AT LONG LAST! Give Simple has been waiting for months to get our hands on the Murval Truly Green tote bags. We saw them the first week of February in New York, and we’ve been waiting ever since (So have some of our customers!)
I’ve been on a personal “No bag, thanks” campaign for some time, since reading in 2006 that paper bags may be as big a problem in landfills as plastic, and take more energy to produce. It’s fascinating how easy it is to get your sacker at Whole Foods to use the bags you brought, and how it totally befuddles the sackers at Kroger. The Kroger sacker will even bag things like the gigantic bottle of liquid detergent that takes up an entire bag. I try to tell them nicely to use as few bags as possible, but I wish someone would train them just a little.
It’s amazing how many bags I can avoid just on my weekly errands. Card store, book store, drugstore, cosmetics counter… My “no bag, thanks” has also expanded to other things I just don’t need. I know it’s free, but I don’t need it. The look on the face of the Neiman Marcus cosmetics salesperson was priceless. You don’t want the free tote? No, I have plenty.
The Murval totes are great in three ways:
1) They save bags from going in to landfill
2) They are themselves TOTALLY organic. From the cotton to the button to the ink in the thread, and the hang tag, all carefully selected to not harm the earth. The bags are even shipped to us in recycled paper envelopes instead of the usual plastic.
3) Proceeds from the bags go to the Environmental Media Association a driving force in educating people about environmental issues.
Actually, four ways, because these are the official gift bag of the VH1 Rock Honors. At home, we’ve watched as some of the most talented musicians on the planet pay homage to The Who this week. It’s fun to think that we’ve got the same bags at give simple that the really cool people have!

How do we decide what to buy for Give Simple? It's a combination of knowledge of the customer (the most important part!), fashion forecasting, sales history and buying things we want to give as gifts, or that we would love to have for ourselves.
Give Simple is lucky enough to work with a very experienced fashion director, Roz Pactor, a former VP from Foley's who provided fashion direction for a 2 Billion Dollar company for many years. Roz is now the go-to fashion authority in Houston, advising everyone from high end boutiques to newspapers and magazines, to local fashion icons. If you want to know what to wear, or more importantly what to buy next, Roz can guide you!
Roz complies a fashion overview for Give Simple each season, prior to market trips and them she and I strategize which fashion trends will be right for Give Simple. Trends need to fit the image of our company and our customer. This would include considering whether items are fresh, contemporary, well-priced and whenever possible, simple. Really traditional, extremely expensive, or mass produced items just won't make the cut.
That's why you'll see Give Simple working with our Jewelry makers to design styles that cover the Statement Necklace Trend, for example. Instead of just buying the same $300-$600 big necklaces we see in other stores, we had our Domino Jewelry maker update the best seller you love with semiprecious stone beads, for only $45! (and we were right, the style featured in our email sold out in 2 days!) Allison Dayton is working on some larger necklaces in her global style, too.
When we love a trend that is very high end, we work hard to find a well-priced alternative. Look for a new Handbag line to debut on Give Simple soon that will cover the exotic skins, and dulled metallic looks that will be huge for Fall 2008, at prices well under $100.
While Give Simple does not pursue cutting edge trends, we do work hard to give our customers updated accessories and gifts that are in style and on target.
With fashion guidance, care for our customer's needs, and some of our own lusts thrown in, we'll keep bringing you new and fresh products the Give Simple way.

We had the coolest celebrity sighting in New York during the Accessories market! (Forgive my blogging after the fact) Would you belive we saw Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes? They were in town for the Costume Institute Gala on Monday; we were shopping for new Fall products.

We almost always go to a Broadway show on Saturday night when we’re in town over the weekend. And we always go to our favorite after theater restaurant afterwards. We see celebs fairly often there, mostly Broadway performers. We were seated next to Valerie Harper once, and have seen Nathan Lane and other such luminaries. It’s very New York, when you call to make your reservation, you tell them “After the theater” and what show, and they say, “Okay, we’ll see you at 10:45 then” They know what time each show ends and how long it takes to walk over from that theater! (I know, it’s hard to believe I still think this is cool after 200 trips to New York, but I am very corny that way)

After seeing A Chorus Line with Mario Lopez (yes, he looks HOT!) we walked over to our restaurant (you will have to email me if you want to know the name of the restaurant). We were seated next to an empty table for eight. We were eating our salads when I kicked Michael so hard that he almost fell out of his chair. I didn’t really notice Katie (she’s not that familiar a face) but even the most peripheral glimpse of Tom was enough. OH MY! He really is that handsome! They were seated right behind us!! Now I know why our table for four had only two chairs, both facing away from the table behind us. My ears were growing from my desperate attempts to eavesdrop. They were joined by two women I did not recognize, and the women were doing all the talking, although I could not make out much of what was said. I did suddenly have to go to the restroom, though, because as you come back up the stairs to the dining room, there is a perfect view of that table. They were both dressed inconspicuously in black; she had on a turtleneck and a small silver pendant. He had on a leather jacket (of course). They were drinking red wine.

As we ate our entrée, I looked up because a gorgeous woman in a bright red mini dress walked in. It was a chilly night; so obviously, she had stepped out of a limousine. She had on three strands of Tahitian black peals the size of marbles. And directly behind her was Jerry Seinfeld!!! They were there to have dinner with Tom and Katie!!! Right behind us!!! Once everyone had been introduced, the men did most of the talking. They seemed to be talking about some upcoming projects, and they talked about their kids, etc. I could not really hear all that much of the content.

Our little sighting made for a more exciting than usual Saturday night date!

The May 2008 edition of Real Simple features a Give Simple item! On page 67 of the new issue, on newsstands now, Real Simple shows our cookbook kit as one of four Mother’s Day Gifts. Real Simple says, "Whip up a unique book of beloved recipes with Pressto's Make Your Own Cookbook. Use the software to type in recipes for Grandma's sticky buns and Uncle Fred's fried zucchini, then print on the included paper. To Buy: http://www.givesimple.com%22/



Our team of new product raters and our customers liked this item from the start, but when one of our favorite magazines recommends our products, we really have to do a happy dance!



This is a great item for Mother's Day, of course. But it also makes a great bridal shower gift when friends and family each donate a fail safe recipe.



It's also a great gift for anyone who loves to cook. Most cooks gather recipes constantly, and it's not easy to keep it all together. Including a gift of your time to help download recipes is a great way to make this an even more special gift.



I am working very closely with Pressto, the maker of the item, to make sure we don't run out. Our conference table is completely covered with cookbooks right now, and premade boxes are stacked 9 feet high in the shipping department as we try to stay on our standard of shipping all orders within 24 hours M-F!



We love it when we are this busy with a special item, it's the most fun part of what we do.

Mother's Day is coming, and Give Simple has the absolute BEST giftts! We really pride ourselves on having terrific gifts, not the same old stuff.
For those who plan ahead, order the most fabulous personalized handmade Jewels, custom Metalgirl bangles, or Kathy Lo photo necklaces. Now that's an impressive gift -- one you had custom made for Mom.
Wondering what to get Mom? Check out our Top 10 Mother's Day gifts, at the top of our Gift Ideas feature. There are a few classics, like Pine Cone Hill robes, and a gift set of Niven Morgan's top three Gold products -- perfume, body lotion and hand lotion. But most of our ideas are a little more unusual. Handmade Jewelry is always a hit, so we have three great recommends there. Make Your Own Cookbook is a really innovative and fresh NEW idea that will be featured in Real Simple's Mother's Day Gift Guide, as well as several newspapers. Mudlark's Beautiful Office is another NEW idea. (look for their new Spa Bath sets, too!) Speaking of Spa, our new Fraiche Lavender or Spa Splash soap plus bath swizzles is a luxurious gift, comes in a pretty ready to give organza bag. Peace Love Mom has tons of new t-shirt designs. Murval handbags are always a popular gift. We sugegst the quilted patent tote with camellia flower pin.
We also have three Gift with Purchase items for Mother's Day, just the Give Simple way of giving you a little something extra. Check out the Peace Love Mom tote bag, the Mudlark Soap, and the Allison Dayton bracelet that you can pick up for FREE, all while ordering a gift you needed anyway. (or when you pick up a few things for yourself!)
If you will be receiving a Mother's Day gift, don't forget our fantastic Wish List feature! Pick out some graet gifts for yourself, and email it to your kids or your husband. If you pick several items, you can even be surprised on Mother's Day.

Be happy, Give Simple!

At Give Simple we believe in adding beauty to every day life. We believe that a beautiful work enviroment is essential to well being. After all, most of us spend more time at work than at any other location during our lifetime! So it's important, we think, to have art work, and flowers and personal photos in your workplace. It's nice to have quality paper and nice pens and tons of cool office supplies (okay, we may be a little weird about office supplies)

Mudlark's new Beautiful Office products are right up our alley. Why have plain manila folders, boring black mousepads and basic yellow sticky notes? Mudlark is rightly famous for their beautiful stationery patterns. Now their most gorgeous patterns can adorn your desk at home or at work. We love the gorgeous new Isola Bella pattern, with it's bright blue and green tropical colors.

The Stickable Notes portfolio is our favorite item in the collection so far! Sticky notes are a way of life for us. They remind us of everything from special occasions to what we need from the grocery store. Until now, our desks were covered with those mostly basic yellow stickies. We are happily ditching those yellow stickies for seven pads of gorgeous coordinating stickable notes in different sizes, all presented in the cutest little portfolio.

This is another one of those perfect Give Simple finds that you can stock up on and have handy at all times for a little gift. They make just the most adorable teacher or hostess gifts, or even party favors, if you don't hoard them all for yourself!

The coordinating memo mousepad and folders are just as functional, and just as beautiful. So now we've added yet another element of beauty into every day life.

Give Simple Melamine sales are starting to spike, and French Bull is in the lead. Even before our big new shipment of expanded styles arrived, our customers were selecting French Bull. It's just so Give Simple! Designer Jackie Shapiro's French Bull housewares collection is made of lightweight, durable melamine. These pieces are shatterproof and kid-friendly, high-heat resistant and dishwasher safe. They’re colorful, fun, a good value, and make every day more special – which is exactly what Give Simple is all about (and why we love this line with all our hearts).

What's New in French Bull?

Complete place settings! In the top patterns, #1 Rings, cheery Multi Dot, feminine Pink Paisley and elegant DeVine, we’re offering all the pieces to make for great looking tables, whether you dine inside or out. Choose from serving platters, dinner plates, salad plates, tumblers and bowls.

Tumblers are a great addition to French Bull this season! Glasses seem too formal to use with melamine tableware, and disposable plastic is just not earth friendly, but these melamine tumblers are perfect!

Printed bowls are larger than our solid colored bowls, perfect for individual servings of a warming soup in the last days of winter, salads this summer, or of course, pasta anytime!

Boxed Gift Sets in Rings or Mosaic pattern let you present four place settings of French Bull as a great gift for bridal showers, house warming, or best of all as a thank you when you’re invited to be a houseguest. Send this boxed set, and you'll be assured of a return invitation! Ranch house, country house, beach house, and regular home -- all can use casual easy care tableware!

The French Bull Picnic Set is a perfect reason for a concert in the park or other spring excursion. Makes an unusual and festive wedding gift, or a clever retirement gift, too.

Still irresistible, if not new, French Bull salad servers are the best! Some of our savvy customers buy French Bull salad servers by the dozen. They make terrific party favors, and are a fresh, fun hostess gift, too. This is one of those great Give Simple gifts that you can stock up on. Rest assured, these cheery gifts always bring a smile!