Gift Tip #29: QT Canvas Tote

Decided to stroll etsy.com for some gift inspiration and I found the cutest totebag from Kinies. It is the QT Canvas Tote. The orange one is below but they also come in dark teal/turquoise, purple, deep pink, golden rod and dark red.

I would use this bag as my carry-on for traveling...adding in my laptop, snacks and magazines for a wonderful trip but you could use it for a number of everyday activities. This bag is for any cutie on duty! This site also has other cute totes, messenger bags, scarves and a cute waist purse that I could sooo see Rihanna wearing.

From the horse's mouth (i.e. Kinies esty site)

You can find lovely designed with high quality workmanship handbags here. We take pride and care in every single stage in research, design, cutting, sewing , packing & shipping of our handmade bags. We pledge our highest priority towards customer respond and satisfaction.

This company is based in Malaysia but seems to ship quickly considering their location, they ask that you allow seven working days for shipment.

Gift Tip #28: Kate Spade Stationary

Kate Spade Paper designs make me smile with their vibrant colors and bold stand on keeping the written word alive. These gifts would be great for lover of stationary. I have included a few box sets of my fave designs.

XOXO Stationary, on sale on organize.com, $16.99

Brushstroke Peony Boxed Set, $30, katespade.com

P.S. Boxed Set, $30, katespade.com

Here's a bit about Kate Spade New York (from the horse's mouth):

utility, wit and playful sophistication are the hallmarks of kate spade new york. as our world expands, our graceful, exuberant approach to the everyday is evident in every category we enter, from handbags and clothing to jewelry, shoes, stationery, glasses, baby and home.

kate spade new york has thirty-six shops across the united states, and is sold in every time zone and on every continent. whether in macau or michigan, our shops are always warm and inviting

You can purchase these box sets at katespade.com or visit any local paper store that carries Kate Spade products. Some places that carry Kate Spade locally include Three Little Birds, Salutations, etc.

sources: katespade.com, organize.com

Today: Half-Yearly Sale @ Nordstrom begins

The infamous Nordstrom half-yearly sales begins today--Wednesday, May 26th for women and kids.

The sale includes markdowns on your favorite brands like 7 for All Mankind, Steve Madden, Tory Burch, BCBG, Betsy Johnson and more! Also, you can receive twice the reward points for purchases made at Nordstrom and nordstrom.com from May 26-May29 when using a Nordstrom credit card or Nordstrom MOD- the store credit card.

To find your local Nordstrom store, visit nordstrom.com.

Addicted: Groupon and other discount sites

If there is one thing that I try to do on this blog it is be creative and give you gift ideas that are not your run of the mill gifts. I also try to include gifts that are cost effective (most times) and I wanted to share a new addiction--various websites that offer great deals at a discount:

Groupon

Groupon is a dream. According to their website, Groupon offers the best daily deals in your city. There is one for Charlotte and other cities include Brooklyn, San Francisco, Seattle and more.

Check out Groupon's daily deal - http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1345092

TIP: You can go to their site and find your city...or if you are traveling you can find out what the city offers that you will be traveling to. Please note that you cannot use the groupon the same day of purchase but buy a day or two in advance and you are set.

Half Price @ WCNC is local to Charlotte but I am sure that other media outlets share half off deals in your city. Check out their websites and search "half off or "discounts" and you are sure to find some deals.

The deals vary so there is something for everyone! So far, I have purchased:

-horseback riding passes

-kickboxing class

-salon gift certificate

-restaurant gift certificate

As a purchaser, please note that the groupon certificates don't look like anything special...I just print online but you could package it to make it special. I made my first purchase on Half Off today so I am not sure how that will arrive but it is being mailed so it may look professional and gift ready! The mailing cost was about $7.50.

I am sure there are many more discount sites out there so please share with me if you are familiar with more sites!

source: groupon.com, flickr.com

Shopping discounts: Macy's and J. Crew

OK! Here are some discounts to help with your shopping desires...


Beginning tomorrow (until the 3rd) at Macy's you can recieve 25% off as the store celebrate friends and family, just use code "MACYSFF". For J Crew use "Extra20" online at jcrew.com for 20% off any of their fab items until April 30th.

Macy's is also participating in their stores but for some reason I cannot upload the coupon...if you want it just email me at simonemcdowell(at)gmail.com and I will shoot it over to you.


Happy Shopping!

Gift Tip #27: The Art of the Compliment

Maybe I picked up this book for the wrong reason... when I cracked open the book in the store the first page I fell upon was an excerpt of a love letter from Dwight Eisenhower to Mamie Eisenhower and I was like "Wow, he LOVES this woman". Being the hopeless romantic I am, I made an impulse purchase.

Since then I have browsed through the book and have decided it makes a good gift for anyone who wants to make people feel like they are on Cloud 9, the unique book lover or those who need a nudge with kindness... it really does go a long way!

Some things that you can look for in the book:

-a brief history of compliments

-occasions when you really should try to make a compliment

-potentially awkward situations to defuse with a compliment

One key point made in the book is that you should mean every compliment you say. I think that is the most important point you should remember. Please don't fake a compliment...isn't that just a lie? Also, you never know what people are going through. A compliment could really make their day.

Remember the Eisenhower love letter that made purchase the book? Here's a bit of it...

On the day you open this letter you'll be 46. I'd like to be there to help you celebrate, and to kiss you 46 times (multiplied by any number you care to pick)...In any event I will be with you in thought, and entirely aside from the usual congratulations and felicitations I will be thinking with the deepest gratitude of the many happy hours and years you've given me...

I've never wanted any other wife-you're mine, and for that reason I've been luckier than any other man.

SWOON....

PS: The reason he was not there to celebrate with Mamie is because he was at war!

Gift Tip #26: Positively Green cards

I fell in love with these cards on a recent trip to Paper Skyscraper. The sentiments are simple and meaningful. I should have known that the Positively Green product line is from one of my favorite companies, Compendium, Inc. Truly, there is nothing they do that I do not LOVE.

Anyway, the cards include a "Do Something Positive" and "Do Something Green" message on the back of the cards. I have included an example of a Positively Green card below and you can find out more about the cards at positivelygreencards.com.