Introducing "Keep the Dish"

New Foodie Gift Blog for Your Enjoyment! Come on Over and Check it Out!

Onesole Shoes: More Endless Possibilities

Starting at $98, these interchangeable shoes may seem pricey in the short term, but would definitely pay off in the long run. If you order online, you will recieve one shoe "bottom" with two additional tops of your choice. It's like getting three pairs of shoes for the price of one. With a huge assortments of additional "tops" to purchase from, this is another example of a great gift idea for you or the frequent traveler on your list. I would love to embarque on my Caribbean vacation with only one pair of shoes, wouldn't you? Check them out and let me know what you think! http://www.onesole.com/

Again, if you are in the Pittsburgh area, contact me and I will connect you with a local distributor who's prices are MUCH cheeper :)

Happy Giving

Onesole Shoes

The Miche Bag: Endless Possibilites

For the purse fanatic in all of us, the new Miche Bag has finally come to our rescue! What makes this purse so unique is the "build a bag" principle. You pick out a basic purse, choose coordinating shell, jazz it up with different handles, and you have the perfect purse to suit any occasion. Dress it up, down, or color coordinated to your favorite outfit by just changing the outside shell rather than switching purses all of the time! I absolutely love the gift giving potential of this bag. For example, purchase a basic bag and one shell for the holiday and then buy another shell for her birthday or special occasion. Next time buy her a different set of handles...Get it? The basic bag on the website runs at about $35 and the shells run for about $25. I had the opportunity to see and touch these bags in person at a recent fundraiser and I fell in love. These are very high quality bags! Especially perfect for travel or for a quick office to cocktail party switch-over. I think you will be hooked too. Check out the Miche Bag and be sure to let me know what you think!

PS... If you live in Pittsburgh and are interested, please contact me and I will put you in touch with a local distributor (and very good friend) who is currently running a promotional sale...props to you, Maureen!

Discount Gift Cards

Ok...this site is really cool. Not only can you sell your unused gift cards, but you can buy the ones you want from other sellers. Of course you would never buy a gift card with an odd balance to give as a gift, BUT you could purchase the gift card at the discounted rate and go buy the gift yourself from the store! For example, one of the sales running is 15% Bath and Body Works gift cards. A card with of value of $86.39 can be purchased right now for $73.43...a savings of $12.96! Sales change daily so be sure to go back and check often! Right now, the current hotlist includes Sports Authority, Brooks Brothers, Old Navy, Bath and Body Works, GAP, and Victoria's Secret. AND SHIPPING IS FREE! You can also build your own gift card and customize it with a family photo should you choose to purchase an actual card as a gift. Either way, a great gift idea that is simple, meaningful and also practical. Gift Therapist Approved!

The Gift of Self Help: Take Care Tips

Did you know that the Gift Therapist launched as a result of my appearance on the Jennifer Show during the holiday season of 2007. Before my appearance, I tagged myself as a savvy bargain shopper who could buy a complete outfit for under $50. Well, I appeared on the Jennifer Show and got to show off my bargain gift giving skills instead and the rest is history! I would not be here writing this (right now) had it not been for my friend, Jennifer Antkowiak! The Lord had serious plans for both of us and I'm proud to say that we became fast friends after that fateful day.

After a decade of knowing Jennifer Antkowiak as a newscaster on KDKA, I can personally report that her new book "Take Care Tips" is a valiant expose of her life, her struggles, and her passion for family far beyond what we were able to see on the network news. Here we see our real "Hometown Hero" in more than a two minute news production. We get Jennifer's undivided attention in an easy to read, ten chapter resource guide that readers may ingest and process at their own pace. (You won,t have to wait for the 11 o,clock news anymore!) Although I recommend you read the book from cover to cover, the book is designed to be a friendly companion to be used when you need it the most.

Ten minutes (or less!) is all it takes to "put on the brakes" and recharge yourself with one of over 100 tips that will help you be your best self, physically, emotionally and spiritually. After all, we all know that unless we take good care of ourselves, how can we expect to be a reliable caregiver to our loved ones? Jennifer encourages us to take time out of every day to take care of ourselves, no matter what! Leave the guilt at the door and make yourself a priority for at least ten minutes a day...and this book is bursting with practical and fun strategies that just may change your life, health and relationships with those you love for the better. From fitness tips to stress relief, this is the most comprehensive and practical book that I now have in my library. What a great gift! If Jen can do it, we can do it, too! Thanks Jen for fabulous gift idea with a message that really does keep on giving! Best of luck, love and blessings to you and yours! PS...check out Jen's website for more tips, recipes, videos, and advice on how to make your life easier! You may stumble upon some advice from yours truly :)

Gift Idea: The Gift of You
Central Gift: Take Care Tips by Jennifer Antkowiak.....$14.95
Added Gift 1: An assortment of herbal teas
Added Gift 2: A homemade goodie from your kitchen. Find some great ideas here!


Happy Giving!

The Gift of Food

Gifts from the kitchen always make a great gift but few folks feel confident enough to explore this popular and frugal gift outside of their own family. I have recently begun posting to a new blog that is dedicated to food gifts that are super simple, budget friendly, and a proven hit with my friends and family. I chose to focus around the narrow topic of beer bread because it is so simple to make and is very versatile to tweak...pretty much no-fail! So rather than take the focus from the bargain zone, I urge you to visit http://www.beerbread.blogspot.com/ and check out the easy recipies and gift ideas that I have had huge success with. Come on over and let me know what you think. We'll have plenty of fun talking about my favorite topic...great food! Enjoy and happy giving!

The Gift of Food

The Gift of Service

Tuesday evening I had the honor of being the MC for the Annual Salvation Army Award Dinner in Monessen, Pennsylvania. It was a lovely evening filled with a lot of positive energy and amazing people. One of the distinguished guest and honorees was Albert Lexie. I have known Albert for years and am humbled each time I am in his presence. Albert has spent the last 20 years shining shoes for charity. He travels daily to Oakland where he sets up shop at Children's Hospital and goes to work, donating all of his tips to the Patient Care Fund. Known as "Albert's Kid's," he has raised over $100,000 for this amazing cause. But there is a bigger story here. Albert is developmentally challenged and lives on only $10,000 per year....and he is such a happy man! His smile will melt your heart if you ever get the opportunity to meet him. It reminds me of when I was young and money really didn't mean all that much. Remember when your family, friends, and perhaps a trip to the Dairy Queen were all you needed to have a great day? That's how Albert lives his life, except the Dairy Queen trip is replaced with service to the less fortunate. Albert's efforts have not gone unnoticed...he was honored b Oprah Winfrey a few years ago for his incredible passion to serve the profoundly ill at Children's Hospital. Congratulations, Albert! Thank you for being a fantastic role model and inspiration to us all. May all of your dreams come true!

A Monday Morning Lifesaver: Shower Shock Caffeinated Soap

Don't laugh...but I am beginning to panic because I am running low on my Shower Shock supply. I always buy my husband an ample supply for Christmas, but for some reason, we are really tearing through the body wash and glycerine bars. Maybe it's been the long winter? Heck...we don't need an excuse...it's just a fun and invigorating way to start the day. The added caffeine doesn't hurt either. I'm not sure if the caffeine really works, but the fresh minty smell really is invigorating. I haven't found a soap or body wash yet that has come close. Wanna give it a try? Visit ThinkGeek Caffeine and browse around. They have a ton of great stuff at really cheap prices. Be sure and check their clearance section, too! Happy Giving!

Consignment Spotlight: The Savvy Fox

Since I have been in recovery from my retail addiction for over 10 years now, I wanted to share one of my favorite secrets to saving money on key wardrobe essentials...upscale consignment shopping. I ventured out today to the Savvy Fox Consignment store in McMurray, Pa. after getting the heads up from a good friend (thanks Tammy!)who is a fashion diva and fellow bargain shopper as well. I couldn't wait to check out the goods. What a fabulous store! The Savvy Fox carries upscale only clothing, furniture, antiques, and formal wear for a fraction of retail price. They are currently having a winter clearance sale and I walked away with two fabulous pant suits (one from Saks and one from Ann Taylor) for a grand total of only $15...YES! If you love Coach, Dooney and Burke, and Gucci...shoes, bags, wallets and accessories...you are in luck! Most were marked at under $100 and in pristine condition. For more information, here is the contact information:

The Savvy Fox of Peters
3855 Washington Road
McMurray, Pa 15317
724.942.5121

Store Hours
Tues - Fri: 11-5
Sat: 10-5
Sun: 12-4
Mon: Closed

Good Luck and Happy Giving!

The Gift of Spring

I don't know about you ladies, but I am ready for some consistently warm weather! This 40 degree rainy weather is really working on my last nerve! In between appointments today (that means connecting with new and old friends~) I decided to take in a little retail therapy at our local Gabriel Brothers and check out the giant toy sale they have going on...the place was packed! I got diverted by the crowd and wound up in front of a display unit filled with beautiful sandals from Ann Taylor Loft. I am a sucker for great shoes, especially those that sing "summer is coming!"...These lovely gold and silver metallic flats immediately caught my eye, and guess what? They were my size...gotta love that when that happens. It's like a sign from God telling me to go ahead and treat myself to a special gift...that I deserve it :) No problem taking Him up on that offer! They were only $4.99...JACKPOT! Many styles and colors are still available, but I warn you they will go fast! Now go get your spring fix on..you deserve it!

PS...these would make a great gift when combined with a beach towel and beach bag, don't you think? Mother's day is right around the corner! Happy Giving!

The Gift of Song

One of the happiest and memorable experiences of my life was choosing the song list for my wedding. Both my husband and I have a passion for music and we spent weeks researching and compiling only the best music for our special day. It reminded me of the early 80's when I would make mix tape after mix tape...all with different themes to celebrate different occasions. The music spoke to me then and does still to this day :) With computers, color printers, and digital music, now we can make great gifts right from our desktop in just a few clicks of the mouse. I'm loving that! And to capture memories in the form of song and pass them along to someone special is priceless...really! Very little from the wallet, but a ton from the heart!

Have you made a custom CD for anyone lately? If so I would love to hear about it! What was the occasion? What were the songs?