Santa Monica Birthday Winners!
Congratulations to Patti B, Var G, and Jill B!! They are our 3 winners for the Curious Coin $100 giveaway at our Santa Monica Birthday Cupcake party! Didn’t get a chance to go? Stay tuned for Roseville, CA’s birthday in March! Thanks again for everyone who came to the store to enjoy a teeny tiny cupcake, see our new spring line, and chit-chat with other Peek customers. WE LOVE YOU!
Spring Photoshoot
We had such a great time at our photoshoot last weekend! We visited the Adobe Pumpkin farm in Petaluma CA to take some amazing shots in the mustard fields for our new spring line. The children had a blast and were so excited to play with all the new things on the farm! Jumping from hay bails, running through the mustard stalks, playing on tractors, it was a fun-filled and MUDDY day! Please enjoy some of these shots while we did the photoshoot, and stay tuned for our new refresh of Spring imagery at our stores and online!
Silhouette Event with Karl Johnston
Thanks to everyone who showed up at our Corte Madera store for the unique gift opportunity of Silhouette Art! We had a group of over 50 parents and their kids come by–some even brought a pet! We hope everyone enjoyed their time at Peek for the afternoon and enjoyed seeing our great gift ideas for your kids, nieces, nephews, and grand children. If you missed this event in Corte Madera, Karl will be visiting our Santa Monica store this Saturday, Dec 12th from 10am – 6pm. Be sure to call 310.434.9700 to reserve your spot as appointments are limited. We look forward to seeing you there!
So a few years ago, as my husband and I were talking about the power of community and the importance of community in our own lives and for us as a family, we started talking a lot about the power and growth of online communities. Knowing some that were very much a part of this world, and not at all understanding it, I quickly brushed it off, and probably made some sort of comment about not having enough time for the family and friends that were already an important part of my life. As time went on, and we focused on building Peek…Aren’t You Curious, we talked more and more about blogs, parenting sites, the connections that people were making and the inspiration and advice they often found.
So of course, as I often do, I opened my ears and eyes up to different recommendations and started reading ( and soon following ) a number of blogs. Next up, as I often do, I surprised myself and signed up for both a twitter account and a facebook page. Meeting, connecting and reconnecting with friends old and new.
Along the way, I found out what all the fuss was about. Through the days, weeks and months, of sharing, reading and experiencing I ended up meeting some of the most creative, inspired, funny, honest women I have ever met. Strange I think, as I look back, that some how, we gravitate to each other, sharing the joys and struggles of parenting, working, being married, our friends, creative interests and ultimately life how this all happens.
Which, brings me to this post. First, I had the joy of seeing Carrie’s ( otherwise known as urban-babyphotography! ) work on a site that I admired..A well done website that a friend has for her amazing design business. Next up, reading her blog, and a recent getaway/photo shoot they had gone on together, I had the chance to see her work..then finally the introduction and finally the friendship. Knowing I think the whole time that what I most hoped is that we could one day work together… So as the months went along and we then decided to host holiday photo sessions in our stores to thank our customers for supporting us, I immediately reached out to Carrie.
The rest of the story speaks for itself. From the amazing support and time she gave to the project, to the calls securing the details..it was as I had hoped. A community of people, coming together to collaborate, create and become their best selves..take a peek
http://urban-baby.com/darkroom/share/?n=Peek_Montana
Thank you to Carrie ( and of course Kelley! ) for all that you’ve done and taught me along the way.
P.S.
In that small world way..turns out she is next door neighbors and good friends with an old colleague and friend from Lucky Brand Jeans !
Gear up for our Upcoming Clearance Sale (Nov 20 – 21st) Events on Friday and Saturday
Join us in Petaluma or Sonoma for our upcoming Clearance Sale on items for Girls, Boys and Babies! Be sure to arrive early to get your hands on great gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season! We look forward to your visit!
Introducing our new webstore: PeekKids.com
The wait is over! Today we launched our new ecommerce site, PeekKids.com. We are very excited to have all our products available now online for your ‘home shopping’! Come visit us anytime to see our latest styles and sales. Be sure to visit often as our online store will be constantly improving to make your shopping experience online just as fun as our stores are.
You are cordially invited
You are cordially invited to attend our Second Annual Sample Sale..With great deals ( think $5.00-$45.00 ) on stylish clothes for kids and baby ( age 3 months-10 years ) it’s worth going to work late, skipping lunch for the day and inviting your friends!
Seriously, we would love to see you on November 12th and 13th between 9:00am-6:00pm.
Feel free to invite friends and family..they’ll thank you for it later :)
Ken Burns-National Parks
Can not wait to see the new Ken Burns documentary on our National Parks. With our oldest just back from a week long trip in Yosemite, the house was filled with us all talking about different road trips and time outdoors. With a few small family hikes behind us, a bit of backyard camping ( and a few over nights for them ) next summer we shall take to the Parks.
I remember when Scott and I first met, our love of the outdoors and exploring brought us to some amazing places. Hiking in Yosemite, Kayaking in Yellowstone, the early morning fog in Point Reyes..can not wait to explore all of these places as a family.
As someone who group up on the East Coast, with parents who LOVED to travel, but typically did so as a couple to exotic haunts, these are new memories I want to make and so long for.
So far, our camping under the stars in Hawaii, our camp cabin at Costa Noa and backyard at the Grandparents are the moments that put a smile on my face.
So…as we plan to record and watch this fabulous program as a family, I look forward to curling up with each of them..and letting the adventures unfold. In our minds, and in our hearts.
The show premiers this Sunday on PBS.
Of course as well this inspired a Spring line of tee shirts for Boys!!
Good Neighbors-Shabby Chic Couture
When we opened our first store on Montana Avenue in late January of 2007, It was the actualising of so many dreams. Having worked for years in retail for companies that I was thrilled to be a part of, our store, and concept was about finally bringing to life all of the hopes and dreams I had for myself. Having met an amazing life partner, and knowing that our family would be at the core of who we were and how we lived, the notion of starting our own children’s brand started to come to mind. Walks spent dreaming about all that we would create, and finding partners who could and would bring it to life, was all part of the journey. Creating a culture that allowed talented people to collaborate and then ideally form meaningful relationships with those who walked through the doors.
I’ll never forget the call, when Scott found our location on Montana Avenue. Having worked on the concept, the branding, the store design and the product we needed a place where we could bring it all to life. Not so easy to find, we wanted a store in a lasting family neighborhood, that would allow us to see for ourselves what it would all look like in 3 dimensional form. When in describing the location he announced that it was next to Shabby Chic, I was thrilled beyond words. Immediately knowing, this was the perfect locale.
When we first opened the store, months later, we immediately introduced our selves to the team there and I got the courage to email Rachel directly. ( as I get older, I get far more courageous ) My hope was as neighbors, that we could help support each other, and as we were trying to spread the word ( and we very much still are !! ), that they as a very established brand could help do so. A “welcome wagon” of sorts. They let us use their bathroom, borrow furniture, sharing parking…
So, imagine how sad we all were in the early Summer to learn that they would be closing all of their stores. When I think about my own reaction, there are so many thoughts that came to mind. Here was this incredibly talented woman, who as a mom and creative talent built this brand from scratch. That as a really well known concept, and one with a deal with Target to boot, that they had not made it. That as a business person, the expansion that they had planned and completed to some extent, could not have been planned during a more difficult time.
Reaching out to her and the team again to find out now, if I could be of support or help in anyway. Knowing that there must have been so many things to think about and work through and wanting to be there in any way we could.
So, I must say, for the same long list of reasons, I am thrilled that Rachel and the team just reopened on Montana Avenue ( we are neighbors again )
-Twenty year ago,the year she gave birth to her son, she opened the store on Montana
-This year, as the doors of the company as she knew it closed, she lost her mom
-She had the courage to turn her dream into an amazing business and work with a lot of talented people
-She stepped back, stayed focused on what mattered and is bringing to life her hopes and dreams again.
-She has been incredibly open and honest about her learnings, failures and challenges along the way…in every part of her life
and I have learned from her..
In our home life, neighbors, and the support of community is incredibly important and valuable. In the business world, I think the same to be true. So, to wishing her and the team every success..
follow her blog and journey here her learnings as a woman, mother, person and business woman are really honest and inspiring
Goop
I have been completely focused on bonding with our amazing daughters these last few months, and while there are a million post running through my head day and night ( oh wait, those are the same thing :) have just let them brew..It goes without saying that motherhood is as amazing as I expected, hard at times but more meaningful, more difficult, more intense, and more important then anything I have ever done.
There is nothing better then seeing the girls face light up as they smile in the morning, or laughing during the day.
I find myself, as I hold that in my heart and head, sort of wanting more out of everything. Conversations that are more direct, connections that are more meaningful, food that is more wholesome and delicious…I can’t explain it but it is there.
So, as the last few months has passed, I find that certain people, sources, and places that do that in a way I appreciate and connect with. Next up, the part where I surprise myself and perhaps you…
With time more valuable, and at a premium, I was shocked at how much I loved this when I read it, and how much Iook forward to it each week.. Yes, it is Goop, Gwenyth Paltrow’s newsletter.
The recipes, the fashion ( perhaps not this week :() the books, the honest conversations about relationships…it really is a simple and useful weekly read.
Sign up, and see what you think. Most of all, have fun!!