Confessions Of a Shop-a-holic

Phew, has it really been since last week that I posted?!  Thankfully my daughter stepped in and did her wonderful cocktail party post or I would have left you all hangin' for even more time!  She loved reading all of your sweet comments, so thank you all for your kind words!!

This week has been a complete blur with single digit temperatures, high winds, and lots of outdoor time with a new puppy.  Who thought it was a good idea to get a puppy during the coldest time of the year?!  Hmm, I think I'll take the 5th on that one!  I know our temperatures may seem tame to some of you who are used to living in the Arctic, but for us "southern" Marylanders...well we just aren't used to it.  I live south of much of the state of Virginia, so I'm a southerner at heart and appreciate heat and humidity, not wind and freezing temperatures!

In between my many trips outside this week, I was able to finish up another story and with just one more to go I've had some time to do a little shopping.  The title of my post is actually a little misleading.  You see I don't live to shop, and I have to confess that I haven't set foot inside a mall for probably 3 years...I detest indoor shopping malls!  I think I spent too much time in them when my children were little, hauling strollers, sippy cups, and diaper bags, so for me, the magic of mall shopping wore off a long time ago.  When asked by his pre-school teacher where he liked dine, for a book they made as a gift for mother's day, my son said that his favorite place to eat out was Nordstrom Cafe...so you can see we spent a fair amount of time shopping back in the day!

Plus, the closest mall is 45 minutes away, the "good" mall, the one with more than just a J.C. Penney is almost 2 hours away...and that's each way folks!  So over the years, I've become quite adept at that thing we call online shopping.  I can pick out pj's in my pj's and shop for tea while sipping a cup at my desk.  Plus, I don't have to spend money on gas, or a meal and it doesn't take me all day to buy what I need.  I love technology...but not as much as you you see...(ok that was from Napoleon Dynamite, did any of you get the reference?!...didn't think so!).

So I thought in this post I would share with you the only Christmas tree...can sticks be a tree?...that is gracing my house at the moment, and also share with you some of my favorite online retailers.   Now don't get me wrong, I love to shop at small local stores, and I'll tell you more about that in another post, but for now, here are some of my favorite online places to pick up some loot for the holidays!

For the bargain hunter in the crowd, you'll love these.  I'm a girl who loves a good bargain, and you'll find me picking through the clearance rack, even online!  Some of these sites require a free membership, some don't, but they offer designer finds at wonderful prices...my kind of shopping. Others on this list are simply sites that tell you which of your favorite retailers have things on sale...or where to find a coupon for something.  I always do a Google search for coupons when I'm buying something, I saved a boatload this year with coupons that weren't advertised on the retailer's website.

Shop Style

Rue La La

 BULX

Slickdeals


Overstock


Passwird


Dealighted

CSN Stores

I love giving things that are special or one of a kind, so this next group consists of shops where you'll find that perfect something for someone who has the soul of an artist...or those that don't want mass produced gifts.. I love those kind of people!  Some of the folks on this list are my sponsors, which means I love them even more!

Fearless Nesting

The Old Post Road

Scarborough Seashells

The Nest

Sissiecakes

Cottage and Vine

Itsy Bits and Pieces

Romantic Farmhouse

Simple Daisy

K.Young Photography

Hartwood Roses

Cheryl McDermitt Jewelry 

Farmgirl Paints

There are so many wonderful Etsy stores out there that it would take me all night to list them all, so I apologize if I missed someone...I will probably wake up tonight in a cold sweat when I remember who I forgot!!

This next list consists of small online retailers that have those cool, unusual items that make me smile and drool!

Barn House Marketplace

Farmhouse Wares

Mothology

Razmataz

Patina

French Bleu Vintage

Red Barn Mercantile

White Flower Farmhouse

Pale and Interesting


Paper Relics


Seaside Inspired


Violet Swan


Such Pretty Things

Williamsburg Marketplace


Madison at Main

Of course this list is just scratching the surface, but they are some of the places I like to frequent.  The clay tags you see in the photos above of my "branch" tree came from The Nest, and I love that they are homemade and one of a kind!  Of course I shop at the major online retailers and big box stores, but I truly do love the little things I find and the idea of supporting independent retailers and craftspeople!

And another thing I love to do is to support charitable organizations, not just at Christmas, but all throughout the year.  CNN had an article (HERE) that gives you lots of information on ways to help others, while helping yourself to some wonderful gifts!

I'm am 99.9% done with my shopping, which is a record for me...normally I have my decorations up early and my shopping done late...this year it's flip flopped!  Oh well, you can't win 'em all.  I hope each of you is avoiding the shopping frenzy and finding those perfect gifts for the ones you love!