Reason #576 for Visiting The Pickle...

Has anyone noticed how perky I have been lately?  Well it is all thanks to the new neighbour, DeKoKo's.  The certified barista and entrepreneur, Christie DeKoning, is ensuring that you will now find me highly caffeinated at all times of the day.  The good news is that my productivity is up 32%!

So this is now reason #576 on why you should visit The Paper Pickle....because the neighbours make a darn good cup of Joe.  And great coffee is not the only thing you will find at DeKoKo's.  Her desserts are, in my opinion, 'dill-ightful'.  You can also find some amazing unique gift items by the highly talented Chatham-Kent Etsy Team.

So come on.  Grab a cafe latte (my recommended favourite) and stop into The Pickle for a little browse.  What's the worst that could happen?  You could get lost in your own little world of creativity and sheer delight.

Smiles....they make all the difference.

You know what makes me smile?  Watching a grown man running with his shopping cart and then hopping on for a ride. Totally random.  Just for fun.  Gets me every time. 

You know what else makes me smile?  Hearing my kid call me "Ma".  I don't know why I like being called Ma but I do.  Like, "Are we going yet, Ma?  Let's go, Ma"  I think I heard that like 30 times today when I had my assistant, Coulter with me at work today.  I may have freaked if he had not so sweetly called me Ma. 

I had a couple of other smile moments today.  How can you not smile when you make someone smile?  I made my UCC co-op student, Kerri smile today when I asked her if I could get a picture of us together.  I then got another smile when I told her that I will miss having her around the store to help with our pricing and paper sorting and that she did a great job.  I then got the biggest smile of all when I told her we could go next door to DeKoko's to get a soda and a chocolate cupcake!  Thanks again Kerri (and her helper Rebecca) for all your assistance this semester!



I got a great reaction and smile at the end of my day (which just makes it all worth it) when I told our winner from our Retrofest draw that she was the big 'weiner'!   Yes, I know it was a month ago but frig' my kid....the one that calls me 'Ma'.....broke my camera and I just got another one!  I had to show you all AWESOME product Sarah Armstrong won.......

Over $150 worth, baby!  Congratulations, Sarah!  Hope you can have some fun playing.  What do you think?  Maybe I should do these a little more often!  But only if you smile....

And finally, I think I just had another 'smile' moment......writing on this blog.  This makes me happy.  I really should come here more often.  ♥Kim

The Passing of a Great Man/Revised Store Hours

Sadly, on Monday, May 30th we lost our Grandfather.  He had been battling with cancer and Alzheimer's over the last year and a half.  He was such an amazing entrepreneur and built a very successful business and farming operation for himself and the family.  I can only hope to be as successful in my own ventures.

More importantly, Grandpa was know for his outgoing personality.  He and my Grandma loved traveling in their RV and would make new friends at every stop.  Every summer, for many years, they took all the grandchildren for trips to Toronto or Niagara Falls in the motor home or RV.  I mean, who would have the courage to take 10 kids on a vacation?!?  Now that I have children, I appreciate how truly amazing this was!!

Here is a picture of me on my wedding day with my Grandma and Grandpa nine years ago.  It is sad, but Grandma passed away only 6 weeks ago.  I am glad that they are together again.

The reason I am telling you all of this, is because the store will not open until 2:30PM on Friday June 3rd so I may attend Grandpa's funeral.  I appreciate  your understanding!

Here I Gush Again....

So has anyone noticed how cool our front window looks these days?  In case you haven't been by (and shame on you!) here is a little peak from the perspective of an amazing photographer, Krystle VanRoboys (aka K.3 or my sister).  Since the weather has not been cooperating around here for farming, I asked her to do a little freelance work for me.  The files I have seen so far are so amazing.  I have some big things planned for these photos....just you wait!

So everything in the window is for sale except for our mascot, "Bike".  I just realized that the bike does not have a name.  Isn't that funny since he is our mascot?  Now I am not even sure if he is a "he"....I will have to check tomorrow.

So yes, back to the other saleable stuff in the window....we are now carrying the ever popular paper lanterns.  They come in three sizes:  Small 12" ($2.50), Medium 16" ($3.50) and Large 20" ($5.50) and they come in a range of colours.  We have a ton in stock but I can always order them in quickly.  They make for very fun decor in a child's room and are very inexpensive decorations for summer events including pool parties, showers, family reunions and more.

PS.....the latest scrapbooking line to arrive at The Pickle.......Lime Twist by My Mind's Eye

PSS....the latest paper crafting tools to arrive at The Pickle.....the large heads for the Sew Easy tool and the Baker's Twine