It's Our Party!

'Tis true!  Clever Girl is celebrating 6 wonderful years in Western Springs.  The time has just flown by!  Please join us for Birthday Cake, Champagne and treats on April 4th to celebrate with us. (For details, click here.)

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We've gotten in so many new, fresh, spring clothing lines that you'll be chomping at the bit to wear.  After this particular winter, bright colors and whimsical patterns look especially refreshing. The scarf racks are bursting with a rainbow of adorable prints--guaranteed to lift your spirits.  Usually I've planted up our front door with pansies and ivy, but I don't dare do it yet this spring, even thought I've certainly seen some robins hoping about already.  I just know that if I plant them, we'll have a blizzard the next day for certain!  Perhaps next week...

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On a different note, my sweet cat, Basil died recently, and I thought I might just mention it here.  He was a steadfast little companion, and I miss him dearly.  His sister, Mabel is still with me, and doing well.  I mention this because they were rescue cats, adopted from the Humane Society.  They were born on September 11, 2001--literally on that most awful day.  They came into this world, and were abandoned at the door of the rescue facility.  I wasn't really looking for any pets, but the call went out that this litter of nine black cats urgently needed homes.(Black cats are particularly unwanted.) I certainly wasn't planning on taking any--let alone two, but, that's how these thing go; and I've never regretted it at all.  Please, please, remember all of the abandoned cats and dogs waiting for their forever homes.  They will offer you unconditional love and affection, and be forever grateful that they are warm, safe and secure. I was blessed to have dear Basil and will miss my much loved friend.

Join us for an Eyebobs Trunk Show

Clever Girl is pleased to hold a Trunk Show for Eyebobs reading glasses.  This is our annual kick off to spring;  and there are oodles of new frames and colors to see this season.  We're calling it "The EYES of March" as it happens to fall on Saturday, March 15th this year.  Our Roman friend, Julius Caesar, would surely approve....

We're also getting ready for our Birthday party.  Clever Girl will be turning 6 in April of this year, so we thought we should throw ourselves a little celebration. Details to follow...

Spring clothing, scarves and accessories continue to arrive daily; and it's certainly a welcome site to see all of the fresh color following this dreary, cold and snowy winter.   These "French Striped" scarves are particularly cheery and bright.  Click here for details... 

Our new Rewined Candles are proving to be a big hit;  and we love the glow through the green glass when they burn.   Each candle is hand poured into a recycled wine bottle; and the fragrances are inspired by the notes of different types of wines.

Oh, and did I mention that they are all made in the USA?  Yup.  All made in South Carolina.  It's a bit of a 5-way tie at this point as to favorite scent--clearly there are a lot of delicious fragrances in this candle line. You must come in and check them out...

 More and more of you are coming in with your dogs in tow, so I know that the weather must be improving.  See you soon!

Nothing Like A Good Book + Shop

I've been laid up for a few days with a bad back, and have been thrilled to delve into the towering stack of books by the bed.  (They may come crashing down upon me some night, so if I disappear one day, check the bottom of the pile.)  The second-hand shops of Maine provide such bounty for as little as 25¢ per book, and I suppose I get a little carried away. Click here for places to shop if you are ever out that way...

Had to share this little clip--so clever!  How do they do these things?

The Cold is Old

We're so over it.  Winter, that is.  Here at Clever Girl we've decided to think only warm, sweet, happy thoughts.  Color always captures our fancy, and there are lots of fresh, frost-free, colorful items that have made their way onto the shelves. Wintersweet is a terrific cookbook with decadent desserts for wintertime, filled with great pictures. We've got a rainbow of new cooking tools and gadgets in the pantry department, and you can't help but smile when you see our polka-dot flatware.  I'm always charmed by anything with whimsical dots on it.  There are lots of new 7-year pens in the stationary section, and we have many charming gifts for Valentine's Day, including sweet heart pins.  Finally, check out the Cake Candelabra.  It will elevate even the simplest birthday confection to an elegant level. Stop in and see it--so cute!

PS  Don't forget! The Westminster Kennel Club 138th Annual All Breed Dog Show is Monday and Tuesday, February 10-11, 2014.  Root for your favorite pooch...

Kate Spade and a Tasty Winter Recipe ...

New at Clever Girl

kate spade

For anyone that may have missed it, we're thrilled to have the kate spade gift and paper collection at Clever Girl.  

Items in kate spade's signature florals, dots and stripes put a neat and tidy twist on everyday organization: pop-up umbrellas help stave off an afternoon shower; and brightly patterned picture frames dress up the mantle.  There are travel mugs and coasters, plus tote bags and sleek, beautiful frames.

In the stationary department, cards are parceled in envelopes lined with gold dots or glitter, or notebooks fashioned after covers of our favorite novels.  Pencil sets are tucked into adorable zippered cases, and push-pins and bookmarks celebrate the signature kate spade style.  We just love this line, and know you will, too.

 

Speaking of things we love, the cookbook, Homemade with Love is proving to be a favorite with our Clever Girl customers.  This brutal mid-west winter is the perfect time to try some of author Jennie Perillo's simply, tasty recipes.  These "meatballs" are truly tasty...

Lentil Ricotta "Meatballs"

Makes about 18 meatballs

• 2 cups cooked lentils, pureed
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup fresh ricotta
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 teaspoon chopped parsley
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• Canola oil for frying
• Marinara sauce, optional

Add all ingredients to a deep bowl. Mix very well, using hands or a wooden spoon. Cover and refrigerate for two hours or overnight.  

When ready to cook, shape mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls. Heat about 1/2-inch of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium flame. Add shaped “meatballs” and cook until browned all around, turning only once. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and let excess drain off. 

Add to simmering marinara sauce if serving immediately, or store in a tightly covered container up to three days.

Serve with a fresh tossed salad, and be sure to have a good loaf of crusty bread on hand.  A great bottle of wine is probably a good idea, too...

Race to the Finish Line

A very Merry Christmas to you, one and all--if somewhat belatedly--and a Happy New Year!  This is truly the first day I have had to draw a free breath, and corral my bewildered mind into composing some (hopefully) coherent thoughts.

What a season this has been!  We have literally wrapped thousands of gifts for Christmas, and the CG's have functioned as a team any drill Sargent would be proud of.  Scan, tissue, wrap, ribbon, add a jingle bell, add label, bag.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  What a good time we've had!  There is something in the "rhythm of the rush" that begins at Thanksgiving and does not release us from its grip until just about now...we love it here at the store.

We would like to thank everybody who came in to shop, as well as those who have discovered us online: Yes, we have taken the plunge, and have begun selling some of our products online.

So far we've packaged up lots of gifts to be sent to 15 of the 50 states, and counting.  (Nothing to Hawaii or Alaska just yet, but people in California and New York appear to be quite keen on us.)  

Our Christmas open house was  fun and successful thanks to the live music and festive atmosphere, and in spite of the early winter chill. CG also hosted a private shopping night one evening, and absolutely lovely ladies were in attendance, all having a very merry time.  The Village Christmas Walk was jam packed, and everybody enjoyed homemade cider and donuts.  Santa made a smashing appearance on the fire truck, and indicated that all of the Clever Girls were, indeed on the "Nice"  list once again...

My own house has been soaked in Nest Candles "Holiday" fragrance, and my Spotify playlists have had me on classic Christmas carol overload for more than a month now.  I did manage to catch one of my favorite movies...love it!

The New Year is rushing upon us, and I must soon depart for Atlanta and begin shopping all over again to fill CG with next Christmas's bounty...Thank you to all of our wonderful customers and friends for another amazing year.  We SO enjoy seeing all of you, your dogs, children and grandchildren, and being a part of the Western Springs community.  

A very Happy New Year to everyone!

Please Note...

A few updates...

We have officially started playing Christmas music here in the store, and we love it!  The season is upon us, and there's no point in denying it...

In the sips & snacks department, we're enjoying white hot chocolate with peppermint crunches. 

The new kate spade collection is so cute!  

The note cards, calenders, coffee cups and stationary sets are adorable! Perfect gifts for all the t'weens, teens and girlfriends on your shopping list this season.  You must stop in and see it!

How cute is this? This little guy is my favorite ornament in the shop this year today.

Don't forget!!! Our party is almost here.  Hope to see you all there.

As always, we are so thankful for all of our wonderful customers who shop locally:  

at the holidays, and throughout the whole year.  Thank you!

Ho HO HO, Here we go...

Today, the Clever Girls will be gathering together dressed in our most colorful Elf outfits. We will unwrap, unpack and ooh & ahh over our most scrumptious Christmas merchandise. There are goodies for every department, and you'll be able to see it all starting Monday morning. Here's the "plan" for how we do it...

First, we will be loading up on this...

And then a few of these...

So that we can make the shop...

In preparation for the man with the list...

This, will stay home...

We are so excited because, come Monday, 

we know everything will...

 And hope that you all will...

 See you Monday--don't miss out!!!

Here it comes...

It happened last week.  The first slight, yet definite hint was in the air ever-so-briefly.  A tiny little whisper was carried upon a current and it said

......F-A-L-L......

That, combined with the start of school, the distant rumble of a school bus at the corner, seems to signal the true end of summer.

I'm always wistful at this time of year--I've never finished all the summer chores that I intended to do, yet I love the brisk air of fall, a distant call of a goose honking from above, and walking the dog on a cool night when you can see your breath.  The leaves drift down into red, orange and yellow piles, and you feel like making soup.  I like the change a new season brings.

It's an exciting time at the store, too.  We have so many wonderful new lines of clothing and jewelry and accessories to share with you for the fall season.  You already love our Iris handbag line, and have discovered the new scroll necklaces. Several of you have snapped up our colorful fall scarves as well.  Lots of new cookbooks have just been published, and there will be several new candles that evoke the cooler season... The 2014 Susan Wallace Barnes calendars have arrived, and look as adorable as ever.

 Dare I say it, but many of you crazy, organized girls have already bought some Christmas gifts, tucking them away, because you know things come and go quickly around here...

You can keep up with all of our new goodies in so many ways.  Visit us on our brand new Instagram page for photos from the store, be inspired on Pinterest, and the Facebook page is a great way for frequent information about new items. And, as if that weren't enough, our Twitter page has updates, too.  Wow.  One could almost monitor social media and the web 24/7 for nothing but Clever Girl activities!!! Actually, it would be great if you would...we'd love it!  The point is, there's a lot going on; and we don't want you to miss any of it.

CELEBRATE THE LAST DAYS OF SUMMER WITH US!

PLEASE STOP IN FOR FRESH PEACHES FROM MICHIGAN.  WE JUST BROUGHT BACK A WHOLE BUSHEL OF THE WORLDS VERY BEST, SO POP IN TODAY AND ENJOY...

P.S. Just a few things on the upcoming calender include: Our annual Eyebobs Trunk Show, (date to be announced soon) the return of Tasty Thursday's, Cider and Donuts Saturday's, and the Western Springs Pumpkin Festival.  We will also be selling tickets for the Hinsdale-Oak Brook AAUW Home Tour, which will be held on September 29th, 2013. There's lots more to share with you in the coming weeks, too, so stay tuned!

Meanwhile, enjoy what's left of this summer--it will never come again...