Holiday Gift Wrapping

1. Have a theme: Use the same design and get ribbons and paper to match so all your gifts have a nice theme and go together nicely

2. Buy wrapping paper outside of Target and Hallmark: I bought most of my wrapping paper at Home Goods and Marshalls. I felt that overall they had a better selection!

3. Take advantage of Michaels, AC Moore and Hobby Lobby's across your area: All my ribbons were 60% off as well as most of my toppers. Stock up after the holidays and make sure to use them for next year! Also, take advantage of those 40% one item coupons!

4. Have fun: It took me three hours to wrap these gifts but look at the final outcome! Enjoy the holidays!

Last Minute Holiday Deals!

Pajamas J Crew Factory: Gingham PJ Set (30% off) - Love a great pair of PJs! This gingham print is so cute and current. I think it's an amazing gift or stocking stuffer (if your stocking is big enough). It's also 30% off with free shipping so I would get it while supplies last!

Vest  LL Bean: Riding Vest ($10 gift card if you spend $50) - I am so into quilted vests during the fall and winter months. For someone who wears a lot of boyfriend tunics and men/boys shirts, the vest really cinches all that extra fabric together. LL Bean has been surprising me this season (I guess I boarded onto this train a little too late) and this vest so perfect and IN STOCK! I just feel that all vests are selling SO quickly! This is still available and you get a $10 gift card for all purchases over $50.

Sweater  She Inside: Navy and Floral Sweater (25-30% off) I actually just ordered this for myself. Websites like this have become more and more popular for trendy clothes at a low price. I have one sweater that I thought was a tad itchy but wore well under a turtleneck. We will see how this sweater is. I had to order it because I love a great floral print mixed with a sweater! I will write a quick review whenever I receive it.

Jacket  J Crew: Field Jacket (30% off) I may have ordered this gift with my boyfriends' credit card and said it's from him. :) The surprise is gone, I know! This jacket is just so cool and reasonably priced for a J Crew item. I got the mossy brown but this jacket has been all over TV (Modern Family, Twisted, etc...) and fits like a glove (probably because they actually have this in petite!)

Tumbler Vino2Go: Tumbler My last gift is something small and inexpensive but just genius! Wine to go tumblers. As a female in my late 20s, wine is my everything. Red wine to be exact but I'm not too picky. How cute is this gift idea for friends and family? Perfect price and gift for any wine fanatics!

My Holiday Party Outfit

After all the hustle and bustle, I never posted my holiday outfit! This may be my favorite outfit I have ever worn. Love a classic black and red combo. I bought a pair of Louboutins in college, which i saved forever for. I am now on a mission to purchase a nude pair. I will tell you this, these are not "go out on the town" shoes. Not very comfortable. I prefer my LK Bennett's for those nights. These are more for a dinner party.

The lace jumpsuit is just fab! I know I have posted this everywhere but as a petite woman, I never find jumpsuits that fit so perfectly! If you want to try a jumpsuit and may be a little scared, this is the jumpsuit for you! The lace detailing is absolutely GORGEOUS on. Highly recommend!!!

Pumps  Christian Louboutin: Simple Pumps

Earrings  Tory Burch: Large Logo Studs

Jumpsuit  Loft: Lacy Black Jumpsuit

Necklace  Tory Burch: Multi Strand Necklace

Lipstick  MAC: Diva

Lipstick  YSL: Le Rouge

Ugly Christmas Sweater Kit!

I love ugly christmas sweaters! They are so much fun to make and I love themed parties. For those who don't have time to get all the materials and need a creative push, the Ugly Sweater Kit is a fantastic idea! I made mine today and can't wait to wear it to my holiday parties.

Basically you will order the kit that comes with a bunch of different pieces... plus glue and a sewing kit. The XS sweater fit me perfectly (I'm 5'1'' and about 102 lbs) so you can gauge what size you need. I added additional gift bows and may get some other garland and stuff later on.

Just remember, it can never be TOO tacky. Go crazy. I'm a perfectionist, so I always want things to be symmetrically perfect... it was hard to go rogue on this.

Holiday Outfits & Red Lips

Holiday Parties are amongst us! My favorite look is really a great black/gold/red/metallic/sequin dress with nice bold red lip! I wanted to share some ideas of dresses and lipstick brands that I love.

These are just the perfect outfit for an office holiday party or a cocktail hour. I actually just purchased the Loft jumpsuit to wear to my boyfriend's holiday party (will take some photos). The detailing is absolutely fabulous!

A lot of these are very traditional but some other ideas I love are great sequin/metallic shorts with tights and booties.... or even a sequin/metallic pencil straight pants with a boxy crop top. Think outside the box.

If you are crunched on time and money, pull out your favorite LBD and pair it with statement jewelry. Remember, black is a canvas. The holidays are one of the few times you can really dress up an outfit and it's never labeled "excessive" or "too much"... it's festive!

1. Lulus: Holiday Black & Taupe Dress
2. Banana Republic: Metallic Black Shift Mini
3. BB Dakota: Rylin Lace Dress
4. Anthropologie: Gilded Leather Pencil Skirt
5. Zara: Sequin Crop Top
6. Loft: Lacy Jumpsuit
7. Asos: Metallic Crop Top & Skirt
8. Mod Cloth: Shimmer Dress
9. Anthropologie: Ruby Sugar Sheath Dress
10. Eliza J: Jacquard Dress

1. YSL: Le Rouge Lipstick
2. Nars: Orange/Red Lipstick
3. Kat Von D: Everlasting Liquid Lipstick (Bright Red)
4. Mac: Diva Lipstick

Monogram Madness!

I love monogrammed items during the holidays (and in general)! They are so personal and making great gifts for friends and family. Here are some of my favorite monogrammed items. I tried to find reasonably prices items that don't break the bank. A lot of my items are Anthropologie and C Wonder but they really have an excellent inventory!


1. Anthropologie: Limited Edition Gold Mug ($10) not microwave safe but looks so cute with some hot chocolate and marshmallows during the holidays
2. Anthropologie: Homegrown Monogrammed Mug ($8) microwafe safe
3. Anthropologie: Ceramic Letter Hook ($18) great way to hang some of your favorite necklaces
4. C Wonder: Monogrammed Jewelry Box ($78 - 30% off) on the pricier side, but this is such a timeless gift to hold all your favorite jewelry
5. C Wonder: Monogrammed Cheese Board ($28 - $30% off) GREAT wedding gift idea and very affordable.
6. C Wonder: Monogrammed Square Plates ($38 - 30% off) place your everyday jewelry or even entertain with snacks for guests.
7. Kate Spade: Monogrammed Card Set ($25 - 30% off) these are just great for thank you cards and are high quality. I hate flimsy cards that fall apart. These are just so timeless and chic.
8. Williams-Sonoma: Monogrammed Mugs ($9.95) more traditional than the Anthropologie ones but also microwave safe!

Holiday Gift Wrapping Ideas

I love rustic Christmas decor. Even more so, decorating all my presents with a theme. I posted a photo on Instagram with a few of my presents that are already wrapped (see below). I wanted to share with you some photo ideas (courtesy of google.com) highlighting great rustic techniques.

1. I usually go to Target and buy the mailing wrapping paper in brown. It's so durable and a blank canvas. You can really do whatever you want with this. Some ideas: use christmas stamps or paint holiday colored polka dots. 

2. Twine and Burlap. Your local hardware store sells these for cheap... or you can go to Michaels and use their 40% off coupon and purchase some. I use twine to wrap around my gift tags or just for general wrapping.

3. Ribbons! Michaels has a ton of ribbons on sale throughout the holiday. I try to stay within a certain theme (ie rustic this year), so I recommend buying ribbons that go together (ie same color & design family)

4. Wreath Accessories: You know when you go to Michaels and they have all these toppers and accessories for wreaths? Well I just use them as gift toppers! They look so chic and pretty.

5. Plaid and Tartan: I am clearly obsessed with all things plaid and tartan during the fall and winter. Clothing, scarves, and now gift wrapping. I mix and match my brown paper with tartan and plaid. It just ties together so well (especially if you use burlap/twine as your ribbon) Or you can use plaid as a ribbon (whatever you want!)

12 Days of Christmas

Sorry for the lack of posts! I spent thanksgiving with my family and was placed into a food coma (and shopping coma) the past few days. My outfits weren't even photo ready because I lived in sweats all weekend. However, with all these new sales, I thought I would post some awesome holiday gift ideas! (again)

1. LL Bean Scotch Plaid Shirt: I post this EVERYWHERE, but it's literally so pretty on and the perfect red for holiday gatherings with family. Did I mention how incredibly warm it is? I love flannel but sometimes they are so thin that I am still cold! This is stylish and warm!

2. BP Trolley Ankle Boots: I just love rolling up my jeans with some ankle boots. I have a ton of uncomfortable ones but can wear these from Nordstrom for HOURS! They are stylish and comfortable. Obviously some of the styles and colors are sold out but that doesn't mean its not available at your local store and won't be restocked for the holidays!

3. Blanket Scarves: These are so in right now for the cold weather. Zara has a ton, as does other retailers. They recently had a 30% off for Black Friday but still have some remaining pieces on sale. It's just a great gift for a friend or even better stocking stuffer!

4. L'Occitane Hand Creams: I don't know about you but my hands are perpetually dry during the winter months. I got a ton of these for stocking stuffers last year and people love them! They come in great scents and don't make your hands feel dry after.

5. Tory Burch Robinson Cosmetic Case: If you need to buy a nice gift for a mother-in-law, girlfriend, etc... this cosmetic case is great! The patent black with gold zippers makes it appear so classy. I also think Tory Burch can be pricey, but this case runs about $55 and is actually affordable for the brand.

6. Sole Society Plaid/Tartan Loafers: How cute are these! I just bought myself a pair as the store is 30% off and the flats are actually included in the sale. I think these would look awesome with a pair of dark wash jeans and a chunky cable knit sweater. The print is also unique so you know people won't walk around town wearing it all the time.

7. Kate Spade Spiral Notebook: I love cute notebooks for work (especially anything with gold... so chic!) I think this is a great gift for a working girl for meetings, etc... it's actually also really cute to write down some recipes in.

8. Tory Burch Small Logo Studs: Amazing studs that are perfect for any woman/girl I literally wear mine everyday (if you couldn't tell). For the price, I think these are a darling gift for a friend or family memeber.

9. J Crew Factory Gingham PJ Set: Who doesn't love PJs? My favorite activity during the holidays is sitting in PJ's all day near a fireplace. So cozy! I posted the navy/red but there is also a navy/white which very warm.

10. Chloe Perfume: I am obsessed with this perfume. It is so clean and fresh. I can wear it for hours without getting one of those "perfume headaches".  This scent has been around forever and I think it rivals with Chanel and Dior in becoming a great signature, timeless scent.

11. Diptyque Baies Candle: This is the ultimate luxury candle. It's pricey but a great gift for someone who may be picky and like the finer things in life (and you don't necessarily have the budget to buy something too expensive). The mini one is about $30 and the large is $60. Places like beautybar.com gives you a discount for spending $75, so you can easily get these at a deal.

12. Essie Nail polish: Ultimate stocking stuffer! I get mine off of Amazon because it ends up costing me only $6 which is actually cheaper than most stores.

Well, that is all I have for you all! Happy Shopping! Don't go as crazy as I did this Thanksgiving weekend...but let's be real...who doesn't love deals!!

Holiday Shopping - Tricks

So I am sure everyone has either begun or almost finished with holiday shopping. For those who have not yet, time to get on the ball!

I start shopping for the holiday around the summertime and keep an eye out on constant deals and sales. The worst thing is having to pay full price, so noting the trends of sales pertaining to your favorite brand is very useful.

Here are some tricks I use for online shopping (I stress online, because for those who work for a living, it's just easier to shop online):

1. Stalk retailer websites: For items you are interested in (and know they wont sell out), try to visit the website everyday before the holidays to get a feel on how low an item can go. Once you note that, you can then ascertain whether or not a "sale" is actually worth your time

2. Surprise Sales: Kate Spade and Tory Burch are notorious for private/surprise sales. Kate Spade actually has one right now! Make sure you follow these brands via Facebook and join their Mailing List. It's almost foolish to purchase these brands full price, because there is always a sale around the corner

3. Friend and Family: Many department stores and retailers participate in a friends & family event where you can get up to 25% off your order. I know Bloomingdale's, Saks and Shopbop have a few throughout the year. Make sure you sign up on that mailing list as well.

4. Never buy anything full price: Do your research! If there is a particular item you want; Google it! Chances are, that same item may be cheaper elsewhere (with free shipping and less sales tax). That is usually why I am so against impulse purchases. Why pay anything full price when it'll go on sale anyways?

5. Tiny and Petite? Try kids clothing! For a lot of designer brands, I end up buying kid sizes. It's so much cheaper and fits the same. You can do this for clothing and shoes! So if you are a size XXS or XS/ size 5 or 6 in women's shoes.... look at kid brands. I know people who are notorious in purchasing the girls Uggs and Hunter boots.

Well I hope this is helpful to all you holiday shoppers!

Farah's Holiday Gift Ideas

I'm sure everyone, like myself, has been trolling around the Internet and stores to find the perfect gifts for the holidays. I just wanted to share some of my favorite gift ideas that would be great for men and women.

Fresh: Sugar Lip balm and Treatment Kit ($18) - The lip balm itself is like $21, so this kit if a perfect gift for a friend or loved one. I love how easily this balm glide along the lip. It also has a natural pink/red tint to it (and we all know how much I love a great red lip). I even wear it over my matte lipsticks to give my lips the moisture it needs. For $28, you can get a kit with three lip balms. Excellent stocking stuffer idea!

Art of Shaving: 4 Element Starter Kit ($25) - Great gift idea for a boyfriend or dad. I just bought three of these today to give away. Art of Shaving is a fantastic brand (and expensive), so this kit is such a steal!

J Crew Factory: Statement Necklace (Varies) - I love statement necklaces and own plenty but I hate cheap statement necklaces. The J Crew Factory website has excellent quality necklaces that vary from ($20-$45). Sales happen practically ever day so you have to keep looking to get the best deal, but I personally haven't spent more than $40 on one (even those that retail for $70). These are great gift ideas especially for the holidays (I mean, who doesn't like wearing statement necklaces to holiday gathering?) My other recommendation is Bauble Bar (but sometimes they can get pricier than J Crew and it's the same quality)

Fall and Winter Scarves (Varies) - I am addicted to scarves! But they also make the perfect gift! The poncho-type and blanket scarves are getting really popular throughout the blog world and I find them so warm and inviting. This Zara Scarf - Can be worn like a scarf or a poncho and cinched with a belt, With a $49.90 price tag, I think it's a great versatile piece to any wardrobe. We all know how I feel about this blanket scarf from Amazon. For $15, it's incredibly soft and gives the volume around your neck. So cute with rolled denim and ankle boots.

I love plaid and tartan and this tartan scarf from Forever 21 and this plaid scarf from Zara are just perfect fall and winter staples. With all the mixed colors, it matches with all outfits. Lastly, leopard and fur. I can not get enough! This fur wrap around from Zara just looks SO warm, especially when you live up North or around the Midwest. It's also so chic that it looks great dressed up or down. Rounding out my list is this leopard infinity scarf. I still really like infinity scarves even though they were very popular and sometimes overdone the past few years. I find them really easy to wear and gives that volume that you can't always get with regular scarves.

Uncommon Gifts (for Men) - This website is so unique and has great gift ideas for men! Anything ranging from liquor ice cubes, a mini ping pong table set, to a personalized whisket barrel! I feel like shopping for guys can get difficult (at least for me it is), so finding something that is unique and uncommon (no pun intended ;) ), is fantastic!