My Current Obsession: Holiday Gift Guides

I know the Holiday season has arrived when the December magazines hit newsstands with their drool-worthy gift guides. Perhaps if I didn’t spend all of my money on hoarding the December issues, I could afford some of their offerings! I’ve narrowed it to my top 3 magazine picks this year so you don’t have to buy them all like me! Read below for my favorites in People Style Watch, Real Simple and InStyle.

1) People Style Watch – My top pick as I “oohed and ahhhhed” over every single page. I fell in love with the items below, especially the Andy Warhol Dom Perignon – what a great gift for art (champagne) lovers!

(clockwise from top left to right)

American Living Red Stripe PJ Set, $42.99 ON SALE; 2002 Dom Perignon Andy Warhol Tribute Champagne, $149 each; Z Gallerie Veneto Suitcase Set, $59.95; Lord & Taylor Notched Bow Leather Gloves, $59.99 ON SALE;  Jonathan Adler “Carb” and “Caffeine” canister set, $34.95 ON SALE;

2) InStyle – One of my regular monthly reads, it’s no surprise that their gift guide made my top 3. It does every year.

(clockwise from top left to right)

XOXO Organic Pillow Cover, $29; Bistro Juicer, $70; Polaroid 300 Instant Camera, $90; Ty Decorative Shower Curtain, $32; Calvin Klein Radiant Salt and Pepper Set, $50

3) Real Simple – Their gift guide is always chock full of amazing and unique gift ideas. There’s a section that features 100 gifts for under $50 this year, making shopping easier on our wallets this year. Thanks, Real Simple!

(clockwise from top left to right)

Heirloom LA’s Lasanga Cupcakes, $36 for 6; Palomino Tea Cup & Saucer, $30; F1 Seat Pak, $28 Plyboo Serving Board (California pictured, other states avail.), $40; Brodmann Blades Ping Pong Set, $90; Modern Alchemy Zodiac Candles, $24 each

Happy Holiday shopping and feel free to leave any great gift suggestions below. I’m always looking for interesting things!

Get Your Spook On With These Halloween Party Favors

Halloween is my all-time favorite Holiday especially if there’s a party involved! Instead of going to an over crowded bar this year I am going throw a Halloween party. I’ve found some amazing party decorations and thought I’d share with you for some spooky inspiration.

Lolita is always a favorite for party ideas and great favors. They have a variety of Halloween cups and mugs, but this Pumpkin Potion Wine Glass ($24 each) won me over. What makes it even better is that each glass comes with a festive drink recipe (pictured above), and is packaged in Lolita’s signature gift box. Grab a few of these for your party and put them back in their box at the end of the night for guests to take home as a gift.

DL & Company has some of the coolest products and they’ve launched a special Halloween collection this year. These Spider Tea Lights (regularly $14) are the perfect addition for my party. Place them all over your house, light them up and dim the lights. DEAL ALERT: The Halloween Collection is 40% off up through Friday, October 22nd.

No time for baking? Leave it to Eleni’s to make you the most fabulous host ever. Trust me – if you’ve ever tried one of their delicious cookies then you know it’s worth the money spent. There are several other Halloween cookies but the Friendly Ghosts ($24.50 for eight) are super fun. You’ll be getting tons of compliments from these!

Etsy is always a great source to turn to for party decor. This Day of the Dead Wreath ($29.99) is a genius idea and the perfect addition to any door. And if you live in an apartment building you can always hang a few of these on your inside walls.

I would love to hear of your fab Halloween decor finds!

xoxo,
JR.