January is National Hot Tea Month, and National Soup Month - two things we can really lean into after a long holiday season of stressful gatherings and icy winter walks. 2021 was full of growth and challenges. We have four new coworkers to introduce, a link to some of the charity organizations that we have been supporting this winter, and check your inbox each month: we're excited to deliver a link to our Quick Ship Fixtures, in case you need something faster than our regular production times allow, along with a few things to read and watch while you curl up with your soup and tea. Speaking of, how amazing would it be to curl up with a cup of tea in this gorgeous primary bedroom designed by Studio HP Designs?
Warm wishes - Ashlie
Shop News
We are so excited to introduce our new teammates-- Polly helps our shop plants thrive and grow (on point with a lot of the trends we've been seeing this year), instead of slowly rotting in the windows. Avery has 3000 exercises to ease stress and engage our core. Krassi speaks four (maybe five?) languages and very occasionally forgets that we speak one (on Mondays barely one). My husband Joel has joined the team full time, helping out with operations and keeping his nose out of the daily playlist dilemma - Pop vs. Latin vs. Anything By Dolly Parton.
Our community is really important to us; that's why we send 10% of our profits to charity. January started out with record cold temps in the PNW, and being able to help people in need of warmth is important to us. In the shop, we organized a small clothing drive that we donated to Jewel’s Helping Hands, a local outreach group that distributes coats, sleeping bags, and other necessaries directly to folks sleeping outside in cold weather. For the past three years we’ve been able to donate monthly to a fantastic organization, Family Promise . They are a national organization with more than 200 local affiliates that connects families to shelter and job training, and keeps them warm and safe until they land in a permanent home. Connect with an affiliate near you to help.
In fixture news, we've been having so much fun building our new Flushmount fixture. Perfect for a room that needs a lot of style, but not a lot of cords. It's available in all of our finishes, and is a great fit for a bathroom, a kitchen, or any place that has a little bit lower ceiling height. Also, we know that everyone has been hit hard by record inflation this year, and unfortunately that means we've had to adjust the cost of our fixtures to account for additional costs. New prices are taking effect at the beginning of February.
Reading, Watching, and Listening to:
Here are some of the things we've been reading, watching, and obsessively discussing while we design and build.
Just like Brandma Made
Your most beloved “family” recipe just might have been dreamed up in a corporate kitchen. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. - Taste
Best Teas from Trader Joe’s
It’s National Tea Month, and the shop was a wreck when TJ’s ran out of Candy Cane Green Tea after Christmas. Here’s a list of the best rated teas available at our favorite luau-themed grocer. - Steepster
Why Greeks Live Longer
Today, a third of Ikaria's population lives to be more than 90 years old. How do I get there? - Monocle
These Are the Bathroom Trends That Will Dominate in 2022.
Polly was right! Murals and plants are making a big comeback! - House Beautiful
Sweet Potato Soup Recipe
My two year old is constantly asking for sweet potatoes, and this is one of her favorite ways to eat them - made with veggies, coconut milk, and spices, it's rich, creamy, and delicious. During National Soup Month, it seems like a perfect fit. -Love and Lemons
