Reaching toward a better world... December 22, 2012

"Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."

-Calvin Coolidge

30th President o the United States of America
 

It's 9:30 AM on December 21, 2012. The nation pauses for the one-week anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Bells toll - 26 times - once for each precious person lost. One week earlier, 9:30 AM on December 14, 2012, the unthinkable happened. Like 9/11, it's a defining moment. Where do we go from here. Do we spiral downward, or do we reach upward. May the New Year 2013 usher in a new age of compassion. May we strive to achieve peace, joy and harmony in our individual lives and in our communities and in our world.
 

In her book entitled Finding Your Way in a Wild World, author Martha Beck offers some advice everyone igonores (but really shouldn't):

1.) What leaves you feeling bad, do less of. What leaves you feeling good, do more of.

2.) To achieve bigger goals, take smaller steps.

3.) Lie down and rest for a while.

4.) When you don't know what to say, try the truth.
 

So, as we try to construct a world with the best human behavior possible where we maximize our happiness, kindness and health, may we...

-Take time to think; it is the source of power.

-Take time to read; it is the foundation of wisdom.

- Take time to play; it is the secret of staying young.

- Take time to be quiet; it is the opportunity to seek God.

- Take time to be aware; it is the opportunity to serve others.

- Take time to love and be loved; it is God's greatest gift.

- Take time to laugh; it is the music of the soul.

- Take time to be friendly; it is the road to happiness.

- Take time to dream; it is what the future is made of.

- Take time to pray; it is the greatest power on earth.
 

Let me close with the words of my dear friend Barbara S. that she recently sent in the form of an e-mail:  "As we take time to remember our blessings and pray for our world, we humble ourselves before our God, follow his teachings, and praise his name. We pray the joy of God's love will surround you this Christmas, and may the quiet beauty that is Christmas be with you each day of 2013. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2013."  God bless you now and always.

Love and cheer-

Lydia Crooks

On the Threshhold of Decembertide...

If you desire joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to or even into, the being that has them.  They are not the sort of prize which God could, if he chose, just hand out to anyone.  They are a fountain of energy and beauty spurting up at the very center of reality.  If you are not close to the spray, you will stay dry.  If you are close you will gain moisture from the spray.  Once a being is united to God how could he not live forever.  Once a man is separated from God, what can he do but wither and die.    -C.S. Lewis

As we enter this most amazingly wonderful time of the year, may Decembertide bring you closer to those you love, and ultimately closer to your God.  Blessings to you, dear friends!  Know that you are loved and appreciated!!

Celebrate!

You must know your own beauty.
Look at your world;
   all those roses,
   saucepans,
   violet lipsticks,
   your eyeglasses,
   your favorite armchair.
Study your handwriting.
Draw a little yellow house under a November sky.
Inquire if you must of your cat or dog  or parakeet
   but no one else.
Simply know that with every breath,
   you are luminescent as rain,
   radiant as any Northern star,
   beautiful as a wild garden shimmering before the first frost.

Above the kitchen sink
Boyleston Street
Boston, MA

   

The Gratitude Diet - November 24, 2012

"Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes instantly."  - Tony Robbins

When our daughter, Chelsea, got married three years ago, I set out to lose some weight I had gained over the years.  I came within 6 lbs. of my goal and managed to fit into my dress (just barely!)  I continued on with the battle:  I tried the "Lose 10 in 2010" program sponsored by our local hospital, I joined 'Weight Watchers' for 10 months, I participated in the Weigh-In at our local Y at the beginning of this year.  But that last 6-10 lbs. still lingers.  Here we are with five weeks to go before the calendar turns into January.  I don't want to take this extra weight with me into the New Year.  This weight loss thing has been a source of frustration.

And speaking of frustration, I was dismayed to look at my picture on our holiday promotional brochure for FL Crooks & Co.  My arms look terrible, my hair... now wait a minute.  What is this crazy notion in our culture that we have gotten so preoccupied with our looks no matter our age?  (Remember when Gabby Douglas was gathering her medals at this summer's Olympics and people were commenting about her loose, carefree and sloppy ponytail?)

At a recent yoga class, our instructor stated that today we are going to focus on our hands and be thankful for what they do for us.  At another class, our fingernails were the focus of gratitude.  I need to carry this attitude with me, being grateful for the harmonious and miraculous way our body functions.  Obsessing over this extra weight and this functioning body is ridiculous.

Hannah Whitall Smith in The Christian's Secret to a Happy Life has a healthy perspective:

     The greatest burden that we have to carry in life is self.  The most difficult thing we have to
     manage is self . . . In laying off your burdens therefore, the first one you must get rid of is
     yourself.  You must hand yourself and all your inward experiences... your temperament, your
     ...feelings all over into the care and keeping of our God.  And leave them there.  He made you, He
     understands you, He knows how to manage you, and you must trust Him to do it.

Cicero, the Roman philosopher, once stated, "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others."  Gratitude is something that I need to cultivate daily.  By practicing the art of thankfulness, I will be less likely to ignore or take my blessings for granted.  By being thankful, I will take the emphasis of of myself and become more aware of those who are constantly a blessing to me.

Counting my blessings is just as important as counting my calories in the Gratitude Diet!

Let me leave you with Dr. Oz's tips for losing 10 lbs.:
- No soda pop!
- No eating after 8 PM!
- No snacks larger than your fist!
- Keep a food journal.
- Move!

Here's to the final countdown of 2012 - how much weight can I lose?  How much appreciation and gratitude can I gain?

Fall's Hottest Looks - October 27, 2012

My husband, Jim, and I recently traveled to Toronto for the 37th annual University of Toronto Trinity Book Sale (and the 7th annual Chocolate Ball!) At our hotel I picked up a copy of the magazine Where, for Toronto and vicinity, October 2012. On pages 16-20, Linda Luong has written an article entitiled "Fall's Hottest Looks" where she compiled a list of the 10 top trends of the season. Walk with me through the FL Crooks & Co women's division and let's see how we stack up to these Top 10 trends for Fall 2012:
 

#1 - Power of Peplum

Last popular in the 1980's, the peplum is characterized by a flared ruffle jutting from the waist of a bodice. At FL Crooks & Co, a stand-out of this current runway silhouette is a royal blue and black dress by Ya. Also take notice of a red and black jacket from Miss Me that practically pops out of its place on the wall with its updated flounce.
 

#2 Jewel Tones
Jewel Tones are rich and bold color tones which resemble well known gemstones, either precious or semi-precious. Some examples would be emerald green, amethyst purple, ruby red, topaz yellow, sapphire blue, tourmaline green and turquoise blue. In textiles, jewel tones can create an extremely lush look. These dynamic and distinctive colors are brilliantly featured in tops and blouses from Cupio and Violet & Claire on our store floor.
 

#3 The Quilted Effect
We all know quilting as a practical treatment which adds warmth to winter garments; now it can be used quite effectively as a styling method.

Come see this appealing embellishment on a black leather jacket by RD Style as well as vests and outer wear from Katherine Barclay and Montanaco. Accessories, like a black purse from Big Buddha, feature this traditional method of sewing with newly added texture.

#4 Animal Instinct
More than ever, the wild things can be found on your clothing this fall! We've got an entire section devoted to this popular trend. You'll discover this fun and exotic look on Cupio tops, Clara Sun Woo dresses, Young Threads jackets, and Montanaco vests. Gloves and scarves prominently feature animal prints galore. 
 

#5 Get Cozy

Nothing helps us get ready for a long, hard winter like a warm, chunky sweater. When temperatures drop, cozy up in your Colour Works sweaters and your Mystree sweater jackets. A new line, Laundromat, features some of the coolest sweaters imaginable. Ibex pullovers and jackets are practically heirloom pieces and will stay in your closet for months and years to come. Footwear to keep your toes nice and toasty include Keen, Merrell, and UGGs.
 

#6 The Art of Layering
Two basic rules of thumb to keep in mind when layering: keep it to three pieces to avoid bulkiness, and try to mix fabrics. Our inventory at FL Crooks & Co offers some great faux fur vests for the season. Our 525 America V-neck sweaters are a perfect layering weight and come in various shades of beautiful colors. Leggings are again popular this year while boot socks may be a new look for you.
 

#7 All That Shimmers

Traditionally thought of as evening wear, sequins and metallics are shining as the perfect daytime embellishment now. Come in to FL Crooks & Co and check out our outstanding collection of Clara Sun Woo and Camee, Inc. jackets and Cupio and Ya sweaters that shimmer and shine. The Miss Me jeans add sparkle with their highly embellished gold or silver pockets.
 

#8 Military Minded

Camouflage and other military inspired looks have been around for awhile now, but this season the military trend is updated with sharper tailoring and more masculine lines. Check out our Spiewak and Montanaco coats for the military minded look.
 

#9 Velvet Revival

This sumptuous fabric has become a hot commodity for Fall 2012 for day as well as evening wear. This equal-opportunity textile's strength is that it is offered in many different options and styles. The popular Snoskins line has a gorgeous velvet quarter-zip top in luscious shades of green and of red. This would make an extra special gift under the Christmas tree for your loved ones.
 

#10 English Countryside

The pastoral take on life is lovingly exhibitied in a pair of Frye boots. Since 1863, the core product line of Frye has been manufactured by skilled employees right here in the USA. FL Crooks & Co carried this wonderful line in the early 80's, and we are proud to have them back for the Fall 2012 season.
 

We've got them covered - Fall's Hottest Looks! Do come in and see for yourself.  You don't have to travel to Toronto or New York or Milan or Paris.  Come to Clarion, PA!  I received a gracious note on Facebook from Melissa in Brookville. She writes, "I love how you are keeping up with fashion and trend for our small towns. Not all of us can get to the cities to shop. So, thank you!" We thank you, Melissa, and our valued customers. We are here for you. We want you to look and feel your best. We want you to glow with courage and confidence in the best of Fall 2012 fashions.

Fall Men's Fashion Stand-Outs!

Fact: The most exciting clothing hit the stores every fall. Walk with us through our Men's Store at FL Crooks & Co, and we'll point out the latest stand-outs. Here goes...

Founded in 1905 (just like FL Crooks & Co!), the BedStu company offers a broad selection of styles and unique looks in classic, vintage looking footwear. Inspired by the tough and resilient streets of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, these shoes are built to last a lifetime. Pick up a pair of BedStu shoes and marvel at the craftsmanship, made meticulously one pair at a time. BedStu sets a high bar for quality being handcrafted from the finest natural materials available.

Another company with its origin in the 1900's, 1903 to be exact, Stormy Kromer features a complete line of rugged outdoor clothing which all began with a six-paneled modified baseball cap. George "Stormy" Kromer was a real person, a baseball player and a railroad engineer. Working on long cold trips with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, he created a cap that was not only comfortable but had the ability to stay snug on his head. His wife, Ida, an excellent seamstress, created a cap for her husband which soon other railroad workers wanted as well. Hand-stitched in the USA, these caps are growing in popularity with new colors, new fabrics and new styles.

Continuing our walk through FL Crooks & Co, we come to what may be the 'nicest sweaters on earth' made by a company known as Laundromat. Combining a Canadian design team with tremendously skilled knitters in the country of Nepal, these artful sweaters are made of 100% natural wool and dyes. The sweaters feature chunky, hefty zippers and lined pockets and cleverly double as Spring/Fall jackets. Laundromat is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, striving to treat all people fairly in the creation of a product of utmost quality. Jim Crooks states that "we are the only store in Pennsylvania to carry this comfortable knitwear. These sweaters are very warm, very outdoorsy, and the women's sweaters by Laundromat are really cute!"

Vyella shirts are making their debut at FL Crooks & Co. as well. A blend of 55% merino wool and 45% cotton twill first woven in 1893 in England, Vyella is the 'first branded fabric in the world'. Developed by James and Robert Sissons of William Hollins & Co, spinners and hosiers, the brand name was first registered as a trademark in 1894 and in the US in 1907. These washable shirts now feature a unique combination of luxury and practicality with an intimate blend of natural fibers and are known for their ability to age gracefully. The company has a clever motto, claiming that the 'only thing better than a new Viyella is an old one'.

From traditional lines, we move to J.A.C.H.S., a high quality men's apparel line which is cut with a trim, modern fit. J.A.C.H.S. is known for a great fitting shirt which is affordable in price while being individual in style. The shirts feature custom piping and contrast lining. Jim Crooks points out that these shirts "all come with a bandana. Some are flannel shirts with hoods. We also feature a really cool pant with a cuff you can turn up." Jim came across this line at the PROJECT show in NYC on a recent buying trip.

Another line for the younger guy is Fox Racing. A family owned and operated business, Fox Racing has become an international leader in the youth lifestyle clothing market with its famous Fox Head logo. FL Crooks & Co is carrying an extensive inventory of zip sweatshirts, hoodies, t-shirts, caps, back packs, and wallets. Constant research and fine-tuning goes into producing this fine apparel and performace gear.

And last but not least in our look at the Fall line up of stand-outs at FL Crooks & Co, for exceptional and durable quality look no further than Wigens caps. Originating in Sweden, Oscar Wigen founded the company in 1906 in the small town of Tranas. His goal was to make each hat flawless with painstaking attention to detail. The exquisite fabrics used make each piece a treasured heirloom, functioning with a quiet and unsurpassed confidence.

Do come in to our store, located at 539 Main Street in Clarion. And check us out on-line at www.flcrooks.com as well. Fall and fashion go together hand in hand. See what discoveries you can make while on your own personal walk through FL Crooks & Co.

Coming of Age - Happy 21st Birthday to the World Wide Web!

Happy Birthday to the World Wide Web!

The Oil City Derrick recently featured an article by Gene Policinski with the aforementioned title. Policinski is senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center located in Nashville, Tennessee. In the article, Policinski points out that the World Wide Web was born on August 6, 1991 which would make the phenomenon 21 years of age today. The World Wide Web (WWW) "debuted as a publicly available and revolutionary communication service just a few months before the 200th anniversary of the ratification of the First Amendment as part of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791. Thanks to you, the world - and the First Amendment's five freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition - would never be viewed the same way again." Indeed, the WWW has enhanced the way we do business at FL Crooks & Co. on Main Street in Clarion, Pennsylvania.
 

When our son, Nathan, turned 13 years of age in 1996, we gave him a computer as a birthday gift. His creative father, Jim, devised a clever treasure hunt that sent Nathan all over the neighborhood with clues that eventually led to the computer's hiding place. And what a gift it turned out to be for a lad with an inquisitive nature and a questioning mind. For Nathan, and his generation, it was like a fish in water, a natural fit. It wasn't long until Nathan had his dad's store on-line. And Nathan was recognized for his achievement when the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named him an All-Star Achiever with an impressive write-up in the paper his senior year of high school.
 

In the early days of our on-line web presence, in the latter 90's, we sold Tommy Hilfiger briefs by the dozens. Ralph Lauren's Polo Jeans Company was another big seller. (Unfortuately, Ralph Lauren has discontinued that division of his company.) Shoes quickly became a dominant staple online, with the Allen Edmonds company one of our customer's favorites. Nowadays, the number one selling item online is the Sugar Lips Tank Top in White. The number one selling shoe online is the "Tampa" by the NAOT company. Moreover, the Tresics tops, Tulle coats, Levi jeans, The North Face apparel, Patagonia clothing, Johnston & Murphy shoes, Merrell shoes, and DANSKO shoes are all in high demand with web shoppers.
 

Referring back to Policinski's article, he points out how the "Web moved from being a toy to a tool - from a place for gamers, sports fans and early adopters to a widely used utility, a good place to get practical information, a new platform for self-expression. Companies found they could promote their wares and do business through you, thus forever altering the retail market... But as with all of us entering adulthood, nobody really knows your potential, where you will end up or what your full impact will be. We do know you've matured from toy to tool to necessity. We spend much of our days looking at media through you."
 

Keeping up with how the WWW has become quite a challenge. There are the delights and challenges of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. right at our doorstep. I just read about another facet of social media yesterday called The Fancy which I want to check out.
 

In closing, Policinski's sums up his article eloquently, "The nation's Founders lived in a time when freedom of speech meant the right to say what you wanted to your neighbor, and perhaps also to people gathered on the village green. That freedom has moved from the village green to the village screen, with its enormous capacity to reach individuals, communities, nations, the world."
 

FL Crooks & Co was founded in 1905. At that time, who could have foreseen how the World Wide Web would forever change the way business is transacted. May we continue to use it wisely. Happy Birthday World Wide Web!