shopping

Black Friday Freebie

darlenedeluca A Writer's Life, Uncategorized , , , ,

5x8TemplateSo, who’s shopping today?! Not this introvert! Can’t handle the crowds. For me, this is the perfect down day. A day to relax, get things done around the house, or, of course, curl up with a good book. If you’re looking to join me in that, here’s a deal for you!

A digital copy of my contemporary romance Her Greatest Risk is free on Amazon today! Take a break and get lost in a love story. Will Jennifer risk her heart or settle for safety?  “Love is a daily work in progress with ups and downs you have to be prepared to weather and Darlene Deluca writes with clarity how much the heart can handle.” — Amazon reviewer

 

Get your copy here!

I’ve got three books that I’ve started. Hoping that choosing which one to crack open this afternoon is the hardest decision I have to make all day! And maybe I’ll at least start my Christmas shopping list. Planning to do a little Small Business Shopping at my favorite indie bookstore tomorrow.

Happy reading!

Darlene

A Quest for the Perfect Present

darlenedeluca Home & Family, This and That, Uncategorized , , ,

big box.jpgHave you ever been really excited about giving a gift? You’ve bought something that’s the perfect gift, and you know the recipient is going to love it? You anticipate the smile and joy the gift will bring? You can’t wait to watch the person open it?

I have a gift that arrived via UPS yesterday (several days earlier than I was expecting it). It’s a great present. I know my dad is going to love it. And now it’s sitting here in this big, cool box, and I have to wait a week and a half to give it to him!

I enjoy giving gifts. I enjoy coming up with a special item that perfectly fits the recipient and the occasion. I’ve been told that gift-giving is my “language of love.” I suppose that’s true.

My dad turns eighty in a couple of weeks, and we’re having a celebration. It’s kind of a big deal, so I’ve spent a considerable amount of mental energy on this – the quest for the perfect present. A phone call to him resulted in no good ideas. A couple of conversations with my mother also yielded zip. So I was beginning to feel anxious. I’ve bought the man more puzzles, billfolds and shirts than I can even remember. Each year it gets harder. I wanted this one to be more special, something a little out of the ordinary. And I have a reputation to maintain!

Trying not to hurt myself with the back-patting, but I’m so happy that I finally had an epiphany while on vacation last week. Whew! Don’t you love it when that happens? I ended up ordering it online because retail store options were limited. So I didn’t get to touch and feel it. Didn’t get to see the actual color and material, so when I hit the “purchase” button, I was a little nervous. Opening the package yesterday was a relief. It’s great! Did I mention perfect?

I won’t give it away in case there are family members reading this. But, trust me, it’s a good one. Can’t wait to watch him tear into this package, and snap a couple of photos. The anticipation of his smile makes me smile!

What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?

 

Oh, the pressure of the purchase!

darlenedeluca This and That , , , ,

presentsMy Christmas list looks a little different this year. There are two new names on there – for the first time, I’m purchasing gifts for my kids’ significant others. Both kids have special people in their lives this year, and both are visiting/traveling with us for Christmas.
I’m looking forward to spending time with them and getting to know them better, but I have to say, there’s a little stress that comes with this. Will I be judged on the success of the gift? Will it be cool enough? Is it age-appropriate? The right color? The right style? Will I embarrass my child in some way? The pressure is on!
During this shopping quest I stopped a stranger in Macy’s to inquire about the person and age she’d picked up an item for. I whipped out my cell phone and took a photo of a potential gift for my daughter’s boyfriend and emailed it to her. Then called and debated the pros and cons of said item and got the thumbs up before finally purchasing the gift.
I’ve been waiting to wrap the other gift until I could get the other kid’s blessing. Strike one. Just found out this morning that it’s off the mark. Now, only a few days before the big day, I’m going to have to hit the shops again. Did I mention pressure? I think I’m armed with a better idea of her tastes, so hopefully one stop, and the mission will be accomplished. Then it’s on to the next step – spectacular wrapping! Wrap that shows good taste, and attention to detail and time invested in making it special. Whew!

The other gift-giving experience that caused some stress this year were the two group exchanges in which a participant gets to choose the gift (based on the wrapping) and then others can “steal” as the exchange goes on. Both my book club and a writers group I belong to did this. The object, of course, is to end up with an awesome gift. And, for me, to be one of the people who offers a good gift. I want the present I give to be desired! I want it to be stolen, perhaps repeatedly. And I want the person who receives it to be happy.
It’s terrible to watch the expressions of gift receivers and know that they don’t love what they got. To watch them eagerly display the gift in front of them for all to see, hoping that it will get stolen – and then to see the unwanted item sit there, overlooked for the rest of the festivities. A dud.
I’m happy to report that in both of these groups, my gift was stolen/traded at least once! Ahh, success!

Maybe I worry too much. But then again, who doesn’t like to receive the perfect gift?! If you’re still shopping, good luck! If you’re done, congrats! Hope all your gift giving and receiving is right on target! Enjoy the holidays!

Bigger isn’t always better

darlenedeluca This and That , , ,

DDshop bagIt’s Small Business Saturday, and I’m getting ready to head out to one of the very few independent bookstores left in our area to meet and greet customers. The store, called Readers World, is run by people who were displaced when Border’s went under, and it’s carved out a niche of supporting local authors – especially independent ones! Hooray!

I know the big stores offer a lot more variety, deeper discounts and the convenience of shopping for multiple items in one place, but we also need stores like this — stores that offer the convenience of a quick in and out, stores that offer personalization, cozy stores where shop owners get to know their local customers and authors. It’s a special place, and I hope enough people will continue to shop here to keep this wonderful store in business.

Don’t you enjoy going to new places and finding that little gem of a shop that’s different? Or that cute little shopping area that’s not a mall, or a strip center sporting the exact same shops you see in your town everyday? I do! And I love finding unique gifts for the people on my Christmas list. Many times, the small independent shops are the best places for finding something different – and exactly right.

I’m not doing a lot of shopping today because the weather is on the nasty side, but when I finally get down to seriously checking off my Christmas list, I’ll try to shop local, and small, because I don’t want to lose the fun shops that offer a quiet, cozy atmosphere, and unique items that my friends and family will love, and that I’ll feel good about buying!

Happy Small Biz Saturday, everyone! And happy shopping.

Darlene