Still on Sale Until April 14th:
Baby Badger Skin Care for Infants 30% off
Byrd Mill Farms and Woodpecker Farms Baking Mixes 20% off
Celadon Green Pottery from Bali 25% off
Children's Books from Dawn Publications 25% off
Earring from Global Crafts 25% off
Green Glass Tumblers and Goblets 20% off
Maggie's Organics Baby Hats, Onesies and Gift Sets 30% off
Maggie's Infant and Toddler Socks 20% off
Tween Bath and Body Products 20% off
Come in on tax day, April 15th and let us ease the pinch a bit by giving you 5% off your total purchase!* Then, starting April 16th, we will count down to Earth Day, April 22, by offering 10% off of a different product each day!
Which products will be on sale? Even we don't know! We decided that the first customer of the day gets to help us choose each day! So if there is something special you've had your eye on and you'd like 10% off -- 11:00 am is a great time to shop!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Procrastination, Perfectionism and Plastics
It’s 10:30 on Friday night. My head is pounding after a long week. The kids are asleep and my husband is in the other room watching a comedy starring a young and handsome Paul Newman. I’m sure he would be delighted if I joined him given that he’s been traveling all week. [My husband, that is. I’m not privy to Paul’s schedule.] But, I decided that I would post once a day as a countdown to Earth Day and I am determined to do so.
Actually more of an obstacle than my being tired is my own familiar nemesis, the biggest reason I procrastinate or avoid doing anything--my perfectionism. I just spent the last hour reviewing some of the topics I’d like to post about here, and I realized that almost anything that needs to be said on almost any issue has already been said – several times. And it’s usually findable in just a matter of moments thanks to Google. So if I can’t do it first or best or most comprehensively – then why bother? At least that’s what the little devil on my left shoulder says – with quite a bit of a petty pout I might add. And then the little angel on my right shoulder takes a deep breath and reminds me, “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” And I remember that my deal with myself in all this is just to be authentically myself and that doing something is almost always better than doing nothing.
So. I want to tackle one of modern living’s most relied-upon conveniences and one of the environment’s most pernicious foes: plastic. I will not attempt to do so all in one post – especially as tired [and verbose] as I am feeling at the moment. Plastic bags have been much in the news in the last year: China recently banned free distribution of plastic bags at stores, San Francisco became the first city in the US to ban their use in grocery stores, and chic New Yorkers stood in long lines for the chance to buy $15 designer “I am not a plastic bag” totes. Then there was the spate of news about the possible danger posed by plastic baby bottles leaching the toxin bisphenol A. And, as oil continues to hover around $100/barrel, the fact that most plastic is made out of petroleum products should be of increasing concern to everyone.
But plastic is everywhere. And we use it for everything. It’s cheap and convenient. For time- and money-crunched families I imagine plastic products show up – in one form or another – many, many times during our daily routines. To change those routines and create new habits takes effort and we need to feel that such effort is justified. After all, not everyone self-identifies as a “treehugger.” However, after much reading and review, I believe that there are a handful of changes each and every one of us needs to make in terms of how we use plastics. Despite their convenience, there are some plastic products whose environmental cost is severe enough that no one can really justify their continued use.
So this Earth Day I challenge myself – and my community – to wean ourselves completely off plastic shopping bags and plastic water bottles. Additionally, I strongly recommend that people limit their use of plastic wrap and plastic containers to store foods. I also urge folks to consider paying a little more to buy trash bags that are made from recycled plastics. I will blog more in the coming days about why I recommend these changes, and how you might implement them. Finally, I will share what I’ve learned about the development of new, more earth-friendly, plastics. But now -- goodness it’s already midnight -- it’s time for bed.
Actually more of an obstacle than my being tired is my own familiar nemesis, the biggest reason I procrastinate or avoid doing anything--my perfectionism. I just spent the last hour reviewing some of the topics I’d like to post about here, and I realized that almost anything that needs to be said on almost any issue has already been said – several times. And it’s usually findable in just a matter of moments thanks to Google. So if I can’t do it first or best or most comprehensively – then why bother? At least that’s what the little devil on my left shoulder says – with quite a bit of a petty pout I might add. And then the little angel on my right shoulder takes a deep breath and reminds me, “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” And I remember that my deal with myself in all this is just to be authentically myself and that doing something is almost always better than doing nothing.
So. I want to tackle one of modern living’s most relied-upon conveniences and one of the environment’s most pernicious foes: plastic. I will not attempt to do so all in one post – especially as tired [and verbose] as I am feeling at the moment. Plastic bags have been much in the news in the last year: China recently banned free distribution of plastic bags at stores, San Francisco became the first city in the US to ban their use in grocery stores, and chic New Yorkers stood in long lines for the chance to buy $15 designer “I am not a plastic bag” totes. Then there was the spate of news about the possible danger posed by plastic baby bottles leaching the toxin bisphenol A. And, as oil continues to hover around $100/barrel, the fact that most plastic is made out of petroleum products should be of increasing concern to everyone.
But plastic is everywhere. And we use it for everything. It’s cheap and convenient. For time- and money-crunched families I imagine plastic products show up – in one form or another – many, many times during our daily routines. To change those routines and create new habits takes effort and we need to feel that such effort is justified. After all, not everyone self-identifies as a “treehugger.” However, after much reading and review, I believe that there are a handful of changes each and every one of us needs to make in terms of how we use plastics. Despite their convenience, there are some plastic products whose environmental cost is severe enough that no one can really justify their continued use.
So this Earth Day I challenge myself – and my community – to wean ourselves completely off plastic shopping bags and plastic water bottles. Additionally, I strongly recommend that people limit their use of plastic wrap and plastic containers to store foods. I also urge folks to consider paying a little more to buy trash bags that are made from recycled plastics. I will blog more in the coming days about why I recommend these changes, and how you might implement them. Finally, I will share what I’ve learned about the development of new, more earth-friendly, plastics. But now -- goodness it’s already midnight -- it’s time for bed.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Busy, busy, busy and a poem
Absolutely gorgeous day here in Lovettsville. Blue skies, mildly warm, birds singing. And I'm delighted to be able to spend most of the day at the store. The door is propped open and I love the fresh spring air.
So much I want to get done in the next couple of hours. Prepping for Earth Day promotions, need to get the newsletter out, finalize a jewelry order. [Mother's Day is just around the corner.] And I want to draft a substantive (or at least helpful or insightful or meaningful) blog post as part of our Earth Day/Anniversary Count Down. And then there's the really fun stuff: I have a large order from one of our favorite fair trade suppliers to unpack and get on the sales floor. Three large boxes filled with baskets, bird houses, jewelry and home decor. Here's hoping some customers actually walk through the door as well! So much to do! Better get on with it.
Oh. I almost forgot. April is also National Poetry Month. In honor of this glorious spring day, then, I found this to share:
So much I want to get done in the next couple of hours. Prepping for Earth Day promotions, need to get the newsletter out, finalize a jewelry order. [Mother's Day is just around the corner.] And I want to draft a substantive (or at least helpful or insightful or meaningful) blog post as part of our Earth Day/Anniversary Count Down. And then there's the really fun stuff: I have a large order from one of our favorite fair trade suppliers to unpack and get on the sales floor. Three large boxes filled with baskets, bird houses, jewelry and home decor. Here's hoping some customers actually walk through the door as well! So much to do! Better get on with it.
Oh. I almost forgot. April is also National Poetry Month. In honor of this glorious spring day, then, I found this to share:
Now that the winter's gone, the earth hath lost
Thomas Carew, The Spring, 1630
Her snow-white robes, and now no more the frost
Candies the grass, or casts an icy cream
Upon the silver lake or crystal stream;
But the warm sun thaws the benumbed earth,
And makes it tender; gives a sacred birth
To the dead swallow; wakes in hollow tree
The drowsy cuckoo and the humble-bee.
Now do a choir of chirping minstrels bring
In triumph to the world the youthful spring.
Well ... off to work!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Wednesday's Hours
Michal is attending the funeral of an old friend's mother [our thoughts are with you S.] and Ayala is juggling the schedules of 4 kids while her husband is out of town. So, today the store will be open: 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm. And we may close briefly about 3:30 to do another kid shuffle.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
13 days and counting ...
Well, Earth Day is April 22. And it is also the one year anniversary of the opening of Greater Goods. If I had more time and more money, I would have loved to really "do it up" -- host some special events, invest in advertising, hire some musicians. Alas resources are still thin. So, we will do the best we can in our own impromptu, bootstrapping way...
What I hope to do here on the blog is a series of posts to help everyone commemorate Earth Day in their own way. The best they can.
I will launch it by pointing folks to a fairly comprehensive site courtesy of the Sierra Club [of which I am a member.] In honor of Earth Day they have launched a clever website "We Can Do It" filled with practical ways to conserve resources. I say it's clever, because they've crafted it to appeal to a wider range of folks than the stereotypical "treehugger." The emphasis is on strengthening the US economy -- and you can't argue with the relevance of that right now.
From the site:
What I hope to do here on the blog is a series of posts to help everyone commemorate Earth Day in their own way. The best they can.
I will launch it by pointing folks to a fairly comprehensive site courtesy of the Sierra Club [of which I am a member.] In honor of Earth Day they have launched a clever website "We Can Do It" filled with practical ways to conserve resources. I say it's clever, because they've crafted it to appeal to a wider range of folks than the stereotypical "treehugger." The emphasis is on strengthening the US economy -- and you can't argue with the relevance of that right now.
From the site:
Give it a look-see. And if in your quest to tread more lightly and use fewer resources you'd like to pick up some green cleaning products, recycled paper products, or convenient and colorful reusable shopping bags -- drop by Greater Goods. We can hook you up.We Can Create a Clean Energy Economy with Good Jobs Now — and Save Money!
Investing in renewables and efficiency will transform our economy and free America from our dependence on foreign oil and big oil companies. It will also creates job here at home, save families and businesses money, and combat
global warming.We can do it. We have the necessary technical skills and ingenuity. Now we need to commit -- to fix our economy and our planet.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Closing early tonight ...
Just a note: We'll be closing at 5:00 pm tonight.
Unavoidable due to family scheduling.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Unavoidable due to family scheduling.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
I love to shop ...
Well, not all the time ... and not when I have to. That is stressful. Nothing worse than hiking a mall end to end because you have to find the perfect outfit at the perfect price for some looming event. But ordering for the store is a lot of fun. Our recent order of birdhouses and baskets was so successful, that I already had to place a reorder today. And I am also writing 2 more jewelry orders this week. It's such fun to anticipate all the new things coming in!
Speaking of new things, we are pleased to added 3 new locally produced items to the store this spring.
Wonder Wraps.
Handcrafted in Purcellville, VA by a work-at-home Mom, Wonder Wraps are 100% natural luxury hot and cold wraps to soothe aching bodies. Filled with natural cherry stones, they can be placed in the freezer or warmed in the microwave. [And they smell delightful when warmed!]
Jewelry by Sky High Designs
One of a kind silver and genuine stone bracelets, necklaces and earrings, handmade in Hamilton, VA.
MOMS Club of Purcellville Cookbook
Filled with hundreds of recipes, all proceeds from the sale of these books go to three local non-profits serving women and children in Loudoun County.
Remember, it's not too early to be thinking about Mother's Day!
Speaking of new things, we are pleased to added 3 new locally produced items to the store this spring.
Wonder Wraps.
Handcrafted in Purcellville, VA by a work-at-home Mom, Wonder Wraps are 100% natural luxury hot and cold wraps to soothe aching bodies. Filled with natural cherry stones, they can be placed in the freezer or warmed in the microwave. [And they smell delightful when warmed!]
Jewelry by Sky High Designs
One of a kind silver and genuine stone bracelets, necklaces and earrings, handmade in Hamilton, VA.
MOMS Club of Purcellville Cookbook
Filled with hundreds of recipes, all proceeds from the sale of these books go to three local non-profits serving women and children in Loudoun County.
Remember, it's not too early to be thinking about Mother's Day!
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