February 02, 2007

The Shop Around the Corner

My very favorite movie is You've Got Mail. I have always wanted to have a little shop just like the one in the movie. One day this past year I was exploring the shops on the square in a nearby town, when I happened upon the most magical store. It's called The Wild and is run by the sweetest woman named Jane. Even though she is living my dream, I still like her. I'm so in love with this store that I would actually work there for free. When you walk through the door something just happens to you. I think it is a real gift to be able to create that kind of environment. I love the idea of giving my money to an actual person rather than a corporation so I have taken to buying books and gifts there as often as possible. Sadly, since Emma started school we can't get there for story time very often so we were thrilled when they had a special Valentine story time at 4pm this past Wednesday.

The inside of the store is just magical. I can't imagine how wonderful it must be for a child if it affects me the way it does. This is the back of the store where events take place. There are tree stumps for the children to sit on during storytime. Sometimes they even offer Ukelele lessons!

This is part of the front of the store. You can see that it has so much more than books. They have an amazing selection of puzzles, crafts, puppets and handmade items. We bought Emma a ballerina puppet for Christmas like the one in the picture.

This is Pages the cat. He lives in the store and can usually be found sprawled in this window or on the counter by the register. He is kept company by a bunny named Bunnicula and a bunch of fish.

These are our treasures from this weeks trip. Emma spent her own money on this sweet bear. I found this beautiful children's apron marked 1/2 price with the Christmas items and this wonderful Italian architecture watercolor book in her used book section for $1.

30 comments:

  1. You've Got Mail is one of my favourite movies as well. After watching it, I went on about how much I loved it so much that my family went out and bought the tape for me!!
    Your favourite shop sounds like a treasure - we have something similar in our town - a little brick home converted into a book store with a resident cat.
    Great post!

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  2. I also love "You've Got Mail".We bought the DVD and have watched it so often that I can not count it!

    Your book shop sounds perfect, it must be a paradise for children!
    Best regards from Germany, Monika

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  3. "You've Got Mail" is one of mine and my husband's most favorite movies. So lucky that he is a sucker for romantic comedies like me! What a delight to have this little shop nearby. Thanks for commenting on my blog recently. BTW, the wing stamp is by Dawn Houser for Inkadinkadoo and I purchased it online from Stamp Diva.

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  4. I too love "You've Got Mail". Did you know it's a remake of a movie called "Shop Around the Corner"? I didn't until I saw the original, made in 1940 with James Stewart and Maureen Sullavan as secret penpals. They even have some of the same lines!

    What a wonderful bookstore to have nearby!

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  5. Two thumbs up for "You've Got Mail"!! The Wild looks like a store that I could get lost in for an afternoon. Thanks for the picture tour.

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  6. That looks like a wonderful shop and I totally agree with you about supporting the small business owner as opposed to a giant corporation. You often find more unique items in an owner operated shop as well. I'm sure your daughter will always remember her visits to the store.
    A friend of ours once owned a used book store and had a resident cat who roamed the shop.

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  7. Sigh...Meg and Tom two of my ALL time favs!!!!
    I love it when she rolls up the awning each day...when I had a retail store it had an awning...I would pretend like I was Meg every day when I would roll it up!!!!

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  8. Looks like a magical shop. I really love your thoughts on supporting local shops rather than buying from some big corporate chain. I try to do that as much as possible. Love Emma's cute little bear!

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  9. How special to find a palce that makes you feel so good. We have a childrens book store in my town that makes me feel the same way, you are disarmed by its charm.

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  10. Oh this shop must be totally magic!

    And I love 'You've Got Mail' too. I have it, on vhs. Yes, I've had it that long, that we didn't have the dvd player, then. :-))))

    Such an idealized view of city living, in it. But I love it. And I love her apartment. :-)

    'MN'

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  11. How beautiful!!!! Have you seen the original movie that they based "You've Got Mail" on? Called, of course, "The Shop Around the Corner". It's an oldie from the 40's starring Jimmy Stewart. I have wonderful memories of watching it with my grandmother

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  12. GET OUT!!!! That has been my favorite movie since it came out. I have watched it 753 times and can recite every word. Oh!

    Do you think we should meet?

    Meet?

    Let's just be like George Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Hansen and write letters our whole lives.

    Thank your.

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  13. I feel the same way when I enter stores filled with treasures that speak to me! I want to work there for free..The welcoming commitee in the window alone would lure me in!As you know I *loVe* cats. I can see the inner child in me coming out if I were to enter this store.hugs

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  14. The way you talk about this shop, it makes me want to inspire the same kind of awe in my music students. I do think I create SOME magic in their lessons, but can you ever really have too much? :)

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  15. How lucky you are to have such a wonderful shop nearby and good for you for supporting a local shop, it's important to do that these days. I think you get the best service at small, owner-run shops. I bet the children find the place truly magical!

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  16. How magical is that shop! I'm so glad you have that to visit with the girls! I agree with you 100% about supporting local, neighborhood stores if possible, over the big chains. And "You've Got Mail" is my 2nd favorite movie, after "Gone with the Wind"
    xo,
    Kim
    P.S. Great pictures Jen!

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  17. We're all kindred spirits because this is my favorite movie as well. It's on HBO right now I've seriously watched it 3 times in the past couple weeks while working on projects.

    I loved hearing and seeing photos of your neighborhood shop. I worked in a magical little shop a few years back doing window displays and rearranging the store every few days. I loved it and still miss it! We also had a cat who was on "display" in our front window! People would come in just to see her (and we loved it!) :) Just a nice memory.. Thanks for sharing and definitely agree about supporting independently owned shops.

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  18. Your favorite shop is just adorable !!! Looks like fun ! Thanks for sharing !
    Eunice

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  19. I love You've Got Mail- I just got it on DVD and am excited to watch it with the commentary on to hear how Nora Ephron thought of everything! Having a shop like that with a little bit of everything would be a dream come true! Thanks for sharing your find!

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  20. Oh I love stores like this especially if owned by a gracious person. Usually when there is a feline friend or furry crit you’re sure to meet up with a lovely soul who owns the magical shop. Even the cat's name is precious. I love it. Owning such a shop…. one of my many dreams. Now I must see ‘You’ve Got Mail’ and “The Shop around the Corner”. I have no idea how I could have missed the latter since it has Jimmy starring in it…he’s one of my favorites.

    Annabelle ~^..^~ xo

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  21. What an adorable store... I think I would work there for nix, too. Keep showing me these lovely things, honey, I'm enjoying the sights!

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  22. This looks like such a treasure. I so love that movie, too. Hear, hear! for supporting local small business owners. I admire the ones who make it look like so much fun.

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  23. Okay, so I watched "you've Got Mail" again in your honor this weekend. That makes 754 times now.

    Also...I tagged you. You're it!

    Amber :)

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  24. hey there, you okay? missing your posts...:)b

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  25. My daughter was standing next to me when I read this post, and when I scrolled to the photos of the lovely shop, my daughter kept saying,"WOW!" "That's so cool!" What a wonderful place to bring children! You're daughter is a little doll!
    Never saw the movie "You've Got Mail" - perhaps I'll rent it soon!=)

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  26. I think we must be soulmates! I'm so glad that y'all get that movie too! For those of you that haven't seen it, you must rent it soon. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing The Shop Around the Corner but I'm going to see if my library has a copy.

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  27. Tag! You're It! See my blog...:)

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  28. loved tat movie too... including Meg Ryans wonderful little nyc apartment. I agree it feels so good to patronize our little family owned stores.

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  29. Love The Wild....my 7yo son is crazy about Pages! My second favorite place is Cottage Corner.

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  30. oh my! you've got mail is one of my favorite movies and everytime i watch it, i tell the hubby i want a book store JUST.LIKE.THAT!!!

    great blog :)

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