It’s amazing how time flies. I still remember when my sister announced that she was pregnant with her second bundle of stress, er, joy. It’s almost like it was yesterday. I was better looking, considerably more care-free, and I actually believed I would be the first President of the World Federation. Not to mention the best-selling artist of all time. How else would I win the minds and hearts of the people of earth and convinced the modern nation-states to disband, demilitarize, and unify under one common banner of rock? Well, needless to say, things didn’t quite turn out that way, but at least I get my own blog.

While both my nieces are turning out to be beautiful and talented young ladies, it’s the younger one of these, now 11, that’s becoming quite the accomplished gymnast. Those genes are definitely something that have stayed on the women’s side of our family since I am neither flexible nor athletic. The last “athletic”thing I engaged in was loading gear from my project studio to a large recording studio. Before that it was running, and before that, it was roller-blading, which I absolutely loved. However, there is something certain people seem to find creepy about a 6’4”bearded man rollerblading around the neighborhood in short-shorts and shaking that booty to his favorite 90’s workout jams. Lots of Madonna, Janet Jackson, and other top 40 favorites. *Ya’ll remember “Rhythm is a Dancer”or “Good Vibrations”? Marky Mark before he was Mark Wahlberg?  If you have, you might be old. But anyway…

I was recently sent a video of her doing her thing with ribbons. She runs and leaps and somersaults on the carpeted crosslink floor and just completely looks at home. It’s really quite remarkable how young some of these gymnasts are too. One her team-mates could not be older than 7, and she is just FLYING on the balance beam. Legs twirling like a helicopter, with the most serious look on her face. Through a series of routines on balance beams, gymnastics mats, and other gym equipment, these girls seems well on their way to their accolades be it regional or with enough dedication, even the Olympics.

Yes! The holidays! So much joy and holiday cheer and fireside chats and sing-alongs. But don’t forget the most important thing of all…PRESENTS! For without presents, our children might actually start asking why we’re not around as much!

Seriously, though, folks.. I strongly implore you to browse and peruse through our many in-stock gymnastic mats and other items this holiday season.  Lest we forget our aspiring little gymnasts mini high bar, or perhaps a  balance beam, or any of our many other types of gymnastic equipment. The next McKayla Maroneys of the country are hard at work on their spring boards in order to one day fulfill the dreams of a nation!

 So this holiday season, be sure to get in on our Christmas delivery guaranteed items and if you didn’t quite make it, there’s always our Santa Letter you can show to the wee ones. Make sure to cover your bases, parents!

This is a very busy time of year all around.  At home there are dinners to plan, decorations to put up and gifts to buy.  At work we have been making sure there are people on the phones to answer your calls, stock in the warehouse and ensuring things go out on time. I’m mentally prepared for high volume of calls, figuring I’d be selling a lot of our in stock folding mats or a balance beam, but I’m talking to more people about Anti Fatigue mats and Carpet mats than any of our more typical holiday items. I don’t quite get it. I know most of the country is being rained or snowed on, and I’m sure keeping floors clean is probably a big concern, but I might be upset if I received and Anti Fatigue mat for Christmas. Not that it isn’t a great product, but I would only buy somebody something so practical if it was expensive and our mats so aren’t!

The Carpet logo mats I kind of understand.  They’re very practical for keeping your floors clean and dry but they’re customizable so you can create a unique one of a kind gift for someone. One of my co-workers actually bought one for her husband for his garage. Now he has something cool to look at and she knows all the garage crud won’t be tracked in on his shoes into their house.

Speaking of the garage!! And this is totally off subject, but I just had a customer put Tuff-n-Easy tiles in his garage and I want to now! We advertise that they’re meant for gym or garage flooring, but I personally have never had somebody use them in the garage. According to my customer the tiles have a very professional clean look and protects his cement. I wouldn’t think the garage floor is something you’d be concerned with “protecting”, but I guess over time oil and whatever else can make it look pretty gross. Also, if you have weights or heavy equipment you can be sure if you drop them they won’t crack the floor or me damaged by it.