Rainy Day Blog

Current Mood: Feeling Optimistic About Spring Cleaning!

by Rainy Day | | 0 comments

“I am so glad to see you are carrying The Optimist Company!” a customer said to us last week as she walked into the shop.

She had recognized the product in our window display and came in to tell us how much she loves this line. The customer explained she had been introduced to the owner at a meet & greet last year and has been hooked ever since. (…and yes, since you are probably wondering, this is 100% a true story; we’re not making this scenario up!)

We have received several comments like this since receiving this line a few weeks ago, so today we want to share what it means to be an Optimist!



So, what exactly is The Optimist Co.? And why do people love it?

Essentially, it is a “clean” take on cleaning supplies. The Optimist Co. uses safe ingredients we can recognize and pronounce. Unlike other cleaning products that hide their chemical ridden ingredients in tiny print, somewhere on the back of the label, Optimist doesn’t hide anything. In fact, they put their ingredients front and center on their products!

Take for example, the Bright Side Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner. It has three ingredients: distilled water, vinegar and essential oils. THREE INGREDIENTS! That we can read! And pronounce! Needless to say, we here at Rainy Day are already optimistic about using these cleaning products.

In addition to recognizable ingredients, all of their products are biodegradable, free of parabens and phthalates, and use only natural essential oils to create their refreshing scents. No chemicals. No junk. No filler. What’s not to like about that?

And if you are worried about the packaging, don’t fret! They use amber bottles, which are recyclable and protect the essential oils. 

Oh, and did we forget the best part?

The Optimist Co. is made locally on Cape Cod. Created by Devin Donaldson, a mom who realized there was a need for green, natural and affordable cleaning solutions in the marketplace. Since founding the company three years ago, she has continued to expand her “clean” cleaning products, and we are proud to be the first location on the Island carrying The Optimist Co.!

So whether you are starting your spring-cleaning and need some motivation, or looking for a new addition to your cleaning products— The Optimist Co. is the perfect helper!

Available in-store. We are currently carrying Bright Side Window and Glass Cleaner (Tea Tree & Eucalyptus), Time to Shine All Purpose Cleaner (Rosemary & Mint), Time to Shine All Purpose Cleaner (Lemon & Tea Tree), Organic Castile Soap, and Essential Oils available in Tea Tree, Lavender, Lemon & Eucalyptus scents.

Want to try Optimist? Call us at 508-693-1830.

Congratulations on reading this blog in its entirety! Mention this post and receive 25% off your first Optimist item. Offer ends 5/31/16.

Tags: cape cod, clean, cleaning, essential oils, local, locally made, made in usa, made on cape cod, martha's vineyard, oils, optimist, rainy day, soap, spring, spring cleaning, the optimist co, tisbury, us made, USA, vineyard haven

MarieBelle- a new sweet obsession!

by Rainy Day | | 0 comments

When Olivia and Heather were at the Atlanta gift show, they discovered the delicious chocolates of MarieBelle.  Don't worry-- we will always carry our infamous must-have caramels at the front counter, but they just had to bring these in to our shop and here's why:


What makes MarieBelle stand out? Well, for starters, their product is on Oprah's Favorite Things list!! If that wasn't enough, aside from their stunning packaging and presentation, all of their chocolate products are handmade from single origin cocao resulting in rich complex flavors not commonly found in chocolate. They choose only the finest selection of Criollo cacao beans from all over the world. What exactly is Criollo? (Don't worry, we didn't know either...) What the fine Arabica bean is to coffee, the even finer and rarer Criollo bean is to chocolate. Criollo cacao makes up less than 10% of worldwide chocolate production, and as such is highly sought after by connoisseurs. Chocolate made from Criollo beans has a distinctly reddish colour, and an equally distinctive complex taste which can include flavors of caramel, nuts, vanilla and tobacco. They are made in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. We just love that they are locally made in the USA. 

The company was founded by Maribel Lieberman and started as a chocolate shop in Soho, New York. Maribel's passion for discovering and sharing new flavors isn't something new; it started at an early age when as an eight-year-old child, she would make sugar candies and sell them to neighborhood children in her native Honduras. 

 

 

 

 

 

We fell in love with so many of MarieBelle’s products, as evident when you step in to the shop. From Mint Chip Malt Balls ( layered with the highest quality dark chocolate with a crunchy mint cook malt in the center) to Milk Chocolate Pearls (crunchy milk chocolate pearls pack a lot of chocolate flavor for their delicate size). We also love that by bringing this company in, we are supporting a company that is made in the USA

We have brought them in right before Easter because they make the perfect addition to any basket! Especially the Milk Chocolate Easter Bunnies! Ready to jump right into your Easter basket, this pair of Milk Chocolate Easter Bunnies are filled with milk caramel marshmallow and beautifully packaged in the signature Mariebelle lunch box. Stop in and have a taste of these adorable and affordable chocolates, we are sure you can find a new sweet obsession … just like we did.

 

 

  

 

 

 

Tags: adorable, bunny, chocolate, easter, easter basket, easter bunny, gift shop, home goods, locally made, made in USA, mariebelle, martha's vineyard, milk chocolate, new york, obsession, oprah, oprah's favorite things, rainy day, sweet, tisbury, USA, vineyard haven

Tiz the Season!

by Rainy Day | | 0 comments

This blog was written by our friend Guinevere Cramer of Point B Realty. See the original at http://pointbrealty.com/marthas-vineyard-real-estate/vineyard-vacation/tiz-the-season-tisbury-introduces-a-weekend-of-holiday-shopping-events-on-marthas-vineyard/

Tisbury, where 80% of the businesses on Main Street stay open year round, is really in the holiday spirit this year. Many of the businesses have joined the Tisbury Merchant’s Group, an energized new group that is making town fun to shop and visit, especially this month.

Tiz the Season, will happen in Tisbury, the weekend of December 12th and 13th. Yes, that is the same weekend as Christmas in Edgartown, but this will offer Islanders and visitors even more to do. Also, the bulk of fun happens on Sunday so you won’t have to miss the Christmas Parade. This is pretty much the biggest holiday weekend of the season, and the more the merrier.

Martha's Vineyard Holiday Shopping Vineyard Haven Tiz The Season

Holiday Shopping & More

Tiz the Season is an event for the whole family, with so much more that just shopping, though that is one of the funnest things. I love shopping for Christmas gifts.

Cappwock TheaterPerhaps you want to rest your feet or enjoy a Christmas classic with the family or friends. On Saturday, you can watch the Polar Express at the Cappawock Theater at 2 p.m. for free. This is a great opportunity to see this beloved holiday film with Tom Hanks on the big screen, especially if you plan to do the “real polar express” train ride, like I am with my kiddos later in the month.

Polar Express

On Sunday, December 13th, there will be horse-drawn hay rides by Fred Fischer, through town from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rides will begin across the street from Bunch of Grapes and you can also be picked up at Fella’s on Union Street. If you’re not around for a beloved hay ride, not to worry. You can join in the fun, same time same place on Sunday, December 20th. Check out this vintage pic from the Mansion House.

hayrides on main streetI used to love these rides when they were offered a few years back. There’s something about riding through town with your packages from your favorite stores, the kiddos, and a hot cocoa. These are memories that last a lifetime.

Adding to the fun on Sunday, the 13th, you’ll find live music from by the linden tree, alpacas from Island Alpaca, and don’t forget about the businesses on State Road is Tisbury.

Morrice the Florist will be offering ornament making with flowers all day and at 1:00 p.m. there will be a puppet show put on by the Plum Hill School at Morrice the Florist.

To sweeten the experience, refreshments and more can be found at the 37 businesses participating in Tiz the Season all weekend long. Stores will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. You’ll find the really cute logo on participating store’s window or door.

Also, be on the lookout for wonderful artwork from the Tisbury School. The kids are making holiday inspired art for the windows of shops that have closed for the season. This is a creative and fun way to make Main Street even more festive.

Brickyard Tiz The Season Holiday Celebration Vineyard HavenSpeaking of windows, the MVRHS Art Department and the high school students are going to judge which business window has the best, most festive, most eye catching decorations and displays. With so many great stores, this is going to be a tough one a bet.

What does the winning business get? Street cred and bragging rights. A little added fun for the business owners. The winner will be picked on Friday, December 11th.

With all the festive happenings, this is going to be a great weekend to go shopping with the family and really enjoy Tisbury.

Shop 2 Share

In addition to the fun activities, Tiz the Season is hoping to help people get in the spirit of the holiday and experience the joy of giving back, sharing with Islanders in need. Not only is Tiz the Season full of fun, it has a purpose, 10% of participating business’s sales on Sunday, December 13th, will go to the Vineyard Committee on Hunger. Thirty seven business making a difference with your help.

VIneyard Committee on HungerThe Vineyard Committee on Hunger supports other non-profits who help serve those in our community who do not have enough food, and it is an Island-wide organization. From the groups website, I found out that 1 in 10 Vineyard families need help to survive the Winter. That adds up to a lot of families who need help from the generosity of people who care, and shopping local is an easy and fun way to give back.

Rainy Day Vineyard Haven Tiz The Season

Also, each business from Brickyard to Rainy Day, to The Beach House to Morrice the Florist, to Bananas to Little House Cafe and everyone else, will be putting together a fabulous gift basket to raffle off. The store chooses the goodies, the themes, and every raffle ticket sold equals more money for the Vineyard Committee on Hunger because that money is going to Islanders in need too.

Tags: december, hay rides, horses, main street, movie, music, polar express, rainy day, shop local, shopping, tisbury, tiz the season, vcoh, Vineyard committee on hunger, vineyard haven

Make the Family Photo Fun Again!

by Rainy Day | | 0 comments

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than a week away. We have an entire table dedicated to all things Thanksgiving but we are loving one particular item: Paper Source's Thanksgiving Photo Prop Kit!  

This kit is the perfect activity for kids and adults alike. We took this home to give it a try and found that if you can use scissors and glue, you can make these adorable props! 

The fun doesn't stop after you have capped your glue. Once your props have dried, taking the typical family photo becomes much more amusing! Let's face it, sneaking bunny ears behind grandma is way too played out. How about giving her a pilgrim hat?

        

 

Kits are available in the shop or online at http://rainydaymv.com/products/thanksgiving-photo-props-kit

Kit contains: pre-cut shapes, assorted papers, templates, and wooden dowels

Tools needed: scissors, glue stick, small glue dots (we used tape instead), 1/4" hole punch, pencil

Kit makes 15 photo props

Tags: art, blog, crafts, diy, holiday, paper source, photo, props, rainy day, thanksgiving, turkey, vineyard haven

Fighting Cabin Fever on a Rainy Day!

by Rainy Day | | 0 comments

It's raining, the kids are home from school, and cabin fever is inevitable. The easiest thing to do might be to turn on the TV but we wanted to give you some fun and interactive activities to do at home with the little ones. 

Piggy Paint Home Manicure Party 

Create a relaxing atmosphere by putting on a new age music station from Pandora. Have your kids soak their hands in a mixing bowl with warm water and any type of soap. Let them pick out their favorite color polish and start painting. Kids sometime have a hard time keeping their fingers separated, so if you have a foam toe separator, it will work perfectly!
Our favorite polish for the kids is from Piggy Paint. Piggy Paint is a natural, eco-friendly nail polish designed for kids! Its non-toxic, hypoallergenic formula makes it safe to use on all little ones. We sell individual bottles, kits, and packs. 
Home-Made Playdough
It's easy, requires only household ingredients, and takes just 10 minutes. Gather flour, water, cream of tartar, salt, vegetable oil, and food coloring, and in just a few minutes, you'll have long-lasting, nontoxic, homemade playdough! Here’s what you need:
Materials
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
Food coloring
Saucepan
1 cup flour 
Directions
  1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
  2. Remove from heat and add flour.
  3. Stir, then knead until smooth. The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist the temptation to omit this ingredient if you don't have it on hand.
  4. Store this dough in an airtight container or a Ziploc freezer bag.

 

 

Crayon Canvas Art

This artwork might look complicated, but it really just involves a canvas, some hot-glued crayons, and a hair dryer. Trust us, it's easy, quick, and pretty mess-free — though we'd avoid carpeted rooms. The kids will have a blast sorting out the crayons and arranging them but will need help with the hot glue.

 

Get your supplies. You will need a canvas (your choice of size), crayons (your choice depending on the size of the canvas), a hot glue gun, and a hair/blow dryer. You'll probably want to lay newspaper or an old t-shirt or blanket under the canvas in case the wax splatters, too. Whatever area you think will get messy, cover up a bit more on each side. Don't forget to cover up yourself too! Hot colored wax on your skin and nice clothes shouldn't be part of this project.

Sort the crayons out. Sort depending on what you want. A rainbow is a popular design, so if you choose it, place the crayons in the order of the rainbow. Some people order their crayons lightest to darkest, others use different shades of the same color. The arrangement is totally up to you. Just make sure you have enough to cover the entire top of the canvas. Repeating colors is just as beautiful.
Hot glue each crayon in order on the top of your canvas. Some people keep the wrappers on and some take them off, but either way works. You can opt to unwrap the crayons and cut them in half. This makes it look more natural and keeps the top three inches of your canvas from being obviously lined with crayons.
Slant the canvas so that the wax will drip. A common idea is to lean it against a wall. If you do lean it against a wall, tape newspaper onto the wall to avoid any accidents.
Use your blow dryer and blow the crayons. It's best to point the blow dryer downwards so that the wax will drip. Take note that this will get messy! However, it doesn't really matter how messy it gets, as long as your newspapers are laid out correctly.
If you end up doing any of these activities, we would LOVE for you to send in some photos! Stay dry! 

Tags: activities, cabin fever, crayons, DIY, glue gun, holiday, homemade, kids, manicure, nail polish, no school, november, piggy polish, playdough, polish, rainy, rainyday, screen time