Image via Such Pretty Things on Tumblr here

If you’re dreading the fast approaching Valentines day as yet another commercial holiday, there are so many ways you can make it count without spending a cent. Or for those of you who say, “I don’t need a special day to show my love.” no, I’m sure you don’t, but do you really put this much thought into it everyday, and just how touched will someone be when they are on the receiving end of one of these treats? Try something extra special this year and see just how much millage a day of lovely thoughts and gestures will add to your happiness reserves.

Time

They say the only thing you can get a person with everything is more time; and that’s just what you can do. Find something that your love needs done, and make it happen for them while they have some quiet time to read, relax, take a bath or simply sleep. Walk their dog, pick up their kids from school, mow their lawn; all these things help. And remember that old adage, a problem shared is a problem halved? Offer to share the load on a job they don’t really enjoy and chat your way through it. Help them do their late Summer gardening while chatting about the merits of cocktails. Wash windows while singing show tunes… all these things will give them time, give them love, lighten their load and lighten their hearts.  What more could you ask for?

Listen

There are certain tunes we always remember. Those that made us laugh, dance, sing or just plain silly. Sharing these with people we love is something that was par for the course when I was growing up. In fact I still have the first mix tape my high school sweetheart made me, complete with Posca written dedication!

Tap into your inner high schooler and create a mix tape for the one you love.  You you could go fully low tech if you still have that kind of equipment lying around, but otherwise, try these free online services like MixTapeMe. Try back announcing your song selection every now and then with a reminder of a fun time you shared together. It will sure make for some big grins when they hear it again in years to come.

Taste

If you’re not Australian you may not know this but there was a time when the women of this country were all mentally preparing to cook Tom Cruise a Lamb Roast. Now a lamb roast may not be your thing, (and neither may Tom Cruise for that matter), but the sentiment still stands. Cooking your speciality to hand deliver or serve up to your loved one is high on the agenda of impressive Valentines Day gifts. Imagine a huge basket of freshly home baked chocolate chip cookies arriving in a decorated basket on your office desk at lunch time. Feeling loved yet?

Memories

Now that just about everyone in the world has converted to digital photography, many of us never set those memories free once we’ve pressed a button or downloaded them to our desk top.  Give your special memories life and a place to live. Print your favourite photos of you and your love, have them framed, hang them on a string like bunting to decorate the room or put them in surprise places with notes on the back. Each one of these will deliver back to you a 100 watt smile.

Of course, not all of your Valentines will be with you on the 14th of February, and this is where our digital world comes back to our rescue. Write your messages of love in unexpected places. In chalk on the pavement, across your heart, iced onto a cake… the choices are endless. Snap a series of photos using cool apps like Instagram and send them throughout the day like a steady stream of love confetti.

If you have more wonderful FREE Valentines Day Gift ideas to share, please leave them in the comments and together we’ll be making some serious happy!

Image via We Heart It on Tumblr

Valentines Day is one of those Holidays you either love or hate. I see it for its origins of love, faith and belief in something that transcends the every day and lifts us up. While Valentines day is traditionally the day to send your love out there to all those you have a crush on / admire / hope for more from, I think that this year we should do things a little differently. This year I propose that your Valentines be yourself! It’s about time you got some of the loving you deserve, and turned the mirror back on yourself to think of all the great qualities in you that ought to be celebrated. And that is why this Valentines Gift Guide, including some special offers from my lovely sponsors, is for you. For all the things you don’t buy yourself because you have something more urgent or sensible to do with your money. For all the times you gave up something to make someone else’s day, and for all the times we’ve been too hard on ourselves. This is the time to say, ” I Love you me. You are awesome!”

For What Lies Beneath….

A stunning, stretchy rose print slip from Cadeau Republic. Looks and feels amazing, and makes an excellent outfit solution if you decide to stay in for the evening. One visit to their store and you’ll be hooked!

These soft and beautiful stockings are from Sweet Pins, one of my lovely sponsors and where I head to for a gorgeous selection of seamed stockings and day to day pieces.  My new favourites are the Pretty Polly ones in Sherry. They feel super soft and smooth and have an excellent stretch to them. They have lots of new arrivals for Valentines Day but also loads of clearance stock from $10! Luxury..

For your Leading Lady moment

When you take yourself out to dinner for Valentines day you’ll want your Leading Lady moment. These gorgeous pieces from my friends at Miskonduct are my top picks for a dreamy, romantic look and I even have a special discount code for you! For 10% off store wide and the chance to win a $200 voucher, simply enter “Be Mine” at the checkout.

Capture your inner beauty

Two of my favourite photographers have some wonderful opportunities  to turn yourself into art with their Valentines packages. Finessence have their portrait sessions for you and your loved one (maybe even your puppy) to celebrate Valentines Day together with their $99 offer. Helen McLean, (for whom I’m stylist) also has a wonderful offer for you to either treat yourself or someone you love to her exclusive vintage glamour portraiture with a special Valentines gift certificate. Of course, if you’re not based in Australia I recommend seeking out some fabulous photographers in your local area and doing what you’ve been putting off. Capturing a yourself in a beautiful moment of time. Frame yourself in silver and put her on the piano!

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Now that’s got you started on just how to treat yourself this Valentines Day, make sure you check back on Wednesday for my guide to the Top 10 FREE Valentines Gift Guide. That ought to give you all the extra lovin’ you deserve!

(not my family, but a gorgeous picture of the Halvorsen family that represents just how Christmas looks in my head…)

Last week a friend sent me an email with this message, capturing what I been thinking in a very succinct way…

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1. Alice Jean’s Soda Pop Shop for locally made, beautiful soaps and vintage inspired children’s clothing. YUM!

2. Melbournalia is not only filled with wonderful Australian made wares, but these are even local to MELBOURNE! (Yes, that’s the city I live in). Lots of ephemera, postal goods and fancy wares.

3. Sukin - natural, organic hand and nail cream that smells heavenly and has been doing wonders for my hard working hands.

4. If you hadn’t already figured it out by the avalanche of blog posts  on Some Fancy Ladies™, we are all Australian grown, shot here, produced and printed here! So adorn the walls of those you love with some home grown pinup art.

5. If you’re looking for something truly magically for the children in your life this Christmas, I think I’ve discover the ultimate in one of a kind, love them forever gifts.  Handcrafted from local gumtree timber, Bentsticks creates these incredible fantasy mini tree houses and gnomes that have to be seen to be believed! They even now have a range of night lights. These are guaranteed to ignite the imagination.

6. For totally Australian made, stunning looks to get you through your Christmas parties or even for great gift vouchers, take a look at Peta Pledger, Powderpuff Boutique & Hot Couture – Gorgeous, locally made, vintage inspired apparel.

There’s loads and loads of great ideas out there. In fact, if you spend a few minutes on Facebook, you’re likely to uncover some fantastic local businesses with all sorts of gift vouchers on offer. How about portrait sittings with Finessence Photography or your own classic pinup shoot with Helen McLean. You could even treat yourself and a friend to Personal Shopping tours, Vintage Styling Sessions or Vintage Makeup lessons with me over the holidays. Want to learn how to be Charming? Book a gift voucher for the Lindy Charm School for Girls next workshop in your city.

It goes without saying that wherever you live in the world, this message applies. No doubt there will be some things on your wish list that you can’t get at home, but there are loads that you can. There are so many wonderful, creative, keen people out there that are more than happy to help fulfil your Christmas gift list. Your local economy and the tables of those at home will thank you for it!

I’ve found my Christmas spirit early this year, but instead of the usual baubles and candy canes, I’m hard at work creating my own Kitsch-mas wonderland! If you’re a vintage collector like me, or even have a stash of cute and crazy toys around; you have the makings of your own kitsch’s decorating solution.  Here’s some of the inspiration I’ve been using to fancy up my pad for the season ahead.

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What are your tips for a Merry Kitsch-mas?

I just right this minute discovered Hot Digital Dog and I’m squealing with so much excitement (as is Miss 6 beside me), that I had to show you these right now!

In one of those wonderful random moments of internet searches I came across the work of digital artist Cindy Jerrell. Hailing from the deep south of the USA, Cindy’s work is nothing short of fantastic in the truest sense of the word.  Using Photoshop to create her fine art, Cindy makes these wonderful ‘vintage’ animal portraits, not only from her own resources but as custom orders of your pets!  This may be the best gift I’ve ever come across for animals lovers, and even if you don’t have a pet of your own you want to immortalise, I’m already imagining filling a wall in my library with these beautiful prints.

Seriously, check out her work over at Hot Digital Dog and see if you can wipe the grin off your face!