Straighten Up and Fly Right

How about a hot flash?

2012-01-19T20:37:00.005-06:00

Island Sunset brims over with passion, heat, and flirtation, creating a tempting escape for the senses. A green marine top harmonizes with a sweet concoction of island fruits and red fruit musk. Hints of pear, peach, coconut, banana and apple create an aromatic cocktail of juicy splendor.

Okay, that's the company's description of this fragrance, but I agree--it makes you want to lay on a beach sipping a fruity umbrella drink. The temperature outside today kind of does too. In this fragrance we have sachets, votive candles, and the big candle that is pictured (all natural and made in the USA). This just came in today, and I was thinking about how great it would be to give your sweetie for Valentine's Day along with some airline tickets and hotel vouchers to somewhere exotic. Or just the candle. After all, it's the thought that counts!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-11T13:42:00.003-06:00

I have several facebook friends who are posting something they're thankful for every day in November. Yes, food, shelter, a supportive partner, good friends, a job, and other obvious things have been seen so far. It will be interesting to see how their lists progress over the course of the month! Breathe Right Nasal Strips? The perfect shade of lipstick? I think it's fine to be thankful for products, as long as you've already expressed gratitude for all the people first.

It's always nice to show appreciation for all the things in life that we are thankful for. For me, I'm especially thankful for my UPS man. I keep him busy this time of year--new products are coming in every day in preparation for the holiday season. He's always pleasant and cheerful, even if it's a cartload of heavy wooden toys. And snowing. I'll have to give him a really good thank you gift this year.

Have you ever gotten a little "just because" present? It's great. Especially if it's accompanied by a sincere compliment or thank you. If you are of the old fashioned variety, you have heard of a hostess gift. It's really swell to get one--especially if it's something that you don't need to attend to right away. Fly Right tries to keep a balanced stock of little special things that would make great hostess gifts. Beautiful soaps or candles are always appreciated. Fun or fancy dish towels or aprons also make cute little presents. A funny magnet might do the trick. Reusable shopping totes are also nice and useful (just don't get the cheap ones from the grocery store for somebody as a gift--they kinda suck and they're not washable). You get the idea. Just show them that you're paying attention to the special things they do.

So while you're busy preparing to share a Thanksgiving meal with friends or family, think of a little special something that would make them feel loved. It doesn't have to be expensive. And if they're going around the table saying what they're thankful for, throw in Breathe Right Nasal Strips, if you can't think of anything that hasn't been covered by somebody else.

Summer's Bounty

2011-08-03T15:45:00.006-05:00

The weather this year has been atrocious for humans and their gardens. I'm hoping that we get a few sunny days and that my tomato crop will ripen a few at a time and not all at once. If that's not the case, I can always freeze some. Ideally, I will learn how to can them. Then I won't have to give up any freezer real estate, and I can use these cute labels we just got in from Galison. They'd be great for canning labels and/or just for gift tags to put on the bags of zucchini you will inevitably be leaving on your neighbor's porch.

Spring Clean your Home and your Community

2011-04-08T13:12:00.005-05:00

Thinking about Spring Cleaning? Earth Day/Week/Month? Combine the two with great smelling products from Mrs. Meyer's and Howard Naturals.

We just got in a new product from Howard--Butcher Block and Cutting Board Oil. It's made from clear, odorless, pure food-grade mineral oil. It meets or exceeds all FDA standards for food preparation surfaces. I use it on my Chicago Cutlery knife handles and block. Keeps them looking nice and new. It's great for wooden kitchen utensils and bowls, too. We also have a new supply of their Butcher Block Conditioner, which is awesome for restoring dried out wooden food handling stuff. (We have a furniture version too, but it has a light fragrance).

Mrs. Meyer's products are still selling well, and they should! Their refreshing fragrances make even the grossest cleaning jobs tolerable. Apply them with a biodegradable sponge from Twist, you've got a winning combo for you, your home, and the planet.

Want to get involved in keeping Berwyn beatiful? You can join in on Saturday April 16th from 9-noon as residents, business owners and local politicians help clean up various schools and business districts. You can register by calling 708-749-4900, or just show up and join in the fun!

Sweetheart, you gotta see this!

2011-02-10T12:48:00.005-06:00

Well, Monday is Valentine's Day. Want to make it easy on yourself? Come in and get one of our grab-n-go gift sets. Prices start at $16. Want to design your own? We can help you with that too. Don't forget, we wrap for free. We have plenty of jewelry in stock too.

This is the Sweets for the Sweetie basket. It contains a 5.5 oz. Mexican Cocoa soy candle, A vanilla/cinnamon natural soap, fair trade dark and milk chocolate hearts, and a locally made Mango Peach lip balm.

Here we have packages of fair trade heart-shaped chocolates, dark (70%) or milk. These can also be purchased individually.

Put a bird on it! Bird brooch made from a vintage window shade pull in a vintage heart shaped box. We have a couple of empty boxes if you'd like to select another piece of jewelry and make it look special.

This set consists of Malibu Lemon Blossom spray perfume, solid perfume, and body butter. There's also a candle available to add to it, if you wish.

This is the Mediterranean Fig gift set. You get a 6 oz. natural glycerin soap, solid perfume, and a little votive candle in a keepsake heart canister.

Greenleaf votive candle, small sachet, and large candle in an organza bag available in Bamboo and Blossom, Haven, or Garden Breeze fragrance.

How about Cinnamon Almond? Heavenly 3 oz. Zanzibar Cinnamon Almond soy candle, 6.6 oz. natural soap with nest magnet, and a small sachet are packed in an adorable basket!

There are several other options too, and like I said, we can make up a set to suit your sweetie. We will be open Monday February 14th from 11-7 (or later, if we're busy).

All natural ice remedy

2011-01-20T14:30:00.003-06:00

It was bound to happen, and it did. I fell on some ice in a parking lot the other day. Nothing hurt but my pride. . . It's a constant battle in the Midwest this time of year: man vs. nature. If you're like me and you want to keep the nature, um. . . natural, it's hard to figure out what to use to reduce the slip factor with the ice on your property. Salt can be harmful to the grass, so it should be used sparingly, if at all.

The best thing I've found for creating traction is a little miracle called "chicken grit". It's intended purpose is to aid chickens in their digesting of food. Since they have no teeth, they need this sharp food additive to help their gizzards "chew" their food. I get mine in 50 lb. bags at the grain elevator/farmers co-op in my home town in Iowa. It's made from cherry pits. The Feed Store on Harlem Avenue, just South of hwy. 55 has the granite type--less than ten bucks for 50 lbs. They also have the ground up oyster shells that will work. The granite won't break down, but you can sweep it up and use it again next year! Keep a coffee can of it in your car, too. The stuff is amazing for traction on compacted snow as well as ice.

So you don't have to choose between killing the plants and remaining upright on the ice--you can get traction the natural way, and if you really want the ice gone, get out there with a metal shovel or ice breaker.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T08:34:00.003-06:00

It's a new year, and I couldn't be happier about it! Our holiday season at the store went well, and we are pleased with what appears to be an upturn in sales. Now we will be focusing on some great things for Valentine's Day, and just general pick-me-up stuff for the Winter doldrums.

Speaking of Winter doldrums, it looks like I will be going back down to three days a week again:
Thursday & Friday 11-7
Saturday 12 - 5
This is only for the Winter months, and I will also be available by chance and/or appointment. My cell phone number is 773-213-9494, please call me if you need to come by and I'm not open. We'll work something out.

I wish you all the best in 2011! Be healthy, be happy, and straighten up and fly right!

We are sooo lucky!

2010-11-08T07:59:00.002-06:00

Berwyn friends--I'm sure you already know about the awesome restaurant that is coming to Roosevelt Road, Autre Monde. If you don't, you need to look them up on Facebook or the interwebs.

They will be using local, organic ingredients whenever possible. To make it even more possible, they're trying to raise a little money to build their own green house on site. Just imagine how cool it would be to order a salad that was harvested out back the same day (maybe even hour)! Click on the title of this post to donate some cash to help bring this dream to reality. Then they will be writing a book about their adventure. There are some great give-aways for donors, too. Please check them out--I know the owners personally, and I promise this will be a HUGE boon for our little up and coming town. They have years of combined restaurant experience and they know what they're doing. I can't wait to have my first glass of organic wine at the bar of Autre Monde!

Get over it, you old bag!

2010-10-21T12:22:00.005-05:00

All of these bags are made from 95% post-consumer recycled plastic (old grain bags, to be precise). One percent of the sale of the bags will be contributed to the Nature Conservancy. And they're super cute making this a win/win situation.
This is the front and back of the new zipper pouch. Great for those of us who find ourselves constantly apologizing!
If you're not broke, perhaps a lovely coin purse is in order--big enough for your ID and credit cards as well as a stash of cash.

They say that bringing your lunch instead of going out to eat is a great way to save money (duh!), so why not bring your lunch in something cute like this little tote?
And for your shopping/traveling/schlepping needs, there's a new shopper design: vintage skyscrapers from around the US! This would be a great gift for an architecture aficionado!
How about a zippered shoulder bag? Great for a big purse, shopping bag, or a carry on for your next voyage!

Back View:

Front view:

Gay, Anthropomorphic, Earthy, Sexy dish towels

2010-10-12T12:41:00.005-05:00

Need a gift for a tiki bar lover? Hawaiian traveler? Hulafile? This calendar towel is perfect! It's a reproduction with a new 2011 calendar! Because really, who couldn't use a towel or a calendar?

An old favorite is back! The anthropomorphic veggie couple is here to make you smile and help you dry your dishes!
This cute little barn image is a good reminder of where most of our food comes from (and where some of us come from too). The stylized radishes (beets?) complete the picture.

In light of the recent Chicago Tribune article about Berwyn being a very gay-friendly community, we now have these dishtowels--The Gayest Spot in Town. To read the article, scroll down to the link in last week's blog post!

All of these towels are 100% cotton flour sack material to ensure a lint free drying experience. They are $5.50 (or $6.99 for the oversize calendar number).

Berwyn: A better 'burb for entertainment

2010-10-08T13:09:00.001-05:00

Click this to learn more about Berwyn from the fine folks at the Chicago Tribune!

Berwyn: A better 'burb for entertainment

Autumn is in the Air!

2010-09-21T14:32:00.002-05:00

These lovely home fragrance products from Greenleaf are currently in stock and making the shop smell GREAT! There are scented envelope sachets, potpourri, soy candles and room spray. It's a spicy, citrusy, Fall fragrance--not too food-like, just nice.

Send your little spooks out trick or treating with a special LED keyring light that makes a scary noise and lights up when you push the button.

Older kids (5+) will love making up their own monster scenes with this self-contained magnetic monster set--choose different heads, torsos, legs and backgrounds. With some creative photography, you could make a cool flip movie!

For the mini Iron Chefs out there, we have the Melissa and Doug apple pie set--slice your apple, put it in the pie and bake. Be sure to use the oven mitt when you take it out of your "oven"! Then slice and serve it up with the included pie server. Nothing says Fall is here like the smell of fresh baked apple pie, even if it is a pretend one.

Best. Lunchbox. Ever.

2010-07-08T11:56:00.004-05:00

Introducing Goodbyn. This handy little lunchbox is made in the USA from the very best food-safe recyclable plastic. It comes with 275 stickers so you can personalize it any way you want! It's dishwasher safe (the stickers too!) and will save you $190/year per kid if you are used to using plastic bags and juice boxes for school lunches. It comes with 5 sealing compartments and an 8 ounce reusable bottle for your beverage of choice--there's even room for a little ice! All the styles feature a sturdy handle at the top.

These are the kids' version and are great for kids 5 and over. They come in green, orange, pink and blue. The "ears" make the lids easy for small fingers to remove.

These two below are the more "grown up" ones. Just because their colors are more subdued, and they don't have "ears". This series is called "Too cool for ears" and is suggested for adults and kids over 9 years old. Whatever. I'd do the ears ones--they're cuter! Both styles come with 275 stickers to use to personalize your goodbyn. The colors for the earless ones are white, charcoal, plum, and navy.

These are great for school/work lunches, picnics, road trips, and for bringing your lunch to places that charge too much to buy lunch (museums, zoos, etc.) We have all the colors in stock now, and can order more if we run out.

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!

2010-07-01T09:29:00.006-05:00

This set of patriotic dishtowels comes in a matching cloth bag--would make such a cute host/hostess gift for your Fourth of July party this weekend!

As would this apron:

Going to be hosting a get-together? This 52" x 52" tablecloth would be a great way to get your guests mingling and talking about vacations past and future! It features the lower 48 and many of the touristy attractions to be found there! Just don't plan a trip based on a tableware map. You can ask me why in person. . .
The first of July marks our second anniversary--I'd just like to say thanks for making that possible! I really appreciate the loyalty and support of all our customers.

Please note the store's Summer hours--I know it's kind of crazy, but it will keep me from going crazy. . . Thursday and Friday: 11-7, Saturday 12-5. I will also try to be open for the Cruise Nites (Certain Tuesdays from 3-9).

Dads' Drafting Do-dads

2010-06-09T11:25:00.006-05:00

These 100% recycled paper notebooks are the perfect size for a shirt pocket--and they're perfect for drafting out your next project or making a list of stuff to pick up for it! There are three of them in each pack, and their chipboard covers are sturdy but flexible.

Does Dad do puzzles? One of these refillable puzzle pencils would make a great Father's Day present--choose from crossword or sudoku models. It comes in a great presentation box with extra lead, and (not that he'll need them) extra erasers.

This refillable golf pencil set may just be the perfect Father's Day gift for a dad who golfs. It comes with three tees, a ball marker, and one refillable/retractable lead golf pencil with plenty of extra lead. We have it in green (pictured in the center on the right).

Dads need products too!

2010-06-01T11:39:00.004-05:00

This beautiful bar of soap contains sea salt--a natural restorative element. Natural goat's milk and essential oils give it the crisp woodsy/citrusy fragrance that is appropriate for men or women.

This moisturizing slippery salve is great for soothing all those gardening muscles that can be kind of painful this time of year. It's great for dry skin and callouses too! It has a mild menthol fragrance that won't overwhelm. Zum Rub is all natural, mostly organic and made in the USA !

This heavily moisturizing soap helps the razor glide smoothly for a close, even shave. Great for the ladies too!

Tell Dad He's Dynomighty!

2010-05-25T11:36:00.006-05:00

These are Mighty Wallets, a big feat of engineering and design from Dynomighty Design. They're folded from one big piece of Tyvek, so they're seamless, lightweight, thin, durable, water and stain resistant, recycled and recyclable, and you can write on the wallet, if you so desire! These are just a couple of the designs we have in stock--come check out the others!

Also from Dynomighty

These are Desk Dots. They're powerful magnetic spheres that are as handy as they are fun to play with! These are just a few of the myriad ways you (or your dad) can use desk dots:

We'll be featuring all kinds of things suitable for Dad in the next couple of weeks, but if you see something you know he'd like, you'd better come in and get it--quantities are limited!

Every day is kid's day!

2010-05-05T12:02:00.008-05:00

Now that Mother's Day is over, and you inevitably heard the question, you can prove it's true by stopping by and picking up a little (or big) something for the kids!

This fold and go wooden treehouse is about the cutest toy I've ever seen! It comes with a bear and a bunny, two chairs, a table, a ladder and two beds. It opens up for easy treehouse access, and has a handle to easily take it elsewhere. The front door opens and everything!

For all those little royalty-obsessed kids we now have the Prince and Princess dressup magnetic dolls. They come with stands so you can really play with them (but I think that changing the clothes is the most fun part)!

Gear up for your Summer road trips with this flip to win license plate game--the plates and map will help you and your little ones find the state that has the plate! Great for ages 8 to adult!

Who doesn't enjoy a rousing game of travel bingo? There are different cards to slide in behind the tiles so you can switch from country to city to vehicles to keep it relative to your immediate location.

This kickball is just like the red playground balls you had as a kid--they even smell the same (yes, I smelled them)! The only difference is that this one has the cutest little ladybug on it. Ages 2+. Who wants to play kickball?

We're fully stocked on all the food toys as well. The newest ones are the brownies and the apple pie. Oh! And there's a special occasion cake that's two layers with lots of add ons.

Mom's the Word!

2010-04-27T18:39:00.005-05:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner (Sunday May 9th to be exact) and we have got some great stuff that the mom in your life will love--Is your mom a wine drinker? Then she'll love one of these cork-barreled pen and pencil sets! It's a little reminder of what's waiting for her after work. And they're refillable! (And we sell the refills!) Maybe she's the puzzling type--whether it's crossword puzzles or sudoku, these refillable automatic pencils would be great to help her ace the next puzzle while thinking of what a great kid you turned out to be! They are beautifully boxed for giving and plenty of extra lead and erasers are included.

We have lots of great things for mothers, so come on in and pick up a card and a little something to say thanks for everything, Mom!

Some New Spring Things

2010-04-13T15:19:00.002-05:00

This lovely journal from artist Jill Bliss is not just pretty on the outside, but each entry page is beautifully illustrated too!

This little mushroom and bird postcard is one design (of 3) we have in from Paper Milk. When was the last time you got a postcard from an old friend? Remember how happy you were? For under $2 (the stamp is even cheaper on a postcard) you can make somebody's day!

This pendant necklace is just one of the many great pieces of jewelry we have in from Captured Moments--all handmade with elements from a past life. Both necklaces and earrings are here for your perusal!

A Place to Stash your Cash

2010-03-23T13:49:00.004-05:00

We just got in more of those adorable little coin purses from Blue Q! They're big enough to hold your ID and credit cards, too--perfect for a small bag or no bag day or night. Waterproof recycled plastic is perfect for the beach or pool, too! They'd also be a cute Easter gift--you'd probably want to put a little money in it, though. These are just the new ones, we've got plenty more to choose from, so come in and pick one up!

Some Green Things

2010-03-10T12:37:00.004-06:00

With Saint Patrick's Day nearly here, I stocked the window with lots of green things. Today I realized that Easter will be here in less than three weeks, so I took out the green stuff and am working on an Easter/Spring theme. Here are some of the green-hued things I traded for bunnies, chickens, baskets and eggs.

This purse is made from recycled candy wrappers. It's also available in a multi-colored version where the wrapperiness is more obvious.

Locally handknit mittens and child's hat. Sold separately, and created by two different artists with the same eye for cuteness.

This is a recycled glass vase so it's green in more ways than one!

This goofy little turtle is crocheted over post-consumer bottle caps. I am the consumer. The lady who crochets them lives here in town and walks them over--her carbon footprint is really small, as are her feet.

Another fabulous locally-made thing: this green koi tshirt for kids from Mosh Baby. It's even organic cotton!

More green stuff from Galison Green. . .

And some green frogs from Melissa and Doug--the pull toy frog bounces when you pull him and the Funny Frog Games come with lily pads, frogs, and directions for 10 different games to play with them.

Fly Right Gifts is Closing (for a bit)

2010-02-20T10:27:00.003-06:00

We will be closed Sunday, February 21 - March 3. Please come in before or after that and check out our new fragrances from Pacifica--The French Lilac has got me totally yearning for Springtime!

In time for Valentine's Day: New BlueQ

2010-02-10T13:14:00.008-06:00

The UPS man came by today with some great new things from Blue Q: more hilarious magnets, more recycled plastic totes and some new stuff I thought I'd try!

Since I grew up in Pella, Iowa--home of all things Dutch--I really took a liking to this water bottle with a windmill on it! It's 18/8 stainless steel and printed with non-toxic inks (of course).

Do you know somebody who's been having trouble with getting tickets? Maybe a new car air freshener would help. This one has a friendly police man on it and says police are my favorite people. Mmmm. . .fresh "baked" doughnut scent.

If parking tickets are the problem, perhaps the image of Saint Otto, the patron saint of parking is what's needed! Can't hurt; might help! They're made in the USA and scented with essential oils

VD warning!

2010-01-27T12:55:00.005-06:00

VD, or Valentine's Day as it's commonly known, is quickly approaching! Don't get caught at Jewel buying tired roses at 6pm on February 14th! I have put together some easy grab-n-go gifts for the special gal in your life. I have limited quantities of these, so it's best to shop early to get the most choices. The small reusable gift heart canisters start at $15, and contain some tried and true favorites put together in a special way. I've also got a few gift baskets put together, if you're more traditional. All of them feature a unified theme that will show her that you are thoughtful, caring, and supportive of businesses that are eco-friendly! What chick doesn't dig that?!

There are lots of great options for unique jewelry and hand knit accessories too. And if you are really inclined to buy flowers, we have some great recycled glass vases to put them in! Of course we have a nice selection of Valentine cards too--even some vintage reproduction ones with Valentine hankies tucked in them. And be sure to check out the Valentine-themed dishtowels!

Make Somebody's Day

2010-01-14T12:14:00.003-06:00

It seems a lot of people are really down lately. Maybe they're struggling with crap at work or at school, maybe they're just not where they thought they would be by now, or maybe it's just the weather. Whatever the reason, a little "pick me up" gift could really help them know that you understand and care. These little gifts don't have to be big or expensive, it's just the fact that you're thinking of them that will maybe cheer them up a bit.

We have a selection of small Hide A Note cards. They're too small to mail in their little envelopes (each card is 2.5" square) but they're perfect for tucking into a backpack or briefcase or hiding in the medicine cabinet or a drawer. There are four cards in a pack with subjects like Thanks, Quotes, Kids, Friend, Birthday, Love, Get Well, and Encourage. That's potentially four days of cheer for $1.99.

For a quarter you can get an organic gourmet lollipop. For $1.50 you can get an aromatherapy smencil. For $2.50 you could give them a great scented votive candle. For kids, there are some great Melissa and Doug things for under $5--sticker books, coloring books, and kazoos. Everybody can use lip balm this time of the year (starting at $3.25). You know you love getting a new lip balm. . .

A handwritten note on some cheerful notecards can make a far away (or across the street) friend feel appreciated. Find some inspiration in a new box of notecards for yourself!

New Year's Greetings!

2010-01-05T11:44:00.003-06:00

It is officially 2010, and I'm still wondering what I'm doing owning a business. It sure is fun (for the most part), though. I have to thank you all for your support over the last year and a half--of course I couldn't have done it without you!

What are your resolutions this year? We have plenty of things here at Fly Right to help you if you resolved any of the following:

To be more organized
To eat healthier/cook at home more/bring your lunch to work
To create less waste
To use more recycled/upcycled products
To keep in touch with old friends
To keep the house a little cleaner
To support local businesses and businesses that are environmentally conscious

All of these are worthy goals to achieve, even if you're not into making formal resolutions. As they say, every little bit helps.

I hope that 2010 will be a healthier, happier, more prosperous year for all of us!

New Toys and Treats for the Holidays

2009-12-08T13:46:00.004-06:00

I have been playing around with can tab crafts lately and came up with this cute little wreath ornament. If any of you drink canned beverages and could save the tabs for me, I'd appreciate it. I've also got some bracelets in the works with various colored accents.

I just got done unpacking a big order from Melissa and Doug. I'm pleased that I am one of the first retailers to carry two new toys from them: the cupcake set and the Prince and Princess dress up wooden dolls! The cupcakes combine the baking action of the cookie set (still a favorite) and the candles/decorations of the birthday cake.

EVENT NOTICE

Deck the Depot Festival of Lights Saturday December 12th 5 - 9pm.

Come on down to the Depot District (Windsor/Stanley and Grove Ave.) to enjoy a host of holiday treats--carolers, a petting zoo with reindeer, pictures with Santa Claus, heated trolley rides, sleigh rides and hay rides. Every participating business will have treats and specials for the evening! Here at Fly Right we'll give you 10% off one item and candy and pretzels. This is in conjunction with the Berwyn Park District's Polar Express Ride (which unfortunately sold out in October). Please stop by!

Holiday Shopping Tips

2009-11-23T10:45:00.007-06:00

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!

2009-11-12T13:11:00.003-06:00

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

2009-11-10T18:09:00.003-06:00

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

2009-10-27T15:29:00.005-05:00

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!

2009-10-22T09:45:00.005-05:00

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!

2009-10-06T12:04:00.004-05:00

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!

2009-09-25T15:41:00.007-05:00

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.

Yummy!

2009-09-15T18:33:00.005-05:00

I have been a fan of Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops since I got them to pass out on Halloween last year, so this year (at the suggestion of a friend) I got big bags of them to sell, so you, too can pass out the world's best candy on a stick! I also have single ones for sale if you just want to try them. Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops are made with no high fructose corn syrup and they are:

Gluten Free
Cerified Organic
100% Naturally Flavored
Soy-free
Nut-free
Wheat-free
Dairy-free
Casein-free
GMO-free

Since I am a big fan of eating fruit with chili pepper on it, I decided to give the Yummy Earth Spicy pops a try. All I can say is wow. I have small bags of these for sale, too. Hopefully I won't eat them all before anybody has a chance to try them--if you come in, I'll give you one of mine to try. Chili Lime Lambada or Chili Mango Mambo--they're both outstanding, if you like a little fire to your sweet.

THANKS (that's a big thanks) to everyone who came out for Oktoberfest! It was the biggest and best one yet--I've gotten great feedback from everybody who came out. The organizers did a great job this year!

Fun Fall Festival

2009-09-11T10:13:00.006-05:00

It starts today! Berwyn's 9th annual Oktoberfest will be bigger and better than ever this year! They've added crafters and vendors on Grove by Stanley Avenue, tons more stuff for the kids, and new this year: Dogtoberfest! Of course there will be the carnival, two stages of music, and tons of food. Oh yeah, and it wouldn't be Oktoberfest without beer, would it?

Two bands I have to plug (because they're local and I sell their CDs) are The Boogers--on the kids' stage twice on Saturday, and Hurricane Gumbo at 5 on the Main Stage on Saturday. Yes, Hurricane Gumbo is my husband Jon's band, and they are so much fun for people of all ages! Click on the title of this post for the official website of this awesome event.

We'll be open late--until the last shopper goes home. I'll be sampling 3 flavors of the dip mixes: Heavenly Horseradish, Loaded Potato, and the very spicy Habanero and Green Chile. I hope you can come out and enjoy the great weather and all the fun stuff the Oktoberfest Committee has provided. As always, Oktoberfest is free of charge!

Smencils are in!

2009-09-03T15:06:00.003-05:00

They're here. I have regular Smencils and colored Smencils. You can buy them individually or by the pack of 10 (one of each fragrance). What are Smencils? They're smelly pencils (oops, I mean gourmet scented pencils!) . I extensively polled my customers who are under the age of 20, and they all agreed that Smencils would be a great addition to my inventory.

What's so great about a Smencil?

Smencils save trees because they're not made of wood--they're made of 100% recycled newspaper. They do come in plastic sleeves to help keep the fragrance pure, but it's biodegradable plastic made from corn. Both colored and regular Smencils come in the following fabulous fragrances:

Very Berry
Cinnamon
Bubble Gum
Orange
Cotton Candy
Grape
Black Cherry
Watermelon
Root Beer
Tropical Blast

The Dog Days of Summer

2009-08-04T17:36:00.005-05:00

I keep seeing the cutest dogs out walking lately--probably because it's not too hot this year. I always have my dog water bowl right out in front, so please stop by with your pooch if you're in the neighborhood. I have several canine friends who stop in often (just to visit me, not because I give them treats). Feel free to bring your dog into the store if he/she is not a naughty sort of dog. The little Bostons above are Delilah and Mabel (and Mabel is not possessed by Satan or any other evil spirit, she's just got real shiny eyes). They like to come for the Cruise Nights with their dad, Rick. There is one more Cruise Night this year on August 18th. I'll be open until 9, so come and say hello!

As always, I have natural pet treats from Zuke's for sale (and free samples of the peanut butter flavor mini treats). I also have a zogoflex bones from West Paw, Flea Flee doggy bug spray and Dog Poo from Sunfeather Natural Soaps, and the ever-popular Gulpy water bottles.

I have coupons for a free day at the dog lounge, The Spot, 7324 Madison Street in Forest Park. They're good only for new clients and are a $25 value. This is for Fly Right customers only. The Spot is hosting an adoption event for the Animal Care league on August 29th. I have fliers for that too, so come on by!

One Year!

2009-07-08T13:24:00.002-05:00

Can you believe it? I've been open for one year (actually one year and one week)! It's been an interesting ride--I just went back and reread some of my earliest posts. I have met so many great people and learned so much!

And I have some great news-- I got a new air conditioner put in last week!

Vacation or Staycation--we've got you covered!

2009-06-26T11:29:00.006-05:00

This Summer, it seems people are sticking a little closer to home for their family vacations. We have just what you need to get out of town and possibly see an endangered species--the roadside attraction, weird water tower, or kooky museum. Berwyn author Jerome Pohlen has written a great series of travel guides, and we sell some of the ones closest to home: Oddball Illinois, Oddball Wisconsin, Oddball Iowa, and Oddball Indiana. I made him sign all the copies, so you not only get the book, you get the autograph at no extra charge! The books are divided into territories, so it's easy to look up the areas you'll be driving through. (the author warns us to call ahead and confirm that the attractions are still there--a good example is the Spindle here in Berwyn which is on the cover of Oddball Illinois).

While you're driving around out of town, why not let the locals know where you're from with one of the "Ich Bin Ein Berwyner" shirts--the newest batch is heather gray and comes in S-XXL.

Big fat wallets make driving a pain in the butt for the purseless among us. Come check out the ultra thin/light and super cool Mighty Wallets. They're made from Tyvek--a recyclable paper-thin material that's sturdy, waterproof, and recycled. They come in a variety of prints from tattoo images to shredded paper. Just looking for a small wallet to hold your ID and some cash? We have recycled plastic coin purses with cute images--waterproof and perfect for the pool or a small evening bag. For carrying your pool and beach gear, we have large totes made from recycled plastic as well.

We have some car-friendly toys and games for the young kids, and road trip journals for the older ones. Don't be like me and lose a small Barbie shoe in the seats of the car--it really ticks Dad off. . .

Solar Power!

2009-06-17T11:30:00.004-05:00

We have gotten the cutest monarch butterfly garden stakes! The black-eyed susan's center is a solar panel, and the butterfly flutters when the sun hits it. I've been putting one outside in my planter at the store, and it really does get peoples' attention. It works on both sunny and overcast days. It would be great in a houseplant on a window sill or right in your flower bed.

I Scream You Scream

2009-06-10T12:05:00.003-05:00

It's almost officially Summer, and that means it's time for ice cream! I'm lucky (or unlucky) to be located a half block from a great little ice cream parlor--Over the Rainbow. They serve hand dipped Hershey's ice cream and stock over 35 different flavors. Tom (the owner) laughs at me when I walk down there with my bowl and spoon in hand, but he knows I'm only trying to save the planet (and him a little money). . .

I have several customers who have mentioned to me that they or their kids can't eat dairy, so they have to miss out on one of Summer's best treats. GOOD NEWS! Tom has gotten some soy ice cream! And it's good! He's got two flavors: chocolate and peach cobbler. And it's from a local company called Temptations. They make it with Chicago Soydairy Soymilk, organic evaporated cane juice, and other ingredients. The chocolate flavor is even gluten-free!

Tom has toys for the kids to play with while you're there, including the Melissa and Doug ice cream parlor set. (conveniently available at Fly Right Gifts).

Father's Day early warning!

2009-05-28T14:45:00.004-05:00

We have some great cards and gifts for Father's Day (which is June 21st this year), but you should come and get them now, as the store will be closed June 18-22. I will be spending that time with my own father (and mother) at our family farm's 140th anniversary celebration in South Dakota.

This is a picture of my dad back in his modeling days. . . This is the only picture you will find of my dad wearing a cardigan. Or smoking a pipe.

New Games for Older Kids (and one for little ones)

2009-05-21T11:49:00.005-05:00

I just got in a shipment from Gamewright. These award-winning card games were recommended to me by a customer (hello, Geralyn!) and her two boys (ages 7 & 9). She said the games are great because adults as well as kids enjoy playing them, and some of them can be played in 12 minutes or less. All but one of them are made in the USA.

It was recyling weekend for us!

2009-05-19T09:53:00.002-05:00

I come from a long line of people who save things "just in case", so it was no surprise when we started to clean out our garage this weekend that we found a lot of stuff that we haven't looked at or needed in quite awhile.

There was an old TV (soon to be rendered obsolete by the high definition changeover June 12th, and it doesn't work anyhow). I think my tinkering husband thought that maybe he could fix it. Well, he didn't, so we went online and found out that Best Buy will recycle old televisions. So we threw it in the van.

Also there was an old computer desk that we never liked and hardly used. Threw that in the van, too. We took that to Goodwill. The attendant there saw the TV and said they aren't taking those, but we told him we were taking it to Best Buy and that he should refer people there if they try to donate one. They're within a mile of each other, so I think it wouldn't be a problem for people. We also had a bunch of spent batteries, which Best Buy also took.

Other things we found we listed on Freecycle.com, or gave in response to posts on there. I have found that people will take almost anything you post on that site. That's how I get rid of all my shipping boxes for the store. There's always somebody moving! Later Sunday evening a lady from a local veteran's group called to see if we had any clothing to donate--that they were going to be in our neighborhood today. So there's a bag of clothes on our porch right now. It feels good to get rid of stuff that you're not using! And I'm hoping that there's a karmic payback for not holding on to my "just in case" crap. If I ever need anything, I will post it on Freecycle under wanted.

The 3/50 project

2009-05-15T17:40:00.002-05:00

Click on the following logo to read some important information on shopping local and keeping your favorite businesses around. It all makes sense, and if we all do it, think what an impact it would make on our communities! I have several devoted customers (you know who you are) who I'm sure already know this--in fact it was a customer who brought my attention to this website!

Bloom-n-Zoom time again!

2009-05-07T11:58:00.004-05:00

Saturday May 9th is the Bloom-n-Zoom in the Depot District. There will be plenty of plants and flowers and hanging baskets for all your bloomin' needs. This year it's on Windsor Avenue between Grove and Kenilworth Avenues (a mere stone's throw away from my store). It goes from 8am - 2pm (or until they run out of plants). I'll be open at 9 (maybe before that--we'll see how it goes. . .).

I've got Mother's Day cards (even ones from the dog and the cat), new candles, new jewelry, and all the regular stuff too. I've gotten in all sizes of the Berwyner T-shirts, as well, so come on over and get something for Mom (or yourself)!

Here are a couple of the new candles I just made this morning:

Summer Reading for Grade Schoolers

2009-04-21T12:09:00.006-05:00

This Reading is Cool journal will help kids keep track of what they read over the summer. Besides recording what they read, they can rate the book and do fun exercises about the characters and situations in the stories.

The Roadtrip activity journal will keep kids busy (and possibly quiet) while you're on Summer vacation. It's got car games (eye spy, the license plate game and auto bingo, of course + a few more you make up as you go). There's lots of space for drawing what you see, and awards to make up for your favorite places (and a couple of nasty restroom awards, too). This journal would be good for one or more than one kids on a family vacation.

And now a word from our sponsor (click on the post title to go to their website):

Did you know that Elementary school children who don't have access to books during Summer vacation will lose up to three months of reading skills learned during the school year? Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. (Citizens Aligned to Renew Education for Students) is collecting gently used books for low income kids in grades K-5 from Districts 98 & 100. You can drop off books at Fly Right from now until the end of the school year. This is a great way to help kids in our community and to recycle your child's outgrown books. It will make your kids feel good to know that they are helping others in need, recycling, and making room for new books of their own.

Pets love Spring too!

2009-04-17T14:25:00.003-05:00

Spring is here, and I've been seeing a lot more dogs out and about lately! Today I got shipments of pet supplies from two different vendors, so the pet shelf is full once more.

Back by pupular (sorry) demand are the Hurley bones from West Paw. They're super-tough, they float, are flexible, and they bounce at crazy angles.They're made of Zogoflex (a word they most likely made up) and are made partially from post-industrial waste. They offer a one time replacement if your dog destroys it, and they are happy to take back and recycle the Hurley when your pet is done with it. Zogoflex is FDA approved for use by pets, and they are made in the USA.

When I opened the shipping box, I could smell this organic catnip. It's strong! It's all leaves, finely crushed--no stems or seeds. If your cat likes regular catnip, he'll never go back after trying organic. Even cats who seemed indifferent to catnip before love this stuff.

For all pet owners, these window stickers are vital. Every fireman who has come into my store says that these are noticed immediately and are very helpful to them for knowing to look for your pets in case the unthinkable happens. This is the one product that I sell that I hope never gets used.

We also have a new batch of all natural dog and cat treats from Zuke's, and we still have some of that great-smelling Dog Poo (natural shampoo for dogs) and Flea Flee spray from Sunfeather natural soap company. And of course we still have the Gulpy water bottles. Feel free stop in with your dog--I'll give him or her a treat if you'll let me!

Easter's Almost Here!

2009-04-09T21:45:00.003-05:00

We will be open the usual hours on Good Friday (11-7) and Saturday (12-5) for all your Easter shopping needs. A big thanks goes out to Angel(a) and Susan for helping me put out my best email yet!! What? You're not on the email list? You can sign up on the website at:
www.flyrightgifts.com
I only sent it to the local folks, but if you're out of town and would like a copy, just leave a comment, and I'll send it out to you (also leave your email address if I don't have it already). I'm working on the website and hoping to have a shopping cart feature and products soon. If you see something here on the blog (or in an email) and would like to order it, you can--just call me and we'll work it out. 708-484-7899

Happy Easter!

Easter Treats that Aren't Fattening

2009-03-25T16:24:00.003-05:00

These handknit chickens are made locally by my knitting gal, Jennifer (and I added the felt beaks and combs and waddles). I had several of these guys when I was a kid, some made by my grandmother and one by my great aunt, Rose. They conceal a plastic egg. Every Easter I'd leave my chickens in my basket and the Easter Bunny would come and put something in them--usually a quarter or some jelly beans. Yes, we reused my Easter basket every year, and I still have it! The chickens come in several colors, and come with the plastic egg. All this for only $5!

These are some beautiful handmade fabric corsages that can be used over and over again for all your Spring events--Easter, Mother's Day, Prom, Earth Day. . . There are several Springy color combinations available. These are from LaLaLaurie (not me, but my friend Laurie from Tacoma). She has more corsages availbable on Etsy, seller name LaLaLaurie.

New Arrivals

2009-03-19T12:19:00.002-05:00

This is the newest size in the recycled plastic Blue Q stuff--it would make a perfect make up bag or pencil/art supplies case. I also got new coin purses, totes and shoppers in from them.

These T-shirts are women's sizes, and come in purple, gray, black, and pomegranite. They're American Apparel organic cotton and are made by zendik arts coop.

These lovely handbags are handcrafted from recycled candy wrappers. They're a nice size for an evening out, or if you're a minimalist.

I have three of these bird vases--one blue, one yellow, and one white. They're modeled after an antique bird whistle (remember those? You put the water in and blow through the tail).

More things should be arriving today or tomorrow. Please come by and see it all!

Let's Get Fired Up for Spring Cleaning!

2009-03-17T15:01:00.004-05:00

Spring feels like it's really on its way today! Of course that makes one think of Spring cleaning--ugh. But why do we dread cleaning so much? It can actually be quite a cathartic experience. Maybe one reason we don't get into cleaning more is that we're not into what we're cleaning with! I have plenty of things to inspire your inner white tornado. First off, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day has a new fragrance for their Spring Cleaning Kit--Snap Pea. It's the freshest, greenest scent yet. The kit comes with small versions of all their best-selling products--All Purpose Cleaner, Window Spray, Countertop Spray, and Dish Liquid, all in a handy carrier box. This would be a great starter kit for anyone who hasn't jumped on the green cleaner bandwagon. Or for those of us who just want to try a new fragrance for awhile.

I also have just gotten in a shipment from Twist--100% biodegradable cleaning tools. I have the following in stock and ready for your cleaning pleasure:
Sponge cloths--these can take the place of paper towels in your kitchen and bathroom. They combine the absorbency of a sponge with the size and convenience of a paper towel. Think of the money (and garbage) you'll save if you cut down on your paper towel usage! And these babies can go in your dishwasher to clean and freshen them when they start looking tired. I have them in white, not the colors pictured, because what says clean better than white?

These are the "naked sponges". Just like it says--no colors, just a plain old hearty sponge. These can also be refreshed in the dishwasher (or microwave--directions are on the package).

This little cutie is the dish dumpling. It's the perfect size for washing dishes and glasses, and its knitted agave exterior is great for scouring the tough stuff.

And I may have saved the best for last--the loofah sponge. It's a naked sponge with one side that's pure power for scrubbing. I have used mine a lot, and it looks brand new! Won't scratch anything that I've tried it on (nonstick pans, corian countertops, bathtubs, etc.). I used to scrub my face with a loofah, so I'm pretty sure it won't scratch ANYTHING, but it's great for getting the 3D junk off.

Baby and Children's Bath Products Warning

2009-03-12T09:56:00.004-05:00

Awhile back (February 11) I posted some pictures and information about a new line of organic bath products I'm carrying. Well, I'm glad I got them, because a customer of mine just sent me a link to a disturbing article from safecostmetics.org about all the toxic chemicals that are found in common kids' bath products. Please check out the article by clicking on the title of this post, and be aware of what is in your child's (and your own) products. Skin is the biggest organ your body has, and as we know, it easily absorbs whatever you put on it. I really don't like fear-based marketing, but in this case, I think it's worth mentioning.

Eco-Friendly Mexican Resort *****

2009-03-06T13:06:00.009-06:00

Okay, we have returned safely from our trip, and now I can share some details. . . We decided to stay at the Gran Bahia Principe Tulum. It's a five star all-inclusive luxury resort that is eco-friendly. The place is gorgeous, the food delicious, the staff friendly and the whole operation is so well run that it's amazing! I'll give you the "green" scoop on things:

All the lights in our room were CFLs. They have the (now more common) put your towel on the floor if you want a new one, or hang it up if you want to use it again. The hot water is solar-heated. The public restroom lights are on motion sensors so they come on when you enter and go off when you leave (except the one by the 24 hour snack bar--that one goes off while you're still doing your business. Jon said he could reset it if he had a screw driver and a ladder, so they've probably fixed it by now--I wouldn't let him do it himself). The outdoor paths are lit with solar-powered lights. All the water there is filtered, so you don't have to drink bottled water, but if you do want to, they provide it and recycle the bottles. There were recycling garbage cans readily available on the beach and in the garden areas. I think most of the regular trash cans were for non-organic waste, so it seems like they probably separate that, too.

They have three different eco-tours you can take of their nature preservation areas. We did the jungle tour. You ride bikes about 2km to the entrance then walk through the jungle with a Mayan guide who explains the medicinal properties of the plants and the ecosystem of the jungle, and there were two lookout towers you could climb to see an overview of the jungle. The path was narrow and rocky and covered with tree roots, so there was a lot of stopping to look up because you couldn't walk and look up at the same time. Above: Our Mayan Jungle guide, Casmiro

Below: Jon and I on the bikes at the entrance to the jungle paths.

Within the jungle preserve there is a reproduction of a typical Mayan home. Most people these days have more permanent structures in which to live, but Casmiro said that he lived in one like this when he was a small child.

They cooked over wood fires on ceramic surfaces, drank and ate from dishes made of gourds, and they even had "sippy cups" for the small children made of a gourd with a small hole in the top. Wow. Biodegradable sippy cups!

One of the other eco tours you could take was a snorkeling one at the huge coral reef at the resort. They are careful not to disturb the reef at all, and ask that you remain at least 1.5 meters away from the reef itself. They also ask that you wear biodegradable natural sunscreen if you must wear any--I never thought about how sunscreen floating on the water would interfere with the photosynthesis of the sea life, but it makes sense.

It seems this resort has everything that all the other luxury places nearby have, but with an eco-friendly aspect. There were men whose job it was to pick up all the rocks that wash up on the beach at night, so the sand was soft and smooth. They carried them in a large bag over to the garden areas, where they laid them in with the landscaping. There were fences made with rocks and broken coral between the pool and beach areas. You were asked not to feed the fish, birds, or lizards because it would upset their natural habits and it could make them sick. There were no mosquitoes because of this--that's what some of the critters eat.

Gran Bahia Principe is an awesome start toward a worldwide green movement. I was very impressed with Mexico as a whole and their efforts to preserve their beautiful nature. Even the signs along the roads warned not to throw litter from your car, etc. The Bahia Principe group has lots of resorts--look into staying at one (or one like it) on your next vacation. It probably won't completely offset your carbon emissions from the flight, but it's a big step in the right direction. And I'm telling you, the food was good!

Store Closing for a week

2009-02-19T21:01:00.003-06:00

While the weather here is still quite chilly, I will be taking off for a short vacation to Mexico. The store will be closed February 26 - March 4. I should be back open on the 5th, barring any 3rd degree sunburns or Montezuma's Revenge. . .

Look what's new!

2009-02-13T13:46:00.006-06:00

Get ready for Spring (I know it seems like a long shot at this point, but you should be prepared). These Western print umbrellas just came in from Moda. Also just in are this new tablecloth and these dishtowel sets--as always they are packaged in those cute rick-rack trimmed envelopes made of the same fabric. Study geography while you eat, and plan your next vacation around the kitchen table.

And for your jotting pleasure: these refillable journals made from old board games. A great gift for your game night host or hostess! Keeping score has never been so stylish.

Organic Baths for Baby & You!

2009-02-11T15:49:00.004-06:00

This is a luxurious natural and organic product line that includes:

bubble bath
shampoo/body wash
conditioner/detangler
face and body moisturizer (unscented)
baby oil
diaper cream
silky dusting powder
Ah-choo chest rub with eucalyptus
aromatherapy calming spray
PU all purpose deoderizer
organic soothing stick--deep moisturizer for lips, cheeks, and extra dry skin
travel sets with shampoo, conditioner, calming spray, and face/body lotion

Most products are available in either Lavender/Chamomile or Vanilla/Tangerine

Valentine Gifts for Kids

2009-02-03T17:41:00.005-06:00

This is a bead set with three cords and over 70 beads--for ages 4+. The cords have aglets, so no needle necessary!

I have one of these fold and go doll houses left--this particular one has been discontinued by Melissa and Doug, so if you want it, come and get it! Comes complete with dolls and furniture as shown. Child not included.

This racing ramp is super cool. Unlike other similar ones, this one has two seperate starting gates to make the race fair to both players. Can also be used by one kid, as shown in the picture.

For young ladies (at least 18 months old) this Pretty Purse Fill and Spill comes with everything a gal on the go needs--cell phone, wallet full of money, keys, and a compact with powder puff and mirror. As the name implies, it's fun to fill it and spill it over and over and over again. I also have Fill and Spills in sports and tools, but they don't have hearts on them, so I didn't include them in the pictures--still appropriate for a Valentine's gift, though.

More Jewelry!

2009-01-29T10:17:00.004-06:00

All I can say about this jewelry from [wired] is wow! It is handmade from recycled and surplus industrial and commercial materials by a Chicago artist who is currently living in St. Martin and setting up a recycling program there. It's really edgy, but beautiful, too. I have many styles from which to choose--even a few pieces for men.

This cuff bracelet from is made from old electronics resistors (from the 1950s) and surplus steel wire!
These Dangling beauties are made from surplus magnet wire and scrap neoprene--a red wire necklace with the same dangles is also availbale.
I have several styles of these earrings made from surplus rubber and/or Effen vodka labels. One pair even has the Effen barcode stripes on it.

Mittens and Hankies and Cards--Oh My!

2009-01-28T09:11:00.009-06:00

It's almost Valentine's Day--you can tell because I've changed the Lite Brite picture. . .

If your gal wants jewelry for Valentine's Day we have a lot to choose from. These earrings are from Dunitz & Co., a fair-trade certified company out of Hollywood, California. There are rings, bracelets and necklaces from them too--come in and check them out!

Moda Home has done it again--another set of super cute dish towels in a fabric envelope . These have rick rack trim, so that makes them even cuter in my book!

These hand crocheted hearts would look so cute on a gift box for your sweetheart!
These are the sweetest little Valentine's Day hanky cards! They're going fast, so if you want one, come and get it soon. Each card has a red and white hanky tucked inside.
Hand knit mittens for kids have just come in! Okay, that means that the knitting lady walked them over here, but they're new and cute!

I hope to see you soon! Remember: you can always have me order things for you from Melissa and Doug (and many of my other vendors). Save yourself the shipping cost!

The Birds

2009-01-13T17:00:00.003-06:00

I'm not big on birds, as some of you may know, but I couldn't resist snagging one of the soda bottle bird feeders from the store. We have cats. The cats are bored this time of year--they just lie on the bed and look out the back window for hours. The bunnies and squirrels that normally amuse them are on the down-low in the winter. So I thought I'd try a bird feeder. Now they just watch for the birdies. It took a couple of days for the birds to find the feeder, but now that they have, the seed has been going down about an inch a day. I think that Shirley (the cat in the pictures) has a new hobby. Great use for an old soda bottle, too! Luckily, the squirrels haven't discovered the bird feeder yet, but if they do, they'll have a hard time trying to get on it! It's hanging from a curved metal awning without so much as a tree branch nearby.

Marge gets a wig!

2009-01-06T14:31:00.006-06:00

Okay, the post isn't really about Marge's new wig, but it's an exciting thing nonetheless. Here's Marge modeling her new 'do and one of the newest items in the store--the handknit neckerchief. They're so cute and come in a variety of colors. They're all really soft and seem like they'd be very comfortable indoors as well as out.

I know I'm lagging behind on this, but I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions. Be greener, be cleaner, be more organized. . .these are the top 3 for me. I'm hoping that if I get some new things to spark this, it will help me succeed. The greener isn't so much a thing of getting things to help me (although a wrap-n-mat, some produce bags and reusable totes would be helpful if you have the same resolution). The cleaner part is easy with all the Mrs. Meyer's and Howard Naturals products I have here. If this is your resolution I can help you pick out a few starter products (and these kill the first resolution AND the second one!). As for being more organized, all I can say is that the pretty file folders really do make you want to file stuff. And keeping a running list of things to do might help. . . The weekly organizer is a cute and nice compact way to keep track of stuff--there's a weekly calendar, an accordion file, and some sticky notes to keep you motivated.

Raffle Winners!

2009-01-03T11:09:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Clarissa Novales and Kathy Houser--they're the winners of the $25 gift certificates! Thanks to all of you who signed up for the mailing list and got entered in the drawing.

Gifting Success!

2008-12-28T09:06:00.004-06:00

Those of you who have come in and looked at the Lauri Toys Mosaic sets may have heard me say that I gave one to my cousin Gus for his 5th birthday. Well, here's a picture of Gus with one of his completed projects. He looks so proud. . .

We're going to Iowa (if we can get out of here--the basement has been "leaking" a bit) today and will be back to be open on Wednesday from 12-5 for all your host/hostess gift needs for the big New Years Eve parties you're going to. If the weather gets bad, you might want to call the store before venturing out. 708-484-7899.

HUGE thanks to all of you who helped make December our best month ever! I will be posting the raffle winners on New Years Day--good luck to all who entered!

Holiday Schedule

2008-12-19T14:17:00.002-06:00

The store will be open regular business hours (Tuesday-Friday 11-7, Saturday 12-5). I would be happy to stay open later/come in on Sunday or Monday if anybody wants me to--please call the store 708-484-7899 to make arrangements. My cell # is 773-213-9494, if I'm not at the store. I live nearby and it's not a big deal to come over to Fly Right to let you shop at your convenience.

I'll be closed on Christmas Day, December 25th. I'll be open the 26th and 27th--then I'm going to close for a few days. I'll post exact dates once they're confirmed.

Here's wishing you all a Happy Christmakwanzikkah!

Giving Etsy a Run for their Money

2008-12-17T16:19:00.006-06:00

For those of you who don't know, Etsy is a website with fabulous handmade things for sale. It's like a giant, time-sucking craft fair with all kinds of handcrafted goodies. I used to sell my candles and soaps on there, and many of my artists sell their wares there too. Think of Fly Right as Etsy without paying the shipping and handling!
Handmade in Chicago, Zoe's bows are great for little girls with little hair. They stay in really well, thanks to a super grip clip.

Atomic Mama bibs were handmade here in Berwyn and feature a terrycloth backing and an industrial-strength snap that's easy for parents, but hard for kids to undo.

These earrings from (wired) are handmade in Chicago out of old Effen Vodka labels (they're spongey rubbery). Below is some of their jewelry made from surplus and recycled industrial materials--the red is magnet wire. How attractive!

You should also check out (wired)'s stuff made from vintage electronic resistors--hard to photograph, but easy to love!

These are some hand-crocheted hanging vases made from old glass cigar tubes. A lady named Barbara here in town makes these, and I think they're just adorable! Great for a couple of stems of flowers, or for rooting plants.

Kraptacular Krafts candles made from vintage glassware--these are a few of the holiday ones I have left. Lightly scented with fig or pine, they're great for hostess or Christmas gifts or a little something for yourself. . .

Locally handmade Olive Owl soaps and lip balms make great stocking stuffers!

Handknit Christmas ornaments from local resident Jennifer Dale--bells or wreaths in a variety of colors. These are great tied on top of packages as a little something extra!

Also from Jennifer are these wonderful fingerless mitts--they're so cute and practical. I hate wearing gloves or mittens, but these will keep you warm while still allowing you to find your keys in your pocket. There are also a few beautiful scarves that she made. Mitts come in wool or non-wool options. I've had a lot of people say they would wear these indoors--great for the chilly office or while reading in bed.

Thanks to everyone who braved the nasty weather last Saturday for the Festival of Lights--cold and rainy, but it looked like people were having fun.

Gifts for people who cook (and who doesn't cook?!)

2008-12-12T16:49:00.004-06:00

If you cook, you've got dishes to wash. Mrs. Meyer's makes both traditional dish soap, and dishwasher soap. Both are natural, hard working, and they smell great (kinda like me!).

After you wash the dishes, you need to dry them. I have two different sets of Christmas-themed dish towels: four towels folded neatly into a cute fabric bag. Display them or use them--they'll put a festive spin on your kitchen decor. These are a great host/hostess gift for those holiday parties you'll be attending.

I have both holiday and all-season dip chillers now. Just put ice in the bottom part, and your dip stays cool throughout the whole party (or movie, or whatever). Both come in 1 and 2 cup sizes. I just got in a fresh order of dip mix--a great stocking stuffer for anybody--even those who don't cook (you need to stir, and that's about it).

The handmade cutting boards and wine holders are a perfect gift for that special cook in your life. Handcrafted in Berwyn by a Berwyn artist, Nevin Peters. We also have the perfect conditioner for them--Howard Naturals' Butcher Block Conditioner. It's unscented (unlike their other fabulous woodcare products), all natural, and very moisturizing to keep your cutting boards from drying out (as comes with washing). Resting atop these boards is some Chef's hand cream from Sunfeather Natural Soaps.

Gifts for the traveler in your life

2008-12-06T15:40:00.004-06:00

Sometimes you need prints to show off your fun vacation--a 4x6" photo album with vintage camera look to it is just the thing!

These 100% recycled plastic totes and shoulder bags pack flat, but hold a lot on your way home! Both will easily fit in the carry-on box at the airport.

These accordion file folios are perfect for holding coupons, tickets, receipts, etc. and they have a notepad and a loop for your pen.

Got a black suitcase? So does everybody else, it seems. These TyVek luggage tags are just the ticket to set yours apart from the sea of others! They're cute, clever, and funny and are made of virtually indestructable material that is not only recycled, but also recyclable! There are 10 of them per package, so even your carry-on can have one.

More toys than you can shake a stick at!

2008-12-04T13:54:00.005-06:00

We have a variety of cute Christmas/Winter themed toys for kids, including an adorable Advent calendar that you can use year after year. It's like the sticker play scenes, only you add a new sticker to the North Pole scene every day until Dec. 24th, then you add Santa in his sleigh. I remember how excited I used to get when it was time to do the next thing on the Advent Calendar, but unlike the paper ones, this one can be used over again every year. The "stickers" are actually like Colorforms, repositionable vinyl figures of sledders, skaters, snowmen, etc.

Check out this City Ramp racing Set! It's one of those things you can do over and over again and never get bored watching those little cars zooming down the ramps!

This has been on backorder (along with the cookies and grill set) for months! The Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Parlor set with magnetic scoops of ice cream and cones. They have one you can play with down at Over the Rainbow, so if your kids would like to take if for a test drive, see Tom.

The Slice and Bake Cookie Set from Melissa and Doug is brand new, and it looks fun. Slice 'em, bake 'em, and top 'em--just don't eat 'em. Even comes with a cute spatula and oven mitt. The grill set allows you to make kabobs and even comes with wooden barbeque tongs. The box looks like a grill, so you can pretend it's a little kiddie hibachi! The veggies and steak-like things are velcro-able, so you get to slice them apart with the included wooden knife. Just don't use real fire, and you're set!

We're gearing up for the Deck the Depot Festival of Lights on December 13th. Santa's coming, and some real reindeer too (you can pet them and everything!). Strolling carolers, and a fun contest sponsored by all of us merchants (you should see the prizes we've put together!). The contest is a punch card--just visit all the participating stores, get your card punched, and then fill out your information and drop it in the raffle box--we have 2 prize baskets with gift certificates, books, wine, Christmas decorations and more for the lucky winners. You have to have all your punches, though, or we'll recycle your entry like last week's newspaper. You have to be 21, also.

Christmas Merchandise for All!

2008-11-25T17:49:00.005-06:00

Just the sweetest little gift cards ever--vintage repro in a paper envelope--20 for $5.50!

Time to think about sending out Christmas cards! We have a small selection of singles (some new, some vintage, and some local artist-made), as well as boxed sets.

Great new stuff from Pacifica--gift sets with a small body butter, a candle, matches, and a solid perfume--for only $15! Available in Avalon Juniper (shown) or Mediterranean Fig scents. Also some great new candles for the holidays!

Who doesn't love Rudolph? Cute Rudy puzzles and Christmas cards are here! We've also got Christmas themed lace up cards and sticker play scenes. There are lots of great Christmas linens to check out, too! We'll be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but Friday and Saturday we're open our regular hours--I'll be serving refreshments and playing Christmas muzak all day both days.

More Gift Wrap ideas

2008-11-18T17:29:00.004-06:00

These are some gift wrapping ideas you can do with cloth--either fabric yardage or premade things (I used a hanky for the CD and cloth napkins for the others). Once again, use a reusable ribbon or string, if possible. Won't it be nice to have a Christmas where you don't have a whole garbage bag full of torn wrapping paper at the end of the day?

More Green Gift Wrap ideas

2008-11-14T14:15:00.005-06:00

Why not use a decorative paper bag from a store for wrapping paper? This one is from here!

Many products come packaged in clear plastic boxes (this one had a Mudlark soap/lotion/candle gift set in it). You can peel off any stickers and put a gift wrapped in tissue paper, shredded paper, or raffia inside. Add a simple reusable ribbon plus an image from a used greeting card, and you have a display-worthy gift!

You can make your own holiday wrap (especially for small items like gift cards) out of kraft paper (I get lots of stuff packed in it) and a rubber stamp. Just color it with marker or colored pencil and it looks quite festive. If you need any kraft paper, just ask me for some. You can usually iron out the wrinkles and it's fine.

Handmade Book Journals

2008-11-12T17:10:00.003-06:00

Our trip to Iowa was nice--always good to see the family. My purpose was twofold--see the 'rents, and pick up some journals to sell in the store. The sister of a family friend of ours (the aforementioned Milly who stopped by the store one day and dropped off some totes she had made) makes some incredible journals out of used hardcover books. She helps with her local charity (Planned Parenthood) book drive and sale, and when she finds books that are incomplete or missing pages, she takes them and makes these darling notebooks out of them! She lines them with lovely paper stock (they all have at least one pocket on the left inside cover) and inserts a notepad. I've been emailing her for months trying to figure out what kind of books I'd want--I described myself and the store to her, and I must say, she hit the nail on the head! Here are some photos:

Green Holiday Gift Wrapping

2008-11-08T15:19:00.011-06:00

The store will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th. Regular hours will start back up on the 12th. Gotta go home and see the folks before the big holiday rush!

Well, I've been wrapping fake gifts for my window display, and I've come up with some good ideas for wrapping things without causing too much waste. First of all, use things like satin and tulle ribbons that you can use over and over again. Everything I used on these (as far as ribbons go) are ones I kept off of gifts I have received or that I bought at the thrift store in huge bags for a buck.

I think it's better to get one roll (or sheet) of wrapping paper that you love, and use it sparingly than to buy a whole package of rolls of cheap, crappy wrapping paper. The one kind of gift wrap I'm selling this season is called "Stranger Manger" and it's from Pop Ink (a division of the French Paper Company--which has been using 100% hydro-electrical power since 1922). Here are some delightful pictures of the gifts I wrapped using their paper as an accent (the underpaper--is that a word?--is just paper that was used as packing material in shipments I've received:

I'll do some more and share them with you later!

Treats for kids and adults!

2008-10-30T15:56:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is finally Halloween! I'm ready for the trick or treaters (as you know). The treats for adults will come on Tuesday November 4th. Bring in your voting receipt and receive 15% off anything you buy. Shop early, shop often!

Fly Right Gifts will be the official outlet of Berwyn C.A.R.E.S.'s T-shirts and totebags. The shirts are in kids' sizes small-large. The proceeds from the sale of these things goes directly to fund teacher grants for Berwyn Public Schools. Click on the title of this post to link to Berwyn C.A.R.E.S.

Fly Right Gifts on Apartment Therapy

2008-10-23T17:49:00.002-05:00

One of my customers, Alex, writes for Apartment Therapy (a wonderful resource for all kinds of design/living ideas). She did a piece on the store today! You can link to the article by clicking on the title of this post. While you're there, look around at all the great stuff--they even have a green section! So many great concepts in one place!

They're Here!

2008-10-16T21:19:00.002-05:00

I sold out of the first batch very quickly, and I'm pleased to announce that the Berwyner T-shirts have arrived! This time we have them in adult sizes small-XXL. I told you that we'd have them in plenty of time for the holidays. . .

Another addition to the Halloween aisle (okay, I know it's not really an aisle, but that just sounded good) are these adorable ghost pins made by a young entrepreneur in the Depot District. He's 11, and he needs to replace the deck of his skateboard, so he has to raise some cash for the cause. Edible jewelry. I love it, and so will you (or the kid on your extra special treat list).

Candy!

2008-10-15T16:48:00.004-05:00

I just got my shipment of Yummy Earth Organic lollipops today. Of course, for quality control purposes I am "testing" one right now. I ordered them from The Greater Green, and they came in a few short days. This one is Mango Tango flavor. It truly lives up to its name, Yummy! I will be handing them out for trick or treat at the store. I'll stick with the Ferrara Pan Candy plan for home. Maybe I'll bring the leftover Yummies home, but they're going to be hard to part with--they really are that good. You can order your own pops from The Greater Green by clicking on the title of this post. They also have an awesome selection of other green goods, so don't say I didn't warn you. . .

PETA might have some issues with this. . .

2008-10-13T16:29:00.003-05:00

Please don't hate me because I did this. I do it every year, and nothing bad has come from it. I put my cats in Halloween costumes. Laverne DeClawsio would like you, the readers of this blog, to help her decided which costume to wear this year. Her sister Shirley Feline has decided to wear whichever one Laverne rejects. Please leave your votes in the comment section. Thanks!

"I'm thinkin' Wendy's"

OR
"What are ya'? Chicken?"

Halloween merchandise & a new book

2008-10-05T15:40:00.004-05:00

Well, I think I have enough Halloween stuff in my store now. Who am I kidding, there's never enough Halloween stuff. . . The landlord was in on Saturday, and he panicked when he saw spiders and rats--that is, until he realized they were fake. * tee hee *

I just got copies of the book Celebrate Green. It's a great guide for ways to celebrate holidays with a lighter impact (or no impact) on the environment. There are tips ranging from decorating and entertaining to gift-giving, and lots more. I was pleased that many of the gifts they mention in the book are things that I carry in the store! They donate a portion of the proceeds from the book to charities, too (Treeswing and Healthy Child Healthy World). And of course it's printed on recycled paper! To read more about it, click the title of this post!

The bottle cap spider was a little trickier than I thought it would be. I was struggling with the legs. The wire I was trying to use was really flimsy and I couldn't figure out how to attach it to the body or wrap it with the electrical tape. Well, Hubby Jon came to the shop yesterday to install my security cameras, and he had all these little scraps of black plastic-coated cable. Just the perfect bendable black legs for my little spider!

You may be asking what's so green about security cameras? Well, they are cameras Jon salvaged from jobs--he replaces the old ones with newer ones, and they expect him to get rid of the old ones for them. Well, he did. And since most of his jobs are in big places, he always has shortish runs of cable leftover that are too short to use on those big jobs. The computer I have them hooked up to Jon's old one that he held onto, "just in case". I don't really know if I NEED security cameras, but it's nice that I can see what's going on in front when I'm in back. And I'm really interested in watching how people shop in the store--where do they look? What do they overlook? I think it will help me design better displays. And maybe seeing myself on camera all the time will make me dress a little better, lose some weight, and comb my hair (or at least I'll stand up straighter!). And, since crime is up all over due in part to the economy, it makes us feel a little safer.

One last thing--October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fly Right Gifts and Audrey Gerdt have teamed up to raise money for this worthy cause. Audrey has made some pretty bracelets featuring a small dangle with the pink ribbon symbol on them. We are selling them for $15 each, and 100% of the money goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

It's begining to look a lot like Halloween!

2008-09-29T22:02:00.005-05:00

I am making some Halloween decorations for the store this week. I was on a quest today to find some good, fake spiders for a wreath I'm doing. This is proving harder than I thought, so I'll try to make some out of plastic soda bottle lids and electrical tape. Lord knows we have enough of both of those things in our house! My quest lead me to many places I rarely visit--both -Marts (K-and Wal-), Michael's (okay, not THAT rare for me), and a Halloween Store that has popped up where Wickes Furniture was. All that was was a giant version of Kmart's Halloween aisle--complete with K's on the price tags. But no spiders that were small enough to fit on a wreath! I'll let you know how my homemade spiders come out.

I also thought about what I was going to give out to trick or treaters this year. It needs to be "green" in some way. So I searched out organic Halloween candy. Not in my budget. Small toys? All made in China. What's a girl to do??? Then I remembered that there is a candy factory in nearby Forest Park--the Ferrara Pan Candy Company. Makers of Lemonheads, Red Hots, Boston Baked Beans, etc. They have an outlet store within the factory, and they said they'd soon be getting Halloween size boxes in mixed bags. That's about as green as I can afford to get, so I'm going to. I have to get the scoop on whether or not kids trick or treat in the Depot District. I would assume that some of my "regulars" will come by. I'm sure everyone knows I love Halloween, and they will assume I'll have treats. So I will!

***Corny Joke Warning***

Why did the Vampire subscribe to the Wall Street Journal?
He heard it had great circulation...

Freecycle Rules!

2008-09-25T10:13:00.002-05:00

About 4 weeks ago, I put an ad on Freecycle that I had moving and storage boxes up for grabs. I said it was ongoing, and people are still contacting me about them. I'm so glad I thought to do that! Before I was open, I'd just put a sign in the window, and people would stop and get them, but now that I have a real window display, I didn't want to ruin it with my hand-rendered cardboard sign. It's kind of sad, because I think most of the people who are getting them are helping their parents move out of the family home (or at least their parents' stuff--I think some have passed away). But at least I can help them out in this small way. I do have a realtor friend, Stacey, who has gotten some for her clients who are selling their homes and need to start packing. And a few customers have taken some to use to donate their old toys and stuff to make room for new ones (from Fly Right Gifts, of course!).

A lot of my products comes wrapped in huge sheets of kraft paper. Yesterday I ironed it all and I'm taking it down to the daycare center for them to use to cover tables when they do art projects--or the kids could lay on the floor and make giant drawings. I knew I was hoarding it for a reason! And my storage room is going to look and function so much better once I get this stuff out of there!

Oktoberfest Success!

2008-09-21T13:50:00.004-05:00

This was the scarecrow that the kids from Prairie Oak school made for Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. She's the old lady who swallowed a fly (I don't know why she swallowed a fly, perhaps she'll die)! I had the pleasure of hosting her right in front of the store all weekend. In the background is the Cuckoo Haus (Germanic version of a fun house). I didn't venture in there--I was too busy.

Wow. That's all I can say about Oktoberfest in Berwyn. They really did it up right! I was really proud when a very young girl came into my store and bought a small, but relatively expensive stuffed panda (made of soybeans and kapoc, thus the added cost) with her carnival money from her parents. He was only slightly larger than the smallest carnival game prize animals, but oh so soft and eco-friendly! And way cuter, too. I'm sure all those cheapie prizes will end up in a landfill soon. The panda probably won't, but if he does, at least he's biodegradable.

I'm so glad that I stayed open until 11pm both Friday and Saturday nights--tons of new people came in, and many bought stuff. It was great exposure for the store, since we were right along the carnival midway. I met so many new people and my head is swimming with names and information! I got to see a lot of previous customers, and acquired a lot of new ones as well. The feedback I got was overwhelmingly positive. Now I feel really great about taking this giant step. I can't believe how many people actually bought stuff. . .they had to carry it around with them all night! I think I'll be seeing lots of them again, too.

At Angel-a's urging, I put out the Halloween merchandise early. I'm so glad I did. I didn't sell a lot over the weekend, but I have a feeling people will be back for it soon! And it's just so darn cute! I did sell a lot of the paper decorations that I had--vintage reproduction cutouts, still made by Beistle.

I'll be writing about ways to "green" up your Halloween in upcoming blogs. Thanks to everyone who came to Oktoberfest, and especially those who stopped by to check out the store!

Rain, rain, go away! (in other words, take a hike, Ike!)

2008-09-15T20:57:00.007-05:00

Well, for the past few days we've been having rain, and plenty of it! Chicagoland broke the previous record for inches of rain this weekend. There has been lots of flooding in the area, and I know of many people who had water in their basements--I'm one of them. For us, it was coming in through the walls, and in a couple of places it was seeping up through the basement floor tiles. And through the bricks in the fireplace. Luckily, we noticed it before it got deep, and I set to work with my handy shop vac and tons of towels. Of course Jon was out of town until Sunday afternoon, so I was on my own until then.

The rain barrel was overflowing right away, and since it's right next to the house, I had to reset the downspout to go back into the storm sewer. Once we get the water level down a bit in there, I'll put the down spout back to the barrel. It really helps that we connected it with a flexible "hose" that was pretty easy to maneuver back towards the sewer downspout.

The pond that had formed in our back yard is still sinking into the ground (although it stopped raining yesterday) and thus, into one wall crack in our basement. The crack is behind the built-in work bench, so it was hard to get to. When Jon got home, his engineering brain set in and he came up with a way to corral the water into a bucket using a cheap plastic dust pan that he screwed to a lower shelf board and braced against the wall--the water just slid down through the handle and into a bucket! The bucket needed to be emptied about every half hour, so I put a large, flat plastic box under it so we could get a few hours' sleep. It would be impossible to empty it, due to the shelf, but that's where the shop vac comes in. The leaks were on all four sides of the house, so I got a pretty good workout running between the puddles and dumping 10 gallons of water at a time down the basement sink. Not to mention hauling all the boxes that had gotten wet out to the garage to dry out before recycling them. I used to hoard boxes (ya' never know when you'll need a good box!), but now that I have the store, I have a steady supply of boxes--which I give away to anyone who needs them.

So now, I'm thinking I need to disinfect the whole basement, since I'm really allergic to mildew and mold. But what can I use that isn't chemical? Well, we all know that vinegar is a darn good cleaner/disinfectant, but do I want my basement to smell like vinegar? So I hit the internet good and hard today, and found several recipes for natural disinfectants. One said to add about 10 drops of essential oil to white distilled vinegar and that should take care of the smell. Another one said to use 1/2 teaspoon of tea tree oil & 2 cups of water--spray on and wipe off. The most intriguing, and complicated one was this:
2 cups water
1/4 cup vodka
1/4 tsp. tea tree oil
1/4 tsp. lime essential oil
1/4 tsp. grapefruit essential oil

I started to calculate the cost on that one (essential oils are kind of pricey) and then a searched for a pre-made natural disinfectant. There's one on the market called "Benefect" that is sold online at www.householdtraditions.com. It's $40 for one gallon. Back to the recipe. . .

I think I'll just use straight vinegar and follow it up with a good mopping with Mrs. Meyer's all purpose cleaner. It smells so good, that I'm sure the vinegar smell will disappear. And Aldi has vinegar for $.69.

Septemberfest

2008-09-11T20:56:00.005-05:00

The weather has been feeling a bit Fall-ish lately, and for that I am thankful. Things around the shop have been a little slow recently, which I guess is to be expected since everyone just spent all their money on school supplies and new shoes for the kiddies. I'm taking this time to gear up for the upcoming holiday, and by that I mean Halloween! I just ordered some adorable Halloween tablecloths, treat bags, place mats, and dish towels! I also got a nice Fall tablecloth with autumn leaves on it. I also have a really cute kit to make witch hand puppets, and a magnetic monster maker (you pick a background and then mix-n-match your monster's head, torso and legs--it's killing me to not have one for my own personal enjoyment!). I'm trying not to go too overboard, as I understand not everyone is as excited about Halloween as I am. I hope I get some trick or treaters at the store, and I hope I get home in time to see some of the ones there, too! My dear hubby had better have that afternoon off so he can man the fog machine and have the treats ready!

I have some cute new BlueQ bags that just came in--all made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. I've got 2 styles of shoulder bags, shopper totes, and small totes, and of course the coin purses (4 styles in all now). I've also replenished the water bottle selection, and I now have the very PC and cool stainless steel ones in addition to the cute plastic ones. I've got a couple of other orders due soon--the soda bottle birdfeeder kit, wooden train whistle, and more fun Pacifica stuff (if you like gin and tonics, you'll love their newest Juniper stuff).

I'm gearing up to redo the store window soon--we have the big Depot District Oktoberfest coming up the 19th and 20th. That should give me some good exposure--it's right out in front! There will be food vendors, bands, games, activities for the kids, and of course beer. I decided I'll stay open late-ish (if there's any interest). It should be fun, so if you're in the neighborhood stop by! I'm still not sure what to do with the window--probably just a general Fall thing that will easily morph into a Halloween spooktacular. I'm practically sitting on my hands to keep from spookin' the place up too early! I've got some great Halloween rubber stamps to play with in the meanwhile.

Fly Right reviewed on Yelp.com!

2008-09-06T15:55:00.003-05:00

I have been Yelping about other businesses for about a year now. Now that I have my own store (with its first Yelp review)I can see how valuable customer input is. Hopefully all my reviews will be five stars--I try hard to make people's shopping experiences postive. The girl who reviewed me is a fellow Berwynite. We had reviewed several of the same businesses, and we share a favorite menu item in our favorite Mexican restaurant. We met for the first time when she came into the store. Thanks, Clarissa J. for the nice review!

I'm back!

2008-09-02T21:31:00.003-05:00

What a great trip we had! It's always good to be home, though, even when it means washing the sand and river goo out of everything you brought. The weather was perfect--warm and sunny during the day, and cold enough to make you love the campfire at night. Alex and Joanna from The Greater Green were there and they brought an organic watermelon from their garden that was the best I've ever tasted. We're hoping to get the CSA boxes going next year. That means yummy boxes of their tasty produce delivered to my door (and you can pick them up from Fly Right if you sign up ahead of time!). Hopefully we'll get the logistics worked out (Alex works in Chicagoland several days a week, so he can just bring 'em on over) and it will be a go! They're not certified organic yet, but since they cleared the land themselves, I'm pretty sure that pesticides have never touched that ground. They are certified "natural" for now. And their corn was awesome too! It sounds like they've been working really hard all Summer long. For now they've just been doing their local farmer's market. Joanna has been making beautiful jewelry from fair trade beads--I have a couple of her necklaces at the store. Alex made a couple of cool cedar soap decks for me from a fallen tree from his neighbor's property. There's one left for sale at the store--hurry in if you're interested. The craftsmanship is awesome, and it smells sooo good.

Store Closing--temporarily

2008-08-28T23:04:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow Jon and I will be heading up to the land of sky blue waters for our annual canoe trip. Just us and about 40 of our friends. . . We'll be canoing the Wisconsin River near Spring Green (of House on the Rock fame). Campground Friday night, then loading up all our gear onto a bus that will drive us up the river about 10 miles to our awaiting canoes. Load the canoes, slather on the sunscreen and bug repellent, and crack open a beverage. . .ahhhh, nature! Saturday night will be spent camping on an island in the middle of the river. Campfire, eating, drinking, and this year--a band. We were all told to bring an instrument to play in the band. I'll be bringing my cowbell. Then back to where we started on Sunday. We all go out to eat and to a farm stand (with petting zoo) before heading home. It should be a blast.

So, Fly Right will be closed Friday-Monday. I'll be there regular hours next week, all sunburned and bug bitten and happy.

Congratulations!

2008-08-27T17:44:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Allison M. of Berwyn on winning the raffle for the free Melissa and Doug puzzle! I'm sure her daughters will enjoy it for years to come. (her older daughter, Piper, was the little girl in the desk on the newspaper website back in July). Thanks to everyone who entered, and came by to help us celebrate the neighborhood anniversaries!

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

2008-08-25T11:10:00.008-05:00

Good news! I have a professional window sign now! It looks great! Now I just have to get George The Landlord to replace the wood on the front of the building (under the window) and I can paint the exterior. I want to get an awning above the door/window to hide a multitude of issues, too. As money comes in, I'll do that. . .

Since I had the camera at work with me, I took some product pictures, too. Here's the Gulpy Water Bottle in action (thanks to Callie the pooch and her family for buying it and letting me take her picture)!

And here's the greatest little toddler hat for Fall from Idle Hands Workshop--all the cool kids in Berwyn will be sporting one:

Window photos--Time for School!

2008-08-21T22:06:00.004-05:00

These are going from right to left across the front. Nursery, Obedience, and Art School. . .

Then Beauty and Cooking School, and finally the Correspondence Course, which of course has no lunch tray. . .

Then we have the teacher figure in her lovely Berwyn Tshirt and paper skirt. . . You can see the train reflected in the window.

We all scream for ice cream!

2008-08-18T21:38:00.003-05:00

We have a few events going on in the Depot District this week. Tomorrow is the last car show (aka Cruise Nite). I have my dip chiller ready, and I'll be serving up some delicious dips with chips and carrots.

Saturday (and here is the relevant ice cream reference)August 23rd the neighborhood merchants are celebrating the anniversaries of Exquisite Revisit (antiques) and Over the Rainbow (ice cream). There will be a sidewalk chalk drawing contest for kids all along Windsor Avenue. The Fillmore Used Book Store will have half price books (from August 21-24). Mary Memories (antiques) will have free coffee and sweet rolls from 10-noon, plus a 10% discount on purchases. Exquisite Revisit is playing the Oreo game--you pick an Oreo (they're fake cookies from an old game) and open it to reveal your discount from 10-25% off. I'll be having a free gift with purchase over $20. The Windsor Cigar Depot has 10% off cigars (for the grown ups) and Over The Rainbow will be dishing up free ice cream for the kids between 1 and 2 o'clock (birthday cake flavor--I tried it, and it's good!). Then at 2, they have a magician performing. I will also be raffling off a Melissa and Doug puzzle--just come in and enter--I'll email you if you win. And yes, by entering you agree to be on my email list. *insert evil laughter here*

The Open Market (formerly known as the Farmer's Market) will be held, as usual, in the parking lot on Grove Ave. just North of Windsor from 8am-noon. What a busy day! There is also a street fair on Roosevelt Road by Fitzgerald's Nightclub with bands, food, and "green" vendors. I couldn't swing (i.e. coerce anyone to help me with this) a booth at it, but I'm hoping to head up there after I close to catch C.J. Chenier and grab a beer.

Back to School (window)

2008-08-14T09:23:00.005-05:00

I have recently redone the front window of the store. It's almost time for kids to go back to school, so that's the theme for August. Since I don't really sell school supplies, I had to get creative with the theme. . . I found some old school lunch trays at the thrift store, so I made each of them into a little showcase of products that I sell, with a corresponding school name added to highlight them. Here are the trays/themes/products:

Nursery School: things for babies--toys, bibs, clothing
Obedience School: dog and cat toys and treats
Cooking School: foodstuffs and kitchen things
Beauty School: bath and body products
Art School: handmade jewelry, hair bows, coasters, candles

I only had 5 trays, so on the side I did a little "Correspondence Course" with note cards and office supplies, and "Play School" with some toys and puzzles scattered around.

Some of the items fit on the trays better than others, but I think it's a cute idea. I also put the little school desk in the window and the dress form is the "teacher" wearing my new T shirt. It says, "Ich Bin Ein Berwyner" and has JFK on it (yes, that's definitely a local product)! I just got a delivery from Sheriff Peanut which consisted of handmade bibs and screen printed onesies for babies, and the aforementioned T shirts for adults. It's all really cute stuff--thanks, Norah!

Other new things that have come in are MORE TOYS from Melissa and Doug (check out their wooden sushi slicing set) and Lauri toys (made in the USA from non-toxic rubber). I remember the Lauri toys from when I was a kid. I still kinda wanna put 'em in my mouth. . .

Shop for the Good

2008-08-07T08:56:00.005-05:00

I was recently contacted by (and featured on) a blog called Shop for the Good. He really provides a great service--checking out companies and ways to make your internet (and regular) shopping experience easier and more socially responsible. I think that services like that will help "this green thing" take off even faster. I can tell just by talking to my customers that using natural products and buying things that are recyclable/recycled/local, etc. is important to them, it's just that they don't always have the time (or motivation) to do the research. You can link to that blog at the bottom of my page or by clicking on the title of this post.

I know that Oprah Winfrey has had a lot on her show about natural stuff lately (a customer told me so, so it must be true!). Many of my suppliers have mentioned that Oprah loves their products (Sunfeather Soaps and Pacifica are two of them). Although I am located near Oprah, she has yet to come into my store. (hint, hint, O, if you're reading this, come on over!) Oprah has a very wide audience, and from what I can tell, they think her word is gospel (and it sounds like she's preaching my language!). I think it's great that somebody with her demographic reach is on board with people like me. It's kind of funny to think that I have something in common with Oprah (besides living in Illinois and bathing).

Baby, it's hot outside. . .

2008-08-04T12:27:00.003-05:00

. . .but I'm getting together my orders for holiday merchandise! It's really hard to look at Santa all bundled up when it's 90 degrees out, but that's what I've been doing. I have some great things in mind for the Christmas/Winter season. I have already gotten in some adorable Christmas/holiday cards. Don't worry, I won't put them out until around Thanksgiving--I'm not Walmart, you know! And for the kids, I have a Rudolph puzzle that is soo cute! The holiday table cloths, napkins, and dish towels are great vintage reproductions that I can't wait to see in person! I even got some holiday-themed dip chillers for your party hosting pleasure.

On Saturday I had a surprise visit from some hometown friends who were passing through on their way to Detroit. Milly is one of my crafting idols, and she brought me a little dress she made from a vintage hankie, and she showed me how to make them. She said she decorated a whole Christmas tree with them one year and it looked amazing (my mom confirmed this). So if I get my craft on, you will be able to see some in my store (and maybe buy them, depending on how I do. . .). I can't wait to get started on them--the Readers Digest trees are getting boring, but the forest is growing!

If any of you have old issues lying around, I'd be happy to recycle them for you. I might have a little seminar in the store to show people how to make Christmas decorations out of things they'd normally throw away. I'm not much of a teacher, but I'd be willing to give it a try!

Clothespin Monsters have invaded Fly Right Gifts!

2008-07-29T20:12:00.008-05:00

I have just received a new shipment of goods from Idle Hands Workshop--okay, it's my cousin Alex in DesPlaines, and she came over with the stuff. It's sooo freaking cute! She made me some hand knit hemp washcloths, some funky felted knit wool coasters, some really cute cat toys stuffed with organic catnip, a sample (which I wouldn't let her take back) of a kid's pumpkin knit hat, and the Clothespin Monsters!!! They are really funny hanging bags to keep your clothespins in and you have to reach into the monster's gaping mouth to get your pins out. She's just too darn clever. She'll be making more of the pumpkin hats, as well as other warm headgear (a mohawk hat was mentioned) for the little ones.

I also got in some less exciting stuff, but it's new and cool and I'll write about it: Loofah kitchen scrubbers shaped like vegetables (eggplant, mushroom, tomato, and chili pepper) that you can use to scrub veggies or pots and pans (or your body--but don't cross-contaminate!), natural vegetarian and vegan soup mixes (but it was about 100 degrees in there today, so I put those in the back), and some great dip chillers that keep your dip cold. The loofahs are great because they resist mildew, they're all natural (even the dyes are vegetable-based), and they're gentle enough to use on non-stick cookware. They are totally biodegradable, and they last longer than a scrub sponge that you have to throw in the garbage! And they won't get stinky like a sponge.

I have also recently added locally handmade cutting boards from Berwynite Nevin Peters. Some are bamboo and some are beautifully made with hardwood remnants from his furniture design business. His craftsmanship is superb and he wholeheartedly endorsed my Howard Naturals Butcher Block conditioner to keep them in shape. I also got some funky wine bottle holders made from the same hardwood as the boards.

Local soapmaker extraordinaire, Olive Owl, has supplied me with lots of yummy soaps and lip balms, too. Many customers have recognized it from the Berwyn Open Market and snatched it up. They're really great products and the prices are VERY reasonable ($3 for a lip balm, and $3.50 for a soap)!

Fried Green Tomatoes (no Whistlestop Cafe, though)

2008-07-22T21:04:00.003-05:00

I'm really getting antsy for the garden to start producing more food. I've been workin' the green onions and the herbs, but I want tomatoes! Then I remembered how much I love fried green tomatoes. Jon doesn't, so I made him some eggplant and he was happy. Once I get all the stuff ready to fry (milk, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs and hot oily pan) I figured I should just fry up everything.

Our radishes are really tall, but the bulbs (?) are skinny and not good eatin'. I realized that they have gone to seed and we've sprouted radishes in our grass (also long and skinny, not bulbous)! Before I had a chance to pull them, Jon mowed, so now they've blended in. I fancy myself to be a gardener type, but I guess I still have a lot to learn. The compost is cooking away, and is almost ready to be applied. That makes me happy. We have a batch of baby rabbits that have been munching on everything, as have the squirrels. At least SOMEBODY is enjoying our garden. It looks like the Early Girl tomatoes will be red soon--I can't wait to have a BLT (with the fake bacon from Morning Star Farms)!

Attention Chicago Residents

2008-07-17T20:03:00.003-05:00

This was brought to my attention by a fellow Depot District merchant (Lori from Serendipity Antiques). Great deals for Chicago residents, and some resources for everybody else! Green Home Experts in Oak Park also has rain barrels and compost bins (see link at the bottom of my blog).

Dear Chicago Residents,

The next couple opportunities to purchase a discounted ($40) Chicago
Rain Barrel are coming up!

City of Chicago's Environmental Resource Events
Saturday, August 9, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Northeastern Illinois University
3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Chicago, IL

Saturday, September 20, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
City Parking Facility
900 E. 103rd St.
Chicago, IL

Drop-off your:
- old or unused prescription & non-prescription medications
- computers, cell phones, fax machines, scanners, keyboards
- hazardous household chemicals & paints
- old gas can and/or gas-powered lawn mower

Pick-up your*:
(1) rain barrel** ($40 payable by check or money order only)
(1) compost bin** ($30 payable by check or money order only)
(1) free compact fluorescent light bulb
(1) free environmentally-friendly gas can (when you trade in an old
one)
$100 rebate towards an electric or push mower*** (when you drop-off
your old gas-powered mower)

*AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST (no reservations accepted), limit 1 per
household per year.
**Available to City of Chicago residents only; bring check payable to
"City of Chicago" with current Chicago address; cash will not be
accepted.
***August 9 Event ONLY.

Note: Financial assistance is available upon advanced request; please
contact us at 312-743-WATER (312-743-9283).

Is this date and time not convenient for you?
Don't fret! There will likely be one final Environmental Resource Event
in October. We will keep you posted. Otherwise, we encourage you to
purchase a rain barrel from one of the local retailers listed below.

Not a Chicago resident?
Cook County residents can purchase rain barrels from the Metropolitan
Water Reclamation District (MWRD), however they are currently sold out.
For more information on the MWRD Rain Barrel Program, including future
pick-up dates, locations and prices, please visit: www.mwrd.org.

Questions about rain barrels? Contact rainbarrel@cityofchicago.org or
312-743-WATER (312-743-9283).
Questions about the other opportunities at the Event? Contact (312)
744-7606.

Thank you for your interest in helping Chicago conserve water and
manage stormwater!

The Chicago Rain Barrel Team

Other Local Rain Barrel Retailers and Internet Sales
Greenmaker Building Supply (Available at store)
www.greenmakersupply.com
Price: $75.00 + 10% discount to folks who say "the City sent me!"
866.702.7500
2500 N. Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60639

Lake Street Landscape Supply (Phone order only)
www.lakestreetlandscapesupply.com
Price: $95.00
Call 312.226.0760 to order your barrel.
1810 W. Lake Street
Chicago IL 60612

SustainDane’s RainReserve Rain Barrel Systems (Online order only)
https://www.rainfordane.com/order/index.php?storecategory_id=247
Price: $89.99
608.316.6844
Madison, WI

Midwest Internet Sales (Online order only)
http://www.midwestinternetsales.com/rainbarrels.htm
Price: $124.95 (shipping included)
877.888.5609

Aaron’s Rain Barrels (Online order only)
http://www.ne-design.net/
Price: $150.00 (shipping included)
978.790.1816