super smelling soy candles

Meet Siouxsan Miller & Anne Simonetti of Green Daffodil Soy Candleworks.  We just got in a batch of their fantastic smelling candles at our Berkley store and online. 

They were recently featured in the Detroit News.  An excerpt reads, "Earlier this year, the Ferndale residents decided to start a candle company they named Green Daffodil Soy Candleworks.

Their candles, available in 4-ounce and 8-ounce metal containers, come in a variety of scents, including lemon, blackberry sage, lavender, tangerine sage and vanilla.  'Right now, we have 12, but we will change those seasonally,' says Simonetti.

She adds that their candles are made using eco-friendly products, meaning they never get sooty and allow for more fragrance.

The two will admit it took a bit of work to make their candles green.  'It was a lot of trial and error,'  remarks Simonetti.  'We probably went through 20 different wicks and six different waxes that burned well and worked well with the size containers that we're using.'

Miller says, 'Our hope is to provide people with another product that is environmentally friendly.'

They make their candles in Miller's home-based studio, and sell them at local art fairs and on Etsy for $6 and $11 depending on the size."

We're proud to carry these locally made, high quality, delicious smelling candles (hopefully they'll be available at our Rochester location soon).  So until they make a scratch-n-sniff computer monitor, I highly recommend swinging by and taking in these sweet scents for yourself!

Enjoy reading about crafty gals who follow their bliss and create great goodies for you and me? Then be sure to stay in the loop by signing up to receive these colorful posts in your email inbox!

diy street fair in ferndale

Steve and I strolled the DIY Street Fair in Ferndale this Sunday and found a few fantastic artists/entreprenuers… like Gina Adams-Levy of Peace Love & Pots.

This spring/summer she launched a successful flower pot/tray recycle program at the Northville Farmers Mkt, collecting over 500 lbs. of plastic, HALF of which was returned to appreciative farmers and the rest recycled!

She also creates these 100% recycled garden flowers by cutting & painting various plastic containers.  Who knew your sour cream container, cool whip lid, soda bottle top and black planter pot could be so stylish?

Meet another clever green guy, David Shock of ornj bags.  When we see construction fencing, he sees a material to create hip recycled bags that make a statement.

Aren’t these little drawings by Stick Nymph so sweet?

I also spotted one of our catching fireflies customers carrying this bag in our store on Satuday and just loved it.  Then I saw it in Naka, an indie boutique in Ferndale so I had to look it up and found lots more lovely goodies from this Singapore artist.

Like seeing some of my weekend adventures?  Then sign up to receive these on-the-road blog posts in your email inbox HERE!

fall old navy finds

Bright baubled ballet flats – yum yum… I finally had to indulge my purple shoe itch for the fall.  Those peacock colored ones are quite fun too!

And for those days I don’t want my bangs hanging in my face or would like a colorful belt alternative, these sweet patterned scarves are the perfect fix.

Even though I don’t have kiddies, I couldn’t resist ooohing & ahhhing over these totally practical Halloween costumes.

And what do you think… King Gus?  I’m still holding out for a large hot dog costume for our funny basset hound.

yearbook yourself

We all have those lovely photos that effortlessly scream the era you attended high school.  So why not take a walk down memory lane, or explore the time before or after your stylin’ years.  With the help of yearbook yourself you’ll be time traveling in minutes .

Recognize any of these lovely folks?  We take style seriously at catching fireflies.

Thanks Catherine for turning me on to this oh-so-funny site. 

Have fun!

Like discovering delightful gems on the web that give you a grin?  Simply subscribe to this blog and we’ll email you our latest and greatest finds. 

homemade twix bars

Want to surprise your kiddies or office mates with some sweet treats that won’t take a lot of your time?  I whipped up these fancy bars for a party this weekend and they received rave reviews!

Homemade Twix Bars

Club crackers

1 C graham cracker crumbs

3/4 C brown sugar

1/2 C sugar

1/3 C milk

1/2 C butter

2/3 C peanut butter

1 C chocolate chips

Place one layer of Club crackers on the bottom of a greased 9×13 pan.  In a large saucepan over low heat, combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, sugar, milk & butter.

Let boil for 5 minutes and pour mixture over crackers in the pan.  Cover with another layer of Club crackers.

In a microwave melt peanut butter & chocolate chips, stirring often until smooth.

Pour melted chocolate mixture over top layer of Club crackers.  Refrigerate (or throw in the freezer if you’re impatient like me) – then cut into bars.

This is just 1 of the 120 simple recipes in this No Bake Cookies, Bars & Pies recipe book. $10.50

The next new quick treat I plan on making is Jimmy Carter Cookies…

2/3 C sugar

2/3 C light corn syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

11/4 C chunky peanut butter

3 C corn flakes cereal

In large sauce pan over heat, combine sugar & corn syrup.  Bring to a boil and add vanilla & peanut butter.  Stir until mixed and gently stir in corn flakes.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper.  Cookies will harden as they cool.

Like to try new recipes in the kitchen?  We love finding sweet treats that are easy to make.  Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email inbox and pretty soon your family will be calling you queen of the kitchen!

fantastic fritatta fare

Looking for a cozy breakfast nook with fantastic food?  Make your way over to Clawson’s Fritatta at 236 S. Main Street,  (248) 280-2552.  Steve and I stopped there last Sunday afternoon and were delighted with our dishes.

I had a vegetarian fritatta (an Italian omelet) topped with fresh greens and drizzled with vinaigrette … ummmm – so tasty!

And Steve had a wonderful chicken & Brie sandwich on foccacia bread with a delicious risotto side.

A review reads, "An ambitious breakfast/lunch spot, this small place named for the Italian omelet that is one of the specialties has artistic touches in both setting and menu. Fritattas start with three eggs, herbs, shallots and white wine, with the addition of such items as wild mushrooms, cheeses, sausage and prosciutto. Other dishes include French toast, pancakes and eggs Benedict. At lunchtime, the menu includes a number of salads and sandwiches. This is not just another ham ‘n eggs spot but one that goes beyond the ordinary. – Molly Abraham

fall flair

The leaves haven’t quite started changing colors yet, but with the help of some tempera paint, carved-up boxes and some 7ft tree trunks… 

Viola!  A whimsical  forest of festive colors.

Ahhhh…pumpkin love

oh-so-charming!

Looking for a lovely little girl gift?  How ’bout starting a sweet charm bracelet for her?

I love the idea of starting with just a bracelet and one charm, then adding other ones for special occasions like dance recitals, great grades, a winning game, birthday, special holidays or just because.

We have loads of different styles for little artists, tiny dancers, soccer gals, girly girls, animal lovers and more.

We also have the entire alphabet decked out in rhinestones and birth stone themed months.

All the charms are $5 each and bracelet styles range from $6-12.

All these goodies are available at our Berkley & Rochester locations.

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!

vote for the best results are in!

Because of all your fantastic comments and votes we are proud to be runner up in this year’s Vote 4 the Best Contest. 

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

We look forward to another year of finding the best stylish & savvy gifts to brighten your day!

miz mooz shoes available in Berkley

If you’ve read any of my previous shoe posts, you know I have a bit of a love affair with Miz Mooz shoes.  I usually purchase these pretties at Infinity Shoes when I’m in New York, but I just got an email informing me that Berkley’s own, City Style is carrying these two cute styles (both of which I already own).

So next time you you swing by our Berkley location, be sure to check out these snazzy soles… just a block down from catching fireflies.