The Shopping-Mall-Free Holiday Gift Guide – Part 1

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 look like the best gift-giver ehhh-vah.

THE ORGANIZED PARENT is an online boutique that offers smart products for busy moms: “What makes us unique is that we not only help simplify and streamline a mom’s life, everything we carry has a strong sense of style, so moms feel good AND look good when using our products!”

Take this elegant lunch tote for example. The Kate Lunch Tote brings evening-bag good looks to the lunch room (yes, it’s a lunch tote!) In red or black, with croc trim and drawstring top, it’s so stylish, you’ll feel like a million bucks while you (or your lucky gift recipient) save money brown-bagging it. Great gift idea, especially, if the lunch tote becomes the gift presentation for a little something extra inside. Hummm, the black one or the red one for sis? See it HERE.

The Succulent Offer: take $8 off the $28 lunch tote. That’s nearly 30%. Use the coupon code SUCCULENT. Or 25% off the entire site. Use the code SUC25. Offers are good through December 15, 2008.

JENNIFER QUINTON JEWELRY: Shapes and colors all have a story. Jennifer is inspired by fine artists as well as everyday experiences, and she combines colors to evoke the most pleasantly visceral response. Her jewelry collection features hand-made sterling silver and gold-filled components, often embellished with genuine, semiprecious gemstone and pearl beads.

The Garnet Luxe earrings will add sparkle and spirit to your holiday or everyday. They are  completely hand forged with gold-filled components and adorned with rich, red garnet rondelles.

See these gorgeous earrings and other fabulously affordable Jennifer Quinton designs HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Jennifer offers free first class shipping (domestic only) on all orders, now through December 31.

CRAZY FOR THAT makes online shopping for designer bags, jewelry & fashion accessories stylish and fun. A great shop to find well-priced, trendy, chic, unique, eco or animal-friendly accessories. Teen fashion accessories are a specialty. These Shuga Buds – the “little bling for your ear thing” – are a great example of the store’s sassiness. The Shuga Buds stereo quality personal earphones are studded with genuine Swarovski crystals. See them HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Save $10 and get Free Shipping.

ARTSTREAM STUDIOS make it their mission to promote the visual arts and the handmade, in downtown Rochester, NH and on the web through exhibition of emerging and established artists, arts education, media and graphic design, and community partnerships.

Take a look at this limited edition print by the fabulous and collectable Ashley Goldberg “Keep your friends Close”.

Ashley Goldberg is one of the hottest American contemporary artists on the scene today. Her work in both original and print form are available at our gallery site and has been sold through Urban Outfitters, as well as other galleries throughout the US.

Talk about a meaningful & symbolic gift! See it HERE along with other great ARTSTREAM pieces.

The Succulent Offer: The entire Artstream shop has a one-time coupon for 20% off. Enter code winter08 at checkout.

PEGGY LI CREATIONS offers handmade jewelry in simple, feminine and unique designs that are fashionable but easily wearable. Among other places, her work has been seen in Oprah and Lucky Magazines and on “Grey’s Anatomy”.

This Champagne Pearl Necklace is a perfect example of Peggy Li’s un-fussy, wearable style. The soft taupe freshwater pearl is so versatile, so classic. On sterling silver with a smoky quartz faceted stone, this is a piece you will wear forever.

See it HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Take 20% off storewide with coupon code “SUCCULENT” until 12/15.

YOGOCO is a woman owned and run startup based in Charlotte, NC that creates stylish, eco-friendly yoga bags. The bags are made from the discarded scraps of the t-shirt manufacturing process. Yogoco yoga bags are proudly made in the US.

The Yogoco yoga mat bags are exceptionally functional. The “End-to-end” ventilation keeps the mat aired and there is separate section for a towel, T-shirt, water, etc. The lining is fully wipeable. There are 6 fun styles to choose from. See them HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Receive 20% off your order with coupon code TSW08.

CHARMING CARDS is the creation of Lisa Giger, a mom of 3 who, eight years ago, left her job as a CPA to start this charming website to showcase her passion for stationery, girly gifts, and practical office products. Her business has grown by leaps and bounds and she takes considerable pride in offering top-notch customer service.

Today, Lisa proposes “Thanking Out of the Box”, an adorable box of 8 different, two layer square cards, adorned with silk grosgrain ribbon, and 8 matching colored envelopes. It’s almost as if the “thank you” is a gift in itself. These unique thank you notes are to-die-for cute! See them HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Take 15% off any item in the store with coupon code WIFE, valid until 12/20/08.

DOCE VIDA Fitness Apparel is unlike any other thanks to the unique moisture wicking, instantly slimming, full motion, 12% stretch fabric that moves with the body. The high-quality fabric truly gives a flattering fit to every woman – no matter what size or shape she may be. Doce Vida has been featured in O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine, SELF, Yoga Journal, Pilates Style, Health, Prevention, Cooking Light, Pilates.com

This Succulent Wife is seriously eyeing the Blumenau Braided Pant, sister to the Paraty Pant. The design innovation makes them comfortable and indispensable. The boot-cut styling fits snuggly over your legs and flares fashionably at the hem. Sitting low on the hips, the wide waistband flatters and supports your tummy line. The fashionable belt and coordinating back pocket detail combine style and function. See all very flattering Doce Vida bottoms HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Doce Vida Fitness is offering you a 20% discount on amazing workout gear with coupon code SHEFINDS.

BIG PAW DESIGNS has been making dogs hip, cats cool and pet lovers pleased since 2002. Their unique pet items are designed and made in the USA.

We love this Bone Hunter collar charm. A cute gift for the dog lover whose dog is always on the prowl for a good chew — and probably has a bone or two hidden in the yard.  This round pewter pet collar charm is a Big Paw Designs original. See it HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Use coupon code “SWFS”  to receive free shipping (first class mail, domestic only) on your order, no required minimum!

ICYBAG is a company started by a woman (and mom) who wanted something stylish and compact to carry her heat-sensitive beauty and health items (since they melted in her cosmetic bag on her wedding day!).

The genial “why didn’t I think of that” IcyBag is an insulated cosmetic bag prevents makeup, medications, sun protection products, snacks and many other heat-sensitive items from melting in the heat and sun. The Succulent Wife, who lives in Las Vegas (112 degrees on a regular summer day!) needs to order several of these. The IcyBag is perfect for travel, the beach, outdoor activities and definitely in the hot car! Includes a custom gel pack for extended cooling – and, the gel pack is 3 ounces and safe to take on planes! The IcyBag Comes in three colors. See them HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Take 20% off PLUS Free Shipping with coupon code CHEERS.

LABORATORY5 INC. is the joint venture of husband and wife artist team, Cyndi Coon and Jeremy Briddell, based in Tempe, Arizona. Laboratory5 Inc. is the combination of their many different artistic talents which include ceramics, stationary, painting and custom fine art.

Their idea was to create a line of artistic goods that they would want to receive themselves, items such as the whimsical Large Grey Bird (Approximately 3 feet in diameter!) wall hanging in industrial grey felt. This bird and any of their other endearing felt animals wall art pieces, are all handmade and ready to hang on a wall in any room. See them HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Free Shipping, store wide, until December 31.

NYC SUBWAY LINE has been making fashion-forward apparel and accessories under license from New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority for 12 years.  Appearances by the line on such diverse people as President Clinton and rapper “Fabolous” as well as in many movies, MTV, VH1, BET and most recently HBO’s “Entourage” show just how hot the NYC Subway Line continues to be!

The NYC Subway Line is for people who love NYC, wherever they may live.  These cool clear vinyl cosmetic cases with the NYC Subway map on them, help you stay organized as you can find the small things that always slip to the bottom!  These come with Black, Red, Blue or White Trim. See the whole collection HERE.

The Succulent Offer: Enter coupon code “Set” at checkout and NYC Subway Line will take $2 off if you order both a Large and a Medium Clear Vinyl Cosmetic Case! Plus take 10% off these or any other products which are not on sale, thru December 31, 2008.  Just enter coupon code “Holiday” at check out.

MICHELE GRADY DESIGNS creates handcrafted sterling silver jewelry set with semi precious stones and fresh water pearls. Since each piece is made by hand no two items will ever be exactly the same. By purchasing a piece of Michele Grady Designs jewelry you are purchasing an original piece of art to wear!

For example, this “Custom Stamped Charm” hand-stamped sterling silver charm can be customized with name or word of your choice. You can add a stone and even a chain to make a complete necklace. Wear one or wear multiple charms on the same chain. Makes a great gift for moms, grandmas, aunts and even pet lovers!

Keep the thought of someone you love close to your heart. These custom charms are pretty, pretty hip and pretty meaningful. See the details on how to order these custom pendants HERE.

The Succulent Offer: enter coupon code TSW2008 to receive free shipping.

Well, we’re not sure about you, but The Succulent Wife has certainly checked a few names off her gift list. Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2 of the Shopping-Mall-Free Holiday Gift Guide. This one will feature many wonderful baby and children items.

And don’t forget to check out our other shopping pages HERE, also featuring unexpected gift ideas for everyone.

Till tomorrow then. Ciao bellas!