Royally yours

Two posts in one day! I guess I'm just spilling over with gifts I love.

And speaking of love, anyone who remembers my love of all things British will understand why I must post about the great designs over at Pintuck (via Print & Pattern). Check out their "Made in England" tea towels, aprons and bags. Perfect gift for your favorite Brit host/hostess!

I also love their "It's a Beautiful Day" print --- great for spring.

Super-size me

There's a great interview with Jessica, co-creator of Slaughterhead over at IndieFixx. They make tons of cool vinyl bags a wallets with unexpected designs. I think I'm at my bag buying capacity, but wallets are another story. I've owned many wallets, but they never seem big enough, especially the one I own now. It definitely doesn't hold all of my credit cards, and my bag is so darn big anyway that I can never find it when I need it. Then I saw this jumbo wallet. Nothing like killing two birds with one stone... ($60.00)

Terry Graziano Transforms Your Style

I just ran across Terry Graziano's Esty Shop and fell in love with her chic, innovative hat designs with a vintage feel! Check out the Sweetheart Candy Box hat, I think it would flatter any head shape (and hair style for that matter). The Sweetheart Style comes in many color combinations and you can wear the hat 4 different ways! This would make a great addition to any hat/accessory addicts' closet. The style shown here costs $95.00, gift certificates are also available so you can let your giftee select her own.

Important notice from the Bureau of Communications

I just found my favorite new way to send e-greetings thanks to How About Orange's blog. Bureau of Communications allows you to send most-official looking documents when you just have to get something off your chest. The site is provided by Magnetism, who makes all kinds of cool widgets like the Idea Generator. They even have a "Declaration of Romantic Intent"---be sure to send one to your sweetie on Thurs!

Read my Declaration of Gratitude below. I mean every word of it!

Gifting Chocolates: The next generation

Okay, so you're set on gifting chocolates this Valentine's Day? That's okay, because there are some great products out this season that are far from your run-of-the-mill Russell Stover's. Here are a few of my favs from around the web.

Dylan's chocolates are getting a lot of buzz lately, and rightly so. Their colorful labels and simply delicious combinations have skyrocketed them to success! This 18-piece truffle box is packed with flavors such as Milk Rocky Praline, Caramel Mousse, and Passion Fruit Ganache. $42.00

MarieBelle is also taking chocolates to the next level. Her boxed chocolates are literally tiny works of art. Pick up the 25-piece set for $48.00.

Another product she makes that I'm totally wild about is the Pin-up girl chocolate bars. Pick some up and hand them out to your favorite single gal-pals ($15.00).

Finally, I love these little "love bugs" from John and Kira's. They come in a little wooden box and are filled with dark chocolate ganache. Yum! ($34.00 for a box of 12)

Sharon Gill NYC: New Twists on Old Favorites

Have you discovered Sharon Gill NYC yet? I recently did, and the more I check out her site, the more I love what she's doing. Sharon has a new take on tunics, and she just came out with a line including vibrant colors for Spring 08! I'm picturing wearing her Algiers tunic in light morning on vacation, sipping my morning coffee, white sand squished in between my toes...

And dare I say it, I think her St Bart's dresses would look totally chic on bridesmaids for spring weddings or even for the bride at her rehearsal dinner.

The best part? Buying a Sharon Gill original also means supporting a great cause. A portion of her earnings benefits the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

You can find out where to buy Sharon Gill designs here. Tunics and dresses run around $150. Pick one up for a friend or loved one and show them how "with it" you are! Or, if you're planning to gift a romantic vacation for your girlfriend/wife this Valentine's day, surprise her with a suitcase carrying one of these tunics and the airplane tickets/itinerary.

V-Day: The anti-gift

Tired of gifting/getting candy hearts with sweet sayings, boxes of chocolates, and flowers that are way overpriced and die within days? Why not give an anti-valentine gift this year instead? The Inventorspot posted a list of the 10 hottest anti-valentine's day gifts. My favorite? Duh! the Sarcastic Candy Hearts, available at ThinkGeek.com ($9.99). "He fit, u fat." 'Nuff said.

V-day

I don't usually like to post about gifts I'm getting for friends and fam because you never know who might be snooping around these pages, but in this case I just couldn't contain myself.

This year to celebrate the big "V," Josh and I decided we would create mixed cds for each other instead of spending a lot of money. I thought it was a really cute idea until I saw...

the USB Mixed Tape Kit. This deceiving cassette holds a USB inside --- more than perfect for what I had in mind! So now he'll get the feeling of having an old-school mixed tape, with the convenience of modern technology. How simple! $20, available at Alpha-Man.

Flower Power

Love it a lot just posted this sweet little lidded jar from Whitney Smith. Perfect for your best friend's wedding shower or even as a gift for grandma. $44.00

Sexy, Classy, Comfy

Delight's deal of the day completes my idea of a fun night at home --- BBC Jane Austen Movie Marathon, Pint of Ben & Jerry's, and a slinky cashmere robe. This robe definitely outdoes those cheesy 3/4's that you can get over at Vicky's, but is still sexy enough that it'll leave your man wondering what's underneath (even if that man is only Mr. Darcy [sigh]). $113.57 if you pick it up today!

How do?

While browsing through one of my favorite decorating blogs, Design*Sponge, I came across a post about Berkley Illustration and fell in love. These awesome illustrations of animals in portrait-style poses and superhero-inspired situations would look great hanging up in a home office or library. Pick one up at his Etsy shop for $7.00.

Etsy Round Up --- Calendars

Ah ... there's no better way to begin a New Year at your office than by unwrapping a new calendar and starting off on Day 1 (or 2 or 3, depending on when you went back to work and/or remembered to bring in your new calendar, like myself). And nothing says New Year like these calendars from Etsy --- get 'em while there's still time!


I love this hand-drawn calendar from Laundrypop, specifically the hand-writted Months and dates. It's very playful. $12.00





The calendar that looks like a calendar but reads like a post card --- the 2008 happify calendar! This set of 12 note cards can be posted on your cube wall or sent out with a note to friends. Vomit enducing idea! Send your significant other a note card every month with the reasons why you love him or her...I can feel the chunks rising already. $12.00 at Happify.



Of course, if you are tired of running out to purchase a calendar every year, you could always pick up this perpetual wooden block calendar from Queenvanna Creations. There are three month blocks and two date blocks, plus the wooden base.

Make your own cookbook

Know anyone who's ever wanted their own cookbook? My friend Paola sent me over this link from the New York Times about a new venture from Conde Nast and Kamran Mohsenin - Tastebook.com. Through this site, users can create their very own cookbooks, using up to 100 recipes from Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Epicurious, and other chefs. You can even add your own personal recipes - which is why I really like this concept. The book comes in a hardcover binder (you choose the front image and the title) and allows you to add chapters that are tabbed for easy access.

How much does all this cost? $34.95!

For gift-giving purposes, I suggest gathering up the family's favorite recipes and creating a cookbook using the family name (ie, The Smith Family Recipes) and gifting to all the chefs in your clan. This would also be great for showers, weddings, and office parties.

Thanks for the tip P!

Mixed Tapes: The Next Generation

One of my favorite things to give and receive has got to be the CD mix. The CD can be themed with titles like "X-mas", "Winter" or "Let it Snow"; or they can be themed to a particular type of music or upcoming event. Zeichen press gets this, and has come up with an array of awesome CD sleeves that would be the perfect compliment to any CD mix. Some favorites are below...pick them up, along with their other fabulous stationary, at the shops listed here. (Found via Indie Fixx.)

Chill out

Ahhhhh. Last night was the first night that I could actually feel fall. And then I thought, "Jesus, it's cold! I can't wait for spring!" If you know someone who likes to stay warm and fuzzy, but wants to look cool while doing it, the shawls and scarfs from Kelgwo might do the trick! I love their organic blends - the perfect colors for fall! Pick one up at their Etsy shop (found via Modish).

Etsy Highlights

Okay, I know this whole subject is kind of tired out, but I just wanted to highlight some great Etsy shops that caught my eye this morning. . .and besides, Esty really is one of the best sites around to get one-of-a-kind gifts in one-stop shopping, so why shouldn't I give a shout out every now and then?

Pearl & Marmalade

This stationary is totally my style. The designers behind this shop really have an eye for detail and each card is like it's own piece of art. Personal favorites are the "I'm Sorry" card, the "Peek-a-boo Gnome" noteset (gnomes rock!), and the "Foxy Salutations" card (all pictured above).

something's hiding in here

Nothing's cooler than a crazy mustache - and these gals know it. If you've ever been envious of someone else's stache - they might be able to help you out. Oh, and they also have other cool stuff too.

I always wondered what I'd look like with antlers...

If you are just too lazy to dress up for Halloween, these mirrors from the Design Can might put you in the holiday spirit. Perfect for the friend who thinks it'd be cool to be a pirate. (What?! I'm the only one who knows someone like that?) Also just a fun mirror to give in general. The mirrors (don't worry, pirate isn't the only style) are available at Unica Home for $48.00 (found via Apartment Therapy).

New Orleans Baby!

In case anyone was wondering, the gift giver went to New Orleans on a three-day excursion. If you've never been, or if you haven't been post-Katrina, I highly recommend it. The city is really getting back on it's feet and the people there are all about having a great time. If you're in the area and looking for possible souvenirs/gifts here are some hot spots I found.

The New Orleans School of Cooking and Louisiana General Store in the French Quarter offers daily cooking classes, plus a store where you can get traditional New Orleans seasonings. I picked up some Joe's seasoning for stocking stuffers (also available in their online shop). The staff there is very friendly and willing to help with whatever you are looking for.

I'm not necessarily a sweet person, but it's had to go to New Orleans without passing a praline shop. Many claim to be the "original," and while that is an argument I wouldn't want to touch, I had a chance to sample Aunt Sally's at the French Market, and they are delish! Pick up a box for grandma.

If you head over to Magazine Street, you must hit up Pied Nu. It is a cute little boutique with all sorts of gifts, I especially love their jewelry (warning...they aren't cheap)! You may also want to check out Hazelnut, which has the "exclusive" New Orleans Toile. When I first moved to CT, I turned into a toile freak, and although I have since calmed down, my heart went pitter-patter at the thought of a New Orleans toile accordion file.

So, there you have it! Anyone else have good gift recommendations for the NOLA area?