Today, I was reminded of the words of the 26th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps on our 240th birthday:
“In the last analysis, what the Marine Corps becomes is what we make of it during our respective watches. And the watch of each Marine is not confined to the time he spends on active duty. It lasts as long as he is proud to bear the title of United States Marine.”
Gen. Louis H. Wilson
Sixteen years ago, during my third year in art school I decided to join the Unites States Marine Corps. If ever there was someone who was less
likely to join the Corps, it had to have been me. None the less, I woke up one morning determined to become a Marine and only hours later was in my recruiter’s office signing away the next years of my life. Everyone thought I was nuts. I was told that I would never make, I was simply not strong enough- words that rang in my ears during my month’s at Parris Island, South Carolina.
When I crossed the parade deck as a United States Marine, I was no longer the person that I had once been. Many people look back on their lives and think about what the most important moment was, what their greatest catalyst for change was. For me, for the last 16 years I have known that answer. The day I became a Marine was the day I changed my life. It was the day that I became confident in myself, the day I learned how strong I really was. That day I learned to love myself and be proud of who I am. I learned who I really was and am. Although my time serving in the Corps was brief, the United States Marine Corps taught me so much that I carry with me each and every day of my life. I am where I am today because I served my country proudly. Today and till my last day on this earth I will proudly and confidently call myself a United States Marine.
Today is the 240th birthday of the Corps and we are also quickly approaching Veterans Day. If you are a service member or veteran, thank you for serving our country. If you are not- for Pete’s sake, go hug a Marine (or other service member!) We don’t bite and although we may not say it, we do appreciate the recognition- remember serving our country in the Armed Services is not just a job, it is a duty we carry forever.
Oooh rah Marines! Happy Birthday and Semper Fi.
Lcpl Kathy Paz (Craddock)
IT IS OFFICIAL…
This week we signed the lease for our new space at 103 ½ William Street, Fredericksburg Virginia. (aren’t half addresses awesome!? We think Harry Potter….)
If you haven’t heard yet, we are building Kickshaws Kitchen- a kitchen serving food and education in Fredericksburg. Kickshaws Kitchen will offer breakfast and lunch service (always completely gluten-free with vegetarian and vegan options always available) via window and in the late day and evening we will host our educational workshops.
Over the last year that Kickshaws Downtown Market has been open we have met so many amazing people, many who are working on improving health and wellbeing through nutrition. That is why we started to offer our workshops on various whole foods and living subjects. Through these workshops many of our great customers have found direction and help, but they want more. We want to offer Fredericksburg more, but to do that, we need more space.
In the new space we will be able to expand on our classes with more times available and many more subjects that we cannot currently do in our current space. We will also be able to consistently provide excellent vegan and gluten-free baked goods which we currently have a hard time keeping up with in our tiny store kitchen.
Our goal is to continue to not only provide access to healthy foods and products, but to provide the education that is needed to utilize those products for better health and living.
Are you tired of being sick and tired? Help us open Kickshaws Kitchen!
It’s hard to believe it’s already November… unless you step outside in the chill, then reality strikes. We had a wonderful October with more 
great products coming in and lots of fun events! The downtown Trick Or Treating was a blast, we loved working with the kids at the park and handing out mini pumpkins and of course handing out our apple treats for the Trick or Treaters.
We had a wonderful end to The Great Pumpkin with twenty entries into the contest and some really great and fun pumpkin work. We are still working towards meeting our fundraising goal to support The Boys and Girls Club of Fredericksburg, so if you have a donation, please bring it by or donate by using our shop here.
The contest started on September 30th and ended at midnight on October 31st. Winners were chosen by Facebook, Instagram and Twitter likes, retweets and shares. When everything was said and done, there were over 500 likes for all the pumpkins entered into the contest, not a bad start! After tabulating totals here is the result:
1st Place
@30stinkytoes (via Instagram) with a lovely quartet of pumpkins and gorgeous mums! @30stinkytoes YOU win the Kickshaws Gift Basket valued at $80.
2nd Place
@megancorsano (via Instagram) With undoubtedly the creepiest Chesire Cat I have seen. The eyes… they haunt me. YOU win A $25 Gift Card to HOOKED, $25 Gift Card for PITAIYO, $10 for Ladyburg AND $10 for When Pigs Fly!
3rd Place
The Pons Family (Via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) with their Jack-O-Vader… Luke… I am your pumpkin. You guys win $25 for PITAIYO, $10 for Ladyburg and $10 from Dog Krazy!
The Kiddos!
Last but not least, we have our kiddo prizes! It was hard to choose, but our two winners:
@neremiss ‘s kiddo (via Instagram) with the amazing smile to match his great pumpkins. You win $10 gift card and a t-shirt from Dragon Fly Yoga as well your choice of a Kickshaws Cookie!
Finally our second kiddo winner is from mom Brandy Staats Dominy with her little man’s amazing spider (man) pumpkins, they rocked! You win $10 gift card from the Pon Shop and your choice of a Kickshaws cookie!
All prizes are available at the shop (101 William Street), come on by and pick them up!
The Next Big Thing- #ElfieSelfie
Thank you all so much for joining in the fun, we really loved seeing everyone’s work. We hope you all join in with the merchants downtown for the next fun contest- Elfie Selfie! Our new window displays will be revealed on Saturday so you can start getting in on the contest. To enter you take your picture in front of your favorite shops (ahem, Kickshaws) and share on social media with the shop name ie.- The Craddock Family at @kickshawsfxbg loving our #elfieselfie! Each week the Mainstreet Initiative will be awarding a $100 gift card for downtown shops. In addition… the merchant with the MOST tagged Elfie Selfies wins a prize too! So… all you Kickshaws lovers, tag us!
We have just launched the First Annual Great Pumpkin Contest! We are excited to be working with The Boys and Girls Club of Fredericksburg, The Fredericksburg Police Department, The Fredericksburg Beard Coalition and awesome downtown merchants for a little fun downtown!
What is it?
The Great Pumpkin is a fun online contest to support The Boys and Girls Club of Fredericksburg. While a donation isn’t required to participate, we ask that everyone make a $2.00 donation either in the store or on our site here. We will have a donation box at the shop and information about The Boys and Girls Club.
It is social media based, so you simply have to take a picture of yourself WITH your pumpkin (only pumpkins WITH their people will be entered in the contest so we know that you actually made it!) and share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FXBGpumpkin. You MUST tag the picture to be IN the contest.
For Who?
The Great Pumpkin Contest #FXBGpumpkin is open to everyone! Since it’s social media based, anyone can enter, but for the PRIZES, you probably want to be local to the Fredericksburg and surrounding area.
You said prizes?
Yes, PRIZES! We are partnered with: 
Sweet Caroline Boutique
Dragonfly Yoga
FORAGE
Pon Shop
The Griffin
Downtown Hair and Nails (William St.)
PITAIYO
When Pigs Fly
Dog Krazy
A Handsome Hound
HOOKED
Ladyburg
and
Skin Touch Therapy
Each shop has included a prize for the contest. The Ultimate Prize will be a Sample Basket from Kickshaws Downtown Market ($75 Value)
Trick or Treating!
Join us with The Fredericksburg Beard Coalition and Fredericksburg Police Department at Riverside Park on October 25th for LIVE pumpkin carving and mini pumpkins for the kiddos! We will have paints available so kids can enter the contest before heading out to Trick of Treat! Stop by PITAIYO for some tasty and healthy Kickshaws snacks and while the lovely folks at PITAIYO show It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
We hope everyone joins in and spread the word!