Festival of Flags and Gift-Wrapping

Comfy Sunday: A Boxin’ and a Wrappin’

Wow. My last blog post was before Thanksgiving! And now we’re on the home stretch to Christmas! How did that happen so fast? I finally have a few minutes to sit down and write so here goes. . .

Friday after Thanksgiving was a good time to go to First Monday Trades Day in Canton, while the rest of the world filled the malls in that black Friday frenzy. No thanks. I prefer open air shopping when the weather is perfect, there are plenty of vendors, and fewer shoppers than usual. I stocked up on supplies for Christmas crafts.

Saturday after Thanksgiving I participated in a book fair with my friend and antique mall owner Melissa Walker, who has also written a book, a horror story titled “A Sense of Depravity.” It’s available on Amazon and PublishAmerica.com.

We didn’t actually sell a lot, but we enjoyed the time together and opportunity to meet local authors.

Then, BAM! I started working full-time at Festival of Flags and Gift Wrapping in Tyler, wrapping packages for customers who bring their gifts to us. At this time of year I like to call it Gift Wrapping Festival and Flags. Cindi Hebert, the owner, does sell lots of decorative flags in addition to gift wrapping.

During the year we may wrap 20 to 30 gifts a day on a busy day, but at Christmas time, we wrap 60, 80, or even over 100 gifts, requiring Cindi to hire a couple of helpers, whom she refers to as her elves. Tuesday was a particularly busy day, and the building is tiny. This is what the floor looked like when we left for the evening.

Aren’t they pretty? No matter how many orders we get, they all leave the store just as beautiful as the first ones we wrap. I’m sure I will be sharing more about this unique business I am fortunate to work for.

Stay tuned!

XOXO

Saturday Ramblings: Self-image vs. reality

The other day I got ready for work, thinking I looked really cute in my jeans, ruffled lacy tank, and lace zipper jacket. I work one day a week at Festival of Flags, a little gift-wrapping and flag shop in Tyler. Unfortunately we weren’t very busy so no one got to see how cute my outfit was!

The next Thursday I dressed even cuter, and we had more business but not even one person made a comment about my outfit!

Today I realized why. I was shopping at a darling little boutique in Canton called LaurieAnna’s Vintage Home, and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There seems to be a HUGE difference in my perception of myself and how I really look to the world. My grandmother used to sum it up with these words: “I look in the mirror and I ask, ‘Who is that old woman?'”

Because you see, walking past that mirror was not the cute young woman I expected to see, but a chunky middle-aged woman with more than a bit of a muffin top and double chin. What the heck? When did THAT happen? I mean, I check myself in my mirror at home before I venture out into the world, but I certainly don’t see the image I see when I am in public!

Oh well. Who wants a skinny grandma, I always say. Not that I’m a grandma yet, but I could certainly pass for one. I guess I’ll always be 25, thin, and cute in my mind. Now to find mirrors that lie, at least a little.

XOXO