Locally Owned Fabulousness

Brendan and I did a little shopping yesterday, and I introduced him to Pryde's in Westport.



Pryde's is full of awesome kitchen gadgets, appliances, dishes, garden statues, canisters, the list goes on and on. The building once held a dance studio that began in 1922.


I can't cook my way out of a paper sack, but I love this store because of the interesting stuff, the friendly staff, and the way things are merchandised.


Some of their stuff is locally made, like these hot pads.

Beautiful oven mitts and they had about six of these chandeliers made of small whisks.

Great display.


If they don't have it at Pryde's, you don't need it. I wasn't sure what you might use a "natural baking shell" for, but if you need some, they are here.





I was pretty good about just looking, but I did bring this little statue of the boy's head home with me. He is made of metal and is really heavy. I love his collar.

Great flooring (and Brendan's shoes are cute, too).


Our first stop had been at the Arizona Trading Company in Westport. It's fun to get Brendan's clothes here because they have plenty to choose from. Brendan likes skinny jeans and wool sweaters and they had just what we needed. Most everything is gently used, like a thrift store, it's just easy for us to focus since they carry only trendy, funky stuff.




They have fun hand made signs throughout the store.






I shopped here for years at their store in Lawrence and I'm glad it's easy one-stop shopping for Brendan since neither of us can stand the mall. (Unless we're talking about an antique mall, that is).

Be sure to support locally owned shops whenever possible. It's good for all of us to patronize these places and help strengthen the local economy. In fact, the Westport Coffee House right up the street from Pryde's and the Arizona Trading Company was successful in driving a nearby Starbucks out of business because of their great following. What a great example of David beating the s*&# out of Goliath!

Merry Merry

My mother is amazing. Here she is in the photo below at my cousin Janet's for Christmas with Kayla, Janet's daughter, my brother, Kahn, and my fab sister-in-law Kavi.

I took some pics of my mom's house right before I left town for a week and although Christmas has passed, I wanted to post them.

From as far back as I can remember, my mother has always had the best sense of fashion when it comes to home decor. This Christmas season was no exception. Her gold and bronze tree took center stage in the living room and just sparkled. She is great about changing up the theme and I loved the metallics this year. What will next year bring for this tree, only my mother knows!

This tree is a consistent fave. My mom has collected Hallmark vintage car ornaments for my brother ever since they started making them like 18 years ago. She wonders when they are going to end the series!

Here's a closeup of the cars on the pencil tree in her downstairs living room. My brother won't take the cars to his own house because coming home to them at my parent's is special to him (and to all of us).

We celebrated Christmas and my birthday at my parent's before my family left for a week in Alabama. This is the dining room table setting. So festive!

Mom's kitchen mantel full of snowmen (and women).

More metallics on the tree in the kitchen. I love the combination of green, gold and reddish balls and their move away from brighter, more traditional colors.

I got these vintage place card holders at the Rivermarket Antique Mall and my mom won them in Dirty Santa the year before last. I know when I buy something for Dirty Santa that my mom will end up with it because I just know what she likes.

Such a stately Santa at home on the hearth.

Mom's hutch in the dining room full of holiday dishes and goodies.

I adore her collection of carollers and they look right at home on this tray perched on a big, round leather ottoman.

And can you believe my birthday cake? You're lucky to get an ice cream cake from TCBY at my house (not that those aren't good, but they are NOT homemade!). The apple fell VERY far from the tree when you compare my mom's cooking and baking ablity with mine!

And here's the mantel in her living room. I love the Old World Santas with the Italian-inspired painting; so rich and beautiful.

Another cute display of Christmas goodness.

This is the baker's rack in mom's kitchen. I bought the cookie jar on the top shelf at Pryde's for Dirty Santa last year and yes, you guessed it, my mom ended up with it!!!

And a closeup of a shelf on the baker's rack. My mom's house just took my breath away this year and I'm already looking forward to what she'll come up with for next year's holiday season!