Hi Everybody! Happy Fourth of July!

It's been a while since we've visited via blog. Want to share with you what's going on.

We have been so busy that we haven't had time to write more articles, blogs, and newsletters. Want to let you know that Shopsicle is getting a B12 shot as we speak. Newsletters are starting up again, as are informative, (and I hope) amusing articles. We have just included many new "designers choice" products that satisfy both a creative and practical need. We're still adding products. We will be adding new resources, too.

Take a look at "Housewares", "Home Office", Leisure Games", and "Patio and Garden". Check out everything because we are putting new things in every day.

Here in New England, it feels as if summer has finally arrived. Hot for someone who enjoys temperatures no higher than 60 degrees. Well, that's why I live in New England. It's going to be in the 80's today. Can you imagine the crowds at the beach?

We represent a product called C2-Climate Control. It is ingenius in that it delivers both heating and cooling from a single compact unit. For those of us who suffer from allergies, this unit also interceps particles of dust, pollen and dander. And it is also energy efficient. I'm putting a link here for you to check it out. http://www.shopsicle.com/item_detail.php?item_id=1326.

So, friends, keep watching for new developments at Shopsicle.

I wish you a jolly and patriotic Fourth!

Sincerely,

Joan

Hi Guys,

Haven't visited for a while. Been so busy! I discovered Twitter. Feel if the kids can "tweet" on Twitter, so can I. It's part of my online education. It's silly and fun.

We are busy getting ready for Christmas at http://www.shopsicle.com/ and http://www.hothothandbagsandtotes.com/. We'll be putting in some great accessories and Christmas ornaments too, so you can all shop from the luxury of your own homes. Check out Shopsicle "resources" page. Many of our merchant accounts are running sales and are offering free shipping for a limited time. Design Within Reach, Sur La Table and Red Envelope have some really outstanding promotions, as well as the Artful Home and Hammacher Schlemmer. By clicking the links in "Resources", you'll be able to efficiently click through the list and read about the specials directly from the retailers' home pages.

If you are like K and me, and have a lusty uncontrollable passion for handbags, go into http://www.hothothandbagsandtotes.com/ and see our new lines. This fall, we introduced a new collection of man made "look alike" synthetic leather handbags. They are very chic and look just like leather. Hard to tell the difference. They are great for very busy people who want to protect their designer leather handbags from the elements and still look great. These bags are soft and supple and the prices are fantastic. I think you're going to like them. And we also have a line of beautiful Italian leather bags that are actually manufactured in New York...Made in America!!! So good to see it again. Check them out.

Hope you're all enjoying the cooler weather. I sure am.

Pray the right guy gets in in November. Stay cool.

All my best,

Joan

Hi Folks,

Have you all been watching the Olympics? I am not what you'd call a passionate sports enthusiast, with one exception: The Olympics! I love the games! The athletes from every nation inspire me. It's human beings at their best. I learn so much from them about being the best you can possibly be at the moment, and performing with a cool head under pressure. Also, there seems to be an unspoken respect that the athletes have for one another. It's clear, they are celebrating and challenging one another. Great sportsmanship. It transcends nationalities. Of course, I root hard for my own American teams. Whenever our national anthem is played, my eyes well up with pride. If I were on the podium, I know I would have tears streaming down my cheeks. After all, isn't that the fun of competion? That being said, it's thrilling to see the brilliance of all great athletes, whether they are home grown or not. The Olympic games are a stage for human excellence.

It strikes me with interest and curiosity how we humans are so alike, yet unique in our expressions. With the world getting smaller and smaller, due to the internet and global economy, I fervently hope that individuality is never lost. I love the difference between nationalities. I love that we all speak a different language, have a different culture and the freedom to determine what that language and that culture is. What seems to be happening all over the world is troubling to me. The US and Europe and Australia too, seem to be flooded with foreigners who want to impose their ways and beliefs on their host countries. Intolerable. Illegal. Immoral. Disgusting hubris. How did it get started? Have we all been asleep? I am not wanting to get political in my blog, but it is a problem of mega proportions that has me mega concerned and angry. In my view, if you want to become a citizen of my country, do it legally, and assimilate our culture. We have no intention or desire to assimilate yours. If you prefer your native culture and religion, then stay in your native country. It's a voluntary process. No one extended an invitation. Respect who we are, or get out.

Other than that folks, I feel friendly and welcoming to everyone. May the spirit of the Olympics prevail where there are different nationalities, sharing cultures with respect for other people and their customs.

As always, though maybe a bit angrier,

Joan

Dear Friends,

It's amazing to me how much fuss we make about being environmentally responsible, and yet our lives are so full of useless clutter, more so than ever before.

We co-operate with the marketing people and the big box stores who encourage us to spend our money without really thinking about it, and to buy anything and everything that is thrown our way. Because so many things are now made in third world countries, they are still cheap, attainable, therefore perceived to be affordable. And, guess what? They are throw-away, that means garbage that clutters the environment and clutters our lives. We feel we have to buy, buy, buy. And yet, so much of this "stuff" is scarily inferior to the products we are used to buying and producing right here at home. I really miss "made in the USA", and the confidence, competence, and the quality of life it afforded. We have to demand that quality once again. Now I feel like my own grandmother. I remember a time when things had value. You could just trust it. We just assumed the product was O.K. What a unique idea! What a luxury! Now I read labels, warnings, where things were made or grown, and end up putting the thing back on the shelf.

I would rather own one great outfit, one great pair of shoes, one quality handbag, or one well made sofa, or chair, than 10 poorly made things that I'd have to dispose of within a few months because it either fell apart, or looked shabby, or was just not comfortable. Get wise to it folks! It's waste! It's too expensive to throw things out because they are "crap".There's much we can learn from the Europeans and their standards, as far as material consumption is concerned. They buy fewer things, but they buy quality, for the most part. I say "most" because there is an exception to every generalization, and I am sure there are many Europeans in the same consumer frenzy that we are in. Yes, we are a consumer society, and yes, our economy is dependent on people buying things, and yes I love "things" as much as the next guy, and I do my share of buying. And I love capitalism too, so don't get the idea that I spin my own loincloth and live in a tree. Here's my take: I like "quality" things and I like to live with what I purchase. I don't like waste. Guess that's the New England Yankee in me. And while we are conserving paper and plastic bags, and oil and gasoline, and while we are buying organically grown fruits and vegetables, and recycling like mad, don't forget the pollution created by all of this "stuff" we are importing that is flooding our marketplace.

Now, you may ask why we at Shopsicle, are in the retail home furnishings products business if I am so critical of profligate spending? We're all for spending money and having a good time doing it. But, we want you to receive value for your money. We deal in real value: quality materials, design and craftmanship, mostly at affordable prices. We believe in extravagance too, if you can handle it. Abundance is good for the soul.The key is, you receive what you are paying for. We believe that beautiful things are part of the quality of life. Poor workmanship is a rip off at any price.

Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts. If you are like me, you're probably feeling a little depressed about our slipped values, our lower standards. We can protest the infusion of "junk" in our stores by simply not buying it. Guess what? That would probably contribute to the health of our environment as well and to the health of our economy. If we are to remain a consumer society, and I certainly hope we are, let's insist on high standards. Hey, it wouldn't hurt to make some things at home in the USA for a change, for our own consumption and to export to other countries.

Visit Shopsicle, and see the great "green" products we feature to help clean our environment. Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter. For May, we're doing a piece on non-toxic wall paint. http://www.shopsicle.com/

To your well-being,

As ever, Joan

Hi there friends,

Dropping by to say that my New Years resolutions are (Big Surprise!!!) moving along nicely. How are yours doing? I'm being very analytical about losing weight. Discovered some major food allergies that are requiring attention. Did you know that sensitivity to certain foods can cause you to hold on to excess weight? You have to stop eating those foods for a while and get some treatment from an allergist. My doctor uses sub-lingual drops to de-sensitize his patients to those troublesome substances. No big deal. Good news for me is that I am not allergic to coffee. Bad news is that I am allergic to cow's milk, therefore, no ICE CREAM!!! Is this divine justice or what? Maybe it's just a bad joke. At any rate, I'm not going near the stuff. We're often allergic to our addictions. I'm also exercising, and tackling projects one by one. Focus is the challenge.

Want to share something with you that is not directly connected to the design of your home. This time, it's the design of your over all well being. Are you familiar with EFT? EFT is a fascinating new discovery. Basically it is an emotional version of acupuncture, but no needles. You just tap with your fingertips on certain meridians to relieve pain, overcome phoebias, lose weight, feel happier, and some claim that it can even cure serious disease such as cancer. I'm not sticking my neck out to claim that, but hey, why not? There is a fellow on TV, a Paul McKenna, ( I think that's his name) who has been helping people to overcome addictions and lose weight and keep it off once and for all. He's using EFT, but he doesn't call it that. One of the women he's helped, due to a miserable divorce, was compulsively eating five pounds of chocolate a day. Can anyone really eat that much chocolate? Anyway, in a few minutes, he helped relieve her of her chocolate addiction. My allergist and holistic physician are both very familiar with EFT. They are in the process of learning how to use it to the benefit of their patients. I believe you can treat yourself though. To learn about EFT, go into www.emofree.com/newcomer.html. Let me know what you already know about EFT and what you think.

To your health and happiness,

As ever,

Joan

Dear HH,

The answer is yes, if you don't count the ice cream, the lemon cake, the hot chocolate with whipped cream. Should I go on? I discovered a charming little tea room nearby that is very Victorian with chandeliers and roses. I had to experience the tea cakes, didn't I? What is high tea without some cake? So now I've been found out. Well, other than that, I've been pretty good. Tonight, it's salmon and broccoli. Grapefruit for dessert. Good food combining. I have one big vice and it is an ice cream addiction. But I'm getting better. Haven't touched the stuff in a week. Sometimes that's the way it goes, one week, then two, then a month, then two months. You really shouldn't completely cut out the things you love. If you do, then where's the fun? My mom used to say "everything in moderation". Yeah, right. HH, how are you doing? What are your resolutions? Gotcha!

Hello once again dear friends,

It's a new year, and I am so optimistic. Don't know why. Just have a good feeling about 2008. I feel something positive and constructive in the air, good things will be happening as a result of what we do this year. This just might be the year we all get it together as a nation, as a world, and in our personal lives. I'm pretty intuitive most of the time. Usually "feel" it right and I sure hope I'm right this year. It's the first time in years I have been awake for the ball dropping. I start my days early, sometimes 4:00 A.M., so by midnight, I'm sawing wood. New Year's Eve to me has been traditionally boring, a time to eat a good dinner and fall asleep early, grateful that I am not part of the crowd at Times Square. Sounds dull? Of course and it's delicious! My sister and I participated in a world meditation that was initiated by our good friend Becky, who distributed a prayer that was coordinated to be read by people all over the world at the same time for the purpose of peace and health throughout the planet. Powerful! It's a great thing to do every year.

This is a year of new beginnings, the year of the rat. I'm sure you all have made New Year's resolutions. I sure have. The usual stuff like dropping weight, exercising more, eating healthy food, being more disciplined, spending more quality time with family and friends, clearing out the cobwebs in your brains, getting rid of the clutter in the attic and garage, filing those papers, and shredding the obsolete files, painting the den. Also learning something new, and carrying through on someting you already started but put aside because you are too busy. Sound familiar? Ambitious too. I usually screw up on January 2nd. My commitment lasts 24 hours. Decided the reason I don't succeed is because I try to take it all on at once. Most people make the same mistake. It's overwhelming to do that. You have to pace yourself. After all, you have a full year to accomplish your goals. Start by giving up dessert and cleaning a closet. The sense of accomplishment will inspire you to take on the next task and so on and so forth. I'll let you know every month how I am doing. Please write me too and let me know how you are doing with your plans for 2008. If you have tips that will help me to accomplish my goals, please help me out. I love to hear from you. Happy New Year! Wish you all your heart's desire. As ever, Joan