Small Biz Saturday!!!

Okay, seriously?  It's been since February since my last post?  And I was going to blame it on the fact that my camera died a slow and agonizing death.....  but, that happened in June.  Well, let's just say that it is difficult to blog and run a business.  I vow to do better in the coming year!  In the meantime, here's a post that does not require me to take any new photos!

Support your favorite small business.

Today, November 24th,  is Small Business Saturday®, a day to celebrate and support the local small businesses that boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country.

The Mad Moose & Mad Moose Home & Garden are proud to take part in Small Business Saturday, and we’re encouraging everyone to Shop Small® here on November 24th.

Plus, we’re having a special Small Business Saturday offer! Come in to the Home & Garden store on November 24th and you’ll get an EXTRA 25% off ALL Red Tag items!

Most importantly, get out there, Shop Small, and let’s make this November 24th the biggest day of the year for small business.

To learn more, visit ShopSmall.com.

To be honest, last years SBS did not make a bit of difference in our bottom line.  But I think it's all about awareness.  Each year successive year, more shoppers become aware of how important it is to support small business and keep that money in their own community! 

So here is part of my vow to blog better in 2013, I will be spending at least part of my blogging time dedicated to promoting that awareness all year!

There will be big announcements about the stores coming soon and lots of new posts about new products I'm making just as soon as I can figure out how to take a decent picture of them without my old camera (sad face), so stay tuned!!

I will leave you today, with this video of our bobcat couple who came to hang out on Thanksgiving!

Needs More Salt

Whew!  The holidays are over and inventory is finally done, freeing me up to blog again!  The uncertainty of the past few months has cleared somewhat with the knowledge that there is a buyer for the mall in which our 2nd store is located.  They are hopefully going to make some nice improvements.  This should help if we choose to remain in the mall.  This December was the worst in our history.  Unexpectedly so, considering that we've been creeping back up (albeit in very tiny increments) over the last several years since the recession first hit.  I think I attribute this to too much big box shopping, since they are all claiming record sales!  Small business Saturday did not have a good showing here, but I am encouraged by the trending mind-set.  This kind of promotion may yet pay off in the long run.

At home, (where I have not been spending much time yet) all our holiday decorations remain.  We vowed to keep the tree up until our new babies come home for good.  Yes, we're adopting!  Bunnies, that is.  A bonded pair.  Lot's of preparation going on.  We've cleared out a major section of our family room downstairs where it stays consistently cool all year.  Now I'm hard at work creating a bunny condo with the grid panels that we used to use in the kid's rooms for storing all their toys!  I'll post more about that later, with some photos.  We go down Sunday to meet and get matched with our rabbits.  They are currently residing at a House Rabbit Society bunny rescue.   http://www.coloradohrs.com/

Once we get all our bunny prep done, I'll have some time to get back to my pine needles.  Cal informs me that he's had customers complaining that I don't have enough miniatures in my inventory!  I sell my baskets at the original Mad Moose since there is better foot traffic there, and at the moment, I really don't have enough inventory to split up.  Here's a miniature I made several years ago.  With any luck, I'll have some photos of new ones to post soon.

I've been dealing with an abundance of winter squash lately, donated from a friend who found herself with more than she could use.  Baked up a bunch and when I got a little tired of the old butter and s&p routine, I made this awesome soup. 

I googled several recipes to which I did not have all the ingredients, and decided to wing it.  I sauteed some chopped onion in butter, and then I dumped the cooked squash into the food processor and processed in batches with the onion, evaporated milk, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and a little nutmeg.  Heated, with some additional salt, it all added up to big ol' yummmmmm!  And probably much lower in fat and calories than all the recipes calling for 8 oz of cream cheese!  Yikes!  Sorry I can't give exact quantities.  I just threw some stuff in and hoped for the best.  I'll definitely make this again... who knows if it will turn out the same. 

Until next time…