In this issue:
James of Bedford Hills
Bedford Presbyterian Mistletoe Mart
Greenburgh Hebrew Center Book Fair
EssentialMom.com Holiday Gift Collection

This week I have the panicky post Thanksgiving blues. I hate the re-entry after Thanksgiving into the total chaos of THE HOLIDAY SEASON. I realize it's ridiculous and wonder why I'm stressed, but I admit that I get sucked in. I feel like the calendar is caving in on me quickly with Holiday festivities, tree lightings, and school events starting up this week. So, freaking out late at night as I write this newsletter, I reflect on the various great shopping options in front of me, and can BREATHE. I hope this helps you in your very own little frenzy. And, to those of you organized people, please stop sharing that you have already done your shopping, organizing, or planning...it definitely doesn't help the rest of us cope.

JAMES has arrived! And none too soon.

This week I introduce you to the creative, clever, and tasteful designer Cynthia Brennan of JAMES.

Cynthia Brennan, formerly of LuCo Designs, has just opened the doors to her fantastic shop JAMES in Bedford Hills-- now available to the public and just in time for the Holiday rush.

Cynthia has an artistic eye with a focus on quality, beauty, and unique items including gorgeous hand-crafted jewelry, imported clothing, fine paintings & artwork, home accessories, and more. With a focus on design and sustainable production, new and unique items have been arriving daily to this wonderfully appointed and exquisitely laid out location.

The mission of JAMES is to create and sell beautiful, hand-crafted products which also help to provide employment and trade opportunities for people both locally and globally. Striving to highlight the traditions of craft and the work of artists while providing you with the very best available products. As a result, it is hoped that James will become a source for good design with a social and environmental resonance.

When asked about her inspiration for the store, Cynthia states "I believe that increasingly we need to take responsibility for the challenges that face our world and for our own personal impact upon it. It is with an eye on the big picture that I have been inspired to open a store with the goal of offering an alternative shopping experience-- where our spending can go to helping others to maintain a sustainable livelihood. While bringing design skills, employment, and support of traditional craftsmanship to local and global communities in need, the store will offer the customer a more unique and special product that shows the care and attention of the artisan. We invite you to experience a new way to shop your conscience!"

Check out JAMES':

* Beautiful Holiday decorations: Traditional reverse appliqué and straw spinning made in Hungary, colorful straw birds from Bolivia, paper mache animals from Haiti. * Great artwork from landscapes to abstract work, colorful printmaking and fun ceramics.
* Jewelry by contemporary artists as well as vintage and antique-- beaded, silver and gold from Cynthia Brennan, Cynthia Ryan, Elena Berg, Christina Aldrich, and more.
* Vintage and antique furniture and home accessories with a focus on design-- pillows from Ethiopia, throws from Swaziland and an alpaca farm in Columbia County, fabric from Guatemala.
* And clothing-- a line of unique and chic clothing and accessories from Uruguay, Afghanistan, Canada and Westchester.

In the spirit of ease of shopping, Cynthia also praises her Bedford Hills neighbors: "my favorite barber, Camillo, is next door, and the Paint Box, does excellent framing. Perennial Chef has wonderful prepared food and Briccetti's Market has a great butcher and fresh fish. There is a great children's consignment store, The Preppy Turtle, and even pet boutiques. Also local to Bedford Hills, try Furman's printer, the yoga studio and Bhoomi for yoga and a side of delicious chocolate attached. So come to the new Bedford Hills and JAMES-- it's worth the trip!"

Visit JAMES, 21 Babbitt Rd, just up the road from the Bedford Hills train station. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10-5:00, Thursday 12-7pm, and Sunday 12:30-5:00pm. In these early days, it may be best to call first to confirm hours: 914-514-8981 or 917-270-4392.

Join us for the Mistletoe Mart this Saturday, December 2nd, from 9:30am to 3pm, Bedford Presbyterian Church on the Bedford Village Green.

Come shop for beautifully handcrafted gift items, from the talented crafters of the church and a select group of outside consignors. Fresh wreaths and floral arrangements by Mary Lou Pappas. Hearty lunch of chilis & yummy baked goods. Silent auction, quilt raffle, fair-trade coffee gift baskets, the Dove Tree & MORE.

Children's Activities: digital photo with Santa, holiday crafts in the kids' craft room, kids mini-movie theatre with a double feature showing "The King is Born" & "The First Christmas", show times from 10am to 2pm.

Family Heirloom Silhouettes by Marcella Comerford. Capture your loved ones or pets in an original silhouette cut by Marcella Comerford. Each silhouette is cut from black paper, freehand, using scissors as the only tool. Individual and family groupings available. These make a wonderful, timeless gift for grandparents and other family members. Cost is $30 for the original silhouette and $12 for each additional copy. Mattes and frames available at an additional cost. It takes about 10 minutes to have your silhouette cut, but appointments are necessary, so please call Kim Touzeau at 232-3843 to make an appointment for a sitting anytime between 9:30 and 3pm.

Build your own animal buddy. Your child can create their own hand stuffed animal buddy, giving it a heart, a special "Christmas Wish" and then making a t-shirt for the Holidays for their new buddy to wear home. Choice of two stuffed animals, a black bear or a red nosed reindeer. $16 per animal, must be reserved in advance. Without reservations, we cannot guarantee that your child will be able to participate in this activity. Please call Kim Touzeau at 232.3843 to reserve your animal buddy.

Come enjoy a shopping experience that welcomes your children and get something accomplished! Bedford Presbyterian Church, Bedford Village Green.

Join the Greenburgh Hebrew Center for their Book Fair and Boutique, this Sunday, December 3. Children's Entertainment too!

The Greenburgh Hebrew Center will host a Judaic Book Fair and Holiday Boutique on Sunday, December 3rd from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.

The fair will feature a unique selection of Judaic and secular books for all ages provided by a new book vendor, Main Street Books of White Plains, that specializes in Judaic fairs. Come and shop this unique selection of books. The Boutique features Hanukkah items, jewelry, children's clothes and accessories, stationary, candy, popcorn, adult bags, belts and much more.

Renowned children's musical entertainer Zev will entertain the kids (Ages 1-7) for FREE from 10:30 to 11:15 am, www.musicbyzev.com. Food and drinks are available at the Bagel Café. 9:30 am to 2 pm. Cash or check only.

For more information, contact: Leslie Litsky, Chairperson, Greenburgh Hebrew Center Book Fair, (914) 693-4260/5121, Email any questions to: GHCBookfair@yahoo.com. GHC, 515 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522, 914.693.4260.

Despite my ranting and raving above, I do cherish the Holiday Season.

I live for my kids' faces Christmas morning, lit up with the magic of the day, still believing in the existence of Santa Claus and all of the fantasy that that entails. The faith in things that rationally make no sense, the belief in a world that would support a jolly man dressed in red, flown throughout the world by magical reindeer, just to bring happiness to small children everywhere-- it's a dream I hold dear and my heart breaks to think that one day they will question this miracle and joy and see the reality. In the meantime, I promote it at every turn, yes, making up stories, retelling fables, and enjoying for that one moment the excitement of true belief.

This year, Essentialmom.com asks that you get in on the "action" too-- no matter your beliefs, there are small children everywhere in need of a little magic over the Holiday Season. In the next few weeks I will be collecting gently used and new toys, books, clothes, and gifts for families in the Bronx for whom Christmas might otherwise not be as bright. Please join me in my quest to add a little joy to their lives and a little fun to an otherwise difficult time. Bring joy to the parents too and help them experience the excitement of watching their children's faces light up-- feel free to toss in a little something for them too if you like!

Any items welcome-- as you clean out your own homes before new goodies enter your playroom or living room please consider donating any children's items, household goods, or adult gifts to families who need them. GENTLY used only please-- please be sure that any gifts have all of the necessary pieces, are in good condition, and are working properly. Please deliver items to 268 Succabone Rd., Bedford Corners (between Guard Hill Rd. and Rte 172) by December 16th-- feel free to leave items outside on the porch if necessary.

Any new, wrapped items are of course welcome too-- if you wrap your item, please just label it in some way for us to see so it gets to the right aged child! In the spirit of the season, my husband and I always take the kids out and have them pick out gifts for children 'less lucky' than they are, please consider starting a new tradition of your own!

Questions? Email me at gretchen@essentialmom.com or call 914.523.1352.