Charitable Giving at the Last Minute

Any pesky names still stubbornly lingering on your gift list?  Chances are they belong to your toughest, most-impossible-to-buy-for friends and family.  Yes, you could dash out to the mall, but if inspiration hasn’t struck you yet, you know it’s not showing up while you fight other last-minute shoppers for picked-over merchandise.

Instead, consider making a charitable donation in your loved one’s name.  It’s sure to be appreciated, and you can take care of it while sipping eggnog from the coziness of home.  (Beware though: you will likely notice a direct correlation between your generosity and the amount of bourbon you put in your eggnog.)

The following organizations can deliver a gift card (either via email or print-at-home options) before Christmas.

Heifer International delivers livestock and training to families in the developing world.  Gifts like cattle, llamasHeifer, chickens, rabbits, and bees not only help these families meet their nutritional needs but also provide vital sources of income.  When one family receives a donation, it helps lift the entire community because Heifer recipients pledge to distribute their livestock’s offspring to other families.  Check out their online catalog, which features gifts like a flock of geese starting at $20.  After you’ve made your choice, take advantage of Heifer’s printable gift cards or e-cards.

Habitat for Humanity constructs safe, affordable housing for families in need.  Recipients provide their ownHabitat down payment and mortgage payments, participate in the construction of their own home, and also help build homes for other Habitat beneficiaries.  Habitat’s Gift from the Heart program allows you to donate online and send holiday e-card notification.  A $10 donation supplies a box of nails.  For $35 you can give roof shingles.  $75 buys a window, and $150 provides a front door.

Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest) works with local food banks as well as a variety Feeding Americaof corporate and government partners to distribute food to hungry people across the country.  Thanks to strategic partnerships, “Every dollar…helps provide $14 worth of food…for people in need.”  Donate online and send a personalized e-card to your gift recipient.

There are too many wonderful charities for me to list.  Not all have e-card or printable gift card options, but if you don’t mind sending your gift a teensy bit late, consider some of the awesome packages from the Red Cross.  If you want to support their relief efforts, you can make a $20 donation, which buys a warm meal for two disaster victims.  Concerned about our military and their families?  Check out some of the amazing services you could sponsor for them- everything from phone cards to stress counseling.

And for the animal lovers in your life, consider donating to the Humane Society.  This can be a particularly thoughtful way to remember anyone who’s lost a four-legged friend this year.

With hundreds- even thousands- of worthy organizations out there, it’s easy to tailor your gift to your loved one’s interests.  If something’s unfamiliar, you can always check it out at CharityWatch.org or the Better Business Bureau for Charities.

And remember that this gift is tax deductible, so next April all that good karma will come right back around to you!

Lucie Amberg is the Director of ZinaBeverlyHills.com.

Holiday Gift Ideas For Your Friends

It’s time to get a jump on your holiday shopping and save on shipping! Here are a few gift ideas for the fashionable (or not-so-fashionable) people in you life:

What: The Art of Social War: A Novel

A witty novel about a 35-year old, die-hard New York woman who wants nothing more than to
marry her adored fiancé, Jamey, and continue to succeed in her career running the “I Heart New
York” campaign.

It’s a great read that will keep you glued to the book, eager to find out what happens next. A fun book for all ages, it would make a great gift for a woman of any age.

Price: $11.16

Where: Amazon.com




What: CLARISONIC Pink Skincare System

Get your friend a PINK Clarisonic! It’s the latest in skin care and will be appreciated by anyone with skin. Seriously, this thing is great!

We’re giving a white Clarisoinc to one lucky winner. Enter for a chance to win! If you don’t win though, consider buying a pink one for yourself or a friend. It’s the BEST!!!

Price: $195

Where: But it on Nordstrom.com, Sephora.com, or on Drugstore.com




What: Basic Jersey Scarf

This seasons must-have accessory at a totally affordable price, makes it the perfect Christmas present. Made of ultra soft cotton jersey, this scarf is currently available in cream, gray, and deep teal. I love mine and I wear it all the time. It goes great with any outfit and it’s soft, so you’ll want to wear it all the time. Perfect gift for anyone from a teenager to your grandmother!

Price: $9.50

Where: ShadeClothing.com




What: Ferrero Prestige Gift Set 42 Count

Now tell me, who doesn’t LOVE chocolate? Seriously, I can’t think of anyone that wouldn’t want this tray of chocolates for Christmas. I mean, everyone loves chocolate. Right?

I know I do! This gift set has 3 different flavors, 14 Rocher, 14 Rond Noir, and 14 Garden Coco. The Garden Coconut is my favorite… It’s sweet, but not too sweet and has just the right amount of coconut shavings on top. So yummy! My second favorite is the Rond Noir. The sumptuous dark chocolate is just heavenly.

Price: $21.99

Where: Amazon.com

Share Something Sweet

Black Friday Is Finally Here, Ladies!

Here at The Fashionable Housewife, we want you to save as much money as possible this Christmas so you’ll have enough money left over to start working on your Spring 2010 wardrobe! So for the next few weeks, expect to see lots of deals and steals that will save you lots of cash.

Because being thrifty is fashionable!

Black Friday is known as the official start of the holiday shopping season because the day after Thanksgiving was traditionally the day that retailers went from being “in the red” (in debt) to being “in the black” (making a profit).

That’s right. It’s time to start forking over the cash so you can buy friends and loved ones all their little hearts desire. Well, maybe not everything, but you do what you can!

We’re going to tell you about all the best deals including coupon codes, free shipping, and gifts with your purchase. It’s going to be a Holiday Shopping Extravaganza today!!!

    Stay tuned for the best shopping deals for shopping online!!!!!!

And don’t forget, we’re having 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways starting Dec 1st through the 12th, with a new giveaway starting each day! It’s going to be awesome.

NEW! Valentine’s Gift Pack from Linda & Harriett

valentine_packJust in time for Valentine’s Day, Linda & Harriett is now offering a Valentine’s Gift Pack!

This adorable package includes the Pig Love greeting and a pink Linda & Harriett pencil, along with a 100-page notepad and a set of letterpress note cards in designs of your choice.

Have them write the message for you in the Pig Love greeting card or leave it blank. They’ll wrap it up in red tissue paper and tie it with a pink ribbon for easy gifting!

The Valentine’s Gift Pack retails for $34 at www.lindaandharriett.com.

Send Valentine’s Day Love with Linda & Harriett’s Cards

Spread a little love this Valentine’s Day with gorgeous letterpress cards from Linda & Harriett.

With only 4 weeks till Valentine’s Day, it’s time to start thinking about sending out cards! Linda & Harriett have so many cute designs that will fill all your note card needs. Whether you just want to say hello to someone this Valentine’s Day or whether you want to send a thank you card, you will find something you like on lindaandharriett.com

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Pig Love Greeting Card ($4.50)

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Bloom Flat in Fuschia ($22 for a set of eight)

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Linda in Pink Note Card ($18 for a set of eight)

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Cure Card ($18 for a set of eight)

Check them out at www.lindaandharriett.com

Torrid Holiday Sale


Holiday Sale

Torrid.com is having an awesome Holiday Sale. There is a 50% off Clearance that ends January 4th and a few other sales included that also end January 4th.

Start shopping >>

What Do YOU Want For Christmas?

Tell us, Ladies! We want to know what you want to find under your Christmas tree tomorrow morning.

A cruise to the Bahamas? The keys to a bran new Ferrari? A million dollars?

Be as unrealistic as you want! We just want to know what your ideal gift is and if you hold any hope of receiving it tomorrow!

What do I want for Christmas? Well thank you for asking! I’m not much of a material girl lately, so I’d just like to lose my last 15 pregnancy pounds before Spring.

I guess a nice, new Treadmillicon would help! That’s my Christmas wish.

What’s yours?