Jackeline Allegretta draws her inspiration from her children: 20-month-old Mia and

• PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER
• OUTFIT YOUR BABY : Jackeline Allegretta's Mia Boutique offers clothes for babies, as well as pregnant mothers.

# 7-month-old Sebastian. She also gets something else from them: Clothes they're too big for, toys they no longer play with, and furniture they've outgrown.

"We have a lot of things for our kids that we don't use any more," she said.

Instead of shoving every obsolete scrap of cloth, plastic, and wood into storage bins or carting the whole pile off to the nearest landfill, she decided to use the surplus to fulfill a dream. She'd always wanted to operate a clothing shop, she said, maybe for kids.

In early August, she made her wish a reality by opening Mia Boutique. The shop came together through a mix of her own children's outfits, an available space tucked into The Creamery on San Luis Obispo's Higuera Street, and her drive to open a new business.

The store carries about 80 percent used and 20 percent brand-new-condition items. Allegretta buys items from visitors, and will look at potential merchandise as long as she's open.

"If I know I need it, I will take it," she said.

Besides outfits and toys, Mia Boutique offers strollers, bouncers, potty chairs, and other large items. There's even a maternity section, so women who don't yet have a baby who can try on shirts can shop for themselves. Browsers can find bottle sterilizers, breastfeeding pillows, and "whatever you can think of for little children," Allegretta said.

As a mom herself, Allegretta knows how particular parents can be while shopping. She explained that she washes and irons every piece of clothing, and she cleans the toys, too.

"I try to make it safe for everybody, and make it a comfortable place to shop," she said.

As for new items, the boutique carries squeaky shoes, as well as bows and headbands for girls. Allegretta can outfit a baby from head to toe.

Mia Boutique is located at 570 Higuera St., suite 190. Hours of operation are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 593-0226.

This week's Strokes and Plugs was compiled by Editor Ryan Miller. E-mail your business news to [email protected].