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Hi all, sorry I have not posted lately. I was gone on another trip to the big apple for spring and summer 2009 product search for the boutique. While there are many buying shows for retailers to attend year round all over the U.S. and Europe, NY is still my favorite. Attending trade shows are so much fun and exciting, but I swear if they keep getting bigger I may have to hire additional employees just to try and cover most of the show. I was so worn down and pooped when I got back home to California. I will begin posting some of our great finds that will be available in the boutique in the months to come.
So check by shortly.

I was feeling a bit Springy!! Today the weather was quite warm for January. I was getting ready to put on my boots when I realized it was going to be a bit warm today. I could not quite find anything I wanted to wear in my closet so I went online and found some interesting ones by Pedshoes.com. These beautiful shoes are of fine quality Made in Spain. Oh, and you might have to break into your piggy bank to pay for them

What's Hot 2009. It is in all the decor magazines and news reports that white is back. Many are suggesting that the situation with the economy has a lot to do with it. They are suggesting that many people are going back to basics and are not in the mood for vibrant colors. Well weather this is actually true or not it does bring an image to mind of the era of the great depresssion and the images of men, women and children wearing nothing but whites and neutrals. So, are we going to be wearing and decorating our homes this year based on how the economy is effecting us?

I would hope not. Now, I for one prefer and love neutrals but would hope these colors would not suggest that 2009 will be a depressing year for us all. I see it the other way. I see various shades of whites and neutrals are actually a beautiful celebration of a new and fresh and hopeful year to come. Something of a new beginning. I believe that as the warmer months get closer, we will slowly begin to incorporate more gentle and dominant colors that will be mixed into these beautiful neutral shades.

Above and below you will find beautiful examples of what I think are lovely ways of using neutrals this year.
I chose these images from EmmasBlog because they were wonderful examples of real decorating for the common folks. Simple decorating that has not been overly styled and created for perfect images that go into national decorating magazines. The simplicity of the images showcase that you can have style and comfort at any price range. Too me all of these images represent a luxurious lifestyle but not in the traditional stuffy decor that you usually think of when the word luxury is attached. I hope you will enjoy and find ways in 2009 to bring a sense of comfort and style into your home.

Coming Feb. 2009......A little early winter eye candy. Other than luxurious throws, my other favorite home decor item are beautiful throw pillows. While they are not so much a useful item such as throws, when they are made of fine textiles and elegant timeless designs they add an amazing touch to beautiful home setting. The line says pure luxury without being over the top and would fit in any casual home setting. We hope to have the line in by early Feb.

Happy New Years......A special thank you to all my old and new customers that allowed us to have an amazing year. We look foward to a new and exciting year. I wish you all the best in this coming year.

Eco Luxury Vodka..... Happy New Years!!! Yes, Eco-friendly vodka for the holidays. Going green while celebrating the new year. I have mentioned several times my preference for Organic wine, but I was so excited to see even more eco-friendly options for holiday cocktails. This product is not available here in Ridgecrest so I will have to pick some up on my next trip to LA in a couple of weeks. I will then give you my review of this product.

Here is some information from the companies website about their product:

Earth-Friendly Distilling Company

360 Vodka is an eco-friendly first, vodka crafted to be environmentally friendly in every aspect possible.

McCormick Distilling’s new division, Earth Friendly Distilling, created 360 Vodka to satisfy an emerging need. The world population has realized that we as a society must change our ways, and consumers are now demanding that any and all products which can be made eco-friendly, should be made eco-friendly.

Along with leaders in other industries, McCormick has taken the first step in this direction with the creation of 360 Vodka. However, distilling one vodka to be eco-friendly is nowhere near enough.

In addition to plans for other environmentally friendly products, McCormick Distilling is taking the following actions towards improving our collective environmental impact:

• Daily recycling of paper, printer toner and ink cartridges, cardboard, PET strapping material, plastic, shrink-wrap, aluminum cans and glass.
• Addition of an on-site recycling center.
• A number of our printers and fax machines have been configured to save paper by printing double sided.
• Installed CFL bulbs where possible and all computer & small appliances purchased are energy star rated.
• Eliminated paper towels, polystyrene utensils and beverage cups from our break rooms.
• Plastic wrapping bags, discarded from received shipments, are reused as trash bags.
• Any packaging or manufacturing equipment that can be reused or recycled is sent back to the OEM for expressly that purpose.
• Used oil generated from preventative maintenance is collected and sent to Safety Kleen for refinement and reuse.

We are also investigating other certifications and recognized EPA guidelines that we may be able to implement, further reaffirming our commitment to continuous improvements in meeting and exceeding environmental standards.

At McCormick Distilling Company, we realize the path to widespread eco-friendliness is not a journey completed in one leap. It is done step-by-step and day-by-day. We have accomplished a great deal, but there is still more work to be done and steps to be taken.

And so, we encourage all corporations, organizations and individuals to join us in taking whatever steps we can towards realizing a better, “greener” tomorrow for us all.

More New Years Eve Chocolates!!!.......Coming 2009