Ok.  I admit that I have been having trouble motivating myself to post something here.  As each day passes, and the closing of the store fades a little, it feels weird to keep posting on the L&E site.  I never thought that I would get to a point where I wanted to let go completely, but I think it’s a necessary step in moving on with life after Lola & Emily.  It’s still a little bit painful to say a ‘final’ goodbye, but I am looking at it as a positive thing.

With that said, I have set up a new blog, appropriately called Tuesdays with Marnie, which has been a beloved category on the L&E blog for a while… Ok “beloved” might be an exaggeration.  My Mom seemed to like it.  A little.  Anyhow,  I like writing, and I think it is a good exercise for me… probably not as good an exercise as say… EXERCISE… Life post L&E has made me realize that not only do I need a new focus and a new job, but I need a WHOLE. NEW. BODY… but I will save those deep, personal reflections for the new blog.

I did promise a long time ago that I would post some pics of the re-merchandising of my room that I have done since being unemployed… ahem… I mean re-evaluating my career.  I am hesitant to post about it because while it has taken me a long time, when looking at it, I still feel like I am a child, and this is not at all an adult room.  I have also realized that over the years, I have accumulated a whole lot of tchochkes.  You know, those little cute things that you pick up when you are traveling the world… or visiting Anthropologie.  And yet now that I look at it all, I wish that I had put all of that money into a fund to buy REAL FURNITURE.  Like a headboard.  Or a dresser.  I guess one of the things about having the store for so long was that I always thought that there would be more furniture coming in that I could have for my home… and in the meantime, I preferred to sell it or display it in the store because it was beautiful.  I probably don’t have to mention that I am regretting that decision now, do I?

In the name of following through on a promise, I am going to post about it anyway.  Except that I am going to do it on the new, personal blog Tuesdays with Marnie because it just seems like a better idea.  And that way, for any of you lovely blog or FB followers who keep checking back here, thinking that you will be getting some L&E stuff, and finding yourselves repeatedly disappointed by some long, rambling post about nothing in particular written by me, you can just stop reading now and go about your day.  For those of you who continue to have an interest in reading said long, rambling posts, you can click here.   I am just slightly worried that NO ONE will click the link,  so here is a preview of the re-merch to whet your appetite.  Or, alternatively, turn you off completely (in the unlikely event that the above comment about saving my deep, personal reflections for the new blog didn’t scare the sh*t out of you already!).

In any case, I hope that some of you who are not related to me will continue reading on the new blog.  And if there is ever any info that is strictly L&E related that I feel needs to be posted here, I will do that… But for now, I think that this will simply remain an archive of the wonderful history of L&E.

Onward and upward, riiiiight?

BEFORE and AFTER

BEFORE and AFTER

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Tuesdays with Marnie by Marnie

Hiiiiiiii!

My sister and I just got back from a week in Mexico.  I admit that I had high hopes for this getaway.  I thought that we were going to figure out both of our lives during the seven days, at the same time as solving all of our problems, losing 30 pounds, and writing that screenplay we have always talked about.  As it happens, we did none of the above.  In fact, we may have done THE OPPOSITE.  In concrete terms, I’m pretty sure that we both gained a couple of pounds.

Ahhhhh.  The infamous ‘toes on the beach‘ pic.  Everyone loves this one.

Here’s the thing.  We went to an all-inclusive.  Say what you will about that kind of vacation, and trust me, Steph and I were both torn by the concept of it throughout our stay there… but it serves a purpose.  Not having to worry about how much money you are spending every day significantly reduces your stress… but the whole idea of an all-inclusive, one-size-fits-all vacation is counter-intuitive to people who have travelled a lot in their lives… and my sister and I have travelled.

In any case, I’m happy to say that one element that always scares me about all-inclusives, which is crappier than crap food, was not an issue at the place we stayed in Mexico.  It was an impressive place, food wise.  It was also a step above your average decor.  All white, minimalist, clean, well decorated.  No turquoise and orange.  Anywhere.  And it had real drinks.  And very little ‘organized games‘ or ‘theme nights‘, which Steph and I appreciated.  We like to be left alone, and this place delivered on that front.

And yet, left to our own devices, we realized that we are kind of boring.  I suppose there is some comfort in that.  We have had every meaningful conversation there is to be had, as most sisters who are as close as we are have.  We are also past our ‘partying’ prime, so the idea of “free” alcohol any time of day, in as much quantity and variety as you could ever want, was kind of lost on us.  Don’t get me wrong.  We cocktailed.  At cocktail hour.  Otherwise, it was club soda with lime on the beach, and after I came down with a terrible cold, hot water with lemon was my drink of choice.  Trust me when I tell you that the waitresses were SUPER surprised every time I ordered that.

Also trust me when I tell you that there is apparently nothing grosser to people than someone blowing their nose while in a tropical vacation climate.  People seemed really, really offended every time I did it.  Like I was somehow shattering their illusion of being in ‘paradise‘.  I maintain that the plane ride down should have precluded any hope of this being anything close to paradise… but that could be a whole other post.  Suffice it to say, while there were a lot of things that were great about this particular all-inclusive, the plane ride there and back made it almost impossible for me to see that it was worth it.

Actually, that’s not going to ‘suffice-it-to-say‘ at all… Anyone who has travelled on a charter plane (Air Transat, Sunwing, CanJet…) knows what I am talking about.  It’s hell.  I have been lucky enough in my life to have somehow managed to use a variety of accumulated airmile points to travel business class, and once you have, it seems almost impossible to go back to economy.  But economy is almost like business class compared to a charter airline.  On the way down, Steph and I managed to get the last 2 aisle seats, in the last 2 rows of the plane.  Right in front of the bathrooms.  So we spent 4+ hours with people bums or crotches rubbing against us as they waited to use the bathroom, or squeezed by someone to leave the bathroom.  Charter travel also made me realize something that I had previously not clued into, but now that I think about it, goes a long way in explaining why I hate my legs so much… Let me explain.

There is not much legroom on these airlines.  And yet, I was sitting next to a man who was clearly a good few inches taller than me, but his knees were somehow not jammed up against the seat in front of him like mine were.  And that is when it hit me… I may be tall, but I have never had that ‘long leg’ thing.  Also, I have made no secret about my large calves, which obviously isn’t helping in the illusion of long legs.  But what this flight made me realize is that I also clearly have disproportionately long thigh/upper legs.  Which inherently means that my calves are disproportionately short.  Which just makes the gigantic size of them seem EVEN MORE GIGANTIC.  Do you see what I’m saying here?  My legs are all wrong.  Now, I think that the flight in and of itself was uncomfortable and terrible… but when you add in the unexpected bonus of having to come to terms with a previously unrealized body deformity, well, it doesn’t take a psychologist to explain why I am NOT a fan of charter air travel.  NOT. A. FAN. AT. ALL.

So, where does that leave me?  I went away thinking I was going to come home with some sort of clarity about myself, and what my next steps in life might be.  I came back with a cold and a new body image crisis.   The upshot is that I think we both came to appreciate that maybe a vacation is just as simple as getting away for a few days.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I guess we also came to appreciate that wearing a sombrero is about as funny as it gets.  And so I leave you with the only other pic that I took.  Steph, in a sombrero, dying of laughter.  It’s fuzzy because I was also killing myself.  We had also had a few tequila shots.  And that, my friends, is what a vacation is all about.

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Travel, Tuesdays with Marnie by Marnie

Ahahahahahaha.  Can you imagine if I actually did this every day?  How quickly would you all ‘unlike‘ or ‘unfollow‘ or ‘un‘ whatever it is that you would have to to get away from us?!

Anyhow, here’s the thing with me: I’m not that good with change of any kind.  So in order to deal with all of this in digestible stages, I need to keep some of the routines that I am familiar with.  And one of those is the blog.  In fact, that has been one of my fave parts of my job since we started it about 4 years ago.

Amanda and I just met for a walk with our dogs, so that is also keeping a routine alive for me in terms of seeing her on a daily basis… but during that walk we were both commenting on how difficult it is to just wake up and not have to go to work.  Amanda’s way of dealing with it today was to exercise.  A LOT.  By the time we went for a walk, she had already been up and down the mountain, walked her daughter to daycare and taken a crazy hard class at the gym.  I, on the other hand, had managed to turn my computer on and connect to my wireless account at home.

You would think that would take only a couple of minutes, but first I had to make a path through all of the stuff that I had been storing at the store over the years that now has to find a place in my relatively small apartment.  Then I had to figure out how to get my computer to recognize my home wireless… Don’t even bother trying to explain how simple it is to me… I’m illiterate when it comes to anything like this.  But I managed to figure it out, although then it took me an hour to find my password.  ANYHOW… here I am.

I then spent a good hour trying to figure out how to remove the ‘online shopping’ link on the side of the blog page… but as evidenced by the fact that it is still there, you can surmise that I failed.  MARKUS! I need your help with that.

So, back to trying to deal with not having a job to go to this morning… Amanda and I were also saying that it would be understandable if both of us looked at the next two weeks simply as a ‘vacation’.  I have not taken 2 weeks off IN A ROW since before the store opened in 2001.  I think my last full week off was in April of 2011… But the point is, that would give us the opportunity to not have to justify or explain or quantify what we spent our day doing.  Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as that for either of us, and so here I am, giving you a detailed list of just how I have spent my first day post-Lola & Emily.

After having re-read this, I am not sure that writing this has magically justified my day… but it’s something.  Baby steps.  Plus, it is allowing me to avoid starting the process of organizing my apartment to accommodate all of this extra sh*t that I have packed into it, because, well, it’s past 4pm, and I can’t exactly start it now, riiiiight?

So, stay tuned for the next post, which will undoubtedly be just as riveting… I plan on forcing myself to document the re-arranging of my apartment because that seems like something that lots of people do on their blogs, and it is close to the process of re-merchandising the store, which is another ‘routine’ that I always enjoyed.

Also, to all of you who made the nicest comments on the blog and facebook and via email.  Thanks.  But… you asked for this, so don’t blame me when you are wondering why I am blogging about my crappy experience at the dep.  Just sayin’.

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Tuesdays with Marnie by Marnie

Well…. it’s finally here.  The LAST day of Lola & Emily.

Our feelings are kind of all over the map right now: sad, relieved, happy, anxious, overwhelmed… But mostly I think both Amanda and I are cranky.  And that’s because we are both majorly PMS-ing, which is NOT helping anything.  Haha.  One of the pitfalls of working so closely with another woman:  synching cycles.  AKA “We’re both emotional bitches on the same day“.  And yet… now I think of that not just as a pitfall, but as a benefit… working so closely with someone that you get to share the good, the bad and the ugly with on a daily basis.

Here’s where the emotional side of all of this is going to kick in.   Man.  I literally have so much to say and yet I cannot quite figure out how to say it.

I have been humbled by the last few months, on SO many different levels.

I have been angry that after so many years of working hard, the realities of small business, retail, fashion, and Montreal have made it SO hard to make a decent living.

I have felt relief that the stress of small business will be over.

I have felt gratitude for the years I have spent in this business, building relationships with suppliers who have supported us and helped us and been there for us, through the ups and the downs.

I have felt excitement about what the future could hold.

I have wondered “did I try hard enough“?

I feel sincere appreciation for the heartfelt emails, comments and gestures that some of our customers have shared with us, and I wish that I could say thank you to every one of them in person because it means SO much to hear that you have loved Lola & Emily as much as I have.

I have felt extreme annoyance when people have asked the question “But WHY are you closing?” in a way that feels invasive and aggressive, and lacks any genuine understanding of what a difficult and emotional and personal situation this is.

I worry that Zoe will fall into a depression if my next job is not a dog friendly environment.

I am scared shitless about what the next step is, and how to find another job, let alone figuring out what I want to do next.

I cannot believe that I will never hold the ladder and hand Sal a hammer, piece of string, nail, wire, etc., etc., while she figures out a way to hang whatever incredible piece of art she has constructed for the window at Lola & Emily.

I will miss meeting the next “lady of Lola & Emily“… aka a lovely, incredible, funny, talented, interesting chick who wanted to work at Lola & Emily.  Ladies, you know who you are… meeting and getting to know all of you will remain one of my favourite parts of the last 12 years.

I will miss sharing in the joy that our customers have felt when they have found THE dress, t-shirt, jeans or sweater that makes them look and feel amazing.

I wonder how I will manage without Amanda on a daily basis, but I have a feeling I won’t really have to, because she will ALWAYS be a huge part of my life.

I am without words to adequately describe how lucky I am to have a family that supported and encouraged me to pursue my dream of opening Lola & Emily 13 years ago, and by the same token, supported and encouraged me through the tough decision to say goodbye to it.

I feel a deep sense of sadness that the ‘defining‘ achievement of my life is over, and yet I could not be prouder that Lola & Emily made it through almost 12 years.

Thank you to everyone over the years who shopped, supported and loved Lola & Emily.

I think that we will keep the blog going for at least a little while… think of it as  ”LIFE AFTER” Lola & Emily.  We will regale you with what we are spending our time doing, no matter how mundane! That uncomfortably awkward job interview?  Yup, I will write about it.  Amanda’s Spring fashion faves?  They will be covered here.  Cute pics of Zoe in strange hats?  You betcha.

So, you know, stay tuned.  In the meantime, you have about 4.5 hours to come by the store for one last time and snatch up some stuff for ridiculously stupid prices.  Plus we might be throwing in ‘gifts with purchase’, depending on how we are feeling.  ”Spend $14 on a tank top, and get a coffee table“… that kind of thing.  Haha.  Not really… but kind of.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

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Tuesdays with Marnie by Marnie

Oh man!!  It’s almost the end of the month, guys… Which means that it’s almost the end of Lola & Emily.

As of now, we are at an additional 25% off the lowest price on clothes and accessories… And we also still have furniture, decorations, fixtures and display items for sale.  Come by and see us and take advantage of the situation.  At the very least, we would love you to have something to remember us by, and at the same time, have another chance to thank you for all of your years of support.

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Animals and other cute stuff by Marnie

Only 12 days left at Lola & Emily… SO… As of today, clothing and accessories are 25% off the lowest price!!!  WOW.

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Sale by Marnie

I have no idea how I decided what to capitalize in that title and what not to… but… well… whatever.

Ok, so it occurred to us that now would be the perfect time to put the paper garlands that we SLAVED over up for auction because they would make perfect holiday decorations…. riiiiiight?  If you want to read about the labour intensive process, you can look here.  But I can also summarize by saying that these took ME a very long time to make, and Amanda not nearly as long.  But all together, the garlands are really pretty and would look great as holiday decorations.

Lots of garlands in different sizes, all in Japanese paper (off white and silver), varying lengths.  Minimum bid is $50 and minimum increase is $5.  Auction ends tonight at midnight and you can bid in the comment section here or on FB.  We want these to help make your house beautiful for the holidays, and they are kind of the last window display EVER at Lola & Emily… so super special.  Sniff.

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Animals and other cute stuff by Marnie

A truer blog title, there never was…

As we are going through the archives here at Lola & Emily before we close down in 19 days (OH. MY. GOD), Amanda and I have been getting very nostalgic over some of our finds.  We have so many amazing memories from the last 12 years, and there are specific items that we are coming across that are reminding us of all the reasons why we have loved the store.

Here is Amanda WEARING one of those reasons…

Let me explain.  About 5 years ago, we had a staff night with all of the lovely ladies who worked at the store.  These evenings involved drinking some bubbly and eating some food and doing something fun together.  This staff night in particular, Sally had made 6 or 7 dresses in a natural linen, very simple a-line shape.  We bought some fabric paint, and each of the girls got to paint her own dress, and then we hung them all in the window as an ‘installation’ of sorts.  We sold a few of the dresses back then, and the others we had packed away during one of our infamous cleanups.   Obviously, we just found them.  And Amanda is wearing the one that SHE made.

Full disclosure:  I did NOT paint a dress.  I tried…. I even did a stencil of a tiger that I had on a t-shirt so that I could then paint it onto the dress… but it wasn’t working out.  The stencil wasn’t transferring to the dress, and as the minutes ticked on, and all the other girls were happily painting some whimsical design on their dresses, I was getting increasingly frustrated by my inability to translate my ‘creative vision’ into reality.  After an hour or so, when everyone else was finishing up their design, and I was nowhere near even the painting phase, in  exasperation, I gave myself an ‘executive pass’ card, and put my dress aside, with no intention of finishing it.  Initially, the girls were not impressed, but Sally came to my defense, with the explanation that if I continued, I would become more frustrated and annoyed, and would be no fun at all, and that really, it was better for everyone if I was having fun.  Which was EXACTLY right.  In the end, that was the best decision, and we had a super fun staff night.

I admit, the moral of that story is a little hazy… But trust me, it’s NOT that if you get frustrated, you should give up.  It’s that you should know how to distinguish when the frustration is worth it.  The important part of that night for me was to hang out with the awesome staff at the store… it was not to work myself up into a frenzy about my questionable craft skills…. I’m not exactly sure how or why I think I might be qualified to dispense ‘morals’ in any story, but, frankly, at this point, I can do whatever I want on this blog.  Hahahaha.  Ha?

Anyhow………. Back to the dresses.

I can’t remember who painted the other 2… so ladies, help me out here.  Ilya??  Zy?? Lolo??  Tell me who did these ones!  We have put these out in the store at $50 each.  These are TRULY a unique piece of Lola & Emily history…. Get one of them for yourself.

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The Girls by Marnie

Well, I don’t think that I have to tell you what a sh*t day it is out there!!  Blech.  But it is giving us a chance to go through some stuff here at the store, and we came across this AWESOME bunting that Sal made for one of our displays.  Are you seeing the connecting thread through all of our display items?  They were crafted by Sal.  That’s why you should want one of them… There are now like thousands of people making these on Etsy… Sal made this one about 6 or 7 years ago.  She was way ahead of the craft/deco curve…

Anyhow, take a look:

It’s a mix of some vintage  fabrics, primarily blue and white but with some yellow as well.  Here’s a closer look

Awesome.  Of course this would look amazing in a child’s room, but frankly, it would look great in any room…

Minimum bid is $50.  Minimum increase is $10.  You can bid in the comment section here or on FB.  Bidding ends at midnight tonight!

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Animals and other cute stuff by Marnie

There are another little decorating touch that Sally made for the store.  It is a collection of 9 glass bottles (some of them vintage) that she artfully poured paint into…

Now, before you go getting all “I could totally do that myself.  I have some old glass bottles.  I have paint…” on us, let’s all take a look at this infamous melted crayon Pinterest fail.

There is an art to doing stuff like this… trust me.  And Sally knows what she’s doing.  I’m not saying that YOU aren’t capable of artfully pouring paint into your own glass bottle.  I’m just telling you that I tried it, and it was about the equivalent of the melted crayon fail.  So, why put yourself through that when Sally has already done them for you?  These bottles look so pretty all together or broken up into groupings…

Minimum bid is $30.  Minimum increase is $5.  And this auction is going all weekend LONG. Until Sunday at midnight.

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Animals and other cute stuff by admin