12 inspiring ways to start the new year

Whatever your resolutions may be, it's always healthy to look at the next year with a renewed hope.  Here are few goodies that inspire our catching fireflies team…

This book is great way to say thank you to someone who has in someway touched your life. Whether it be the mailman who tromps through the snow to get your mail to you, a teacher who endures your angelic child or a friend who is true blue.  Thank you book $13.50

You know the saying; "time flies when you're having fun". Well, time flies regardless and what better way to express it than by wearing a cool bracelet that reminds you to "enjoy the moment". I love this bracelet – it just says it all.  Enjoy the Moment Bracelet $17.95

I love this funny little magnet. I think it is perfect to stick in a card and mail to a friend to put a smile on their face!  Life is Tough Magnet $5.00

There are lots of things I'm wishing for in 2009 and if all goes well, this little bracelet may help them come true! Angel Wings Make a Wish Bracelet $24.50

This time of year and in these hard times always reminds me of the things I am blessed with and thankful for. This cute little jar helps remind me of all my blessings from the years past. Blessings Jar $24.95

With the hectic holiday season coming to a close, my new year's resolution is to appreciate simple joys. I think this tiny "peace" fortune cookie necklace is a wonderful daily reminder to take a step back and just breath. Fortune Cookie Necklace $32.95

I bought a package of these and my son got such a kick out of them! What a great way to show your kids you care. Lunch Notes $5.75

I still have a lot of things I would like to accomplish in my life and what better way to do it but to write it down and post it where I will see it every day. And if it doesn't get done, yesterday or today, it's always there for tomorrow, no matter what year. Accomplish Pad $6.50

I love Spooner Creek tiles, they are so original and dreamlike. I love the swirls, scrolls and nature-inspired elements. I have given a number of them as gifts and the recipient is always thrilled! Follow your Heart Tile $28.50

a stylish reminder to be enjoyed everyday(for you or someone you love)–the winged heart is my absolute favorite :) Inspirational Necklaces $36.50

The "make your mark" pewter pencil makes a great gift to remind someone to take chances, be daring, and never settle for ordinary while at work.  Pewter Pencil $14.00

I don't know about you, but all of life's little distractions seem to fill up my days at a steady pace. Having this affirmation in prominent place helps remind me to stay focused on the big picture. Quotable Magnet $5.00

What inspires you?  Feel free to comment below.

Do you like seeking out interesting gifts that inspire? 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!

biscotti by bess

For the holidays, our Rochester team member, Bess brought over a fantastic tray of delicious baked goods including some scrumptious biscotti.  With all the sweet treats offered during Christmas, it was nice to indulge in a snack that wasn't super sugary. 

lovely tunes by Lenka

Just by the looks of this album cover, I knew I'd like the music inside.  And the video of her first release, The Show is just as lovely.  Also dig this song, Don't Let Me Fall.

A review reads, "Although Lenka's debut is rife with broken romances, self-loathing, difficult relationships and long distance longing, it is nevertheless uplifting. Channeling our long-repressed terrors her music evokes primal emotions, unblemished by pretense or cynicism – and unashamed of cracking a smile occasionally.

In characteristic Lenka fashion, lead single "The Show" takes a dour premise – that life is a show, and sometimes a pretty bad one at that – and delivers it with unexpected aplomb, erupting into a bold, brassy closing refrain of "I want my money back!" Lenka's fresh sensibility extends to every element of her music, as the whimsical, paper art, stop-motion animated videos she creates with fellow Aussie James Gulliver Hancock, a visual artist, demonstrate. "We're sort of an art duo. I'm really into craft styles, things looking a bit badly done and childlike on purpose – rather in the vein of Michel Gondry," she says. Others may struggle to get in touch with their inner child; Lenka never lost hers." –Dennis Scanland

Like discovering peppy tunes tunes that get your feet-a-tappin'?  Simply subscribe to this blog and we'll email you our latest and greatest finds.

a peak at some of my presents

I hope all of you had a delightful Christmas filled with wide smiles. Isn't it just as fun to give the perfect present as it is to receive it?  Here's a snapshot of what landed under my tree this year.

Lots of lovely goodies from Etsy like this felted bird nest ring with 3 little sewn pearl beads in the center.  It's my new favorite ring!

And sticking with the bird theme, this sweet pocket mirror.  Just what I need to check for those pesky poppy seeds after my morning bagel.

Then back to the fiber theme with felted soap… isn't this so cool?  It's soap and a scrub in one. The wool gently ex-foliates your skin and the soap lasts longer then regular soap.

Here are some more handmade gems from my talented friends like this groovy snowman ornament.  It came packaged on this vintage bingo card – such a savvy presentation!

And these resin butterfly earrings.  I love the turquoise and red contrast – it's such a striking combination.

Steve & I already indulged in this homemade pancake mix on Christmas morning.  I love this idea paired with a specialty syrup for neighborhood gifts.  So yummy and perfect to enjoy during lazy holiday break mornings.

Of course our Basset Hound Gus got some holiday treats too… and packaged in an adorable handmade bottle – so sweet.  He also had a wonderful donation made in his name to the Michigan Basset Rescue.

And a dog treat for us… this super interesting dvd about the origin of dogs and how they've changed over the years.

Ahhhhhh… Ahava – my favorite mineral body lotion.

I really enjoyed Rob Bell's first book, Velvet Elvis so my sweetie surprised me with his second, Sex God. 

And finally, now with Mr. Mayer's latest dvd, I can have him sing to me in the comfort of my very own living room any time of the day!

Thank you friends and family for all the lovely gifts this season.  They warm my heart.

Did you give or receive a special gift this holiday season?  We'd love to hear about it – we invite you to share in the comments below.

fox 2 gift segment 12.20.08

I had the opportunity to chat with Deena Centofanti from Fox 2 about some charitable gift ideas.  Steve caught me running through my spiel before the cameras started rolling.  But here's the real deal:

christmas memory

I received this sweet e-game  created by Jacquie Lawson in my inbox and thought I'd share the fun.  To be honest with you, I forgot how enjoyable a little game of memory was – plus you get a delightful animated picture of a winter scene at the end.

The talented artist behind these has many other delightful ecards available to view.  They are wonderful works of charming animation and worth the load time.  

Christmas Visitors is one of my favorites.

Thanks Ellen for sharing this sweet site with me.

Like discovering delightful gems on the web that brighten your day?  Simply subscribe to this blog and we'll email you our latest and greatest finds.

oreos + cream cheese + white chocolate = yummm

So I overheard my brother-in-law raving about these 'Oreo balls' at Thanksgiving and had to google them to see what they were all about.

The ingredient list was super simple and sounded pretty tasty so I made them for our staff Christmas party this year… and they were a BIG hit!

So here's what you need:

1 package of original Oreos

1- 8 oz bar of cream cheese 

1 bag of white chocolate chips + 1 tbls of shortening

First crush the oreos into fine crumbs.

Whip up the cream cheese it becomes fluffy.

Hand mix in the crushed Oreos and roll 1 inch balls and place them on wax paper. (makes 20-30 balls)  Place in fridge or freezer for a bit.

Melt the chocolate & shortening in the microwave and dip the balls in the chocolate.  I chose not to completely cover them because they are already sinfully rich.  Place in fridge or freezer to set.

Store in fridge and serve them up.  Since they are so rich, they're perfect to package like candies and treat your office mates & neighbors.

There are also lots of variations you could put together by using different sandwich cookies or chocolates.  Be creative!

Like to try new sweet treats in the kitchen?  We love finding scrumptious recipes. Don't miss out on our future finds… simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email inbox!

hand drawn holidays

Meet Theresa Davio of Ferndale, Michigan.  During the day she makes all the Ransom Quotes at our design studio, but in her free time she draws delightful scenes like these….

She is particularly know among her family & friends for her famous Christmas cards.  Every year she designs a new card and just recently she started offering them on etsy.

These are a few of my favorites. 

After all, who wouldn’t love a sincere squirrel offering his prize acorn or fly snowman wishing you a hip-hop-holiday?

Enjoy reading about talented women who create art? Then stay in the loop by signing up to receive these colorful posts in your email inbox!

lovely gifts come in little boxes

We just got a big box of beads and baubles in at our Rochester & Berkley locations.  Here’s a sneak peak of what got added to our sparkling jewelry section…  

Black and white are always a safe choice when choosing a gift for someone on your list.

However, if you know someone likes color, we’ve got that covered too.

These dainty pastel gem bracelets are only $14.95 each.

And these sweet sterling silver ones are too.

Priced at only $16.95, these delicate looking crystal necklaces make a lovely little stocking stuffer.

Warm neutrals are always a nice pick as well.  These unusual thread necklaces with scattered beads retail for $33.50

And ending with some cooler tones.  I love green… it goes with so much.

Unfortunately these styles aren’t available online as we only have a few of each design.

Want to see what our UPS man has been bringing to our back door?  Then sign up to receive these colorful blog posts in your email inbox… window shopping has never been so easy!

oh-so-sweet houses

Steve & I were invited to a creative Christmas party over the weekend and had a jolly good time.  The gracious host made up a bunch of graham cracker houses and icing ahead of time and our job was to bring candy to bling out our homes.

Our houses were glued together by melting straight sugar in a pan (stirring constantly) and dipping the edges in, then sticking them to the base or sides to create a house shape.  The benefit of doing it this way is that it sticks instantly… where as icing needs a longer time to set.  These videos also has some helpful tips.

Since everyone brought different candy, the choices were plentiful. Pouring the candy into cups made it easy to see all our options.  We used ziploc baggies with a tiny hole cut in the corner to apply our frosting.

Even Steve got serious about blinging out his house… that is until Fantasy Football conversations heated up across the room.

Now that’s a sweet lookin’ neighborhood!

I had so much fun.  It was the very first time I ever made a gingerbread house (well, graham cracker house technically)

We have so many creative gals that work at catching fireflies, I think we might have to roll this fun activity into our staff Christmas party next year.

After the party, I trimmed my paper plate platform and added some marshmallows for a little landscape.  And viola…  my little house of Christmas love – just in time for our 10 year anniversary on the December 19th!

Have any of your holiday parties packed a creative punch?  We love to hear about festive ideas.  Please share with us by leaving a comment below.

We love finding fun projects that inspire creativity…  what – you too?  Then don’t delay and sign up to receive these hip blog posts in your email inbox today!