boys will be boys

Having a hard time shopping for the boys in your life? Let me start with the little ones. From my experience with my many nephews, there is an obsession with trucks that starts very early. First with a book that explains truck after truck, like this one. Then, they get their tiny hands on play trucks. You would think that a truck a year would get old but there are so many options to keep them interested. For years my sister has recommended the Bruder trucks (dump trucks, front loaders, tractors…the list goes on) and they never fail. Other options are the Hess trucks (they release new ones every year!) or just move onto trains (any!). And if your little guy isn’t interested in trucks, the gender neutral easy-bake over will be available soon thanks to one amazing big sister.

Now for the men. My friend recently introduced me to the men’s shopping site (with a few store locations) Bonobos. They are all about creating the perfect fit for pants and pride themselves on that. With free shipping, super easy returns and a customer service team that gets rave reviews, seems like a must try. In addition to pants, they have tons of other apparel options from a range of brands. Check it out.

Since many of my friends have also purchased work bags for their men this holiday season, I thought that providing a few companies would be helpful. In addition to those listed on the Bonobos site, I recommend Jack Spade (for a classic guy), Saturdays Surf (for a start-up guy) or The Herschel Supply Co (for the uber-casual guy). 

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nothing says thanks like napkins

Looking for the perfect hostess gift? Or don't know what to bring to meet your boyfriend's parents at their house? Then look no further than a Mariposa napkin holder. Mariposa has a vast selection of adorable options to pick from (and they are always conversation starters!). There is seriously an option for everyone in your life. When my in-laws watched our precious pooch for the weekend, we gifted them a labrador retriever option to say thank you.


Since the base for the holder remains the same, you can give multiple options for the weight that can be seasonal or just plain silly - from dragonflies to flipflops to cupcakes to lobsters. Next time you need a gift to say thank you or nice to meet you, order one of these. They are very reasonable and you can't really go wrong. 

Twisted Napkin Box with Sand Dollar Weight

return to sender

With my nuptials quickly approaching, I’ve been getting some amazing gifts from family and friends. With the gifts, comes thank you notes of course. By now, you probably know that I have a love (or some may some obsession) with stationary. I absolutely had to share my new favorite thank you note companion – a custom address stamp from expressionary.com! Thanks to an amazing sister, my thank you notes have gotten a lovely makeover and I no longer have to write out my address with each note. This is the perfect alternative to getting addresses pre-printed. We all know the downside of pre-printed envelopes – they are expensive and people move too frequently. Then, you just end up with a drawer of envelopes that are useless. We all know that feeling. 

Take a peak at the great selection online, and send the perfect one to a friend at an incredibly reasonable price (and such a huge time saver!). 

three designing women kara stamp $45

caffeine fix

One of the best finds for locals, and tourists alike in San Francisco is Blue Bottle Coffee. With outposts throughout the city, it's hard to not join the hype and wait in line for a perfected single drip coffee or their signature gibralter. Although they now have a Brooklyn spot for east coasters, they are spreading the love even further with coffee subscriptions for those not lucky enough to have a shop within walking distance. This is a perfect gift for anyone who depends on an uber-flavorful cup to begin the day, or who fell in love with the java at first sip while visiting SF. I recently gifted this to my father-in-law with all of the fixings to make a gibralter - including the signature cup which is available for purchase on their site.  

game on

Not everyone can play in the Super Bowl. It does bring out a little bit of competitiveness in me though. Call me dorky, but some of the most fun nights are spent with friends, some wine and good old fashioned board games. Next time you're heading over with the wine or snacks, bring over a game - it's guaranteed to liven up the night. I'd highly recommend Apples to Apples, Catch Phrase (I mean it's an adult hot potato basically) or Scattegories. You can thank me later. Enjoy!

brrr...

Happy New Year! If you're a New Yorker, then you know that winter has officially begun. In light of the cold temps, I wanted to share some must have pieces to keep you warm. They all come in Men's and Women's so that you don't need to share. The North Face makes amazing e-Tip gloves. They come in a variety of colors and you can get thin ones (that double perfectly for ski glove liners) or a heavier option for those freezing mornings. If you want to feel your toes, I'd highly recommend a pair of Sorel boots. They make some fun, trendy options, but you can never go wring with the traditional and uber-warm Caribou. Lastly, I'm a long time Patagonia fan and am loving their bright options this season for versatile pieces that you'll have forever. On the weekends, I live in my R1 pullover (also works perfectly for outdoor sports) and puffy coat. They have an annual January sale coming up - don't miss out! Stay warm. 

patagonia women's down sweater 

on the rocks

Now that all of the holiday gifts have been given, I wanted to share one of my favorite gifts that I gave that can be great for New Years. When heading to a Christmas Eve party, I wanted to bring the hosts something a little different since I knew that they already had endless bottles for the night. I came across the "two of a kind" engraved double Old Fashioned glasses from Kate Spade. The "his" and "hers" glasses are perfect for a couple that enjoys a little night cap together. I added a set of the whiskey rocks to make the gift complete. 

kate spade two of a kind glasses $50

last minute + no shipping

Recognizing that many of you may not have finished your list just yet, and guaranteed shipping is no longer an option, I wanted to provide some ideas that don't include shipping - just a little thought and creativity. One of the best gifts that I've ever received was a tasting menu at an incredibly renowned restaurant while on vacation. All of the arrangements were made in advance and I received a perfectly penned handwritten notecard that unveiled the gift. I was so touched. With a little bit of research, you can easily find a restaurant or experience that would be perfect for a friend, loved one or family member. In terms of restaurants, you can make the gesture whatever you want - from pre-purchasing a bottle of wine at their local spot to arranging for an entire culinary experience at a sought after restaurant such as Blue Hill. Ensure that you delivery the gift in a cute way. You can print out the menu or write out the gift on a notecard like this one from Paper Source. 

In terms of experiences, if the person you are purchasing for is a foodie, you can help teach them some techniques in the kitchen with a cooking class. Many local culinary schools offer these. You'll create a memorable and thoughtful experience. 

blue hill at stone barns 

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

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

toys for the tots

With the holidays around the corner, and my niece and nephew's birthday party this weekend, it's only fitting that I share some ideas for the little ones. I always seem to run into the same dilemma – what will be useful, and something that the parents are thrilled with. Parents seem to rave about most LeapFrog products. Kids enjoy them and they are very helpful with child development. The LeapFrog Tag Learn & Love to Read Set is great for the 4 year old set. Another incredibly desirable item is the LeapFrog product is the LeanPad Explorer Learning Tablet. It's for kids ages 4-9, but has a higher price point. This generation will be pros on tablet devices! Pretty amazing. 


If you're shopping for a younger tot, I've been told that a tunnel is perfect. Little ones absolutely love them and it provides hours of fun and exploration (I've fully witnessed this). Here is a great tunnel option for the toddlers in your life. Another gift for this age group is the Fisher-Price Go Baby Go! Poppity Pop Muscial Dino - it helps to introduce cause and effect.  

leapfrog tag reading system $30

loot for the lovely bridesmaids

I get this questions all of the time - what do you get for the ladies who you rely on for your big day? I wanted to share a few ideas at varying price points. First, I absolutely love when a bride gives a lusted after clutch such as one from Lauren Merkin. Her clutches are perfect for the essentials, and depending on the bag, can be used for date night, a night out on the town or for fancy events. You can never have too many of them. If you have some time, start looking at deal sites such as Gilt for the perfect ones at great prices (approx. $100 on Gilt). Not only will you be giving your gals something useful, you can get a different one for each person. Another great gift is a custom necklace by Danielle Stevens. Her stuff is cute and affordable. Check out her monogrammed necklaces. This way you’re giving customized items to everyone. 

Also, as you know by now, I love a custom tote from LL Bean as a fun, unexpected and thoughtful way to give gifts. If it’s a summer wedding, who wouldn’t want luxurious Tory Burch flip flops to wear around and a shawl for the wedding tucked inside the tote. You should fully indulge your bridesmaids. They do so much for you. If you want to go crazy, throw in some custom notecards as well. 

The last item that I am just loving right now is a monogrammed robe. Since you’re lounging all day with the ladies, make everyone feel beyond pampered and comfy (while keeping their hair perfected). Both Pottery Barn and Matouck (among others), make incredibly soft and cozy options.

lauren merkin georgie clutch originally $250

city love

Everyone has friends or family members who live in a particular place that they absolutely love and will always have a natural affinity for, no matter where they ultimately end up. Getting a painting, drawing or poster that represents this, makes a perfect gift. There are two vendors that I love for this - Ork Posters and a new one that I just came across, Line Posters. Ork creates posters and screen prints that show the city by neighborhood and Line Posters, demonstrates the transport lines (hence the name). If you want to create a very special gift, you can even custom frame the item versus having the giftee do themselves.  We have two of these framed in our apartment (San Francisco and New York City) and we love them. If you have a Michael's craft store near you, I'd recommend going there for your framing needs. They have a "good" collection of frames that are affordable and there is something for everyone's style. 

ork posters $27

lineposter $28 (frame not included)

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.



page turner

You can never have too many books. There is something so simple, yet so perfect about a thoughtful coffee table book. They not only serve as décor, but as conversation starters that represent an experience, a hobby, a love or passion, your personality or even your favorite restaurant. They are perfect for so many different occasions. For example, recently as a thank you gift for my in-laws, we gave them with the French Laundry cookbook – an experience in Napa that we had together that will never forget! There are tons of great options for restaurant cookbooks. If you have a favorite restaurant, do a quick search.  There is a high likelihood that they may have a book available. At our friend’s house the other night, we were immediately drawn to the book on their (amazing West Elm) coffee table. It was playful and perfect - Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, which is based on the online sensation. If you want to relive a memory with a friend from the 80s, you can go the fun route of the Bon Jovi: Blaze of Glory book. You will laugh and probably be thrilled to page through and remember the concerts that you went to (yes, my sister has this and loves it). Another great option is a book that revolves around a hobby or one that represents a passion or fave vacation spot (hiking, architecture, Italy, Brooklyn, etc.). As you can see, there are endless options for the direction that the gift can go. To make the book even more special and personalized, write a note in the front that relates to why you chose the book. I love that so many of my childhood books have adorable notes in them. When possible, go for a hardcover book and check out amazon for great deals! So maybe you can judge these books by their covers...

the meatball shop $28
  

work it

As it gets colder outside, it starts to get harder to motivate to workout. One way to motivate is to ask for some must-haves from lululemon for the holidays. I’m telling you, I don’t know what it is, but their workout clothes are just amazing and not to mention, incredibly flattering and forgiving. I’m clearly a huge advocate. Once you wear one of their staple pants (I’m a big fan of the Groove or Wunder Under Crop), it’s hard to wear anything else. I’m not going to lie, sometimes I’m tempted to wear them to the office but I know that I can’t. You can sort-of justify the prices because technically, most of the items are 2-in-1 since they are reversible. I can honestly say that I use the reversible thing to rationalize my spending, but I have only once taken advantage of this. If you’re an avid runner, then I’d recommend the Cool Racerback tank for indoor gym days (this tank is great because it doesn’t ride up and even comes in an extra long length) and the Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve shirt for a base layer outside. It has a thumb loop which I love for a little more coverage. I tried it out this weekend and was very pleased. The tank can also be worn during pilates, yoga or spin class. The Swiftly can be taken directly into ski season as a base layer or can be worn while hanging out after a long day on the slopes. There are also a few sweatshirt/jackets that I have my eye on for the cold weather. They all scream warm and cozy after a workout and the best part, they cover your bum. The Live Simply Jacket, In Stride Jacket and Stride Jacket are my top picks.

All of the above items are thoughtful to gift because they directly tie back to your daily life and are beyond useful. They will bring instant gratification to a new level. I bought two things on Friday and have already worn both. My tip would be to only buy one or two things at a time, otherwise, the expense is just too crazy (hence, why you should ask for these items as a gift). While on the site today, I came across these adorable Love Notes – a simple and fun way to tell a friend just how much you care. Send one along!

Apparently, word on the street (and confirming with a lululemon sales associate) is that the Men's boxers are pretty amazing and incredibly popular. I clearly can't speak from experience though.

live simply jacket $98

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

thanking the hostess with the mostest

If you're like me, then you're headed to family and friends for Thanksgiving. You'll show up with an empty stomach, but you'll want to ensure that you're not empty handed. What's appropriate to bring to the host? If you haven't already done so, reach out to the host to ensure that there is nothing that you can pick up or bring for the big day. Suggest things that they may not have thought of. Today when I was looking through the InStyle Gift Guide (which I highly recommend), I came across a very cool brass bottle opener. Since there are many bottles opened on Thanksgiving day, this is a perfect and thoughtful gift. A fun wine opener would also be a great gift. Similarly, unique serving pieces can be a nice complement to the meal. Try something like these metal and wood serving pieces from Nambe. An easy and thoughtful, gift is a beautiful Fall bouquet that can be placed around the house (leave the centerpiece to the host since it's their table). When you arrive, the last thing that you want to do is to create more work for the hostess so either bring it in a vase or take it upon yourself to arrange the flowers upon arrival. If you're going to a house that is always missing the same thing every year (such as a digital thermometer, bread basket, etc), then you can purchase that item and bring it along - the host will be delighted that you remembered!  

Another option is to bring a wonderful selection of teas for the end of the meal. Tea Forte and Mighty Leaf offer beautifully presented options that will go with your favorite pie! And if none of the above work, then pick up a bottle of wine or champagne to show the host how very thankful you are. 

brass japanese bottle opener $65

tea forte tea chest $45

hello baby

Recently, a lot of my friends and siblings have given birth to adorable babies. Not having kids myself, I am always torn on what makes a great newborn gift. Obviously clothes are always fun, but I’m always looking for other thoughtful and easy gifts that cover multiple price points. The Silvery Gallery has a teething ring that’s beyond practical and can be monogrammed with the newborn’s initials (this has my three child sister’s approval). It’s not meant to be on display – it’s actually a great solve to teething (so is Sophie the Giraffe). Another idea is a tote bag or duffel from LL Bean with the baby’s name embroidered. New parents can never have too many bags to lug all of their belongings around. The customizable burp clothes from Moonbeam Baby are also a great find. You can create a set of three with different patterns and fonts. They come with a nice ribbon around them and shipping is reasonable. Parents will love cleaning up after their children with these adorable clothes. Plus, you will save them from having to wash their only burp clothes so often!

moonbeam baby burp cloth $8.95