I ran into Chris Sack’s Great Lakes Tea & Spice booth at a recent trade show. I was immediately stopped in my tracks as all my senses came alive as I neared his booth. It was scented of all the marvelous teas and spices that were on display in their elegant and colorful packaging. I’m a little crazed when it comes to exotic spices, finishing salts, fancy sugars and chichi imported teas. And I could tell that Chris was too.  I felt right at home.
For Chris and his wife, Heather, it all started with a love for foreign travel and [...]

Patricia Lee is the creator of the luscious BOBO wrapping scarves. She discovered the traditional “Bojabi” wrapping scarf on a visit to her native Korea. The use of the Bojabi wrapping scarf originated centuries ago in Korea and Japan, as a way to wrap and transport items. This gorgeous tradition of wrapping has been in decline for many years as the use disposable wrapping products took precedence. Today, Patricia’s timing could not be more sweet in looking to revive this wonderful practice.
This reusable gift wrap is a gorgeous eco-friendly solution of wrapping and carrying. The BOBO uses from the plentiful [...]

This dreadful economy is good for our souls. Seriously. Listen. Look at what’s happening. We are now all taking a closer look at our consumption, at what is truly important to us, looking to our loved ones for comfort and reassurance… Today, we are all looking for more meaning in our lives. And that includes giving more meaningful gifts! The Succulent Wife believes that now more than ever, which is why the gift ideas mentioned in our Holiday Gift Guides – and the artists, designers, businesses and women behind them – are so fascinating… All of the items proposed here [...]

You know it. It’s nearly impossible to find meaning or inspiration in the slew of copycat or generic products that are omnipresent in every store in the mall. Utterly discouraging. Which is exactly why The Succulent Wife is so happy to introduce you to the excellent independent artists, designers, inventors and retailers that she is about to brag about below.
And, even more compelling than this absolutely fabulous list of creative and entirely unique gift ideas? The fact that each of these companies is offering a discount or promotion, some exclusive to The Succulent Wife.
Read on and click through. You’ll just [...]

We know. Choosing the perfect gift is stressful. But as of this moment, you may prepare to exhale a healthy sigh of relief as you thumb through the pages of our fab gift guides. We not only feature truly unique items- made or sold by independent artist, designers and shops, no less – but we are guessing that you will also enjoy the novel shopping format.

As mentioned in my previous post about this visit, there is nothing like a neighborhood stroll – on foot, s’il-vous-plait – to get me out of my suburban rut. Virginia Highland does not disappoint. Of particular arresting interest on this visit, was the Bella Cucina Artful Food boutique.

This gourmet store was as delicious on the eyes as it was on the palate. The gorgeous rustic farmhouse setting entices all the senses. There are treasures to behold in every corner.

Here’s an original gift idea for you: a gift basket filled with vitamins, nutritional supplements and other health related paraphernalia.
I drove by the advertising-wrapped van for First Nutrition, the vitamin shop that offers this service, and was curious enough to check out the website. I’m not a big fan of gift baskets in general. I find them generic, impersonal and too often filled irrelevant fluff. But a vitamin gift basket? This was intriguing.
First Nutrition assembles vitamin gift baskets that are “themed” according to  various health needs: pregnancy (great gift for a new pregnancy announcement), fatigue support (know anyone that needs [...]