NWsource | Daily Find

Gifts and floral arrangements blossom together at Willow & Bloom

Natalie Broulette — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:46:20 -0700

At Willow & Bloom, a 520-square-foot gift and floral boutique in Fremont, you can effortlessly put together a housewarming, birthday or anniversary gift from beginning to end. With beautiful floral arrangements, chic and original gift items, cards and free gift wrapping, the shop offers everything you'll need to impress.

Tweed's May 17 trunk show spotlights plus-size fashion

Alison Brownrigg — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:05:41 -0700

Last year when Danielle Luartes, owner of Tweed in Greenwood, moved her shop to a larger location, she also added some plus-size lines to her inventory. It was a brilliant move, since many collections sold in local boutiques are designed for smaller bodies, and even the extra-larges are anything but large.

Now Luartes is expanding her toehold on the local plus-size market by hosting a C.enne.V trunk show May 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Give Mom a sparkly and affordable Seattle heirloom

Scout Colmant — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:50:39 -0700

Still stumped on what to give Mom on Sunday? A perfect gift for Mother's Day can be found at the costume-jewelry treasure trove Rhinestone Rosie on Queen Anne. What Seattle mom -- or mom with a kid who lives in Seattle -- can resist a sparkly rhinestone brooch immortalizing the Space Needle?

DenHaus pet dens elegantly hide beds or litter boxes

Jen Harper — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:03:13 -0700

Your dog or cat is as much a fixture in your home as your sofa -- and so is the hair-covered dog bed or the always-in-need-of-cleaning litter box. For those concerned with appearances, Bellevue pet-furniture company DenHaus offers a stylish alternative for the more unsightly aspects of pet ownership.

Belli Motherhood is designed with new moms in mind

Alison Brownrigg — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:12:42 -0700

Last year was my first Mother's Day as a mom, and all I wanted was some sleep. This year, while I'd still like some sleep, I also want every single body-care product from Belli Motherhood, a sibling to the pregnancy and baby-care collections made by Seattle's Belli Skin Care.

Urban Living's home and body products make lovely Mother's Day presents

Alison Brownrigg — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:29:42 -0700

One of my family's Mother's Day traditions is a trip to Swanson's Nursery in Ballard to help my mom choose plants for her garden.

Swanson's is a lovely nursery with an easy-to-navigate layout and a great selection of plants perfect for a Seattle garden. Nestled in the center of the nursery is a beautiful, soaring glass greenhouse that houses a newly renovated café, a pond filled with fat, friendly koi and the Urban Living boutique.

These local body products make good scents

Alison Brownrigg — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:29:04 -0700

Spring has a way of reinvigorating my senses. Cherry blossoms -- fluffs of vibrant pink that stand out against gray Seattle skies -- are a sight for sore eyes, and birdsong, which swells as the season unfolds, is music to my ears. Nature also provides plenty of sweet scents this time of year, but I find myself craving products that are not only fragrant but that will leave my dry winter skin soft to the touch.

Happily, three local companies offer a variety of natural bath and body products to start your spring on a sweet note.

Pamper Mom with sweet scented gifts

Alison Brownrigg — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:04:26 -0700

If your mom is anything like mine, she loves pretty-smelling things, like scented candles and aromatherapy diffusers, but never splurges on herself to buy them. While I wish she would pamper herself a little (heaven knows she deserves it), I'm happy to do it for her, so I'm always on the lookout for sweet-smelling luxury items. This year, just in time for Mother's Day, I've found two local purveyors of good scents to choose from.

Versatile espadrilles are the perfect spring footwear

Alison Brownrigg — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:56:54 -0700

The casual, often colorful espadrille is the perfect shoe for spring. Iconic and timeless, it adds just the right touch of bohemian flair to the season's lighter, brighter outfits.

Originally from the Pyrenees but made in Catalonia since the 14th century, espadrilles are incredibly versatile. They can have a wedge heel or a flat sole and a canvas or leather upper. They can lace up the leg or tie at the ankle, but they almost always have a braided and wrapped jute sole.

Make Mother's Day sweeter with local chocolate

Jen Harper — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:20:29 -0700

Mother's Day isn't all about flowers and cards, and certainly Mom could use a break from perfume and bubble bath. So try tempting her sweet tooth May 11 with a variety of offerings from Seattle chocolatiers.