Coton Colors Lifestyle

Category: See Us In


17
Nov

Cookbook Signings :: Tiger Habitat

We snuck in a quick trip to the LSU Sport Shop just in time for a big game!!
» Posted In Happenings, See Us In, The Happy Everything Cookbook

I didn’t mention the field trip that Kristin, Kyle and I took right smack dab in the middle of the crazy Nutcracker show. In July we were invited to come for a book signing with our NUMBER ONE customer in LSU licensed products, the LSU Sport Shop.

Ashley Stringfellow, the store buyer and manager, sure knows her LSU stuff. She sells all of our collegiate products that we design specifically for LSU fans. Take a peek at them here! She invited us to come sign cookbooks during their homecoming weekend. Picture this… her store is located on the LSU campus directly across from Tiger Stadium, right next door to Mike the Tiger’s multi million dollar ‘habitat’. Our obvious answer… YES!
At that time we had no idea that LSU would be the number ONE team in the nation. Having come off of their amazing defeat of Alabama you cannot imagine the excitement we found once on campus. We were greeted by Ashley who met us on a motorized gator at parking lot W. {Thanks for the convenient parking pass Ashley!}
She drove us to the famed Tiger stadium. Along the way we passed the amazing, amazing, amazing spectacle of Tiger Tailgating.  Believe me…they do it up BIG here!
We were treated to a tour of the LSU hall of fame room where we saw trophy after trophy.  Then we walked through their NFL room where we saw every past team player next to the pro Helmets where they are playing in their professional careers! Kristin was in her glory as she read the names and commented on their positions and current standings. As big of a Tennessee fan as she is, this almost converted her to a Tiger fan!
It was so great to be here knowing that Big Milt {my husband Milton’s father} was an LSU grad, living in the dorms set right in Tiger Stadium.  I loved showing off our Cajun Sunday Supper chapter which showcases my mother-in-law, Mere, and her stories of growing up in New Orleans and Lafayette. Even these Cajuns who are fabulous cooks were excited to try Mere’s family recipe of Seafood Gumbo.  {You’ll find the recipe on page 182 of The Happy Everything Cookbook!}
We signed cookbooks, swapped cooking tales and joined the crowds and crowds of people who line the street just ouside the shop to cheer on the team and band who walk to the stadium between screaming lines of fans.  I have never in my life seen so much purple and gold!  Incredible fan support!!
I also really enjoyed walking through the food tents where I saw giant black cauldrons set over flames full of hot red beans and rice and steaming jambalaya. The menu was definitely NOT comprised of the normal stadium offerings of hotdogs and popcorn, rather Alligator balls and Boudin sausage. YUM! After the parade, Ashley took us to the stadium for game time where we met her husband Greg on the sidelines. Greg is equipment manager for the LSU football team – Wow! We also met her darling daughters, Sara &  Lily who were so cute, reminding me of my daughters at that age with their matching outfits… purple striped shirts, “skinnies” and tiny cowboy boots. So, so cute!
Tiger stadium is just incredible.  I am so happy to have had the chance to be there and also so happy to have Milton join us.  After all this book tour traveling I really miss him!  {I have to tell you, as soon as he heard about the LSU signing he booked his ticket.  He wasn’t going to miss Tiger stadium.}. Also, I was so glad we had Kyle join us as chief personalizer for LSU ornaments.  I loved having them both with me {and Kristin too}!
We ended the night at a wonderful chop house in downtown Baton Rouge, adjoining the Mississippi river. We enjoyed a delicious meal and then on to bed as another early wake up call was ahead of us. You just never know where the road will take you!
Never had I imagined us on this journey through the south.  I have enjoyed ever single minute of it and cannot wait to wake up tomorrow with more adventures to be had.   Next stop, back to Houston to finish up the Nutcracker and then on to a few Texas towns…
Can’t wait!!




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17
Nov

Cookbook Signings :: Day 5

There wasn't much time to sign cookbooks during the hustle and bustle of the Houston Nutcracker Market!
» Posted In Happenings, Recipes, See Us In, The Happy Everything Cookbook

With just a days rest the team headed out to the Houston Nutcracker, a retail show where we set up a booth and sell our products to lots and lots of retail customers. It is a fundraiser for the Houston Ballet and all ticket proceeds from the Market benefit the Houston Ballet Foundation, Houston Ballet Academy and its scholarship funds. We are nestled in among hundreds of other vendors {323 to be exact} selling everything from gourmet food, clothing, jewelry, home decor, Christmas decorations and everything else you can think of.  It is a very, very busy show with over 100,000 people attending and I just love it! It is a wonderful way for me to see how our customers choose our products, what they select and I even get to hear their suggestions. The booth is fairly small which forces us to concentrate on selling our Personalizable Glass Ornaments, our Happy Everything line and of course, our new Happy Everything Cookbook!

{Please excuse the iphone pictures, that’s all we had time for! }

My sister Marcie and my Mom set off pulling a trailer packed full for the long drive west across I-10 to Houston, a mere 12 hours! I flew in the following morning followed by the rest of our team: Kristin, Coton Colors’ National Sales Director, Jenny Lynn, our dynamo sales rep from Mississippi and Kyle, my daughter and a talented Coton Colors Artist. We were ready to personalize, personalize, personalize!

We were fortnuate this year to connect with Sommer Shelfer Blackburn.  Sommer is a Tallahasse girl who married and settled down in Houston with her husband and two precious children.   She graciously signed up to help us during this fun {but exhausting} event and brought some great friends with her who helped sell, wrap up packages and check customers out. Believe me, we needed all that help and more!  These girls were wonderful, jumping right into the madness of selling to a booth packed with people. Sommer is also an entrepreuneur, starting a delightful children’s clothing line called Beanies. It is such a cute, well done line.  She has a great website too: http://www.beaniesclothing.com. Check it out!  I just wish my girls were still young enough to wear her adorable designs. {Perhaps my grandkids can wear them someday… }During the show, Marcie is ‘chief personalizer’, beautifully writing names and dates on many thousands of ornaments.  It is a tough job, being able to concentrate on the different spellings and specifics of the orders while being jostled by shoppers.  Kyle really stepped in this year as an ‘assistant personalizer’, giving Marcie some much needed relief.  Kyle has heard about the excitement and madness of this market for many years but she was still surprised by the craziness during her first visit!  Mom, of course, was busy selling, selling, selling.  We are all constantly amazed by her energy which kept up great this year.  Go Mom!

My job was to show off The Happy Everything Cookbook as well as introduce people to the complete Happy Everything line. It was a pleasure meeting so many different people, talking about cooking and entertaining, swapping recipes and signing cookbooks! Susie cooked up the delicious Cipotle Pecans for customers to taste and the recipe received RAVE reviews. I highly recommend to you… offer them up this Thanksgiving to your guests!  They are easy to make and are the perfect snack. Rosemary and chipotle are the unexpected flavors that make these pecans so different.  I assure you they will be a big hit! Click here to order your cookbook and find the pecan recipe on page 110.
We’ve attending this show for many years {not one of us can remember how many} and it is great to meet back up with customers who have purchased Coton Colors’ ornaments each year for their growing families. It is a busy {and hard on the body} show to work, but I always, always mange to somehow leave energized.  Thanks Houston for your friendly welcome. We look forward to coming back next year.  {…after we get a bit of rest, that is! }
08
Nov

Cookbook Signings :: Day 4

We kept going in Kentucky with Signings in Louisville!
» Posted In Celebrations, Happenings, See Us In, The Happy Everything Cookbook

Still in Kentucky and on our way to Louisville for another couple of cookbook signings before heading home. Another beautiful day and a beautiful ride passing more and more farms. We landed at Two Chicks, their second location…

Kristin parked in her “lucky parking spot” {the one she parked in when she first approached them to sell Coton Colors products many years ago}. This location holds such a treasure…Barbara…Alison’s mom and one of the original “Two Chicks”.  {The Louisville store actually refers to themselves as the hens… they say the chicks are in Lexington.. So cute!!!}

This small store holds a powerful punch and a lot a lot of product! And boy was it buzzing!!

Customers enjoyed many specials and tastings of recipes from The Happy Everything Cookbook. What is better than Rum Punch at 10:30 am on a Saturday morning??   Sure makes Christmas shopping more enjoyable!  Also, the customers were treated with the Sweet Chili Noodle Salad, another great recipe from the Happy Everything cookbook.  Two Chicks went over the top by serving the salad in mini Chinese take out boxes with chopsticks. Adorable!!  The customers LOVED it.  {Trust me, I’ll be making it for my family as soon as I get home!}

The store is perfectly positioned next to a happening restaurant, The Cheddar Box. We are delighted that the owner/chef will be offering dishes from The Happy Everything Cookbook on their menu next week! Yay!

After signing many cookbooks, platters, ornaments and attachments {even a cookbook that’s headed to Germany!} we took a moment to appreciate the team spirit that permeates Louisville…

Next, we were off to our final Kentucky destination…Dee’s. We were greeted by Lori from Dee’s completely dressed up in an elf outfit and our Coton Colors rep Alison! How cute! Every time Lori took a step cheery jingle bells sounded. She sure knows how to put on a party!! Yummy Apple Cake, warm Chili, savory Chipotle Pecans, Sugared Ginger Cookies and Buttery Pound Cake with Nutella Swirl were on the menu! Delish!!

Dee’s is a HUGE, and I mean huge, store that has a wonderful offering of just about everything {especially HAPPY everything!}.

Want a Derby Hat {we are in Kentucky remember…}? No problem, You can choose from the hundreds of designs they have created or have one made special, one of a kind to match your dress. And remember that team spirit that I mentioned before? It’s here at Dee’s too! Need University of Kentucky gift items? Or how about U of L? No problem, they have an entire selection and several loaded up Christmas trees covered in any ornament you could want {especially Coton Colors ornaments!}. The displays are wonderful and there is plenty of space to browse…

We started the event off with our ‘Tidings from a Christmas Kitchen’ demonstration where we showed customers how to ‘wrap up’ special gifts of all types for the holiday season. We hope they left a little bit more empowered to keep it simple and will enjoy gathering together to easily create extra special tidings from their own kitchens.

We had some audience participation on this one…

They were listening so intently they forgot to smile! I promise we were having fun!!

It was wonderful signing books and meeting all of the great customers that have collected Coton Colors through the years as well as making new friends. I am so appreciative and humbled by their support of my product.

She was making her list and checking it twice!! Look how many attachments she has…Lorie’s customers are so much fun and really had a great time – we shared many laughs with them!!We even had cusomters leave the Breeders Cup Horse Race to get books signed!!!!  Look at the mud on their boots…It is such a treat for me to hear feedback and I just love the inspiration I am gathering. Can’t wait to get back to designing…no wait. I am having way too much fun out on the road!!

We hate to leave Kentucky. What a warm, welcome reception we have had here. We have left behind a promise to return during racing season {if they’ll have us}. We are heading back home for a few days but will be anxious to get back on the road.

Up next: Houston….here we come.

Don’t forget, leave us a comment here on the blog about what you think of the Cookbook, or share on Facebook, Twitter or your own Blog, and you could win a signed copy of The Happy Everything Cookbook!!  Get yours!

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07
Nov

Cookbook Signings :: Day 3

A beautiful Signing Saturday in Lexington Kentucky!
» Posted In Celebrations, Happenings, See Us In, The Happy Everything Cookbook

We set off on the early morning flight (up at 5) and flew up to Lexington. Brrrr…it’s cold in Kentucky!  But so, so lovely.  Loved passing all of the Keeneland bronzed horses.  We knew we were not in Florida anymore as we drove to one of Kristin’s very favorite stores for our first signing of the day… Two Chicks and Co.

The owners, Barbara and Alison showed Kristin the love when she was a road warrior rep for Coton Colors years ago, and she was anxious to see how their stores have evolved and changed. The store is set in a house so imagine how cute it is with front porch and all.  Boy….was it happening at Two Chicks Lexington!!

We quickly got busy signing and talking to the many happy customers she invited to their Get Happy party.  They leave no stone unturned… the store was PACKED with all types of fun products and completely decked for Christmas. It definitely puts you in the mood for the holidays!  We met many, many loyal Happy Everything customers including the one pictured below who has every single attachment and item in the happy everything collection!! We are so appreciative as these are the customers who have supported and inspired me to create more and more!   Thank you!

We enjoyed fine service from the adorable mayor of the town, really….who does that?  {Well…Alison is married to him so I guess he is kinda obligated}.  We met fun, fun people and signed lots and lots of books! And who can resist a Happy Everything cookie!?!

The sweet customer pictured below rushed to the party from work so she could meet Laura and Susie and get 5 books signed!!The customer below couldn’t resist the Premier Scarecrow attachment! How perfect for the fall!!

Alison even recruited her mother-in-law and sister-in-law to come and be part of the Get Happy party!!! Thanks guys!!

Now off to another super store…Something Special.  Owner, Debbie, is such a wonderfully, funny, sweet person and I just love spending time with her.  She has wonderful store help too!

Delicious Apple Cake was the perfect fit for this crisp, fall night and was very much enjoyed. We met many customers and signed lots of books. A highlight was meeting Paula, a longtome customer who has collected Coton Colors pottery for a long while.   Thanks for the encouragement of keeping polka dot plates in our line! We will! She told us of her four daughters and their interest in Coton Colors. Thanks girls!!  I have three daughters and I loved talking about the many weddings their family has been through during recent years. I was so glad to learn that they can be seen on some wedding blogs and I can’t wait to take a peek!!

One cute college age staffer has a boyfriend who, along with another adorable friend, served up delicious dishes cooked from the cookbook.  It is unusual to find twenty-something cute boys bear the Coton Colors products {except for our warehouse staff back home} so we had fun!!

Here he is signing one to Susie’s daughter Kate {pictured on the page with the peaches}!
They even bought copies for their mothers and grandmothers… good boys!!

Finally, we enjoyed meeting Debbie’s daughter who is a middle school teacher, bless her heart. I remember when my girls were in middle school, whew!  What a delight we had during our evening signing.  A lovely place with lovely people – such a treat. Thank you for having us! Thanks to everyone for such a warm bluegrass welcome!

After our trip we have become official Kentucky experts, so we’re happy to share what we’ve learned…

You know you’re in the bluegrass state when:

  • In the ladies room you can watch the horse races on a tv when washing your hands!
  • You look right and left and see nothing but rolling hills and miles and miles of beautifully painted fencing. {Did I mention my next goal is a horse farm?}
  • Every tree is on fire with fall colors and the air is chilly and the sun is shining. I am certain it is like this here every day…aren’t you?
  • You are blessed with loyal wonderful customers who leave the breeders cup racing to come meet us and have us sign cookbooks, with mud on their boots!! Horse race fans at their finest!!

Now on to a good ole Kentucky steakhouse {yum!} then into bed to get ready for another day of fun in Kentucky…

We have heard so much great feedback on the road and we would love to hear your thoughts and feedback too! Tell us what you think about the NEW Happy Everything Cookbook in the comments below and you could WIN a signed copy of the cookbook! Share on Facebook, twitter or your blog for additional entries. Good luck!!

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04
Nov

Cookbook Signings :: Day 2

Holiday Hallmark was the perfect host, we sure did enjoy Louisiana!
» Posted In Celebrations, Happenings, See Us In, The Happy Everything Cookbook

We woke up yesterday morning and hustled out the door of the hotel lugging six suitcases.  Yes!  Six big ones for a four day jaunt.  This is crazy!

From the hotel, we headed out to Mandeville, La crossing the causeway over the center of Lake Ponchartrain to Holiday Hallmark for a book signing. A lovely family owned business, the owners are a fun loving group with parents, Sid and Mary Elizabeth {who started the business and are now semi retired}, two brothers, Sid, Jr. and Hughes, and a sister, Jennifer.   The siblings now run their family business of 7 Holiday Hallmark stores. We were set to sign in two of them, in two different cities – Mandeville and Baton Rouge, LA.
We arrived with yummy vegetarian chili and pumpkin seed cornbread and chipotle pecans greeting us. The customers loved the food which was great news to us! {As Susie says, it is a bit intimidating in this land of fabulous food.}  We were pleased that several cookbooks were signed and sold AFTER they tasted. Our favorite signing message requested in Louisiana was, “If you can read, you can cook!” Ha!

We had such a great time with the staff too, sharing tips for personalizing ornaments, and having a platter signed by all of them for us!
We enjoyed swapping recipes and talking about the way of life in the area.  I am excited to try Phyllis’ homemade chicken soup, which she calls ‘Jewish Penicillin’.  The twist is to place two whole onions to slow cook in the bubbly broth until they are soft enough to spoon out.  Don’t you just love that idea? Yum!

On our way to Baton Rouge we were treated by our delightful “driver”, Sid, Sr.and Mary Elizabeth with mounds of luggage in the back trunk {thank goodness they drive an SUV or we would be traveling rooftop}.   I most enjoyed hearing the story of how they got into the gift business.  {I may have the dates a bit off} but it all started in 1972 when Sid was working in a management training program with a large retailer in jackson, Mississippi.   A fellow employee told him of his wife’s new venture of opening a restaurant in the train station.  EXACTLY what Sid wanted to be doing.  

That evening he came home, said to Mary Elizabeth, “Pack your bags, we are moving.  I don’t want to look back twenty years from now regretting I didn’t take a chance.”  So they did…moving to Baton Rouge.   They found a perfect new shopping center under construction, signed a lease and called Hallmark, saying we found a space, now let’s do business! A giant leap of faith!!   But, it appears to have worked out beautifully as they now operate such a successful business and enjoy an entrepreneurial way of life.  Sid Sr. still remembers when his daughter Jennifer made her first sale. She was four years old and a customer was leaving empty handed ’til she shamed him into making a purchase by asking, “You didn’t buy anything from my daddy?” A true family business!

Our sweet drivers dropped us off at our hotel, smack dab in the middle of LSU campus, with a few hours to “rest” before the next signing. We immediately set out in search of some delicious Louisiana lunch specialties, ending up at the Chimes.   We enjoyed boudin balls, seafood gumbo and blackened alligator po boy. {yes alligator!}  The only other time I’ve been served alligator is at a tailgate when FSU was playing UF many years ago.   Everything was delicious, but my favorite touch was the single blue crab claw set right in the center of the gumbo.

We just HAD to go visit Mike the tiger (in his multiple million dollar habitat) and we found this absolutely huge tiger sound asleep.  {Maybe he needs to rest up for the big weekend….LSU vs. Alabama}  Let me tell you, this weekend’s game is BIG.  And boy do they LOVE LSU football here.  There isn’t anywhere you look that you don’t see a tiger, or purple and gold.   I have never seen anything like it.  They are big time fans and we love it!!  Case in point: One of the customers at the signing came hobbling in with an ankle cast….and yes, it was painted with purple and yellow stripes!

Our next signing was a delight, with  the entire family going all out, cooking up many different dishes from the cookbook.
Tents greeted us where they served up all of the many dishes and Sid Sr. passing out Rum Runners, which were a big hit.  We enjoyed meeting many of the Bowden’s friends and long time customers and signing cookbooks.
After the event we were treated to a delicious meal at a favorite Baton Rouge restaurant, Rubbinos.  I enjoyed the sampling plate with a taste of several seafood specialties, including BBQ shrimp, delicious scallops {award winning come to find out} and crab cheesecake {unexpected, but yummy!}. The best part of the evening, however, was simply enjoying the banter of this tight knit, loving, witty family.  A real treat.

There is so much more I can share about just this one day’s experience.  Thank you to the wonderful hospitality given to us by the Bowden family.  We are so appreciative.  Geaux …..tigers!!!

Now, on our way to Kentucky!  See y’all there!!
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