Oklahoma's Choice Weekly Volume 1 Issue 11

We encourage you to keep yourself and others safe.

• Wear a mask when unable to social ly distance, even if you are asymptomatic.

• Stay home if you are sick with COVID-19 symptoms, which may include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

• Keep away from others who are sick.

• Limit close contact with others as much as possible (about 6 feet).

ITS RODEO SEASON!!! We are so excited to have the 35th Annual Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo on July 30, 31st & August 1, 2020 here in Pawnee America. Always exciting is the Wild Horse Race, the Wild Cow milking and the Ranch Bronc riding. The Kids Rodeo star ts July 25 with several events just for the younger cowgirls and cowboys. Hot weather also brings the opening of our historic Bath House and swimming beach at the Cit y Lake. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, Noon to 3 pm, admission $3.00, now that ’s a deal!! Our Cit y Lake camping grounds have been extremely busy all summer, you will want to come early to get a spot. We are also very pleased to announce the launch of our new Chamber website, www.chamberofcommerce.org lots of information about our business ’s, events, meetings, organizations and tourist sites in our area. The Cit y of Pawnee also has a new web site, www. cit yofpawnee.org .Tons of information anyone could possibly want when coming to our beautiful Cit y of Pawnee. Have a wonder ful Safe & Happy Summer!! Pawnee Chamber of Commerce Joyce Freeman, Manager

51st Annual

August 5, 6, 7, & 8, 2020 Seminole, OK ~ 7:00 pm

WEDNESDAY - AUGUST 5

FREE CONCERT - OPEN MIC

THURSDAY - AUGUST 6

JEFF & SHERI EASTER WHISNANTS

LEFEVRE QUARTET

FRIDAY - AUGUST 7

KAREN PECK & NEW RIVER THE BOWLING FAMILY THE ERWINS

JORDAN FAMILY BAND

SATURDAY - AUGUST 8

TRIUMPHANT QUARTET NEW SPEER FAMILY HYSSONGS GASTINEAUS

$25 Per Night or Three Night Pass $68

Children 6-12 - $3.00 - 5 & Under - Free FOR MORE INFORMATION, TICKETS, & RV CAMPSITES

CALL 405-382-8351

12513 Hwy 99, Seminole, OK

GIANT VIDEO SCREENS ~ BRING YOUR OWN LAWN CHAIRS CONCESSION PROVIDED ~ CALL FOR GROUP RATES

Here at Oklahoma’s Choice Weekly, we know a little something about being working women! We noticed there just isn’t enough circulating to advocate Women in Businesses and their success in Oklahoma. This new section will be filled with topics to support our hard working women. Features will include “Ask Amanda” for financial tips and ideas and “The Kitchen Sink” will creatively tackle cleaning and organizing. A special Activity Page in “Mycha’s Corner” provides a learning activity Mycha Creates for kids that parents can download. Each month we will feature a woman-ran business from local communities where we all live, shop and play. Join us for the Celebrating Women In Business Edition inside the Oklahoma’s Choice Weekly every third Wednesday of the month. July’s Celebration begins on the next page!

~With Love fromThe Women from Oklahoma’s Choice Weekly

We would love to know women in your communities that are making a difference in business. Please nominate a woman-run business to feature in next month’s edition! Email your nominations and why you think this awesome Oklahoma Business Woman should be featured to: Distribution@oklahomaschoiceweekly.com.

By Mist y Crouse

Celebrating Women In Li le Bit Of Country

Lit tle Bit of Countr y has been in the hear t of Sapulpa since 1992. Diane Gloden star ted her business with on weekends until Gar y, her husband, suggested she star t her own store. The rest is histor y. Diane modern-day mercantile with local craf tsmen and ar tists from all over. It is filled with a wide variet y of as GG Forge, Western Anvil Ar tisan Metals, Stepper ’s Shine, and HotShots Healthcare.

Diane and Lit tle Bit of Country are the per fect example of determination and hard work found in Oklah

Diane explained she could not have done it without the suppor t of her family and friends. Her determination along with her love for customer service have helped her build Lit tle Bit of Countr y into business it is today. When I asked how she balances work and home, she admit ted it was not alw always finding a happy medium while being willing to give and take to balance it out.

Like most small businesses, Covid-19 has presented difficulties. Diane is doing the absolute best to keep safe by increasing the store’s sanitizing routine. Her abilit y to bounce back when times get hard have Diane’s advice for new business is to be active in communit y events and get to know the neighboring Lit tle Bit of Countr y par ticipates with the Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce and Sapulpa Main Street Organization events like the RT 66 Blowout Car Show and Jingle N’ Mingle. Diane’s dedication to the Sapulpa communit business are the keys to her success.

Noble County Yarns, etc LLC

639 Delaware (On the Square), Perry, Ok 73077

580-307-2096

Gail Ingram, Owner noblecoyarnsetc@cox.net

yarns, threads, supplies and classes

Noble Coun ty Yarns, et c. LLC

Gail Ingram

639 Delawar e, Perr y Ok 73077

(580) 307-2096

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10-5

St ar ting August 3rd.

Noble Count y Yarns is your one stop shop for a selection of yarn from around the world. Pat terns and supplies. Gail is a treasure trove of knowledge, from Crochet, knit ting, tat tering, even loom weaving. Before Covid-19 Gail of fered Sit and Stich where yarn craf ters could meet, craf t and receive help with projects. Once Oklahoma is at safer numbers, she will of fer it again. She of fers Free lessons with purchase. Gail is currently on Vacation and will reopen August 3, 2020. Woman

8-224-6169

Diane

Celebrating Women In Business

Ask Amanda

“How can I still prepare for my retirement in this uncertain time?”

Thank you, Doris for your amazing question. So… to answer this effectively, the truth is it is important to consider where you are now in your plan for retirement. If you are under the age of 50 and you have a company 401k, NOW is the time to be extremely aggressive and use Dollar Cost Averaging to your advantage. If you are young, chances are you are going to see many more ups and downs from the market over your lifetime. For someone who is less than 50 years old, this is a very effective strategy because you have time to recover and take advantage of deep sell offs within the market. On the flip side, if you are within 10 years or already in retirement, now you have cause for worry. The stock market is not only asking you to sacrifice your entire life savings, more importantly, it is asking you to sacrifice your TIME. When you are close to retirement or already retired, most people have a dream. They have family to spend time with (Hello GRANDKIDDOS!), traveling to do, hopes, goals, and dreams that are specific to only them. If you took some time to really consider what life will be like when you don’t HAVE to work… what is one of the LAST things that you would want to worry about? The Stock Market? You are the only one that can change your financial story. With all of this uncertainty boiling in our country and in our economy…. What do you value more at this stage of your life? Money? Or Time? This is a question I ask every single one of my clients. Because worry, sacrifice and stress are just simply not worth the price tag. Find a Fiduciary to help you navigate your statements and hold the people you pay to help you, with what took you your entire life to accumulate, accountable. This is not the time to stick your head in the sand and wait for it to be over. NOW is the time to move. Ask questions and take massive action without hesitation. Please send comments and questions to ajohnston@soundincomestrategies.com.

Investment Advisory Services offered through Sound Income Strategies, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisory Firm. Johnson Wealth and Income Management and Sound Income Strategies, LLC are not associated entities.

The Kitchen Sink

As a mother of two children, I spend most of my time picking up after them, along with my husband, father-in-law, and 4 lovely dogs and cat sidekicks. Clearly, this means I am more than qualified to write about cleaning as it seems to be a never-ending journey. “The Kitchen Sink” is my way of sharing tips and tricks I am learning along the way.

With COVID-19 lots of families are staying home more. That is ok, we are too. It is hard to keep children busy day to day without the normal summer activities. My family has taken this as a personal challenge we planted a garden, got more chickens, invested in more board games, and bought a sprinkler. Lots of people planted gardens too and now that we are in the middle of summer, July is time to plant a fall garden.

The best part of gardening is how busy it keeps everyone, my children love watching it change day to day., our chickens are loving all the scraps. It is the best part of Covid for us.

Summer is here to stay in Oklahoma. Summer in Oklahoma means it is hot as all get out. The heat and children can make it difficult to stay organized and keep your sanity. Every family I know goes through the “Use every dish in the house” all summer long. My home is no different, cups are our problem so I came up with an excellent solution for the cups. I got these cute color changing tumblers with lids and straws from Walmart and I put each child's name on their cup. They must use only that cup and wash it themselves. It is a great way to cut back on dishes and teaches smaller children how to wash dishes at the same time. Also, I have seen this done with plastic bowls and plates.

By Misty Crouse

My family loves to camp and go to the lake for the day. It is so much work to get ready and to put everything up when you get home. Have no fear! I have a solution for that too. I use totes for our camping stuff that we take with us every time, plates, coffee pot, matches, etc. then when we return home I just reorganize, replenish and pack it away for our next trip to the lake. I use laundry baskets for clothes, towels, and groceries. Use different colored baskets for different things, for example; I use a white basket for my groceries and a blue one for clothes and towels. When we get home it is so simple, put the blue basket in the laundry room and the white in the kitchen, it makes putting things away so fast. As we all know, putting things away is the worst part of camping.

My most important tip, give yourself a break! This entire summer has been harder than normal. If your house is not as clean as you would like, it’s ok. Remember to be kind to yourself, you are doing Great!

Happy Cleaning