With the change from daylight savings time, and the start of  November, I find some fear creeping up within me. For instance, I ran into Target to grab some last-minute Halloween candy and there it was in all its glory:  a complete display of holiday paraphernalia– trees, tinsel, lights, tea towels, even some reindeer antlers for your dog.  Let’s face it, whether we’re ready or not, the official holiday season is here.

Being a blogger has made me a clipper. I clip interesting newspaper articles, catalog items and magazine pages.   About two months ago, I was getting a pedicure from the Goddess of Relaxation, Noy, and I saw an article in Los Angeles Magazine under the heading of Buzz Shopping.  There in the corner of the page was a darling honeybee jar in the shape of bee which came with a silver-plated scoop.   Honestly, it looked like something that could easily be found in the Tiffany gift catalog because of its silver-plated accents.  Underneath the caption was www.delight.com with a price tag of $42.50!  This website was new to me and worth exploring.

Oh! the honeybee jar

When I got home, I pulled up www.delight.com and found tons of unusual items at great prices.   However, this shopping tip comes with a StyleBlueprint warning:  the website looks kind of kitchy and cheap, sort of Lilly Vernon-esque, with lots of exclamation points!!!!  Once you get over the site shock, you’ll love the creative and ingenious gifts they offer. (Sorry, delight.com.  We really do love your site….)

Here are a couple of my favorites just to kick off the holiday season.  I’m pretty sure you won’t find these in the holiday display at Target:

For Girls:

Delight Toolboxes at $46.50

Tool Box. I love this tool box because it brings back such fond memories for me. My mother was about as far from being a Martha Stewart as one could get.  Don’t get me wrong, she was an entertainer at heart, but on her terms.  One could expect a stiff drink, some good nuts and a hearty casserole if invited to dinner at the McDonnells’. However, uncharacteristically one Christmas she bought a gun metal tool box and painted it for me.  She decorated it with hand-painted flowers and sayings like “keep out or else.”  Needless to say, I loved it and kept it for a long time.   Here is Delight’s version.

Delight wallflowers in 5 colors

Wallflowers. I also adore these wallflowers in five different colors: black, white, pink, lime and chrome.  They’re an inexpensive way to decorate a wall or create a statement over a headboard.  The flowers come in five different sizes and at $26.50.   You may want to splurge and buy two sets.

For Guys:

Delight star finder @ $47.50

Delight StarFinder. I am always looking for something clever for the hub and I think the Delight StarFinder is kind of nifty.  It is light weight, portable and can find over 70 constellations and 1000′s of stars.  It provides computer generated star maps and loads of information on star gazing.

Gotta' love the dryerballs for the person with everything

World Famous Dyerballs. Delight has some cool stocking stuffers.  I particularly like the Nellie’s World Famous PVC free dryerballs.  OK, they may be for the person that has EVERYTHING, but they do reduce energy usage by 25%, cut down on ironing and soften your towels and sheets.   In addition, you can add a scented stick like lavender to give your clothes a wonderful smell.  For $19.75, that’ s worth a try.

Envirosax, reusable shopping bags

Envirosax. I also think the reusable bags in fabulous colors and patterns are pretty darn cute. I know we are ALL schlepping around with our reusable grocery bags, but these roll up neatly and fit in your purse.  My sister gave me some Envirosax  last Christmas and I can attest about $200 worth of Target stuff fits into about 3 bags.  They are on sale now at Delight for $26.50.

Delight was voted the Best of the Web by InStyle Magazine for its ingenious approach to gifts and reasonable prices.

Happy Holiday Shopping.

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

I called about an amazing wrap in chocolate brown with ruffles featured in Real Simple a couple of holiday seasons ago.  It was a small boutique company from New York so I called the company direct and spoke with the sales associate.  Her comment was they have never sold so many wraps and yes, they were sold out.  .She was helpful and directed me to a similar wrap and my friend Daniel purchased it for his wife Leslie.  Still to this day, it is one of her most favorite gifts.

With supply and demand in mind, I wanted to share with you some incredible deals and gifts ideas available RIGHT NOW.. Nothing better than some early Christmas shopping both locally and online.

10 great gifts under $50

1.    Bobby Brown Mini Tube Tints $30 Available at Belk’s or Private Edition  I received this as hostess gift a year ago and loved it.  The set includes 4 small tubes all in great colors.

2. Pottery Barn  Bamboo Cotton Throws $35 What a great gift for someone that has everything.  They come is 4 fantastic colors:  cream, paprika, camel and chocolate brown. www.potterybarn.com

3. Victoria’s Secret  French Cuff Shirt $28 On sale now.. this is a must have shirt because it stretches to fit your shape, washes and holds up…little or no ironing. www.victoriassecret.com

4.    Red Envelope Holiday Paper Whites in Red Vessel $39 Gorgeous presentation of 10 paper white bulbs..a fabulous hostess gift. Red Envelope is known for their packaging, simplicity and elegance. www.redenvelope.com

5.    Sundance Post Modern Pearl Studs $18 Baroque freshwater pearls in sterling.. wonderful iridescent colors peach, coppery brown, white or gray. www.sundancecatalog.com

6.    Envirosax..Great Reusuable  Shopping Bags $8.49 Each On Amazon.com for grocery and everything else..  My sister gave me a set of 5 last year for Christmas and I love them.  They are deceivingly big, come in fabulous colors and designs and can fit when rolled up in an average purse.  They have small snaps that allow you to roll them up and a small carry pouch.  The only challenge is to remember to keep them in your car.  www.envirosax.com

7.    LL Bean. Wicked Good Slippers and Scuffs Like the name says wicked in their warmth and comfort. Great Slippers for men, women, and kids in lots of styles and colors like:  Chocolate brown, vintage red, cobalt blue $49.95.   www.llbean.com

8.    Iprint.com Photo note cube with 650 pages, color photo on 4 sides.  I love gift items that have many uses.. There are great for grandparents, teachers, teenagers, and friends and cheap at $14.99 per cube.  Check out I print.com for personalized ties, boxer shorts, key chains and more.  www.iprint.com

9.    Stein Mart  Pashmina and Scarves I am not a big fan of Stein Mart for clothes and shoes, but I think they have great accessories and jewelry.  If you need a hostess gift or small gift item, they always come through with good prices.  Their selection of pashminas for $12.95 is worthy of a visit with a lots of colors and styles.

10.    Create  Your Own Bag of Favorites for a Friend Last Christmas my friend Anne put together for her walking buddies and it was incredible.. a tube of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, a small electric foot massager and tube of great lip gloss, bar of chocolate.  Of everything in the bag, my absolute favorite was the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and lipstick protectorate for winter chapping and general dry skin.. It is great at night under your eyes and on your lips priced at $17.00 each. www.elizabetharden.com or at Dillards..

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping.

© 2008 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.