Memorial Day...

It is the 

VETERAN, 

 not the preacher, 

 who has given us freedom of religion. 

It is the

 VETERAN, 

 not the reporter, 

  who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the

VETERAN, 

 not the poet, 

who has given us freedom of speech.

   It is the

 VETERAN, 

not the community organizer, 

who has given us freedom to assemble. 

It is the 

VETERAN, 

 not the lawyer, 

who has given us the right to a fair trial. 

It is the

 VETERAN, 

 not the politician, 

Who has given us the right to vote. 

It is the 

VETERAN 

who salutes the Flag, 

It is the 

VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag

As the proud daughter of a Vietnam Veteran I wish you all a peaceful Memorial Day as we remember those who served, and continue to serve our wonderful country.  God bless them all.

How to be a Lake Girl...

First, lets start with how not to be a Lake Girl.  If the photo above is your idea of being a Lake Girl, please think again. We've grown up--no girls camps, communal dining or scheduled activities. There is no 6 AM wake-up call for a real Lake Girl.

If this is your concept of what a lake girl is all about--again, let me dissuade you.  Indoor plumbing, a well stocked bar, a good DSL connection are all missing here.... Yes, there is a lake in the picture, but a flimsy tent by a small body of water is decidedly not the recipe for being a lake girl.

                                                             

Now, THIS is the lake.  Down at the dock--little row boat bobbing in the waves.  A good book.  Iced tea.  A wet dog or two running about.  Lake Girl becomes a state of mind--kind of a mantra of where we want to be.  So even if you can't quite escape to the lake, you can still wear the Lake Girl look in our darling new clothing line.  Tees for hot, sunny days.  Cozy hoodie sweatshirts for campfires on the beach, and baseball caps for running into town in the convertible.  What more do you need?  

Here's to finding your inner Lake Girl..........Clever Girl is happy to help you find your way.

Welcome Orla Kiely!

Clever Girl is pleased to add Orla Kiely 

to our repertoire of goodies.

----------------------------------------------------------

Launched in the early 1990's, Orla's distinctive signature prints are known world wide for their fresh use of color and pattern.  You can't help but fall in love with these bags!  

Originating in the UK, the Orla Kiely brand now includes several collections a year of bags, stationary and homegoods.  It has been seen on everything from  buses in Asia, to staircases, couches and camping gear.  

We adore the signature "stem print" here at Clever Girl, and it's our great pleasure to offer you Orla Kiely bags, small leather goods and paper products.

Farmers Market

Ready, Set, Go!

The Western Springs French Farmers Market starts today for the season... Grab your tote bags and come on down!  The market is open every Thursday--rain or shine--through October 28th.  Hours are from 2-7 pm.  Also, new this year, there are special programs at the historic Water Tower Museum {click here for information}

If we don't see you over there, be sure to pop in to Clever Girl and say hello...

Don't Forget...

O.K. Clever Girls, a gentle reminder-- Mother's Day is fast approaching. We've got fresh shipments in on everything from clothing and jewelry to cookbooks and great new tabletop items.  We ship via UPS daily, so you really have no excuse.  


After all, our Mothers taught us how to be Clever Girls--attention must be paid.

Vie is for Vittles

I have to share with you my latest and greatest adventure--I was lucky enough to participate in a cooking session with none other than Paul Virant of Vie!   The class was all about pasta, but we learned so much more.  

Wild Spring Ramps are in season, and we had the opportunity to use this fragrant, tasty, green from the garlic family.  Chef Virant combined it with a few other ingredients and just like magic whipped it up into a delicious filling for homemade Ravioli.  We each made our own pasta dough from scratch {not as easy as I thought!} and layered up a delicious lasagna as well.  

The Vie kitchen is an amazing and efficent thing to behold--you really could eat off the floor!  Topics of discussion ran from local mushroom hunting, {I'm not telling where} to wild Boar hunting with crazy Texans, to favorite foods.  The class concluded with a hearty lunch, comprised of what we had all just made together, several delicious wine pairings, and a sample of the Chefs new house beer.  This was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it to you all.  A meal at Vie is indeed a treat, and we are so fortunate to have a restaurant of this caliber right here in Western Springs. To be able to peek behind the curtain into the kitchen is a true privilege.  Clever Girls love to cook, right?  So treat yourselves to a class there, or drop some heavy hints for Mother's Day.  Vie is at 4471 Lawn Avenue in Western Springs, Illinois

Fresh Pasta Dough

Wild Spring Ramps

Ravioli

H2O to Go!

Our new favorite thing....
Look at what we found!  Just in, these amazing water bottles.  Here's the scoop on why you need one...

· BPA, phthalate, PVC, and polycarbonate free
· Silicone sleeve is free of plastics and 100% non-toxic
· All materials are FDA approved

· With glass there is no chemical leaching and no metallic taste 
· Wide-mouth bottle make it easy to add ice,

 citrus slices, tea bags, etc
· Patent pending silicone sleeve provides a great gripping

 surface and helps to prevent breakage

· Bottle (made in France) and sleeve can 
be put in the dishwasher together
· Holds a generous 22 oz (650ml) + fits in car cup holders

Oh, and did we mention that they look and feel AMAZING ?   This will be the last water bottle you'll ever buy--every Clever Girl wants needs one.  Six great colors to choose from.  Dare we hint that these would make a terrific Mother's Day gift........

Bunnies, Birds & Bulbs....

Yes, yes.  I know, I know.  Yet another wild-life up date.  But these little guys are back in full force--and numbers I've never seen. Everywhere I turn lately I'm encountering rabbits.  Cute, cuddly and oh-so-sweet looking now....but they will be eating their way through everything in sight in a few short weeks......

And from the "It's a Hoot" department.......A pair of owls are apparently auditioning our neighborhood up in Michigan.  Every evening they call to one another from high up in the pine trees.    Hoo-hoo calls the first. [Pause]  Hoo-hoo comes the reply.  It goes on this way for quite some time.  Not the most in-depth discussion perhaps, but they definitely are having a chat...What are they saying I wonder?  The view from above must be lovely--the trees are beginning to bud out, and the daffodils and tulips are well on their way to blooming.  Speaking of which......my forced bulbs are also blossoming in full force.

Nothing fills the house with the fresh smell of spring like these beautiful, periwinkle, Hyacinth  flowers. I chill them all winter in the bottom drawer of the fridge, and plant them up in January. Now is the pay off. Papery round bulbs yield sturdy stalks, green leaves, and these amazing, fragrant flowers. 

I hope you're enjoying the longer, warmer days. Spring has sprung.  Hope to see all of you soon!

REAL Drama

Today is the day...Whether you've seen any of the films or not, we all love the Oscars, right? Lately, the red carpet walk has become the most exciting part--now it's more for the fashion (thank you Cher) than the movies. It's also now the longest show ever. From the pre-show to the final prize, and the requisite follow up analysis of who wore what, the Academy awards are now something like 18 hours long. Let's face it: It's a commitment.

And, lest you forget Clever Girls, there is a fresh season of Rachel Zoe to be seen in a few months on Bravo. They are filming right now and dear Rachel is surely dressing several movie stars even as you read this. Can you say drama? Will Brad be able to take the pressure? Is Rodger being supportive, and is Taylor still on the team? (I think NOT!)

I do miss Rachel. No one clutches a Starbucks cup quite like she does, and her protruding clavicle bones set off her jewelry in such.......um......a unique way. This is the big day. Triumphs and tears, so tune in girls and let's see how it all turns out. And the winner is.......................