A New Year to...Live Your Dream...Love Your Life

Today I read a quote & I didn't realize who it was by until I Googled it...

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you."  — Maya Angelou

WOW...What a powerful use of words...by
Maya Angelou a "Poetic Genius"

This quote is definitely something I can relate to. My business is a labor of "Love". I have never made money my goal. I totally enjoy what I do...BUT...I do wish that I did not always "Worry" about "Money".

So, at this moment I would like to reflect & be thankful for all that I have & not to worry about all that I don't have. I am sure that out there...somewhere...there is... someone...who would love to trade places with me. To them, it may look like everything is "Perfect"...BUT, each of us has "Crosses to Bear" that are often not visible to others. So, rest assured, that if everyday you strive to do your "Best" your "Life" will be as it should be...& I might add that sometimes a "Good Cry" really does help...& afterwards I.....

Put My Big Girl Panties On and Deal With It...  :)
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/

Snapshots of Christmas 2010....

Another Christmas has come & gone...A snapshot of the season at "My Home"...

Gifts under the tree...

My nephew "Louis" loved his present...especially "The Wrapping"

Santa has arrived...OH MY !!!

 City Sidewalks...

Busy Sidewalks...

It's Christmas Time in the City...Department 56

"Christmas in the City"

Here we go a-Caroling...

Byers' Choice Carolers...

Snowmen Shopping...

Homespun Country...

Gingerbread Cookies...

Homemade & Decorated Too !!!

Gingerbread Houses...mmm...

Non-Pareils "My Favorite Candy"

My nephew Stephen...

Liam...busy

Emily & Kayla...

Mark...

Ashley...

And

Last...But...Not Least...

"Jesus"

The Reason for the Season...

Merry Christmas,
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/

Faith & Finances...IN GOD WE TRUST

I would be lying...if I said...that as the owner of a small business...
the economy hasn't had an effect on my business.


It has been & continues to be very difficult to run a small business during this "Great Recession".


With that said...


I am going to share with you a story.


One...that many may not believe.


On the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving, I wrote a blog entry about Small Business Saturday...but I also wrote about the true meaning of Christmas. I hadn't posted the blog, but planned to post it on the Friday after Thanksgiving (the day before Small Business Saturday). The next morning (Wednesday, before Thanksgiving), my first customer of the day told me that she just recently moved back to Staten Island. She told me that for many years, in the late 1980's, she had passed by my store, but never came in. She then purchased a gift for her granddaughter & as she was walking out the door she turned to me & said...

 "Jesus told me to come in this store & purchase a gift".

Okay, it is now 5:00 on the same day (Wednesday) & I am getting ready to close for the evening. A woman comes in to purchase a gift for someone for Thanksgiving. As I was ringing up her purchases, she told me that she hadn't been in my store in a long time & that her mother had recently passed away.  She told me that she was passing by the store and...

Jesus told her to come into the store...that she would feel better.

I was stunned!!! Both my first & my last customer on that Wednesday (the day after I wrote the blog post, but hadn't posted it yet) told me that Jesus had told them to come into my store.

The story does not end there...

It's Friday night after Thanksgiving...I am at my sister Lorraine's house eating leftovers & remember that I have to post the blog about Small Business Saturday & the true meaning of Christmas. The time I post the blog is 10:00 pm. Twelve hours later at 11:00 am the next day (Saturday morning), NY1 (Time Warner Cable's NYC's local cable network) walks in the store to film "Our Store"" for Small Business Saturday. I ask the reporter..."How did you find our store?" Her answer...She found us  through our blog!!!  

All I can say..........

With God there are no coincidences !!!

Believing...
Kathleen Sforza

Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
718-447-8237


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

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

Christmas Decorating...Store Displays at Town & Country Gifts 2010

Okay, the countdown is on...23 days until Christmas.

Here's a peek at our store displays...

Snowman & Bottle Brush Trees...

Angels...Picture Frames...Snowman...Mirrored Dresser Tray...

Vintage Crystal Glasses, Silver Ornaments, Feather Tree...

Angel Cage Dolls...Vintage Cherub Vases...

RAZ Snow Woman & Naughty & Nice Sign...mmm

Vintage Santa Glasses & Black Ice Bucket

 RAZ "i believe in Santa sign"...

Annalee Ribbon Candy Mouse & Elf

 Vintage Fenton Hobnail Milk Glass...

New Year's Display...

EAT...DRINK...and be...MERRY SIGN

LIFE'S SHORT EAT COOKIES SIGN

Vintage Hats, Handbags, Shoes & Glasses...

Vintage Mirrored Dresser Tray

Fenton Perfume Bottles & Lidded Jar 

Antique Silver Comb, Brush & Mirror Set...

Byers' Choice Carolers with Candy

Nutcracker Ornaments...

Vintage Cookbooks & Pyrex Dish

Annalee Ribbon Candy Mouse & Sweetie Pie

Byers' Choice Caroler "St. Lucia"...

Vintage Mink Hat, Pearl Collar, Tole Tray...

Retro Christmas Room...

I remember this...My _____had one just like it !!!

I'll have a Blue Christmas...

RAZ Snowman & Ice Cream Cone Ornaments

Vintage Cornflower Blue China & Blue Satin Christmas Ornaments...

Vintage Mantel & Antique Amber Depression Glass

RAZ Angels & Cosmo Collection Picture Frames...

Next post...Our Christmas Windows...

Still Decorating,

Kathleen Sforza

Websites:

www.kathleenrosescollection.com (an eBay Store)

www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com (an eBay Store)

Blogs:

www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com

www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com 

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/