As you head over to your local Starbucks for your daily dose of caffeine, you can feel happier knowing that the company has decided to mend its errant, wasteful ways and go green.

Not only will Starbucks change its offerings to reflect the more ethical and healthier choices that many desire, it is also changing how its stores are built, furnished and operate. For instance, beginning this year all the incandescent bulbs will be replaced by more energy efficient bulbs. And that is just the first step.

Starbucks is also going for LEED certification at all new, company-operated stores using energy conservation, recycling, and green construction with reused, recycled and local materials and focus on local craftsmanship. Starbucks will also begin posting plaques in stores to explain green construction and decor elements to customers to educate and motivate them to make more environmentally responsible choices.

Art Van Furniture, the venerable furniture store from Michigan is turning 50. If you have made it to 50 years as a furniture retailer, it is really time to celebrate, and Art Van, Michigan’s second largest furniture store is celebrating. As part of the celebration, it is giving away a fully restored 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.

If you’ve always wanted to own one, and you live in Michigan, Ohio, or Indiana, now’s your chance to enter. No purchase required. Visit Art Van Furniture’s website to see the contest rules, enter to win, and when you win, come back here and share the good news with all of us. The contest runs through October 31, 2009 and the winner will be announced by November 12.

Folk art has its own charm and appeal. You look upon a piece and you can sort of sense the whole process behind it. You can use folk art in your decor whether you prefer a country style, or an eclectic one, and some pieces would fit in with a modern style as well.

This folk art tray from Wisteria seems to have the patina that comes from years of use. I would use it more for display than as a tray, but it can be used either way. The tray is made of wood with metal fasteners to hold the corners together, and embellished with a hand painted eagle flag image inspired by an historical flag from Brooklyn.

Fourth of July furniture sales are advertised everywhere, and in today's financial climate I see a lot of people wondering whether these sales really offer any real value.

The answer is yes, and no. Yes, certain furniture will be on sale and marked down tremendously while other furniture might be offered at regular price. Just because you walk into a store that is holding a sale, doesn't mean everything is on sale.

The key in getting real value at any sale is to know what you really want to buy in advance even before you go to a sale. A big sale is not the time to start looking, unless you plan to defer your purchase till you really know what you want to buy and have checked around to see what the going price is.

As for special financing such as "No payments or interest for a year!" or "6 months same as cash!" avoid it if you can. You'll be stuck making huge payments later on and in that case, your Fourth of July sale purchase didn't turn out to be such a bargain, did it?

It doesn't make sense to buy any furniture for the sake of special financing, because while it can seem very enticing, remember you are buying furniture not financing.