Yesterday I met up with a collective of business professionals at Ginger in Harlem and stumbled upon one of the most beautiful stores. It was as if a Design Within Reach meets Downtown trendy furnishings shop had morphed uptown. It is amazing. Soha Style is a beautiful design home furnishings boutique in the heart of Harlem. Gone are simply the days of Jennifer Convertibles, Rent A Centers, and the little low end shops, the real deal has moved to town. Look out for more on this shop, they opened only a few days ago. Soha Style is located at 15 West 116th Street.

Donna Brady of Re-surface knows how to bring the light. One of my favorite light designers uses what we believe design is all about, conversation pieces. Creating pieces for the home for folks to talk about. The ultimate conversation piece it the new Remix collection she is offering now. The pendant lamp is an MC’s dream, now you can mic check in the dark. The microphone is just one of the great pieces she offers. Hard to choose, but today my favorite is the South 3rd More-Light Shade. Most of her work is inspired by the surfaces of dilapidated buildings in the BK. Check out her style for yourself here. Re-surface is Laidback approved!

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I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to give thanks to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today. Today is the day that we commemorate his birthday and it reminds me of all of the dreams that I am realizing as a result of his commitment to equality. Not only does this holiday mark my 5 year anniversary of being self-employed.

I resigned 5 years ago from working full-time when the company I was with denied me the use a vacation day to take my son to a commemorative event and insited that I attend a meeting (that never happened). I had been on the cusp of liberating myself from the company but that was the day that I had enough strength and determination to trust God and just roll out. It has been a long road, not always easy, but fruitful.

That move also birthed the Laidback movement. Laidback would not have been a viable business during Dr. Kings time but thanks to his leading the fight along with many other brave men and women, Laidback exists today. I say thanks. Please don’t just use this day to get laidback but use this as a day of reflection and service.

Do something for someone or start planning how to invoke change because their are so many areas that we need it. Spend some time praying for the man that we have in office now that he would not inflict anymore pain on the US and it’s people or the Afghan people. Not to be all preachy but prayer changes things. Use today to spearhead some change and begin to actualize whatever dreams you have for your family , your community, and your life. Laidback will be at a commemorative service and working on a promotion to give back to the community.

At the very least take a few moment and remember with this clip.

Gift & Home Furnishings Market January 31- February 15
Wholesale customers and press are encouraged to schedule an appointment to view the line.
To schedule an appointment please call 347.694.4086 or Tina @ 917.482.5155
You can also email for an appointment at tina@laidbackhome.com

On Friday I had the good fortune once again of being a guest speaker at FIT for the How to Style, Plan, and Merchandise A Fashion Line class. It is always a lot of fun getting to share my experiences the good and the bad with folks beginnng their foray into fashion or product design. The class was full of intelligent creatives bursting with questions and feedback. I shared the spotlight with friend and boutique owner Ouigi of the Brooklyn Circus. Great time had for all. I also discovered that the Spring FIT brochures are out, and yours truly will be teaching a workshop on viral marketing this Spring. If you are in the need of spreading a buzz or learning more about how to generate a following using the internet hit up the Continuing Ed Department and sign up for SXF115 Viral Marketing with the Laidback Chick.

I promised this year I would do better at keeping everyone in the loop on what’s going on at Laidback. It has been rough the past few days in a good way as I have been running about the big city working on projects, collaborations, boutique research, (yes there are plans for giving you an in store experience), and preparing new hotness to debut during the Gift Fair and the Home Fashions market. So bear with me for a few weeks as I post a bit sparsely until I get some of the projects underway. One of the boutiques that inspired me the most as I walked about this week from one meeting to the next is Kid Robot. The colors, the boldness of the graphics and the playfulness of the place appeal to the Laidback aesthetic. I have also been shopping a new office/studio space as well and was pleasantly surprised to find some great things going on in the burgeoning Sobro (S. Bronx) area. Before your head rolls and the teeth gnashing begins about the Boogie Down their is a lot going on and some great artist breaking out uptown, not too mention the BX birthed Hip Hop, so show some love. For real though, I fell in love with a space on 137, which is about 15 minutes from midtown in a very up and coming area. So prayerfully you guys will be able to come visit the studio very soon. In the words of Tim Gun I gotta “Make it Work”