Gift Guide: Your Momma

It's always hard to shop for my mom, because she never wants anything. She's just happy to have her kids and pups under one roof for a few days. I'm so excited to go home for Christmas to spend time with my sweet family, and especially my mom. We always drink Bailey's and coffee, do last minute shopping, and play Just Dance (which is her favorite family activity, ever).

Here are a few gift picks, inspired by my mom -- her favorite things include: tailgating, listening to Fergie, DIY'ing, and drinking Two Buck Chuck. :)

1. This Ultra Light Down Jacket since as a flight attendant, she's constantly traveling from hot to cold weather in the same day. This folds up super compact in her suitcase and is very lightweight: Uniqlo - $70.
2. These mason jar shot glasses, which are perfect for southern tailgates: Sur la table - $10.
3. Nail polish in her favorite color: my mom's favorite is OPI Privacy Please - $9.
4. A fun passport holder, since she jets off to cool places like Rio de Janiero and Zurich: Kate Spade via Piperlime - $68.
5. Stylish flats for exploring cities: these are Coach - $119.
6. Lip balm that she can pop in her purse: EOS via Target - $3.

2013 Gift Guide: Your Brothers

Next, I'd like to share a gift guide inspired by my two brothers. My older brother is a lawyer in Georgia and my younger brother is finishing up his final year of college. Their shared interests include: Atlanta sports, beer, fantasy football, and arguing with me. :)

Here are a few gift choices inspired by my bros:

1. This brass bottle opener, which is stylish, but more importantly functional: Crate & Barrel - $30.
2. A leather football, to toss around during tailgates: Target - $20-100.
3. A classic-looking backpack: Jack Spade - $195. 
4. Cologne: Kiehl's - $35-42.
5. Whisky stones to chill holiday drinks: Teroforma - $20 for a set of 9.
6. Striped socks in their team's colors: J.Crew - $14.
7. Moleskin notebooks for class/work/grocery lists: Moleskine - $9 for a set of 3.
8. A flask to sneak into games - J.Crew - $42. 

2013 Gift Guide: Your BFF

Just in case the million gift guides circulating in the blogosphere don't inspire you quite enough, I'm going to share a few of my favorite gift picks this week. 

First up, great gifts for your BFF. This is inspired by my BFF who may or may not have crafted 700 tassels for the Photo Booth backdrop at our wedding (more on that later!). Her many interests include: kittens, sparkles, Lauren Conrad, and ballet. That's my way of saying she's the cutest person in the world.

Here goes:

1. Kate Spade 17 month planner since she loves pretty school supplies: Kate Spade - $36.
2. Glittery hair clips because she always has a soft spot for them: Ban.do - $10-20.
3. A cheeky iPhone case, since she loves to change hers daily: Rifle Paper Co. via Modcloth - $34.
4. A kitten eye mask so she can feel like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's: CatBird - $24.
5. Ballet flats in her favorite colors: J.Crew - on sale for $99.
6. A monogrammed gold wine stopper (along with a bottle of Rosé, of course): C Wonder - $34.
7. Sparkly gold champagne flutes because they're so festive: !ndigo - $34 for a set of 4. 
8. A soft PJ set so she can feel cozy yet glamorous: Eberjey - $97.
9. Teeny rose gold cat studs, just for fun: CatBird - $159.

Spring Wish List

I realize that most of the country is still under snow, but in San Francisco, the weather has been delightful. The last two weekends have been perfect: sunny and 70! The warmer weather makes me excited for my August bachelorette party to the beach and my honeymoon to Hawaii in November. Here are a few of the things on my spring/summer/vacation wish list this year:

-1. This adorable one piece - Tory Burch ($225).
-2. Cat eye sunnies to feel glam - Stella McCartney ($225).
-3. Straw fedora to shield my face from the sun - Old Navy ($12).
-4. A DVF iPhone case in a bright pattern - DVF ($40).
-5. Swedish Hasbeens in poppy, because Hasbeens are hands down my favorite summer shoes - ModCloth ($220).
-6. Nail polish in bright, Spring colors - OPI or Essie ($8-15).
-7. A sweet, pastel watch - Kate Spade ($195).
-8. A straw clutch, which will transition well from day to night - Boohoo ($36).

Minted Invitations

I love Minted. I just sent out wedding shower invitations for a party that I'm co-hosting, so now seems like the perfect time to write a little review of the company. All of the art prints, invitations, and paper goods are designed and submitted by artists, who get a cut of the profits, so the quality and design are really high.

The art prints are really affordable and suitable for hanging. We ordered this San Francisco print and had it custom framed in an Ikea frame at Michaels. All-in-all the project cost less than $50! We also ordered our holiday cards from Minted last year. 

I also love Pinhole Press, but I find their selection a bit more limited when it comes to invitations and cards. I think Pinhole is great for specialty items like beer labels, photo books, and alphabet games. What are your favorite sites to order from? xo

Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Whether you're picking up a small treat for your BFF or sending a little surprise to your significant other, Valentine's gifts are fun! Do you have any big plans for the holiday? Lucas and I will be going on a date here (hands down my favorite restaurant!) and then going to Lake Tahoe on a little weekend ski trip this year. Here are a few suggestions for fun Valentine's Day gifts:

1. Kiss-proof lip and cheek stain that will give your cheekbones a lovely flushed look: Benefit ($29).
2. A cute and functional passport holder: Kate Spade ($68 but Kate Spade is running a 20% off sale!).
3. Heart studs, which look pretty year-round: C-Wonder ($28).
4. A sweet card to tell your loved one just how much you love them: Paper Source ($3-8).
5. An environmentally-friendly heart bottle: BKR ($32).
6. Sequin heart shoe clips to add a little flare to flats or pumps: Ban.do ($25).

Have a lovely holiday! XOXO

Spicely

My mom and dad gave us a Spicely set for Christmas. Have you ever heard of it? It's essentially a spice set filled with unusual, organic spices that are perfect for a single or a few uses each. We received the international sampler, which is full of international cuisine seasonings like curry and masala. It will definitely enhance and refresh our spice rack for 2013. I thought I'd share in case anyone is ever looking for a unique gift for a foodie. What were some of your favorite holiday gifts this year? XO

Holiday Wrapping Inspiration

Here are a few of my favorite gift wrapping ideas, spotted around the web. This year I stuck to using paper with gold and silver accents to match our gold and silver tree, but these ideas are so creative and lovely.

I'll be traveling back to Georgia tonight to spend a bit of time with my family and then it's off to North Carolina to visit with Lucas's sweet family. Happy holidays to you and yours!

Sources: {Personalized name packaging via You Are My Fave, Pear packaging via Mint Design Blog, Typographic packaging via ManMade, Foliage packaging via HeyLook}.

Gift Guide: Your Momma

My mom never wants us to get her anything, so sometimes it's tough to shop for her. Here are a few gifts that make me think of her:

1. Monogrammed tray because she is the ultimate, Southern tailgater: Etsy (varies $30-$60).
2. Fresh wreath to hang on the door: Williams-Sonoma ($75).
3. Driving loafers that she can walk comfortably in during her work trips: Tory Burch ($275).
4. A Handmade Weddings book, since she is great at sewing, baking, and crafting: Nordstrom ($25).
5. Clip on earrings, which would look great with her red hair: Kate Spade ($48).
6. A soy travel candle, which would make her hotel rooms feel cozy: Jonathan Product ($10).

Holiday Gift Guide: Your BFF

Sometimes I'm at a loss for what to buy Lucas, my family, or my coworkers, but I feel like it's always easy to buy gifts for my BFF, Kristina. I know her so well that I can always find a million things that I know she'll love. Here are a few gifts that are BFF-appropriate, inspired by my best friend since Kindergarten:

1. "What Would Audrey Do?" so she can read about your shared idol: Amazon ($10).
2. Gold mercury glass votives to decorate her new place: One Kings Lane ($25).
3. Gold stud earrings: Bing Bang ($40).
4. Pink NARS Lipstick, which would look pretty with anything: Sephora ($24).
5. A Birchbox subscription, because she loves beauty products almost as much as she loves getting packages: Birchbox ($120).
6. A pretty scalloped bangle: Kate Spade ($48).
7. A polka dot peplum top, which would look pretty for the holidays: Dorothy Parker ($27).
8. A ladylike purse in her favorite color: J.Crew ($238).

P.S. - gift guide for men!

Holiday Gift Guide: Your Favorite Guy

Here are a few perfect holiday gifts for the best guy in your life (I've given most of these things to Lucas in the past, actually):

1. A cozy sweater with elbow patches, that will bring out his true professorial self: J.crew ($198).

2. New glasses to truly complete the look: Warby Parker ($90).

3. A new watch, since you always ask him the time: Nixon ($125).

4. Classic, rugged boots that will look both simple and stylish: Clarks ($120).

5. A new overnight duffle to replace the Adidas bag he carries from college: Fossil ($248).

These gifts will (hopefully!) be appreciated year round. I'd love to hear what are you giving your favorite guy? XO

Stella & Dot Necklace

My friend hosted a Stella & Dot party at the office and I picked up a few pretty things. My favorite buy is this On the Mark necklace, which I got in gold vermeil. It's dainty and feminine and great for layering. I also picked one up for Kristina, my Maid of Honor, to show appreciation for all of her wedding help.

DIY Fabric Peonies

I love to keep a "gift closet" of goodies so that I'm prepared for birthdays, showers, and house warnings. Likewise, I like to keep a stash of basic gift wrapping supplies like drawstring bags, craft paper, and gift tags. This weekend I decided to make a batch of fabric peonies to add to my wrapping collection. These add a nice touch to a package or to a bottle of wine, so it's nice to have them on hand.

Materials:
-A few yards of Chiffon fabric (I chose a pale pink)
-Embroidery thread (I used yellow)
-Needle and thread
-Fabric scissors
-A small candle

Directions:
Start by cutting fabric circles out of the chiffon. Cut out a total of 5 circles: 4 circles that are the same size and 1 circle that is slightly smaller.

Next, take one circle and hover the edge over an open flame until it curls up slightly. Repeat until you've finished curling the edges of all 5 circles.

Cut 4 slits into each circle, but be careful that you do not cut all the way through. It should look like this.

Now you should carefully hold the newly cut slits over the flame until the edges curl up like the outside of the circles. Repeat until you've finished curling the edges of all 5 circles.

At this point, take 2 of the circles and cut 4 more slits, and repeat the curling process. Leave the other 3 circles as is. These 2 circles will start to look a little shriveled up and not at all like flower petals, but that's okay. It will all come together, I promise!

Now make the pom pom that will go inside your petals. Wrap embroidery thread around 2 of your fingers (I wrapped it around about 8 times).

Slip the looped thread off your fingers and tie a knot in the middle. Cut the loops and fluff the thread out.

Assemble your peony by stacking 2 of the circles that only have 4 petals, then the 2 circles with 8 petals, and finally the smallest circle with 4 petals on top.

Place the embroidery pompom and sew it all together! Leave some thread on the end if you want to tie it onto a gift or a bottle of wine. You can also use double sided tape to adhere it to a package.

Happy Crafting! XO

Mehndi Spice Cookies

I want to make the Mehndi inspired spice cookies. Wouldn't they make a great gift? They're so pretty that I'm not sure I could eat them though! Check out the recipe and directions here.

Gift Guide Part 3 - Etsy Finds

There are so many affordable and original gift options on Etsy!

For your oh-so-original friends like Shannon and Mimms a "Be U" pillow cover! $25.
From littlebirdart3.

For your eco-friendly slash coffee lover friends like Katherine or Aaron - a reusable coffee cup cozy! $16.
From CuffeShop.


For your trendy friends with iPhones like Robskies, Mimms, and my older brother (who is obsessed...) - these adorable iPhone cases. Both are $20. (I think I am getting an iPhone for Christmas and I can't decide which one to get!!!!).
From EvelynX.

From EgoorEngland.

Christmas Gifts Part 2

For that friend weirdly obsessed with cats (you know you have one...I have several!) like Shannon, Kristina, Meaghan, and Caroline! What better than a cat tape dispenser??? Only $15.99 - a small price to pay for the look on their faces when they open it to realize they have yet another cat thing to display in their room or apartment. Should I go ahead and order 4? Probably. From ModCloth.

For your friend who is absolutely obsessed with their home state, like Brett (Brett loves Alabama - he orders like 8 rounds of Alabama Slammer shots whenever we go out and blasts a rap song called "The Alabama Anthem" way too often). So what to buy a friend like this? A state pillow of course. They have a pillow for every state! Okay...okay...so it is $149. Not really in my budget range. :) Maybe one day I'll be able to buy Brett this pillow! From Whispering Pines.

For your friends that love blogs and "follow" The Sartorialist and Garance Dore obsessively. This could definitely apply to most of my friends. "The Sartorialist" book by Scott Schuman is now available on Amazon in paperback for less than $20. I can't believe I don't have it yet. But this would be a great gift for a friend that just got a new place and needs a new book to adorn their coffee table. (It would also be a good gift to me - just sayin!) :) Book seen on Amazon. Written by Scott Schuman.

Potential Christmas Gifts

On a budget this year? I feel like a lot of my friends are. First of all, we're in college - enough said. But everyone seems to be saving for something! I am saving up for next semester in DC (I am so pumped)!

Check out these fun and affordable Christmas gifts:

For your friends who appreciate a good cup of coffee and a homemade cookie just as much as a store-bought gift. Homemade cookies in recycled tea boxes - the perfect fit! Almost free for you too!
Seen on Post Punk Kitchen.

For your traveling friends like Eli and Robyn and Meaghan. Pretty luggage tag! For under $10!
From Lizard Thicket (the boutique I worked at in HS).

For your friends that love colorful fun things just because - like Kristina or Caroline! Fantastic printed coasters in fun colors - only $10!
From Love My Costers. Seen on Bright, Bold, and Beautiful.

More fun gift ideas to come later - I've waited as long as I can to start talking about Christmas - SOOO excited! :)