Stock Up For Summer

Hi ABRGS’ers -  Megan here at the shop on this gorgeous Mothers’ Day.  Hope you are having a good one!

Since yesterday was the first day it actually felt like summer, John and I decided to get our Park Slope backyard into shape. John is pictured above not only hard at work but wearing an old school ABRGS shirt (Spread Love It’s the Brooklyn Way!). Now that our yard is all cleaned up though we need a few things to make it BBQ-ready. At the top of the list are Amazon Lights incense sticks and garden candles which are made of Andiroba, Citronella, Rosemary & Thyme and are a fantastic way to keep mosquitoes away. The incense sticks come in a pack of 12 with each stick burning 2.5 hours and the candle comes in a cute tin and burns for 28 hours. They are a safe and natural way to repel bugs and are made by a free trade community in Brazil. Come into the store and stock up! Amazon Lights Incense Sticks – $16.00, and Garden Candle – $14.00.

Jam Jar Kit- Featured in this week’s New York Magazine

We are thrilled that New York Magazine featured this cute Jam Jar Kit in this week’s mag as a Mother’s Day DIY present. Just pick some berries (or get them from the farmers market), can them (we’ve got lots of canning items too, including jars!), decorate and voila! Kit comes with stickers and paper jar covers with scalloped edges, plus a booklet with techniques and recipes, making it easy and fun to transform plain glass jars into pretty gifts. Or give this cute set to your mom and ask for a jar when she’s done bottling her favorite concoction! Jam Jar Kit- $14.95.

We’re smitten with this cookbook…

Need some cooking inspiration? Pick up this gem from the fabulously famous Rose Bakery in Paris.  It includes recipes for 100 of Rose Bakery’s most popular dishes, from breakfast staples such as crispy granola to afternoon treats, including sticky toffee pudding and carrot cake, as well as soups, risottos and other dishes perfect for a light lunch. Breakfast, Lunch, Tea- $29.95.

Where did I put that menu?

After you’ve lived in one place for awhile, the take-out menu mess is inevitable! I consider myself a pretty organized person but the menus – definitely last on the priority list. That’s why I’m in love with this nifty Take Out Menu Organizer! I have stacks of menus from neighborhood places that I love stashed in different piles and most of the time, they come pouring out of that cabinet I placed them in. But with this new organizer, I have hope that the mess will no longer be! Not only is it bright and easy to find, it includes handy meal-rating stickers, a tipping guide, helpful ordering advice, a frequently called numbers list, and so much more.  No more excuses, clean out that cabinet! And the next time you order take out, you won’t be searching high and low to find the menu for your favorite pad thai from that new place down the street.

Fun & Functional: EVIDENCE Laundry Bag

This made me laugh– store your “dirty laundry” in this fun & functional laundry bag labeled EVIDENCE. 22″x 28″- with handles for easy toting to the Laundry Room. Evidence Laundry Bag- $24.95.

Indecision 2012

Stephen Colbert Twitter Feed Poster, 16"x20", $35

If you’re anything like me, you’re anxiously awaiting the South Carolina Primary results. Not as a republican voter, but as a member of the Colbert Nation. Stephen Colbert’s most recent foray into politics has shed a light on the complicated world of campaign finance with the creation of his Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow Super Pac. Sure, he’s not on the ballot in South Carolina and there are no write in candidates in primary elections in South Carolina. He may not have a shot in hell of winning, but it’s still fun to watch him satirize the electoral process. If you’re not a registered South Carolina voter, but still want to honor the Great Man, what better way than with the Stephen Colbert Twitter Feed Poster? Colbert’s complete Twitter ramblings through 2010 are rendered on a 16″x20″ poster, using the negative space to create an image of Colbert and his iconic bald eagle. And the text is completely legible, so you can treat yourself and your friends to a dose of Colbert Truthiness in your home or office.

Brrrrr…it’s cold out there!

image from kitchendaily.com

It’s official, winter is finally here! The sunshine, oh how deceiving it is – as much as I want to walk around and see what’s happening in the neighborhood, that temp reading on my phone keeps me indoors! When the weather is like this, all I can think about is warm winter drinks! Hot cocoa to be specific, and not just any hot cocoa, Mom’s hot cocoa.  It might be the easiest recipe and most likely, you have everything you need in your pantry and fridge: milk, one can of evaporated milk (the skim kind works just fine) and Hershey’s powdered chocolate.

For four servings: stir together 2-3 cups milk, evaporated milk and 1/2 cup of chocolate (don’t be afraid to add more!) in a pot on the stove until it just starts to boil. Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows or whip cream. The end result: a warm, creamy, chocolate drink!

Enjoy! And stay warm!

What would your Manifesto say??

We are loving this MANIFESTO poster– conceived of by 3 brothers when they were quitting their jobs to do something more meaningful with their lives. Their first venture together was this Manifesto, so they are of to a great start… What would YOUR Manifesto say? Manifesto Letterpress Poster- $25.

Medicine Box in HGTV Magazine!

Medicine Box, $42.50

Sometimes I stay up way too late stuck in an endless cycle of back-to-back episodes of House Hunters.  Now I can get sucked into the HGTV Zone on the go with the all-new HGTV Magazine! And guess who’s in their inaugural issue! US!!! Our beautiful Medicine Box is featured in the “Bang For Your Buck” section highlighting affordable decorative accessories. Check out this great new magazine for fun decorating tips,  real estate fantasies, and more. This month even includes an interview with Genevieve Gorder (our favorite) and her adorable daughter (dressed to the nines in her Snow White costume!).

Another reason to celebrate- today is my half birthday! All the things I bought for myself from the shop–

Yes, folks- there is another reason to celebrate- today is my HALF birthday! Do you know any other adults that celebrate their half birthdays? Or even kids that celebrate it, for that matter? Please step up if you do! I need some Half Birthday Celebrating Comrades! Growing up, one of my best buds’ birthdays was on Christmas, and she always had a party on 6/25 for her half birthday (birthdays on Christmas tend to get a little cheated) but one day I realized, what about MY half birthday? I must have one too! And from then on in, I’ve been celebrating ever since. Soo, in honor of my half birthday today I treated myself to a few things from the shop I wanted, that I did not get for Christmas. I do realize I am a hard person to buy for- I own a great place to shop (!!!), so why go anywhere else, right? Soo, here are my hand picked treasures from my favorite place to shop- first one, above, Snow & Graham Accordian Calendar- $9.95 (now 1/2 price! so $4.50)- I love this pretty little calendar. I had one on my fridge last year as well and I loved looking at all the pretty colors and designs the whole year through. I am excited I got one this year too!

You know I LLLLOVE the scent of our Japanese Quince candles (had one lit today- soooo yummy)- well, I finally treated myself to the Hand Soap and Lotion. They are both heavenly and completely transform my mood every time I use them. Soap- $18.95, Lotion- $25.95.

And my favorite new purchase from our Baby Table- this Mom’s One Line a Day journal. I actually started it on 1/1 and there is space to write a few lines every day for the next five years. So wonderful! And also low pressure (easy to think of a few lines rather than committing to my as-yet-untouched baby book). My little nuggets’ half birthday is coming up too! Mom’s One Line a Day Journal- $16.95.