Archive for the ‘Shopping’Category

Unique gift guide: shop UncommonGoods gifts

Still looking for that perfect holiday gift? Try UncommonGoods gifts, which feature unique designs and handcrafted gifts. Part of UncommonGoods’ mission is to support and provide a platform for artists and designers, with most products created in the United States and about one-third incorporating recycled and/or upcycled materials. And $1 from every purchase is donated to your choice of its not-for-profit partner organizations, including the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, American Forestry Association, Women for Women International and Reach Out & Read. So you can shop while feeling good about it!

Some of my personal picks from UncommonGoods gifts include these wine pearls ($24.95), which cool down your drink without diluting it as an ice cube would (you can also use them with spirits), and this bell ring you can use while running to alert people you’re coming up behind them. These gifts would make great stocking stuffers.

UncommonGoods gifts Wine pearls

Wine pearls

UncommonGoods gifts Running bell

Running bell

Looking for something a bit more substantial? UncommonGoods’ gifts under $50 is a good place to start. I really like the set of four wood coasters ($36) that show maps of cities and the set of eight puzzles set ($30).

UncommonGoods gifts Map coasters

Map coasters

UncommonGoods gifts Puzzles

Puzzles

If you don’t want to spend too much but still want to get something special, then check out UncommonGoods’ gifts under $25. Two favorites of mine include dish towels ($20) with cute ski towns on them, and a glass ($12.50) with a map of your favorite city etched on to it.

UncommonGoods gifts Dish towels

Dish towels

UncommonGoods gifts City map glass

City map glass

Shipping information for the holidays

Place your order by 5 p.m. ET on the dates below to receive your order on or before Dec. 24:

  • Dec. 17 – Choose economy shipping or faster
  • Dec. 18 – Choose standard or preferred shipping or faster
  • Dec. 21 – Choose expedited shipping or faster (not valid for P.O. Boxes)
  • Dec. 22 – Choose express shipping (not valid for P.O. Boxes)

Orders placed after 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 23 will leave the warehouse on Dec. 28.

Note: Some of these gifts were complimentary.

 

16

12 2015

2015 holiday gift guide for foodies

Art of Tea sampler

Art of Tea sampler. Photo from Art of Tea.

Need a holiday gift guide for that foodie in your life? Check out some of my personal picks:

Art of Tea sampler sets: For just $25, you can gift someone four small tins of hand-blended organic teas. The Holiday Tea Sampler, with Winter White Chai, Pumpkin Pie, Butterscotch and Dark Chocolate Peppermint flavors, is a favorite and seasonally appropriate. Use code “hellohandmade” for 15 percent off (good through March 31, 2016). Order by midnight tonight, Dec. 11, to guarantee delivery by Christmas!

Ocha Teapot: The handy (and cute) personal Ocha Teapot brews the tea and dispenses just the right amount into your cup. Just place over a cup when ready and watch the tea flow! Great for people who like to control the amount of tea in their cups or for sharing with others. I first encountered this at Max Brenner in Las Vegas and thought it was so cool. Teapots are 30 percent off right now for the holidays.

Big Sur Bakery stollen

Big Sur Bakery stollen. Photo from Big Sur Bakery.

Big Sur Bakery stollen loaf: This holiday bread loaf, with layers of butter, almond paste, rummed raisins and house-candied citrus zest, all coated with granulated sugar is an elevated take on the traditional German stollen bread. Big Sur Bakery’s stollen would be a treat for anyone who appreciates artisan foods.

My Fat Dad by Dawn Lerman: Author Dawn Lerman, who has written for the New York Times’ Well blog, tells the story of growing up with a parent who struggled with his weight in her book, My Fat Dad: A Memoir of Food, Love, and Family, with Recipes. Part memoir, part cookbook, My Fat Dad offers insight into how our parents affect the trajectory of our lives, as Lerman’s father’s near-constant diets and yo-yoing weight prompted her love of food and cooking, as well as healthy eating. At the end of each chapter, Lerman gives us recipes for some of the dishes mentioned, many of which come from her beloved grandmother. An easy read with lots of heart.

 

 

11

12 2015

Holiday gift guide for foodies

Still working your way through that holiday gift list? If you’re shopping for someone who likes food more than your average Joe, then check out these goodies in this holiday gift guide for foodies.

Pretzel necklace from Food52

Pretzel necklace

Pretzel necklace

Food52 also carries necklaces with pendants shaped like whisks, rotelle pasta, crawfish claws and more. All are adorable. All should be on holiday gift guides. Because food jewelry.

The Chef Says book

The Chef Says

The Chef Says

Chock full of funny and insightful quotes, The Chef Says makes a nice gift for that person who is really into what his or her favorite chef may have to say, even when not in the kitchen.

Clean Plates book

Clean Plates

Clean Plates

For the healthful eater, there are the Clean Plates books, which bills itself as “Zagat with a healthy twist.” So far the books are available in Los Angeles and New York City versions, and are also able to be personalized.

Huckleberry cookbook

Huckleberry cookbook

Huckleberry cookbook

From the creative mind of Zoe Nathan, pastry chef extraordinaire at Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe, comes the cookbook of the same name. This is great for the baker on your list, as it contains recipes of many of the bakery’s favorites, both sweet and savory.

Anthropologie gold monogram mugs

Anthropologies gold monogram mugs

Anthropologie gold monogram mugs

Because who doesn’t want their initial in gold?

16

12 2014

Finding America’s Best Restroom

Julian Serrano restroom

Julian Serrano restroom. Photo by Caroline on Crack.

When you’re out and about shopping and eating, finding a decent restroom is crucial. And when you find one that’s actually really nice, it can be a pleasant surprise, right?

Then why not nominate that business for having Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom?

Cintas’ survey editor recently reached out to me to help spread the word about the contest and get nominations for America’s Best Restroom (Canada’s Best Restroom will also be named). A couple of my personal favorites are the public restroom at The Grove shopping mall in Los Angeles with its marble floors and countertops, real towels and plush seating areas, and the restroom at Julian Serrano restaurant in the Aria hotel in Las Vegas, where Spanish language lessons are piped in. Nothing like tapas with a side of education, right?

Here’s the contest info:

Any restroom in the United States that is open to the public is eligible (previous winners will be eligible for reconsideration after one year). All nominations are accepted online through the nomination page. Nominated restrooms are considered by a selection committee based on eligibility, style, comments from the nomination and cooperation with the process. Up to 10 finalists will be announced in September, at which time the public will be asked to cast its votes. The winner will be announced in late fall.

Last year’s winner was the restroom at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. I’m not a big fan of unisex restrooms, but this one looks pretty cool. I especially like the foot-pedal-as-faucet-control idea. Take a look:

21

04 2014

Fashion I’m currently coveting

What inevitably happens to me every Christmas is I end up either buying a bunch of stuff for myself, or if I’ve managed to stop myself from buying something then, I’ll keep thinking about it. And thinking about it. And thinking about it. Until I covet so much that I write a post about coveting fashion.

So here are some fashion items that I hope to get this year. Some are of-the-moment, but many are staples that I’ve been looking for but haven’t yet found “the one.”

Chunky cardigan sweater

Love the look, but it always seems to look better on a hanger/obnoxiously skinny model. I can’t figure out how to not look “chunky” in it. Maybe it’s not meant for me?

Chunky cardigan sweater

Chunky cardigan sweater

Aztec-patterned cardigan sweater

This one is just for fun. Big pattern on a layering piece means I can remove it if I decide it’s too much. But worn as a statement piece, it should work just fine.

Aztec-patterned cardigan sweater

Aztec-patterned cardigan sweater

Flat-heeled booties

I want an alternative to flats or sneakers for a casual-yet-stylish look. And I want to be comfortable. Always.

Flat-heeled booties

Flat-heeled booties

Perfect light-colored clutch

So many times I’ve found myself in need of a light-colored clutch, but have been empty-handed (literally). Also, an empty foldover clutch looks lovely, but what does it look like when there’s actually stuff in it?

Fold-over clutch

Fold-over clutch

Perfect black bag

The albatross of handbags. Does anyone actually find this? Here are a couple of styles I’ve been eyeing (imagine them in black, obviously).

J.Crew Teddie Satchel

J.Crew Teddie Satchel

J.Crew Biennial Hobo

J.Crew Biennial Hobo

Moto jacket

I’m especially loving moto jackets made with mixed materials. And that sideways zipper just screams cool.

Leather and wool moto jacket

Leather and wool moto jacket

If you have any suggestions that fit these bills, let me know. I’d love to hear and see what you think!

05

01 2014

How to find the best holiday shopping deals

Poshmark app

Poshmark app

Do you have a long list of people you need to buy Christmas gifts for but are short on cash? Or maybe you want to get your friends and family something different this year. Or maybe you just love good holiday shopping deals (I fall in to all three of these categories!).

Then consider some of these handy websites that will help you save money and find interesting gifts.

If you’re mainly looking to save some dough, then Slickdeals and Fatwallet are two good places to start. These sites aggregate discounts and sales from all over the Internet and even feature forums where you can discuss said deals with fellow shoppers.

If you’re looking for a good deal (sometimes a very good deal) on local (most of these sites offer deals in several cities) events, dining, services and stores, then LivingSocial, Groupon, Lifebooker, Goldstar and Gilt City are great bets. Goldstar specializes in events and entertainment, such as deeply discounted tickets to concerts and musicals. But the others include discounted prices on everything from flying trapeze lessons and clay pigeon shooting to yoga classes and jewelry. There are even travel deals, with discounted hotel stays!

If you’re looking for a less expensive way to buy stuff, then shopping via the Poshmark app might just be for you. It’s basically a place to resell and buy items from individuals, but that often means getting a great deal (you can negotiate!) on gently used or never-used (look for the NWT “new with tags” or NWOT “new without tags” designations) goods. The app is meant for the buying and selling of clothing and accessories, but you’ll find other things such as cosmetics, home goods and electronics on there, too. There are even sellers trying to offload authentic luxury items — think Chanel sunglasses or Louis Vuitton handbags. I’ve had some success selling on the app and have purchased some nice pieces, including a practically new Cynthia Rowley jacket for $25.

If the idea of purchasing something from someone you’ve never met freaks you out a little, there are always the limited-time flash sale sites Gilt, Ideeli, OpenSky, Zulily, Hautelook and Rue La La. Many of these sites offer high-end clothing, accessories, shoes, and even home and food items, at a discount but only for a limited time. Zulily is specifically geared toward mothers, mothers-to-be and families, and OpenSky sells all kinds of things via curated “shops,” with recommendations from big names, such as chefs Tom Colicchio and José Andrés, tennis star Serena Williams, and actress Jennie Garth.

Do you have more recommendations for frugal shopping? Share your thoughts; I’d love to hear them!

11

12 2013

Flavour Gallery whets appetites for stylish shirts

2013 LAFW tee

2013 LAFW tee. From Flavour Gallery.

If you’ve been to some of the country’s major food events, including LA Food & Wine, LA Times The Taste, Pebble Beach Food & Wine, and New York City Wine & Food Festival, then you’ve seen Flavour Gallery‘s T-shirts. The vintage wash and modern prints make these event shirts way cooler than the typical festival apparel.

Flavour Gallery has also teamed up with celebrity food personalities, including Chris Cosentino, Andrew Zimmern and Jenn Louis, to create unique food-inspired designs. Remember those stylish LudoBites T-shirts the pop-ups’ staffers wore? Those were Flavour Gallery’s, too.

Husband-and-wife team Erin and Alfredo Malatesta founded the company a couple of years ago after 10 years in the fashion industry as an expression of their love for food.

“We had spent many years designing and manufacturing for other brands and wanted to create something that was near and dear to our hearts,” Erin said. “At the time, there was no lifestyle brand focused on food — something that you would wear to express how passionate you are about cooking, being a chef, festivals or wine.”

If you order a shirt online, it’ll arrive wrapped like a piece of freshly butchered meat (this is a good thing), like so:

Flavour Gallery package

Flavour Gallery package

This style, called Classy Utensils, features some on-trend neon print on a soft burnout tee. I received a size medium, and Erin was right when warning me that this style runs small because even the medium is snug. I recommend a large if you like a looser fit.

Classy Utensils T-shirt

Classy Utensils T-shirt

While I’m generally not a big fan of tees with graphics, Flavour Gallery’s shirts are fun stuff for those of us who enjoy food and food-related things. That’s me, natch.

Note: This shirt was complimentary.

28

09 2013

This year’s Labor Day Sales!

J.Crew denim labor day sales

J.Crew denim. From J.Crew.

Don’t miss out on the long weekend’s Labor Day sales!

Gap
Adult t-shirts $10 and baby tees $8 Thursday, Aug. 29, only
Up to 40 percent off select styles through Monday, Sept. 2
In stores and online

OpenSky
85 percent off clearance

Banana Republic
40 percent off purchase online and in stores with code BRWEEKEND through Monday, Sept. 2
Extra 20 percent off when you open a BananaCard in store by Monday, Sept. 2

Old Navy
30 percent off entire store or 35 percent off when you use your Old Navy, Gap or Banana Card online (with code SPREE) and in stores
40 percent off all adult Famous jeans (not combinable with other discounts) in store only
Through Monday, Sept. 2

Anthropologie
New items added to sale, and extra 25 percent off home sale items through Monday, Sept. 2

Diane von Furstenberg
30 percent off pre-fall 2013 collection online and in stores through Monday, Sept. 2

J.Crew
25 percent off denim Thursday, Aug. 29, only
Extra 30 percent off final sale items in stores and online with code HELLO30
Free shipping on orders $100+

J.Crew Factory
40 to 50 percent off everything online and in stores through Monday, Sept. 2

West Elm
15 percent off sofas, sectionals and upholstered accent chairs
15 percent off mirrors
20 percent off laundry and cleaning
Extra 30 percent off pillows and throw blanket markdowns with code XTRAPILLOWS
Up to 30 percent off bedding
30 percent off select rugs
Online and in stores through Monday, Sept. 2

C. Wonder
25 percent off full-price items online and in store with code LABORDAY through Monday, Sept. 2

Ann Taylor
30 percent off full-price items
Extra 40 percent off sale items
In stores and online

Barnes & Noble
15 percent off any item in stores and online with code BWJQV61LMZ6E3 through Monday, Sept. 2

H&M
Items available in store and online starting at $5 through Monday, Sept. 2

Lifebooker
Extra 20 percent off Loot with code LABORDAY

Travelocity
Extra 15 percent off hotel bookings with code GOWEEKEND15E Friday, Aug. 30, only

Gilt City
20 percent off with code THANKS20 through Monday, Sept. 2

Piperlime
25 percent off full-price women’s jeans with code DENIM through Tuesday, Sept. 3

Topshop
Extra 20 percent off sale items

Macy’s
Extra 20 percent off (15 percent off home, excluding furniture and mattresses) with code DEALS through Monday, Sept. 2
Free shipping on orders $99+

Williams-Sonoma
Extra 15 percent off clearance items with code SAVENOW
Free shipping with code LABORDAY
15 percent off table top with code LABORDAY
20 percent off cooking tools with code TOOLS20
20 percent off soap and lotion
Up to 75 percent off outdoor
20 percent off Williams-Sonoma cookware
In stores and online through Monday, Sept. 2

29

08 2013

Democratizing fashion with Stylyt

Hayden Harnett x Stylyt Toughen Up Cuff

Hayden Harnett x Stylyt Toughen Up Cuff

If you’re into fashion, then I’m sure you’ve toyed with the idea of creating your own designs, or at least tweaking an existing one to fit your particular style. That’s where Stylyt comes in.

Stylyt is an online community where you can customize designs from the likes of Lovers + Friends, Brandy Pham, Heet, and one of my personal favorites Hayden-Harnett, all with their blessings. Then, Stylyt members vote on their favorite designs, and the winning ones are actually manufactured and sold exclusively on Stylyt.com as limited edition pieces. The best part is, if you vote for the winning design, you get first dibs and a discount on buying it. And, if your design wins, then you get it for free. NICE.

That means you could potentially score a high quality piece like this Hayden-Harnett Toughen Up cuff made from American-tanned cow leather. It would look great with some leather leggings or a moto jacket. The eggplant color is gorgeous, too. One thing to note: it’s on the small side, even for me, and I have small wrists.

A new designer is introduced every week, so there are plenty of designs to play with on Stylyt. This is good news for anyone who has ever thought that a shirt, dress or accessory would be perfect if only one or two things were different — which is to say, just about everyone.

Hayden-Harnett x Stylyt Toughen Up cuff

Hayden-Harnett x Stylyt Toughen Up cuff

Note: This cuff was complimentary.

21

08 2013

Product review: Live Good organic cotton bedsheets

Live Good Organic Cotton Sateen Sheets

Live Good Organic Cotton Sateen Sheets. From Live Good.

Live Good, Inc., is definitely one-of-a-kind. Not only does it make its products — bedding and decorative pillows — with fully certified organic cotton, the company also manufactures in the United States using sustainably sourced materials, including organic and renewable kapok fibers, unfinished wood buttons, and formaldehyde-free water-based inks.

All this results in unique items, including bedsheets, which I had the opportunity to try. Live Good’s organic cotton sateen sheets are unlike any I’ve ever had. They’re really soft, despite having a thread count of just 300, and they have the slightest bit of texture that makes sleeping on them a unique experience. The fitted sheet comes with a lot of room for a tall mattress — one with a pillow top, for instance — but once you wash and dry it, it shrinks a lot. Actually, you’re supposed to wash and dry it before using it for the best fit, so follow the instructions!

The only thing is, like most sheet sets, these are not cheap and weigh in at a hefty $250. But, if you’re concerned about the environment and fair labor practices, which Live Good is also a proponent of, then purchasing these should be a no-brainer.

Live good, my friends.

Note: Sheets were complimentary.

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14

05 2013