This is two weeks late! Was I on vacation? I feel like I have been. I'm completely sucked under with a 2,000 piece puzzle of Van Gogh's Irises, since I couldn't get up to San Francisco for the exhibit.

And, I've been feeling like hibernating, after the fun of the holiday season. Thank you for shopping locally over the holidays!

I bet you are wondering if I'll hit you with green goals for the New Year. Not to worry. How could I when I'm not much of one to make resolutions? Besides, I missed that window. If you are one who makes resolutions, you are already working your list, and I commend you!

Since the end of December, I've been feeling optimistic about this year. Sales were solid for the holidays, and I knew families would be talking about their house projects for the upcoming year over breaks from work. I predicted we'd see people coming in working on those projects, exploring our flooring, paint and countertop offerings. Projects do seem to be moving forward, and we are here to help.

I've gone out on some design and color consultations, which is an important way to touch in with my roots in the building industry. It's remarkable that we can now offer everything we do in a 4,000 square foot store. These are items I had to drive far and wide to find samples of, beg distributors for, and cajole contractors into using, just 5 years ago. Little by little, building green is becoming more standard. At greenspace, We strive to provide as much as possible for your green projects. As you may know, we carefully vet every product and can educate you about the pros and cons and levels of green-ness each embodies. Green-washing (deceptive or misleading advertising and labeling) is everywhere, and we seek to transparently and professionally provide you with green alternatives to mainstream materials, which may be toxic, petroleum-based, or with high costs in terms of water and energy, among other things. It's humbling work, and we are far from perfect, but we do our research, so that you can trust us. Our customer service is also something we strive to do our very best with. We value your business, and care to earn the right to keep it. Our relationships with customers grow over time, which is one way we live in community.

Aside from world peace and an end to global warming and environmental toxins, kindness to all, I hold a wish for the new year is that business is better for everyone. I know so many contractors, fellow small business owners, architects, designers, and other sole proprietors who have struggled in the past three years. Both retail and construction have been particularly hard hit. Many of these businesses cannot survive another year of so little work. I hope that projects will go forward, making good use of the amazing resources we have in our community to get them done. We can connect you with materials and the professionals whose main goal is to help you bring your green lifestyle commitment to your house and office projects.

As my twelve year old would say, "Lets's get the party started!"