Merry Merry...

Christmas was wonderful. I am pretty sure my whole family got everything they wanted! wow. John is home right now playing with Pixos and Bendaroos with Emma and I am so glad I HAD to go to work! You can only make so many beaded creatures and flowers........:) Everything Christmas is half price at the Golden Pear. Lots of bargain shoppers out today. I am just so content sitting here with my mocha and knowing I got all the Christmas framing gifts done and out on the 23rd! Yahoo! Hope everyone had a spectacular Christmas! We are going to be closed next week so I can hang out with my family and hit the slopes! I will get my fill of making flowers out of bendi sticks and beaded necklaces and playing Rockband with Luke!!!! Happy New Year!

Welcome to Santa's workshop...

Hi! Only six days until Christmas! Can that be right? What is going on with this weather? Luke was so disappointed there was school again today. Me=very happy. Emma went back today for the first day this week which she was elated about it because she just happens to be "Star of the Week" in her class and thought she might miss the whole thing. There is a bulletin board in her room with all sorts of photos of her and she gets to wear a star around her neck all day!
I am finishing up some framing projects people are giving for Christmas and is looks like there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Wahoo!

The day after Christmas and the next day (Friday and Saturday) all Christmas decor will be 50% off! Then we will be closed the whole next week for a little hiatus for Laura. We plan on a little skiing and relaxing. Enjoy these last few days before Christmas!

Tis the Season!

All is well here at the Golden Pear. Today is the last day to order signs for Christmas giving. They are such a great personalized gift and everyone always loves them! I have been a framing freak for days and days and just trying to keep my head above water. I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I made lots of promises that it looks like I will keep. Whew. So, if I am framing your great grandma's photo and I said it will be done by Christmas eve, guess what? It will be.
This weekend is my 16th wedding anniversary and John and I are headed out of town. My dear friend, Shari will be working on Saturday so I can have a day off which I truly appreciate! I wish I was telling you we were headed to Cancun for the weekend but no such luck. We are headed to Portland to do some shopping and then on up the Columbia Gorge to a B & B. It will be fun. One of these years we will be going somewhere hot and tropical I am sure.....

Two weeks from tomorrow is Christmas so get going on that shopping!

Wahoo it is Friday!

It has been a super busy week at the Golden Pear! We decorated a tree for the Boys and Girls Club and it turned out sooooooo great. Thanks to my sister, Marla, Patti and Alexa Daskalos and my cousin, Ashley for all of your help. Our tree was a hit at the auction last night and I am sorry I don't have a picture to post. It went for $1250.00 which is all donated to the club!

Mandy and I are headed up to Salem tonight for a Karen Russell scrapbooking class. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! Have a great weekend!

Black Friday

Ok, so today has never been a big day for the Golden Pear. Everyone is looking for big deals at big stores. John and I even went out this morning before dawn........ugh. It was pretty awful to tell you the truth. So many people and pushy people i might add. Not too much action here at the golden pear but I got a lot done. We still have such cute UNIQUE Christmas goodies. I finally got to go to some big stores this morning and I must admit we have some gems you wont find out at the mall. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and relaxing day after. I wanted to post a few pictures of some pictures I have framed recently that I love!

Just feeling thankful...

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is almost here...wow. I am so ready for a yummy turkey dinner and hanging out with my family. I am truly thankful for a lot of things this year. After watching the Today show in the mornings I am always so stressed about the economy and what lies ahead for our country, but am also so thankful for the house I live in, the job I have, basically the privileged life I live compared to some folks who don't know where their next meal will come from. Wow, that was one long sentence that I am sure my English teacher friends will not like....sorry. Anyway, the Golden Pear is plugging along. It will not be our best Christmas year financially but we are still in business and for the most part I still love it. There are days when I say I don't, but I really do. It can be a lot of work owning your own business but also very rewarding. Well, I better rush home to get ready for 16 people for dinner tomorrow night. It is Luke's 12Th birthday!!!! Oh, and his life would be complete if he received a cell phone for his birthday....sorry son, so not gonna happen. I know, I know, he is the last one on the planet that doesn't have one...I am holding out...:)

A little info...

Just letting everyone know about a very cool 2.5 mile Memorial Walk coming up on Thanksgiving morning! It is in honor of Boey Byers, a local little girl who lost her battle with cancer last year. The proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity of Albany, Mid-Valley Lions club, Sparrow Clubs USA and FISH of Albany. It starts at Ray's Market in North Albany on Thanksgiving morning at 9am. A great way to start your Thanksgiving so you can justify that pumpkin pie and whipped cream later and to get out of mom's hair while she is busy...
It only costs $10 and you get a t-shirt! There is two other runs that morning for my silly runner friends...a 3.75 mile run down Thorton Lake Drive and a 5.2 mile Scenic Challenge. You can sign up and view the routes at www.omroadrace.org Join me that morning, it will be fun. Both of my sisters and I think two of my nieces are in, as well as my friend Mandy! Have a great weekend!

Framing like crazy!

This year with the economy so sluggish everyone is wondering what to buy for Christmas...honestly I am in the same predicament...
I know this sounds like a pitch and OK, it sorta is but seriously want to give something they will keep forever and will become a family treasure? Of course you do. Custom framing baby! Frame up that cool old picture of your grandpa or shadowbox dad's college football memorabilia. I am serious. These gifts make people cry. They keep it in the family forever and if done right, in neutral colors and U.V. glass it will look great for well as long as you are alive...
Trendy clothes come and go, although I would take a pair of Ugg boots if anyone is asking. Christmas decorations are fun but really how many can you have? Although we have tons of absolutely adorable Christmas decorations you should really come buy....I am sure some of these could become family heirlooms if you really wanted them too.
Anywho, falling behind in my framing. People are planning ahead this year and I am very thankful for that. Remember framing takes a few weeks.... hope all is well and everyone had a spectacular Veterans day!

The Holidays have arrived at the Pear!

The sneak peek open house last night was a smashing success! We always like to predict what will be hot sellers and what won't be...OK, so the pine scented ornaments for your fake tree were hot and we knew they would be...as were the monogram ornaments and the adorable dip bowls. But the candle operated flickering glitter tapers and pillars were not as hot as I thought? I was shocked! They are one of my top faves. Not that people didn't get them but I had to point out how great they were???? We still have a few of the tapers left and several of the pillar candles. They are very cool! Thank you to everyone who came to the open house last night. It was very fun and I now officially feel like the season has began. I am rocking to Michael Bolton's Christmas right now and feel like eating some (more) peppermint bark....yum! Although I am missing my tennis shoes and sweats from last week....

Open House....

Ok, I am sorry I am not posting any pictures like I said I would...I forgot my camera and have been crazy busy setting everything up. I think it is all ready to go! The Christmas music is playing as I write and the wine is chilling. The Golden Pear is as Christmasy as it gets. There are too many things to list that I love anyway. Wait until you see all the terrific Christmas decorations and great gift ideas. My elves that helped me get ready were sooooooo great and helpful. I could not have done it without you guys, thanks! Ok, I am headed home to watch how the election turns out.
Hope everyone can make it tomorrow, Wed. from 4pm-7pm or whenever the wine is gone...

Happy Halloween!

I realize a whole week has gone by since I blogged...sorry, I know that is a sin in blog world.
Mandy and I had a spectacular weekend in Sisters. The foliage on the drive over and back was so beautiful. I remember my parents driving up the Gorge in the fall to see my grandma and every year they would marvel at the beautiful fall colors and every year I would overlook whatever they were seeing. I remember thinking, uh, have they never seen yellow and orange leaves before? Now I am doing the same thing they did. Pointing it out to my poor kids how beautiful the trees look, loving the smell of the crisp fall air....
Mandy and I did lots of shopping, eating at yummy restaurants, and even spent Sunday at a great spa in Sisters called Shibui www.fivepinelodge.com/shibui/about.php We also both got new quilting projects at The Stitchin' Post. Love that store!
Ok, so the whole week has been dedicated to decorating for Christmas.... don't be alarmed, I know it is Halloween today. In Retail world if you don't have Christmas out this week, you are a slacker...I have a big crew of great little elves helping me. You are not going to believe this place. It is going to be so full of Christmas goodies....whew....

Have a great Halloween and I hope the darn rain stops so Emma can rock out in her Hannah Montana costume (complete with blonde wig and microphone) and everyone can get loads and loads of candy....just what every kid needs...

I will post a few pictures tomorrow of some of my fave Christmas goodies...until then, enjoy your day!

Almost Friday...

Yae! It is finally Thursday! Tonight I am having a Scentsy party here at the shop at 6:30 and everyone is more than welcome to come. It should be fun and I do love scentsy. Plus we will have yummy treats and wine. Also some cold beer for the few who, "do not like wine, not even the smell of it!" (you know who you are.) I have been working diligently on getting framing orders finished so I don't fall behind next week when we are closed. Yep, closed all week long to decorate for the holidays! Every year I think a week seems like more than enough time to get it all out and decorated super cute and every year I am still scrambling 20 minutes before the open house....not this year. You just wait, I will be so un-stressed, probably reading a novel and getting a manicure right before the open house this year....

Let the week begin...

It is a short week for me this week at the Golden Pear. Saturday my friend, Shari will be running the show here while I am off on my much needed girls weekend with Mandy. Then I will be back in full decorating mode to get all of the absolutely adorable Christmas decor and amazing gifts all out on display! We will be closed the whole last week in October for decorating! Then November 5th eve. from 4-7 will be our sneak peek extravaganza. Ok, I just wanted to say that word, extravaganza. We will be having something yummy to eat and of course wine (and straight vodka in the back room) all evening. It is very fun and always feels good to get in the holiday mood and see what is new this year. Then all weekend long we will have more Open House with piping hot cranberry cider and butter cookies. Yum. Come check it out and get inspired!

Wow, we are so hip!

Ok, it is time for the Golden Pear to get with the program. Apparently, the latest thing for "cool" businesses is to have a blog. A place where I can let everyone know what is new with the shop, new at the shop and basically just the 411 of the day. So, I want to be cool. That is what it all comes down too. I will see how this goes and please, oh please, let me know if this is anything of interest or if I shouldn't waste my time. I am sure you all will be waiting by your computer or PDA constantly just waiting for updates from my little shop in the heart of Albany.