Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy, and Hopeful 2015!

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!" - Hamilton Wright Mabie

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity."  - Melody Beattie

Thank you to all of our wonderful customers and friends at FL Crooks & Co. and www.flcrooks.com.
Our deepest and heartfelt thanks to you for making this store and website a reality.  We have had an awesome year, and we want to say 'thank you'!  We look forward to working with you in the New Year 2015.  May the coming year bring you much joy, love, peace, hope, faith, and renewal!

FL Crooks & Co

Premiering... prAna - Purposeful, Playful, Practical!

"All there is to do, right at this very moment, is breathe in, breathe out, and kiss the joy as it flies."  - Dani Shapiro

"Wonder is the heaviest element on the periodic table.  Even a tiny fleck of it stops time."  - Diane Ackerman

At this most wonderful time of the year, we would like to introduce you to a new friend that will enable you to embrace the 'joy as it flies' with a sense of wonder - a clothing line - that will stick closer to you than a brother or sister.  After all, when you reach into your closet, don't you want to pull out something that reflects who you are?  Don't you want to wear an article of clothing that states how you feel and what you value most in life?  Of course you do!  Friends, I would like to introduce you to that clothing line for your active lifestyle which I have been referring to - prAna!

With headquarters in Carlsbad, California, prAna has now been in existence for over 22 years.  The name comes from Saskrit for "breath, life, and vitality of the spirit".  The company has a mission to give more that they take from the world and its resources. 

The prAna "Diva" jackets feature Sherpa interior lining.

Hence, the clothing of prAna is made with fewer toxins and chemicals.  The materials feature organic cotton, natural fibers, and recycled materials.  PrAna fabrics include flex, bliss, stretch ripstop, micropoly, sutra, veeda, hemp blend, zion, jacquard, and chakara. 

Making good stuff in a good way, prAna became the first apparel company in the Outdoor Industry to offer Fair Trade certified styles.  Fair Trade is a product-certification system that allows people to identify products that meet agreed upon environmental, labor and developmental standards.  For Spring 2015, prAna is expanding its Fair Trade offering to 12 styles.

Stand up to the elements in this sustainable apparel for yoga, climbing, and outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts.  The distinctive look and versatile designs of prAna keep you warm and dry and are mindfully designed, with the user in mind.  The clothing is built to last with excellent wearability and wrinkle resistant properties.  Your prAna pieces, ranging from winter coats to shirts and vests and caps, for both men and women, will become your "go to" pieces in your active lifestyle.

Jim Crooks, of FL Crooks & Co, first encountered prAna at the Outdoor Show in Salt Lake City in February 2014 and is pleased now to offer this wonderful line of clothing to the community.  The versatility, quality, and distinctive look of prAna have made the clothing an instant best-seller with its introductory offering here.

Sharing your kindred spirit of being present and in the moment, celebrate the spirit of prAna with their emphasis on sustainability, community, and right action.

Do stop in at FL Crooks & Co in downtown Clarion and on our website, www.flcrooks.com,  and check out our offerings of this innovative and creative line of clothing.

Wishing you all the blessings of the season - love, joy, peace, faith, hope!  May 2015 be a year of wonder for you and yours!

Gratefully,

Lydia

We're 'Wooly-Bully' Wild on Wool This Winter!

SmartWool socks

Brrrrrr!  Baby, it's oh so cold outside.  As the temperatures drop, it's time to bring out the wool for some wonderfully warm wearability!   When you talk about wool, a term that inextricably comes up in the conversation is Merino wool which, of course, comes from Merino sheep. 

One of the world's oldest, toughest and economically viable breeds of sheep, Merino sheep originally came from Turkey and central Spain.  The wool of Merino sheep is finely crimped and soft and suitable for blending with other fibers such as silk and cashmere.

Furthermore, Merino wool is becoming more and more common in athletic wear.  This can be attributed to the following attributes of Merino wool:

- It's excellence in regulating body temperature. 

In a process known as 'wicking', Merino wool draws moisture away from the skin.  Like cotton, wool absorbs water, but, unlike cotton, wool retains warmth when wet.  Hence, wool helps the wearer avoid hypothermia.

Ibex vest featuring Merino wool.

- It's amazing antibacterial properties.

Bacteria cannot find a solid surface to grow on with the uniquely thin individual fibers.  And like most wool, Merino wool contains lanolin.

- It's highly breathable quality.

Individual fibers can absorb up to 30% of their own weight in moisture yet retain elasticity.

- It's strength.

Merino wool is extremely durable.

At FL Crooks & Co, check out our clothing lines featuring wool including Ibex, SmartWool,

Raffi, Viyella, and Wigens.  The Ibex brand features high performance, casual, out-door inspired clothes.  SmartWool features a large array of socks:  Snowboard, Lifestyle, Hiking, Running, and Kids too!  Gift sets containing 3 pairs of socks are a great idea for under the Christmas tree.  A wonderful assortment of Raffi shirts are available for men - full zips, quarter zips, crew necks, mock necks, and V- necks in gorgeous colors.  Rob has the highest of praise for the Raffi sweaters for men - "They're phenomenal!"  The Viyella shirts for men feature a wool blend with 20% wool.  And to top off your outfit, a Wigens cap sets you in fine style for the winter.

For your winter wear - FL Crooks & Co - and we're not pulling the wool over your eyes!

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Slide into Style in Your Sensational SlideBelt!

Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it!   If you haven't already heard about a new staple on the fashion scene, please read on!  An item like this only comes around once a decade or so.

It's simple.  It's stylish.  Certain to revolutionize a man's wardrobe, it's the new SlideBelt.

Designed in El Dorado, California, the SlideBelt is fully adjustable and features removable  rachet buckles which are durable and easy to use.  There are no holes whatsoever.

Ten years ago, Brig Taylor was teaching abroad in Moldova.  One of his students, Oleg, gave Brig a ratchet belt he had found while serving in the Russian military.  Rather than the traditional fastening method of holes and a prong, this belt featured a tab on the buckle that racheted into teeth-like ridges.  The ridges were sewn to the back of the leather strap.

Brig and his wife, Michelle, put their heads together to come up with an improved and refined design.  After receiving a patent on their concept, they placed their first order for 400 belts.  Six years later, the Taylor's placed another order for 600 belts.  With growth came a move from the Taylor's garage into new office space and voila! .  As they say, the rest is history.  With sales of nearly 40,000 belts in 2013, SlideBelts is well on its way to becoming a household word.

The Men's department at FL Crooks & Co is pleased and delighted to be offering the SlideBelt in leather, as well as in fabric designs, in several colors including black, brown, cognac, grey, and camo.  Rob points out that this makes a perfect gift because you don't need to know the size of the recipient.  Moreover, Rob states that the SlideBelt is "for the guy who puts a belt on and is always between holes.  This eliminates that.  Everyone who works here has one!"

No ordinary fashion accessory, this $65 SlideBelt is a new paradigm of style.  Functional and affordable, maybe it's time for you to try one or buy one for the special man in your life.  Oh, and pass the potatoes please!

Happy Thanksgivingtide!

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Beat the Cold in your Cool Killtec Jacket!

"Ten thousand flowers in spring,

Christian wearing one of our new Killtec jackets.

     the moon in autumn,

     a cool breeze in summer,

     snow in winter:

If your mind isn't clouded by

     unnecessary things,

     this is the best season of your life."

                                     - Wu Men

To make this coming winter season the best of all possible seasons, greet it head-on in your new Killtec jacket.  For the first time ever, FL Crooks is offering an array of Killtec jackets for men and women.   Trendy and innovative, the jackets are fabulously functional as well.

The Killtec company is a family-run business from Buchholz (near Hamburg, Germany) which has been developing collections for sports and leisure for more than thirty years.  With distributions in twenty seven countries, the Killtec company is proud of their products designed, tailored and manufactured with love and passion. 

Made of high quality materials, the quality of a Killtec jacket is second to none.  Offering optimal protection against the cold, they are well-insulated without being bulky.  Killtec jackets are waterproof, windproof, and breathable.  The focus is on strong value while holding to popular price points.  The jackets featured at FL Crooks and Co. range in price from $125 to $235.  The size ranges are from M to 3XL in Men and sizes 8 to 14 for women.   The Killtec European fit is on the small side so go up a size or possibly two sizes from what you normally wear.

To waterproof the garment, a Killtec jacket features taped seams.  Special attention is given when sewing individual sections of the jacket together.  The seams are taped from the inside so that when the needle pierces the material, the water resistance is not compromised.  Hence, the joins are sealed watertight.   Using the perfect balance of temperature and pressure, a machine attaches and simultaneously sticks the tape to the inner garment, preventing the rain and moisture from getting through.

Jim Crooks is enthusiastic about making these jackets available which represent such "excellent value.  The fit is excellent as well.  The designs are great!"  He encourages you to try one on to feel the difference a Killtec jacket offers.  Check out the practical pockets and fabulous hoods and sturdy zippers.

Quality... functionality... loving attention to detail!  Be prepared for whatever the winter season may bring your way in your Killtec jacket!!  Make this the best season of your life!

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See and Sense the SALOMON Significance!

"What fascinates me is what I am going to do tomorrow."  - Georges Salomon

FL Crooks is pleased to introduce SALOMON in our store for Fall 2014,  a line of innovative footwear which will take you from your door to the trail with optimal fit and superb performance.  One of the most innovative sports companies in the world, SALOMON offers the latest in sports technology to enable your run/workout to be the best ever.   The colors and designs of the shoes are ultra-modern and ultra-fun!

New 2014 Salomon Sports Shoes

Headquartered in Annecy, France, the company was created in 1947 with Francois Salomon and his son, George, designing many of the first modern ski bindings.  These new concepts in bindings, boots, skis and ski apparel led to innovative concepts in footwear.

The women's SALOMON are designed with the woman's foot in mind, unlike most other sports footwear.  The super stretchy front of the shoe allows for expansion of the foot while the tread allows for incredible stopping traction even with slippery and loose surfaces.  FL Crooks has 4 different SALOMON styles to meet your active lifestyle needs:

- XR Mission - $110 - For City Trail

These are light, cushioned, and feature an outstanding grip on all surfaces along with a smooth rolling motion.

- Speedcross 3 - $125 - For Mountain Trail

These iconic running shoes bring speed to the trails.  They provide the most amazing grip and are light, fast, and feature a super precise fit.

- X ultra GTX - $140 - For Adventure Hiking

Ideal for fast hiking on mixed terrain, this trail shoe features a stable chassis, extra protection for your foot and GORE-TEX.

- Hime Md - $140 - For Winter Wear

Stylish and warm, this awesome winter boot combines cozy warmth and soft textiles to keep you snug in very cold conditions.

And for the men, FL Crooks & Co are featuring the following great styles:

- Speedcross - $145 - For Mountain Trail

This shoe with a Climashield protective upper brings speed to the trails.  Adverse weather conditions can be worked through with its aggressive tread and precise fit.

- Kaipo - $140 - For Winter Performance

The Kaipo is an insulated mid-height boot with Climashield waterproof protection.  The insulation is designed to withstand temperatures to -18 degrees Celsius.

The sleek design allows for strolling mountain resorts and city streets.

To make the sports and physical exercise in your life enjoyable and effective, check out this incredible line of footwear at FL Crooks & Co.  Get outdoors.  Explore Nature. Get moving.  It's time you experience the significance of SALOMON footwear.  See and Sense SALOMON - now at FL Crooks & Co. in downtown Clarion!

Your feet will thank you!

Lydia

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Jewelry with Heart and Soul and a Social Conscience!

In the world of business and commerce in the USA, what is the only other company that competes with Apple's selling rate per square foot?  If you said the jewelry company best known for its charm bangle bracelets, 'Alex and Ani', you would be spot on!

The Providence, Rhode Island company began in 2004 and has grown a whopping 365% in revenue from $2 million to $230 million.  With 41 retail stores in the USA, 24 more Alex and Ani stores will be opening this year.  While the number of employees working in the USA's jewelry market decreased 43% from 1998 to 2008, Alex and Ani went from 23 employees in 2009 to 1,024 employees in 2014. The company took an unusual route to its phenomenal success, flying on its own fashion wings!

To begin with, Alex and Ani's jewelry is made from recycled parts and scraps.  Founder Carolyn Rafaelian stated, "All items are manufactured in America from sustainable materials derived from eco-friendly processes."  With this economical emphasis, the cost of the charms and bracelets can be mostly kept within the $28 to $78 price range.

Secondly, the company chooses to locate on town streets rather than in shopping malls.  The "Main Street" angle has become an important part of their brand.  The focus is to become part of the lifestyle of the individual and the community.  The company and its fans have a "give back" mentality.

Third of all, Alex and Ani advertises in unexpected places.  Did you catch their commercial which aired during the last Super Bowl?  While advertising in traditional avenues like magazines (Vogues, Harper's Bazaar, Elle), Alex and Ani ventures into the sports world, realizing that in football, for instance, 45% of NFL fans are women. 

Moreover, Alex and Ani has made some big time partnerships, among those the NFL, the MLB, the NHL, the Olympics, the US Army, and 62 different colleges.  Add to this impressive list none other than the Walt Disney company.  Alex and Ani went from selling jewelry at 6 Disney location in 2010 to now selling jewelry at 34 Disney parks locations in California and Florida. 

Joining the company in 2010, CEO Giovanni Feroce, a former American military officer, says, "I will readily admit my ignorance on the fashion industry, but that is an asset."  He has spearheaded a social media campaign to grow the company in unprecedented leaps and bounds.

With an ever-increasing and enthusiastic following, the company has found its way into FL Crooks & Co last October, adhering to their Main Street philosophy of where to conduct business.   The staff at FL Crooks & Co describe the jewelry as "artsy", "expandable", "main stream", "meaningful gifts".  Christian states, "I like things that personally speak to me" while Rhianna points out that "the bracelets look better when they are mixed, metals and colors."  Darla's favorite grouping is the newest collection, the Sacred Studs, "each color has an individual mantra and meaning". 

 New pieces are coming out all the time, and the collection at FL Crooks & Co keeps expanding and growing.  The various alphabet/initials, birthstone, and 'positive sayings' bracelets and charms make wonderful gifts for the special people in your life.  And what a wonderful way to treat yourself - a "Made in America With Love" Alex and Ani bracelet!  Come to Main Street Clarion and check out our awesome and impressive Alex and Ani collection of creative and spirited bracelets and charms.

To positivity!

Lydia Crooks

FL Crooks & Co

539 Main Street

Clarion, PA  16214

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The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

"The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

- Eleanor Roosevelt

"But what minutes!

Count them by sensation,

and not by calendars,

and each moment is a day."

- Benjamin Disraeli

"Summertime and the livin' is easy..." So goes the gorgeous and melodious song from the musical Porgy and Bess.  Here we are in the throes of July, a vacation summertime month for some.  A time for new and varied experiences for others.  Maybe we'll be able to, at long last, kick back, put our feet up and find a nice shady spot underneath the branches of a favorite tree.  Maybe it's a time to pick up that book that we have been meaning to read so that we can be re-freshed and re-created through the power of words and ideas.

If you haven't already done so, now is a great time to pick up a book written 25 years ago by Stephen R. Covey entitled The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  We might have heard of the book, but have we actually taken the time to read it?  It's a powerhouse, a wealth of wisdom and insight.

Check out the title - it's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  Effective, not Successful.  All three contestants missed this question on a recent Jeopardy show.  They tried to put the word 'successful' in the title, rather than the word author Covey chose, 'effective'.  Perhaps we are a bit obsessed with the concept of being successful when maybe we might want to try to be more effective in our personal lives and in running our businesses.

At any rate, here are the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:

Habit 1 - Be Proactive (Principles of Personal Vision)

Habit 2 - Begin with the End in Mind (Principles of Personal Leadership)

Habit 3 - Put First Things First (Principles of Personal Management)

Habit 4 - Think Win/Win (Principles of Interpersonal Leadership)

Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Principles of Empathic Communication)

Habit 6 - Synergize (Principles of Creative Cooperation)

Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw (Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal)

In presenting workshops and seminars, Covey said the Habit 5 "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood" is the most often requested topic of the 7 Habits.

Best wishes for a terrific summer!  May you be energized by the resources at your fingertips and in the world around you this summer.  May your life be enriched as you work on bringing principles such as those listed above to fruition.  May you enjoy the journey to becoming a complete and fulfilled person in your private and in your professional life.

Godspeed!

Lydia

FL Crooks & Co

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How Mediation Can Improve Your Outlook

How Meditation Can Improve Your Outlook

Alden Wicker

When I graduated from college I was 20 pounds heavier than I am now. It took three years to drop all that weight, slowly but surely. Ceasing to binge drink like a college student likely helped, but I attribute the bulk of the loss to yoga and meditation.

Yoga and meditation both helped me get in tune with my body and mind. They’re tools that teach you how to slow down and assess what is going on. You learn to be honest with yourself, to gently probe down to uncover the real reason behind your actions.

After picking up meditation on the regular, I found myself having gentle, honest conversations with myself whenever I started craving junk food. “Are you actually hungry?” “Um … let me see … yes. But not super hungry.” “What do you want?” “Cupcakes!” “Really?” “Well, I want something sweet.” “How sweet? Because last time you ate a cupcake you thought it was … a bit too much.” “That’s true. And I don’t really feel like eating a cupcake by myself today. That’s sad. Maybe I could just pick up a fruit smoothie.” “Lovely idea, my dear!”

And if meditation helped you cut the junk from your diet (as studies have indicated) why can’t the same thing hold true for your closet? Fashion is loaded with just as much—if not more—emotional baggage. There’s emotional shopping, just like emotional eating. And we lie to ourselves all the time when it comes to clothing: about fit, about whether we’ll actually wear it, about how it will transform our lives.

Yes, building an excellent wardrobe takes mindfulness.

Mindfulness in Shopping
First, you have to get familiar with your likes and dislikes, and the shape of your body. It may seem silly to meditate on your clothing, but with the amount of money you’re spending on stuff you end up hating? Just go with it.

Close your eyes and imagine what you were wearing when you felt most beautiful. What was the fit? The color? What did it evoke for you? Hold the image of your favorite outfit in your mind and examine it from all angles. What kind of fabric is it made out of? How does it make you feel emotionally? How does it feel against your skin?

When you see images of models or celebrities or fashion bloggers, acknowledge the feelings that they evoke in you. Jealousy? Inadequacy? Yearning? Pity? Hostility? An eye roll? Ask yourself, if you find yourself coveting the clothing you see in ads, why you covet it so. Perhaps you long to be at the beach yourself, so a beach-y Ralph Lauren ad draws you in. Then address the fact that buying a Ralph Lauren bikini won’t put you on the beach or win you a man with a chiseled jaw. That it’s just clothing.

A Pendleton Sweater, made to last.

Not to say that meditation means you won’t ever shop again! It just helps you make better decisions. Maybe, when you see a certain Pendleton sweater, you recognize it as something you would just love. The fit and colors are just perfect, and you’ve been repeatedly searching for just such a sweater in your closet to throw on and coming up short. It could be, quite honestly, a great addition to your closet. 

 

In any case, always sit with the idea of the clothing you want to buy for a few minutes, a few hours, or even a few days. Turn it over in your mind and see how your emotional connection to it changes. Perhaps, like an toxic friendship that doesn’t serve you, it falls away. Or perhaps, after some time, you realize that it would serve a useful and beautiful purpose in your life. There’s no right answer, as long as you’re being honest with yourself.

This careful, thoughtful, honest approach to fashion has a couple benefits. First, it will save you money as you let go of impulse shopping. Second, it will lead you naturally to well-crafted, lifetime pieces, instead of fast fashion bought on a whim and then stuffed under the bed.

Mindfulness in Organization
Mindfulness and meditation come in handy when you’re cleaning out your closet, too.
Oh, boy, do we lie to ourselves about our closet. That piece of clothing you haven’t worn in two years. Why do you keep it? “Because it’s beautiful!” you might say. But dig deeper. Perhaps it’s a designer brand that represents prestige to you. Perhaps it’s a suit that represents a fear of getting fired and having to interview for new jobs. Perhaps it represents fitting in with your college friends, or being the kind of person your parents want you to be.

Acknowledge the emotions that letting go of your clothing brings up. But also recognize when clothing isn’t serving you anymore. That your first J. Crew sweater you could ever afford is pilling, and you now can afford better. That you work in a field that never requires suits, and that is awesome. That you like wearing black, and that is OK because Mom and Dad can’t tell you what to do anymore.

Lay the items where you can see them and let them be there for a few days so you can get used to the idea of letting them go. Then let them go! Consign, donate, or recycle them. And watch space open up in your closet for new and better things.

You know, like that Pendleton sweater?

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