father's day gifts

Father's Day is just around the corner, but there's still time to pick up something special for dear old dad. Read on for my top picks to help him relax, have fun, and enjoy the day in style.

gift guide: great gifts under $50

Hey guys, does anyone know where the first half of December went? I can't be the only one that's feeling a little behind this year, right?!? If you still have a few (or a lot of) gifts to buy, allow me to help with this handy gift guide. Consider it a gift from me to you:

1. Animal Magnets & Cardholders: each of these animals is made of two magnets that stick together, so you can stand them up as card holders, or pull the two halves apart and stick them on the fridge!
2. Cashmere Beanie: no one will ever complain about getting cashmere
3. Bottoms-up Cups: you could gift these little travel cups with a bottle of something to sip in the woods and still come in under $50
4. Balsam & Cedar Candle: not only does this candle make your house smell like a wonderful Christmas tree, the sparkly mercury glass container looks magical when its lit!
5. Gold Leaf Eyeshadow: give her the perfect accessory for New Years: gold eyelids!
6. Strawberry Socks: I love giving and getting fun socks, and Hansel from Basel has some of the cutest socks and tights around. I just wish these strawberry socks came in adult sizes!
7. Make it Ahead Cookbook: The Barefoot Contessa's latest is a no-brainer. Her recipes are always great and everyone loves her. Go to your local bookstore- they will have it. Want more cookbook suggestions? Check out my favorites here and here. 
8. It's Too Early Mug: Is it too dramatic to call Emily McDowell the voice of her generation? Everything she makes is genius, and her new mugs are no exception.
9. Orla Kiely Water Bottle: Yes, there's another Orla Kiely collection at Target! Water Bottles, yoga mats, suitcases and travel bags! I love it all. 
10. Ceramic Coffee Dripper: If this thing got any more hip, it might spontaneously combust. Gift it with a pound of whatever the latest Blue Bottle replica is for extra cool points. 
11. Spice Gift Sets: Oaktown Spice Shop has an amazing selection of gift sets for all the cooks and foodies on your list, and their quality is top notch. They have hard-to-find spices, interesting salts, and even a kit for making your own tonic water!
12. I Hate Running Shirt: I'm pretty sure everyone hates running, right? Find this and other clever shirts at Thug Life.
13. Forest Critter Garden Pot: plant a little succulent in one of these adorable pots and you've got a sweet gift almost anyone would love
14. 1:Face Charity Watch: they've taken the Tom's Shoes model and applied it to watches. Buy one of these sleek, modern watches and you'll fund one of their selected charities. 
15. Klizia Stapler: who would have thought a stapler could be so cute?

Still can't find something for the person who has everything? I've got more ideas over on my Pinterest board. Or you can always just give everyone a goat! 

gift guide: father's day

Dads can be tough to shop for, especially if they don't need a new tie. Just remember, the most important part of Father's Day is letting him know how much you love him. Spending time together doing something he loves is usually the best gift, but some fun little presents won't hurt either. 

Read on for gifts sure to make any father's day:

grocery store bouquets

Planning on buying flowers for Mother's Day? I'm here to help with a guide for giving flowers this Sunday- or really any time you want to brighten someone's day!

If you're looking to get creative and save some cash, it is possible to put together a pretty bouquet using grocery store flowers. All it takes to make them look great is a little forethought and a few extra minutes of work.

Read on for the how-to:

gift guide: mother's day

Though I'm not a mom yet myself, I have it on pretty good authority that what moms really want on Mother's Day is to spend time with their families and to be reminded of how much they are loved. Of course, a little pampering never hurt anyone. You don't necessarily have to spend a lot, but putting an extra bit of effort in will go a long way towards showing mom how much you care. 

Read on for gifts for all the moms in your life:

homemade treats

Still working on finishing your Christmas shopping? It's not too late to whip up some homemade treats! Homemade goodies make great gifts for people that can be hard to shop for or you don't know that well. Most people enjoy a delicious treat, and will appreciate that you put time and effort into making them something.

Cookies or fruitcake are of course the traditional foods to give this time of year, but the internet is chock-full of other creative options. In the past few years, I've made jam, lemon confit, and granola to give as gifts. If you're in a time crunch, I recommend spiced nuts or granola- both are relatively easy and can be made in an afternoon (or at midnight on Christmas Eve if that's how you roll...).  For more ideas, check out these round-ups from Country Living and BuzzFeed.

If you do end up making something, be sure to make more than you think you need.  Having a few extra treats stashed away can be a lifesaver when you need a last-minute hostess gift, or your neighbor surprises you with a gift and you've forgotten to get them anything.  

[both photos from Country Living]

gift guide: gold digger

Ok, ok, so my last gift guide of the season isn't really just limited to ladies looking to score a rich husband. But when I noticed how many metallic items there were on my list of potential gifts, well, I just couldn't help myself. So here's a round-up of great gifts for those attracted to shiny things, whatever their social aspirations may be...

give away: hand in hand

I'm excited to announce a special holiday give away today! 

Ellington & French is a boutique in Berkeley that has recently re-launched their website with online shopping. They were so excited to have some of their products featured in my gift guide, they wanted to offer one of my readers the chance to try them! 

The lucky winner will receive an all natural bath set, featuring a soy candle, bath salts, and a bar of soap in the scent of their choosing. These beautiful bath products (that normally retail for $82!) are a great way to unwind during the stressful holiday season, and of course they would make a great gift. 

To enter the contest, simply visit their website to check out Hand in Hand's scents. While you're there, you may want to pick up a little something for yourself or someone on your list- they've got lots of great gifts to choose from and they're currently offering the first 25 customers a free gift with purchase. Once you've chosen your favorite scent, leave a comment on this blog post with the scent you'd choose (I'm torn between Orange Blossom and White Tea). 

One lucky winner will be chosen from the comments at random. Contest ends Sunday at Midnight. Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Update: Kait from San Francisco is our lucky winner! Thank you to all who entered! 

[top photos from Ellington & French, bottom photo from Hand in Hand]

gift guide: the foodie

For friends who love to eat and drink, it's far too easy to fall into the habit of always buying them a delicious treat for the holidays. Why not try a little something different (and longer lasting!) this year with one of these food-related gifts: 

gift guide: the dude

Boyfriends, husbands, brothers...Dudes of all kinds can be tough to shop for. Don't give up and just buy them slippers again- try one of these awesome gifts instead:

gift guide: girly girl

If you've got a girly girl on your list, whether it's your mom, your younger cousin, or your BFF, you've come to the right place. If she likes dressing up, smelling good, and all things sparkly, this list of presents is sure to make her smile. 

gift guide: the pencil pusher

Pencil pusher, desk jockey, paper person- whatever affectionate nicknames you may have for the desk dweller in your life, it seems one can never have enough office supplies. Does their desk need a little sprucing up? Or maybe you just want to find a little something to compliment their extensive sticky note collection?

gift guide: the hostess

Whether you need an actual hostess gift, or a holiday present for a friend who loves to entertain, these gifts are sure to please any hostess with the mostess.

gift guides!

It's officially December, and you know what that means- Christmas shopping! If you didn't get all your shopping done during the crazy Black Friday/Sunday sales (is Black Sunday a thing now?), I'm here to help with gift ideas for all your favorite people. I've been on the hunt for fun, unique, and affordable gifts for everyone. I'm emphasizing affordable here, because I've noticed that many gift guides seem to feature one or two reasonable items, and then throw in a $600 sweater and $800 suitcase out of the blue. I don't know about you, but I don't know many people who can spend $600 on a single gift for a friend (though if you do, tell them I want to be their friend!). To keep things a little more practical, I'll be capping the gifts in my guides at $100, with most items under $50. 

First up is gift ideas for the hostess with the mostess- but stayed tuned over the next couple weeks, I've got ideas for moms, co-workers, foodies, and even those hard-to-shop-for dudes. 

[photo via Vogue & Vintage]