curve using one of the tutorials online. I am so stinking proud of myself right now. I did get a little confused during the whole process, but hopefully some of it sunk in. I really like digital scrapping, though I can already tell I'm going to HAVE to get a removable hard drive to save all the stuff on.

More on the wedding....

Some random wedding thoughts, now that I can think!

I couldn't cry all weekend, even though the mother of the groom cried non stop at every single event. Picked up the chairs for the ceremony, she cried; unloaded the chairs at the ceremony location, she cried; met the florist, she cried; saw K at the front of the aisle, she cried; etc. etc...it was sweet and touching, but I just didn't have any tears. I was too flipping busy to cry. People were asking me questions for two solid days, and I had so much to do, I really didn't even have time to think about crying! That is until I walked down the aisle and plopped my butt into the seat next to my Daddy (who was already tearful) and the music started and I saw K's reaction when he saw A at the top of the stairs for the first time in her wedding gown. Wow. What a beautiful moment. THEN I cried. Finally. Sweet tears of joy that my daughter found somebody who so obviously LOVES her socks off. What more can a Mom ask for?

We had everybody over for coffee and donuts the next morning, and the newlyweds came over and opened their wedding gifts from the night before. It was a great morning, very relaxed and fun, everybody was tired but in great spirits.

After everybody left, and the adrenalin wore off, exhaustion hit me like a freaking sledgehammer. Several other Mom's had warned me of this, but you can't imagine it until you feel it. I couldn't move I was so tired.

The weeks leading up to the wedding it felt like this: if you've had children, remember the moment when you went into labor and you realized that things were in motion that you couldn't control, and then at that moment, you realized that this was IT and your life was going to be completely, totally different from that moment on? That's what having my daughter get married felt like. Happiness and joy and business and planning for months, then, WOW this is IT! No turning back...here it goes....and then....we had a new son. Life is definitely a journey...

A couple more pics...some from the rehearsal dinner (we did the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner so people would actually eat it) and more from the wedding:

The grooms cake: see the bride and groom on top?

A and her brother:

Our family:

Their Wedding

Here's a few photos from A & K's wedding. It was a beautiful day. Not too hot for an outdoor wedding, which we all worried about! They were both beautiful, and more than a few tears were shed during the ceremony. They were just so sweet! The pastor was so wonderful, and gave a very heartfelt and personal message. Here's a few pictures. It was a wonderful day...