Friday, December 18, 2009

Truly Madly Sweetly: a look at 2010's trends


One of this year's best treats has been The Spellman Company's collaboration with Lifestyle Insights, an independent agency specializing in consumer insights, trend analysis, research and content for the MOMMY TO MAVEN™ market. Under the leadership of Robin Avni this select group of savvy lifestyle experts focuses on how real women live, make choices and craft their worlds... helping companies dialogue with their consumers in honest and authentic voices.

Robin's named 10 Insights for 2010 and it was a pleasure to co-author Trend #7, in the category of Celebrations:

"AFTER A YEAR OF GOOD BEHAVIOR, WE’RE RELEASED from the constraints of humble and serious. Call it Cabin Fever if you must, but following a year of hunkering down, women are looking for new ways to celebrate in a manner that’s true and authentic, crazy-mad with passion, plus sweetly meaningful and memorable.
Austerity trumped fun at most parties last year, with everyone reigning in any obviously extravagant spending, and many forgoing big celebrations, even brides postponing nuptials. In 2010 we’re seeing a bit of clemency granted for the festive-focused party-goer, as well as the party-giver.
This isn’t to say we’ll see a backlash of the last year’s woes and enter a 2010 of drunken revelry and can-you-top-this celebrations. Not at all. Rather, we’ll witness a general renewed interest in special touches for entertaining at home, with a focus on more intimate gatherings. At dinners for four, six or eight, hostesses will infuse get-togethers with a distinct personal touch.
As with every year, good food and drink will remain the core component of any celebration. But watch as diverse dishes — Indian curries, Latin-inspired stews, even the humble brisket — infuse the more formal dinner-party menu, and the comfy items — finger foods, soups and barbecue — provide fuel for potlucks in the park, or on the couch for a night of video-gaming.
The Food Network and the soon-to-be-launched Cooking Channel will continue to inspire culinary creativity and a can-do attitude. After all, the cookie swaps, potlucks or corporate cooking events all share the same common goal — let’s eat!"

To get a glimpse into the other nine trends, make sure and read Avni's blog and visit the website. Click the blog title above.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Womentorz.com Invention Featured on the "Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Gay Parents and Merry Kids"


So excited that She Wired has featured a GREAT find from our client www.Womentorz.com for their holiday gift guide: "Once again, Out With Baby is proud to bring you a gift guide of toys, gear, gadgets, apparel and more from gay-friendly companies that are thrilled about the opportunity to be part of the holiday celebration of lesbian and gay parents and their families."

The Womentorz merchant they featured has created a very cool hand warmer/storage pouch for baby joggers or strollers. Can't tell you how many times my hubby and I could have used one of these over those cold, wet winters when our boys were still in their double buggy! You can keep your hands warm, stash your iPhone and keys plus a couple bucks for the coffee house. Genius!

Here's how Out with Baby described the product: "Just for Mom. For colder climes, the Mommy Mitten is the must-have weather accessory for baby strollers. The water-resistant fleece-lined hand warmer secures around the stroller handle bar to keep hands toasty, and a zipper pocket keeps pacifiers, keys and cell phones handy, Womentorz.com. $29.99"

Thanks Out with Baby for showing the new e-commerce site Womentorz.com some love!

Photo of Womentorz founder Melinda Knight using the Mommy Mitten by Kristin Zwiers.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Gale Fiege + The Associated Press: a Look at an Inspiring Local Deer Hunter Who Gives Back to Chief Seattle Club


What a gift to have the story of one local eighth grader told so beautifully to the nation. The Chief Seattle Club was honored to receive a gift from this fine young man. Fiege wrote, "Bagging his first deer was a rite of passage for 13-year-old Josh Hamilton. After bringing home the three-point buck, Josh had another tradition to honor. On Tuesday morning, the young Tulalip tribal member climbed warily out of his grandfather's truck in the middle of Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood. A shy Totem Middle School eighth-grader, Josh was greeted on the sidewalk by staff and clients of the Chief Seattle Club, a nonprofit organization that provides support to about 200 low-income and homeless urban American Indians and Alaska Natives. Josh was there to give away his butchered deer to help feed the people who frequent the club's day shelter. He helped unload coolers of venison from the truck and carried the meat to the club's kitchen. 'Our tradition is that when a boy gets his first deer, he must give it away to those who would appreciate the help,' Josh's mother, Andrea Hamilton, said as she watched her son. 'Josh knows his grandpa brings fish to the Chief Seattle Club, so he wanted to give his deer to our people here on the streets.' Tall for his age, Josh accepted hugs, handshakes and high-fives from men who called him 'brother.' The Rev. Patrick Twohy, a Catholic priest who ministered for many years on the Tulalip and Swinomish reservations, asked the people gathered to accept Josh's gift to form a circle in the lobby of the club. Josh, who lives with his family in Tulalip, has known 'Father Pat' since he was a little boy and was happy to see the priest, who now splits his time between Chief Seattle Club and Tacoma's Mount Tahoma Indian Center. Following another tradition, Chief Seattle's executive director Jenine Grey, a young Tlingit woman, pinned a blanket around Josh as one of the elderly men in the circle sang and kept a beat on his deerskin drum. 'We are humbled and honored by your gift,' Grey said. 'It will nourish the bodies and spirits of people who don't often have the chance to eat traditional foods. In this urban world where we live, a gift like this will bring tears to their eyes.'"
Thank you Gayle for telling this story. And for any of you who would like to support Chief Seattle Club, please contact us, or the club directly. With this cold weather they are especially in need of warm clothing and gear.
To read the entire article, a true inspiration, please go to: bit.ly/5KoWBE .

Photo of the Chief Seattle Club from the DJC.

Friday, December 4, 2009

a hootinany + square dance in Duvall on Dec 17


Our friends out at Oxbow Farm are holding a fun fundraiser for the Sno-Valley Tilth (all proceeds go the SVT thanks to Oxbow Farms) and a PARTY!!

So scout out some fab square dancing garb and get tickets before they're gone at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/89051
Y'all come!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Tavern Law = 12th Avenue's Worst Kept Secret


Today's Seattle Times has a great story on Capitol Hill's 12th Avenue, written by Tan Vinh. It's got a terrific map of spots to stop by on your visits to the neighborhood... for dining, drinking and dropping some cash on knickknacks.

Tan was kind enough to include our client Tavern Law, describing them as "The city's premier speakeasy-style cocktail lounge and worst-kept secret. It's located upstairs through the bank-vault door. Pick up the rotary phone to get buzzed in." www.tavernlaw.com

Map by Ed Sauer for the Seattle Times

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Giving Thanks: Chief Seattle Club + Seattle Times



One of last week’s great moments was helping serve a full course turkey dinner to over 200 homeless Native Americans at the crack of dawn the day before Thanksgiving. Chief Seattle Club has been hosting their “Giving Thanks Dinner” for 13 years, and their fabulous staff and volunteers go all out to make this annual event special.

Lynda Mapes and Mike Siegel from the Seattle Times arrived at 6:30 to watch the Indian fry bread being made and talk to many of the folks that were there.

Thanks to both of you for taking the time and sharing your great talents to share the Club’s story.

In case you missed it, click here to read it.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010357189_webthanks25m.html

Photo by Mike Siegel, Seattle Times