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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

Holiday Gift Guide: for Dudes

{all images via here}

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood mornin’ and HO-LY pajamas, that’s a good way to start a post.  GYAH.  Who needs a towel?  …Just kidding Mom.  Anyhoo – when it comes to buying for boys, listen.  I’m not saying I have the key to One-Eyed Willie or anything, but what’s with all the hokey, stereotypical “manly man” gifts I keep seeing this year on gift guides for guys?  Wood grain cufflinks (whaaaaaaat?), wine-glasses-inside-a-beer-glass (wait, who?) and every useless object you could possibly imagine in the shape of a gun (why, why why).  The list goes on.  So, I don’t presume to know exactly what guys want for Christmas, but I’d betcha my left nut it’s not any of those things.  So since I wanted to dole out some tried & true, testosterone-approved options, I enlisted the help of a few of my closest buddies to help me edit and round out my list. Visit this site to find the best testosterone booster on the market and get fit now.

1. The BIG GREEN EGG.  Also code for a big green wad of cash, so this is definitely an investment.  Generally speaking, they run from the $300’s on the low end (for the mini) to almost $1200 on the higher end for the XL Heavy Duty.  Apparently, this thing can do anything…  slow roast a Thanksgiving Day turkey, smoke a brisket, or sear a steak (temperatures can hold steady at 200 and get above 600).  A lot of the hubbub comes from the fact that the shell is ceramic…  therefore it holds heat perfectly inside without temperature fluctuations, but even at its highest temp is still cool to the touch outside.  My former boss told me it was the best thing he’s ever bought in his entire life.

2. The ART OF SHAVING 4 ELEMENTS OF THE PERFECT SHAVE KIT, $60.  When I first saw this, I thought it was one of those hokey gifts rigged to be a default item for holiday shoppers not knowing what to get the men in their life…  almost like the boy-version of the Bath & Body Works Sun-Ripened Raspberry gift basket, popular the world over circa 1997.  But then, this dapper kit got the unsolicited endorsement of one very sophisticated gent we know.  He said that if you have 20 minutes to spend shaving (for a big interview, special occasion, whatever) then it will literally be THE best and smoothest shave you’ve ever had.  A little luxury for the boys doesn’t hurt, eh?

3.  BILLY REID ‘JACKSON’ SHAWL COLLAR SWEATSHIRT, $195.  Kinda casual, kinda woodsy, kinda preppy, and ultra dilf-y.  Yeah, I said it. The sweatshirt dresses it down, but the shawl collar dresses it back up a little – so it’s perfect for your family’s Christmas party or for a snazzy dinner on the town.  Or, while he chops down a tree in the front yard.  So versatile it might as well be an LBD for men.

4.  PLAYBOY’S GREATEST COVERS, $24.  Selected by Hef himself out of all the covers from 1953 to today, and with a foreword by Pamela Anderson.  I’d love to roll my eyes, but I did just say “DILF” up above.  Matt calls it “the gift that keeps on giving.”  Truth be told, I suppose it’s a pretty cool, historic piece of American pop culture.  Did I just say that outloud??  This blog post will self-destruct in 5 seconds.

5.  ARC’TERYX THETA SL HYBRID JACKET, $369.  The website says, “Lightweight, packable, waterproof GORE-TEX® jacket, designed for emergency storm-protection in inclement weather.”  Matt – whose Mom bought him one years back – says, “It’s far better quality than North Face or Columbia, but they’re just a Canadian brand still flying under the radar.  And it’s colder up there, so those guys definitely know what they’re doing.”  Bahhaha, I’ll take it.  And after having walked Gus in it for an hour in frigid weather recently, I say:  “Light as a feather but surprisingly keeps you as warm as if you were rolled up in a giant blanket in front of the fire.  That thing is money.”  BANG.

6. MAPS ROCKS GLASSES, $25 per pair.  11oz each and etched with custom wraparound street maps of the following cities:  Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston, South Boston, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland OR, San Francisco, and Washington DC.  I *also* heard a little rumor that custom locations are available…  how cool is that??  And I’m a jerk, because I just checked back and they’re sold out through January.  Sorry about that, guys.  So maybe it’s something to keep in the think tank for his birthday (?!)  I don’t know that these are something a guy would go out and purchase for himself, but he’ll definitely appreciate the understated, minimalist edge you just graced his cabinets & cocktails with.

7. Wait, what’s that in the glass up there??  Could it be FIREBALL CINNAMON WHISKY?  Do yourself a favor and pick up a little bottle of this at your local liquor store for your favorite guy.  One cold, rainy night in Columbus, we took home a bottle at the suggestion of the cashier on duty when we asked him what would warm us up.  We also mixed it with some kind of amber beer that night, which was good, but it’s also delightful just to sip (“SIP” being the operative word) on its own.

PS, If you wanted to get really creative, you could gift him a little package with:  a) The Fireball Whisky, b) The Mixers – and here are some recipe suggestions, and c) The set of Rocks glasses.  But since they’re currently sold out, a set of my old faithfuls would do the trick…  $12.99 for a 12-pack.

8.  MICHAEL KORS CASHMERE SCARF, $135.  In dark camel or in black. Yum.

9.  TICKETS TO SOMETHING AWESOME – a concert (e.g., the Stones are playing in Jersey this weekend!), a sporting event (Bowl game?), or a wheelbarrow race – whatever.  Anything he loves.

10.  UGG ASCOT SUEDE MOCCASIONS, $110. THESE. ARE. HEAVEN. And I cannot stop buying them for everyone I know.  He can wear ’em around the house, or around the corner to Sunday brunch.

11.  MANLY-MAN CANDLESVoluspa’s Suede Blanc (my favorite, $27) and Diptyque’s Feu de Bois (Karrie’s favorite, $60) are two of *THE* best ones out there.  One whiff and you’ll be on the bandwagon.  This is another something that I doubt they’d buy for themselves, but boys like their houses to smell good & clean, too.  And yo – the standard “vanilla”‘s gettin’ a little old, right?

12.  WEBER STYLE 6445 STAINLESS 3-PIECE BARBEQUE TOOL SET, $35.  How can your pops, brother, grandpa and hubby flip steaks without ’em?

13.  WEEKEND SHIRTS3/4 Sleeve Raglan Henley, $22 and J.Crew Oxford Buffalo Check Shirt, $75.  I own the one on the left, and it is nubby paper-thin perfection.  Fits boys better, but I like it to sleep in.  Good staple to stock-up on at that price, too.

14.  BOSE QUIET COMFORT NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES, $299.95.  Since I don’t know diddle about boy-techie-stuff, I had to have Matt weigh-in on these.  And his breakdown went something like this:  “So, you know how everybody knows Samsung makes the best TV’s?  (insert blank stare on my part…)  Well Bose makes the best headphones and sound systems.  And the noise cancelling ones would be awesome if you’re traveling.”

All I needed to know.  Who doesn’t wanna drown out the sound of the screaming toddler next to you on the plane?  Or, maybe you got lucky and got seated next to this guy:

15.  STOCKING STUFFERS

Cushioned Argyle Socks, Set of 3 in assorted colors, $22 | Mustache Coasters, $10 | Two of *THE* most swoon-worthy men’s colognes on the market – Versace Eau Fraiche and Tom Ford Noir | Homeland Season 1 DVD…  aka the best show on television.  Stop what you’re doing immediately and start watching it if you haven’t already. | Alexander McQueen skull tie – Karrie’s pick.  She says:  “There’s a hint of sophistication, and a hint of edge – just like I like my men.” Rawr. | Last but not least…  an old-fashioned mixed tape…  because making someone a homemade mash-up will never go out of style.

Happy Shopping!!

xoxo,

Steph, Karrie, and our trusty guest-blogger, Matt