mfamb 2017 gift guide - small luxuries under $50
i'm told it's green monday. which is supposedly the last day to shop online for guaranteed before christmas arrival. well, i'm not entirely sure if that's true. amazon prime is still pretty reliable. but i guess better safe than sorry. because if you're like me you haven't bought one single christmas present. i need to get my shit together.
so as my last gift guide of the season (besides a rather ridiculous one coming soon that should matter to no one because i don't run in a circle of wealthy folks waiting to buy me $800 air purifiers or giant busts covered in seashells, the shipping alone is a mortgage payment) here is the small luxuries gift guide. all under $50 and all perfect for stuffing a stocking.
in fact if all of these things were in my stocking i'd be pretty pumped.
1. gold embroidered silk eye mask - soft silk over your eyes to block out the light during all those holiday naps. if you're really down pick up the pillowcase too because no one likes wrinkles or split ends.
2. blushing lightbulb - "to flatter every guest".
3. tom ford neroli portofino bath soap - i'm a fan of this scent. i spray the perfume every time i go to sephora. why i haven't bothered to buy it is beyond me. i think it's what italy in the spring must smell like. i'd be psyched if someone dropped a bar of luxury soap in my stocking.
4. the proust questionnaire - for parties. i've been informed recently that "no one likes board games at parties." and i have yet to understand the appeal of cards against humanity.
5. the mio body brush - why give a basic dry skin brush when you can give one with massaging nodules?
6. mystique sticker patch - give them all!
7. moon juice beauty dust - give "glowing supple skin, lustrous shiny hair and twinkling bright eyes".
8. caudalie beauty elixir - my favorite gift to give.
9. flowers crew socks - i'd wear these with a velvet platform.
10. mr. gray bee keeper sock - these are for him but you should pick up a pair for yourself. gucci vibes all day.
11. gardener's notebook - this is so great. if you have a gardener in your life they would be thrilled to receive this i'm telling you. it contains 40 pages, with spreads for lists, fertilizing and pruning schedules, and harvest and preservation tables, along with winter planning.
12. rodin bath bar - more luxury soap. this time with neroli and jasmine.
13. le labo discovery set - let them choose their favorite. i'll bet there's one in here they can't live with out.
14. nails inc. nail grow - i speak from experience when i say this stuff works. it saved my nails after the abuse of gel manicures and acrylic nails. get one for yourself while you're at it.
15. astier de villatte pepper dishwashing liquid - i know giving dish soap seems odd. but so few people would ever buy themselves a luxury dish soap but to me it's the perfect gift for someone who likes pretty things. or for that person who decants everything because they hate the packaging.
and check out the gift guide for her and the gift guide for him if you haven't already.
setting a holiday table
this year i'm going for a non traditional festive look for my christmas table.
i want it to look like your italian granny, a sugar plum fairy and cabana magazine birthed it.
like so..
a little jewel, a little kitsch, a lot of juxtaposing patterns, some murano perhaps. why does no one use finger bowls anymore? i say clean your fingers like a dowager. and what about place cards? let's do that too.
here's how:
set of 6 french harlequin place card holders (i could die)
set of 8 colorful vintage cordials (finger bowls all day) (unless you drink cordial) (DO YOU drink CORDIAL?!) (should I be drinking cordial??!!!)
hand blown glasses - set of 6 (would be great as votives too)
vintage red crystal glasses - set of 3 (ditto votives)
antique petite trophies - set of 7 (i don't even know what you'd do with these? fill them with candy? fake snow? salt cellar? i just know they are adorable and festive.)
vintage eiffel tower placecard/menu holders - set of 6
antique majolica coral shell plates - set of 6 (pricey but very special)
green dessert plates - set of 5 (these have been hugely marked down)
moroccan elephant tea glasses (also great votives)
moroccan red tea glasses - set of 6
the cool thing is you may already have some of this stuff. or you know an old lady who does.
the trick is to mix it like boss.
images via instagram: margherita missoni, rebecca gardner and cabana magazine
in other news...
we have snow! it will last 1 hour but still! SNOW. and i made soup and there's plenty of wine. what more could you ask for?
* i wrote this post on thursday and forgot to publish it. because dumb.
* also we still have snow. lots of it.
december vibes
excuse me while i have an alpine moment.
vintage ikat sofa - perfectly worn in.
rugs in order from top to bottom - 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
pillows from left to right - 1 / 2 / 3
antique swiss black forest trunk
indian tribal banner - because you can't be too literal in your swiss chalet.
vintage solid copper fondue pot - but you're in the alps.
alabaster swiss cheese bookends
eye candy
i'll take any of them.
images via instagram / celeste mogador / 1st dibs / michelle nussbaumer / jenna lyons / howard slatkin / hamish bowles
friday things
this table setting from rebecca taylor is giving me holiday feels without a trace of the usual suspects. i like an unexpected holiday vibe. also how cute are the outfits in the story?
i have been sitting on some awesome internet finds for a few weeks now so prepare yourself...
1. i don't know what i have in store for christmas dinner yet, but i know it's going to include creamed brussels sprouts.
2. this salad sounds like the perfect holiday salad. light and refreshing after the typical roast. it's also dead easy to put together.
3. lacroix hangover cures. uh. thank you.
4. stopped me in my tracks too. reeeaalllly look.
5. the 12 best christmas candles. this is my pick.
6. the size of these dahlias and mums.
8. homemade chocolate coffee face polish and coconut coffee body scrub. i'd love to receive these as gifts, wouldn't you?
9. i reeeeaaalllly want this cabinet. look at it open.
10. look at this georgian doll house. specifically you melissa.
11. and finally this. this right here is the best thing i've read in a while. so relatable. if you don't have time right now, i urge you to bookmark it for when you do. you'll be so glad you did.
it's december!
we are re-watching the final season of downton abbey. it's just feels like the right thing to do.
i can only advise you to do the same.