Sending Smiles ~

It's that time of year. Can you believe it's less than 2 weeks to Christmas ? It's warm outside today as I write this but it's very festive and wintry at the shop. Here's a peek into our world this month! This morning I added a table of gift ideas and stocking stuffers under $10. Candy, nuts and cookies along with ornaments, mugs, figurines and more.   This week's $5 Friday were winter bouquets of carnations, thistle berries and baby's breath.   We still have lots of Christmas signs, boxwood trees and wreaths.   Today we made a star arch for an awards breakfast.  We just got in some new jewelry like this stone necklace for only $9.99  Gold mercury glass is all the rage and we have them in different shapes and sizes.   It's the time of year when Bling is In!   Lots and lots of poinsettia's waiting to be delivered in the drivers ramp.   On December 7th we hosted a holiday centerpiece design class and the ladies...

Did you ever wonder where the tradition of hanging a wreath on your door began? Back through many cultures and religions, the hanging of a wreath, the symbol of eternal life, has been a way of celebrating happy occasions and holidays . Even during years when my husband and I were too busy to even put up a Christmas tree (yes, the florist who decorates for others does not always decorate for herself) we've always celebrated the holidays with a wreath. Each year Kevin and I do something different and it's just our way of expressing ourselves at home. Ask any floral designer and they'll tell you that creating custom holiday wreaths is one of the most fun parts of their job. Why not let us create one for you! 

Many of our regular blog readers should be familiar with our fabulous and energetic customer care coordinator Alanna! Today I caught her with a free moment and noticing how many new items we have in stock decided to pick her brain about some fresh favorites! We had a fun "Christmas In July" event last month and showcased some of the awesome new Holiday items we have; one of Alanna's top picks was this unique take on an Advent calendar/Christmas count down! The blackboard in the middle allows you and your family to track the days until "Santa comes," and the best part is, since you write in the number of days yourself you can start tracking Santa's arrival ASAP! Woo! Just because I mentioned Christmas doesn't mean it's time to lament the end of summer just yet! Alanna loved this playful and summery yellow checkered handbag and so do I! It's the perfect gift for that special someone in your life with a sunny disposition (maybe you perhaps?) and ...

Looking for a fun project to make for Christmas ? Why not make your own Boxwood Tree? During the holiday we sell tons and tons of the cute, mini Christmas trees for our customers. What's fun about them is that they last so long and if someone you know doesn't have the room for a traditional full size tree, it's a nice way to help decorate their house. They also make wonderful centerpieces for the dining room or kitchen table.  Take this one for example that Designer Holly made for a customer who wanted to send her husband a cute Anniversary arrangement, something that would last through the holiday season. Decorated with tiny cardinal birds, curly willow, cinnamon sticks, pine cones and red burlap ribbon ~ it has a very "woodsy" feel, perfect for a mans office, don't you think? Want to make your own Boxwood Tree? If you are in our area you can come to our Boxwood Tree Making Class  but if not, with a few tips, you too can make an adorable tree like t...

Just about every day we displaying more and more of our holiday gifts and aren't they cute. This tree pattern comes on a coffee mug (like this one), a tea pot, a pitcher, a cake plate ~ chip and dip combo. It's such a happy design, don't you think?  These snowmen salt and pepper shakers are such a cute gift for a secret Santa or grab bag, don't you think?  They are only $6.95!    This nativity sets has been a good seller already. What a sweet gift for a babies first Christmas.    You may have noticed that we have a new line of jewelry, scarves, head bands and now pocket books. This one is super cute and we love damask pattern and that pop of hot pink.    Rustic themed plates, pitchers and coffee mugs are super sweet and make great gifts. This plate would be adorable added to a gourmet basket or used as the base for a cookie bouquet.    Tea pots and so popular these days. Imagine this one with a super cute winter flo...

Here's the Yardley shop all decorated for the season. We started early this year because just after Thanksgiving our business ramps up for the holidays, leaving little time to decorate our own spaces!! The wreath that hangs on the front door of the Princeton Forrestal Village was created by designer Norman. A tree at the Yardley shop holds all kinds of sweet holiday gifts. Each of the Yardley staff have their own stocking, hung with care - of course! Don't forget about our free book exchange. It's completely free and we have over 350 books to choose from! This year we brought in a line of silks for the holidays. Perfect to decorate the home, wreaths and we even use many in the custom grave blankets we decorate. A newly decorated wreaths awaits delivery to a lucky family! Wreaths make nice gifts! This year we have added line of chocolates. They are made for us by a local chocolatier and have for both Hanukkah and Christmas. They have been very good sellers so far! As alwa...

It's that time of year again when folks start decorating their houses for the holidays and so we start making door wreaths and swags. Did you ever wonder where the tradition of hanging a wreath on your door began? Back through many cultures and religions, the hanging of a wreath, the symbol of eternal life, has been a way of celebrating happy occasions and holidays. Even during years when my husband and I were too busy to even put up a Christmas tree (yes, the florist who decorates for others does not always decorate for herself) we've always celebrated the holidays with a wreath. Each year Kevin and I do something different (last years wreath was square with purple ribbons and balls) and it's just our way of expressing ourselves at home. Ask any floral designer and they'll tell you that creating custom holiday wreaths is one of the most fun parts of their job. Why not let us create one for you!!

Let's face it, if you are in retail, your life is very hard during the holidays. Just as the office people are getting time off to go shopping and cook, those of us working retail are working long hours with little sleep and socializing. But that being said, we do manage to find some time to have some fun and goof off. Even Kevin and I, who work more than our employees (to the tune of 80 hours + at this time of year), still manage to see friends, go Christmas light looking, eat out and go to the mall. Hard to believe, but true! This past weekend our area got about 14 inches of snow. The staff all dug out and made it in safely and the flower production began!! Today Sheryl started the transition of the window displays from Christmas to Winter. Why so early? Mainly because we have sold so much of our Christmas product, there is nothing to display in the window! That's a good thing being over the next two days, the Christmas product must roll out and make room for Valentine...

Maybe it's just me but it's not Christmas until the lovely poinsettia's arrive. Just before Thanksgiving we start bringing in these colorful plants and all through out December they arrive, get displayed and then get sold. The shop looks so empty when they are all gone and it's so sad!! I thought it might be helpful to post some Do's and Don't for poinsettia care. Thanks to the Paul Ecke Ranch for providing me with this information!! The Do's and Don'ts of Poinsettia Care DO place your plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. If direct sun can't be avoided, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain. DO provide room temperatures between 68 - 70° F. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia. DO water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch. DO use a large, roomy shopping bag to protect your plant when transporting it. DON'T place plants near cold drafts or excessive heat. Av...