Well folks, we are now four days into a major snow in. No plows to get rid of the snow, and there is lots of the stuff. Everything comes to a halt in England when it snows. No trains, planes, school. Nothing. I tried to buy bread yesterday and the shelves were empty. No eggs, not much milk. This unexpected turn has put a big damper in my shopping. I have managed to find a few nice hats, and some nice jewellery. I have also come across great head gear for the ladies, a collection of fascinators!  I think they will sell well…… something new and fun. Luckily I have a few things in reserve in Ali’s loft. I have been sorting through to see what I can bring back with me for the store. I might try and head out again today to see what I can find in Bexleyheath. The buses have been running the last day or so. The bigger stores are open. The small shops are not. There has been no mail for three days but as the old saying goes, not sleet nor snow can keep Marie from trying to get to the shops. I pull my shopping buggy through the mounds of snow just like a pro. I miss the store but I know my two Jennys are taking care of things at home. Midnight Madness is tonight. I wish I could be there. I hope all goes well. I will hear about it in the morning.I really do enjoy the special events. I did leave a gift basket to give to one of our good customers. I also left gift bags, all ready to hand out. I know Jenny one and Jenny two will have treats on hand as well. I wish them well. Hopefully sales will be good! Not sure yet when I should start to panic about my trip home. Maybe all will be well with the flights by Tuesday. I should be back in the store on Wed. provided I am not stranded here! Next week will find lots of new surprises for sale in the store!

Both Jenny and I can’t believe the response to this event. Girls night in Downtown Bowmanville was a huge success.

Sales were over the top. Hundreds of ladies turned out to shop, shop, shop. The crowds started right at 5 P.M. and we still had ladies at the till after 10 P.M. The ladies enjoyed our refreshments. Jenny made a wonderful punch. We served cheese trays and fruit. The sweet trays were also a big hit. It appears everyone loves to eat! Over and over the ladies commented on our fare. We were so pleased to see new faces. This event was really well advertised in many papers. Those shop keepers that paraticipated were all given a huge bunch of balloons for outside their store. The street looked so pretty. Also enjoyed were our many give aways. We offered each customer a Christmas tree ornament nicely wrapped. We gave away several gift bags and we also gave away one of our hand made tier dishes. The nice lady that was given the tier dish was thrilled.  Oh I almost forgot, we offered eye brow waxing. We had someone come in to do this at a really reasonable rate. The chair was kept very busy throughout the evening. Jenny and I left the store well after 10 P.M. very exhausted but very happy little shop keepers. We truly hope this will be the start of many more ladies nights in downtown Bowmanville……… Stay tuned……..our next big event is fast approaching. Midnight Madness is set for Friday Dec. 3rd.  See you there!

I love New York. I really, really do!

Just home from a 3 day trip down through New York State. I love these jaunts with Joe. He is such a good driver, and so very patient in waiting for me to browse through every antique shop, barn sale, estate sale, you name it sale. As long as I feed him he never complains. He also packs the truck very well. We couldn’t get another thing in the pick-up if we tried. I will take some new pictures to show some of my finds. I came back with more old sleds. Jenny will be pleased. I have one for her. They seem to sell very well. Lots of new vintage hats, clothes, purses, and hat pins.I also found a few bird cages. I am selling quite a few vintage bird cages. Brides are having vintage wedding themes and are using the cages to hold the wedding cards from guests. I think that is a great idea.  It also seems brides are encouraging guests to wear hats. I have lots of hats to offer well wishers. I also found some really pretty milk glass, both white and pink. The pink is very hard to find. Speaking of pink, I came across a set of vintage pink pyrex mixing bowls…. another hard to find item.The hunt for vintage jewellery was a success. I came back with some pretty new pieces just in time for Ladies Night on Nov. 18th.  I sell quite a few tea cup holders which are difficult to locate. I did find two this trip so they will soon be in the store. They look so pretty with vintage china cups and saucers on display. I found some small pieces of furniture, I will get them ready for the store as soon as I can. Customers love the small vintage bits of furniture. I was also on the hunt for Toile fabric and did manage to get several lengths of toile material. I recover stools and chairs quite often as the ladies love toile! I am sitting here looking at the pile of loot I came home with and am trying to decide if I should start sorting through tonight or hit the hay and have a go at it tomorrow……. shopping non stop for three days does take its toll!………..but I love it!

Be sure to visit Bowanville for Moonlight Madness on December 3rd, 6-11pm. During this family-friendly event, the town Christmas tree will be lit. There will be carollers and rumour has it, Santa may take a break from his toy making and stop by the town for a visit.

I will be in England when the Candle Lighting night takes place, but I am sure that Jenny 1 and Jenny 2 will represent me well and the night will see many shoppers in the downtown area. We  are always encouraged at the turnout for all these special days. We do so well with our sales. We truly feel we now belong to the Bomanville Downtown Family.  It is hard to believe that it is almost a year since we opened shop on the main street.

Just to let everyone know, there is a Ladies Night in the works. Many of the downtown business  owners are taking part in Ladies Night on Thursday, November 18th. I will make this event as it takes place the week before I head to England. Yipee! Stores will be open from 5 P.M. to 10 P.M. that night and the store owners will be doing various things like offering food, drink, samples, surprises, and prizes.  We haven’t yet decided what Under the Toadstool will be up to that evening,  but I know we will do this event proud. I am looking forward to seeing many ladies take part. Apparently this event will be advertised in the local papers and the Downtown business association will help with funding. They will provide flyers, and signs. It sounds like this might just be the start of another downtown event. I will let you know how it turns out.

I ’m often asked by my customers where ever do I find all my wonderful treasures for the store? Well I travel far and wide to purchase my stock. Every couple of months I head down through New York State. I have found dozens of treasure troves. Once a year I head to the New England States…. another great shopping spree! On that trip I also attend the Brimfield Antique Show. There, to my glee are thousands of vendors set up in field after field selling their wares. A person can find anything from marbles to the most beautiful antique furniture. This venue is the most incredible place I have ever been. I am in awe as I walk through isle after isle of the most interesting items I could ever wish to see or buy. I look forward to the next trip in early May of 2011. If anyone would like information on the Brimfield Show, feel free to get in touch. I would love to share the experience. I travel to England 3 times a year and there I find beautiful and very different treasures. I come home loaded down with some pretty unique items such as old hat pins, wonderful ladies hats, china, glass, silver. You name it and I find it. Charity Shops and Boot Fairs are my passion while in England. I truly think I am addicted to the hunt!  I must make mention of another favourite source: I have found a wonderful seller in France. I have been fortunate to buy some pretty amazing things from French_memories. I had oppourtunity to purchase a very sweet little french vintage two tiered lunch box which I displayed in the store. Customers were drawn to this little item and I had great pleasure in telling them that the little lunch box came all the way from France. To my delight one day a young bride to be came in saw the little lunch box and had to have it for her ring bearer. She was having a vintage wedding and she wanted the little boy to walk down the isle carrying the lunch box with the rings inside. Small pleasures give me such smiles. I have another one of these lunch boxes on the way so please stay tuned!

WOW! what a day this was. The weather was beautiful. The turn out was fanstastic. Thousands and thousands of people converged on the main street of downtown Bomanville to join in the fun and YES! to shop. Sales were over the moon for both Jenny and myself. We could not believe the number of shoppers and lookers who came through our doors on this special day.  We had trouble keeping up with the sales, but boy was it fun.

As always our customers enjoyed the treats we serve at all these events. We gave away another beautiful gift basket and we enjoyed many new customers to our store. People really seem to love our stores. That makes both Jenny and I very happy. As we wind down from this event we will soon start to get ready for the midnight Candle Lighting event scheduled Dec. 3rd. The store will be open quite late for Christmas Shopping. Jenny and I certainly enjoy taking part in the calander of Town Events.  Stay tuned.

EXTRA! EXTRA!….. more news. Under The Toadstool with City Cottage are now getting ready for our next Bowmanville town event. The Apple Festival will be held on Saturday Oct. 16th. This is a huge event and attracts thousands of visitors to the downtown area. With the roads closed down to traffic, people are everywhere, including popping into all the stores. Jenny and I both do very well on these special days. We will hold another draw…. giving away another wonderful gift basket prepared by Marie. Other prizes include gift certificates for each of the stores. Our customers really seem to enjoy this.

I am just back from a wonderful week in the New England States. There were so many Antique Shops, Flea Markets, Thrift Shops, and more, it was impossible to take them all in. I did my best and came back with the truck packed full to the brim with everything from salt and pepper shakers to old winter sleds. I couldn’t have fit another thing in the truck if I tried. Our last big stop with the Brimfield Antique Fair. The Fair is held May, July, and Sept. every year. Brimfield is located in Mass.  Last year we fell on this huge fair by mistake. I was in utter amazement as to the size of this event. Field upon field of venders. They show went on for miles. I would say there would have been a couple of thousand venders set up selling all kinds of wonderful treasures. Some things were really priced very high but other things could be bought quite reasonably. I was in my glory. I was in my little bit of heaven while I made my way through isle after isle of treasures and wonderful finds.

Just got back from a great buying trip in the US. So many Flea Markets, Estate Sales, Yard Sales, Swap Meets, you name it. I was there over the past three days. Hopefully I will get some new pictures to show everyone what I found.