I’ve been shopping a lot, lately, for children’s toys and those items that are not exactly toy level, but, more teaching level.
At Target, in Eureka, CA, I came upon a wonderful item that many of my friends have, actually, gone out to buy for their Christmas gifts, as well. …

I came across the full range of Swarovski Crystalline Ballpoint Pens while in a souvenir shop in Titisee, Germany. I have seen these pens in brochures and have been wanting to buy them but they are always out of stock in the Swarovski outlets I have inquired with. …

I have no idea why in the world Swarovski named this little figurine Y2B. It sounds like it could have been a name of a character in “Star Wars.” This is a figurine of a sheep, so I don’t know how Swarovski associated a sheep with the letter and …

The way I ended up getting this piece is an interesting story. I was in the Norman Rockwell Museum in Philadelphia, PA, because I had done a charcoal drawing for the president of the museum. It was a drawing of Norman Rockwell himself, and I went there to see …

I received this stationery set as a gift. I’ve never been big into stationery but it does come in useful from time to time.
First of all I love the small 4 x 6 size, and really everything about the packaging. Everything about the way it’s designed makes a …

I think I have come up with the ultimate gift for Christmas for my children. It is the Little Tikes Bouncer. It is not cheap, and costs two hundred dollars, but it is awesome! I already went to my local Toys R Us, and checked out …

My daughter received the Littel People Kingdom Castle for Christmas this year and loved it so much she was playing with it before we even had a chance to get it assembled.
I can see why she likes it so much. Coming complete with a King, King and Dragon, the …

Last Christmas, I got a Nana’s Pantry candle with an Angel Food Cake scent as a gift. It’s in a 22.6 oz. jar, and it has a cream color to it. I am very surprised I didn’t smell the candle before I opened the gift package. …

This is a piece that I bought about ten years ago, which was around the time that I first started collecting Swarovski crystal figurines. I like the faceting on Swarovski’s pieces and the way the light reflects off of them so that you can see virtually every color in …

I like the fact that Swarovski gave this dolphin an unusual name that starts with a D, instead of giving it a common name like Don or Dan. Anyway, this was a darling little piece that I think is retired, which is a shame. It is one of my …

Put simply, this coin is magnificent. I love this coin because of the meaning it holds and how lovely the coin design is. Before I describe the coin, I must say this isn’t just for coin collectors but also for anyone who desires a unique piece of jewelry.
This was a …

I bought this crystal heart about ten years ago at Bloomingdale’s. They used to carry a vast and very impressive collection of giftware that included Limoges (porcelain boxes), Waterford, Halcyon Days Enamels, Swarovski, and Caithness Glass. I don’t believe they carry Limoges, Caithness, or Halcyon enamels anymore (at least …

I purchased this paperweight at a store called People’s Pottery at the King of Prussia Mall. It was a big, beautiful store that sold jewelry and handmade glass and metal art works made by artisans from the U.S.A. I used to work there, at the branch near my home. …

I had the pleasure of meeting this glass artist, Marilyn Kimble Holt, at a local expo several years ago. She had many of her beautiful art glass figurines and paperweights on display and for sale. So I was lucky that I had the chance to purchase a few of …

I’m classifying this review in gifts because it occurs to me a lot of us girls shop for gifts at the Dollar Tree or similar stores looking for inexpensive gift ideas. I put a lot of thought into my gifts personally and the presentation of the gift is important …

I bought a couple of Schuster Studios paperweights at an art and jewelry gallery near my home. I have actually purchased a large variety of dazzling glass pieces from that gallery over the years, but this exquisite paperweight is one of my favorites. Schuster Studios became established in 1972, …

After having the commercial crammed down our throats through the television and listening to my seven year old beg for these for years, I invested in picking up a small, $5 kit from WalMart. After having them out of the package for just a few hours, I was …

Within the last few days Starbucks as announced that they will be closing a lot of stores which are close to me and this made me want to shop at the store but since I was low on funds I was not able to go there when I wanted. …

Birthstone Flower Anklet is a gift I bought for my mother for her birthday. It’s a very pretty anklet that fits nice around her ankle. You can choose which birthstone you want on the jewelry. It’s gold and in each flower on the anklet is a birthstone. In between …

The Carol Wright gift catalog features suede zip around credit card holder wallets. They are 4.98 each and are simply beautiful.Comes in blac,brown or being suede. Has about l6 2 sided plastics to hold all credit cards plus two extra pockets on each side and a see …

This is a precious set of four miniature crystal figurines that Swarovski put out several years ago, and I think it was a limited-edition set. I love to visit the seashore in New Jersey, so being able to purchase this was a treat for me. I guess you could …

I have been using Harney and Sons teas since 1996 when I had a small bakery. They have a very large collection from green to black and everything you can imagine in between. I have tasted many but my personal favorite are the greens. They have at …

This is a very exquisite piece of jewelry and one that’s priced very accordingly, making it a very nice gift to give your friends and relatives. I honestly thought it was expensive at first but this necklace is priced at a mere $95 and it comes with a rose-gold …

I bought this owl in the giftware department of Bloomingdale’s. They carry some interesting glass pieces (figurines, bowls, etc.). Some of them are very modern, so they have a chic design that really pulls you in and makes you want to take a closer look. I have always loved …

I saw this paperweight in a gift shop in Chesapeake City, MD, when I was visiting relatives. I was in the process of buying a couple of other items in the shop, and my eyes kept resting on this paperweight. I couldn’t leave the shop without buying it, knowing …

I bought this piece at Bloomingdale’s a couple of years ago, because I thought it was something very cute and adorable to put on the toilet tank in my bathroom (for decoration). The unique feature of this product is that it is a 5-piece, multi-functional set. You have a …

I recently purchased a Frondini Collection boxed gift set for a male friend of mine. Frondini has a great name in gemstone jewellery, watches and trinkets, and this boxed set is a great gift for most men.
This particular boxed gift set contains a mans watch and a liquor flask. …

I believe this Swarovski cake figurine was a gift that my brother gave me, because I asked for it. But that was quite a few years ago, so I’m sure that it was less expensive than it is now. On the Swarovski website, it says that this piece costs …

I was struggling to get something for my friend’s son’s birthday this year. He is a big fan of Thomas the Tank Engine and I eventually found a Thomas and Friends —˜Wheelie’ Bag. I thought it would be appropriate since they were due to go on holiday; I thought …

I have a little niece who likes Pokemon and plays all of the games, much as I did when I was her age. With the release of the games Heart Gold and Soul Silver, Nintendo licensed a series of small plush through Jakks Pacific based on popular Pokemon …

Valentine’s day is a day reserved not just for lovers, but for people who do love or receive love from family and friends. However, if you happen to be in love during the month of February, and Valentine’s day approaches without you knowing what it is you’re going to …

One of my little cousins recieved this for christmas, and I thinkit is a super neat toy. the way it works is taht you play 20 questions against the computer. You think of an item, and then the computer willask 20 yes or no questions. After you answer all …

This is the very first paperweight that I ever purchased, and it is almost 20 years old. I purchased it some time in the early 1990s. Since then, I have collected dozens of glass paperweights and figurines. But this is the one that started it all and got the …

The He knows your name Winnie the Pooh is a great gift for any kid. You can also find this toy by just doing an online search. When you squeeze his hand he sings a coupld of fun child songs. This is a really great gift for …

My youngest daughter just had her fourth birthday and so we were looking for something she would really love, as a gift. Her favorite Disney Princess is Sleeping Beauty, so we wanted to get her something that would go along with that.
This doll is great! It’s simply …

Now, this is the gift for the person who has it all, and, also, for the person who spends a lot of time in bed, lounging, or ill. This is the beautiful, practical Winsome Wood Bed Desk, Cherry finish! I discovered it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond store, …

This paperweight is signed “RMJ” underneath, but unfortunately, I don’t know who that is. I don’t know whether those letters are someone’s initials or whether it’s the name of the glass company. I wish I knew, because this has always been one of my favorite paperweights. I bought it …

I have always wanted to send a gift that doesn’t cost too much, but has a special meaning. I discovered InstaSong.com a while ago. For a price of $4.95, you can choose any of the occasion, whether it is for a birthday, anniversary or any other special occasion.
You can …

Made exclusively for QVC, Maria Goretti’s Bird Sanctuary is simply awesome. I’m a proud American, and this sculpture is one of the pieces that I love to keep on display to show my patriotism.
There were ten-thousand of these porcelain eagles made. The eagle, which is about ten-inches …

I bought this paperweight at a store called People’s Pottery in Willow Grove, PA many years ago. I used to work in that particular branch, although there was a bigger and more beautiful People’s Pottery store in King of Prussia, PA. The Willow Grove store was a mini version …

One of the hot new items that stores are selling this holiday season are solar candles. Let me tell you, they’re not all they’re cracked up to be. I’ve purchased four sets now, manufactured by several different companies, and unless the light is or is not hitting …

I came across the My Little Kitchen Fairy’s collection through a family member who purchased one for me one holiday. My figurine stands only a few inches tall, as a child like face of innocence and blonde hair in pig tails. She is standing on top of a chocolate …

For the Halloween season, my aunt had sent me a large tin carton of three different kinds of popcorn. She had gotten this gift from Popcorn Expressions, and not only was the tin colorfully decorated with Halloween characters such as cats and witches, but the popcorn itself was colorful …

Recently my daughter received a party pack from her cousin. She did not go to the party though, since we were away on a holiday then. Anyway, when she saw the see-through plastic packaging, she wanted me to open it for her.
We took out the items in the Barney’s …

I am definitely one of those people who see a candle rack in the stores and have to stop to take in the scent of each one. There is just something so peaceful about lighting up a candle to fill the room with wonderful fragrances to add to my …

I recently purchased a hand-soap making kit at AC Moore made by Soap Place called Spa Indulgence. The kit included all materials to make two bottles of hand-soap and four bars of soap. I came with complete instructions and claimed even a beginner could make this soap. …

I love eating all types of chocolates but my all time favorite have always been After Eight chocolates. These chocolates are generally thins mints enrobed in dark chocolates and were gifted to me by my parents on my birthday. Mint has always been my preferred flavor and these chocolates …

Silver heart rings come in a variety of styles and are offered at many different kinds of retailers. The Gucci sterling silver heart rings is a new item and is an ideal gift for your special lady for the upcoming Valentine’s Day occasion.
The Gucci sterling silver heart ring …

This glorious crystal cat figurine was a limited-edition piece, and I believe it was made exclusively for Tiffany. The words “Tiffany & Co” are printed underneath it. When I saw this piece, it had my name written all over it. I am a cat lover, and I love the …

Lately one of the newest Valentine’s Day crazes is not necessarily to get roses, but to name a star after your loved one! That’s right, a star. My fiance did an incredibly sweet thing for me and contacted the International Star Registry to have a star named after me. …