Furniture Fun

I realize as a Nebraska native and fan of Warren B.'s that I'm supposed to ooh and aah over NFM. And that place is great. But I'm pretty obsessed with our new basement furniture from Bassett.

If you're in the market for new furniture, check it out. It's custom and not outrageously expensive. We ordered our furniture on June 12 and they said it would take 8-10 weeks. It was delivered today--less than one month later.

I highly recommend it. And if you live in Omaha, be sure TJ King is your designer! He's the bomb diggity!

Macy agrees!!

O! What a City.

Omaha.

It's more than steaks.

It's more than some place in middle America.

It's a whole lot more than a lot of people think, which is why I'm so thrilled CNN and Southwest's Spirit Magazine have both profiled our great city within the last week.

Read.
Watch.
Visit.
Know what makes Omaha part of The Good Life.

To renovate or not to renovate...that is the question.

We're staying in Omaha for a few more months--yay! More to come on that. But with this comes some questions about casa de Fitch. I'm getting the itch for a new house (two-story, privacy fence, three-car garage...ahhh!), but if we're only in Omaha for one more year, moving doesn't make sense and I know that. So, the question is...do we embark on some home projects to enjoy for our remaining time in this home or do we save the money and put it toward projects in a new residence? Specifically, I've been toying with the following (some for years):

Deck: We love having BBQs but we are outgrowing our deck space. The idea is to redo it and make it larger. This is; however, a pricey project and some revamped landscaping would have to happen around the new deck as well. To expand or not to expand...that is the question.

Flooring: We currently have laminate flooring in our kitchen, bathrooms and entry way. Blach. But it is definitely low maintenance, which I can't complain about. What I'd like to do is tile all of the current laminated flooring, rip out the carpet in the master bath and replace with tile and rip out the carpet under the kitchen table and tile that area too. I had this priced out once and it will cost about $4,000. To tile or not to tile...that is the question.

Countertops: New countertops would also be grand...but they'd also cost a few grand. Should I wait and let granite be a perk of a new house? To granite or not to granite...that is the question.

Landscaping: Some landscaping--around the power boxes in our backyard and on the side of our house where grass doesn't grow so well--would be nice. But again, we're looking at a chunk of change for this (and I do NOT landscape on my own anymore). To landscape or not to landscape...that is the question.

Driveway: With TFitch's work truck in the driveway now, I'd like to widen our driveway and make it a little easier to maneuver in and out of. I don't think it's that big of a project, but I do think there are sprinkler heads that need to be removed, etc. To concrete or not to concrete...that is the question.

I have a feeling we should sit tight and not invest in these projects. But at the same time, if we're living here for another year, we should love our house. Do any of these increase the value when we sell our house, or does it just make it sell faster--or do they do neither? I'm so torn as to what to do.

What would you do?

Mac & Cheese

I anticipate tomorrow with mixed emotions. Shock that November 12 is already here. Frustration a goal wasn't met. Nerves something will go wrong. Relief that it will all be over. Smiles.

That's right - smiles. Since January, Shannon and I have been engrossed in planning Paint the Town Orange. Sure points along the way were trying, time-consuming and overwhelming. But all in all, I've sincerely enjoyed the last 10 months. I've enjoyed the lunch meetings at Noodle Zoo, the spreadsheets, the mirage of e-mails; you have to when you're doing something for the greater good. And when you're engrossed in something so involved, the only thing that can make it better is to have one of your best friends by your side. There are not a lot of people I could do something like this with. Shannon was an irreplaceable partner in crime. When I was busy, she was there. My weaknesses were her strengths. We made exhausting and tough, strategic and tactical, major and minor, decisions together. We pushed each other. And we're better for it.

Thank you to my fellow YW Partners members for putting your trust in me and your support, and thanks to Shannon for being an incomparable cohort and most importantly, friend.

Let's do this!

Please Support YWCA Omaha

The last few months, my good friend Shannon and I have been immersed in planning an event called Paint the Town Orange (PTTO). This event is being held the evening of November 12 at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha. PTTO is a fundraiser for YWCA Omaha and all proceeds fund the organization's mission of helping women and their families build lives of strength, growth and stability.

I'll get right to it: we'd love the support of our friends, family, colleagues, Twitter followers, Facebook friends and blog readers. You are our keys to success. Our goal is to raise $20,000 for YWCA Omaha and we can't do it alone. No matter how cute the decor, how great the speaker or how tasty the dessert (and it will be tasty), we can't make a substantial contribution to the cause without you.

So what can you do? You can buy a ticket here. There are a variety of ticket levels. At the same web site, you can also choose to buy a ticket for an underprivileged girl to attend – a perfect option for those of you that want to support the cause but are unable to make it. You can also buy a raffle ticket ($10 each or three for $25) for a chance to win awesome prizes – including a gorgeous citrine and diamond ring from Borsheim’s. And we’ll gladly accept donations. (E-mail me for those latter options.)

If you do choose to attend, you’ll be surrounded by darling boutique items and hear words of wisdom from Liz Funk, author of “Supergirls Speak Out.” You can read more about her book here. We saw Liz on the Today Show one morning and knew she’d be perfect for PTTO.

I’ve only been involved with YWCA Omaha for one year, but I know it’s a great organization and believe the money we are raising is helping a deserving establishment. I’ve heard women’s testimonials as to how the YWCA Omaha has saved their lives. It’s an essential part of our community. Thank you for supporting this endeavor I’ve chosen to embark on, and more importantly, the women of Omaha.

Brush, Floss and Smile

One of my clients is the Nebraska Dental Association and today I witnessed their annual Mission of Mercy event. Wow. NMOM is a two-day event in which hundreds of dental professionals from across the state volunteer their time to provide free dental care to those in-need.

Did you catch that? Free.

I admit I take dental care for granted. I always went to the dentist twice a year (except when I had the tongue ring and I was trying to hide it from Dr. S.). I grew up around dentists and now have a lot of friends and family in the profession. I wanted to BE a dentist. (Still have the dentist Barbie Michelle gave me.) But there are a lot of people that simply can't afford a trip to the dentist or don't have access to good dental health. Take these two stories I heard today:

1. An elderly man who was told by his dentist he needed four crowns. They are about $600 each. He was saving up for them, until he learned about NMOM on the news this morning. (Yay for the PR team :).) He can now put that money to good use on something just as important.

2. A woman with four kids was nearly in tears she was so moved by NMOM. Her one year old had two open heart surgeries last year. Because of the medical bills, finances are tight and they had to cancel their dental insurance. Today she and her four kids were able to get a much-needed dental check-up.

I've never seen anything quite like NMOM. It transformed Papillion-LaVista South High School into a fully functioning dental office. Patients registered and then went for a medical and dental exam to determine the services they needed today. They then went to anesthesia, if necessary, and then it was off to their service - anything ranging from a simple cleaning to oral surgery. I wish everyone could have experienced if first-hand. Omaha media was all over this story. I'll post links to the most powerful clips as they are posted online.

In a related, yet totally unrelated note, dentist Barbie is going anywhere from $79.00 - $99.00 on Amazon and eBay. I'm glad I didn't toss her out 906's window after receiving my biology grade! (Michelle, Megan and Shannon - I know you are laughing right now.)

Don't be fooled by the thought that I got I'm still, I'm still Wendy from the blog

If you have forgotten who I am, I understand. It's been two weeks since I have blogged, and that wasn't even a legitimate blog post. I do thank Sabrina and Pamela for the blog suggestions. Sooner or later they'll appear.

For now, I have two quick things to say while I finish my diet Coke. While there is still diet Coke in my can, well then, it is still my lunch hour.

1. I love mixing corn and pasta. Just had it for lunch and mmm mmm good. Kind of like taters mixed with corn on Thanksgiving, or really anytime you have corn and taters. Why limit it to one day? But then again, what isn't awesome when you add corn? Pop + corn. Good. Corn + dogs. Good. Corn + bread. Good. Corn + hole. Good. Corn + husker. Good. Corn + on the cob. Good. Corn + acopia. Weird Thanksgiving decoration.

2. I had the privilege of checking out the Omaha Habitat for Humanity's Building Blitz today. Wow. In one week, three homes will be constructed by Sullivan Homes, Hearthstone Homes, and the M Group. The fourth home on the block will be completed as part of Women Build, a program in which only women build the home. (Don't women build every home?) tee hee hee go chicks. Anyhoo, like I said - wow. I became intrigued by Habitat when I went to the Women's Build lunch a few weeks ago. I had NO idea the people that receive the homes actually work for them. They put in 350 hours of sweat equity on their own home. They take classes ranging from how to unclog a toilet (I've never taken it) to personal finance. And finally, they actually make payments on the home. The thing I liked about that is it shows they are committed to their home. They take responsibility. They are vested in it and will not take their gift of a home for granted. Pretty cool. One of the things that surprised me, saddened me, the most, was the house on the condemn list across the street from the Building Blitz.

This picture doesn't even truly do the house justice. It was awful. My Habitat contact told me there are 400 homes on the condemn list (I got nervous I wrote condem list for a second but then realized condom is really spelled that way, not condem. Wow. You know you need to wrap up a blog post when you work in the word condom) around Omaha. Imagine a family living in that. Imagine living across from that. It was just really eye-opening for me. Normally I'd drive by and tell Trevor to look at that "piece" but today it hit me. That is/was someone's home. And Pavlov says a home is non-negotiable. HELLO COLLEGE PSYCH CLASS! See mom - I paid attention in school!

I learned two things about myself today:
1. I really hope to get involved with Habitat for Humanity soon. Maybe then my pink Kiewit hardhat will get some use.
2. I hope my kids never get "condemn" in a spelling bee.

Ahh. That was a good diet Coke.

Quiet on the Set

And Action.

If you know me, you probably know I kind of like celebrities. When traveling to NYC or Vegas or anywhere else star-worthy, it's my personal mission to spot celebs. I once drug my family across the Strip to hang out at MGM Grand solely because that is where the country music awards were taking place. I'm the girl that before a vacation to the Big Apple went through a year of past US Weekly issues and made a spreadsheet of celebs, the NYC joint they were spotted at and the date...and then we subsequently made reservations and ate lunch at Dos Caminos because Ashley and Jessica had recently been there. I'm not embarrassed by my obsession, though I did blush a bit when I thought I saw Samuel L. Jackson in Times Square and freaked out, only to realize I was standing outside Madame Tussauds. True story.

Well, who knew I'd see on of the biggest celebrities of all right here in Omaha. George Clooney is in town filming "Up in the Air" and a few of us mosied over there this afternoon. And even though we were 100 feet or so away from him, let me tell you this: he is still hot.

And that's a wrap!

It's not every day you feed a giraffe while wearing a business suit.

We fed giraffes Thursday and it was the coolest. I'm talking they ate sweet potatoes, new potatoes and carrots right from the palms of our hands with their long, black tongues. They are my new favorite animals (besides Macy of course).

Emilie, Shannon and I and a bunch of other cool ladies are on the silent auction committee for Zoofari, an awesome biannual fundraiser for the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. Zoofari is a big deal - in 2007, more than 1,000 people attended, raising more than $2 million. It draws some of the biggest names from Omaha, including that billionaire guy. Getting a close-up look at these fascinating animals made me realize how awesome the Omaha Zoo is and why what we are doing is so important. It's about raising money to bring captivating exhibits - polar bears, penguins, sea lions and more - to Omaha. Not only is the Zoo important to the local economy (in 2007 it's overall economic impact on Omaha was $86.3 million), it's also the state's largest classroom. Each year more than 85,000 students and teachers participate in the Zoo's school group program and educator training. We're lucky one of the country's top dog Zoos (animal pun intended) is right in our own backyard.

With that, a guilt trip and shameless plug: if you have something you'd like to donate to the silent auction, just let me know. We'll go ape shit for anything you can provide.

Young Professionals

What IS a young professional? Does that make college students wanna be young professionals? When do I become a middle-aged professional? Does Omaha have middle-aged professional organizations? We shouldn't overlook the middle-aged professionals. At what age am I an old professional? Will Kohl's combine their senior citizen discount with a happy hour for old professionals? "Excuse me old professional, here's your Metamucil on the rocks. How was work today? Your teeth didn't fall out during your presentation? I'm glad to hear that. And yes, that mumu is 30 percent off."

Zak's Going Home!

Yippee! Zak is going home and believe it or not, we have American Airlines to thank! Very cool of you to step up to the plate, AA. Sorry for talking smack about you all the time. Now if your flights would start being punctual and you'd stop charging for checked luggage, you might be my favorite airline.

In all seriousness, thanks and job well done American Airlines.

Read about AA's donation here.

Spare a nickel?

Last night I teared up after reading this story on Omaha.com and then seeing it on the news. The deceased truck driver's son was talking about how Zak was his dad's riding companion since he was a pup. The family is trying to get Zak back to California as he's the biggest memory they have. Tear in and of itself. But then I think about it from Zak's perspective - his owner is gone. The man he drove around the country with is no more. Although in great hands at the Nebraska Humane Society, he's got to be awfully lonely... and no doubt missing the Californ-i-a temps. So spare some change and let's get Zak back. I like to think about the power of numbers. If 300,000 Omahans donated $.05 each, we'd raise $15,000. And that's pretty rebarkable.

Mrs. Shearer, may I please have your autograph?

A new approach to the spelling list
BY MICHAELA SAUNDERS
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Caleb Johnson drew a picture of a referee blowing a whistle to help remember the difference between spelling quit and quiet.

Because they're look-alike words, it's hard to see the difference, especially when the 11-year-old is working fast.

His sixth-grade teacher at District 66's Swanson Elementary knows that's a problem for many students. But she stressed in a recent lesson that it's no excuse. They have to get it right when they write.

Learning commonly used and often misspelled words - with less rote memorization - has been part of the district's spelling curriculum for about a dozen years.

Now other metro-area districts, including Omaha, Millard and Papillion-La Vista, are joining in the approach.

At Swanson Elementary, spelling lessons emphasize commonly used and often misspelled words, and less rote memorization.

In general, the idea is to move away from asking students to memorize a weekly list of words, especially if they don't yet know what the words mean or use them when they write. (How many times, after all, did you write the word acquiescence last year?)

Students still might get a spelling list. But instead of simply writing each word three times, they're asked to use the words when they journal, to find and correct misspellings or improper usage in a passage, or to work on look-alike words as Caleb's class did. Such activities help to make the words part of the long-term memory.

Teachers also focus on words youngsters use and misspell the most, such as neighbor or through.

"We're expecting kids to perfect words in their vocabulary," said Nancy Oberst, elementary education director for the Omaha district. "As opposed to learning to spell lots of fun and interesting words that we never use when we write."

Some Westside parents find the approach odd, especially if they're new to the district, said Swanson Elementary Principal Laura Croom.

"There are still parents that think we're not teaching spelling because they don't see the weekly lists that come home," said Croom, who also oversees the district's spelling curriculum.

Croom said the shift away from memorizing weekly lists doesn't mean educators don't care about spelling. Learning to spell, she said, is still important.

Yes, computers can spell check. But, Croom pointed out, students need to spell well enough so they know when spell-check won't catch their mistake, as in the case of quit and quiet.

The popularity of text-messaging among kids isn't exactly reinforcing the notion of proper spelling. Abbreviated spellings like "l8r" - that's "later" to those who don't text - may have a social place, but educators want students to remember that the work world won't tolerate it.

Denise Shearer explains spelling directions in her sixth-grade classroom at Swanson Elementary in Omaha.

Bottom line - if you spell a common word wrong, people think "this is not a smart person," Croom said.

In OPS and Millard, time spent on a pretest of 10 or so words, then writing each a few times, then taking a test on those words at week's end is now - or will be - spent in a variety of ways.

In some cases, students who know the words at pretest will get new words to challenge them. Or teachers might introduce a few words during writing or reading lessons, then expect students to spell them correctly from then on.

Lists may still go home, but they likely will be individualized with words the student struggles with.

Jamie Gibson's first-grade daughter McKayla attends Millard's Reagan Elementary. The words McKayla is learning to spell regularly pop up in other subjects, Gibson said.

"It's not just a random spelling list like it was when I was a kid," she said. "They'll see it in their math book, in their reading."

Now, when the two read together, Gibson can point out the words - come, said, they, there - to her daughter to reinforce what she's learning.

By the time students reach upper elementary school, several educators said, they will study words and their roots so they understand the spelling behind them. If a student knows the root aqua means water, then half of aquarium and aquifer are in the bag.

"Words are more complex than just memorizing letters," said Kelcy Currin, an instructional facilitator for the Papillion-La Vista district. "We want kids to truly understand how words work."

• Contact the writer: 444-1037, michaela.saunders@owh.com

I've died and went to Omaha

I once stalked College World Series baseball players at the Omaha Marriott while I was in college. Now's about the time I grow up and start stalking adults. And I think I'll start with Mr. Clooney. Hot mama! I think the four "Honeymoon is Over" readers and I should have a contest to see who spots him first...

George Clooney heading to Omaha for new film
WORLD-HERALD STAFF

Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney will be in Omaha this spring filming for the new movie, "Up in the Air."

Oscar nominated "Juno" director Jason Reitman wrote the screenplay and will direct the Paramount Pictures film. Reitman and his crew have been to Omaha several times scouting locations and “fell in love with the city” said Dana Markel, executive director of the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Filming locations will include the giant push pins that feature tourist locations such as the Henry Doorly Zoo and Boys Town.

"Up in the Air" is based on the novel written by Walter Kirn about a constantly traveling corporate downsizer obsessed with collecting his one millionth frequent flyer mile. The main character, Ryan Bingham -- played by Clooney -- endures some quirky twists and turns on his journey.

This isn’t Clooney’s first brush with Omaha. He won an Oscar nomination for his role in "Michael Clayton," which includes a quick visual reference of Omaha. Clooney is expected to be in Omaha filming "Up in the Air" for three days.

Happy three years, TFitch.

This anniversary will almost be as great as last year. Although last year we didn't have to work and had dinner aboard the Carnival Elation, whereas this year we're working, having dinner in Omaha (but at the Paxton which I can't complain about) and it's -10 degrees outside. Totally as great as our second anniversary. :-)

Rolling Stone Article

The Heavy Soul fellas brought this article on the Von Maur shootings to my attention.

This article disturbs me for several reasons.

First, one commenter to the article and blogger points out that in the hard copy the pages are splattered with red ink to represent blood. How distasteful Rolling Stone, seriously.

Second, I realize Hawkins had a horrible childhood. I really do. But what about the people that grow up with terrible childhoods and turn out better than fine? Those that were abused as kids that grow up to be successful? Where are the seven page stories about those individuals and their achievements? I don't understand what the writer is trying to get across in this article. Is he trying to say that Hawkins did this and is excused for doing this because his life was so shitty growing up. (Newsflash - Hawkins continued to make poor decisions throughout his life, in drugs, infidelity, etc.) Really, is that an excuse? Is he trying to place blame on the parents? Do they need to be tried on murder charges? Yes, he was a troubled man. But you didn't need to point that out Mark Boal. We knew he was troubled by what he did December 5, 2007. Thanks for writing about the obvious.

Third, the comment about Hawkins having to get a job at McDonalds because the Nebraska farming industry was so poor is just bogus.

Fourth. The description Mark Boal, who I am beginning to dislike more and more, portrayed after Von Maur's reopening is just sick. As I commented on the Heavy Soul site: "the reponening of Von Maur after the shootings was not about making up for lost profits for the holiday season. It was about helping a community move on and cope with what they dealt with. Knowing a Von Maur associate, who was at the store during the shootings and right next to one of the victims, I applaud Von Maur for how they handled this situation and how they treated their employees and victims' families. Also, less Mr. Boal forget about the reopening ceremony of the event where wreaths were placed at the store's entrance in memory of the victims. And the fact that hundreds of people made a memorial outside of the store with signs, snowflakes, cards, posters, etc. and that, once those items had to be removed, they were boxed up and placed in large plastic tubs and kept - not thrown away - shows that the support Omaha showed for the victims, the community and one another, was not taken lightly. And if he'd go to the store now he'd see a plaque hanging in the store listing the victim's names."

And finally - the stupid writer saying the Von Maur shootings have been forgotten about. Just because something is no longer in the news every single day does not mean it has been forgotten about. The country's most prolific terrorist act, 9/11, isn't in the news every day. Does that mean we forgot about what happened that September day? No. The Von Maur is the biggest incident in Nebraska in 50 years. Things like that do NOT go unforgotten.

Home-aha

I'm a little late to the blog game in posting this, but a work friend visited Omaha last weekend and was talking about how great the city is. I pointed him to a recent Kiplinger's article that listed Omaha as the third best place to live. (Article found courtesy of Heavy Soul.)

The article is pasted below and be sure to check out the virtual walking tour of this great city. As a product of Omaha (and Millard Public Schools which gets a nod in the article and video), I couldn't agree with Kiplinger's more.

No. 3: Omaha, Neb.
By Marc A. Wojno
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, July 2008

PARADISE ON THE PLAINS
Population: 821,356
Population Growth Since 2000: 6.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 30%
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $51,627
Income Growth Since 2000: 15.1%

Don't pigeonhole Omaha as insurance, Warren Buffett and mail-order steaks. This one-time Great Plains pioneer town has a stereotype-busting cultural scene. Walk through north downtown and discover the indie-rock club Slowdown next to Film Streams, a cinema art house. In Old Market, red-brick roads run past open-air restaurants, galleries and chic boutiques.

Funky, yes, but the city's success is defined by its midwestern values. People preach and practice a strong work ethic and modest lifestyle. They also believe in giving back to the community, and that includes the chief executives of the five Fortune 500 companies headquartered here.

Consider the 175,000-square-foot Holland Performing Arts Center. Built with private funding from corporate executives, philanthropists and civic leaders, this $100-million facility is a symbol of 21st-century urban modernism. A 2,000-seat, state-of-the-art concert hall -- with chiseled acoustic panels -- is the place to experience the classics, performed by the Omaha Symphony Orchestra.

And encouraging news: Businesses here are hiring and recruiting young professionals, especially in finance, health care, information technology and insurance. Entrepreneurs can also find fertile ground to make their mark. Rachel Jacobson, 29, who owns Film Streams, says that she wouldn't have opened her theater anywhere else. "Omaha is very open to new ideas."

Omaha continues to expand westward. Venture 10 miles southwest and you'll come to Millard, a suburb known for its top-rated, nationally recognized public-school system. It's a peaceful community with well-manicured lawns, sprawling subdivisions and shopping malls. Home prices are affordable, too. For example, a 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom home sells for about $350,000, while a 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom home goes for about $200,000.

Sales and property taxes are high -- upwards of 10%. But, says Tammy Lane, a mother of two whose kids are enrolled in Millard's public schools, "I love living here. It's the growth and quality of the schools that make the taxes worth paying."

Yahoo!

I'm thrilled about this. Now if we could get a Nordies, PaperSource, Crate & Barrel and H&M I'd be the happiest Omahan around.

Published Tuesday April 29, 2008
Anthropologie is coming to Regency
BY JOHN KEENANWORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Alicia Reisinger loves the pants.

And the cafe au lait bowls.

And the textiles. And the fabrics.

And she's pleased to hear she won't have to travel to Chicago or Kansas City to visit Anthropologie, which announced Tuesday that it would open a store in Omaha's Regency Court shopping center in October.

"Yay!" said Reisinger, who moved to Lincoln from Chicago about 18 months ago.

Reisinger is one of many area fans of the popular retailer, which features women's clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, jewelry and home décor items.

"I really enjoy the eclectic nature of the clothing," she said. "It's kind of a business casual with a little bit of creativity spiced up in it."

Fans such as Reisinger helped lure Anthropologie to Omaha, which is a smaller market for the chain, said Lorraine Adney of the McDevitt Co. The company oversees site selection and leasing for Anthropologie.

In four or five trips to Omaha, almost every woman she spoke to told her they went out of the area, usually to Kansas City or Chicago, to shop at Anthropologie.

"We certainly know that we have Omaha shoppers based on Anthropologie's Internet and catalog sales," she said.

The new store is a coup for Regency Court, which adds it to a lineup that includes fashion stores White House/Black Market, Ann Taylor Loft, Tilly, Parsow's, Pura Vida Blue and the recently opened Solstice Sunglass Boutique, not to mention jeweler Borsheims.

"We have been working on this deal for two years," said John Lund, chief executive officer of the Lund Co., owner of Regency Court along with partner RED Development LLC.

The 10,500-square-foot store will be at the southwest corner of the center, with a very visible exterior storefront, Lund said.

The lineup of stores already at the shopping center played into the chain's decision to come to Omaha, Lund said.

"Retailers look to go to centers that have others that are successful," he said.

Anthropologie's fall opening will increase foot traffic and awareness of Regency Court, Lund said.

"And we'll be going into the fall season, which everyone knows is the season of sales for retailers," he said. "They're coming in at a phenomenal time."

It will also save Reisinger some long-distance shopping. She's been to Anthropologie, either in Chicago or in her native Kansas City, about six times since moving to Lincoln, and she'd just been to the Chicago store about three weeks ago to look for summer clothes and work pants.She said it was the store's mixture of the whimsical and the sophisticated that appealed to her.

"Anthropologie is one of the most requested retailers in the market because of its unique sense of style," Lund said in a press release.

Anthropologie was founded in 1992. The nearest current outlets include Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo., and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver.

"Regency Court is so well located in the very heart of Omaha, and the intimate size of the center was very attractive to Anthropologie," said Adney.

"Regency has a unique super-regional draw with Borsheims as its anchor," she said. "We know that Omaha shoppers are sophisticated and they seek out Anthropologie in other cities, so we are delighted to finally bring the Anthropologie shopping experience home to them.

"Maybe not as delighted as Reisinger.

"This is great news," she said. "I'll live on this for a while today."

O!nline

This is not news to the Omahans that read this blog, but to the out-of-staters (and there are so many of you - not), Omaha has this great "O" sculpture thing going on. A few years ago artists designed their own "O"s and they, all very different, are located throughout Omaha.

Anyhoo, I just read an article on Omaha.com about a Web site that allows everyone to make their own virtual O. It's very fun and I encourage you to check it out!