What adornments are you wearing with your holiday fleece?

'Tis the time of year to contemplate dressing up a bit more for all those soirees and holiday get-togethers (nevermind that we really just want to wear warm fleece from head to toe). At Pomegranate, we have the nicest collection ever of lovely jewelry to wear and to give this season. Good news is, everything is really reasonably priced. Pix aren't all that fabulous, but there are some really interesting, fun pieces in the shop (lots more arrived just yesterday). The little bird collection is über-adorable, simple and modern (also love the nest necklaces and earrings).

The pewter "love" sign (also available with the word "nest"), handmade in the US, is made by the same artist who does the birds. Not really for your neck, of course, but so sweet on the wall.

Does the snow hamper a good shopping day? Nah. We're tough!

Some of our favorite gifts for the kiddos

We've revived our little attic room upstairs with new offerings for kids, and are having fun filling it with some of our favorite things. Little journals, books, bath squirties, wall decor, piggy banks, puzzles, and sweet, crazy plushie toys. The shark chalkboards just arrived (hey, might be good at the office, too?) Gnome banks (sold out right now) and gnome glasses are adorable. Flocked piggy banks for all those pennies. Great books (I love "Don't Lick the Dog" for little ones who are learning how to interact with dogs), butterfly garlands, fairy mobiles, French bingo, baby blankets... Great stocking stuffers: Japanese erasers, goldfish pencil sharpeners, and magnetic cable mobiles (for displaying photos and cards).

Kids are always invited to go upstairs and draw on our chalkboard table (sometimes I dash upstairs for something, and see the most amazing artwork on the table). One of these days I'll take some pictures...

Interesting, unique things for the kids? Find them at Pomegranate.

Serving cocktails in the frozen tundra and raising money for FAN: a soiree update

Those of you who know us, know to look forward to our annual Holiday Cheer Soirée and Day of Giving Back. In which we serve about 100+ martinis from the ice bar, regale everyone with treats and gifts... and donate 10% of the day's revenues to a local charity. {Don't get all excited: that was on December 4, and we're just now posting this update.}

Happy to say we raised $440 for Family Access Network (FAN), which does so much for kids in need, and helps keep them in school. $400 of that was our donation of 10% of the day, so it was a good day, indeed. The other $40 was from customers who ponied up a bit more as they signed up for our four fabulous door prizes. Thanks to generous donations from some of our lovely vendors and reps (Olivina, Eye Candy, Archipelago, Rebecca C.), we were able to combine lots of fun items from the store to create four different treat packages: spa, lavender, wine, and pomegranate baskets. Our winners were Martha C., Sharon B., Janet T., and Sandi C. Yay!

Have to say, the Pometinis were deeelicious, as were the sweet/spicy nuts we make for these occasions. See our recipe section at www.pomegranate-home.com for details.

As usual, I didn't do much of a job with photography; once things started, we really got slammed, and I forgot all about it. But here are a few pictures of the setup, and the shop at night, which is just lovely in the snow.

Holiday Soiree coming up this Saturday at Pomegranate

We're spending the week putting up lights and digging out our little firepit/hand warmer, stocking up on mulling spices and cider (not to mention vodka, pomegranate juice and all sorts of libations and treats), flipping the store around to accommodate all the new arrivals (I'm still covered with popcorn and price tags and bits of ribbon), and making sure we have enough gift bags and ribbon to make all your presents look great. Yep, it's almost here: our annual Holiday Open House and Soiree (and day of giving back). Come join us this Saturday, December 4, for treats, fun, great local shopping, door prizes, and Robert's infamous Pometinis. Open House begins at 11am; cocktail soiree from 5-7:30.

It's also our big day to give back to the community: 10% of the day's revenues always go to a local charity. This year, our recipient is Family Access Network (FAN), for all the great work they do in connecting families to needed resources, and keeping kids in school. That last bit is near and dear to my heart. So, we hope you come shop, and mingle, and have a treat and a cocktail if you wish. We have all kinds of wonderful new items arriving daily for the open house, and are putting together some fun door prizes. Oh, and you get a gift of a darling christmas votive with purchase of $20 or more (pictured above). The shop is magical at night with all our twinkly lights (and perhaps some snow?); if you've never seen it after dark, you're in for a treat.

Hope to see you Saturday. Time to have fun, celebrate, and shop for a cause!

Refresh your tired eyes with Eye Candy {best new stocking stuffer, too}

Don't know about you, but this climate seems to make my eyes tired and dry and puffy all the time. Yech. Or maybe it's because my night owl tendencies make me stay up until the wee hours, working or reading or zooming the internet. To help us tired girls (and guys), here's the neatest new product we just brought in (such brainy entrepreneurs out there!): eye candy gel pads. Stick 'em in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes, then apply to closed eyes for an instant refresher. Reduces puffiness, cools and soothes, helps with headaches, too. Sure beats messy cucumber slices.

These are definitely going home with me. One set for the fridge; one set for my travel bag. These will be great for travel, as a matter of fact. I seem to always have a little reaction to new sheets/pillows when we stay at a hotel (maybe has to do with laundry products?). Maybe it's air conditioning, or dry air on planes. Whatever: my eyes are always puffy in the morning. Stick the eye candy pads in your ice bucket (or fridge, as long as you don't trip the mini-bar electronics!), and have a little spa moment.

It's a great girlfriend gift, stocking stuffer, addition to a nice little collection of french soaps and lotions...

Oh, and thanks to the girls at Eye Candy, we have a sweet package of spa goodies (with eye candy, of course) to give away as a door prize during our upcoming Open House & Soirée event this coming Saturday! More news soon.

We all need more toys: open today for your shopping pleasure

Here's Mollie, the award-winning Pomegranate shop dog (and our sweetest girl ever) at home with just a few of her toys (her latest fave is the fat hedgehog from Bend Pet Express). She'll be at the shop today with us from 11-4. Until Christmas, we're open on Sundays, too: come shop, enjoy some hot spiced cider and cookies (or a mimosa!), let us wrap all your gifts for you (no charge), and see what's new. See you there!

Holiday arrivals

So many new goodies in the shop, from ornaments and decor to gifts... and more arriving daily. We give you our expert opinions on gift-giving, and free gift wrap, too. Come see us!

Cocktail party tonight at our little shop of horrors

Pomegranate's resident mad scientist/mixologist Robert found his lab coat and nerd glasses, and we're all set for tonight's fun little cocktail party at the shop, from 4-7. Stop by for a shot of Newt Brain (or glass of wine if you're feeling more civilized), treats, and scares (or laughs). Show up in costume and get a prize!

Take a stroll through the cemetery in the haunted garden (beware the swinging creatures), watch out for the spiders and rats in the cold and creepy ice house, and do a little shopping, too (in the warm and lovely main house, where we're previewing some of our newly-arrived holiday merchandise). All halloween treats are at least 50% off (some are 75% off!), and we have other great specials going on throughout the store for today only, including scarves and Baggallini totes at 20% off. Open 10:30-7 today.

Flipping the seasons: inside the shop

Read in the paper this morning that major retailers are attempting to move the traditional "Black Friday" (day after Thanksgiving) to just before Halloween. Tomorrow? Yep, "black friday now!" is emblazoned on the cover of the Sear's ad circular.

Really? I don't think so.

I've whined ad nauseum about the sanctity of the seasons, and how we shouldn't roll them out too early. Which is weird coming from a shop owner, because we're supposed to be way ahead of the game. We order Christmas merch in January, and some of it starts rolling in in August (so weird to be checking in snowy branches and ornaments when it's 95 degrees out). By traditional measures, we should have fall and halloween stuff out in August; Christmas starts in early October; and Easter things should be in your storeroom (if not on the shelves) in January. Sheesh. I prefer to savor the seasons and make them last as long as possible.

But, I have to bow to the retail gods, too, and get with the protocol. Which is why I'm right in the middle of switching out halloween for holiday in the store. It's kind of weird to be consolidating all the spooky, black branchy, creepy things and replacing them with light and delicate silvery jars and bowls. We went big on mercury glass votives this year: I want candlelight everywhere (even if you use the little faux tealights inside the votives).

I'm not giving up on fall, however: we are still featuring lots of lovely linens and candles, foods, and serving pieces for fall and your Thanksgiving table.

Halloween? We're just stepping that part up. All our halloween gear is 50% off... and tomorrow evening we're having a Weird and Wonderful Cocktail Party at the shop from 4-7. Our mad scientist/mixologist will be serving some creepy drinks and ladling out prizes and goodies. More on that later.

Running off now to do some more sweet holiday decorating, and prepping some ghoulish hanging creatures for the haunted garden. It's a schizo life.

Whoooo is ready for fall?

We are. Lots of new arrivals in the shop this week, including some great new cookbooks, soaps, candles (I'm just in love with the new "Maison Noir" collection from Voluspa), Baggallini, linens, scarves (yummy!), serving pieces, Halloween treats. Our kids' section is filling up again, too. Very cute. Plus vintage baskets and objets d'art, just in. Stop by and see us for a whiff of that fall flavor – you might just need one of those crazy raspberry or lime glittery skeletons. Open 10:30-5:30 Monday through Saturday.