shoppingsmycardio gifts: the procrastinator's guide

well, we're officially past every shipping deadline there is...if you haven't ordered yet, you're resigned to the crowds at the mall or a grungy poinsetta from your neighborhood grocery store.

unless, of course, you're willing to get creative.

my favorite last-minute gift, and one i gave just yesterday, is a gift certificate to 20x200, a fabulous website that features limited edition art (200 of each) from semi-well-known artists for a cool $20. new pieces debut twice a week. you can purchase a "credit" gift certificate for $28.50 (you're covering the shipping costs too), which will let your recipient go online, pick out the piece of art of their choice, and it will arrive at their door with your compliments.

another great option for avoiding the mall crunch is to check out the "shop local" section on etsy.com. you can find loads of great gift options just a starbucks meet-up away. just pick your gift, and send the artist a message asking if the item might be available for pick-up. most of the folks on etsy are so sweet they'll probably even gift wrap it for you!

if neither of those work for you, or you're just ready to throw your hands up, i have to admit i'm still a fan of the cheesy homemade gift, but i do so prefer when it's thoughtful and specific to the recipient, not just the generic plate of cookies that gets passed around this time of year. have a friend that thinks your chicken enchiladas are to die for? go to the hardware store, pick up a pyrex, make her up a batch, and attach the recipe. have a serious cheese fiend in your life? head to whole foods, grab a few selections, a bottle of fig jam, and a cheese board, and you have a gift she'll be thanking her stars for well past new year's day.

(a big thanks to design sponge and lisa solomon for the gorgeous photo, above. if only my kitchen looked that great when i baked. and click here to check out lisa's banana bread recipe...yum!!)

what i want today: fabulous pajamas

okay, i don't know about you all, but i'm tired of gifts & ready to be selfish again!

whenever the weather turns cold, i get all excited about cozy, winter-weather attire. chunky sweaters, slippers, throw blankets...and pajamas. all of the cute, lacy stuff i want in the summer is suddenly ridiculous, and all i can think about is cuddling up in some men's-inspired PJs.

i recently came across these amazing designs by CapriRose, and can't seem to think of anything else! i love everything about these gorgeous designs. the colors, the contrasting collars and cuffs (so, so cute!), and the super-soft cotton they use for every pair (think about your favorite percale sheets...mmm). they'll set you back about $125, but if they're half as comfy as they are cute, they're worth every penny. plus 10% of the proceeds from some of their designs go to support new orleans charities, and i'm all about the giving-while-shopping phenom.

if you don't have a gift for a wonderful woman in your life yet, these are a can't-miss option. but for me, these are a gift i'm dying to give myself this year!

deal of the day: 25% off sitewide at tobi

honestly, the holiday sales are supposed to be after christmas! these pre-holiday discounts are slowly killing me. but, since i have no willpower whatsoever, and i assume my readers are just as challenged as i am in that respect, i'm going to go ahead and let you all know that tobi, one of my very favorite fashion sites, is offering 25% off all full-priced merchandise on its site, through the end of the year.

but okay, for those that are still holiday shopping, let's see if we can put this discount to good use. tobi is such a fabulous site that i think perhaps we can knock off your entire holiday list at once. watch me work...

for the hubs, i'd love to snag him a fabulous leather jacket, and no one does it better than mike & chris. right now, i'm leaning toward the super cool, but casual temple street style, which i know would become an instant favorite in his closet.

for mom, i always love red flower candles...they look gorgeous, they're topped with those fabulous dried flower petals that make for a gorgeous display, they smell divine, and they burn forever. pick up one or two in her favorite scents (i love the blood orange and french lavender). or, if she's more into fashion than fragrance, i think really lush cardigans are always a safe bet for mom. i love this one from eden, which is a great wardrobe staple. if she lives in a colder climate, or is just perpetually freezing (like my mom is), this cardigan coat by lily mcneal would be just perfect.

for a little sister, i think it's tough to go wrong with a funky graphic tee. if she's a rock star wannabe, she'll love the new tees by andy warhol for levis - my pick is this pink moto design. but if her style's more girly, i love this mod peacock tee by topless california, which is a great tunic length and perfect for layering.

for dad, you can up his 'cool factor' with this merino wool sweater by theory. or if he's still using that ancient bottle of old spice aftershave, try giving him this gift set from sharps barber shop to bring his morning routine into the 21st century.

brothers are a tough group to buy for, but i'm thinking i'll pick up a pair of these funky skull socks and a fabulously cool new wallet for my little bro, like maybe this black-and-green "loungemaster" by j.fold - even the name is perfect for him.

and....as long as i'm shopping for others, i think i probably deserve a little gift for myself, don't you? so, there's a very decent chance i'll be sneaking some paige denim, this gorgeous swing coat from (who else) lily mcneal, and maybe one of these beautiful italian linen scarves by love quotes. hmm, maybe i'll pick one up for mom too, while i'm at it...

if i can manage to rack up $250 in purchases (which shouldn't be tough), my whole order gets gift-wrapped for free, in tobi's gorgeous signature wrapping. that should leave me plenty of extra time for even more shopping! um...for others, of course.

shoppingsmycardio gifts: eco-savvy

gift-guide mania continues here at shoppingsmycardio. it seems like everyone's doing the green/eco-chic thing this year. and even though i'm about the least environmentally-friendly person ever (i actually traded in my hybrid for an SUV), i realize that i'm probably in the minority at this point. so, for those friends who are hopelessly devoted to yoga, mass transit, and composting, here are a few gifting ideas that are sure to make them swoon.

if you love the idea of getting a gift that gives back, but those "i made a donation in your name" cards feel a little anti-climactic, pick up one of the fabulously fashionable tees from the lovely folks over at conscience tees. for $30, you can grab a darling gift for her, and $5 of the purchase price goes to the earth-friendly organization of your choice. so, she can wear this darling polar bear with pride, knowing she gave a chunk of change to the world wildlife fund to help save the world.

tote bags are definitely the item du jour for the green girls this year. blame it all on anya hindmarch, though the truth is there are loads of cuter options out there. rather than making the tote the gift, i love the idea of stocking it with a few magazines your friend loves, maybe a new yoga mat, or just a book you read this year that you think everyone should read too. as for which tote to choose, the options are a little overwhelming, but here are a few of my favorites:

* this lunch tote ($24) over at three potato four is so adorable that it makes even me, the queen of eating out, want to brown-bag it.
* this je t'aime brooklyn tote ($12) is darling and cheeky, and the long handles mean it will actually fit over her shoulder.
* the totes over at alena hennessy's site are so gorgeous, it's pretty much impossible for me to choose. but i think i love the milla birds and the mirabel apricot (each, $64) best.

if she's zen at heart, but still perfectly accessorized, this meditation necklace is a gorgeous option. it's a vintage photo, reproduced and cast in resin - and just looking at it makes me peaceful. it'll be a conversation starter anywhere she goes.

or, if your friend is hopelessly devoted to feathering her oh-so-sustainable nest, she's sure to love this yummy flannel throw from unison. anything flannel makes me swoon when the weather's chilly, i'll admit. but throw in that fabulous (not to mention guy-friendly) pattern, and the fact that the cotton's all organic, and this is a gift that's sure to please, whether she bikes to work or secretly dreams of owning a humvee.

shoppingsmycardio gifts: on the road again...

i love having friends that travel...i think that travel-friendly gifts are some of the easiest and best finds out there. here's a list of a few that are sure to make the top of anyone's 'best gift' list this year.

for that person you know who's always jetting off to some new, exotic locale, i love picking up a box of luxe travel guides. these fabulously chic, pocket-size guides put fodor's to shame - they'll give her the very best tips for the top restaurants, spas, shopping, and oh so much more...without boring her with all of the mundane basics she undoubtedly already knows. for a real jetsetter, i love the world grand tour box, which comes with guides for 12 major cities (london, paris, rome...), along with free online updates. it arrives in a gorgeous, black and white box, and you can pick it up for $99. or, for a more personal touch, you can customize a bespoke box of five (for $50) or twelve (for $110) guides for spots you know she'll be visiting in 2008. she'll thank you every time her plane touches down in a new destination.

i absolutely adore all of red flower's products, and this travel set is a perfect way to check out some of their best. it comes with travel sizes of their famous gingergrass bamboo scrub, wild lime silk oil, yuzu mimosa algae wash (are you salivating yet?), and tons more, and they all arrive in this gorgeous roll that will be perfect for her jewelry. best of all, it's regularly $60, but coco's shoppe is having an amazing 40% off sitewide sale until sunday only, so use code lastchance to knock the price on this perfect gift down to a very wallet-friendly $36.

tocca is another line i just can't get enough of - their scents are just amazing. their laundry delicates travel set is a fantastic way to pamper her, while letting her try out all of the amazing fragrances at tocca. the set comes with four bottles of their amazing delicates wash (one in each of their four signature fragrances), and includes a gorgeous lace lingerie bag to keep everything safe and sound. wrap it up at bluemercury for $48.

last but not least, the truth is that as glamorous as a travel-filled life might sound to those of us who don't do it, living out of a suitcase gets old...fast. give her a little extra comfort with a set of accessories that lets her feel like she's in the lap of luxury, even if her boss stuck her in a horrible best western in suburban tampa. i love this set at acacia ($40), which is made of a bamboo/microfiber blend, so it's sure to be silky soft. the blanket actually has a pocket for her feet, so she won't have to worry about keeing her toes warm on an overseas flight.

and, at the other end of the spectrum is this gorgeous cashmere version by white + warren ($495), which makes some seriously decadent cashmere goods. the set includes a yummy cashmere throw, eye mask, and cashmere slippers that are sure to make her feel at home anywhere in the world.

shoppingsmycardio gifts: so many men, so little time...

i have no idea why, but men are just impossible for me to choose gifts for. every year, i spend at least twice as much time picking out gifts for the men in my life as i do the women. i'm not sure if they're really that tough, or if it's just that venus/mars thing, but i get a little sick of buying the standard cologne, tie or golf paraphernalia. so this year, i'm getting out of the rut.

one thing i know for sure is that the way to a man's heart is undoubtedly through his stomach. enter the custom chip & dip kit from route 11. for just $33, you can choose four bags of chips and two dips, and they'll arrive at his door fresh and ready for devouring in front of the televion during all of those christmas day football games. plus, you can choose crazy, boy-friendly flavors like habanero and dill pickle, or cheesy bacon dip (my hubs is totally drooling right now if he's reading this).

another surefire success is alcohol - i don't think there's a guy in the world that would turn down a six-pack. i love the idea of picking up his favorite spirit, and tying this keychain flask to the bottle...especially since the flask is only $20, leaving you plenty of room to splurge on that 21-year-old glenlivet.

the man bag is a tricky business - you want something functional, and probably semi-professional looking, but it has to be unquestionably masculine. this version by serious sporting goods designer filson is rugged but tailored, incredibly well-designed (think solid brass hardware, double layers of waterproof canvas on the bottom, and leather trim made from the same stuff they use for horse bridles), and will be a great lightweight option, since it's primarily canvas. and, since it's coming from a company that designs hunting and fishing gear, no worries about the "it's too metro" argument.

i love using gift-giving holidays as an excuse to equip the men in my life with things i think they should have. some might call it selfish, but i love it when people buy me things i'd never be able to justify buying myself. this 'bottoms up' hoodie by loomstate is a classic example. loomstate uses the most amazingly soft organic cotton, and this is a piece that will be a weekend staple for him for years to come - but i don't know any guy that would spend $170 on a hoodie, no matter how much time i spend giving them the 'cost per wear' argument. plus, really: wouldn't you rather borrow this than that threadbare fleece pullover he's had since 1983?

or, if he's past the hoodie stage of life, consider a classic cashmere sweater - i can't say enough good things about the cashmere from vince, and this v-neck style is classic enough to work for just about any guy.

watches always feel like a great gift idea, until you get to the counter at the department store, where you're promptly overwhelmed by the options. the truth is, i've tried a few times, and i've never been right yet. but if you have a guy on your list that's on the hip side of square, i think this teak watch by nixon is about as cool as it gets. plus, it's available from our friends at active endeavors, who give shoppingsmycardio readers that lovely 20% discount with code 'cardio', making this watch come in comfortably under $200.

if you're buying for a guy that's more geek than chic, the new ipod nano with video is probably the most obvious choice. i have to admit - they're pretty dang cool. i like the product RED version, but i'm guessing most true blue geeks are going to go for the plain silver model. but if you're looking for something a little more off the beaten path, i love these star wars USB flash drives from urban outfitters. they come packed with wallpaper, film trailers and clips from the movies - and he'll be the coolest guy in the computer lab when he's saving things to a storm trooper.

and if none of this fits the bill, aren't the boys always telling us that the godfather is the greatest movie of all time? even if they're dead wrong, this brand new annotated script is the ultimate guide to the ultimate guy movie. with stills, trivia, behind-the-scenes details plus a full script, he'll be doing his best brando impression well after new year's. pair it with the DVD box set, and this is one gift guaranteed to make you little miss popularity.

shoppingsmycardio gifts: on the cheap

much as we all love to ooh and aah over the fabulously expensive and extravagant gift options out there, the sad truth is that i'm pretty well broke by the middle of december. so, for those of you who are still struggling to come up with the perfect gift with your less-than-perfect budget, here's a list of ideas that won't set you back more than $30. don't say i never gave you anything good.

for your fashion forward friend, i love this gorgeous scarf by alena hennessy. made of super-soft knit jersey, it's thin enough to layer, but still sure to keep her warm all winter and into the spring. pick it up for $28 from hennessy's website.

if she's more into jewels than jersey, i just can't get enough of this darling little hedgehog necklace from the curiosity shoppe - he's $20, and is sure to make any girl smile.

if she's a paper freak like i am, she'll love this gorgeous set of stationery by british designer cath kidson.
kidson is known for her over-the-top designs that manage somehow to make country into chic. the set includes 30 sheets of paper, mix-and-match envelopes, and a gorgeous gift box...all for $15.

or, if your paper freak friend likes things a little more refined, this letterpress calendar by decoy lab is one of the prettiest i've seen. buy it for $28 at their website, which is definitely worth checking over.

for the right-brained artist in your life, i just adore this little notebook by little otsu. it's divided into three sections: the first is designed for to-do lists, but each has an origami pattern printed on the back, so she has incentive to check off those errands. the second section is made of blank pages waiting for her random sketches...but each page is pre-printed with a frame, so her impromptu artwork has a proper setting. and the third section has a mix of all sorts of different note-taking pages, so she'll never get bored with the same old straight lines. nab it for $14, and shipping's free!

if she's a tea drinker, she'll love this tea-for-one mug from urban outfitters - the two pieces match up to make a gorgeous peacock, and you can nab it for $24. or, if she's more of an afternoon "coffee and snacks" person, i love this cafemug by shinzi katoh. it that comes with a little mini dish that's perfect for packing with your afternoon ration of m&ms. there are a few different designs, but i love the birdcage best - how can you resist something with the word "gazouillement" (chirping, in french) printed on the side? grab it for $18 at three potato four.

good things come in small packages. i think just about every girl out there can use another mini purse to organize her life - i know i could. my favorites these days are vintage-style frame purses, and the best i've found are over at etsy. for well under that $30 mark, you can pick up some really gorgeous options from sellers like oktak, absoluut (who makes hers using vintage fabrics - so cool!), and takae. throw in an accessory, like a cute lip gloss (i love these cocktail lip glosses by not soap, radio) or a mirror, and you have a gift you know will keep on giving all year long. just remember, these are all handmade, one-of-a-kind items...so shop early, and allow a little extra time for shipping from these crafters.

and if none of these ideas work for you, shopbop has a lovely "under $100" list up right now. sure, it's not as good as "under $30," but we can't all be rock stars.

ooh, and please, feel free to comment with any other ideas...i know this time of year i'm always scrambling for fabulous gift options, so share and share alike! after all, it's better to give than to receive. (wait...that's so not the motto we live by here at shoppingsmycardio...)

shoppingsmycardio interviews: violet.com's genius gift-givers

from the first time i stumbled onto violet, it has become my number one go-to for unique gift ideas. so, when founders bonnie cohen and amy barnett offered to chat with us about their best gifting tips and tricks, i jumped at the chance! with the calendar counting down to the 25th a little too quickly for my taste this year, i think you'll find the ideas from these fabulous ladies inspiring, and maybe even a little bit life-saving.

shoppingsmycardio: I adore violet – it’s genius! How did the idea come together? And how did the two of you come together?

Bonnie & Amy: We’ve known each other for many years. When we first met, we discovered that we owned a lot of identical stuff. So right off the bat, we admired each other’s style!

Bonnie has a background in Merchandising and Visual Design and Amy is an Electrical Engineer, so for us, the Web is a natural venue.

SMC: You have such a knack for finding gift ideas that really are off the beaten path. How do you come up with the items on your site? Are you sent ideas, or do you spend your days out shopping for great additions to the site? (and if so, how do I sign up for that gig!?)

Bonnie: I am constantly on the lookout for merchandise, and I source product everywhere I go! There’s lots of amazing stuff out there, but for Violet, I focus on the question, “What makes a great gift?”. Then I try to find things that are really fresh or totally timeless.

SMC: What is your absolute favorite item on the site right now?

Bonnie: I have a 3-way tie for favorite product: the American Honey Flight, the Retread Purse, and the Aviary Desk Set. The American Honey Flight has a gorgeous presentation, and producing it is a Labor of Love. The Retread Purse is “Eco-Couture” - constructed from tire inner tubes, it could be right at home in the front row during Fashion Week. The Aviary Desk Set harkens back to a time when manners and etiquette were revered. I’m a little nostalgic for that era; in this electronic era, I try to "reach out and touch" my friends with paper as much as I can.

SMC: Okay, I’m going to put you guys on the spot now – would you be willing to answer a few “what should I give this person” questions? Around the holidays, I’m always looking for a classic “works for everyone” gift – something to take to cocktail parties, give to clients, etc. It has to be classy and unique, but not too pricey...and I hate giving the standard bottle of wine. What ideas would you have for that?

B&A: the Who’s Wine-ing System. Solves the “Which glass is mine?” problem. Six color-coded tags slip onto glass stems; you can even write names on the tags (they wipe clean with a damp cloth). The tags are stored in a clever cube that fits on the neck of a wine bottle. For $14, it’s a great way to present a bottle of wine.

SMC: I think dads (and men in general) are the toughest to buy for. Either you buy for a hobby (hello, personalized golf tees), or you buy those super-boring traditional boy gifts: ties, cologne, or gadgets. What’s your best no-fail gift idea for men?

B&A: Men are definitely tough. These are our "field goals":
1) The Astronaut Pen. Invented for the Apollo 7 Space mission (engineering requirement: must defy gravity). It is a design classic. Sleek and techie.
2) The Dinobite Bottle Opener. This is equal parts beast and sculpture -- and it opens beer bottles. Genius.
3) The Fantasy Post-it System. Tear Post-It’s to fit any size thought. Also looks handsome and impressive on the desk.

SMC: What are your favorite websites/designers to check out for fabulous new ideas (other than your own, of course!)?

B&A: This is our hot list:
* Mahar Drygoods: Specialty kids merchandise, mainly vintage and artist-crafted.
* Rose and Radish: Unique, well-edited, themed collections. Lots of European designers.
* Charles and Marie: An interesting selection of off-the-grid, high-design products.
* Composition: Modern merchandise (and site design!).
* Papa Stour: Mostly hand crafted, contemporary products from Scotland. Beautiful things, and the photography is so evocative and dreamy.
And -- we Etsy-hunt like crazy! So many cool finds from independent designers all over the globe!

SMC: What is the worst gift you’ve ever received?

Amy: Art. Terrible gift. 99% chance it’s not your “thing”. Your friend expects it to be prominently displayed; you have to manage storing it until they visit.

SMC: And the best?

Bonnie: Probably my very fabulous Best of Flair book that Amy bought me for my birthday one year.

Amy: Thanks, Bonnie!

SMC: What one gift-buying secret do you wish you could teach everyone out there?

B&A: When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with something that’s consumable!

a huge, huge thanks to the ladies over at violet - i know they've given me loads of ideas for gifting to others, not to mention myself (that "best of flair" book is my next must-buy item!).

what i'm giving today: toasty toes

i know, i know - slippers are such obvious gifts. i would normally totally shy away from something so cliche. but the truth is that i really do love a good pair of cozy slippers...i abhor socks, so when the weather turns chilly, i pretty well live in slippers. they're my winter version of flipflops. plus, let's be honest - raise your hand if you'd die happy just finding a wonderful gift for your friend X right about now...obvious or not. i thought so.

anyway, if you're going to go traditional, i thought i'd share a few pair that i'm coveting this winter.

if the girl on your list is a little more tailored in her tastes, these gorgeous cashmere ballet slippers from banana republic will keep her toes toasty in style. we know i loooove shoes that come in cute little bags, and these do. my favorite is the grey, but the black is subtle enough she might even be able to keep these at her desk for those "i'm going to amputate my foot if i can't take these 4-inch heels off stat" days.

these hot pink shearling slippers from j.crew are making me really happy right now - i love the bright color, which will bring you out of even the worst winter blah. and the shearling is sure to keep your toes toasty. plus, the rubber soles will give you enough traction to make it down the driveway to grab the morning paper without killing yourself...a slipper feature i've overlooked to my own downfall (no pun intended) more than once. at $60 this is a completely do-able gift option for any girl on your list.

oh, and if you can find other gift options to pick up while you're there (i love their enamel bangles this fall, and the gorgeous shearling gloves that would be a perfect match for those slippers), j.crew is offering 20% off purchases of $175 or more, but only through thursday, 12/6 - use code SHHH to cash in.


if you're looking for something really exceptional in the slipper department, this burberry version is a no-brainer. sure, they're $150, but again, they have that cute little pouch! plus, they're going to go with darn near anything, and they'll be cute year-round.

what i'm giving today: lipstick queen's poppy purse

for the die-hard makeup diva on my holiday list, this limited edition piece from lipstick queen is a no-brainer. each hand-screened silk pouch comes packed with lipstick queen's signature shade of red, in both 'saint' (sheer) and 'sinner' (matte), so she'll be ready for any and all occasions.

and when the lipstick's gone, this gorgeous purse was designed to be the perfect size to hold credit cards, keys, and other minor necessities of life.

only 100 were made, so snap up this perfect gift at barney's while you still can!

what i'm giving today: gifts from orange button

yep, time for those holiday guides you're seeing everywhere. rather than just narrowing down by group, we'll be doing things a bit more random-like over here. we'll be doing some of the standard guides/idea lists, but other days, we'll tell you about just one fabulous gift, or maybe a whole website with so many fabulous gifting ideas that i just had to show them all.

like today, for instance. this site is so chock full of fabulous gifts that they get their very own post. truly, i think i can find something for just about everyone on my list at orange button, and all at prices low enough that i can justify picking up a little bonus gift for myself!

if you have kids on your list, please, please, buy them this darling peanut blue bluebird. if you have two to buy for, i think agatha the elephant is the logical next choice, but there are lots of darling options to choose from (including this completely fabulous mobile, if you happen to have $180 to spend).

i'm also loving these gorgeous solid wood bangles - these are cool enough that they'll work with so many different personal styles. they're all stunning, but the koa, quilted sapele and zebrawood are my favorites. i would give one to my best friend, and one to my assistant, and i know they'd both love them.

for the perfect hostess, pick up a few of these darling coasters, and give them along with a gorgeous bottle of pink champagne. i love the ones with the drinking girls, but the "it's that kind of party. you want to be there. trust me" coasters are meant to be mailed as invitations. in the right hands, these are a party waiting to happen.

with all of the "no plastic bags, ever" hype this year, cute tote bags are a dime a dozen. but the truth is, if you find the right design, they're the perfect holiday gift for just about anyone. i mean, i own more tote bags than i could even begin to mention, but i'm always excited when i find a new one i can't live without. loads of fabulous options, but my favorites are the nest tote (great for me, your mom, or a friend with more tailored, subdued taste) and the big hen, made from vintage 1970s fabric (for that friend whose personal style is so funky and fabulous that you spend most of your time being jealous that she can pull off purple tights). of course, don't overlook the other options: i love the forest vintage and the flower branch too. they're a bargain at $25, but if you have a little extra to spend, never give an empty tote. fill it with a book or a couple of magazines the recipient will love, or just hit the drugstore and fill it with some holiday candy. you can never go wrong with chocolate!

and, if you have a paper fiend on your list, the options are endless. i'd either hand pick a stack of five or six of the fabulous greeting cards on the site, and put them together in a pretty wooden box tied with twine, or i might just pick up this beautiful silkscreened print, and put it into a fabulous frame.

fun with black friday

since i'm getting about 3,000 emails with various fabulous deals, i thought the least i could do is share. so i'll update this list as we go today, if anything really wonderful crosses my path. my favorites so far:

* tobi.com: 25% off sitewide with code GIVEGET (through 11/26).
* activeendeavors.com: 20% off sitewide with code CARDIO, just for my darling readers. and best of all, no expiration on that one!
* anthropologie.com: the rare and coveted "free shipping with $150 purchase": automatic at checkout through 11/26
* maneaterthreads.com: 10% off automatically, plus another 20% off sitewide with code CYBERMONDAY (through 11/27)
* dejarnettenola.com: 15% off all of the fabulous jewelry on this site with code BLACKFRIDAY (today only)
* urbanoutfitters.com: free shipping with $50 purchase with code FREEBIRD07 (through 11/26)
* sleepyheads.com: 20% off sitewide and free shipping from my very favorite source for PJs. use code THANKYOU through 11/26.
* thelaundress.com: 20% sitewide with code HOLIDAY through 12/5. great chance to stock up on all of their wonderful products - i love the wool & cashmere shampoo and the crease release in particular.

that's it for now, but stay tuned - if anything else wonderful shows up, i promise to share :)

oh happy day: henri bendel goes online!

henri bendel has to be one of my all-time favorite stores in new york. they stock consistently chic, cool gifts and wares of all sorts, plus store-designed exclusive pieces that you just can't find anywhere else.

just in time for the holidays, they've (finally) joined the 21st century, and i hardly know where to begin. sadly, the whole store isn't available online, but there's more than enough to whet your appetite and put a serious dent in your holiday shopping list. one of the best things about bendel's is that even though it's a really luxe, fabulous store, they offer gifts in all sorts of price ranges and options.

i know, it's still way too early for holiday gift guides. but a few of the many picks i have from the site so far...just to file away for next month:

these gorgeous enamel bangles remind me of a much more expensive version, but are equally fabulous and maybe even a bit more hip. they're just the thing to add color to a classic sweater-and-jean ensemble, and at under $70, they're great for gifting.

this darling little manicure set is the perfect "just in case" gift to have on hand. the brown-and-white stripe print is signature bendel, and i can't think of a single woman i know who wouldn't be thrilled to have this in her desk drawer.

and if anyone's looking for a gift for me this holiday season, you definitely couldn't go wrong with this gorgeous, limited edition cashmere tee. i love them all, but the diamond ring is a little too perfect, i think. sure, it's $300...but hey, it's christmas!

of course, as with all eccentric and fabulous shops, the real fun is in the holiday catalog, which you can check out right here. i'm fairly certain someone on my list will be getting that darling striped cookie jar on page 7, the amazing opera-length cashmere gloves on page 8, a fabulous graphic ipod cozy from page 11, and i'm seriously loving the missoni sunglasses on page 15 (though i have a feeling i couldn't bring myself to part with those).

if you find things in the catalog that you love, or if you just need a little extra help, the shop is also offering online concierge services, gratis...in case you needed another excuse.

the big exciting announcement: shoppingsmycardio's at your beck and call

after getting more than a few requests, and helping some of you out behind the scenes, i'm finally ready to go public. starting today, shoppingsmycardio will be offering personalized, one-on-one shopping help to all of you readers!

now, we all know how i love those reader questions, and i'll still be answering each and every one of those. but sometimes, you just need a little more help than i can provide in a semi-witty snippet on a blog.

so now, when you have a shopping, gifting, fashion, beauty, or semi-related-to-the-topics-covered-here dilemma, you'll immediately know where to turn!

much as i hate to admit it, i do have a sort of weird knack for finding gifts for others. sure, i wish that maybe the talent was for quantum physics, or something slightly more lucrative, but what can you do.

times i'm thinking it would be ideal to drop me a line and get some assistance:

* you have to buy a christmas/hanukkah/winter solstice gift for your mom/brother/boss, who already owns everything on the planet, has no hobbies, and never gets excited about any gift they ever receive. or maybe you just hate holiday shopping altogether, and want to hand someone your list and be done with it already.

* you have this holiday party to go to, are sick to death of LBDs, but need to look completly amazing nonetheless.

* the new spring lines are coming out (not until january...everyone...stay calm), you can't possibly buy everything, and you have no idea where to start.

* you just found this great suit, but you need the perfect blouse/necklace/shoes/handbag to top it off.

* you landed a fabulous new job, but have no idea where to begin when it comes to putting together the work wardrobe that will guarantee you that corner office with a view.

...okay, you get the idea.

so. when you find yourself in one of these situations, all you'd do is drop me an email at shoppingsmycardio@gmail.com. i'll ask you a few questions, i'll explain how it all works, and before you know it, your friends and coworkers are begging to borrow every outfit you wear, your closet is a masterpiece of coordination, and your mom/brother/significant other is unwrapping a gift on kwanzaa morning (do you open presents in the morning on kwanzaa?), and squealing "you are amazing! this is exactly what i've wanted my entire life, but no one ever knew until now. you are a dream come true!"

give it a shot. pricing is going to be really reasonable - maybe even downright cheap, especially for those trying out the service for the first time. plus, i'm thinking referral bonuses are in order for those of you that spread the word to friends, family, neighbors, total strangers on the street...what have you. so, in theory, you could just use and abuse me practically for free, if you play your cards right. how can you pass up an opportunity like that??