Deck The Halls With Pryor's The Flower Shop

One of the cutest booths at last year's Holiday Boutique had to be The Flower Shop's booth. This little gem located in Pryor had the most amazing Christmas decor, like this precious gingerbread centerpiece above.

And this darling sled arrangement, which would be a perfect greeting on any winter porch...

The Flower Shop also brought a delectable assortment of holiday serveware, which would look amazing on any holiday table. Or, bake your favorite holiday treats and deliver them to a dear friend or neighbor.

The Flower Shop also carries an assortment of darling Christmas outfits for the little girl in your life. Imagine your little cutie-pie in this amazing clothing!

The Flower Shop is the place to get yummy holiday treats, as well. They carry a variety of yummy cookies, cupcakes, and other baked goods throughout the year, like this delicious red velvet cupcake.

Last but not least is a wonderful assortment of beautiful jewelry, perfect for gifting or for your holiday outfit.

The Flower Shop has expanded from one booth last year to two booths this year at the Rogers County United Way Holiday Boutique. You won't want to miss their amazing assortment of gifts and holiday decor! Mark your calendar for November 13-15, 2014 at the RSU Centennial Center. Tickets are $5. For more information, call (918) 343-1165.

Christmas is About Children at Make It Special

Most of us can remember a special Christmas we spent as a child and the wonderful gifts we received. The children in your life will remember this Christmas for years to come...so why not Make It Special?

Back for a third year at the Rogers County United Way Holiday Boutique, Claremore's own party store, Make It Special, will feature the high-quality Melissa and Doug line of toys.

What little girl wouldn't love this portable toy house and its accessories?

Or this precious Flip and Serve Pancake Set, complete with banana and blueberry pancakes...perfect for the budding chef in your life.

For the boys, there is this tote-and-go farm scene, which is sure to spark imaginative play, as well as wooden trucks, trains, and other transportation-related toys.

Popular last year were these Trunki riding suitcases, perfect for trips to Grandpa and Grandma's house...

And stocking stuffers abound, including this fun reusable sticker pad.

You won't want to miss Make It Special's booth at the Rogers County United Way Holiday Boutique November 13-15, 2014 at the RSU Centennial Center. The little ones in your life are guaranteed to have a very wonderful Christmas!

New Vendor G Wear Offers Environmentally Conscious Fashion

New Holiday Boutique vendor G Wear began as the vision of Stanley Jackson, an eco-friendly fashion designer, and was acquired by Michael Wilson in late 2011. Along with maintaining an eco-friendly foundation, with organic cottons and recycling t-shirts, G Wear is always looking towards the future - creating new designs and developing new products throughout the year.

The “G” stands for “green” and represents G Wear’s commitment to the recycling of materials in order to keep our environment clean while looking stylish. Products feature hand sewn appliqués from recycled materials that lend each item a unique, one-of-a-kind feel. Products are easily identified by the stripes on the sleeves, and the G Wear recycled logo making them “authentically G Wear.”

With football season in full swing, Holiday Boutique shoppers will appreciate G Wear's collegiate line, including this offering for Sooner fans...

And this super-cute option for Oklahoma State fans. Welcome G Wear to the Holiday Boutique family and find green gifts for all of the environmentally conscious on your Christmas list!

Mark your calendars now for the 2014 Holiday Boutique, November 13 through 15 at the RSU Centennial Center. Tickets are on sale soon! For more information, call (918) 343-1165.

Something Great Is Always Waiting Down a Dirt Road

Living in the country, we've got plenty of opportunities to drive on dirt roads. Dirt roads promise many things. The way home. A great yard sale. A calm fishing pond. We think dirt roads are some of the best roads around.

There's another really great dirt road in Claremore - Dirt Road Boutique in the Ne-Mar Shopping Center - and best of all, your car won't need washing after you go there!

A relative newcomer to the Claremore shopping scene, this little boutique is full of wonderful treasures. A recent visit turned up home decor, lamps, clothing, jewelry, and high-end florals. Dirt Road recently received a shipment of cute boot cuffs that will be the perfect fashion item this fall. They also have a wonderful assortment of game-day gear for local high schools.

Co-owner Patty worked for over 10 years as a floral designer with Cohlmia's in Tulsa. She will have a lovely assortment of fall florals perfect for your Thanksgiving buffet and all sorts of wreaths, mantelpieces, and Christmas trees for Christmas decorating. If you don't see what you want in Dirt Road's booth at the Holiday Boutique, Patty can make whatever you want after consulting with you for just a few minutes.

Another fun (and very useful!) item at Dirt Road Boutique is the Poo-Pourri line of toilet sprays. Made with all-natural essential oils, Poo-Pourri covers up a multitude of smells and helps you leave the bathroom with your head held high.

Dirt Road Boutique is an amazing new gift shop in Claremore and you're sure to find something really great for a special someone there. They will have two booths at the Rogers County United Way Holiday Boutique November 13-15, 2014 at the RSU Centennial Center. Patty says they will be bringing lots of holiday decor, including an upside down Christmas tree. We can't wait to see!

Find Something Charming at Vintique Charm

There is a bit of a resurgence on Main Street in Claremore. When our family first moved here, there wasn't much to choose from downtown. Many of the buildings sat empty and most, even those that were occupied, were long neglected. It looked a little sad and tired, to be frank.

Not so anymore. And one of the most wonderful places of all in downtown is a little shop called Vintique Charm. Tucked into the corner of Will Rogers Boulevard and Cherokee, in the Masonic Temple building, this gem is a treasure trove of hand-painted furniture, trendy clothing, affordable jewelry, home decor, and repurposed vintage items.

Featuring the popular Annie Sloan Chalk Paint line and milk paints, this cozy little shop houses a number of stunning furniture finds, including handmade farm tables that would look great in any kitchen. I recently stopped by and found the proprietress, Sheila, painting a jewelry armoire in a lovely shade of wedgwood blue. Let me tell you about Sheila. She is pretty wonderful! Just oozing with energy and customer service. Last year was her first year at the Holiday Boutique and our friends were charmed from their first glance at her booth. She brought the cutest assortment of hand-painted furniture, palazzo pants and leggings, pillows, signs, and much, much more. Her booth got barer and barer as the weekend came to a close.

The best part of the shopping experience at Vintique Charm is the price point. Sheila keeps her pricing affordable and refreshes her inventory often so that no two visits to Vintique Charm are the same.

There truly is something for everyone at Vintique Charm. You'll love the selection they will bring to the Rogers County United Way Holiday Boutique. Mark your calendars now for the Holiday Boutique, November 13-15, 2014. For more information about the Holiday Boutique or to purchase tickets, please call (918) 343-1165.

They've Been With Us Since the Beginning: J&J Pharmacy

When the Rogers County United Way started the Holiday Boutique in 2008, one of the first boutiques to sign on was Claremore's own J&J Pharmacy. For the sixth year in a row, they will return with all sorts of holiday gift-giving treasures.

Shopping at J&J makes me as happy as if the Bluebird of Happiness landed on my shoulder. If you've never been there, you're missing one of the best-kept secrets in Claremore. The name is deceiving. Yes, it is a pharmacy...in the back. But in the front...oh, in the front, are the best gifts in the world.

It's a treasure trove of cookbooks, Vera Bradley totes, serving pieces, Tyler candles, hand soaps and lotions, collegiate items from OU and OSU, home decor, and so much more.

I've heard that the crew of J&J will be bringing back the ever-popular Santa figurines and the little elves that are perfect for decorating trees and mantels at the holidays.

Mark your calendars now for the Rogers County United Way Holiday Boutique...November 13, 14, and 15, 2014 at the RSU Centennial Center Ballroom. Thursday, November 13 is the Exclusive Pre-Shopping Extravaganza, where there will be food, wine, and an opportunity to shop the boutique before it opens to the general public on Friday morning. Tickets are $25 and available from the Rogers County United Way, (918) 343-1165.

Another Great Day at the Holiday Boutique!

There's just one more day left of the 2013 Rogers County United Way Holiday Boutique. You really must come and shop all of the vendors! There are four remaining to feature, and I will attempt to fit it all into this one last blog.

This cookbook caught our eye in the Tiffany's Gifts booth. Everyone has a favorite chef or cook in their lives who would love a gift like this. Tiffany's also carries Wind & Willow dip mixes as well as fun platters. She can help you put together a gift bag full of goodies for the Kitchen Goddess in your life.

Tiffany's also carries a large selection of home decor items. This darling "Welcome" sign lets visitors to your home know that they can step inside and get cozy. Made of a painted mesh, this door or wall hanging is a lovely touch for any home.

If you're in the market for some new Christmas decor, Floral Creations is the booth to be in at the 2013 Holiday Boutique. This perky little snowman is just waiting to welcome your holiday guests, complete with a carrot nose and a jaunty red bow tie.

This ribbon Christmas tree crafted by the decorating geniuses at Floral Creations would be a perfect decoration to display in a dining room, bedroom, or bathroom. The Junior Ocieleta Home Tour is coming up December 7th...who knows...you might see this little beauty in one of the homes you visit!

New vendor Crabarga, owned by Claremore resident Barry Cramer is offering these really darling Santa and Mrs. Claus decorations for sale. Santa is making his list and checking it twice!

Barry also has a nice selection of handcrafted jewelry for sale. Stop by her booth to see cute earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. These would make perfect gifts for girlfriends, hairdressers, and all the fashionable women in your life.

Last, but certainly not least, are the ladies of Beacon Hill Ranch, who make lovely hand-crafted jewelry.

The ladies of Beacon Hill Ranch design and handcraft jewelry from natural stones, leather, and pearls to complement business and casual clothing. For the holiday season, they will also have handmade items for home and family to make gifting fun and unique in 2013.

The Beacon Hill Ranch booth also features layette and decorative burp cloths for the special little ones in your life. Designed by Miss Judy, these lovely items are perfect for new moms who want something unique for their babies.

There is so much to see and buy at the Rogers County United Way Holiday Boutique. Here are just a few of our favorite things:

- Karen Didion Santa figures in the J&J Pharmacy booth

- Light-up watches in the Designer's Choice booth

- Cute painted picture frames at Tinsel & Tulle

- A yummy candle called "Sueded Tobacco" in the Nesting Necessities booth

- Pretty chevron insulated casserole carriers monogrammed with your name at the Personal Expressions booth (try the lime green/gray carrier with lime green monogram!)

- A "house divided" decorative plate in the Eden Glass and Garden Art booth

- Too much bling to mention in the Premier Designs booth!

- A precious orange and white chevron print of the state of Oklahoma on a sweatshirt in the Rock-N-Mama booth for the OSU Cowboy fans out there!

- Darling stamped and personalized necklaces by Carter's Designs

- Ruffled and frilly leg warmers for little girls in the Kynleigh's booth

- The "butter rum" flavored body scrub from Stonebrook Day Spa

- A Melissa and Doug Farmhouse from Make It Special

- Organza infinity scarves in the Besito's Peruvian Gifts booth

- Cute Santa mug floral centerpieces from The Flower Shop

- Warm, cozy sweaters from Savannah's

- All of the jewelry and fun 60's-styled tunics in Image Rehab's booth

- A laundry sign from Vintique Charm with clothespins to attach lone socks that says, "Clean, Single, and Looking for a Mate."

Only one more day of shopping left...tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the RSU Centennial Center. Tickets are just $5.