Let Love Warm Up your Winter!

Here we are with just a few days left until Valentine’s Day!  The weather outside continues to be frightful…makes me wonder…how will you warm your heart?  While fancy dinners out with your honey can be very tasty and romantic…the bill may leave you feeling cold!  Can’t get a babysitter, anyway?  Stay home with all your little Valentines and eat a backwards dinner…chocolate first!  Remember, it doesn’t all have to be about hearts and romance.  There are no defined rules on the best ways to give love and get love!  Start with loving yourself, send a little love to someone in need of a pick-me-up… and see where that takes you! 

So, here are some ideas to help you Simplify your Valentine’s Day!

As always, we have beautiful Amsterdam chocolates and heart shaped cookies, delicious pies in a jar, heart shaped lollis & ROSES (red, pink & multi) to cover the basics! Melissa is also making Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecakes Pops that are ridiculously delicious and the perfect ending (or start) to any meal!

Box Assorted Amsterdam Chocolates $20

Valentine Lolli Bouquets start at $17.50

Sugar Cookes $5.50 each

Get your heart pumping (& work off all that chocolate) with our new Phat Buddha yoga wear! One size fits most! 

This great tie-dye tank in pink that has a special gripping edge to prevent it from riding up while you are working out!

Bring a spark to your workout with this amazing sparkle bra $53

	Books for no other reason than we think Books are the perfect gift for most occasions!

Finally, an empowering dating guide for every woman who wants to have fun, express her opinions, and keep it real. No cheap tricks, no behavior changes, no nonsense. $18.95 This bedside bible of illustrated, expert advice on romantic and not-so-romantic disasters will keep readers amused and safe in equal measure. Also including an appendix of pickup lines to avoid (or use), handy excuses, guide to body language, an "It's Not You, It's Me" letter template, and more: $22.95

If you share your love with a fur-baby, why not show it with a new collar or great toy!

Up Country Collar in multiple sizes $24.50

A beautiful scarf is the perfect gift to give your favorite girl (even if it is yourself!)

Chiffon ruffle edge scarf $18.50

And of course, a little statement jewelry gives a whole new meaning to the "Winter Blues"…

Hand beaded statement necklace in blue $42

“What is done in love, is done well.” – Vincent Van Gogh

It’s as SIMPLE as that!

XOXO,

Eve & Beth

Signage!

Signage!  We are so thrilled to show off our new sign!  It’s been a long time coming so…despite the fact that it took three of us, one ladder and one over sized snow bank to hold said ladder…the SIMPLIFY MARKETPLACE sign has been hung on its post for all to see and beckon customers forth.  I’m a big believer that one good turn surely deserves another.  So, while we were outside admiring the sign (and icicles) we took a moment (ok, 10) and changed a few light bulbs on the outdoor string.  The cold is no excuse to put off improvements, particularly ones that are so simple!!  After all, “A wise owl Simplifies”

Now that I’m back indoors and cozily planted behind the front desk, I can see this lovely new sign and my own inner bulbs start popping with ideas.  I think…how very important it is to have signage, something with which to be identified.  So, let’s see how we can help you simplify your own signage… 

One of my new year’s resolutions is to keep in touch more.  In this digital age, I plan on using my digits (see what I did there?) to write more handwritten notes.  I received one not too long ago from an old friend.  I found it so delightful that it inspired me to share some of that with the people in my life.  Simplify Marketplace can have personalized stationery made to order - simple folded notes, elegant letterpress, and unique flat print options…so simple yet so elegant.  I can’t wait to order mine! 

Personalized Notepad $15

Personalized Sticky Notes $7

Set of 10 Personalized Folded Notes $18

Or make the start to your day a little more simple with these great personalized notes to send off to school

Personalized School Notes - Many Designs Available $15

It’s important not only for us to have our identifiers, but for children, too!  What’s more personal than a pillow?  Check out this one…not only super cute, but super cuddly, too.

Flat printed pillowcase on jersey. Super Soft. Many Colors/Patterns $32

Monogramming can turn anything into something special.  Why not go the extra step for someone special (yourself!) Carved Solutions is an elegant line of candles, soaps and hand towels.  With their super fast turn around time, you can have the perfect hostess gift anytime!

Carved Solutions Custom Candles $30

Personalized glasses can also make a statement…for one “Don’t touch my glass!”…unless you’re refilling it, of course!

Carved Solutions Glasses - Starting at $15

With that, I leave you my own signage…

Yours truly,

Eve

A New Year.... a New Beginning!

It has been awhile since the blog has been updated. Time to wake things up!  A New Year…a new beginning!  January is always such a great time for taking stock and reevaluating things.  It’s cold enough for all of us to slow down and catch our breaths, before the next big wave.  Post holiday, the expectations seem to taper and we get a chance to pause and focus on our next act. With the weather not so glorious, I don’t feel so guilty hunkered down indoors tackling projects, long overdue. Putting decorations away, filing that seemingly insurmountable pile of last year’s papers or finally reorganizing that scary corner of my basement (Ok let’s be honest. There are 4 scary corners!) are just a few of the items on my list.  Personally, I like setting goals this time of year, big and small.  The small ones tend to lead to bigger ones…plus I just love crossing them off the list and feeling that sense of accomplishment. 

So, with that, let’s take a look at some ways we can help YOU set some goals, and get some tasks crossed off of your list!  Let’s go!

One of Melissa’s favorite things in the kitchen, besides baking of course, is her white board.  Everyday, she scribbles down her tasks and as she achieves them, she just wipes them away.  Very satisfying! Simplify Marketplace carries the most adorable white boards…hang one in your kitchen, kid’s room, mom-cave, wherever!  They are self sticking and bordered in fun patterns to keep you feeling tasky and trendy!

Assorted Designs - Capri Designs White Boards $12.50

Calendars, a seemingly obvious choice for January but certainly not overrated!  Start looking ahead, filling in dates, making plans and before you know it…is it spring yet? 

Kim Parker Floral perpetual calendar.... $11

Journals are a great way to get down all your scattered thoughts, in one happy place.  What might seem random at first may just turn into something special!

Carpe Diem Journal – for all your mini goals and major goals! $ 14.95

A pocket planner will not only keep your dates organized, but also your (often fleeting) ideas, all in one place when you are on the go. And let's face it... we are all ON. THE. GO!

Today is the Day Pocket Planner $13.99

I love writing my ideas & goals down, but when I do it on scraps of paper, sometimes they disappear as quick as my thoughts…why not keep them together in one safe place!

Big Idea Notepad $14.95

And finally, I leave you with this first item finally checked off the 2015 resolution list:

Small Positive Thought box sign $18

Angry, angry birds!

 It has been a long, long time since I have posted on this blog. I have been a little distracted getting the store up and running... but now it IS up and running, so I have made a New Year's resolution to get back to doing all the other SIMPLIFY things I used to do. One step at a time!

My plan is to go back and post a the cakes and treats that never made it to the blog - as well as to do an update on the new products that will start coming into the store over the next month. Being January, the store has been a little slow - so Melissa and I have done a few little projects to get the creative juices rolling! A couple weeks ago a friend asked if we had ever made Angry Bird lollis. I answered no, but thought it was a pretty good idea...

This is the result!

 These "friendly" little creatures will be available at SIMPLIFY Marketplace for $3 while supplies last! They are also available in a "Bitty Bird Box" for $16.50 or a "Bitty Bird Bouquet" for $20

Shop & Shopping (With a giveaway at the end)

I have been so crazy lately... head focused on 3 months out, and feet trying to remain firmly planted in the present.... so many lists that I can't seem to keep track of them all. Somehow, someway it will all get done.

The transformation of the store has begun and it is finally starting to feel like it is mine. I can't wait until we start building out the kitchen and put the fixtures in place so we can figure out where everything is going to go. This is a picture I took last Friday when they were putting in the floor... I was there this morning and it is finished!! WhoooHoo!

In the meantime, I thought I would share some of the finds we had from National Stationery Show in NYC.

We visited the eeBoo and found some great games and activity gifts for Kids and Toddlers

 

Then we happened upon FASHION DOLLS and thought they were too cute to pass on... These pencil fashionista card and sticker sets would make a perfect favor, stocking stuffer, "I'm thinking of you" gift or fun little something extra 

  

For the older crew, we just loved these laptop and template cases by Miquel-Ruis ltd. We will stock a couple fun patterns and matching notebooks and journals. The perfect graduation gift or back to school purchase!

  

Choosing a line of cards to stock was mind-boggling! We went up and down the aisles and looked and looked, but eventually settled on two that we feel will meet the needs of most of our customers:

Curly Girl Designs, ltd

 

and Compendium, Inc - which not only produces great cards, but also a great line of gift books which make a great friend or hostess gift.

 

So now to the good part... the giveaway!

This is what you need to do:

1. Go to our facebook page and "LIKE" us
2. Respond to the blog and let us know what products you would like to see in SIMPLIFY Marketplace
3. Do the above by 12pm EST on Wednesday May 25th

A random winner will receive 5 assorted greeting cards (as soon as our stock arrives in June... so you will need to be just a little bit patient!) You do not need to be local to enter this contest, but you must live in the United States!

Moon Splash @ the "Dune Preserve"

We will continue our escape from this never ending Winter with a trip back to a Caribbean Style Beach Party we did in September.

To set the tone for the evening we lined the long driveway with torches... There were two possible entrances to the house, but only one we wanted guests to use. We positioned a birdbath in the middle of the path we didn't want people to use and created this fun arrangement of limes, lemons and a pineapple to help set the tone for the evening and block the path!



Torches lined the correct pathway up the stairs into the back yard



Guests were met at the top of the stairs by servers holding trays of Rum Punch (the credit for the rum punch recipe goes to a good friend and many trips to Jamaica... but that will have to wait to be the subject for another post)




The hostess told us that she wasn't a big fan of flowers... so we kept them to a minimum and used fruit, tropical leaves and shells for most of our arrangements. Fuchsia, Lemon Yellow and Bright Orange used in different ways throughout the party space unified the evening.



And some flowers and goldfish as the centerpiece for the food table....




Food for the evening was Caribbean style finger foods. We didn't want guest to have to try to coordinate holding a plate and fork while - so we filled the buffet with all kinds of fun treats that were easy to grab and go... and made sure everyone got plenty of food by butlering most items through out the night as well.



Later in the evening we switch the buffet from savory to sweet.... and the guests devoured them up before we had a chance to capture how beautiful everything looked!


Pink and yellow uplights in the beautiful tent gave the space a warm glow as the night went on....




Many thanks to Kristen of SnapTwoIt Photography for all the wonderful photos!

Escape from the Winter Blues

With a trip to Miami Beach - Club Style!

For this surprise birthday bash we wanted to evoke the feeling of somewhere warm and tropical... with a night club vibe. We decided to use Miami Beach as our inspiration. The palate of colors was kept simple. White, Black and Hot Pink.

We emptied the ballroom of all furniture and brought in white sofas, daybeds, sleek bar stools, a very cool white leather ottoman and tables with lycra covers.



The furniture was grouped into conversation areas... which added to the club vibe



The real transformation came as night fell and everything (including the flowers) was lit with either fuchsia or hot white light. Guests were met at the entrance by a bouncer with a velvet rope and had to have their name on "the list" to gain entry. A few good humored guests were highlighted in advance and asked to wait to the side for a few moments until the bouncer decided they were "ok" to enter....








A dessert table by Sweet Stuff with a shopping vignette for the cake and some beautiful finger desserts capped the evening



Desserts were propped up on glass plates over vases filled with floral marbles and lights