gift ideas

The Decorologist’s Top Christmas Gifts

November 28, 2011 By Kristie Barnett 7 Comments

Well, the Christmas countdown is on. I’m sharing my short list of gifts to give this Christmas, or maybe to put on your own wish list. Just click on the links provided for more information.

Photo by Monica Buck

There are so many decorating and design books out there that are just full of lovely photographs, but that do little to instruct you how to actually implement design ideas. These are two of my very favorite decorating books because they inspire and instruct in a way that even the design-challenged will love. [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Decorology Tagged With: ceramic lamp, christmas, christmas list, color consultation, decorate, decorologist, design, domino, gift certificate, gift ideas, ikat pillows, kidkraft kitchen, moshi phone, online design, ottoman, retro handset, wish list

Cheap & Easy “Gourmet” Valentine Gifts

February 2, 2011 By Kristie Barnett 4 Comments

I don’t have time to make homemade confections for Valentine’s Day, do you? And I’m not very good at baking anyway! So I’ve found a few ideas for easy and inexpensive gifts that will make the recipient feel special and make you look like you went to a lot of trouble. Even though you didn’t.

wrapped chocolates via ms Cheap & Easy Gourmet Valentine Gifts

Go to the drugstore or grocery, buy regular packaged chocolates or other sweet treats, and remove the plastic overcovering. Take off the cover/top and do a little giftwrap job on it. Or take strips of pretty paper and tape them around the package with double-sided tape. A little ribbon pretties it up even more.

trans Cheap & Easy Gourmet Valentine Gifts

Pick up a few king-size candy bars and remove the paper wrapper only (leave the foil). Wrap with precut scrapbook paper and add embellishments. Who wouldn’t appreciate the extra effort put into this thrifty gift?

candy wrappers bhg Cheap & Easy Gourmet Valentine Gifts

chocolate wrapper via ms Cheap & Easy Gourmet Valentine Gifts

You could even write a love note on the inside of your paper wrapper! How romantic is that?

Now, this is super easy – write sweet phrases on paper circles and place them beneath each chocolate in their individual wrappers. Now your gift’s recipient gets a little surprise AFTER eating each chocolate treat. In this picture, the idea was to write down all the different reasons you love someone.

messages in chocolate1 Cheap & Easy Gourmet Valentine Gifts

So now I know what I’m doing for teachers’ gifts – you got any other bright ideas?

Photo Credits: BHG, Martha Stewart.

Filed Under: Seasonal Meditations Tagged With: chocolate gifts, gift ideas, valentine, valentines gifts

Floral Thermos

April 7, 2010 By Kristie Barnett 2 Comments

The other day I was scoping one of my favorite retail stores, Home Goods (TJ Maxx on steroids). I found these fab metal thermoses. What a great spring gift for a friend – for those picnics we are already imagining in a sun-drenched park or for a scenic drive through the country with the top down.

2010 03 22 11.01.06 Floral Thermos

I bet soup would even taste better served from one of these pretties! HomeGoods carries several designs, in the loveliest pastels background colors and graceful asian florals. And only $12.99 each!

Filed Under: Retail Therapy Tagged With: bargain gifts, floral thermos, gift ideas, home goods, tj maxx

Easy Valentine’s Gifts

February 10, 2010 By Kristie Barnett 3 Comments

This Valentine’s Day, why not take a really predictable gift (chocolate) and make it really special? Buy regular packaged chocolates or other sweet treats and remove the plastic overcovering. Take off the cover/top and do a little giftwrap job on it. Or take strips of pretty paper and tape them around the package with double-sided tape. A little ribbon pretties it up even more.

[Read more...]