If your resolution has to do with losing weight, you may be holding off on buying any more clothes till you reach your goal. Very admirable, but also difficult. Sometimes a new little something stylish to wear gives you the extra boost to keep on trying. Do you know what always fits, no matter what your current weight? A hat! Hats, like shoes are one of those wonderful fashion staples that you can wear for years, regardless of your changing waistline. They also are handy for keeping your head warm!

Lucky for you, this Thrifty Thursday is all about hats! That’s right this Thursday January 19th all our awesome men’s & women’s hats will be 25% off!!

This is just a sampling of our large selection of stylish hats for men & women, you are sure to find one that fits you just right. This Thursday you can find that “just right” hat for 25% off! This is a one day sale, so don’t miss it!

See you this Thursday January 19th for this Hat-tastic Thrifty Thursday!

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When it comes to writing about Chanukah, it is difficult to delve with authenticity, and to give a tradition it’s due justice, (especially one that is centuries old) without missing key historical events, but if you were born and raised in the Jewish faith then the history of Chanukah is a part of your personal history, but for those of us/you not familiar with the holiday, we at Presents of Mind will do our best to give you the basics.

The Miracle:

During the second century of BCE there was a revolt against Antiochus IV who had oppressed the Jewish people and desecrated the Temple. The revolution was successful, and the Jewish people were able to reclaim the Temple. During the time of the rededication there was not enough oil (kosher oil) to light the menorah which was to be lit every night. They only had enough oil for one day, but miraculously the oil burned for eight days just long enough for them to create new purified oil for the Temple. Chanukah or Hanukkah  or The Festival of Lights was created to commemorate and to celebrate this miracle of light.

Chanukah takes place on the 25th of the ninth month of the Jewish calendar known as Kislev. This month falls around the same months on the Gregorian calendar as November and December. This year Chanukah begins on December 2oth 2011. Chanukah is one of the best known Jewish holidays because of its proximity to Christmas, although it is not the most religious nor the most important of the Jewish holidays.

How it is celebrated:

The menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith. It is the seven branched candelabrum that is lit in the Temple, but what many of us who are not Jewish don’t know is that the candelabrum that is used during Chanukah, the one we all so affectionately call the menorah is actually called the Hanukia. The Hanukia is based off the design of the menorah, but where the menorah has seven branches the Hanukia has nine branches.  There is one candle to represent each of the eight days/ nights that the miracle oil burned in the Temple. The ninth branch which is often placed in the center, and is higher than the other eight is called the shamash. The shamash is meant to light the other eight candles. On the first night a single candle is placed on the far right, and the shamash is lit then three blessings (berakot) are recited, then the candle is lit with the shamash after the blessings are said. The shamash is then returned to the ninth branch, and the candles are left to burn. Each night another candle is added to the Hanukia, and the blessings and lightings are repeated. The candles are always lit from right to left to pay honor to the newest thing first.

A few other traditions:

Fried food is eaten during the holiday in honor of the oil. This is often seen in Latkes also known as potato cakes.

Gelt is small amounts of money, which we now see as chocolate coins. The history of this tradition is that every Jewish person no matter how poor was too celebrate Chanukah, and the poor were to go door to door to gather money in order to afford the Hanukia and the candles. Gelt was to be given to the poor so that everyone could commemorate the miracle equally.

Dreidel is a game that is played. The dreidel is a square top that has four Hebrew letters on each side, Nun, Gimmel, Heh, and Shin. Some sources say that the letters mean: “A great miracle happened here”, but other sources say the letters mean, “nothing”, “all”, “half”, and “put”; which are the rules of the game. It is a gambling game that children play by putting coins or whatever they are betting in the center and then they spin the top. If you get all (gimmel) then you get all the bet, if you get nothing (nun) you win nothing and so on.

Part of our window dressing drawn by Sara Nokes

That is our very simple introduction to Chanukah. If you are in need of a Hanukia, candles or anything fun that you would like in celebration stop by and see what we are carrying. We do sell out, and the holiday is fast approaching.  If you would like to know more about this holiday there are many resources on the web where you can learn more, and in greater detail the history of this tradition, and its significance to the Jewish faith.

Don’t forget this year, 2011, the commemorating of oil, the light, and the miracle begins December 2oth.

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It’s the 2nd annual Hawthorne Holiday Stroll! What is the Hawthorne Holiday Stroll you ask? Well, we’ll tell you!

On Saturday December 10th from 12-7pm (We will be open 10-9pm) Hawthorne will come alive with family activities, sales, live music, free movies etc… Many of your favorite stores will be running promotions, giving out treats and staying open late for the event. The participating businesses (like us) will be donating a percentage of their sales from the evening to Fish Emergency Services and raffling off a wreath stocked with free products, gift certificates, etc… We and many others will have sales running during the event too! All you have to do is come shop at one of the participating stores and get a raffle ticket for their wreath, then they pull a name and one lucky shopper gets a beautiful wreath and all the prizes with it! The wreaths will be displayed so you know who is participating & what their wreath has to offer. Our wreath came out wonderful & has goodies & a gift certificate for a total value of $300!!

Come shop with us December 10th for a chance to win our beautiful wreath worth $300, get 20% off all your purchases & help a great cause!! We’ll be taking your raffle tickets (free with purchase), and running our 20% off sale all the way till 9pm!!

For more info on The Hawthorne Holiday Stroll go to: The Think Hawthorne website

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Fernworks necklaces are like little pieces of artwork hanging from your neck. They make a wonderful gift for the holidays, and anytime. You’ll find that Fernworks jewelry has many tried and true fans, and often times they know exactly what piece they want.

Bird and Vines

 Created and designed by Faryn Davis, each hand made individual piece captures a natural beauty in a resin casting, preserving and freezing the small often-unnoticed bits of the world around us.

Red fiber

Faryn Davis’s necklaces are either found objects painstakingly layered like these red strands of dyed fiber encased in resin or designs hand drawn in acrylic and ink on resin, layer-over-layer, as seen with the bird and vines three piece pendant. Each one is then hand cut, and polished then strung on smooth, nylon-coated, flexible steel wire with a pure silver lobster claw clasp.

Since each piece is handmade no two will be exactly a like. The design may be similar but each one will have a subtle uniqueness that will make it all your own.

The pieces are inspired by the world around us, and you cannot help, but to get a sense of wistful youthful peace when looking at her work; a painted red kite flying over the silhouette of a wire fence with wisps of real grass or a hand painted dandelion with bits of its white umbrella seeds floating to grant a wish.

Kite

Faryn Davis is not only a jewelry maker, but a fine artist as well, and you can find her art pieces in the G. Gibson Gallery in Seattle, Washington. As much as we would love to carry some of her art pieces we are honored, and delighted to carry these tiny works of art.

Ladybug

A Fernworks design is a piece of jewelry and art to treasure for a lifetime.

That is why we are excited to offer Fernworks on sale for our Thrifty Thursday. Come into the store or purchase one on-line.

*Not all the designs pictured are in the store all at one time, but we often do get similar designs. Come in to see what we have!

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Jacket $120.00

We have a great selection of hats for men this winter that are not only functional i.e. warm, but they are also cool as @*#$! They’re money!

$36.00

We have jackets and overcoats to fit or transform your personal style.

$100.00

This is our first year carrying this large a selection of men’s hats, and with such varying styles. We are excited to see the dudes dressing up for the season.

Black Hat $36.00

So be sure to stop in for our Thrifty Thursdays to check out what our special deals are and you may find that special gift for that special someone.

Stay warm and stay dry this winter! Oh and stay stylish, oh, you know you can’t help yourself!

$120.00

Presents of Mind is open everyday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Come in and check us out!

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This November 12th & 13th we are having our 22nd Anniversary Holiday Open House!!

Who doesn’t love a party? Especially one with prizes! Every year the second weekend of November we have our Holiday Open House & Anniversary party! We work diligently from the beginning of November right up until party time to turn our store into a holiday wonderland.

What kind of party would it be without a weekend holiday sale? On Saturday and Sunday we have select items on sale for 22% off. 22 to celebrate 22 years of being in business.

Saturday, November 12th, look for all our clothing and accessories on sale for 22% off the retail price.

Come by on Sunday, November 13th, for jewelry all on sale for 22% off

All our ornaments, holiday wrap, menorahs, boxed holiday cards, decorations & other holiday treats will be out before the big event.

We have stocked up on our unparalleled gift selection for easy holiday gift shopping. Many of our lines we will only get one order of this season, when they’re gone, they’re gone. Yet another reason to get your shopping done early, and relax while everyone else is fighting the crowds in December.

Our Open House is tons of fun! We do a prize walk several times an hour where we give out awesome prizes! We also have refreshments & free balloons for the kids!

Our Holiday Open House is November 12th & 13th from 12pm-5pm. We will be open our normal hours of 10am-7pm both days. If you can’t face the holidays till December but still want to avoid our holiday crowds, you will be happy to know starting December 1st we stay open till 9pm Mon-Sat through the 23rd. Evening & morning hours of shopping are always less crowded, and therefore more pleasant. We hope you all can make it to our party, we promise you’ll have a great time!!

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We received so many adorable salt and pepper shakers, teapots and matching cups, and pretty plates with bumbles bees, every little woodland creature adorning kitchen and picnic-ware, you’d swear we were on cute overload or something.

Summer is here and the kids are out of school and people are up late and you want to host a dinner party, or a bunch, a picnic, anything combining food, fun, and conversation. But, what about the decorative table settings?

Oh my, this is something to really think about, after all it isn’t a real gathering around a table of food without some squirrel salt and pepper shakers is it?

We understand, and we are here for you, really, with eggplant or frogs, or whatever type of salt and pepper shaker you want for your table. We have more than that… for this Thursday’s Thrifty special we are offering all housewares on sale for 25% off the retail price.

Any mugs, teapots, dishes, decorative plates, vases, containers, they are all on sale for one day only:October 6th.

Come into Presents of Mind and find exactly what you need or that kitchy gift that you know your friend would love, and pick it up for 25% off the retail price.

Also check out our cool house page on our website and see which select items are also on sale for 25% off the retail price.

Afterwards, invite some friends over and dazzle them with your frickin’ adorable bird and rose teapot with matching cups and saucers! Geeze! Cuuuuute!

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We have totes, handbags, and Chico backpacks, and other styles of bags that make getting around with your stuff more convenient. And, of course, you will look stylish and cute!

If you come in Thursday September 29th, you will find all of our bags (except baby bags) on sale for a 25% off.

Be sure to check out our website, especially if you can’t come in person, and see what bags we have available for you online for 25% off the retail price.

Our Crystalyn Kae bags will also be on sale for 25% off for one day only. If you haven’t checked out these awesome purses you should follow this link and read all about them.

You can never have too many bags, and by purchasing shopping bags you are helping to sustain the planet by lowering the use of paper and plastic bags. There-by preserving our trees and keeping the landfills empty of plastic bags.

Thrifty Thursday is an every Thursday event, created for you to help you manage your budget while still being able to pick up a little something for yourself or a gift for a friend or loved one.

Presents of Mind is open mon-thurs: 10:00-7:00 & Fri-Sat: 10:00-8:00

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We are happy to get the opportunity to offer you the latest from this amazing baby bag company. Each season offers a great selection of sophisticated and intriguing designs.

There is plenty of pocket space and a detachable changing pad. The exterior of the bags are Chenille, Brocade, felt, glazed and Italian Cut Velvet.

If you are curious about cleaning, Petunia recommends dry cleaning on a short cycle for the chenille and brocade bags like the Amaryllis Roll and the Earl Grey. The glazed and organic bags can be spot cleaned with a damp cloth. The scout bags are to be hand washed and lay flat to dry. The lining is to be spot cleaned with a damp cloth.

The detachable changing pad can also be hand washed and lay out flat to dry.

We started carrying the Sashay Satchels last season and we think the newest designs are lovely like the the Indelible Iris, and chic as in the Positively Plaid.

We have many new and different styles on the floor along with the previous spring season.

Come into Presents of Mind and see what you like, also if you purchase your Petunia Pickle Bottom bag online we will cover the cost of shipping just use the PPB code*.

And remember: Just because the fall bags are here it doesn’t mean the suns not still shining and the air is not still warm. Don’t forget to get out and enjoy the day.

If you would like to read more posts about Petunia Pickle Bottom check out the links here and here.

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Shop on line at our website for 25% off any Sock it To Me Socks or come into our store and ask any staff member where our Sock It To Me socks are on the floor.

Sock It To Me socks are fun and funky. You are making a serious statement. Are you into the classy? How about Toulouse’s Le Chat Noir? Funky? How about some strips of any color. Fashion forward? Um, bicycles, for sure.

This is a Thrifty Thursday Special so it is only available for today Thursday September 15, 2011.

Decorate those calves and show off those sexy knees!

Presents of Mind is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday’s, but you can order up till midnight on our website and still receive the 25% off.

Be sure to check out our next Thrifty Thursday Special.

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