Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving. And...My Black Friday Sale

Happy Thanksgiving!

There is so much to be thankful for...heck, being able to get up everyday and live freely is just one of them.

A few other things I'm grateful for include: the ability to run my own business, awesome customers, supportive friends who have helped me realize why people often say 'friends are your "chosen family" and being able to live my dream of being here year round in sunny Santa Barbara and enjoy 70 degree weather almost every day.

I am also grateful for you- all of my amazing customers who enjoy my work and allow me to continue my dream of sharing beauty with the world through my jewelry and my art.

How can it get any better than this?

Well, as a "Thank you" gift I'm having an "early" Black Friday Sale, which is going on now through this Monday.* Take 15% off everything in my shop by entering code: THANKS at checkout. Happy Shopping!


xx
Aziza

*Sale ends Monday, December 1, 2014 at midnight PST

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

5 Reasons to Shop Online Right Now for Black Friday 2014

Now that I live on the west coast and its practically 70 degrees all year long, I often lose track of the time of year and it doesn't really seem like the Holidays are around the corner. But, here they are yet again and Thanksgiving is (eeps) tomorrow!

If you are someone who likes to get ahead of the shopping curve and catch a good sale, but you don't want to participate in the Black Friday craziness, then, keep reading because here are my top 5 reasons to start shopping online RIGHT NOW instead of actually on Black Friday this year. 

1. Avoid Lines by shopping online. If you're anything like me, you abhor crowds and craziness and lines that are more than 2 people long. I have even left a store once or twice because the lines were just too long and not enough cashiers were staffed at the checkout counters for the holiday season to help me and the 10,000 other customers online.

2. $ave money beyond just $ale prices. Shopping trips can be costly beyond just the items you're paying for. There's money spent on lost time traveling, gas money to get there or other travel expenses, impromptu purchases on items besides the ones you were planning to buy and extra money spent on fast food and dining out while you're out and about shopping. Also, lately at the checkout counter I have noticed a HUGE increase in the amount of retailers asking me to "round up" my purchase to be donated to xyz charity that the store is affiliated with. All that sales pressure while I'm just trying to quickly pay for my item and leave just feels plain icky to me.

3. Sales are on NOW. In fact some retailers started their sales last week. Even though Cyber Monday is reserved for online sales, many online retailers and small business owners (like myself) have already started their online sales to give their customers plenty of time to avoid the Holiday rush! And if you have a popular size like I do (medium top and 8.5 in shoes) then that top you've been coveting may be sold out by Friday. So go ahead and shop and get that item... like, now!

4. Hundreds of categories all on one website. Literally hundreds of deals are already available on all sorts of different products from a variety of retailers on sites like amazon.com and ebay.com. One of my personal favorite deals is that Amazon Wine is featuring deep discounts starting at 60% off on over 100 unique wines.

5. Convenience. When I lived in NYC, I did not have a car and shopping beyond my neighborhood for large bulky items and figuring out how to get them home was always a challenge. Living in the city, trying to avoid crowds on the subways was hard work and it wasn't always easy to hale a cab from Manhattan to Brooklyn.  But even if you do have a car, you may have to worry about parking or other transportation issues. Shopping online means those same large items are delivered (hassle free) right to your door and if you need it within a day or two, you can always spend a little more for upgraded shipping. Its definitely worth the extra spent on upgraded shipping since you'll likely save time, and aggravation. 

So, get online and go shopping! :)

Thats it! I hope you enjoyed my personal top 5 reasons to shop online right now for Black Friday!
And I'm having an early online Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale as well. You can save 15% off everything in my shop from now until the end of Monday by entering code: THANKS at checkout.

Happy (Online) Shopping!

xx
Aziza 

Monday, November 3, 2014

10 Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers

Did you know that I am a wine lover? Yep, I sure am, and I also have a few friends that are wine lovers too (I hope you girls aren't reading this list and seeing your future X-Mas gifts...wink, wink).

Anywho...

Being that the Holidays are coming up in less than 2 months, I put together this list of some really cool wine themed gift ideas. But these gifts also work for birthdays, weddings and for, well...any occasion really!

So, here are 10 Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers:


Let's get right to it!

Gift Idea #1- A bottle of his or her favorite wine wrapped in a tea towel...also makes a great housewarming gift -this one from Poketo is just darling!




Gift Idea #2- Personalized Wine Barrel wine accessories kit- this one can be found on etsy. And its the perfect gift for a newly married couple!




Gift Idea #3- Wine lover earrings. Made from sterling silver, one earring is a bottle of wine with a purple pearl as the grape and the other is a cork screw with an actual tiny cork in it. Made by me and found in my online shop, Aziza Jewelry




Gift idea #4- Wine keeper. This wine dispenser is a great way to keep an expensive bottle of wine tasting fresh after its been opened for more than a few days. Available at: http://www.winekeeper.com



Gift idea #5- Wine barrel side table. This one is from Uncommon Goods and its the perfect height for a lounge chair or to situate next to a couch. Sip a glass of wine while watching a movie or hanging on the couch with friends.



Gift Idea #6- Outdoor reclaimed wine barrel Adirondack patio chair with wine glass holder! I would love to unwind outside after a long day in this chair with my favorite glass of wine. I love the way the wine has naturally stained the inside of the chair. Purchase it here.




Gift Idea #7- Cheese Slate with Velvet Pad underneath. I love that there is a protective layer underneath so it will not scratch your countertop! Available at: www.winestuff.com




Gift Idea #8- Wine Chilling Carafe. Keep your wine chilled on the table or outside without diluting it down with ice. Available at: www.wineenthusiast.com




Gift Idea #9- Wall Mounted Wine Rack with slots for wine glasses from Keo Decor on Etsy. Love the rustic feel of this!



Gift Idea #10- Wine stained serving tray! You can get it here. Its large enough to hold the wine, the glasses, cheese, crackers...an entire spread!





I hope you enjoyed this list of 10 of my favorite gift ideas for wine lovers. For even more wine themed gift ideas check out my wine lovers board on Pinterest and follow me there. I'm always adding lots of fun new gift ideas and hosting tips/ideas as well.

Have any wine themed gift ideas that you want to share with me? I'd love to know if you have ever received a wine related gift that you just loved! Oh, do share!

Until next time...
xo
Aziza