our kitchen picks

Most kitchens get an extra work-out this time of year.  See a few goodies that our team likes for the busiest room in the house.

Tired of the same old boring cookies at your cookie exchange? Now you can bring something new, extra tasty and extra festive with this book. Makes a great gift or buy the book for yourself and then give the cookies as gifts!  Cookie Swap $12.95

Good thing our pets are so cute because we all know about the added hair “seasoning”. I love this mug too because it’s larger than your average mug, which means more tea for me on these cold nights.  Dog  Hair Mug $14.95

A perfect way to make iced coffee! They don’t water down your coffee and are very easy to use.   Cool Beans Ice Tray $9.95

With winter right around the corner soup is definitely going to be something I will be eating a lot of. This cook book is full of great tasting recipes that are sure to keep you warm all winter!  500 Soups $16.95

A fun and masculine way to have a drink. My hubby loves these because they don’t water down his favorite drink. Great gift for someone or yourself!  On The Rocks Set $34.95

I bought this for the heat lover in the house and it most certainly delivered. They put the habanero peppers separately so you can control the heat. It was delicious!  Ass Kickin Chili Fixins $6.95

This is a great item to have and to give. I have it hanging in my kitchen to use and it also provides a great laugh! “I thank God for my children every day.  Without them I’d never have known how well red wine complements chicken nuggets”  Erin Smith Flour Sack Towel $9.95

What a lovely addition to any room. Whether you need to be reminded about your Soccer or Basketball practice or just perfect for an “I Love You”, to start the day.   Chalkboard Wall Sticker $12.95

I love when I find a gift that is clever, personal, functional & stylish… and this wine cork trivet kit fits the bill perfectly.  Wine Cork Trivet $13.95

These are perfect for packing cupcakes in your lunch. No more frosting smeared all over the place. Cupcake To-Go Container $4.95

Do you like seeing what team catching fireflies is loving? We’re happy to share some of our favorite finds.  Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you’ll be in the loop & get our latest scoop.

open hands delivery

I wanted to thank all our firefly fans for helping us collect over 250 pounds of food for Open Hands Food Pantry this season.

The volunteer team was very happy to add all your cans & boxes to their shelves.  Many Oakland county families will benefit from your graciousness.

holiday herbed cheese spread

In addition the all the fixins I made for Thanksgiving dinner, I also put together a few snacks that our family could eat later on in the day like this simple, fresh tasting cheese spread.  It was really easy to make & will definitely go in my ‘take to a party’ file for future gatherings.

Ingredients

• 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8-oz.) package feta cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 garlic clove, chopped finely
• crackers or mini toasts

Then put the rest of the ingredients in a bowl & blend with an electric mixer at a medium speed for 2-3 minutes until smooth.

I used one large ramekin (14oz I think) But you can use a couple smaller ones or any dish that would work as a simple mold.  Then chill it over night.

I surrounded my spread with the extra fresh tarragon for a fancy look.  Then just add your favorite crackers or toast.  The lemon gives it a really clean & fresh taste making it seem far more sophisticated than what it really is.

And ta-dah…. all pretty for the party. Just grab a spreader & dive in.

4 days of deals

The countdown to Christmas is on & we’re kicking off the season of shopping with 4 fantastic days of deals.

After a jam-packed day of aerobic level shopping, we’ve  got a feeling that you might need to take some time to unwind.  That’s why we’re giving you a shower burst with any purchase over $30 all day Friday.  Whether you’ve got a headache, are battling a cold or just need a little clarity… we hope a hot shower filled with aromatic steam will help keep you sane – at least until Saturday.

Web orders, please mention what free shower burst you’d like in the comments section of your order.

Our Berkley & Rochester locations are open from 10-6 on Friday, November 25. (we also offer free in-store pick-up for all online orders)

In celebration of Small Business Saturday, American Express is giving you a $25 credit on your account when you shop at a small business on Saturday, November 26.  All you have to do is register your card HERE & spend $25 or more at our Berkley or Rochester locations or even online!

Our Berkley & Rochester locations are open from 10-6 on Saturday, November 26. (we also offer free in-store pick-up for all online orders)

Did you know all of these handmade paper frames, collages, home accessories & magnets are made right here in Royal Oak?  Support locally made goods & save BIG Sunday only!  Take advantage of this deal at our Berkley & Rochester locations & online ~ coupon code: HANDMADE

Our Berkley & Rochester locations are open from 12-5 on Sunday, November 27. (we also offer free in-store pick-up for all online orders)

Shop online Monday to get the best selection & score FREE SHIPPING using coupon code: FREESHIP

Like seeing what sweet deals we’re offering at catching fireflies? Stay in the loop by signing up to receive these tempting posts in your email inbox!

10 hip hostess gifts

If you’re traveling for turkey day & would like to bring something to thank the host or hostess for whipping up a terrific tasting meal, we’ve gotta few goodies that they might like…1.  Add to your host’s hors d’oeuvres by bringing a block of your favorite brie & gift it with this tasty cranberry almond brie baker set. $24.95 (great for evening snacking as well)

2.  Give your hostess an oven glove that will make her feel glamorous as she’s pulling the pumpkin pie out of the oven. $15.95

3.  After days of slaving away in the kitchen, you’re hostess deserves to kick back & take in the relaxing scents of fall with these milkhouse candles. $12.95

4.  Help your host keep the conversation interesting by drawing a few cards from this Table Topics box. $25

5.  If you host likes the art of the prank, this extendable fork could be quite the humorous hit at the dinner table.  It’s also great for roasting marshmallows in the fireplace for a sweet evening treat. $6.95

6.  Another unique hostess gift is poo-pourri.  Give a good laugh and practical spray that will eradicate any poo smells that try to escape your hostess’ loo. $9.95

7.  Dishes are never fun, but at least these cute gloveables will help you accomplish the task in style.  Bring an extra pair for yourself & help the host clean up the kitchen twice as fast. $14.95

8.   Let your hostess in on the secret of drying dishes at a rapid rate by giving them this flour sack towel. Besides being cute, it’s large, very absorbent & gets your dishes dry fast.  $9.95

9.  Treat your hostess to some relaxation after the big feast.  These shower bursts will transform her shower into a spa like experience.  $3.95 each

10.  Assist your host in transitioning to the next holiday by giving her this survival milk chocolate bar.  It very well could come in handy during their weekend shopping extravaganza.

Do you like seeking out thoughtful gifts that bring bright smiles? We’re happy to share some of our clever ideas.  Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you’ll be the best gift giver around!

coffee filter snowflake scene

I get inspiration for my store windows from many things, people & places… one of them being Anthropologie.  I blogged about these amazing windows I saw in New York in the summer of 2008.

The thing I love about Anthropologie is they always use common things like cups, books, bags, plastic bottles, cupcake liners… and turn them into amazing art installations.  Unfortunately I don’t have a team of artists on call to implement such grand displays, however I do try to put my own simple spin on things… so here are my cupcake liner/coffee filter strings of snowflakes.

I picked up a couple different sizes of coffee filters & cupcake liners.  I love the idea of cutting the coffee filters into more interesting circular shapes for added interest, but since I’m one gal making  10+ strings of these I passed on that detail.  Now the fun part – stack your shapes & styles of snowflakes…

Note… curling ribbon melts when placed on very hot glue so wait a few seconds to let it cool before applying ribbon or use a different kind of ribbon/string that won’t melt with heat.

Since our store windows are rather tall, I made these pretties 7-8 feet long.  I also chose not to flatten some of the liners & filters for varying looks.

When they are hung in groups, they really have a whimsical flair which makes them a perfect window display for our fun-lovin’ store… “walkin’ in a whimsical winter wonderland”

Like to see what goes on behind the scenes at catching fireflies?  Then sign up to receive snazzy blog posts like these in your email inbox HERE

paper dolls & pretty windows

I have to say part of the inspiration for our holiday windows this year came from an art exhibition Tessa was invited to model for this past September.  The artist behind Paper Dolls is Matthew Richmond of Ferndale & he transforms yesterday’s news into amazing dresses of all kinds.

I employed the whole fam to help me get all the goods ready to dress the windows ~in case you ever wondered what we do for fun on a Thursday night  (…too bad Gus doesn’t have opposable thumbs otherwise he’d also be making oodles of garlands)

Now that we had all our decorations made, I asked Tessa to create her own ‘paper doll’ dress with our tissue & wrapping paper.

I made one too…

And after we squeezed everybody in….

Ta-dah!  Two gals that really know how to make Christmas merry & bright.

Like to see what goes on behind the scenes at catching fireflies?  Then sign up to receive snazzy blog posts like these in your email inbox HERE

celebrating small business saturday

Everybody knows that Black Friday is all about big box store sales and Cyber Monday is full of online deals, but did you know there’s a new day that celebrates small businesses?  Saturday, November 26 is the 2nd Annual Small Business Saturday.

Small businesses generated 64% of new jobs created over the past 15 years.  Celebrate their contribution to our communities by pledging to shop small.  As a thank you choosing to support independent stores, all American Express card users who register their card HERE by November 26, 2011 will get a credit of $25 on their statement when they make a purchase with their card at stores like catching fireflies & yellow door art market on Small Business Saturday.

We’re so grateful that we were able to start our small business in Berkley over 11 years ago & also were able to expand our whimsical world to downtown Rochester.

Thank you firefly fans for being part of our small business story.  Cheers to celebrating many more Small Business Saturdays with you.

caramel apple flower

I sampled this tasty fall treat at a friend’s birthday party this weekend & was immediately hooked.  Plus I love that it only has 5 ingredients, is simple to make & looks lovely on a party table.

Here’s what you’ll need…

a tub of apple caramel dip (you won’t use it all)

8oz block of cream cheese

2 tablespoons of brown sugar

2-3 Heath bars

4-5 granny smith apples (the tartness pairs well with the dip mix)

Mix the cream cheese & brown sugar together until fluffy.  Spread in a circle in the middle of a serving plate.  Top with a layer of caramel dip.  Then cover with chopped bits of the Heath candy bars.  Cut the apples into thin slices & place them around the dip.

Ta-dah!  A sunflower-esque presentation that looks quite stunning & is super delicious to snack on.

grateful heart giveaway

With Thanksgiving just 2 weeks away, we’re offering up some sweet goodies to celebrate the art of gratitude like this journal, reminder bracelet & a hand-crafted little wisdom collage which reads, “What the heart gives away is never gone, it is kept in the hearts of others.” ($59.40 value)

So how can you get these grateful goodies for free?

There are 3 ways to enter – you can do 1,2 or all 3 to better your chances (and the facebook post option is worth 2 points:-)

We’ll draw a lucky firefly fans names on Thursday, November 17th, 2011 and the winners will be listed on this post.

Have fun, good luck and thanks for playing!

Don’t want to miss out on future fantastic firefly giveaways?  Be sure to stay in the loop  by signing up here and we’ll email our fun-filled blog posts to your inbox!