Gift Giving Inspiration & WIW Mash Up

Hello! Did you know that August is my birthday month? Oh how I love to celebrate with shopping, girl time and good eats. Though the official day already passed, the adventures need not end! For me these adventures lie within the gifts I received. Yes, one of my love languages is "gifts", but I struggle to give them well! For this reason, I want to share a few gifts in hopes that it will inspire others like me with fresh ideas for gift giving merriment!
Adventure In a Gift Card
This gift is a great idea for someone who is all about local shopping and adventures.

One friend arranged to have a gift card shipped to me from a local boutique. The adventure began when I opened the envelope and found a red box wrapped in tissue paper covered in the words "Molly & Zoey".

I opened the red box and discovered a gift card to, you guessed it - Molly & Zoey.

Who is Molly & Zoey?

I closed the box, turned the box upside down, and flipped the card over. A NJ address was all I was going to get....I google "Molly & Zoey" and the store in NJ comes up. I conclude that there must be an online store I can shop from. Then I remember seeing a return address on the envelope.

I grab the envelope and find a Sarasota address. Now we're talking. I enter the address in my phone and I'm directed to a destination at St. Armands shopping circle.

This momma of four boys had a free day and couldn't wait to find "Molly & Zoey"!
I follow maps until I spot the store, a cute boutique on the circle. And wouldn't you know it,  two doors down is The Rainforest Cafe, where I happen to have another gift card! Coincidence? I think not. Without hesitation I found a parking spot and then skipped to the cafe for lunch.

Brunch...

Thank you Kristin!

Shopping...

Duster Cardigan from Lucky

This mini-adventure was such a gift during the stressful back to school days I'm in the middle of right now (I homeschool our younger boys!). I look forward to sharing my buys soon! (Thank you Amy!)

Adventures In Boxes

I don't think we ever out grow the love for care packages! These next two examples felt like care packages!

The pineapple themed gift box! From the decorations to the gifts themselves this box made my heart skip. Below the gifts were more surprises of clothes this friend's closet that she no longer used. Almost like the Sisterhood of the traveling pants, only I don't have to send them back! ;)

Thank you sweet Andrea...

The She Knows I Have a Coffee Bar and Love Coffee Gift

It's so fun to dig through these boxes and pull out each little surprise. I don't want to ever grow up!

Thank you sweet Laura

Adventures In Being Introduced to a New Brand!

Thank you Kellyann

I love being introduced to new brands this way! Victoria Emerson? How did I not know about your gorgeous wrap bracelets? I'll be stalking their website now! ;)

Adventure In Quality Time

Having friends in town over my birthday weekend wasn't intentional but it made the day sweeter. Our families went to the beach together, ate together and my friend allowed me to drag her to one of my favorite spots - the Sarasota Saturday Market!

Oh and of course I was wearing a the dress that came from a friend's closet!

 The out of town friend I drug to the market with me

 The cilantro (among other things) I came home with...

I'll close with a random recipe to use that cilantro with - Avocado Toast! 

• 2 Slices of Sprouted Grain Toast
• 1 Small Avocado mashed, sprinkled with Everything But The Bagel Seasoning and Cilantro
• 2 Fried Eggs with a dollup of mayo on each. Yes. This is very good!
• Salsa
• More EBTB Seasonings!

This recipe can me made for around $2 to $3!!

Ok my friends! I hope you feel inspired as I do!