4th of July Coming In With a Bang!!

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. It's when life slows down (even for just a bit!), neighbors get together for our weekly tiki torch parties, and our beloved family reunions. It is so much fun for Catherine's family to visit her husband's family at the farm over the 4th, and later, both Mary and Catherine will spend a week in August with the rest of their siblings celebrating their parents' 80th birthdays!

Decorating for the summer is also nice and low-key. Some of my favorite ideas is filling our America's Trophy Cup with candy (and having 2 growing boys in the house, the candy never lasts very long!).

The Liberty Banner hangs on our fireplace, and the "Let Freedom Ring"bell is a whimsical addition to our mantel!

While the Beach chair candle is a great touch while enjoying a summer barbeque, my friends get quite a 'kick' out of the "Sea Legs" candle I bring out for Girl's Night!

We hope you enjoy a fun, safe, and relaxing holiday weekend!

Catherine and Mary

Our New Summer Store Is Now Open!

I'm so excited to finally have our new summer store open on our website! After a long hard winter here in Iowa, I'm definitely ready! Thoughts turn to lazy days at the beach, backyard barbeques with friends...and speaking of barbeques, we have some terrific candles and martini, wine and pilsner glasses for that perfect get-together!

Latest Shopping Excursion a Big Success!

Mary and I just got back from our latest purchasing trip to the Chicago Merchandise Mart. We found all sorts of wonderful unique holiday items. One of my new favorite items is the Red Hot-tini Martini Glass by Lolita. This "red hot" 7 oz martini glass is hand-painted, and includes a delectable martini recipe right on the bottom of the glass! It includes a bag of Red Hot candies, and comes in its own gift box. I'm planning on giving one to each of my girlfriends when we have our next Girls Night In!

Check Out Our Winter Sale Items!

We still have some amazing Christmas and Hanukkah gift items and (lucky you!) they're now on sale. Most are at 50% off! Stock up on our wide selection of Christmas candles so you won't be caught without them next year. My Aunt Sadie's Tree In A Can retro candle made the house smell like Christmas this year, and at this price you'll want to stock up.

For a more traditional look, check out our Ana tapers, which work with any decor. These red and holly candles worked perfectly on my mantle.

One of my favorite stories from our fall trunk shows was that of a woman who purchased our 12 Days of Christmas Appetizer Plates for her mother as a Christmas present. She remembers her mother decorating the house with the 12 Days of Christmas theme every year. As they grew older, she and her siblings each got to share in the joy of decorating a different day. Share this joy with your family next year!