10 last minute Mother's Day Gifts under $50 from Anthropologie

Earlier this week I did some last minute Mother's Day gift shopping at one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie. Anthropologie is a great place to shop because it's eclectic mix of clothing, jewelry, accessories, kitchen and household items, and furniture. Anthropologie stores are located all over the U.S. If you haven't had time to pick out something for your Mother, I suggest checking out Anthropologie's selection of great gifts. Here are a ten of my favorites, all under $50.

1. Lemon Initial Necklace made out of 14k gold plated brass, $38

2. Florid and Faceted Earrings constructed with metal, amazonite, glass, resin, $28

3. Initial Pocket Mirror, $14

4. Tocca Solid Perfumes comes in three fragrances - Cleopatra, Florence, Stella, $30

5. Apia Frame made out of mango wood, $40

6. The Illustrated Kitchen Bible 1000 family recipes from around the world, $35

7. Shimmering Garden Journal crafted out of soft leather, $18
8. Voluspa Candle Tin has an 80 hour burn, five fragrances - Santiago Huckleberry, Baltic Amber, Capri Fig Frangipani, Champaca Bloom, Goji Berry, $18

9. Ivory Vines Canister constructed out of porcelain, $20

10. Provence Perfume Bottle made out of crystal glass, $38

Ten under $50 Mother's Day Gift Guide

Please enjoy our Ten under $50 Mother's Day Gift Guide. We spent some time scouring the web for great gifts at bargain prices. We hope you find the perfect Mother's Day gift in our guide. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for news about our Mother's Day giveaway.

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You create the coupons for this fully customized 15 page coupon book. It's a great way to create a truly personalized gift. Purchase at Everydaygrace's Etsy store for only $16.50.

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This rustic bracelet can be engraved with three initials or one's full name. It's a wonderful gift for a Mom who prefers understated, casual jewelry. Purchase for $27.75.

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I love this vintage style apron from spicerakdesigns. The apron is made of 100% cotton and is nostalgically priced at $25. This cheery apron is sure to make cooking fun again.

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Looking for a gift for the eco-conscious Mom? The "Green your Office" set is the perfect gift. The set contains a bamboo box, a "Greening Your Office" book, a mini kleen kanteen, a bamboo pen, and recycled stationary. Purchase the set for $40.

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The Mother's Legacy journal provides a unique opportunity for a Mom to record her life story to share later with her children. Purchase for $12.99.

(image from Oktak's Etsy Shop)

Tired of seeing your Mom dig in her handbag for change? This adorable, bright yellow mini frame purse makes the perfect coin purse. Purchase at Oktak's Etsy shop for $22.

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Tell your Mother how much she means to you with the Cherished Mother Stacking Rings . These sterling silver rings can be purchased from Red Envelope for $39.95.

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Dress up your Mom's dresser with this Embroidery Jewelry Tray. The tray is made from hand rolled clay and you can personalize the tray with Mom's initial. Choose from periwinkle, blush pink, and cloud white. Purchase for $43.

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Foodie Moms will be in heaven with the Fortnum and Mason Taste of Spring hamper. The hamper is packed with goodies like tea, sugar crystals, and jelly. Purchase the hamper for $40.

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The Nuts Cream Perfume is a cream-based perfume formulation of sweet almond oil and beeswax. The perfume is alcohol free and comes in yummy scents like mango, lavender, and ylang ylang. Purchase for $19.95.

My visit to the New York International Gift Fair

Yesterday I attended the New York International Gift Fair. This is my first year attending the fair so I really didn't know what to expect. I have to say I was blown away by the variety of products. I'm in the midst of planning the launch of an online retail store, so I wanted to get an idea of what's out there to determine what types of items my store will stock. I saw some great products and I'm looking forward to getting my store up and running. One note of advice to first time attendees - wear comfortable shoes. I wore flats which were comfortable for the first 30 minutes, but, by the end of the day my feet were SCREAMING. I also probably shouldn't have tried to see everything in one day. Next year I'll spread my visit over two days. All in all it was a cool experience and I'm excited for next year's gift fair. Here are a few items that stood out to me.

BloemBox

(courtesy of bloembox)

My eyes were immediately drawn to the Bloembox booth. The gorgeous packaging holds a really great gift idea for the flower loving apartment dweller. Each box contains a pot with saucer and a bulb. You can purchase a set of 6 for $222 at www.bloembox.com.

Music Cooks by Menus and Music

(courtesy of Music and Menu)

MusicCooks is the perfect gift for food and music lovers. Each box contains 16 washable recipe cards that feature food photos, cook's tips, and shopping lists. The box also contains a CD compiled with songs that complement the theme of the box. For example, the Pleasures of the Caribbean box contains recipes for Caribbean dishes and cocktails and the enclosed CD contains reggae and calypso songs. Purchase it at Menus and Music for $22.

Transport by Setgogear

(courtesy of trendhunter magazine)

The transport is a really cool gift for the urban guy. This lightweight non bulky alternative to the messenger bag has two front pockets that can be used for a cellphone, ipod, or blackberry. And, there is also a zip pocket that is perfect for storing money. The back has a large zip up that can be used to store magazines. Purchase it at Setgo for $80.00.

Perfect Little Somethings - Gourmet Chocolate Covered Pretzels

(image courtesy of Fretzels)

It's really amazing what you can find on the Internet in the wee hours of the morning. I don't even know what I was searching for when I found these gourmet chocolate covered pretzels called Fretzels. But, I'm glad I found them. These pretzels are amazing. They are dipped in dark, white, or milk chocolate, and, are topped with goodies like toffee, peanut butter chip, butterscotch, cookies n' cream, chocolate chip, M&Ms, and peanut butter crunch. Yes, I imagine you are salivating just like I was. How can anyone resist chocolate-covered pretzels? Fretzels are a great gift to include in a care package for a college student, or to give to a friend or family member who needs cheering up. Anyone who receives this gift will immediately light up. Fretzels comes in a half dozen ($14), dozen ($24), or two dozen box ($45). The company also offers 6 month and 12 month Fretzel of the month memberships ($72.90 - $448.80 + shipping). Purchase this gift today at Fretzels.

If you like this gift idea and need help finding additional gift ideas, go to Gift Consulting and submit your Gift Consulting request today. It takes less than 15 minutes! We'll search the web, visit stores, and research products to find unique and creative gift ideas customized specifically for your gift recipient. We do the work so you don't have to!

Perfect Mother's Day Gift Guide- Part I

That Perfect Something

Perfect Mother's Day Gift Guide

We are really excited to provide the first of three installments of our Perfect Mother’s Day Gift Guide. The next two installments will be posted during the next two weeks. We will also post a last minute gift ideas during the week before Mother's Day, for those of you who were too busy to buy Mother's Day Gifts. We hope that our guide will help you find the perfect gift for your Mother or at the least we hope that our gift ideas inspires your Mother's Day gift search.

For the Bauble Loving Mother

Spring Cart Designs Fulani Earrings

(image courtesy of Springcart Designs)

This beautiful gold twist design will be a hit with Moms who love handcrafted, one of a kind jewelry pieces. The Fulani earrings are individually crafted by the Fulani people of West Africa. No two pieces are identical.

Perfect Gifting Tip

Make this gift extra perfect by purchasing a 6 or 12 month subscription to Spring Cart Designs' Earring Club. Recipients of the 6 month subscription receive three pairs of earrings and recipients of the 12 month subscription receive 6 pairs of earrings. The six month club membership costs $120.00 and the twelve month membership costs $210.

Purchase the Fulani Earrings for $27 or a six month or 12 month Earring Club membership at Springcart Designs.

For the Foodie and Earthy Mom
Nudo-Italia Adopt an Olive Tree

(image courtesy of Nudo-Italia)

Show your Mom that you appreciate her love of food and the earth by adopting an olive tree in Le Marche, Italy for a year for her. Your Mom will not only receive the produce from the tree (one package of olive oil in the Spring and another package of olive oil in the fall), but your purchase also supports small scale farming. Your Mother will also receive an adoption certificate and a booklet telling her about her tree.

Purchase this gift for £65.00 (approximately $130.00) + delivery and taxes at Nudo-Italia.

Perfect Gifting Tip

Make this gift extra perfect by creating an Italian themed culinary basket for her. Purchase a woven basket from a craft store and fill it with the items below or similar items.

• An Olive Pitter
• An Oil Mister
• An Olive Oil Carafe
• An Italian Cookbook
  

For the Globe-Trotting Mom
Toss Designs Club Tote

(image courtesy of Toss Designs)

Any woman who loves to travel appreciates a good carry on bag. The Club Tote fits the bill. It's stylish, roomy, and versatile. The Club Tote comes in either pink/white or green/white.

Purchase the Club Tote at Toss Designs for $126.00.

Perfect Gifting Tip

Make this gift extra perfect by adding any or all of the following items to the Club Tote.

• Noise Reducing Earphones
• Travel Comfort Set
• Travel Journal

If you like the gift ideas posted in our Mother's Day Gift Guide and need help finding additional gift ideas, go to Gift Consulting and submit your Gift Consulting request today. It takes less than 15 minutes and only costs $19.99 per Gift Consulting request.

Perfect Little Somethings - Gift finds at the Brooklyn Flea Market

Despite the cold weather I dropped by the Brooklyn Flea Market today. There was a huge turnout and it was exciting to see so many vendors showcasing their wares. It will be one of my go to places to find great gifts. Here are some of my favorite finds.

Brooklyn based Greenjeans showcased a number of items including handmade toys made by Frank Ridley. I particularly loved the wonderfully crafted Wooden Helicopter. The helicopter is made out of white pine and doesn't have any artificial finishes. It's a great natural, simple toy that any kid will love. You can purchase Frank Ridley's wooden toys at Greenjeans for $18.

I couldn't pass up Loyalty and Blood's Letter Tote. It's made out of canvas and comes in either small or large. It's perfect to take to the supermarket or to the flea market. You can purchase this tote for $22 at Loyalty and Blood.

Amy Holbrook designs fun needlepoint kits. I picked up her Stitchable Journal in the Rio design. I love that you can personalize the journal with a needlepoint monogram. It's a great gift for a crafty person. You can purchase the stitchable Journal for $22 at Amy Holbrook.

Bonbon Oiseau's keyfobs and necklaces immediately caught my eye. The keyfobs are made out of antique brass with various handstamped motifs. The keyfobs can also be used as pendants on chains. The necklaces are really unique jewelry pieces. To order these pieces email info@bonbonoiseau.com. Prices range from $48 -134.

Perfect Little Somethings - Blueblood Dog Collar

Most of my friends know that I'm deathly afraid of dogs. I won't go into the gory details, but let's just say I had a bad experience as a 10 year old girl scout trying to sell girl scout cookies. Since that time whenever I see a a dog, I'm always terrified that I'll be bitten. Doesn't matter how big or small the dog is I'll cross the street when I see a dog walking towards me. Yes, I know the fear is a little irrational, but I swear, I'm really trying to work on it. However, lately I have to admit that some of the four legged creatures have tugged at my heart strings. And, I've been coming across some really great gifts for pet lovers that for a millisecond make me think it would be kind of nice to have a furry friend around. If I had dog, my dog would be dressed to the nine and would have all the best pet accessories. I recently came across a company called Bluebood that sells great luxury items for dogs. I particularly liked the Plaza collar which is a great looking faux ostrich collar that comes in various sizes. You can purchase the Plaza collar at Blueblood for $32. And, you can also get the matching lead for an extra $40. The Plaza collar is the perfect gift for a pet lover who wants to dress their dog in style.

If you like what you see and you need additional gift ideas go to That Perfect Something and submit a Gift Consulting request today. You'll get great gift ideas for any occasion.

Little Perfect Somethings - Agraria TasselAire

I stopped by Saks this afternoon and came across a great new product from Agraria called the TasselAire. Agraria makes wonderful home and personal care products and it doesn't disappoint with the TasselAire. The TasselAire elegantly diffuses fragrance throughout your home. You simply hang it on a doorknob or any other convenient spot in your home. There are eight gorgeous fragrances and my personal favorites are Lemon Verbena and Riviera Pear. The TasselAire is the perfect housewarming gift and can be purchased at Saks, Neiman Marcus, or Agraria for $35.

If you have a great product or service that you would like to be considered for inclusion in our "The Perfect Mother's Day Gift Guide" please email Blog Submissions.

Little Perfect Somethings - Here's Whomi Collection

You should always keep small gifts handy around the house in the event you are invited to an occasion and don't have time to shop for a gift. A great gift to keep handy is the Here's Whomi collection. Whomi has a great line of products that are designed to help women keep track of their busy schedules. The Here's Whomi collection includes one Whomi Color-Coded Compact Agenda, one Whomi What To Do Pad, and one Whomi on the Wall Family Calendar. This product is a great little birthday gift for a busy mother. It will definitely help her and her family get organized. The Here's Whomi collection can be purchased on sale for $30 at Whomi.

Don't forget to submit your entry to our "My Perfect Mother" Mother's Day contest which starts on March 25, 2008. Email your entry to Blog Submissions.

And, if you have a great product or service that you would like to be considered for inclusion in our "The Perfect Mother's Day Gift Guide" please email Blog Submissions.

Lois Loves - Red Envelope Message Collar Stays

Well another great holiday for gifts is around the corner - Valentine's Day. In honor of V-Day I'll post some gift ideas over the next two weeks. I think you'll love this gift I found at Red Envelope . You can always count on Red Envelope to deliver unique gifts and they don't disappoint with their Message Collar Stays . There are 12 collar stays in each set and each set has a different message. You can either get the PG set or the Racy set. The racy collar stays contain messages like, "A surprise is waiting", "That tie will be useful", and "I want you always". The PG collar stays contain messages like, "You follow your dreams", "You keep my secrets", and "You laugh at my jokes". These collar stays are a great way to let your significant other always remember you are thinking of him. The collar stays can be purchased for $35 or $40 with personalization.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Sephora Fragrance Sampler for her and for him

Have you ever wanted to get someone a fragrance but you hesitated because you were unsure if they would like it? Sephora has solved this problem with its Fragrance Samplers for men and women. The samplers contain miniature versions of men and women's fragrances and a gift certificate redeemable for a full sized fragrance bottle. The recipient simply samples each fragrance, chooses their favorite fragrance, fills out the enclosed voucher, and redeems the voucher at a Sephora store. The men's sampler contains samples of Aquolina Blue Sugar, Carolina Herrera 212 Men, Ermenegildo Zegna ZegnaIntenso, Kenneth Cole R.S.V.P., Lacoste Essential, Masaki Matsushima M;Men, Givenchy Very Irresistable Givenchy For Men Fresh Attitude, and Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme, plus a bonus Anthony Logistics for Men Shave Cream. The women's sampler contains samples of Aquolina Pink Sugar, Badgley Mischka, Guerlain My Insolence, Hard Candy Fragrance, Hilary Duff With Love...Hilary Duff, Juicy Couture, Philosophy Inner Grace, Stella McCartney Stella, Vera Wang Princess, and Givenchy Very Irresistable Givenchy Sensual Eau de Parfum, plus an added gift of a refillable atomizer. You can purchase a fragrance sampler for $50.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Stocking Stuffers

These four items are great stocking stuffers, or gifts for co-workers or acquaintances.

1. Bankabank

The other day I was telling a co-worker about my plastic piggy bank that looks exactly like a pig. I jokingly encouraged him to get one, but of course he looked at me like I was crazy. So, when I came across the Bankabank, I knew I found his holiday gift. This innovatively designed piggy bank has a top insert for folded bills or coins and a front insert for coins. It looks great at home or at work. Its also a great tool to help teach your kids how you to save. And, what teenager wouldn't love the modern design. Purchase the Bankabank from www.moderntots.com for $12.

2. Driinn Charging Cable

One of the things that drives me crazy when I charge my cell phone is that the charging cord always seems to be in the way. I always step or trip on the cord. The Driinn Charging Cable solves this problem by providing support for your cell phone and also storing the charging cord. You simply wrap the adapter cord around the Driinn and plug the adapter into the wall socket through the opening in the Driinn. Purchase the Driinn for only $6.00.

3. Snow & Graham Desk Calendar

I currently have a calendar posted on the corkboard behind me in my office. But, I really need a desk calendar that's easily viewable. Fortunately, Snow & Graham created a really classy desk calendar that sits in a clear acrylic base which works as a stand. Each monthly calendar features a botanical design printed on the front and the back. Each month you simply slide the appropriate card into the front of the stand. Purchase this great calendar for $15 at www.seejanework.com.

4. Collision Kit

Like many New Yorkers I don't own a car but, if I did, I would always want to have the Collision Kit in my car. The Collision Kit is a great practical gift for anyone who owns a car. The kit includes a flash camera, a pen, and a clipboard with pre-printed forms to remind you to get all the details of the accident, including information from the other driver(s) and witnesses. There is also an envelope for your insurance card and registration. The Collision Kit fits perfect in the car's glove-compartment and is perfectly priced at $14.95.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Nougatine Perfume Bottle

New York Magazine included Anthropologie's Nougatine Perfume Bottle on its holiday gift list and I just had to share this find with you. Any perfume lover would love to own this unique and beautiful perfume bottle. It's made out of glass and comes in a brown or bronze color. I love the bronze version. Make a gift of perfume extra special by including the Nougatine Perfume bottle. You can purchase it at www.anthropologie.com for $32.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Tastebook

I'm a huge fan of collecting recipes and I store all my recipes in a file folder. But, it is really annoying to have to thumb through all the sheets of paper to find a particular recipe. I've been meaning to get more organized but it just seems like such a tedious task. It seems to me that it makes more sense to organize the recipes when I first find them. I'm happy to share that I found a product that helps me organize my recipes. Tastebook is a great new product that helps you organize and store your recipes easily. Tastebook is a hardcover, spiralbound cookbook that you design and create. Simply go to www.tastebook.com to create your Tastebook. You start by adding recipes from either Gourmet and Bon Appetit's recipe files or adding your own personal recipes. You can add up to 100 recipes per book. You can even add notes to a recipe! You then choose your own cover picture and write your own Tastebook title. Once you've purchased your Tastebook all you have to do is wait until it is printed and arrives in the mail. Isn't this great! This is the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook and it only costs $34.95.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Alto Express Notebook Stand

I've been using my laptop more frequently lately because of the mobility factor. But, it has really been doing a number on my hands, wrists, and neck. Luckily, I discovered a product by Logitech that eases my discomfort. The Alto Express Notebook Stand raises your laptop to eye-level, which increases your viewing comfort and also reduces the strain on your hands and wrists. This stand is a great gift idea for any Laptop owner. You can purchase this uniquely designed stand for $29.99.