July Lemon Loves

July's Lemon Loves curator is Amy from Smart Style Seattle and lowcarbhighstyle.  You can read Amy's full bio here.  Amy has a degree in Clothing, Textiles, and Fashion Merchandising, is an active fashion and food blogger, has a fabulous name, and loves kitties.

Amy's chosen charity is the Make-A-Wish Foundation, who grants wishes for children with life threatening medical conditions. Love them.  <3

If you purchase one of Amy's Lemon Loves picks in the month of July, Bon Lemon will donate 25% of the sale price to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Shopping + charity = joy!

Amy's Lemon Loves picks are:

LING STINGRAY BRACELET

ANNIE NECKLACE- NEON YELLOW

LONG MANHATTAN LINKS NECKLACE

SOIREE SPARKLY POST EARRINGS

CAPRI SUNSET EARRINGS

Aren't those gorg?  Happy shopping everyone!  Come see us at 2938 Limited Lane, Suite C-1 in Olympia or at www.bonlemon.com.

Altruistic Capitalism

Today is May Day.  Today is the day, many people take to the streets to protest the rights of workers and immigrants, the current economic crisis, and a myriad of other specific causes.  NPR has a good summary of what is happening via many different news sources.  You can check it out here.

At Bon Lemon, we believe in altruistic capitalism.  If you google "altruistic capitalism" there are all sorts of opinions and political ideologies defining what this concept means to them, but we would like to define what it means for us, because it is at the core of our mission as a business.

First, a little history might be helpful.  For those of you who already know the story, skip this part.  I started Bon Lemon after I was laid off from my job.  Well, two jobs actually.  (Yes.  That really sucked at the time.)  I was in the real estate law industry and the real estate industry tanked.  I found myself overqualified and unemployable.  I applied for tons of jobs and was casually rejected by each.  I couldn't even get a job at a local bakery.  Yikes!  When I could not stand unemployment any longer, fast food seemed like the only place left to look, and there was nothing left to lose, I started Bon Lemon with nothing more than a passion for being an entrepreneur and a credit card.

People say I was brave for starting Bon Lemon, but in all honesty, I would not have started Bon Lemon had someone hired me for a cushy, uninspiring job.  I would have taken the job so I could have health insurance and not feel like the pile of crap "unemployed friend/daughter/sister/girlfriend/insert-my-relationship-to-you-here."  I would have taken the job, watched the minute hand on the clock everyday, and I wouldn't have created anything.

But out of necessity (one can only live with their parents for so long after age 30) I started Bon Lemon, which was my true dream.  As I have said before, necessity is an ardent motivator.  I am so glad I was given the opportunity to fail and spend some time dealing with that failure, so I could create something great.  If you don't ever need for anything, it is easy to become entitled and apathetic.  Instead, I got the opportunity to create a business committed to changing the world through altruistic capitalism.

So, what does that mean?  It means, we want to make money, so we can do amazing stuff with it.  We want to employ people so they are happier, healthier and nicer to their families and neighbors.  We want to spend money at cool stores with owners who work their butts off to keep the flavor and feel of our towns alive. We want to give money to charities that are working hard to help make our world safer and more fun.  We want to make money so we can make the world a better place.  That's altruistic capitalism to us.

We don't have it all figured out.  We are still figuring out how to get people to buy our sparkle.  We are doing some great stuff, but we want to do more.  There are moments when I wish I had a cushy job with insurance and the ability to buy a new car.  (Heck, even just not feeling guilty about buying new shoes would be nice...)  But living a life you love is worth the sacrifice.  And I know that Bon Lemon is changing the world; my world, our employee's world, our customer's world, our community's world.  Yep, pretty much the whole world.  I know I wouldn't be saying that had a gotten some of the jobs I applied for.

So, I just want to tell you all how lucky I feel.  Even on the days I think the load is too much to carry, I look at the alternative and am so thankful for the opportunity to be where I am at.  Thank you for supporting Bon Lemon and our mission of altruistic capitalism.  I look forward to donating money to your charity, employing you (if you would like), and spending money in your small, medium, or large business that has a commitment to impacting the world.

This is not a political piece.  It is my personal story.  And I think it matters.  What's your story?  How are you inspiring the world?

NEW: Dotted Line

Our newest find, Dotted Line, features pieces handmade in Seattle, Washington by Annie Huntley.



Annie draws inspiration from her travels and often collects one of a kind stones and treasures for her jewelry.




This necklace features a "10 Aregot" coin, coral, and a brillant green chrysoprase stone



We love her global, natural aesthetic. These earrings are my personal favorite.



This one is delicate and delish and features carnelian, ruby, aquamarine, and champagne citrine stones dancing from gold fill chain. Delicate elegance.

You can see more Dotted Line at www.bonlemon.com. Free shipping.

Something Tasty: Theo Milk Chocolate with Salted Almonds

This is my favorite chocolate. I buy it in bulk when it is on sale at the Co-op. And I eat some every night.

For those of you who think milk chocolate is the bastard child of the chocolate world, tell me what you think of this one. It is 45% cacao. Salty and sweet. Smooth and crunchy. And made in Seattle.

Delish!

Something Tasty: Spur

I love eating in Seattle. There are sooo many great restaurants. After perusing Open Table's 2011 Top 50 Restaurants Fit for Foodies (restaurants from all across the US) and finding 5 restaurants in Seattle, I was reminded of a couple of restaurants I have yet to try. (And that 10% of all of the resturants were from Seattle!) With Seattle Restaurant Week coming up, the time is now to try these great spots.



The first is Spur. As Zagat said, Spur is a “complex yet vibrant” gastropub small plates with twinges of “molecular gastronomy” “amaze” diners at this Belltown New American that “showcases vegetables in the most exquisite manner” while turning out the likes of “sumptuous” pork-belly sliders and crudos; the stylish “nuevo spaghetti-Western–inspired decor” has a running photo show of iconic Americana, and no one much cares about the tab.

Drool.



The other is Staple and Fancy Mercantile. Chef/Owner Ethan Stowell's sums up his restaurant philosophy this way: "... eating is an art more walk-up than doorman, more warehouse than gallery. It's got to be good, but it's also got to be fun." Can't wait to check out Stowell's newest haunt.



And with over 150 restaurants offerring 3 course meals for $28... Shall we meet for a cocktail before hand?

Something Tasty: Fat Cork

It is not a secret that I love (LOVE, LOVE, scream it from the rooftops, LOVE) bubbly. I prefer cava to prosecco and love Champagne and California sparkling too. I am easily pleased by bubbles, but appreciate the nuances they can bring to the table. Our mantra at Bon Lemon, "when life gives you lemons... put on something sparkly (or sparkling)" has a dual meaning now, doesn't it? :)



When my mom invited me to go to a champagne tasting at Fat Cork in Seattle, I didn't hesitate. A tasting focused on bubbly? A shoppe that only sells champagne? Yes, please! We headed up yesterday to meet the folks at Fat Cork. Abigail and Bryan, the partners (and partners in crime) at Fat Cork were so great. They were informative without being pretentious, fun without being flighty, and the perfect hosts for a champagne tasting. Moral of the story: I loved them! I am waiting for them to plan a trip to France. Count me in!



Back to the tasting... Fat Cork is located in the bottom floor of a building in a random, industrial (but not really) area of Seattle. We got buzzed in, and it was clear, we had arrived. Abigail greeted us with a smile and enthusiastically showed us in. The industrial space had been perfectly adapted for the tasting with a table set with snacks (Salumi and Theo to name a few), a cute table runner, flowers, and informative tasting guides. Our first impression was great.



Bryan told us later the reason they picked the space is, because it is partially underground and north facing, which makes it easier to regulate the temperature for Champagne storage. They temperature control their Champagne all the way from France, which greatly improves the quality, which can be a problem with other distributors. Think of your Champagne sitting on a shelf in a 70 degree warehouse somewhere melting to death. Tear. These guys love their Champagne all the way along its journey.



All of the Champagnes Fat Cork offers are previously unavailable in the United States. (Aren't we special?) They are primarily from small, young, innovative growers in the Champagne region in France. We learned a lot about the changing dynamic in the French wine world and the new and exciting things happening with Champagne. We tasted three Champagnes in each of the three distinct Champagne regions. The tasting was diverse and delish and we learned a lot about what we liked, where it came from, and what made it taste the way it did. So fun!


(This is Abigail and Bryan. Cute!)

If you are looking for unique, unknown, grower Champagne, you now know where to go. The admittedly don't sell everyday bubbly (most of their options are over $40) but their mantra: "Celebrate Everyday!" should be taken more seriously by us all. What are you doing tonight?



I am such a fan! You will be too. Can we get them to Montana to Wines By Wednesday or to Olympia at La Petite Maison for a special event? Hope so! Or they could just come hang out at my house. Love them. (They also ship!) These two will make you appreciate Champagne even if you didn't before and love it even more if you already did. Thanks for a great evening Fat Cork.

In the Know: Paid Sick Leave

"The Seattle city council voted 8-1 to mandate that all but the smallest companies – those with fewer than five workers – give at least five paid days off a year to employees who are sick, need to care for a sick family member, or who are victims of domestic abuse and need to take time off to assist law enforcement or attend court hearings. Businesses with more than 250 workers would have to provide nine days.

Mayor Mike McGinn is expected to sign the measure, putting Seattle in a league with San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; and Connecticut, where a state law takes effect in January. Residents of Denver will vote on a similar measure this fall, and proponents are pushing for a statewide paid sick days law in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Milwaukee passed a sick-leave bill in 2008 that was later pre-empted by the state Legislature, and this year Philadelphia’s city council passed one which was vetoed by its mayor." Forbes.com

Proponents say requiring private businesses to provide paid sick leave will increase productivity and benefit both employers and employees. Opponents say it is an infringement on the liberties of the private sector and will demand other parts of the employee's compensation package be reduced.

What do you think? Looking beyond whether you would like to have paid sick leave, should the government (either city, state, or federal) have the power to require such things of private business? Is it protecting workers and helping business owners? Or is it infringing on the personal liberties and stifling growth from those who strive to create jobs and fuel our economy?

I would love to hear your thoughts. And assume you will be wearing a sparkly cocktail ring when writing them, which will lighten your mood and the tone of the discussion. :)

I Want That: Bri Seeley Designs

So... I am in bed last week, thumbing through Seattle magazine. They were announcing the Seamless in Seattle winners (a contest featuring budding Northwest fashion designers.) My Tuesday night entertainment is looking up!



After turning to the page, first, I see one of my high school classmates has topped the list. (Way to go Malia and Lady Konnyaku.) And then I see Bri Seeley of Bri Seeley Designs, the winner of Best Coat, is from Olympia. How exciting! I must get more info.



I promptly got on Bri's website to check out her designs. (No, I do not sleep with my laptop. That would be weird.) Bri's website has a spattering of great stuff. I was instantly impressed by her cocktail dresses, everyday ready-to-wear pieces, and the quality of her photography. (Tres chic!) Bri was in the process of getting her online store up and running (It is working now! Click here to shop.) I wanted more info, so I contacted Bri to see where her fashions are available.



Bri was so super nice! On top of admiring her fashion sense, I totally want her to be my new friend. We have plans to meet for coffee and talk about a custom dress for the upcoming Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington Auction (have you purchased your tickets yet?). I am so tickled to get to meet her.



I think it is only a matter of time before we will see Bri Seeley Designs on the front page of fashion magazines. Get her designs while you can...



I especially like the award winning coat. Both colors? With statement earrings and a chunky Bon Lemon bracelet? Mmm. Hmmm.



I Want That: Bri Seeley Designs. (All of them.)



P.S. This is her. Doesn't she look fun? Love those feathers!

I Want That Villy Custom Cruiser

Villy Customs makes custom beach cruisers in all colors of the rainbow. They even customize the seat and basket. Love! Can you imagine a Bon Lemon yellow and white striped cruiser with a velvet seat?

I want that.

A baby turtle. In Seattle!

Today, I went to Seattle to get some new wares for Bon Lemon. When I stopped to take Dolce Vita Evans for a walk, I saw this family of turtles. Isn't the baby cute? A sunny day in Seattle. A baby turtle. And lots of new pretties for Bon Lemon. What a day!

Alexis Bittar: On Michelle Obama's Cardigan and Yours Too!

One of Bon Lemon's favorite designers of all time is Alexis Bittar. I consider myself an early adopter, as I had been drooling over Alexis long before Nordstrom, Michelle Obama, and CFDA (he was accessory designer of the year in 2010) discovered him. (I am patting myself on the back as we speak.) Now you can find his stuff in lots of places, but nowhere better than Bon Lemon!

When I decided to carry Alexis Bittar, I knew his price points were on the higher end for our "affordable" collection, but I think the uniqueness of his pieces and their durability totally warrants the price. Carrying Alexis Bittar doesn't consist of picking stuff out and sending them your crdeit card information. We had to send pictures of our store, tell them which other fabulous lines we carry, and fill out an extensive application.



Lucky for us, Alexis Bittar quickly realized how fabulous Bon Lemon is (duh) and we got the go ahead. Our first order consisted of more affordable pieces to ease people into the Alexis Bittar experience. This time, we did the exact opposite. This week we are getting in some amazing, show stopping, jaw dropping, to-die-for Alexis Bittar pieces. They aren't for everyday. But OMG, they are fabulous.

Cascina Spinasse

One of the benefits of living in Olympia is it's close proximity to all of the deliciousness in Seattle. Amazing restaurants. Amazing. I have been wanting to try Cascina Spinasse is Seattle for quite some time. Cascina Spinasse has a cult following. The chef was awarded "Best New Chef" by Food and Wine. The only one in Seattle. The restaurant is small, and in a foodie town reservations are coveted.



Our good friends (who love great food) from Olympia wanted to try a new restaurant in Seattle and we settled on Spinasse. And what a good choice it was. We nestled into our cozy little table in the quaint restaurant. You feel like Seattle has met Florence when you enter the small, perfectly lit, lively but not too loud, atmosphere. Jeans or khakis. Straight from work or date night.

To start, we enjoyed radicchio salad with braised rabbit, cauliflower flan with salmon roe, sunchoke with meyer lemon and anchovy, prosciutto with apples and black mustard seeds. Mmmmm. (The cauliflower flan was ridic.) Next we tried the butternut squash ravioli with amaretti, tajarin with brown butter and sage as well as ragu, (OMG) and tagliatelle with lamb ragu. We followed that with veal cabbage rolls, and salmon with spinach. I wasn't about to skip desert at this place, so we finished things up with Italian coffee (ab fab), goat cheese mousse with blood oranges and puff pastry (my fav), ricotta dumplings with chocolate, and a fabulous terrine. Again. Yum!



I would highly recommend Cascina Spinasse, for its food, service, and atmosphere. We had a very enjoyable evening in a relaxed atmosphere. Delicious! (Make reservations well in advance, as this place is a bit of a hot table.) Thanks to our fabulous friends for a great dinner and excellent company.

-last photo courtesy of theprofessionaleater.com-

Brands and Blogging

When you write a blog on Blogger, they give you all of these really cool statistics about who is reading your blog. They tell you what country they are from. How they were referred to your site. What hour they looked at the blog. Now I just want to know what they are eating and what color their socks are. I'm sure it won't be long.

I love the stats. The first thing I do when I write my blog is look at the stats from the previous day. I don't have a ton of followers of the Bon Lemon blog (my law school writing professor would say that has something to do with my skill as a writer...) but I do have a handful of followers and a spattering of others who stumble upon the blog.

I have noticed that when I blog about brands, I get a ton more readers. Especially obscure brands, like those Gidigio boots I was raving about. When you Google Gidigio there aren't a ton of other websites that pop up, so mine is one of the first. I have had people from a dozen countries all over the world read that blog. So, I thought today, I would blog about some of my favorite brands.

A few years ago, my mom discovered Yoana Baraschi at one of our favorite Seattle boutiques: The Finerie. (The Finerie has amazing range of fabulous items and the most helpful, without being annoying, owners. They are always finding you things you didn't know you wanted. We love them!) Yoana Baraschi was born in Romania and raised in a family of artists. Her designs are different and chic, with a little whimsy. I wore the plaid dress to the St. Mike's Auction last weekend. (Clearly, I looked exactly like the model.) It might have been a little spicy for the Father, but it was darn cute.

This probably doesn't qualify as a unique brand, but I am in love with Tory Burch. Her flats are perfect! They go with everything from casual to cocktail. They come in so many fun patterns and colors I have lost count. My favorite pair (I wear them ALL the time) are haircalf leopard print Revas. How can you not want to wear those everyday? I think they definitely go with my pajamas...

A more obscure, European brand, that seems to be picking up steam here in the US, is Lauren Vidal. I found a Lauren Vidal dress/tunic while in Avignon, France. It is a unique cream and white stripe with a crinkly fabric and crinkly leggings to wear underneath. It is drapey in all the right places, while still being flattering. It reminds me of the sophisticated, beautiful women in France. If you see one of her pieces, check it out!

There are a few of my favorite brands for today. We'll see if they are brands anyone else is into. The stats will be the judge :)