Bag Lady, Who Me?

I was sitting in my co-worker Sarah's office the other day and we were discussing the upcoming "What's in a Bag" event she has been working on. You know, it’s a silent and live auction of gorgeous handbags next Thursday, at our Cambridge store, where all the proceeds go to the Mass Coalition for the Homeless. Anyway, it really got me thinking about bags. Do I have a bag obsession? Maybe. I think my friends do for sure! I have a few good friends who are so obsessed with color-coordinating their bags with their outfits. Little over the top, I think. Who is that awake in the morning? I’m lucky if I put two matching socks on!

You need to understand that buying a new bag is a pretty easy and stressfree sale for me – no trying on in front of a full length mirror! Oh, isn’t that the best! So I’ve been known to go over "budget" on a bag here or there (wow, I hate that word "budget"). Now I don’t consider myself a label-conscious person, I buy for the romance of it all. I actually have fallen in love with certain bags for some reason or another. Maybe it’s the color, maybe it’s the Italian leather, maybe it’s the smell, maybe it’s all the cool and handy pockets you can put everything you own in and you will finally be organized. Yeah, right! You can’t imagine what people walk around with in their bags. The bigger the bag is, the more I tend to throw everything in. Need a hair dryer? No problem, I have one right here in my bag. Looking for a bottle of fish oil? Sarah has a Costco-size bottle in her beautiful T.J. Max bag. Maria has a sippy cup and a plastic bag of Cheerios and Fig Newtons. Judy has 3 brushes, 2 combs and a lipstick from 1994. See what I mean about everything?

One of my all time favorite bags is a fantastic fabric valise with a patch of a martini glass where the olives are sliding down a stripper poll. Now, if you have read any of my previous buzzes you know how much I love to order martinis "dirty" (and of course exercising and watching the food channel) I just enjoy saying “dirty” out loud!

I went out the other night and found myself "bag watching". People sport some pretty incredible bags these days. Gym bags, diaper bags, tote bags, laptop bags, overnight bags, clutches - some very utilitarian, some very chic-chic. Messenger bags are very hip and they cross all genders, where man-purses really didn't make it big in the states, did they? Maybe the iPad will change all that! As mentioned before, some women carry their life in their bags and sizes can be enormous – definitely future back and shoulder problems. I noticed some bags are used as pet carriers, sporting those little critters with them everywhere. Please let’s not forget the recycle bag. Every store in America has their own recycle bag now (just be sure to wash it regularly!) Diaper bags are really cool now, I would have loved those back when I was shoving everything into my martini bag (what was I setting my kids up for?) Point is…everyone could use a new bag in their life…Let’s have fun next week and bid often (and high!) on your favorite bag.

Check out our site for more information about our event.

Buzz.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day everyone! I want to give a shout out to all our eco-conscious vendors and say thanks for all you're doing to create earth-friendly sustainable products for Circle to sell! Copeland, Cherry Pond, CR Laine, Lee Industries, Vermont Tubbs, Vermont Furniture, Gat Creek, American Leather, Company C, Brown Street, Ultrasuede® and many more are all fighting the good fight and we appreciate it. Thanks to all our customers as well who recognize the importance of sustainable furniture!

And...

In reading up about the 40th anniversary of Earth Day I can't help but be excited for the events going on in Boston. For those of us working today and tomorrow, here are some fun ideas for the weekend taken from our friends at boston.com.

1. Celebrate Earth Day at New England Wild Flower Society’s Garden in the Woods, Saturday, April 24, 2010. Enjoy free admission to Garden in the Woods all day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take a guided walking tour and learn the history of the Garden, the design of the various garden areas and habitats, and the conservation elements being addressed. Tour the unique New England Garden of Rare and Endangered Plants. Visit the Invasive Plant Jail to see what these plant scourges look like and how to rid your property of them. Special events take place between noon and 4 p.m., with tours given on the half hour. Families will enjoy searching the Garden for signs of spring with our Scavenger Hunt Sheet. Other family activities include face-painting, seed planting, and making a pine cone bird feeder to take home. Look for mystery creatures in the Garden.

2. Oh, Charles River. You've been our running partner during 5 a.m. marathon training jogs. You've posed for some of our favorite scenic photos of Boston. Now, we all have a chance to give back. Join more than 3,000 volunteers ready to pick up trash along the river and its tributaries from Cambridge to Newton. 9 a.m. to noon. Various locations along the Charles River. See website for a list of drop-in cleanup sites:

3. Are firefly numbers dwindling? The Museum of Science has teamed up with researchers from Tufts University and Fitchburg State College to track these winged nightlights. Chat with scientists, participate in activities, and learn how you can join the museum's Firefly Watch at this daylong event.

4. Or...if you really feel adventurous you can trek up to Burlington, Vermont and attend Earth Weeks Mudfest... "It's mud season in Vermont, and the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is celebrating with "MudFest," a two-week festival where you can really get your hands dirty. Festivities will feature the mud fling (which is just what it sounds like), daily musical performances from a number of Vermont artists, as well as animal feedings and other demonstrations for the kids along the shore of Lake Champlain."

Anyway you slice it - it's Earth Day and we should all be celebrating one way or another! I get to welcome my newest nephew, Owen, into this world. I'm sure Owen will accompany his big brother to many Earth Day activities in the future. Happy Birthday Owen!

As I Was Saying...Sustainability Rocks!

We're getting closer to that big Earth Day celebration next week so we decided to give props to the vendors and manufacturers who make the furniture we so proudly sell.

Today, it's all about "Soy". What? Soy. As in, soybeans. Let me explain. Many of our upholstery vendors, such as American Leather, carry something called BiOH polyols, a soy-based ingredient used in making flexible foam for their seat and back cushions. Why would anyone use soy in making cushions? Good question. You see traditional foam is made from petroleum-based products. BiOH products are made from soybean oil, thus cutting back on the amount of petroleum-based ingredients. As they say on BiOH's website, "Foam cushioning made with BiOH polyols is comparable to existing foam used by the home furnishings and automotive industries while leaving a smaller environmental footprint. Products that incorporate BiOH polyols offer a responsible choice for consumers and businesses that are increasingly interested in sustainability." (There's that word again!)

I know, the $64,000 question is - how does a sofa with BiOH polyols sit? Is it comfortable? When you have guests over will they fall into the sofa and not be able to get up? Drum roll please...I can tell you from experience - these cushions are AMAZING. We should know; we have so many chairs, sofas and sectionals on our 5 showroom floors that get A LOT of use. Cushions made with BiOH polyols will last a long, long time and are just as comfy as anything out there!

Although my word is good...you should come visit any Circle Furniture and test out the cushions made from soybean oil. Hey, come to think of it...what a great school project for your kids, they could write a report about eco-friendly trends! While your kids are doing research at our store you can take advantage of our Spring Upholstery Sale featuring Ultrasuede® - another amazing product you'll hear about next week!

Quick Tip:
alt 0174 - a shortcut to creating a register mark (Thanks to Helen for teaching me that one!)

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Gearing Up!

With Earth Day soon approaching (April 22nd) we're in the mood to talk sustainability. I know, I know...you're used to hearing the word "green" but what does green really mean?

If you go to Google search, type in the word green, I'm happy to say the first thing that comes up is Green Day (such a good band) but if you type in "green products" a plethora of offerings show up. Green products for the home, the kids, the pets, the garden, the car. But what makes it green? Anyone can just slap a sticker on a product and call something green, but, what is it really?

We think, first and foremost, it's all about sustainability. At Circle there are different ways we strive for sustainability. First, we know if a product lasts that translates into less waste, which has less environmental impact than something you would use and throw out in a year. Second, our hardwood products from our vendors like Copeland Furniture in Vermont, are made from sustainably harvested forests. Meaning? The woods used come from forests which are not threatened and do not contain genetically modified trees. What else keeps our environment sustainable to live in? When creating these beautiful wood products our vendors are using water based finishes, reducing the amount of VOC emissions, along with burning less fuel and using more health-conscious packing materials.

So today we celebrate Copeland Furniture and our other wood vendors for their on-going efforts towards creating sustainable furniture. We're proud to be founding members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council and for more information, check out their website to find out whose becoming more and more sustainable everyday.

Rain, Rain Go Away

What a week! All the rain, flooding, traffic. We could use a nice, sunny, relaxing weekend, right? AND...it's actually supposed to be in the 70's/80's this weekend. Can you believe it? Yippee!

If you're looking for fun things to do around the city/suburbs, please come check out our latest art exhibit at our Framingham showroom. This month we're featuring the works of local artist Ellen Ezorsky. Here's a little bit about Ellen:

"Ellen Ezorsky has been printing and painting in several mediums for many years. Having received her MFA in Painting using oils at the San Francisco Art Institute, she turned to acrylics when small children and pets presented a logistical threat to slow-drying oils. These children informed Ms. Ezorsky's work as she moved freely between the worlds of abstraction and realism. Currently painting with oils where she resides in Cambridge, MA, Ms. Ezorsky continues to playfully bridge genres, while color reigns as her motivating passion."

Her pieces look fantastic mixed with Circle's beautiful vignettes...larger than life. So please stop by anytime you're heading out on Rte. 9. If you're not around this weekend stop by on April 17th, from 3-5pm, for an informal wine and cheese reception to celebrate Ellen's work.

Don't forget - Eric Roth's photographs are on display at the Cambridge showroom until the end of the month. If you're passing through Cambridge, please come visit!

Enjoy the weekend. I'm going to soak in every drop of sunshine that's possible (I know, I know, sunscreen is necessary!) Where have the days of sunbathing with baby oil, a tin-foil covered album and a Tab gone? Wow...Tab was gross, wasn't it?

Have fun!