Tag Archives: holiday gifts

Holiday Gift Guide: Hostess Gift Ideas

Celebrating the holidays often means traveling long distances to stay with faraway friends and family. It’s great to catch up with loved ones over wine and coffee and reminisce about past holidays all while making new memories. Even if you’re not exchanging gifts with your fab holiday hostess (or host), I’m a strong believer in giving them a special hostess gift to say thank you for their holiday hospitality.

Holiday Hostess Gift Ideas 2015 Holiday Gift Guide

I usually like to get them something to warm their home like this Filomena Baking Collection or this Spice Jar Scented Candle or this “Baby It’s Cold Outside” Accent Pillow (pictured above). A glam coffee table book like The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is a fun gift too. But you’re sure to wow your hostess this holiday with any of these gift ideas. Happy shopping!

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Stocking Stuffers
Gifts for Dogs and Dog Lovers

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Holiday Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Dogs and Dog Lovers

We all have the friends who’s dogs are the center of their lives. They’re obsessed with talking about, spending time with and spoiling their furry friends. And who wouldn’t be?  They’re adorable and have been super good this year. Therefore, dogs deserve just as many Christmas gifts as their owners.

Christmas gifts for dogs

With all of the adorable puppy-inspired finds out there, there’s never been a better time to spoil dogs and pet parents. Did you know that they make Dog Wrapping Paper and Ugly Christmas Sweaters for dogs?  Henri Bendel and Bloomingdale’s also have some great accessories for your pampered pooch. Here are a few of the puppy-inspired gifts that I’m barking about this season.

Shop more of my holiday gift guides:

Socialite Stocking Stuffers
Hostess Gift Ideas

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How to Wrap a Holiday Gift Like a Pro

Christmas Gifts

I’m really not domestic at all, but I may be one of the few people in the world who actually loves to wrap presents. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I even ask people to give me their gifts so I can wrap them. There’s just something relaxing about watching a holiday special and wrapping gifts in front of the TV.

For those of you doing last minute wrapping on Christmas Eve, here’s the secret formula my Mom taught me for wrapping the perfect gift. The trick is really to keep the edges straight and adhere the paper as close as you can to the gift to give it a clean look.

Step 1:

Gift Wrapping

Take the amount of paper you need from the roll (more is better than less) and tape it securely to the middle of the back of the box.

Tip: Boxes are always easiest wrap. In recent years, stores have gotten stingy with boxes so save your boxes and reuse them from year to year. 

Step 2:

gift wraping

Cut the excess paper off the other side if needed, fold the edge over about an inch for a straight edge and tape toward the middle. Make sure it’s taped tight around the package, but not so tight that you tear the paper.

Step 3:

how to wrap a gift

Fold the edges down as far as you can and cut them down as needed. You may even want to cut them before folding them down if they are very long.

Step 4:

gifts santa

Fold the bottom edge up until it’s around 3/4 of the way to the other end and tape it down on both ends to hold it taunt.

Step 5:

Christmas gift wrapping

Fold the top edge over to make it straight and fold it over until it’s around 3/4 of the way to the end. Tape it and do the same on the other side.

Step 6:

North Pole

Admire your perfect edge and feel free to add bows, ribbons and more.

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Stocking Stuffers That Will Make Santa Jealous

stocking stuffers

On Christmas morning, my stocking is always the first place I go. Nothing gets me more excited for the gifts under the tree than digging through a stocking full of makeup, mini accessories and more. Since I’m stuffing my Mom’s stocking this year, I’ve been on the prowl for the best stocking stuffers. If you’re looking to spend a pretty penny, kate spade and Henri Bendel have some of the cutest stocking stuffers I’ve ever seen. But, if you’re on a budget I found some amazing mini gifts at ULTA Beauty and Old Navy.

For your shopping pleasure, here are some of my favorites. In case you were wondering, you can absolutely get a stocking stuffer for yourself.

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Top Gift Sets of this Holiday Season

gift sets for Christmas

When it comes to finding the perfect gift for those hard to shop for people on your list, gift sets are always the way to go. Not only are they easily gift wrapped, the lucky recipient gets more than one gift to enjoy. When I don’t know someone’s size or exactly what they want for the holidays, I often look to gift sets. It’s important to look for one that fits their personality and interests. If they’re super girly, go for the Betsey Johnson 7 Piece Leopard Gift Set or the Blossom Manicure Gift Set. If they’re more spiritual and reserved, opt for the 50 Years of Creation Candles Gift Set or the Nest Fragrances Luxury Gift Set. Though gift sets are popular gift items in the perfume category, I don’t recommend gifting perfume unless you know it’s a fragrance they want and use.

Without further ado, here are my favorite gift sets of this holiday season. There’s at least one for every price range.

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