It’s That Time of Year!

Welcome December!  It’s the holiday season and I find myself reflecting on this past year in an effort to be grateful this season for all the things that I have experienced and all the friends and family around me.  For so many, the traditions we have during this time really remind us of what is important in life.  Sure we all have to shop and wrap and cook. Those things can seem welcoming to some and overwhelming to others.  Our families have many things we look to recreate each year…  Favorite recipes and decorations that have been with us since childhood. 

I recently had the pleasure of spending the entire Thanksgiving Day with my mother cooking all her “secret” recipes from scratch.  It was the first time in years that I didn’t have a high school football game to attend, so I was so very happy to really be in the moment at her home.  Her recipes are “secret” because most of the very best ones she actually created.  So for years I have been asking her to write them down.. and she would laugh and say “Oh you know how to make that!”  I didn’t.  How could I know that she puts finely chopped spinach in the stuffing?  Or butter was the secret to the scrumptious stuffed mushrooms…Who knew?  She has been making Thanksgiving dinner for 50+ years and she is an expert at it.  Sitting in her kitchen and helping her make the Thanksgiving meal for our family was the most precious day I have had in a long time. 

We hope that the Holidays bring you all much joy and happiness.  My wish is for all of you to have some moments with your friends and loved ones to remember in the years to come, and that the magic of the holidays touches you all. EA Davis has afforded us the pleasure of getting to know so many of our wonderful customers through the years and we are grateful for them everyday.  There is something extra special about seeing all of you at the Holidays though… We can’t wait! 

P.S. I wrote down all the recipes.  They are safe and sound!

Happy Mother’s Day!

We at E A Davis are so happy to wish all the moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day!  This is such a special day for everyone to feel grateful for our mothers and say a big thank you for all they do for us.

Some of us are lucky to see our mothers everyday.  Some of us live far from them and are so happy for those times each year that we are with them.  Some hold their mothers in their hearts and lovingly remember all they shared with us along their journey.  Our store is unique in that we are able to see multiple generations come through our doors all the time.

 

Nothing makes us happier than to see a grandmother, mother and daughter having a fun shopping day with us! Let us never forget that it is a beautiful and rewarding job which brings with it constant worry about our children’s well-being and happiness. Our mom’s have taught us how to live, how to love and how to laugh.  They were there for the joys and the tears and everything in between.

I have two boys who are all but grown, and at 20 and 17 they are the most precious thing in my life.  Watching them grow into fine young men has been such a blessing and a pleasure.  I love my children fiercely as most mom’s do.  Since we won’t all be together this coming Sunday, they gave me the wonderful gift this past weekend of their hard work getting the yard work done and some long needed spring chores I have been wanting completed for some time.  It was the best Mother’s Day gift I could have asked for!  Did I mention that I had them to myself for that whole day…. always a gift in itself.

I will be spending Mother’s Day with my mom this Sunday and I am looking forward to every minute.  I now know that loving look on her face I always see when she is with me.  I have that same look when I am with my boys. It is the unconditional love that a mother holds in her heart for her children.  I wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day, and I hope you all enjoy the day and spend time giving thanks for all the mom’s in your life!  

E A Davis goes Hollywood!

 

While out on a location scout months ago, movie executives happened into our store and fell in love.  E. A. Davis was offered the chance to be the setting for a scene in a movie!!   This once in a lifetime opportunity came to life last week when Paramount Pictures filmed a scene from the upcoming movie Daddy’s Home 2.

 

As you can imagine, the amount of logistics involved in transporting our beloved store into a movie scene was involving to say the least.  For 78 hours, hundreds of movie staff worked their magic.  Day one involved the set design.  They worked for endless hours constructing new structures and sets, while our contents were painstakingly ushered off set.

When they were done, it was transformed.  It still had the E. A. Davis charm of course, but what they created was amazing.  It was so amazing, we elected to keep all they had constructed!  The next day the film crew took over.  Arriving at 4:30am, they set up cameras and cables, microphones and lighting.  There was wardrobe crew, hair and makeup artists, cameramen, directors and “extras” culminating inside our humble store.  We met the executive producer and the stars of the scene.

What wonderful people all of them were to work with.  I was particularly star struck by actress Linda Cardellini.  She was lovely throughout the long grueling shooting.  I can assure you that having been on the set all day, acting is not as easy as it may seem and she was wonderful.  We were happy to have met all of these kind, professional people.  When the final shot was taken and the very long day was over, it was time to transport us back to our store.

Day three brought back all the crew from day one to break down and restore us.  Every detail was tended to and by the day’s end, we were ready to open up for our wonderful customers who patiently waited for us to reopen.  Thank you to all who worked around the commotion and to Paramount Pictures for spending three magical days with us and letting us be a part of something really special.  The movie is scheduled to open on Thanksgiving Day 2017.  I hope you all go to see it and catch a glimpse of E. A. Davis on the big screen!!!

 

We Love Spring

 

Well January is almost in our rear view mirror. Time goes by faster and faster it seems as we look forward to the warmer months coming up. As fashion retailers we are constantly looking to the upcoming seasons, sometimes buying for two and three seasons ahead. We do this as part of the fashion world’s timeline, but it keeps us in front of the trends and keeps our wonderful customers on trend for every season. The traditions that are so well established in our home base of Wellesley, MA are akin to the way we try to provide for all of your needs. WE LOVE SPRING and all that comes with it…. There are lots of exciting events coming in the next few months!

 

 

New clothing lines such as Lilla P. are heading through our doors with a sure sign that warmer breezes are headed our way. The Graduation White Dress Trunk Show with Lilly Pulitzer is underway this weekend. That is a perennial favorite as we get to visit with many of the girls getting ready to graduate this spring. It seems funny to be planning for a June event in January, but aren’t we all guilty of waiting too long to buy the perfect dress only to find next season’s clothing on the shelves? That is fashion reality. The colder days may still be here for a while, but Spring is heading right through our front door!

Welcome 2017

 

 

Happy New Year to all our EA Davis family! I have always loved the idea of renewal. The beginning of a new year brings infinite possibilities. As we move into the new year, I find myself with a renewed to-do list and happily so. I am not a traditionalist who makes New Year’s resolutions. I am much more at peace thinking of little ways to improve my lifestyle and surroundings. I hope to spend more time outside in the new year. I will be carefully looking at my diet and exercise routine to maybe improve the direction it is taking me. But, I am careful not to set lofty personal goals that I may not be able to stick to. I am practicing being kind to myself and I am finding that a much lovelier way to be.

I do however love the idea of renewal. Dreaming big is always encouraged, but I prefer small changes that will help move you in a better direction.  I have successfully renovated many of our spaces in some big and some small ways that I think have improved the way we live as a family without breaking the bank. January is a wonderful time of year to refresh yourself and your home. Something as simple as a beautiful new custom pillow can reenergize your space and feed your creativity, allowing you to pick a favorite fabric and design something gorgeous that is unique to your home and style. Simple updates need not be extensive or costly, but can transform your home and your desire to spend time there. Isn’t that what we all crave? A cozy nest to come home to where we are surrounded by the people and things that we love. Yes, it is a great time of year to declutter and organize your closet and your belongings, but I prefer to approach this time of year as a reaffirmation of how you want your life to be lived. If that closet has been bugging you every time you open it, then you should devote some time and energy to clearing it out, discarding the old pieces of your wardrobe and leave behind only the contents that have meaning for you.  But don’t feel pressure to follow what is on the cover of every January magazine issue we see telling us we must organize our whole home during this month. We don’t.

We can be mindful of the things on our personal to-do list and devote our energy to those tasks. It could be planning a vacation you have been dreaming of. Start the ball rolling! Maybe you have been thinking about a career change or starting a business. Look into it. Do you want to update your bedroom linens promoting much needed sleep? Have you been thinking about taking a class? Big or small, now is the time to look into the next phase in your life. Thoughtfully thinking about the direction our lives are going in is a much needed “sound check” for us. It helps us to renew our dreams and goals for the future. That is what the New Year means for me.  Once you have a direction, however small that path is, you can feel the new energy and look forward to the coming year with grateful intention. And at the end of the day, if organizing your sock drawer is what calls to you this month, then by all means, have at it!  Welcome 2017….

Happy Holidays from EA DAVIS….

My name is Michele Rose and I am blessed to be part of the E A Davis family. Our hope with my blog is to share ideas, inspiration, design advice and of course fashion ideas with all of you. EA Davis is a wonderful mix of tradition and innovation. Our past is what keeps us grounded and our constant dedication towards the new and exciting design world keeps our loyal customers coming through our doors smiling….. For that we are so grateful.

The Holidays are here!

So much has to be done. Shopping, decorating, wrapping gifts and cooking. It’s a truly magical time of the year, but it can also be super stressful. I like to keep things moderately simple. I find that family and friends enjoy us more when we are at peace this time of year. So with that in mind, here are a few tips to help your season get a bit more cheerful and calm….

Decorations…. if you have a special way of decorating your home that is tradition to you and your family then by all means, you should create that wonderland you are famous for. But if you are feeling the stress of making sure every nook and cranny in your home feels like the holidays, please know that a few simple touches will make your house sparkle and feel festive. White or colored lights (we all have our favorite) simply placed in various places throughout you home will add a glow that will complement the Christmas tree. Hanukkah decorations, too, come alive with white lights scattered about.

Another thought this holiday season is decorating with glass trees or simple glass hurricanes with candles. You need not be specific to one particular type of holiday decor. I imagine our blended families are blessed with family members who celebrate in many different ways. Celebrate all the special days within the season.

Gift buying is always stressful.  Many times I worry I have forgotten someone along the way… a wonderful neighbor or the lovely friend who cuts my hair. I try to buy a few back up gifts to resolve that issue. Even the smallest find will do; a candle or a scarf. Really, I am always so happy when I receive an unexpected gift at the holidays. It truly is not about the gift, but the sentiment behind it. My little trick with gift buying is that I do wrap my gifts as I buy them. I have to say that as this blog goes on, you will come to know that I am happiest when I am organized. However in this regard, it works to my favor. I know that some of you with little ones in your house, it may not be possible to wrap presents as they are purchased, but for those of us who are past that stage or not quite there yet, I can assure you, it is a wonderful time saver when the festivities get closer. No more all day wrapping to worry about!!

I find that simple entertaining is easiest for me. I have learned over the years to make some things and buy some things. Those of you who make it all from scratch impress me so much. I find that a rather stressful endeavor. Your guests expect nothing from you except wonderful company and good memories. However, you will have to feed people, so here are a few of my favorites…

Is there anything more festive than a really fun cocktail? Our favorite holiday libation is a Christmas Sangria… Light and fruity… it’s great with appetizers and getting into the Holiday spirit.

Ingredients:

2 bottles Pinot Grigio
3/4 cup sparkling apple cider
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cranberries, halved
3/4 cup cranberries, whole
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
3 rosemary sprigs

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir together with a large wooden spoon to help the sugar dissolve. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Serve chilled or over ice.

For quick and easy appetizers that are always pleasing choose Roasted Shrimp with a really spicy cocktail sauce. Definitely a twist on traditional, but it’s a crowd pleaser! A beautiful cheese board is a delicious favorite and easy to assemble. We like to make sure to use really great cheeses and local is always better! Entertaining should be fun. Again, if you are an avid cook, your talents will shine. Just remember to enjoy the friends and family you are celebrating with. That is truly the magic of the Holiday Season.

Wishing you all safe and happy Holidays!!

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