Ribbit! New Vendor Iris Frog Hops Into the 2015 Holiday Boutique

Have you ever met someone and just KNOWN that this person is your spiritual sister? For me, that person would have to be Claremore's own Kimi Pranger. I think the thing that draws me to her is her absolute love of children.

That, and Kimi has way more style and chutzpah than I do. This is a woman who isn't afraid to add bright color to her hair, who effortlessly pulls together an amazing outfit, and who speaks to you as though you are the only person in the room with her.

Kimi has started a home-based business called Iris Frog, specializing in handmade attire for children and adults, some knitted, some sewn. Iris Frog got its name from Kimi's two favorite things: iris flowers and frogs. I'm loving the chapeaus above. The gray hat with the ears is so precious.

For years now, Kimi has taught school, mainly at The Mustard Seed, a wonderful local preschool. I've had the honor of working with her at Vacation Bible School before. Seeing her interact with little ones will make your heart smile. And I can see her love for children shining through in her clothing designs.

These mother-daughter, grandmother-granddaughter aprons are just precious, and an acknowledgment that one of the best things we can do with the children who come into our lives is to spend quality time with them, such as teaching them how to bake or cook a favorite family recipe. These aprons would make a great gift for the new mother or grandmother in your life.

These animal print jackets are simply amazing. What little girl wouldn't look Paris runway ready in these one-of-a-kind creations?

Kimi also sews little boy shorts and trousers. I love these - especially the pants with the monkey pocket and cuff!

These ruffled skirts once again demonstrate the style genius of Kimi Pranger. Cute, cute, cute!!

You will not want to miss the Iris Frog booth at the 2015 Holiday Boutique. Go by and say "hi" to Kimi. You will be very glad you did!

Tickets are on sale now for the Thursday night VIP preview! Call (918) 343-1165 to get your tickets now. They're just $25. But hurry! They won't last long.

They Tried to Make Me Go to Rehab and I Said, "No, No, No"

Image Rehab is a precious little shop in Catoosa tucked into the side of a salon. It's been a staple of the Holiday Boutique from the very beginning. 

I'll never forget the first Holiday Boutique I attended. I'd brought along my girlfriend, Julie, and as soon as we hit the doors, we divided and conquered. She went one way, I went the other.

I was sampling some lovely wassail at a local drugstore's booth when I felt a hand on my arm.

It was Julie. "You have to come with me...NOW."

"But, I'm having a Zen moment with this wassail," I said. "Surely this can wait."

"No. Come now."

Only one of three things could have caused my friend to interrupt my cinnamon-and-nutmeg-induced coma: (1) a pillar of our community had shown up in a Hillbilly Harlot getup; (2) flames were licking out of the top of the building; or (3) there was a 75% off sale somewhere in the vicinity.

She led me to this lady...

This is Linda Lewis, the proprietress of Image Rehab. And, her booth was (and ALWAYS is) to-die-for! Julie foisted two shirts in my direction. "Ohmygosh! These are just $15 dollars. We both have to get one."

Indeed, the shirts were fabulous and silly girls that we are, we purchased matching ones. But this booth - it was amazing. It was a treasure trove of clothing, purses, scarves, and jewelry galore. I couldn't stop looking at all there was to see.

Things like this amazing outfit, which Linda so effortlessly helps her customers put together in mere seconds. She has such a fabulous eye for what looks good on which people. I'm loving this long tunic over these beautiful blue leggings.

The past several years, Linda has brought along her amazingly talented sister, Cindy, who makes the most amazing things like these old-fashioned coin purse necklaces, perfect for the shopper on the go. Seriously, in addition to being a statement piece, it's useful. You can stick some cash, your license, a lipstick, and an emergency cigarette and lighter down inside this purse and be good for the day. Brilliant!

And the jewelry...well, it's amazing. I regularly knock out most of my girlfriend's Christmas gifts in the Image Rehab booth at the Holiday Boutique. This beautiful necklace is engraved with a familiar Irish blessing: "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall softly on your fields."

Something tells me that Amy Winehouse would have loved this rehab equally as much as I do.

Ladies, if you're feeling like you need a little "retail therapy," then the 2015 Holiday Boutique is the place you need to be. Mark your calendars: November 12, 13, and 14, 2015 at the RSU Centennial Center. There are just a few booths left if you're a vendor. If you're lucky, you'll get to reside next to Linda and Cindy for three days. You'll thank us later!

Call the United Way of Rogers and Mayes County for more details on booth space and tickets: (918) 343-1165.

We're Baaaaaack...Holiday Boutique 2015 Coming Soon

You've got to love a good goat joke. We're baaaaack... Get it? No, I'm not planning on launching a comedy tour anytime soon. You're secretly glad, I know!

Ladies, grab your calendars and hold November 12, 13, and 14, 2015. These are the dates for the 2015 United Way of Rogers and Mayes Counties Holiday Boutique. You won't want to miss this opportunity to SHOP UNITED!

Back by popular demand is vendor Grayslland Acres with popular goat milk soaps, lotions, dog shampoo, beeswax-based lip balms and lotion bars, as well as really cool recycled feed sack tote bags, backpacks and satchels.

Last year's booth was extremely popular. Yours truly tried a friend's lotion bar and when I went to buy one - it was really lovely stuff - they'd completely sold out. Insert sad face...

I settled for a jar of goat milk lotion. I wasn't disappointed. It soaked right into my skin, wasn't greasy or tacky like some lotions can be, and kept my poor crackly dry hands smooth as a baby's bottom last winter.

They also sell these generous bars of goat milk soap - with or without exfoliation. If your skin is like mine and needs a little tender loving care in the wintertime, Grayslland Acres booth is definitely a stop you'll want to make on your tour of the 2015 Holiday Boutique. So many of their items would make a good stocking stuffer or gift for a beloved teacher.

I must admit that I was skeptical about the recycled feed sack bags...but then I saw them. These are so darling! Just imagine carrying bottled water and trail mix in them for a morning hike or tickets, paperwork and a great novel for an impromptu trip home for Thanksgiving. Whatever you use it for, it will most certainly be a conversation piece, and so tremendously environmentally conscious!

Yes, indeed, the Grayslland Acres booth is a treasure trove of skin-friendly, earth-loving goodies. Best of all, you're supporting a local business. Grayslland Acres is a working farm located northeast of Pryor, Oklahoma and is home to four llamas, 13 Nubian goats, four dogs, 10 chickens, two cats, a canary, an African gray parrot, and two humans - Steve and Myra Grayson.

I know it's just September 4th, but those amazing holidays are just around the corner!

Here's a reality check: there are just 111 days until Christmas. Before you know it, we'll be downing pumpkin spice lattes and eating turkey.

If you're interested in booth space in the 2015 Holiday Boutique, please call (918) 343-1165. There are just a few left!