Living Authentically...and Other Daily Chores: Shop Small......Support Big!

There is a world, inside of the bigger picture that we view each and every day, that is contained within itself. Like a snow globe, miniature versions of larger perceptions. We feed into frenzies that urge us to "SAVE BIG" if we "BUY MORE" but "TODAY ONLY"! You can have exactly what you have seen in the magazines and celebrity twitter feeds if you "ACT NOW" and swipe your card...sign your name...don't think twice. Better yet, now all you have to do is get out your phone, press a button and voila!, your package will arrive in 2 business days, shipped directly to your door. No fuss, no muss. No waiting, no other communication necessary. No personable sales clerk. No shaking of hands and a smile as money passes. No eye contact. No verbal confrontation at all.
You own another piece of...something. An item that, in no way do you have any idea, whose time was spent creating it. What hands touched your new glorious "must have" to package it and ship it over miles or oceans away.
I am not completely without a chain store trip on my to-do list. An Etsy item made for my New England home by my fellow American, yet farther Western than id travel for it, artists. I even send my money overseas at times. Struggling Costa Rican artisans or rare novels from my new eBay friend in France. We all do it. It is what makes our financially dependant world spin! But today, I am hoping to bring a bit more awareness to the amazing, gorgeous entrepreneurs sitting right in our backyards and down our streets. The previously unsung heroes of local capital. The once upon time "mom and pop" shops reincarnated. A new take on a classic! Local businesses!

A couple years ago I first stepped into a boutique that opened its doors right along the main street in our little downtown area. Although she was tucked in with bigger named restaurants and longer standing businesses, making a local name for herself didn't take long and folks flocked to walk through her modestly quaint entrance. Once inside, the wall to wall pop of colors, fabrics and gems flooded your view and it seemed as if this narrow limited space became not unlike Alice's rabbit hole...endless and exciting!

Named in honor of her precious son, Layne, Linsey was soon expanding her online shop to storefront success! With a bright eye catching hue and a gorgeous ever changing window display, you were bound to be drawn in. Once inside, that is where the magic happened. You immediately made friends with Linsey herself, always there to greet and meet her customers with a gracious smile and

an obvious love for what she does. You were sure to return and bring more new happy shoppers with you!

It wasn't long before Linsey Layne needed to expand and stretch its baby boutique wings. Luckily, for Linsey as well as her loyal following, she did not have to look far. Right next door was a perfect open space. With some TLC and time, a brand new look to the well known "little shop that could", Linsey Layne reopened in true ta-da fashion! Crystal chandeliers, vintage style displays and a brand new beautiful dressing room, her customers flooded in to support and celebrate along with her. Now with two nice large windows for her well known designed scenes and her traditional sign out front donning "Shop Small" encouraging passers by to support local, it won't be long before an entire town (and neighboring towns, I predict) will have stepped foot into this small town favorite. Be sure to stop in and say hello! Also, you can follow them on social media here on facebook and instagram or directly to her website at www.linseylayne.com.

the new Linsey Layne boutique

a sidewalk view outside of the new Linsey Layne

Once having the opportunity to grow, Linsey Layne moving one door down opened up a perfect space for yet another local female entrepreneur! With a successfully growing website, The Topping Tree was looking for somewhere to put down roots! An easy complement to her fellow boutique shop next door, this unique hair accessory shop is expanding their fresh and ever changing head candy and adding some newbies including natural hair products, mineral makeup and even a men's facial hair line! Everything you find here is made locally and most can be specialized and made to order. Follow The Topping Tree for more information and to keep up with specials and new items on facebook and instagram (@thetoppingtree) or on twitter. You can also head right to their website at www.thetoppingtree.com.
After spending an afternoon between these two women's shops, you will leave with bags of unique goodies sure to be the topic of many conversations among your friends who have yet to experience them. Your heart will undoubtedly be filled with pride and promise knowing you've contributed to one of America's swiftly rising commodities, the hard working local business! And let's not forget these particular two go getters are 100% female brain child's! Somehow, in this day and age, that's just a bit more pretty icing on this proverbial "mans world" cake!

a sweet spot just outside The Topping Tree

inside the adorable Topping Tree

Take an afternoon, grab a couple friends (or your daughters, as I do...there's no better way to teach self love and women's strength than to put them face to face with two real live ladies doing it everyday) and head on over to Linsey Layne and The Topping Tree. Prepare to get lost for a while in the quaint beauty of both of these shops and spend extra time chatting it up with each of them. They are truly humble and grateful women, eager to get to know their customers. Then, not too far just around the corner, you can extend your "Shop Small" day at the locally owned cupcake and cookie shop! But that's another blog post entirely!!!