Giving Thanks

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

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

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!

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

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!

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!