May Newsletter Bonus...
Bring Mom to TallGrass - yours or someone else's - for an awe inspiring spa experience that you'll enjoy together, and we'll treat the two of you to a delicious lunch.

Message from Gail Ridings, TallGrass Owner

I've commented here before that I have no children of my own (except my family of animals, of course). But, I feel that in many ways the TallGrass team qualifies as my "children" in that they rely on me for support, guidance, security and motivation. And, they do the same for me in much the same way that children can give inspiration and gratitude to their mothers.

I'm incredibly proud of my TallGrass family. They work so hard, care so deeply, and do so much for our guests, each other and our community. It's a well-known fact that I am often teary-eyed when working with my "kids." They make me beam with joy (and sometimes scream with frustration ☺).

Last month, my motherly pride overflowed when TallGrass was recognized as one of the "Top 100 Workplaces" in the small business category in The Denver Post survey based on employee responses. Wow! We came in at #15. It's a tribute to how hard the TallGrass family works to create our company's culture. Our core values, determined through a group effort by all of us, support our mission to "Awe and Inspire." And, just like any family's values, they serve as the guideposts that keep us connected, motivated, and inspired every day.

I hope my TallGrass family takes no offense at being viewed as my children. I can't compare myself to real mothers - the women who are the saints of our society - those who can't be thanked and honored too much.

At TallGrass, we look forward to taking good care of many, many mothers this month. Happy Mother's Day to them all!

Christa Johnson, Spa Babe

We call her a "Quintuple Dipper" -- a five-point distinction that few at TallGrass have ever achieved. The multi-talented Christa Johnson has worked her magic in five TallGrass departments - Guest Relations (as both a staffer and the Team Leader), Manager of the Day, and in her current dual roles as Accounting Assistant and Facebook Diva.

Because she's a whiz at putting order and structure in place, Christa makes everything she does seem effortless. "I like making things super smooth, so there are only positive ripple effects," she says. That kind of careful planning and creative thinking went into her work on the revision of the employee handbook and again when she guided the guest relations staff into fine tuning their customer service skills. Her creativity hat goes back on once more when she composes posts for the TallGrass Facebook page. And, in all of her endeavors, Christa works to reflect the TallGrass style which she calls sensitive and elegant. "I try to paint a picture of what it's like in our TallGrass world for guests who are here during services and later when they are reading about us online," she explains. "It's nice to capture in words what's at the TallGrass heart."

Mother's Day Giving and Giving Back

Here at TallGrass, we celebrate Mother's Day in lots of ways - by inviting you to bring Mom for services and receive complimentary lunches (see our May bonus, above), by offering you choices for really cute gift certificate designs (please visit our Mother's Day gift certificate page, by being available to make suggestions for Mother's Day gifts (just give us a call), and -- maybe the most important way -- by supporting the mothers who serve in Afghanistan.

If you've been following past reports on our Soldier Box Project, you know that this ongoing effort is close to our hearts. The next shipment of packages for troops in Afghanistan is timed for Mother's Day/Father's Day. And, you're invited to help us collect the contents: writing paper, blank greeting cards, pens, puzzles, playing cards, books on tape, cooling neck wraps, insect spray, sunscreen (no aerosols, no food) and full size or travel size personal care items. As always, Aveda travel size products can be purchased at TallGrass' cost for your contribution. Whimsical items are a definite plus, too. The last shipment's "Party Like a Rockstar" baseball caps (donated by Rockstar Energy Drinks) were a huge hit, according to the Colonel who wrote to report that they vanished from his office in mere moments.

However you decide to observe Mother's Day, we hope you'll give your Mom the love and gratitude she deserves in person or in memory, and please take a moment to remember the mothers in Afghanistan who are so far away from their children and their homes.

Peppermint and Chamomile

Aveda's Blue Oil Balancing Concentrate is our product-of-the-month and, in May, we invite you to save 20% on the stress relieving properties of refreshing peppermint and soothing blue chamomile. Slip the applicator into your pocket or purse for those times when you need to dissolve tension and raise energy - stuck in traffic, tied up on the phone, settling down before yoga class, or in one of those unbelievably long lines at the airport.

Available for Adoption

Sheep
1-yr-old, female Aussie
Loves people and other dogs, likes to swim and is good on a leash; likes the dog park, chases her own ball, barking at it. Best in a home without small children.

Available for adoption at
Evergreen Animal Protective League
www.EAPL.com