V In The City

‘Tis the season to start holiday shopping AGAIN! Hard to believe, isn’t it?

Usually by this time each year, I’m scratching my head trying to figure out where the time went and how it got by without me purchasing a single Christmas gift early on.

My husband and I are pretty competitive gift-givers. We have an annual competition with each other to see who gave the best gifts amongst ourselves. He usually wins. He has an amazing talent for matching a gift to that certain someone’s personality. I don’t have that natural ability, but it doesn’t keep me away from the stores even if it does leave me frazzled.

Since holiday shopping has become high-anxiety for me over the years, this year, I decided I was going to start early and not let my hubby steal my thunder. Gone are the days of standing in line on Christmas Eve grabbing a last-minute find.

So, throughout this year, I’ve been peeking in on some of our area's favorite boutiques, shopping centers and stand-alone stores to see what’s out there. I’ve learned and found out a lot, including the fact that we don’t have to travel to Dallas to find amazing, one-of-a-kind gifts. Better yet, the gifts I did find can actually go a lot farther than the hands that will unwrap them this year.

To my delight, during my shopping adventures I discovered that there are so many products carried by retailers that give back. Pick a charity or an organization that your heartstrings tie on to and there’s a product that is sold with proceeds going back to it. Finding a perfect gift for your loved one, can now mean, you’ll also be giving to someone in need. It’s an ingenious concept if you ask me. So much so, that I wanted to share a few of my awesome finds with you.

Bridgette’s in Tyler carries beautiful, cashmere wraps by White + Warren from the Pink-Label Cashmere Collection. I’ve actually had my eye on their pink, dip-dye wrap that is part of this collection and if I purchase it, 50 percent of the proceeds will go back to women at risk.

Need a gift that will add a little sparkle to life? Bridgette’s also carries the Amanda Sterett Breast Cancer Collection. This Dallas-based jewelry designer debuted a ten-piece line of earrings and necklaces accented with rosy stones (pink opal, quartz, garnet) named after women who have battled the disease. Twenty-percent of proceeds benefit the cause.

Haute Totz, in Tyler, carries a line of children’s clothing called Persnickety. This line reminded me of the Toms shoes concept because of the buy one, give one premise. For every Persnickety dress and outfit sold, it will donate an article of clothing to a child in need.

Additionally, Haute Totz and Cavender’s Boot City will be carrying BSCENE’s former cover girl, Maci Drewry’s lip balm. Maci who is battling Cystic Fibrosis teamed up with famous-LA-based, make-up artist Samelia to create the product after a chance meeting in Las Vegas. Called Maci’s Miracle Moisturizing Lip Balm, a portion of the proceeds of the $5 lip smacker will benefit children battling CF. Great, stocking-stuffer idea…huh?

In Ben Wheeler, Texas; Flying Fish Gallery, an artisan shop carrying works from various local and regional artists sells Lilybead. Lilybead is a line of fairly traded hand-woven jewelry supporting young indigenous women in Guatemala. Each piece is a wearable piece of art.

Cole & Company in La Piazza Shopping Center carries a line of Christopher Radko Christmas ornaments that also give back, including ones that benefit Alzheimers, diabetes, autism, animal rights and even wildlife conservation.

With these great finds that support your gift-giving needs and the needs of others checking off that special someone from your Christmas list this year also means you’ll be checking out for a cause – all the more reason to throw one in for yourself. I did – but don’t tell my hubby!

Merry Christmas!