Home & Garden Blog » Gifts

My friend Kasey recently got married and I was thinking of unique wedding gifts that will stand out from the everyday china and tea sets that people tend to purchase.

I came across this Personalized Beveled Glass Photo Frame from Personal Creations. You’ll make their wedding day memories even more treasured with this gracefully curved frame. It stands on its own, and is meticulously engraved for truly a one-of-a-kind gift. We’ll engrave the invitation in script as shown into the glass to make a cherished keepsake.

Choose from a gold or silver frame. Warning, please enter and review text carefully; item can not be returned once engraved.

Price $49.95

To purchase or shop for the Personal Beveled Wedding Photo Frame, click here.

Mother’s Day is a week from Sunday, so don’t forget to buy Mom a special gift! Roses are classic but a tad expected, I say this year you go with Tulips! They are bright, beautiful and a breathe of fresh air!

Right now at ProFlowers they are offering the featured bouquet for only $19.99!

Plus take advantage of the following floral coupons to save money on your Mother’s Day Flowers:

Save 15% Off at Proflowers (no code required just click the link)

Save 15% Off $39.99 at 1-800 Flowers with coupon code: CPMTN15

Save 15% Off FTD Floral Arrangements (no code required, just click this link)

Flowers aren’t your style, then shop for Discount Mother’s Day gifts at: Best Mother’s Day Discounts  

Still searching for the perfect gift for your Mom? Well so am I! I say we help each other out, here are some great ideas for Mother’s Day. Do you have any gift ideas for me?

Really set the bar high, go personal this year! I think a handwritten note from yours truly saying exactly how you feel about your mother coupled with maybe a family picture or a solo of your beautiful mug would be a great gift for Mom. Shows you care, that your remotely creative and she will treasure the sentiment for years to come.

Personalized Mother’s Day Gift Frame - $24.95

Flowers are a classic! Good for many and most occasions as I like to put it. This Mother’s Day Arrangement from Cheap Flowers is a beautiful and timeless staple. Let’s face it you can’t go wrong with a fragrant and colorful bouquet!

Mother’s Day Arrangement - $55.00

If your mom is anything like mine all you really have to do is send over some sweets for the sweet! Ha! I can’t count how many times I have purchased a gift box of cookies or candies for the woman, yet it never fails to please. Why mess with a good formula! Mrs. Beasleys has a wide variety of gift baskets for Mother’s Day. This particular package serves 8 and contains a delicious assortment of Mrs. Beasley’s famous Mini-Muffins, Cookies, Brownie Bars and our signature chocolate Truffle Cookies, made with Ghirardelli® chocolate. The woven basket is lined with plastic to double as a colorful spring planter.

Mrs. Beasleys Mother’s Day Gift Basket - $49.95

Regardless of what you purchase for Mom this year, I am sure she will love it. Mainly because she loves you!

BONUS:

Check out the slew of Mother’s Day Gift Coupons and Gift Ideas, click here!  

Let’s review this week in Smarter Home & Garden Blog, in case you missed it!

Well first of all its Easter Sunday Week for all you Bunny lovers or religious folks!

Monday started the week off with a bang for everyone who enjoys the green ale! Check out this week’s funny photo of the week that is both frightening and festive. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Great Deals are few and far between, don’t miss this 16 piece discount set from Sango.com...

Let the new spring breeze sweep through your house with discount wood plantation shutters...

Can you believe that these salty egg holders are completely biodegradable, edible and help keep your eggs fresh and non-smelly! I couldn’t either, check out this great design concept…

Last but certainly not least, browse the adorable collection of discount Easter themed napkins, guest towels, tea sets and more at our Easter Deal of the Week!

Earlier this week I received a gift from my friend Karla because she knows how much I love candles! I am quite particular about my candle selection, I use them all around the house. I do not like the ones that emit aggressive scents nor do I like the ones that do not burn clean and leave a gooey mess at the bottom of the jar. Fellow candle lovers know this is a sign of poor quality, lord only knows what you have just burned and exposed your body and house too! Once you start using quality candles, you never look back…

Well she discovered this awesome brand called Black & Light Candles and sent me a couple:

Here they are in all their glory, gracing my lovely bed stand. First things first, I’m all about packaging. I don’t care who you are, you take the same quality item, wrap one lovingly in tissue paper and an artful box and take the other and wrap it in butcher paper, well I’m reaching for the pretty one. Call me fickle, packaging is a girls best friend!

Good packaging tells me this merchant cares about quality, customer satisfaction and style! That said, look at the classy packaging that Black & Light candles come in…

The candles arrived in these beautiful boxes, that are completely re-usable! Mine are currently housing my vast collection of costume jewelry. Plus they didn’t bombard it with sticky logos and banners that don’t peel off (I hate that..) and on the inside of the boxes is a quote from the lovely Anne Frank:

Makes you want to seize the day and all that huh?

Here’s why these candles rock:

• Once lit, the candle literally glowed! Hard to describe but awesome. The entire pillar emanated a lovely glow from tip to tail. Normally candles only emit a light from the top, near the flame, I don’t know how they constructed these candles but they GLOW! Super cool.
• Completely Scent FREE! Burns clean, pure and scentless! No headaches, no cheesy pineapples or fruit cornucopia scents drifting through your bathroom and hallways.
• They are beautiful, I can see them highlighting a variety of home decor settings. Plus, they have a wide selection of styles and patterns to choose from, so have at it.

Honestly, I can’t stop gushing about them! Don’t take my word for it, see for yourself…you’ll thank me, I know it!

To shop or browse the Black & Light Candle Company, Click here!

Have a cup of steaming hot love! If your lady love or gentlemen caller is a fan of the TEAS, consider purchasing this heart shaped teacup and saucer set by BitsandPieces.com!

Beverages take on the shape of a heart within the cups sculpted interior, no sugar needed because that design concept is dripping with sweetness. A unique and thoughtful gift for any occasion.

Was: $12.99 Now: $7.99

To purchase this heart shaped teacup and saucer from BitsandPieces.com, click here.

To shop for discount drinkware, assorted Teacups and Saucers, click here.

Valentine’s Day is meant to express your love and commitment for that special someone. If you do not have that special someone it is yet another opportunity to consume copious amounts of chocolate until you shock your insulin system into sweet oblivion. All I am suggesting is that there are options a plenty for everyone.

If the flowers, chocolate, and candy gift route is not your style; shop for more lasting gift options that you can treasure for years to come. Check out the deep discounts on all Valentine’s Day Gifts at Mikasa.

The Valentine Covered Heart (featured above) retails for only $9.99 and the Heart Dish is only $4.99!

Plus utilize this COUPON ALERT!

Save 20% on all Valentine’s Gifts

Use coupon code VDSAVE during checkout to save 20% on all Valentine’s Gifts at Milkasa.

Expiration: 02/08/2008 Coupon Code: VDSAVE

For more Mikasa Coupons, Promotions & Mikasa Coupons Codes, click here.

What can I say, I have a love jones right now. So I was thinking of some good ideas for Valentine’s Day besides or in addition too, getting your loved one: flowers, chocolate or candy.

So I thought it would be sweet if you maybe made breakfast in bed! Extra love points if you made the pancakes, heart-shaped! Women love details (seriously, we do) and its been my experience that it’s all the “little” attempts at chivalry that we remember best. For example, the pancakes might taste like poop, but the heart details and the effort will brand a memory for eternity.

Heart Pancake Molds -Set of 6 : Only costs $7.98 at Lillian Vernon (click on image or this link to purchase)

My second idea was for maybe younger, newer couples. You could cook a homemade dinner and end it with a sloppy but adorable heart-shaped cake in her or his favorite flavor. Plus, feel free to spice up the dinner with flavored heart-shaped Jello shots, maybe by the end of the meal you can wear the chocolate from the heart cake in lieu of eating it! Hey, I’m just saying…

My point is this second plan is not for the faint of heart and these contrived holidays are only as good as you want them to be!

Martellato Uniflex Heart Mold: Only costs $14.98 at Instawares, LLC (click on image or this link to purchase)

Martellato Jelliflex Heart Mold: Costs $48.97 at Instawares, LLC (click on image or this link to purchase)

For deep discounts and tons of free coupons check out: Best Valentine’s Day Discounts & Coupons

Let’s delve into the crux of the matter, Valentine’s Day Gifts! I am going to make your life easy and focus on the fundamentals; FLOWERS, CHOCOLATE and CANDY.

1. Let’s start with flowers, in an attempt to keep things reasonably priced I focused my search based on aesthetics first and price range second. The result is the “All My Heart” floral bouquet by Teleflora.

This “All My Heart” Valentine’s Day Floral Bouquet is composed of a mix of white and lavender flowers such as tulips; ranunculus; miniature carnations and button spray chrysanthemums. Accented with fresh heather formed into the shape of a pink heart it is delivered in a clay pot with saucer. Price - $49.95

To purchase the “All My Heart” Floral Bouquet, click here.

To shop for more discount Valentine Floral Arrangements, click here.

2. Okay so next stop, Chocolate Shop! You can always go the conventional route and purchase your sweetheart a heart shaped box of chocolates OR you can get my personal favorite: chocolate covered strawberries!! What I did was visit Valentine’s Day Coupons & Discounts page at CouponMountain.com and found a sweet deal on 1/2 dozen hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberries from Proflowers.com.

These incredible, mouthwatering creations are simply divine! Each succulent strawberry is hand-dipped and covered with nuts, coconut or additional drizzle. Use the following coupon code links to get 20% Off the Valentine chocolate treats at Proflowers.com. Originally priced at $37.99 you pay: $29.99!

Save 20% on 1/2 dozen Hand-Dipped Strawberries - Proflowers.com

Save 20% on 1/2 dozen Hand-Dipped Strawberries from Secret Spoon Sweets, only $29.99 at Proflowers.com.

Expiration: 02/14/2008

Extra Bonus! Never let it be said that I was not open to helpful “commentary”. It was brought to my attention that not all “heart shaped” chocolate boxes are conventional, :). So I would like to present Chatham’s Fine Chocolates: Valentines Collection!

Love Notes From The Heart - Valentines Chocolate Truffle Collection
A unique one-a-kind Valentines gift - reserve yours today! 6 truffles with cute valentines messages (like “Be Mine”) painted on the top, and 8 hand painted artisan chocolate hearts from the world’s top chocolatiers.

Includes gift box with ribbon, personalized gift card, and chocolate ID cards to tell your lucky someone what each chocolate’s flavor is. Looks absolutely delicious, and makes a unique and thoughtful gift. I stand corrected, I find it completely “un-conventional” in the best possible way!

To purchase or shop for the Love Notes from the Heart- Valentines Chocolate Collection, click here.

Also in spirit of discount shopping utilize the following VALENTINE’S DAY COUPONS for this site:

Valentines Savings on Luxury Chocolates ($5 off) (Chatham’s Fine Chocolates)

Expiration: 02/10/2008 Coupon Code: V8NCAA

OR
Luxury Chocolates: $10 off a custom 30 piece box! (Chatham’s Fine Chocolates)

Expiration: 02/10/2008 Coupon Code: 9NC3BOX

3. Good ol’ Fashioned Heart Shaped Valentine Candies!

To purchase any of featured Heart Shaped Valentine’s Day Candy, click here.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

So I don’t know if I mentioned this already, but I am currently in China, on a business slash shopping slash eating trip! So you can imagine why I was inspired to draft a post about the marvel that is chopsticks! They are available in assorted styles, designs, textures and sizes. The beauty of this trip is I have learned that levels of chopstick skills range from expert (eating slippery peanuts and assorted tiny morsels of food) to novice (huge chunks of food being dropped or flung across the table).

Due to the collection of shirts I now own that bear the stain of foods that slipped from chopsticks and landed on my chest. I searched for novice chopsticks that can help “beginners” to harness their Zen and master the power of the chopsticks! Check out the Rookie Chopsticks that are offered by Sur La Table. They are available in sets of 4 and only cost $7.95!

More importantly they are easy to use and will teach you how to position your fingers and help you get a feel for the level of pressure you should apply. Some other things I learned about chopsticks from the locals and friends are:

• You should never spear your food with the chopsticks, apparently it’s rude and bad luck.
• You should never play drums with your chopsticks on your plate and tea cup, apparently its not funny and evokes looks of bewilderment.
• You should never strike your chopsticks together (to remove the shards of splintered wood) above the table, rather due so below the table.

Those are my major tips for now. If I learn anymore during the duration of my trip I shall update this post. Once you pass your novice level of chopstick use, feel free to start shopping and using decorative and beautifully crafted chopsticks.

购物 (Go Shopping!)