If I Had A Daughter...

This is what she would be wearing! I must say I have had way too much fun selecting some new designer kids apparel for the store. I don't have any daughters, and if you are a mother of a son, you know exactly what I mean when I say, there just aren't ANY cute, stylish clothes for boys. In the meantime, calling all moms with style, who pass that style on to their kids...you absolutely have to come see our new clothing lines. Both lines are very exclusive, handmade and are made with just the most beautiful fabric combinations you have ever seen. I am very proud to add both of these new original clothing lines to our store. If our customers like them, I am sure you will see more of them, however, there is one caveat...they are sold in very limited quantities and we will only be carrying a small number of each design in each size. They are truly one of a kind. We do have some designs available in size ranges for siblings that will coordinate wonderfully for matching outfits! One of the lines has already arrived and begun to sell quickly, the other will arrive in about 10 days.

A New Personal Favorite

I must admit that I have been using these new lotions like crazy and am holding my lip butter hostage.

Olivina Bath and Beauty Products are a unique line of products from the Napa Valley that use two ancient traditions to create a luscious line of handmade bath and beauty products. Seen in most of the top magazines including C, Lucky, Seventeen, Elle, Harper's and many others Olivina Bath and Beauty Products are the ideal source for moisturizing skin and leaving it silky soft. Olivina Bath and Beauty Products are handmade in the beautiful Napa Valley area of California. The formulation of the unique products is based on two very old traditions to achieve maximum beauty benefits. The formulation on which the success of Olivina bath and Beauty Products is based is the use of hand-pressed olive oil and grapeseed oil.

Many of the scents used in Olivina Bath and Beauty Products are influenced by fresh Mediterranean scents such as; fig, lavender, honey and olive. The Olivina line is famous for providing an incredible moisturizing and hydrating experience from among the Olivina Bath and Beauty Products line which includes soaps, body butter, bubble bath, scrubs, lotions, body washes, hand crèmes, candles and lip butter. Try One of the products which is generally found in the fashion magazines is the Olivina Olive Body Butter. The Olivina Oilve Oil Body Butter is formulated with natural ingredients such as; shea butter, coconut, almond, rose hips, coconut, grapeseed and olive oil. The product is formulated to condition skin and to help the skin maintain the moisture balance. P.S. Don't miss the lip butter, it is to die for!

Have You Heard of Stephanie Johnson?

Who better to design a travel collection than an order-obsessed modernist and traveling anthropologista? Stephanie Johnson launched her line of namesake travel accessories in 2000 after countless trips abroad and weeks spent packing and unpacking suitcases. Her minimalist aesthetic keeps her continually motivated to create cleaner, more streamlined pieces that make the everyday cosmetic or toiletry bag surprisingly versatile. Studied details like zipper pulls are Stephanie Johnson’s signature adornment made with Turkish silk knots and colorful grosgrain ribbons. Fabrics reminiscent of Missoni to Marimekko speak to the classic, traditionalist, hipster or gypsy. Inside, each bag is lined with contrasting fabric to better see your precious belongings; some with pink azalea and others with geometry that’s so much more fun than it was in 6th grade. Some pieces also have ultra-convenient removable pouches, pull-out mirrors, coin purses, make-up brush holders, bottles. Each is finished in classic, luxurious trims like suede, faux crocodile, patent leather, grosgrain and velvet with an occasional nod to whimsy in lime or pink faux lizard. The bags are a breeze to take care of and most are lined with a plastic overlay that makes cleaning a cinch.

Traditionally, make up cases and jewelry rolls were considered a necessary, but style-free component to a woman’s personal carry-all. Through Johnson’s eye for great patterns, shapes and her obsessive quest for beautiful functionality, they have now been resurrected to regal status to the happiness of travelers everywhere. You may not get lucky enough to have Johnson pack your suitcase (rumor has it, no one does it better), but you can be the beneficiary of Johnson’s creative solutions born from a life at 30,000 feet. Try our new Stephanie Johnson Barcelona Collection or the gorgeous Pamela Pleated Clutch, a stylish home for all of your makeup essentials, this roomy clutch also does double duty as a luxurious evening bag. Sure to dress up your night table, or your favorite cocktail dress!

Liquid Gold

Gumbo meets barbecue! Farm boy meets Armani! Louisiana spice with a Texas kick! Louisiana native Niven Morgan has built a Texas based company into a worldwide distributor of bath, body and home aromas. Luxe creams, velveting lotions, spray perfumes and scented candles bearing his name are being offered in exclusive stores throughout the country. Niven Morgan offers personal care items for every generation.

Try the Velveting Hand Créme: a luxe cream to resurface dry and overworked hands keeping them younger, smoother and healthier looking. A unique blend of vitamins C, E, Pro-Vitamin B and herbal extracts which may help reduce the appearance of dark skin spots.

Kid Couture

Coming soon to The Cordial Cricket. Designed by Leslie and Ashley, two mothers with style in Lakeland, Florida. We are one of the very first stores to sell their designer clothing for babies and kids. Pick up a stylish new summer outfit for your little one at the Cricket. Arriving in about 10 days.

Must Have That Bag!

In my infinite research for the new "Must Have Bag", I think that I have finally struck the jackpot! I work really, really, I mean really hard to find things to sell in our store that meet what I think are some of the most important criteria: 1. I love them, I would use them, I want them for myself. 2. Unique, don't see in any other stores, one of a kind, special stylish flair. 3. Affordable, but still pretty luxurious, or at least have that look and feel.

cinda b bags were the official celebrity gift bag of the Sundance Film Festival and have been spotted in Lucky, Us Weekly, Budget Travel, Women’s Wear Daily and many more fabulous publications as well as StyleBakery.com. The Style Network named the cinda b weekender bag a must have for summer. Heidi Klum, Jessica Simpson, Molly Sims and Jennifer Aniston are among the many trendy travelers who own a cinda b. Robert Downey Jr. was spotted on Miami Beach sporting his cinda b Weekender.

All cinda b travel bags are made right here in the United States with durable, water-resistant, machine washable fabric. cinda b bags are available in ten different sizes and styles, ranging from the smallest bag, the “Happy”, to the largest bag, “The Garment Bag that Grows”. All cinda b’s are available in 11 different patterns: Bella Fiore Rasberry, Sweetleaf Navy, Roundabout Brown, Bella Fiore Cocoa, Sweetleaf Pink, Roundabout Red, Casablanca Sky Blue, Ravinia Black, Roundabout Black, Casablanca Purple and Ravinia Ivory and are very affordable. You can select any bag in any pattern, as well as many accessories in coordinating patterns like checkbook covers, sunglass cases, id cases, diaper changing pads, cosmetic and jewelry cases.

Trust me, you will want them all and they will meet all your carrying and traveling needs in such a stylish way! We have a beautiful new store display of these new must have bags, so stop in to see them for yourself and select your favorite styles in your favorite patterns. One of my favs is the Slim Tote shown above. My favorite pattern is a close call between the Ravinia Ivory and Sweetleaf Navy.

Kate Spade, Objects of Desire and Earthworks

What do these unique and stylish brands all have in common...?

They are all currently on sale in our store. Stop in to take advantage of these great limited time deals. This is a perfect opportunity to stock up on some gifts for now and for later in the year!

All Kate Spade Stationery - 40% off

All Earthworks body care products, lotions, soaps and bath truffles - Buy One Get One Free!

All Objects of Desire silk cosmetic bags and coin purses with embroidered initials - 50% Off

Stay tuned for more information on all of the wonderful new lines we will be welcoming to our store during the month of April. They are all so good, I just can't wait for you to see them! We will also be having a special Mother's Day promotion for all of those guys out there who need to shop for the mothers in their life!

Stay tuned...

Ooh...don’t miss this. It’s important.

Our store is a proud supporter of the 3/50 Project. You say you haven't heard of it yet? Well don't miss out. Read on, do your part to spread the word and shop locally.

Former Retailer Provides Her Own Economic Stimulus Plan for Main Street - The 3/50 Project unites small business and consumers in stabilizing their local economy.

Minneapolis, MN, March 19, 2009 — Having been an independent stationery store owner for fourteen years, Cinda Baxter understood the pain felt by retailers when the economy sank and consumers held back. What began as an economic downturn in the autumn had become a psychological tsunami by March 1st. What the country needed, in her opinion, was a meeting of the minds between two groups that held valuable stakes in the game—small business owners and members of their communities. Enter The 3/50 Project. With a tag line “Save your local economy three stores at a time,” the project's goal is to promote shopping in locally owned businesses while thanking customers for the positive impact that decision has on a local economy.

“We're constantly inundated with doom and gloom,” says Baxter, now a retail consultant and professional speaker. “The system is broken, the banks are frozen, the economy is bleeding. That's all we hear. The images painted by the media are ghastly and devoid of hope. What we need—what we crave—as a nation is to pinpoint areas where positive change can occur, then feel good about having promoted them.” By early March, she'd decided enough was enough, and that it was time to give retailers ammunition to fight back with. Rather than get tangled in complex messaging and deployment, Baxter combined a straightforward theme, a free flyer, and her blog as the mechanism to launch The 3/50 Project.

“We ask consumers to think about which three stores they'd miss if they disappeared, then remind them to return there,” explains Baxter. “Shoppers have become so rooted in thinking about the essentials that they've forgotten about the little gift store on the corner whose owner remembers their name.” “Fifty comes from the idea that if even half the employed population spent a mere $50 per month in locally owned retail stores, those purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue,” she continues. “That's a huge impact for a relatively small investment.” Which leads to a third number on the flyer, sixty-eight—the dollar amount that remains in a community's economy for every $100 spent in locally owned stores. By contrast, only $43 per one hundred remains local when spent in national chains; little or no revenue results from online purchases. "In essence, the whole thing boils down to "Pick 3, spend 50, save the economy." It's really that simple.”

Since ease of use was key to store owners jumping on board, Baxter designed a free flyer for participants to download, print on any color printer, then hand to consumers with their purchases. “The idea is to look customers in the eye, put this right in their hands, and say "thank you for shopping in a locally owned store" rather than just pop these in the bottom of a bag and hope someone sees them.” Within 24 hours of providing the link on her blog, things began to light up. Retailers were sharing the flyer with other businesses. Property managers were spreading the news to tenants. Thank you notes were arriving via email every hour. Trade publications and blogs were asking about guest posts and columns promoting the plan, and a movie theater requested a copy large enough to display on their screens for waiting audiences to view. “The best part about 3/50 is that it's so down to earth, so straightforward, so accessible,” reflects the enthusiastic champion of independent retailers. “This is a labor of love that store owners and customers can share.” Given the level of interest, a dedicated website has been established to promote the movement, link to the free flyer, and list participating retailers and other supporters. It can be found at: http://the350project.org

*Note - to be sure you're clear on the $50 part—it’s $50 per month, not $50 x 3 stores per month*

About Cinda Baxter: Cinda Baxter understands retail from the inside out. Her commitment to exceeding customer expectations resulted in two national Retailer Excellence Awards and frequent press coverage ranging from Minnesota Monthly to Modern Bride. Today, she “pays it forward” to both retailers and vendors through her consulting company Always Upward, as a Contributing Editor for Gifts and Decorative Accessories Magazine, and as founder of The 3/50 Project.