gift guide 2023- no mom left behind

a mom, an aunt, a sister, a friend- all viable recipients here.

this one is maybe the most foolproof gift guide of them all as i am all of the above women. and i carefully chose each one with these parameters- would i want? is it affordable (most are VERY affordable) and would it spark joy? now, i’m not really a words on things or a monogram person but i’d be down with a needlepoint furb pillow or a cute lil catchall with my initials on it. and some of you requested a gift guide for the mother-type who is a live laugh love all day kinda gal- enter the furbish needlepoint pillow. this swiftie version is perfect for your mother in law with passive aggressive tendencies.

  1. winter is for cozies. and this cashsoft sweater and pants set are the definition of cozy but still chic and wearable outside the house.

  2. google pixel tablet- this is on the pricier side but if your mom/sister/wife etc like to watch bravo in peace this is the perfect gift. maybe you and your sibs can split it?

  3. francois halard 3- this is the design book to get. no matter her style. in fact especially if her style is live laugh love. she needs an education.

  4. rothy’s ballet flats are all the rage. cute and comfy. red is very on trend.

  5. HIGH on my wishlist is a blowdryer hairbrush. make it extra gift worthy with this saffron, pistachio and rose hair oil.

  6. this sea cardigan with bows is very special. would wear to every holiday party.

  7. magic hour earl gray tea. the packaging is so good. add this extra pretty tea strainer.

    8. soup mom would love this vintage portuguese clay pot.

    9. hotflash mom needs a coffee table worthy hand fan.

    10. no woman on earth does not want good skin. this retinol body treatment is high on my wishlist. this osea trio also.

    11. these snail mucin eye patches would make excellent stocking stuffers. and these tik tok trending hanacure mask dupes. (they are in my cart.)

    12. this little monogrammed jewelry travel case just feels right. does she wear jewelry? does she travel? perfect! i mean, i wouldn’t want it because i neither travel or wear jewelry. if anyone out there is taking notes.

    13. a canadian told me these ugg adirondack boots are without a doubt the warmest, most durable, long lasting winter boot in existence. so, if you were lookin’, look no further.

    14. if she likes pretty and practical things i recommend this john derian green tones tray. it’s literally perfect.

    15. if baths are her thing this serotonin soak will be the gift that gives approximately 32 times.

    16. and last on the list but one i think might be my favorite gift to give is a personalized tote ala ironic boat and tote. it’s basically buying a tote from ll bean and having a quirky quote, a nickname, something funny/personal to the recipient, inside joke etc monogrammed on it. take a peek here to see all the different ways people have done it. buy the tote and have it monogrammed here. (i mean jenna lyon’s version with ‘old celine’ is too good.



recent and not too recent purchases

suffice to say i am not out here making purchases left and right just cuz. these were all things i needed (some quite desperately) and was satisfied if not thrilled with the outcome. shopping online is always a bit of a gamble. but these made the would buy again list and because it’s fast approaching gift giving season i’d thought i’d share in case you were stuck on what to give a certain someone this year. and on that note, re: the newsletter i sent out the other day. the vast majority of you want random gift guides but there were also a lot of really interesting and funny (funny good) requests so i figured i’d primarily do specific with the randoms thrown in and around those. i feel like with the requests i got you will still find gems.

anyway…on with the show.

 

  1. robe- this fell into the desperately needed category. my previous robe was hurting. she was on the corner of skid row doing flakka. one pocket ripped and hanging on for dear life. one loop broken so the belt, when not tied, just dragged across the floor. the ends of the sleeves crusted in paint, fleece so worn you could see through it. it was way past time to bite the bullet and get a new one. and this one is AWESOME. it’s cozy and thiccccc af. definitely a cold weather robe. would make an excellent gift. i got the slate blue color in the size 2.

2. readers- also needed. i made the mistake of buying wire rimmed readers a while back. BIG mistake. i don’t know about you but i like to lay down on my side and scroll sometimes. have you ever tried to lay down on your side wearing wire rimmed glasses? it hurts. also they’re just too delicate for the wear and tear from a bull in a china shop type person. i sat on them, STEPPED ON THEM! the lenses popped out constantly. etc etc. these are bendy! the arms give. what? who knew? also they are light. and just gently rest on my face. 10/10.

3. probiotics- i have no idea if probiotics are a necessity. but my intestines might argue that they are. i’ve tried a lot of pro-b’s over the years and they all just made me fart-y and bloated. with these i had no bloating but maybe a little bit of gas for a few days? but i haven’t had the random mid morning D since being on them. and poops in general are very satisfactory. they feel like a splurge to have to pay once a month but i think it’s a splurge worth splurging on. def. worth the hype. i would say if you have a probiotic that you like and works great for you then stick with it, ya know? don’t fix it if it ain’t broken. but for those searching for one i’d say look no further than seed.

4. flatware- definitely not a necessity. but my flatware was a hodgepodge of cheap metal accumulated over the years. i just wanted it to be all the same. ya know? and listen, flatware isn’t cheap. i did my research. my main concern was it needed to hold up in the dishwasher. IT DOES! i’ve had it for a few months now and it still looks brand spankin’ new. $72 for service for 6 is a great price. i got the hunter green and it looks exactly like the picture. several colors to choose from. great gift for a young person in their first apartment.

5. book- this was a gift but it bears mentioning as it’s absolutely fantastic. it’s a memoir filled with easy to read vignettes and incredible poems. great for anyone navigating big change. or anyone who enjoys fucking reading!

6. merit beauty- yes. i did. i feel like they market themselves so well. for me it’s about that one stop shop, 5 minute make up make up slant. ya know? i’m not out here doing a smoky eye on the daily. i’m not contouring. i want concealer, maybe foundation? blush bc blush is life. a little lip stain and an easy shadow i can apply with my fingers and won’t crease. i have quite a lot from merit. it’s well priced and has thousands of 5 star reviews. here’s what i have that i like ok- minimalist foundation stick- they say this is a foundation and/or a concealer. i got it to be used as a concealer so it’s too light to use as a foundation. (i got shade-silk) however, i have tried it as a foundation and didn’t find it blended that well. i really had to work it in and felt like i was probably rubbing it off. as a concealer it’s decent. tho i probably wouldn’t buy again. so many people swear by it tho. bronze balm- the formula is very creamy and nice. i got the shade quince. it’s actually a little too light? kind of just makes me look dirty. i would go up one shade to clay. eh. i may just not be a bronzer girl. shade slick tinted lip oil- this is very nice and i would def buy again, just not the shade i purchased- marrakech. too orange on me. next time i think i’d get pink beet or the clear. here’s what i have that i love10/10recommend- the flush balm. it’s beyond easy to use and the color beverly hills is the perfect flushed cheek on me. i want more colors for sure! solo shadow- i LOVE. however, i got the color mid century which seems to be the most popular but i find it to be too orange again. paired with the bronzer i just look dirty all over. like i rubbed clay all over my face. the formula is fool proof though and it did not crease. i would get the darker brown shade for myself.

twin XL duvet- we got a lot of stuff for fiona to take to college one of those things being new bedding for her dorm sized twin (can’t use a standard size twin anything, has to say twin XL). 60,000 almost 5 star reviews led me to pull the trigger on this one. it’s great. most importantly it’s soft. but it closes with a zipper! which is so smart. 10/10 recommend.

and lastly-

if a necessity ever existed it is underwear. mine were ALL awful. legit awful. holes, rips- actual rips, stains you name it. it was well past time. i don’t know about you but i am a 10 pack girl. a 5 pack will do. or even 2- 3 packs. i got the high rise brief from parade and they are comfyyyyyyy and soft and hold up after washing and drying. sadly it doesn’t look like they come in the 5 for $30 anymore. but all of these do.

love u bye

things i want in me closet

fall has arrived in atlanta and i’ve made soup 3 times already. i recently bought this blazer on sale and it made me feel like someone who knows what they are doing fashion-wise. it’s also not as boxy on me as it looks on the model. 🤷‍♀️

here are some other things i would also like please-

first up is jeans. ugh. i always seem to need jeans. my body changes a lot. some days i am way too “full” for jeans but i want to wear them and they are so fucking uncomfortable. but i HATE stretchy jeans. i have no insight here other than i like these jeans. also that maybe jeans are best bought after a dressing room session and a few glasses of wine. (a friend recently told me that abercrombie jeans are surprisingly good and comfy.)

next is this coat from doen. honestly everything from doen. i could do a whole post on my favorite fall pieces from doen. how cute is this coat tho?

random for sure but this little sweater seems like it would flatter most people. cozy and pulled together at the same time.

this whole outfit.

this cardigan that i would only wear as a dress with tall boots.

i’ve wanted these pants for hot minute.

big fan of this coat from h&m with a detachable collar.

c u later.