House Beautiful

Tag Archive for 'Holiday'

Holiday Gift Guide: for Gals

…or Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah – ye know.  Hopefully, MY DEAR SANTA LIST and KARRIE’S DEAR SANTA LIST earlier this week may’ve given you a few good ideas for she-gifts?  If not, here are a few more universal gems to chew on:

NIKI QUINN BEST FRIENDS NECKLACE SET, $24.  I mean.  Let’s be honest…  when’s the last time you had one of these?  That’s right.  4th grade.  And your friend Sally Talksalot probably had the other half.  I saw this in the case at a cute, quirky little shop called Tigertree in downtown Columbus a few months ago and almost OD’d on nostalgia…  then I promptly purchased one and gave it to my BFF from college, Mary.  And then we jumped up and down in circles screaming and laughing for 10 minutes after she opened it.

INDIAN SUZANI PILLOW, $79.  I’ve maybe never seen anything prettier.  Who WOULDN’T love to have this as a pretty punch of color somewhere in their house?

THE LEMON CRATE, $99.  I’m only mother to Gus (does that make me Mother Goose??), but I’d like to please add this to my Christmas list as well, svp.  It’s a potted baby Meyer lemon tree!  Can be grown and harvested on a patio or in a sunny kitchen.  Hopefully come summertime it looks about like this:

AHAVA INTENSIVE HAND CREAM, $28.50.  I know my mom’s hands get super dry and chapped when it’s cold outside…  and on that note, so do mine, so do my dad’s, and so do Matty’s.  So it’s not just for Ma…  you might as well just take a squirt and pass it on.  It’s is the only product I’ve been able to find that goes on like BUTTAH and stays on so your hands stay moisturized.  SO, so worth the price.

LEATHER PANTS, $34.95.  (Pictured are not exact pants, but they’re close).  A girlfriend of mine wore these to dinner the other night, and my jaw hit the floor.  I would’ve thought she spent $200 on ’em, but they’re from H&M.  And then I sprinted out and bought myself a pair.  They fit like a tight pair of skinny jeans – the kind that suck you in and make you look like you lost 10 pounds.  Runs small (I’m a 6, but I had to buy an 8).  I honestly had no idea whether to put these on the gift guide for gals, or the gift guide for guys.  Cause honestly, everybody wins with these things.  Fellas……  You’re welcome.

POLAROID Z2300, $160 and up.  Girls love pictures, and girls love nostalgia.  So this thing is a slam dunk.

MICHAEL KORS SPARKLING PAVE DIAMOND EARRINGS, $75.  Super chic…  perfect for a black tie wedding, and perfect for everyday.  They’ll be the new staple in her (jewelry) wardrobe.

VOLUSPA LAGUNA CANDLE TIN, $16.  Little luxury that goes a long way.  I like this one *almost* as much as Saijo Persimmon, but I put Laguna on the Gift Guide list because it’s a smidge more subtle and realy soothing.  Smells lovely in a bedroom.

MOSSIMO JACQUARD SCARF, $20 $15.99.  Looks like it was made by Pendleton and feels so thick and nice that at that price, it feels like stealing.  Great winter staple.

BB DAKOTA SCOTLYN FUR VEST, $90 $65.10.  This girl certainly looks like she’s seen a good party or 12, but that rocker chick fur vest sure is sweet.  And would be super bad with the leather leggings above.  Also…  I’d like to feed her some Christmas cookies.

CYNTHIA ROWLEY FLASK BRACELET.  Ah nuts I lied, this bad boy’s not out yet.  Spring 2013.  But log it for future purchase.

SOFIA BLANC DE BLANCS 4-PACK, available at liquor stores the world over.  Champagne in a can with a cute little pink straw???  Love.  The bubbly itself is also very very good.  And the packaging is basically done for you.  BANG.

RENT THE RUNWAY GIFT SETS, $50-$100.  Rent the Runway is a site that lets you rent designer dresses and fancy get-ups for a FRACTION of the retail price, and for a period of either 4 or 8 days.  You can peruse pics of real women (genius) wearing each frock and read their comments on how it fit, what they loved about it and what they didn’t.  They send you a back-up size just in case, and an already-stamped return envelope to mail in back in for dry cleaning.  So easy it’s stupid.  Plus, I don’t know a girl who has a special occasion coming up and doesn’t want to wear something shiny & new for it.

STILA SELF-ADJUSTING PINK BLUSH, $20. AKA “Smart” blush.  This stuff looks hot pink, but it reacts to your skin tone and individual pH to create the perfect pink for you.  I’m on my 2nd one, so I can personally vouch for this one.  It also always makes my cheeks look pretty and fresh and natural and flushed…  not like I have blush on.

MANI/PEDI, MANI/PEDI, MANI/PEDI, $30-50. Especially if you need one more thing to round out her stack of gifts, or if you just don’t know what to get her at all.  I have never met a girl who didn’t love a good mani/pedi.  Plus, we could all use ’em this time of year when our hooves get all neglected and crusty.  Bud could even use one…  if only the salon had a belt sander on hand.  Just kiddin…  love you Papaw!

Happy (last-minute) shopping!

xoxo,

Steph & Karrie