Skip to main content

Special Christmas Gifting

Yep, it's official... the Christmas shopping season is well underway.  Right now there isn't a single major chain out there that isn't COMPLETELY decked out in Christmas cheer, but while they are all gearing up for their holiday profiting, I'm reminded that supporting our small business folks is probably the greatest gift we can actually give to our struggling economy this Christmas.  I believe it is the greatest gift we can give OURSELVES!!!

And the Institute For Local Self-Reliance agrees with me.  As published in their December 24th article from LAST Christmas, Top 10 Reasons To Support Locally Owned Businesses, they site some pretty great reasons that benefit us all!  My favorites on the list are building community prosperity and creating competition to ensure innovation and lower pricing over the long term.  I also feel pretty good about supporting someone's kid going to school rather than supporting some no-name "CEO purchase a 3rd vacation home" as I heard it put on facebook.  The other benefit that I'm JUST NOW understanding is the quality you get from someone who puts their love and care into a business they NEED to survive.  If it's one thing that drives me crazy about putting hard-earned dollars back into the economy is the lack of service and quality I receive for those dollars.  Small business owners are trying to survive and typically give you far better service and quality at far better pricing.

So, in the spirit of supporting my own local small business owners, I want to give a shout out to a couple of local East Valley businesses (in Chandler, AZ) who have given me AWESOME products and services this week:

First up I would like to thank Kevin and Christy of Baldwin Brother's Automotive who saved me THOUSANDS on my car repair.  My car dealership quoted me $3000 to repair my car, Baldwin Brothers did it for $750 and had my car back to me the same day.  They also inspected my whole car, finding a couple of issues the dealership didn't include in their $3000 estimate.  I have WAY more confidence in my mechanic (Kevin) and am SO MUCH happier with my service.  If you live in the area, I HIGHLY recommend Baldwin Brothers Automotive!!!  Click HERE to check them out.... not to mention I think they have the COOLEST website I've ever seen with the COOLEST logo!!!  Seriously, check them out just for that!!!

NOW.... I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST!!!  CHECK OUT MY NEW BLING!!!



Aren't they GORGEOUS!!!  I just bought them from my crafty friend Patty who, by the way, just opened a new Etsy shop!!!  She makes incredible jewelry (be sure to check out her soldered pendants) and is selling it at an incredible price!!!  Honestly, I've been eyeballing jewelry JUST LIKE THIS at the mall for 10 x's the price AND she customized it for ME!!!  I am so thrilled with this set.  RUN, don't walk, to Patty's Etsy store HERE!  Bling just doesn't get any better!!!

Really everyone, in both of these cases, not only did I support a local business, I ended up making out "like a bandit"!!!  I got SOOOO much more for my money and from people I call friends.  Could shopping this holiday season be any better than that?!?


Comments

Unknown said…
Thank you so kindly my friend. You'll look like a Queen wearing them as well. Enjoy!

etsy.com/shop/DesignbySimplydv9
November 10, 2012 at 3:47 AM
Julie Tucker-Wolek said…
I totally AGREE!!! We especially shop on "Small Business Saturday" :) PS ... can you email me??? bmwgirl@cox.net ... want to set up arrangements for Thursday!! Was hoping my friend could give me a ride??? Pretty please with a gluten-free cherry on top??? :) Of course when I tell you HOW early we are gonna be there ... lol... you might be running away from me!!! LOL!!!!!!
November 10, 2012 at 6:45 AM
Alison said…
This is a great post, and I totally agree with what you've said. And I think it's awesome that you gave a shout out to some of your favorite local small businesses!
November 10, 2012 at 8:46 AM
Post a Comment

Past 7 Days....

RIP My Friend

I think this is what drowning feels like.  I lost a friend yesterday.  And I'm afraid that I am just having a very hard time finding the words to express what the world lost.  I'm having a hard time KNOWING she's gone.  I just can't believe that Trisha Giallella died yesterday. I've known Trish for a large chunk of my life; she was the sister of my sister's ex husband. But for all the years that I knew her, I never REALLY knew her until very recently.  Oh sure, over the years I would listen in awe at all her stories.... stories of making movies in Hollywood, the wild parties and dating Rick James.  To a young girl of 15, those stories seemed like something from TV itself and far removed from my own piddly little life.  The fact that she even shared her stories with me sent me into a stuper.  I always had stars in my eyes when I listened to Trish talk, she was so glamorous and very, very tough... very passionate and good at "living".  I...
13 comments
Read more

So Lame

So over at Paper Vineyard, the challenge was to create a birthday project and it COULDN'T be a card.  I've personally been creating WAY too many cards lately so I was happy to try my hand at something new..... only I didn't. :(  Instead, I was busy preparing for last week's Cricut Swarm.  Now, while I missed creating a project specifically for our Birthday Non-Card challenge, I figured the cupcake box that I made would fit the bill PERFECTLY for a birthday-themed project.  The box also has an insert for a cupcake to fit inside.  I made it with my Cricut (cuz of the whole Cricut Swarm bit) and while I ADORE this box, I sort of had a little melt down making it and I decided that this is the last Provo Craft product I will ever buy.... let me share why (read through to find out the cartridge I used for this project)! Most of you know that I DESPISE Provo Craft.  I hate that the Cricut is a one-of-kind product that I loved....
18 comments
Read more

Goodbye and Hello

It has been a LONG time since I've suffered a loss that has shattered my heart to pieces, but I recently had to say goodbye to my 13 year old black lab baby.  His name was Sunny and he really was the light of my life.  We got him at the pound the day AFTER the pound neutered him at 5 weeks old!!!   Needless to say, 2 days after we brought him home, the vet bill was already a whopping $900.  Turns out that the surgery was quite difficult for him for two reasons:  1) he was way too young for it in the first place and 2) he had contracted valley fever from whatever environment he had come from.  These two variables culminated to him breathing vomit during his surgery and developing asphyxiated pneumonia.  The little cough that I noted while spending time with him at the pound developed into a VIOLENT cough over the next 48 hours.  After two weeks of treatments from the vet, dropping him off at the vet each morning and then taking him home e...
11 comments
Read more