17 posts tagged “christmas”

This year, instead of the holiday get together where my team would normally exchange gifts, we decided collectively to do something different. We picked up an Angel Tree Child. A few years ago, my church sponsored an Angel Tree get together where we could choose a child to buy for. Something that would mean a lot to someone. Each family was to pick an angel and buy for it. It was a big hit. It was different from our usual christmas party at church. We gave back in a bigger way.

That giving feeling was the same this year at work. We chose one child (a girl) and we each purchased things she would like or asked for. We got her sizes, age and some items she was interested in. Then, we all went shopping!

I will admit that it was so much easier choosing for a 10 year old girl than for most of my coworkers. I have (younger) sisters and i can pretty much guess what they would love to have. Well, i did the same for this little girl. I got a few tips from my mom but I did know what i wanted to get her.

I hit my favorite stores looking for something to inspire me. I found it! I got her:

1. a cute pink track suit
2. glove/scarf/hat striped set
3. small stuffed teddy bear
4. small stuffed hello kitty
5. small black purse (good for when she is older) which i filled with:
6. highlighters, pens, hello kitty paper, vanilla swirl body wash, pink clear lip gloss, pink 'cutie' mints

The entire office loved it. Our group each gave her something special. One lady gave her a bratz manicure/hair set. Another got her skates. Two people bought her clothes (fall and winter). And, someone else got her three pairs of shoes. I hope this girl enjoys everything she is getting because everyone enjoyed buying things for her.

...okay, i am sure that some of you out there prefer your fake trees because of the lack of mess and hassle in dealing with a real one. Believe me, my family has had a few fake ones themselves. They prefer the ease of them. However, I like a real tree. Something about the smell of a fresh christmas tree is just wonderful. I can deal with cleaning up all the fallen needles and watering the sapling for a few weeks in order to get that wonderful smell.

For those of you who want a great christmas tree that is beautiful as well as a great buy, here is my fool-proof guide on picking the perfect tree.

1. Measure Your Room - Before heading out to the tree lot, measure the height and width of the room where you plan on putting the tree. You don't want to get a tree that is too tall or too wide. 
2. Bounce The Tree - When you find a tree that you like, bounce it to make sure the needles stay on. It is fine if a couple fall off. If it leaves a thick ring of needles on the ground, leave it. It was probably picked too early!
3. Run a Branch Through Your Hands - Just like bouncing the tree, run a branch of the tree through your hands to see how many needles come off. Also, the needles should feel soft.
4. Have Them Cut Off Inches from the Stump - You've probably never done this (if you have bought a real tree), but by having a half-inch cut off at the stump will help the tree to last an extra two to three weeks.
5. Watch where you put it on the Car - When you drive the tree home, position it with the bottom side foward so the needles do not blow off.

I hope this helps everyone! Good Luck & Happy Hunting!

Considering the friend that has the ‘what-time-does-my-flight-leave?’ lifestyle, and the fact that they know just what’s going on in the lives of several of the drivers who regularly transport them back and forth to the airport, they know a thing or two about getting there. And while philosophers may say that it’s all about the journey, all I want is one that’s comfortable. For traveling friends, family and co-workers, I’ve pulled together a list of little helpers to make the journey all that much more enjoyable…

• Travel to a new destination turns a trip into an adventure, but there’s something to be said for a little bit of knowledge when it comes to a foreign city. With colorful covers and smartly sized so that they fit into a pocket or handbag, the new Wallpaper* City Guides from Phaidon Press don’t advertise that the reader is a tourist. And with 20 cities to choose from, you may find a few for each of your traveling friends. $8.95 @ Amazon

 For the female boss, who seems to travel non-stop, the this works™ Travel Kit has everything she needs to stay cool, calm and collected. Full of aroma-therapeutic serums, lotions, spritzes, oils and a balm, there’s a quick remedy for whatever comes up en route. $59 @ Barney's 

For friends that travel great distances, like my Super Pal who’s always headed to Europe or Asia, a fun travel pillow from Flight 001 keeps her comfy, even without the prospect of an upgrade. This pretty silk one has a matching eye mask so she can get some sleep along the way. $45

Now, I won’t go on a trip without carrying on my secret-stay-healthy-weapon: Sprayology’s Cold & Flu Relief Spray. When I feels the first hint of a tickle in my throat or a tingle in my nose, I immediately starts spraying the homeopathic formula under my tongue and whatever it is that is trying to infiltrate my system is stopped in its tracks. When paired with TravelEase, a spray designed to treat jet lag, it’s a perfect combination for a traveling friend. $20 Sprayology

With the variety of games and its compact size, the Travel Game Set from Day Timers is a perfect accessory for travelers a deux or a great way to break the ice with a seatmate. And because it’s magnetic, the game pieces won’t slide off the board. Pairing these with a fancy chocolate bar for all the Super Pals who travel for business is a great idea. $24.99 @ daytimer.com

And while you know that personal comfort during a flight is key, you also wouldn’t want any of your family or friends to be faced with a suitcase full of wrinkled clothes upon arrival. Clothes Bags from Flight 001 keep clothes in order, with one side for clean clothes and another for dirty. $42

Many of us have travel-sized versions of all our important toiletries and cosmetics, but until you find Bobbi Brown’s Mini Brush Set, your makeup brushes were probably sticking out of your travel kit. These are perfect pint sized versions of the bigger brushes she uses at home. Nordstrom $45

There’s no denying the holiday season is in full swing. A firm believer in dressing for the occasion, I would never leave my apartment out of the fun. So I set out to find the perfect accent pieces to give my space a chic holiday update without lifting a finger…

Like my company, i am sure many of you will have office parties or parties with clientele. I know it’s all about good gift giving, but holiday largess can get so out of hand that some companies have rules against accepting them. One year, even though her gift was—she thought—sent to a client anonymously, she received notification that it was far too extravagant and had been donated to a local charity. She had to re-order the same coffee, cookie, and cake extravaganza but have everything shipped in single packages to slide through the mailroom. But in my own office, with my co-workers and friends, I always try to go out of my way to find just the right thing…

For clients, where one person’s over the top might not even compare with another’s, it is often easy to keep it simple and spectacular with a bottle of bubbly or, even more sophisticated, a bottle of Port hand dipped in chocolate. It’s an after dinner delight that’s sure to make an impression with even the most demanding customer.

But when there’s a crowd to buy for, like a team of contributors or customers, i think food is often the best way to go, mixing it up a bit so there’s something for everyone. This is where bakeries like Dancing Deer, with their fabulous towers of cookies and cakes, and confectionaries like Dale and Thomas Popcorn™, whose Peanut butter & White Chocolate DrizzleCorn™ even charmed Oprah, come into play.

If it feels like it’s all too much for the Holidays, sending a perpetual gift is one of my favorite tricks. Cookies, popcorn, candy, gourmet tea or coffee delivered monthly, stretches out the fun, and keeps her clients in good spirits all year round.

In my office, some days it’s all about the coffee. Someone is always making a run to the coffee pot, so everyone appreciates a gift card from Starbucks® or whichever coffee shop is nearby. But if control can be taken over the in-house coffee maker, then I share my favorite homemade latte with the rest of my office: espresso made from cinnamon infused organic beans stirred into vanilla flavored milk. Perfect for those days when her wallet or the weather make the coffee run out to the coffee shop out of the question.

And, a special gift for her favorite coffee pal, a cheerful, pop flower bone china mug from Cath Kidston®.

For assistants and jr. executives, who are surrounded by the spoils of the fashion industry all day, without, due to their entry level salaries, the ability to indulge, most reign in their creativity and just goes for a gift card to the shop of the moment, Anthropologie, Barneys, Nordstrom or whichever seems the most appropriate for the recipient.

Bosses are never easy to buy for, so I often apply the nice bottle of wine or exquisite, expensive, exotic tea theory. And for a choc-a-holic tea lover, a beautiful gift set of tea infused chocolate bars is a great idea.

For a boss who traveled a lot, my mom once sprung for the Bose® noise reduction headphones, but later found out that he was dying to get his hands on the Swiss Business Tool™. Like the fabled Swiss Army Knife but equipped with a stapler, hole punch, scissors and other handy office tools that he could take on the road.

The office workaholic is even more difficult to appreciate, so you can takes two approaches: the let’s-make-you-comfortable-since-you’re-here-all-night approach with herbal armrest pillows to align wrists correctly in front of a keyboard or mouse, or the my-cubicle-is-my-world theory, which leads her to the mikro office cube, a 3D stainless steel depiction of said cubicle.

With flavors inspired by their ice cream, I scooped up Ben & Jerry’s Lip Balms. Everyone from kids to adults with an ice cream habit love the tiny pints packed with their favorite flavors. Girlawhirl finds the full lineup of flavors available at Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, but there are usually one or two available on their website.

Ben & Jerry’s Lip Balm

Assorted flavors

$5

I find some of my teen friends can never get enough of the Hypershine Mini Cell Phone Lip Gloss Charms from e.l.f cosmetics. They’re tiny and fun and come in lots of colors which all attach to any cell phone.

Hypershine Mini Cell Phone Lip Gloss Charms

e.l.f cosmetics

$5

For a more sophisticated take on lippy, I go with glosses and lipsticks from Liparazzi. Not only are they great non-sticky glosses and up-to-the-minute shades of lipstick, but with a click of a button, a little light in the tube turns on, illuminating the strategically placed mirror, or even allowing her to find her keys in the depths of her handbag.

Liparazzi

Assorted glosses and lipsticks

$25

(They also have something very similar at Victoria's Secret!)

For anyone – or is it everyone? – that needs a little Peace of Mind, Origins delivers it in a miracle potion that, when rubbed onto the back of the neck, temples and earlobes, offers instant relief. Girlawhirl has one in her desk drawer at work and another in her carry-on when she travels.

Peace of Mind® On The Spot Relief

.5 fl oz

origins.com

$10

Another essential in her carry-on – and on her nightstand – is Korres Natural Products Guava Body Butter. Made with all natural and earth-friendly ingredients, this little tube of rich emollient cream smoothes out any rough patches that might crop up on elbows, knees or cuticles.

Guava Body Butter to Go

Korres Natural Products

$8.50

sephora.com

To combat rough winter heels, Girlawhirl loves Kerasal^® Exfoliating Pumice-Paste^™. The finely ground natural volcanic pumice paste acts the same as a classic pumice stone – smoothing and soothing chapped feet and rough skin – but instead of hanging the used stone up to dry, this exfoliating cream washes away. It’s like starting with a fresh pumice stone every time.

Kerasal Exfoliating Pumice-Paste

$5.89

drugstore.com

Snackers can appreciate a tasty and healthy treat that comes in revolutionary packaging. Peeled Snacks are fruit and nuts packaged separately so nuts stay crunchy and fruit stays fresh.

Peeled Snacks

Assorted flavors: Shock-olate, Bing Bing, FigSated

Available in health food stores or online at peeledsnacks.com

I love this Computer Vacuum Kit so much that she might just keep it for herself. It’s perfect for keeping keyboards clean and dust free, and it also works on other electronics like cameras. And it comes with mini versions of attachments – just like her full-sized vacuum. Also works for the men in your life as well.

Computer Vac

4” x 3”

$15

2 AA batteries not included @ uncommongoods.com

    ........ROADKILL!!!

The hottest new stuffed toy for Christmas isn't a cuddly bear... it's roadkill. RoadKill Toys has come up with a collection of cute - but squashed - animals. The first toy launched from the collection is "Twitch, the Roadkill Teddy" who comes with a plastic body bag and a toe tag giving the details of its demise. The toy's guts and blood can be taken out and stuffed back into it's body. Gory, but funny!

Coming soon are other characters including Grind the Rabbit, Splodge the Hedgehog and Pop the Weasel. Get them at RoadKillToys.com (heads up, the site was under construction yesterday).

	1. Have a Blue Christmas Think the holidays are all about red and green? Take a walk on the wild side by using a sophisticated, contemporary palette of blue, green and gold. Dress your mantel with a garland of pine and scatter a few select ornaments amongst the branches. Finish with our stunning Sequin Tree and our Wood Angel. The look is cool and frosty but it definitely warms the heart.
	2. Centerpieces that bowl them over The absolute easiest way to create a fabulous centerpiece in minutes: take your favorite oversized serving bowl (white, gold or clear works best) and fill it to the brim with a variety of colorful, glittery ornaments. Shimmering, sparkling looks like our Half Disco Ball and Starburst Circles Icicles are dazzling and dramatic. Be sure to turn them over so the hanger is at the bottom.
	3. Fabulous fragrances set the mood Pillars and votives and tealights – oh my! With so many ways to fill your home with warm, seasonal scents, the only problem might be selecting a favorite. We suggest Cranberry Balsam, a traditional blend of cranberry, mandarin orange and ginger. Or Apple Cinnamon, a comforting “where’s-the-pie?” blend of apple, cinnamon, clove and vanilla.
	4. Gilding the Lily Everything just looks richer and more regal with metallic touches. Showcase your fine china by setting it atop one of our Terracotta Chargers in Silver or Gold. Or mix and match our Gold Luster dinnerware and stemware for extra glimmers of glamour. From the table runner to the napkins to the centerpiece and more, we’ll help you give your table the Midas touch.
	5. Secret Santa Specials When your list is long (but your budget is small), you’ll find all kinds of cute, clever and thoughtful gifts at Pier 1. Starting at only $1.50, you’ll find unique, useful items like pearl-scattered silken pouches, jeweled frames, fabric-covered lipstick cases, sticky note pads and so much more. These thoughtful gifts are definitely a girl’s best friend!

Everything seen can be purchased at a Pier 1 Near you!