Orange and Pear

New MZ Wallace for spring 2012

2012-01-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a sampling of the new MZ Wallace bags for spring. There is a gorgeous peacock color, beautiful textured fabrics, caramel leather, cool prints and clean neutrals all with a pop of spicy cayenne! We love!

It's Sunday and that means Downton Abbey!

2012-01-22T16:32:00.000-08:00

Isn't this picture (from Town and County, Feb 2012) just gorgeous? I just can't get enough of Downton Abbey! It's simply delicious.

We love Finn + Emma for Baby Gifts!

2012-01-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the land of Finn + Emma, where they live in the balance of stylish and sustainable, whimsical and sophisticated, classic and contemporary. With fresh prints, modern colors, and heirloom quality construction, they are creating a new world for the organically grown baby.

One where boring designs and toxic chemicals are a thing of the past, and adorable, wearable, remarkable organic cotton is abundant! Sustainability is bountiful too. You grew your little one organically, so why add chemicals now? Only the finest 100% organic cotton, eco-friendly dyes, and all natural wood will do for your little munchkin, and they’ve got plenty.

The minute I saw Finn + Emma, I was in love. It's a beautifully designed line for babies! They offer high quality pieces that make perfect gifts for that discerning Mom and Dad. We love the wooden teething ring and the little"lovies." The cozy sleep sacks are a must-have! They are offered in two great looking prints for boy or girl. Their gift sets are a perfect newborn gift. Lastly, I wish I had these tasteful looking Play Gym when my kids were babies. It's 15 times better than the plastic stuff that's out there. Everything is carefully tested and made of high quality materials. The cotton fabric is all 100% organic. You'll feel proud to give these beautiful pieces!

New Stamp Sets from Yellow Owl Workshop!

2011-11-18T10:33:00.001-08:00

Just in! Check out these adorable stamp sets from Yellow Owl Workshop. We love them for gift giving to your crafty friend or teenager niece. We also love them for making your own gift tags and wrapping paper or to tag your baked goodies or wine bottles! The are perfect stocking stuffers! We now also offer a rainbow of colors of ink pads so you can create a masterpiece!

New Bazaar collection from Thomas Paul!

2011-11-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

We just received the new Thomas Paul Bazaar melamine collection and we think it's his best one yet! It's a great collection of beautifully colored plates, trays and coasters that feature safari animals and block print patterns that have an Indian or Moroccan feeling. We think they are perfect for gift giving! I love them as a way to cheer me up through these long evenings! It's been getting dark in CT at 4:45! I'm still missing summer!

My favorite items from Zara . . .

2011-10-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

I took the kids to the mall last weekend which I never do since I'm really not a fan of malls and let me tell you, it was like the kids just entered the Taj Mahal! They were in awe. My oldest daughter said, "It must have taken them years to build this place." And my youngest daughter could have just gone up and down the escalator for hours. We were their to find some so cute (non traditional outfits for our Christmas photo) and spent some time in Zara- they have the most adorable kids department. I found so many cute things and wish I had more time to shop for myself which is nearly impossible with kids. So, I just went online and they have a great website (where have I been?) and I just put together some of my favorite items! Check it out: http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/home/us/en/zara-us-W2011

Scarves!

2011-10-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

We love when the weather gets a little nippy and the scarves come out! Scarves are a great way to add a little something to any outfit! We just brought in a new vendor that we've loved for years. They are called Love Quotes and they make gorgeous scarves in luscious colors. We have the scarf with an eyelash edge in two different weights. The linen / viscose blend is a perfect year round scarf that can keep you warm on chilly summer evening and will look great inside, at the office or a party. It won't overwhelm you. The size is perfect at 36 x 72." I'm a small person and these don't take over my outfit. The Rayon / Poly blend is a bit heavier and great to wear with a winter coat to keep you warm.

Worn by Sarah Jessica Parker, Angelina Joile, Halle Berry, Kate Hudson and Reese Witherspoon and many others, you'll want to be among them knowing that 10% of all the profits benefit international children's charities. Watch the video above to learn more about their charitable giving.

We think these are the perfect gifts for just about anyone on your list because really, just about anyone can use another scarf!

Introducing Waylande Gregory!

2011-10-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

Note: the orange elephant salt and pepper shakers are on the way!

I have been an admirer of Waylande Gregory for quite a while and I'm thrilled to be able to offer it on Orange and Pear!

After the discovery of an immense treasure trove of work in the basement of the Gregory Estates Philanthropic Foundation, Waylande Gregory Studios was founded by Gregory's great-grand nephew Bryan Downey and fashion entrepreneur Mickey Rosmarin. Waylande Gregory Studios creates decorative porcelains and ceramics designed by one of the greatest modernist of the 20th century. From large-scale commissions for the Works Progress Administration and 1939 World’s Fair to delicate porcelains and ceramics, Waylande Gregory’s creations reflected the beauty and simplicity of his mid-western upbringing while pushing the technical boundaries of craftsmanship.

Beginning with his early life as a child prodigy, he was constantly striving for perfection. He invented and patented firing and glazing techniques that revolutionized the world of sculpture and would later be used by NASA to put man on the moon. His works, both the grand and the intimate, have been exhibited in over 170 shows in 11 countries, including the New York Metropolitan, Smithsonian and Whitney museums. Designed, glazed and sculpted using the vast library of Waylande Gregory's work. Each piece is produced by trained artisans in Peru according to the highest standards. Hand crafted from high-fired porcelain and stoneware using rich matte glazes, 22k gold and platinum. Waylande Gregory pieces resonate beauty, simplicity and perfection.

We are so thrilled to be selling this collection. We love the bold designs, the rich colors, the gold and platinum accents and the look that is both retro, glamorous and timeless all at the same time. We feel that they make perfect gifts for that special person. These are collectors pieces that you will cherish for years to come.

We fell in love with their bullet bowls, trays and salt and pepper shakers because we felt that were just the right size for gift giving. The bullet bowl has a tapered base which was thought to aid in stabilization in the ground. These originated during the Jomon period in Ancient Japan and lasted until roughly 300 BC. The bullet bowl has a spherical or polygonal, bullet shaped body. The design was revived in the 19th century.

I just love the retro, glam look about the pieces. The animal designs are sweet and beautiful and the colors are so rich. The holiday dear and cranes are pieces you'll want to keep out all year and don't they make beautiful holiday hostess gifts? These are the kind of pieces that when you open the box, you swear you heard angels singing. Trust us. It's true! Click here to check out the collection.

2012 Calendars are here!

2011-09-15T10:46:00.001-07:00

I know it's crazy but we already have our 2012 calendars! These make great gifts for everyone on your list (including yourself) and they sell out quickly! We love stationery and paper design so it's really tough to edit but we think we have a great assortment of sophisticated, colorful and unique designs to satisfy just about anyone! Take a look. Click here.

S'well Bottles- Cool Looking, Functional and Socially Conscientious

2011-09-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

We just brought in the coolest water bottle around (and we know water bottles) by S'well. Founder Sarah Kauss was on a hike one day in the desert and was miserable because she was drinking luke warm water out of a reusable bottle and wondered "why isn't there a bottle that can keep my water cold? And keep my coffee hot? And why can't this bottle be elegant and beautiful, at home in the board room or hiking a trail?" And there, in that hot and uncomfortable moment, the idea for the S'well water bottle was born! And let us tell you, this is not just any water bottle! Its special technology keeps drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. It doesn't "sweat" on your hands, bag or papers. It fits in a car holder, stroller cup and its mouth is big enough for ice cubes. It's made of high quality stainless steal so there is no plastic lining and no after taste. No, it won't do your laundry, but it is one cool looking water bottle that you will love to have and to give! The 17 oz version comes in 7 really cool colors and there is a 25 oz size that is perfect for wine for a little dinner al fresco! Even better, they donate 10% to WaterAid that helps provide clean and safe drinking water for some of the poorest countries throughout the world!

Offered in black, blue, green, pink, red, gold and silver so there are plenty of choices for your thirsty self or friends! Need a gift for that someone who really has everything? Done.

We consume way to much plastic in this country which does not biodegrade, ends up in our oceans and uses a ton of oil to be produced. So quit your plastic water bottle habit now! Give this a try. They are amazing!

And here's a fun video to watch about plastic.

Jonathan Adler. . . just love him!

2011-08-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

We've carried Jonathan Adler since the beginning but why not talk about him again? I just love him. I love his design, his approach, his attitude, his love of pop color, retro pattern, orange and humor! His goal is to create a happy home. His motto is Happy Chic. He finds expensive items depressing because he says," it becomes too precious and what's the fun in that?" What is not too love? I listen to NPR everyday and man the news gets depressing so, I'm looking for added happiness in my life and you know Jonathan does that just perfectly. We are going to the gift show this weekend in NYC and I am always excited to see his booth. Check out all the cool interior design he's done too (below). It's just a mecca of happy Palm Beach style. You know what's also cool? He's a really nice guy. And if you really love Adler (like me) then you must check out this fabulous blog, Mrs. Lilien.

5 of Our Favorite Images from the May / June Lonny Magazine

2011-07-04T10:37:00.001-07:00

Perusing shelter magazines is definitely one of my favorite ways to relax but I've been so busy recently that I'm way behind on checking out my favorite online mags. Lonny Magazine is a gorgeous one and I just finished looking through it. I thought I'd share some of my favorite images in no particular order. Also, our friend and very talented Grant Tankoos of Soundview Millworks was mentioned in Lonny for his nautical and equestrian inspired cheese and serving boards. They can be personalized with almost anything and are handmade in his shop in Darien, CT and they make perfect gifts.

I love this painting - the combination of the greens, blues and grays are so soothing to me. The teal glass vase and gray ceramic vase are perfect next to it.

I love hydrangeas and this dusty purple bouquet is gorgeous.

I just love Thonet Bentwood chairs. I've inherited a couple of old ones from my Grandfather. I love the "curly" detail on these chairs.

This is just a fabulous orange and green patio design! I also love it mixed with brown (our colors)! I just want to sink into that couch with a glass of wine.

I love this deep orange pagoda mirror!

Here is the Soundview Millworks mention:

Personalized Kid's Place Settings!

2011-07-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I may not be able to create something beautiful out of my kid's food (see earlier post) but I certainly can "place" it on something fabulous! Check out this new line from Clairebella. There are colors and patterns for every kid and every hobby!

I don't know about you, but when I get invited to a kid's party or a baby shower, I am always at a loss at what to bring...I want to bring something unique and something I put some thought into...not just check off an item from a registry.

What little girl wouldn't love to clear their plate and see a little pink princess crown or a monkey with a pink bow in her hair?

How about the little boy that has everything? Maybe he loves tennis, or soccer or baseball? Personalize his plate with his name and an image from his favorite sport or his favorite animal, like a dinosaur? The possibilities are endless...almost.

MZ Wallace Pre-Fall and Autumn collections are here!

2011-06-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

MZ Wallace has been our best selling handbag line yet and we still think the line looks great! We know it's hot out but the Pre-Fall and Autumn collections have arrived and if you are an MZ Wallace fan, you know the good ones go quickly and don't come back! There are so many wonderful styles to choose from. They are all easy to wear, easy to care for and well priced to boot. With many compartments inside and out for all the necessities, these are the easiest bags for us to sell. As featured in Glamour, Lucky, New York, People, Real Simple, O Magazine and Travel and Leisure, we are certain you will love these bags as much as we do! For Pre-Fall, we have a gorgeous mushroom color perfect for now and year round; the handles are a rich caramel color. Mushroom is offered in Kate and Alice. This a beautiful neutral. We also have a fun navy quilted tote called the Metro Tote. It's great for travel, for work or even for the gym. The Mia is a terrific new cross-body silhouette that is sleek and practical.

For Autumn, we fell in love with Charcoal Luster color as it reminds us of the best selling gunmetal from 2009 but even better and the Josie is an ultra chic top handle bag- we have it in a rich persimmon (and it's so hard to find a good red) and black. You'll love this style! And as always, if there is something you want and you don't see it on our site, email us at customerservice@orangeandpear.com and we'll do our best to get it for you!

You'll will never see me doing this for my children!

2011-06-20T07:58:00.001-07:00

Yes, I admit I obsess over lunches sometimes- making sure I have a decent sandwich, a vegetable and a fruit. I also try very hard to use "Easy lunch boxes", lunch bots, or lunch skins (reusable sandwich bags) which can take precious time in the morning to find all the right tops and bottoms but you will never see me create a sculpture out of my children's lunch! I love bento boxes but look at these ridiculous creations. No, I will not be making a cow out of ball of rice, or bunny ears with a jelly sandwich or cheese flowers or tulip carrots or ham peonies or cat whiskers out of celery! Really? Who has time for this? I'm the kind of mom that rolls out of bed 45 minutes before we leave the house (20 minutes before sometimes). I'd have to get up 2 hours earlier to make these creations! Maybe, on a good day, if I'm feeling nice, I might cut off my kids crust or make a heart out of sandwich but that is where I stop! Really, are there moms out there who do this?

Meet The Inventors! The Brooklyn Brew Shop

2011-06-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

So , it's Sunday evening and we've had a crazy weekend with the kids and we are finally cooking dinner- a simple but delicious ginger roasted salmon recipe with sauteed sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes and cous cous. We're exhausted and would love an ice cold beer with this little Sunday dinner but after tearing apart the fridge-there's nothing! Now, you can't buy alcohol on Sunday in CT and we are not that desperate to drive 30 minutes to NY to get our fix. A major problem- of course not. But, if we had thought ahead, we could have a stash of our own amazing beer all set to go for that sudden urge. And thanks to husband and wife team Stephen and Erica of the Brooklyn Brew Shop, we can now do that! Erica stumbled across an old beer brewing kit of her Dad's one day and had trouble finding the ingredients in NYC to make a batch. So, an idea was born! They quit their advertising jobs and borrowed a wee bit a money and started working on their plan. Living in a small apartment in Brooklyn, they understand the challenges of space so they created a 1 gallon kit, that includes: grain, hops and yeast for your first batch, glass fermenting jug, screw-cap stopper, 3-piece chambered airlock, racking cane, 12" laboratory thermometer, 4' clear vinyl tubing, tubing clamp and cleanser. All you need is: 6-quart pot, a fine mesh strainer and a funnel. Erica says that if you can make oatmeal, you can brew beer! It's about 1 hour and 1/2 active time and 2 weeks of fermentation for a delicious micro brewery in our own home or apartment. We offer 4 flavors: a citrusy Everyday IPA, a traditional Spring Lager, a light-bodied Tea and Toast and a refreshing Grapefruit and Honey Ale. We think these are great father's day gifts or how about bringing a kit to the host and hostess that you are staying with for the weekend or a birthday gift for that "hard-to-buy for" brother or friend! Great for the gals, too! I know this gal is looking forward to trying it!

Check out this video on how to brew.

Milly Love and Yeah for Orange!

2011-06-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

Just got this email from Saks and it has some great pieces by Milly. I've always loved Milly, the designer, Michelle Smith designs amazing prints and really interesting silhouettes. The look reminds me of Palm Beach chic but much more sophisticated and modern. I love all the orange she used in this collection! The orange check shirt reminds me of a shirt I bought in Florence, Italy about 15 years ago- I wish I still had it. It was a perfect summer shirt. My favorite in this group in the zebra stripe orange tunic. I still love zebra and this is a great top. Great bag too!

Jonathan Adler- new products and in the press

2011-06-03T08:14:00.001-07:00

We were thrilled to see some of our Jonathan Adler pieces in two great magazines. House Beautiful loves the zebra melamine plate - we do too. There is also a dessert plate and really cool high quality plastic rocks and hi-ball glass to coordinate. His whole outdoor tabletop collection is amazing!

We also love the new Carnaby series. Elle Decor chose the set of three blue nesting trays. They are made from glazed porcelain and come as a set of three in blue or pink and orange. See also the fabulous new Carnaby mugs. The graphic design and color combinations are so retro and fun. My pick is the yellow / grey. I love that combination of colors. But the other two are quite awesome also!

Introducing Camp Cirrus

2011-05-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

We would like to introduce you to our newest vendor...Camp Cirrus. They are a Swedish design company with great personality. They describe themselves as curious and friendly with a genuine interest in people and their everyday life. Their roots are from the Scandinavian design tradition, and their influences come from all over the world. They have been mentioned on some of the best design blogs such as:
decor8
Print & Pattern
Bloesem

Camp Cirrus carries accessories for you and your home. From Camp Cirrus..."We believe that our products appeal to those who want to add some colour and style to everyday life. These trays are laminated birch and the process to make them is truly crafty! All material is cut into squares and placed in a press. By heating and applying high pressure the printed paper and birch wood are turned into a tray. To get the soft edges and to improve resistance a milling-cutter is used. Wax is then applied to the edges to withstand washing. All this fantastic craftsmanship is taking place in a factory on the island of Oland in the Baltic Sea. We also believe that beautiful and practical things make us all a little bit happier."

Which is exactly why we picked them! Doesn't everyone want to be just a little bit happier? We are loving the Spring-ish weather in CT and can't wait to start entertaining outside. We're not sure about you...but we have kids in our houses, so we are always on the lookout for fun, bright (and child-safe) serving pieces!

At your next BBQ, why not serve your hot-dogs and hamburgers on a beautiful Camp Cirrus tray? Better yet, serve yourself breakfast in bed on the floral tray...what could possibly make you happier?

Designer Spotlight: Bailey Doesn't Bark

2011-05-08T18:25:00.001-07:00

I've always been attracted to beautifully handmade pottery and of course I fell in love with the sophisticated work of Re Jin of the wonderfully named, Bailey Doesn't Bark. Her work is "inspired by memories, dreams and nature." She "strives to create simple yet uniquely witty designs to be enjoyed throughout everyday life." Since 2008, she has been committed to making eco and ethically conscious decisions from design to production. It is her intent "to inspire not only with my designs but with the philosophy infused in the production."

We love her mugs because there is so much thought that has gone into the making of them. These mugs are really pleasant to hold as they were designed with tea/coffee drinkers in mind. Re Jin did extensive research for two years to develop her idea of a 'perfect' mug. It was important to her to create a mug that would not weigh tons once adding the drink (like conventional mugs) and not be too fragile like many handmade fine porcelain wares, but look and feel completely organic and delicate. Re Jin said that "many of my customers have mentioned the positive difference they felt when drinking from BDB mugs. Some didn't even notice until they went back to their old mugs. Which I appreciate because I'd like the mug to be part of the drink and not something you notice or are aware of because it's clunky, heavy or too fragile to handle."

This video shows the making of one of her mugs. So much thought, love and care goes into the design and production of these pieces. It really makes it a special mug- one to cherish for years!

To Make A Mug - A Bailey Doesn't Bark Mug from Bailey Doesn't Bark on Vimeo.

New Acai necklaces and a great video

2011-04-28T17:49:00.001-07:00

The Andean Collection has already been a great line for us and we think it's the perfect summer jewelry collection! We just got in these gorgeous five strand Acai necklaces in four colors- tangerine, sea green, light gray and multi and they are only $55! The colors are gorgeous and it is such an easy necklace to wear with a tee shirt, tank top, shirt or a simple summer blouse.

Acai (pronounced "ah-sai-ee") seeds come from the Acai palm which is found in the lush rainforests of South America. These trees grow predominantly in swamps and in floodplains and reach heights of approximately 45-90 feet tall. Small dark purple berries grow in dense clusters on the palm and each contains a single seed about .25-.4 inches in diameter. The fruit is harvested for food and is most often served as a beverage. It has gained global fame in recent years due to its high antioxidant and energizing properties. In addition, Acai leaves are used to make various handcrafts such as hats and baskets and Acai wood is often used in construction.

We found this video that beautifully shows the process of harvesting, carving and dying the seeds. You also see the making of the jewelry by the local artisans and then the end result of supporting and educating the community. There are no words but it is easy to see the joy the artisans feel in being able to support themselves. Learn more here. It's a lovely video that tells a wonderfully uplifting story. The more I learn about this company and Amanda Judge, the founder- the more I love it!

The Andean Project from Guru on Vimeo.

Chan Luu spring collection and cool video

2011-04-28T17:48:00.001-07:00

We are heading to a tradeshow in NYC on Monday and thought you'd enjoy this fun video showing the set-up and breakdown of the Chan Luu booth. They are always one of the busiest booth and they have so many pieces to choose from, I can't imagine how exhausted everyone is after a show. It is pretty amazing.

We are also thrilled with the spring collection. They offered their well-known leather wrap bracelet but in new gorgeous colors - like turquoise, olive, white and bronze leather.

We loved the mixing of stones and gem colors. There are so many beautiful combinations, it's quite hard to chose! We love the wrap bracelet look with a plain white tee shirt or white button down shirt and shorts or jeans in the summer- simple and sexy. We also love their new fabric wraps with silver and gold nuggets.

The color combinations are perfect for summer and the lightness of the bracelet is so appealing. We of course could not resist the beaded bracelets in these three yummy colors. They look like candy, no? Coral, turquoise and jade. The beads are sewn together into a three rows that sit beautifully on your wrist and tie underneath. It's a modern, clean way to wear colorful faceted stones. We love!

And check out this great "behind the scenes" video of their spring 2011 photo shoot. It makes you want summer right now, right? It's right around the corner!

Jonathan Adler's new melamine tabletop!

2011-04-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

Oh how we love Jonathan Adler's new melamine and outdoor entertaining tabletop- let us give you 5 reasons why we think this collection is quite fabulous!

Food Blogs, our mouth watering favorites!

2011-04-28T10:58:00.001-07:00

Rarely do I have time to watch TV cooking shows but I do remember how much I loved them; cooking is truly an art and really enjoyable to watch. I also love perusing a good cookbook with beautiful photography and my favorite activity recently is reading food blogs. There are so many good ones; I picked 5 of my favorites. They are great to inspire you before a weekly shopping trip or before you plan a party. Because it's a blog, the writer has plenty of space to not just explain the recipe but also the memories the recipe stirs up of her childhood or of a family gathering. Food is such an important part of our culture and history and many of the blogs really express that. For the recipe choices, I focused on healthy dinners because that is when I do most of my cooking and I included one dessert that is perfect for May. Click on the photos or recipe titles to get step-by-step information on the recipe.

1. The Parsley Thief:
I met Katie, last year, working next to her at our school carnival's bake sale that she organized. Her blog has amazing recipes that are not only interesting but look delicious like her Guiness Beef Stew or Cranberry Bean Hummus and one of my favorites is Rigitoni with Zucchini, Sausage and Goat Cheese. Not only a great cook, Katie also has a design background so her photography is amazing. Her close-up (and beautiful) shots are so helpful. This blog also has a very easy to use index and printable recipes. I'll be making this Spring risotto this week!

2. Green Kitchen Stories:
I am not a vegetarian but I aspire to be one someday! I have certainly made in effort to drastically reduce meat (red meat especially) consumption in our home for health reasons but it sneaks in here and there. Green Kitchen Stories is written by a couple, David and Luise who love vegetarian cooking and who choose to refrain from eating gluten, dairy and sugar (not because of allergies but because it makes them feel better). I do believe that reducing these three types of food can help a person's health. I personally love bread and cheese way too much to be successful at that kind of diet! Luise focuses on the healthy eating, David is the vegetarian, food stylist and photographer. This a gorgeous blog with really delicious recipes. My favorite is the Morrocan Quinoa Salad. Talk about a hearty vegetarian meal!

3. Kitchn:
Yes, it's spelled without the "e." It is an amazing food blog (1 of 5 on the well-known Apartment Therapy blog). It was founded by Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan, wife to Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, founder of Apartment Therapy. This blog has great recipes, beautiful photography, kitchen tours, wine articles and articles on the proper tools needed for cooking. I go to this blog often. The recipes span from basic to fancy and in between. I cook a lot of fish (especially salmon) and I love this recipe, Salmon with Couscous and Cilantro Vinaigrette. I love their mission statement: It is for those who care about the quality of their food, and how it affects the health of themselves and the planet. It is also for those who want to cook more, but are shy in the kitchen. It’s a place to dive in deep, and embrace the joy of one of our basic needs: food.

4. Oh Joy Eats:
Joy Deangdeerlert Cho is the ultimate arbiter of taste! Her blog Oh Joy is just a delight to the eyes. She writes about interior design, stationery design, fashion, photography, jewelry and food. Her newish blog called Oh Joy Eats is dedicated to all things delicious (and pretty). She writes about restaurants she's been to, recipes she's made, great design found in the kitchen and my favorite, what she is currently snacking on. Her photography and recipes are fantastic. I was most interested in the Mini Spinach Dip Bowls as a great appetizer for a party (certainly not low-fat) but yummy looking!

5. Smitten Kitchen:
The creation of witty and intelligent Deb Perelman has received numerous acclaims since 2007 and I am equally smitten with this beautifully written and photographed blog. She is definitely fond of baking so if you have a sweet tooth, this is a great site for you. She is also quite ambitious with her kid-friendly cooking with her homemade pop tarts, oreos and whole wheat gold fish to name a few. I was most interested in this Strawberry Shortcakes Recipe because when I think of spring and summer, this is the kind of dessert I crave. Also, my husband cannot eat chocolate (a horror, I know) so this is a great dessert for him. Smitten Kitchen also has a very easy recipe index to use that is categories by food, cuisine, season and "freezer friendly" among others. Click on the pictures to see the whole step-by-step recipe.

John Derian's blooms are popping up all over!

2011-04-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

John Derian's decoupage designs definitely have an identifiable "look." I love when he uses exploded or close-up images of flowers or shells. It looks so modern and fresh and reminds me of a Georgia O'Keeffe painting. Two of his new round floral plate designs were featured in Elle Decor and Martha Stewart this spring. His Poppy 11" plate was in Elle Decor and this beautiful pink 8" Papaver Simplici plate was just featured in Martha Stewart. What a beautiful wedding or mother's day gift these plates make! Flowers that truly last forever! We also have several other floral pieces from John Derian in prices that range from $70-$100, click here to see the whole John Derian collection.

Get to know the Andean Collection: chic, ethical and natural!

2011-04-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

I was struck by the fun colors and beauty of the Andean Collection's jewelry at a recent tradeshow. This is the kind of jewelry I look for in the summer when I have a simple white tee or blouse and just need that added pop of color. What's even better is that they are a really interesting company. The jewelry is made with sustainably harvested seeds from the rainforests and lowlands of South America, primarily Ecuador. The commercialization of these seeds allow both farmers and artisans to earn livable wages. Designed collaboratively by NYC designers and indigenous artisans in Ecuador, the Andean Collection's on-trend and socially conscious designs are made of:

Acai (ah-sai-ee): known for its high antioxidant and energizing properties
Huayruro (why-yoo-roe): naturally colored deep red or black
Jaboncillo (hab-own-see-yo): the fruit of this tree was traditionally used for soap
Pambil (pam-beel): the wood from these trees is often used to construct houses, lances and bows, its leaves are woven into roofs of native huts
Tagua (tahg-wah): also known as "vegetable ivory," it grows from regenerative pods that emerge from the Ecuadorean Ivory Palm trunks and the seeds are dried for 3 to 5 months before being able to be carved into jewelry

This is the part we really love- the Andean's Collection's non-profit "arm" is the Andean Project (AP) where they focus on providing supplemental services to their local artisans and their families. The collective mission of the two organizations is to promote the economic, cultural and social rights to basic human needs, such as housing, food, decent employment, cultural identity, health services and education. Currently, the AP pays secondary school fees for the artisans and their children who live in poverty stricken coastal and mountainous regions of Ecuador. The AP is also providing the artisans with comprehensive training programs and they will develop subsequent program areas over the next year.

They create to encourage change. The Andean Collection was founded to bring sustainable change to impoverished communities in South America. They offer artisans the opportunity to participate in the global market while inspiring their customers with access to the elusive world of the rural Andes. Amazing!

They were just on CNN! It's a beautiful video. Watch it if you can- it's quite inspirational!

Pinterest- a great discovery!

2011-04-03T13:14:00.000-07:00

We love Pinterest. It's just a "web crawers's" dream. It is a great way to neatly save all your favorite images of homes, clothes, jewelry, bags or just really gorgeous photos. I'm really a visual person and beautiful pictures make me happy. One of my favorite ways to relax is to read magazines and I have several folders of my favorites finds. In the retail industry, we call these "tear sheets" or just simply "tears." This is a great place to save all your "tear sheets" virtually (without the clutter). "Pin" what makes you happy or enjoy browsing through other people creations or saves. They are so creative and fun. It's like a "virtual" pinboard which I need because my huge "physical" pinboard is already full (with kid's art mainly)! In the words of Pinterest, "You can also follow collections created by people with great taste. People use Pinterest to collect and share all sorts of things -wedding inspiration, favorite T-shirts, DJ equipment. You name it, people are pinning it."

When we discovered Pinterest, we were pleasantly surprised to see how many people "pinned" images from orangeandpear.com. Click here to see what we found. We are quite flattered!

So check it out and get pinning!

April is Earth Day Month!

2011-04-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

Did you know that approximately 175 countries now recognize some form of Earth Day making it one of the largest secular holidays? What a wonderful holiday to celebrate...a sustainable earth!

Earth Day started over 30 years ago in 1970 when more than 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks and auditoriums for a peaceful demonstration for a healthy, sustainable environment. The day's founder, Sen. Gaylord Nelson, said the idea of Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years after spending too much time troubled by the state of the environment.

One of the most popular ways to celebrate Earth Day is to plant a tree. We say, why not celebrate Earth Day every day and purchase eco-friendly products and use recyclable bags when packing your child's lunch? At Orange and Pear we have several products that we love that are eco-friendly and we hope to find more. Check back to our blog throughout the month of April to see different people that have made it their life's career to help the environment.

The Megan Auman cozy cuff will save thousands of cardboard sleeves used to protect your hands from hot coffee cups...and it's stylish, too!

The Twirls & Twigs baby blankets reuse beautifully colored t-shirts to create whimsical appliques.

Use the Roost water bottle at your desk or home to keep plastic water bottles out of landfills.

Reusable fabric wrap is a beautiful way to present your gift to the perfect someone. These are designed by the fabulously talented Viola Sutanto of Chewing the Cud and she gives some great ideas as to how to wrap just about anything with her fabric wraps here.

We love lunchskins for packing our girls' lunches! They come in a variety of gorgeous colors and designs and are really easy to wash. They actually go in the dish washer.

We also just discovered these adorable "lunch bots" in cool colors and so easy to hand wash or put in the top rack of the dishwasher.

Search by the Eco Elitist on this blog to find some other articles about how to make a difference. There will be more on this topic (one close to our hearts) this month. We also give 1% to non-profit environmental organizations that we feel are making a major difference. In 2010, we gave to the NRDC and the Alliance for Climate Protection. The deterioration of our environment, waters, open spaces and natural resources is upsetting and yet hard to comprehend and grasp. It's hard to change, we know that. We just say: "Stay open minded and learn as much as you can." Watch Leonardo DiCaprio's movie The 11th Hour- it's eye opening. Talk to your kids. It's amazing how much they understand. A great book to read to them is Dr. Seuss's the Lorax. Click here for some more ideas.

The Earth Day 2009 graphic above was created for and is being used by the Environmental Council of Sacramento, California for its Earth Day activities. [Graphic property of and courtesy of Environmental Council of Sacramento created by Dana Gray, a local Sacramento artist.]

Arugula- in season in April and just divine

2011-04-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

I never really had a real understanding of how good arugula could be until my husband and I traveled to Italy almost 7 years ago. We stayed in this gorgeous bed and breakfast called Relais San Pietro in Polvano. It was on top of a hill, 20 minutes outside of Cortona and overlooking a stunning Tuscan valley. They grew their own olives and countless other vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs. There were also fragrant rosemary bushes everywhere. We always ate breakfast (which consisted of a daily fritatta, various amazing cheeses, fruit and yogurt) there before our daily excursions and indulged in several of their dinners which took place outside, under soft candlelight overlooking the valley. I mean, it was just amazing. It was at that dinner that I fell in love with their fresh arugula. I have always admired Italian cooking for their love of good quality, simple foods and this is a perfect example. They served it only with a perfect balsamic vinegar (from Modena I'm sure) and with shaved parmesan. To make this simple salad work, the ingredients all have to be really good. Especially the cheese- sharp and a little nutty and shaved on to the salad. This was the most amazing salad I have ever had and from then on, I became an arugula lover!

I've listed one of my favorite arugula recipes from Martha Stewart (found here) and links to a few others.

I also love arugula pesto. This recipe from Gourmet, found here, is simple and really good. You can substitute the pecans for walnuts also. And doesn't this sound amazing? Arugula and fava bean crostini! Click here. And better yet arugula is a great source of bioflavonoids and vitamin A, which is known to help build immunity. It also has potassium which is good for muscles and can prevent muscle cramps. And most people don't know this, but arugula also has calcium, about 32 mg of calcium per one cup. The body absorbs calcium in arugula (along with kale and broccoli) more readily than from milk according to BottomLineSecrets.com They also say that "for those cutting back on milk-based dairy products, this makes arugula a very nice vegan source of calcium."

Happy April Fool's Day!

2011-04-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

I'm a newbie to the blogging world and since I have been working with Jennifer here at Orange and Pear, she has tried to convince me to start...so here goes! Jennifer and I both have daughters and we love to cook with them...though sometimes it's hard to find recipes that are appealing enough to them to want to be involved..."Pasta and Veggies, Mom? Really, that's boooooring."

So, in an effort to find something creative to have my daughter help out with in the kitchen, I searched for April Fool's recipes. My favorite, and by far will be the most fun to prepare is Family Fun Magazine's Chicken Not Pie.

http://familyfun.go.com/april-fools-day/april-fools-day-recipes/chicken-not-pie-685614/

She and I are both candy fanatics, so shopping for the brightly colored candies to mold into carrots, peas and corn was a treat in itself. Enjoy your April Fool's Day and the time spent in the kitchen with your children...they are memories that will make you smile and you are preparing them with a skill that can last a lifetime.

Blessings,
Kimberly

New Thomas Paul tea towels!

2011-03-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

These just arrived from the incredible Thomas Paul! Aren't they amazing? Not much to say- they are just beautiful! Find them here.

The gorgeous art of Lori Glavin

2011-03-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

Alternate Route, 2010, oil on paper with collage, copyright Lori Glavin

Caps for Sale, oil on paper with collage, 2010 copyright Lori Glavin

Balls in the Air, 2008, oil on canvas copyright Lori Glavin

Web 2, 2010 oil on canvas, copyright Lori Glavin

Recently, I took my girls to visit the Silvermine Arts Center in New Canaan, CT. It's an amazing school that offers classes in painting, sculpture, creative writing, watercolor and pottery to adults and youth. They've been around since 1908 and have had exhibits by Milton Avery, Helen Frankenthaler and Jacques Lipchitz. Merce Cunningham taught dance here and the New York Philharmonic performed there. They also have a beautiful gallery that offers over 20 exhibitions a year. I have great memories of coming here as a child so I thought it would be fun to take my girls (5 and 7). I haven't taken them to many art museums or galleries. We went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few weeks ago but this was our first real gallery visit. It was a little nerve racking since there were several incredible glass installations by Martin Kremer called Cathness Lines (see picture below) but the girls were great, we held hands and nothing was broken and no one got hurt!

At the same gallery, I fell in love with the art of Lori Glavin. The way she uses color in her work is just amazing. I love both realistic and modern art and what I love about art is the subjectivity of it. I really respond to her work. Maybe it's the turquoises and greens, the mid-tone colors that are so soothing. I love her collages because she uses old checks with oil. What a wonderful way to reuse something so mundane and make it so beautiful! That is also why she was perfect for our April Artist because of Earth Day. They are so many ways to reuse and recycle- I never would have thought about this one! Lori has been involved in the arts for over 25 years. She received her BFA from Syracuse University's School of Visual and Performing Arts. She worked in New York as a graphic designer and art director at Conde Nast and the New York Times. She also owned her own design firm. She is an artist member of the Silvermine Art guild and a co-founder if Wilson Avenue Loft Artists in Norwalk. In her words, "I accumulate and re-interpret the artifacts of daily life. Embracing the relationship between domesticity and art-making, I seek to find a second use for found objects of personal significance- whether my grandmother's lace dollies, supermarket packaging or household textiles. The theme of renewal is common in my work, as my day-to-day routine mirrors the larger cycle of organic growth and decay." Go to her site and see more other beautiful work- you might want all of them!

Designer Spotlight: Blindmice Socks

2011-03-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

A product of great quality with a cool design- when I can find an item with both qualities, I know that I've got a winner and that's how I felt when I found blindmice socks. Their sock designs and packaging are like nothing I've seen in the market. And more importantly, their socks are beautifully made. The company is currently run by super smart and super nice Shannon Branley! These socks are perfect for baby showers and new baby gifts. Or just bring a pack over if you are visiting a friend with a baby- they are so easy and useful!

Jesse Walker, designer


	Shannon Branley, founder (and her son wearing blindmice socks of course)

In her own words, Shannon shares her story:

"My husband and I own two running stores, Fleet Feet Sports, outside Atlanta. About five years ago, at Fleet Feet, we started carrying a line of running socks called Balega, and they turned me, all of our employees, and just about everyone who shopped with us into a sock snob. Hand-linked toe seams, the perfect amount of stretch, the most comfortable, yummy feel AND they stayed in place. Sounds crazy to be so obsessed with a sock, but, honest, I wasn't alone! As my son outgrew his baby socks, I thought, Balega should make socks for little ones. They didn't. So I contacted the factory in South Africa and they agreed to produce for us. We created a line, Belleo, that we never brought to market. We were so excited when we got them back and they stayed on, but they were boring, pink, blue, stripes, not what we had envisioned. We hired a branding firm to help rename the company and work with us on designs. They actually brought the concept of selling socks in three's to us. As new moms, we got it immediately. We also loved the perspective they brought on patterns- a a pattern 'sophistication' while being childish through color. The concept for our first season and still now is reinventing traditional patterns in a bold, modern way for kids. Exactly a year after receiving our Belleo samples, we launched blindmice socks at ENK New York, October 2009 with product that looked as well as it fit!

We have so many fun ideas floating around the office, I am giddy to share them. More to come in the next seasons . . .

Included here are some fun shots from our last photo shoot, last week with famous children's photographer Jade Albert. The model search was through The Cute Kid and the footage was filmed for the pilot episode of Jade Albert's new reality television show. We saw 100 models that day and photographed 10 amazing kids!"

Starbucks Birthday Cake Pops

2011-03-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, we bribe at our house. It's a hard habit to break. But it works and when you are a working parent (or any parent)- you'll use any trick in the book! For as long as I can remember (which isn't that long), when I must make a trip to Starbucks, my little followers get something too. A bribe, maybe? Sharing in the oh-so-necessary afternoon latte jolt of sugar and caffeine- perhaps. For a while, the "bribe" was the Horizon Vanilla or Chocolate milks until we discovered these little beauties- cake pops! Genius! They are not too large, not too messy, and just the perfect little bribe to get a child to wait in line at Starbucks. My kids gave them 5 stars and just kept saying how yummy they were. I'm not too keen on the espresso bean for a 5 or 7 year old so I recommend removing that dangerous garnish but the other too are perfect! My 5 year old had the pink and my 7 year old had the nutty, marshmallow one and they were in heaven! Thanks Starbucks! And I just read that Starbucks is giving 1 million to Japan relief! Pretty awesome.

Gerry Gersten- an old friend, a great artist

2011-03-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

Recently, I came across this terrific photo of Gerry Gersten and my grandfather. Gerry, a much acclaimed illustrator, known for his incredibly detailed and funny caricatures, was also one of my grandfather's closest friends. They shared the same wry humor, persistent criticism and amazing taste for great art, illustration, typeface and the like. Gerry, born in 1927, grew up in the Bronx. His Polish Jewish immigrant parents was skeptical of his desire to pursue art and instead wanted him to be an accountant. But, his talent, was just too great. He attended the Cooper Union Art School and the Cooper School of Design. Later he became known as a skilled caricaturist. Isn't the Woody Allen caricature (above) amazing? His work has been seen in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek, Harpers, Rolling Stone, Esquire, MAD Magazine and Playboy. He also designed many album covers which I was lucky to find on the web, shown here. Aren't they great?

He was a member of the Society of Illustrators, along with my grandfather and I have fond memories of having lunch with them at the "Society" during the years that I lived in the city and worked at Saks. Just being in a an artistic place, in the presence of great artists was so enjoyable for me. But to be able to be a part of their hysterical, dry repartee was unmatchable. I so miss those lunches. The picture of them perfectly represents their personalities. They just never took themselves too seriously. They were quite a pair!

Designer Spotlight- Beehive Kitchenware

2011-03-07T17:44:00.000-08:00

Part of what I love about my job is working with really, really talented and nice people. In fact, I try very hard to avoid working with the mean ones - why bother? Jim Dowd and Sandra Bonazoli of Beehive Kitchenware could not be more talented or more nice. They are just all around great people and I love working with them. We carry their simple and beautiful pewter baby feeding sets but plan to add more items for your home quite soon. I love that their product is lovingly handmade in the USA and are so well-priced. You'll love giving them as gifts because they really are great pieces that can be used and enjoyed for years to come. Here is their story and some great pictures of them and their process.

The story of Beehive Kitchenware Co. began in a tiny studio in the pantry of Jim and Sandra’s house in 1998. Jim had been making large sculptures, and working fabricating architectural metalwork for customers like Bill Gates of Microsoft, while Sandra was showing one-of-a kind jewelry in galleries. Eventually they became more interested in making objects for people’s homes to enjoy in their daily lives, instead of just appreciate in galleries. They wanted to be craftspeople, instead of artists that made art about craft.

They were inspired by the kitchenware they found in old homes and flea markets, and asked “Why are all the useful objects made today so plain, when they could be decorative too?” So they made their own kitchenware that was as beautiful as it was functional.

Now Beehive Kitchenware occupies a 3000 square foot factory space and produces many, many objects every year.Jim and Sandra are inspired by the folk art of many cultures, flora and fauna, beautiful cakes, and quirky old tools. They both hold Masters in Fine Art degrees, and their collaborative work has been shown at the American Craft Museum in New York City, and featured in numerous publications including Handmade By Design. They live in a little Rhode Island town in a little Rhode Island cottage that they have spent way too much time and money fixing up.

Calypso LOVE!

2011-03-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

Calypso St. Barth has always been one of my favorite stores and their lookbook for spring is amazing, I want everything! And I really want summer! These are some of favorites . . . find it all here.

New Amanda Sterett earrings!

2011-03-01T07:37:00.000-08:00

We just got in some beautiful new earrings from Amanda Sterett, perfect for spring or for that "oh-so-needed" night out! To read more about this lovely designer, click here. Amanda is known for her signature wire wrapping. You can see that technique here in these pieces- we just love that look. She uses semi-precious and precious stones and gold-filled or sterling silver wire. Her look transcends age and coordinates so well with just about any wardrobe. The Annie is smaller than it appears, it's approximately 7/8" in length and the color combination of the turquoise and the orange citrine is divine. The Ashley is just so darn cool in clear quartz- the stone is about 1/2" wide and the length is 7/8" also. The Nicki, with the faceted pyrite stones is ultra chic and only 1 1/4" long. It makes a statement that is not overpowering. We also love the simplicity and signature look of the hand wrapped Elle earring in gold and silver. We think it's an earring you'll go back to again and again. They are only 1 1/4" in length and quite sophisticated. Amanda's jewelry is all beautifully handmade in Dallas, Texas and the prices range from $78-$140 which is amazing for the quality of the workmanship. We hope you love these new pieces as much as we do!

Why Should Kids Have All The Fun? My Painting Class.

2011-02-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

Julie Murphy and Dre Towey

Tonight I attend my second "adult" painting class, taught by my very talented friend, Julie Murphy of Jack and Lulu at a really cool place here in South Norwalk, CT, called Jam Sono. It's an art and music studio started by the singer / songwriter / illustrator Dre Towey along with the design and music talents of Chris Tinnesz, Abbie Smith and many awesome visiting musician s. The studio opened up at the end of last summer and is situated along the water in an urban part of a Norwalk that has a SOHO kind of vibe. The studio is large and spacious with great cement floors, loads of murals, color, sculpture, paint, art and just pure, childlike happiness. Dre was able score a beautifully maintained VW bus on Ebay to represent her perfectly retro logo design.

The class, like most of Jam's classes are relaxing and easy going. Julie leads the class but encourages diving into your painting and seeing where you end up. Typically the end result is quite different than your initial plan. I studied art in high school and a little bit in college. I have not inherited the artistic talents of my Grandfather, Grandmother, Dad, Mother or Brother sadly but I do appreciate it. It is quite difficult for me to slow down and do something like this but I'm so glad I did, it is relaxing and inspiring! Just being present amount great people in a fun, artistic and lively environment is really all I need. Check out Jam if you live in the area. They have a great assortment of art and music classes for ages 3 and up and Chris Tinnesz teaches an art illustration and fashion design class for kids 9-12.

Dre painting

Julie and Chris Tinnesz

And you've got to see Dre's video, directed by Julie's very talented husband, Tom Murphy.

Storage!

2011-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

photo from Lovell Designs

Just like I can spend hours looking at real estate websites, I can also spend hours thinking about how to organize my house! It must be a girl thing. I did read once that real estate websites are like porn for women. So true and really odd at the same time. Anyway, the start of a new year is always about purging (suggestion on where to send stuff can be found here) and reorganizing, right? So, I put together some of my favorite types of bins or things to put things in. I'm slightly obsessed. Go with color, print and pattern- there are so many options to keep it cheerful or go vintage and rustic. I love both.

1. "Venti" oval tub from the Macbeth Collection, $75
2. Serena and Lily desk caddy, $42
3. Lovell designs bin in blue dot
4. Serena and Lily Senegalese storage baskets, $68-$290

1. RP designs wood utility tray, $29.99
2. Ballard Designs double wire wall pocket, $49
3. Primitive wood tool tote, $65
4. Wire basket, Peddler's Design
5. Hovis English bread tin, $25
6. Serena and Lily rolling storage crates, $88-$118
7. RP Designs wood utility tray, $29.99

O and G Studio- meet the designers, see the process

2011-02-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

I love finding cool new products made by talented artists- and that is what O & G Studio is all about.

O&G began when jewelry designer Jonathan Glatt, along with interior architect and theatrical set designer, Sara Ossana, met in a welding for furniture class at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2003. Fast forward to 2009, when, after many explorations, Sara and Jonathan returned to their common passion for furniture and housewares to launch O&G.

All O&G designs exhibit the quality and attention to detail one would expect from a jeweler, the whimsy and eclecticism of a set designer, as well as the shared vision and style Sara and Jonathan have honed in their respective design fields.

We have been searching for a really fabulous cheese knife set and we are convinced we found it with O and G studio. We offer 2 sets- a fish and a ram. The detail of the design and carving of these pieces are incredible. The quality is amazing and the set is both elegant and whimsical. It is also very unique. The set includes a spreader, a spade and a hook. They are hand carved and cast in 100% lead-free pewter in their Rhode Island studio. This set is truly a perfect gift for an extra special person on your list and makes a wonderful wedding gift!

Sara kindly put together an amazing description of the process- this always fascinates me. I think we are so used to mass produced products, express service, drive-thrus (should I go on?) that we forget that there are still amazing artists out their that create beautiful things with their craft. Yes, there are thousands of cheese knives out their at all different prices but these are just so special and so beautifully made. Check it out and enjoy! Click once to enlarge the page and then click again to make them large enough to read, click the back arrow to come back to the blog and read the second page.

Linnea's Lights Love!

2010-11-19T08:30:00.001-08:00

There are so many candle lines out there, really- SO many. But when we met Laura Cler of Linnea's Lights at a small show in NYC organized by our favorite graphic designer, Erika Firm of Delphine studio, we knew this was a candle line to get behind and it has been amazing!

Throughout her life, Lynn Cler, co-founder of Linnea's Lights maintained a passion for fragrances and luxury items, and was inspired to create her own line of candles as a hobby. Often disappointed in the high price of luxury items, she knew she could create a superior product of better value. Lynn and her husband, Danny Manley, began selling her handcrafted candles at local craft fairs and markets in Indiana, and soon the couple had propelled their candle-making hobby into a small, freestanding company - Linnea's Lights had been conceived! After Danny's passing, Laura partnered with her mother, and, with the additional help of close family and friends, Linnea's Lights launched as the luxury brand that it is today. The dynamic mother/daughter team kept the name Linnea's Lights, which is in tribute to their Swedish family lineage. The Swedish name, Linnea, from which the name "Lynn" originated, has been in their family for five generations, and is a nod to the national flower of Sweden.

Linnea's Lights candles combine natural soy wax, lead-free cotton candlewicks, pure essences and fine fragrances to create clean burning, perfectly scented and highly aromatic candles. Each candle is triple scented so the subtle fragrance keeps throughout the entire burn. All of Linnea's Lights natural soy candles are meticulously hand-poured in small batches and tested for quality assurance. Every step of the process involves the use of human hands, and each candle is packaged and designed locally in Indiana with recycled or recyclable materials.

In our opinion, they are absolutely divine- beautiful scents, responsibly made and gorgeous packaging!

Our holiday candles, Winter, Fireside and Fir were all featured in this month's Shape magazine and online You should go get this issue- the cover is an amazing shot of Kelly Osbourne, 50 lbs lighter and looking so strong. She is my idol! Watch this adorable video of her. I just love her spirit.

The Winter candle which was also in last year's Martha Stewart magazine and has been our best seller by far. This year, it can be seen in this new amazing web magazine called Gifted by the ultra talented blogger Ez of Creature Comforts blog. Spend some time perusing this magazine. It is incredible beautiful. It has great product, amazing photography and gorgeous layouts and it is very inspiring, especially if you like to do crafts. We are so honored to be mentioned in such a beautiful magazine!

IMM Living Best Years wine stoppers in Real Simple and Country Living!

2010-11-15T18:05:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite gift items of the season made it into the Real Simple Gift Guide and the Country Living gift guide! The IMM Living Best Years Chinese zodiac wine stoppers are fun, unique and a perfect gift (that is very well-priced) for that person who has everything! It's a great way to personalize your gift also by choosing an animal the correlates to your wine bottle or the year your friend was born. We used them for a baby shower this weekend. We put the tiger (for 2010) bottle stopper in a silver Chinese take-out box and wrapped up some custom made fortune cookies with characteristics about the Tiger. They were also chosen for the Country Living gift guide! Use coupon code: COUNTRYLIVING to get 10% off! Read more about these great stoppers here. Note: actually color is closer to the Real Simple picture.

Designer Spotlight- Jill Rosenwald

2010-10-31T02:24:00.000-07:00

(image from Holly Becker of decor8)

Mass production, large factories, big containers coming here from Asia . . . now where is the romance in that? Yes, we have all consumed mass market product so there is nothing really wrong with it but I still love the handmade item and I love finding a really cool and really fun artist that still does just that. Born in NYC, Jill Rosenwald fell in love with making things by hand at summer camp in Vermont- you know macrame plant hangers, leather bracelets, etc. In her words, "I succumbed to the power of the handmade life very early on. As time passed, and college loomed, I realized I wanted to find a school that would speak to both sides of my brain the academic and the artistic. But after graduation, realizing that it was time to make the donuts, I decided to bring my work to the people of NYC, and I set up a box of earrings on a soho sidewalk, and as they say a star was born and I was forever hooked." She opened up her sunny downtown Boston studio studio in the late eighties in a very artsy section called Fort Point Channel. She works with her husband Lawrence Mcrae, also a very talented ceramic artist, and 7 artists who throw the earthenware, fire it, glaze it and hand-paint it. It's a long arduous process but a labor of love for both Jill and her husband. Jill has had much success with various home good licensing agreements (rugs, lighting, baby, etc.) but her studio line is just that- lovingly made in her studio and I think that is just perfect. This has been an amazing year for her - she introduced the much acclaimed line called the Hampton Links at the NY gift show in January and it appeared in several magazines from InStyle to House Beautiful. Her newest collection, introduced in August of this year is just as fabulous. It's called Buckley Chevron. It's a simple, trend right, "Charlie Brown" (as she calls it) pattern. She makes it special by the rich color combinations she puts together- orange with navy, yellow with light blue and light chartreuse with ochre. Jill gets inspiration from everywhere- a yellow and purple bed of flowers, Pucci scarves found in her Grandmother's drawer after she passed away, a pair of orange and white stripe pants she saw someone wearing. She snapped an image of a back bay balcony of an old townhouse that would later become inspiration for another new fall pattern called Newport Gate. Her designs are colorful, unique and so aesthetically pleasing. They will add a great pop to your home. I have a few pieces in my kitchen and they make me happy every time I look at them! And of course, they are just perfect for gift giving. Oh, and more importantly- she's a great person- full of life and hysterically funny!

Each piece can take several days to create from throwing to firing and painting. See the amazing process (highly simplified) below:

1. The inspiration:

2. The design- sketching and picking the perfect colors

3. Making the bisqueware

4. Sketching on the bisqueware

5. Painting

6. Glazing and firing

7. Voila!

Introducing Imm Living to Orange and Pear!

2010-10-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Imm Living creates modern cultural artifacts by drawing from traditional and popular cultures. Their products address notions of the past and present by playfully reminding us that culture evolves through experiences lived and shared. Their products are a synthesis of these experiences and they embrace them as artifacts. In sum, they design really cool items for your home that are also perfect for gift giving.

We love the "Best Years" wine stoppers for the beauty of their design and the novelty of it. Designed by Willie Tsang, each wine stopper is shaped like the animals of the Chinese Zodiac and represent their different personalities. The twelve-year cycle means you can drink and be merry, whether you were born in the year of the rat, pig or any creature in between.

There are so many fun ways you can give these totally cool wine stoppers. You can go to http://www.chinesezodiac.com/calculator.php and type in your birthday or your gift recipient's birthday and get the animal that coordinates with their birth year. Or get a different stopper for everyone in the family. Or, you can get the animal that coordinates with the year of the wine that you are bringing to the party. Or you can go here: http://www.chinesezodiac.com/signs.php and read about the qualities associated with each Zodiac sign and give the animal that most matches your friend's personality! Or just pick an animal that you like. These are great for hostess gifts, client or corporate gifts. Perfect for the boss-especially with a bottle of great wine. But, you probably should refrain from asking the boss the year he or she was born- in that case just pick the coolest animal- like the horse or the ox. The pig or the snake might not be the best choices for the boss though- just a thought.

Orange and Pear in Woman's Day!

2010-10-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks Woman's Day for featuring our mercury glass votive set from Roost in their special Halloween Celebrations edition (on new stands now)! The set comes with 6 votives, each one is different- giving the set a really cool, vintage feeling. They are perfect for Halloween decorating, and gorgeous for the Holidays. Of course, I love them year round. I still have mine on my mantle and I just love the way the look. Stay tuned for some more great products from Roost for the holidays!

fall colors

2010-10-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a cold day in CT today, although it's nothing compared to how cold it's going to get pretty soon but it's just so hard to get used to! Regardless, fall is a wonderful season-I love the muted earthtones- the reds, ochres and golds. So, I put together a little collage of some of our items that make me think of the warm, rich colors of fall.

from left to right
1st row: John Derian Native American's sitting, CDP Orange Blossom cream, Lucia tea leaf and honey soap, Royola Pacific Designs utility tray
2nd row: Sukie City notebook, Jill Rosenwald orchid vase, MZ Wallace Olivia in cranberry, John Derian Native American's Standing
3rd row: Linnea's Lights pumpkin candle, Ted Rossi studded wrap bracelet, Rebekah Brooks gold swallow necklace

Oh and one more thing, for our lovely blog readers, now through Friday, 10/8, get 15% off! Use code: Oct15.

Trends . . .

2010-09-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

I recently had a chance to catch up on all my magazine reading. It can really pile up since I subscribe to a ton of great magazines! I'm kind of a magazine junky. Anyway, there are so many great trends out there but I saw three mentioned in InStyle and the New York Times that we have covered. Stackable rings- we have some beautiful sets from the talented Robindira Unsworth. Large hoops earrings- we have great hoops by another wonderfully witty and accomplished designer- Amanda Sterett and Robindira. And Leopard in the New York times. I've seen leopard mentioned everywhere! We have the best leopard bags by MZ Wallace- they are simply gorgeous!

The Magisso Cake Server- a great design, a useful tool!

2010-09-17T07:20:00.001-07:00

We are constantly searching for that unique gift that you know your gift recipient doesn't have- a gift that is well-priced, beautifully design and offers great packaging for a perfect presentation. And if this item could solve a little problem or two- well, we are all over it! That's what the Magisso cake server is all about- great design, great packaging and just darn useful. It is designed by Maria Kivijärvi, a young Art & Design student from Finland. In Mariaʼs own words, “despite the recent trend for functional and innovative design in kitchen utensils and tableware, the basic idea of the cake server had not changed in a long time. For this design, I was deliberately searching for a completely new functionality and appearance for the cake server”. Ok, how many times have you tried to put your beautiful masterpiece of a cake on your guest's plate with a skinny pie server for it to just topple sadly upside down? Or even worse- break into two pieces! That's what this amazing invention is all about. Style meets function in this unique object that simplifies the task of cutting and moving a piece of cake in one action. By pressing down on the cake with the Magisso cake server, you can cut a perfect piece of cake and hold onto it! By lightly squeezing the handle, you can lift the piece of cake, then release it on your guestʼs plate. Voila- cake piece intact!

The Magisso cake server in stainless is made of mirrored stainless steel, which is cut and bent to give it this unique shape, it is then polished by hand to assure a great finish. It is the perfect gift for families and friends and just won a 2010 red dot product design award. It ships in a fun, well designed box that's great for gift-giving. Check out this video to see how this nifty tool works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4NVLcfXcfE

New this year are this great vibrant colors- black, lime, purple and white in strong plastic. At $19.00, they make a perfect hostess gift!

dishwasher safe
made from BPA-free, food safe plastic

Calendars!

2010-09-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

It seems crazy but yes, we have already received many of our 2011 calendars and yes, they are already selling! We have a gorgeous wall calendar from Snow and Graham- over sized and making the perfect statement for any wall or bulletin board. We also have the best selling desk and mini desk calendars from Snow and Graham that are perfect for gift giving. New for this year, Snow and Graham introduced a great "write-on" calendar that offers cool design and practicality. Linda and Harriett offered yet another absolutely beautiful letterpress calendar for 2011 with tear-off postcards. Liz Libre, the owner of Linda and Harriett is about to have a baby, so we are happy to have her amazing designs before the baby arrives and starts to take over! This calendar sold out before Thanksgiving so get yours before they are gone! And have you seen her birthday calendar? It's great to keep handy to help you remember to celebrate all the important people in your life! We'll keep you informed about some new ones that we found in our travels. Stay tuned!

MZ Wallace Fall Collection is in and it's gorgeous!

2010-08-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

We really love this collection- great colors, perfect prints and so many different, useful and unique shapes. Nothing looks too, too "fall" so they can be used year-round. The silhouettes are fresh and modern. It's no wonder MZ Wallace has such a loyal following. They know how to keep their customers happy! Let us know what you think! We just got in over a dozen new styles and they are already selling fast! So, check it out!

Jill Rosenwald- a little Hamptons, very Palm Beach and so fun!

2010-07-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

We have loved Jill Rosenwald's ceramic designs since we met her a year ago at the NY gift show. She works with a small staff in her studio in Boston. Each piece is handmade, hand painted and full of love and a lot of spunk. She introduced a great new collection this year called Hampton links and we think the timing is just perfect as the masses from Manhattan hop on the Jitney to Southampton. And yes, it has a little dare I say "preppy" feel but it also reminds me of great Moorish windows and architecture and it definitely fits in with Palm Beach decor. Either way, the colors are right on, the patterns are bold and fun and trend-right. These pieces will "pop" any mantle, shelf, office or kitchen and they make extra special, very unique gifts. This group was also featured in InStyle in May! Check out that monogram tray, what a fabulous wedding gift for the Lilly-lover bride!

It's hot and I'm feeling blue . . .

2010-07-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

top row (left to right): Madeline Weinrib pillow, Tre Giselle ring, handblown glasses
2nd row: stripe dress, Naomi Murrell painting, Tivoli radio, Claus Porto Ilyria soap
3rd row: DvF cover-up, Jack and Lulu crab stationery, Roberta Freymann napkin

Loving animal, snakeskin for now and for fall!

2010-07-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

top left then clockwise
1. Leighlena whitemarked lizard bracelet with antiqued goldtone lock
2. Lauren Merkin Eve rainbow serpent clutch, on sale now!
3. Ted Rossi large python cuff (adjustable!)
4. Leighlena narrow python bracelet with antiqued goldtone lock
5. MZ Wallace (new!) Bea handbag in leopard print

I'm just loving animal, python and other exotic skins or prints right now. They are perfect for summer and transition beautifully into fall. Check out that fabulous MZ Wallace leopard print bag we just got in!

Lucia, fabulous packaging, great soaps and candles

2010-07-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, we swoon over beautiful packaging. Can't help it. It's just a fact. Luci a, a new line from Canada, offers both great packaging (that you'll be happy to give as a gift) and great quality. We are now carrying their candles, soaps and a few soap gift sets. We chose 5 of our favorite fragrances- goat milk and linseed, olive oil and laurel leaf, tea leaf and wild honey, wild ginger and fresh fig and sea watercress and chai tea. We also have their great gift set of assorted miniature gift soaps that include all 8 of their amazing scents. Their soaps are handmade, triple milled and made with organic shea butter which will leave your skin soft and lightly scented. Their fragrances are fresh and subtle, not overwhelming. We love the trio candle gift set that comes beautifully packaged in a great gift box and includes 3 small candles, all made from 100% sustainable soy and each candle burns for about 5 hours. You can spread these out in your bathroom(s), on a mantel or throw them in your suitcase when you travel. This line has been written up in multiple blogs for its amazing presentation such as design sponge (a wonderful home decor and stationery blog), the die line (a great packaging design blog) and multiple stationery blogs such as paper cut panic and our favorite paper crave.

Staying at someone's house this summer or need a great thank you gift? Consider giving one of these beautiful products as a gift. You know they will be much appreciated and enjoyed!

Amanda Sterett- beautiful jewelry, handmade in Dallas, Texas

2010-06-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

We met Amanda of Amanda Sterett at a tradeshow in NYC and immediately feel in love with her collection, her Southern spunk and her style. She attributes her fine attention to detail to her family. Her father is a sculptor, painter and remodeling designer. Her mother owned a children's boutique. But it was her Grandmother's marvelous jewelry collection that inspired her interest in handmade jewelry. In her designs, every stone is carefully selected from hundreds of options and from all parts of the world. Her collection is handmade in Dallas, Texas by a team of wonderful people who she is happy to praise (see above photo). She studied fashion merchandising and then worked at Ralph Lauren for 6 years. Her collection has been featured in multiple magazines such as In Style, Real Simple, Child and on Daily Candy. Her jewelry is fun, colorful, feminine and always timeless. The collection is all gold-filled and beautifully crafted. She is also one of the nicest designers we've worked- which is quite important to us! Now through 6/10, enjoy 15% off, use coupon code: jewelry15.

Robindira Unsworth- gorgeous jewelry inspired by treasures found in Turkey and Morocco and Byzantine architecture

2010-05-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

We just fell in love with Robindira's Unsworth's jewelry line. It is unique looking, artistically created and attainable. We love her color choices of smokey quartz, turquoise and milky quartz- some of our favorite colors. Robindira started her jewelry business in 2001 along with her husband Robert Unsworth. Her line represents a "fusion of the couple’s Northern California aesthetic combined with their appreciation for the exotic cultures of the Middle East, Asia and North Africa." Her line is contemporary and exotic a the same time.

They are known for their "long slinky layering necklaces, gold crowned pendants dangling from oxidized sterling chains and modern chandelier earrings that catch the light--all reminiscent of treasures found in a Turkish bazaar." Her rings are absolutely spectacular!

Their jewelry is handmade with care in their studio in Northern California. Their offices and design studio are decorated with "Moroccan carved wood furniture, exotic textiles, fabulous jewels, and are highlighted by high ceilings and grand windows looking out at the hills of Sonoma County." Their inspirations run "far and wide from Byzantine architecture to white washed walls covered with sun soaked jasmine." They are likely to seek their muse "from travels to the souks of Marrakech as to opening their eyes to the splendid canvas of their own garden--finding great inspiration from gazing up at the iconic vines of our ancient wisteria." They believe "in grace and that beauty is bountiful when you keep an open heart and mind." We love that!

Her jewelry has been featured in InStyle, Bazaar, Elle, The New York Times "T" Magazine, Allure, Marie Claire and Lucky, and has been featured in numerous editorial spreads as well as magazine covers including the iconic cover of The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2009. Robindira Unsworth Jewelry is also a favorite of numerous stylish woman including Jennifer Aniston, Kate Winslet, Debra Messing, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Uma Thurman, Amy Smart, Jada Pinkett Smith, Maria Bello and Camryn Manheim.

Tre glass rings- Trees for the Future

2010-05-11T08:38:00.000-07:00

We found tre (pronounced "tray" like the French word tres for 3) rings at a show in NYC and fell in love with them. With their fun attitude, attainable price-points and dedication to the environment- they were a perfect fit for Orange and Pear. In their words, "trees are essential to the environment. They clean air, filter our water systems, provide habitat for half the world's wildlife, and much more." Simply said and so right. So every time you buy a tre accessory, they plant a tree on your behalf. How cool is that? See Trees for the Future to learn more.

Tre was started by three friends (hence the name Tre) Marisa Brown, Lillian Stern and Ulrica Lanaro. Lanaro says that she has always loved bulky cocktail rings and since her husband is from Venice, she had an appreciation for Venetian glass. These lovely rings are made in Italy and don't cost that much and make quite a fun, bold statement. They've been spotted in a bunch of great magazines and some of the best stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Scoop, Kirna Zabete, and Fred Segal. They've also been spotted on a plenty of celebrities such as Brook Shields and Lindsay Price. We offer larger shapes such as the Anita in clear and turquoise and slightly smaller shapes such as the Nina in an awesome red and a rich amber and a really cool faceted one called Giselle in royal blue and smoke. We just love them. You gotta get your tre on!

a

New John Derian!

2010-05-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled with John Derian's spring designs. They just arrived and I think they represent some of his best work yet! I love the collection of plates inspired by tradition French Faience designs. They are delicate and beautiful and look great as a collection. They were featured in this month's Elle Decor. I also love his lobster top and bottom- how awesome is that? And the parrot images are rich with color and detail - they are simply delicious- odd word choice for parrots- but just look at those colors! He always has a wonderful selection sea life- I was especially taken by the adorable blowfish and sperm whale. These make wonderful wedding gifts -a gift that will be cherished and passed down for years to come. We also offer free hardware for hanging- just indicate that you want a hanger in the comment section. And there is more, just click here.

Earth Day 2010- Why should we care?

2010-04-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

Earth Day was founded on April 22nd in 1970 by US Senator Gaylord Nelson as a way to teach and encourage "out-of-the-box" thinking on ways that we can better take care of our environment in addition to the prevention of further destruction of our precious resources. The logo above was used as a back-drop for the first Earth Week in 1970 on the CBS prime time report with Walter Cronkite. 40 years later, we are still celebrating this important event but truly Earth Day should be everyday and it is for many scientists, non-profits and passionate and intelligent writers and activists. But it can be overwhelming to hear all the facts, fears and doomsday threats. And the science can be so abstract and non-urgent as it discusses events that can happen several years down the road. The facts are argued daily and the details are still being studied but the science is clear that there is a problem that needs fixing. What are some of the problems we hear about? Climate Change. Pollution. Plastics in the ocean. Chemicals in the groundwater. Endangered species. Too much waste. Too much oil. Too many big cars. We can go on and on. All topics are related to the same issue that we have created a society that encourages over-consumption, disposable products that aren't disposable and use of harmful chemicals to fight or kill everything that eventually causes more problems than it fixes. Why should we care you ask? Well, here are 2 very important reason's why:

1. Urgency- Climate change is affecting us sooner than we initial thought. "We've known for some time that we have to worry about the impacts of climate change on our children's and grandchildren's generations. But we now have to worry about ourselves as well."- Margaret Beckett- British Secretary of State for the Environment
2. It's also about ourselves and our resources- "At the end of the day, when we all talk about saving the environment, in a way it's misstated because the environment is going to survive, we're the ones who may not survive or we may survive in a world that we don't particularly want to live in." Kenny Ausubel, founder of Bioneers (from the 11th Hour).

Want more facts? Here are 5 quotations by some very intelligent people that you might find interesting:

1. There have been many significant events that have occurred in the last 10 years that directly and scientifically point to the fact that the planet is warming up and fast such as "trickling meltwater from the glaciers of the Andes Mountains that will soon leave many people on Bolivia's mountainside villages with no water to irrigate their crops and, after that, not even enough to drink. It is visible in the rising waters of the Pacific Ocean that recently prompted the Prime Minister of New Zealand to offer a haven to the residents of the island of Tuvalu as it slowly goes under. It is evident in the floods that in 2002 inundated whole cities in Germany, Russia and the Czech Republic. . . and in the United States, the record-setting 412 tornadoes that leveled whole towns during a ten-day span in May 2003." - Boiling Point by Ross Gelbspan
2. "As the oceans get warmer, storms get stronger. In 2004, Florida was hit by four unusually powerful hurricanes. . and Japan set an all-time record for typhoons (10 vs. 7 the previous year). In 2006, Australia was hit by several unusually strong, Category 5 cyclones including Cyclone Monica, the strongest cyclone ever measured, off the coast of Australia- stronger than Hurricanes Katrina, Rita or Wilma."- Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth
3. "Asthma is a chronic health condition characterized by shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. The symptoms and severity of asthma attacks can range from mildly annoying to painfully debilitating, depending on the individual. In the United States, more than 20 million people — about 7 percent of the population" (everydayhealth.com). There have been several studies linking pollution to asthma.
4. "Let us not destroy especially the forested mountains. Because if you destroy the forests on these mountains, the rivers will stop flowing and the rains will become irregular and the crops will fail- and you will die of hunger and starvation." - Wangari Maathai from The 11th Hour
5. "Malaria. Dengue Fever. Encephalitis. These names are not usually heard in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices in the United States. But if we don’t act to curb global warming, they will be. As temperatures rise, disease-carrying mosquitoes and rodents spread, infecting people in their wake. Doctors at the Harvard Medical School have linked recent U.S. outbreaks of dengue fever, malaria, hantavirus and other diseases directly to climate change".- Laurie David, www.stopglobalwarming.org

I could go on and on. There is so much information and so much evidence. Just keep your eyes and ears open, learn as much as you can and take action. Here are 5 things you can do today to help reduce your impact on the climate change.

1. Sign up for clean energy! You can actually get your electricity from a wind farm even if it is not in your backyard. We do. See tinyurl.com/greenelectricity.

2. Replace your lightbulbs with super efficient compact flourescent lights (CFLs). With the conventional light bulbs, "only 10% of the energy they consume actually generates illumination, while 90% of it is lost in the form of heat. While CFL bulbs cost more upfront they last up to 10,000 hours-10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 66% less energy"- Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth

3. Stop idling your car- outside your home, while you talk to a friend, at the drive thru.

4. "Paper manufacturing is the fourth most energy- intensive industry not to mention one of the most polluting and destructive to our forests. It takes an entire forest - more than 500,000 trees- to supply Americans with their Sunday newspapers each week." Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth. So, of course recycle your newspaper or read it online. Use cloth paper towels, cloth napkins and resuable plates at picnics instead of paper ones. Click here for more ideas.

5. Walk to your destination. Ride a bike or use mass transit. Enjoy the outdoors. It's what we are fighting for!

Also, see read the NRDC site, follow them on twitter, donate to their cause. We do. We give 1% of our revenue to the NRDC. They are an amazing organization and actually get things done! http://www.nrdc.org/

Wednesday's Vintage Obession- Milk crates

2010-04-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

1. vintage bottle carrier
2. milk jars in crate
3. vintage milk crate
4. milk bottle crate

This is certainly a late post but it I have been crazy busy! I just drove back yesterday from a little jaunt to Cape Cod to visit family and spent all day today catching up with orders and work. We got a huge response to the Lucky Magazine's Deal-of-the-Day on Thomas Paul Portland plates so it's been quite hectic! Woke up this morning with no milk for my coffee or for my daughters' breakfast. Not having my coffee was rough; my daughters of course did just fine. So perhaps that's why I have "milk on the brain." My little late Wednesday vintage obsession is milk crates. I love any vintage item that looks cool and also serves a function. These pieces are perfect for holding just about anything- tea towels, aprons, magazines, napkins or what about cool vases or old bottles with fresh flowers just for a little decoration? I love the idea that milk at one point was delivered to your home. We've got to get that going again, don't you think?

Thursday- Green Ideas-The Anti-Ziploc Bag- Lunchskins! Chic and Smart!

2010-04-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the "garbage patch" in the Pacific Ocean? It's pretty horrible. It is located between Los Angeles and Hawaii and is a floating mass of plastic garbage, roughly the size of Texas. It has been increasing tenfold since 1945. Did you know it takes roughly 400 years for plastics to photograde? They never biodegrade. The floating plastic is then eaten by whales, turtles, birds-you name and it then it kills them. If you want to know more, listen to this great NPR story.

Not to get on my soap box but we must find ways to rid "disposable" plastic from our lives. Because it is not really "disposable." Recycling of course is # 1 in the effort to combat this problem. Reusable products is another- items that can be washed and reused (and then recycled) is key. I found this great line of lunch and snack bags in Oprah's O magazine. It was started by 3 green moms to combat the use of plastic sandwich bags. This idea came about after learning that 20 million sandwich bags go into landfills every day! Yes, every day. I had to check that number. So they created "lunchskins" which are very chic and very smart reusable bags that can be used for sandwiches and snacks and then wiped down or put in the dishwasher! So easy and so necessary! The sandwich bags are $8.95, the snack bags are $7.95 and their sub bags are $10.95 and they are lead free, bpa free and phthalate free. Their designs are bold, bright, fun and have Merimekko feeling to them. And you can also pick up a Klean Kanteen bottle and disposable and biodegradable cornstarch forks and spoons! I've seen (and blogged) about several of these bags, but to date, these are my favorite! They will also help you do fundraisers at your school. Brilliant!

They have calculated that since they started selling these lovely creations, more than 12 million plastic lunch bags have been saved from entering landfills or our lovely oceans. Their goal is to reach 100 million by 2011! You've got to love this determination! And they give 1% of their online sales to www.canaltrust.org. What's not to love?

Wedneday's Vintage obsession- Raffia Melmac

2010-04-07T09:51:00.001-07:00

Clockwise (click on link to purchase) from left to right.
1. set of 4 bowls
2. set of 3 mugs
3. 12 pastel mugs
4. set of 2 tumbers

Melmac was the brand name for molded melamine resin popular in the 1960s and 70s. It was also the name of the fictional planet to the alien Alf in the 1986-sitcom but we're not going there today. It is basically melamine- which we love and have several options from Thomas Paul. These stylish raffia (or burlap) wrapped mugs and tumblers just remind me of the 70s and fun little pool parties or backyard sprinkler soirees! I love the pastel colors- but they are also ultra chic in mustard and orange. You can find items like these on ebay and etsy for not too much money. They are great for outdoor entertaining and for kids- who tend to drop everything (like mine)!

Thomas Paul's new scrimshaw collection- they've arrived!

2010-04-05T09:35:00.000-07:00

We have done so well with Thomas Paul's melamine plates. The sea life collection of dinner and dessert plates, turtle tray and coasters continue to be our best sellers. So we were thrilled when we saw Thomas Paul's new scrimshaw melamine collection; we think they are a sophisticated update and we've been waiting for them to arrive! There are 11" dinner plates, 9" dessert plates, 4 1/2" coasters and a wonderful whale tray. They are navy and white and depict lovely illustrations of an anchor, ship, pelican, lighthouse and a whale. The coasters are sailing knots. Except for the tray, the plates and coasters are all available as sets of 4 (with all different images). We love them and we know you will enjoy giving them as hostess, wedding or birthday gifts or keeping them for yourself! They are in stock and ready to ship!

Wedneday's Vintage obsession- Lucy + Ellen

2010-03-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

In tribute to their Grandmothers (Lucy and Ellen), Kristen and Jennifer started this amazing Etsy vintage shop in spring of this year. It is a beautiful collection of feminine, well-priced great vintage finds and I want them all! They believe that what "truly brings a space to life are the one-of-a-kind items that you cannot find everyday" and I agree! Will you look at the cute little pink bank! Adorable.

the bohemian baby . . . Rikshaw Design

2010-03-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

Catherine Fitzsimmons, founder of Rikshaw Design, is one "cool chicky" (as my daughter would say). She's led a life of adventure and travel- she's experienced the glamour of Paris, the beauty of Cape Cod (from the view of a bike), the simply joys of life on a Western dude ranch and the freedom of backpacking across Europe. Her recent positions at Pottery Barn and Ralph Lauren took her to her newfound love- India- where she was taken by the beauty and vibrant colors of India's textiles and block-printing techniques. And in 2008, she used that textile art to create an amazing collection of baby crib bedding, accessories and now clothes that is like no other baby line I know of. The colors are gorgeous. The prints- delicate and fun and the whole look just perfect. So if you are a little sick of smocked dresses, pink polka dots and embroidered sailboats and really drool over John Robshaw and Roberta Freyman (as I do) then this line is perfect for you! We now carry blankets, bib / burp sets, kurtas (tops), bloomers and sunhats. The line has already been quite hot and mentioned in many great blogs and magazines including a recent "shout-out" by Daily Candy. We just absolutely love this line and know you will too!

The fabulous "Kate"

2010-03-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

Check this out- the MZ Wallace fabulous "carry-all" Kate bag is the winner of the best travel accessory in Travel + Leisure's 2010 Design Awards! It is truly an amazing bag with pockets and room for everything. It makes a great diaper bag as it comes with a changing pad and has convenient pockets on the side for bottles or sippy cups but it is also a terrific overnight or gym bag and it's a perfect "carry-on" bag for traveling. We offer it in black and pearl for spring. So fun. So practical.

5 reasons why we love Chickiddie's really cool baby blankets

2010-03-02T03:43:00.000-08:00

Chickiddie is a small company (we love small companies- oh I should be counting- that's # 1) started by two friends with a passion for great design and color and perhaps looking for a creative outlet in their lives. Sarina Galu used a quilt that she received as a baby gift for her son- Tucker as inspiration. She loved its vintage feeling and she loved that Tucker cherished that quilt as much as she did. She and her friend, Nicole Intile (who has an extensive background in design, namely at Ralph Lauren) fell in love with some amazing fabrics at the ultra chic fabric and yarn shop, Purl Soho in NYC. They created a quilt that has a vintage feeling with sweet fabrics but has a modern construction (we love modern interpretations of old crafts, #2). The panels are larger than most quilts, giving the quilt a clean (less busy) look. But the color combinations are just fabulous (#3)- browns with green, bright purples with orange, mustard yellow with turquoise- they are not traditional but so fresh. After observing her son drag his precious quilt all around the house- Sarina came up with adding a ribbon in the corner of the Chickiddie quilt to allow the opposite end to be pulled through. This shortens the quilt so he can still carry it but not drag it- we love this brilliant concept (#4). They are all lovingly hand made to order and some fabric choices may be slightly different than photographed but Sarina and Nicole have a great eye and you will be pleased with the final creation (#5- we love handmade)! These blankets make a wonderful gift for a new baby that will be cherished for years to come.

Select candles on sale! Relax for less!

2010-01-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

The holidays may be over but our lives still seem to be crazy. . . well, at least mine is. This is the time when we attend multiple trade shows to search for unique product for spring, summer and even the fall. It's also a busy time socially and then there is school stuff for the kids and summer camp to think about. Look, I'm not complaining. I'm so grateful. I can't stand when moms complain about all the driving they need to do for all their kids activities- as if they are being tortured (certainly fighting kids in the back seat can feel like torture). But, they chose all those activities for their kids- no one forced them to sign them up. And they should also be grateful for being able to afford all those classes, sports and the incredible amount of gear that is required. I do believe kids are way over-scheduled! They don't know what to do when they are at home, by themselves. I think a little boredom is healthy- it spurs the imagination. I have to do camp because it gives my time to work but I would love it if they were just running around outside all day- exploring, discovering, pretending, etc. Anyway, I digress - this post is supposed to be about candles. Candles provide a great source of relaxation. Light one and take a hot bath- with a cup of tea or cuddle up with a good book. I'm reading a great book called The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Or, listen to some relaxing music- one of my absolute favorites pieces of music is Yo Yo Ma's version of the Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite, Number 1. It is slightly over played now that American Express used it for their most recent ad campaign. I first heard it in the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World with Russell Crowe. They played this music while filming the Galapagos Island- just beautiful. Or light a candle and meditate. This is something I'd like to to learn how to do this year. Sounds strange to say that you have to learn how to meditate- but I don't think it comes naturally. Check out this great post from Gwyneth Paltrow's blog called Goop about meditation.

Lastly, if you are like me, you are cooking a lot of comfort food- casseroles, soups. The smell of onions can just linger terribly. Lighting a candles helps rid the house of that odor. Our candles are as much of as 50% off! Click here.

Finally back . . . check out See Design by Donna Gorman

2010-01-15T17:19:00.000-08:00

Aaaaah. I'm finally back to blogging. We had a very busy holiday season and I just could not fit in blogging which was so sad to me because I actually do enjoy it. There is always so much to talk about but it is just so hard to make the time to do it! Today I want to put a little shout out to Donna Gorman who designed our new line of casual, beach accessories called See Design. Donna Gorman, former designer and Vice President of the Finnish textile design house, Merimekko is quite a talented and fascinating woman. She left in 1992 to start her own design company with Merimekko as her first client. Since then she has consulted for Crate and Barrel, Target and Dansk, among others. Her aesthetic is clean, modern, sleek and very, very colorful. She was initially trained as a photojournalist and still travels to some pretty exotic places (Morocco, rural Mexico and India) to take photographs of anything and everything that she sees in daily life. Those photos eventually serve as inspiration for a textile design. She has been interviewed for some great magazines, such as Cookie, I.D Magazine, Abitare and most recently Metropolitan Home where her vacation home in Puerto Rico was featured on the cover. See pictures below. Her first book has already been published by William Morrow, called the "Artful Table."

Her home in Puerto Rico - just where I'd like to be right now!

Lastly, her design work is part of a permanent collection of the Museum of Applied Arts in Munich, Germany.

We picked up some great pieces from her new line called See Design. They are fresh, fun and very well-priced, perfect for your next warm-weather vacation or for your trips to the beach or pool. The tote holds a ton! The cosmetic bag is a great size, big enough for some shampoo / conditioner bottles and great for year round.

Check out See Design, click here.

Wrapping, packing and wrapping and packing!

2009-12-15T07:02:00.000-08:00

At some point, after Christmas, we'll be back to blogging! Right now, we are wrapping and packing and wrapping and packing and shipping and wrapping and packing and shipping!

One little note (shhhhh), now through 12/18, all MZ Wallace bags are 20% off! Use coupon code MZpromo.

Happy Holidays!

Linnea's Lights- simply divine!

2009-10-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

I met Laura Cler of Linnea's Lights back in August at this wonderful event called Monday Morning Mimosas organized by the fabulous Erika Firm of Delphine Studio and joined by Smock Paper, Green Paper Company and Russell and Hazel. It was a nice way to spend a morning in the city before I trekked on over to the jinormous NY Gift show in the Jacob Javits center. I just fell in love with these candles for so many reasons. Linnea's Lights, founded by Laura Cler, is a small but quickly growing company based in Indiana. Laura and her mother run the candle company where they meticulously hand pour these lovely triple scented candles in small batches to get the mix and scent just right. The fragrance is subtle and lasts for the entire 60 hour burn. The wicks are of lead free cotton and there are two of them on each candle. They use only pure essences, fine fragrances and sustainable soy wax to create these masterpieces. Their process is completely done by hand. The packaging is a simple, yet sophisticated, recycled natural kraft cylindrical box that is hand stamped with the name of the scent. The glass candle is wrapped in brown paper along with a box of matches. The scents are divine and yet quite unique. They make absolutely lovely gifts, especially at a wonderful price of $28.00. We have already sold a bunch of them. They've been featured in several magazines including In Style, Vogue and Everyday by Rachael Ray. You will be pleased! We carry 8 scents: Moss, Fir, Pomander, Blue Agave, Current Rouge, Bamboo, Yuzu and Winter. I think Pomander is my favorite because of the cloves and spice- it just perfect for this time of year but I also love Bamboo and Yuzu for their really unique and soothing scents. It's really tough to choose!

New fab items from Susy Jack!

2009-10-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

We have carried Susy Jack since we started. Created by Susan Connor, a Manhattan artist and designer, the collection emerged in 2007 as bold new alternative in the paper goods market. Inspired by everything from trips to the hardware store to textiles and fashion, the collection's joyful colors, carefully chosen materials, and fun, functional product brings paper to a new place; as much a statement of the user's individuality and style as it is a useful and artistic object.

We just fell fell in love with her great eye for color and modern designs. Her designs just make us happy. Really. She writes an awesome blog at http://www.susanconnordesign.typepad.com/ which is chock full of great images and collages of fashion, style, home design, paper and mundane stuff. It is total eye-candy! We are quite excited to offer her 2010 desk and wall calendars. The colorful and clean images will brighten anyones day. We swear. And, with the help of Susy, we created two different paper goods gift boxes. One for both sides of your brain and life- work and play. The "work" box will help you organize your everyday "to dos" with fun magnets, days of the week clips and a handy notebook for sparks of inspiration. The "play" box also has great magnets and clips but with a nod towards your more imaginative and thoughtful side. Use these to hang pictures of your friends, kids, family and favorite vacation spots. Let these images remind you of what really matters in life (after you pay the bills of course)! Also included is a box of notecards to send to a quick thank you or a "just because note" to your mom or a friend. They come in a stylish eco-friendly "take-out" box for added kitsch. Both the gift boxes and calendars make great gifts for just about anyone on your list, especially for corporate and teacher giving. They are chic, modern, fun and so well-priced! How can you go wrong?

Susy is also committed to creating the most eco-friendly paper goods possible. All of Susy Jack's products are printed and hand-assembled in the USA. Recycled packaging is used for shipping and office needs whenever possible. All papers used in Susy's products are 100% Post Consumer Recycled. How cool is that? We are not sure how she manages to do it all-she is quite amazing!

Thank you! Gratitude Day!

2009-09-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

From left to right:

first row:
1. Sukie special notebook
2. Morris & Essex Thank You card
3. Paper + Cup letterpress "You Rock" card
second row:
4. Blue Ribbon Designs Thank you card
5. Paloma's Nest "Cherish" hand stamped petite bowl
6. Smock Paper bamboo "Thank You (kindly)" card
bottom:
7. Zeichen Press letterpress "You Rock" card

I have not written a blog entry in weeks! I do apologize. A large, overwhelming trade show, a trip to Cape Cod and back to school preparation are just some of the distractions that have kept me from blogging! But, we are all finally getting back into a nice routine. And although I love spontaneity, like a child, I do find comfort in routine! Today I got an email from the stationery website called Tiny Prints about Gratitude Day. I didn't even know Gratitude Day existed but it's a fabulous idea! Today is the day we should all spend a moment (or two) to express our gratitude for the little and big things that make us happy and complete (less the turkey, parades and stuffing)! I'm thankful for my wonderful husband and sweet (most of the time) and beautiful little girls, for my Mom's strength and kindness and for my Dad's warmth and wit. I'm also thankful for my brother's creative talent and his ability to see beauty in so much - a trait he has passed onto his amazing daughter, Ananda. I'm grateful for my little cat, Nikita, who is cuddled up on my lap right now, purring (and unfortunately passing gas)! And for my health, support of my good friends, good coffee, hot showers, great wine, a run without stopping and this absolutely gorgeous day! And of course thanks to all of you who read my blog and shop on my site!

Check out the video that Tiny Prints made. It's pretty cool:

Also, check out this fun application for your Iphone that encourages you to write down something you are grateful for daily!

Thanks!

SIGGskins- personalize your water bottle!

2009-08-06T06:52:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of SIGG and Klean Kanteen and any well made stainless steel water bottle than can be reused as opposed to plastic water bottles that we overuse. SIGG's bottles are of great quality and are beautiful designed and fun. They just came out with SIGGskins - a way to personalize your own water bottle with your own print or photograph. You buy a plain white one - there are 3 sizes offered. Then you upload whatever you want. It comes as a large sticker that leaves no residue so you can switch it out at your leisure (OK, who has leisure, anyway?). Well, Italy does right now. The entire country is basically on vacation in August. I just went to my Italian tailor (not my personal one) so really "an" Italian tailor and he is on vacation from Aug 3 to Aug 22? I've decided- I want to me Italian! Ok, I so digress. Back to SIGG- the "skins" are only $9.95 for a limited time. Great for Dad for his tennis game or mom, the yogi- wow- sounds like us. Although I'm more of an aspiring yogi. Click here to check it out. Pretty cool, huh?

Tuesday Series- Eco-Friendly candles

2009-08-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

I apologize that I have not been blogging as much as I used to. It has been a very busy summer. Fortunately, we received 2 mentions in Lucky Magazine for their July and August issues and on their website and we've received a ton of traffic and orders. Also, I have 2 young children and we took a "break" with camp for the last 2 weeks making it ever so challenging to write blog entries. But we are back in camp again, (thankfully) giving me some much-needed free time.

Welcome to the Tuesday Eco-Elitist series where I talk about easy things that you can do to "green" your life. Do note, I use the term Eco-Elitist with tongue-in-cheek, I'm really not perfect- far from it. I've even thought about changing the name as I really don't want to turn people off to being open minded. There are certain things I won't budge on like recycling and using canvas bags instead of plastic ones. I've been enjoying writing this blog because it is something that interests me and I'm also learning along the way. I realize how hard it is today with all this information coming at you about global warming and BPA in plastic, chlorine in place mats and toxic chemicals in our food and please save the polar bears!!! It is absolutely exhausting! I also know that being green can sometimes be more expensive. I have to be extra careful when shopping in Whole Foods. I love the store and what they stand for and I want my family to be eating good, clean, natural, pesticide and chemical free, wholesome food but I can't spend $300 on groceries every week. The positive is that new research and important information is now available and we are lucky to even have choices. Learn as much as you can handle absorbing. You'll be surprised that you'll start to form new and better habits for you, your family and our precious earth.

Today, I'm going to talk about candles but first let me mention a really terrific book to have on hand. It's called the Green Book and it is written by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen and published by Three Rivers Press in New York. It is a handy dandy green reference guide, one that you can read daily in order to learn about a new tip or idea that will help you easily make eco-friendly changes in your life "one simple step at a time."

Candles- some candles are made of paraffin wax and paraffin is made from petroleum (oil) which when burned contributes to global warming. It is best to use beeswax or soy candles as they are renewable substances and burn cleaner (approximately 90% cleaner) and 50% longer than paraffin candles. According to the Green Book, the crude oil used to make just one 16 ounce paraffin candle contains enough energy to power a 60 watt light bulb for 100 hours." This fun little book loves hypotheticals- but it does really put things in perspective-"If just one hundred households replaced an 8 ounce petroleum-based candle with a soy or beeswax candle, the energy saved could keep the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center lit 24/7 from Thanksgiving to the fourth of July!" Wow, let's make that happen!

We carry soy candles from Kobo and beeswax candles from Soap and Paper Factory. And our Claus Porto candles are a soy blend. Our Dayna Decker candles is a translucent wax made of natural oils and resin.

The Eco-Elitist Tuesday Series- Cool Green Design

2009-07-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

Short and sweet this week- check out the cool green design I've come across recently. The top is a really fun bowl or objet d'art made out of recycled glass by Phuze. They are called "goops" and they come in an array of awesome colors. Moving clockwise, the tray is made out of recycled paper by a company called Engage Green and for $14- I'm sure you can find a use for it. The baskets and lacquer bowls are made by Bambu- one of our favorite companies; although, we currently do not sell them in our store - we plan to in the near future. They are beautifully made out of 100% bamboo - fully sustainably, so useful and come in a multitude of fabulous colors!

Sleepwear sale! 30-70% off- Eberjey & Elizabeth Cotton

2009-07-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Not much to say except that our sleepwear is 30-70% off! It's a great time to graduate from those ratty tee shirts and boxers!

Eberjey is a wonderful sleepwear line with fabrics that are cool-handed and ultra comfortable! The lace and details that they use are wonderful. Their product is a great value. We carry chemises, camisoles, pants and robes. Be aware- you'll never want to change out of your pajamas again!

Elizabeth Cotton makes beautiful, easy nightshirts out of stunning 240 thread count, Liberty of London fabric - the best you can buy. Coveted by Oprah and many others, these nightshirts are comfortable and classy! Click here to see more.

Tuesday Series- The Eco-Elitist- What's up with the Polar Bear?

2009-07-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

Polar bears. Simply beautiful animals. And huge. Adult males can weigh 880-1500 lbs with females weighing in at approximately half that size. They are, in fact, the largest carnivorous land animal on earth and live primarily on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean. They are ferocious hunters despite their oh-so-cute and cuddly appearance, feasting on a diet of mostly seals. But, polar bears' existence is severely threatened. According to the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), "Scientific evidence is overwhelming that the polar bear is in mortal danger as the Arctic sea ice it depends on for survival melts away." We need to protect this amazing animal. Researchers are predicting that by 2050, polar bears will be gone from Alaska along with roughly 67% of the world's total polar bear population. During the last 30 years, a chunk of Arctic sea ice, the size of approximately six Californias, has disappeared. As the world gets hotter due to global warming, the ice in these areas melt and it is melting fast! Some scientists say that the sea ice that the polar bears live on could be gone by 2040; some even say it will vanish by 2012!

The other, more deliberate threat, is the desire to drill in the Arctic. Bulldozers, oil rigs and inevitable oil spills will kill these amazing creatures. Certainly I would like to lessen our dependence on foreign oil but I'd prefer to do that by lowering consumption, not by drilling in the Arctic. Arctic drilling is not the answer. It would take approximately 10 years to extract the oil and refine it for use. Furthermore, the amount that we can obtain would only represent 3% of our daily consumption- not enough to warrant destroying precious ecosystems and wildlife. Besides, our addiction to oil is the heart of the problem and by fixing that - by changing habits, buying smaller cars or hybrid cars, and using more clean energy, we CAN reduce our consumption and that will eventually reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Recently, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar adopted a Bush-era policy that that allows for pro-polluter loopholes, further preventing the government from using the Endangered Species act to protect the polar bears. The NRDC is currently in court fighting to get the Interior Secretary to use the Endangered Species Act to help protect the polar bears from the melting ice AND the Arctic Oil Rush.

What can you do? First, try to reduce your "carbon footprint" to help slow the warming of the earth. There are some great, very easy suggestions at www.stopglobalwarming.org (Laurie David's site).

Second, go to the NRDC website, read more, learn more, sign their petition and donate money- they are fighting the tough fight and need everyone's support. We donate 1% of all our revenues to the NRDC every quarter. We believe that they are strongest organization that is actively fighting to make this world a better and healthier place with 1.2 million members, 400 attorneys, scientists and other professionals that advocate, support and help fight their causes. Take action!

Paloma's Nest in Martha Stewart's Weddings!

2009-07-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Caroline Colom Vasquez's (designer for Paloma's Nest) gorgeous ring bowl was featured in Martha Stewart's Wedding's magazine (summer 09) and we are thrilled! They featured a gold rimmed "palm-sized" bowl that is hand stamped with: "The Sun, The Moon, The Stars, For You." The rings can be tied to the top. What a modern and timeless piece for a wedding - one that the couple will have for years! I love Caroline's work. It is simple, sophisticated and her bowls make very special gifts. They arrive in a kraft box with her logo stamped on the top and are resting, gently in a delicate nest. We have 4 bowls, at approximately 3" in diameter, that are stamped with I love you, I miss you, Cherish and LOVE. The LOVE bowl at $54, approximately 8" in diameter, is a unique and truly special wedding gift. The Cherish bowl has a milagro symbol for miracle as does the LOVE bowl. They are perfect to send to a mom, daughter or a special friend and they are quite well priced at $24.00. Why not send a little love today?

Caroline also does hand stamping on wood, I have an inspiration block that she made with leftover wood pieces that is hand stamped with great advice that I truly think about every day.

Live Simply
Have Hope
Love
Give Thanks
Smile Big
Be Good

We have sold out but can get more. Email me at jennifer@orangeandpear.com if you are interested. Click here to read more about Caroline and Paloma's Nest.

Tuesday Series- The Eco-Elitist- my 5 favorite eco-friendly toys and gifts

2009-07-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Birthday parties. What's not too love? Balloons, junk food, cake, bouncy castles, magicians, goody bags - a child's dream. We have been invited to several recently so I always feel like I'm shopping for a gift. I have a few friends in my area with children's clothing businesses so I try to patronize them (like www.chickiddie.com) or I go to the local book store. Yesterday, I was in my favorite toy store in my area called the Darien Toy Box, started by Bill Jensen in an effort to offer well made, unique, educational and of course fun toys and he has a really terrific selection including some great eco-friendly toys. So of course, it gave me an idea for a blog entry. Here are my top 5 favorite eco-friendly toys for ages 2 and up.

1. Charlie and Lola- We are Extremely Very Good Recyclers

Charlie and Lola was created by Lauren Child in 2001 about two siblings- Charlie is the patient, helpful older brother and Lola is the energetic and very inquisitive little girl. These books are fun creative, humorous and great to look at and to read. This one is about recycling. It's a great starter for young children to teach them about the importance of reusing and not just throwing everything in the trash (or on the floor- which is where it all ends up in my house). There is even a great picture of them climbing up a huge heap of garbage bags (my nightmare). Check it out. Call the Darien Toy Box to order: 203-202-2992.

2. The E Racer made by Hape International is a beautifully made toy constructed out of bamboo and water-based paint and let me tell you these things go fast. Both boys and girls loves these cars. It is also very well priced - it ranges from $13.00-$19.00. You can call the Darien Toy Box for this one also, 203-202-2992.

3. The Trapecolo, also made by Hape is a creative play set that includes 180 colorful bamboo pieces that the child can arrange in a multitude of designs. It encourages imaginative skills, planning, understanding of basic geometry and symmetry. It is a great "quiet time" activity for 4 year olds and up (and it's quite beautiful to look at it also). It's also a nicely priced at approximately $27.00.

4. Now isn't this truly a 21st century toy? A recycling truck made by Green toys. These beautifully designed toys are actually made out of recycled plastic milk jugs and they are extremely durable. The packaging is all recycled cardboard and really easy to open. Who has struggled to open that awful toy packaging, cursing under your breathe, as you dig into the thick plastic and zip ties with dull scissors- all while a really anxious child watching you- it's terrible? Green Toys is simply a great company.

5. This Little Piggy's House- There are many great cardboard box houses out there but this one recently caught my eye because it has the chimney, mailbox, window box and dormer. It is quite fun and can be decorated by the child. It is definitely a more expensive toy at $49.99 but one that will be enjoyed! This company also gives 5% of their profits to feeding hungry children.

Jonathan Adler- new salt and pepper shakers!

2009-07-08T07:56:00.001-07:00

For years, I have admired Jonathan Adler's work. His pottery is organic, beautiful, modern and timeless- all at the same time. His fantastic sense of humor, wit and sometimes racy perspective all come through in his work. His spring collection this year was just fabulous- there was a ton of color, great graphic prints and lots of humor. I especially love his salt and pepper shakers because they are chic hostess, wedding shower, birthday or just anytime gifts and I was so glad that he offered a bunch of new ones in fabulously designed gift boxes! They are a great price at $48, right under $50.00. They are a perfect way to give a friend a piece of great design that is useful and will add a bit of humor to his or her meals. Many blogs wrote about how stunning his booth was at the NY gift show in January. To see some great images go to: Design Sponge or Apartment Therapy or Happy Mundane. Get a couple of these shakers, we offer free shipping over $75.00 and you'll have a great gift on hand when you need it. Check it out by clicking here.

Tuesday Series- The Eco-Elitist- Farmer's Market Season!

2009-07-06T20:18:00.001-07:00

I love Farmer's Markets. I love the colors, the smells and I love that the fruit and vegetables look like they just came out of the ground or picked from a tree- not all waxed and polished like the supermarket variety. I love the act of leisurely perusing the plentiful bounty of these local farmers and and I love meeting them- they are often really great people. I always leave satisfied with my finds and the interesting conversations I've had. I always learn something new. It is wonderful to support farmer's markets for many reasons: you are supporting small(ish) farms and therefore small(ish) business - we love that, the fruit and vegetables do not travel too far to get to your market (as opposed to the strawberries that you buy in CT that come from CA) so less carbon is burned in travel, and lastly it encourages eating what's in season. Fruits and vegetables that are eaten in season simply taste better. Also, when you go to a farmer's market, you see vegetables or fruits that you don't usually cook or eat like kale or golden beets- it's a bit of an adventure. And then there are fresh bread, pies and cheese- you can buy for a whole week at a market. Bread can go right in the freezer and then taken out to thaw the morning you are going to eat it. Overripe fruits can be made into quick breads, muffins or pies. See this great article by blog author Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan of The Kitchn about a breakfast pie she made out of bruised apricots in Florence.

You can also go berry or fruit picking. It's a great activity on a beautiful day and a great thing to do with the kids. Check out www.pickyourown.org for some great locations where you can pick your own fruit. Check out the following festivals (found in Martha Stewart Living):

Marysville Peach Festival, July 17-19
www.marysvillepeachfest.com
Strawberry Festival, July 17-19
www.vashonchamber.com
New Jersey Peach Festival, July 23-26
www.jerseypeaches.com
Strasburg Corn Festival, July 24-25
www.villageofstrasburg.com
Blueberry Festival, July 26
www.oldausterlitz.org
Courtland Pear Festival, July 26
www.pearfair.com

To find more information on how you can find a farmer's market's in your area. Check out this article. Have fun!

Designer Spotlight: Jaboneria Marianella- luscious soaps- treat yourself or a friend

2009-07-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Marianella Febres-Cordero, creator of Jaboneria Marianella, is simply a soap Goddess. I found her after seeing her soaps in several magazines - see press above- I just had to contact her. Inspired by the precious memories of making soap in her mother's kitchen with her sisters every Sunday afternoon in Venezuela, she decided to start a soap making business with her son David Foote, an artist and filmmaker in NYC. She handmakes all her soaps in her own kitchen, now in Dallas, TX. She uses coconut, palm and olive oil for their moisturizing qualities and essential oils and essences for fragrances. Everything is 100% natural. She is inspired by people she meets and her family experiences, she uses these experiences and memories to create very unique scents that linger pleasantly after you use them. She names the soaps in dedication to her loved ones who inspired the creation. Dama de La Noche is dedicated to her son and is created from the scent of a flower that only blooms at night and was ubiquitous in their garden. Coqueta was created in deference to her grandmother and reminds her of the colorful flowers that adorned her terrace in Venezuela and her grapefruit and vanilla preserve (dulce de toronja) - all of this is mixed with the essences of baby powder which sparks sweet memories of her baby sister on a siesta afternoon. Aura Elena was inspired by her mother's sad mysterious eyes, sweet as Oak Moss and Mulberry in addition to the memory of sipping coconut milk while admiring a deep navy December sky. Marianella also spent some time in Rome and created Aranciata which reminds her of evenings enjoyed on a bench with her sisters in Parco Degli Aranci while watching the sunset which resembled an Aurora Borealis. This soap is beautifully marbleized and looks like a stunning sunset. Lemonwood, which is my personal favorite, is imbued with aromas of wood, lemon and reminds her of her father and a stroll through the woods of Arrayanes in Bariloche with friends.

The individual bars are hand wrapped perfectly in chic, elegant paper. The pouches have 2 soaps - a 7 oz shower bar and a 3 oz hand bar and is delicately wrapped in a linen cloth and tied with a ribbon and a letterpress card with her logo- simply beautiful. The bars are stacked with colors that match the wrapping or marbleized for your visual senses. Enjoy a bar for yourself and give the pouch to a friend, mother, new mom or hostess. The beauty, the poetry, thought and passion that goes into making these soaps make them a special gift made by a truly wonderful person. Now through July 18th, enjoy 15% off, use coupon code: marianella.

Tuesday Series- The Eco-Elitist- It's getting hotter in here!

2009-06-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 26th was a major day in the fight against global warming. The climate change bill, called the Waxman-Markey bill passed in the House of Representatives. The bill has 4 titles (or goals):
1. clean energy
2. energy efficiency
3. reducing global warming
4. transitioning to a clean energy economy

It focuses on clean and renewable energy (eg. wind, biomass, solar and geothermal), carbon capture and sequestration (helps to reduce global warming by capturing and redirecting emissions from fossil fuel producing plants into the ground), clean cars (biofuels and electric cars), and energy efficiency in buildings, appliances, transportation and homes. It also has a global warming pollution reduction program that has a goal to be at 83% below 2005 CO2 levels by 2050 by focusing on the greatest "offenders"- electric utilities, oil and large industrial companies. The bill will also help companies offset the extra cost in switching to cleaner energy sources. It will encourage colleges and universities to start programs promoting "green careers" and it encourages the exportation of clean energy technology to developing nations.

Whew! It is quite an amazing bill and one that we've been needing for a long time. No, of course, it's not perfect but what is? Surprisingly, some people don't like it. 212 representatives voted against this bill! Frightening, I know. And why? Beats me.

According to Paul Krugman's NYTimes Op-Ed column on Monday, titled "Betraying the Planet," a new M.I.T study has found that the predicted temperature increases are accelerating at a much faster rate than we once thought. A 9 degree rise in temperature at the end of this century is now considered a possibility in a business as usual scenario. To put things in perspective, Krugman points out that New Hampshire would have the climate of North Carolina, Illinois would be like East Texas, and heat waves would be quite severe across the country. Arctic tundras are defrosting, contributing even more carbon dioxide to the problem, and ice sheets are melting faster than expected. AAAAAaaaah. The sky is falling! And 212 representatives voted against it because it's not perfect or they don't believe in the problem. I don't get it. Should we do nothing?

OK, slow down, climate change is quite a serious problem and I know for many who are just trying to put food on their table, keep their jobs and get their kids off to school, it is quite an abstract problem and hard to swallow. And, I'm not trying to be a "doomsdayer." And, yes, these things are quite hard to really predict. But, what I do know is that the earth's atmosphere is changing and changing faster than we thought. Now, it's not just a matter of "saving our earth or the trees"- they are certainly important- it's also about saving ourselves. I've recently heard about an anti-global warming argument the people come before the trees and the animals and therefore we have to worry about the needs of the people first. But don't you think we are just slightly connected to all this? I think so. This climate change has a dramatic effect on our water supply, the food we eat and the landscapes and neighborhoods where we live and what about the severe pollution that is causing an onslaught of asthma especially in children? This is a people problem because we need what the earth produces- we need it for survival and we need the earth to be healthy and clean for our own health. And we need the earth and its awe-inspiring nature for our enjoyment and spirit. So, let's all support the need to move forward and fixing the mess that we have unwittingly created. We have the intelligence and the technology to make things better. This movement creates a whole new industry- one that is sustainable and can grow, one that is steeped in doing things better and helping our race in the long run not an industry that just tries to make things cheaper, bigger and faster. We can do so much better.

You know, it's getting hotter in here! Let's just all cool it and start fixing this problem!

Designer Spotlight: Dayna Decker- lux candles

2009-06-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

Dayna Decker developed a keen sense of style and sophistication from her international travels as a Ford model. After mastering the art of perfumery in Gras, France, she decided to create a revolutionary candle which she calls the Chandel based on the word chandelle (the French word for candle). We fell in love with her "Botanika" collection of Chandels that are infused with fresh botanical essence and packaged in the most luxurious and chic box. The wax is translucent and poured into a hand-blown glass vessel. The wick is probably the most unique part of the candle. It is called an EcoWood Wick and is made from organic wood in a natural manufacturing process. The EcoWood Wick burns cleaner than a cotton wick. When lit, the flame is a tear drop shape and the sound is a faint and soothing crackling sound that fades after several minutes. They burn up to 40 hours. The look, sound, and subtle but luxurious scent is simply divine.

We chose our 4 favorite fragrances (see image above) in the 6 0z size. Clockwise, Indigo in a beautiful box adorned by a hydrangea has essences of apple, plumeria, muguet, ozone, white wood and musk. Clementine in an orange orchid box is a velvety citrus scent embellished with sweet woods comprised of orange flower, Neroli, honey, black tea and cassis musk. Yasmin, in a box with a beautiful pink orchid is a lovely spring scent that is comprised of blooming jasmine, lotus, rose, white woods and sheer musk. Leila, the white flower box, is made up of grapefruit, dewberry, lemon flower and amber musk- fresh and simply wonderful.

Dayna Decker candles will create that calming ambiance that we are all looking for right now! Light a candle, grab a book, run a bath- give yourself a day off. Now through July 1st, enjoy 20% off Dayna Decker candles, use coupon code: dayna.

Tuesday Series- The Eco-Elitist- 5 very easy tips

2009-06-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Tuesday Eco-Elitist series. Today, I have 5 very easy tips that will help you do your part towards producing less trash and consequently creating a better, cleaner environment!

1. Try the un-paper towel- check out Athena Create's shop on Etsy. She offers these wonderful fabric clothes that are absorbent and dry quickly. She explains that paper towels are terrible because trees are cut down and the pulp is then bleached (with nasty chemicals) to make something that you will use once and discard. The chemicals then leach into our ground water in the landfill. This is a habit that I also need to break. I do use many paper towels so I'm looking forward to receiving these and changing my bad habit also. You can also save money by adopting the un-paper towel into your lifestyle. See the towels here:

2. Switch to reusable coffee cup sleeves-Starbucks sometimes puts the corrugated cardboard sleeve on your coffee without asking. Give it back to them, send a message and use a reusable one. I just try to have one in my purse for when I get a coffee. There are so many fun ones on Etsy. Try Jenny Wanson's Shop, fabric one below:

Or, I love the "burlappy" ones from A Green Sleeve, also on Etsy.

3. Cut the picnic waste by: bringing reusable plates, cloth napkins, casual utensils and melamine cups to your outdoor picnic or concert at the park or day at the beach. There are so many fun melamine plates and cups that go straight in the dishwasher that there is really no need for paper / plastic utensils for a small gathering. We just received a bold and colorful picnic set from French Bull which has everything you need. See picture above. We also sell great melamine plates from Thomas Paul. We get compliments on these every time we use them. They are chic, useful and great for kids as they are shatterproof and quite durable. They clean in the dishwasher beautifully!

4. Use reusable bags for your produce: I've talked about why plastic bags are so bad in other Eco-Elitist posts. Click on this link here if you missed it. Reusable Bags is a great website that provides excellent information on how you can do your part to help the environment and they sell wonderful products at great prices. This is an image from their site for produce bags. They are stronger and won't create moisture- they let the produce "breathe." Have you noticed the moisture that is created in your plastic bag of corn if you let it sit in the bag for a day- it's not nice. Give these bags a try! Just click on the photo.

5. Extra Credit- use a reusable coffee mug: I know I just proclaimed the benefits of the coffee sleeve or cozy but if you are really ambitious and get your coffee at the same place everyday- then bring your own mug. You can buy travel coffee mugs in most coffee stores and grocery stores these days. Often corporations hand them out as gifts. This one below by DCI is fun. It is a porcelain coffee cup made to look like a paper one. Quite clever! Just tell them to fill it up!

John Derian- a piece of art, a piece of history

2009-06-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

New pieces to Orange and Pear

John Derian rented his lower East side studio to sell his witty and old-world decoupage back in 1994. Then he said, "Hey, if I sell a plate a day, that will help pay the rent." His line is now highly sought after and his store is ultra-cool and eclectic. You can get lost in his eponymous store and feel like you've traveled to India, Morocco or just back to the 19th century anywhere in the world. He has been collecting images, letters, books- anything that inspires him, focusing on 19th Century ephemera, for over 20 years. There is a lot of wonderful decoupage out there but John Derian's is different. He has an eye for the beautiful, graphic, colorful, witty, odd, macabre and dark. He often places images on top of old letters- I love this technique- it makes the image less perfect or pretty if you will - it adds a bit of curiosity and interest. He appeals to any sensibility with his work and displayed all together and it represents the many moods, emotions and experiences that we all have. He is now selling to more than 300 stores in the U.S and Internationally and has been acclaimed by Vogue and Elle Decor. He still has a studio in NYC where he hires a small staff of artisans to help with his production in addition to a small wholesale staff. He just recently designed a melamine line for Target, helping to launch his name to households other than the "artsy set." What I find fun and interesting in selling his work is that he chooses the images that interest him and you can choose a piece that resonates with you- that sparks a wonderful memory, makes you laugh, or just looks beautiful in your home. His plates can be hung, or displayed on easels. We offer the hardware for hanging and can help you find easels. His pieces can be used for entertaining (just wipe clean- do not submerge in water). They make wonderful birthday, hostess, housewarming and wedding gifts. Their appeal is timeless and has lasted for over 20 years and should last for many years to come.

His sealife and ship images are signature to his line.

We love his shell plates- they are beautiful as individual gifts and fabulous as a wall series, hung all together.

I never get tired of . . . 70s modern design- Alexander Girard

2009-06-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

These are all available from Urban Outfitters at great prices!
1st row: love pillow, bouquet wall art
2nd row: paper dolls wall art, moon pillow

I just received an email from Urban Outfitters (love that store!) about their new collection of home products designed by the late Alexander Girard- I love seeing great design that easily attainable to everyone. I have always loved his work and this just reminded me of how much I love it so I thought I'd write about it. I love the colors, the whimsy, the boldness. I also love how the images connect with each other so organically. His designs looks retro and new at the same time. Girard was born in NYC in 1907 to an American mother and French-Italian father. He was raised in Florence, Italy (not bad, huh?). He graduated from the Royal School of Architecture in Rome. He is most well-known for his textile designs and his work with Herman Miller. He also created fabric designs for George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames. He and his wife, Susan Girard collected a wide array of folk art, toys and textiles from all over and can be viewed in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the Museum of International Folk Art. He is probably most well-known for his sun images which can be seen all over including La Fonda del Sol 1961 restaurant in NY and FLOR rug tiles.

All these pieces are manufactured by House Industries (a great company that also sells modern design products and terrific fonts). Some of these are no longer available but I absolutely love them all! Check them out.
1st row (l to r): memory game, animal puzzle
2nd row: nativity scene, block puzzle

Tuesday Series- Eco-Elitist-Smock Paper- from bamboo!

2009-06-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Tuesday series called the Eco-Elitist. I must apologize that I have been quite remiss about updating my blog. I was on vacation last week in Cape Cod and it was just too hard or perhaps I was just too tired to update my blog daily. What it is about vacations? I immediately hit "relax mode" and can't even stay awake past 9:30PM and then it takes me a whole day to get my life back in order when I return to "real life." I always have to do a gizzilion loads of laundry and dig out my car which is currently still caked with sand, candy, goldfish and other odd syrupy, sticky substances - evidence of all that I did to keep the kids quiet on the 5 hour car ride. Oh, did I mention that the DVD player broke mid-trip? Aaaah, memories.

Anyway, today, I'm going to multi-task and do an "Eco-Elitist" post combined with a "Designer Spotlight" post because it has been a few days since my last post. I'm going to talk about Smock Paper. They are one of my favorite stationery lines aesthetically and ethically. Smock Paper was the first print shop in the U.S to offer stationery on luxury bamboo paper. Why bamboo you ask? Although most should know by now, Bamboo is 100% sustainable. It is the fastest growing plant in the world without fertilizer or pesticides and requires very little water to grow. Bamboo also takes only 3-5 years to mature to a harvestable height versus 10-20 for most softwoods. And I bet you didn't know that bamboo puts out 35% more oxygen than hardwood trees and absorbs 4 times as much carbon as hardwood! Bamboo can also detoxify water because of its high nitrogen content and it even improves the quality of the soil. So, in sum, bamboo is a great material because harvesting it doesn't hurt the land or habitats in the vicinity and growing it doesn't ruin our ground water with chemicals. In fact, growing it helps our air and soil quality.

Smock takes their commitment to the environment a few steps further. The only use vegetable-oil-based and low-Volatile-organic compound inks (VOC). They use low VOC and citus based solvents. They recycle their photo chemistry, film, paper offcuts, and photopolymer printing plates so that empty ink cans and old rags are kept out of landfills! They recycle and compost their office waste. They use recycled packaging materials and reuse the packing materials and corrugated cardboard that they receive from their suppliers. Their retail packaging is biodegradable, tree-free, and petroleum-free.

Hold on- there's more! They also work to reduce our carbon footprint. They are entirely wind-powered through Native Energy (like us) and they are working with the Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program by “zeroing out” their business’s carbon footprint by planting trees. They even offer bus passes to employees to encourage public transportation usage. Also for their employees, they subsidize 20-week Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) memberships with a local organic farm, because they believe their food shouldn't have to travel 1,500 miles to reach them! Amazing!

They donate to environmental charities such as 1% For The Planet and they partner with American Forests, a very old and terrific organization that helps slow global warming with the planting of trees.

Yes, they are amazing but their product is also beautiful and is quite hard to find a company that has both attributes- trust me I look! They got together with a 500 year-old European mill to create this bamboo paper and it is gorgeous. It's soft, thick and luxurious and letterpress looks especially elegant on this paper. And Smock Paper has this incredible talent in choosing the most sophisticated and elegant colors to use in their chic designs. By sending a beautiful card by Smock Paper, you are not only supporting a great company that is smart and innovative but also going in the right direction in producing products without harming our earth.

Now through June 30th, enjoy 15% off Smock Products, by using coupon code: smock15. We know you'll be pleased!

Tuesday Series- The Eco-Elitist- The Idling Myth- Just turn it off!

2009-06-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

In the Tuesday Series - The Eco-Elitist (which I call myself "with tongue-in-cheek") - I try to offer suggestions on how you can be smarter and more eco-friendly in your daily activities and purchasing. I'm in no way perfect. There are some activities that I religiously do like recycling, bringing my own bags to the grocery store (I really just hate plastic bags), using compact fluorescent bulbs and disposing of harmful stuff (electronics, batteries properly) but there are so many things I can still do to make a difference.

Like idling. Oh, it's a bad one. And we all do it- a lot. According to the Hinkle Charitable Foundation, "Americans waste 3.8 billion gallons of gas by voluntarily idling their cars." Thanks to the development of suburbia, we are all in our cars all the time- running errands, shopping, getting coffee, going to the bank, school, dry cleaner and commuting. We are on highways and "urban sprawl" going from strip mall to strip mall. Uggh. How many traffic lights to we stop at on a daily basis and how many hours do we sit in traffic- idling? Too many to count. In hybrid cars (I got to try one out recently when I rented a car), the engine actually stops after a few seconds of idling to save gas- it's a little odd at first but it's quite cool and so smart. Now, I'm not suggesting that you shut off your engine at a traffic light or on the highway if you have a conventional car because you really can't do that but there are plenty of times you leave your car running when you could just shut it off.

Let's talk about idling first.

1. There is no need to "warm-up" your car- modern cars today are quite efficient and do not need to be warmed up in the morning for 10 minutes as once thought (unless you are in zero degree weather but that is certainly not the norm). It is actually better to drive a car to "warm it up" because it gets the catalytic converter, the engine and other parts of the car moving and "warm" if you will.

2. Starting your car does not hurt the battery or use more gas than idling- there is a myth that each time you start your car again you waste more gasoline then if you leave it idling. This is false! Modern engines do not operate well when they are idling mode. According to Hinkle, there is a 10 second rule, it is better if you shut off the engine- it's better for the car. Restarting your car does not damage or "wear-out" your battery. In fact, "idling an engine forces it to operate in a very inefficient and gasoline-rich mode that, over time, can degrade the engine's performance and reduce mileage." Too much idling can hurt the important components of your engine (such as the cylinders, spark plugs and exhaust systems. According to the California Energy Commission, "Fuel is only partially combusted when idling because an engine does not operate at its peak temperature. This leads to the build up of fuel residues on cylinder walls that can damage engine components and increase fuel consumption."

In sum, when you voluntarily idle your car for really no reason, you are wasting gas, emitting harmful CO2 into the air (which causes pollution, health problems and global warming) and you are hurting the performance of your car.

So, when you are in the fast food drive-thru, bank teller lane and it looks like it is going to be more than 10 seconds. Turn off your car.

When you are on your phone, waiting to pick someone up or running errands, and it's going to more than 10 seconds, turn the car off.

When you are dropping something off, reading something, looking at the view and it's going to be more than 10 seconds. Turn off your car.

Even better, don't sit in drive-thru lines. Park and walk in. You might get a little exercise and will be doing your part to reduce carbon emissions!

Thanks!

Read this great article for more detailed information: http://www.thehcf.org/antiidlingprimer.html.