For the Princess in All of Us...

If you gotta work, might as well look good doing it, right?
Crystal Desk Accessories - $9.95-$29.95 at ZGallerie.
http://www.zgallerie.com/p-6108-crystal-desk-accessories.aspx



The most overused, but still super cute design of 2010... I have a few design junkie friends who Keep Calm pencils would be perfect for!
Keep Calm and Carry On Pencil Set - $10.95 at ZGallerie.
http://www.zgallerie.com/p-10245-keep-calm-and-carry-on-pencil-set.aspx

Just Sayin' Saturday

{via SwaggerGifts}

Just sayin'...

Short and Sweet: I Heart PJs

I am a pajama, PJ, sleepwear, loungewear (whatever you want to call it) girl. In a big way.

Don't get me wrong, I love getting dressed on a daily basis. I just wish I could go instantly from one to the other. (Being able to snap my fingers or wiggle my nose and get what I want... now THAT would be my superpower of choice.)

These super cute black and pink plaid pajamas from Victoria's Secret were on my Christmas/birthday list. Nick's family got them for me... and I love them. (Thanks, Kay & Glenn!!!)

LOVE them.

So soft, so comfy. They shrink just a tad, so if you also want some and are on the fence about sizing, just know that. I received a XS set and with just a bit of shrinking, they still fit well, just not as "slouchy" as they were before. ["Slouchy" is a necessary characteristic of good PJ sets ;-)]

Designers Downtown Market

Courtesy of Chix, here's a cool event going on for local shoppers this weekend:

Inspired by open-air flea markets in New York and Paris, the Designers' Downtown Market is your destination for a unique Mother's Day Gift or something for just for yourself.

Come 9am on Saturday, March 9, the parking lots of Ornamentea and Get Dressed will once again be transformed into a shopper's delight. With more than 50 vendors from Raleigh and beyond, the Designers' Downtown Market has become a sought–after venue for jewelry, bath & body products, wearable art, baby gifts, clothing, hand-blown glass, beads, felted items, pottery and dare we say, more!

With crepes from Coffee & Crepes, and gourmet hot dogs and veggie dogs from Queenies Weenies, it's a great way to spend your Saturday.

Designers Downtown Market
Date(s): Saturday, May 9, 2009 (raindate Sunday, May 10)
Time: 9am until 3 pm
Location: Parking lots of Ornamentea and Get Dressed, 509 & 600 N. West Street, Raleigh
Contact: 919-828-7529 for more information
Website: www.DesignersDowntownMarket.com for a list of vendors

A Giveaway for All Beachy Gals

My sister received a square/rectangular-shaped version of this pendant necklace from Swagger Gifts for her birthday last year:This week, Swagger is giving away a pair of matching monogrammed earrings on their facebook page! So if my sister who has already commented doesn't win... guess what she's getting for her birthday this year :-)
To be entered to win, just comment directly on the picture on facebook... don't comment here unless you just really want to!

PS: No, my sister doesn't blog so she won't read this... I hope!

If you don't win or would like to buy extra for friends or family, here's a link to all of the monogrammable shell items from Swagger Gifts!

{Double Post} The Shop with a Conscience

I can't believe this is another thing I've never remember to blog about, because it's one of my Cameron Village favorites - Beleza: A Fair Trade Boutique.Described on their website as a place where:...you will find unique and extraordinary textiles and hats, jewelry and art that catch your eye and touch your heart.

Beyond offering beautiful things, Beleza exists to provide hard working people from countries around the world – and here in the US – essential support to provide daily necessities for their families.

While the store is fair trade, the major emphasis of Beleza is to treat people as they should be treated, and assist in global economic development.Beleza is owned and operated by two of the most wonderful people I know: P. Dail and his wife Sara.

I received the following email today from Sara about a new addition coming to their store that I am really excited about:Recently we met Audias from Honduras. Born without arms, he paints with his feet. We will have his work in the store very soon and encourage you to come see this work. Audias has no other means of support. We plan to host a special event for you to meet him.I'll be sure to update when I hear more details!

In the mean time, go check out Beleza and become an addict of their amazing selection of goods with a heart, too.

Christmas Gift Ideas: For Your Favorite Vodka Drinker!

I know quite a few bloggin' gal pals who I'd give this next gift to :-)

(Lisa S. and Renee... consider this recommendation my e-gift to you all!)

From Ideal Bite:

Tru Vodka - get 'em toasty with liquor produced with fewer pesticides. This vodka's organic, goes down smoothly, and the company plants a tree for each bottle it sells. Also: lemon- and vanilla-infused flavors ($33).Booze with a conscience. I love it!!

PS - Ooh, they have gin, too! That's SO for Denise. When was the last time you heard about Tanqueray planting trees?

Swagger's facebook Friday

Last week's giveaway is a fine complement to the previous week's stemless wine glasses:Monogrammed Double Old Fashion Glasses



If you don't win, you can still snag them from Swagger for only $30.00 - a great price for personalized glassware!

PS - Dishwasher safe... wooh!Be sure to comment on the photo on Swagger's facebook page to be entered to win a set (for yourself or for a fantastic holiday gift for the non-wino on your list) and while you're there, click on "Become a Fan" (top right) so you'll get updated every week and not miss a single giveaway!

Christmas Gift Ideas: For Your Eco-Gal-Pal

This is what I'd love to get Renee for the holidays:

Oceana - adopt an endangered sea creature in someone's name, and they'll get a cookie cutter in the shape of the critter you select ($35-$100).Thanks Ideal Bite! I'm looking forward to tomorrow's daily email with green gifts fro $20-$49!

Ooh - while I'm at it, check out this nice little site:I just signed up for their email newsletter, too. Here's hoping the content is as appealing as the site design!

You Like Wine?

Oh really?

Well then you are going to LOVE Swagger's facebook giveaway this week.

Mandy is offering up a set of four super trendy stemless wine glasses (an awesome gift for your klutzy friends who have broken their share of glassware) and best part about them... they're monogrammed! *Woooh!* (Big shout out to all my HIMYM fans who commented all over my previous "Wooh girl" post.)

Ok, back to the giveaway.
Here's where you can find the stemless glasses on Swagger's website if you just can't wait (or if you're ready to grab a few sets for holiday gifts), but here is the link to Swagger's facebook page where you can become a fan so you'll get an update every Friday when a new giveaway goes up and you can also comment on the photo to be entered to win!

You Can't Believe Everything You Read

For everyone who has posted that silly chain letter about retail store and their (no-good) gift cards, here's the dirt from my local retail expert - read and repost, if you will:Retailers continue to address that e-mail...

I wrote a story that appeared in Saturday's News & Observer about an e-mail that has been circulating containing a long list of retailers that supposedly are going out of business and warning consumers not to buy gift cards from them this year.

There is no doubt that this year is the most challenging one that retailers have faced in a long time, and some of them will not make it. But as I said this weekend, some of the information in the e-mail is correct, some is old and some is flat-out wrong. It's a good reminder that we should not believe everything we read in an e-mail.Read the full scoop here and follow-up with her weekend report on that email.

Local Plans this Thursday and Sunday?

The best shopping events of the year are finally here - the 2nd Annual Holiday Preview Night benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the 6th Annual Holiday Open House!

Be sure to RSVP to Swagger's events on facebook (just check out the snazzy Swagger Gifts - Monogrammed and Unique Gifts & Accessories facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Swagger-Gifts-Monogrammed-and-Unique-Gifts-Accessories/26618281522), invite your favorite shopping partners, and get ready for some holiday fun!Here's the links to the event pages on Swagger's site as well as facebook, to make sharing these good times with your gal pals SUPER easy!
2nd Annual Holiday Preview Night benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
http://www.swaggergifts.com/holiday-preview-night-benefiting-leukemia-lymphoma-society
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=47378208224

6th Annual Holiday Open House
http://www.swaggergifts.com/holiday-open-house
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=32951948334

See you there!

PS - Dangit... there I go again with the holiday-esque post!

Get Your Tailgates Ready...

From Swagger's "Manic Monday" blog special (where every Monday - and other random days in between - you can snag special blog only savings for the store or on the website!):Chill in Style
You've got your monogrammed koozie, your beverages of choice, and that boring old ice chest that in the past has been known as the cooler. Boo to that.

Any totally coordinated tailgater like myself knows that monogrammed coolers are the perfect complement to any day on the boat, lunch by the pool, or (the fall sport we're all so anxiously awaiting) football tailgate! (For now, I think I can settle for the classic American sport that still allows you to bring your own snacks and brews in to the stands: NASCAR. For those of you who think I'm crazy for uttering those words... just google pictures of the adorable Casey Kahne or Carl Edwards... you'll be at the next race within three states to try and catch a climpse of these racecar hotties! Anyways - I digress.)

Stop by Swagger today between 10am and 6pm and get your monogrammed cooler in an array of colors (NC State Red for this Wolfpack girl!) with your initials, your family name, or your sorority's name embroidered across the front so that any WOW-ed fellow tailgaters will know who to ask for when looking for recommendations for storing their next chilled beverages. For today's blog special, you'll also save 15% by printing this blog or mentioning it in the store for those of you going green!

Definitely add Swagger's feed to your daily read list. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Like Any of My Friends Need a Reminder...

But for those of you who do, from Swagger:
Just throwing that out there... take it or leave it (but I do hope you take it ).

And the beauty of this little blog update - in true "I'm Ready for the Weekend!" fashion - is the above pictured wine stopper is this month's Thirsty 3rd Thursday blog special!

Grab this subtle wine stopper (AND ALL OTHER WINE STOPPERS for that matter) for 15% off today at Swagger until 6pm!

Be a good friend and stock up for any of your gal pals who may also enjoy a "subtle" reminder too!

Just print this blog or tell 'em Gina (or Lisa!) sent ya and you needed a reminder that a little fun never hurt anyone!

I mean, not that we'd ever a leave a bottle unfinished... but sometimes, we could all use a little reminder that fun is always welcome.

Rock & Shop Market!

This is SUCH a cool event for anyone who can attend! Check it out... you WON'T be disappointed!

Here's the info from the email newsletter:Mark your calendars for the 7th Rock & Shop Market next Saturday June 28th from 1-5pm at the Tir Na Nog in Downtown Raleigh, featuring over 30 emerging designers selling their wares and live performances by Red Collar & The Secret Theatre. In addition, there will be a silent auction at the event with proceeds benefiting Nest, an organization providing micro-loans to women entrepreneurs in third-world countries.

To preview the bands, designers and silent auction items visit www.rockandshopmarket.com.

See you next Saturday!
Michelle

PS - I'm still looking for volunteers, if you or someone you know is interested in helping out, please email me. Thanks!

By the way, what can you get there? Just take a look at these samples from the email as well:

PS - Volunteer to give Michelle a hand if you have time!

Discovery of the Day: Rita Wilcox

Just stumbled upon this cute online (I guess online only?) retailer: Rita Wilcox Accessories.

Thank you Some Like It Southern for the tip regarding the May sale - that's what led me to the site!

From a few minutes of browsing, I'm already a fan of a lot of the stuff in the "beach style" and "bridal" (always a bridesmaid!) categories and of course... the "sale" category!

PS - Heads up NC folks: RWA carries a lot of the same merchandise as Swagger Gifts (which I'm addicted to...) so definitely check to see if what you're looking for is available locally first and if not, shop away! There is a lot of unique items on both sites so be sure to visit both!