office gifting

It's often hard to understand the protocol for gifting at the office. Every office is different but I thought that I'd share my strategy with you. I am a big believer in purchasing something small for direct reports, and if you like, giving cards to others (like your boss). Wine and champagne are always great go-to's, but I'm also loving the cute, colorful, multi-purposes notebooks from Archie Grand. I recently purchased one in a bright hue with a clever saying on the front like this one from J. Crew. They have tons of options in store or you can find them on Amazon. Another great option is something for the office. If someone on your team is a coffee addict, get her the perfect everyday coffee mug. Anthropologie  has adorable monogrammed ones. 

Additionally, If you want to get something for everyone then you can bring in treats from a local bakery or something sweet that you've made for all to enjoy.  Happy employees, make happy bosses. 

archie grand notebooks

sought after beauty stocking stuffers

Yesterday I focused on stocking stuffers for the guys, so it's only fitting that today I focus on the ladies. Buying your fave makeup finds and sharing them is one of my favorite stocking stuffer ideas. From your newly discovered mascara to your life saving winter hand cream, your friends and family will be thrilled to receive these little goodies (and to try them!). For expert recommendations,I'd recommend that you tap into the fabulous team at Beauty Blitz that has compiled their top $20 and under gifts. My friends rave about the Eos Lip Sphere (and how easy it is to find in your bag!). I'll have to get my hands on these soon. Happy gifting! 

eos lip sphere holiday pack $8.99

studly stocking stuffers

CNET is the go-to resource for the tech-savvy and tech-obsessed. That's why I wanted to share their top last minute tech finds that will make perfect stocking stuffers. I personally am a fan of the Mophie Juicepack Air, a case + battery pack for your iPhone - perfect for those who take long trips or use WiFi all of the time. For more inspiration, click here to review their top picks. 

Another fave stocking stuffer this season is the Moshi Moshi Retro POP Handset. These are FLYING off of the shelves. It works with most phone and tablet devices and touts that it eliminates up to 99 percentage of the radiation absorbed compared to a direct use of mobile phones. You still have time to get these items via Amazon in time for the holidays. If you're like me and order online all of the time, I'd highly recommend upgrading to Amazon Prime for a yearly fee to always get guaranteed 2 day shipping. It's pretty amazing. 

moshi moshi headset $30

the white elephant gift

We had our holiday party a little early this year at work and I wanted to share with you the top three gifts for a white elephant gift swap so that you don’t need to waste your precious time thinking of what everyone will want. In case you’re not familiar with the concept, the white elephant gift swap is when everyone brings a wrapped gift in. You then  pick numbers. The first person picks a wrapped gift. The next person can then take the gift from the first person or take his chance on a remaining unwrapped gift. This process continues with lots of swapping along the way. If you pick first, you get to go again at the end and take anything that you want. We had a $10 limit. The clear winners that got people excited were (1) gift cards (for iTunes, Starbucks, etc.) (2) gifts for kids that parents fought over (kind of amazing to watch – an example would be a very cool and desirable lava lamp) and (3) WINE (bags were carefully examined to check for alcohol). If you go the wine or champagne route, I love the idea of including a note about the specific bottle’s rating. So even if it’s $10, show why it’s so amazing.  Of course, you can always go with the clever and funny gifts, but the above were definitely a hit and I’d highly recommend them. Cheers!  

a little lab love

The other day, I was caught saying that I only had one more person to shop for. As it was pointed out, that person was my dog. If you're like me, then you also care deeply for your pooch (and maybe he even has his own stocking), and so, you want to ensure that you get some gifts for the dogs (and dog lovers) in your life. Planet Dog makes great toys and they give back some of their proceeds. For the holidays, the Orbee-Tuff® Mint is a perfect stocking stuffer. Harry Barker has some adorable gift buckets that include tons of holiday treats. 

If you're giving to a dog lover, Orvis makes a personalized dog food mat that traps water - it's genius (and blends in nicely with any home decor)! Another fun gift is a playful holiday collar from Harry Barker or even your favorite football team. Wag.com, a new online pet retailer from the brilliant people behind Soap.com have great deals on shipping and if it's your first order, you get a 15% discount. Get those tails wagging this holiday season! 

harry barker gift buckets

give a little bit

At this time of year, it’s hard to not get caught up in all of the purchasing, but it’s important to remember that the season is also about giving for those in need. Why not combine the two? A friend shared a great site with me that allows you to bid on unique and fantastic gifts – best part is that your shopping is for a great cause! Bidding for Good is a small company with a big heart. You can bid on everything from dinner with your favorite celeb to tickets to a show to the must have toys of the season. 

Another great option is to give a very “cool” gift – the gift of wind power!  You can do this directly through New England Wind Fund. Currently they are running a $15 gifting special. I also love the option of supporting the Mayor’sFund to Advance New York City. You can find a list of the funds supported this year here. 

Little gifting tip: For every person that you purchase a gift for, think about spending a few dollars less (you can even make a pact among your family to do this) and putting the money aside. At the end, you'll have at least $25 to donate to a cause that you support! 

arm candy

From cuffs to bangles to string bracelets, the layering look is very en vogue and rightfully so. This holiday season, take the friendship bracelet to a new level. You can purchase a variety of options for your friends (at varying prices). I love that you can look down at your wrist and your bracelet(s) will remind you of your amazing friendships or allow you to associate it with a memory or experience. You can get fun, chunky jewelry for festive occasions like the Lulu Frost collection for J.Crew. Or go the layered route with colorful bangles from Kate Spade. They come in so many different colors and playful patterns that you are guaranteed to find something perfect for each of your friends. The Idiom bracelets are my fave to layer. I came across a NY based designer, Iwona Ludyga, at a local event and she had very perfect every day bracelets that can are ideal for layering. At the same event, I was incredibly inspired by Same Sky. All of their bracelets are created by women in Rwanda who are rebuilding their lives. Purchasing these bracelets supports an amazing cause. 

For further inspiration, check out the best dressed wrists in New York, which was curated by Refinery 29. 

iwona ludyga skully wrap bracelet $90

photos made easy

With the holidays only a few weeks away, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of the lingering Cyber Monday offers that last through the end of the day. I think that one of the most thoughtful and memorable gifts is a custom made photo album to document memories from across the year. I love the idea of starting a tradition and making this an annual gift to a loved one, family or friends. With photos mainly being digital these days (which I love), you truly have to make the effort to print your photos. Instead of printing them the traditional way, I’d recommend creating a keepsake that’s already complete once it arrives at your door plus you can add copy to create a story. I love, love, love tinyprints and they offer great deals on custom photo albums. They have a plethora of options for colors, paper type, cover material, etc. to make it fit with your style and needs. I also love the idea of creating a calendar with pictures of your new baby, your pet, etc. and giving them to friends and family. They make perfect stocking stuffers and are incredibly affordable.



toys for the techies

It's that time of year again, for the ever-popular Wired magazine's pop-up store to open its doors in the heart of Times Square. If you want to get some ideas for the techies in your life, I highly suggest that you check it out. Here's a brief overview of what to expect and some more details if you're in Manhattan. Additionally, there are three tech related items that I'm currently loving. 

If you're like me, then when you travel, you want to bring as few chargers as possible. The PlugBug charger is life changing - it charges two devices at once. So simple, yet brilliant. Next, Apple sells a Camera Connection Kit that gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera: using your camera’s USB cable or directly from an SD card. This makes sharing pictures so easy and quick. Best part is that you don't need to wait on anyone to upload the photos. You can just grab them from friends in the moment. Lastly, I came across the DODOcases for tablet devises. They look as sleek as moleskin notebooks while perfectly protecting your device. J.Crew is currently partnering with DODOcase for some specially designed cases.

plugbug charger $34.99

patterned dodocase for kindle $64.95

goop’s gift guide

Over the next few weeks, I will be sifting through the clutter to find the best holiday gift guides out there so that you don’t waste your time or money. In case you didn’t see it today, GOOP, a site carefully curated by Gwnyneth Paltrow, sent out their 2011 gift guide and I wanted to share it. The guide spans a wide range of prices and offers some very cute, creative and unique gifts. In case you want more, there is a link to view the 2010 recommendations for even more great ideas. Happy gift idea generating!

maya brenner designs bi-coastal necklace - starting at $165

signed, sealed, delivered

A friend introduced me to the wonderful world of tinyprints greeting cards. They have a wide selection of cards for any occasion that can be personalized with names, copy and photos! The best part is that they handle the shipping directly from their facility. So say goodbye to rummaging through your bag to find a stamp, and upon finding it wondering if the postage is still the correct amount. They make showing you care a cinch. I’d recommend these for newly engaged couples, new homes, birthdays, anniversaries, baby births and my favorite, just because. Tons of families use tinyprints for Holiday cards and they have a sister site, Wedding Paper Divas, which is dedicated to all things wedding and offers fantastic prices.

I also wanted to share another easy and meaningful gift that can be customized and ordered with ease. Recently, for a friend’s engagement, I wanted to show my excitement while not breaking the bank. I found an adorable Boatman Gellar notepad online that I could put her soon-to-be new name on. She received it and loved that I had put so much thought into giving her a personalized and beyond useful gift. Not only did she have to order more, but it’s become her go-to gift for her newly engaged friends. When I got engaged, she sent me stationary from Paper Source with our initials on it - I was thrilled! So simple, yet so practical and perfect. 

boatman gellar notepad - $26 for 2 

paper source notecards - starting at $50

away we go

I headed to warmer weather for the weekend, so I thought that it would be helpful to share some of my top picks for your beach or weekend bag. With the holidays approaching, these all make excellent stocking stuffers as well! LL Bean has great monogrammed totes that are very reasonable and hold tons of stuff. Alternatively, Bric's has a wide selection of bags that come in a plethora of colors and can be found for discounted prices through deal sites such as Gilt or at a department store such as Bloomingdale's which typically has good luggage sales. Now the good stuff, what to put in the bag...A kate spade iPad cover, iPhone or Kindle case is perfect to keep the sand out of your devices. They come in very cute, colorful designs. J.Crew has a wide selection of scarves for any destination or climate (I’m loving my blue Ikat one for Fall and it makes a perfect plane companion). bkr bottles, created by two friends in search of a reusable water bottle that did not compromise aesthetically, are ideal for any trip. I love their philosophy and story. Who doesn't want to be green while simultaneously looking great?

bkr bottles $28

kate spade iPhone case $40