Friday, November 26, 2010

Top 10 Things We'll do on Dec 3rd: A Brief Run Down

It's the final few days before the end of yet another hunting season. I do not know about you but I am tired. Hunting is very hard work. Get up early, get snacks prepared, gotta dress the part and off to the stores you go! I sure am glad our hunting season ends this week. But I am totally excited about the after party! So let me give you all the run down of this year's after party sneak peek "what to expect" info:

1.Party starts at 7 pm at the Annex Building in Kewaskum (right behind the wonderful Coffee Corner). You'll be asked at the door for your $10 entry- this year you are going to be able to WAVE the entry fee AND get a super cute bag if you buy $50 worth of raffle tickets!
2. Sign up for your chance to tell your "hunting story". Remember the more creative the better! At the end of the night we will announce best story, best shoe, best accessory, and best deal! Remember to chat with others through the night so you are well prepared to vote! Each winner gets a beautiful prize (hint- yum!yum!)
3. We have so much food this year- sushi, chocolate, cheese balls, dips, salmon...yum yum yum. Though we always say this is primarily just small treats, come prepared to eat!
4. Drinks again will be provided by Jeff's Spirits on Main. My sister Shelly loves to bartend so will be ready to serve wine, beer, soda, and water for a small fee!
5. DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR GENTLY USED PURSES! We resell these for $10, always a good steal!
6. Raffles, raffles, raffles and auctions- lots of jewlery, beautified hats, birdhouses, Krueger painting, beauty products, Holiday baskets, wine, gift certificates, and more!!! Come ready to induldge for yourself or keep someone in mind for the upcoming Christmas season!
7. Jillian Clark, founder of Chix 4 A Cause will be there to talk about her wonderful organization. We will also reveal the next Gift of Love recipient!
8. Kathy has been busy preparing wonderful music and video for the evening's festivities! Bring your laughter and dancing shoes!
9. The most fun of all is the togetherness we share on this special evening- there is so much chattering it's sometimes hard to quiet the crowd for even 1 minute which is just a perfect reflection of the beauty of our undividied togetherness!
10. Drive home safely! We wish for everyone to be snuggled in bed at home once the party is over!

I really can't wait to see you there! Call or email if you have any questions! I thank you all for another wonderful season full of texts, FB posts, phone calls, emails, meetings, and hunting travel all about shoes and accessories! And for the great cause- Chix!!!

Paula
dnrshoehunt@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Shoe and Accessory Camp


There is all sorts of talk going on in my house these last couple days..."when we gettin' up? where we gonna sit first? how's the sign?" It is because this Saturday is the opening of the busiest hunting season of all- gun season for deer. Many of the men I know often travel a fair distance to what is known as "deer camp". That is the location, often owned land, where several men gather together to bond for 10 days. I even overheard a guy in the store last week state that he was headed to deer camp...last week. Now that is impressive! Often at these camps, hunting is enjoyed, food is consumed, and stories are told. I believe you are not suppose to shave. And showering is a must but make sure you use the "nonscent" stuff, not sure if that stuff really works...don't you think we would have every teenager bath with that daily if it were true?


Our deer camp happens to be our home. My husband and son hunt around the area of the Kettle Moraine. And since our home is planted smack dab in the middle of this, you can often see me in my house with my orange on crawling on the ground to avoid potential gun fire. I have been told certain ammo can fly for miles. Because Jordan and Todd stick around, I am included in the story telling and regular updates. Bow deer season, thus far, for the Carlton family has been slow. We have one doe already but that is all. I'm excited to see what this season brings.


On the other hand, shoe camps have been flying up all over for me lately! I just returned from a 72 hour getaway to Vegas. I had every intention of posting a nice video of the hunting success and fun along the way but, I must say, the pics should have remained in Vegas - way too fun!!! Thanks Jeanne and Michelle( in the above pic)! Tonight I got back from another camp called "OhLaaLaa" in West Bend. The store owner was kind enough to have a private party for the Shoe and Accessory participants and present us with 15% off each kill! That's like going to a private pheasant hunt and getting shoot 2, get 1 free! Don't worry Ladies, if you missed out this year, I can almost guarantee we will repeat it next season- what a nice night!

And there may be more for the hunting season is just underway!


So I'll leave you with a story and somewhat of a good lesson. While in Vegas, we did do some hunting. A flashy pair of pants caught my eye. I was anxious to shoot and thus did. I then went off to another place only to find an even flashier pair (and much more reasonable!). Luckily, in this kind of hunting, I took back kill#1. A good lesson for all of us hunters- don't shoot too quick! There might be something better that comes along the way!


Happy Hunting!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

TOMS...no, not turkeys!

I know I just posted a few days ago but this is the time of the season where things get cooking! It is early Saturday morning. Jordan and Todd have already left the house to go hunting. So far Jordan's hunting season seems to have been a lot like mine of years past. He has already shot 7 pheasants. Each time he travels down the road to pheasant hunt, he comes back with meat. He often goes into the "extra long" story version of each detail of the hunt. Todd has observed Jordan to be a natural and is proud of his son's judgement and shooting skills. My grandfather was a marksman in WWII. He was never one to brag and did not talk about the war but I recall him talking about (what I interpreted as and others confirmed) his tremendous shooting skills. So, though I have never picked up a gun, I am sure Jordan gets his sharp shooting abilities because of me (hehe) since it appears every other inch of his being is a pure reflection of his dad! But hey, each time I go out "hunting", I tend to be successful too!
With the hunting season in full swing, it was no wonder that when my TOMS shoe magazine came yesterday I had to open it immediately. This edition was their "Giving Report". I have been on their email and mailing list since I bought some of the shoes last year as Christmas gifts. For those of you unfamiliar, TOMS uses shoes as charity too. In their case, when you buy a pair of their shoes, it will also mean a pair of shoes will be made and given to a child in need. So when I bought 4 shoes from them last year and gave them to family, 4 pairs of shoes were also made for children from 1 of the 23 countries they give in. Some of the highest volume giving occurs in Haiti, Honduras, Mali, Niger, and Mongolia. To date, TOMS has given away (wait for it!) 1,000,000 shoes in (oh my gosh!!!! wait for it!!!!) 4 YEARS (love it that the number 4 keeps surfacing!).
Why shoes? Schools mandate shoe wear! If no shoes, you can't go to school. Disease can be transmitted through the soil like hookworm, podoconiosis, jiggers, and tetanus. And the terrain is rough. We know even walking on a few pebbles seems to kill. Imagine doing it daily...for miles...hills, gravel, dirt, water. Once they find a place that is in need (done so in a very responsible way), they keep on giving. The kids go through their pair in 6 months. They make the shoes in various sizes and color but all based on what exactly is needed. They are making the world a better place with shoes!
The styles for you to purchase are endless. Of course they do not give wedges or sandals to the kids, but they do have them for us. Most of the material is canvas but also tweed, leather, cord, and wool. Simplicity is key.

It's what we need in this world. Simple. Giving sustainably. Giving responsibly. Like TOMS, Chix 4 a cause does that too. They research where the need is. They give the gifts of love that are asked of them. And they give back to our community. All to make this a better place to live.

www.toms.com

Peace!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Style

Isn't it amazing that when you go to a gathering with friends, you all have different clothes on? I mean, the statement may seem obvious but really. I'm sure since, for the most part, we live in the same vicinity, we shop at some of the same stores. And some even have similair tastes. But in the end, we all put our own flare into each finishing touch. Some like it simple. Some highly elegant. Others maybe even over the top. Imagine 4 years of the shoe and accessory hunt party success- not one woman with the same design. No matter how many black pumps; each with it's own uniqueness. We all place clothes on our personality, something that reflects our inner self.

And just like the style of our clothes, sometimes the surroundings change too. This year we thought we would change a few things up a bit for the end of hunt party. Though we will hugely miss the company and care the Imagine Coffee House team has given us in the past, we decided to move north. Heck, most guys seem to go north for their hunts. Luckily. our trip won't be 4 hours away. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump! What we are most excited about is the individual style we are going to be able to infuse into that night's festivities. The Annex building is Kewaskum is a rustic setting that is setting up for the perfect shabby chic environment. We can't wait to show it off. We hope to bring a little piece of each of you into the design.

So it is Nov 3rd which means...yeah! the election is over! And the hunting season may continue without angry, aggressive commercial interruption! We are happy you are out there boosting our economy. For some of you, that may be a single purchase and for others...we won't go there! All we hope for is fun with friends no matter your style. Please take some time to really go through the side bar of this blog...it's from our first year. We had a great hunting application that each woman filled out and returned. It really was a lot of fun! But we like simplicity and have gone green so there it is for viewing, save a tree!

Can't wait to see you out in style (whatever that means to you) Dec 3rd!

Oh, and don't forget the Guides will be out at OhLaaLaa on Nov 17th at 6 pm for a speical open house party where the store is giving all hunters 15% off! Let us know by the 11th if you can come!