lighten your postman’s load
I love getting mail… unfortunately it seems like 95% of the envelopes stuffed in my mailbox each day are credit card offers and other promotions that ‘must be opened immediately!’.
So needless to say, I was happy to find this helpful site that’ll stop all this wasted paper & postage ending up in my recycle bin.
Just by taking a minute and filling out a form, you’ll be able to "Opt-Out" of Consumer Credit Reporting Companies providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.
This secure site is the real deal and is endorsed by the Federal Trade Commission (which also lists the phone number to opt-out of telemarketing calls)
Saving trees and time has never been so easy!
There are loads of helpful sites on this world wide web. Save surfin’ time by subcribing to our blog and we’ll email you fantastic features like this one.
green cardboard – good choice
Looking to move or put some of your goods in storage?
Instead of raiding back rooms of grocery stores or paying the high price of premium printed boxes… check out this hip site.
They rescue truckloads of quality used boxes from businesses that might otherwise be thrown away, along with brand new misprints and overruns from box manufacturers that can longer use those boxes. This earth-friendly company also provides free delivery of moving kits, moving boxes and shipping boxes at discounted prices.
What better way to save time, money and trees? Going green has never been so easy… now if only moving was that simple.
There are loads of helpful sites on this world wide web. Save surfin’ time by subcribing to our blog and we’ll email you fantastic features like this one.
story people speak the truth
Meet Brian Andreas of Story People. He creates wonderful sculptures and works of art that incorporate ‘stories’ and bright images of figures.
When asked about his stories – he comments, "The stories still lead me around at their own pace & if I’m lucky, I understand them soon enough to make sense of what they’re trying to tell me. I feel that the stories are catalysts & they help give a new form to our unspoken thoughts & feelings. I see the strands that connect us, the ways we’re more alike than we’re different, the dreams we all have for the future of our children & our neighbors. The stories remind me that wherever we are, we live in the heart of the world."
Brian’s website offers loads of lovely stories with fun options… like free e-cards and ‘story of the day’ subscriptions.
Our Berkley location proudly carries a number of his cards seen here. And you can purchase many of his other books, prints and sculptures via his website.
One of my favorite stories goes a little something like this…
I tried for a whole summer to teach our cat to play the piano. We started with an easy song. It was 3 Blind Mice. My dad said it didn’t work because the cat had a tin ear, but I think it was because she kept looking around for the blind mice the whole time & never gave it her full attention.
kool ‘trash’ bags
So… how do you make money by using garbage, a sewing machine and some thread?
Just ask 14 year-old Shaina from Leonard, Michigan. She brought in some of these juice box bags to our Rochester store and now we can’t keep them in stock. We also offer them at our Berkley location and she recently added wallets to the mix.
Q. How did you come up with idea to create bags from discarded juice boxes?
A. I got the idea from looking around on Ebay
Q. Where you get all your bags?
A. I collect them from schools and daycares
Q. When did you start making them?
A. When I was 13.
Shaina turns 15 this December and is a freshman. I always find it inspiring to see young clever crafters. I firmly believe in supporting early entrepreneurship and am blessed to be able to do so through catching fireflies. Who knows… maybe at age 25, Shaina will be blogging about her store or design company.
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3 is the magic number
I believe Jack Johnson tunes were specially crafted for lazy Sunday afternoons (or any other time you need to kick back and wind down). I don’t even have kids and still love listening to his Curious George Soundtrack.
I couldn’t resist sharing his version of the classic Schoolhouse Rock song, 3 is a Magic Number. I found this clever claymation video that I think kids of all ages could benefit from.
P.S. If you don’t have a bag for your juice… check out these pretties
fashion forward grocery bags
Is it just me, or do the baggers at your grocery store only put 2-3 items in each plastic bag? I always feel like I’m loading twenty-some flimsy bags in my trunk and I’m only buying for me & Steve!
I knew there had to be a better…greener solution and after looking high and low – I believe these are the best reusable bags available.
They are made from super strong rip-stop nylon (holds 25 lbs) so they are light (2 oz) and compactable. They fold into a flat 5 by 5 inch pouch that easily slips in a purse or pocket. That way they are always handy when you need them.
They have a nice big gusset in the bottom so they will sit flat when they are filled (good for eggs & milk.)
The handles are the perfect length: you can hold them in your hand, on your forearm, or over your shoulder.
One bag holds the contents of 2 to 3 plastic grocery bags. Six bags can hold a whole cart full of groceries. (My $70 grocery bill fit nicely into these three bags – plus they knocked .20 off my bill for using sustainable bags)
AND THE BEST PART… Using one bag for one year replaces 300 to 700 disposable bags.
We’d love for you to start using these pretties at your local grocery or any store, so we’re practically giving them away. You can purchase one for only $4.50 (50% savings) anytime you spend $30* or more at catching fireflies. (and then bring your gift goodies home in it too!)
*one per purchase – for online sales, use coupon code: GOGREEN
thinking green saves you green
There’s no doubt that 2007 has been the year of green. It makes me happy to see the environment take a front seat in the media circus. And it’s about time that catching fireflies got in the act.
First a little history – circa 1996… Before catching fireflies, there was April’s Ideas (a.k.a. a.i. paper design) Since I was going to become a special education teacher, I worked in elementary schools and couldn’t bear to see all that colorful bulletin board paper go to waste… so I started recycling it by making handmade paper. 
There’s my now husband, Steve helping shred loads of paper (Little did he know this was only the beginning of the craziness!)
Making paper is a little like panning for gold… only it’s just pulp.
I’d layer the wet sheets of pulp between tapestry samples (for texture), Then officially stand on them to press the excess water out.
Afterwards, I’d hang them to dry and then peel the paper from the tapestry samples for cool textured paper sheets.
All of my designs were originally made from these recycled sheets, but as a.i. paper design grew, it wasn’t practical or feasible to continue making my own paper.
Now, most of the papers I use are handmade and printed in India.
With all that being said… I still care about the three R’s (recycle-reuse-reduce) and want to pass that passion on. I realize this is a very small step, but at least it’s in the right direction.
From now on, ALL our paper* bags and gift boxes will come with this card. *(unfortunately, our plastic merchandise and gift bags wrinkle too easily to be reused)
For every 2 bags or boxes (in reusable condition) you bring back, we’ll give you a buzz buck coin you can use the next time you visit us. It’s our way of saying thank you for thinking about the environment.
Also for small items, I’ve instructed our staff to ask if you need a bag. Every little bit helps. Thank you so much for being supportive in our efforts.
music makin’ mosquitos
Oh how I love their song, Boombox. It doesn’t even matter that half of it’s in Portuguese…I can’t get it out of my head.
And the video is so so sweet. I even made my husband watch it, (secretly hoping he might send me on a romantic treasure hunt for no reason at all) – a girl has still gotta dream … even after almost 9 years of marriage.
A review reads, "Far from the annoying little bug that leaves small welts from its bites, the New York City trio Mosquitos is a charming combo that enchants with a sexy mix of bossa nova and indie pop. While the music doesn’t quite swing as real bossa nova and samba does, Brazilian singer Juju’s breathy vocals (she sings in both English and Portuguese) add just the right amount of sensual authenticity. The New York contingent of Chris Root and John Marshall Smith handle light-hearted guitar, burbling Wurlitzer organ and the low budget drum machine, alternately creating an earnest bedroom pop aesthetic and a more sophisticated bossa-pop sound: imagine if Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66 had recorded at a Brooklyn apartment home studio in the new millennium. Highlights include the poppy "Rainsong," the playful bossa nova "Boombox," and the funny "Policeman," in which the protagonist is looking to bribe the officer. This self-styled bedroom bossa nova is a warm ray of light on the rainiest of afternoons." –Tad Hendrickson
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rochester’s halloween hoopla
Over 150 trick-or-treaters visited our Rochester location this Saturday and got a jump start on collecting candy from all the downtown shops.
Our bully, Samson didn’t want to miss out on the fun, so he donned his business best and greeted them at the door.
Our festive staff also got into the act. Cathy came as a mystical fairy.
While our ‘always funny’ manager, Dena sported a jack-o-lantern tee.
In addition to giving out candy, we also gave away over 50 flowers with mystery discounts for Sweetest Day.
This miniature Jolly Green Giant thought Samson was the tops.
And this little pumpkin primped lady found him to be quite fine too.
After the shops closed, all the ghouls and goblins headed over to watch Ghostbusters on the big screen. A perfect ending to a haunted afternoon.
festive fall flower boxes
Steve and I recently took a little vacation and toured part of New England. During our travels, I stumbled upon a number of fabulous window boxes and planters. I love all the colors, textures and over-flowing greens.
Here’s a little slide show of my favs…
This beauty belongs to a fabulous store, Nomad in Cambridge, MA.
The gardens around Beacon Hill in Boston were gorgeous.
A welcoming restaurant in Providence, RI.
A little town on Cape Cod.
A quaint restaurant in Newport, RI.
