WHERE IT ALL BEGAN..............

THE STORY OF CHICK PEA..................KOBY WAS 4 MONTHS OLD AND HIS SMILES AND GIGGLES WERE OFTEN. HE WOULD LAY IN HIS CRIB STARING AT THE BABY CHICKS ON THE BUMPER PADS OF HIS CRIB. THIS IS AROUND THE TIME THAT I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD DREAM OF HAVING A SPECIAL SHOP OF MY OWN. THIS IS WHERE THE IDEA OF THE BABY CHICK CAME FROM. AS I WAS BRAINSTORMING CONSTANTLY KOBYS DAD WAS EATING A SALAD THAT HAD CHICK PEAS IN IT AND THE REST IS HISTORY...............I MARCHED DOWN THE NEXT DAY AND REGISTERED THE NAME "CHICK PEA CHILDREN'S BOUTIQUE".

3 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RUNNING STORES FOR KOOKOO DESIGNS AND A SHORT BUSINESS COURSE LATER...............AND THE PERFECT SPOT WAS FOUND. A QUAINT SPACE OF 600 SQ. FT.........KOBY BEING JUST 15 MONTHS WE HAD A PICKET FENCED PLAY AREA WHERE HE COULD OFTEN BE FOUND. MY FAVORITE MEMORIES ARE OF PLACING HIM IN THE CRIB IN THE WINDOW WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING. HE TRULY DID GROW UP IN THAT STORE. THE MOST LOYAL OF CUSTOMERS MADE THAT LITTLE SHOP BLOSSOM INTO SOMETHING FAR BEYOND MY ORIGINAL DREAM..........A SHORT 2 AND A HALF YEARS LATER WE WERE FORCED TO LOOK FOR A NEW LOCATION. THE MAJOR DOWNFALL TO A SHORT TERM LEASE AND A NEW BUILDING OWNER.........NO SPACES AVAILABLE AT THE TIME ON THE DRIVE..........SO A QUICK LOOK ON CRAIGSLIST, A RAINY DAY DRIVING TO NEW WEST, AND A 12O YEAR OLD BUILDING FOR RENT ON A STREET THAT INCLUDES A TRAIN, A TON OF TRUCKS, A MILITARY STORE, A HANDFUL OF ANTIQUE SHOPS AND SOMEHOW I FELT THIS WAS THE PERFECT NEW HOME FOR CHICK PEA. THE SPACE WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM, LITERALLY FLOOR TO CEILING WITH THINGS. HOUSED AS STORAGE FOR THE PREVIOUS 4 YEARS WE COULDN'T EVEN WALK INSIDE. BUT I COULD SEE HIGH CELINGS, BIG BEAMS AND WAS TOLD THEIR WAS BRICK HIDING UNDER THE CEMENT AND PLASTER ON THE WALLS. KNOWING THESE SMALL DETAILS WAS ENOUGH TO CONVINCE ME, EVEN THOUGH MY BEST FRIEND ANGIE WAS HOLDING MY HAND TELLING ME I WAS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!

6 WEEKS OF WORK, IT TOOK ME AND MY DAD 3 WEEKS TO CHIP AWAY AT THE BRICK. ADD 3 MORE WORKMEN TO THE MIX TO BUILD THE MOULDINGS AND DO REPAIRS AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS A BEAUTIFUL NEW CHICK PEA WAS BORN.

IT HAS BEEN THE MOST INTERESTING TIME OF MY LIFE. THE PAST ALMOST 5 YEARS HAVE BROUGHT SO MUCH LAUGHTER, A FEW TEARS, MANY BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIPS AND MY SON HAS GROWN FROM A TODDLING BABY TO AN ALMOST 6 YEAR OLD BOY. I HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE LIFE IS PULLING ME IN NEW DIRECTIONS..........IN THIS CHICK PEA HAS FOUND A WONDERFUL NEW OWNER. SOMEONE TO LOVE AND NURTURE AND GROW THE BUSINESS.

WISHING KIM THE VERY BEST.

XO

LOVE SARAH, RUSTYN AND KOBY.