Holiday Gift Guide #6: For The Fashionista

This heartbeat tee because she’s all heart, $49.50.
This petite rose gold heart necklace, so they’ll always have your heart, $23.
A gold shamrock bracelet for good luck, $37.
An inspirational print in their quest to be the next Anna Wintour, $12.
Fifty Dresses That Changed The World to add to her collection, $13.17.
This pretty pouch wallet for all their treasures, $28.50.
Silver snail studs because they’re delicate and understated, just like her, $50.

Fun lip balm ($11.40) to remind her of junior high and a bottle of Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in Red Carpet (prices vary), her absolute favorite holiday shade.
A pair of Ban.do shoe clips to add some pep to their step, $25.
…and a pair of warm slippers for when winter gets real, $39.50.

**Special Discount: Love From Cyprus is offering 15% off shoes, bags and accessories in both their Etsy shop and their online boutique. Just use code MELXOXO at checkout!

Holiday Gift Guide #2: For The Foodie

This handwoven picnic tote for those breezy summer afternoons, $50.

Lunch notes because you’re never too old to brighten someone’s day — or have someone brighten your day, $36 for a pack of 76.

A fun cheese print for the kitchen, $30.

An adorable gnome bottle opener to get the party started right, $38.

A jar of red rocker peppermint bark because, sadly, their peppermint addiction is getting fierce and intense, $25.

Scandinavian Cooking by Tina Nordström because they’ve always wanted to learn some recipes from their heritage, $22.04.

This tableware set, complete with mitten salt and pepper shakers, $36.

A year’s subscription to a Cookie of the Month Club because, really, that’s the gift that keeps on giving, and they’ll think of you every month when the goodies arrive, $12.99, not including shipping.

An olive server in honor of their other intense addiction, $45.

And of course, a cheeky apron because to you, they’ll always be the master of the kitchen, $29.

P.S. More food fun! :)

Holiday Gift Guide #1: For The Wanderluster

City coasters to remember their favorite places, $16.

“The world is yours” print to hang above their desk, $29.99.

A set of camping temporary tattoos to remind them of that one crazy summer, $15.

A subscription to National Geographic Traveler, so they can take “trips” whenever they feel like it, $10. More great magazines here!

Crumpled city maps because vacations should be a stress-free time, and we all know how frustrating folding a map can be, $18.

A polka dot passport cover because, well, it’s POLKA DOTS, $24.50.

The Ultimate Vacation Collection, featuring everyone’s favorite traveling family (who doesn’t love the Griswolds?), because it was their favorite movie growing up, $23.67 (includes all four movies).

This tote to make airport check-in a breeze, $25.

A map tote of their favorite city to show off when they’re out and about (Chicago FTW!), $45.

These funny luggage tags to keep travel thieves away, $6 each.

This travel stub diary to record all those globetrotting adventures, $12.

…and a scratch travel journal for those map lovers, $25.95.

P.S. More gifts for guys and gifts for women. And, previous Holiday Gift Guides! :)

Wise Words From Readers: On beating the winter blues…

When the temperatures drop (brrrr!) and it starts getting dark at 4:30pm (ugh!), it’s easy for those winter blues to sneak up on you. Our bodies just seem better hard-wired for sunny, warm weather, so those cold ones can feel like they drag on forever! The trick, though, is to add your own brand of sunshine and happiness — you know, really find those things that make you smile and will make the winter go by even faster. And you had NO trouble coming up with ideas this week, friends…

*Beating the winter blue, to me, means embracing it. I dislike cold weather, but I try to find things I love to do when it’s cold — movie marathons, reading a good book by the fire, drinking hot chocolate. Then it’s not so bad.

*Exercise! I was feeling pretty bad before I went to the y…Now, all better!

*Catching up on the DVR all weekend, warm and cozy fleece clothes, yummy coffees to warm up ! I leave a lamp on too so our house is never “dark” when it gets dark so early. Extra cuddles with the fur babies and put winter sweaters on them too.

*Good music, lots of natural light, cooking and cleaning and SHOPPING!

*Baking cookies with the Blake ladies!

*EAT!

Oh, I can definitely relate to eating lots of yummy food in the winter. We’ve been eating lots of baked potatoes lately. Also, I love sitting at the kitchen table and working on my blog while it’s snowing. There’s something so cozy about watching the falling snow — especially when you’re not out in it! And who can resist a TV marathon? We shamelessly love the Kardashians and House Hunters. Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

What’s your all-time favorite book and why?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! :)


[Photos via We Heart It]