Working from home and having an online business means that I have very little time to get out into the streets to shop – window or otherwise.  Aside from Pinterest, one of my favorite online past-times is to window shop on 1stdibs.  1stdibs says they’re the world’s number one marketplace for the most beautiful things on earth from antiques, vintage watches, mid-century modern furniture, estate jewelry, fine art, fashion and fine homes around the world.  I can’t speak for whether or not they’re the world’s number one market place for the most beautiful things on earth, but they do have some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.  So, if you’re in the mood for a little retail therapy and don’t have time to get to the mall or 5th Avenue, let your fingers do the walking and head on over to 1stdibs.

Exactly how I’m feeling about my holiday shopping!  I’m not usually this disorganized.  Unfortunately, I waited until the last minute to do my holiday shopping and I’m paying for it now.  In fact, I’m usually on top of things and have at least thought about the gifts I want to buy and where I’ll be purchasing them.  Alas, this is not the case for HOLIDAY 2011.  Oh well, there are still 3 more shopping days.  Do you do your holiday shopping throughout the year?  After Thanksgiving, starting on Black Friday? When?  What are your best tips for successful (i.e. stress-free) holiday shopping?

I’m a sucker for just about anything with my name or initials on it.  I think it stems from growing up in an era where everyone had simple names like Lisa, Jane and Amy and I had a name no one could pronounce much less spell properly.  My name was NEVER EVER on a key chain or license plate at places like SeaWorld and Disneyland.  I was lucky to find the letter “K”.  I think as a means of compensation, my mom got whatever she could monogrammed for me.  I had book bags, jackets, sweaters and overnight bags with my name emblazoned on them.  While as an adult I’m happy to have a such a unique name, I’m still in love with the idea of monogramming whatever I can get my hands on.  So, while I haven’t pulled the trigger on one of Louis Vuitton’s Mon Monogram specialities, I do go to their website from time-to-time and play around with the colors, stripe options and various initial combinations trying to figure out which I would get if I were going to buy a new Speedy bag or get a Neverfull.  What color combo would you go for?  I’m partial to purple and orange ….