Tis the season of gift exchanges, parties where host gifts are required, and wrapping your brain around what to get not only for these events but for the regulars on your Christmas gifting list. I am ALL about girl gifts. Sisters, friends, coworkers.... I think it is selfishly because it is like I am living vicariously through what I am buying for them but hey, it is what it is. It is always my goal each year to think of unique and thoughtful gifts that my friends and family will actually use. I am all about cute monogrammed items and things that are probably something you wouldn't buy for yourself. Fun fact: This year my sisters and I were featured in the Land's End catalog to showcase our matching monogrammed moccasins from Christmas 2015! Showing off all of the girl gift love! This year I tried a different approach and started listing cool things that I came across throughout the year so that by time Christmas came I had a unique compilation of ideas. Whether it was something I tried and loved, gotten as a gift and thought it was great, or was dying to try... it went on the list. I know it sounds like I was making a list for myself (maybe, sort of) but my friends and family on the ladies side of things are pretty similar to me as far as taste goes. I put together this list to hopefully make this last weekend of shopping a bit easier for you! Some of these can be purchased in the store and others online, which I why I wanted to push this post out before it would be to late to get things shipped before Christmas! The other great thing is, they're all under $50! Click the set below to shop my picks. WHY THESE?1. Heartspring Co Lip Balm- Literally my favorite lip balm ever! The new all natural brand was created by Kristina Kelly (you may know her from Bravo's Vanderpump Rules). They are so soothing especially in the cold weather and the fact that they are all natural is a huge win in my book. Get your friend one of these and she will be immediately addicted. Kristina puts all the TLC into these, hand bottling the formulas in her Santa Monica apartment and it really shows in the quality of these!
2. Lyte Planner- For your super organized giftee there is nothing better than a fresh new planner! Some of my favorites are from Lyte Planner which not only are super stylish but have a clean layout that just clicks with how my brain works. OCD that is. 3. Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist- One of my coworkers had this and after I tried it I became totally obsessed. If you are looking for a pick me up that is both soothing and refreshing AND has a ton of skincare benefits, this has got you covered. This is one of those items that you don't know you need until someone gets it for you. 4. 'Cravings' Serving Board- Sometimes a little something for the home is in order and I can't get over how cute this serving board is. Whether you're using it to serve a delicious cheese plate or just to look beautiful on your dining room table, this gift is a winner. 5. Tarte Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette- You cannot go wrong with this palette. The colors and matte finish are universally flattering and Tarte's products are approved for sensitive skin. This is another item that you wouldn't necessarily think to buy yourself (I would but that's just me) but once you get it you don't know how you lived without it. You're. Welcome. 6. The Magnolia Story- Chip and Jo #goals. If this book doesn't warm your heart while simultaneously make you want to redo your entire house you are a real Grinch. 7. Modern Mix Faux Fur Throw Blanket- Furry throws are a must for getting cozy and binging on Netflix. This is an affordable version from Target that gives all the comfy with less of the price tag. 8. Fringe Snood- Another cozy winter favorite right here. Not going to lie, Aerie makes a great scarf/snood. Well constructed, trendy, and warm as anything. Your Secret Santa will be thanking you as soon as the temperature drops below 40. 9. Monogrammed Wine Glasses- I really enjoy a good monogrammed home situation. These wine glasses are both useful and will look great in and Instagram picture. #priorities 10. Home for Christmas Lush Giftset- Nothing says treat yo self like a giftset devoted to doing just that. All natural goodness and relaxation is just what everyone wants but doesn't want to splurge on for themselves. Do your friends and family a favor and make them take some time for themselves!
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I know I am pretty late to this party but at least I got here. I have recently been getting really into The Skinny Confidential. It started out as a small love affair with The Skinny Confidential podcast and then it turned into her Instagram, then the blog, then I took the plunge and bought the book. By take the plunge I mean late night, two glasses of wine in, Amazon Primed it to my house on Matt's credit card. I thought it would be just another trendy, pretty coffee table book to add to my new house that I haven't even purchased yet. It ended up sucking me in for an entire Sunday afternoon and actually changing my outlook on things.
First off, let me say, when you take a look at Lauryn and her social media presence your first impression is that she is so put together and her content is so perfectly curated its disgusting. Then you read her real talk writing and listen to her podcast and you realize, holy shit, this girl is someone who I want to be my best friend. This book is full of hilarious references, bright visuals, and most importantly, extremely helpful advice. Between the beauty tips, easy recipes, and workouts, by the end of reading it I was pretty motivated to get my shit together. This past week I started Lauryn's work out that she demonstrates in the book and is definitely kicks your ass but it's the kind of ass kicking that can happen while you're watching Housewives (direct quote from the book). I also have tried a few of the recipes, which may or may not appear on Meal Talk Monday, but for know ya'll just have to trust me. Lauryn knows what she is talking about and is a refreshing voice of someone trendy, sassy, into health, but at the same time knows how to live a little. I've already shared my skincare must haves of the moment so I figured hair is up next! Recently I just got my locks cut short again. Usually a shorter do is my go to but every so often I think that my super straight and fine hair can actually grow out to create a Real Housewives worthy look, sans extensions. After it gets about 6 months overdue of a good cut I always come to, to the harsh reality that I will be forever embracing "short hair don't care". Now I'm not complaining about this because I have a BOMB stylist who makes sure that my bob is more of a lob and anything but soccer mommish. I take pride in the fact that this time around I feel like I have achieved Pinterest worthy hair (even though I have zero talent associated with this feat, I just picked out the inspiration photo, go me!). I figured to commemorate this moment I would share my current must haves in the haircare department. Here we go! 1. ColorProof Control Craze Styling Creme- I picked this up from my salon and use it on my damp hair to give my ends a piecey look. A little bit goes a long way and it leaves zero crispy feel or yucky residue. 2. Label M Texturising Volume Spray- This stuff is probably my favorite thing I have ever put onto my scalp. For real. I also picked this up from my salon. With super fine hair like mine sometimes you need a little extra grit and texture when your hair is freshly washed. For years I was spraying dry shampoo onto my perfectly clean hair just to give it some volume. This spray does exactly what your dry shampoo would do, just without the yucky residue and with an actually lift and hold. A++ on the product scale for me! 3. Not Your Mother's Bach Babe Soft Waves Sea Salt Spray- This is honestly the best sea salt spray I have ever tried and is phenomenal for texturizing short hair curls. I have tried everything under the sun as far as sea salt sprays but this one packs the most punch for an extremely low price. You do have to use a bit more than the more expensive alternatives but it never builds up to feels sticky or crunchy. 4. Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo- I have tried a ridiculous amount of dry shampoos, mostly because I really hate washing my hair. I got this product free for testing from Influenster and to be honest I did not think I was going to be impressed. Joke is on me though because day one when I tried this stuff it was actually pretty awesome. It didn't leave a weird white residue in my hair, it didn't increase the frizz (it actually seemed to control it!), and my hair was still malleable enough to style. Officially added to my daily routine. I hope you enjoyed hearing about my hair care faves! In the comments please feel free to ask me any questions, give me recommendations, and let me know what you would like to see me post about/review next! Season after season, I am constantly adapting my skincare routine. Partially because I am a beauty product junkie (thank you five years in makeup sales!) and partially because my skin changes with the weather. This year I am all about deep cleansing, serious moisture without the greasy feel, and protection from the UV rays. Self tanners are in there as well but they deserve their own post, mainly because I just have too much to say. Almost all of these products can be purchased at my alma mater, Ulta. Cleansing: As a die hard Clarisonic fan, I never thought that I would make the switch to the Clinique Sonic System. When my Clarisonic Mia broke I had a mini break down and needed to get a new brush ASAP before I left for vacation in a few days. I opted for the Clinique option in all honesty because it was a cheaper option. Thanks to my frugal moment I found my new favorite skincare tool. It is gentle enough for sensitive skin but does the job as far as exfoliation goes. At only $89.50, this brush gives you some serious savings from its pricier rivals. I paired it with the Foaming Sonic Facial Soap which leaves my skin feeling super clean without leaving any kind of residue. My additional "must have" pictured? Coola face SPF. I got it in my Birchbox a few months back and cannot get enough. It is perfectly lightweight and has zero greasy after effects. Moisturizing: Bee-cause I am obsessed with honey product right now. This obsession all started when I heard Scheana Shay on one podcast or another raving about her Manuka honey skincare obsession. I began frantically Googling this phenomenon and wondering why I was so late on discovering this miracle ingredient. Thanks to my research I discovered the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of ingesting Manuka honey. This was a major "aha" moment for someone who a) has an inflammatory disease and b) can't take regular antibiotics. At this point, I am in a car for a six hour drive to a beach vacation, mid Crohn's flare up which, of course causes my skin to freak out as well. I frantically Amazon Prime this Manuka honey skin cream to my destination and that was probably the best impulse buy I've made in a while. This stuff literally worked miracles on my skin. My mixture of cystic/hives bump situation was cured within days and my face has never felt so moisturized. My advice is to definitely get this cream if you have any type of skin condition that needs some extra TLC. It is best for a night time routine in my opinion due to the thickness. To get my daytime honey fix, I've been using the Honey Dew Me Up primer by NYX. It delivers the right amount of glow without leaving your skin looking greasy on a summer day. It soaks into your skin quickly with very little drying time and allows for almost immediate application of your concealer/foundation afterwards. I've not only noticed the increased moisturizing effects but also the stay power of my face makeup has improved as well! For a drugstore brand price point, this stuff definitely holds its own against big name contenders in my book. Suncare: As a reformed tanning bed fanatic, years ago I could have never seen myself willfully reaching for the SPF. As if all of the increasing articles and studies about skin cancer weren't enough to scare me, one of the side effects of my immunosuppressant is "increased risk of skin cancer". Suncare is clearly not something to take lightly, not only because of cancer risks but because overall you are aging your skin. Your skin is your largest organ so why shouldn't you care for it and protect it like it is.
Sunbum is my absolute go to when it comes to suncare. Between their face stick to lip balm to easy to apply spray lotion, I am a fan all around. Due to my back to back vacations full of on the go activities these two products have been heroes this season. The spray lotion is easy to apply on the run, stays put through multiple activities, and is gentle on sensitive skin. The Cool Down Aloe Gel is perfect for those spots that may have gotten too much sun by accident or in this case, for my boyfriend who missed getting lotion on an entire arm before our Cozumel boating excursion..... If you like what you see shop my picks via the links below: Clinique Foaming Sonic Facial Soap Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush Bee Real Advanced Skin Cream NYX Cosmetics Honey Dew Me Up Skin Serum & Primer Sun Bum Premium Moisturizing After Sun Gel Sun Bum Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 |
Blonde babe.
Millennial mom. Crohn's crusher. Mental health advocate. Sharing my raw and real journey through motherhood and navigating Crohn’s Disease. CrohnicallyBlonde is a place where I serve up my unfiltered commentary on chronic illness, mental health, pregnancy, and motherhood alongside lighter lifestyle content like beauty product reviews, travel tips, and book recommendations. My hope is that by authentically sharing my story I can help others going through similar situations not feel so alone and maybe even laugh along with me. categories
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