LIFESTYLE
You’ve made a list of everyone you need to buy for this holiday season: family members, close friends, co-workers, a significant other (and don’t forget your lovable pooch or kitten!) and you’ve applied the dollar amount that you wish to spend. Yet, how often is it that when you venture out to the malls, you exceed that dollar amount and your careful budgeting goes out the window?
Each year my social circle seems to expand, along with the list of people I need to buy for. If you don’t have the luxury of doing a “Secret Santa” or a gift exchange that permits you to exchange with only one other person in your household or workplace, the cost of buying gifts for every person on your list can easily range anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars – not an easy credit card bill to swallow.
Even if your workplace or financial institution offers some type of holiday savings club, (I partake in one offered by work) there’s still a good change you’ll run over what you are willing to spend. To help ease the pain of holiday shopping and spending, here's a list of several gift ideas for everyone on your list that will excite beyond the gift card (boring!) and will not require a whole lot of cash – let’s say no more than $50.
Dad: tablet/cell phone case, a box of cigars, his favorite bottle of wine or alcohol, car care kits, travel accessories
Mom: her favorite perfume, tablet/cell phone case, gourmet tea set, cosmetic case, fashion scarf
Sister: decorative journal/planner, nail polish set, hat/gloves/scarf set, ballet flats, cosmetic set
Brother: general admission tickets to a sports game, video games, docking station, movie passes, sport memorabilia
Grandmother: personalized photo mug, personalized towels and soaps, decorative candles, photo frames
Grandfather: books, music, movies, digital photo frame, personalized mug
Aunt and Uncle: Gourmet coffee basket, cheese and cracker sampler, gourmet chocolates, gourmet hot cocoa making kit
Pet: Gourmet treats, toys, blankets/pillows, collar or leash
Boyfriend: His favorite cologne, his favorite candy/food, movies, favorite bottle of wine/liquor
Girlfriend: Her favorite perfume, nail polish set, at-home spa kits, pajama sets, books
Co-worker: candles, baked good, gourmet tea or coffee sets, flower arrangements/poinsettias
All gift ideas on the list above can easily be found for under $50. If you have any gift-giving ideas you’d like to share, please comment on the story below.
Velvet Palate is a new and unique wine sale website that offers limited quantity, handcrafted wines from small-production winemakers, allowing its customers access to many hard to find wines. Sign up for their free membership to receive significant savings on online sales that last anywhere from four to six days and would make an optimal gift for anyone on your holiday list.
Velvet Palate offers select sales in the 'cellar,' which lengthens their availability on the website for up to two weeks, giving members an extra chance to take advantage of sales. The site also offers gift packages that feature four or five wines, each with a theme such as sparkling, international, organic, and more and range from $55 to $150. There are also free shipping opportunities each month with no minimum purchase requirement, so be on the lookout for those offers!
Can you believe it's already December? The holiday season is in full swing and we're here to help you start your holiday shopping with the perfect stocking stuffers! Check 'em out below and beat the holiday craze! It'll be here before you know it!
For the bling-crazy: Nothing says 'look at me' like beautiful jewelry. These suede wrap bracelets ($138) from Alexandra Beth are the perfect addition to any female's collection of stones, complete with actual rocks, shimmering geodes. Looking for something to adorn those dainty fingers? Margaret Elizabeth makes gorgeous rings, like this pear shaped pink amythest for only $88. Make someone really happy by blinging up their stocking this year.
Have you ever just wanted to plan a party in the most hassle-free way possible? Well, then you are in luck because a brand new start up, VenueTap has just launched today! The new venture is a customized venue matchmaking site based in New York City. It aims to combine the ease and efficiency of the web with the personal touch of a talented Venuologist.
“Think of VenueTap as the Patti Stanger of venue matchmaking, except our members don’t need to be millionaires- in fact, our service is entirely free,” says co-founder Dan Rieger. "We filter through the city’s venues, weed out the duds and pair our members with only the best selection. Through our custom-built online platform, members can now easily find their perfect match, based on their celebration type and specific party needs.”
Buh-bye T-day, hello Christmas. Sure you snagged a lot of killer deals on Black Friday and perhaps picked up a present or ten for friends and family. But, some of our favorite pressies for the gift-of-giving holiday happen to be stocking stuffers. Here are some fun finds we scooped up while surfing the internet this weekend:
Liquid Courage: Cleverly Fashioned Flasks
These cheeky, vinyl-clad flasks feature diverse, distinctive designs, all encouraging that certain someone to sip with a smile.
For more info click here.
The holidays are here, and if you’re at all like us, you prefer to hide-out on Black Friday in favor of stocking up on holiday gifts online. Here are some of our favorite swag-friendly web-o-sphere finds for your at home shopping pleasure:
Under $25
If you’d prefer your Movember supporting man to be hairless, then snag this ring for your darling. Cheap, fun and cheeky. This pick makes for a perfect laughable stocking stuffer.
Safaveih
Various widths of leather are used to create the special texture and appearance of these hand-knotted shag rugs. Lay one down, and a world of craftsmanship will be at your feet. Vamp up from the ground up with a hefty dose of edgy style from Safevieh.
For more information click here
Chen Chen & Kai Williams
The artistic collaboration of Chen Chen & Kai Williams shows a creative interest in melding materials and forward thinking design. These art pieces double as functional objects from rings to bangles to coasters.
For more information click here
After many of us here in New York spent a large chunk of time away from our powerless apartments last week due to Hurricane Sandy, otherwise, in the dark (literally), it’s been welcoming and refreshing to get back to our at-home routines. Many of us are undoubtedly appreciating our cozy, full-powered abodes perhaps breeding motivation to spruce them up. Taking a vintage nod, here are our favorite at-home accessories and décor found this week:
CoMod
One word, Eames! This Missouri-based design studio restores beloved vintage Eames rockers, metal lamps, schoolhouse chairs, vintage maps and more. The CoMod selection will most certainly add some style cred to your digs and you’ll become an all-things modern aficionado in no time.
MNKR
“I wish I knew someone with a Muthafuckin Boat.” That’s just one of the sayings slapped on MNKR’s cozy, cotton tees. Short for Moniker, the West Coast clothing line was founded by Matt Fellows and Kandace Reuter. Great design, cool typography and clever wit are the jist of their tee philosophy.
Snag your own statement tee here
Think aerobics is just a craze of the 80s past? Think again. Right here in NYC, city gals are jumping in to make sweat sexy with 305 Fitness.
Tired of trudging along on the elliptical? Shake things up with 305 Fitness: the latest dance method sweeping the exercise world by storm offering up bomb moves, sassy instructors and booty-busting music.
305 Fitness offers workouts for those who love a good party. The action packed classes feature a DJ, glowsticks and a bartender whipping up smoothies while the classes whip booties into top shape. The average calories burned in a class is 800!
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