Sweet Zeek - my heart is broken

Our sweet Golden boy Zeek passed away in his sleep  this morning, he was 14 1/2 years old. 

To say that my heart is broken doesn’t even begin to scrape the surface.  My precious boy has taken almost every step I have taken for the past 15 years. 

Zeek was with me when I began this business 10 years ago, he was our first official Shoppe dog; he went to work with me every day, he slept right beside my side of the bed every night.....his absence leaves a hole of gigantic proportions.

 The computer keypad is wet with tears as I type… my heart aches as I look at his half empty food bowl and silent squeak toy. 

Everywhere I look, there is a reminder of him…..

our home, my office, the car, the yard…..everywhere.

Even the jingle of my car keys are a reminder of him.....for him that sound meant it was time to go bye-bye and always brought excitement, he went everywhere we did. 

The empty space in my car and in my heart is overwhelming.

Zeek was our 3^rd golden, we lost the first two to cancer. 
He lived the longest, he loved the hardest, and he is deepest within my heart.  I will never forget him, he is a part of me.

  He had the biggest heart... I always wished I could love people the way that he did….unconditionally.

Many times I told people that "he was all heart and made up of 100% love"……he brought so much joy into our lives, and into the lives of our friends, staff, and customers.

The fact that we lost him to a diagnosis of an enlarged heart speaks volumes….

his heart was always enlarged….with love.


LA Crewmember, and our dear friend Patty Moore, gave us this painting of Zeek several years ago...

I’ve lost many pets through the years and my experience tells me that time will help me accept this sad loss. 

 But, right now my heart rejects any thought that isn’t a chance to hug that big ol' neck of his again.

Dear God, please watch over our sweet boy as he waits at Rainbow Bridge.

Please heal my broken heart....

Rest in Peace sweet Zeek, I will love you forever.
aka LaurieAnna's Shoppe Dog

April  15, 2000 – December 11, 2014

~~~~~~~~

~My apologies for the sad post, but I couldn't bear the thought of not paying tribute to my sweet boy....he brought so much love and joy to others.

 

Success!!!

It's that time of year when sleigh bells ring jing tingle and streets are full of busy holiday shoppers. Hmmmm...that sounds a lot like our last show of the year. The shoppe was definitely hopping with joy and excitement.

Whether you were in search of the perfect gift, Christmas decor, or fall fashions, we had them all! Each room decked out with glowing lights, hanging snow flakes that seemed to dance, and trees of all sizes and shapes.

A true winter wonderland is was!

 

We were blessed once again with visits from long distance customers, such as Laurie Bithell.

A Facebook follower of over two years traveled (with family) from Charlotte, North Carolina to shop with us...a dream come true for her. Laurie's first request however was to meet Zeek and Emory. 

How sweet is that?

Meet Josean Frontera! Now living in the Dallas area, brought his parents, Thelma and Jaime (visiting from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) to see how beautiful our shoppe was. What a treat is was to meet them!

For the many that have asked, the shoppe will be open one additional day before Christmas. Yaaaaay! Mark your calendars, and join us on Saturday, December 13th from 9-6 pm for a special shopping day.

Kick off the New Year with a trip to LaurieAnna's. Our next show is coming soon...January 1st-4th.

From the bottoms of our hearts, thank you for a very successful last show of the year. We sure do love you! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

 

Til next time...

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Location: 1457 N Trade Days Blvd., Canton, Texas 75103

Next Show Dates: January 1 - 4, 2015

Thursday: 9-5 pm

Friday & Saturday: 9-6 pm

Sunday: 9-5 pm

Applause, applause... What a show!

What a show indeed!

 

Let me just start by saying if you weren't at the shoppe last week during our show or in Canton, then you were one of very few.

 

 

A packed Shoppe....filled with the things that make this place more like a home than a store.  Hence our name, LaurieAnna's Vintage "HOME".

 

We adore having all the babies and pups in the Shoppe, and you never fail to deliver. 

 

On any given day during the show, a visitor could wander in to the Shoppe and think we were holding a cutest baby contest. 

 

Seriously....so much cuteness! These moms could sell tickets just to be in the presence of such cuteness!

 We were delighted to have a bus load of probably 40 women from the Covenant Church of Colleyville. 

 

Dressed in cute matching t-shirts, what a treat these ladies were to have as guests in our Shoppe home. Many of them have been long-time LaurieAnna's shoppers.....we're happy to be on their bus route during their Canton trips.

 

Our sweet friends Tracy and Michael, along with their family and friends, popped in...they are former LA crew members and we miss seeing them so much!  They requested some time with Emory and Zeek. 

 I'm amazed by how many people ask to see Zeek and Emory. 

They are always present during the shows although they can typically be found napping in my office.
 

One of my all-time sweetest customer experiences, I spotted this dad walking through the store carrying 4 wooden swords.  I smiled and asked, "Knife thrower?". :-) Turns out, he and his wife visited the Shoppe with their sons. They had just purchased wood swords for the boys at the First Monday grounds.  Upon entering the Shoppe, I guess he decided that perhaps the swords and the Shoppe might not be a good fit.  Too cute!  He returned the swords to the boys outside and was kind enough to let me snap a pic. 

 

Being a Shoppe owner is an amazingly rewarding experience....as long as you make sure it's about more than sales. 

Don't get me wrong, the record breaking sales that we enjoyed this past show are  a blessing.  A blessing that lets us keep on doing what we love, but the real reward is the people. 

 

Hands down....it's the people.

 

Thank you making LaurieAnna's a destination store, thank you for telling your friends, and thank you for visiting our home each month.....you are the reason for it all.

 

Thanks also for following us on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. We have so many photos to share with you this month!

 

Till next time...

 

I've Got the June "Bug"!

Holy Smokes!  Where did Spring go?  It's crazy to me that summer is here and one of my favorite months, the one that changes my self diagnosis from spring 'fever' to the June 'bug' is almost gone!

While there are definitely specific things I relate to June, I decided to do a little research to see why other folks might love this special month that kicks off our summer season.  And what I found was...ummm....interesting. For example, there are a number of untraditional celebrations that are lesser known, like:

'Hug Your Cat Day' -

Zeek and Emory would disown me.

'Old Maids Day'

Uh, no---not even going there.

'National Yo-Yo Day'

I think I will let Willie celebrate that one!

'Waffle Iron Day'

Guess I could celebrate that one at a restaurant.

'Iced Tea Day'

Now here's one I can get behind!  Nothing like making a little sun tea in June!

So while the research was interesting and entertaining, it did not change my personal reasons for loving June.  In comparison, some might even find my traditional, southern thoughts a bit boring---and that is OK, because to me, they are what June is all about:

I just can't get enough of the official flower of June---the rose. 

 Whether growing in our Farmhouse garden or displayed at The Shoppe, those beautiful, delicate buds just put a smile on my face. They may be depicted in a painting, formed into light fixtures on chandeliers, added as decorative elements on frames, or plates, or soaps----and wherever they are, they always make me feel happy!

You can't think of June without thinking of weddings!  It gives me such great joy when customers come to the Shoppe to find just the perfect lighting, linens, candles, flowers, place settings, bridesmaids gifts, clothes, displays---I could go on and on!  Whether families are planning traditional church weddings, outdoor ceremonies, or the very popular farmhouse/barn weddings, I hope those brides-to-be have as much fun shopping for their special treasures, as I have helping them find them.  Makes me so happy!!!

 

 

 And of course we couldn't forget Father's Day!

 

So many things about June make me happy!  What are some of your favorite things about June? 

 

 

 

 

March Madness

Nope, I'm not talking about basketball. I'm talking about the wonderful, crazy, blessed madness that is March at LaurieAnna's!

EARLY MARCH:
Our March show was simply amazing. 

We had so much fun showing off the new 'farmhouse' room in our expanded space. 

 

 

We heard tons of wonderful compliments on our new products. 

 As always, the Shoppe was filled with lots of new customers, long time friends, fur babies, and sweet lil ones.  

Photos such as these are just a few of the things that make LaurieAnna's more like a home than a store. :-))

I loved this cute lil LaurieAnna's shopper in training.....look at her sweet lil purse. :-))

 

Even Zeek could hardly believe how wonderfully crazy our March show turned out!  He was just a bit overwhelmed by it all!

MID MARCH:
Between getting our expanded space ready and ordering, pricing, and placing product, I have been busy loading gobs and gobs of items to our online store.  

Keep your eyes on LaurieAnnas.com to witness the launch of our new and expanded online store---and to experience a truly unique online shopping adventure! 

LATE MARCH:
Yep - we are already planning for the next show at the end of the month. 
Truckloads of new merchandise continue to be delivered daily.  

In addition, we are expanding our clothing and jewelry lines! 

We heard you, and we are delivering items like these.....
 

 

Aren't they wonderful?

 

Whew! March definitely came in like a lion---and it looks like it will go out the same way.  

Yes, 'March Madness' has me busier and crazier than ever----and I would not have it any other way!