Valentine's Day Gifts... for her

Valentine's Day is upon us, and if you are looking for a little last minute inspiration of what to get your sweetheart (or better yet, what to treat yourself to) I've pulled together a short list of things I'd love!

Nothing over the top, but pretty little somethings to add a little spring to your step.

Poppy colored Skirt - nobody does preppy like Banana Republic.  I actually treated myself to this skirt yesterday, and aside from being the perfect length for work, the pleats are ultra flattering!

Pink Leather Handbag - hello ladylike.  You could wear this bowler as a crossbody bag, or use the handles for the ultimate ladylike look.

Pretty Lace-trimmed Nighty - how cute is this with the black and white stripes, and the little bit of pink?!

Pave Chain-link Bracelet - yep, this bracelet will pretty much top my list for any occasion... I am still in love!

Lacquer Bangle - a fun addition to your outfit on a gloomy February day.

Leopard Clutch - I am LOVING animal print now, more than ever - wear this as a neutral!  I swear it goes with everything you own!

Pink Clarisonic - I have the blue one, and it's amazing.  Treat yourself (or your girlfriend)... it's worth every penny.

Bouquet of Peonies - because these are the most romantic flower out there...

Coral Studs - for a little something sparkly...

Heart Gloves

This is such a random thought, but aren't these just the sweetest gloves??

Yastikizi's Etsy Shop is full of handmade warm, cozy, nostalgic knit goods, and these gloves would make such a perfect gift!

I could imagine little girls running around with these, as easily as I could imagine myself rocking them on cold days (and nights)!

They also have versions with the finger tips cut off (convenient for texting - of course), and they come wrapped up with yarn, in these adorable bundles!

I heart them!

Gussy up Your Gift Wrap!

I've never been great at wrapping gifts... I don't have the patience to get the folds perfect, and I use quite a bit of tape to make up for my impatience.  As a firm believer in the idea that enough ribben can solve any imperfection, I've been looking for a little holiday wrapping inspiration that looks simple enough, and still pretty.

What did I come up with??

Use Lace

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Yup - wrap a sheath of lace around a simply wrapped brown paper parcel, and you are good to go (and no one will know the mass amounts of tape holding things together under the paper!!)

Go Metallic

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All that reflective wrapping paper is bound to camoflauge some imperfectly folded edges right??  And under the tree with the twinkling lights - it will be pretty enough to distract from the part where I didn't quite cut enough paper to cover everything... right??

Accessorize A LOT

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Go overboard!  It's the holidays afterall!!  Grab some pom poms, burlap, ribben, doilies, fabric flowers... the works!  Just keep layering!

Go Natural

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Go ahead - snap some pine branches off the tree - no one's going to miss them!  Glue a few pinecones to the top, and it's a charming "woodsy" package.

Did I miss any super handy tricks for fancifying an otherwise poorly wrapped present??

I think I'm going to test a few of these out tonight since the fruits of my online shopping have payed off big time.  Almost everything has arrived, with plenty of time to spare!!

Cute Custom Notebooks from May Books

       

       

I am by nature a very organized person - so obviously I love the idea of keeping a day planner.  For work, I am constantly juggling schedules for meetings, client dinners, and after work events, so instead of using a very utilitarian desk calendar from Office Depot (NOT CUTE), I've discovered May Books - an awesome online retailer who sells customizable notebooks, day planners, calendars, and journals. Obviously tailored toward women, it's super easy to use, and MUCH more affordable than the ones Kate Spade, Tory Burch, and Jonathan Adler offer.  Double Bonus!!

The site is so easy to navigate - just pick your pattern (they have really cute chevron prints, along with florals, ikat prints, greek key prints, and polka dots!)

After you've picked your pattern out, you can customize your notebook with a monogram (obsessed)!  Done and done! 

Not only are they adorable, but the bright colors make work just a little more fun, and it will be easy to find in your purse!!

Valentines Gifts for Her

JEWELRY: 
Kissing Birds necklace - it's as charming as it is lovely, and at $42, its extremely affordable!

vivianfeilerdesigns.com

FLOWERS:
What girl doesn't love flowers - whether it's sent to her at work, or brought home at the end of the day, think outside the box of the standard dozen red roses.  I hate red roses.  The show The Bachelor completely ruined red roses for me forever, so now I see a red rose and think, "Cliche!" "Tacky!" "Standard!" White flowers are timeless and classic, and a tulip is much less common than a rose.  Teleflora delivers nationally, but my recommendation would be to find a local florist - you will get a better quality arrangement for your money.  Some other less thought of blooms to surprise her with?  White Orchids, White Peonies, and White Lillies (Stargazer or Calla).

       

    
     


A WEEKEND AWAY:
Surprise her with a weekend getaway - whether you live a few hours from the seaside, the mountains, or the wine country, look into making reservations at a cute bed and breakfast that caters to couples without children.  If you have kids, book a baby-sitter well in advance, or bribe the grandparents into watching the babes over night.  Pop some bubbly, book spa appointments, have a hotel room picnic with cheese and chocolate in front of the gas fireplace!




kenwoodinn.com


A HOMEMADE CARD:
It's small, it's sweet, and it shows that you put time and thought into telling your sweetheart that you love them.   I always find the cards at the drugstore so cheesy.  They usually involve too much glitter and a photograph of two wine glasses, two hearts, or two small children holding hands, and you KNOW that one million other people are getting that same card.  Skip it, and save yourself the $3.50 - Martha Stewart has some fun tutorials on pop out cards, or if you are really feeling creative, get some thick gorgeous linen paper (you can get this at Staples or another business supply store), and make a cool potato stamp.  Make a heart, kissing lips, or an X and and O.  Use red paint on creme colored paper, keep it simple, and you will come out on top.
       
marthastewart.com




Potato Stamp Tutorial via polkadotdesign.com


PRIVATE COOKING LESSON:
If you live in a rural or small town, this could be tricky, but for most people within an hour of a large city, this is simple, intimate, and fun!  Have a chef come to your home with the fixings to make a fabulous dinner.  Not only do you not have to worry about finding all the fancy ingredients on your own, but you get to learn - hands on - how the pro's sear a steak, or make homemade pasta.  A lot of these places let you choose the type of cuisine you want to make, and some even let you hand pick the dishes!  No fussy dinner, no overpriced menu - just good food, good company, and an opportunity to surprise yourself!  And guess who will be able to make Beef Bourguignon for the next anniversary? :-)

privatechefsinc.com

A ROMANTIC EVENING IN:
Light some candles in the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen.  Draw her a bath, or set up a small table for two in the living room.  The secret to a romantic night in, is doing things you wouldn't do on a normal night.  Make it a rule to keep the TV off, the lights low, and candles going.  Even if it's Chinese takeout on the menu, use the good dishes, and think outside the box.




TWO AIRLINE TICKETS:
Where have you both been dying to go?  Is it a long weekend in Mexico, or a lavish vacation in Bali?  Has she been dying to visit her family across the country, or visit her best friend one state over?  Plan a few months ahead, and buy two plane tickets to make it happen.  Booking in advance minimizes the risk that she won't be able to get the time off, will have conflicting plans, etc.  With the tickets booked, you two can plan the rest of the trip together, and have something fun to look forward to.



A GORGEOUS RING:
If you aren't married but have talked about it, you know it's going to be on her mind, but if you really want to surprise her, pop the question the day after when her guard is down.

tiffany.com


Happy Valentines Day!!

Macaroons make Monday's Better

A fun treat arrived to my office this morning!  Gorgeous French Macaroons from L'Artisan Macaroon.  They are very hard to find, and these one's in particular actually came from one of my favorite bakeries in the world - Bouchon, a Thomas Keller bakery in Yountville California.

If you ask me, Yountville is the most adorable town in the world, located between Napa and St. Helena - its a foodie haven set against the most stunning wine country backdrop.  If you've never been, please go, rent bikes, get lost on windy vinyard roads, go wine tasting, eat a Michael Chiarello's restaurant or if you are feeling splurg-y, French Laundry (another Thomas Keller hot-spot that is on my bucket list for sure), and soak in everything lovely about the wine country.

Anyways, I digress.  These perfect french macaroons are such a treat - SO colorful, and as delicious as they are beautiful.

Happy Monday!

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: NEED, not want

 

One of my more recent obsessions revolves around getting a puppy.  Not yet any puppy, a Cavelier King Charles Spaniel.  The conversation goes something like this:

Me: "Oh my god, honey, look at that dog!!  Soo cute!!"
Kris: "Yeah, it's cute"
Me: "Oh my gosh, I NEED that dog in my life - can you imagine how much fun we'd have taking it on long walks, teaching it tricks, and snuggling with it on the couch?"
Kris: "Pretty cute. I'm hungry, where do you want to eat?"
Me: "No but really, I feel like our lives would be so complete with a dog.  And my office is dog friendly - I could bring it to work so it wouldn't be home alone!"
Kris: "A dog is a huge responsibility outside of the obvious fact that our building doesn't allow dogs"
Me: "That is such a minor detail - our landlord loves me"

And so on... and so on...

I mean, LOOK that that little face!  What a muffin!!  I will slowly but surely wear Kris down... if only I can get our names on a few waiting lists, he will cave!

Dad is turning 60!

I can't believe it!  My dad is turning 60 this year, and for quite some time, I have been brainstorming ways to make it a really special day!  I came across this amazing post on the blog Inchmark.  They posted the COOLEST idea that is relatively inexpensive but that will make a huge impact.


I had toyed with the idea of throwing a big party for my dad, but honestly, that would be my mom's dream - my dad would hate it.  He is more into intimate dinners with my mom, me and my sister, so in lieu of a big surprise party, I want all his family and friends to be a part of the celebration, so I will be making 60 postcards to send to 60 of the most important people in his life.  With these pre-stamped postcards, I am sending instructions to write the best, funniest or just favorite memories of my dad and mail it back as close to his birthday as possible.  This way, in the weeks surrounding his birthday, he will receive sweet little notes from everyone in his life.

What a wonderful way to turn the corner to a new decade!

MY NEW KATE SPADE BAG IS HERE!!!

This is a TERRIBLE photo taken with my phone, but I am so excites about it, I don't even care!  I am in LOVE.  A personal note to Kate:

Your bags are amazing... I have an official addiction, so please stop making them.  I am slowly going broke, and will be homeless living in a box, but with a shelf full of beautiful handbags.

Love,
Becky

Gift Wrap IS an Art!

With Christmas just around the corner, I have been spending quite a bit of time wrapping presents...  I'm not the most skilled wrapping expert, so a huge high-five to the internet for providing such a wealth of information around perfectly creased paper, and an array of bow tying tactics.

In an article aggregated by one of my favorite bloggers Joanna Goddard (of Cup of Jo), Chatelaine.com explains one of the easiest and most beautiful ways to tie a bow - step by step!  Worth the extra 2 minutes it takes - trust me!

Click here to be a fellow bow tying expert...

Also, OhHappyDay has published several fun articles with styling tips and where to buy guides for each - ingenious!!

Wrapping Guide #1
Wrapping Guide #2

More real life gift wrap photos to follow with a few of my own masterpieces!

Image courtesy of Chatelaine.com

Bad little Fawn

That is something my mom would always say... and it's true.  As the "season of giving" begins, I happened to come across the Kate Spade sample sale last night... it was so very bad.  What was I supposed to do?!

I had to get one... honestly I wanted three, but with a custom sofa order in to Pottery Barn, and the multitude of other expenses looming from the move and my new gig as part-time interior designer, I had to limit myself to just one.  And it is GORGEOUS!!!

The ultra large, crocodile embossed patent leather... yummy... and the color is called Goose - how cute is that?!  Dear Kate, you have outdone yourself again.  Love, Becky