Who's Driving- Strap in for an uproarious journey filled with travel calamities, and a healthy dose of humor with our special guest, Ashlee from The Sassy Barn. Brace yourself for a side-splitting retelling of her first Brazilian waxing experience - a story so absurd it's almost unbelievable. Ashlee isn't just about humorous tales though, she's also an accomplished entrepreneur. Follow Ashlee On Instagram @TheSassyBarn and checkout her online store at TheSassyBarn tap here or visit https://the-sassy-barn.myshopify.com/
Hit us up on Instagram and give our hotline a call at 864-982-5029. Happy listening! And remember to leave us a rating and review.
We mentioned The Nested Fig App in this episode. You can Tap Here to get our app and join our live sales on Sundays and Thursdays at 8pm est. Use Code Fig10 for 10% Off.
Follow Steven on Instagram at @Keepinupwithsteven and follow Wesley on Instagram at @Farmshenanigans. Shop our online store at TheNestedFig.Com Use Coupon Code Fig10 for 10% Off Your Purchase. Find The Nested Fig on Instagram at @TheNestedFig
Who's Driving- Strap in for an uproarious journey filled with travel calamities, and a healthy dose of humor with our special guest, Ashlee from The Sassy Barn. Brace yourself for a side-splitting retelling of her first Brazilian waxing experience - a story so absurd it's almost unbelievable. Ashlee isn't just about humorous tales though, she's also an accomplished entrepreneur. Follow Ashlee On Instagram @TheSassyBarn and checkout her online store at TheSassyBarn tap here or visit https://the-sassy-barn.myshopify.com/
Hit us up on Instagram and give our hotline a call at 864-982-5029. Happy listening! And remember to leave us a rating and review.
We mentioned The Nested Fig App in this episode. You can Tap Here to get our app and join our live sales on Sundays and Thursdays at 8pm est. Use Code Fig10 for 10% Off.
Follow Steven on Instagram at @Keepinupwithsteven and follow Wesley on Instagram at @Farmshenanigans. Shop our online store at TheNestedFig.Com Use Coupon Code Fig10 for 10% Off Your Purchase. Find The Nested Fig on Instagram at @TheNestedFig
Get in this car. I am here and I think I'm ready to go, but I don't know. You've been a little. You've been a little testy lately cause we just had a rough travel time, so A more slapdown. I don't know who's driving, but it's time for another episode of who's Driving Well.
Speaker 2:I've been driving.
Speaker 1:Welcome to who's Driving. I'm Wesley Turner.
Speaker 2:And I'm Steven Merk. We're two best friends and entrepreneurs.
Speaker 1:Who's Driving is an entertaining look into the behind the scenes of our lives, friendship and business.
Speaker 2:These are the stories we share and topics we discuss, as two best friends would on a long road trip.
Speaker 1:Along the way, we'll check in with friends and offer a wide range of informative topics centered around running small businesses, social media and all things home and garden.
Speaker 2:Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Speaker 1:You never know who's driving or where we're headed. All we know is it's always a fun ride. This week's episode we have a special hitchhiker. We're gonna be picking up Ashley from the Sassy Barn coming up. She's so fun she is so fun.
Speaker 1:Before we get there, though, let's dive into. We just got back from the Achieve Conference in Waco, texas, which was a lot of fun. To go to conference and to go to see the whole Magnolia complex is what I like to call it and how that works it always from a small business standpoint. Just I'm in awe of how they've created everything. It's very impressive, pulled it together.
Speaker 2:And Chip and Joe like to get a little advice from us.
Speaker 1:That they do not, but it was a good time. However, we had a little bumpity bump on the way back.
Speaker 2:Oh, you call it a bumpity bump. First of all, you broke. First of all, we travel a lot together Every month of the year.
Speaker 1:We're doing something together.
Speaker 2:Yeah, except November, december, we don't but 10 months out of the year we are travel partners Some business partners, travel partners and for something work related or whatever it may be. And you know you've had a gold star up until now. Yeah, you've been. You're a good travel person. For the most part Runs a little late, but I'm always there. You make it work and I don't stress about it like I used to. I'm like you'll slide in at the last millisecond, but you broke two rules on this trip Right.
Speaker 1:Two major rules, are you okay? We'll tell the rules.
Speaker 2:Okay, the first rule is we do not fly United Airlines Because we got stranded years ago in New York City. Yes, it was like Groundhog.
Speaker 1:Day. This was my first. Stephen and I were traveling. That whole story's funny, we'll get into that. We were traveling together. This was my first real travel. Debacle Was when, stephen and I we flew to see a vendor a rug vendor and where were they? New.
Speaker 2:Hampshire, new Hampshire, and this he sold me on this, it's just one day and it's a free trip.
Speaker 1:It was supposed to be a free trip. The vendor was paying for us to come see them. They were putting us in a hotel. We were touring their facility. I thought it would be great to see where these things come from. We did all of that. We're on our way back. We're all united. We have a layover in Newark, New Jersey.
Speaker 2:Mistake number two. The first mistake was United.
Speaker 1:So we have. Okay, you gotta keep in mind this was a literal like 24 hour trip. We got up one morning, flew to New Hampshire, toured that afternoon, had a dinner that evening, checked out at the hotel in the morning, went to the airport and should have been home that afternoon. One change of clothes, yeah should have been home that afternoon.
Speaker 2:One pair of panties one change of clothes.
Speaker 1:So we get to Newark and New Jersey and our flight gets canceled for no apparent reason. Our connecting flight, so we had a layover in Newark and then we were flying United right into Greenville Should have been easy, breezy. Nope, we get there and it's the last flight out which wasn't that late, it was like like six something, so it wasn't like a crazy. You know 11 pm flight that got canceled. Oh no, it just gets canceled for no reason.
Speaker 2:And we could have switched airports, we could have switched airlines, we could have found our way home, but Wesley had never been to New York City.
Speaker 1:I had been to New York City at that point. We had gone for my cousin's wedding, where he gave me the run around. But we were so close to New York.
Speaker 2:City. Yeah, but you had never been other than that Right Quick trip.
Speaker 1:And we were like, well, it was the easiest thing to do, because they were like we canceled your flight, which is just rebooked right there at the terminal.
Speaker 2:And I said, let's make it fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So Stephen's like, well, that's no big deal, it's 6 pm. They were booking us out on the same exact flight the next day at 6 pm. So we were like we will have 24 hours in New York. Stephen's like I got some myriad points.
Speaker 2:We'll use those. We'll stay.
Speaker 1:yeah, we'll stay right at Tom Square. We'll just make a 24 hour fun little thing out of it, because we're already just stranded and we did have a blast Like we walked the city in the middle of the night and took photos and videos.
Speaker 2:So, much fun we had a ball.
Speaker 1:So first of all, though, that day, because our flight was canceled, we were able to get our luggage, so they gave us our luggage. We left the hotel with a rebooking at 6.30 or whatever. The next day, maybe it was 7, somewhere around there and we take a cab ride in an expensive cab ride into the city, and wasn't it like 45 minutes?
Speaker 2:It wasn't like it's not short, it was like $150. Yeah, but it was long Because we had to get on the turnpike. Yeah, it was long.
Speaker 1:So we got to the city. We have fun. Like Steven said, we walk around the city at night. The next day we got up we did all these fun little things, just made a day out of it. We go back to the airport the next day, we check our luggage in, we're at the gate and the same flight gets canceled again for no apparent reason.
Speaker 2:Just canceled.
Speaker 1:So we're like, well damn now, what so we've? Showed up and so we're like well, they're just going rescheduling. So they rescheduled us again on the same flight the next day. So we go have another 24 hours. We got our luggage, we got our luggage. Was that the time we got our luggage? Yes, long story short, this happens to us five times that we ended up getting in. Then, eventually, after I think the third time, we were like OK, we need a morning flight out, we needed an earlier flight out.
Speaker 2:Got canceled. And our luggage. They took it on another flight.
Speaker 1:Yes, so at one point we checked in just like normal, and they did not give us our luggage back.
Speaker 2:We didn't have a toothbrush, anything, nothing, and we had to go buy clothes and a bag to put them in In New York City.
Speaker 1:We had nothing. So after that we ended up because even the last time they got canceled and they kept blaming it on random things Mechanical, just it was something every day Wind mechanical. We ended up buying brand new tickets from a completely different airport.
Speaker 2:Airport airline. We bought new tickets on Delta, Delta and finally got our asses home, yeah, and got our luggage that had been there for days. Yeah, and you might ask why did you do it that long? We were like, well, surely. We thought well, surely this won't happen again, right.
Speaker 1:Well, it was like one time it happened and we're like we'll make a fun out of it the second time it happened again.
Speaker 2:We're like oh, we got one more day.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but Steven's like well, we're going to schedule it for earlier in the day, and the earliest when they could get us on then was like noon or something. Well then we started checking the app before we went to the airport. I don't even remember how it just kept going on. It sounds too dumb. Like how would you dumb asses do that five times?
Speaker 2:But it made sense each time, and then each time we thought we were going to fly out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that was the worst part, because we would get to the airport two hours ahead of time. Make sure we're there, and then we wasted all of that time too.
Speaker 2:And United Airlines did nothing. It was the biggest Nothing for us Nothing.
Speaker 1:So this was probably in 2015, 16. 15.
Speaker 2:We moved in 16 before we moved.
Speaker 1:OK, so I'm thinking 2015 as well. So since then, there is one travel rule, and that is we will never fly United. So we, and since then, until this past time, we did. But we flew United on the way to Waco.
Speaker 2:And I pointed out.
Speaker 3:Alice.
Speaker 1:And we did end up making it there. The only thing was, the air was broken. The airplane had no air conditioning.
Speaker 2:Well, it had it none in the front, but luckily we were sitting in the back, next to the bathroom, I might add. But we did have air.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they said it was like 92 degrees up front. I mean, it was a little warm where we were, but not unbearable I would have been. So, stephen, right there was, like I told you.
Speaker 2:So but we, we scooted by without major disaster, but we're never going to push that or luck with that again.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But then the second time on the way back you had us flying out of Dallas Texas. Right, you never fly out, you never. You never have an evening flight out of Dallas Texas.
Speaker 1:So Stephen literally I'm not joking has two rules. Anytime we're going somewhere, he was said never book us on United, ever again. If we only can fly United, we just won't go. Mm hmm, I broke that rule, mm hmm. The second one was never fly through Dallas or Newark. Yeah, but we rarely go anywhere that way.
Speaker 2:That's an easy one to avoid, yeah.
Speaker 1:But Dallas, like sometimes when we go to Vegas or somewhere like that, it wants us to go through Dallas and I'm always like can't go through there, we'll pay an extra hundred dollars to land at this, and it's fine if you're going, it's not as a big deal.
Speaker 2:if you're going to like to Vegas from here and you go through Dallas, it's when you're coming back through Dallas to South Carolina. That's because of the time change and everything. And it's a problem, and it's always the last flight.
Speaker 1:So, stephen, that's his rule. Well, this time I had us leave in Dallas because we had to fly out of somewhere for Waco and I was like, well, it's just a direct, we're just leaving Dallas and coming to Greenville.
Speaker 3:Yeah, simple.
Speaker 1:Yeah, simple, we load our happy asses up on that airplane.
Speaker 2:And it was sunny and pretty. Yeah, it was a beautiful day.
Speaker 1:We even we toured Waco and we even were like let's just head on to the airport. We got there like five hours early because we had wrapped up everything we wanted to have a nice meal and really Got through security. We relaxed in the lounge the lounge. Everything was smooth, it was sunny.
Speaker 2:We got on the airplane, it was still fine, yeah, we got on the plane.
Speaker 1:We taxi out to the end of the runway, we're on the tarmac and it stops Skrrt and we're sitting there. We're sitting there, and then they come on and it gets hotter and hotter and hotter.
Speaker 1:So they come on and say, well, there's some storms coming in, we're going to wait for these to pass. Long story long, two hours later they come on, after we're sweating to death in this metal tube with no AC, and say our flight has been canceled. And right, there was when I was like, oh shit, shit in the flown out of here. So our flight have been canceled due to the weather that was coming through. So of course they don't do anything if it's a weather thing. So we get off the plane and they had told us like you can go right here to the terminal, like where they check you in or whatever ticket desk or there's a service center upstairs. So I'm like let's go to the service center. There should be more people there like to help us. So we got off the plane and hauled it up there. Luckily we were like what, maybe 15 in line.
Speaker 2:Well, they ended up being like 250.
Speaker 1:Yeah, by the time we got to the desk there were like 250 people in line.
Speaker 2:Every airline, every single plane got grounded. Yeah, it got canceled because of the weather and that it technically wasn't American's fault. I mean, yeah, dallas is fault for the, for the whole deal, but you know, it's just the storms in Dallas. That's what can happen. Right, came up a quick storm and flooding. It was a disaster, right.
Speaker 1:So we got stuck there and this about this time because we'd been sitting there for two hours was like 1130 or something at night, Wasn't it like 1130?
Speaker 1:at that point before we could get our flight rescheduled. We had to end up we they couldn't even get us back to Greenville for like two days or whatever. So we were like we're not doing New York again, we're going to get as close as we can. So the closest they could get us the next morning was Atlanta and we rented a car and drove, drove home from there and I had two out.
Speaker 2:I slipped for two and a half hours.
Speaker 1:The trip gets worse because while we're on the plane, as soon as our flight gets canceled, steven starts looking for a hotel because he's like these people are going to be looking. So we start, you know, looking for a hotel and we went a little out.
Speaker 2:We went six miles out away. Yeah, because we knew the the hotels would fill up around the airport.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was pulling up the closest ones. They were already booked. Steven was looking at these. He's like oh, he's in his Marriott app, Bon Voy. He's like, this one's available. It's a courtyard, It'd be nice. It's only this amount. It's only seven miles from here, so it won't be that long. But you know, if our enough out. So we booked this hotel motel and we finally get our ticket rescheduled. We go out. We should have known when we go outside there were no taxis at all. None, and we had to wait on a taxi and they're like, hmm, there's one coming sometime. But we finally get a taxi. We get to the hotel that's a courtyard, you know, small, boutique style hotel, and there's about 30 people in the lobby. Just some of them are laying around sitting there, everyone waiting to check in. Well, this turns into a whole nother disaster. That will spare you the details, but long story short on that. When it's finally our turn, we're like 20th in line, there's no more rooms and by this time it's like 1230.
Speaker 2:And I need to bring up another issue, because how horrible this was. I did not bring it up at the time. I'm just now bringing it up to you. Okay, but this was a huge issue in my mind, in my OCD brain. Did I do something wrong?
Speaker 1:No, okay.
Speaker 2:I had on my limited edition black suede Ferragamo hofers and it was raining so you didn't notice because we were in such a pickle of a situation. I managed to keep those shoes from getting wet through all that rain. Yeah, I was like, okay, as long as this when we did get in the taxi, as long as you keep your feet off the ground. As long as it pulled us under like the cover.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it did. It did Were you stressed in the whole time.
Speaker 2:I was so stressing but I was like I'll just have to carry them. I had my bag.
Speaker 1:You had a backpack, because our luggage also stayed on the plane, so we had nothing with us. Luckily, you've learned your lessons and you had your panties.
Speaker 2:I had my panties in my bag and I had my solid cologne, the paste cologne, in my bag.
Speaker 1:You were good to go.
Speaker 2:So all I need to add is a toothbrush and a little mini deodorant stick and I'm good Into your bag.
Speaker 1:So of course I had nothing. Some notepads and ink pens, all in a computer was all in my bag, but so they run out of rooms by the time they get to us, even though we had a reservation and you had confirmation and checked in on, you, had checked in on the app, nope, nothing. So, daddy over here, I was mad, was big mad. He was big mad and he was on the phone with corporate Marriott.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and they tried to tell us we can cancel your reservation. And then I said oh hell to the no, you're not canceling nothing. You get me a room. I am sleeping on a bed.
Speaker 1:That's what he said. He said I'm sleeping on a bed. You're going to look in there and you're going to find me where that's going to be and then you're going to tell me how I'm going to, how you're going to get me.
Speaker 2:Well, their app says I'm a titanium lifetime member and I'm guaranteed a hotel room. It says it right there in black and white. Show me to my room.
Speaker 1:So the funny thing is that was very comical because there was only two people working the desk at this little hotel. They were so overwhelmed I felt bad for them. I did too. But the thing that was comical is Stephen walks up in front of a customer and is like I'm on the phone with corporate and they're trying to call you. And they said answer your phone. And the guy was like I'm not answering the phone. You tell him I'm busy.
Speaker 2:He wouldn't answer the corporate phone. Yeah, he was not. It was, and the thing was I was not being ugly to the employees. All I wanted to know was would we have a room?
Speaker 1:Yes, because we were wasting time standing there when we're like 20.
Speaker 2:We were there for over an hour and we could have been on our way.
Speaker 1:There's another, okay, so I'll tell you another part of the story in a second. But finally Big Matt, a daddy over here, gets us a room across town another seven miles away in a roach motel.
Speaker 2:There weren't bugs, but I'm surprised yeah it was old.
Speaker 1:It was definitely the bottom of the list, but they found your titanium assyringe.
Speaker 2:They sure did. I got to lay my head on a pillow for two and a half hours.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So by the time we did all that and we had to early flight out, we only got two and a half hours of sleep. It was bad. Long story short. So that's you won't catch us going through Dallas anytime soon or United. But the other part of the story is when we walked into the hotel here and we were standing there for maybe like a minute huge line, like I said, there were like 30 people in the lobby. These two ladies come prancing in Betty.
Speaker 2:Old ladies. Not being mean, it was just a fact.
Speaker 1:They were old much older ladies, older ladies but very entitled. Yeah, they came in very entitled, did not understand why there was a line. They were coming from the airport too and they were not going to wait in line. So came down to it, even though we had been there, we had gotten our reservation online, we had checked in and done all the things those old bitches took our room. Yeah, they were the last ones and they took our room because they jumped ahead of us in the line.
Speaker 2:I'm still pissed. I could have body slam.
Speaker 1:Stephen was so pissed. Those old ladies took our room and they did. They literally got the last room they took our room.
Speaker 2:They took our damn room.
Speaker 1:But you know they couldn't have gone across town.
Speaker 2:Listen, in that situation, where I was, they could have, I would have spooned one of them at that point.
Speaker 1:Let me snuggle.
Speaker 2:It'd be fine.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. Okay, other than that, though, the Achieve conference was fabulous and fun. So that's a yearly conference. If you're ever interested, if you're anything social media, or even small business, or online business, e-commerce it is a great place to go learn, because you can learn all types of marketing techniques or how to do social media, or how to work with brands, or how to be the brand and work with influencers Very encouraging and very positive it is. So that's every October. So if you're interested in that, look it up, the Achieve conference. And then, if you're maybe looking to go to Waco for because I was getting lots of comments like tell us more about Waco or I'm planning a trip to Waco, that sort of thing you know, if you want to go see Joanna in the complex, it's very fun. However, what I would say and I was saying this in my Instagram stories it's a weekend trip.
Speaker 1:You need like two nights, two days max.
Speaker 2:There's a Dr Pepper Museum. Dr Pepper was born in Waco, texas, so there's a tiny Dr Pepper Museum. There's a lot of boutique stores.
Speaker 1:So I would plan it as like a girls weekend shopping trip and just do like a long weekend, or do it in the middle of the week whenever, but you only need a couple of nights there, you don't want to be there for no damn week. No, and the other thing that I find so surprising because we went to Waco last year, we went this year. I've kind of forgotten about it. Everything closes early, like the Magnolia, you know, complex, all the stores and everything. They close at six.
Speaker 1:And a lot of the boutique stores because there's a lot that have popped up around there and that sort of thing close between five and six. So after six I mean other than going to dinner and having drinks, you're done. So you need to plan that, I feel like, into your-.
Speaker 2:There's no nightlife. There's none of that. There's some lakes there. It is. You know, there's some lakes and there's Baylor and you know. But I would personally do a three day weekend, yeah, and that'd be it and that's yeah, and you'll have fun.
Speaker 1:It's definitely worth the trip and it would be a good little shopping trip, like I said, like a girls weekend, and there are tours you can do to see some of the things, like the houses that Chip and Joanne like bus tours. They'll take you around and show you things they've worked on or where this is or that is. You can do little drive by, but I mean even shopping, as big as their Magnolia store complex is. You're going to spend maybe three hours there, maybe, well, walking around and enjoying it Like we started at the coffee bar, the coffee store whatever you want to call it.
Speaker 1:We got coffee and then we just walked from one end to the other. Home store, the little stores, the grounds, I mean if you wanted to stop and have like lunch there, you could do that and have some other time, but then do some shopping. Then we ended up at the bakery and it's like you know a few hours and you're you know good to go, you're done. And then there's other, like I said, there's all types of other fun little boutique stores that you can walk around to. You know a lot of things you can walk to walking distance. But if you are planning a trip there, I would definitely, you know, keep it short, short and sweet and you can see everything that you need to see there. The other thing to keep in mind it's hot, like we were there the first week of October and it was still 90, like four degrees.
Speaker 2:I can't imagine in the summer.
Speaker 1:I know. So I would go like early spring, late fall, late fall. They always have their like celebration like mid October, I think it's like around the 16th.
Speaker 2:I think we saw.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that would be a good time to go there because it's probably a little bit cooler there. But, speaking of the chief conference and that, we got to hang out with our friend Ashley from Sassy Barn and we were going to pick this girl up because she had some funny stories to tell us and we were like we got to dive into this more, so let's talk about it.
Speaker 1:Let's get Miss Sassy Barn on the phone. Let's do it and look who's hitchhiking with us today we have Ashley from the Sassy Barn. If you don't follow Ashley on Instagram, hey girl, you got to make sure you go follow her. Her handle on Instagram is the Sassy Barn and we'll put it down in the show notes as well. So welcome Ashley. How's it going?
Speaker 3:Hi, I'm so happy to be doing this to you.
Speaker 2:Hey, sassy Ashley, yeah, In the house or in the car. I must say In the car.
Speaker 1:We had so much fun hanging out with you at the achieve conference and got to hang out with you, so we have some funny stories we want to dive into. But before we do that, first of all, did you have any trouble getting back home? Because we got delayed and had to spend an extra night in Dallas? We just talked about that in there.
Speaker 3:I saw that no, we had like flawless travel and I think the stars aligned for us because it was because I think the prior weekend like someone was looking out for us because our Airbnb debacle and getting like catfished on that, like God knew that I did not need any more shit to happen. Can I say shit? Yeah, you just did. Oh, I think nothing else was allowed to happen to us after our Airbnb.
Speaker 1:It would have just sent you over yeah, it would have just sent you over the edge to have something else happen.
Speaker 3:No, it would have. Yeah, completely over the edge. So we had flawless flights.
Speaker 1:So I was following your story off and on about the weekend before you went to who you were going for a market, vintage market, right To set up?
Speaker 3:Yes, vintage market days.
Speaker 1:Where was it? What city was it in?
Speaker 3:Logan Utah.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you had rented an Airbnb, which you know we own Airbnbs and we're fond of that but when you got there, the house did it look anything like the pictures, or it was just like really messy.
Speaker 3:The house looked like the pictures, but the furniture did not look like the pictures. Yeah, and if I would have seen the pictures, that, like with the actual furniture that we saw, I would have never rented the house. It was all broken, stained, like furniture. The mattress was like I swear, like one of the original mattresses from 1970 and they gave us like a thin piece of foam that had yellow stains all over it to sleep on. For extra comfort they put on the note.
Speaker 1:Lovely.
Speaker 3:Everything in the kitchen was dirty, like the pots, the forks, the knives, and I mean it was really gross and I'm not one to complain. You know, like I get it, people make mistakes and like I can overlook some things and just kind of move on. But this was like back to back to back, all this just literally happening to it, and then we had no hot water and Jenna who I met at Achieve with me.
Speaker 3:she did these hair masks on us and we slept with them and the next morning our heads were hard, Like fart is a rock from these masks. So we had to take a hot shower and there was no, there was no hot water. So I was scraping coconut oil out of my freaking hair. And then I had to go to the show and like look preventable.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, that is the worst.
Speaker 2:I think you're being a little humane.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 3:Listen, I'm telling you I can. I live on a ranch, Like I can handle a lot of stuff. I live in the country, okay, but this was terrible.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 3:It wasn't worth. It just felt like the owner was taking advantage and taking money from people and not upkeeping. I mean, literally you could go to IKEA and spend a thousand dollars and make a really cute Airbnb.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, there's no excuse for that. And if you're doing it legitimately as an Airbnb. That was someone trying to scam, which unfortunately can happen.
Speaker 2:And usually they will get shut down?
Speaker 1:Yeah, but because you know there's those people out there that are going to try to do that. But if you're legitimately trying to have an Airbnb, it doesn't take like you said. You can go to IKEA. You can buy even more inexpensive, like pots and pans, and replace them every year if you need to, if you don't want to invest the money. But that's unfortunate. Yes, that that happened and I know it was a struggle. You were trying to get in touch with Airbnb because what they refunded you the money and then she, the person, wanted it back or something. Is that what happened?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I I requested a refund. I have never worked with Airbnb before. This is my first time ever booking anything, so I didn't know how to go about it. I couldn't figure out how to put in a claim, so when I finally did, I got. I got it like a. I got a refund almost instantly. So I was like, oh, that's weird, cause I submitted pictures and then the owner came back and said that they mistakenly gave me the refund and they wanted the money back.
Speaker 1:Oh, too bad, Too bad, no, and what did?
Speaker 3:you say I told her no, I was like no, we had to find we ended up having to stay at a 100 year old haunted polygamist house with someone we just met.
Speaker 2:Oh did you have fun.
Speaker 3:I mean, you know, at that point I was. We were so exhausted, we were dirty, we didn't care, we didn't, I didn't care if the walls were going to bleed and if and if, like, freddy Krueger, was going to come out himself and take me, because at that point I was done.
Speaker 1:That's kind of how we were when we ended up at our Roach Motel after Yep. I know the feeling Getting stuck in doubt.
Speaker 2:I know the feeling.
Speaker 1:That is well we have to try Airbnb again.
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, that's not the norm, that's not the norm, because we've stayed in your house and you know, we're well, she left me a terrible review, so I'm pretty sure no one will accept me now. So I'm going to have to make a new account.
Speaker 1:They'll accept you Just make a new one under a different email or something. Yeah, you'll be fine.
Speaker 3:That's exactly what I'm going to do.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, you can come stay in ours and we'll give you a good, a good review, perfect. Come to Destin, florida.
Speaker 2:So we were talking about something I've got to ask a question.
Speaker 3:Okay, I don't know where you're going.
Speaker 2:When we were with you in Waco, texas. We I do not know how we got on the subject, but we got on it and I just have to revisit it. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3:I'm really nervous. Listen, we were drinking, we were had a lot of wine, I had a lot of wine.
Speaker 1:Have you had any wine today? We're going to need you to take a couple of shots before I have something.
Speaker 2:So you told us a story about when you were dating your husband and he was coming into town. You had not seen him for a month and one of your girlfriends recommended that you get Miss Kitty cleaned up for his visit. Am I correct or am?
Speaker 3:I making this up. I can't believe you're going to do it.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm just asking. I just it, just so I don't know how many of you like. Okay, first of all, hot wax is not touching my body.
Speaker 1:Was it hot wax, so you go in to get waxed right.
Speaker 3:Yes. So one of my best friends recommended this lady who she had gone to. She had, like she raved about her and had really good reviews. So I said, okay, like I've never done this before, but like I mean that sounds great, like then I don't have to shave. So I booked the appointment and I show up. Everything seems fine, you know like for I was getting a bikini wax. So I thought so, like you know, you take, you take everything off, you have to show everything. So you have to be very comfortable.
Speaker 1:Very vulnerable.
Speaker 3:Very vulnerable. So like I'm already on the table and I feel like I'm in that moment that scene with 40 year old virgin, and I don't go like I'm clutching everything and I see her take that stick with the hot wax and string it up, and I said all right, I said all right, it's, it's gonna happen and it's going to be quick because she's just doing my bikini area. She took the wax from the back end of my crack to the front.
Speaker 1:So this became a full, like a Brazilian wax job.
Speaker 3:I was getting a Brazilian Not, and I did not know it.
Speaker 1:Not just a bikini, nope, I was getting. I mean, I went.
Speaker 3:I was, I went to Brazil. At that point we were going Brazilian. So I was like, okay, so, but so what is odd here is that she took the wax from the front to the back one strip, Okay. And then she took that piece of paper or cloth that they use. The wax strip puts that on top of the wax. So there wasn't pieces. Usually when you get wax it's done in sections, Right, she took one piece of paper.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, I don't even know how she made that turn. Do you know what I? Mean there's a turn through the canyon there.
Speaker 1:I don't even know how that paper made it through that curve.
Speaker 2:Okay, but it did so it did.
Speaker 3:So I've got this piece of paper literally in the crack of my ass and all the way up front and I am holding on for dear, for I mean I'm holding on to everything because at this point there's no what you, you can't turn back. She ripped from the front, no, from the back, from the back to the front.
Speaker 2:And I swear.
Speaker 3:I saw Jesus. Oh, my God he was. I saw him and I, like I had an out of body experience because the pain was and it was like you know how they usually rip fast. This was slow because she had a long ways to go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and she had to make that curve through the canyon.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and, like I'm not sure how, I didn't break my teeth because I was clenching so hard just trying to get through it. And then, when she was, when she was done, I hopped off the table. So I'm pan, like you know, in this moment I'm you're not only vulnerable, but now I'm mad, but I'm half naked and I'm going off on someone.
Speaker 2:Oh, you didn't go off on her, you didn't tell this, so you did, I did a little.
Speaker 3:I mean, listen, they don't call me the sassy barn for nothing. I have a sassy side and sometimes she comes out. So that's he came out. You know, I was cordial, I didn't swear or anything.
Speaker 2:I wanted to have it. I really wanted to.
Speaker 3:but so I got off the table, I'm half naked, and I said this is over Immediately. And she was so stunned she didn't know what. She was very confused. I said I am blistered, I'm bleeding, I like, I needed I mean like you know how, when, like a like when you shave, like when a man shaves, and they have like the little tissue strips all over their face, that was right over.
Speaker 2:You were seriously bleeding.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3:Yes, I was bleeding and I immediately started bruising, and so she gave me a 50% off discount code. She charged me 50% for this.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. And.
Speaker 3:I couldn't even hardly put my pants on. I have one, I didn't. I still had wax on me. So a picture of this Okay, I come out, I, I'm literally holding my underwear, I have pants on and I have wax still on me. So my, so the wax is like sticking to my jeans. Oh, I have to pay. And then, like I'm hobbling to my car because I can hardly walk because of the pain and I'm my gosh.
Speaker 1:Okay, before you get to the real fun, I need to go back to a visual when you are doing this full Front to back session, because I've never been in Brazil.
Speaker 2:How is yeah?
Speaker 1:I've never been wax, but I would just picture, like you said before, like you would do it in sections and I would think you would have to like Maybe like twist and turn. You know, like okay, I've done this section, can you go? Like do this one position? Where are you in? Like are you on all fours?
Speaker 2:Are you on your back legs up like dead dog pose?
Speaker 3:she had. She had me on my back and Like you, basically like the eagle pose, like I was holding my leg out, I was spreading, will hold my legs out on my back.
Speaker 1:So did she just try to like reach under and just rip it like back to?
Speaker 3:front. Yeah, like her hand and her arm, I think I remember correctly, was like up in my crack, because she got it all up in there and just jammed that wax paper and then at that point, so like you can't move, so like I, I have my hands, I had nail, like I dug my nails into my legs because, like of the pain, but I had to be, I was spreading go, holding my legs out while she was just taking a good old time ripping this paper back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't think that's the way you're supposed to do this.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:It doesn't sound right to me. Mm-hmm, not at all, no so you literally probably I mean I'm not joking you probably look like you had been assaulted.
Speaker 3:I looked like a manged rabbit. Is what I look like. I mean I did because you have to grow out your hair. So I have once. I have a half a side that she didn't touch. Okay, that is still has hair on it. And then the other side has waxed, it has blisters, it's brewed, it has bleeding, it has tissue paper on the dots that are bleeding, and then it still has hair that she didn't get.
Speaker 2:Oh my and then, I look like a mangy dog.
Speaker 3:That been just yeah, and then things started swelling up down there on one side.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:So how about? How did the week you go with your now husband? I mean, I guess there was a little, it didn't?
Speaker 3:I. I came home after things started swelling up and I Called my friend and I was like I don't know what the hell you're doing. I don't know why you do this to yourself. I told her and she was like, oh my gosh, I have never had that experience with her. I don't know why she did that to. I had a bag of frozen peas on my crotch all weekend because the swelling and the bruising was so bad.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh, horrible is so horrible there, there was no fun to be had well, have you been back to her? No, no, no, I will use have you gotten wax since then?
Speaker 1:how long ago was this debacle, this, this was?
Speaker 3:eight years ago.
Speaker 1:Okay, so eight years ago was that debacle. Have you gotten wax since then?
Speaker 3:yes, I got wax back in July after I had a few margaritas with Jenna and she talked me into it, so I went to this girl a different who, a different girl here in Wyoming, mm-hmm, and I told her I was like she, she, I talked to her previously while I was drinking these margaritas and I was telling her about my story. She's like oh, like, I take it very easy. I, you tell me what you want to do, we have limits, and like I just do sections. And then she's like but a Brazilian is like good if you. Because she said, it doesn't hurt on the back end if you get a Brazilian. So like you should try it again. So I said, okay, I guess I'll do it again and just see what happens.
Speaker 3:I was so nervous walking into this appointment that she had, so I walk in. She goes, alright, just get undressed from the bottom. And I said, okay, so I did. And then she comes and she's like alright, now get on all fours. She's got me on all fours. You spread my butt, cheeks, and then and then the whole time, because I was so nervous I forgot I was wearing my sunglasses.
Speaker 3:So I'm wearing my sunglasses on all fours Getting what, and after that they determined I was no longer getting waxed again. I won't.
Speaker 1:Well, how did it go? Was there swelling this time, or was the waxing itself?
Speaker 3:Yes, I swelled again, so I think it's me, but I didn't swell like I did the first time. I will say the back end does not hurt as bad because she did like take her time. But that's a very man like.
Speaker 2:Sensitive, you have to be very comfortable.
Speaker 3:Yeah no, like, not even that, like just for people, like for some. I mean I had a baby, I went through infertility, so like people have seen my goods a lot, but I feel like that was just. I mean she had to spread my butt cheeks. Yeah and then for the wax in there, and then wax and like, do it a few times and have me raise my leg, you know, like, like a dog when they raised their legs and it was just like you know what.
Speaker 1:I think this is just too much for me like this is a lot I I'm a lot to take you. Yeah, I don't think I would sign up for that. Well, this was one of that was my favorite story from Waco was you with the way I sing be laughs.
Speaker 2:I mean, I just love the story. I mean, and in the second one, with you with your sunglasses on, on all fours is pretty, you can just picture that like I wish we had just a photo. I would do fine if it were just from the front and you could see her dad, the lady doing her work, back there with this.
Speaker 3:Gosh, I, I didn't even realize it till when she was done. Well, they hop off the tape and I realized it was dark in the room because I had my sunglasses on, but up until that point Like I didn't notice anything because I was so nervous out.
Speaker 1:Well, at least she weren't having to like make real eye contact or anything you know kind of yeah, no, that was that was.
Speaker 3:That's a good part. So she was very professional though, and like she's very Kind and making it very professional, so like I really appreciated that. But I just I think at this point, waxing is not for me.
Speaker 2:Hmm, I don't, I think I wouldn't. Yeah, I think.
Speaker 1:I would just let it be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's a mayor or something. Yeah, or just let it all go Wow.
Speaker 3:No, yeah, no, I, I'm doing at home laser right now and I'm and we'll see we'll see what happened.
Speaker 1:Can buy like a laser. Yeah, then you might have a link to eventually, when you tell us yes, so I actually did.
Speaker 3:It was, it was a snowy skin, so I purchased it. But then I reached out to them and said, hey, like I'm trying your product, blah, blah, blah, and they gave me a Discount code and I think they're gonna be running another sale. So when they do, I'll definitely be sharing it again. You, it takes up to eight weeks, so I don't have anything at this time to like. I don't know if it's working or if it's not right.
Speaker 3:But, it's painless compared to other laser treatments and it's a lot more convenient because I can do it at home.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. So, speaking of Instagram, how did you so let's talk about some fun things that aren't just embarrassing you. But how did you get started on Instagram? When did you start and come up with the sassy barn? How did you fall into that? Because I feel like we all are doing it right now, or like the older Not olden age, but the ones who started out on Instagram. It just happened to like we didn't start with the intention of being like an Influencer or a creator or something. It just ended up happening. So how did you get started? Yeah, instagram.
Speaker 3:So I I started my sassy bar. I started the sassy barn in 2016 spring of 2016, after you know I. So I was working I'm a lot of people don't know this about me, but I was a mental health therapist and so I have my master's degree, and when I lived in Lancaster, pennsylvania, that's what I was doing, and so I was kind of just, like you know, beaten to my own drum for a while, and then I had a lot of things Change in my life. I a lot of people don't know this about me, but I was previously married, so Austin's my first boyfriend, but I had met. This is like it. This is actually a good segue for another podcast, because this story is crazy in itself.
Speaker 3:Yeah but so I I ended up getting divorced, and that's when Austin and I had gotten back together After some time, and so when I moved to Illinois, I couldn't find a job. I was too overqualified in my small town and so I was like, what am I gonna do? Like I need to make money. So I decided we had to do beautiful old barns on our property in Illinois. So I decided to learn how to cut wood, paint signs and then stamp spoons. So I created this business literally out of thin air with and I had no idea where it was gonna go.
Speaker 3:So I started my Instagram account January of 2017, um, and I just started sharing my shop on there, and that's when I kind of started networking with people. I had no idea it was going to become what it is today. Crazy, yeah, I mean it. It happened accidentally, right, because I had no intentions of being a blogger or a Content creator. I wish I was flipping a farmhouse in Illinois, and so that's what kind of grabbed people's attention. So I was able to like, bring in my DIY home decor and my shop into like one big thing, and people Appreciated all of it. And then the sassy barn, let's see. So it's been what? Seven, almost eight years, and it's its own brand and doing its own thing, and I never thought in a million years that it would become what it is.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's just so cool when that happens. And If you don't know, ashley front, if you're listening and don't know, she has the coolest products that she does all of these spoons here tell them about silver that she stamps vintage and you do a lot of other things as well, but tell us about your day-to-day business that you do first yeah, so we take authentic, vintage and antique silverware pieces and we hand-stamp them, so you are getting a 100% handmade item.
Speaker 3:We we are really known for our spoons, but we work with forks, charcuterie pieces as well, and we come up with like really fun witty Stangs on them. We have like a seasonal line. We do weddings and then we wholesale as well. So we're in 80 different boutiques across the US and then we're also overseas and in Canada. So, yeah, we do everything by hand, isn't that just?
Speaker 1:so cool how that's gotten just grown from something that you just started and then now here you are.
Speaker 2:I mean, it has to be kind of not that many people do that.
Speaker 3:No it. There's not a lot of people that do what we do, which I am I am grateful for because it kind of keeps us in the spotlight, but it's not easy to do. There's like a technique to stamping silverware. So, yeah, it's a fun market to be in and they're usable. That's the one thing that I always get asked. People aren't really sure if you can use them or not, but they're completely usable.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 3:And they're just fun conversation pieces.
Speaker 1:And I got some fabulous pieces and I'll be showing those in my stories on Instagram as well.
Speaker 2:So did I they're so stinking cute. They're cute and the other thing is is when we we put them in our retail store. People love to pick out their patterns, like their grandmothers, their mothers, yeah they'll recognize a pattern and say, oh, I want that one or whatever in our retail store.
Speaker 1:That is so cool.
Speaker 1:So, then, other than your own business, the Sassy Barn on Instagram, you're also a creator, influencer, whatever you want to call it, you know there's all these terms around there. So you're always showing really, really useful products as well, which is what I love following along for as well. And then you show the real. You know the real real. You redoing projects, your house, your porch, the toilet, sitting out in the room, for you know, we can all relate to these type of projects when something doesn't go as planned. And that's what I love about following you, because you show all of those real moments.
Speaker 3:Yes, well, thank you. Nothing is staged when you, what you get is what I'm, what you see is what you get with me, and so I don't stage anything. I really wing my content as well. So like I don't know what we're going to get into, and things happen at times and it just makes for really funny content that I did not intend to make or there was, like it wasn't intentional, and so like you're really getting the real like the sassy barn with me. You just don't know what you're going to get.
Speaker 1:Right, and that's kind of how mine is, because I, okay, first of all, there are creators and influencers that can sit down and do a calendar and they can plan out, like you know, you know schedule of what projects are going to work. I cannot do that, and then if I try to, I then I feel the pressure of having to stick with that. So I just have to do the real and what's going on in my life at the time. I might start a project and it might be a two weeks before we finish it or that sort of thing.
Speaker 1:So it's always fun.
Speaker 3:And I think that's that's more realistic and that's more relatable, because there is no one in like the real world, outside of like Instagram, that can do like a flip a bedroom in one day. It's not going to happen. It's not realistic.
Speaker 2:And it's going to be like I mean right.
Speaker 3:So it's just, it's better for me to just kind of like. Today I found a can of paint. I don't know when I bought it, I don't know what color it is. It says it's mushroom, but I don't know what that means. And so I'm playing paint roulette today and we're going to paint the bathroom and I afraid of God, it's not ugly.
Speaker 2:Well, mushrooms should be a taupe, Taupey brown maybe a little gray.
Speaker 3:There's no windows in the bathroom, so I don't know if it's going to be too dark. But, like I said, like I don't know what the undertones are, so I'm literally going to slap them on the wall and pray. It's pain. Yeah, it's a pain, but it's fun to do that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:So we're all going to have to tune in, tune in. That makes me sound old Tune in. We're all going to have to watch on Instagram this week.
Speaker 2:Where I'll go have to tune in you sons.
Speaker 1:We're going to watch Instagram this week and see how this turns out and see what color it comes out. I have a question, though, For those listening if someone is wanting to become an influencer or start a business on social media in general, what is? Do you have one piece of advice you would give? If they're just starting out Like I'm signing up tomorrow for my new account, or maybe they just signed up what kind of do you have any advice you could give them?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so don't pick a niche. I know that goes against the rule, but I'm very much a believer that you have a variety of things that you love we all do and when you're kind of confined into one niche, that kind of puts you in that category only, and so when you're not picking a niche, you can actually network with so many different accounts.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 3:And I think that's like the beauty of having so many different genres of hobbies and whatnot. So networking is a huge thing and if you have a shop, it's really about picking the right people to share your product. I don't think you should ever go off of follower base. There are accounts out there that have really good like they have a really high follower account, but what's their engagement like? So don't always discredit the smaller accounts, because they are just as valuable.
Speaker 1:Right, yes, definitely, we agree with you and talking about the niche. That's one thing like I've mentioned. I think I may have mentioned this to you in Waco Like I want to change my handle on Instagram Not that I've really put myself in a niche or whatever, but just from the handle alone farm shenanigans I feel like people do mentally put me kind of in oh, it's like oh, on a farm, or they relate it to farmhouse instead of you know whatever.
Speaker 1:And that's one of the reasons. You know we I've also talked about this in previous podcasts that I eventually want to change my handle, but it goes right along with what you're pointing out is you can get pinned kind of in a corner. Yes, and I like showing things from like gardening. You know, it might be garden tips one time or one week, or then I might be baking something or cooking something, or I might be doing decor. Then I'm at our warehouse showing our products or decorating with our products or whatever. So, like you said, I like to use mine more as a lifestyle, like what's going on in my life at the time. That's what you're going to get.
Speaker 1:Whether it's flower ranging, gardening, home decorating, working at the business, and that's the sort of thing that I like to do.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, that's perfect. And I really think when we were chatting about this in Texas, you should do a vote, because you said I want my handle to be something West, but I was like, okay, well, what if it was something with West? Like because you don't know what you're going to get with you, and it's like a witty farm candle. So like you, could put a vote out there something with West.
Speaker 1:something with West or something with Wesley. Either one, yeah, I need to do.
Speaker 3:I don't know why, it's like. It just feels catchy to me.
Speaker 1:Something with Wesley. I like that it's a little longer. Something with Wesley.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's yeah.
Speaker 2:So, but longer than farm shenanigans.
Speaker 1:That's true. Okay, another social media question. I like to ask this one as well how has there? Is there anything that you've noticed that since being on social media, that social media changed about you can be good or bad, like for me, for example, social media has definitely changed the way that I dress, because now I kind of have my Instagram uniform. I wear a black T-shirt every day and whatever pants, just because it makes it simpler to pick out. And also, if I am doing a project that's going to be a longer project and I want to then edit it together, then I always have on the same shirt, so it's less choppy visually. So that's something for me. But is there anything besides the benefits of it's grown your business and that sort of thing? But personally, is it?
Speaker 3:You know? I wish I could say that, If something or no? For sure it makes me very aware of my time. So, like I have limits for social media and how long I am on, especially now that I have Tucker, I'm very careful about how how long I'm on my phone. I pick and choose when I'm on my phone, since that he doesn't see that, and I also like don't always like to shove the camera in his face, so I'm very aware.
Speaker 3:Yeah, like when you see when, yeah, when you see Tucker, it's basically like a treat, like I don't like to show him every day. You get like little snippets of him, but that's not what my account is and I don't want and I just don't want it to become that. And you know, if it comes to the point where he wants to be on, then that's one thing. But I just I don't really agree with putting children in a position and making them do things. So you get like little treats with Tucker when he's on. So but I'm really aware of my time and so I've been take, I take Saturdays off now, unless I have something going on, and then I kind of I take mornings off and I kind of a lot of times that I get on social media and that just works better for me. That way I have the mornings with Tucker before his nap and before he goes to his grandparents who watch him for me, so I can work. So social media has made me more intentional.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think that's also very important to point out, especially if you're getting started on social media or even if you've been around, sometimes you need to hear it that it is okay to set these time limits or boundaries.
Speaker 1:Or, like I started taking Fridays off, like you said, you take Saturdays off and but it's so easy to get called up in like oh, I need to be showing this or I need to be active on there so it keeps my engagement up, or I need to do this. You know it's mentally, it's easy to get called up in that if you're trying to do it as a business or as an influencer and it is important to point out that you can make it work around you. Whatever your schedule, you know is like a lot of times, like you said, I don't get on. Like I get up in the morning and I'm one of those that I'll get up and I don't get ready because I can do some work from home, whether it's like on my computer or whatever, and then so a lot of times I don't even show up in stories daily. I do show up daily, except for on Fridays, but I don't even show up until like 4pm and then you know I'm like okay, this is my Instagram time, sort of thing.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, it is okay, but it's when you're in it and you feel the pressure. It's very hard to sometimes say, okay, wesley, or whoever. It's okay for you not to be on Instagram right now, it's okay to sit here and enjoy the moment.
Speaker 2:Well, I just love the fact that you set boundaries with your child, because that's one thing I notice on Instagram and I almost feel a little sorry for some people's kids because they don't know like they've got a camera in their face. I don't think it's healthy personally. That's just my opinion. So I love how you set those boundaries and I think your son will appreciate that one day.
Speaker 1:It's also really fun as a viewer because I watch you all the time is like you said, it's a treat when you see Tucker and like all of a sudden I'll be like dang, that kid's grown a lot since the last time. You know what I'm saying, because it may only be a few weeks or something, and then it's like, oh my gosh, he's grown a lot. So it is fun to see that as well.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I feel like you know, to each their own.
Speaker 3:I know there's family content, creating accounts out there, kind of thing, but you know, at this age, unless I'm putting him in a situation you know you can, he's not able to make decisions for himself, and so the content that I would be making with him would be at a force, I feel like, and so I just I want to be very genuine with, like, putting him on stories. Like yesterday I made applesauce and so I shared him eating applesauce and saying, hmm, and it was really cute. But I just want to be very intentional and genuine and I don't want him to feel like he has to always have a camera in his face. I will explain to him one day, you know, like mommy, this is what she does, you know, for for a living.
Speaker 3:I am on, you know, social media and my face. You know I'm on camera and whatnot, but you don't have to be if you don't want to be kind of thing. So I want him to kind of make that decision and we, we truthfully value him not having screen time either. Um, though, he doesn't, he doesn't watch TV, and that's just really important to us. I mean, we live on a ranch, so his playground is outside and we want him to be with the animal.
Speaker 2:That's why you're my childhood. I was outside on the farm.
Speaker 1:That's how I was so speaking of doing this as a job. This just triggered this. So you're I don't know exactly, but I know you have like over 300,000 followers on Instagram.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So how is it for you getting recognized? Because, okay, first of all, you live in a smaller town, you're kind of remote, so I would say you probably maybe don't get as called out or recognized there, versus then, when you like, travel somewhere, right, like, how does it feel to get noticed?
Speaker 3:It's so. At first it was a little awkward and now I'm very used to it. I actually do get called out in our small town, so we're a very touristy town, Okay so you know and there are people that travel here to Yellowstone.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 3:And so because we're the gateway into Teton National Park and Yellowstone, so I'll be in the grocery store. Actually, I was at like a local feed store the other day and someone noticed me in the parking lot, so and then it's funny, like when I go home or if I'm in Utah or wherever, I will have someone kind of point it out and I think it's super fun. I have really valued the people that take the time to like, listen and watch my stories, that choose to follow me, and so there are times where people will come up to me and I know who they are because I'm very intentional in my messages with people. Ever since I shared about IBS and going through infertility, I have people share so much information with me. I've had people tell I'm the first person that they tell that they're pregnant.
Speaker 1:Oh, my gosh isn't that sweet.
Speaker 3:It's wild that they choose to hop on and tell me and it's also. It's very sweet and I love it. I love the people that follow me. They are like friends. I mean this is such a weird position to be in because this is my job. I get to do all this fun stuff. I get to work with fun companies and then share my shop, but I also just get to chat with people every day that I learned so much from. It's not just about me influencing people. I really feel influenced by others and by like the messages that I receive or like the opinions that I get. I really value the people that makes the time to spend their time with me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's so fun Cause we've talked about that, the connections that you make through it and how you really find your people too, On there. You know, like the people that are really. You know you sometimes you gotta weed through some people. You get a random, random in there that's not your people, but you do make these real connections. Even though you can have, you know, hundreds of thousands of followers. Like you said, you'll recognize the same ones or you know there's real connections there.
Speaker 2:Which is really fun. Well, and I've gone kicking and screaming.
Speaker 1:Well, you still ain't on, don't?
Speaker 2:even like you on there doing so.
Speaker 1:We went on a whole trip and you didn't even repost. All you did was repost the story I did.
Speaker 2:Oh, I didn't. I didn't repost your story.
Speaker 1:Here. When I tagged you in a story, you didn't even make it. I didn't even do that. Oh yeah, you didn't even do that, I didn't even do that.
Speaker 2:You made one real at the end, but I have made a lot of friends.
Speaker 1:You have made a lot of friends. You do chat on there, yeah. I actually connect a lot, I don't know where they come from because you don't post any content for them to show up. But you get messages.
Speaker 2:I need to do better. I do, I do, I know I need to, but the ones I have, I connect with them Right, and I've gotten to know a lot of people.
Speaker 1:But it is crazy getting recognized like out in public, like that, like it doesn't bother me in any form. But it's funny because like here in Green, like in our town, people will say hey or whatever. And I just at first just assumed they knew me from our retail stores sort of thing. But then it was a little weird at first when I would leave town and then someone would recognize me.
Speaker 1:You know, and that was like a weird feeling. But I really do enjoy it and I appreciate that they say hello and everything like that and I don't mind like stopping and talking. It's a lot of fun to me. Oh yeah, the only time it's weird, I will say, especially if you're listening is if you see me in public and don't say anything but then message me later. Like I've had people say I was sitting at a table across from you at dinner or something and I'm like why didn't you just say hey, well, then it makes you wonder what you said.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because then it's like, oh my gosh, what was I saying, what was I doing? You know whatever, which is funny, but to me.
Speaker 3:Could you imagine if people were sitting in Texas at the table next to us while we were carrying all of these stories?
Speaker 2:Right, they would love it. Yeah, they would Well. Switching subjects your store and your silver. Yeah, it's amazing, right, and I absolutely love it. So if you're listening and you're looking for that special wedding gift or bridal luncheon, or a birth memory. Anything, because you can have it dated Her things are beautiful, yeah, and I like it because it's so personalized, or can be, and it's so one of a kind.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so make sure you are checking out the Sassy Barn on Instagram and we'll put her website below as well, so you can go directly to the website and you're doing. We're going into holiday season, so you're doing regular restocks, are you still doing? I know you used to do them on a certain like Sundays, at a certain time. Are you still doing that?
Speaker 3:Yes. So Sundays is when our normal restocks are. We are stocked throughout the week on majority of things, and then during the holiday season, we do have an app, so it's the Sassy Barn, and I will be back to doing my lives, so you can do your shopping lives with me. We'll have some fun holiday gifts that we'll be featuring on the lives.
Speaker 1:That is awesome. Well, we wish you the best of luck this holiday season. I know it's going to be a good one, and all of us are headed into the holiday season, so we're kicking it, kicking it into high gear. And we're reaching our final destination, so we're going to have to kick you out of the car.
Speaker 2:Get out. Oh, thank you for joining us.
Speaker 1:No, thank you so much for joining us this week. It is so much fun. We're going to have to have you back on, because there were some other stories you're going to have to tell us.
Speaker 2:No, and we don't have to visit.
Speaker 3:I've got a ton of stories.
Speaker 2:I've never been to Wyoming.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh, come on out. I'll meet you a cowboy.
Speaker 1:Oh, I don't know what you're talking about. All right, we got a good out of here and we will talk to you again soon.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much, ashley. I hate bye girl.
Speaker 3:Thank you, Bye Wow she's so fun.
Speaker 2:She's so fun because she's so smart, funny and real so smart, real and has the best stories, just like the waxing debacle. I mean, she's hilarious, but so smart.
Speaker 1:She also told us I forgot until just now she has a funny pooping story. I didn't bring that up.
Speaker 2:I felt like we did enough damage today.
Speaker 1:OK, we'll have to get her back on. Yeah, y'all were comparing we share.
Speaker 2:We share IBS issues.
Speaker 1:Yeah, y'all were good, we were she has me beat. Yeah, she has you beat.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we need to have her on until that one because that had me like in stitches. Yeah, but again, you know there's a lot of people I love on social media and that I follow, but Ashley is even a little more different because what she does is such a special art.
Speaker 1:Right with the spoons and silver.
Speaker 2:Yeah so I strongly encourage all of you to visit her store and look at what she does. I just think it's so, so special and so cool. I just love it, really cool yeah.
Speaker 1:That's going to wrap up this episode of who's Driving. Remember to leave us a review or star rating wherever you're listening to your podcast. It helps us show up in the rankings and we really appreciate it. Also, you can see the show notes below for links to Ashley's Instagram and her online store as well, and you can find our hotline number down there below, and, of course, our social medias and everything as well. So check that out and we'll see you next time. Thanks guys. Bye.