shopping with Shelby

5 Perfect Gifts for Your Flower Loving Friends

0 · Dec 21, 2016 ·

Christmas is only 4 days away. I can scarcely believe it! I thought I was so ahead of the game this year, I had all of my personal shopping done and gifts wrapped by December 5th. It seemed like I was right on track. But December has once again sped past and here I am, again, trying to send out a few last minute holiday cards and notes of joy. It seems like there’s always just one or two little things that you need to finish…

Photography: Samantha James Photography

So if you’re like me and have a flower loving friend that you’ve yet to find the perfect gift for – fear not, I’m sharing some of my very favorite gifts I’ve ever given or received and I think they’ll love them too.

Flower Books

People who love flowers are very visual and we love books with pretty pictures. Not only are they great for personal reference but they also look really lovely on your coffee table. My two personal favorites are Bringing Nature Home: Floral Arrangements Inspired by Nature and The Flower Recipe Book.

Botanical Prints

I love botanical prints and have so many favorite artists. But I think my favorites are from Wildfield Paper Co. Her work is so real, her attention to detail and the way she uses color just blows me away.

Esther Clark Botanical Calendar

I have some of Esther’s prints hanging in my kitchen and they’re so beautiful. Her botanical calendar is just the same – only there are 12 gorgeous images to fall in love with.

Floret Flower 2017 Planner

With tips for planting, harvesting and growing – this lovely little planner is perfect for those of us who refuse to make everything digital and use an online calendar. Floret Farms also has a book that is now available for pre-order, which would make another great gift.

Florist Tool Belt

The florist tool belt from Wheeler Munroe. This is a life saving product. My husband got me one last year for my birthday and I think it might be my favorite present I’ve ever received. I stopped wasting so much of my time going “where did I put my clippers??” and now always have my clippers, scissors, cell phone and usually a pen close by. Plus, she’s pretty awesome to work with.

Happy Shopping!

This is a non-sponsored post with product images borrowed from each individual product page. Direct links can be found in each of the descriptions above.

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Shopping with Shelby: Black Friday 2014

0 · Dec 1, 2014 ·

Hi Friends!! Did you have a fabulous holiday weekend? I for one did, however I’d like to chat about this whole traditional thanksgiving feast, who planned this menu? Where’s the chocolate? Move over mashed potatoes and stuffing, I could certainly find some more favorable side dishes. None the less, my weekend included these feasting favorites and then was followed by pie and shopping. Lots of shopping.

Photo: Ashley Slater Photography | Pie: Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm

It’s tradition for my mother and me to burn the midnight oil and head out in the wee hours of the night to do a little holiday shopping. We’re they type of people who are constantly on the prowl for a good deal. However, I must say that I was sorely disappointed that stores chose to open at such early hours on Thanksgiving. As someone who spent many years forced to work during the holiday, I always found myself so jealous of those who were with the ones they love. Because of this, I felt extreme sympathy for these workers and could not bring myself to shop on Thanksgiving night, so I had patience and headed out around 4:00am Friday morning. Twelve hours later we started our trek back home with a full car and much emptier wallets.

I’ve been asked about the fun in Black Friday shopping and the best places to shop. While I know everyone’s approach is a little different, I think the unexpected deals give the most thrills. Sure, I scour the ads on Thanksgiving Day, look at the leaked ads via the internet in the weeks prior to heading out and even map out an action plan. But my go-to’s are always Macy’s and Target, two of my favorite shopping locations regardless of the occasion. After that is when we begin to travel through the mall, making our way from store to store and loving the window signs proudly displaying 40-50% savings off the entire store, including clearance. Straight to those clearance racks I go!

This year, no surprise, Macy’s brought me the best bargains and today I’m still on the lookout for Cyber Monday steals. Did you find any great deals?

Tackling the Thrift Store

0 · Apr 10, 2014 ·

My last couple days have been filled with thrift store shopping… which I absolutely love! The thrill of the hunt gets me every time. And just because something is cheap, doesn’t mean I can’t find it cheaper. I might just take a little too much pride in scoring a great deal. These golden pots were a thrifty steal… can’t wait to fill them with blooms!

I went to a total of 8 stores to score the number of little pots I needed for my client’s next project. I realize not everyone has that much time (that’s why you hire me!), so I want to share a little strategy with you about thrift store shopping, because not all stores are created equal.

So, how should you tackle the thrifty madness?

My first piece of advice – steer away from the “name brand” or chain thrift stores. Goodwill may have the name, but it doesn’t deliver the goods. Ditto to Salvation Army. For the most part, I don’t waste my time, at least not if I’m looking for vintagy and décor type items. Clothing might be another story. But these stores I feel are over-shopped, so you have to be there the instant something is donated to snatch it up. And even then, I’m not always willing to pay their prices.

Look for less known stores, which are typically less shopped and I usually score better deals. In Grand Rapids there’s a Bethany Thrift Store or the Pine Rest Thrift Store – proceeds go to each of these organizations, and while they’re still located on the main hub of Grand Rapids, people know less about them which benefits me greatly.

Secondly, know the difference between a thrift store and antique store. That sounds obvious, but with the turn “vintage” coming into play, this line has become clouded. Places are popping up with titles such as estate sale warehouses. Some are gold mines other, not so much. Stores like this carry items ranging anywhere from collectable antiques to shampoo and Beanie Babies. Places that claim to cater more to antique collectors are generally more expensive than those with more of a flea market sales pitch.

Stores like these also tend to have separate booths and not all booths are created equal either. Booths are owned by different vendors, who all having different items and pricing strategy. And occasionally a booth or two might be offering additional discounts, so pay attention to those hand-written signs.

No matter what the store, I recommend shopping on week days. Usually there are a few less people milling about the store, which means I don’t have to make the split second buying decision. There’s nothing worse than going back to grab your treasure, only to find someone else bought it out from underneath you. But check their store hours, some have certain days of the week that they aren’t open or they may close earlier than your typical retailers.

Bring along your imagination along for the ride! Items that look like junk when thrown together with other junk might actually be cool in the right setting. Try to envision pieces in your home or with your event décor. And if the price is right, paint can go a long way. Love the shape of a vase but not the color – spray paint is your best friend! And that ugly chair over there can be reupholstered for much less than buying new. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

Any other tips or tricks? I’d love to hear your thrifting strategies!

Shopping with Shelby: Macy’s

0 · Dec 11, 2013 ·

This new series of posts has been in the works for a while now, well, at least they’ve been an inner dialog running through my head (as so many of my posts are). I get asked extremely frequently where I found things, what antique stores I shop at and asked for the story behind certain objects in my home, as well as pieces that I use in some of my events.

Now anyone that truly knows me, knows that I am a huge bargain shopper and even somewhat of a cheapskate. But the fact of the matter is, I like nice things, I like things to be pretty but I don’t have an unlimited budget to make it all happen. And I would also like to credit my father for my frugalness. He is the ultimate thriftier. Growing up I never thought I’d meet someone as cheap as my father. We never had a new car, a new TV or any other electronic as far as that goes, and the number of items that were salvaged out of the neighbors and other random people’s trash was ridiculous. Thank you Dad for teaching me that it is okay to pull over alongside of the road and do a little shopping.

But today I’m not thrift store shopping. Today I go big and turn away from my boutique and small shop roots. Today, I would like to give a little shout out to Macy’s. And for my roots of shopping there, I credit none other than my mother.

As a child we shopped at Hudson’s, which then became Marshall Field’s and later Macy’s. While all three stores were in the same building, Macy’s is really my true love. I really don’t know if anyone of them was better than the other, maybe I just gravitate more towards Macy’s because of the familiarity and the appreciation of money more in my adult life. Whatever the reason, it is my number 1 go-to store when I need something stylish and new to add to my wardrobe is Macy’s. They have the best sales. Discounts upon discounts, I highly recommend their clearance racks.

On top of that, the Star Rewards card (or Macy’s Credit Card) is a must have. I am not an advocate of shopping on credit, but this card is worth having. So many additional discounts and coupons sent your way – just make sure you pay it off on time, and you will reap the rewards. (And don’t tell Dave Ramsy!!)

Customer service is this store is top notch. Not just here in my Grand Rapids location either. I purchased all the suits for the groomsmen in my wedding from Macy’s and the service was impeccable. They helped me find all the pieces from stores all across the country and had them shipped directly to my doorstep. This is customer service in Flint, Michigan. I feel good about telling you to do some shopping in Flint – their store even has a furniture department! I’ve also had to use their phone services regarding my credit card account and it’s always been the absolute best experience. So polite and amazing. Macy’s opened its doors in 1858, meaning the store has been opened 155 years – they must be doing something right!

And don’t forget about their wedding registry. Above any other store, I recommend that couples registry here. The selection of goodies for your home, kitchen and bath is wonderful. If they don’t have it in store, you can so easily order it online (or add it to your registry online) and the stores are across the country, making it pretty convenient for all wedding guests. Then for the bonus, after your wedding you receive a gift card to Macy’s with a percentage of the total from all the wedding gifts that were purchased for you. After my wedding, we received a $50 gift card in the mail – and hardly anyone had even purchased from our registry. $50 of free shopping? Yes please!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyL94Zzy_Jg&feature=player_detailpage

So head on over to Macy’s to finish your holiday shopping and be sure to drop off your letters to Santa and they will donate to Make-A-Wish!