On Tuesday, September 1, the Monogram Merchant.com is launching our "Gift of the Day" campaign via this blog and Twitter. You can follow us on on Twitter (http://twitter.com/themonogramme) to get "Gift of the Day" immediately. We'll have product photos and details here on this blog as well as on our website www.themonogrammerchant.com in our new "Gift of the Day" section. Products featured in "Gift of the Day" will be 10% off for a week from the date of post. We hope to delight and inspire you with our unique personalized gifts and creative suggestions for gift giving.News
Gift of the Day 3 day countdown
On Tuesday, September 1, the Monogram Merchant.com is launching our "Gift of the Day" campaign via this blog and Twitter. You can follow us on on Twitter (http://twitter.com/themonogramme) to get "Gift of the Day" immediately. We'll have product photos and details here on this blog as well as on our website www.themonogrammerchant.com in our new "Gift of the Day" section. Products featured in "Gift of the Day" will be 10% off for a week from the date of post. We hope to delight and inspire you with our unique personalized gifts and creative suggestions for gift giving.
1+1=3: Try a new style this holiday season
After spending 6 weeks working in the 'Elf Factory' on the Festival of Trees, I have had my quota of inspiration for holiday decorating. One of the best designer tips I heard over and over again was a very simple one...use what you already have in a new way this year.Sounds easy enough but I needed some visual aids to get my creativity in gear. Late Thanksgiving afternoon, I had some quality time with my mother's extensive magazine collection....after an hour or so with Veranda, Southern Accents and Architectural Digest, I was ready to roll. I hit my mother's silver closet and then took my treasures home for experimenting.
Recently, I've been hooked on the concept of the no.3 which appears repeatedly in Christmas traditions...the wise men, for example. This obsession came from a conversation with the Captain (the professional groomsman) about the philosophy of 1+1=3, otherwise known as 'the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.' This idea is one that can be applied to many areas of life, but it seems particularly appropriate to holiday decorating...after all, tinsel without a tree is just shredded up foil....but add it to lights & ornaments and you've got something.
So back to the project...embracing the advice of using things in a new way and having the no. 3 as a guiding force, I took ornaments, silver containers and a mirror to create a very cool, anthropologie-like centerpiece. My mom declared it 'avant-garde' when she came by to see it the next day. My 3 elements (ornaments, silver pieces & mirror) came together as a stylish holiday decoration. Oddly enough (pardon the pun), I used 3 types of ornaments (balls, birds & pinecones) and 3 types of silver containers (compotes, egg cups & a vase).
The Captain's point of 1+1=3 was fully supported by my new centerpiece. None of those items would have been out this holiday on their own. Together, however, they compose something very interesting and perhaps a bit beautiful. This project is a great example of a thought we can all take with us throughout the Christmas season...how can we become a part of something bigger or better than ourselves? What can we use that we already have to create something beautiful, meaningful or helpful?
A Must See: Four Christmases
If your family puts the 'fun' in dysfunctional, then you need to run not walk to the movie theater to see Four Christmases. Vince Vaughn & Reese Witherspoon are absolutely hilarious. The movie is only about an hour and a half so you can squeeze it in between all the holiday madness. Trust me when I tell you, its worth so much MORE than the $10 you will pay to see it. You will laugh until you cry over and over again!
Great Holiday Gift Ideas
With December 1st looming over us like the original Manic Monday, it is a good idea to get your holiday shopping lists together if you haven't already.So far, we have had lots of shoppers return to the classic favorites....monogrammed stationery, sterling silver gifts, and monogrammed plates and glasses. These gifts make a statement but are always appropriate.
Lets start with acrylic serving pieces...a guaranteed hit and a great price! Our customer favorties are:
12" square acrylic tray $33 & Set 4 Wine Glasses $45
Shown here with Interlocking Script 3 letter Monogram, other styles available.
For stylish personalized stationery, you can't beat Sweet Pea Designs. You can get a box of folded notes for less than $25 for almost everyone on your list! We love this new design of the aqua and brown trellis with script monogram. You can design your own on our Sweet Pea Store site...
We will continue to share holiday gift giving ideas through out the next few weeks! Happy Shopping! Visit
https://www.themonogrammerchant.com/ and have a look around.
Holiday Spirit
We realize its been awhile since you've heard from us...the MM girls have been preoccupied with big events...the 2008 Festival of Trees and a Thanksgiving weekend move to Chicago.Festival of Trees was a huge hit this year with incredible attendance and big sales in the holiday boutique. 100% of the event profits go to the Orlando Museum of Art so its important in these lean economic times to do our best to support cultural, community and social services organizations. If you want to learn more about the event, you can visit the OMA's website http://www.omart.org/pages/council-101-festival-trees.
The Monogra
m Merchant.com created a table display called 'Cocktails on the Rocks' with our friends Gay Harrison Couture Jewelry and designer Sam June. It was a big departure from our normal pink & green preppy holiday traditional style but every now and then its good to color outside the lines. We used zebra striped chairs, a travertine coffee table, a mirrored console with jewel-filled hurricanes, a vintage Hermes tray and a Swarovski crystal monogrammed evening bag. Monogrammed china by Pickard and etched martini, champagne and high-ball glasses put the personal touch on the setting. We selected a piece from the OMA vault to hang over the table...a Mark Bennett blue print of Jeannie's bottle for a special Florida touch. We think Sam was channeling his inner 'Major Nelson' in creating this unique scene.
m Merchant.com created a table display called 'Cocktails on the Rocks' with our friends Gay Harrison Couture Jewelry and designer Sam June. It was a big departure from our normal pink & green preppy holiday traditional style but every now and then its good to color outside the lines. We used zebra striped chairs, a travertine coffee table, a mirrored console with jewel-filled hurricanes, a vintage Hermes tray and a Swarovski crystal monogrammed evening bag. Monogrammed china by Pickard and etched martini, champagne and high-ball glasses put the personal touch on the setting. We selected a piece from the OMA vault to hang over the table...a Mark Bennett blue print of Jeannie's bottle for a special Florida touch. We think Sam was channeling his inner 'Major Nelson' in creating this unique scene.Great Groomsmen Gifts
Planning a wedding? Gifts for groomsmen are never an easy task, however, on our site you will find fantastic ideas for gifts, courtesy of an 18-time groomsman who generously serves as our consultant....that's right, he has been in 18 weddings as an usher, best man or groomsman...not sure if there was any ring-bearer duty in that total but oh well.
Gifts for golfing... For your athletically inclined groomsmen, gifts involving golf are sure to be a hole in one (please excuse the pun). One gift the Captain has received, which we think is genius, is a round of golf. It's such a useful gift, and for any golf enthusiast, much appreciated. If you feel like you need to give your groomsmen something tangible along with a round of golf, how about a bottle of his favorite liquor? I don't know a soul on earth who's golf game doesn't improve with a little Jack Daniels in their system. This key chain on the left is also a great addition to a round of golf, it's not only a handy divot tool, but also has a monogrammed ball marker on the opposite side.
Gifts for drinking... We love the idea of giving the boys something
personalized (since I mean, like they'll ever buy it for themselves.) This monogrammed decanter on the right is such a practical and handsome gift. At $72 it's also completely reasonable for a personalized gift. You can check out this decanter and some others here. We also highly recommend a monogrammed flask or a fabulous personalized martini shaker. You can check out all of our drinking accessories, more affectionately called barware, here.
If you're still having trouble figuring out what to get the boys, the Captain himself also recommends a personalized gift bag. Gift bags can include a couple of smaller items; a money clip, cuff links, booze (naturally), or snacks... think hospitality bag but nicer. Throw it all in a monogrammed tote, and you're good to go!
GWW, also known as Captain, has received a wide variety of gifts and boiled down his favorites to three areas of consideration....gifts involving golf, drinking and traveling. We have taken his recommendations to heart and you can see the selection here. Here's a quick look at some of our favorites!
Gifts for golfing... For your athletically inclined groomsmen, gifts involving golf are sure to be a hole in one (please excuse the pun). One gift the Captain has received, which we think is genius, is a round of golf. It's such a useful gift, and for any golf enthusiast, much appreciated. If you feel like you need to give your groomsmen something tangible along with a round of golf, how about a bottle of his favorite liquor? I don't know a soul on earth who's golf game doesn't improve with a little Jack Daniels in their system. This key chain on the left is also a great addition to a round of golf, it's not only a handy divot tool, but also has a monogrammed ball marker on the opposite side.
Gifts for drinking... We love the idea of giving the boys something
personalized (since I mean, like they'll ever buy it for themselves.) This monogrammed decanter on the right is such a practical and handsome gift. At $72 it's also completely reasonable for a personalized gift. You can check out this decanter and some others here. We also highly recommend a monogrammed flask or a fabulous personalized martini shaker. You can check out all of our drinking accessories, more affectionately called barware, here.
Gifts for traveling... For the globe trotting fellows in your wedding 
party, the options are pretty much endless. Most of our personal favorites are items from Jon Hart Design, passport covers, leather dop kits, and leather luggage tags. The shaving kit on the left is one item that is a huge hit with the gentleman we know. It's a great size for someone who is constantly on short trips for business, big enough for all the essentials, but won't take up too much space in his carry-on.
party, the options are pretty much endless. Most of our personal favorites are items from Jon Hart Design, passport covers, leather dop kits, and leather luggage tags. The shaving kit on the left is one item that is a huge hit with the gentleman we know. It's a great size for someone who is constantly on short trips for business, big enough for all the essentials, but won't take up too much space in his carry-on.If you're still having trouble figuring out what to get the boys, the Captain himself also recommends a personalized gift bag. Gift bags can include a couple of smaller items; a money clip, cuff links, booze (naturally), or snacks... think hospitality bag but nicer. Throw it all in a monogrammed tote, and you're good to go!
Things We Love...
... Week of October 7, 2008...
PUSHING DAISIES... in a random act of Netflixing (yes I just turned netflix into a verb), I came across this little gem of a television show. In a sea of television shows full of melodramatic love affairs (yea I'm talkin' to you Meredith Grey), general smut (has anyone seen the new 90210, it almost makes you miss Brenda Walsh...), and over acting (anything on FOX), Pushing Daisies is charming, light hearted, and honestly funny. The second season just started, and due to that lovely writer's strike of 2008, the first season is only 9 epsiodes so you can netflix and catch up in a snap. I mean if nothing else, that Lee Pace is kinda hot.COSMETIC BAGS... These amazing silk cosmetic bags by Jan Sevadjian
are not only a steal at $32.95, they are really attractive too. If you are older than 14 it's time to trade in your "gift with purchase" Clinque makeup bag and treat yourself to a big girl cosmetic bag. I use mine in my gigantic purse (see previous Things We Love posts about that), to keep all the essentials: advil, pens, hair accessories, random jewelry, lipgloss, etc. ... pretty much all the things that generally find their way to the bottom of my purse. They come in a variety of different plaids, check them out at The Monogram Merchant!TAILGATING... This may sound like a no brainer, I mean who doesn't love a legitimate excuse to drink during daylight
hours, but as someone who graduated from school a year or so ago, it's one of those things you don't realize you love till you aren't doing it EVERY Saturday. There is something to be said for getting up at 8 am and spending the day drinking and hanging out with 100,000 other people, who are all there for the same reason you are. And as someone who went to a school whose football team disappointed us on more than one occasion (how about them Clemson Tigers huh?)... who even cares if you make it to the game, tailgating is way more than half the battle anyway.
Things We Love...
...Week of October 1st Edition...
BIG KEY FOBS These key chains are the BEST for someone who either A) loses 
their keys all the time B) seems to always carry a big bag or C) both of the above (like me). For some reason I always feel the need to carry a huge purse, you know just in case the world collapses, I'll have everything I need. However, on a day to day basis my huge purse tends to just swallow my keys rather than save the world. These key fobs make it SO easy to find your keys, plus they are tres adorable. I love these navy and pink elephants but they come in all sorts of cute animals and motifs here.
PLASTIC AVIATOR SUNGLASSES I love that aviators are back in style, but to me, the metal rimmed aviators just scream summer. Everyone updates their wardrobe for the change in seasons, but sometimes accessories never make the transition. I have the Kate Spade pair on the right in navy blue and adore them. I think plastic aviator sunglasses are the perfect way to keep wearing the aviator trend through the fall without looking like you're under the impression it's still beach season.
OCTOBER It's only the 2nd of October and the weather is already changing here 
in Orlando. October pretty much has it all; it's the height of tailgating season, Major League Baseball postseason, time to pull out sweaters and jackets (well maybe not here in Orlando just yet), humidity takes a vacation, and of course Halloween (who doesn't love a good costume party and an unbeatable excuse to eat candy?!) While we could still pretend it was summer in September, October is undoubtedly the fall, and I for one, am happy it's here!
Gifts to Make Your Flower Girl's Heart Skip
What on earth are you going to get the star of your wedding? (and no I don't mean you). From my experience, the flower girl is usually under the impression that all these wedding shenanigans are for her. And while clearly it's your day, honestly, besides maybe your mom, the flower girl probably grasps the importance of the day more than anyone. She is so excited to be there, she can barely stand it. She deserves a gift that shows your appreciation for her being there, I mean she did make it down the aisle without crying and only stole the spotlight for 5 minutes tops... she deserves a little somethin'. Here are some ideas for your little flower girl, incase you've been a grown up to long to remember what little girls like.
Unless your flower girl has truly unfortunate short hair like I did as a child, a monogrammed 
hair accessory can be a great and cherished gift. She can wear it on the big day and then keep it as a useful new addition to her wardrobe. The personalized barrette to the left is only $45, and will definitely make your girl feel special. You can look at this barrette at The Monogram Merchant, and check out some other options as well.
hair accessory can be a great and cherished gift. She can wear it on the big day and then keep it as a useful new addition to her wardrobe. The personalized barrette to the left is only $45, and will definitely make your girl feel special. You can look at this barrette at The Monogram Merchant, and check out some other options as well.A precious picture frame for your precious flower girl is also a great option. What a better way to make her feel like a part of your group of bridesmaids and friends than with this "The Girls" pictures frame for $49.75? Add a 
picture of her with the bridesmaids and yourself and it's a homerun of a gift. Speaking of photos, a photo album can also be a great way for your flower girl to keep her memories of your wedding day (or is it her day? I forget). Anyway, this photo album will keep all her photos safe, not to mention is seriously adorable.
picture of her with the bridesmaids and yourself and it's a homerun of a gift. Speaking of photos, a photo album can also be a great way for your flower girl to keep her memories of your wedding day (or is it her day? I forget). Anyway, this photo album will keep all her photos safe, not to mention is seriously adorable.If you have a budding fashionista on your hands, this small Queen
Bee Bag is a must. Not only will she feel like one of the "big girls", but she'll be styling when she uses it after the wedding at the neighborhood block party. This bag runs for $98, a little pricier than the other options, but there is no question she will LOVE it. Check it out here.The most important part of giving a gift at your own wedding is showing your appreciation for those who have gone out of their way to be part of your day. Make sure the gift is something she will LIKE and actually use, we at The Monogram Merchant think all these gift ideas will be a sure thing with your little flower girl.