Local Small Businesses

We are all familiar with the term "Mom & Pop businesses." I am going to be highlighting some of our local businesses. I am planning to spend the next year doing my research and highlighting all our local businesses. Having weaned our family from the big box stores has been a challenge, but so much more rewarding!

Each year, we have done less and less with corporate owned shops and more with our local businesses. It's fascinating to me how many of our local owned businesses are just as competitive with the big box stores...when you figure in the cost of a trip to each. Besides the price comparison, knowing that we are supporting our actual local communities and not some gigantic corporation, is worth its weight in gold!

I know there are communities all over the U.S. that have some amazing small or local owned businesses. It is my hope that more and more people will realize the benefit and rewards of shopping locally, support our neighbors and friends, and keeping our "Mom & Pop" businesses growing and striving. I feel that I live in such a unique area, although I know there are thousands of areas with similar dynamics, living on the boarders of 3 states and multiple counties has given me such a great perspective!

I am very excited to highlight as many of our local businesses as possible. I will be contacting every single business that I can think of that is local owned, and maybe some of my local readers can help with some that I may not think of. I hope you will all enjoy learning about some of our local businesses, and hopefully, it will help my local readers with their shopping experiences.

Be sure to be checking back with this blog, and my Facebook profile as I begin highlighting our small/local businesses.

~Salli~

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are upon my favorite time of the year! Over the next 5 weeks, there is so much to be thankful for! Family gatherings for Thanksgiving, and Christmas will consume most of our family time, and I couldn't be happier! We all know we should be grateful for family and friends throughout the year, but this time of the year seems to always solidify that. We gather for Thanksgiving, a time of family, and lot of food. In our family, we eat, and sit around visiting for hours. There is always so much happiness and time aware from the stresses of jobs and everyday life. Even though we won't be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, it's really been a blessing. With all our projects, I was not prepared to have a house full of company, and having our meal at my husband's grandmothers home, makes it seem just as special.

I remember being so excited over the holidays, but the excitement was for different reasons. As a child, you see time off school, gifts and time to play with cousins for the holiday excitement. As an adult with a family of my own, I am finding that my excitement has shifted. Now, I look at the holiday season as time with family. When jobs are mostly closed, our family has uninterrupted time to be together, we get together with extended family and friends, enjoy way too much food, and my children get to spend time with our family without the interruptions of everyday life. I am so blessed everyday, and of those blessings my children top every list! As with so many, I love PInterest. I found a beautiful saying, and I will be making a wall plaque with it's sentiment. It is perfect everyday, but especially this time of year!

As you spend time with your family for Thanksgiving, I wish you each the happiest of Thanksgivings. Don't count calories, or worry about weight. Count your blessings, enjoy your family and wait to shop until Friday. The majority of us really don't need any more material items, and there is nothing more valuable than family and friends!

Loving and warmest wishes to each of you and your families!
Salli