plus, we also took delivery of our first Charlie and Lola puzzle!
In the process of doing inventory this week the shocker was how many of the Giggling Charlie and Lola dolls we sold. WOW, if the puzzles and colorforms only do have as well we'll have a great year!
As we do major clean up at Tuesdays and Thursdays, Charlie and Lola can be found in our eBay store.
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
... never enough Charlie and Lola
Monday, December 29, 2008
Magnetic Asana Yoga now at Tuesdays and Thursdays
Taking fridge magnets a notch above the usual, Greggo Magnets creates themed magnet sets for the artist and intellectual just waiting to express themselves on everyone's favourite home appliance!
The Yoga set contains 63 colourful square pieces including the basic as well as more advanced poses. The die-cut sqaures are printed on a 7"x9" sheet - ready for you to pop out and create your own yoga routine.
Because of the choking hazard presented by some of the smaller pieces, this set is suggested for children over the age of three years. Find more fun magnet sets in our store - or while we're renovating the website find them in our eBay store:
Friday, December 26, 2008
Mixed-Up Romance Magnetic Poetry
The passion! The desire! The heaving bosom! If you love a torrid romance, now you can create your own with the Magnetic Poetry Mixed-Up Romance Novel Kit. Festoon your fridge or file cabinet with turged and heart-rending emotion...then have fun mixing up your story into something hilarious and new! The romantic possibilities are endless.
The latest additon to our collection of Magnetic Poetry just arrived - just in time to set aflame the cold steely hardness of your fridge! (Get your mind out of the gutter! LOL!)
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Power of Secret Attractions
If this were 100% true my doorbell would ring in a few moments, with a driver whisking me off to catch a private jet to Maldives where I would spend an incredible week with Thandie Newton. That's not going to happen no matter how much efforts I focus my thoughts on that outcome.
The power in the Law of Attraction has more to do with a positive attitude, and establishing our goals and desires in the positive. By re-reading Dr Norman Vincent Peale's 1952 classic "The Power of Positive Thinking" I realized that 'The Secret' is no more than a re-telling of what has already been written. Peale actually references the Law Of Attraction in his book although not to the degree Byrnes does. His explanation of the Law is more Christ centered, citing in several places "Through Christ All Things Are Possible." (I find it ironic that right-leaning Christians tend to criticize The Secret but have no problem putting that bumper sticker on their car.)
Once past all the skepticism, and there should be some skepticism when reading both Peale and Byrnes, there is actually a great deal of knowledge to be gained from both. At risk of sounding like one of those late 80's / early 90's motivational posters, Attitude does change Altitude.
When we are with co-workers or social settings, how many of us gravitate toward the person complaining about their children or bunions? We like to be around positive people, they inspire us, motivate us, and generally make us feel good. And positive people want to be around other positive people. Who is more likely to get the job, the one whose interview is awash in a tale of misfortune ("I'm up to my eyeballs in student loans are REALLY don't know what I'll do if I don't get this job") or the one who acts as if they already have the job and can clearly present their vision of what they will contribute to the bottom line.
In establishing goals for ourselves, a shift to the positive can make a world of difference. Focusing on negatives only empowers negatives. The best example is weight loss. Part of the reason why people fail at their goal of weight loss is that their focus is on the weight, they empower the weight by acknowledging it even in the wording or their goal. A more positive goal would be "have a kick ass body that stops traffic (without standing in front of it)." When thinking about finances we've been taught to think about eliminating debt - why focus on the debt? Once the debt is gone you'll be at zero. Focus instead of wealth, think about the money that will be flowing into your account and things you will do with that money. Focusing on wealth creation, and all of the positive things we can do with it, is much more postive that empowering our debt burden.
The Secret and the Law of Attraction really are the Power Of Positive Thinking.
And it works.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Pumpkin Bread Pudding Recipe from Caprial Pence
One of my favourite American Bistro Fare recipes, and one that I have made several times (so much so that I no longer need the recipe) is Pumpkin Bread Pudding. It's a great twist on the classic Pumpkin Pie and sure to become a favourite everywhere.
1 baguette, diced (I have found that a variety of day old white bread works well too)
1 cup toasted pecans (a few times toasted chopped filberts have gone over really well)
2 1/2 cups half and half
3/4 cup Pumpkin Puree (the Libby's in the can works great)
3/4 cup sugar (white sugar is fine, but everything tastes better with Turbinado sugar)
1/2 cup brown sugar
5 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablesppon crystallized ginger (rough chopped ginger, so that the pieces about the size of M&M's seems to be what produces the best results)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (grate your own - the flavour will be amazing!)
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
The original recipe calls for a 10-inch springform pan, but I have found that well greased 8 or 9 inch square baking pans work well too. Place the diced bread in the pan, sprinkle the toasted pecans over the bread as evenly as possible.
In a medium bowl mix half and half, pumpkin, and 3/4 cup sugar. Then add brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, ground and crystallized ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
Pour this mixture over the bread and mix well. Let stand about 20 minutes so the bread can absorb the pumpkin mixture. Give it a quick mix again just before placing it in the oven.
Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Caprial's recipes have made many of my Ordinary Days Extraordinary so without hesitation, I highly recommend heading to your local book seller to check out American Bistro Fare as well as Caprial's other books.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tuscan Blood Orange Solid Perfume now at Tuesdays And Thursdays
So what's so deal with blood oranges? A favorite of many orange connoisseurs, the blood orange, with its sweet, deep red flesh, is believed to be the result of a mutation that occurred in 17th-century Italy.
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary
Happy Christmas - BA Style !
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Hot Hugs by Aromahome now at Tuesdays And Thursdays
Hot Hugs by Aromahome are made with the highest quality supersoft fabrics. These adorable animals contain an easily removable natural wheat filled tummy insert. The tummy insert has been infused with lavender and camomile pure essential oil to help soothe and calm your little ones at bed time. Simply heat the insert in a microwave to enjoy a lovely warm cuddle. As well as being great huggable hotties they also make terrific toys.
The fun packaging makes them a perfect gift, so give someone special to you a lovely Hot Hug. Inserts are made with 100% cotton.
Product is filled with natural wheat grain and pure essential oils Outer cover can be removed and cleaned per instructions Follow heating instructions on packaging and on calico wheat bag; In time aroma may need replenishing, add a few drops of pure essential oil onto the cushion after heating.
When seated, the Hot Hugs are about 11 inches tall.
Hot Hugs are made in California and the United Kingdom. So far all of the merchandise we have received has come from California, so in addition to finding a great gift, you can feel great about supporting jobs and industry in the US!
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary
Friday, December 5, 2008
Crazy Mates - A Pirate Version Of Crazy Eights
Crazy Mates Card Game
It's Crazy Eights With a Piratey Twist! Classic Card Games for Modern Kids Crazy Mates includes 48 cards and rules of play for 2 games - a basic game and a challenge game. All hands on deck for a fun filled game where losting is winning and the first one to shout "shiver me timbers" is the winner!
Find more fun games and other pirate themed gifts in our store.
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Magnetic Poetry Italian Edition
Magnetic Poetry World Series Kits are the international versions of the popular American phenomonen. Each was created by native speakers of the respective language, and care was taken to bring out the poetic delights of their mother tongue for natives and learners alike.
Available now at Tuesdays and Thursdays
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Velvetten Rabbit Gift Set Now At Tuesdays And Thursdays
The Velveteen Rabbit is a children's novel written by Margery Williams and illustrated by William Nicholson. It chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit and his quest to become real through the love of his owner. The book was first published in 1922 and has been republished many times since.
Our Velveteen Rabbit is designed with elegantly simple lines, a shimmery velveteen coat, soft creme anglaise colored spots, and a snow-white belly. Pink satin ears, button-thread whiskers, sparkling eyes with embroidered trim, hand-stitched details, and a silky chenille tail complete this masterpiece.
This complete package holds a Velveteen Rabbit soft toy and a smaller soft cover version of the original The Velveteen Rabbit book, perfect for easy presentation.
The Velveteen Rabit is surface washable. Air dry, rabbits do not enjoy being tumble dryed.
The rabbit stands about 8 inches tall - his ears add about another 1 or so to his height.
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary
Garden Fairies Jigsaw Puzzle In A Collectible Tin
Our challenging 100-piece puzzle comes in an irresistible (even to adults!) hinged storage tin. (Only the storage tin is metal, by the way.) The artwork is great and the puzzles are fun!
Julia Breckenreid illustrated the poppies, dragonfly, butterflies, and fairies of the Garden Fairies Collectible Tin Puzzle. 100-pieces to put together with your friends.
100-piece puzzle measures 18 x 12"
Storage tin measures 7-1/16 x 6 x 2"
For ages 6+
Monday, December 1, 2008
Curious George Valentine Fun Pack
We know we have some hard core Curious George fans amongst our customers - that's why we started carrying the Curious George Valentine Fun Packs as soon as they were available. Most retailers are not going to start offering these until sometime after their Christmas rush - PISH! We've got 'em, we know you love Curious George, so here they are!Adorable tote-style Valentine Fun Pack: Each sturdy paper tote with acetate window includes twenty 4 ¼" x 4 ¼" valentine cards (5 each of 4 designs), a Teacher’s card, 21 envelopes, and 30 stickers. Kids will love decorating these cards for schoolmates and delivering them to class in these original carryalls!
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary