AMEX...Small Business Saturday, November 27th 2010...

American Express has launched a new initiative this holiday season. They have declared that Saturday, November 27th 2010 will be "Small Business Saturday".

Of course, as the owner of a small business, I am embracing this...It has been a tough go for many of us during this "Great Recession". I am always an optimist & I want to think that all is well, but it has been and it still is a scary situation for many of us. In order to succeed...I must run a lean, mean, operating machine. And when all is said & done, it will be a matter of "Survival of the Fittest". 

The small business owner in me knows that this time of the year is crucial to my survival as a retailer...but the spiritual human being in me knows the true meaning of Christmas. It is a wonderful, magical time of year "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

I must put my faith in God that all will be fine & that things are as they should be. So, as the season of Advent begins...I will try to remember that JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON.
 
Keeping Christ in Christmas...
Kathleen Sforza

Websites:
http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)

Blogs:
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/
http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/

Decorating for Christmas...

Okay...We know that Halloween  has just passed & Thanksgiving is a few weeks away, but because we are a staff of two, me & my sister Lorraine, we have to start decorating our store for the holidays. It takes a great deal of time to mark in the merchandise, make room for trees & move displays. We wish that we could wiggle our noses & blink our eyes (alla I Dream of Jeannie) & everything would be perfect, but that's just not the case.

A great deal of planning goes into Christmas. It starts in January. We no sooner take down the trees & we're off to the NY Gift Fair to buy Christmas for the next year.

We loved it all...Dear Santa..."We want it all !"

Most shipments start arriving in June...with the bulk being delivered in September. Then the fun begins! Cleaning & setting up the displays...Trees need lights...we all know how much fun it is to put lights on trees...try putting lights on 5 or more trees. Fun is not the word ;).

But, in the end something magical occurs...

Visit us this Christmas season...& here is a preview of some of the exciting things in store for this year...

Baking is a must...

Gingerbread for sure...

and we all know...

LIFE IS SHORT...Eat Dessert First! 

because...

"STRESSED" is "DESSERTS" spelled backwards & that is "Why" we must eat Dessert First...to relieve "STRESS".

Lots of Fun Stress goes into decorating for the holidays...Stay tuned for more photos of Christmas at Town & Country Gifts...

Eating Dessert First,

Kathleen Sforza

Town & Country Gifts

1213 Castleton Avenue

Staten Island,  NY 10310

718-447-8237

Websites:

http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)

http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)

Blogs:

http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/

http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/