We're Pickers...We're Junkers...We're Treasure Hunters !!!

We're Pickers...

We're Junkers...

We're Treasure Hunters...

Roaming the Town...& the Country too !!!

Rummaging in attics

& basements too !!!

Mixing the "OLD"

with the "NEW"

After all...It's what we do

trying to make a buck or two.  ;)

xoxo

Kathleen Sforza

Lorraine Sforza Razzano

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

Websites:
Kathleen Rose's Collection
Lorraine's Favorite Finds

Blogs:
Lorraine's Favorite Finds
Accessories by Ashley Rae

One Moment...8:46 am...9/11/2001

Watching the memorial today made me realize that in
"One Moment" life can change.

8:46 on 9/11/2011 was one of those moments.

I think I cried for over 4 1/2 hours & it is through tears that I wrote this blog.

I so remember that day. As I'm sure most everyone does.

A "Picture Perfect" morning

that by afternoon was cloaked in a "Veil of Sadness".

The sadness surrounding us was so surreal.

It was...

A day spent in suspense...

A week that quickly turned into months & then years spent weeping...

I remember...

As the days, weeks, & months went on....not a day went by when I did not hear a story of  "Tragedy" or "Miracle" that occurred that day.

People who worked there & then for some reason were delayed & were spared tragedy. To those who were not supposed to be there that day, but for some reason were & lost their lives.

On that tragic day...I learned that...

I have to remember that life should be lived in moments. I shouldn't spend all my moments worrying about the past & the future. Mistakes I made in the past cannot be changed. I can only learn from them. Worrying about the future does no good. So today, I am thankful for the life I have & I will be sure to give a hug & a kiss & tell someone that I love them.

For I am sure that all those who lost someone that day would give anything to have one more moment to hug & kiss & say those three special words "I LOVE YOU"...

Trying to Live in the "MOMENT",
Kathleen Sforza

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

Websites:
Kathleen Rose's Collection (an eBay Store)
Lorraine's Favorite Finds (an eBay Store)
Lorraine's Favorite Finds (an Etsy Shoppe)

Blogs:
Lorraine's Favorite Finds
Accessories by Ashley Rae

Labor Day...My Store...My Labor of Love

Well...It is "Labor Day Weekend" & I am spending it at my store...


I'd love to say that everything is "Honky Dory", but truth be told...


Things are tough !!!


The economy "SUCKS"


Yeah, there I said it...


I "HATE" putting all that negativity into the atmosphere.


I've always been a firm believer in putting "The Secret" out there.


And now that it's out out there, I have some decisions to make...


FIRST let me tell you that...


Operating a brick and mortar store today is becoming an impossible task.


Expenses are high...Landlords think that there properties are "GOLD"...not to mention all the other EXPENSES.


When I look around, I see so many empty storefronts & it makes me "SAD".   :(


It makes neighborhoods look so depressed.


What are the solutions ???


I wish I knew...


I'm way "TIRED" of trying to think outside the box

AND

is closing in on me !!!

But, I am having a...

One that my sister, Lorraine, & I have been contemplating for awhile now...

Just the other day Lorraine received her "Top-rated seller" Certificate in the mail (I'll photograph hers tomorrow).

And

After much searching...(I received mine some time last year), I found mine buried under an avalanche of paperwork.

Lorraine's is hanging on the refrigerator...

so that her family will see that she actually "DOES WORK" & I am going to hang mine front & center at the store.

In additon to being "Top-rated sellers", Lorraine & I are also...

So, here comes the...

"IDEA"

(drum roll please...)

  On September 20th, 2011 (our store's 24th Anniversary), we will become an...

We will help YOU sell your "TREASURES".

Our expertise will help YOU get the best price for your items. 

 And here's our other 

"IDEA"

If you have lots & lots of  "TREASURES" to sell.  Lorraine & I will host a SALE for you in "Your Home".  As soon as we brainstorm together, we'll fill you in on
 "ALL THE DETAILS".

Feeling much better know that I have thought "Outside the Box" & now I am going to enjoy the rest of this BEAUTIFUL "Labor Day Weekend" with my 

 "Friends & Family"

Always Looking Forward & Never Looking Back,
Kathleen Sforza
Lorraine Sforza Razzano

and if all else fails...

we will have to turn to this...

;))))))))))

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

Websites:
Kathleen Rose's Collection (an eBay Store)
Lorraine's Favorite Finds (an eBay Store)

Blogs:
Lorraine's Favorite Finds
Accessories By Ashley Rae

INSPIRATION...Where does it come from ???

For me...

TODAY...

from a email chain letter !!!

That's right...

One of those dreaded email chain letter that someone is always sending you.

This one courtesy of my sister, Lorraine. ;)

I usually delete without even opening, but for some reason...

this time I felt compelled to open it.

So here it goes...

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

'This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package.'

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

'She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago.

She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion.'

'Well, I guess this is it.'

He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died.

He turned to me and said:

'Never save something for a special occasion.

Every day in your life is a special occasion'.

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.

I sit on the porch without worrying about........ANYTHING.

I spend more time with my family, and less at work.

I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.

I no longer keep anything.

I use crystal glasses...every day.

I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket,
if I feel like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions,
I use it whenever I want to.

The words 'SOMEDAY....' and 'ONE DAY...'
are fading away from my dictionary.

If it's worth seeing, listening or doing,
I want to see, listen or do it......NOW.

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.

I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.

She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.

I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.

It's these small things that I would regret not doing,
if I knew my time had come..


Each day, each hour, each minute, IS SPECIAL.

Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.

Of course, it goes on to tell me to send it to xxxx number of people.
I almost did that...but instead it became my inspiration.


Inspiration to Live Life via a chain letter,
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)
http://www.lorrainesfinds.etsy.com/ (an Etsy Shoppe)


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

Something Old...Something New...Something Borrowed...Something Blue...Bridal Showers

The gifts are all wrapped...

The tables are set...

 Friends have all gathered...

 & the bride's seat awaits...

The Bride Has Arrived...

& "The Seat" has been filled..there are gifts to be opened...

With Many an Oohh & Aahh...

The Flower Girl whispers

& 

Julie "Loves" her gift...

A Grandmother's Love

brings

Tears of Joy...

With Aprons for the Kitchen...

& Nightgowns for the... :)

The "Happy Couple"...

 & the "Bridesmaids" are...

Waiting for the Day...

When the Happy Couple both say...

"I DO"

Visit our eBay Store www.kathleenrosescollection.com.

We have some "Fab Finds" for Brides-To-Be.

Like these Cake Stands:

Cupcake Holder

 Picnic Basket

Picture Frame

For the Gardener Bride...

This Flower Plant Stand

All of the above are available here: 

www.kathleenrosescollection.com

xoxo

Aunt Kathy

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)

http://www.lorrainesfinds.etsy.com/ (an Etsy Shoppe)

Blogs:

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

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





EVERYBODY...Let's Party !!! Dance !!! and Sing !!!

So much to do...


So little time...


This seems to be the mantra for the past month...


BUT...this week took the CAKE !!!

This past week...has been one BIG PARTY WEEK !!!


It started with Memorial Day Weekend Getaway...fun, Fun, FUN
(we'll post some pics) on our sister blog: http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/


Then it was a surprise "50th Birthday Party" for my Brother Louis...

Followed by a "21st Birthday Party" for my niece Ashley...

Alexis...Ashley *THE BIRTHDAY GIRL* and Alyssa

Loving the Cake...Ashley is now "LEGAL" to Drink...

A Pre-Prom Party ??? for my niece Alyssa...

Dad "JOE"...Alyssa "PROM READY"...Mom "LORRAINE"

Alyssa and her date Sal

A Graduation Dinner for my Sister-in-Law Denise...

Yaaaaayy Congratulations !!!!

WAY TO GO !!!

Denise...Picture Perfect for Graduation...

Perfect Pic to Frame...

A Graduation from High School for my niece Alyssa...

Alyssa...Heading Off to Graduation Her Ceremony...

High School Friends are:

FRIENDS FOREVER

And...


A Birthday Party for my nephew Stephen who turned 9...

Stephen's 9th Birthday...

I've attended 6 Parties in 8 Days.


I'm pooped and my pocketbook is EMPTY !!!   ;)


but I did have a good time shopping with my sister Lorraine and my niece Julie for vintage items for our store...

Visit our sister blog: http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/

where we'll post some pics of our "FINDS".

Always want to be the "Life of the Party" and not the "Party Pooper",

Kathleen Sforza

Town and 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/