Showing posts with label holiday 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday 2013. Show all posts

Friday, February 7, 2014

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Him

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Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Everything's Rosy: The Ultimate Valentine's Day Guide for Girls

Ever since New Year, stores have been decked out in red, white, gold and pink in the name of love (or consumerism, depending on your level of cynicism- but I digress...). You probably don't need another reminder that Valentine's Day is fast approaching, but here is the ultimate guide to valentine's day shopping for your friends, sisters, girlfriends, moms and all the other wonderful women in your life.

Enjoy!


VDay Guide 1

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Friday, December 27, 2013

Post-Holiday Recovery

For the record, I had a truly incredible birthday full of surprises (including a totally unexpected visit from a certain, greatest boyfriend). I feel so loved and am so grateful for all of the wonderful people who made yesterday special. What a day!

Admittedly, I'm also a little exhausted.

The Christmas Eve-Christmas Day-Birthday marathon is so fun while it's happening, but afterward my body always reminds me that 4 or 5 hours of sleep simply aren't enough.

So, what do I do to relax, recover and rejuvenate so I can start off the new year at my best?

Sleep
I look and feel my best when I have had a few good nights of sleep. I'll definitely be hitting the hay earlier these next few days to make sure I get 8-10 hours while I can. If you have trouble falling asleep read this post I wrote over the summer.

Drink More Water
Over the last few years, I have developed a love for Diet Coke. Despite the research that says I'm basically drinking poison, I just love how it tastes. However, I don't love how it has been making me feel. It messes with my appetite and makes me feel tired when I drink too much of it. I will be majorly cutting back on my Diet Coke consumption- I know I'll be feeling better in no time!

Health(ier) Eating
Goodbye, gingerbread cookies. After the holidays, I find that my sweet tooth is simply maxed out. While I don't see myself ever becoming a health nut, there are times when I do reach for natural, healthy foods. After the holidays is certainly one of those times. Here are the foods I'll be reaching for to re-energize.

Exercise
I have not exercised in the longest time (whoops). I'm going to make a huge effort to just get outside and run, walk or hike and to the gym a few times a week. Working out is one of my favorite stress releases and I'm always in a good mood afterward.

Massage
I hold all of my stress in my shoulders and upper back. Getting a massage helps release built up physical and mental tension. 

Spa: Hair, Nails, Facial
Post-holiday pampering is so great. In fact, it's one of the times I think I actually need to get my very chipped nails done at a salon. I've already booked my hair cut and color appointment as well as a mani/pedi and a facial. I am so excited!

I'm excited to start the new year feeling great!
xoxo
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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas Traditions

Clearly not much has changed

It really is the most wonderful time of the year! 
Christmas Eve and Christmas day are simply the best.

My parents are both one of six children, so I have a massive, loud and completely amazing extended family. Because my family is Irish-Italian and Peruvian, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, as is traditional for both cultures. On my dad's (Irish-Italian) side, we all get together before the big day to make handmade ravioli as well as a porcini mushroom sauce that we all eat on Christmas Eve. I love that we prepare everything together, emphasizing what Christmas is really about: family (and food)! We meet again on Christmas Eve for late lunch and a secret santa gift exchange between my many cousins.

Afterwards, we head over to my Grandie's house (maternal grandmother). Again, we cook as a family, this time making alfajores, traditional Peruvian cookies. I'm the oldest cousin on that side so it is so fun when I (and the other three older cousins) play with the five younger cousins who are all under five years old- crazy! After a very late dinner, we talk and listen to music, and then open presents together. Every year my Grandie's living room turns into a wrapping paper war zone with crumpled "snowballs" thrown at, well everyone, by the younger cousins. Before too long the little ones crash and we put them to bed upstairs for a sleepover.

My immediate family then heads to Midnight Mass, which brings a little peace to our Christmas Eve marathon.

Christmas day is perfectly low key for my family. We get up late and open presents followed by a delicious brunch that we prepare together. Then we watch a movie (usually Irving Berlin's White Christmas) and relax. Most years, two cousins that my brother and I are really close to come over with their parents for a delicious dinner made by my mom. The cousins usually sleep over as my birthday is the next day and the past couple of years, I've been opening my presents at midnight (talk about never-ending celebrations).

Despite the stress of preparing for the holidays, the family traditions I value so much reinforce that Christmas is special to me because I get to spend time with people I love. Thoughts of the presents under the tree or in my stocking totally disappear the second I see the faces of the people who've supported me my whole life. This is why I love Christmas so much.

And every year, it seems to get better and better.
I know this year will be no exception.

Merry Christmas!
xoxo 
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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Last Minute Gift Ideas

If you haven't finished (or started for that matter!) your holiday shopping, it's crunch time now. Out of ideas? Need inspiration? Here are my picks for everyone on your list:

For the boys


For the chef
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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Merry & Bright: Holiday Dresses & Ties

One of my mom and my holiday traditions is picking out a dress for me to wear on Christmas Eve when we have lunch with my Dad's family and then dinner with my Mom's family (so much good food!). It's so fun to look back on photos and remember the fun I had bonding with my mom while shopping. In terms of fashion, it's really neat to see how styles change from year to year. 

This year, I am loving solid colors and shimmer. I picked out a few of my favorite dresses that I could definitely see myself wearing for Christmas.

Here are my ideas:

Damsels in a Dress



I also saw some really great ties for men. Nothing says festive like sporting some red, green or a holiday pattern!

Guys in Ties
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Monday, December 16, 2013

Kick Up Your Heels: Festive Shoes for the Holidays

I simply love dressing up for holiday parties. I have a few different events to attend in the next couple of weeks, and while I have been looking for some new cocktail dresses (you can never have too many, right?), nothing completes an outfit like an eye catching pair of shoes. And this means a little (okay, a lot) of sparkle.

And this year flat's aren't off limits. 

Last December, I bought a pair of 4-inch glittery heels that were classic and so festive. They weren't even uncomfortable when I walked around on the soft carpet of the store and I knew they would look great in pictures with my black dress (shocker) and polka dot nylons.

I was wrong.

Unfortunately, I found out the hard way: by attempting to break them in at a holiday cocktail party. I was absolutely miserable in the pumps after standing in them for more than 10 minutes- my feet were killing me! This year, a shorter heel (or none at all) will still feel dressy, especially if sequins are involved.

Here are some of my favorite kicks:


Kick Up Your Heels

Mary Jane: Miu Miu / Etta: J.Crew / Charm: Kate Spade Biella: J Crew / Trick: Kate Spade / Darby: J Crew 
Felicia: Sam Edelman

Happy Holidays!
xoxo
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Sunday, December 15, 2013

Gift Wrap Guide


Christmas is coming... fast!

I'm wrapping up my holiday shopping (no pun intended), and am ready to break out the ribbons and gift tags to get everything ready for the upcoming festivities. I think presentation is a huge part of gift giving. Wrapping gifts nicely shows the recipient how much effort you put into their gift.

Here's how to make your gifts look extra special:

Supplies
Gift
Box
Wrapping paper
Scissors
Ribbon
Decorations
Gift tag
Pen/Permanent marker

How to Wrap a Present
graphics from oprah.com

 Before you wrap...
First make sure to remove all of the price tags from your gift. If you can't remove the tag, black out the price with a black permanent marker. Next, put the gift in a box. This makes wrapping much easier. If the object won't fit into a standard box, consider using a cute gift bag.

Now, find an open, level surface and unroll a large length of wrapping paper. Place the box on top and determine how much paper it will take to cover the entire package. Make sure you have a little extra- it's easier to cut off wrapping paper than add more. Turn the box upside down and place it in the center of the paper. This will ensure that the wrapping seams are at the bottom of the package.

Fold the paper on the long side of the gift and secure with two pieces of tape.

Then, move to the sides. Fold both sides against the box. The top and bottom of the excess paper should form two triangle/trapezoid-like shapes.

Make sure the creases for the excess are firm and then fold the bottom one up against the box. Fold the top triangle/trapezoid over the bottom one and tape.

All finished!

Wrapping Paper
There are just so many cute wrapping paper prints out right now. While I love the classic kraft paper and burlap/twine look (very rustic), I'm also loving these bold and colorful prints. Paired with a metallic bow and simple present toppers (see below), these will look great under the tree.

Here are my favorites (pictured above):
Skiing Gnomes | Watercolor Mistletoe | Red Dots | Urban Snowflakes
Pine Branch on Slate | Snow Globe Jars | Winter Berries    


Present Toppers 
Present toppers really add a special touch to a present. Whether it's a well-designed gift tag, an initial, some rustic twine, fresh mistletoe or an ornament, these little baubles add an extra bit of holiday cheer.

Here are some of my favorites (pictured above):
Snowflake Ornament | Glitter Hedgehog | Glass Initial Letter | Twine
Fresh Mistletoe | Bunting | Gift Tag | Bird Ornament | Eiffel Tower Ornament


Need more inspiration? Check out my present wrapping board on Pinterest.
Happy holidays!
xoxo

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Sunday, December 1, 2013

Gift Guide for Him

Let's be honest: men are really hard to shop for. 

I mean once they've got the basics covered- a nice watch, nice wallet, nice tech stuff, nice luggage/briefcase- it's really hard to think of what to buy. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and here are some gifts that most men would love. However, gifts for men (and women) should be really personal, so nothing is better than thinking about something for awhile. You'll figure out exactly what they want. 

Some suggestions:

This is great for the tech-savvy or music-loving guy on your list. And the option to customize your JAMBOX's colors allows you to create something that he'll totally love.

Perfect for the classiest man on your list. Traditionally, cufflinks were something that a man never bought himself. Each pair had a story- from a friend, a family member, a love interest, etc. If you aren't sure if the man you are shopping for would wear a pair, put them on a french cuff shirt yourself and give him a complete formal look that he will love.

For the guy who likes to have a good time, this personalized entertaining set is something he'll love and use, but most likely won't already have.

Ideal for the globe trotter on your list. Purchasing some high quality toiletries cases along with a nice passport holder will ensure that he travels in style.

A really high quality shaving kit will be much appreciated by any man. Get him something really luxurious for a close, clean shave that he'll look forward to every day.

This unique gift gives photos a vintage-y look. If the man you're shopping for already has a great camera, then get him one of these for fun. He'll enjoy experimenting with different angles and seeing how cool the pictures turn out.

A man can really never have enough ties. These will probably be used more than cufflinks and they're really easy to find (seriously, what clothing store doesn't sell ties?). Get a man a really nice tie, and he'll have it and appreciate it forever.


Happy shopping!
xoxo


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Saturday, November 30, 2013

Gift Guide: For the Girl Who Has It All

I love shopping for other girls. Honestly, it's just so much easier than shopping for men- there's so much   ore to choose from! However, many of the women in my life seem to have everything they could possibly want. So when you see these people on your list, what's a girl to do?

First, a little on how I give gifts (because everything in my life is overly thought out):

I have this really weird gift-giving philosophy where I buy the best thing I can given whatever budget constraint I set. So, if I'm going to spend $200 on someone, I'm going to get them a really gorgeous shirt or a beautiful bracelet rather than an okay-quality coat. I mean, that's just it, my gift giving philosophy is about quality. I also try to buy people things they wouldn't normally buy themselves. Think: cufflinks for men, luxurious bath products (just kidding, I buy those all the time...) for women, high quality stationary, etc. 

Anyway, we all have women in our life who are difficult to shop for. Here are some ideas of what to buy "the girl who has it all:"


Great for: the globe trotter on your list

Great for: the fashion lover in your life

Book: Kate Spade's 20 Things We Love Coffee Table Book
Great For: the girl who just moved into a new apartment


Great for: a hostess gift to have on hand

Great for: the interior design snob 


Great for: the party-goer on your list

Great for: the make up guru you know


Great for: the party hopper on your list


Great for: the skin care lover

Accessories: Tech Earmuffs
Great for: music lovers

Great for: the constant texter

Great for: the sentimental girl

Jewelry: Jennifer Meyer
Great for: your sister, mom or BFF (the necklaces have personal messages- so cute!)

Jewelry: Dior & Chanel
Great for: Fashion lovers
**Note: Dior and Chanel jewelry is actually significantly less expensive than one would expect. The earrings start around $225 and the bracelets around $300. 

Happy shopping!
xoxo

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Black Friday Sales 2013

Admittedly, I'm not a huge Black Friday person. 

Last year, I did the whole get-in-line-at-midnight with some of my cousins, more because we thought it would be fun than because we needed anything. The whole thing was more stressful than fun for me- there were people everywhere seriously pushing to get merchandise (we were at Urban Outfitters and the displays were already kind of messy to begin with). Within about 30 minutes, the store was in complete chaos. We should have just gone out for some late night ice cream or something.

However, there are some great online Black Friday Sales that don't sound as physically stressful as taking to the mall alongside hundreds of other shoppers. I think I'll wait until Saturday to shop, but here are my favorite online picks:

















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