The benefits of being a last-minute shopper, and a new dilemma

This week has been a good week--busy at work, networking at night. But it has put me into the category of "last-minute shopper" for holiday gifts. As you know from my previous post, I'm not completely starting from scratch, but I sure do have a LOT to complete. I've determined there are a few positives of this situation:

1. I'm flying back to Michigan to visit family for the holidays. My suitcase won't be weighted down from all those gifts, and I'll have room to pack my clothes ;)

2. I can take advantage of Michigan's 6% sales tax (versus the ridiculous Illinois sales tax, over 8%, and in the city I think it can go over 9%)

3. I will be forced to make quick decisions instead of my usual "this looks good but let's check 10 other stores before we buy it" mentality.

4. I can enjoy an entire day of shopping, instead of a little here, a little there. Unfortunately, most of the shopping will not be for me. I'm a little selfish that way, I like spending my money on me. Then again, I do feel good when my mom or dad or grandma opens a gift from me that they truly appreciate.

Now, on to the next important social occasion--New Year's Eve. I have some major decisions about what to wear to NYE parties (yes, parties). I'll be attending two formal gala events, one on Dec. 30 for work/networking and one on Dec. 31 for fun. Can I get away with the same dress both nights? I'm only saying that because I just bought the most beautiful blue strapless short satin dress (Kay Unger) that was 60% off at Neiman Marcus! Should I wear a short dress for a work function? Remember I'm in a creative field that's all about how fabulous everyone is, which makes me think it's okay--in fact, it's probably apropos. The issue is...the first half of the event on the 30th is for a more "VIP" crowd. Think the 30-50-something crowd, silent auction, dinner/dancing. I'm imagining the ladies at this event will have very elegant, long ballgowns. The second half of the event (at a different location) will have the 20-30 something crowd partying it up, probably drinking too much cheap champagne. A long ballgown would make me look slightly older than I'm going for. If only I could do a quick change. Guess I need an assistant. (Fat chance.)

More on this subject later--I have a lot to consider. Accessories, shoes, etc.

It's time to wrap up things here in the Windy City and head back to the Motor City. Happy Holidays, I'll be back next week!

Shopping in a snow storm

This past weekend, Chicago was hit with a huge snowstorm! Unfortunately, it was on the weekend I planned to walk around Old Town (a neighborhood with fun boutiques, restaurants, etc.) to do some holiday shopping. I stayed indoors on Saturday as the snow came down, but emerged on Sunday to find the sun out, glistening on the 8+ inches of snow (that's my guess). I put on my boots and trekked outdoors. Speaking of boots, everyone here in Chicago wears UGGs. An UGG store even opened about a month ago. Despite fashion writers here wondering why the store has opened now, a couple years past the UGG fad, people are still wearing them and loving them. I personally hope to get a pair of Hunter knee-high wellies in black. Not sure how warm they will be, but they'll keep my feet dry.

Shopping was actually pleasant--probably because I avoided Michigan Ave. It's a fun experience for a tourist, but I try to avoid it on the weekends. Way too many people! In Old Town, I found a few gifts at one of my favorite shops - The Spice House. They have great gift boxes of their own spice blends with unique Chicago names. I also purchased a few gift certificates for Chicago's famous Second City and for Zanie's, a stand-up comedy venue.

I'm still shopping around for those "big" gifts...i.e., some nice jewelry for my mother and my grandmother. I'm definitely leaning towards moissanite, but I want to keep looking at all the different settings available. I just heard there's this new cut called the Imperial cut at Helzberg. I hope to check it out soon. I guess it has to be soon, as Christmas is next week!

That shopping won't happen tonight, though. I'll be attending a holiday party/benefit with some big Chicago celebs. A TV show I freelance for will be shooting a segment there, so I'll be networking. It should be a great opportunity to meet some interesting and well-connected people. More to come soon...

Here Come the Holidays...

As I'm sure it is for everyone, December is a hectic month for me. I've been trying to juggle work with my various events and activities (I'm on the board of a Women in Business group here in Chicago, I sing in a choir, I'm a member of an alumni organzation) and in the midst of my craziness with the holiday events for these groups, I've forgotten to send cards. It's now December 13, and I've purchased one pastry brush--the extent of my gift purchases to date. I have a lot of work to do!

Hopefully, this weekend I can hunt down some of the main gifts for my most important people. My dad always likes good-quality outdoor gear, or an action-adventure DVD. So I'll hit an outdoors store and Best Buy. I've been dating someone for the past few weeks--this one will be tough. What do I get? I think I'll go with a bar set (martini glasses, cocktail shaker, etc.) Always a useful gift for a bachelor. Not overly romantic, but not too generic either--I checked, he doesn't have a bar set.

Now, on to the ladies. My grandmother is tough to buy for, and my mom has hinted at jewelry. Jewelry it is! I haven't met a woman that doesn't like jewelry. (I remember getting a gift from my college boyfriend--little diamond earrings. I loved them, and it was the best gift ever. The funny thing is, my ears weren't pierced! But I went ahead and did it and I still wear the earrings today.) I digress.

So...Mom and Grandma. These are two special women in my life, and I'd love to buy them something beautiful that they'll cherish for many years to come. But on the other hand, it should be wearable with many outfits (don't see either of them attending a black-tie gala anytime soon) and affordable too.

I did some research on the Internet today on this jewel called "Moissanite" that I saw recently in a jewelry store. WOW! I think it fits all of my criteria. Moissanite is near-colorless jewel with over 2 times the fire of diamond. It looks like it comes in many sizes and settings, from earrings to necklaces to bracelets. It has high durability and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Best yet---it's a fraction of the price you'd expect to pay for a diamond or other popular gemstones! (I found all this information from my Internet search and the company's website, www.moissanite.com).

I think I'll be heading to the jewelry store this week to pick out a piece of moissanite jewelry for my Mom (a bracelet or necklace) and moissanite earrings for my Grandma. And, to let you in on a little secret, I hope to occassionally borrow them for the black-tie galas I attend! I could use some accessories that truly shine!

In fact, do you think I can get away with borrowing them for New Year's Eve?