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Calowna Costumes of Kelowna

August 17, 2026 • Local • Episode 77

0:00 | 1:18:41

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Born and raised in Kelowna, Kerri has spent most of her life at Calowna Costumes.

What started as helping out at her husband’s grandmother’s costume shop as a teenager became a 35 year career filled with creativity, family, unforgettable characters and thousands of local stories.

As Calowna Costumes prepares to close its doors, Kerri looks back on the life that grew alongside it, the people who made it special and why it was always so much more than just a costume store.

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MIC2 (00:05)
are you from Kologna?

of Kelowna Podcast (00:05)
are you from Kelow?

MIC2 (00:06)
Yes, I am, born and raised fifty years I've lived here. my goodness. Yes. I know we should cheers.

of Kelowna Podcast (00:09)
my goodness. We should like cheers our water to that. One of one of the few.

MIC2 (00:15)
I know. And my dad and

my mom, they've lived here for quite some time too. Were

of Kelowna Podcast (00:20)
Were they born here?

MIC2 (00:21)
they born? Not born here, but my dad was here, came from Saskatchewan, I wanna say he was around thirteen.

So very young, thirteen, fourteen years old. They moved here. He had nine brothers and sisters. Volkswagen, and they came on down here and

I love those stories. Right. What part of Saskatchewan is

of Kelowna Podcast (00:35)
I love those stories so much. What part of Saskatchewan was he from?

MIC2 (00:39)
he from? I want to say now it's like a small Yes.

of Kelowna Podcast (00:42)
Let's take a small yes.

MIC2 (00:44)
where what was that tragic that happened with the hockey team? Humboldt.

of Kelowna Podcast (00:46)
humble

MIC2 (00:47)
So he was born and raised Humboldt, Saskatchewan. A little house, thirteen people, and a farm. Wow.

of Kelowna Podcast (00:53)
Wow.

MIC2 (00:54)
Yeah. Yeah. And then they moved here. Wow. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (00:57)
Wow. And your and your mum?

MIC2 (01:00)
my mom came, she was

She was Victoria. So she was born and raised in born in Victoria and then raised there and then moved to Vancouver and then moved to Kelowna when she was probably I wanna say ten, ten years old as well. So your parents met in Kelowna? Met in Kelowna, yeah, at school. at school. Yeah. my goodness. So what area of town did up in?

of Kelowna Podcast (01:15)
So your parents bent in Klona? at school. my goodness. So what area of town did you grow up in?

MIC2 (01:23)
right downtown. Actually I was born raised, we stayed in the same house.

right on Lawrence Avenue. So my mom and dad bought the house fifty three years, fifty-four years ago. yeah, we were raised in that house. My mom still had my dad passed away three and a half years ago and they still had that same house. Like we lived in that house. So yeah, the memories, the you know,

of Kelowna Podcast (01:44)
I love it. Yeah, the memories, the you know,

we

were the house, everybody knew us and it was the party house at times. It was a gathering house.

MIC2 (01:48)
We were the house, everybody knew us and it was the party house at times. It was a gathering house,

for a lot of family friends and it was pretty neat. It was it's neat to grow up with a big family. I have I have one brother. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (01:58)
Well how many siblings do you have? You haven't mentioned. I have one brother.

MIC2 (02:04)
But I have from my grandma, my dad's mom, down to our youngest, I think there's about a hundred and sixteen of us. Say that again.

of Kelowna Podcast (02:13)
Say that again. Your grandma

down to your brother. There's a hundred and six or my grandma down to the youngest cousin. Yeah.

MIC2 (02:16)
No, so for my grandma down to the youngest cousin, I wanna say,

there's a hundred and sixteen of us. So between aunts and uncles and cousins. Wow. Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty amazing. So epic family. Well, and it's funny, we most of us live in here. Live in Kelowna. No way. Yeah, and we

of Kelowna Podcast (02:24)
Wow. That's pretty amazing. You must have epic family Well and it's funny, most of us live in here. We live in Kowona. No way.

MIC2 (02:34)
my dad's brothers and sisters are very close. our generation, like all the cousins, we're not as close as they were.

But we do every second year we get together for Christmas and of course we have to rent a hall 'cause we don't fit in a house. But it's fabulous to see everybody. It's nice to have a close family like we do. yeah, it was it was pretty neat being raised in such a big

of Kelowna Podcast (02:56)
What can I ask what

decade you you grew up in, like your elementary school? Well, I was born in seventy five, eighties.

MIC2 (03:00)
Well I was born in seventy five, so I would say eighties.

of Kelowna Podcast (03:03)
Okay. Just to put a frame of reference what the city looked like back then. it was wonderful in school.

MIC2 (03:08)
it was wonderful. It was

quieter, it was yeah, a lot smaller obviously. I mean cities grow.

of Kelowna Podcast (03:13)
So So if you went if you lived

on Lawrence, were you bankment catchment?

MIC2 (03:18)
Yeah, we went to Bankhead.

our school when we went, we were like kindergarten to grade seven

of Kelowna Podcast (03:22)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (03:22)
and then grade eight to grade twelve was K S S. Okay. Yes. That's similar.

of Kelowna Podcast (03:25)
Okay. Yes. That's similar.

I was Bellevue Creek and it was K to seven and then to twelve. the middle school. The middle school model wasn't in the school district. Yeah.

MIC2 (03:29)
Yeah. Yeah eight to twelve. So the middle school we didn't even the middle school model wasn't in the school district. No. Yeah, it was pretty neat.

of Kelowna Podcast (03:38)
Growing up on Lawrence Avenue, what was downtown like back then? Like I know my like I actually grew up on Rowcliffe

MIC2 (03:43)
So we were kinda like like I don't mind like I actually grew up on road club. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (03:48)
until I was in the end of grade two we moved because things were getting a little sketchy where we were living.

MIC2 (03:50)
The end of grade two we move because things were getting a little sketchy when we were living.

of Kelowna Podcast (03:55)
what are your memories of the city and downtown and smaller, right? So it wasn't

MIC2 (03:55)
memories of the city and downtown and so it was smaller, right? So it wasn't

we would ride our bikes everywhere. I mean we could walk. I mean our friend group was a you know, we could walk to wherever we wanted to go. Everybody like beaches were at our hands, our schools were at our hands. Is this elementary school?

of Kelowna Podcast (04:11)
Is this elementary school

or secondary? I would say elementary because we were like till grade seven, right? So, it was safe to just walk to the beach.

MIC2 (04:13)
Secondary. I would say elementary because we were like till grade seven, right? So, grade five. Yeah, you just went over I mean, everybody watched everybody

back then, right? I mean you could still borrow flour from your neighbor without feeling really like cheap or awkward and actually just all of a sudden driving yourself to the store 'cause you need an egg or flour or whatever it is. You would just ask your neighbor and neighbors would share their if they had stuff in their garden, right? Like we had the most wonderful neighbor. she was an old

of Kelowna Podcast (04:31)
Yeah. You would just ask your neighbor and neighbors would share their if they had stuff in their garden, right? Like we had the most wonderful neighbor. she was an old

MIC2 (04:39)
lady.

And she would make us fresh apple juice. We had apple trees in our backyard. And she would make us fresh apple juice. And she would build us seven layer German cakes if we helped her prune her trees.

I l I miss that. I live in a great like I live I lived in a great neighborhood. but it's not like that anymore.

of Kelowna Podcast (04:50)
Is that I live in a great like I live I lived in a great neighborhood. but it's not like that anymore.

MIC2 (04:56)
Hopefully it comes back.

of Kelowna Podcast (04:58)
Yeah, I think I think we live in a day and age now where we're so afraid of everything now.

MIC2 (05:00)
It's changed. I agree.

Like I wouldn't let I have two boys and I don't think I know they didn't get to do half the stuff I did. I would drive them, I would pick them up, I was worried about this or this or that and and I was like, you know, can't do this, I'll pick you up, right? Whereas we just had that freedom. I had to be back at five. And I think the other thing is so many things the day.

of Kelowna Podcast (05:20)
I'll pick you up. Yeah. Whereas we just had that freedom. And I think the other thing is so many things happened back in the day

but no one knew. You didn't have a social media. You didn't know what was going on. So well that's different, yeah. But yeah.

MIC2 (05:30)
social media you didn't no we drove in the back of trucks so well that's different right yeah I honestly have to say it was great

growing up here we had all the amenities you know ski hills spark flint stones the drive in movie theater wet and wild wet and wild wild and wet across the lake that was amazing old McDonald's old McDonald Farm I mean we had some amazing

of Kelowna Podcast (05:45)
Flintstones. The water what was it called? Wet and Wild? Wild and Wet? Wild and Wet Wild and Wetter. Old McDonald McDonald's.

MIC2 (05:57)
things and I I our unfortunately our kids are

They don't have that. I mean we even had the boardwalk. The boardwalk was the boardwalk, right? I mean I love that. It was amazing. You know there's a Tuesday night skate club. I do. I just saw it actually and I'm like, Am I too old to put on skates now? I you say that. I think we did. No way. You're not. Okay. Well I might have to try it. You gotta try to see me there.

of Kelowna Podcast (06:02)
The boardwalk was cool. I love the boardwalk. You know there's a Tuesday night skate club. I do. No, y you're not. I you see that. I've been. We've been. You're not. You're not. You're not. Well I might have to try it. You gotta try it. We went when they

rented out the curling club when they took the ice out. I took the girls down. And that was really fun. And it's just a very inclusive

MIC2 (06:24)
Yes. No way. That was really fun. And it's just a very inclusive just

of Kelowna Podcast (06:30)
just

This people who like to roller skate and rollerblade, like you know, they're all

MIC2 (06:31)
Roller skate and have fun. Isn't that fun? Yes, I love that. It was some of

our that was in my teens where we used to love every Friday night we would go to the boardwalk. And like and high five everybody going around the

of Kelowna Podcast (06:41)
The disco ball. Yeah.

MIC2 (06:44)
circle and it was yeah, it was pretty neat. And then there was always those there was two older gentlemen that had

of Kelowna Podcast (06:46)
And then there was always those there was two older gentlemen that had

I don't know, the

sixties or seventies jumpsuit, like a one piece, and it had they had a name on the back and like gli like bedazzled and they had the roller skates, like the f two by two. And they had the fanciest feet. You know, they just and that was their thing, like they're living their youth of being I thought it was so cool. Yeah.

MIC2 (06:51)
sixties or seventies jumpsuit with a one piece and it had they had a name on it on the back and it like bedazzled and they had roller skeeds like the two by two. The fancy ones. And they had the fancy speech. Yeah. I love that. They were living their youth of being I thought was so cool. Brought them back, brought brought us back, right? Yeah.

Yeah for sure. Yeah it was a it

of Kelowna Podcast (07:14)
Yeah, for sure.

MIC2 (07:16)
was a different a different town. 'Cause there wasn't

of Kelowna Podcast (07:19)
'Cause there wasn't

all of where Home Depot is was a g was the golf course.

MIC2 (07:24)
Yeah, central

golf course. And it had a there was a mountain shadows, the curling club was there as well. And there was the driving rich yeah, the driving range. Driving range wasn't like there was no upper mission, valley wasn't built.

of Kelowna Podcast (07:30)
And there was the driving r yeah, the driving range. The mission wasn't like there was no upper mission. Kettle Valley wasn't

built yet. Crawford, I think, came in in the nineties.

MIC2 (07:40)
It was about that, yeah.

Clifton, the old Clifton. Was that there? The old Clifton was it looked totally different than what it looks now, yeah. There was no going out to the mission was like the old farm road. Yes. The the city kinda ended at KLO.

of Kelowna Podcast (07:45)
Was that there? The old Clifton. The old Clifton. Yeah. There was no Wilden. There was no going out to the mission was like a old farm road. Like the city kinda ended at KLO

and then it was a farm road out through skunk territory. The skunks down Gordon were insane. It smelled so bad sometimes. Yes. I we were sitting at my

MIC2 (07:57)
And it was a farm throw it out. Yeah. Skunk territory. I know. The smokes downgrowing were insane. And it smells so bad sometimes. Yes. I we were sitting at my

friend's house and we had a group of skunks come actually right on the patio and I Shane was like, You gotta s just sit still and I'm like, No, I just booked her out of there. I'm like, I'm not doing

of Kelowna Podcast (08:15)
sit still and I'm like, No, I just

MIC2 (08:18)
this

of Kelowna Podcast (08:20)
No, they traveled in groups, do they? You don't you know, you really don't see many of them anymore, do you? They're beautiful creatures, but they definitely stink.

MIC2 (08:21)
Yeah, they had the little family and yeah. Yep. I was like, no, you really don't see any of them anymore, do you? No. They're beautiful creatures but they definitely stink. They

stink. They're gorgeous. It's like raccoons, right? Raccoons are everywhere now. I love raccoons.

of Kelowna Podcast (08:33)
I love raccoons.

MIC2 (08:34)
They're adorable, but my gosh.

of Kelowna Podcast (08:36)
I like a raccoon more than I like squirrels. And the starlings and the blackbirds that pick on the robins. They just they take the robins get the worms and then the blackbirds come and steal them from their mouth. It's wild.

MIC2 (08:39)
Squirrels. I don't mind either of them. And the starlings. And the blackbirds that pick on the robins. Robins. Magpies. The robins get the worms and then the blackbirds come and steal it steal it. I know, isn't it crazy? It's wild. We have

deer on our property right now, which I love. But we also have birds. We've also had a bear. And I'm like, my gosh. We mustn't be down on Lawrence's.

of Kelowna Podcast (09:04)
You mustn't be down on Lawrence

anymore.

MIC2 (09:06)
Well,

not anymore. So we I'll backtrack a bit. So Lawrence and then married my husband. So we met

of Kelowna Podcast (09:13)
So

MIC2 (09:14)
when we were well, our families were kind of they knew each other since I mean my mom babysat Steve and his brother when they were like six months and like Yes. So

of Kelowna Podcast (09:22)
No way.

MIC2 (09:24)
my yeah, so it's it's we have this kind of family connection going through our lives and then at fourteen,

We started dating. So we went to catechism together. We did all like and then at fourteen we started dating and what is that, grade nine? It

of Kelowna Podcast (09:37)
What is that, grade nine?

MIC2 (09:39)
was grade nine. And we've been together ever since.

Right. Everybody's like

of Kelowna Podcast (09:42)
that's like my mom and dad. They started dating at grade nine.

MIC2 (09:45)
You're still like, wow. And it's like, well that's what it should be, right?

Yeah. So I'm I'm I'm blessed. He's my he's my rock. He's my gem. I love him to pieces. Still to this day I'll say that over and over again. Yeah, yeah, it's amazing. I don't even know where I was going with my story now. so we're probably So we did Lawrence Avenue and then

of Kelowna Podcast (09:54)
still to this day I'll say that over and over again. it. Yeah, yeah, it's amazing. we are talking about how the deer, your pri or was your property. Yeah and then

MIC2 (10:05)
met my husband and we moved, we weren't married yet, and both of our families

We had been together a long time and we said we're moving out. And they were like, What? But you're not married. And it's like, well. that's a big deal back then. Big deal, I guess. How old were you? 18. Like grade

of Kelowna Podcast (10:18)
That's a big deal back then. How old were you? eighteen. Like right out of high school.

MIC2 (10:24)
out of high school. Yeah. Yeah. And so then we moved into this. We had we were looking at one place. It was like a basement suite. It had a really cool fridge. I was like, This is kind of cool. And then my husband came home and he's like, I've got the place for us.

And I was like, What are you talking about? And he says, Well, it's on it's on Acreage and it was a mobile home. cool. So we I and it's it was on a horse equestrian. It was on Sex Smith. There's that big horse equestrian kinda

of Kelowna Podcast (10:43)
Cool. So we I and it's it was on a horse equestrian, it's on Sex Mith, there's that big horse equestrian coming

MIC2 (10:49)
right on Reynolds Road there. There's a bunch of trees. Yeah. Right there. So I was like, So I went in and I was like out of the in the day. It was kind of out there a little bit, right? But kind of nice. But I was like,

of Kelowna Podcast (10:51)
Yeah. Right there. So I was like, I went in and I was That was like in the boonies back in the day too.

MIC2 (11:01)
like the other place had a really nice fridge and

of Kelowna Podcast (11:03)
Yeah.

MIC2 (11:04)
And this is like a a mobile

home, right? It wasn't like but it was cheap rent. So it was like, all right, whatever and then remember what it was back then? I do. It was five hundred bucks. For the month. For the month. Utilities and all that?

of Kelowna Podcast (11:11)
Do you even remember what it was back then? I do. five more bucks. For the month? For the month. Utilities and all that?

MIC2 (11:17)
Everything. Wow. Yeah, five hundred bucks for a mobile home on a huge acreage with horses and everything else. So it was kinda neat 'cause we got to I like the horses. My husband hated them. So I got to feed the horses and

Our neighbors had like garden, like they would actually sell their produce and stuff like that. So we

of Kelowna Podcast (11:38)
okay. Yeah.

MIC2 (11:38)
could just go next door and get all our fresh produce, like anything we needed. It was really good. The mobile house itself kind of sucked. So we had a pack rat. Like an actual rat?

of Kelowna Podcast (11:50)
Like an actual rat?

MIC2 (11:52)
a rat. So my husband got on the fire department and of course they worked two days, two nights,

of Kelowna Podcast (11:56)
Two nights.

MIC2 (11:58)
and I was like home alone.

And this thing started scratching on the metal of the and I was like, my gosh, what am I gonna do? What am I gonna do? I didn't know what to do. So I like banged on the wall. Anyway, it kind of kept me up all night. And then my husband came home and I was like, That's it, I'm done, like I can't do this. And he was like, It's fine, it's fine, we'll catch it or whatever. And I'm thinking, my god, like this is crazy. And then we had our there was no air conditioning. So you live in a tin shed.

of Kelowna Podcast (12:26)
There was no air conditioning. So you lived in a tin shed.

That's that's gonna be hot. It

was brutal. So we finally got a like a little

MIC2 (12:31)
It was brutal. So we finally got a like a

little air conditioner unit and we had that. That was it. And then in the wintertime, I'll never forget it. It was like one of the coldest winters we had had in a really long time. And our furnace broke.

of Kelowna Podcast (12:46)
like it can get when you look in the history of Klona, it can get pretty cold every once in a while.

MIC2 (12:51)
It was in a while.

Like it was like and our my poor parents were like one of the minus dirty. Yeah, you guys gotta get out of here. Like what are you doing in those place?

of Kelowna Podcast (12:55)
Like one of the minus thirty nights.

MIC2 (13:01)
And it we had epic parties there. Like we had I mean,

of Kelowna Podcast (13:03)
Of course you did.

MIC2 (13:04)
we were living our best lives. We didn't know any better, right? And then pipes freeze. Our pipes didn't freeze, thank goodness. But

of Kelowna Podcast (13:07)
Yeah. Right and then freeze.

MIC2 (13:12)
I did have to crawl underneath to turn the water on. And you were thinking that?

of Kelowna Podcast (13:15)
And you were thinking of that

rat.

MIC2 (13:16)
And I

was thinking rats and snakes and so I had like, you know, the hair the baton hair thing. Like I wish I had one.

of Kelowna Podcast (13:20)
Like a haz a hazmat suit?

MIC2 (13:25)
so then I would go and turn it on and it was good, good days, right? Like gas was cheap, food was cheap. Like it was cheap, but not cheap. But we could afford a six pack of beer and we could all have a good night, right? And and, you know, bag of chips

of Kelowna Podcast (13:31)
Yeah. But not cheap, but we could afford a six pack of beer and we could all have a good night, right? Yeah. And you know, baggage chips.

MIC2 (13:38)
and the things and everybody would gather good music, good fun. And I remember

As horrifying as that mobile was, it was so amazing and it was ours, right, for that time being. It was pretty neat. And then we moved on to Malik Road. Where's that? That

of Kelowna Podcast (13:46)
It was so amazing. It was ours, right, for that time because it was pretty neat. And then we moved on to Malik Road. Where's that? That sounds familiar.

MIC2 (13:55)
sounds familiar. Rutland. And it was a foreclosure. So we were like didn't really anything about foreclosure. So real estate family, they're like, You should look at this place. Anyway, we ended up going to court and bidding on it.

of Kelowna Podcast (14:03)
real estate family, they're like you should look at this place. Anyway, we ended up going to court and bidding on it.

And me and my husband were like kinda deer in headlights. Like the like to buy it. To buy it. Your first purchase. Yeah.

MIC2 (14:08)
And me and my husband were like kind of deer and headlights, like the the to buy it. They're like, you gotta get out of that mobile. Yeah.

Ay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So we there's usually a reason it's foreclosed. Yeah. So we ended

of Kelowna Podcast (14:19)
Yeah, so we ended up

MIC2 (14:23)
up going to court and like me and my husband are like, like I said, we're like deer and headlights. We're twenty two. twenty-two. And you know, do you bid? And we're like, we bid kind of thing, and like

The lawyer was like, put up your hand kinda thing. So look, you know, and when can you move in? And it is as it is. Yeah, yeah. Any other bids? There was no other bids. Did you do a walkthrough before you bid?

of Kelowna Podcast (14:43)
Did you do a walkthrough before you bid?

MIC2 (14:45)
we once. Once. Once. Yeah, had red shag. Red shag in one bedroom. Orange shag in the other room. Hey, I grabbed my born shaker, but green. But red.

of Kelowna Podcast (14:49)
Red room. Orange shag in the other room. Hey, I grew up with orange shade carpet and green, but red, that's new.

MIC2 (14:57)
It was yeah, it was wonderful.

Yeah, it w needed a lot of rentals, that's for sure. But it was we lived there for twenty five years.

Yeah,

of Kelowna Podcast (15:05)
cool.

MIC2 (15:06)
so our kids grew up grew up in that house. We had two kids, Kyle and Kessler. Kyle's twenty four and Kess is sixteen. Yeah. Yeah. So

of Kelowna Podcast (15:16)
How long was

it until you pulled the shag out?

MIC2 (15:18)
not very long. I couldn't I was just it was when we when I found out I was pregnant, I like, Okay, no, I not that's no kid is crawling on this carpet. Like that's disgusting. Well, gotta tell you I've gotta tell you alert. We didn't have I have to tell you, we did not

of Kelowna Podcast (15:31)
Well c I gotta tell you about I gotta tell you about our shake. my goodness.

MIC2 (15:36)
have carpet in the bathroom. so thank you for that. Yes, that was a big thing. Isn't that gross? Well I don't get it neither.

of Kelowna Podcast (15:39)
there you go. That's that's weird. Who I do not understand that. That's do you know who does that? Somebody who's never

cleaned a bathroom. Right? Or they stick that fuzzy thing or memory card?

MIC2 (15:49)
Right? Or they stick that fuzzy thing around the carpet,

like so there's carpet and then they stick the fuzzy thing around the toilet. I'm out, I can't do it. I got a fuzzy our toilet for the feet. Yeah, but you don't have carpet. No, you can wash it. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. No. No, I was gonna say so at our the house we moved into when we left the room it was just your typical Kelowna special, the split bowl. Yep. And

of Kelowna Podcast (15:57)
I got a fuzzy thing around our toilet for our feet. Yeah, but you don't carpet. No, you can wash it. You throw pick it up and throw it in the wash. I was like, is my carpet thing gross? no, I was gonna say, so at our the house we moved into when we left Rulecliffe, it was just your typical Kelowna special, the split level. And

which as I've gotten older, I think that's such a brilliant layout. I love split like I love it.

MIC2 (16:18)
Which as I've gotten older, I think that's such a brilliant layout. I love split levels. Yes. I love it.

Yeah. Everything about it makes sense. Yeah. The layout of the house makes so much sense. but anyways, we were only going to I think my mum's gonna listen to this and all. But I think the plan was to only remove the green shade carpet upstairs from the dining room. 'Cause they were putting in

of Kelowna Podcast (16:25)
Everything about it makes sense. Like the layout of the house makes so much sense. but anyways, we were only going to I think my mum's gonna listen to this and correct me. I know it. But I think the plan was to only remove the green shag carpet upstairs from the dining room. Because they were putting in

parquet or hardwood or whatever. And

MIC2 (16:47)
Laminate. And

I remember Douglas, Mike, and Ellisburg, like they lifted up some like the corner of the carpet and there was bugs lifted up. my gosh. It was full of bugs. gosh. That night all of the carpet in the entire house got removed. They they didn't have anything to put down. Didn't matter. I know if they could afford it at the time to put anything down. But they were like it's happening. It was so gross.

of Kelowna Podcast (16:49)
I remember Douglas, my my elder eldest brother, like they lifted up some like the corner of the carpet and there was bugs liv living under it. Like it was full of of bugs. That night, all of the carpet in the entire house was w got removed. They c they didn't have anything to put down. I don't even know if they could afford it at the time to put anything down. But the carpet was gone. It was so gross.

I don't know what you call them. I can still see them in my mind. Almost like lar like

MIC2 (17:18)
See them. yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (17:22)
like a larvae, like a grub almost. it's gnarly. it was gross. So now but I like c as I like carpet. My husband does too and I'm just like I like it on my feet 'cause my feet are always cold. I always have something. Yeah. But then you think of what's under it and you go,

MIC2 (17:24)
no. No. No it has to go right. Yes. So now but I like as I like carpet. My husband does too, and I'm just like no feet 'cause my feet are always cool. I always have slippers or something on too. Must have slippers. But then you think of what's under it. You go

and I can't do it. And we have dogs. So it's like carpet is just

forget it. yeah, anytime you have animals with the carpet the smell

of Kelowna Podcast (17:47)
yeah, any time you have animals with the carpet the smell.

MIC2 (17:51)
yeah, I just I don't know. Yeah. No, you get an area rug. That's what we do. I have no idea. So you're Married. You dating in Greens? Yes. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (17:52)
It's it's yeah. You get area rock. I'm on the same page as you. Okay. Where are we in where are we in your life journey? Okay, so you're you've my goodness, you met you started dating in grade nine.

you're married, you've moved, you have your new house. Okay, so tell me about your first job you ever had.

MIC2 (18:08)
Okay, so tell me about your first job you ever had.

I worked at Wendy's. Like the one on the highway? Yep. Or the one in Reland. No, the one on the highway. You were in Florida. Yeah, I

of Kelowna Podcast (18:13)
Like the one on the highway? Or the one in Rutland? No, the one on the high 'cause you were in l at Lawrence, right.

MIC2 (18:18)
live downtown. we I got a chance, I played volleyball and I had a chance to go to England with our volleyball team. And that's not high school volleyball This is high school, yeah. This is high school volleyball,

of Kelowna Podcast (18:24)
with our volleyball team. Ooh, wait, that's not high school volleyball, is it? This is high school volleyball?

MIC2 (18:30)
yep. So it was grade I think grade eleven. K S. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (18:33)
wait, K S S. That was the sports school. Animal

MIC2 (18:36)
Yeah, we did ha we had all the sports.

of Kelowna Podcast (18:37)
sports.

you know what? I'm in my mind I'm thinking KSS behind the college. This was KSS the original. we have the two gyms, west and the east. Yeah.

MIC2 (18:41)
KSS behind the college. No this was KSS. This was the original KSS. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. So we had the two gyms, West and the East. Yes. And so yeah, so

I love volleyball. And one of our PE teachers, her husband owned a Wendy's and he knew I was looking for a job and he said we used to be I used to babysit as kids and he said, Well, how would you apply for a job at Wendy's? So I was like, Sure. So I totally

I had to do the interview, I had to do everything and I got the job. and I that's where I worked. I worked there for about two and a half years. Yeah. What was it? Do you remember what it was like?

of Kelowna Podcast (19:15)
What was it do you remember what it was like?

MIC2 (19:17)
I hated the fries 'cause I stunk like a fry, like the oil and the just that

of Kelowna Podcast (19:20)
The oil.

MIC2 (19:21)
I always felt like I smelt like a burger. They were a great company to work for 'cause they had

of Kelowna Podcast (19:23)
Mm-hmm. They were a great company to for because they had

MIC2 (19:26)
so many employees that if you had like if you were involved with sports or any other extra collective activities, there was you could

of Kelowna Podcast (19:33)
There was you could

get those ships covered. that's nice. Like you know, so they didn't say no, you couldn't ever have that or you couldn't do this.

MIC2 (19:34)
get those shifts covered. They were very understanding, like, you know, mark the time off so they didn't say, No, you couldn't never have that or you couldn't do this. They were

always very supportive of letting us do what we wanted. Yeah. Yeah, it was really neat. Okay, and then what other jobs did you have? I worked

of Kelowna Podcast (19:45)
That's pretty cool. Okay, and then what other jobs have you had?

MIC2 (19:49)
at Blockbusters. That kinda sucked. you didn't like Blockbuster?

of Kelowna Podcast (19:53)
you didn't like the blockbuster?

MIC2 (19:55)
Well I didn't.

I don't I did you like did you like Blockbuster as an employee, but as a customer. Yes. Totally as a customer, but as an employee for you? Well it was just

of Kelowna Podcast (19:57)
Did you like did you like Blockbuster not as an employee but as a customer? Yes. Okay. Only as a customer, but did it ruin it for you, then working there? It was just

MIC2 (20:07)
I think I don't necessarily think it was the the job itself, it was the people around the job. Well that's jobs though. Yes. So I think that was my reasoning for that. I wasn't treated very well. Yeah. Yeah, so that kinda sucked.

of Kelowna Podcast (20:13)
Well that's most jobs though. Yeah. I think that was my reasoning for that. That's fair. Yeah. Yeah, so that kinda

I used to work at me and my

MIC2 (20:22)
I used to work at me and my cousin,

my uncle used to own Golf Electric. Which one? No hundred. Yes, I know which hundreds of cousins. Golf Electric. Golf Electric.

of Kelowna Podcast (20:26)
Which one? No. golf electric. Okay.

MIC2 (20:33)
And it was a lighting store. And every Saturday he would have this free barbecue for all of his customers and all the whoever wanted to come to the barbecue, right? So me and my cousin Renee would do we would flip burgers and chop onions every

of Kelowna Podcast (20:47)
Every Saturday.

MIC2 (20:48)
Saturday. And again, like flipping burgers, seriously. Yeah, and then I did what else did I do?

Hm, kinda stumpy on that one. I don't know. What else I've kind of done.

of Kelowna Podcast (21:01)
What were you working when

you lived on at the on the That's that's just new.

MIC2 (21:06)
That's that's just new.

So that's brand new to us. We just moved there. No, you're the when you when you're eighteen.

of Kelowna Podcast (21:11)
no, you're the when you when you're eighteen.

Was that not an acreage? Yes, yes. What did I I worked at store. so when did the costume store enter your life?

MIC2 (21:15)
yes, yes. What did I I worked at the costume store. so when did the costume store get to be

like? I would have to say well, I would have to say around fifteen I kinda started working there or helping out on different days and now

your parents it? Well it's tell us the story. I know. Everybody's dying to know.

of Kelowna Podcast (21:29)
Now your parents started it? Well Tell us the story. I know. Let's get into it.

MIC2 (21:38)
The store is owned by my husband, was owned by my husband's grandma. So me and Steve dating since we were fourteen. she needed help at Halloween. Steve would like, let's go help grandma at the store or whatever. So I'd go and help. as time progressed, I would help a little more. and then she got ill. So she got breast cancer. And I was I didn't have a job at the time, so I ended up working

at the costume store. They asked if I could work and I was like, well sure. And trust me, I never in my life thought I would work at a costume store. It wasn't but it was a fun job, right? It was like, okay. And so that's that's when I started working there. I kind of started working there full time, I guess, when I was like eighteen. And but I had worked there previously lots before. And so

of Kelowna Podcast (22:22)
Obviously lost before.

MIC2 (22:24)
I kind of grew up there.

of Kelowna Podcast (22:26)
Do you know

why his grandmother started did was she the one who started the do you know do you know the history of any of that?

MIC2 (22:28)
His grandmother started? Did was she the one who started it? She started it, yeah. Do

you know do you have a history of any of that? I do a little bit. I I I don't know her whole story. I wish I kind of did. I wish I knew. I wish I would have asked her more questions about why she started a costume store. but she did she had a consignment store. she started the consign

of Kelowna Podcast (22:46)
She started the c

MIC2 (22:46)
she wanted to start a consignment store, so she had a place on Leon and she

Would go to thrift stores and stuff and she would wash the clothes, she would iron it, she would make sure everything looked presentable. and then she would buy clothes from people and people started coming in for costumes.

the consignment store ended up becoming a costume store. Yeah. So she bought out, like she would go

of Kelowna Podcast (23:06)
Yeah so she bought out like she would

MIC2 (23:10)
to the like the they had family in the States. So they would go and visit and they would buy, like go to their thrift stores and find really neat finds. we even had a Judy Garland original dress. I know, kinda cool. and then she bought out different costume companies, like one of the companies, Rubies, was one of the big costume companies back then.

And she bought just about every single costume in that catalog in their Regency collection kind of a thing. and then it started them and she could sew. And she was so proud of the costumes and what she had, which taught me so much, just how she treated customers and how she cared for the costumes and the cleanliness, the store better be clean.

of Kelowna Podcast (23:50)
store better clean.

And she took pride in those costumes and hand like we wash everything so we have washer dryer in our store and we we wash every single costume. If it has stains we have all these potions and motions.

MIC2 (23:52)
And she took pride in those costumes and hand like we wash everything so we have washer and dryer in our store and we we wash every single costume. If it has stains, we have all these potions and lotions and stuff to figure

out how to get these stains out. I never thought that would be part of my job as well, right? Like, Okay, gross, what is this? I know. At

of Kelowna Podcast (24:10)
Maybe maybe don't ask. Yeah.

MIC2 (24:12)
one point I thought, I wish all these costumes could talk and tell me their stories and where they've been and and then I'm like,

No, I don't. No, I don't. No. I'm like, no, thanks. I'll just I'll just forget I said that. My mind didn't mine didn't either. And then I I

of Kelowna Podcast (24:20)
well yeah No I don't think I'll just forget I said that. My mind didn't even go there. I was just like yeah.

MIC2 (24:30)
know it was so innocent when I like, I wish I knew where all these costumes went, and then I kinda th I'm like, no thanks.

Maybe not. Yeah. Maybe some of them.

of Kelowna Podcast (24:36)
Maybe not. Maybe only some of them, yeah.

MIC2 (24:39)
And so then the costume store kinda began and it opened up my eyes to a whole different world.

It was so cool to see people put on a costume and how they would act and who they would become and they let their guard down. even at seventeen, I mean, I didn't know much about costumes. I never thought I would work at a costume store. I never studied anything like that. And so I'd be like, fifties, and I was like, hmm, we didn't have phones, we didn't have Google images, we didn't have nothing. We had to create.

from what the person kinda wanted and what I had at the store and and we would come up with this outfit that they would love and it was like, Wow, that was really neat. That was really cool.

of Kelowna Podcast (25:24)
Do you have a a memory that sticks out if I give you a moment to think about memory and a half I don't have a thousands of favorites. Pick one of your faves if you can.

MIC2 (25:26)
Sticks I gave you a moment to think about You don't even have to give me a moment. I can give you thousands of stories. Like one of your faves if you can't. One of my favorites,

and I think I I dumb and dumber. So we have these dumb and dumber outfits. And I have I have many, many stories that have just touched my heart beyond it's just beyond. I don't even know how to explain. But this dumb and dumber outfit, this was my big first kind of moment. we got a phone call from a mom.

And she was just about crying and I was like can how can I help you? And she's younger?

of Kelowna Podcast (25:59)
Is this when you were younger?

MIC2 (26:02)
no. No, I was like I was probably ten, fifteen years into the job. Okay. Dumb and dumb or was yeah, thirties I would say,

of Kelowna Podcast (26:07)
Okay, so maybe your thirties, like early thirties. Okay.

MIC2 (26:10)
yeah.

She was just about crying and I was like, how can I help you? you know, and she's like, Well, my son is not the popularest kid and they won't go to their grad, him and his best friend, nobody liked them. They got picked on, they got bugged, and and they don't want to go to grad. And they kind of made a pact. If they could get dumb and dumber outfits, they would go to grad. And I was like, I have dumb and dumber outfits.

of Kelowna Podcast (26:32)
I challenge accepted.

MIC2 (26:34)
Yeah, I said I have dumb and dumber outfits, and she started crying and she's like, You do? And part of me was like

I don't think those boys should go to Grata. Like they don't want to, right? And here I am putting them in a dumb and dumber outfit. And I was like, challenge accepted. Let's see if these boys can and I said to the mom, bring them in. So she did. And we dressed them up. The smiles on their faces were amazing. They were very nervous still. I mean, you can imagine you've been picked on your whole school and now you're wearing a dumb and dumber outfit.

So they were excited, but also like, you know, that when you get that excitement, but you also have that, no, I don't know if this is yeah. and very sweet kids, very likable kids.

of Kelowna Podcast (27:12)
excited but also like you know that when you get that excitement when you no I know reserved yeah. and very sweet kids, very likable kids.

MIC2 (27:22)
and the parents ended up getting them scooters as well. And they showed up to their grad in these dumb and dumber outfits with their scooters. They were hit of the night. Everybody loved them.

And for one moment a dumb and dumber outfit made those two kids the most popular kids. And on their grad night, something they didn't even want to do.

It's just it's just clothing. But that clothing made them more confident and gave them an opportunity. And it's a night they'll never forget.

of Kelowna Podcast (28:01)
It's a core memory.

MIC2 (28:03)
Right? And I I will never forget that 'cause the mom came in and she cried and she was like, They did it. They were amazing. They had the best night. And I think if you're a mom, we just want our kids to have the best night. And these days it's hard. It really is hard for our kids. I

Part of me was wishes they could have the life that I had without the phones and the computers and the things and just be them, right? Just like dumb and dumber kids. They just did it, right? And I think our kids have a lot of pressure these days. And like I said, I wish that I could just take back to the simplified simplified

of Kelowna Podcast (28:44)
Simplify it.

MIC2 (28:46)
more days that we had growing up, yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (28:49)
Yeah. my goodness. You got you gotta tell me another one.

MIC2 (28:51)
I know.

so many. I love it when a Comic Con kid comes in and they don't know how to quite ask us or they're shy or they're maybe embarrassed of their character that they want to be. And we really don't care. We have no I have no there's no boundaries when it comes to a costume. If you want to I'll try my best to help you out. so I absolutely

I love it when they come in. I love I love it when everybody comes in because it changes everybody. Like every day. Today we had you know, the store's closing, so it's it's it's heartbreaking. and I I hope it's as heartbreaking to the community as it is to me, because it's it's more than just a costume store. we had a gentleman in today and he's you know, the store had we had some people in and

of Kelowna Podcast (29:42)
some people in

the man starts singing a song because he said something

MIC2 (29:43)
The man starts singing a song because he said something

about this pirate where pirates are from. And I'm like, what are you talking about? I don't know. He starts singing the song. And another girl and her dad was in, and she was maybe, I think, 17. She started singing the song with the gentleman that was in the store. She knew the song. She was like this history buff. And here they are. He has a pirate hat on his head, and she's like sing they're singing this song together. And I was like, This store's magic.

of Kelowna Podcast (29:50)
Singing the song. And another girl her dad was in, and she was maybe, I think, 17, she started singing the song with the gentleman that was in the room. She knew the song. She was like this history buff. And here they are. He has a pirate hat on his head, and she's like they're singing this song together. And was like, this store is magic.

This store is absolutely. How do you get like a 60-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl?

MIC2 (30:13)
This store is absolutely how do you get like a sixty year old man and a seventeen year old girl

singing the same song, just letting her rip, having a great time, and it was just like, Wow, this store is magic. Yeah. So it it it's sad that it has to go. Did you Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (30:19)
Singing the same song, just letting her rip having a great time, and it was just like, Wow, this story is magic. Yeah. So it it it's sad that it has to come. Did you wanna

touch on that at all? The closing of it it's

it it just has to happen. I mean the

MIC2 (30:36)
It's it it just has to happen. I mean the world's

changed and and I don't want to say for good or for bad and I don't wanna blame this or that. but yeah, they they when they say support local stores, we should really try to do our best. because the magic will disappear. I mean, Amazon can't deliver every day. And so when that order doesn't come, you won't have us anymore.

You know, what

of Kelowna Podcast (31:01)
Yeah.

MIC2 (31:02)
are you gonna do? And I hope, I hope that you go in your closet and you find something and you make something and you look fabulous and you figure it out because it's fun. We should

do that in our lives, right? Why, you know, we shouldn't have to rely on Amazon and TMU and Sheen to create a costume for us. We can do it. You know, that's that's that's kind of the best part of costumes is creating this wonderful thing and feeling good in an outfit.

of Kelowna Podcast (31:21)
We can do it. You know, that's the the kind of the best part of costumes is creating

wonderful

MIC2 (31:29)
It's kinda neat.

of Kelowna Podcast (31:30)
thing and feeling good in an outfit. Yeah. You must have an like a a ro how do you keep track of all the costumes? You got Rolodex in your mind that just goes.

MIC2 (31:34)
I'm very that just goes

if you ask anybody they know I'm very organized

of Kelowna Podcast (31:41)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (31:41)
when it comes to my costumes. Not everything in life, but when it comes to my costumes, I'm very organized. so we we like I said we clean all of our own costumes. We take pride in making sure that they're clean, they're well kept, and they look good. And we strive to make you look amazing. Like our rental department was amazing, and I mean we'd pull stuff out and like high five each other more.

looks great on that person. They feel they look amazing. Like wow. so I feel like

I just this is hard. It's hard. It is. it's gonna be missed. It's I think we're

of Kelowna Podcast (32:10)
Mm-hmm. It is hard. It is. I think

MIC2 (32:14)
one of the older stores or businesses that have been downtown.

of Kelowna Podcast (32:19)
Well he what's older than you down there.

MIC2 (32:21)
I don't even

know. I don't even know. Was McDermott were young? We were before I think McDermott's. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (32:24)
Was McDermott's there when you were young? We were before The Year before McDermott?

MIC2 (32:30)
Yeah. We were on Lawrence Avenue. So right by Mamarosa's, which

of Kelowna Podcast (32:34)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (32:35)
I used to love because I would smell their fresh I mean it was like at noon I could smell all this fabulous food. I was like, my gosh. And every now and then Jack Emo would used to bring me over a lasagna or something. It was amazing. I was like, Yes.

Yeah, we were on Lawrence Avenue and when we moved to Bernard Avenue, we had family. It was if you could picture this, so this is my husband's family, not my family. and he has a big family

of Kelowna Podcast (32:56)
This is my husband's family family. and he has a big family.

MIC2 (33:00)
as well. everybody with their trucks and all the cousins and the aunts and uncles, and everybody shows up. And I mean, we had rolling racks on the back of trucks, and we

of Kelowna Podcast (33:08)
Yeah.

MIC2 (33:09)
were driving with rolling racks and costumes on the back of these trucks to get it into our new space on Bernard.

of Kelowna Podcast (33:14)
Do you re so

do you remember like were you the owner when or was your husband the owner when you moved? Or was it we don't own parents own it? his own his parents own it. But when the that place opened

MIC2 (33:21)
we don't own his parents' own it. I just own his parents' own it. Parents own it. But when place open.

of Kelowna Podcast (33:26)
up, like why do you know why they wanted to move?

MIC2 (33:28)
So why they wanted to

so we had Steve's grandpa. So

of Kelowna Podcast (33:32)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (33:33)
grandma and grandpa, grand grandma started the costume store.

of Kelowna Podcast (33:35)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (33:36)
Grandpa had Hoover Realty. So he owned Hoover Realty in that location that we are now. In the eighties he had bought that building and it became Hoover Realty. So it

was a real estate office. And then

of Kelowna Podcast (33:48)
Yeah, see.

MIC2 (33:49)
it became countrywide Realtor, which the brothers ran, and then when that space became empty

We moved, so grandpa had a music box shop called Music Music and Memories and it had all sorts of collectibles, fancy clocks on the wall that dance and sing. And so we ended up they were in the town center mall, and then we were right behind them on Lawrence Avenue. And when that building became vacant, he owned it. We moved both stores onto the Bernard store. So we kind of split the store in half.

And music and memories was on one side and Kelowna Costumes was on the other side. Yeah. Yeah, and then Music and Memories

of Kelowna Podcast (34:24)
Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Wow.

MIC2 (34:28)
closed. Kelowna Costume was epic. Like 2010. I remember Halloween and I remember just being so busy. The store was packed. You couldn't fit another person in that store. The door was

of Kelowna Podcast (34:35)
Being so busy, the store was packed. You couldn't fit another person in the store. The door was

MIC2 (34:42)
locked and we had a lineup to St. Paul. We had friends and family come to help us because we didn't have enough staff.

And they were answering phones and like grabbing this and grabbing that and it was energy was amazing. It is amazing and it's always related around f family.

of Kelowna Podcast (34:54)
that the energy would have been amazing. It is amazing and it's always been around family. Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (35:01)
and family still come and get their costumes from there that still to this day like their kids and it's pretty amazing. It's always been just

of Kelowna Podcast (35:08)
It's always been just

where you go when you need like my husband has an annual AGM and every year it's in Vancouver, but every year it's a different theme, but this is very common. And that's the go to place is go ahead and get your costume because you s you hook up. He just has to stand there and you all bring things for him. Try this, try that. You should have this hat. No, have this belt. He looked good this year.

MIC2 (35:17)
It's a different theme, but this is very common. That's the go-to place to go get it, right? Go ahead and cost 'cause you s you hook up to stand there and you all bring things for him. Try this. This is exactly what we do. Well and we like this I love

that.

of Kelowna Podcast (35:38)
But yeah.

MIC2 (35:39)
we definitely took pride. My co worker Tori, she's been with me for eighteen years.

And we collaborate really well together we've created some amazing costumes. we've had customers tell us that they had fun more fun at our store than they did at their event. Getting dressed up and I think that's

of Kelowna Podcast (35:56)
Yeah. I believe it. Yeah.

MIC2 (35:59)
one of the highest compliments we've re ever received.

of Kelowna Podcast (36:01)
and here's another compliment.

My husband will like never take a suit a suitcase. Like he'll just only ever take carry on, like a wall like a little backpack to go to the weekend. Like you don't need much. He just takes a backpack. Well, this year he actually took an entire suitcase. He paid for an entire suitcase just so that he could have the c the boots and the hat tucked away.

MIC2 (36:05)
suit a suitcase. Yes. Like he'll just only ever take carry on like a wall like a little backpack to go to the weekend. you don't need much. No. He just takes a back. Well this year he actually took an entire suitcase. He paid for an entire suitcase just so that he could have the code boots and the hat tucked to it

of Kelowna Podcast (36:25)
so it didn't get damaged, you know? it was the suitcase just for his costume.

MIC2 (36:24)
I love it. So it didn't get damaged. Damaged. it was the suitcase just works. I love

that. It's amazing.

of Kelowna Podcast (36:31)
I was like, Yeah, it's totally worth it.

MIC2 (36:32)
We another highlight. Well, I love I love I mean I we could chat for like eons and hours and I'm I'm just a time. We used to get to go to trade shows.

of Kelowna Podcast (36:37)
no, just keep you got tons of time. We used to get to go to trade shows.

Mm-hmm. Right? So

MIC2 (36:43)
Right. So Kelowna

costume would go to and you'll laugh at this so like a like a costume trade show.

of Kelowna Podcast (36:46)
wait, like a like a costume trade show?

MIC2 (36:48)
Yeah, like the world's trans haunt show, right?

gonna laugh at this. What you run a costume store, you've been there for thirty five years. I don't like dressing up. That is I know

of Kelowna Podcast (36:58)
That is I would not have

MIC2 (37:02)
I know everybody thinks I'm like the dress up queen

of Kelowna Podcast (37:01)
expected that. I know everybody thinks I'm like the dress of

MIC2 (37:04)
and because I have it all at my hands. And it terrifies me. So when I see people be brave enough to put a costume on, I'm always in awe. Isn't that interesting? Yes.

of Kelowna Podcast (37:14)
Isn't that interesting?

MIC2 (37:16)
Always in awe. I'm like

Good for you. And they're like, should I do that? I'm like, heck yeah, you need to put that on and get out there. You look amazing. And then,

of Kelowna Podcast (37:23)
Of c Of course you should do it. Yeah.

MIC2 (37:25)
hey Carrie, you should dress up for this. I'm busy. I'm so sorry. I c I'm no, I have I have prior commitments, sorry. Yes. It is I'm trying to make think of like an analogy in because I feel like there's other professions where it's monkey do or what is the monkey see, monkey do. a coach can play, but he can coach all. Yeah, that's kinda

of Kelowna Podcast (37:34)
I'm trying to make think of like an analogy in my mind 'cause I feel like there's other professions where it's monkey do or what is the expression? coach can't play but he can coach really well. That's

MIC2 (37:45)
like and

I don't know what it is.

I d I honestly don't and don't get me wrong, I love dressing you up. Like I can't wait. It's one of my most creative I

of Kelowna Podcast (37:54)
To a creative outlet?

MIC2 (37:55)
love it. Like I really, really love it. Down to the finest detail. We have one of our Mad Hatter costumes is one of our best costumes that we have. And we even made the spool sash that he has and it has spools of thread. I think it has like forty or fifty different spools of thread. We made that. We made his pincushion ring. I mean, we make sure that we have all the little details just right. and Tori's great at that. I'm I'm

I'm good at putting the initial outfit together and then she's good with all the little fun little accessories and stuff that go with it. It's pretty amazing. Were you very creative as a kid?

of Kelowna Podcast (38:25)
all the details. Well so here's a question. Were you very creative as a kid?

MIC2 (38:31)
No, I think I was more athletic. So I'm a volleyball girl. Yeah, I volleyball.

of Kelowna Podcast (38:34)
you're a volleyball girl.

MIC2 (38:36)
I love ba like growing up I played baseball or fastball, softball, whatever they call it nowadays. I love that. I tried soccer, I love volleyball, I played basketball.

I But you weren't really into crafts or hobbies or anything? No. And here you have you just you just have this immense creative pouring out of you.

of Kelowna Podcast (38:47)
But you weren't really into c crafts or hobbies or anything. And here you have you just you just have this immense creative outlet just pouring out of you.

MIC2 (38:57)
I can't wait. Like I when I get to dress somebody up that they show me a picture, can you do this? Yes. I'm stoked. I'm ready. Like let's do this. And it's not gonna be perfect. It might even be better.

of Kelowna Podcast (39:11)
That's a

good that's a good phrase.

MIC2 (39:11)
But it looks it looks so

good. Like the person is always so happy when we're finished. Do you have a a creative outlet anywhere else in your life?

of Kelowna Podcast (39:17)
Do you have a creative outlet anywhere else in your life?

MIC2 (39:21)
I wanna say no. Isn't that weird? I think I do. Like I think I love people and I

of Kelowna Podcast (39:28)
Uh-huh.

MIC2 (39:29)
love to chat and I'll help anybody. I have a good heart. But I don't I can I don't gonna have a void.

of Kelowna Podcast (39:36)
you're Carrie, you're gonna have a void.

MIC2 (39:38)
I know. I am gonna have a huge void.

of Kelowna Podcast (39:40)
You you need a creative outlet.

We need something. Yeah.

MIC2 (39:43)
I need something. I and then

I had somebody tell me like ageism is a thing and I'm like, What are you talking about? Like I don't what do you what do you mean? And

of Kelowna Podcast (39:49)
What? ageism.

MIC2 (39:52)
I'm like Well they're like, Well you're you're fifty and I'm like, Well, I never even thought of it. I'm like, Well now what am I gonna do? Actually so actually it's a it's a thing because we we want the fifty year old because you have a work and I like

of Kelowna Podcast (40:02)
Actually actually it's a it's a thing because we we want the fifty year old 'cause you have a work ethic. And you can talk to people

and answer a phone and look people in the eyes. and actually show up to work on time and not have your phone out the whole day. You say, Yeah, ageism exists. We want the older people. Sorry, young people. You got yourself a reputation.

MIC2 (40:11)
And answer a phone and the eyes will then actually show up work on time and not have a phone the whole day. I know, so but it it kinda like that moment. My sons are gonna be like, Hey.

and I don't for me, I think I never knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. And then this kind of came along and I just did it. It gave me

I mean, I was there for all my kids' sports. I never missed a school function or a play and so beautiful.

of Kelowna Podcast (40:47)
Beautiful.

MIC2 (40:48)
It right. And so I mean, Apple Bowl, like, you know, like your sons at the Apple Bowl at eleven twenty, and I'm like, peeps, I'm out, like, and off I would go. And so I was so blessed to come upon this job. I am not rich, but I am so blessed. And

of Kelowna Podcast (41:03)
So blessed. You're

you might

not be money rich, but you are very rich in life and in experience and community.

MIC2 (41:05)
You might not need rich, but you are very rich. I am very rich in other things and experience it. The amount the the the people I have met, the community,

the my kids, my family, like they're my world. I you know, I I got to be at all their things. I got to do, I was

So on top of having an awesome job as just dressing people up, I mean it that's pretty epic, it gave me the freedoms to do so many things and not miss much.

So I am so, so grateful. And now my kids are older. Like I said, my oldest is sixteen and he's graduating next year. And I know. That's crazy thought. Isn't that crazy? he's relevant. relevant. But he'll

of Kelowna Podcast (41:45)
my goodness. That's a crazy thought. Isn't that crazy? But does he go to KSS he's Relent. Relent.

MIC2 (41:54)
actually be attending the college. He's in a dual credit program. so he'll be attending the college, yeah. with the I ask. Yeah, he's heavy duty mechanics. Isn't neat?

of Kelowna Podcast (41:57)
cool. w what like can I ask? Isn't that neat

how they can my They have home credit stuff.

MIC2 (42:04)
I so wish they had dual credit stuff

when I was growing up because I could have been like, you know, I thought about being a nurse or a teacher and I wish I could've got placed.

Or started my grade eleven and twelve years in doing something like that so that I was ahead of the game and knew that I liked it and then I could move forward. I feel like it would benefit like it would have benefited us huge, right? but I feel like these opportunities are opening up for our kids and it's amazing. I love it. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (42:31)
It's really neat.

MIC2 (42:33)
Yeah, it's huge for them. Huge. Anyway, I have to finish telling you. I've been to all these trade shows.

yeah, we have

of Kelowna Podcast (42:38)
yeah, we got we got

MIC2 (42:40)
Always got sighting to do. I know while I And that's the weirdest thing ever, right? Who would have ever thought that? Yes, it is very strange. Okay, so these traitos.

of Kelowna Podcast (42:39)
sidetracked from you not liking to dress up. I don't like using that word, but it it does come across a little strange. Yeah. Okay, so these trade shows.

MIC2 (42:52)
Yeah, so haunt shows. Like you can imagine haunch? Haunt. haunt. Scary. haunt. Like a haunted house. that sounds it's I know. I'm like haunch? No, haunt. Haunted house. basically it's a trade show only for scary.

of Kelowna Podcast (42:54)
Are you saying haunch? Haunt. haunt. haunt shows. I see I don't see I'm I don't know the lingo. Haunch though. Like a haunted. So basically it's a trade show only for scary

costumes or things?

MIC2 (43:10)
There was there was a few

different trade shows we've attended, but yes, that was one of them. And it was like scary. It was I don't do scary neither. Yes, yes. I

of Kelowna Podcast (43:17)
Like horror. yeah, I don't do well with that.

MIC2 (43:20)
my gosh, and there was clowns and there was things and masks and noises and screeching and and things popping up and I was just like, my gosh. so epic, but so like not your No.

of Kelowna Podcast (43:31)
Not your no.

MIC2 (43:33)
No. But

It was awesome to see everybody there. And then we started getting like we would go to Las Vegas.

of Kelowna Podcast (43:39)
We started getting like we would go to Las Vegas.

MIC2 (43:41)
We went to they would have my husband loved it, the world's biggest costume lingerie show. of course. So he's like, Well, I'm coming for sure, right? It's like, you

of Kelowna Podcast (43:48)
of course he'd love that. Yeah.

MIC2 (43:51)
know, for so Steve's mom and dad and me and him, we would go to Vegas at least once a year. We would source out and that was pretty big for us too. We like to source out things because

The pop up stores started coming, like Halloween Alley and Spirit Halloween. They started coming in, right? So we needed

of Kelowna Podcast (44:06)
right.

MIC2 (44:07)
to find a new avenue, but also stay true. So the the one thing that that store has done is stay true

of Kelowna Podcast (44:09)
stay true. So the the one thing that that store has done is stay true.

MIC2 (44:13)
to that store. Never changed, never we didn't adapt anything to be better than spirit or

of Kelowna Podcast (44:20)
Better

in that you're gonna charge even more and have it crap your quality? Could it get any less single thread?

MIC2 (44:24)
quality costume and and single thread just show up for

three months or two months and and leave. And so the Halloween

of Kelowna Podcast (44:31)
Peace yeah.

MIC2 (44:34)
alley, they are local. I do believe that. but still they pop up for a couple of months and and I don't have anything against the people. I just it I found it very annoying. So we would have to find different things. So we

of Kelowna Podcast (44:44)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

MIC2 (44:47)
would go to the trade shows and

really search for unique pieces and different items that we could sell in the store that was different from what they carried. And we were so successful at that. And we had so many laughs at these trade shows. I mean, you could imagine all the stuff we saw. it was it was huge.

of Kelowna Podcast (45:04)
I can't. But by the looks in your eyes, it's beyond my imagination. Yeah. Well, Vegas

alone, I can just imagine that I want to run Vegas. Yeah.

MIC2 (45:11)
Well, Vegas alone, right? Just imagine costume lingerie in Vegas and just

like, here's your yeah, it was pretty amazing. we found a few of our favorite companies and th we call our Pride and Joys. and we could probably only afford like two coats the first time we ever saw them. It was Shrine of Hollywood, and these coats are like they're just amazing. Any man puts this jacket on and they look fantastic, right? And

When we brought those we were like, We're something. Like this is this is big. Like we we made it. We you know, we're big time. And then we started getting better and better different quality costumes and people started recognizing us a lot more. Like I said, two thousand and ten was mind blowing. Mind blowing.

of Kelowna Podcast (45:55)
Sounds like a year to remember. Yeah.

MIC2 (45:59)
yeah. I never like we s like when I say we stayed true

of Kelowna Podcast (46:01)
And when I see it is day true.

MIC2 (46:03)
to what we were, we still hand wrote all of our rentals out. So if you rented something, we had to write down exactly everything that you took. We still do that. We still have the credit card

of Kelowna Podcast (46:07)
something we have to write down exactly everything that you st yeah we still do that. We still credit cards.

MIC2 (46:14)
ch chink machine for taking a deposit.

of Kelowna Podcast (46:16)
Well, I don't know if you remember,

but G Graham went to take out his one card. But the new cards, the it's not in bo bo what's it called? Embossed? Embossed. So yeah, he got his other one. No, he got his other one. He's like, this he got it just so you could do the kaklunk in front of us. It's such a nostalgic sound. I love it.

MIC2 (46:20)
And it didn't wasn't raised. It's not in embossed embossed, yeah. So we had to write it all day. Did he fall so you could do a call? Yes. It was kind of neat. Well that's talent. it.

That's the thing, is that whole store had a piece of nostalgia to it. Starting from when she started that.

of Kelowna Podcast (46:39)
Yeah. Starting from when she started that. Yeah.

MIC2 (46:42)
I mean, she worked on I don't know if you remember, back in the day we used to have in it was in the winter.

my gosh, I can't believe my brain has forgotten. We had a winter carnival. Snowfest. I can't believe Snowfest. So we had Snowfest. Sorry, it took me so long to I blame menopause. It just capooshed.

of Kelowna Podcast (46:55)
Snowfest. Yeah. Yeah. Whatever happened to Snowfest? It just

MIC2 (47:00)
Everything could clot up capooches.

Yes, it's kind of frustrating. So she used to help fix snow go, like and and she I think she even s had an outfit, like she made the outfit for him, which was amazing. Like she has done

She started something and she has no idea what she created. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (47:19)
She has no idea what she created.

MIC2 (47:23)
Yeah. Which is pretty amazing. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (47:25)
Yeah.

MIC2 (47:26)
Pretty amazing. And

of Kelowna Podcast (47:28)
Well,

MIC2 (47:28)
I think the staff, I want to say the staff, Kelowna Costumes has had not a big turnaround, but we've had and all of our staff has been pretty good. Like it's people first, right? Our customers first. Yeah. It's so special. It has to be otherwise it's

of Kelowna Podcast (47:39)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's so special. It has to be otherwise it

MIC2 (47:46)
You're just another store. Yeah, and I feel like it's not gonna hit.

of Kelowna Podcast (47:48)
Yeah, and I feel like it's not gonna hit home

until it's gone. Because it's all those 'cause a lot of people don't go there you don't go there some

people

MIC2 (47:56)
Some people.

of Kelowna Podcast (47:56)
go there all the time, but a lot of people only go there when like when you need we only need you when we need you. Right? We don't need you. And then it's not in you don't think about it. And

MIC2 (47:59)
Need something. We only need you when we need you. I know. We only need you when we need you and we don't need you and then it's not in you don't think about it. No

of Kelowna Podcast (48:07)
then when you realize well, where do you go now? Like you were the place it was the place to go. I think it's gonna leave a huge hole in the city.

MIC2 (48:11)
Where where two goes. It was the place to go. I think it's gonna leave a huge hole

of Kelowna Podcast (48:17)
And not just the city, like people used to come in the valley to

MIC2 (48:18)
in the city. People used to come. Vernon, Penticton.

Yeah. Yeah, we used to do we used to help out with an arm straw or He used to get a bunch of Disney costumes from us and stuff like that. And it was just the amount that the costumes have touched lives. I'm you have n d

The understanding is like you can't even put it into words. Like

of Kelowna Podcast (48:41)
Yeah.

MIC2 (48:42)
it's just and then when everybody's at that gathering or at that function or at that birthday party doing seventies disco dances and everybody's having a great time. I mean, is don't that we aspire for that in life? We should aspire for that all the time, not with just a costume. But that costume makes it okay to dance the boogie boogie or whatever you want to do.

of Kelowna Podcast (49:04)
Yeah. It's like when you put a mask on, all of a sudden you can be

MIC2 (49:07)
You can be a little bit different, right?

of Kelowna Podcast (49:07)
your inner self. Yeah.

MIC2 (49:10)
And that that inner comes out in you. And it's pretty it's pretty special, it's pretty unique. it's really sad that it has to leave. I mean, somebody asked me and and if you could do it over again, would you? And what would you change? And I said, I would do it in a heartbeat, no questions to ask, and I wouldn't change a thing.

'Cause I love that store. I really

of Kelowna Podcast (49:33)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (49:33)
do. And if you know that store, you know me. I've been there thirty five years. You know that I take pride in that store.

And that I love what I do. I love it when you come in. Right? I'm like, Yes, how are you today? And

of Kelowna Podcast (49:46)
Yeah.

MIC2 (49:46)
I've been told stories and people have cried in my shoulders and then I've dressed them up on a in a costume and off they go and they were like, Thank you And I was like, For what? It's just a costume.

of Kelowna Podcast (49:57)
it's not

though, right?

MIC2 (49:57)
But it's not. It's a little

bit more than just that. But to me it was just like, I'm just putting you in a costume. This is how it is.

of Kelowna Podcast (50:05)
I don't understand the why 'cause you're not the owner. Is it the your husband's parents are selling? Or what's the deal? Like why is it a it's a little confusing. So

MIC2 (50:05)
but I don't understand like why because you're not the owner. Nope. Is it the your husband's parents are selling? what's the deal? Like why is it? It gets a little confusing. So family owns the building. Yeah.

So the whole family owns the building. So both grandparents passed. Right? We were music and memories and Kelowna costume. They

of Kelowna Podcast (50:24)
Yeah.

MIC2 (50:25)
both passed, became Kelowna Costume. So family owns the building. Karen and Gary own the business.

And we I mean, the family's been very good to us with rent and everything else. And so I love it. People

of Kelowna Podcast (50:36)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (50:37)
are like, is it because your rent's too high? And it's like, No, my rent is very minimal.

so I think just when we were doing our books, I I hate to say it 'cause everybody hates this word, but when covet hit, people st had to start shopping online.

They started getting things delivered to their houses. They started having time to look up different things and when that started our business started slowing down and down and down and down.

of Kelowna Podcast (51:04)
Yeah. Well you hate to say the word, but it's a massive reality

for life and society is it happened and it affected

MIC2 (51:11)
Society is it happened and it affected.

of Kelowna Podcast (51:15)
it affected so many people. How did you even make it through Covid?

MIC2 (51:17)
Yeah. And then it how did you even make it through that? man,

I delivered Easter bunnies to people's houses. I would like I would go to their door, you know, put my mask on, do the thing, drop off costumes when I could.

of Kelowna Podcast (51:29)
That you're hustling.

MIC2 (51:30)
I tried to, right? Just and I mean my thing was is like I get it. I was like you know, I wore my mask, I did all my rule things, whatever.

But you should still be able to have the Easter bunny. So people still wanted their stuff, but they didn't know how to get it 'cause we we had to be shut down. We were not allowed to be open.

of Kelowna Podcast (51:47)
Mm-hmm. Well, and then all those people who

had rent all those galas and weren't happening. So then people don't need to be dressing up 'cause they're not happening. And I feel like we're still kind of not fully through that. the world changed to going online and the ease of I have a friend who still gets her groceries delivered.

MIC2 (51:53)
didn't happen. People don't need to be dressing because they're not happening. So I I feel like we're still kind of not fully through that. Like the world changed to going online. Yeah. And the ease of I have a friend who still gets her groceries delivered.

Yeah. People are busier these days. our habits changed. Yes. Yeah. Ease, right? I th

of Kelowna Podcast (52:12)
our habits changed. Yes. Yeah.

MIC2 (52:16)
I like my mom was busy.

my brother played baseball, I played baseball, my dad played baseball. We were a busy family,

of Kelowna Podcast (52:22)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (52:23)
but she still managed to find time to buy her groceries, do the things. Now, she didn't work, but when we got older, she did. So

of Kelowna Podcast (52:30)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (52:30)
like when we were little, she didn't work, but when we got older, she worked. but we didn't put our kids in five different sports. And we didn't, you know,

of Kelowna Podcast (52:41)
You know,

there's days when I remember like I did it to my own kids, they played two different things. Well I would go here to here, here to here, and then home at nine thirty and I'm tuckered out but I still have to make lunches, I still have to do all the things, right? Yeah. So if you can order an hour.

MIC2 (52:42)
There's days when I remember like I did it to my own kids. They played two different things. Well, I would go here to here to here to here and then home at nine thirty and I'm tuckered out, but I still have to make lunches. I still have to do all the things, right? So if you can order an a

costume on Amazon and have it delivered to your door. Done now. Done. And I get it. We've we've put

of Kelowna Podcast (52:58)
Done. Yeah. Done. Yeah.

MIC2 (53:01)
our pressure on like we've done it to ourselves. We really have in in so many ways. We've we have

of Kelowna Podcast (53:05)
We've

MIC2 (53:08)
to keep up with the Joneses. We have to do this. We have to do this.

We

don't. What we have to do is love our family, make sure we're looked after. Are our kids happy? Can they play their sports or or you know, book club or whatever it is they want to do, their music? Are they happy? Do we need to put them in? Two different things, three different things to keep their minds busy so that we don't. We don't. I mean, they may love it all, and that's great. Go for it.

But when did life become when did we make life so busy that we can't even buy our own groceries? We have to get them delivered. We have to order costumes on Amazon. We have to find a cheaper way and get it delivered to our door. It just it's it's weird to me.

of Kelowna Podcast (53:55)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (53:56)
It really is. You know, and then there's these fads like, you know, people

of Kelowna Podcast (53:58)
You know, and then there's these fads like you know

MIC2 (54:00)
making bread. What's the sourdough?

of Kelowna Podcast (54:03)
Sourdough.

MIC2 (54:03)
Sourdough, right? It's a fad, and it's like

If you can make sourdough you can make a loaf of bread. Mm-hmm. Right? You can make some muffins, right?

of Kelowna Podcast (54:08)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (54:11)
And then pe well the groceries are so expensive. Then it's like it could go on and on and on and on, right?

for me it's spend more time with your family. Do some things, but don't do all the things. You don't have to do all the things. You don't have to be the entertainer

Awesomeness all the time. You don't have to be the perfect organizer. You don't have to do this. What you have to do is be happy in life, right? Make sure your kids have an equal balance. You and your partner, right? Like those are the important things in life, right? Your family, your friends. Like laugh, have fun, do the things, right? Instead of like, I feel like so many people are stressed out these days. And I think that's why I like costumes as well, because I feel like

it

releases a little bit of that, right? I think they they come in stressed out 'cause my God, we have to dress up in a costume. Can you help us out? And it's like, yeah, sure, what do you need? And we you know, we get it done. Once they get to the party and everybody's dressed up, they relax. Yes. Right? Everybody's dressed up. Right, they relax. I'd love that. To me

of Kelowna Podcast (55:00)
Yes. That sounds like me in a nutshell. I hate dressing up. I

MIC2 (55:06)
People keep asking

me what I wanna do.

And I'm like, I don't know, I just wanna work with people, I think. I need to interact with people. Yeah. Yeah. Somehow. When does the is the official called November November thirtieth, yeah. Yeah. It's

of Kelowna Podcast (55:13)
Yeah. Somehow. When does it when is the official cloth November did you say? November thirtieth. November

MIC2 (55:21)
it's really sad 'cause it's it's like I said, it's I've been to Vegas,

it's just created this wonderful life for me.

of Kelowna Podcast (55:29)
Mm.

MIC2 (55:29)
I've had it great. and I dress people up. You know, like

of Kelowna Podcast (55:35)
Yeah.

MIC2 (55:36)
I just keep you know, I marvel at the fact that I had a job for thirty-five years dressing people up and I had everything that I ever want or could ever dream of, right? Like I I

of Kelowna Podcast (55:47)
Yeah, I

MIC2 (55:48)
I'm

blessed. I wish I you know, I can't

of Kelowna Podcast (55:48)
I'm blessed. I wish I you know I can't

MIC2 (55:50)
over and over and over again and and people's stories. Like you know, you should tell me what to do. You can tell me what to do. It's okay. I know. I feel like I should

of Kelowna Podcast (55:53)
stories. You sh you know you should I'm not telling you what to do. Never mind. I was I was thinking that.

this is like, just exercise ten minutes a day. Just just write down a story once a day and you'd have them all written down. Easier said than done but I feel like I'm missing so much and so many key things.

MIC2 (56:05)
This is like, well, just exercise ten minutes a day. Just just write down a story once it's got them all written down. I feel like I'm missing so much and so many key things

and and not mentioning everybody and how special everybody was that created this store. And I I you know, I I lost a little bit of sleep last night because I was like, Okay, I'm doing this and and I I don't forget to say this and don't forget to say that and in the end I just

I just hope that everybody knows I love them. I love dressing them up. I had a blast. I mean, like I said, if I could do it all over again, I would do it exactly the same way. I wouldn't change a thing. It was amazing and beautiful channel.

of Kelowna Podcast (56:47)
It's the end of a beautiful chapter

in life. Yeah.

MIC2 (56:49)
It really is. And it's

and so I'm gonna put that behind me and I I'm gonna try and soldier on somehow. I'll never have a job as cool as Kelowna costumes. Right? You never

of Kelowna Podcast (56:57)
I'm afraid you probably Well, you never say never. You never know.

MIC2 (57:02)
know. Maybe I become like a dress up clown on the on the on the side and do something that way. that'd be neat. Never do that. I don't dress up. Stay with it. I should have been on that. Yeah, you should have been. I was my mind.

of Kelowna Podcast (57:07)
that'd be neat. right. yeah, I gotta stay with it. I should have been on that right away. I was my mind

in the background was thinking, like there's gotta be a costume or two you're keeping though.

MIC2 (57:23)
You know what? So I was like the mad hatter? No, I'm not keeping

of Kelowna Podcast (57:24)
The mad hatter?

MIC2 (57:27)
him. I I love him and I I think somebody will it really enjoy him. I did keep there were certain things that I'm like, nope, nobody can have this. And so I've ended up with like twenty-five or thirty pieces that I just they're mine. Nobody else can have them, nobody else can touch them, they're mine. And I don't dress up.

Or like Star Wars, like have my Star Wars collection

of Kelowna Podcast (57:48)
You need you need shadow boxes for them for your and put in your basement. Like you know, like Alance Armstrong has his yellow jerseys. You know? Yeah.

MIC2 (57:57)
on the wall and my sexy Leia with my princess Leia and and I absolutely have mannequins, right? No mannequins. Mannequins are scary.

of Kelowna Podcast (58:01)
Or wait, just have mannequins randomly throughout your house with like culture stuff.

MIC2 (58:06)
Mannequins are too scary. my gosh,

of Kelowna Podcast (58:07)
From the haunt. Yeah.

MIC2 (58:09)
right? Yes. Yeah. It's pretty neat. Yeah, because that'll yeah you don't dress up because it's like yeah, you'd want to

of Kelowna Podcast (58:11)
It's pretty neat. Yeah, 'cause I yeah, don't dress up 'cause I like, Yeah, you'd wanna

keep your staple, like the cowgirl and the the seventies, the eighties, the sixties, the like one of all all the events you always get asked to go to.

MIC2 (58:15)
They're staple like the cowgirl and the the seventies, the eighties, the sixties, the like you have all all the events you always get asked to go to. To go to, yeah. I have a

a beautiful black cape. It's lined with fur. It's got this b big hood and everything. And I keep thinking, Well somebody should have that And I'm like, No, I'm having that. That that I c and I I go through my stuff that I've chosen and I'm like, do I need that? And then I I yep, I need it.

I absolutely need it. And then when somebody buys like like I said, grandma could sew really well. She was she would get so mad at the costume companies because they was so sh such shit. She was like, This is just shit. And so she would recreate it with good material and it was amazing. And so then when I see those outfits, I'm like, Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (59:04)
Yeah.

MIC2 (59:05)
this is amazing. And the fact that we still have them and that they're still in amazing shape.

Blows my mind. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (59:13)
Testament.

MIC2 (59:14)
Yeah. Because you know what? All this

of Kelowna Podcast (59:15)
'Cause you know what? All the stuff

from back then was quality. It was just well made. Yeah. Your Tupperware, your can openers from back in the day. Vehicles. Your yeah, vehicles. my gosh.

MIC2 (59:20)
It was just well made. It was your Tuckerwear, your panel vehicles. my gosh.

of Kelowna Podcast (59:30)
You know, the refrigerators are

still g work from back in the day, but the new ones don't. No. So it's it's Yeah. It's yeah.

MIC2 (59:31)
Yeah. I know. No. So it's it's it's yeah,

I don't know. What would you dress up as? For for what event?

of Kelowna Podcast (59:39)
For for what event?

MIC2 (59:40)
let's just say you had to go to a masquerade ball. What would be your jam?

of Kelowna Podcast (59:47)
Well, you know what I would do? I'd walk into clona costumes and I'd say, Gary, hook me up 'cause that's honestly what would what would have happened.

MIC2 (59:51)
Help me, I need something.

We used to have it was it was awesome and and and this was going back old old days. So I was maybe like sixteen, seventeen at the time.

And these doctors would come in. This

is Lawrence Avenue. This is Lawrence Avenue

of Kelowna Podcast (1:00:11)
This is Lawrence Avenue Days.

MIC2 (1:00:13)
days. And we also did balloons, but I'll get to that in a minute. yeah. But you keep talking because recording I'm gonna re fill my

of Kelowna Podcast (1:00:19)
Okay, you keep talking 'cause it's recording. I'm gonna refill my water.

MIC2 (1:00:23)
water up. Yes. So we

We had these two doctors come in and they were quite handsome. And I swear that between me and my mom and my the grandma, we would all stop what we were doing and just help to dress these two up because we couldn't wait to see the costumes that they would put on and how good they would look at them. And they knew they looked good and they would like parade around. It was absolutely epic. And then after they would leave we would all be like, Ooh, did you see how good they looked, right? It was it was it was pretty funny. If they only knew we

We were looking at like that, like, ooh, check these guys out. yeah, it was kinda neat. There used to be a big

of Kelowna Podcast (1:00:59)
No, that's really neat.

MIC2 (1:01:02)
bocce ball turn. Was it bocce ball? No, bocce. Maybe it was bocce ball tournament.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:01:04)
Like lawn bowling?

MIC2 (1:01:06)
I think it bocce ball. And all the hockey players would get to go to this bocce ball tournament. They did it yearly. And it was like an invited only kind of thing. And then they would come into the store and we would all be like, These are like NHL players. This is awesome.

And then always too embarrassed to even ask like to get an autograph or just anything, but just totally awestruck that we were dressing them up. It was pretty amazing. The the deposits and stuff and we were like, That is them, that is them.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:01:30)
You didn't want any sign for their the deposits. You'd like save the

MIC2 (1:01:36)
And we tried to be cool, like play cool. You

got this.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:01:39)
Yeah.

I was I was also thinking at the end 'cause you're selling off your inventory now. Yeah. But you're probably gonna have something at the end.

MIC2 (1:01:44)
'Cause you're selling off your inventory now. Yeah. But you're probably gonna have something at the end. I hope yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:01:49)
Have a big have a big bash. Everybody dress up and take home your costume. Yeah.

MIC2 (1:01:52)
I think you dress up and take off your costume. Right. Or like a five dollar bag sale, fill your

bag. We haven't I think me and Tori are still kind of like in shock. And there's moments when we, you know, we're like, Okay, we gotta sell this, this, this, this and then we kinda stop and you could tell that we're both just like deer and headlights. Like every day we get asked, so we heard you guys are closing. Is it because of this or because of that? And

We've told the story over and over and over again and

of Kelowna Podcast (1:02:19)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:02:21)
it's real and it's good, like it's okay. But at the same time, as it gets a little closer, it's sinking in a little

of Kelowna Podcast (1:02:21)
Real and it's good, like it's okay. But at the same time, as it gets a little closer it's sinking in

MIC2 (1:02:27)
bit more and yeah, we're both feeling a pinch like I that store is me.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:02:32)
That story is me.

MIC2 (1:02:33)
And when that store's gone, where am I?

of Kelowna Podcast (1:02:36)
That's a big I don't know. It you're you're that's your next journey you're gonna have to figure out. That is

MIC2 (1:02:38)
It's pretty big. Your next journey we're gonna grow. That is. So we had

like I would travel, we would be I remember being in California and we were at a Canucks Anna Hunt game. And out of the blue I'm like, I hear there's the costume girl. And I'm like Wow. And

of Kelowna Podcast (1:02:56)
Really?

MIC2 (1:02:57)
I'm thinking, What? And then my husband was like, Hey, she's talking to you and I'm like, What? And I like turn around. She's like

Hey, from Kelowna costume. And I was like, No way. And so many times I'm there's the costume girl. That's kind of what I've been known as. And it w it's kind of I don't think I ever thought I would my job and me touched as many people as I did until we said we were closing and the amount of people that keep coming in and

of Kelowna Podcast (1:03:25)
Then you're like, okay.

MIC2 (1:03:27)
I'm like,

this is kinda hitting like and then I feel really bad. Like I didn't do enough or I didn't, try hard enough or I let everybody down somehow. So it does weigh on your shoulders a bit, which is okay,

of Kelowna Podcast (1:03:38)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:03:39)
because when I look around I'm still so proud.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:03:44)
Look, it gives you it gives you so much

time to

Say

goodbye though. And and you know, I'm almost equating this to losing a a loved one. Yeah, like when my father passed, he just he just collapsed and was gone. And and then and then most of the time people are dying slowly and it gives you when you know the end is coming but it's slow, it gives you time to say goodbye

MIC2 (1:03:47)
Say goodbye though. And and you know, I'm almost equating this to losing a a loved one. My father passed, he just he just c collapsed and was gone. Mine too. And and then and then most of the time people are dying slowly and it gives you when you know the end is coming but it's slow, it gives you time to say goodbye and

of Kelowna Podcast (1:04:15)
and

come to peace with it, come to terms with it a little bit. And I feel like 'cause you're you you really are in stages of grief and mourning, right? You're you're mourning the loss of this identity of you. And it's what I know it's what yeah. Like it it it's almost it's very similar to equating it to a loved one in life. It is a loved one in life. It's just not a

MIC2 (1:04:17)
peace with it, come to terms with it a little bit. Or sometimes it's really hard. And it's what I know, it's what I've done, right? Yeah. Like it it it's almost it's very similar to equating it to a loved one in life. It is a loved one in life. It's just not a

It's not a person, yeah. It is a physical thing. But it is not a person. It's this intangible entity.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:04:45)
It's not a physic well, yeah, well it is a physical thing. But yeah, it's not a person. It's this intangible entity.

MIC2 (1:04:51)
Yeah. It's really it's yeah. It's it's hard. It is really

of Kelowna Podcast (1:04:55)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:04:56)
hard. And then to keep

smiling and to keep doing your good job and to keep doing it really sometimes you just want to break down and just say, Get out, everybody, I can't do this today when you can and you have to. But it's hard. It really

of Kelowna Podcast (1:05:11)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:05:12)
is. And you know to hear every day to hear it again and again and again and it and then I l yeah, people are like,

of Kelowna Podcast (1:05:16)
Yeah, that's gotta be tough.

MIC2 (1:05:18)
Well I'll just order on Amazon then and I'm like

good Lord, really? Like can you not have you not like thought maybe use your inside voice, like keep it inside when you're

of Kelowna Podcast (1:05:26)
Mm-hmm.

MIC2 (1:05:27)
at a store that's closing because of probably Amazon? where's your where's your empathy,

of Kelowna Podcast (1:05:30)
Where's your empathy?

MIC2 (1:05:32)
right? Like are we that bad that we don't even see what we're I think so doing? Yeah. So it's like, yeah. So there's and then I I think cool. Yeah. And then I just

of Kelowna Podcast (1:05:35)
See what doing. Yeah. So it's like, yeah. So there's and then I'm

MIC2 (1:05:44)
remember

So many people have supported that store and still do to this day. And so it's not everybody. Not everybody, right? It's it's

of Kelowna Podcast (1:05:53)
No. Yeah.

MIC2 (1:05:54)
there are some fantastic people that so many people have offered to help and share and like, hey, can we help you do this? Can we try to do this? And

again

then it's just so heartwarming again, right? Then it breaks my heart even more because

of Kelowna Podcast (1:06:06)
is just so heartwarming again, right? Then it breaks my heart even more.

MIC2 (1:06:09)
I'm like, my gosh, right? And I appreciate it all so much. But I emotional broad I do feel that

of Kelowna Podcast (1:06:14)
It's an emotional roller coaster.

MIC2 (1:06:16)
Kelowna's gonna lose an epic business. They're gonna lose that magic of that store. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:06:22)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:06:22)
It can't come back. That's why we couldn't like people are like, you should open up somewhere else or you should do this. You should do it online. And that store, once it's gone, it's just has to be gone 'cause it never can be recreated.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:06:34)
No, it can't. Trying to hold

MIC2 (1:06:33)
Not like it is. No, it can't. No. No.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:06:37)
on to hold on to the past or recreate the past, it doesn't work.

MIC2 (1:06:40)
Yeah.

No. Nope. Yeah, and unfortunately it's independent after independent or slowly

of Kelowna Podcast (1:06:43)
Yeah, and unfortunately it's independent after independent or slowly

all falling one after the other.

MIC2 (1:06:51)
Yeah. Anyway, I know I don't want this to be sad. I kinda want this to be more happy. I won't I want people to be like what it is though? It's a bit of everything. It is a it's a mixed bag, isn't it? It is sad. It's happy. Yes. And it's this beautiful life and all this change. Yes. But it is the reality, is it is sad too. It is sad. It can be all of it at once. Yeah, and we have like regular customers that come in

of Kelowna Podcast (1:06:58)
It is what it is though. It's a bit of everything. It is sad. It's happy. It's this beautiful life and all the st and all the and it's loving. But it is the reality is it is sad too. It can be all of it at once.

MIC2 (1:07:15)
and they're like, What are we gonna do? And I'm like You're a finding new normal. So sorry.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:07:17)
You're gonna find a new norm. Yep.

MIC2 (1:07:20)
Try to carry our little spirit with you and make your s make it happen, right? Like

of Kelowna Podcast (1:07:23)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:07:24)
Yeah, we've done movies. We've done like Hallmark movies, we've done different movies, we've been we've been such a part of so many things that it's just joy. It it really is. It's I know.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:07:34)
Yeah. It's like you gotta write this stuff down, Carrie.

MIC2 (1:07:37)
We have one of grandma's Santa suits that she made.

And it's still in our rental and it still looks amazing

of Kelowna Podcast (1:07:43)
wow.

MIC2 (1:07:44)
to this day. Still.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:07:46)
Yeah, like he could write a book.

MIC2 (1:07:48)
I think I c my whole life I think I could write a book, but can't we all? No. No? No. No.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:07:52)
No. No. No. No.

MIC2 (1:07:55)
I think I would have a really good book. Someone said I should instead of like, you know those headlamps that people wear? Someone

of Kelowna Podcast (1:07:57)
I think you would. I think you should. Like you know those kind of maps that people wear. Yeah.

MIC2 (1:08:01)
said I should wear one with like a camera on it and just record my life. And I'm like

Yeah, that wouldn't and then sometimes I'm like, Yeah, that would be kinda funny some days. Some days.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:08:11)
Yeah. I think

and it would be very niche, folks of Kelowna and the people who supported that store

MIC2 (1:08:15)
Like and it would be very niche. folks of Kelowna and the people who supported that story.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:08:20)
to have a c it would be like a coffee book, right? Like a collection of all these. That'd be really cool. Yeah.

MIC2 (1:08:22)
It'd like a coffee book, right? Like a collection of all these little things. Maybe I do write a book. A coffee table book by Carrie Brandle.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:08:31)
and then sure you could

think you could reach out for memories and stuff or stories. So what from your perspective, then from their perspective. I'm sure people have pictures.

MIC2 (1:08:33)
Think you could reach for memories for stories. So it was perspective and then perspective. We were hoping pictures.

That's the thing. We were hoping that like when it comes October time ish, we were hoping to see if we could get everybody to send us their pictures in their costumes.

and see if we can put a little you know, video slide

of Kelowna Podcast (1:08:53)
Something together.

MIC2 (1:08:55)
kind of thing. Thanks, Colonna, and just

here and just play it and just have

have it out there for everybody to see. That'd be cool. That would

of Kelowna Podcast (1:09:03)
That'd be cool.

MIC2 (1:09:04)
be cool. Yeah, we've had some funny things. I remember a guy I tried on a pair of riding pants and you know they get really tight at the bottom. Yep.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:09:11)
You know how they get really tight the bottom?

MIC2 (1:09:13)
So he he actually couldn't get his pants off. And so

of Kelowna Podcast (1:09:18)
It's calves were

too many calves days. Yeah.

MIC2 (1:09:20)
Too too thick? Yeah. And so I

was like, Well, do you have underwear on and I'll help you? Thank God I asked.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:09:27)
Who tries on pants without understand on?

MIC2 (1:09:29)
Right? That's disgusting. So I was like, he's like, I'm so sorry I'm not wearing any underwear and I'm like,

So there I am, the change room door is closed and you don't like there's that gap between the change room door.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:09:41)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:09:43)
He's not sitting because I'm like, I don't wanna see.

I am like reefing on his pants trying to get these stupid pants off.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:09:49)
Trying to get these stupid cats.

MIC2 (1:09:52)
And then he comes out and he's like, Thank you, but I d I don't think I should rent those pants.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:09:57)
You think?

MIC2 (1:09:58)
And I'm like, No, I don't think they fit so good and I'm like

of Kelowna Podcast (1:10:01)
And you're

not trying on any more pants.

MIC2 (1:10:02)
Exactly.

You have to go home and put underwear on before you try on any more costumes. So that we used to have to ask that.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:10:09)
That just blows my mind.

MIC2 (1:10:12)
We used to sell

booty shorts, like ruffle booty shorts. Quite cute, right?

of Kelowna Podcast (1:10:14)
Yeah. Quite cute, right?

MIC2 (1:10:16)
And people are like, can I try them on? And I'm like, Are you wearing underwear? I never in my life thought I would ask.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:10:23)
Is it just how we're raised? Like I was raised you always wear undies and you wash every day.

MIC2 (1:10:28)
Well

I yeah, I assume, but there's some daredevils out there, I guess. Is it more men than females? No. 'Cause females you think all the your cracks of your pants would be well chafing you. It wouldn't be good,

of Kelowna Podcast (1:10:32)
Is it most is it more men than g females? 'Cause females you'd think all the your cracks of your pants would be chafing your lady parts.

MIC2 (1:10:41)
right? And then I had a guy, you know, genies, like a genie a lady's genie costume. Well, what does that why not? Well like the see through harem

of Kelowna Podcast (1:10:47)
Well, what does that look well, I know what a genie is.

MIC2 (1:10:50)
pants, right?

And then you have the little under roos that go on underneath it. and then the little top, like the little crop top, right? Like the little jean.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:10:54)
yeah, okay. Yeah.

MIC2 (1:10:57)
So he asked to try one on, so I'm like, whatever. Like we get all kinds. We don't judge anybody

of Kelowna Podcast (1:11:02)
Yeah, yeah.

MIC2 (1:11:03)
in our store. We'd never whatever you want, whatefs. We don't care. I really don't. So have underwear on. So in he

of Kelowna Podcast (1:11:07)
Yeah. I don't care. I really don't. Just p have underwear on. Yeah.

MIC2 (1:11:12)
goes and he's in the change room and he comes out and he's he's not wearing any underwear and the pants are see through and his junk's hanging out.

And I think I'm all of like twenty. I'm like, my God And he's like, So what do you think? And he stares down at himself and I'm like, you seen one, you seen them all. I said, But I don't like the outfit on you. And I was like, Good God, like

of Kelowna Podcast (1:11:25)
So what do you think? And he stares down at himself and I'm like, we've seen one, you've seen them all I said, but I don't like the outfit on you. And I was like, God, like

MIC2 (1:11:37)
what's the matter with people? Like gross. Like gross. So we we had to watch

of Kelowna Podcast (1:11:39)
Like gross. Yeah, that's a little bit over the line.

MIC2 (1:11:43)
out for like that kind of stuff too. So then we start

no, we don't have those costumes anymore and out you go kind of a thing. But yeah, it was a little creepy sometimes.

Yes. The other side of the costumes. You're not gonna sleep tonight because of this. underwear. That is gross, right? That's a little gross. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:11:54)
The other the other side. I'm still blown away that people don't wear underwear. And then you try on other people's pants without underwear. That is gross, right? That's a little bit

MIC2 (1:12:07)
We've seen I've seen everything of everybody's anatomy at one point or time. And some people just had no shame. They didn't care whatsoever. Yeah,

well I feel like since Gimberf I have booked. It doesn't matter.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:12:17)
Yeah, well, I feel like since giving birth I have become that person.

MIC2 (1:12:22)
No. Before I before Labour I was very is it modest? Yeah. Conservative? Yeah. Modest. Yeah. And then afterward, I'm like, Whatever. Yeah. Yeah. I think that happens, right? But I mean still if you're going to try on costumes

of Kelowna Podcast (1:12:22)
Before I before Labour I was very is it modest? Conservative? Modest? And then after birth I'm like Yeah, I think that happens right. It's like

MIC2 (1:12:34)
at a store, put your underwear on. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:12:37)
Yeah. Yeah.

That's why you always wash your clothes, I guess, but when you bring home. Well even

MIC2 (1:12:42)
I guess putting them home. Well, even

like after that, it was like they have to go wash. Like that's just

Yeah. we've had weddings,

of Kelowna Podcast (1:12:47)
Do you got anything else kinda funny? Like that?

MIC2 (1:12:50)
so this is some of our favorite stuff. So we had it was kind of

of Kelowna Podcast (1:12:52)
We had it was kinda

MIC2 (1:12:54)
epic. I don't think the families thought it was epic, but we really did. the bride and the groom were getting married and they wanted a costume party. Great. But they couldn't decide on a theme together. So

of Kelowna Podcast (1:13:05)
theme together. So

they said, well, she's like, you do your theme, I'll do my theme. So her did her theme. And his family did his. Well it was superheroes was his. So I think he dressed up as Darth Vader. Darth Vader? On your wedding

MIC2 (1:13:07)
They said, Well, she's like, You do your theme, I'll do my theme. So her family did her theme, and his family did his. Well, it was superheroes, was his. So I think he dressed up as Darth Vader. Darth Vader. Or Batman. It was like some on his wedding day, that's where he wanted to be. And then

hers was like Grecian goddesses. Grecian gods and goddesses. Little odd. The grandma was not happy.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:13:30)
The grandma was not happy.

MIC2 (1:13:33)
Like both the grandma and they were and I think they were the only two

of Kelowna Podcast (1:13:36)
Think they would be only two.

MIC2 (1:13:37)
who said, We are not dressing up and I don't think they did dress up. Now I think they wish they would have dressed up, but that was a weird one. We also had one where she loved Star Wars. So all the groomsmen had lightsabers and they had masks, like stormtrooper masks. So when she walked down the aisle, they had

of Kelowna Podcast (1:13:56)
She walked down the aisle. they had

their like a tunnel? What are those things? Lightsabers, lightsabers, yeah. So they held the lightsabers up. So she walked through there. So they had the black, they had white taxes on with the black vest, and then they had their stone super helmets which are kind of epic. And then he was at the altar and he had the Darth Vader mask on and his black suit, right? he took his helmet off.

MIC2 (1:13:59)
their wait it z what are those things? Lightsabers, yeah. So they held the lightsabers up. So she walked through there. So they had the black or they had white s taxes on with the black vest and then they had their stormtrooper helmets, which kinda epic. And then he was at the altar and he had the Darth Vader mask on and his black suit, right? And then he took his helmet off

obviously, but she was just like Princess Layla. No, she was just total bride. He did that for her 'cause she loved Star Wars.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:14:20)
Yeah. She was just like And was she like Princess Layla or something the hair? just a normal bride.

MIC2 (1:14:29)
Yeah. And did she know he was gonna No. it was kinda cool.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:14:29)
And did she know he was gonna do that? okay, that's neat.

MIC2 (1:14:34)
I think it would have been cool. I hope she thought it was cool. And we've done medieval weddings, fairy weddings. There was weddings that they've tromped through the bush and did was the hand tie? I don't know.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:14:47)
I don't know.

MIC2 (1:14:48)
there's yeah, they get married and they they actually tie their hands. What?

of Kelowna Podcast (1:14:52)
What?

MIC2 (1:14:52)
Yes, it's a ceremony. I have to look it up a little bit more. And it's like their hands are bound, so they're bound in their hearts.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:14:55)
like

their hands are bound so they're bound in their

MIC2 (1:14:58)
This thing or is it?

of Kelowna Podcast (1:14:59)
hearts. Is it a a back in the day, like

MIC2 (1:15:02)
I'm not a hundred

percent sure, but they tie their hands with ribbons. It's quite beautiful actually. It's you'll

of Kelowna Podcast (1:15:07)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:15:07)
have to look it up. it's pretty neat. What am I thinking?

of Kelowna Podcast (1:15:10)
What am I thinking

of when people like medieval times and they dress up and they have fairs? Like there's one at Gyro Beach this year. Yeah, was it like a Renaissance wedding? Kind of.

MIC2 (1:15:15)
Fairs. Like there's one at China. yeah. Renaissance fair. Yeah, was it like a Renaissance wedding? Kind of,

yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Ren fairs they call Ren yeah. Yeah, Penticton.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:15:22)
Fren Ferris, that's the name, yeah.

MIC2 (1:15:24)
It they they nailed it this year. Everybody loved it. And I think everybody was really happy to dress up and partake in it. So it was a really I think they're doing it again in September actually. Yeah. It's been neat.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:15:31)
That's cool. It's been neat.

There's a lot I don't know.

MIC2 (1:15:35)
I know, and there's more. There's like like I said, if the costumes could talk kind of in a in it, you're saying how like we don't want the costumes. But I kinda

of Kelowna Podcast (1:15:38)
So you guys talk them. Well, you know you you know you're saying where like you don't want the costumes to have

I was like, but wouldn't that be neat? Like you know you have a guest book and people sign the guest book and say where you're from.

MIC2 (1:15:47)
Yeah, so you could sign it.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:15:50)
Like that'd be kinda neat with some of your costumes

to have like the history of it went to wherever and did this and

MIC2 (1:15:52)
To have like the history of it went to work. So and so yes.

I wish I would have. And a a lady mentioned it today. She's like, have you videotaped like the store how it is? And so you remember so you don't forget? And then I was like, No, I didn't. And she's like, Well,

of Kelowna Podcast (1:16:08)
Do it tomorrow.

MIC2 (1:16:09)
you still can. I'm like, but it's not the same. But it is so And she was like,

of Kelowna Podcast (1:16:11)
But it is still

MIC2 (1:16:14)
Don't panic. She's like, just do it. She's like

Things you'll remember things when you

of Kelowna Podcast (1:16:17)
Because do you remember things when

MIC2 (1:16:20)
look back at it. You'll be like, my gosh, remember that and remember that. She's like, That's why you do it. And I was like, that's great advice, actually. I never forget things that You do. Yeah. Like I mean, if you brought

of Kelowna Podcast (1:16:26)
Yeah. That's great actually. 'Cause you forget you it it fades, the memory fades. Yeah. Like I mean if you

MIC2 (1:16:33)
Tori in, my coworker, she would have a thousand different stories than what I have. just from what our perspective is on on different things, right? Yeah, yeah. And she would remember different things more than me, right?

of Kelowna Podcast (1:16:43)
Yeah. Yeah. And she would remember different things more than me,

right? Yeah. So it'd be neat. man. Yeah.

MIC2 (1:16:47)
So it'd be kinda neat. yeah. Yeah, I know.

I know. I appreciate you the time though.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:16:51)
I appreciate you taking the time to come on.

MIC2 (1:16:54)
I was really excited and really nervous, but I know going forward I have to kind of step out of my shell a bit. And so I'm like, hmm, I could be on a podcast. This would be super cool.

And then I kinda was like, you shouldn't do it. You should bail. You should totally bail right now. You can't

of Kelowna Podcast (1:17:13)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:17:13)
do this. You don't talk well. You don't talk about no. I think that this is going to be someone to edit. So I super panicked and then I

of Kelowna Podcast (1:17:15)
You don't talk you don't think you talk well? I'm sitting here thinking this is gonna be an easy one to edit. You have such a great voice.

MIC2 (1:17:27)
was like, you know, for once in your life, Carrie, do that thing. Do that. Do that something and and show that you were so proud of that store and

Share your story.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:17:38)
Yeah.

MIC2 (1:17:39)
And my story is I I love that store. It comes across. I love dressing people

of Kelowna Podcast (1:17:41)
It comes across.

MIC2 (1:17:44)
up. I think more just interacting with people. I feel like you You're a deep care people. I am. And that could be a

of Kelowna Podcast (1:17:47)
Well, I feel like you care. You're a deep carer of people.

MIC2 (1:17:52)
downfall. But I wouldn't change that neither. I'd rather care about a million people and help and do my best when I can.

I've always been that way.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:18:02)
Well, shall we wrap it up?

MIC2 (1:18:02)
Yeah. Should we wrap it up? You know what?

I love Kelowna. I love costumes. Come on down to Kelowna Costume. Check us out. Grab that one little item. And yeah, just share your story, share your pictures with us. Like let's let's laugh, share the memories, share the good times, and let's end on a bang. Let's let's let Kelowna costume really shine like it always has. I love it. Yeah. Well for coming on. Thank you for having me.

of Kelowna Podcast (1:18:13)
Yeah, just share your story, share your pictures with us. Like let's let's laugh, share the memories, share the good times, and let's end on a band. Let's let's let Kelowna costume really shine like it always has. I love it. Yeah. Well, thank you for coming on. Thank you for having me. You're