I stopped in a book store this morning to pick up some home-decorating magazines.

I paid for the two, and as the clerk went to put them in a bag, I said “Thanks. I don’t need a bag.”

I tucked them into my oversize purse as I left, saying to myself “Well, it is Earth Day after all.”

I’m trying to get into that habit… I even dug out my Target re-usable bag a few days ago to try and do this more often.

It seems so easy to do, yet I still find I haven’t made it a habit.

Yet.

Do you make the effort? Any tips or stories to share?

This Sunday marks the official start of the 2008 season for the Stormville Airport Antique Show & Flea Market.

The Dutchess County “institution” fills the fields and runway areas of the old airport on select weekends of the year, with collectors driving from all over in search of some great finds.

There’s also a new merchandise area for those intent on picking up bungee cords, kettle popcorn and tube socks, of course.

Just a quick note to remind you that the 36th annual 2008 Kips Bay Decorator Show House will run from Thursday through May 22 in Manhattan.

In previous years, I’ve done features on local designers who were participating in the show.

Through that, I realized that it’s a great destination to see some cutting-edge designs that you can apply to your own humble surroundings.

This year, the show will be held in The Manhattan House, at 200 E. 66th St.

Check out the Web site for all the visitor information — and if you go, remember there’s always an on-site shop.

I’m going to spend a little time this afternoon catching up on some postings, so expect a couple of entries after this one.

First up, I wanted to let you know about a great new resource that came across my desk a few days ago, arriving after a phone call from Marty Collins, a writer with the Putnam County Visitors Bureau.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a story about local companies that offer warehouse sales.

One of those was Anne Koplik Designs in Brewster, a manufacturer and wholesaler of vintage-inspired jewelry designed for contemporary wear.

The Anne Koplik sale, I’m happy to remind you, gets under way Friday night.

I was away for a couple of days this past weekend and came home to, I have to say, a bit of a mess.

I had packed very quickly, tossing things to the side, leaving them for “later.”

Well, later came around —and I have yet to be in the mood to sort through all the clutter.

I had to laugh when I knew I’d be speaking with cleaning expert, Cindy Inman of New Rochelle… how did she know I was owner of a big ol’ mess? Read more of this entry »

Today’s the day my “shop of the week” feature runs in our Life & Style section — and here on LoHud.com.

For this week, I trekked up to Pound Ridge to visit All Your Yesterdays.

Here’s a bit more of a tour, since I have space to run a few more pictures.

What a nice way to start my day today.

I stopped by to check out one of Nyack’s newest shops, ML Gifts & Accessories.

Actually, it’s a shop that has a new home. The satellite of the Maria Luisa boutique has moved a few blocks down Broadway to a much larger space.

I’m going to write about Maria Luisa Whittingham’s new venture as the “Shop of the Week” for next week, so stay tuned. (The weekly feature runs Thursdays in the Life & Style section of our paper and on LoHud.com.).

I’ll share more pictures here on the blog next week – but if you’re in Nyack anytime soon, you will want to check out the earrings and bracelets, bags and sandals, candles and cards… you get the idea.

Sorry to be a bit of a tease, but I just wanted to let you know this is a place well worth a visit.

I’m seriously considering heading back for a pair of sandals that caught my eye…

The new shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

It’s at 75 S. Broadway. Call 845-358-1293.

There’s a new place to shop in Rye Brook.

I’ve heard from Denise Zaccheo-Ozeri and Marcie Kesten that they’ve completed the move of Contact and are now holding their grand opening in Rye Ridge Plaza.

The funky women’s clothing boutique made the move from Briarcliff Manor. (Remember when I visited them there last spring?).

I’m planning to stop by the new place soon as I can, so stay tuned — but in the mean time, check it out for yourself.

Contact, at 120 S. Ridge St., is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays) and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Call 914-481-1910.

If hiking, camping, running and the like are your thing, there’s a sale you might like to know about.

I was at Eastern Mountain Sports in Nanuet recently, for a Father’s Day story for our sister publication, Rockland Magazine — and I heard about a sale that is being held later this week.

It’s the “Club Day” sale, where members of local clubs — think running, boating, etc. — receive 20 percent off everything in the store Friday and Saturday after showing proof of membership.

The store will donate 1 percent of the proceeds of the sale to The Conservation Alliance and the Access Fund.

In addition, there will be speakers on hand throughout the day Saturday offering information about local clubs.

For more details, call the store, at 66 Rockland Plaza, at 845-623-5282.