Flowers! Today our shop is a Parisian garden

Happy Valentine's Day, one and all!  Today our shop is brimming with flowers, and I couldn't be happier.  Love is in the air!

I have an affinity for Paris, French style and the incredibly breathtaking gardens in the region and thanks to sharing our boutique with Sugar Blossoms Floral Design, I have been transported there.  We are surrounded by a sea of roses and other aromatic, beautiful flowers awaiting a new home this Valentine's Day. 

Anyone who receives one of Sugar Blossoms' stunning bouquets or arrangements will fall in love all over again... I know I have!

*Where not noted on images, original sources are unknown.  Please let us know if credit can be provided!

Valentine`s Sale!

15% off furniture, gifts and home decor until February 15th!

 

What`s not to love?

What is Smelly, Fuzzy and Perfect for Valentine's Day?

One girl's perspective on "the day of romance"...

This morning it is off to the land of wonderful choices, where aisles upon aisles of items await our decisions on what will make it to the boutique shelves. With Valentine`s Day quickly approaching, jewellery, chocolates and romantic meals lead the list for must-haves, at least in the blogs, flyers and television ads that tell us what we should want. But for me, a good old-fashioned bunch of flowers and a cuddly, loveable Teddy bear is hard to top. 

These days jewellery is flogged at every occasion, but it still seems to fit best with a proposal or an anniversary. Chocolates are given out at Halloween, Christmas and Easter, which somehow takes the 'special' factor out of them for Valentine's Day. Romantic meals are lovely at any time of year, though this might be a newsflash for some husbands. But a fluffy Bear and an aromatic bundle of flowers... that is unquestionably the perfect Valentine`s gift.

Why, you ask? Simply... Flowers require selection, some contemplation and an effort to make it, ahead of time, to a flower shop that knows exactly how to create a bouquet that will make your sweetheart swoon (personally, I feel that grocery store flowers are a little too "convenient" and don't send the same message, but maybe that's just me). Flowers are pretty, which makes most girls happy and even with their eyes closed your special someone will know by the sweet smell of their favourite flower that they are adored.

As for Teddy bears, they say so much... I love you, I want to cuddle you, I know you love me even when I need a grooming. Okay, maybe not that last thought, but otherwise what's not to love?

My vote is cast. What's yours?

Late Night on the Ave: Feb 2nd
Visit Apple Box Boutique this Thursday 4 PM - 9 PM and enter to win a teddy bear and a dozen roses plus cash in on great February deals. Don't miss musician Sara Isabel at 7:30 PM, and visit the other shops on the ave for more great deals and promotions.

Late Night on the Ave

One of the things I was completely sure of when Apple Box Boutique, the brick and mortar edition was becoming a reality early last spring was that I wanted to find a way to highlight local/Canadian artists, be they musicians,  fine artists, comedians, actors, photographers... well, you get the idea.  So I wrote into my business plan that once a month we would do just that and hold an event at the boutique, wherever that ended up being located, and then started telling everyone I met about it.

Lucky for me we landed in the Highlands merchant district where the 112th avenue restaurant and shop owners championed the idea in their own businesses and together we are presenting "Late Night on the Ave".

Thank you to the lovely Sabrina O'Donnell of Sabrina Butterfly Designs for creating this graphic.

On the first Thursday of each month, merchants in this quaint, historic community will open our doors from 4:00 - 9:00 PM and offer promotions, contests and more.

The upcoming Late Night event on February 2nd precedes Valentine's Day and is a great opportunity for Edmontonians to cash in on deals and get your flowers ordered and gift-buying done, not to mention alleviate concerns about line-ups, or for some particularly busy people who shall remain nameless, forgetting the day and being caught off-guard.

At Apple Box Boutique/Ambiance Events, any excuse for a celebration is worthy and we are very happy to have local up and coming musician Sara Isabel performing at the boutique.  When you stop in for Sara's set, enjoy a complementary beverage and enter to win our "Love is on the Avenue" contest.  (Watch the blog for our 'concert' poster, available tomorrow, with performance times and more.)

Sugar Blossoms Floral Design shares our space at 6507 - 112 Avenue and is joining us in offering the contest prize of a gift card for a Teddy bear and a dozen roses.  But that's not all!  There are plenty of deals to be had at all of the Highlands businesses taking part:

Poster created by Laura England, Mandolin Books and Coffee Company.

That should help make Valentine's Day what it is meant to be... stress-free and loaded with L-O-V-E.

See you there!