COUPON CODES FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Tis the season for holiday shopping. Why leave the comfort of your home when you can shop online and save a bundle while you’re at it? While searching for this ridiculously overpriced Juicy Couture sweatsuit that my neice asked for, via Reesycakes, I came across a coupon code (Cakes20) for 25% off at Fashion Chateau and saved $49!

Here’s a few more codes I stumbled across from some great online stores. Happy shopping!

A fan of jewelry designer Zoe Chicco, how can I not splurge a little on myself with 25% off her modern yet delicate pieces. Coupon code: HOLIDAY07, expires 12/15/07.

Top left: 14K yellow gold small circle necklace with bezel set 1 pt diamond $264; to right, textured circle necklace with a 3 pt bezel set diamond available in yellow, rose or white gold $363 and without diamond $253; Top middle: Long textured bar necklace in sterling silver $75; Top right: personalized charm necklaces from $79
Bottom left: Large gemstone rings textured and hammer set in fine silver from $240; Bottom right: Set of 5 thin yellow gold hammered stack rings, one with a 1 pt diamond $264

20% off designer clothing and accessories at Couture Candy with coupon code: Splendora, expires 12/31/07

$30 off $150 purchase at Bluefly with coupon code: THIRTY9753, expires 12/31/07

20% off at Basic Boutique with coupon code: People10, expires 12/24/07. Basic Boutique features a very well edited selection of simple yet interesting pieces. Here are some of my favorites:

Top left: Lewis Cho Tie blouse; Top middle: Mint; Top right: Mint

Bottom left: Draped skirt from Rozzae Nichols; Bottom right: 12th St. by Cynthia Vincent Beaded Tank

20% off $100 or more purchase at 'the other H&M' Mangoshop. Unfortunately, the offer excludes the Penelope & Monica Cruz and Milla lines, but still some great stylish pieces to choose from and they offer free shipping to the US even though they are based in Europe. Coupon code: 5marieclaire, expires 12/31/07. I bought these great pieces for my stepdaughter for Christmas. Okay well, the red cape is for me ; )

10% OFF ALICIA BOCK PRINTS

While perusing Trunkt this evening, I came across a promotion offered by one of my favorite photographers Alicia Bock and wanted to share. She's offering 10% off all orders through 12/15/07. Simply enter the code TRUNKT07 at checkout. I bought myself a few early Christmas gifts. (3) lovely 8x8 photographs matted to 11x14 for easy framing. I can't wait to finish my living room to hang these, they're just stunning. Alicia's work uses a combination of vintage and modern cameras resulting in photographs that highlight the dust and scratches that make vintage photographs so utterly charming. At just $54 each, minus 10% with your discount, they would make a lovely holiday gift for a special friend or family member.

I chose Summer's Green, Blush and Of the Way We Were, yet she has a nice assortment of additional botanicals as well as locations, abstract and textures and also offers prints on fine art canvas for an additional cost. Hurry as the 10% off offer expires on 12/15.

HOME RENOVATION PROGRESS AND A LITTLE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Well, lot's of home reno and Christmas shopping progress was made this weekend and so I thought I'd share. After much debate and me actually telling off a saleperson in one horrible flooring store, we (finally) purchased our flooring for the livingroom/dining room . A nice handscraped teak from Virgina Millworks. With any luck it'll be actually on my floors by next week and I'll post a picture. On a reco from a friend, I went to Lumber Liquidators (they have a warehouse in South Hackensack, NJ not to far from where we live), and I was actually pleasantly surprised with the selection.

The contruction guys were also back this weekend and I finally now have a 1/2 ton steel beam holding up the second floor. (Fingers crossed) it'll all pass inspection and/or my stepdaughter's room won't come crashing down into my livingroom and I can finally have my house finished by next week.

As if dropping $3000 on flooring wasn't enough to lay out in one weekend, I decided to make as big of a dent as possible in my Christmas shopping as December is going to be madness at 'the day job' and I won't have much time to think about it after this week. I'd say I'm 50% done. Not bad for never having left my house. : ) Here's what I got. (Friends and family members, no peeking...)

Top left and right: Roadster Fire Truck ($69) and Fire Fighter outfit (34.99) from Back To Basics Toys for my little nephews who are currently obsessed with firemen.

2nd row left: French Alphabet Flash Cards $24 from Posh Chicago.

2nd row right: Adorable handmade sweater dress from Angora Knitter $30

3rd row left: Beautiful set of decoupaged coasters with soldered aluminum edges ($30) from Sidney Ann for a coaster obsessed friend along with a lovely pair of Kevia earrings for her purchased at Blufly with a coupon code DOR127 where I got $30 off my total order--which of course included this little Twelfth St By Cynthia Vincent dress for me ; )

4th row left: Kevia gold bangle with leaf via Blufly $45

4th row right: Part of a large gift basket for my scent obsessed friend, a Mistral Lychee Rose scented glass candle. $22. How pretty is their packaging?!!??

Bottom left: 12 card collection presented in an elegant box of birthday cards, thank you cards, get well, with love and miss you cards from Cecily Ink $25

Bottom Right: Gorgeous calendar from Cecily Ink $14

Top Left: Citizen Nighthawk watch for my hubby. It retails for $450, and I got a great deal with free shipping at EWatches.

Top right: Mom and floral diamond charm necklace from Helen Ficalora

Second row left: My 'go to gift' for guys, Skin Supplies for Men from Clinique. Guys love this stuff and I get a nice discount at 'the day job'.

Second row right: I'm a sucker for pretty packaging and how beautiful is this? A lovely rose scented reed diffuser from Fresh Body Boutique $32.99 I'm tempted to keep this one for me ; )

Third row left: I ordered the 'The Bin' container in this beautiful damask pattern from the Macbeth Collection to use as a gift box which will hold the rest of the items pictured ...Orange blossoms room spray $16 from Fresh Body Boutique; A beautifully packaged mimosa, white musk and cedarwood milk protein soap $7 from Mistral; Blackberry scented sugar body scrub $24 also from Mistral; and a French Lavender scented reed diffuser from Fresh Body Boutique $32

PHEW!!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE PART 1 (THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATE)

Business associates and clients tend to be the most difficult people to buy for. We don't know them that well, yet especially in my business, we don't want to give them something completely impersonal and boring. Luckily most of my clients and business associates are women, and working in a creative field, they typically appeciate things that are a little out of the ordinary. Here's a great list of options to consider for gifts for the client or business associate:

Who couldn’t use a beautiful hanging calendar from one of my favorite designers, Papaya. Available in Bird and Blooms or Bohemian. $14

The Little Pie Company, based in NYC, provides a delicious selection of homemade pies such as Sour Cream Apple Walnet, Key Lime, Southern Pecan and Cherry Pies among other flavors which are beautifully and not to mention sturdily packaged and sent via FED EX anywhere in the US. Starting @ $54 plus shipping.

I’m a sucker for anything roses. The La Vie en Rose Gift set from UK based Mirror Mirror features a stunning rose garland beaker from my favorite Swedish designer, Karin Eriksson as well as a large box of luxurious rose trimmed and rose scented aromatherapy bath melts. Mirror Mirror’s gift sets are wrapped in tissue and ribbon and presented in a chic white gift box making a beautiful presentation. About $57 USD plus shipping.




Stunning day planners, address books and journals from Paperblanks would make a lovely gift for a paper loving business associate. Available online at Amazon and Borders.



MORE TO COME : )