Get Your Hoop On

My latest obsession is hooping. There, I said it. It's fun, social and a great workout. My dirty little secret is I've been going to hoop class once a week in NYC. Now it makes sense why I couldn't keep the kiddie hoops up long enough. Adult hoops are bigger and have more weight so it's easier for beginners to learn. I have my eye on this hoop. My goal is to be able to hoop dance and hoop jam with fellow hoopers in the area. How about you? Ready to dust off your hoop and show us your skills?

Can't wait to get my hoop on at the Luau on 7/31. Join me for a Hula Hoop Contest from 5pm-6pm!

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Judaica Sneak Preview

We love these one-of-a-kind Miriam goblets and personalized Latke plates by Suzaluna. They'll be availble for pre-order after Rosh Hashanah.

Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken Recipe

Olivier Napa Valley Oils has made it on The O List: "Subtle yet zesty, these multipurpose medleys can be sopped up with bread, tossed over salads, or marinated with chicken."

LEMON HERB ROASTED CHICKEN

Olivier's Meyer Lemon Garden Herb Oil is delish! Use it to enliven vegetables, leafy greens, seafood and poultry, such as this roasted chicken recipe.

Ingredients:
2 Tbs. Olivier Meyer Lemon Garden Oil [http://tiny.cc/G4gmg]
2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme (or your favorite herb)
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 chicken, about 5 lb., rinsed and patted dry

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the oil, thyme, salt and pepper and stir to form a paste.

Using your hands, carefully separate the skin from the chicken around the breasts and legs so as not to tear the skin. Rub some of the oil mixture under the skin, then rub the remaining mixture on the outside of the chicken and inside the cavity. Place the chicken in a large sealable plastic bag or wrap with plastic wrap and set on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Remove plastic bag or wrap from chicken and place the chicken on a rack in a large roasting pan. Roast, basting occasionally with the pan juices for about 1 1/4 hours.

Transfer the chicken to a carving board, cover loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serves 6.

Green Never Looked So Good

I'm always looking for ways to make less of a carbon footprint. Over the past year customer requests for recycled gift wrap have increased. The past couple of weeks in particular I've had customers asking for eco-friendly gift wrapping solutions for the trendy "green' Bridal showers.

So, I was thrilled to recently find a planet friendly option! We now offer regular cellophane or 100% biodegradable cellophane for only $2 more). Just ask for the smart choice cello when placing your order.

The new cellophane are made from cellulose fibers (composed of trees and plants) sourced with sustainable forestry principles--no rainforest or old growth trees are used. Certified biodegradable, compostable and made carbon zero. Meets ASTM D6400, EN13432 standards for CA and other states. Meets FDA requirements for direct food contact.

Yummy Fair Trade Chocolatey Goodness

My first introduction to Theo was from a friend in Seattle who sent a gift of truffles and assorted chocolate bars to my husband Tim and I. They were to-die-for and Tim and I absolutely fell in love with their confections and what the company stands for.

As the first and only organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the U.S., bringing Theo Chocolate into our store made perfect sense as we strive to offer our customers only the best. Learn more about their high standards for social and environmental responsibility.

I've decided to keep the store stocked with Theo 3400 Phinney bars because the flavors are the most unusual of all the chocolate bars. These fun bars are available in milk and dark chocolates that are combined with a ton of unique ingredients such as chai spices, hazelnut brittle, cocoa nibs and my favoritest flavor of all ... coconut curry! I know some people who think it's too weird. I think who was the genius that decided to combine milk chocolate with coconut and curry spices? This bar tastes AMAZING with crunchy bits of grated coconut, gentle spices reminiscent of Chai, with a great zip of heat as it goes down.

Could Tim and I want to move to WA so that we're closer to 3400 Phinney Avenue North in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle so we can be close to the Theo Chocolate factory and store?

The sacrifices I make for store research is mind-boggling.

New Art Cards In Today

Fashionistas will love our new card collection by artist Nicole Wright! 6 hand drawn styles embellished with watercolors, glitter and rhinestones.

The street sign on the bottom right says Washington St! We had Nicole change that from Rodeo Dr. for our local shopping divas--too cute.