Traveling with Jewelery?

As my sister is moving to China for six months, I wanted to get her a birthday gift that she could take with her. I knew she didn't have a travel jewelery case, so I decided to get her just that. Before I went to Paris last year I looked for one of these , with no luck. I then found out Avon offers/has offered several great jewelery travel cases:

1) Treasures Portfolio: (pg. 125) a very thin jewelery portfolio (pink) that comes with a travel jewelery roll inside (shown below). This is the case I bought for Emma. She likes that the portfolio is so thin, and has the option of taking the removable jewelery roll with her on weekend trips. $24.99

2) Avon once sold a jewelery holder that you can hang on the back of a door and includes a removeable travel pouch. I own this and love it!

3) Oriental Blossom Hanging Jewellery Organizer: has 75 plastic pockets and 9 necklace snap tabs to store all your jewellery! Hang in closet or on back of door. Folds up for easy storage. Open: 45.5 cm H x 71 cm W (18 x 28”). Closed: 45.5 cm H x 33 cm W (18 x 13”). Non-woven polypropylene and PVC. $19.99
Keep your gifts unique and your jewelery tangle free,
The Gift Geek

Tangled Jewelery?

I decided that after my friends turned 30, I would only give gifts on milestone birthdays - eg. 40th (I can't dare say the number 50 quite yet!)

My friend Amy on the other hand is someone that I typically always buy a gift for. I hope she enjoys receiving the gifts as much as I enjoy buying them for her.

Over the past year I have tried to keep a list of things Amy likes and doesn't have. During visits to my condo, there have been a few times where she has commented on my necklace stand, so I made the decision to get her one.

Gift Idea: Necklace Stand
Price: $42.99
Store: Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters has several variations of necklace holders, but I like this style the best. They often run out, so check back if the style you want is not there. I use my necklace holder for: necklaces, head bands and bracelets. Not only do these holders look great, you'll never have a tangled necklace ever again. My holder came in brass with colour accents, however Amy's, which is the same design, came in a muted silver tone. I recommend against the brass as it may mark your counter tops if it gets wet. I learned the hard way. Below is a photo of my stand.


Urban Outfitters also sells miniature holders for bracelets, (matching the design of the necklace holder) standing at approximately 2.5 inches. Very cute!

Another jewelry item that they sell is a ring dish. There are some really nice ones. You can use this holder for your rings, bobby pins, earrings, elastics ... really anything that is small.

Here are some other jewelry stand designs that Urban Outfitters offers online:




Visit Urban Outfitters Online or your local store for more jewelery stand designs.

Yours in gift giving,
The Gift Geek

Your favourite candies ... for your lips!

I found the cutest gift for my 11-year-old cousin. I hope she likes it! I think any girl, young or old would like this gift. I mean what female wouldn't love the combination of lip gloss and candy?


This 10 pack of PEZ flavoured lip gloss and lip balm retails for $20, however I was able to pick this gift pack up for $9.99 at Homesense. I also really like the nostalgia of the packaging. What isn't there to love?

I found similar lip balms and glosses in Bubalicious and various chocolate bar flavours. A true party on your lips!

If you have fun while buying gifts, both you and the recipient will enjoy the experience more.

I'll report back regarding Jocelyn's reaction to the gift. I have a feeling she will think it is cool.

Yours in gift giving -
The Gift Geek

UPDATE: Jocelyn loved the gift. She said the lip balm tasted very sweet and that the lip glosses smelled great!

Recap of my top 5 favourite baby shower gifts

5) Prince Lionheart Ultimate Wipes Warmer

4) Organic Baby Clothes by Parade

3) Sign with Your Baby Complete Learning Kit

2) Any present built around a theme eg. Pretty in Pink, a day with Mom etc.

1) Admiral Road blankets

... and for the big brother and sister, Out and About bags (see post below)

If you have a unique baby shower gift, leave me a comment. I would love to feature it in an upcoming post.

Yours in gift giving-
The Gift Geek

Remember the big Brothers and Sisters too!

You already know that my number 1 baby shower gift is a beautiful fleece blanket from Admiral Road, so I had to think of another post for today- keeping with the theme of the week.

I, like many (at least I hope other people do this) ensure that I always buy a gift for the older sibling of a new baby. I was nine when my first and only sister Emma entered the world and I still remember the jewelry box that my mom's friend Linda gave me. It was white with pastel coloured hot hair balloons on it. Emma was little and cute and I was a chatty and impatient. The gift from Linda reminded me that I was special too, but just much larger than a baby.

Over the years I have bought several gifts to keep the older siblings busy while mom and dad tended to the new baby, such as activity and sticker books, piggy banks and even jewelry boxes. None of the gifts were overly memorable, but all put a big smile on each of the kids faces.

When my friend Jill told me that she was selling Out and About Bags, I knew this would be a gift that any toddler (Jill suggests for ages 6 and under) would like.

The bags are great for overnight trips or for taking things to and from daycare. Some people even use them as diaper bags.

The bags are $35.00 (including tax)

My favourite? THE HORSE! It is adorable!

If you are interested in purchasing a bag, leave a comment and I will send you Jill's contact info. You won't be disappointed!

Keep on gift giving!
The Gift Geek

Baby Shower Gift #2 - Find a theme and go with it!

Who wants to give the same gift that another shower guest has purchased? Not me!

My wonderful friend Amy and I hosted a baby shower for our dear friend Jill after she gave birth to her first baby Ava. I decided I wanted to create a theme gift. Think The Price is Right. You know how one showcase in the showcase show down is boring and the other one has awesome prizes and a cool theme to match? My plan was to make my shower gift, the cool gift and I think I succeeded. As Jill, Amy, Lindsay and I have been on a couple girls weekends away, I chose the theme, "On a trip you go!"

I got my inspiration from a decorative box I found at Home Sense for $12.99. The box was a beautiful girly print and shaped like a piece of luggage. The perfect starting point.

I then filled the "luggage" with everything any female, young or old would need for a weekend away with her friends, including:

• a toy that plays music, so that she and her friends would have music to listen to while getting ready;
  
• a cute outfit to wear while shopping at her favourite stores;
  
• a swimsuit for the hotel hot tub - every girl needs to relax after a day walking around town.
  
• a nice dress to wear for a delicious meal and a night out on the town;
  
• a pair of comfortable pajamas and
• a plush stuffed animal to cuddle with after the long day.

Inside the "luggage" I wrote a poem for Ava explaining why I purchased each of the items for her and how they would help her on any over-night trip.

Jill also used the luggage box for Ava's sleepover trips to Grandma & Papa's house.

TIP: Find one item and build your theme gift around it.

Be unique!
The Gift Geek

Favourite Baby Shower Gift #3 - You want more?

The first company I worked for upon graduating from university was great! It had a great culture and the people were one-of-a-kind. When we learned clients were expecting a child, we often sent them the Sign with Your Baby Complete Learning Kit, which enables parents to communicate at new levels with their baby long before he/she can speak.

Baby Shower Gift #3
Gift - Sign with Your Baby Complete Learning Kit
Where to buy? Amazon.com
Note: Check other online retailers and bookstores as well. Just be sure you purchase the DVD version, unless you want VHS
Cost? $$32.97 (includes shipping and taxes)
How did I find it? A colleagues recommendation


I was fortunate enough to have several conversations with Dr. Joseph Garcia regarding his system and how it works. The package comes with a book, video, and reference guide that shows how kids can communicate many ideas such as "I'm hungry" or "help me."

I have seen first hand how well this product works. While visiting a cottage with my good friends one weekend, little Ava woke up and was hungry. She walked to the floor with her mom and was able to indicate she wanted "more" eggs by using the baby sign-language she had learned.

111 of 146 reviewers rated this product 5 Stars. Remember, always read the customer reviews. Reviews don't only tell you if the product is good or bad, they also give helpful hints on how to use the product to its full potential.

Good luck finding the perfect gift!
The Gift Geek