'More Deals and Steals cont.'

Some more deals and steals to make it your way:

These two pieces can be found at Décor Innovation.

Save $9.00

Eat, drink and be merry. Isn’t that what the holidays are about? But you can’t go to a holiday party empty-handed. Yes, do bring some wine and chocolates and other essential goodies. And do bring a set of these holiday-themed, wine stoppers.

Coming in sets of two ($15.99) and in colorful shapes like Santa Claus and a dancing snowman, each is hand-made in the unique glass blowing tradition. To be used for future wine-popping, your hosts will not only be impressed by your attention to detail, but be delighted by the small trinkets. And hey, few gifts show that wasting alcohol is not one of your weaknesses.

Save $5.00

There are those who like me, are visual. Others are drawn to sounds, taste and touch. Then there are those that rely on their noses.

Incense, scented creams and sprays, and candles (scented or not) are all known for their healing and meditative powers. In fact, more and more people each year choose products known for their therapeutic effects in an effort to achieve a healthier and happier well-being.

Did you know that white candles symbolize purity, power and hope? While it burns and rids the area of all negativity, so they say, the space in which it burns is cleansed and healing can begin.

What I love about this five-piece, white candle ($29.99) set is that it also comes with its own wooden holder and polished stones. The five candles consist of four pillar-shaped candles in varying heights and a sphere-shaped candle. For all you candle-lovers out there, a lot of times these pieces are sold separately.

FYI: The more you spend at Décor Innovation, the more you save. For every $100 purchase you get $5 off; for $150 or more you get $10 off, and so forth.

What are you waiting for?

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of Decor Innovation

'The Deal Breaker'

My nine-old-cousin not-so-subtlety hinted over e-mail yesterday afternoon: "Do you know what next week is?"

Like any good family member, I knew that it was my cousin’s10th birthday and that shopping for her birthday gift would have to be high on my priority list.

But I also knew that the occasion signaled the start of holiday shopping season.

And anybody who thought that the United States was battling a deep recession – try going to my nearest shopping mall on a Saturday and finding a parking spot. You’ll think twice.

More so the reason for doing most of my shopping online. Me, online shopping - are you surprised?

Whether it's a 20% off Friends & Family sale at Bloomingdales (look for promocode above) or a 25-40% designer sale at Saks Fifth Avenue, there are bargains to be made now:

Save $28.62

With two infants in the family, both almost three months old, baby clothes seems like a reasonable gift idea to the frazzled mothers. My one cousin raved about the organic clothes I gave her as a baby shower gift this past summer. Her only complaint was that her baby girl was too young to wear them yet!

A set of organic cotton bodysuits (see below) not only protects a baby with sensitive skin, but are both acceptable buys for any baby boy or girl.

Save $15.00

I CANNOT get enough of these sumptuous faux fur throws. Come to think about it, I might already have two versions in the leopard print somewhere in my house.

Why? The plush backing makes me feel as if I’ve fallen into a pool of micro-fleece blankets. And I admire the quality craftsmanship: The throws are finished with a miter corner – which takes a lot longer to finish than a regular hem (for all you non-sewers out there).

Whereas most faux fur tries to emulate minx or rabbit, this is the first time I’ve stumbled across a giraffe print. But the print is funky, upbeat and an easy go-to piece to add some excitement to a room.

For more gift ideas, I’ll be featuring at least two new products each week from now until the end of the holidays!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of decorinnovation.com and newsletter from bloomingdales.com

'American Glamour'

A testament to the expertise and imagination that marks American fashion history, creations from well-known and fledgling American designers form part of a dual exhibition now at The Musuem at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology).

More than 75 pieces that date from the 1930s to the present represent “American Beauty: Aeshetics and Innovation in Fashion.” “American Glamour: Fashion, Freedom and Igenuity” features 15 pieces from 15 American designers like Halston, Bill Blass, Isabel Toledo and the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte.

A pink blush gown from Charles James in 1953 that experimented with shape and contouring, to a floor-sweeping crimson strapless gown from Halston in 1976 that satisfied our aesthetic sensibilities are examples of some of the designs now on display.

Curators of the exhibitions, Deputy Director Patricia Mears of FIT and vintage expert Clair Watson sought pieces that reflected pioneering efforts in dressmaking and tailoring, in addition to ornamentation, engineering and geometry.

But unlike other exhibitions, this one – which opened Friday and will run until April 10 – is unlike any others of its kind…

First, the FIT exhibition gathers video commentary from fashion heavyweights like Hamish Bowles of Vogue and Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein.

And for those die-hard vintage shoppers, museum-goers can shop their favorite pieces from the exhibition – the graphic Campbell soup print dress reminiscent of Andy Warhol from the mid- 1960s and psychedelic cotton twill Geoffrey Beene mod dress from the 1960s – both on sale at yoox.com.

The “American Glamour” sale on yoox.com, which has partnered with FIT to create the two-part exhibition, keeps the love of vintage alive. Not only are these vintage pieces a rarity (what are the chances of finding another of its kind), but proves that real American glamour goes farther than sportswear.

According to Holly Brubach, creative consultant YOOX special projects, the exhibition arrives “at the perfect time.”

Here, here, Ms. Brubach.

-S. Gonzalez