Wake-Up Little Suzie Review

This is a great store!! Every time I'm in Washington DC, I make sure I go in and see what's new and different and I always leave with something fun. They have a wonderful selection of jewelry and gifts and baby stuff and fun, silly things. It's the perfect place to find unusual gifts because they really do have something for everyone. I just bought myself a "Dust Bunny", a dusting mitt in the shape of the cutest little bunny!

I have never had a problem with any of the staff, they are friendly and helpful and have always been pleasant to me.

In response to some comments here about the store being "pricey", it depends on what you consider affordable. This is a small store, not Target or Wal-Mart, and much of what they sell is handmade which naturally comes at a higher price. I would say they sell quality merchadise at a fair price. If you want cheap junk, go elsewhere.

3409 Connecticut Ave NW
(between N Ordway St & N Porter St)
Washington, DC 20008
Neighborhood: Cleveland Park

(202) 244-0700

Groovy DC Cards & Gifts Review

For some reason, I've walked by this place a zillion times and never stopped in. I'm glad I took that small detour today (on my way to Subway). The store is full of tons of cute things. I LOVE their card collection - they are hilarious. Plus, there's so much wrapping paper and such, it's outstanding! And the gifts are so nice; pricey - but totally worth it. I didn't buy anything - since I only had the $4 I needed for my lunch - but next time I go, I could probably buy most of my Christmas gifts from here. So cute:)

Also, like the yelpers before me mentioned, the owners were very friendly, even though I didn't buy anything. I can't wait to go back and blow an entire paycheck on their stuff.

323 7th St SE
(between S C St & S Pennsylvania Ave)
Washington, DC 20003
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast

(202) 544-6633

Dettagli Weddings Review

If we could give Katie and the whole Dettagli team 10 out of 5 starts, we would.  If you're recently engaged, congratulations!  Now go call Katie before she's booked.

Without question, the money we spent on Katie's services was the best, best, best decision we made through the whole process, bar none.  We went with the "Franc"/full service/soup-to-nuts package and it was a dream.  For the year of planning, Katie was an utter joy to work with, responsive, responsible, fun, and immediately "got" my vision for our big day and made it a reality.  Seamlessly, perfectly.  She knows everyone, every vendor, everything, and never says, "can't," "won't", or "no."  If you have a dream that's out of budget, she'll come at you with 10 alternatives to make you happy.  She NEVER pushes.  Never upsells.  Never pushes a certain vendor, etc.  At the same time, the vendors she recommended were all simply amazing and we loved each and every one of them (Fleur for flowers - omg, amazing.  Sarah's cake (Oak Street), Pen/Carlson photography, Entourage - the best bad in the history of wedding bands - truly, the night was perfect).

Everyone warns, "well, just expect that something will go wrong, because it always does and you just can't sweat the small stuff."  NO.  Nothing.  Everything was perfect.  Or, correction - as far as you and your groom will know, everything will have been perfect.  Katie is a MASTER of emergency fixes behind the scenes.  We had a groomsman's tie not fit.  No problem!  Bloomies is next door!  Katie to the rescue - groomsman tied up in no time.  The cocktail hour musician's keyboard didn't work on the scene - no problem!  Katie had another one within the 15 minutes she had before the ceremony was over (and I was none the wiser until the next day when we were catching up).  Katie has had caterers get whole wedding cakes squished in elevator doors (not kidding), and still managed to have perfectly re-done cake in time for the bride and groom without skipping a beat.

She is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  For our wedding and the full-service package, Dettagli was about 10% of our budget.  Sound insane?  Not a bit.  We're both busy professionals, bought a house this year, moved, went back to grad school part-time - I could never, ever, ever have done it all without Katie.  I was also amazed by all this included.  Of course I expected help with vendors and full weekend-of support.  But my goodness we got so much more: assembling favors, making 135 ridiculous ribbon tie-things that I became obsessed with and decided had to bundle everyone's napkin, hotel bags stuffed and delivered to each hotel, gifts wrapped and delivered to bridesmaids, gromsmen, readers - Katie, Katie, Katie.  I'm a total Martha-Stewart wannabe and *perfectionist* on this stuff.  It's incredibly hard for me to give up control of these details and for others to live up to my nutty expectations.  Katie exceeded them every time and so, before you knew it, I trusted her with everything and she was able to be all the bigger help because of it.  I cannot recommend her or her team strongly enough and can't imagine any bride ever regretting the decision to hire her.  Enjoy your dream day and treat yourself to Katie making it a fun, amazing, and stress-free event!

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 698-8715

Climate Home Review

I love stopping into Climate!  There used to be other locations, but I believe this is the only one left.  (My mom was smitten with a wrought iron planter at the Climate off of Armitage a couple years ago and the employees were helpful when I later went to get it as a surprise gift for her, but last I saw that location was empty.)

I love browsing the cards here---lots of funny and unique cards.  I found some fun "lotto" books for a bride-to-be at her bachelorette.  There are lots of fun bachelorette-themed gifts and party ideas here, but nothing too risque.  Lots of random fun books and gifts.  I once found a ticket stub album---great for a pack-rat saver like me.  :)  It's one of those stores that you never know what you might find.  I guarantee you can find a fun gift for a friend, mother, sister here.

There's also a fair amount of baby gifts---clothes, accessories, etc.---but it can be a little expensive for stuff that the tyke will outgrow in about 5 minutes.

2462 N Clark St
(between Arlington Pl & Roslyn Pl)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

(773) 327-7717

Perch Review

There I go again, keeping all of the good stores to myself (slaps own hand with other hand).

Kristina R. and I were there the very day that Daily Candy wrote about it, which was a Monday, and unfortunately the one day they are not open.  That did not deter us from pressing our noses up against the window and getting a sneak preview of everything inside.  I think we may have alarmed the owner a little bit, who came out to tell us that they would be open the next day, keeping the door open juuuuust a crack, so there would be no chance of us getting in.  He probably saw my crazy eyes darting over to the wall of letterpress cards and nice wrapping paper.  Can't blame him for his ability to spot a retail psycho now, can we?

I went back a few weeks later and just as I thought I would be, was delighted with the assortment.  I found perfect, unique gifts for that uber-cool friend who has everything, a fab vintage milk glass necklace for myself, and the promise of many future purchases.  The owner was so nice and chatty, and wrapped everything so beautifully, that I left with a huge smile on my face.  If I'd have had a hat, I would have thrown it up in the air, Mary Tyler Moore style.

So, what is it?  It's one of those everything stores, where everything is just right.  House stuff, cute stuff, jewelry stuff, paper stuff, baby stuff, stuff stuff - all selected with the great eye of the owners/buyers, and in a range of different prices.  You just have to go there, and you will know right away if it's your store or not (it will be).  If you like stores like Lavish, Doe, Candy Store, you should make a trip to Perch.

The Glen Park location is a relief from all of the regular boutique-shop neighborhoods, and you can actually have elbow room to browse there, which I love.  More browse, more buy.

So there you go - I shared.  See you at Perch!

654 Chenery St
(between Carrie St & Diamond St)
San Francisco, CA 94131
Neighborhood: Glen Park

(415) 586-9000

Lola of North Beach Review

Definitely  a charming place to find greeting cards, baby gifts (Onesies with headphones and SF themes such as the I dig Marina Chicks onesie, baby shoes, baby socks), tasteful journals, thank you cards, candles, gift bags, calendars, ornaments, erasers, magnets, rubber stamps, etc.  The Japanese food erasers that I like so much (the ones that look like sushi and cake) are sprinkled throughout the store.  Custom printing services are available.  

Things I spotted and liked:
* Mini tubes of Lollia hand creams, perfect stocking stuffers
* Sushi calendar in sticker form - each month is printed on a different piece of sushi
* Cupcake greeting cards
* Carrot & Stick Press and Snow & Graham letterpress notecards
* Metal paper clips in various animal shapes like ducks, penguins and cows
* Tiny Japanese super strong sushi magnets
* Moleskin notebooks

My greeting card standards are high and I noticed that Lola's carries greeting card lines that aren't commonly found elsewhere.  I'm constantly looking for unique cards so that's a plus.  For the type of girly store that it is, they have a surprising number of humorous and irreverent cards.  That's a minus.  I never feel comfortable giving those types of cards and would rather see more of the pretty letterpress cards.

1415 Grant Ave
(between Green St & Union St)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill

(415) 781-1817

Nancy Boy Review

I shopped in this store just the other day while on vacation with my boyfriend. He has discovered this little gem years ago when it was in a different location. 

Today, i opened my suitcase and almost fell over with how amazing my jackets and dress shirts smelled. I left the clothes that did not need cleaning in the suit case with three bars of their soap and it has put me in the best mood.

I just ordered room spray, linen spray, and the wonderful shampoo that they make. I was fortunate to try some by getting a free travel set of the haircare with purchase. 

Long story short: Shop here. Order their products online. 

I will be ordering travel sized products to make gift baskets this winter so all my friends can try this stuff. Keep up the good work!

347 Hayes St
(between Franklin St & Gough St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

(415) 552-3802