Cupcakes and Water Art at University Village

University Village, an outdoor shopping mall in Seattle's University District, used to be an outdated, dreary place. Over the past 15 years, it's been totally reinvented into a destination shopping experience, with high-end retailers, chic coffee shops and restaurants, gorgeous flower baskets, pots, greenery, sculptures, and water features. It's a place where people young and old want to spend time shopping, meeting friends, dining, and relaxing.

Yesterday it was my go-to place for birthday party supplies for my youngest including cupcakes from Trophy Cupcake. I love, love, love the Coconut Snowball cupcake--little piece of heaven! We brought home several to share and sample after dinner that night at Blue C Sushi (her favorite restaurant). Normally I bake her favorite cupcakes for her birthday party (and still will), but it seemed like a fun surprise to try some of the fabulous ones at Trophy such as Red Velvet, Hummingbird, Triple Chocolate, Chocolate Graham Cracker, Tiger Tail, and of course Snowball. She was delighted, and we all enjoyed sampling them.

On the way to the cupcake store, we walked by the sweetest water sculpture/fountain which was comprised of 6 bronze frogs spouting water at different intervals and then all together. It is so sweet to see and especially to watch the delight and squeals of little children as they notice one, then another, and another frog spout water from its mouth to the other frogs. Wish I had one in my back yard!

Recycled Plastic Water Bottles Make Amazing Anthropologie Flower Display

They've done it again! The creative geniuses behind the window and store displays at Anthropologie have come up with an outstanding and gorgeous store decor--Recycled plastic water bottles. It looks like they put drops of paint in plastic water bottles and shook or spun them to coat them with an array of bright colors, cut them in half and made flower petals out both halves, and hung them by the hundreds from the ceiling of their store. The combined effect is truly lovely--a hanging garden! It's a must-see. Plus, there are many great finds at their annual summer sale!

Great Shopping in Seattle's University Village

Seattle's University Village open-air shopping center is vibrant, busy, and a treat for the eyes. The hanging flower baskets, unique potted plants, artwork, tempting restaurants, and high-end retailers make this a fabulous shopping experience. It's a great place to shop for Mother's Day gifts and cards. Today I noticed the adorable frog fountain which sends shoots of water into the air to the other frogs in different timed arrangements.

 Even the construction sites are artfully disguised--reminds me of a Roger la Borde card!

My favorite candy store...How can I resist going in with such gorgeous and colorful window displays?!? I can't! 

Dreamy Anthropologie Paper Flowers Window Display

Have you been to Anthropologie recently? Huge white and cream paper flowers hang from all over the ceiling at my Seattle (University Village) store in swirling, lovely white clouds that are absolutely gorgeous. It inspires me to decorate my house, next party, or kid's room with them too! The display designers at Anthropologie must be the most creative and fun people to come up with these ideas.

It's like a breath of fresh air to step through their doors and find myself in such a lovely place, where I can leisurely wind my way through the aisles, admiring the clothes and household items that I'd love to have. Plus, there are great finds at Anthropologie's SALE going on now. And there are always beautiful Wooster & Prince notecards on display.

Here's how to make paper flowers (pom poms) from Martha Stewart's website.  She shows them as party decorations and napkin rings. Nice!

New Year's Resolution: The 350 Project

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to shop local and support local bricks and mortar retailers. I try to do the whole shop local thing as much as possible and support my neighborhood retailers rather than heading to the big box stores and giant chains. Sometimes, though, Home Depot is the only option when my local City People's Mercantile doesn't have the right part. But it's the first place I head when I need anything for my home, kitchen, toy, gift, a repair, my garden. They have racks of Shannon Martin greeting cards and her bath salts too! I love walking through that place. I hope it never goes away. It's the same for my local bakery, family owned drug store, car repair shop, and book store. The allure of the chains and big box stores can be powerful, but I'm going to try to resist as much as I can and instead support my local stores more often in 2010.

It seems to me that this buy-local movement is catching on across the country. Check out The 3/50 Project. It was started by a brilliant woman, Cinda Baxter, who planted a seed of an idea on her blog, and it has since grown with a life of its own into a national movement.  The idea is simple: Ask consumers to support 3 local businesses that they don't want to see disappear and spend $50 a month doing it. Click on the link for more details.

So join up! Think about where you shop, your purchasing power, and how much you'd miss those retailers if they left or went out of business. I'm recommitting myself to the idea in 2010 and hope you will too.