Frequently Asked Questions

What does La Vie Est Belle mean?

“Life is beautiful”, in French. It is what we truly strive for at La Vie Est Belle, LLC. Life is beautiful, special, and to be celebrated.

Why do you call yourself a gift boutique with a mission?

Inspired by Kristin’s mental health journey with her daughter, a percentage of profits and time are donated to initiatives raising awareness and transforming care for children, adolescents, and families courageously braving mental health and wellness.

What if my item is a gift?

Simply let us know during check-out at the store or by following the prompts provided online. We will happily jazz up the packaging free of charge and help you include a personal message. Our goal is to make gifting easy, beautiful, and meaningful.

Would you like a custom gift basket or bundle? Those are one of our specialties! Simply stop by the store or email us and we can work together to create something wonderful.

Business or customer appreciation gift, we do those too! Please email us to coordinate.

Do you ship items?

Absolutely! We offer very affordable shipping rates for the continental USA.

How long does it take to fulfill an order?

We promise to get your order to its destination as quickly as possible. We strive to fulfill orders within 24 hours unless specified differently by you, the customer. We also include a quality check of every item before it is shipped, all items are packaged with care, and we always include a personalized note. Currently, most items are delivered to doorsteps within 2-4 business days, unless there are unforeseen delays.

What is your customer care policy?

The owner and team at La Vie Est Belle will always do everything we can to assure you are happy with your purchase and experience. Please contact us about your needs. The owner might be a Type A First Born, so she promises we will get back to you as quickly as life and family (including her golden retriever, Finnley) allow.

Do you have a brick-and-mortar location?

Yes! Our beautiful stores are waiting for you at 3417 Lake Elmo Ave. North, Lake Elmo, MN 55042 and 2175 4th Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

How do you source your items?

We strive to select items for our store that are of great quality and good value. We work with local artisans as well as distributors to curate a selection of items that are truly unique and meaningful. We might be a little partial to woman-owned businesses/makers.

Who do I contact if I am an artisan interested in being part of your store?

Please email Kristin to see if your product is a fit for our store.

Are you a green business?

Yes! We are a gold-level green business! We have a small footprint, and our use of resources and waste is minimal. We are proud and delighted that a good percentage of our goods are locally made by small-business owners/artisans.

Who is the founder?

The store was founded by Kristin Rehkamp. She is an interior designer and previously a West Elm Design Manager and Target Store Planner/Store Operations Manager. With the dream of always opening her own store, the opportunity presented itself when her daughter experienced a mental health crisis in 2020. Working corporate hours was no longer realistic. Her heart was in caring for her daughter and family, creating a platform to give back to youth mental health initiatives, and opening the store she had envisioned.

What is your shop puppy’s name?

Her name is Finnley and she loves our customers! Finnley is a Golden Retriever and was rescued when she was a puppy. We adopted her at 4-months-old. We love Finnley to bits, and we think you might too! She happily greets everyone at the front door and loves dog treats from some of our smallest customers.

How do I request a donation?

Thank you for thinking of La Vie Est Belle Gift Boutique! Our mission is rooted in youth mental health, courage and empowerment inspired by our journey with our daughter. We are honored to be considered for your initiative and the amazing work you are doing in our community! While we wish we could say “yes” to every request, our resources are limited — so we carefully review each submission to ensure it aligns with our values and mission. Please complete your request for donation and If your request is approved, you’ll hear from us within 14 days of your submission. We appreciate your understanding and your commitment to making a difference! We think you are pretty awesome!