SSS Christmas Party 2014

2014 has been an exciting year of growth, teamwork, challenges and achievements (with plenty of fun along the way!) Our yearly manager party was full of celebration, with Stephanie announcing that we've "earned our ears." She had actually brought back name-embroidered ears from her trip to Disneyland the week before! We went to a new local restaurant in downtown Vancouver, the Grocery, for dinner and drinks. Then hopped across the street to Luxe, for dessert. The festivities wouldn't be complete without Stephanie's Chaotic Poetry:

Merry Christmas 2014

Roses are red and Dianna’s favorite skirts are too! 

Mary will love and wear only the blue! 

Nicole, a non-rider,  loves billions of bikes

Samara confuses me because I never know which she likes. 

Today is about Christmas and celebrating our crew

Not much would get done if it weren’t for all of you! 

Our growth is demanding and difficult at times, 

but at the end of the year I recall it in rhymes! 

The magic happens for all to see

In our tiny little place in Vancouver, not BC. 

Ending year four has brought us mini bits of fame, 

Year five will be a much bigger and exciting game. 

You all work so hard and I want you to know

It has been so much fun to see you grow.  

Mary can tackle the numbers so fine

Dianna is producing skirts to the nines

Samara is marketing with some money in hand

and Nicole is recreating us in California land.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years

I love all of you and give you many cheers,

In fact, I believe you have all earned your ears! 

 

Freezing in front of the Esther Short Park Tree

Delicious local eats and drinks

We've all earned our ears! Deb, Dianna, Tina, Mary, Samara and Nicole

Holiday Shopping Ideas from Sweet Spot® Skirts

Need ideas for your holiday shopping? Here at Sweet Spot® Skirts, we've got you covered! Whether you're shopping for friends or telling others what's on your list, check out these functional products:

1. Classic Sweet Spot® Skirts, Reversible, Adjustable and fits women sizes 0-26

2. Tots to Teens Skirts- Reversible, Adjustable and fits girls sizes 2T-Juniors

3. Tights with phone pocket- thigh, calf and ankle lengths

4. Flipside Hats- Our favorite hats around! Repurposed fabric, hand made in Portland

5. The "Style Up" Jacket- Performance fabric functional jacket with thumb holes, Flippable Mittens™ and sleek zippered pocket

6. The Dogger Jogger- The ultimate solution for riding a bike with your dog!

7. Sweet Spot® Skirts Gift Cards- Give the gift of choice! Email code valid online or in our flagship Vancouver store

This is Our Perfect Body

Sweet Spot Skirts is committed to creating flirty and functional athletic wear to support women in their busy, active lifestyles. Our skirts fit from size 00 to 26.

In response to the recent Victoria's Secret controversial ad, we felt compelled to celebrate our amazing models, employees and customers' incredible beauty. We are consistently inspired by the women we get to meet at events/expos and love that we can create athletic wear to support all women and their active pursuits. Read more about our story here.

The recent Victoria's Secret ad that sparked controversy.

Watch out Boston 2015, here comes some West Coast Sweet Spot® Skirt action!

Samara, 

You are the best Marketing Director in the world.  I bet all of our SSS followers agree.  You have done a fantastic job of building our brand, telling our story and keeping us relevant to our readers, followers, customers and friends.   Good luck training and getting ready for this great adventure.  We support you 100%.  

Much Love, 

Stephanie 

Samara in her qualifying race Newport OR.

Running incognito Cosmo 7k in Vancouver WA!
Hey Samara are you taking the blue wig to Boston? 

This is where you will complete your dream.
GOOD LUCK!

Leavenworth WA Marathon

Samara in Monterey California on an early trip in 2011. 

Vancouver USA Marathon
Qualified in time, but because of the bombings she missed getting in by 30 seconds:(

Sparkle Samara
This is my favorite work photo of Samara.  I added the sparkle because she is the diamond of the company.
Always ready for new ideas, working happy and hard everyday, things are just more fun when Samara shows up!

The Perfect Saleswoman

Saturday night I flew out my door in my Sweet Spot® Skirt to attend a Silpada Party in Kalama Washington.  #whereintheheckisthat #whydoyoulivenearcanada.  Pulling in 30 minutes late, I tried to sneak in quietly without calling attention to my tardiness.  Five steps into the house, one of the ladies looked at me and said convincingly,  "That is a Sweet Spot® Skirt."  I asked how she was able to tell from 20 feet away and she replied, "I own two skirts myself."   Smiling, I thanked her and said I was honored.   She smiled, looked a bit confused with my statement but we both went about our jewelry shopping and snacking.

About 15 minutes later, this same woman said to me:  "Did you know that you can go to the store in Downtown Vancouver and they will customize a skirt for you and make it anyway you wish?"  Obviously, she didn't know that I was the owner of the store, but she was putting the hard sell on me$

I have never smiled so big or so proud as I said giggling, "Yes I do know that....I am the owner of the company!"   #whencustomersarehappy  #ILOVEMYJOB  Right at that moment Cindy chimed in laughing, "And I was going to tell you that they also came with a snap on tutu."  We giggled hugged.  Small world and good times.

Kelly Gardner you made my day!  Keep on spreading the news:)  #skirtlove
Thank you Brandee for a inviting me.
Hugs and Much Love,
Stephanie

PS
I was wearing my new favorite skirt:  Girlie Gearhead Click here to see it!

Sweet Shenna Quilt #11- Nominate the Recipient!

Help us find the home of the next Sweet Shenna Quilt!

We keep all skirt scraps and send them to a quilting group in Wyoming. These quilts are donated to many different local charities.  Fighting cancer is a cause dear to our hearts, as Stephanie lost her mom to breast cancer when she was 12 years old.  Her mother, Sharon Allan, was only 36.  Sharon’s nickname was “Shenna,” and in memory of her, Stephanie began a “Sweet Shenna” line of lap quilts and matching pillows from pink Sweet Spot® Skirt scraps. We have the lucky job of giving them to amazing women across the country who are battling, or have battled, cancer.

To continue this tradition and to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are looking for a recipient for this latest quilt. We want to hear your nominations.

Do you know someone who has had a personal experience with breast cancer that you'd like to receive this beautiful quilt? Tell us a little about them and why you'd like to nominate them at info@sweetspotskirts.com, using the subject line "Sweet Shenna Quilt."

Nominate someone special to receive this gorgeous quilt and pillow!

Finally... I can say "I am 50!"

50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 

90 degree weather * fabulous hikes * poolside daily * best friends

I don't know what to think about my 50th birthday, waiting for it for so long and now it is finally here!  There is definitely a paradigm shift when one turns the half century mark.  A certain confidence ensues your entire body.  It is like winning an Oscar for just being you! 

Three of us are 50!  

The highlights of my 50th birthday celebration with four of the 
most loved people in my life!

"Viva Las Vegas Sweet Spot® Skirts Style"

Hiking the Red Rocks in the Fast n Flirty

New Sweet Spot® Panties at the Red Rocks!
Never pass up a good marketing shot :) 

Cowgirl Night....you can guarantee we all have skirts on! 

Hiking in a skirt makes life better.  My BFF Leah!

My sister-in-law and I at the top of the Ice Box Canyon!  

This tree is 3000 years old.  "Rain Tree at Mt. Charleston"
6 mile hike gorgeous cool mountain weather

"Zoomlining"  the entire length of Fremont Street.

Flying high above the old strip in Vegas!

My favorite place to eat.  #noglutenproteinstyle

Go Carts were fun....yes we had our skirts on! 

Cowgirl Selfie!  #bootsnskirts

Sun time of course!

  

This is my favorite things on the strip.  #watermakesmehappy

For all of you entering this magical decade, I wish you a Happy Birthday! 

 ~ Stephanie

Nicole Receives her One Year Anniversary Sweet Spot® Skirts Quilt!

Nicole, our Junior Designer, recently had her one year anniversary of working with Sweet Spot® Skirts. From the beginning, we have sent all of the skirt scraps to be made into quilts by Jean (Stephanie's cousin in Deaver, Wyoming) and her quilting group. Most of the quilts go to charities and auctions to raise money for causes we believe in. A few of the quilts also go to our employees after they hit the one year mark, to show our extreme appreciation for all of their involvement in growing the company.

Nicole with Mary's kids, trying to see what the package could be!

Nicole has been an incredible addition to the Sweet Spot® Skirts team. Her keen sense of design and ability to actualize ideas along with her willingness to jump in and learn on the spot have been invaluable over the past year. Thank you so much for your hard work, Nicole, and we look forward to seeing what's in store over this next year!

Dianna can hardly wait to see Nicole's reaction! Pictured left to right: Mary (director of operations), Dianna (shop manager), Pam (home seamstress), Tina (store seamstress)

"Oooh, I already love the colors"

Sweet Spot® Skirts Saves the Day! Adventures in Kauai

Muddy (Before)

Good as New (After)

 "Got my skirt dirty? Oh well, not a problem! Snap off, flip over, snap back on. Good as new!! Gotta Love it!" Lisa on a beach in Kauai after a strenuous, muddy hike along the Napali Coast. 

"I had fallen in the mud two times on a 3 mile trail to the beach.  So I'm standing on the rocks when I realized how stained my skirt was.  Right in front of everybody, I ripped it off (had bathing suit on underneath), flipped it over, VOILA!!!  Stain, what stain??!!!   SWEET SPOT SAVES THE DAY!!!!  And went out for dinner in it later."

~Lisa

How to Pack Light with Your Sweet Spot® Skirt

Headed on a trip? We'll help you pack light!

We love hearing about where our customers are taking their skirts: camping in the Pacific NW, trekking Mt. Kilimanjaro, cycling around Beijing, running a new race in the next state over, laying by the pool in a sunny locale. Sweet Spot® Skirts are the perfect travel staple with how versatile they are.  

Vacationing with your skirt(s)

1. One or two (or more!) skirts can fold up quite small. Double the skirt number for the number of outfits, when you consider they reverse.
2. Great for active vacations: hiking, running, biking, sight-seeing, running with the bulls...the possibilities are endless!
3. Great for lounging vacations: use as a swimsuit cover poolside, throw on over shorts or capris for some coverage, perfect for a cruise.
4. Consider flipping your skirt over to the reverse side for evening wear. Throw on some lace capris and wedge shoes with a flowy blouse, snap your skirt on and prepare for instant elegance. It will seem like it took a lot more effort to look that put together!
5. Don't worry about changing sizes on vacation- tighten a row of snaps or let it out a snap depending on what you're doing or how you're feeling!

One Skirt, 3 Looks

While you're on your trip, don't forget to snap a photo in your skirt and send it to us at info@sweetspotskirts.com. Our annual photo contest has begun, and you won't want to miss this fun competition- the winner gets a free skirt a quarter for all of 2015!

White Wedding Skirt Adventures

Bride-to-be in her White Wedding skirt, bridesmaids wore pink

My dear friend Kara got married last week! I was so honored to be a part of such an exciting milestone for her and her husband Daniel.  Her girlfriends and I threw her a Bachelorette party the month before in San Diego. Of course, her Bachelorette outfit included an all-white, shimmery Sweet Spot Skirt. It's a beauty and a great gift idea! Find White Wedding here.

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous and the bride and groom are now off to their first adventure in married life: Turkey for the honeymoon! Kara's Sweet Spot Skirt was excited to be included on the journey, as well. Check out the photos below.

The happy bride in her adored Sweet Spot Skirt at Ephesus, Turkey 

Exploring the ruins

At St. John's Church in Turkey

Here's to lifelong friends and many more adventures to come! Wishing Kara and Daniel a fabulous trip creating wonderful memories.

Hugs,

~Samara

History, Skirts, Fun and Sunshine!

What a great time in Lewiston, Utah at the Little Red All Women's Bike Ride.   

 Met so many women and they looked so cute in their skirts.   

 It is important to keep balance in your job, so we took a little history lesson.  

Did you know that just 50 miles away, is a great "Rocket Garden?"

Sweet Spot Truck and AirSSS
That is a huge rocket booster!

Inside of a rocket motor, which is launched to help the space shuttles get to 3000 mph.
Then it ejects and parachutes down to the ocean.  It then is captured and reused on a future launch.
Skirts are great for rocket watching too!

Just past the rocket garden is the "Golden Spike National Historic Site."  Long story short:  Two railroad companies in 1866 fighting to lay down rail tracks (by hand) met finally( after a bunch of fighting and discussion) at Promontory Summit and connected the Union Pacific Railroad with the Central Pacific Railroad to create the First Transcontinental Railway we know today. 

Pictures for more detail:)

This is a cut mark.  A two man team called "double jackers" drilled holes in solid rock using long and narrow drill bits.  They used a huge heavy sledge hammer known as a double jack.  The "powder monkey" would then come and fill it with black powder and blow up the rock.  Then the rock was shoveled and carried away by mules and carts.
 These drill marks are from 1868.... wow! 

This is a rock shelter.  They were used to cache supplies and construction material.
 They are scattered everywhere on the Promontory Mountains!

The railroad must be less than 2% grade.  So cuts like this were made by hand to allow the trains to pass through mountains easily.  Remember that both rail companies were working around the clock to grade their line, as it came with government funding and rights to the commerce going from the coast to central.

Finally!  This is the Golden Spike National Historic Site.

The actual golden spike is not there anymore, but it has replica's and many photos depicting the actual spike.  The spike is resting at Stanford University.  Why Stanford?  Well...... Mr. Leland Stanford was one of the four owners of the Union Pacific and a Tycoon of the 1860's and he founded Stanford University.  
Thought for the day:  If you really want to understand history, go experience it.  
Second thought for the day:  Sweet Spot Skirts look great while you are traveling and learning above history!  

~ stephanie