Valentine's Day is only 2 weeks away! I have lots of great gift items coming in everyday. My first round of Pine Cone Hill Pajamma's have arrived and more will be here for our Valentine's Day Trunk Show, Feb. 9th! Pair the jammies with a snuggly robe and you'll be a rock star! I even have delicious robes for the little guys in our lives. Lot's of colors to choose from too.
You're Invited!
Don't forget everyone...this Saturday, January 27th, is our Grand Opening! I hope you'll stop by! Have some drinks and snacks and say Hello! 1:00-5:00!!!
Save The Dates! HGTV! Grand Opening! Men's Night!
Hey everyone! Well if you missed it last summer you have a second chance! My segments on HGTV, That's Clever will be airing again on February 6th!!! Yippie! It's wacky , creative, and a lot of fun!!! I hope you'll tune in!
Also, Save These Dates! Grand Opening of Mari Robeson Home will be Saturday January 27th, 1:00 on until....who knows?
Friday February 9th! Men's Night! All you men out there stop by and shop for your sweetie pie and have some snacks! Complimentary gift wrapping! I will be featuring a fabulous new jewelry designer....(more to come on that soon)...
Hey, I'm here for you...I just want you to look good on Valentine's Day!
To Recap: Showroom Grand Opening - Sat., Jan. 27th, Valentine's Men's Night - Fri., Feb 9th, and HGTV Feb 6th!!! http://www.hgtv.com
Poppin' The Champagne!
We're OPEN!
It's A Cliff Hanger!
OK...I apologize that my blog has been rather self indulgent lately. I promise as soon as I get this little showroom open I will go back to writing about my usual, fabulous design finds. Here's the latest skinny on what's happening with the showroom. We did not receive a Final on the building today...pretty upsetting, especially because I had a lovely write up in the Tribune today that said I am opening Friday!!!(Scroll down to the end) http://www.sanluisobispo.com So...... I showed the Inspector that I had my Fire Extinguisher and that I had no crazy extension chords and that I was in the newspaper today and I have to be open by Friday at the latest!!! He said...... he would bring the crew back tomorrow and hopefully give us Temporary Occupancy!!! OK, OK, Friday's good, I'll take it...So it's a cliff hanger...hopefully you'll read this tomorrow night and I will have some champagne popping good news! 1 day and counting...Thank you again for all your support!!!!
Miracles and Believing!
Today is Tuesday and there is still so much to do...this little showroom is sounding like the house that never is done....ha ha. Today I'm hoping to hear from SBC to see if I have dial tone but I do have a new phone number! 805-473-1073!
Isn't that exciting! Not any more exciting that my sign design getting passed by the Architectual Review Committee (ARC). They said it was, "Elegant, Classy, and Beautiful!" I have to thank Sean from Southpaw Signs http://www.SouthPawSigns.com who did an excellent presentation, my gorgeous husband Bill, and my spiritual Angel Miss Pat. Miss Pat told me 10 years ago my logo would be a heart with wings. I was in the showroom when I received the called that they passed the design with flying colors. As I hung up my phone the music playing on my ipod was a song by John Legend, "Coming Home". I realized it was a song we had sung at Miss Pat's memorial....those of you who know me, know that the tears just started flowing.
There have been so many wonderful, supportive people helping, (sometimes pushing me "you know who you are") towards my DREAM. I can not believe how incredibly blessed I have been by family and friends and people who I have just met. It has taught me how wonderful and kind and geniune mankind is. Like Miracle on 34th Street...why not believe? Life is so much more full when we choose to believe in one another. Thank you everyone for believing in me...
2 days and counting!
We Have Power!
Just a quick Showroom update...yesterday we went to the showroom to start setting up and to my surprise the electrician was there and he asked if I wanted to be turned on...( ha ha ha) I said, "Turn me on baby!"
and with that all the chandeliers lit up and it felt like wonderland.... We all stood there quiet for a minute and the electrcian turned to me and said, "This place is Magical!" He had no idea how much he just made my day....
The rest of the day was work and play. My friend Stacy came over and we set up most of the displays. We both agreed it was like playing "House" in a beautiful doll house all day...
Still much to do....3 days and counting!
Showroom Update & Central Coast Magazine Gift Guide!!!
It was an exciting morning! SBC was out on site today hooking us up. I spoke with a lovely woman there (who was kind enough to talk to me on her vacation) and she has me set up for next week. Yae!!! So the next big hurdle will be to have PG&E give us power. Fingers crossed!!! Today it looks like I could be open the first week of December! If you would like to purchase any of the items in my Central Coast Magazine Gift Guide ad (like these absolutely yummy bathrobes by Pine Cone Hill) just send me an email and I will be more than happy to take care of you! Mari@MariRobesonHome.com. The bathrobes are one size fits all. They are available in Peony, Pale Rose, Ivory, Celery & Coral. Chocolate & Periwinkle are coming in Dec. 1. They sell for $64 and are worth every snugly penny!!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!
Central Coast Magazine - The Goods!
I received a really nice plug in the new, November, Central Coast Magazine today. They took a sweet picture of some of the items I will be carrying in my new boutique and wrote a few words on what it's all about. It's always wonderful to receive such nice publicity but I have to tell you it was even more delightful because in doing so I was able to meet a very lovely woman named Linda that works for the magazine. In every aspect of our lives, including our work, we come into contact with many different people and personalities. Thank you Linda for your smile and your bright energy and thank you CCM and your terrific staff for thinking of me for your magazine!!! http://www.CentralCoastMag.com
Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and ironically my best friend, Miss Pat, who passed away from breast cancer would have had her birthday this week...October 26th. Through many little serendipitous twists I was asked to make a donation to a Cancer Awareness Fundraiser this Sunday. For the silent auction I am donating a basket of goodies from my new showroom (opening soon!). Snuggly pink robe from Pine Cone Hill, divine charmeuse silk pillowcases, yummy shea butter soaps, my signature "Wear Your Crown Well" broach and a custom collage "Courage" sachet that I created solely to donate proceeds to the American Cancer Society. (I will have these in the showroom too with proceeds going to ACS) Ladies, make sure you check yourself and get a mammogram! Now is the time! 
Having A Vision To Help Others!
This has absolutely nothing to do with home decor or design but it has everything to do with Living! I am so proud of my big brother, Frank. A little over a year ago we had a long conversation about giving back and making a difference. Frank has always been an avid cyclist and when his good friend was diagnosed with leukemia he took to the hills and started bike racing (you know those crazy 100 mile races!) in his honor to raise funds for leukemia research. That certainly would be more than enough but Frank has taken his passion for helping others one step further by creating a foundation at his company. http://www.itronemployeefoundation.org
It's a simple idea and a model any company could follow that will provide much needed assistance to any employee who may face unforeseeable financial difficulties. I am so proud of him for making it come to fruition! He certainly didn't have to...but he chose to. We all have the ability to make the world a better place. I applaud you Frank for setting such a great example of that! 
ABC Kid's Expo!
Everyone is just about packed up and we're off to Vegas Baby! For the next three days I will be seeing the latest and greatest in children's decor at the All Baby and Kid's Expo in Las Vegas. I'm very excited about the show. It certainly wasn't easy to get into. Yikes! The show is only open to small boutiques like the one I will be opening this November in the Village of Arroyo Grande. My new showroom will be part a place to meet with our design clients and part boutique. There will be lots of unique and distinctive, one-of-a-kind, items for your home and children's rooms. I'm pouring my heart and soul into this little place. I can't wait to share it with you...
So I'm signing off of my blog until next Thursday when I know I'll come back with all kinds of exciting design finds! Have a great week everyone!
Susan Branch Yumminess!
It's a beautiful Central Coast Saturday in California. After our daughter's soccer game we head to our quaint Village of Arroyo Grande to hit Farmer's market. Along the way we pay respects to the latest and "Greatest" new store opened by "Susan Branch"...to our auspicious luck we run into the "Queen of Yumminess", Miss Susan Branch, herself. Let me tell you what a truly lovely person she is. Years ago, without knowing who I was, she spent a great deal of time answering some industry questions for me. She was so selfless and willing to share, it was obvious the kind of quality human being she is. Recently, when she moved back to California she met my husband, Bill, at the County Planning department and then we once again crossed paths at a local nursery. I never forgot her kindness and Bill and I are both thrilled for her success. Her husband, Joe, is equally divine! We feel very lucky that she is spreading her goodness and tremendous talent with us all in Arroyo Grande! If you're passing through the Central Coast, the Village of Arroyo Grande is less than a mile off the 101. You won't be disappointed when you visit her lovely store full of her incredible artwork, books, cards, and so many treasures! Hopefully in November my new Showroom will be open too and you can visit us both!!! For more information about Susan you can visit her website http://www.susanbranch.com. Have a great weekend everyone!
HGTV Today!!!!
I'm finally back from San Francisco, one of my most favorite cities. The Gift Show was great and I found lots of inspiration there that I am excited to share with you! BUT today, at 9:00am, I will ...finally....be on HGTV, That's Clever! http://www.hgtv.com (we filmed it last October!) I have no idea what 8 minutes they'll use from the 16 hours of filming but I pray I don't look like too much of a dork. Regardless, it's all in fun. I hope it inspires you to make and create your own art!