sloppy joes a-la nicole
I love when our customers send us photos or stories about gifts they received or memorable experiences they’ve had at catching fireflies. Here’s one that warmed my heart.
"I just wanted to let you know I really love your store and website! Everything is so creative and I can always count on a visit bringing a smile to my face. My husband also loves browsing your store, which is not always the case in stores I like to go to.
A while ago I purchased an a.i. paper design recipe stand and lucky me a recipe for Sloppy Joes came with and I just so happened to have some ground beef defrosted and I didn’t know what I was making for dinner. So I used my new recipe and we loved it!"
A big fan,
Nicole Dula
Sloppy Joes
2 lb. ground beef
1 C. diced onion
1 C. diced celery
2 T. vinegar
4 T. brown sugar
1 T. mustard
1 ½ C. catsup
1 C. water
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
½ C. oatmeal
Brown the first three ingredients, then add other items. Simmer one hour, stirring occasionally. Serve up with sesame buns and potato chips for an easy meal!
elf yourself = lots of laughs
When I first stumbled upon this site it perked my curiosity. So I pasted my head in the ‘elf-o-matic’ and in matter of seconds I was dancing a jolly old jig to celebrate the season.
My husband and I were laughing so hard; we immediately uploaded pictures of our store managers (because they just love the spotlight) and decided to spread the holiday cheer to all of you!
Here are our silly jigs…
Danielle – Berkley catching fireflies
Dena – Rochester catching fireflies
WARNING: this site is very addictive and will put a smile on any Grinch’s face.
detroit free press – twist feature
I’d like to thank Kristin Bull of Twist for writing this lovely feature about us for the holiday season. You can find the stiletto cake server, wine tasting kit, hot chocolate mug set, pedicure foot cozy and fireplace dvd on our website.
berkley lights parade
The lanes of Twelve Mile were lit up with lots of bright floats for the 2nd Annual Lights Parade last Saturday. Here are a few shots of the festivities that passed by our storefront.
tabitha clog
Steve and I took a stroll downtown Rochester last Saturday evening to enjoy the Big Bright Light Show and I stopped in one of the new shoe stores, Sole Sisters… when I saw these warm & cozy clogs. They only had a couple of pairs left and lucky for me one of them was my size. They were so cute and comfortable… I couldn’t resist. Plus, they’re perfect solution to keep my toes warm and toasty during these frigid days.
signature 48309 magazine – holiday 2006
April McCrumb’s whimsical gift gallery, Catching Fireflies (she opened her Rochester store last April and a Berkley location in 2000), features an eclectic mix of artsy trinkets and one-of-a-kind finds. McCrumb’s home in Beverly Hills is, not surprisingly, much the same. “I’ve loved making art ever since I was a child,” the self-taught artist says. And through trading her work with other artists, she has amassed a unique contemporary folk art collection.
In her TV room, on top of a well-worn turquoise chest of drawers, a charming wooden cat (with bottle caps for eyes) by Kansas City artist Anthony Pack shares space with a floralpatterned eyeglass-shaped picture frame and a red wooden dog, balancing on his two front legs and holding a yellow ball. A black-and-white photo of McCrumb’s grandparents nestles in a frame she created out of stained wood, handmade paper and grosgrain ribbon. “I love putting things together,” McCrumb says.
Signature 48309 Magazine By: Judith Harris Solomon – Photo by: Daniel Lippitt
crazy and creative christmas lights
All I have to say is… these people obviously have a LOT of time on their hands and must LOVE Christmas. Thank goodness they’re not my neighbors, but I have to appreciate the abundance of creativity that has gone into these quite amazing light shows.
And you wonder what goes into displays like this… pure craziness (as you’ll see below) I mean, I get frustrated when only half of my light strand lights up!
don’t miss the big bright light show!
The Rochester catching fireflies was hoppin’ this past Monday evening when we celebrated the opening night of The Big Bright Light Show.
There were loads of festivities offered throughout downtown… store discounts, holiday tunes, Mr. & Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, carriage rides, beautiful carolers and of course… the lights.
I have to tell you, a bit of holiday magic swirled in my heart as I was walking down the sidewalk that evening. It is something to be seen… these pictures are just a glimpse of the two blocks of store fronts covered in over a half million twinkling lights.
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to come visit our Rochester location… THIS IS IT! Starting Monday, Dec. 4 we’ll be open until 8 pm Monday – Friday so come on out… buy some cute holiday gifts and enjoy this spectacular light show.
merry miz mooz christmas
Miz Mooz is one of my favorite brands of shoes. I always receive multiple compliments whenever I wear them; they’re stylish, yet comfortable and are great quality.
Whenever I’m in New York I always stop at Infinity Shoes to see the latest styles and pick up a pair or two. Since we’re in the Christmas season I thought these red wedges and green boots would be fun to feature since their so festive. So throw out your boring brown and black shoes this winter and sport these colorful soles when you attend your holiday parties.
mina lees makes us laugh
Meet Mina Lee. She is a collage artist that specializes in mixing old family photos with her funny bone… and boy is she good at it. (just you wait and see… you’ll be laughing by the end of this article) Here’s a little bit about her…
"It’s so rewarding to see someone pick up a greeting card or place a piece of original art on their wall and step back with a smile. Bringing joy and laughter to people is the real basis of my art.
As a young Mom raising three kids, I started doing original paintings and mixed media collages between Spaghettios and soccer games.
As my kids grew so did my commitment to bring a unique kind of art to people who would relish the idea of sharing it with a friend or putting a piece on their wall in just the right place.
The reason you can relate to my artwork and greeting card line is because I’ve been through a lot of the same experiences you have. Just like you, I’m trying to keep smiling and endeavoring to find the wonder through the every day. It’s our job to enjoy the journey!
I know what it feels like to get older, be married, raise kids, have more bills than money at the end of the month, and try to make a difference in my time on the planet. I also know what it’s like to be a breast cancer survivor and all the lessons and triumphs that
bittersweet experience holds.
Life is very short. Let’s have some fun, laugh a lot, celebrate and most of all… let everyone you care about know that you love them. And don’t forget to be good to yourself along the way."
Both of our stores carry a large variety of Mina’s cards. Our online store also carries a few of her funny magnets. If you don’t live near one of our locations, you can also purchase her giddy goods on her website.
