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Gift Guide #3: For the Gals

Diane von Furstenberg once said that when a woman becomes her own best friend, life gets easier. We agree a thousand percent, because a life without our female friends: our ride or die b*tches, the girls who’ve ridden shotgun in our lives as we’ve blazed our respectable (and sometimes not so respectable) trails – well, we can’t imagine a life without ’em.  And today’s Gift Guide is for just that kind of woman in your life.  Your sister, the bestie you’ve been in the trenches with since 2nd grade that feels like a sister, the dear friend you became instant friends with when you started your first job… all those gals.  As long as they are special, as long as they’ve taught you a little bit about not following the rules, about misbehaving a bit… well then this Gift Guide is for them.  And if you’re a guy reading this post and wondering what to get your girl, well… you’re welcome:

1 – GIPSY YOUNG HEART TIGHTS, ASOS, $11.37.  How fun are these??  Lighthearted way to mix up her work wardrobe, or a perfect gift for your niece.

2 – MUAH! MATCHES, Paper Luxe, $8.  What a pretty pop for the coffee table!  Or, let’s be honest…  the back of the throne.

3 – BLUE GODDESS STATEMENT NECKLACE, Majestical Jewelry, $35.  We love Majestical Jewelry for pimping out such jaw-dropping, J.Crew-esque statement pieces for Target prices.  Note: the pictures they post on their Instagram page are usually a truer representation than what’s on the website, so make sure you follow them over there.  It’s also where they do FLASH SALES, and you don’t wanna miss those.  I have this one, Karrie has that one, and I accidentally just bought THESE during a flash sale on Instagram. If you’re not on Instagram, then you can check out AdinasJewels.com for more jewelry pieces.

4 – SILICONE WRAPPED WINE GLASSES, Bed Bath & Beyond, $17 FOR SET OF 2.  Um, omg.  The answer to Bachelor/Bachelorette party Mondays!  Do you think this would still have shattered if I’d hurled it at the TV during Juan Pablo McD-bag’s final epidsode??  On that note: make sure you read the blog every Tuesday morning after the show when I can’t keep my thoughts to myself and post recaps like this.

5 – JEWELED FLATS, Boden, $198.  These are like the modern-day slippers that Cinderella left at the ball.  I don’t know if they belong on my feet, or behind a piece of glass in a museum… Heaven.  Also love ’em in gold.

6 – 3D FIBER LASHES, Younique, $29.  I just started using this about a month ago after receiving an incessant amount of Facebook group invites to buy it… Everyone I knew seemed like they were having a Pampered Chef Mascara party online, and if you’re a female with a Facebook account, then you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.  I’d also always loved my mascara and didn’t see the need to change things up…  But I finally did, and I gotta tell ya – it’s pretty fab.  I did one eyeball in the 3D Fiber lashes, and one eyeball in my old stuff…  there’s no contest.  My “old mascara” eye was a joke.  This stuff gives you long, super luscious, doe-like lashes.  Most days when I wear this, I don’t really feel like I have to put a lot of anything else on – just lip gloss.  PS: when you click the link above to buy, there’s a quote on the right under a pic of me that’s standard on the Younique site, and I just wanted you guys to know that I’m not getting paid or having my arm twisted to talk about ANY of these items in this post…  Karrie and I don’t roll like that.  Everything on this blog that we recommend to you is ONLY on here because we love it.

7 – ARAN TEXTURED POM HAT, C. Wonder, $48.  Perfectly classic.  And perfectly practical since it’s supposed to be the coldest winter since the ice age back where we’re from.  Also…  whenever I look at it, I want to honk the pom pom and make this noise:  “Bop-bop.”

8 – LOVE RED, Boots No7, $9.99.  Read my lips: this red is universally amazing on everyone I’ve ever seen it on.  It also goes on super smooth and creamy.

9 – ADAM + VIKTORIA PILLOWS, available through Mecox Gardens, call for pricing. This one is the Edgar Candy Flos, but omg, they’re all stunning in person.  Pricey, but the kind of piece she’ll keep forever.  Velvet appliqué on linen.

10 – HARRIS SUNGLASSES IN HONEYED TORT, Shauns, $305.  These are an investment piece for sure… or better yet an “eBay saved search” item 🙂  Do you guys know that trick yet??  Whenever I find something I love that’s sold out, or that’s out of my price range, I set up an eBay “Saved Search” for it… then as soon as your item is listed, it sends you an email with a link to it – and it’s usually for a fraction of the retail cost.  BANG.

11 – THE SWIMMING POOL iPHONE 6 CASE, Gray Malin, $49.  Le sigh.  How could you not slip into a state of serenity every time you looked at your phone?  It’s like being in Palm Springs… on a Monday morning in your office.

12 – TRIBAL PRINT KIMONO, Waverly Boutique, $54.  I picked one of these up when Karrie and I were in Manhattan Beach a few weeks ago, and it’s the shizzizzy.

Reminds me of this ditty we posted as an outfit suggestion last Thanksgiving… which is a perfect way to style it.

13 – LIP TEASE MUG, Shopbop, $25.  This has been on my lust list for years.  But for 25 bucks, it’s one of those things that’s hard to justify buying it for yourself… which is why it’d be SO perfect if someone BOUGHT IT FOR YOU (!!!)

14 – YOU’RE PRETTY Malbec, Speak Wines, $25.  If this isn’t the best hostess gift of all time, I don’t know what is.  It’s like a wine/greeting card combo…. and it’s so pretty that no one will never want to throw away… and that is why Baby Jesus invented things like DIY candlesticks, so you can pop a taper candle in it afterward.

15 – XL LEATHER POUCH, Rib & Hull, $90.  This showed up under my Christmas tree last year in tan, and it’s wonderful.  Looks better with age, holds all of your girl’s garb, and feels like buttah.  The green color is a gorgeous and sophisticated twist on the regular ‘ol neutral.

16 – RENT THE RUNWAY GIFT CARD. There was a time in our lives when Rent the Runway didn’t exist, and it was a cold, dark era in which we hope to never live again. RTR is an online service that provides thousands of gorgeous dresses and accessories to rent (for not that much dough!) The joy that RTR’s brought to our lives is hard to quantify, but let’s just put it this way: When you get someone a gift certificate to RTR, you’re gifting them the opportunity to feel like freakin’ Cinderella – and for next to nothing!   Check out what WE’VE rented over the years, herehere and here.

(A Badgley Mischka get-up currently available)

17 – VOLUSPA CUT GLASS CANDLE, $26. Every single candle in this collection has THE most heavenly scent, with Goji Tarocco Orange being our personal fave. It’s the perfect gift, not just ’cause it makes one’s casa smell like a peaceful sanctuary, but because it comes in the prettiest, girliest jar.

18 – UGG WOMEN’S SLIPPERS IN IVY, $100 and SLIP-ON CHUCK TAYLOR ‘SHORELINE’ SNEAKERS, $45. Two different kinds of comfy kicks, and both so cute. Those Uggs Ansley Mocs are so girly, they make me squeal a little. And the Chucks, well, they’re totally classic and go with everything (no, really) and did we say they’re slip-on?! Making your girl’s life about 23 seconds easier.

19 – GIFT CERTIFICATE TO YOGA CLASSES, priceless. There’s no getting around what yoga can do to the body and the psyche, so why not bequeath those benefits to one of your girls who could really use them?  The two of us are huge fans of Core Power Yoga (Amy P. in San Diego – we worship at your altar), but we’d bet a pretty penny there’s a yoga studio in any ol’ town these days.

That’s it for now – and be sure to keep following us on Instagram and Pinterest for more gift giving ideas!  Karrie – Pinterest | Instagram and Steph – Pinterest | Instagram.

xoxo,

and

Gift Guide #1: {Our} Wishlists

Happy Monday, Turkeys!  Hope you guys had a great weekend full of green bean casserole-induced food comas and a lot of tree trimming.  Now that the holidays are in full swing, we’re bringing a new GIFT GUIDE every day this week, and kicking off today with both of ours!  So Mom, Dad, Tim & Santa: these are a few of our faaaavorite things!  Readers: hope you love some of our picks, too!

Hey, it’s Steph!  I’ll go first….  Now.  That right there is the face of a child who is trying to either charm her way out of trouble, a child who just sharted, or a kid who is saying, “CHEEEESE SANTA!”  But for realz… I’m not saying I would turn down anything on my Christmas list if it magically appeared under my tree, but when it comes down to it, all I really want for Christmas is to get Gus home safely sans an international incident / TSA emergency…  to watch It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve with my family…  to take naps on my Dad’s couch and have cocktail hour at the kitchen table promptly every afternoon at 4:59pm… and to slam some Pizza King. Nonetheless, here we go

1 – Gigi New York Uber Clutch in Black Embossed Python, $145.  I don’t know what I love more about this – the tassel, the embossed leather, or the size of this bad boy (13″ x 9″).  It’s beyond perfect, and it’s in the top slot for a reason. #numberonepick

2 – Dior Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm, $27.  Twenty seven dollars for lip balm is straight cray; I know.  Or rather, knew, until I dabbed by ring finger in the pot at Sephora and tried it on.  It is bliss – and incredibly flattering on. Otherwise, here’s my favorite budget-friendly lip gloss.  Either would be great stocking stuffers.

3 – Sole Society Deco Statement Necklace, $39.95 $27.97.  Heavens.  What a stunner.  The ballet slipper pink/emerald/seafoam color combo is great.  PS, fellas – dingdingdingdingding! – this is a good one for your lady.

4 – Everlane Slouchy Cashmere Tunic, $155.  This sweater makes me want to throw on comfy leggings, pop popcorn and curl up for movie night in.

5 – Fendi Blue Patchwork Sunglasses, 260 GPB.  Did I say I didn’t want anything on this list?  …I lied.  These are FAN-freakingtastic.  I stumbled across them on Helena’s blog a week or so ago and about fell over.

6 – Crème de la Crème tee, $38.  I’ve been eyeballing the Zoe Karssen $85 version of this forever, but I can never bring myself to spend $85 on a t-shirt, and it’s also almost always out of stock.  I know this bad boy’s been around the block for years, but je don’t care & je l’adore toujours.  (Can you tell I minored in French?  #fancy #franglaisorbust)

7 – Kate Spade 2015 17-month Large Agenda in Green Painterly Cheetah, $36. All the tech-y calendars and apps that keep me organized are great & all, but there’s just something charming about doing things the old fashioned way.  Plus, this would just make me happy to pull out of my bag every morning.  Note: I just saw this sell out on Kate Spade, but you can also find it here.

8 – JaxKelly Gold Dipped Turquoise Earrings from Pigment, $28.  I will ogle over flashy chandelier earrings all day long, but you know what I end up in every day?  Some version of denim, a white blouse and pearl stud earrings.  These little turquoise ditties punch up the pearls a notch or five.

9 – Lafco Pool House candle from Bixby & Ball, $60. Pool House is a the scent I make a point to take a long, luxurious sniff of whenever I’m at Bixby & Ball, but Betsy Bracken (one of the shop’s owners who – people of Muncie, holla! – is from our beloved hometown) introduced me to Kai’s Reed Diffuser ($78) earlier today, and I *might* have a new favorite.  Tuberose, Gardenia, Lily & Jasmine…  Betsy said it smells just like Hawaii…  I don’t know what it smells like, but it. is. wonderful. PS: Everything is 20% off today with code CYBERMON (!)

10 – Burning for You matches from Paper Luxe, $11.  Cheeky, adorable and a great pop of color for your coffee table!  I ran across them at Solo on Cedros today, but you can’t purchase from their website, so I pimped you out to Paper Luxe – who I wasn’t familiar with, but they have some great stuff, so do yourself a favor and snoop around.

11 – Vintage Brass Monogram Ring from Bixby & Ball, call for pricing.  Everything is 20% off today with code CYBERMON!  This one (on my ring finger) isn’t online, but you can call (858.436.7214) and order it, have it monogrammed and they’ll ship it to you easy peasy.  As with the bit about jeans & white tees & pearls, I lean towards classic, timeless, everyday pieces when it comes to jewelry, and this I love.  I first spied this on Kristin’s right hand (girlfriend has the best and most perfectly curated jewelry collection of anyone I know) ut hers has a “P” on it. For her hubby’s name. How sweet is that??

12 – Everyone’s a Dumb Whore cross stitch from Furbish, $48.  (Cyber Monday: 20% off of orders of $75 or more with code HOLLADAY).  I feel like I’m already getting a look of disapproval long-distance style from Jayne, but every time I read this I cackle out loud.  Karrie actually posted about Subversive Cross Stitch 3 years ago and has one of these in her bathroom that says “Home Sweet F*cking Home.” Bwhahahaha.  If you have time to DIY, pop over to Subversive’s site.

13 – Aloha Splash-Proof Pouches, $24-32. I need one of these splash-proof, Tyvek-coated pouches for beach days and yoga days…  cuz otherwise what am I gonna do with my sopping wet gym clothes or my wet bathing suit?  Not that the plastic Piggly Wiggly bag in the bottom of my other bag isn’t always a fun solution – or just letting ’em soak & stank up everything else they touch.  The small version would also make a great makeup bag.

14 – Charlotte Olympia Kitty Velvet Flats in Black, $495.  I should be smacked for putting $500 kitty cat flats on a gift list, but c’mon.  They’re seriously adorable. Image credit: Sincerely Jules

That’s all I got!  Wait I totally lied.  This peel is amazing.  Ok now I’m done…  Until Wednesday (Gift Guide #2 for Guys), Thursday (Gift Guide #3 for the Gourmand), and Friday (Gift Guide #4 for Gals)!

xoxo!

FOR STEPH’S PREVIOUS YEARS’ PICKS: 2013 | 2012 | 2010

It’s hard to believe it’s been another year since last Christmas, it really is. And that it’s been approximately 30+ years since that photo was taken above. GAH. This year it took me a while to think about the things I’ve been lusting after for my Dear Santa list… and I think that’s cause, like Steph wrote last year, I don’t need anything, really. I’m truly grateful for all that I have, right now. But hey – I’m a bloggess – and what does a bloggess do around Xmastime?  She makes a freaking Santa List. Here goes – some of the things I’m asking St. Nick to deliver to me, thank YOU.

1. A buncha versatile, all-sorts-of-fun shoes (clockwise from top left): J Slides Slip On Sneakers – How cute are these?! I can see these with some black ripped – or boyfriend – jeans | Black Patent Leather Oxfords from Clark’s – so shiny, so versatile |  Steve Madden Caveat – F Boots are biker chic; love em | NikeWomen’s Free Flyknit 4.0 Running Shoes are lightweight and totally cute enough to wear with regular ol’ street clothes.

2. The Courtney Bib from BaubleBar: Repeat Offender Alert. Yup, this bib necklace was on my Dear Santa list from last year, but I must’ve been a bad gal, cause Santy neglected to drop it off in my stocking. So I’m asking for it again!

3. Ina Garten: Make It Ahead: The newest collection of recipes from my perennial homegirl, Ms. Ina Garten, which are curated to be made ahead of time. Because we’re all busy these days, and that includes Ina, who in my mind is hunkered down in her Hamptons home making roast chicken and a perfect martini for Jeffrey:

4. BaubleBar ear jackets: I am LOVING the latest trend of ear jackets. Super edgy yet classy at the same time – available here and here:

5. A couple inexpensive, cozy cardigans!: Left: Black Long Sleeve Front Zip Cardigan – Only $29! | Right: Graduated Colorblock Cardigan – Only $24!

6. Smartphone Photo Cube Printer: Am I the only one a little sad that Facebook and Insta have all but made printed out photos obsolete??? Ok, so enter this cute little gadget, which is compatible with all portable devices and prints out photos in three sizes.

7. These sets of pillows from Furbish: How downright droolworthy are these, available here and here:


8. Michael Kors Slim Runway watch: Sleek, masculine, and glam all at once.

9. Entertainment Weekly subscription – You guys. Do you love pop culture like I do? Movies and TV and books and celeb gossip and everything in between?  I am a bit of a pop culture whore, and for that reason, Entertainment Weekly is the best mag to read. It’s chalk full of juicy up to date morsels of pop culture goodness.

“We’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f—ing Kaye.” – Clark Griswold

Here’s to a wonderful holiday season, honeys!

xoxo,

FOR KARRIE’S PREVIOUS YEARS’ PICKS: 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010