Save the Dates!

Before you order those custom Christmas cards, before you force the kids to get haircuts for the 2009 photo, before you update your mailing list or start hunting for new recipes to use at your holiday gathering, you need to mark your calendar.

You need to mark your calendar with

HiHo's Holiday Open House Weekend.....November 14th &15th

Why settle for the same old shopping experience? You deserve more than a tree and shots of the kids. Break away from the ordinary, go from black and white to technicolor. HiHo can help you make your home a holiday spectacular, and it all begins on our open house weekend, so be sure to save the dates.

Fall Windows

The first of the Fall leaves. The banner was put up.
The view from across the street....the blue chairs didn't last the weekend . People are still inquiring about them, go figure???The days of the open door may be over for this year soon, so be sure to take a drive through the valley and enjoy the colors before they are gone....

Hudson Valley's Best Party

In July we were notified that HiHo was readers pick for BEST GIFT SHOP. This very exciting news was hard to keep as a secret. The publication posting the winners is the Oct. issue of Hudson Valley Magazine and last night was the showcase celebration at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel. The challenge: represent HiHo in a 8x10 space. We decided to just use Fall as the theme and bring more new gift items than vintage. We also worked on a slide show video with my friend Gia from Ness Learning Center and used the vintage Hoffman television to disguise the flat screen monitor.
This photo of me was taken just after finishing the set up and when my nerves were starting to get the best of me....1500 people on their way.
This is a shot of Susan after a good drink at the bar, as she said "much easier to smile after a drink".
See I'm a lot more relaxed now. We handed out HiHo buttons that say, HiHo HiHo it's off to shop I go and Salt Water Taffy, spoke with hundreds of people and gave them HiHo business cards.
The HiHo men wore their new shirts and drank and ate all evening. They look like HiHo security, but they really did have a good time.
I was interviewed by cable 6 the local station and Everett was asked to assist, by holding the microphone.

To watch our new slide show video that we premiered at the show just click on this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1UuqDruh8M All in all we had a great time, and look forward to sharing the shop with all the new customers we met at the show.

The Pressure is On...

...or is it lack of focus and my head is just spinning? I have spoke of my list before, you know, the general everyday one, husband, kids, bathroom, laundry, give the dog a bath, however that one never goes away. Right now I have lists of lists....

The first list I'm referring to is the list that gets me excited this time every year. The be prepare for the Fall Shoppers List, better known as the "peepers". Keeping the shop together refreshed and just plain stocked is a challenge. The second list has me dropping the peepers list on a regular basis....it's the Get Ready For Christmas List. Shipment is fast and furious, arriving nearly everyday, making piles of cardboard boxes, undermining the efforts of the peepers list. The third list has me throwing all other lists out the window...it's the Holy Cow We Are Going To Be A Part Of Hudson Valley Magazine's Best Of Event List. The fourth list gets dropped a lot, my list of things I should be doing as President of our town's business association, ( it's actually a pile at this point). This blog is on my fifth list....know wonder it's been weeks since my last real post, sorry, this list is called , The I Can Get To It Tomorrow List. It's not surprising that many items from other lists default to this list....

Sooo, yes I'm good, spinning, but good. The shop is put together, the kids are doing well, Mr. HiHo is always by my side, Humphrey on my lap and I do my best work under pressure, so be sure to stop by and take a gander.....leave your lists behind.

THANK YOU!

Thanks to many HiHo friends and customers, HiHo has the title of
BEST GIFT SHOP in the Hudson Valley. A readers choice award that we are humbled by and very grateful for. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Tent Event 2009

It happened the weekend before last, one of the most exciting weekends of the year. Second only to our Holiday Open House. The tents went up on Friday and the event kicked off Saturday morning.
One side of HiHo had was our event and the other, was the Gardiner Library's Book Fair.We lined the street with Mums, making a safe walkway for visitors. Saturday morning was damp, a sprinkle or two, but the crowds came out in the afternoon.

The tents were filled with goodies. Vendors set up lovely booths and visited with HiHo customers.

It was fun to taste the honey, visit with friends and listen to the music.

Number one son, Everett, cooked and served up hot dogs for two days. Raising money for the library.

Jami, show cased art work representing peace, done by children from around the world.

Heather's, quilts was beautiful and the children's aprons were delightful.

Steph and Liz peddled hand crafted decorations for all seasons....when they were not buying books at the library tent.

A better view of the girls booth.

The bands were fantastic with energy a plenty performing for the crowds.
The majority of the pictures taken, are early morning shots before I got too busy being the hostess. I regret not getting a shot of musician Don Sparks on Sunday and a few of Aubrey singing with the band on Saturday. Although, those are the only regrets of that weekend....many thanks to all who joined in the fun. You all sounded and looked great!

A Good Book and a Snack

ONE STOP SHOPPING AT HIHO!