Home & Garden Blog

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!

When you’re ringing in the new year with your favorite red wine, this Oxygenation Set by L’espirit & Levin ($88) makes a perfect accompaniment. By increasing the air flow, the aromas are awakened allowing you to enjoy the red wine to its fullest potential.

Two years ago, my best friend Michelle got married and in lieu of the typical all girl’s weekend of debauchery in Sin City we went on a wine tour in Napa Valley. It was at the Robert Mondavi winery that I formed my novice foundation in the wonders of wine tasting, drinking and choosing.

Suffice to say the one catch phrase that my friends and I walked away with is “vulcanizing my esters” which basically meant swirling our wine (vulcanizing) in our wine glasses enabling the wine to breathe, (oxygenate) stirring the esters in the wine to full, delicious potential.

My bestfriend Michelle…

My friend Denise enjoying the goods…

Us learning to Vulcanize our Esters!

It was really a great trip and I recommend it to everyone. Not to mention the fact that I learned how to enjoy wine and the importance of oxygenating the esters. Which is why I chose to highlight the Wine Oxgenation Set by L’espirit & Levin.

Happy New Year’s Everyone!

To purchase the Wine Oxygenation Set, click here.

Well I don’t know about you, but I think the hardest people to buy gifts for are the parentals! It’s always a constant struggle between sentimental vs. materialistic. This year I chose to go sentimental, we took family pictures. By “we” I mean me and the siblings, I think the last time we took family photo ops was circa 1990’s. And let me tell you, we (my family) have all grown wider! I’m just saying….*sad clown tears*…

That said, I have been shopping for original photo frames to house these new shots. In addition to the large portraits the photographer framed for us, how will I display all the additional snap shots? Well I like the following frames:

This is the Women’s I Heart Photo Collage Frame.

I think it’s the perfect display case for my mother. She really digs this sappy stuff. Plus any occasion to display to guests and family that she is the best mother and did a bang up job raising us is always a safe bet as far as gift giving. ha!

Here come the specs and price:

• Price: $29.95
• Holds 7 or 9 (3×3) photos
• Frame measures: 26-1/2″Wx6-1/2″H and is wall mountable

In the event you don’t need the frames for your parentals, it is also available for sisters, friends, and grandparents. You can even get one done in your friends or families moniker, spell out their name and give the perfect personalized gift. It will remind them of how sweet and thoughtful you are, and they will feel it necessary to increase the monetary donation they were planning on gifting you this Christmas! (Those are my super favorite gifts, little red money envelopes!)

Also be sure to utilize the following coupon code SIXTEN and get 10% OFF your entire order. This coupon expires on 12/31/07

Hope this helps any super last-minute shoppers who are still struggling with personalized gift ideas! You have officially 4 days left to get something meaningful and heartfelt…you procrastinator YOU!

Good Luck & Happy Holidays!

To purchase the Name Frame Photo Collage picture frame, click here.

To purchase the Women’s I Heart Mom Photo Collage picture frame, click here.

To purchase the Friends or Sisters Photo Collage picture frame, click here.

Still not good enough for you, shop for more Wood, Glass or Metal Picture frames at low prices, by clicking here!

OK, OK so this year I promised myself that I would not wait until the last minute to do my Christmas shopping. And for the first time in maybe 3 years I am on top of things!

Honestly I can’t take full credit for this Holiday miracle, I owe it all to the magic of the internet! So far I have accomplished all my gift giving online and have been stress free because of it. I have used all the tricks; free shipping, free gift wrapping, coupon codes…

Plus, I love getting things in the mail so an added bonus has been receiving the packages in the mail, opening them and placing them under the tree, awaiting distribution.

That said I found this adorable floral bouquet that is supposedly for “Birthdays” but I wouldn’t mind receiving the arrangement for the Holidays. I would use it as the centerpiece of my Holiday dinner table or as the centerpiece of the dessert table. Either way I think its pretty and would make a wonderful gift.

“A Gift For You” floral arrangement is sold by Teleflora for $39.95! A pave arrangement of fresh flowers in shades of purple and green is designed in the shape of a gift box; then decorated with a green satin ribbon and a rose.

As an added bonus, save 15% Off your order by entering code: AFPX15 at checkout!

I hope your Holiday shopping is going well, I will do my best to keep you posted on good coupons and deals.

To purchase the “A Gift For You” floral arrangement, click here.

To shop for more Flowers, Roses, Bouquets & Floral arrangements, click here.

An awesome substitute to the traditional, usually “re-gifted” hard as a rock FRUIT CAKE is a box full of sweets and chocolates. Check out this little gem I found at Mrs. Beasleys chalk full of goodies.

It’s there BRAND NEW collection of bite-sized holiday confections that makes it easy to enjoy and share the great taste of Mrs. Beasley’s. Includes 50 snappy Gingerbread Mini-cookies, 12 brand new Brownie Bites and 8 signature Chocolate Truffle Cookies, dusted in powdered sugar. That is a total of 70 pieces of bite sized heaven folks!

The elegant keepsake chest is perfect for storing holiday cards or serving accessories after you have scarfed down all the sweet treats. This Holiday Treasure Chest retails for only $34.95!

Plus save 15% Off entire order if you use the following code: PERF at checkout!

To purchase Mrs. Beasley’s Holiday Treasure Chest, 70 Piece Set…click here.

Also if your still pondering what to get your neighbor, co-worker or mail man? What’s the perfect gift that says I appreciate you and Happy Holidays even if I can’t always remember your name...why a Holiday Gift Basket of course!

Send a towering-full Holiday assortment of all the best, FOR the best. Sweet and juicy orchard fruits - 2 apples and 2 pears = are only the beginning of this fabulous array! 4 Mini holiday decorated sugar cookies, 4-oz. peppermint bark squares, chocolate-covered cherries, bridge mix, Christmas Jordan almonds and Reindeer Candy Korn all send the same message of holiday spirit and appreciation. Plus your purchase includes a FREE personalized gift message.

The Holiday Gift Basket featured is offered by FTD.com and costs $49.99.

To purchase the Noel Holiday Gift Tower featured above, click here.

Still not convinced? Shop for Gifts, Flowers, Cards & Gifts Baskets here.

Create great Holiday treats for your guests, family and friends with Kaiser cookie cutters sets for only $2.95!!
The cookie cutters are made of high quality tinned steel, come in sets of 3 and are roughly 2 1/4 inches in diameter.

Makes a great gift, or busy work for the kiddos while you adults get to celebrating this season! The decorative options are endless and they look delicious to boot!

On top of that take an additional $6 dollars OFF! When you buy one dozen of any of the following cookie cutters. Choose the ones you like and mix and match.

When checking out please type the promotional code: 6OFF
Limited offer until supplies last.

There are many more cookie cutters you can buy and mix n’ match to utilize the $6 dollar additonal discount, click here if your interested in viewing all options at Kitchen Universe.

To shop or purchase the Cookie Cutter sets for $2.95, click here.