The Holiday Aftermath

It's the holiday aftermath! Did you survive? Did Santa bring you everything you want? Well, if you can bear to hit the streets..deals are to be had! I have received a plethora of emails announcing slashed prices and many stores are having after Christmas sales...it just might be worth it!

Happy Shopping!

Happy Weekend!

To those celebrating Christmas....have a MERRY one! Heck, everyone have a MERRY one. Enjoy family, friends, fab gifts and more!

WCNC Story: Tips for those still looking to finish holiday shopping

Please check out my interview with WCNC NewsChannel 36 discussing last minute gift ideas. Just click the links below!

Video (Part 1): Tips for those still looking to finish holiday shopping WCNC.com Charlotte

Video (Part 2): Interview: Dion talks to Simone McDowell WCNC.com Charlotte

Holiday Gift Guide: Last Minute Gifts

Has life gotten in the way of being able to pick out gifts for your friends and family? Did you think you checked everyone off your list but then realized...oops, I forgot so-and-so? Well, I have five great gift ideas that will make any giftee feel that they were on top of your list. Hey, no one needs to know that they were almost forgotten! These gift ideas can be picked up right before the Christmas (thank God for holiday hours!) and placed under the tree with care before the big day.

Laura James Jewelry

This last minute gift idea will make any woman swoon! From detailed vintage necklaces to bold cocktail rings and earrings, these pieces are sure to grab a compliment or two every time you (or a lucky giftee) wears it. All pieces are one of a kind and hand crafted by designer Laura James. Below is one of my fave pieces, the Vintage Signed Florenza Moonstone Pendant Necklace. I also have my eye on the Emerald Cut Vintage Ruby Red Glass Stone Statement Cocktail Ring and the Vintage Emerald Green Glass Drop Earrings--just the right colors for the holiday too!

                                  

Laura James Jewelry will be open from 10-7pm until December 23 and from 9am-3pm on Christmas Eve.

Green City Bottles Corona Tumblers
Guys think it's hard to find gifts for girls but isn't it a bit harder to find guy gifts? I mean most shopping was created for us girls and maybe, just maybe the guys are left out in the cold. Well, I have just the gift that will make you look like a gift rockstar. The Green City Corona Tumblers, available at The Boulevard at Southend are made from upcycled beer bottles and are sure to get guests talking at your next gathering. All glasses are hand cut, sanded and polished to ensure safety. What a great way to give back to the environment and reduce waste!

The Boulevard at South End will be open from 10am-6pm until December 23 and from 10am-3pm on Christmas Eve.



Sky High Sports
A 40,000 foot trampoline park allows children and adults to jump around to their heart's desire. There are three main areas including a mosh pit filled with soft sponge-like squares and an area to play dodge ball. Of course, there is open play for anyone who wants to bounce around freely and organized activities like AIRobics, a low impact exercise class for others. This would be a great gift for kids...and kids at heart. Check me out (below) being one of those "kids at heart".

Sky High Sports is open today and tomorrow from 10am-10pm, Friday from 11am-midnight and closes at 4pm on Christmas Eve.

The Wine Palette
Get to know your creative side with this gift from The Wine Palette, a locally owned sip and paint establishment in Plaza Midwood. At the Wine Palette, you can bring your own bottle of wine, have a glass or two while an instructor guides you through making your own masterpiece. Trust me, you don't have to be Picasso to get into this creative class. It is for everyone and would make for a great holiday gift.  Below is a painting a friend creating at The Wine Palette for my HoneeBee Blog Launch!

The Wine Palette will have holiday inspired classes this week and will be open from 6-8pm on Wednesday and Friday and 7pm-9pm on Thursday. They will be closed on Christmas Eve.

Magazine Subscription
This gift fits just about everyone because you can match someone's interest to a particular magazine and order the subscription on their behalf. There's the person who reads the gossip mag before boarding a plane and the businessman who is addicted to Forbes....and so on and so forth. This is a creative gift but does not break the bank and as an extra bonus every time the magazine arrives in the giftee's mailbox, they think of you! Below are a few ideas, maybe one will be the right fit for your giftee.

To purchase, you can visit the respective magazines website, pull a subscription card from the magazine or for discounts visit http://www.discountmags.com/ or a similar site for a deal.

Bzzzz: Be sure to check out my interview with WCNC News Channel 36 featuring these items today at 4 & 5:30pm.

HoneeBee Quote



A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return--Bhagavad Gita



Happy Weekend!

Can you believe it...this is the last weekend before Christmas?! I hope HoneeBee Gifts has been helpful thus far with your holiday shopping. Of course, there is more to come next week--including last minute gift ideas!

(Holiday) Gift Tip #92: Swim with Santa

Ray's Splash Planet, an indoor water park located near Uptown has come up with a unique way to celebrate Christmas. Tomorrow they are offering a chance to swim with Mr. Claus. Children of all ages are welcome and the cost is $10.  What a perfect gift for the little swimmer in your life! Your child can also take a photo with Santa but there won't be a photographer on site, so don't forget your camera. For more  information, go to the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation website or call (704) 432-4729.

HoneeBee Gift Guide: Gifts for HIM

The HoneeBee Gift Guide is here to help you pick out the perfect gift for everyone on your list. This sweet guide will include a few gift ideas for your mother, your hubby, the little ones and everyone in between.

This one's for the guys....


FOR HIM:


This leather money clip by Bosca is simple yet elegant. It fulfills its purpose in a sophisticated way. Enough said.  



This cashmere sweater by J CREW is an investment piece and will look great year after year. It comes in various colors including "the basics" like black, gray and navy but extends its color palette with surprising options like heather peacock (shown above).



Nike has done it again with LunarGuide+ 3.  The site speaks of its plush cushioning and enhanced support and reviews seem to support its claims. This would be great for an active guy.



There's something about the right timepiece on a man, isn't it? This stainless steel stunner is from the Invicta Men's  II Collection and can match a suit with ease...and shake up any casual look too.

If food is the way to a man's heart, I think music comes close behind. Give your guy the gift of music with iTunes but don't stop at a gift card. Take it old school, with a modern tech twist by creating your own playlist for your him. Just go to iTunes, purchase a gift, pick your songs and iTunes will send him an email alert about the gift, which then allows him  to download the music to his very own device or  an iTunes library.

Bzzz: I'd like to give a special thanks to all my guy friends that helped me out on this one. I wanted to be sure I was going in the right direction:) I must say that guys are so easy going when it comes to gifts!

Happy Weekend!

REMEMBER: Tis the season to be jolly!

HoneeBee Gift Guide: Gifts for HER

The HoneeBee Gift Guide is here to help you pick out the perfect gift for everyone on your list. This sweet guide will include a few gift ideas for your mother, your hubby, the little ones and everyone in between. Let's begin with the ladies...

FOR HER:

k studios family series pillows


Create your own custom made pillow including all family members, even your furry friends with k studio. The  organic pillows are pricey but one thing is for sure, you won't find another like it.

Clutch

Bold & sparkly, this wristlet from Express  is ready for the party!

One Year Magazine Subscription

Magazines are a great gift that one will continue to receive throughout the year, just be sure to pick her favorite mag...or one she has been wanting to try out. You can purchase online or pull one of the subscription cards from another mag.

Josie Maran Travel Case



This beauty kit includes the essentials for traveling (or a staycation) with items like cleansing oils, body butter and more. The case was inspired by Morocco and products main ingredient is Argan oil, which is made in Morocco.



Jeweled Estate Earrings

These Jeweled Estate Earrings from Francescas Collections are inexpensive but don't look it at all. They will be sure to get compliments during many holiday parties.

Sensational Stocking Stuffers

Here's a sneak peak of my article sharing a few sensational stocking stuffers for Shecky's, a girlfriend and lifestyle company I contribute to. Hope you enjoy!

Big, show-stopping gifts are always nice, but you don’t want to forget about stocking stuffers. These small wonders are often overlooked, but this year, stocking stuffers may steal the holiday show. Here are six tiny treats that will make any giftee yelp with glee as they discover good things really do come in small packages.

To see my top six picks (one for the guys too!) click here and let me know what you think.

Happy Weekend!

It's the first weekend in December...the holidays are in full effect. Now that we have Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday behind us...what are you going to do with the next few days? Is this weekend when you really start your shopping? For me this is the beginning of holiday party season and I can't wait. Here are a few jolly images to start your holiday month off right...

Bzzzz: He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith



The Spotlight: FABO

FABO (Fabulous Art Buying Opportunity) is a spot like no other in Charlotte. Located on Selwyn Avenue, this shop works with local artists to sell their artwork, handmade pottery, jewelry and more. In addition, FABO sells coffee, tea, wine, bite size snacks and more. FABO is not only a coffee shop (for lack of a better word) but also a gallery of sorts showcasing the work of local artists, all of which are are for sale. While sipping your cafe mocha or picking at your snickerdoodle cookie, you are immersed in the creativity that fills the room.

Owner, Amy Aussieker always loved artwork and traditional galleries but says her idea for FABO came about when she had a hard time affording those pieces in traditional art galleries. "There are so many fabulous artists that don't have the resume to get into some of the bigger galleries but they have wonderful affordable artwork" said Aussieker. Currently she is featuring approximately 20 artists with varied styles and techniques. "One of my favorite parts of my job is when I get to call a new artist and tell them one of their pieces sold" said Aussieker. 

Amy also enjoys chatting with customers as they peruse artwork, stroll in for a meeting or grab a cup of  joe. "I feel like I am constantly hosting a party" Aussieker gushed about her loyal customers.

Speaking of parties, FABO will be having one this Sunday and it is sure to be a treat. It's the FABO's Fabulous Under $50.00 Shopping Event taking place this Sunday, December 4th from 3-6pm. Several artists will be on site while you check out their wares...and of course there will be wine samples and specials. Here is a sample of items you may see on Sunday:

This is a great time to pick up a Christmas gift for someone special, but before picking up anything be sure to remember the giftee's personal style. Also, keep their home design in mind too...if they are traditional you don't want to go with a modern piece. If you pick the right piece of artwork, the giftee should know exactly where to put the item in their home once they open the present, it should mesh with their style very easily. In addition to artwork other items will be apart of this shopping bonanza including jewelry, ornaments, coffee and more.