Scent, Soap and Other Special Things

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OK, I know there are a ton of places out there to buy specialty soaps, lotions, and sprays for your home as well as home accents, but one of my favorites is Yves Delorme.  Yves Delorme is known throughout the world for its fine European linens and home accessories.  It is part of the family-owned French company, Fremaux Delorme, which has produced fine linens since 1845.  Their linens may be what they are best known for but my favorite thing to purchase there is their soaps.  Available in a variety of scents, all of them are 'just right.'  Yves Delorme represents the art of fine French living--so if you can't give your bridesmaids a trip to Paris, a gift from Yves Delorme is the next best thing!

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Yves Delorme has entrusted the manufacturing of its newest Provence soaps to Rampal-Latour, a family-run establishment that has been crafting traditional soaps in the heart of Provence since 1828.

Soft and kind to your skin, their soap is made from natural ingredients and pure vegetable oils, without any preservatives or artificial colorings. The combination of oil and unique fragrance developed by perfumers in Grasse will leave your skin moisturized and protected.

A specialized milling process triple mills the soaps twice, giving them exceptional subtlety and durability. Completely biodegradable, they combine quality with respect for nature and our environment.
My personal favorite? The Provence scent.  I buy the soaps and leave them in my drawers and linen closet so everything has this scent.  Never overpowering, but always just right.  Goldilocks would have chosen Yves Delorme soaps and scents. 

Head to your closest Yves Delorme store today--if not for your bridesmaid gifts to buy something to pamper yourself--after all, you're worth it.  Yves Delorme also makes great Christmas gifts.  Buy from their online store, or use this link to find your local Yves Delorme store, or other online sources.

Non-Traditional But Fun Bridesmaid Gift

Patina's Red Java Cross Body Bag with an animal print at the sides will wow your bridesmaids and give them a gift they can use over and over.  No more jewelry they'll never wear except the day you get married, or those ubiquitous single pearls with a tiny diamond on a gold chain (I have six of them from weddings).   No, be original and give them a gift that's a little different.  This cross body bag comes in a variety of colors (red, tan, purple and black) to suit every taste. 

Or if you're Christmas shopping, the Patina Red Java Cross Body Bag makes a great gift!  Enjoy!

Art Deco Perfume Bottles

Crystal perfume bottles are perfect gifts for your bridesmaids and maid of honor.  These perfume bottles, available at Dramatic Interiors are elegant and long lasting tokens of your appreciation for the help your bridesmaids have given you.  Choose their favorite colors or match them to you wedding colors.

Are you a bride who loves pink? Choose this perfectly pink perfume bottle as your gift for your maid of honor.  Or single out your maid of honor with the pink perfume bottle also from Dramatic Interiors .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Another option for perfume bottles is this amber and crystal choice.  No matter which you choose your bridesmaids are sure to be delighted!

Brass Gift For Your Wedding Party

Looking for a new and different idea for your groomsmen?  Not quite ready to spring for a new GPS system or Rolex? Try this great pocket sundial instead.  It's compass will provide direction and use the shadow to tell time. If you aren't one of those people who can tell time by the sun this is a perfect addition to your pocket.

As early as the 10th century, portable sundials, were the original timepiece, also popular in colonial America. This reproduction was produced in solid etched brass. Use it to tell time from Buenos Aires to Tokyo, Dubai to Washington, DC. Just point it north (with help from the built-in compass) and the brass bird’s shadow will indicate the time. 2" diameter.

Bouquet Brooches

Are you and your bridesmaids carrying hand wrapped bouquets?  Add a pretty brooch to the ribbons for some extra bling.  This can double as your gift to your bridesmaids. 

The Met Store has a variety of brooches, some in the Tiffany style, others that are copies of other famous jewelers, all of which would make great bouquet brooches.  Go big, go small, bouquet brooches are the way to go.  Your bridesmaids don't all have to 'wear' the same brooches, choose one that suits their personality and accents their apparel.

Just a Nip!

Looking for a gift for your groomsmen or your wild child bridesmaids? How about this stainless steel flask?  They'll always be able to carry something to calm your bridal nerves (or groom's nerves) with this gift!  An assortment of flasks available at Izola. 

Bracelets From Brighton

Brighton makes everything from accessories to handbags but they have some great bracelets that are perfect for bridesmaid gifts.  There's no way I can offer the complete selection here but if you visit their web site or one of their stores you can see you options.  I love to see jewelry in person so even if there's not a store in my immediate area, I'm likely to yell 'ROAD TRIP!' and head out to see what I can see. 

Not into bracelets? Brighton offers you other selections as well.  Some fabulous handbags--OK, yes, I am drooling--and some other great accessories including shoes, belts and home goods.  OK, I'm hooked. Not sure I'd ever give these as gifts, I'd want to keep them all for myself.  But since my favorite gift to give is one I'd love to have myself (face it, who wants to give a gift they wouldn't want themselves?) I'll just have to bite the bullet and wrap these up in a hurry!

Bracelet for Your Bridemaids

Looking for a new and different gift for your bridesmaids? Try this look from Kris Nations.Jewelry.  A light but pretty look that is up to date but perfect for your favorite family or friends. Kris Nations Jewelry has assorted other options for gifts as well, the trick is not to buy out the site with gifts for yourself!

A WOW of a Site For Buying For Bridesmaids (Or Yourself)

Waxing Poetic was named one of the top ten new boutiques in the country in Lucky Magazine's Shopping Report--WOW! That's really saying a lot!

I have to admit I adore reading Lucky, they give the reader so many new ideas of what to wear and where to buy it.  The new Waxing Poetic boutique is located in California's wine country's Los Olivos.  Lucky has their favorites, I have mine--and I'm sure you'll find some of your own! There's so much to choose from and something for everyone.  Some of their creations are sold in your local boutiques so check their site for where to shop.

(this charm flips, showing one side at a time)

It's a great place to buy inexpensive bridal jewelry or great bridesmaid gifts.  Or to pick up a fabulous gift for a fiance or friend.  Happy shopping--the choices are the hard part!

Lanyard to hang charms on, other option is a chain w/charm holder

I'm not sure if my favorite part of their web site is their jewelry (which I adore) or what they call their 'semi manifesto.'  I don't know if they wrote it themselves or discovered it in their reading but I love the sentiment.  Here it is:

In Tiny We Trust
A semi manifesto
All hail the small, and beautiful. We believe
In the evolution of memories
And unchanging, unapologetic love,

In being both lost, and found, and found again.
In writing your own way (and humbly asking for help),

In liberation, and joyous return
In seemingly impossible narratives made true,
In freedom, in family, in homecomings,

In recognizing treasure as the love in between
All of us
little points on a map, our lives and cherished
markers. 

Happy Memorial Day!

Just wanted to wish all my readers a Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy your cookouts or beach trips or the day at the pool. See you tomorrow! Nancy&Bill

Gift For The Groom?

Looking for a high end flask for the groom or for your best man? Product designer Tom Cecil offers this unique flask design that makes the perfect gift for a wedding day.  The clean lines and unique styling let you fit it in your pocket! These come in stainless steel or brass and you can have initials engraved when you order it! I never thought a flask could be described as classy, but if one ever could be described that way, this one would be it!  Love it's lines! Now the question is, what to fill it with? Hmm.... Kudos to Tom Cecil for this clean design!

Lime Green Lattice Tote For Your Bridesmaids

This Lime Green Lattice Tote is the perfect gift for your bridesmaids.  It's monogrammed with their initials for individuality and the colors really pop.  Perfect for carrying all those must haves that just don't quite fit in that little clutch purse.  Matching stationary available as well.

Monogrammed Wellies for the Bride and Her Maids

Monogrammed Wellies

The theme of Zoubaby Boots is "Where it's all about you." What better theme for boots for the bride and her bridal party? Too many companies use their products as billboards, but Zoubaby thinks your clothing (and boots) should show your style and identity, especially if you are going to wear them on your wedding day. Zoubaby says 'Clothes reflect your life...show the world your style.' When do you want to do this more than on your wedding day?

Let Zoubaby help you and your bridesmaids walk down the aisle in wellies that reflect their inner self. And see if you can talk your mom and his into wearing them too. That picture I want to see! Email me if do and I'll post it for up and coming brides to see too.

Remember, Zoubaby, where it's all about you. Zoubabies are also available for children, so if you have a flower girl don't forget to pick her up a pair.

Hammered Bead Bracelet in Gold

http://www.eileenfisher.com

This hand-hammered bead bracelet on leather (18k gold plated over 3.5mm silver beads) is an unusual gift from Eileen Fisher for your bridesmaids.  You can also purchase earrings to match.  Available in silver as well as 18k gold plate.  Add earrings or buy a similar necklace on Eilenn Fisher's web site.  Note, the metal work design is ethically crafted by artisan communities in rural Thailand.  The faux suede makes the bracelet an adjustable fit so no worries about the bracelet being too big or small. 

Gift Box For Your Bridesmaids

Photo courtesy of: http://www.thrillist.com/home--gadgets/jaysons-heart-box#axzz1DH71TAPM

Looking for the perfect porcelain box to put a piece of jewelry in for your bridesmaids?  Jayson Home and Garden in Chicago, Illinois offers this perfect tiny gift box to make your gift look just a little bit more special.

Chocolate Massage or Body Wrap For Bridesmaids

                                             Photo courtesy of Loews Hotel Breathe SFS

For chocolate loving brides a great idea for your bridesmaids' gifts (or just a relaxing gift for yourself after all the stressful wedding planning) is a hot chocolate massage or hot chocolate body wrap at Breathe Salon Fitness Spa located in the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.

If you choose the massage or body wrap you begin your day of luxury with a delicious cup of hot cocoa with whipped cream and luscious marshmallows. If that's not enough, the massage therapist uses heated chocolate oils that you can choose to combine with other scents (maybe raspberry or strawberry?) which will tease all your senses during your massage. Or you can choose the body wrap to smooth and buff your body and then have your body lathered with chocolate cream, wrapped you in a thermal blanket and finished off with a chocolate smelling rub down. Are you in heaven yet?

After these luscious treatments you can head to their gym and use their lap pool, cadio center, steam room or sauna. What more can any woman ask for? Just call the Breathe Spa for a day of chocolate luxury.