Last Minute Gift Idea..

This is a last minute gift idea that I think, personally, is amazing.

Netflix. That's right, if you have it, you know.

Everyone loves movies, and if any other place is like my hometown (Charlotte, NC), then you know that Blockbusters are closing left and right.  It literally takes like 1.5 days to get a new movie in the mail from Netflix.  It's also rather inexpensive, depending on the package you choose, to give to someone as a gift (or stocking stuffer). Moreover, all you have to do is print out the certificate, after choosing a seasonal background, and you're set!

1 month of 1 rental at a time + live streaming of selected movies on your computer - $8.99 2 at a time- $13.99
2 months of 1 rental at a time - $17.98  2 months of 2 rentals - $27.98

you get the picture... it's great for all ages. yay

Great Stocking Stuffers for the Gents....

Pretty much the same, but for men.

1. Porto Candles in wood scents ($34.99)- They're great for guys, because they won't be embarassed about a fruity smell.  They come in Birch, Mahogany, Oak, Redwood, & Teak scents.  Sooo manly.  Like Paul Bunyan's gonna rage when he finds out about these.

2. Cell Phone Cup ($6.99)- This little cup keeps things organized in the car.  It holds the cell phone, a pen, change, keys, and you can connect your phone charger up through the bottom of it.  It's cheap and cool.  Gooo phone cup! 

3. Motorized Grill Cleaning Brush ($20)- um it comes from Brookstone, pretty self explanatory.

4. MP3 Shower Radio ($12.99)- waterproof (obviously), shockproof, takes 4 AAA batteries, and hangs in the shower. 

Great Stocking Stuffers for the Ladiesss.....

Stockings are weird. According to Wikipedia the whole stocking thing started when a man was too poor to provide for his three daughters at Christmas.  Saint Nicholas was passing through town and heard of this predicament and crept through the chimney to place bags of gold in their stockings drying over the fireplace.  Quite frankly, I'm getting tired of telling this story so we're gonna move on.  Before we do though, Saint Nicholas is creepy.... (no offense Santa), but let's get real.  This guy... snuck into a house through a chimney? Then, he was checking out their stockings; it was like he left gold in them because he knew he was being a creeper.  I'll let him creep as long as he leaves a '54 convertible too, light blue. 

Since stockings are weird, we're gonna try to find things small enough and cool enough to go in them.

1. Engravable Silver Plated Bookmark from Pottery Barn $12.  It's under $15, and can be personalized.  It looks like you put more thought into this gift than you actually have to.

2. Ribbed Merino Glittens from J. Crew $24.50 - great for those with an IPhone, because you can use your fingers to touch the screen without having to take your gloves off. 
3.  Luggage Tag ($9.99) from J. Crew.

  Great for a traveler, and it comes in a variety of colors.  Moreover, it's on sale; it was originally $20. 

4.  Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Lip Collection ($40).  

It's a limited edition lipstick and glitter lip balm and a portion of proceeds goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

5. Westbury Lisa Wallet from Kate Spade ($89 + free shipping from katespade.com)  Although a bit pricier, it's a nice surprise to have a pricey gift in your stocking. 

I'm too good to open that hood.

I use to have a portable battery my dad gave me to carry around in my car in case I ever needed a jump.  It required just the portable battery, no other car.  I thought that was great, and I used it a bunch without ever needing to plug it in to my car to jump another car off.  Yes, it was extremely convenient, but it was huge (um the size of a car battery). Well... get a load of this one kiddies.

It's a jumper cable you plug into your cigarette lighter ($24.99).  The cord stretches from one cars plug to the next car.  There's no need to ever pop a hood.  The device will show a green light when your battery is charged enough in order to start your car.  A great stocking stuffer!

It's a-me, Mario!

I've always (when it's available.. so technically I'm lying about always) used Mario Badescu facial soap and toner.  The brand is more famous for their drying lotion you can put on blemishes to get rid of in a jiffy.  After spending about 45 minutes in Ulta buying miscellaneous beauty products I didn't need and/or Christmas gifts, I was surprised to see they carried Mario Badescu.

Eagerly, I grabbed the soap I wanted to get on my merry way.  Then.... I saw OTHER products he offered.  Like, the soap that actually fit my skin type versus the one the Nordstrom's sales clerk told me to buy (what does she know).  Then I thought a facial mask would be good since my skin's been acting a ruckus lately.  I bought the Whitening Mask ($24), because it reduces redness, unclogs pores, and makes your skin super bright.
I could go on about all the magical powers Mario put in their, but I don't really know what I'm talking about.  All I know is that it works; after the second time I used it my face looked so clean and shiny, and all the little spots on my face that bothered me were not as noticeable.

You can get it online at www.mariobadescu.com, and they send a TON of free samples with it.  It's awesome.

I love this movie...

The Tuohys and Michael Oher.

The Blind Side... excellent movie. 
Reasons to see it:
1. It's southern
2. It's bittersweet.. a little more sweet than bitter
3. It has a family in it
4. Tommy Tuberville makes an appearance
5. They're Christians
6. They own Taco Bell franchises
7. I said it's good, and you don't question me.

Mrs. Burns, you remind me of Leigh Anne Tuohy. I don't know why.. you just do.

I'm feeling Knobby.

Great Christmas gift idea... go to Knob Stoppers!  They have a large variety of wine stoppers that are very different.  My personal favorite is this one, it's a flower with a votive holder ($32).  You can use your wine bottle as a centerpiece, a source of light, and a source of alcohol.  That's three uses people.. and they're all good.  Or.. for your man friend, get the golf ball stopper ($29). 

No Worries, I'll disinfect it!

I feel the hardest people to buy for are those you know the best, when it comes to Christmas gifts.  For example, my dad.  What the heck does he want?  If he wants it that badly, he's just gonna buy it himself... I can't beat him to it.  He travels a lot...overseas.. underseas.. through the seas.  Well I don't even remember where I saw this, perhaps flipping though a SkyMall Magazine while flying.  With all the nasty germs and flus out there, something COOL and GERM-FREE would make a great gift.  Which is why I am buying my dad THIS for Chritmas.  It's a Nano-UV Disinfection Scanner ($60).   You basically scan it over any surface that you want disinfected for ten seconds.  It disinfects hotel beds, pillows, silverware, and airplane seats.  Woohoo!

Another Great Blog.

I don't really consider this a 'blog' per se, because it seems more like a just a plain good website.  The 'blog' is called Design Sponge and it shows great home ideas, recipes, and before and afters.  My personal favorite are the Before & Afters.   I'll show an example below.  So inspiring.... I'm not saying I'm actually going to act on any of this.. but it inspires me to think about doing something. Does that count? No? ok.

An Extra Penny in Your Pocket.. or $10.

Anthropologie is one of my favorite stores.  That being said, I'm fairly familiar with their merchandise.  I noticed a beautiful cuff a couple of weeks ago.. I almost bought it for a lunch date, but got sidetracked and bought a necklace instead.  My Michael Kors watch can't compete with this cuff, and I want all my jewelry to be friends.  They all live in the same drawer, and I would hate to wake up one day and find them tangled because they couldn't talk out their problems.

So, I'm flipping through my favorite magazine, Self, and saw the cuff!  But wait... it WASN'T the same cuff.  It was a Henri Bendel cuff for $68, and the Anthro one was only $58!  Ahhh sweet savings.  Moreover, the cuff from Anthopologie comes in three different styles.  Henri Bendel's...well... doesn't.

Here's da cuff, yo.