The Decatur Minute

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

Do you know what’s cooler than a coloring book? A Harry Potter coloring book. This one is available at Little Shop of Stories along with a bunch of other coloring book options. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you might have missed the whole coloring-books-for-adults trend. Coloring enthusiasts say it’s meditative, calming, and a great way to disconnect digitally. So a lot of the adult coloring books (get your mind out of the gutter!) include intricate, mandala-inspired designs. The Harry Potter coloring book has images like the ceiling of the Great Hall at Hogwarts the Dursley’s living room. So when I write that this Harry Pottery coloring book is cool, I mean it in the nerdiest way possible (like I’m saying it with a braces lisp). I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

Tip: Little Shop of Stories hosts an annual Decatur tree lighting. This year it’s Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

Extra tip: Donate your pennies to the shop so they can be added to the penny floor that has been growing throughout the year.

Little Shop of Stories
133 E. Court Sq., Decatur, GA 30030
404-373-6300
www.littleshopofstories.com

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

Surprised to see a photo of artwork instead of jewelry in this post? Well, for those of you who didn’t know, Aimee Jewelry is also a gallery (yes, the name kind of gives that away, but still, not everyone knows that). The shop/gallery has new exhibits every couple of months. During the holiday season, paintings by five local artists are on display including the paintings in the above photo by Deb Rosenbury.  Stop by the gallery to view the exhibit and ogle at the one-of-a-kind beautiful handmade jewelry.

Tip: Aimee offers custom design and re-design of new and estate jewelry.

Aimee Jewelry & Gallery
355-B W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
404-371-0099
www.aimeejewelryandgallery.com 

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

This is probably the cutest picture in all of the 30 Days of Shopping posts – although the fox ornament comes in as a close second. Cute baby pics aside, Feather Baby has some wonderful infant clothes. All of the clothing in the shop is designed in Decatur by the store owner, Sude Dellinger Peta. She has triplets, which means she gets babies. The clothing is made with Pima cotton (a.k.a the softest cotton the in the world) and each collection contains an organic line.

Tip: Post a pic of your baby wearing a Feather Baby outfit on Instagram and include #featherbaby in the caption to get a free gift.

Feather Baby
431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
404-994-2780
www.featherbaby.com

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

Back in the day, socks would have been considered a not-so-great gift, but now socks have gotten so fancy! You can get socks in every color and for every sock-purpose (cold weather, hiking, running, game day colors, airport security line, no-show, etc.). All of this is to say, if you have a runner in your life, you should stop by Big Peach and buy him/her some running socks. They look fancy and colorful and like they’ll totally do the job they’re meant to do. Actually, they would be probably be a good gift for anyone that walks around. Because we’ve all been there before. If socks still sound like a not-so-great gift, fine. Big Peach has plenty of other items like running shoes (duh), active wear, CamelBaks (the store just got a new shipment!), workout headbands, and other great active-related items.

Tip: Big Peach Running hosts weekly runs and workshops. Check the Decatur store’s website here for details.

Extra tip: There’s a sales rack at the back of the store with apparel that’s all 20-50% off.

Big Peach Running Co.
114 E. Trinity Pl., Decatur, GA 30030
404-377-7370
www.bigpeachrunningco.com

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

Fabu is known for its life-changing facials, but it also has some awesome retail – like this sweater-wearing holiday candle. You know what this candle would be perfect for? A hostess gift for an ugly sweater party! Am I right?! If you’re not invited to that type of party, it would still make a great gift. So would the cute make-up bags, hand creams, and locally-made jewelry the spa sells. Fabu also carries a number of high end skincare products like Dermalogica, for those of you who are doing some self shopping while also gift shopping. Ahem.

Tip: Essential oil fans can stock up on Aura Cacia oils – the display is near the front window.

Extra Tip: The spa is offering a Toasted Marshmallow massage this season. Just sayin’.

Fabu Face Spa
335-E W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
404-377-6363
www.fabufacespa.com

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

Sunshine is Decatur’s newest jewelry store located a few doors down from Natural Body Spa on East Ponce de Leon Avenue. It’s also probably the brightest store in Decatur with crisp, white walls and lots of sparkly lights that make the sparkly jewelry even sparkly-er. The owners are husband and wife, Rafi Junaid and Sumaya Karimi, and are some of the nicest people around. Rafi has over 25 years of experience in the jewelry and watch repair biz. He makes everything from engagement rings to cocktail rings (see photo) to unicorn charms. And Rafi will custom make anything. I’m thinking some sort of cocktail ring with a unicorn charm on it. Who’s with me?

Tip: The shop has more than 2,000 style options of rings in stock so you won’t leave without finding a least one that you love.

Sunshine Jewelry and Watch Repair
225 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 130, Decatur, GA 30030
678-691-7245
www.

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

The holidays call for appropriate holiday attire. Don’t roll your eyes, you know it’s true. I’m not saying you have to go all out and buy Versace or Dior, but this is the time of year when you make an effort in dressing. Enter Bleu Hanger. This Decatur clothing boutique is located between Meldora Hair Salon and Arepa Mia on East College Avenue and will become your go-to holiday party shop (unless you’re a guy. . . ). Take the above dress, for example. Pair it with a chic black wrap, a sparkly necklace, and a metallic heel and you’ll be the best dressed in town. Need some other outfit ideas? Check out Bleu Hanger’s Instagram account.

Tip: The store has two entrances. You can park in the back lot and enter through the back of the store.

Bleu Hanger
305 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
404-254-1256
www.bleuhanger.com

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

One trip to Decatur’s Splash of Olive and your worries of what to buy for the hostesses and hosts of all of your holiday parties completely goes away. The hostess/host doesn’t even have to be a foodie or cook. All you need is some perfectly crusty French bread to dip into the olive oil and you’ve got the best appetizer in town. Pick up a couple of the vinegar and olive oil gift boxes (pictured) and you’re set for the season.

Tip: You can taste all of the olive oils available for sale at the shop. I would just recommend you don’t taste them all in one go. You know. That might be a bit much.

Extra tip: The shop also sells all natural oil olive skincare products that are ideal for sensitive skin.

Splash of Olive
201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
404-600-2414
www.splasholive.com

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

The scented candle market is pretty insane. You can’t go into a big box store without finding shelf after shelf of sickly sweet smelling candles. This is especially true during the holiday season. There are holiday scented candles galore. But not all scented candles are created equal and you have to tread carefully with scents like “apple cinnamon pie” and “nutcracker suite.” But then there’s the Balsam & Cedar candles at Trinity that smell like heaven. Well, a very outdoorsy, evergreen holiday-y heaven. Trust me, as soon as you smell it, you’re going to have to buy it. Plus, it comes in one of the most elegant looking containers I’ve ever seen so your living room will smell and look fantastic this season.

Tip: Trinity is first and foremost an interior design showroom. Visit the Trinity Tumblr page for endless interior decor inspiration.

Extra tip: In December, the shop will host Sip and Shop days every Saturday. Stay tuned to this blog for updates.

Trinity Mercantile & Design
116 E. Trinity Pl., Decatur, GA 30030
404-371-0197
www.trinity-decatur.com

Read Full Post »

30 Days of Shopping in Decatur this November: Jump-start your holiday spirit – and your holiday shopping – with local daily tips in November on The Decatur Minute. Click here to see previous days.

Does anyone know the history of the evil eye? How about the lucky eye? Is it the same thing? I have no idea! What I do know is that I love the lucky eye display at Kismet Jewelers. It’s right by the door when you walk in. The store also carries some on-trend (and not expensive) lucky eye bracelets and necklaces. And apparently Kim K is a big fan of lucky eye jewelry, so there’s that. Plus, we can all use a little more luck in our lives, so why not purchase a whole arm party of lucky eye bracelets? In addition to eye jewelry, the shop has some gorgeous Turkish glass lanterns that you have to check out (or, you know, purchase). The lanterns look gorgeous, especially if you visit the shop at night.

Tip: Stop by Kismet on a Terrific Thursday and you get offered a snack of Turkish Delight.

Kismet Jewelers
414 Church St., Decatur, GA 30030
404-377-5250
www.kismetfinejewelryandart.com

Read Full Post »