Tag Archives: shop local

finding christmas spirit

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Soon little ceramic elves will be peeking from book shelves. Gnomes and Santas too. Maybe some nutcrackers. The tree will come to life with vintage and other ornaments. And Christmas baking season will begin.

But what will Christmas in the year of COVID19? Will we celebrate in tiny family pods? Will we celebrate. And what about that grinch holed up in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC? What about all the people who continue to be affected by COVID19 including now our former Chester County Sheriff?

So yes, finding my Christmas spirit has been a little challenging this year. There has been a little bah humbug in the air. Usually about now we are planning a Christmas party. But not this year. We won’t even see our entire family this Christmas. Too many people from too many places. That bums me out.

All of our Christmas celebrations will be quieter this year undoubtedly. But we do need to find our Christmas spirit!!!

Yes, even though I had recently discovered a couple of cool little Santas for a table, my Christmas spirit has been struggling.

Until yesterday. Yesterday my friend Kristin had her business’s open house. It was very different than previous years. We were timed, it was super small, we had to wear masks, and there was hand sanitizer. But there was still Christmas magic every which way I looked. She said sometimes we just have to believe and she’s so right!

Yesterday at the Smithfield Barn we were treated to a vintage Christmas. Totally magical so keep an eye out for more small, socially distanced pop-ups. Also check out what my other favorite elf Lisa has planned at Brandywine View Antiques in Chadds Ford! And you can’t forget Life’s Patina starts spreading holiday cheer next week and Meg is another favorite elf who always seems to know what I am looking for!

Also things that you won’t see this Christmas would be the open house I usually have for my friends to promote another friend’s business. But as luck would have it my friend Alice has two fabulous websites to showcase her products:

A Single Strand and ABW Designs.

Also to be considered is Past*Present*Future in Ardmore. Owned by my friend Sherry, you can shop safely with a mask in the store or buy things online! An artist by training, she has an amazing I and hers is a store that you go in and marvel at everything she has collected for her customers. It’s a beautiful place! And if you’re more comfortable shopping remotely right now you can do that too.

Another place would be Magnolia Cottage Shop in Malvern/Frazer and the lovely folks at Frazer Antiques. And also Old Soul Decor in West Chester which is re-opening in a brand new space Thanksgiving!

The last three places I am mentioning today are also special to me an run by friends as well. Clover Market has pivoted to online due to COVID19 and Janet has curated an amazing collection of things and they offer free shipping! Shopping Clover 🍀 has never been easier.

Second to last would be King’s Haven in Paoli which is not just an amazing interior design destination, but has a remarkably beautiful collection of art and gifts. All due to my talented friend Lauren.

Finally, there is Framers Market Gallery in Malvern, Newtown Square, and Haverford. Yes Jayne and Dave are friends, but I am a devoted customer and not just for the framing business. They rep some amazing local artists! And to me one of the best gifts you can give anyone for Christmas or the holidays is the gift of art!

Yesterday I realized part of finding our Christmas magic means #ShopLocal and #ShopSmall as well. So I hope you find lovely presents at some of these places and they are all places I am just a regular customer of. They won’t even know I have mentioned their business until I hit publish on this post. As a customer I like to pay it forward.

So I know this is going to be a holiday season like no other. But we do have to believe in the magic of the season.

Shop local, support small businesses wherever you live!

up home and delightful 

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 After meeting my friend Pattye for coffee at The Buttery I did the rain crawl back to my car.

I stopped in Up Home for a Mother’s Day gift. I love this store! So pretty and the nicest staff! I especially love their selection of soaps, hand lotions  and candles and La Guiole cutlery. 

Up Home is the perfect store when you need a little accent for your home or a hostess gift or a Mother’s Day present or birthday present. They also have some beautiful art hanging on the walls that is for sale. I posted photos because actually the store carries a lot of items that you don’t really see with the same quality at other  stores.

Check it out – on King in Malvern!

   
    
 

malvern buttery

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This morning I met a friend for breakfast and coffee at Malvern Buttery on King Street in the Borough of Malvern. So much fun!

  It was my first time there and what a nice open space with friendly staff!  We had amazing organic yogurt and croissants along with coffee and a chai latte. 

 They are very kind and there were plenty of people parked there with laptops. Ironically I was at the same table as the Madam of the Malvern Farmers’ Market. She was holding court at the other end of my table. 

Anyway if you haven’t been, check out Malvern Buttery ! It’s terrific!

   
   

  

local biz shout out: uhler’s seed and feed

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Supporting local small businesses is important in any community. It is often difficult to do that along parts of the Route 30 (Lancaster Ave/Lincoln Highway) corridor because of a lack of town centers. So often, unless you know the stores are there you spend years just driving by.

Such was the case with us until recently when we discovered Uhler’s Seed and Feed. Uhler’s Seed and Feed is at 160 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355. (610) 644-1945 is the phone number.

Traditional feed and seed stores barely exist anymore even out here in Chester County. A lot of it has to do with how hard it is for these types of businesses and plant nurseries to compete with big box stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot and Walmart.

Uhler’s is family owned and operated still and it’s wonderful! We started going to them because we feed our birds in the winter and they have the best selection of seed at the best prices and are so knowledgeable. They also have an amazing selection of very good birdfeeders. You can get a custom mix of birdseed if you choose as well, which you can’t find a lot of places anymore.

I have been noticing them the past couple of years because of the plants and things I see outside during the growing season. They are going to be one of my go to places the spring because this is old school. I am a person who does her own gardening. I know what I need, I know what I like, I know what I want to buy. And an old-school seed and feed store it like this is terrific. I can’t wait!

They also sell Deer Out which I have been buying online until now – it’s a deer repellent that is made up of natural things and has a minty scent that isn’t too offensive, and it works!

Another thing about this business I like is it is currently run by three generations of women. They are awesome to every customer who walks through the door.

You can like them on Facebook but they are pretty busy in their store so you won’t see them on social media much. But go in person to check them out! They are awesome and their pricing is terrific!

Uhler’s is right on Route 30 down across Lancaster from where Lincoln Court is. They are on the stretch of Route 30 between Route 352 and 401. They are on the same side of the road as McKenzie Brew House.

So we are crystal-clear I am not receiving anything for writing this review, I am paying it forward because they are a local small business and they deserve the recognition.

Check them out!