Holiday Shopping Tips

With the holiday season upon us, please remember to shop with a conscience. You have many options when it comes to how and where to spend your money. I know it's easy to go to a big store with lots to choose from--you might finish off your list right there. No, they won't wrap the gifts for you. No, they won't help you find the perfect thing for Aunt Emma. You'll be lucky if they thank you for your business or wish you a happy Christmakwanzakuh. Please think about the principles of the 3/50 project as you do your holiday (and every day) shopping.

3--Think of the three independently owned stores in your community that you would miss if they were gone.

50--If just 50% of the employed people in the US spent $50 each month in these independently owned stores, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue!

68--for every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that hundred bucks at a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online, and nothing comes home. Even better if the proprietor of the store is in this mentality and the ripple effect takes over! This can be applied to restaurants, bars, gas stations, and grocery stores as well--keep the $$ in your community.

Okay, I'm done preaching, I just wanted you to be armed with this information before Black Friday fliers blind you to these options. And don't get me started about the ecological footprint of shopping at those stores. . . I'll save that for another post.

New Papergoods--100% Recycled!

An "old" favorite, Galison, now has a line of 100% recycled papergoods! We have all three designs in all fthree styles--so get a whole collection, or mix it up. Even the packaging is recycled! The list pad (above) has 160 Euro-looking graph sheets. It's perfect bound, but has perforations so you can easily tear off a sheet to take along to the store.

The writer's notebook sets feature three different covers and page styles: one blank, one lined, and one graph--for all your doodling needs!

The notecard sets are adorable--each has 12 cards (6 each of 2 designs) and 13 envelopes. They're packaged in a recycled box with no acetate--easy to recycle when you're done with them.

We are now able to ship your order UPS, so if you can't make it to the store, just call and we can send it right out to you (you'll have to give us a credit card number or mail us a check first, though).

Counting the days

Ready to start your countdown to Christmas? If so, you should have an advent calendar--one that you can use over and over again! This one from Mudpuppy has reusable stickers that you can remove from the calendar and place on the North Pole scene every day from December first through Christmas. The big night features Santa and his team taking off from the scene!

Don't forget that we can ship UPS now, so even if you're far away, we can get this to you by the first.

New Blue Q

These are some great new tooth brush holders from Q-topia--food grade glaze on responsibly-made ceramic.

The charming winter scene [above] is on a 7" cosmetic/pencil case made from 95% post-consumer recycled plastic. The truck load o' money [below] is a coin purse of the same material. These are just the newest additions to the Blue Q line. Come see the rest of the new bags, too!

This is aimed ACHOO!

I'm sure you're doing everything you can to prevent your kids and yourself from getting sick, but if you do, think about what you are putting in and on your bodies (think organic tea, homemade soup, your favorite blanket). We carry a great line of natural/organic (these are both 95% certified organic) products for babies and adults. The Achoo chest rub is a soothing cream with eucalyptus and other de-stuffing ingredients, but unlike its blue-jar counterparts, it contains no petroleum-based ingredients.
You know how your skin gets in the winter? The cracking hands and feet, dry lips, the flaky bits on the tip of your nose. . . okay, I'll stop now. You get the picture. This Organic Soothing Stick is great for all those severely dry places, and it's paraben-free. It's a great portable size--fits easily in your pocket, purse, or diaper bag.

I have testers out, some come by and try these products--you won't be disappointed!

It's Wool Weather!

Time to get out the hats and scarves and gloves, everybody! We have just gotten a supply of locally handmade knits--fingerless mittens, neckerchiefs, and hats for adults and children. Perfect for this time of year for everybody, and all the time for some people is the new devil cap--available in kids' and adult sizes. We still have the pumpkin hats for kids, too.

The fingerless mittens have multiplied over the Summer--come check out the new colors and styles! There are ones with thumbs now too! These were my go-to gloves all year last year. For indoors or out, these rock! Great for wearing while crafting or computing--any winter activity that makes your digits chilly.

It's about time!

It's starting to feel a little cooler out, the days are getting shorter, and that means one thing--it's almost Halloween!

I can't wait to wear my Halloween apron for passing out candy to the trick or treaters! If only I had the glowing gams of my mannequin. . .

I'm not sure what you call these: is it a reproduction if it's made by the same company that's always made it? These paper cut outs are printed on both sides--perfect for windows as well as walls.

These feline place mats are so cute! Whether you choose the green or the orange, you'll be sure to festify your dining table!

This is a nice set of dishtowels for Fall--only the jack-o-lantern one has a Halloween-specific picture on it. They come folded and tied with a satin ribbon--a perfect gift for the haunted hostess or the October birthday girl.