When it comes to getting into the holiday spirit, there’s nothing better than sending or receiving a beautiful holiday greeting card. While Twitter and Instagram may be the perfect places to express yourself throughout the year, you should do something extra extraordinary over the holidays and send a good old fashioned card.
As print and physical mail start becoming a thing of the past, it’s rare and special to receive an actual piece of mail that isn’t a bill. Plus it’s super fun and retro to go to the post office.
So go ahead and show your friends and family some holiday love with a card that expresses your unique personality, your city or whatever else makes you merry. Any warm greeting whether it be Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, etc. is sure to make someone smile even if they don’t celebrate it themselves. Don’t get caught up in feeling the need to keep everything generic. Just say what you want to say. Most people don’t care and those who do don’t belong on your holiday list.
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.
With the holidays just around the corner, many are changing their focus to make the most of the season. Preparing for Christmas means finding ways to decorate your home with an atmosphere of joy that fits the season. As many combine new holiday trends with traditional decorations, here are eight ideas you’ll want to add to your décor:
1. Start With Tradition
Everyone continues to enjoy classic Christmas decor. A green Christmas tree with lighting and ornaments continues to remain a seasonal staple. If you place your Christmas tree in front of a window, it will provide both indoor and outdoor decor.
2. Add Shine
Gold and silver ornaments, ribbons, tinsel and other materials that add shine are in style this season. Adding shine can make any corner of your home as bright as your Christmas tree. You can try accenting your tree, tables or exterior areas for an even more glamorous look.
3. Bold Displays
Traditional red and green settings are classic, but many are adding in ornaments and displays that are brighter and bolder in color. You may need sunglasses for these ornaments! Neon greens and reds are being seen more and more in holiday decorating. Adding these to your outdoor decor allows you to show a colorful level of joy this season.
4. Sound the Bells
A traditional style that is a fashionable accent this year is bells. Tie them with bright ribbons and add them to your Christmas tree or around your home to create an accent that sounds like the Christmas season.
5. Snow and Frosting
If you don’t want to move into bolder colors or gold accents, then you can try the frosted look. Ornaments with white frosting and white accents give your home a winter look. If you are in a snowy area, you can add to your home’s holiday decor by building a stylish snowman.
6. Patterns
Christmas décor now comes in sets. If you want to add vibrant accents in the form of ornaments, wall hangings and table settings, then look for patterns that fit well together. Red and green zig-zags, stripes and even dots can be added in as a stylish touch.
7. Lighting Styles
Many will place Christmas lights in and around their home. However, this year is taking this to the next level with different colors and styles. To add a little something extra, look into making patterns and shapes with your lights.
8. Candle Scenes
The beauty of Christmas is all in the lights. If you want a more traditional look with accents of candlelight, then candles are an addition you will want to highlight in this year’s décor. Candles that come in patterns, textures and themes can really brighten up your home.
The Christmas season is one that is known for joy and celebration. As long as you’re not taking a huge family road trip this Christmas, you’ll want to doll up your house. Adding in festive décor allows you to make the most of the season. Perhaps there’s a new Christmas style you want to try for the first time this year.
The best way to prepare for the holidays is by finding out what’s hot for the season. Between shopping, entertaining and finding the perfect dress for that Christmas party or New Year’s Eve soiree, the holidays can often be more stressful than jolly. Luckily, I got the scoop on everything that’s hot this holiday at the Celebrate in Style event hosted by Single Edition Media and InStyle Magazine at the The Glasshouses in Chelsea. With braids, red lips, bold eyes, bejeweled sweaters and pieces that transition perfectly from day to night all on trend for Holiday 2014, it’s going to be an excellent holiday season! After the event, it was great to come home with Rap Protein Gummies, Beautiful Textures hair products, Alassis Candles, holiday home accessories from Balsam Hill and much more. Here are just a few of my fav picks for the 2014 holiday.
No holiday get-together is complete without wine. As an avid white wine drinker, I’m now a big fan of Brancott Estate’s Flight Song Wine in Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. Not only do they have a smooth finish, they’re also crafted to be 20% less calories. Happy Holidays to me!
As a vegetarian, I’ve recently become a huge fan of Gardein and their line of delicious meatless foods. Choosing not to eat meat can often make you feel left out over the holidays, especially on Thanksgiving. But, Gardein’s meatless choices are so tasty that even meat lovers will flock to them. With less fat and calories than their meat-filled counterparts, they’ll satisfy dieters too. Serve Gardein at your next holiday party and you’ll make everyone happy.
A birdcage at the bar
According to the Creative Director of Bulova Watches, winter white is going to be hot for women’s watches this holiday season. After seeing this stunning watch, I can see why.
Want to shine at your next holiday party? Jergens BB Body Cream hydrates, smoothes and illuminates skin to the fullest.
The classic Red Door fragrance by Elizabeth Arden has been modernized making it the perfect holiday gift.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but the opinions are all my own.
My tree may be small, but these Tiffany & Co. boxes are BIG! That special blue box is always the best way to spread holiday cheer. Gift cards are nice too. Happy Holidays Socialites from my tiny NYC apartment to your home! Keep Aspiring!
