What to Give/What to Get

For the past few weeks I've been reading the wonderful gift guides on so many of your blogs and discovering so many treasures.  Yet because of work and life and chaos, there seems to have been little time to really sit down and think about what to give my family and friends.  This week reality has set in that I have next to no time left - and suffice it to say panic is in the house.  Usually my Christmas/Holiday shopping is complete by the 1st of December, so this is unfamiliar territory and I don't like it.  Today when my mother asked me what I was hoping for all that came to mind was a blank slate.

So tonight I gave some thought as to what I would be happy to find under the tree - and also what I would like to give to some of my girlfriends.  This may be the only "gift guide" I do and it's not in fancy format, but if even one of these treats appears on Christmas morning it will be great...and thankfully I've already picked a couple up for friends.

Kerastase Nutridefense 
This mask is my go-to:  I use it once or twice a week and
it saves my hair from becoming frizzy or dried out.
At $58 I'd be happy if someone gave it to me
so I could save my wallet.
It's a gift every female friend or family member
will use, love and appreciate.

JADEtribe Panada
I have a serious affection for JADEtribe (see story here).
These wristlets are made overseas by women in 

Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

I will support any business that empowers women...

and am especially in love with the bright colors and boho-vibe of 

JADEtribe's pieces.  

Dean Davidson - Silver Marquise Rings

As you all know Dean Davidson is one of my favorite jewelry designers.

Aside from being an incredible Canadian talent (go home team!) he is a 

kind and down-to-earth guy whose rings are so unique.

I've dropped a bunch of hints on this one.

 

Fresh - Sake Bath

I've mentioned this more than once and include it in my list whenever

anyone asks for a few different ideas on what to get me for any occasion.

It is a true indulgence - if you have any level of stress in your 

life then a good soak in a tub containing a few caps of Sake Bath

will ease your troubled mind.  At least one person

gets a bottle from me every year at the holidays.

D.L. & Co. - Skull Cased Candle

While you're in the tub, how about a candle?  

For some reason I've got it bad for skulls this year.  

Don't ask me why, but suddenly I think they're the coolest things.

I already picked this up for myself along with the Skull Snuffer.

They'll look great on my desk after I open them :)

I think they're fun gifts for friends, too.

Bodum Tea Press and Warmer

This is another fave I've mentioned before...I've actually

gifted this to clients of mine who have loved both pieces.  If you 

have a tea lover on your list, this set is just a wonderful gift.

Package it up with some blooming tea from Teavana and you 

have a gift that will be loved and used all year round.

Gypsyz by Gypsy 05

Say what you will but these mothers are at the top

of my list.  I want a pair so bad.

This is a 100% organic cotton knit sock on a biodegradable sole.

They're a cross between a legging and a boot and are

meant to be worn both indoor and outdoor.

I'm crazy for leggings/leg warmers  

(Flashdance anyone? The dream will never die)

and these fit the bill perfectly.  They come in a

plethora of colors and my toes feel cozy just thinking 

about them!!

Okay you guys that's as far as I've gotten.  My eyes are slits and I'm heading to bed (it's midnight on Wednesday morning) because tomorrow is another crazy work day and the tree is still not decorated although the lights are working (at present).  I'm trying to slow it down a notch and have a ton of stuff to do before I leave for Canada next week.  How is it that the days are suddenly speeding by?

All I want to do is relax by a decorated tree before nodding off to sleep.

Resurrection: Tucker in Summery Fall

First - to anyone who cannot view my pictures I just don't know what to tell you.  I've not changed any settings (I don't even know what that means) and I put a question up at the blogger/google forum so someone there said they're looking into it.  I've had 5 or 6 of you report you can't see the pictures and it makes me sad!  Click on each one and it will blow up in a separate window.  Other than that I'm stumped!

Okay.  Now I'm so curious as to what your weather is like right now.  Is anyone else having crazy weather?  It was 95 degrees yesterday in SoCal.  (In fact as I type this it's still 80 degrees and it's almost 10pm.)  Now this is not entirely uncustomary for this time of year, however after the very cool spring and summer we experienced I really did expect to see the outline of a true fall season.  Well scrap that idea.  And scrap trying to put together an outfit post in this weather, too.  Fur?  Uh no, that's not hap'ning! (said like Kelly aka Liam Sullivan).  I seriously think I might have had a hot flash in the afternoon while trying to don a pair of jeans!!  I don't want to leave my fur behind!

All I could think about was ice cream, weeeeeeekend, ice cream, weeeeeekend, ice cream.  Is it the weekend??  The heat's gone to my head.  Or has it? 

This is how fast the week went by for me.

And now may the weekend slow down just a tad.  Or ten.

Tucker vest (seen here), J.Crew skinny denim, Tucker tote (gift)
Oh.  And tore up hair because it's too hot for me to care.

Veiny hands (thanks for nothing heat), Nordstrom Ring, Sponge Bob Band-Aid
While grabbing for the razor I almost sliced the tip of my thumb off.
Friday?  You out there?
Oh!! Jadetribe bracelet (I'll wear it again to give a better pic),
and Tucker silk tote close-up, too.

J.Crew flats purchased 2 or 3 years ago on major sale (scour ladies, scour!!) and
resurrected during closet dive 2010.  It's a jungle in there!

And now let us walk off into that good weekend.

Any special plans for you over the next couple days?  We have some friend stuff to tend to, some potential birthday shenanigans and some house cleaning (yawwwwwn) mayhem to take care of.  May it not be aggravated!!  Remember that one?? Yikes!  Have a great one, everyone!