• Therarebelle

the RARE belle

~ a southern gal's guide to all things fabulous in food, fashion, finery and frippery

the RARE belle

Tag Archives: gifts

the (conversation) heart of the matter…a sweetheart of a friday friend-1-1

06 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle-icious, friday friend 1-1, what's ringin' our belle

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gifts, macarons, sweet treats, valentines day, Williams Sonoma

We belles love putting a little french-twist on just about anything…so this little twist on a Valentines treat should come as little surprise!  In our efforts to curate just the right mix of goodies for all of the sweethearts in your lives, we came upon these Conversation Hearts Macarons…

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from Williams Sonoma with flavors to compete with even the best in Paris!

They are shipped frozen so that they arrive perfectly chilled…just right for the Valentine with a sweet tooth! We are sure you will get a sweet, “merci”!

Click now or forever hold your peace!
a&a

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belles wear their 💞s on their sleeves…gift ideas and the art of receiving

29 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by theRAREbelle in what's ringin' our belle

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bloomingdales, etsy, gifts, hearts, markgraham, nordstrom, shopblondedesign, shopbop, valentines day

Before we know it, the next holiday (heart-iday…get it?) will be upon us. So, to help y’all out (cause that what belles do) we’ve come up with a few of our favorite gift ideas for the various and assorted Valentines in your life.

First…some thoughts on the process…

We won’t deny that we love any gift-giving occasion, and it’s true that we adore receiving a surcee. BUT we love nothing more than being the givers of great gifts. The act of giving can be a treat in itself when the recipient flashes a smile, gets a glint in the eye, exclaims with joy…confirmation that the present hit the mark.

Sadly, not everyone has been schooled in the art of receiving. Then it can be a total drag. Remember, “givers” deserve to get a little somethin’ out of the experience, too! It’s why we’ve raised our baby belles and beaux to be skilled giftees. It’s easy to be gracious and thankful when we get something we want. The real skill comes when it may not be what we expected. We’ve taught them to be grateful for the thought, no matter if they already have it, don’t care for it, or it just doesn’t suit, they must still effervesce…yes, effervesce. Our wee ones have able to spell effervesce since they were knee-high.

So, if you want to follow suit, and if you have a heart (it is February, for Pete’s sake!) then you must effervesce with every gift…large or small…awesome or not-so-much. Really, it’s the right thing to do. And you’re never too old to learn. So if you’re one of those….you know who you are…start effervescing now.

Enough digressing, time to get back to business and let you see the gift list…

For the fashionable man, from Absolute Socks

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For the one who knows the way to a man’s heart, from Williams Sonoma

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For the H2O lover, from Leif

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For the belle who wears her heart on her sleeve (hint hint), from Asos

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For the belle who is ALL heart, from Shopbop

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For the one whose love is priceless, from shopbop

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For the java lover, from markandgraham

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For the light of your life, from crateandbarrel

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For the arm-candy lover, from Nordstrom

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For the one who always knows what to say, from Casetify

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For the one who always lends an ear, from Bloomimgdales

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For the one who hold the keys to your heart, from Nordstrom

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For the Cupid on the go, from owenandfred

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For the love-ly hostess, from wiliamsonoma

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For Cupid in the morning, from Etsy

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For the black and white lover, from shopblondedesign

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Whew!!! Alrighty then, we think that should cover just about everyone.  Time to start clickin’ and givin’.  

We hope you have a lover-ly…and effervescent…Valentines day!!

💞💞💗💋

a&a

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it’s the thought that counts…a thrifty gifting friday friend-1-1

05 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in friday friend 1-1, what's ringin' our belle

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amazon, Bergdorf Goodman, Cartier, gifts, Giles & Brother, gloves, goop, jewelry, MoMA, personalization, rosemary, Sur la table, topiaries, travel, umbrella

For this edition of our gift-giving suggestions, we thought we might share some very useful, yet budget-friendly (all under $50!), options. We are regular “goop” readers and saw a couple of these on her gift ideas post…but we went digging a bit further, keeping prices low and practicality paramount. Hint to either of our mothers, sisters, children…(cough, cough) we kinda like this stuff. Might we find one or two in a stocking or under our trees?? Just sayin’.

From the MoMA Store…

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The 4-in-1 travel adaptor…$25. Good for the travelin’ belle or fella

And more from the MoMA store…
Nothin’ but blue skies…

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The Blue Sky Umbrella… What belle wouldn’t like this overhead on a rainy (or snowy) winter day?? Just $48…or get the collapsible version for $40.

Operate that “rectangle” in the cold…

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Keep the fingers warm and in control with these artsy Touchscreen Gloves. A budget-friendly $28…and they come in a man-friendly black and gray, as well!

For the blogger…hint, hint…cough, cough…

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This A-Fold iPad Stand makes an awful lot of sense. Come on…it’s only $48!

For the cook…from Sur la table…

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This rosemary tree wrapped in burlap would make a delightful delivery! Can be used as part of the holiday decor, but will be used and appreciated well after the tinsel has been cleared! This one will only set you back by $29.95. (And for a local, do-it-yourself delivery…we’ve seen some great rosemary topiaries at Home Depot. Just do a bit of creative wrapping and you’re all set!)

Here’s one that goes a wee bit over budget…$55…but we just had to share:

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From Bergdorf Goodman, the Giles & Brother Personalized Skinny Railroad Spike Bracelet is edgy and stackable…so the entire family can be commemorated! (By the way…it’s a bit reminiscent of this little beauty from Cartier…only $7545 less!)

For the younger set…

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This Outside the Lines coloring book should keep ’em busy for a bit. Order on Amazon for just $18 or less…and they have other suggestions as well.

Or maybe a book or two…

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The Open Ocean is interesting and educational…you might even find yourself curled up with it! From authors Pittau and Gervais who have another couple of books in their repertoire…maybe you should buy a set!

So there you have it, belles…lots of perfectly practical, thoroughly thoughtful options for your gift-giving pleasure.

Ho, Ho, Ho!
a&a

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manly gifts…takin’ care of the fellas on that list

26 Wednesday Nov 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in what's ringin' our belle

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gifts, men, paperweights, Pottery Barn, ShaveTech, Uncommon Goods, Watson Kennedy

We belles are quite thankful for all of our family and friends. This time of year just makes us sit back and say, “Wow…how’d I get so lucky?” In fact, all of this thankfulness has us in the mood for some gift-giving (hmmm…convenient as “you-know-what” is just a few short weeks away!). So…we thought we’d share some more gift ideas with you…focusing on the fellas.

(BTW…we’ve been told that the masses will be doing quite a bit of shopping online as the turkey bakes and the Macy’s balloons float across the TV screen…these ideas might help you beat ’em to the “click”)…

We’ve searched high and low to bring you some ideas that will surely take care of at least a couple of ’em. Grab your list, belles…let’s get busy!

First, a few items from Watson Kennedy, “purveyors of fine goods”…

For the wine-drinker…or the nice man who happily corks bottle after bottle for others (ahem…us)…how about this super-cool and retro French Zig-Zag Corkscrew:
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And you might pair the corkscrew with these Golf Ball Wine Stoppers
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Or along those same lines, how about a Tennis Handle Bottle Opener
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(Bonus…they have an option for the golfer as well!)

And for a classic little stocking-stuffer…
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How about these Kent Handmade Combs. So retro…and only $12!

Moving along…

Having a man-child who seems to never have time to shave, one belle thought this was the bee’s knees…

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This portable shaver from ShaveTech can be charged and used in the car…just right for the man on-the-go…or the college fella who says he “just never has time, Mom”. No excuses now, son.

Next, we all know our men cherish their “best friends”, so why not give them something to acknowledge that bond…

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…with a Dog Blueprint from Uncommon Goods. From the Airedale Terrier to the Wire-haired Dachshund, they have almost every breed you can imagine! (Side-note…they also have ballpark blueprints for the baseball fan)

Also from Uncommon Goods…

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This Sailcloth Toiletry Bag adds a bit of nautical style to the travelin’ man.

And what man doesn’t need a bit of wisdom?

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These paper weights showcasing the infinite wisdom of Uncle Albert are an excellent choice! (And just $36)

For the James Bond wannabe…

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These Wifi and USB cufflinks should do the trick. And you get to be a Bond girl…holla!!

Just a couple more, belles. These are from Pottery Barn…go figure!

How about this Saddle Leather eyeglass case

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Or perhaps this iPhone case/wallet

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At last check…on sale for $9 with free shipping and monogramming. A steal!!

Of course…we could go on ‘n on, but the cookin’ and shoppin’ aren’t going to do themselves. Gotta get busy! Happy Thanksgiving, belles!!
a&a

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tech trends…one for you, one for me gifts…your friday friend-1-1

07 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in friday friend 1-1, the organized belle, what's ringin' our belle

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amazon, Exofab, gifts, iphone, organization, tech, This Is Ground

We must admit, most gifts that we give are actually items that we covet ourselves…that’s just how we belles roll. So…as we shop for gifts, we love finding the perfect reasonably-priced items so that we can do the one for you, one for me thing without the guilt!

Here are a couple of things in the tech arena that fit the bill!

First…the “Cord Taco Supreme 5-pack” from This Is Ground. Don’t know about you, but messy cords all over the place make us a bit testy…just sayin’.

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These little babies keep the mess to a minimum…and you won’t believe how many colors they offer!! We love this metallic gold, but the choice is yours!

Next, a cool spin on the phone cover…

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the stick-on gel cover from Exofab. Again, color options galore…so there’s one to suit everyone on your list (including yourself…of course). Only drawback…they don’t have covers for the iPhone 6 which just might be on someone’s wish list. Exofab…please work on that soon!

And speaking of the “6”…check out this sleek pebbled leather folio in cayenne/gunmetal from ShopBop

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Just $50 and also available in other colors!

For the younger (or not so) set…how about these cute home-button covers.
From Amazon, here is just a small sample of the whopping 216 buttons in the package!!!

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These should last a while!

And finally…who knew we even needed this??

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It’s a dust plug for your earphone jack! It’s just $1.82 on Amazon…so, what the heck!! Get one for ALL the princess belles in your life!!

We’ll keep shoppin’ and sharin’. Gift-givin’ season is right around the corner!’
a&a

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little tastes of the luxe life…belle gift ideas to…die…for!

06 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in what's ringin' our belle

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Chanel, gifts, Hermés, luxe

We know…you have just barely had time to clear the jack-o-lanterns and fake spider webs from the front stoop and are already feeling the Christmas rush settling in. Happens to the best of us, belles. But never fear…we have some gift ideas to share over the next few weeks that should help take care of even the trickiest recipient!

To get us started…how about something special for that discerning, somewhat difficult-to-buy-for person on your “list”? We have found some rather special little über-designer items that give a taste of the luxe life without breaking the bank…holla!

First up:
Vintage hand-bound Hermès books from Waiting on Martha…

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They also have Chanel!

And speaking of Chanel…

What belle wouldn’t love Chanel Le Coton cotton squares…a luxe way to remove makeup after a long day?

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Or how about a bit of luxury in the bath or shower with the scent named after Miss Chanel herself…Coco Mademoiselle Foam Bath

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Of course…Chanel can even make a plastic bottle of bath foam look über-chic!

Back to Hermès…

Check out these soaps from the Hermès Le Bain Collection

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You won’t even need to (or want to) wrap that iconic orange box!!

…and how about these notebooks covered in silk twill…shown here in the Cavalcadour and Brazil motifs?

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Now THAT’S jottin’ things down in Hermès style!

So there you have it, belles…we’ve gotten you started on your quest for that special little something. We will be back with more ideas soon…because that’s what belles do!!
a&a

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these trays are trés magnifique…a belle bonus

14 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in the organized belle, what's ringin' our belle

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gifts, lucite, organization, Paper Petals Shop, trays

Oh, dear belles, do we have a gift idea for you! We happen to have a belle-friend who is amazingly creative…maybe we should say “Creative” with a capital “C”! She paints, she designs…she’s like the energizer bunny! So when she showed us her latest creation, we were not entirely surprised to see that she had come up with yet another winner!

Now, we have gone on and on about lucite before…so you know we are fans. Sharp and chic, it fits with almost any decor. Add a spot of color and some personalization, and, voila, you have a one-of-a-kind piece…in this case, a gorgeous tray that will have all the other belles begging to know where on earth you found such a smart treasure!

In two sizes and an almost endless array of colors and patterns, you can create just the perfect one (or more) for yourself, your list of graduates, a shower gift, or hostess gift (because a belle would never show up for a weekend without a special little something…just sayin’.

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the small (8 1/2″ x 11″ and priced at $48) is perfect for holding keys, glasses, phones…an excellent choice for a dorm organizational piece or maybe neat containers of cotton balls and/or cotton swabs in the bath.

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The large (11 x 17 and $75) is just the perfect size for you to show off as the “hostess with the mostest”! Load it up with drinks or appetizers…or perhaps some dear will load it up with a delish breakfast and deliver it to you in bed, princess!

You may visit her Etsy shop here for more photos of the trays and options galore (and check out her other belle-worthy items while you’re at it)…or you may place an order directly through her if you are “local”. Just shoot an email to her at ordersatpaperpetals@gmail.com

Now, how easy (and awesome) is that??!

You’re welcome, belles!
a&a

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for the graduates…belles give the best gifts…your friday friend-1-1

09 Friday May 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in friday friend 1-1, what's ringin' our belle

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bag tags, desk pads, fragrances, friend-1-1, gift ideas, gifts, graduates, LL Bean, Masik, Orvis, Paper Petals, Pink Monogram, Rouge and Co, sun hats, totes

You may be asking yourself…as are we…how on earth did graduation time get here already?! Didn’t we just stress over the perfect gifts for Christmas?? Now we are faced with yet another dilemma…the perfect gift for the graduate.

Well, belles to the rescue! We have some impressive ideas (and they won’t break the bank…a belle bonus!)

First…with total disclosure…we happen to have an industrious friend who has some of the cutest organizational products! Visit her on Etsy – The store is called Paper Petals (paperpetalsshop). Imagine one of these cute desk pads in a dorm room…

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These come in 50-page pads, sell for $38, and come in so many patterns and colors your head will spin! You can create just the right one for that special girl…and while you’re at it, maybe you need one too (just sayin’).
Check out Paper Petals for more ideas than you can shake a stick at!

Next up…how about luggage/bag tags? As those graduates strike out on their own, they need all the help they can get keeping up with their stuff. Backpacks, totes, and suitcases can all look alike, so why not give them something that makes a stylish, yet identifiable, statement?

For a somewhat “grown-up” look…try this from Orvis

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There is plenty of space for name, address and phone…but for the sake of privacy (and the fact that those kids will change addresses who knows how many times) maybe just a name and phone number will suffice. Totally your call, belles…we are just here to make the suggestions.

Now, for a more stylish, playful option, your female graduates will love this bag tag (which comes with a bonus…can also double as a large key ring so the sweet little belle doesn’t lose her dorm key)…

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These come as a set of two for $29…not too bad, huh? And there are almost more patterns, colors and other options than a belle can imagine! Might take a while to choose, but the junior belles will be swooning when they see your creation! Find them at Rouge and Co.

And speaking of keeping up with stuff…monograms are a big help in that department. Sarah Belle Smith (SBS) just can’t wear her roommate, Mary Anne Miller’s, (MAM) monogrammed shoes, hat, belt, necklace, etc. why, that would just be w.r.o.n.g! So consider the options at a friend’s shop here in Greenville…The Pink Monogram. A favorite of ours is the sun hat…we need to make these belles start early to protect that perfect, collagen-filled, skin of their youth!

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Click here for the full selection of colors and such

Taking us in a different direction…think more nose-candy as opposed to eye-candy…check out these collegiate fragrances from Masik!

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What a great way to boost school spirit! Check them out here to see if they have the school you need…and the site has a handy store-finder so that you can find a location near you to take a whiff. We happen to own the Alabama for men (Roll Tide) and it is quite nice…smells like a winner! Just sayin’…and again, Roll Tide 😉

Now, you know we could go on forever…but we will just suggest two more items…

For the preppy, slightly modest belle…

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A monogrammed towel-wrap from Preppy Monogrammed Gifts. Perfect for those who might have to shuffle down the hall for a shower…just sayin’.

And last, but not least, a true classic from LL Bean…

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The open-top boat and tote bag…in all the old classic colors as well as a creat-your-own option that makes the possibilities practically endless!

So…you have some decisions to make! Good luck to you…and to all of those excited graduates out there!

a&a

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