Small Business Saturday

A few days ago I saw a commercial on T.V. that was made by American Express Credit Card company. They have launched a new campaign called "Small Business Saturday." When I saw this commercial, it really hit home with me, but I could not put an exact finger on why.

Have you seen the commercial? Here it is on YouTube:


Yesterday, I got up and went to work at GUG. Just as I do every other day, I got to the office and logged onto the computer, pulled up email, Facebook and orders and got to work. Gary, the GUG Shipping Department and my Step-Dad, also sells a livestock product called Gold Dust. I took a call for him. I am also the person who lists lots of the items. We got in some really cool new items in this week that I also needed to get online - Gypsy Soule Jewelry (we already carry the flip flops), Kippy's Belts and some KurtMen purses - so I started taking some pictures of them and editing them. Nothing out of the ordinary except that I also had a hair appointment yesterday afternoon.

As I left the office and headed to my hair appointment, I was still thinking about the Small Business Saturday commercial. The beauty shop that I go to is in Midway, Texas - a small community that is outside of Madisonville and about 25 minutes from our GUG office. I also go the back roads so it is a little faster and a lot more pleasant than I-45. My hair dresser also happens to by my Step-Mom.

For those of you who don't know, Giddy Up Glamour was started a few years ago by my Mom and has become a "family owned and operated business." There were 3 girls growing up in the family and spending hundreds of dollars on jewelry just was not an option. We have built our "Small Business" by bringing our customers a quality product at an affordable price.

As I turned a corner on the way to my Step Mom's beauty shop and thinking about all the things I had to do when I got back to the GUG Office, it finally dawned on me why the Small Business Saturday commercial hit so close to home for me. I worked in a family business that was started by my mom on our kitchen table. I took a phone call just a few hours ago for Gary's Gold Dust product. I was headed to my Step Mom's beauty shop. I had passed by a few places that my Dad had worked on with his land clearing business. The Gypsy Soule, Kippy and KurtMen products that I had to list when I got back to the office are all "Small Businesses" and their products are handmade in the USA. I realized that my whole life revolved around "Small Businesses." The loving homes I grew up in, the food that I ate every day, the clothes that kept me warm in the winter, the extra money my parents gave me to go on the FFA National Convention trip, the cell phone that I use to text message all of my friends, the livestock animals that were bought every year for me to show and the list goes on and on. None of those things would have been possible for me without my families "Small Businesses."

So, on Saturday November 26th, where will you spend your hard earned dollar?
Just as the commercial states,

Small businesses are the life blood of our communities. On November 26th, you can make a huge impact by shopping on small on Small Business Saturday. One purchase. One purchase is all it takes. So pick your favorite local business and join the movement.

-Mallory

It's Been A While

Hello all you GUG Junkies! It has been quite a while since we have last posted. We have had lots of exciting things happening at Giddy Up Glamour - one of them being that we have a brand new boutique! If you are in the Huntsville, TX area, be sure to stop by and visit us! We are located at 1411 11th Street - right across from the Chamber of Commerce. We have fashionable items arriving every day that are affordable and sure to be the finishing touch to your wardrobe!

We are getting ready for the Fair on the Square festival here in our hometown and have lots of exciting things planned for the event! This year marks the 37th annual for the Fair on the Square and will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 1st. The day begins with the hustle and bustle of vendors preparing for over 10,000 spectators who take advantage of the free admission that is offered every year to those who are looking for one of kind treasurers that may not be found in stores. The Fair on the Square is an event that is not only anticipated by the citizens in the quaint town of Huntsville but also to those who travel from various surrounding counties. Be sure to keep an eye out on our Facebook as well as the blog to keep in the loop - The GUG booth and boutique will definitely be THE place to be on October 1st!

A Couple More Stops Along the Way...

Wow we have been stuck in Idaho since March 22nd. I have to finish this story and get us home because I have lots more stuff to talk about on here! But we couldn't go home without stopping at these two tourists attractions.....







I think I like downtown Las Vegas before they added the overhead screens and blocked off the streets. There was something really mystifying about turning down Fremont and the light from the casinos lit up the whole street. You could just imagine Frank Sinatra and his pack hanging out down there chain smoking their lives away. It is really "touristy" now, not so much the old feel.











And this was one of the highlights of our entire trip...












Here is the river at the very bottom of the Canyon. I kept looking for Mike and Carol Brady down there...

Shoshone Falls, Idaho

First let me make sure you all know that this trip took place last summer. I am not currently on a vacation. I am currently on a trip from stock show to stock show that began in January and will finish next week. That is because I still have one rug rat at home that loves to show livestock! So how did we get to Snake River, Idaho in my story? Well because when I started writing this blog, it was Oscars week so I decided to give you the blow by blow of our trip to Hollywood last summer. Once I got you to Hollywood, it was only fitting that we finish the trip. That is where we are now in our story - headed home to Texas. And that is how I ended up in Twin Falls, Idaho. It really was just a place along the road with a Holiday Inn - you know I like those Priority club points! So while checking in I happen to notice this pamphlet about Shoshone Falls. We got up early enough the next morning to get out to the falls by 8 in the morning. This was one of those spur of the moment stops that really was a treasure to happen upon. Here are a couple more pics....
Shoshone Falls empties into Snake River. How many of you remember what Snake River is known for? As I gazed at the beauty of the falls and the river my mind kept wondering to the question, "why the heck would anyone want to jump this river on a motorcycle?" For you young folks reading this, that would be Evil Knievel - Google him if you are too young to remember. Our first reader to name the falls correctly was Sherry, comment #4. Sherry - email us at giddyupglamour@aol.com to collect your prize.
I love doing these "mystery places" contests! Here's your next challenge photo...

Heading for Home...

So we had been gone for over two weeks and that is a loooonng time for me to be away from home. We dropped our family and friends off at the airport - well not really - they flew out at 6 am so they caught the hotel shuttle! Anyway, we all left Seattle headed home for Texas but it was going to take us a little longer of course!

The contest on naming the Sleepless in Seattle house was fun so let's do another. Here are your hints - we went home a different, more direct route. This was not a planned spot - just happened upon it. The first person to tell me where we were will get a special gift in the mail!

Seattle - Round 2

Seattle had beautiful weather when we left for Alaska so I figured when we returned we were doomed for the weather that I always heard Seattle has. Not so. Again, we had three very pleasant days to spend in Seattle. Seattle is a really cool city. It is the founding city of Starbucks and there are like 70 of them within that one town. No kidding. We took the Duck Tour and every time we passed a Starbucks, they rang the bell. That was a fun tour. I know you have seen those big land/water things in other towns where they tour around land and then hit the water. You know they advertise “Ride the Duck” so we rode the Duck! Here are some pics…
Well of course that isn't our Duck, cuz I took the pic! That was a sister Duck, you know like a sister ship?? A sister Duck?

These pigs are stationed around the tourist area and the wharf and you follow the pigs to a famous place. Of course my crew felt they needed to ride the pig rather than follow the pig. And here is where the pigs lead to...
Pikes Place Market literally has everything you can imagine and the best looking produce I have ever seen. It also is the place where the guys throw fish around. My pics of that didn't turn out too well - they throw too fast for me to catch on camera plus there were too many people crowded around and I got too many backs of people's heads. But I did get this picture of a big ole Octupus for sale. Yum Yum how about that for dinner!
Here is another famous place in Seattle...The first one to tell me what house this is will get a special treat in the mail. Also everyone that comments will be entered for the $25 in Glamour Bucks drawing this Sunday night.

CANADA

Our last stop on our cruise was in Canada. We LOVED, LOVED Canada! Our port was Victoria, British Columbia. It is on the side of the mountains where it stays 70 degrees year round. Our first order of business was to get serious about some whale watching. So we boarded a big boat with lots of other tourists and one sea sick baby. Yuck. Anyway, the whale watching was good!


When we got back into the harbor we still had the afternoon to spend in downtown and sightseeing. To get the most out of our time I decided we needed a guided tour. So my oldest spotted a couple of guys with those bicycles that tote sightseers around. She, being tall and skinny was busy negotiating a deal with them to wheel us around the city. I, on the other hand thought they probably would want to weigh Gary and I before agreeing to peddle us around for the afternoon. They were good sports, comedians and “hot” too boot. You know if you peddle people around all day for a living what your rear end looks like? Well I happened to snap a picture of what it looks like. I am just going to let you enjoy the pictures…
If you can't read it, it says "Nice Asset"The front view wasn't bad either!

Who knew Darth Vader was hanging out in Canada or that he could play the violin!


Apparently every big city has a China Town...who knew there were still phone booths around?
Leave me a comment to enter this week's drawing for $25 in Glamour Bucks! When is the last time you have seen a phone booth?