Gorgeous Jewels = Easy Holiday Shopping That Pays You

Project Personality

with Apple Box Boutique founder Leanne Playter Korsos

If how quickly summer flashed by is any indication, it is mere minutes until the holidays!  That is why I've gotten a BIG jump on things and started shopping and ordering gifts.  One of my go-to presents is jewelry and that is where Simply You comes in.

As many of you know, I have been offering jewelry online and the new Fall/Winter 2012 catalog is a perfect example of why I love this quality Canadian designer line so much.

Not only can you build your own company around it on your schedule, but the pieces are beautiful and reasonably priced.  I receive compliments on the Simply You jewelry I wear so often that I've started carrying catalogs everywhere I go.

Host a party or just share a catalog at work and help your friends with their holiday shopping while receiving free and discounted items for your jewelry box.

But let's get to the eye-candy!

Here are just a few of the latest designs for work days and party nights.  For more, visit Leanne's Jewelry Boutique to see what's new and order your gifts while they are in stock.  You can have them shipped directly to you!

Don't forget a little something to reward yourself for your incredible generosity!  After all, holiday parties + bling = Magic and we all deserve a little of that in our lives!

It's easy holiday shopping that pays you!

~♥~  Leanne

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Late Night on the Ave is October 4th!

Be sure to watch our blog "On The Apple Box" for details on our Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan colour of the month and our October draw!

Looking forward to seeing you this Thursday at Late Night on the Ave!

♥,  
Apple Box Boutique

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Free Jewelry and How To Make Money Wearing It

One of the things we've been doing at the boutique is looking for products we love and that have us 'thinking outside the Apple Box'.  This new jewelry line is a perfect example.

ABB founder, Leanne Playter Korsos has become involved with Simply You, a Canadian company that speaks to her belief in supporting success for women through learning and career opportunities.

When asked about why she was interested in this particular company, Leanne said,  "I feel it is important for women to be provided opportunities to succeed in business without having to feel we are leaving our family's well-being out of the equation or allowing ourselves to burn out trying to do it all in an inflexible career. This company is one I feel stands by what they say, which is that they are a group of individuals passionate about family, beautiful jewelry and providing the foundation and flexibility for women to succeed as entrepreneurs."

And what of the jewelry?  Well, if the enthusiasm of the women who see the catalogs, the samples and those who wear it is any indication, Simply You has hit a home run.

The pieces are beautiful 'as advertised', but they are also reasonably priced, arrive quickly and there is a full catalog of items to choose from. A big bonus is that everything comes with a lifetime replacement jewelry guarantee.

The company is an up and coming division of Giftcraft Ltd., and has been recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies; which is part of what makes it an excellent opportunity for women wanting to build a career that grows with their family.  As an entrepreneurial venture, it can be a spare time project or as large as you want to build it.

If your interest is simply that you love fun, fashionable, affordable jewelry, the collection can be viewed and purchased at the Simply You Online Shop.  Order today and you could be wearing it for dinner next weekend.

If it is a no-pressure, ground-floor entrepreneurial option you are interested in, visit Leanne's Simply You info-site or email Leanne to learn more about how to be compensated financially and with free jewelry for doing what most of us do anyway -- having fun with jewelry and friends.

Sound too good to be true?  "That's what I thought at first, too", says Leanne, "but then I received my starter kit... $1100 worth of jewelry for $199 and it was up to me to either happily wear it and leave it at that, or wear it and tell my friends how to get the same fantastic deal and have us all benefit from it.  The generous commissions and flexibility were huge incentives to build my own home business.  Really, the jewelry does a big part of that for you."

Next time you get together with the girls, just show them your jewelry!

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Canada Day Sale -- One Day Only!

On Saturday, June 30th, we are holding a Canada Day Sale.

Hurry In 

It lasts just one day!

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

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Spotlight on Eco-friendly Products: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ (ASCP)

Today is the the last of our three-day series focusing on our eco-friendly and natural product lines. At the outset we mentioned that we are consciously making an effort to offer items that are kind to our planet and our customers' health.  We are happy to be sharing the stories of our three major eco lines: Whitewater Candles, Barefoot Venus Bath and Body, and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ for Furniture, Walls and Floors.

Since other paints and coatings contain harmful levels of chemicals called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), we are very excited to be the Central Alberta supplier of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™ for Furniture, Walls and Floors, today's highlighted eco-friendly product and the signature paint used in our Apple Box Boutique studio.

Spotlight:  Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™

Annie Sloan developed her now famous Chalk Paint™ to answer the need she had for a paint which would have many uses from acting like limewash to looking like old painted furniture, and that had a good range of colour that could be extended by the user. This paint is quick-drying and very easy to work with, allowing people to be creative as one doesn’t get involved with the technicalities of preparation and it also allows you to change your mind without hassle.

Applications:

• Best paint on the market for painting furniture
• Paint can be use on any surface -- literally!
• Use on walls for a soft matte effect or wax it for a polished plaster effect
• Can even be used to paint floors
• Paint can be applied to interior or exterior surfaces and furnishings
• Yes, chalkboards, too -- imagine coordinating them with your decor!

Techniques:

• Use one colour or layer colours
• Distress and apply waxes to create an old world patina
• Can be used as a wash -- dilute with water so when you apply paint it shows the wood grain
• You can use it as an impasto (thickly) -- just leave the lid off to thicken
• Two to three coats makes a highly durable chalkboard
• Paint fabric -- holds up through washing.  Can wax to give a different look to the fabric finish.
• Very little black pigment is used so the colours can be mixed in any combination

Ease of Use:

People, pet and eco-friendly and with virtually no odour, everything can be painted on-the-spot!   

• No messy sanding, stripping or priming
• No more lugging furniture to a painting area
• No more waiting for perfect painting weather
• Easy clean-up
• Paint is flexible so you can be creative and change your mind

Credit: Foampillowss, Annie Sloan & Savvy Southern Style

Fun:

• Because the paint is pre-mixed and easy to use, it is stress-free
• You never waste paint because it is an aqueous product. Let it thicken to use as a fine art paint or a craft paint, or to get a 'chunky, farmhouse" feel to your furniture.  It doesn't 'skin over' like other paints.  Did it get too thick?  Just add water to lighten it up again or to use as a wash
• Coordinate curtains, pillows, accessories, carpets and floors by stenciling or painting them
• Annie Sloan shows her humour... she says this is a girls' paint, but boys can use it too!
• The paint is so versatile and pure in colour that extending allows you to create to your heart's, and imagination's, desire

Thousands of Colours:

"Extending" the paint means that the 30 'core' colours can be mixed together without becoming murky or 'muddied' as can often happen with latex and oil paints.  It allows you to create personalized and custom colours and really be creative with it!

The Right Paint for the Job:

• Originating in the UK, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™ was designed to allow walls to breathe, making it perfect for cottage walls in Europe which means it also works perfectly in North America and our varying climates
• Paint indoor items, outdoor items, floors, walls, metal, glass, plastic laminate, smooth woods, rough woods, plastic, Ikea and Jysk style cabinets, kitchens, even fabric... the list goes on and on

Tried and True:

• Annie Sloan has been making it since 1990 so it's tried and tested! 
• True colour that transcends eras, styles, materials, climates and can keep up with your imagination
• Search the internet, books and catalogs for examples of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ projects (often also referred to as ASCP), and you'll find thousands of examples and positive reviews!

Lots of Class:

ASCP is so popular that we have joined forces with Tara Jamieson, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Specialist to offer classes in Edmonton on a monthly basis.

All supplies are included, so all you have to do is --

just show up in your paint clothes

• Take the Beginner's class to get hands-on experience with the paint and the tools, and learn aging and distressing techniques that will help you to with your own DIY projects

• If your kitchen needs to be freshened up or completely updated, then the Kitchen Reinvention class is for you

BONUS: 

Use the coupon code: APPLE to save $ each time you register for a class!

Go Green:

• Best of all, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ is extremely low in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) so it won’t harm you or the environment

Now available at Apple Box Boutique Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta.

6507 - 112 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5W 0P1

780-479-0007

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

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Spotlight on Eco-friendly Products: Barefoot Venus

Today is day two of our focus on eco-friendly and natural products.   Yesterday we mentioned that we are consciously making an effort to offer items that are kind to our planet and our customers' health and want to share the stories of our three major eco lines: Whitewater Candles, Barefoot Venus Bath and Body, and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ for Furniture, Walls and Floors.

We chose Barefoot Venus products for their enviro-smart approach to their business, the message they impart, and their aromatic product line... not to mention their cute vintagey packaging.  I mean after all, we are a female-run company!

Spotlight:  Barefoot Venus

Barefoot Venus is a family-owned bath-and-body care business founded in Edmonton, AB and now based in Kelowna, B.C.  The brand is natural, cruelty-free and the company takes eco-responsibility seriously by using minimal packaging and  environmentally-friendly printing.

Barefoot Venus’ guiding principle is "to support a lifestyle of beauty and wellness through the simple pleasures of our natural, aromatic bath and body experiences" and they do that in part by formulating their products without parabens, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic colors or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

They share a message of personal empowerment beginning with taking care of yourself which they believe will lead to making a difference "out there".  One of the quotes you will find amidst their advertising is Mahatma Ghandi's "Be the change you want to see".  Another is "Feel good about yourself and your place in the world, allow your confidence and beauty to radiate and inspire."

Soaking in a calming sea of bubbles, moisturizing with mood inspiring lotion; cleansing with Mother Nature’s earth and sea substances... Barefoot Venus subscribes to the idea that their products will help you turn your everyday routine into an opportunity to indulge your spirit, letting beauty bloom, and wellness flourish.

With a mantra like that, the curious question now is... are the products any good?  We'd have to say no...

the products are GREAT! 

From therapeutic and moisturizing bath soaks to cleansers, creams, lotions and more, it is impossible to go wrong with any of their offerings, and that's not just our opinion.  Google Barefoot Venus and you will find two important distinctions:

1. There is an international love-fest for all things BV, and
2. The founders and company prefer to let their products do the talking

There are no huge-money campaigns to push the lines in commercials and you will not find reams of video footage or print articles about the owners, the founders or the developers. Instead there are refreshingly positive product reviews by magazines and real people, and humble community announcements written by local newspapers and business organizations about awards the company has had bestowed upon it.

What's not to love? 

Check out Barefoot Venus bath + body + footcare + lipcare and...

Now available at Apple Box Boutique Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta.

6507 - 112 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5W 0P1

780-479-0007

♥,

Apple Box Boutique

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Spotlight on Eco-friendly Products: Whitewater Candles

Over the next few days, we will be highlighting our eco-friendly and natural products. We are consciously making an effort to offer items that are kind to our planet and our customer's health.

Our three major eco lines are Whitewater Candles, Barefoot Venus Bath and Body, and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ for Furniture, Walls and Floors.

Today our focus is on Whitewater candles.  These have quickly become a favourite at the boutique and we can't say enough good things about them.  Not only are they eco-friendly -- they are beautiful, aromatic and easy on the pocket book.

Spotlight:  Whitewater Premium Candles

Whitewater Premium Candle Co. was founded during the spring of 2007 as a result of our search for a quality all natural candle for our retail boutique. We were looking for a candle that was simple yet stylish, earth-friendly, long lasting, fragrant and most importantly made in Canada. After much searching we decided to take matters into our own hands and produce exactly what we were looking for.

Our quest began in search of the cleanest burning pure soybean wax, and a quality all natural fibre wick that would deliver a beautiful even flame and full fragrance throw without any wasted wax. The heart of our candle needed to have clean and natural aromatic attributes, which lead us to earth friendly vegetable oil based fragrances and essential oils to ensure a full bodied fragrance throughout the life of the candle. This was clearly our greatest challenge and achievement, and ultimately became the defining element of all Whitewater Premium Candles – our signature fragrances. No matter when or how often our candles are burned, our fragrances truly remain as pure as the day they were crafted.

We believe strongly in the use of renewable, biodegradable resources like soybean wax and oil, and we create environmentally friendly candles which produce minimal waste, and are an eco alternative to petroleum based products. Our reproduction antique enamel containers are stylish, re-useable and clean easily with soap and water, and we re-pour all empty containers which our local customers return to our store.

Whitewater Premium Candles are available as votives, tealights and container candles in a variety of natural scents.

Now available at Apple Box Boutique Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta.

6507 - 112 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5W 0P1

780-479-0007

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Project Personality: My Style Crush on Selina Lake

Project Personality

with Apple Box Boutique founder Leanne Playter Korsos

Alright... I confess.  I have a huge style crush on the fabulous Selina Lake.

Granted, she may not be a household name in North America quite yet, but if you follow home decorating or style mags, blogs or books, you likely have witnessed Selina's work.  She is uber-famous in Europe.

The best part?  She is a nice, normal young woman who has made her way up through the ranks, so to speak, with hard work, determination and as she says, big love for what she does.  She humbly credits her success to the advice her parents gave her growing up, "my Mum and Dad always told me to smile, be myself and try my best."

And wow... doing her best has been pretty darned impressive so far!

Selina is based in the UK and is an Interior and Lifestyle Stylist.  The focus of her freelance career is usually to produce images, which are used to sell products, and to inspire magazine and book readers.  But she is also an author and her books are jam-packed with inspiration for decor-loving folks like me.

I like to imagine that we would be friends, or are at least kindred spirits, since she has said that if she were not a Stylist she would "own a boutique, which would sell all the bits and bobs I love, if I could bring myself to part with any of the treasures that is!"  I feel exactly the same way about Apple Box Boutique.

I could go on and on about the perfect loveliness of Selina's work, but believe me, explanation is not required -- instead I will stop with the chatter and simply share some of her work.  The problem now is how ever to choose from all those glorious images!  I may labour over this for hours, or perhaps just close my eyes and point, but either way I hope you enjoy the selections.  (I know I will!)

Okay, so clearly enthusiasm trumps decision-making but this is me reining myself in as much as I can manage, and what you see is just a sampling of Selina's body of work!

Her books to date include "Romantic Style", "Bazaar Style" and released earlier this spring "Homespun Style".  Check out Selina's blog for more about this excellent young stylist, and her website for information on her work and freelance services.

I am off for a cup of spiced tea and some peony arranging... I hope you have a feel-good day, too!

~♥~ Leanne

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