Clutter My World

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Clutter my World...away from the Snow!

Hi everyone! Well...as I'm sitting here looking at the snow that is STILL falling (it's been 3 days!), I'm thinking of the great weekend I had last weekend with my husband in Cabo. Ted decided to take me on a surprise trip....he told me to pack for warm weather and that's all. We left for the airport at 6 AM the morning of Thursday, Feb. 11 and I had no idea where we were going. In fact, we flew to LA and I still didn't know where we were going until we got to the gate for our next flight and found out it was Cabo! We have never been to Baja California so it was going to be a new adventure. We stayed at the Hilton which is between Cabo and San Jose del Cabo...it is a beautiful resort and we had 3 days of peace, quiet and relaxation in the sun...a much needed rest!

On Thursday nights in San Jose del Cabo, it's art night and all of the little art galleries are open until 8 PM. It was really fun walking the streets of San Jose and meandering in and out of the galleries...one of the galleries that I loved is called Zoko. It's owned by a husband (Arturo Ortiz) and his darling Swiss wife who do beautiful sterling jewelry. They don't have a website but if you are ever in the area, their store is on Alvaro Obregon St. in San Jose del Cabo. You must check them out!

Speaking of jewelry...I have some fun jewelry in the store right now. The artist is Melissa Fannis and she makes earrings and necklaces from broken windshields! Please come take a look, I think you will find that they make great gifts for someone who enjoys something different!

We also have some great furniture in the store right now and more coming tomorrow....so if you haven't been to Clutter in awhile or if you came in yesterday...come in again and see what we have!

SOLD...but we got a neat pine one in on 3-8-10!

SOLD!

Laurier long black dresser....call for price

SOLD!

Art Deco Hutch....$225

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Clutter Your World....with Football! GO SAINTS!

Hi everyone! Well, I can't really say that I am a football fan. I've really only been interested in it a few times in my life...when I was at the University of Michigan during the Bo vs. Woody days....when my daughter was at USC and they were playing for the National Championship (Texas won...boo!), and today....the Saints vs. the Colts. I still can't say I'm really a football fan, I'm more a New Orleans fan and have been ever since my daughter, Kelly, had to evacuate from her freshman year at Tulane due to Katrina. That was quite an experience...but Kelly survived and went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa from Tulane with 3 degrees in 2009 and is currently getting her graduate degree in Environmental Biology from, you guessed it...Tulane! New Orleans also survived, but it's been a tough road for so many people down there. We have been going back to New Orleans at least twice a year since the fall of 2005 and we have seen New Orleans recover slowly but surely. Those first few trips back were sobering....visiting the 9th ward and seeing the devastation....homes obliterated, no one in sight except volunteers helping to sift through debris....driving down Carrolton and seeing the bathtub rings on the sides of houses and the large X indicating if there were any deaths at that house, seeing restaurants that we had been to boarded up.....running down the empty St. Charles Street Car line and watching the weeds take over the tracks. As the years have gone on though, we have seen the joyous signs of recovery....schools once again alive with the sound of children, houses being built in the 9th Ward thanks to the efforts of Brad Pitt and his Make It Right foundation, restaurants like the Camellia Grill once again open for business, street artists rimming Jackson Square....and now, a great football team seeing their first Super Bowl!

So, even if you aren't a football fan....for today, please cheer on the New Orleans Saints...that great city that is so full of life could use the win! Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler and Who Dat!

And while you are cheering on the Saints...think of Clutter and all of the wonderfully comfortable sofas and chairs that we have in the store right now. It's too late to buy for this Super Bowl...but there is always next year and if you buy it now, it will be well broken in for the Super Bowl next year!

Bring in any type of Saints paraphernalia (t-shirt, hat, bumper sticker) and get 15% off any one item. This offer is good through Feb. 12, 2010!

SOLD!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Clutter Your World....learn something new!

Hi everyone! I'm up in the mountains right now, recovering from a bout of the stomach flu! Not fun but I think I am on the mend. I was just priding myself on the fact that I never get sick and then BAM....the dreaded stomach flu...yuck! It did make me realize that every once in awhile I need to slow down, so as my husband and friend went off to ski today, I am in the condo relaxing and writing my latest blog!

The theme of this blog is....Learn Something New! How often do you take the opportunity to learn something new? Especially as we get older...we tend to fall into certain routines, go with what's comfortable, not make the effort.....but there is so much out there to explore!

As most of you know, I'm a runner and last winter I was looking for something to do outdoors to supplement my running. A friend suggested that I learn to Skate Ski so I did just that! I took the 6 week program up at Eldora and started to learn to Skate Ski....it is a wonderful sport, especially when you can get into the rhythm of the skiing, I encouraged my daughter to learn as well and this year, I encouraged a friend to learn. Last weekend we spent the weekend at Snow Mountain Ranch and did a Learn to Ski ( Cross country) program with Women's Quest...

Women's Quest was founded by Colleen Cannon after a very successful career as a professional triathlete. She is so positive and has so much good energy and she founded Women's Quest to introduce women to new activities and watch their attitudes shift from uncertainty to empowerment. Check out her website at www.womensquest.com....you will find so many neat opportunities or Quests to go on!

Speaking of Quests...Make it your quest to come down to Clutter to check out our new items...we received in some really neat lamps this week and a few other things...it's going to be a beautiful weekend so come on down and Clutter Your World!

SOLD!

SOLD

SOLD!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Clutter My World...with an Award!

======Hi everyone! Well, the Clutter gals had quite a nice day today! I received a phone call/phone message last week from Downtown Boulder asking me to attend the Annual Awards Banquet because Clutter was receiving an award. Actually, Diana listened to the message and excitedly told me that we were getting an award and that I needed to call Downtown Boulder, Inc. right away! If you have had the pleasure to meet Diana, you would know that sometimes she pulls your leg, so of course, I thought that she was doing just that! How, after only 5 months in business, could we be getting an award?! Soooo, I listened to the message, called DBI (www.boulderdowntown.com), and sure enough, we were receiving the "Rising Star" award! I am quite proud because they only give out 6 awards and we are thrilled that we received one of them!

Opening a business is quite a journey...first you have the stress of finding the right location, then the stress of negotiating a lease. Then you have the stress of figuring out a name, spending what little money you have to purchase store fixtures, computers, awnings, advertising, and supplies...then you have the stress of getting the inventory and of hiring employees! Boy, did I luck out in that area...I have the most amazing people in the world working at Clutter and the Rising Star award is a testament to their dedication to making this store work on the stretch of 9th Street that so sorely needed a vibrant, successful store. I know that it's only been 5+ months, but the energy is so good, our consignors and customers are so wonderful, that I have to believe that Clutter will be a success for years to come.

There's one more thing....it takes a village to have a successful business and a vibrant community. Many of my customers are the owners of local stores/restaurants....Sherpa's, Chelsea, Savory Spice Shop...to name a few. Speaking of Savory Spice Shop...Dan Hayward ( the owner) also received an award today: Business of the Year! Kudos to Dan and his wonderful store..check it out, it's on Broadway, just south of Spruce. www.savoryspiceshop.com

You can see some video advertising of both Clutter and Savory Spice Shop at www.metroseen.com

It has been rockin' at Clutter this week...stuff has been coming in and flying out! We do have some great furniture and home decor...take a look at the pictures below! Please come in and Clutter Your World!

SOLD!

Beautiful Asian pot on Stand...black/floral. Again, call store for pricing

303-386-3423

SOLD!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Clutter Your World with Everything!

Hi everyone! Wow, what a week it has been and it's only Wednesday! On Monday morning, when I came into Clutter and saw some empty spaces ( due to great sales in December and early January) and no e-mails of furniture, I had a moment of panic! I knew I was going to see a storage unit that morning, but I had no idea what would be in it and I kept thinking, how are we going to sell things if we don't have things!! Well, I didn't have to worry at all! The storage unit was full of wonderful furniture and home decor and thanks to the recommendation of Sheryl Hadley, founder of Organization and Relocation ( a professional organization service),www.organizationandrelocation.com, the consignor chose Clutter to sell her beautiful furniture! In addition to the storage unit and new consignor, I sent out an e-mail to all 541 ( and growing) of our consignors for consignment items and boy, did they rally! Empty on Monday and full by Wednesday, I couldn't ask for more!

Here is some of the wonderful furniture we currently have in the store....

P.S. Also on Monday, I received a call from Downtown Boulder, Inc. inviting me and my staff to the annual Awards luncheon because we are receiving an award! What award? Well, the Rising Star award and I couldn't be happier! So stay tuned for a report on the luncheon and come on down to Clutter to see the Rising Star ( the store of course!) for yourself....

Mid century modern Dunbar chair...orig. fabric ( orange boucle?)...$795. The picture does not do it justice!

SOLD! To a discerning buyer

Asian style coffee table....$225

SOLD...both the table and the mirror!

SOLD!

Haywood Wakefield Vanity with Mirror and stool....needs some

Tender Loving Care but a great deal at $295

SOLD!

SOLD!!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Clutter Your World....with New Year's Resolutions!

Hi Everyone! Well...the Christmas clutter is finally being put away, the checkbook is balanced, the dogs are fed and it's now time to think about New Years Resolutions! Just so you know, I NEVER make a New Year's Resolution but I think they are good to make, in some cases. One New Year's Resolution that I think is good to make is one for your health. We live in the best little town in the world and we have so much just outside our front door to help us lead healthy lives. We can hop on a bike and pick up a bike path anywhere in the city.....we can drive to a hiking trailhead and hike in all around the foothills ( Sanitas, Chautauqua, Wonderland Lake, Dowdy Draw, just to name a few), and we can put on some running shoes and open our front door and fly like an eagle!

Speaking of running....I am in a great little running group with a fabulous coach...Gabino Toledo. Gabino has been a runner all of his life and competed in many marathons before being forced to "retire" due to a heart valve complication, which he had surgery for last year. I have been running with Gabino for almost 5 years now and I started as a novice...swearing that I could never be a runner...and I had every excuse in the world! I didn't want my knees to hurt ( I have never had hurt knees in my life!), I didn't have the time , I couldn't run on a full stomach...I couldn't run on an empty stomach, I had to be home for the kids. But one day, I stepped on the scale and noticed a few extra pounds...and I was heading towards my 50's and I knew that my metabolism would be slowing down and that I could start putting on weight if I didn't do something. Furthermore, I wasn't doing any kind of cardio excercise and I knew that to stay healthy, I needed to do something to get my heart rate up. I also LOVE to eat and I figured that if I started running, I could stop worrying about that scoop of ice cream that I wanted to have at night. A friend of mine had been trying to get me to join her small running group for a year and finally, I decided to go try it out. That was 5 years ago and I have been running ever since...I even ran my first marathon last October and plan to do another.

So, if you want to make a New Year's Resolution to get healthy ( forget about losing weight, just say you want to be healthy), then e-mail me at patriciafross@gmail.com and I will tell you about my running group. We range in age from 30-65, we have fast runners and slower runners and novice runners and experienced runners. We don't just go out and run around...we do distance runs, short runs, track workouts, hill workouts, timed workouts and if you want to, we run races. We just ran the Lafayette Oatmeal race and had a great time! We run in cold weather and warm weather, we don't run in rain or bitter cold. We also do some fun social things....I have a Bolder Boulder party every year and a Running of the Lights party at Christmas to run and see the Christmas lights in my neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods. Some of us ( like me!), can even be talked into breakfast after our long Saturday runs. We run Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00 and Saturdays at 8 AM...you won't believe how great you feel on Saturday after you've done your morning run! We do pay Gabino $65/month for his coaching but the first month is free. You can check out Toledo Runners at Gabino's website:www.toledorunners.com.

So, make your New Year's Resolution to get healthy and why don't you try running! In the meantime...Run on down to Clutter and Clutter Your World...we have some fabulous furniture and home decor in the store right now!!

SOLD! To a discerning buyer!

SOLD!

Table...SOLD! Red Chairs....$25/ea.

SOLD!

SOLD! To a discerning buyer!

SOLD!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Clutter your mind at the movies!

Hi everyone...Happy Holidays! For some reason, today felt like Saturday, all day...thank goodness it wasn't...we still have the weekend! After a week of holiday events, we had a free evening so Ted, myself and 2 of my daughters went to a movie...with our little puppy Guide Dog, Mercury, of course! I've decided that this year, I want to try to see some of the movies that are getting the Oscar buzz so that at least I would know what everyone is talking about. Tonight we picked "Up in the Air" with George Clooney. I'm still trying to figure out the message but suffice it to say, if you are a single man who travels a lot for your job, it might strike home....If you aren't a single man who travels a lot for your job, then you will feel sorry for the single man who you know who travels a lot for his job! Actually, it was a somewhat entertaining movie if you could get over the rather depressing subject matter of a man whose job it is to fire people...this is the same man who travels a lot. Ok, enough of that!

Anyway, while you are trying to figure out what movies you want to see this holiday season, take a look at all of the great stuff we have in the store! I received some feedback this week that a lot of the things I put on the blog are really expensive, so I decided to show you some of the less expensive things we have. We do try to have a wide range of prices...I just highlight some of the more expensive items because they tend to be brands that people can recognize...or they are artsy and unique. You can bet that for every $2000 table, we have a $200 table...so please come in and check it out!