Bradley's...

2010 Christmas Open House: 2 week countdown

Excitement is building as we approach the final countdown for Bradley’s 2010 Christmas Open House...November 5th 10:00a.m. - 7:00p.m.

 It all begins in January at the first market of the year. I choose our main collections at this show and then build on those throughout the year! I start sketching out display ideas and order items that we need to finish a “look” or “theme.” Over the past few months we’ve been receiving truck loads of inventory that we are still unpacking and pricing. On November 1st we will conceal the windows  (no peeking), and lock the doors so we can wave our magic wands and  turn the shop into an enchanting Christmas dreamland.  A crowd gathers for our special “unveiling” event on November 4th (invitation only), and then the main event on November  5th will officially kick off the Christmas season at Bradley’s!  

One of my favorite collections this year is inspired by Danish designers. "Joyeux Noel" is a sweet array of wool and linen character ornaments (elves, reindeer, santa, etc.) in soft gray, red, and ivory will delight young and old alike. They have a sense of nostalgia about them with much attention given to detail. This will most likely take center stage in the shop surrounded by Tag’s whimsical dishtowels, plates, mugs, and candles.  Another eye catching display will greet you with shimmers and glimmers of gold and sparkles. Artist, Wendy Addison, has created another line of beautiful glass glitter ornaments that will reflect hundreds of twinkle lights. These always look glorious when hung in front of a mirror for additional luminous impact.   

Great gift ideas, fun ornaments, an abundance of decadent chocolate treats, and so many little surprises await you at this year’s Christmas Open House. We are  are grateful for the amount of increase we have seen this year and are without a doubt expecting our biggest event turnout yet! God has blessed us beyond measure in so many ways and we thank Him always for amazing people like you. Year after year you have continued to support us and inspire us to grow and improve our shop. We strive everyday to make Bradley’s the best, most enjoyable shop experience you that can find anywhere. Brad and I (and now Gracie) truly appreciate each and every one of you who have made us the success that we are today and look forward to the progress we’ve yet to make. Here’s to a wonderful 2010 holiday season. 

 

See you soon...

joy

 

save the date

Putting the finishing touches on our Christmas Open House invitations! Save the date: Friday, November 5th, 2010. The weather is finally indicating fall is here and I couldn't be happier. This is my favorite time of year and while I am enjoying pumpkins, leaves, and apple cider, I know that the Christmas season is coming up quickly! We are preparing for an amazing holiday at Bradley's!! Tasty new chocolate treats, adorable elf ornaments, & fabulous tea towels are just a few our favorite things! More details are forthcoming. scatter joy

 

Making better use of space

Everybody that has been in the shop this past week loves the changes that we've made, so I thought I would post a few pix of the process. I never realized how much space that big counter took up, this was something we should have done a long time ago. 

 

Brad looking quite adorable with his drill!!

 

Look at all the space under there! We piled up a mountain of empty ribbon spools, outdated purchase orders, broken Christmas ornaments, boxes of drinking straws (don't ask),  3 extension cords (not plugged into anything), a book, a box of old  cheez-its,  and  a thousand other random things. After much sorting, filing, and purging, we were left with an extra 75 square feet of selling space and a much cleaner, more organized work area.  Ahh! It felt like I took a deep breath of fresh air! It can be very liberating to rid your space of clutter!  My sister lives by the rule: "When in doubt, throw it out!" 

What spaces in your home could you utilize better? Do you have a cute picnic basket taking up space in your closet? I did. I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually used it for a picnic, but it's the perfect size to hold photos, candles, off season decorations, etc. Plus, it's cute enough to sit next to the couch with magazines and a bouquet of flowers on top of it! So, I'm storing and decorating at the same time! Love that! Just be aware that when it comes to better using your space, you usually have to get rid of a few things first. Go ahead and get a big garbage bag and go to town! Trust me, it will be very satisfying to fill that big bag with junk that never gets used and throw it in the dumpster. Maybe you don't have a lot of junk, but just have an abundance of unnecessary things, extra clothes, shoes, pots and pans that you don't use anymore; there are countless thrift stores, clothing ministries, and non-profit organizations that would love to find a new home for your items. Summer is a great time to get these projects done! So if you feel you need a little breathing room, try making better use of your space. I'd love to hear about what you end up doing. Post a comment or facebook me with the changes you make or ideas you want to share. Have fun!!
   

 

  

As you can imagine,  I did a little happy dance as I filled up our new found space with lots of great, new gifts! Candles, books, and the sweetest, softest, stuffed animals are just a few of the fun things you'll find on your next visit!  There are also quite a few things getting marked down for our "Yard Sale" starting on July 26th, more details will follow...

scatter joy
 
  
 
  
 
 
 

 

My sweet girl!

 

Summer days have never been so fun! 

 

scatter joy...
 
 
 

Summer goodies

I'm loving this summer's vibrant turquoise and tangerine! Splash some of these happy colors in your home with dishtowels, flowers, and doormats for an instant mood boost!  

These RELAX doormats have been selling like crazy, everybody loves them! Sturdy and oversized, they are perfect for decks, front porches, back doors, or by the pool!  

Pull together a fun look at your next BBQ with fun plates, napkins, and drink holders! Check out the cute  salt and pepper shakers disguised as mustard and ketchup bottles! 

   

 Pick up some Gerber Daisies to brighten someone's day! 

Try on one of our wooden bead necklaces for the perfect summer accessory! 

We will be quite busy at the shop in the coming weeks: going to market to find new treasures, marking down products, getting ready for our big sale, rearranging, and maybe a little painting too. This is always a good time of year to tackle all of those little projects that pile up throughout the year. Stay tuned for more details!! Hope you all are enjoying your summer! See you soon! 

 scatter joy...
 
 
 
 

 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my best friend, Brad! You are an amazing husband and a wonderful father! Thank you for always putting your family first. Your love for us comes through in everything you do! 

I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow! 

   

 

 Happy Father's Day to my dad (below) and my father-in-law (above)!  Your examples of love, faith, and strength have shaped us into the people we are today.  We are grateful for the sacrifices you made to provide for your families! We love you!

    

 Most importantly, Happy Father's Day to my Heavenly Father from whom all life is given! The ultimate example of love, sacrificing His only son, Jesus, so that we could have everlasting life! Thank you for the blessings you give to us each day!! 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 ESV

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend celebrating the men who have made a difference in your life! 

 

scatter joy...

  

Chocolate Milk and Health

 

Chocolate milk has substantial qualities that help improve your overall health. Studies show that when the two items, milk and chocolate, are combined, the nutritional benefits of each doubles their effects on your body. There is no real reason not to drink this ultimate kids’ drink as it has been proven to aid in all sorts of health benefits from prevention of cancer to helping your body build stronger muscle and bone. It makes the optimal drink not just after exercise, but any time to really aid your body in a number of ways. Chocolate milk can be broken down into its two components and been analyzed for its nutritional content to see how they work together when combined. Chocolate milk has been proven to be better than sports drinks which are marketed specifically because they supply your body with the replenishment they need after exercise. But dozens of studies have found that chocolate milk actually works better than sports drinks and has countless more benefits that sports drinks do not. 

 Chocolate~

Chocolate has long been loved and not necessarily for its benefits, but for its taste. Many ancient civilizations used cocoa beans as currency because it was so valuable. But it wasn’t until modern times that chocolate was first discovered to have health benefits other than satisfying a sweet tooth. It is known today that chocolate is good for you and for many reasons. One of which is its preventions of many cancers and diseases, for example, because of its nutritional content. Chocolate contains a lot of antioxidants known as flavinoids that help the body. The darker the chocolate is, the richer in antioxidants it is. These antioxidants shown through an Italian study reveal that these flavinoids help lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health preventing such things, like heart attacks, from occurring. It also shows that eating chocolate every three days improves your overall well being and health. 

 Milk~

 Milk is the big kicker when it comes to beverages. Its benefits are endless it seems because it has so many good nutrients contained in its overall content. The sugar content helps restore the body’s level of glycogen after exercise, as well whey and casein. Whey allows the body to produce muscle protein very quickly as it is absorbed almost instantly. Casein on the other hands is absorbed slowly which slows the body’s break down of muscle and aids in recovery as well. Milk can also be seen to prevent diseases such as Osteoporosis with its quantity of Vitamin D, phosphorous, and calcium it contains to build stronger bones. Milk also aids in preventing tooth decay because of these nutrients. It is very important, studies reveal, to drink one glass of milk per day which is approximately eight ounces for optimal health as you age. Chocolate + Milk Chocolate milk seems to reap all the benefits with great taste that often lacks in some sports recovery aids. But chocolate milk is not just a beverage used for athletes to aid the body to rebuild itself; it has health benefits for everyone. When the two ingredients of chocolate are combined it doubles its nutritional value. Drinking just one glass a day can help give your body what it needs to be healthy and slow the process of unwanted health problems. And you can do it all with this simple well-loved drink.

(copied from http://www.chocolatemilk.com)