Super Exhausted!!

The festival is over.  About 4:00 yesterday I became ova the festival.  Exhausted.  Super exhausted.  In bed at 9:00 last night.  May not get out of my jammies today.  I made the executive decision to close today.  Take a, I need to rest, Holiday.
It was an amazing few days.  I wish I would have taken pictures.  Pictures of my wonderful friends working at the shop.  Just using an entire day to help a friend out.  Blessed, I sure am.  Three friends worked their fingers to the bones.  Not enough ways to say thank you to these fantastic friends.  It is not just that they are willing to help that I love.  They are willing to help because they love my little shop and want it to succeed.  They are my cheerleaders.  Love, love these wonderful women.  I cannot say thank you enough. 
Friday my friend came and helped me with set up.  She helped make my shop shine.  She has great ideas.  She is good with flair.  Blessed to have her in my corner.  She drove back on Sunday to help work in the shop.  Gave up most of her week-end to help me.  Does not surprise me.  She has been that kind of friend for years and years.
The Old Lady came early on Saturday and stayed late.  It was an exhausting day.  After putting in a long day, she had a long drive home.  She has already offered to help any time I need her.  I know she had a great time.  She loves meeting new people. She met many new people.  It was a crazy day.  Glad to have her by my side.
Had a forever friend help on Saturday for a few hours too.  She and her sister love to hang out in the store on Saturdays.  This week they were put to work.  It was a good time.
Saturday morning was the Kiddie Parade.  It was more chaotic than I thought it would be.  Might need more people to keep the kids organized next year.  I was able to get all the kids lined up and the parade started on time.  It was adorable.  The parents did a fantastic job coming up with cute ideas.  The parade was a big hit.  I'll add a few pictures.  My little cheerleaders were amazing.  Mickey & Minne were a big hit.  It was two of Coach's nephews that put on the costumes and made kids extremely happy.
Met some very interesting people.  Interesting moment when I met a lady from Easy Rider's hometown.  She reads this blog.  Always surprises me to find out there really are people reading what I write.  Thanks for visiting Coco's Sweet Shop.  Great to meet you.
Here are a few pictures from the parade.  My girls were pompom girls.  Very adorable.
This is my favorite picture.  These girls took their jobs very seriously.  All the kids did.

 Here are a few of the participants.  There was a band, bikes, characters, power vehicles.  Too much fun.

 It was a good sized parade.  I am proud of my involvement.  Huge success.

Very tired today.  Spent the morning relaxing with my puppy on my lap.  Now I am going to pick up the little girls.  We are going to enjoy this beautiful day. 
Next I need to plan some Halloween activities for Coco's.

Happy Tuesday To Me

No matter what else happens today, it is a great day.  First, my t-shirts arrived.  They are for people that are working this week-end, for family, and I have a few to sell.  They are exactly what I imagined!  My t-shirt lady is amazing!!!  They are such happy shirts.
My favorite mail carrier had a HUGE box for me this morning.  Yeppers, my costumes came.  Kiddie parade is saved.  The heads are huge.  Very cute.  Sigh of relief.  I was still looking for two people to carry the parade banner.  A Mom came in this morning and offered up two junior high girls.  I can call it a day right now and have a "Best Day Ever" moment.  But, I will not.  It is still a work day.  I have many things to do to prepare for week-end. 
Big SIGH of relief........

The Carnival Is In Town

This is the start of a wild and crazy week in our little town.  When I lived out of town I loved coming back for the festival.  It is a great time.  Since moving back to my village it is not quite the same feeling.  It gets a bit crazy and exhausting.  Owning a business is going to give exhausted a new meaning.
The carnival arrived last night.  Is it weird that I am disappointed none of the Carnies have come in for coffee?  Little bit!  I'm hoping for a big week.  Carnies drink coffee too.  Plus I would probably get some great blogging material.  You know they have great stories.  They are set up on the other side of the train tracks.  They must not have discovered my shop. 
The festival starts on Thursday evening.  That is bracelet night for the locals to go to the carnival.  Thursday morning our school does Grandparents breakfast.  Not going to lie, it is a big hassle for about 15 minutes of time with the kids.  It used to be held on Friday.  We were able to spend time in the classrooms.  Not sure why it changed.
My plan is to stay open late on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.  I probably will not get busy until Saturday.  I sure would not turn people away if they show up earlier.  I need a big week-end.  All of my candy orders came in.  Today I have to go out of town to pick up my Sam's order.  I am still waiting on a few orders.  Three orders of gift items.  A very important order of Mickey & Minnie costumes.  That is not looking good.  Very nervous!  Freaking out already!!!!  Looking for a back-up plan.  Maybe there will be two ghosts in the parade.  I can cut holes in sheets. 
This is what I am missing for the kiddie parade.  Two people to carry the parade banner.  Mickey & Minnie costumes.  Those are major items.  It will all work out some how, some way....  Worse case scenario, The Kid will be forced to find a friend and carry the banner.  Things will work out one way or another.
I am closing my shop Monday and Tuesday next week.  Need time to regroup.  I hope to be completely out of everything!!  Will need time to get some orders in.  I am very excited to see how things go in the next 6 days.  Could be a wild ride.
Happy Monday!

Coco's Sweet Kiddie Parade

I think I mentioned that Coco's was asked to sponsor (organize) a Kiddie Parade for our town's fall festival.  Right now it is fun to watch it all come together.  Next week at this time I will be in a panic.  I ordered costumes for two lucky adults to wear in the parade.  Fingers crossed they come in time.  There will be stress about that.
At this point I have not had to do very much to make this happen.  Give info to the paper to get out to people.  Ask a clown to lead the parade.  Type up registration forms, type up information sheets for the school.  Talk about it, talk about it, talk about it.  None of it has been too time consuming.  It just falls at a time that I am busy trying to get the store ready for the festival too. 
In a little town it is all about word of mouth.  One person says something and the next thing I know there is a children's band for the parade.  A "pretend" band.  Complete with baton twirlers, pom pom girls, a child's police car to lead the parade.  Going to be so much fun.
I was in a conversation with someone on Facebook.  She mentioned I need a banner.  Next thing I know her friend, that grew up in Dwight, is making me a banner for free.  The picture above is the first draft.  She is going to make a few changes I requested.  I hope this banner is used for many, many years.  I hope it wears out from over use!!
Living in a small town is all about giving back.  We need to take ownership in order to improve for the future.  I am blessed to be able to organize something that is happening on one of the biggest days of the year in our village.  My grandson used to consider it a holiday.  Seriously!  I am sure this will not be the last post about the coming festival.......
I love my town!!