Sending Smiles ~

It's that time of year again ~ the holiday shopping season has begun and judging by the mall parking lots on Black Friday, it's going to be a busy one. Have you considered where you shop ? If you haven't you should. Here's a few stats to show how you can play an important role in your community by shopping small independently owned businesses!  I know you've heard it before but shopping at locally owned small businesses really can make a difference in your community. You might ask how and this photo below shows the story. Consider a small business like mine. When I need to get something printed, I used my local printer Ed at Document Depot. When I need to get one of my 4 delivery vans fixed, I use a local garage ~ Fowlers in Princeton - Gary is the best! When I buy my yummy chapsticks that we give out to our customers, I use Jim at Browndog Marketing. Each of the business has employees who work for them, so my purchases help keep people employed. So you get the...

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a day  dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide. Last year,  over one hundred million people* came together to Shop Small® in  their communities on Small Business Saturday®. Small Business Saturday is a day for everyone — from the business owners who create jobs to the customers who buy locally — to support small businesses that invigorate the economy and keep communities thriving. It began in 2010 when American Express founded Small Business Saturday to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. Last year, over 100 million people came out to shop at independently-owned small businesses on the day. Now, in its third year,  Small Business Saturday  will be even bigger.  This November 26th, support the small businesses in your community! 

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...

Happy Saturday! I sincerely hope everyone out there had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I did! For us today really kicks off the season of holiday buying and it's starts with Small Business Saturday . Today has us offering 25% everything in the store and we offered a discount to our online shoppers as well.  Admittedly our holiday season tends to get stronger the closer the holiday comes with our strength being our ability to help our customers send holiday love at the last minute.   It's still fun for us to start decking the halls (although we don't formally decorate our shops until the first week of December) and we have lots of holiday themed house and giftwares available. The winter and Christmas themed holiday wreaths, centerpieces and poinsettia orders will start hot and heavy by Mid Decembe r too.   We've had a few browser in our Princeton and Yardley shops today and truthfully with most folks still shopping at the malls, we often pick up those...

Who says a floral design has to have tons of flowers to be memorable. Take this floral design as an example. Created using 1 stem of purple butterfly aster, 4 stems of lavender daises, 1 rose, half a hand full of foliage and purple moss with 3 simple butterflies and there you have it. An adorable floral design that looks super cute, is a nice size and is sure to bring a smile. The retail value on this design is just under $30 but imagine this being used on a buffet table for a party or even as a centerpiece. Know someone who could use a lift, this design is sure to bring a smile and make them feel loved. Birthday flowers for your favorite young lady? This will do it, don't you agree? The next time you need flowers , don't assume you have to spend big bucks to make a big impact. Just give your favorite florist some free rein and let them create something special just for you! Remember to keep it local ~ please order your flowers from a local independent business owner an...

Small Business Saturday is November 29th this year. Where will you be shopping ? We'd love to know!  Remember, money spent in your local community stays in your community! 

We know Christmas is right around the corner but we could not resist these amazing and colorful flowers. Haven't heard about our $5 Flower Friday's? Each Friday we offer the freshest most amazing flower bouquets for only $5. Perfect timing for the weekend, this weeks flower are alstroemeria. They big bouquets are extremely colorful and long lasting and the perfect way to being a big of color into your home this weekend. Want to be notified via text each Friday about what flower we are offering that day? Just text the word FRIDAY to 555888 and we'll add you to our text list! You can also find our specials by visiting our Facebook Pages - www.facebook.com/localflorist for our Princeton NJ flower shop or www.facebook.com/sendingsmiles for our Yardley PA flower shop. 

We are excited to announce our participation in the 1st annual "Summer Market" put on by Tre Piani and LocalChatBox .  On June 23rd from 11AM-3PM, come to Tre Piani and get great deals from over 30 local vendors as well as great food from one of the best restaurants in town.  The Summer Market is a rain or shine event and will feature discounts, giveaways, and family fun activities for all ages.  Find anything from professional hair care products to baby clothes, jewelry, shoes, pet products, cookware, kids toys, name brand purses and of course, don't forget your flowers ! With over 30 vendors participating in the Summer Market, shop with Metropolis Spa Salon of Princeton, Dipes 'n Duds, La Sophia, Oragami Owl (a personal favorite!), Premier, Stella and Dot, Jersey Barefoot Sandal Line, Adorable Doos of North Brunswick.  Bring the kids to meet the mascot "Bubbles" from The Learning Experience Princeton.  There will also be tarot card readings, and the fo...

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a day  dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide. Last year,  over one hundred million people* came together to Shop Small® in  their communities on Small Business Saturday®. Small Business Saturday is a day for everyone — from the business owners who create jobs to the customers who buy locally — to support small businesses that invigorate the economy and keep communities thriving. It began in 2010 when American Express founded Small Business Saturday to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. Last year, over 100 million people came out to shop at independently-owned small businesses on the day. Now, in its third year, Small Business Saturday will be even bigger.  This November 24th, support the small businesses in your community! 

Well, this photos is quite alarming isn't it. The roses on the right were delivered by a local florist. The one on the left, however was shipped in a box. Below is the wording posted, along with this photo, on the Facebook Page of my floral wholesaler. And I quote them: "TowersFlowers vs "Online Flowers" - this is a picture everyone should post on their personal pages so friends and family can understand why they need to purchase flowers from a retail shop this Valentine's Day.   The "arrangement" on the left, purchased from a well known online order gatherer, ended up costing $82.95...$28 UPS charge, $10 "long stem" upgrade, and $4.99 vase upgrade. Don't let your customers, friends, and family be disappointed this Valentine's Day…they deserve better!" Obviously, someone who works there did a test order. One from a local florist who hand delivered the roses on the right and the second one from a well known online webs...

Have you heard? Have you heard the word? Saturday, November 27th is Small Business Saturday. What is this you wonder? Small Business Saturday is a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S. Saturday, we urge you to shop small, shop often and shop local. Not all floral delivery sites online are local florists. We urge you to use "Local Florists" who actually arrange and deliver flowers direct from their shops. Unsure if someone you want to order flowers through is local? Check out their About Us page, check out their address. Is there a address local? Do they even show their address? If not, please find a shop that does. Society of American Florists hosts a great directory at   http://nationalfloristdirectory.com/ We hope to see you Saturday!!

Did you even know there was such a thing? I didn't but I know now that August 1st - August 7th is Farmer's Market week. How fun is that? What a wonderful reminder that during the summer months to take advantage of all the fresh fruits, veggies and even flowers being sold at local stands! My husband and I especially love the Trenton Farmers Market. What fun it is buying a bit of this and that and seeing face to face the farmers that grew these amazing crops. I know I look a bit strange arriving with my huge camera in tow but hey, it's worth it when I get great shots, like this one. Support your local community by buying local to where you live. Your local farmers and businesses will thank you for it!!

Wow, it's almost August and the tropical flowers are in demand. Orchids, Ginger, Bird of Paradise and even these huge Heliconia flowers are in the shop this week. Yup, that's me in this funny self portrait trying to show you how big this flower is. It's only fitting when the weather gets hot that we think about palm trees and island florals, right? Heliconia, how cool are they? Heliconia is named after Mount Helicon, the seat of the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts and sciences in Greek mythology. Heliconia, also popularly known as lobster-claw, wild plantain or false bird-of-paradise, is a beautiful flower with multi-color bracts and varied flower structure.They have bracts are so large and colorful that they almost hide the flowers altogether. This keeps the flower's sweet nectar from other birds so that only specialized birds can get to it. Heliconia grow from 3 to 30 feet! Next time you are looking for a single bloom or two for a special vase, why not consi...