Hip Hip Hooray!

We want to congratulate our friends at Copeland Furniture on winning this years Sage award. Ok, so you may not have heard of the Sage award, not a problem. Here's how it's described by the experts. "The Sage Award was created to seek out and recognize innovators with a commitment to sustainable practices, social equity, and profitable growth in the home furnishings and bedding industries."

So who are we talking about? A company we've been buying gorgeous, hardwood furniture from for years. A company we trust and respect. Here's the nomination lowdown - check it out.

"Copeland Furniture has been committed to sustainable manufacturing practices long before eco-friendly became a trend in the residential furniture industry. The company holds a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certificate and currently manufactures eight product groups that qualify for FSC on-product labeling. They are a founding members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, and one of only eight companies worldwide that qualify for the Council’s silver exemplary status.

Their environmental initiatives touch every aspect of operations. Sustainably-grown raw materials come from within 100 to 500 miles of the plant. Ninety percent of the electricity used to power their manufacturing equipment comes from sources that are low emission. They are converting their heating plant from oil-fired hot water to wood-fired and using their own waste scrap as fuel. They are taking steps to reduce the use of non-recyclable materials in product packaging and are working with finish suppliers to formulate finishes that use water as the primary solvent. They’ve stopped printing their catalog and now post it entirely on the Internet. Despite all of their accomplishments, Copeland views sustainability as an ongoing process of improvement, rather than as a finite goal."

Thanks Copeland for what you do! We're proud to be founding members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council right along with Copeland and continue on our path to sustainable practices. As we say...the environment, our local economy, it matters to us. It's our world and we have to take care of it! Don't you agree?

What's the Buzz?

From the Queen Bee herself...as Peggy prepares for the "Sustainabilty Summit" that she will sit on a panel for next week, she has also prepared a more, as she says, "sappy" What's the Buzz for November. Well, I say bring it on...with the holidays here, what better time is there to bring out the sappiness. Enjoy!

"I can’t believe it; we’ve come to that time of the year when the days will disappear faster than we ever thought possible. I don’t know how it happens but every year as soon as Thanksgiving approaches it seems like we all begin a complete stampede to the finish line...aka...the end of the holiday season. Why do we need to fit so much living into such a short period of time? Holiday parties, shopping trips, charity events, pageants, concerts; don’t forget your obligatory visit to Aunt Bessie! It all happens in such a short period of time. Think about it. Wouldn’t it be grand to have some of these events to look forward to in February or March when really nothing is happening and we all go into hibernation?

In our house, Thanksgiving is our most favorite holiday and we all wouldn’t mind if it went on for a few weeks. Our family is one of different persuasions so it was the only holiday that we had to share or rotate every year. There is a lot to be said for mixing it up. This year is difficult as we have just suffered the loss of my mother-in-law, so her seat will be empty but she will be with us. We will revel in "Bubbie" stories that will make us cry, but more than ever they will give us so much laughter and joy. It is a time when we reflect on what we are thankful for and what we hope for everyone. We all love to share, not to mention, complain about this relative, sister or friend, and how we don’t look forward to sharing a day with them because of "what happened" years ago, but really, if it weren’t for them who would we complain about? We’d have to be uber-pleasant and who wants that? It’s funny how families or friends can hold these grudges and most of the time no one can even remember why it started... This year I am encouraging everyone to start with a clean slate, LET IT GO, whatever it is and see what happens. I myself cannot even remember who I am supposed to be mad at! See, it works.

I come from a big family, 10 siblings, so I really don’t need to add to my family, but over the years I have accumulated some “sisters”. In fact, my newest “sister” I was lucky enough to find on a trip to Australia, where Eileen and I bonded as new sisters. Families are different for everyone and we all have the ability to make it ours, we can pick them. I know the saying goes you can pick your friends and your nose but not your family (well, something like that!). I think you can make your friends your family. This Thanksgiving we will share with our closest family friends and my "niece and nephew" Jordan and Julia, and it will be the best family celebration. I am so lucky to have all my brothers and sisters and I appreciate them so much; I don’t mind adding a few more. If you all have room at your table, please add another placemat or two, you won’t regret it.

P.S. We are so thankful for Mike Milligan, who will marry my incredible niece Amy this January. Now that the Milligan’s have joined this big family, what a great time to be living! Goes double, as her amazing sister Kelly married the fabulous Chuck Davis this spring. So yes, Patty and Brian…there may be grandchildren just yet, set another place at the table.

Office Manager Extraordinaire

If you've ever been to one of Circle Furniture's charity shin-digs, you probably have met Judy. She's not only our favorite office manager but also the official greeter at each party. Here's some facts about Jude (as we call her).

"Born...3 Rivers, Ma

Hobbies...Loves to read and visit museums

Volunteers...with a project in Uganda that educates women and assists families to be self-sufficient

Loves...kids

Colors...green and blue

Favorite song...Moon River

Favorite singer...Johnny Mathis

Favorite tv show - Grey's Anatomy

Loves working with Circle Furniture because...Circle is honest and has a lot of integrity in their dealings with customers

Anniversary...14 years with Circle in Feb 2010

My idol...Eleanor Roosevelt"

Thanks Jude - We love you!

"Oh, My Aching Back" No More!

Meet Luanne...and let us introduce you to the beauty and comfort of Ekornes® Stressless products.

Wow!!! I am so excited to be working with the great folks at Circle Furniture selling Ekornes® Stressless chairs and sofas. You might recognize me from Backcare Basics in Needham, where I had been selling Ekornes since 2005. I'm delighted to report that Backcare Basics is “alive and well” and focusing on all the great back care and pain relief products that we have always carried…except Ekornes®. We have so many wonderful products to comfort and soothe your back you have to come check us out!

I am taking my experience with all of my Backcare Basics customers, along with my Ekornes expertise over to Circle Furniture to help you choose exactly the right Stressless recliner to meet your specific needs.

Let’s face it, no two people are alike. We each have our own individual idea of what is comfortable. Add to that a few aches and pains, a little sciatica or a slipped disc and finding a great comfortable chair becomes a daunting task, not a simple pleasure. Like Goldilocks, we may find a chair too big, too firm, too deep or too tall. How does one decide which chair to choose? After all, this is usually an investment or perhaps even something you’ve dreamed of owning for awhile. You don’t want to get it wrong. Right? Well, you don’t have to. The folks at Circle Furniture have been trained to help you choose the right Stressless chair for you. They know exactly how to help you decide which size and model is best for you AND which one will look great in your home. Comfort and Style. What a great combination! So come in to Circle Furniture and choose your Stressless recliner today.

Designers We Love!

Time to meet another designer we love....Meet Lauren.

Born -Beverly, MA in the sign of Aries

Signature color – Red

My mom first knew I wanted to be a designer when - at age 2, I turned my Fisher-Price play house on end and...viola, it became a high-rise penthouse!

If I were a piece of furniture I would be a credenza; beautiful and functional (with a terrific sounding name!)

"Interior Design" to me is - the balance of form and function. You can not be all beauty and no brain!

Favorite Quote - “Life is a journey, not a destination” - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Favorite Destination- Ruins of the Lost Mayan Civilization at Chichen Itza, and Tulum, Mexico.

Favorite Journey – Still Getting There!!!

You may find me at – the symphony, the beach or bicycling back roads.

You will never catch me at – a musical, on a golf course or running the Boston Marathon.

I would love to – Sky dive

I would never – Bungee Jump

I love to listen to the Blues but am rarely in a blue mood myself.


So that's Lauren, another talented designer at Circle...but no musicals? Am I the only one left that still loves a good musical? I mean, A Chorus Line, Godspell, Chicago? I still get goose bumps when I here "All That Jazz", don't you?