A New Start....2011

We will open the book.
Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity
And its first chapter is New Year's Day.

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce



This has long been a favorite of mine as I realize that, yes, I write each chapter of my life. Here's to writing a best seller!!!

2010 Year End Sale

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

good goods will be closed at 4pm on December 24

All day Christmas Day,

and

All day December 26

We will reopen on Monday, December 27, 10am-6pm

for our

incredible:

Everything in the shop will be on sale for at least 20% off. Seasonal will be 50% off. Look for sale tags for even bigger discounts. (up to 75%!!) This sale runs until Friday, December 31!! One week only!

We run store wide sales just twice per year. This is one you don't want to miss!!!!

Ho, ho, ho!

Cheri

Have a Pheasant Season!

Greta came in the shop one day and we were having our nice little conversation when all of a sudden she spots the vintage pheasant taxidermy on top of one of our cupboards. After cursing me soundly, she explains that now she will have to redo her entire Christmas tree and feature this fellow (instead of her owl). She pays and trots off, pheasant tucked under arm.

Several weeks later, she emails these pictures and I just had to share.

Holy Moses, can you believe this??

Time and time again, I'm told that I "just have so much talent" in the decorating realm. Well I'm here to say that I have nothing on my customers !!

My own scrawny, little Charlie Brown tree is currently only dressed in lights.

( I'm just positive I'll get around to adding those bells & whistles here in the next two days! Uh-huh)

Thanks for sending the pictures, Greta! I love seeing what magic people weave with purchases from good goods.

Oh and......3 shopping days 'til Christmas...

Enjoy,

Cheri

...and more delightful objects...

.....to give!

Fun (yummy smelling) soaps

All kinds of jewelry



Wintery tallow berries, a pretty dish for your rings
& a smaller cloche to highlight a special something



Brass key chains

French inspired totes

..perfect for Saturday market!

Wine glass charms, "wine" notepads
(not that we like wine or anything..oh, and Table Topics "Wine to Go games!!)

One of our staples....inspiring books

Not your ordinary frame (fits 4x6 photos)

Wire baskets for the wall......

and for the....?!

And more is still scheduled to arrive daily!!!

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Starting December 14 we begin our "Twelve Days of Christmas" markdowns.

We start with all seasonal merchandise marked:

12% off on Dec 14

13% of on Dec 15

14% off on Dec 16

see where this is going??!!!

There is still plenty left to add that Christmas magic to your home!!

We have been having so, so much fun with everyone that has stopped in and shared some cheer with us. Thanks to all of you!!

Cheri

Delightful objects to give.........

OK. More boxes have been arriving and although they are not all unpacked as yet....thought I should show you something new!

Lots of scarves

Darling wee cages, books and our favorite clips were in stock finally!

Fun stone coasters showing the construction of the Eiffel Tower.



Our ridiculously popular candles are restocked. They are selling fast, again!

There are new wire baskets, number key chains, signs, notepads, wire frames, our beloved dragonflies, cloches, simple iron candlesticks--that's just off the top of my head. I promise to post more as we get it out.

Take care-

Cheri

I wanted to post some pictures from the shop and one of our recent open houses. The quality isn't the best as they were all taken with my phone. Hmmmmm- I guess you'll have to come in for a better look..............!

Enjoy the weather and its ability to force us to slow down!!

Best,

Cheri

Some of our Open House recipes...

I got so many requests for recipes for food we served during our Shop Hop. I promised to post some of them so: here you are!

All of these are easy, easy recipes that I have been using for years..decades some of them!
(oh wait, I haven't been alive that long.........ah, my parents enjoyed them. yea, the folks....)

WHITE WINE PUNCH

2 1/2 cups OJ

1 cup pineapple juice

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 qt white wine ( I used a pinot grigio this time, have also used chardonnay-NOT an expensive one!!!)

1 Tbs honey

2tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 qt ginger ale

2 cups water

Ice

Mix everything and add ice and ginger ale right before serving. Soooo refreshing and almost too easy to drink! Makes..what? about 3 quarts.

MARGARET DYER'S RUM BALLS

1 lb box vanilla wafers, crushed

1 cup finely chopped nuts (I used walnuts)

4 Tbs cocoa

6 Tbs light corn syrup

6 jiggers rum (or whiskey or ?)

Mix all ingredients and let sit for 15 minutes. Roll into one inch balls (you'll have to wash your hands frequently and I find it easiest to use slightly damp hands) Roll in colored sugar, powdered sugar or sprinkles or??? Store in an airtight container. Best if allowed to mellow a day or two. Makes about 60.

CREAM CHEESE/BACON SPREAD

I used:

3-8oz blocks cream cheese, softened

1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled

bunch of green onions, finely sliced

couple dashes of Worchertershire sauce

Mix everything together, cover and let flavors blend overnight. Serve w/ sturdy crackers. Yum!

(this was enough to feed a good size group of people)

Enjoy!

Cheri

Holiday Hours

On Sundays!!

12-4pm

Through Christmas

Hope these hours will make it even more convenient for you!

Best,

Cheri

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Best,
Cheri

Photo Shoot

I had some company on Saturday after the store closed. Renae (who paints our Christmas windows & shops w/ us...frequently!), her husband, Marc, their daughter, two other photographers (?) and two models came in with lights, equipment, props, clothes, etc and did a photo shoot using good goods as the back drop. How fun! And then bing, bang two hours later...they packed it all up and it was like they were never there!! I got some wide angle shots of the store from Marc (as a thank you!) so decided to share with you!

Model Sydney...gorgeous and sweet gal.

Wide angle can make things look a bit far away...

Interesting that these were taken three days ago and some areas already look different on Tuesday!

Take Care,

Cheri

Yumm........!

Picture and recipe found here


I promised several of the guests that attended our Friday evening "Jingle & Shine" Holiday event (which was a fabulous blow out!!) that I would post one of the recipes we served. It's very simple to throw together, doesn't have to be baked, and presents like a dream. The one thing everyone seemed to like about this dish is that there are so many different flavors going on in one bite and they all go so well together.


Stuffed Endive with Honey Balsamic Reduction



Ingredients:

2 fresh heads of endive

1 small can of mandarin oranges, drained well

1/4 c. candied walnuts*, coarsely chopped

2 oz. chevre

12 fresh chives, minced

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

3 Tbsp orange juice

2 Tbsp honey

freshly ground black pepper



Directions: -In small saucepan over medium heat, combine balsamic vinegar, orange juice, and honey and cook down until well thickened, about 10-15 minutes (should cool to a molasses like consistency).-Meanwhile, carefully remove endive leaves from heads and plate (should yield about 24-30 good leaves.-Place a mandarin orange into each endive leaf.-Place some chopped candied walnuts and some crumbled goat cheese over the orange pieces in the leaves.-Once balsamic mixture is thickened well, using a spoon, slowly drizzle over each leaf-Sprinkle each with minced chives and top with freshly ground black pepper and serve.



*If you do not want to spend the money on a large container of candied walnuts, you can easily make your own by mixing 1/4 walnuts with a few Tbsp of honey, sprinkle with some brown sugar and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Let cool completely before using.

So there you have it--enjoy!!!

Best,

Cheri

A Busy November!

I'm not sure exactly how it happened but we've scheduled three events in November at good goods!! Hope this isn't over kill and..hey, if you can't attend one of our parties..maybe you can make it to another one!! We leave no one behind!!

First up is our "Jingle & Shine" Holiday Open House which really kicks the season off for us. Good goods will actually close for two days (November 4 and part of the day on the 5th) just to get everything in it's perfect place, food and cocktails out and then open at 5pm this Friday the 5th. This has traditionally been a wildly popular event and we plan to do it up right that night. Saturday will continue with a chance to win a huge gift basket. With the good stuff....not the leftovers!!! Join us, ok??

Then, November 19, (4:00-8:00) 20, (10:00-5:00) and 21, (12:00-4:00) good goods will team up with The Shabby House, Ooh La La and Mr. J's Antiques for our annual Shop Hop. Pick up your "passport" at any of these stores, visit all four of us and be entered to win one of eight shopping sprees. This was a hoot last year and we'll do our best to entertain you!!

And, of course, our "laid back excuse to get out of the house but not go near the mall" Black Friday celebration the day after Thanksgiving. Relaxed browsing, soothing tunes, some snacks and ahhhhhhhh. Cruise into Christmas.

Enjoy the season and take it easy,

Cheri

Trick or Treat.........

Have a fun Halloween!

Announcing.....

"Jingle & Shine"

Holiday Open House!

Friday, November 5~~5pm to 8pm

Saturday, November 6~~10am to 6pm

We're already getting ready for our biggest event of the year!

(actually, we've been getting ready since last January!)

The shop will be closed on Thursday, November 4 to redo every inch until it is magical, magical.

(think lots of lights, plenty of sparkle, touches of nature...)

At 5pm on the 5th, we'll finally let you in to see our holiday choices for 2010 and inspire you to spin some magic for yourself. We'll be serving up "che che" finger foods and adult cocktails to create a perfect event!

Saturday, we will continue with the celebration and give you a chance to win a massive basket full of the kinds of things you actually want!!

If you've been to our parties before, you know they are fun. If you've never attended, now is your chance. We hope to see you all!

XXOO,

Cheri

Overachievers..................

I'm sure a lot of us have started putting out Halloween decorations. (I know plenty of you have been by to add to your collections.) So, we're getting all our favorite things arranged and feeling pretty smug about how good it all looks -even better than last year! Alrighty, then.

Lest we all get big heads, let's take a look at some work by folks that treat this holiday like it's their job or something. I'd bet money, most of these people have at least one relative that was burned at the stake back in the 1600s.............

OUTSIDE:

Bazillions of carved pumpkins

A lil punkin house




Wouldn't this be a fun place to sip one right at dusk?





Love this! Fog machine over a pond??



Yep. I'm doing this one!!!



INSIDE:

Helps if your walls are orange...

Actually, quite do-able.

Even a flat screen can add to the haunting!

And then, a few fun costumes!

...bizarre, yet somehow....no, it's just bizarre!!

Make it fun!!

Cheri