Shiny Stuff!

I was recently introduced to my latest shopping fascination and in dedication to my love of sharing I now bring it to you! A recent phenomenon, home trunk shows or network based shopping businesses have become quite popular allowing ladies to shop in their homes among friends with an assortment of items from personal care, make-up, clothes and now jewelry. With most of these home shows I have found that the shopping model is built to encourage people to shop within a show somewhat limiting the option to purchase at will when you have the extra play money on hand. This latest introduction, however, seems to have found a happy medium between the two shopping experiences which makes it easy for me to suggest as a possible gift source.

What is this new fascination of mine? It is a company by the name of Stella & Dot. According to my friendly consultant this company was started about two years ago with a product designer with a history of designing for Banana Republic. Recently, they have acquired a second designer with experience designing for Kate Spade. Since I am fond of the styling of both companies, this tidbit caught my attention.

My initial introduction to their jewelry made an impression upon me for two key reasons. One - there is a great range of design catering to a multitude of tastes while still keeping us in trend. Two - the pieces also come in a range of prices with most at or below the $70 mark. Top this off with the quality of the items and I was hooked!

Check it out and let me know your thoughts!

Oh Baby!

A friend recently reached out to me for some thoughts on appropriate gifts for a Christening. Having not attended one of these events without the benefit of my parents providing the gift, it took me a few minutes to sort out some thoughts on gift options. Before I got started on my window shopping, however, I stopped long enough to ask a few more questions of my friend. First question - Is the couple hosting the Christening very religious in their lifestyle or perhaps participating more for the sake of tradition? Second question - Does the host couple have a particular style? Are they hip and trendy or a bit more traditional? Armed with the answers to these questions, I dug up a few ideas and thought that I would share them in case anyone one else finds themselves in this gift dilema.

Option One: Personalized Baby Blanket 

At most Christening ceremonies, the baby is brought up in a special gown and usually bundled in a blanket. If you elect to go with the blanket option, spring for the customization of adding the child's name and perhaps it will be your gift making an appearance at the alter! If not, it is still a nice keepsake for the child to use on during naptime. There are also a wide variety of styles available allowing you to make a selection that matches the couples style.

Option two: Engraved Picture Frames

Odds are there will be quite a few photos of the child taken at this type of gathering. Gift the parents with a nice frame engraved with the date of the Christening and you have automatically given them a keepsake with which to remember the occassion. Again, a range of frame styles exist from which you can make your selection. Choose wisely and it will end up on the mantel instead of buried on the bookshelf!

Option three: Memory Box

Since most people no longer utilize Hope Chests or cedar lined trunks for the storage of memory makers (keepsake clothing, etc.) perhaps a more modern option would make a good gift. You can purchase acid free storage boxes at a variety of stores - The Container Store springs to mind first. If you have a crafty nature, consider adding some decorative accents to the box customizing it for either the child or the occassion. This will give the parents a safe storage option for the Christening gown and any other items they wish to save from their special day.

On another note... I tend to make selections that live in the realm of "not likely to offend", but if you know for certain that the parents and/or family take their religious ceremonies very seriously, you can also find a variety of Christian gift items to consider. For little girls, you can purchase child sized jewlery  with crosses or angels added for accent. More unisex options also exist such as bibles and other religious items. The key, of course, is knowing the person you are gifting and making a selection appropriate to their preferences. This will ensure that your gift is both appropriate and memorable!

The Mitzvah Challenge

I enjoy learning about cultural customs and traditions from around the world. What fascinates me most is the meaning behind certain ceremonies and gift items. Recently I was invited to join in the Bat Mitzvah celebration of my friend's daughter and not having grown up in the Jewish faith I was a little perplexed about what to expect - and also what kind of gift to bring! Thankfully the internet offers a variety of resources and I was able to gather some ideas that are both lovely and meaningful for this important right of passage. The one I found most helpful in understanding the history and meaning of the Mitzvah is Modern Tribe.

Although I am not 100% certain what gift item I will bring to the celebration, I thought that I would share some of my favorites in case you face a similar gifting dilema!

Tzedakah Box

The simple beauty of this box caught my eye, but I was not quite sure of its purpose. Here is what Wikipedia taught me: Tzedakah (Hebrew: צדקה‎) is a Hebrew word commonly translated as charity, though it is based on the Hebrew word (צדק, tzedek) meaning righteousness, fairness or justice. In Judaism, tzedakah refers to the religious obligation to perform charity, and philanthropic acts, which Judaism emphasises are important parts of living a spiritual life; Maimonides says that the second highest form of tzedakah is to anonymously give donations to unknown recipients. Unlike philanthropy, which is completely voluntary, tzedakah is seen as a religious obligation, which must be performed regardless of financial standing, and must even be performed by poor people; tzedakah is considered to be one of the three main acts that can annul a less than favorable heavenly decree. Seems like a great idea to me!

Shema Necklace

Written in Hebrew on the necklace the sentiment translates to: With All Your Heart, With All Your Soul, With All Your Might. This verbiage is an exerpt from the prayer, Shema ("Listen"). Hand etched on oxidized sterling silver, the pendant is suspended from a natural leather cord. More than just a wonderful sentiment, the style of the necklace itself seems very in tune with modern times which definitely increases the liklihood that a young lady will wear it with her favorite outfit!

Heart Locket Necklace

I was drawn to these necklace options for a couple of reasons. First - there are three designs from which to choose allowing you to select the one that holds the most appropriate meaning for the recipient. The Hasma design opens to reveal a Pomegranate; The Star of David and Chai both open to reveal a Dove. Second- the styling of the locket is pretty hip which makes it an exciting gift for a young lady to receive. Third - the religious meaning of this piece is subtle and to my mind that makes it a little more special - a sort of private thought that can be carried around all day.

For those of you who prefer to give with gift cards - there is an acceptable option for you, as well! You may have to opt for cash or check to gift with this option, but the sentiment behind the increments is what caught my attention. Monetary gifts should be given in increments of 18. Why? The number 18 is associated with the word Chia, Hewbrew for life. In the Hewbrew alphabet each letter has a corresponding number and and the letters cheit(8) and yud(10) = 18.

Forget the Man Flowers...

Father's Day is around the corner and like most people I struggled with what to get my dear old dad this year. After exploring a variety of options I settled on a framed piece of family heritage, but not before considering a few other interesting options. Take a look and see if any of these items might be a good fit for the dad-man in your life!

Have you ever seen the trunk of an avid golfers car? Though there are the rare few who keep things tidy, most trunks are a tornado inspired collection of bag, clubs, balls, shoes and various other accessories allowing them to sport up in the parking lot of the club. If this mess makes you crazy, you might consider a Trunk It Golf Gear Organizer designed specifically for golf gear. This handy accessory keeps all of their golf gear in an easy to find location with the added bonus of a slightly less cluttered trunk space. ProActive Sports Trunk It Golf Gear Organizer, Black

If your Father's Day gifts have become a trend of tie giving, you might consider reaching out to your inner artist and creating a custom tie for dad this year. Adding to the personalization of the gift giving experience, a custom designed tie also ensures that dad has a truly one of a kind item to wear with his favorite suit!

If you have a dad who is:

A) The man that already has everything

B) Not a fan of nick-nack items

C) Just plain difficult to shop for

.... Consider something that feeds something on his "favorites" list without the need for dusting! We have all heard of the famed "Jelly of the Month Club" and live in fear of this cliche gift option, but I am hear to tell you that the item of the month club offerings have evolved and now offer a wide range of items your dad might actually enjoy! Take a look..

BBQ Sauce Club

Ice Cream Club

Beer Club

Wine Club

Cigar Club

Hot Sauce Club

Coffee Club

Salsa Club

Happy gifting and, as always, feel free to share your favorite gift selections!

Paper Please!

As I approach my 1-year anniversary the gift giving portion of my brain has kicked into overdrive searching for the perfect idea. Though I am still sifting through my options, I thought that sharing what I have come up with so far might be a good way to solicit feedback to help make my decision. Of course, any ideas you may have are always welcome!

Since it is my understanding that the gift tradition for the first year is "paper", I have been investigating options that fall in this category - whether wholly or by a stretch of the imagination!

My favorite so far is an online option I stumbled across that helps you create a personalized book of all the reasons why you love your mate. Although the page content is pre-populated, the "author" can customize the accompanying messages to ensure that the book is an accurate representation of their feelings. You can choose between soft or hard cover books in case the recipient (or your budget) has a preference. Either way the process is under $50 which in my world makes it a great option!The Love Book

The alternative option that I am considering is a framed photo and quote that is uniquely representative of our relationship. Of course, the Type A part of me makes the search for the right quote is getting a bit tedious as I am looking for "the perfect one". Although I am still searching, I have found one that I keep coming back to which makes me think perhaps this might be a better gift option. I have created similar pieces for friends before and it seems to have been a hit, but since this would be a slightly more substantial gift give (sorry friends) I would definitely step it up a notch with some professional framing. Here is the photo and quote combo that I keep coming back to...

As always, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts and suggestions!