Cat Studio Glassware, Pillows & Dish Towels now at Swagger!

New Cat Studio Items!! All items are inspired by places from around the world! Since the owners of Cat Studio have explored all over the world, their designs include very unique places and symbols from their geography collection!  The glassware, pillows and dish towels are perfect as gifts for friends traveling or for reminders of where you met someone! Swagger is super excited about this new collection.  And the best part ? They are made in the good 'ole USA!! 

Cat Studio Glasses are 15 oz and dishwasher safe!

They are available in all 50 States and Countries from all over the world!

Glasses - $15 each

 

Another example of the glassware!

Cat Studio Pillows are perfect for a vacation home or to remind you of your home state.  Great for a wedding or real estate gift!  They are highly collectible, heirloom quality and are are hand embroidered! $150

Cat Studio Dish towels come in almost any location you can think of!  $20

Scout by Bungalow Trunk Show

AHH! Guess what?! Swagger is having a Scout Trunk Show!  Today through Saturday March 23rd!

The specials include:

• Buy any 5 Scout items & get the 6th Free
• Enjoy a free gift with any purchase of $75 or more
• Free vinyl monograms on all Scout items
• Enter raffle for free Scout gear
• Special order any item from the new 2013 catalog

There are so many options to choose from in any color you can imagine! Here are a few pictures of the some of the styles to choose from but there are many more!

Pocket Rocket - great as a beach bag! We love the 6 outside pockets!

 

Weekender - perfect for that weekend getaway!  Great bag for traveling since it has a zipper!

 

4 boys bag - If you have a big family - this is the beach bag for you!  It can hold towels, toys - even kids:)

Sally Go Lightly - great crossbody for traveling - it's very light and can hold all your essentials!

 

The Double Decker is a new body style and has already become one of our favorites!  I carry my lunch in this everyday - cold stuff on the bottom and dry stuff on the top!

 

The Counterfeit - great makeup bag or a jewelry holder for when you travel!

 

Packin' Heat - this is the best makeup bag!  It holds everything and you can wipe it clean!!

 

The Original Deano is one of the best selling body styles - throw your stuff in and you are ready to go!

 

The Carry All - we love the shape!  It is also a great beach bag!  Waterproof fabric will keep your stuff dry and you can wipe it clean if it gets all sandy!

Great Mother's Day Gift Ideas!

Mother's Day is quickly approaching (it's May 9th - exactly 2 weeks from Today!), so I thought I would give you some fun new gift ideas from Swagger!

Does your Mom love being outside at the beach or pool?  If so, Swagger can definitely hook your Mom up with some great gifts that are functional AND cute!  Gotta love that for Mom! 

Pictured here are our:
Foldable Hats (they come in a ton of colors) and you can fold them up in a ball and they pop right back out to there original shape!  Great for traveling or to just keep in your beach bag!

Lounge Chair Cover - Mom will never have to worry about her towel slipping down and exposing that awful chair again!

Lindsay Phillps' Interchangeable Flip Flops - Now Mom's flip flops can match ALL her bathing suits!

Beach cover ups - Lots of different choices in terry cloth or regular cotton both very stylish and comfortable.

Pamper your Mom with our new Shelley Kyle Luxurious Bath and Body Line!  We fell in love with this line at market and couldn't wait to get it in!  Shelley Kyle bath and body products come in three scents - Annabelle, McLendon, and Tiramani.  I always have a favorite scent in any line we carry, but I absolutely can not decide between these three scents because I honestly love them all!  Each scent comes in perfume, body lotion, foaming bath gel, and sugar scrub - so a great gift set can be made!

Is your Mom always on the go?  Maybe she needs cute new personalized luggage tags for her airplane trips?  Or possibly a monogrammed coffee mug for that early morning jolt of caffeine? Come by and check out our new personalized gift's line that we can print for you at the store in minutes!

 





Gardening is my Mom's favorite thing to do and she loves getting beautiful things to put in her garden!  Does your Mom fit in this category?  If so, check out our glass blown hummingbird feeders and glow in the dark yard stakes!

Finally, is your Mom an accessorizer (is that even a word)?  Either way, if your Mom fits in this category, you know what I'm talking about:)!  She changes her jewelry daily.  Always has the perfect necklace for every outfit, etc.  We just got several new jewelry designers at Swagger, so please come in to check it out - you won't be sorry!  (And maybe you'll even find something for yourself)!

So please stop by Swagger soon - we would LOVE to help you find the perfect gift for your Mother!

One more note - You will need to order monogrammed jewelry by Wendesday April 28th for it to be back in time for Mother's Day!

Brand NEW Black Letter Engraving and Filigree Monogram Pendants - these are the "cut out" mongrams that you all have been asking for!

Hope to see you soon,

Facebook Friday Winner for September 11th is...

And the Winner of the Facebook Friday of the Week is...

Last week, Swagger Gifts gave away a great gift to give or to keep for yourself - a 10'' round monogrammed cutting board!

If round or 10'' isn't a perfect cutting board fit for you, check out all of the other options in monogrammed cuttings boards that Swagger carries. You can choose from lots of shapes, embellishments, and more! How's that for personalized?

This week's lucky winner is: #28* – Jen Stotesbery!
Congratulations Jen - enjoy using this cutting board yourself or making another gift recipient very happy :-) See Jen's comment below!





Email Mandy at mandy {at} swaggergifts {dot} com and she will hook you up with your gift! You have until next Friday September 18th to claim your prize.

For this week’s Facebook Friday contest, Swagger is giving away a pair of Personalized Small Square Stud Earrings. These classic stud earrings are PERFECT for everyday wear and are made of sterling silver.

All you have to do to get yourself entered is hop on over to Swagger Gift’s FB Friday of the Week Photo Album, become a fan of Swagger Gifts on FB, and leave a comment on the picture of the monogrammed earrings before next Friday September 11th! Click here to enter to win!

We are also offering a 15% off coupon good for the FB Giveaway of the Week!
Check out the FB page for details!
Good Luck!


*Since Mandy moved to Zurich, it is becoming harder for her to ask Swagger customers to pick a number for the weekly FB Winner, so we are now officially using Random.org for all number picking!

Start the Year Off Right: Organized and Green!

Happy 2009 everyone!

Two of my personal resolutions for this new year are to be more organized (in all aspects of my life - home, work, etc.) and to keep going green and reducing my carbon footprint one day at a time.

Fortunately, I won't have to sacrifice style along the way!

Check out these fantastic 1.0GB Glam USB drives that Swagger just added to their store in the past few weeks and online yesterday:

There are two more prints available online (Tribal and Dozen Roses), but I wanted to at least show off my two favorites (Lace and Pink Bird)!

At only $27.00, you can cart around (in style) all of your electronic needs (1.0GB holds a LOT!) for the coming year without printing a single document and wasting all of that time, paper, and ink.

Need Stocking Stuffer Ideas?

Need stocking stuffer ideas?

Well Swagger should obviously be your first choice since they have fabulous gifts for every person on your list, but just in case you hadn't thought of checking out Swagger for the soon-to-be parents on your list, here's one of my current favorites:Magnetic frames for sonogram picture frames!
(And in such preppy baby prints, too - might I add.)

Be sure to grab a few in each print... they'll become the newest addiction for whoever is lucky enough on your list to receive these!

Swagger is featuring these for 15% off in the store, today only - until 6pm, when you mention this blog post. So be sure to stop in and stock up on these Manic Monday featured gifts!

Calling All Winos!

Just for you wine fans, Mandy has offered up a snazzy giveaway on Swagger's facebook page!

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!* (You have to read up on the How I Met Your Mother "Wooh Girl" theory... funniest. thing. EVER!)

So, if you aren't on facebook yet... now is a great time to join up and become a fan of Swagger's page so you can get the weekly update on fabulous giveaways like this:
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).

Now that you're all logged in to facebook in another tab (don't lie - you know you check your updates every hour on the hour!), 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.

PS - Don't forget to also comment on the photo to be entered to win!

Chill Out!

Oh wow. I am just about so over all of this and will be VERY glad when the awful ads are off TV and my mailbox is full of snail-mail from friends and family with holiday blessings and cocktail party invites (instead of wasteful campaign materials). (I just KNOW some of you are going to be with me on this one!)

So what's a girl to do?

Tonight, turn off the TV and enjoy an hour of home spa heaven with Me!bath! (Sounds good, no?!)

Today's Manic Monday blog special is 15% off all Me!bath products when you stop in the store and mention this blog between 10am and 6pm today!

PS: Tell your politically-overwhelmed pals to "chill-out" and enjoy a a little "me" time with Me!bath, too - they'll thank you for it!

Gina Meets the Parents

My nerves are shot. My friend turned sort of boyfriend has asked me to accompany him on his trip home next weekend. For the whole weekend. Out of state? Ack! I've never met his parents, even though I've known him for years now. But, I've heard the stories… I've seen pictures, and I think I'm in for it. His mother in one word or less? Perfect. Perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect everything. Needless to say, I do NOT fit into that perfect category. Did I mention that ex-girlfriend is Perfect Version 2.0??
So…what is a less than perfect girl to do?
I called my best friend. I called my sister. Both of them said the same thing -- bring a nice gift and be on my best behavior. The behavior part is easy… but where in the world do I even begin to look for the perfect present?
And then it hit me. Of course, Swagger.
So began my quest for perfection.
I remembered my friend turned sort of boyfriend mentioning how much his mom loves to read, and that she hosts a book club at her home every six weeks or so. Complete with hors d'oeurves, drinks, and everything is matched to the theme of the story of course. (of course, of course…). So, I thought perhaps a personalized self-inking stamp ? How classy would that be? She could use that as a specialized signature on her invites - and I was willing to bet she didn't already own one.
I also remembered what a fan he has said she is of gourmet cheeses, and how often he has been subjected to trying them out before her little get togethers….and then he admitted that most of them were actually pretty tasty! So, maybe one of the personalized cutting boards too- I thought that would be a stylish way to cut and serve!
But what about his dad? I am thinking something needs to be given to him too. Why do guys have to be so hard to buy for??????
Well, what do I know about him? He is a golfing fanatic. He's terrible at it, but loves to go. (My guess is that it's an excuse to get out of the house when the book group is there). As he is also somewhat perfect, I didn't want to guess on what golfing brands he preferred. This was going to be harder than I thought! Oh, what's this? An engravable divot too l? Kind of different….says I'm thinking you'd like something your buddies don't already have. Perfect!!!
So maybe I'm ready to go. Maybe not. Maybe I need something for me. Maybe I need one of those personalized jute totes just to look like I'm aiming for perfection? Yes definitely! So, don't tell my friend that might be a sort of boyfriend that I'm trying to impress. Ready to go now! Wish me luck!!

Gina's Guide to Teacher Appreciation

My other "sister" called me not to long ago griping about what in the world she should get for the teachers at her daughter's school for gifts. They do a teacher appreciation month each year, and she wanted to do more than just the traditional coffee gift card.
"You're a fun girl" she said to me. "Help me think of something!"
Now, I have no clue what a teacher might want…so I had to think along the lines of practical, but not boring. And not a gift card.
So, I suggested my favorite place in the world for gifts- Swagger. My "sister" said, and I quote, "For a teacher????"
"Of course! I have several great ideas!"
"Name one," she challenged.
"All right. How about a monogrammed umbrella ?" I thought that would be different- and at least no one left with the wrong one in that case.
"Have you forgotten we are in a drought???? They'd probably think I was dense if I gave that."
"Have you checked the forecast? It's supposed to rain off and on for the next few weeks. They'd probably think you were up on your current events." I may have said that a bit snottily to be truthful.
"Oh. Maybe I should try watching the news every now and then, eh? I guess that is unique." She was coming around to my way of thinking.
"Ok, how about this then. They have these super cute monogrammed travel coffee mugs ."
"Hey, I like that idea! What else do they have?"
I was starting to get an idea.
"I have a great idea!" I exclaimed.
"How about if you do a little travel themed gift? Swagger has these little tote bags that you can have personalized too. Why not do one of the bags and put an umbrella and coffee mug in them???"
She was quiet for a moment….and she's never quiet, so she either loved my idea and was speechless at my savvy, or she hated it and was trying to think of a way to tell me nicely after soliciting my advice.
"I can't believe you thought of something that would be that perfect!" she squealed, clearly delighted.
"Glad I could help! You owe me!" I joked, but already planning to collect. She knew I had a soft spot for the pink soaps …and I had a feeling that maybe after she finished shopping for Hallie's teachers, that maybe, just maybe, some of those soaps would turn up at my house.

Notes From Gina... My New Bar

mentioned in a previous post about telling you all the story of how I got my bar... Now I can have "Happy Hour" any hour I want!
I just moved into my new place a few months ago (hence my absence from posting). I packed up everything I'd had for years, and after sorting through and throwing out what I no longer wanted, figured I was ready for this major ordeal.
So, I moved. I unpacked. I settled in. And I felt like something was missing, but was unsure of what that elusive something was. Maybe if someone… anyone… Bueller… had shared with me that it is nice for things to somewhat match, I wouldn’t be struggling so much with this.
So here it is a few months later… and my mom calls to see if I want an old buffet that had been my grandmothers. My first thought was to Google “buffet” because my first thought when she mentioned this was one of those all you can eat experiences I so enjoy… My head soon cleared and I said sure since she sounded like she really wanted me to take it.
It turns out that thought the buffet was not of the all you can eat kind, it was just what I needed. A long table with some doors and drawers in it- which as my leap of logic would take me - would make the perfect bar! So that's what had been missing!
I was (probably for the first time ever) excited about this buffet being dropped off at my house. After a coat or two of black paint , a United Nations collection of liquor bottles, and many bottles of wine later… something was still missing. I actually happened to figure it out on my own quite quickly when I went to open a bottle of wine for my mom and she looked at me quite oddly as I served it in an old cartoon caricature glass from a fast food restaurant we frequented when I was little (hey, it's retro, right?).
Glasses.
So, needless to say, I promised proper glassware for their next visit. I started my search for what I needed to make this new bar rock. So, of course I headed to Swagger to get Mandy and her crew to help me get my new bar up to par.
I knew a few of the things I wanted, and then decided to have a little fun with them. I'd just graduated from grad school a few months back, and memories of the great times tailgating at ball games made me want to graduate from Solo Cups to some real beer mugs. So, I ordered a set of tailgate beer mugs with my monogram (so they will always find their way home). And for my mother (and me too of course), I bought a set of the personalized all purpose crystal wine glasses . I just had one letter on those - nice and bold… too the point.
There was a thought nagging me at the back of my brain about there being different types of wine glasses for different types of wine. What the heck…this buffet/bar could definitely hold it, and with only eight glasses so far, was looking a bit barren. I found a set of stemless wine glasses (all the rage from what the girls tell me, so I ordered TWO!)… and balloon wine glasses , those sounded pretty good. Since I'm not much of a wine drinker, I figured I was done with those. But what about my friend “Tom Collins” who only likes “tea” from “Long Island?” I needed something that I could initial with my college nickname (trust me, you don't want to know… needless to say, if you come over and I mix you a drink, the initials say it all…) - the Capri ice bucket set looked pretty good…and I ordered some extra glasses to go along with it. My best girlfriend is a die hard martini drinker, so in her honor I ordered a set of those, along with the Glory Tulip glasses - with the understanding that even though I ordered them for her they are to live on the bar. She pointed out to me (why it took this long is beyond me), that maybe it would be nice to have some regular glasses too…so I ordered the retro set too.

Party Advice from Gina

Tag you are it. Yes you.
Want to know what you get to do now?
I can't wait to tell you! (Giggle. Ok, Snicker….)
You, my friend, get the enviable task of coming up with party games to play at the next baby shower and wedding shower you attend.
And no, you can't get out of it. I don't believe for a moment that you have the flu, that you lost the directions, or that you are trapped under something heavy and just can't make it.
Stop making excuses and start trying to be fun. I mean it.
The Baby Shower
What's not to love about a baby shower? The food is always good, and everyone is happy. The hostess asked you not to cook (she knows you THAT well), but instead requested that you think of some fun things to do at the party. After breathing into a paper bag for a few moments, you regain your composure and agree to her request.
You talk to friends, family, your co-workers (who start suspiciously eyeing your mid-section until you reassure them for the 20th time you aren't the one who is expecting)…. and you actually come up with a few things that don't leave you wanting to spend the afternoon plucking out your eyelashes instead.
The Baby Shower Word Scramble Game: in this game you scramble the words of baby items and give prizes to the person who unscrambles the most words. This is a lot more fun when you make it difficult. There are two presents I would suggest for the word jumble: The Square Pacifier Clip (in sterling silver) and for the mom to be the Monogrammed Coffee Travel Mug … Seriously, how much fun would it be to see the partygoers trying to figure out those all scrambled up?
Measure the Mommy is always fun- just have everyone cut a length of ribbon that they've used to guess the circumference of the mom-to-be's belly (or ankle or head…whatever you wish).
What's in The Diaper? This one is just gross… but is pretty funny. For this one you will need several diapers. In each, you will melt a candy bar- and then the guests get to guess what type is in each one. Trust me, this really looks gross!
The Cucina regenerating hand cream or the Lollia Believe bubble bath would be great gifts for the winners here!!
The Wedding Shower
It's your brother's wedding that is looming on the horizon. His fiancée is from another part of the country (fortunately you like her, so all is good), and you've been appointed to handle this get together since you are so in the know about who should be there. Oh, did I mention you are also supposed to provide the icebreakers for her friends and family that will be here? (and oh yeah, you skipped that Girl Scout meeting where you learned how to do ice breakers- doh!). So you try to get creative, and you actually come out ok. You decide to butter them up with a few thoughtful gifts just to be safe. For your new sister-in-law to be …… the personalized monogrammed candle, English Garden soaps , and a bottle of the Lollia Inspire bubble bath were waiting for her when she got to town. For your brother (who you still want to strangle for passing this task on to you)….a monogrammed money holder complete with some Monopoly money tucked in (a private joke between the two of you)…… and then you busted out a great game to break the ice.
Two Truths - One Lie: A get to know you game. This is a fun game, especially when you know what some of the lies are since you are friends with some of those involved! (it's funny when those that don't know them get the wrong!)
Everyone states two truths and one lie about themselves, and everyone else has to guess which one is the lie.
For example: I have read every James Patterson book written. I have a terrible allergy to water. ?I once ate a beetle. ?After everyone has gone, the person with the most correct guesses wins. ?
This one will make the bride to be blush…
Creative Story Game: Appoint someone in the group to write down everything the bride to be says while opening her gifts (ie- I've never seen one of these!… How did you know this is what I wanted?... Wow!... You get the picture). When all of the gifts have been opened, and all comments recorded, make up a story about her wedding night including all of the lines you've just written down- these are to describe what is going on during her honeymoon. Guaranteed to make her want to hit you with one of those new monogrammed cutting boards she just opened………
So after the parties are over, you can vow to never again be tagged….ok, well maybe not vow, that’s a strong word and I am still single… and the Lollia Relax bubble bath I bought for myself wasn’t so bad, but next time they won’t get off so easy!

Notes From Gina... The Twelve Months of Giving -- To Myself!

Notes From Gina…
On the first day of January my true love gave to me… Nothing. Not a thing. Nada. Zilch. Could be because he as of yet has not materialized in my life? What's a girl to do? And then it hit me. No one knows me better than, me! Every time I have to find a birthday present, or a wedding gift, or so help me, another baby present – keep in mind people, I'm the SINGLE one in the bunch – that I secretly long for some of these gifts to find their way under the seat of my car instead of into the hands of the non deserving party (did I say that?). Which lead me to think… Why not? Why not treat myself as well as these other people in my life? Because unless my mail order husband/child/promotion gets delivered sometime soon, I'm going to have to start a movement for "singles day" and hope for lovely presents to find their way to MY deserving hands!
Stay with me for a moment and let me map this out.
It's January. It's a fresh start. So why not start this year out with a new tradition of giving – to myself! I think I'll start with the personalized canvas handbag . Who doesn't love ribbons?? It's cute, it's a little different…hey, just like me!
Onto February, That month when I get to have the knife twisted just a little deeper by my oh so well meaning friends as they try to set me up with "that guy" from their work (the one who makes our friend Norm from Psycho look downright hot!)- I think I know just what would make me feel better. A personalized heart toggle necklace would look great with what I plan to wear out to the singles get togethers this year….
March. Hmmm, it's Spring, time to start thinking about- gasp- the beach, the pool, and sundresses that are lurking just around the corner. I'm thinking one of those monogrammed cutting boards would be just great for me to use to start cutting the new diet of fruit and vegetables I will be eating so I can fit into my bathing suit….and maybe I'll put my ex's initials on this one just to have fun cutting up foods he hated on it! Fun stuff people!
April and it is still spring. The Cuchina fragrant kitchen sprays … After all, since it is allergy season and I'm NOT about to keep those windows open after I burned my Pop Tarts (yes, I am that girl who can’t cook and burns even Pop Tarts).
May and it's getting hot – Finally! Those personalized Glory Tulip Glasses would be pretty for my sister’s famous brie and wine parties, but think someone should give me a few more to add to my buffet/bar at home.
June… What can I get myself for June? I know! I'll take care of June and July all together (hey, who doesn't like to get a surprise a little early?) I'll take a personalized large canvas tote bag and bright beach towel in PINK.
August is here already? I think the personalized circle earrings would be a nice send off to summer, even though it will probably still be 90 degrees on Thanksgiving…
September – time for football! I have my jersey, my tote bag, and now I'll have a personalized tailgate set to come along with me! I love the fall. Yeah, I already have a set for my bar (be sure to read about the birth of the bar, coming soon), but could really use a set for travel.
October and I’m ready for a little trick or treat. Ok, treats for me! I see some monogrammed candles arriving in my goodie bag! And no calories either!
November – and it’s time to give thanks for making it through another year! Think I'll be thankful for the lovely Lollia perfume that will be finding it's way to me shortly.
And here we are at the end of the year already! Christmas… I’m thinking it will be a meet up with my three best friends at Starbucks where we will unveil our super-cool monogrammed travel coffee mugs that will make us the envy of everyone there.
In retrospect, this year of gift giving to me was a fantastic idea! And I'm absolutely certain that these gifts are exactly what was wanted.
Happy New Year everyone!

Notes From Gina… Giving the Right Party Gift

Ahhh… it's a New Year, and time for…. yes! Those oh so fun invites to your co-worker's third baby shower… your sister's second wedding… maybe a bachelor party or two? (Ok, so that last one sounds like fun!)
If you are anything like my friends, you are a). Summoning the will to show up, and b). Secretly wanting your gift to be the most talked about (in a good way of course), and c). Not wanting to break the bank achieving the first two.
As luck would have it, here is a way to achieve all of the above with grace and style.First off, I am a tremendous fan of the bubble bath with wine (any time of day seriously works for the diehard devotee, of which I am one). Lucky for me, Swagger carries my favorite – the Lollia Wish bubble bath , and with one of their stemless wine glasses to hold my cabernet, I know that afterwards, I might be nice enough to attend one of these shindigs and even play the games. Did I mention that even the Lollia bottle is quite lovely? The bees are a nice touch. And for my glasses…I went with the single initial, just because.
And on to the gift giving... After enjoying a glass of wine of course!
For your co-worker who already has every baby gift imaginable… (and some that at best you find yourself thinking- that does what??!)…. I absolutely LOVED the personalized oval pacifier clip in sterling silver. I do not think this could possibly be upstaged by any other trendy baby gifts, period.
For your sister's second wedding? Perhaps anything with her NEW initials on it? Let me recommend the martini set , along with some of those cute little pink soaps . And not to have him feeling left out, the personalized black and silver cufflinks would look great with any tux.
On the flip side…if you happen to be the one getting married or having the baby, you might want to do something nice for the person who organized these parties in your honor. The personalized umbrella makes a rainy day a little more cheerful, and for your friend who loves to cook? The monogrammed cutting board is sure to be a hit!
Now, after your second glass of cabernet, when you are beginning to feel more generous…For your best friend, who is also your sister, who is also on her second marriage, the engraved charm bracelet is really very sweet.
For that co-worker who you really wish wasn't leaving you behind to deal with your tyrannical boss alone, a Lollia candle would be a thoughtful good luck gift.
And for your best friend's brother (that has always been like a brother to you), who just bought his first house? I would be willing to bet your present of the personalized tailgate beer mugs will be well received (I would advise you to include the six pack to go along with that as well!).
Now that you've had a little wine, and are ready to attend your second baby shower this month, I'd splurge on one more little thing for me- that avocado necklace with the large diamond shell pendant . So pretty! And now you are perhaps a little tipsy, but ready to grab a cab and let the "parties" and gift giving begin!

Making Personalization... Personal

Getting Personal doesn’t have to be all “serious.” All of us have a friend or loved one that fits in one of these categories, and giving them a personal gift that relates to one of their personality traits is a great way to show how well you really do know them.

Person who burns water: Your single best friend is still single because she can’t cook – at all. She burns pop tarts, coffee and anything else that comes into contact with heat, and she probably knows more about how her microwave works than the manufacturer. Since you know that the smell of burnt food will scare away any potential romance, get her some of our Cucina Fragrant Kitchen Spray. She may scoff a little at first that you are making fun of her, but she’ll get over it.

Person with “stale” smelling house: If you have a friend or family member that is on the road a lot, then more than likely their house will get that stale smell that houses get when closed up on a regular basis. To battle the smell and make the traveler feel back at home in seconds flat, give them one of our Lollia Candles.

The metro girl: The best way to describe her is that she knows all the designers latest lines (and owns most of them), is always put together (even at 7 a.m.), has fun little get togethers with her girlfriends and always knows the best restaurants around. A monogrammed martini set would be the perfect gift for her.

The “craftonista” : She can make a handmade bow like Martha Stewart, can bedazzle anything set before her and can make a cute little notes with two pieces of duct tape and a magic marker (we know, don’t ask) one of our customized embossers is the weapon she needs to make her craft arsenal complete.

The bookworm: She can repeat the titles of all the Janet Evanovich novels in her sleep, can quote Shakespeare on a whim and can tell you at any given moment who is on the National Best Seller list (both fiction and non-fiction). A personalized tote will help her keep up with all of her library books and latest “must reads” so they’ll be on hand when she’s on the go.

Mr. Money Bags: So, the man (or men…) in your life seem to have a hard time holding on to their money. Every time they dig into the pocket to pull some out, you would think they were 10 years old with the amount of trash that is mixed in with the money. If you want to help him achieve a little more mature “look” get him one of our monogrammed money clips. When the money is all in one place, it will be easier for you to find.

Coffee talk: You may or may not remember the Saturday Night Live skits with the “Coffee Talk” (pronounced Cawfee Tawk). If you and your closest girlfriend like to chit-chat over a “cuppa” a one of our personalized travel mugs (for both of you!) is a great way to celebrate all the “cawfee tawks” of the past, present and future.

Water makes me melt!: This prim Dona can not stand to get wet in the rain. It would ruin her salon fresh highlights, put spots on her designer handbag and let’s not even discuss the Manolo’s she was crazy enough to wear on a rainy day in the first place. And though her outstanding fashion sense can be noted from miles away, nothing says “Water makes me melt” like on of our Personalized umbrella.

The Chef: The antithesis of “The Person Who Burns Water,” The Chef is literally “God’s Gift to the domestic Kitchen.” They know all the ingredient substitutions to get them through in a pinch and can literally throw a pinch of this and a tad of that together into a gourmet meal for 10 without breaking a sweat. One of our personalized cutting boards is a great way to let your culinary companion know how much you appreciate their continental cuisine!

The Hostess With The "Mostess"

When invited to a dinner party or get together at a friend’s house, you generally know what to expect – good food, good wine and spirits, stimulating conversation and getting up to speed on the latest gossip. Though you can be counted on to always provide your end of the deal (i.e. your charming self), should you also provide a little gift to the hostess to thank her for her hospitality?
In a nutshell, YES! Your hostess (and host) have gone out of their way to provide a great night of entertainment for their guests and though it is not “required” that you bring (or send) a hostess gift, good taste and good manners dictate that you should.
Here’s what we suggest to bring for your favorite hostess at their next get together:

Candles: One of our personalized monogram candles is an excellent choice, just make sure you order it a few weeks in advance to insure it is delivered in time for the party. One of our Lollia candles would also make a great gift.

Soaps: Since there will be many guests traveling in and out of the hostesses bathroom why not giver her something that is both practical and adorable with one of our sets of monogrammed soaps. From White Flowers, to Citrus, to English Garden, there is something for even the most discriminating hostess.

Home Accessory: If you are pretty close with the hostess and want to spring for a really nice gift, try giving her one of our monogrammed martini sets or a set of personalized wine glasses. These will surely come in handy at her next little get together and your name will be at the top of her list of invitees.

Stationery: This is a great “catchall” hostess gift. Take it a step further and get her one of our stamps or embossers with her monogram so she can put her own personalized touch to it.

Other: Gift certificates to her favorite boutique, restaurant, or bookstore, some gourmet baked goodies; and a nice bottle of wine are all good options. Flowers are a little bit tricky – they can be cumbersome to the hostess to try to arrange them and meet guests at the same time, or they may clash with the party’s décor. If you feel you must send flowers, try to do so a day ahead (or early the day of) or better yet, drop off a gift certificate to the local flower shop a few days before hand with a quick note letting her know you are looking forward to the get together.

If you didn’t get the chance to get out and purchase a hostess gift before the party, never fear, it is perfectly acceptable to send a gift after the party. Also, it’s always nice to send the hostess a short thank you note letting her know how much you enjoyed the get together and appreciated the effort she put forth.

Personalization Do's and Don'ts in The Corporate World

Personalized gifts are very meaningful for both the gift giver and the recipient. However, there are some guidelines we suggest you follow to make sure you don’t get “too” personal – especially in a corporate setting. Check out our list of do’s and don’ts below for stress free gift giving regardless of the season.

Do thoroughly think through gifts for people of the opposite sex to make sure they are not misinterpreted as being in any way intimate.

Do make sure you check for mistakes (i.e. spelling of names) both when placing the order and when they arrive. Nothing says “I appreciate you” like a misspelled name, so make sure you get it right the first time.

Don’t feel obligated to reciprocate a gift. Make sure you acknowledge the gift and thank the giver for being so thoughtful.

Do make sure to pay attention to International etiquette. If your gift is being sent overseas, make sure you familiarize yourself with the recipient’s customs. You would be surprised at how easy it is to give a gift with the best of intentions that accidentally offends the recipient or gives the wrong message. Also, consider ordering their gift locally so the recipient won’t have to pay a tax or duty on the item sent.

Don’t send the same personalized gift. If you have a list of regular clients, try to send something different each year to keep it interesting. Also, don’t forget your client’s assistants!

Don’t forget dietary restrictions! If your gift is intended for a specific person, make sure to be aware of their religious, ethical and medical restrictions in their diets.

Do give equally. If you are giving to all of your employees, the value of their customized gifts should be within a few dollars of each other.

Don’t forget anyone. Make a list to be sure you’ve remembered everyone from the cleaning staff, regular contractors and part-timers.

Do be consistent. If you personalize a gift for one employee, you should do it for all of them.

Do use discretion, especially if you are not giving to everyone. To avoid awkward feelings by other employees, you may want to send the gift directly to the employees home.

Don’t be afraid to try something different for the holidays! If you are at a loss as to what to give your employees, and are tired of throwing the same boring party year after year, why not use the funds allocated to the party to give your employees some extra hours off? Or, you can give your employees the option of donating an afternoon to a good cause in place of a party. It’s a “pay it forward” approach that shows your employees your softer side and helps others in the process. Chance are, your employees would love having a little extra time to spend with their family or the ability to get a few last minute errands done.

The "Just Because" Gift

If you have a friend that is feeling down, or one of your family members didn’t get the big promotion they were hoping for, it’s always nice to try to help pick them up in whatever way you can. Some will go out for drinks, others a good gab on the phone. We suggest giving them a small “Just Because” gift.

Now “Just Because” doesn’t mean that the person in question has to be down, or sad, etc., it can encompass every aspect of a person. Listed below are some gift ideas we think would be great – why, you ask? The answer is simple, “just because” we said so!

Just Because You Make Me Laugh: Everyone has a friend that makes you laugh hysterically, even when the subject matter may be less than pleasant. If you are looking for a little something to let her know how much it means to have a little laughter in your life, get her some of the Lollia Inspire Bubble Bath and let her know that she inspires you to find the funny in life.

Just Because You Are a Great Friend: This great friend is always there to take a last minute phone call to let you complain about your husband, easily forgives you when you forget a play date, and lends you her favorite serving dish even though she knows you dropped yours on the floor. A set of our Personalized Glory Tulip Glasses are the perfect way to let her know that you value her friendship and trust in you to not drop her favorite serving dish as well.

Just Because You Were There In a Pinch: We all have those moments when the car breaks down, or you get stuck at the mechanic when you start to panic about getting to pick up the kids on time. The friend or neighbor that scoots on a moment’s notice to help you out in this bind deserves a little recognition from time to time. One of our Personalized Umbrellas lets them know you appreciate them helping out and would like to help them out in return by keeping them dry during rainy days.

Just Because You Could Use a Pick Me Up: We all get the blues from time to time, and it’s hard to see one of your good friends or family members feeling down. A great way to cheer them up – just because they look better with a smile on their face – is to give them a little pick me up. If the person in need of a little cheer likes to be in the kitchen, try getting them one of our Personalized Cutting Boards so they can chop away their blues on a head of lettuce – just forgo the onions cause we don’t want any tears!

Just Because You are My Husband/Wife: It is a given that you should do nice things for your spouse for no reason at all. Just because your husband leaves his socks on the floor, or can’t seem to find anything to eat in the well-stocked fridge, you’d miss those traits if they were not there anymore. Same goes for the wife that tells her husband she’s only going to spend $100 but ends up spending $200 because everything was on sale. A great little do-dad for your husband is our Personalized Pocket knife (just keep him away from your credit cards if you’re the big spender). For your wife, why not get her our Avacado Shell Necklace with a Monogrammed Pendant. These never go out of style and look great for both casual and dressy affairs.

Just Because I Wanted To: Whether you want to brighten their day, or say "I'm thinking of you," a "Just Because" gift is mainly given because you wanted to so something nice for someone that you care about. If you aren't sure what the person would like, one of our gift certificates will surely brighten their day.

Personalization ... What to get for the friend that has it all!

We all have “that friend” … You know, the one that has everything, is always stepping out in the latest style and always manages to look great even though she has three kids under five at home. Oh, and did we mention that her house is always clean, dinner is on the table at 6 sharp (gourmet no less), and is paired against domestic guru Martha Stewart in a showdown, Martha would want to return to jail.
What on earth do you get that person for Christmas or other special occasions? How can you let her know how much you value your carefully crafted friendship and are forever grateful for the around the house tips that have gotten you out of many binds?
Here are some nifty little gift ideas to get “that friend” who is always there and ready to lend a helping hand, and the most “together” person you know.
1. Try one of our personalized cutting boards – especially if they are constantly in the kitchen whipping up one amazing concoction after another. Having taken the time to remember how much they enjoy being in the kitchen, this practical gift will ensure many more fantastic meals, desserts and “I just threw this together” dishes, she has become so famous for.
2. Another great gift for the friend that has everything (and then some) is our personalized umbrella. This cute little umbrella will ensure everyone knows she’s coming and will add a little sunshine to her day in the process.
3. We all know that staying in shape isn’t the easiest thing to do – even for “that friend” so why not get her a personalized bath wrap for her to use at the gym, or for use at the beach/pool during the warm summer months. This ever-useful wrap will come in handy for years to come.
4. Some of our personalized glass sets will be a great hit for the girlfriend that is the “best hostess you know.” She is always prepared with great dishes, wonderful cocktails, and stimulating conversation. These glasses can be used for everything from casual get-togethers to more formal dinner parties.
5. Of course, one of our personalized travel coffee mugs is a given when it comes to finding something for the friend that has everything. Ours has a choice of bright colored backgrounds with their monogram to boot. They are very eye-catching and forever useful.

It really is a challenge to find gifts for a friend that pretty much has it all. If you are really at a loss and none of these gifts really fit that friend, or family member, one of our gift certificates will insure that they will find something on their own that they didn’t have already.

Personalization... Who needs it?

1. People with bad memories. This works in two different ways. For instance, our personalized umbrella will help the person with a bad memory find their umbrella (and remember their name in the process). Also, if you have a bad memory, going to a get together where items are personalized with the host or hostesses monogram, you will never forget their name.
2. People who entertain. If you or people you know like to entertain, you know that dishes somehow manage to “go missing” or, if you are one that takes dishes to friends in need, it is easy to forget who has what. If you take the time to personalize these things with a special label, monogram, or stamp, the dish in question will always make it’s way home – even if you’ve forgotten that your dish ran away with the spoon
3. New couples – The novelty of starting life together, new apartment/home, wedding, honeymoon, and everything that goes with it. A personalized gift for the happy couple helps reinforce the bond that has been forged and since it has the permanence of personalization attached to it, they may be less likely to get a divorce or separate when the going gets a little tough.
4. Bosses/coworkers – Tired of items walking away from your desk, or your boss constantly asking you for a pen because theirs happened to walk off somewhere (who knew that pens had legs?) Getting personalized items for the office is a sure-fire way to make sure you and your co-workers are always prepared.
5. College Students – I’m sure you remember the days of living in the dorms, lending out items and not knowing what happened to them. Or, coming home from school, half the items you brought home didn’t belong to you. Personalizing clothes and other items is a great form of insurance that the college student you know will always get their stuff back – possibly even before they graduate!