Pinky Scout Boutique: STORE SPOTLIGHT PREMIER RETAILER Q&A

Back-to-school is in full swing, and we interviewed Stacy Rueckhaus, co-owner of one of the best (and most darling) children’s boutiques in Ohio – Pinky Scout – to get the inside kids-style-know-how and get you pumped up for fall fashion. Read more to learn just who exactly these mysterious “Pinky Scout” kids really are, the special “Pinky Scout” chant, what Stacy swore she would never do as a parent, great tips on fall fashion, and last but not least, parenting tips for back-to-school from the gals at Pinky Scout boutique!

 

Pinky Scout

5 East Main Street
Troy, OH 45373
937.440.1211
www.pinkyscout.com

CHECK-IN and JOIN Pinky Scout Boutique Facebook page and click HERE

1.    Pinky Scout is an fun and funky name! Tell us how you came to call your store Pinky Scout.
Stacy:  The store was created by myself and my two sisters, Julie and Sarah. When we were kids we formed our own secret club and called ourselves the “The Pinky Scouts.” It was a special club where we would tell each other our secrets and bond. Growing up we would always link pinkies and reference “Pinky Scout” when we had something to share with each other.  Now our daughters have joined the club and we all bond together over our Pinky Scout chant….it’s a bit corny, but i’ll share it with you.  (You have to link pinkies and solemnly repeat):

I love my pinky, yes I do, and NO, my pinky is not blue!”

You can’t go back on your word after saying that!

2.    Tell us the inside scoop about any special events that you have planned for fall, especially the fun deals we can expect!
Stacy:  At our store we support local designers and authors, there are so many talented individuals in our hometown! Most recently we set up a booth in our store to promote 2 local children’s authors, Hope Rethman and Meaghan Fisher, with a book signing. It was such a big success and our customers love the fact that we support local entrepreneurs. You can buy their books at: http://www.gypsypublications.com/GypsyMain/BookStore.html

3.    Please tell us 1 tip for a mom sending her child to school for the first time?
Stacy:  Get them to bed on time! Believe me, we learned from experience. A fresh and well-rested child will have a much better day at school.

Le Top "Pizzazz" collection super soft stretch cotton multi stripe hot pink dress

4.    Back-to-school is here – what are 3 trends you can tell parents to look for when buying their kids’ wardrobe?
Stacy: 

1. Accessorize! Hair bows, hair flowers, funky clips. Always add an extra special piece to make your child stand out!
2. Comfort. Kids want clothes that are comfortable (like Le Top!) For the younger set, elastic waists and knits work best.
3. Pull out the 80’s fashion. Neon, mesh and lots of rubber bracelets.  

5.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?” Please share!
Stacy:  That’s easy, my sister still teases me about this. My husband and I swore no store bought plastic toys or television for our Lily before she was born. It worked for a while, we bought her wooden toys and lots of books! When she started asking for Dora and The Wiggles it was all over. We couldn’t say No. Everything in moderation though. 

Inside Pinky Scout

6.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Troy, Ohio. Did you grow up in the local area?
Stacy:  We are located in a beautiful historic downtown area with lots of mom and pop shops and restaurants. Think cobblestone walk-throughs and a roundabout in the middle of town with a huge fountain! It’s a perfect fit for us. My sisters and I all grew up in the surrounding area and wanted to bring some more style to the area. 

7.    Tell us about a “special” moment that made your day working at your store.
Stacy:    There are a lot of them. One that stands out is making Christmas Eve deliveries to a few out of town customers that couldn’t make it in to the store. “Saving Christmas” for them that year made it all worth it.  

8.    Where are the best/essential family hangouts and places to go around your store location?
Stacy:  Our town’s weekly Farmers Market. Every Saturday through September, you’ll find lots of families out enjoying local food and arts. We love it! Our store occasionally sets up there to promote our business and some of the local artists we feature in our store.

Le Top "Vroom!" collection

9.    What Le Top or rabbitmoon Fall 2011 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
Stacy:  Le Top’s Vroom! My sister just had a baby boy and we love the new Fall Vroom! Collection. The motorcycle jacket and matching hat is a must! 

Pinky Scout

5 East Main Street
Troy, OH 45373
937.440.1211
www.pinkyscout.com

CHECK-IN and JOIN Pinky Scout Boutique Facebook page and click HERE

 

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Jessica Alba and Cash Warren Expecting Baby #2!

Photo by: Michael Buckner/Getty

Baby numero dos for Jessica Alba? The actress announced on her Facebook page yesterday that she and her husband, Cash Warren, are expecting baby #2! “I thought I’d drop by to let you all in on some exciting news — Honor is going to be a Big Sister!” Alba, 29, wrote. “Cash and I are thrilled and wanted to share the news directly with you so you didn’t hear about it somewhere else. I appreciated all of the love and support you all gave me during my first pregnancy and will definitely appreciate it again this time around. Have a great day!” she finishes, signing off, “Jess.” Alba’s first daughter delivered Honor Marie is 2 1/2-years-old. It would be so cute if both sisters dressed up in our new Le Top “Heart’s Delight” Collection (well, if the new baby is a girl!). The new baby could wear the Heart’s Delight sunsuit. Honor would look adorable in this matching sundress from the Heart’s Delight Collection.

Le Top Heart's Delight sunsuit and dress

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“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house All that cold, cold, wet day…” *

Our sales representative in Philadelphia sent us some pictures of the recent snow storm that hit his area, closing many government and civil offices.  We hear that a big part of the country is having a snow day!  What fun! 

Here in California, we don’t get “snow days” – we mostly experience many “rainy days”.  I remember while growing up here in the Bay Area that on rainy days we would come up with great games that kept us occupied indoors while the weather was storming outside.  One of my favorite things was to take apart the couch and raid the linen cabinet to build a fort.  I loved creating tunnels and rooms.  My sister and I would play for hours on end in our forts, while my mom maintained her sanity – a challenge with two very active little girls cooped up indoors!

What indoor activities do you use to keep your little ones busy on rainy or snowy days?

*From the Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

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Latest Celebrity Baby Name: Kenzo Lee

source: sheknows.com

A few days ago we announced  the arrival of Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou’s first child together – a baby boy, but at the time, few other details were revealed.

Kimora has since been updating the world via twitter about her new baby boy. She and Djimon named him Kenzo Lee Hounsou. At birth he weighed in at 8 lbs. and was 20 inches long.

According to a report by The New York Daily News when selecting their new baby boy’s name, Kimora and Djimon may have been inspired by Japanese fashion mogul Kenzo Takada.

Baby Kenzo was born on May 31. We can’t wait until the couple shares photos!

Do you guys like this name?

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Celebrity Birth for Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou

Source: babyphat twitpics

It’s a boy! While having contractions, Kimora Lee Simmons twittered from her hospital labor suite and then announced the arrival of the newest addition to her brood! This is Djimon Hounsou’s first child. Simmons has two other children with her first husband, Russel Simmons. No word yet on a name for the little boy. Congrats to the proud parents and sisters!

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Le Top Tips: Fashion “Stretched” with Leggings

 

Kira and Alyssa feeding the ducks

…submitted by: Robyn S.

My girls are wearing the dot beach dresses from the le•top Strawberry Fields collection. It was a little too short for Kira (she’s wearing size 6x, the largest size le•top offers, and she’s 9 years old), but I liked the dress so much, I had her wear it as a short dress with some leggings…and it turned out really cute! I couldn’t get any photos with the two of them facing me because they were too busy paying attention to the ducks instead of the photographer their mom! (Editor’s note: to see the front of their dresses, click on the photo)

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Siblings Forever

Miranda holding her baby brother, Paulo

Jamee sent this photo to me a little while back, and it really warmed my heart. Apparently, Miranda specifically chose and packed the le•top Strawberry Fields dress she’s wearing in her “hospital” suitcase (just like mom’s). She really wanted her first meeting with her new sibling to be special. They seem to be giving each other such deep, meaningful looks! Being the youngest (of only two kids), I’m not sure if birth order really has as much bearing as it might in larger families. I say this because I always acted like the first-born in many ways. And as for the relationship I had with my older brother, it was alternately very close for periods of time, and very…well…NOT close for other periods! Maybe my trying to usurp his first-born status had something to do with it? We were/are so different, and yet as adults, I notice how incredibly alike we can be in very subtle, and big ways, too.

Paulo in his I'm-going-home clothes, le•top baby, baby train (a gift from "Auntie" Chris!)

Through thick and thin, I have to say that I love my brother as I love no one else. He’s my one and only sibling, and I finally understand what my father meant when he used to admonish me for thinking friends were more “important.” Looking at Miranda holding her brand new baby brother, Paulo, I wish for them a wonderful bond that only siblings can have…and for the sake of their parents, I hope they develop that relationship with very minimal fighting! 😉

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